Healthy Chicks

Good afternoon ladies! I hope you’re all having a bright, sunshiney week so far. As for me, I’m dedicating this week solely to my health, that is taking care of myself inside and out not only foodwise, but also physically, mentally and spiritually.

Trust me, I understand how chaotic life can get at times with work, friends, relationships, children and other plans, making it seem nearly impossible to make time for yourself.

Unfortunately, during these crazy times, we tend to put our health on the back burner (re: skipping meals, nighttime bingeing, letting stress get the best of you, flaking out on yoga class because you “don’t have time”). You get the picture. What we don’t realize is that by doing this, we’re ultimately hurting ourselves in the long run.

Well, we want our health to move from the back burner to the front burner; yup right in front where everyone can see it. You see, no matter how crazy/impossible/frustrating/stressful our lives can get, we at the very least owe it to ourselves to take care of our health. And I promise it’s not impossible to do!

Here are my Top 3 Get Healthy Tips, and none of them include counting calories, weight loss gimmicks or hitting the gym two hours a day.

1. BREATHE. Yes, I said it. Breatheeeee. Take a second out of your impossible, schedule-driven day to simply check in with yourself. I highly recommend taking weekly yoga classes, but if yoga’s not for you, try meditating or practicing deep breathing before bed. Not only does this help you focus, but you’ll also decrease stress levels (in turn promoting weight loss and a healthy metabolism) find balance, improve your mood, and gain energy.

I also enjoy drinking 16 oz. of water (with lemon if you have it) right upon waking up to get my digestion flowing and start the day fresh.

2. Read the Ingredients While I’m not a fan of defining yourself by the tag on your jeans, I am a fan of the labels on our food. It’s not simply just calories, carbs, and fat. It’s a little more complex than that, and that’s why we need to learn to read the labels of everything we’re putting in our mouth. We all know soda and chips aren’t the best for our health, but do you ever read the ingredients in your everyday bread, favorite snacks, and even your “healthy” vegetable burger. You’ll be shocked by what you can find! If it’s longer than six ingredients or has strange names you can’t pronounce, you can bet your body won’t recognize it either.

You may be inclined to grab a low-calorie, fat free cheese stick but just because it’s “only 60 calories” does not make it healthy. On the same note, a 200 calorie raw, organic bar or a 300-calorie roasted chicken meal does not necessarily mean “high calorie! weight gaining! will ruin my diet!” Like I said, read the ingredients. Ingredients are what matter.

3. Stop Fearing Food The minute I stopped fearing and stressing over food, the weight started coming off. Instead of making a list of all the things you CAN’T HAVE EVER, try to include more fresh, wholesome, energizing foods. If we have a “no” list, the minute a craving sets in, guess what we’re going to go for? Yup, that frozen pizza or ice cream.

Instead, focus on expanding your selection of whole, natural foods (think: whole grains, fruits, vegetables) but allowing yourself a treat here and there if you want one. No foods are “off limit” completely. This approach helps you get control over your cravings, without going overboard.

Recap & Exciting News:

You see, it’s really as easy as 1, 2, 3! However, know that that’s what works for me, and what works for me may not work for you. Speaking of, I’m oh so excited to announce the launch of my new health counseling business Zesty Living, with a holistic, personal approach to living well and reaching your individual goals.

As I mentioned here, Zesty Living specifically caters to savvy business professionals and busy moms who are looking for natural ways to gain energy, reduce stress, lose weight and ultimately get that “zest” back into their lives. If you’re interested in more information or simply want to come along for the ride, I’d love for you to follow me on Twitter here or “like” me on Facebook here.

NOTE: I will be able to start taking clients next month, but in the meantime would love to schedule a FREE health consultation with you to discuss your personal goals and concerns.