Embrace the Pain

So I have had the pleasure the last 2 weeks to spend some time at the North Shore Crossfit. Amazing. So great. In fact I brought Josh too on Saturday and I don't think he will ever be the same. To really understand what Crossfit is you could watch this video. It's kinda amazing. For one I have said in the past that I struggle with working out. In fact I straight up used to hate it. Until this. It is so different than anything I have ever done before. I have had the most results in the shortest amount of time and the workouts are just plain brilliant.
My good friend Jen has brought me a couple of times to push me to the next level. She's a good motivator!!!! hehe

As you may or may not know I have been attempting the Crossfit workouts by myself at the Y. You can read about that here. Well it is totally different there. You do group workouts and everyone is cheering each other on, motivating each other to run that last 200 meters after 4 rounds of 400 meter runs in between various other strenuous moves like burpees, and you push yourself harder than you ever would at a gym. Its amazing. Well anyway last night I kinda hit a milestone in my Crossfit journey. I got what I now know is called an a$$berry. I could say buttberry but it just doesn't sound the same. Basically after sitting on a rubber floor doing 120 sit-ups for time you pretty much wear away a piece of your butt. Yes like really really bad carpet burn. I stood up after the workout and literally skin was peeling off. OW. OWWWW. Not only was that bad but the shower realllllly brought out the pain. Great news we are headed on a 4 hour road trip this afternoon. Great. Sitting.

After my first Saturday morning workout!

Anyway it was an amazing experience and I feel like I earned that a$$berry. I worked for it and it hurts but when you accomplish something at crossfit you can't help but smile! This weekend we are headed back to Word of Life, a place where God changed our lives, and we fell in love. We haven't been back for about 5 years, so it should be a walk down memory lane. We are going to visit sweet Serena Long who is working on the Island where we worked for 2 years! Super excited. Hope your weekend is fantastic! Try something you have never done before, see how it feels! I dare ya.

Right Path

Just finished watching Food Inc. Seriously if you want your world rocked, and you want to understand why Bonfire exists, why it matters where you shop and what food you eat. Watch it. I dare you. Its free! Go get a free trial with Netflix and its one of the play now options and you can watch it right on your laptop. It was just another great reminder we are on the right path. Actually tomorrow night I get to share my "testimony" of sorts at a Bonfire party that is going to be filmed for the website! I am super pumped. I just have seen such radical changed in my health and life, and I honestly am so thankful and willing to share with anyone who will listen!

Also did a crossfit workout today. WOWIE! It's been a while. I kinda took a break and thought I could get away with it. I was reminded how much of an impact moving really has on my body. I was thankful to be able to do it again. You can bet I will be sore tomorrow:
5x5 Press
5 rounds of
30 Box jumps
40 Double Unders
20 kettle bell swings.
I was sweating and it took me 18 minutes. Not great. But ready to get back to where I was!

Here is an awesome smoothie recipe for these hot days we are being thrown. Tastes as good as a milkshake....actually better, and everything in it is good for you.

1 Banana
1/2 cup frozen strawberries
1/2 cup Almond milk
1/2 cup of Coconut dream bare coconut frozen dessert (dairy free)
You can add protein powder if you want a kick.
But blend and its delicious and creamy treat for hot summer days!

Let me help you understand....

So I get questions a lot about certain choices I'm making due to Bonfire. Unfortunately although I read a lot of info and understand it I just simply cant explain it as well as my lovely Chiro team can. So here is a link to a few post's that I think can help answer your burning questions (I know you have them...) about dairy, sunscreen, soy, grains, and workouts! So click click click away my friends. This is important info that can help your health and your child's health. Let's just say I am soooo glad I have learned what I have learned before getting preggo...I want to give my kids the best start I can.

Dairy

Sunscreen

Workout

Stress

Supplements (ie: Fish Oil)

Soy

The Slippery Slope....

I have been worried because I am on the slippery slope to 30. I mean its like after 25 whoooosh there is 30. I was informed today that I am actually one year younger! My dear Chiro Fran the Man told me due to my changes in health, and regular chiro care I can really just take one year off my age. So I am pleased to say I am still 26! hehe. In all honesty I am the healthiest I have ever been, in the best shape I have ever been, and I am pretty sure the happiest I have ever been. I am enjoying life and I am so thankful that due to Franson family I can be one year younger today, and closer to health than I have ever been. THANK YOU LORD! I mean just look at my pipes!

