Scaling Back the Stress with Guest Blogger: Olivia Starke

Chat with author Olivia Starke
today at the Book Boost!

She's here to share her low stress methods to getting healthy in the new year and here's what she had to say...


The first day of January marks the start of a new diet for many people. There are countless eating plans to choose from, new ideas for fad diets, new exercise gadgets with big promises—it’s enough to make your head spin. I’m not a fitness or health professional, but I’d still like to offer a few common sense tips I’ve learned over the years to help those on the diet roller coaster.


* Throw out that cursed scale! This is an ugly little mechanism that can set you up to fail. We are more than the numbers that little needle points to, and depending on bone structure, natural amount of muscle weight, and fluctuations in monthly water retention, you can yo-yo. Seeing the needle creep up five pounds could simply be water from stress or hormones.

Comparing yourself to a ‘national standard’ can be equally disheartening. What works better is going by how your clothing fits. If your jeans are still tight after 3 days then adjust your eating/exercise.


* It takes ONE WEEK to gain fat. If you overindulge one day—or even two, all is not lost :) And don’t beat yourself up, just increase exercise, and maybe eat some more veggies for a few days to make up for it.


* Pay attention to your natural eating cycles. There are days in the month I want to eat everything in sight, and I accept this as normal for me and I don’t obsess over it. I usually end up eating less after, and it balances itself out. I also allow myself to put on a few pounds in winter—again I’m just following my body’s rhythms.


* If you’re craving a decadent dessert, grab a cookbook and find a wonderful recipe to make it yourself. Creating it, then serving it beautifully plated allows you time to get that craving under control so you’ll eat smaller portions. Plus, you’ll probably avoid the guilt of indulging when you’re involved in the creation. I keep baking supplies readily available, including common substitutes for baking such as cinnamon apple sauce for oils and eggs.


* Fall in love with hot salsa! Healthy, fat-free, and low calorie, you can pair it with most main dishes, and the spicier you can take it the better. It helps cut down on your portion size, plus you’re getting some veggies in the trade off. In the evenings if you get a salt craving, instead of potato chips grab some tortilla chips and salsa.


* Try a new workout—even if you think you’ll hate it. I personally abhor riding a bicycle, yet I love spin class after I finally gave it a shot! Don’t sell the idea short, you may find a new passion. I also discovered I love running—its meditation time for me.

Fitness isn’t one size fits all and it’s up to you to find what works best for your personality. Our bodies are amazing creations and I hope you’ll find your best way of honoring it :)


A Note from the Book Boost: I'm totally with you on the salsa! I'm a salsa fanatic. Good stuff. Thanks for sharing your tips with us and please tell us more about your newest release.


Blurb:

Ashley Adams signed up with the 1NightStand service in hopes of stirring up some cougar passion in her lackluster life. When she meets tall, dark, and oh-so-sexy Justin, the sparks fly.

But something deeper lies in their magical connection, something she isn’t prepared for. Will a casual one-night stand change her life forever?

Want More Olivia?

Visit her on the web here: www.authoroliviastarke.com

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http://romancingthepentoday.blogspot.com

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