Healthy Chicks

Last night, I was invited to attend “New Year, NEW YOU!” a fitness-inspired fashion event at Athleta on Newbury Street. Since I love fitness and fashion (well, when it comes to my workout gear) I was IN.

The event was hosted by Eventbrite and Athleta, two fabulous community-oriented companies in my book, so unsurprisingly was a huge hit. The evening entailed a sneak peek at Athleta’s new spring line, with local fitness teachers walking around to mingle and show off their beautiful clothes.

When I walked in there was a great crowd of ladies, all looking to have a good time and get their Fitness & Fashion on! After I signed in and chatted with some of the management team, I head over to the apps & drinks table to grab some quick, healthy bites. I filled my plate with a variety of cheese, some toasted pita, hummus and stuffed grape leaves and also snagged a Peach HINT Fizz for a light and tasty treat.

I was so excited to see Melina’s juice (from e.t.c Juicery) being served too! “How cool, I know her!” It’s safe to say her new juice is going to be a hit, as I went up for two cups myself while I was there.

Speaking of familiar names and faces, one of the first fitness models I saw was Kristy, someone I used to work with a while back at one of my first jobs in Boston, and who I ran into again at Ombe (where she now works) a few months ago.

[Kristy (left) posing with two other Athleta Fitness Fashionistas]

I also chatted with some other fabulous ladies along the way, all looking chic in their Athleta-wear.

[The whole group of stylish ladies smiling big!]

[Me & the ever-so-graceful Pilates teacher Swan Lyon]

It was so  nice seeing all of these strong, fit, happy ladies. They’re ALL Healthy Chicks in my book.

And one of my favorite part of the nights: I met President and Co-Founder of Prana Power Yoga Taylor Wells who was there for a book signing featuring her new book Create the Best Life Ever.

We had so much fun chatting about life, positive affirmations, fitness and nutrition. In fact, I was so touched by her words that I even bought her “Create the Best Life Ever” Positive Affirmation cards, which I think will be a wonderful addition for my own practice with yoga and meditation, and to use with my clients during health coaching.

I then went picture-crazy, trying to capture all of my favorite Athleta items & colors:

Overall, it was a wonderful evening filled with inspiring ladies, delicious food (and drinks), and incredible fashion. I also can’t get over how lovely Athleta’s store is, from the lighting to the impeccable layout. If you haven’t stopped in yet, you MUST. Just head on over to 92 Newbury Street, and I promise you’ll be in for a treat.

What’s your go-to fashion style during an exercise? Comfy & casual? Cute & fitted? Colorful or neutrals?Share below! P.S. If you haven’t already done so, please go check out my Healthy Chicks in the Community initiative. I’d love to get as many fabulous ladies involved as possible!

Yesterday evening, I hosted my very first Zesty Living wellness workshop, Get Real (About Food) for a small group of ladies at Oficio on Newbury Street.

While I was slightly nervous during the week leading up to the event, everything went as smooth as can be and I’ve never felt more confident in the work I am doing and growing my  business. I truly feel I have finally found my calling, and am doing the work I feel most passionate about. It also didn’t hurt that I had the support of my wonderful friends and my sister, who captured pictures and videos (and helped me lug all of my heavy bags!).

While you can read a bit more about the event description here, I wanted to share a few highlights from the evening with you.

As attendees trickled in, I had appetizers on the table to snack on like Mediterranean Snacks lentil crackers, Trader Joe’s Roasted Seaweed Snacks, organic sliced celery & carrots, and artichoke hummus.

To break the ice, everyone went around the room to share their #1 guilty pleasure or greatest health concern, which ranged from late-night pizza to Mike’s Pastry’s Amaretto cannoli.  I then shared my personal story of how I escaped a lifetime of dieting to where I am today (happy, confident, and 20+ pounds lighter) all thanks to loving and appreciating my body, and just as importantly: eating real food.

I kicked off the workshop by discussing the top 12 food additives to steer clear of, many of which are frighteningly enough found in most packaged foods today! This includes things such as artificial sweeteners like Aspartame (which is appallingly found in Dannon Light & Fit yogurt), MSG, artificial colors (straight up synthetic chemicals), partially hydrogenated oils (hello trans fat!), and genetically modified organisms (GMOs), all of which have numerous detrimental side effects.

Everyone was completely shocked by some of the statistics, many saying they’ll think twice next time they’re grocery shopping. I then went into a discussion of my “Top 7 Healthy Foods That Aren’t Healthy,” offering up healthier, more natural alternatives for each. I covered everything from Diet drinks like Crystal Light and Diet Soda (both containing numerous artificial sweeteners and colors hence drinking CHEMICALS), foods with health claims (low fat! sugar free! all natural! made with ‘real’ingredients!) to reduced fat/nonfat foods and wheat products claiming they’re “made with whole grains.”

For each topic, I gave a number of real-life examples, stressing the importance of READING THE LABEL and knowing the ingredients you’re putting into your body. For instance, did you know Skinny Cow ice cream contains high fructose corn syrup, a highly refined sugary substance derived from corn starch that’s linked to diabetes and obesity? Or that Vitamin Water is actually owned by Coca Cola and was sued for advertising their product as healthy, even when it contains over 30 grams of sugar, essentially sugar-induced water? Oh, or how about the fact that most veggie burgers out there contain over 60 ingredients, many of which aren’t vegetables at all?

