Weight Loss Tip: Relax

Weight Loss Tip: Relax

You can’t force your body to lose fat. By being stressed over weight loss – you make it harder to lose the fat. The negative stress causes an increase in adrenaline hormones, such as cortisol.

Take a loving, kind approach to a fitness plan. Focus on following a healthy plan that includes the right amount of food and exercise from day to day. The weight loss will just happen if you are faithfully following your plan.

An Apple a Day At-Home-Spa Ideas

An Apple a Day At-Home-Spa Ideas

By Myrna Beardshear, Director of Spa & Wellness

Clarifying Exfoliator
Apply 1/2 cup of chilled organic apple juice to your face and neck. Let it sit for 2 to 3 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. Use weekly for a normal skin and twice weekly for oily skin.

Apply Facial Cleanser
Stir together 1 tablespoon peeled, grated apple with 2 tablespoons clover honey, 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, 2 tablespoons plain organic yogurt, 1/2teaspoon wheat germ oil and 1 tablespoon potato flour. Apply to skin and work in gently. Rinse with tepid water.

Harvest Mask
Blend one egg white, 3 teaspoons lemon juice, 1 1/2 teaspoons almond oil, 1 1/2 teaspoons sunflower oil, 3 tablespoons peeled, finely chopped apply. Apply to the face and neck and allow the mixture to penetrate for 15 minutes. Rinse with tepid water.

How to Stay Motivated to Reach Your Goal

How to Stay Motivated to Reach Your Goal

By Cindy Clemens, Life Coach

Too often people make a mental note to reach a goal, give it a thought or two during the week and are then disappointed when they don't make any real progress.

Three key steps must be taken to stay on track and reach a personal goal. First, the goal must leave the overloaded brain cavity and get written down. Until it is firmly acknowledged and given focus and attention, it will only be a passing thought. Keeping it visible on a sticky note attached to the computer screen or the bathroom mirror is a great way to give it daily care and feeding.

Second, the goal needs to be broken down into manageable, realistic steps. Try to under-promise and over-perform. By asking yourself to accomplish what you can actually get done, you will set yourself up for success and build in positive momentum. Baby steps are fine so long as they actually get done and lead to bigger steps.

Third, don't let a minor setback become a major obstacle. There will be days when things don't go according to the plan. That does not mean you should give yourself permission to take several days off or that you have failed. Those who do reach their goals recognize what went wrong, learn how to avoid the pitfall, forgive themselves, and get back on the path. It is about progress, not perfection!

What Do I Need to Take on a Hike?

What Do I Need to Take on a Hike?

At Red Mountain Resort, we enjoy year-round hiking in the red rocks. For summer hiking in the desert, be sure to take the following items to make your hike as safe and enjoyable as possible.

Water

We can’t stress enough to drink lots of water - at least 8 ounces every 15 minutes. Don't wait until you are thirsty to drink. By then, you could be on your way to dehydration.

Hat & Sunglasses

A good pair of sunglasses and hat are great protection for your eyes. Even your eyeballs can get burned by the sun or glare off of rocks and sand. Sunscreen Apply sunscreen before starting your hike and reapply it every few hours.

Lightweight, Light-colored Clothing & Proper Footwear

Dress for the hike. The desert is hot with little protection from the sun. Light-colored clothing reflects the sun's rays. Also, be sure to wear proper footwear. Yes, it’s sandy, but you’re not on the beach. Leave the flip flops in the car and wear lightweight hiking boots that give you good ankle support and stability on potentially loose and rocky terrain.

Snacks with Salt & Sugar

As well as drinking lots of water, you should be snacking on food containing salt and sugar to compensate for electrolyte loss from sweating.

Personal First Aid Kit

A Planned Route

Before going on any hike, plan your route. Getting lost can be very dangerous.

Tell Someone Your Hiking Plan

Always tell someone where you are going and when you will return. If you haven’t returned by the expected time, someone knows where to look for you. Don’t depend upon a cell phone. You may be out of range for service.

Small Trash Bag

What do you do with those apple cores, banana peels and other refuse from your snacking? Hopefully, you remembered to bring a small plastic bag to practice your "Leave No Trace" ethics by packing out what you pack in.

Camera

Finally, take your camera, as every hike has its "Kodak" moment and you want to bring those memories back to share with others.

Walking the Medicine Wheel with Shamanic Spirit Betina Lindsey

Walking the Medicine Wheel with Shamanic Spirit Betina Lindsey

$650 not including gratuities and taxes

If you are one of the increasing number of people who feel a deep need to connect to Earth and Spirit, you are ready to walk the Medicine Wheel with "Shamanic Spirit" guide Betina Lindsey through journey work, ceremony and time on the land. Medicine Wheel teachings have been available to us since the beginning of time and have not changed. In the ancient tradition of indigenous healers we will open sacred space to bring alive your connection to the spiritual world of nature for insight, guidance and healing. Betina will lead you on pilgrimages to sacred places of power - to learn practices of shamanic health and healing. Beneath the desert night sky during fire ceremonies, we will offer prayers for healing the personal and planetary soul. Discover the transformative power of earth, wind, fire and water.

