Benefits of detoxing: How and why to detox

                              Detox 101 : How and why to detox

Hi there,

I have a few friends who have asked about detoxing recently so I figured it would be great to share some basic tips with you as well.

Spring is around the corner and it's a great time to consider doing a detox and do a " Spring cleanse". Detoxing can ideally be done every 3 months, but doing one early Fall/Winter and one early Spring are good times as well.

So below I am  offering some general tips on detoxing that I hope will benefit and inspire you to detox.

There are different kinds of cleanses you can do and if you have never detoxed before a candida cleanse, a colon, liver and kidney cleanse are generally most recommended to free your body from toxins that have affected your health. Some cleanses can be done in 7 days, 14 days, 21 or 30 days. Embracing a healthier lifestyle and eating habits are crucial to further benefit from your detox.

                                                DETOX 101

Written by N'na. All rights reserved 2012.

Disclaimers: The suggestions below are not to replace doctors' advices. If you have certain medical conditions you should consult your doctor before starting a detox program or eliminating some things from your diet or adding to it.

Why should you detox?

We live a very toxic lifestyle and in spite of our best efforts to make healthy choices our surroundings,foods and cosmetics are loaded with toxins.

What are some benefits of detoxing?

• Cleanse your body from toxins
• Give your organs a chance to rest and work better
• Give you more energy
• Naturally heals your body from certain ailments : you get less  headaches, less diseases and sicknesses throughout the year.

• Better skin and complexion
• Give you a clearer sense of thinking and feeling
• More willpower and more positive outlook on life
• Weight loss (detoxing assits with weight loss because your organs working better once you give your body a chance to release toxins, bacteria, fecal matter etc).

                         
Which organs can mostly benefit from a detox?
Your whole body can benefit from a detox but some organs play a major role in the quality of our health such as:

• the kidneys
• the liver
• the colon

There is actually various kind of cleanses:
Candida cleanses, parasite cleanses, kidneys & liver cleanses, colon cleanses, colonics, lung cleanses, total body cleanses etc.  Each one is beneficial to your health and for optimal health it's recommended to do them all especially if you have never detoxed before.

When to detox? At least twice a year such  as Spring and Fall.

Please consider Fasting. Fasting is probably the best way to detox your body and your mind. It’s important to fast often. Fitting a one day fast weekly/biweekly or a 3 days fast in your monthly schedule are all reasonable endeavor. ( Please consult with your physician before embarking in any fast)

Keep in mind that while you are detoxing you might experience some headaches, you will have to take more frequent trips to the bathroom as your body must flush out many toxins, bacteria, fecal matter etc. Do not stop the detox on account of these as it's actually a proof that the detox was much needed but PLEASE if you suffer from any particular health condition consult with your physician before, during and after your detox.

To Jumpstart your detox.

Gradually eliminate or cut down certain foods from your daily diet.

Gradually add more healthy food and drink more water.

Drink every morning a glass of water with apple cider vinegar, freshly squeeze lemon juice and a spoon of honey.

Eat daily one or more grapefruits and/or apple.

Select a detox program and time frame as you can detox for 3 days, 14, 21, 30 days or longer.

Drink plenty of water to allow your body to flush the toxins.

Drink detox or herbal teas.

Foods to avoid when detoxing

Sugar

Dairy products

Wheat

Gluten: rye, wheat, bran, barley,baked goods...

Caffeine: Coffee, Black tea, sodas...

Other foods: yeast, alcohol, food additive and preservatives, chocolate, high fat foods.

Foods to eat when detoxing

Fresh fruits.

Fresh vegetables. Great detox vegetables includes broccoli, cauliflower, garluc, beets red and green vegetables.

Rice: Brown or basmati rice. Rice cakes, rice crackers, rice pasta.

Other grains:  quinoa, flaxseed, millet can be used instead of rice.

Beans:  Lentils are a great option.

Nuts and seeds:  such as walnuts, almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds. Avoid peanuts.

