Why Everyone Should be Taking Probiotics!

I have a confession to make...I am a supplement junkie. Being a former pill popper, this is a nice change for me with side effects that make me feel like a million bucks!

Let me address the pill popper comment. I think there are millions of Americans who can fall under the category of "pill popper" by no fault of their own. In conventional medicine, it seems to be a common pattern that Doctors just prescribe one pill to curb the effects of another pill. Or they prescribe medications for specific illnesses. As in they categorize illness rather than addressing us as interconnected. Please know that I am not "dissing" conventional medicine. Thank GOD for it, right?! We need it. It saves lives, but I think that most of society is living in a pilled-over glaze just to cope with their existence. It's really frightening.

I will repost another excerpt from my former blog about kids and medication later. 

At one point in my life I was on an antidepressant, an anti anxiety, an ADHD (no shocker there), a muscle relaxer, and like 3 other things I can't even remember. I ended up on all that stuff because of a hard time in school. I went on a pill for one thing that ruined me and so I was prescribed another pill that further ruined me, and so on and so on. No doctor ever said, "Hmmmm. Maybe we should get you off the first thing we put you on." I trusted them to make me better. Anyway, it ruined about 4 yrs of my life because I was a walking chemical imbalance.

I am now totally and completely medication free and only take natural supplements and eat healthy and exercise and I am the happiest, healthiest, most focused, most energized, and fittest I've ever been. 

Please do not think I am encouraging anyone to go off their meds. I"M NOT. Remember this is a blog, and I am not a Doctor. I am sharing my beliefs and feelings based on personal experience. 

Anyway, all that to say....I truly believe that if we nourish our bodies holistically and naturally, we can achieve a lifetime of great health and balanced living. 

I want to spend this week talking about the supplements I live by. I take several but don't presume that everyone should be taking everything I am. However, there are 3 things I think everyone should be taking, so I will cover those first. 

And Probiotics is supplement number one. 

This is something that everyone should be on!!!

What are probiotics? 

The Joint FAO/WHO Working Group defines probiotics as “live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host.”

In English that means, probiotics are healthy bacteria that live in our GI tract and help fight off bad bacteria. 

Why is this so important?

We live in a world that is TOXIC. Cancer is on the rise among many other chronic diseases and it is most often related to something called "leaky gut". Does that sound disgusting? That's because it IS disgusting. Our intestinal walls are lined with healthy bacteria...also called FLORA. When consuming yrs of toxic waste and foods that are fake, and after taking antibiotics which kill not only bad bacteria, but the good as well, we can end up with a leaky gut. This basically means that the walls of our digestive tracks are not lined with the healthy flora necessary to ward off all of the cancer and disease causing toxins that we consume. 

Thousands of years ago, Hippocrates said , "All Diseases Begin in the Gut". This is powerful and it is true. You MUST have a healthy digestive tract if you want to have a lifetime of healthy living. You can get a lot of healthy bacteria through things such as yogurt, but to be sure you are getting a healthy regular dose, it is good to take probiotics daily in pill or powder form. 

For lack of time, I do not have time to describe probiotics in detail but I would encourage you to take the time to research them. My kids and I take them. My kids have not been sick ONE time since beginning 2 yrs ago. I take that back...Catie had the 12 hr stomach flu once because I gave it to her. Great mom, huh? ;)

Any time I have quit taking probiotics or have eaten like crap, I begin breaking out, bloating, getting backed up and start feeling sick. I know you wanted to know that. Hey, it's a part of life. Anyway, taking probios regularly along a with healthy diet makes my digestive system the most wonderfully functioning part of my existence. And when all things are sound in that regard, all things in life are generally ok. haha. 

Seriously though...You NEED A HEALTHY INTESTIONAL TRACT. Do you hear me?!!! This will guard and protect you against disease. Please research probiotics more. And make sure you look beyond the first negative report you read by a fat scientist in a white coat. The proof is in the pudding. 

If you take a probiotic regularly, I'd love to hear what kind you take and how it has benefitted your health. 

Here are some great kinds. 

For affordability...this is a good one. 

However, there are lots to choose from and you may want to talk to someone at the health food store to guide you in your decision.

I put THIS in my Smoothies

I give this to my kids

You can get it on Amazon

Ok, I gotta run, but I have one last important thing to note. 

