What FitFluential Means to Me: The Inside Scoop from a FitFluential Ambassador

8 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

As I’ve mentioned before here on Healthy Chicks (and as I’m sure you can tell by the badge on the right), I am a proud FitFluential Ambassador. If you haven’t checked out the FitFluential community before, which was founded by Fitness Rockstar Kelly Olexa, I strongly suggest you do so over here.

While FitFluential is packed with an amazing group of like-minded enthusiasts sharing their passion for wellness every hour on the hour, today I wanted to share with you what “FitFluential” means to me. More specifically, my very own definition of living a “healthy lifestyle.”

Discovering an Exercise Routine that Makes you Shine

[Move100 Campaign; Photo Cred: Move100.org]

Just like there is no Perfect Man for every woman, there is no perfect exercise that works for everyone. In fact, I don’t believe in rules or perfection at all.

Some live for CrossFit and Pilates, while others feel their best by doing yoga and running. Some spin 6 days a week, while others enjoy being one with nature and going for long hikes with loved ones.

The point is, it’s not going to work for you unless you enjoy it. Find the exercises that make you … Read More!

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I am… {A Lesson from Gabrielle Bernstein}

12 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

Yesterday, I was sitting at the coffee shop listening to Ingrid Michaelson, writing my little heart away and catching up on some work. I was feeling good…I was in a happy place.

However, I’m the first to admit that things aren’t always happy, sparkling and wonderful. While I like to think of myself as a very positive person (in fact my friend Meg referred to me as Her Sunshine) I too go through struggles, or “rough patches” I like to call them. In fact, I’ve been going through one of those rough patches for the past couple weeks and most of that comes from doubt.

I don’t like the Rachel I am when I’m negative and doubtful, but I’m also beginning to recognize that it’s OK to have bad days and not be sun-shiny, happy ALL. THE. TIME.

That’s why when the beautiful Heather* over at For the Love of Kale recommended the book May Cause Miracles: A Guidebook of Subtle Shifts for Radical Change and Unlimited Happiness by spiritual guru Gabrielle Bernstein, I jumped right on board. (*Note: Heather is also hosting a book club over on her blog if you’d like to jump in too!) I … Read More!

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Healthy ChickLit: Create Your Perfect 2013

4 Comments / Lifestyle /

Today’s ChickLit: YOU are in charge of your destiny. Choose to live the way you want to live, create the things you want to create, and make way for the 2013 of your dreams.

I think it’s safe to say that 2012 had its fair share of ups and downs for me. Some ups include getting my first client, moving in with my wonderful boyfriend, and choosing a career path that fills me up inside with fiery passion. Some downs include suffering from financial insecurities, struggling to help my boyfriend’s beautiful mother treat her Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease, and going through some personal hardships.

I’m happy to end 2012, and start on a fresh slate this 2013, setting intentions for myself that will help make 2013 the best one yet. It will be a year of dreaming big, doing things that scare me and finding financial security & success.

Today, I spent a good amount of time talking with The Boy about our intentions, and what we want for ourselves as the New Year begins. While chatting over a cup of good coffee & scrambled eggs with lots green veggies (one of our fave breakfasts) I realized something: we are … Read More!

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Book Review: Clean Plates Cookbook

8 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

Good afternoon ladies, and Happy New Year’s Eve! I hope you all have a magical evening celebrating life, and everything positive that happened for you this past year, while also celebrating the year to come. If you haven’t already done so, you can read my newsletter on setting intentions for yourself in 2013 over here.

Clean Plates Cookbook: Background

OK, ‘nough about me. It’s time for a book review of Clean Plates Cookbook, written by Nutritional Consultant and Founder of Clean Plates Jared Koch with Cookbook Author Jill Silverman Hough.

I was particularly excited to read this book, as Jared Koch is not only a fellow graduate of IIN but he’s also someone whom I admire greatly for his success as an entrepreneur in the wellness field.

Bio-Individuality

One of the main concepts that shines throughout the book is something we learned at Institute for Integrative Nutrition: bio-individuality, or that one way of eating doesn’t work for everyone. While vegan dining may suit your best friend, you may thrive on high-quality, organic meats. Simply put, we choose what to put inside our bodies to make us feel our ultimate best. Jared explains this process further in Chapter 2.… Read More!

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New Year’s Intentions + Healthy Chick’s Newsletter Signup

2 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

Hey ladies, check out my latest newsletter to find out how setting intentions this New Year’s can give you the life you want for yourself.