Oils:  Extra Virgin Olive oil, flaxseed oil, coconut oil.

Condiments: fresh herbs, sea salt, limited amount of honey, 100 % natural fruits and vegetables drinks, rice milk, almond milk.

Beverages: water, lemon water, herbal teas, freshly squeezed fruits or vegetables juices, smoothies .
                         

Herbs you can use daily to help with your detox: Ginger, oregano, cayenne, fennel, turmeric.

 Garlic: Fresh garlic is great to not only strengthen your immunity but it also cleanses your blood.

                                          Detox products on the market


There are many great products on the markets.

Please do your research before selecting a product. When selecting a product take time to ask questions, explain your goals, research the ingredients included and their roles and be aware of the fact that a detox program will not necessarily feel good at first!

A great website to check is http://www.drnatura.com/

                                  

Detox hygiene

Avoid beauty products that are harmful and loaded with toxins because your skin is your largest organ. Use organic, green or homemade beauty & cosmetics products.

During the time when you are detoxing avoid if you can and if it's not your workplace places such as Nail shop and Beauty Salon or any environment that would expose you to toxins.

Consider dry skin brushing before taking a shower.

Consider oil cleansing to cleanse your face.

Detoxing is about more than food & the body.

Detoxing is not just about food. There are emotional triggers to the food that we eat and habits strongly influenced or influencing our food choices.

Other things to consider when detoxing:

Rest your mind and body more.

Cut down or temporarily eliminate on TV time especially news and TV shows that cause the body stress. Cut down on activities or interactions that are unpleasant and unnecessary.

Train your mind each morning to expect the best.

Refrain from complaining unnecessarily focusing on negative things create more stress on your body.

Take time to start your day with a stretch as stretching allows trapped energy to be released.

Stretch often throughout the day.
see the benefits of stretching http://goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/05/benefits-of-exercising-stretching.html
the benefits of exercising http://goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/05/benefits-of-exercising-introduction.html

Walk more during the day.

Spread more love and do good more good deeds.

Smile and laugh more. ( Being scornful, sarcastic and laughing at the expenses of others is NOT what I recommend).

Keep a journal. Record your emotions, your goals…

Keep a gratitude journal. Make time each day to write things you are grateful for and start and finish each day by expressing verbally or in writing something you are grateful for.

DETOX  your environment.

Make time to go through your home, bathroom, closet, kitchen cabinets, home office and remove everything old, expired, useless etc.

In your closet get rid of everything stained, with holes, old and that no longer fit.

Declutter and cleam your space totally. A messy and dirty environment can also trigger stress and expose you to toxins.

Add some green plants in your home to purify your indoor air.

For more ideas please consider reading the following articles:
"The psychology of weight loss"

http://goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/11/psychology-of-weight-loss.html

"Pampering yourself is good for your health"

http://goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/01/pampering-yourself-is-good-for-your.html

If you consider fasting:

Disclaimer: Please consult with your physician before starting a fast.

Days before your fast drink plenty of water and eat more fruits and vegetables that are rich in water such as watermelon and cucumbers.

Determine the length of your fast. A meal, a whole day, a few days. Any  longer fast should be supervised.

The way you break your fast is very important. Eat foods that are light such as a fruit, a bowl of soup, a salad and eat slowly.
                       


There's a lot more to detoxing than the information I just provided. This article is meant to be an introduction and offer you some direction.

Detoxing is essential to your health and organs' cleanses such as the Colon  cleanses can improve your health and even assist with weight loss.

Detoxing has the power to heal, alleviate or prevent some conditions, so do it often and enjoy its many benefits.

I wish you a happy detoxing, a great health journey and if you are new here you are welcome to become a Follower, Like the FB page, subscribe for email updates and let us know about your detoxing experience!!!



N'na

Check out this great MSN video: Amazing Father Daughter Wedding Dance

Check out this great MSN video: Amazing Father Daughter Wedding Dance

This is so cute!

