Take Stock in Your Health Now, Don't Pay Until the Economy is Better From Fitness 4 Home Superstore

In a time of economic uncertainty, it’s important to remember the importance of fitness and good health. It is during times such as these that people consumers spend less money and sometimes the gym membership is the first thing to go. One way to stay healthy in a bad economy is to start exercising at home. With the proper fitness equipment and the right routine, anyone can get a good workout and save on monthly gym fees and gas.

Fitness 4 Home Superstore is offering 0% Interest and No Payments Until 2010 on all fitness equipment in Tempe and Scottsdale. Consumers can apply online through American General Financial Services and get pre-approved before visiting the store. The application involves a two-step process that takes less than 10 minutes to complete and process. Applicants will receive an immediate response to their online loan retail financing credit application.

Many consumers simply do not have the money to stay fit right now. Gym memberships seem unnecessary when you’re worried about buying groceries and working out at home is hard if you don’t own a piece of fitness equipment. Our special financing options will allow people to invest in a healthy lifestyle now without having to come out of pocket until 2010 when the economy will be in a far better place.

At Fitness 4 Home Superstore, consumers can find fitness equipment that will fit any fitness level. There are two Valley locations, one in Tempe and one in Scottsdale. Many people prefer to shop at Fitness 4 Home Superstore where they can actually try out the equipment and talk to a professional about what's best for their physical health. Fitness 4 Home Superstore also offers a free fitness assessment with every purchase, delivery and in-home installation.

The selection of home fitness equipment includes treadmills, ellipticals, exercise bikes, home gyms and more. In fact, the new TRUE and Vision 2009 models are in with incredible innovations and features that will help you reach your goals quickly and efficiently.

In fact, for those who demand the very best, we offer the TRUE® ESXt™ Total-Body Elliptical. This incredible machine delivers a complete exercise experience with a 7” fully interactive touch screen interface.

A 17-26" adjustable stride allows a comfortable stride, no matter your height or workout pace. Interchangable soft cushioned footskates eliminate foot discomfort even allowing a user to workout barefoot. Custom fit an comfort are umatched.

Rotating handles and side steps to isolate upper-body enhance workouts by allowing you to work multiple muscle groups, and are another way to customize this machine to your own exact preferences. Additionally, these rotating handles allow for height adjustment.

The TRUE® ESXt™ Total-Body Elliptical is available now, and with our 0% Interest and No Payments Until 2010 financing options, you can have this amazing fitness equipment in your home just in time for the holiday season!

Diet – Yummy No Bake Crustless Pumpkin Pie

Thanksgiving is almost here and so are all of those fattening, irresistible desserts. Here's a recipe for a traditional Thanksgiving treat - Pumpkin Pie. It's on the lighter side so everyone can enjoy and have a little less guilt! This recipe comes courtesy of our friends at Iron Belle Fitness.

Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray
2 T. Water
2 Envelopes unflavored gelatin
2-1/4 C. Evaporated Lowfat 2% Milk, divided
1 can (15 oz.) LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
1/2 C. packed dark brown sugar or low calorie sweetener equivalent
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Light whipped topping (optional)
Fresh raspberries (optional)

Directions

Coat 9-inch deep-dish pie plate with nonstick cooking spray. Place water in medium bowl; sprinkle gelatin over water. Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes or until softened. Mixture may be firm. Bring 1 cup evaporated milk just to a boil in small saucepan. Slowly stir hot evaporated milk into gelatin. Stir in remaining evaporated milk, pumpkin, sugar, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla extract. Pour mixture into prepared pie plate. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until set. Garnish with whipped topping and raspberries, if desired.

Tips for a Healthy Thanksgiving From Fitness 4 Home Superstore

Thanksgiving is just a couple of weeks away and it's time to start thinking about how you're going to get through the day without gaining weight or feeling guilty about what you eat. Did you know that the average Thanksgiving meal contains over 2,000 calories? That's an entire day's worth of calories in just ONE meal!

The Thanksgiving holiday can be a real challenge if you are watching your waistline. Here are some healthy Thanksgiving eating tips that will help you maintain your diet and be healthy after the Thanksgiving dinner without having to deprive yourself.

Now, one of the most difficult things about Thanksgiving is that most of us are guests in another person's home. You don't have any control over what is being served and it's not like you can bring your own food! If you are a guest of a Thanksgiving dinner:

• Don't go to the Thanksgiving dinner hungry. Most of us eat faster and more carelessly when we are hungry. Be sure to eat a wholesome breakfast and/or lunch before you go to Thanksgiving dinner. This will help you to avoid overeating.
• Don't treat Thanksgiving dinner as an all-you-can-eat buffet. And it isn't all about mashed potatoes, stuffing and pie. Fill your plate half with vegetables, one quarter with a lean meat and the rest with a starch of your choice. Eat slowly and stop when you are full.
• Turkey - go skinless. Choose a lean, 4-oz piece of turkey and remove the skin to slash away some fat and cholesterol. Save your appetite for the side dishes (vegetables) and desserts.
• Side Dishes - watch your portion size. Ok, so the side dishes are usually the best part of the whole meal. So when you do go for them, go for smaller portions. This way you can sample all the different foods. Moderation is the key.
• Make a conscious choice to limit high fat items. Foods that are high in fat can be found in fried and creamy dishes as well as the cheese-filled casseroles usually featured in a traditional Thanksgiving meal . Just a few examples.... Mashed potatoes are usually made with butter and milk; green bean casseroles are often prepared with cream of mushroom soup, cheese and milk and topped with fried onions; candied yams are loaded with cream, sugar and marshmallows. If you cannot control the ingredients that go in to a dish, simply limit yourself to a smaller helping size. Again moderation is the key.
• Drink plenty of water. Soda, alcohol and coffee can dehydrate your body. Drink water (it's calorie-free!) to help fill up your stomach and keep you hydrated.

