We Resolve...

You see it everywhere this time of year: New Year, New Me! Your social media feeds are full of friends and family resolving to change themselves and become a whole new person, all because the clock struck midnight on December 31st.

The thing about resolutions is that they usually are not seen all the way through. Why is that? Why do these seemingly admirable goals that everyone is setting rarely get accomplished? I think it is for these reasons.

1) Expecting yourself to completely change without putting in work is not realistic. Some of these resolutions are honorable and awesome, however, to meet them would require a lot of work; and let's face it, we have become a lazy culture. It is ingrained in us to want things quickly and easily. We live in an age of instant gratification, and when things are not fast and easy, we tend to quit. After all, if these complex goals were easy, everyone would be crushing them. If losing 10 lbs was easy, we wouldn't have an obesity crisis in our country. If mentally and emotionally healing from past pain and traumas was easy, we would have no need for mental health professionals. The truth is, any goals that are worth accomplishing will take a lot of hard work and dedication.

2) Sometimes we set unrealistic goals. Knowing that you are about 30 lbs over where you want to be to keep your body healthy is the first step in transitioning to a healthier lifestyle..however, expecting to lose the weight in a super short amount of time, and having it be easy is the stuff of fantasy. Again, as in #1, this is a great goal, but should be done in a healthy, reasonable way- there are no shortcuts, and it will not happen in the tiny window you are setting for yourself. Big goals require big time commitments. When goals are hard, and they seem like they can never be reached, this is where people get discouraged and quit. Big goals require big time and big work.

3) Change and the unknown are scary! In order to accomplish goals, that means you have to change what you are used to. You have to set up a new structure of habits (and stick to them) in order to see any progress. Lifestyle changes are where results live. Making the leap to actually change is hard. There will undoubtedly be a grace period after the initial alteration to daily life where the goals you set seem super attainable-and then reality sets in, and you realize this will not be as easy as you thought. This is where people either quit, or start to drop off the new healthy habits slowly, until they are right back where they started on December 31st. The unknown is outside of our comfort zones. It is a place that causes anxiety and fear. No one wants to live in a place of fear, so we avoid it at all costs. Even though we know we are going back to unhealthy choices and patterns, it is a comfortable place to be, and when life gets sticky, it is easier to be in a comfy place then a scary, unknown one.  We are after all, creatures of habit.

4) Life is messy. Your kid gets sick, you can't do this today because someone at your job gave you extra work to cover and you have to work late, you have to get the dog to the vet, your spouse is just not supportive this week, there is just not enough time in the day, and the list goes on and on and on. Excuses come in a trillion different forms. The truth is, everyone's life is crazy and messy, but if the goal(s) you set is not on the top of the priority list, it slowly but surely gets pushed down to the bottom, and you're right back where you started. Resolve to give yourself that time to meet your goals.

There are a multitude of reasons we wander away from the goals we set, regardless of the time of year we set them. We should resolve to not set goals just at the end of each year, but to set them when we are moved to do so. There is never a bad time to set new personal goals; or to grow. This has to be a decision made by you because it is a change you desire. It cannot be one made because the calendar is changing. When goals are set out of genuine aspiration, that is where we succeed; this is the sweet spot.
We also need to remember that goals worth accomplishing take time and effort. None that we set will be quick and easy. Keep your head down, and take them one baby step at a time. Break down your big goal into smaller, track-able goals, and crush them one at a time. It is easier to stay on track if you can monitor your progress along the way. Then, on those days of doubt and frustration (those will happen!!) you can remind yourself with tangible evidence, that you are on the right road; you are crushing your goals, one step at a time.
Hold yourself accountable. Take the time each day to reflect on all of the pieces and parts that made your day flow. How did you do? What can you do tomorrow that will bring you one step closer to your ultimate goal? How can you refocus if needed? Self motivation is tricky, but oh-so-powerful! However, you don't have to do it alone! Find your people! Find the person or people that will hold you accountable, but also be there for you when you have a hard day. The people who will stand up and cheer for you on those awesome days, and be that motivation when you need it. These people will  be like-minded individuals- people who are striving towards greatness as well. You won't find support in those who are stuck. Keep your eyes peeled for the people around you on a journey as well.
I do think that the sentiment of starting a new year/starting fresh with blank slate is a good one. Feeling like starting over with no baggage is empowering. I do understand why people think it necessary to start fresh each year; the appeal is not lost on me. It seems like a restart button and does make some of us feel hopeful. So, if this is the time of year that really does help you reset and reach for new goals, I do not discourage you to do so. Like I said earlier, no goal should have to wait to be started based on a calendar change, however, if this is your mental sweet spot, get it done! No time is the wrong time to start squashing goals.

