Showing posts with label Fitness Tuesday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fitness Tuesday. Show all posts

Sep 28, 2021

Best foods to help with Reducing Stress


A few weeks ago I went the doctor and I found out I need to change a couple of things and clean my diet up. One of the things that I have been trying to work on managing my stress. Part of that is changing some of the food I eat. I like baking cookies, cakes, and other sweets (as well as eating them) so you can kinda guess how that's going. Today, I wanted to share a short and sweet version of some of the best foods to eat for stress relief from Health, Eating Well, & Heathline:

Salmon
Turmeric
Artichokes
Kimchi
Turkey Breast
Sweet Potatoes
Matcha Powder
Yogurt
Garlic
Blueberries
Green Tea


I have been incorporating more of these into my diet lately. I have used garlic for a long time in my foods. Since I gave up coffee on January 1st (9 months and counting since I've had a cup), I've been drinking a lot of green tea. I think in a future post, I'll share what tea I'm drinking since I have about 20 different types at one time. Until then, Peace and Blessings!!




Aug 25, 2020

Fitness Tuesday: Benefits of Napping

     Last week, was a rough one for me. I haven't been sleeping well lately. Part of it is the mattress that I sleep on & the other part is my sinus issue. My dentist told me that some people with sinus problems, sometimes their undereye/ side area hurts. For the last couple of days, that's what has been going on with me. Plus, I just felt blah & didn't feeling like posting anything.


One thing that I'd did more of last week was napping. I know there are people who dislike naps, but this girl isn't one of those people. That's one thing I miss about being a kid: having to take naps during the day. I've always been a big nap person. I usually take a 20-30 minute nap if I take one during the day. Personally, if a take one longer than that, I consider that sleep. Below are benefits, how to nap, & why you should nap from the Mayo Clinic & Sleep.org that any adult can get from taking a nap:

A person should consider taking naps, if they experience:
-Unexpected sleepiness-Fatigue-Sleep loss -Lacking energy
Naps should be limited to 10 to 20 minutes. 20-minute is called stage two nap. This type of nap can enhance motor skills and attention. Napping after 3 p.m. can interfere with nighttime sleep. The optimal hours for napping is between 1:00pm and 3:00pm. Blood sugar and energy starts to dip after lunchtime. Napping in a dark room will help falling to sleep faster. Avoid drinking coffee, cokes or anything else with caffeine in the afternoon or evening. Drinking caffeine late in the day can negatively affect your sleep.

Some benefits of napping include:

-Reduced fatigue
-Increased alertness
-Improved mood
-Improved performance
-Quicker reaction time 
-Improved memory

When I finally start working for someone else again, I might take naps during lunch. I use to do that at some of my other jobs that I've had in the past. It gave me the energy to get through the rest of the day. Naps should be a must for companies. That's just my opinion though.

Peace & Blessings!

Jun 23, 2020

Fitness Tuesday: Reasons to try Therapy



     With all of the unrest in the world at the moment, many of us are at our breaking point physically & mentally. For some, talking to others help with vocalizing our stress, pain, & your current mood. Taking care of ones' mental health is impartive especially for POC. Seeking help for mental health is seen as a taboo in Black culture. There is a stigma associated with having a mental issue. Many try to deal with their issues on their own or ignore them. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, approximately 30% of African American adults with mental illness receive treatment each year, compared to the U.S. average of 43%.

Recently though, that stigma has change. With race issues boiling over (it has been a long time coming, if you want to know my opinion), black people deciding to start taking care of themselves, finally. Black women in particular, have always put others feelings & needs before our own. Now is the time to put our needs first for ourselves. I know that for me, talking to a therapist was a major breakthrough for me. Talking to a person who is unbaised, that is not a friend or family member helps you open up more. It is easier to share & get an outsiders opinion to help you with clarity on situations sometimes.

Below I am going to share some reasons to try therapy from Healthfully:

Helps with organizing your thoughts
Most of us need a sounding board that is not involved directly with whatever situation that is happening. Everyone should get feedback during stressful times. Finding that person who can give you constructive advice should help in making clarity to appear.

