Just Breathe

With each stress piling onto another I felt my shoulders rise a little higher. Ever felt that tension?
I definitely can tell when the pressure or stress is getting to much for me. Any little physical pain sends me on irritated rampage on anyone in site. It it makes me extremely upset to be like that because I truly strive to be positive and filled with joy.

I stopped yesterday when I could feel the irritation and tears start rising and thought "what am I not doing?". Not too add more pressure to myself but to examine my daily routine. The funny thing is that in times when you need a practice, routine or self love is when you avoid it at all costs. Saying that you "don't have time" or "I should be doing...... not this". When in reality that self love is what will help heal your soul, calm your stress and allow you to achieve so much more. I have clients who know how amazing and fulfilled they would feel if they just went for a small walk but instead find any justification why they shouldn't. They finally give in and are elated with the aftermath.

What was I denying myself? Meditation. Each day I would remind myself that it would be beneficial to sit down in the morning to meditate. Even if it was just 5 or 10 minutes, but morning after morning I skipped right past that lonely meditation pillow and added another binding stress to myself. So last night I stopped talking about it and just took a step. Small but immediate, I sat down and listened to a guided mediation. I wasn't ready to do it on my own yet so I received help from a guide. After 10 minutes I got up and felt I had finally stretched through "something". Today I sat down again and just breathed. Letting it all go. Gently my shoulders relaxed and a smile grew on my face. Tomorrow I will do it again and break away the built up tension that is getting in my way of happiness, positivity and adventure.

One small step at time. Just breathe. It will all work out.

What are you denying yourself that you know would make the world of difference in your life? Or how are you enjoying self love?

I'd love for you to share.

-Michelle 
Holistic Health Coach

Pink Kicker Juice Recipe

Here's an awesome tasting juice recipe that I created this week. I wanted it to help prevent colds, good for your blood and help prevent bad cell growth. The best part of this juice is that it's super easy and refreshing to drink. No need to guzzle this one down. It actually tastes pretty similar to a tomato cocktail. I call it the "Pink Kicker" as it helps kick those nasty bad cells in your body to the curb and it's just in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The grapefruit and tomato in the juice both contain large amounts of vitamin C and antioxidants that help keep your immune system running smoothly. Grapefruit and tomato also contain a very lovely thing called Lycopene which helps lower your risk of several different kinds of cancer and also helps stop cancer cells from spreading or growing.

The beets in the juice contain high amounts of antioxidants. They help detox the body and provide anti-inflammatory support. There are several vitamins and minerals found in beets as well. Beets are rich in anthocyanins, the pigment that makes the beet red, and is responsible for the repair and protection of DNA in the body. 

Pink Kicker Juice Recipe 

One large grapefruit 

One large tomato 

Half red apple 

One medium beet 

Beet greens from the beet

Enjoy!

-Michelle
Holistic Health Coach 

6 Ways to Get a Better Sleep

I am so happy today! Want to know why?
I finally got some sleep last night! Woohoooooo

 Beware of Sleep Disturbers! 

I usually sleep really well. Like hit the switch and I'm out kinda sleep. The last couple days though were out of my control. We are babysitting a year old Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy and have had some troubles getting him to sleep through the night. Yesterday I seriously thought I was going to fall asleep during yoga class standing up or absolutely lose it on someone.

This got me thinking about how precious our sleep time is to our bodies, mind and soul. I have lots of clients who come to me for help with their sleep. Today I thought I would share the risks of not getting enough sleep or good quality sleep and 6 ways you can get to sleep better and stay asleep.

First the risks of not getting enough sleep or good quality sleep:

• Brain Function: without a good sleep your mind does not function the same. You have poor concentration and you are unable to memorize new things. A little slow today?
• Mood & Stress: just think of those grumpy toddlers who didn't sleep through the night. We haven't changed. You might notice you have those same type of temper tantrums but just in a grown up way. A little snappy at some poor innocent person at the office?
• Metabolism & Weight: When we don't get enough sleep our whole body starts to go backwards. Your metabolism slows down and you start storing carbohydrates and fat differently. This leads to weight gain.
• Disease Risk: When our bodies are running on low fuel it brings down our immune system. This puts us at risk for viruses, flu and higher risk for abnormal cell growth. 