When all is said and done, goals are a thing of beauty. Growth is necessary in life. Go forth with an open mind, and the will to work your butt off, and the results will speak for themselves.

What goals do you have? Health, fitness, food, personal, family, etc? Share with me in the comments!

Body Journey

As a woman, and human, I am always trying to learn and improve. Learn about life and listen to other's journeys and lessons to grow in my life and be a better person. One area that I feel a majority of people, largely women, struggle with is body image. Unfortunately, I am no exception.

I know that there is a movement happening around me that encourages women to embrace who they are on the outside; that we are all beautiful, but at the same time there is a social media storm of abuse towards women and their imperfect bodies. How are we having both narratives happening at the same time? What I've also come to see is that it is woman-on-woman body shaming is happening most often in the social media realm. Why are we not uplifting each other? Why is it that we feel the need to put down someone for their body/looks? What I think is happening is the people who are shaming others are outwardly projecting their own insecurities onto others to sooth their own body issues. I have heard a few influential women discussing this issue lately, and it sparked something in me; made me want to discuss my experiences and reflect.

Body image issues start young. Daughters get their first taste of how they are supposed to feel about their bodies from how their mother feels about her own. If her mother is always speaking negatively about her body, verbally saying what she wishes were different, or never seeming to love her body, this is what the little girl sees; this is what the little girl thinks is normal. She learns that women need to strive for perfect bodies, and this should be a primary focus in her adulthood. Self hatred and the search for perfection starts young.

The battle for the "perfect" body only worsens as we get older.

By middle school I was already hypersensitive to the girls around me, and noticed that my body type did not match theirs. I was blessed with my Mimi Betty's hips and my mother's short stature. With these genetic curvy cards that I was dealt, I have always been an athlete. I have played sports since I was small, but I have never, ever fit in to the athlete body-type mold. I have always had a curvy body. As early as 5th grade, I realized that my wide hips and larger-than-most bust size made me different; this was the last thing a middle school girl wants-to stand out. I wanted to just fit in with all of my basketball besties and classmates. Of course, these body insecurities were self-inflicted at this time. None of my girl friends looked at my body in a negative light. They were, and have always been my biggest fans and supporters no matter what my exterior size/shape. These ladies have remained my biggest and purest support system for well over 25 years. They are proof that women can lift and hold each other up.

Moving into high school, my body seemed to be even more different from my friends. I had rolls in places that none of them did. My chest was still a lot bigger than most, and I did not look like the hard-working athlete that I was. I worked super hard at whatever sports practice or game I had that day, and never really saw the fit body results I desired. As a 3 sport athlete, I never was sitting still. However, not only did I look and feel different in a uniform, I looked different in school clothes to the boys too. All of my friends had a constant stream of  boys flirting and asking them to hang out on weekends, and I never had that experience. I told myself it was for the best because they all were experiencing such drama with the boys, but who wouldn't like a little positive attention? I had plenty of friends that were boys, but I always remained in the dreaded friend-zone.

I had 3 major crushes in my younger years, but since I did not fit their preferred body type, I certainly was never going to admit that I had feelings for them. They would never know! High school proved that being friends with the boys was as close as I was going to get to a boyfriend. Friend-zone-land was a hard space to live in.

