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Get Glowing Liver Cleanse

January 5, 2015 By 2 Comments

As you can imagine, in the fitness industry I love to check out all the latest research, learn about the human body, how it works, and how to make it perform OPTIMALLY.

Ever since I struggled with metabolic damage and hormonal issues stemming for over-dieting and exercise I have been even MORE consumed with learning how to make my hormones function optimally and what “true” health is.

 

I have tried different cleanses before, I have even created my own.

However, about 8 months ago I needed PROFESSIONAL help (think DOCTOR) with my wacky hormones.
I met a woman, Dr. Tami, at an event, and right away I could tell “She GETS me.. she GETS MY BODY!!”

Sometimes, as women, we just KNOW that something is off, but we don’t have any exact reason for saying so.

Dr. Tami helped me get my hormones tested and helped me understand what was happening with my body… why my moods and periods were wacky.. why I was tired in the afternoon… whew!!

What I love about her is that she GENUINELY wants to help women feel AMAZING.

She recently posted about her Get Glowing Liver Cleanse and I figured, you know, I have NOT been taking the best care of myself (and possibly having a few too many social drinks) and maybe my liver could use a little jump start.

I could tell, that my skin has been a little less “glowy” and my digestion hasn’t been fantastic, so I got going on this cleanse.

I’m just a few days in, but I can tell you right away some things that I LOVE

  • This doesn’t feel “restrictive”- I still get to eat, I just know I need to clean it up!
  • I feel like I’m really doing SELF-CARE. I love the shower and skin scrubbing part!!
  • It’s pretty easy!! I just take out my supplements for the day and remember to drink more water
  • My skin is already clearing up and feeling less itchy.. yay!

One thing Dr. Tami mentioned to me was the juicing; how it is suggested but not mandatory. She doesn’t want people to beat themselves up for not doing it every day.

I have to say, THAT right there instantly made me feel less guilt, and like I am still doing my body a lot of good, even if its not “perfect”

I feel like I can actually incorporate this into my life maybe once a quarter and there will definitely be enough product to do so!
I’m excited to see and feel the results in the next week and a half!!

 

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When Life gives you Lemons……

March 20, 2014 By Leave a Comment
EPSON scanner image

I have a friend who I met through the internet (as I have met MANY of you!!)
His name is Adam and he has been working on a project for quite awhile now.
What I love about Adam is that his product is more than just a cool drink (which it is!!)

It is about his STORY and how he turned Lemons into… well…. LÉMONESSE.™

(keep reading below but also check out my instagram to see me trying it for the first time!!)

Check out his story below:

EPSON scanner imageEPSON scanner image

 When Live Gives You Lemons Turn Them Into LÉMONESSE.™ When one door closes another opens. LÉMONESSE™ was born after I was involved in a life-changing drunk driving accident. I starting playing baseball when I just just 5 years old.  Essentially I lived, breathed and ate baseball.  After years of blood, sweat and tears I was playing college baseball and on a path to a hopeful professional career. While in college I returned home for Christmas break to see my older brother who had returned from his military service in Iraq. On a quiet December night, our family was headed to Church when a drunk driver crossed the median and hit my brother and I head on. My Mom, Dad, younger brother, and sister all watched this unfold in the car ahead of them.My baseball dreams were crushed. I suffered multiple surgeries as a result of the accident.  I was forced to re-focus my dreams and aspirations. I decided to take the passion that I had for baseball and my desire to become a professional athlete and put it into an entrepreneurial journey that would teach me more about life, love, and lemons than I ever could have imagined.

Adam-in-Hospital

If you want to find MORE about LÉMONESSE.™ follow ALL of their social media! and tell Adam hello and great job!!

facebook | twitter | YouTube
 Pinterest | Instagram
 www.LÉMONESSE.com

Here’s Some Lemon Facts

There are numerous health benefits of lemons. Listed below are 3 Reasons You Should Be Drinking Lemon Water on a Daily Basis.

1) Overall Bodily Health

Lemon juice helps to flush out unwanted toxins from the body. Lemons contain high levels of antioxidants called bioflavonoids. Research shows that bioflavonoids may modify allergens, viruses, and carcinogens. Lemon water contains very little calories if any and also helps you stay hydrated by adding a healthy flavoring to your water. A simple shot of lemon can spruce up that boring old water and add a wealth of benefits.