PLEASE do not get a probiotic from the same aisle you get your exlax. This stuff is filled with crap most likely. Spend a few extra dollars for the real stuff. You can find it in the health food section of your grocery store or at a supplements store. 

Cheers to healthy digestive systems and that little army of friendly bacteria that are fighting for your health!!!

Nutrition Challenge #4: Beat the Binge

I had lots of ideas for challenges this week, but I've decided to do something a little different.

This week, I want us all to 

Beat the Binge! 

I realize that this is a "Don't" rather than a "DO" which is kind of against my ways, but I feel it's important to practice self control and discipline. 

As I was writing my recap yesterday, I realized that just because we've put certain things into practice doesn't mean that we have it down now and that it's easy to do. Making healthy choices is sometimes a constant power of will. I have to actively remind myself to drink water, or prepare a healthy meal, or make my green tea. I am not on autopilot. When I AM on autopilot, I find myself becoming self destructive and I find myself back at square one. I am not saying that living a healthy lifestyle doesn't get easier. It certainly DOES. But it's a place where you grow and improve, and that growth doesn't come without effort. 

Therefore, I think we need to practice discipline this week and I think it's a good week to do it. The biggest reason why we fail is because we give in to desire. That is not always a bad thing, but because we are so lost sometimes, we try to find ourselves in experiences that feel good and satiate some desire we can't understand. Most often this translates into mindless eating, overeating, or binge eating. I'm am not encouraging us not to binge in a "lose weight" kind of way (although we will). This is not about deprivation. It's about discipline. We are not depriving ourselves when we say no to an unhealthy indulgence. We are honoring ourselves. 

However, we need practical ways to arm ourselves against these moments where we want to lose ourselves in food. And we can talk more about ways to do that this week. To be honest....I don't entirely know. But I do know that as I face these times, I will have to learn. What we DO have at this point, however are healthy habits we've put into place that will help us. 

Drinking a large glass of water for instance helps us resist a binge. Or drinking hot green tea with our meal and as we cook controls our cravings. Also, taking out processed foods that mess with the hunger cues in our brains help as well. When we are eating foods that are real and nourish our bodies, we feel more satisfied. It's just true. It takes time though to reset our metabolisms and we need to work hard at not sabotaging our hard work.

This week is also an appropriate week to beat binge eating because it's our week to focus on removing No No #3 (refined grains) from our diets. What do we most often binge on? Yeah, exactly.

So, who's with me? Who's ready to take on the challenge of resisting temptation? Learn to recognize the darkness even when it shows up in the most innocent ways. Say NO to mindless indulgence! 

I gotta go make breakfast for my family. 

When I come back, we'll talk about supplements. And I'll try to have a workout up today. 

Eat a healthy, nutritious breakfast and lunch that are fulfilling. Don't deprive yourself of that so that you lose yourself in the afternoon binge. Ok. DO it. Stop rushing. Focus. Slow down. Do what's right. 

Let's Do A Recap Shall We? And While We're at it...Let's Go Ahead and Look to the Future.

As basic as I've tried being in the information that I share with you, let's be honest....I've bombarded you with a lot. It's hard to process it all and stay on track when we are learning so much. 

So, I think I'll try condensing what we've learned over the last 4 weeks to help keep us on track. I think doing this will help you realize that what we have learned so far and put into practice really isn't so overwhelming after all. 

Ok. Here's the short and sweet of it. 

At this point, we all should be 

1. Drinking more water and staying well hydrated

-Flavoring with lemons and/or black currant juice are excellent health boosters

2. Drinking green tea every day

- This gives us a healthy dose of antioxidants and helps to curb our appetites

3. Getting out the BIG NO NO's

- See earlier post titled Lesson 1 in cabinet transformation

- At this point we have focused specifically on removing Hydrogenated Oils/Trans fats and High Fructose Corn Syrup

4. Slowly learning how to replace our regular processed foods with natural and organic options

- See earlier posts about meals to learn more

5. Superfoods Protein Shakes: Find a way to get your greens and your protein every day. 

-See my earlier post about My Favorite Superfoods Protein Shake

-Learn About Maca Root

 6. Experimenting with Superfoods and incorporating them into our meals

- In particular...Superfoods of the Season. 

