Are you trying to find a way to enjoy your workout program and lose weight?  Do you like to dance while getting your fitness in?  Well, Zumba may be something you’d like to add into your personal work out plan.  Zumba is a dance fitness program that was created when founder Alberto “Beto” Perez” had forgotten his prepared music to teach a fitness class and instead used a cassette tape of  Latin music that  he found in his car.   If you’re a music and dance lover, you’ll love Zumba because music is the key ingredient.  The Zumba programs borrows Latin flavor from a variety of  dance styles such as Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia, Mambo, Hip Hop, Tango, Reggaeton, ChaChacha, Samba, belly dancing, Bhangra and Flamenco.   The Zumba program was created with specific beats and tempo changes, transitions the workout from one toning, strengthening or cardio move to another, and targets every major muscle group in the body.

As we transition into the fall, incorporate a new program into your workout.  Zumba anyone?

Here’s some healthy BBQ ideas and for more tips read after the gallery:

1. Go “Kebabing”

Kebabs are a great and easy way to grill meat and veggies. You can make chicken kebabs, shrimp kebabs, veggie kebabs, pork and beef kebabs. Always stick to using lean cuts of meat and let your kebab items marinate overnight for bold flavors without adding tons of fat, sugar and calories.

2. Replace Your Meat With Fish

While pork, red meat and chicken are typical BBQ faves, you can cut calories and fat while boning up on essential vitamins and nutrients by substituting other meats with fish. You can grill fish “steaks” or also wrap a seasoned fillet in foil and throw it on the grill.

Fish facts:

• One ounce of tilapia contains 36 calories , 1 gram of fat (no saturated fat!) and 7 grams of protein.
• One ounce of salmon contains 58 calories, 3 grams of fat (1 gram of saturated fat) and 6 grams of protein.
• One ounce of swordfish contains 43 calories, 1 gram of fat and 7 grams of protein.

3. Grill Corn, Asparagus, Eggplant, Zucchini and Other Veggies

Veggies are ideal for grilling because you can’t really over grill them and if you use a marinade they will taste delicious and keep you full while cutting down on calories and fat.

4. Gorge On Salads

We’re not talking about potato salad here. Fresh green salads are a great starter option for your BBQ to help get you full before the big feast. Try a Greek salad or something more exotic. Don’t forget you can also make a fruit salad as well.

5. Skip The Ice Cream And Have A Parfait

Mixing some fruit with some yogurt and granola is a much healthier alternative to ice cream for desert. Here are some really great low-cal and low-fat recipes to try.

6. Take The Skin Off Your Chicken

Taking the skin off chicken before you cook makes it way healthier than leaving the skin on. Don’t believe us? Take a look at the nutrition facts:

• 4 ounces of roasted chicken breast with skin contains 223 calories, 8.8 grams of fat, and 2.5 grams of saturated fat
• 4 ounces of roasted chicken breast WITHOUT skin contains 187 calories, 4 grams of fat, and 1.2 grams of saturated fat

If that’s not enough reason to go skinless then we don’t know what else is!

7. Go Vegetarian

Maybe you have some vegetarians attending your BBQ, why not go veggie with them! Veggie burgers and dogs are usually soy or gluten-based and are low in saturated fats compared to hamburger meat. Hamburgers generally contain about 7 grams of saturated fat while products like Bocca and Morningstar Farms contain 0-1 grams of saturated fat.

8. If You Love The Meat, Trim The Fat!

Not only is the fat on meat artery clogging but also can increase your risk of getting cancer. Grilling contains lots of cancer risks due to the carcinogens produced. You can lower these risks by trimming the fat from your meat. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) formation is hard to get around but more are produced when smoke is produced by fat dripping from meat onto the grill.

9. Make Your Own BBQ Sauce

Commercial BBQ sauces are loaded with sugar (most likely high fructose corn syrup). To avoid this, try making your own. Here’s 30 recipes that will have you satisfied and thanking us later for not inducing a comatose sugar high.

Now that you’ve got these tips plan a menu that’s health-conscious but still delicious to make your Labor Day spectacular!

Sources: webmd.com, epicurious.com, msnbc.msn.com, nutritiondata.self.com

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For The Vegetarians At The Cook Out

(from hellobeautiful.com)

Labor Day generally signals an onslaught of falling leaves and cool breezes, but before these last few days of summer are gone, get out there and have some fun! There are still sun rays to be soaked up, so before you pack your short shorts and bikinis away, take a look at this list of 20 things to do before summer kisses your bronzed skin goodbye!

