How to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

As the holidays approach, a feeling of dread creeps in. Not only is money getting tighter, but your pants are, too. It’s the same old story. Colder weather keeps you stuck indoors, while the yummy holiday cooking fattens you up. Not this year. Not me! I refuse to gain those holiday pounds and you can, too. No, you don’t have to sign any contracts at an expensive gym. You can get the body you want on a limited budget.

You may not realize it, but workout videos are more fun and exciting than they used to be.

Workout videos are also much less expensive than a gym membership or buying home workout equipment like a treadmill or elliptical trainer.

If the thought of buying workout videos reminds you of leg warmers and striped leotards, you’ve got some catching up to do. You’re not stuck with the boring workout videos of the 80s and 90s anymore. Believe it or not, the same sought-after trainers who get paid the big bucks to train celebrities can be on call to train you in your own home for pennies a day.

Some of the newest fitness trends are available on video.

Ballet:Have you always envied a ballet dancer’s lean and graceful body? Several ballet videos are now available as workout videos. One of the most popular choices right now was created by the famous New York City Ballet. Although you won’t learn to be the next prima ballerina training with exercise video at home, you will shape and lengthen your muscles for a graceful body.

Belly Dancing:Shimmy your way to a great waistline. Whether you want an instructional video to teach you proper belly dancing technique or you just want to exercise with belly dance moves, you’ll find a wide variety of videos available.

Yoga or Pilates: If you’re looking for a sleek, lean body, firm core, or more flexibility, then there are hundreds of yoga and Pilates videos to choose from. You’ll find yoga for adults as well as yoga for kids. Yes, kids get stressed, too. Yoga is a great way to teach them to relax.

Fitness videos for kids: Often times kids can be the best motivators. If you put in a Sesame Street dance video and your three year old asks you to dance with Elmo, you can hardly say “no”.

Once you’ve chosen a trend or video you are interested in, set a specific time each day to “meet” with your personal trainer. It’s best to rotate at least two different forms of exercise (or videos) to avoid repetitive use strains. You can do different videos each day, or alternate a walk, bike ride or other activity you enjoy on your non-video days. As long as you are moving, you’re keeping those spare pounds from firmly attaching to your body.

So, don’t sign that costly gym membership agreement just yet. Blow the dust off the exercise videos in your cabinet, get some good walking shoes, or check out the hottest trends at your favorite online store. It’s the frugal way to go.

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10 Home Remedies to Soothe a Sore Throat

A sore throat is unfortunately a part of a number of illnesses.  It is often present when you have a cold or the flu.  A severe sore throat can also be a sign of a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics.  But in most cases, a sore throat will go away on its own when the related illness subsides.

But whether your sore throat is one that will go away on its own or one that requires treatment doesn’t make much difference in how unpleasant it is.  Pain when talking, eating and drinking can put a damper on your normal activities and make you want to crawl into bed and stay there until it goes away.  Try these home remedies to help alleviate sore throat pain.

1. Gargle with warm salt water. Put about 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a half cup of warm water, and gargle with it several times a day.  This will provide relief and help keep infection at bay.  It will also wash away postnasal drip, which can make a sore throat worse.
2. Gargle with an antiseptic mouthwash such as Listerine. This will kill the germs in the throat.
3. Drink tea with lemon and honey. Any kind of tea will do to help soothe the throat, but there are some herbal teas that are especially helpful.  These include chamomile and sage.
4. Eat fresh garlic. Garlic is well known for its ability to fight off infection, so this could eliminate the need for antibiotics.
5. Eat ice cream, frozen yogurt, or other cold treats. Their cold temperature and smooth texture will temporarily ease the pain of a sore throat.
6. Use a humidifier. This will help soothe the swollen air passages and help alleviate hoarseness.
7. Avoid smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke. Smoke is an irritant that will make an already sore throat much worse.
8. Suck on a lemon. The juice will help soothe the throat, and the vitamin C in it can help your body fight the germs that are causing the problem.
9. Try gargling with mango bark extract. Add about ten drops to a glass of water and gargle with it a few times a day.
10. Simmer some scallions in water for 5 minutes to make a tea. Drink three or four times a day to provide relief.

Virtually everyone gets a sore throat every now and then, even if it’s simply from yelling too loudly.  Most of the time, we can treat it effectively at home.  It’s not even necessary to make a trip to the drugstore.  Many of the ingredients in these sore throat remedies can be found right in our kitchens.

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Natural Ways to a Healthier Life

The traditional medical establishment has long been entrusted with our health.  Yet many of the medications and treatments that are prescribed have undesirable, and sometimes downright dangerous, side effects.  Even the most promising advances in medical technology can be found to have hidden dangers years later.

People have been practicing a more natural approach to good health for centuries.  Many of the techniques and cures that are used today in alternative medicine were known long before medicine became the big business that it is now.  And with natural remedies and prevention methods gaining widespread recognition, more people are realizing the benefits of avoiding chemicals and taking a more low-tech approach.

Would you like to improve your health by natural means?  Here are some tips to get you started.

1. Eat organic. Organic food is not tainted with dangerous chemicals.  And organic livestock is raised on organic feed and is not given antibiotics and hormones that can cause health problems in the people who consume it.
2. Include lots of raw foods in your diet. You don’t necessarily have to become a raw vegan to enjoy the benefits of raw foods.  Just eat raw fruits and vegetables at every meal and for snacks, and you will greatly increase the amount of beneficial vitamins and minerals in your diet.
3. Get plenty of exercise. This will help you maintain a healthy weight and get your heart pumping, both of which have innumerable health benefits.
4. Try to get out in the sunshine every day. While it’s not good for your skin to bake in the sun, getting about 15 or 20 minutes of sun exposure each day will cause your body to produce the vitamin D it needs.
5. Work to eliminate stress as much as possible. Stress takes a serious toll on our bodies, contributing to some serious health problems.  If you find yourself worrying too much, try meditation or yoga to calm and focus your mind.
6. Make probiotics a part of your routine. These can be found in yogurt and some other foods, or you can take probiotic supplements.  These beneficial bacteria aid in digestion and help our immune systems resist infection from bad bacteria.  If you have been on antibiotics, taking probiotics is especially important.
7. For minor ailments, use herbal remedies instead of over-the-counter or prescription drugs as much as possible. There are effective herbal treatments for many ailments that produce few adverse reactions.

Maintaining good health isn’t about taking medication for every ailment.  It’s about striving to avoid the need for such drastic measures.  By taking care of our bodies and carefully monitoring what goes into them, we can reduce our risk for disease and live a happier, healthier life.

BRAND NEW NINTENDO WII FIT BALANCE BOARD + 40 EXERCISES

BRAND NEW NINTENDO WII FIT BALANCE BOARD + 40 EXERCISES

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