I used to be a sugar addict. When I first started working out, I used to stop at the gas station on my way to the gym to get sour candies, which I would keep in my pocket and eat during my workout. For real. I almost forgot to mention this, I was 27 at the time. Super grown-up of me to pop fruit sours between sets, don’t you think? But I had a hard time saying no to my urges to eat insane amounts of sugar.
Sugar dependence can happen for many reasons, at any point in life, and it is not super fun to live with. Symptoms include irritability, energy crashes, sleep problems, dyslipidemia, diabetes and low sex drive. Nobody wants that.
It can be hard to prep meals ahead for breakfast. No wonder so many people skip it or just grab something less-than-ideal from a drive-through or a snack machine!
Maybe I was traumatized by one too many casseroles at Casseroles church potlucks growing up, so when my wife told me she wanted us to make this recipe (which she made up), let's just say I wasn't feeling it. At all. But we made it anyway because healthy relationships include compromise. I tasted it and you know what? It was bangin'!
Aches and pains are normal as we get older, but that doesn't mean you have to just put up with it. Try these stretches to improve mobility in your forearms and reap the benefits.
You don’t have to be grateful for bad things that happen, but you can search for something useful that came out of those experiences. I’m not even a little bit grateful or happy that I broke my ankle. I struggle with slowing down and getting rest, so I’m grateful I’ve been given the opportunity to do that.
While you may not be planning to get COVID, chances are you'll be exposed to the coronavirus one way or another, so keep this information in your back pocket. Better yet, put it into practice!
Over the past 18+ months, many people I know including several clients have become infected with the novel coronavirus. Most of have recovered, some faster than others. Even with mild cases, it can still take a while to recover. Even "normal" recovery times can be several weeks or more. Who couldn't use a little help? Short of receiving medical care, these are the four things that help people bounce back faster: lifestyle, activity, diet and supplementation. Let's dig in!
The holidays are typically bad for your health goals. Even the number of heart attacks spikes on Christmas and New Years. With family conflict, financial strain, grief, seasonal affective disorder, and overbooked schedules….on top of drinking and overeating… it’s no surprise that Americans often gain a few pounds during the holidays. Find balance with these eight ways to stay healthy this year.
According to the National Cancer Institute, almost 4 out of 10 people will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their life. While the survival rate continues to rise,exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of recurrence in cancer patients. Regular vigorous physical activity can also improve mood, sleep, and energy levels, as well as lessen anxiety and treatment-related side effects. Sam Mayercik had thyroid cancer in 2006 and remembers how much a simple walking routine helped her, “I knew it was a big part of my healing.”
Tight hips can make anyone feel busted and old, which is zero percent fun. Nobody wants to be taunted by their own mortality. We want to live free to enjoy the things we love!
Tightness in the hips can be a hidden source of back pain, knee pain and trouble doing everyday things.
A short mobility break can go a long way toward feeling your best. Here are a few things you can do for tight hips. Try them out, and see how good they make you feel!
To skeptics, the term "self-care" might sound fluffy and frivolous. But you brush your teeth don’t you? Let’s hope!
Self-care means taking care of your physical and mental health. It's about recognizing and meeting your needs. The endgame? To be your healthiest, best self for the people you love. Self-care doesn’t have to be complicated or fussy -- it can be quite simple.
What if you were plucked from obscurity and suddenly became a rock star? That’s probably how quercetin feels right now (let’s pretend this inanimate substance has feelings, ok?). What was once a little-known niche supplement used for healing the digestive tract and relieving allergies has become a hot commodity among alternative medicine practitioners as a way to boost the immune system and potentially decrease chances of severe COVID-19 infection (vaccination is currently the only proven method).
If you have problems with energy, food cravings, overeating, hormone issues, or weird poops, getting more fiber could be a game changer.
Fiber does some pretty amazing things in the body and rarely gets the recognition it deserves! It helps clean out the intestines, feeds microflora in the gut, and helps the body get rid of toxins and extra hormones. It keeps blood sugar regulated and steady, so you won't crash. Fiber also helps the pancreas recycle the gastric juices that help break down food, improving digestion.
What’s better than getting a head start on your healthy eating? Well, lots of things, but putting your nutrition first is pretty rad, too.
This was my go-to smoothie bowl for a long time, and for good reason. Contrary to how it may seem, cocoa goes really well with avocado and beet. The earthiness of the beets blends perfectly with the smoothness of the avocado and the sharpness of the cocoa.
Don't let the word vinegar repulse you. High-quality balsamic vinegars are sweet and fruity, perfect for drizzling over berries or ice cream in the summer. This drink is a natural progression of the idea.
Do you love spicy comfort food? Do you also like getting your vegetables in? If the answer is yes, then this veggie-packed recipe is for you. It is high in fiber, has a serving of protein and the carbs are complex and balanced. Grab a bottle of hot sauce and tuck in to some red beans and rice!
You’ve probably noticed shit’s been weird for a minute. We’re a year into the COVID-19 pandemic as I write this, and it seems like every day we see examples of people experiencing the devastating soul-crushing weight of the global pandemic.
An ass-shaped dent in the couch, the abandoned newfound love of bread baking, feeling-too-lazy-to-cook take-out dinners and the changing out of sweats into pajamas — all of them tell the story of our collective fatigue. And the struggle is real.
Real talk — cheese is delicious. If you are taking a break from it, avoiding dairy can be annoying — especially when it comes to not having cheese.
Vegan cheese alternatives a.k.a. "fauxmage" (from the French "faux" for fake and "fromage" for cheese) have become extremely popular in the last few years. There are tons of cheese alternatives in grocery stores, some of them are convincing and some are 100% gross.
Most people's idea about stress is a little one-dimensional. "Yup, it's bad," we think to ourselves, and move on. Often, we only think of stress as a thing that happens in traffic, at work or in an argument. But stress doesn't just come from a last-minute deadline, it can be way more subtle. Exercise, a hectic but fun vacation, or an exciting action movie all activate the body's stress response.
Want a cookie fix without feeling like crap after? It’s probably no surprise that baked goods throw off blood sugar in a big way, leaving you with lackluster energy, fatigue, sleep problems, food cravings, inflammation and mood issues. Oh, and possibly unwanted weight gain.
But in the interest of making life a fun place to live while still achieving health goals, here’s a recipe for a chocolate chip cookie that won’t leave your health or your goals high and dry.
