Health & Wellness

Week of Detox Cleansing: Day 3 Recap and a Special Surprise

2 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

Good afternoon ladies! I am pleased to say I am now on Day 4 of my cleanse and feeling spectacular: full of energy, perky and renewed. I’m not going to lie; the first two days were a battle but it seems like the hard part is now over with.

Here’s a recap of yesterday’s menu:

Breakfast: Super Lean Green Berry Breakfast Smoothie

Snack: Handful raw cashews & almonds

Lunch: Large salad packed with spinach, collard greens, apple kale, cucumber, avocado, lemon, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and herbs

Snack: raw carrots & hummus

Dinner: Vegetable soup with carrots, celery, collards, spinach, onions, mushroom, and a dash of sea salt

Dessert: 1/2 a frozen banana

And now for a fun little surprise! Last week Boston Based business Stanz & Co. was kind enough to send me a package of satin elastic hair ties for me to try out.

Seriously, how cute are these? I am totally loving the pink to add a little brightness to a simple outfit and make my hair “pop.” You can shop for your own color combos here on Etsy for just $6.00 a package which is a pretty sweet deal if I do say so myself.

I … Read More!

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Calling all Fitness Enthusiasts: Move100 Ambassador Search

11 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

Calling all Fitness Enthusiasts or those who have recently adopted a more active lifestyle, and have felt the benefits. Whether you are a walker, a marathoner, a yogi, or a busy mom, you’re in the running to be the next Move100 Ambassador.

I am happy to announce I will be taking part in this initiative, and couldn’t be more excited! (More details to come) In the meantime, check out my personal “essay” on why I should be a Move100 Ambassador:

[May 2009]                                                                                      [July 2012]

My name is Rachel Chemerynski, the 20-something author behind healthy living blog Healthy Chicks and health coach at Zesty Living, and I would absolutely love to be the next Move100 Ambassador.

I didn’t always lead a healthy lifestyle. In fact, growing up I struggled with body image issues, dieting and finding the motivation to live well. My college days were consumed of counting calories, binging on desserts, hiding in my room ashamed of my weight or living at the gym to burn off that extra piece of pizza. I was stuck in a lifestyle filled with low self-esteem and guilt.

Flash-forward a few years, and I am now 30 pounds lighter and 1,000 times happier. … Read More!

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Super Lean Green Berry Breakfast Smoothie

2 Comments / Food & Recipes, Health & Wellness /

[taken via Instagram]

This breakfast smoothie is perfect during a cleanse, a hot summer day, or anytime you need to cool down and clean up your diet. Start the day right with a generous serving of vegetables, fruit, and TLC!

  • about 1/2 c. coconut milk, unflavored
  • 1/2 banana
  • 5 baby carrots
  • generous handful of kale
  • generous handful of mixed collard greens & spinach (choose one if you don’t have both)
  • 1/4 c. frozen wild blueberries
  • 1/2 c. frozen berries mixture (mine had cherries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries)
  • 1/8 c. frozen strawberries
  • 1 celery stalk
  • about 5 cucumber slices (or the equivalent of half a baby cucumber)
  • 1/2 TB flaxseed

~Blend together in a powerful blender and serve immediately. Dust with cinnamon if desired!… Read More!

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Week of Detox Cleansing: Day 2 Recap

Leave a Comment / Health & Wellness /

Today marks day two on the cleanse, and my sister and I are feeling pretty good. Our stomaches feel much flatter and we feel overall “cleaner” from the inside out. The downsides include mild headaches and lack of energy, but I’m hoping that subsides by tomorrow. The first two days are always the hardest, kind of like the first three miles are always the toughest when running.

Speaking of running, today I started my training for the Newport Half Marathon in October. Since this will be my third half marathon, I decided to up my game a bit and train with Hal Higdon’s Intermediate plan which includes interval speed work and tempo runs.  I can’t wait to begin running again, particularly the way it makes me feel on the inside, and working toward my own goal of beating my PR.

OK, back to the cleanse. This is what’s on our plates today:

Breakfast: Green Berry Smoothie with kale, carrots, celery, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, cherries, flax seed, and banana made with Coconut milk

Snack: Handful raw cashews & almonds

Lunch: Big green salad with collard greens, spinach, mixed greens, avocado, cucumber, tomatoes, apple, basil, dill, lemon juice, garlic, olive … Read More!

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Week of Detox Cleansing: Day #1

15 Comments / Health & Wellness /

After an entire weekend of pig roasting, boozing, desserts, and dinners out, my sister and I both agreed it’d be a good time to do a cleanse. You know, to rid our bodies of toxins, clean up and start fresh. Since we live together, and our fridge & cabinets were completely empty (no temptations!), there could not have been a more perfect time to hit the grocery store for cleansing eats.

We did a 3-day cleanse based off of the book Clean back in March, so were a bit more prepared this time. Basically, we’re cutting out caffeine, alcohol, wheat, grains in general, meat, dairy, starchy vegetables, added sugar, and packaged foods. And we’re stocking up on lots of leafy greens, seasonal vegetables, fresh fruits, super-green smoothies, juices, raw salads, and cleansing soups like Gazpacho and Carrot Ginger.

