I am receiving compensation for this event and review, but all opinions are my own. Last week I was invited to a talk at the Nava Health and Vitality Center. The topic of the evening centered around enjoying the holidays more, with "less stress, anxiety, weight gain and more happiness, family time and joy." Sounded like a good plan to me, so I was happy to attend. The event took place in the small lobby area of the Nava Health and Vitality Center. Nava is an integrated health center that focuses on the whole you. It offers services from massage to acupuncture to chiropractic care to life coaching to bio-identical hormone optimization therapy. The unique part is that they use what they call the Nava Method to create a plan … [Read more...]
How to eat the rainbow
Tuesday was "Eat the Rainbow" day for the Lindsay's Elf4Health challenge. In addition, the Holiday Sweat Challenge was offering a bonus point for eating 9 fruits and veggies. As an added incentive, Beer Geek was working in the office, which meant lunch was definitely going to be brussels sprouts. (Yes, I can only eat them when he's not home...) [Tweet "Looking to add more fruit and veggies to your diet? I've got you covered! #holidaysweat"] … [Read more...]
Respecting your food intolerances
I don't have food allergies. As a mom to a kid with an allergy to peanuts, hazelnuts, and almonds, I know the difference. "Food allergies are “IgE mediated.” This means that your immune system produces abnormally large amounts of an antibody called immunoglobulin E — IgE for short. IgE antibodies fight the “enemy” food allergens by releasing histamine and other chemicals, which trigger the symptoms of an allergic reaction. " Source Most people with food allergies must practice complete avoidance, usually carry an epipen and benadryl at all times, and have to be wary every time they eat something. Food intolerances are different. Generally speaking, with a food intolerance, your body does not have a global immune response. Instead, … [Read more...]
Metabolic Effect Diet and WIAW
I'm not really one to talk about dieting. I've been within a 10 pound range of weight since I lost the baby weight with Shoo. But I'm feeling soft and even my running skirts aren't fitting as well as they should, so I need to make some changes. I know Kim has had a ton of success with the Metabolic Effect, so I'm checking it out. I've skimmed it enough to start, but I really need to do a more in depth read. It's not earth shattering ideas, but most of what it suggests are things that have worked for me in the past: 1) More frequent meals, 2) Protein at every meal, and 3) decreased amount of starchy carbs. I do like that it doesn't tell you to eliminate entire food groups or even entire foods. It just suggests limiting how many bites … [Read more...]
Rungry and Hangry
I admit, I'm not one of those runners who increases their mileage and can eat anything they want. Instead, as soon as I begin to approach 40 miles a week, my body becomes super efficient at using every calorie that comes it's way. I gained weight when I trained for my first marathon. Did it again when I trained for my second marathon. And, yep, put on a few pounds last spring when I trained for five half marathons in five days. I've tried eating more (just put weight on faster), eating less (umm, hangry comes to mind), reducing carbs (hello, exhaustion), increasing carbs... Suffice it to say, I've messed around with my eating to try to fuel my runs without outgrowing my jeans. (Because, honestly, it's not the number on the scale that … [Read more...]
Glad that’s over…
The sugar detox, that is. I didn't have any of the physical withdrawal symptoms that some people had: no headaches or crankiness or anything like that. I just found myself constantly on the prowl for food. Some of that would have happened anyways (thank you, hormones, for making my life awesome. Not.) But a big piece of it was the feeling of deprivation that led me to eat way too many nuts and quite a bit more fruit than usual. From an "I did it!" stand point, I succeeded. I ate no sweets all week. I even cut way back on my processed foods, only having a couple of pieces of bread. I drank one beer (and I never planned to cut out alcohol, so I don't feel bad about that LOL). Everything else fell into "clean, whole foods." So, yay … [Read more...]
And then I fell off the wagon…
And I didn't just fall. I plunged. It started with a fruit leather. Ok, really it started with running 34 miles in the last five days. And did I mention the yoga class? Ok, it started because I was hungry. I should have grabbed an apple, but frankly, that thought never crossed my mind. So, I grabbed a fruit leather and some nuts. But really, I wanted chocolate. So, I had a few chocolate chips. And that was just the beginning. When I got done, this... was empty... Once again proving two rules *I* live by: 1) Everything in moderation - including diet changes. I needed to cut sugar. I'm not going to deny that. But, I have no reason to believe I have issues with whole grains, beans, or dairy. I'm not saying that … [Read more...]
Searching for balance
Like almost everyone I know, my life is busy and it's a challenge every single day to accomplish what needs to be accomplished. In fact, I don't really search for balance in my life, so much as I try to make sure that every piece of my life gets to be the priority at one point or another.But that's not the balance I'm talking about today. My quest for balance right now has more to do with calories in versus calories out. The combination of getting older, having a few months of less intense exercise, and holiday splurges have plumped me up a little bit. (I'm not even going to get into "happy weight vs. ideal weight vs. what I see in the mirror" 'cause that's a whole 'nother post.) Let's just leave it at my jeans … [Read more...]
