The new year is almost here – and we just left a magical time of year filled with sparkling lights, homemade treats, loved ones and holiday feasts.  Although there is much more to this season than these large meals, the festivities most certainly can become centered around the dinner table. 

Many give up on their health goals during this time of year, planning on picking back up where they left off in the new year. Did you? It can sometimes feel like a lost cause even attempting, but I have some good news for you!  You do not have to compromise your health goals this new year, and better yet, you also don’t have to compromise missing out on your favorite new years day meals.  With a few healthy tips you can implement right now and beyond, you can add some healthy additions to your meals without anyone noticing.

A few of my favorite healthy tips are…

Ditch and Switch 

Ditch the refined foods and switch them with healthier options.  For example, instead of using refined white flour and/or sugar, use almond flour or coconut sugar instead.  There are many alternatives to choose from, and you can most definitely find one that you will love – and I bet you nobody will even notice!  Aside from the sweets, you can also trade out white rice or mashed potatoes with creating cauliflower rice or mashed “potatoes” out of cauliflower.

Fresh Herbs and Spices

You can really dress up a meal by adding fresh herbs and spices to it – I personally try to use them every time I cook.  It’s incredibly affordable and simple to keep a small, fresh herb garden growing in your kitchen window, and you will always have direct access to fresh herbs.  Even better, there are incredible health properties in many of the herbs and spices we use and love.  Many of our favorite holiday spices are greatly beneficial for our health and a strong immune system, which is certainly helpful during cold and flu season.  Cinnamon, turmeric, cloves, and nutmeg are a few of these popular holiday spices that you will reap healthy benefits from, so find a place for them in your recipes anywhere you can!  

Use Different Plates

One of my favorite, most powerful tools to stay on track with my health goals is getting creative with portion control.  Instead of using dinner-sized plates, which we tend to fill, use smaller plates.  Use a mid-sized saucer or salad plate for your dinner plate, and then go back for seconds if needed.  A lot of the overeating that we do is mindless, habitual eating because it’s in front of us and we were taught to clean our plates.  Taking this temptation away helps tremendously, and you’ll very quickly learn how much you actually need to feel satisfied – I guarantee it is less than you are used to!

With these simple tips, you’ll be well on your way to not entering January feeling bloated, discouraged and off track.  A truly healthy life revolves around balance – and finding your own personal balance will take trial and error.  

For me it's Merry Christmas & a Very Happy New Year

A few of my favorite healthy tips are…

Ditch and Switch.  Ditch the refined foods and switch them with healthier options.  For example, instead of using refined white flour and/or sugar, use almond flour or coconut sugar instead.  There are many alternatives to choose from, and you can most definitely find one that you will love – and I bet you nobody will even notice!  Aside from the sweets, you can also trade out white rice or mashed potatoes with creating cauliflower rice or mashed “potatoes” out of cauliflower.

Fresh Herbs and Spices.  You can really dress up a meal by adding fresh herbs and spices to it – I personally use them every time I cook.  It’s incredibly affordable and simple to keep a small, fresh herb garden growing in your kitchen window, and you will always have direct access to fresh herbs.  Even better, there are incredible health properties in many of the herbs and spices we use and love.  Many of our favorite holiday spices are greatly beneficial for our health and a strong immune system, which is certainly helpful during cold and flu season.  Cinnamon, turmeric, cloves, and nutmeg are a few of these popular holiday spices that you will reap healthy benefits from, so find a place for them in your recipes anywhere you can!  

  

Use Different Dishes.  One of my favorite, most powerful tools to stay on track with my health goals is getting creative with portion control.  Instead of using dinner-sized plates, which we tend to fill, use smaller plates.  Use a mid-sized saucer or salad plate for your dinner plate( I actually use a salad plate all the time), and then go back for seconds if needed.  A lot of the overeating that we do is mindless, habitual eating because it’s in front of us and we were taught to clean our plates.  Taking this temptation away helps tremendously, and you’ll very quickly learn how much you actually need to feel satisfied – I guarantee it is less than you are used to!

 With these simple tips, you’ll be well on your way to not entering January feeling bloated, discouraged and off track.  A truly healthy life revolves around balance – and finding your own personal balance will take trial and error. Balance doesn't mean you never eat fudge again (that won't happen here for sure), but it means you choose when you eat it and savor every bite!

I have been so blessed this year.  It has been a year of recovery from my stroke, a year of figuring out who I really am in this realm of coaching and a year of the new normal.  I am still very passionate about coaching and supporting your efforts to be the best version of healthy you can be...but it was a year of learning moderation and balance for me too.  Becoming more mindful of my choices and eating with intention.  

