2010?!

Already its almost time to pop those fireworks and celebrate a new year...where has the year gone?! It's probably going to be fun to watch the ball drop in New York City!

So we all know that it's time to celebrate and have fun, having fun is the most important part..but we gotta make sure we stay safe.. Here's a few safety tips to consider while poppin' those fire works..(Referencing The National Council on Fireworks Safety )

1.) Use fireworks outdoors
2.) Obey local laws regarding fireworks usage
3.) Don't give fireworks to young children
4.)Wear safety glasses while shooting fireworks
5.) Always have water nearby. (bucket or hose)

Holiday Challenge

During these bitter-sweet holiday times, we all must go through that feeling of, how am I going to stay in shape while I eat so much good food?! How do I monitor myself?

Well, I'm going to create a holiday season challenge.. With the new year right around the corner, make it an early new years resolution!

Each time a different goal and a different time to accomplish this. Remember though, when making a goal, you don't want to fixate yourself on the number of how much you weigh, that get's frustrating and creates more stress which totally throwing the plan out the window.

Goal: Work out at least 6 days a week, shed around 5 lbs.
Estimated ending date: 12/24/09

Pear Salad? ?

The holiday season is upon us...I'm sure you guys can feel the holiday spirit out there, the crazy malls, racing for the parking spots, and the cinnamon scented candles we all light at the table when the family and friends gather. Here's an idea on something healthy to bring with you to a holiday party or even prepare for you as well.

Crunchy Pear & Celery Salad

Cut up pears are tossed together with crispy celery and pecans. (mm sounds pretty good.) Got an urge to be italian? add some Parmesan and pine nuts!

"6 servings, 1 cup each

Active time: 25 mins
Total time: 25 mins"

Please visit eatingwell.com for a complete list of ingridents and preparation instruction.

Blogging away

Blogging has opened up a new door for me.
Honestly, I didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I do. It's kind of nice to be able to have a way to share the information that I know, and that I'm learning. It's also pretty neat because it's reinforcing what I've learned in a sense. Being able to write for the school paper has been such an opportunity and I'm so thankful that I'm getting that experience. It's made writing easier for me; it's easier to write my essays for my other classes, and I've learned more about myself and how my brain organizes things.
Having this blog is exciting too because I can post pictures, and read other peoples blogs about things that catch my interest. There is everything out there! It's such a vast open cyber space world. I'd definitely like to keep this blog going, or a blog in general. Mainly because it's a way of confirming what I know, and learning as I go. Somethings that I've written about, I've known about, but haven't really done much research. SO, it forces me to read and look up these things. It's all a learning experience. It was a tad bit difficult because you have to take into account that it's probably the best idea to use your own photos that you take, so that no photos are stolen off of websites.
I probably would have added more pictures and videos to my posts. I'm guessing it would make them more appealing to the eye and catchy. I try to add humor, and voice to my posts so that it's almost like listening to a person talk.
SO, with that being said, it was a great experience, and I hope to continue it!

calm down on those fun party nights...

OK so drinking with your friends..seems fun right? but it's not the smartest thing to drink a lot..especially to the point of slurred speech, and not being able to walk straight.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), that even drinking moderately can lead to short-term memory impairment. (doesn't sound too appealing huh?)

The NIAAA lists some points as to what influences and how much alcohol affects the brain..some of the points include:

-the age the person began drinking, and how long they've been drinking
-how much they drink and how often
-age, education level, gender, genetic background and if there's a family history of alcoholism

Those who drink large amounts of alcohol for a long period of time are at risk of developing serious damage to the brain. The alcohol can either serve an effect directly to the brain or through general health, or severe liver disease.

Thiamine deficiency is common with those who drink a lot..It's the B1 vitamin that is required in all tissues, which includes the brain.

Next time you're out drinking, take a second to think before you decide to pick up another bottle

Outdoor Concert @ KCC !

Outdoor Concert on Dec. 11, 2009
from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on the Great Lawn at Kapi'olani Community College

They will have student talent, Tom Gullikson, slam poetry club and the Gods of Hi-Fi.
Food will also be provided from Cooke Street Diner.