6 Way to Get a Better Sleep:

1. Eating Time: Try not to eat anything at least 2.5 hours before bed. Food is fuel for our bodies. If we eat something we are telling it to start the engines. Start moving! That's not what we want our bodies to be doing while we are trying to close our eyes. Mixed signals!
2. Fluids: Just like food, water or any fluid is also fuel for our bodies. I try to avoid drinking an hour before bed.
3. Electronics: Turn that tv, cell phone, computer and anything with a bright screen off an hour before bed. The flashing and brightness confuses our brains. Our brains are thinking "If it's night time than why is there bright light and motion going on? Must be daytime... Keep awake!". Can we say mixed signals once again?
4. Journal: If I've had a really active day and my mind is racing I like to journal it all out on paper. Get it out of my mind and let there be space for silence. This is also a great time to do some gratitude journaling which helps calm your nerves.
5. Breathing: Lay on your back and close your eyes. Start by observing your belly rise and fall in a natural way. Then notice your breathe start to slow down. If your mind wanders off just bring it back with ease and let that thought float away like a cloud. Let your body melt into the bed with each exhale. Continue...
6. Goodnight Yoga: Tara Stiles has a great yoga routine for bedtime. Relaxing and for all levels.

Do you have great sleep tip you would like to share? Leave it in the comments below and I may share it with our Facebook followers as well. 

Sleep well!

-Michelle

Holistic Health Coach

Think Arete - If You Weren't Afraid

Happy Friday! I wanted to share something that floated into my inbox this morning. I thought it would be a great way for everyone to start their weekends. Maybe even a few of you won't return to that 9-5 job that doesn't agree with your soul on Monday morning ;)

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and don't forget to pursue your happiness and LOVE your life and everyone in it!

            

thinkAreté.theManifesto  |  by Brian Johnson

What would you do if you weren't afraid? 

OK...
 So...uh...what exactly are you waiting for?
 This isn't a dress rehearsal...
 Wake up!
 Here's the deal: What we can be, we MUST be.
 Period.
 There's no getting around that one.
 So, turn off your TV. Put down your drink. Get off the medication.
 Quit numbing yourself. The pain's not going away.
 Not until you Think Areté.
 Think Areté?
 Yep.
 Gandhi got it. Einstein got it. Mother Theresa got it.
 Tiger gets it. Gates gets it. Oprah gets it.
 The Greeks got it.
 Get this: Guys like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle said that if you want happiness you better live with Areté--a word that literally means virtue or excellence but has a deeper meaning...something closer to “constantly striving to reach your highest potential.”
 Areté.
 How beautiful is that? It was one of the highest ideals of Greek culture.
 It should be one of ours.
 Tragically, it's not.
 We seem to be more interested in resumes, accolades and 401k's.
 Speaking of retirement...
 Who came up with that? Work our asses off doing something we're not passionate about so we can accumulate enough money to pay the bills from our stress-caused illnesses while we bitch about what we should have done when we were still young.
 Hmmm...can't quite figure that one out. Seems like it makes a bit more sense to go ahead and dare to live now...
 Why not Think Areté?
 Live to your highest potential--moment to moment to moment.
 Not in the mood?
 Fine. Then live with regret, anxiety, and disillusionment.
 Your call.
 Think about it. When do we feel most alive?
 Exactly. When we're being ourselves--our highest selves.
 You want happiness?
 Think Areté.
 Dream. Grow. Stretch yourself.
 Rip off the tie. Jump out of the cubicle.
 Dream. Think. Dare to be crazy.
 What are you waiting for?
 Think Areté.
 Live. Love. Smile. Hug. Laugh. Dream. Do. Create.
 Have fun. Be intense. Be audacious. Be unreasonable. Act impeccably. Breathe.
 Be you. Be different. Get paid to do what you love. Dance in your underwear on your way to work...
 Why not?
 Ditch the tie. Escape the cube. Leave the 8-5. Trash the resume.
 Ignore the critics. And the cynics. Burn the corporate ladders. Laugh at the ceilings.
 Quit the bitching. Open your mind. End the laziness. Overcome the fear. Transcend the conditioning...
 Why not?
 Move the world.
 Change the world.
 Push the human race forward.
 Whatever you call it, go out and do it.
 When?
 Now.
 Not when you have enough money or once you do this or do that. That's nonsense.
 It's not gonna be easy, but go out and live your dream. Now.
 You deserve it.
 And, if that doesn't move you: The world deserves it.
 Think Areté.

-Michelle
Certified Holistic Health Coach

Graphic Source: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/272467846179116604/

HHC in Women's Health Magazine

Did anyone see this in the December issue of Women's Health Magazine?

That's me, a Holistic Health Coach!

Health Coach featured in Women's Health Magazine

I can help you shed more than just pounds though. It's time to get rid of those lingering health problems or concerns of yours.