Healing from Past Pain

Therapist can help you address issues from your past. This can include problems,situations,
or moments from your childhood, relationships, and other life events. Therapy can help in getting rid of the negative thoughts.  help things in perspective, & give one a more positive outlook on life. It’s important to have a positive mindset to be able to enjoy life more freely without worrying.

Can Pin-Point Cause of Problems
Seeing a therapist can help you in seeing what's normal behavior & what isn't. Many who struggle with anxiety or anger don't examine what is causing the problem on their own. A therapist can aid in discovering what is causing ones' reaction to situations in their life.  Discussing what’s on one's mind with a therapist will help you process your thoughts better.

Getting Information from a Third-party

Whether one is having problems in their work or personal life, it's good to find information from someone not directly involved. Most of us don’t always have the answers when trying to communicate with others. Gaining insight on how to handle situations are key when one is trying to grow and heal.

Improves Overall Well-being
Seeing a therapist can be beneficial to your overall mental health. And that's good for your general well-being. Many face the stigma that going to therapy means that there is something wrong with them. People that go usually are healthier mentally since they are verbalizing their feeling.


For those of you that are looking for resources about mental health & wellness, here are a few website with some more information:





And I also want to put one of the podcast I listen to as well on here: Balanced Black Girl podcast.
 

Peace & blessings, have a great Tuesday!!!





Apr 30, 2020

Peanut Butter & Banana bars

    Today is Thursday & I forgot what day it was. So, all my post were moved back by one day. Yesterday (in my original Tuesday post), I wrote about the benefits of eating banana. Today, I am going to share a recipe I found from Butter with a side of Bread. I knew for sure that I did not want to make banana bread or pancakes. When I made these, I had a large amount of chocolate chips & bananas. So, I started researching & found a few from this blog. I am going to try to make some other recipes soon but for now her is the recipe for the bars that I made.

Here is how my bars turned out:

I made these on last Thursday afternoon. I did change some measurements from the original recipe. I did use more chocolate chips & one less banana since I only had four at the house. I am going to try to make something this week involving all the oats I have.  More than likely, I will post it on IG at some point next week. So have a great Thursday & you will be seeing thoughts/quotes tomorrow.

Peace & Blessings, all!!

Apr 29, 2020

Fitness Tuesday on Wednesday: Health Benefits of Bananas

     


     And it is the last Wednesday of April. I can n0t believe that April is about to be over in 2 days. I posted this super late because I have lost track of all time at this point. Looks like our stay-at-home order ends on April 30th officially. Not sure how I feel about that at this point. Anywho, with all this time at home people have become randomly obsessed with bananas for some reason. I have seen banana pancakes, muffins, bread, & everything in between. I made some peanut butter & banana bars that I am going to share tomorrow.  

I thought I would share benefits of bananas since people are into eating them at the moment. Little known fact but according to the Food & Agriculture Organization of the United States, bananas are the most exported fresh fruit in the world. Bananas are high in sugar & carbohydrates (which is why you see many people not eat them when they are trying to do certain weight loss plans). Here are some more things to know about bananas:


-Full of potassium

According to the National Institutes of Health, one medium banana contains 422 milligrams of potassium, or about 12 percent of your daily value of the mineral. Potassium helps with your muscles contracting, nerves function, move nutrients into & waste out of cells, regulating your heartbeat, & regulate sodium in your body. It also flush excess heart-stressing sodium from your body through your urine Not getting enough potassium in your diet can cause an increase in blood pressure, kidney stones, & leave you feeling weak & tired, or even experience muscle cramps.

-Good for pre & post workout

Foods that contain natural sugars (carbohydrates) for energy & are not harsh on your stomach make for great pre-workout fuel. Bananas may be beneficial after your workout, too. One study from 2018 found that certain compounds and phytochemicals in bananas could play an effective role in reducing exercise-induced inflammation-which spurs muscle soreness-after a tough bout of endurance training.

-Bananas are rich in vitamin B6

Bananas contain nearly one third of your daily value of vitamin B6, which is important for brain development during pregnancy & enzyme reactions involved in metabolism. Most Americans don’t seem to fall short on their intake, but it doesn’t hurt to eat foods that are naturally rich in the nutrient.

