Yes indeed, charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting. It's not what is seen by the eyes determines the real beauty of a woman, it's what's within her... A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised...

If you are among those individuals who are still trying hard to make a great difference for this year 2012 when it comes to diet, this simple tips that I will give you  could be of great help to you. I was once an aspirant of losing weight to the extent of not eating anything at all (of course such way is not advisable for it could affect your health negatively). But all of those will (or shall i say unsuccessful attempt) was gone when I conceived my baby. As pregnant, I became unconscious with my weight anymore knowing that it is normal for pregnant women to really gain lots of weight. However, it made me realize now that I still need to watch my diet especially during postpartum period.

So, I have here list of natural appetite suppressants that will help you stay full and will therefore lower your calorie intake...

ALMOND. Now, who doesn't love almond? This is so rich in antioxidants, Vitamin E and magnesium have also been shown to increase feelings of fullness in people and help with weight management

COFFEE. a moderate amount of coffee can help boost metabolism and suppress your appetite. Coffee's secret? Caffeine, along with antioxidants from the coffee beans. Just don't cancel out those good effects with too much sugar or cream!

DARK CHOCOLATE. a little dark chocolate helps to lower your cravings because the bitter taste signals the body to decrease your appetite. Not to mention that the steric acid in dark chocolate helps slow digestion to help you feel fuller longer. If dark chocolate is too bitter for you, try having a piece with a cup of black coffee—it'll bring out the sweetness!

EGGS. eating an egg or two for breakfast can help dieters feel more full over 24 hours. (I am just quite confused if the outer color of the egg shell has some significance or any egg color will do:)

SWEET POTATOES. potatoes contain a special type of starch that resists digestive enzymes, making them stay in your stomach longer and therefore keep you full. Plus, they're full of vitamin A and vitamin C!

AVOCADO. Full of fiber and heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, avocados suppress appetite when eaten in moderation. In fact, the fats in these little guys send signals to your brain that tell your stomach that it's full!

APPLES. Apples of all varieties and types help suppress hunger for a number of reasons. First, apples are filled with soluble fiber and pectin, which help you feel full. Apples also regulate your glucose and boost your energy level. Finally, apples require lots of chewing time, which helps slow you down and gives your body more time to realize that you're no longer hungry. Plus, they just taste good!


GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES. If you're really looking for a highly nutritious food that will fill you up for hours, you can't beat green leafy vegetables. From kale to spinach to Swiss chard, these fibrous greens (eaten raw or gently sautéed with a little olive oil) are delicious and definitely keep hunger at bay.

TOFU. A rich plant-based protein source, tofu isn't just for vegetarians! Tofu is high in an isoflavone called genistein, which has been shown to suppress appetite and lower food intake.

And lastly,

WATER. Could taming your appetite be as easy as drinking an extra glass or two of water? Science says yes! In one August 2010 study, people who drank two glasses of water before a meal ate between 75 and 90 fewer calories at the meal than those who didn't drink water. Love that H2O!

 

Keeping ourselves fit and physically healthy needs a strong determination. Without that determination, we tend to follow a diet program for just a short span of time without total commitment. Losing weight isn't that easy after all but with great determination comes great decision. YOU CAN MAKE IT!

Get more health tips at http://www.shape.com.

God bless you on all your endeavor towards a healthy lifestyle!

This post brought to you by Western Union. All opinions are 100% mine.

Financial problems only comes when we lost side track of how to manage it effectively. If you are one of those individuals who went through financial constraints for the past years, now is the time to control your finances at your own total control. One of the main source of financial problems of any individual is the impulsive and compulsive buying using credit cards. Most of us lost control of controlling our debts through credit cards especially during holiday seasons wherein we are sometimes persuaded with those 0% sales on gadgets and other major items.

To welcome the Year 2012, it is just the high time for us to invest on something that will not keep us hanging on the balance when it comes to financial control. If you are a credit card holder, you better switch now to Western Union mun2 Reloadable Prepaid MasterCard. You might ask what would be the advantages of this card over other prepaid or credit cards. You can basically use this card for online shopping, movies, concerts and a whole lot more and you can track your balance anytime you want thus saving you from the pitfalls of overspending. There are also NO monthly maintenance fees, no purchase transaction fees and no overdraft or late payment fees, which means more money in your pocket. Considering that it is prepaid, you can load money anytime through their available and readily accessible Western Union Agent locations. You are also guaranteed of their protection just in case your card will be lost or stolen through their  MasterCard's Zero Liability Policy. Having all these benefits, you could never go wrong with Western Union mun2 Reloadable Prepaid MasterCard. So what are you waiting for? Sign up now and avail their additional $10 into your prepaid account after your first direct deposit of your Western Union mun2 Reloadable Prepaid MasterCard. Now, this is your new way of controlling your finances for 2012. 

 

I just had my prenatal today and the Doctor was very much surprised with how much I gained weight within just one week... The measurement of my tummy went from 32cm to 36cm. According to the Doctor, the normal increase should be 1cm/week only (and mine was 4cm)... This past Holiday celebration really did a big part on why it did happen to me. I ate lots of sweets and carbs lately (sob... T_T)

taken more than a month ago...
 imagine how big would it be right now
 (can't take a picture on it)

And so, the Doctors advice was to cut carbohydrates on my diet (no more rice and bread) but more on veggies and milk... I still have to exercise a lot as well... If I have to give birth two weeks from now (my EDC is on January 20), I might as well gain more weight which will make it difficult for me to deliver my baby in normal method... (sigh) I don't wanna go through C- Section method...

Discipline.. discipline... more self-discipline T_T

Waaah! I am pretty sure I'll be getting varied reactions with this picture. This was my Graduation picture. Well, this was actually taken at a studio for our yearbook purposes... This was more than 10 years ago... I miss the life of being a student... Well I am now on another chapter of my life but still learning continues but of different category this time: Learning for motherhood :)

Well, education is a lifelong journey... everyday we continue to learn new things, right?

I am linking this post for the Blog Photo Challenge hosted by Me & My Passion.

Whew, time flew so fast indeed... I still have lots of things to be done before I have my due... I wish I could give birth by 19th so that I could still meet my students... However, as of now, this Braxton Hicks contractions really makes me feel like the time is indeed really near... My baby's fetal movement is so severe that I can't help but grin with pain.  Well, I am crossing my fingers for the better things to happen... As the day approaches, a mixture of excitement and fear overwhelms me especially now that I happened to watch a video of a woman giving a natural birth...

Wish I could gain enough strength when that day comes... Oh before I forgot, i need to continue checking my student's blog.. Bye bye for now.. God bless...