Happy. One simple feeling, yet almost unattainable for so many. Being happy isn't just smiling, laughing, or looking a certain way. It is deeper than that. Our body and mind respond to how we live...for some of us happiness is the end result, for other it's misery.
Though there are many many factors when it comes to our happiness, there are simple things we can do to help make us feel so much better! Food, fitness, and our attitude towards life/people/situations are some major factors in creating a happier YOU!
Let's start with food.
Food is a HUGE part of our lives. We use it all day, and it either fuels us or destroys us! A diet full of alcohol, heavy in fatty food, animal products, and nutrient poor foods will greatly affect our mood, not just our weight. Food determines what kind of energy we have, how we move, how we sleep! The average person on the S.A.D diet, (with daily alcohol consumption), has trouble sleeping, feels bloated, lacks desire to exercise, and often suffers from depression or numerous diet related health issues. Diet is by far one of the most important factors to our happiness. When you eat well, you feel well! Eating food which gives you great energy, makes you feel light, and allows the body to heal, will naturally boost your mood!
...and a high energy diet leads to exercise!
Fitness is an antidpressant! Physical activity often makes us feel childlike. It is freeing and it feels GOOD! If you look at children, recess is the highlight of their day, a moment where they can move and stretch! Endorphins get released, our minds relax, the body awakens, and we truly feel incredible! For many, exercising daily is the key to keeping stress away and maintaining a positive outlook on their day! Fitness does not have to be a grueling workout, it can be the most simple form of play! Kicking a ball around, going for a walk, or just dancing around your house! When we release endorphins and begin to feel good, our outlook on life tends to be more positive!
...which leads me to our attitudes!
Staying positive 24/7 is not realistic. We all have good and bad days, though, many people consistently have bad days and a negative outlook on everything. Positive thoughts, and positive words, attract a positive LIFE! Spending endless hours being passive aggressive, negative, and mean spirited creates massive chaos in our bodies, even when those words are not targeted at ourselves. The energy we release towards others, gets returned right back to us in many forms. You cannot have a happy life with a negative mind. Loving oneself and finding inner peace requires a positive mindset. Take a moment, pause, and be grateful! Clear your mind of stituations which are not your business and don't spend time being consumed by other people's lives or problems! When we remove negative nonsense from our minds, we make space for more postive and useful thoughts!
Help your life stay on a path to happiness by by fueling properly, moving your body, and adjusting your mindset! These 3 very simple steps will drastically improve your life!
Naturally Vegan Health & FitnessⓋ
Showing posts with label healthy living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label healthy living. Show all posts
Thursday, October 26, 2017
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Dear Balanced Blonde
I remember the day I discovered your Instagram account. I loved all of your pictures, and of course all the The Blonde Vegan tshirts. As an actual blonde vegan, I got excited and instantly hit follow and checked out your online store. I was really happy to find your account, so cute and trendy,....until I began looking further through your pictures. Cleanses, tiny portions, detoxes, long workouts...no actual information on animal activism or eating large, healthy, filling meals. Your entire account was one long cleanse and weightloss program with trendy products for sale. Sadly I held off from supporting your brand and didn't purchase any items as I had a gut feeling you stood for something very different than veganism. I hoped I was wrong, and continued to follow your accounts.
As a few months passed, I saw something that I was pretty much expecting...your 'coming out' as an EX VEGAN. Your story of how veganism almost killed you, lead you down a path of poor health, and an eating disorder. I clicked on your story, read it, laughed a little, and then felt truly sorry for you. Not because you were sick, but because you attempted to lose weight using cleanses and diets, and blamed it on veganism, something you actually knew nothing about.
