This time of year makes me sick. And, no, it's not just the food. My Facebook newsfeed is spewing with sponsored posts claiming the next "miracle" fat loss program, incredible, rapid weight loss with ZERO lifestyle changes, simple as taking a magic pill, one "simple" trick to finally losing it all after struggling your whole life...how COULD you have missed it? You didn't. Give your head a shake!!
This is a BILLION dollar industry. Think about it... the average America goes on FOUR different weight loss programs or attempts every single year. EVERY YEAR!!! They make BILLIONS making sure you come back for more and we want fast everything without any inconvenience, right? We are limited on time, energy, budget... but I can guarantee you if you REALLY want it, you WILL find a way. Millions find a way to budget for a new iPhone every second week, I know you can make this work. We all have 24 hours in a day.
I've been there! Going in circles, losing the weight, gaining the weight, losing the weight.... so many things work for everyone and you're just broken, right? You could eat salad all day and not lose an ounce, right? Wrong.
You are going about it all wrong. Guaranteed. And that's NOT your fault! We're told Lean Cuisine's are healthy, 1000 calories is reasonable, losing 25lbs in 25 seconds is acceptable, that non-fat anything is healthy and that dieting involves mountains of salad and bland food and EXHAUSTING exercise. It's not EASY to make lifestyle changes and although the effort may seem HUGE and probably is, you're NOT doing it right. Unfortunately, what I learned so very painfully, and finally admitted with deep regret and agony, after years of studying exercise and nutrition science as an obsessive, neurotic hobby and failing over and over, effectively destroying my metabolism following the advice of two different coaches I trusted with my life, I fell to my knees and begged for dieting mercy! Even now, it's second nature to me and it's STILL not easy to lose weight!
Stop kidding yourself. The majority of people are not broken and NO ONE is hopeless beyond measure. If you've beaten your metabolism from years of crash dieting it CAN be fixed. If you've engrained all the wrong "rules" into your skull you CAN reprogram your brain.
The first step is admitting and realizing that what you've been doing is not working. Even if you have no idea why, just admit it. I promise, you won't die.
2014 is going to be POWERFUL!! Join me :)
Chelsea
Thursday 26 December 2013
Tuesday 24 December 2013
10 Days to a Successful 2014: Balance
If you're like many, your struggle with balance in everyday life and the holidays are no different. Sure, you allow yourself indulgences but does that REALLY constitute balance? What IS balance?
Here's what I used to do and "thought" I lived balanced. I would enjoy the social occasions but starve myself all day, "saving" my calories for the binge meal to come, knowing that no matter how hard I tried I would still binge so I might as well deprive calories to compensate. Following the holiday or social occasion I would berate myself and feel SO guilty for over-indulging and follow-up with a binge-exercise session to "burn off" the horrendous, sickening amounts of "forbidden" food I'd eaten. Sound a little familiar?
I can tell you what it feels like to be imprisioned in your own mind, inside that diet-mentality, because I was stuck there from age ten until the last year or so, to the point that I needed professional help and intensive in-patient treatment to help me cope with my severely disordered eating. I put off this image that I was so healthy and others would look at my baby-size rabbit salad and lean protein and think of how healthy I was, not realizing that I was DRASTICALLY under-eating, exhausted, freezing from a sluggish metabolism (aka lack of calories and fats in particular), catching every illness the breeze blew by, moody and felt like a horrible mother, wife and daughter. Is that really the price we feel we need to pay to be skinny????
You're doing "well" at socially isolating yourself sometimes, the master of all willpower, strength of a super-human. Then suddenly you lose your marbles and for the life of you can't even keep yourself from eating to the point of near vomiting, you have NO willpower and feel weak, stupid, and useless. This might be a bit extreme but something millions suffer from. Is this how you talk to yourself? I still struggle with this all the time, it's NOT easy to overcome and change that mindset, no matter what any guru tells you. It will probably take years of work and will always be a struggle to some extent, but each struggle brings you closer. Those beliefs are engrained so tightly in our minds from a young age, thanks to all those fancy diet magazines, articles, programs, fads, gimmicks and black and white programs. We're always being told "eat this, not that", this is bad, this is good, no one ever talks about living WITH the food. This mentality is what creates disordered eating and serious eating disorders, low self-esteem and self-worth that is directly tied to the number on the scale and whether or not we're being "good". We're teaching this mentality to our daughters whether we think we are or not.
Think about it logically, is one, two or even three larger meals for ONE week going to cause you to wake up one day 50lbs heavier? No. And just because you have these meals doesn't mean you should throw up your white flag, scream mercy and continue your binge-fest until the New Year when you VOW to grow the willpower of a thousand men overnight and never want to eat that delicious food ever again! Not gunna happen, by the way. WHY does it have to be so black and white? You'll have gained 10lbs easy by the end of Christmas, especially if you normally restrict calories quite a bit, and then you've got an extra 10lbs to lose, that's a lot more exercise punishment and starvation. Sure, it's easy to say you'll never eat it again when you've just had 15 servings but what about when you're starving on your crazy diet in a day or two? It's going to happen faster than you want. You might even be "motivated" enough to stick with it and lose crazy weight for weeks or months but that deprivation is GOING to get to you and when you rebound, the more restrictive you were the WORSE it's going to be.
This IS the nasty, life-leeching, twisted diet mentality we are FED is "normal"! Please, DARE to think for yourself! This is what took me YEARS to realize. I HAD all the knowledge yet struggled deeply every single holiday, social occasion and night out. It's not just once a year, it's all year round, weekly and sometimes daily! I would work to the point of exhaustion in the gym for days afterward, compensating with lower calories, convinced that this was a healthy way because I was avoiding the weight gain and stayed skinny. Let me tell you right now, weight gain is NOT a measure of health, neither is weight loss. I was NOT healthy, either. Skinny, yes, healthy no.
So, what is balance, then? Feeling completely lost and hopeless yet? Wait!
Imagine going to a social event and not having any "forbidden" foods. Imagine the freedom to enjoy indulgences without the feeling of desperation every time you take another bite and can't stop yourself, (last one I SWEAR). Imagine feeling satisfied and full without that sense of panic later on, the next day or next week when it's all over. Imagine genuinely being able to walk away from mountains of junk food or being able to pick just a few items without feeling like you "can't" or "have to", without having to convince yourself you're strong and don't need any of it, meanwhile you go hungry instead out of fear of eating it and spiralling out of control. Imagine KINDNESS toward yourself, understanding that you're human when you DO overindulge (because you will) and not getting your G-string all tied up in a knot about it, not spending hours in the gym the day before and after! Imagine how much stress would be relieved, how much extra time you'd have and how many others things you could put that mental energy toward. Probably hard to imagine!