By the end of my 6 month program you will be feeling amazing!

Contact me if you'd like more information or visit my website at www.revive-healthcoach.com

-Michelle

New Website Launched: Holistic Health Coaching

Ladies and Gents..... I give you:  My New Website!

Join me for a Health History consultation

www.REVIVE-healthcoach.com

I've been a busy bee lately (or should I say elf?!). I'm no website designer but I've given it my best and created my own website for my Holistic Health Coaching Practice.

Man is it nerve racking to put yourself out there. When you present something straight from your soul that means the most to you, it can become a tad bit scary. But this is what I'm meant to do in life and I'm happy to help people.

Hope you enjoy it!

Please pass it along to any of your family or friends who you think would benefit from health coaching program.

Lots of love,
Michelle

5 Interesting Water Facts That Will Benefit Your Health

Our body is made up out of 75% of water and our brain is made up out of 85% of water. Water is crucial to our health. Water is believed to be more important than food! We could last for a while without food but could not last for days without water.

5 Interesting Water Facts 

1. Often times when you think you are hungry for food it is in fact your body sending signals that you are dehydrated and need more water. Try having a glass of water before reaching for food.
2. Drinking warm water in the morning helps to activate your brain and metabolism. Drinking cold water actually makes your body work harder by trying to warm the water up to body temperature. It's best to drink cold water in the afternoons.
3. Water can be used for therapy. Showers can make you feel refreshed and awakened. When you are feeling sick it's important to take several showers to clean the "gunk" off and let your body breathe.
4. It is recommend that men drink 13 cups of water a day and women drink 9 cups. It's best though to get in tune with your body and find what amount works for you.
5. Above all, water can heal. Next time you have a headache, try drinking more water and you will be amazed that the headache will ease off or disappear all together. Water can flush toxins out of your body and make room for fresh healthy cells.

It's important to take in natural, clean water. Coffee, soda and tea can actually have the opposite effect and dehydrate you. Try to avoid water that contains chlorine and when possible filter your water.

Are you good at getting your proper amount of water in a day?

-Michelle

Health Coach: The Ups & Downs of a Healthy Weight

As a healthy coach I not only want to help people learn to avoid cancer and disease but I also want to help them with weight issues. 

Lots of people assume I have always been this weight and it comes naturally to me. They assume that I have never had to work hard for my body and I've never struggled with my weight. Well let me tell you, they gotta it all wrong...

Feeling healthy and happy

I don't share this with a lot of people because it's a thing of the past but I want to be open and true with my clients and let them know that I've been in their shoes before, I want to share my journey through weight loss with you all.

When I was around 5 years old I was super tiny and a healthy kid. I was always outside and wanting to go go go. My family always had to drag me inside from playing. From the age 10-12 I started putting on more and more weight. I believe it was caused by a number of factors. Moving to a new school, staying inside more/less active and be self conscious of the weight I had put on. There were days when I would go out to the playground and kids would tease me about being fat. At the time it didn't really hurt me but it's one of those moments that gets drilled into your brain for the rest of your life. My eating habits didn't help and my family didn't know much about nutrition. We ate meat and potatoes or pasta. Always with a bun or bread on the side. I became a big snacker too.

The summer before I went into high school, I decided to start walking every where instead of taking the bus or asking for a ride. I was back to being outside and active again like I was when I was 5. Without even meaning to, the weight started to slide off. When I went back to school everyone noticed and commented. It felt great to be complemented. Like monkey see - monkey do = I started paying attention to what my mom was saying about dieting and keeping up with the latest diet fads in magazines. I started to try diets, running and working out. It became natural to worry about what I was eating and how my body looked. I kept a pretty standard weight during high school but had poor eating habits. I would sometimes only have a slurpee for lunch because it was what I was craving and I didn't want to eating anything else as I was afraid of gaining weight.

The year after high school I became clinically depressed. I felt lost in life, my family became healthy so I no longer could be the care giver and I had a poisonous relationship with my boyfriend that I could not give up. I became very vulnerable and insecure. It didn't help that my boyfriend at the time was lets say "not so great" and more attracted to other girls. Feeling like I wasn't good enough (physically), I started to control my weight intensely. There wasn't a certain point when I began my deadly downwards spiral. Slowly I became anorexic. I started to lie to family and friends that I was perfectly fine and I was eating. Truth was, I wasn't okay. My lowest weight was 108lbs - 113lbs and I'm 5'8. I would eat one piece of fruit in the morning and a snack at night. I would also run or walk for 30min everyday. I stepped on the scale 3 times a day. I was obsessed and it was something I could control when I felt like I had no control over anything in life at that time. I was also receiving lots of attention, so it felt good and I couldn't see anything wrong. I look back now and I can say I looked so unhealthy and unattractive.

