Forget New Year's Resolutions!

Just make a "LifeList" and list
everything you want to do before you die....

Then each day do something
towards achieving the items on your list!

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By: Holly Rigsby, CPT
FitYummyMummy.com

I know, as soon as you saw the words "easy" and "lose weight" in the headline, you were ready to write this off as another one of those gimmicks or programs that sound too good to be true and usually are. But bear with me and you'll learn 3 strategies that I guarantee will help you in your weight loss efforts.

You've probably been conditioned to believe that weight loss had to be tied to countless hours at the gym, the latest supplement breakthroughs or eating nothing but celery stalks and tofu. Fortunately, dropping a couple dress sizes doesn't take anything that drastic. What it does take is making some small changes in the behaviors that led to the addition of those unwanted pounds.

Here are 3 lifestyle changes that will immediately help you lose that unwanted fat and get your body back.

1. Stop Eating Out. Think back to when you were growing up. Do you remember what the dinner plates looked like? Now compare that to what the "plates" look like at O'Charleys, Applebees or any of the other chain restaurants. It's no wonder we're gaining weight. There are dozens of studies about eating out and they all lead to one conclusion: if you eat out, you overeat! Not only is it almost impossible to exercise effective portion control when you eat out, but you're also compelled to get your money's worth so you eat everything you're served rather than stopping when you should.

The bottom line is that those who eat out consume more calories than those that don't. Take a break from eating out for the next six weeks and see how easily you can drop a dress size or even two. And you can use the money you saved eating at home to buy a couple of new outfits to showcase your improved body.

2. Eat Smaller Portions. You don't have to avoid the foods that you enjoy – you just can't eat big servings of them. An easy way to do this is to use smaller plates for your meals. This will help you fell like you're not depriving yourself while still exercising good judgment. And don't think that just because something is on your plate, you have to eat it. As opposed to what your mother told you, you don't have to ‘clean your plate.' In fact - you shouldn't. Eat slowly and stop when you aren't hungry any more. You'll quickly find that you can enjoy your favorite foods and your skinny jeans at the same time.

3. Make Better Choices. I know I just said that you can eat the foods you enjoy and still lose weight, but that doesn't mean overindulging on processed foods, candy, sodas and chips. The key is moderation. So when you go to the supermarket, do the bulk of your shopping around the perimeter of the store and spend less time in the isles. When you're at work, keep healthy snacks handy so you don't have to rely on the company's vending machine for your energy boost.

But most importantly, make good choices with the meals that don't really matter. Your quality of life won't dramatically improve if you choose a cheeseburger over a grilled chicken salad for lunch, so don't do it. Save the times when you are going to choose foods that might be considered unsupportive for the meals that you really look forward to. Improving your choices will accelerate your weight loss and help you save unnecessary calories without really trying.

Obviously, there is nothing magic about any of these three strategies other than the results that they produce. So start applying these three simple ideas and prepare to get your body back.

About the Author:

Holly Rigsby is a nationally recognized women’s fitness coach, certified personal trainer (CPT) and the author of the internationally popular e-book – Fit Yummy Mummy - Burn Your Baby Fat & Get Your Body Back. Go to fityummymummy.com to get your FREE copy of her special report: "The Five Ways To Boost Your Metabolism."

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It's the holiday season and a time when an extra dozen cookies or so can lead to weight gain. To offset the "Santa Effect" Tara Stiles has designed a yoga routine to shed some weight and to keep from getting stuck in the chimney!

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Busy moms often forget that they need special time, too. A busy, but well-meaning mom won’t make it very long if she doesn’t take care of herself. Changing your mindset can break the cycle of guilt that keeps moms from enjoying time away from their family.

The last item that moms squeeze into their busy schedule is time for herself, if there is any time at all. Guilt keeps moms from taking the time to take care of their bodies. They make dinner for the kids, but neglect to eat because they are too busy running around getting drinks, serving more food, or cleaning the kitchen. Sometimes, they may be too tired to even eat.

Busy moms will tell you that they don’t need time out, but their bodies say differently. So do their minds. Moms who neglect their health get sidelined by the smallest things. A cold could land mom in bed for a week. If that happened, she’d have to direct the household from under the covers. It can be a nightmare — trust me, I know.

The human body is a wonderful machine. It knows what it needs and when it needs it. When the body has had enough soccer games, missed meals, and science projects, it will let you know.

Don’t wait until then to start treating yourself right.

Think of it this way. A happy mom means that her family is happy. Moms are depended on for almost everything, so they need to be up to the task. The only way to do that is to keep the body in tiptop shape.

Include time in your schedule for relaxing events that involve just you. Saturdays are a safe bet because dads are usually available to watch the kids. If dad is not available, hire a local babysitter that you trust.

Spend some time doing something that you always wished that you had time for. If you have the resources, enjoy the spa for a whole day. Get the full “princess” treatment. The relaxing massage and detoxifying salts and scrubs will leave you feeling like a new woman. If you are like me, if your hair looks good then you feel good. Spend a day at the salon getting your hair coiffed and your fingernails manicured.

Don’t feel like you are neglecting your children. Caring for yourself shows children that mom is not a workhorse, but a person who has needs just like everyone else. So, stash the complex and change the attitude. Get yearly checkups to manage your health and weekly, biweekly, or monthly time away in order to be a better mom.

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Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef or turkey
1/2 onion, chopped
1 10 ounce package of frozen cauliflower
2 tablespoons heavy cream
4 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
salt and pepper

Instructions:

Brown ground meat and onion as usual, drain. Spread meat and onion in the bottom of pie dish evenly. Cook cauliflower according to package directions, drain. Whip together cauliflower, 2 tbsp heavy cream, and cream cheese as if whipping mashed potatoes. Season with salt and pepper to your liking (or any other seasonings you might like) Spread whipped cauliflower over the meat layer in the dish. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese across the top. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 - 20 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbling.

Recommended: Now You Can Fill Your Freezer With Delicious Home-Cooked Diet Meals. Save Money - Save Time - Eat Good - And Still Lose Weight.

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Added: December 06, 2007
www.FitYummyMummy.com
Your Fit Yummy Mummy Fat Blasting Holiday Workout. Lose weight over the holidays - you only need 15 minutes!

