Like most, I love my first cup of morning coffee but when I am watching my weight or feel the need to detoxify my body, I switch to green tea. I also drink a lot of iced green tea in the summer months. I find that by drinking about two quarts a day, I am less hungry and more apt to stick to my diet plan. However, not all green tea is created equally.

Tea comes in three types; green, oolong (red), and black, but they all come from the same leaves. The difference is in the process. Black tea is basically a green tea that is allowed to ferment (note that yeast and bacteria is not involved in the tea fermenting process) for hours. Leaves are allowed to oxidized partially in order to make oolong tea and not at all for green tea. Not all green teas are processed equally, some are baked or pan-roasted, while others are steamed. Studies involving the health benefits of tea usually show that leaves that are steamed, then rolled, and dried have the highest levels of antioxidants present. In addition, drinking your tea hot or iced will preserve most of those levels while leaving your tea at room temperature gradually becomes more acidic and more like black tea.

Till tomorrow… live green!

~Jennifer

So after shopping around a bit online, I finally decided to purchase a Wii bundle on Ebay. I got the Wii, Balance Board, and the two games; Wii Sports and Wii Fit. If you aren’t familiar with the Nintendo Wii, it can be connected to the internet. With its internet capability, the Wii catapulted above other gaming consoles because games no longer have to be purchased at a store, instead they can be downloaded. That cuts down on both emissions from travel and all the packaging associated with store-bought items, not to mention the compact discs themselves.

Another reason I like the Wii compared to other gaming systems is that it encourages physical activity rather than just sitting there moving your fingers and fixing your eyes on the screen (much like typing a blog). The Wii Fit is so far my favorite because it allows you to track your progress and keeps you interested by “unlocking” more games. In addition, the Yoga on it is wonderful for getting your body aligned. The balance board helps you to even out your center of gravity and keep your spine more in line which enables you to do the poses correctly. I highly recommend it to anyone from novice to advanced yogis looking to perfect their poses.

Till tomorrow… live green!

~Jennifer

Well, it’s mid-April now and somewhere along the month of March I lost my dieting and exercise resolve. It’s time to get back at it! I find that when I get bored with a routine, a new exercise outfit or piece of equipment helps to get me re-acquainted. Since my exercise duds weren’t all that bad (only three months old), I thought maybe it was time to see what else was out there. I had been doing yoga on my own for quite some time and even though it brings a sense of peace to my life, I went in search of something new. I thought I may come home with a new sticky mat, a video, or perhaps a set of bamboo blocks. However, a friend happened to call in the middle of my decision and turned my attention to a video game… yes, as a grown adult, I am actually looking at buying a video game system, not for my children, but for me (well, okay, they can play sometimes too). Of course, being that I was on a quest for more exercise, the only system out there that can provide all that and more is the Nintendo Wii with the Wii Fit Balance Board. This week, I’ll tell you how having a Wii is “greener” than other games as well as ways to jumpstart your dieting mojo!

Till tomorrow… live green!

~Jennifer

I mentioned a friend of mine the other day that had taken up walking as her preferred form of exercise, today I’d like to expound upon that. Anyone can increase their steps per day just by changing some of their routines. Instead of looking for the closest parking spot, park the farthest away, and take the stairs rather than the elevator are just two great places to start. Once you are up to it, increase your activity to 30 minutes of brisk walking five times a week.

The benefits are amazing. In addition to weight management, you will also be strengthening your heart, which will help control your blood pressure and decrease your risk of a heart attack. Regular walking will also lower your risk of needing gallstone surgery by 20% to 31% according to a Harvard study of women ages 40-65. A study of more than 30,000 men and women ages 20 to 93 also found that a consistent physical activity such as walking could also help protect against hip fractures.  Ideally, you should try to get 10,000 steps in per day.

One way to measure your steps per day is with a pedometer. I recommend the Omron Walking Style. I’ve had it for years and never had any problems other than a dead battery. Once you have it set to your stride, you can measure your steps, miles, aerobic activity, and calories. In addition, it also keeps a 7-day history.

Till tomorrow… live green!

~Jennifer

It’s getting to be that time of year again when the holiday rush tries to take over my normal routine. In order to stay on track, I try to incorporate some additional exercise and stick-to-itiveness into my life. This week, I thought I’d share some of my routines with you.

One thing that starts my day off on the right foot is a 15-minute bounce on my rebounder (mini trampoline). I usually inhale pure oxygen during this time and I’ve found that by doing so, I am able to increase my endurance. I love the energy I get from my morning exercise and am able to go through the day without getting worn down and I even sleep better at night!

The other day, I was talking to a friend who lives in the Midwest where the weather is getting colder, and she was telling me that over the winter, she takes up walking for an hour at the mall where she can escape the weather. Here, most of our malls are out of doors and the weather is nice pretty much year-round but you also need some variety to a good exercise routine. As with any exercise routine, you should check with your doctor first however, walking a little more each day is a great start and a green one too!

Till tomorrow…Live Green!

~Jennifer