My Christmas wish for you is the same...dig in this year...get to know you! Reach out for support on the journey...I am here for you!

Cheryl Love

Health Coach/Personal Trainer

www.imaginefit.biz

3 Ways to Control Your Appetite

3 Ways To Control Your Appetite

Welcome and thanks for checking this out!

Is one of the main reasons holding you back from healthy eating the fact that you're worried you'll be hungry or “hangry”?

You've tried diets and pills and potions maybe (and lasted about 2 days flat) because that hunger sets in that makes you unable to function optimally, and to be honest, makes you quite unpleasant to be around. Hangry!

Or you hate prep and thinking about food all the time?

You've been there, right? So have I.

Weight loss and eating healthy does NOT have to mean you'll be battling hunger 24/7. Here are 3 simple things you can do to control your appetite and re-train your body...

     

• Don't drink your calories. Simple concept, right? Focus on drinking water and not loading up on calories from soda or other sweet drinks.
•  Eat slowly and chew your food well. Slowing down while eating helps you to eat less and enjoy your meal. Put your utensils down between each bite, and chew each bite thoroughly before swallowing.
• Stop eating before you're full. Training yourself to eat to satisfaction instead of eating until you're about to pop will drastically change your relationship with food. Begin trying to stop eating when you feel satisfied, which will be much easier to gauge when you're eating more slowly in Tip #2

    It's about "eating mindfully"...making choices based on food as fuel and enjoying the food! There are tips and tricks to that!  Join me in the journey of mindful eating by getting your free E-book here! Take the next 7 days and expand your mindful eating journey!

Click here to get it!

Sleep...it is necessary,right?

Want to get Healthy?  Take a Nap!

How often do you hear someone say, “I had a great night’s sleep last night!” or “I feel refreshed and energetic!”?  Probably not very often.  Feeling sluggish seems to be the new normal.  In fact, according to the National Sleep Foundation, it is the new normal:  most Americans are sleep-deprived.  But not getting enough sleep may be causing more trouble for you than just that pesky drowsy feeling:  it could be seriously harming your health.

Why aren’t we sleeping?

Centuries ago, it was common for people to sleep 8 to 9 hours each day.  But now, only about 25% of Americans get 8 or more hours of sleep.  The reasons we are not sleeping are many.  We live in a 24/7 society—practically anything we want to do is available around the clock, from fitness centers to pharmacies to department stores. 

We are working long hours, transporting our kids to activities, trying to make time for friends and fitness and entertainment.  When the heat is on, the first thing to go is usually sleep.  And it’s usually not even a conscious decision to skimp on sleep-we just get in bed a little later most nights, because we are so pressed and pushed. 

But even when we get into bed, we aren’t guaranteed sleep.  The National Sleep Foundation reports that 60% of Americans have sleep problems.  That means more than half of us struggle to sleep.  And it is taking its toll.

Dangers of sleep deprivation

"The foundations of good health are good diet, good exercise and good sleep, but two out of three doesn't get you there,"¹

-- Dr. Anne Calhoun, neurology professor,                           University of North Carolina.

Eating healthily and getting plenty of exercise are not enough to make up for the danger that sleep deprivation poses to your health.  Adults need around 8 hours of sleep each night, although some studies indicate that as little as 7 and one-half hours can be sufficient.  Getting less than that can have serious consequences:

·         Risk of Cardiovascular Disease:  If you get less than 6 hours of sleep each night and have disturbed sleep, you have a 48% greater risk of developing or dying from heart disease and a 15% greater risk of developing or dying from a stroke.²  Lack of sleep can cause high blood pressure, blocked arteries, stroke, kidney disease and dementia. 

·         Obesity: Sleep shortage is directly linked to obesity.  When you don’t get enough sleep, two powerful hormones that control hunger are disrupted.  The result is that you feel hungrier and have fewer sensations of feeling “full.” 

But without enough sleep you will also feel more stressed, which encourages the production of the hormone cortisol in your body.  This hormone causes you to crave high-carbohydrate foods such as potato chips and brownies, and then deposits those carbs as fat around your belly—the most dangerous place to store fat.

Pre-diabetes is also a risk for those who don’t get enough sleep.  Trying to get by on less than 6 hours of sleep per night can cause impaired glucose tolerance. 

·         Compromised immune system:  Why is it that two people can be exposed to the same germs, but only one of them gets sick?  The reason is the immune system.  If your immune system is functioning well, you can ward off many illnesses.  But if something happens to compromise your immune response, you will be vulnerable to infections, bacteria, viruses, and even some autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and asthma.

