Life is full of everyday stresses–some good and some bad. But when your body experiences constant stress, it leaves its mark. While some stresses in life are necessary (job, family, and even some money issues), many can be eliminated and leave you with a healthier and happier mind and body.  One of the biggest stresses that most people deal with every day is their home mortgage loan. As common as it is, most people don’t realize that they don’t have to bear it as long as they do.  A money merge account is relatively new. It has an organized way to pay off an average 30 year mortgage in about 7-14 years. Just imagine all the money you will save–money that you can put to other uses.

Just like you would wear a bee hat while working out in the garden to protect yourself, you should be protecting your body with exercise and healthy food. We only get one body to work with, so we might want to take a little better care of it.  Just take a look at some of these alarming health statistics.

•  In 1962, 13% of the American population were considered obese.In 2000, the percentage is now at 31% and rising.
• 63% of Americans are overweight.
• 300,000 people a year die from consequences of obesity.

Whatever the reason for such numbers–whether inactivity, genetics, or poor food choices–it is incredibly dangerous. Let’s all commit to leading a healthier, happier, healthier, and more a more active and fulfilling life.

Summer is here and so are some of the freshest and most delicious fruits and vegetables.  I talked to a few Utah caterers and they stressed how important it is to buy fruits and vegetables when they are in season because not only will they taste better, but you’ll pay less for them.  The following are some great recipes for making the most out of the produce of the summer season. 

• Watermelon Gazpacho
• Grilled Salmon
• Guacamole
• Grilled Pears, Pineapple, Peaches
• Fresh tomato and basil bruschetta
• Strawberry pie
• Peach cobbler
• Grilled peppers, onions, mushrooms, and zucchini

Getting the right nutrients every day is crucial to obtaining and maintaining optimal health. We’ve mentioned before the benefits of Code Nutrition’s customized vitamins–which are completely and solely based on your DNA. So you can be sure that you are getting the best nutrients for your body and genetics.

Code Nutrition basically works like this:

1. They send you an at-home DNA test kit. All you have to do is swab your cheek and send it back to them in their prepaid envelope.
2.  As soon as Code Nutrition gets your DNA kit back, they will begin analyzing your genetic makeup to find out if you are prone to any vitamin deficiencies.
3. Soon after, you will begin receiving your monthly installments of exactly what your body needs as well as your in-depth DNA analysis.

And that’s it!

We hear tip after tip about how to lose the weight, get rid of those inches, and feel great. These are great, but what happens after? Well, once you hit your fitness and health goals (little goals and larger goals), you need to reward yourself. And this can be big or small depending on the size and difficulty of the achieved goal. So here a few ideas on how to pat yourself on the back for all your dedication and hard work:

• Friends’ night out: Get together with some friends and just enjoy yourself!

• New Wardrobe: Many people wait until they lose all the weight before buying new clothes. But the truth is that you should feel great about yourself the whole time you are achieving that goal.

• Weekend Trip: A short getaway will help you relax and enjoy your new found fitness.

• Remodeling: Treat yourself to new bath furniture or just remodel a room. Now that you’ve had a “makeover”, you just might notice that your house needs on too.

• Spa: Go to the spa and let others wait on you. Breathe, relax, and enjoy!

Summer is one of the best times for parties – BBQs, Weddings, Cocktail Parties – you name it, they all sing out DELICIOUS food! But just because it’s delicious , doesn’t mean the food has to be loaded with calories. Just last weekend I went to a beautiful cocktail party at my best friend’s home, catered by a prestigious SLC caterer. The food was absolutely amazing and incredibly healthy. Hors d’oeuvres consisted of bruschetta with fresh tomato and basil and a table of fresh fruit and cheese that looked like a masterpiece in and of itself. For dinner we had the most delicious salad with fresh apples, walnuts and bleu cheese with balsamic vinaigrette and for the main course we had grilled chicken with a fresh mango salsa. AND for dessert, we had deliciously light vanilla ice cream topped with fresh summer berries.

It seems like the bane of my existence, but I am always trying to burn some calories–trying to stay active. I just found out that you can burn about 200 calories an hour from river rafting. Sounds good to me! This month I am going to try to go Utah river rafting for a few hours. Not only will I be burning all those calories, but it won’t even feel like a workout. I am leaving the treadmill behind this month and finding new, exciting ways to burn off those calories.

Summer is here and that means little shorts, swim suits, and strappy sun dresses, right? If you’ve stopped breathing by this point, try to regain your composure and listen. No hiding inside this summer! It’s about time that you felt like a million bucks walking down the street in your itty bitty bikini.

1. Make sure to drink lots of water. Not only will it curb your appetite, but it will help flush out the toxins in your body that may be causing you to hold on to unwanted weight.
2. Snack on healthy foods, especially fruits like watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew melon, all of which contain large amounts of water that will help quench your snack attack, keep you hydrated, and lose weight.
3. Exercise. Taking a run in the park might not sound like a dream come true when it’s 100 degrees outside, but run early in the morning or late at night, purchase a gym membership, swim outside, join a pick-up football game at the neighborhood park… do something you enjoy, but stay active
4. If you need a jumpstart in keeping your energy level at an all time high, try a weight loss supplement like Zantrex 3. It will give you that extra energy you need to be active and get through your day.
5. Plan out your meals and cook healthy! Here’s a recipe that I found that is low cal, low carb, and is absolutely delicious: Black Bean and Tomato Salad

• 2(15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 (15 ounce) cans white beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 bag of frozen corn
• 2 diced tomatoes
• 1 diced avocado
• 1/4 of a red onion minced
• A small handful of minced cilantro
  • Toss salad with 1/4 to 1/2 cup (depending on taste) of fat free Italian dressing
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

is all it takes to find something to do each weekend. There are always some kind of fitness events going on–especially during the summer. If you like running marathons, just Google a quick local search to find one. If you live in Utah, this might be a great event for you:

D. Gary Young’s lavender farm in Mona is hosting a 5k marathon called “Run through the Lavender”.  Not only will you be improving your fitness, but it is going to a great cause. Partial proceeds will be donated.

Have fun getting in even better shape this summer!

Our bodies need specific nutrients, vitamins, and supplements in order for us to have optimum performance in whatever we do: exercising, work, and just life in general. But many people don’t get the much needed nutrients and they become deficient. Throughout vitamin deficiency, many experience hair loss, weight loss or weight gain, and depression (just to name a few).

But sometimes it can be difficult to know exactly what vitamins to take. Well, there is a company that can  help you with that. Code Nutrition specializes in customized vitamins–solely based on what your body needs. They send you an at-home cheek swab kit. You just have to send it back and they will begin analyzing what your body is lacking. They will begin to send you monthly supplements–exactly what your body is craving.

You’ll be on your way to having an even healthier, richer lifestyle.