Exercise is your king & nutrition is your queen. Together they create your fitness kingdom.

Saturday, December 20, 2014

3-Day Refresh Cleanse

I got a sweet holiday surprise - my box of Shakeology came with a 3-day Refresh cleanse. Kudos to Jen, my BeachBody coach. After doing a happy dance, I adjusted the day's meal plan to accommodate a spontaneous gentle cleanse.
It all started with vanilla Shakeology - a.k.a. nutritional happiness in a cup. But seriously, vanilla is my favorite flavor. It's a great base to add other ingredients to the mix, like berries or Nutella. Today I kept it simple and went with coconut/almond mix and banana. The underlying taste of vanilla Shakeology is reminiscent of cake, so I call my morning blend "Cakeology." Another happy dance ensued. 

At the end of the day, the onset of my cleanse went well. I had a moment of forgetting about Refresh and nibbled on a snack at work. The snack was super healthy, coconut almond awesomeness dipped in dark chocolate, so a nibble didn't feel like a fail.

 
I had more shakes during the day, salad and salmon oat hash. Lots of water and because it's an off day for exercise, no PiYo. Tomorrow I'll start my 30-days of PiYo to build flexibility and all that jazz.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

100 Doctors Don't Lie

I've never been a fan of veggies, so being able to find a tasty meal replacement drink that gives me all of my veggies is the cat's meow.  One glass gives me 10 cups of cauliflower, 4 cups of broccoli, 4 cups of mushrooms, 4 cups of radishes, 3 cups of lettuce, 1 cup of peas 7 carrots and 3 raw onions -- for starters.  Seventy premium ingredients set the stage for outstanding health.  It's good to see that doctors around the country use and recommend Shakeology.


Thursday, October 6, 2011

Maca Root: Superfood Featured in Shakeology

Maca, a turnip-like root, is a South American adaptogenic plant that is contained in my favorite meal replacement drink (Shakeology). As an adaptogen, Maca functions to balance and normalize bodily functions and systems. This assists the body in adapting during stressful situations (or during strenuous and demanding activities), which in turn restores the body to an overall sense of well being.

This plant was introduced to modern science at a 1997 Complementary Alternative Medicine conference by New York doctor, Viana Muller. Dr. Muller shared how Maca has traditionally been eaten by Peruvians for multiple health benefits. The Peruvians have historically used Maca to regulate fertility, hormonal imbalances and menstrual irregularities. They also used the root to assist with PMS issues, menopausal symptoms (i.e. loss of energy and libido), temporary depression, hot flashes, and osteoporosis. Furthermore, Maca has been utilized to boost memory and promote mental alertness.

Historically, Inca warriors consuming boiled Maca prior to battle would have increased strength and preserved energy stores, confirming its benefits as a fatigue and lethargy fighter. In addition to this anecdotal evidence, research has confirmed athletes using Maca do indeed experience a boost in endurance, increased energy and stamina. These properties found within Maca can also help combat chronic fatigue syndrome by restoring lost vitality and vigour.

There are further aspects of Maca that be of great benefit to overall health. For example, Maca can address thyroid issues, counteracting the hormonal imbalance of an under-active thyroid. This is because Maca contains a high iodine content, whereas an iodine deficiency has been implicated in hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid). The root also boasts a rich iron content, which is of specific importance to people with anemia. Maca's phytochemical properties also boost and strengthen the immune system, which in turn causes the body to fight off harmful/foreign substances. Lastly, further research indicates that serious invasive infections can be combated by glucosinolates contained in Maca.

Overall, Maca has proven to be an Amazon superfood that any one's diet could greatly benefit from.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

From the Mind of Me ...

The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places.  ~Author Unknown
Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another.  ~Walter Elliott, The Spiritual Life

 
Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it.  The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use.  ~Earl Nightingale
 

   

Invictus (William Ernest Henley)

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.


Wednesday, June 1, 2011

The Breakthrough







I love the ingredients in my superfood based meal replacement shake.  I've been hesitant to commit to being a full-on consumer of Shakeology, I mean the initial cost seemed daunting.  My biggest excuse was that each shake was costing me $5 a day -- GASP.  Wait a minute, aren't I the girl who has historically spent $5.25 a day (minimum) on lattes (after considering the barista's tip).  I love myself a yummy latte and would never talk smack about indulging in such things.  The cost of a latte lifestyle, on the other hand, is something I take issue with.  On top of the latte factor, in my super unhealthy days much of my food budget focused on 'cheap is for me'.  When I was a fast food junkie I thought that $5-$8 meals were a deal.  Then one day I woke up and realized that a trip to Subway could be deals.  Shortly thereafter I saw how my Shakeology meal would also be a meal deal.  Taking all this into consideration, my previous Shakeology hesitations don't seem to hold water.  In the end, I chose to prioritize my food spending away from empty calories and towards holistic wellness.  

Friday, May 27, 2011

Chlorella, Spirulina & Blue Green Algae

Within the nutrition and wellness community, Chlorella, Spirulina and Blue Green Algae are considered to be potent superfoods.  Each of these marine foods boast potent healing properties.  These three nutrients, each an essential component to my favorite meal replacement shake, inspire me to study and share a little more about what I'm imbibing.  My meanderings began with Chlorella.   

Chlorella is a single-celled fresh water green algae that is a complete protein, containing 18 of 22 amino acids. It also has vitamins, minerals, fiber and chlorophyll.  This algae is Japan’s best-selling nutritional supplement, as it contains a high amount of chlorophyll (a pigment in green plants that functions as a highly versatile detoxifier and cleanser).

Research indicates that Chlorella is helpful in building the immune system by stimulating the activity of macrophages and T-cells.  This increases interferon levels, which enhances the immune system’s ability to fight foreign invaders.  Anecdotal evidence suggests that this boost to the immune system is helpful in fighting cancer.

Chlorella has also been cited as a detoxifier, neutralizing and removing toxins from the body.  The fibrous outer membrane of Chlorella is especially beneficial for intestinal health, promoting friendly bacteria within the colon and ultimately improving digestion (Chlorella prompts intestinal Lactobacillus to multiply four times the normal rate).  Further cleansing abilities of chlorella involve the bloodstream, as Chlorella helps protect the liver.

The antioxidant properties of Chlorella are found in the abundance of Vitamins A, C, E and beta carotene.  These help the body repair and recover from cancer-causing free radicals. Chlorella is a rich source of the mineral magnesium, which is especially beneficial in heart health, regulation of blood pressure, control of blood sugar, prevention of stroke, enhancement of muscle strength/relaxation and overall energy production.

Chlorella has nucleic acids RNA and DNA.  There are 17 times more RNA/DNA in Chlorella than there are in sardines, which was once praised as the highest food source of RNA/DNA.  This is known to promote rapid and healthy growth cellular growth.