Here is the truth though. Veganism is not a diet, and one who does not show any support or activism towards animal rights, is not a vegan. Using cleanses or juicing programs to lose weight is a diet, just that A DIET...and a really unhealthy one. Not only were you harming yourself, but you were also sending a very dangerous message to your followers. When your dieting took a wrong turn and began to affect your health, you blamed it on veganism, not on the fact that you were juicing, cleansing, and eating 800 calories a day! That is not veganism. Nothing about you was vegan. In less than a year of starving yourself, you managed to publicly bash a peaceful and healthy lifestyle, one you never
followed.
I am vegan, a personal,trainer, and a certified vegan health practitioner, my son is vegan and so is my husband. A vegan 'diet' is a well rounded, healthy, and delicious way of eating, and is acceptable for ALL humans! There are millions of options, and plant foods are loaded with ALL the vitamins and nutrients you need to THRIVE. Doctors like Dr. McDougall, Dr. Garth Davis, Dr. Esselstyn, Dr. Barnard, Dr. Klaper, Dr. Greger, and so many others, all agree that a vegan diet is not only healthy, but is one of the healthiest on the planet!
What you were doing was dangerous and not veganism. Your way of eating was frightening and solely based on weightloss...not helping animals, not helping the environment, and not helping your health. You had an eating disorder and probably had it way before you began your Instagram account.
When you came out with the news you were going public with your story, appearing on one news
channel after another, and then writing your book, you made the conscious decision to trash a
lifestyle you never actually followed or supported one bit. What you did was lead people to believe that going vegan is a path to an eating disorder. That the lifestyle is a strict low calorie cleanse...which is so insane and not true.
So as a healthy BALANCED vegan, I would like to educate you on what veganism is:
It is a fight for the animals! It is a lifestyle free of harm to ALL beings, including oneself! We don't starve ourselves or treat our bodies with such disrespect!
Veganism is a way of living. It is a daily practice of progress not perfection. To help guide our fellow humans towards a cruelty free life by leading as an example. Veganism is a beautiful relationship between humans, animals, and Mother Nature.
It is a way of eating that helps you THRIVE. It gives you an abundance of energy to run, lift, hike, bike, or just play! I should know as I do all of the above! It is one of the best diets for athletes...if you still aren't convinced, ask Rich Roll, Brendan Brazier, Mac Danzig, Fiona Oaks, or strongman Patrik Baboumian.
Veganism is activism.
So as you continue you journey as a meat eater, remember, you never actually gave veganism a try. Somewhere along the way, you found the word vegan, labeled yourself as one, never understanding what it means. You destroyed your own health in pursuit of being skinny and not healthy. Adding meat to your diet is not what 'saved' you. It was the addition of the much needed calories you needed,
and the end of the detox and constant cleanses you were on.
Please, next time you discover a new word, please do some much needed research before you actually label yourself. It makes all the difference.
Yours truly,
An actual blonde vegan
As a few months passed, I saw something that I was pretty much expecting...your 'coming out' as an EX VEGAN. Your story of how veganism almost killed you, lead you down a path of poor health, and an eating disorder. I clicked on your story, read it, laughed a little, and then felt truly sorry for you. Not because you were sick, but because you attempted to lose weight using cleanses and diets, and blamed it on veganism, something you actually knew nothing about.
Here is the truth though. Veganism is not a diet, and one who does not show any support or activism towards animal rights, is not a vegan. Using cleanses or juicing programs to lose weight is a diet, just that A DIET...and a really unhealthy one. Not only were you harming yourself, but you were also sending a very dangerous message to your followers. When your dieting took a wrong turn and began to affect your health, you blamed it on veganism, not on the fact that you were juicing, cleansing, and eating 800 calories a day! That is not veganism. Nothing about you was vegan. In less than a year of starving yourself, you managed to publicly bash a peaceful and healthy lifestyle, one you never
followed.
I am vegan, a personal,trainer, and a certified vegan health practitioner, my son is vegan and so is my husband. A vegan 'diet' is a well rounded, healthy, and delicious way of eating, and is acceptable for ALL humans! There are millions of options, and plant foods are loaded with ALL the vitamins and nutrients you need to THRIVE. Doctors like Dr. McDougall, Dr. Garth Davis, Dr. Esselstyn, Dr. Barnard, Dr. Klaper, Dr. Greger, and so many others, all agree that a vegan diet is not only healthy, but is one of the healthiest on the planet!