2) Balances pH Levels

Contrary to what most people believe lemon water, although acidic in nature, is actually treated by the body as a base once ingested. We consume an over-abundance of acidic foods thus lowering our bodies pH level. Our body is constantly working to maintain homeostasis and by eating too many acidic foods we aren’t helping our bodies to maintain the desired 7.4 pH level. Lemon water can help the body maintain a homeostatic state by alkalizing the blood and reversing the effects of highly acidic foods.

3) Digestive Boost

A study in the “International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition.” released in 2011 stated that taste receptors for bitter substances trigger your pancreas to secrete digestive enzymes and your gall bladder to release bile. This helps the digestive process along and makes the process of eliminating waste products from the body easier.

4) Scurvy treatment

Scurvy is caused by a vitamin C deficiency. Scurvy causes general weakness, anemia, gum disease, and skin hemorrhages.

5) Gall/Kidney Stone Reduction

The citric acid in lemon juice assists in dissolving gallstones, calcium deposits, and kidney stones.

6) Antibacterial

Lemons have powerful antibacterial properties; lemon juice has been found to assist in the degradation of bacteria of diseases such as malaria, cholera, diphtheria, typhoid as well as others.

7) Acne treatment

The alkalizing effect of lemons aid in the reduction of the bacteria known to cause acne.

8) Freshen Breath

A breath of freshness. Lemons and warm water can help freshen breath.

9) Digestion Help

Drinking a glass of lemon water with a meal can help stimulate the production of stomach acid which can aid in the digestion process.

10) Assist in Weight Loss Lemons contain a soluble fiber called pectin that has been shown to help with weight loss. Another great benefit of lemons aiding in weight loss comes by adding lemon to your water. This adds flavor without the calories. In addition you can reap all the other health benefits lemons bring to your body.

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How can I get rid of loose skin on my belly?

January 9, 2014 By 118 Comments
this picture is more likely a candidate for a tummy tuck ** always consult a board certified plastic surgeon and get more than one opinion**

I get emails with training and diet questions all the time. I also get this question (or version of it a lot)

<<<Q: I used to be a size 18 and now am a size 2. I eat clean, weight train and do cardio, but I still have this loose skin. How can I tighten  my belly?? (or I have loose skin after pregnancy)>>>

these stretch marks will not go away, but her skin most likely will still tighten more

There are many factors

*age

*amount of weight lost

*how long you were overweight

*how fast you gained the weight

*how fast you lost the weight

 

……….and a lot of genetics.

Some people gain and lose a ton of weight and have hardly any issues while others are covered in stretch marks and are trying to fix that sagging skin.

You can cry about it or just learn what you can do and accept what you can’t.

There are tips for preventing stretch marks; like cocoa butter and moisturizing, but honestly, if you’re bodies’ genetics are likely to get stretchmarks, no amount of cocoa butter is going to stop that. At this point, the damage is done. So….what is my answer for what you can do?

Assuming you already eat clean, lift-weights and “do what you’re supposed to”…. you may not like the answer.

Preparation-H does not work.

Saran Wrap does not work.

Crunches, reverse crunches, planks or any abdominal exercise you can think of will not work.

There are a few lasers (usually very painful, expensive, and not largely effective) that are available that MAY have some effect on small areas or small amounts of skin “wrinkling”

this picture is more likely a candidate for a tummy tuck ** always consult a board certified plastic surgeon and get more than one opinion**

 

The only true thing that can actually get RID of loose skin is a tummy tuck.

They actually CUT. IT. OFF.

Even this only works if you have a significant amount of skin…. annnnnnnnd $8-$10k and about 3 months to recover.


Sooooo–  the BEST thing you can do is: love yourself, don’t stress over it (its probably worse in your head) and think of it as a symbol of your hard work or your souvenir of your beautiful child or your hard work on losing the weight.

Surgery is a personal choice but realize that if you aren’t ok inside, it’s not going to fix everything. That being said, if you worked hard, there’s no reason you should be held back because of some loose skin.

Whatever you choose, be ok with that.

I would never judge and I’d be in line for a tummy-tuck if I worked my ass off to lose a bunch of weight and it was really bothering me.  

We don’t all look/stay young forever.

