Never Dainty

Yesterday, a colleague of mine voiced out his complaints regarding the speed when we eat. Given the 30 minute allotted time for breaks, who wouldn't learn to eat as fast as Speed Racer's driving speed? But we all know this should not be the case.

• Meal enjoyment - If you live by speed eating, you tend to just eat because your stomach needs to eat. You should be able to enjoy the food you bought or prepared. Why go through all the seasoning, spices, and hard work if you're just going to gobble it down in less than 30 minutes.
• Prevent indigestion - Who wants to have digestive problems? Eat slower so that your body can digest the food better.
• De-stress - Forget about what you're supposed to be doing. When you're eating, your time should be devoted to eating. Being conscious of the things that are happening right now rather than thinking of your to do list gives your brain and body some "down time".
• Weightloss - My favorite part. :) Studies show that by eating slower, you actually lose more weight even when you've skipped on your exercises. By eating slowly, you are consuming lesser food, and thus, lesser calories! :)
• Time for relationships - Eating slowly gives you more time to spend with people around you. It allows another facet of your life to come out for a walk. No doubt when you're at work, work is pretty much in the agenda. So just be on your break.

Labels: eating, eating habits, food, Friday Fitness and Health, health, healthy living, improvement, lifestyle, nutrition

• Phase I: The diet begins with Phase 1, which lasts two weeks. Dieters
  attempt to eliminate insulin resistance by avoiding high or moderately
  high-glycemic carbohydrates, such as dairy, sugar, candy, bread, potatoes,
  fruit, cereals, and grains. During this phase, Dr. Agatston claims the body will lose its insulin resistance, and begin to use excess body fat, causing many dieters to lose between 8 and 13 pounds. For the first two weeks, dieters eat normal-size helpings of meat, fish, vegetables, eggs, cheese, and nuts. This phase includes three meals a day, plus snacks, encouraging the dieter to eat until their hunger is satisfied. No alcohol is allowed (though red wine will be introduced later in small amounts). The dieter loses weight, changes body chemistry, and ends cravings for sugars and starches.
• Phase II: After two weeks, Phase II begins. Whole grain foods, fruits
  and dairy products are gradually returned to the diet, although in smaller
  amounts than were likely eaten before beginning the diet, and with a continued emphasis on foods with a low glycemic index. Sweet potatoes are also now permissible, as is red wine, both in moderate amounts.
• Phase III: After the desired weight is obtained, the diet calls to move
  into Phase III, a maintenance phase. In Phase III the diet expands to include three servings of whole grains and three servings of fruit a day.
  

Labels: exercise, health, healthy living, improvement, nutrition, South Beach diet

• 1 watermelon (the size is up to you)
• 1 box cheese (I use EDEN)
• 1 large can evaporated milk
• 1 small can condensed milk

• Cut the watermelon into small bite sized pieces. The seeds may be taken out or not. Set it aside.
• Cut the cheese into small cubes. Set it aside.
• Open the cans of milk.
• Pour the milk into the watermelon. Make sure to taste it so that you can adjust it to your preference.
• Add the cheese to the watermelon in milk. Mix it well.
• Put salad/mixture in the refrigerator until cooled.
• Serve.

Labels: fruits, healthy living, homegrown, nutrition, recipes, salad

I am in the process of reconnecting with my past healthy self. Sure, that old self had loaded herself with meats and chocolate, but somehow, that self had more energy than this one ever had. God knows I need the energy nowadays, so I have submitted myself to some long-put-off exercising and simple dieting.

Losing weight is not exactly the goal I had in mind. Perhaps it is due to the fact that I have accepted the truth about myself, and that my size is indeed my SIZE. Therefore, healthiness is the main goal, and should a few pounds come off, THAT would be an added bonus.

Among the numerous food that I love to devour, I have always had a thing for fruit. As I was growing up, I was never short on fruit. Over the current years, though, it came to a point where there would be months without fruit, and so I have decided to look into that area and choose a lifestyle that would suit me and the fruit. :D

After some research, I stumbled across a website called The Fruit Pages. The idea is simple and not so hard to follow. Plus, I believe I can improvise and set my own pace. The website provides the following as a starter:

1. Consume as much as you can of the 'right nutrition';
2. Avoid as much as you can of the 'wrong nutrition';
3. Exercise moderately; 
4. Be happy with every small change you've been able to make permanently; 
5. Don't make weight loss more complicated as it is.

See? Fairly easy and flexible. The website also provides some information on different kinds of fruit. Something I have found to be very helpful.

For the moment, I have been consuming watermelons, pineapples, and bananas as an everyday treat. The amount of OTHER food has been changed as well, and I have reduced the amount of meat that I consume. Day by day, I am trying to increase the amount of fruit and decrease all other "bad nutrition." Hey! This could work!

Do you have any other ideas of living a healthy life?

Labels: exercise, fruit diet, fruits, healthy living, improvement, nutrition