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By Holly Rigsby, CPT
FitYummyMummy.com
 
Rome wasn't built in a day and your fat loss won't happen that way either. Don't expect to start eating perfectly and exercising religiously tomorrow. Instead set yourself up for success by implementing at least one supportive habit per week. Make an effort to adopt the premise of "progress, not perfection." By developing awareness that improvement is measured by your daily progress, you can save yourself a lot of grief and frustration from the beginning. Focusing on small, positive steps in everything you do is a vital component to change. It starts you moving in the right direction and the momentum of your amazing, transforming results will soon follow. With time, commitment and a willingness to continue to take those small steps, failure is not an option.

How to do it: Be mindful of the fact that you didn't gain it overnight so you're not going to lose it overnight. A safe and effective fat loss program will yield 1 to 2 pounds of fat loss a week, not 10. As you begin your weight loss journey, aim for 2-3 small improvements each week. Build up to eating more supportively and moving a little more than yesterday. These small changes will add up to big improvements over time.

Beware of supplements and "quick fixes" that promise accelerated fat loss. Instead, plan on losing fat weight slowly. Sure we all want instant results, but it's impossible to undo a years of inactivity and poor nutrition overnight.

Instead of only looking at the big picture, try to break it down into smaller bites. Set one-month goals, three-month goals, six-month goals and even yearly goals. Carry over each previous goal to make sure that you aren't stopping one to achieve another. Make sure goals are achievable and realistic and what you truly want. A half-hearted desire will produce half-hearted results.

Remember, life happens and we must face the challenges. Sometimes that means not getting to exercise or eat properly. The difference is we get it. We make it a point to view each situation, each setback as an opportunity to LEARN and ASK, "What could I do differently next time?" Then it becomes a matter of getting back on track as soon as possible. Leave the excuses and blame behind and forget about beating ourselves up – we're only human. Strive to do a little better today than you did the day before. The key is to stay consistent, focused and take daily action. Make goals meaningful. Our minds cannot differentiate between achieving an enormous goal or a miniscule goal it only perceives success or failure. If you set a goal that is impossible to fail you'll only be setting yourself up for tremendous victory.

Don't be too rigid. Telling your self that you HAVE to workout for a set time to feel a sense of completion is ill fated. If you set out to workout for 30 minutes and you only get in 20, you'll more apt to be disappointed regardless of how hard you worked. If you simply set a goal to go to the gym at least 2-3 days a week and complete your resistance training and cardio you'll perceive yourself as a winner.

An additional goal idea: Have you ever wanted to participate in a race or sport that you've never had the endurance for? Then use that as a goal! When the end justifies the means it's easier to make it through the rough spots. It's a win-win situation if you are able to achieve a want and a need simultaneously!



About the Author:

Holly Rigsby is a nationally recognized women’s fitness coach, certified personal trainer (CPT) and the author of the internationally popular e-book – Fit Yummy Mummy - Burn Your Baby Fat & Get Your Body Back.
Go to fityummymummy.com to get your FREE copy of her special report: "The Five Ways To Boost Your Metabolism."

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Ingredients

2 c. sugar
1/2 c. applesauce
2 eggs
1 tsp. maple flavoring
2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
3 med. Granny Smith apples, chopped

Instructions

Mix first 4 ingredients. Add flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Mix well. Add chopped apples. Pour into a lightly greased 9x13 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool and serve.

Recommended: Now You Can Fill Your Freezer With Delicious Home-Cooked Diet Meals. Save Money - Save Time - Eat Good - And Still Lose Weight.

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Want to lose weight fast? It's easy to say goodbye to 10 pounds of unwanted fat with these easy diet tips. Just pay attention to what you eat and be sure to have good tasting, fresh and healthy food including snacks, fill up on vegetables and keep your taste buds happy with fruit.

No need to make sacrifices! Just follow these simple guidelines to lose your first 10 pounds, last 10 pounds or give your weight loss program a boost when it seems to have stuttered to a halt. This is a balanced and flexible plan that you can use for as long as you want.

1. Keep a note of everything that you eat and drink. You do not need to estimate calories. Just write down what it was that you had and the approximate quantity. You will find that being more aware of what you are eating helps you to plan healthy meals and snacks.

2. Halve your intake of all pure or added fats. This means using half as much butter or spread on your bread, toast, muffins and potatoes; half the usual amount of mayonnaise or sauce on your salad; and half the oil in the frypan every time.

3. Limit treats containing sugar to three times per week. This includes chocolate, ice cream, desserts, cake, pastries, cookies, etc.

4. Include a lower fat source of protein at most meals: chicken, fish, beans, cottage cheese, or low fat yogurt. Have eggs, nuts and red meat occasionally but not every day.

5. Plan at least one lunch and dinner every week without meat or cheese. Build those meals around whole grains, vegetables and beans to increase fiber and reduce fat.

6. Reduce the fat content in your milk products. If you are currently drinking whole milk, reduce to 2% fat. From 2% reduce to 1%. Choose lower fat cheese and yogurt. When you buy yogurt, also check that it does not contain sugar.

7. Have at least two servings of fruit every day. This can be for dessert or snacks. Choose fruit that is in season.

8. Drink water instead of sodas, juices, milky drinks or alcohol. Avoid diet soda - the sweet taste only encourages you to crave sugar. Hot water with a slice of lemon can be very refreshing in the morning.

9. Include at least two servings of vegetables at lunch and dinner. If you are getting hungry, have more.

10. Eat slowly. The body is slow to register when you are full and it is easy to eat too much if you are racing through your meals.

11. Grated carrot makes a great snack. You will find that a grated carrot is much more filling than a whole carrot. Strange but true.

12. Use whole grains wherever possible. The fiber will give you a fuller feeling and also help your digestion.

13. Choose food that you can chew. Again this will increase your fiber intake, and the act of chewing will make you feel more satisfied too. This means eating fruit instead of drinking juice. If you have soup, make sure it is chunky.

14. Plan your meals and snacks ahead of time. Plan your shopping too - make a list of what you need and stick to it. If you just grab something when you are feeling hungry, you will probably choose high calorie food.

15. Always switch off the TV when you eat. That includes snacks as well as meals. Studies have proved that we eat larger portions in front of the TV, probably because we are much less aware of what we are eating. When you eat, only eat if you want to lose weight fast.

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A great workout for the lower body and the core, learn how to do the perfect squat.