Just be strong, be healthy, be beautiful.
and sorry I wish I had some better tips… but I am here to tell you the truth, not what you want to hear. Please Leave your comments!

you are MORE than some silly scars :)

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Angelina Jolie’s Choice to have a Double Mastectomy

May 14, 2013 By 10 Comments
AJChoice

I was on twitter last night and I saw a tweet from Piers Morgan:

Piers Morgan Tweet

So I clicked… and read her article, entitled My Medical Choice

Personally, I thought it was a very brave and thought-out decision by Angelina. She watched her mother struggle and suffer for 10 years fighting breast cancer. I have seen too many friends and family suffer and die from cancer in my life, I know the pain all too well.

Turns out, that she has a genetic disposition for this type of cancer and her risk is significantly higher than the average person, so she opted to have a double mastectomy to try and prevent it from happening. Here is what I thought… please let me know what you think.. I LOVE to read your comments!

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I don’t give a $h!t about Abercrombie!

May 9, 2013 By 8 Comments
Abercrombie

It was brought to my attention that the CEO of Abercrombie, Mike Jeffries, made some comments about not making his clothes in size XL or XXL because he didn’t “he doesn’t want larger people shopping in his store. He wants thin and beautiful people. He doesn’t want his core customers to see people who aren’t as hot as them wearing his clothing. People who wear his clothing should feel like they’re one of the ‘cool kids.'”

and while I am ALL about self-acceptance, self-love and being happy at any size… I also STRONGLY believe in freedom of speech and having a niche market and being TRUE to yourself…
So.. my response to Mike Jeffries comments:

I.D.G.A.F

Here’s why:

(and if you agree please share with friends and SUBSCRIBE to my emails so you dont miss whats next!)

 

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Me Day

April 18, 2013 By 5 Comments
Me Day

Me Day

“Me Day”

I’ve had discussions about this “self-made holiday” on Facebook, I’ve mentioned this in the newsletters and I recently spoke about it on a radio show, but I realized I never composed a blog about it!

See, at the end of December 2012, I started to think about “resolutions” and all of those things we tend to do at the end of the year…. memories from the past year and hopes for the New Year… and I’ll be honest, I was not happy with what was going on. I had been dealing with metabolic damage and adrenal fatigue for the better part of two years, and I had started to make some GREAT headway, and then, POW I lost it!

How did I lose it?

STRESS.

I started staying up late again, I started taking on more projects than I could handle, I started putting myself last and others first… you know the deal.

I realized that the THINGS I was doing to feel better, ie. taking care of me, getting to bed early, meditating, relaxing, eating regular meals, taking my supplements, etc.

I had completely stopped….and I was feeling terrible.

In fact, I told my husband, I just want to rent a car and go stay in a hotel ALONE for a few days. (ok maybe a week!)

He was obviously hurt… but that’s how I felt!

I felt as if I was being pulled in a million directions and I needed an escape… NOW!!

So that is where the “Me Day” idea came from.

I decided that for 2013 ONE DAY out of every month, was a day for ME.
RULES INCLUDE: 

  • no phone
  • no computer
  • no alarm clock
  • I can do whatever makes ME feel good– massage, reading, napping, eating
  • no “shoulds” or “have tos”
  • no work

and so, I took out my phone and blocked out the last Sunday of every month for my year long experiment.

Well, January, something came up, the Dani Johnson First Steps to Success seminar was on “MY WEEKEND” so, I just rescheduled for the next weekend! I took my Sunday (it was Super Bowl Sunday) and got myself a massage, read a book and took a nap. I can’t say that I didn’t get on the computer or ditch the phone.. but it was a start.

So my February day came and my husband knew it was my day, but he needed me for a few things, and I have to say  it was kind of ruined. He apologized and it was no biggie… who knew this would be so hard?!! I thought, “maybe this will be better on a week day!”

March came and went, I traveled to 3 states in 3 weeks and there was no time for me, again and here we are, mid April. I have a day scheduled THIS weekend. Hubby’s out of town and I’m disappearing!! For the rest of the year, I moved my “Me Day” to a Friday. Its easier when hubby is at work to BE ALONE.
The moral is: be flexible, be adaptable, but put it in the books.

I’m not perfect. I don’t have children, however, I have a very busy life because I give a lot and a lot of people depend on me. I understand how hard it is to have a day for you. BUT its still SO important. I urge EVERYONE..

I CHALLENGE YOU—-> DO IT NOW.

