Taking Time For Yourself

In our fastpaced society we are often swept up un the whirlwind that we call daily living. Often times we are jolted awake by an alarm, rush to get ready for work, rush to work, rush through the day because we can't wait to get home, rush through dinner, and because we are so tired we rush to bed. This is how it goes, day in and day out. Days turn to weeks, weeks, to months and months to years. Before we know it we have rushed through half of our lives. This is illustrated pretty well in the movie "Click" with Adam Sandler. Driven by his lust for success, he uses a remote he comes across that has the power to pause, fast forward, rewind and skip time, to move up the ladder of success only to have the remote take control of his life. Ultimately he gets his success but at the expense of his family and health.

Although we aren't using a magical remote, we can get stuck in fast forward mode sometimes. It is important to remember that we are only promised today; tomorrow hasn't come, and theres a chance it won't. We need to slow down and live each moment of our life. It's important not to sacrifice your relationships and health for success. What good will it be with no one to share it with or if you aren't able to celebrate it because you're sick? Take time to relax, slow down and be present in each moment, enjoy the small things you might take for granted, spend time with loved ones, laugh and smile often. Life is too short to speed through it, slow down and enjoy the scenary.

3 Stategies for Avoiding Holiday Party Food Disasters

It's that special time of year where families, jobs and a whole array of different organizations have there holiday parties. Some of the favorite dishes include but are not limited to meat, cheese and cracker trays, fudge, pies, cookies, casseroles, honey glazed hams, and turkey. Not all the foods are always bad; some even have the potential to be superfoods if they're prepared right. The sad truth is that many of these foods are super high in fat, sugar and carbs; the big three! So how do you go to these parties and have a good time without throwing your eating plan in the trash? Being prepared and having a strategy BEFORE you get there will help with damage control. I have a few strategies I have compiled to help get you through the holidays.

1. Eat before the party. Fill up on your powerfoods before the party. This way your not hungry and as tempted to shove fudge in your face. Just so your're not rude, make a plate of low carb and sugar high protein foods like turkey, fruit and veggies without the ranch.
2. Pack Snacks/ Take a dish- If it's a potluck and you're bringing a dish, make it a healthy one. Bring two if you'd like so that you're not just eating one thing. Snacks like veggie trays, unsalted mixed nuts, salads and fruit bowls are all healthy, they fit in, and they won't leave you feeling guilty or hungry if you have a second or third helping.
3. Just Eat it- This isn't very good "health" advice but if you do it right, there is no reason you cant enjoy some great tasting treats. You can schedule a cheat day; knowing in advance you have a party allows you to keep a clean and healthy diet all the way up until the party. The day of the party you eat clean, drinks lots of water and when you're at the party you enjoy yourself and eat what you'd like. BEWARE, this isn't permission to go overboard, set limits, eat in moderation and kow when to stop. The main thing is that your next meal is healthy and you continue to eat that way. It's okay to eat processed, chemical filled crap once in a while. Let's face it, these foods taste GOOD! They wreak havoc on your body though and the short term gratification isn't worth the long term health problems they will cause so be smart about it.

Lastly, keep in mind that it is the holidays and the point is to be social, relax, and enjoy quality time with your loved ones.

Being Paleo on the Go!

Being healthy on the go is a challenge all in itself; let alone living a Primal or Paleo lifestyle. Just because you have decided to make a change and eat right doesn't mean that your social life has to be flushed down the toilet. I hear people complain about not being to go here or there because their on a "diet". That is a big reason why those diets don't work; peope are restrictng themselves and not going about life as usual. They put this eating plan on a pedestool and allow it to control their lives. It's important to understand that eating healthy is a lifestyle change and that you can eat healthy ANYWHERE you go; even BK or McDonalds. Their are lots of choices and its up to us to do our research and know what we should and shouldn't eat. For example I know that if it is my choice to go out to dinner with friends I choose the Mongolian Grill; you create your own plate, you have the choice of almost every vegetable, fish, chicken, pork, beef, seasons, sauces and even oils. Don't let eating healthy dictate your social life, know that you have choices and be sure to do your research and know what places support your healthy goals...

5 steps to eliminate self-doubt & fear on your fitness journey | Cut and Jacked

5 steps to eliminate self-doubt & fear on your fitness journey Cut and Jacked

The Path to Optimum Health Starts in the Kitchen

It is just as important to take care of business in the kitchen as it is in the gym.  Many people, and I can say that I was one of them, go about reaching their goals in a manner that doesnt make since. I was guilty of working out religously, and never seeing the reults I thought I should see. I tried all knids of different workouts; the 300 workout, Menshealth workouts, plyos, olympic training, traditional training, circuits etc... NOTHING got me where I wanted to be or even steered me in the right direction. I thought it was my genes; I was at the point to believe that I wasn't made to have a slim waist, visible abdominals or defined muscles. That was until I started focusing on my diet. The problem was that I was doing all the right things in the gym, but I wasn't fueling my body right. I would always drink my protein shake after a workout but after that I was eating pizza, nachos, deep fried foods, huge portions, dessert every night, lots of sugars, simple carbs, etc... I figured since I worked so hard I coould get away with eating whatever I wanted to. WRONG! This error in judgement was ultimately making me fatter and unhealthier. I think this is a problem that is becoming more and more common. I see people in the gym day after day working their tails off; with that work ethic they should be fitness models but its obvious they're not. These are some of the same people who say things like "I'm working extra hard for that piece of pie" or I can have a 5th slice of pizza, I'm going to the gym tommorrow". WOW! The effects that these foods have on our health cannot be worked off or reversed because we do an extra 10 minutes of cardio. No matter how hard you work in the gym, if you aren't taking care of business in the kitchen, you will never see the reults you want. The path to optimum health startds in the kitchen!

Paleo Powerfoods

Whenever I'm in a crunch or on the go it is important that I have foods around me that support my goals. I need high protein, little to no carb foods that will leave me feeling full and satisfied. Everyone has their preferences on what foods those might be, mine are pretty simple. I love having canned tuna or chicken, boiled eggs, almond butter with a banana, mixed nuts or a protein shake. Some folks from different Primal and Paleo circles frown on canned meats because of the processing or handling or additives and preservatives; I typically agree but like I said, these are fallback options for when I'm in a crunch. There are better brands than the one's I have pictured that are still canned; you can find them at Trader Joes or other health food stores. The main difference is that they will be free from most of the crap that others brands are riddled with. The main point is being prepared wherever you go. Know what foods are are available to you that support your health goals, make sure they are convenient and affordable and have them in your car, purse, backpack, briefcase, cooler etc... be prepared! "Failing to plan is planning to fail."-Alan Lakein