At the start of a new fitness program, you clean up your diet and hit the workouts, and the weight seems to fall off. But when you get down to the last 5, 10, or 15 pounds you want to lose, the scale may suddenly refuse to budge. You might be tempted to drastically reduce calories or increase the amount of time you spend working out. Don't do it. Instead, here are some simple tricks to help you lose those last 10 pounds.

Shedding the Pounds

Cutting calories too low will cause your body to think it's starving, and it will hold on to the fat you're trying so hard to lose. Working out longer will cut into your personal time and probably won't help you drop those last few pounds anyway. Instead, try making these tweaks to your program.

1. Clean up your diet. Once you find a diet that works for you, stick to it. Researchers at Tufts University followed 160 people on four different weight loss plans and found that the type of diet participants were on didn't matter as much as the participants' willingness to stick to their diets. If you've been dieting for a while, you might have become a little lax with your food choices and portions, so tighten them up again. To lose those last pesky pounds, stick to unprocessed foods (the kind that don't come in a box) and choose lean protein, vegetables, fruit, and whole grains. Keeping a food journal will help you track everything you eat and get your calories under control.

2. Cut out some carbs. A simple, short-term trick to losing weight is to cut back on carbs until you're at your goal. Eat lean protein and vegetables at every meal and limit carbs to before and after your workouts, and you'll probably see the scale shift rather quickly. Easy, low-carb meal ideas include egg-white omelettes with vegetables, Whey Protein Powder shakes made with water, salads with lean protein (chicken, tuna, or turkey), and grilled or broiled lean beef, poultry, or fish with vegetables.

3. Bump up the intensity of your workouts. No matter what workout program you're doing, you will lose weight faster if you kick up the intensity. Jump higher, squat lower, and increase the weight you're lifting to burn more calories, rev your metabolism, and stoke the fat-burning fire.

4. Change your exercise routine. If you've already increased the intensity of your workout program and still find that your weight loss has slowed, it might be time to try something different. When you perform the same exercises over and over, your body becomes more efficient at them. As a result, you use less energy and burn fewer calories. By starting a new fitness routine, you'll shock your muscles, reignite your metabolism, and get the scale moving again. Check out TeamBeachbody.com to find the workout that'll take your weight loss to the next level.

5. Stand up. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic found that lean people spend 2 more hours per day on their feet than overweight people. Participants in the study who stood, paced, and fidgeted burned as many as 350 extra calories a day and were much leaner than those who didn't move as much. Get up from your desk at work, talk on the phone while standing, and stay on your feet in waiting rooms—the simplest effort will yield an extra calorie burn that may help you shed those remaining pounds.

6. Eat a little less. When your body gets smaller, it requires fewer calories to function properly. A 165-pound woman who works out three to five times a week may require 2,300 calories per day to maintain her weight, but the same woman at 125 pounds may only need 2,000 calories for maintenance. Trying to lose additional pounds in your lighter body means cutting back a little more. You do not need to make radical changes, however; if you're already increasing the intensity of your workouts and eating a clean, whole-foods diet, you could probably see the scale move with a modest 100-calorie reduction per day.

7. Zigzag your calories. Cycling your calories, also known as zigzagging, is the process of eating more on certain days and less on others. If you always eat 1,800 calories, try eating 1,500 calories one day and 2,000 the next. As long as you create a weekly deficit, you should see the pounds drop. Much like shocking your muscles into working harder by introducing new exercises, it's possible to shock your metabolism by zigzagging your calories.

8. Drink more water. You may not realize how important water is for weight loss—it's not just a tool to help you eat less. Being properly hydrated will balance your energy levels, which allows you to exercise with intensity. (Have you ever been so thirsty during a workout that you couldn't perform as well as usual?) Drinking enough water may also increase your metabolism and promote muscle building—a well-hydrated body can more efficiently repair and build muscles. On the other hand, being dehydrated encourages muscle breakdown. So drink up, especially since you are exercising regularly.

9. Relax. Believe it or not, you may be trying too hard to lose weight. If your workouts are very intense and your diet is too strict, you could overtrain and burn out. Your mind and body will just not respond in the same way when they're tired. Muscles need rest to repair and grow, and sometimes your brain needs a break from constant calorie counting and worrying about the last few pounds. Instead of becoming frustrated and diving into a box of cookies, try to relax and reduce the intensity for a little while. You may be surprised to find the scale moving again when you give your mind and body a rest.

10. Reevaluate your goal weight. First, congratulate yourself on getting to this point. Losing weight is not easy, and you've already accomplished a great deal—so enjoy your success. The next step is to ask yourself if the "magic" number on the scale is really the best weight for you. Perhaps you've lost fat and gained a lot of muscle; your new hard body might be healthier and happier with a few more pounds on it. Many people want to weigh the same as they did in high school or college. What if you're much more fit and muscular now than you were in those days? You may realize that the number on the scale today is perfect for you.

- Coach Jenn, proud Mom, Wife and Fitness Coach

of PersonalFitCoach.com and Team Beachbody

Featured Weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

Within your body (as opposed to your mind), you have a powerful internal system for finding out who people are. This "belly brain" or "intuition" is a pre-cognitive filter for more than 90% of the information that comes in from new people you meet. Your senses and your intuition work together to measure things like body language, posture, tone of voice, and eye movements in order to make a judgement call about whether or not you are in a safe situation, and to what degree you should allow yourself to open up to this person, or close yourself off. I'm sure you've had many experiences before where you met someone for the first time, and instantly you felt your body either opening or closing toward them, depending on what your intuition told you. It's a very powerful and very accurate tool to determine just how safe or dangerous a situation is, and what sort of person you have standing before you. This initial filtering process happens very quickly, and within a few seconds you will probably already know everything you need to know, if you are paying attention.

But this is not where the information processing stops. After the intuition has done its thing, the information makes its way to the brain, where a secondary filtering occurs. Most of what goes on during this process is pattern recognition based on historical data. In other words, you have a huge database in your mind of past experiences, pattern recognition, and so forth, and when you meet a new person, your brain compares their incoming data against what you already know, and it places the new person into a category you can easily understand and respond to. Your body, in turn, will either expand or contract.

