Kicking off the New Year also meant kicking off healthy kitchen choices for me. My husband and I spent last weekend throwing out any excess junk and processed foods and shopping for fresh, whole ingredients.
Today when I opened the refrigerator, I thought I was in someone else's kitchen. Here are the five biggest changes I've made to my diet.
Returns Sunday, January 6 at 9 p.m. EST and moves to regular timeslot on Monday, January 7 at 8 p.m. EST on NBC <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: Jillian Michaels! She's back to help whip contestants into shape. Plus, for the first time, kids (ages 13-16) will be on the show along with 15 adult contestants.
Returns Monday, January 7 at 8 p.m. EST on ABC <strong>Starring</strong>: Sean Lowe <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: Jilted "Bachelorette" contestant Sean returns to TV as "The Bachelor" and seeks to find love.
Monday, January 7 at 10 p.m. EST on NBC <strong>Starring</strong>: Meagan Good, Laz Alonso, Tate Donovan and Victor Garber <strong>What's It About</strong>: A wealthy socialite and party girl is found dead of an overdose, but something's fishy about her death. Enter FBI Agent Will Moreno (Alonso), who recruits his former partner Joanna Padget (Good), the deceased's former best friend. Joanna hides her true occupation and infiltrates the family she grew up around to find the truth about her friend's death.
Returns Tuesday, January 8 at 8 p.m. EST on NBC <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: Betty White will entertain a ton of guest stars while introducing the elderly pranksters. Kim Kardashian, the ladies of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," Ed Asner and NeNe Leakes are among the names who will appear on the prank show.
Returns Tuesday, January 8 at 8 p.m. EST on ABC Family. <strong>Where We Left Off</strong>: Toby is on the A Team, Garrett's dead, Aria's dad has some strange connection to Ali, Paige saved the day and Ezra's a dad ... and Alex Mack is his baby mama. <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: Mona is released from Radley and is back at Rosewood High. Clearly, she'll be working with Toby, who the liars are still in the dark about. It's only a matter of time before Spencer learns the truth ... and starts to lose it. Dr. Sullivan will return, hopefully to prevent any breakdowns. Plus, we'll see more about what the hell Byron was doing with Ali the night she died.
Returns Tuesday, January 8 at 10 p.m. EST on TBS. <strong>Where We Left Off: </strong>Jules and Grayson had a quickie beachfront wedding and rode off into the distance on horseback. <strong>What's Ahead: </strong>For starters, it's on TBS! Everybody's favorite wine-guzzlin' crew will be joined by guest stars Alexndra Wentworth, Shirley Jones, Gillian Vigman, Tippi Herden and more.
Returns Tuesday, January 8 at 10 p.m. EST on FX. <strong>Where We Left Off</strong>: In Season 3, Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) prevented carpetbagger/gangster Robert Quarles from establishing a criminal network in Harlan, but a pregnant Winona left the US Marshal and he found out his father shot a good man. <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins) will no doubt continue to be a thorn in Raylan's side.
Wednesday January, 9 at 8 p.m. EST on Fox <strong>Starring</strong>: JWoww, Bethany Hamilton, Alexandra Paul, Kim Richards, Kyle Richards, David Chokachi, Terrell Owens, Antonio Sabato Jr. <strong>What's It About:</strong> C-list celebrities learn to dive like the pros with the help of Olympian Troy Dumais.
Thursday, January 10 at 9:30 p.m. EST on NBC <strong>Starring</strong>: Josh Gad, Bill Pullman, Jenna Elfman <strong>What's It About</strong>: The Gilchrists are your typical American family ... they just so happen to be the first family of the United States. Gad stars as the hapless son of President Dale Gilchrist (Pullman) and stepson of Emily (Elfman).
Returns Sunday, January 13 at 9 p.m. EST on HBO. <strong>Where We Left Off</strong>: Jessa bizarrely got married, Shoshanna slept with Ray, Hannah and Adam broke up and Marnie still misses Charlie. <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: After months of criticism, Hannah makes a black friend (or more than a friend) -- and it's Donald Glover. Patrick Wilson will also play a love interest for Hannah later in the season and Shiri Appleby joins Season 2 as Adam's new girlfriend, much to Hannah's dismay. Elijah moves in with Hannah -- and starts to question his sexuality. Shoshanna is dealing with her post-sex relationship with Ray. Plus, Rita Wilson will stop by to play Marnie's mom and to help her shape up.
Returns Sunday, January 13 at 9 p.m. EST on Showtime. <strong>Where We Left Off</strong>: Karen had her and Lip's baby and fled, prompting Lip to move back home and go back to school. Estefania and Marco were on the verge of breaking up and in happier news, Fiona passed her GED. ("Teen Mom's" Amber: Take note.) <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: It's 137 days since we’ve last seen the Gallagher's. Jimmy has moved into the house with them and Fiona uses the family's money in desperation and the others aren't too pleased. Oh and (shocker) Frank's missing.
