Everyone deserves a second chance. Yes, maybe even a third, especially if it concerns the self. A new year sends a signal of hope to all who believe that second chances will not happen for them. Truth be told, if you want to take a chance on yourself, the start of a new year is the best time ever to begin.
Less is good
Excesses lavished on ourselves deserve some cutting back. We could use a break from alcohol, sugar, fat, drugs, stress.
An amino acid called tryptophan is used by the brain. And together with vitamin B6, niacin and magnesium, serotonin is produced. This is a neurotransmitter that carries messages to and from the brain, and one of the body’s biochemical mechanisms of sleep. Natural sources are fish, turkey, bananas, dried dates, peanuts, milk and cheese— all protein-rich foods.
Tryptophan can relieve symptoms of alcohol-related body chemistry disorders, and is an aid against alcoholism. Other benefits include reduced pain, better sleep, antidepressant effects and alleviation of migraines.
Weighing in
It’s a good habit to monitor your weight weekly. But doing this daily won’t make much of a difference. The best time to step on a scale is first thing in the morning, after your visit to the toilet. If your goal is to simply manage your ideal weight (assuming you have reached it), then watch the calories, stick to your small, adequate portions of food and, in some cases, weigh it. Seriously study the kind of food you eat as well as your intake. Also, think about nutrition.
When it comes to nutritional management, the simple truth is that water is our most important vital nutrient. Considering that one-half to four-fifths of the body’s weight is water, it is important to know that when it comes to weight loss, managing the water within the body is key.
Thus, this explains the popularity of diuretics to control one’s weight. But more than water loss, fat reduction is essential. Now you can appreciate why sweat-inducing exercises are encouraged—because you lose more water. Note: While at the gym, drink a glass of water before a workout. Then sip water slowly throughout your routine. At the end of your exercise, drink another glass of water to replace your water loss through sweat. But don’t worry, this will not contribute to weight gain. Instead, water promotes better circulation and satisfaction.
Water, when taken 30 minutes before meals, aids in depressing the appetite. Moreover, it helps in preventing kidney stones and constipation. Water has no known toxicity, but an intake of 16-24 glasses within an hour could be highly dangerous to an adult. It could kill an infant.
Finally, the most senseless thing you can do is to weigh in at night. Obviously, with all the food you consumed for the day, you will be heavier. You will find that you weigh less on waking up because you actually had a forced fast from bedtime to morning—which leads us to the most important meal of the day when you break your fast.
An anti-fat program can only translate to exercise. Remember that the more muscle you build, the less room there is for fat. Muscle burns fat.
Breakfast, the best start
You’ve heard this countless times before. Be generous at breakfast, be moderate at lunch and skimp at dinner. For some, however, lunch is the heaviest meal of the day. This is true for career people who rush out of the house to be at the office on time. Be that as it may, learn to bring along survival food—a banana, nuts, apple. Or any low-sugar fruit like chico, melon, etc.
This way, with food in your tummy, the body is able to source some energy to get you going for an hour or so. But the ideal breakfast is one that covers the basics–carbohydrate, protein, material sugars. Translation: Pack in the super rainbow foods—every color from nature that is packed with nutrients and antioxidants, like fresh fruits, yoghurt, cereals, brown or red rice, eggs, lean meats, sardines and mackerel. And if you’re up to it, make your own green smoothie concoction.
Try this:
¼ c bitter gourd (ampalaya, sliced and seeded)
1 whole green apple
10 small leaves malunggay (moringa)
1 tsp raw wild honey
2 cloves fresh garlic
2 tbsp old-fashioned rolled oats (uncooked)
¼ tbsp cinnamon
New Year’s Scrub
Ingredients:
1 lemon, grated with peel
1 orange, grated with peel
½ c freshly pounded rice
2 tbsp baking soda
1 egg
¼ c milk
1 tbsp extra virgin oil or coconut oil
Mix all together. Place in blender for 15 seconds. Rub throughout the body from the feet upward. To top everything, rub 1 tbsp of heated olive or coconut oil on the scalp. Comb through your hair. Wash and rinse after 15 minutes.
2012 AFFIRMATION: “I claim the magnificence of life!”
Love and Light!