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Eating & Drinking Raw Can Be Sexy & Fun…Citrus Sparkler

Oct 16th, 2012
by trista.
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I love eating. I am what diet or food experts classify as a “sensual eater.” I never realized this until a year or so ago. I really enjoy the entire experience of eating. The ingredients must be first class and real. I’ve never really cared for artificial colors, sweeteners, and prefer my food to explode with goodness.

My friends and family actually tease me a bit about my “presentation”. I love to use china daily and enjoy tablescaping to make the entire dining experience enjoyable. I think tiny touches like china, crystal, pretty and interesting serving dishes, real linens, flowers and candles can turn a meal or snack into an experience.

I’m not afraid to use butter and sugar at times either. Everything in moderation. Lately I have been putting a great more time back into eating “raw, organic” everything. I have to admit I started getting a bit intimidated and bored. So I incorporated the same techniques into my raw recipes.

Even more so, I have been creating “sexy” and delicious beverages and foods from appetizers to desserts.

Today I had a big craving for a carbonated sweet drink. Since a rarely to never have soda, I had to create  one to satisfy my thirsty craving.  So I’m going to share my fun creation which I can “Citrus Sparkler.”

 

“Citrus Sparkler”

    1/2 juiced fresh organic orange

1/2 juiced fresh organic lemon

8 oz sparkling mineral water

2-4 drops of Stevia (optional)

Fill a pretty glass with ice, pour mixed beverage in glass.

Garnish with slice of orange and a slice of lemon.

Enjoy slowly.

Posted in: Uncategorized.

Running Yourself to a Healthy Weight

Sep 22nd, 2011
by trista.
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The race to the finish line sounds like the approach that many take in their
weight-loss journey. As a runner throughout the years, I have realized that
weight loss is more like a cross country race. It is a journey to be enjoyed,
properly paced, and to have a realistic goal which is also challenging.

Many people as they decide to lose weight (again), they usually set goals that are unrealistic because the time frame is too short for healthy long-term weight loss. Researching healthy weight loss goals for your specific age, sex, and personal health will give you more realistic and achievable personal goals that are tailored to you.

Looking at healthy and natural approaches will be a way for you to work towards your goals and “pace yourself” accordingly. A great runner always “paces” himself in order to maximize his efforts while keeping the end result in mind.

By having a realistic goal, it means having a realistic timeframe. Too fast of weight loss can result in cycle dieting where more weight and more fat return and works against you.  Too slow of weight loss may mean that you are not  challenging yourself enough to make those healthy choices through diet and exercise. Too slow of weight loss usually results in frustration and lose of seeing the end result and can sabotage you ever achieving your healthy weight.

It helps to have a team in place and a coach to guide you, encourage you and even push you to achieve your best.  Your team is your circle of friends and family that truly encourage you.  Your coach can be a personal trainer, health coach or weight loss coach that will help you stay accountable and on track.  These two things along with your commitment to yourself with lead you to finish your personal race and to realize that you still have to keep running with your new healthy habits to ensure long term success.

There is also your psychology that can lead you to succeed or fail. Understanding some of the subconscious beliefs that you have about your weight, food and exercise will shape your behavior.  Find a way to understand your belief system and how it has affected your weight throughout the years. Utilize counseling or personal meditation time to do this. A great starting point to uncover these issues is reading What’s Eating You.  A personal coach can help you uncover even more if you need help with that. Once you have beliefs that will support your race, you will be able to enjoy your journey, pace yourself properly and have realistic and achievable goals which will lead you to long-term success.

Posted in: Uncategorized.

The Ripple Effect of Teamwork

Sep 14th, 2011
by trista.
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TEAM PRIDE!

As principal, I have never received an e-mail like this before!
As I read the words from the Cross Country Coach at
nearby St. Colette, I admit that tears came to my eyes with
an overwhelming sense of pride. Our coach and cross
country team truly served as the “hands and feet of Jesus,”
and represented what it truly mean to be a Christian athlete!
As the Cross Country coach for St. Colette School in Rolling
Meadows, I’d like to bring to your attention a behavior I
observed from the Holy Family Academy Cross Country
team and coach [parent Ian Norman and “Coach L”] at
this week’s meet in Clark Park, hosted by Queen of the
Rosary.

Here’s the story

Saint Colette School, although

small, does its best to field a team and give all students the

opportunity to perform in the field of sports. Not just the

athletically gifted and not just the fastest runners. So

our Boys’ Varsity Team is a mixed set of talents. While we

had two of our runners place in the top 5 for this race, one

of our runners was also the last to cross the finish line . . .

over 10 minutes behind the lead runner.

