Today’s Meal ~Fried Goat Cheese,Citrus and Avocado

Posted on March 27, 2010 by Mxdthingz

How to: Goat Cheese, Citrus and Avocado Salad
You will need:
1 8 ounce goat cheese log
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 large egg
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
2 Naval oranges
1 pink grapefruit (Oro Blanco if available)
1 small shallot, finely chopped
2 tablespoons grapeseed or canola oil
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups arugula
2 Haas avocados, pitted thinly sliced.

STEPS
1. Slice the goat cheese into 4 rounds and shape into mini hockey pucks. Make a little work station by placing the flour in a medium bowl. Whisk the egg with 2 tablespoons water in another bowl and place the panko bread crumbs in a third bowl.

2. Toss the goat cheese in the flour to coat. Tap off the excess flour and then submerge the cheese rounds in the egg wash. Transfer the goat cheese to the panko and press each disk in the bread crumbs, making sure the crumbs stick to the cheese. Place on a plate and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

3. For the dressing, add the shallots, sugar and 3 tablespoons citrus juices and whisk in the oils a little at a time. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

4. Place arugula on a plate, top with lightly salted avocados, oranges and grapefruit.

5. Heat the canola oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the breaded goat cheese rounds and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 4 minutes total. Place warm cheese on top of your salad, dress as you like and soak in the praise once served.
Recipe and Photo~ Two Dudes,One Pa

Exercise of the Day: The Crescent Moon Pose

Posted on March 25, 2010 by Mxdthingz

The Crescent Moon Pose strengthens your legs, back, shoulders, and arms, building stamina. It opens your hips and chest, and improves balance. This is an excellent exercise to start a number of backbends with. The lower back gets relaxed, the leg muscles are stretched and you build up strength in your legs. You also improve your coordination and concentration.

STEP 1:Kneel and keep your back straight

STEP 2: Step forward with your right foot until the foot is a little in front of the knee and your upper leg is parallel with the floor. The left foot (the one at the back) rests on the floor with its toes and your lower leg on the mat. You can increase the stretching of your leg muscles in the front part of your left hip by bending your front leg more and more.

STEP 3: Raise both arms, and hook both thumbs together. At the same time you stretch your arms upwards and you pull the thumbs slightly apart. Then you raise your knee at the back so that your weight is now equally divided between the leg in front and the leg at the back. Look forward and focus your attention on one point. This helps you to maintain your balance. If you find this easy, you can also look upwards or even backwards instead of looking in front of you.

It is important that your chestbone remains low and that you do not make your lower back too hollow. By stretching your arms you also stretch your back. When doing that, try to maintain dynamism from the sacrum to the hip.

At first you can also do the asana without raising the hind knee from the floor. That makes the exercise less hard for the leg muscles and easier for your balance. Extend the hindleg fully and be careful not to compensate by bending the knee.

Make the most of the exercise by bending deeper with your front leg, by stretching your hind leg even further, by making your breathing as relaxed as possible and by stretching your arms as much as possible.

Today’s Meal ~ Braised Lamb Shanks with Spring Vegetables and Spring Gremolata

Posted on March 25, 2010 by Mxdthingz

Ingredients
Lamb:

6 1-to 1 1/4-pound lamb shanks
All purpose flour
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 cups finely chopped onions (about 2 medium)
2 cups finely chopped peeled carrots
1 1/4 cups finely chopped celery
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon (generous) tomato paste
3 cups low-salt chicken broth
1 1/2 cups Sauvignon Blanc or other dry white wine
6 fresh Italian parsley sprigs
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
2 bay leaves

Gremolata:

2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
1 tablespoon (packed) finely grated lemon peel
1 tablespoon minced fresh green garlic or 1 garlic clove, minced

Vegetables:

1 1/2 pounds unpeeled 1 1/2-to 1 3/4-inch baby red potatoes or baby Yukon Gold potatoes
8 ounces slender baby carrots, trimmed, peeled
8 ounces sugar snap peas, strings removed
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
3 ounces fresh pea tendrils