When I went to college, I assumed the boys, and people in general, would be more open-minded and accepting of my curves....I was wrong. Within the general student population, I did not stand out, but as a PE major, I did not look like all of the super-fit athletes that I was in class with all day. Looking back, I was a size 12 going into freshman year- average. But, it was clear in my eyes (because I was with physically beautiful humans in all of my classes) I did not look the part. It wasn't until professors started pointing it out to me that I realized others were judging me on my exterior too; It wasn't just my own negative self image that was out in the universe-others saw me as less-than because of my stature as well. As a disclaimer, I did fluctuate with my weight throughout college. I did gain weight, lose it, gain it back. Because of the yo-yo-ing, I was naturally the one that caught glances from professors in class when they were discussing professional appearance. I was the one who when articles that laid out the latest statistics on how unlikely it was for an obese person to get a job in physical education were slid onto my desk, professors lingered by me a few seconds longer. I would not get a job because it would appear to my students and my peers that I do not practice what I preach- a healthy lifestyle and lifelong fitness. I was the one that had to have private, longer than normal, body composition and weight conversations with professors because they were concerned for my future and my probable failure in upcoming job interviews. In hindsight, I know their intent was to help me. They did care about me, and I truly loved my college education, my professors, and all of the PE majors I went through 4 years with. However, there were experiences that were not conducive to fostering and growing a body-positive attitude. After all, I was painfully aware that I did not look the part. But, teaching was my passion, and I was not going to let that piece stop me. I knew I was good at the teaching part, the ill-equipped body would have to be fixed.

My journey for a "good" body continued. There were times when I was very over weight, and times when I was average, but I still felt too large regardless of my actual size. In early adulthood, I was prescribed a horrible diet pill by a doctor who mentioned my thyroid was under active in passing instead of it being a diagnosis of any sort. In his opinion, the under active thyroid was not cause for weight gain or the inability to lose it, but the cause of my excess weight was obviously because I was "lazy" and was "eating like a pig"- neither of these things were based in truth, but I took the beating from a professional, because he must know something I did not- after all, he was the expert here.

If you've read any of my other blogs you know that through my process of figuring out many things related to my body, my journey with food and how it really affects the body began around this time. I had a new, kind and understanding doctor that made a connection with my weight, yucky stomach issues, and thyroid problems, suggesting I get rid of gluten. I continued to work out as best I could, using what knowledge I had from my athlete days. I never really saw huge progress, and my self body-shame never really left. I felt I would never really reach that body I had always wanted.

I tell this long story to get to a point about loving yourself. It seems like such a simple concept- you should make an effort to love yourself, inside and out. The inside part has always been easier for me. I know who I am, but loving the outside has been a much larger and harder barrier to hurdle over. I know I am not alone in this. I know it is a universal problem. We look at all of the people around us, Instagram models, celebrities, models, the people on our TV screens, and think how we could look better.

My pending second profession sometimes plays on this insecurity. But, there is a fine line between wanting to improve our health for ourselves, and wanting to look better for others. As I get closer to getting my personal training certification, I realized that I had started doubting my ability to be in the profession- not because of my inability to have knowledge, or love for my clients- but because I do not look like a fitness model or guru. I do not fit the mold of what a personal trainer "should" look like. But, what I do know is that I am strong. I am proud of what I can do with my body. I can run, jump, lift heavy weights, flip tires, throw around a sledge hammer, and do all of this easily. I have come a long way on my body journey, and have to accept and love the little bulges where there "shouldn't" be any. My outsides don't look like a health magazine, but I know my insides are healthy and happy.

I see the beauty in other people and cannot understand why they see themselves differently in their mirrors, but I also understand. I have been there; and honestly some days still struggle.Rewiring negative body thoughts that have been ingrained is a super hard process that takes work every day. A life time of being told I do not fit the mold is not easy to overcome. I workout and am passionate about it because I see it as a reward for my body. I am giving my body the gift of healthy bones, muscles and organs by working out. I am not there working my hardest for anyone else but myself, and that is beautiful. I am, and will never be, a super small woman. But, I am ok with that. I am very healthy, and super strong. Being healthy and strong internally and mentally supersedes any desire to be a fitness model. The gift of health and happiness is what I hope to give to my clients.

It is not a perfect or easy journey fostering a healthy and positive body image, and it is one that will cycle throughout life. However, it is important to take the time to look in the mirror and find the beauty standing before you. What I've learned is that it is easy to stand there and find things you do not like, but change the rhetoric and truly look. Find the parts that are absolutely beautiful-they are there! You will start to realize there are many parts there to love. If you have a hard time believing it, remind yourself. Make eye contact with your reflection and proclaim it out loud! "You are BEAUTIFUL". All of us have beauty to offer the world, and we need to not only remind ourselves of this- we need to continuously remind each other. Lift each other up. We are together on this planet. We are not here for a long time, and we should do our best to be kind to each other, as well as ourselves while we're here. Take care of your body. Keep it healthy and happy.

