Health & Wellness

11 Insightful Takeaways from the Massachusetts Conference for Women

4 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to attend the Massachusetts Conference for Women at the Boston Convention Center, in a space filled with 8,000 inspiring women, thanks to my blogging partnership with Harvard Pilgrim’s “Count Us In” initiative. This enabled me to simply enjoy the day, take notes and breathe everything in.

My day started at 8 a.m. when I arrived for registration, coffee and continental breakfast, followed by keynote speakers including Dr. Brené Brown, and the fascinating spiritual guru Deepak Chopra.

Then, it was  a morning of action-packed learning including Personal Development Sessions “Five Seconds to a Healthier and Happier You” with relationship expert/bestselling author Mel Robbins, and “Using Your Professional Skills to Make a Difference” with panelists Renee Connolly (VP of EMD Serono and Board Member of Mass Conference for Women), Charley Johnson (president of Pay it Forward Foundation), Sharon Reilly (founder of Women’s Lunch Place) and Doreen Rigby (Executive VP of Global Operations, State Street Corporation).

During our lovely lunch (fresh salad with toppings like feta, chicken, olives, peppers, tomatoes and mini carrot cake muffins/truffles for dessert) we heard from a number powerful women including Ariana Huffington (President of the Huffington Post Media Group), Emmy and … Read More!

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7 Cost-Free Ways to Lead a Happier, Simpler Lifestyle

2 Comments / Health & Wellness /

Every day, there’s usually something that stresses you out, be it the kids, money or your monotonous job. During the holiday season, it seems this stress goes completely haywire, creating Scrooges and Grinches left and right.

Yesterday, while having lunch at the Prudential Center, I noticed hundreds of businessmen, mothers, and sales clerks running around like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off.

What is going on?

At a time where money, family and stress tend to get the best of us, let’s all take a step back and remember what the holiday season is all about. Here are 7 simply ways you can lead a happier, simpler lifestyle right now and get this…they are absolutely free (or at least cost less than your Starbuck’s latte).

1. Skip the workout you’re totally dreading, and instead go on a winter stroll with a loved one. Along the way, you can window shop, browse some new restaurants in the neighborhood and spend some quality time together. You’ll sweat it out, get some fresh air and simply feel better overall.

2. Save some money, and make homemade gifts for friends and family this year. Not only will your wallet be happier, … Read More!

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Happy Holidays: Introducing Zesty Living’s Healthy Holiday Crash Course

1 Comment / Health & Wellness /

The weather outside is frightful and the fire is so delightful, but for some reason your holiday season is turning out to be complete chaos. From running around like a chicken with your head cut off to find the perfect gifts for your kids to the temptation and guilt that comes from work cocktail parties, you’re likely feeling completely out of control, and you’re not alone.

Survive the holiday season without gaining a muffin top (and completely losing your mind) with Zesty Living’s Healthy Holiday Crash Course.The course begins the first week of December, as I hold your hand and coach you throughout the holiday season.

Your December Holiday Crash Course includes:

  • One initial 30-minute power session to discuss your goals, dietary restrictions, and health concerns with simple tips to get you started right away (Over the phone)
  • Weekly emails every Monday (4 total) with recipes, tips, handouts and articles to keep you on track
  • A healthy holiday shopping list to jumpstart your success!
  • Unlimited email support to guide you along the way
  • One 60-minute phone session upon completion of course to discuss improvements, Q & A, and anything on your mind!
  • BONUS: FREE one-hour healthy shopping tour
… Read More!

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WellnessFX: Healthy Insights, Healthy Body, Healthy Mind

8 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

[“You Can Only Improve What You Measure”]

WellnessFX: What It’s All About

As you all know, I try to maintain a healthy lifestyle, both taking care of myself on the inside and out. I’ve always been a firm believer that what’s going on inside is just as (or even more) important than what’s happening on the outside. That’s why many people are sick or facing health roadblocks and may not even know it because they feel perfectly “fine,” or at least what they think is “fine.”

When I was introduced to WellnessFX, a web-based platform designed to produce deep insights into the state of your health all through a blood test, I knew it was up my alley. Who knew you could learn so much about what’s going on inside your body all through a few drops of blood? Pretty interesting, huh?

The Prep Work

First, I visited the WellnessFX website (which couldn’t be easier to navigate) and signed up for their Baseline Package. This option included:

  • A blood draw at a lab near you
  • 20-minute health consultation with practitioner of choice
  • Personalized lab results loaded into your WellnessFX dashboard
  • Satisfaction guaranteed (now that’s service with a smile!)

Since … Read More!

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A Day in the Life at the Living Foods Institute: Raw Food, Bach Flower Therapy & More

6 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

Last weekend, I took a spontaneous trip to Atlanta to visit my boyfriend and his mother at the Living Foods Institute (LFI). My boyfriend Jason and his mother Patty enrolled in the 17-day program to help treat Patty’s Early Onset Alzheimer’s holistically. You can read more about their journey here, or donate money to help support their cause here.

I hadn’t seen Jason for two weeks, so you could imagine how happy we were to be reunited at the airport on Friday night. Once they scooped me up, we went back to the hotel for lots of laughs and catching up. The next day, we woke up bright and early to drive to LFI and begin the day. Jason was SUPER excited to show me what he’d been up to the past couple of weeks.

