Tis the Season to Be Healthy!

The Countdown Begins!-  

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Who's Got 10 Minutes?

Join My "10 Minute" Weight-loss Challenge  Starting Monday- 3/26/12 

Decide. Commit. Succeed. '

-No excuses!  

Today is the day to get started.  I have a few spots available.  

Challenge takes place in your own home.

Challenge Includes: Fitness, nutritional support, 1 month  FREE club membership, accountability & fun! Anyone who commits to my challenges will get a prize for committing & the winner will get a FREE prize as well!

It's a 90 Day Commitment you won't regret.

Message Me to Get Started.

Move Your Body!

"Coo Coo" for Coconut Oil!

Coconut Oil is one of life's simple treasures that almost seems too good to be true!

I began learning of the greatness of this staple from the helpful man who owns Mung Bean.  I visited his Health Food Store to inquire of a natural oil I could use on my hair that would keep it moisturized and shiny.  He spoke very highly of coconut oil; not only for hair but also for skin-care, and even to ingest for weight loss and other health benefits.  Long story short, I purchased it and I've been a fan ever since. 

Coconut oil is one of nature's best sources of nutrition for hair. It promotes healthy growth of hair. Regular massages of this oil on your scalp helps you remain dandruff-free and leaves hair shiny and manageable.  Coconut oil is extensively used in the Indian sub-continent for hair care. There's an awesome product they use called Vatika Oil which is basically coconut oil infused with other Ayurveda goodness.  Coconut Oil  is an excellent conditioner, it provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair.


There are tons of benefits for using organic coconut oil.  Here are a few other applications for Coconut Oil that have made me HEART it even more:

• Skin Care: Coconut oil is an awesome massage oil for the skin as well. It acts as an effective moisturizer for especially dry skin (which is what I have) It also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis & eczema.
• Heart Disease:  "People who traditionally consume large quantities of coconut oil as part of their ordinary diet have a very low incidence of heart disease and have normal blood cholesterol levels. This has been well supported by numerous population studies. The research shows that those people who consume large quantities of coconut oil have remarkably good cardiovascular health."By Bruce Fife, N.D. 
• Weight Loss:  Coconut Oil helps in enhancing the healthy functioning of the thyroid &enzymes systems. It increases your body's metabolism by removing stress on the pancreas.  This helps you burn more energy and experience weight-loss.  Coconut oil can also assist with boosting energy and stamina.  When I first began ingesting a large teaspoon of this in the morning, I recall feeling a nervous jittery feeling.  I felt like I could've scaled a building!  =)  I decreased the amount I was taking and learned to add it to foods & smoothies to eliminate that jittery "Red Bull" feeling. 
• Digestion: Internal use of coconut oil occurs primarily as cooking oil.  (I use it to make my eggs over easy and asparagus for breakfast--yummo) Coconut oil may help with improving the digestive system and can prevent some digestion issues such as IBS. It is also said that Coconut oil can help with absorption of other nutrients such as minerals, amino acids and vitamins.

How Far Will We Go to Lose It?

I received a call from a friend of mine today telling me she heard of this new diet and she wanted to hear my thoughts on it.  There are tons of diet crazes out there; especially this time of the year.  I really try not to get caught up in it all.  However, she asked me to "Google" it and give her feedback, so I did. 

The diet is called the HCG Diet.  HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is a hormone produced while a woman is pregnant by the cells that form the placenta. The hormone can be detected in the blood approximately 11 days after conception & is detected in the urine 12-14 days after conception.  Did you guys read that?  It's a hormone taken from the urine of a pregnant woman!

The hormone HCG sends signals to an area of the brain that affects your metabolism; to eliminate your fat stores. The claim is that taking HCG injections coupled with a 500 calorie restricted diet will help you to lose 1-3lbs daily!!!!  Am I the only one that thinks this is insane?!?

How healthy can this be?  I cannot believe people are doing this.  My friend said the person she heard about this from lost 11lbs in 3 days ago. 

Oh check out the negative side effects: headaches, depression, blood clots, mood swings, dizziness and confusion. Some women have developed a condition called Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome as a result of taking HCG. The symptoms of OHSS are pain in the pelvis, swollen hands & legs, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, diarrhea, vomiting/nausea & decreased urination.

Why are we in such a rush for everything?  I think sometimes we go too far.  What happened to putting in some good ole fashioned sweat equity?  Ya know, hard work??  Discipline?? Eating well?? 

Being healthy and at an ideal body weight should be achieved through methods that come about by lifestyle changes.  Chances are if you lose this way, you will gain it back because you haven't learned anything about why you put the weight on in the first place. 

Has anyone else heard about this diet?  What are your thoughts?

Let's Do it For the Kids!

I'm always amazed when I go to my children's high school at the amount of teens who are clearly overweight.  This troubles me considering the health risks & self esteem issues that are inevitable for these youth as a result of their unhealthy lifestyles.

The statistics available that prove child obesity in America is at epidemic levels are alarming.  Statistics show that approximately 1/3 of the nation's children are carrying too much weight. There are lots of reasons why child obesity in America is on the rise. 


One of the main contributing factors is young people are not eating the right foods.  They're eating diets filled with sugar, processed foods, and empty calories-food with little to no nutritional value.   Also, the average American child is getting significantly less exercise on a daily basis. Many of our young people are spending an insane amount of time watching television, surfing the net, and texting and less time involved in physical activities.  I know my children definitely spend more time idle then I ever did as a child!  The combination of processed, fast food diets along with sedentary lifestyles is creating a generation of children who are facing chronic adult health issues such as diabetes, high cholesterol & heart disease.

It's heart breaking because young people who are obese also carry emotional baggage along with the additional weight. Overweight children often have low self-esteem. Teen eating disorders like bulimia & anorexia develop as a result of feelings of inadequacy.  Many obese children are often bullied, ridiculed and made to feel inferior by their peers. 

I believe a large responsibility falls on the adults in these young people's lives to begin to do things differently so we can turn this epidemic around. 

What you as a parent/mentor can do:

1. Exercise with your child.  This will provide support & encouragement.  Your child will less likely feel singled out.
2. Commit to buying healthier foods, read labels, avoid processed foods.  Limit junk food at home
3. Join a YMCA or Fit Club that the entire family can get involved in.
4. Take Walks together.  This will provide great bonding time as well as exercise.
5. Buy Games like WiFit or xBox-Kinnect that encourage movement
6. Reinforce to your child that they are beautiful and you love them and want them to be healthy
7. Consult a Nutritionist or Wellness Coach for assistance for support

November is Diabetes Awareness Month