Pumpkins, Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Kale, etc....

-See Foods with Benefits

7. Power Packed Breakfasts

- See posts about Oatmeal. You'll learn more about RICE BRAN. A MUST HAVE. And flax seeds and all sorts of other yummy things to include.

8. Choose Non-bleached coffee filters

9. Begin incorporating full body circuit workouts 2-3 times a week for strong and sexy bodies that help you function better in daily living

-See all the workouts I've listed. 

Ok!! I'd say that's a fair enough Run Down! Not so bad. There's a lot more detailed info I've given in regard to each of the above topics, but if you're interested about any in particular, you can just search through my earlier posts. 

_________________________________________________________________________________

NOW!!!

Let's talk about this week!

This week I will continue taking pictures of my meals and giving you healthy meal alternatives. I went grocery shopping today and cannot WAIT to try out new recipes and offer new meal options

The main avenue I want to focus on, however, is SUPPLEMENTATION!

I'll talk about the supplements that I live by and the ones I think everyone should be taking. We'll go a day at a time. 

Also, I am really going to try desperately to begin posting pics and videos of my own self doing these workouts. Here's the issue though...I do a lot of these at the gym and have NO plans of taking my video camera in the gym with me. Haha! However, I am taking donations toward my own home gym, so call me and I'll give you my mailing address. ;) Jk.

Also, it's hard to get video uploaded on this blog. But I think I can do it on my facebook page. So, if you haven't "LIKED" my facebook page called "MY FIT LIST", do so and you'll be able to see videos linked to the work outs I post. I hope. I think. Lord Willing. 

The other reason I hesitate to post pics and video of myself is because I don't want to present myself as any sort of standard. Ok. You can stop laughing now. Exactly! I have said earlier that my body is the body that God gave to LIZ. I feed it well (TOO well I think;) and I exercise with mostly my own body weight. Weights are only to assist me, not to define me. I don't want anyone to think, Well, crap! I'm not going to workout like her if I'm going to look like THAT. Don't worry. You won't! Your body will shape up the way it's genetically designed to. If I want to be super thin, I have to be miserable to do so. I choose not to be miserable. God gave me curves and I've stopped trying to get rid of them. I'm just trying to keep them HEALTHY. Do we see a theme here? NATURAL. We are aiming to be NATURALLY FIT. How awesome!!!

But my workouts WORK. I am more confident in them than anything else I do. I can get you in the best shape of your life in a REALISTIC way. To learn more about my philosophy on fitness, read the very first post I ever wrote. I'm not trying to make super models or fitness competitors (that's a whole other world. One I am fascinated by and respect. But it's a different kind of discipline). I am just trying to make you FIT and strong and beautiful. My workouts build self confidence in people. You wouldn't believe some of the things your body is capable of, if you just put it to the test and challenge it. God made us warriors and hunters and workers. We've lost that in the modern world. We can regain that functional kind of fitness if we go after it. Let me hear you ROAR now. Haha. Jk. But if you're a woman, he also made you a nurturer, a maker, and giver of life. He gave you soft skin and he gave you extra fat, so you could YES...make babies, but also so that you could be appealing. Let's STOP trying to get rid of all our fat! It's kinda nice to have a little. It's ok to want to be beautiful as a woman, God created us with that desire. We forget how desperate we want to feel that way sometimes. Even myself...big time! I've gotten lost in it plenty. But, it's important to remember what it is to be a woman before we lose our identities in false ideals. 

I guess what I'm trying to say is that we need to redefine the healthy woman in ALL aspects. Not just our appearance. I am certainly not her. I fail miserably at times. I am still on that journey just like everyone else. As I said before it's a process, not a product.   

With that in mind....let's continue to enjoy the process. If we've failed, let's get back on track and keep on trucking. Let's not look back except to what we can learn and simply dedicate ourselves to not giving up no matter how hard we fall. Try not to assume you have something all figured out. When we stop being humble, we are most vulnerable to temptation whatever it may be. Always be teachable. Always be a student in life. Let bitterness go when it comes up. Fight through it. We're all struggling. Let's just not be defeated. 

Raise your glass of lemon water and green tea to a new week with strong resolve and a lightened spirit. Let it go. Whatever it is. Let's keep on keepin on!

