Nutrition and Weight Loss Ideas

For some reason as I was thinking about what to write for this blog today — and as I was eating breakfast — I read the back of one of the whole grain cereal boxes that I had out on the table and decided that today’s article would be about whole grain. So, I popped onto the Internet and did some searches about whole grains. Among the lists of possible things I could write about was a grain that I had always wanted to know more about — Quinoa. (That’s pronounced keen-wa — for those of you who were wondering.)

Now, before anyone writes me a nasty comment I will confess that the picture today isn’t a picture of quinoa — it’s just a photo of some whole grain kernels. I did do some searches for a photo of quinoa, but I couldn’t find any.

I usually don’t write about anything that I haven’t tried myself, so I have to be honest and admit, I haven’t tasted quinoa, but I do recall many conversations in the past with people who had tried it and loved it. So, it’s on my list of things to add into a meal soon.

Quinoa isn’t new, by any means. It has been grown for thousands of years in the Peruvian Andes and has been a staple in some South American diets for centuries. It’s only been over the past few years that North Americans have discovered how valuable this grain can be in our diets. It has a unique nutritional makeup and versatility.

Quinoa is the seeds of a leafy, spinach-like plant. The Incas call quinoa the “mother grain” because of its high protein content. In fact, it has the most protein of all grains and is also a great source of vitamins and minerals, particularly potassium, the B vitamins, magnesium, zinc, and copper.

The good news, especially for us cooks who don’t like to wait forever for things to get done, quinoa is as easy to make and use as rice, but it cooks in half the time!

To prepare quinoa, rinse the grains and combine two parts water with one part quinoa, bring it to a boil, and simmer for about 15 minutes. Serve it up as a side dish, as part of a one-pot meal, or as an addition to soups and stews. Any uncooked leftovers can be stored for several months in an airtight container.

I haven’t seen quinoa in the super markets around here, but I have seen it in the health food stores or specialty stores. It costs a little bit more than rice, but keep in mind that in addition to it’s many nutritional benefits, it increases about three or four times in volume after cooking, which give you a great bargain after all.

I’m going to give it a try the next time I’m out shopping. Why don’t you join me and let me know what you think of it.
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Got questions?

Contact me at: http://www.ronrink.com

My email and phone number are at that site. Feel free to contact me. I’m here to help you with your health, nutrition and fitness goals.

Have a healthy and nutritious day!

Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)

Ron
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If you’ve been reading here for any length of time, you know that I practice meditation every day. When I do so, I use, what I truly believe, is the most powerful personal growth and mind development tool on earth. It’s the The Holosync Solution. I knew that meditation was a vital element to nurturing my soul — to opening myself to the universe — and this tool has allowed me to achieve and receive the benefits of deep, long-term meditation — and to achieve it much more quickly. If you’re having trouble “getting meditation to work for you” - then the The Holosync Solution is what you’re looking for.

Regular, daily meditation can give you …

(1) Increased intelligence and creativity.
(2) Lower stress levels — and with that — increased ability to handle whatever the world tosses your way.
(3) New levels of self-awareness and inner peace.
(4) The healing of emotional issues at the deepest levels —

— it’s definitely worth taking the time for this powerful practice every day.

With a One-Year 100% Iron-Clad Guarantee, you can now do so with no risk whatsoever — just click any of the links that say … The Holosync Solution

— The Holosync Solution

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Getting on the scale is one of those actions that strikes fear into the hearts of so many people! It doesn’t have to be that way, you know. It’s possible to make stepping on the scale an action that you look forward to, because you know it’s going to make you smile.

Losing weight always seems to be such a struggle with all of us. Once again, it’s really the fear that we’ll have to give up something that we feel we can’t live without. But the truth is that most of the time these are things we shouldn’t live with. I know that’s poor English, but you get the point, don’t you? Losing weight doesn’t mean months and months of self-sacrifice.

There are only two things you have to do — (1) increase your body’s metabolic rate and (2) replace high-calorie, low nutrient foods with those that promote good health.

Here are a few ways to do that:

* Don’t skip breakfast. This is the meal that is most commonly skipped, and many of the people who do it think they are doing themselves a favor by eliminating those calories. Nothing could be further from the truth. Numerous studies have shown that eating a protein-rich, low-glycemic breakfast is essential for healthy weight loss.

* Eat healthy fats. One of the biggest weight-loss myths is that “fat makes you fat.” The truth is that healthy fats can help make you thin. Keep your focus on nuts, fish, fish oil, naturally raised meats, olive oil, and avocados.

* Manage your blood sugar levels. Maintaining stable, low blood sugar levels is one of the best things you can do to prevent your body from storing fat. How do you do that? It’s not that hard. Get in the habit of avoiding sugary sweets, processed foods, and starchy carbohydrates like bread and potatoes.

* Drink green tea or water. These are, by far, your two healthiest beverage options, and they both help to maintain a healthy metabolism.

