Happiness in a Cup and some of the coolest gifts I've ever seen!

This has been the perfect year to indulge in tea, both hot and cold. I became a fan of Adagio Teas last year and I cannot wait to share with you some of the coolest products that I came across (had no idea they carried) but am now certainly a forever fan of theirs because of them! We are just going to start off with the fact that I do like to binge on some good film and shows now and again and one of my absolute favorites has been Game of Thrones. I mean...the season premiere is right around the corner. My Khal & I were so grateful for the Adagio Game of Tea Blends featuring the Drogon's Revenge when we were having some pollen issues these past weeks because not only was it delightful and tasty, but the gunpowder really made us feel like we were cured of our ailments and ready to take on Kings Landing! Okay, in all honesty, I am not sure if we could taste gunpowder...but the tea does taste seriously good.

Other fandom and novely blends that I was so excited to try were the Zodiac Blends including the Taurus Tea which my daughter just loved since it was her birthday last month. My personal favorite was the Malory Archer blend and the Cthulhu found in the Fandom Sets and Fandom Samplers.

Happy New Year! Resolution Ideas from The Honest Dietitian

2017 has arrived. I am sure many of you have been bombarded by ads and commercials from companies hoping to monetize on the "New Year, New You" hope and drive that comes with the annual dropping of the ball. I know there are also many people out there who will tell you that making resolutions is useless and will just set you up for failure. I am not one of those people.

I think making an effort to make any positive changes in your life is absolutely fantastic. I think it is wonderful no matter what time of the year you do it! New Year's is just that time of year when people take a minute to think about themselves and what they would like to accomplish for the upcoming 365 days and believe me...I am a firm believer that people (including myself) do not take enough time to really sit and ponder what we can do to make ourselves better. We often put to much pressure on ourselves trying to do things to make things better for other people, but can forget that we need goals, hope, and certainly attention and love for ourselves from ourselves.

Lose the Gym & Still Get Fit and Strong

f you're looking for a way to improve your general wellbeing and to lose weight you might be considering a gym membership. Some people just don't like the gym though and feel time spent there can be intimidating. There are so many ways to workout from home it would be silly not to thoroughly research that option too. Here are some ideas to kick-start a new keep-fit without the gym regime...

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Join a local team

Whether you love to kick a soccer ball around or simply love to run track, team-sport is one sure way to get the adrenaline pumping. Not only will you increase your heart rate, release endorphins and get the blood pumping; you'll also make new friends. A competitive edge can be a real motivator to getting fit so joining a team is potentially a great way to lose weight. And if you are a parent, this is a great way to be a role model to your children by participating in activity!

Get on Your Bike and Get Fit: Some Essential Advice for Success

Are you one of those people who has tried a thousand ways to get fit and found that none of them work for you? It can be a real frustration, but you shouldn’t just give up. The right way to get fit for you could be just around the corner. One thing that you should definitely try out is cycling. This is a great way to get fit and work out. It moves lots of muscles, and it’s a cardiovascular form of exercise. I found that I really enjoyed the challenge of spin classes a couple of years ago, but due to scheduling, I was unable to keep up with going to the studio classes. Luckily, I saved up some money and bought myself a spin bike for my home gym and have really enjoyed it (the pink bike in the picture above is mine). Here are some tips to help you get fit through cycling:

Fuel Your Ride the Right Way

What you put into your body is just as important as what you do on your bike. You need to eat healthily in order to ensure that your cycling efforts aren’t cancelled out by your poor diet. But, at the same time, you also need to make sure that your body is fuelled for the ride ahead. If it’s not, then you could run out of energy and burn out before you have finished your ride. That’s no good for your fitness efforts in the long-term.

Set Your Bike Up Properly and Make it Comfortable

You should set your bike up in the right way. If you don’t do this, you won’t be able to get what you want from the bike. You won’t be able to cycle it properly or for as long if you’re not comfortable when you’re riding it. Your leg should be straight when the pedal is at the lowest point. So, adjust the saddle of the bike until that’s the case. Bicycle insurance is important if you want to make sure that your bike is safe when you’re not using it too. I have too many friends who have lost their expensive road bikes due to accidents or theft that this is a pretty great idea.

Do Intervals

Intervals are short bursts of cycling that you should do when you’re on your bike. It’s all about changing pace and putting your body through a more intense workout for a short burst of time. These bursts of increased intensity don’t have to last for very long. It can be good to make them last for about a minute before going back to your normal cycling pace again. If you want to lose weight and improve your fitness, going at a steady pace and not changing things up won’t work as well. Instead, you need to push yourself a bit further sometimes. There are actually a lot of good youtube videos and apps out there that have virtual trainers & playlists to keep you motivated for rides either on the road or on your bike at home.

Summertime is here!

SO incredibly excited that I have actually have a little bit of a break this summer before starting the last (fingers crossed!) year of my PhD dissertation work. I have done quite a bit of writing this year, so I will be sharing some information on sports nutrition topics, migraines and nutrition, as well as some good cooking & food recipes.  Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and hoping you like the blogs "face lift". Cheers to a great summer! And chances are if you don't hear from me for a few days, it is because I am in my own personal oasis:

Oregon Chai Review & Giveaway

Mmm...I love Chai Tea.  Oregon Chai is the chai tea of all chai teas!  They graciously sent me three different types of chai tea to try:  the Original, the Energia herbal chai, and Dreamscape herbal chai.  Each box comes with 20 bags of pure bliss.  There are so many different ways to enjoy your chai.  I enjoy it heated with or without a little bit of sugar and cream.  I also enjoy it cold, brewed and poured over ice for a refreshing treat.  Chai has always been regarded as a healthy alternative to coffee, with a lower level of caffeine (although the Dreamscape is naturally caffeine free) and has been known to improve one's vitality, mental clarity, and calming- all at the same time!  Not to mention, it tastes incredible.  These three different blends of chai are fitting for whatever mood you are in.  I obviously cannot pick a favorite, because I adore all three blends.

So, you're ready to try it, right?  Thanks to Oregon Chai, we have my first birthday week giveaway!  One lucky winner will receive a box of each Oregon Chai flavor above:  The Original, The Energia Herbal Chai, and The Dreamscape Herbal Chai.  Good Luck!!