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- Written by Lisa Jillanza
If you are looking to “get fit” in 2018, take these three self-tests to find out how fit you are first!

How are your muscles? Do some push-ups. A 30-year old man should be able to 35 push-ups while a 30-year old woman should be able to do 45, while her knees are on the floor. For every decade after 30, the number of push-ups decreases by 5 for each gender.
How is your flexibility? Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you, slightly apart. Extend your arms placing your one hand on top of your other hand, fingertips forward and reach for the space in between your feet.
Women under the age of 46 should be able to reach at least two to four inches past your feet. Older women should be able to reach the soles of their feet. Men under the age of 46 should be able to reach the soles of their feet. Older men should aim to be within three to four inches of their soles.
What's your heart rate? Begin by exercising for 18 minutes at 80 to 85 percent of your maximum heart rate : for men, 220 minus your age; for women, 208 minus .82 times your age. Then exercise all out for three minutes. Check your pulse. Rest for two minutes and then check it again. Your heart rate should have dropped by at least 66 beats. The faster it drops the more fit you are.
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- Written by Lisa Jillanza
- Besides being an excellent source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids, salmon is also full of high-quality proteins and low in saturated fat.
- Salmon has nearly a third of the saturated fat of lean ground beef and 50 percent less saturated fat than chicken, making it one of the healthiest items that you could eat.
- Salmon is also low in calories. One serving contains approximately 183 calories, making it one of the lowest in calories among other fish.

Recipe: Honey-Soy Broiled Salmon
1 scallion, minced
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
1 pound center-cut salmon fillet, skinned and cut into four portions
1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
Whisk scallion, soy sauce, vinegar, honey and ginger in a medium bowl until the honey is dissolved. Place salmon in a sealable plastic bag, add 3 tablespoons of the sauce and refrigerate; let marinate for 15 minutes. Reserve the remaining sauce. Preheat broiler. Line a small baking pan with foil and coat with cooking spray. Transfer the salmon to the pan, skinned-side down. (Discard the marinade.) Broil the salmon 4 to 6 inches from the heat source until cooked through, 6 to 10 minutes. Drizzle with the reserved sauce and garnish with sesame seeds.
To toast seeds: Cook in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes.
Recipe: Smoked Salmon Dip
8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
½ cup sour cream
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon minced fresh dill
1 teaspoon prepared horseradish, drained
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 oz. smoked salmon, minced
Cream the cheese in an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until just smooth. Add the sour cream, lemon juice, dill, horseradish, salt and pepper, and mix. Add the smoked salmon and mix well. Chill and serve with crudités or crackers.
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- Written by Lisa Jillanza
It's the holiday season and for many people that also means it's the stressful season. Instead of sweating every little thing this year, try fighting off your holiday stress with these amazing, stress-fighting superfoods.

- Avocado : they give you a burst of vitamin B, which will help to keep you alert and awake, while reducing anxiety.
- Bananas : help to keep you energized and reduce your blood pressure.
- Brown rice : complex carbohydrates (like those in rice) help to raise your body's serotonin levels, without the carb crash that is typically associated with eating carbohydrates.
- Dark chocolate : also increases the levels of serotonin in the body, giving you those feelings of joy and happiness.
- Fish : the omega-3 fatty acids in fish help to lower adrenaline levels in the body, which can result in a calming effect in your mind and body.
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- Written by Lisa Jillanza
The road to a slimmer and healthier body is a difficult path. But overcoming these roadblocks only require a simple lifestyle overhaul. Liposuction is surely the quickest path to slashing pounds of fats accumulated through years of physical neglect. But this is neither the safest or most effective method of ensuring a healthier you in the future.
The best weight loss treatments are those that reinforce a healthy lifestyle. It is those daily habits that given time helps you get rid of those stubborn love handles but more importantly keeps it away forever.

