Health | Eating better on Dukan Principles

It is so hard to stay on track, specially when you have a ton of friends and office friends and family who are mayor into going out to eat or drink. Eating is the worst thing for me, because I have been in a love affair with it for quite some time bording the 2.5 year anniversary.

Health | GM Diet Diary: Day 5 & 6

After taking a little break from writing, I am ready to tell you all about these 2 days!

Health | GM Diet Diary: Day 4

Oh boy.

Amazing Things going on.

For the past few weeks my mom and I embarked on a new life style. I know I've talked about how we were trying to be healthier before, but we failed every time. But this time is different. We have been very strict about it and we are loving it. So let me tell you about this whole new health path that crossed our ways. 

Happy Sunday!

Hey Everyone!

It's a nice family Sunday, it's sunny, it's warm, it pretty much everything you'd like from a day with the ones you love.


(I wish I had a pool like this one!)

We normally spend the day going to lunch, sleeping in, enjoying the blue sky in our backyard, and specially the dogs playing around and we playing with them. Later at night we watch movies and relax some more.

It is very nice to spend it that way leaving all the worries of the week and the stress of work and some other issues behind for a week.

I hope you have a nice nice day and show the ones you love how much they mean to you!! <3

xo,

S.A

picture is from here

Healthy Spotlight: Blueberries

Hey there my loves!  

Recently I've found that blueberries are a great fruit to munch on and as a great complement for cereal and oats. I know many of you might already like this combo, but i actually never got interested in it specially because the looks of it was not nice for me at all. 


Later I decided to try it and see why many people liked it. And I got hooked. But it is just not the taste that fascinates me, it's also the amount of health benefits it provides. 


Here are 3 main characteristics of blueberries and why you should incorporate them in your diet. 


1.- They are great anti-oxidants. They help slow down the process of ageing of your body and provide you with extra energy. 


2.- They help to keep in pin point your memory making it sharper and better. 


3.- They contain a great amount of vitamins and minerals which increase the nutritional value of any of the food you pair them with. 


Remember, good food pairing is they key point to make your body happy and your energy at a good level. 


xo, 


S.A 


picture is from here 

New Year, New Me

I have been going through many different challenges through all of 2011. I now realise I have taken for granted many things, as a "I love you" and as a "thank you". I just assumed people knew what I felt and what they mean to me. 

 

Now, I realize i have to love and let know people that I do LOVE them. Not taking them for granted. This also applies to me, I started this blog to help me reach a goal, which I have been so bad at because of the hectic life I've been following and the worst disorder in everything related to my health and my personal life. 

I want this year to be the best, they always say that even years are better. I want it to be so. I belief that now, as I am getting older, i have a real purpose in life and I have more tools to make it happen. I don't care if i have 100 or 1 people that read my blog, as long as I know that I have touched, or made an impact to that 1 or 100 people reading it. I belief that everyone have a chance to make an impact in your life and to become better people. 

Now, it's time to get back to what this blog was about and keep a regime to become healthy again. 

It's going to be a long process and not an easy one but keeping record of it is going to make the journey smoother. 

I love every single one of you, even if you are just one <3 

xo, 

S.A 

Christmas excitement!

Hey Everyone! 


So I am finally done with the semester, my finals went, the majority of them, great! i am closing with really good grades and I am proud of it :) all the hard work is paying off. My cousin has just ended her career and i feel sooo proud of her also! she's graduating from the same university i'm in and now i see that all the hard and long hours of not sleeping do pay off <3


And now, what I've been waiting for this whole time! Christmas time! shopping for the presents, cooking and trying not to gain those extra pounds from the food, specially because bikini season is starting for the southern hemisphere and I am, unlucky me, there. 

I love the fact that now I am going to have more time to write my blog more often and get in touch with you all more. 


let the christmas spirit take over my blog to make us all more happy <3 


xo,


S.A


picture is from here

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hey everyone! 

I know it's been such a long time since i talked to you last, but, as a university student I have certain privileges right? <3 

I just wanted to stop by and wish you all happy thanks giving and for those who don't celebrate, have an awesome day too. I think as the end of year festivities are nearer by the day, it is nice to have some time to reflect about what has been going on in our lives and be thankful for those moments that has made us happy. 

Hope you guys have a really good day with your loved ones! 

ps. are you guys in the U.S exited about black friday? cause I AM, my aunt is going shopping and is going to buy some things for me that I sent the money for :) 

xo, 

S.A

Healthy Snacks: Avocado Humus

Hey Guys! 


So I was browsing through the internet in the search of new and healthy snack options and got across this recipe, and as I am a huge lover of avocados and of Humus I thought "OK, why not?" and decided that you might also like this new and innovative way to eat your humus. 