At my unhealthy lowest weight

I never went for help for my anorexia directly but I had gone to a naturopath for my depression. He had found that I was allergic to several common foods and I had a brain allergy to sugar. Once I had something new to focus my attention on and something to control, I slowly returned to a healthy weight. I gained a new interest in health and nutrition and started learn about how the food we eat tremendously affects how our brain functions and our bodies feel.


With my knowledge of health and fitness I now maintain a healthy weight and am not afraid to step on a scale. I understand that a healthy combination of mind, body and soul can bring happiness to your life. There's been times when my weight fluctuates due to stress or something in my life being out of balance. I've learnt how to reflect and make corrections. I love the way I feel inside and out when I'm eating healthy, working out and my life is in balance for me.

I want to help people feel alive and healthy!

Have you ever dealt with weight issues?
-Michelle

Did You Know? : Milk

you are not my mother - img via

I remember the days when I was little and we had milk in our cereal every morning and a glass of milk with every dinner. These days I reach for the Almond Milk. Oh how times have changed.
Over the last couple of years I've learnt more and more about milk and how it actually isn't that great for our bodies. Just recently though I discovered my last tad of knowledge about the side effects of milk that sent me into the "Absolutely No Milk" category.

Did you know?

• We are the only mammal that drinks milk from a different mammal? We are naturally only supposed to drink our own milk. Milk from a cow is meant to make a calf grow 8 times it's birth weight by it's 1st birthday. Calves grow to be 1000-2000lb animals! Babies also require milk from their mothers to grow quickly in the first few years of life but don't require cow's milk to continue growing afterwards.

• You don't require milk to get your calcium intake for the day. You can actually receive more calcium from other sources. Sesame seeds contain 90mg per tablespoon, 1 cup of broccoli contains 178mg and 1/2 cup of Tofu contains 258mg. The average daily dose recommended is between 700-1000mg. It's also not bad to take a calcium supplement if you are lacking calcium. People don't realize that we consume a lot of our calcium through our food we eat.

• It has been found that the majority of the world population is lactose intolerant (lactose is found in cows milk). Being lactose intolerant causes upset stomachs, digestive problems and unnecessary bloating. So why do we want those symtoms?

Now here's the fact that pushed me over:

• A majority of cows are milked while they are pregnant. This meaning that we take in a very large amount of hormones from the cow. These hormones can't be filtered out and have a great effect on our bodies. In studies this has shown to increase the risk of cancers, especially breast cancer.

img via

If you are still needing that "milk" in your cereal or coffee why not switch to Almond Milk? One cup of Silk Almond milk (unsweetened) contains 45% of your daily recommend intake of calcium.

Do you drink milk? Have you ever thought about switching over to Almond or Soy milk?

-Michelle

P.S. -This was in no way endorsed by Silk or any other Soy Milk or Almond Milk Company. This is solely based on my personal studies and findings.

Healthy Weight: Tips for Healthy Grocery Shopping

I wish I could shop at the organic grocery store or farmers market every time but I can't so I've learnt how to make the best of it at the Supermarket.


fresh veggies from the market


Have you ever noticed that every grocery store (supermarket) is set up the same way? It's no coincidence. People have been paid to figure how our thinking works and lead us to parts of the store that are more profitable to them. Where do they make the most money? Middle isles and at the till. The problem for us is that these areas are the most unhealthy areas in the whole store.

Here are some tips on how to shop healthy at the grocery store:

• Avoid middle isles: the middle isles contain products that can sit on the shelves for long amounts of time and almost everything has been processed (no real nutrients). This meaning the products have chemicals and preservatives so they don't rot. Chemicals don't belong in our bodies.
• Keep it Fresh: The perimeter of the store will have fresh fruit & vegetables, fresh bread, meat, seafood and frozen products that have been frozen while still fresh. No this does not mean that the frozen pizza or microwave meal is good for you. I'm talking about the frozen peas, carrots etc.
• Try to avoid going to the grocery store when hungry: I know oh too well that it leads to disaster - "I'll have one of these and one of those". Not only do you make unhealthy choices but you also spend unnecessary large amounts of money. Ever had a someone come back from the store with an extra 5 things that weren't on the list? I wonder why lol.
• Be ready for the checkout: If you know you are extremely tempted by those pesky candy bars and gum then come prepared with a tiny bag of trail mix or carrots. I like to grab a magazine while waiting in line so I'm not staring directly at 30 different types of chocolate.
• All Natural - Gluten Free - Sugar Free, etc.: Just because the label reads that it's free of something doesn't make it healthy. It can still be full of preservatives and still be highly processed. Make sure to read the label and try to buy boxed/canned products that only have 5 or less ingredients. Keep it real!

