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Time Management
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September 2008 |
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Fresh From The Farm:
This week I received the following produce from my CSA (community supported agriculture)on Long Island.
*yellow and red cherry tomatoes *sweet corn
*large tomatoes *green beans *mesclun lettuce
*purple peppers * purple basil
*cylindrical beets *peaches
*plums
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Greetings!
Hopefully over the past month you have all had time to rest and relax and get yourself ready for the "back to school" month of September. I know for me I was lucky enough to spend a few days by the ocean and instantly felt rejuvenated and refreshed. I love the feeling of change and new beginning that September brings, it is like an early New Year. The warm summer nights start to cool off and reminds us that fall is right around the corner. September always make me want to make some change and adjustments in my life. This year, September brings about a lot of exciting changes and I am thrilled to share them with you
- I'm pleased to annouce the beautiful relaunch of my website www.appetiteforhealthyliving.com. If you have not logged on to the new site I invite you to do so at this time. Thanks to my brilliant graphic designer Jen!
- Towards the end of the month I will be offering weekly vinyasa yoga classes in the flatiron district. Stay tuned for details to follow!!
- On September 21st I will not only be competing in but will also be a sponsor of the Westchester Triathlon. If you are particpating in the event come stop by my booth at the expo. There will be free healthy food samples, recipes and more!
- I have just joined Team in Training for the Annual Disney Marathon! I will be raising funds for the Leukimia and Lymphoma Society - a disease that is dear to my heart as my grandfather passed away from it 10 years ago. I'd love for your support in helping me raise funds, please click here to go to my TNT homepage and make a donation. Thank you!
What are your September resolutions? What do you hope to achieve in this "new year"?
Be Well, Liz |
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Time Management
Have you ever wished for a few more hours in the day? Why is it that some people seem to get everything done effortlessly and others feel that time constantly eludes them? The secret to managing your time well isn't working more hours. The secret is working smarter, not harder. It is about prioritizing the important things and learning to use the time you have more efficiently and effectively.
Rather than beating yourself up, realize that time management is an area of your life that you can strengthen. Like a new muscle, it takes practice and repetition to make it stronger. To help you get started, here are some steps to streamline your days at work and at home. Try the first one or two that jump out at you:
- Allocate time for planning and organizing.
- Create to-do lists that are realistic, not intimidating. Use only one to-do list.
- Under-schedule your time: Leave time for the unexpected and for interruptions. When you estimate how long something will take, add on a third of that time.
- Schedule your time in a way that reduces interruptions that lower your productivity.
- Eliminate trivial tasks.
- Prioritize what is most important and do that first.
- At what time of day do you work best? Plan to do your most important work at that time.
- If you say yes to everything that comes your way, learn to say no.
- Ask for help and delegate.
- In the evening make your to-do list for the next day, so it will be out of your brain and on a piece of paper. Leave work with a clear head and a clean desk.
- Acknowledge yourself daily for all that you have accomplished.
Also take a look at the two biggest hindrances to using time effectively: procrastinating and lacking purpose. We usually procrastinate when a task seems too daunting, too large or too complex, or when we feel we won't be able to handle it. When you get that "deer in the headlights" feeling, try "chunking": break the large task into smaller, manageable action steps and start with the first one. We also often drag our heels or use our time inefficiently because we are bored, unengaged and uninspired. The most effective people will tell you that they love what they do and are aligned with a greater purpose. When it comes to managing your time, you may need to ask the larger questions, "Am I doing what I love to do? Am I doing something meaningful to me?"
As you strengthen your new time management muscle, keep your focus on getting organized so that you can live the life you came here for. Instead of being a chore, good time management can be your ticket to more fun, greater satisfaction and a vibrant, exciting life.
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Food Focus: Natural Sweeteners
Who among us doesn't love sweets? The sweet flavor releases serotonin in our brains, the chemical responsible for our sense of well-being and contentment. But when it comes to sweeteners, not all are created equal. There are side effects and health risks from refined sweeteners like white table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, and from artificial sweeteners like NutraSweet, saccharin and Splenda. Because they have been stripped of vitamins, minerals and fiber, refined sweeteners can spike blood sugar, which can often lead to cravings and mood and energy fluctuations. Instead, using naturally and minimally processed sweeteners can reduce cravings for sugary things, level blood sugar ups and downs, stabilize moods and have a dramatically positive effect on long-term health.
Here are a few natural sweeteners to substitute in drinks, food and baking. Since they are all approximately 1.5 times sweeter than refined sugar, you can use less. You can find them in most supermarkets or natural food stores. When replacing sugar with liquid sweeteners in a recipe, reduce the amounts of other liquids.
Raw Honey Everyone seems to love honey, one of the oldest natural sweeteners on the market. Honey will have a different flavor depending on the plant source. Some are very dark and intensely flavored. Wherever possible, choose raw honey, as it is unrefined and contains small amounts of enzymes, minerals and vitamins.
Agave Nectar Agave is made through the extraction and purification of the juice of the agave cactus. It does not stimulate insulin secretion as other sugars do, so it does not create a "sugar rush." It has a delightfully light and mild flavor.
Maple Syrup Maple syrup is the concentrated extract of the sap of maple trees. It adds a rich, deep flavor to foods and drinks, Make sure to look for 100%
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This Month's Recipe: Maple Fruit Compote with Honey-Ginger Toasted Nuts Prep time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes Ingredients:2-3 apples 2-3 peaches or pears 2 tablespoons 100% maple syrup1/2 cup raisins juice of 1 lemon 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 cup walnuts, or nuts of your choice 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced 2 tablespoons honey
Directions: 1. Wash, core and chop fruit into slices or chunks. 2. Place in a large saucepan with 1/3 cup of water. Add the maple syrup and raisins. 3. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. 4. Add lemon juice and cinnamon. Cook for another 10 minutes, until soft. 5. While fruit is cooking, place chopped nuts in a skillet over medium heat and toast, stirring often, for 5 minutes. 6. Drizzle honey over the nuts and add ginger, but keep stirring since the honey can easily burn. 7. Top warm fruit with toasted nuts and enjoy!
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Do you want to know which vitamins and nutrients are lacking in your body? Are you confused about what kind of multi vitamin to be taking?
Did you know that 92% of Americans are deficient in their daily vitmain intake. In an ideal world I would suggest to get all the necessary vitmamins and nutrients from the food we eat, however, this is nearly impossible in our food supply today. So what should you do?
Your body is unique. The nutrients it needs for optimal functional health
may be different from those that someone else needs. Contact me today to take an at home test, the PrivaTest, an accurate, scientific way to take a snapshot of the most critical metabolic markers in your body. The
test will be sent off to one of the top labortories in the world to
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customize a vitamin just for your body!
Other tests available include:
OsteoTest: Urine analysis test bone loss and osteoporosis EstrogenTest: Urine analysis test for estrogen levels, good and bad and breast cancer risk StressTest: Saliva test which evaluates adrenal insufficiencies DigestTest: Urine analysis test looks for digestion deficiencies AllerTest: Blood spot test for 10 most common food allergies FitTest: Metabolic test for insulin resistance
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