YzFit

I have always heard of people using “rocks” or “Minerals” for deodorant but had never really looked into it myself until just recently.  I have never really liked the idea of clogging my sweat glands with a chemicals that block the excretion of toxins.  However the desire not to smell bad always won out.  Well now I have found a solution that so far has been working wonderful for me.

Crystal Body Deodorant took a minute to get used to because you have to wet the actual stick or use it right when you get out of the shower and are still wet.  It felt odd the first few times that I used it because I sweat like I do with out wearing any deodorant but there is no smell.  

Over all I am very pleased and have no intentions of going back to regular deodorant as this just seems to be a much better solution. While the stick is a little more costly $5-$6 it is lasting so much longer that it will be cheaper in the end.  At this rate the stick will probably last me the entire year. 

It is exciting to bring in a new year and think: What will the future hold?  It is a time of celebration and hopefully a time of reflection. 

A trend that I have noticed over the last few years is that New Year resolutions have seemed to have lost their popularity.  Some state “well I have goals and I’m not going to use any specific time frame…”  However those who use specific time frames are typically more successful(typically shorter time frames) than those who do not.  

I’m not going to argue whether making a new year resolution is important or not although I have made several personally.  But I do want to look at goal setting.  A popular model that has shown to be successful is what they call making SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely. 

If your goal fits these criteria than chances you are on your way to success. If your goal does not make these criteria then my challenge would be for you to break up your goal into smaller pieces.  This will help you not be overwhelmed by the magnitude of your goal but to entice you to chip away at that progress. 

Best wishes to you in 2011!

Lets face it some of us even though we know coffee is bad for us just really want a cup of joe in the morning.  Its just one of those simple pleasures in life and sometimes giving that up is just down right hard(or doesn’t last long).  While I would love to say that I found some magical coffee plant, that spits out beans that makes our cellulite disappear and cures cancer, that is not the case.  However there are a few things you can do in preparing your coffee that can make it less of a health hazard. 

1.) Switch out your cream or milk for either soy milk or almond milk.  Cows milk is the most common food allergy and has been linked to eczema, asthma, sinus congestion and upset stomach.  Also 2% milk is actually 35% fat! (the 2% fat is calculated by weight not by calories!!) Soy is high in calcium and beneficial for heart health, prostate cells, and bone density.  Almond milk is another good alternative as it is high in protein giving the coffee a hint of nut flavor and providing a good alternative for those who do not like soy.

2.) Adding cinnamon to your coffee not only adds in a little extra flavor but gives a nice health boost.  Cinnamon has been linked with increased insulin sensitivity which is helpful in preventing and reversing diabetes.   Studies have shown that those who consume cinnamon have a reduced risk of cancer(breast), Alzheimer’s disease, high blood pressure, accelerated aging and heart disease.

3.) Switch from coffee to an Americano.  Americano is a shot of espresso with hot water.  It taste virtually the same as coffee but 1 shot of espresso will have less caffeine than a traditional cup of coffee. 

Be sure that you are consuming water through out the day to stay hydrated and make up for the diuretic effect that caffeine has.