Category: Diet & Nutrition

Apple CIder Vinegar - For Health and Beauty

Apple Cider Vinegar – For Health and Beauty!

There’s a LOT of hype regarding Apple Cider Vinegar for Health and Beauty.  Is taking a swig of Apple Cider Vinegar in the morning worth it?  In all honesty….I REALLY had to think hard about it.  It’s WORLDS apart from drinking my Starbucks hot chocolate every morning,  but after doing extensive research on the subject, if I’m going to Subtract those Years, I think it’s going to have to be added to my morning routine.

My Morning Apple Cider Vinegar Routine…A little Goes a LONG way!  It’s DEF an Eye Opener!  (No judging my Pj’s!)

What does the research actually show about drinking Bragg’s ACV?

A benefit that caught my eye was that it assists in the processing of vitamins and minerals in your food. How?  The acid in vinegar helps with the absorption of nutrients as well as B6, folate, calcium and iron. All those phytonutrients in my vegetables…I want to utilize them to their full capacity.  Maxing out my new vegetable rich menu is my goal!

Here’s a list of Potential Benefits:

(taken from Cosmopolitan)

1. It reduces bloating.

2. It increases the benefits of the vitamins and minerals in your food

3. It cancels out some of the carbs you eat.

4. It softens your energy crash after eating lots of sugar or carbs.

5. It keeps you full longer.

6. It can help your muscles produce energy more efficiently before a major push.

7. It could lower your blood pressure.

8. It balances your body’s pH levels, which could mean better bone health.  (Gotta love this one too)!

I can’t help feeling that taking a tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar first thing in the morning, (before breakfast) will really help maximize the benefits of my healthy eating routine throughout the day.  So…

I’m feeling extra confident that I’m doing all that I can to keep moving toward my goal.

It’s been ONE week since I’ve started and I’m already feeling energized!

Saturday’s post is next! 😃

 

 

Food Prep for Breakfast

Food Prep for Breakfast

Everyone seems focused on food prep for lunch ( which is important), but food prep for breakfast is JUST as important!  How many times do we get up a little late and rush out the door because of some unexpected distraction (hence my previous addiction to Bacon Gouda!)  ???  I’ve always had good intentions but life is crazy and hectic and I’ve habitually fallen victim to the morning Fast Food Industry, making them richer and me physically poorer.   The bottom line is….We all have to eat SOMETHING every day so why not make the best of it, keep things simple AND nutritious by adding breakfast food prep to our routine.

Since nutrient dense food needs to be for EVERY SINGLE MEAL……. prepping veggies in advance for the morning is just going to be a MUST DO!

For me the containers can’t be too big and they must be easily available and ready to go.  There’s these cool Baby Food Containers I spied at Target a while back ago (BPA free) and I bought two stackables of four (a total of 8  1/4 cup containers)  That’s 8 breakfasts! PERFECT for an ENTIRE WEEK!

The previous blog shows how I use them for breakfast.  I’m sure I will be changing things up a bit soon.  Variety is the spice of life!  Right?  Gotta keep those taste buds wanting for more!

5 Reasons to Meal Prep

#1 – Meal Prepping Improves Your Time Management

#2 – Meal Prepping Will Help You Stay on Track

#3 – Meal Prepping Saves You Money

#4 – Meal Prepping Helps You Regulate Portion Control

#5 – Meal Prepping Helps You Win the Mental Game

 

Reading all this info at tigerfitness.com really enforced my motivation to start my day out right.  Not only do I want to look better but I want to feel better too.  The better I feel the more things I can accomplish during the day.  Isn’t that what we all want to do….feel better?

My next addition to my routine will be coming soon!  : )

 

Breakfast Done Right

Breakfast Done RightBREAKFAST DONE RIGHT!

Thank goodness I’m a breakfast person!  A breakfast done right is the only way to eat!  On this journey I’m going with whole foods only.  Breakfast will be a balance of protein and carbs.  It must be nutrient dense!

Eggs are such a great protein.