Where do you wish you could grocery shop?

-Michelle

My Life Update : What Is A Health Coach?

I'm taking steps towards my goal - dreams - purpose in life right now!

September Favourites (so far) : Sunsets, Tea and Smoothies



September is going to be the start of some really exciting things in my life. School officially started yesterday and I was an eager beaver and jumped right into studying. I'm attending the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in New York to become a health coach. I can officially start practicing in February. It's really interesting to meet a wide variety of people from across the world that are enrolled into the program. I love that the common interest is to create healthier lives for everyone in the world.

So what is a health coach you ask?
A health coach guides you to better overall health. Food is not the only thing that determines how healthy you are. It comes from a balanced combination of healthy relationships, fulfilling career, staying active (getting exercise) and spirituality. A health coach helps you recognize where you can improve in your life to find that overall happiness and health. Once recognized, set out and determine how to improve your health, setting goals and creating plans.

We've probably all been there at once when you can eat all the veggies you want but the scale doesn't move. Think back... were you happy at work? were you constantly arguing with others? was there no love in your heart for others? Sitting down a majority of the day? All these factors can bring down your overall health.

When your overall health is down for large periods of time, it leads to disease.

Preventable diseases is one of the reasons I wanted to become a Health Coach. It upset me to see the people around me year after year be diagnosed with diseases. Or hearing about peoples family members being diagnosed with a disease way to early in their life.

A few simple (sometimes challenging) life changes and you can prevent so much turmoil from entering your life and the ones you love.


Would you ever consider seeing a health coach?

-Michelle

8 Healthy Ways to Start Your Day

Are you morning person or are dragging your butt to get going?



Sun Salutation - via

 Me - I'm a huge morning! I love rising early before everyone else gets out of bed. I love the calmness of the morning and being able to hear all the sounds of nature outside. There is nothing like a crisp cold morning and watching the sunrise to revitalise you.

I find that how you begin your morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. Setting your morning off with a healthy routine leaves you wanting to live the rest of your day on healthy tone. I know that too often we can get caught up in the hustle and rush of the morning which leaves us feeling disconnected and lost. Making time for yourself in the morning is one of the keys to great health. It doesn't have to be complicated but adding some small steps and easy healthy habits can change your wellbeing. I've listed a few of my favourite habits that I do on a daily basis or a couple times of week. My best advice is to listen and observe what makes you feel the happiest. That is the goal when starting off the day: to bring happiness and love to yourself so you can share it with the world.

8 Healthy Ways to Start Your Day:

1. Warm Water with Lemon : this combination helps to get your digestive system going and also to jump start your metabolism. I also recommend drinking lemon water with filtered water through the day. It's great for your body and actually helps with weight loss.
2. Meditation: If this is new too you, I have one word for you: Patience. There is no right or wrong way to meditate. I've found the best way for me is to play some Reiki music (you can find it on Youtube), sit on a fluffy pillow so my bottom is raised a bit, cross my legs and place my hands with palms facing up on my knees. Focus on your breathing. Inhale for 6, pause for 2 and exhale for 6, pause for 2 and repeat. Focusing on your breath can create stillness in your thoughts.
3. Choose a mantra, an intention or word (or all 3) for the day: Creating a path for the day lets you have a focus. Having a mantra or word to fall back on when life becomes hectic or stressed always helps your to restart and become calm. For example: my word today is "gentle". Whenever I catch myself rushing around or speaking harshly I utter the word in my head 3 times and I instantly feel at peace.
4. Sun Salutation or Yoga: I love Yoga in the morning. It's a great way to gently exercise your body and mind. The sun salutation is my favourite practice. It feels very natural when you are performing the routine. The image above is a cute chart on Sun Salutation and here's a video I often refer too if needing a little guidance. If you are just beginning here is a more instructional video.
5. Be Still: If yoga and meditation is just not your vibe right now then the next best thing is just to be still and present. Grab a tea or coffee and sit still with no distractions. Reflect on the day ahead with a soft and positive outlook. Just breathe. Let there be relaxation and calmness.
6. Exercise: builds energy for the day. It can be any form of exercise. A small walk around the block, a run or anything that gets your body moving. This sends signals to your mind and body that it's time wake up and gets your brain sparking and metabolism going. Exercise in the morning actually has a great effect on what your eat for the rest of the day. When you go to reach for that unhealthy snack you will take a second and think if it's worth wasting the time you spent exercising in the morning.
7. Journal: The morning is a great time to write and get all your thoughts out of your head. Once they are all on paper it's easier to organize your thoughts, realize patterns or find new ideas through your notes.
8. A Healthy Breakfast: it's the most important meal of the day. This meal should be full of protein and provide energy. Fruit in the morning helps activate your brain. Breakfast is also a great way to jump start your metabolism. Make sure that breakfast leaves you feeling comfortably full so you don't run out of energy before lunch.

