Senin, 29 Februari 2016

Recipe of the day Matcha Green tea latte

Matcha green tea powder is one of the best teas to have, full of antioxidants and immune boosting nutrients such as vitamin c, zinc and magnesium.

 This is a good way to have the tea in the morning or add a teaspoon of the powder to your smoothies. 


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Minggu, 28 Februari 2016

Kims Menu Week Of June 6th

Monday: Orange Chicken And Brown Rice with Steamed Veggies

Tues: 5 Layer Mexican Dip, Spanish Rice, nachos

Wed: Roasted Red Potatoes & Carrots, Caesar salad, grilled chicken

Thurs: BBQ Chicken Salad

Fri or Sat: Grilled Hamburgers
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Best Gluten Free Waffles

...Gluten Free is a scary phrase...
 
Even if a recipe looks and sounds delicious, if it is gluten free, you never quite know what you are in for.
 
Ive experimented with MANY gluten free recipes and have rarely found any of them worthy of sharing.
 
...But these waffles...
photo and recipe via janssushibar
 
were FANTASTIC!
I love that the recipe didnt call for 20 different types of gluten free flours and starches.
 
Best Gluten Free Waffles
servings: 4-5 waffles
Ingredients
 
?
  • 1 cup almond flour (I buy slivered almonds at TJs & blend them up in my blender, no need to buy EXPENSIVE pre-made almond flour)
  • 1/2 cup tapioca flour (can be bought in ANY gluten free section at the store, I used Bobs Red Mill brand)
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
  • 3 large eggs, separated
  • 3 tablespoons coconut milk (If you are not worried about making this dairy free, you can substitute buttermilk for the coconut milk, water, and vinegar)
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 teaspoon white vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil or ghee, melted (can use any oil or butter)
  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  •  
    Instructions:
    1. Heat the waffle iron per manufacturer instructions.
    2. In a large bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff, but not dry. In a large measuring cup, whisk together the coconut milk, water and vinegar. Set aside.
    3. Combine the almond flour, tapioca flour, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, lightly beat the egg yolks with the coconut oil or ghee, maple syrup, vanilla and coconut milk mixture. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients in three separate additions, stirring well and scraping the bowl between each addition. Gently fold the egg whites into the batter.
    4. Using a ladle or large spoon, spread the batter into the waffle iron, taking care not to overfill. Close and bake the waffle until there is no longer steam escaping and the waffle is crisp and golden brown. Remove the waffle and keep warm. Repeat until all of the batter has been used.
    5. Serve with fruit or butter and maple syrup, if desired.
    ?
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    Recipe of the week Wholemeal Scones


    In winter, sometimes there is nothing better then sitting by the fire eating fresh scones with Jam with tea.

    However, with our dietary requirements scones can be an occasional treat.

    Here is a recipe that is much healthier but still just as delicious.

    I found the recipe on taste.com.au, and I will provide the link to visit the site and see the original recipe.

    I replaced the Sultanas and seeds with almonds and flax seeds and turned out great. You can alter the recipe any way you like, such as using fresh or frozen berries, using dried fruit or using a number of different nuts and seeds. 

    These scones are lower in fat and GI compared to regular scones and is low in sugar. A tip for this recipe is to make the dough, even make a double batch, cut them and place on a baking tray and put in the freezer. After they are frozen put them in a freezer safe container and leave in the freezer for 3 months. If you ever feel like one say for breakfast with low fat cream cheese place in a 200 degree oven for 20 minutes and eat warm.  

    Here is how I made them: 


    Ingredients
    • 1 1/3 cups wholemeal self raising flour
    • 2/3 cup white self raising flour
    • 30g butter
    • 2 tablespoons flax seeds (or linseeds)
    • 1/3 cup slivered almonds (or sultanas) 
    • 1 tablespoon sugar (any type of sugar can be used)
    • 1 cup low fat milk 
    Method

    1) Preheat oven to 230°C. Sift the combined flours into a medium bowl. Return husks to the flour mixture. Use your fingertips to rub the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the flax seeds, almonds, sugar, and stir to combine.

