FitAndFab

Hey everyone,

Yoga Monday: The too good to be true breathing diet

It doesn’t make you sweat, it doesn’t make your toes cramp up, you don’t really have to tighten any muscles AND it makes you calm. We kid you not: with simple breathing exercises you can lose pounds (see that plural ‘s’, SEE that plural ‘s’!)

So there I am, breathing myself about 4 pounds lighter. That sounds about as credible as that is really was the tooth fairy that was crazy enough to exchange my little teeth for candy when I was little. But apparently it truly is so. No, not in one session and it probably won’t make you a skinny bag of bones either. But for those who have patience and repeat this exercise regularly, losing weight is a fair possibility.

This has a number of explanations. Firstly, your lungs fill up fully by breathing in fresh oxygen. That oxygen is then transported to all the cells in your body which helps to burn fat cells (score!). Secondly the oxygen level in your blood rises which helps you to keep the carbon dioxide in your body longer; this gives you more energy to workout.  Thirdly you release hormones that stimulate your metabolism when you breathe deeply. And last but not least there are certain yoga breathing exercises that ‘massage’ you abdomens and thereby help you to lose fat on your stomach area.

So there are several of these lovely exercises – and every now and then they will appear in our Yoga Monday posts – but for now we’ll start with one. Sit down on the floor and cross your legs in such a way that your knees come to lie right on top of each other, pointing forward (see photo). Sit up straight, breath in and lengthen your spine. Once you’ve found a comfortable straight posture, hold hands behind your back. Your upper body will automatically turn towards the arm that goes over your head a little. By looking at that same direction you boost that movement so that your whole body twists a bit. Now slowly and deeply breathe in and out about 5 times (from the belly) and then switch sides.

Breathing tip: try to breathe out two times as slowly as you breathe in and count your breaths to keep them as regularly as possible. Breathe in for 4 seconds and out for 8 for example.

PS Yay, you can even do these breathing exercises at the office! Take a small break and sit up as straight as you can, at the edge of your seat with your feet flat on the floor and your hands on your knees or your desk. Breathe in and out deeply and regularly for about 2 minutes. Because your brain suddenly gets an oxygen-shot this way, you’ll also become more alert and you’ll be able to concentrate better again.

I wrote this article on my blog, but thought it could be great to share it on Tumblr with all of you. So here it is : a HUGE list of 100% healthy smoothies! I hope it will be useful ;) 

Almond

Almond and Orange Smoothie

Elvis Smoothie

Cherry Almond Smoothie

Spiced-Banana Almond Smoothie

Almond Milk and Berry Smoothie

Healthy Almond Butter Smoothie

Apple 

Apple and bananas Smoothie

Carrot-Apple-Ginger Smoothie

Apple-Avocado-Banana-Grape Smoothie

Red Apple Smoothie

Spiced Apple Pie Smoothie (vegan, gluten free)