Here is the recipe thanks to the food network: 

Ingredients: 


2 avocados
1/2 jalapeño pepper
7 ounce tub of humus
juice of 1 lemon 
salt


Directions: 


Make an avocado and jalapeño purée in a food processor, then stir with the humus and mix well. Add salt and the lemon juice and mix well once again. 


If you can't find made humus near you, click here to get the recipe to make it yourself. (An easy and practical recipe I must say!)   


A great veggie that you can eat this with is with celery sticks, they are crunchy and yummy. But you can also eat it with toasted pita bread. 


So I hope you enjoy! 


xo, 


S.A

Flexitarianism: Yay or Nay?

Hey Guys!

I was browsing through the internet and came across this term. Flexitarianism. I was so curious that I decided to some research and found out that it is a way of living. A healthier one.  

They are like vegetarians but they get their proteins from lean meats and dairy products but get their basic diet plan is based on fruits, vegetables and grains. They say that a flexitarian way of eating is what nutritionists all around the world have been recommending all around the world for some time now and that more and more people are making it happen. Nutritionists recommend this way of eating because it's good to eat a low saturated fats diet high in fibre. 

People who follow this trend are more likely to follow the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables than most people and obtain more benefits from them. This means that their health is going to be a boost of good fats and the metabolism working better and therefore people are going to be thinner and have less risks of strokes.  

I think it is a yay, because of the benefits. 

What do you think, are you willing to try Flexitarianism, Yay or Nay?

xo, 

S.A

Source: CNN  

5 foods that get to your hips

Hey guys!

It's another day and another of my lists come up! who isn't worried about the food they eat and how are they going to affect their body? I think that this is my biggest scare as it is for the most of the girls out there. Can we eat chocolate? A cupcake? A McDonald's Burger with extra cheese and bacon? Where do they go in our body??

All these questions are just getting us more and more worried, right? I know, I AM worried!

So now, we are going to get in details and more details. 

5) Fondue: As much as you may love your fondue (all that cheese and more cheese on top of MORE cheese) it's time to go cutting it out. Cheese is a killer one, specially the one used for fondue. It contains a lot of calories and fat and grease that will just serve as food for your hips and they might get fatter and larger. I think it is also best to eat it in moderation every once in a long (and by long i mean like 6 months apart) time so that it is not damaging your health. 

4) French Fries: They are the best companions of the next food that is not healthy for you at all. Because they are fries, they need to be deeped in hot boiling (guess what?) yes OIL. It has toxins and saturated fats that are just not good for you. 

3) Cheeseburger: Yes this is the companion of your fries i was talking about. Fried Burger plus cheddar cheese plus mayo and all those sauces and the French Fries are just a killer combo. All the fat is going directly to your hips ladies! we are like hamsters in that way, we accumulate, just not in our cheeks but in our hips (bummer). 

2) Pasta: Yes, and I feel disappointed by this. You know I love me some pasta every now and then. But white wheat pasta is the worst. Lasagne  as an example has more or less 3000 calories because of the ingredients. 

1) Burritos: Good lord, Mexicans are great for inventing all types of yummy food! but unfortunately this just makes your health go under the scope of calories and fat and to get greased arteries.  

I hope you guys have enjoyed this post and that you are aware of what to avoid for the moment to have a healthier diet <3 

xo,

S.A

Workout Playlist

Hey Everyone! 


I am in a blogging mode right now and i feel motivated to work out hard this days. And i am a much of a music lover and love the different genres there are so i felt that if i did a workout with music the pain of it will be just a mere reflection and not noticeable at all. 

So for this blog I am going to give you my favourite songs to listen when I hit the gym or my park for a run. 


If you are of those people that like super motivating beats and kind of happier tunes to pump up your workout i think that Katy Perry's Firework is awesome, motivating and fun to listen. 


So here is my top ten songs in my playlist to a work out: 


1) My Dilemma- Selena Gomez
2) DJ got us falling in love again- Usher ft. Pitbull
3) Raise your glass- Pink
4) King of anything- Sara Bareilles
5) Summer Moon- David Geta
6) Don't Stop Believing- Glee Cast
7) You sexy thing- Barry White
8) Memories-David Geta
9) Price Tag- Jessie J. ft B.o.B
10) Firework- Katy Perry


I think that if you have something that makes you have fun and a great time while working out, you won't feel the work and just enjoy yourself. You might even find that you go along with the beats and that time passes by as fast as you blink. 


Hope you enjoyed this little bog post!


now tell me, which songs do you listen to while workingout? 




*Disclaimer: Amazon.com owns the content in the link of this post. I am just a supplier for your consideration of the existence  of the products in their stores. All opinions are my own. 

xo,


S.A

Thursday: Meal Diary + update

Hey Guys!

I am finally done with my final exams and i am so happy about it! it has been a long couple of weeks and i now feel the relief and ecstatic about it.

