What you think, you become.

This past week was the perfect backdrop for a time of introspective reflection.  A chance for me to get off the carousel for a little while.  I am on the mend and had no choice but to slow down and take some rest days -- a much needed break from my regular routine I've been keeping since mid December.  I had finished up an intensive and grueling workout program, Insanity Max:30...maybe you've heard of it.  Thirty minutes of going all out, finding your max out and then continuing with tabata-style conditioning.  Training this way helps me keep up with life.  I was diligent in keeping up with the schedule, afraid to miss a day and and possibly get off track which could have resulted in falling behind.  While my nutrition was less than stellar over those 60 days, not so much cause of the holidays that revolved around food, but because my life was centered around STRESS.  You know that 6 letter word that wreaks havoc on your body, mind and well being.  

I was reluctant to have to take a break but surprisingly stumbled upon a 12-day invitation to #bringingbackyoga on Instagram.  I thoroughly enjoyed this challenge because it showed me that I could ground myself and just breathe. I am guilty of getting caught up in the revolving door, and sometimes miss the subtleties of what makes life so magical.  Getting on the mat each day, allowed me to focus on just me.  With each pose required my full concentration, learning to stop and take inventory of myself, and seeing how far I can push myself physically, mentally and emotionally.  I noticed that when I do yoga, I have a chance to think.  I think about what makes me unique and how I can be my authentic self.

Everything up to this point has led me to this moment.  Part of who I am, I will admit, is someone who is sometimes concerned with what others think of me. And when I get too concerned with that, then it stops me from doing certain things.  Its scary to put put yourself out there.  Wondering how your message is gonna be received.  But with risks come rewards. While thinking is good, over-thinking can end things before they ever get the chance to develop. I am someone who works hard to be my best self, in spite of all that wears me down.

Then I realized:
I am me.
I'm who I'm meant to be.
I am my past, my present
and who I want to be.
I'm not anyone,
I am all three.
I am a work in progress, a destiny.
I am who I choose to be.
I am me.

Its OK to slow down and smell the coffee.  When was the last time you had a chance to really think?  To really get in touch with your soul?  Think about yourself, sounds selfish right?  But its not. Every day is a chance to become better than yesterday.  I had learned a new concept during my studies at Integrative Nutrition, and use this as the basis for helping my clients implement their goals after their health assessment and asking lots of questions.  The concept is called primary vs. secondary foods.  Secondary foods are the veggies, proteins, oils and other foods that we eat to create energy in our bodies.  Secondary foods provide nutrients for your body, but don't give us the joy, meaning or fulfillment that primary foods do.  Primary foods are all those things that nourish you beyond what's on your plate - our relationships, careers, physical activity, spirituality.  Think back to the first time you fell in love.  Did you stop eating as much?  You probably thought about food much less often cause your brain was preoccupied.  Having balance in other areas of your life and a healthy dose of passions and interests that feed your mind and heart is just as important for maintaining good health.  So while I continually work on balancing my primary vs. secondary foods, and sometimes it is a struggle, it has made me aware that there is more to life than just dieting and exercising.  Deepak Chopra said it best:  To make the right choices in life, you have to get in touch with your soul.  To do this, you need to experience solitude, which most people are afraid of, because you hear the truth and know the solutions."  When you are your authentic self, you fulfill the dream that lives in your soul. 

Feed your soul, fill it with your heart's desire and live your dreams.

My experience with the Ultimate Reset

I had never done a cleanse before, mainly cause I never wanted to give up my intense workouts.  Since becoming a Certified Health Coach, it would be hard for me to make recommendations for my clients do a detox, so the best way to help them get through it is if I did too.

The thought of not being able to keep up with running any chance I had or doing plyometric, hardcore moves was just something I wasn't willing to give up for 21 days.  Then finally, I decided to join a large group of other challengers who were also looking to detox.

The prep was a bit intense, going food shopping for very specific items was like being on a wild goose hunt.  And, making everything ahead of time was a job in and of itself.  I had pulled out my rice cooker which I never thought I'd ever use again.

Already going into this cleanse a vegeterian, I felt this gave me an advantage.  I love everything I ate, the recipes were easy to follow, the hard part in the beginning was eliminating coffee.  The withdrawal from caffiene was horrible.  I felt really frazzled and had to deal with headaches for 3 days and it was suggested that we forgo the Tylenol too.   After I got through that part, the rest of my experience was great.  I learned that I have extraordinary resolve & persevered through Easter, ate miso soup and veggies, shots of alkalinize while everyone was drinking wine and chowing down on some holiday classics like homemade manicotti, bread and pizza di rustica. I was sleeping better, my skin was so clear and overall I felt a huge sense of accomplishment. It definitely wasn't easy. If you've been following my posts on Instagram and Facebook, then you knew how challenging it was to be subjected to overwhelmingly strong smells and sights of Margherita flatbread pizza, and shrimp with squid ink pasta. But I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed EVERY meal I had.

Now I walk away with some awesome recipes, I tried tempeh, jicama, experimented with new spices and seasonings and even rolled my own sushi. While I really missed my intense workout sessions, my cutting board got a serious workout and now has a 6 pack from all the 
cuts over the past 3 weeks.