Preparation

For lamb:
Sprinkle lamb shanks generously with salt and pepper; dust with flour. Heat oil in heavy large deep pot over medium-high heat. Working in 2 batches, if necessary, add lamb to pot and cook until browned on all sides, turning often, about 10 minutes per batch. Transfer lamb to large bowl. Add onions, carrots, and celery to same pot; sauté until vegetables begin to soften, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and tomato paste; stir 1 minute. Stir in broth, wine, parsley, thyme, and bay leaves. Return lamb to pot; bring to boil (liquid may not cover lamb completely). Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until lamb is very tender and begins to fall off bones, turning occasionally, about 3 hours.

Using tongs, transfer lamb to platter. Discard bay leaves and parsley sprigs. Spoon off fat from surface of pan juices; discard. Using immersion blender, puree pan juices until almost smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Return lamb shanks to pan juices. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly. Chill uncovered until cold, then cover and keep chilled.

For gremolata:
Mix all ingredients in small bowl. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Cover and chill.

For vegetables:
Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Add potatoes; cook until tender, about 18 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer potatoes to medium bowl. Add carrots to same pot; cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer carrots to bowl with potatoes. Add sugar snap peas to same pot; cook 1 minute. Drain. Add to bowl with potatoes and carrots. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.

Bring lamb and pan juices to simmer over medium heat until heated through.

Meanwhile, melt butter in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add all vegetables; sauté about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Transfer lamb and pan juices to large platter or bowl. Surround with vegetables; scatter pea tendrils over vegetables. Sprinkle lamb with gremolata and serve.

Ingredient tip:
Green garlic has a more delicate flavor than mature garlic. The tops of green garlic look like green onions; the root ends are white and light purple. Look for green garlic at farmers’ markets during the spring months.

What to drink: With the braised lamb, pour an earthy Côtes du Rhône. We like the black-cherry flavors of the C&écile Chassagne 2006 Séguret ($14).

Source- Epicurious

I Have Migraine,But Migraine Doesn’t Have Me!

Posted on March 24, 2010 by Mxdthingz

I honestly do not remember a time in my life when I did not have migraine headaches.My mother was a migraine sufferer, and my sister is as well.
As a kid , and throughout my teenager years, I would get sick to the point of feeling like pulling my hair, or my eyeballs out. My migraine could last from 1hour to 72 hours sometimes and it could be one to three headaches a month or every few months.
I know what triggers my migraine and I usually try to stay away from those triggers(dark chocolates, caffeines, red wine, certain auras and lighting).One of the trigger that is difficult for me to stay away from is when the weather change from one season to another, or those abruptly weather change from hot to cold or vice versa.This is when I will get the severe kind of migraine, like the one that I have today. I am happy that Spring is here, but not happy with the headache that comes with it.
The only good part of having migraines, is the unusually refreshed or euphoric feeling I usually get after an attack. Some few people experience this, while others experience the worst symptoms, like feeling tired or “hungover” after an attack.That being said, I have came to realization that, life goes on, and I wont let these migraines stop me from living my life. Yes, I have migraine, but Migraine doesn’t have me and I am in control.

Today’s Yoga Exercise ~ Triangular Pose

Posted on March 16, 2010 by Mxdthingz

In this exercise, you build up strength in the lower back and upper legs while you remove tension from the lower and upper back, the hips and the hamstrings through both the twist and the stretching. The exercise is good for your sense of coordination and sense of balance. You need a lot of concentration and precision to be able to carry it out correctly.

STEP 1: Start with the Downward Facing Dog Pose (Adho Mukha Svanasana).

STEP 2: Move your left foot forward for about 1 meter.

STEP 3: Put your left hand beside your foot and carry your weight with the lower back and on the heels of your foot in front. Raise the upper part of your body until the lower back is straight. You can recognize this by a groove in the middle of the lower back. The right foot (the one at the back) rests on the floor.

STEP 4: Stretch the leg which is in front without bending the back or twisting your body. With your back straight and your right hip stretched backward, look at a point on the ground and breathe in and out quietly. Press your left hand against the heel and twist your chest to the left. Let the twisting motion involve only your upper back while your hip, lower back, legs and head remain stationary. When you cannot twist any further, stretch your right arm upward.

