Exercise is the drug to become addicted to.

When the temps are dropping, the snow is falling, the days are shorter, all you want to do is snuggle up on the couch.  What do you do to stay positive? Motivated? Energized?  


I get my butt moving, I release those pleasurable endorphins, I make time for a good workout.  I sit here with so much positivity flowing through my body, drinking my green juice, and so grateful that I woke up on this Sunday morning to brave the cold and power through an intense 90 minute Bikram Hot Yoga Class.  It was so worth it!  I feel so amazing, that I knew this was the topic I needed to write about today.


It is so easy, on a day like today where in Jersey it is just below freezing, cloudy, and gray... and there is snow on the ground for the first time this winter.... to snuggle up on the couch, sporting your silk pajamas and cashmere robe, with a huge mug of vegan hot chocolate.  I know, I did that yesterday! And, you need to do just that once in a while. You just can't do that everyday. 


I know from experience how horrible you can feel. I have tasted depression and anxiety.  And, I know I can taste it again. Exercise is my drug.  My drug has no side effects as do medications... have you ever heard one of those commercials for depression medications? "Side effects may include: dry mouth. constipation. blurred vision. sleep disruption. weigh gain. diarrhea. inability to get an erection. inability to have an orgasm. loss of libido. agitation. anxiety. heart failure. suicide. death".... to name a few! 

well...

Exercise has NO negative side effects!

and in fact increases such side effects! So, if doctors where to bottle up exercise and prescribe it to patience as often as they do with other medication, I would imagine the add would sound something like this: "Do you desire an increased libido (and better sex)?  Undisturbed, restorative sleep? Normal bowl movements? More energy? Greater confidence? Less anxiety? A better outlook on life? Weigh loss? Better overall all health? A tighter tush ;) Well, get your ass moving!"


I so strongly believe that exercise can cure so many ailments, which is why it is one of the number one things I encourage my clients to do.  Bundle up and get outside, connect with nature- go for a walk, a hike, a run.  Whatever level you are at, just get your ass moving.  


My exercise routine changes often, I am an Aries who seeks adventure, and gets bored easily.  My routine this month includes:

1.  Running once a week in the woods. An experience where there is no words to describe... if you are curious, I dare you to try running in the woods.  There is no exercise quite like it. Imagine what it feels like to fly...
2. Bikram hot yoga once a week, which helps me to release toxins, increase my flexibility, feel warmth, and give my body gratitude. 
3. Circuit training workout videos, which I alternate betweem about 3 days a week to increase my strength. My current favorites are:

Michelle Dozois was the first workout video trainer I ever had.  Every time she comes out with a new video, I have to have it-- and always love it! This video alternates between free weights and cardio. 

Last summer I did P90x, and enjoyed competing with my fiance.  Although I cannot bring myself to do the entire series again, I do like to incorporate the Plyometrics followed by the Ab video.  This is such a fun workout! Plyometrics (jump training) is my favorite way to get an intense cardio burn while building muscle.  I feel like a kid doing this video-- Jumping around my living room like a nut :)

Similar to Michelle Dozois, Amy Dixon has quite a few interval training videos that I love! This one incorporates the step, and your alternate between weights and cardio blasts.  My body is always sore (in a good way) after this one!

Just three days without exercise, and I feel myself falling into a sad, unmotivated, lack of confidence, and lack of energy slump. I need exercise.  And so do you.


With love, warmth, and motivation <3

Good Bye 2011, Hello 2012!

Happy New Year!

I hope you had a wonderful holiday, a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, a Happy Kwanzaa! I always feel that the holidays are so highly anticipated, and than are over before you know it.  This year, I did my best to breathe, be present, and enjoy the company I was in. I had a lot to be grateful for...

I read Kris Carr's most recent blog, and it inspired me to write about a similar topic.  It is very important that you take time for reflection.  Whether it is to reflect your day, week, month, or year... reflection gives us a chance to step back and view what has happened, without the power to change it, and rather to just accept it.  It provides us the opportunity to propel ourselves forward, give gratitude, be proud, and create change.