To see glimpse of what some of my meals were you can visit my Ultimate Reset Pinterest board

Now for the results:  I'm happy to report that I lost a total of 12 pounds and 6 inches in just 21 days. The best part was that I have learned to nourish my body through proper nutrition, tune into conscious eating, and that I really don't need coffee to wake me up. I would definitely recommend this cleanse to anyone who wants to take their health to a new level. You may never know just how good you're supposed to feel. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about gaining energy & eating clean, then message me. A healthy outside starts on the inside.

May Specials

There are 2 special for this month:  P90X3 at $180 and TurboFire for $140 (that is a crazy deal).  Both kits are bundled with a 30 day supply Shakeology.

This 90 day program will get you ripped in 30 minutes a day, using Tony Horton's breakthrough Muscle Acceleration system.   Now you'll always have the time to work out—and you can burn fat and build lean muscle faster than ever.  It comes with 16 workouts plus 1 bonus workout.  Equipment Needed: Dumbbells or resistance bands, and a P90X® Chin-Up Bar or resistance bands with door attachment.

Save $95 with the May promotion compared to buying separately and get a free P90X3 hat!  Hurry Sale ends 5/31/14, limited time only.

http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/BCPX3205?referringRepID=28705

******************************************************************************************************

TurboFire® is the intense cardio conditioning program from fitness innovator Chalene Johnson.  This 90 day program will get you lean(er) with exercises that can burn up to 9x more fat and calories than regular cardio, set to smoking-hot music.  There are 12 workouts, plus 3 bonus workouts.  Workout Time: 10–55 minutes

Equipment Needed: Toning band with handles, thigh-firming band, jump mat, weighted gloves, Turbo Tracker Journal (all optional).
Save over $90 with the May promotion compared to buying separately!

Limited time only. 

http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/BCPTR180?referringRepID=28705

Tips For Staying Fit When Stressed

When stressed, many people tend to put on more weight for various reasons.  Unfortunately, there’s something you can do to curtail weight gain and even get more fit while reducing stress at the same time. For staying fit when stressed, I try these recommendations:

Relaxation Techniques:

You can stop the damage caused by chronic stress with the regular practice of relaxation techniques. These can trigger the relaxation response, which stops the cascade of changes that can occur when you’re stressed, including changes that contribute to weight gain. Some of my favorite relaxation techniques include:   Yoga, Martial arts, Journaling, Laughter, and, okay, sex.

Healthy Munchies:

When stressed, many people tend to eat more, and crave foods that are high in salt, sugar and fat. If you find yourself prone to the munchies when you’re feeling the crunch of stress, if it seems too hard to control your cravings, you can really help yourself by switching to more healthy fare for snacking. The following have worked for many:

Carrot sticks have a satisfying crunch, and are good for you, too. Dipped in low-fat ranch, they’re packed with flavor and aren’t too bad for your bod.

Edamame, a type of snackable soy bean, is delicious, healthy, and fun to eat, if you get the variety that’s still in the pod.

Sunflower seeds (try low-salt or unsalted varieties for better health) have protein and nutrients, and are pretty yummy. If you get them in the shell, they give your hands something to do, and it’s hard to eat too many when you have to shell each one.

Rather than popping open a can of soda, which is packed with empty calories and sugar, which can send you on a downward spiral of mood swings later, opt for sparkling water; you’ll feel like you’re getting a treat, and your body will, too.

There’s always gum. If you’re a discreet chewer, you can turn one of those snacking sessions—ones where you’re really not hungry but want something in your mouth—into guilt-free flavorful fun. Just try not to blow too many bubbles if you’re at the office.

Eat At Home:

Another reason busy, stressed people tend to gain weight is that they more often eat fast food; after a busy day running around, you may not have time to come home and cook something from scratch. But meals you make are usually much better for you. And cooking at home can save you money, too, which may indirectly decrease your stress level by putting you under less financial strain. And it’s easier than you think.

Work Activity Into Your Life:

Do you want to work out, but find yourself short the extra hours a week it would take to go to the gym? You may be able to remedy this with time management techniques, or you can work exercise into your life by finding simple ways to move more. Taking the stairs rather than the elevator, for example, or going for a walk during your lunch break are easy ways to do this. You can also park further away from wherever it is you go, forcing yourself to walk a little more before you get to your destination. You can even stop, drop, and do a few sets of push-ups every hour or two to keep your blood moving and slowly build muscle. You can get more exercise at home by doing active housework, playing active games with your kids.  Let me help you get started, click here. 

Turn Off The T.V.:

Or at least be selective. Rather than chilling in front of the tube because you’re too exhausted to do anything else, only to look up hours later and realize you’ve wasted most of your evening and didn’t get much lasting benefit from the experience, see if you can unwind with some soothing music. Chances are, you won’t spend as much time listening to music as you would flipping from show to show, and you might end up doing something more creative or productive with your time, like journaling, calling a friend, or spending quality time with your loved ones.  (Next time you think about things you wish you had time to do, remember the time you could free up with less television!) If there are shows you really don’t want to miss, at least record them ahead of time, so you can watch them at your convenience, fast-forward through commercials, and then turn the T.V. off.

Once you incorporate some or all of these simple strategies into your life, staying fit when stressed should be much less of a challenge. And, best of all, you can experience less stress and better health in the process!