Is the Sun Our Enemy?

Do you think you know all there is to know about being prepared for the Sun’s rays? As Summer arrives, it’s time to turn our eyes out of the direct sunlight and get caught up on some valuable information about protecting our skin while outside and by the pool especially.

Keep in mind that ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays (UVA and UVB rays) damage your skin no matter what – even if you don’t get a sunburn.

Too much exposure in the sun leads to:

• wrinkles
• skin cancer
• various skin conditions

Did you know that being fair skinned puts you at a higher risk for skin cancer? As well, so does having light-colored eyes. Who knew? I certainly didn’t!

See the Full List and Get Tips on Skin Cancer Prevention!

What level of sunscreen or sunblock do you use? This weekend I used a 12!

7 Ways to Snack Healthy

Do you snack during the day? When you get hungry while at work, do you find it easier to hit the vending machine in the break room or run out to the nearest convenient shop to grab a quick snack? Do you stick to three meals a day?

Experts suggest that 3 big meals a day is not enough and that you should consider mini meals. This includes your 3 traditional meals plus 2 more healthy snacks in between.

If you desire to change your eating habits and want to know how to eat a healthy snack, here are 7 suggestions to get you started:

1. Fix your own food
2. Eat a balanced snack
3. Snack to maintain weight
4. Keep stress in check
5. Once a month, allow yourself more
6. Crave calcium and shun sodium
7. Drink lots of water

Snacking has become a way of life for both adults and children and they can be good for us if we make good choices. Do you make healthy choices when it comes to snacking?

Men’s Health Suggest 6 Best & Worst Cereals

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day – something we’ve all probably heard a million times. But do you know why?

Well, there is a good reason for this. Studies have shown that people who eat breakfast in the morning perform better at school and at work than people who skip breakfast. Studies also show that for breakfast to be most effective it should be eaten within 2 hours of waking up. How long do you wait?

People who eat breakfast in the morning have improved memory and cognitive functions and are more likely to avoid obesity and future health problems.

But according to Men’s Health, “nearly 40 percent of us still skip breakfast, according to a poll conducted by ABC News. For those who do eat breakfast, about a third choose cereal. That makes it America’s favorite breakfast food. But whether that’s a good thing or not pivots on the choices we make in the supermarket.”

Here are 6 of the best and worst breakfast cereals suggested by the article:

1. WORST ICONIC CEREAL: Kellogg’s Raisin Bran
2. WORST CHOCOLATE CEREAL: General Mills Chocolate Chex
3. WORST HIGH-FIBER CEREAL: General Mills Chex Multi-Bran
4. WORST VITAMIN-ENHANCED CEREAL: Kellogg’s Smart Start
5. WORST HOT CEREAL: Quaker Oatmeal Express Golden Brown Sugar
6. WORST GRANOLA: Quaker Natural Granola, Oats, Honey & Raisin
   1. BEST: Kellogg’s All-Bran
   2. BEST: Cookie Crisp
   3. BEST: Post Shredded Wheat
   4. BEST: Kashi Vive
   5. BEST: Quaker High Fiber Cinnamon Swirl
   6. BEST: Kashi GoLean Crunch! Honey Almond Flax

Take a closer look at the article (especially for calorie counts) and see if you agree with the findings. Make sure you get yourself a nutritional breakfast each and every morning. Even if it’s just a piece of pizza from the night before! Your body needs to start burning carbs right away. What do you eat for breakfast?

Get Inspired With A Great Playlist

A little bit of country and some dance music – that’s what I listen to when I exercise! But what about you? I feel like I need some really energetic tunes to get me moving.

Is your iPod playlist the only thing that gets you through your intense workout? Do the grooves of Whitney Houston’s “Million Dollar Bill” keep you at a steady pace on the treadmill? Can Daniel Bedingfield’s “Gotta Get Through This” motivate you to do one more rep on the weight machine?

What’s the best way to find music you might actually like? Well, the short answer is a LOT of trial and error. However, here are a few ideas for expanding your search techniques:

• Borrow from your spouse, partner, family members or friends.
• Expose yourself to a wider variety of tunes even when you’re not working out.
• Check with bloggers who have made lists or asked their readers for suggestions. (InTheGym.net)
  
• Go to a big database and browse through their categories or search user favorites. (Amazon or iTunes)
• Let sites with fancy algorithms recommend things you like. (Pandora)

With these ideas and many more you are sure to find something you like that will keep you motivated and inspired to workout and reach your goals. I have actually conditioned myself to look forward to the time I get to spend working out and listening to some music. I find it a great way to unwind from a long day.

What’s on your playlist?

Living To 100?

Do you want to live to be 100? Can you imagine being that old?

Consider this; scientists are now saying that it’s possible.  Living longer is not all about diet, exercise, and genetics — sometimes it’s a combination of all three.  There is simply no denying it, people are living longer than anyone ever imagined.

What is the age of the oldest person you know?

The ZZZ’s to Zen

Having problems sleeping at night? Do you have the “Zen” in your bedroom? HGTV always has inspiring tips how to makeover your bedroom. Colors, furniture, lighting, placement, and linens can affect your sleeping style and your daily lifestyle.

Follow Leah’s “Feng Shui” article that has simple steps to create the calming haven you deserve…

1. Use welcoming and calming colors- different colors have different meanings. Calm colors come from light blues and greens that can lead to healing and tranquility.
2. Placing the bed- make sure to keep it away from the door. It gives you a sense of safety. Footboards are important to avoid because it can block you from moving forward your life.
3. Curves are friendly- believe it or not, a square nightstand can create a sharp environment. For a “Zen” nightstand place minimal items: soft lamp, books, and maybe flowers.
4. Git rid of the clutter – anything that you do not need in your bedroom can prevent you from moving forward in your life.  Less is more, so say goodbye to the clutter!

Using these tips will give you the tranquil environment that you deserve!

Can You Guess What This is?

It’s kinda gross and kinda cool all at the same time. It’s a close up of the human tongue! A high energy scanner was used by science photo researchers to capture this odd image. The poky things sticking out are what sense pressure … the flakes are caused from the constant shedding to increase sensitivity.

Totally space age looking, isn’t it?

Drop Those Pesky Pounds in the New Year

Are you noticing some added pounds on the scale? Could it be from all of the extra holiday fudge you’ve been eating?  Well here is a fun way to get those fudge pounds off. You can laugh off 40 calories. It’s no joke! A study from Vanderbilt University showed that you can burn up to that many calories by laughing genuinely for 10 to 15 minutes. So pop in a favorite DVD or make a date for your local comedy club and get ready to roll in laughter.

Want to try other ways to get off the pounds? Try these tips.

Burn Calories with This Activity

We’ve been dodging snow lately, thank goodness.  However, if we ever do get snow try sledding to burn calories. Venturing outside for sledding is another beneficial activity—it works your quads, calves, and even forearms and biceps (from holding on!). Only 15 minutes of sledding burns 121 calories, which is just about enough to offset the 110-calorie candy cane you’re craving.

Get more tips at Shape.

Can This Make Your Baby Smarter?

I’m sure you’ve already heard that classical music will make your baby smarter.  Have you seen the infomercial for a product that helps your children learn how to read before they can even talk?  I find it kind of interesting. Have you heard this one? There is a t-shirt that will make your child smarter.

Baby Bright Tees have what’s called Infant Visual Stimulation (high-contrast stripes and shapes) emblazoned right on mommy’s shirt.

Says the website, the shirts “help inspire contact, communication and bonding with the children in your life,” and “just by wearing our clothing” you will be “helping your baby’s brain thrive.”

What do you think about this?  See more here.

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