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• easy exercise
• Pilates exercises
• Beach ready body
• Pilates moves

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Written by Lisa Jillanza

Pilates is one of the best ways to tone the hips, thighs, waist and abs, all places that you want tone when you are donning your bikini on the beach this summer.

Pilates exercises

Here are the some Pilates moves that you should be doing for that beach bod,

“The Hundred” - Start lying on your back and lift your legs 45 degrees off the mat and lengthen out through your arms as you lift your head, neck, and shoulders off the floor. Pump your arms vigorously up and down five times on an inhalation and five times on an exhalation. Repeat 10 times for 100 pumps.

“Single-leg circles” - Start lying on your back and lift your right leg up and keep your body still as you make 8 clockwise circles, then 8 counter-clockwise. Repeat with your left leg.

“Single-leg straight-leg stretch” - Start lying on your back and lift your head, neck, and shoulders up. Kick your left leg straight up and pull twice with your hands as you lengthen your right leg, then switch and pull the right leg. Continue alternating legs for 8 reps.

“Double leg stretch” - Pull your knees to your chest and lift your head and neck off the floor. Extend your arms overhead and your legs out to 45 degrees, then circle your arms around and pull your knees back in to your chest. Repeat 8 times.

“Small circles” - Start lying on your side with your legs slightly in front of your hips. Lift your top leg a few inches, turn your toes up to the ceiling. Circle your leg forward 8 times then backwards 8 times, making tiny circles. Don't let your body rock at all:stay solid in your center. Repeat on the left side.

• benefits of watermelon
• healthy watermelon
• Watermelon benefit
• health benefits of watermelon

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Written by Lisa Jillanza

• Besides being made up of nearly 90% water, watermelons are also a great source of significant vitamins and minerals.
• It is chock full of a considerable amount of vitamins A and C. It contains thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B6, folate and niacin in small amounts.
• It is a great source of potassium, and also contains magnesium, calcium, phosphorous and iron in trace amounts.
• Watermelon is also very low in calories, free of fats and cholesterol and is rich in carotenoids.

Benefits of eating watermelon

Recipe: Grilled Scallop and Watermelon Kebabs

• 12 sea scallops
• 4 cups boiling vegetable or chicken broth
• 24- 1”x1” watermelon cubes
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon fresh minced ginger

Cut the scallops into halves across the diameter to create half-moon shapes.  Place them in a heatproof casserole dish in a single layer.  Pour the boiling clear broth over the scallops and let them poach for 5 minutes.  Drain and cool the scallops.  On each skewer alternate one half-moon scallop, then two watermelon cubes, then one half-moon scallop.  Mix together the remaining ingredients and brush the kebabs as they are grilled over a medium-hot grill for 90 seconds per side, turning only once.  Serve warm.

Recipe: Cajun Chicken with Watermelon Mint Salsa

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons granulated garlic
• 2 tablespoons mild chili powder
• 2 tablespoons ground cumin
• 2 tablespoons sweet paprika
• 6 boneless, skinless chicken cutlets

Mix together the spices.  Coat the chicken cutlets with the spice mixture.  Heat a non-stick skillet over medium high heat and place chicken in pan.  Blacken on both sides and sauté just until cooked through.  Top with Watermelon Mint Salsa and serve immediately.

Watermelon Mint Salsa

• 2 cups chopped seedless watermelon
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 cup diced seeded tomato
• Minced seeded jalapeno to taste
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh mint
• ½ cup chopped fresh scallion

Toss ingredients together, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

• brain health
• brain function
• mental health
• Brain exercises
• exercise your brain

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Written by Lisa Jillanza

Despite what many people think, our brain can remain sharp, active, vital and creative no matter what our age. Studies suggest that the more stimulating and intellectually challenging that we make our lives, the better our odds are to keep our brain sharp as we get older. Some ways to keep our brains sharp include:

Brain Exercises

Reduce stress: stress can wear down the hippocampus, which plays a major role in memory function.

Exercise regularly: exercising delivers more oxygen-rich blood to the brain which is vital for producing new brain cells and preventing atrophy.

Eat low-fat and healthy: glucose spikes and fatty plaque deposits due to overeating can damage the brain, so a lower-calorie diet promotes better circulation and helps to control weight.

• healthy diet
• spring diet
• Healthy spring diet
• balanced healthy diet

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Written by Lisa Jillanza

Now that the long, cold, endless winter is over it's time to give up those comfort foods and trade them in for a spring cleaning of your diet!

Spring clean your diet

The good news is it is possible to rid your body of harmful toxins that you may have indulged in during the winter months, just by eating better and right this spring.

These foods will help hydrate, refresh and detoxify your way into a healthier season and give you the energy you need to gear up for summer, too!

• Berry green smoothie : Get started with a healthy smoothie blending together a cup of greens like spinach, kale and celery with a handful of fresh berries.  The greens contain chlorophyll that eliminates toxins that can contribute to liver damage and other illnesses.  The berries are packed with antioxidants and enzymes that fight free-radical damage, plus their sweetness combat the bitterness in the greens.
• Curry powder : Popular in Indian foods, curry gets its yellow color from a compound called curcumin.  According to holistic medicine, curcumin is used to help aid with liver issues and digestive disorders.  And because curry powder is also an anti-inflammatory it also contributes to the production of glutathione, a liver-protecting antioxidant.  You can add curry powder as an accent to almost any food including eggs, chicken, and vegetables.
• Cabbage : Made up of nearly 92 percent water, cabbage is a natural diuretic that will help your body get rid of excess fluids. It is also jam packed with glucosinolates, organic compounds that contain nitrogen and sulfur, that help to flush out unwanted toxins in the body.  Cabbage also is loaded with many essential vitamins like C, K, E and A, plus minerals, dietary fiber and folic acid.
• Water : Always start your day with a big glass of water and stay hydrated all day long by carrying around with you a reusable water bottle.  Drinking water before a meal can help curb hunger and overeating.

• women health
• women aging
• women aging tips
• women and aging

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Written by Lisa Jillanza

Women of all ages need to make sure to stay healthy and most experts break down women's health routines by their age.  Here are some different checks and measures that should be met as women age, through their 60s.

Women and aging

In your 20s,

Kick your unhealthy habits.  Sure we all drank too much, ate too much, and maybe smoked too much during our college days, but those days should be left at college. Many habits that you form in your 20s stick with you throughout your life, so let go of the bad ones!

Plan for an annual physical.  Schedule an annual check-up into your life and stick to it.  You will thank yourself and will be assured that you are doing as well as you feel.

Get your fill of calcium and vitamin D.

In your 30s,

Keep an eye on the scale as many women begin to deal with weight struggles in their 30s.

Get your sleep : all eight hours : if you can!

Pay attention to irregular periods as they can be telling you something about your ovaries or thyroid as you age.

In your 40s,

Get a mammogram.

Have a diabetes screening done, as your chances of having Type II diabetes is more common in your 40s.

Try to get at least 20 to 30 minutes of exercise in per day.

In your 50s,

Pay attention to your heart and your risk factors like cholesterol and blood pressure.

Schedule a colonoscopy.

Get the flu vaccine every year.

In your 60s,

Have a bone density test done.

Make sure to increase your intake of vitamin B12, which helps to produce healthy red blood cells.

Inquire about getting a shingles vaccine and be careful of your risk factors for catching pneumonia.