Arn't they huge? :) But for real I've never had any definition like that before. Thank you Crossfit! (It's actually DIY Crossfit...more on that later)

Ok so here's to me being 26 still and hopefully when I am 30 I'll really only be 23.

Happy Feet.

HAPPY MONDAY! I know usually Mondays are rough, but Hey! its sunny here and tomorrow is my birthday & I get to see Hillsong United!

I know its been a while folks. I know you are all desperately waiting by your computer for another amazing post from your favorite blogger.....or not. You probably haven't even noticed I have been absent. Anyway I am back!!!

It's been officially a week off BC pills. Let's just say I feel like this:



and this:



and Josh can attest to a little bit of this:


My dear Chiro Dr. Ryan put it like this its like wearing your shoes on the wrong feet for 10 years, and then putting them on right. Its gunna hurt, but its the right way to wear them. And I know that in the long run its what is going to make my feet the happiest even if it hurts for the time.

So here's to Happy Feet and getting through the painful stage! I know it will get better. I am doing my best. Lots of water, fish oil, working out, no sugar or grains, and hopefully I can push through. Now that I know what I know I can't go back! And hey maybe I will stop tripping over my self so often now that my shoes are on the right feet! hehe
Have happy day!

My How You've Changed

What a great weekend. Its been BEAUTIFUL out side! Saturday woke up had a great breakfast with my love: Paleo Cereal (amazing!! nuts, blueberries, apricots, nectarines, raisins, flax seed, all in almond milk) and sausage and kale! We enjoyed good conversation over coffee!

I was able to go for my first bike ride of the season upon which I discovered my breaks were dead. Ya, almost ran a lady over. And that my tires were flat. So apparently bikes need tune ups. I went to the Library and got out the Paleo Diet book. Its been amazing so far and even more eye opening than what I already know. Read outside on the deck, did a quiet time with the Lord, and drank Blue Flower Earl Grey. God is good. I am so thankful for little things that I seemingly used to just pass over.

In fact I look at how my life has changed in the past year and I really am a different person. As some of you know I had a huge food struggle for most of my life. Overeating, and not able to stop. I am so freed from it and I have God and Bonfire Health to thank for it. Its amazing how much more satisfied I am to eat the things I am eating and how it is not hard to not overeat healthy things. A few things I have accomplished since changing my life style:

Running a 9 minute mile! (I even got up to 8 the other night I was running so fast! Take that Forest!)

Eating a salad with no dressing! (if someone told me I would be doing this I would of laughed! But I have come to love just the flavor of the veggies and shirmp/chicken/nuts or whatever is in it crazy I know)

Box Jumps/Burpee's -Had no clue what these were.

No sugar- agave nectar and dates are helping me out in this department

Going to bed early/getting up early- so much more energy!

Watching less TV- more time talking laughing doing life with Josh

No more allergies or sinus infections. I used to get them all winter and would miss work a ton. I haven't been sick at all this season. And the cat at work doesn't bother me anymore. As long as I am eating the right things and drinking water. AS SOON as I have bread/sugar/gluten/dairy ect my nose gets stuffy immediately. ITS CRAZY!

I am thankful for freedom from food! And the energy and health that have come along with this. Seriously I have been looking for freedom for a long time. And really its been amazing to see its not that expensive to eat this way! Honestly! We are in seminary and we have made it work. Plus we eat out way less. Trader Joe's & Market Basket are huge helps in this department. I think having a mom that is sick with MS motivates me as well. So many of the foods we eat are being linked to diseases like that. And I see her suffering and it breaks my heart. I wish I knew what I know now and was able to help her 10 years ago. Things might be a bit different. But I know I have one life to live the best I can and one body to do it in.....So glad for the changes. I may be called crazy but its working for me! Josh is so open to it too! He is so great and enjoys eating all the meals. Don't let me fool ya the man loves his sour patch kids, and pb sandwiches! But he supports me 100% and has seen the changes in me. And we are enjoying life together.

Thank you Lord. Life is Good......

Not another one of those....

