Eating healthy and losing weight

This year I'm getting healthy! I've made the decision to lose some weight, eat better and slim down to a healthy weight. During my online travels and searches I've found this site Forever Body Transformers  listed on another fellow bloggers site 

There's a video about the creators and it tells you how it's an online forum with diet and fitness tips, as well they help you track your progress. I'm signed up for a free month trial. I'll let you know in 30 days how its going.

Unusual Tips to Lose Weight

Everyone wants to lose those few extra pounds around the middle that seem to not want to leave. Have no fear! Incorporate some of these unusual weight loss tips to give your metabolism that extra boost!

1. Eat spicy food! Hot peppers raise your metabolism and when you eat spicy food, you tend to slow down and eat less. Always a good thing. Try Thai or Indian for some spice.
2. Cook your own meals. When you eat out you tend to eat more and eat badly. Cooking and eating at home gives you greater control over what you’re eating. And it’s cheaper – so you can buy new skinnier clothes.
3. Rice and beans. Brazilians are known for their curvaceous slim figures and a staple of their diet is rice and beans. It’s higher in fibre and lower in fat, making you full longer and stabilizing your blood sugar.
4. Park your car. In today’s society everyone drives everywhere. Park your car and haul out your bike for a self-powered commute. You’ll burn calories and reduce your stress levels at the same time.
5. Eat a healthy breakfast. Today’s crazy busy society means you’re often on the run from the moment you wake up. Take 5 minutes to eat a healthy breakfast of fruit, whole grains and protein instead of the breakfast burrito from the fast food place on your way to work. Your waistline will thank you for it.
6. Use smaller plates. North Americans are used to supersizing everything – from food to cars. Using smaller plates means you eat smaller portions of food.
7. Don’t rush. Eat your meals at a leisurely pace. It gives you the chance to savour your meal and you’ll feel when you’re full. It generally takes 20 minutes from the time you’re full till your brain realizes it. When you rush your meals, you eat everything in front of you because you think you’re still hungry.
8. Yoga! I might be biased (I’m a yoga junkie) but yoga busts stress, enhances your flexibility and increases muscle strength – all factors in weight loss. A recent study found that yoga aficionados had a lower body mass index than other exercisers.
9. Eat an inverted triangle. Eat a big breakfast, a big lunch and a light dinner. That way you’re better able to digest and burn your food instead of it sitting in your tummy all night.
10. Eat pickled things. A study in Hungary found that that their diet of pickled cucumbers, peppers and cabbage helped to reduce blood pressure, blood sugar and fat formation. It might be the vinegar’s acetic acid or it might be the wide variety of vegetables that are being eaten.
11. Head outdoors. Spend a few nights a week outdoors – either hiking or running or walking. The fresh air and activity will help reduce your stress levels as well as trim your waist.
12. Take a nap. There is increasing evidence that sleep deprivation can lead to weight gain. Need I say more?
13. Drink tea! Switching your coffee for a naturally sweet rooibos tea or clean crisp green tea can save you thousands of calories a month and help your digestive system too!

Last day of 2012

Today is the last day of 2012. Yup! It's December 31st and a time for reflection. On the last day I always reflect on what I mentally envisioned the year to be and what it actually was. I also start making my bucket list and 'things to do' list for the upcoming year.

I don't want to sound too heavy - its not all about career and planning. I realized that I did step out of my comfort zone somewhat. I tried new sports and experiences things I might not have normally. Of course, I did fail in my bid to become an intergalactic princess. For that, there is always 2013