Swathy and Sky

Walking for Weight Loss

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In the Lose Weight with simple Habit series, last week we discussed how drinking adequate amount of water can help you to lose weight. Today, I would be talking about another very simple habit which will help your body improve its metabolism and consequently, help in burning the fat more efficiently.
Today’s Habit: Take a 20 minutes walk or stroll daily
Walking is among the most effective form of exercises without over-straining you. And, it is also one of the most effective weight loss exercises you can do. A 20 minute walk daily provides enough of the physical exercise you need to keep your fat burning consistently. Walking improves your metabolism and the amount of oxygen you inhale daily. Oxygen is important for the proper functioning of the organs and more oxygen you inhale, the better would the results be. Improved metabolism helps burn fat more efficiently and helps with easy digestion of the food. If you have ever thought of an exercise which will take care of every part of your body, Walking is your answer. You can walk any time of the day with whatever speed you are comfortable with. You need not do ‘running walk’ to help your body. A peaceful walk at a normal pace is enough to give your body a boost and if you are consistent, you would realize that your pace of walking improves day by day. One thing to remember is to take care of your posture while walking. Keep your back straight and chest stiff. Do not slouch while walking.
Walking in the early morning is a very good way to give your body the fresh oxygen available. The air in the morning is purer than that in the evening. A slow walk in the morning air will awaken all your senses and you will feel your body has rejuvenated. It will keep you energetic all day long and your quality of sleep will improve if you stick to the habit. Do not forget to have a glass or two of water before beginning your walk. If you get bored of walking (which is kind of difficult), try to change your surroundings everyday. Walk along different paths everyday. Ask a friend to accompany you, take a jukebox along with you or observe nature on your walk. You can even plan on your day or take a ‘me time’ during your walk. When you make walking a part of your daily routine with such involvements, it will not feel as work but rather become a habit without which you will not be able to live. So, go ahead and take a walk now and feel the difference.
A tip: A Walk on soft green grass (wet with dew) early in the morning with naked feet. It is an acupuncture therapy and is great for eye sight.

Spinach – Mint Hydrating facial mask

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Not only are fruits great for our skin but some vegetables are fabulous for our skin. So, today, I am going to talk about a new facial recipe which has spinach and mint. Preparing the recipe is very simple and you can use it daily too. Spinach is full of all nutrients and mint makes your skin fresh and dewy.
  • If you wan to get fabulous results, take some stems of very fresh spinach and mint. If you have a kitchen garden, you can pick them in the early morning while there is dew on the leaves.
  • Mix some honey with the leaves and blend them for a through consistency. For dry skin, you can substitute honey with fresh milk cream. Add the milk cream after blending the leaves. For oily skin, you can use lemon juice or tomato juice.
  • The mask would be very watery so make sure apply in appropriate quantities and it will run down your face. Keep it on for 15-20 minutes and wash off with cool water.
  • Alternatively, you can pound (or blend) the leaves together and squeeze them to extract the spinach and mint juice. Use a cotton ball to apply the juice on your face or you can mix any clay (or any other) mask using this juice.
  • You can make this mask from the leftover spinach which are not usable for cooking purposes.
  • Do not store the mask or the juice. Make the mask or juice fresh every time you plan to use it.

Fresh Summer Skin and Hair Care Masks

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Summer is on the high and wreaking havoc on the skin and hair even if you have not been venturing out. Give yourself some soothing time with homemade facial and hair masks and regain your supple skin and bouncy hair. These hair masks include the use of only the most natural ingredients like watermelon, berries, baking soda. So, check out the recipes here.