Fit FactorY: Aren't Plants just Wonderful?

I just read this incrdibly wonderful and mouthwatering article called: "The Salad in Your Front Yard: Edible Plants You Didn’t Even Know About" and I am again amzed at just how wide a variety of delectable eats we can see in our garden that we have never tried cooking/eating yet!When I read the article, I immediately thought told myself that I would post it here asap at my blog.

The article features a very unique, delicious looking weed called Purlsane which is great in salads:


Image Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurelfan/3855095258/

And a whole bunch of others. View the whole menu list here:

http://thehealthyeatingsite.com/the-salad-in-your-front-yard-edible-plants-you-didnt-even-know-about/

Of course, suffice to say that all of these goodies are healthy for you too! :)

~ Fit FactorY.Compltely hungry at the moment after seeing this article

Fit FactorY. 419 Scams - Beware!

This has nothing to do with health and fitness but I felt compelled to post about this because an acquaintance of mine recently got fooled by the 419 scam, and I just realized that there are still people who get tricked, even in this day and age when so many announcements have been made warning of this devious deception.

It starts with an email that makes you think that you are, perhaps, the luckiest person on the planet to have been chosen to receive such easy money. This is a misconception. These people send out emails to every address they can get a hand on. The ratio of people fooled vs those who ignore the email is very slim, much slimmer esp. now that Yahoo! Mail, GMail, etc. are wide-alert about these frauds, but the point is someone still gets fooled. Out of, say, a million of people who get an email, a small ratio of even 1% is still 10,000 people - that's a lot!

I'd like to post this so that hopefully I can do my part in decreasing that ratio.

To find out more about the scam, visit this site:

http://www.419eater.com/html/419faq.htm

Just remember: If it seems to good to be true, then it might not be true! So, research about the email you received. Type in a few words from the email on Google and see if results show up giving complaints related to that email.

Fit FactorY - Scrambled Eggs Anyone?

Eggs have gotten a very notorious reputation for being bad for your heart, but this article dispels that idea:

http://health.yahoo.com/experts/weightloss/2181/are-eggs-healthy-for-weight-loss/;_ylt=AmR4mw1UCAvxzrRpAg3cU7Cz5xcB

Which states that (and I quote):

"A new study in the online journal entitled Risk Analysis reports that eating one egg a day accounts for less than 1 percent of the risk of heart disease, the leading killer of American men and women."

Some say that the egg yolks are a big source of fat and cholesterol, so if you're being very cautious you can ditch the yolk, and you can have some of those yummy scrambled egg whites every now and then. This article, however, seems to suggest that even egg yolks aren't all that bad and that the egg yolks is a valuable protein FitFactorY.com-ponent (because it's also affordable, it's a good food choice for us Gen Y people - and everyone for that matter - esp. when we're on a budget). Again, moderation is key plus a regular visit to your dietician / nutritionist.

~ FitFactorY

Fit FactorY.Com-placent with Exercise? Get Sneaky!

I've always been utterly conflicted between my laziness/busy-ness AND my desire to look/become physically fit. If you think about it, a 30-minute jog shouldn't be so difficult! But then, I imagine myself sitting down on a couch and just staring at the TV as it delivers pretty high-speed images and motions, and I just can't help choosing the latter, especially after a long hard day at work typing away in front of a dull computer screen.

I haven't given up on the grandeur of feeling like a million bucks though (I surmise that being healthy will make you feel that way). So for the past few weeks, I've been trying to sneak in some exercise routines into my lifestyle - things that aren't too drastic, that my mind will figure out what I'm tricking it to accept, yet not too easy either that they serve no purpose to my overall well-being.

I am proud to say that I've thought of three extremely practical and unobtrusive routines you can sneak into your daily routine!

1. You don't need a lift.
My office is located at the eighth floor, and I have begun boycotting the very convenient elevator lift to slowly shift my alliance to the old-reliable stairs. This means that I have to wake up 5 to 10 minutes earlier than usual to accommodate the now longer "travel" to the office, but I think this is a small enough sacrifice to take. My goal is to go up the stairs to my office at least once a day. If I'm in a hurry in the morning (like there's a meeting I need to attend to), I do my stair-climbing over the lunch break instead.

I'm 1 week into this "program", I confess that I am still panting and wheezing like an asthmatic after just taking the first half of the flights, but I'm getting there.

2. Reach for the stars (or get down)
This sounds a bit counter-intuitive but I've rearranged my kitchen cupboards, shoe racks, bedroom/bathroom cabinets, so that the items I need every day to get ready for work are now at the least accessible place they should be. For instance, my cereal bowl and cereal box are now at the top-most shelf, and I've moved the shoes I use most frequently to the bottom-most row. This means I'd need to get some stretching and squatting done each day before I can leave the office, and another round when I need to return them to their new proper places.