It's been a crazy week and as I told before in this blog, i tend to eat a lot when i am anxious or stressed, so i found great healthy snacks to munch on while studying. Click here if you want to see those snack ideas and maybe try them! they are way better than those fatty and fried chips and endless types of stuff.

My meal diary so far has been like follows:

Monday:

      Breakfast:

• Bowl of cereal with milk and just one teaspoon of sugar 
• An apple 
• Orange juice

     Lunch: 

• Turkey with lemon sauce and steamed veggies

     Dinner: 

• Cup of coffee 
• Water crackers. 

Tuesday: 

     Breakfast:

• Slice of toasted bread.
• cup of coffee 
• an orange

     Lunch: 

• Criollo Beans (nice Peruvian recipe) 
• Rice

     Dinner: 

• Cup of coffee 
• Crackers

Wednesday: 

it actually has been the same for breakfast and dinner as Tuesday and for lunch i had Pasta with some steamed veggies and olive oil.

So that has been so far what i have ingested for meals. I think that balancing out what you eat is better so you don't deprive your appetite so when you are facing temptation you will eat like there's no tomorrow and then feel guilty about it. 

I hope you guys have a great Thursday and remember that eating healthy doesn't mean not eating at all 

xo, 

S.A

Clothes 101: Working out outfits Part 1

Hey Everyone!

It's Tuesday and what a better way to start your day than having a nice jog or having your own at-home pilates session? To check out my post from yesterday here to see the routine you can do.

But, do you have trouble finding a comfy pair of sweats or to find the perfect outfit to start your exercises? 

So, if you are going to sweat, why not do it with style? 

I think that every person has their choices, or their go-to favourite pair of sweats and hoodies. My picks for clothes, when i go to workout or even stay at home and do some exercises, are a pair of yoga pants, or shorts, a racer back top and my sneakers. 

It all depends on how comfortable you are with the clothes you are wearing. Yoga pants are light and allow a lot of stretching and movement and are your best option if you have a Pilates class, yoga lesson or just hitting the gym. Shorts are perfect for summer to keep yourself cool and to prevent excessive sweating, that, for some people, might be disgusting. 

Some people use tank tops or just plain t-shirts. Some might prefer sports bras alone, but if you are not too confident with your body or just not that into showing so much skin you can wear them with a loose tank on top. Sports bras also provide a lot more support, and ladies you know this, when jogging or doing crunches and more. 

Another nice idea is to wear a headband to keep your hair out of your face while working out because it can make you loose concentration and it just bothers a lot. Also take a towel to absorb the sweat. They now make everything for people who likes to workout and they make stuff that matches everyone's interests and necessities.  

I found this really pretty towel in a site called lululemon.com  and it just caught my eye. It is a purple towel and i am in love. It says in the tag "don't be afraid to sweat" and i think they've got a point and they are right! It is not a small sized towel it is a body length exercise towel which i find really interesting because i've never seen something like that before.  

http://shop.lululemon.com/products/clothes-accessories/women-we-made-too-much/Manduka-Hot-Towel-240302?cc=8400&skuId=3408428&catId=women-we-made-too-much

Victoria's Secret has in their Pink Collection the most girly sweats, t-shirts and yoga pants i've seen before and they are nice and not too expensive. These are Perfect to feel right when you are working off to have a great body and you feel motivated about it with these kinds of outfits.  

these are one of my favourite sweats! 

They are the vintage flair pants and they seem so comfortable in order to have stretching and things like that going on.  

I hope you guys liked this first part of the workout outfits.

Keep an eye on Part 2 to come and comment what else would you like to see here.

love,

S.A

*disclaimer: I am NOT affiliated to any of the sites mentioned above in this post. All opinions are my own. I did not received any profits from doing this post. 


Sources:http://www.victoriassecret.com/ss/Satellite?ProductID=1265499394488&c=Page&cid=1305797379669&pagename=vsdWrapper , http://www.lululemon.com/

Friday: Night meal ideas

Hello everyone!

It's Friday and therefore the end of the week (or the start of the weekend) and I am finally FREE to keep up after some weeks of being super duper busy. It is refreshing that there's no more homework's to hand in, of any of that.

So I was looking to some really yummy ideas of a healthy night meal ideas, and i came across the Food Network and I saw that they had this amazing list of night meals that actually made my mouth water! 

But the recipe that actually caught my eyes (and tummy) the most was this super delicious Chicken Divan with Sherry Dijon Sauce. 

If the simple picture Just looks mouthwatering, imagine how good this might taste?! 

This recipe was actually adapted to be healthy and to have the nutrients and vitamins that you need without stopping to be delicious! 

This dish contains broccoli, Gruyère cheese, milk, olive oil and more. To see the recipe click here and it will give you all the instructions on how to prepare it. 

