A few days ago I wrote down a workout which combined a few parts from several workouts that I have been doing. I was wore out at the end of it, but proud too because when I read over it I was amazed that I was able to do all of this in a short amount of time! Before I go on, I want to say that this workout may not work for every one. Please be careful and stay with in your means to avoid injury. Make sure you can do these exercises without harming yourself.
Here is the workout, get ready!
*
40 Jumping Jacks
30 Crunches
20 Squats
10 Push-Up
* (Repeat from * to * 5 times)
15 Super-mans
20 Donkey Kicks per leg
20 Lunges per leg
15 Dips ( I call then Bridges dips....)
10 Squat Jumps
30 Kettle Bell Swings
#
40 Jumping Jacks
30 Sit-Ups
20 Plie Squats
10 Push-Ups
# (Repeat from # to # 2 times)
50 Flutter Kicks
20 Burpees
15 Bicycle Crunches
10 Plank Knee to Elbow per leg
10 Single leg dips per leg
10 Shoulder (Or V) push-ups
*
12 Lunges per leg
15 Squats
12 Step-ups per leg
5o second plank
* (Repeat from * to * 2 times)
Garb you ankles and hold for 20 seconds.
Bring knees to chest and hold for 20 seconds per leg.
Take 10 really deep breaths.
Well that it! I was sweating up a storm when I finished this, but I also have new workout to add to my collection! Let me know if you try and it and what you think! If you have any questions, leave it in the comments or email the blog at healthypinner@gmail.com . Please be careful and stay within your abilities.
If you liked this post, let me know and share it with a friend.
Keep Healthy and Safe!
H.Banana
Turkey Burner
November 28, 2014
So, Thanksgiving was yesterday and you probably had a typical Thanksgiving dinner right? With the turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and so on. So now its time to get back on track again! Here is a great workout to help you jump start you workouts after Thanksgiving. Its called the Turkey Burner from Spark People .
Get ready, 'cause here is its!
The Turkey Burner Workout:
50 Jumping Jacks
40 Plie Squats
30 Burpees (Groan..!)
20 1-leg push-ups
10 bicycle crunches.
Sounds easy enough right? LOL, that's what I thought too! Man, I really don't like burpees... But I felt it work and I worked up a sweat and that's what I was going for anyways! Try this workout even if its not after Thanksgiving. Use it in your daily workouts!
Let me know what you think about this post and please share it with a friend!
Keep Healthy and SAFE!
H.Banana
Ps. Remember to keep you health in mind and never do a workout that you aren't capable of.
Get ready, 'cause here is its!
The Turkey Burner Workout:
50 Jumping Jacks
40 Plie Squats
30 Burpees (Groan..!)
20 1-leg push-ups
10 bicycle crunches.
Sounds easy enough right? LOL, that's what I thought too! Man, I really don't like burpees... But I felt it work and I worked up a sweat and that's what I was going for anyways! Try this workout even if its not after Thanksgiving. Use it in your daily workouts!
Let me know what you think about this post and please share it with a friend!
Keep Healthy and SAFE!
H.Banana
Ps. Remember to keep you health in mind and never do a workout that you aren't capable of.
Calorie Saving Holiday Food Swaps.
November 26, 2014
Have you ever wondered whether there was a healthier way to make your favorite holiday treats? Well, there are so many healthier recipes out there from pumpkin pie to turkey dressing, but what about just tweaking the recipe you already love? Here are a few food swaps that might help you. Now, just be clear not all of these will taste good in everything. Use your imagination and have fun with it!
Oil:
Oil can be substituted with applesauce 1 for 1. So, if you use a 1/2 cup of oil you can use a 1/2 cup of applesauce instead. This is a great tip for things like muffins and sweet breads!
Sugar:
Sugar can be substituted with Stevia 1 to 3/4. So if you use a cup of sugar you can use 3/4 a cup of stevia. Stevia can be found in almost any grocery store now, but if you can't find it in your local store try Whole Foods or Fresh Market. The brand of stevia my family uses is Truvia.
Butter:
Butter can be substituted with coconut oil 1 to 3/4. So, like the sugar and stevia, if you use a cup of butter you can use 3/4 of a cup coconut oil. Now, I must say this taste better in some things than others. It does give a slight coconut flavor, which is great in chocolate cookie but maybe not so much in sweet potato casserole. Have fun with it though! Maybe sweet potato and coconut with become the next popular flavor combination!
Cow's Milk:
Cow's milk can be substituted with unsweetened almond milk 1 to 1. So, if the recipe calls for a cup of cow's milk, you can use a cup of unsweetened almond milk. I have used this tip a lot and I have never tasted an almond flavor as a result from it.
Milk Chocolate:
Milk chocolate can be substituted with 70% dark chocolate 1 to 1. So, if you use a cup of milk chocolate, just use a cup of 70% dark chocolate instead. This gives anything a richer and darker chocolate flavor and I love this tip because of it!
Heavy Cream:
Heavy cream can be substituted 1 to 3/4 with Raw Cashew Cream. So for a cup of heavy cream just use 3/4 of a cup of raw cashew cream. I have never used cashew cream so I can't tell you how it will taste, but if you use it I would be interested in knowing what you think about it!
These tips came from HeandSheeatclean.com
I hope these tips inspire you to try new things and hopefully make your holidays a little healthier! Let me know if you try any of these and what you thought!
Keep healthy and Safe.
H.Banana
Oil:
Oil can be substituted with applesauce 1 for 1. So, if you use a 1/2 cup of oil you can use a 1/2 cup of applesauce instead. This is a great tip for things like muffins and sweet breads!
