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Six Ways to Get Back on Track

FitSugar — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 03:30:00 -0700

Sunday mornings may start out lazy, but by the time afternoon rolls around, I always feel like it is time to get back on track. Creating a simple routine helps me make sure I have all my duckies in a row, from clean gym clothes packed in my gym bag to a meal plan for the week and steel cut oats started for breakfast. I love ending my weekend with a nice relaxing soak in the tub, which helps me sleep better so I start my upcoming week refreshed and ready to go.

Here are my suggestions for how to get back on track after a busy weekend.

What do you do to ensure that you start your week off on the right foot? Tell me how you get back on track in the comments section below.

If You're Drinking This Holiday Season, Go Green

FitSugar — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:28:54 -0800

To me, being healthy involves more than exercise and a balanced diet - I also try to live in ways that are eco-conscious and sustainable. I recycle, eat organic and local food, and do my best to cut down on waste. I feel better knowing that I'm helping preserve our planet, and a good state of mind is essential for healthy living!

This philosophy shouldn't stop at cocktail hour. Luckily, there are more choices than ever before when it comes to organic alcohol. Since the holidays often involve parties and grand meals, why not choose responsibly made alcohol if you're imbibing this season?

To see a list of organic spirits, beer, and wine, read more.

Tru Organic Vodka ($20). Tru vodka is made from organic ingredients, and the company plants a tree in Central America for every bottle sold. The company uses less glass to produce its bottles, and the glass that is used is recycled. Top that off with a synthetic cork, soy-based ink, and packaging that converts into a shelf and you've got yourself a carbon negative rating! Aside from its straight vodka offering, choose from lemon or vanilla flavored vodka too.
Casa Noble Tequila ($40-130). Award-winning Casa Noble is made from 100% organically farmed Blue Agave plants and is USDA certified organic. All the tequila is made harvest-to-bottle on the Casa Noble estate where water usage is carefully monitored and organic cleaning products dominate. Choose from silver, resposado, anejo, single barrel resposado, and single barrel anejo.
Juniper Green Gin ($20). Juniper Green has the bragging rights of being the first organic gin ever, and is made using organic ingredients like grain, juniper, and coriander. Besides being USDA certified it also has certification from the British Soil Association for its use of sustainable farming practices.
Papagayo Organic Rum ($28). The organic sugarcane used to make Papagayo single estate rum comes from small family farms in Paraguay, and the rum is distilled using organic practices. Available as a white or spiced rum.
Benromach Organic Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($60). The raw ingredients of Benromach are all organic, and the company is certified by the British Soil Association. Though it's not reclaimed wood, its casks are made from materials that come from sustainably managed forests.
Parducci Wine ($12). Parducci wines are not only affordable they are made using organic grapes from family owned farms and come delivered in eco-friendly packaging. The Parducci estate uses solar and renewable energy to power itself, as well as sustainable farming practices.
Domaine Carneros Sparkling Wine ($30). Made from organic grapes, bubbly from Domaine Carneros is also vegan. (If you didn't already know champagne and sparkling wine has animal products like egg whites in them.) The winery uses solar power and is a big fan of composting.
Wolaver's Organic Ale ($10 for a 6-pack). Wolaver's uses organic ingredients and its sustainable farming practices include the use of bio-diesel fuel, free-air refrigeration and relying on local ingredients. The company also donates profits to research in organic farming. There are eight varieties available that include pale ale, oatmeal stout, and alta gracia coffee porter.

Get the Dirt on Olympic Champion Bode Miller

FitSugar — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 03:00:28 -0800

When I heard that Hannah Teter was moving off the grid and into a yurt, I was incredibly impressed - talk about green living to the extreme! Well, it looks like Hannah isn't the only member of Team USA to take eco-consciousness to the next level. Five-time Olympic medalist and vegetarian Bode Miller is living my dream of owning an organic farm.

I think I may have developed a tiny crush listening to Bode talk about his love of farming and everything organic in this video. Fun fact: Bode grew up in a home without electricity or running water. His parents were organic farmers too, so it totally makes sense that they imparted this valuable craft onto him.

Kirstie Alley Lost 20 Pounds With Organic Elixir?

FitSugar — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:30:38 -0800

Is it me or does it seem like Kirstie Alley's weight is always in the news? She's losing weight, then gaining it, and now she's lost some again. According to People magazine, Kirstie has dropped 20 pounds off her frame. She has narrowed down her issues and knows her "two biggest hurdles in weight loss and maintenance are cravings and too big of an appetite." To get back on the road to a healthy figure, she's developed a weight-loss program that specifically deals with those two issues. It's called Organic Liaison, and it's the first ever USDA-approved certified organic weight loss program. The plan is designed to be healthy, easy, convenient, tasty, affordable, and something you can stick with for the rest of your life.

I was excited to hear all this, until I found out that the "program" is really just a bunch of supplements. The Rescue Me elixir is a formula "packed with essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients, [which] helps to reduce cravings while giving you an energy boost." Kirstie basically says it works because it's organic, and when you drink it, you won't be hungry so you end up losing weight. I'm sorry, but I'm not buying it. I am not a fan of weight loss supplements, organic or not.

Apparently the program is working for Kirstie, and her progress will be chronicled on her new reality TV show, Kirstie Alley's Big Life, which debuts March 21. Tell me, do you think these weight loss products will get her healthy once and for all, or do you think it's just another turn on her roller coaster weight loss ride?

Are You an Organ Donor?

