First Giveaway - Calorie King Pocket Book

CONGRATULATIONS!!! To Cindy for winning this fabulous book. This was fun and I hope you enjoy the Calorie King Pocket Book.

Calorie King Giveaway. You can win a free copy of the Calorie King Book!!
To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment - or - subscribe by email to my blog. Do both and you have two entries. (If you subscribe you will be entered into all my future giveaways.) Please remember to also add your email to each comment so I can contact you upon drawing if you won. (example: taylorhappyheart(at)gmail(dot) com; to prevent spammers.)
Go to http://www.calorieking.com/ and check out their site. They offer a free download trial program for your computer. Give that a try as well. Then leave me a comment by clicking on the comment link below. This contest will run for one week, till next Monday, August 4th at 5:00PM. The best comment will be chosen for the giveaway. So everyone please let me know what you think. This book is full of information. Perfect for anyone watching their calories. It's the perfect size to fit in your pocket/purse and take everywhere so you stay on track when you aren't at home.

I will contact you back via your email address and let you know if you have won on Tues. the 5th. I will also post "first name only" of the winner. Good luck. And thanks for visiting.

Workout Routines - What's Right For You?

Workout Routines: What’s Right For You?
Only you can decide what is right for you depending on your fitness level, time, and style choice. Over the years I have tried several different programs, keeping myself thin, but never exceeding my wildest expectations. I think I finally found my program. As soon as I get my go ahead from my chiropractor, I will be tackling P90X instructed by Tony Horton. (See program for sale on right). In the mean time, I would like to provide information to help make your right workout choice.
Article #1 in series: Yoga. There are several different styles and instructors available to you. A production company that I recommend, for editing techniques, is Gaiam. In my opinion the best yoga master to learn perfect technique, strength, and a lasting art is Rodney Yee. (www.yeeyoga.com) He is the Bruce Lee of Yoga. Rodney has several DVD’s which include morning, evening, and strength Yoga for a complete workout. Mr. Yee is the genuine Yoga article who is very talented, yet can be a bit intimidating. If you invest time in any of his programs you too can be flexible and have control over your body. Just remember, he has been doing this for years. So go with the flow and do what you can. A yoga mat and soft block are highly recommended. An elastic band (or a large tube sock) is a cheap recommendation for beginners. Quickly, I would like to mention Rodney Lee’s flash cards (50 in deck). I love the way they are packaged. (I am crazy like that and look at the little things too). You can pull out the flash cards, lay out your routine depending on time and experience, and go when your ready. (See recommendations on right to purchase.)

Also, another Yoga favorite is called Vinyasa Yoga or Vinyasa Flow. This Yoga style moves a bit faster to work more like a cardio routine, as each movement is in rhythm with each of your breaths. I found a good DVD produced by MTV. (See recommendations on right to purchase). Series of movements are set to fun music and keep you moving the entire time. I enjoy this DVD routine very much. Watch out for all the push ups they sneak in too!

I don’t like to be negative about anything. I want you as my readers to trust my recommendations so I will always simply be honest. As a Christian, I am careful about my Yoga choices as this practice can cross the line for me personally and kind of out there for my taste. Some instructors center themselves to the grass, earth, wind, and clouds, and even ask you to pray along with them. If these things are an irritant to you or something you do not wish to partake in, then I do not recommend Seane Corn (a female yoga instructor) with Vinyasa Flow Yoga DVD also produced by my friends at Gaiam productions. This was a little over the top for me. Praying to anything other than my maker is not something I am comfortable with. The DVD is done very nicely and she is very good at her art, but not my favorite. So not a recommendation from Your Happy Hearts.

When all yoga videos end the instructor will say Namaste’ which is bringing peace to center. I like to take this pose to pray for another day of being healthy and fit. This is your time to take one last breath and bring your practice to a close.

I hope these Yoga recommendations can help you get off to a good start of understanding this amazing art. You can purchase the DVD's that I recommended by simply clicking on the right Amazon list. This helps take the guess work, the research, and the time of finding what I recommend.

Namaste'

Is A Gym Right For You?

Is a gym right for you? That's the question. I personally do not care for gyms as you have to workout when they are open, the memberships can be expensive, and if you have to take time off or you don't go, you still have to pay. On the positive side, if you like to workout with other's, it can be a good experience. But don't get so wrapped up in the social affair that you don't give 100% when you are there. You also can have access to a personal trainer and get a program set just for you.

Another option: What you spend over and over on gym memberships, you can also buy some really great products at home and make a gym there. This gym is open 24 hours, and you can have all the privacy you need or grab a friend or family member to work out with.

Recommendations:
For home weights, I recommend Power Blocks. You get several weights in one set. They also have a great stand so you don't have to bend to grab the weights. (http://www.powerblock.com) These are going to be a bit of an investment but that's the case with most weights. Check out their website or order them at the bottom of my page. I have the sport block set and just love them. With a small budget, you can set up your own gym up and by up running in no time. All you need is a spare room, basement corner, or possibly your garage.

