Healthy Living

Sunday, 26 September 2010

My Current Favourite Soup

This soup is just so easy to prepare and make. I always use left-over bones or some chicken part from the baked or grilled chicken. It's always yummy. Just sautee the onion and garlic and add the chicken. Add water for the stock. I really dislike using stock from the shops. It's doesn't taste real at all. So, I just let the chicken boil and create a more good taste. Add the salt and pepper. Then the rice noodles. Presto, soup in less than 10 minutes. Quicker than buying a pair of mbt shoes.

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---------------oOo--------------- Gift Giving Season

October is Mcj and my birthday month. Then, there's Christmas. Well, I haven't really thought of Christmas yet but I know I have to come to terms with that.

I've been wanting to buy a new camera before we embark on a new escapade since my trusty old one broke down on us. I think, this one will do as it's quite affordable. I have to do some research on the review though. Mcj won't have any job of researching online flower shop, as this year I am opting for a more practical one.

But we bought Mcj this. And I am currently using it. How convenient present is that?

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Sunday, 19 September 2010

Boost Your Energy

Some tips here from yahoo lifestyle:

1. DRINK WATER
Dehydration causes fatigue, so stay hydrated to stay bright-eyed. Caffeine can jump start your motor, but you don't want to over do it. Energy drinks and coffee can give you a temporary energy boost by firing up your fight-or-flight hormones, but when they wear off, you crash. Start your day with a glass of water, enjoy your daily cup of coffee, and then switch back to water.

2. GET SOME PROTEIN

If caffeine jump starts your motor, protein keeps things on an even keel by keeping your blood sugar levels consistent. Try some of these super fast protein-packed breakfasts.

3. USE YOUR NOSE

Citrus smells can perk you up, so drop slices of grapefruit, orange, or lemon in your water (bonus: you feel like you're at a super posh spa.) Suds up your hair and bod with citrus scents in the shower, or try the get-up-and-go smell of mint, which stimulates the area of the brain responsible for arousal and can make you more alert. Pop a peppermint as you walk out the door.

4. FIRE UP YOUR IPOD
Music can sharpen our mental focus and boost our mood. Put together a soundtrack to your life that you can listen to as you get ready in the morning, drive to the office, or dance to while you're folding the laundry.

5. GET MOVING

A study from the University of George found that when sleep-deprived people exercised, their perceived level of energy increased by 20 percent and their fatigue was reduced by 65 percent. Take out the dog for a quick walk, power through some crunches and push-ups during the commercial breaks, or pop in one of our favorite workout DVDs.

6. SPEND TIME WITH PEOPLE WHO CHEER YOU

There are some people in your life who make the good times great and the bad times bearable. And we're not just talking your friends and family. Co-workers, as well as the people we interact with casually, like the mail carrier, can help boost our energy. So smile at the barista's corny joke. It might just power you through to lunch.

7. GO FOR GOOD ENOUGH

Trying to be perfect is an energy black hole. Also, it's, well, impossible. So go for good enough rather than perfect. Give a solid effort, and then move on.

And why do I play music while blogging? To perk me up. I know I have to improve my diet as well. I can't be bothered to eat whem I am busy, a big problem for me. I'm always caught up with something that I forget to eat. Oh well, when this directory submissions opp is finished, I might need to eat something freshly cooked.

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---------------oOo--------------- Less Stress

...means, happiness.

In our harried and hurried living, stress has been our constant companion. If we don't watch out, it will eat up our while life, system, and relationship.

Here's some tips I've found to keep calm:

- Surround yourself with friends, family and loved ones, so you're not alone and have a good support network. You'll feel less isolated and depressed.

- Change things that you can change and learn to accept the things that you can't. None of us are perfect, so don't even begin to compare yourself unfavourably with your older sister or talented friend. Remember, your best is good enough.

- Instead of worrying what everyone else is thinking, concentrate on what you're thinking instead. You can control one, but no amount of stressing will change the other.

- When you're feeling down, phone your happiest friend. It's good to talk, even better to listen.

- Repair a troubled mind by writing down your worries. Expressing your feelings on paper will release their intensity, making room for more positive ones in your head.

- Adapt the Tibetan Buddhist practice of living in the present. Whatever you're doing, eating, walking, waiting, in whatever environment, rain, snow, sun, concentrate on that moment. The aim is mindfulness, so you can be at peace.

- Remember, life is ten per cent what happens to you, and ninety percent how you react to it. The choice is yours, sometimes things are less problematic than they seem.

If we can pull it off, life will be more than enjoyable. Health insurance in nc will just be want not a need.

