8 Lame Excuses Not to Exercise

Posted on March 9, 2016 by Sarah Razif

Everyone has a different personality and interests. You alone decide whether to choose good or not. The same applies to sports, there should be interest and patience to achieve the desired weight. Practicing negative mindsets only brings you down. What type mindsets are these? These are lame excuses that we often hear:

REASON # 1

“I’m busy. I’ve more other stuff that I have to prioritize.”

Usually workload makes one too busy and care less about finding time for exercise. If you are more concerned with money, this reason is common. Remember, it’s better to prevent than to cure. You wouldn’t want to spend your money on remedy, would you?

REASON # 2

“I’m already fat, so what? Nothing can change that.”

First, change your perceptions and know that anyone can change. You just need to put a little effort and constant dedication. Get someone who can keep you motivated on losing weight.

REASON # 3

“I don’t need to exercise. I only eat diet food.”

Diet alone is fine if you take really low intake of calorie for a long period of time to lose your weight. But this is too much for people to handle. You need to exercise to burn calories and at the same time control your eating habit. That way you are able to balance your health without craving food.

REASON # 4

“I don’t want my body to look like The Hulk.”

Actually, this imagination has gone way too far. Your body will look better if you exercise in discipline manner. To get a body like a bodybuilder is not that easy, it requires a very long time.

REASON # 5

“My body always aches after the workout.”

Your body will be sore after sports because you rarely play sports. It also happens when you didn’t warm up first or you are doing it the wrong way. Don’t see it as a big thing to do. You actually are exercising every step you climbed stairs.

REASON # 6

“I’ll workout later”

Until when? Delaying is the most hardest part to avoid. Most people only workout for a temporary reason. Especially for their wedding look. Ask yourself again. Are you working out for yourself or other people?

REASON # 7

“I don’t have anything suitable to wear for sports.

I don’t want to mess up my mind for this. What a waste of time.”

Fashionista. Women who are always concern about what they wear. Bare in mind, the best outfit to wear for sports are always the simplest yet covers your aurah. Let’s simplify this. There are few options nowadays to look for sportswear and Nashata.com is one of the most popular sportswear for those who want to look modest but still in fashion.

REASON # 8

“People are staring at me, too embarrassed to join any aerobic.”

Some people feel embarrassed to exercise, especially plus size people who want to lose weight because she feels herself being watched. You really should never think and care about what people say because it makes you lose the spirit. Prove to them you can do it! You might as well join fitness center for women where you can feel freedom from the eyes of men. You can find it everywhere nowadays.

Are you one of these reasons? If you are, stay away from this negative vibes. EMPOWER an active lifestyle and you’ll stay healthier than before!

Photo credit:

http://northpointfitness.com/working-hard-or-hardly-working/lazy-exercise/

http://viralportal.net/diet-or-exercise-which-is-more-effective-in-weight-loss/

6 Sunnah Foods to Incorporate Into Your Diet

Posted on February 12, 2016 by Fit Muslim Girl

Faith and fitness; what do they have in common? I believe wholeheartedly in the importance of connecting our quest for health with our spirituality. This makes out path to wellness much more meaningful and full of remembrance. One way that we can do this, as Muslims, is by incorporating sunnah foods into our diet. Sunnah foods hold so many amazing blessings and benefits. Here are some easy ways to eat sunnah foods on a daily basis.

Honey

The Prophet (saw) said, “Upon you is the two cures: the honey and the Qur’aan” [Ibn Maajah]

Honey not only has a high nutritional value containing vitamins, minerals and antioxidants but it has medicinal uses as well. It can treat nausea, cough and cold and has been shown to be effective against advanced cases of stomach and bone cancer.

Honey can be easily integrated into your diet by having one tablespoon every day. You can eat it plain, mix it into your tea or drizzle it over some toast with peanut butter. It is also popular in baking as a natural sugar substitute to table sugar or artificial sweeteners.

Dates

Allah’s Apostle said, “He who eats seven ‘Ajwa dates every morning, will not be affected by poison or magic on the day he eats them.” [Bukhari]

Dates are a very low-fat, nutrient-dense food that provide a great source of energy and a natural sweetness. They contain a rich amount of dietary fiber, antioxidants and minerals. Dates aid in healthy digestion, heart problems, admoninal cancer and more. They are also great for providing natural energy.

I like to eat 1 or 2 dates just before a quick, HIIT workout. It provides me with the short burst of energy I need. Dates are a great, natural replacement for processed sweets like candy or chocolate bars. Lastly, it’s sunnah to break your fast with dates. This is effective because they give you energy after a tiring day of fasting, and they hold you over to perform your prayer before eating your larger meal.

Citrus

The Messenger (saw) said, “The example of a believer who recited the Qur’aan, is that of a citron which smells good and tastes good.” [Bukhari]

Citrus fruits (lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit etc) are rich in vitamin C which can help protect against the cold and other illnesses. They also contain anti inflammatory and pain relieving properties, can relieve heartburn, can help maintain a healthy mouth and act as a natural remedy for bad breath.

