Why Fiber is Important to your Diet

Recently I have been really getting into health and fitness. I was doing my morning reading and found this very interesting article on Yahoo! about the importance of fiber. Americans consume 15-20 grams less than what is recommended. I think it’s important to know why things are vital to our diets, so below are the reasons I read about.

• Fiber stabilizes your sugar and energy levels.
• Fiber is filling. This means that if you eat foods more fiber then you are less likely to consume as many calories which leads to weight loss.
• Fiber helps with weight loss. It moves fat through the digestive system.
• Soluble fiber lowers blood cholesterol.
• Fibers helps keep your digestive system on track

 Now after reading all of this, there is no reason not to add fiber to your diet. Some easy ways I add fiber to my diet are, whole grain breads, high fiber cereals, and eating apples.

 Do you get enough fiber in your diet?

Inrease your metabolism…with eggs

I saw a news report yesterday that said that if you’re looking to lose weight, it’s important to increase your metabolism in order to burn the fat.  Makes sense, right?  The news report also mentioned that there is chemical in eggs, lecithen, that is supposed to be excellent for helping to increase your metabolism.  So I figue that if I try to get at least one egg in my diet everyday, along with my excercise and dieting, that should help me in my quest for a lean summer beach bod.  The issues is how I’m going to get that egg down.  The thought of drinking raw eggs naueates me.  So I did some digging and found this Banana Smoothie recipe online.  It calls for one raw egg in it!  I’m thinking this could do the trick.  Any other tips out there? 

Banana Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 banana
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 pinch ground cinnamon

Directions:

1. In a blender, combine banana, milk, vanilla, egg and sugar. Blend until smooth.
2. Pour into a tall glass and top with a pinch of cinnamon.

Nutritional Information:

Amount Per Serving

Calories: 417 | Total Fat: 10.3g | Cholesterol: 232mg

Have you ever played Sky Zone before?

So I’m still a fairly unfamiliar with the St. Louis/Chesterfield area, but I recently heard about a place out here called Sky Zone Sports.  Has anyone ever been?  From what I understand, it’s basically like an oversized trampoline field with padded walls on the side.  They supposedly play a 3-D version of dodgeball there, along with a new game they invented called have a game called Sky Zone.

I must admit that I’m rather skeptical.  Sky Zone???  C’mon, it sounds like a bad adventure flick starring Keanu Reaves.  Supposedly it’s a combination of football, basketball, baseball and hockey.

But to be fair, I’ll reserve absolute judgment until I get more info or even go there myself to check it out.  If anyone has played there before, let me know what you think about it.  Is it worth the trip?

In case you’re curious too, the address is 17379 Edison Avenue, Chesterfield, MO, 63005.

In-Season Produce: Markets near Westmont at Chesterfield

Do you shop for your fresh food and produce locally?  If not, you may want to give it some serious consideration.  Although today’s global market allows us to buy foods grown almost anywhere in the world at any given time, this option is not the most sustainable.

Buying in-season fruits and vegetables that are locally grown helps to eliminate the environmental damage caused by shipping foods across the country – and in some cases – the world.  Not only does your food dollar go directly to the farmers, but you’re able to enjoy the health benefits of eating fresh, better tasting, unprocessed produce.  According to the National Resources Defense Council, in-season foods for the state of Missouri (and surrouning areas) include:

Asparagus Green Peas Lettuce Scallions Spinach Beets (Oklahoma) Brussels Sprouts (Oklahoma) Bunching Greens (Iowa) Collards (Tennessee) Gourds (Tennessee) Greens (Arkansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee) Herbs (Arkansas, Tennessee)

Honey (Tennessee) Indian Corn (Tennessee) Kohlrabi (Iowa) Lettuce Mix (Iowa) Mushrooms (Tennessee) Onions (Illinois, Oklahoma) Oriental Greens (Iowa) Peas (Illinois, Oklahoma) Radishes (Kansas, Oklahoma) Swiss Chard (Oklahoma) Turnips (Oklahoma)

Here is a short list of markets that sell fresh locally grown foods near the Westmont at Chesterfield area.  If you can suggest any other markets, leave a comment and let the community know!

Markets near Westmont at Chesterfield

Going Green: Car Pool

Check out these simple environment friendly tips courtesy of the Divine Caroline website…

• Buy fresh fruits and vegetables in season.
• Buy compact fluorescent light bulbs. You’ll find more on energy-efficient products and practices at Energy Star.
• Turn off lights and electronics when you leave the room. Unplug your cell phone charger from the wall when not using it. Turn off energy strips and surge protectors when not in use (especially overnight).
• Recycle your newspapers.
• Car pool. Connect with other commuters at eRideShare.

Fogelman Management Group is focused on spreading the word about Going Green, a term that signifies the social movement towards environmental conservation, protection and improvement.  It’s all about making simple lifestyle choices that will lessen our negative impact on the Earth.  Making and using home products with organic materials is just one way to we can make a difference.

Stay tuned to the Westmont at Chesterfield blog throughout the month of April for more tips on how you can play your part.

Bump, Set, Spike!

If you’re anything like me, you need to mix up your week with a variety of activities.  Staying active, after all, is the best way to stay sharp.  This applies to students, professionals, and even those of us who are both.

One activity that I’ve found to really enjoy is playing in a local sports league.  It’s a great way to kill two birds with one stone – you stay fit and you get to socialize with people that you share an interest with (I guess you can call it multi-tasking).

I’m mentioning this because I just got wind about The City League, a sand volleyball league that is looking for players – both guys and girls.  Apparently they play Wednesday (West Pointe Apartments) and Thursday (Shaw Park) nights.  The registration deadline is coming up on March 14 for the spring season.  I thought I’d get the info out there to see if anyone at Westmont at Chesterfield is interested.  And don’t worry if you don’t know how to play.  Just bone up on the rules and go for it.  I guarantee you’ll love it.  Apparently they have a flag football leauge too.  You can get more info on their site.  Enjoy!

Who broke the apartment window?

Riddles and puzzles are great exercises for your brain.  Research shows that constant brain exercise can even help prevent Alzheimer ’s disease.  If you have a minute, try to figure this one out and post your explanation as a comment.  I’ll post the answer sometime next week.  Let’s see who the real brainiacs of Westmont at Chesterfield are! =)

Ronny, Bobby, Ricky, Mike, and Ralph are brothers. One day, one of them broke an apartment window. When their father asked them who did it, they gave the following answers:
Ronny: “It was Bobby or Ricky.”
Bobby: “It was neither Mike nor me.”
Ricky: “Both of you are lying.”
Ralph: “No, only one of them is lying.”
Mike: “No, Ralph, you are wrong.”
Then their mother added: “Three of my sons are telling the truth, but I do not believe what the two others said.”

Who broke the window?

Plan For Your Workouts

I usually go to the gym after work.  I’ll be honest I’m so exhausted that often times I would just rather skip the workout. But I don’t.  I try to get in  and leave just as quickly, but still get a good work out.  The key to success is coming up with a plan.

Here is the best way to make your plan.