Balance is NOT complete deprivation and "not needing" the food you grew up with, the food that tugs your soul-strings and creates a feeling of inner-happiness. We are human beings, food is naturally a sense of comfort, particularly in our culture and society in North America. It's everywhere, at every social occasion! We celebrate with it at baby and wedding showers, mourn with it at funerals, ACCEPT it is ALWAYS going to be there and that you CAN enjoy it!
Cheers,
Chelsea
Here's what I used to do and "thought" I lived balanced. I would enjoy the social occasions but starve myself all day, "saving" my calories for the binge meal to come, knowing that no matter how hard I tried I would still binge so I might as well deprive calories to compensate. Following the holiday or social occasion I would berate myself and feel SO guilty for over-indulging and follow-up with a binge-exercise session to "burn off" the horrendous, sickening amounts of "forbidden" food I'd eaten. Sound a little familiar?
I can tell you what it feels like to be imprisioned in your own mind, inside that diet-mentality, because I was stuck there from age ten until the last year or so, to the point that I needed professional help and intensive in-patient treatment to help me cope with my severely disordered eating. I put off this image that I was so healthy and others would look at my baby-size rabbit salad and lean protein and think of how healthy I was, not realizing that I was DRASTICALLY under-eating, exhausted, freezing from a sluggish metabolism (aka lack of calories and fats in particular), catching every illness the breeze blew by, moody and felt like a horrible mother, wife and daughter. Is that really the price we feel we need to pay to be skinny????
You're doing "well" at socially isolating yourself sometimes, the master of all willpower, strength of a super-human. Then suddenly you lose your marbles and for the life of you can't even keep yourself from eating to the point of near vomiting, you have NO willpower and feel weak, stupid, and useless. This might be a bit extreme but something millions suffer from. Is this how you talk to yourself? I still struggle with this all the time, it's NOT easy to overcome and change that mindset, no matter what any guru tells you. It will probably take years of work and will always be a struggle to some extent, but each struggle brings you closer. Those beliefs are engrained so tightly in our minds from a young age, thanks to all those fancy diet magazines, articles, programs, fads, gimmicks and black and white programs. We're always being told "eat this, not that", this is bad, this is good, no one ever talks about living WITH the food. This mentality is what creates disordered eating and serious eating disorders, low self-esteem and self-worth that is directly tied to the number on the scale and whether or not we're being "good". We're teaching this mentality to our daughters whether we think we are or not.
Think about it logically, is one, two or even three larger meals for ONE week going to cause you to wake up one day 50lbs heavier? No. And just because you have these meals doesn't mean you should throw up your white flag, scream mercy and continue your binge-fest until the New Year when you VOW to grow the willpower of a thousand men overnight and never want to eat that delicious food ever again! Not gunna happen, by the way. WHY does it have to be so black and white? You'll have gained 10lbs easy by the end of Christmas, especially if you normally restrict calories quite a bit, and then you've got an extra 10lbs to lose, that's a lot more exercise punishment and starvation. Sure, it's easy to say you'll never eat it again when you've just had 15 servings but what about when you're starving on your crazy diet in a day or two? It's going to happen faster than you want. You might even be "motivated" enough to stick with it and lose crazy weight for weeks or months but that deprivation is GOING to get to you and when you rebound, the more restrictive you were the WORSE it's going to be.
This IS the nasty, life-leeching, twisted diet mentality we are FED is "normal"! Please, DARE to think for yourself! This is what took me YEARS to realize. I HAD all the knowledge yet struggled deeply every single holiday, social occasion and night out. It's not just once a year, it's all year round, weekly and sometimes daily! I would work to the point of exhaustion in the gym for days afterward, compensating with lower calories, convinced that this was a healthy way because I was avoiding the weight gain and stayed skinny. Let me tell you right now, weight gain is NOT a measure of health, neither is weight loss. I was NOT healthy, either. Skinny, yes, healthy no.
So, what is balance, then? Feeling completely lost and hopeless yet? Wait!
Imagine going to a social event and not having any "forbidden" foods. Imagine the freedom to enjoy indulgences without the feeling of desperation every time you take another bite and can't stop yourself, (last one I SWEAR). Imagine feeling satisfied and full without that sense of panic later on, the next day or next week when it's all over. Imagine genuinely being able to walk away from mountains of junk food or being able to pick just a few items without feeling like you "can't" or "have to", without having to convince yourself you're strong and don't need any of it, meanwhile you go hungry instead out of fear of eating it and spiralling out of control. Imagine KINDNESS toward yourself, understanding that you're human when you DO overindulge (because you will) and not getting your G-string all tied up in a knot about it, not spending hours in the gym the day before and after! Imagine how much stress would be relieved, how much extra time you'd have and how many others things you could put that mental energy toward. Probably hard to imagine!
Balance is NOT complete deprivation and "not needing" the food you grew up with, the food that tugs your soul-strings and creates a feeling of inner-happiness. We are human beings, food is naturally a sense of comfort, particularly in our culture and society in North America. It's everywhere, at every social occasion! We celebrate with it at baby and wedding showers, mourn with it at funerals, ACCEPT it is ALWAYS going to be there and that you CAN enjoy it!
Cheers,
Chelsea
Thursday 19 December 2013
10 Days to a Successful 2014
Day One: Sloooooow Dooooooown
If you're looking for success and have yet to find it perhaps it's time to look at the approach. You can't just sign up for a marathon without a progressive plan. You don't start at 26 miles, do you? We want to explode off the starting line with SO much excitement and passion that we are utterly breathless and wheezing before the end of the first mile. You burn yourself out quickly, possibly even injure yourself if you manage to get further. Sound familiar? Millions of people are doing this, over and over and over. It took me 8 years of this mindset to begin wondering what I was missing.
Think about it. Is this approach really effective? You've made the decision, you're FINALLY ready to change your life!! You're going to pour EVERYTHING you have into making it happen and you want it to happen FAST to keep you motivated. Your intentions are good, nothing short of pure, soul-burning desire to succeed, whatever the cost! Just hold on! Take a step back, a deep, cleansing breath, relax and start again. It's not a sprint, it's a life-long marathon.
Why Rapid Changes and Quick Fixes Don't Work Long Term
Now don't get me wrong, there is ALWAYS the exception to the rule, the people that have incredible success with fads, gimmicks, hyped up garbage and crazy diet strategies. Those are the ones you see in before and after's but look for the long term results and I bet you will have a hell of a time tracking those down.
Take it slow. I know you want to get up and go, start that crazy program, spend hours in the gym and drastically reduce your calories. We are North Americans! We are brought up with quick fixes, fast food, convenience. We are ULTRA fast-paced, there is no time for taking ANYTHING slow! To be perfectly honest there are LOADS of programs that will cause weight loss. You can get results on a donut diet but your quality of health and chances of long-term success will be significantly lower and often your quality of health and metabolism suffer dearly. I did this, myself, just a few years ago in under a year. Not only that but this approach creates all kinds of disadvantages you probably weren't aware of.