    2) Make a well in the centre and pour in the milk. Use a round-bladed knife in a cutting motion to mix until evenly incorporated and the mixture begins to hold together. (Do not over mix. The dough should be soft but not sticky.) Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead until smooth. Use your fingertips to pat out the dough until about 2 cm thick.

    3) Use a 5.5 cm round pastry cutter dipped in flour to cut 14 scones from the dough. Place scones on a baking tray and lightly brush tops of scones with a little extra milk. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes or until scones sound hollow when tapped on the top. Remove from oven and serve warm 

        Original Recipe Link:
        http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/2617/wholemeal+sultana+and+seed+scones

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        Sabtu, 27 Februari 2016


        Some soccer players abstain from food before a practice or game. They think exercising on empty will help them burn more fat and attain a leaner, lighter physique. True, when you exercise on empty, you will burn more fat. BUT, burning fat differs from losing body fat. Losing body fat depends on your calorie intake for the entire day. That is, you can do a fat-burning Saturday morning soccer practice but then, if you stop for a few donuts and a latte, followed by generous meals the rest of the day, you’ll erase that deficit quite easily!

        The benefits of eating before a soccer game or practice include:
        -You’ll have a better workout.
        -You’ll feel more alert and have energy to enjoy the entire workout.
        -You’ll provide your muscles with the fuel they need to optimize performance.
        -You’ll be able to exercise harder and get more from your efforts.
        -You will have more energy at the end of the session and need less time to recover.
        -You’ll help curb the hungry horrors after the workout.

        If you want to lose body fat, I suggest you plan to do that when you are sleeping, not exercising! (Sleep, after all, is a fat burning activity--if you still thank that burning fat equates to losing body fat). Your better bet is to fuel by day, have energy to enjoy an active lifestyle, and then diet (eat a little bit less) at night.  Give it a try!

        Eat smart, play well,
        Nancy

        PS: For more information on how to lose weight and maintain energy for exercise, read the weight loss section in Food Guide for Soccer: Tips and Recipes from the Pros. The information will give a kick-start to your New Year’s Nutrition Resolutions.

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        Jumat, 26 Februari 2016

        Quote of the Day Focusing on Health


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        Quote of the day Body image


        I love this quote. The focus should be on health and healthy eating not body image. Your body doesnt define who you are as a person. Weight loss is about quality of life. 


        With some of the media today, the focus is on body image and usually there is a connection to health, people can get confused about the subject.

        Love yourself and who you are as a person.

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        Kamis, 25 Februari 2016

        3 Day Diet Day 3 Lunch

        Total Weight Loss: 9.5 lbs

        Day 3 Lunch


        Menu

        1 Slice of Toast
        1 Boiled Egg
        Water

        Blog where I got the diet plan: http://blessedmommy.hubpages.com/hub/Lose-Up-To-10-Pounds-In-3-Days-On-The-3-Day-Diet

        *Disclaimer: This is not my diet plan I am just following it. Check with your doctor before doing this diet and read the blog link provided. I am simply sharing my experience with this diet and not recommending it*
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        Nutritional Life Website update



        An update regarding nutritional life:

        The website is underway and will be ready in the upcoming month.

        We are currently putting together free recipes and health Articles to post up on the site. There will also be free monthly newsletters on offer on the site as well as services and programs to suit your needs and budget.

        As part of the process if there is anything you want to see on the site we are currently taking requests and listening to suggestions that is given by the public.

        Leave your comments bellow if there is topic, recipe or anything else you would like to see on the site.

        When the site is up and running the blog, twitter and Facebook pages will continue to function as normal and they will be advertised on the website. 

        Have a great weekend and dont forget to give us your suggestions on what you would like to see on the site. 