What are some of your healthy morning habits? What is your morning routine?

-Michelle

Healthy Weight : Portion Sizes

I don't personally believe in counting calories or weighing food unless you are training for a fitness model competition. I believe all in moderation. Obsessing over food can become a bad habit and take you out of being in the moment.

Although, being aware of proper portion sizes is a key to eliminating over eating and weight gain. Or in some instances, being aware that you aren't eating enough. If you don't eat enough your body can go into "starvation mode" where it hangs on to every bit of food because it doesn't know when the next meal will be.

I'll be doing a series on proper portion sizes to give you a visual picture.
The first visual of the series is provided by FitSugar.

I was surprised by the following:

• how many strawberries you can consume for 100 calories
• one banana is 100 calories
• how easy it is to consume 25-30 grapes which are 100 calories.
• you realise that having a bowl of fruit on the counter which you take a couple pieces all day long can quickly add up and if you do keep track of calories, you might not even remember to track those calories.



via FitSugar



Do you keep track of calories or are you fairly good at knowing your portion sizes?
Join me on LiveLoudly Facebook Page to chat about it. Don't forget to LIKE it! please :)

-Michelle

Daily Healthy Eating Plan - Does timing matter?

Did you ever wonder if eating certain foods at certain times made a difference in your diet?


A Colourful Salad for Lunch or Dinner (no added fats)


From my personal experience - it actually makes quite the difference. I find you can control weight, food cravings and your digestive system.

3 Tips for Your Meal Schedule in the Morning:

1. A glass of warm water first thing in the morning before any other food or liquid helps your metabolism and digestive system get started.
2. Eat your whole Fruits seperate from any other food (ie. fats, protein, etc.).
3. Wait 2 hours after a fruit to eat any fats/protein

3 Tips for Your Meal Schedule in the Afternoon/Dinner:

1. Try not to have any fruit after 12 (noon) so you can avoid spiking your sugar levels.
2. Noon is a great time to have a whole grain carbohydrate. Try not to have carbs in the evening as it takes more for your body to burn them off.
3. Have your last meal 2 hours before you go to bed - this helps with digestion and let's you mind be at ease when you do go to sleep (no more dreams keeping you up).

Have you come across any food timing tips that seem to work for you and your healthy diet?

-Michelle

Are You Living Up to Your Full Health Potential?

Now and again I ponder: am I living up to my full health potential?


img: via

Am I doing everything in my capabilities to feel good about myself from the inside out?
It's good take a moment and re-evaluate your health and see if you are living up to the full potential you are capable of doing. Taking this time to consider your health gives you a chance to see where you can improve.

I know with my body that it is capable of looking a certain way. I am able to have a body that is fully toned and I am capable of working out for 80-100 minutes a day. Am I currently living up to my full potential? - No. This means for me, it's time to re-evalutate and see where I can get back on track and improve. I know how my mind feels when I am at my full health potential and it's amazing. Being at that point is in my control.

Everyday we make the decision on how we are going to feel. What you put in your mouth determines the way you feel. You may pick up that candy bar and feel great or you may feel guilty/terrible but only you know how it's going to make you feel about yourself. These are the decisions that come across your plate everyday. I know that working out more than 30 minutes a day makes me vibrant and transforms my body. Exercising creates a healthy mind for me where I am able to be present when choosing, cooking and eating my food. It is my choice to work out or not.

I'm going to choose to live up to my full health potential!