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---------------oOo--------------- Want to Look Tall?

This I really need... found it here, not on this site - you can find diet pills here though.

1. Stretch your Pecs

Tight pectoral (chest) muscles pull your shoulders forward, so to combat that tightness get busy stretching. By opening up the chest, it can increase the range of motion through your shoulders and allow you to pull them back further. How do you that?

Stand in doorway and raise your left arm up to shoulder height, placing your hand on to the door. Slowly turn your body away from your hand until you feel a stretch through your chest and hold for 20 seconds. Repeat on the right side. This is a great stretch and should be done as many times as you can throughout the day.

2. Strengthen your Back

So you've loosened up through the chest, now we gotta pull your shoulders back by firing up those muscles at the rear. If you go to a gym, then a seated row and lat pulldown machine are the ones for you. If not, try the Cobra, you can do this at home.

Lie on the floor, stomach down with your arms along the side of your body. Now pull your shoulders back slowly and think about squeezing through the middle part of your back to do it. Hold for 5 seconds each repetition and do 10 in a set. Once you can do these well, start to lift your chest up and off the floor as well, that's the cobra.

3. Over the Ball extension

This one's a doozy! It'll help stretch out through your abdominal muscles, and decompress up your vertebrae that have been all bunched up together due to the power of gravity.

Grab a Swiss Ball and take a seat on with your feet apart for balance. Slowly walk forward til you're lying over the ball and it's supporting your lower and upper back. Now, stretch over the ball. If you're real clever, try to get your hands on the floor. You'll look like the Arc De Triomphe if you're doing it well.

4. Every 30 mins, take a moment to stretch and unwind

This one will help get you into a routine that fights the tight. If you work at a desk and on a computer, then set up some system that reminds you every thirty minutes to stop, pull back from the desk and open up the chest, it could be a little shoulder roll or a stand up stretch. Heck, go nuts and if you have a Swiss ball nearby, then do the over the ball extension thing. Whatever it takes to get you going the other way from where you going before. Which was hunched

5. When you can stand

All this sitting ain't making us pretty, so the last tip is to get up whenever you can and stand on your feet. Gotta make a phone call, then stand up and stretch your hamstrings and chest. Seriously, get up! You gotta do it. Not only will it help pull everything back into place, but standing burns a lot more energy than sitting, so get up Australia to get skinny! Stand tall, don't slouch and enjoy the view from up high.

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---------------oOo--------------- Eating on the Go

I found this website celebrities-eating.com. See who are the celebs that eat on the go? Here are some.

Just proves that anybody does it. I mean, gone are the days where one has to sit down on a chair and eat. With everyone on the go, why not. Saves time (quite handy if you are handing out insurance quote).

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---------------oOo--------------- Home Cooked

I had a change to watch an episode of Home Cooked with Julie and I can say, it was refreshing. I was more interested in it. I seldom watch cooking shows and not really a fan reality cooking show. But I can, she hooked me. She cooked easy meals with little list of ingredients.

Here is one of the dish she demo'ed:

Fish and chips
Serves 4
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: about 30 minutes
1 kg pontiac or Sebago potatoes
vegetable oil, for deep frying
salt, to taste
1 1/3 cups plain flour
375 ml cold beer
2 tsp salt
8 x 100 g white fish fillets (such as flathead or whiting – ask your fishmonger for boneless fillets)
½ cup plain flour, extra
salt and white pepper
1 quantity tartare sauce
lemon cheeks, to serve

Read more...http://channelnine.ninemsn.com.au/blog.aspx?blogentryid=700549&showcomments=true

I like buying take-aways. My MIL said, I'm the biggest fan. I choose a little bit healthier take aways, if I can say that.

I wish, one day I can find the time to really cook something that I can be proud of (that when we eat we will only need less best vitamins here). But for now, I'll just cook-up any and buy take aways when I have to.

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---------------oOo--------------- Veggie To Go

Wondering what's in Jen's dish? Me too but to be it looks like the Greek Salad but I doubt if she'll have it all on it's own. So another guess is some green leaves (obviously, it's a salad) and feta cheese. It's like the best weight loss pills for women that every one wants to know what she's having. Or is this to prove that she doesn't eat baby puree?

VEGGIE DELIGHT
Jennifer Aniston takes her salad to go during a lunch break Monday on the Georgia set of her upcoming film, Wanderlust.

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Saturday, 18 September 2010

When the food we eat is simply not enough.

Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of the modern lifestyle we don’t always have the time to prepare nutritionally balanced meals. This is where we need to be vigilant and take dietary supplements, especially for growing children, elderly or before and during pregnancy.

However we can’t always afford the time to stand in queues at chemists/pharmacies to get the right advice, let alone pay their high prices. This is where shopping online comes into its own. It allows you to shop and get quality advice from the comfort of your own home and at a time that is most convenient. It is even better when you can get all those benefits and save up to 80% by buying at wholesale prices.

You may wish to try Vitacost.com who offer excellent savings as well as other great ways to save on all sorts of purchases by using vitacost coupons.

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The World as I See It

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Labels: Diet Programs, Diet Tips, Health News

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Saturday, 4 September 2010

Beef Stew

We haven't had beef stew for the past three weeks so I have some beef taken out for dinner. I've done beef stew many times but I want to try something different. Found this recipe from aussiecooking.com.au. Nothing different from what I usually do aside from the gravy and stock.

Recipe for Tasty Beef Stew:
Approx cooking time 2 hrs
1 large casserole pot
1 kg gravy beef
4 potatoes peeled and cut into half
1 litre of beef stock
3 carrots peeled and cut into rings
1 cup of peas
1 diced onion
1/4 cauliflower cut into good size pieces
1 dessert spoon of oil
salt and pepper
1 cup of gravy mixed with water

Heat oil in pot add saute onion
Cut beef into chunks removing any fat
add beef cook until sealed
add stock, potatoes,carrots,cauli,salt and pepper and top up with water until fully covered.
bring to boil then simmer.
** note when potatoes are soft **
add peas and gravy
continue to simmer until gravy is thickened

** can serve with steam rice **

**my favourite is to wipe up gravy with bread and butter**

Read more: http://www.aussiecooking.com.au/cook/recipes/281/Tasty%20Beef%20Stew/#ixzz0yX56287A

Time to turn the Casablanca ceiling fans for some steaming stew for dinner tonight. It's getting warmer here.

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---------------oOo--------------- More Like It

You Are Bitter

You aren't bitter at the world, even though you have a strong personality.
Instead, you are sophisticated and cultured. You appreciate acquired tastes.
You are very powerful. You have the ability to change a room's energy.
While some may find you disagreeable, your points of view are intelligent and interesting.

What Taste Are You?

Blogthings: Take a Quiz. Annoy Your Friends.

Yes, I am it. Enough said.

Anyway, now that it's getting warmer here I'm thinking of snow sleds for the winter that I didn't get to see snow.

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---------------oOo--------------- Brake Unhealthy Habits

Bad habit 1: Not drinking enough water

Sometimes thirst is mistaken for hunger and our body doesn’t always show signals of thirst until we are dehydrated. We lose 1.5 litres of water a day through our skin, lungs and gut via the kidneys as urine, so if you don’t drink enough during the day you’ll get headaches, bad moods and poor skin as a result. You need 2.5 litres a day, so that’s a glass every hour. Drink water after you go to the toilet and have a coffee. Always keep a bottle of water on hand so there’s no excuse.

Bad habit 2: Skipping breakfast

Sometimes you don’t feel like it or just don’t have the time, but missing breaky can make it harder to concentrate and reduce productivity. Listen to your body. Don’t eat a huge breakfast if you’re not used to it, just have something light like a glass of milk, fruit juice or a banana. If you really don’t have time, take a packed breakfast and make sure you eat as soon as you get to work.

Bad habit 3: Mid-afternoon snack attack

The most common cause is carb overload during lunch or not eating enough protein. Snacking isn’t bad, it’s just the choice of food. When hunger strikes in the afternoon most of us opt for chips, biscuits, chocolate (yes that’s me) and cake which are high in fat, sugar and salt. Eat a nutritious and filling lunch instead. Have an extra half a sandwich or fruit and yoghurt after and opt for more protein which will give you energy. If you still want to snack, eat fat-free popcorn, dried and fresh fruit and raw nuts instead.

Bad habit 4: The late-night takeaway

After a hard day at work the prospect of cooking can be unappealing so takeaway is the easy option. But most of the time they are high in fat, salt and sugar and don’t contain any essential nutrients. Overcome it by eating something before you leave the office to take the edge off your appetite. Stock your fridge with foods that don’t perish quickly and store emergency foods like cans of soup and frozen veggies in the freezer.

These are not really my habits but I want to drink water as much as I can. My bad habit is when I'm so caught up with my work (not just selecting online iphone accessories), I forget to drink or eat until I am really hungry that my tummy is grumbling. It's really bad.

source: yahoo lifestyle

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