Eggs have six grams of protein and ALL 9 essential amino acids, and personally, they taste great!  A little bit of heart-healthy coconut oil in the pan, drop in a couple of eggs, sprinkle a little salt and pepper, and my taste buds are happy!  😋  Organic quinoa or brown rice (separate or mixed) topped with home-prepped veggies with a couple of eggs and I’m a happy camper!  A guilt-free breakfast!

As a woman over 50 I want to make sure I get a little heart-healthy oil for every meal.

Since I’m going for weight loss AND skin rejuvenation at the same time, WHAT I eat along with HOW MUCH I eat will be very important for optimal results.   Cooking with coconut oil instead of olive oil is so important.  When you’re cooking at a high heat, you want to use oils that are stable and don’t oxidize or go rancid easily…coconut oil is the winner!

BREAKFAST MENU

This is actually VERY filling and has LESS calories than my beloved Bacon Gouda! 🤭  Oops!  Did I actually say that out loud?!?!?!

[supsystic-tables id=3]

 

Next addition to my morning routine coming this Saturday! 

Can’t wait!!!

 

 

First Healthy Beauty Tip – Morning Beverage Change

Morning Beverage

So, they say…”Beauty starts from within.” Or… “You are what you eat.”  Based on that insight, my  FIRST healthy beauty tip on my journey will start with a Morning Beverage change.  My Daily Starbucks run is now officially over.  🙁  No more hot chocolate with a Bacon Gouda! 😢  YES, I’M CONFESSING!!!  I think it was more of a “routine” thing to do.  And EVERYONE goes to Starbucks or Pete’s for their morning pick-me-up…right?  The answer to that rhetorical question is “NO”.   It was just a guilty little pleasure of mine.

It’s time to make better, improved choices in life.  Choices that will benefit me now and in the long run.  It’s time for some HEALTHY pleasures in life by adding a Morning Beverage Change!

So now, I’m looking forward to a Brighter, Healthier & Happier future! 🤩 I’m replacing my morning hot chocolate with a delicious cup of Lemon Ginger Tea.  Lemon is a definite mood booster (to help me stay motivated on my journey) Not to mention all the amazing benefits that I’ve copied and pasted below from “naturalfoodseries.com”.  You can go to their website and read all the details.  The bullet points that I’ll highlight are:

  1. Good For Your Skin
  2. Improves the Condition of Your Hair
  3. Enhances Cardiovascular Health
  4. Boosts Cognition
  5. Strengthens Immune System
  6. Anti-Inflammatory Agent
  7. Helps with Weight Loss
  8. Good for Mental Health
  9. Regulates Blood Sugar Levels

I love the fact that Lemon Ginger tea has calming effects that can help you counter the stress from your daily life.  Great skin AND less stress…what a great combo!

Feeling GREAT about my morning beverage change!

Stay tuned for my next Healthy Beauty Tip, coming Wednesday!

 

 

An 18-Month Journey back to the Year 2010 and Beyond!

Below are my goals to help achieve my desired results and then….. On to my bucket list!

 

Goal 1 – Weight Loss – 155 lbs. (approx)

(Through nutritious diet – current weight 199.3 pounds)

Goal 2 – Youthful Skin Elasticity while losing weight.

(By building elastin in skin)

Goal 3 – Minimizing Wrinkles

(By building collagen in skin)

Goal 4 – Minimizing or Eliminating Cellulite

(Through proper hydration and food intake)

Goal 5 – Elongating/Stretching muscles

(Through proper exercises)

Goal 6 – Increase Muscle Strength

(Through proper exercises)

Goal 7 – Eliminating “age spots”

(Through natural concoctions)

I want to look my best and feel my best to have the energy, health and confidence to accomplish my dreams.  To finish my life’s bucket list!

An EXTRA 9 or more years would certainly be helpful to do just that!  🤗

For the next 18 months I will post monthly progress photos.  I will try my very best to keep things as real and transparent as I possibly can.  After all……..I  want the TRUTH!

Can someone @ 59 turn the clock back at least 9 years?  I think I can.

Follow me on my 18-month journey.  I will start with nutrition and diet…(Monday’s post)  😃