These are all great meal ideas, not only for dinner, but also for lunch and specially that in some countries summer is now here and people want to be bikini ready and to keep in shape eating healthy. 

As  for a side dish I would totally like some steamed veggies or a fresh salad. 

I hope you liked this meal idea and remember! Drink lots of water during the day! 

I think I am going to go cook this recipe for today's lunch for my parents and me. 

Happy Friday loves! 

xo,

S.A 

Update

It's been a crazy week for me and it's only Wednesday! 
I hope everyone is having a not so much busy week and is having some fun! 


This is a small post to let you know that at the end of this week, probably on friday i will get back to post daily, as long as I can. In one week finals, for my university, start and after that, I AM GOING TO BE FREE! and refocus completely to my lovely and healthy and not so hectic schedule and write more blog posts 


So now, my day in food! 



I had for breakfast a cup of coffee, 4 crackers and that is it.
For lunch I'm having steamed vegetables with chicken breast and i small portion of rice. 


that is the food i had planned and for dinner i still have no clue! 




if you have any recommendations, i am open to suggestions :) 


love,


S.A

Father's day cupcakes!

Tomorrow is father's day and we need to celebrate the second person in our lives that has been there all the way and taught us and supported us (and sometime grounded us) and my idea for a super easy and sweet way to do this is by baking some cute cupcakes to celebrate them!

I know it's not a super healthy and dietetic dessert but for this special day it's fair to go out of your diet and just have fun with it, of course don't exaggerate and over eat, but grab one and enjoy it at the fullest! Remember is a gift for your pap's and don't eat'em all!

So I baked this cute cupcakes a couple of weeks ago in form of a trial run and to see how they turned out. 

I baked them in two different flavours, orange and coffee, because daddy and granddad are fans of those! 

I love my dad and my granddad so very much and hope they have a great day and to let them know they are my family and they are part of the most amazing support system in my life and they are my heroes for doing everything the do to keep the family together and for my granddad that is up in heaven, he was the best person i could know, and that, even though i don't remember him that well i still miss him so much! 

Love you! 

So I hope everyone spends an awesome father's day and spoil their  dads! 

XO

S. A 

Healthy Spotlight: Healthy Eating and top 10 foods to improve your diet!

Hi everyone


i was searching the internet and kind of stumbled upon an amazing site that shows how to balance your food and making it fresh ans not boring at all. http://www.healthyfoodtips.org/ shows how to plan a meal and which foods to combine in order to take a full vitalizing and vitamin intake of good foods. They help to keep your body free of bad stuff such as saturated fats that, if consumed too much, can fill your arteries and block them with the grease and cause heart attacks, embolisms and more. 


It is a good thing that more people are being aware of what they eat so that the obesity is taken over with healthy choices and the life expectancy is longer. 


Now i also found a good site that talks about the 10 healthiest foods in the world and I was amazed with it and realized that we sometimes just don't know the benefits a banana has or a kiwi, which are really good.  
http://www.livestrong.com/article/89515-healthiest-foods/ It is a study from the Lance Armstrong Organization LIVESTRONG. 


I hope you guys find this information useful and feel free to send me your comments and how you take healthy food habits in your life. 


XO, 
A




* I am not affiliated to any of the sites mentioned in this blog nor received an economic compensation to talk about them or show their content. 

I am Back!

Hello everybody! 

sorry i've been slacking this blog, but as you may already know, i am study hard to improve my grades, make my diet healthier, keep up with the school work that is getting bigger and bigger and bigger all the time, and my final exams are just around the corner so yes, my time has pretty much been reduced for leisure activities, so i decided that i was going to leave everything for about 5 mins in order to write a blog and keep you updated. 

I have lost body mass, and that is noticeable, but in weight i have just loosed about 1/2 a pound which is good because i am not loosing weight dramatically and my metabolism is not suffering with the changes. I have reduced my intake of fried and greasy food, although i still eat a hamburger if i am totally craving one, but just a small or junior one. 

Now i drink 2 lts. of water a day and i feel my skin softer and more hydrated than before, so the changes are good and it shows on the way i look, i like it, a healthy living and a healthy body. 

In terms of exercise, i have been walking a lot lately, climbing up and down stair cases at university and i have clases on the fourth floor and instead of using the elevator i prefere the stairs it's a pretty good exercise cause you work everything, your thighs, your calves, even your butex :) 

You know that i am a sweet addict, so the desserts for me are a must, but I tend to have left them behind and just eat them 2 times a week, when i am really really really craving one. The rest of the time i am not worried about it, and because of my hectic schedule i sometime have a little time to eat lunch and if i took all the time i wished i would never get on time to where i need to be. 

let me know you have been working on your health and how have you make the transition smoother so that it doesn't strike you down.