Healthy Fun Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is the DAY that we all use as an excuse to eat A LOT.
Here are a few tips to have a healthy, yet still fun thanksgiving; and try not to overeat.

1.) Try to avoid salt..
salts famous thing to do is add flavor to our food, which our mouths might like, but our bodies don't. It causes our bodies to retain water, which then makes us feel bloated. Hypertension(high blood pressure) is also caused by too much salt; you may even have it and not even know. spooky right? avoid the salt my friends.

2.) Appetizers-include veggies
Throw in some of your daily veggies on thanksgiving to make sure you get in some good greens. You could even use reduced-fat sour cream and low-fat yogurt.

3.) Organic turkey
Oganic turkeys are a good choice as well because they don't have bad stuff in them. Things like antibiotics arn't good for our bodies. Whole Foods Market has organic turkeys available.

Calculate your BMI

BMI or Body Mass Index is when you measure the amount of fat based on your height and weight, applying to both women and men.

BMI is connected to death and disease; so it is important to keep track of your total body fat.

Click to find calculate your body weight to find out if you're in a healthy range.

Kick out stress

A few tips to help you manage stress:

1.)"Accept what you can't control,"
somethings we just need to know that we can't control it, as well as we can't control everything. We just have to try to stay calm and accept it and just relax.

2.) "Put it in perspective,"
everydayhealth.com says to take a step back and ask yourself if this issue will be important a year or five years from now, if not, than just take a deep breath and chill.

3.) "Express your feelings,"
express yourself. bottom line, just do it. Don't hold your feelings inside, they will just sit there and boil. It does feel better to let out those feelings doesn't it?

everydayhealth.com says that certain things 'spike' the occurance of stress. Things like a a huge issue at home, work or school in our case.

You notice it's easier to deal with situations when you're not stressed and can think with a clear head.

exercise isn't the only solution

Only exercising isn't the final solution in losing weight..
Part of it also is your diet.
When I work out, I'm starving after, and it's so easy to pick up a nice lunch and eat it and think, oh I worked out, that's OK.

Truth is, even though you burned calories in your work out, you're just eating them back right after!

If you want to lose weight, you have to change your eating habits too, even if it's reluctantly. Just think about the postive outcomes if you do. : )

Reading Larry Krutka's Fitness blog on the everydayhealth Web Site, he says that an 16 oz sports drink can add on 40 percent of those calories you just burned off; looking at a 170lb person who burned 250 calories on an elliptical. Almost half of 250 calories burned, from a sports drink. WOW.

SOLUTION: WATER, it's probably the best bet to quinch your thirst and it also hydrates your body after sweating for 30 minutes.

Holiday Health Treat

Mmm...the holidays are approaching and the thought of a full table of yummy food to fill your stomach! Yes..but then comes the days following the big eating.

Here's a nice recipe to try out, and way to enjoy the holiday food fun and keep it healthy. I embedded this link so that you can get a picture of what this dessert looks like too, along with the recipe.
Creamy Yogurt Cheesecake , it can't get any better...

Engergizer Bunny

Barely waking up on time for class, sleeping on your homework books an working late hours, studying and just trying to make a living as a college student gets tough.

That's when we lean to those trusty energy drinks to give us a kick through the day.

They actually arn't the healthiest choice for energy before a work out, or to keep you going.
Two common known ingredients are Taurine and Caffine.

Instead of picking up a sugared out energy drink before working out, shape.com suggests trying out a banana or granola bar.

We all know that Halloween is right around the corner...and the thought of candy for one night is so welcoming, yet pushed away.

It's OK to splurge for one night right? or will the collection of candy at home and the cheap bags at Price Busters make the one night splurge last weeks???

You don't have to give up having some fun on Halloween, (even if it's been a few years since you've trick-or-treated) Take a look at these few suggestions of healthier treats. (visit Reader's Digest for more).