Replace Fat with Muscles
Easier said than done but if done right it rewards you with healthier and shapelier figure. Whether it's walking a few extra blocks to the office or spending a couple of hours at the gym, getting rid of fats the natural way is devoid of risks and complications that surgery brings.
Building and toning your muscles is the next logical step after losing those unwanted fat deposits. So why wait when you can build those muscles while losing weight.
Build your Cardio
Cardio exercises such as high intensity training or running is a good way to burn fats. It is also a good way to naturally increase your body's metabolism. Living a sedentary lifestyle lowers your metabolism simply because your body does not require transforming fats into energy. When your body becomes accustomed to strenuous activity regularly, it prepares itself by increasing metabolism. This is to make energy readily available throughout the day.
Eat Healthy
Unhealthy eating habits is perhaps the biggest culprit in the overweight problems we face today. The overabundance of processed and fatty foods makes it easier for us to store those unwanted pounds.
Lower your calorie intake gradually
The best diets are those that work for you. Lowering your calorie intake suddenly only brings more troubles than solutions. You still require a considerable amount to maintain your normal body functioning. Cut your calories gradually. This gives your body the time to adjust to changes.
Load up on proteins
Increasing your protein intakes is essential when building muscles. But it is another good way of burning calories since more energy is required to breakdown protein. Replace those high calorie food with protein loaded meals. Satiate your hunger and help build those muscles.
Fortify with Iron
A well-rounded diet that focuses on all essential vitamins and minerals is essential. Iron improves blood flow. Better blood flow also increases metabolism. When you're trying to burn fats and live a more active lifestyle it is important that your body's supply of nutrients and oxygen is maintained with good blood circulation.
Turn up the heat with spicy food
Sweat is a clear indication that something in our body is heating up and eating spicy food is a good start. Eating spicy food gets our body heated up and so does our metabolism. It's a great way to bring something different into your daily diet without sacrificing your hard earned gains.
Stick to healthy fats
Yes, there's such a thing as healthy fats. Eating healthy does not mean eliminating one type of food or in this case staying away from fats. Fats are essential to our body's normal functioning so taking it off the table can do more harm than good. Fish is a good source of healthy fat. Salmons for example are rich in Omega 3 which actually reduces levels of cholesterol in the body.
Weight Loss and You
The first step towards achieving a healthier body is accepting that change is necessary. Even the best weight loss treatments are useless if you are not dedicated to the process.
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- Written by Lisa Jillanza
Weight gain could be a slippery slope where a few extra pounds could quickly turn into a wardrobe nightmare. Weight problems are mainly caused by two factors, unhealthy eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle. While some are genetically predisposed to suffer from easy weight gain, most overweight problems are due to simple lifestyle habits.
We've all been guilty of eating an extra piece of cake during the holidays. But the real problem is when we just can't stop ourselves from grabbing that extra piece of cake holiday or no holiday. And this is where eating disorders come in.

Binge Eating
Binge eating is simply not being able to stop yourself from eating. Binge eating is overeating or the loss of control and the general feeling of helplessness. But this is not commonly an overt behavior, people who suffer from binge eating do this in secret and away from the prying eyes of people. Feelings of guilt and depression after binge eating are also manifested.
Binge eating certainly leads to weight problems but this does not stop there. People are also at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes and other weight related problems.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is an eating condition where people overeat and try to eliminate their excessive food intake by vomiting, taking laxatives or inducing diarrhea. Bulimia nervosa is not merely overeating, this is out-of-control eating that goes beyond stuffing yourself full.
People who are suffering from bulimia nervosa are not always fat in fact some of them have normal figures. This is because people who suffer from bulimia nervosa are able to purge excess food from their system.
Anorexia Nervosa
At the other side of the coin is an eating disorder referred to as anorexia nervosa. Rather than being unable to stop yourself from grabbing the nearest edible concoction you see, you simply refuse to take any type of food for fear of becoming fat.
People exercise aggressively in an attempt to lose calories while refusing to eat. Exercising is a great way to lose those extra pounds but we should at least replenish the nutrients we lost. People suffering from this condition do not only actively reduce their food intake they also take laxatives, diuretics and vomit to remove the little amount of nutrients they have in their system.
Eating Disorders Summary
Statistics show that women tend to suffer from eating disorders more than men. Specific eating disorders are also more common in certain age groups and develop at an early age. Eating disorders could be developed and are also genetic. People with relatives who suffer from an eating disorder are more likely to develop this condition.
Heredity could be a contributing factor but far more concerning are the different environmental factors that come into play. While genetics is something that could not be controlled, external influences have a bigger role in the increasing number of people who suffer from eating disorders. The pressure to conform with what society considers as an attractive body has forced many to the path of anorexia nervosa.
Depression, anxiety and high levels of stress can also lead to comfort eating and eventually binge eating. The constant pressure at work and at home has left many people searching for an easy way to relieve stress.
We all have had our bouts with eating disorders at one part in our life. From our episodes of binge eating to extreme dieting what matters is that we have been able to overcome these situations. It only takes a few steps to slip into the dangers of eating orders. If you believe that you might already be suffering, talking with friends and families or getting the help of a health professional is the best way to treat this condition.
