Other Ways To Promote Health

Exercise more. Eat less processed foods. Get enough sleep. Drinking more water. Stay away from sugar. More vegetables and greens (which I have a secret to easily get more of!). Do this...don't do that...

The list goes on. And on...

So, aside from the obvious things what else can you do to promote health and overall wellness? Today, I'm going to share with you two things I do every day for me and my family.

1. Essential Oils

A few years ago I started using a few oils - lemon and lavender. I made a homemade lemon coconut oil body cream recipe. Then about two years ago I bought a diffuser (finally) with the intention of buying more oils but never did. It was just only recently (about two months ago) I decided to finally get more and dive into using them on a daily basis. After lots of research, I ordered quite a bit from Plant Therapy, one blend from DoTerra and some from a local health food store in town.

Here's my Plant Therapy order:

They have a line of kid safe oils and blends that I love so far. 

I now have two diffusers - one is a Zaq brand I got from an online store and the other is the one pictured above. I use the diffuser every day - especially now that it's getting colder and germs are everywhere! I diffuse energizing blends and calming blends based on my day and the germ destroyer kids blend is usually going in the afternoons. I am really enjoying them and seeing some definite benefits from using them so far. 

2. Juice Plus+

I only recently heard of Juice Plus. But from the moment it was mentioned to me I was hooked. It's SO simple and I'm actually shocked I hadn't heard of it before! I'm always reading and learning about health, wellness and nutrition and have never come across it. I actually learned about it initially from someone at my dentist's office because Juice Plus was studied and published in a medical journal (it's actually one of the only studied and researched of its kind!) that links the importance of nutrition to dental health - among other things.  I'm very inspired by this company and their mission for health for many decades now. 

Juice Plus Products - Complete, capsules, chews and bars

That's my little secret.  For a few weeks now, I have been taking their "trio" Vineyard blend, Garden and Fruit Blend and I just ordered their Complete shake mix.  It's gluten and dairy free and it is delicious!  I use it to promote health personally and my kids are taking the gummy version which I actually get for basically free through their Children's Health Study. 

They are a great company and I'm actually joining them on my own personal health mission to spread the goodness. If you want to learn more you can click on the Juice Plus links and it will take you to my web site to learn about the products as well as order. 

Ok...So what exactly is Juice Plus? It's FOOD.  Not a supplement!

Juice Plus+ is whole food based nutrition, including juice powder concentrates from 30 different fruits, vegetables and grains. Juice Plus+ helps bridge the gap between what you should eat and what you do eat every day. Not a multivitamin, medicine, treatment or cure for any disease, Juice Plus+ is made from quality ingredients carefully monitored from farm to capsule to provide natural nutrients your body needs to be at its best.

It actually has a nutrition label!  No additives, non-GMO and just good nutrition to help keep us healthy every day in a truly simple way.

I'll be sharing with you more about Juice Plus in the coming weeks...so stay tuned!

Those are just two things I do to promote health other than the obvious advice we all hear over and over.

What are some things you do to promote health?

Feel free to email or comment with any questions...anytime!
~Carly
 

Recipe: Hearty Chili - E

Good morning! It's a rainy Wednesday here. I'm sipping my coffee and decided I needed to share a recipe I've been making for some time now. Since it is getting cooler here, For the past few I've been naturally craving heavier comfort foods like stews, soups and chili. 

Enter my concoction of chili - full of whole foods rich with texture and flavor.

This is considered an E meal for those following the Trim Healthy Mama Plan.

Hearty Chili 

Ingredients:

1-2 tablespoons of olive oil

1 tablespoon of minced garlic 

1 medium yellow onion roughly diced

1 package of ground turkey, chicken or (browned and rinsed) lean ground beef

1 can of black beans drained and rinsed

2-3 medium sweet potatoes pre-cooked and cut into cubes

1 box Pomi chopped tomatoes

1/2 cup quinoa (cooked separately)

1 can of diced chiles

2 tablespoons of chili seasoning

2 tablespoons of cumin

1 cup (or more for more or less liquid) of chicken or vegetable stock 

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. In a larger stock pot add the olive oil to heat. Add garlic and simmer for a minute. Grab a second soup pot and begin to cook quinoa per the directions on the package. Then, in chili pot and onion and cook until softened.

