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Who says that the cold weather means you stay indoors?

There is no reason why the winter can’t be a fun time for family just like the summer. Here are 7 ideas for having fun in the winter air.

• The big hill could be in your back yard or somewhere else in the neighborhood. Grab the sleds and head for the top. Sledding is one thing that adults can do and still feel like a kid. Everyone loves the feeling of their heart in their throat as they go speeding off towards the bottom of the hill. Hardware stores sell out of sleds so get yours early.

2. Have a snowball fight.

• But, don’t just hide behind a tree. Take the time to build a snow fort. The family can divide into teams and each take an hour or two to construct the snow place of safety. Once the forts are finished and the flags are flying, let the snow fly!

3. Make snow angels.

• Wear a warm coat, gloves, and hat before attempting this wonderful winter artwork. Find a clear clean place in the snow and allow yourself to fall backwards. The snow will break your fall. Once you’re down there start flapping those arms and legs.

4. That walkway isn’t going to get clean all by itself.

• Each person can take a shovel or a bucket and work together to get it cleared. Why pay someone else to do it when the family can get some physical activity together? Afterwards, enjoy a cup of hot cocoa together and warm up.

5. Try a new sport.

• The winter brings a new set of exercises to enjoy. Take up snowboarding, skiing, or ice skating. The point is not to become an expert but to have fun with your family.

6. Catch a snowflake on your tongue.

• This is an activity that has to wait until the snow is actually falling but when you live far up north that could be an everyday occurrence. Stand out on the front lawn and throw your head back. After catching a few, take a break. No one wants to get a sore throat. Besides, the neighbors will wonder what is going on when they see everyone sticking their tongue out.

7. Build a snowman.

• By this time, you’ve tried everything else so a snowman is the last best thing to do in the snow. It’ll take everyone’s help to roll a really big base and lift the other body parts on top of each other. A sturdy snowman will take longer to melt in the sun.

Don’t sit in the house longing for warmer weather. Get out and enjoy the possibilities of the winter season—together.

7 Energizing Ideas for Fun in the Winter Air

4 Healthy Ideas for Winter Breakfasts...

Why is it that we eat more food in the winter? Maybe we decide that it’s okay to have a little more girth to keep us warm. Bears do it so why can’t we? Unfortunately, eating more and moving less doesn’t equal a healthy lifestyle.

Stay warm this winter with a few healthy breakfast items on the menu. We can eat and feel full without ruining our diet and adding to our waistline. We’ve worked hard to maintain or lose weight when the weather was warm. We don’t want to ruin it all during the winter chill.

1. Oatmeal – Oatmeal has changed from the pasty gray stuff that was served to us as kids. Now, oatmeal comes in instant flavors like strawberries and cream, maple and brown sugar, and cinnamon and apples. The oats provide soluble and insoluble fiber. Fiber helps to stabilize blood sugar so we don’t overeat during the day. The slow release of energy by our body keeps us going at a steady pace. Oatmeal can be made with water or milk. Using skim milk provides vitamin D as well as fiber.

2. Fruit filled breads – We are always in a hurry. This may mean leaving behind a warm breakfast but not a nutritious one. The same mix recipes that can be used for muffins can be used to make sweet breads like banana nut, cranberry-raisin, and blueberry bread. Fresh or dried fruits can be used in the bread. In combination with other whole grains, the bread is a healthy winter breakfast that can be fixed and eaten fast.

3. Eggs, cheese, and sausage – A good breakfast is a mixture of protein, carbohydrates, and fats. Eggs provide protein and some fat. Cheese provides the same. It is okay to use low fat cheeses. Fat free cheese doesn’t melt as well. Turkey sausage or bacon provides protein and that meat we so often crave. Weekend mornings are a perfect time for family to enjoy a hearty, healthy warm breakfast.

4. Unsweetened cereals – Cereal is still a part of a balanced breakfast. This doesn’t change in the winter time. Try a cereal that gets its sweetness from cinnamon or honey. It is better for you and fortified with vitamins and minerals we need every day. Supplement that bowl of cereal with a glass of orange juice or coffee and a slice of wheat toast for a quick and healthy breakfast before work or school.

During the winter, we naturally eat more food because we crave carbohydrates. It is the hibernation instinct in our bodies. To keep from looking oversized in the spring, continuing to watch what we eat in winter is essential. Try these breakfast alternatives to do just that.

Recommended:
Finally...Healthy Fast Food! '101 Fresh, Light and Quick Dinner Ideas' - and most can be on your table in 30 minutes!

What are you having for breakfast?

You know, fitness and nutrition guy Jon Benson has a humorous way of putting things that we all need to hear. I received this email from him today and had to share it with you. It's not only funny, it's true.





Read on...

Hello EJ

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6 Strange Dietary Bedfellows

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What do these six things have in common?

--- McDonalds

--- Renee Zellweger

--- Epileptic children

--- Yours truly

--- Most bodybuilding and fitness competitors

--- Kiefer Sutherland

Give up?

All the above employ the strategies of the low-carb dietplan.