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Ingredients:

2 cups oat bran
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup nonfat or low-fat vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup fat-free egg substitute
2 tablespoons canola or walnut oil
3/4 cup fresh or frozen (unthawed) blueberries

Instructions:

In a large bowl mix together oat bran, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda. In another bowl combine yogurt, orange juice, egg substitute and oil. Add yogurt mixture to the oat mixture and stir until they are well blended. Next, add in the berries. Spritz muffin tin with nonstick spray. Fill cups approximately 3/4 full. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes or until toothpick/fork stuck in the center comes out clean.

Leftovers keep nicely in the fridge or freezer! You can easily substitute raspberries for blueberries for a different muffin.

Recommended: Now You Can Fill Your Freezer With Delicious Home-Cooked Diet Meals. Save Money - Save Time - Eat Good - And Still Lose Weight.

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By Holly Rigsby, CPT
FitYummyMummy.com

Breakfast is easily the most overlooked solution when it comes to effective fat burning tips. Studies consistently show that people, who regularly eat breakfast, eat fewer calories throughout the day, have better nutritional habits, and weigh less than those who choose to skip breakfast.

When it comes to your fat loss, your goal is to make your body burn more calories. Your metabolism is like a burning fire, how can you make the fire burn stronger without putting something on it to burn? Our bodies are burning fat and calories 24 hours a day, however, calories are burned at the slowest rate while we are sleeping. Without something to jump-start it in the morning, your metabolism may remain in slow motion throughout the day and any extra calories – no matter how healthy - will be stored as fat.

The act of eating and digesting supportive foods frequently, increases your metabolism so you can burn more fat and calories all day long.

How to do it: Eat a supportive meal within an hour of waking. Feel like your always running late? No time to eat? The secret – get up 10-20 minutes earlier and keep it simple. Not only can you increase time spent with your family at the kitchen table, but making time to start your day off with a high protein, high fiber breakfast will boost your metabolism, your energy and your mood. Because breakfast provides you with the energy you need to get through your day, the more energy you have, the more active you'll be and the more active you are, the more calories you burn.

If you are not hungry first thing in the morning, try starting your day with a big glass of water or freshly brewed green tea. Proceed with your morning routine and plan to allow yourself about 10-15 minutes before you walk out the door to eat your breakfast.

If you like to exercise first thing in the morning, eat 30 to 45 minutes before your workout.

Try one of the following options:

1. Eat a light snack – yogurt or a piece of fruit. Eat your regular breakfast 30-45 minutes after your workout.

2. Eat half of your regular breakfast before the workout and the other half about 30-45 minutes after your workout.

3. Drink a meal replacement shake – quick and easy to make and for your body too digest.

Watch out for "Protein/Breakfast Bars". Many of these items seem appealing for they are quick and easy; however the majority of these bars are loaded with sugar and fat. Check the nutrition facts.

Here are some breakfast fat loss favorites: Cereal is a MUST. It's convenient, easy to prepare, easy to eat and full of nutrients – No…"Whole Grain Lucky Charm" does not fall into this category. Be sure to choose your cereals based on the information on the food label.

The top choices should have:

• 5 grams of Fiber or more
• 8 grams of Sugar or LESS
• Sugar not listed among the first 3 ingredients

For all other breakfast options, be sure to include a protein, complex carbohydrate, and fresh or frozen fruit. These are some of my favorites:

• Oatmeal with natural peanut butter, cinnamon and a side of fresh berries.
• Kashi Go Lean Crunch with skim milk and a banana.
• Scrambled egg whites topped with salsa and shredded cheese wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla.
• Meal Replacement Shake with a piece of fruit.

So if you're interested in fat loss, make sure you don't forget – breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

About the Author

Holly Rigsby is a nationally recognized women’s fitness coach, certified personal trainer (CPT) and the author of the internationally popular e-book – Fit Yummy Mummy - Burn Your Baby Fat & Get Your Body Back. Go to FitYummyMummy.com to get your FREE copy of her special report: "The Five Ways To Boost Your Metabolism."

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Ingredients:

1 pork tenderloin -- (approx 8-ounce)
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
1/3 cup orange marmalade
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
2 cloves garlic -- minced
favorite cooking spray
Fresh mint sprigs

Instructions:

Trim any fat from tenderloin. Cut into two pieces. Cut a lengthwise slit down each piece, about 2/3 of the way through and then flatten. Spritz tenderloin with cooking spray and then sprinkle tenderloin with ground pepper to your liking. Combine marmelade, fresh mint, soy sauce, and garlic. Place tenderloins in roasting pan and pour marmelade mixture over top and spread out evenly. Bake at 350 degrees F for 35 minutes or until juices run clear. Garnish with mint springs at serving time.

Recommended: Now You Can Fill Your Freezer With Delicious Home-Cooked Diet Meals. Save Money - Save Time - Eat Good - And Still Lose Weight.

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From the crack of dawn until the edge of night, moms work to keep their families happy and healthy, and usually complain that they have no time to exercise. But, what about time spent with our families? Try combining family time and exercise to keep mom and the rest of the family full of energy.

When your kids have their play time at the park or in the back yard, don’t just sack out on the couch. Find ways to join in with their fun and get a bit of exercise in the process. Create silly drawings on the sidewalk with colored chalk. In the fall, rake the leaves together and take turns jumping on the pile. Just be sure to bag all the leaves when you’re done having fun.

One of my favorite games as a kid was hide and seek. Everyone knows that game. One person is “it” and everyone else has to hide from that person. If you are tagged before making it back to home base, then you become “it”.

Offer to be the first one to count. If you are tired, the process of counting gives you time to get your second wind. Besides, if you start off with kids who are learning how to count, you could be hiding for a long time. When you see the children, have some fun by letting them get at least half way to home base before you chase them. Your energy level will begin to rise and so will the laughter.

Dancing is an activity that qualifies as exercise. People love to do it because it doesn’t seem like exercise. Kids, especially toddlers, love to move to music. Put on some tunes and have a spin around the living room floor. Games like “Ring around the Rosy” combine singing, skipping, and fun.

If you have older children or teenagers, try some video games. I don’t mean sitting on the floor and mashing some buttons on a controller. Newer video games have gone “virtual reality”. These games involve actions on the part of the player that are mimicked by the characters on the television screen. Not only will it be entertaining, your teens can see how coordinated you are—or aren’t.