In 2010 I met with my first psychic (who I have referred to many times..)  She told us (among the other things she was spot on about)... that 2012 will NOT be the end of the world but rather there will be a big shift. She said that the months leading up to 2012, will be months of change.  I for one can say that 2011 was a year of a lot of change! And like Mother Nature, one change was the catalyst to another. The little changes I made this past year to relax, breathe, and meditate, resulted in much bigger things... I relaxed more, and so I had room to open my heart more, falling deeper in love with myself and with others, and having the confidence to take risks (ie: becoming a health counselor and writing this blog).


An old man once said, "There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living." 


So, with the last few hours of 2011 upon us, I ask you to sit down and write your 2011 in Review followed by your 2012 Preview of all the things that you will do next.  The last big risk I am taking this year is sharing with you my Review and Preview:

2011 in Review….

• I did my first cleanse, fell in love with juicing and huge raw salads, and ditched gluten.
• I almost lost my dog, Avery, so I changed her diet to a mostly vegan diet (like myself), gave her digestive enzymes, green smoothies, and lots of love-- and she survived!
• I fell even deeper in love with my fiance than I ever thought I could… beginning with him staying up and taking care of Avery all night when she was sick.
• I stuck to my guns, said no, and didn’t feel bad about not doing things other people wanted me to do.
• I completed my first year of teaching, learned how to relax, manage stress, and let go of things (children) I cannot control.
• I became a student at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, became a certified health counselor, and began launching my own business.
• I realized I found my soul mate, and want to spend the rest of my life with him… and we got engaged ;)
• I became a better friend, had a lot more fun, and rekindled old friendships.
• I traveled to Boulder, CO to visit my best friend, Jacque, all by my self! And almost got stuck in Kansas City.. whew!
• I experienced my first earthquake, and have a funny story to tell about my reaction. (Ya know the ESPN commercial with the bear tearing through the wall...)
• I completed P90x like a champ… and hated Tony Horton. Now, I kinda like him again.
• I fell in love with running, and survived my first run in a thunderstorm… in the woods... and ran my fastest mile because of the thunderstorm :)
• I encouraged and didn’t get jealous when John went to his first bachelor party, in Atlantic City.
• I became savvy with homeopathic pills.
• I began blogging again.
• I meditate! (Thank you Chopra Center 21-Day Meditation Challenges)
• I give gratitude every day, three times a day: When I first wake up, after I meditate, and before I go to bed.
• I stopped obsessing about weight, and have fallen in love with ME.
• I finally got the car I always wanted… thanks to that vision board I made!
• I became a God Mommy to my beautiful niece.
• I saw a different side of my mother, and accepted/appreciated her more. I love her.
• I lost a good friend… and realized how fragile life is.
• I attended too many funerals, and gave even more thanks for who I have in my life.
• I ditched my ancient flip phone, and got an iphone
• I got monthly massages.
• Got good at Bikram and now attend Silent classes!
• I journal.
• I ditched birth control, and said helloooo to my libido.
• I rode my bike to the beach on weekends.
• I made new friends through work and IIN.
• I saw Dr. Hyman, Dr. Katz, Deepak Chopra, and Dr. Furman at the IIN Conference…Which I traveled to with strangers, who I now adore
• Dr. Hyman liked my picture of my juice so much, that he shared it on facebook!
• I ate/juiced from my abundant garden.
• I became a member on the Food Administration Board and the Wellness Committee in my district.
• I managed my stress and anxiety with Bach.

2012 Preview…

• I will plan a wedding, and enjoy the planning... and from the wise words of a friend, "It is not about them..."
• I will write more.
• I will market more and build my business (despite fear!)
• I will take on clients and help change their lives.
• I will listen to my body (eat what it needs, and rest when needed).
• I will cook more.
• I will save more money!
• I will buy a house.
• I will clean more (err).
• I will sleep more (natural HGH booster, thank you Dr. Oz!)
• I will see Dr. Oz.
• I will write an article, and get it published.
• I will cleanse again, and ditch alcohol.
• I will work on accepting criticism better.
• I will travel more and visit my friends.
• I will ski.
• I will hike more, run less (for hips sake).
• I will pay more attention to Avery.
• I will visit my parents more, and pay more attention to Keisha.
• I will do more Pilates, yoga, and stretching.
• I will call my grandparents more.
• I will try new things.
• I will be present.

