Get Fit & Get Healthy in 2013!

I'm sharing my weight loss and healthy living tips in my 6-week Jumpstart program that starts January 14.

Turbo-charge your New Year's resolution!  6 weeks to totally transforming your physical health, emotional wellbeing, and mental clarity.

Do you want to reach your health goals in 2013?
Then, sign up for my 6-Week Jumpstart Program and you will!
Are you stressed out? Dragging through the day? Need a nap by 3pm or have major sugar cravings?

In 2013, do you want to:

• Achieve your optimal weight and have the body you love – without yet another restrictive diet that does not deliver lasting results?
• Finally end your battle with sugar and coffee – using strategies that get to the root cause of your cravings so it ceases to be a constant struggle that you can’t win?
• Have all the energy you want, so that you can juggle all your responsibilities without sacrificing your passion?
• Have the mental clarity that will bring your focus, efficiency and productivity?
• Attain emotional balance so that you (and your relationships) are no longer held back by mood swings and bouts of depression and/or anxiety?
• Have less stress and more rest?

     You can have it all in just 6 weeks!

My 6-Week Jumpstart is a home-study program that includes 6 modules designed to help you lose weight, learn how to choose healthier foods, get rid of toxins and stress in your life and create an exercise plan that fits YOUR lifestyle. You'll receive step-by-step action plans, healthy eating tricks, and handouts so you can get on your way to being fit and healthy forever!
No dieting, no calorie counting, no time-sucking routines, no kidding – I will show you how to make incremental changes that will lead to impactful, long-lasting results. I will show you how to pull the right levers to create major success. This is THE plan, plus more, that helped me achieve a 55-lb weight loss last year! 
Visit http://www.unlockbetterhealth.com/get-fit-get-healthy-6-week-jumpstart for more info! 

I did it and YOU can too!

  

From a Sixteen to a Six

     Today marks a historical day for me. I finally hit the 50-lb mark! When I started this clean eating journey two years ago, I never ever thought I was #1, that heavy and #2 that I could lose this much weight! I'm now smaller than I was when I met my husband fifteen years ago. However incredible the weight-loss is, it doesn't compare to how AMAZING I feel these days.
     Earlier this week I was speaking to a group of moms. I shared with them my "before" photo and spoke about the mom in the picture. I didn't recognize myself. I had forgotten how crappy I used to feel and that I usually couldn't make it through the day without a nap! Gone are the headaches, the migraines, the allergies, the high cholesterol, the frequent colds, bronchitis and sinus infections. Gone are the days of having no energy and feeling like a fog surrounded me. Gone are the dreaded trips to the mall to try on clothes to hide bulges and muffin top!
     Now I am prescription-free, full of energy and loving my new sexy body! I had an amazing time shopping for new clothes the other day! I tried on 8's and they were too big, so I grabbed the 6's! WOW! I was a size 16 two years ago! And what's even more amazing is that I am slowly still losing weight and firming up my abs and arms. Don't worry, I'm not going to become super skinny, I love food too much! But I still have some trouble areas, (my thighs!!) and they are next to go!
     The first 40 pounds was easiest to lose. I followed my weight-loss plan (yes I have a plan). But then, I was stuck for several months, hovering around a 40-45 lb loss. So, I did some research and found that we can carry up to 5 pounds of toxins in our body! I did a full house detox...from my make-up to cleaners to soaps. Then, I did a 7-day detox for my body. I ate raw soups, salads, tonics, smoothies and off the weight came. I'm still doing the detox, so I may even lose a few more pounds.
     Does this sound like something you want for yourself as well? Have you ever imagined what it would feel like to lose weight and feel healthy every day? As most of you know, I am now a Health Coach, receiving my education from the world's largest nutrition school, the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I have learned a tremendous amount of information about food, our bodies, optimal nutrition, fitness, how to lose weight, how to manage stress, and basically just how to feel so much better.
     Next month, I will be unveiling a Weight Loss Program that you can do where ever you live. I am also available for group speaking, corporate wellness and one-on-one health coaching. I do workshops on Detoxing, Kicking the Sugar Habit, Stress Management, Going Unprocessed and more! I also have a special on my Fall Detox right now.
     Visit my website, www.UnlockBetterHealth.com for more info or email me at unlockbetterhealth@gmail.com. When you sign up for my monthly newsletter, you will receive a copy of my FREE ebook, "The #1 thing you can do to improve your health today." I look forward to hearing from you.                                                                                                                                      

