Supplements, too many to choose from

I have a friend who has asked me several times about what supplements I take. She has been patiently waiting for my long awaited reply. Sorry! Okay, so here is my unprofessional, but experienced and well read opinion. The best way to get all the vitamins and nutrients your body needs is through food. Remember principle number one, "Eat foods that are closest to its original form... AKA WHOLE FOODS" If you're doing this and truly trying to make every meal, every calorie, nutrient dense then generally speaking you may not need to take anything but a multivitamin designed for your gender. I recommend the book "Super Foods" by Steven Pratt M.D. for ideas on foods that carry all the nutrients your body needs.

But if we don't get all the fish in our diet like we're supposed to or any other nutrient we lack then go ahead and use supplements. I confess that I take supplements to help me feel my very best because sometimes even I don't get all the nutrients I need every day. A word of warning: you should consult with a physician before taking things that go beyond the norm... So... here is what I take; because I don't get enough fish in my diet I take 500 milligrams of EPA/DHA fish oil 2-3 times a day. I take a multivitamin designed for women and Glucosamin for joint health. If you are a woman who is going through or have gone through menopause you might consider taking a calcium supplement to keep your bones in optimal health.

Now where do I buy my supplements, I have found the least expensive place to buy them is online through swansonsvitamins.com. And No, I'm not getting paid to say that, unfortunately! :) After buying them through the grocery stores and health food stores I have found that the best place to buy them is the above mentioned online store. They are safe and secure.

I take something extra when I feel a cold coming on called " Swansons Immune Essentials" without fail this homeopathic supplement kicks whatever I have in the you-know-what and I am feeling good before I feel bad! I also have some Vitamin C on hand and several homeopathic cold/flu and earache medicines on hand for my kids. Search the website and you will find some great deals and great products. If you have any further questions about a particular supplement feel free to send me a message and I'll get back to you.

Now for some good heart pounding exercise. Put on some upbeat music and run or jogg in place for 10 minutes or go for a walk with your kids around the block. Enjoy the beautiful world around you and smile!

Today's recipe: Yogurt!
1 Cup plain yogurt (I recommend Nancy's brand) add some of your favorite fruit to sweetin it up and enjoy!

I know that some of my recipes are more complicated than others. Enjoy the easy ones! :)

Staying Motivated

I think the easy part about changing the way we think about food and exercise is perhaps starting, but then once we've started how do we stay motivated, how do we keep going?

I felt the need to include my hubby in my daily workouts because, although he has no problem staying thin without having to workout, he still needs to exercise to be heart and mind healthy. He did pretty good for the first week or two then the lack of motivation snuck in!

There are lots of ideas to stay motivated; get a workout partner, make a schedual and stick to it, read a book about health and fitness, etc. But I'm not going to sugar coat anything for you, to stay motivated is hard.

I love working out with a variety of home workout videos because it's always different, there's something for me to look forward to. I like being able to see if I can work as hard as the trainer, yes, I am a competitive person. That motivates me. For others it may be that others rely on you as a walking partner, still for some, having a gym membership zap money from your wallet motivates them to get to the gym so their money isn't wasted. You have to find what works for you. I do find that reading a book about health and fitness once a month or so motivates me to do better, eat healthier, and stay strong and healthy for me and my family.

Let's stretch our legs and arms for a bit and enjoy some exercise! Get on all fours, yep, you look funny but it's good for you. Extend your left hand and right leg in opposit directions as though they are trying to touch the opposit walls. Hold for 5 seconds and switch to your other arm and leg. Repeat 15 times. Remember to breathe.

Quick Dinner idea:
Tuna Melts
Empty two cans of drained water packed Tuna into a bowl, mix in some mayo or miracle whip to make it somewhat creamy not too much though, you don't want the Tuna swimming in the Mayo.
4 slices of bread (whole grain)
4 slices of cheese (cheddar or mozzerela)

To make: Put Tuna on bread cover with cheese. Broil in the oven until cheese is melted. Serve with a yummy fruit smoothy. Serves 2.