-Bananas might keep your appetite in check

Eating a banana may help curb your cravings. A medium banana is about 100 calories. Bananas contain a type of fiber called resistant starch, aiding in helping managing your appetite by making you full.

-Easy to add into diet

Healthline adds that bananas are easy to add into your diet. Bananas make a great addition to yogurt, cereal & smoothies. Bananas are incredibly easy to eat & transport. They are usually well-tolerated & easily digested.

Tomorrow, I am going to share the banana bar recipe that I foun
d. Peace & blessings, all.

Apr 7, 2020

Fitness Tuesday:Foods to Boost your Immune System

 

     And it is Tuesday, the first Tuesday of April at that. If you would have asked anyone last year, even in January what April 2020 would look like, no one would have said what is happening right now. We are all having to slow down, that is one of the plus side of this whole situation. On top of that, it is the end of Flu season & the beginning of allergy season (which I know all too well).

With all that said. Today, I am going to talk about what you need to boost your immune system. Having a healthy immune system is important all the time but right now, it is particular vital. Here are some of the vitamins & minerals that you need to have for increased immunity (along with some other benefits of each) plus some of the foods to add into your diet:


-Vitamin C (Increases white blood cells, body does not store)

Kale
Citrus
Papaya
Spinach
Bell peppers
Kiwi
Garlic

-Vitamin E (Protects cells from damage, key for healthy skin & eyes)
Sunflower seeds
Broccoli
Spinach

-Vitamin A (plays a major role in skinall foods below contain beta-carotene)

Sweet Potatoes 
Carrots
Pumpkin
Squash
Garlic

-Vitamin D (Aids in regulating your body's natural defense mechanisms)

Tuna
Mackerel
Salmon
Eggs
Beef
Fortified cereal & milk
Mushrooms

-Iron (Increase in their daily energy levels, mental clarity and ability to focus, helping white blood cell production to fight bacteria)

Broccoli
Kale
Brown Rice
Beans
Red Meat
Fish

-Folate or Folic Acid (Helps produce & maintain new cells)
Beans
Spinach
Broccoli
Beets
Brussels Sprouts
Citrus Fruits

-Selenium (May help prevent cardiovascular disease, thyroid problems, & reduce the odds of come cancers)

Oats & barley 
Shellfish 
Whole Wheat pasta
Tofu

-Zinc ( Helps with hormone production, proper growth and repair, promotes normal digestion)
Pumpkin Seed
Ginger Root
Poultry
Fortified Cereal
Nuts
Pork


I know that is a lot of information up there. I have been trying to incorporate all these in my date everyday. Along with exercising at home, I have been feeling pretty good. During this time, we all need to try to take care of yourself mentally & physically. Peace & blessings, all. Have a great Tuesday!!!













Feb 25, 2020

Fitness Tuesday: Why you should try Breathwork


     Happy Tuesday!! Hard to believe that it is the last Tuesday of Black History Month, February, & Fat Tuesday also. Already decided what I am giving up for Lent & what I am picking up as well. Will go into that next Tuesday since it is wellness related. Besides that, I went to my first Pilates class in about 3 years yesterday. It did wonders for my neck & back. For the first time in a long time, I went through all day Monday with no neck, back, or shoulder pain. 

Today I wanted to talk about Breathwork. One of the things that I love about the beginning of the year is seeing all the new trends & ideas that are coming out of the health & wellness space. I did Breathwork around when I started mediating regularly, after my car accident in Fall of 2016. However, I fell off some reason. Most do Breathwork while they are mediating, which is how I was doing it. Now, many are doing it by itself, which is useful during a work day or a stressful time when you can not meditate. Here are a few reason from mindbodygreen why you should try adding Breathwork to your day:


Helps with stress & anxiety
Doing repeated sessions of Breathwork have been found to lower levels of the cortisol, the stress hormone. Having high level can cause chronic inflammation. Controlling your breathing in a stressful situation can help tell your body relax, reducing the release of cortisol.

Aid in lowering blood pressure
Practicing breathwork to music for  around 10 minutes a day can reduce blood pressure. It has been found that in people with hypertension after practicing slow, deep breathing there was a drop in their blood pressure. 