While these factoids may seem shocking, it’s unfortunately the truth. When sugar-laded breakfast cereals like Lucky Charms have health claims all over the box, and fake packaged cheeses, breads, and snacks stock 99% of the supermarket, we know we are in  HEALTH CRISIS.

Throughout the session, I shared healthier alternatives for the group to try including Vita Coco Coconut Water, a homemade Quinoa & Wild Rice Salad, garlic & basil goat cheese from the Copley Square Farmer’s Market with Mary’s Gone Cracker’s herb crackers, a variety of Truebars and KIND Bars, and almond butter with sliced organic apples. I guess it’s fair to say I feed my people well!

[quinoa & rice salad with goat cheese, celery, cherries and toasted pecans]

After our discussion, I shared my personal tips on how to eat real food in a society where real food is hard to come by, including one of my favorites: eating whole fruits and vegetables that don’t come in a package and shopping from local farmer’s markets. We then concluded the workshop with a quick Q & A session, where I answered any last minute questions that weren’t covered during the evening.

Each attendee left with a little brown goodie bag including:

• Vita Coco Coconut Waters
• Exhale pass for a comp Core Fusion or Yoga class
• a variety of herbal and green teas
• Truebars
• Kind Bars
• organic chocolate
• An Eventbrite notebook

I can say with 100% confidence (and a huge grin on my face) that the event was a success. I look forward to hosting additional workshops in the Boston area, and will keep you posted on my next one in July! Big thank you to Eventbrite for inviting me to take part in their Week of Wellness in Boston.

To learn more about my program, or to sign up for my newsletter, visit my website or contact me for more information.

What’s your diet like? What are areas you wish to improve on? Do you eat REAL food?

[Snappy Sushi on Newbury Street to celebrate my sister Krista's 23rd birthday. They even put a candle in the wasabi for her! I ordered the lunch special, choosing the Spicy Tuna and Eel Avocado roll made with brown rice.]

[We discovered this cupcake truck in Copley. How adorable? All the cupcakes are made local with all natural, and mostly organic ingredients. The many flavors included Salted Caramel, Lemon Coconut & Double Vanilla and they even had vegan and gluten free varieties.]

[Copley Square Farmer's Market: Sprouted Raw Foods. These crackers, that are organic, gluten free and vegan, were absolutely delectable, my favorites being a toss-up between the Curry and Dill. A blog post review to come soon!]

[Homemade jam I purchased at the Copley Square Farmer's Market from Deborah's Kitchen. I sampled nearly all the flavors, but decided on the Massachusetts Rubies made with cranberries, raspberries, and and strawberries. I love that their jams are all natural and made with low sugar content, and can't wait to spread this on some Ezekiel bread with breakfast. A blog post review to come soon!]

Happy Friday! How are you spending the long weekend?

[Big thanks to best friend/inspirer/other half Marybeth P. for designing my logo]

Happy Friday ladies! Remember a few weeks ago when I laid out my Life “Wish List” goals? Well, I’m happy to say that many of them are coming into full affect, particularly my business-related goals for Zesty Living.

I’ve been really focusing on networking, reaching out, and putting myself out there lately (even if that means writing and working on business ideas at the local coffee shop instead of at my apartment in my PJs.) It’s amazing how many  opportunities and inspiration you can find from other like-minded passionate people; the world really is a big place filled with many, many ideas!

Well, partly due to my positive vibes and vision board (I’m certain this is part of it), things have really been picking up lately. In fact, I’m hosting my very own healthy eating workshop all by myself (eek!) in mid-June , with another speaking engagement at the end of June (details to come).

Here are the ins & outs of my “Get Real (About Food)” workshop on June 14th at Oficio on Newbury Street:

Join Rachel Chemerynski, Health Coach and founder of Zesty Living, for a healthy, casual Girl’s Night Out on Newbury Street.

Forget about non fat, sugar free, carb-free, diet-obsessed living! During this interactive workshop, you’ll learn how to incorporate a variety of flavorful foods made with real ingredients that actually taste good (and are good for your body too).

During the workshop, Rachel will touch upon deceiving marketing gimmicks (including a list of “healthy” foods that aren’t), analyzing food labels, and how to maneuver your way through the supermarket without having a mental breakdown in the baked goods aisle.

Oh, and be sure to bring your appetite! You’ll be provided with delicious drinks and all-natural appetizers to complement the discussion, as well as a healthy “goodie bag” for each attendee to go home with at the end.

Get ready for great conversation, delectable eats, and of course lots of laughs with an amazing group of like-minded ladies!

To learn more about my workshop, check out the event details on Eventbrite here.

Have a wonderful weekend,

From the moment I woke up this afternoon, I knew it was going to be one of those days, you know those really juicy, exciting, sunshiny days. Of course, it didn’t hurt that the sun was shining bright as I crawled out of bed, and it’s an expected low 60s in Boston today.