Not all Weight Loss is Equal
Rapid weight loss ALWAYS breaks down muscle. This is NOT good and will cause that skinny-fat phenomenon. High body fat and low body weight carries the same risk factors as someone who has the same body fat percentage and is overweight! You'll lack that sexy, toned and healthy shape and be jiggly all over. If you were quite overweight you'll have more issues with excess skin due to the lack of muscle "filling" it out. Especially if you're working the same muscle groups day in and day out, spending long, monotonous days on boring cardio machines and skipping the weights because you don't want to turn into she-hulk. No, you won't wake up looking like a steroid-fiend after a few weeks, months, or even years of lifting. That sort of definition and build takes a ridiculous amount of time, dedication, and highly specific and customized nutrition and training.
I don't know about you, but I would MUCH rather spend 45 minutes in the gym with a well-balanced diet, eating 2000 calories a day, that isn't making me want to eat my children. I have FAR better things I could be doing with my time and energy than dragging out workouts and dieting to extremes, cutting out multiple food groups and obsessing over numbers. Work out SMARTER, not necessarily harder.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Logically, if you are overweight and begin at 1000 calories and 2 hours in the gym 5 days a week, what happens when you hit the inevitable plateau? Your only option would be to DECREASE calories or INCREASE workouts, right? What happens if your mega program lacks the rapid results you're aching for? Suddenly it's not worth the effort. Do you think you'll still be motivated to spend 2 hours a day in the gym sweating oceans when your progress stalls for weeks or months? How about when life inevitably happens, the kids get sick, the car breaks down, you have 10 extra responsibilities on your plate, and you suddenly don't have time for such a workout? Do you really want to be eating 800 calories a day to keep seeing progress? If you nix those extensive workouts you can bet you'll see some reversal in progress pretty darn quickly from that hiatus. Even more discouraging!
PLAN and Accept
I'm telling you, these things happen. It seems every time we set our efforts on something positive that life throws boulders in your path. Every. Single. Time. That's not just you, that's the way it is. That's the way life ALWAYS will be! Don't wait for that to CHANGE. YOU have to be prepared to dodge them, dart around them and, sometimes, accept when things don't go as planned. Because they will NEVER go as planned.
WHAT SOCIETY HAS BEEN DOING ISN"T WORKING SO STOP DOING IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN EXPECTING DIFFERENT RESULTS!!! If you got results and it didn't last, chances are it's not YOU that is weak, useless and pathetic, lacking the strength and willpower to succeed. It could mean the program was setup poorly to create rapid results with NO attention to long-term results and what creates them. Slow, calculated, sustainable life changes. Are we getting the idea yet? ;)
Find a Solid Source you can Trust
Is it easy? No. If you want something you CAN achieve it with the RIGHT guidance and direction. Throw away your fads and gimmicks, diet pills, fat burners, wraps, creams, lotions, laxatives, vibration machines, magic drinks and anything else that promises miracle results without real effort because you can bet your ass you will be disappointed in the end, back to your previous weight or more in 2/3 of cases (thanks to burning of all that calorie-burning muscle). There is no magic, no secrets, just science and old fashioned persistence and long-term commitment. No matter what, if you are constantly moving forward, making small changes, you WILL get to your goal. Maybe not in 3 months or even 6 months, maybe not even in 5 years, but you cannot deny that you WILL get there if you continue to learn, grow and keep on keeping on.
Cheers.
JOIN our 2014 15 Day Flat-Belly Detox or 15 Day Inch Loss Jumpstart challenges starting January 6! Click HERE to learn more on our Facebook Challenge page!
JOIN our 2014 15 Day Flat-Belly Detox or 15 Day Inch Loss Jumpstart challenges starting January 6! Click HERE to learn more on our Facebook Challenge page!
* Check back in the coming days for Part 2 on discovering what drives you *
* For more information on nutrition and science-based weight management program visit HealthyStrong *
Friday 13 December 2013
Take Off Your Sunglasses!
Yesterday I was listening to an audiobook that echoed within my soul. I could hear the pieces clicking together in my head, finally finding where they were supposed to fit. Suddenly, it all became so vivid and clear, as I removed my purple sunglasses for the first time. WHY is it that How-To programs simply aren't enough, EVEN when the intention, action and sheer determination to succeed are present?
I want to share with you an example that was used in the book entitiled, "If How-To's Were Enough We Would All Be Skinny, Rich and Happy" by Brian Klemmer. In the first Chapter he talks about why How-To's are not enough, why one single guru cannot teach everyone to be skinny, rich and happy.
The success of an individual depends primarily on the sunglasses the eyes are seeing through. If you are born with purple sunglasses you will believe that a white piece of paper is, in fact, purple. If someone tries to tell you the paper is white you would probably call them crazy. White does not even exist in your vocabulary because you have never seen or experienced white, you have only seen purple. You may not even realize you are WEARING those sunglasses unless you were to educate yourself on sunglasses.
So, you hear about sunglasses and are intrigued so you search for more information. Upon finding a solid source your eyes are opened to the fact that you do, indeed, have purple sunglasses on. "How could this be?", you ask. You remove those sunglasses and suddenly the world appears very different than it has until this moment. You see the paper and suddenly it is white. Wow! Had you chosen to never learn about sunglasses you wouldn't have even been willing and open to SEE that sunglasses exist and the way we see and do things can be altered, with the simple KNOWLEDGE that those sunglasses exist. The wonder truly is that we can REMOVE these sunglasses in as little as a few seconds!
If you find yourself stuck in a world of purple, unable to make the changes you so desire, perhaps it is the sunglasses you are wearing. Perhaps it is your CORE beliefs, those unconscious thoughts you were not even aware you had, preventing you from seeing beyond the purple sunglasses. So the answer? Start looking for sunglasses!
What IF you knew you could open your world to all kinds of colors just by LEARNING about the sunglasses. You don't have to accept all of them, but this is exactly why being OPEN to new things and ideas, thoughts can revolutionize your life, help you move forward. There is always new information emerging, never allow yourself to become stagnant by refusing to accept new information. Who knows, it might even change the course of your entire life!
I want to share with you an example that was used in the book entitiled, "If How-To's Were Enough We Would All Be Skinny, Rich and Happy" by Brian Klemmer. In the first Chapter he talks about why How-To's are not enough, why one single guru cannot teach everyone to be skinny, rich and happy.
The success of an individual depends primarily on the sunglasses the eyes are seeing through. If you are born with purple sunglasses you will believe that a white piece of paper is, in fact, purple. If someone tries to tell you the paper is white you would probably call them crazy. White does not even exist in your vocabulary because you have never seen or experienced white, you have only seen purple. You may not even realize you are WEARING those sunglasses unless you were to educate yourself on sunglasses.