Returns Sunday, January 13 at 9:30 p.m. EST <strong>Where We Left Off</strong>: Following her very public breakdown, Amy (Laura Dern) returned to work with a positive outlook ... only to start down the path of revenge after being laughed at by her coworkers. <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: Will Amy return to the path of enlightenment?
Returns Sunday, January 13 at 10 p.m. EST on Showtime. <strong>Where We Left Off</strong>: Did they or didn't they? Marty (Don Cheadle) and Jeannie (Kristen Bell) ended the season with a romp in the sheets ... maybe. They've gotten rid of the Rainmaker and stand triumphant. <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: Galweather Stearn brings in a new CEO who's all about female power. Adam Brody returns to TV with a guest role.
Returns Sunday, January 13 at 10:30 p.m. EST on Showtime. <strong>Where We Left Off</strong>: After Bates left Karen, Hank sees an opportunity. But when his ex Carrie returns and offers him an anti-depressant-laced drink, Hank loses consciousness just after seeing a vision of Karen, to whom he says, "I love you." <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: Hank is penning a rock opera "about love conquering all" with Atticus Fetch (Tim Minchin), a coked up rock star. Maggie Grace has a nine-episode arc as infamous rock groupie Faith, who becomes involved with Hank, and in one episode, Grace's former "Lost" co-star Jorge Garcia will appear as an old contact from Faith's past. Season 6 will also see a guest appearance from Marilyn Manson.
Monday, January 14 at 8 p.m. EST on The CW <strong>Starring:</strong> AnnaSophia Robb, Freema Agyeman, Chloe Bridges, Austin Butler and more. <strong>What's It About:</strong> A prequel to "Sex and the City," the new CW series follows Carrie Bradshaw as a high schooler in the '80s. She's discovering her style, dating, dealing with the death of her mother and falling in love for the first time ... with Manhattan.
Returns Monday, January 14 at 10 p.m. EST on Syfy <strong>Where We Left Off</strong>: Victory! But the darkness continues to grow in Bo (Anna Silk). <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: Bo must make a deadly decision. Plus, tune in for guest star Linda Hamilton and recurring guest star Rachel Skarsten.
Returns Wednesday, January 16 at 8 p.m. EST on Fox <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: Feuds! Divas! Dawgs! Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban join the judging panel alongside veteran Randy Jackson for Season 12.
Returns Thursday, January 17 at 9 p.m. EST on FX. <strong>Where We Left Off</strong>: After Charlie and Kate slept together, they were in a weird place with their relationship. And when Charlie's daughter Sam kissed a girl at school, a photo wound up on Facebook and Charlie and Jennifer questioned their daughter's sexual orientation. <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: 70+ more episodes. And in Season 2, Charlie will blow up at his sister's baby shower and will question if his father Martin is developing Alzheimer's. Cee Lo Green will stop by as a version of himself, seeking Charlie's assistance under Hollywood pressure.
Returns Thursday, January 17 at 10 p.m. EST on FX. <strong>Where We Left Off</strong>: The ISIS crew -- including Archer -- were held captive on the Space Station Horizon <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: A "Bob's Burgers" crossover! H. Jon Benjamin provides the voice of both Archer and Bob.
Monday, January 21 at 9 p.m. EST on Fox <strong>Starring</strong>: Kevin Bacon, James Purefoy, Shawn Ashmore, Natalie Zea, Annie Parisse <strong>What's It About</strong>: Ryan Hardy's (Bacon) been out of the FBI game for a while, that is until his biggest catch, serial killer Joe Carroll (Purefoy) resurfaces ... along with a cult-like following ready to carry out his bidding.
Tuesday, January 22 at 8 p.m. EST on ABC <strong>Starring</strong>: Anthony Bourdain, Nigella Lawson, Ludo Lefebvre, Brian Malarkey <strong>What's It About</strong>: Think "The Voice" (there are teams and coaches), plus "Top Chef" (culinary competition) and you've got ABC's "The Taste."
Returns Tuesday, January 22 at 10 p.m. EST on USA <strong>Where We Left Off</strong>: Peter (Tim DeKay) and Neal (Matt Bomer) stepped into the boxing ring to infiltrate a white collar boxing club. Neal discovered his father was still alive (and played by Treat Williams!) <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: Peter and Neal search for the truth about Neal's dad and his crimes and Neal goes undercover with the Irish mob ... And hopefully, more boxing.
Returns Wednesday, January 28 at 9 p.m. EST on TNT. <strong>Where We Left Off</strong>: Slaps, sex and secrets filled the first season of the new "Dallas." The season ended with John Ross (Josh Henderson) teaming up with J.R. (Larry Hagman) to destroy Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe) and Elena (Jordana Brewster). <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: Familiar faces return and the Ewings say goodbye to J.R. after series star Larry Hagman passed away about half way into filming Season 2. Producers will incorporate his death into the story.
Wednesday, January 30 at 10 p.m. EST on FX. <strong>Starring</strong>: Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Noah Emmerich <strong>What's It About</strong>: Elizabeth (Russell) and Phillip (Rhys) Jennings are the perfect couple: They've got two kids and are living the life of every American in the '80s ... but they just so happen to be KGB spies posing as regular ol' US citizens.