Recently researchers have found that low-carb nutrition plan reduced the number of seizures in epileptic children.

Most of the world's leanest physiques get that way on a regimen, limited or not, of low-carbs and higher protein.

Even McDonalds is getting into the act.

Even Renee Zellweger.

Even Kiefer Sutherland.

Even me.

Kinda.

Read on and I'll explain what I mean...

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Why Low-Carb Works

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When McDonalds starts counting carb grams in their food, you know someone is either jumping on a trend or finally seeing the light.

In this case, both -- but it is a good thing. Low-carb dietplans. They work.

For the masses, they work because they are the easiest nutrition plan to follow when you're busy.

McDonalds and stars like Kiefer Sutherland figured this out. The busy on-the-go guy or gal doesn't want to make the time to prepare six meals per day and carry them around in Tupperware.

When choosing my own lifestyle nutrition plan, time and convenience played a major role. I looked at role models who were very busy, formerly obese, and very lean.

Most of them rely in some form or fashion on a low-carb strategy.

Low-carb also works, much to the hem and haw of traditional doctors and nutritionists, due to the way the body processes fuel.

For those of us fortunate enough to grow up on whole grains and very low-sugar mealplans, a moderate to higher-carb nutrition plan may work just fine.

But most of us grew up eating junk.

Processed foods, fast foods, and downright junk was the cornerstone of our dietplans. That puts your body on the "carb defense."

After years of abuse the body becomes resistant to carbohydrates. The insulin they produce can cause all sorts of health issues, fat-burning problems, and more.

When carbs are removed, even healthy carbs like whole grains, the body has time to re-adjust.

In some cases, you can go back to a moderate-carb plan with whole grains and fruits after a period of time.

In others, you are a "low-carber" for life.

Guess which one I am?

Finally, low-carb works because you tend to eat less. Fat is very satiating, and most low-carb plans are fairly high in dietaryfat.

So, in recap:

--- Easy and convenient;

--- Metabolically important for carb recovery;

--- Lower in total food volume (eat less)

Do not make light of that first point. Any plan that is not simple is one very few people will stick to. Making your plan simple and tasty is key, even if that plan is not "perfect" by nutritional standards.

Now, by far, the best low-carb dietplan in the world (yes, I'm bias for good reason!) is this:

click here ------ Every Other Day Diet

EODD works so well because your carbs are low for "most" of the time. Not "all" of the time. And the times when your carbs are not low you can enjoy your favorite foods.

Personally I enjoy pizza and burgers on my non-low-carb days. You can enjoy whatever you want if you just keep it reasonable.

You see, there's no need to diet-perfect.

Progress always trumps perfection.

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Why Low-Carb Fails

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There are two primary reasons for the failure of the low-carb nutrition plans: boredom and media bashing.

One causes irritability. The other, doubt. Unless you're certain that your plan will work, you will eventually go off of it.

This is true of any plan, no matter how ideal it is. Certainty rules.

That's why I believe in having a flexible, tasty plan like EODD.

Then boredom is easily solved.

I share my own unique ideas about "cycling" carbs and fats in the presentation here:

click here ------ Every Other Day Diet

Using my cycle strategy you will rarely if ever become bored. And your body will burn more bodyfat too. It's just a cheap metabolic trick...but boy, it works.

The second reason is media and medical bias. One study after another has proven that low-carb plans, even the Atkins plan, works and is safe to use for most people.

Check with your doctor first, of course.

I've seen researchers get down-right angry when the results come back. In one study, carried out for a full year, the low-carb plan out-performed the so-called "healthy" Dean Ornish plan.

Lower blood fats, more fatloss, and more energy were the results.

My preference always comes back to low-carb nutrition. I just cycle it in a way that allows me to get plenty of veggies, some grains, and ample fiber.

Even a slice of cheesecake here and there... : )

Hey...I said "low-carb", not "low-life!"

P.S. One of these days the mainstream medical community will wake up to the fact that 90% of the population will never eat 15 servings of veggies per day.

While this may be "optimal", it's not at all practical. I'd rather give you down-to- earth practical nutrition advice that you CAN and WILL follow -- and enjoy.

Makes sense, doesn't it?

click here ------ Every Other Day Diet

Jon Benson

6 Strange Dietary Bedfellows

Everyone needs physical activity in their daily lives. Exercise is not just for people trying to lose weight or get ripped. One way to have together time with family and stay healthy is to institute a family fitness time.



These days, even our kids are busy. They have homework, afterschool activities and friends that they like to hang out with. Our day is slammed as well. When we do get to come together, family time is important. To ensure that you get family time each day, though you are busy, let that time do double duty.



When your schedule is packed, any time that can serve dual purposes is a ray of light. Instead of you trying to find time to exercise alone, get the entire family together to exercises. This way, each person gets activity and you can use the time to bond.





Increase Motivation & Hold Each Other Accountable



One of the hardships of working out alone is that there is no motivation or accountability. Friends may work out with you sometimes but they have families too. With your own family, you have built-in motivators for each other. What was once seen as a chore is now fun family time because you are tackling it together.