After all the other runners had crossed the finish line, we all

realized that one runner from St. Colette School was still

somewhere out there, probably walking the last leg of

the two-mile course. Somewhat concerned that he just

gave up, I waited at the finish line hoping that our last

runner would finally show up and have some pride that he at

least finished the race. Along with the timing official, our

athletic director, and several other concerned parents, we

waited . . . and waited at the finish line . . . for our last

runner to come over the hill and finish his race.

Just as we were about to give up, finally, we saw a mob of runners from

Holy Family, including the coach, come over the hill

surrounding the last runner . . . and encouraging him on to

the finish line. When the other schools saw this, they joined

in and by the time the last runner crossed the line, there

were dozens of runners jogging along side and cheering

him on. While I was proud of our runner for not giving up …

I was even more proud of the sportsmanship of Holy Family

Academy’s team and coach who brought the last runner in … and made him feel good about his race.

 

Throughout my many years as a parent and coach of sports

teams, I know that teams like this don’t just happen. Teams

like this learn sportsmanship from their school and from their

coaches. Your team set a new benchmark for

sportsmanship that day, one that made us all feel proud of

the values and attitude learned in Catholic Schools.

My best wishes to your school, your teams and your

coaches in all their future adventures. It’s a pleasure

to play with teams and coaches like yours. They are all

winners!

Posted in: Awareness, Caring for Self, Exercise.

Weight Loss~A la carte…Burn calories while relaxing

May 31st, 2011
by trista.
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Fall in love with this additional way to not only help you consistently maintain a healthy weight, but also experience the many additional side benefits as well.  Three years ago I was in a pretty bad accident, my doctor sent me to start receiving far infrared sauna treatments as many times a week as I possibly could. He explained that the sun naturally produces these rays as well. The sauna was an easy way to harness the power of these wonderful healing rays.

Infrared is the band which we perceive as heat. The neat thing is that the rays will heat your body through a process called conversion.  Infrared rays penetrated the body and give a deep heating effect without stressing our heart.

We benefit in many ways from this. Because it penetrates 1 ½ inches, it is healing to muscles and injuries.  Our bodies perspire and release toxins, discharge waste products and shed old skin cells leaving us healthier inside and outside.  Our heart becomes stimulated and our circulation increases.  This also causes cardiovascular conditioning and burns calories, up to 600 in a 30 minute session.

As an addition to any wellness program, the contribution of the far infrared sauna treatments definitely is worth it. I see it definitely two-fold, the fact that bodies need to detoxify sometimes in order to release some of that stubborn fat and the caloric burn which has metabolic benefit will definitely add to your health, wellness, and weight management.

 

Posted in: Balance, Far Infrared Sauna, Metabolism.

Love Your Self Through A Love-Centered Diet

May 11th, 2011
by trista.
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As an expert in the weight-loss field and working with personal trainers to help clients become healthier through the nutrition and supplementation part, I spend many hours a week reading. I enjoy reading the latest research and books in this field and bringing even more value to those that I get to help.

The book that I am reading currently is Just 10 LBS Easy Steps to Weighing What You Want (Finally) by Brad Lamm, Founder of Change Institute. The Foreward is  written by MEHMET OZ, M.D.  I am covering a chapter at a time to bring the message to others. I highly recommend the getting the book. It is not a one time read. It will become a reference for you as you are on your personal weight loss journey.

So Chapter One is titled “Live the Love-Centered Diet. With life happening around us, we do things that are not good for our bodies. By taking our bodies for granted we take in not only the wrong types of food but also the wrong quantities. The problem lies in that we don’t notice this until we have health issues, our self-esteem has dropped or we need larger size clothes.

Brad Lamm talks about when he realized that the human body is amazing and has so many capabilities, he started to love and respect his body.  In his search for more, energy, vitality and health, he realized that he needed to put good things in to get good things out.

So what defines good and bad. Good foods are things that are whole foods, organic, natural and work with our body in the way that it is supposed to. Bad things are sometimes called food but they serve of little benefit for our body functionally. Many bad foods contain chemicals, refined sugars, preservatives, artery-clogging stuff, commercially baked with additives, unhealthy fats, artificial flavors and sugar substitutes.

This chapter covers that to implement the food plan which is the Love-Centered Diet which loves your body with nutritious food.  This is done by learning to eat according to an individual’s personal style and also learning to transition from the traditional American diet to foods that will nourish and honor you. The six personal styles are the emotional eater, the habitual eater, the external eater, the critical eater, the sensual eater and the energy eater.  In JUST 10 LBS, there are worksheets to help you determine which type you are so that you can be successful in the process of getting healthier through weight-loss.

The reason this chapter is so important is so that you start feeling even better which will create more peace as you truly begin to love yourself, starting with your relationship with food.