Another SuperFood Transformation to Another Typical Dinner

BBQ Chicken: An American Family Favorite!

Bbq Chicken is Super easy to make if you're using the sauce out of a bottle, but just because we're going organic...it doesn't mean you have to start from scratch. 

Organicville Makes a Delicious BBQ sauce that you can most likely find at your local grocery store. It is gluten free and it is made with Agave Nectar. I used half a bottle for my family. 

To practice what I preach, I knew I needed to add a fall superfood. I decided to go out on a limb, I actually got an acorn squash and cooked it for the first time! Fortunately there was a big sticker on the squash that told me exactly what to do with it. :)

OMG! Party in my mouth!!! It was SOOOO good.

I sprinkled Coconut Palm Sugar on it and added a tiny bit of butter and sea salt for a flavor boost and I LOVED it. 

To cook an acorn squash, you stab it several times with a sharp knife, put it in the microwave and cook it about 6 mins per pound. It will be really soft when finished. Just open it up, take the seeds out, and then scoop the squash out. 

Alright Here are my ingredients for last night's meal

1. Free Range Chicken Drum Sticks

(You can obviously use breasts, but I was in the mood for fat. haha)

2. Organic BBQ Sauce. I used organicville. You can find your own or make it from scratch. Here's a recipe for that. I like this one cause she uses Apple Cider Vinegar. ;)

Homemade BBQ Sauce

3. Quinoa

Quinoa is an amazing superfood that you all need to start eating regularly. It is the only grain that is a complete protein. There are vast health benefits. To learn more about it, click on Quinoa above. This is a great substitute for rice and other carbohydrate sides.

4. Acorn Squash

My Fall SuperFood!

Click to read Health benefits

5. Mixed Greens with Olive Oil and Vinegar topped with Goji Berries

TADA! Here's my meal that makes me feel so fabulous and nourishes every fiber of my being. 

Was that dramatic enough for you?

Good.

I know I don't really give detailed recipes per say or show a lot of things made from scratch. 

But My intention here is to make your transition easy. 

The only thing required here is buying healthy alternatives to what you're already putting on your plate. There shouldn't be any extra time required to make these meals. 

Alrighty. Enjoy!!!

A Workout to Get You Sexy Legs and a Shapely Behind

Let's face it...unless you were born with a really nice butt, then it's just a fact that you have to work hard to get one. And even if you WERE born with a nice backside, you still have to work hard to keep it under control. 

Can I get an AMEN!

Our butts have very large muscles actually and this means that you CAN give it a nice shape. It's just about making sure you give it some extra attention when you're working out. Everybody has a curve at the bottom, right? But, it's the curve at the TOP that you can be really proud of cause those don't come easy. :) 

Anyway, I hope everyone feels extremely uncomfortable talking about butts. Get over it. We all have one. Now let's put that little powerhouse to WORK!!!

This workout kicked me in the butt (no pun intended) especially after an hour of yoga holding a bunch of warrior poses. I was kind of tired and my mind wasn't in the right place today. Sound familiar? But you have to train your brain to flip a switch. Get a mean look on your face and change the skin your in. Get pissed off if you have to. I call it "righteous anger." haha. If you change the way you think and your attitude about things then your body WILL respond and adapt. This workout started hurting so bad and I wanted to give up and I was already whiney, but after I forced myself to get in my training zone, I actually ended up having an amazing workout....one I left feeling proud of.  

Self Talk: "I will NEVER give up!"

Say it like you mean it!

__________________________________________________________________________________

Today's Equipment:

* A Step with 2 to 4 risers on either side

* A Jump Rope

A. Warm Up on elliptical. Gets your hamstrings warmer than treadmill I think

B. Leg and Butt Blaster at your Step

All of the below exercises I have pictured involve a step

1. STATIONARY LUNGE ON STEP: 20 reps

Put your right foot entirely on the step and do 20 stationary lunges. Back heel lifted. Hips squared. Feet Hip with. Make sure you do a deep lunge. Full range of motion. Don't try to go too fast. Make your muscles work hard.

2. Thigh Trimmer: 20 Reps

Next. Take your right foot down to the floor and lean over to put your hands on the step. Take your left foot off the floor. Bend and extend your right knee. Lift and lower. Try to bend as deep as you can and extend as long as you can.