This is me, 181 lbs, on a low-fat diet of convenience foods!

This is me, 131 lbs, on a full-fat diet of whole foods!

Why do I care? Here's why!

A lot of family and friends have asked me, "Why are you doing this?" Doing what? I ask. Why am I blogging about the state of our food, why you should care about what you eat, or where it comes from? Well, mostly it's because I'm mad. I'm mad at what I have learned over the last two years. I thought I was feeding myself and my family a healthy diet and that we were doing all the right things we could to raise our children to be as healthy as they could be. Turns out, I was way off track and most of America is too. But, it's not your fault. (Well if you're feeding your kids McDonald's for dinner every night, then it is your fault!)
Why am I enrolled in Nutrition school and eager to help others overcome health concerns, weight problems, stress, anxiety, low energy and disease? Because I have found a way to fix all of that without drugs and without spending thousands of dollars on liposuction! Over the last year, I have lowered my high cholesterol, figured out that dairy foods were causing my allergies and post-nasal drip, lost 45 pounds, got rid of my daily headaches and migraines, turned around my low energy days and got myself off prescription medicines. I have abundant energy, sexy new clothes, increased libido, higher self-esteem, glowing skin, and feel just plain amazing! Crazy what whole foods can do for you!
I had lunch with my two girls at their school today. I know I shouldn't have been shocked, but I still was. The school lunch was abominable and the strawberry and chocolate milk was flowing. Worst off were those with packed lunches. I saw a plethora of Uncrustables (pj & j with high fructose corn syrup and transfats!), packages of Doritos (containing MSG), numerous juice boxes (again with HFCS), potato chips, cookies, Lunchables, Oreos, Cheetos, Cheezits and the like. Here's some shots:


School lunch: hot dog, beans, candied apples w/ whipped cream, strawberry milk (29 grams of sugar)

Cheetos, Goldfish, Capri Sun and a cookie

Uncrustable, fake cheese and crackers,  fruit snacks and a cookie
 

  Do you think the parents know that 90% of processed food is genetically modified? If you aren't aware of what a GMO is, please visit this link: http://www.nongmoproject.org/learn-more/. GMOs, or "genetically modified organisms," are plants or animals created through the gene splicing techniques of biotechnology.  Virtually all commercial GMOs are engineered to withstand direct application of herbicide and/or to produce an insecticide. WHAT?!

GMO crops in commercial production now:

Alfalfa (first planting 2011)

Canola (approx. 90% of U.S. crop)

Corn (approx. 88% of U.S. crop in 2011)

Cotton (approx. 90% of U.S. crop in 2011)

Papaya (most of Hawaiian crop; approximately 988 acres)

Soy (approx. 94% of U.S. crop in 2011)

Sugar Beets (sugar) (approx. 95% of U.S. crop in 2010)

Zucchini and Yellow Summer Squash (approx. 25,000 acres)

ALSO high-risk: animal products (milk, meat, eggs, honey, etc.) because of contamination in feed. GMO sweet corn is genetically engineered to be herbicide resistant (Roundup Ready) and to produce its own insecticide (Bt Toxin). Like all GMOs, genetically modified sweet corn has not been thoroughly tested to ensure that it is safe for consumption.
Those facts alone make me mad and ignite the activist in me. GMO products are NOT labeled and we don't know what we are consuming or feeding our children.