What about horseback riding? Many moms drive their kids to horse-riding lessons and never think of saddling up themselves. Horseback riding can be a GREAT workout, as you’ll find out the day after you try it!

A family that plays together will get fit together. Set up the volleyball net or some bases in the back yard. A Saturday afternoon game of volleyball, kickball, or baseball is an activity that the entire family can participate in. Invite neighborhood kids to play as well. If everyone pitches in at dinnertime, there will be ample time to enjoy an activity with the kids. Teamwork goes a long way.

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By Holly Rigsby, CPT
FitYummyMummy.com

Would you like to "jump start" your metabolism and lose your ‘mommy belly' once and for all? If so, the following seven tips are exactly what you need to improve your workouts and ignite your metabolism. Try some or all of these tips, but beware, the result may be a number of admiring second glances and the need to pull your ‘skinny jeans' out of the closet.

1. The majority of your workouts should be composed of free-weight, bodyweight or cable exercises.

Compared to machines, free-weight, bodyweight and cable movements often require more skill, create muscular balance, and have a greater metabolic cost. For example, it is more difficult to balance the weights, and to coordinate muscles when performing free-weight exercises. Although this may sound like a disadvantage, it is actually a benefit. By balancing and stabilizing free-weights or cables you are working more muscles through a greater range of motion resulting in more muscles developed and more calories burned.

2. Use exercises that work more than one muscle at a time.

When focusing on fat loss, you can't worry about "shaping" exercises, instead you should use exercises that'll get you the biggest bang for your buck and work as many muscles as possible. Isolation exercises can be used at the end of a workout to work on a specific target area, but they just serve to supplement your core movements.

Virtually every savvy fitness professional is privy to the fact that compound exercises recruit the most muscle groups for any given body part.

If you seek lean, toned muscles and the increase in metabolism that comes with them, you must choose exercises that work as many different muscles as possible. One of the main reasons why squats are superior to leg extensions for improving your body is that they also work your butt, hamstrings and inner thighs in addition to toning your quadriceps while leg extensions focus on just the front of your thigh and don't really offer any other benefit. That same rationale hold true for arm exercises too. That's why dumbell presses and dips will are more valuable for your arms than triceps kickbacks and pushdowns.

A good rule of thumb is to use movements that will allow you to use the most weight. These will have a systemic effect on your body that'll help maintain or increase your lean muscle, and in turn ignite your metabolism.

3. Pair exercises.

Pair your exercises together so that you alternate between upper-body exercises and lower-body exercises or between exercises that target opposing muscle groups (e.g. chest and back).

This type of approach will keep your workouts short and efficient by eliminating much of the downtime that comes between sets of a single exercise since you are working on one movement while resting from another. This approach can also yield huge benefits in your mission to burn fat. Since you'll constantly be moving and keeping your heart rate elevated, you'll be burning far more calories than you would during a typical workout.

4. Keep your reps between 8 and 12.

Through research, it has been determined that the best range for building lean muscle is roughly between 8-12 reps. Since the main focus of your resistance training efforts is to gain lean body mass and stimulate your metabolism, this rep range fills the bill perfectly. "High reps for tone and fat loss" is one of the biggest (and most unproductive) training myths! Somehow the aerobics, yoga and Pilates' community have convinced us that when we perform bodyweight exercises or light resistance training for high reps, our muscles magically take on a beautiful shape without growing or bulging. On the other hand, if you challenge yourself with moderately heavy weights, your body will take on a bulky, unflattering appearance. If you believe this, you probably still believe in the Tooth Fairy!

5. Rest only 30 to 60 seconds between sets.

When you keep the rest periods under one minute, it's easier to stay focused on the task at hand and keeps your heart rate elevated. In addition, it forces your muscles to recover more quickly between sets, along with keeping your nervous system revved up.

If your first movement in an upper/lower body pair is squats, you might want to rest 60 seconds before attempting your second movement. However, if your first exercise is a fairly "easy" exercise, like lat pull downs, you might only wish to wait 30 seconds before doing the second part of the pair.

6. Perform total body workouts.

You must drop the notion that muscle groups work independently of one another. Muscles work together and should be trained that way. Besides, not only does this approach mean less time in the gym, but by working the whole body three times per week, you'll be maximizing the fat burning effect of your program.

7. Cardio is not the cure-all for fat loss.

Cardiovascular exercise aids in the creation of a caloric deficit, but the caloric expenditure during cardio is temporary. Strength training addresses the core of the problem by permanently increasing the rate at which the body burns calories by adding muscle. The best programs will include both strength training and cardiovascular training, but the core or the programs effectiveness is resistance training.

Take these strategies and incorporate them into your workout routine. Not only will you save a lot of time, but you'll also soon see a leaner and more toned body. Not to mention a few more turned heads and the re-emergence of your skinny jeans.

About the Author

Holly Rigsby is a nationally recognized women’s fitness coach, certified personal trainer (CPT) and the author of the internationally popular e-book – Fit Yummy Mummy - Burn Your Baby Fat & Get Your Body Back. Go to FitYummyMummy.com to get your FREE copy of her special report: "The Five Ways To Boost Your Metabolism" .

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Ingredients:

1 bag frozen cauliflower
4 ounces cream cheese
1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese
2 teaspoon garlic
salt and pepper

Instructions:

Cook cauliflower as usual until just tender and drain. Run through food processor, blender, or mash by hand with a masher. Mash in the other remaining ingredients. Salt and pepper to your liking and serve as you would mashed potatoes.

Want a different flavor? Replace 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese with a different cheese like feta, or mozzerella ... or 1/4 cup of your favorite low carb salad dressing, such as blue cheese!

Recommended: Now You Can Fill Your Freezer With Delicious Home-Cooked Diet Meals. Save Money - Save Time - Eat Good - And Still Lose Weight.

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These extraordinary exercises will have you shaking your head in amazement.
By Nick Nilsson

In the course of my experience working and training in gyms, I've seen people doing some incredibly "interesting" exercises. Unfortunately, it's usually because these people have not been properly instructed in exercise technique.

Here are some of the top winners. Remember, these are actual exercises that I've seen people do. I made the names of the exercises up to match the lunacy of how they
look.