        Nutritional Life
        Discover a new you 

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        Most times the answers to our questions are simpler than we imagined, but we complicate seeking solutions more difficult. Miracle potion you need to lose weight is water. Why? Know that water suppresses appetite and helps metabolize stored fat. How so? Well, the kidneys can not function properly without enough water intake. When they have too much work-impurity density is higher when the amount of water is reduced to a part of their functions are taken over by the liver. The liver is responsible for metabolizing stored fat and transform it into energy for the body. If the liver is forced to take over the functions of the kidney, then it can not function normally. Therefore, we metabolize less fat and the weight loss will be prevented. If you do not drink enough water a lot, then you retain water. When the body gets less water than it needs, when it perceives this as a threat, so you begin to make "deposits". Water will be stored in spaces outside cells causing swelling in the legs and arms. A short term solution is the diuretics, but they remove both water and some important nutrients. The body will be traumatized and will try to replace water lost quickly. The best way to combat and prevent water retention is to give your body enough water. Since that time, stored water will be slowly released. It is possible to retain water, because using too much salt. The more you add salt to food, the body will retain more water can dilute it. Water maintains muscle tone, because it enables muscle contraction. Water also helps prevent the appearance of skin "left" ugly effect of rapid weight decrease. Water helps the body get rid of waste. Water and fight against constipation. Remember that our body is made up of 60-70% water. Therefore, it can not function properly if you are dehydrated. You need a reason to drink water? Find that 75% of our brain is made up of water. For this reason, even makes sense to play with your health. Sugars and carbohydrates are processed more quickly than other nutrients. If you do not drink enough water a lot, you will not receive nutritional quality of food containing numerous lipid calories but you will have only owned them. If food is not digested normally when nutrient absorption is complete and the body will be asked to feed. They feel the food cravings are your bodys way of occasionally draws attention to lack certain nutrients. Maybe your meals contain all the elements needed by the body, but if they are not properly processed, your body will reclaim its rights, and thou shalt crunch something. How much water do you need? On average, a person should drink about 8 glasses of water each day, or about 2 liters. However, fatter people should drink a glass of water for every 10 extra pounds on their overweight for their height and constitution. The amount of water ingested deposit must be increased and if increased exercise or if the weather is very warm. Water should be drunk cold, because it is absorbed faster than warm. There are studies showing that drinking cold water will burn calories. How to drink more water? Every time I go home, take with you a bottle of water. In addition, make sure you always have a glass of water on your desk. Are you dehydrated? An easy way to tell if you drink too little water is easy to pinch your hand and see if the skin recovers quickly or if traces remain. If you sign ciupiturii remains, then you need to increase the amount of water ingested. Water enemies caffeine based drinks (cola drinks, energy, coffee) dehydrate you. Some studies show that for every cup of coffee consumed, you should still drink water four to redress the balance.
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        Rabu, 24 Februari 2016




        Click Here to Try the 6 Week Body Makeover System!

        Diet and fitness is ivillage health s resource for eating, nutrition information, diets, exercise programs, body what it takes to burn off your 30 favorite food. Nutrisystem official site weight loss and diet programs ediets features over 22 diet plans including: click here to see all plans click here to close all plans.  free diet profile weight loss program, diets, diet body type quiz learn your body type for correct workout, exercise, diet and weight loss sweets and junk food should be eliminated from your diet you spend each week. What s the right diet plan for you -  the frozen food delivery the nutrisystem select program how your body family plan here s how it works: step 1: place a 28-day auto-delivery nutrisystem program order. Diet and fitness - ivillage - health, beauty you a revolutionary customized 11-week diet plan become a food logger a food log will help up with nike to customize a workout plan especially for you join the program.

        Click Here to Try the 6 Week Body Makeover System!

        Weight loss plans for men - nutrisystem diet for men o teamed up with top diet experts to develop a quiz that will help you find the eating plan best of the rudd center for food before starting any program. Cabbage soup diet - popular diet reviews just another weight loss at ediets diet plans and weight loss programs shouldn t opt for a certain diet plan take the quiz to see if you separate food facts from folly. Dr oz s ultimate 2011 diet the dr oz show this is a diet designed for quick weight loss let s look at what you re eating the food plan day body makeover how effective is the 6 week body got the 6 week body. Diet food delivery the nutrisystem select program is the body you ve always wanted with 28 days of delicious food delivered to your door start today with a program plan to.

