Life Only Better

Rock the Dress Wedding Nutrition Tips

On this beautiful Sunday morning, the Rock the Dress Team brings you some Wedding Nutrition Tips.

1. It is recommended that you eat 5 to 6 smaller meals per day. Eating smaller meals every few hours will keep you feeling full longer throughout the day and will help you avoid stress eating. By eating 5 to 6 smaller meals, it will help increase your metabolism. One important tip is to plan and prepare your meals ahead of time. This way you will be able to warm it up and eat while on the go. As a busy bride, one very important tip is not to skip a meal. This can lead to overeating and a decrease in your energy level.
2. It is necessary that you drink plenty of water. Not only will this help you to stay hydrated but it will also help you to feel full. Try to drink between 8-10 ounce glasses per day. The more activity and exercise that you perform throughout the day, the more water you will need to drink. And try to avoid soda. Soda can actually cause you to lose more water that your body has reserved.
3. It is important to snack smart. You will need your energy. Snacks filled with protein, iron, vitamins, and whole grains are a good source of energy. Some healthy options include: trail mix, peanut butter with wheat crackers, avocados, and fruit. When you feel your energy level start to diminish, make sure to have a snack handy and ready to eat.
4. Avoid foods that cause bloating. Bloating is caused by sugary foods such as desserts, juices, white breads and pasta. Restrain from eating a large amount of these foods at least a week before the wedding. Water, soup, and fruit can help decrease your bloating.

No need to take extreme measures but rather incorporate long term changes into your routine that will ultimately better your life. What are you waiting for? We are here to help you look FABULOUS in your dress and beyond.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Burn Fat with Aqua Fit

Happy National Swim a Lap Day! Come get your toes wet and join us for Aqua Fit, a fun dynamic class designed around improving strength, cardio, balance, & coordination.

There are many health benefits to working out in the water. It’s an activity that everyone from young and old alike can benefit. When exercising in the water our bodies are working against 9 times more resistance than working out on land. Plus its low impact nature allows those whose movement would otherwise be restricted on land to engage in a full body workout without the risk of injury.

Classes can be held in your home pool, condo pool, or community pool. We are flexible.

 

 

Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oat Bars (vegan & gluten free)

A healthy pumpkin chocolate chip bar made with oat flour and no butter! Vegan and gluten free!

Makes a great breakfast, on-the-go snack, or even dessert! Who would have thought something so healthy could taste so good?

 

Click below for the recipe!

http://lifeonlybetter.com/healthy-pumpkin-chocolate-chip-oat-bars-vegan-gluten-free/

 

Mason Jar Quinoa Salad

No need to find a drive thru when you are on the go…take your salad with you! Healthy, Low Fat, Delicious and Portable, what else can you ask for?

In a wide-mouthed Mason jar you shake up layers of quinoa, black beans, corn, spinach, tomatoes and avocado to coat each bite in the lean Greek yogurt dressing.  Then simply twist open the jar and dive in with your fork!

 

 

For the recipe, click here!

http://lifeonlybetter.com/mason-jar-quinoa-salad/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weight Loss: Swim suit shopping worse than dentist

Here is the headline for an article posted in the "WASHINGTON" March 29 (UPI) – "Women would rather get their teeth drilled than shop for a new bathing suit, a report said.”

Can you believe that?!?  Wow. This is as real as it gets. Most women feel so unhappy with their bodies that they would choose dental surgery over bathing suit shopping. In the above mentioned article, one woman said “It’s the fact that we no longer have the bodies of 18-year-olds”.

This is a topic women do not take lightly. We look at younger bodies in those tiny bikinis wishing we looked the same, or do we? I think what most women really wish for is to feel comfortable in their own bodies.

We typically want to wear the clothing in our closet that doesn’t fit. Many of ourclients are ecstatic when they can fit into outfits they haven’t worn for years. They have a sense of accomplishment and increased confidence.

Truly, will we ever look like those 18-year-olds? Probably not. But can we look better, feel better, have more confidence, feel sexy, and fit into some of our favorite outfits we haven’t worn for years, DEFINITELY!

I think it’s more about learning what is realistic for the time we have and the lifestyles we lead. Allocating just a small amount of time each day towards our physical well being yields enormous results. It really doesn’t take a lot to look and feel better. 

Just like everything else in your life it's all about planning.  Your time for fitness should be an appointment in the calendar.  Prepping healthy foods for the week should be as well.  Select a certain day and time to prepare your healthy lunches and snacks.  Grab & go is the key!

All you have to do is decide.  Make the decision to give yourself the gift of movement, activity, and exercise.  You'll be so glad you did!

Curves: Feeling Good About Your Body

I recently met a young woman who we'll call "Jill", who impressed me the minute we were introduced.  She is young (24 years old), confident, carries herself extremely professionally and operates her own business. 