What you were doing was dangerous and not veganism. Your way of eating was frightening and solely based on weightloss...not helping animals, not helping the environment, and not helping your health. You had an eating disorder and probably had it way before you began your Instagram account.
When you came out with the news you were going public with your story, appearing on one news
channel after another, and then writing your book, you made the conscious decision to trash a
lifestyle you never actually followed or supported one bit. What you did was lead people to believe that going vegan is a path to an eating disorder. That the lifestyle is a strict low calorie cleanse...which is so insane and not true.
So as a healthy BALANCED vegan, I would like to educate you on what veganism is:
It is a fight for the animals! It is a lifestyle free of harm to ALL beings, including oneself! We don't starve ourselves or treat our bodies with such disrespect!
Veganism is a way of living. It is a daily practice of progress not perfection. To help guide our fellow humans towards a cruelty free life by leading as an example. Veganism is a beautiful relationship between humans, animals, and Mother Nature.
It is a way of eating that helps you THRIVE. It gives you an abundance of energy to run, lift, hike, bike, or just play! I should know as I do all of the above! It is one of the best diets for athletes...if you still aren't convinced, ask Rich Roll, Brendan Brazier, Mac Danzig, Fiona Oaks, or strongman Patrik Baboumian.
Veganism is activism.
So as you continue you journey as a meat eater, remember, you never actually gave veganism a try. Somewhere along the way, you found the word vegan, labeled yourself as one, never understanding what it means. You destroyed your own health in pursuit of being skinny and not healthy. Adding meat to your diet is not what 'saved' you. It was the addition of the much needed calories you needed,
and the end of the detox and constant cleanses you were on.
Please, next time you discover a new word, please do some much needed research before you actually label yourself. It makes all the difference.
Yours truly,
An actual blonde vegan
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Life After Coffee
Last February I made a huge decision to finally give up coffee and all caffeine. Many questioned my sanity...why on earth was I torturing myself like this? Lol. Was I trying to become a purist? What's next, wheat grass shots? It was hard to explain to most people, as their morning (and sometimes all day) routine is accompanied by a cup of joe. To some the side effects seem to be minor compared to the incredible jolt of energy, but these really are something to consider. Here is how coffee/caffeine negatively effects you:
- coffee can cause rapid and irregular heartbeats
- causes sleep disturbances and an inability to fall asleep
- can elevate blood pressure
- increases risk of osteoporosis
- caffeine is a drug which leads to dependency and withdrawal symptoms can be harsh
- appetite suppressant, creating poor eating habits and a compromised metabolism
- increases anxiety
- caffeine is a psychoactive drug which acts on the central nervous system resulting in mood and behavioral changes
- can cause IBS as well as heartburn, poor digestion and gut health
- dehydration
- adrenal fatigue
- acid forming
Those were some of the concerns I had and really wanted to have a clean and naturally energized body. I felt like I fueling my body with the best food, yet slipping it a drug every morning to get started. So I finally quit! I am 7 months clean and I must say it feels great! Some of the changes that I have noticed have been interesting for sure, lol!
Let's start with my appetite. For the first 5 months I felt an insane hunger that wouldn't go away! Like I had been starved for years. So I ate, and ate, and ate. As you can imagine, over eating, even on a clean diet, will lead to a few unwanted pounds...in my case 6-8lbs! I knew this would happen. Many compare it to quitting smoking, weight gain is just part of the deal. The good thing is that my metabolism now is learning to work without a stimulant, instead of a jolt of caffeine first thing in the morning, I now enjoy a large jar of water! Wakes me right up naturally. My appetite is finally beginning to calm down and I am no longer eating like an animal, lol!