This is where the real trouble happens. Your brain's database is filled not only with your experiences, but also with beliefs it has inherited or learned, and stories that it has been told. Women who wear short skirts and have tattoos are trashy and uneducated. Men with scruffy hair and beards are lazy, unemployed losers. Our brains are littered with all sorts of information like this - some of it accurate, some of it not. While this second phase of filtering does help us, if we let it override our true instinct and don't cross-check, that's when when we set ourselves up for danger down the road.

I'm sure you've had situations where you broke up with someone, and then looked back and said, "I knew it, I had a feeling things weren't right." Because you did know it! But the brain sees pain coming in the short term, and steps in to keep you from making a smart decision that would be better for you in the long term. Because that's what the brain does - it is a pain and pleasure center, a receptor rather than a generator. In other words, it is a great servant, but a terrible master. Your intuition, on the other hand, never lies to you. Unlike the brain, the body is incapable of sending you a message it doesn't actually believe. It is connected to the larger sense of truth, and I would urge you to relearn how to connect with this truth, rather than relying solely on the brain's second-hand information, which as you have seen in your own experiences, hasn't always led you to good places.

So why on earth would we allow our flawless intuition to take a back seat, when it is the best tool we have to steer us away from the darkness and into greener pastures? Well, this has been a hot topic among philosophers, psychologists, and novelists for centuries - the terrible, ongoing death of the divine feminine in each of us. In order to stop putting ourselves in danger, it is essential that we reawaken our intuition, and learn to reconnect with our BIG brain.

You can see for yourself how your body is smarter than your brain - sit down with a pen and paper and make a chart of all the times your body has been right, over the times your brain has. Which comes out ahead? Next week in Part Two, we'll learn how to get back in touch with our intuition and regain the ability to be heart-smart! Stay tuned...

- Maryanne


by Maryanne Comaroto of Maryanne Live

Featured Weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine


Maryanne will be teaching a live video webinar on how to “inner-view” potential dates or mates BEFORE you agree to a date or relationship. She'll be featuring a very eligible bachelor and showing participants the best questions to ask and how to respond, live, on the fly, in real time! Sign up here

Today, we introduce our first article in the technology & gadget area.  This is the first in a series on buying a new televison...


Buying Electronics is tough enough already and personally in my mind it ranks right up there with going to the car dealership. UGH!! I’m a woman and they’re going to try to sell me everything I do NOT need for that simple reason.

Plasma, LCD, LED, High Definition, Blu ray, the list goes on and on; when most consumers walk into an Electronics store they’re already in overload. Nothing like feeling cold, clammy and shaky while having some smooth talking salesman throw words at you like high def, LED, LCD or 1080P…..wait slow down my English to Electronics Dictionary doesn’t seem to have all of those phrases. Somebody please get me the Cliff Notes or quickly bring me the Buying TV’s for Dummies DVD before my head explodes!!!

The average consumer can really be at a loss when trying to make a home entertainment purchase. Let’s be honest usually those retailers you walk into don’t make these choices any easier either. It is almost like they thrive on your confusion and disorientation while piling on cables, connectors, remotes, woofers. Who wouldn’t be confused?

Nothing beats looking at a wall of televisions staring you in the face and you are trying to see what one has the best picture. Unless you brought your oscilloscope, ISF certification source material, a laptop and some cans of energy drink this could get long, monotonous and overwhelming. It seems that nothing can be simple when purchasing some home entertainment products.

Now words like Plasma, LCD,and Bluray have become a household words and part of our daily lives. Now to add more confusion to the befuddled masses we’ll introduce eco- friendly televisions; not to be confused with Energy Star compliant TV’s. Now on top of looking for the latest and greatest television, we have to worry about power consumption now too?

... to be continued...

Mary

Posted by Mary of Illuminate, Decorate and Fascinate

Featured weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

Are you still looking for more things to do with your kids this summer?.... Maybe you're thinking to yourself.... "Sure, the first 10 were great, the second 20 were fantastic, but what it there were just 11 more..." Well, it's your lucky day! Here are our last eleven suggestions for free or cheap things to do with your kids this summer...

1. Appreciate Music. Check to see if there are any free outdoor concerts in your area. We have them quite often in our area and it's great fun to bring a little picnic and sit on the grass listening to some fantastic music.
2. Have an outdoor movie night - Remember the good old days of the drive-in movie? Unfortunately, there are very few left here in the US, but you can recreate the fun at home. You can rent a backyard theater setup relatively inexpensively. Have your kids invite their friends, serve popcorn and treats and watch a movie under the stars.
3. Go to a baseball game. The major leagues are pricey, but if you have a minor league team in your area, take in a game - the kids will love it.
4. Foster some animals at your local animal shelter. Shelters often have super small kittens or puppies that are too small to send out for adoption, they must stay with a volunteer who takes care of them and teaches them to be a good pet until they are old enough or big enough to adopt out. Just don't get too attached, or you'll have several new pets.
5. Make art projects with Ice blocks and salt - the kids learn science and there's nothing to "display" after - lots of good cool fun! Instructions are here.
6. Learn to make a gum wrapper chain - Instructions are here.
7. Document something. Use a camera to photograph the same area of your yard at the same time each day - it will be interesting to see what comes up and what changes. At the end of summer, make a flip book with the pictures. You'll be able to watch a flower bloom, or a plant burst through the ground.
8. Remember the Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program.
9. Bank of America offers its cardholders free admission to select museums the first weekend of every month.
10. AMC Movie Theaters are offering $1 movies this summer.
11. Make a solar cooker & bake cookies when it's too hot to use the oven. Instructions are Here.

Well, there you have it - everything in our "Summer Fun" database! Leave us an email or a comment and let us know if you tried any of the ideas and how they went - we'd love to hear from you!!

Turning Lemons into Pink Lemonade!



Posted by Liz of Pink Lemonade

Featured Weekly on Posh Mama Online Magazine

Don't miss a Thing! Subscribe to my Blog!

Mom... There's nothing to do around here... I'm BORED!!"... How many times have you heard that phrase during Summer break? Don't book the kids into every summer camp and swim lesson you can find... give them something to do (or better yet, do something with them!) They'll learn some new things and have some fantastic Summer memories that will last a lifetime.

