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Showing posts with label self-care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label self-care. Show all posts
2.25.2014
9 Tips for Losing Weight AND Keeping It Off For Good!
“How the heck do I lose weight and keep it off for good??”
Ima be real with you right now. The answer is not in a pill you can pop. Nor is it found in some injection or restrictive dieting program. You won’t find it in a magical shake or supplement either.
There are no quick fixes when it comes to sustainable weight loss.
The sad thing is that we are trained for quick fixes. We are a nation of learned pill-popping, fast-food eating, instant messaging, microwave-using, TiVo-ing people.
That’s not our fault - it’s the world and reality we live in.
The problem is that real lasting change of any kind is never found in a quick fix. We know this intuitively but our brain asks for the quickie version because it was taught to do that. Let’s paint a picture of how this process works, shall we?
There you are in your home watching episodes of The Wonder Years (<-- it’s back y’all!) and all of a sudden a huge fire is ablaze in your kitchen! Um, major panic, right? So let’s say you’re able to catch it in time where it does minimal damage. Phew. Ok. Everything’s fine until... GAH! ANOTHER FIRE! Put out the fire! Then another starts. Put it out. And over and over again.
What would you do in this scenario?
You’d find what the heck is causing the fire to begin with and address that issue, wouldn’t you?
Our bodies work the same way. All symptoms are caused by some underlying issue. You can address the symptom but it will either come back or manifest as some other symptom if the underlying issue is not addressed. This is applies to any health issue. It also applies to resistant weight loss.
The answer to losing weight AND keeping it off for good is this:
Find and address the root cause of your weight problem, identify your ideal body weight and implement a lifestyle upgrade that’s right for you.
Whether you’ve been struggling with resistant weight loss your whole life, or it’s something new to you, there are simple things you can start doing right now. Here are 9 to get you started:
Eat real food.
Ditch the chemicals, pesticides, additives, trans fats, preservatives, chemical sweeteners and sugar. Pile on the veggies, good fats and clean protein.
Eat the right foods for your unique body.
Consuming food you’re allergic or sensitive to will lead to inflammation among other problems. Doing a version of the elimination diet like my Unveil A N.E.W. You detox is a great way to find out which foods are causing you problems.
Eat mindfully.
Eating too fast, in a stressed or emotional state, on-the-go, or absentmindedly will lead to poor digestion and assimilation of nutrients. Eat slow, chew well and be present during your meal.
Portion control.
By slowing down, eating real whole foods and chewing well, you will naturally find the right portions for your body (which is usually less than we think!) Also avoid eating in an emotional state since digestion is not optimal and you’re more likely to overeat.
Clean up your environment.
Toxins from the environment, such as bpa, pesticides and dioxins, can cause inflammation and strain your liver - one of your major detox organs!
Sleep well.
Poor sleep leads to increased stress, fatigue and hormone imbalance - all of which lead to weight gain.
Move your bod.
Seriously... in any way you can! Find movement that you LOVE and make it a part of your life. I don’t care if it’s yoga, pilates, barre, dance (<-- my personal favorite), Crossfit, rock climbing, ice skating, whatever - make it fun and sweat! Our bodies are meant to move - daily exercise and movement help to prevent disease & weight gain as well as regulate your hormones and detox capabilities.
Address the stress.
Stress leads to increased cortisol production and a slower metabolism, not to mention causes cravings. You may not be able to control outside stressors, but you can control how you react to them. Find ways to cope and adapt that work for you in a healthy way.
Self love and acceptance.
Often times, we’re so focused on losing the weight and being dissatisfied with our bodies that we forget how beautiful and precious they are. The best thing we can do for ourselves is love the body we are in at every moment of our life.
If you feel that you are doing everything right and still not seeing the results you want, you could be dealing with a bigger issue such as weight gain from medication or a hormone imbalance (i.e. adrenal fatigue, insulin resistance, estrogen dominance, thyroid issues, etc). In this case, it’s time to get support from experts and put on your detective hat!
The good news is finding balance using all the tips above will help with these issues too.
2.10.2014
Do these 6 things if you want to make big (& lasting) changes in your life!
Let’s be real.