So, you hear about sunglasses and are intrigued so you search for more information. Upon finding a solid source your eyes are opened to the fact that you do, indeed, have purple sunglasses on. "How could this be?", you ask. You remove those sunglasses and suddenly the world appears very different than it has until this moment. You see the paper and suddenly it is white. Wow! Had you chosen to never learn about sunglasses you wouldn't have even been willing and open to SEE that sunglasses exist and the way we see and do things can be altered, with the simple KNOWLEDGE that those sunglasses exist. The wonder truly is that we can REMOVE these sunglasses in as little as a few seconds!
If you find yourself stuck in a world of purple, unable to make the changes you so desire, perhaps it is the sunglasses you are wearing. Perhaps it is your CORE beliefs, those unconscious thoughts you were not even aware you had, preventing you from seeing beyond the purple sunglasses. So the answer? Start looking for sunglasses!
What IF you knew you could open your world to all kinds of colors just by LEARNING about the sunglasses. You don't have to accept all of them, but this is exactly why being OPEN to new things and ideas, thoughts can revolutionize your life, help you move forward. There is always new information emerging, never allow yourself to become stagnant by refusing to accept new information. Who knows, it might even change the course of your entire life!
Thursday 12 December 2013
Happy, Healthy Holidays?!?
Happy Holidays!
For most it can’t come soon enough (minus the cost of
gifts!). The New Year is coming. Will you be making some resolutions this year?
Over 50% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions and only 20% follow
through with them! Top 10 resolutions in 2012 include;
1)
Lose Weight
2)
Get organized
3)
Spend less/save more
4)
Enjoy life to the fullest
5)
Stay fit/healthy
6)
Learn something exciting
7)
Quit smoking
8)
Help someone with their dreams
9)
Fall in love
10) Spend time with family
I don’t think we need to wait for a day to roll around to
start making and striving for goals. EVERY single day we have the opportunity
to be better, why should it be black and white??? Start TODAY making better
decisions. I’m not talking about not enjoying the holidays and stressing over
calories, weight gain and fat- NO one should be expecting to lose weight over
the holidays unless you want to feel miserable, left out and deprived! But does
that mean we should go crazy with the holiday goodies because we’re starting
the “mother of all diets” on January 1??? NO!!!!
NIX black and white thinking and start focusing on eating
MORE quality food like fruits, veggies and lean meats. Don’t focus on what you
CAN’T or shouldn’t be having, focus. Make sure you let yourself indulge without
the guilt and self-berrating behaviours. Don’t go punishing yourself with
excessive exercise or not eating all day in preparation. This is NOT a
balanced, happy or healthy lifestyle. This only feeds the issues and compounds
them. Trust me. 20 years of experience over here dieting and failing, never
achieveing health but often losing lots of weight (and feeling like crap as a
result because I didn’t even CARE about health!)
So go! Enjoy the Holidays, focus on family, friends, what
you’re thankful for and what you would like to change in the new year. Enjoy
those treats in moderation (tell yourself you’re bad for having any and you can
be sure to binge since you’re “never” going to enjoy it again), make sure
you’re still getting quality nutrition as much as possible, continue with
exercise and healthy active habits and feel the freedom that comes with it!
Here are some specials for December. Please consider
supporting small local businesses over the Holidays, you know, the people that
work real hard to earn every dollar! Your friend who sells online or from home,
the corner shop. KNOW that your dollars are supporting someone else’s Christmas
and holiday season instead of some billion dollar box store that considers
customer service a kid who isn’t sure nor cares what you’re talking about
anyway J Let me help you create the perfect last
minute gifts- the gift of health and incredible quality products that work,
have no impact on the environment and that are safe for the whole family!
Cheers!
Friday 6 December 2013
Live 2014 STRONG!!
Join me in 2014 to become the BEST version of you! 2013
brought a LOT of challenges, lessons learned and personal growth. Not too long
ago I was floating in a sea of confusion when it came to supplementing and
toxins! It felt overwhelming- where do I even BEGIN?!? It was easier to go
about my days with only vague ideas (and in some cases what I took to be true,
but without any real, solid scientific evidence) when it came to supplementing.
I ate well and assumed I got everything I needed from that food. Perfect? No,
but no one is perfect, right? I heard on some doctor show that the cheap
prenatals were the same as the name brand prenatals in Walmart so I could save
some money, never even KNOWING that vitamins were made THREE different ways and
that there was actually some really solid, and clear, evidence that poor
quality vitamins can actually do MORE harm than good!
VERY well stated in the Lankmark Study!
This study was NOT done by Shaklee!
Note that in SEVERAL areas supplement users were actually
WORSE off taking some other brand of vitamins versus NOTHING at all! There are
numerous studies illustrating the dangers of synthetic supplements. Vitamin D2,
for example, has been shown toxic at dramatically lower dosages than vitamins
D3. Beta-carotene was found to INCREASE lung cancer risk and, if lung cancer
was already developing, INCREASE the rate and metastisis of the cancer (spreading).
Any study I have seen talking about toxicity concerns have been at either
incredibly unrealistic dosages and/or on SYNTHETIC vitamins (those that are MAN
made because it is not possible to PATENT a natural vitamin). If you would like
more in depth information on quality issues that separate the 3 different ways
vitamins are made please contact me to attend a free online or one-on-one
seminar. See event schedule attached!
Education is ESSENTIAL and has grown into an incredible
passion of mine over the last 10 years but I have always neglected
MICRO-nutrients (vitamins and minerals), paying close attention to calories,
protein, carbs and fats with the assumption that I was doing well.
My body was CLEARLY indicating to me that there were some
details missing. Not too long ago I suffered with chronic fatigue, afternoon
crashes, poor memory and recall, mental fog and “spacey” feeling, symptoms of
thyroid dysfunction, low blood sugar, joint pain, headaches, migraines, often
feeling ill, severe PMS and menstruation..the list went on. I was diagnosed
with irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome at 19 years old. By
definition, both these diagnoses are determined with testing, when all tests
come back “normal”. Basically there is no explanation for your symptoms. So
you’re either depressed, it’s all in your head or it’s something most doctors
don’t have training in or screen for- vitamin deficiencies. Even when these
levels are within normal there can be symptoms of SUB-clinical deficiency. “Optimal”
levels are determined by population averages. Considering the nation’s average
diet, lifestyle, stress, environmental pollutions and lack of activity it’s no
wonder that the averages will definitely be below optimal health levels!
The reality is this- malnutrition is an EPIDEMIC. Autoimmune
disease is up 500% over the last 10 years ALONE!!! Asthma, ADD/ADHD, autism,
heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, stroke are ALL increasing! 50% of our
children suffer with a CHRONIC illness. 33% of our children are predicted to
have SHORTER life spans than their parents. Are you comfortable with this? Do
you really think we’re doing, “just fine”? I don’t. And I know for a FACT that
there are a LOT of little things we can do to change our fate. From personal
experience, yes, but SCIENCE is proving it time and time again. We don’t hear
so much about it because prevention doesn’t make the big bucks.