If you read our last list, you've already begun your arsenal of boredom busters. Here are twenty more:

1. Think up a new kind of sandwich or cookie and make some!
2. Grow a Hollyhock Tepee. Simply draw out a circle in the dirt big enough for a child or two to sit inside and plant hollyhocks fairly close together along the circle (be sure to leave a space for a door). When the plants are tall enough, gather them together at the top and tie with string - what a beautiful, fragrant, shady place to have an enchanted tea party!
3. Let your kids create their own blog (or a family blog). Make sure you supervise and make it a private blog that only family and close friends can view - you can do this for free through Blogger.com.
4. Visit a local U-Pick orchard and pick lots of juicy ripe fruits and veggies. Make jam from some of the fruit to give away at Christmas!
5. Learn a foreign Language - Rent the Muzzy video series from the Library and you and your kids will be chatting away in a language in no time.
6. Keep the learning going all summer. Last year, we used the themed units at The Learning Page (you must sign up to be a member to print the worksheets and lessons, but it is free to do so). Everything you need to do a whole theme unit is included for free and includes all levels from Pre-K to Grade 3. We did a unit on Oceans, and during that time, we visited the beach and the aquarium, watched ocean videos from the library and read books about fish. A unit on Zoo animals included a trip to the zoo... etc. The kids will have so much fun doing these that they won't even know they're keeping up their academic skills for next year.
7. Do some creative writing... Have your children think up a whole new world. Start a notebook and include drawings. If they really get into it, they could make dioramas, etc.
8. Visit the local ice-skating rink - it'll be cool and you'll all get some great exercise (you can even drink hot-cocoa and not get too hot!).
9. Help your kids make a movie! Let your kids think up the movie, including a script. Then, pull out your video camera and start filming. You can edit it on your PC or Mac and it'll be a fantastic addition to tuck into your Christmas cards!
10. Make a tent on the clothesline or a tree branch.
11. Have a bubble contest - check out Secret Solutions for bubble solution recipes and tips.
12. Have a breakfast picnic in the backyard when it's going to be a scorching hot day.
13. Travel the world without leaving town - check out Travel the World...
14. Have a yard sale and donate the profits to a local charity.
15. Let them "Paint" on a really hot day. Give the kids a bucket of water and big paintbrushes - they'll have a blast "painting" the fence, their playhouse... everything.
16. Build a time capsule.
17. Make Your Own Ice Cream. In a quart ziplock bag, put in a cup of milk, a teaspoon of vanilla and seal. In a gallon ziplock bag, put in a 1/3 of a cup of salt and fill the bag ¾ of the way full with ice cubes. Place the smaller bag inside the larger bag, and shake for 5 minutes. Open and serve!
18. Put on a play for the neighborhood kids. Let them make sets and hang up bedsheets for curtains. The kids can design their own tickets and playbills.
19. Teach them to cook. Let the kids find a kid's cookbook at the library geared toward their age range. Help them learn to make some new foods that they might not otherwise try.
20. Learn some new Outdoor Games - check out Kids Games for idea - or make up your own.

There you have it! Twenty more great summer activity ideas that won't break the bank! Stay tuned for our last ten ideas soon...

- Liz

Posted by Liz of Pink Lemonade

It's coming.... heading your way.... for some of you, it's only days over the horizon.... for others (like me) you have a couple more weeks before it hits.... No, it's not a storm, or a natural disaster... (although it certainly can feel that way sometimes) it's the end of school - the beginning of summer vacation! Have you even given any though to what your kids are going to do? You could sign them up for a whole list of camps, lessons and playdates, shuttling them about here and there. At some point, you'll become exhausted - but you'll justify this to yourself... "this is better than having them sit around playing video games all day and crying 'I'm bored' every chance they get"... But is that really what's best? Are they getting the downtime that Summer vacation was intended for? I don't know about the rest of the country, but Summer vacations are getting shorter and shorter here, we get out of school in the middle of June, only to return in the middle of August - not much time to spend with the kiddos - and as my Little Miss Lauren puts it "I'm going to have all the fun I can get - I need more fun!"

This Summer, instead of over scheduling the kids, relax with them, play with them... you just might have a really fun summer yourself! Here are some ideas...

1. Is your home full of clutter? Are you trying to get the kids to control their own clutter? Check out Camp Gonna Wanna Fly Now, courtesy of Flylady. Flylady will lead you through the whole process of setting up a "camp" for your kids - only this camp won't teach them to make macrame plant hangers - this camp will teach them to help out around the house while they have a blast, and who couldn't use a little more of that?
2. Befriend a Firefighter - Bake them cookies (or pick up some Popsicles), and deliver them to your local fire station. The firefighters will truly appreciate the surprise... your child will meet some heroes, and learn about giving to others.
3. Make a rocket with a soda bottle and baking soda - find out how at Wiki How.
4. Go on a picnic with your kids at a local park or beach,or even the backyard!
5. Check out Free Tours (such as factory tours) in your area (my kids love going to the jelly belly factory!)
6. Be entertained. Many libraries offer free story times, puppet shows and events during the summer - they're usually free - so check them out.
7. Make a scrapbook of everything you do this summer - include your kids drawings along with snapshots and things collected. It will be a great conversation starter when they return to school.
8. Check out your local visitors center. There are probably lots of things to do for little or no money that your kids will love (and maybe they'll learn something new too!)
9. Teach them to sit down and write a letter - this is becoming a lost art with email and text messaging, but wouldn't a Grandparent or faraway Aunt love to receive a handwritten letter from your child?
10. Start a postcard collection from everywhere you visit. If you can't find a postcard at a particular destination, snap a picture that best represents the place and when you get home, your child can design their own postcard with the photograph.

These are just a few ideas - I'm sure you can come up with many, many more. Just remember the most important thing.... Let the kids be kids, they don't need every second of the day scheduled - they need time to be a little bored sometimes... time to have a chance to think up something to do - that's when kids think up the games that end up being the most fun. Being just a little bored sometimes fosters creativity, imagination and memories that we can treasure for a lifetime.