3. Best of Both Worlds
I'm a TV addict. I fully admit to that. But it doesn't mean that I can't have my daily dose of tube and a good "run" at the same time! I've moved my exercise bike across the television set so I can now watch and bike at the same time. When the show is good and I'm hanging on the words of every actor, I just unconsciously pedal as well, and I've managed to trick myself into biking longer.

These three examples are just some of the little things we can do. There's a whole LOT of other tricks we can pull on our head. Try to analyze your current lifestyle and see what you can tweak. Then come back here to TheFitFactorY.Blogspot.Com and tell us what worked for you! :)

Fit FactorY: Losing Weight for the Summertime - the Ups and the Downs of Diets

It's summertime, which means you can't hide yourself under a stack of clothes anymore. Plus, there's always the trip to the beach that we all look forward to, which means swimsuits for us women, and trunks for the boys.

This is probably the season when people are all scouring for weight-loss tips and I attempted to read through a couple of the more popular weight loss diets out there.

1. The Atkins Diet focuses on controlling the levels of insulin in our bodies. "If we consume large amounts of refined carbohydrates our insulin levels will rise rapidly, and then fall rapidly. Rising insulin levels will trigger our bodies to store as much of the energy we eat as possible - it will also make it less likely that our bodies use stored fat as a source of energy". Those who follow the Atkins Diet will stock up on more proteins and avoid the bad carbs (like white bread). The disadvantages of this diet are vitamin deficiencies and constipation. Worst disadvantage: People on this diet regain all the weight they lose once they get back on the carbs.

2. The Zone Diet "aims for a nutritional balance of 40% carbohydrates, 30% fats, and 30% protein each time we eat". It has the following basic rules:
a. Eat a small portion of protein every meal.
b. Have 2 snacks a day, both of which have some protein.
c. Carbs portion of the meal/snack should be twice the protein portion. Stick to good carbs like lentils and beans.
d. Every meal/snack should have good fat (nuts, olive oil, fish oil)

Cons? It's an expensive diet to follow, and is very time-consuming and difficult for people to fit into their hectic lifestyle.

Bottom line is we can't have it all. For the risk of sounding resigned: here's one saying that I am itching to publish here at the FitFactorY.Com si com sa (sorry did I spell it right?). Most diets have their advantages and disadvantages, and it seems that there aren't really any terrific diet plans out there. Just so so plans you can try to follow in hopes that they will help you lose your needed weight.

Hopefully though, if you pair this with the right amount of exercise, you might really be successfully in your weight loss program.

Source:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/7379.php

The Fit FactorY: Herbal Cures you should Have at Home

Dr. Mao posted an article in Yahoo answers about the 8 common herbal treatments found at home. Read below and start planting in your garden, or stocking up on your spice rack now!

1. Rosemary
A good alternative to coffee. It Stimulates brain activities and increase brain alertness. Also aids in digestion and perks up your immune system.

2. Mint
Peppermint settles the stomach and alleviates gas. It also supports good vision and cleanses your liver.

3. Oregano
A great natural remedy to colds or flu!

4. Sage
Helps prevent the loss of mental function that comes with age.

5. Chives
A member of the garlic and onion family, chives have been used throughout history for natural healing because they contain a substantial amount of vitamin C as well as essential minerals such as potassium, calcium, iron and folic acid. They can strengthen the lower back and improve circulation.

6. Basil
Perks up your energy level (without the caffeine!)... and super delicious on a Margherita pizza might I add ;)

7. Cilantro
Boosts your immune system and aids in digestion.

8. Parsley
Cools the liver and clears the eyes.

Additionally, having some Turmeric on your house is good too, as it is one of the components in making an effective gout herbal remedy.

The good thing about this list is that most of them can be sneaked in to your dishes easily. And they add flavor too!

Fit FactorY: Eat Right 80% of the time, Let loose during the remaining 20%

I read this interesting Yahoo Health Article, that says: "If we do the right thing 80% of the time in
our lifestyle habits, then we can have some fun the other 20%".

And it makes a lot of sense.

In fact, a lot of us tend to associate eating healthy and keeping fit with pain, abstaining, and sheer torture, but it doesn't have to be that way. There are several simple ways to eat right that aren't actually that difficult to follow:

1. Eat Breakfast.
Interestingly enough, eating healthy means eating that first meal of the day. They say that people are 75% more likely to overeat the rest of the day if they skip breakfast. Plus, you need that morning boost to get you through the whole day! Like they say, eat like a king during breakfast, like a prince during lunch, and a pauper during dinner time.

2. Eat until you are full. Stop there.
Never eat past that "full" stage. If you have leftovers, eat it on another day. Not only does eating past the "full" stage lead to those unwanted flabs, you also run the risk of getting indigestion.

These two simple things can really make a world of difference and give you chance to have fun while eating right.