Here's to another year of lessons learned, 

goals achieved, 

hellos and goodbyes.  

Goodbye 2011, and hello 2012-- we are ready for whatever it is you bring next!

For a little comical recap of how crazy 2011 was, watch this video:

BuhBye 2011!

'Tis The Season to be Sniffling and Stress, Achoo! Achoo! Achoo! A Choo, Choo, Choo!

Hello Angels,

Truth is, the Holidays are joyful, BUT also stressful. There is no wonder the stress of the holidays brings out many holiday grinches, when a whopping 50% of us are suffering from depression and/or anxiety. According to Julia Ross, Americas are a 100%, yes One Hundred Percent more depressed today, than our ancestors were 100 years ago. Why is this? and what can we do about it?

For starters, we can ditch the junk from the boxes, and eat real whole foods.  Diets have been deteriorating since 1965... 1965 was when processed food companies began distribution. Since then, B6 levels have dramatically decreased and depression and anxiety have increased.

By 1990, Americas were deficient in 13 nutrients! We were cutting out that scary ass fat, consuming highly addictive sweeteners (since 1970s) including corn syrup which is double the sweetness of gluclose= double the addiction.  Our carb intake increased, and so, we became malnourished, depressed, and fat.

The first system of malnutrition is a breakdown of our emotions. We have what is called "false" moods.  In other words, we are grouchy, depressed, and anxious for hardly any external reason.

Here are some things we can do to increase our happiness and decrease depression and anxiety:

1.) Make a food-mood journal.  Record how you feel before and after you eat something.  Does it give you energy? Does it make you tired? Chances are you will find most things from a box will drain your energy, when fresh vegetables, fruits, and whole grains will increase your energy.

2.) Experiment with an elimination diet to see if you have any food sensitivities (How does gluten make you feel? Dairy? Soy?)

3.) Prevent hypo-glycemia (mood swings due to blood sugar fluctuation).

• Eat good fats (think avocado, olive oil, flax seed, chia seeds, salmon and other fatty fish (if you eat fish). 
• Increase the number of meals you eat

4.)Exercise to increase the release of endorphins- the pain killers and comfort chemicals in our brain

5.) Take a good multi vitamin + vitamin C and vitamin D3

6.) Decrease, or better yet, eliminate caffeine intake

7.) Meditate, read here why meditation is so beneficial on the brain (like sex!)

So, what if you are like me, and you do these things ALL THE TIME, and yet still anxiety comes knocking at your door at the most unexpected time? It happened to me Sunday night, my trigger? We were out to dinner and I left my gluten free pasta at home.  Seriously not a big deal, but because I had underlying stressors (budgeting for our wedding, blowing my savings on the two tires I popped in a pot hole the night before, and then planning for my crack down on school lunches), this small event triggered a small anxiety attack.

Unfortunately, it took me a few days to do something about it.  I was still meditating every morning, working out, sleeping, and eating right... but I needed more.  It didn't hit me until Tuesday morning, when I thought about how I felt Sunday, and then how I woke up at 4am, wide awake and super jittery for hours. So, I made a concoction of Bach Relax Serum and Ignatia 200ck in a water bottle.  I sipped it often throughout the day, and felt so much better by midday!

When you are stressed, your body releases cortisol, and therefore your immune system is vulnerable and can be weakened.  In my opinion, this is natures way of telling us to slow down and rest.  By Wednesday night I had a cold, which put me to bed early.  I woke up the next morning with the intention of going to work, but my body was so achy, my head was pounding, and I was terribly sniffly, so I called out sick, took some Umcka, and went back to bed.

