Be Sure to Bring Your Glasses to the Grocery Store

Knowledge is power! And in the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle it is vital. One of the areas you want to have massive knowledge is with your food choices. So when you are at the grocery store shopping for your food it is very important to read the labels. Just because a product says its a healthy choice doesn't mean that it is. The only way to be sure is to read the label. One thing you want to be absent from the list of ingredients in your food is High Fructose Corn Syrup. Having a diet avoiding hfcs is not an easy task as it is in approximately 70% of food on the grocery store shelves. But avoiding it is a good way to start living a more healthy lifestyle.

So be sure to grab your glasses for your trip to the grocery store to read those labels.

Mindful Eating

Do you use your kitchen table as a desk instead of serving meals there? Do you find yourself scarfing down drive-thru meals in your car? Do you eat while watching television? Do you continue to scoop portions of food onto your plate to the extent you have no idea how much you actually ate? If you answer yes to any of these questions you need to be aware of the act of mindful eating.

Mindful eating tips:

• Instead of having your dinner foods on the table, put your food on your plate at the stove and only eat what you put on your plate....no seconds!
• Never eat in front of the television! BUT, if you do, portion the food out and only eat one portion.
• Don't eat in your car! BUT, if you have to, again portion the food and only eat a portion.
• And the ultimate tool to help with mindful eating is to keep a food journal. Writing down the foods you consume always makes you think twice about it.

I'm always amazed when clients tell me they eat healthy when obviously they don't. If you are 40 pounds overweight, there is no way you are eating healthy! So be mindful of what you eat and be honest with yourself.

Do A Little Down Dog

So many workouts, so little time. Fitness crazes come and go but one that has been around forever is Yoga. Yoga is often misunderstood as a workout. Clients think it isn't enough of a workout or they think their bodies can't bend like a pretzel so there is no benefit to them. They couldn't be more wrong.

Yoga is for everyone. There is a yoga class suited for every stage of your life. At Serenity we call our program "Yoga for Life." It starts with Prenatal yoga; then mommy & me yoga; then little yogis classes for age 4 -11, then Teen yoga; then there is yoga classes if you have an injury or medical condition; yoga for the athlete and the beginner; and wonderful yoga classes for our active adults over age 55. YOGA IS FOR EVERYONE! There are wonderful classes for children with Autism and other SPD's. The results of these yoga classes are amazing.
Yoga is great for weight loss, stress management, and flexibility. Its good for what ails you. It keeps you happy and centered.
So go find a yoga class today!!!

Sore from a Workout? Keep Moving!

Today's "Po-ductivity" Health & Fitness Tip:

If you feel sore from a workout or even if you suffered a minor pull or injury, the worst thing you can do is sit it out for the next day. The best thing is to keep moving. Your recovery will be faster if you keep moving.

Water - Hold the Ice

Keep in mind that it's best not to drink something that's extremely cold, because it puts you at risk for a stomach cramp. You're better off with a drink that's just a bit cool.

But whether it is iced or not, drink plenty of water during this heat wave.

Your To-Do List

The famous "To-do" list. We all have them. And honestly what a great feeling it is to mark things off that list. So I'm not suggesting at all that you don't make your list. As a matter of fact those to-do lists will help keep you organized and thus reduce stress.

The one thing I would warn you about is making your to-do list too long. It can be quite overwhelming and then actually be counter-productive.

When making your list, choose your top three priorities for the day and only put those three things on the list. Keep the list doable and list things that will take 30 minutes or less to accomplish. For instance, if writing a report for work is something to accomplish, perhaps you add "make outline for report" to your list. Only after all three of the things on your list are done do you add three more things. You will be amazed at how quickly you are blowing through your tasks.

"Po-ductivity" Tip #1

Avoid Stress!!! Stress is a leading cause of disease. While I understand we live in a stressful world, there are measures you can take to reduce your stress or be better able to handle the stress.

So today's task is simple......just breathe. When you feel tense and uptight, take a moment, close your eyes and breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Take at least three deep breaths before moving on. Quiet your nerves, your mind and your actions.