- Liz

Posted by Liz of Pink Lemonade

Becoming a new parent can be a scary process. There is so much to learn and no easy way to practice until your new bundle of joy arrives. Luckily, there are easy ways that you can prepare yourself - and your home - to give you peace of mind and be able to enjoy the time with your new baby.


Become well read

Whether you choose lighthearted, comical selections, such as Jenny McCarthy's "Belly Laughs," or more informative choices, such as "What to Expect When You're Expecting," there is a wealth of books to get you educated, ready and even entertained. So, kick up your (swollen) feet and start reading.


Seek out similar situations

Whether you are having your first child, or wondering what life will be like having your second, third or more, seek out other parents who share a similar lifestyle. Talking with others to get their opinions on how to cope with siblings, working and other common life situations will help give you insight and better prepare you for life's new addition.


Create a "home safe home"

All parents want to keep their kids safe from any potential dangers, so updating your home with a variety of home safety products - for both your new arrival and yourself - is a good idea. While the standard items such as socket plugs and baby gates are must-haves, many parents don't think of bath safety. And, according to the Home Safety Council, falls are the leading cause (66 percent) of all nonfatal home injuries - with the bathroom being a main culprit due to water and slick surfaces.

Getting into and out of the tub and shower can be difficult for little ones. And, as your "baby bump" continues to grow, the shift in your center of gravity can make you more susceptible to slips and falls. Permanent grab bars, such as SecureMount Grab Bars from Home Care by Moen, are an ideal solution, offering an easy, secure install in a variety of styles and finishes to beautifully coordinate with the rest of the bathroom. Or, for an even easier (and more temporary) installation, try Home Care's Premium SecureLock Tub Grip, which easily locks tightly to most tubs for an extra hand getting in and out. And, once you are in safely, consider adding a tub and shower seat to ensure that your bath time is accident free.


Stock up on essentials

Believe it or not, you'll probably go through more than 70 diapers and 200 wipes per week. And, once your bundle of joy arrives, you'll want to focus your attention on her (or sleep) - not on shopping - so stock up now. In addition to diapering essentials, be sure to supply your medicine cabinet with infant acetaminophen, gas drops, diaper rash cream and a thermometer. And, it's not a bad idea to fill your freezer full of pre-made dinners so you don't have to worry about cooking in those first few hectic weeks when you're still recuperating.


Take a class

Ask your doctor about classes or support groups in your area. Most hospitals offer a variety of classes to help you with everything from childbirth and infant care to even more specific topics, like introducing the baby to siblings or pets. These classes will not only provide you with a wealth of information - but can be a great way to meet others going through the same life experiences.


With a bit of preparation, you'll soon be breathing easier and feel much more prepared when your bundle of joy arrives. For more information on shower safety products from Home Care by Moen, visit www.moen.com/homecare.


Courtesy of ARAcontent


Want to learn more about becoming a confident mom?  Check out these resources...

What is it about falling for someone that turns us into roller coasters of bizarre behavior? There's just something about that other person that makes us compromise everything we believe in, hoping that this new manufactured situation will somehow result in our Happily Ever After (or at least in amazing sex). Then there's a second wave of scrambling around, as we come to our senses and try to retrieve all the parts of ourselves that we lost in the craziness of trying to look perfect to the other person. If you're in a situation now where you're trying to figure out how to get your life back together so you can regain your freedom, find a better relationship, and start to enjoy your life for real, then here's some advice on how to make that greater tomorrow start happening for you right now!



Dear Maryanne,

My girlfriend and I have a serious relationship together. She thinks I’m cheating on her even though I am not cheating on her. She also has been trying to find ways to track my cell phone or track my text messages. She’s now questioning if I am bi or not. She did all this without talking to me as I found this out. What do I do and why is she doing this? I am not cheating on her, nor am I bi and I have nothing to hide. I love her very much.”

- Robert (30, Lakewood, CO, USA)



Dear Robert,

Your girlfriend's behavior may sound outlandish or unfounded, but chances are it's coming from somewhere... and that "somewhere" may very well be her own secret guilt. People who have affairs ofter project their indiscretions onto the other person, in an effort to draw the attention away from themselves. In other words, I think it's very possible that your girlfriend is cheating on you, perhaps with a woman.

But if that turns out not to be the case, then she's probably going through a bad case of insecurity, which can happen to anybody at one point or another. Talk to your girlfriend and ask her what evidence she has that made her think you were cheating. If she doesn't have any, then you need to use that as a springboard for some personal boundaries. You cannot be expected to have a healthy, trusting relationship while she's checking your phone and reading your texts. If she doesn't respect those boundaries even after you have demonstrated your trustworthiness and your love, then at least you can deal with the situation now rather than having to deal with it after a marriage or children are in the picture.


- Maryanne


by Maryanne Comaroto of Maryanne Live

Featured Weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

Want to bust through a workout or weight loss plateau? You have to try Tabata. What the heck is “Tabata?” you may ask. It is an exercise protocol invented by Dr. Izumi Tabata and his team at the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Tokyo. Apparently, they tested a number of intense protocols and found this one to be the best.

Frankly, the basics of Tabata training, could not be more basic. In a nutshell, the premise is to do an exercise with as much intensity as possible and/or with the most repetitions as possible for 20 seconds and then to rest for 10 seconds. The complete workout (not including a warm-up and cool-down) is just 24 minutes, so anyone who says they don’t have time to workout, should try Tabata for sure.

At my local gym, one of the instructors has started a Tabata class. I love that it is never the same workout as he always mixes up the exercises. Other than having a group to sweat and grunt and groan with, it is one of the easiest and best workout styles to do at home as well.

The typical protocol is as follows:

• Do an exercise (squats for example) for 20 seconds
• Rest for 10 seconds
• Repeat 7 more times
• Move on to another exercise (push-ups for example), etc.
• Do this for a total of 8 exercises for a final total of 24 minutes

A variation that I like is to complete a total set of all 8 exercises (20 on, 10 off) and then repeat for a total of 8 times. This is a nice variation so that you don’t burn out on one exercise before moving onto the next.

In addition to body weight moves like squats and push-ups, it’s great to include strength moves with weights as well. Plyometric jumping moves are also great for Tabata. One move I like is simply jumping as high as you can to touch a point on the wall. Do this for 20 seconds and boy do your calves start screaming after 6-8 sets.