DO NOT TRY THESE AT HOME! OR AT THE GYM! OR ANYWHERE!!!

1. Dumbell Hair Combs - Start by holding a dumbell in front of you. Do a front raise with it then whip the dumbell back and over the top of your head like you're combing your hair with it. Make sure to just miss your skull.

2. Hog-tied Face-Rubs - Lie on your stomach on the floor. Grasp your ankles behind your back and rub your face back and forth on the ground repeatedly. Continue until you've had enough.

3. Abdominal Earthquakes - Lie on the floor on your back in the classic start position of a crunch. Now yank as hard as you can on the back of your head up and down and thrash your legs around in the air like you're fending off starving dogs. This evidently works your abs. You will resemble Jello that has just been dropped on the floor. Your face should be as red as a tomato by the time you're done.

4. The Arm Wrecker - Do one cheating, momentum-filled rep of an arm exercise with ridiculously heavy weight then swing your arms around as fast as you can in a circle to get blood to the muscle. This technique will either help your arm grow or will smack the person waiting to use the machine/weights next.

5. Pelvic Demolisher - Stand with your fingers interlocked behind your head. Do a pelvic thrust forward and drop your spinal column down and backwards about 6 inches. This exercise is best done in front of a large group of people.

6. Dumbell Doggy Digs - Bend over at the waist so that your back is rounded completely over like an arch. Your legs should be completely straight and locked out. You should look like you are trying hard to touch your toes but not really succeeding. Hold two dumbells down at arms-length. Now spin them round and round repeatedly just off the floor so that you resemble a dog digging a hole.

7. Pec Rockets - Set the pec deck machine with far too much weight for you to handle safely. Make sure you are very sweaty and slippery before attempting this one. First, use your entire bodyweight to get one arm pad up to the front. Then, throw yourself at the other one to get it to the front. Hold them there for a half-second then get shot four feet out across the floor as you squirt from the machine like a greased banana.

8. Rush-Hour Bench Press - This exercise is done on the vertical seated chest press machine that has a foot pedal to help raise the weight to the starting position. Use this pedal at the bottom of every single rep to bounce the weight back up. Your footwork will resemble that of someone in rush-hour traffic going from 0 to 60 to 0 every 3 seconds.

9. Close-Grip, Behind-The-Neck Shoulder Press - Sit in a shoulder press station, gripping the bar overhead with about 6 inches between your hands. Bring the bar down directly behind your head. Be sure to lean forward 45 degrees and round your back over so that your shoulder joints and lower back each get their fair share of trauma.

10. C.P.R. Bench Press - Start by loading your safe maximum bench press weight onto the bar. Now add 20 more pounds just to be safer. Have your spotter lift the bar off the rack for you. Lower it 2 inches on your own power then allow it to drop and cave in your rib cage. Be sure your spotter is a strong deadlifter before attempting this exercise as you will need them to pull the bar off you at the bottom of every rep. When your spotter has pulled the bar off you after the first rep and is trying to put it back on the racks, yell out "I've got six more reps!"

Remember that this is just a small sample of things I have actually seen people doing. Please be sure when you do your exercises that you take the time to learn proper form and, if you do see someone performing an exercise that is potentially harmful, tactfully assist them.

Nick Nilsson is Vice-President of BetterU, Inc., an internet-based personal training company. He has been training for more than 14 years and has been a personal trainer for more than 8 years. He is the author of the training eBooks "The Best Exercises You've Never Heard Of", "Gluteus to the Maximus" and "Specialization Training".
Click here for more information on these books.

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By Holly Rigsby, CPT
FitYummyMummy

Have you tried everything under the sun to get a flat stomach, only to come up disappointed? Have you fallen prey to all the gimmicks, fad diets and shameless infomercials promising you that elusive flat stomach that you desire?

Well fret no more, I'm going to let you in on the two ‘secrets' that will help you shed unwanted fat and reveal your toned, flat stomach once and for all.

The first secret for a flat stomach is eating supportively. While this doesn't seem like a secret at all, most women get this wrong in spite of their best – but misguided – efforts. Women have fallen prey to low-fat, low-carb, Hollywood, grapefruit, South Beach and every other over hyped diet that marketers can dream up, all in hopes of shedding those unwanted pounds. But eating supportively is isn't about dieting or deprivation; it's about moderation and balance. While cutting carbs or fats out of your nutrition plan might give you a temporary loss of a couple of pounds, it's typically followed by a drop in metabolism and a weight gain of more than you lost in the first place once you go back to your old eating habits.

So what is eating supportively? Eating supportively is having protein and carbohydrates at every meal. It's grazing on 4-6 meals or snack each day instead of missing meals and then gorging yourself. It's enjoying a healthy breakfast and not drinking your calories. But most of all, eating supportively is enjoying the foods you love in moderation instead of in excess.

If eating supportively is the first secret to a flat stomach, then what's the second? The second flat stomach secret is resistance training. Unfortunately, just as fad diets have stood in the path of women achieving the flat stomachs they so desired, so have the myths of spot reduction and cardio being the best method for fat loss. Late night infomercials have long promoted gadgets that promised to spot reduce those trouble spots that women struggle with and sucked us in with testimonials from fitness models that undoubtedly picked up a nifty paycheck for endorsing their wares. But spot reduction is a myth. Think about it – have you ever met someone with a flat stomach and fat arms? Didn't think so. If spot reduction was possible then undoubtedly one of these happy customers would have toned and tightened their stomach, yet kept their flabby arms.

The other myth that has led women astray is the belief that cardio is the best solution for fat loss. Treadmill manufacturers have sold the virtues of the ‘fat burning zone' and led us to believe that we could plod along on a treadmill watching Oprah and before long a flat stomach would be ours. These two myths have diverted us from the path of what really does work – resistance training. Resistance training is a flat stomach's best friend because not only does an effective resistance training session burn plenty of calories while you're doing it, but it keeps you're metabolism revved long after you're done. One recent study showed that you're metabolism would stay elevated for over 36 hours after a resistance training session.

Try to get that out of an aerobics class.

And there's another benefit of resistance training when it comes to getting a flat stomach. The lean muscle that you gain will raise you're resting metabolic rate and help you burn more fat all day long, each and every day.

There you have it, two ‘secrets' that are guaranteed to boost your metabolism and give you that flat stomach you've been longing for. So ditch the diet books and the aerobics classes and start eating supportively and resistance training. Before long that flat stomgvjhgjhvhgach will finally be yours.

