Hey PGX'ers! It's Tasty Tuesday and we're snacking smartly on the go!

Keep it healthy even when you have no time to plan...

We've all been there before: you're running around doing errands, you're at the airport waiting for your next flight, you're at a rest stop, or you're at the movies, and then your stomach begins to talk. What do you do when you've forgotten to pack a snack and there's no way you'll make it to your next meal without a bite of something to tide you over? What do you buy when you feel the need to munch on something at the cinema?

It's simple to write a strict diet plan, but it's another thing entirely to follow it to perfection. This is where a little bit of knowledge can go a long way in helping you reach your goals and avoid sabotaging your efforts to live a healthy life. If you are at the movies, a gas station, the mall, in front of a vending machine, or other such fast food stops, knowing what to avoid will help you maintain healthy eating habits.

Learn the best picks, good options and the worst picks for snacking from Real Simple's Make Nutritious Snacking Choices on the Go!

Image source: Real Simple

PGX wants you to find your healthy balance!

We've found 5 simple steps to achieve work-life balance...

Does your schedule sound something like this: work, work, drive to work, emails, chores, groceries...?

It can be a lot to juggle and we can easily lose sight of our priorities. Without a good work-life balance, you may find yourself experiencing a lot of stress and headed towards burnout. Whatever you do, take a moment to find that balance and learn to make that a priority.

Need some tips? Wellness Matters and BC Living share Five Simple Tps for Better Work-life Balance.

Happy Thursday!

Image source: typefocus.com

PGX wants you to start your day with energy!

Not a morning person? Here are 5 easy tips to give you a blast of energy!

I am not a morning person. Plain and simple. I love the quiet of the morning and the idea of waking early to watch the sunrise, but when it comes right down to actually waking up and getting out of bed, I am not a morning person. I do not just naturally wake up at 6 am, and if I do? I promptly go back to dream land.

So what can we night owls, and anyone else feeling sluggish in the morning, do to get that much needed energy boost?

Here are five fabulous tips from Real Simple to wake us up in the morning!

• • Enjoy a pop of colour! Bright colours like yellow and orange are known to have invigorating effects on your mood and can give you that shot of energy. So be bold and don that bright yellow raincoat or use those fuzzy orange towels!
  • Let in the natural light! When you wake up, resist the urge to keep your room dark. Throw back the curtains, open the window and blink in the light! Enjoy breakfast outside. Dr. Joyce Walsleben, Ph.D. says, “If you can go outside within 15 minutes of waking for 20 minutes and face east, even on a cloudy day, you’ll get enough light to energize yourself for the day.” 
  • Need a morning shower to wake up? End it with a blast of cold water! That will definitely wake you up!
  • Laugh! Laugh and laugh some more! Laughter can give you the recharging benefits of a good workout, help reduce stress and help boost immunity. So turn on your favourite morning sitcom because a little laughter goes a long way...
  • Dab on some jasmine-infused scent. According to neolorologist Alan Hirsch, jasmine helps increase beta-waves which make you more alert.

Looking for more ideas that will keep you energized throughout the day without the unhealthy energy drinks? You can find more great energy boosting tips in the Real Simple article, 25 Easy Instant Energy Boosters by Eleni Gage.

Image source: Sleepy Photos

PGX wants you to start jumping!

Today's Friday Fitness Trend: the Jump Rope!

Do you have fond memories of skipping with your friends using a jump rope? Well why not relive those memories and get your heart pumping. Using a jump rope can be a great cardio workout and, let's face it, way more fun than running nowhere on a treadmill! You may be pleasantly surprised to know that with a jump rope you can burn up to 600 calories an hour! That means if you jump for even just 20 minutes, you can burn up to 200. These numbers vary and depend on your pace.

Sound good? Check out this 15-minute jump rope routine from Real Simple.

Stay fit and don't forget your fiber!

PGX wants you to relieve your stress!

Your health, weight and stress: a bad combination.

Have you reached a plateau in your weight loss efforts? You may be surprised just how much stress has to do with that! Stress. Even the word sounds scary.

Stress causes our body to secrete cortisol which in turn, prompts our body to release stored glucose, increasing our blood sugar. Unfortunately for our waists, all the excess sugar that we don't use gets stored as fat! Essentially, having too much stress in your life is like eating too much dessert, not too mention the sugar rush usually leads to food cravings. It seems a cruel and revealing trick of the English language that stressed spelled backwards is desserts!

Real Simple has three quick ways that you can relieve stress and, consequently, help you stay trim.

Work, school, family obligations, meetings and appointments, housework, projects... Life can get busy and overwhelming. So, my two main tips for this sunny Monday? Don't stress the little things and get your daily fiber!

Image source: weheartit