How many times have you declared to yourself (possibly shouting from your cubicle <--I’ve been there): “I’M READY! This is my moment/month/year of transformation!!” ...only to fall back into the very same patterns that you’ve been trying so hard to overcome?
Whether it’s a daily intention, a New Year resolution or a life goal, there will always be obstacles and resistance in the way of real, lasting change. Often times these challenges can have you feeling discouraged, hopeless, tired and... well... sh*tty. When this happens, remember that you are still in control of your life and that we all need tools and support to help us along the way.
Here are 6 things you can do to make real lasting change in your life:
1. Make like Barbara Walters and ask the hard questions
Is fitting into those skinny jeans going to alter your universe?
What will quitting smoking/sugar/your job really do for you?
In order to make changes that last, you first need to ask what it is that you truly want... and then ask why you want it. Dig deep. You want to find the “why” that gets your heart beating and soul talking - you’ll know it when you feel it. The “why” has to be big enough to carry you through challenges and pitfalls. Once you have your “why,” check in on your goals to see if they align.
Next is to identify any triggers and patterns, and notice the emotions attached to them. For example, you may notice that you feel lonely or a lack of love right before you crave that pint of rocky road icecream. Perhaps you’re not feeling the love in your relationship, causing you to crave sweetness in other areas of your life. In this case, a goal of quitting sugar won’t last unless you find the love in your life.
2. Come clean
What is the story going through your head each day? Write down all the ways you see yourself failing and why. While positive thinking is all well and good, we need to acknowledge our self doubts and weaknesses so that they can be addressed in a healthy way. Come clean and let it all out. Be radically honest with yourself. Do this without judgement - be compassionately curious here. We tell ourselves stories all the time and when you see it on paper, it’s easier to see patterns and question the validity and truth behind them.
Ask yourself, what if the opposite were true?
3. Go small or go bust
It’s awesome to have huge aspirations, but often times our resolutions and goals can be so big and elusive that they become difficult to attain. Take your big intentions and break them down into bite size actionable steps. For example, going from the Standard American Diet (SAD) to raw vegan overnight is like jumping over a valley from one cliff to another in one leap - it’s risky but possible if you have, say, a paraglide and months of training. Not recommended for everyone.
Instead, traversing thru the valley one step at a time will ensure that you not only get to the other side more safely, but the journey will be highly educational and rewarding.
Ask yourself what is one small action you can take every day that fits within the bigger picture? Every step counts!
4. Have a clear vision for yourself
What are you working toward? What does it look and feel like? This is where a vision board can be really helpful - find images and words that fit with how you visualize yourself once you’ve already made the changes. Keep it somewhere that you’ll see every day. When we get really clear on how we want to look and feel, we start to internalize it and act the way our future selves would. This means acting as if you’ve already created lasting change and making decisions from that place, rather than the old version of yourself.
5. Ritualize and systematize
Rituals and systems are key in creating lasting changes. Schedule in your action steps throughout the day. Make reasonable deadlines for yourself. Join a movement, challenge, community, or program that will provide structure and motivation. Enlist a partner in crime to hold you accountable. And most importantly, ditch what no longer serves you - naysayers, clutter, energy draining people and activities.
What needs to be in place to set you up for success?
6. Be kind and unwind
Keeping abreast of our daily action steps and goals can get a little overwhelming at times *total understatement*. Be kind to yourself in this process and carve out time to replenish. It’s just as constructive to take an hour for that candlelit lavender epsom salt bath as it is researching for that job interview. Don’t underestimate the basics in your self care! Balance is required.
There’s always the possibility of falling off the wagon and getting down on yourself. Be forgiving and make sure not to get too attached to results or outcome. Pick yourself up and get back into the game of life. It’s your unique journey, so appreciate every single moment and savor the victories.
It's your turn to share... which one of these steps is one that you've struggled with before and what action are you going to take to make real lasting change in your life? Put it in the comments below!
1.30.2014
My Top Secret To Staying Healthy + Somethin' New!
Are those resolutions starting to suck?
Has
Polar Vortex 2.0 got you feeling down in the arctic dumps, making you
want to cuddle up in your leopard print snuggie (actually exists... and i
want one) and sip on a heated box of tomato soup from 2 winters ago
because it’s too damn cold to go out and do groceries? I can hear the
collective grumbling...