3. One Leg Squat Thrust: 20 Reps

 Do what she's doing, but only on one leg and your hands are on the step

Keeping your hands on step, right foot on the floor, and left foot lifted, jump your right foot backward and forward. You'll jump back on your toe and forward to your heel. Don't go too fast. Freezing for a second when you land forward will really bring the burn. It's likely you will reach muscle failure toward the end. YAY. 

4. Repeat this whole sequence on your Left leg

5. 20 Box Jumps

Land your full heel on the step. Bend your knees. Land Soft and sink deep. 

6. Repeat this whole thing from the top 3 times: OUCH

C. Jump Rope/Jump Lunges: Repeat the following sequence for 6 rounds 

THIS is where you go fast. 

1. Jump Rope 50 times

2. Jumping Lunges 20 Times (alternating)

I followed this up with some ab work that I will share with you tomorrow, but for now I gotta run. 

Enjoy!!!

WOW. Thanks!

So, I found that little "Stats" tab on this blog and I was so SHOCKED to see that I've had a couple thousand page views in the last few weeks since starting this web page. A couple hundred sounded more like what I expected. I had no idea my blog was getting that much traffic, and I have no idea who's looking, but I am SO grateful. And Thank You for the time you spend reading it. 

I know I post a lot, and I'm sure that some of you wonder if I have a life (I do not. Let's just get that out of the way right now. haha. ;). You may wonder WHY I post so much or WHY I'm giving away so much information that I'm not getting paid for. Trust me, I wonder that sometimes too. ;) 

Believe it or not...I did not start this blog to be self-indulgent, but It can feel that way sometimes when I'm posting and wondering if anyone even really cares, so making the discovery that people are reading and being informed by the things that I share is really encouraging.

I started this webpage initially because I would get phone calls, texts, and emails every day about things related to health and fitness This was a way for me to get information out there that would be helpful, useful, and informative on a larger scale. But the essence of why I do this with no strings attached is because I really really care and because I really love doing it. I had a wonderful past couple of yrs working but they were crazy and insane. I am really trying to embrace being at a place in life where I can just relax and refocus. The things you discover about yourself when you have time to breathe can be quite mind blowing actually. :) But I think it's important to embrace the down time when you can find it. I've vowed to lay low for 6 months, so this is a great way for me to still be involved in doing what I love with no added stressors or pressure. 

Anyway, I just want to say thank you for taking the time to read my blog and I genuinely hope that many of you are finding information that is helping you make changes in your life that may otherwise have seemed impossible or overwhelming. If I can help just one person...that is good enough for me. To know that I am helping many is Incredible! and it encourages me to continue on. 

Once again, Thank YOU! And cheers to HEALTH!!!

Do you take your coffee bleached?

Good morning! I was making my coffee this morning and just thought I'd share a little tid bit with you about why you should switch to unbleached coffee filters. That is, if you drink coffee of course. ;) We all have our vices and well, this happens to be one I'm proud of. Drinking a warm cup of coffee in the morning is more of an aesthetic experience for me than anything. I love the simple experience of enjoying my food and drink. 

I found this article. Read through it. Very interesting.

 

Eventually I want to start talking about endocrine disruptors in your home that are not just in your food. Consider this a preview of things to come. :)

http://spilledingredients.com/2011/03/do-you-take-your-coffee-bleached/

Do you take your coffee bleached?

BY NIKI · MARCH 23, 2011 · 1 COMMENT
HOME SIMPLIFIED, KITCHEN SIMPLIFIED, TOSS OUTS, TRY OUTS ·

It’s a small, relatively cheap accessory that helps welcome the day for many of us.  I’m not worrying about your multi-vitamin at the moment; I’m talking about coffee filters.  Why concern ourselves with the small papery bowls that we jam in our coffee makers while half-asleep?  Some of them put bleach in your coffee, that’s why.  There’s no way to say Good Morning Sunshine quite like ingesting some bleach when waking up.  It’s like saying Screw You to your body and taste buds, straight away with each sip of joe.  Top o’ the Morning to Ya, right?

