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5 Squares Newsletter |
November 2008 |
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Quick Links
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 Greetings,
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With Thanksgiving around the corner, I
start to tense up at the thought of
preparing for the holidays. I know I am
not alone. The three things that have
always helped me get through this is
diet, exercise, and most importantly,
setting aside time to take care of
myself.
Make time for yourself and your
well-being; it is by far the most
important advice I can give you during
this frenzied time of year. In keeping
with the self-care mantra, check out
this month's nutrition article about
stress and weight gain
and the resources article about
bikram yoga benefits
and some special introductory offers. If
you need some delicious comfort food,
try our
Famous Turkey Chili recipe.
Also, see below for our fantastic
"5-5-5"
savings.
Happy Eating!
Monica Lynn
Nutritional expert and Founder of
5
Squares
P.
S. Feel free to
email
me your feedback and questions.
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Nutrition: Is Your Stress Packing on the
Pounds? |
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- Do you crave carbs, fatty foods, salty
snacks and sweet treats?
- Have you noticed a fatter belly?
- Have you realized that despite exercise and
a healthy diet, you still can't lose that last
10 pounds?
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If you answered yes to many of these questions, and you feel
that you are in a constant state of anxiety, you may want to
consider the impact of stress on your weight. You may also
want to go for your annual medical check-up!
Stress Effects
Everybody is stressed these days, right? You can deal with
it all, can't you? While it is true that we live during
stressful times, you need to look at how stress affects your
body. Stress does impact your overall health, not to mention
your weight.
Releasing Hormones
When you become stressed, your "fight or flight" systems
turn on. You literally gear up for the "fight," otherwise
known as the stresses of your everyday life. And while your
trials and tribulations are not necessarily life
threatening, your body doesn't know that, so it releases
higher levels of hormones called cortisol and adrenalin.
Losing sleep on a constant basis due to stress also
increases your cortisol levels. The problem is cortisol
slows down your metabolism and increases your appetite.
Emotional Eating
Many people in times of stress find themselves craving
something comforting like more fatty, sugary foods.Your
muscles, in facing "the fight," actually need the sugar, so
you crave it even more. You may even find that despite all
of the anxiety, which at first can dampen your appetite, you
are hungrier then ever. Even caffeine and cigarettes raise
your cortisol level, which makes your metabolism and
appetite worse.
Storing Fat
Experts have also linked stress to your body storing more
fat in the abdominal area. This is certainly not appealing,
but more belly fat also has been linked to greater risks
such as heart disease and diabetes.
"Busy Be-ing"
Everybody is busy, but if you don't take the time to
exercise, your stress will be hurting you twice: 1) you will
lose the exercise your body needs to stay healthy and fit,
and 2) you will lose the ability to rid yourself of your
stress. You may be so busy that you eat processed foods or
you miss meals, which so often happens. In those cases, you
sacrifice vital nutrients that help you to burn calories.
Also, choosing not to take
vitamins prevents you from bolstering your fragile
state. To compound the issue, your metabolism slows down if
you miss meals.
As you can see, stress can be a big factor in your weight
gain. It gives a whole new meaning to the importance of
stress management. Please check with your doctor before
making changes to your diet and exercise plans. If you have
any questions, please email us.
You can also visit our
archive page for past newsletter nutrition articles.
The health
information provided here is for informational purposes only
and is not intended to substitute for seeking professional
medical care. |
Bikram Yoga Benefits & Introductory
Offers
Are you stressed out and
looking for relaxation techniques?
Bikram yoga could be just what you need. There are
many benefits to bikram yoga, just one of which is
profound relaxation.
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Bikram yoga, designed by
Bikram Choudhury,
features 26 postures in a heated room. The heated room, deep
stretches, and focused breathing allow your body to become
more warm, pliable and relaxed. This yoga practice quiets
your mind and, at the same time, stimulates your organs,
glands and nerves for overall health and fitness.
Take advantage of the special introductory offers at the
bikram yoga studios in Larchmont, Norwalk and New York City.
It is a great way to try out this very therapeutic yoga
practice.
At Bikram Yoga Larchmont and Bikram Yoga Norwalk, you can
attend unlimited bikram yoga classes for
7 days for $30. At
Bikram Yoga NYC, you can try unlimited bikram yoga,
$30 for 30 days.
These offers apply to new clients only. Please mention the 5
Squares newsletter when you sign up.
For further details, please contact:
Bikram Yoga Larchmont, New York,
www.BikramYogaLarchmont.com , 914.833.9703.
Bikram Yoga Norwalk,
www.BikramYoga-CT.com , 203.853.9642.
Bikram Yoga NYC,
www.BikramYogaNYC.com . See Web site for locations and
phone numbers.
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You
can also visit our archive page
for past newsletter articles on resources. |
Recipe: 5 Squares Famous Turkey Chili
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So flavorful and easy, this chili recipe will
become one of your favorites! Serve over brown rice
or chopped potatoes.
Ingredients
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed to a paste
12 ounces of lean ground turkey
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
1 pinch cayenne pepper
½ cup tomato puree
¼ cup water
½ teaspoon salt (optional)
Optional: Can of kidney beans, drained
Preparations
1. Heat an 8 to 10 inch nonstick skillet over
medium heat. Add the oil and garlic and sauté
until golden brown.
2. Add the ground turkey and cook 3 to 4
minutes, stirring frequently, until well
browned.
3. Mix in the chili powder, cumin, paprika,
onion powder, Cajun seasoning, and cayenne.
Cook 1 minute.
4. Stir in tomato puree, water, and salt (add
beans if desired). Simmer 3-4 minutes until
thick.
Serves 2 (or 4 if beans added) |
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You
can also visit our
archive page for past newsletter recipes. |
Save
with 5-5-5
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Get on
track this month and get 5 days of 5 Squares when you
re-sign for a 5-week program. Call or
email us to get
started now.
This fantastic opportunity expires January 1st, 2009.
You must mention this newsletter when renewing your 5
Squares eating plan.
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Offer Expires: January 1st, 2009
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Email us:
Info@5Squares.com
Call us toll-free:
1.866.5.WE.COOK (1.866.593.2665)
Visit us:
www.5Squares.com
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