Exercise of the Week: Calf Raises

Calf Raises: Using a weight of your choice stand with your feet about hip width apart. Keeping your feet parallel, raise up onto the balls of your feet really squeezing that calf muscle. Lower and then repeat. On your next set, point the toes inward (pigeon-toed) to change the angle of the muscle worked. On your third set, point the toes out with the heels in. To make it extra hard, stand on a ledge or step or even a pile of sturdy books to give yourself a higher range or motion. To make it extra extra hard, performe this exercise one leg at a time!

Cancer and Sugar

I am constantly trying to tell my family to cut out all things with sugar. I don't believe our bodies are made to be eating as much sugar as everyone does - and there is proof!! It is evident all around us. The health problems are too many to count, the costs too expensive. Read this article about how cancer cells feed off High Fructose Corn Syrup and use it to divide and grow faster. I hope it will make you think twice before putting syrup on your pancake or pouring a bowl of cereal or eating a packaged granola bar or drinking a soda or............

Xylitol

You have probably all heard the commercial promoting Xylitol.

One lady comes on saying that their dentist says no more candy or gum.
The next lady come on saying that their dentist says eat candy and gum...with Xylitol.

Xylitol, as far as I have learned, is a low calorie 5-carbon sugar derived birch bark. Regular sugars a 6-carbons and are harmful to your health, whereas the claims surrounding Xylitol is that is actually benefits and aids your health.

I haven't formed an opinion about whether or not I believe the Xylitol health benefits to be true. My qualm here is that Big Industry is only concerned about the profit to be had in Xylitol. Who, in their right mind, recommends eating candy?? Whether it is made with Xylitol or not, it is still bad for you. It is still junk. Things like this really get under my skin because people really do hear a radio commercial and go: "Yes! I can eat all the junk food I want if it has Xylitol in it because 'they' say Xylitol is good for you!"
Doesn't that seem a little...foolish??....stupid??....wrong?? People jumped all over Equal, Splenda, and Nutra-Sweet. "It has no calories!!" "It's natural!!" 'they' claim. And unfortunately, nobody stops to think that these are just one more processed chemical (for they are actually chemicals) added to already overly processed, dead food. And now we know that the main ingredient in these, Aspartame, is a poison - a deadly one wreaking all kinds of havok on our bodies. Have we learned our lesson, yet?? Unfortunately no.

10. Get Tattoos.

In his book, The Maker's Diet, Jordan Rubin devotes a chapter to 27 recommendations on how to GET sick and suggests that if you want to remain as healthy as possible, go AGAINST these 27 suggestions if at all possible.

10. Get Tattoos.

Scripture warns against piercing the skin. (See Leviticus 19:28.) Body piercing and tattoos can easily introduce potentially deadly infections and toxic foreign substances into the body and bloodstream. Some health providers warn that even tiny puncture wounds might block important electrical nerve impulses just under the skin.

Slacker

I haven't posted in awhile! I am super sorry! I have just had zero time and I get so busy that it slips my mind completely. I have a few things saved up so they will be coming soon - stay with me!

9. Don't Breast Feed Your Baby

In his book, The Maker's Diet, Jordan Rubin devotes a chapter to 27 recommendations on how to GET sick and suggests that if you want to remain as healthy as possible, go AGAINST these 27 suggestions if at all possible.

9. Don't Breast Feed Your Baby

"Mothers, consider breastfeeding your children if you don't want them to risk the trauma of numerous childhood diseases and if you don't want to pay the hospital bills. It will also reduce your risk of developing breast cancer by 25 percent, and it may lower the risk of postpartum depression! Mother's milk contains cells that attack harmful bacteria in the baby's system, and it is able to form antibodies that destroy invading viruses as well. Mother's milk is the Maker's perfect food for babies, delivered in the closest bonds of maternal intimacy."

I know that there are mothers who can breastfeed and choose not to, which makes me sad for their children and for the mothers who want to breastfeed and can't. I hope I don't have this problem because I believe it's extremely important for the baby to have that start. I don't have much to say otherwise because it's actually not a topic I have researched...what's the best formula to feed your baby if you can't breastfeed? What can even come close and how do you know it's the best possible food?

Honest Food Guide

I encourage you all to stop by here and check out the free downloadable Honest Food Guide. READ IT!! There is real truth to be found there for those who don't already know. The "Disease" side may look more appetizing to some, but it is for sure not going to bring you health. Not even "healthy" breakfast cereals. On the "Health" side, I agree with most everything...except soy. I don't believe in soy unless it is fermented and I most definately stay away from Soy Milk and the like. This is a great tool for beginners in nutrition or just handy to have on your refrigerator for motivation!

Diet Sodas Good For You??

Will the idiocy never end? How can a doctor say such a thing when even little ol' me can tell you that there is NO FREAKING WAY diet soda is good for you in ANY WAY. Not one. Read this article - it might just shed some light at how misled the general public is on REAL health.

Motivation

Motivation: the state or condition of being motivated.

Ever have those moments where you have to talk yourself into working out? I have been running double what I used to run lately and it can be super hard at times to feel the motivation to get up and do another 40 minutes of running. The longer I'm at it, the more motivation I need. Anyone else feel like that?

So what do you do for motivation?

A couple things that work for me:

I have my goals written and posted somewhere where I read them everyday. I am way too stubborn to give up on something I set my mind to.

I list the reasons I want these goals and remind myself of how good it will feel when I get there. I am constantly visualizing what I want.

I record everything I do so I can see my progress. Seeing progress and knowing all your hard work is paying off feels incredible!

Get a buddy to work out with. Mine would be my husband...or will be again someday!

One of my absolute favorites - get a new pair of workout duds!! When you look good and feel good in what you are wearing, you have a little more pep in your step. Getting a new pair of workout shoes, a sports bra, or (my favorite new purchase) cute little knee-length shorts makes me want to get up and show it off!

MUSIC!! Putting together a new playlist or purchasing a few fun upbeat songs that I would love to run to helps a ton. It's so fun to run to something that totally gets you going!

Tricep Dips

Tricep Dips. Sit on the edge of a chair or bench with your palms down on the edge, fingertips facing toward you. Lower yourself down off the bench until your elbow is at 90 degrees. Squeezing your triceps, raise yourself back up and repeat, without sitting back down. The closer your legs are to you, the easier it is. To make it extra hard, raise one leg for a set and switch off for the other. Do three sets of ten, if you can, or do burn-outs (do as many dips as you can until you can't perform another one with good form).