Monday Afternoon Links ~ 7.30.12

Here are the links that have my mind and body buzzing this week:

• McDonald's recently unveiled an Under-400-Calorie menu that highlights popular items that fall lower on the caloric scale.  Check out some of the options here.
• One of the biggest frustrations about migraines is not being able to tell what exactly they are, or where they're coming from.  This helpful guide points out some common migraine symptoms and effects you may have missed.
• No sushi meal in my eyes is complete without a steaming bowl of miso soup.  Think it's just tasty?  Think again - here are three healing benefits of the salty soup.
• Live in the city and desiring some new ways to burn calories?  Check out this list, and get inspired!
• Protein is important for many reasons.  Meat and eggs are common sources, but it's easy to get creative with these protein-laden choices.

Monday Afternoon Links ~ 7.16.12

Here are the links that have my mind and body buzzing this week:

• Need another reason to be grossed out by fast food?  A group of workers give the low-down on just how some classic food items are prepared.  Yuck.
• Hot sauce is my favorite go-to condiment (no egg whites are complete without it!), so it pleases me immensely to find out that there are health benefits to the spicy stuff!
• Ready to have an awesome day?  Follow these six tips, and enjoy!
• Love beer and want to know which ones are the healthiest options for you?  Check out this list!
• I love my kitties, and I am always in awe of the health benefits of owning animals.  Here is another reason why owning pets can be beneficial!
• I have always been a nervous flyer.  This article does an excellent job of giving some organic advice on how to overcome some of those flying fears.
• How many of the 50 world's healthiest foods (according to the Huff Post) do you eat on a regular basis?

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Monday Afternoon Links ~ 7.9.12

Here are the links that have my mind and body buzzing this week:

• Lots of summer foods are delicious, but not the best for us.  Here are some great swaps to enjoy the most of summer eats without going overboard on calories and fat.
• DC has been hit with record-breaking heat, making it tough sometimes to keep fitness motivation up.  Here are a few ways to keep it going, despite the hot weather.
• Having a rough day?  Take a second to check out this inspiringaffirmation, and let your light shine!
• Do you like to sprinkle black pepper on your meals?  Here are some reasons why this may be a healthier move than you may have thought!
• Friday was National Kissing Day!  Here are five reasons why kissing is actually healthy!
• Forget to put on the sunscreen and feeling it the next day?  This soothing method will help relieve your hurting skin.
• Greatist is one of my favorite healthy life websites, and this new-and-improved list of 21 health and fitness resources is a real winner.

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Monday Afternoon Links ~ 6.25.12

Here are the links that have my mind and body buzzing this week:

• One of the stressful things about eating healthy is the false assumption that it's expensive to do so.  Here are 10 ways to eat well and save money.
• Sometimes after a hard gym sesh, I feel worse than I do better.  It's nice to find out I'm not the only one - here's an explanation and some tips on what to do when you feel flu-like symptoms post-workout.
• Have you been to a BBQ yet?  If so, you probably served or were served the basic grilled treats - burgers, hot dogs, maybe salmon or grilled peppers if you're feeling fancy.  This list of 10 foods you didn't know you could grill is awesome - I can't wait to grill some nectarines (my fruit of choice at the moment)!
• Fat-free salad dressing has been my go-to for a while.  Here's a report on why it might be time to revamp that choice.
• Weight Watchers and Trader Joe's fans, rejoice!  Slender Kitchen has put together an ever-growing point list for all of their most popular items!
• Yoga's real-life applications are numerous, and amazing.  Check out this list of 5 things yoga taught one practitioner about life in her 20s.

This, in a nutshell, perfectly explains the origins of Get Bizzy Living (source).

Monday Afternoon Links ~ 6.18.12

Here are the links that have my mind and body buzzing this week:

• Need some inspiration?  Check out these lovely words of wisdom from the beloved Dr. Seuss.
• Curious about the differences among artificial sweeteners?  Fitsugar breaks it down for you here.
• Here are a few valuable life lessons, inspired by a man who studied with a monk.
• Love eating wraps but are sick of your daily go-to?  Fitsugar has posted a list of 16 new healthy wrap ideas, guaranteed to revamp your wrap boredom.
• Feeling crazed, cranky, and stressed out?  Check out this list of 40 ways to relax in under 5 minutes!
• Keep your spirit up at the gym by recognizing the mental mistakes you could be making there and working on eliminating them!
• Regular walking can be a great way to prepare for the zombie apocalypse.  Who knew?
• Think you're making healthy food decisions?  Check out this list of 7 foods that a nutritionist would never eat.  I don't think I'm ready to part with my fat-free salad dressing yet, though.