1) Get your camera and start snapping.  There is no better way to capture the essence of the summer than with pictures! Take a few shots that will help you to remember the summer of 2010 forever.

2) Get a bright colored mani-pedi.  Its summer time! When you get to the nail salon and its time to choose your nail polish, give the standard french a rest.  Go for a hot pink or orange, if for no other reason than because its summer and you can do that!

3) Let your hair air dry.  Feel free to wash your hair and let it dry into its natural state without risking pneumonia.  The summer sun can do amazing things to your hair color so let it loose and don’t worry about styling, primping and pressing for a change

4) Put on that bikini! Whether you have been avoiding it all summer or you just want to get one last good run out of it, put on your swimsuit and go for a swim (or just look cute sitting by the pool).

5) Have lunch at a sidewalk cafe.  Scope out a cute little table at one of those quaint little eateries and eat! Outside!

6) Go check out your local botanical gardens.  Don’t miss out on the beautiful flora growing in these neighborhood sanctuaries.

7) Ride around with your windows open.  As wonderful as air conditioning is, scarcely do we realize how isolated it causes us to be.  Pick a not-too-hot day and put those car windows down. Enjoy the fresh air.

Wanna more to enjoy? click here

Many Eczema sufferers are unaware that sometimes good skin care regimes are all that stands between endless suffering and an improved quality of life. The simplest of changes and techniques can make all the difference, so I have put together a few tips to hopefully help you out.  In the meantime, you can hear my personal story on how to completely get rid of this irritating skin disease whether you are an infant or adult age.

<<Hear my story here>>

First and foremost is to STOP USING THE STEROID CREAMS..whew..did I say that loud enough, they burn the skin and can cause skin cancer.  Stop immediately

Fix Your Diet-
There’s a whole lot more to skincare than just fancy creams and lotions. Real skin care starts on the inside-if you give your body the tools it needs to fix the eczema damaged skin, you will have a definite advantage. Continuing to eat the wrong foods while trying to clear up your eczema is like trying to run your car without gasoline! It just can’t get going! Scientists have found that foods with high acidity are linked to increased Eczema symptoms. For some reason high acid content makes the skin more prone to irritation, which of course brings on the eczema. You can avoid this by obviously steering clear of acidy foods, which is easier than it sounds. A dietician should be able to steer you the right way though. Fear not though, there is a much simpler way to improve this too-kelp supplements. Kelp is very high in alkali, which will neutralize the acid it finds in your system, so you may find relief there.

Moisturize Regularly-
You need to get into a habit of moisturizing your skin at least twice a day, preferably after taking a bath or shower. This is great for your skin because the more moisture there is inside it, the suppler it will be, and obviously soft supple skin is far less likely to crack and itch than dry flaky skin. The reason you need to apply the moisturizer after bathing or showering is because this will help lock in the moisture from the bath. You should pat yourself almost dry with a very soft towel, and then apply the moisturizer to damp skin. It’s a little harder to rub in, but it’s worth it in the long run!  We have the perfect solution and lotion to fight eczema and keep moisture in

Protect Yourself-
Be aware of all the things than can trigger your eczema, and do your best to avoid them. As a general rule, avoid wearing any kind of perfume or scent, as well as all scented soaps or toiletries. You will also probably find a little relief if you can get rid of all the perfumed detergents in your home. If you can wash your clothing in unscented natural detergents you will probably find that your clothing is suddenly not so itchy!

As I’ve tried to illustrate here, you don’t have to go to huge lengths to get some control in the battle against your eczema. In most cases all you need is common sense and some consistency. I hope these tips bring you some relief, but remember to be consistent!  Hear my story and let me give you a free consultation on how to get it under control.

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This month begins thirty days to focus and bring awareness to Ovarian Cancer. This cancer is the deadliest gynecological cancer and is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women.   They are a vital component in the female reproductive system. The ovaries are located in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus and are connected by the Fallopian tubes.   These almond sized and shaped organs are the main source for producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone.  The ovaries also regulate the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.

Bringing awareness to women is important and early detection can make a difference.