About the Author

Holly Rigsby is a nationally recognized women’s fitness coach, certified personal trainer (CPT) and the author of the internationally popular e-book – Fit Yummy Mummy - Burn Your Baby Fat & Get Your Body Back. Go to Fit Yummy Mummy to get your FREE copy of her special report: "The Five Ways To Boost Your Metabolism."

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Ingredients:

5 cups 1/4-inch thick peeled sweet potato slices
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 1/2 teaspoon crushed garlic
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions:

Sprinkle potato slices with rosemary. Add garlic, salt to your liking, and oil. Toss slices in oil and seasoning. Spread evenly in a baking dish. Cover with lid or foil, and bake at 400 degrees F for 25- 30 minutes. Remove covering and turn potatoes over. Bake another 5 - 10 minutes uncovered or until potatoes are tender and top is a nice golden brown color.

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By EJ Cooksey
URL: FitYummyMummy.com

Fit Yummy Mummy Review

What Is It?

This lifestyle program for busy moms is a comprehensive guide to what’s arguably the most widespread, challenging and frustrating issue faced by moms today: how to get their pre-baby body back. For almost all mothers the changes their bodies incur during pregnancy coupled with the countless responsibilities that motherhood bring spell trouble for regaining their pre-pregnancy figure.

There is no shortage of fitness, diet and fat loss products on the market today. You can find a veritable library of conflicting arguments almost anywhere you choose to seek information on the subject of fitness for women, whether it’s online, at your local library, through contact with personal trainers, or through the (less reputable but nevertheless very common) ranks of wannabe experts: aka, those frustrating people with no qualifications and no practical experience but are self professed experts because they ready the last issue of Shape magazine.

What Sets This Product Apart?

After months of frustration spent trawling through the mass of conflicting information on fitness and fat loss, it was with a mixture of joy and near-tearful relief that I stumbled across “Fit Yummy Mummy”, by Holly Rigsby. As the title suggests, this product is specifically for moms wanting to get fit. Literally all aspects of losing fat and getting fit are covered – and the best part is that it is written specifically for busy moms. The material is presented in a manner both chatty and educational – it’s kind of like having a friendly conversation with a close friend that happens to be a fitness expert (with the added benefit of being able to refresh your understanding of the matter at any given time, simply by scrolling back to the relevant section!)
The tone of the book presents a welcome contrast to the other fitness products so freely available elsewhere on the Net: it’s friendly, understanding of the unique situations moms face, informative, and above all, commonsensical. No unrealistic recommendations, 2 hour workouts, or zero-carb diets here: it doesn’t take long to see that this lady knows what she’s talking about when it comes to mom’s lifestyles (and did I mention she’s a mom too?)

What’s Actually Included?

There’s a quick section on getting started and goal setting along with some morale-boosting advice on how to stay on track throughout the program, and then it’s straight into an action plan to get you started on the path to burning baby fat and getting your body back.

The Supportive Nutrition Plan is next – this is particularly helpful! Every conceivable nutrition issue is covered, from how often you should eat to what you should keep in your pantry. And on top of that, it includes a ‘Create a Menu Planner’ to guide you in creating every meal to support your success.

Next, the Fit Yummy Mummy fat loss workouts are covered, but not without easy to follow explanations of the why’s and the how’s for every part of the workout program. The workout plan even offers four different formats that you can plug into your lifestyle, something not found in any of the cookie cutter fat loss programs on the market. My favorite part of the workout section is that regardless of your exercise (or lack of exercise) background, there is a workout designed specifically for you. And no matter what you fitness level is, none of the workout programs require more than 90 minutes a week.

Finally, there’s a section called the Busy Mom’s Fat Loss Companion crammed with easy to use tools and resources like a goal setting sheet, fitness journal, exercise descriptions and even a ready made grocery list. The author has figured out every excuse and obstacle busy moms have and addressed them all.

Just Because It’s Detailed Doesn’t Mean It’s Confusing

Sound overwhelming? It’s actually very user-friendly. Not only is this e-book packed with sound practical advice and the whole thing is laid out in a very logical and easy-to-understand format, but it comes with a Quick Start Guide to make sure you start acting (and seeing results) fast. The tone of Fit Yummy Mummy light and non-threatening (no scientific terminology here!) and it proceeds in a logical manner from step to step, with plenty of photos and descriptions to ensure that you are doing everything right.

Troubleshooting

In my opinion, one of the best parts: a follow up e-mail coaching series from the author that keeps you on track, gives you daily fitness tips and even healthy recipes. While most moms have the best of intentions, staying on track is tough. This follow up e-mail coaching series is the perfect solution.

The Verdict

Regaining their pre-pregnancy body is a daunting task for most moms, but the author’s personal experience and hands on work with over 250 moms is pretty reassuring; and she certainly knows how to break it down for even the most exercise illiterate. In addition to the main features detailed above, there are plenty of valuable extras included to make getting your pre-baby body back as easy as possible: checklists, do’s and don’ts, printable workout sheets, even ready to follow meal plans!

All in all, two thumbs up from me: when the information on hand is as detailed, easy to absorb, and - above all – reliable as Fit Yummy Mummy, you really can’t go wrong.

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Ingredients:

8 ounce package nonfat cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons chopped green onion
1 1/2 cups cooked chicken breast cuts
2 tablespoons nonfat sour cream
1 teaspoon dried dill
4 (10 inch) low-fat flour tortillas
1 1/2 cups fresh spinach
Nonfat ranch salad dressing or salsa

Instructions:

Combine the cream cheese, onion, chicken, sour cream and dill. Spread on tortilla. Place spinach leaves on top of the filling layer. Roll tortllas and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight before serving. Slice into bite size pieces and serve with dip of your choice such as nonfat ranch or salsa. Great to prepare the night before and pack in lunches for the next day. If you slice about 1/2 inch thick you can serve as a pinwheels appetizer as well.

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The back and stomach muscles are all affected by one another as they form a girdle around the lower torso. It stands to reason, then, that your posture affects how your stomach looks, and the strength of your stomach muscles affects your posture.