While
staying on top of our health game can be challenging all year round,
the winter time has a way of making it seem impossible. The holidays
have come and gone, and most likely left us overstuffed, exhausted and
with really dry skin. With a trail of fruit cake, gingerbread cookies
and hot toddies behind us, we attempt to salvage what’s left of our
health by declaring our intentions for the rest of the year... the year
of transformation, of course.
That is, until Valentine’s Day rolls around and we conveniently forget our 5x/week gym commitment or the fact that the nutella graham cracker cheesecake we’ve been eating every afternoon is not actually #paleo #dairyfree or #glutenfree (denial is an ugly thing).
That is, until Valentine’s Day rolls around and we conveniently forget our 5x/week gym commitment or the fact that the nutella graham cracker cheesecake we’ve been eating every afternoon is not actually #paleo #dairyfree or #glutenfree (denial is an ugly thing).
So how the heck does one stay healthy all year round?
After many moons of self reflection and experience working with my clients, I have distilled all of the wisdom down into one bite size morsel. You ready for it?
After many moons of self reflection and experience working with my clients, I have distilled all of the wisdom down into one bite size morsel. You ready for it?
My top secret to staying healthy is...
Be tremendously kind & loving to yourself.
That’s it folks. The big ole secret that’s been keeping me going on a super space jam kinda health kick for years.
Don’t roll your eyes... I saw that.
It’s far too easy to dismiss this simple, and yet profound, statement.
Here’s why it works:
When you are tremendously kind and loving to yourself...
You are your biggest cheerleader.
You allow yourself to fall and make mistakes, then dust yourself off and try again.
You’re committed to yourself till the end.
You’ll give everything your best shot.
You want to take care of your magnificent mind, body and soul.
You’ll eat the foods that nourish and energize you.
You’ll do whatever it takes to grow and get happy.
You won’t sacrifice your health or well being for temporary fixes or destructive behaviors.
You’ll do the work.
Whether or not healthy eating is a resolution of yours, it’s an important piece in making lasting change. Why? Because when you feel good, have energy and mental clarity, and eat the right foods for your body, you’re more likely to stay motivated and invested in yourself. Staying positive is a huge factor in achieving goals and considering 95% of serotonin is manufactured in the gut, you want to make sure you’re keeping that area in tip top shape!
One of my favorite ways of doing all that is a seasonal detox.
A detox for me is more than adding juices or eliminating certain foods.
It’s a chance to show up for myself in a BIG LOVE kinda way - to give
my body a well deserved break and reset with the seasons.
Today I’m super excited to share a my new winter detox program:
This is a Do-It-Yourself Digital Detox....
That means YOU get to choose your start date.
Anytime. Anywhere. At your fingertips.
This detox is for you if...
✓ You're done with resolutions that get tossed by Valentine’s day and make you feel guilty.
✓ You're over the diets and programs that haven’t given you the results you were looking for and you need a program that works for your busy schedule.
✓ You're looking to uncover hidden food sensitivities and allergies that are contributing to resistant weight loss and stubborn health issues.
✓ You're tired of craving unhealthy foods that are sabotaging your weight-loss efforts and making those resolutions seem frickin' impossible.
✓ You want more energy and less trips to the coffee machine or the vending machine at 4pm.
✓ You're ready to actually feel the way you deserve to feel.
With this DIY digital detox, you're getting:
- A complete detox guide book
- Winter season recipe book
- Suggested meal plan and shopping list
- Daily email support from me
- AND a *new* success kit to help you achieve your New Year goals (so many tools you can use for a lifetime up in there...priceless)
And because I want you to have the best detox experience ever, you'll also get a free 30 min. post-detox breakthrough session
with me where I'll coach you on any questions or challenges you may be
having to ensure your transition is a healthy one. I'm here to support
you!
This DIY detox is only available thru Feb. 21, so be sure to check it out before it goes *poof*.
To your health & some seriously big self love!
♥ ✌ ♫ ∞
9.10.2013
Radical Remission Part II: 3 Core Beliefs For Self Healing
What if you could make your cancer go away, without conventional treatment?
What if you could heal yourself of heart disease, diabetes, or an autoimmune disease?
Is this the stuff that makes urban legends?