N'na

Healthy pregnancy: Baby's home

Hi there,

I hope all is well with you all.
I haven't blog in a few weeks and my last post (on Cesaria Evora) was written a while ago and just scheduled to post on my birthday. I am so glad I was proactive.


Anyway, I am grateful to be able to share with you that Nia will be two weeks old tomorrow and I look forward to wathching her grow. I had forgotten how marvellous it is to spend time with a baby.
They are truly a gift from heaven...


My husband returned to work today. Last night, the idea of being home with baby without his help made me feel  as nervous as I did 9 years ago when I brought my first child home. He has been a great helper with the bottle feedings and diaper changing.

Even though it was my fourth pregnancy, the time at the hospital had many "firsts" and I have to say that I am so grateful to God for HIS grace and I am glad to be home with Nia. Life is a gift so precious and I am learning with this baby that even when things do not go as planned or initially expected it's a privilege to be able to brag of God's grace and mercy.

I am so glad to be home and Nia has been showered with so much love before her birth, during our time at the hospital and since we got home over a week ago.

My neighbors have been a huge blessing in our transition. We have been blessed with healthy delicious meals every night of our first week home and for someone like my hubby and I who have no family locally it means so much to receive that kind of support. Their kindness brought so much comfort.

The day before my birthday I received this beautiful welcome gift (below)from my big brother and sister-in-law who live in a different state. I tend to miss my family more than usual in times like this and I tell you... something as simple as this bouquet makes me feel so good even when I am up breastfeeding or warming breastmilk bottles in the middle of the night.

I am actually looking at it as I write this post....

The big brothers & sister have been wonderful with their little sister. They haven't put to the test their diaper changing skills http://www.goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2012/01/natural-pregnancy-week-38teaching.html  but they have assisted in every little way and I don't mind them spoiling their baby sister who is already expecting someone to run to her every time she cries.

For real, they literally run to her to assist when the pacifier comes out of her mouth, they tell her " coming Nia" every time she fusses, they 'fight' over who gets to assist during clean up time, hold the diaper bag, pick her outfit of the day etc. 

Her oldest brother diligently reads to her every single day since the very day she was born. It's sweet!

Well, friends that's a wrap for today...I figured some of you would love to know that the baby is here and learn about her days at home.

I want to say a huge Thank You to every single of you who have been around and to the ones that just joined. I thank you all for your support and for your prayers. Please continue to keep us in your blessed prayers.

I grew up in Africa so I know that it " takes a village" to raise a child.
You might all be my 'virtual' family but every good thoughts and every blessing are felt in a special way.

Hope you are ready for more baby & mama stories, tips etc as I keep blogging about a Better Body and Better Life the Natural Way!

N'na

Loving my roots: Cesaria Evora, the Morna & Sao Vincente

January 24 is actually my birthday and as I thought about it I realized that it would be a good time to launch a new feature on my blog. The idea came to me during the month of December when cesaria Evora passed away.

"Loving my roots" is my way to appreciate and honor my (Black /African) origins.

Today I am taking you on a small historical tour as I share how Cesaria Evora influenced my life as a young African girl. 





I have fond memories of my childhood listening to Cesaria Evora. As a child growing both in a French speaking African country and in France I was so intrigued by the beauty of her voice, her language (Cape verdean Creole) and the Morna.


The Morna is a music and dance genre from Cape Verde. It's considered the national music of Cape Verde just like the fado is for Portugal. You can easily detect the fado (portuguese) sounds in the Morna.


    In case you wonder why the Morna has a portuguese influence here a very quick history.
In 1495 the Cape Verde islands became part of the portuguese empire.

In 1951, Cape Verde's status changed from a Portuguese colony to an overseas province.
In 1961 the inhabitants became full Portuguese citizens.
In 1975 the islands became independent following the 1974 coup in Portugal, after which Portugal began abandoning its colonial empire.

When I first moved to the USA 17 years ago, I carried with me some of Cesaria Evora albums. She was ( her music) a faithful companion, helping me overcome the solitude of a new life away from home while, homesick, I would find comfort in listening to familiar vibes.




