P90X3

IS

HERE!!!

 Order your P90X3 before they sell out at this introductory pricing!

What all do you need to know to make an educated buying decision??

Read more »

My Whole30 Experience - Days 2 and 3

So far things have been going ok.  The headaches are still present, but I think alot of that is because I may be coming down with some kind of sinus thing - which isn't abnormal for me in the winter given, especially when the air is so dry (time to get the humidifiers out).  I also wonder if my consumption of tea has decreased my water intake - which could be the case since tea helps to keep me warm during the day alot better than cold water does.

Energy wise - well, I wasn't expecting any change this first week, but at least at this point I haven't experienced a huge drop in energy either.  My hope is that by the end of my Whole30 I will have an increase in energy, but I am optimistic since my thyroid condition is still trying to level out, as well as other health issues are still present (which my hope that this will help to get that under somewhat control as well).

Read more »

I'm doing the Whole 30 - Day 1

Day 1 of the Whole30 Program is done and only 29 more to go.  Yes, I am counting down the days not only so that I can have a healthier me, but because it will mean that I made it through Thanksgiving, post-Thanksgiving and pre-Christmas time.  Not only that, but I will have rid my intense sugar and bad carb cravings.

My nutrition has not been up to par to speak lately.  In fact, it is horrendous.  I was eating clean for so long that all it took was one extra stressful day to totally ruin it - I'm not talking just eating extra fruit or an extra coffee with milk - no, worse - M&Ms were my downfall. My J.O.B. keeps a candy dish by the front door and 99.9% of the time, it is full of M&Ms.  After that particular stressful day, that bowl of M&Ms became my best friend.

Read more »

Death of the Scoby - Kombucha Update

I am sad to say that my first attempt at brewing my own Kombucha failed - and not just a small fail - but EPIC FAIL.

I thought that things were going ok, and even though my Scoby didn't float the top of my container like they show in pictures, I thought that I would give it the benefit of the doubt and just "forget" about the container sitting on my countertop in the corner.

This is what a "normal" looking brew of Kombucha should look like. Mine, sadly, was alot more - umm, shall we say, gross looking.

 

Read more »

Whatcha Drinkin' - Kombucha

In my search to heal my gut, I came across the need to eat/drink fermented foods.  One such fermented product that caught my eye, mainly of a few reasons:

1.   There were at least 10 different flavors to chose from.

(Gingerberry is my favorite)

2.   There were things floating in it - yep, this reason made me do a double take.  I'm sorry, but anything floating in my drink is never a good sign.

3.   It is full of "good for you stuff" that is supposed to help those who suffer from digestive issues.

Downside:  It is kind of expensive: $3.70 a bottle.

After doing some more research on Kombucha, I decided to go ahead and try it - despite the fact that I was still (and even to this day) grossed out about the floating things in this drink.  Well, needless to say, the stuff is good. 

What are the health benefits of Kombucha?

Taken from http://www.foodrenegade.com/kombucha-health-benefits/)

Kombucha Health Benefit #1 — Detoxification

Detoxification produces healthy livers and aides cancer prevention. One of kombucha’s greatest health benefits is its ability to detox the body. It is rich in many of the enzymes and bacterial acids your body produces and/or uses to detox your system, thus reducing your pancreatic load and easing the burden on your liver. Kombucha is very high in Glucaric acid, and recent studies have shown that glucaric acid helps prevent cancer. I know 2 people in my immediate circle of friends who have had cancer (pancreatic and breast) and fought it into remission without any chemo or radiation therapy. Instead, they warded it off by detoxing their lives (going 100% organic, removing chemical cleaners and agents in their home, changing their diet to be at least 80% raw or fermented, etc.) Central to the detoxification process was drinking Kombucha regularly. Even Alexander Solzhenitsyn, the recently deceased Russian author and nobel-prize winner, in his autobiography, claimed that kombucha tea cured his stomach cancer during his internment in soviet labor camps. (And because of this testimony, President Reagan used Kombucha to halt the spread of his cancer in 1987. You’ll note he didn’t die until 2004, and that was from old age, NOT cancer.)

Kombucha Health Benefit #2 — Joint Care

Kombucha contains glucosamines, a strong preventive and treatment all forms of arthritis. Glucosamines increase synovial hyaluronic acid production. Hyaluronic acid functions physiologically to aid preservation of cartilage structure and prevent arthritic pain, with relief comparable to NSAIDs and advantage over glucocorticoids. Hyaluronic acid enables connective tissue to bind moisture thousands of times its weight and maintains tissue structure, moisture, lubrication and flexibility and lessens free radical damage, while associated collagen retards and reduces wrinkles.

Kombucha Health Benefit #3 — Aids Digestion and Gut Health

Because it’s naturally fermented with a living colony of bacteria and yeast, Kombucha is a probiotic beverage. This has a myriad of benefits such as improved digestion, fighting candida (harmful yeast) overgrowth, mental clarity, and mood stability. As such, it’s noted for reducing or eliminating the symptoms of fibromyalgia, depression, anxiety, etc.

Kombucha Health Benefit #4 — Immune Boosting

Kombucha is extraordinarily anti-oxidant rich, and you all know the benefits of anti-oxidants for boosting your immune system and energy levels.

But for $3.70 a bottle?!?!?!

I know $3.70 a bottle is very expensive and yes, there are days that I will only have one serving (1/2 bottle) and there are days that I have had none.  So I have taken the next step and I am venturing out into the world of making my own Kombucha. 

