Strawberry Lime Popsicles

Fresh fruit popsicles are an easy way to enjoy the summer's freshest produce. This refreshing combination of strawberries and lime is very low in calories, and is also an excellent source of vitamin C.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh or frozen whole California strawberries
• 1 cup water or lemonade
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1/4 cup sugar (optional)
• 4 cups ice cubes
• 1/2 cup California strawberry slices, for garnish

Directions:

1. Combine strawberries, water, lime juice, sugar, and ice cubes in blender with a lid. Blend at high speed for about 1 minute or until all ingredients are crushed and mixed well.
2. Divide mixture among 12 4-ounce popsicle molds or cups.
3. Garnish each cup with a few strawberry slices.
4. Freeze for about 4 hours or until completely frozen

Source:shape.com/healthy-eating/healthy-recipes/10-diet-friendly-frozen-dessert-recipes/strawberry-lime-popsicles

Tips For Getting Some Exercise Into Your Life

Work, friends, family. How does anyone find time to exercise? You know you should, but getting motivated can be a problem. However, it's important to find some way to incorporate activity into your busy lifestyle. 

Benefits of Exercise

Researchers have found that moderate daily exercise may reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis and other chronic diseases. If you are seeking general health improvement, just 30 minutes a day should do the trick. And this thirty minutes can be broken down into 10 minute segments throughout the day.

Moderate Exercise

Even exercising just three times per week (if you can't do it daily) can have benefits (mental and physical). The key is that the exercise is "moderate". Moderate exercise consists of any activity that causes an increase in breathing, forcing you to take deeper breaths. You should be able to carry on a light conversation, but should not be breathless. 

Strength Training

If you are looking for strength training, you should work each major muscle two to three times per week. Perform at least one set with 8-12 repetitions. Before exercising, stretch each muscle group (those that will be used in the activity) for 8-12 seconds. This will help to increase flexibility. You should feel some slight discomfort (not pain) while stretching. 

Set Your Goal 

To help get you started, decide on a goal and make a workout plan designed to meet this goal. Once you decide upon a plan, remember to keep a log. This keeps you motivated and "on track".

Keeping Motivated 

Becoming and staying fit is a lifelong process, so don't become discouraged. Small steps, each day is the key. Also, keep these tips in mind:

• Exercise with a friend.
• Mix your regular training with more traditional activities.
• Keep fitness magazines, books and articles on hand when you have free time.
• Keep a tight fitting pair of jeans (or any other article of clothing) around. This encourages you to exercise. It also allows you to monitor changes in your weight or body.
• Plan for bad weather. Have an alternative to your usual outdoor activity.
• Work out at different times of the day, and then write down how you feel before and after each work out. Discover the best time of day to work out.
• Combine housework with more strenuous activity. For example, shuffle, squat, jog or dance while cleaning up.
• Make exercise a priority.
• Park in the furthest corner of the car park instead of the closest you can find.
• Take the stairs rather than the lift.
• Have a walk after lunch or dinner.

Source:weightlossresources.co.uk/logout/news_features/extips.htm

Easy Exercise Ideas

Inadequate physical activity can lead to serious health problems. Start now - make exercise part of your daily routine. At any age, increasing your daily activity can make a difference.

Our bodies are designed to be active and all activity / exercise will develop and firm the muscles of the body. Exercise doesn't have to be a chore. Read on to find ways you can become more active, lose that fat and have some fun…

Walking

Make a determined effort to walk throughout the day. Get off the bus or train a stop or two before your destination and walk the rest of the way; park your car in the furthest space in the car park; walk up and down stairs (no lifts); walk the children to school; walk to the local corner shop for your newspaper or milk, etc.

15 min moderate walking will burn 52 extra kcal* 

Housework Can Do the Trick!

Turn those tiresome chores into healthy positive ones! Turn on the music and clean the windows, hoover, dust, wash up, iron and burn off those calories. 

15 min hoovering / dusting will burn 38 extra kcal*

Get Out In the Garden

Mowing the lawn, weeding and digging all count. 

15 min weeding will burn 52 extra kcal*

Clean Your Car

Time you ran your car through the wash? Why not wash it by hand? It's cheaper, better for the environment and a great form of exercise. Put your back into it and you'll get a better result!
15 min moderate car washing will burn 43 extra kcal*

Play Actively With the Kids / Get Some Friends Together

How about heading for the park for some football, rounders, catch the ball... or dusting off the bike for a leisurely ride? Exercise at a pace where you can still talk.
15 min recreational cycling will burn 45 extra kcal*

Try A Sport

Dip into our try a sport section for more information on a variety of exercise - walking,cycling, swimming, skipping, yoga ... and more.

