22Oct 2015 by owner
Is it BETTER to Drink Daily or Weekends only?

Is it BETTER to Drink Daily or Weekends only?

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Is it better to DRINK DAILY but in moderation, or to abstain during the week + DO IT UP on the WEEKENDS? ALL JOKES ASIDE, we decided to look at the SCIENCE...   WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU ONLY BINGE DRINK ON THE WEEKENDS? Since alcohol acts as a DEPRESSANT, drinking a substantial amount in a relatively short time period can lead to alcohol poisoning, coma, or even death. When more alcohol is consumed at one time than the body can metabolize, the excess of alcohol builds up in the bloodstream, eventually causing suppression of vital functions like breathing and heart rate. BINGE DRINKING (i.e. pounding four drinks if you’re a girl and five if you’re a guy in under two hours) boosts your risk for liver disease, which in turn damages other organs in…
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22Oct 2015 by owner
6 Classic Halloween Candies that won’t SCARE your SCALE!

6 Classic Halloween Candies that won’t SCARE your SCALE!

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Who said Halloween Candy was just for the KIDS?! Even though "candy" is not exactly synonymous with "diet"...there are still ways to TREAT YOURSELF, while not causing a SCARE when you get on the SCALE. Just take our advice on the smartest snacking choices + don't turn the Halloween Candy into a 2 month chocolate celebration!   Here are our TOP 6 PICKS for Trick or Treat TREATS: Hershey’s Special Dark: This classic is easy to love thanks to the antioxidant benefits of dark chocolate. Snack on two miniatures for a total of only 88 calories and 5.2 grams of fat. Peanut M&Ms: It’s hard to stop at just one handful of this irresistible peanut-chocolate combo, so choose a snack-size bag. Plus, Peanut M&Ms boast protein, fiber, and even some calcium with just 93…
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19Oct 2015 by owner
Simple Slow-Cooker Chicken + Pasta Soup

Simple Slow-Cooker Chicken + Pasta Soup

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Soothe your soul with a classic chicken soup that includes tender pasta, carrots, and celery.    Serves: 6 Hands-On Prep Time: 5 min Total Time: 5 hrs 30 min INGREDIENTS: 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 2 pounds) 4 carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces 4 stalks celery, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 1 medium onion, halved 2 garlic cloves, smashed 2 bay leaves kosher salt and black pepper 1/2 cup small pasta (such as stellette or alphabet) 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley crackers, for serving   DIRECTIONS: In a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker, place the chicken, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, bay leaves, 6 cups water, 1 teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Cook, covered, until the chicken is cooked through, on high for 4 to 5 hours or on…
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14Oct 2015 by owner
REALLY EASY Slow-Cooker Smoky Beef + Bean Chili

REALLY EASY Slow-Cooker Smoky Beef + Bean Chili

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Chipotles, tomato paste, and beer give this robust dish its deep, rich flavor. Serves: 4 Hands-On Prep Time: 15 min Total Time: 4-8 hrs (depends on if setting slow-cooker on high or low) INGREDIENTS: (2) 15.5-ounce cans kidney beans, rinsed (1) 28-ounce can diced tomatoes 12 ounces lager beer ¾ pound beef chuck, cut into 3/4-inch pieces 1 medium yellow onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped 2 tablespoons tomato paste 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons chili powder 1 to 3 teaspoons chopped chipotles in adobo sauce kosher salt FOR SERVING: corn bread, sour cream, grated Cheddar, chopped red onion, and fresh cilantro sprigs. DIRECTIONS: In a 4 to 6-quart slow cooker, mix together the beans, tomatoes and their juices, beer, beef, yellow onion, garlic, tomato paste, flour, chili powder, chipotles,…
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05Aug 2015 by owner
Personal Portion Sized Freezer-Friendly Baked Oatmeal Cups

Personal Portion Sized Freezer-Friendly Baked Oatmeal Cups

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PLUS they're gluten free + diabetic friendly! Here's a FAST SOLUTION for that constant question of "WHAT DO I EAT??" - these healthy + filling baked oatmeal cups are the perfect SNACK SOLUTION to a busy morning or after-school madness.  Perfect for the WHOLE FAMILY!   Ingredients: 3 eggs 1 Tablespoons vanilla extract 1 cup unsweetened applesauce 6 1/2 droppers full stevia 1/2 cup Sucanat or brown sugar (Note: if not using any Stevia increase your choice of sugar to 1 cup.) 1 banana, sliced 1 cup fruit of your choice — frozen or fresh blueberries, fresh or dried cranberries, frozen or fresh mango, OR chocolate chips 5 cup old fashioned oats 1 teaspoon salt 3 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 cup flax seed, ground 1 Tablespoon cinnamon 2 1/2 cup 1% milk…
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22Apr 2015 by owner
Eat THIS Veggie to Burn Belly Fat FAST!

Eat THIS Veggie to Burn Belly Fat FAST!