If you’re feeling lost in a sea of confusion then allow me
to GUIDE you through it! My passion is in educating, sharing the knowledge so
many have difficulty sorting through. I love SCIENCE and helping people sort
through the misleading, poorly regulated and outright dishonest world of
PRODUCTS. It doesn’t have to be overwhelming! There are never any secrets, I will
have something solid to back up what I say so that you know you can walk away
with a greater knowledge and understanding of how to navigate supplements of
all kinds, food, diets, exercise and toxins. Whether or not you are ready to
act on that information is completely individual, but if you want to make
changes LEARNING is the BEST tool you can have in your pocket! You ALWAYS
choose the speed and depth of learning and action. There are MANY very bad
products out there but there are also some good ones and just a very select few
actual gems!
** 15 Day 180 JumpStart Challenge begins in January!
Sunday 1 December 2013
Living with FIRE!
THIS is what I want. Not money or fame but to live with significance. No regrets at the end of my life. A rule I live by is to think if it will really matter to me, on my death bed (if I'm lucky enough to contemplate my life this way before death!), at the end of my life. If the answer isn't a clear yes then I know I can move on, even if it seems difficult to let whatever it is go.
My primary drive has never really been money. Do I want to travel and live comfortably? Of course I do! But if I'm lucky enough to find success in my search for a greater significance, in helping others grow and discover their own potential, to live their BEST life, then that is nothing but an added bonus. I have been so dark, buried in the crap of life, having been dealt a much more difficult hand in most experiences in my life than most. But it never has and never will keep me down and I find great comfort in KNOWING, very deep down in my soul, that there is a greater purpose for me. I'm not satisfied sitting at home, working, eating, sleeping and playing. I love my family to the ends of the world but I I NEED more in life, for myself AND for them. I want to teach my children understanding in a world full of prejudice and assumptions. I want to teach them to not give up when things get tough in a culture of people that quit when the going gets tough. I want to teach them inner strength, resilience and a hard work ethic, to never settle for anything less than their dreams and to NEVER stop dreaming big (and putting in the effort to achieve them). I want to SHOW them by modelling it myself because children learn what you DO, NOT what you SAY. Look around. Often people's children are a mirror reflection of themselves. Mothers with low self-esteem often raise children with low self-esteem. Mothers who struggle with food addiction often raise children who struggle with food addiction. There are always exceptions to the rule but generally speaking our children will very likely become a more modern version of ourselves. With all the baggage I had (anxiety, severe depression, self harm, disordered eating and incredibly seriously low self-esteem) I KNEW I had to make some changes in the way I was living and thinking. It was time to take responsibility.
No, I'm not satisfied with the "normal", with disliking my job, missing important moments with my boys. I need something bigger, to reach MORE people in hopes of changing the life of even just one.
Each and every hardship has been leading me, redirecting me, to the path I'm meant to be on. Each one serving a purpose, I'm sure. Maybe it just helps me cope but there seems to be a pattern when I think about it! When we live with SIGNIFICANCE success comes along for the ride. When we live without significance or when significance takes a backseat that success is often short-lived or doesn't provide the happiness and satisfaction you seek.
Monday 25 November 2013
Me?!? A REAL writer?!?
So I was asked to write an article for a women's health and fitness magazine, very exciting and a little terrifying! But what do you think my automatic reaction was? I'm not capable!! I have ZERO formal training, all I really have is a burning passion for what I wish to share with the world. That's it. I didn't even do well in high school English because my teacher had said I wrote with TOO MUCH emotion!! Self-doubt sank in quickly. Could I even see myself doing well enough to pass the "audition" and get a REAL position as a writer? I'm a nurse for crying out loud, a nurse who spends her free time writing and researching, learning and growing, who has been deeply passionate about health and fitness science for many years but I have a thousand reasons why I am not worthy!! Don't we all?? But when I stop and really THINK about it, where am I most happy? It's always been when I'm writing. Funny, I used to love writing so much. I had countless journals and wrote hundreds of poems that I still keep in my basement, seen above. I even wrote a 40 page story in high school but because of ONE teacher who didn't see things the way I did and my severe dislike for following what everyone else was saying was right and sticking to the "rules" I gave up. I probably never would have even considered writing other than facebook and the occasional blog if it weren't for this one individual who saw potential and decided to give me a shot, with many others in line for the same opportunity and I was still sitting blind to what he saw, not even realizing anyone even really read or cared about my rants and statuses!
If you combine writing with health and fitness for women I think you're pretty much marrying the things in life that make me the happiest. Something I ignored for years, stifled down because I just didn't BELIEVE in MYSELF!! I was looking for the approval of others and when I opened myself publicly for the first time I felt rejected and stupid. And through this continued self- doubt and talking with some amazing friends I realized there was obviously something that caught someone's eye that left an impression while others fought for the chance I was offered. Others with training and talent. I don't know how it's going to work out but I can tell you this. I have chosen to believe this individual. I live with passion and emotion and a very deep desire to help and share with others. I have ALWAYS wanted to tell my story to the world and have never really hesitated in doing so. I have no shame. I have a story, like everyone, and I believe it's my purpose to share with others so that I can help even ONE person see their own potential. And suddenly I feel this old desire creeping back into me again as I ALLOW myself to BELIEVE that maybe...just MAYBE this is possible. It won't stop here, I already know that, even if it turns out no one else at the magazine agrees with my "potential". I might not have the education and fine tuned skills but I have NEVER lacked the passion, the heart and the determination to grow, learn and improve beyond what I ever thought possible. Wish me luck!!
If you combine writing with health and fitness for women I think you're pretty much marrying the things in life that make me the happiest. Something I ignored for years, stifled down because I just didn't BELIEVE in MYSELF!! I was looking for the approval of others and when I opened myself publicly for the first time I felt rejected and stupid. And through this continued self- doubt and talking with some amazing friends I realized there was obviously something that caught someone's eye that left an impression while others fought for the chance I was offered. Others with training and talent. I don't know how it's going to work out but I can tell you this. I have chosen to believe this individual. I live with passion and emotion and a very deep desire to help and share with others. I have ALWAYS wanted to tell my story to the world and have never really hesitated in doing so. I have no shame. I have a story, like everyone, and I believe it's my purpose to share with others so that I can help even ONE person see their own potential. And suddenly I feel this old desire creeping back into me again as I ALLOW myself to BELIEVE that maybe...just MAYBE this is possible. It won't stop here, I already know that, even if it turns out no one else at the magazine agrees with my "potential". I might not have the education and fine tuned skills but I have NEVER lacked the passion, the heart and the determination to grow, learn and improve beyond what I ever thought possible. Wish me luck!!
Thursday 21 November 2013
Vacationing Fit
I'm feeling a sense of freedom this year I never thought I would be able to TRULY experience. Does that mean I don't think I have any imperfections? Of course not! I have a lot of old stretch marks, my stomach skin after Jaxon takes on a sag and 4-5 little "rolls" from having two incredible little boys. There are many little imperfections... because I'm a PERSON. I have flaws just like you do, but I have been able to get to a place, with many years of personal growth and always taking that next step forward (not easy to do when things seem hopeless and impossible and life throws every challenge it can muster at you- yeah, I've been there too!).
