Food fact: Spicy Foods can help increase your metabolism.

Photo: http://www.theage.com.au

Do you like it hot?  So hot that your lips turn sultry red?  The next time you eat out you may want to add some hot sauce and hot peppers to your meal.  Not only does that satisfying burn give you that heightened flavor it also benefits your health especially if you are trying to lose weight.  Spicy foods are considered one of many foods that help increase your metabolism.

How does spicy foods boost my metabolism?
Capsaicin is the flame of the spices.  Studies have shown that the heat that becomes generated from this compound help your metabolism raise up to 8% more than your body would normally build on its own.  Capsaicin works as an appetite suppressant.


Spices/foods that help stimulate high metabolism.

1. Hot peppers
2. Hot mustard
3. Cinnamon
4. Cumin
5. Turmeric
6. Cloves
7. Curry Powder
8. Jalapeno Peppers
9. Chili Peppers
10. Chili Powder
11. Cavenne Peppers
12. Thai Peppers
13. Ginger
14. Garlic
15. Bell peppers
16. Tobasco

However, if you suffer from ulcers or heartburn, I suggest you limit your spices.

So, the next time you eat consider adding some fire to your meal!  If you can't tolerate the burn make sure you have that glass of water or milk handy.  Remember we are FABULOUS!

My Favorite Makeup Essentials.

Are you a natural beauty but want to enhance your look or try something different?  Here are my favorite basic makeup essentials to get you started.

Face Makeup Primer
This will give you the appearance of smaller pores and will help minimize the appearance of fine lines.  It also helps blend your foundation and blush coverage giving you that angelic appearance.  Primer helps glide your foundation or powder easily onto your skin.  Moreover, using primer will help make your makeup last longer throughout the day.  Try buying some that are oil-free so it won't clog pores.

Invest in a basic makeup brush applicator set. 

You will need several brushes to apply your makeup.  A great first starter brush kit is by Sonia Kashuk sold at Target stores.  This set is only $9.99.  Slowly invest in buying good quality brand brushes.  Most are pricey but if you buy one every payday you will have a complete collection in no time.  My personal favorite brushes are from MAC.



Sonia Kashuk Brush Set

Concealor
Concealor helps lighten or disguise the appearance of blemishes, scars, pimples and dark areas.  After applying your favorite moisturizer or SPF, apply concealor.  My favorite is Bobbi Brown Face Touch Up Stick. 

Moisturizer/Sunblock
Tinted Moisturizers are a perfect alternative to foundation or powder makeup especially if you're not use to applying makeup to your skin.  Tinted moisturizers help hydrate your face while giving a hint of color or to enhance that natural glow.  Make sure you choose ones that have SPF and are oil-free.

Blush

For a natural glow and a hint of color, try appling blush to your cheeks.  Blush will give your face a rosey appearance or acheive that flushed look.  My favorite is Josie Maran's Argan Color Stick in Petal Pink.  It is a mutipurpose color stick that you can sweep onto your lips or cheeks. 

Mascara

Mascara helps open the eyes.  My favorite is Volum' Express Maybelline waterpoof mascara. It adds fullness and length. I love waterproof mascara because the waxy formula helps hold a curl and of course the obvious, it's sweat-proof! Curl lashes and apply two coats. Don't forget about your lower lashes too. :)

Volum' Express Waterproof Mascara by Maybelline

Eyebrows
Eyebrows make a BIG difference in pulling your look together.  They are my staple to keeping my look clean and fresh.  Keep your brows upkept and well-groomed by tweezing them daily.  However, I personally get my brows waxed at least every 2-3 weeks.  Maintain the shape with tweezers and an eyebrow scissor whenever possible.  Groom them daily with an eyebrow brush and apply clear mascara to set the shape.

Have fun!

How to order smart at Starucks the low calorie way.

Admit it.  You are a Starbucks junkie.  Something about their coffee and other beverages keep you coming and craving more.  It may be a pychological thing.  Perhaps it feels "cool" to keep up with the social trend or perhaps you are simply just a plain addict. You come in smelling coffee odorless and walk out smelling exactly like your lover(coffee)! Mmmmm...the smell of Starbucks. I can enjoy a cup any time of the day.