Yes it is. Another post about food and disease. Ok so if you have no interest in this subject and maybe might get annoyed you can stop reading! I honestly don't want to annoy anyone. I just simple desire to share the information I have found to be valuable in my journey towards health. I have been following Bonfire for 9 weeks now, and have noticed a total transformation in my health, body, and eating habits. So my goal is not to belittle people or make them feel awful, but instead share my experience and the things that I am learning. So again if you have no interest that is totally fine! But I warned you. This is a top 10 list of the worst foods for you that cause sickness and disease. And at the bottom an awesome recipe for Carrot Flax Muffins that are GRAIN free!

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

So, one of our first concepts you must embrace is "out of sight, out of mind". If it’s in the the house or on your plate, you’ll eat it? Then remove it from your world; get it off your radar. This means that if potato chips, soda pop, candy, bread, ice cream, … whatever you’ll eat if it's in the house – get rid of it, NOW!

Just go through your cupboards and refrigerator(s) with a trash can or trash bag at hand, and toss out all the following disease foods. These are also foods that may contain one of the following as an ingredient:

1. Artificial sweeteners: Aspartame (i.e. Nutrasweet) and Sucralose (i.e. Splenda), Saccharin (i.e. Equal)- neurotoxins that cause brain tumors and increased cravings for sweets leading to insulin resistance, diabetes, heart disease and obesity (yes, contrary to popular belief, 'diet' or 'sugar-free' foods make you fat)

2. Hydrogenated oils, partially hydrogenated oils - cause heart disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity

3. Fried foods (this includes chips) - cause heart disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity

4. Pasteurized and homogenized milk and milk products (butter, ice cream, yogurt, etc.) - cause heart disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity

5. Soda pop (Diet and/or Regular) - leads to insulin resistance, diabetes, heart disease and obesity; also, the phosphoric acid leads to calcium depletion, which leads to osteoporosis.

6. White flour foods (breads, pasta, cakes, cookies, crackers, etc.) –Processed grains cause to insulin resistance, diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Gliadin, one of the two main protein components of gluten, is very pro-inflammatory.

7. Cured meats (bacon, sausages, and lunch meats - anything with nitrates, nitrites) - nitrates and nitrites cause cancer (especially leukemia in children)

8. MSG (monosodium glutamate - i.e. hydrolyzed yeast extract, hydolized protein, etc.) – MSG is a neuroexcitotoxin which hyperstimulates brain cells causing them to burn out and die leading to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

9. Sugar leads to insulin resistance, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and obesity. We must look at refined sugar as the poison it truly is

9. High fructose corn syrup (found in many foods - too many to list; see "HFCS" article library at www.drkratka.com) - leads to insulin resistance, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and obesity

10. Artificial Food Colorings Red, blue, and yellow dyes are used widely in many foods. Like, MSG, they are neuroexcitotoxins and a contributory factor in attention-deficit disorder and hyperactivitity

This list has helped me a ton, and little by little adding well food into my life and removing toxic food has helped me a ton.
Instead of Splenda or sugar, I use Agave Nectar in my coffee, and baking! It's Delish!
Here is a great recipe made with all whole foods that make delish muffins that are flour/grain/sugar free. DELISH!

Carrot Flax Almond Flour Muffins


Dry Ingredients

1 C almond flour (Trader Joe's Common Crow or Whole Foods)
¼ C raisins or currants
2 Tbsp shredded organic coconut (Trader Joes or Whole Foods)
⅓ C walnuts chopped
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ teaspoon allspice
¼ teaspoon sea salt

Flax Mixture

1 ½ Tbsp freshly ground flax seeds (you can buy them as flax meal or blend them yourself in a coffee grinder or a Vita Mix high speed blender.)(Trader Joe's or Whole Foods)
⅓ C unsweetened organic apple juice (or Apple Cider works)
1 tsp vanilla

Wet Ingredients

2 Tbsp coconut oil (can get at Whole Foods, Common Crow, or Publix/Shaws)
1 1/2 C finely shredded carrots
5 tablespoons raw honey

* Preheat oven to 375F.
* Lightly coat a cupcake baking pan with coconut oil spread evenly with a paper towel. Combine apple juice and ground flax.
* Let mixture sit to get sticky, while grating carrots and prepare the remaining ingredients.
* Add all dry ingredients to a large mixing bow and stir well.
* Add the wet ingredients to the flax mixture and stir together.
* Add wet and dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.
* Pour/spoon batter into muffin pans and bake for 10-12 minutes.