Sugar:
Sugar can be substituted with Stevia 1 to 3/4. So if you use a cup of sugar you can use 3/4 a cup of stevia. Stevia can be found in almost any grocery store now, but if you can't find it in your local store try Whole Foods or Fresh Market. The brand of stevia my family uses is Truvia.
Butter:
Butter can be substituted with coconut oil 1 to 3/4. So, like the sugar and stevia, if you use a cup of butter you can use 3/4 of a cup coconut oil. Now, I must say this taste better in some things than others. It does give a slight coconut flavor, which is great in chocolate cookie but maybe not so much in sweet potato casserole. Have fun with it though! Maybe sweet potato and coconut with become the next popular flavor combination!
Cow's Milk:
Cow's milk can be substituted with unsweetened almond milk 1 to 1. So, if the recipe calls for a cup of cow's milk, you can use a cup of unsweetened almond milk. I have used this tip a lot and I have never tasted an almond flavor as a result from it.
Milk Chocolate:
Milk chocolate can be substituted with 70% dark chocolate 1 to 1. So, if you use a cup of milk chocolate, just use a cup of 70% dark chocolate instead. This gives anything a richer and darker chocolate flavor and I love this tip because of it!
Heavy Cream:
Heavy cream can be substituted 1 to 3/4 with Raw Cashew Cream. So for a cup of heavy cream just use 3/4 of a cup of raw cashew cream. I have never used cashew cream so I can't tell you how it will taste, but if you use it I would be interested in knowing what you think about it!
These tips came from HeandSheeatclean.com
I hope these tips inspire you to try new things and hopefully make your holidays a little healthier! Let me know if you try any of these and what you thought!
Keep healthy and Safe.
H.Banana
Your Body On: Diet Soda
November 24, 2014
Diet soda may seem like a good option to some. You get the soda you love without the calories right? But, what you don't know is that Diet Soda is so terrible for you! I did some research and I found out a lot! Here are the reason you should never drink diet soda again!
Teeth:
Drinking 3 or more diet sodas a day increases your risk of tooth decay due to the super high acidity level.
Mood:
Drinking 4 or more cans of diet soda makes you 30% more likely to develop depression.
Metabolic Syndrome:
Consuming diet soda daily can cause your risk of metabolic syndrome to increase by 36%. Not sure what Metabolic Syndrome is? Well, WebMD has a great article explaining everything you need to know! I encourage you to check it out!
Heart:
A study in 2012 found that drinking diet soda daily can increase the risk of a heart attack by 43%.
Kidneys:
Drinking 2 or more diet sodas a day has been linked to double the risk of kidney disease. The information came from a study of 3,000 women.
Weight:
A daily serving of diet soda increases the risk of obesity by 41%.
Diabetes:
Drinking at least one diet soda a day can increase the risk of type2 diabetes by 67%.
This information came from Prevention.com
So, now that you know what diet soda will do to you, are you going to give it up? What about just regular soda? Are you going to give that up too? You should. I gave it up several months ago and I am so glad I did. I am healthier because of it, I know. And, to tell the honest truth, I don't miss it at all! I have tried to have a sip or two here and there but it doesn't taste the same and I don't enjoy it. I encourage you to try to give up soda. Maybe you feel like you can't live without your daily soda, but start with a week and then two until you're going months without it. I know it can be done, because I did it! Not just diet soda, but every sugary soda out there needs to be cut from your diet!
Let me know if you are trying to cut soda from your diet and how you are doing it! I hope this post has given you some proof that diet soda isn't good for you and encourages you to take another step to becoming a healthier you!
Keep healthy and Safe
H.Banana
Teeth:
Drinking 3 or more diet sodas a day increases your risk of tooth decay due to the super high acidity level.
Mood:
Drinking 4 or more cans of diet soda makes you 30% more likely to develop depression.
Metabolic Syndrome:
Consuming diet soda daily can cause your risk of metabolic syndrome to increase by 36%. Not sure what Metabolic Syndrome is? Well, WebMD has a great article explaining everything you need to know! I encourage you to check it out!
Heart:
A study in 2012 found that drinking diet soda daily can increase the risk of a heart attack by 43%.
Kidneys:
Drinking 2 or more diet sodas a day has been linked to double the risk of kidney disease. The information came from a study of 3,000 women.
Weight:
A daily serving of diet soda increases the risk of obesity by 41%.
Diabetes:
Drinking at least one diet soda a day can increase the risk of type2 diabetes by 67%.
This information came from Prevention.com
So, now that you know what diet soda will do to you, are you going to give it up? What about just regular soda? Are you going to give that up too? You should. I gave it up several months ago and I am so glad I did. I am healthier because of it, I know. And, to tell the honest truth, I don't miss it at all! I have tried to have a sip or two here and there but it doesn't taste the same and I don't enjoy it. I encourage you to try to give up soda. Maybe you feel like you can't live without your daily soda, but start with a week and then two until you're going months without it. I know it can be done, because I did it! Not just diet soda, but every sugary soda out there needs to be cut from your diet!
Let me know if you are trying to cut soda from your diet and how you are doing it! I hope this post has given you some proof that diet soda isn't good for you and encourages you to take another step to becoming a healthier you!
Keep healthy and Safe
H.Banana
Rest Day
November 22, 2014
You should set aside one day out of the week to take a break from exercise and just give your body the rest it needs. Today, normally for me would be a workout day but because I'm sick I am going to take the day off. Don't ever feel guilty for taking a day off even if its an unplanned rest day. Rest is important for your body to grow and remain healthy, so make sure you are giving yourself those rest days.
On a normal rest day for me I usually have a normal day without exercise. I might take my little brother for a walk or do some yoga. Your rest day is a great day to get in some stretches or yoga. The important thing is to rest your body and prepare it for a week full of workouts. Let me know how you like to relax and take your rest days.
