Foods That Reduce Cholesterol

High Energy Day

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The Benefits of Jumping Rope

Morning Sexy Yoga

Low-Calorie Dessert Recipe: Meringue -Topped Strawberries & Rhubarb

Poaching brings out the flavorful strawberry and rhubarb juices with minimal effort. An airy meringue on top of the poached fruit is a healthy (and gorgeous) stand-in for a heavier whipped-cream or ice cream topping.

Makes: 6 servings

Active Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

NUTRITION PROFILE

INGREDIENTS

FRUIT

·         1 pound fresh or frozen (not thawed) rhubarb, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

·         1/2 cup sugar

·         1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger, (optional)

·         2 cups (1 pint) fresh or frozen (not thawed) strawberries, hulled and halved or quartered, if larger

MERINGUE

·         3 large egg whites, at room temperature, or equivalent dried egg whites (see Ingredient Note)

·         1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

·         1/3 cup sugar

PREPARATION

1.     Preheat oven to 350°F.

2.     Stir rhubarb, sugar and ginger (if using) in a medium bowl. Divide the mixture evenly among six 8-ounce ramekins (see Variation). Place the ramekins on a baking sheet and cover tightly with foil. Bake until the rhubarb is softened, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and remove the foil.

3.     Carefully tuck strawberries between the chunks of rhubarb. (Do not stir or the rhubarb will break apart.)

4.     Beat egg whites and cream of tartar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar and continue mixing until the egg whites are glossy and hold peaks. Spoon beaten egg whites over each portion of fruit. Use a thin spatula to spread the meringue into decorative peaks.

5.     Return the ramekins to the oven and bake until the meringue is lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Let cool for at least 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature. Variation: This dish can be made in a deep-dish pie pan instead of individual ramekins; the recipe and timing are the same.

TIPS & NOTES

·         Make Ahead Tip: Equipment: Six 8-ounce ramekins

·         Ingredient Note: Dried egg whites are pasteurized—a wise choice when making meringue toppings that may not reach 160°F (the temperature at which eggs are considered "safe"). You'll find them in the baking or natural-foods section of most supermarkets. Reconstitute according to package directions.

NUTRITION

Per serving: 148 calories; 0 g fat ( 0 g sat ); 0 mg cholesterol; 35 g carbohydrates; 3 g protein; 2 g fiber; 31 mg sodium; 340 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (60% daily value).

Carbohydrate Servings: 2

Exchanges: 1 fruit, 1 other carbohydrate

And you do exercises in the morning?

Waist best excercise

7 Exercises to Get the Perfect Butt

From Nicki Minaj to Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez and Jessica Biel, the star backsides take many different shapes and sizes. 

Not surprisingly, this is the area my clients tend to focus on most. It’s one part you really can't fake. Sure, you can wear those ridiculous padded underwear, but the truth is you're probably not fooling anyone but yourself – especially in a bikini. 

A toned backside truly anchors your physique, and can make the difference between jeans fitting … and jeans REALLY fitting. 

The key to toning your butt can be broken down into three muscle groups. 

First, and most obviously, you need to train your gluteus muscles.  The "glutes" enable us to extend at the hip and are active when your thighs moves away from the front of your upper body.

Great glute exercises

1. Skater Lunge

2. Walking Lunge

Harley demonstrates a walking lunge

COURTESY HARLEY PASTERNAK

3. Single Leg Squat 

Harley demonstrates a single leg squat

COURTESY HARLEY PASTERNAK

The second area to focus on is your hamstrings.  The hams originate from your "butt bones" (ischial tuberosity), thus, tie in with the glute muscles. Working on the hamstrings and helps shape and tone the bottom of the butt.

Work your hams

4. Stiff leg dead-lifts 

Harley demonstrates a dead-lift

COURTESY HARLEY PASTERNAK

5. Hamstring ball curl

Harley demonstrates hamstring ball curl

COURTESY HARLEY PASTERNAK

The final muscle group to consider, is your lower back (spinal erectors).  These muscles tie in to the top of your butt region and help us extend our back, otherwise know as "arching your back." Strengthening the lower back helps develop that sexy curve everyone wants from your back to your bum.