How's Your Soil

No one likes being sick. I know this. I used to get sick ALL THE TIME. Now I am used to people thinking I am a crazy person for eating the way I do now. But let me tell you one thing I don't get sick very often. And if I do I usually know its a reaction to a bad food I have eaten and I quickly take the steps neccesarry to get well. In this cold and flu season I highly encourage you to follow these steps if your sick. Or hey have it your way and ignore me, think I am crazy and see how you long it takes for you to get over your cold, only to get sick agian soon. I don't think I know it all, but I have been given some very valuable information I desire to pass on. Its critical to your health. You may not feel it yet, but one day you will.

1. WATER. Seriously its so important. Just by upping your water intake when you are sick you give your cells a chance to hydrate and fight off the illness. Also effects allergies a TON! I have been very allergic to cats all my life. The family I nanny for has a cat. The days I am hydrating, eating well NO symptoms. The days I eat sugar/cheese/bread. and don't drink enough water I can hardly breath there is so much mucus. Gross I know. Dehydration = mucus. Water = no mucus.

2. No Sugar. Sugar is found in so many things, your bread, your ketchup, you name if it comes in a box it probably has sugar. Sugar blocks your cells from absorbing Vitamin C and then innables your immune system. If you eat sugar you can't fight off the illness.

3. Supplements. You should be getting all your nutrients from the foods you eat, but alas this is not possible in this society. So the most important ones you should take are: Probiotics, Fish Oil, Vitamin D, Vitamin C (at leat 1,000 mgs of C when your sick)
Also I've mentioned before Dr.K's perfect Greens for health I take a scoop of this in water or a smoothie every day during Cold and Flu season.

4. Rest, turn off the Tv/computer/phone and get some sleep.

5. No Dairy or grains. Your body has a hard time processing both of these. Here is a link that helps explain why we were never meant to process this stuff.Here But at least while your sick, lay off them. Try my broccoli soup or bonfire turkey soup recipes, or smoothies and anything not from a package.


Of course the best way to prevent illness is to take care of your self before you get sick. Louis Pasture who spent most of his life defending the germ theory (germs enter your body causing you to get sick this is the idea that you "catch a cold) against Claude Bernard's idea that the environment is everything and that only when your body is broken down you are succeptable to it. After all, there are billions of microbes and bacteria inhabiting our guts, our blood, our whole body. Why do we sometimes sicken from them, sometimes not? When a bacterial or viral agent is “going around,” as we say, why do some people sicken and others remain healthy ? Louis Pasture on his death bed renouced his theory claiming " Bernard is right the seed is nothing the soil is everything!" Meaning only when the body is broken down and not functioning well does it allow the bacteria or microbe to take over. SOOOO it is important what you do. How you eat, move, think. What you put in your body is either making it more succeptable to sickness, or making it well. Think about that every time you eat something. So How's Your Soil? Is it ready to defend your body or weak and broken down?

Its ok if you think I am crazy, but hey I am feeling great!

Tune in next time as I share what is in some of the foods your feeding your kids! Scary. Check out my amazing Chiro's blog and Bonfire Health for more info. and this Post about swine flu

Eating Well Can Taste Good!

So I am on week 3 of the new renovated Bonfire Health Program! It's awesome! You sign up for 1 dollar for 3 months! It asks you a series of questions to find out where your eating and exercise and thinking habits are and places you in a level. You then get meal plans, recipes, workouts and journal assignments! It's simply awesome and my Chiropractor and His team are amazing! I highly encourage you to check it out Here! Especially if you want to make it through this cold and flu season a healthy person. There are vital things you need to do. This program will give you a jump start on healthy living. You only have one life, one body, take care of your temple!

In the mean time here is a recipe for an amazing Turkey Soup. Its delish and so good for you. Takes no time at all to make.