Apple-Oatmeal-Peanut Butter-Cinnamon Smoothie

Apple Pie in the Sky Smoothie

Apple-Avocado and Mint Smoothie

Apricots

Simple Apricot Smoothie

5 Apricots Smoothies

Apricot-Banana Smoothie

Apricot Peach Smoothie

Apricot Mango Smoothie

Oats and Apricots Smoothie

Apricot Apple Smoothie

Avocado 

Quick Avocado Smoothie

Avocado Blueberry Smoothie

Strawberry Avocado Smoothie

Avocado Banana Kiwi Kale Smoothie

Avocado Mango Smoothie

Avocado Pear Smoothie

Strawberry Avocado Coconut Smoothie

Chocolate Avocado Smoothie

Bananas

Bananas and Peanut Butter Smoothie

Bananas and Kiwi Smoothie

Bananas, strawberries and Flax Smoothie

Bananas and pears Smoothie

Bananas and Mango Shake

Bananas and peach Smoothie

Groovy Smoothie

Banana Blast II

Bananas and Orange Smoothie

Tropical Cooler Smoothie

Carribbean Health Drink

Blueberry 

Wild blueberry Soy Shake

Heavenly Blueberry Smoothie

Very Berry Blueberry Smoothie

Razzy Blue Smoothie

Lemon Berry Smoothie

Blueberry Mint Smoothie

Celery 

Celery Cilantro Smoothie

Celery and Apple Berry Delight

Banana Celery Smoothie

Carrot Celery Orange Ginger Juice

Mango Banana Pineapple Spinach Celery Smoothie

Celery Cucumber and Ginger Smoothie

Cherry 

Cherry-Bananas Smoothie

Cherry Vanilla Almond Smoothie

Cherry Soy Yogurt Smoothie

Cherry Peach Smoothie

Cherry Vanilla Bean Oatmeal Smoothie

Lush Cherry Coconut Smoothie

Chocolate 

Chocolate, Strawberry, Banana Milkshake

Orange Chocolate Breakfast Drink

6 Chocolate Smoothies Recipes

Chocolate Peanut Butter Monster Smoothie

Ultra-Chocolate Smoothie 

Healthy Chocolate Banana Shake

Cinnamon 

Cinnamon Acai Smoothie

Orange Cinnamon Smoothie

Bapple Cinnamon Smoothie

Cranberry Vanilla Cinnamon Smoothie

Wake Up Smoothie

Apple, Peanut Butter, Cinnamon, Oatmeal Smoothie

Citrus 

Citrus Energy-Boosting Smoothie

The Ultimate Citrus Smoothie

Citrus and Spice Smoothie (vegan and Gluten free)

Citrus Berry Smoothie

Healthy Citrus Spinach Smoothie

Tropical MangoCitrus Smoothie

Coconut 

Coconut and Banana Smoothie

5 Minute Vegan Breakfast Smoothie

Coconut Almond Smoothie

Strawberry Coconut Smoothie

Coconut Avocado Smoothie

Key Lime Coconut Smoothie

Coconut Vanilla Almond Butter Smoothie

Creamy Coconut Date Shake (vegan)