This is a typical day in my FHP plan:

• 30 minutes of HIIT in the morning
• 10 minutes of abs workout
• Drink half my body weight in water
• 2 green teas
• Breakfast Smoothie (only fruit of the day)
• Handful of nuts or a healthy grain
• Lean mean green lunch (veggies & lean protein) or Omelet
• Veggies with hummus dip
• 60 minutes of running trails or playing tennis
• Lean mean green dinner (fish and veggies)
• Rest time (7 hours of sleep)

Now it's your turn: Are you living up to you FHP (Full Health Potential)? Where can you improve to be at that place where you know you are able to conquer the world?

-Michelle

Let's Be Real & Authentic: Dreams & All

So lately I've been thinking about my blog and how it wasn't sitting right for me. It felt like I was trying to be someone else. There were lots of elements I believed in but it wasn't coming from my soul. As you might have noticed I changed my subtitle of the blog from "Holistic Life Coach" to "Health & Wellness". I decided that being a "health coach" was more my style then anything else. I love to give advice on life and overwell being but I have a passion for Health & Fitness more than anything and want to help people change their lives for the better.


{via}

I'm planning to start school to become a health coach at the Institute for Integrated Nutrition beginning in July or September. I'm super excited to start this as I had originally found this program 3 years ago and at that time didn't know if it was the right thing for me. I've tried many different avenues (career wise) in these past 3 years and found that my true passion is to help people with their health and wellness. Help them create new habits in the way they think and approach life (positivity). I believe positive thinking is a major factor in helping people stick with their new diet & exercise routine and new way of life. My idea is that it's done through:   Diet - Exercise - Positivity - Attraction. I want people to create new habits that stick around with ease in their life.

What do I plan on doing with this? :
My plan is to start coaching people 6 months from now. I already have the knowledge but I would love to have the credentials to ensure people feel comfortable coming to me for help/guidance. Eventually I would love to start taking on one on one consultations with people on the Internet and in person. Creating a health and wellness PLAN personalize for them. I'd be there for them every step of the way, giving them all the support they need.

Now the big DREAM:
This is something that has been uneasy to bring up in the past because it meant I had to vulnerable with people and let them know the "real" me and be open to judgement. Now who really wants to be judged?! The thing is though... I'm ready now!

My partner (boyfriend) and I have decided that we would like to open a Health & Wellness Retreat - B&B in the Caribbean. Clients would be able to spend some of their time that they have off work (vacation time), resetting their life from unhealthy to healthy. They will be able to create new healthy habits which they can then implement back at home. I would be helping them create the plan in the beginning and teaching them each day while they are there on how to improve their health & wellness and fitness (mind, body,soul).



Guest Room {via}

 My boyfriend is an amazing cook and will be going to school to learn more skills. At the retreat he will offer cooking courses on healthy cooking. It will be great to show people how you can take an unhealthy recipe and make a few changes/substitutions and it can still taste good! The basics of healthy cooking will be offered too.

The retreat offers rest & relaxation too - it is your vacation/holiday after all! Enjoy the sand, sun and beaches aaaand maybe some wine ;)
Check out my Pinterest board : Health Retreat- B&B on how I envision it so far


Phew! That felt good to get out. The exact details may change a bit in the future - you just never know but the main goal/idea will stay the same. We've already started making changes in our life for this to happen. It's a super exciting time now that we have a dream out there in front of us.

What do you think of our dreams and goals? Would you go to a health & wellness retreat in the Caribbean?

-Michelle xo

Monday: off on the right foot: Getting Back on Track

Where do you need to get back on track in your life?

Tomorrow is a new day to start over!

With my recent offbeat week and spending the whole weekend house cleaning where I choose to eat nothing of the healthy kind, it's time for ME to get back on track. After eating processed foods in the last few days my body has given me a huge signal, "that's enough, thanks!". My mood has turned sour and my body looks a little, let's say..... puffed out.


Here's some tips of how to get back on track health/food wise:

1. Accept that you were off your plan for a bit and now move on (no pitty party invites put out)
2. Start slow. Think about each meal and have it planned in your head. Going back to the basics and reviewing your diet plan can help you stay on course. Planning your meals also helps you avoid the last minute "I don't know what to eat.... snacks look good" that leave you unfulfilled and still hungry.
3. Remind yourself of how good it felt when your body was living off of clean food. Yes that ice cream cone dipped in chocolate may look really good right now and may take that edge off of your sour mood but I bet the feeling of being clean and lean feels 10 times better. 
4. One step at a time and soon it will all just be natural habits again.
5. Water, water, and some more water. Remember that water is a huge part of being healthy and can help clear out any of those lingering toxins. Nasty buggers.

How do you get back on track? Any tips?