Reduce symptoms of depression
Pairing breathwork with other stress reducers can help in reducing the symptoms of depression. People who engaged in breathwork & yoga together for 12 weeks saw a decline in depressive symptoms. A study done found the breathing-based meditation eased severe depression in some people. It also helps with boosting ones mood by reducing the part of the brain that controls the fight or flight response. 

Make focus sharper
Practicing breathwork in a regulated way can help with the amount of noradrenaline, a natural chemical messenger that affects attention and certain emotions, in our brain and ultimately enhance focus.

Help with pain management
Breathwork through slow deep breathing has been found to help reduce the perception of chronic pain, helping them better cope with physical discomfort. It can also help alleviate back pain by breathing through your diaphragm, creating blood flow and movement in that 
back & spine.


If you would like to learn more on Breathwork here are some articles & books to read:

Articles

Feb 5, 2020

What is Intuitive Eating?


     Today, I wanted to talk about Intuitive Eating. The term was created in 1995 by two registered dietitians (RD for short), Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch.  According to Health magazine, intuitive eating means breaking free from the on-and-off cycle of dieting and learning to eat mindfully and without guilt. You do not calorie count or remove certain foods from your diet but, there are 10 basic rules to follow.

1. Reject the diet mentality
First, one has to get rid of all the books and magazine articles that promise fast weight loss. You have to let go of rejecting meal plans that dictate what or how much you can eat. You make decisions about what foods to eat, when, and how much must be dictated by internal cues rather than external cues.
2. Honor your hunger
Instead of counting calories, pay attention to what your body’s hunger cues are. Your body will be able to determine if it is actual hunger for food or another type of hunger. 
3. Make peace with food
By dropping the "good" & "bad" labels associated with food, you learn to give yourself “unconditional permission to eat.” In the article A Beginner's Guide to Intuitive Eating, some find seeing a professional helps them under why certain foods are "off limits".
4. Challenge the food police
The “food police” can be the voices in your head that tell you it is good to eat fewer calories and it’s bad to eat dessert. This can also be real people including friends, family, and acquaintances who offer up judgment, advice about what and how you’re eating. Most of us have been following these dieting rules again and again, trying to not make yourself feel guilty for not following them to a T.
5. Respect your fullness
Remember to eat when you’re hungry, but also important to stop when those hunger cues are no longer present.  Are you still eating because of your hunger, eating out of distraction, boredom, or stress?   Listen to your body. The body can tell easier when it is hungry than full.
6. Discover the satisfaction factor
This principal is about getting satisfaction from noticing and appreciating the taste and texture of food, but also the environment in which you are eating. The motivation behind the food choices made should be looked at as well.
7. Honor your feelings without using food
It is important to get to the root of why food is a coping mechanism. There needs to be a way to nurture yourself and resolve issues without turning to food. People often overeat because of anxiety, loneliness, boredom, anger, or stress. Being mindful with your food and emotions can help with any issues.
8. Respect your body
This is about body acceptance. One has to learn to feel good about your body. Once self-acceptance happens, you start to not strive for unrealistic expectations.
9. Exercise: Feel the difference
You don’t have to go to the gym every day while intuitive eating approach. It is important to move your body on a regular basis. The creators of intuitive eating wants it to “ not about finding the exercise that burns the most calories or the most fat,” says Tribole. “It is about finding something that’s sustainable and that you enjoy.” It is been shown that exercise does boost ones mood, strengthen the heart and cardiovascular system, and increase lean muscle mass.
10. Honor your health with gentle nutrition
Despite the fact that intuitive eating preaches an “eat what you want” mentality, that doesn’t mean its founders don’t care about good nutrition. Making smart food choices that honor your health and is well-balanced. Eating “intuitively” should still involve more fruits and veggies than candy & cookies.

One article said that the critics of intuitive eating warn that if we all started to eat whatever we wanted when we wanted, we would lose all form of self-control and nutrition principles would fly out the window. Certain people should not partake in intuitive eating such as those with recovering from eating disorders. 

I see the benefits of intuitive eating in that you eat pretty much when you feel hunger. I know this type of eating will not work for some people since they eat a certain amount of snack & meals a day for training purpose or other reasons. If you are able to try it, I suggest doing it for at least two weeks to see how you feel. 