Some restful activities!
1. Take a walk by yourself or with a friend. Its amazing how much talking you can get done while walking!
2. Craft or bake! Find a craft you've been wanting to try or a recipe ( preferably a healthy one right? ) you've been wanting to make.
3. Yoga, stretching or breathing exercises. Soothe your sore muscles with some yoga and stretches and try some breathing exercises. You'll be surprised about how good you feel afterwards. I know I am!
4. Read a book with a cup or tea or coffee. Cuddling up with a good book is one of my favorite pastimes! What books do you like to read? Do you prefer coffee or tea?
Now, like I said earlier, today I'm a little under the weather so my rest day is a little different. I'm drinking alot of tea and laying around alot. I don't feel guilty about that because my body needs to rest more that ever because I'm sick. My sister and I will watch a movie and I will more that likely crochet! Let me know what things make you feel better!
I hope the post encourages you to take a rest day and treat your body well. I love my rest days and I hope you do too!
Keep it healthy and Safe!
H.Banana
On a normal rest day for me I usually have a normal day without exercise. I might take my little brother for a walk or do some yoga. Your rest day is a great day to get in some stretches or yoga. The important thing is to rest your body and prepare it for a week full of workouts. Let me know how you like to relax and take your rest days.
Some restful activities!
1. Take a walk by yourself or with a friend. Its amazing how much talking you can get done while walking!
2. Craft or bake! Find a craft you've been wanting to try or a recipe ( preferably a healthy one right? ) you've been wanting to make.
3. Yoga, stretching or breathing exercises. Soothe your sore muscles with some yoga and stretches and try some breathing exercises. You'll be surprised about how good you feel afterwards. I know I am!
4. Read a book with a cup or tea or coffee. Cuddling up with a good book is one of my favorite pastimes! What books do you like to read? Do you prefer coffee or tea?
Now, like I said earlier, today I'm a little under the weather so my rest day is a little different. I'm drinking alot of tea and laying around alot. I don't feel guilty about that because my body needs to rest more that ever because I'm sick. My sister and I will watch a movie and I will more that likely crochet! Let me know what things make you feel better!
I hope the post encourages you to take a rest day and treat your body well. I love my rest days and I hope you do too!
Keep it healthy and Safe!
H.Banana
Motivation!
November 20, 2014
Staying motivated is key to success in everything with no exception for working out and staying healthy! I know for myself motivation isn't something I get done one day out of the week, but its a daily thing that we need to do in order to have success. But sometimes we can't find the right things to motivate us or we can't seem to get motivated at all! What do we do about that? How do we get motivated? Here are a few tips that hopefully will help us all get motivated and stay motivated!
Set a goal and reward for yourself! Having a goal to work to, even if its only a little one, is a great way to motivate yourself. And reaching that goal is a great and motivating feeling in itself! Reward yourself when you reach your goal, even if only in a little way like doing a yoga session instead of a tough cardio workout, or doing something you enjoy! Let me know what kind of goals and rewards get you motivated to workout and stay healthy!
Workout with friends or family. You can keep each other in line and remind each other of what you are working for. Family and friends can motivate you so much, so use it as much as you can! I have been working out with my sisters lately and I have found a whole new joy in working out because I get to spend time with them when other wise I would have been by myself. Do you like working out with friends and family? How do you keep each other in line?
Pinterest is a wonderful place to find motivational quotes! I love going on in the mornings while I eat my breakfast and ready all the amazing motivational sayings and quotes. Here are a few that I love and hope that you do to!
"You get what you work for, not what you wish for. "
Dear stomach, you bored not hungry. Shut up.
When you feel like quitting, think about why you started.
The only bad workout is the one you didn't do.
and finally....
One hour workout is only 4% of your day. No excuses.
Another thing that motivates me is watching weight-loss stories on you-tube, The Biggest Loser and Extreme Makeover Weightloss addition .
Let me know what motivates you! Hopefully I will be doing more of these kind of post in the future so if you enjoyed it please check back and share it with a friend.
Follow me on Pinterest!
Keep it healthy and Safe
H.Banana
Set a goal and reward for yourself! Having a goal to work to, even if its only a little one, is a great way to motivate yourself. And reaching that goal is a great and motivating feeling in itself! Reward yourself when you reach your goal, even if only in a little way like doing a yoga session instead of a tough cardio workout, or doing something you enjoy! Let me know what kind of goals and rewards get you motivated to workout and stay healthy!
Workout with friends or family. You can keep each other in line and remind each other of what you are working for. Family and friends can motivate you so much, so use it as much as you can! I have been working out with my sisters lately and I have found a whole new joy in working out because I get to spend time with them when other wise I would have been by myself. Do you like working out with friends and family? How do you keep each other in line?
Pinterest is a wonderful place to find motivational quotes! I love going on in the mornings while I eat my breakfast and ready all the amazing motivational sayings and quotes. Here are a few that I love and hope that you do to!
"You get what you work for, not what you wish for. "
Dear stomach, you bored not hungry. Shut up.
When you feel like quitting, think about why you started.
The only bad workout is the one you didn't do.
and finally....
One hour workout is only 4% of your day. No excuses.
Another thing that motivates me is watching weight-loss stories on you-tube, The Biggest Loser and Extreme Makeover Weightloss addition .
Let me know what motivates you! Hopefully I will be doing more of these kind of post in the future so if you enjoyed it please check back and share it with a friend.
Follow me on Pinterest!
Keep it healthy and Safe
H.Banana
Winter Workout Tips
November 18, 2014
As the weather gets colder I begin to dread going outside for the run that I know I need. I kept asking myself that surely there had to be a way to make this easier! Well, thankfully I found several post on Pinterest that have given be helpful tips for working out in the winter. And today, I'm going to share them with you!