When you do not get enough sleep, your immune system becomes stressed and compromised.  You actually have a decrease in white blood cells, and those that remain are less active.  The result is that you will get sick more often.

·         Impaired exercise performance:  As if the threat of heart disease, obesity and immune suppression weren’t enough, lack of sleep can negatively impact your fitness efforts.  It’s not uncommon for people to struggle to maintain their normal level of workout intensity when they are sleep deprived.  You just won’t have the energy to push through.  Also, your muscles repair and rebuild while you sleep:  if you don’t allow your body this recovery time, you will be at a significant disadvantage during your next workout.

Make time for sleep

The truth is, if you don’t make time now for adequate sleep, you will likely be forced in the future to make time for illness.  It may take significant effort to arrange your schedule and priorities to carve out time for more sleep, but the payoff will be increased health, energy and productivity!

Ready for a nap?

Sources:

¹http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2010/12/02/f-sleep-tips.html

²http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/feb/09/dangers-sleep-deprivation

Thanks for reading!  Please tell me about your best sleep in the comments.

Cheryl Love

INHC

Water, Water ... Sure ways to drink enough!

Water, water everywhere...but not a drop to drink.

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

Of course we don't have that problem.   Water is everywhere...some clean, some dirty, some free flowing, some bottled...so it's always available here.  There are some places that's not true, we are lucky for the most part! SO do we use our water with responsibility and for our good? 

The average adult human body is 50-65% water, averaging around 57-60%. The percentage of water in infants is much higher, typically around 75-78% water, dropping to 65% by one year of age. Body composition varies according to gender and fitness level, because fatty tissue contains less water than lean tissue. * http://chemistry.about.com/od/waterchemistry/f/How-Much-Of-Your-Body-Is-Water.htm

SO then how much water should we drink?  What kind of water?  Does any fluid keep us hydrated? Very good questions, and many doctors, trainers, health coaches answer them differently.  Drink clean water ...I choose spring water over tap but if your tap is clean it's better than none.  Do other fluids hydrate...yes but that doesn't mean you shouldn't dink water as our bodies don't process things like coffee, tea and juices or "gasp" soda's the same way.  That means the fluid can't be used by all parts of our bodies,

How do you remember to "always be drinking water"?  Here 3 for sure tips!

#1 Make it convenient so it becomes a habit.

 Many people find it helpful to get a large water bottle (I recommend 1 liter), fill it in the morning and carry it with you throughout the day, drinking regularly and refilling once (or more) in the afternoon. This has become quite common to see people carrying their water bottles to work, the gym or social events. It's ok to add some lemon for flavor or infuse other fruits. My favorite is pineapple and strawberries.  Cucumber and Mint is good too. Here's a couple more:

• Citrus Bliss: helps to alkalize the body -  3 lemon slices  2 lime slices (or Use Doterra Essential Oils)  

• Rosemary & Grapefruit: This helps to detoxify the liver while giving you an added boost of vitamin C. -  1 Grapefruit, w/o the rind and - 1 Sprig of Fresh Rosemary (or Use Doterra Essential Oils)  

#2 Drink half your body weight in water. 

 If you work from home or are in your home much of the day, a good option can be to get a half gallon pitcher, fill it in the morning and drink glasses from it throughout the day. This way you can track when you have drunk the amount you want. A good goal is half your body weight in ounces. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, drink 75 ounces a day. If you weigh 200 pounds, drink 100 ounces a day.

#3 Set a goal each day. 

 Yet another option (and my favorite) is to count how many glasses you drink per day and have a goal number. All of our water glasses at my house are 12 oz. I keep a glass next to my bathroom sink. And I keep a glass in a certain spot in the kitchen that I reuse (to save on dishes!) I try to drink 2 glasses early in the morning and 2 glasses mid morning. When I add the water I drink with meals and when I am at my office I get a good amount. If by dinnertime I have not gotten at least 4 glasses, I just start drinking. 

Or uses a tool:

Well it's almost 11AM...time for me to drink up..You go get yours too!

Recently I found a little calendar that had some amazing monthly pages!  I have to share one with you.(with a few add ins) 

 Written by Suzy Toronto, the calendar is called "Always Color Outside the Lines"

Make Each Day Ridiculously Amazing!

I believe with all my heart that if I want to have an incredible day, it's my responsibility to make it happen.  I need to convince myself that no matter what stands in my way,I am going to make it ridiculously amazing.

Believe me ...I know that can be  tall order.

Some days just getting out of bed seems to trigger a chain of events that is pretty much as far from amazing as you can get.  (You know, it's those mornings that start out like a washing machine on a spin cycle. And you can't decide if the world is trying to kill you or make you stronger!)