STEP 5: Then twist your head to the left, look upward along your outstretched arm and stretch out your neck. When you stand well aligned in this position, it will feel light. The better you do this exercise, the bigger will be the triangle between your legs, arms and side are.

Step back towards the Downward Facing Dog Pose and repeat the exercise with your right leg in front.In this Asana, it is important that you keep the lower back straight. Aside from that, remember that when you are twisting, the hips do not twist along. Otherwise, the right hand side becomes active and the lower back gets “locked up” as it were which results in tension in the lower back. Prevent this by actively tightening the left hand side and let it even help carry the position so that you can keep the hip in its place when twisting. This dynamism in your side also helps you to keep the dynamism in the hip active through the right leg as a result of which the hip is mobilized as much as possible.

Today’s Tip~ Avoid All Artificial Sweeteners

Posted on March 16, 2010 by Mxdthingz

Artificial sweeteners are sugar substitutes, which are often much sweeter than regular sugar. They are closely regulated by the FDA. While glucose (aka dextrose) is not healthy in large quantities, artificial sweeteners are far more dangerous. The good thing about artificial sweeteners is that they have few calories and can be eaten by Diabetics without affecting blood sugar. Unfortunately, they are all linked to cancer and various other medical problems. The body treats them, and many other chemicals, like toxins.
Avoid ALL artificial sweeteners, including excitotoxins like Aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet) and Saccharin (Sweet N’ Low) which are toxic to the body and make you crave more sugar AND Sucralose (Splenda) which is made with chlorine and can reduce digestion-helping bacteria by up to 50%. They will slow or stop your weight loss! Read more here

Today’s Meal ~ Chilled Shrimp Salad

Posted on March 9, 2010 by Mxdthingz

This protein-rich dish virtually swims in antioxidants and niacin, which keeps skin healthy.

Serves 4
INGREDIENTS
Dressing
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
6 tablespoons orange juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt

Salad
Juice and rind from 1 lemon
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 pounds large shrimp (tail intact)
4 chunks watermelon (1 lb each), cut from the rind, cut into cubes
1 pound heirloom tomatoes, cut into wedges
1/3 cup crumbled feta
1/4 cup fresh basil, torn

PREPARATION
For dressing
Combine all dressing ingredients in a blender.

For salad
Fill a 4-quart saucepan with water and bring to a boil; add lemon juice, lemon rind, garlic, bay leaf, peppercorns and salt. Add shrimp, cover, remove from heat and let stand until shrimp is cooked, about 15 minutes. Drain and cool 10 minutes, then refrigerate 30 minutes. Line a large platter with watermelon and tomatoes. Top with shrimp, feta and basil. Drizzle with dressing.
Source~selfdotcom

Today’s Meal ~Caraway Chicken Breasts with Sweet-and-Sour Red Cabbage

Posted on March 4, 2010 by Mxdthingz

Aromatic caraway seeds lend a delicate nutty flavor to the chicken and balance nicely with a side of tart, sweet shredded cabbage.

2 SERVINGS PREP: 35 MINUTESTOTAL: 35 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS

1 teaspoon caraway seeds
1/2 teaspoon (scant) ground allspice, divided
2 skinless boneless chicken breast halves
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 slice applewood-smoked bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch strips
3 cups thinly sliced red cabbage
1/3 cup sliced shallots (about 2 medium)
1/2 cup low-salt chicken broth
2 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon (packed) brown sugar
Chopped fresh chives (optional)

PREPARATION

Sprinkle caraway and 1/4 teaspoon allspice on both sides of chicken breasts. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add bacon; cook until crisp. Transfer to plate. Add chicken to drippings in skillet; sauté until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to plate; tent with foil. Add cabbage, shallots, broth, vinegar, sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon allspice to same skillet; cook over medium-high heat until liquid is reduced to glaze and cabbage is crisp-tender, 6 minutes. Mix in bacon. Season with salt and pepper. Slice chicken; divide chicken and cabbage between 2 plates. Top with chives, if desired.
Recipe by the Bon Appetit Test Kitchen….Photograph by Lisa Hubbard