Barbie is now a yoga teacher.  And she comes with a small dog instead of yoga accessories.  Interesting. 

Monday Afternoon Links ~ 5.11.12

Here are the links that have my mind and body buzzing this week:

• Some foods are worse for you than others.  These triple threats are bad for you in more ways than one - yikes!
• Beach-bound anytime soon?  Here are some easy ways to stay fit while hanging out by the water.
• The is-chocolate-good-for-you? debate seems to rage on and on, but more evidence is claiming that there's a likelihood that dark chocolate is good for you.  Hooray!
• Not sure what to order the next time you're out at a restaurant?  Use this handy guide to recognize words that are potentially helpful - or problematic.
• I've always been a huge fan of hydration - but this article plays devil's advocate to the idea of needing eight glasses of water to be healthy.  Worth a read!
• Made enough of my quinoa pizza bites and need some new recipes?  Never fear - Shape mag just put out a list of 10 new ways to prepare my favorite little super-grain! 
• Are you a sunscreen addict?  If not, your mind may change after seeing this - proof that sun damage is a very real thing.
• Beer prevents colds?  Chocolate milk helps you lose body fat?  Blueberries are a runner's superfood?  Check out these crazy food study discoveries and more here.
• This tearjerker will make you rethink the purpose of sport competitions - winning isn't the most important thing!

I wish my cats could do squats with me like this pup.  (source)

Monday Afternoon Links ~ 6.4.12

Here are the links that have my mind and body buzzing this week:

• As far as moderation goes, Mayor Bloomberg seems to be on point.  Currently, he's trying to take a huge step in the right direction for a healthier NYC:  banning super-sized sodas.
• Feeling down in the dumps?  Here are 21 quick pick-me-ups to get you back on your feet and ready to keep rocking and rolling.
• Salads are a fairly standard part of my daily diet, but they can get pretty tiresome after awhile.  Thankfully, with these healthy homemade dressings, we can make salads fun again!   
• Need another reason why exercise is awesome?  Apparently it makes you smarter.  Nice!
• Are you guilty of any of these bad diet habits?  I know I am! 
• Ladies!  Get your muscles in gear for the summer with these top ten exercises for women.
• Cleanses & detoxes are very trendy right now, but a lot of them are not only not helping you, they're harming you as well.  If you want to do a cleanse, do it the right way with this great guide. 
• Want to change your life?  It's easy to do in just two minutes a day when you follow these get-going tips.  

Mean Kitty Workout!

Tuesday Afternoon Links ~ 5.29.12

Here are the links that have my mind and body buzzing this week:

• Heart disease is the number one killer for women in the U.S.  Ladies (and gents, too!), keep your heart happy and healthy with these fantastic, easy tips.
• POM Wonderful juice has been touted for a long time as a "super juice."  New reports are implying that this might not be the case.  
• You can do worlds for your mental health when you help others.  Here are 60 selfless ways to pay it forward, guaranteed to not only make someone else's day better, but yours, too (isn't it lovely how that works?)!
• A lot of foods get a really bad rap on the health circuit.  The Washington Post explains that some of these foods - like eggs, potatoes, and fried foods even (!) - aren't as bad as we are led to think! 
• It's almost June - do you know what that means?  Summertime is here!  Make the most of it by checking out these 100 tips on how to have a healthy summer.
• Give yourself a boost of confidence and a can-do attitude with these keys to fearless empowerment.
• Portion sizes have grown to gargantuan sizes since the 60s.  Check out this infographic on how they've changed, and prepare to be surprised!  

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Monday Afternoon Links ~ 5.14.12

Here are the links that have my mind and body buzzing this week:

3 Tips for Germ-Free Travel
Especially catered to those traveling by air.  Very useful.

10 Ways to Find Your Motivation to Work Out After Work
Funnily, my favorite time to work out is after work (for the time being, at least).  But sometimes it's a struggle to push myself to go - this is a great way of minimize that mental debate.

