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Melanie Valerio
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January 5, 2009 11:26 AM by Melanie M. Valerio | COMMENTS
Kefir is a cultured, enzyme-rich food filled with friendly
micro-organisms that help balance your "inner ecosystem." More
nutritious and therapeutic than yogurt, it supplies complete protein, essential
minerals, and valuable B vitamins.
The beneficial yeast and friendly bacteria in the kefir
culture consume most of the lactose (or milk sugar). Eat kefir on an empty
stomach first thing in the morning before (or for) breakfast and you'll be
delighted to find it can be easily digested -- as numerous people who have been
lactose intolerant for years have discovered.
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January 3, 2009 12:02 PM by Melanie M. Valerio | COMMENTS
New Year resolutions should be such that they are easy to
follow. The simple rule is that – don’t expect too much from yourself. Try to
find out what you can do easily and stick to them. Going out of the way to
prove yourself to others is of no use. Think of achievable tips for your New
Year resolution. Things that will make you a better human being and help you
lead a more comforting life should be made the New Year resolutions. Obviously he
bottom line is– change for the better in the coming year!
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January 1, 2009 7:23 PM by Melanie M. Valerio | COMMENTS
Had too much of a good thing? Feeling out of balance, a bit
heavy or puffy? Then it's time to get clean. This gentle herbal blend helps the
body help itself as it stimulates the liver, one of our natural cleansing
mechanisms. Based on organic rooibos, it includes milk thistle seeds to sweep
toxins away. Both dandelion and burdock roots help wake up the liver and get
things flowing. Their cleansing properties encourage healthy digestion and help
to keep the kidneys flushed. We've also added red clover and Indian
sarsaparilla, both known as effective tonics and purifiers. Finally, a good
thing you should indulge in.
P.S. Rooibos is becoming more popular in Western countries
particularly among health-conscious consumers, due to its high level of antioxidants such as aspalathin and nothofagin, its lack of caffeine, and its low tannin levels compared to
fully oxidized black tea or unoxidized green tea leaves. Rooibos is purported to assist with nervous tension,
allergies, digestive problems.
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December 29, 2008 4:12 PM by Melanie M. Valerio | COMMENTS
Fitday.com is a wonderful website a friend recently pointed out to me. We shall call her Sideshow "Bob".
Anyway, Fitday is a wonderful website for anyone looking for a little motivation or encouragement or plain and simple help with sticking to a new diet or exercise plan. It's perfect because it keeps you accountable for your actions or I guess habits in this case.
Journaling is often touted as one of the activities that
leads to successful weight loss.
FitDay.com provides a journal free of charge. This online journal allows you to
keep track of everything you've eaten in a day, your activities and exercises,
and log your thoughts. It allows you to visualize what you've eaten, activities
you've participated in, goals you’ve set, and anything else that goes into your
day-to-day activities.
You're able to review charts and graphs every day or over a
period of time like a week or month. You can view your progress toward a goal
and see how many calories you burned while jogging, putting away groceries and
working at your desk. You'll quickly be able to assess the areas where changes
are most necessary.
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December 26, 2008 4:32 PM by Melanie M. Valerio | COMMENTS
Still not sure what exactly Dri-FIT is?
Maybe you got a shirt or pair of tights as a holiday gift and although you've heard of it - maybe you're really not quite sure what on earth it is.
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December 25, 2008 12:32 PM by Melanie M. Valerio | COMMENTS
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 9 minutes
Makes 40 cookies
Ingredients:
One 14-ounce can fat-free sweetened condensed milk
3/4 cup reduced-fat creamy peanut butter
2 cups low-fat baking mix, such as reduced-fat Bisquick
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cooking spray
1/3 cup sugar
40 milk chocolate kisses
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December 23, 2008 2:59 PM by Melanie M. Valerio | COMMENTS
SkirtSports are still my absolute favorite and so I checked in to see what they have to offer for the colder months.
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December 19, 2008 5:41 AM by Melanie M. Valerio | COMMENTS
A friend recently e-mailed me asking which underwater MP3 player to buy.
Now I've seen a few people using these the past few years but honestly no one I know personally.
Swimming is loud. The sound of the water moving past your ears and head is definitely not quiet. Peaceful but not quiet. And the faster you swim the louder I'm assuming it gets.
However, I think underwater MP3 players (which run from about $100-$150) are a fun gadget gift for the swimmer or triathlete on your gift list.
I did some research (which means I asked the few people I saw wearing one, what they thought).
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December 18, 2008 12:29 PM by Melanie M. Valerio | COMMENTS
How far should one's training go?
Do you continue training while on vacation or during the holidays while traveling?
I was just in Las Vegas and am surprised to see so many people out running in the early morning. Now I know not everyone is there to gamble their savings away but I figure if you booked a trip to get away and relax (and I know Vegas is not a great example) don't you need some time away from training as well?
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December 14, 2008 7:35 PM by Melanie M. Valerio | COMMENTS
Did you know you shiver, your core temperature has dropped so much that your body believes it is an emergency? Your blood gets much thicker, which causes heart attacks and strokes and the immune system is weakened, so you pick up bugs more easily.
Lack of sunlight also weakens the immune system and allows viruses to thrive, while crowded, warm places help them to spread. So what’s the best way to keep healthy this winter?