MUFA Foods~ Flat Belly Foods

Posted on March 2, 2010 by Mxdthingz

While the acronym MUFA does not sound too appealing, the MUFA diet and MUFA foods are popular diet trends for the New Year and beyond. MUFAs (pronounced moo-fah) are “Monounsaturated Fatty Acids”, plant-based fats found in some of the world’s most delicious foods. Studies show that these good-for-you fats enhance heart health and protect against chronic disease. And now the latest research shows that these dietary superstars may even target fat where it’s hardest to lose–in your belly!

What are MUFA foods?
MUFAs are — a class of healthy fats found in foods like tea seed oil, Avocado, Canola oil, Olive Oil, Nuts like almonds, cashews, pecans, and peanuts, Olives, Peanut butter and peanut oil,Sesame seeds,macadamia nut oil, grapeseed oil, groundnut oil (peanut oil), sesame oil, corn oil, popcorn, whole grain wheat, cereal, oatmeal, safflower oil, sunflower oil and tea-oil Camellia.

How do I add MUFA (mono unsaturated fat) at every meal?

Basically, try to add: Avocado, Canola oil, Olive Oil, Nuts like almonds, cashews, pecans, and peanuts, Olives, Peanut butter and peanut oil, or Sesame seeds to your diet.Trying to add MUFA to your diet, helps with loosing weight. Here are some of the ideas.

MUFA Breakfast Ideas for weight loss

Add Avocado in omelet
Spread Peanut butter on toast, bagels, english muffins, or apples
Sprinkle Almonds (nuts) on top of pancakes, waffles, and even french toast
Mix nut-based granola in your yogurt
Blend Flax Seed Oil with your favorite fruit smoothie
Add Sunflower seeds, Walnuts, or Pecans to your cereal or oatmeal

MUFA Lunch & MUFA Dinner Ideas for weight loss

Toss sliced avocado, chopped olives, or sliced nuts in your green leaf salad
Pour Oil Based Dressings on top of your salad specifically Olive Oil, Sun Flower, or Peanut Oil
Add avocado to a Mexican chicken or black bean soup
Instead of croûtons, add nuts and seeds to your or soup or salad
Add nuts to stir fry dishes
Ask for Olives in your Enchiladas or other Mexican Food.
Dribble Pesto sauce over a small bed of noodles
Add a dollop of pesto to dishes such as tomato soup or baked potato
Stir olives into your red pasta sauce
Sprinkle nuts on cream-based soups like tomato-basil, butternut squash soup, etc.
Add Avocado to your deli sandwich (Jimmy John’s is great for this)
Top your Chicken Sandwich, Turkey Burger, or Small Hamburger with Guacamole

MUFA Snack Ideas for weight loss

Eat Raw Nut based Trail Mix.
Spread Olive tapenade on a cracker or crostini
Spread Avocado and cheese on a cracker
Dip apples or celery in Peanut or almond butter
Have an Olive Loaf Bread slice with olive oil

Source~ SimpleWeight

Skin Beaching=Skin Cancer

Posted on March 2, 2010 by Mxdthingz

All skin tones represent various shades of beauty. There are beautiful people in all racial and ethnic groups. We should not devalue people because of their skin complexion being different from ours. Many people feel that they are lower because they skin complexions are darker.
Nothing annoys me more than seeing these beautiful young Black and surprisingly Asian women changing their skin colors so they can appear whiter, or lighter than they were before. Obviously they dont understand the side effects of bleaching their skin and the significantly increasing risks of skin cancer.Did you know that Black skin and Asian skin have thicker and more compact dermis than white skin. This is also explains why blacks and Asians have fewer facial wrinkles than whites. I bet you didnt know that!
Most of these whitening products contain a lot of harmful ingredients for your skin.
Mercury – poisons the bloodstream, therefore toxic when used in cosmetics. You’ll have an idea more or less what happens if your blood is infected with a deadly toxin, which can cause kidney or brain damage.
Hydroquinone – has been banned in Europe and Asia because it has been found to be carcinogenic, makes the skin hypersensitive to the sun, and thus can cause skin cancer.
Steroids – can lead to thinning of the skin and produces stretch marks. It isn’t good because a thinned skin is also prone to skin infections.
Our solution to the problem lies in our need to increase and inspire confidence about the beauty of the black skin. Do something positive to counter your low self-esteem. Take advantage of the good parts of your body or talents. Girls/Women .. you are beautiful the way you are! Be proud of your heritage.