• Eight Medicine Wheel Teachings Sessions
• Private Life Path Reading with Betina Lindsey
• Sacred Earth, Silent Angel Journal Welcome Gift
• Healing Stones and More Lecture
• Spiral Walk with Guide

Medicine Wheel Teaching Sessions:

• Walking the Medicine Wheel Welcome Dinner with Betina
• Walking the South: Opening Sacred Space Sunset Fire Ceremony
• Earth Medicine Walk: Touching Red Earth
• Walking the West: The Shamanic Journey: For Insight, Guidance and Healing
• Walking the North: The Shaman’s Way of Healing: Healing Stones & More
• Walking the East: Divining You Own Destiny
• Closing Sunrise Fire Ceremony: Walking Your Destiny Home

Call 877.246.4453 to complete your Red Mountain experience with this enlightening add-on.

Upcoming 2011 Dates:

July 14-18, 2011

October 13-17, 2011

Sonoran Spice Char-Grilled Pork Loin with Roasted Garlic-Shallot Aioli

Sonoran Spice Char-Grilled Pork Loin with Roasted Garlic-Shallot Aioli served with Yukon Gold Potato Hash

(4 servings)

Pork Chop Ingredients

1 lb boneless pork loin cut into 4 oz. chops

¼ cup diced poblano peppers

¼ cup diced red bell pepper

¼ cup diced onions

Pork Directions

1. Coat 4 oz. pork chop with ½ Tbsp. Sonoran spice rub (recipe below), cook on char grill to medium.
2. Sauté potato hash (recipe below) until hot, place cooked pork on potato hash.
3. Sauté ¼ cup diced poblano peppers, ¼ cup diced red bell pepper and ¼ cup diced onions, place ¼ of mixture on each serving top with 1 Tbsp of aioli (recipe below).

Sonoran Spice Rub Ingredients

1 Tbsp. salt (kosher)

2 tsp. dark chili powder

2 tsp. whole cumin seed

2 Tbsp. dried chamomile flowers

1 Tbsp. black peppercorns

1 ½ Tbsp. paprika

¼ cup onion powder

2 Tbsp. granulated garlic

5 whole pods star anise

1 Tbsp. fructose crystals

Spice Rub Directions

1. In Teflon pans separately toast cumin and chili powder until color just changes. Remove from pan immediately.
2. Grind pepper, chamomile, cumin and anise in spice grinder until completely ground.
3. Combine with rest of ingredients in bowl and mix well. Store in airtight container.

Yukon Gold Potato Hash Ingredients

2 cups Yukon Gold potatoes, diced ½”

2 Tbsp. pure olive oil

¼ cup red onion, diced ¼”

¼ cup green bell pepper, diced ¼”

Hash Directions

1. Toss diced potatoes with olive oil.
2. Roast until done, cool.
3. Sauté diced onion and bell pepper until soft.
4. Combine cooled cooked potatoes with onion and bell peppers.

Roasted Garlic-Shallot Aioli Ingredients

1 large peeled and roasted shallots

2 large cloves roasted garlic

1 Tbsp. white wine

1 cups mayonnaise

Aioli Directions:

1. Put first three items in food processor and puree well.
2. Add mayonnaise and puree
3. Add salt to taste.

Touch the Spirit of Clay

Touch the Spirit of Clay

Written by Tracey Welsh

Our new “Touch the Spirit of Clay” pottery workshop is a natural fit into our guest programming at Red Mountain Resort. Working with the clay offers many lessons, from the rich history and methods of the Anasazi, to the joys of decoration and creating something beautiful and useful, using ancient methods. You readily learn that the clay has a spirit or direction of its own, and its texture and workability at that moment lends itself to the creation of your final design. Personally, what I found most delightful, was the time spent learning and creating with other people in my group. We shared a few laughs and celebrated our creations. My Anasazi inspired vessel will now sit on my desk as a fond memory of that day at Red Mountain.

For more information about this pottery group workshop including dates, time and cost, visit our weekly schedule.

Glazed Lemon Pound Cake with Blueberries

Glazed Lemon Pound Cake with Blueberries

Ingredients

1 ¼ cup all purpose flour
¾ cup fructose
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
¼ cup orange juice
1/8 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup canola oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
½ tsp lemon zest
½ cup frozen blueberries

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. Spray baking pan (3” x 4 ½” x 8”) with pan spray.
3. Combine flour, fructose, baking powder, soda and salt.
4. Mix together orange juice, lemon juice, canola oil, vanilla, lemon zest and eggs.
5. Incorporate wet items into dry items.
6. Add frozen blueberries.
4. Place batter into baking pan.
5. Bake 50-55 minutes.

Glaze ingredients

½ cup powdered sugar
1/8 cup lemon juice
1 tsp melted butter

Glaze Directions

1. Combine powdered sugar, lemon juice and melted butter.
2. Brush cake with powdered sugar lemon juice glaze.