Thursday, January 31at 10 p.m. EST on NBC <strong>Starring:</strong> Steven Pasquale, Alana de la Garza, Phylicia Rashād, John Carroll Lynch <strong>What's It About: </strong>A brilliant neurosurgeon (Pasquale) has a big secret: a very villainous dual personality. It's a modern-day Jekyll and Hyde story mixed with a medical drama.
Returns Monday, February 4 at 8:30 p.m. EST on CBS <strong>Where We Left Off</strong>: Audrey (Megyn Price) was upstaged at her own baby shower by Brenda (Sara Rue). Meanwhile, Russell (David Spade) started to display creative talents after taking a break from women. <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: Sitcom hijinks!
Returns Tuesday, February 5 at 9 p.m. EST on NBC and moves to its normal Tuesdays at 10 p.m. EST timeslot on February 12 on NBC <strong>Where We Left Off</strong>: Karen (Katharine McPhee) wowed the crowd as Marilyn Monroe in previews of "Bombshell" in Boston. <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: More Broadway drama! There's a new musical in town that could rival "Bombshell" for all the buzz. Plus guest stars Jennifer Hudson, Liza Minnelli, Sean Hayes, Jesse L. Martin and more.
Returns Tuesday, February 5 at 10 p.m. EST on ABC <strong>Where We Left Off</strong>: Peter (Nicholas Bishop) saved Megan (Dana Delany) from a serial killer, but was stabbed in the process. <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: New blood! Bishop, John Carroll Lynch and Sonja Sohn are out and Mark Valley is in.
Returns Thursday, February 7 at 8 p.m. EST on NBC <strong>Where We Left Off</strong>: Evil Abed, "lawsuits" and sandwich shops filled the "Community" Season 3 finale that aired what feels like 30 years ago. <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: Six seasons and a movie. Just kidding, although that'd be cool (cool cool cool). Malcolm McDowell, Tricia Helfer, Jason Alexander and more will drop by for some Human Beings antics. Plus, Chevy Chase will depart the show.
Returns Friday, February 8 at 8 p.m. EST on Fox <strong>Where We Left Off</strong>: Martin (Kiefer Sutherland) and Jake (David Mazouz) fled to California and met up with Lucy (Maria Bello). <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: Martin (Sutherland) and Jake (David Mazouz) soak up the Los Angeles sun ... and find themselves in the middle of a "global conspiracy."
Returns Wednesday, February 13 at 8 p.m. EST on CBS <strong>Starring</strong>: Jeff Probst, unnamed contestants <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: Fans vs. Favorites, Round 2
Returns Wednesday, February 13 at 10 p.m. EST on TNT. <strong>Where We Left Off</strong>: Cooper saved Tang, and then Tang got a big promotion becoming sergeant and watch commander. <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: "One Tree Hill" star Chad Michael Murray joins the cast as goofball Officer Dave Mendoza.
Thursday, February 14 at 8 p.m. EST on ABC <strong>Starring</strong>: Anthony Edwards, Carmen Ejogo, Scott Michael Foster, Addison Timlin, Jacinda Barrett and Michael Nyqvist <strong>What's It About</strong>: Think "National Treasure" and "Da Vinci's Code," but on TV and starring Dr. Greene from "ER." Edwards plays Hank Galliston, the publisher of Modern Skeptic Magazine. When his wife is abducted, Hank and his pals are joined by the FBI as they attempt to crack various conspiracies and get his wife back.
Returns Sunday, February 17 at 8:00 p.m. EST on CBS <strong>Starring</strong>: Phil Keoghan, unnamed contestants <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: Globetrotting adventure.
Tuesday, February 19 at 9 p.m. EST on The CW <strong>Starring:</strong> Matt Davis, Alona Tal, Jessica Lucas, Robert Knepper <strong>What's It About</strong>: Matt Davis stars as Jeff, a journalist who investigates his brother's disappearance and his involvement with a group of obsessive fans who have formed a pseudo-cult around a TV series ... about a cult.
Premieres Tuesday, February 26 at 10 p.m. EST. Special showing on Tuesday, March 5 at 10 p.m. EST before moving to its regular Fridays at 9 p.m. EST time period on March 8 on CBS <strong>Starring</strong>: Theo James, Chi McBride, Kevin Alejandro, Bonnie Somerville <strong>What's It About</strong>: The series charts the rise of Walter William Clark Jr. (James), a beat cop who quickly moves up the ranks of the NYPD before becoming commissioner.
Returns Wednesday, February 27 at 10 p.m. EST <strong>Where We Left Off</strong>: Henry (Corbin Bernsen) got back into the detective game with the help of Shawn (James Roday) and Gus (Dule Hill). But the case ended with a bang as Henry was shot by a former friend. <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: Parminder Nagra joins the cast as a love interest of Gus. Plus, the long-awaited musical episode airs! Look for episodes inspired by "Clue" and "The Blair Witch Project" and for guest stars Jeffrey Tambor and Anthony Michael Hall, as well.