Photo below~ In extreme cases of skin bleaching, the skin can become multi-colored and marred with inflammation or scarring. Photograph courtesy of Halimah Abdallah Kisule.

13 Keys To A Healthy Diet

Posted on February 27, 2010 by Mxdthingz

Developing healthy eating habits isn’t as confusing or as restrictive as many people imagine. The first principle of a healthy diet is simply to eat a wide variety of foods. This is important because different foods make different nutritional contributions.
Secondly, fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes—foods high in complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, low in fat, and free of cholesterol—should make up the bulk of the calories you consume. The rest should come from low-fat dairy products, lean meat and poultry, and fish.
You should also try to maintain a balance between calorie intake and calorie expenditure—that is, don’t eat more food than your body can utilize. Otherwise, you will gain weight. The more active you are, therefore, the more you can eat and still maintain this balance.
Following these three basic steps doesn’t mean that you have to give up your favorite foods. As long as your overall diet is balanced and rich in nutrients and fiber, there is nothing wrong with an occasional cheeseburger. Just be sure to limit how frequently you eat such foods, and try to eat small portions of them.
You can also view healthy eating as an opportunity to expand your range of choices by trying foods—especially vegetables, whole grains, or fruits—that you don’t normally eat. A healthy diet doesn’t have to mean eating foods that are bland or unappealing.
The following basic guidelines are what you need to know to construct a healthy diet.

Eat plenty of high-fiber foods—that is, fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains. These are the “good” carbohydrates—nutritious, filling, and relatively low in calories. They should supply the 20 to 30 grams of dietary fiber you need each day, which slows the absorption of carbohydrates, so there’s less effect on insulin and blood sugar, and provides other health benefits as well. Such foods also provide important vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals (plant chemicals essential to good health).
Make sure to include green, orange, and yellow fruits and vegetables—such as broccoli, carrots, cantaloupe, and citrus fruits. The antioxidants and other nutrients in these foods may help protect against developing certain types of cancer and other diseases. Eat five or more servings a day.
Limit your intake of sugary foods, refined-grain products such as white bread, and salty snack foods. Sugar, our No.1 additive, is added to a vast array of foods. Just one daily 12-ounce can of soda (160 calories) can add up to 16 pounds over the course of a year. Many sugary foods are also high in fat, so they’re calorie-dense.
Cut down on animal fat. It’s rich in saturated fat, which boosts blood cholesterol levels and has other adverse health effects. Choose lean meats, skinless poultry, and nonfat or low-fat or nonfat dairy products.
Cut way down on trans fats, supplied by hydrogenated vegetable oils used in most processed foods in the supermarket and in many fast foods.
Eat more fish and nuts, which contain healthy unsaturated fats. Substitute olive or canola oil for butter or stick margarine.
Keep portions moderate, especially of high-calorie foods. In recent years serving sizes have ballooned, particularly in restaurants. Choose a starter instead of an entrée, split a dish with a friend, and don’t order supersized anything.
Keep your cholesterol intake below 300 milligrams per day. Cholesterol is found only in animal products, such as meats, poultry, dairy products, and egg yolks.
Eat a variety of foods. Don’t try to fill your nutrient requirements by eating the same foods day in, day out. It is possible that not every essential nutrient has been identified, and so eating a wide assortment of foods helps to ensure that you will get all the necessary nutrients. In addition, this will limit your exposure to any pesticides or toxic substances that may be present in one particular food.
Maintain an adequate calcium intake. Calcium is essential for strong bones and teeth. Get your calcium from low-fat sources, such as skim milk and low-fat yogurt. If you can’t get the optimal amount from foods, take supplements.
Try to get your vitamins and minerals from foods, not from supplements. Supplements cannot substitute for a healthy diet, which supplies nutrients and other compounds besides vitamins and minerals. Foods also provide the “synergy” that many nutrients require to be efficiently used in the body.
Maintain a desirable weight. Balance energy (calorie) intake with energy output. Exercise and other physical activity are essential.
If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. That is one drink a day for women, two a day for men. A drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 4 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirits. Excess alcohol consumption leads to a variety of health problems. And alcoholic beverages can add many calories to your diet without supplying nutrients.