Spontaneous remissions, or “radical remissions” as Dr. Kelly Turner prefers to call them, are not only REAL... they’re happening more often than we realize.
In Dr. Turner’s research, she’s finding that there are untold cases all over the world. Part of the underreporting has to do with the system and the process of record keeping. According to Turner, “unexpected remissions are estimated to occur in one of every sixty thousand to one hundred thousand cancer patients; however, the true incidence rate is likely higher than that due to underreporting.” Part of it has to do with the health industry’s belief that these stories could do more harm than good (read: inflating hope, when there shouldn’t be any).
Venessa... do you mean to say that people are out there actually healing themselves of shit like cancer and we’re left here thinking “doomsday: we’re all screwed”??
Yup. Now, I’m not saying that doctors and conventional treatment are not necessary or that everyone and their mom would heal if they just followed these treatments and beliefs.
What I want you to take away from all this is that you, yes YOU, have a lot more power in your healing process than you may think.
In my last blog post, I shared with you the top 6 treatments that foster self healing - straight from the mouths of cancer survivors themselves and their healers. If you haven’t read that post, there’s some pretty wicked info that you should know yesterday, so get on it. After you’re done, make sure you come back here for the sequel.
Ok, for those of you who are ignoring my request that you read my last post (don’t lie to me), here’s the backstory: Dr. Kelly Turner interviewed people from all over the world who had cancer that went into remission. In her research, she has compiled the common holistic characteristics that contributed to their healing.
Today I’m stoked to share the top 3 core beliefs among those same cancer survivors. This is good stuff, people. So listen up.
TOP 3 CORE BELIEFS FOR SELF HEALING
Belief #1: Change the Conditions under which Cancer Thrives
Yes... cancer THRIVES in certain conditions. Like a body fed a diet of sugar and trans fat. But there are other, less obvious conditions under which cancer thrives.
The majority of Turner’s interviewees believed that cancer thrives in certain suboptimal conditions in the body-mind-spirit system and that to remove cancer, those underlying conditions must change.
One healer from Hawaii explained it this way:
The most successful recoveries seem to be strongly associated with major mental, emotional, or physical behavioral changes among the people with the illness. What is major for one person, of course, may not be the same for another . . . I know of one success where a woman left her family, took up a different religion, changed her clothing and diet, and moved to a different country. Maybe she needed all of those changes or maybe not, but overall it worked for her. I know of another person, a man, who simply stopped trying to outdo his father, and that worked for him.
This can also be applied to the physical environment inside and outside of your body. We’ve got to clean our internal “ecosystem” along with all of the other crap in our lives.
Think about it this way: a goldfish gets sick because it’s living in toxic, dirty water. Do you heal the fish, only to put it back into the same gross water that got it sick in the first place?
Change your water people.
Belief #2: Illness = Blockage/Slowness; Health = Movement
Turner’s interviewees also believed that “any illness—including cancer—represents a blockage or slowness somewhere in the body-mind-spirit system, whereas health occurs when there is a state of unhindered movement or flow.”
WE LIKE FLOW. This belief resonates with a lot of eastern medicine traditions, where it is believed that blocked energy, qi, prana, life force, etc leads to disease and illness. Flow and movement in all ways - physical exercise, breathe, evolution of spirit, emotional and cognitive flexibility - will ensure health.
Where do you have a blockage in your life? Whether it’s physical (clogged arteries), mental (you hate your job), emotional (your partner is abusive), or spiritual (you feel disconnected from your god) - you’ve got to make like Drano and realize that “every clogged drain has a solution.” Find yours.
Belief #3: A Body-Mind-Spirit Interaction Exists, and Energy Permeates All Three Levels
Alright, so what the heck does this mean? It means that we often forget or deny that we’re not just skin sacks of bodily fluid. Sorry, that was a gross visual.
Here’s a fact (unless you’re prepared to argue with Einstein): We are energetic beings.
The interviewees that experienced radical remission of their cancers believed that we are energetic beings on a body, mind and spiritual level. And that there is constant interaction and flow - where energy permeates all three.
According to an American-born, Peruvian-trained shaman:
You have to have mind, body, and spirit healing. . . Most of us who live in our physical bodies, we don't even know about spiritual or emotional bodies. So we have to connect with all three of them. But you see, in the mountains of the Andes, [the Andean people] are already connected.