1. Stand Up Straight - This actually has a few different effects.

Slouching accentuates belly fat, so simply sitting up will make you appear slimmer. Proper posture helps improve the strength of your back, which of course makes it easier to maintain proper posture longer. Poor posture leads to back pain, which makes stomach exercises difficult. Having good posture will make it easier for you to work out your stomach muscles and get a flat stomach. A nice straight posture enhances blood flow throughout the body, particularly to the legs and lower back, both of which are involved in many stomach exercises.

So, if you are trying to get a flat stomach, the first step is to simply sit and stand up as straight as possible as often as possible. Do that, and you are already on your way!

2. Back Extension

For the reader familiar with the crunchless crunch, this move will seem similar but backwards. For this exercise, you will need to start by lying on your stomach with your forehead on the floor. You may use a mat or towel to cushion your pelvis and head. Position your arms by your sides, palms up. Contract your back muscles to lift your torso off the floor. Hold the contraction briefly, then release and slowly lower your torso back down to the floor. Repeat for an entire set.

The next part of this exercise begins by extended your arms out above your head (picture a superhero flying through the air). Now lift your legs off the floor simultaneously while keeping your head and arms held in place. Try to imagine your legs growing longer as you are lifting them up. Hold your legs up briefly, then slowly lower them back to the floor.

Doing these two things will help you strengthen your back and correct your posture, which are great first steps to getting a flat stomach. You will also want to continue working on your back muscles and other core muscles, such as the transverse and rectus abdominus. Stomach exercises that work the core will help you straighten up your posture, lose belly fat, and gain muscle tone in both your back and stomach.

As with any workout routine, be sure to consult a professional before beginning and always warm up properly to avoid injury.

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For busy mothers, it is especially difficult to schedule time for exercise with small children, work, and other appointments. Good news—even ten minute intervals of exercise have lasting benefits. The next time you have a small slice of time, fit some cardiovascular exercise into it.

The biggest obstacle to exercise is excuses. When exercise is no fun, any excuse in the book will do to get out of it. If something is boring you will be more reluctant to find the time to do it. Moms, we’ve got to get over this hurdle.

There’s no one exercise that works for everyone. Some people like walking while others like a more vigorous activity. Figure out what you like to do. Once you know what type of exercise would be fun for you, start finding the time to do it.

Start with your morning routine. Moms usually rise early to get the day started for the family. If you wake early to lay out clothes or fix breakfast, do these things the night before. Now when you get up early, you have some free time to go on a brisk walk.

Moms usually make lunches the night before, so why not breakfast too? This can be a great help for the mom who needs to find time to exercise. If breakfast consists of a home cooked meal, switch to an easier menu on the days that you exercise. Cereal bars, cold cereal, or even fruit smoothies can shorten breakfast preparation time.

Get in a quick workout. There are many thirty minute workout tapes on the market these days. Pop the tape or DVD in the player and get started. If a vigorous workout is too much for the morning, try a stretching routine that will get those muscles energized and awaken the entire body.

If afternoons are better for you, set up a schedule with a sitter. Start off with one or two days a week. Ask a friend to watch your children for an hour or so. This will give you time to workout (factor in driving time if you join a gym) and shower and change. An afternoon workout may be just the boost you need to get through the evening at home with increased energy.

A stay at home mom is busy, but has a better advantage as far as workout time. When the kids go down for a nap, pop in an exercise video and get to work. If that won’t do, consider a day out with other moms in the park.

Take turns watching the children while the other moms take a jog or a bicycle ride. Depending on how long you plan on being in the park, everyone in your group should get at least twenty or thirty minutes to exercise. Having someone else to exercise with is also a plus.

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Exercise is a very important part of a person’s daily life. It keeps our bodies working in peak condition even when our minds are not. Daily exercise is essential for optimal cardiovascular health and a long life.

Moms are bad about recognizing the importance of exercise. In the grand scheme of things, exercise falls low on our list of priorities. We try to eat right, but we forget about the other half of the healthy life equation.

Any and all physical activity is beneficial in some way. Even ten minutes of activity three times a day adds up over time. So, when half an hour or forty-five minutes is not in your schedule, three or four ten minute sessions might be doable.

Our brains continue to be strong as we age. It’s the other muscles that have the problem. As much as a pound of muscle a year is lost after age forty. Resistance training rebuilds muscle mass to fight back against the persistence of time.

Muscle burns more calories than fat. With small children in tow, busy moms need all the muscle they can manage. Muscle mass keeps the metabolism high and the body burning calories even during sleep. That’s what a busy multi-tasking mom needs—exercising in her sleep. How efficient is that?

Exercise, particularly aerobic activity, increases blood flow. As the heart works more efficiently through regular exercise, more blood, and therefore more oxygen is delivered to the tissues of the body. Increased oxygen to the brain can increase awareness and focus.

Increased circulation also increased energy. As a busy mom, energy can be in short supply when it comes to all that we have to accomplish on a daily basis. Regular exercise releases endorphins.

As a result of this release of endorphins, the body experiences a state of “eustress”. This is like a state of euphoria. We are better able to deal with situations in our life because we are achieving a better outlook because of exercise.

Hectic schedules produce signs of wear and tear on the body. We are more susceptible to illness because our immune system is compromised. Exercise promotes a healthy body and mind as well as decreasing obesity. Even a ten percent reduction in body weight can take a person from the brink of borderline diabetic to the normal range.

Exercise reduces the level of stress in our lives. Multi-tasking is easier with a clear head. You don’t end up making silly mistakes due to a fuzzy head. Ever end up at the soccer game with your daughter in her tutu because you dropped her brother off at ballet practice by mistake?

Healthy eating habits are only half of the solution. Incorporate exercise into your daily routine, even if it is only twenty minutes each day.

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Ingredients:

2 large cooking apples, such as Jonathan or Granny Smith, peeled, if desired, and finely chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 slightly beaten egg
1 1/2 cups milk
3 tablespoons cooking oil or melted butter
Cooking oil (optional)
Unsweetened applesauce (optional)

Instructions:

Combine apples and lemon juice in one bowl. In another bowl mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinammon and salt. In a third bowl beat egg lightly with milk and oil. Add egg mixture to flour mixture and stir. You want the batter to be lumpy so be careful not to overmix. Fold in the apples. Heat griddle or skillet. Drop batter by spoonfuls and cook pancakes as you usually would. Watch for edges to be set and start to brown, then flip. Serve topped with apple sauce or more apple slices instead of syrup.