I slept for an extra 4 1/2 hrs.... When I finally woke up, this is what I did to naturally ease this nasty cold:

• Sipped on Throat Comfort tea with lemon and raw honey
• Made 32 oz of green juice, drank 16 oz then and saved 1/2 for later: 1 cucumber, 1 green apple, 1/2 lemon, 3 stems of broccoli, a bunch of kale stems, 4 stems of celery
• Throughout the day I sipped on a concoction of Adrenal drops + Pulsatilla in a bottle of water
• and I snuggled up on the couch and indulged in a very long movie! (Any idea how long the 3rd Lord of The Rings is? I do..)

Hours later, I felt much better than I did in the morning, without taking any medication.

I used to take DayQuil, run through my day feeling as if I was on speed, come home and take NyQuil to knock me into sleep mode... and the cold would come back within weeks... every time.

It is nice to know that my homeopathic remedies do a better job of healing, without the nasty chemicals and side effects. I healed my body without causing harm by using those nasty medications... I healed my body naturally for both my cold and my anxiety :) Oh, and I didn't become a zombie chocked up on meds, instead I wrote this blog post!

Every time I get sick, I am reminded to listen to my body. Our bodies do not lie, sometimes we need rest.

So, with the holiday season upon us, remember to rest your little noggin and to listen to your body. If you do feel off, experiment with some of my natural remedy suggestions rather than the conventional medicine...You will never go back.

Do you have an natural remedies you would like to share?

Xox with lots of self-care, rest, and increased health <3

A Successful, Healthy, and Happy Thanksgiving (recipes included!!)

I hope that everyone had a healthy and happy Thanksgiving!

I know that the holidays can be very stressful, and often times that stress is exasperated when you have food allergies, and/or eat a non-traditional diet, like myself.  With practice and patience, in time the holidays do become easier.  One thing I did this year was order food from one of my favorite vegan eateries-- this way no one had to worry about making food a particular way for me, and I did not have to ask a million questions about what is in every item of food :)

So, I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my future in-laws at my fiancé's  father's house, where we all contributed some delicious cuisine! 

Our first course was my fiancé's (now famous) Butternut Squash and Apple Soup (which he made vegan for me :)

Ingredients:
3 lbs. Butternut Squash
1 lbs. Sweet Potato
2 Granny Smith Apples
2 Sweet Onions
4 large carrots
4oz. Butter (Earth Balance Vegan Butter)
1/2 c. coconut milk
6 pints of vegetable broth
2 tsp. ginger
2 tsp, nutmeg
2 bay leaves

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Dice and toss apples, potatoes, carrots, squash, garlic and ginger.
Roast in the oven at 400 degrees, for about 45-50 minutes or until tender.
Remove from the oven and puree squash mixture with broth and 1 c. of water.
Transfer to a medium sauce pan or crock pot and simmer over medium heat.

Next, we had a Beet, Fennel, and Fig Salad with Cranberry-Sage dressing- contributed by yours truly :)

Beet, Fennel, and Fig Salad:
(found in Shape Magazine, November 2011 issue)

For the Dressing:
4 tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 c. finely chopped shallots
1 c. fresh cranberries
1/4 c. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. fresh rosemary
1/2 tsp. fresh sage
1/3 c. water
1 tbs. pure maple syrup
1/2 tsp. salt

For the Salad:
1 lb. beets
1 fennel bulb, trimmed and halved
2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
sea salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 c. raw pecans
8 oz. baby arugula
6 fresh figs, cut into wedges

And then of course, turkey and stuffing galore! 

For the main course, I ordered food to save myself time and stress, from Good Karma Cafe in Red Bank.  For just $40 I got a huge stuffed acorn squash- which was out of this world! And three sides: Sweet potatoes, Mashed potatoes, and mixed vegetables. The best part: I have leftovers!! 

For dessert, my future sister in law made Vegan Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream and Coconut Whip Cream.  I also had a slice of Vegan and Gluten Free Pumpkin Pie from Good Karma.