FitSugar — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 03:47:00 -0800

Except for my visits to the DMV, organ donation is not something I think about that often. Luckily, I've never needed an organ and neither has anyone close to me. I do have the organ donor sticker on my license though - if the possibility exists that I can give someone a second chance at life, then I'm all for it.

This month, a new law went into effect in Israel that encourages more of the county's citizens to become organ donors. If you become an organ donor, then you receive priority treatment if you ever need a transplant yourself. Israel has an alarmingly low rate of donors - about 10 percent of its adults. In America, a recent survey showed that although 95 percent of Americans support organ donation, only 40 percent are registered donors.

These numbers are only a reflection of deceased donors - people who donate their organs after they die. There is also a growing need for living organ donors - people who are willing to donate their kidney, or a portion of the liver, lung, intestine, or pancreas while living. And while we may have more organ donors than other countries, there are still over 100,000 people in the United States waiting for lifesaving organ transplants.

I'm curious . . .

Should You Splurge on Organic Beer?

FitSugar — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:00:11 -0800

When grocery shopping, you'll discover that organic fruits and veggies can be more than twice as expensive as conventional versions. But for some produce, I think it's worth the splurge knowing they weren't sprayed with chemicals. What about organic beer? Is it healthier to buy a six-pack of Wolaver's Organic Ale for $10 instead of a much cheaper sixer of Budweiser?

To find out read more.

Organic beer is made with ingredients such as hops and barley that are grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Organic agriculture is better for the environment since it doesn't contribute to chemical runoff that contaminates water sources and the ecosystems that they support. Another plus is that makers of organic beer think that healthier ingredients lead to better fermentation, which means better tasting beer. Some say organic beer tastes fresher and bolder, although I've never really noticed a huge difference.

The decision about going organic when it comes to drinking beer is up to you. If you're concerned about what you put into your body and how your food choices affect the planet, then a few extra bucks on beer seems well worth it. Remember that organic beer still contains alcohol and you'll still suffer from a massive headache and bellyache if you drink too much, so drink your organic beer in moderation!

Tell me, do you drink organic beer?

Organic Food No Healthier Than Conventional?

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Everywhere you turn lately, it seems more and more foods are being labeled organic. It's definitely been a huge craze, although sales have fallen since the recession. Sales may fall even further after people hear about a new study published Wednesday that states organic doesn't mean healthier when it comes to nutrition

A review of 162 scientific studies carried out over the past 50 years found no significant difference between organic and conventional in regards to health benefits. Although, individual studies have found organic produce is higher in vitamin C than conventional produce. There have been similar findings when comparing the antioxidant levels of organic tomatoes with conventional, with the organic ones containing almost twice as many healthful nutrients.

So if your main concern is quality of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, then there's no need to spend the extra dough. However, if you're worried about ingesting chemical pesticides, or want to support farming practices that have the least negative impact on our planet, then continue to splurge on organic foods.

Tell me, will this news change your grocery shopping habits?

Source: Flickr User A.D.A. ~ Anna Duncan Art

Food Review: Ultima Organic Blueberry Blue Corn Cereal

FitSugar — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:00:33 -0800

Being a big fan of blue corn chips (one of my weaknesses), you can imagine how psyched I was to see a cereal made with blue corn. Barbara's Bakery has a whole line of Ultima Organic cereals, and Blueberry & Blue Corn is the latest flavor.

Based on looks, the cereal appears rather ordinary, right? To find out if the cereal lived up to its bland looks and see how much fiber is in a serving, keep reading

Organ Lessons: The Pancreas

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:47:02 -0800

It's time to take some organ lessons, but not the musical kind. I'm going to teach you about your internal organs, starting with the pancreas.

November is National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, devoted to educating people about the disease that took the life of Patrick Swayze earlier this year. If you're like most people, you probably don't know exactly what the pancreas does, so read on to learn more.

Chocolate Gets Even Yummier

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 03:47:03 -0800

I'm a sucker for Valentine's Day, mostly because I'll take any excuse you throw at me to eat chocolate. Heck, even my doctor says I should incorporate a little bit of dark chocolate into my diet - it can soothe a cough, increase blood flow, and lower blood pressure. Dark chocolate is also full of flavonoids, the antioxidant family that help protect the heart.

Since dark chocolate helps the heart, it makes total sense that it's the perfect Valentine's Day gift. Spread the love even more by buying chocolate that's organic, Fair Trade, or health-inspired. Trust me, your sweetie will love you even more for it!

The Bacchanal bonbons ($35) from Cocoavino are made to enjoy with red wine - talk about antioxidant overload! Chocolate from Cocoavino is organic and Fair Trade certified, made with wind power, and sold in eco-friendly packaging.
Forget Nestlé Crunch; Dark Quinoa Chocolate bars ($5) from Alter Eco give you that same crunch except with a tiny burst of protein. Alter Eco sources all of its ingredients from Fair Trade farms and also helps fund community development programs.

To see what other chocolate made the cut, read more.

The Belle of the Berries ($22) box from Lillie Belle Farms is completely organic and made from raspberries, strawberries, and marionberries straight from the Lillie Belle Farm in Oregon.
Pilates inspired chocolate? With a "Roll Like a Ball" truffle, you betcha. The Pilates Mind & Body Chocolate Set ($12) is made with dark chocolate and good-for-you stuff like goji berries, green tea, blueberries, and ginger.
Vosges chocolatier Katrina Markoff fuses her premium chocolates with things like curry, wasabi, and ginger. We especially like Vosges because of its yoga and chocolate weekend workshops. If you can't get to one, buy the Yoga + Chocolate Chakra ($44) gift box instead. It includes inspirational quotes and music to do yoga to.

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