-Michelle

{Health Product Review} Vega: Energizing Smoothie

The kind people at Vega sent me some samples to review. Lucky for me I've been a fan of Vega Smoothie Infusion and this was a great chance for me to expand my love for them.

Energizing Smoothie is all-natural and plant-based powder. It's complete with protein, fibre and Omega-3's - the Vega Energizing Smoothie is alkaline-forming, free from dairy, gluten and soy, and contains no added sugar, artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners. Perfect for people with sensitivities.

The Verdict: LOVE em!

I used the Energizing Smoothie as my breakfast meal or as my afternoon pick me up.

Some reoccurring traits through them all:

*smooth taste
*an hour later I still felt satisfied and didn't have a sugar crash
*no chalky after taste
*enhances the other fruit flavors
*no "green/earthy" taste
*I would enjoy it as a "shake n' go" smoothie

I blended all of my smoothies with 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of almond milk.

Starting with my favourite:

Choc-a-lot Energizing Smoothie

The Choc-A-Lot Energizing Smoothie I blended with a frozen banana and ice cubes. It came out perfect. The chocolate wasn't overwhelming and didn't have that fake chocolate taste like you find with some protein powders.


Tropical Tango

I blended the Tropical Tango Energizing Smoothie with organic frozen fruit. I really enjoyed how fresh this tasted. It came across very natural.


Bodacious Berry

Sunday was a very busy day and I had accidentally skipped breakfast. After I had my lunch I felt like my body was still needing some energy. I decided to try the smoothie as a "pick me up" drink. It worked extremely well. In no time I was ready to continue on with my busy day. It felt really good to get the energy from a natural source instead of reaching for a processed energy drink. The berry flavor was refreshing.



Vanilla Almondilla

I'm not a huge vanilla smoothie powder fan but this I could go for again. It blended well with the other fruit flavors and would be easy to use with any combination. I would love to try this one again as a "shake-n-go" smoothie.

Final Result:

I will definitely be grabbing Vega Energizing Smoothies from my grocery!

-Michelle


 

This Weeks Wind-up

Weekend is here...

Ducks in the Inlet

 
And it's a long weekend for my USA friends down south! Woohoo lucky you guys!

This week has cruised by quickly but luckily so. We are in the final stages of buying a new townhouse! Exciting times! My bf's parents are buying one 6 doors down and his sister is buying the one next to us. This is a great plan as in the coming years the family will need to be around to help his dad with his progressing Parkinson's and supporting his mom. We are very fortunate to have close family on his side and my side. Does anyone have a family member dealing with Parkinson's? It's an interesting-surprising disease.

• I came across a crate full of artichokes at the market the other day but passed on them as I didn't have any new ideas on how to prepare them. Here is a great way.

• Riesling Strawberry Slushies - does this not sound amazing?!?

• With Rhubard in season this would be a perfect dessert after a sunny day.

• So travel, get lost, stray off the beaten path and who knows, you might just find yourself! -Rucha Sarma. Her view of how rewarding travel can be for people.

Have a wonderful weekend! and Happy Memorial Day!

-Michelle

In the know: (HIIT) - High Intensity Interveral Training

High Intensity Interveral Training - HIIT

HIIT is a great way to get in shape and burn that fat. I use this training method for my cardio when I'm looking to slim down quickly and want to see results. I come away feeling fit, strong and ready/wanting to do it again.

Start the Day Right

HIIT is perfect when you only have 20 minutes to fit some exercise in. The whole idea is to go from a comfortable pace for 30 sec to 1 minute and then to a burst of speed for 30 seconds to a minute. Repeating this cycle for 20 minutes can burn the equivalent calories as doing 45 minutes of running on the treadmill.

One of my favourite ways to apply HIIT on the treadmill is:

1min : 4.5-6.0mph (walk/jog)

1min : increase incline (9-15 incline)

1min : 4.5 - 6.0mph (walk/jog)

1min : increase speed (6.8-7.5mph)

Repeat until you hit the 20-25 minute mark


You can apply this method to any cardio activity. When I'm outdoors with the dog, I walk (fast paced) for one minute and then sprint for 30 seconds to 1 minute and repeat. Doing HIIT on the elliptical and stationary bike are great too.

An added bonus: HIIT can improve your endurance performance. I notice a difference in my endurance in just a week. I also notice a difference in my metabolism, it's revved up and my energy level is higher.

Great tip: get up 30 minutes before your usual wake up time and get in a quick 20min HIIT cardio session. You will be set for the day.. body and diet.

Check out this infograph that guides you through the benefits of HIIT

Try it out next time your doing your cardio!

-Michelle