Vegan Pumpkin Ice Cream:
14 oz. can + 1 c. coconut milk
2 tbs. arrowroot powder
1 can pumpkin puree
2tbs. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 c. brown sugar (or agave)
1 tbs. vanilla extract

In a small bowl, whisk arrowroot with 1/2 c. milk and set aside.
In a small sauce pan over low heat mix milk, pumpkin, spice, and sugar.
Put the heat on medium and cook  until just about to boil.
Remove from heat and add arrowroot mix and vanilla.
Chill for a couple of hours and put in ice cream machine.
Serve with Coconut Whip Cream (see below)


Vegan Coconut Whipped Cream:
1 can of full fat Coconut milk in the fridge over night-- do not shake can!
Scoop out the top half, it is a white solid
Add confectioner sugar and vanilla and whip

*The bottom half of the can is fat free coconut milk (can be used for ice cream)

And of course, the Little Princess, Avery, had her Thanksgiving Dinner:

Wild Rice
Steamed String Beans
Mashed butternut squash
and a tiny treat of Turkey :)
= One happy Maltese!

Enjoy the long weekend, and take time for some self care to escape the chaos!

With Gratitude, Love, and Health <3

My thanksgiving is perpetual...

Hello little Turkeys,

I have some BIG news...

My formally known as "boyfriend" of 7 1/2 years, proposed to me last Friday on 11/11/11!!

 When I was a little girl I told my best friend, Erica, that I would get married on Novermber 11, 2011 simply because, 11 is MY number :) Well, my predictions were not exact, but darn close! My thanksgiving is truly perpetual, and after over a week I still cannot contain my smile-- my cheekbones are hurting from smiling so darn much!

I know that many people out there could not find the significance in 11/11/11, and you may be one of those skeptics. So, I want to explain to you why this day and it's synchronicity is so special (and not just because I got engaged :) When repeated numbers appear (11 11 11),  many believe that this is divine guidance.  I am sure you have caught yourself making a wish when you catch the clock at 11:11... I sure have!

And like Gabrielle Bernstein's said in her article here featured on CrazySexyLife.com, "when I believe in divine guidance, the more miracles I experience"... So, here is my story about believing:

Twelve years ago at the age of 12, I met my first, and last love. 

We met at a local park, and at such a young age, we both felt it. That weird sensation in your heart that makes you feel like it might explode out of your chest. The butterflies in your stomach that make you feel like you are going to be sick if you move. That knot in your throat that makes it impossible for you to say a coherent sentence... and that "head in the cloud" feeling in your brain, that keeps you from thinking logically.

We felt love.  

Twelve years later, this same boy brought me back to that same place, and made me his fiance.  

No, he and I did not date for 12 years.  In fact, we dated for one magical, fairy tale-like year in grammar school, and then broke up.  Throughout the five years that we were not together, we still had a strong connection. I for one, dreamt about  him almost every single night. When I would see him (we went to the same high school), my heart would thump so hard that I swore it was going to jump out of my chest! I even played this game, where I would say to myself, "I am going to see John when I turn this corner..." and surely enough, I would turn the corner, and he and I were the only other two people in the hallway. Every. single. time. And then, I would drop my head and hurry off as quickly as possible :)

John was a year older than me, and when the end of his senior year approached, I knew I had to do something drastic.  I could not let him leave my life.  Every cell in my body told me that I needed him, and I knew that he felt the same way. So, after five years, we began dating again.... and 7 1/2 years later, we are planning a wedding!

I may not go to church every Sunday, but I am a believer.  I believe that we are all put on this earth for a reason.  I believe that people come in and out of our lives, and certain things happen, both good and bad, in order to help us fulfill our purpose. I believe that omens lie in plain sight, but you have to be open and believe in order to understand them.  Every time I need a wish, I catch the clock at 11:11.  My wish has always been to have love, health, and happiness with John, ever since I was 12-years-old.

Maybe you think I am crazy... but what does it hurt by believing? 

