Zumba Your Way Into Shape

Zumba is mixes hypnotic and Latina rhythms. You get to let loose, dance, and burn calories. This is a great way to change up your workout and add some excitement. I had been one of those people who always did cardio and then weights. One of my friends invited me to this class and it was pretty challenging. I really liked it because I had fun and worked up a great sweat at the same time.

The first class is Free. There are classes on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursdays night. Below is the list of when and where

Mondays (7:00pm-8:00pm) - Cypress United Methodist Church - 13403 Cypress North Houston Rd, Cypress, TX 77429 (meet in the gym)
Tuesdays (6:30pm - 7:30pm) - Fred Astaire Dance Studio - Corner of Skinner and 290.
Thursdays (6:30pm - 7:30pm) - Cypress United Methodist Church 13403 Cypress North Houston Rd, Cypress, TX 77429 (meet in the gym)

For more information call (281) 773-2725 or email [email protected]

See what the fun is all about:

Are you young and have gray hair?

I am now 26 years old and I not only have gray hair, but I found my first gray eyebrow hair. My dad always tells me that my mom had a full hair by the time she was 35 and I am hoping that is not my case too. I have a sister who is 33 and she has not had one gray hair either. I was doing my morning reading and found some other reasons besides aging and genetics that people have gray hair. Below are some of the other reasons why your hair turns gray:

• Stress
• Smoking
• Medical Conditions, Nutritional deficiencies

I am not a smoker and I am really healthy. I don’t think I stress more than the average person, so for me it’s my genetics. The funny thing is that it’s only 1 hair that keeps coming back in the exact same spot. Hopefully it stays that way because getting your hair colored can be very expensive and damaging to the hair. Do you have issues with having grays?

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Small Changes = Big Benefits

I have always heard growing up that it’s the small things that make the big differences in life. For example, if you spend a little bit of time on your tennis swing each day, you will eventually perfect it. The same things go with healthy; if you do little things to maintain for your health then it will have a huge benefit in the long run. This came up as I was reading an article this morning on Yahoo! It was listing small changes you should make to help your health. Below are some of the little things I do to maintain my health:

• I eat every 2-3 hours so that my metabolism doesn’t crash.
• I spend 30 minutes to 1 hour a day with no phone. I read, journal or meditate.
• I had my Vitamin D levels checked. And turns out I didn’t have enough so my doctor prescribed me Vitamin D.
• Stay hydrated. Drink 48-64 ounces of water a day.
• Give yourself a compliment. Positive affirmations are a great way to boost self esteem.

These changes have not only made me physically healthier, but I feel mentally better as well. I think through the hustle and bustle of life we forget one of the most important things which is to take care of ourselves. What other changes do you recommend making?

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Take the Sting out of Bee Stings

Summer is here and so are the bees. I have a phobia of bugs, so anytime one comes near me I am running in the other direction. I have always been told that when bees come around it is best to stay still which is nearly impossible for me. I was doing my daily reading and found this great article on remedies for bee stings oh Shine. Below are the tips that I found most useful:

• Apple Cider Vinegar - Put some vinegar on a cotton ball and rub it on where the sting is located. This will keep the area from turning red and swelling.
• Aspirin - Create a paste using water and crushed up aspirin and then apply it to the sting to keep it from itching.
• Sugar - Wet your finger and then dip it in sugar and rub it on the sting.
• Onion - Cut a piece and rub it on the sting. This is supposed to help with the swelling.

What other remedies do you have to help with bee stings?

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5 Veggie Myths You Must Know

There are so many different suggestions out there regarding vegetable nutrition. Some sources say you should eat them raw and some say it’s better to cook them. I decided to take it a step further, I read about 10 various articles and put together the most common myths I found regarding vegetables. Below is the list I compiled of 5 Veggie myths you must know about:

1. Pre-washed means that you can eat your greens right out the bag. This is not true because there still can be bacteria and residue, so make sure to clean them before eating.
2. Potatoes make you fat. It’s not the actual potato, it’s the ingredients used to cook the potatoes.
3. Iceberg doesn’t have any nutrients. This is only half true, if you get a big head of iceberg lettuce it will have small amount of vitamins and minerals. It’s best just to get something like romaine lettuce.
4. Cooked veggies are less nutritious than raw veggies. This is only partially true; cooking them actually releases some of the vitamins and makes it easier to digest.
5. Fresh vegetables are better than frozen vegetables. This is not true because as soon as the veggie is picked it loses some nutrients. When you freeze it, you actually stop it from losing more opposed to fresh veggies.

What other veggie myths do you have to share?

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5 Ways to Keep Your Mind Sharp

I was talking to my friend about how we do the same routine every day. We got into a discussion about how we keep our minds from getting bored. At the end of my day I like to read books, this is a great exercise for the mind. I also like to meditate because this helps my mind focus and quiet down, I think that’s a very important skill to attain.

She told me that she had been struggling with this and found a great article about ways to keep your mind sharp. I read the article and definitely thought it was helpful. Below are 5 tips that are most useful:

• Do a brain teaser. Working crossword puzzles or doing sodukus helps get the mind going
• Relax. Stress can overwhelm you brain. Try yoga or meditation.
• Eat Fish. Essential fatty acids, such as Omega 3s, are critical to brain function.
• Get Your Rest. When we don’t sleep, a recent study found, proteins build up on synapses, possibly making it hard to think and learn new things.
• Eat regularly. This gives the brain a constant flow of energy through out the day.

What are other ways you keep your mind sharp?

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3 Tips to Stop Worrying

Hello to all the worriers out there!

Do you find yourself constantly worrying? I used to be like that, I would even do work in my sleep. That’s when I had to put a stop to it. I was talking to a friend about this and she had some great suggestions on ways to let things go. The suggestions that I have found most useful are:

• Listen to a calming CD. There are plenty of relaxation CDs out there to pick from. My favorite is Marianne Williamson. The CD has meditations for all aspects of live and really helps me stop the worrying.
• Journal. The best thing to do is get out all of the compulsive thoughts. I love to journal; it is very personal, no one can read it so I can get everything out without feeling I might sound stupid.
• Yoga. Exercise always helps your body release stress. For me, when I do Yoga I forget about everything because I am concentrating to hard on the poses. I also like to box, which I know is opposite type of exercise but it works.

What are other tips you have to stop stressing?

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Spring into Shape for Free

Next month is my birthday, so that means my gym membership will be going up. I am not sure if it’s worth my money to continue paying a gym membership when the apartment complex has a fitness center and I can always go outside or buy fitness videos.

After reading this article on Yahoo! the other day, I am leaning towards not renewing my membership. Some of the tips that I thought are very useful are:

• Go outdoors. You can either take a run/walk alone or join a bootcamp. I love the idea of a bootcamp; I think it will be a lot more motivational for me.
• Incorporate exercise into your daily life. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. During your lunch break, eat 30 minutes and walk 30 minutes.
• Find a high school or college stadium near you and run the stairs. Also, you can run sprints on the grass.
• Get a virtual personal trainer. There are many websites that offer free training programs.
• Get virtual fitness classes/programs. A very popular one right now is the PX90; I have not tried it myself. I have heard a lot of my friends say that it is very challenging.

Have you tried any of the tips above in your exercise regimen?

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