Ground Turkey Vegetable Soup
2 lbs ground turkey
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, diced
1/8 cup olive oil
1 28oz. can chopped tomatoes
2 medium carrots, chopped
2 medium zucchini , chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
1 head broccoli including stem, chopped
8 oz. spinach
3 qts. organic chicken broth (Costco)
sea salt
fresh cracked pepper
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

* Use a large stock pot (at least 12 qt.)
* Saute onion and garlic together in the olive oil over medium heat for 3-4 minutes
* Add chopped vegetables, except spinach and cook for 6 minutes
* Add turkey meat and cook for 6 minutes
* Add chicken broth, bring to gentle simmer
* Add seasonings and cook for 15-20 minutes on low
* Add spinach and cook for 2 minutes
* Serve as is or over brown rice

The Truth About Dairy

Ok so I think I have told you before of my slight weakness for cheese. This has been the hardest thing for me to reduce and eliminate from my diet as I seek to grow in the well people program. I have had a few of you ask me before what is the deal with diary? I have tried to explain it but still don't know all the answers my self. My beloved Chiro has answered this question on the good ol' Franson Family Blog. Wanna check it out? Click right Here. And then go over Here and read this article it was written from.

And then go grab you a box of Almond Milk. That will really do your body good.

You Are What You Eat

You are what you eat...what goes in effects everything.
It is first and foremost important to get things right with God if you have an overeating problem and learn to replace a love for food with God which is what I touched on in the last Post.

It is also important to look at food as fuel. You wouldn't put Slime in a car that needs gas, you would put the right fuel in the car to help it run properly. The same thing is needed with your body. We need to figure out what our body best needs for fuel and feed it the best thing to keep the engine running. Right now you may say, well I eat what I want and I am fine! I have no health problems. Well the check engine light is on my friend, and even though you don't sense any repercussions right now if you don't take care of yourself you will have many problems down the road.

By now you know my feelings about processed/fast food. I beg of you to think about what is actually in these microwave meals, and food from the fast food place. If you need some convincing go read This Post from one of my Chiropractors.

I am learning more and more about whole foods and why it is important to take care of my health for my future children. On of the other Doc's at my Chiropractor's office had some great words for me. I asked him how he stops eating foods that taste good to him and that he desires. For me one of these foods is Cheese. (Now if you have a cow from a farm and you are getting fresh cheese from it. Go for it! But most of the cheese we come across is highly processed and full of not so great things for your body.) So he proceeded to ask me a question. If there was a plate full of cheese, and bread, and ice cream and no one was around and you were really hungry would you eat it?
Yes! I said. Well what if I told you this food was laced with poison would you eat it then? No! because it has poison in it! Exactly! he said. If you change your thinking about the foods you want to eat, and you realize they really are full of poison that will give you cancer, diabetes, ect, it's a lot easier to say no.

Not to say that he doesn't partake in treats once in a while, or eat the food someone prepares for him at their house, its just not his staple, his main food intake.

The purpose of this post is really to give you some links I have found helpful in this journey of wellness and well eating. I really do hope you check them out. I want you to have a happy healthy family!

The Blog of Franson Family Chiropractic - My beloved Chiro!
Especially This Post on Spring Cleaning Your Pantry!

The Real Health Truth Blog- one of the Docs at my Chiro

Cheese Slave - A woman full of whole food recipies on a budget!

The Nourishing Gourmet- Joshua Harris' wife. Also Budget friendly

Eat Wild -A website about the importance of eating local wild food.

Happy Reading! And Stay tuned for a yummy Date/Almond/Banana Smoothie sure to hit your sweet spot!

The Food Addiction

Food food food....what a problem in America (and Canada). We are in love with it. For some of us this rings true more than others. If your like me food is constantly on your mind. You worry about it, try not to indulge in it, and then feel consumed by it. Overeating is a problem for many people and some don't even realize it.

This is your only body. You got once chance to glorify God with it, grow babies in it, live life with it. If we are we are in love with food, its not just an physical problem it is a heart problem. I believe that gluttony is one of those things the church hardly talks about. Adultery, divorce, swearing all these things are on the big no list, but digging in for 3rds at the church pot luck is just fine. Who cares if your not honoring God with your body? At least your not a prostitute right?

I am writing this as someone who struggles with the balance between loving food and my body too much. I think its important to take care of yourself, but not ok to be consumed with yourself. Anyone can loose weight, get in shape and love themselves, but its about Glorifying God with all you are, including your eating habits. I have had this struggle for many years, and I am thankful that God is bringing freedom to my heart bit by bit.

