Sunday, September 14, 2008

A List of 10 Metabolism-Boosting Foods

I found this article while surfing on the web--as we are going into Winter, keeping my weight off and possibly losing more is high on my mind.
My program? Definitely exercise, my commitment is 5 days a week--weekends off. I try to stick to WW points program as much as possible because this keeps me aware of what I eat and also reminds me to get the GOOD things I need to eat everyday in my diet.
I have provided a link so you can catch the entire article.

http://augustafreepress.com/2008/07/31/top-10-metabolism-boosting-foods/

Here then is a list of 10 Metabolism-Boosting Foods:
1. Some Like It Hot. Chilis, cayenne pepper, salsa — just add some picante to your meals and watch your metabolism climb, perhaps as much as 20 percent!
2. Berry Interesting. With their high fiber content, berries have the distinction of giving you less calories than you eat! Add to that their natural sugar content that nicely satisfies a sweet tooth, berries need to be on everyone’s shopping lists!
3. Fishing for Compliments. Once again, wild salmon makes the list with its abundant omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids not only increases your metabolism, but they increase energy levels, too, and makes your skin positively glow!
4. A High Celery. Celery is one veggie that uses more energy to digest and absorb it then the calories you get from eating it.
5. Pucker Up. By adding a tablespoon of lemon juice to a glass of water every morning, you’ll slow digestion down a bit, aiding to your body’s ability to metabolize and thus speeding everything up! No sugar, though … this is lemon-aid in its purest form!
6. Ice, Ice Baby. Regular water consumption is good for one’s metabolism by helping your body with digestion and detoxification and can help raise metabolism rate by 30 percent. Bring down the temperature a bit on your trusty bottle of water (40 degrees Fahrenheit), and you’ll burn even more, according to a report in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
7. Float Your Oats. Oatmeal’s slow release of glucose and fiber to fill you up makes this a metabolism favorite of those in the know for years! Even if your memories of childhood porridge are less than fond, try a bowl of steel cut oats (and blueberries for a double whammy!)
8. Cabbage Patch. Actually anything in the brassica family will do the trick. All of these cabbage patch kids — from broccoli, to cabbage to cauliflower and anything in between, improve the function of a gal’s (or guy’s) metabolism.
9. Soup’s On. A study at Baylord College of Medicine, found that people who ate a bowl of soup before meals lost more weight than those who didn’t. The soup is about three-fourths water, giving you the benefit of #6 and possibly #8, too. Make sure you’re eating veggie-filled, broth-based soups, though — cream soups will just add to your girth!
10. An Apple a Day. Or make that an apple per meal! Research from the State University of Rio de Janeiro discovered three small apples a day will satiate (from the pectin and natural fruit sugar) and help people eat less at each meal with the result being a boost in metabolism. Can’t beat that!
There you go … now go add this stuff to your grocery list and get your metabolism PUMPED!

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Summer company

As you can see by the photo to the right my granddaughter brings out the child in me.
Each year starting the end of July or the beginning of August--I have one of 5 granddaughters spend the weekend with grandpa and me. The girls have a day out shopping, sightseeing, and going to one special event that they choose. The only rules are that it not be more than 1 hour away, that it not be overly extravagant and that it not be illegal ( this one just so they think grandma is a little crazy!) The next day, since we live next to the township park--it is out our backyard gate, and it has a lake with swimming--they get to go to the beach and swim in the lake and then we get cleaned up and take great grandpa out for dinner, help him do his shoppping and take him back home.
This year was a little different--we had the privilege of one of our granddaughters spending the summer weeks with us and then had commitments that took her home on the weekends. So most weekends we were dropping off Paisley and picking up another granddaughter. This was worked out so that Paisley got to spend one night with one of her cousins each week before we took her home. DH had to be involved in this plan--he was the one that picked up the girls and took them home---so actually each granddaughter spent 3 days with us--with the exception of Paisley.
I love doing it--and it is wonderful to see each girls personality as they develop. They range from 10 to 14. They have alot to teach me about new music, new styles, new celebs,
etc. And I hope they take something home with them that they will use as reference--even if it is just that we love them to pieces.

Another Trapeze Card


I am still working on my trapeze techniques. I know you have seen this pattern before--the difference with this is the trapeze is done in two different colors and with alternating points. I also made a small spirelli and put it in the center atop a paper flower. I used a sunburst punch for the spirelli and a smaller one for the corners to create contrast. A little stitching on the face paper to bring more of the green out on the paper. What do you think??