The first tip is to dress for the weather! But you need to be careful because you don't want to be in the middle of your run and want to take all your layers off! A tip from EatPrayRunDC suggest to dress like its 20 degrees warmer outside than it really is, that way when you start to get warm from the workout you don't start roasting in your clothes! Here is a Winter Guide to Layering Clothes .
While we are on the topic of dressing, here are a few tips that I found various places.
Keep your feet, toes and ears warm! You don't want freezing body parts to slow you down!
Where clothes that allow you to move freely and don't weigh you down.
Make sure your shoes aren't mesh or too thin. You might even need to get a pair of shoes just for winter workouts!
I have a few favorite Winter must have for my workouts. They are: Ear warmers (Nice toasting ears instead of frozen ones!) Thick socks! (No more frozen toes!) Neck warmer or Cowl ( I don't suggest running in a scarf because that can cause difficulties. Cowls are shorter, kind of like a short infinity scarf.) What are your favorite winter workout must? Share them in the comments!
The second tip is that you need to drink water! Just because its cold outside doesn't mean that you need to drink less water than you did in the summer! Fill your water bottle up just as full as you did in the summer!
Stay motivated! Sometimes trying to get yourself to leave your cozy place by the fire can be so hard! Find some friends to workout with or set a goal of your self (Or both!) Let me know how you stay motivated!
Lotion up! I hate chapped lips, cheeks and hands and they can be so uncomfortable! Applying lotion and lip butters can help relive and even prevent chapped skin. Several places have suggested using coconut oil to treat the chapped areas.
Now, I can't lie, I sometimes just hang up the idea of going outside for a workout. I either run on the treadmill or do something different for the workout that day. I don't want to run in below-freezing weather or when its snowing outside, so here are a few indoor workouts that I like to do instead!
Pop Sugar's 9 workouts to try this winter
Indoor HIIT workout for the winter
Indoor Cardio Crusher for the Winter
There are so many other workouts out there so feel free to search around for yourself! Let me know what you like to do for a winter workout and if you workout outside!
I hope this post helped you and if it did please share it with a friend!
Keep it healthy and Safe
H.Banana
ps. Follow be on Pinterest! I am under Hannah Plunkett!
Healthy Chocolate Cookies!
November 16, 2014
I love-love-love chocolate cookies and I was so excited to find a healthy recipe for them! When I found this recipe on Pinterest I tried it and fell in love! We have made them several times and the whole family enjoys them. To see the original recipe please go to my recipe's page. I took a recipe and added things to it to make it fit my tastes. I hope you enjoy it!
Ingredients:
1 cup Old Fashioned Oats
1 cup Chocolate chips
2 medium ripe bananas
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
2 tsp vanilla
1 to 2 tsp of cinnamon (Or for a fall-ish twist, pumpkin pie spice!)
Start with peeling your bananas and placing them in a bowl. Blend them until they are creamy and smooth.
Add the oats, coconut and cinnamon. Blend till combined.
Next add the vanilla and chocolate chips and stir it all together.
I took a bit of coconut oil to grease my pan, but you can use butter or parchment paper to keep the cookies from sticking. Use a spoon to scoop out the cookies on to the pan. They don't spread much so make them the sixe you want them to finish with.
Please let me know what you think about these cookies! I love that they taste to good and they don't have any sugar or flour! If you enjoy this post and the cookies please share it with a friend!
Keep it healthy and Safe
H.Banana
Ingredients:
1 cup Old Fashioned Oats
1 cup Chocolate chips
2 medium ripe bananas
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
2 tsp vanilla
1 to 2 tsp of cinnamon (Or for a fall-ish twist, pumpkin pie spice!)
Set the oven to 350 degrees F and bake them for 20 mins. They smell heavenly as they bake. I think it smells like banana bread baking!
When they come out of the oven they should be firm and starting to brown on the edges.
My goodness they smell amazing! Let them cool a bit and then remove them and let them cool completely on a cooling rack.
Keep it healthy and Safe
H.Banana
Your Body On: Coffee
November 14, 2014
I love coffee is almost every way and I was glad to find that its actually helpful to our health! Coffee isn't just great at giving us caffeine, but it can help us in other ways, (Info from prevention.com )
So here are a few of the benefits of coffee!!
#1
A study from the Harvard School of Public Health found that the risk of depression was 20% lowerin women who drank 4, 8oz cups of coffee daily. The caffeine in coffee may affect brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine.
#2
A recent study found that drinking 200 mg (which is about 2 8oz cups) of coffee improves long term memory.
#3
Drinking 200 to 300 mg of caffeine daily may make your heart preform better by improving blood flow while you are resting.
#4
A study in 2012 found that women who consumed more that 3 cups of coffee a day had a lower risk of basal carcinoma.
#5
Drinking more than 2 cups of coffee a day appears to protect against liver diseases such as cirrhosis.
#6
A PLoS One study finds that drinking 3 to 4 cups of coffee a hour prior to a workout and you'll go for longer.
#7
According to a Harvard review of 28 different studies, drinking six 8oz cups daily was linked to a 33% lower risk of type 2 diabetes.
#8
6 cups of coffee daily reduces the risk of gout for men by 59%. Coffee lowers the levels of uric acid in the blood.
I personally was super excited to know that my morning coffee could do more for me than just get me awake! Do you drink coffee? Since reading this, are you going to start drinking coffee? How do you like to have your coffee? Let me know in the comments! Some of my favorites are, hot with 1/2 and 1/2, iced with a little Truvia and cream, and hot mixed in with a little cocoa.
Thank you for visiting my blog and be sure to check back for more post!
Keep it healthy and SAFE!
H.Banana
So here are a few of the benefits of coffee!!