Anyway, I’ve been researching the benefits of the Tabata protocol. Besides burning off body fat, here is what else Tabata can do for you:

• Improve your cardio-vascular function (aerobic endurance)
• Improve your anaerobic endurance
• Improve your muscular endurance
• Make you strong and fit and look fantastic

What more can you ask for, huh? It is rare that one type of exercise protocol increases both aerobic (endurance) capacity and anerobic (quick power) output so Tabata is one that I highly recommend.

As with any workout protocol, you want to check with your healthcare provider to make sure it is right for your fitness levels and abilities

- Coach Jenn

of PersonalFitCoach.com and Team Beachbody

Featured Weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

To really impress your guests this summer, give your outdoor soirees a little extra elegance that goes beyond the usual grill-out. The good news is that it's easier than you'd imagine to create an ambiance that is welcoming and sophisticated.

One of the keys to throwing an upscale backyard get together is to plan in advance. Once you have an idea of what you'd like to do, it's time to start letting people know. And we all know how busy summer schedules are, so informing your guests as much as a few weeks ahead of time is a courtesy they'll appreciate.

Here are some of the elements you'll need to create the perfect atmosphere for outdoor entertaining this summer.


* Decor: Having a jumble of mixed and matched chairs can be either charming or a visual distraction. If you have an assortment of old wooden chairs, it gives things a rustic feel; if it's decades-old folding chairs in clashing colors and styles, it looks mismatched. Aim for a consistent look, whether it's shabby chic or modern. If your tables and surfaces don't tie in perfectly, there's an easy fix: simply cover them with a tablecloth that has the same feel as the rest of your decor. Add planters of flowers in colors that coordinate with your theme.


* Comfort: Swatting at insects during a party is almost impossible if you're holding a beverage and a plate of hors d'oeuvres and uncomfortable even if your hands are free. Warm summer evenings often mean bare legs and arms, and the last thing you want your guests to remember is how many bug bites they got. To add beautiful, soft lighting while discouraging bugs, opt for mosquito blocking candles. Place them on tables or around your patio. The Conceal line from Yankee Candle will not only block mosquitoes, it also has a pleasant, garden-fresh scent that will add to your party's ambiance.


* Menu: Food does not need to be elaborate to be both beautiful and delicious. Take a cue from the rustic food traditions of Italy, France and Spain, where simple foods like garden vegetables, artisan breads and grilled meats make a major impact with surprisingly easy preparation. Keep the focus on vegetables and fruits, with one or two meat, poultry or fish options, to create a beautiful, healthy arrangement of dishes.


* Music: Depending on the mood you want to establish, you can choose from an endless supply of music available for download. Try salsa music for liveliness, flamenco guitar for dramatic artistry, Malian kora music for serenity or updated bossa nova for an unmistakably summery, beachy feel.


Outdoor entertaining is one of the best things about summer, whether you're a host or a guest. When you're hosting, the main goal is to create a relaxing, lovely environment during which your guests can forget their every care, whether it's the stress of work or the usual summer annoyances of mosquito bites. For more information about the Conceal line of outdoor mosquito candles from Yankee Candle, go to www.yankeecandle.com. When you provide your guests with a perfect escape for one evening, you've mastered outdoor entertaining.


Courtesy of ARAcontent

Want to learn more? - Check out these great resources:

Protecting the earth means using it wisely, a concept that extends to virtually all aspects of life, from the emergence of renewable fuels to the conservation of plants and species.

With the 40th anniversary of Earth Day this April, it's become clear that even ordinary, everyday activities - for instance, snacking - can promote environmental sustainability and one's own health and well being. The evolution of food consumption from rural, community-grown foods to urbanization and the growth of supermarkets, to the more recent dominance of mass merchandisers, is coming full circle, thanks to joint efforts among consumers, retailers and food companies to reduce waste and offer products that fit eco-friendly, healthier lifestyles.

There are many ways to eat for the betterment of the planet and yourself:

* Savor produce the way nature intended. Take advantage of fresh produce offered by local growers, available through community farmers markets, roadside stands and stores. Whether it's the first strawberries of the season, a perfectly ripe tomato in the peak of summer or a crisp apple in fall, produce doesn't get any fresher - or more nutritious - than when just picked. That's a win-win for the snacker and for the environment.

* Dig in. Produce purchased at local markets is a great idea, but you can become even closer to nature by planting your own garden. If you're craving berries, carrots or want to add healthy greens to your sandwich, you don't have to venture very far - and you get the added benefits of being outside and doing some physical exercise by way of digging, planting, watering and harvesting.

* These are not your parents' organic snack foods. Certainly, in the 40 years since the first Earth Day, the world has come a long way from wheat germ and bean sprouts. As demand for organic and natural products continues to grow, you can pick from a wide variety of organic snack foods available not only in specialty markets, but in most grocery stores. The bonus: many of these snack foods are also better for you, a good source of fiber and lower in empty calories, fat and sodium.

Snyder's of Hanover, for instance, recently added to its line of organic snack foods with improved Organic Pretzel Sticks, made with whole wheat flour. The pretzels pack 20 grams of whole grains and 3 grams of fiber in each serving. Getting even closer to earthly sources of good nutrition, the company also recently introduced Organic 8 Grains & Seeds Pretzels, made from a grain combination that includes buckwheat, oats, whole brown rice and millet, and a seed mixture of flax and sesame seeds and quinoa.

* Going green is a package deal. Taking the earth-friendly concept a step further, look for packages made of renewable products or feature less waste. Many manufacturers are doing away with unnecessary outer packaging, while others are switching to thinner plastics and film in an effort to cut down on landfill waste. When developing its new organic pretzels, Snyder's of Hanover put a priority on renewable packaging: the bags are made from 90 percent plant-based materials.

Perhaps the greatest legacy of the green movement that has been building for four decades is the fact that being conscious of the environment and one's well-being comes down to basic, daily choices. It can be the way we clean our homes. It can be the mode of transportation we use to get from one place to another. It can also be the simple, satisfying act of snacking. Mindless munching has become, in these times, mindful munching.

