Welcome back to
Active Life Health Clinic's
December Newsletter.
First
of all, a word of gratitude. Thank you to all of
you who have contributed to the continued
success of my clinic. Without you I would not be
able to do what I love. I look forward to
continuing to improve the health of Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada, and even the world in
2010.
Happy Holidays!!!
Articles this
month:
To help you not undo
all the work you have done to get healthy this
year, T'ai Erasmus, certified fitness trainer,
has 7 tips to stay holiday fit.
If you, like me, are
not quite ready for Christmas and are looking
for last minute ideas, I have offered a few
suggestions.
To subscribe, please click
here. To unsubscribe, please click
here.
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Helping you
help
yourself!
My goal:
To work in
partnership
with you
to bring
you to
your
optimal
health.
My focus:
Ongoing
health,
not just
temporary
relief.
This is
active
health. |
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7 Tips to Stay Holiday Fit
by T’ai
Erasmus, CFT
 Sip
Smart - if you're committed to reducing
unwanted body fat, a major factor preventing you
from achieving your goal may be those late night
drinks. Alcohol is extremely calorie-dense. In
fact, 1 gram of alcohol has 7 calories. A rum
and coke has about 180 calories and a margarita
has a whopping 350 calories. That's more
calories than a chocolate bar! The traditional
Rum and Eggnog is even higher! Furthermore, when
have you ever had just 1 drink? If you're going
to have a drink (we won't suggest cutting
alcohol altogether), at least mix it with a soda
water or ideally mineral water. Also be aware
that alcohol has the tendency to increase your
appetite and cloud your judgment in making fit
food choices.
'No means No' -
Colleagues, friends, family members, and loved
ones may contribute to making you feel guilty
about not eating certain foods. Before you get
to the party, remind them that you want to
achieve healthy fat loss, and that you recognize
and appreciate the care they put into those
foods they so lovingly prepared. Prevent others
from deterring your fat loss efforts.
Fill Up Before You Head
Out - before you go to any holiday
celebration, have a quick balanced meal to
prevent you from overeating later. Drizzle an
Udo's Oil [or EFAplex Oil] based dressing over a
small salad with grilled chicken breast. It may
sound counterproductive to eat twice, but you'll
feel better and will actually eat less if you
arrive at the party already satisfied.
Chat Them Up (and away)
- rather than standing around the appetizer
table and mindlessly munching on chips and dip
or fried chicken, catch up with family, friends
and colleagues away from tempting and goal
shattering food choices.
Keep Moving - ask
your friends and family members to go for a walk
or do something active. Active games are a great
option too. After you've eaten, you'll be able
to digest your food better if you get outside
for some fresh air. Start a family tradition of
going for a brisk walk or taking a quick bike
ride after dinner. It'll get you out of the
house, jump-start your calorie burning, and most
importantly, get you away from the tempting
sweets and health hindering snacks!
Think Quality Not
Quantity - instead of grabbing a little bit
of everything at a holiday celebration; choose
the 1 food item you really crave. Whether it's
your aunt's delectable pumpkin pie or your mom's
creamy mashed potatoes, choose your favourite,
savour every last bite and leave it at that. For
healthy fat loss, you don't have to deprive
yourself, but rather enjoy your treats in
moderation.
Dress for Success -
wear body-hugging clothes to your holiday
celebrations so you have a constant reminder of
how you want your body to remain. It's easy to
overindulge in loose pants that you can
unbutton. By wearing something a little more
form fitting, you'll know you'll feel
uncomfortable if you overeat.
To get or stay fit during
the holidays and into the new year, visit
www.fitvancouver.com,
www.bootcampvancouver.com,
or book your appointment now by calling
604.329.7867.
Last Minute Gifts
If
you're still needing to buy Christmas gifts now,
then you must be feeling rushed, so I'll get
straight to the point...ideas:
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A
gift card that keeps giving: Pinc Giving gift
cards. Pinc stands for "purpose intention
commitment". You can load the card with the
amount you choose and the receiver of the gift
card can choose the charity that he/she
chooses to put those funds toward. Check it
out at
www.pincgiving.com
"We make a living by what we get, but we make
a life by what we give."
--Sir Winston Churchill
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Green Zebra coupon book: Green Zebra is a
local initiative produced by TB Vets
Charitable Foundation – a coupon book, green
living guide, and directory of Metro Vancouver
sustainable businesses. This unique gift
promotes healthy, sustainable living and
rewards recipients year-round for thinking
green and local in their shopping and eating
choices.
www.greenzebraguide.ca
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"Adopt" an animal: Even
if you can't bring an animal into your home--a
polar bear in a condo might be a little
inappropriate--you can symbolically adopt an
animal that needs help via a donation. My
favourites are:
www.japanesechinrescue.org (is there any
cuter?!),
www.vanaqua.org (membership gives free
admission to the Vancouver Aquarium with
special privileges),
www.wwf.ca (I love the Wildlife Adoptions
as the stuffed animal you get is wonderful).
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Gift
Certificates: The old standby for a good
reason, people like them. Active Life Health
Clinic gift certificates can be used for
Traditional Chinese Medicine consultations,
acupuncture treatments, reflexology
treatments, reiki treatments, Bonsai Facial
Rejuvenation treatments, or for supplements.
The first 5 gift certificates of $300 or more
will receive a free Green Zebra guide.
Give
the gift of health. Contact us at
office@activetcm.com or 604-783-2846.
ECO CHIC: Cranberry Lemon Scones
 There's
nothing better than waking up
Christmas morning to the sweet smell
of fresh baked goods, of course,
that means that *someone* needs to
wake up a wee bit earlier than the
others to actually bake!
Here's a simple recipe for delicious
home-made scones that are always
best served fresh out of the oven.
Ingredients:
4 cups organic white flour
1 tsp salt
6 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 cups organic soy milk (with a
little more for a "wash")
1/2 cup dried organic cranberries
zest from half an organic lemon
Directions:
Preheat oven to 425ºF.
Combine flour, salt and baking
powder in a mixing bowl, making a
little well to pour in the oil. Mix
the oil with the dried ingredients
until you obtain a grainy texture.
Add the soy milk, mixing very
briefly, and then knead in your
cranberries and lemon zest on a
lightly floured surface.
Roll the dough to about 3cm thick
and cut into equal sized squares.
Place on cookie sheet and brush a
light wash with a bit of soy to keep
the tops of your scones from
burning.
Bake for 10-15 minutes, as ovens
vary, check after 10 minutes. They
should have risen and be golden in
colour. Your family will be
overwhelmed with cranberry lemony
goodness that they won't even notice
that these scones are vegan!
Thank you to EcoChic for this
recipe:
www.ecochicinternational.com |
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Active Life Health Cliniccc
Dr. Melissa Carr, B.Sc.,
Dr.TCM, R.Ac.
Doctor of Traditional
Chinese Medicine
Activetcm.com
drcarr@activetcm.com
604-783-2846
Regent Medical Building
#410-2184 West Broadway
Vancouver, B.C., V6K 2E1
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Thank you!
In appreciation of each of
your referrals, Dr. Melissa
Carr will offer you 10% off
of your health product
purchase, so don't forget to
tell your friends, family,
colleagues, and
acquaintances to give us
your name when they book an
appointment.
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