Monday, November 1, 2010

Winter here, already??

I find myself, as of late dressing in sweaters and down filled jackets. Winter must be here....

Does that mean that it's time to stop the summer exercise routines, and exchange them for carb loaded comfort foods, and hot Toddy's? well, no. 

A beautiful fall day, in my opinion is the perfect setting for a nice long hike. Winter also a good time to try something new. Snow shoeing, cross country skiing, a good old fashion snow ball fight maybe? 

If staying warm is the name of the game for you, my favorite warm up activity is hot yoga. A good 90 minute session gets your heart pumping, your sweat flowing, and it is so good for the soul. After that, load up on vitamin D with a nice relaxing tan and escape to the beach in your head for a few minutes. You will feel fantastic in no time! 


Saturday, October 16, 2010

Gratitude



"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those that matter don't mind"
- Dr. Seuss


"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."
- Melody Beaty


One day at a time--this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering.




Sometimes we need to take pause from our hectic and stressful lives and remember to live fully. Live presently. Observe the breathe, the light that you possess and find gratitude. Find Gratitude for your breathe, or for the earth beneath our feet. Find gratitude for yourself, and be true to your authentic self. Put aside fear and pressure and just be. Gratitude nourishes the soul. Find gratitude within, express it to others, to everything that you do. A little gratitude goes a very long way.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Break that Fast!

Breakfast. That life or death, can't live without, grandma told me so, gotta have it breakfast. Breakfast is when you break the fast upon arising in the morning. Your first meal of the day. Breaking the fast. From when you stop eating the evening before, to when you start eating the next day is a fast. Does that mean that first thing in the morning you must eat, or your brain with short-circuit and your muscles won't take you from a to b? NO it is not. Now, there are many, too many people who suffer from sugar addiction and have 'withdrawl' symptoms if they don't get sugar in their bodies every few hours. (This is a whole other and very important issue to address, and not the point I am getting at here.) The oatmeal, cereal, anti-nutrient marketing machine will have you believe that a human body can not function without a big ol' bowl of shreddies in the morning but they are wrong.
Breakfast is the first meal you eat in the day. If your preference is to eat urly in the morning then that is your breakfast. If you're not a morning eater, and don't feel a need to eat until later, then that is your breakfast. Listen to your body, and give it breakfast when it asks. There is no need to force feed. We get too many calories anyway. Saying that, what you feel your body for breakfast is important. For me, breakfast sets the tone for the rest of the day. I don't want a sugar rush, to then a crash soon to follow. I want to easily digest, feel energized and full for a good period of time. So, how do we achieve that? Good sources of protein, delicious healthy fat, and uber-nutritious vegetables is a Popeye worthy breakfast of true champions. What does that look like? Here's some ideas for when you have time to prepare, and when you are in a hurry....

-Free range egg scramble, with ghee (clarified butter), coconut oil, bacon grease, or butter, scramble in some chopped up spinach, onion, peppers or tomato, maybe some chopped up bacon or ham.
-Fried egg in  ghee (clarified butter), coconut oil, bacon grease, or butter. served with some bacon, ham or leftover meat from dinner the night before. (Organic is best)

-Poached eggs served on a bed of wilted spinach.
-Bowl of berries, with chopped  up nuts, cinnamon, and fresh cream or whole fat delicious yoghurt (not sweetened) Maybe a little drizzle of honey if you're feeling luxurious.
-Vega smoothie with water or almond milk, straight up is great, or add is a little frozen berries or banana.Vega Complete Whole Food Health Optimizer - Berry Flavor - 36.6 ounces
Vega is a complete meal with all the vitamins and minerals you need. This is what I had this morning, but the Chai flavour. This kicks sbux's chai butt anyday!



-Smoothie with protein powder, frozen berries, a portion of a frozen banana, and almond milk.

-Tomato, avocado, drizzled with olive oil with sea salt and pepper. Perhaps some fresh leaves of basil too. Some meat leftovers for protein too.

In Short: Keep it real... Mother nature made, whole, healthful, body fueling food. Eat when your're hungry, and don't if you're not. Your body knows best, if you fuel it with real food it will tell you accurately what you really need.