That's it for today. Peace & Blessings, all. Have a great Wednesday.

Jan 7, 2020

Fitness Tuesday: Ways to manage stress

   


     It's the second week of January meaning that life is getting back to normal somewhat. Everyone is having to go back to school or work (unfortunately). This means that the stress of regular life is back. Its seems that more people are more willing to acknowledge & find ways to deal with their stress. According to healthy women, leaving stress untreated can cause depression, headaches, & obesity along with other health issues. Being able to not only handle stress but finding ways to deal with it are a big help.

Below are a few tips from MindBodyGreen and Nutritious Life on how to manage any stress that may come your way:

Listening to music
Listening to music can make you feel more relaxed. Music can help with stressful situations & how much they affect you. 

Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a great way to help you relax & unwind from the day. You can incorporate aromatherapy in your life by dabbing essential oils on your wrists, breathing in the smell or by using it in a diffuser. Certain scents such lavender have been shown to work well.

Do breathing work
The simple act of deep breathing can be effective. Try breath work when you have no time to fit meditation in your day. It helps to calm the body down and puts you in a different mindset after.  Breathe Deep and Paced Breathing are two apps you can try to get started.

Watch something funny

A good laugh release endorphins into the body. This chemical in the brain makes you happy & helps battle stress. According to the Mayo Clinic, guffawing can also “stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, both of which can help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.”

Get in a good workout

Besides laughter, exercise also releases endorphins. Exercise can also help manage depression. Working out helps with improving sleep. If you decide to take a walk outside, it has been shown to reduce stress well.

Take a vacation

Taking at least one vacation a year helped people be more satisfied and happy with their lives. Feeling less stressed is supposed to be the outcome of a vacation. Make sure to prioritize whether, big or small that a vacation happens. Remember: unplug on the vacation to relax & benefit from it.


Journaling
Journaling can be seen as a therapeutic. At the end of your day, write out anything negative that happened during the day. Doing this will let go of any stressful situations that you brought home & clears your head before sleep.

Anyone have any other ways to relieve stress not listed? 

Peace & Blessing, all!!!  Have a great Tuesday.

Dec 17, 2019

Fitness Tuesday: Meatless Monday receipes

   

Mushroom Cashew Lettuce Wrap

     With everything that has been going on in my life, I haven't posted as much as I wanted to. I was going to post this yesterday but we had some crazy storms come through. You know that a storm is coming when it is 69 degrees in December in the South. It was lighting & I didn't want to have to buy another computer like I did when my television was struck by lighting. Since then a few things have happened. I graduated with my Masters in Kinesiology at the beginning of the month. I finally finished my personal training certification course. Now I have to take the exam to officially be done. I'm also going to start my Reiki course once I finish the CPT stuff. Can't you tell I like learning? Outside of those courses, the YouTube channel/podcast that I'm a part of with my friends should be going live soon.

At this point, I'm ready for a real vacation & 2020 to get here. Since it been a bit since I posted about food I am going to share some more meatless recipes. Since October, I still have doing no meat on Mondays. I plan on making more of my own recipes in 2020 but until then, her are some I found on Cooking Light & Clean Eating Magazine websites that I want to try:



I will probably be making at least one of these recipes sometime soon. I'm trying to work on incorporating more vegetables in my diet. Usually I bake, steam, or boil my vegetables. I've been looking for new ways to cook them, using them in the dish beside chopping & adding them in. If anyone has any suggests, I would love to see them.

Until next time, Peace & Blessings, all. Have a great day!!!

Oct 8, 2019

Fitness Tuesday: Advantages of going meatless

Tuesday is here meaning that it's Fitness Tuesday. Today, I'm going to piggy back off of what I posted yesterday about going meatless. People have their reasons for being vegetarians or vegans. Some do it for religious or health reason while others do it because of the way it makes them feel or it's the "in thing" at the moment. Regardless the reason, there are good benefits for cutting back on meat.