Lemons/limes are probably the most common and popular citrus fruits and I personally always keep them in my house. They are great to have around for cooking. Adding the juice and/or zest of these fruits can brighten up the flavors of your dishes. Squeeze some lemon/lime juice on top of fish and other seafood dishes or add them to your salad to make it extra refreshing. They are also commonly used in dressings and can be used in baking as well. You can also cut up citrus fruits and use them in your water for added flavor and freshness.

Pomegranate

Rasulullah (saw) said, “Pomegranate and its rind strengthen digestion(stomach).” [Abu Nuaim]

This amazing, bright and delicious fruit has many benefits. It can help to lower cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure and has anti-cancer effects. It can also stem a cough.

Throw some pomegranates seeds onto your salad for a beautiful presentation and delicious crunch. They pair particularly well with arugula. You can also throw them into a blender with some of your other favorite fruits to make a smoothie, or simply eat them plain with a side of nuts or low-fat cheese.

Vinegar

Prophet Muhammad (saw) said, “Allah has put blessing in vinegar, for truly it was used by the Prophets before me.” [Muslim and Ibn Maja]

Vinegar is pretty well-known for its benefits, particularly apple cider vinegar. Vinegar has antioxidants which can help to prevent cancer, it is heart healthy, it may improve insulin-sensitivity and it may help with diabetes.

Vinegar is another thing that I always have in my house, specifically balsamic and apple cider vinegar. They are great for homemade salad dressings which are much cheaper and healthier than buying them in the store. A basic vinaigrette recipe is 3 parts oil and 1 part vinegar. To add more sunnah foods throw in some honey for sweetness and squeeze lemon or lime for citrus flavor.

Thyme

Prophet Muhammad (saw) said, “Fumigate your houses with Mugwort, Myrrh & Thyme.” [Kanz-ul-Ummal]

Thyme is not only an herb with a distinctive taste, but it has medicinal benefits as well. It can help to lower blood pressure, suppress cough, boost the immune system and mood, and is used in many skin care products for its wonderful scent.

Right next to basil, thyme is one of my favorite herbs. I think it has a very warm, minty taste and is such a great way to add flavor to dishes. It pairs very well with lamb and also many vegetables. I like to roast my Brussles sprouts, tomatoes and sweet potato with some thyme and a dash of salt and pepper. Next time you are cooking lamb or vegetables, consider the addition of this wonderful herb.

References

http://www.cabdirect.org/abstracts/20103251958.html;jsessionid=C266DAEDD072D290284CF60877B4E516

http://www.natureword.com/properties-and-benefits-of-citron/

https://www.drfuhrman.com/library/article19.aspx#ref2

The Weekend Runner: Eid Battles

Posted on July 12, 2015 by Weekend Runner

Eid is a constant battle between wanting to crazy on the good food while dealing with guilty feelings that would come later after stuffing myself too much. Eid after eid, I realized this is not a healthy mentality to have as I should be consistent with having a balanced diet all year round. There must be a better way to win this battle. Since no one eats avocado smoothies or protein shakes for Eid, and avoiding the good ol’ rendang is absoloutely impossible, I have devised 5 tactics to strike a balance to have a healthy and happy Eid:

Yes kitty I feel you. (source: google)

1.The key word here is MODERATION.

Don’t totally deprive yourself of the good food or grandma’s cooking, but stop before you are 100% full. If you experience indigestion and bloating on the first day of Eid, you know you have gone overboard. Plus, your poor stomach will need some time adjusting because your food consumption has decreased in Ramadhan.

2.Use smaller utensils.

Buffet spread is the biggest culprit of overeating during Eid, because our eyes are bigger than our stomach. We want to take everything! A simple trick to curb this is by swapping the dinner plate (usually it’s the biggest plate) for a smaller plate. Bigger plate –> more space to fill in with food –> overeating. This will also significantly reduce food wastage, because we only take what we can eat.

3.Take time to savour your Eid cakes and cookies i.e. kuih raya.

Try to limit to just one piece for each type of cookie. Alternatively, if you know you have a weakness for your favourite type of kuih, pre-portion them out first on a piece of plate so you are less tempted to empty out the whole jar.

4.Drink plain water only.

This is simple and straight-forward. No soft drinks, no sugary drinks, as these drinks contain ‘empty’ calories (no nutritional value). Alternatively, you can have hot coffee or tea without sugar.

A glass of syrup contains more calories than a stick of satay! (source: google)

5.Remain active through out the day.

Instead of lying down after stuffing yourself with good food (sounds tempting, right?), offer to help out instead. Volunteer to help prepare the meals, do some cleaning up, run errands, or just play with the kids.

Ideally, you should schedule in time for a work out to burn that extra 500 calories.

Ultimately, Eid is a time to reconnect and socialize with your family and friends. Having a good time and nurturing relationships does not always have to revolve around food. Remember: we eat to live, not live to eat.

Until next week,

The Weekend Runner.

Nashata

Empowering Active Lifestyle

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