Sunday, March 3 at 9 p.m. EST on NBC <strong>Starring</strong>: Trace Adkins, Stephen Baldwin, Gary Busey, Penn Jillette, Lil Jon, Bret Michaels, Dennis Rodman, Dee Snider, Marilu Henner, La Toya Jackson, Claudia Jordan, Omarosa, Lisa Rinna, Brande Roderick <strong>What's It About</strong>: It's "Celebrity Apprentice," but with contestants who have already been to the boardroom with Donald Trump.
Sunday, March 3, 9:00 p.m. EST and moves to its regular timeslot on Sunday, March 10, 10:00 p.m. EST on ABC <strong>Starring</strong>: Radha Mitchell, Goran Visnjic, Clifton Collins, Jr., Sterling Beaumon <strong>What's It About</strong>: Marta Walraven (Mitchell)'s husband Evan supports the family by exporting weed and is involved in the world of organized crime with Bratva, Russian gangsters. After Evan's murder, Marta seeks to protect her kids, but gets tangled in the seedy underworld.
Returns Friday, March 8 at 8 p.m. EST on NBC <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: Mentors Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie and John Varvatos return to the show with new host Louise Roe as 13 new contestants compete for the chance to launch their own clothing line.
Returns Monday, March 18 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC <strong>Starring</strong>: Tom Bergeron, Brooke Burke Charvet, Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, Len Goodman and unnamed celebrity contestants. <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: Celebrities dancing.
Returns Monday, March 25 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. <strong>Starring</strong>: Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Usher and Shakira <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: Presumably, a lot less ridiculously outfits without Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green.
Returns Sunday, March 31 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO <strong>Where We Left Off</strong>: War came. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maureen-ryan/game-of-thrones-finale-recap_b_1566867.html">Read Maureen Ryan's recap for more</a>. <strong>What's Ahead</strong>: Tons of new cast members played by the likes of Diana Rigg, Iwan Rheon, Mackenzie Crook, Clive Russell and many more. Season 3 will be about half of George R.R. Martin's "A Storm of Swords," one of the series' most beloved books.
Wednesday, April 3 at 9:30 p.m. ET on ABC <strong>Starring</strong>: Sarah Chalke, Elizabeth Perkins, Brad Garrett <strong>What's It About</strong>: Polly (Chalke) is a recently divorced single mom. Since the divorce, Polly's been having some struggles and decides to move back in with her eccentric parents, Elaine (Perkins) and Max (Garrett). Hijinks ensue.
Wednesday, May 1 at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC <strong>Starring</strong>: Kyle Bornheimer, J.K. Simmons, Leah Remini <strong>What's It About</strong>: After Tony (Simmons) suffers a heart attack, he's forced to hand over the family handyman business to his bumbling son Jack (Bornheimer).
TBA on Fox <strong>Starring</strong>: Becki Newton, Scott Foley, T.J. Miller <strong>What's It About</strong>: Three estranged siblings reunite after the death of their father and unexpectedly find themselves heirs to a $20 million fortune ... if they adhere to their dad's wishes.
TBA on NBC <strong>Starring:</strong> Anne Heche, Michael Landes and Alexandra Breckenridge. <strong>What's It About: </strong>Anne Heche stars as Beth, a woman whose life -- and marriage -- is falling apart. However, after a new-death experience, Beth claims God starts speaking to her and sets her on a new life path.
One of my favorite new traditions is going for a hike with my husband and our visitors on Christmas day. I have always loved Christmas, but somewhere between adolescence and early adulthood it started to seem a little stifling and over-full with too much food. Once we started our hike tradition, we never looked back. It’s always so quiet, and it feels so right to be out in nature on this special day of the year. Try it if you can!
From my house to yours, I wish you all a peaceful, thankful and healthy holiday. If the weather cooperates, I will be spending the day opening gifts with my sweetheart, cross country skiing, and cooking. My son is with his girlfriend's family and I will miss him, but this is what happens when they grow up. I'm thankful that he's happy and his girlfriend's clan will take care of him and love him just like I do.
It's not unusual for our eating habits to get a little sloppy during the holidays. I know that when I'm traveling, or just very busy, I will occasionally head to a fast food restaurant or coffee shop to grab a bite to eat. But just because you go to a restaurant that sells high fat food doesn't mean that you have to eat it. There are healthier ways to eat out.
I know it is hard to stay committed to any behavior change like exercising daily. I also know how much better you'll feel if you exercise, stay fit, and eat right. Not only will you feel more alert and have more energy, but you'll be healthier too -- and that's the ultimate goal!
Try to think of exercise as movement rather than a strict regimen. Make a list of some physical activities that you enjoy or would like to try, such as trail hiking, mountain biking, swimming, swing dancing, golf, and skiing. Guess what? Doing any of these things regularly will get you in shape.