If no one has told you today, you are beautiful, you are worth it-you are worthy.

Scale Wars

It's not your fault...entirely. We have been conditioned as a society to judge our bodies on our relationship with gravity and a scale. We base our ideas of our health and self-worth on one number. This has been forced into our brains, and continues to be.

Now, do not be confused....the scale number does indeed play a role in overall health, but it is not the only determining factor. What I am suggesting is that there is more to our picture of health then a scale reading. It is part of the overall equation, but should not be used in isolation to determine our health, or our worth for that matter.

When we are on a health and wellness journey, it should be just that-a health and wellness journey; not a scale journey. Do you ever hear anyone say they are on a scale journey? Of course not! That is ridiculous! A better view of our overall health is considering things such as  body composition (by measuring specific areas of the body and checking them over time to see how they changed), looking at our food consumption-what and how much we are putting into our bodies, physical activity and exercise routines, mental health care, sleep patterns, and lastly a scale measurement.

Fat loss is the goal. Not weight loss. 5 pounds of fat weighs the same as 5 pounds of muscle, but they function and appear very differently on the body frame. I would MUCH rather have 5 lbs of muscle on me then 5 lbs of fat. I don't want to lose that weight, I just don't want it to be fatty! It is known that muscle burns fat. After a great workout, it will continue to burn fat for hours afterwards. After putting in the hard work to build up muscle in your body, it can burn more fat, even while at rest. I feel that the stigma of women lifting weights is decreasing as people start to understand how the body truly works, but there are still some ladies, and men for that matter, who think women will appear manly if they lift weights. In order for that to happen, a woman would have to have a distinct genetic makeup. Most of us do not have excess testosterone running through our veins, and can handle quite a bit of weight training without looking like the man in the picture!

When you have more lean muscle on your frame, your body changes shape. I had so many people asking me how much weight I had lost (because that is the normal question to ask) but I had only lost about 3 at the time. What they were visibly noticing was fat loss and muscle gain! My body had a completely different shape without the lumpy and bumpy fat, and with the glorious addition of beautiful muscle! I gave my body the gift of muscle so that it could run better, burn more fat, and be strong! Feeling strong is a feeling unmatched in my book. It is liberating, freeing and powerful. 

I also became very aware of what I was putting in my body. If you've read any of my previous posts, you know I struggle with a lot of food issues. I have poor reactions to a large majority of processed foods, many fruits, gluten, and my arch nemesis-corn! When you begin to look at food labels, it is mind blowing how many things contain corn starch and/or syrup! Yuck! My main point being, staying on the outer parts of the grocery store will always suit you best. That's where most the fresh things that have had a life are stored! If it had life, it will give you life and nourishment. 

An aspect of overall health that people are finally recognizing as an critical piece is mental health and self care. Don't underestimate the positive effects of taking care of this portion of your body. The body is a magical machine that cannot run on all cylinders if some are broken down. Mental health is a part of the overall puzzle. Be sure to reflect and be self aware to ensure stability in this realm. I practice mindfulness everyday and feel refreshed when I take the time to be present and reflect on life and my day. Take the time to mentally relax.

One of my students is doing a research project right now on the importance of sleep. It seems like such an elementary level concept: getting enough sleep is good for you. Duh! We have also been told this since we were little, and this still holds true for all ages! Did you know that being stuck at a weight/fat loss plateau could even be caused by factors such as lack of sleep and stress? It seems impossible to lay down for 8 full hours at a time, but do your best each day to get as close as you can to that recommended benchmark. It will revitalize you in so many ways.