True, coffee has its own downsides.  I’m not necessarily condoning it, but an occupied mother who doesn’t drink coffee possesses discipline that I don’t.  We all have our crutches, I guess.  Sometimes I enjoy my crutch in the afternoon too.  The least I can do is make it bleach-free.            

As parents or other living, breathing people, grocery deals and shortcuts can be tempting.  I’ve gotten many a sweet high by using a coupon.  That brown filter in your coffee maker might be here today, gone tomorrow.  We’re human, we need reminders – even if we’re using unbleached today, a sweet deal can ruin a sweet thing.  When we see the jumbotron case of white filters up against 50 unbleached filters for the same price, we buckle.  Knowing what bleach does to your insides, however, should keep you strong.  Who’s going to profit from your “deal”?  Forge ahead wellness seekers. 

Before I get into easy and safe alternatives to bleached coffee filters, it’s helpful to establish why bleach in your coffee is bad.  We’ll be on the same page.  You can’t even compost bleached filters.         

Why avoid bleached coffee filtersIf you missed my fake baking post about bleached flour,  bleach is in a whole lot of things named food, and can destroy the pancreas and help your risk of getting diabetes, among other things.

Who cares whether a coffee filter is white or kraft brown?  Bleached filters contain chlorine bleach.  I could just stop here…  but it gets worse.  These filters contain tons of dioxins.  Almost as toxic as radioactive waste, carcinogenic dioxins build up in your body and in the air.  It’s 2011.  We know chemicals in the air and in our body are bad.  Bleach is terrible.  It’s carcinogenic.  Using unbleached helps more than you and your family.  ***harmonious chord*** 

We’ve come a long way since 1802, babyThe first patented coffee filter was introduced in France in 1802.  A few solid options have come available since then: 

Reusable FiltersPerhaps some of these are the more eco-friendly ones.  Just be aware of what they’re made with.  Some are made with plastic, some stainless steel, some gold-plated metal, even hemp.  Many use nylon for the actual filtering.  They may leave your coffee tasting tinny.  
This eco filter looks great, though I’ve never tried it.    

Unbleached Coffee FiltersUnbleached or oxygen-bleached filters are both safe, flavor saving options.  You can find unbleached paper or bamboo versions, and they’re pretty easy to find alongside the bleached counterparts.  They come in cone and circular shapes.  Your compost pile will happily accept these.  Compost loves coffee grounds sans bleach.         

Savor French Pressed CoffeeNo extra filters are used in a French press, but you have to be okay with a semi-metallic flavor in your joe.  French pressed coffee –in excess- has also been shown to increase your risk of bad cholesterol, therefore heart disease.    

Travel with unbleached filtersOur family stays at hotels, well, fairly often.  I love an in-suite coffee maker.  Usually these personal coffee makers are accompanied by individual pouches of coffee.  They’re cute and easy, I get it.  But I’ve never opened one that used an unbleached filter.  Why not tear that puppy open and pour the coffee grounds into your own unbleached filter, before pressing “brew now”?  A few seconds of extra effort will leave your taste buds and innards grateful.      

Don’t forget about the lounge coffeeProvide unbleached filters for your coffee at work, or smooth talk whoever can provide them.  I find that bringing coffee from home is easier than bothering with the [probably bleached] coffee in waiting rooms, gas stations, etc.  Exercising some self discipline helps too.     

Repurpose those bleached white filtersI used to be an elementary teacher.  I had a mega stack of white coffee filters to use, and discovered that they make great art projects.  
* They make cute butterflies: watercolor paint the filters and let dry.  Then bind the middle with a pipe cleaner and/or craft stick, shape two antennae, tie fishing line or string around, and voila – spring butterflies to suspend in the air!
* Designing white filters with markers first, then barely misting with water, makes for a vibrant, tie-dyed butterfly base too.
* Coffee filters make perfect bats too, free Halloween decors anyone?
*No kids or artistic flair?  Donate them to a school.  Teachers appreciate donations.  Politics aside, teachers spend a lot of their own money on teaching materials.  Never toss stuff out that kids can get creative with.         

Go unbleach yourself.  And if you fix that pot of coffee after dinner, I won’t bat an eye.  In Seattle they call it dessert, I think.  You do what you need to do, Mommies and Daddies.  Those 21+ coffee drinks once the kids are in bed are fun too