FEATURED ARTICLES

• Abs Challenge
• Abs exercises
• Awesome Abs

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Written by Lisa Jillanza

It’s August and although swimsuit season is almost over, there is still time to work on those abs with this great monthly fitness challenge.

It’s AWESOME ABS AUGUST! Happy crunches! 

Day 1: 30 crunches

Day 2: 75 crunches

Day 3: 120 crunches

Day 4: 50 crunches

Day 5: REST

Day 6: 100 crunches

Day 7: 50 crunches

Day 8: 45 crunches

Day 9: 60 crunches

Day 10: REST

Day 11: 60 crunches

Day 12: 95 crunches

Day 13: 45 crunches

Day 14: 70 crunches

Day 15: REST

Day 16: 125 crunches

Day 17: 40 crunches

Day 18: 100 crunches

Day 19: 75 crunches

Day 20: REST

Day 21: 90 crunches

Day 22:75 crunches

Day 23: 80 crunches

Day 24: 100 crunches

Day 25: REST

Day 26:80 crunches

Day 27: 50 crunches

Day 28: 130 crunches

Day 29: REST

Day 30: 95 crunches

Day 31: 150 crunches

• eating tomatoes
• Benefits of Tomatoes
• tomatoes in your diet
• Healthy tomatoes

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Written by Lisa Jillanza

• Besides containing 40 percent of your daily value of vitamin C, it also contains 15 percent of your daily value of vitamin A, 8 percent of your daily value of potassium, and 7 percent of your recommended dietary allowance of iron for women and 10 percent for men.
• Lycopene, what gives tomatoes their red pigment, acts as an antioxidant, neutralizing free radicals that can damage cells in the body.
• Studies show that men who at least eat 10 servings of tomatoes a week can reduce their risk of developing prostate cancer by a whopping 45 percent.

Recipe: Tomato Casserole with Sweet Onions

• 6 medium tomatoes, peeled, cored and cut into wedges
• 1 large Vidalia onion or other sweet onion
• 1 teaspoon fresh dill, or scant ½ teaspoon dried dillweed
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, or scant ½ teaspoon dried leaf thyme
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2/3 cup fresh breadcrumbs
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil 

Place peeled tomato wedges on paper towels to drain.  Peel onions and slice into ¼-inch rings.  In separate bowl combine dill, thyme, salt, pepper and breadcrumbs.  Layer half of the tomatoes and onions in a lightly buttered baking dish and top with half of the minced garlic.  Sprinkle with half of the bread crumb and seasoning mixture, half of mozzarella cheese, and drizzle with half olive oil.  Repeat layers.  Bake in preheated 350-degree oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until bubbly.

Recipe: Corn and Black Bean Salsa

• 3 to 4 small ears of corn
• 1 can (15 to 16 oz.) black beans, drained and rinsed thoroughly
• 1 large tomato, seeds removed, diced
• 1 large clove garlic, minced
• ¼ cup minced red onion
• 2 to 3 tablespoons finely minced jalapeno or poblano pepper
• Juice of one lime, about 3 tablespoons
• 3 tablespoons fresh, chopped cilantro
• Dash salt and pepper, to taste

Grill or broil corn to char slightly; let cool. Combine remaining ingredients in a bowl.  Cut corn from cobs and add to the mixture.  Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving time.

 Great alternative to sauces, and is especially tasty

• heal sunburn naturally
• sunburn treatment
• heal your sunburn

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Written by Lisa Jillanza

Let’s face it, no matter how lathered up you are or how cautious you are this summer, at some point you may slip up and end up with a pretty nasty (and painful) sunburn.  Here are some easy ways for you to soothe the painful effects of sunburn:

• Take some aspirin to reduce redness and ease some pain.
• Cortisone creams, if applied within 6 hours of the burn, provide some relief.
• Pure aloe Vera gel can help cool down your skin and relieve discomfort.
• Avoid additional sun exposure while your skin heals.
• Chill and blend cucumber slices to create a cucumber paste to apply to your burned skin.
• Apply an ice compress, but not directly to the burned area to help constrict your skin’s capillaries.

• Better Mental Health
• Improve mental health

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Written by Lisa Jillanza

Continued from Part I…)

• Look around — notice those areas that need a make-over. We often get stuck in habitual patterns of behavior. Life is constantly evolving — things that used to work may no longer. Adjust accordingly.
• Avoid wearing all-grey clothes to work as this color is associated with passivity, low involvement. and a lack of energy.
• Make Sunday your personal-care day: get a massage, a mani-pedi, extra sleep, a delicious brunch, or catch up on leisure reading.
• Wake up 15 minutes earlier than normal during the week. Moving slowly and purposefully sets you up for a calm, peaceful day where you are in control. Not the other way around.
• Leave drama where it belongs: On Broadway or at the movies. Your central nervous system will thank you.
• Steer clear of jerks. And while you’re at it, don’t be a jerk yourself!
• Think faster. As counter intuitive as it may seem, mulling, over-analyzing, and delaying decisions doesn’t help. Trust yourself and decide, already.
• Remember that happinessis a habit. You can rewire your emotional template every day. Let these tips guide you.
• When distraction interferes with productivity, try the Pomodoro Technique: Work for 25 minutes, then take a break for 5 minutes. Repeat this sequence two more times. On the fourth round, take a longer break. Having an egg timer or mobile device helps keep track of time.
• Dance, skip, tell a joke, or do something you normally wouldn’t do that adds whimsy, spontaneity, and fun to your day.
• Focus on solutions rather than problems.

• Better Mental Health
• Improve mental health

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Written by Lisa Jillanza

Humans are complicated beings with complicated minds. According to one Science journal, we have anywhere between 12 and 50 THOUSAND thoughts per day.

With that many thoughts coursing through our heads each day, it’s no wonder that many people struggle with managing their mental health.

In this two-part article, we offer some psychological hacks to help you maintain more positive thoughts throughout your day. 

• Recognize all the times you got it right. Rather than wake up each morning anxiousabout what didn’t get done on the to-do list, focus on what’s going well.
• Protect your emotional well-being day with the Big Three: Quality sleep, lots of water, and slow, deep-breathing.
• Consider your options when catastrophic thinkingthreatens to derail your mood. Close your eyes (this helps to block out stimulation) and fill in the blanks: I am afraid of ________. The worst-case scenario would be ________. On a scale of 1-10, the likelihood of this happening is ________. If this happens, I can do ________ and ________ and ________, instead of worry, feel helpless or stuck.
• Talk less.You don’t need to explain yourself as much as you think you do.
• Share your talents. When things don’t go your way it’s easy to think you’re a failure. You’re not. Switch the dial and notice your unique gifts. Find someone to help out.
• Hug your family, friends and pets Don’t forget yourself — you need hugs, too.
• Spend a few extra minutes in bed each morning to focus on the day ahead and all the opportunities that await.

 (Continued in Part II…)