Here is a resource for you. If you are like me and food is one of your thorns I encouraged you to check this web site out. Its a free online course to help break free of food struggles.Setting Captives Free It's a 60 day course called The Lord's Table. Its very biblical and very helpful. And hey its free!

If you are not someone who struggles with food, PRAISE GOD, because it is such a common struggle among women, but I am sure you know someone who does. I encourage you to share this site with them. It really can make a difference. Let's stop being complacent about this sin. It saddens God's heart when we look to anything but Him to fill us up. Food can never satisfy, only God can.

Next time I'll share some links and ideas for spring cleaning for your body from my great Chiropractor!

I dare you

Wellness Tip #4
Move

We have been created to move. Not sit at a computer all day. Get up! Seek to break a sweat at least 4x a week. Working up to a 30 minute or more workout every day. Find creative ways to do this. Walks, playing at the park, Frisbee, you get the idea.

So I mentioned my other new friend Tracy Anderson. She is Gwyneth and Madonna's trainer. Her whole method is to help women create long lean bodies not bulk. Sometimes women can try and lift weights but only build bulk under their fat. She has created a method to get at the accessory muscles and tone the entire skin around them. It really does work. I can see results in only 5 days. I found this workout on You Tube to give you a sample of what she does. Try and do at least 20- 30 reps of each thing. You will be amazed at how hard it is. If you want to see more of Tracy and women that have been impacted by her method you can also look up Tracy Anderson Bootcamp on You Tube.
I dare you to try this!

Health in a Glass

I went for a run today! OUTSIDE! It was sunny and the birds were chirping. Mind you there was 2 feet of snow on the ground around me. I carefully stuck to the well shoveled sidewalks less I fall and make a big - o- fool of myself.
Anyway. I am excited to hear birds chirping. It means this long, snowy, New England winter is ALMOST over. I do see seagulls every day all through the winter, but those fat, selfish birds wouldn't leave this fish heaven of a town if it was -40.

So I have a new BFF. Actually 2. Gwyneth Paltrow & Tracy Anderson. I recently came across Gwyneth's web site Goop and fell in love. She is a wellness seeker, and a great chef! Who knew? I got the idea for the detox from her site. She lists many recipes and ideas, many of which I just couldn't do because of the fact I am not an A list movie star with money rollin' around. Some of her ingredients were expensive! Here is an idea of a menu of one of the days of the Detox I adapted with things I can afford!

Morning - Glass of room temp lemon water
Breakfast- Oatmeal
Mid Morning- Herbal Tea
Lunch - Kale Smoothie
Snack-Carrot, Apple, Beet & Ginger Juice
Dinner - Broccoli and Arugula soup

Unfortunately I do not own a juicer, so I went to Organic Harvest an awesome organic cafe and juice bar in Beverly. It was delish! I was surprised at how good it was and how full I got off of it. It was like Health in a Glass.

Now for the Broccoli Soup recipe. I was expecting this to be not so great because well its part of a Detox but you must try it even if you are not going to do the detox it is a healthy, cheap way to get some good veggies.

Broccoli Soup

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic, thinly sliced
1/2 yellow onion, roughly diced
1 head broccoli, cut into small florets (about 2/3 pound)
2 1/2 cups water
1/4 teaspoon each coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup arugula (watercress would be good, too)
1/2 lemon

Heat the olive oil in a medium nonstick saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and sauté for just a minute or until fragrant. Add the broccoli and cook for four minutes or until bright green. Add the water, salt and pepper, bring to a boil, lower the heat and cover. Cook for eight minutes or until the broccoli is just tender. Pour the soup into a blender and puree with the arugula until quite smooth. Be very careful when blending hot liquids; start slowly and work in batches if necessary (you don’t want the steam to blow the lid off). Serve the soup with a bit of fresh lemon.

So I will fill you in on Tracy Anderson next time. I hope this finds you all WELL! (ps. I am feeling much better thanks to vigorous water drinking! It works! annnnd if anyone has a juicer lying around they don't want I will take it gladly!)

You don't get well, You do well.

