Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/tinybuddha/~3/ZE9KsbPlCTg/

“Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It’s a relationship between equals.” ~Pema Chodron

I was nineteen when it happened.

Legally an adult, but in no way equipped with what I was expected to deal with.

As I found myself agreeing to a marriage arranged by my mum, my thoughts turned to my dad.

We had buried him two days prior. He’d suffered a lot before he died. I wondered what he’d make of all this.

What followed my agreement was nothing short of a whirlwind, but not the romantic whirlwind that’s often associated with marriage.

Sure, there was the buying of clothes and jewelry, the organizing of venues, and the excited congratulations.

But then came the serious part. The living together. The getting to know your partner. The complete indifference to each other.

And before I’d even acknowledged that I was a married woman, I was getting divorced.

We weren’t suited. We didn’t agree on anything. I refused to live my life with someone I couldn’t stand the sight of. And despite my own shortcomings, there was one person I blamed for everything I experienced: my mom.

If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have been married in the first place. I agreed to it because she asked me to—and because I wa…

Source: http://www.livelifeactive.com/2016/02/13/should-i-do-cardio-before-or-after-weights-your-questions-answered/

The most common question I get asked is: Should I do cardio before or after weights?

When I first started working out, I would always try to get my cardio in before my weight session because, to be honest, I hated cardio and just wanted to get it over with. After I got more serious about working out and meeting my goals, I became more interested in what the most efficient way truly is. Should I continue doing cardio before lifting, or should I switch it up?

I have heard both sides of the argument and although both have their pros and cons, I believe in one way more than the other from first-hand experience. Let me explain.

What you decide to do first is strictly based off your personal goals. If your main goal is to improve endurance and lose weight, you will probably have the best luck doing cardio before lifting weights. If you’re focusing on building muscle, you might have the greatest success by lifting before doing your cardio.

Let me back up and go into more detail as to how I came up with this theory…

Weight Training VS Cardio

Weight training and cardiovascular activity are two different types of physical activity. They both have a different effect on our muscular cells and vital organs such as our heart.

Cardio is always an essential part of any training routine because it increases our endurance levels and strengthens our heart. At the end of the day, having a strong and healthy heart will lessen the chance for many diseases….

Source: http://www.fannetasticfood.com/2016/02/17/at-home-workout-afghan-braised-chicken-with-yogurt/

Hey friends! Monday’s snow has already come and gone – that was fast! Lots of rain yesterday took care of the slush quite quickly, which is awesome so I can get back to running tomorrow.

Matt and I both worked from home on Monday which is always fun – even though we’re working it’s still nice to have the company! Zara was happy to have us there, too. Here we are watching the snow fall while I eat some Perfect Microwave Banana Oatmeal.

Since we were stuck at home, I figured it was the perfect opportunity to introduce Matt to one of the Winter Shape Up workouts!

<img title="fitnessista HIIT workout" style="border-top: 0px;border-right: 0px;border-bottom: 0px;float: none;padding-top: 0px;padding-left: 0px;border-left: 0px;margin: 0px auto;padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="fitnessis…

Source: http://www.sonima.com/food/gluten-free-brownies/

These decadent fudgey squares are what dreams are made of. Developed by Kim Capella over at The Coconut Diaries, the gluten-free brownies also happen to be vegan, low in sugar, and only 133 calories per serving. But, honestly, all we care about is the chocolate.ShareTweetPlusPin

The ooey-gooey texture you see here is achieved by using coconut oil and unsweetened apple sauce. If you want an extra chocolate drizzle on top (as pictured), Capella recommends finishing them off with chocolate brownie coconut butter by Sweet Spreads.

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The post Fudgey Chocolate Gluten-Free Brownies appeared first on Sonima.

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Source: http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/02/17/466577536/welcome-to-koreatown-a-cookbook-to-tempt-american-tastebuds?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=thesalt

Audio for this story from Morning Edition will be available at approximately 9:00 a.m. ET.

Bibimbap is one of the best-known Korean dishes. According to chef Deuki Hong and writer Matt Rodbard, there really isn’t a definitive recipe. “The name translates to ‘mixed rice,’ and, in practice, rice is the dish’s only constant,” the authors write in their new cookbook, Koreatown.

Courtesy of Clarkson Potter

Korean food is built on bold flavors: spicy pickled vegetables, sweet, smoky meats and pungent, salty stews. That can be a little intimidating for some American diners. But the authors of a new book called Koreatown hope to change that.

Deuki Hong and Matt Rodbard spent two years eating in Koreatowns, from Los Angeles to Atlanta to New York. Restaurants like Cho Dang Gol, a little place in Manhattan that’s known for its stews and house-made tofu, where we met for lunch. Rodbard ordered a bowl of kalbijjim — a short rib stew that’s savory and sweet, with a fiery kick. Hong says it’s a perfect example of Koreans cooki…

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/tinybuddha/~3/8p_8JjJxFCM/

“Don’t let the darkness from your past block the light of joy in your present. What happened is done. Stop giving time to things which no longer exist, when there is so much joy to be found here and now.” ~Karen Salmansohn

If you are lucky enough to spend time in mindful communities you will hear the phrase “letting go” used frequently. The practice of letting go is used to support our acceptance of the way things are, and I believe it’s a cornerstone of creating a happy, full life.