1.) Organic Dark Chocolate Bug bites (can be found at Whole Foods Market)
2.)Organic FruitaBu Smooshed Fruit Flats Rolls and Twirls
3.)FruitziO Strawberries (dried fruit)
(My Opinion Below)
4.) Back to Nature Chocolate Chunk Cookies (usually around $5 at Whole Foods Market)
5.) Back to Nature Fudge Mint Cookies (usually around $5 at Whole Foods Market)

keep it up

Out of personal experience, it feels great once you start to see the results of the working out and healthy eating...but the hard part can sometimes be keeping up the routine you just started.

There's that one week where it's just so busy it's easy to say, "oh I'll just work out tomorrow."
Then the entire week passes by and you haven't done an ounce of working out.

Staying motivated is definitely tough. Then while you do make it to the treadmill, or walking in the neighborhood, 30 mins just crawls by...Try a few of these things to keep your mind off of how long you're working out.

1.) listen to some music (no sad slow songs either, but some fast-paced, minute blasting music)
2.) find a friend
3.) consider your environment (pick somewhere fun, and safe, that provides satisfaction)

Those are just a few ways to stay motivated, but make sure you have your goal set before you begin working out so you know what your shooting for and your mind is ready for the procrastinating.

Check out more ways to stay motivated on the everydayHealth Web Site.

buy 'em

another tip..
you can buy a heavy rope, which makes jumping rope even harder.

The cost of jump ropes range from a few dollars to at least $25 dollars. expensive at some point, but it's totally worth it.

be a kid, jump rope

Don't be afraid to be a kid again, dig out that jump rope you have in your closet and relive the memories.

The first thought might be, jumping rope is for kids, yes, but it's for us college kids and any age pretty much.

Bill Maeda, personal trainer at FitPro Hawai'i, has had me jump rope for 2 minutes non-stop. 2 minutes, simple? NOPE. It's actually quite difficult to keep it up. It gives you a total body work out, and great cardio.

It's possible to get a 15 minute workout in and burn more calories than running on a treadmill for 30 mins. It's a simple exercise and most effective that can be done at home (shapefit.com), in an open space, like in the living room, kitchen or outside.

you don't have to be alone

Tired of walking by yourself?
Bring a friend along with you and talk away 2 hours in a snap. When you have someone else with you, it can easily take your mind off of the "i'm working out trying to lose weight or stay fit," mindset, which can be a drone and monotonous sometimes.


Keep in mind that you don't have to spit out so much money to go to a gym to work out, especially too if you don't have the time. A minimum of 30 minutes a day is okay. You can also split up the work times, like 10 minutes here and there if it's too hectic to drop everything for 30 minutes.

Broccoli punches out cancer

To make the salad healthier, it's good to get a mix of greens. Darker greens have more nutrients and also it's good to have a variety of colors. Don't forget to add broccoli to the mix also, even if it may not be a favorite vegetable among people.

Scientists at the Johns Hopkins University found that broccoli has "cancer-fighting potential."

To read more broccoli and it's cancer-fighting potential click here.

Exercise of the Week

(Photos will later be provided)

Sit-ups is one of the most common talk about exercise. It's simple, easy-to-do, and you can do it in your own home, or anywhere. It's learned in high school, personal training routines, and has expanded over time into a variety of ways to accomplish the, 'flat-stomach' swim suit look.

This exercise is fun, challenging and will show results. Just grab a towel or mat from the closet and lay it out on the floor.

1.) Lay down flat on your back and interlock your fingers behind your head. (prepare for doing a sit up) This time you won't need someone to come and hold your feet to the ground like in high school gym class.

2.)Lift up your body, not all the way towards your knees, and use your core (abs) to life you up so there's no strain on your neck. You don't have to be lifting up very high either, when or if you start to shake then you're working your core muscles.

3.) Then lay back down, but not so your head touches the ground again, but so that your core muscles are still engaged. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for at least 2 sets (15-18.) A break can be taken in between if needed.