Courtesy of ARAcontent


Interested in trying more organic foods?  Here are a few books to help you:

Sorry I have not posted in a week or two. My blog was hacked and I was super busy getting everything back in order. Now, on with the article...

With summer vacation quickly approaching, you're probably planning your next getaway. Whether you go on a cruise, an African safari or a low-key trip to the beach, warm summer days are the best time to get away from it all.

But wait - did you know that the average person gains almost a pound a day while on vacation? Between missed workouts, extra large restaurant meals and indulgent snacks, lazy vacation days will quickly add inches to your waistline.

So before you pack your bags for your next adventure, read the following Vacation Tips and come home fitter, not fatter.

Vacation Tip #1: Make a Decision

Before you leave home, make the decision that you will NOT gain weight while on your trip.

This is the easiest step to take to make sure that you avoid weight gain, but it is also the most overlooked. Instead of leaving things to chance, harness the power of creative visualization that has been proven time and time again by go-getters such as Michael Jordan, Einstein, Napoleon and Andrew Carnegie.

Visualize what it would be like to return home fitter than when you left. Take a moment to let yourself feel the excitement that you'd experience. Remember what accomplishing your goal feels like - this will keep you motivated throughout your trip and will help pull you through the inevitable tempting situations that you'll face.

Vacation Tip #2: Get Moving

It's easy to spend vacation days sprawled out by the pool, but the inactivity will quickly add up to extra pounds. Choose to be active and you'll burn calories all day long while indulging in fewer unnecessary snacks. The following ideas will get you moving:

Go on a brisk walk each day of your trip. You'll see new sights while burning off excess calories.
Always take the stairs rather than the elevator. Talk about bonus calorie burning! Go on a jog in the mornings before your daily activities, or jog in the evening after the day winds down. If your hotel has a pool, swim a few laps each day. Swimming is a fun way to get in a full body workout.

If your trip takes you to a place of natural beauty then go on a hike. Even while hiking at a slow or moderate pace you'll burn plenty of calories. Play some sports - beach volleyball, a game of hoops, Frisbee, or bike riding are all great ways to have fun while keeping fit.

Vacation Tip #3: Indulge with Portion Control

You have no choice but to eat out while on vacation. Whether you're enjoying 5 star restaurants or fast food diners, you'll be met with the same problem: huge portions.

While it is tempting to simply eat it all - you are on vacation after all - this will quickly lead to extra pounds. Use the following tips to keep your portions under control:

• When you order your meal ask for a to-go box. Take half of your meal and place it into the box before you even begin to eat. This will force you to eat a healthy portion.
• If you would rather not carry around a to-go box, ask that your entrée be made into a smaller portion. If it is dinnertime don't be afraid to ask for the lunch-sized portion.
• Pay more, and eat less. Take quality of food over quantity.
• Eat meals. Cut out snacking, stick with structured meals.
• Eat slowly, and eat foods that have been prepared slowly - that means no fast food.

So as you plan your next vacation, why don't you also give yourself the gift that you really want - a new body. A tighter body. A stronger body. A healthier body. You deserve it. I'm always here to help you select great home workouts, supplements and meal replacements as well.

- All the best in health and fitness

- Coach Jenn

of PersonalFitCoach.com and Team Beachbody

Featured Weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

Once upon a time, I was the sort of person who would fly off the handle if you told me to chill out or stop overreacting. That was my instant cue to go into orbit, and there was no stopping me. If you wanted to see a real overreaction, by golly you were going to get one now! As I went through more and more of these experiences, I started to feel like I was just too big, too dramatic, too crazy for people to understand. People only seemed to like my emotional passion when it involved emotions that were pretty or acceptable to them.

So I set about to try to suppress my big nature, to be more emotionally conservative and appealing to a wider range of people. And in the end, that's exactly what I attracted: a wide range of people who weren't at all right for me. I found chemistry with some of them, but the compatibility just wasn't there, mostly because I was pretending to be someone I wasn't. Inevitably, my true big self would slip out more and more frequently, and my emotionally conservative friends and dates would not know what to make of it, or would take it as a sign that something was wrong with me.

One day, many years ago, I was in the car with my boyfriend at the time, and while we were stopped at a light he turned to me and asked, "why do you have to be so dramatic all the time?" That was the final straw for me, and I went completely nuts. I told him that yes, I do experience emotions deeply and intensely, and I express them just as intensely, whether they're emotions he likes dealing with or not. If he found that kind of "drama" unpleasant, then why was he with me? I told him he must like it, or we wouldn't be dating.

He sat there and stared blankly at me. He probably didn't even really hear what I said, except for the part where I kept ranting on and vaguely blaming him for not "getting it."

This was a perfect example of a relationship where there was plenty of chemistry, but no compatibility. I thought I could be more appealing if I could pretend to be less high-maintenance, more easygoing and less expressive of my emotions. In the end, though, the real me finally won over, and I was less appealing than ever because I was all over the place.

This taught me one of the most important lessons ever. I stopped trying to hide and suppress my real nature, and I stopped dumbing it down in an effort to please others. Instead, I decided to concentrate my efforts on attracting someone who would appreciate and love me for who I really am, including the big gestures, passionate emotions, and assertive expressions. I didn't want to have to fight myself anymore, nor fight the people I was with. Opposites can attract, but in my case I was attracting situations where the combination of me and them brought out the worst in both of us, mostly because I was starting from a place of spite and resentment.

Once I decided to attract a relationship with someone who would love me with all my big, intense passion, things changed. When my husband showed up, I finally found the perfect fit, because I had become a magnet from a place of self-acceptance, not from a place of self-loathing. Because in the end, it doesn't matter if you're dramatic or laid back, or whether you and your partner have similar personalities. What matters is that you're both being true to yourselves, and that you've come to each other by being the magnets that are attracting what you really want. After all, Great Relationships Begin Within!


- Maryanne


by Maryanne Comaroto of Maryanne Live

Featured Weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine


*The magnet is the second tool in my relationship tool belt. Get a copy of Hindsight: What You Need to Know Before You Drop Your Drawers!.

...(Why you should blame the caveman if you can’t zip your jeans.)