In the meantime, do little things regularly to ensure that you reach your fitness goals. Take the stairs whenever you can, and when you're shopping, stroll the entire mall or shopping center at least once. Think about it. A 20-minute brisk walk around the entire mall burns up 150 calories. Do it twice! That is 300 calories, plus it is fun, and you get to window-shop and people-watch all at the same time. Be creative, find an exercise that you like, and do it.
Simply knowing how much better you will feel if you eat right and stay fit should be enough motivation. But if you need more motivation, consider taping pictures of your kids or grandkids to the bathroom mirror. Seeing these precious children and knowing you want to watch them grow up is great motivation to eat healthy and be active. Believe me, when you devote yourself to leading this lifestyle, you'll be healthier, happier, and more energetic. When you have those moments when you overeat, or days when you miss a workout, don't let it throw you off track. Return to your routine the very next day and keep up the good work.
Of course, there are days when I overeat and don't exercise. I'm not perfect! Come on ladies, I'm human, too. I don't go around eating carrot sticks and running hours every day. If I have a slip-up and eat a sugar cookie (or two!) I don't harbor guilt about it; I forgive myself and I get back on track the next day. Just don't let it go too many days without getting back on track. Go out there and work out, because it is the workout that will keep you going.
Adapted from Side Effect: Skinny, exclusively available for purchase at www.thebooknook.com.
For more by Denise Austin, click here.
For more on fitness and exercise, click here.
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A delicious vegan meal for the holidays doesn’t have to cost a fortune ~ photos courtesy of Ellen Jaffe Jones
If you’re watching your wallet this holiday season, you probably know that you’ll save a bundle by eating at home as much as possible. Sure, you want to be in the festive spirit inviting friends and relatives over for a meal or two, but how do you do that and keep your already soaring holiday budget expenses from getting even more out of control?
The principles of eating well on a budget are the same for the masses as they are for you at home. Buy in bulk, buy foods that “stretch,” and buy produce at greatly reduced rates from local farms or stores when they are on sale.
What does that look like? If you’re entertaining large groups, buying in bulk makes even more sense, especially when it comes to beans and grains. Whatever you don’t cook up, you can store for future use in mason-type jars with rubber gaskets to keep the food fresh for months.
You can find a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm and often if you volunteer there, you can get produce at reduced rates or even free, depending on how much you volunteer. To find a CSA or any local farm near you, go to www.localharvest.org. Even at your local grocery store, you can find deals on produce that is close to expiration date if you plan to use the food soon. Stores will greatly discount produce just to sell it the closer it is to expiration.
Beans and grains will be much cheaper than produce. So prepare hefty servings of lower-cost grains such as brown rice, golden millet, pasta and bean salads to give your guests plenty of protein and stick-to-your-ribs choices. Stir-frys with colorful vegetables will catch their eye. Slice red, yellow and orange peppers thin to make them go a long way. Serving vegetables on top of grains will allow you to stretch with going heavy on the grains.
Sweet potatoes and orange and yellow winter squashes are the base of classic festive dishes. It doesn’t take much money or effort to cook the squash, remove the cooked inside, set aside the seeds for toasting with a little paprika, and then restuff the shell with toasted sunflower seeds, chopped nuts, chopped celery, tomatoes, spinach (or your favorite green vegetables), and vegan cheese melted on top if you like.
Fun, cheap desserts like chocolate mousse or carrot cake are always fun to serve to the non-veg crowd as they promise to wow the crowd, and people always demand to know the recipe. Handing your guests a recipe as they leave can have great impact as they are thinking about the fact that they just ate something so delicious that was vegan.
You may feel like shying away from salads, since ingredients for them can add up. One way around this is to serve up portions in advance, rather than make a larger total quantity in a large salad serving bowl. Make sure you make your salad dressing at home to ensure quality ingredients and the lowest cost possible.
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Learn more about eating vegan on a budget from Ellen Jaffe Jones at:
Facebook: http://facebook.com/EatVeganOn4DollarsADay
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/VegCoach
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/EllenJaffeJones?feature=mhee
Whenever we spend money, we vote for what we believe in. We send a message to the producer of that item/product that they are doing a good job, providing us with something we want – whether it’s for us, or for someone else. Consider that this year as you purchase the gifts you give to loved ones over the holidays. As the years pass more and more vegans start businesses to provide alternatives to products that include animal products, or are tested on animals. These days, it’s a pleasure to realize that you can get cruelty-free versions of almost anything! So why not do it? I can only think of reasons TO do it:
1) Like I already said, you’re voting with your dollars, sending a message that compassion, non-violence and healthful choices are important to you.
2) You may be creating awareness in others, depending on who the gift is for, by showing them that wonderful, cruelty-free products are available.
3) You are supporting a business that is trying to make a positive change in this world, empowering them to do even more of their good work.
4) You are sending a message of love to the person you are buying for as well, telling them that you care enough to choose a gift for them that is made with love, and given with love.
Vegan Mainstream’s Holiday Gift Guide
Want to get started? The Vegan Mainstream Holiday Gift Guide is a great place to do that! And if you don’t find what you’re looking for there, search online for vegan companies, by name, or by product – you will not be disappointed!