Cranberry 

Cranberry-Orange Power Smoothie

Cranberry Smoothie

Cranberry Coconut Smoothie

Cranberry Apple Smoothie

Cranberry Vanilla Cinnamon Smoothie

Cranberry Green Tea Smoothie

Cranberry and Raspberry Smoothie

Fig 

Fig and bananas Smoothie

Mango Banana Figs Smoothie

Vanilla Fig Smoothie

Figs Almonds and Banana Smoothie

Fig Blueberry Not so Green Green Smoothie

Fig, Oats and Banana Smoothie

Ginger 

Ginger Berry Smoothie

Oranginger Smoothie

Banana Ginger Energy Smoothie

Mango Ginger Strawberry Smoothie

Kale Ginger Smoothie

Green Ginger Apple Smoothie

Grapefruit 

Fresh Grapefruit Juice Smoothie

5 Grapefruits Smoothie Recipes

Strawberry Grapefruit Smoothie

Kiwi Basil Grapefruit Anti-inflammatory Smoothie

Kale 

Kale and Banana Smoothie

Kale, Orange, Banana Smoothie

Hala Kahiki Green Smoothie

Kale Spinach and Pear Smoothie

Blueberry Kale Smoothie

Kale Sunrise Green Smoothie

Peacock Kale Smoothie

Kale Banana Chia Superfood Smoothie

Pineapple Mint green Smoothie

Kiwi 

Kinaja Smoothie

Kiwinaberry Cream Smoothie

Kiwi Sensation

Sour Smoothie

Kiwi Pineapple Smoothie

Mango Kiwi Peach Spinach Smoothie

Kiwi Fruit, Ginger, Banana Smoothie

Mango 

Gloomy Day Smoothie

Mango Pineapple Green Smoothie

Mango Peach Smoothie

Pawpaw and Mango Punch

Basil Strawberry Mango Smoothie

Honey Mango Juice

Mango Mint Lassi with Indian Sweet Spices Smoothie

Melon 

Melon Blackberry Smoothie

Melon Lime Cooler

Cantaloupe Yogurt Smoothie

Melon Strawberry Smoothie

Triple Melon Smoothie

Mint 

Thin Mint Green Monster

Banana Mint Slush

Strawberry Mint Green Smoothie

Healthy Choc-Mint Smoothie

Cucumber Apple and Mint Cooler 

Nectarine 

Nectarine Sunshine Smoothie

Cinnamon Nectarine Smoothie

Apple Nectarine Smoothie

Lime Mango and Nectarine Smoothie

Blueberry Nectarine Smoothie

Oatmeal 

Spiced Oatmeal Smoothie

Blueberry Mapple Smoothie

Strawberry Oatmeal Chia Smoothie

Mocha Banana Breakfast Smoothie

Pomegranate Blueberry Oatmeal Smoothie

Ginger Berries and Oats Smoothie

Orange 

Orange Glorious

Orange Snowman

Janie’s Amazing Smoothie

Tropical Pineapple Mango and Orange Smoothie

Orange Push Up Smoothie (vegan, gluten free)

Peach Orange Smoothie

Papaya 

Papaya Surprise Smoothie

Supergirl Summer Smoothie

Banana Papaya and Spinach Smoothie

Papaya Ginger Smoothie

Papaya Ginger Mint Smoothie

Raspberry Papaya Smoothie

Peach 

Peach and Banana Smoothie

Strawberry Peach Smoothie

Ginger Peach Smoothie

Cherry Peach Smoothie

Peach Green Smoothie

Honeyed Peach and Dates Smoothie

Peanut Butter

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Smoothie

Green Banana and Peanut Butter Smoothie

Dairy-Free Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie

Peanut Butter and Strawberry Smoothie

Peanut Butter Berry Smoothie

15 Healthy Peanut Butter Smoothie Recipes

Pear 

Cinnapear Smoothie

Pear-fect Smoothie

Spinach Pear Ginger Green Smoothie

Pear Ginger Cinnamon Oat Smoothie

Sweet Pear Green Smoothie

Pineapple

C-Blast Smoothie

Pineapple and Banana Smoothie

Pineapple Mango Smoothie

Pineapple Sunrise Smoothie

Tropical Tea Smoothie

Strawberry Pineapple Coconut Smoothie

Pumpkin 

Apple Pie Smoothie

Pumpkin Spice Protein Drink

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Smoothie

Healthy Pumpkin Smoothie

Pumpkin Spice Smoothie

Pumpkin Banana Vanilla Smoothie

Raspberry 

Raspberry and Blackberry Smoothie

Raspberry Fudge Smoothie

Raspberry Mango Smoothie

Orange Raspberry Banana Chia Smoothie

Blushing Apple Smoothie

Berry Kale Smoothie

Rhubarb 

Rosy Rhubarb Smoothie

5 Rhubarb Smoothie Recipes you’ll want to try

Rhubarb Strawberry Smoothie 

Rhubarb Green Smoothie

Berry Rhubarb Smoothie

Spinach 

Spinach and Strawberry Smoothie

Spinach and Kale Smoothie

Green Slime Smoothie

Green Monster Smoothie

Kid Approved Green Smoothie

Strawberry

Strawberry and beet Smoothie

Strawberry-yoghurt Smoothie

Strawberry Oatmeal Breakfast Smoothie

Cool-Off Smoothie

Red, White and Blue Fruit Smoothie

Strawberry, Orange, Banana Smoothie

Quick Start Breakfast Drink

Strawberry-Grapefruit Smoothie

Sweet Potato 

Sweet Potato and Banana Smoothie

Better than Ice Cream Sweet Potato Smoothie

Sweet Potato Pie Smoothie

Luscious Sweet Potato and Almond Smoothie

Refreshing Sweet Potato and Peach Smoothie

Tofu 

Tofuberry Smoothie

Raspberry, Banana, Tofu Shake

Vegan Vanilla Milkshake Smoothie

Blueberry Power Smoothie

Banana Cocoa Soy Smoothie

Watermelon 

Watermelon Bliss Smoothie

Watermelon with a Hint of Mint

Pink Watermelon Smoothie

Watermelon Kiwi Smoothie

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups orange juice, preferably calcium-fortified

1 banana

1 1/4 cups frozen berries, such as raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and/or strawberries

1/2 cup low-fat silken tofu, or low-fat plain yogurt

1 tablespoon sugar, or Splenda Granular