However if you are limiting your calorie intake you may feel leary visiting your favorite coffeehouse.  Have no fear, you can still order from Starbucks feeling guiltless.  There are other options to choose from.  Here are a few low-calorie drinks to consider.

Smarter ways to order.
-Ask for 2% milk, lowfat or non-fat milk
-Add soy instead of milk. Why soy? Soy contains fiber and protein.  It also does not contain bad chloesterol.
-Skip the larger sizes.  Order "Tall" drinks instead. 
-Ask for sugar-free syrup or ask about other smarter options to have your drink sweetened.

Coffee
Order plain coffee with no added sugar or substitutes. I know it sounds boring but this will help shave off calories and the sugar intake.
Here are some ideas of what to order and how many calories they contain.
-Nonfat Capppucino - 60 calories
-Caffe Americano - 10 calories
-Nonfat Caramel Macchiato - 140 calories

Expressos
-Latte's are excellent choices for a low calorie expresso drink.  Starbucks offer "skinny" lattes.  What is skinny?  No whip, non-fat milk and sugar-free.

Try ordering these low-cal expressos.
-Skinny Vanilla Latte - 90 calories
-Caffe Latte - 150 calories
-Nonfat Vanilla Creme - 150 calories


Tea

Teas are the wisest choice.  Tea contains ZERO calories.  Have it with hot water or iced.  My favorite is Matcha Green Tea.  To decease your calorie intake while drinking Matcha Green Tea, skip having it sweetened(no syrup). For Matcha Green Tea lattes, ask for non-fat milk.  For fraps, ask for "no pumps and no whip."

Other teas to try.

-Tazo Full-Leaf Tea Latte - 150 calories

-Soy Tazo Chai Tea Latte - 180 calories

-Tazo Iced Passion Tea(unsweetened) - 0 calories

-Tazo Iced Tea Lemonade - 100 calories

Low-cal Fraps

-Order light fraps.  Light fraps have no whip and contain 2% milk.  That saves 110 calories!

-Caramel Frappuccino Light blended coffee - 100 calories

-Coffee Frappucino blended coffee - 180 calories

Why you should exercise your face muscles too.

We often hit the gym to tone our biceps, triceps, buttocks or about every muscle in our body but we tend to forget to exercise our face.  Need to tone up those chubby cheeks or double chin?  No problem.  This exercise can be done anytime, anywhere!  Try them at your desk at work, in the car or in the shower.  No weights necessary just consistency and funny faces needed. :) 

FACE MUSCLES?

It might sound or look silly but exercising your facial muscles will save you from future sagging.  Simple facial expression exercises help tighten your facial muscles and will help shave off years fom looking older.  Seems logical right? Since you exercise to tone your others muscles why not your face muscles? 

Take a look at the video below featured on The View.  This particular show talks about facial exercises and gives some demonstrations.

Simple and effective.

Don't worry the silly faces will pay off.  Cheers to looking fit and fab!

Get inspired with Jennifer Nicole Lee

Need inspiration or extra motivation to help you reach your weight loss goal?  Get inspired with Jennifer Nicole Lee!

I discovered this sculpted mother of two on http://www.bodybuilding.com/.  Aside from Jennifer Nicole Lee, bodybuilding.com was on one of my tweets and is highly recommended! It is a perfect exercise and diet motivational tool. 

Back to Jennifer Nicole Lee(JNL).  JNL lost 70 lbs from being 200 lbs heavy and successfully transformed herself to acheive a lean and muscular body.  Not only is she a triumphant of weightloss, she also became a fitness guru and is a successful author of many fitness books to name a few Fitness Model Diet and her first book, The Mind, Body & Soul Diet and many more.  She has also been featured on "Oprah", "Inside Edition" and "The Early Show" and has exercise DVD's.  JNL has been crowned "Miss Bikini America" and holds other awesome titles.

Check out her first episode of "On the Go" on BodyBuilding.com here.   Here you will get her personal tips on exercises and her nutritional guide/diet.  You can also obtain fitness tips on her website: http://jennifernicolelee.com/flashintro/.

Fit and fab mamas, get inspired for Summer and for your lifetime.  I am!  Thanks Jennifer Nicole Lee! 

Follow her page on Facebook: Jennifer Nicole Lee Fitness Celebrity
Twitter: THEJNL