Back exercises

6. Superman

Harley demonstrates superman

COURTESY HARLEY PASTERNAK

7. Bridge

Harley demonstrates a bridge

COURTESY HARLEY PASTERNAK

Adding in three sets of 20 reps each into your routine should do the trick. 

Morning Exercise

5-MINUTE WORKOUT FOR SEXY LEG IN YOUR BED

You may not realize it, but your legs are getting a workout all day long. They carry you around- walking, running, maneuvering around cracks in the sidewalk, and lifting you up steps. All of that adds up. So if you want to work your legs, I mean really tone and trim them, you need to do a little bit more. You need to challenge them beyond the pedestrian one-foot-in-front-of-the-other walk. How? Resistance and Change. Thankfully, you don't need heavy equipment and expensive apparatuses to target and tone those muscles in your legs. Exercise green yet equally effectively instead. Yes, you can shape your legs to sexy perfection with absolutely no equipment, no gear, no clothes (well, that's a personal choice)… with Quickie Workouts in Bed.

Keep reading to learn about the benefits of quickie workouts.

QUICKIE WORKOUTS IN BED BENEFITS:
-Perfect workout for the lazy exerciser

-Instead of hitting snooze in the am, just start moving. You will burn calories, tone your muscles, jumpstart your metabolism, and give you the energy to get your butt out of bed.

-Get your workout out of the way before you even start your day

-The instability and bounce of the bed forces stabilizing muscles to fire, enhancing the workout.

-If you forgot to fit in your workout during the day, you can slip it in at night before you fall asleep. Really push yourself and you will be so exhausted your body will easily ease into sleep.

YOUR SEXY LEGS QUICKIE WORKOUT IN BED:
- Seated Leg Lifts (25 lifts each leg). WORKS: Quads, Abs

- Side Single Leg Lift: Top Leg Lift (25 reps). WORKS: Thighs

- Side Single Leg Lift: Lower Leg Lift (25 reps). WORKS: Inner Thighs

Repeat Top and Lower on opposite side

- Laying Leg Lifts (25 on each leg)/ WORKS: Hip Flexor

- Foot Warmers (3 minutes). WORKS: Cardio, Total Leg Burn

- Flutter Kicks (10 complete Lift and Lower). WORKS: Butt, Quads

- Swimming (50 times). WORKS: Butt, Hamstrings

Really, you have no excuse not to workout. Even if you "don't have time…" you always have time for a quickie workout.

5 Steps To Looking 10 Years Younger

Did you know that once you hit 40 years of age, whether you're a man or a women, your body starts aging FASTER than normal? Studies have shown that without the proper nutrients and exercise, your body will age about 6 months EXTRA for every year that passes. Think about that! If you are 40, that means by the time you hit 44 you will LOOK and FEEL 46. And by the time you reach 60, you will LOOK and FEEL 70 YEARS OLD! We see this every day... just look around you.

Did you know that 90% of people over the age of 35 lose enough muscle every year to burn off an additional 4 pounds of body fat? That means you not only lose the only thing on your body that creates shape, tone, and strength—you also gain more fat every year, even if your calories stay the same.

Did you know that all of this is reversible at any age? That there are specific ways to move, eat, and think that tell your brain to STOP this rapid aging process... and even SLOW IT DOWN to the point where you're aging less than a year for every year? That means you can look younger at 40 than you do at 35... or if you're like Becky and me, younger at 50+ than we did at 40!

This is not fantasy talk. This does not require a boatload of anti-aging drugs, supplements, or gimmicks. And, this works for anyone, male or female, and works at any age. 35, 45, 55, 65, 75... you name it. The biology is exactly the same.

These 5 steps reveal the things you absolutely MUST AVOID if you want to slow the aging process, reclaim your health, and achieve your ideal body.

What you need is a splash of cold water, a touch of Old School, and the honest truth. Sound good? Let's dive in!