After this just lay back on the ground and finish your workout, add to it or whatever you want to do. But this move will help you gain results that you want. It's not over night, and consistency is the key rather than the intensity of your working out. You can sweat all you want, work out for hours on end, but if it's only one time a week, than it's not exactly considered consistency. Eating healthy is also half the battle. That's another story though.

Floor Work..does what?

After spending hours of studying and reviewing for finals, quiz's and homework, it's important to take a break for some 'me' time.

Of course it's great to sit back and flip on the TV because its right there and all that has to be done is lift your hand, woo hand work out? Nope. It's not all that healthy either to have your eyes glued to another screen.

Cheap and simple, just lay out a towel for some floor work. You don't need any special work out equipment, just your own body weight. Come on, you don't have to spend money on your body weight. Quite few exercises can be done in your dorm room, or living room and pretty much anywhere. Just lifting your own body weight can tone you up and keep you strong. The results of course don't show up in just one day (though that would be nice,) it takes time, and patience is key.

If you do have a set of weights, you can use those to tone your arms, but you don't have to exhaust yourself and use 25 lb weights, which will really bulk you up; that's what lifting heavier does. If you use lighter weights 3-8 lbs, 16 reps and perhaps 2 sets, you focusing more on being tone, and lean. You won't turn into a huge body builder. You'll just be staying in shape

Walking? Really?

Walking is one of the best things you can do to keep your body healthy.
It's considered one of the best things to stay fit. Walking regularly helps to keep your body trim and to release stress and those feel-good endorphins.

Walking is also easier on your knees, hips and joints, especially if you're a person who likes to be outside or can't afford the gym. To get a good work out in you don't HAVE to go to the gym. Running on a treadmill is always better because the footing supports the body by giving a bounce back so it's not so shocking on your knees. Walking provides less shock.

It can also reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, hip fracture and glaucoma, and a plus is is that the side effects are very low. Of course after walking or any sort of working out, it's so important to spend at least 15 minutes stretching out your muscles. Walking is also a helper to reduce blood pressure, and just like Cheerios it can make your cholesterol be at a healthy rate.

Studies also link walking to reducing the risk of breast cancer and type 2 diabetes. How easy is that? Just making walking a part of everyday life can make such a huge difference.

The hardest part is putting on your shoes and getting yourself out the door with out getting distracted by your favorite TV show playing in the background. Just think of how good you'll feel once you get out.

Even though walking doesn't often work up a huge sweat like running, you get your heart pumping, and why not choose a fun place to go? Choose somewhere that's got hills and or a slight incline to get that heart pumping faster and to up your heart rate.


Click for more info on walking.

Whole Foods Sale

Relief is finally here...the salad bar is now $6.99/lb on Wednesdays at Whole Foods.

I'm sure I'll be heading down to whole foods to pick up a delicious salad.

Sometimes we're disappointed that Kahala Mall's Whole Foods is somewhat expensive; depending on what and how much you get.

The hot foods and salad bar is paid for by weight, and the create your own sandwich is already priced out at $8.99 or $7.99 depending on the type of sandwich you get.

Now the salad bar can be enjoyed cheaper than before at only $6.99/lb.

(The more I think about how much it costs, the more I start to wonder if my eyes and ears saw and heard the right thing.)

Top 3 Hikes

(sneak peak of the view from the top of koko head)

Keep in mind these 3 places to get in a good hike...

1. Mariner's Ridge

Along one of Hawai'i Kai's beautiful ridgelines leading you along side Hahaione valley and looking over at the neighboring Kamehame Ridge. It's not much of a beginners trail, but it's simple to follow along. The view of East Honolulu is worth 'the hold onto your hats' (windy) hike

2. Kamehame Ridge

Simple paved road up to the mountain top. It's located at the back of the neighborhood, but it's a slight incline, which makes it quite a breathy walk. When you reach the top you'll find the jumping off point for hang gliders and such.

3. Koko Head

I wouldn't call it a full blown hike, but it's quite a trek up 1,048 steps; something of that sort. The breathtaking view from the top is worth all the water breaks and panting sessions.

Not only are you getting a good work out, but you're having fun and not really thinking about how tired you are, and that you're staying healthy.