Not only is portion control and important part of a diet, but it can also help you to understand the exact amount you are consuming as far as calories, sugars, fats and more are concerned.

Let’s be honest though, no one ever really taught us how to properly measure out our food, did they?  If someone did teach you, then you are not only lucky but also pretty good amount watching what you eat.  For those of us who were not taught, watching the amounts of what we eat and knowing how much is enough, too much, or too little can be difficult.

The chart below is a good reminder of portion sizes and how much you should be putting on your plate when you eat.  Take a look, and hopefully this will help you stick to your heatlhy eating gaols.

                                      

Jessica Simpson – In 2005 Jessica Simpson made her movie acting debut in the Dukes of Hazzard film as none other than Daisy Duke.  For the part she wanted to be fit, but still needed those feminine curves.  Each day Jessica would workout for two hours doing cardio and weight resistance.  Squats and lunges were a main focus as she wanted to shape and firm her tush.  To keep her arms tight, bicep curls and lateral raises did the trick.

Marisa Miller – When you are a Victoria’s Secret model chances are you have a lot of people looking at you often.  Lucky for this girl, Marisa Miller is naturally thin.  Let’s face it there are women out there who are, but this can pose a problem too.  Naturally thin women want to have some curve.  Even Miller said, “I like to keep some of my curves and be a little soft and feminine.”  That just means she doesn’t have to lose her breath doing cardio everyday.  What she does do is training with resistance band to stay toned.  Paddle boarding is another favorite of this model.

Jessica Biel – If you are ready for a challenge, then take it up a notch to Jessica Biel’s level.  She is well-known for her athletic, yet curvy body, and she works really hard for it.  Her cardio consists of intense interval training.  From there she incorporates plyrometrics which is another type of interval training at a high intensity.  Weight training is another factor of her workout where she uses lighter weights with high repetitions and minimal breaks.

                                      

Probably not, say some experts.  The truth is that the average weight gain associated with holiday season eating during November and December is less than three pounds.  Simply indulging on and near important yearly holidays isn’t enough to make you obese if you’re not already, and it’s not even likely to make you significantly more overweight;  but here’s the trick — you have to exercise and get on track with normal, healthier eating again soon after, or the 3 lbs you might have gained will likely become permanent additions.  Your home security could be at stake as well.  So enjoy that holiday meal, but plan to get it back under control in the weeks that follow, and you’ll probably have no trouble at all.

Check out this infographic with the calories for the most commonly enjoyed Thanksgiving foods, but don’t let them ruin your fun!

                                      

Before you overindulge in alcoholic beverages during the numerous holiday celebrations between now and the first of next year, consider the implications ahead of time:  do you really want to wake up dehydrated, nauseous, and with a headache that won’t go away no matter what remedies you try?  Is that oh-so-great feeling you get after your third shot of tequila leading you towards a fourth or fifth, and you’ve forgotten how to think clearly?  Tomorrow, you’re probably going to feel like a bum and a loser — and you’ll probably have a pretty serious hangover to boot.

You can learn a lot more about health and medical conditions by selecting great direct tv packages today, but for now, enjoy this excellent video on the health, science, and medicine of hangovers and the effect they can have on your body.  It might save you a headache or two.

                                      

Unfortunately many elderly people do not make the time for necessary exercise and physical activity.  The fact is that people in those years of life can truly benefit from just thirty minutes of physical activity each day.  How can elderly people benefit from that little bit of exercise each day?  One of the main benefits is the fact that it can help to prevent falls that could cause serious harm.  It can also add assistance in simple tasks that a lot of people take for granted like sitting and standing, carrying a bag of groceries, or playing with grandchildren.  It is imperative that no matter your age, you engage in physical activity, but it is especially beneficial for elderly people.  Find out more about it in the infographic.

                                      

The core of your body is a critical component for your overall health. By doing the proper lower and upper ab routines, you are improving your posture because you have the ability to sit upright in a powerful position and you are strengthening your back. This can prevent injuries during other exercises such as jogging, leaving you feeling much better about your workout potential down the road.

To start off, you don’t want to overstress your muscles by putting them through some strenuous 30 minute ab session class at your fitness center where you have trouble targeting specific muscle groups. I’m not saying this is a bad activity once you get the ball rolling but if you wind up painfully sore and discouraged, you won’t want to keep doing the necessary exercises on your own. As all fitness enthusiasts know, you have to exercise with a positive attitude, otherwise you won’t accomplish anything.

Create a specific routine for yourself that you know you will be able to do every time you go to the gym. You can work with a trainer to learn about new exercises and techniques in order to target specific muscle groups and keep your workout interesting. Don’t simply lie down on a mat and do 100 crunches. You won’t enjoy what you’re doing and you won’t reap the complete benefits of an ab workout. As a trainer, I hear so many folks talking about how they don’t think situps really do anything for them so they don’t even bother doing them anymore. The reason for this is that these people weren’t exercising their entire core, they were just going through the motions.

So make sure you work every muscle in your mid-section and keep trying new things! You never know which particular exercise will get you excited about your workout and get you those stunning abdominals you’re after. If you are looking for fitness television, check out Dish Network deals for new channels and promotions.

                                      

When you are well-informed about breast cancer, then there are more ways that you can help to treat, prevent, and even cure.  Donating to charities like the Susan G. Komen Foundation is a great way to contribute.  You can also make sure that you, or your loved ones, are getting screened early on to detect the presence.  The quicker the disease is detected, the easier it may be to treat.  Make a promise to yourself, your mom, your sisters, you daughters, and all those who you care so deeply about this October, a promise to know more and do more.

Check out the events that happened on October 2nd at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

                                      

Find a Park – If you like the feeling of being stuck on a machine running, then more power to you.  In my opinion there is nothing greater than getting outdoors for a run in a park.  Some parks even have separate bike trails so if you are in the mood to hit the trails on two wheels, break out the bike and ride.  Many people find that they not only feel better and more in shape after getting in some cardio at the park, they also feel relieved from some stress.

Look For Free Classes – There are a lot of community centers and even churches that are offering up free exercise classes to the area.  If you like to workout in a group setting and like to try new things, then this is a great choice for you.  No gym membership required and you can Zumba for free.

Use What You’ve Got – Your body weight can be one of the best tools for you to use to become more fit.  At home do lunges, squats, push ups, and other exercises that use your body weight.

Even if you do have a gym membership, it might be nice to try some of the above things to switch up your routine.  Getting fit is easier than you think, so get started today!

                                      

That might have some truth to it.  Check out the infographic that shows the truth about sitting down, and see what you can be doing to keep yourself healthy even though you still have to sit all day at work.  Your health and mind might thank you for some extra breaks in between sitting for hours.