Schedule your “Me Days” for the REST of 2013 (there’s still 8 months left!!)

Then CLICK TO TWEET IT: I’m taking a day just for me!! #meday #becauseImworthit @SweatyBetties

even if its a “Me Half-Day” — take 4 hours for YOU. I promise you will be less bitter about the things you “have to do”.
Don’t tell me that you can’t, that you don’t have time, or can’t find a sitter…

Don’t be a b!tch. 

Lets just DO THIS…. and then come back and tell me what you plan on doing. Here are some ideas:

  • sit at the park
  • read a book
  • have coffee with a friend
  • sleep in… late
  • watch a movie marathon in your pajamas
  • get a massage
  • get a mani/pedi
  • hang out at Whole Foods
  • Sun bathe
  • sit in a car alone for 4 hours (I’ve totally done this)
  • go on a hike (but please tell someone where you’re going)
  • take a bath
  • take a yoga class
  • eat a healthy meal
  • do an “at-home” spa day- paint your nails, do a face mask, etc.

 

 

 

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WE DID IT!! Debt Free in 68 days!!

April 10, 2013 By 20 Comments
War on Debt

If you were following me back in February, you may remember that I made a statement that I was on a FINANCIAL FREEDOM PLAN and I planned to be debt free by the end of May. Well… I was wrong.

It happened YESTERDAY.

My husband and I managed to pay off $18,000 worth of debt in 68 days, because we were “faithful with the little things“
If you didn’t get a chance then to see my webinar, please take an hour and watch it, because you will really understand and realize HOW BIG of deal this really was to our little family. If I had not come across Dani and her program, I can confidently say, I would have continued to pay $200 a month on my student loan for the next 12 years. (and paying a lot more in interest in that time) and holding my credit card balances for at least another year!
I was tired of being a SLAVE and not keeping my OWN money!!

So, in my webinar, I was extremely honest about my money, what I had made last year, being on food stamps and losing our house and what we were now earning and spending. My husband and I attended Dani Johnson’s First Steps to Success Seminar on January 26-27th and we realized that weekend how much money we were WASTING. We made an immediate budget and a plan to be out of debt by May 17th (her next event)

I gulped and we kind of laughed because I thought “There is NO WAY we can actually do this”

We BLEW. OUR. OWN. DAMN. MINDS.

Not only did we pay off nearly $18k, we also saved close to $3k and GAVE AWAY over $1500!!!
I’m actually in tears writing this.
I feel nervous about posting this because I don’t want it to come off as bragging. I hope that people can realize how being faithful and following a plan can WORK.
For all the people that purchased the WAR ON DEBT program with my link, we created a small supportive Facebook group, and I’ve learned how to cut my groceries even more, we’ve supported each other on credit card pay offs and I’d LOVE to have a few more people in there

So if YOU are ready to break free of the bondage—-> Spend the $99 that will pay you back 7-fold and get in our group and lets succeed together. (purchase War on Debt and email me your receipt to [email protected])

Below are screen shots of my ACTUAL Student Loan Pay off

DEBT PAYOFF-- (they said the $3.14 would drop off in 30 days)

TOTAL DEBT as of FEBRUARY 1, 2013

Credit Card#1– $1670.67

Credit Card#2– $4274.37

Student Loan $11,810.69
TOTAL DEBT:  $17,755.73

 

TOTAL DEBT as of April 10, 2013

Credit Card#1– $0

Credit Card#2– $0

Student Loan $0
TOTAL DEBT:  $0

 War on Debt

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I don’t use toothpaste….and how to do oil pulling

April 1, 2013 By 28 Comments
Oil Pulling and Dirty Mouth

I made a post on Facebook on how I hadn’t gone to the dentist in 7 years.
Well, after a stellar bill of health from the dentist I also admitted something else..
I DON’T USE TOOTHPASTE!!!
aghhhh!! gross, they say!!
Well… I’ve found a few new things that are awesome for cleaning the mouth:

Oil Pulling and Brushing with DIRT

You can get the Primal Life Organic Toothmud here

check it out!!

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Forgiveness and letting go

February 6, 2013 By 11 Comments
FORGIVE

Two weekends ago, I went to a 2-Day seminar by Dani Johnson. For those of you who don’t know her, don’t worry, I didn’t either. In fact, had she not had the same name as me, I’d probably not know her either.
Ironically, while googling myself (you never know what’s out there) I found her and wow! She had wayyyyy more Facebook Fans than me! (like 100,000 more!) Who is this woman?!