Taking care of the body encompasses many factors. Understanding where you are at health wise is not dependent on the number on the scale. You have to be reflective and look at the overall picture. If you find yourself gravitating toward that scale every day or many times a week, remember that it is just a tool in your box to help guide you. It is not the final definition of your health. Maybe just use it every 2 weeks to see your progress, but do not live and die by it's reading. You're more than just that number. Measure your arms, legs, hips, chest, and watch those numbers fall!  The scale can't tell you how much muscle you've grown, how healthy the food was that you ate this morning for breakfast, how your pants are fitting loose these days, how you killed leg day yesterday, or how the day you just spent with friends refreshed you mentally. A health and wellness journey is ongoing and takes work. To be your best self, you have to put your best into it. Do yourself a favor though, and don't use the scale as your only measure of success. Use a tape measure, your clothes and how they fit, how many smiles you shared today, how healthy the food was and how much of it that you put into your body today, how many hours of sleep you got last night, how many ounces of water you drank today, how your workout was, and yes, lastly, the scale. Make an effort to measure your health differently.

Finding My Fitness Sweetspot

Does this sound familiar?

Get up (hours before the sun, usually), bust my ass at work, get off (feeling exhausted), and drag myself to the gym for a workout. The last piece was the part of my day that I used to dread! 

As a lot of the population is, I was a member at a chain gym at that time. You know-one of those that you pay $10, go lift some weights, hop on some random machines (spend time waiting in line for them to be free), and hope for great results. I had no direction, no motivation, and I wasn't really that confident in myself. Having sub-par confidence made the task of going even more difficult. There would definitely be tiny, fit women there, walking around in their sports bras and little pants, and giant muscle-men strutting around begging to be stared at. Yuck. Not my scene! But, I went anyway- not as often as I "should" be going, but I went and suffered through the uncomfortable environment, awful music, and people that were just there to say they went, or that were there solely to reenact scenes from the bachelor. 

Now, this climate does work for many people. There are a lot of people who enjoy going for the social atmosphere and the small talk about nothing- I am just not one of them. I liked my solitude when I was working out. I hadn't really hit my work out stride yet, but I made every effort to try to get there.

At that point, I knew how to work out. I went to school for physical education, I was around athletes all my life, hell, I was an athlete. Working out was not necessarily the hardest part. My surroundings, and lack of change was what was hard for me. I found it hard to go in, and have the same general cookie-cutter work out day in and day out. Looking back, there were variations I could have made within my routine to make my work outs more enjoyable, but I just wasn't really confident in straying away from what I knew, and the comfort of the machines. That was until it all changed.

One day, someone important in my life stumbled upon an boxing gym. The thought of walking into a boxing gym was terrifying. I have never boxed, I knew very little about the sport, and I was very scared to be judged on my lack of skill. But, despite my fears, I went to give it a try. I dragged my sister with me because hell, if I had to suffer and look like a fool, so did she! 

As it turns out, that morning we took the plunge, it was the morning after a fight night. There was literally no one in the gym other than the owner. None of the fighters or coaches were there because they were all still sleeping from the event the night before, and at the time we went, the morning class was over and people had cleared out from that as well. This immediately helped calm my nerves. I got some basic instruction from the owner of the gym, and then he had us get in the ring to work mitts with him. Want to feel like an instant bad-ass? Climb in a boxing ring! Now, it did take some coaxing to get me in there...it seemed intense and aggressive at first, but from the moment that I climbed in, I knew that I had found my fitness sweet spot.

I became a member that day. I looked around the gym and saw endless work out possibilities. There was a variety of equipment. There were lots of things I had always wanted to try (sledgehammer, giant tires to flip, battle ropes) and they were all now at my disposal! For me, this was what I never knew I was missing! Not for nothing- I also got to go, strap on my gloves, and punch bags and work mitts! What was not to love!? After a long day at work, it is nice to go hit things in a safe and supportive environment.

Once I found my gym home, I also found my gym family. The people I met here were people I wanted to talk to. They were there because this was also their work out safe-haven. Connections were easy to make here. I wanted to go to the gym to work out and be healthy, but I also found myself wanting to go to see my gym family members. Even some of the professional fighters and their trainers welcomed us, and gave us pointers on how to throw punches more effectively! I found myself there 5-6 days a week! Who was I becoming? 