The important thing is to become active so that your heart is pumping blood at a slightly increased rate and you are burning calories in empowering your muscles! Go for it...

*Based on a 40 year old female of 5’5" tall who weighs 12st 7lb and is moderately sedentary. Extra calories are those you burn on top of the calories you use for basic day-to-day living. Inputting your exercise into your exercise diary will calculate the number of calories you will burn based on your weight.

Source:weightlossresources.co.uk/logout/sport/easy_exercise.htm

6 Life Tips To Burn Belly Fat Fast

Want a flat stomach? Or maybe just shift a couple of pounds hanging onto your belly?

There are many alternative ways to do so than spending all your time breaking strenuous sweats in the gym (although working out is a key factor!)

It is amazing what certain small changes to your routine can do and how quickly belly fat can disappear.

1. Plenty of Vitamin C
While Vitamin C is perfect for fighting a cold; it also produces carnitine a compound used by the body to turn fat into fuel and help burn it off. Kale, bell peppers and kiwi along with the traditional orange are rich in Vitamin C.

2. Goodbye Sugar! 
Fighting belly fat consists of eating an 80% healthy diet enriched with vegetables, protein, whole-grain and omega 3 filled foods. Sugar is an evil ingredient, which quickly adds weight without us even realising, and forever leaves us craving more and more naughty snacks.

3. Swim! 
Stereotypically it is suggested that in order to achieve a flat stomach you need to spend your time in the gym, obviously it helps but it’s not necessarily the only way. Instead, swim! It is relaxing, provides low impact on your joints and is fantastic cardio. Not only will it burn of the fat but also tone your muscles.

4. Eat Smaller Portions and More Often
Eating 5 – 6 small meals per day helps to lose weight as it keeps your metabolism constantly running as it is burning off the food, it also prevents the common problem of being hungry.  Try a light breakfast, small brunch, lunch, mid-afternoon snack, small dinner and possibly a small late snack.

5. Sleep
Studies prove that people who are regularly tired have slower metabolisms, taking longer to burn off calories. Getting a good and long sleep collects more energy to do more within the day and quickly burn off fat.

6. Strengthen your Core 
You cannot avoid exercise if you want to lose weight… you don’t have to make it your priority but you do have to involve some into your routine! Your stomach muscles are apart of your core and there are many activities you can do to improve this that don’t just involve sit-ups – so next time you exercise focus purely on your core and you will see the fat shift fast!

Source:mindthemunchies.com/6-life-tips-to-burn-belly-fat-fast/?pub_id=44&w_id=&pd_id=&link_id=80917&r_link_id=80917

Get A Hot Bikini Body

If the thought of stripping down to slinky swimwear for summer fills you with dread, it’s time to take action. Follow our simple tips to get you looking beach-ready in no time.

Spring may have only just sprung, but summer will be upon us before you can say, ‘wish I hadn’t eaten so many cookies.’

If your new year’s resolution to lose weight has started to stall, redirecting your focus toward getting the beach body you’ve always dreamed of could help to kick-start your motivation. 

Here’s how to make it a reality.

Up the intensity

While a leisurely walk or steady state run a few days a week will boost your health, it’s not going to get you on the path to bikini body glory. To get the body you want you need a workout that will both burn fat and tone muscle. Sack off the 5K run in favour of a high-intensity sprint session in the park – try doing 20-30-second sprints alternated with a minute’s rest and repeat five times. Do this twice a week combined with two or three free weights or circuit sessions to tone up and boost your fat burn. Try this easy circuit in the park: 10 star jumps, 10 squat jumps, 20 jumping lunges, 10 press-ups, 10-second plank, 20 crunches.

Eat well

Eating a balanced and healthy diet is the best way to get your body bikini-ready. Tuck into plenty of dark green leafy veg, which are packed with vitamins and minerals, and replace processed meat with lean protein. Add in small portions of ‘good’ carbs such as brown bread and rice or quinoa, eat plenty of fruit and munch on good fats such as avocados and nuts in moderation.

VisualiseThis is another technique you can add to your armoury in pursuit of the perfect beach body. Imagining how fantastic you’ll feel when you step onto the beach for the first time with your new bikini body will help boost your focus and get you through any motivation slumps along the way.

Give yourself a helping hand with this amazing Bikini Body Diet.

 Don't leave it too late to get in shape!!