The Queen of Morna, Cesaria Evora passed away on December 17,2011 and it's her death that actually triggered in me the desire to honor my roots and start this new feature on my blog.


She was born on  August 27 1941 in Mindelo, Sao Vincente, Cape Verde. She started singing at 16. It was always enchanting to hear songs  of ' La Diva aux pieds nus'  a.k.a the barefoot diva.  She got that nickname from the fact that she would perform without wearing her shoes.


All the pictures were found online but there's something sentimental to me about this one below because it reminds me of my grandmother.

Cesaria Evora photo credit Eric Mulet

Hope you have a moment to enjoy the video below, the music is exquisite.


This song "Carnival of Sao Vincente" and this version in particular is one of my favorite as I love to dance to it and it always put me in a superb mood!

Enjoy ....

The video below is a shorter and less " jazzy" version of the one above but offer some very pleasant pictures of Cape Verde.

In relation to Morna, Sao Vincente is more than the birthplace of Cesaria Evora, it's also a  derivative of Morna.
The three main genre of  Morna are:
 1) Boa Vista the oldest genre of morna,
 2) Brava morna and
 3)Sao Vincente a derivative of Brava morna.


Boa Vista, a genre of Morna, is portuguese for "good view" and it's also the name of the easternmost island of Cape Verde.


Just like the name Boa Vista refers to a genre of morna and to a cape verdean island, the name Sao Vincente refers to other things as well.


The name Sao Vincente , portuguese for Saint Vincent, can also refer to 3 locations:

• the island in Cape Verde, 
•  a  coastal city of Sao Paulo in Brazil or
•  a municipality along the north west coast of the island of Madeira.

images of Sao Vincente, Cape Verde

Stunning isn't it?
Situated in front of Senegal in West Africa, the islands of Cape Verde benefits from magnificent caribbean like weather because they are on the same latitude as the Caribbeans islands.



Photo Source: capeverde.co.uk


Historically the islands were used during the slave trade and served as a shipping port.


Image of Sao Vincente Sao Paulo Brazil.  Founded in 1532 by Portuguese settlers, Sao Vincente is Brazil's oldest city.





source: hamiltonpaints.com

Images of Sao Vincente Madeira




Hope you enjoyed my little historical tour! Are you familiar with any of the Sao Vicente location or with Cape Verde? Are you also a Cesaria Evora fan?


N'na

Healthy Natural pregnancy: Week 38 preparing for baby & Teaching siblings to change a diaper.

                              


I am soon to be a mother of 4 and having a healthy pregnancy and recovery is certainly a team effort.



Since I don't have any family around (mom and relatives are too far away) relying on the support of my husband, my children and some kind friends will be my best chance to a healthy recovery and to my success in this new phase.


To increase my chances of success (smiles) I am training my little crew to an unavoidable responsibility: Diaper Change!


 I will not let them handle a newborn alone but it's still important that they know a few things, develop some skills and be more aware of some of the many changes to come.  They are used to babies and small children but having a new baby at home 24/7 will be life changing, even for me!


Success takes some planning and preparation so yesterday we held a
 " Diaper Lab: How to change a diaper 101"


We had a short session a few weeks ago with an old doll. I suppose the first session was more of an intro because the old doll did us no justice...

We had our " intro" session weeks ago with a flimsy doll and pretended that a dishcloth was a diaper.

 Yesterday we were better equipped.The doll we used this time around is called " Baby Alive" and she actually wears a real diaper. 

My son D.A has been having too much fun giving her a lot to drink from her bottle so the doll peed profusely and was soaked. Perfect timing for another diaper changing session!


Imani received this doll from her "Aunty Karmen" for Christmas and the doll talks, eats and drinks and use the bathroom. Yes, the doll actually "urinates" and..."eliminates" .