#1
A study from the Harvard School of Public Health found that the risk of depression was 20% lowerin women who drank 4, 8oz cups of coffee daily. The caffeine in coffee may affect brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine.
#2
A recent study found that drinking 200 mg (which is about 2 8oz cups) of coffee improves long term memory.
#3
Drinking 200 to 300 mg of caffeine daily may make your heart preform better by improving blood flow while you are resting.
#4
A study in 2012 found that women who consumed more that 3 cups of coffee a day had a lower risk of basal carcinoma.
#5
Drinking more than 2 cups of coffee a day appears to protect against liver diseases such as cirrhosis.
#6
A PLoS One study finds that drinking 3 to 4 cups of coffee a hour prior to a workout and you'll go for longer.
#7
According to a Harvard review of 28 different studies, drinking six 8oz cups daily was linked to a 33% lower risk of type 2 diabetes.
#8
6 cups of coffee daily reduces the risk of gout for men by 59%. Coffee lowers the levels of uric acid in the blood.
I personally was super excited to know that my morning coffee could do more for me than just get me awake! Do you drink coffee? Since reading this, are you going to start drinking coffee? How do you like to have your coffee? Let me know in the comments! Some of my favorites are, hot with 1/2 and 1/2, iced with a little Truvia and cream, and hot mixed in with a little cocoa.
Thank you for visiting my blog and be sure to check back for more post!
Keep it healthy and SAFE!
H.Banana
Your Body On: Sugar
November 13, 2014
Sugar is in almost everything! My family and I have been trying to stay off of sugar since we watched a film called Fed Up and we have found it incredibly hard! You might be wondering, why is it important to stay away from sugar? I encourage you to watch the film mentioned earlier to get a bigger picture, but here are a few things that will happen if you eat too much sugar ( 24g and day for woman and 36g for men)
#1:
Sugar can rewire the brains pathways. If your diets contains too much sugar this can increase the risk of depression by 58%!
#2:
Sugar will inflame the linings of the arteries to the heart. This will increase the risk of strokes and heart attacks!
#3
Sugar can age the way you look, causing wrinkles! When you bombard you body with sugar, proteins incorporate it as a part of their structure which leads to aging of the skin and wrinkles.
#4
Kidneys have a delicate filtration system and sugar over load and damage that. Diabetes is one of the main causes of kidney failure.
#5
Being on a high sugar diet will affect your joints! High sugar diets pump inflammatory cytokines into your bloodstream which will exacerbate arthritis.
This information came from Prevention
So, now that you know a few reason to get off of sugar, what will you do about it? If you are like my family and you want to try to be on a sugar free diet, here are a few things that might help you.
What is your Sugar IQ? This is a fun quiz designed to show you just how much you don't know about sugar. I found it very helpful. I got 6 out of 10 my first go, but my favorite part is that the website explains the answer so well! If you want to learn more about sugar, I encourage you to complete this quiz! If you do, share your score in the comment section and let me know if you learned anything new!
Added Sugar This website explains why added sugar is so very bad for you. I enjoyed reading through this article and I hope you will too. It list several other things sugar will do to harm your body. Let me know what you think about this article!
Sugar Free Shopping List This is a list of things to buy that are sugar free and there are also a few snack ideas and things like that.
Sugar Addicts Listen Up! Here are a few tips and tricks for the sugar addicts out there who are ready to leave a sugar-high diet in the past! Let me know if they are helpful.
Pinterest is also a great place to find recipes and snack ideas that are sugar free. I have found so many and a few of them I have shared with you on my blog. Be sure to check back for more recipes soon!
Like I said, my family is trying to get rid of sugar for good, but its hard. I'm sure you will find that to be true if you take the plunge. We often have to go without things that we really enjoy. A few months ago I liked nothing better than a nice cold Coke-A-Cola or Sprite, but I decided to play a game when I started my healthy adventure. How long could I go without a soda? It started with a few days, then weeks and now, I can't remember the last time I had a sugary soda. I can honestly say that I don't even like the taste of soda anymore. Now, when I need a fizzy fix I head to the fridge to get a ever present bubbly-water. Here is the brand my family loves: La Croix. I am trying to get the rest of my family completely off soda, and we are getting there! Let me know how long you can go without a soda!
I hope this post encourages you to start and have a sugar free diet and to help others as well! Spread the word about the truth about sugar and let me know some of the things you are doing to get off of sugar!
Keep it Healthy and Safe!
H.Banana
#1:
Sugar can rewire the brains pathways. If your diets contains too much sugar this can increase the risk of depression by 58%!
#2:
Sugar will inflame the linings of the arteries to the heart. This will increase the risk of strokes and heart attacks!
#3
Sugar can age the way you look, causing wrinkles! When you bombard you body with sugar, proteins incorporate it as a part of their structure which leads to aging of the skin and wrinkles.
#4
Kidneys have a delicate filtration system and sugar over load and damage that. Diabetes is one of the main causes of kidney failure.
#5
Being on a high sugar diet will affect your joints! High sugar diets pump inflammatory cytokines into your bloodstream which will exacerbate arthritis.
This information came from Prevention
So, now that you know a few reason to get off of sugar, what will you do about it? If you are like my family and you want to try to be on a sugar free diet, here are a few things that might help you.
What is your Sugar IQ? This is a fun quiz designed to show you just how much you don't know about sugar. I found it very helpful. I got 6 out of 10 my first go, but my favorite part is that the website explains the answer so well! If you want to learn more about sugar, I encourage you to complete this quiz! If you do, share your score in the comment section and let me know if you learned anything new!
Added Sugar This website explains why added sugar is so very bad for you. I enjoyed reading through this article and I hope you will too. It list several other things sugar will do to harm your body. Let me know what you think about this article!