But it really is up to me(and you) to how the rest of the day rolls out from there.  (Agreed?)

I force myself to put on a wacky smile (does make you feel better), even when it i not easy to do.  Because I believe attitude is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure - it encourage me to play in the puddles rather than complain about the rain.

AND you know the best part?  An outlook like that is contagious! It spills over onto everyone and everything and floods your world with positive energy, making "amazing day" the new standard.

The bottom line is this:  When you change nothing, nothing will change! (how true is that!) But with a new attitude, you can really make a difference.  So don't just "Have a nice day"  make is ridiculously AMAZING!

I totally want your days to be amazing!How do you make your days amazing? Leave a comment and share!

WOW - Happy 2016!!

What a difference a month makes!You've heard the saying SH$T happens?

Yes, it does and it happened to me!

I had a stroke...right side...affected my left!

How Does a Stroke Occur?

There are two types of stroke.

• Ischemic stroke is similar to a heart attack, except it occurs in the blood vessels of the brain. Clots can form in the brain's blood vessels, in blood vessels leading to the brain, or even in blood vessels elsewhere in the body and then travel to the brain. These clots block blood flow to the brain's cells. Ischemic stroke can also occur when too much plaque (fatty deposits and cholesterol) clogs the brain's blood vessels. About 80% of all strokes are ischemic.
• Hemorrhagic (heh-more-raj-ik) strokes occur when a blood vessel in the brain breaks or ruptures. The result is blood seeping into the brain tissue, causing damage to brain cells. The most common causes of hemorrhagic stroke are high blood pressure and brain aneurysms. An aneurysm is a weakness or thinness in the blood vessel wall

My stroke was an Ischemic stroke.  I was driving home from spending the morning with some friends at a Facebook business training,  My arm felt like it as moving strange but I had no pain.  Then as I got closer to home I kept driving into the left lane.  I thought "wow, I really need to get my car in for an alignment".  Seriously, that's all I thought!  Then I took my left hand off the wheel and the car straightened out.  Good to go, made it home, couldn't open the car door, I couldn't make my left hand touch the car door handle.  WHAT WAS GOING ON?  Reached across with my right and made it in the house.  Up the stairs to a mirror...did all the stroke things I knew to look at in the mirror.  Looked fine I thought, no droop, I could stick my tongue out and smile.  Good, back downstairs - the hard way...fell down the stairs, my left leg was not there.  Grabbed the cell and called my husband...he came home - asked if we should go to the ER.  YES, I said, I was struggling to talk.  I stood up, fell backwards in to our coffee table.  He said, "maybe we need an ambulance?"  I shook my head...I was so blessed that the EMT recognized my symptoms immediately and took me to the best hospital for a stroke.  I was in the ER, Ct Scan done and was able to get the "clot buster" miracle drug called  'tPA".  That was Monday.  Tuesday an MRI showed I had signs of mini strokes - TIA's they call them.  REALLY? How did I not know?

So what are the symptoms of a stroke:

What Are the Symptoms of Stroke?

The most common symptoms of a stroke are:

• Weakness or numbness of the face, arm, or leg on one side of the body
• Loss of vision or dimming (like a curtain falling) in one or both eyes
• Loss of speech, difficulty talking, or understanding what others are saying
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
• Loss of balance or unstable walking, usually combined with another symptom

So did I do something that DAY to cause it...NO....like all disease it is a layer of things.  I wasn't always healthy.  Didn't always workout.  Used to not eat well.  Was clinically obese.  AND smoked. And although I no longer smoke - I struggle with the addiction still.   All things that contributed even though right then I was at a good weight, I ate clean, worked out 3-5 days a week.  Even my DR was perplexed.  Moral of the story.  Because I am in much better health now, I am recovering well.  I taught an exercise class 8 weeks after!  Get your health moved up to PRIORITY level!  and know what to do if something like his happens

LEARN  F - Face drooping

              A - arm weakness

              S - speech difficulty

              T - time to call 911  

********************************************************************************************************

Here's my favorite healing SMOOTHIE

1 cup Almond Milk or water

1/2 large green or red apple, chopped (or pear)
1/2 cup packed baby spinach
1 cup plain Greek yogurt ( or scoop of a good clean protein powder)
2 TBS ground flax seeds
1/4 Cup Blueberries (or Pineapple)
1/2 a small to medium Avocado
Ice cubes

Directions

1. In a blender, combine milk, apple, spinach and other ingredients (as called for); purée until smooth. Pour into glass; serve immediately.