My husband and I are working on building a gym in the corner of our basement. We just ordered what are called Soft Tiles. (http://www.softtiles.com). These can be purchased in tile squares of various sizes. This makes it easy for you to get the size you need for any room. The tiles come in a variety of colors to create an awesome look in your personal gym. I workout on this floor with barefeet as they are really soft and have a great cushion. I don't recommend going barefoot to everyone, but if you are like me and hate shoes, this is a great way to keep pressure off your bones and have bounce to your jumping jacks or crazy jacks (thanks to Tony Horton's P90X, I can do a crazy jack).

I am also working at putting together a brief description of several workout videos that I recommend. These are all dvd's I have tried myself. I am now linked with amazon.com to bring you the best in resources. On the right side you can find all the dvd's for purchase. Find the one that looks interesting, order it here and give it a try.

Go to the bottom of this website and you will find a new feature called a Carousel with all your new gym equipment. These are items that I personally have in my basement. As I try new items I will let you know what I think.

Happy building. Get that gym up and running as each day is a day closer to Your Happy Hearts.

When No means No

Do you really like working out? Honestly, I didn't like to sweat, I didn't like to hurt, and I had a hard time pushing myself. That was the old me. Several months ago I discovered weight training. The feel of the burn and pushing yourself through was a great feeling of accomplishment. Then I took several months off from doing anything and started old habits. After being encouraged by family members, I decided to do this blog. Not only motivate myself, learn/study, but to be accountable to each other and take you on this journey with me.

I have done several different programs (which I will compare in an upcoming post. Promise it's coming soon) My husband found one program that we both really like. It's called P90X. (http://www.beachbody.com) There's P90 and then, there's X. "X" is for extreme. It's for people who are already fit and want to take it to the next level. For me we are talking 5-10 pounds of fat off and turning it into muscle. This program is ideal and I can't wait to get started.

So why the title of this blog? Several weeks ago I had a vertebrae slip in my neck. Is this normal you say? No, but for someone with scoliosis I guess it is. I didn't know I had scoliosis till the x-rays were done for my neck pain. The first chiropractor told me the curve will continue to get worse as I get older and my injury was caused by my neck finally slipping and curving more. But I refuse to believe I won't be healed of this and be unable to live life to the fullest. So I found a new chiropractor.

I have been undergoing several visits to this wonderful chiro doctor who takes extra time and lots of care, with a few added sarcastic jokes. Just my style. Thanks for making me laugh even when it hurts!! My last visit he told me "NO". We all hate that word don't we? I had mentioned I worked out to a P90X video a few times since the last visit and he asked, in his sarcastic tone, "Did I give you permission yet?" So I guess that's was him telling me NO. He encouraged me to heal first, then work out. He said "gain 5 pounds now, lose 10 later". Thank goodness I don't plan on doing that. As we all know from a previous post, it's 80% what we put in our mouth. So now I have to be extra careful to eat healthy, heal and relax.

It's the old cliche' When you are told "no" you want to more than ever... and now I WANT to workout. I am not going to sit here and tell you how to get fit while I lick frosting off my fingers from a nearby chocolate HoHo. This is my time to study up, eat healthy, and get the information we all need and have Happy Hearts. My wise chiro doctor also left me with this..."Some of the best things written, were from that of someone's experience." So as I go through this healing experience, together we will only come out stronger, smarter, and healthier. I am going to do lots of reading and research that I can in turn teach you. So subscribe today for this post and lets get healthy together.

Next Post: Comparing Workout Programs and a FREE GIVEAWAY

New Look

I apologize to all my readers for changing my mind so much on the look of my page. But I want this to be as good as it can be. Thanks to friends and family for hanging in there while changes are made and I am under construction. I promise to provide you with the easiest to understand information and help you create Happy Hearts.

Clean Eating: Time to clean out the fridge.

Clean Eating: What's in your fridge?
Clean eating is simply eating unprocessed, natural foods. Clean food was created for our happy hearts to provide our magnificently designed bodies nutrients. Man has created microwaves, frozen dinners, preservatives, and drive-thru restaurants. You can create a new healthy way of life without dieting. Diets don’t work. Are you going to give up carbs your whole life, only eat green food or cabbage soup forever? Diets like these will not last; as humans don’t have the willpower it takes. Making new healthy habits is the only way to change permanently. No more pop, vending machine food, or candy. Something that may shock some of you is the makeup of your body. 10% is genetic, 10% exercise, and 80% (yes 80) is what you eat. So next time you reach for that un-natural man made idea of quick food, think again (no hydraginated anything). You must eat breakfast to get your metabolism going for the day. If you travel a long distance to work like I do, you can make use of this time by eating a breakfast on the go with a protein bar or drink a protein shake.