I saw a theme at their lunch today - convenience. If a parent isn't even going to take the time to prepare a 1 minute PB & J from scratch, I feel my career may be over before I even begin. I can think of about 50 healthy convenience items I could toss in my child's lunch box and it won't take more than a minute!
Lunch Box Ideas:
Apple, banana, grapes, berries, orange slices, cheese cubes, homemade popcorn, grape tomatoes, pineapple chunks, carrots w/ hummus, mango, pear, peach, kiwi, plum, cherries, sliced bell peppers, unsweetened applesauce, whole-wheat pretzels, brown rice cakes, sunflower seeds, raisins, nuts (if no allergies) and hard-boiled eggs.

Basically I am doing all of this because I care. Because there is a better way to live. It's not normal to feel like crap every day. It's not normal that doctors dispense prescriptions like candy. It's not normal for a 5-year old to have a rare cancer, it's not normal that 1out of 2 men and 1 out of 3 women will get cancer in their lifetime. It's not right that our food is filled with chemicals and pesticides, our water is contaminated with herbicides and pesticides, or that the products we put on our skin are filled with nasty chemicals that do more harm than good. It's not right that 60 million adults (or 30%) of the US population is obese.
The general public is for the most part unaware of all of the dangers. The government has twisted our view on foods and frankly should be put out of the equation all-together. It's my job as a Health Coach to educate the average consumer and help guide you to better choices.
I am very excited that as of next week, I will begin to see clients and have lined up my first one already. She's eager to get started and help her family down a healthier path! I'm here for you if you have questions or want help for your family.
I invite you to do a Health History (http://unlockbetterhealth.com/forms) with me and see how using a Health Coach could possibly change your life! It changed mine!

Stocking the Back-to-School Pantry

As summer winds down, it's time to start thinking about what you're going to be packing in those lunch boxes and snack bags and what you'll be feeding the kiddos when they come bounding off the bus. First and foremost is to feed them a nutritious, protein-packed breakfast to start their day. And, no, a Pop-Tart doesn't count. Those tasty pastries are essentially a giant candy bar filled with sugar, HFCS, trans fats, artificial colors and sodium. Don't get me wrong, I loved them growing up, but the over 50 ingredients inside can lead to a myriad of health problems down the road and sugar crashes before they even finish first period.
A great start to the day could include a scrambled egg with whole grain toast, whole grain waffle with peanut butter, oatmeal with berries, or a protein smoothie (blend berries, whey protein powder, nut butter, spinach, yogurt, milk or milk alternative).

There are many prepackaged options out there for lunches, but be careful of dangerous preservatives, trans fats, excessive amounts of sodium and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) that are often laden in those foods. The worst offenders are Lunchables, 100-calorie snacks, packages of chips, cheez-its and juice boxes. The winner for worst offender is the Uncrustable sandwich. It contains 38 ridiculous ingredients (5 of which are sugar and more than a dozen are chemicals) like HFCS, transfats, sorbates, sulfates, and phosphates. A simple PB & jelly takes 1 minute to make - please make them from scratch. I'm disgusted that my children's school offers these as alternatives to a hot lunch.

So, here's my shopping list for the Back-to-School Pantry:

