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The last post in my series about eating healthy and finding deals on health food addresses a question many of us have had at one time or another: What does it mean to "go organic," and, "why buy organic?" Once again, Victoria has an awesome and informative post that addresses these questions, then finishes with mouth-watering recipe chock full of organic food.  Thank you for sharing your passion with us Victoria! Making the choice to purchase and consume organic food is a personal one. However, it is a choice that you should feel very good about making. By purchasing organic foods, you are ch......
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In part 3 of our series, Healthy Eating on the Cheap, financial blogger Victoria, happens to also be a health food nut who is passionate about organic eating. She has some great tips for buying organic foods if you are buying on a budget.  Thank you for blogging for me today Victoria! Buying Organics on a Budget Perhaps you have decided that purchasing organic foods is going to be a priority for your family. Although your budget may not have much wiggle room, there are ways to make this lifestyle work. Fortunately with more and more interest in organically grown food, there are many options a......
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We stump, stoop, slouch…so much so that the quality of our everyday lives can be directly affected from these posture problems.  I thought of this while sitting at the computer working, and had to stretch to relieve that nagging tightness between my shoulder blades. At the same time, I noticed a whole slew of other bad habits I was committing, and quickly set about practicing what I preach. Why good posture is important: Practicing good posture can improve your breathing, decrease your risk of injury, help you move more easily through the tasks of daily living, and also improve your sports ......
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Not long ago, if your neighbor had told you she was training for a triathlon, you might have looked at her crossed-eyed and with one eyebrow raised. Once thought of as an endurance sport for athletes who had both an unnatural pain threshold, and oodles of time on their hands, triathlon has in recent years become a sport for anyone who likes variety, has a few hours each week to dedicate toward training, and enjoys challenges small and large. No longer a sport just for the guys, the proliferation of female participants in triathlon events proves its growing popularity: in the late 1990s, women ......
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Did you give yoga a shot once upon a time, only to walk out mid-class, scratching your head and wondering, what was I thinking? It is possible the style you tried didn't match your personality, athletic ability, or just moved at a pace geared more toward advanced yogis than beginners. It isn't uncommon to feel lost during your first several classes, but there is a way to ensure you don't feel too out of place: pick the right style of yoga first. Before you write off yoga for good, try a class that is a better match for your personal style. I've compiled a short list of the most common yoga sty......
Dec

22

The good news…the Holiday season is half over. The bad news…there are still 2 weeks left in December. Not trying to be a Scrooge, but come on, I know this time of year is stressful for nearly everyone. Naturally, I turn to exercise as a way to manage stress, but finding time for my usual workouts is tricky this time of year. When my stress level sours and I don’t have time for a lengthy routine, or any time at all for exercise, I turn to these four things to help me focus on my physical, mental, and emotional health:

1. Don’t neglect yourself. It is really easy to get caught up in what everyone else needs during this busy season, and totally shove aside what you need. It is A-Okay to be a tad selfish…especially during the month of December! Schedule a massage, pedicure, or whatever helps you to relax. Keeping your stress levels in check will also help keep your hormone levels in check (read: high stress = high cortisol = weight gain!) Why give stress a chance to widen your waistline? Chill.

2. Get your ZZZZZZZZ’s. This kind of goes hand-in-hand with #1. I know when I’m sleep deprived, I tend to catch colds, feel run down, my workouts suffer, I’m short tempered, yada yada. Seven to eight hours is what the experts recommend. I concur. Now off to bed you go!

3. Don’t deprive yourself of your favorite things. This is the one time of year when cookies are abundant and there is a treat to be had around every corner. Have a nibble or two, but practice some discipline too. For every 2-3 cookies you eat, tack on another 30 minutes of cardio to work it off. Given that time is at a premium right now, I suggest 1 cookie, then call it a day.

4. Connect with the people you love. When we get super busy, it is easy to forget about the people in our lives that make each day special. Spend some time with close friends and family, be in the moment with them and stop fretting about your endless “to do” list. In the end, does it really matter if each present is wrapped perfectly Martha Stewart-style, or if cookies are frosted like works of art?

Happy Holidays!



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