This first time big sister takes her future role with such enthusiasm, it's beautiful to see her in action. She prayed for a sister and God answered... Please read this following story  http://www.goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/08/word-of-inspiration-babys-gender-and.html

The baby doll wears newborn size diapers. Thankfully " Aunty Karmen" offered a pack of newborn diapers just for the doll. Thank God this baby doll will never need upgrades to bigger size!!!

Well, time to see our little students in action:

                           

My second son, D.A, was small when Imani was born and he is excited at the idea of a much younger sister. He said he would help with diaper changing but will close his nose if it stinks. This is actually very courteous of him as this is coming from someone who totally refuses to clean after the dog.

Hopefully he will treat his baby sister with more consideration when it's time to handle her soiled diapers.

Okay let's see... 

Oops better redo that one! I can already feel urine or diarrhea running all over our hands and clothes with such a loose diaper!  He is redoing it with more precision...

Much better....

The last one to go was my oldest son, he is always helpful and is always the one to volunteer for a task. He changed this diaper so fast that he was done before I even noticed it!

What do you think? That's very promising isn't it? 

With a week left to do some simulations, what else should we pratice?

N'na

Health and Fitness Tips for 2012

Health and Fitness Tips for 2012 by Omonike Anderson

sweet-potatopie.com

The New Year is here! For many of us that means the start of an effective fitness journey. After having my son, I was left with a stubborn 20 pounds that would not budge. However, the ten tips I’m about to share below have not only helped me shed the pounds (and then some!), but also establish healthy habits that will last a lifetime. Remember, your weight loss is a lifestyle change, not something that can be temporarily appeased with dieting. With that said, plan to take on 2012 with a new appetite for fitness and watch those pounds come flying off!

1.       Define Your Goal and Put it Down in Writing: Before you begin, it’s good to know where you currently stand and where you’d like to be. If you don’t have a quality scale at home, invest in one. You may also want to invest in a measuring tape to document inches lost from your bust, waist, and hips. Once you document all these measurements, think realistically about where you’d like to be and write that weight (or measurement) down. Also, think about your other goals. Maybe you’d like a flatter midsection, firmer arms and legs, or simply more cardiovascular endurance. Remember, there is no such thing as spot reduction, but you can still focus on your “trouble” areas.

sitemaker.umich.edu

2.       Discuss Your Fitness Goal with Your PCP: Before you begin your fitness journey, be sure to discuss any and all plans with your Primary Care Provider (PCP). Not only can your PCP help assist you in formulating a great fitness regimen for your age, weight, and goals, but they can also be a significant part of your support system. Also keep in mind that if you have any existing medical conditions, it is imperative to speak with your PCP about safe ways to lose weight.

3.       Construct a Workout and Eating Plan: This should also be documented. Successful weight loss always requires a clear, constructive blueprint that documents a tentative workout schedule as well as a healthy eating plan. Here’s how to get started. First, decide what days and times are best for you to workout. Second, according to your fitness goals, decide which workouts you will do on which days. Third, you already know what you shouldn’t eat, therefore make a list of delicious foods and recipes that you can eat.  Here’s an example of my workout and eating plan according to my goal of overall health and fitness. My eating plan consists of my favorite healthy recipes.  You may be as detailed as you’d like—even down to deciding what you will eat for each meal every day. Remember to eat consistently throughout the day to help speed your metabolism.

WORKOUT PLAN:

·         Mondays: Ab training (30 mins); cardio (30 mins)

·         Tuesdays: Arm and shoulder training (30 mins) ; cardio (30 mins)

·         Wednesdays: Rest!

·         Thursdays: Leg and glute training (30 mins); cardio (30 mins)

·         Fridays: Ab training (30 mins); cardio (30 mins)

·         Saturdays: Back training (30 mins); cardio (30 mins)

·         Sundays: Rest!