As I continued to go, I started to realize that I am strong. Not just strong physically, but mentally as well. This realization began to grow my confidence. I started seeing results with my body that I had not ever seen before. But, it wasn't even all about the outside appearance that made me better. It was the mental shift that I was able to make. I was able to transition from "I have to go work out", to "I get to go work out". I began to see that working out is not something that I need to do to punish myself for food I have eaten, or for a lazy week- it is something that I now see as a reward. I am rewarding my body every time I step foot in that gym. I am saying "Look at what you can do! Look how strong you are!". This mental shift has made a world of difference for me.
I still hear friends and family saying that they have to go to the gym. I know it is ingrained in us to think fitness is something we have to do to maintain health, but for me it is so much more than that. It is a mental health saver too. I am more confident and mentally strong. I am able to handle things that are thrown at me in a better manner, I am not as stressed (punching things helps that piece), and I consciously use my time in the gym as my therapy time. Fitness as therapy is a beautiful thing.

If you have not found it in your soul to see exercising your body as a privilege, maybe you are also in the wrong gym or in the wrong work out routine. Actively search for your sweet spot. Find your fitness tribe; your gym/fitness family. Find that place where fitness becomes your life therapy session and your body reward each day.

With my new challenge of becoming a personal trainer, I hope that I can be that safe and sweet spot for my future clients. I hope that I can help others to see that with the right environment and support, fitness is super fun! Please join me on my journey, and I would love to support you in yours!

Magnesium....the Forgotten Mineral

Chances are, like me, your daily magnesium intake is not in the forefront of your mind. I came across a little chart about a year ago that broke down cravings and what they meant. I had never really put much thought into the fact that if I was craving chocolate all the time, that probably meant that my body was lacking something. As I pondered this new concept, it seemed to make sense. Your body is an incredible machine, and if you really listen to it, it will tell you what it needs (spoiler: it wasn't chocolate!)
Magnesium is a powerful mineral that often goes overlooked by the general population. About 80% of us are not getting the amount we need, often not realizing it is an important piece of our health puzzle. While minerals like calcium get all the press, your magnesium to calcium intake ratio is what truly makes your bones strong! Who knew?

One of the leading experts on this oppressed mineral is Dr. Carolyn Dean. She is the author of "The Magnesium Miracle". She has done extensive research on the consumption, or lack of consumption rather, of magnesium. Her expertise is noted, and seems to be held as some of the most valuable and reliable information about the topic. Here is what I've learned.

Why is Magnesium Important?

Some Biological Functions of Magnesium:

1. Activates muscles and nerves

2. Helps create energy in your body

3. Aids in digestion

4. Serves as a building block for RNA and DNA synthesis

5. Is a precursor for neurotransmitters

6. Is important for heart health

Calcium and Magnesium....Friends or Enemies?

When it comes to bone health, it seems that calcium gets all the shine. You cannot turn on the TV (especially here in Florida), without an add for some sort of calcium supplement. I know, we are in the land of the retired down here, but we are being misguided when it comes to the important relationship between calcium and magnesium. How often do you see commercials geared toward the older demographic that pushes magnesium supplements for bone health? Heart health? I personally have not seen any, yet these minerals are equally important for optimal health. The truth of the matter is, calcium and magnesium are buddies. We need both of them, in pretty equal doses, to be in that great health zone. There is a misconception out there that consumption is supposed to be a 2:1 ratio; with calcium intake being the higher of the two-but that misconception was born out of context, and is not accurate. Dr. Carolyn Dean says that "Magnesium is perhaps critical for heart health, as excessive amounts of calcium without the counterbalance of magnesium can lead to a heart attack and sudden death. Your heart has the highest amount of magnesium in your body, specifically in your left ventricle. With insufficient amounts of magnesium, your heart simply cannot function properly" Wow! Part of the reason that it is so important for the heart is that proper balance of the two minerals helps with muscle function. The heart, being a large muscle, depends on us getting the balance close to even for it to have the best work environment. 

How Do I Know If I am Low on Magnesium?

There are a wide range of symptoms of magnesium deficiency. A few of the things we may experience are muscle cramps, eye twitches or other muscle twitches, headaches, muscle spasms, irregular hearth rhythms, or even numbness or tingling in arms or legs.

What is Causing this Shortage?

1. There are a few main reasons that we are not getting the magnesium we need. First, the soil that our veggies, fruits and nuts are growing in is nutrient deficient. A century ago, we were getting a lot of great nutrients from the produce we consumed because the soil had not been damaged. However, at this point, a lot of the food we eat from the Earth is not as beneficial as we dream it to be. We simply are not getting enough vitamins and minerals naturally through our foods.
2. Another reason, still diet related, is our insane sugar consumption! Did you know that for every molecule of sugar consumed, it takes 54 molecules of magnesium to process it!? We are burning through our small storage of magnesium with all of the processed junk we are eating.
3. Stress hormone production depletes our magnesium levels as well! Be rid of your stress!
4. The drugs we take also bog down our magnesium levels.

