Don't Forget About YOU

Don't Forget About YOU

As a member of a family, your own needs are often put behind everyone else.  This can mean that you are helping make lunches for the kids in the morning, and therefore you skip breakfast.  In addition, you don't even have time to make your own healthy lunch, so you grab a sandwich and chips at the deli down the street.  This costs you your pocketbook, but also the calories and nutrition you need to have energy and clarity of mind throughout the day.

As a working mom previously and as stay-at-home mom currently, I thought it was my job to make sure everyone else was taken care of ahead of my own.  I should be putting everyone else's needs as priority.  Isn't that how we are as women?  Self sacrifice is a good measure of doing our best for our families?  

I have been staying home for almost three years, and it took me almost a year to figure out that I can't just sacrifice sacrifice sacrifice.  I can't let myself and my own needs go without letting a piece of myself die a little bit every day.  

I have learned a couple important lessons:

1.    Live life in balance.  You need to take time to move physically; you need to take time for your spiritual growth and health; you need to take time for mental health (quiet time, learning, or time doing an activity that is about you).

2.  Life is a journey not a sprint.  Take the time to build toward a goal (ex. join a 16 week program to running a 5K or commit to yourself to go to a yoga class once a week for three months).  Goals take time to achieve.  If they didn't, you couldn't call them a goal.

3.  Live all areas of life in moderation (food, exercise, socialization, work, etc).

Don't forget about yourself.  You will be a better person, employee, friend, mother, sister, wife, etc.... if you take the time to take care of yourself and  body.  

What do you do to balance yourself?

Immunity Arsenal- Overtraining

I went to the fit expo in Los Angeles and the next day guess what?  I overdid my workout AND to top it off I got a cold to fight off, yikes! I still say there was too many people there and that means more germs floating around.  Well, that's not all, not only did I over train, I took overtraining to the next level. The next day following my workout and feeling just a little dumpy, I did sprints uphill to exhaustion.  Moral of the Story, don't get too excited and overdo your workouts. Work out moderately and build up!  So, here is my Immunity Arsenal to get over this cold bug and heal my body from over training:

- Echinacea Golden Seal 3x per day (Herbfarm brand)
- Fresh Carrot Juice with high nutrient veggies including celery and red peppers daily
- Herbal tea fusion with lemon, fresh ginger, and cayenne*
-My Chicken Soup with extra garlic

Great Smoothie Recipe: HER WHEY: Gluten-free protein - NLA Performance

Made an Awesome tasting smoothie today, full of Protein!

Her Smoothie:
1 Scoop of Her Whey Chocolate Eclair*
1 Cup Almond Milk
1 Cup Frozen Blueberries/Rasberry mix
1 Tbs. Chia Seeds
 So Yummy!!!

*HER WHEY: Gluten-free protein - NLA Performance

Easy Chicken Stew

This recipe is so quick & easy.  As a working mom and getting kids off to school, I need quick meals that get it done and taste great.  This is so healthy and the family loves it!

-4 Frozen or Fresh Chicken Thighs*
-3 Organic Carrots Sliced
-3 Stalks of Organic Celery Sliced
-4 Small Potatoes Cut in large cubes
- 1/2 -1 Onion Sliced
-3 Cloves of Garlic
- 2-4 Tablespoons Seasonings
- 3 Cups of Water*

 Tasty Seasoning Mix I use!

Goat Milk Babies

The perfect substitution for baby formula that worked for me and I share with anyone that is open to it. When I had my babies, I was a working Mom. So, naturally I tried to breastfeed as long as possible but that didn't last long.  After a couple of months, I had to find a solution.  After seeing my friends and families babies constantly sick and on antibiotics, etc. I was not comfortable with the current baby formulas that were on the market. I needed a natural solution.  I researched and found that Goat's Milk is highest in calcium and easiest milk to digest and is the closest milk on earth that is close to a mother's milk.  After further research, I finally found a baby's formula!  I don't remember the book I sourced it, it was 16 years ago.  However, the recipe was Unpasteurized Goat's Milk & Carrot Juice.

Homemade Vegetable Wash

I just made my own homemade vegetable wash/spray. It is cheap, easy, and the best part is the ingredients are items I have around my kitchen. Try it out!

Mix ingredients listed below in a tall bowl (ingredients combined with fizz). Pour mixture in a clean spray bottle. Spritz on fresh produce generously. Sit for 5 minutes then rinse off well.
1 cup water
1 cup vinegar
2 TBS baking soda
2 TBS lemon juice

Fit Expo January 2013

Yesterday I went to the Fit Expo in Los Angeles.  I go to this event every year as my inspiration for the year of working out and a great way to kick off the new year. This year was PACKED with people!! I did go on a Saturday, so I think Sunday may have been an easier day to navigate, I will keep that in mind for 2014.  I left disappointed that I was packed in like a sardine and drove more 2 hours to get there, however a little later after I recovered I did get motivated.  Seeing so many people into fitness and extreme fitness in all different facets is amazing! This event will probably only get bigger every year.  I did leave with a new brand of protein powder and a new type of grain to try, so I am ready to get back into my working out and try something new!  Dumbells, here I come....

Liz's Story

My name is Liz and I live in Oceanside, California.  I am currently a full-time Realtor and a mom of two teenagers.  Staying healthy and energetic, raising a family, and starting in the real estate business in California is let's just say a 'Challenge'.  My health journey began when my Grandmother gave me her juicer when I was 16, that's where it all started.  I met my match of a husband who was also a health fanatic, mostly out of necessity to have a healthy lifestyle.  We have raised our kids from Day 1 on a healthy diet and with a fascination of health and wellness and I will be sharing those tips and things we have learned from tons of research with you.

My sister and I have very different journey's and struggles and recently discovered that we both have a strong interest in health and wellness and that's it's the only way we can survive.  We look forward to taking you on this journey with us and we hope you find our blog inspirational and helpful.

Jess's Story

My name is Jessica and I live in the 6th fattest state in the United States, Oklahoma. I am currently a stay-at-home mom with three little kids. I have always had an interest in health and wellness, but chose a corporate career out of college to pay the bills instead of pursuing a wellness career. Over the past several years, I have realized over and over again how important it is to take care of your body. Two years ago, I became a certified personal trainer to become more educated as to what is inside my body and understand how it works. I have begun seeing wellness as a second job to maintain balance in my life both spiritually and physically. I now enjoy running and practicing yoga. Like my sister and I who are separated by several states, we all can be connected through our common journey to BE and live HAPPY and ACTIVE lives as a fit sister.