Family fitness time has many benefits:



• Everyone participates and gains better fitness

• You can challenge each other

• You are more aware of the importance of eating well

• Your schedules can handle it



You have constant support 24/7. Instead of thirty minutes, you can stretch that time to an hour if you want to. Here are some suggestions for workouts as a family:



• Do a DVD workout

• Go bike riding

• Lift weights together

• Play video games that allow you to get up and move during play.



Each person can pick an exercise they love to do and introduce it to the group. On different days, let someone else lead your workout session. Each person stays involved and everyone benefits from the workout.



Weight training is for young and old alike. You, the kids and your spouse can spot each other and grow strong together. When everyone is involved, you can set up a dedicated area in your home for it. Dumbbells don’t take up much space and are not expensive. Be sure to have a variety of weight amounts in order to have the right weights for each age, but also to allow for growth.



No time to exercise in your busy day? Chances are there are others in your family that need the physical activity but have limited time as well. Decide to exercise together as a family to carve out the time you need to stay healthy. Not only do you benefit by being healthier, but the people you love the most do the same, and you get to spend quality time together to boot.

Institute Family Fitness Time

As a parent, you want what’s best for your children. You want them to be healthy and happy. One way to ensure they’re healthy is to inspire them to embrace exercise. If they learn to love to exercise as a child, they’ll be more likely to continue into adulthood.



Very young children seem to be a ball of perpetual motion. However, the older they get the less likely they are to stay active. Part of the reason children aren’t as active when they are growing up is that schools don’t stress physical education the way they once did. Parents also don’t feel allowing their child to play in the neighborhood is as safe as it once was.





One way to inspire kids to embrace exercise is to enjoy it yourself. If your children see you running, swimming, or doing some type of physical exercise, they’re going to understand how good it makes you feel. You can find an activity you can do as a family or as a parent and child.



Here are some ideas:



* Riding bicycles

* Roller skating

* Swimming

* Jogging or running

* Rock climbing

* Hiking

* Gymnastics

* Martial arts



Plan to spend a minimum of one half hour per day, three days a week, getting the family involved physically. Explain the benefits of staying active including building strong bones and muscles, keeping weight under control, decreasing the possibility of developing type 2 Diabetes, or having a better outlook on life. Being physically active can also improve your quality of sleep, as well as give you the energy you need to be able to do the things you want to do. Physically active children also do better in school.



Find activities to match your child’s age. Obviously very young children will become bored with the sameness of running. They might, however, enjoy running if it is part of playing outdoor games such as Red Rover or Tag. Make exercise fun and children of any age are more likely to continue with it.



Encourage them to become involved in a sport. Determine what your child is most interested in and then find something they can do. Does your child love to dance? They may be willing to try dance classes or gymnastics. Does your child dribble a ball without stopping? Enroll them in a basketball camp or team with children their own age.



Once they do become involved in a sport or a physical activity, do everything you can to be there for them. No one likes to play a sport without having someone there to root them on. It’s no different for children. In fact, if you become involved as a sport parent, you may improve your relationship with your child.



Knowing how to inspire kids to embrace exercise can be confusing but it doesn’t have to be. More than anything, your children will model what they see you do. If you’re active and exercise regularly, your children will be more willing to follow in your footsteps.

Inspire Your Kids to Embrace Exercise

Lose Weight by Getting Off of the Processed Food Train

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  Put five minutes to good use: Yes, believe it or not, there are exercises that can be packed into five minutes and which pack a punch as well in the weight loss and toning department. If you have five minutes to yourself, do three sets of squats, with 10 reps each. It’s actually going to take you less than five minutes to get through the entire exercise. You can alternate this with lunges, with three sets of 5 reps for each leg. You not only burn calories with this workout, you also tone your thighs and butt and prevent them from becoming flabby.


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  Watch what you eat: Even though you’re not exercising as you do regularly, your appetite is still going to remain the same. And when you consume more calorie than you burn, you know what’s going to happen – the flab is going to start appearing in places that stick out like sore thumbs. Your clothes become tight and you have to start your weight loss initiative all over again. So watch what you eat, and satisfy your hunger with foods that are filling, yet low in calories.


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  Work out when sedentary: If you’re in bed and reading a book or going over the day’s reports, do a few sets of leg lifts to keep your thighs and calf muscles toned and strong. If you’re seated at a desk all day, get up and walk around for a few minutes every two hours or so. Take the stairs up to your office and park away from the entrance so that you’re forced to walk some distance. And avoid a sedentary lifestyle as much as possible – if you’re watching television, try working out at the same time too.

Forced to Take a Break From Exercise? Here’s How You Can Maintain Your Weight...

Enjoy this very healthy breakfast smoothie that is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber that will give you the best possible start to your day.

Combine the following various fruits and orange juice in a blender and process everything until nice and smooth. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until well mixed.

Ingredients:

1 banana, chopped
1 kiwi, peeled
½ apple, chopped
½ cup of frozen mixed berries
1 cup orange juice
½ cup soy milk
½ cup low fat plain yogurt
3 tbsp unsalted peanut butter
2 tbsp flaxseed oil