According to the Centers for  Disease Control and Prevention, the following signs and symptoms below are alerts for you to notify your doctor, nurse or health care professional:

• Pain in the pelvic or abdominal area (the area below your stomach and between your hip bones).
• Back pain.
• Being tired all the time.
• Bloating, which is when the area below your stomach swells or feels full.
• A change in your bathroom habits, such as having to pass urine very badly or very often.
• An upset stomach or heartburn.
• Discharge from your vagina that is not normal for you.

See your doctor if you have any bleeding from your vagina that is not normal for you, particularly if you are past menopause. These symptoms may be caused by something other than cancer, but the only way to know is to see your doctor. The earlier ovarian cancer is found and treated, the more likely treatment will be effective.

Eye to Eye (CBS News) with Katie Couric

DON’T IGNORE THE SIGNS.

for more information about Ovarian Cancer go to www.cancer.gov

Support Communities

Ovarian Cancer National Alliance

This comes back to me every year about this time, as lots of parents I know get ready to send their kids off to college. College is a new experience for so many of these kids. Parents who have done their best to provide a strong faith foundation end up anxiously wondering if their kids will keep the values taught to them, or continue going to service, or if they’ll give up their faith.  Overall, there are plenty of worries here that can keep a parent awake at night. How can  parents deal with this anxiety? Is there anything we can do to help our away-at-school kids stay strong in the faith?

Here are seven ways to encourage your child in Faith.

• Encourage your child to introduce himself or herself to others after Mass or Service or to attend events sponsored by their chapels in an effort to meet people who may be interested in attending Mass together in the future.
• Encourage your child to inquire about the different types of  faith available services at their college. Colleges often have youth run prayer groups and that are especially crowded and it can be a good way to meet people, as well.
• Encourage your child to become a become a member of  the evangelization team on  campus. It’s a good way to meet a new group of people and a chance to participate in Mass in a new way.
• Let your child know it’s OK to look for a church in the surrounding neighborhood, if he or she is not comfortable at or has a scheduling conflict with the services on campus.

• Let your child know that you’re praying for him or her in a way that makes them feel loved. Give them a small prayer card or medal or a stone from a holy place, etc. — something that symbolizes the faith in a way that isn’t showy. Your child may throw it in a drawer for a while, but may come across it again at just the right time and find that it is a reminder of the faith and of your faith in him or her.
• Encourage your child to find new ways to pray — while running, hiking, camping, before studying.
• Encourage your child to explore volunteer opportunities through campus ministry. Often, there are many service groups that are filled with members looking to incorporate spirituality and service.

The cult of “freedom at any cost ” may not be as strong as it once was, but even on strict  campuses, other forces — apathy, confusion, the widespread idea that one opinion is as good as any other, immaturity, peer pressure, hormones, and Jack Daniels and his friends — stand ready to evangelize.

{For more from Oretha Winston follow her on Twitter}

(from ehow.com)

Hair is a important part of any woman’s ensemble.  Many women are obsess with their tresses and keep a standing weekly appointment with their stylist to maintain their look.  Others battle with their hair everyday to maintain a healthy and presentable style.  Having healthy hair is priority. Our manes are our crown of glory.  Here’s a few easy and simple ways to keep our hair healthy:

1.  Avoid harsh shampoos that strip the strands, especially those that contain sodium sulfates in their ingredients. Use conditioners that are advertised to add elasticity and moisture to the hair. Try to use a deep conditioner once every two weeks.

2. Find a hair moisturizer that suits you. Try natural products, such Shea butter, to soften the hair. You can add oils of your choice to the Shea butter that will best match your hair’s needs.

3.  Reduce the use of hair relaxers, spritz and gels. These products, especially relaxers, can cause extreme damage to the hair follicles that keeps them from growing properly. The use of spritz and gels can cause the hair to harden, which makes it more likely to break. Once these areas become damaged or thinned out, they can be difficult to restore.

click here for more tips

Y’anna Crowley- “Grandma Hands” (BET’s, Sunday Best/Season 2)

1. in the quiet of dawn,

2. in the noiseless aspiration of trees towards the sky,

3. in the stealthy descent of night,

4. in the silent changing of the seasons,

5. in the falling moonlight, trickling down into the night like a rain of silence,

6. but above all in the silence of the inward soul.”

Max Picard

From You Don’t Have to Be Buddhist to Know Nothing: An Illustrious Collection of Thoughts on Naught, edited by Joan Konner(Prometheus Books, 2009). Reprinted by permission of the publisher.

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