• Lots of whole fruits - bananas, organic apples, organic peaches, pears, watermelon slices, organic grapes, organic berries or melon balls/cubes, orange slices, small boxes of organic raisins.  Make a fun fruit kebab! Whole fruits provide fiber, potassium, antioxidants and tons of vitamins that they need for fuel during the day. (I suggest the organic option of those fruits listed on the Dirty Dozen.) Remember to shop/eat seasonally - some of these fruits won't be available this fall and winter.
• Trail mix - make your own with raw, unsalted nuts, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, raisins, dried cranberries, chopped pitted dates, small amount of chocolate chips & dried apricots. (NO M&M's!!)
• Wraps - I like whole grain options to wrap up turkey slices, PB& jelly, cream cheese and veggies, chicken salad, tuna salad
• Whole grain english muffins (make mini-pizzas or slather w/ PB & jelly)
• Organic string cheese
• Newman's Own High Protein Pretzels
• Gluten-free? Buy large lettuce leafs and wrap over creamy chicken salad, tuna salad with lots of crunchy pickles, turkey slices (not deli meat)
• Make extra for dinner. Leftovers make for a great school lunch. Pack hot items in stainless steel or a thermos to retain their heat. My kids' faves are homemade chicken strips, leftover quinoa spaghetti and ravioli.
• Unsweetened organic apple sauce
• Plain organic yogurt - place in a blender with berries, kale, nut or sunflower butter, process and freeze in a flexible popsicle mold
• Organic ham and cheese roll ups
• Veggies - sliced cucumbers with hummus, organic celery with nut butter and raisins, carrots with hummus or ranch dip, red & yellow pepper slices with hummus or dip, kale chips
• Whole grain crackers, like Triscuits or Multi-Seed (Goldfish don't make the cut)
• Brown rice cakes, real popcorn (not microwaved in a chemical-filled bag)
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Roasted chickpeas with honey & cinnamon
• Whole grain waffles (great for after school snacks topped with PB
• Reusable bottle of ice cold water - no sugary juice needed

It's important that lunch contain a lean protein item, a whole grain carb option, fruit and lots of water. Kids don't need a sugary treat or cookie for lunch. Between all the treats and birthday parties at school, they get enough sugar! They need a highly nutritious meal that can carry them through the rest of the day for optimal learning.

Some of my favorite containers for lunch

Easy Summer Berry Popsicles

The one thing that annoys me about summer is the peculiar ice cream truck, driven by an old man wearing a white tank top, playing Christmas music in July. Paints a pretty picture doesn’t it? Gone are the innocent days of the 25 cent push-up and sharing a drumstick with your sister. Plus, those icy treats are laden with chemicals, artificial colors, dyes, high fructose corn syrup and who knows what else! Enter the homemade popsicle. I just received my new Tovolo Popsicle Molds and can’t wait to get started! http://astore.amazon.com/processedlivi-20/detail/B00395HIOO

I figured if my girls like the smoothies I make them, they will love these popsicles. Today I used organic strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries from the farmer’s market. But you can use any fresh or frozen fruit you have on hand. Then, I topped it off with a handful of organic baby spinach, about ¾ cup unsweetened coconut milk and 1 tbsp. raw honey. Yes, you read that right – SPINACH – in our popsicles! The tiny leaves get blasted in the blender and they never know it’s there! Talk about one super-powered popsicle! Take that plain ole pushup!

Just blend and pour into the molds. It takes about 1-2 hours for them to freeze.

                                                                

Celebrity Sighting!!

I met a real live superstar this weekend! Ok, it wasn't Brad Pitt or Beyonce, but to me, he is just as big as any Hollywood star. I traveled to Baltimore to hear David Wolfe speak. Who, you ask? David is the rock star of the raw food, superfoods, health and nutrition world. He has written many books on the subject and has almost 20 years experience in the fields of nutrition, superherbs - bizarre ones that you'll never hear of unless you meet him - and chocolate! To hear him speak is sort of an evangelical experience. You got "hopped up" on his vibe and don't come down for hours. When I got home, I shared with my husband all of the info I learned and I think I rambled on for two hours. He was ready to get on the superfood bus with me by the time I was done.

I learned some amazing things yesterday. I learned that eating raw chocolate can cut your heart disease risk in half and that it breaks down calcification in arteries and prevents plaque formation. It's the #1 longevity food. Who doesn't love chocolate??!! Of course, he's not talking about the Hershey bar in your kitchen. We're talking real, 69% or more dark organic chocolate. I sampled some and it was the smoothest, yummiest stuff I've ever eaten. He has his own brand called Sacred Chocolate and grows his own cacao trees.
I also learned about seaweeds, durian, mangosteen, medicinal mushrooms, protocols that can help women get pregnant, protocols to help children with autism or ADHD, how to get things "going" in the bedroom, how to reduce EMF's around you and basically just about how to cure anything that ails you with proper, enhanced nutrition.