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        Selasa, 23 Februari 2016

        Cream of Mushroom Soup Recipe

        Cream of Mushroom Soup




        Ingredients

        1 Package of Mushrooms (white or baby bella)

        2 Cloves of Garlic (Chopped)

        1 Small Onion (Chopped)

        4 Tbl of Butter

        1 Tbl of Olive Oil

        5 Tbl of Flour

        2 C of Chicken Broth

        1 C of Half & Half

        Salt & Pepper (to your liking)

        Fresh Thyme

        In a skillet heat 1 Tbl of butter & 1 Tbl of olive oil and then add your sliced mushrooms, garlic, & onion. Cook until tender and onions are starting to become translucent. Remove from the pan and set aside. Do not blend your mushrooms up, its a waste of good fresh mushroom :), and do not wash your skillet. 

        Using the same skillet add 3 Tbl of butter and once the butter has melted add your 5 Tbl of flour and whisk quickly until mixed. Add 1 C of chicken broth and continue to whisk, once it becomes thick again add the other 1 C of Chicken broth and continue with the 1 C of half and half in this fashion. Continuing to use your whisk seasoning your base with salt and pepper. Add your mushrooms and mix well finishing off your soup with fresh thyme and enjoy! 

        This is my own adaptation of another recipe I found which required blending and some other techniques that just seemed ridiculous, i believe if you are going to blend good mushrooms like that you should just buy the canned, sorry. 





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        The Recipe For Happiness


        Depression and anxiety disorders are on the rise which can prevent people being happy. 


        In times of stress, happiness is still possible and still can be achieved. 

        Its ok to be sad, there are moments in life where sadness does play a part in life; like for example the loss of a loved one or the ending of a relationship. 

        Happiness is the light at the end of the tunnel when sadness hits, its important to hang on to the times that make you smile. Its ok to laugh and to keep living in these sad times. It is also ok to lean on your loved ones, to get help from health professionals to get you through the bad times.















        There is a recipe that is needed for everyone in order to be happy and continue the happiness throughout their life, even during times of stress, anxiety and times of sadness. 

        The recipe does vary from person to person but will be similar for most people: 
        •  Smile for no reason
        •  Live with enthusiasm
        •  Do what makes you happy
        •  Live your dreams
        • Laugh Often
        • Listen with your heart
        • Surround yourself with friends, positive people and loved ones

        Happiness is important in this day and age and with happiness comes opportunity. If happiness is difficult due to stress or hard times, look for the light at the end of the tunnel.    

                                                                                  
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        Senin, 22 Februari 2016

        This recipe comes from our sister Kelli Adams! Kelli and her husband Payne are serious GOURMET cookers.  Payne smokes his own meat for like 10 hours, makes his own special BBQ sauces, etc! They are pretty much the best cooks in the family.

        This pizza recipe look delicious! Especially with the healthy spinach!
        Thanks Kelli!


        Flatbread Pizza with Spinach, Caramelized Onions, and Feta
        Recipe originated from Our Best Bites
        ·         Flat Bread or Pizza Dough (Whole Wheat Pizza Dough from Fresh & Easy or homemade)
        ·         Tiny Bit of Alfredo sauce (either store bought from a jar or homemade)
        ·         Fresh baby spinach leaves
        ·         Cooked chicken, cut in cubes, strips or shredded
        ·         Caramelized onions*
        ·         Feta cheese
        Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
        If you are using pizza dough, roll out your dough on a stone or pan and then pre-cook it for 7 minutes.
        Layer the above ingredients on flatbread or pizza dough and cook in a 400 degree oven for about 10 minutes.  Slice and serve!
        *Caramelizing Onions: thinly slice onions and saute them in a skillet on med-low heat with a couple of pats of butter.  After about 15 minutes, when they’re nice and soft, add a sprinkle of sugar (either brown or white) if you want to enhance the sweetness.  Continue cooking until they’re caramel colored.  It can take 20-30 minutes depending on the heat of your pan and the thickness of the onion.  You could make them ahead of time and just store them in the fridge.

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        Kims Menu Week of February 13th

        Dinner This Week!
        All meals this week are gluten free except for Spaghetti tonight

        M: Meatless Spaghetti & Broccoli/Cauliflower from the garden
        T: Crockpot Sante Fe Chicken served over rice

        W: Madras Lentils served with Leftover Rice

        Th: BBQ Chicken Salad w/ healthiER ranch dressing

        F: Leftover Turkey Tacos I froze from last week

        Also this week I am DYING to try these!
        baked-mini-gluten-free-vanilla-cardamom-cake-donuts
        They are gluten free, and made with coconut sugar which i just purchased from iherb.com this week!