I no longer have that 3pm crash! There were days when I could barely get home without making a pit stop at Starbucks just to keep me awake while I drove. I feel properly fueled by fruit, all day, without any ups and downs! I can honestly tell you I can feel my food fueling my body where before I was completely unaware of it.
My concentration has improved as well as my mood. I have the ability to focus and have the energy to stay on task naturally. I feel consistently happy and just great. My workouts are better than ever, great energy all day long. Many athletes highly depend on caffeine to get them through workouts or races, I just fuel up with fruit and go! Since quitting coffee I have had some of my best runs, hikes, and spin classes!
My anxiety has improved. I have had anxiety issues on and off since 2001. I refused medication and have managed it on my own. Coffee definitely made it worse, so removing it has really relaxed me. My stress level in general has decreased. Even in some of the most high stress situations I am as calm as a cucumber. I feel like I can handle situations without my blood pressure flying through the roof!
So far so good. I am thrilled with my decision and now wish I would have quit sooner. Unfortunately like all drugs, it is not easy to admit there is more harm than good. Even as I decreased from 3 cups to one cup, I was still consuming it, and wouldn't experience optimal health until I quit 100%! Now I am excited to see how a year or even years without caffeine will feel!!
- coffee can cause rapid and irregular heartbeats
- causes sleep disturbances and an inability to fall asleep
- can elevate blood pressure
- increases risk of osteoporosis
- caffeine is a drug which leads to dependency and withdrawal symptoms can be harsh
- appetite suppressant, creating poor eating habits and a compromised metabolism
- increases anxiety
- caffeine is a psychoactive drug which acts on the central nervous system resulting in mood and behavioral changes
- can cause IBS as well as heartburn, poor digestion and gut health
- dehydration
- adrenal fatigue
- acid forming
Those were some of the concerns I had and really wanted to have a clean and naturally energized body. I felt like I fueling my body with the best food, yet slipping it a drug every morning to get started. So I finally quit! I am 7 months clean and I must say it feels great! Some of the changes that I have noticed have been interesting for sure, lol!
Let's start with my appetite. For the first 5 months I felt an insane hunger that wouldn't go away! Like I had been starved for years. So I ate, and ate, and ate. As you can imagine, over eating, even on a clean diet, will lead to a few unwanted pounds...in my case 6-8lbs! I knew this would happen. Many compare it to quitting smoking, weight gain is just part of the deal. The good thing is that my metabolism now is learning to work without a stimulant, instead of a jolt of caffeine first thing in the morning, I now enjoy a large jar of water! Wakes me right up naturally. My appetite is finally beginning to calm down and I am no longer eating like an animal, lol!
I no longer have that 3pm crash! There were days when I could barely get home without making a pit stop at Starbucks just to keep me awake while I drove. I feel properly fueled by fruit, all day, without any ups and downs! I can honestly tell you I can feel my food fueling my body where before I was completely unaware of it.
My concentration has improved as well as my mood. I have the ability to focus and have the energy to stay on task naturally. I feel consistently happy and just great. My workouts are better than ever, great energy all day long. Many athletes highly depend on caffeine to get them through workouts or races, I just fuel up with fruit and go! Since quitting coffee I have had some of my best runs, hikes, and spin classes!
My anxiety has improved. I have had anxiety issues on and off since 2001. I refused medication and have managed it on my own. Coffee definitely made it worse, so removing it has really relaxed me. My stress level in general has decreased. Even in some of the most high stress situations I am as calm as a cucumber. I feel like I can handle situations without my blood pressure flying through the roof!
So far so good. I am thrilled with my decision and now wish I would have quit sooner. Unfortunately like all drugs, it is not easy to admit there is more harm than good. Even as I decreased from 3 cups to one cup, I was still consuming it, and wouldn't experience optimal health until I quit 100%! Now I am excited to see how a year or even years without caffeine will feel!!
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