None of this information is new. In fact, most of these beliefs and treatments can be found in ancient traditions and texts thousands of years old.
It seems the more screwed up we become because of increased stress & disconnection, the Standard American Diet (SAD), and our pop-a-pill instant gratification mentality, the more it becomes imperative that we utilize the lessons above for not only self healing, but prevention.
Challenge: I encourage you to pick at least one of the treatments/beliefs I talked about and incorporate it into YOUR life.
Remember, one step at a time is what it takes to get to where you want to be.
6.19.2013
This one's for YOU! Doesn't have to be a cruel summer after all...
Alright, so I've got somethin' new for you.
And I'm all giddy like a little school girl on a post-Taylor-Swift-concert high...
It's a program I've been working on for some time now based on what I have found to be an invaluable tool and total game-changer for myself and my clients. FOR REALZ.
Most people come to me with total confusion on what foods or diets work best for them, and usually have a long list of complaints like foggy brain, fatigue & low energy, resistant weight loss, bloating and digestive issues... and that's just the tip of the iceberg.
That's what my client "Mary" (her real name is much cooler) dealt with. She was eating what she considered a healthy diet - she had cut out most processed foods, didn't drink any soda and stayed away from sugar-laden foods. On top of that she was exercising on a pretty regular basis. So then why the heck was she still gaining weight and feeling tired all of the time?? It just didn't seem fair.
Sound familiar? If you find yourself dealing with these health issues, especially resistant weight loss, and you're all like...
Most people come to me with total confusion on what foods or diets work best for them, and usually have a long list of complaints like foggy brain, fatigue & low energy, resistant weight loss, bloating and digestive issues... and that's just the tip of the iceberg.
That's what my client "Mary" (her real name is much cooler) dealt with. She was eating what she considered a healthy diet - she had cut out most processed foods, didn't drink any soda and stayed away from sugar-laden foods. On top of that she was exercising on a pretty regular basis. So then why the heck was she still gaining weight and feeling tired all of the time?? It just didn't seem fair.
Sound familiar? If you find yourself dealing with these health issues, especially resistant weight loss, and you're all like...
ENOUGH OF THIS BULL$*#@!!!
(even Yeezy is over it)
I'M SICK AND TIRED
OF BEING SICK AND TIRED!
...DON'T DESPAIR! There's something you can do about it! That's the beauty about these magnificent machines we call our bodies - they are built to repair and renew. We just have to show it some BIG LOVE and give it a chance to do it's job!
Summer Sizzle Detox is a 7-day whole foods detox program based off of the same proven method I use with my clients. It's been my secret project that I've been working on for a while and it's going to help you
✓ have more energy
✓ have more happiness
✓ feel less tired
✓ lose weight with ease
✓ get rid of unwanted bloat
Symptoms
like low energy, bloating, digestive issues, resistant weight loss,
foggy brain, bad PMS and mood swings are good signs that...
B. you're toxic, baby
Let's look at each point, shall we?
One person's superfood is another person's poison. Bioindividuality means that we each have our own unique blueprint for what works for our own body. If you're not eating the right foods for YOUR body, then foods that may be considered healthy can actually be wreaking havoc in your system!
With the 7-day Summer Sizzle Detox, you will learn
- What that blueprint looks like for your unique body
- The RIGHT foods to feed your body, overcoming confusion and dis-ease.
In the 7-day Summer Sizzle Detox, you will
- Release toxins that have been building up for years, safely
- Let go of everything that no longer serves you!
It's the SUMMER and we should be flying our freak flags, cruising to Ace of Base and feeling UH-MAZING - not sick, bloated and tired.
Are you ready to show yourself some detox love? Then click here to go to the Summer Sizzle Detox page to find out how.
I say we reclaim our health, finally feel good in our own skin and sizzle this summer!
P.S. Wondering if you're in need of a detox? Want to know how toxic you are?
Then take my free 2 minute Unveil My Toxic Load! Quiz to find out!
At the end, click on the link provided to get an evaluation based on your results.
P.P.S. Have specific questions/concerns about the detox? First click here for more info. And if your questions still aren't answered, then email me and I'd love to help!
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