So we got hit with another blast of snow last night. 10 inches to be exact. I was getting used to the 57 degree weather. Oh a teaser it was. I know you folks down in Alabama even got some snow! Wow! Thats a rarity! I know I woke up this morning not feeling so great. The change in weather can be to blame, but I haven't been too diligent in the area of wellness this weekend. So I decided what better way to get on track than a detox this week! I also have some more tips for you on how to get rid of those sniffles that are hanging around. I promise if you follow these tips you will be feeling better in no time.

Now these are great rules to follow all the time but for those of you not too keen on veggies, this is at least a good idea to follow when you are sick.

1. NO Sugar
2. Drink LOTS of Water
3. Get lots of sleep
4. Eat simply and nothing out of a package
5. Take supplements

Sugar: Everyone knows that Vitamin C is important when you are sick. But if you have sugar in your system it litteraly blocks the Vitamin C from properly absorbing in to your cells. If you don't have Vitamin C in your system you can not properly break down and eliminate toxins and debris in your system. This lowers your immune system.

Water: Dehydration promotes histamine production. AKA Mucus. Yum. Drink up.

Rest: Without rest your body can not use the energy source to fight off the infection or cold. So get sleep, and stay warm!
You compromise your immune system when you are cold. So wrap up in a warm blanket and take a nap.

Eat simply:
1. No sugar
2. No refined or processed foods
3. No simple carbs
4. Reduce Animal protein
5. No pro inflammatory foods: dairy, wheats, ect.

So what can you eat you ask? WHOLE FOODS! Veggies! You must supply anti-oxidents and nutrients the body needs. The only thing you should be eating out of a wrapper is a banana or orange. You get the picture. My Kale Yum Yum recipe is a great idea minus the Yogurt while you are sick. Or the homemade Broccoli Soup recipe I will pass on to you this week. Oatmeal is also good and warm and will make you feel better, plus clean out your gut a bit. And make sure it is not the "Maple Brown Sugar" kind. That is loaded with sugar and extra sodium. Just make some plain slow cook, oatmeal, and sprinkle some cinnamon on top. You can also throw in a few almonds to crunch it up.

Supplements: If you are drinking tap water, or have ever taken an antibiotic in your life you probably are missing a lot of healthy bacterial flora in your gut. You need to take a Probiotic. Fish Oil is also beneficial to the immune system You can also take Vitamin C, and Zinc lozenges. NOT HALLS! Those are just filled with sugar.

Stay tuned this week for my detox tips and a yummy healthy Broccoli soup recipe.

Night Night Sleep Tight!

Wellness tip #3

Go to bed!!!!!!

It is essential to get a good night's sleep. Not only does it help your cell's refuel but it also prepares you for the next day.
The goal is to go to bed by 10:00. The key REM sleep hours are between 10:00 - 3:00 a.m so it's important not to miss it! One of the reasons you need to go to bed early is SOOOOO you can wake up at 5:30 or at least and hour and a half before you have to be any where. So you can: Stretch
Pray
Read the Word/Journal
Eat a great breakfast! (not bagels and coffee! see This tip for an idea)
Prepare your self for your day

All these small changes add up to a better life! Seriously I have so much more energy and feel so much better. By preparing for my day and getting good time to stretch and pray and prepare I am not rushing out the door in a frenzy sucking down some coffee and a white flour, sugar, and preservative filled bagel, that will leave me sapped for energy and dehydrated. Coffee is fine in moderation it just SHOULD NOT be the first thing you give your cell's in the morning. They need water, fruit, and fuel. Not sugar, caffeine, and fat. Try starting with a grapefruit, or some fresh berries.

Ps. I would love to hear if any of you are interested in these tips or not. Or if you are trying any of them. So please let me know!

Kale Yum Yum

One of the tips in the wellness program is to eat RAW at least one meal a day. Meaning no cooked food or packaged. (Overall you are supposed to stay away from pre packaged foods!) But 1/3 of your meals is to be completely Raw. This has been fun and quite an adventure to try! Sometimes I do it for Lunch and have raw cut up veggies and hummus and a berry mixture after. This is delish! But sometimes I do it for breakfast and make an amazing KALE SMOOTHIE!

I promise you can't taste the Kale at all. (You can find Kale in the lettuce section of most grocery stores.) Kale is super good for you and provides a boost of energy. Think of it as the caffeine of the Veggie world!