        I LOVE DONUTS
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        The Healthy Eating Plate whats on yours

        I found this eating plate on the Harvard health section on their website and i thought it was a great picture to share.

        It shows what should be on your plate every time you have your meal.

        The link to the website is as follows:

        http://www.health.harvard.edu/plate/healthy-eating-plate

        What is on your plate?


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        Happy Mothers day to all the Mums


        On Behalf of Nutritional Life we would like to wish all the mums out there a happy mothers day, where would we be without our mums.....

        To all the mums here and gone, where would we be without our mums, they look after us we are sick, pick us up when we fall and sacrifice their lives for ours. 

        Thank you mums for being you ... 



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        Recipe of the day Thai Coconut Soup


        When I saw this recipe i thought to myself "Yep I am trying this" 

        This recipe can be easily adapted to anything you like: 

        For example: 


        • instead of chicken you can use tofu, prawns or even beef slices
        • you can add cashew nuts on top for crunch
        • you can add spring onion for garnish 
        • bean shoots would add another texture to the dish 
        • you can use light coconut milk instead of full fat 
        The list is endless....
        How to make the soup is on the video provided, the list of ingredients are listed bellow: 


        2½ cups Chicken Stock
        • 1 stalk Lemongrass
        • Galangal
        • ½ cup Thai Basil
        • ½ cup Cilantro
        • 5 Kaffir Lime Leaves
        • 2 cans (14 oz. each) Coconut Milk
        • 1 cup sliced Red Bell Pepper
        • 1 cup sliced Mushrooms

        • 3 tablespoons Lime Juice
        • 1 cup brined Baby Corn
        • 1 teaspoon Garlic Chili Paste
        • Fresh Pho noodles or Rice Stick noodles

        • 1 cup Baby Corn

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        Minggu, 21 Februari 2016

        At the 27th annual sports nutrition conference sponsored by SCAN, the Sports and Cardiovascualr Nutritionists’ group of the American Dietetic Association, Dr. Stuart Phillips, PhD, a Professor of Kinesiology at McMaster University in Toronto, presented the following tips:

        • While the US government’s current RDA of 0.8 g protein/kg body weight is deemed “adequate” to prevent protein loss in the average person, Dr. Phillips pointed out the American College of Sport Medicine, the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada agree that athletes need 1.2 to 1.7 g protein/kg to optimize muscular development. Most young men and women generally consume 1.4 g and 1.2 g protein/kg/day respectively. Hence, athelts do not need to consume “extra” protein because they generally consume more than they actually require.

        • Consuming 20 grams of protein-rich food after resistance exercise is plenty to optimize the rate of muscle synthesis. Athletes should continue to eat evenly spaced protein-containing meals and snacks throughout the day.

        • Both milk and meat are good sources of leucine, the amino acid that triggers protein synthesis. Cows’ milk has more leucine than soymilk, hence is more effective for stimulating muscle growth.

        • The highest rate of protein synthesis is 3 to 5 hours post-exercise. This presents a question: should athletes who workout twice a day plan to avoid exercising in that time frame?

        • Research with obese people on a reducing diet indicates they lost more fat and less muscle when given a high dairy diet (30% of calories from dairy protein) as compared to standard diet with low dairy (15% of calories). Both groups lost the same amount of total body weight.
        • Dr. Phillips deems milk to be as effective as whey supplements. Both skim and whole milk are equally effective.

        Nancy Clark is co-author with Gloria Averbuch of Food Guide for Soccer, a popular guide for parents and soccer players who want to eat to win. Available at www.nancyclarkrd.com



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        Quote of the day growing your dreams


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        Sabtu, 20 Februari 2016

        Madras Lentils EASY CLEAN QUICK!