If you’re not already signed up for my FREE newsletter service with healthy tips, recipes & lotsa love, I suggest you do so below:

XoXo,

… Read More!

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Health Boosting, Anti-Inflammatory Green Smoothie {Recipe}

7 Comments / Food & Recipes /

Good morning Healthy Chickies, and Happy Day-Before-New-Year’s-Eve. Since I’m still getting over some sniffles from the holidays, I’ve been trying to eat (and drink) with my health in mind, paying extra attention to the foods that are going to fill me up and make me feel strong & healthy.

This morning, I whipped up a health-boosting green smoothie in the Vitamix, carefully choosing ingredients that’d work on my side as I knock this cold to the ground.

Hope you enjoy!

Health Boosting, Anti-Inflammatory Green Smoothie

Serves 2

  • About 1 c. unsweetened coconut or almond milk
  • 3 large handfulls baby spinach (fill to about 3/4 of the blender): high in vitamin K and A & rich in cancer-fighting antioxidants
  • 3 carrots – rich in antioxidants like Beta Carotene
  • 3 celery stalks – high in vitamin A & C, boost immune system and have been used to help lower blood pressure
  • 2 cloves garlic – antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, anti-infection…need i go on?
  • juice of 1 small lemon – strengthen immunity, cleanse the stomach & liver, fabulous detox to name a few
  • 1 large apple – good amount of soluble fiber and have also been known to reduce LDL (“bad cholesterol”)
  • 1
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Healthy ChickLit: Just Move

Leave a Comment / Health & Wellness /

Today’s ChickLit: Take time every day to MOVE, even if it’s just taking your dog for a brisk winter walk or dancing in your PJs.

We all know exercise is good for our health, and can help reduce the risk of developing heart disease and other serious health concerns. However, to me, exercise is much more than that.

It’s about movement, clarity, motivation and feel-good energy (you know, that thing called endorphins). While usually I like to sleep in on Saturdays, today I woke up (sorta) early for an a.m. Hatha yoga class at my local gym.

Not only did it feel good to stretch, strengthen and challenge my body, but it gave me an incredible rush of energy and “happy hormones.”

So even if you don’t have time to run 7 miles or take part in a kickboxing class, make time for something, anything that’s going to get you moving.

As we like to say over at FitFluential: #MOVE #GETAFTERIT

How can you make more time to move? If you need a little boost to get started, check out my “From Oy Vey to OK in 30 Days” Health Coaching Program, individually catered to Y-O-U. I work … Read More!

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Letting Go of Negative Energy

6 Comments / Lifestyle /

I’m a firm believer in horoscopes, karma, fortunes and having faith in general. That’s why I get giddy every time I unwrap a yogi tea bag before brewing. If you’re not familiar with yogi tea, each and every tea bag has some words of wisdom, a fortune if you will.

And this morning my fortune read: Empty yourself and let the universe fill you.

I must admit, I had to think about this one for a bit to see what this message truly meant for me, for my lifestyle. Empty myself and let the universe fill me?

For me, it means to empty yourself from all those negative thoughts that hold you back and bring you down, and let the universe fill you up with positive, feel-good energy. After all, if you put good energy out there, the universe will be on your side.

I think a lot of us struggle with negative, glass-is-half-empty thoughts every now and then. One way to “shush” these thoughts is by practicing positive affirmations on a daily basis, something I try to instill in my clients during my health coaching program.

The practice of positive affirmations is simply telling yourself positive, pick-me-up things, … Read More!

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Healthy ChickLit: On Dealing with Dieter’s Guilt

1 Comment / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

Today’s Lit: Remember that every day is a new day. So, you ate one too many brownies or “cheated” on your diet. You didn’t ruin anything. Instead of beating yourself up with guilt, start again tomorrow!

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard a woman say, “Well, I ate crap today, so I might as well forget it!” or “Guess I’ll wait ’til next week to start that ‘going to the gym’ plan since I didn’t work out today anyway,” or even “I ate pizza last night and now am on a major guilt trip.”

I’m here to tell you it’s NOT TOO LATE. Remind yourself that tomorrow is a new day. As a matter of fact, you can choose to start your day over any time you like!

So, you ate one too many brownies, overdid it with the Peppermint Martinis, or “cheated” on your diet. NEWSFLASH: You didn’t ruin anything!

Instead of beating yourself up with guilt, start again tomorrow…

If you’re looking to let go of that guilt and make 2013 about you, check out my “From Oy Vey to OK in 30 Days” premiere Health Coaching Program. I’ll teach you how to … Read More!

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