60-25-15 Is My Rule Of Thumb

Posted on February 25, 2010 by Mxdthingz

A healthy diet is one that is high in carbohydrates, low in fat, and sufficient but not excessive in protein. That translates to about 60 percent of your calories coming from carbohydrates, 25 percent from fat, and 15 percent from protein. As in all things, of course, every individual is different and may respond better to slightly different proportions. There is a significant minority of people, for example, who are insulin resistant to some degree. For them, a diet of 60 percent carbohydrates will create big swings in insulin levels and too much fat storage. In that case, a diet of 50 percent carbs, 25 percent fat and 25 percent protein may make more sense.

I am following below daily intake recommendation (based on a 1200 Calories diet) as a guideline for losing weight.

Carbohydrates ~ 75-125 grams of Carbohydrates per day. Which is 45%-65% of your diet

Protein ~ 25 grams pf protein per day.Which is 10%-25% of your diet.

Fiber ~ 25-45 grams of fiber per day

Sugar ~14 grams of sugar per day.If you can, limit your intake of sugary food.That helps when trying to loose weight.Many sugary foods are also high in fat, so they’re calorie-dense

Fat ~ 20%-35% of your diet .

Monosaturated fat are the good fat and can be found on Almonds, avocadoes, cashews, canola oil, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, natural peanuts, olive oil, olives, pecans, pistachious, sesame oil and sesame seeds.

Polyunsaturated fat are heart-healthy and can be found in high-fat fish tuna, mackerel , salmon, Flaxseed, soybean oil and walnuts.

Saturated fat are the not so healthy fat. You need to at least consume less than 10% of your total fat.Minimize your bacon,beef, butter,cheese,coconut milk,cream cheese,palm oil, pork, sour cream and whole milk intake. No Trans fats, and don’t forget about your Minerals and Vitamins.

Water

Stay hydrated~In order to flush out the toxins and keep your fat burning organs functioning at their prime, you need to drink plenty of water. A general rule of thumb is to drink half your body weight in ounces of pure water each day. A 175 pound woman, for example, would need to drink approximately 88oz of water (2.75 big 32oz bottles of water). A 275 pound woman should drink around 138oz of water (4.3 big 32oz bottles)

Plan to drink liquids between meals rather than with meals~Water and other liquids can dilute your body’s digestive secretions. So to keep your digestion running at its peak so you get the most out of all that raw food nutrition, design your raw food diet meal plans so that you can drink water and other liquids at least 30 minutes before meals, or wait until an hour after meals. By the way, drinking a full glass of water before a meal can help you feel more full so you actually end up eating less.

Exercise~ remember to exercise daily.

This is going to be my way of life.I am planning on staying healthy by eating right and exercise daily. I feel great already and cant wait to reach my ideal weight. My goal is to lose 20 pounds in 4 months,and I have lost 9 pounds within a month since I’ve started this new diet.

Exercise of the Day: YOGA~ Cat Pose (Bidalasana)

Posted on February 25, 2010 by Mxdthingz

Level: Easy

Benefits: This pose stretches the back muscles and helps the spine to lengthen and remain flexible. It gently tones the abdominal muscles and is beneficial for our digestion.