Step 1: Forget Low-Fat Diets

Forget Low Fat! Low fat everything has been the craze now for decades and look around. What has that wonderful bit of advice done for the bodies you see? We're fatter, sicker, and more addicted to sugar and carbs than any other time in history. And, we're passing these habits to our kids.

Fats are not to be feared – they're to be embraced. They do not make you fat; rather, they help your body regenerate your power hormones. Testosterone, the 'strength' hormone, for example, is the direct result of cholesterol and dietary fat intake. That's right: "Cholesterol" isn't a dirty word! Your body needs dietary fat and cholesterol in order to produce ANY AND ALL vital hormones.

People on low fat diets look drawn, gaunt, and weak. They are often sick, sometimes to the point of literally breaking down. And, they can never just enjoy eating out. Every meal and every gram must be accounted for. Do you really think this will make you younger? Of course not... it will worry you to death if it doesn't kill you first!

Step 2: Stop Running in Circles

Stop Spinning Your Wheels!Gym classes can be fun, if you like sitting in one place and torturing yourself. But have you noticed how little people change their bodies in these classes? Sure, it's good "cardio", but cardiovascular conditioning can be gained with far less time and effort.

Treadmills, and any form of endurance training (especially running) does very little to help the age reversal process. Many times, these long-duration exercise bouts accelerate the aging process by increasing free radicals. These free radicals are scavengers that prey on your body's essential nutrients and tissues.

There's a smart way to exercise... we'll cover that in a minute. And, what's wonderful is that it takes you about ¼ the time of traditional workouts. We'll cover more details on the next page.

Step 3: Stop Blaming Everything On How Old You Are

Stop Spinning Your Wheels!The guys to the left are not fat because they are old—they're fat because they eat, think, and move like a fat, old, dying person! Becky and I are both in our 50s—older than the guys in this photo—and I still sport a nice six-pack, and Becky transformed her body from the typical "middle age mom" to a slim, toned, and super-sexy woman who looks 10 years younger. (See the next page for photos!)

Listen: Your body doesn't own a clock. Studies have shown that men and women in their 90s were able to gain muscle tone in just a matter of weeks of simple weight training. I've personally seen men and women transform their physiques at literally all ages—25 to 95!

If you're around those naysayers who are constantly talking about growing old, all their aches and pains, and how life is just down hill after 40—LEAVE! Surround yourself with positive thinkers who absolutely crave a challenge. A challenge is what keeps you YOUNG, and the best challenge there is happens to be taking control of your health and body.


Step 4: Avoid Chronic Dehydration

Drink Your Water!Water isn't just "good for you" — water burns fat. Water suppresses hunger. Water renews your skin. Just drinking 12 ounces of pure water every day can take a few years off your face in a matter of weeks. You'll also drop fat, have more energy, and save your kidneys and liver from chronic overwork.

When your kidneys are taxed from too little water, your liver has to take over. Now, get this: Your liver is your number one fat-burning organ. Do you REALLY want it processing liquids and toxins rather than BURNING FAT? No way, right? Well, grab a glass of water, and watch the mirror. Within a few weeks, the change to your face and body will be noticeable.

Step 5: Work Out LESS

Work Out LESS If you don't work out at all, you're going to lose muscle tissue every year. That means you'll get fatter and flabbier each and every year with less shape and more sag. Is this what you desire? No way, right?

Well, the answer is old school resistance training. Here's the secret: hardly anyone is doing it right!

Becky and I have seen literally thousand of pro fitness athletes train over the years. The ones who looked the best — and that means looked the youngest, most toned, and had the least amount of unwanted fat — were the ones who left the gym while others were still warming up!

Acupuncture for weight loss

Excessive weight is one of the most common problems in adults and children. This may be caused by harmful foods, hormonal disturbances, lack of exercise or lifestyle changes. The problem affects not only the body and appearance - it contributes to the emergence of various diseases. Currently, there are many ways to get rid of excessive weight and lose fat quickly.

Acupuncture for weight loss is one of the most popular and safe methods today. It is a natural way to reduce weight without any side effects.

