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Healthy Girl’s Champagne

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 01:20:53 +0000

Drinking a glass of wine, particularly red, a couple of times a week can keep your heart healthy with the antioxidant resveratrol. The holidays, however, often seem a time of overindulgence with plenty of celebrating, rich foods and drinks. In excess, these things not only add unwanted pounds but can accelerate the signs of aging. There are some great non-alcoholic options to choose from so you can save your spirits for really special occasions. You’ll sleep better, wake refreshed and stay on track with being healthier this season when you substitute this healthy champagne for traditional cocktails.

The foundation of the champagne is simply sparkling water, Soda Stream now makes it possible for you to add carbonation to your tap water if you choose. I like San Pellegrino, partly because I love all things European, and glass bottles. The “champagne goes together very quickly, you simply add 1 drop of citrus essential oil to your glass champagne flute: tangerine, orange, lemon or grapefruit. Add garnishes like organic cranberries or twists of lime, lemon or orange. Then pour in your sparkling water to mix it all together. You could even add a couple drops of agave nectar to the glass bottom before adding the water to sweeten your drink for a pure, refreshing spritzer.

The options are endless and can suit your personal taste for the moment. You could even bring along a bottle of San Pellegrino or Perrier and a bottle of Young Living Therapeutic Grade Tangerine, Orange or Lemon as a gift for your hosts this season. Whatever combination you choose, the citrus essential oils work to gently detoxify your system and will give your taste buds a boost. Many citrus oils naturally have anti-depressant qualities versus alcohol which is a depressant, so you’ll be giving your psyche a lift too when you choose to go healthy this season.

1 drop of citrus oil will infuse 8-16 ounces of sparkling water~

Optional garnishes:

fresh, organic cranberries
lemon, lime, orange twist
fresh pomegranate seeds

1 tsp agave nectar for a sweet drink (optional)

Cheers!

How To Really Cut Down On Belly Fat

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 21:41:10 +0000

I’ve had several conversations in just the past few days regarding weight loss and belly fat, specifically during mid-life changes. There is a lot of research available as to what works, what doesn’t and I’ll briefly outline some basic principles as well as some tips that will be helpful to most of you. While many techniques are universal (exercise more, eat less) weight loss is an individual experience since we have varying body types, metabolisms, daily habits tastes and preferences. There are many variables that can affect our ability to lose weight and it helps if you can try to understand what works, or doesn’t work for you. While I haven’t gone through menopause, I have experienced major changes during my 6 pregnancies, hormone changes and weight gain/loss with all of them – some easier than others. I’ll be honest with you, my last 3 pregnancies were the easiest to shed the pounds than the first three, they’ve also been my healthiest years, from an eating perspective, toxin exposure and stress management. Weight loss is not just about what you eat or don’t eat, it includes your daily habits and lifestyle. Here are some key components to keep in mind when you are planning an effective weight loss program.

Food, the good and the bad – This is a no-brainer and there are enough articles written on foods to banish belly fat to occupy you for years. It’s also something many people are already doing. Bottom line is there are best choices in foods and those I’d avoid at all times. Whole foods, fruits & veggies are best, blueberries, grapefruits and avocados among some superfoods (not slathered in sugary, fat laden sauces though). Limit meats, balancing protein intake to include beans, legumes and grains like quinoa. Learn the good and bad fats, my favorite is Coconut oil, I use it for sauteeing veggies, baking, and even as a moisturizer – it melts with your body temperature. No No’s? Anything in the traditional bakery/deli department, white bleached flour breads & pastries, processed deli meats with nitrites and preservatives, high fat pasta salads guaranteed to expand your waistline, packaged, processed frozen foods, chemical vitamin waters and diet drinks (more chemicals for the cells) and sugary sodas . Ningxia Red is an excellent natural option instead of chemical energy drinks.
Curb Your Appetite Naturally – Watch your portions. Drink a cup of tea 30 minutes before eating. Find healthy ways to deal with stress instead of eating to comfort your mood. Prepare your own foods when you can, rather than rely on take out or restaurant food where you may be inclined to eat more.
Move It and You’ll Lose It – As we get older our muscle mass diminishes. When you build strength movements into every day you can fight your body’s tendency to accumulate fat as you age. You can exercise and fit movement into every part of your day, not just a couple times a week. Pilates is a great form of body strengthening and you can benefit from the principles in between regular exercise. Make active movement a part of your everyday routine, whether you engage your backside as you stand in line at the grocery store or walk briskly to your car parked in the back of the lot. If you slump in your chair or seat while you drive, your body’s muscles will support this posture, even more so if it’s done on the couch for hours at a time. Research shows that those who watch TV more than an hour a day tend to gain weight more readily.
Keep your Digestive System Healthy – Slowed plumbing equals toxin build up. Keep your body moving regularly to allow toxin removal and enhance nutrient absorption. Enzymes help breakdown foods so vitamins and minerals can be better assimilated. Chew your foods slowly and completely to assist the body’s digestive process. Drink 8-10 glasses of pure water and eat enough foods with fiber.
Banish Chemical Laden Body Products That are Stored In Your Fat – I feel like I’m becoming a broken record on this subject matter, but this element is so critical. I have experienced this firsthand, especially in my weight loss from pregnancy. My weight loss was very tough my first couple of pregnancies because I was surrounded by toxins and didn’t know it. I was applying chemicals to my skin in the form of “natural” body products, cosmetics and scented home products. It is proven that the synthetic fragrance in many of these products is affecting your ENDOCRINE system. In brief, the endocrine system regulates metabolism, hunger, thyroid function, hormones, literally every body system is affected by the Endocrine! Would you knowingly put something on your body that may disrupt this essential system? Read your product labels and eliminate anything with the term FRAGRANCE in the ingredients. This is just a combination of chemicals. Would you put caramel syrup on your frisee? Don’t put FRAGRANCED products on your skin, instead massage on some cellulite dissolving Therapeutic Grade essential oils like Grapefruit or Lemon (not before sun exposure though). Check out www.EWG.org to see how your products rank for toxicity.
Be realistic about your goals Be honest with yourself about what your lifestyle is really like and what habits you are willing to change. Losing some extra weight often involves letting go of emotional baggage and seeing what influences the food and lifestyle choices we make each day. Healthier living is rewarding not just because your clothing will fit better, but because you’ll have more energy, you’ll sleep better and you’ll have a healthier perspective on life when you exchange poor habits for life-enhancing ones.

