B∅RED w/ Excercis∃? Mix It upΛ

Exercise is necessary for a healthy mind and body. You know what it feels like to get BORED! Falling into the same routine of exercise not only bores you mentally it also stops you from making any fitness/weight loss achievements.

Here are some tips that will help you stay out of the exercise rut.

1. Mix up your routine: rotate between different types of cardio, like swimming, dancing, rock climbing, cycling. You don't have to always stick to the treadmill or elliptical. Add some intervals or hills into your routine. Not only will you challenge yourself, you will also stay engaged.

2. Join a team. Playing a sport like volleyball, basketball, tennis, soccer, lacrosse, etc..will give you an awesome workout, fun interaction and good competitive drive.

 

3. Extend the invitation. Invite a friend to workout with you. Having the company will allow you to mix up the routine while you chat away during the workout.

 

4. Try a new class. Search your local gym and community centers for classes that will mix up your routine. Give a yoga, Pilate's, kickboxing, circuit training, spin, or dance class a try. It will be a nice break from your usual routine.

 

5. Take a chill pill. Remember to give yourself time to rest and recover. If you push to hard, you will burn yourself out and not have the motivation and drive. This can come across as boredom. 9 times out of 10, you just need to take a day or two off to recover from the stress. Give it a try.

 

♥Hair Update♥

I have seemed to become busier and busier as the time passes. I wanted to update you guys with my hair growth progress. I have been wearing protective styles, moisturizing and low manipulation.  My goal is to continue growing my hair until I achieve waist-length hair. I know it's possible, contrary to all the myths that "kinky" hair doesn't grow.

Well guess what it does: it's all about patience and dedication.

Happy Journeys
>Side note: I know I look tired and stressed in the pictures. It was an early day LOL

Delicious Raw ManGogi Smoothie ♥

Here is a quick and yummy smoothie that will give you a great boost of vitamin C, Iron, and beta carotene.

You will need:

1 handful of baby Spinach

1 cup of mango cubes( I like to use frozen)
1 tsp Wheat grass powder
1 tbsp of Gogi Berries
1 tsp Gogi Powder (Nativas)
1 Cup Almond Mile
.5 Cup Water
1 tbsp Chia Seeds
1 scoop of Vanilla SunWarrior Protein Powder


Put all you Raw Ingredients in the blender, Mix, Pour & Enjoy!

Imagine ∞ a Better You

  Ever find yourself in a place that is unwarranted, dark, lonely and scary? You’ve opened the wrong door and can’t find your way out of this dark weird space. We, including myself have been in this room at least once in our lives. Some of us have a year round all inclusive stay at this “dark resort”. Every day I encounter people that ‘enjoy’ staying in this dark, funky and toxic state of mind. In my perfect world everyone would be running through beautiful fields peonies and loving life. But why can’t we learn to shake it off and not sweat the small stuff.

Someone once told me that we are in control of how we want life to affect us.  This is very true. I am not saying to take an “I don’t care” approach to life, but don’t spend unnecessary energy on the things that we can’t control and rather spend energy on the things we can make better.

Instead of harboring on the negative energy take a stance with a positive outlook.  Introduce meditation and mantras to your life. Find a space where you can dedicate 10 minutes of just peace with your own thoughts. A corner in your room is good also underneath a tree in a park, the inside your your car in a parking lot, etc. Close your eyes, focus on your breathing and relax. Try not fixate on the negative thoughts that infiltrate your mind. Instead write those worries down and tell yourself you will address them later. Now find a word that you can chant and just focus on the association to that word. Dismiss the distractions and tap into the root of that word. What is the issue? Remember end with a positive mantra. You can do this, you are strong , you are great, you are ready.

I recently read Debbie Johnson’s “Think yourself Thin: The Visualization Technique that will make you lose weight without diet or exercise” and found some great points that can be applied to everyday life.

Although the book offered great tips I still believe that a proper nutrition plan and exercise is the best formula for the human body. Here are some tips I want to share with all of you.

1.Push forward using your unconscious: by consciously controlling your thoughts you can change your self-image and how you react to events that occur around you. What do you want to achieve? Imagine it constantly and it will manifest.

2. Accept and Love Yourself just as you are NOW: embrace your best qualities. write down your best 5 and keep them. When you are feeling lost remind yourself of your awesomeness!

3. Believe in yourself first: Your imagery is powerful. If you believe that you are capable then you can do it. If you think you are thin you will loose the weight. Only you are responsible for how things affect you. Do whatever it takes to convince the mind. Every cell in your body reacts to your thoughts. How do you want them to respond?

Prevent The Summer BLOAT

Have you noticed that lately you feel like 2ton Betty or 2ton Tim?! Are you wondering why it's summer time and you are feeling like a puffer fish? Well your body is trying to tell you something. I live in the northeast and my body goes through 4 seasons, well at least it used to when our Eco-system was healthy.

Summertime Bloat, can be a result of a few things. Dehydration, poor food intake, or just too much HEAT! During one of our many debates, my significant other was lecturing me for my copious amount of H20 intake. He said I was depleting my electrolytes and causing forcing myself into a false dehydration, which was making me retain water. Here are some tell tale signs of Dehydration: constant thirst, dry lips, hair and or skin, unusually craving for saltier foods(low electrolytes), disorientation, and irritability.

If you still train in the summer, like I do, you want to treat your body right and keep your water ratio leveled.

Follow these easy tips to make sure that you are in best health this summer. No one wants to spend their summer drinking pedialyte or with a puffy belly. LOL

• According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, your body requires more water when the weather is hot. Drink at least 10 glasses of water a day, and if you plan to be out in the heat, have water with you.
•  Eat foods with a high water content. Examples include fruits like watermelon, apples, grapes and tomatoes; green veggies like spinach, celery and lettuce.
• Avoid or Limit your intake of carbonated drinks, alcohol and caffeine. These can dehydrate, which causes bloat, but also create gas in your digestive tract, which will add to abdominal bloating. Stick with water when combating summertime bloat. Add some lemon for more zing, or electrolyte tabs.
• Refrain from eating foods with a high salt or fat content, for example, greasy fast food (YUCK!), highly processed foods like potato chips or microwave meals, and fatty meats and dairy products. All of these are difficult for your digestive system to process, leading to bloat. These foods' salt content will also cause your body to hang on to excess water weight.
• Try a bloating or gas relief pill, like Beano. These help when indulging in foods that may make you feel heavy or gassy.

Stay Hydrated