If you pride yourself on your late model car or your trendy clothes, you’ll be surprised to learn that you’re walking around in a body designed over a million years ago. This is around the time the Homo Erectus model was first introduced; the Neanderthal version came out around 100,000 years ago and the very latest (but only slightly modified) body style, Homo Sapiens (ironically named “modern man”) was released by the manufacturer approximately 40,000 years ago. Almost no aspect of civilization since then, including the development of agriculture (around 10,000 years ago), the industrial revolution (a few hundred years ago), and the first McDonald’s (around 60 years ago), has even made a dent in our genetic design. You see this evolution business is rather slow going, requiring tens of thousands of generations for any observable mutation to occur. Extrapolating on the basis of the time span comprising a generation, fruit flies (with a generation of only 9 days) evolve around 852 times more quickly than humans. (Makes one wonder why they aren’t the master species in the white lab coats peering at tiny humans stuffed into test tubes or copulating in petry dishes.)

Anyway, the point is your body thinks it’s still back in the Pleistocene epoch, and if you think you have a hard time getting psyched for work every morning, imagine your body’s surprise and disappointment to find itself planted in front of a computer 8 hours a day instead of romping through the jungle chasing (or being chased by) saber-toothed tigers. (This dismay and confusion is sometimes expressed in the form of Type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease.)

Now we’re told that approximately 133% of our country’s population is obese, and an even greater percentage is just plain overweight. In contrast, Google up the phrase “prehistoric man and South Beach diet” and you’ll find no direct hits - zilch. This research methodology has led scientists to conclude that obesity was not present among our prehistoric ancestors. This makes sense given the dramatic differences in our lifestyles, particularly related to diet and exercise. Think about it - we struggle against super-sizing; they struggled against famine. We exercise to get rid of excess food; they exercised to get enough food and to avoid becoming food (and, I might add, burned a lot of calories in the process).

With regard to that pursuit of food, it appears that before we became hunters and gatherers we were that less enterprising predator – the scavenger. Now that doesn’t sound like a terribly demanding workout - wandering listlessly through alleys sifting through trash. Many of us forage through the contents of our fridges at 2:00 a.m. without breaking a sweat. But as we evolved into hunters and gatherers our exercise routines were definitely kicked up a notch or two.

Hunting, as practiced by cavemen, could be quite demanding. It involved setting one’s alarm for an ungodly hour and taking long walks through the forest on unpaved roads in bare feet. Also they tended to throw heavy stones and long sharp spears (think shotput and javelins). And then there was the intensely aerobic aspect of the activity which occurred when it turned out the large (but surprisingly agile for his 6 tons) Mastodon had become highly irritated by the barrage of stones and spears, instead of highly dead.

Now gathering is something I haven’t done much of but I feel like this activity involves a lot of bending over, crouching and almost certainly squatting. Picture it – squat for a berry, get up, squat for a nut, get up….repeat a thousand times a day. (That’s a lot of reps.) In contrast, today’s equivalent of exerting oneself for a meal means opting for carryout instead of delivery, or bothering to put the leftovers in the microwave instead of eating them cold.

In terms of dietary differences, what we know about the eating habits of our ice age ancestor is that he favored raw meat but wasn’t very picky, i.e., an “opportunistic carnivore”, willing to dine on insects if convenient. He also enjoyed leafy plants, vegetables, fruits, nuts, roots, and apparently derived his carbs from “tubers”. (In case you don’t know what these are, Wikipedia defines these as “plant underground storage organs”. Hope that clears things up for you.) Other items on the menu were birds’ eggs, the tissues, brains, kidneys and livers of mammals, rodents and, I’m sorry to say, carrion. It’s also possible our distant relative indulged in the occasional “neighborly” meal, though the issue of cannibalism among our forefathers is subject to debate.

Nothing in the fossils indicates that the trim figures of these early humans was the result of iron wills or super self-control. What they lacked, however, was gastronomical temptations of the kind we face today. Thus it’s hard to imagine this conversation between Wilma and Betty: “I just hate myself – last night I polished off a ton of roots and tubers, and after that I binged on a half-carcass of Giant Wildebeest.” One wonders what would have become of our species if Pliocene man had been exposed to such mouth-watering delectables as double bacon cheeseburgers, deep dish stuffed pizza and caramel pecan Cinnabons. Would he have steadfastly resisted, preferring termites and plant underground storage organs, or become a pizzavore like the rest of us? My money’s on succumbing – after all he was only (mostly) human. And what would have happened next? (I mean after he erased all those pictures of bison on his cave walls and replaced them with triple whoppers and DQ Oreo blizzards.)

Well, one possibility, certainly, is that our species would have become extinct long before the invention of Weight Watchers. But there is also the undeniable chance we could have adapted, and done so in a magnificent way. Over the course of tens of thousands of generations we might have developed a super metabolism, capable of burning 20,000 plus calories a day. Our doctors would be prescribing fettucine alfredo, hot fudge sundaes, and pills to increase our cholesterol; scurvy would be defined as the lack of sufficient butter and whipped cream in the diet.

Think how much further along the evolutionary path we’d be if Homo Erectus had the foresight 500,000 years ago to invent cheese fries and polish sausage instead of fire. Perhaps not what Darwin had in mind when he coined the phrase “survival of the fittest” but, oh, so much better.

In a way it’s rather too bad we aren’t fruit flies. You hardly ever see a fat fruit fly.


* * * * * * *


OPTIONAL DIET AND EXERCISE PLAN

You, too, can be as svelte as a Neanderthal. Here’s a diet and exercise routine based on the habits of our cave-dwelling ancestors:


Breakfast - eggs of extinct birds, scrambled; fruits and berries


Lunch - flesh of Giant Ground Sloth; termites; side of carrion. (Tip: for flavorful leftovers mash up extra meat with a large stone and sprinkle with assorted insects)


Snack - small fried rodent; nuts and sedge grass


Dinner - leafy plant salad; brains of Woolly Rhino; roots; kidneys of cave dweller living next door (if he happens to be slower than you)


Complementary workout – vigorously chase your pet around the living room hurling small stones and sticks; throw a hundred or so pennies on the floor and squat to pick up each coin individually



by Alisa Singer of  WWW.ALISASINGER.COM

Spring has sprung in the Northeast; birds chirp and flowers blossom as the outdoor entertainment season arrives. My family loves to be outdoors and we embrace the outdoors for every day we can before the snow shows up again. Even a postage stamp sized yard could become a welcome refuge on a warm evening if given the right décor to help create the atmosphere. Candles, a cozy chaise, plump pillows, a table with comfy chairs and some lush plants can all quickly create an oasis out of even the tiniest apartment balcony.