Cautions: Cat pose may not be appropriate for people with severe wrist, arm or shoulder problems in which case you can try the Standing Cat Sequence. If you have knee problems try padding under your knees

The Cat Yoga Pose teaches you to initiate movement from your center and to coordinate your movement and breath. These are two of the most important themes in Asana practice. The alignment of your center depends on the positioning of your pelvis. Therefore, think of your hip positioning as the center of each pose. This is important because your spine is the most significant line of energy in every pose and because the way your spine elongates from your center depends solely on which way your pelvis is turning. Learn how to perform the Cat Pose in this section.

STEP 1: Start on your hands and knees. Position your hands directly beneath your shoulders and your knees directly beneath the hips. Have your fingers fully spread with the middle fingers pointing straight ahead. Make your back horizontal and flat. Gaze at the floor. This is your “neutral” positioning. When your pelvis is in neutral, your spine will be at full extension, with both the front and back sides equally long.

STEP 2: As you wait for the inner cue, do not sag into your shoulders. Instead, create a line of energy through each arm by pressing downward into your hands and lifting upward out of your shoulders. Go back and forth like this several times to make sure you understand the movement. As you exhale, sag into your shoulders and do the incorrect action; as you inhale, lengthen the arms, lift out of the shoulders and do the correct action.

STEP 3: When you are ready to begin, breathe in deeply. As you exhale, turn your hips into Cat Tilt. Do this by gently pulling the abdominal muscles backward toward the spine, tucking the tailbone (coccyx) down and under, and gently contracting the buttocks. Press firmly downward with your hands in order to stay lifted out of the shoulders, and press the middle of your back toward the ceiling, rounding your spine upward. Curl your head inward. Gaze at the floor between your knees.

If you have any difficulty doing this exercise, you may place a folded Yoga Blanket under your knees to protect you from pressure or pain. Caution must be observed if you suffer from any chronic or recent back pain or injury.

Source~ ABCofYoga

DSM IV ~ The Ultimate Encyclopedia Of The Mind/The Bible Of Psychiatric Treatment Is Being Revised~

Posted on February 11, 2010 by Mxdthingz

If you’ve been doing research and reading about pretty much any mental illness, you’ve probably seen phrases such as, “According to the DSM-IV …” or “The guidelines in the DSM-IV state …” But just what is this DSM-IV? ~It is the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association. In the United States, it is the primary system used to classify and diagnose mental disorders.The DSM-IV is an important tool for clinicians. It provides a standard for diagnoses to be standardized across psychology; however, the DSM-IV is not as precise for diagnosing personality disorders as some psychologists would like.

For the first time in over a decade, the go-to manual for diagnosing and treating mental illnesses is being revised, and the committee tasked with the job has released its suggested amendments to the public.The draft criteria for the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders are available online at www.dsm5.org. The site provides a forum to accept comment on proposed changes. Comments will be accepted through April 20. Update to the draft criteria will be made based on comments and field trials before DSM-5 is published in 2013.As part of the development process, the preliminary draft revisions to the current diagnostic criteria for psychiatric diagnoses are now available for public review and comment. “The publication of the fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) in May 2013 will mark one the most anticipated events in the mental health field”~ APA.

The DSM was first published in 1952. At that time, it contained only 66 disorders with short lists of symptoms for each and some discussion of the believed cause of the various disorders (Holmes). In 1968, the number of disorders was expanded to just over 100 with the publication of Edition II. Edition III of the Manual (1979) introduced a multiaxial diagnostic system of five scales.The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is the ultimate encyclopedia of the mind, and the primary resource for physicians charged with assessing mental ailments such as clinical depression, eating disorders and autism. Despite advances in genetic screening and brain scans, mental illness diagnosis still relies on written descriptions, which makes the DSM immeasurably influential.
Sources: AOL & APA

Fitness Tips ~Quick Ab Workout Routine~

Posted on February 7, 2010 by Mxdthingz

Do 2 sets of each of the following exercises, 12 – 15 reps per set. Rest no more than 1 minute between sets. As you get stronger increase the number of sets but don’t do more than 20 reps per set. Again, if you feel the sets are too easy you’re probably not doing the exercises correctly.
The point of this free ab workout routine is to get a quick, intense ab workout that burns fat, strengthens your abs, and leaves you in a puddle of your own sweat. Have Fun!