Where Can I get Some Magnesium?

If you are opting to take a supplement, beware. There are different forms of magnesium. Most of the supplements on the market are Magnesium oxide. Magnesium oxide is not easily absorbed by the body, and generally just helps you go to the bathroom. Only about 4% of this form of magnesium absorbs, so be cautious when looking at supplements. 

There are many better ways to get better magnesium absorption! One form of this is magnesium sulfate;  commonly found in Epsom salt! An epsom salt bath is a great (and super relaxing) way to get those magnesium molecules absorbed into your body. Another way would be with magnesium oil (from magnesium chloride). This can be applied topically for absorption. There are multiple forms of magnesium because there is no such thing as 100% magnesium compound supplement; it has to be bound together with another compound. 

Here is a handy-dandy little chart that helps break down different forms of magnesium that you may encounter.

Types of MG <----- CLICK 

Foods That Naturally Contain Magnesium 

1. Almonds

2. Tofu

3. Sesame Seeds

4. Bananas

5. Flaxseeds

6. Skim Milk

7. Dark green leafy vegetables

8. Sunflower Seeds

9. Cashews

10. Oatmeal

CLICK HERE and see Table 2. for more foods and their RDA levels

A product that I have found, that I love, is called Natural Calm. It is derived from magnesium carbonate (see table above). Now, this is not the best form of magnesium out there, but in combination with some Epsom salt, I am on the right path.....and this stuff tastes SO yummy! My favorite is the raspberry lemonade flavor! 

Magnesium is a mineral that often flies under the radar. When understanding our bodies and how they function, it is important to have the best picture of how we can accomplish pique performance. The more we know, the healthier lives we can live. I learned that magnesium also plays a roll in leaky gut, which I suffered from as well! The human body is complex and amazing. Continue taking the time to learn what is happening in your body, how it works, and how you can make it better. 

For more information:

http://wisemindhealthybody.com/dr-mercola/magnesium-deficiency-signs/

https://www.powerofpositivity.com/5-signs-you-have-a-magnesium-deficiency/

https://www.healthdigezt.com/foods-naturally-rich-in-magnesium/

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/

It's Been Far Too Long

It has been a little while since I have written.....life has gotten a bit busy! But, I am going to consciously try to keep up, because things in my life have been on the upswing with food and overall health!

Let me bring you up to speed. I have been on a mission to heal my intestines and gain complete body health, from the inside out. I have felt so much better lately, and have a few things to thank for that. The three main contributors to my happy insides are Isagenix, quality probiotics, and more organic/natural food choices. The trifecta has gotten me to a great place. 

I decided recently to roll the food dice. As I had talked about in some of my other posts, I have struggled with a lot of food sensitivities. Many of these surfaced because of those pesky holes in my intestines. I became painfully sensitive to a ton of things. The first foods that I was able to identify as horrible for my body were grapes, apples, peanuts, and dairy. These four things made my stomach hurt just looking at them. Phew! Well, since I have been feeling pretty great lately, I wanted to test out my less-holey gut-see what it could handle. So, on a Sunday morning (I would never do this on a school day!) I ate an organic apple. Apples are one of my favorite things and since it was fast approaching peak apple season, I had to Russian roulette the bugger. Much to my amazement, I felt FINE after I ate it! All day I was waiting for my stomach to alter my daily routine of errands, but the pain, discomfort, and bloating never came! What?!?! I was beyond excited! So, I decided to try another one the next day....same results! I was so excited, I text my sister in all caps talking in gibberish about how wonderful apples are! Spoiler alert.....peanuts in small doses are tolerable now too!

I cannot believe how my body is healing each and every day. Since I made the decision 10 months ago to figure out a way to heal my body, because doctors were clearly not helping, I did not think I would see the day when I could eat the things that used to make me curl up in a ball on the floor in pain/discomfort and bloat. 