Posted in: Beliefs, Books, Emotional Issues Weight-Loss.

Cinco de Mayo~ Guacamole Recipe-Raw & Delicious!

May 5th, 2011
by trista.
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Benefits of Raw Food that tastes Great-

Happy Cinco de Mayo-Guacamole Recipe!

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Enjoy and Be Healthy!

Raw food is a key to having optimal health and weight management! You may be wondering how to incorporate, enjoy and have raw food be a regular part of your life! Being raw can be fun and part of special occasions and holidays! Because the benefits of Digestive enzymes are so important for health and weight loss and weight maintenance, be sure to take digestive enzymes with meals anytime that you are not eating raw. Digestive enzymes will make you feel better, prevent bloating, digestive issues, and keep you weight healthy!

Some of the key benefits of eating raw food is:

  1. It tastes better so less additives are needed!
  2. They are loaded with digestive enzymes which our body needs to be optimal.
  3. The quality is higher than cooked food, so you don’t eat as much.
  4. It prevents many disease due to less free radicals in your body.
  5. Many raw foods are very alkaline and helps your pH balance in your body for even greater health.

In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, most people being enjoying Guacamole which I love because tastes great, very health and Raw!

This is a simple and delicious recipe that can be made in a snap and enjoyed guilt-free! This is from Rachel Ray’s website where you can find more amazing healthy recipes!

Guacamole


Ingredients

  • 2 ripe avocados
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 1 plum tomato, seeded and chopped
  • 1 small white onion, finely chopped
  • 1 medium fresh jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped
  • Coarse salt

Directions

Halve avocados lengthwise around pit. Remove pit with a large spoon, then scoop out flesh into a bowl. Squeeze the lemon juice into bowl. Add tomato, onion, and jalapeno, and mash guacamole with a fork to desired consistency. Season guacamole with salt, to taste.



To find plant derived vegetarian digestive enzyme, click here.


 

Posted in: Guacamole, Healthy Recipes, Raw Food.

Why Setting a Goal of Losing 10 Pounds May Be Ticket To Success

Apr 30th, 2011
by trista.
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Part of my over twenty years of living and now working in nutrition has been learning through reading and sharing that information with my clients. My emphasis is on weight-loss and working with personal trainers with the eating properly part of the “eat right and exercise equation”.


There are studies that were conducted at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. They have shown that obese men and women who set a more modest goal of losing just 5%–10% of their body weight are more likely to succeed than those who set more extreme goals. This is an important study because by starting off with a more modest and achievable goal such as losing 10 LBS, one’s success rate goes up significantly.

Through my articles, I am going to share one book at a time. The book that I am reading currently and want to share is Just 10 LBS Easy Steps to Weighing What You Want (Finally) by Brad Lamm, Founder of Change Institute. The Foreward is  written by MEHMET OZ, M.D. from the Dr. Oz television show.

The introduction covers Brad’s life from growing up and witnessing  unhealthy diets and unhealthy relationships with food to his own personal battles and journey through addition including additions with food and his battles with eating disorders as well.

He paints a story of how if most people were given three wishes, one would be to be thinner. I found that interesting and as I think even about the top two resolutions each year, one is always to lose weight and be healthier. That’s pretty amazing that most people want this but currently we are in an obesity epidemic with 61% of America being over-weight.

Brad sets the stage in describing what this book can do for us and how the chapters are outlined. It all of course goes back to one thing and that is one decision, the “all bridges burned  commitment to change”, and the action steps taken to make that change with no turning back.

These 10 Steps Are Sure To Help In Your Weight-Loss Success*

Step 1: Live the Love-Centered Diet

Step 2: Start a Moving Meditation


Step 3: Develop a Daily Practice

Step 4: Appreciate Your Body

Step 5: Love Yourself Thin

Step 6: Maintain Loving Connections

Step7: Eliminate Excuses

Step 8: Examine Your Battleground Beliefs

Step 9: Connect with Higher-Source Thinking

Step 10: Pay It Forward

These are easy steps and I’ll share more with Brad and how he explains them. He recommends getting a journal and his book and journal are available at Just10Diet.com or Amazon.

*Purchase JUST 10 LBS by Brad Lamm to read complete book and to help with your personal success.

Posted in: Books, Emotional Issues Weight-Loss, Just 10 LBS by Brad Lamm.
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You may have a hidden danger in the center of your life?

Apr 19th, 2011
by trista.
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Do you have danger in your life? If you have belly fat, you may!  When you have belly fat, it is a sign that your vital organs may be also surrounded with fat. What does this mean? This type of fat is also known as visceral fat and is considered the most dangerous kind of fat.

It is linked to many serious health problems, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, and can put you in a higher risk category for diabetes, heart disease, stroke risk and several types of cancer.

