Healthy Back-to-School & Work

Yep, it's Monday and hope everybody had a nice weekend. This may have been back-to-school time for some like here in Georgia. I'm sure the morning was quite different especially getting the kids up out of bed. They will adjust and probably could not wait to see their friends and meet new ones. The Atlanta Journal Constitution newspaper has plenty of coverage as metro students returned to school.

The school lunches are on a quest to be healthier which is one good thing for the returning students. Make sure to include a piece of fruit in their backpack that is easy to eat like a small banana or box of raisins. The temperatures are still warm during the day so drinking water is important. I hope school's are allowing some recess time outdoors for kids to stretch, walk around and socialize.

Just like the kids, pack yourself a healthy lunch and toss fruit into the bag. Make your own trail mix and place in a zip lock baggie that includes raisins, nuts, pretzel twists, and dried cereal. It's the great go-to snack that will give you a healthy jolt of energy.

Healthy Bite of the Day

Happy Monday and we're off and running just like the horses at the Kentucky Derby this past weekend. It's out the front door to work, appointments, errands or class. The spring temperatures are recording summertime readings already. Keep cool and hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Plus, add watermelon as a way to replenish thirst and get healthy bites of nutrition. 

Watermelon is a great source for vitamins C and A along with lycopene which helps fight cancer. It's also fat free! Save time by cutting up bite size chunks for easy snacking and store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. The kids will enjoy the cool down it provides after playing outside. Watermelon helps replenish electrolytes lost during perspiration. It's a great in-between meal snack too. Stay cool and hydrated with watermelon all season long!

Love Handles or Muffin Top

Hey there, it's Monday and I'm fired up and ready to go. How about you? We all  have heard the terms "love handles" or "muffin top" and both are used to describe the little bulges around the waist area.

The love handles is an endearment when pinching at waist in fun with your sweetie. Now the muffin top is a bit more pesky especially when that bulge spills over in our slacks and pants. It's a trouble spot.

Not to worry, there are exercises that help to reduce the bulge of the love handles or muffin top. Simply do 2-3 sets counting to 10 of these exercises that target the waistline:

--->Twist the waist from side to side
--->Do side bends from right to left that target the waist really well
--->Use 3-5 lb free weights in side bends for added resistance
--->Lay on your side and lift up in a bend motion on each side

Keep in mind that healthy eating and cutting down on snacks is just as important for any exercise routine. Get ready to look fabulous in those shapely tees, shorts and jeans. Leave the muffin top at the bakery!


 

Healthy Snack Tip

Happy Monday to All! I hope the morning commute was nice as some drivers were still giddy from the New York Giants Super Bowl win last night. Just wanted to get the week off on a healthy note with this tip.

When the craving for something salty or sweet hits around mid-morning or afternoon, keep this healthy snack close by ->Toss some almonds, nuts, dried fruit like raisins, pretzel sticks and favorite dried cereal in a sealed baggie or airtight container. It's the perfect snack that can be eaten at your work desk or on-the-go from one meeting to the next. Also, snack healthy while waiting to pick up the kids from school. Along with drinking plenty of water in the day, this snack will provide a much-needed boost in energy.