Now On Bloglovin!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin! Hello all readers! I am adding this blog to Bloglovin! I just recently created my own account and LOVE being able to follow so many good blogs in ONE place! I hope you will consider this option as well if you are a blogger!

Blogger Feature Opportunity!

Are you a blogger who shares healthy recipes? What about exercise tips? Do you post regular updates about your own personal fitness goals/plans? If so you are now being invited to be featured on Exercise Encouragement Group! All you have to do is leave me a comment on this post and I will be glad to feature your blog!

What You Need To Do
1. Leave me a comment with your name and your blog link.
2. Also, leave me the link to three of your favorite healthy recipes!
3. Let me know what your main exercise/health/fitness posts are and I'll be glad to include a link to them as well!
4. Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect.
4. Finally, grab the featured button just below and share it on your blog!

Thank you for considering this opportunity! I look forward to sharing new blogs!

Grab a button from my Button's page! There are three sizes for featured blogs so pick the one that suits you best or leave me a comment on that page and I can make a custom size! :)

Make Time, Don't 'Find' It

Link

Is this statement true of you?

Did you know that if you say you're going to "find time" to exercise then it's a whole lot more likely you won't end up exercising at all?

Make time to exercise.

Challenge | Share This On Facebook

I challenge each person who reads this post to share this photo on Facebook. I did this awhile back and got quite a few likes. I personally HATE push-ups, but the challenge I shared with other readers from the Exercise Encouragement Group on Facebook was worth it. Will you take the challenge and share this photo?



(photo originally found via Pinterest)

What Motivates You?

(photo originally found via Pinterest)

I just love this photo. It has an interesting point. Some of us don't have the motivation that exercise requires. In fact, the dinosaur could represent the laziness we have when it comes to exercise. I know that for the past few months this is certainly true of me. I have a huge lack of motivation. What I don't understand is why I have no motivation. I want to workout, I want to be fit, I just don't do it.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself if you are also struggling with finding motivation:
1. Why don't you want to workout/exercise?
2. What is holding you back?
3. Does your goal need to change? Is it perhaps too big?
4. How can you get going towards a goal?
5. What is going to motivate you now?
6. Is it reasonable?

My answers
1. I don't want to take the time. I've been lazy.
2. Me. I am holding me back. I don't want to do it, so I haven't.
3. My goal was to have fit arms in three months. I think I need to focus on a smaller goal of working out my arms three times a week instead and see how that goes.
4. I need to put my weights where I will remember to use them. I think this would be on my nightstand so I will see them every morning and night.
5. I want to be able to lift my boyfriend's 20 lb. weight with one hand and it not be hard. Right now I can lift it with one hand about 5 inches off the floor...and that's while sitting on my knees.
6. Yes, I think my goal and motivation are both reasonable.

Make It Important

What do you have to do to make exercising important to you?

Remove the excuses.

What Fruits Are You Eating?

This is an interesting photo I found via Pinterest. It linked to this blog post on Living a Changed Life.

Fruit's are so good for you! They have lots of natural vitamins which your body needs, and if you know what you need most then you can find the best fruit to add to your regular diet.

Here is a short list of some fruits and their top contributing vitamins and the calories for a recommended amount. If you click on the reference link you will be able to read a lot  more information on each fruit listed, and see where I got my information here from.

~Apples have a lot of Fiber and Vitamin C. One small apple is about 54 calories. (Reference/Read more!)

~Apricots have a good amount of Vitamin A. Other vitamins include: Vitamin C, Tryptophan, Fiber, and Potassium. One apricot is about 16 calories.

~Avocadoes have so many good vitamins in them! Fiber, Vitamin K, Floate, Vitamin C, Vitamin B5, Potassium, Vitamin B6. To eat one avocado would equal about 233 calories. (Reference.)

~Bananas have a lot of Vitamin B6. They also have good amounts of Vitamin C, Manganese, Fiber, and Potassium. One banana is about 105 calories. The potassium in this fruit is a huge bonus to people who participate in sports. (Reference.)

~Blueberries are highest in Vitamin K, but they also have Manganese, Vitamin C, and Fiber. To eat one cup of blueberries would equal about 84 calories. (Reference.)
Cherries

~Cranberries have a fairly small amount of the following vitamins: Vitamin C, Fiber, Manganese, Vitamin K, and Vitamin E. For a serving of one half a cup that would equal about 23 calories. (Reference.)

~Grapefruit's are packed full of Vitamin C! They also have a large portion of Vitamin A. Other vitamins include Fiber, Potassium, Vitamin B5, and Vitamin B1. Half a grapefruit equals about 40 calories. (Reference.)

~Grapes have a large amount of Manganese. Vitamin K is also high in this fruit. Other vitamins include Vitamin C, Vitamin B1, Potassium, and Vitamin B6. 1 cup is the recommended serving and that would equal about 61 calories. Grapes are really good for the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, immune system, inflammatory system, blood sugar regulating system, and nervous system. (Reference.)

~Kiwis have huge amounts of Vitamin C with Fiber and Potassium showing in much smaller amounts. 1 kiwi equals about 45 calories. (Reference.)

~Lemons/Limes have a ton of Vitamin C. For 1/4 a cup you would consume about 15 calories. Because of the large amounts of Vitamin C lemons/limes can be helpful in preventing the development and progression of atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease. (Reference.)

~Oranges are well known for their large amounts of Vitamin C, but they also provide Fiber, Folate, Vitamin B1, Potassium, Vitamin A, and Calcium. 1 orange equals about 61 calories. (Reference.)

~Papaya's have an extremely large amount of Vitamin C. Vitamin A is second largest while Folate, Potassium, and Fiber are much lower. Vitamin's E and K are also present. One serving (about 304 grams) equals about 118 calories. (Reference.)

~Pears have Fiber, Vitamin C, and Vitamin K. One pear is about 103 calories. (Reference.)

~Pineapples have large amounts of Vitamin C and Manganese. These vitamins and minerals are also included: Fiber, Vitamin B6, Copper, Vitamin B1, and Folate. 1 cup is equals 82 calories. (Reference.)

~Plums have small amounts of several vitamins, but the prominent vitamin is C. The other vitamins are Vitamin K, Vitamin A, Fiber, Tryptophan, and Potassium. One plum equals 30 calories. (Reference.)

~Strawberries have a huge amount of Vitamin C. They also have: Mangnaese, Fiber, Folate, Iodine, Potassium, Magnesium, Vitamin K, and Omega-3 Fatty Acids. One cup is about a serving and that would be about 46 calories. This fruit has a large combination of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients which can help in cardiovascular support and prevention of cardiovascular diseases; improved regulation of blood sugar which can decrease risk of type 2 diabetes, and preventions of cancers including breast, cervical, colon, and esophageal. (Reference.)

~Watermelons have a lot of Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Potassium, and Magnesium. For a one cup serving that would be about 45 calories. This fruit can help the inflammation that contributes to conditions like asthma, atherosclerosis, diabetes, colon cancer, and arthritis. (Reference.)


My top five fruits:
Apples ~I can't eat them raw, so I enjoy baking with them and drinking Apple juice.
Bananas ~I like to include 1/2 a banana with breakfast.
Blueberries ~Great for freezing and eating a few when I get a craving for sweets.
Lemons/Limes ~I just love cooking with their flavors!
Strawberries ~I love to use these frozen in smoothies.