Happy, Healthy, Compassionate Holiday Wishes To You and Yours…
With all of those holiday parties around the corner, lady vegans all over will have ample opportunity to play dress up. One of my favorite accessories that immediately dresses up any outfit is one that goes on my face—lipstick. And with the holiday season in mind, I am reviewing my favorite vegan red lipsticks for you—because nothing says “kiss me at midnight” like a bold lip. You’re welcome.
1. Zuzu Luxe in Starlet. I found this little ruby while shopping at my local Whole Foods, and it’s my favorite go-to basic bold red. You can also find it online for around $18. The ingredient list runs your standard vegan lipstick – jojoba oil and candellila wax- but also has a few more unique additions, like sesame oil. Also, it touts being gluten-free! I don’t have a gluten intolerance, but I never thought to check my cosmetics for gluten.
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2. Urban Decay in Gash. I am a big Urban Decay fan, and my favorite of their shades is Gash. The hue is as ominous as the name, with a shade that runs darker and deeper than your basic red. I love it so much I have it in both the lipstick, and the lip liner. Unfortunately, the lipstick was limited edition and so you can’t find it on their website anymore (womp womp) but it’s still floating around on other beauty sites. Prices range between $15 and $25 , depending on where you look.
When I am feeling too lazy to put more than one product on my lip, I often wear the liner as a full on lipstick, and that works great. Snag it for $19.
*Editor’s note: Be aware when considering Urban Decay that, though still vegan, they were recently bought by cosmetics giant L’Oréal.)
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3. LUSH liquid lipstick in Decisive. This bold red has orangey undertones. At 22.95, for only 2 .oz, this product is a little pricy. However, it’s handmade, and has interesting ingredients, like rose wax. It also comes with an adorable little application sponge. Lip tip: This was a bit messy, and I found it had better staying power (read: stayed on my lips and off my face) if I put on some lip balm first.
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Honorable Mention: E.L.F in Fearless. Every vegan girl on a budget should worship Eyes Lips and Face, which can be found online, and in stores like Target. Why are they so covetable? There products are dirty cheap. This lipstick is only $1. Yes, you read that right. The staying power is not as great as the above three mentioned—I reapplied more than I usually have to–but you really cannot beat the price. Snag a few for yourself, and buy extras as holiday gifts for all your buds.
So what are your favorite cruelty-free cosmetic brands? Do you rock red lips?
Even the most fanatic gym-goer has days where it’s harder to pull on those sneakers and get enthusiastic about exercise. Whether the reluctance to workout is due to fatigue, stress, or just not enough time, there are things you can do to push yourself to stick with it for the day and make it to [...]
The post 30 Exercise Motivation Tips appeared first on BuiltLean.com.
Even the most fanatic gym-goer has days where it’s harder to pull on those sneakers and get enthusiastic about exercise. Whether the reluctance to workout is due to fatigue, stress, or just not enough time, there are things you can do to push yourself to stick with it for the day and make it to the gym.
We’ve put together a list of 30 ways to motivate yourself to break a slump and build up some excitement about your workout. These methods range from using inspirational quotes, to creating weekly playlists, to picking out your gym clothes the night before. Hopefully, no matter what type of inspiration you find works best when you need to get going, you’ll find some helpful new tips among this list of 30 exercise motivation techniques!
1. Bring Your Gym Bag to Work – If you carry your bag along with you, it’s a lot easier to head to the gym on your way to work, or home from work, as opposed to changing at home
2. Workout with a Partner – Having someone else to workout with can help motivate you to exercise and work harder while you exercise
3. Sign up for an Fitness Newsletter – Getting daily, or weekly fitness and nutrition tips can help motivate you to exercise because you will have a constant reminder => BuiltLean Weekly Newsletter
4. Create a SMART Goal – Consider creating one big goal that is smart, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound and that motivates you to exercise. The vision of this goal is very exciting to you.
5. Create a Reason Why Your Goal is Important to You – the deeper and more emotional the reason for why your goal is important to you, the better. Maybe it’s not looking older than your years, getting back into your favorite sport, being able to keep up with your kids, not sticking yourself with needles everyday if you become diabetic, etc.
6. Create Weekly Goals – while a long term goal is helpful, weekly goals like losing 1lb per week tracking with Monday Morning weigh-ins can make reaching your long term goal more manageable.
7. Follow a Workout Plan – If you have no idea what to do when you exercise and you have no idea what affect that exercise is having, you will be a lot less motivated to workout. Having a solid workout plan to follow can be very helpful. We’re a bit biased, but the BuiltLean Program is worthy of consideration.