Join me tomorrow, and over the next 2 weeks, in my experiment of making my own Kombucha with my very own Scoby (which is actually the gross stuff floating around in the bottle). 

Until next time......

 

Read more »

Starting Over

So what do we do? Anything. Something. So long as we just don't sit there. If we screw it up, start over. Try something else. If we wait until we've satisfied all the uncertainties, it may be too late. - Lee Iacocca

I have a confession - over the past few weeks, I've let my eating habits and exercise fall by the wayside.   I've let STRESS control me, my eating habits, my emotional well being, loads of self doubt and my attitude towards everything in my life.  Isn't it amazing - well, really isn't is CRAZY - how we can let a bad day or a bad turn of events create this domino effect that makes everything that you have worked to build up, such as your eating habits and exercise routine come to a sudden stop.

But no more.

This time I'm starting over for good.  I'm making this proclamation for everyone (well, at least everyone who reads this blog) that I am going to make this time work.  

Read more »

Falling Off The Wagon

As you may (or may not) know that according to my last post I had just started the AI Paleo Protocol.  Things were going well as far as diet was concerned.  Then, something happened....I caved and fell off the wagon.....and now, I am paying for it dearly. 

You see, it wasn't that I had a piece of bread or even pizza.  Nope.  Do you see in the upper right hand corner of this pic....there are Rice Krispy "paint brushes".... 

That was my downfall.  I had spent 2 days of nothing but preparing foods, baking and putting together my daughter's birthday party crafts and activities with little to eat and then after the party was over WHAMO.  Total exhaustion.  With nothing prepared to eat.  And being that bad habits are so hard to break, what is the first thing I reached for - yep, good for nothing junk food.  Was it good - HECK YEAH it was - I'm not going to lie.  But was it worth it - HECK NO.

Read more »

Day 2 on the AI Protocol - A.K.A. My Mini-Revelation

So here is my supper.  (I decided to post a picture of this meal because, well, breakfast and lunch were not picture worthy in my book - a handful of mixed greens and a cup of chicken with olive oil is not that pretty at all.)  Supper is free range chicken "stir fry" with mixed greens and coconut oil with a small serving of green beans (green beans are technically not a bean so they are ok on this protocol).

I've come to realize now, more than ever, that meal prep is the ONLY way to go for any type of meal plan - and not just the AIP.  That will be my goal this weekend - to have all my meals prepped and ready to go.  While Sunday is typically my designated meal prep day, and while I did have chicken in the crock pot, which I swear I need more than one crock pot since meats in a crock pot tend to turn out more juicier than in the oven and your kitchen doesn't go from a nice 75 degrees to about 100 all within an hour - it is not fun to cook when you feel like you are cooking yourself.

Read more »

Whats for Lunch? Day 1 on the AI Protocol

For those that have been reading my blog, I am venturing on starting the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) way of eating for the next 30 days then to progress to the Digestive Health Protocol (both of the these, and many more plans, are in the book Practical Paleo).  With the AIP you are not to have grains, dairy, legumes, FODMAPS, and nightshades.  My hope is that during these next 30 days in AIP I will be able to begin healing my gut, reducing inflammation that is running rampit and begin to listen to my body telling me what foods cause me to have flare ups - whether they be digestive or otherwise.

My lunch today is and will be like many days to come (for the most part)

Mixed Greens
Tuna
Avocado
Olive oil for dressing

Nothing special but very nutritious and high in good fats and protein.

What are you having for lunch today?

Until next time.....

Read more »

8 Weeks to Health Class

To join my FREE 8 Weeks to Health Class, please fill out the below application and I will contact you within the next 36 hours.

8 Weeks to Health Class Application

Read more »

Your Gut is What?????

In my last post, I talked about my diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and leaky gut.  Apparently, and unknown to me prior to last year, alot of people have some form of leaky gut and don't know about it until they start to have symptoms, which include bloating, gas, constipation, diarrehea and even food intolerances. 

But what is Leaky Gut?

The simpliest way that I can explain it is that your lining of your digestive tract is kind of like - well, remember as a kid playing Red Rover and you would lock hands with the persons beside you while the other side would send someone running over to try to break through your line.  Well, imagine the lining of your digestive track is the line of kids holding hands real tight.  The kid being sent over to try to break that line could be nutrients or bacteria.  If you gut is in good condition, and that kid represents good stuff (vitamins/minerals) then no problem - the line will allow that kid to go through, while if the kids representats bad stuff (bacteria, toxins, even food you have an intolerance/allergy to), that kid isn't going to be able to break through. 

Read more »

Monday Motivation



"Today –what we do today – is what will affect the future most, not thinking or worrying about the future" - Diane Sanfilippo, BS, Certified Nutrition Consultant, C.H.E.K. Holistic Lifestyle Coach

I think I've been staring at this quote for the past 5 minutes now.  I've read it and re-read it many, many times.  It has spoken to me and feel that this quote was put in front of my face for a reason.

So here I sit...in deep thought (well, at least for the remainder of my lunch break)....and yes, I do realize that the quote does say "not thinking or worrying about the future," but it does cause me to wonder if what I am doing in my life right now is what I am supposed to be doing and is what I am doing right now what I WANT to be doing with my life.

Read more »

Goals: Setting and Achieving

One of the most important steps you can take in preparation of your fitness/health journey is setting goals.  On New Year's Day you make your list of goals to lose weight, start lifting weights, eating clean, even paying off bills or saving for a vacation.  But by the end of February, those goals are a thing of the past. 

So what can you do to make sure you keep your achieve your goals?  Here are a few ideas:

Read more »