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In general, incorporating more vegetables into your diet (like your mom said...) can help to shrink belly fat and promote weight loss.  Vegetables help make you feel FULL on fewer calories, which is especially important when you’re trying to lose weight. But WHICH veggie has special chemicals that help to burn MORE BELLY FAT OFF FAST? ASPARAGUS!  Add this green guy to your diet to help reduce extra abdominal fat with no extra effort! Not only does asparagus acts as a natural diuretic to relieve water retention, which causes bloating and puffiness in the stomach, it also has the ability to flush waste products such as undigested foods from the body.  This is due to its low sodium content coupled with an amino acid called asparagine. Asparagus us a great source of…
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19Apr 2015 by owner
12 Beauty, Health + Anti-Aging Benefits of Cleansing

12 Beauty, Health + Anti-Aging Benefits of Cleansing

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So what's all this BUZZ about DETOXING + CLEANSING?  Is it REALLY that great?  Will it help me lose weight...make my skin glow...make me healthier?!?  Why am I doing this again... With SO much information available on the internet now, sometimes it can be difficult to not get lost while sifting through all the material on the various pros + cons of the latest health + fitness trends.  So we decided to simplify the topic of CLEANSING for you.  Below are your CLIFF NOTES on some of the MOST POSITIVE benefits from cleansing. 1. Boosts Your Energy Many detox program followers report feeling more energetic. This would make sense because while you’re detoxing you’re stopping the influx of the things that caused you to need a detox in the first place. It’s…
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08Apr 2015 by owner
Do these 5 Things Every Day to Lose Weight without Trying

Do these 5 Things Every Day to Lose Weight without Trying

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Add these 5 easy tricks into your daily routine to shed pounds fast and keep them off for good!  It's all about the HABITS...and here are a few that you can painlessly integrate into your already BUSY day to help your pants feel looser around your waistline seemingly EFFORTLESSLY! 1.  Think "CROWD OUT" vs. "CUT OUT" Instead of a strict diet that tells you all the things NOT to eat, here's an easier way to think about it: CROWD OUT with the BEST FOOD CHOICES instead of CUT OUT. Essentially, you focus on what to do vs. what not to do by slowly working good habits into your routine. After time, you’re eating and drinking so many healthy things that you don’t have room for the bad stuff. (Wellll maybe there's still a little…
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08Apr 2015 by owner
5 #DietHacks for Bikini Abs in No Time!

5 #DietHacks for Bikini Abs in No Time!

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1.  SNACK at this "Magic Hour" Try eating a snack that contains PROTEIN between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Go for a protein shake or bar, a piece of low-fat cheese like string cheese, or some almonds paired with an organic apple. No matter what, do not miss that snack. It's important because it boosts metabolism and balances blood sugar. The more stable throughout the day you keep your blood sugar, the lower you keep your insulin levels, and excess insulin makes you store fat around your middle. Additionally, eating every three to four hours (small meal or snack) will keep your blood sugar even, but many people tend to go five or six hours between lunch and dinner without eating. 2.  Shake on the NATURAL SEA SALT Use natural sea salt or kosher salt,…
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01Apr 2015 by owner
5 BEST Fast Food Choices for on the go!

5 BEST Fast Food Choices for on the go!

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Sometimes you just have to MAKE DO with what you've GOT when you're super busy...but that doesn't mean you have to BACKSLIDE on your HEALTH + FITNESS goals! Let's face it - we're ALL busy!  In a perfect world, we would all employ private chefs to make every meal and snack fresh, organic, and totally in line with our fitness goals.  BUT since most of us haven't reached that level yet, here are some FAST FOOD HACKS from HEALTH Magazine (www.health.com) that can help make your day EASIER + still keep your nutrition ON POINT! McDonald's Kim Lyons, former trainer on The Biggest Loser and author of Your Body, Your Life My picks: Premium Grilled Chicken Classic Sandwich, fruit and walnuts, black coffee. "I don't just look at calories, but at…
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01Apr 2015 by owner
How can Drinking HOT LEMON Water help you LOSE WEIGHT?

How can Drinking HOT LEMON Water help you LOSE WEIGHT?

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Many of us have heard that drinking HOT WATER with LEMON is GOOD for multiple reasons...and most of us don't really know what exactly those reasons are... So here it is - the short version - on how drinking HOT WATER with LEMON as a part of your daily routine can help you achieve your weight loss + fitness goals! It helps you detox every day: While lemons may seem quite acidic, they're a surprisingly good source of an alkaline food that can help balance your body's pH.  The combo is great for waking up your liver and flushing out nasty toxins, especially first thing in the morning. It wakes up your digestive tract: This simple yet powerful beverage stimulates your gastrointestinal tract — improving your body's ability to absorb nutrients…
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24Mar 2015 by owner
FAST + DELISH BEEF BROCCOLI STIR FRY

FAST + DELISH BEEF BROCCOLI STIR FRY

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Looking for a FAST + DELICIOUS but still HEALTHY meal you can throw together, then throw on the stove for a few minutes, and have it come off looking like you're the next star on the Food Network... Here's one you can whip up in a jiffy to impress your friends, boyfriend...or just YOURSELF!  Feel free to substitute other varieties of meats and veggies in this dish.  After you get the hang of it you'll be stir frying like a rockstar! INGREDIENTS: 1/2 pound steak, sliced into thin, 2- to 3-inch pieces 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon oyster sauce 1 teaspoon sugar 1-1/2 tablespoons peanut oil, divided 3 cups broccoli, florets and stalks, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces PREP NOTES: Peel the stalks of the broccoli using a vegetable…
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