Instead of starving myself for a week or two before my vacation, pre-punishing myself in the gym and kitchen all the while imagining the binge I'm going to unleash at that buffet I'm focussing on the GOOD behaviours and making a conscious effort every day to do more of those. I'm not going to agonize about what I'm eating but I'm also not going to set myself loose like a buffet massacre with that black and white mentality. No. I'm done with that. Took me 20 years to learn that verbally abusing myself, black and white thinking and severe restriction and starvation NEVER end well. What do you mean I can eat carbs and have abs? Letting go of that mentality wasn't easy, don't get me wrong! It was devastating, actually. That was everything I knew, every day! And it's NOT going to be easy for you, either. Anything worthwhile, especially personal growth, ONLY comes in that discomfort zone. THAT'S when the real growth happens.
Sunday 17 November 2013
Why Supplement? My Story.
Considering supplementation has become a great passion of mine, particularly over the last year, I thought it was time to share my story.
I have been intrigued by health, fitness and our body's ability to change based on macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, fat) for years already, had been working for many years on my own personal diet to improve from my childhood of white breads, pasta, butter, mayo, sugary cereals and fattening snacks. I was bingeing by age 10. By 14 I had a full blown eating disorder and my health problems began.
As I grew up I began to learn and understand a great deal about macronutrients and lost quite a bit of body fat over time. I wasn't obese but had always struggled with being generally "pudgy" and lacking the firmness and definition I wanted. A key factor was missing, though. MICROnutrients. You know, those over 80 vitamins, minerals and trace elements found in nature that our body requires to functionally optimally? Yeah, I didn't either. My best assumption was that I ate pretty good. World's better than the "average" diet. I really had no idea for sure but I remember hearing from my doctor and some famous doctor on TV that supplementing is simply ensuring we're getting what we need in case it's lacking in our diet. I believed all of them, I mean they're DOCTORS, right?
Here's a few of the things I struggled with over the years starting at 14.
- Mononucleosis (that came and went for several years)
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (diagnosed after 5 years seeing specialists and normal tests consistently)
- Irritable bowel syndrome (diagnosed after many years of tests, specialists and talk of Chrohn's, Colitis and irritable bowel disease)
- Irregular and absent periods
- Extremely heavy periods with significant discomfort
- Dramatic PMS including headaches, strong cravings, mood swings and physical symptoms
- Significant lower back pain
- Knee pains when going down stairs
- Joint aches and pains
- Extreme soreness and excessive fatigue after workouts
- Depression
-Anxiety
- Blood sugar regulation issues
- Symptoms of Thyroid imbalance (normal tests)
- Light sensitivity
- Brittle nails and hair
- Pale skin tone
- Ovarian cysts
- Miscarriage
- Headaches and migraines
I was introduced to the concept that QUALITY determines results when it comes to supplementation by my best friend. She loved me enough to insist I go to a seminar with her and it changed my life. I has almost always supplemented, even inconsistently, with cheap, low quality supplements. I NEVER felt a noticeable difference, big or small, over time. Literally, all I had to do was change brands to the top name in Natural Nutrition to feel and see the difference.
To name a few of the predominant ones.
The ONLY questions my doctors ever asked me regarding my lifestyle was "do you exercise" and "do you eat healthy". When asked, nine out of 10 people said they felt they ate healthy (Consumer Health Reports, January 2011).
t wasn't instant but within 3 months (average cell turnover rate is 90-120 days so now this makes sense) I noticed I didn't NEED that afternoon coffee, that I didn't crash and lose my energy so dramatically. I noticed my nails getting stronger, my hair was THICKER and more shiny!! This was a revolution. I had ALWAYS struggled with brittle nails and thin, fine hair that fell flat. My skin tone looked healthier, without a fake tan and foundation. My knee's STOPPED hurting (this took about 8 months to notice), my period cramps decreased by at LEAST 95% and those crazy chocolate cravings and nonstop appetite decreased (I still am dealing with some hormone imbalance form years of birth control). I wasn't freezing cold in the middle of summer anymore, I was able to have energy during the day even though my youngest was up 4-6x a night for months. My overall health really changed quite drastically over the period of a year with just a basic start and adding in a few things as we went along. I became a better mom, a better wife. I didn't get sick all the time, catching every virus that came around (not good when you're a pediatric nurse).
All these little things I was living with just because... because we think they're normal (because they're SO common), because I didn't believe that micronutrients had that kind of power (I believed only medicine did)... because I was confused and didn't even know where to start, I had no idea how supplements were even different from one another and I believed my doctor (who has zero hours nutritional training). I didn't go find out for myself and I was confused by the media, magazine articles and false claims. Finding someone and a company I could trust, top to bottom, that had MY needs first, and helped me LEARN the differences and develop a personalized plan, to work through the difficulties that arose along the way... it changed my life.
This invitation to learn more about what I was MISSING, what I didn't realize, what I didn't even KNOW about and the ability to open my mind and ACCEPT that I didn't know it all, to give it a good solid try, changed my life. And in turn, I'm able to change others' lives. <3
Chelsea
**Ask me about one of my online natural health seminars**
I have been intrigued by health, fitness and our body's ability to change based on macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, fat) for years already, had been working for many years on my own personal diet to improve from my childhood of white breads, pasta, butter, mayo, sugary cereals and fattening snacks. I was bingeing by age 10. By 14 I had a full blown eating disorder and my health problems began.
As I grew up I began to learn and understand a great deal about macronutrients and lost quite a bit of body fat over time. I wasn't obese but had always struggled with being generally "pudgy" and lacking the firmness and definition I wanted. A key factor was missing, though. MICROnutrients. You know, those over 80 vitamins, minerals and trace elements found in nature that our body requires to functionally optimally? Yeah, I didn't either. My best assumption was that I ate pretty good. World's better than the "average" diet. I really had no idea for sure but I remember hearing from my doctor and some famous doctor on TV that supplementing is simply ensuring we're getting what we need in case it's lacking in our diet. I believed all of them, I mean they're DOCTORS, right?
Here's a few of the things I struggled with over the years starting at 14.
- Mononucleosis (that came and went for several years)
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (diagnosed after 5 years seeing specialists and normal tests consistently)
- Irritable bowel syndrome (diagnosed after many years of tests, specialists and talk of Chrohn's, Colitis and irritable bowel disease)
- Irregular and absent periods
- Extremely heavy periods with significant discomfort
- Dramatic PMS including headaches, strong cravings, mood swings and physical symptoms
- Significant lower back pain
- Knee pains when going down stairs
- Joint aches and pains
- Extreme soreness and excessive fatigue after workouts
- Depression
-Anxiety
- Blood sugar regulation issues
- Symptoms of Thyroid imbalance (normal tests)
- Light sensitivity
- Brittle nails and hair
- Pale skin tone
- Ovarian cysts
- Miscarriage
- Headaches and migraines
I was introduced to the concept that QUALITY determines results when it comes to supplementation by my best friend. She loved me enough to insist I go to a seminar with her and it changed my life. I has almost always supplemented, even inconsistently, with cheap, low quality supplements. I NEVER felt a noticeable difference, big or small, over time. Literally, all I had to do was change brands to the top name in Natural Nutrition to feel and see the difference.
