Eating Vegetables 101

I recently stumbled across the article while researching topics for Fitlish

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have issued their behavioral study on America's fruit and vegetable consumption, and the results are pretty bleak.

Only 26 percent of American adults eat vegetables three, or more, times per day.

Read the rest of the article at Diet Blog

I've recently taken a special interest in eating more raw vegatables as a result of trying the Paleo diet.  It's actually not all that expensive, or difficult to add more vegatables to your diet.  I just get some small lunch containers and divvy up broccoli, carrots, radishes, etc.  Then take them to work and snack on them throughout the day.  I also eat berries in the same fashion.

It's simple as can be :)  So give it a try.

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How Goofy Can Keeps Engineers from Cutting Logs on the Job

Recently sleeping has become a vested interest of mine.  Especially since I'm going to be pulling nights here in a few weeks at my new job.  Not to mention I've been extremely sour from my new Crossfit routine making it more difficult to sleep!  Thanks to Cash my Crossfit trainer at Aerohead Crossfit here in Phoenix... Don't get me wrong Crossfit is GREAT Stuff, you should all give it a shot :)

To make a long story short I've been researching the topic of sleep for the latest article on Fitlish.  Just now I came across not only Goofy's advice but also some excellent sleeping tips I felt you could use right now.

1. Sleep in a quite place.  I typically buy ear plugs at the pharmacy to keep it extra quiet.

2. Draw all curtains and wear a black out cover on your eyes to make sure it's completely dark.

3. Avoid overstuffed pillows - they do not allow you to rest with your head in a neutral position.

4. Sleep on your side, with your knees slightly bent and with a pillow between your knees. This is the best way to maintain proper body posture when lying down. Avoid curling up with your knees to your chest. " If you must sleep on your back, place a pillow under your knees to support the normal curve of the lower back.

5. Avoid sleeping on your stomach, as this may aggravate back and neck pain.

6. Many mattress manufacturers promote extra firm surfaces, but it is possible for a mattress to be too firm. Similarly, some mattresses may be too soft, especially ones that come with extra soft feather tops. Neither situation allows your muscles to rest, as they must work through the night to find a comfortable position and maintain correct posture.

I can personally vouch for items 1 - 3 so make sure to jot those down!!!   As for 4 through 6 I haven't tried yet.  I know my new pillow top mattress literally felt like somebody beat me when I first got it but now it feels completely heavenly!  I think mattress stiffness may just be a personal preference but this will take some further research.

A high quality natural melatonin supplement such as Advocare ZZZ or Herbalife Sleep Now doesn't hurt either :)  Several of my friends (including myself) are taking such supplements and sleeping like babies despite the most stubborn sleeping difficulties.

For more on healthy living visit my blog at Fitlish.com

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3-Bean Chili Recipe

More fitlish tidbits

I'm definitely going to have to try Stephanie's chili recipe here this weekend!

OK, OK…yes I am still here. Things have been crazy in my life lately so cooking is one of the last things I feel like doing. But my waistline is starting to notice that difference, so I have started cooking again. And what better way to start back up with a 3 bean chili; you could also call this the pantry chili. I dug into my pantry and gathered as much stuff as I could to make a chili and it turned out AWESOME…spicy and yummy. Here is the recipe that I used.

You can get the full recipe at Stephanie Cooks.

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LOL Vegan Wolverine!

More Fitlish tidbits:

I just learned that Vegan is not any old fad!  It's growing steam and even Hugh Jackman is looking into beefing up (no pun intended) on the vegan diet for the next X-Men movie!

...it's been reported that Hugh Jackman is considering using a vegan diet to bulk up for his next movie X-Men Origins: Wolverine II. If a vegan diet almost "killed" Angelina will it produce a ripped, fierce, yet vegetarian wolverine?

Read more at Diet Blog

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The Paleo Diet isn't what T-Rex Ate

More Fitlish tidbits.

OK.  I feel a bit goofy but I've run down a rabbit hole.  I feel I know a lot about diet and nutrition but last night somebody mentioned he was on the Paleo Diet.  The first thing that popped into my mind was T-Rex.  Well I couldn't have been farther from the truth.  I'm still at a loss but it's a diet consisting of mainly nuts, meat, vegetables, and fruit.  No grains folks, absolutely none. 