There are also financial implications of higher life insurance premiums, health care cost, and cost of missed days of work.

Here’s the biggest danger of all! You life may be shortened, which means less time with those that you love most!

Did you know the #1 thing that people on their death bed wish that had?

More time…more time with loved ones, to live out their legacy, to make a difference, to finish their “bucket list”, to live their life to their fullest!

A decision that you make today can change the outcome of your life forever. Think about it!

There are three ways that you can change this destiny if you have belly fat now!

Make the Decision“A real decision is measured by the fact that you’ve taken a new action. If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided.”-Tony Robbins

Work with a Weight Loss Coach!
“If you want to be successful, find someone who has achieved the results you want and copy what they do and you’ll achieve the same results”-Tony Robbins

Chose a natural and scientifically sound program that produces lasting results!
“If you do want you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.”-Tony Robbins

Posted in: Beliefs, Health Coach, Visualization.
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Kissing is a form of exercise!

Apr 18th, 2011
by trista.
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Burn it up at home! Many people still love the gym and with the nice weather here, are spending more time outdoors and are able to walk, bike, and find ways to exercise at home. There is of course the cost savings of doing that as well. I personally love mixing it up! I enjoy working out a gym. There’s the energy, social interaction, and accountability that comes along with that.

I recommend to my clients to work out with a personal trainer and a weight-loss coach as well. When working with a coach of any type, your success rate goes up to 91%. Personal Trainers also will work with your budget so even once a week or whatever works for you is good because that design a plan based around your personal goals.

Working with a Health Coach or Weight Loss Coach is very beneficial as well. A good Coach will provide a consultation, sometime for Free and some will waive their hourly or package coaching services if you are on a Weight-Loss System . This can result in savings sometimes of thousands a year.

A Weight-Loss Coach will provide the accountability and structure and advice that will ensure your success.

I also love having some great ways to burns those additional calories through the day. Here’s some of the top ways to burn around the house! I even included some “fun” ways!

  1. Shopping                    325 calories/30 minutes
  2. Yard Work                   555 calories/30 minutes
  3. Housecleaning          864 calories/30 minutes
  4. Laundry                        150 calories/30 minutes
  5. Kissing                         150 calories/30 minutes

So even our daily activities can all contribute to health and weight-loss.

If you want to exercise at home, remember to warm up and cool down. Sit-ups are great for core work,  push-ups, running up and down stairs and remember to walk 10,000 steps a day.

If you are not sure how how many steps you are walking a day, buy a simple pedometer to track your progress.

Posted in: Exercise, Health Coach, Personal Trainers.
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5 tricks to a flat tummy without sit-ups!

Apr 7th, 2011
by trista.
1 comment

The main reasons for excess belly fat is lack of exercise, diet which includes food flavorings as well, and years of improper dieting. So what is your next step in finally getting rid of the belly fat? If you are looking for the 8-pack abs, you will need to do the sit-ups, but if you just want to drop the fat and establish a “less mushy” waistline, there are a few key things that you can do to get rid of the “mush.”

Cortisol is a stress hormone and is linked to excess belly fat, otherwise know as visceral fat. When there is excess cortisol in your body, you will store excess body fat in your abdominal area. By using a supplement that is natural helps you in times of high stress, your body won’t need to store the excess.

When wanting to reduce abdominal fat or that “mush” , reducing salt will lower the water retention in that area and your waistline will become smaller. Salt or sodium is hidden in all sorts of foods. By watching labels, cutting down on eating out, and eating as much raw, organic food as possible, your salt consumption will go down and so will your waistline.

Cruciferous vegetables are vegetables that contain phytochemicals,vitamins and minerals, and fiber that are important to your health. They are also known for their properties to specifically reduce belly fat. These vegetables belong to the cabbage family… such as…broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, and bok choy.

Starting your day off with a healthy breakfast will reduce cravings, give you energy and help in your weight-loss. My favorite is a protein shake . For one it loads you up with the nutrition that you need and aids you in your weight loss. Be certain that it is natural and contains the right amount of Leucine. Leucine will assist in preserving those precious muscles and allow the fat to be lost.

Drink water! There are many benefits as you know in drinking water because we are primarily made of water. Specifically in our abdominal area, it will prevent water retention and as we are losing weight, we need that water to flush the fat from our bodies. Along with this, make sure is is purified water, preferably add electrolyte and pH drops. Un purified water may contain chemicals which can contribute to the storage of more belly and body fat. By alkalizing your water with pH drops, you’ll enhance your weight-loss and improve your health.

By doing these five items, you can say goodbye to that stubborn, unattractive, unhealthy belly fat.

Posted in: Weight-Loss.
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