To name a few of the predominant ones.
The ONLY questions my doctors ever asked me regarding my lifestyle was "do you exercise" and "do you eat healthy". When asked, nine out of 10 people said they felt they ate healthy (Consumer Health Reports, January 2011).
t wasn't instant but within 3 months (average cell turnover rate is 90-120 days so now this makes sense) I noticed I didn't NEED that afternoon coffee, that I didn't crash and lose my energy so dramatically. I noticed my nails getting stronger, my hair was THICKER and more shiny!! This was a revolution. I had ALWAYS struggled with brittle nails and thin, fine hair that fell flat. My skin tone looked healthier, without a fake tan and foundation. My knee's STOPPED hurting (this took about 8 months to notice), my period cramps decreased by at LEAST 95% and those crazy chocolate cravings and nonstop appetite decreased (I still am dealing with some hormone imbalance form years of birth control). I wasn't freezing cold in the middle of summer anymore, I was able to have energy during the day even though my youngest was up 4-6x a night for months. My overall health really changed quite drastically over the period of a year with just a basic start and adding in a few things as we went along. I became a better mom, a better wife. I didn't get sick all the time, catching every virus that came around (not good when you're a pediatric nurse).
All these little things I was living with just because... because we think they're normal (because they're SO common), because I didn't believe that micronutrients had that kind of power (I believed only medicine did)... because I was confused and didn't even know where to start, I had no idea how supplements were even different from one another and I believed my doctor (who has zero hours nutritional training). I didn't go find out for myself and I was confused by the media, magazine articles and false claims. Finding someone and a company I could trust, top to bottom, that had MY needs first, and helped me LEARN the differences and develop a personalized plan, to work through the difficulties that arose along the way... it changed my life.
This invitation to learn more about what I was MISSING, what I didn't realize, what I didn't even KNOW about and the ability to open my mind and ACCEPT that I didn't know it all, to give it a good solid try, changed my life. And in turn, I'm able to change others' lives. <3
Chelsea
**Ask me about one of my online natural health seminars**
Tuesday 12 November 2013
Sick Care
This is a question I used to struggle with myself. I have taken vitamins for many years but would always buy the cheapest versions, certain I ate a very healthy diet, especially in comparison to the "average" American diet, and thus got all the nutrients my body needed. I struggled with disordered eating since the age of ten but always got my 7-10 servings of veggies a day, plenty more protein than I was "supposed" to according to food guides and indulged in fast and processed food on an irregular basis.
At 14 I began experiencing many health issues. By 19 I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (constipation dominant). Both syndromes, by definition, are ruled out by objective diagnostic testing. When tests come back normal time and time again, and specialists are unable to find anything suspicious, the doctor may give you these diagnoses. I suffered from poor blood sugar regulation (delayed uptake), headaches, back and knee pain, bunions, severe PMS and menstrual cramping with very heavy and extended bleeding (clots and a cycle that lasted upwards of 7 days). Cancer was brought up on one occasion and I suffered with extreme fatigue, malaise and a lot of abdominal discomfort and pains. The only question my doctor ever asked regarding diet and lifestyle was if I ate healthy (that's mighty subjective) and exercised. Later I found out from a friend who's daughter is a surgeon, that she and all other doctors she knew recieved ZERO nutritional training.
This blew me away but as I began to think about it, it made perfect sense. Medicine is crisis care, not prevention. There's BIG money in crisis care versus
prevention. We wait until we are in crisis and THEN treat the symptoms or mask the issue by aggressively dealing with the symptom. For example, we have a headache and take a pill to rid the pain instead of listening to our body's signals that something is amiss. We BURN the nerves in our back when we have severe back pain to effectively kill the pain instead of treating the underlying issue.
We are brought up to believe we can pop a pill for every ailment. Headaches, flu, sore tummy, sore legs, a cold, antibiotics for infection, reflux and heartburn, poor attention and hyperactivity. The list is endless. It begins very early, my youngest being given medication to stop stomach acid production because he was suffering from reflux. After 4 months of frustration and being up 6x a night and a baby I couldn't even lay down without him arching and screaming in pain most of the time, we began to see the side effects of reduced stomach acid. Poor digestion and undigested food, bloating, a baby that was sick with every illness that breezed through the wind... stomach acid is there for a REASON- to digest food and kill bacteria/pathogens that get into the stomach among many others. We decided to look into CAUSES and treat it naturally and within 3 days, over the weekend, saw a good 60-70% improvement. Dramatic and very clear. His specialist told us it was a "placebo" effect.
Properly prescribed drugs and other health care errors are the THIRD leading cause of death in the USA today. The risks go far beyond masking your body's signs and signals.
I'm a registered nurse. I DO believe in and use medicine when needed, it is VERY critical in acute and life-threatening situations. Absolutely. BUT I do believe our culture is "a pill or every ill" and we are lacking this preventative care, treating the CAUSE and educating instead of jumping right to medications. Natural remedies without a long list of potential and guaranteed side effects when used correctly.
Dare the CHANGE your thinking, to RE-think health care (sick care) and take proactive steps to learn about natural options when possible. If your primary source of information is the news, magazines, articles or your doctor I would highly suggest starting to do your own research on specific relevant topics to you.
I offer monthly online natural health and lifestyle seminars open to everyone. Educate yourself. Empower yourself. The difference it can make in your health is astounding. STOP masking the problems with bandaid solutions. <3
At 14 I began experiencing many health issues. By 19 I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (constipation dominant). Both syndromes, by definition, are ruled out by objective diagnostic testing. When tests come back normal time and time again, and specialists are unable to find anything suspicious, the doctor may give you these diagnoses. I suffered from poor blood sugar regulation (delayed uptake), headaches, back and knee pain, bunions, severe PMS and menstrual cramping with very heavy and extended bleeding (clots and a cycle that lasted upwards of 7 days). Cancer was brought up on one occasion and I suffered with extreme fatigue, malaise and a lot of abdominal discomfort and pains. The only question my doctor ever asked regarding diet and lifestyle was if I ate healthy (that's mighty subjective) and exercised. Later I found out from a friend who's daughter is a surgeon, that she and all other doctors she knew recieved ZERO nutritional training.