Sugar Free Shopping List This is a list of things to buy that are sugar free and there are also a few snack ideas and things like that.
Sugar Addicts Listen Up! Here are a few tips and tricks for the sugar addicts out there who are ready to leave a sugar-high diet in the past! Let me know if they are helpful.
Pinterest is also a great place to find recipes and snack ideas that are sugar free. I have found so many and a few of them I have shared with you on my blog. Be sure to check back for more recipes soon!
Like I said, my family is trying to get rid of sugar for good, but its hard. I'm sure you will find that to be true if you take the plunge. We often have to go without things that we really enjoy. A few months ago I liked nothing better than a nice cold Coke-A-Cola or Sprite, but I decided to play a game when I started my healthy adventure. How long could I go without a soda? It started with a few days, then weeks and now, I can't remember the last time I had a sugary soda. I can honestly say that I don't even like the taste of soda anymore. Now, when I need a fizzy fix I head to the fridge to get a ever present bubbly-water. Here is the brand my family loves: La Croix. I am trying to get the rest of my family completely off soda, and we are getting there! Let me know how long you can go without a soda!
I hope this post encourages you to start and have a sugar free diet and to help others as well! Spread the word about the truth about sugar and let me know some of the things you are doing to get off of sugar!
Keep it Healthy and Safe!
H.Banana
Quick and Easy Sweet Potato
November 11, 2014
I love sweet potatoes but if I want to have one for lunch, I have to plan it out at breakfast so they are done by lunch time! Not anymore though! With this new recipe, that I found on Pinterest, I can have a sweet potato at short notice! For the original recipe, see my recipe page.
You will need:
1 potato per serving
Butter
Parmesan Cheese(Shredded)
Cinnamon
Honey
Salt and Pepper
To start with, wash and dry your potatoes and use a fork to poke holes in them. Place them in a paper plate and microwave them for about 10 minutes (If your potatoes are smaller you might not need that long. I did two at a time and they took about 12-13 minutes)
When the potatoes are soft to the touch, take them out of the microwave. Slice them in half and then make little slits along the cut side. Don't cut all the way down though, just half way.
Cut up the butter into little squares.
Add them to the tops of the potatoes
Now, decide whether you want to do cheese or cinnamon. If cinnamon, add cinnamon and honey to the potatoes. If cheese, add salt and pepper along with the cheese to the potatoes.
I did some of both. Now, set your oven to broil and place the potatoes in the oven for 5-8 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the butter and cinnamon start to bubble. Take them out and allow them to cool for a bit before trying to eat them!
They smelled so good at this point!
Place them on a plate and enjoy!
I made these for my family for lunch and we all loved them! My personal favorite was the cheese one but the cinnamon/honey ones were really tasty too! If you try these let me know what you think!
Keep it Healthy and Safe!
H.Banana
You will need:
1 potato per serving
Butter
Parmesan Cheese(Shredded)
Cinnamon
Honey
Salt and Pepper
Place them on a plate and enjoy!
Keep it Healthy and Safe!
H.Banana
Get Ready for Ski/Snowboarding Season
November 9, 2014
Sure, it is still fall right now, but its never to early to start getting ready for the ski/snowboarding season. If you are planning to go to the slopes this year, or you just want to get in shape for winter, Listen Up!
My family and I are going on a ski trip this holiday season, and I don't want to come off the slopes sore, so I am going to start getting ready them now! I have been searching Pinterest for a while now, and I have found several workout and tips for getting ready for the ski/snowboarding season. Here are a few of them:
Yoga for Snowboarding
Exercises Every Snow Boarder Should Do
Get ready for the ski season
And lastly my favorite : Prepare for the winter ski season
I will be trying Snowboarding for the first time this year, and I'm super excited. Have you ever snowboarded? Which do you like better, snowboarding or skiing? Let me know!
I believe that its important to be in good shape for any sport to avoid injury and soreness. I hope that these workouts keep me from getting too sore, and help me preform better on the slopes! Sometimes I just do the exercises alone (Depends on which ones) and sometimes I pair them with a cardio session or something like that! Remember to have fun with it, Stay Safe and within you abilities, and that progress is progress no matter how small or big!
Keep it Healthy and Safe, and let me know if you found this post helpful!
H.Banana
My family and I are going on a ski trip this holiday season, and I don't want to come off the slopes sore, so I am going to start getting ready them now! I have been searching Pinterest for a while now, and I have found several workout and tips for getting ready for the ski/snowboarding season. Here are a few of them:
Yoga for Snowboarding
Exercises Every Snow Boarder Should Do
Get ready for the ski season
And lastly my favorite : Prepare for the winter ski season
I will be trying Snowboarding for the first time this year, and I'm super excited. Have you ever snowboarded? Which do you like better, snowboarding or skiing? Let me know!
I believe that its important to be in good shape for any sport to avoid injury and soreness. I hope that these workouts keep me from getting too sore, and help me preform better on the slopes! Sometimes I just do the exercises alone (Depends on which ones) and sometimes I pair them with a cardio session or something like that! Remember to have fun with it, Stay Safe and within you abilities, and that progress is progress no matter how small or big!
Keep it Healthy and Safe, and let me know if you found this post helpful!
H.Banana
Coffee Cake in a Mug
November 7, 2014
Some times I get the cravings for something sweet, but I don't all ways have time to make a whole batch of something, so why not make a single serving in a mug??!
This recipe I found on Pinterest, and for the link to the website see my recipes page.
Ingredients:
1tbsp butter softened but not melted
1tbsp truvia
1 egg
1/8 tsp baking powder
A few drops of vanilla
2tbsp almond milk or heavy cream
1/4 cup almond flour
(I added a dash of cinnamon to mine)
For the topping:
1tbsp butter softened
1tsp truvia
2tbsp almond flour
Dash of cinnamon
Cream the butter and Truvia together in your mug. Then add the egg and mix well.