In my endless search I on the Paleo Diet I stumbled onto this video here which I thought was completely fascinating and defiantly rang a bell.  This guy has taken the diet a step further and eats nothing BUT fruits and vegetables.  It makes since in my mind and I may have to give it a try.  The building blocks of protein are amino acids which he gets from the fruits and vegetables.  Cool stuff!  Although I do enjoy the taste of my protein :)

One thing is clear.  I'm behind the ball on this Paleo Diet thing.  I need to read more on it.  This is the book that seems to have pioneered it all.  I hear it's a quick read and I'll have to pick it up ASAP.  It's entitled, The Paleo Soloution: The Original Human Diet.

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What do Grains and Heroin have in Common?

More Fitlish tidbits.

I Like Bread and Pasta!

Yes, I like that stuff too, but they make me sick. I suspect it makes you sick, as well. Not only do grains make you sick by raising insulin levels, messing up your fatty acid ratios (n-3/n-6), and irritating your gut, but they are also addictive. Grains, particularly the gluten-containing grains, contain molecules that fit into the opiate receptors in our brain. You know, the same receptors that work with heroin, morphine, and Vicodin? Most people can take or leave stuff like corn tortillas and rice. Suggest that people should perhaps forgo bread and pasta for their health and they will bury a butter knife in your forehead before you can say “whole wheat!” Sorry folks, I don’t make these rules, I just have the lovely task of educating you about them.

By Tim Ferris.  Read more, on this topic on the Four Hour Blog

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The Truth About Dissatisfaction

Fitlish blog tidbits.

Great brands are built on dissatisfaction. After all, if you are satisfied with your Revlon makeup or your Nike sneakers or your iPad, why would you buy another one? Satisfied means done, finished, I don't need any more.

from Seth's Blog by Seth Godin

This couldn't be more true!  It's ingrained in us yet we need to root this dissatisfaction out and learn to accept ourselves for who we are.  Then realize and explore the incredible potential we have.  That's the ultimate key to attaining your wildest dreams in fitness and in life!

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Picture Perfect with Oral B Electric Toothbrush

People say a picture is worth a thousand words but honestly it’s only worth a thousand words if you show it. Electric tooth brushes are about giving you that picture perfect smile and in my opinion that’s worth even more than pictures can say!

I was recently introduced to electronic toothbrushes as a result of being diagnosed with periodontal disease. Previously I’d teetered back and forth on the benefit of owning an electric toothbrush. Looking back had I purchased the brush earlier I may have avoided periodontal disease or at least dramatically lessened it’s severity.

Undeniable evidence is showing that a quality electric toothbrush such as the Oral B Triumph is much more effective then manual brushing and dentists are quickly jumping on the bandwagon. Electric toothbrushes simply get to more places than a manual brushes can while maintaining a gentle yet effective agitation of the oral surfaces. This knocks loose more debris and plaque buildup than a manual brush ever could while never over brushing your teeth.

I’ve been extremely happy with my Oral B Triumph brush. It ensures I get ample coverage of my teeth by prompting me with a built in timer to brush in zones. It also has different modes so I can brush my gums, sides, and top of my teeth.

The results are undeniable. Each night I feel like I just had a professional teeth cleaning before I head to bed. Not to mention the brush was a tiny investment that has already paid itself back in full several times by saving me from complicated and costly dental procedures. Periodontal disease has been dramatically slowed, my gums are tight and healthy, and never any cavities!

So don’t hesitate, simply purchase an electronic toothbrush. I highly recommend the Oral B Triumph. If you'd like to read more about it checkout this article here, Jesus's Favorite Toothbrush, The Oral B Electric Toothbrush. I promise you’ll never look back except to take a picture of those newly discovered pearly whites!

Coffee & Fat Loss

Coffee & Fat Loss

via PAULA OWENS ~ Change Your Body. Transform Your Life. by ~ PAULA OWENS ~ on 8/21/10

Do you love your morning cup of coffee? If you're going to drink coffee, it's great before exercise (pre-training), however the worst thing you can ingest after exercise (post training) unless you want a “cortisol fest” and added belly fat. You want high cortisol when you train, NOT after. Add organic heavy cream & a pinch of cinnamon to slow down the insulin spike from the coffee. Need a sweetener? Stevia Plus is the optimal choice. Pass on the sweetened syrups which are loaded in calories, and definitely stay away from sugar-free syrups which are full of high-fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners.

Opt for organic coffee versus non-organic coffee due to the high pesticide content in non-organic coffee. Consumer Reports magazine cautioned readers last year about the potential negative health effects of pesticides. The nonprofit Environmental Working Group urges consumers "to minimize exposure to pesticides whenever possible."                        

 

One of my personal favorites is PowerCafe. PowerCafe® is the first coffee to combine organic dark roast Arabica coffee with the power of Yerba Mate. 

 

 

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