Before and After: health

Showing posts with label health. Show all posts

Thursday, October 4, 2012

8 Simple Steps to get healthy TODAY

Good morning!! How are you today? Any plans?

Today, we have a guest post by one of my personal friends, Claire, who blogs at Claire's Healthy Home!

Claire is so amazing!!! She is so caring, loving and helping...and a whole lotta fun!!! She loves life and is on a mission to help women and families. I admire her and her goals in life.

Please welcome Claire...

Are you a busy mom on the GO?

Do you desire a more healthy lifestyle for you and your family?

Do you struggle with action and committing?

Or are you confused about where to start?

You are NOT alone!

Most people want to get healthy, feel better, have more energy and look younger yet they feel they are too busy to make it happen. Then discouragement sets in. I know because I struggle with this all too!

Prior to making some important changes in my life and family, I was a burned out mom. I was feeling sick, depressed, tired all the time and had very little energy.

My role in life was changing from mommy to mom, my husband had a stressful job, we had gotten ourselves into some debt and my passion for life had seemed to just be gone.

It was time for some serious CHANGE, but even the thought of that overwhelmed me. I thought I needed a major overhaul (and I did!) but I thought I had to do it ALL at once. That thought crippled me until I decided to change that thought.

Who says I have to do it all? I think it was just me telling myself that.

Is this you too? It is freeing to get rid of that crippling thought and I must remind myself of this often.

If you are FED UP with this reality, then I invite you to get serious and find some new habits that will serve you and your family better.

Take it ONE STEP at a time.

Healthy living shouldn’t feel hard…..it should feel GOOD!

Here are my 8 Simple Steps to get started TODAY!

1. Drink a full glass of water first thing in the morning.

2. Grab a few fresh fruits on your way out every day.

3. Avoid eating out for lunch.

4. Exercise daily.

5. Drink herbal teas.

6. Eat a handful of nuts around 3pm.

7. Breath Deeply and Pray.

8. Get enough sleep.

Commit to action and start feeling GOOD!

Which one will you start with?

A commitment is always more successful when you surround yourself with like-minded and encouraging people. I invite you to plug in here for community support.

Start by subscribing by email to get access to our newsletter.

Then JOIN OUR FACEBOOK COMMUNITY for more tips and ideas and accountability.

Claire

Thanks so much Claire for sharing! :)

Have a great day!

Bonnie

My Energy Secret {Cinch Energy Tea}

Hello!! :) How are you? Today, I want to answer a question that I get a lot. People often ask me how I have energy. They ask me how I have energy for 4 kids, a husband, a business, a blog, a home, meals, laundry, etc.

I have a secret, it's my energy tea!

I swear by it!!

I drink one or two of these a day!

This is what it looks like. I love the Pomegranate and I really like the Green Tea.

It comes in a stick which is nice because I keep them in my purse. My husband also brings them to work.

All I do is mix it with water!! I also like to add some stevia and ice to it. You can drink it hot too but I love it cold.

Yup, I seriously LOVE this!!! :) I don't drink coffee anymore. I have been drinking this tea everyday for a year now! It is seriously my favorite. Everyone who tries this tea goes nuts over it! It is amazing. It makes me feel good and alert without any jitters.

So, this is my secret!!

What do you do for energy?

Bonnie

You can order your own here!

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Hello! How are you today? I got a lot of response about me grinding my own grain so I thought I would share another kitchen secret with you.

We don't use corn or vegetable oil or any other type of cooking oil.

We only use coconut oil over here! There are a ton of health benefits from using this oil! We have been using coconut oil for years and years! Scott and I have been using it since we have been married almost 9 years ago and my Mom was using it longer than that.

I buy the huge 5 gallon buckets because we use so much!

Then, I transfer a little into the kitchen at a time. I cook everything with this stuff! We are totally used to the taste. I also buy a 5 gallon bucket of the Expeller Pressed because it doesn't taste like coconut but it doesn't have all the same health benefits.

I also like the coconut chips!

I use them in trail mix and as a toping for yogurt.

Have you ever tried coconut oil?

What do you use it for?

Bonnie :)

Summer cleaning? Disinfect naturally with Basic G!

Grinding your own Flour

One healthy change we made years ago was that we grind our own grain into flour. My Mom started this about 12 or so years ago so when I got married, I made sure to get my own grinder too!

I buy organic whole wheat and organic red wheat.

This is my grinder.

It is called The Kitchen Mill from K-TEC. I don't remember why we bought this one but I like.

We grind a lot of flour at once and then freeze it so it stays fresh.

I don't bake a lot because I don't like to and I don't really think I am good at it so we do not make our own bread. I know people would ask me that, lol! I wish I did but I buy the organic bread from Trader Joes. I use my flour for things like pancakes, waffles, etc.

I buy the grain in bulk. As you can see, I have two 25 pounds buckets. They last a really long time and we store them in the basement.

I honestly don't remember where we ordered them from. I usually have my mom order it for me when she places an order.

Do you grind your own grain?

Do you bake?

What is your favorite thing to make?

Have a great day!

Bonnie :)

Make Your Own Fruit Yogurt

One of our favorite lunches to eat is yogurt but we like to make a certain kind!! We eat this so much that even our babysitter makes this at home now.

This is our favorite yogurt to eat!

We put it into a bowl.

The kids do all this themselves.

Then we grab a bag of frozen fruit.

Then, we add the fruit to our yogurt!

Then we add organic stevia and pure vanilla extract.

Next, we mix it all together!