Add the rest of the ingredients (except for the ingredients for the topping) and mix it all together.
Now, mix up the topping.
Add the topping to the top of the mix and pop it in the microwave. The recipe called for 1 and a half minutes but I had to add another minute.
I must say that it doesn't look anything like the picture on the website, but I have never made a mug recipe and it turn out exactly the same.
My little brother loved this little coffee cake! He kept asking for more!
Let me know what you think it you try this recipe!
Keep it healthy and Safe!
H.Banana
This recipe I found on Pinterest, and for the link to the website see my recipes page.
Ingredients:
1tbsp butter softened but not melted
1tbsp truvia
1 egg
1/8 tsp baking powder
A few drops of vanilla
2tbsp almond milk or heavy cream
1/4 cup almond flour
(I added a dash of cinnamon to mine)
For the topping:
1tbsp butter softened
1tsp truvia
2tbsp almond flour
Dash of cinnamon
My little brother loved this little coffee cake! He kept asking for more!
Let me know what you think it you try this recipe!
Keep it healthy and Safe!
H.Banana
Fitness Fashion
November 5, 2014
Work out clothes and gear are great motivations to work out and stay active! I love getting new work out clothes and then working out in them! Here are my favorite items and brands!
Staring at the bottom with shoes!
You need a good pair or tennis shoes no matter what you are doing! I got mine at www.academy.com and they are Nikes( Academy ). I've had them a few months and I have loved them since day one! If you have a pair of tennis-shoes you love, let me know!
Its important to have a good shoes, so don't be afraid to pay a little extra for them, as long as you are getting what you pay for. Here are a few to look into.
For Training - Training
For Training- Training
For Running - Running
For Running - Running
Don't just pick a shoe and go, or take my word on it. Do your research, as your friends and find the shoes that is just right for you and your activities. Remember, comfort over style!
Next is sock! I never work out with out socks on because I hate stinking sweaty feet and shoes! Find a pair of socks that are for athletics and make sure they breath well.
Now on to pants/ leggings. In the colder months of the year, if you are going to workout or run outside you are going to want to bundle up a little bit. I don't wear leggings much, but here are a few that I do wear.
This pair from Athleta is great! I love them because there is a little skirt built into I feel a bit more modest. Plus, they are really soft!
Another pair are these from Oldnavy are nice because they are capris and work great for the fall and spring time.
As for pants I usually get them from Target and Old Navy. Most of them aren't even athletic-wear either. You don't have to spend a ton of money on workout clothes, just go for whats comfortable and meet your needs.
Shorts come next. I own several pairs and once again they are mainly from Target and Old Navy. I tend to like longer shorts, but shorter ones are nice for Summer. Here are a few that I have and like:
These from Target
And these, also from Target
Now, we get to Sports Bras. I cannot stress enough how important it is to have a good sports bra. If you have a good one you will enjoy your workout so much better than if you didn't. Here are a few that I like;
This one from Target
This one, also from Target
Another one, this one from Academy
Now we come to a space between bras and shirts, so we combine them! I don't own one of these (Yet!) but I can't wait until I do!
Here is one from Target
Another one from Athleta
Okay, now we come to the tops! I love working out in anything from a tank top to long sleeves! You can really get creative and have fun with this part of the outfit! Here are a few of my favorites!
Athleta , Old Navy , Old Navy , Old Navy
Now, Jackets. I don't tend to wear a lot of jacket when I workout, mainly because when its that cold I workout inside! Let me know if you have a favorite workout jacket though!
Extras:
A few extras I like to have when I work out are as follows (I won't give you links because you can find these tons of places!)
Ear Buds (Why? Music of course!)
Head Band. (The fabric kinds are best to help keep hair out of your face)
Pony Tails (You never know when you might need to tie your hair back! I always have a few with me)
Chap-stick. (No one liked dry, cracked lips!)
So that's about it for my Fitness Fashion. If I have left anything out, please let me know! Also, if you have a favorite workout must have, let me know!
Keep it healthy and Safe!
H.Banana
Staring at the bottom with shoes!
You need a good pair or tennis shoes no matter what you are doing! I got mine at www.academy.com and they are Nikes( Academy ). I've had them a few months and I have loved them since day one! If you have a pair of tennis-shoes you love, let me know!
Its important to have a good shoes, so don't be afraid to pay a little extra for them, as long as you are getting what you pay for. Here are a few to look into.
For Training - Training
For Training- Training
For Running - Running
For Running - Running
Don't just pick a shoe and go, or take my word on it. Do your research, as your friends and find the shoes that is just right for you and your activities. Remember, comfort over style!
Next is sock! I never work out with out socks on because I hate stinking sweaty feet and shoes! Find a pair of socks that are for athletics and make sure they breath well.
Now on to pants/ leggings. In the colder months of the year, if you are going to workout or run outside you are going to want to bundle up a little bit. I don't wear leggings much, but here are a few that I do wear.
This pair from Athleta is great! I love them because there is a little skirt built into I feel a bit more modest. Plus, they are really soft!
Another pair are these from Oldnavy are nice because they are capris and work great for the fall and spring time.
As for pants I usually get them from Target and Old Navy. Most of them aren't even athletic-wear either. You don't have to spend a ton of money on workout clothes, just go for whats comfortable and meet your needs.