The idea is to give our digestive system a break, particularly in the morning and evening, and stock up on hearty raw vegetables during the day.

Here’s what Day 1 Looked like:

Breakfast: Green smoothie made with banana, kale, almond milk/coconut milk, carrots, leafy greens, cucumber and celery

Snack: Roasted  Seaweed Snack from Trader Joe’s

Lunch: Big ol’ salad with mixed greens, … Read More!

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Lemony Chicken + Refreshing Summer Tabouli

2 Comments / Food & Recipes, Health & Wellness /

Seeing as though it’s mid July (the peak of summer), I’ve been advising my clients to cool down in all aspects of life, be it food, wellness or work. One of my favorite ways to cool down is by eating cooling, refreshing seasonal foods like watermelon, citrus, cucumbers, and herbs.

Last night, I decided to add a little Mediterranean flare to the dinner table by making a platter of Mediterranean-inspired eats. After all, I find that a diet rich in refreshing dishes with whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats fill me up most. I decided to go with a healthy trio: homemade tabouli + sauteed chicken + pita & hummus, a combo my sister and I can both agree was pure genius.

Refreshing Summer Tabouli

{makes 4-6 servings}

  • 1 1/2 c. water
  • 1 c. bulgar wheat
  • 1 medium organic cucumber, chopped
  • 1 c. fresh parsley
  • juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 2 TB olive oil
  • 1/2 c. full fat feta, crumbled
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • fresh mint for garnish (optional)

1. Boil water and pour over bulgar wheat. Stir and then let sit covered for 20 minutes.

2. Drain the bulgar wheat of excess water and … Read More!

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Three Healthy Habits + Craving Control Workshop in Boston

3 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

Good afternoon lovely ladies! I hope everyone is having a wonderful week so far. Lately, I’ve been feeling wonderful inside and out, mostly due to these three little new habits of mine:

  1. Going to bed earlier (and waking up earlier) which makes morning workouts that much easier and more powerful!
  2. Getting back into running. I start training for the Newport Half Marathon this week! I can’t believe this will be my third half…boy does time fly by. I’m torn between using Hal Higdon’s Novice 2 or Intermediate training program, which mixes in Speedwork.
  3. Shutting down completely (no phone, no iPod, no computer, no TV) an hour before bed for some pleasure reading. Currently I’m reading Bright Side Up: 100 Ways to Be Happier Right Now by Amy Spencer.

On other notes, my business Zesty Living will be hosting a workshop on craving control next Thursday, July 26th from 5:30-7 pm. at Oficio on Newbury Street, Boston MA. You may read the details below & register here. I am running a promo from now until Friday at 5:30 p.m.! Simply enter promo code summerfun50 for 50% off your tickets.

Event Details

Are you a stress eater who craves things … Read More!

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21 Itty Bitty Summer Pick Me-Ups to Boost Your Mood

2 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /
It’s summertime and the sunshine is beaming, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re feeling so sun-shiny inside. Even the cheeriest of us have those days where we could use a little extra boost. Here are 21 little ways to brighten up your mood this summer. Feel free to add your own in the comments section!
  1. Squeezing in a little extra time with those friends that make you extra cheery
  2. Reading booklets, magazines and articles packed with inspirational quotes like the one above which is from an IIN magazine
  3. Escaping to the beach for a sun-kissed afternoon
  4. Getting out of the house/apartment & going for a long walk
  5. Shutting down all sources of technology (yes, that includes your iPhone!)
  6. Avoiding Facebook & twitter stalking for a day, and living your life rather than comparing it to others (think: I’m so jealous all my friends are at this party except me! I can’t believe she’s engaged! Her job is my dream job! Life is so unfair!) Try to remember there’s always another side to every person’s story…
  7. Reading a steamy summer romance novel
  8. Signing up for a 5K, 10K or half marathon in your area like the UnitedHealthcare Half in the beautiful
… Read More!

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Q & A With Skinnygirl Rockstar Bethenny Frankel

2 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

Skinnygirl fans, you are in luck! This week, in conjunction with OpenSky , I was given the opportunity take a look inside the life of the superwoman Bethenny Frankel. Ever since I read Bethenny’s book Naturally Thin, I have been hooked as she and I have a lot in common when it comes to eating well and listening to your body. Not only is she an incredible author, TV celebrity, mother and successful businesswoman, but she is also hilarious and extremely blunt which I love.

Take a peak at how amazing this woman is for yourself in her interview with OpenSky below. Enjoy!

You’re a new TV host, Founder of Skinnygirl, 4 time NY Times best selling author and chef, but if you had to describe yourself beyond that to someone, what would you say?

Well, I’m most definitely a businessperson, but I’m most proud of being a mother. Ever since I had Bryn, I make all my decisions based on what’s best for her so that’s how I define myself first now.

It seems like everybody’s biggest challenge for living a healthy lifestyle is time. What’s one simple thing time-starved women can fit into their day to live … Read More!

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