The kids like some "crunch" on top, so we usually add these cookies or granola on top.

You can add a banana if you want!

The kids love it!

Yup, they love it!!

Cute. Yummy. Healthy.

What is your favorite yogurt?

Thanks and have a great day!!

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NATURAL BODY DETOXIFICATION TIPS

Every day your body disposes of toxins from the metabolism of food, fluids, medications, and even the air you breathe. Your liver, kidneys, lungs, skin, and digestive system all play important roles to filter, inactivate, and remove toxic by-products and waste materials out of the body.

What can you do to enhance your body’s natural processes? Well, the good news is that it’s really not that hard to improve your body’s detox systems—and the result is that you will most likely have more energy, fewer skin issues, and fewer minor digestive complaints. The starting point is a healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. I strongly urge folks to stay away from fast foods, as eating chemical-laden, often fried foods adds a HUGE burden of toxins for your body to process! Vegetables and whole grains are rich in fiber and help bind toxins and harmful metabolites so they can be excreted.

Here are five tips to support your body’s detoxification systems:

•Eat more whole grains. When choosing breads and cereals, look for phrases such as “100% whole wheat/whole grain,” and choose breads that provide at least 3 grams of fiber per serving, as well as cereals that provide at least 5 grams fiber per serving.

•Satisfy your sweet tooth with fruit—not sodas. Fresh fruit is generally low in calories but high in fiber. One cup of fresh blackberries or raspberries has about 8 grams of fiber. One medium-sized pear or apple has 4 grams.

•Eat your veggies. Vegetables provide vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and fiber. One artichoke has 5 grams of fiber, and a potato (eaten with the skin) provides 5 grams.

•Ladle up some legumes. Beans and legumes are low in fat and versatile (great in soup, on salads, or as a vegetarian entree). A serving of beans provides about 6 to 8 grams of fiber.

•Drink more water. We recommend at least six glasses of plain water per day. Carry a water bottle with you (make sure it’s BPA free) and commit to refilling it at least three times per day! Your
digestive system and your skin will thank you.

What do you do for your skin?

Have a great day!

Shop Shaklee Here Today!!

Shaklee Sports Nutrition FAQs

Hello! :) I had such a huge response from my Shaklee Sport's Nutrition webinar last week that I wanted to follow-up with a

Q & A post for you so here you go!

Have the products changed?

A. No, the product formulations have not changed—they continue to represent leading edge science and have helped world class athletes earn more than 100 medals and they have powered seven of Time-Life’s Greatest Adventures of All Time.

Have the servings per container changed?

A. The number of servings per container of Performance and Physique remain the same. The number of servings per container of Shaklee EnergyTM Chews has increased from 10 chews to 20 chews per package.

Will the labels show clinical-study information?

A. Physique and Performance have been clinically tested. We chose to highlight these clinical studies in the Sports Nutrition product brochure and the consumer PowerPoint; due to space restrictions, however, we did not include the studies on the labels.

Can Shaklee Sports Nutrition products be used by children and/or teens?

A. Shaklee Energy Chews should not be used by children or teens. The other two Shaklee Sports Nutrition products may be used by all age groups.

Can Shaklee Sports Nutrition products be used by pregnant or lactating women?

A. Shaklee Energy Chews should not be used by pregnant or lactating women. The other two Shaklee Sports Nutrition products may be used by all age groups.

Are Shaklee Sports Nutrition products kosher certified?

A. Performance is Star-K certified, and Physique is Kosher Dairy. Energy Chews are not kosher certified.

Shaklee Performance

What is OPTI-LYTETM?

A. OPTI-LYTE is a name we have given to the electrolyte blend in Performance. It is the same blend that has always been in Performance. We have chosen to name the blend to highlight a key benefit of Performance.

Why isn’t OptiCarb on the label?

A. The ingredients in OptiCarb are still in Performance.

We chose to highlight the electrolyte blend rather than the carbohydrate blend, though, because electrolytes are a top concern for most hydration-drink consumers. However, Performance still delivers the same endurance-supporting carbohydrates that have always been in the product.

Can Performance be used before sports activities?

A. Yes. Performance can be used before, during, and after sports activities. Proper hydration, including hydration before activities, is especially important for any exercise lasting 60 minutes or longer.

Shaklee Energy Chews

Can Energy Chews be used during sports activities?

A. Yes. Energy Chews can be used anytime you would like an energy boost. Consume no more than three chews every three to four hours.

How do Energy Chews help during sports activities?

A. Caffeine ingestion has been shown to improve athletic performance. Some of the many well-documented benefits of consuming caffeine include increased mental clarity, focus, and endurance.

Shaklee Physique

What is BIO-BUILD?

A. BIO-BUILD is the unique Shaklee ratio of protein and

carbohydrate sources designed to optimize the body’s ability to recover after exercise and to rebuild muscle.

How should I use Physique?

A. For best results, consume immediately after working out and again two hours later to maximize the muscle-building response while muscles are recovering from exercise.

Can Physique be used before or during exercise?

A. For best results, Physique should be consumed immediately after working out and again two hours later to maximize the muscle-building response while muscles are recovering from exercise. For a healthy snack, however, Physique can be consumed at any time of day.

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We LOVE and use Shaklee's Sports line all the time! I use the Performance when working out all the time. My husband swears by the Physique for building muscles. I also give my kids the Performance a lot during the summer. We bring it with on bike rides, at gymnastics camp, we make popsicles with it and just drink it to stay hydrated.