Exercise - The 3 Step Strategy to a Flat Stomach

The hardest area to tone and tighten is the stomach pooch - mainly because the muscle is hidden under a layer of blub. No matter how many crunches you do, the muscle is still hiding under the fat. Another thing about this belly fat is that it can get worse if you experience high levels of stress which produce cortisol (a hormone). Seems like an uphill battle. Patience and persistence will pay off! So what are the 3 steps? #1 - Exercise #2 - De-Stress #3 - Eat Right Read all the details here: 3 Step Strategy for Flat Stomach

Recipes - Grilling Chicken

On the road to nutrition means cutting carbs/sugar by focusing more on protein. One easy way to get protein in your diet this summer is by dragging out the ol' grill and firing it up! But, wait! Before you toss that hunk of chicken on the metal, read this quick little article so that you can prepare it better and not end up with a chunk of dried-out bland chicken. You want good, cooked, juicy chicken. And if you make enough, you can use it for several days - in stews, soups, sandwiches, etc. Read it here: 7 Common Mistakes with Grilled Chicken

Exercise - The Ultimate 5 Minute Workout

This is an interesting article by Bill Phillips which starts with some amusing observations on what people do in the gym - not much! The article says that gym-goers spend about 15 minutes actually working out and the rest of the time chatting or resting. So the article references several exercises that can be done in five minutes with the most impact. All you need are dumbbells! The exercises: #1: Dumbbell Overhead Shuffle Swing #2: Dumbbell Blast-Off Pushup #3: Three-Way Goblet Squat Check it out here: The Ulitmate 5 Minute Workout

Exercise - The Best New Exercises You're Not Doing

As part of our journey, we must start integrating activity into our lives (I know - boo hiss!) But only with activity, can our bodies become healthier. We can start slowly - with a little activity - and gradually work our way into full-blown workouts or hikes or runs around the lake, etc. So I started searching the web for some exercises that are easy enough to jump right into and that's when I stumbled upon this article from Yahoo. Some of the equipment required are an exercise ball and dumbbells which you should invest in now if you haven't. These are the least expensive and easiest items you need. If you don't have a workout bench, use the end of your couch. Check out these easy exercises: ABS - Mountain Climber with Hands on Swiss Ball HAMSTRINGS - Single-Leg Dumbbell Straight-Leg Deadlift CALVES - Single-Leg Donkey Calf Raise CHEST - Single-Arm Dumbbell Bench Press SHOULDERS - Scaption and Shrug TRICEPS - Swiss-Ball Lying Triceps Extension BICEPS - Split Stance Dumbbell Curl FOREARMS - Plate Pinch Curl UPPER BACK - Swiss-Ball L Raise LATS - Band-Assisted Chinup LOWER BACK - McGill Curlup Best Exercises You're not doing

100 Easy Ways to Cut 50 Calories

The first step of our health journey is to pinpoint easy ways to cut 50 calories - easy things like making swaps that don't affect taste. This Reader's Digest slideshow makes it so easy to shave calories on every day meals: http://www.rd.com/slideshows/100-easy-ways-to-cut-50-calories/#slideshow=slide1 I really like the tips such as:

• Swap a cup of whole milk for a cup of skim. Calories saved: 65
• Use egg whites when preparing your favorite omelet instead of whole eggs. Calories saved: 55 per egg yolk omitted
• Subs for lunch? Substitute 2 tablespoons of light mayonnaise for 2 tablespoons of the high-fat version. Calories saved: 100
• Choose a serving of canned fruit packed in natural fruit juice instead of heavy syrup. Calories saved: 60

Welcome to my journey!

Not another blog about dieting! No, seriously, this is not another blog about dieting. And it's not about my daily struggle with achieving a healthier me - because who wants to read about me all day besides me? So what exactly is this blog about, you ask. After I learned my cholesterol is through the roof and what I've been eating and doing (or actually, not doing, like exercise), I started searching the internet for guides to help me get healthy. And searching... And wading through "how I lost 5 pounds" blogs. And sleeping through scientific research on lowering cholesterol. Until I finally decided that I'd post my research for YOU here so that you won't have to torture yourself through all that research...and searching...and wading...and snoring. I want to share with you what I've found and am finding still on my journey to a healthier me! And hopefully it will help you become a healthier you! :-)