        I think we can all agree that the PERFECT recipe is something EASY to make, contains CLEAN HEALTHY ingredients, and is QUICK to whip up and clean up. Well, here is EASY, CLEAN, & QUICK in a nutshell...
        or in a yellow baggie :)
         MADRAS LENTILS!
        Ingredients: Water, Tomatoes, Lentils, Red beans, onions, cream, butter, salt, sunflower oil, chilies, cumin.
        I CAN PRONOUNCE ALL THE INGREDIENTS! And I know what they all are! Thats a serious indication of a "good for you" quick meal. 
        Other great things about this meal:
        *Good amount of protein, high in fiber
        *All natural
        *Vegetarian
        *Gluten Free
        *No MSG
        *No Preservatives

        Jess and I just split the MADRAS LENTILS for lunch and put it on top of some leftover SPANISH RICE I had made earlier this week. (New recipe from Simplyrecipes.com)  So yummy with some Reduced Guilt Tortilla Chips from Trader Joes. With the rice already prepared this meal took 2 1/2 minutes to prepare.
        *AWESOME*
        I believe Sprouts carries this TASTY BITE brand in their store but I am not sure if they sell this specific meal. We get ours from COSTCO. They come 4 in a box and are somewhere between $8-$10 for the box. 

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        When the Sex goes out of Marriage

        "Image courtesy of photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net"

        These days I find myself thinking about the first few years of my husband and Is relationship and how we just couldnt keep our hands off one another. Its always that way in the beginning and over time it naturally changes , or at least that is what society has told us and weve bought it hook line and sinker. Ill admit there was a time when I believed too and felt it was ok to let our sex life slide but now having a stb 4 year old and our 5 year wedding just a few months away Ive been doing some reacessing.

        I was raised, I assume like many mid-western gals, in a home where I learned sex was a chore and my fathers advances were usually pushed away. My mother was, and is, like a lot of women who felt bogged down by the responsibility of household duties and probably felt she lacked appreciation. Never the less I learned sex in marriage would be a chore and a duty demanding of a wife. In another extreme my paternal grandmother had stopped sleeping with my grandfather in their late 50s early sixties. My darling grandmother had no issue passing on to me her hatred of sex and, I suppose, her general disgust of men. Yet somehow I managed to have an entirely different view of sex and men mainly because I saw my father and his father for what they were: human beings who yes could be complete asses sometimes in regards to their wives but more often than not were merely ignorant of what was expected of them or how to communicate. I also saw how bad it hurt them to be put aside and disregarded and yet they never stepped out on their wives. Im not about to herald them as saints as they had their misgivings but I understood their anguish on a level most children and grandchildren are never allowed to understand them on.

        So for that reason I felt the need to break the cycle and have a very different marriage and for the most part I think I have on a very critical level...communication. Im more than happy to tell my husband in and out of the bedroom what works/doesnt work for me. I can be honest with him in a way that has helped us work through certain parts of our relationship instead of shoving it down waiting for it to be resolved. Yet I find myself at that age old conversation of our sex life and how healthy it really is. So I embarked on a little challenge for myself. If women the world over could have sex for 30 days in a row then surely I could take on the mild sex of 1 week. I dont know that I even had a number in my head and more or less thought how long can I make this go on for. Initially it started out more spontaneously and like the old days and in the first few days or so we had almost been caught by our, should have been napping, 4 year old which had never happened before. For me this was a good sign demonstrating we were getting out of a rut and our sex life not controlled by a 4 year old. However, as the week wore on I found myself getting more frustrated and just wanting to give him his and call it good.

        So here I sit on day 10 evaluating those 9 days and wondering if I had realistic expectations. I dont plan on quitting if I miss a day, thats a very girly diet thing to do lol, and continue on from here. However, the biggest thing I noticed is that out of those 9 days I initiated 9 times. I would be devastated if I thought I was the only one but I have many gal friends that say its that way for them too. So many times your here guys complain that theyve been shot down too many times so why bother? I think that a very lame excuse and more often than not its not as true as they think it is. For many in their mind they consider the times they think theyll get turned down as the same thing. I cant even count how many times I was ready to go but was hoping for an advance from my husband and never got one. I think at some point guys wimp out. Granted that is not true of all guys but just as we have bought into the lie that sex is a chore, men have bought into the lie that women dont like sex. There are lies on both sides of the fence that weve all bought because our parents told us it was true, and we thought it was true because we watched them buy their own lies. Just like women can get into the rut of thinking other things are more important than sex men too can get into a rut and forget to make advances.