Try swapping out the apples and using pears instead for a different flavor!

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Having a baby is a beautiful and exciting thing. But, what about all that baby belly fat around your midsection after the baby has been born. The best way to go about shedding this baby belly fat is proper diet and an exercise routine, which may not always be easy to do for a new mom still recovering from the pregnancy. The good news is that working out and getting rid of belly fat will give you more energy, so you can spend more quality time playing with and caring for your new baby.

Here are a few simple exercises to get your on your way toward getting rid of belly fat. As with any workout routine, be sure to consult a professional before beginning and always warm up properly to avoid injury.

Progressive Crunchless Crunch

This stomach exercise works your abdominals as well as a crunch does, but without the strain to your neck and back. Begin by sitting in a chair, placing one hand above and below your belly button in order to feel the contraction of your abdominals. Take one big deep breath, so your midsection expands completely. Then let the breath out as you pull your belly in, imagining your belly button being pulled inward toward your spine. Finally, briefly contract your abs five times. Do a full set of repetitions of all three parts. You can also try this exercise lying on your back. Try both to see which one helps you feel the contractions of your abdominal muscles better.

Contractions

This exercise starts off very much the same way as the last one, but involves quicker steps and more repetitions. Begin by sitting in the same position as in the progressive crunchless crunch, and taking the same deep breath. This time, instead of bringing your belly all the way back, exhale and bring it just about halfway. Then pull your belly button back toward your spine. Contract and hold for a count of one. Repeat from the half-exhalation point. Do the whole thing one hundred times.

Crunchless Crunch

As you can tell from the name, this stomach exercise is very similar to the first. Instead of making a few stops as you exhale a deep breath, however, this exercise consists of just one move. To start, either lie or on your stomach or kneel. You might want to try both ways and see which helps you feel the exercise better. Relax your body as much as possible, then try to use only the lower abdominals to move your belly button toward your spine. Hold for ten seconds. If holding for ten seconds feels easy, hold for a longer period. The goal is to hold the contraction until you either cannot feel it, or you feel other muscles working harder than the transverse abdominus. When you feel this, let the contraction out.

If you start doing these stomach exercises at home in your spare few (very few) minutes, you can get rid of belly fat and be fit and trim in just a few months--just in time to start chasing after Junior once he/she learns to crawl!

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Who says you can't enjoy potato salad on your low carb diet? This recipe has 3 or less carbs per serving and is super easy to make!

Ingredients:

1 medium size head of cauliflower(broken into small florets)
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon dried mustard
3 green onions
1 finely chopped jalapeno pepper or 2 tablespoons chopped green bell pepper (optional)
salt and pepper
optionally - 2 packet sugar substitute depending on how you like your potato salad, it's good with or without this!

Instructions:

Cook cauliflower in boiling water until tender (about 10 minutes) Drain and rinse as usual. Now for the salad making part. Get out your big potato salad bowl and mix together mayo, lemon juice, mustard and sugar subst. if you're using one. Add your veggies to the mixture (cauliflower, green onions, and peppers) and toss until well coated. Salt and pepper to your liking. Chill and serve with anything you might normally serve potato salad with.

Perfect for cookouts and lunchboxes.

For different flavors alter your veggie inclusions. Try different kinds of peppers. Great with any casual meal.

Recommended: Now You Can Fill Your Freezer With Delicious Home-Cooked Diet Meals. Save Money - Save Time - Eat Good - And Still Lose Weight.

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Ingredients:

2 1/2 lbs Ground chuck or lean ground beef
16 ozs Cheddar or american cheese, shredded
1/2 lb Bacon, cooked crispy
1 Large tomato, chopped
1 Large onion, chopped
2 Large dill pickles, chopped

Instructions:

Brown ground beef and onion in large skillet or dutch oven, drain as usual and return to pan. Layer on half of cheese, stir into mixture to get melting, stir in tomato, then top with rest of cheese and crumbled bacon. Cover and simmer to let cheese melt. Serve with pickles or cucumbers on the side, and a salad.

This also goes great with a mock potato salad and is the perfect compliment to your low carb cookout.

Recommended: Now You Can Fill Your Freezer With Delicious Home-Cooked Diet Meals. Save Money - Save Time - Eat Good - And Still Lose Weight.

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Anytime is a good time for Yoga.

You can do yoga stretches and postures in bed, while driving to work or anytime during the day.

Hundreds of fitness seekers use their lunch hour to squeeze in exercise and take off extra pounds. Practicing yoga in the middle of day is the break some people need to face the rest of the afternoon.

Kick Back Log-on Pose

Interlace your fingers behind your head. Relax your elbows and shoulders. Smile, breathe and stretch your elbows back. Let the tightness release slowly.

E-mail Meditation

While reading your e-mail, remember to breathe slowly and focus your attention on your breath. Make the out-breath two times longer than the in-breath. This will immediately calm you.

Photocopier Stretch

Place your hands on the edge of the copier or desk. Stand back with feet apart. Drop your head and chest. Breathe and relax your shoulders.

Close-the-deal Warrior Pose

Raise your arms to the side with fingers pointed. Take a big step to the side, with your right foot out and knee bent, your left foot planted, left leg straight. Keep the upper body straight and strong, shoulders relaxed. Relax into the stretch -- don't hold your breath. Return to a standing position, switch sides and repeat.

Recommended: Yoga techniques

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Ingredients:

2 teaspoon Olive oil
1 1/4 cups chopped zucchini
1/2 cup sliced onion
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
1 teaspoon Dried oregano
2 garlic cloves minced
1 cup dried tomato
1 (15oz) can cannellini beans or other white beans, rinsed & drained
2 rosemary sprigs
1 cup chopped spinach
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/8 teaspoon Black pepper
1/2 cup (2 oz) pre-shredded fat-free mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

Heat oil in skillet. Add zucchini and next 5 ingredients, sauté 10 min. Stir in tomato, beans, and rosemary, cook 5 min. Add spinach, salt, pepper to zucchini mixture. Cook until spinach wilts. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover & let stand until cheese begins to melt. Discard the rosemary sprigs before serving.

Recommended: Now You Can Fill Your Freezer With Delicious Home-Cooked Diet Meals. Save Money - Save Time - Eat Good - And Still Lose Weight.

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