54 Unexpected Ways to Hack Your Health
Beer as shampoo?  Don't mind if I do!

Are You Making These Nutrition Mistakes?
Among other things, they stress the importance of hydration, and you all probably know how I feel about some good old fashioned H20 at this point!

The Best New Ways to Boost Your Metabolism
There are so many good ways you can affect your metabolism, and they're easier to do than you'd think!

Best of the Worst
A great guide to "healthified" versions of the best junk food.  I can't wait to make the healthified macaroni and cheese!!

Biggest Brunch Offenders
Quite complementary to my piece on breakfast last week.

Do Vitamins and Supplements Actually Work?
There are two schools of thought on this one - I prefer to think that they do, and that is why I take a handful of them daily (future post!).

Easy Ways to Destress When You Don't Have Time
One of my good childhood friends started this amazing women empowerment site.  This is just one of the useful articles available there.

Energy Ups and Downs?  Your Caffeine-Drinking May Be to Blame
A nice supplement to my post on caffeine from a few weeks back.

How Much Do Americans Really Exercise?
I feel lucky and motivated living in a city where the exercise rate is significantly higher than the rest of the USA, but the lack of exercise nationwide is a very scary cause for concern.

Starbucks Summery Beverages:  Which to Skip, Which to Sip
A great guide on the best choices from the famous java hotspot.

This Is How Much Sugar Is In Your 'Healthy' Breakfast
Showing the tangible amount of sugar is a staggering, tangible way to see just how good or bad your favorite snacks can be for you.  Very informative.

The Truth About Coconut Water
This surprised me greatly, since I've been a devout Vita Coco fan for quite some time, now.  No matter what you take from the article, I think it's still safe to assume that coconut (and/or regular) water will always be better for you post-workout than sugary re-hydrating sports drinks.

The Tumblr Guide to Healthy Living
A cheat sheet on a bunch of different ways to live a healthy lifestyle - super cool!

What You Need to Know About Smoothies
Lots of good advice in here - I'm not a big fan of mixing milk or yogurt into my smoothies anyway, but it's interesting to see why they recommend against it!

The Yoga of Driving: 7 Tips for a Stress-Free Drive
Yet another way that yoga's real-life applications can improve your life!

Check out the other three moves here.

Monday Afternoon Links ~ 5.7.12

Here are the links that have my mind and body buzzing this week:

4 Bad Habits Keeping You From Reaching Your Exercise Goals
Guilty of all of these at one point or another.  These are really great reminders of how to keep yourself going physically!

4 Easy & Accessible Meditation Techniques
A great primer to get you into meditation.

4 Ways to Lose Weight Before Noon
It's easier than you think!

5 Post-Workout Pains It's OK to Ignore
Yep, definitely felt all of these before.  Charlie horses are the worst.

5 Tips for Boosting Your Willpower
Totally awesome tips for staying on track.  I absolutely LOVE the 5th point in the article.

9 Health Myths Debunked
This certainly made me reexamine my love of vitamins & supplements.

20 Bad Habits Holding Good People Back
Awesome inspiration to get you going to achieve your dreams!

Best Breakfast Sandwiches Rated
I'm heading to Subway to try one of these guys, stat.

The Best City for Women Is...
Hint: I live here!

Conscious Healing: The Power of Mindfulness and Meditation
Check out how much the mind and body are linked through meditation.

How Your Job Helps You Work Off the Pounds
Totally topical after my post last week on moving at the office.

Italian Takeout: 10 Tips for Making it Healthier
I love ordering out for pizza as much as the next person - these tips rock for helping make healthy decisions while doing so!

Know Your Basics: How to Do a Lunge
Not explained: "how to deal with astoundingly sore muscles for days afterwards."

Spring Clean Your Life
It's that time of year - so why not spring clean your mind and body as well?

Why Alcohol and Exercise Don't Mix
This one seems a bit obvious, but it's interesting to see why they don't mix.

Monday Afternoon Links ~ 4/30/12

Here are the links that have my mind and body buzzing this week:

10 Ways to Keep Your Workouts Exciting
This is really great, especially since heading to the gym can certainly get boring and repetitive after awhile.