We were pleasantly greeted with freshly juiced wheat grass shots, which tasted surprisingly good, and even a little on the sweet side. It’s amazing what a difference the fresh stuff can make! Wheat grass is especially helpful during a detox to help cleanse out your system and begin the healing process. They recommend to start with 1 oz. your first time, and gradually increase if … Read More!

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Taming those Holiday Cravings (and Guilt That Comes With Them)

3 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

Last week, we experienced the first snowfall of the season here in Boston, making it loud and clear that winter is on its way. It’s hard to believe that we’re already well into November, with the holiday season just around the corner.

While the holidays bring a great amount of joy, they also come with an extra dose of stress, temptation and guilt. From family gatherings to work cocktail outings, it’s easy to pack on those extra calories (and pounds) during this time of year. It’s no doubt that sometimes our cravings get the best of us, making us go for treats (i.e. those double fudge brownies) we’d normally pass on.

But instead of letting your cravings take control over you, this year you’re going to learn to take ownership of your cravings. The first step? Understanding and accepting the root cause behind those crazy cravings in the first place.

At the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, we’re trained to dig deep in order to understand what’s really going on inside our bodies, instead of merely treating the symptoms. So instead of feeling guilty over eating one extra serving of stuffing (or stuffing your face with grandma’s homemade chocolate chip … Read More!

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On My Plate This Week

4 Comments / Food & Recipes, Health & Wellness /

Good afternoon friends! It’s mighty cold in Boston today if I do say so myself. I hate to admit it, but I think it’s time to break out the winter hats and gloves. (I can’t believe I’m saying that.)

Exciting news on the home-front today. Remember when I told you about my boyfriend’s trip to the Living Foods Institute in Atlanta, GA? Well, I’m going down to visit him and his mother for a spontaneous trip this weekend! I’m going to be able to experience the center, try some delicious raw & living dishes, volunteer a bit and join for a big celebratory feast on Sunday night. It feels good to make an in-the-moment decision, which I know is a good one.

Anyway, here’s a little recap of what I’ve been eating lately:

[Sauteed kale with sweet potato, cumin, turmeric, dried shiitake mushroom powder & sea salt with a fried egg on top]

Speaking of shiitake mushrooms, my grandmother gave me a bunch of dried shiitakes that my grandpa grew last week. I LOVE shiitakes for their nutritional boost and medicinal benefits. I decided to grind them up in my extra dry Vitamix blender to add into smoothies, salads, … Read More!

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Pumpkin Two Ways: Gluten Free Muffins + Seasonal A.M Oats

6 Comments / Health & Wellness /

It’s no secret that I absolutely adore pumpkins. I just love everything about them from the fact that they can help treat acne to their delectable seeds that are a pleasure to roast. Naturally, I try to cook with pumpkin when I can, and ’tis the season to do so!

Last week, I picked up a cardboard box of organic pumpkin puree from Whole Foods (from a local MA farm). While I try to use fresh as much as possible, sometimes in life you need to take shortcuts and make the best of what’s available. Plus, it’s much wiser than buying canned pumpkin which can contain toxins like BPA.

This week, I made two pumpkin treats: Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins + Pumpkin Maple Oats. Boy were they delicious.

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

Makes about 20 muffins

I modified this recipe from Bob’s Red Mill but changed up a few things, like adding chocolate chips and replacing the oil with unsweetened apple sauce. These make for the perfect pairing with tea on a chilly eve.

What Ya Need:

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 tsp Cloves, ground
  • 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp baking soda
… Read More!

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Move100 Ambassador Recap & $5,000 Giveaway

5 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

[photo credit: fourl photography]

Remember a few months ago when I posted about the Move100 Ambassador Search over here on Healthy Chicks? Well, I am proud to announce that I was chosen as one of the ambassadors to take part in their amazing initiative, that is encouraging people to stay fit and move more each day.

As a Move100 Ambassador, I was given some pretty cool tools to track my training, some dumbbells for strength training and a whole lotta love from the whole Move100 team, particularly Lynn and Bob, who I can’t thank enough for this incredible opportunity.

A few weeks after I was notified I’d be one of their ambassadors, I took a trip to South Hamilton for a photo-shoot, interview and video shoot. If you watch the video on the homepage, you can see some shots of me doing yoga, stretching and running. How cool is that? There’s also a blown up picture of me here on the “Moving Stories” page, where you can actually read my personal wellness story, including how I lost 30 pounds and found happiness.

They even filmed my interview, where you can watch in full here. I was a bit … Read More!

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Tuesday Talk: Motivation

7 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

Good morning ladies! I hope you are all safe and dry from the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Fortunately, the worst of it for me is losing power for a few days so I can’t really complain, but I’m praying for those whose homes have been flooded or destroyed.

I’m running out of power on my laptop, currently writing at Daybreak Coffee House (where I was pleased to run into the lovely Cait from Cait Plus Ate who is just the most bubbly, friendly girl!) This will have to do as my “office” for now, which I don’t mind AT ALL because this Pecan Roast & Vegetarian Egg Sandwich on sourdough is totally hitting the spot.

Anyway, I wanted to talk about a rather popular topic today on Healthy Chicks: motivation. That is, how to stay motivated even during those realllllllyyyy tough times.

Here are some tips to get you inspired, whether you need motivation to run that race or simply get out of bed an hour earlier!

1. First and foremost, you need to have a purpose. If you’re struggling to stay on a healthy diet and exercise regimen, ask yourself “Why do I want to eat well and … Read More!

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