by Shannon on March 26, 2012
Who doesn’t want to save money while shedding pounds? Here are six tips from financial expert MP Dunleavey that help you save both calories and cash:
Freeze fresh fruit and save money.
1. I love that super creamy imported yogurt—but not at $7 per container. Buy plain yogurt and strain it yourself. Cost: $2.99.
2. Why buy overpriced microwave popcorn when you can throw some kernels in a paper bag and zap it. Cost: pennies.
3. Peel & freeze a bunch of bananas. When you’re craving soft serve, whirl one up in the blender and top with a spoonful of chocolate chips (Note from SH: if you’re avoiding sugar, try topping with raisins or flax seeds). Cost: 25¢.
4. Spare yourself the expense (and fat) of certain fast-food breakfasts by scrambling an egg in a mug, nuking it, and slipping it into a pita. Cost: 50¢, maybe.
5. Make insta-soup from wilted veggies and a Parmesan rind. Throw in the carcass of a picked-over roasted chicken and Grandma will applaud. Cost: buck.
6. Why buy pricey pre-frozen fruit? Just wash, bag, and freeze your own for smoothies, yogurts, muffins, and breads. Cost: priceless!
If you have suggestions for cost-saving ideas, please list them in the Comments section or sending them to [email protected]
by Shannon on January 15, 2012
Heathy thinking is just as important to our well-being as healthy eating.
Sometimes the noise from inside our own head is the biggest stressor of all. People average 60,000 thoughts a day and 80 percent of those thoughts are negative.
Ouch.
Negative thoughts are bad news for the body as stress causes wear and tear on many physical health systems. Positive affirmations may be the key to stress-free health, according to Dr. Maoshing Ni, author of Second Spring.
This isn’t all in your head: Affirmative self-talk suppresses the release of cortisol from the adrenal glands which can help you feel calm and peaceful. Ni recommends offsetting that stress by repeating calming, soothing positive affirmations to ourselves because the thoughts that bubble up from our consciousness affect our health, just as our diets and exercise habits do.
The next time you have negative thoughts, imagine a big stop sign in your head, and tell yourself, “Stop!” Then, replace it with a positive, soothing message. Here are some examples:
- When you feel fat, think, “I love myself just the way I am.”
- When you feel inadequate, think, “I can accomplish anything.”
- When you feel afraid, think, “I trust in the process of life.”
- When you feel overwhelmed, think, “This, too, shall pass.”
Think of what it is you wish were true, and then state it over and over. Positive thoughts feed the mind nourishing mental energy like good food feeds the body nourishing physical energy. So do yourself a favor and feed yourself well—both below and above the neck.
If you have any favorite affirmations, please share them by sending an email to [email protected] or leaving them in the Comments section.
Source: realage.com and Spectrum Redondo Beach.