8. Go to Bed Early & Workout Early – A good night’s rest will allow you to re-energize your body and allow you the physical and mental capacity to power through a morning workout
9. Plan To Attend A Significant Event – something like a class reunion; this gives you a set goal date to show off your improvements over the last several months
10. Surround Yourself with Active Friends – hanging out with like-minded friends will create a physical lifestyle and these friends will be less likely to peer pressure you to skip a workout
11. Attend a Weekly Fitness Class – keeping your workouts social, this way you have people you look forward to seeing and can build a friendship with through fitness class
12. Lay your Gym Clothes Out – the night before, so you can just wake up and put them on first thing in the morning
13. Make a Workout Playlist – put together songs that energize you when you listen to them. Change up the playlist every few weeks so the playlist stays fresh and motivating
14. Don’t Think, Put Your Shoes On, & Start – We all have tough days, but if you put on your shoes and start moving, you can usually get through the mentally/physically tough part of the workout and find your groove
15. Set Mini-Goals – if you’re running and not in the mood to keep going, set a mini-goal like running to the end of the block. Once you get there, re-assess. Sometimes you’ll completely forget you didn’t want to workout in the first place.
16. Tweak your Workout – if you had planned to do a longer run but can’t get motivated about it, do intervals instead, and vice versa. Sometimes all you need is a little change to get excited about your exercise routine again
17. Identify Your Weakness – If you are a yoyo exerciser who jump on and off the exercise wagon, identify the reasons why you stop working out, and directly address them. If you get bored easily, try different types of exercise classes, or activities to keep things fresh.
18. Create a Warm-Up Routine – making a warm-up (pre-workout) routine or ritual can help get your brain into the mindset of working out. It could be a combination of foam rolling, dynamic stretches, jump rope or jumping jacks, and some bodyweight exercises. Athletes often use routines or rituals to get into the zone before a game. Use the same tactic for your own workouts
19. Keep your Goal in Mind – know what you’re trying to achieve, whether that be a certain look (10% body fat), a certain attribute (are you good at keeping your word or not) or something you don’t want to share with others (to make your ex jealous) or all of the above. Use any and all reasons to help keep you moving towards your goal.
20. Know your Motivation Style – you’re either for something (I want to be 20 pounds lighter) or you’re against something (I don’t want to feel like I’m 100 years old). Use the more motivating words for you when you’re thinking about not working out.
21. You often Regret What You Didn’t Do – this means, you’re more likely to regret NOT going to the gym than if you go.
22. Only 20 Minutes – often times it’s easy to justify not going to the gym. Just tell yourself, “I’ll go for only 20 minutes.” Sometimes 20 minutes is all you have and that’s fine, but more often, going for 20 minutes leads to a good 55 minute workout
23. Create a Challenge with a Friend or Yourself – if it’s with yourself, make the challenge less about the end result and more about the habits you want to create. If it’s with a friend, definitely make it something measurable
24. Know your Body – sometimes you feel a bit “beat-up” from work, life, stress, lack of sleep, etc and you might have to go a bit easier in the gym, but that’s no reason why you can’t go and at least do what you’re capable of doing without over-taxing your body even more
25. Find Workout Clothes you Feel Good In – and are looking forward to wearing. Make sure those are clean and ready to go
26. Give Yourself a Small Incentive – whether that be a new outfit or a weekend trip for achieving a goal. Make it still in-line with your overall fitness goal (aka, don’t make your incentive a night out of binging on disgusting food for getting to the gym 4 days of the week)
27. Remember that Everyone Messes up – & will miss workouts: don’t fall into all-or-nothing thinking and recognize that if you do fall off track, make up for it with more discipline elsewhere, such as with your diet
28. Remember Discipline is like a Muscle – the more you can create discipline in one area of your life, the more likely you are to keep the discipline/willpower elsewhere
29. Stay Accountable – this can be a weekly weigh-in, facebook updates, weekly pictures, etc.
30. Make Motivation a Daily Discipline – have a bookmarked list of videos, quotes, articles that you can read or watch when you need that extra push
We hope these tips help you power through those days when it’s tough to make it to the gym. We’d love to hear the ways you motivate yourself to exercise, or which tips work the best for you.
The post 30 Exercise Motivation Tips appeared first on BuiltLean.com.
Source
By Kate Kelland
LONDON, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Forget fad diets pushing cabbage soup, weight-loss shakes or maple syrup. Swapping fatty foods for low-fat alternatives will keep you slim - and now there's World Health Organisation-backed research to prove it.
A review of 33 trials involving 73,589 men, women and children in America, Europe and New Zealand found that choosing low fat foods helped people lose around 3.5 pounds, slim their waist-lines and cut bad cholesterol - all without dieting.
Researchers who led the study said its results prove for the first time that people can lose weight without trying to.
"The weight reduction..when people ate less fat was remarkably consistent - we saw it in almost every trial. Those who cut down more on fat lost more weight," said Lee Hooper from the University of East Anglia medical school, who led the work.
"The effect isn't dramatic, like going on a diet," she said, adding that the research specifically looked at people who were cutting down on fat, but didn't aim to lose weight - so were continuing to consume a normal amount of food.
"What surprised us was that they did lose weight, their BMI (body mass index) decreased and their waists became slimmer," Hooper said. The lower fat eaters also kept their weight down over at least seven years.