I’d like to challenge you this week to read your body product labels and comment back with what you are finding. As a thanks for your input, I’ll send the first 5 comments back with what you found , a sample of the new Slique Tea from Young Living – an immune boosting, sugar stabilizing tea that can help curb your appetite. This “weight loss tea” was introduced in late September at the Young Living Convention in Florida and is already out of stock~ Limit 1 per address.

As with all my articles, I’m not a nutritionist or a doctor and these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. But I am a fitness instructor and a mom who has gained and lost about 240 pounds over the past 15 years. I’ve been at my current weight for 2+ years and look forward to maintaining my weight for many more.

Cellulite No Match For Essential Oils

suep — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 13:31:11 +0000

Our bodies need fat to protect vital organs like our brain. Our cells need fat to function optimally. Too much fat in the body can accumulate in the form of cellulite though - you’ve seen it, the dimpled skin that appears in areas like the hips, abdomen and arms. Cellulite is actually clusters of old fat cells that harden and cause surrounding tissue to lose elasticity. Unless you happen to be a whale or a sea lion, cellulite is one thing most would rather not have. It has no regard for victim – small or large and it appears in the most unwanted places. Many try exercising it off, which can help to a degree. Cellulite also houses toxins from our environment and beauty products such as petrochemicals, pesticides and heavy metals. These toxins must be eliminated before the cellulite can go away. Traditional creams and lotions may target cellulite, but are only a temporary fix. They promise to smooth skin, which lasts only as long as you use the product. Therapeutic essential oils can help take your efforts to another level for long term results. Our bodies respond well to plant materials, whether in the fruits and vegetables we eat or in essential oils we use in and on our bodies. Plant materials in their purest form, with nothing added or taken away, can have positive effects on many body systems.

Therapeutic grade essential oils get to the root of the problem by assisting the body in removing toxins that are stored in fat cells. You can also attack cellulite by increasing circulation with massage, dry brushing or hydrotherapy with a powerful jet stream from your shower head. You can also mix up a natural sea salt body scrub to improve blood flow and start moving toxins out. Follow this stimulation with an application of therapeutic grade essential oils to continue the process. Many essential oils are naturally anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and help deliver oxygen to our cells. All these functions are essential to helping rid the body of pollutants. Many citrus oils in particular have been studied for their effectiveness at dissolving fats. Keep in mind citrus oils can cause photosensitivity – so apply the oils at night, not right before going out into the sun where the oils may make you more susceptible to a sunburn.

The following essential oils are especially powerful in fighting against cellulite:

Grapefruit essential oil: The grapefruit has long been associated with a healthy diet, and for good reason. Grapefruit eliminates toxins in the body – synthetic drugs included. If you are on any presciption or over the counter drugs, consult with your doctor before adding grapefruit to you daily regime. If you are not on any man-made medications, grapefruit oil is a fantastic way to fight against cellulite. You can target areas and massage it on location, diluting with a vegetable oil. Young Living’s grapefruit oil is also food grade so you can take a few drops in a capsule, or add a drop to a glass of orange juice for a boost in detoxing your body from the inside out. Eating grapefruits and ingesting grapefruit essential oil may have a dieuretic effect so make sure to continue to drink plenty of purified water.

Tangerine essential oil: Improves circulation and digestion which will facilitate the removal of toxins. Apply on location or ingest. Add a drop to your glass of purified water for a flavorful way to drink your 8+ glasses of water a day. The citrus aroma will boost your spirits and help you relax.

Cypress essential oil: Increases circulation upon topical application, discourages fluid retention and helps move toxins out of the body. Blue cypress is anti-inflammatory which can help increase blood flow. Dilute cypress essential oil with some vegetable oil and massage into areas of concern working towards the heart. Cypress may also be helpful with varicose veins.

Juniper essential oil: Historically used as a dieuretic, this oil supports kidney function. It is also purifies and assists the body’s natural methods of detoxification. It is also a digestive stimulant and antiseptic.

Spearmint essential oil: May improve fat metabolism, is anti-inflammatory and antiseptic. Effective when combined with grapefruit to target areas with cellulite.

Cel-Lite Magic Massage oil – a Young Living massage oil makes it convenient to attack cellulite. This oil blend includes essential oils of grapefruit, cedarwood, clary sage, cypress & juniper

Cellulite can be slow to dissolve, but when combined with weight bearing exercise, healthy diet which includes drinking plenty of high quality water, and essential oil applications, fat has no chance of survival! Be patient, consistent and diligent and in a month or so you should see some results.

You can order Young Living essential oils at Wholesale (select independent distributor and add a $40 Start Living Kit, your wholesale membership is for a lifetime and does not require monthly orders) or Retail prices as a customer.

8 oz. Cel-Lite Magic Massage Oil from Young Living Wholesale $29.75 Retail $39.14