EATING PLAN:

BREAKFAST

·         Green Smoothie: handful of kale, spinach, spirulina, barley, 2 cups of organic apple juice, 1 banana

or

·         Cold Cereal: cheerios (original) and almond milk

or

·         Egg Sandwich: 2 eggs, 2 slices of wheat bread

and

·          Fruits: apples, bananas, mandarin oranges, grapefruit, grapes, etc. (whatever you’re in the mood for

and

·         Beverage: 1 glass of water or pure orange juice

LUNCH

·         Spinach Salad: 2 cups of fresh spinach, 2 eggs, 1 ounce of roasted turkey breasts, low-fat vinaigrette.

or

·         Turkey Sandwich: 2 ounces of roasted turkey breasts, 1 slice of provolone, handful of spinach, low-fat mayonnaise.

or

·         Peanut Butter Toast: 2 slices of 100% wheat bread, thin layer of all natural peanut butter, small drizzle of all natural honey.

and

·         Fruits: Apples, bananas, mandarin oranges, grapefruit, grapes, etc. (whatever you’re in the mood for).

and

·         Beverage: 1 glass of water

DINNER

·         Grilled Chicken, Rice Pilaf, and Broccoli: Grilled chicken breasts, all natural rice pilaf, fresh or frozen broccoli

or

·         Spaghetti: Lean beef,  100% wheat pasta, organic tomato marinara, parmesan

or

·         Turkey Sausage, Baked Potatoes, and Carrots: Turkey sausage, red/russet potatoes, fresh or frozen carrots steamed.

and

·         Beverage: 1 glass of water

4.       Get an Accountability Partner: You want your accountability partner to be either a fitness veteran or someone above your fitness level. This person should be have a “no-nonsense” attitude and should help motivate you to work out on those lazy days.  As a quick tip, contact that friend, family member, or coworker whose fitness you admire and ask to join them during their workouts if the schedule is feasible for you.

sweet-potatopie.com

5.       Keep it Simple: Going all out at the gym your first week is the surefire way to ensure you won’t stick with your routine for long. Take it slow and build on your routine by challenging yourself on the weekly basis. If you walked at a moderate pace for 30 minutes last week, this week try finding a “hilly” area or an incline to challenge yourself during your walk. Walking up an incline is a great way to burn lots of calories while elevating your normal routine.

6.       Make it Fun: One of the main reasons so many people fail at reaching their fitness goal is because their workout routine has become stale. Do let it happen to you! Take dance lessons, swimming classes, or join an aerobics team. Get outdoors and do some bike riding, mountain climbing, or go canoeing. Do whatever you have to do to make fitness an enjoyable part of your life. Another great way to keep exercising fun is to get the entire family involved. You’ll feel good after playing flag football with your kids in the backyard, or taking a nice long walk with your significant other while the sun sets. 

avalondance.net

7.       Make Healthy Eating Convenient: When you cook dinner, be sure to cook enough to last two to three days, so that all you have to do is warm it in the oven for the subsequent days—I only have to cook two-three times a week. When it comes to snacking, nothing gets more convenient than a fresh apple or orange from the fridge. If you’re worried about your produce spoiling before you get a chance to eat them, chop them up and freeze them. It only takes five minutes to unthaw when placed in lukewarm water. In addition, always take something healthy with you on the road. Throw an apple in a ziplock bag and place it in your purse, or take a granola bar with you. It will save your life when hunger attacks! For work, prepare your breakfast and lunch the night before and place it in a lunch bag to be stored in the fridge. There’s nothing like a “grab-and-go” in the morning! For breakfast, store a slice of wheat bread with jam and plenty of grapes on the side. For lunch, store a spinach salad with low-fat dressing and grilled chicken (if you’re not vegan). This will help deter you from grabbing that morning breakfast at the drive-through and eating take-out at lunch-time.