Now, if you happen to be hosting Thanksgiving dinner as the honorable chef, there are a few things you can do to keep the food healthy. Don't worry... you won't disappoint your guests!

• Substitute high fat ingredients with lower-fat or fat-free ingredients. For instance, try making your mashed potatoes with skim or 1% milk instead of whole milk/cream.
• Leftover Turkey? Instead of turkey sandwiches, use the leftover turkey to make a pot of stew with fresh chunky vegetables. Check out this week's recipe!
• Experiment. There are tons of recipes online for healthy Thanksgiving meals. Just do a search and you can find just about anything. All you have to do is be willing to experiment!

Sweet! Potatoes!

Sweet potatoes can be an excellent source of vitamins and great for your diet. In fact, there are many health advantages associated with those little Thanksgiving tubers. Take advantage of their wholesome benefits and learn some great ways to prepare sweet potatoes without drenching them in syrup and marshmallows!

Sweet potatoes are a good source of Vitamin E, which is aides in lowering cholesterol and helps prevent build-up in your arteries.

Potassium, which is necessary for water balance, bone health, normal blood pressure, nerve transmission and muscle contraction, is also found in sweet potatoes. In fact, sweet potatoes contain more potassium than bananas do!

The copper in sweet potatoes assists in the production of connective tissue and collagen, keeping your muscles healthy and strong.

Sweet potatoes also boast a healthy amount of carotenoids, plant compounds responsible for preventing the cell damage that can occur as a result of challenging physical activity like working out.

Quercetin, a potent nutrient found in some vegetables, can also be found in sweet potatoes and has been known to help ward off allergies like asthma and hay fever.

The 4 grams of fiber in a medium sweet potato contains about 10% of your daily need. This will leave you feeling satisfied after you eat and prevent you from over-eating!

Use the benefits as your motivation this Thanksgiving to stay away from the sugary sweet temptation of traditional sweet potato dishes. Here are some alternative ways to prepare sweet potatoes so you can take advantage of their healthy vitamins and minerals.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes. Instead of using instant or regular potatoes, steam sweet potatoes until they’re soft (about 10 minutes), peel them and mash with a little orange juice.

Baked Sweet Potatoes. Heat your oven to 400 degrees and cook until soft (about 30-40 minutes). You can also microwave them on high for 4-6 minutes.

Sweet Potato Fries. Cut raw sweet potatoes into wedges or strips and coat them with olive oil. Roast on a baking sheet at 400 degrees until golden and soft (about 20 minutes).

Sweet Potato Smoothies. Mix a leftover baked sweet potato with a cup of water, ice, a pinch of brown sugar, vanilla and a little bit of peanut butter in your blender. Blend until smooth for a creamy treat.

Sweet potatoes can also cooked and served cold as a snack, a topping for salads or a great flavor on your turkey sandwich!



Labels: diet tips, fitness 4 home superstore, healthy lifestyle, healthy living, weight control, weight loss control, weight loss program, weight loss tips, sweet potatoes, sweet potato ideas

Diet - Sweet! Potato & Beef Stew

Now that we have covered all the benefits of sweet potatoes and come up with excellent alternatives to serve at your Thanksgiving feast, we can shift our focus to dealing with the leftovers! This Beef and Sweet Potato Stew is not only easy to prepare, but it’s also loaded with protein! Get all of the benefits of sweet potatoes with this low-calorie, low-fat dish.

1 lb. lean boneless chuck or stew meat, cut in 1-inch cubes

Salt

Pepper

1 T. olive oil

1 can (28 oz.) tomatoes, undrained

1 large onion, diced in large chunks

2 cloves garlic, finely minced

1 dried bay leaf

1 cinnamon stick

1 C. frozen corn

½ C. carrots, diced in large chunks

3 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed

8 dried apricots, halved

Trim all fat from beef and season with salt and pepper. Heat oil in skillet over medium heat, then add beef and brown all sides.

In a large slow cooker, combine tomatoes, onion, garlic, bay leaf, cinnamon stick, corn, carrots, sweet potatoes and beef. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or until beef is tender. If you do not have a slow cooker, simmer on stove over medium-high heat for 30 to 40 minutes.

Add apricots and cook on low for 20 minutes or until apricots are soft.

Remove the bay leaf and cinnamon stick and serve.

Servings: 6, Fat: 6g, Calories: 249, Protein: 18g.



Labels: fitness 4 home superstore, healthy diet, healthy eating, healthy food, low calorie, low fat, low-fat, leftover recipes, thanksgiving leftover recipes