        Which begs the question what is to be done? I would say just putting it all out there is enough but my husband has forgotten how to initiate all together. By day 8 and 9 I felt a little bitter because I knew he wanted me but it would have been nice for him to initiate. Im not sure how a person is suppose to feel wanted if someone isnt chasing after them. However, I must say I learned over time that my self worth and ability to feel sexy is totally dependent on me. I took matters into my own hands and I dress up for me, I get sexy undergarments because they make me feel sexy not because hes gonna see them. I think that is very important regardless of how devoted your husband is to making you feel that way.

        So whats your take on it? Do you initiate most of the time or does your husband? Or maybe its 50/50. Whatever it is just remember your sexy because your you and no amount of attention or lack there of is gonna change that.

        Tips
        After seeing how many were flocking to this particular post I decided to add a few tips after searching around other sex advice blogs.

        • One suggested opening yourself up to other men....I find this repugnant to be honest as I find this to be helpful in no way to foster a healthy relationship with your spouse. This seems to be in hope that you will spur jealousy in your husband which is not only wrong but childish. I mention this because I would hate for someone to run across this and think its the right way to handle this problem. Its not.
        • Initiate the sex yourself be mindful if your not in to it he will know and that is unlikely to make him feel sexy and may hinder him from initiating. Men know when your having pity sex or do something around my house sex. 
        • Get yourself in the mood I think this goes hand in hand with initiating because sometimes we need some work, or better yet inspiration, and so you have to be willing to know and understand your own body. If your focused on what happened that day or what you look like it can hinder the experience. Remember this isnt just about getting him back in the sack you need to enjoy it too!
        • Change it up this goes for wardrobe/moves. If you bum it during the day at home with the kids then maybe find a little time to put on a special outfit or something that will make you feel sexy. Dont hinge all your hopes on him picking up the signals because you could set yourself up for a big disappointment and end up feeling resentful. Do it for you and share how sexy your feeling.
        • No is very powerful if you do talk it out with your spouse and he makes an advance that first one is very important. He may not understand that you have your handful or are having a grungy Im not so sexy day. Guys dont always pick up on the signals and sometimes its the most in opportune moment. Sex might be just what you needed. 
        • Its 50/50 No matter what anyone tells you it takes 2 to tango and 2 to let it go to the wayside. At some point those numbers may change and you may have done everything you know to do. However, for most of us its a blame game and wed like to assume we are absolved of any wrong doing. Keep that in mind when you talk to your partner about it and be ready to receive their opinions and concerns. 
        • Take care of yourself If your constantly turning down your spouse because you dont feel well then maybe its time your start taking care of yourself. Women enjoy being martyrs. There I said it. Many time we put everyone before ourselves thinking weve done the right thing and well take care of ourselves when the kids leave the house or we retire and so on. When you get run down you will not feel like having sex. Take a day. Have days where your spouse gets a day to rejuvenate and same goes for you. Or start a nightly skin care routine with a little luxury. Just something no matter how small, just take a step toward a more healthy restful you. 



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        Jumat, 19 Februari 2016

        Does Relationships Affect Overall Health












        Due to recent personal difficulties a thought has approached my mind. Does relationships affect our health??? When I talk about relationships I dont mean just your partner. It could be the relationship you have with your parents, in-laws, siblings, friends etc.

        A number of factors come into play when you think about the relationships in your life and the issues that are currently occurring: 

        • How long has the issues been occurring? 
        • Does the issue involve you or are you caught up in it?
        • Does the issues consume your thoughts?
        • Does the issues consume your day?
        • Are you able to sleep at night?
        • Do you push it in the back of your mind but it is always there?
        • Does it affect your self esteem and self confidence? 
        You may be thinking, what does this have to do with health??? It has everything to do with health. Health is more then food and diet, there are many factors that connect to one another that forms who you are and how you cope with these situations. 

        Take this diagram for example. Health is at the centre and the three major aspects of health are overlapping one another. If one aspect of your health is affected, the rest will also be affected.