8.       Avoid foods that hurt: I advise everyone to do their own constructive research on this matter. But to give a general breakdown of foods you want to avoid, the list goes as followed: [1] Sugar. It is recommended by the USDA not to consume any more than 40g of sugar per day. Sugar usually settles in the most unflattering places of the body (i.e. midsection) and stores as fat when consumed in excess. Be careful, many unexpected foods contain sugar disguised in names like corn syrup, organic dehydrated cane juice, and fruit juice concentrates, just to name a few. [2] Fats. Fats are actually good for you, but you must eat the right kinds. Good fats, such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated, deliver fat soluble vitamins that keep our skin supple and our energy fueling. Bad fats, such as saturated and trans fatty acids, can clog arteries, heighten cholesterol levels and increase heart disease. The USDA recommends not consuming more than 10% of calories from saturated fatty acids and no more than 20-35% of calories from unsaturated fats. Lastly, [3] Sodium. Not only can excess sodium lead to heart problems but it can also increase your water retention, making you look and feel bloated. The USDA recommends not exceeding 2300 mgs of salt per day (appx. 1 tsp. of salt).

admadness.co

9.       Eat foods that help. There are several foods and beverages that help promote muscle formation. Such foods include protein, green leafy vegetables, and carbohydrates (the brown kind!). Foods like these not only aid in fighting fat and building muscle, but also help your metabolism function at its best. Great proteins to try are fish, eggs, and almonds. Great leafy greens to try are spinach, kale, and romaine. Water, green tea, and green smoothies are also great for promoting muscles formation. Water lubricates the muscles and increases strength, green tea helps to burn fat and maintain muscle mass, and green smoothies are packed with nutritious fruits and vegetables that increases energy and provides the body with necessary nutrients to build healthy muscles. The USDA recommends 3-5 servings of vegetables, 2-4 servings of fruits, 2-3 servings of meat, 6-11 servings of grains, and 2-3 servings of dairy on the daily basis. A single serving of fruits and vegetables is about ½ cup. For meat, about 2-3 ounces of cooked lean meat. For grains, 1 slice of bread or ½ cup uncooked pasta/rice. For dairy, 1 cup of milk or 1 ½ ounces of cheese.

10.   Drink lots of water—You’ve heard it before, but I’ll say it again—water suppresses your appetite and flushes your body from harmful toxins, making it a winner for both health and weight loss. The body comprises 60-70% of water and needs consistent water intake to maintain health, as dehydration can compromise the health of the entire body. Studies show that a vast majority of people in western countries are not consuming enough water. To be certain your body is receiving sufficient water, the Institute of Medicine recommends that women consume an average of 9 cups per day while men consume an average of 13 cups. This number of course varies, so the general rule of thumb is to drink half of your body weight. Therefore, if you weigh 150 pounds, drinking 75 ounces (almost 10 cups) of water daily will meet your quota. It is not difficult to do if you carry a 34 ounce water bottle with you everywhere you go and sip it occasionally, refilling as needed.

drninahrehman.com

Remember, you CAN do it! And don’t wait until the weight is lost to start loving yourself (it almost never happens)—start now! Be sure to treat yourself with nice clothing to compliment your frame for each step of your journey, as well as keep up with your appearance to help enhance your self-esteem. Confidence is way sexier than a slimmer frame:-)

Disclaimer: The content in this post is experienced-based and is not meant to replace the advice of a licensed professional.


Words from the editor ( me, N'na)
The article above was written by Omonike Anderson an inspiring woman that I have invited to become a contributor on the blog. For more weight loss articles check the link below and the labels fitness, weight loss, wellness, health etc.
http://www.goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/11/psychology-of-weight-loss.html

Natural pregnancy week 29

8 more weeks left! wohooooo so excited.
Got my doctor's visit on Monday. Everything is going well.
My glucose test done over a month ago was fine.
I apparently gained 5 lbs since my last weight in over a month ago. The thing is, between my last weight in and the previous one I had gained no weight.

I am still doing my best to walk as much as I can.
I still stretch my body daily and
do squats a couple of times a week.

I have had to improve my iron consumption in the past week. No supplement yet just plain old smart food selection. My favorite iron rich food is homemade lentil soup!

That's it for my pregnancy. I am grateful to be doing well and have lot of moral support around me it makes a difference.