The review - commissioned by the WHO's Nutrition Guidance Expert Advisory Group (NUGAG) after a request to update their guidelines on fat intake - will now form a crucial part of global recommendations, the researchers said.
Being overweight or obese increases the risk of many illnesses such as cancer, heart disease and stroke. Together, strokes, heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases are the biggest killers worldwide and claim more than 17 million lives a year, according to the WHO.
More than half of Europeans are obese or overweight, and in America more than 35 percent of adults and almost 17 percent of children qualify as obese.
People are defined as overweight if their body mass index or BMI - a ratio of weight to height - is more than 25 kg per metre squared (kg/m2) and obese if it is more than 30 kg/m2.
Among the 73,500 people taking part in the studies analysed by Hooper's team, there were varying ages and states of health. The researchers compared those eating less fat than usual and those eating their usual amount of fat, and measured the effect on weight and waistline after at least six months.
The results, published in the British Medical Journal, showed that eating less fat reduces body weight by 1.6 kg, cuts BMI by 0.56 kg/m² and reduces waist circumference by 0.5 cm.
Hooper's team found that reductions in total fat intake were also linked with small but statistically significant reductions in cholesterol and blood pressure, suggesting a lower fat diet could have a beneficial effect on this heart risk factors.
Carolyn Summerbell of Durham University, who co-led the research, said the trick to slimming down and staying that way was to find a way to eat what you can stick to for life.
"Cutting down on fat will help," she said, adding that this meant opting for low-fat yoghurts, skimmed milk and reducing intake of butter, cheese and fatty snacks like crisps and cakes. (Editing by xxxxxxxx)
Also on HuffPost:
As December comes around, many of us are focused on two things: what’s upcoming for the next year & what to give as holiday gifts. We’ve pulled together a few popular articles published in November that can hopefully help out with both! There are some cool options for fitness gifts in a couple of pieces, [...]
The post 10 Perfect Presents For A Fitness Buff appeared first on BuiltLean.com.
As December comes around, many of us are focused on two things: what’s upcoming for the next year & what to give as holiday gifts. We’ve pulled together a few popular articles published in November that can hopefully help out with both!
There are some cool options for fitness gifts in a couple of pieces, as well as an article about the probable fitness trends for 2013. There are also some interesting updates on the ties between exercise and medicine, and the myriad of benefits exercise has for our bodies in general.
The last day of every month, we include links to most relevant news, research, articles, and videos that we find during the month that are informative, useful, entertaining, or a combination of all three. If you ever come across an article or video that is worthy of being added to our monthly review, let us know!
The post 10 Perfect Presents For A Fitness Buff appeared first on BuiltLean.com.
If you want to see Rock & Roll at its finest then you go see the legendary Paul McCartney, if you want to see animal activism at its finest then you watch Vancouver animal-rights group, Liberation BC at work.
I guess it only made sense that these two would come together at some point, especially since Paul McCartney has been a vocal animal activist and vegetarian for decades. He’s even credited with the famous saying, ‘If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian.’
As soon as it was announced that Sir Paul would be coming to Vancouver, Liberation BC starting making plans to ensure the night wasn’t only about music.
The 17 volunteers met before the concert to prepare to meet and greet as many of the 52,000 fans as possible and ensure that they couldn’t be ignored.
I’ve personally seen and participated in countless actions and leafleting but something about tonight seemed special. The energy was high and the mood was light with thousands of fans and media stations crowded around BC Place with a giant screen blasting images of Paul singing some of his classic songs.
Liberation BC came prepared with signs, leaflets, a cow costume, and most importantly smiles. The volunteers are some of the best in the city and know exactly how to convey their message to bystanders, media, or even skeptics without coming across as condescending, self righteous, or as an ‘extremists’. I’m telling you, every activist should watch them work.
It’s truly a fine art to engage someone on the cruelties of factory farming, gestation crates, veal, or foie gras while they’re inhaling a hot dog but somehow I saw them do it all night.
Rebecca Gindin-Clarke, the Research and Information Director of Liberation BC summed it up nicely:
Our signs, which featured different quotes from Paul McCartney about his vegetarian lifestyle, got a lot of attention. The biggest hit was definitely our two cows, though. People were hugging them and taking tons of photos.
Although many drunken fans may have just wanted a photo with a cow, it’s part of a long term strategy for the animal rights movement: the atrocities and consequences of a meat diet can’t be ignored. What makes Liberation’s strategy so appealing and effective is the element of fun. It immediately disarmed anyone walking by and dispels a common misconception that vegans are miserable and take themselves too seriously (which we can sometimes be guilty of if we haven’t had our soy latte). Simply put, I saw firsthand just how much your message resonates with people if you can ‘Make em laugh’.
Although it was just one night for the animals in what has been and will be a long fight for all species living together harmoniously, it was inspiring to see that we have some elite activists willing to work all night in a sweaty cow costume for the cause.
Find out more about Liberation BC’s work and upcoming events at www.liberationbc.org