Here are a few benefits of cutting back on meat even if for one day a week:

-Aid in normal bowel function

-Add variety in nutrients to ones diet

-Lowers risk of high blood pressure & diabetes

-Adds different textures & color to meal

-Saves money

-Reduces risk of heart disease & stroke


These are a few articles that I found helpful in researching about the meatless/vegetarian topic:




Building a Healthy Vegetarian Meal Myths and Facts




And if you are wanting to still eat meat & fish this article from healthline is a good place to see which ones are the best to eat. Also, if you are more of a podcast person Dr. Michael Greger, the author of the Not How Die books & cookbook has a podcast called Nutritional Facts that is super informative. Maybe on Wednesday, I'll share a few (meaning three or four) of my favorite nutritional podcast.

If anyone has suggestions on how to wan yourself of eating meat daily, I would love to hear them.

Until next time: Peace & blessings all & have a fantastic Tuesday!!!



Aug 27, 2019

Fitness Tuesday: Best foods for energy


Happy Tuesday!!! After the weekend, I always feel blah/have low energy when I start the week. I have been taking some supplements, which I'm going to talk about next week. Below are some of the foods that can give you extra energy along with benefits of the food. Also, there are some articles linked below for more information about why to increase you energy through food. 




Apples
Releasing sugar into the bloodstream slowly, helping increase energy. antioxidants could slow down the digestion of carbohydrates, so they release energy over a more extended period of time

Bananas
Source of slow-release energy, helps regulate nervous system. 

Steel-cut oats
These oats are never cooked, starting from the whole grain. Slicing the oats into slivers, the use of steel blades help the oats keep more fiber and protein. The fiber present in oats helps blood sugar stay level by releasing the sugars slowly. 

Lemons
Contains vitamin C which helps with fighting infections, mental alertness & memory.

Almonds
Almonds are rich in monounsaturated fats. They are also full of protein, manganese & copper ( both help with keeping energy flowing in the body) riboflavin (helps with oxygen-based energy production). 

Salmon
Salmon contains protein, vitamin B6, niacin, & riboflavin which help with converting food into energy.

Yogurt
Yogurt is great source of protein. It contains magnesium, which is crucial for the release of energy. Yogurt helps in providing basic energy for the brain.

Eggs
Eggs contain protein and healthy fats. Consuming the whole egg helps to keep blood sugar levels stable.

Beans
Beans help keep blood sugar levels steady to keep you energized.They contain protein & are a complex carbohydrate.

Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes contain fiber, complex carbohydrates, along with vitamins A and C that provides an immune boost.

Water
Water aids in dehydration while providing a boost of energy helping fight off fatigue.








More information can be found in one of my favorite sources:

I actually bought this book at Books A Million for around $7. It's a great source to find what foods are best to eat based on the vitamin or mineral you're looking for. The book also contains some recipes ideas for that vitamin or mineral. 

Aug 6, 2019

Fitness Tuesday: Why do you need to stretch???

Hello and happy Tuesday, people. This weekend was pretty relaxing for the most part. Went tubing on a lazy river with some of my co-worker and then ran a few errands on Sunday. Thought I was done with my class but I was wrong. I have to return in some items (WHHYYY MEEEE!!!!!). Hopefully (fingers crossed) I can get the grade that I need so I can graduate this Summer. Anywho, today I wanted to talk about a subject that I talked about a year your or two ago: stretching. If you want to see more, here is the link to the post: http://www.vulnaviajohnson.com/2017/05/fitness-tuesday.html.

A few benefits of stretching include increased flexibility, helping with muscle tension, soreness, & increased blood flow. I try to stretch once before I get out of bed in the morning & once before I go to bed. During the work day, I do more stretches that help with my hands since I type most of the day.
Here are a few stretches that any age can do to help decrease your chance of getting injured:




Via



Via


Via

If you want to get some more information about stretching here are a few articles that go more in depth about the topic:

Facts about Stretching

Mayo Clinic

Why stretching is just as important as exercise


I think that it is important that people are getting as accurate as possible information. There are so many people (especially on social media) that give nutrition or health advice but are not trained to do so. The health & nutrition advice I give out is to benefit people of all races, age, & genders. It just gets annoying when people jump on the health & wellness bandwagon because they think it's the "cool trend" to be on.

Okay, end of my mini-venting session. Next week, I am going to talk about why you should eat a balanced diet instead of jumping on the diet trend train. Peace & blessings, all & have a great Tuesday!!!