You can use gazebos to add a wall and ceiling effect or you can use potted bushes to help define boundaries, give the feel of columns and create privacy too. Tree canopies can add the feel of a ceiling and plants climbing a trellis become living walls. Fill planters with herbs, fruits, veggies and flowers. Add lattice or a trellis to your planter and let Peas, Grapes, Clematis, Morning Glories or Moon Glories climb up to give the illusion of walls. Grow berry bushes and dwarf fruit trees in pots to get your feet wet if you’re considering organic gardening. This will not only make your “room” more fragrant and private but it’ll also give you a wonderful, cost saving resource for produce.

Keep costs low by picking the brains of your local nursery owners rather than hiring a landscape designer. Buy young specimens of the plants you love; they’ll grow quickly with the right care and optimized soil conditions. My kids and I love to grow things from seed & bulb that we start in the fall and keep in a cool, dark place until spring when we bring them all out to transfer to the garden. This is an activity that my Autistic son even loves!!

Think outside the box while using ordinary garden items that can become even better decorations if painted, stacked, turned upside down or added to other things. Create side tables by taking 2 terracotta pots, paint, and glue together & top w/wood, glass or tile for side tables. Use bird baths side by side and top with a reclaimed shutter or plank of wood to construct a sideboard quickly & inexpensively. You can do things as simple as wrapping your lamp post with rope to make it seem like you’re by the docks.

How great is it that now you can get outdoor chandeliers that use either electricity or candles!! They have wireless speakers that will work off your Ipod that can be inside in the air conditioning. Drag out your vibrant table linens and get some great dishes that make it seem like vacation. Drag out the good blender, crank up the ice maker and pump up the tunes that make you think “summer”!!

Happy Decorating!

Mary

Posted by Mary of Illuminate, Decorate and Fascinate

Featured weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

Putting healthy, nutritious meals on the table for your family every day often feels daunting, but it can be as easy as opening your pantry. Even on busy nights, when you may be tempted to hit the drive-through, cooking at home with simple ingredients from your pantry is a more nutritious, cost-effective and quicker solution when dinnertime rolls around.

"Keeping your pantry stocked with basic, non-perishable items is an economic and easy way for families to put nutritious meals on the table every night," says Dave Lieberman, chef and cookbook author of "The 10 Things You Need To Eat: And More Than 100 Easy and Delicious Ways to Prepare Them." "My advice is to keep a running grocery list with you at all times, and when these pantry staple items are on sale, you can purchase them in bulk - ultimately helping you stretch your grocery dollar." The 10 Things You Need to Eat: And More Than 100 Easy and Delicious Ways to Prepare Them

All pantries should include the basics: pastas, corn starch, oil and flour, allowing you to put together family meals in a matter of minutes, but Lieberman says there are more essential, must-have items that no cupboard should be without. Here are some of his tips and tricks on stocking the perfect pantry.


Tip 1: Stock up on canned tomatoes.

Unlike fresh tomatoes, canned tomatoes contain more nutrients and lycopene because they are pre-cooked, which enhances their nutritional content. Tomatoes have a unique flavor combination of sweet, savory and acidic all at the same time, making them a staple ingredient to cuisines around the world. Studies have shown that tomatoes may help reduce heart disease risk and protect against certain types of cancers. Lieberman recommends keeping cans of Del Monte Stewed Tomatoes on hand because they have a lot of the same vegetables he normally adds to his dishes, such as onions, celery and green peppers - the perfect base for any one-pot feast.


Tip 2: Lentils keep your family feeling full, longer.

Lentils are one of the highest-fiber foods in the world. They are also rich in protein, contain no cholesterol, and virtually no fat. The best, yet often overlooked solution for adding fiber to your diet comes in the form these disk-shaped earthy legumes. The fiber in lentils will keep your family feeling satisfied, helping to prevent late-night snacking on less nutritious foods. Not sure exactly how to use lentils? A delicious family-friendly recipe Lieberman suggests is his chicken and lentil quesadillas; simply substitute lentils for traditional refried beans and serve.


Tip 3: Nuts are the perfect pantry staple snack food.

Walnuts, almonds and peanuts are great items to have on hand at a moment's notice, especially when guests drop by unexpectedly. Nuts are loaded with heart-healthy fats and omega-3s. Studies have shown that four servings a week may lower your risk for heart disease. Lieberman relies on nuts for textural contrast, especially in salads, like his green mango salad. When you finely grind nuts, you get a rich creaminess you can actually use as a substitution for dry flour in many baking recipes.


Tip 4: Don't throw out leftovers.

Shelf-stable stocks and broths are inexpensive and add a lot of flavor to all kinds of dishes, from soups to sauces. They are also a great way to add robust flavor to bland or dried-out leftovers. In addition to using stocks and broths to add excitement to food, some other great items that you probably already have in your cupboard are:

* Black pepper. Most recipes call for a dash of salt and pepper. For bigger flavor, grind your own pepper from peppercorns rather than using pre-ground pepper.

* Salt. Keep different types of salt on hand to add unique flavors to your meals, like fine sea salt and kosher salt. Avoid using iodized table salt to flavor meals, because it's very easy to over-salt your dishes with it.

* Olive oil. In addition to its health benefits, such as lowering the risk of heart disease, olive oil is considered one of the "healthy fats" you should eat. It is the perfect last-minute flavor for salads and soups. Extra virgin olive oil has the most flavor and is the least processed olive oil, meaning it's more pure; therefore, more heart healthy.

* Parmesan cheese. You'll find this ingredient in most recipes because it's delicious and lower in fat than other types of cheese. The best part? You don't need to add that much to your dish to experience the rich flavor it adds.


For more tips and recipe ideas from Lieberman about how to cook healthy and nutritious meals from your pantry, visit www.delmonte.com/solutions.

Courtesy of ARAcontent