What is acupuncture

Technique of acupuncture was originated in China thousands of years ago. It is one of the oldest and most commonly used methods of treatment that are used worldwide today. During the procedure, thin needles are inserted into the active points of the body to different depths. There are about 2000 of such points on the human skin, and each of them is connected with certain organs of the body.

Dropping weight

During acupuncture slimming long thin sterilized needles inserted into specific points on the body. It stimulates the production of endorphins, which relax and soothe the nervous system. This method is very effective if overweight was recruited as a result of stress or anxiety.

The expert chooses the point depending on the patient's diagnosis. The session lasts 30-45 minutes. Treatment focuses on developing a weight loss program. We are talking about the metabolism, which may be responsible for weight gain. The procedure helps to reduce food cravings, increases metabolism and improves overall health. Acupuncture helps to reduce bad cholesterol in the blood and the total weight by mobilizing energy reserves. Acupuncture for weight loss reduces the feeling of anxiety, suppresses appetite and controls food intake.

Typically, the treatment is carried out once or twice a week. The whole course takes 8-12 weeks. It includes acupuncture, herbs and dietary supplements use, massage and healthy eating.

Ear acupuncture is especially effective in the fight against obesity. Most used terms associated with the small intestine, the endocrine system and an appetite suppressant.

Experienced acupuncturist for safe weight loss in a short period of time selects points:

- Thyroid (metabolism)

- Stomach (obesity)

- Spleen (sugar and hormonal balance)

- Endocrine system ( water retention)

Using the method of acupuncture for weight loss  complications are very rare. Before the procedure, be sure that the acupuncturist has established himself as a qualified specialist and has a certificate.

Low Carb Food Pyramid

Low Carbohydrate - How Do Low Carb Diets Work?

Low carb diets, like the Atkin's diet have been around for a long time. Do they work? Are they safe? Read dietitian, Juliette Kellow's verdict on low carbohydrate diets.

Well Known Low Carb Diets

As well as the Atkin's diet, low carbohydrate is the basis for a number of diet plans, the list below shows some of the more well-known versions. The different types do have minor variations but all are basically low carb diets.

    The Atkin's Diet - probably the most famous, by Dr Robert Atkins
    High Protein Diet
    Stillman Diet
    Scarsdale Diet
    Hollywood Diet
    Ketogenic Diet
    Zone Diet
    Dukan Diet
    Go Lower

What Are Low Carb Diets?

Low carb diets are based on the premise that a diet very low in carbohydrate leads to a reduction in the body's insulin production, resulting in fat and protein (muscle) stores being used as its main energy source.

The aim of low carbohydrate diets is to force the body to use fat as its main energy source, when this happens a person produces 'ketone bodies' to fuel parts of the body that can not use fat as an energy source - the brain, and red blood cells, in particular. When this happens a person is said to be in a state of ketosis - characterised by smelly breath (an acetone smell like nail varnish) and side effects such as nausea and fatigue. 
What's Involved?

Basically you cut out virtually all carbohydrate from your diet and increase your protein and fat intake. So you cut out things like pasta, bread, rice and alcohol, yet you eat unlimited amounts of meat, cheese and butter. That's why the Atkin's diet claims to be so luxurious.
Do Low Carbohydrate Diets Work?

In the short term, most people who go on low carb diets do lose weight and they lose it very quickly. However, the majority of weight loss comes from loss of water and muscle tissue, not fat which is what you need to lose to keep the weight off. Also, if you're trying to lose weight permanently, losing precious lean muscle tissue is like sabotaging your own body. Muscle tissue is metabolically active, and burns calories even when you are at rest. A decrease in the amount of muscle tissue you have will lead to a decrease in the number of calories you need each day to maintain your weight, making it much harder to keep your weight under control when you stop following the low carb diet.
So Why Do It?

People are attracted to low carb diets as weight loss is very rapid, and we like to see instant results on the scales! Lots of Hollywood stars go on low carb diets because they need to drop a dress size for a film - they don't do it for permanent weight loss or good health.