Exercise 1: Bicycle Maneuver~The number 1 overall ab exercise.
Lie flat on the floor with your lower back pressed to the ground. Put your hands beside your head (NOT behind). Bring your knees up to a 45-degree angle and slowly begin “pedaling” as if you were riding a bicycle. Each time your bring one of your knees up touch it to the opposite elbow (left knee to right elbow, right knee to left elbow). A single rep is every time you’ve touched both knees to your elbows, so 30 “pedals” is actually 15 reps. Here is a picture showing correct form:

Exercise 2: Reverse Crunch~ One of the best exercises for lower ab development.
Lie flat on the floor with your lower back pressed to the ground. Put your hands beside your head or extend them out flat to your sides. Cross your feet at the ankles and lift your feet off the ground to the point where your knees create a 90-degree angle. Once in this position, press your lower back on the floor as you contract your abdominal muscles. Your hips will slightly rotate and your legs will reach towards the ceiling with each contraction. Exhale as you contract; inhale as you return to the starting position.

Exercise 3: The Plank ~The best core strength exercise.
This is one of the most effective “core strength” exercises you can do because it works all the torso muscles, including those in the lower back and abdominal region. In fact, to maintain this position you use just about all of your muscles. Here’s how it’s done: simply get into the normal pushup position and hold it (strictly) for 30 seconds. Keep your abs very tight and your body straight. It will seem easy at first but after a few 30-second reps you’ll definitely be feeling it. Just be sure to tilt your pelvis and contract your abdominals to prevent your butt from sticking up in the air. An easier version of this exercise (weight on your elbows) is shown in the photo below:

Healthy Tips ~Carrot and Celery Sticks Dipped In Peanut Butter~

Posted on February 7, 2010 by Mxdthingz

The combination of carrot sticks/celery sticks and peanut butter is surprisingly delicious. Crunchy, celery or sweet carrot sticks are topped with creamy peanut butter in this healthy snack that will keep you going all afternoon .If you haven’t already; maybe you ought to try that someday.Eating peanut butter is good for your heart and a great source of protein, carrots and celery are good source of fiber.

Prep Time: 5 minutes;Calories 100; 2g of Dietary Fiber;Serves 1.

Ingredients:

1 large raw carrot, washed, trimmed and scraped
1 large raw celery stick,washed.
2 Tbsp. creamy peanut butter

Preparation:

Cut celery and carrots into 2-inch pieces. Or use pre-cut baby carrots. Spread each celery and carrot piece with a little peanut butter, or you can just dip individualy pieces in Peanut butter Enjoy!

Beauty Tips~ Try BIO OIL For Scars,Stretch Marks,Uneven Skin Tone & Dehydrated Skin~

Posted on February 6, 2010 by Mxdthingz

A lot of people tells me that I do not look my age and most of them think my skin is beautiful. I get so many positive comments about my skin from my friends,family members and other people; and they all want to know what I use on my face to make it stay flawless.Well, part of it, is from the beautiful genes that I inherited from my parents(~wink~wink), and another part is taking a good care of my skin in general.

I have been using Bio Oil on my face for the last 2 years.I don’t even remember what made me pick up a bottle of bio-oil at the drugstore a couple of years ago.I can honestly say that it is the best product I have ever found and my skin is much healthier. I love this stuff.

I apply just a little bit( remember you only need to use VERY LITTLE OF IT) to soak in before moisturizer, twice a day. It doesn’t make my face oily, it evened out my skin tone a bit and I have no dry patches. My face and neck are smooth. I’ve been using it on my legs in the winter also. It has made a difference and I’m addicted. I won’t be without it.I am usually a cynic towards such things so am pleasantly suprised by how well this is working and will continue with it for the immediate future.

BIO OIL helps improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks and uneven skin tone,helps replenish the skin’s natural oils,preventing pregnancy stretch marks .To find more information about BIO OIL,visit their site HERE

MXDTHINGZ

The Queen Of Random

Category Archives: health