This is my blog to inspire and motivate myself along my fitness & weight loss journey, the healthy way, without eating disorders, without starving or binging or hating my body. I hope to instill that my body (and every body) is a temple which should be treated respectfully, not punished with junk food and self-loathing. Hopefully it can do the same for anyone who comes across it.
Feel free to ask me anything, comment, critique, console, chat or just say hi. I appreciate any & all support!
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
Benefits of Eating Apples:
Bone Protection
French researchers found that a flavanoid called phloridzin that is found only in apples may protect post-menopausal women from osteoporosis and may also increase bone density. Boron, another ingredient in apples, also strengthens bones.
Asthma Help
One recent study shows that children with asthma who drank apple juice on a daily basis suffered from less wheezing than children who drank apple juice only once per month. Another study showed that children born to women who eat a lot of apples during pregnancy have lower rates of asthma than children whose mothers ate few apples.Alzheimer’s Prevention
A study on mice at Cornell University found that the quercetin in apples may protect brain cells from the kind of free radical damage that may lead to Alzheimer’s disease.Lower Cholesterol
The pectin in apples lowers LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. People who eat two apples per day may lower their cholesterol by as much as 16 percent.Lung Cancer Prevention
According to a study of 10,000 people, those who ate the most apples had a 50 percent lower risk of developing lung cancer. Researchers believe this is due to the high levels of the flavonoids quercetin and naringin in apples.Breast Cancer Prevention
A Cornell University study found that rats who ate one apple per day reduced their risk of breast cancer by 17 percent. Rats fed three apples per day reduced their risk by 39 percent and those fed six apples per day reduced their risk by 44 percent.Colon Cancer Prevention
One study found that rats fed an extract from apple skins had a 43 percent lower risk of colon cancer. Other research shows that the pectin in apples reduces the risk of colon cancer and helps maintain a healthy digestive tract.Liver Cancer Prevention
Research found that rats fed an extract from apple skins had a 57 percent lower risk of liver cancer.Diabetes Management
The pectin in apples supplies galacturonic acid to the body which lowers the body’s need for insulin and may help in the management of diabetes.Weight Loss
A Brazilian study found that women who ate three apples or pears per day lost more weight while dieting than women who did not eat fruit while dieting.Thank God for all of this, because I eat a LOT of apples.
same! ^
(Source: j-ckie)
I had a minor binge today.
Went a little crazy on the Chinese food. :( I know, I know one day doesn’t make a HUGE difference but anytime I let myself go a little I feel like I’ve lost my control.
Anyone go through this? How do you recover from it and get back on track?
Heinz Reduced Sugar Ketchup is a god-send. It’s my new favorite health find.
Only 5 Calories per serving (1 Tbsp), 1g Carbs, & 1g of Sugar. Amazing on anything, eggs, lean turkey, etc..
lovely!
I got my new Oster personal blender today. Really craving a smoothie & only seems right to break it in.
I need recipe inspiration!
What should I make?
this looks amazing!
Dinner: Pesto Basil Tilapia & Green Beans cooked over the stove top in a packet of Stevia.
Omgawd! So delicious! Didn’t even have the chance to snap a picture before I gobbled it all up. mmmm I highly suggest you try cooking some green beans in stevia or splenda (splenda is more heat stable so a better choice - unless you’re not into chemical sugars which is perfectly understandable). It tastes so sweet, not like veggies at all and only 17 calories a cup!
I don’t promote losing weight in an unhealthy manner in anyway. But this is not to make anyone suffering with an ED feel bad or guilty, it is a real condition and horrible to go through and I wish anyone trapped in ED cycles all the best help & health.Reblog if you are a fit-spiration blog vs. a
thin-spiration blogBeing healthy is the best way to go.
yum!
(Source: fit-inspiration)
BLOATED? YOU MIGHT BE CONSUMING TOO MUCH OF THESE:
CARBONATED BEVERAGES - all those little bubbles will settle in your stomach and make you feel like a balloon.
SUGAR FREE PRODUCTS - which are full of calorie-free sugar alchohols like xylitol and malitol. Your GI tract can’t absorb most of these, so they sit in your stomach and gas, bloating, and diarrhea.
HEAVY CARBS - Like bread and pasta. They’re all high in a carboyhdrate called glycogen, which your muscles store as a backup energy source. Every gram of glycogen is stored with about 3 grams of water. But unless you have a vigorous exercise routine, you don’t need all this stockpiled fuel. When you decrease your carb intake, you’ll temporarily train your body to access this stored fuel and burn it off. At the same time, you’ll drain off excess stored fluids.
GUM - When you chew gum, you swallow air. All that air gets trapped in your GI tract and causes pressure, bloating, and belly expansion—which will all make you feel more bloated. You can cut down even further on swallowed air making you feel like a balloon by eating more slowly.
CERTAIN VEGETABLES - like beans, cauliflower, asparagus and broccoli contain sugars that are difficult for the body to digest, which causes bloating.
SALTY SNACKS - Make your body retain water, which is one of the biggest causes of that ‘bloated’ feeling.
FIBER-RICH FOODS - Although fiber is incredibly beneficial to your body (it cleans out your digestive system, it makes you feel fuller…) too much of it can make you feel incredibly bloated. You really only need 25-35 grams per day, so if you’re getting a lot more than that, it could be causing problems. Balance it out with some good fats and protein.
I usually add posts to my queue but I was SOOO excited about this recipe, I had to share it right away!
Chocolate Banana “Ice Cream”
1. 2 small frozen bananas
2. 2-3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder (I used Ghirardelli’s all natural which is only 15 calories a tablespoon)
3. 2 tablespoons of milk
Whiz until desired consistency in a food processor!
This is SOOO good. My roommate and I were licking our spoons and the bowl of the food processor. Best part about this dessert, is that it needs no added sugar! The bananas are plenty sweet and mixes with the cocoa to give a delicious chocolatey flavor. Perfect ending to the day!
In the morning, I cut up 2 small bananas, place them in ziplock bags, and throw them in the freezer. At night, I have a great dessert waiting for me! =)
PS: I take pictures with my iPhone, and am not a great food blogger/photograph so this chocolate ice cream mayyyy resemble something else less appetizing…BUT trust me, it’s SO GOOD. I’m in love. <3 <3 <3