Shorts come next. I own several pairs and once again they are mainly from Target and Old Navy. I tend to like longer shorts, but shorter ones are nice for Summer. Here are a few that I have and like:
These from Target
And these, also from Target
Now, we get to Sports Bras. I cannot stress enough how important it is to have a good sports bra. If you have a good one you will enjoy your workout so much better than if you didn't. Here are a few that I like;
This one from Target
This one, also from Target
Another one, this one from Academy
Now we come to a space between bras and shirts, so we combine them! I don't own one of these (Yet!) but I can't wait until I do!
Here is one from Target
Another one from Athleta
Okay, now we come to the tops! I love working out in anything from a tank top to long sleeves! You can really get creative and have fun with this part of the outfit! Here are a few of my favorites!
Athleta , Old Navy , Old Navy , Old Navy
Now, Jackets. I don't tend to wear a lot of jacket when I workout, mainly because when its that cold I workout inside! Let me know if you have a favorite workout jacket though!
Extras:
A few extras I like to have when I work out are as follows (I won't give you links because you can find these tons of places!)
Ear Buds (Why? Music of course!)
Head Band. (The fabric kinds are best to help keep hair out of your face)
Pony Tails (You never know when you might need to tie your hair back! I always have a few with me)
Chap-stick. (No one liked dry, cracked lips!)
So that's about it for my Fitness Fashion. If I have left anything out, please let me know! Also, if you have a favorite workout must have, let me know!
Keep it healthy and Safe!
H.Banana
Summer in a Smoothie!
November 3, 2014
Yes, the weather is getting colder here, and for the most part I love it , but every now and then I miss the warm sunshine of summer! So, I made a recipe for a delicious and refreshing smoothie to soothe my craving for summer!
Ingredients:
1 cup of frozen fruit ( I like to use a mix of strawberries and peaches or pineapple)
2 tbsp. Lemon or Lime juice
1 packet of Truvia (Optional)
1/4 of a ripe banana
Ice ( I added about 1/2 a cup or so, but go to your own taste with the ice)
1/4 cup coconut water.
The first step is to put your fruit and lemon juice together in a bowl and microwave, yes microwave, your fruit until it begins to juice. You don't want to warm your fruit, just juice is a bit. Mine took about a minute.
Add the banana to the blender along with the juiced fruit and blend until smooth.
On a side note: I love this blender!! <3 ( Its a Ninja, just so you know!)
Now its time to add the Truvia (If using), Ice and Coconut water. The reason I put the Truiva as optional is because the banana make this smoothie plenty sweet on its own. The Truvia is just to add extra sweetness.
Blend this up until smooth and yummy!
Give is a stir if needed and add a straw! Sipping this reminds me of the beach...sunshine.... well, Summer all together!
I love this smoothie, and I hope that you do too! Please let me know of you tried this recipe and what you thought about it!
My family loved this smoothie as well. I made one for my 21 month old brother and he drank it down so fast, I was amazed and after he wanted more! This smoothie is great for a nice refresher during the day, I like to have it after a work out, or even in the morning(Which is when I had it today!)
Keep it Healthy and Safe!
H.Banana
Ingredients:
1 cup of frozen fruit ( I like to use a mix of strawberries and peaches or pineapple)
2 tbsp. Lemon or Lime juice
1 packet of Truvia (Optional)
1/4 of a ripe banana
Ice ( I added about 1/2 a cup or so, but go to your own taste with the ice)
1/4 cup coconut water.
The first step is to put your fruit and lemon juice together in a bowl and microwave, yes microwave, your fruit until it begins to juice. You don't want to warm your fruit, just juice is a bit. Mine took about a minute.
Now its time to add the Truvia (If using), Ice and Coconut water. The reason I put the Truiva as optional is because the banana make this smoothie plenty sweet on its own. The Truvia is just to add extra sweetness.
My family loved this smoothie as well. I made one for my 21 month old brother and he drank it down so fast, I was amazed and after he wanted more! This smoothie is great for a nice refresher during the day, I like to have it after a work out, or even in the morning(Which is when I had it today!)
Keep it Healthy and Safe!
H.Banana
Boo-Nanas
November 2, 2014
I wrote about these yummy and healthy treats in my Halloween post, so here is a how-to post on them! My little Sister, Bella, had a great time helping me make these and they will be fun for all ages!
What you will need:
Banana (One banana makes two ghost)
Peanut Butter (Creamy is best and make sure its chilled and not runny)
Shredded Unsweetened Coconut
Raisins or Chocolate Chips
Popsicle sticks or cake pop sticks (Optional)
This part was a little messy, but it was fun!
Now cover the bananas in the coconut. We laid down some coconut and rolled the bananas in it.
Take what ever you are using for the 'eyes' and dap a little peanut butter on one side. Stick them on you banana.
And there you go, yummy and healthy Halloween Boo-nanas!
My whole family liked these cute ghost and we will totally be making them again!
Let me know if you try these Boo-nanas and how they went!
For the link to the website where I got the idea, go to my Halloween post here - Halloween Candy
Keep it healthy and Safe,
H.Banana
What you will need:
Banana (One banana makes two ghost)
Peanut Butter (Creamy is best and make sure its chilled and not runny)
Shredded Unsweetened Coconut
Raisins or Chocolate Chips
Popsicle sticks or cake pop sticks (Optional)
Peel and cut banana in half. Add your sticks if you are using them.
Coat in peanut butter. We found it easiest to lay the banana down and spoon the peanut butter of it.
This part was a little messy, but it was fun!
Now cover the bananas in the coconut. We laid down some coconut and rolled the bananas in it.
Take what ever you are using for the 'eyes' and dap a little peanut butter on one side. Stick them on you banana.
My whole family liked these cute ghost and we will totally be making them again!
Let me know if you try these Boo-nanas and how they went!
For the link to the website where I got the idea, go to my Halloween post here - Halloween Candy
Keep it healthy and Safe,
H.Banana
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