* Alternate between interval exercise and resistance training. By exercising with resistance, you build muscle. Muscle is active tissue, so the greater your muscle mass, the higher your metabolic rate will be. Get some dumbbells or figure out other ways to lift some weight. Also, by exercising in intervals at high intensity, you not only burn fat and calories during your workout, but for many hours afterward. Alternating between a brisk walk and a fast walk or run is an example of interval exercise.

As always, before you start into any of these changes, especially if you’re not accustomed to doing them, consult with your medical professional.

Do these things require some life-style changes? Absolutely, but believe me, they ARE worth it. You’ll look better, feel better and live longer. And, you also get to smile when you step on the scale!
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Got questions?

Contact me at: http://www.ronrink.com

My email and phone number are at that site. Feel free to contact me. I’m here to help you with your health, nutrition and fitness goals.

Have a healthy and nutritious day!

Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)

Ron
===============================================================

============================================================
If you’ve been reading here for any length of time, you know that I practice meditation every day. When I do so, I use, what I truly believe, is the most powerful personal growth and mind development tool on earth. It’s the The Holosync Solution. I knew that meditation was a vital element to nurturing my soul — to opening myself to the universe — and this tool has allowed me to achieve and receive the benefits of deep, long-term meditation — and to achieve it much more quickly. If you’re having trouble “getting meditation to work for you” - then the The Holosync Solution is what you’re looking for.

Regular, daily meditation can give you …

(1) Increased intelligence and creativity.
(2) Lower stress levels — and with that — increased ability to handle whatever the world tosses your way.
(3) New levels of self-awareness and inner peace.
(4) The healing of emotional issues at the deepest levels —

— it’s definitely worth taking the time for this powerful practice every day.

With a One-Year 100% Iron-Clad Guarantee, you can now do so with no risk whatsoever — just click any of the links that say … The Holosync Solution

— The Holosync Solution

============================================================

How often do you start your day with all the good intentions in the world? You know what I mean — “Today I’m going to do all the right things for myself!” “Today, I’m going to eat only good healthy food!” “Today, I’m going to make decisions that are the best choices for my life!”

I know I sure do have days when I start out with the feeling that making right decisions will be as natural as walking down the street. We all know what’s best for us in our lives, right? We know what relationships are going to be right — we know what food we should eat. Yet, for some strange reason, we constantly make the wrong decisions. We end up hanging out with someone who is totally negative and wears us out. We would rather eat some fast food than a nutritious salad. We convince ourselves that we’re too tired to do some exercise, even though we know that doing the exercise will energize us. We skip taking the vitamins in the morning because we’re “in a hurry”, even though we know that we’ll feel better all day if we do take them.

Why do we do that?

Have you ever stopped to realize that making wrong choices may have something to do with not wanting to feel fit and strong? We may be able to convince ourselves that it’s because we’re too busy — or too tired — or too broke — but could it be that we’re unconsciously trying to sabotage ourselves without being really aware that we’re doing it?

If we dig down real deep, I think most of us will find that IS the case. It doesn’t make any sense, does it? We know what the right decision is, yet we make a conscious choice to do the opposite. We know when we make the wrong choice, that we’re hurting ourselves. If that isn’t self-sabotage, I don’t know what is.

What we need to understand is that part of us that resists doing what is best for us, is the part that needs the most help and healing — and our love.

I sure don’t have all the answers to something like this — I only know that we’re guilty of it. I do believe that once we realize that when we make the choices that work against us, we can get to the place where we can start to turn it around. We can say to ourselves, “We’re doing a lousy job of taking care of ourselves!” Once we reach that point of being completely honest with ourselves, and admitting that we’re deliberately making the wrong choices, then we can start the healing process. Put it out there where we can see it. Take the power it has over us and expose it for what it is. That’s the quickest way to dispel that power.

Journal about it. Mediate about it. Talk to a trusted friend or partner about it. Once that desire to make the wrong decisions is out in the open and in the light, we can see the path to being healthy much more clearly. Soon, the power of healthy decisions will take over and we’ll be on the road to wellness.

Here’s to making good decisions!
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Got questions?

Contact me at: http://www.ronrink.com

My email and phone number are at that site. Feel free to contact me. I’m here to help you with your health, nutrition and fitness goals.

Have a healthy and nutritious day!

Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)

Ron
===============================================================

============================================================
If you’ve been reading here for any length of time, you know that I practice meditation every day. When I do so, I use, what I truly believe, is the most powerful personal growth and mind development tool on earth. It’s the The Holosync Solution. I knew that meditation was a vital element to nurturing my soul — to opening myself to the universe — and this tool has allowed me to achieve and receive the benefits of deep, long-term meditation — and to achieve it much more quickly. If you’re having trouble “getting meditation to work for you” - then the The Holosync Solution is what you’re looking for.

Regular, daily meditation can give you …

(1) Increased intelligence and creativity.
(2) Lower stress levels — and with that — increased ability to handle whatever the world tosses your way.
(3) New levels of self-awareness and inner peace.
(4) The healing of emotional issues at the deepest levels —

— it’s definitely worth taking the time for this powerful practice every day.

With a One-Year 100% Iron-Clad Guarantee, you can now do so with no risk whatsoever — just click any of the links that say … The Holosync Solution

— The Holosync Solution

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