June 2010

The True Meaning of a “Healthy Diet”

by Shannon on June 27, 2010

It is important to understand what the term healthy diet plan means to each individual.

A healthy diet is one in which you eat the food you love.

Most people when asked what the term means will think only about consuming salads without dressing and eating toasts made from whole grain breads and not eating any butter. In other words the mind will conjure up visions of eating plain and boring foods day after day.

But, it need not be like that because you can make your diet more interesting without sacrificing on any health benefits.

In fact, the right kind of health diet plan will not have to be a boring plan that involves eating fat free foods or even those foods that are low in calorie count and which are bland and quite tasteless. As a matter of fact it is possible to eat tasty snacks and you can also enjoy a variety of dishes that help you achieve the twin objectives of eating healthy and eating interesting foods.

You only need to start off the plan by looking at a food pyramid and then find out which foods from this pyramid can help you achieve a healthier body. To get more options you should search over the net to find out from the many different sites what foods are good for you and which recipes you should make use of to create the right kind of healthy but enjoyable foods.

A healthy diet plan does not mean having to fit your body into a straight jacket. Instead it means eating healthy foods which in turn involves avoiding extreme actions and instead you have to focus on consuming healthy foods and being sensitive to the needs of your body.

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If there’s one thing most of us want more of, it’s time. Especially when you have kids.

One of the most important gifts you can give your kids is your own health and well-being.

If you’re a busy mom who’s juggling a full schedule yet still wants to be healthy, here are some tips that will help you fit getting fit into your schedule and save both time and money:

Exercise at home. Working out at home saves money on babysitters and expensive gym memberships and lets you multi-task—you can dish wash through Downward Dog and launder while lunging. Exercise videos are excellent resources because they’re inexpensive and come in a plethora of workouts for all fitness levels.

Add exercise to everyday tasks. Picking up the toys off the floor? Why not increase gluteus and leg strength by doing squats instead of bending from the waist? Stuck in front of the computer? Try sitting on an exercise ball to build core strength and balance.

Bike through Barney. Peddling on an exercise bike while the kids are watching TV will give you cardio-vascular benefits (and maybe even enable you to catch up on some reading).

Join the kids on the floor. Use floor playtime to increase flexibility. You can stretch your legs into a wide V and lean forward to stretch your back and reach over each leg to target your sides.

Pack meals and snacks. Bringing healthy snacks and/or packed lunches while running errands will give you fast food at your fingertips, which will help you avoid the cost and excess calories of drive-thrus. Fresh fruit, vegetable juice, pre-measured bags of nuts, and turkey sandwiches on whole-grain bread are healthy, portable items.

Plan in advance. Preparing a week’s worth of food on a Sunday will ensure you have food you can reheat in a hurry and cut down on eating out costs.

Think slow-cook for fast meals. Purchasing a good slow cooker is one of the best investments a mom can make. Throw in a chicken, broth and vegetables in the morning and a healthy dinner will be ready when you come home at night.

With some creativity and planning, you can indeed take care of your health while taking care of your family.

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Barnes & Noble Book Signing

June 26, 2010

When: June 26, 2010 Time: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm Location: 7651 Carson Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90808 View map

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Panelist: Publishers Association of Los Angeles

June 14, 2010

When: June 14, 2010 Time: 7:00 pm Details: I had the privilege of being on a panel with professional motivational speaker Paul Karasik on effective ways to market books in a changing industry.

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El Segundo Author Fair

June 6, 2010
At the El Segundo Author's Fair, I displayed my fat pictures to show people it is possible to lose weight and keep it off.

When: June 6, 2010 Where: El Segundo Public Library Details: I and several authors sold and signed books at the El Segundo Public Library. It was here that I met The Daily Breeze writer John Bogert who featured me in his June 14 column.

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Tips of Successful Exercisers

June 1, 2010
Not all exercise happens in a gym. The important thing is to pick an activity you love and stick with it.

You buy the shoes. You get the gear. You write a check for the equivalent of a down payment on a house. You make a solemn oath: You are going to exercise. This time you mean it. You ink the days in your calendar when you are going to exercise. You are filled with firm [...]

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