Healthy Chicks

Everyone talks about a vacation as some grand escape to the Caribbean islands or taking two weeks off of work to travel. However, while that’s one way to look at a vacation physically, sometimes we just need a mental “vacation,” you know a mini break from life.

If you feel like your mind is spinning in a million directions, you most likely could use a little time off. Here’s how:

1. Hop on the Fifty Shades bandwagon and indulge. You won’t regret it, but when you’re staying up past midnight waiting for the next steamy encounter, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

2. Take a mini vacation close to home, but far enough away that you won’t bump into anyone you know. For me, Cape Cod was the perfect fit. I took off for four days with my family, and wasted my days away at the beach, sipping red wine and treating myself to lobster rolls, clam strips and chowdah.

3. Turn off all forms of technology for an entire day. Yes, that means no twitter, no facebook, no iPhone, no text messaging, and no reading celebrity gossip online. When you unplug for a bit, you may find clarity … Read More!

The other day, I ran into a friend on the street, and we caught up for a few minutes. As we both updated each other on our entrepreneurial lifestyles, we got into a discussion on our goals and to-dos.

In just a few minutes, we realized we both shared something in common: too many goals, thoughts and ideas! I’ve always been the type of many ideas, creativity one of my greatest strengths. I’d lead the creative projects at work, write my little heart away, and buckle down the big plans for the weekend.

While being creative is a strength in my book, it’s also one of my greatest weaknesses. Not creativity in itself, but more so the fact that I have a hard time focusing on just one thing.

I want to publish a book, travel the world, get certified in some sort of group fitness activity (kickboxing? yoga?), take cooking classes, hit my salary goals, start a group health counseling program, build a business with The Boy, get published in a women’s health magazine, start writing wellness newsletters for corporations; the list goes on and on.

As we discussed our endless “to-dos” my friend suggested writing everything … Read More!

This week, I received a special package in the mail: my certificate from the American Association of Drugless Practitioners that states that I’ve met the requirements to be a Certified Health Practitioner. Yes, I am finally officially official, and boy does it feel good. It seems like just yesterday that I enrolled at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition to begin my journey to become a health coach, and now I’m finally there.

Here are some highlights from the year:

September 2011: I began my classes at IIN, and became amazed by the weekly lectures. I also attended IIN’s Fall conference, where I met a group of like-minded students and inspiring speakers like Deepak Chopra and founder Joshua Rosenthal himself. I also shared my first “I love you” with The Boy, something neither of us had ever said to anyone before.

October 2011: I completed my second half marathon in Newport, RI, which I will also be taking part in this year. I felt strong, powerful and inspired, and also broke my PR by five minutes!

November 2011: I celebrated one year with The Boy in the lovely Waterville Valley, NH. Everything was perfect, and I couldn’t be more … Read More!

Yesterday on The Cleanse was definitely the best for the both of us: lots of energy, good moods and pizzazz. However, I’m not going to lie that yesterday was also the day cravings starting kicking in. Pizza! Coffee! Cheese! Bread! More cheese! Fortunately, I held tight, drank more water, ate more cleansing foods and all was good.

Some people say, “I could never do a cleanse!” “You can’t eat anything!” ” I would die!”

My recommendation? While it can be difficult because your body isn’t used to eating this way, try to think of the things you can eat. Like super creamy, decadent avocados, greens that give you energy and life, fresh juicy fruit, high quality olive oil, endless herbs, and delicious homemade soups. When you think of the things you can do, then it doesn’t seem that bad now does it?

What we ate:

Breakfast: Super Lean Green Berry Breakfast Smoothie

Snack: Handful raw cashwes

Lunch: Mixed greens, collards, spinach, tomato, avocado, cucumber, hummus, olive oil, balsamic, and lemon juice

Snack: 1/2 banana + carrots and hummus

Dinner: Vegetarian Split Pea Soup from Whole Foods + mixed sauteed veggies including yellow squash, zucchini, broccoli rabe and collards

– – … Read More!

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!

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!

[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!

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!