I was intrigued and found out about her story, she grew up in an unstable home, was pregnant at 17, homeless and suicidal. She turned everything around and became a millionaire, a radio talk show host, a business owner of 15 business and HUGE philanthropist and was on the season premiere of “Secret Millionaire” last season!!

I could definitely relate to her earlier life story, in fact, a little too much. As I learned more about her, the more I wanted to know. It turned out, she was going to be in Dallas in January, so I decided, last minute, to go.

The workshop was called “First Steps to Success” and you could say it was a bit of a financial seminar, but much more than that. It was about how to have success in all areas of life: relationships, finances, business, etc.

One of the exercises we had to do was to learn to FORGIVE.
We were told to close our eyes and think of that ONE PERSON that we haven’t forgiven, and to picture walking up to them and telling them we forgive them and we release them.

For me, there were two people…. but wait… there were THREE.
The one person that I found hardest to forgive, was ME.

I realized this again today (it’s a sign) when one of the lovely ladies at sweatybettiesfitness.com posted her mantra for today which was: I forgive myself of any and all past mistakes

FORGIVE

How often we end up STUCK. Stuck in our relationships. Stuck in our friendships. Stuck in our finances. Stuck in our own crap! because we can’t let go of our own mistakes?!

I sit here thinking, “I’m not stuck” but who am I fooling?
There are days (still) where I beat myself up for ALL kinds of things!! Here are a few– familiar to anyone?

  • I should have saved all that money when I was waitressing and making tons of cash, then I’d be rich now!
  • I should have stopped competing earlier and my body wouldn’t be a mess
  • I shouldn’t have eaten that whole (fill in the blank) I would be 5 lbs lighter by now!
  • I shouldn’t have invested and then changed my investments out of fear
  • I shouldn’t have been such a bad wife during Christmas, I’m such a brat. My husband deserves better.
  • I should have been smarter about things so I wouldn’t have gotten taken advantage of.

See where this goes? I mean, dang! Just reading it makes me realize how detrimental it is!!
How can I make MORE money, if I’m still thinking about all the money I wished I had saved and that I lost in the economic downturn? Thats not going to bring me more financial stability!
How can I work on getting my body healthier, if I’m always thinking about how I wished I never dieted hard in the first place and then beat myself up for overeating later?! That’s not going to help me make healthy choices!

How can I be a good wife and friend when I’m telling myself people deserve better?! That’s inconsistent!

How can I make better decisions about partnerships and business relationships, if I keep thinking that I will just get taken advantage of? I can’t!
Wow. Is it ironic, that it was easier for me to forgive the people that abused me or took advantage of me? Yet, I won’t let myself off the hook?
What might you still be beating yourself up over? What is it time to let go of and forgive?
Leave it in the comments.. or maybe just tell me that its all me. haha.

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The “27 Angels” Workout

December 18, 2012 By 4 Comments
Candles

This workout is to honor the lives and memories of the 20 children and 7 adults who tragically lost their lives on Friday, December 14, 2012 in Newtown, CT at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

I’ve been having a hard time figuring out how to get back in the groove in the wake of the tragedy and I felt compelled to create a workout that honored those lives lost.
Their names are below the video:

  • Charlotte Bacon, 6
  • Daniel Barden, 7
  • Rachel Davino, 29
  • Olivia Engel, 6
  • Josephine Gay, 7
  • Ana M. Marquez-Greene, 6
  • Dylan Hockley, 6
  • Dawn Hochsprung, 47
  • Madeleine F. Hsu, 6
  • Catherine V. Hubbard, 6
  • Chase Kowalski, 7
  • Jesse Lewis, 6
  • James Mattioli , 6
  • Grace McDonnell, 7
  • Anne Marie Murphy, 52
  • Emilie Parker, 6
  • Jack Pinto, 6
  • Noah Pozner, 6
  • Caroline Previdi, 6
  • Jessica Rekos, 6
  • Avielle Richman, 6
  • Lauren Rousseau, 30
  • Mary Sherlach, 56
  • Victoria Soto, 27
  • Benjamin Wheeler, 6
  • Allison N. Wyatt, 6
  • Nancy Lanza, 53

 

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