And do I believe everything I heard? Abso-freaking-lutely! Why? Because I just went through this transformation myself. Since I have been eating clean, whole foods (which began in September 2010), I have lost 45 pounds, don't suffer from headaches, migraines, allergies, hip pain, high cholesterol, or any of the other crap that used to bog me down. I was a whopping size 16 and now my new size 8 clothes are falling off my hips! I used to take 4 prescriptions and now I take NONE! I had hypothyroidism and now I barely need to take any medicine. I feel AMAZING and have abundant energy. I wake up every day looking forward to my morning workout and can't wait to attack the weights and dance away my troubles. I look forward to this September when I can start working with clients and help them achieve the same success. I am enrolled at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition - the world's largest nutrition school - and it's really an amazing experience to learn the things that are being presented to me. I can't wait to be a Health Coach!

If you ever get the opportunity to hear David Wolfe speak, I would definitely go with an open mind and a notebook - because you will want to write down what he says!

Losing the Holiday Weekend Weight

If you're like the millions of Americans who gathered together with family and friends this weekend to celebrate Memorial Day, you most likely overate, indulged in high-calorie foods and fell out of your healthy eating routine. I know I did! It's not hard to get back into your routine and shake off the extra 2-3 pounds most people gain over a long weekend of indulgence.
The key is to act quickly before those extra pounds become permanent and you add to them when the next holiday rolls around. Here's some simple tips to shed the extra weight:
1. Start off your morning with a tall glass of water with the juice of 1/2 lemon. The lemon cleanses and detoxes, balances your Ph and helps move fructose out of your liver.
2. Make exercise a priority in the morning. Just 30 min a day is all you need. Exercising in the morning gives you a metabolic boost for the entire day. Take a walk outside, head to the gym, pop in a video, dust off the Wii - anything to get you moving for 30 minutes. It doesn't have to be all-out sweatfest - just get moving!
3. Up the water intake! Get most of your water intake in the morning and through lunchtime, then, taper off towards the end of the day. But always drink if you're thirsty. Listen to your body and monitor how you feel.
4. Fill up on fiber-rich and protein-filled foods such as:
              oatmeal with berries and nuts, small drizzle of honey
              spinach salad with grilled chicken, sunflower seeds
              apple slices with almond or peanut butter for snack
              Omelette with spinach, zucchini, or peppers, topped with avocado
              Hummus with veggies
              Fish or chicken for dinner, with 2 veggies, and quinoa
5. Sleep! Usually we either stay up late or sleep in over a long weekend. Try to get back into your regular sleep schedule as soon as possible. Getting 8-9 hours a night can actually help you lose weight! Try to go to bed and rise at the same time every day.
6. Two habits that help to cleanse and detox: rebounding and dry skin brushing. I know it sounds strange, but these are my two new favorite habits. After my morning workout, I hop on my mini-trampoline or rebounder and bounce away for 5-10 minutes. Research has proven that doing so can detox the lymph glands, enhance digestion and the elimination process, and many more wonderful benefits. After my workouts, I do a quick dry skin body brushing with a natural bristle brush. Dry skin brushing increases circulation to skin, encouraging your body’s discharge of metabolic wastes, which greatly aids the lymphatic drainage of the entire body. When the body rids itself of toxins, it is able to run more efficiently in all areas. It also tightens the skin and helps to evenly distribute fat deposits.

So try some or all of these methods and let me know how the post-holiday weight loss is going. Keep in mind it takes a couple of days for your stomach to shrink back to a normal size after over-eating. A small amount of food isn't going to fill you up today. Try eating 4-5 smaller meals throughout the day and ease back into your normal pattern of eating.