True Energy Without the After-Buzz

Doctors have always suggested that we should get at least 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep, to let our bodies properly repair themselves, to reenergize for the next day. Sometimes, though, sleep won't be everything we need for enough fuel throughout the day. Some people have turned to sugar-filled energy drinks claiming to help you pick up the pace... which is true, until they drop you flat on your face with the after-buzz. I found some easy ways (via womenshealthmag.com) to get a quick energy boost to help you keep going- all in 60 seconds OR LESS!
-A

Tip 1

Fire up your iPod
Blasting Jay-Z may snap you out of your stupor, but not just because you dig his furious beats. Music stimulates almost every region of the brain, says Daniel Levitin, Ph.D., author of This Is Your Brain on Music. When you perform the same tasks each day "it's easy to get lulled into sleepiness," he says, but background tunes combat the monotony, enhancing concentration and focus. For a stronger jolt, play a feel-good favorite for three minutes. Anything from Britney to Bach will work, as long as it's upbeat.

Tip 2

Watch that ridiculous YouTube clip
Laughter doesn't actually release endorphins, says psychologist Steven Sultanoff, Ph.D., an expert on therapeutic humor. It does, however, increase your heart rate and activate your muscular system, making you feel instantly revived. Most important, a hearty belly laugh provides what Sultanoff calls a cognitive shift. "Energy levels are directly related to the way people think," he says. "And humor changes thought patterns in ways that are very uplifting."

Tip 3

Break your hoarding habits
A messy desk or kitchen counter can be a serious drain. "The reminder of everything we haven't gotten to yet really drags us down," says Emily Wilska, founder of The Organized Life, a professional organizing company in San Francisco. If you don't have time for an overhaul, simply filing loose papers into folders can clear your mind. Wilska recommends using a tray for critical items, so you can remove them from sight without worrying they'll be forgotten.

Tip 4

Take a meditation moment
It may seem counterintuitive, but silence can really revive you. Your brain and body are constantly responding to stimuli, which is exhausting, says Deb Shapiro, coauthor of Be the Change: How Meditation Can Transform You and the World. But it takes only 60 seconds of quiet time to replace all that dissipated energy. "Sit quietly,"Shapiro advises. Breathe deeply for five breaths, concentrating on inhaling and exhaling slowly.

Tip 5

Grab some peppermint
Aromatherapists have long relied on peppermint oil as a natural stimulant. Now scientists are on board: Researchers at West Virginia's Wheeling Jesuit University found that sniffing peppermint immediately improves both athletes' running speed and office workers' typing speed. Its scent acts as a mood enhancer that boosts your motivation and concentration. So grab an infusion, whether it's breath mints, lip gloss, or hand lotion.

When You Shouldn't Ignore the Pain

You've had a stressful day at work, and the moment you come home, the kids are screaming, dinner isn't ready and you're starving, and you realize you have to wake up and do it all again tomorrow. A headache forms, probably just stress, right? Not always. 
I recently got an email, decoding "simple" body pains from headaches to stomach pain, and when you should worry. 
xo,
A

7 WARNING SIGNS YOU SHOULD NOT IGNORE

Usually a headache is just a headache, and heartburn is just a sign that you rang the Taco Bell a few times too many. Except when they're not.
MICHELLE ANDREWS

Severe head pain
This mother of all headaches makes your bachelorette party hangover seem laughable. If you could laugh.
The culprit Odds are, any jackhammering in your brain is just a migraine. But if it's not accompanied by other migraine symptoms (such as a visual aura), sudden and severe pain--we're talking the absolute worst headache of your life--can signal a brain aneurysm. These arterial bulges occur in up to 5 percent of people, but most of the time they don't cause any trouble--you won't even know you have one unless the weak spot leaks or tears. If that happens, escaping blood can flood the surrounding tissue (causing a violent headache) and cut off the oxygen supply there. Smoking and having a family history of aneurysms increase your odds.
The fix "A burst aneurysm can cause brain damage within minutes, so you need to call 911 immediately," says cardiologist Elsa-Grace Giardina, M.D., director of the Center for Women's Health at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center. Your doctor will take a CT scan to look for bleeding in the space around the brain. If he finds hemorrhaging, you'll head into the OR pronto for surgery to repair the blood vessel.

FOR THE REST OF THE ARTICLE, CLICK HERE---> 7 Pains You Should Not Ignore

Happy (healthy) Valentine's Day

I, just like any other person, like a good hearty meal. I believe that a "good meal" can be translated a different way for anyone. For me, it's about a good mix of healthy carbs (whole wheat pastas, whole wheat bread, rice) and lean protein (fish, seafood, chicken, pork). Of course, I love to "top-it-off" with something sweet. It rarely needs to be dessert. I love fruit or jello topped off with a dollop of fat-free reddi-whip. Delicious!
Valentine's Day is fastly approaching (Chris and I are going to The Roof in downtown Salt Lake City), I thought it would be nice to post some ideas I found on having a fun, romantic, and yes, hearty meal, without undoing all your progress. And yes, without the guilt and stomach ache afterward!
XOXO,
A

-Healthy Valentine's Day Dining by www.weightwatchers.com

 

How to enjoy a Valentine's Day dinner the healthy way.
The greatest part about Valentine's Day is spending time with your honey. And what better way to do that than with a nice dinner out?

With a little planning and these six easy strategies, you can take control and treat yourself to a special night.
1. Relax
Don't approach the dinner with trepidation. You're not denying yourself anything, you're making choices about your life. And you're sharing a meal with those you love, whether that is your honey, your family, or a group of friends. How could it get any better than that?
2. Ask for what you want
Scan the menu to create your own dinner. If you want the fish, but don't want the cream sauce, ask for it to be served with the salsa that comes with the chicken, or the fresh herbs from the pasta. If you want veal but don't want it drenched in butter, ask for it with lemon juice and herbs.

Fancier restaurants prepare dishes to order, so it's no problem. Less fancy dining establishments are often willing to make changes too. There's no harm in asking!
The same goes for the sides
That shrimp dish you want might come with potato gratin, but the roast chicken comes with grilled asparagus. Just ask for the shrimp with asparagus.
Tell the chef not to "finish" the sauce
Chefs sometimes swirl butter into a sauce before it's served. Ask if the sauce can be plain, fresh and bright, not "finished."
Ask for recommendations
If the chef cannot accommodate you, ask your waiter to suggest an alternative, lighter preparation. But ask for what you want the way you want it.
3. Order simpler food prepared light
In terms of calories, grilled is usually better than fried; baked is better than braised.
4. Ask for your meal to be divided
Meals these days are often served in enormous portions. Ask the waiter to divide yours before it's served and put one half in a take-home bag that's reserved for you in the kitchen. That way you'll have dinner the next day too.
5. Cut things out during the meal

• Forgo the cocktail, which can be loaded with sugar, and have a glass of red wine instead.
  
• Ask for lemon juice or vinegar on the salad.
  
• Ask for cocktail sauce or chutney on your baked potato, rather than butter and sour cream.

6. Share
You can split an appetizer, a salad or a dessert. It's very romantic to share a dish with someone you love!

Be Mine

Heavenly Chocolate Recipes

I found some decadent chocolate recipes just in time for Valentine's Day this week. The recipes can be found through the link above.
XOXO,
A