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December 12, 2008 5:56 AM by Melanie M. Valerio | COMMENTS
It's easy to get dehydrated just living up here in the winter. Exercising outdoors makes it even easier. Dehydration causes decreased blood volume which makes us more susceptible to hypothermia and frostbite. It's important to drink water frequently if you're riding for more than one hour.
Below zero, cycling speeds generate enough wind chill to freeze exposed skin quickly. If parts of your face feel cold or numb, stop and warm them before they get frostbitten. If you're riding with others, watch each others' faces for white spots.
Be careful with glasses, watches, jewelry and zipper pulls. Small metal and plastic objects can get cold enough to cause frostbite.
Carry emergency food in your tool bag so it's always on the bike. Energy food, like a Powerbar, works well Carry an extra clothes layer, about 20 degrees worth. Windshells, an insulated jacket, something to keep you warmer if you have to walk for a while. If your feet get cold, run with the bike.
Aluminum and titanium don't get significantly more brittle at winter temperatures.
Aluminum shrinks more than steel as it cools and on a bike with a steel fork and aluminum frame the headset will get loose when it's very cold.
Plastics do get brittle and we see water bottle cages, toe clips, pedals and the sheathing on cable housing break all winter. If the plastic cracks on indexed shifter housing, the housing will buckle and the shifting won't work.
If you bring a room temperature bike out into cold snow and ride it immediately, the snow thrown up by the tires may freeze onto brakes and derailleurs.
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December 10, 2008 5:53 AM by Melanie M. Valerio | COMMENTS
Six quick tips...
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December 8, 2008 8:16 AM by Melanie M. Valerio | COMMENTS
Have you seen these? SweetSpot
Do you wash your hair with toothpaste is I guess their "motto" of sorts.......
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December 6, 2008 2:12 PM by Melanie M. Valerio | COMMENTS
A very dear friend gave me a necklace the other day.
She's an avid marathon runner (to say the least) 3:00! OK, SHE ROCKS! And now she's trying to improve her swimming. She swims better than I run that's for sure. She's quite a little athlete and mother of two.
Anyway-she tells me she wants me to have this necklace and that someone very dear to her gave it to her for good luck. Having finished the New York Marathon she now passed the necklace on to me.
Now I absolutely love when pieces are handed down. Caps, t-shirts, etc...it's fun to collect and trade others' gear. I have a SPEEDO watch a phenomenal swimmer traded me for NIKE stuff back in the mid-90's. Shirts from Japanese swimmers, cool caps from other countries, you get the picture.
It's KINDA and I mean only slightly kinda like some fan in the audience diving for the lead singer's sweaty towel. The stuff we trade and or collect is usually cleaner but to each his own.
So, I get this black and white snap necklace and although I know nothing about it I'm thrilled she decided to give it to me. I'm not all that superstitious but I'll try anything once. So I take it home and look it up.
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December 3, 2008 7:58 AM by Melanie M. Valerio | COMMENTS
Did you know the average American, becomes a pound heavier after Thanksgiving. Mostly because they just ate their way through the most calorie-riddled day of the year.
Between breakfast, snacks, drinks, desserts and the feast itself, the average person consumes more than 4,500 calories on Thanksgiving - more than twice the recommended intake!!!!
It only gets worse so hold on to your napkins…
Here's the worse part: Between now and New Year's, you’ll eat on average an extra 600 calories per day! That means gaining an addition six pounds heading into the New Year. Now pick up your napkin and read on...because if you’re aware of the incoming (and I mean that in every sense of the word) you’ll be able to head it off at the pass. That is when the offerings are passed around the table.
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December 1, 2008 4:16 PM by Melanie M. Valerio | COMMENTS
Looking for some inexpensive bath bubbles these days?
Well, go right past your usual aisle in the drug store straight to the baby section!
They smell and work just as well as any "adult" brand and are much lower in cost than probably what you're paying right now!
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November 29, 2008 7:58 PM by Melanie M. Valerio | COMMENTS
Went to the pool Thursday thinking no one would be there. Everyone home stuffing their face with turkey and stuffing.
Most crowded I've seen it. And although there was a swim meet in one half of the pool - only 8 lanes were available for lap swim.
Still not really a problem.
Until.............
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November 27, 2008 5:25 PM by Melanie M. Valerio | COMMENTS
Black Friday similar to a marathon?
I say yes and would rather run two!
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Posted in:
November 24, 2008 10:57 AM by Melanie M. Valerio | COMMENTS
Can't get enough carbs these cold days? Remember wintertime makes us crave carbohydrates.
On average we gain between 4 and 10 pounds each winter because we reduce the amount of exercise we get and start eating more calorie-dense foods. If you want to avoid this annual slide, look for innovative ways to make your favorite comfort foods less damaging to your health. Here are five alternatives to enjoy without the calories.
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Posted in:
November 21, 2008 4:42 AM by Melanie M. Valerio | COMMENTS
Does it exist?
Does the perfect man exist?
Is there a perfect face?
A perfect body.
Guess it all depends on who you ask. Goggles included.
I've never heard a swimmer-swimmer (someone who swam in high school or college) complain about leaky goggles.
Hmmmm........so where is the dis-connect between what I hear so many complaints about and what I swim with everyday in the pool.
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