But what happens when you’re being asked to let go of something that is deeply emotionally charged or something that directly relates to how you identify yourself?

When we have a deep emotional attachment to an event or circumstance in our life and we’re being asked to let it go, it can often feel like we’re being asked to move on and forget about the past, person, or event that we’re deeply connected to. 

In 2010 my oldest son passed away unexpectedly. At that time I had been a practicing yogi for almost ten years and had navigated what I thought were significant opportunities for practicing detachment and letting go.

For example, during my divorce from my son’s father I let go of my long held dream of having a hap…

Source: http://greatist.com/live/lose-fat-diet-exercise?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=feed_http–greatistcom-

Diet and exercise get all of the attention when it comes to fat loss. While they both do play a major role in the process, it’s not quite as simple as “eat less and move more.” So many people repeat this mantra with full conviction—after all, it can work for a while. However, in general, it’s outdated, and there’s so much more to fat loss than that.

I’m going to share with you the four things that I emphasize with my clients to make sure they continue to make progress. I’ll also give you some troubleshooting questions to ask yourself if your fat loss progress has stalled.

1. Get sufficient sleep.

I know what you’re thinking—”More sleep talk? Borrrrrring!” I understand. Sleep isn’t an exciting topic. However, if you’re serious about optimizing your health and/or losing fat, there are some things about sleep that you must know.

If my client’s fat loss stalls, I don’t start analyzing her food intake or increasing her exercise frequency or intensity. Instead, I look at her sleep quality and quantity, and her chronic stress level. Really. It’s that important.

We are a chronically sleep-deprived, over-stressed society. Each of these things can cause health problems and hinder fat loss. Combine them, and it’s a double-whammy.

Have you noticed that when you are exhausted you feel hungrier than usual? This is not your imagination. Not getting enough sleep affects leptin and ghrelin, which are (to oversimplify) your hunger hor…

Source: http://greatist.com/live/pam-anderson-dark-side-wellness?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=feed_http–greatistcom-

When Pam Anderson rose to fame in the early 90s, we were hooked on Atkins, Tae Bo, and getting six-pack abs. Today it’s green juice, SoulCycle, and fixating on our well-being. The change in mindset over two decades seems like progress: We’re thinking about what’s good for us, not just losing weight. But Connected, a futuristic short film staring Anderson, brings to light the potential dark side of our endless quest for personal wellness. (A quick aside: As you can see from the screengrab above, there’s a quick, NSFW scene where Anderson is clad only in her underwear.)

We watch her drink a kale smoothie, pop supplements, spin at a boutique gym, and go on a wellness retreat. And we can’t help but think, “We’ve done those things!” (Pam Anderson—well, her character—is like us!) But all of this work bettering herself isn’t enough. She says she wants to change everything and get more connected to herself and others. But will she ever get there? Will any of us really get there? And if we don’t, can we be happy? This film is quite the thinker, and even though it clocks in at 10 minutes (much longer than our typical bite-size Internet snack), it’s worth watching the whole thing. Plus, we’re pretty sure you’ll be hooked ’til the end.

…

Source: http://www.fannetasticfood.com/2016/02/16/living-the-kind-life/

What does living the KIND life mean to you? I’ve partnered with KIND snacks to reflect on how I live KIND – and I’d love to hear how you do as well!

As I get older, I’ve discovered more and more the importance of living KIND. What is living KIND? There’s no right or wrong answer, but to me, this means doing the KIND thing for my body, my taste buds, my mind, and for others. Here are some more details on the ways I work to live KIND on a daily basis.

1) Doing the KIND thing for my body with regards to fitness.

Doing the KIND thing for our bodies will look different every day, and I’m a big fan of using an intuitive exercise approach (just like with intuitive eating). Ask yourself: what form of movement will serve me best today? Some days, this means getting in a sweaty, heart pounding workout. Another day, it might mean a restorative yoga class. Yet another day, it might mean some fresh air in the form of a social or solo run, or a casual walk. Just like with food, we should aim for variety in our fitness endeavors – and that includes rest days, too. Those are just as important – both mentally and physically – as active days! (See also: How to Know When You Need a Rest Day)

The most important thing? Try to find the joy in movement. Just because someone else is doing something doesn’t mean you have to – find what serves you best and remember that movement is …

Source: http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/02/16/466942128/facing-severe-food-shortages-venezuela-pushes-urban-gardens?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=thesalt

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All Things Considered

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Mileidis Bolivar shows off the tomatoes that she grows on her rooftop garden in a Caracas slum.

John Otis for NPR

Last week, opposition lawmakers in Venezuela declared a “food emergency.” That’s because Venezuela is facing widespread shortag…