If you went through the 28 day “A Better Me Challenge” with us, you are familiar with our “secret weapon.”  I call him the secret weapon because he brought us encouragement and challenged us every week to go further, dig deeper, and to be better.  I’m talking about the dynamic motivational speaker and life coach Byron Davis. The sad truth is most people will spend more time planning for their vacation than they will ever spend planning for their life. And we all know that those who fail to plan, are just planning to fail. Today your assignment is to listen to Byron as he teaches us in just 6 minutes about Unleashing Your Heroic Self! Not only do you get a “power shot”, but you also will get the chance to download a FREE copy of “Your Epic Life Plan” which was written by Byron Davis!!!   Listen to the video for more information.

After you watch the video click here to get your FREE no strings attached copy of Your Epic Life Plan! He’s not even asking for your email. Don’t get caught living someone else’s dreams. Journey through this FREE workbook and learn to live your passion, play to your strengths, and take hold of dreams, NOW!
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Weight gain is a normal and even healthy part of every pregnancy. However, no woman wants to look like they did while they were still carrying their child after they have given birth. While losing this excess weight is one of the top goals for most individuals following their pregnancy, it can be extremely difficult to work off.

This is where yoga comes in. The practice can be a powerful method for helping to eliminate that pregnancy-related tummy, and it may even help women deal with some of the stress associated with being a new mom along the way.

The first thing women should look for when they are considering taking yoga after their pregnancy is a class that is specially designed for women who just gave birth. There are actually many of these specialized classes all across the country. Using this type of resource can reassure individuals that the workout will be strenuous but not more than they can handle in their current physical state.

Even after a new mom has found one of these classes, it is important for her to recognize her limits and not push too far. Many highly driven individuals may set an ambitious weight loss goal and stop at nothing to reach it. However, pushing too hard too fast may result in a significant shock to the body and actually make achieving these goals more difficult.

Sticking to a plan and taking things one step at a time is how new moms may be able to achieve their goals. Many yoga poses target a person’s core area, either directly or indirectly. When practiced over time, these exercises may have a major impact on reducing that tummy and helping women get back to their pre-pregnancy weight.

However, the benefits of practicing yoga after giving birth do not stop at losing weight. An equally important element of yoga is its stress-relieving ability, which may come as a particular benefit to new mothers who are likely not able to sleep through the night and are dealing with other situations that may result in stress.

Especially for women who have given birth to their first child, the demands of breastfeeding, changing diapers and dealing with a crying baby in the middle of the night can seem overwhelming. This may stand in their way of achieving their weight loss goals. However, yoga can help women de-stress while burning extra calories.

Have You Tried Yoga?

This guest post is from Shar Ray at Dahn Yoga

Dahn Yoga is one of the largest yoga and tai chi companies in the world with its own unique style and brand of yoga. Dahn Yoga is rooted in the rich history of an ancient Asian mind-body practice, Sun Do, and in the wisdom of the Chun Bu Kyung.

Let’s face it, everyone likes to eat food. How could you not? There are so many yummy treats that are out there! Sometimes, it is hard to control myself when it comes to delicious foods. However, sometimes I do feel better about myself when I find out that some of the foods that I enjoy eating are actually good for me!  Here are 10 foods that will enhance your natural beauty.

1. Blueberries. These little guys are chock full of antioxidants. These fruits are insanely delicious when they are in season (or even if you sprinkle a little bit of natural sweetener on them). They also make yummy shakes.

2. Strawberries. Your skin loves strawberries because they are full of vitamin C.

3. Apples. The skin of apples has the most nutritious stuff in it. The skin of apples contains quertin which is an antioxidant that protects the eater against skin cancer. They are also full of fiber, which will help you feel full.

4. Nuts. Nuts are really good for you (the ones that you can eat, if you aren’t allergic). The best nuts to eat are walnuts. They have a lot of omega-3 fat, which is the good kind of fat. This kind of fat will help you burn bad fat.

5. Chile peppers. If you like to add a touch of spice, these are for you. Pepper might actually be good for you because that burning sensation that you feel has shown to actually cut back your hunger pains. Interesting.

6. Greens. Anything that is green has a lot of potassium and vitamin A. These vitamins make your skin radiant.

7. Seafood. Tuna and salmon have tons of omega-3 fatty acids. These will keep you feeling good inside and out.

8. Tea. Tea is really good for you, it will also make you feel better. Try adding green tea to your daily routine.  Green tea has the highest concentration of catechins an antioxidant.  It is also associated with lowering the risk of some cancers.

9. Red wine. If you drink this in moderation, you will feel a lot better about your health. One cup a day in women can reduce your cholesterol and inflammation. Good to know if you have heart problems.

10. Dark chocolate. Yum!  Studies show that this treat is antioxidant rich, and can improve your circulation.  It can even increase blood flow to the brain!  Just don’t overdo it with the dark chocolate, sometimes too much of a good thing can be bad.

It’s good to  know that there are some foods that are still good for you. However, you should keep in mind that as with everything in life, you need to have it in moderation. You can’t eat too much, or it won’t do you any good.

About the Author

Julienna T. is a writer for MyCollegesandCareers.com. My Colleges and Careers helps those that are trying to help themselves be better and get a good education from online schools.

Photo credit:

Blueberries by Andrea Porkzywinski