Since I met with one of my clients this morning on Newbury Street for a health counseling session, I decided to pop into Lush Cosmetics since I was already in the area. Shockingly, I have never been inside although I’ve heard many amazing things about their company, that prides itself on offering all-natural, fresh, organic beauty care.

From the moment I walked through the front door, I was absolutely in awe by all the amazing products they carry, including everything from organic body butters and deodorants to shampoo bars and facial cleansers.

{oh the luscious bath supplies…}

{and endless soaps & gift packages!}

I was particularly fascinated by their all-natural face mask line, as I’m a sucker for anything that’ll keep my skin looking brighter, clearer and fresher (Re: “Food for Thought: Super Skin Clearing Eats” to hear more about my skin struggles & obsession with natural beauty treatments).

{check out the variety of lovely face masks, from Be Seaweed to Oatfix}

After trying several on my hand, and talking with the sales attendant about my skin type, I decided on the Catastrophe Cosmetic. With soothing calamine and antioxidant-rich blueberries, this mask is recommended for oily, problem skin which I tend to get from time to time.

{I can’t wait to test out this gentle healing, calming mask that’ll clear blemishes & gunk!}

After testing out the face masks, I decided to look into the hair care, as I find it particularly hard to find high-quality, organic hair products at an affordable price in the Boston area. Luckily, Lush has a plethora of shampoo bars, conditioners, moisturizers, and even safe, all natural henna hair dyes, a perfect alternative to chemical treatments.

{I’m making it a point to come back before summer to try the Caca Marron that turns brown hair into auburn, which the sales guy thought would look best on me! How neat?}

Since I wasn’t quite ready to dye my hair, I decided on a Karma Koba shampoo bar instead, with a delightful scent and blend of essential oils including orange, patchouli and pine. No chemicals, parabens or scary ingredients in this unique bar that claims to last for 80+ washes!

{Shampoo bars? That’s right! Just lather with water and then use like ordinary shampoo}

While I could have literally lived in Lush for weeks (seriously, I think I told the employees that a dozen times), I decided to leave with just two desired items, plus a whole lot of admiration for the company. I will 100% be back for more, and can’t wait to test out my newest goods. The best part? The splurge is worth it, since you can feel good about using products made with natural, organic, eco-friendly ingredients good for the earth and your body!

Have you ever visited Lush? Do you experiment with all-natural cosmetics? What’s your favorite beauty product to splurge on?

Last night, I attended my very first Boston Bloggers Meet + Greet, which took place at the ever so chic Sonsie on Newbury. I have been to other local blogger events in the past, but never one hosted by Boston Bloggers, so I was excited to try something new. On that note, I had also never been to Sonsie before but have always heard great things about this little hot spot.

I must say, the event was unlike any blogger event I’d ever gone to before. First and foremost, it was PACKED, which while intimidating at first glance, was a good way to push myself out of my comfort zone.  In addition, there were more than 60 bloggers there, all with different backgrounds and passions which was a breath of fresh air compared to some events I’d been to in the past with ALL healthy living bloggers, or ALL fashion bloggers.

The best part was that one of my best friends, who’s also a blogger and lives in the North End, Megan (Balanced in Boston) came with her boyfriend Ross (Ross Donovan Photography) for their very first blogger event! I was so happy to see them there, even though we tried to meet new people and not simply stay in a clique all night. I think it’s safe to say we did good!

As I sipped my Pinot Grigio, I worked my way around the crowded, dimly lit room to talk to as many bloggers as I could. It was a great way to tell people how excited I am about my new health coaching venture,  spread the word about Healthy Chicks, and make fabulous connections. The event planner’s gave us individual booklets of each blogger attending, along with their blog URL and twitter name which was a great way to keep track of who you’ve talked to! I especially enjoyed chatting with Clair from Finding Clarity since we have so much in common with lots of the same interests. Her blog is beautiful and definitely a creative inspiration.

It was also wonderful bumping into Elina from Healthy and Sane to talk about her latest cooking venture (she’s starting her own company too!), Ryan from EPHAS who started his own company that shares stories and connects people around the world through real-life, raw photographs, and this husband and wife duo Jon and Lindsey from Beantown Eats who blog about all the best food and cocktails in the city!

As you can see, there was quite the variety of people there, which I love. If everyone is the same, life gets boring, ya know?

Speaking of boring, I decided to jazz up the typical caprese salad into something a little more creative for dinner this week (as you know I’m a huge fan of changing up my recipes), and I thought I’d share this super easy, take-it-to-go remix with you!

What Ya Need:

• 1/2 ready-t0-go avocado, chopped
• 1 small roma tomato, sliced into thin wedges
• 1/2 c. fresh baby spinach
• handful fresh basil leaves, chopped
• a few slices of fresh mozzarella cheese
• 1 TB olive oil mixed with 1 TB balsamic vinegar
• pinenuts to taste (optional)
• salt & pepper

I enjoyed the salad with a side of Ezekiel bread spread with Trader Joe’s 3-Layer hummus.

Enjoy your day,

Rachel