Kale Yum Yum
1 cup of frozen mixed Berries
1 Banana
1 handful of well washed Kale
1/3 Cup of plain yogurt. (No fake sweeteners people! And if you have to know why check out This website.)
Ice
Water or a little Acai & Pomegranate Juice to get some liquid in there.

Blend Blend away and enjoy a natural, raw, energy drink! YUM!

Fiber Chicken?

Ok so as you know Josh and I are trying this wellness program. And it is hard to come up with food ideas besides just eating fruit and raw veggies every meal. So when I came across this recipe idea I had to try it. I love chicken fingers. Obviously they are NOT on the wellness food list. In fact you are only supposed to shoot for one meat meal a day. (seeing as meat has a lot of things in it we shouldn't be eating.) Anyway here is a twist on a old favorite. Not fried, not greasy, but in fact DELISH!

Fiber One Chicken Strips

1 Package of antibiotic free Chicken tenders
1 1/2 cups of original Fiber One Cereal
Garlic Salt
1 Cage Free Egg

Blend Fiber One in a blender or food processor
add a little Garlic Salt to taste

Mix egg in a bowl and dip one chicken tender at a time in and then proceed to cover with Fiber One mix.
Put strips on baking sheet and spray with a tiny bit of EVOO.
Bake at 375 until brown and crispy.

I make a homemade honey mustard sauce to dip them in! They are so good. YOU HAVE TO TRY THESE! A way healthier version of a classic comfort food.
(Christie maybe Josiah will like these too!)

How do you feel?

So if any of you know me at all, you know I get sick a lot. I mean a lot. I have a weak immune system. If something is floating on by I catch it. It just jumps right in. Good thing you can't get pregnant that way. I would have Qctuplets too. Anyway. I recently have come across an amazing program called "The Well People Program." It is the brilliant out flow of an amazing man named Dr. Fransen. You can find the web site for his practice here. He is a Christian and all about using your body to be the best body it can be to glorify the Lord and have a well life. It comprises of 3 main areas. Thinking Well, Eating Well, and Moving Well. A lot of people do one or two of those well but are lacking in one of these areas. You need all three to be the best person you can be. It is about health, but its also about better living.

Josh and I are on week 4. It has been tough. Its not easy to get rid of certian habits that have we have become accustom to. But the rewards we have gained have been well worth it. I am encouraged with the results. I have had a set back or two but I am back on track and working hard. The best part of the program is you add in a new habit or practice every week, so it is not like trying to change your life over night, but it is gradually making you a well person. I would love to point you right to his web site to get started for yourself, but it is not avaible to the public yet. I will however share a wellness tip a week I have learned from Dr. Fransen's program or elsewhere as I have been doing much research! So on that note.

HYDRATION! Everyone says you are supposed to drink water but do you know why? How much?

We get sick as a result of toxins and deficiencies in our bodies. One of the most common deficiencies is dehydration. So many people in America (a country that is well stocked with CLEAN water supply) suffer consequences from dehydration. (High Blood Pressure, Skin Problems, Arthritis, Digestive Issues, Headaches, and way more.

Dr Franson says " The body can be either like a soup or a stew. You want soup. When you become dehydrated your fluids become concentrated. This is not good. Consentration will amplify the negative effects of any toxins in your body. DILUTE YOURSELF!"

ps. anytime you drink coffee or alcohol you further dehydrate yourself and MUST compensate with water.

You should be drinking 1/2 of your body weight in ounces a day. More if you work out or drink dehydrating beverages.
SO do the math, put down that coffee, pop, or gator aid and get your water bottle ready! Also using a Brita or a water filter is a great way to save the environment from the toxic waste of water bottles.

Rockin Body's Gonna Make Your Body Rock

So I know I promised I wouldn't quit....and I haven't, BUT I did get a little off track in my 5 weeks to great Glutes. Really its hard to stay consistent with visitors coming so much, plus a trip to NYC you get the picture. But as of last night I am back at it. I Got my groove on with Rockin Body.... here is a little video clip to give you a teaser of it! I have to say Shaun T is a little weird but boy he can dance. I love dancing and this workout is really fun you don't feel like you are working out! You just look like a freak in your living room. Let's just say I close the blinds when I am doing it. Ya I know...I'm a rockstar.