Food truly is medicine. I have used this food and Isagenix as vehicles to heal and to improve my inner health. I am juggling all that life throws at a person, and do not feel tired anymore. I wake up in the morning ready to tackle the day. I could not get through all the craziness of the day without these vital changes I made for myself and my health. 

I continue to learn a lot about health and wellness. I will make a strong effort to post more often, because my original reason for creating this tool was to hopefully help someone somewhere realize that they are not alone, and that there is hope. Feeling better is a reality. I felt so alone, and no one should feel this way. 

Look for my next post about the amazing benefits of magnesium! 

Remember.....

Healthy Meat Outlook

Ok, so you aren't going to grow udders and a tail from your meat, but when I research and see what is going into meats, I understand why the meat in the grocery stores was making me so sick. 

The meats in the stores are full of hormones, antibiotics and toxins. We already know these things. We already know that the icky junk that our country deems fine to put in our meats has been banned by the entire European Union, Canada, Australia, Japan and New Zealand. We know that there are so many things in our foods in the United States that are banned in tons of other civilized countries around the world! We know that at one time, the European Union refused to import meats from the United States because of all the things we were injecting into our meats. We know that 80% of the antibiotics used in this country are used on animals, and only 20% are actually used on humans. We know that there are 6 steroidal hormones that the FDA approves to be pumped into our livestock. EEK! The scary stats go on and on. These are things that most of us have at least heard before, but these stats are staggering and super disturbing. CLICK HERE for more information from the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

Another aspect that I don't think as many people think about is what the animals are not only being injected with, but what they are eating. They are eating the veggies and grains that we have been warned against. We have been educated on how many pesticides and chemicals reside on our produce and how to avoid that (eat organic!) but do we think about the cows, sheep, chicken, or turkeys that we eat? They too are fed grains and things that are pesticide ridden. YUCK! We have to be aware of what we are putting in our bodies, and our family's bodies! Combine the gunk that is injected into the meats, and then the chemicals and things they eat on top of that, and we have some pretty nasty meat! 

CLICK HERE to be brought to the page where this photo came from. These stats could be different now with the healthy meats movement trucking along. 

In my journey to better health and wellness, I realized through eliminating things, and re-introducing them, that the meats that are non-organic and are full of gross things make me very sick to my stomach; not just figuratively, but physically as well! I have made the choice to eat a better quality of meat, and have along the way shown my family how delicious and healthy it is for them as well. A couple weeks ago, we went up to a farm in Vermont while I was on vacation, and got some fresh grass fed beef from a super friendly farmer! Being at the farm, I could see what they were eating adn how they were living. I saw no chemicals being sprayed, I just saw happy animals running free on the vast acres of land made available to them! That night, we cooked up an enormous steak on the grill (it fed five adults). My father, a bit of a skeptic, didn't know that the steak was "different". He could not stop eating it, and kept asking what was different about it. He went on and on about how it was the best steak he had ever had! We explained that it was a healthy cow that he was eating. He started to see the difference in that moment. The difference not only in the taste, but also how he felt after he ate it. He knew it was a healthier choice, and understood where I was coming from a little bit more. I think he may be visiting that farm in the very near future!

This journey has dealt me a heavy dose of reality, but I have also seen the light moving forward. We are living in an exciting time; meat and food wise. We are in an age where people are staring to realize how gross it is that the meats we ingest are full of disgusting things, and we are starting to be vocal about. We are being our own advocates, since the FDA hasn't really stepped up. There are more companies feeling the pressure from the public, and changes are starting to happen. Companies such as Chipotle, Pepsi, Nestle, Tyson, and Kraft are some of the leaders of the pack. These companies have started vocalizing changes that will be made within them, and with the products they are putting out to the public. CLICK HERE to see some of the changes they are starting to make. It is not only the meats we are eating, but all of the products we are consuming that contain GMOs and just plain nasty chemicals. As we see companies begin to step up and move in the right direction, I can only get excited. It is one step in the right direction to a happier and much healthier nation! 

Be mindful of the things you are putting into your body and the bodies of your family! One dose of a chemical filled piece of meat won't do a lot of damage (though the thought is just gross), but over a lifetime, it has shown to have a lot of negative health affects ranging from cancer to heart disease. Inspect the meat you put into your cart, and you will see and feel a difference.