This blew me away but as I began to think about it, it made perfect sense. Medicine is crisis care, not prevention. There's BIG money in crisis care versus
prevention. We wait until we are in crisis and THEN treat the symptoms or mask the issue by aggressively dealing with the symptom. For example, we have a headache and take a pill to rid the pain instead of listening to our body's signals that something is amiss. We BURN the nerves in our back when we have severe back pain to effectively kill the pain instead of treating the underlying issue.
We are brought up to believe we can pop a pill for every ailment. Headaches, flu, sore tummy, sore legs, a cold, antibiotics for infection, reflux and heartburn, poor attention and hyperactivity. The list is endless. It begins very early, my youngest being given medication to stop stomach acid production because he was suffering from reflux. After 4 months of frustration and being up 6x a night and a baby I couldn't even lay down without him arching and screaming in pain most of the time, we began to see the side effects of reduced stomach acid. Poor digestion and undigested food, bloating, a baby that was sick with every illness that breezed through the wind... stomach acid is there for a REASON- to digest food and kill bacteria/pathogens that get into the stomach among many others. We decided to look into CAUSES and treat it naturally and within 3 days, over the weekend, saw a good 60-70% improvement. Dramatic and very clear. His specialist told us it was a "placebo" effect.
Properly prescribed drugs and other health care errors are the THIRD leading cause of death in the USA today. The risks go far beyond masking your body's signs and signals.
I'm a registered nurse. I DO believe in and use medicine when needed, it is VERY critical in acute and life-threatening situations. Absolutely. BUT I do believe our culture is "a pill or every ill" and we are lacking this preventative care, treating the CAUSE and educating instead of jumping right to medications. Natural remedies without a long list of potential and guaranteed side effects when used correctly.
Dare the CHANGE your thinking, to RE-think health care (sick care) and take proactive steps to learn about natural options when possible. If your primary source of information is the news, magazines, articles or your doctor I would highly suggest starting to do your own research on specific relevant topics to you.
I offer monthly online natural health and lifestyle seminars open to everyone. Educate yourself. Empower yourself. The difference it can make in your health is astounding. STOP masking the problems with bandaid solutions. <3
Wednesday 6 November 2013
What is Success?
What does success look like for you?
As I continue my journey along the road of entrepreneurs, stumbling, getting caught in pot holes, having gravel kicked up in my face daily sometimes I often find myself losing sight of what really matters to me. Why even bother doing this? Why go through the pain and the struggle? Why suffer when I can work and get guaranteed pay by the hour with a dreamless job, no goals and ambitions? If I were to reach success what would the even MEAN to me? You must define this for YOU, no matter where you are, what your goals, what you are or aren't doing. Are you living with purpose? For me it is working full time with something I LOVE so deeply that it doesn't feel like work. Even through the hard times, it feels like personal growth not obligations to earn pay to pay bills. I don't live to pay bills- THAT is NOT my purpose! I want to keep growing and developing as a person, be the BEST person, the best MOM I can in that moment. I want to live with true honesty, integrity and feel like I live that every day to my core. I want to make an IMPACT. To help others financially, in health, in happiness, to inspire and motivate to be better and keep growing, to be a part of a ripple effect of change. I want to teach my children about persistence and not giving up when things get tough. I want to give them the TOOLS they need to make good decisions, to be resilient, strong, healthy. I know I can always grow more, be more, do more. I don't want my children to lose their dreams into adulthood like so many. Remember when you were a child, dreaming of being a firemen, a policeman, an astronaut, a scientist, a doctor? What happened? Life gets hard and we want to quit. That's our culture. How proud would you be to see your children reach for those big dreams? THAT'S what I want. Not just for myself, but my children, my friends, their children. Success, to me, is not a number. When I die no one will remember if I didn't have $5 in my bank account but they WILL remember the legacy I've left behind, the lives changes, touched, mentored. On my deathbed I will remember the little things, how I treated my children, how I grew with them, not the iPad or the fancy car or computer or big house.
Tuesday 29 October 2013
Welcome to Fit'n'Feisty
Welcome to Fit'n'Feisty! I'm a 26 year old mother of two incredible little boys, registered pediatric nurse and health nut! My favorite snacks used to be ice cream, handfuls of chocolate chips, and sugary cereals and it began at 14 when I wanted to learn more about losing weight. I remember going to the movies and picking Fuzzy Peaches because they were "Fat Free"!!
I wasn't Fit nor was I Feisty... I actually had a lot going on. I suffered from a common disease... self-hatred. This brought on social and generalized anxiety, depression and eventually an eating disorder because I just didn't know what else to do. Well, that turned into an emotional crutch and release. It wasn't easy and the only thing that pulled me through was the sheer desire to get better. I immersed myself in learning more and ended up misinterpreting and internalizing things... food rules developed, food fears, deeper criticism and lack of resiliency. I spent hours on bodybuilding forums talking to the smartest people, reading scientific articles and how we could manipulate our bodies with macronutrients like protein, carbohydrates and fats. Even water and sodium! While neglecting the importance of all those dozens of MICROnutrients! And of course exercise. I thought I had to cut out all bad food and spend 1.5hrs in the gym killing myself a minimum 5x a week and when that didn't happen I was a failure. It wasn't a nice place to exist and absolutely not something I wanted to model to my children.
SO many mistakes and setbacks to learn balance. To let go of unrealistic expectations, that what I kept trying to do wasn't working long term and that I was a big part of the problem and the way I was thinking. I believe in cupcakes and cookies, natural nutrition and supplementation to help accomodate that balance and living optimally healthy so I can be my BEST self, inside and out. I believe in constantly learning and growing and understanding that children will be more like how you ARE than what you say. And I believe that YOU can do anything, overcome anything, achieve ANYTHING! <3
I wasn't Fit nor was I Feisty... I actually had a lot going on. I suffered from a common disease... self-hatred. This brought on social and generalized anxiety, depression and eventually an eating disorder because I just didn't know what else to do. Well, that turned into an emotional crutch and release. It wasn't easy and the only thing that pulled me through was the sheer desire to get better. I immersed myself in learning more and ended up misinterpreting and internalizing things... food rules developed, food fears, deeper criticism and lack of resiliency. I spent hours on bodybuilding forums talking to the smartest people, reading scientific articles and how we could manipulate our bodies with macronutrients like protein, carbohydrates and fats. Even water and sodium! While neglecting the importance of all those dozens of MICROnutrients! And of course exercise. I thought I had to cut out all bad food and spend 1.5hrs in the gym killing myself a minimum 5x a week and when that didn't happen I was a failure. It wasn't a nice place to exist and absolutely not something I wanted to model to my children.
SO many mistakes and setbacks to learn balance. To let go of unrealistic expectations, that what I kept trying to do wasn't working long term and that I was a big part of the problem and the way I was thinking. I believe in cupcakes and cookies, natural nutrition and supplementation to help accomodate that balance and living optimally healthy so I can be my BEST self, inside and out. I believe in constantly learning and growing and understanding that children will be more like how you ARE than what you say. And I believe that YOU can do anything, overcome anything, achieve ANYTHING! <3
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