In Search Of Self

When it comes to a healthy lifestyle, we are all individuals and must find what works for us so that we can maintain a healthy body, mind,  and also your weight. Not everything is going to work for you and through trial and error one needs to establish a healthy median that you can stick to.


When it comes to nutrition, I tend to not stick to a particular trend such as the, a-hem, diet plans that are out there. Instead I tend to experiment with various diets, and actually sort of go with the flow. I believe that just as you need to shock your body by changing your exercise routine when you reach a plateau, you need to add a variety of foods and actually eat different foods at different times.


I like to experiment, and the one way to gain energy and maintain weight is to have a meatless day at least once a week. Meat is a food that takes longer for us to digest, and by not eating any type of meat at least once a week can make for easier digestion and increased energy.


There are numerous benefits to a variety of diets, and some need to be researched more. The thing is that sticking to one in particular may be hard to do or eventually get boring resulting in eating foods that do the opposite of what we intend to do. I have come up with this idea to experiment with various nutrition lifestyles for either a day, week, or possibly a month. For example, the meatless days are on a weekly basis. My record is 4 days in a week that I went totally meatless.One of my favorite meatless meal plan is the G BOMBS!


I still have to have meats in my diet. The bulk of my meats are poultry, fish and bison or grass fed cow meat. The latter is the least consumed of the meats. I rarely eat pork. I do occasionally enjoy beef liver which is loaded with nutrients that do the body good. I limit it to a couple of times a month because it is high in cholesterol.


I have started a plan where for at least one day a week I will go wheat free. That's going to be hard because whole wheat bread and pasta are a staple. I'll let you know how it goes!


Another important thing about getting the most from your nutrition is knowing how often you should eat. I tend to eat every three hours, with three bigger meals throughout the day or from 6 am to 6 pm. It works for me. The key is variety, especially with fruits and vegetables and legumes, to name a few.


When it comes to cooking, I like to experiment and sometimes I create tastes that may not be appealing to some, but I like them and I cook them for their healing properties. For example, if I cook a piece of chicken, I spice it up with ginger, curry, cayenne, black pepper, hot sauce and lemon juice. Let it marinade for a few hours or overnight.


The bottom line is that I believe for nutrition to work for your healthy lifestyle, you have to experiment and find a happy median you can live with. Splurging in an occasional candy bar is OK as long as it doesn't become a routine. I believe we need that occasional junk food to actually keep us on track. The important thing is to eat more healthier and to find a way to enjoy the foods that are beneficial.


Obviously there is more to talk about when it comes to healthy eating, and February is dedicated to health nutrition.


I am currently at an ideal weight and next month I get my physical. The past years have resulted in outstanding numbers for me for my overall health.

Health Journal 8

We all know how important oral hygiene is in a healthy lifestyle. Dental hygiene is a healthy practice that can prevent major problems including heart disease. You might want to avoid the mouthwash regiment because it can actually raise your blood pressure. A study that found that mouthwashes were beneficial included the ingredient chlorhexidine, which is not available in OTC mouthwashes in the USA.




Winter isn't over yet, and you can build a strong immune system through your nutrition. Yes, the magic powers of foods is coming to life. What can't foods prevent?


Since February is Women's Heart Health Month, maybe we should eat for a healthy heart.


Foods can even help one manage their diabetes.


When does good healthy nutrition go bad? Well we don't really talk about it, but gas comes to mind. Now you can know the food culprits and how to rectify the problem.


I am not a cereal consumer and don't really recommend or endorse them. If you are trying to lose weight and crave the traditional morning cereal, get the best ones!


Foods communicate with us through their colors. They signal their health benefits to our overall well-being. And their colors communicate their benefits to us. It might be to your advantage to learn the health benefits of the rainbow!

Reconsidering Wheat

We went from enriched, bleached and unbleached wheat flour to WHOLE Wheat. It was healthier since it was high in fiber and became a staple for me. Now we hear that whole wheat contains gluten and is modified and not as healthy as we thought. Imagine my excitement when I went from eating the white wheat to eating whole wheat and losing and maintaining my weight. Now to find that this may not be as healthy as I thought, well I am not going to give it up completely.


I found that going from white to whole, I consumed a lot less of the product. Bread, pasta and anything else that I would consume by overindulging, with whole wheat I consumed much lesser and was full longer. So when it comes to this wheat issue, my advice is that if you have a "wheat belly" then you should consider eliminating it. If you maintain a healthy weight and don't have a problem with belly fat, I'd say eat the whole wheat!


If on the other hand you have fat in the belly that you can't get rid of, then perhaps you should remove whole wheat from your nutrition. There are recipes here, here, and here. Besides buying the advertised book, here is a list of wheat-free foods.

South Beach Diet

I am going to dedicate February to the various healthy lifestyles(DIET is a no-no in my vocabulary!) that will help you pursue a healthy and long life. The South Beach diet has been compared to its Mediterranean counterpart. I find the South Beach lifestyle one worth pursuing because it offers a variety of choices that are healthy and easily manageable.


The basic list of must have foods are easy, healthy and inexpensive for the health nut individual. Find out if the SB diet is right for you.


The South Beach is one of the many lifestyle that I will be talking about in February, but your best bet is to start here and take it from there. My advise is to remember that the SB website is loaded with healthy info but still try to sell a product. Although the SB is a great lifestyle, the foods they sell can become a staple if you do-it-yourself with the foods recommended by South Beach.

Tweeking Your Health Routine

You work out and eat right, so your health may be on track. Now it's time to turn it up a notch by adding or enforcing habits in our lives that will benefit our overall health more. Here are 14 of the best habits to improve your health.


Another way to get healthy is to know how to achieve any of your goals.

A Word On Supplements

When it comes to workouts, supplements may be a must for some people. You can actually get your supplements from foods, but most prefer to use supplements made for workouts. Needless to say, it would be best to educate yourself on your requirements for workouts when it comes to supplements.


As far as workout supplements, I would advise against anything containing DMAA which is usually found in popular pre-workout supplement.. Many manufacturers, while insisting DMAA is safe, are starting to remove it.




A good supplement basic can be found here. Education is priceless, so more information can be found here.




The main nutrient supplement for workouts is protein. It feeds, builds and helps muscles recover. If one chooses not to take artificial supplements, then nutrition is your best bet. Try Greek yogurt as a pre-workout supplement and eggs as a post-workout food. Salads, lean meats, pastas are great workout supplement foods that contain protein, vitamins and amino acids.


Workout supplements are an individual choice. One must find what the ultimate goal is and how to achieve it. If you plan an indurance workout 2 or 3 hours from now, a great meal is regular potatoes and sweet potato combo. The regular potatoes give you quick energy and the sweet potatoes give you a sustained energy.

Health Journal 7

In this edition, exercise takes the front row. With winter in full swing, it is easy to become sedentary and lazy. It's the season for excuses. I am already noticing a drop in gym attendance as it is easy to do your routine uninterrupted. While I'm talking about it, maybe we should catch up on our health club etiquette.


Here are fitness mistakes you should avoid.


I'm leaning toward doing more kettlebell workouts. It is easier to handle and grip than traditional weights, plus kettlebells give a great core workout. More can be found here.


If you use a treadmill, here are ways to improve your workout.


Pilates is an easy way to strengthen and tone your body.


Make sure you know your fitness myths. Even I was surprised because I found a couple of myths I actually believed to be true.


If you need help establishing a fitness program, start here.