12 Processed Foods with More Than 25 Ingredients
Checking the ingredients list on packaged food is one of the smartest things you can do.

14 Foods I'm Loving Lately!
Vegan Angela Liddon has an amazing blog called Oh She Glows. In this entry, she features some of her favorite foods that look delicious, satisfying, and très healthy.

6 Dieting Rules You'll Love to Follow
Healthy eating doesn't have to be painful!

7 Foods with More Vitamin C Than an Orange
There are so many ways to get enough Vitamin C - check these out!

73 Cheap and Healthy Recipes from the Greatist Cookbook
I'm always in search of new healthy recipes - tons of great ideas here!

Believe That You Are Strong
A fact that many of us often forget.

How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
We live in a competitive society.  This article helps deal with some of the problems that can emerge as a result.

Know Before You Go: Spin Class
A great primer on spin class!  Confession - I've never been, but I'm determined to change this fact, ASAP.

Laughing Your Way to Good Health
Just another excuse to watch The Simpsons on the treadmill.

Mother's Day: Gifts for the Healthy-Minded Mom
Some wonderful ideas for a healthy mama!

Music Can Boost Your Running Performance by 15 Percent
Grab that iPod before you head out for your workout!

Regular Exercise Leads to a Healthier, Smarter Brain
And the benefits of exercising continue!

Simple Tips on How to Stay Healthy All Day Long
FitSugar has compiled a ton of awesome tips on living a healthy day-to-day.  Very informative!

Surprisingly Calcium-Rich Foods That Aren't Milk
A great guide for people who are limiting their dairy intake.

Top 10 Superfoods
Bracks sent me this one - I'm equally excited about how into healthy food he is now as I am about how informative and helpful this article is!

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Chronicles of Him and Her

The "her" of Chronicles of Him and Her!

One of my best friends in the whole world has an amazing blog that I'd love for you all to check out!  Her name is Valerie and her blog is called chronicles of him and her.

She originally hails from Virginia (holler!), but now she's living it up Texas-style with her hubby in the great city of Houston.  

Her blog is full of fashion tips, healthy advice, and day-to-day on what it's like to live an adorable Texas life.  For example:

She makes amazing healthy recipes, like salmon, chipotle shrimp tacos, chicken souvlaki, marinated shrimp, and white chicken chili.

She finds fun ways to keep her body in shape, like doing crossfit and taking plenty of long walks.

She offers inspiration to keep your mind in tip-top shape, like these warm and fuzzies and these sayings to live by.

She appreciates the little things.

She gives great body-care tips, like her skin care routine and revealing her favorite hair products.

She is an amazing hostess, and Bracks and I had the best time visiting her and her hubby.

Oh, and she has the most darling little puppy named Charlotte.  

She's an amazing woman, and I'm proud to call her one of my besties.  Please check out her website, and give her some love! 

love for valgal!

Monday Afternoon Links ~ 4.9.12

Here are the health links that have my mind and body buzzing this week:

10 Overrated Health Foods
Some literal food for thought.  I don't agree with everything she says, but it's great to have a devil's advocate every once in a while.

25 Photo-Illustrated Reminders to Help You Find Happiness
Marc and Angel Hack Life has the most amazing list posts.  This is one of them.  The photos look like something that belongs on an "inspirational" board on Pinterest.

28 Ways to Boost Energy Instantly
Learn how to tackle the afternoon slump organically.

50 Ways to Nurture Your Happiness
Another Marc and Angel Hack Life post.  Very inspiring.

Find a "Comfort Food" for Your Mind
A brilliant take on how to beat the blues.  My current "comfort food" has to be re-runs of The Simpsons or How I Met Your Mother.

Focus On: Weight Watchers
A 101 guide to the program that is helping me change my lifestyle.

The Hunger Games Guide to Survival
A creative post on a very topical subject.  I love me some HG !

Tippy Toe Diet's Top Ten Favorite Quotes
Some inspiration for my workouts this week.

Workout Mistakes Most Women Make
Enlightening.  I have a ways to go.

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Find all of the links mentioned in posts here (also permanently linked as a tab at the top of the site).