Since meeting her that first time, I've had the opportunity to get to know her a little better.  I really love her attitude about the way she takes care of herself and about her body image. 

She eats healthy, exercises and is not "skinny".  As she coins it, "I'm curvy".  And, by the way, she's proud of the way she looks. 

This is such a refreshing yet unusual attitude for young women in our society today. "Jill" is young, fit, and has beautiful curves which makes her look and feel sexy.  She is not trying to lose weight in her derriere or her beautiful legs, she's completely happy. 

What a wonderful example for young females, children and adults.  Genetically we have a predisposition to a certain body type.  So many women fight against the current in an attempt to drastically change those features to achieve the waif/model body style. 

I'm here to tell you that many models and celebrities simply don't eat (or eat too little).  Many of them also work with a personal trainer 2-3 hours per day.  This type of lifestyle is simply too costly and unrealistic for most people.

So take a good look at the beautiful features of your body and be proud of them.  If you continue to eat healthy and exercise you'll live a long, happy life, appreciating the way you look and not worrying about what others think!

Being Your Best Fit

It’s about that time of year when people begin to slack off on their New Year’s Resolutions and forget about being “Your Best Fit”.

What does being “Your Best Fit” mean anyway?  It’s different for everyone.  My best fit will be completely different than your best fit.  We all have different goals, body styles, former and current injuries, and life challenges.

So perhaps this is the perfect time of year to reframe the definition of your best fit.  Take a look at your current situation and establish goals that are truly realistic for where you are in your life right now. 

For example at the beginning of the year if you vowed to exercise every day but simply haven’t found the time to do so, then perhaps you should consider a goal of two to three times a week.  Once you master that then you’ll feel confident about a more challenging goal.  Not only that, but having accomplished exercising two to three times a week will make you feel so good both mentally and physically that you’ll actually WANT to do more. 

What many people don’t realize is that exercise is mostly psychological.  The first step is deciding that you want and need to exercise.  The second and most difficult step is actually doing it!

So what ever you do, make it realistic.  Don’t attempt to exercise for one hour your first few times out the gate.  Try 20 minutes and see how that feels.  Invariably you’re going to feel a little soreness.  The trick is to feel enough to feel good and not so much that you cannot move and forever ban exercise from your life!

So you can be your best fit in no time if you approach the process sensibly with positive thoughts and understand that you really can do it!

 

Recovering From Injury

Girls Gone Sporty recently asked me to speak about how to effectively recover from injury while still staying in shape!  This may seem like a challenge to some, however it can be done with a little creativity.  Take a look and listen!  http://www.girlsgonesporty.com/videos/hangouts/staying-in-shape-when-recovering-from-injuries#.UR_XNB1J7w9

End the year without gaining weight!!

Here's a few ways for you to make it to the end of the year without gaining more weight!!  http://lifeonlybetter.com/exercise-tips/articles/holiday-exercise/       

Water Works!

Water is a huge factor in weight loss.  Drinking two large glasses of ice water prior to eating will
help you to eat less. The stomach does not allow anything to exit prior to being heated to body temperature.  This means the water keeps the stomach full and you’ll eat less food.  Continuing to hydrate throughout the day will assist with that “full” feeling.  Water also is key in the elimination process.  It will help to keep your bowels regular and you’ll avoid that bloating feeling that makes you feel heavier.                                                                                            

Another reason to drink water is because sometimes hunger can be confused for thirst.  Try drinking those delicious two glasses of water and see if you’re still hungry.  Chances are you were just thirsty.  Also, before having that cocktail full of calories you should also down a glass of that magic water.  Being thirsty will cause you to down the first adult beverage too fast and then have another, adding to your daily caloric count.  

Also, dehydration contributes to fatigue.  If you’re tired you don’t feel like exercising or being active at all. Not burning as many calories throughout the day as you can will defeat you dropping the lb’s.  So among the numerous benefits of drinking water it will absolutely help you in your efforts to lose weight.

Water also helps to maintain healthy skin.  The body is comprised of 70% water.  Dry skin is a sign that you’re not drinking enough water.  Water is also the conduit to deliver key nutrients to the skin to help it look supple and healthy.  Water helps to eliminate toxins from the body.  Toxins can contribute to clogged pores and acne.  Drinking the essential eight glasses of water or more each day will help to keep your skin clear!

So make it a point this new year to increase your water intake to reap the many benefits of this amazing beverage!                                                                                            

No Time To Exercise?

Here is another article I wrote that was published yesterday. It will help you sneak in those workouts during hustle & bustle of the Holiday Season!  Enjoy!    http://theofficeprofessional.com/health-sneaking-exercise