Your Ideal Weight

Love those Little Ice Cubes

So I've started making flavored ice cubes...straight fresh lemon, lime, orange, and unsweetened cranberry nectar.  You get the picture.

What I've realized over the past week is that when I consistently drink slightly "sour" water all day...not "freak your tastebuds out" sour, but something that has a little zing, a little flavor, a little zip to it, it has a really favorable impact on my desire for sweets of any kind.  Plus it has the added benefit of all of those extra antioxidants and vitamin c and...well, you get the picture.

So to make it easy, I keep ziploc bags full of flavored ice cubes in the freezer and throw a few in every time I fill up my insulated water bottle.  Keeps me hydrated, healthier, and keeps my sweet tooth in check.  Gotta love the easy stuff...

Tea Time

Preliminary studies in mice have shown that consuming Green Tea may help block fat and help decrease weight.  The studies demonstrated that mice who had an obesity gene and who ate food containing green tea extracts gained less fat and weight than their counterparts did.  They also had lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels and less evidence of "fatty liver" disease, which can cause progressive liver damage.

While these studies are, indeed, "preliminary," they are promising indicators that the many benefits of Green Tea (including the fact that it contains many disease-fighting anti-oxidants) could extend to the arena of healthy weight management.  So, why not consider replacing your daily latte or cup of joe with a new commitment to Tea Time?

A Tip Worth a Mint

Researchers at Wheeling Jesuit University found that study subjects who inhaled peppermint essential oil every two hours consumed 23% fewer calories than those who did not.  Peppermint is also reported to enhance mental focus and energy, another characteristic that can help you stay alert and attuned to opportunities to achieve your ideal weight.  The sense of smell is the only sense that follows a direct path to the brain, which is why it can be such a powerful tool.  Why not pick up a bottle of essential oil of peppermint today (available at natural food stores, as well as through online retailers) and enjoy a whiff or two every few hours?  With benefits for both brain and body, this one seems like it's a tip that's worth a mint!