3 Rules Of Weight Loss

Recently one of my Twitter buddies (Twitter ID: EnzymaticThrpy) provided a great article on the "10 Rules of Weight Loss." After reviewing the article, I'm parring it down to 3 just because 3 things are a lot easier for most of us to remember and we at Jade Fitness & Entertainment feel the most passionate about these 3 because they will really help you loose weight.

Rule #1: Don't Count Calories
Unless you like math, don't count calories. Why? Because there are a lot of ways to consume 2,000 calories a day - not all of them good. A 2,000 calorie a day goal can be reached with great things such as salads, fresh fish, fresh fruits, fresh veggies, and tea, but it can also be reached with 3 cans of soda, slices of pizza, and trips to the "greasy spoon" for lunch. Point is, it's the food quality that counts - not the calories.

Rule #2: Artificial Sweeteners Cause Weight Gain
Put the diet soda down. It's not helping you win the battle against fat. Clinical studies show that artificial sweeteners such as aspartame cause other harmful health problems - and weight gain.

Rule #3: Snacks Are Good!
There's nothing wrong with a small (healthy) snack in between meals. It allows you to think more clearly and keeps you from devouring the first thing you get your hands on when you get home.

The original article that was the source of our inspiration - CLICK HERE.

Many thanks again to our Twitter buddy, EnzymaticThrpy for "Tweeting" this article!

Thanks for taking time to read this blog posting. Feel free to comment or ask any questions below.

Health Tip: Go A Little "Nuts"

Well, score one for one of the alkaline members of the food pyramid-the almond!! This tasty nut is being acknowledged by the scientific community for role in weight control (think slimmer), antioxidants (think disease prevention), and intestinal flora balance (think good digestion and absorption of crucial nutrients that keep you healthy). So, grab a handful of almonds the next time you need to crunch on something or need a quick snack. They will satisfy you much better than a bag of potato chips or Cheetos from the vending machine!!

Don't care for almonds? Go "nuts" with chestnuts instead.

Memorial Holiday - Eat Well!

Although Jade Fitness & Entertainment staff will be enjoying the holiday - we want everyone to eat well! We will work it off when you return!

Kale - The Super Food!

Want to increase your immunity to fight off cold, flu, and fight that feeling of being tired during the day? Then you will want to try Kale!

Kale is has long since been recognized as the ultimate superfood. With mega portions of:

• Vitamin K


• Vitamin A


• Vitamin C


• Manganese


• And more!

How To Prepare:

You can quickly saute Kale in olive oil, garlic, and onion until slightly wilted. Make sure to remove the stems first (they can be a little tough to chew). Once cooked, season to taste with sea salt and pepper. If you don't care for the taste of Kale (or are a little afraid to try it on it's own, then mix in some fresh Spinach (the iron in Spinach can't hurt either).

How Much Should You Try To Eat?:

Start off by eating 1 cup of cooked Kale a few times a week for best results.

Tried Cooking With Kale? Share Your Stories With Us! Leave Us A Comment Below!

Coca Cola Uses - Not Just For Drinking

Did you know that you can do more with Coca Cola than just drink it? Apparently you can! According to an article called "Interesting facts about Coca-Cola" you can:

• Clean blood off of a highway


• Dissolve a T-Bone steak in 2 days


• Clean your toilet

There's more you can do with Coca Cola - CLICK HERE for the original article or copy and paste this link into your browser - http://rawlivingfoods.typepad.com/1/2009/05/interesting_fac.html.

After reading this article, do you still want a can of Coke to drink?

Bellydance Tip & How To: Choo Choo Shimmy

It's our very best friend! It's our saving grace! When we can't believe we ate the whole "Ben and Jerry's" ice cream pint (but know it was us because we were the only one's home) and want to burn off all the calories and fat in a jiffy - it's the "Choo Choo Shimmy" to the rescue!!

Choo Choo Shimmies are the biggest calorie burning and fat burning move in our bellydance arsenal and for this reason - we will always love this move!

So here's the "how to".... Stand with your feet together underneath you and your knees slightly bent. Shuffle your feet across the floor allowing the hips to go along for the ride. Your weight should be placed equally on both feet.

Special Note: If you want to really work your waistline - then you will want to add a "twist" by twisting your hips from side to side periodically while choo choo shimmying from one side to the other.

Need help learning more about the choo choo shimmy? Feel free to come to class and we'll show you how! For class locations - CLICK HERE!!

3 Easy Ways To Burn 100 Calories

Working hard? Miss a class or two? Worried about the pounds "creeping up" on you? Well, here are a few suggestions to help burn calories between classes!

Vacuum & Shimmy
You know how to vacuum, and you know how to shimmy so why not combine the two? Vacuum and Shimmy for 25 minutes to your favorite song and you'll burn 100 calories

Ironing Clothes & Shimmying
Add a shimmy while ironing your clothes for 25 minutes and you will see 100 calories melt away!

Belly dancing For 20 Minutes
Have a minute alone? Great! Turn on the music and give yourself a show for 25 minutes! Not alone? Have kids? Get them involved, have them shimmy with you! Grab your significant other - you never know - they may "out shimmy" you!

Have a few more ideas? Feel free to share!