Food Preparation:
Take a Sunday (or what day works for you) and cook up a large bag of frozen chicken breast or other meat, (we like to do it on the grill). Cut to bite size pieces and place in zip-lock baggies (total weight 4 ounces, yes you should use a kitchen scale). Then toss the baggies in the freezer. Add meat later to salads, use in tortilla wraps, and add to stir fries, or simply eat alone. You can also get Tupperware that separates into sections and make up 5 frozen dinners for your week’s meals. For home made frozen dinners add your meat, veggie, and small carbohydrate (suggestion: sweet potatoes are better for you than regular). Portion suggestion: protein the size of your palm, and veggies and carb the size of your fist. Also buy big bags of frozen veggies, precut, and toss in a zip-lock bag and refreeze. This can be a perfect quick grab, in-between meal, snack with little calories. By taking a few hours on an available day to prepare for your week, it will make all the difference in the world. Toss out all junk food and don’t forget your water. Drink 1 ounce per 1 pound of weight each day. Yes that’s a lot, but you want to be hydrated. You may have to use the restroom a lot at first, but your body will adapt. Once your urine is light yellow or clear, you know you are properly hydrated.

Important info: My next post will have a free giveaway for the best comment. I want to know what you think. Also make sure you’re a subscriber for future giveaways. Pass on the word to those who you want to be healthy and fit with you.

Tip Of The Post: (new added feature to all postings)
Keep Celery Fresh – Wrap celery in paper towel or waxed paper, then wrap in aluminum foil and refrigerate. It will keep for weeks.

Muscle Confusion

Fitness: Muscle confusion: What is muscle confusion? Simple: confusing the muscle. If you are an avid workout junkie and continue to do the same exercise every day (example: treadmill, jogging, aerobics, yoga, etc.) your muscles will get used to same movement and eventually adjust and will not be challenged to change. If you confuse the muscles by using different workouts on different days, you will see faster results.
For example: Monday - upper body (chest, shoulders, back), Tuesday - cardio, Wednesday - lower body (abs, legs, lots of lunges), Thursday - cardio, Friday - upper body, Saturday more cardio, and Sunday - off day, relax! This will give your muscles several days between to repair and that's when you grow stronger. Weight training is the fastest way to see results. Start with smaller weights and work your way up. You don't want to injure yourself. Then, on week two, you want to start with lower body, cardio, upper, cardio, lower, cardio, and again rest. So, it's a upper body week one and lower body week two. Try for 8-12 weeks. Get yourself a calendar and write out your plan ahead of time. This will make it easy to follow your daily work out routine. I believe in you. Keep pressing through for your happy hearts!

Back Pain = Backpack

Weight On Your Shoulders? - Be Gone:
How much extra weight are you carrying around? And I’m not talking about bodyweight. Lose weight quickly, improve posture, and relieve the stress in your back. I was diagnosed with scoliosis only a few months ago. Although I am believing for healing, I have had to make several adjustments in my everyday life.

Let’s talk about heavy purses shall we? Let’s lose weight. Grab your purse and dump out the contents. Only one lipstick, lip-glosses, or hand lotions is necessary. Get rid of items for other family members. (Idea: children love to learn responsibility so don’t you carry all their toys. Purchase a small backpack and have them carry toys and sippy cups all on their own.) Lets get rid of all the punch cards to cafés, bookstores, and whatever store convinced you that you needed one. (Yes, this small weight all ads up.) If it hasn’t been punched or swiped in a long time, remove it and grab it when you plan to visit that store. Ditch the credit cards you don’t use everyday. In my opinion you shouldn’t have them anyway. Who needs a checkbook anymore? Use a smaller wallet for your debit card. Carry one pen and not 10. Books and water bottles do NOT belong in your purse. If you must have water on hand, which I understand, use the half size bottles. No need for 24 ounces when shopping. You know the contents of your purse better than anyone, make an effort to cut back.

Backpack purses are amazing and ladies GO GET ONE and never look back. The freedom is awesome. It takes seconds before entering a store to put it on. When shopping, both hands are free. When bending in and out of the cart, you don’t have an annoying purse falling off your shoulder. The weight of the bag is balanced between your shoulders and encouraging straight posture. Also, you can leave your cart to grab something without the worry of leaving your purse behind. This may sound funny, but when you use a public restroom, you don’t have to find a hook or set it on a gross bathroom floor. Just keep in on your back. Your eyes will be opened to the simplicity.

I purchased a really nice leather backpack from Wilson’s Leather and it was 50% off, so I know you can find a great deal. Go to www.wilsonsleather.com if you don’t have a store near you. (They have a 90-day guarantee on all purchases). The leather is good quality and will last a long time.

So this is your challenge. Lighten that load, don’t carry items for the family, and get rid of that shoulder nonsense and try backpacking it. You will be so happy you did. Email me your comments after you have tried a backpack and let me know what you think. Now the weights really lifted off your shoulders.

Greens and Pizza Tortillas

Veggies: Did you know that green is free? Well almost. Celery takes more energy to eat than are in the stalk itself. So you are burning extra energy just by eating it. Fill up if you still feel hungry on greens, not candy bars and chips! It's a great way to stop the hunger with very little calories. Nature's best!!

Recipe: This is a great little recipes that my husband and I have done several times before to fill the "pizza" void. Use whole-wheat tortilla shells as your crust. Spread with low fat pizza sauce. Cook up some chicken breast, cut into small bite size pieces and add as topper (great grilled too). Add red bell peppers, yellow peppers, and some feta cheese. Add jalapenos if you dare.
Bake in oven till crust is brown and crispy (350 degrees). Only eat one, remember portion control is everything. Food is your source of energy, but too much is still too much.