I challenge you to write down your dreams, your wishes, and to make it an obligation to think about these dreams every single day.  Meditate on them, if that is your thing.  Envision them while washing the dishes (which I know we all will be doing a lot of this week!) And most importantly, give thanks for what you have today.  Show the Universe that you are grateful for what it has given you so far, and that you are open for more greatness!

Make a wish, dream, believe. What's stopping you?

I want to leave you with a quote by Henry David Thoreau, that has so much meaning to me right now, and just in time for the Holidays. I hope it can give you meaning as well...

‎"I am grateful for what I am and have. 

My thanksgiving is perpetual... 

O how I laugh when I think of my vague indefinite riches. 

No run on my bank can drain it 

for my wealth is not possession but enjoyment."

Have a wonderful, relaxing Thanksgiving.  Give thanks for all of the blessings in life, and believe in all the goodness to come....

With Love and Gratitude <3

Good Health is Gorgeous

I am honored to share with you, My Story!
Thank you to my friend, Maria, for giving me this amazing opportunity to reflect on my journey to wellness through writing my story for her campaign "Good Health is Gorgeous".

Read my story here: 

The Long, Courageous Road to Feeling Gorgeous

 <3

YOU are GORGEOUS

Hello all of your BEAUTIFUL people,

I have a confession to make.  Things are going really well in my life.  I am enjoying my job as a preschool teacher.  My boyfriend and I are so over the top in love (after 7 1/2 years).  He just passed the first part of his CPA exam (whew!). My nutrition program at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition is just invigorating.  And, I just discovered that a local college (Georgian Court University) has a Masters program for Holistic Health (woo hoo!!).

The one problem... all of this celebrating is putting a toll on my ass.

We have all been there, most of us are there at any given minute-- having a low self esteem. Being your worst enemy.  Everything in my life is so wonderful right now, but the one thing that keeps brings me down and keeps me from enjoying this wonderful time of my life is, my stupid insecurity.

My friend Maria, the creator of  Going Down Swinging: A RSD/CRPS Blog recently asked me to write a post for her campaign titled "Good Health is Gorgeous".  After Maria asked me, it took about two weeks for the inspiration to put my story, so to say "on paper" (or on the internet for the world to see).  I know I say this so often, but EVERYTHING happens for a reason.  Maria asked me to write for her right when I was beginning to feel down about my recent weight gain.  While writing my story (which I will repost when available) I was given the opportunity to analyze my past harsh decisions that did harm to my body.  I looked at my story and I thought to myself, "wow, I have come a long way".  Today, I am the healthiest I have ever been.  I eat foods for their nutrients, and I feel amazing.  I no longer have IBS, Acid Reflux, asthma or allergies.  I can easily run 6-miles in the woods, no inhaler or medication necessary. And I can make a delicious vegan meal that will wow the sox off of any herbivore.

Just last night I was feeling down on myself. This morning, I listened to my lecture for the week for IIN.  What, you might ask, is this lecture about? Well of course, you sneaky Universe: Body image. As Harville Hendrix said, negativity is a toxin, just as much of a toxin as fertilizer and pesticides. We absorb negativity from other people (and we feed other people our negativity). Release yourself from negativity and fill your self with something that is so simple... GRATITUDE. Your body will thank you, your health with improve, your relationships will be better, you will experience joy and vitality. Look at life as GRACE! 

A little piece of Heaven... 

Give thanks for that beautiful body you were blessed with! 

Both my lecture and my friend Maria brought an important fact to my attention: as women we are CONSTANTLY bombarded with the unrealistic idealism of the media. The two clips below are a must watch for women of all ages.... (please send these videos along to all of the woman you know).

A Dove Film

Miss Representation

So, the next time you are feeling down about your body-- turn your negativity around with gratitude. At first, it takes some practice, but the more gratitude you fill yourself with, the less room there will be for negativity, and therefore the HAPPIER you will become. 

You are GORGEOUS. Never, ever doubt that.

With love! Xoxo

*Stay tuned for my story which I will share with you when available on Maria's campaign

<3