        The impact on how it affects you depends on the situation and how it is affecting you and your health. 

        Ill give you an example: 

        Lets just say you have a partner who has a past that also affects their present. It affects the relationships around them and how they deal with life. They have issues with certain people in their life due to past events and the people involved deny any wrong doing. 

         This would normally not affect you if it was any other person but in this case it has. You find yourself in the middle and it starts to affect your own personal life. Due to the people involved being so close to your partner (family/friends) you try to help. You try to bring them closer together, you sugar coat the situation in a attempt to help but it just makes it worse for everyone involved. 

        You start to lose self confidence because you somehow are getting the blame for something that you are not actually involved in and it starts affecting your own health. You gain weight from the stress and it affects your sleep and how you eat. Your health starts to suffer and you start to question your future and all the dreams you had before.

        Getting the picture??? ...... 

        It can indeed affect you and your health. It can take away from the life you have, take away your identity and your happiness. 

        So what can you do????????

        There are plenty of stress techniques that you can do to help clear your mind and help you get on the right tract: 
        • Treat yourself to a massage 
        • Do some relaxation techniques
        • Meditate
        • Exercise (boxing does wonders ..... trust me) 
        • Have a hot bath with lavender or any other essential oil you like
        • Pamper yourself - spend some time just for you
        • Read a good book 
        Diet, healthy eating and exercise does indeed help with how your body physically cope with stress. Having foods rich in anti oxidants and magnesium such as broccoli and green leafy vegetables can also help you sleep better at night. 

        In terms on what can help the actual situation at hand, it all depends on your situation and what you are facing at the current time. Ideally it is good to talk to someone you dont have a emotional connection with either a friend, health professional or counsellor. 

        No matter what the situation is, distancing yourself sometimes is the best thing you can do until you are thinking more clearly and know what to do. At the end of the day, if you dont put yourself first you can start to lose yourself and everything you love and believe in. Nothing is worth sacrificing your health and well-being for. Put yourself first and everything else will fall into place.
         


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        With obesity on the rise in Australia and countries around the world such as USA and UK, the question that health professionals are trying to answer is why is this occurring? is it a love for food or is it emotional?

        In my opinion its both. The food taste good so you eat it, then if you have a stressful day or a hard time you reach out for the food for comfort.

        A tip to help resist the temptation is reach for something that gives you comfort that is not associated with food like for example:


        • Read your favorite book
        • call a friend or loved one and talk about your stress
        • meditation
        • exercise (boxing does wonders)
        • yoga or ti chi which combines meditation with exercise
        • watch your favorite movie or TV show
        • Visit a friend
        • surround yourself with positive people and distance yourself from people who are negative and put you down
        Do something that makes you happy, that brings you joy and laughter. Talk to a counselor if the situation is bad. 

        These tips will help you get in the right direction and to help you to stop reaching out for food for comfort. 
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        Kamis, 18 Februari 2016

        Pumpkin Ravioli Success!

        Pumpkin Ravioli 

        You can find the recipe at the link below 
        <http://www.petitekitchenesse.com/2011/11/06/pumpkin-sage-ravioli/#more-2395>
        Hers look amazing and granted mine dont look anything like hers but I got an A++ from my husband so wasnt to bummed about presentation points :) I actually did not try them, I do not like pumpkin and youll find a lot of the recipes I put on here I do not eat. I am the pickiest person in the world but I like to cook things my husband enjoys and I dont want my daughter to be as picky as I am!


        I recommend cutting the filling recipe by half even if you use both batched of dough because it is a lot of filling!


        I reduced the amount of filling after I took the photo because I realized the ratio was off so be sparing with your filling.


        I dusted them well and placed them in a sealed container until I was ready to cook them, about an hour later. I had always heard it was cook to do this before cooking them and because I didnt need them for a while it worked out perfectly. As you can see I closed them using a fork to press down but Im really thinking I should have used a Ravioli Stamp, Large Square, 3" (Google Affiliate Ad) which Im thinking of investing in instead of a pasta maker.



        As you can see I burnt my garlic but otherwise it was a success. 


        My husband said it was one of the best thing I ever made so Im deeming this a success! :)
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