2. Add ground meat of choice. Once browned add cumin and chili and stir well.

3. Add the tomatoes, diced chiles, broth and beans and stir to combine. Simmer for about 10 minutes.

4. Add cooked cubed sweet potatoes and quinoa. At this time you can also add more broth to increase liquid.

5. Simmer on low for as long as you'd like - I do another 15 minutes or so.

It's really delicious and hearty without being heavy. You can top it with a sprinkle of shredded cheese as added fat if you're following THM. If you aren't, feel free to add sliced avocado, sour cream or a side of tortilla chips - the choice is yours!

I shared this recipe with a few friends now and it's gotten great reviews! 

Enjoy and as always comment if you decide to make it!

~Carly

Motivate Me Monday - 11/9/2015

Happy Monday! October just flew by and now November is almost at the halfway point! 

Came across this yesterday and while we all know these things it's truly true that smaller changes add up to big differences. 

I'm a sucker for a good visual - so I leave you with this one :)

Will be posting again soon with some other things I've been up to and that have been on my mind. 

I'm also approaching my 2 year anniversary on Trim Healthy Mama! Woohoo!

~Carly

Losing My Way

As usual, it's been awhile since I've posted.  At least I'm consistent in that area ;p

The Summer was long and I definitely lost my way towards the end of it with my eating and exercise habits.  This resulted in me feeling sluggish, bloated and a few pounds heavier.  I still was exercising at least twice a week but I stopped doing PiYo regularly - which I LOVED - and strayed a bit from my Trim Healthy Mama.  Not so completely far from it that I was no longer following it, but just far enough from it that I wasn't feeling as good as I should.  The principles of Trim Healthy Mama work for me - it's the ONLY thing that has worked! So, what was my problem? Why was I losing my way from what they perfectly describe as "Food Freedom"?

So, about two weeks ago I was talking to my best friend and she follows the BeachBody program called the 21 Day Fix.  I had also heard good things about it. So, I decided to give it a try - because I then was watching TV and came across the infomercial, too.  So, I thought sure, why not give it a try.

Essentially the program is portion control which therefore limits calories consumed based on your current weight and activity level.  You get a certain number of protein, fruit, vegetable and fat allowances based on that with color coded containers to measure. There's also an exercise component to it which I didn't do but did do similar workouts - cardio, pilates, weights, abs, etc.  I will say that I do feel this program would likely be effective for most people who are looking for a healthier way of eating IF they are currently not following a whole foods/clean diet.  I don't feel that I was the right person for this way of eating.

Why do I say that?  Well, with Trim Healthy Mama, I was eating a very minimally processed, whole foods diet.  I eat large, healthy salads with protein and I eat wholesome carbohydrates.  So, one week on the 21 Day Fix and I GAINED 2-3 pounds.  I was perplexed and frustrated to say the least.

Image via google image search

Fast forward to this past Monday, I decided to refocus and get honest and real again and get fully back on track with Trim Healthy Mama.  I ordered some of their amazing sweeteners and baking items. I also started a Fuel Cycle and then yesterday made a trip to Barnes and Noble and bought the new books they have out - The Trim Healthy Mama Plan which is a less informative version of the ebook I already had and the new cook book :)

Today, I'm happy to report I'm already down 3 pounds I gained over the Summer and gone are the few pounds from the few days I was on 21 Day Fix.

Before Summer I was still bouncing around 153-155 pounds and I'm pretty much back to where I was now this morning at 155.8.  The scale had gotten pretty up there for a bit but I'm happy it's come back down.

So if anyone needs me I will be eating my skinny chocolate while reading my two new books :)

~Carly

NOTE:  As I always keep things real, this post does contain affiliate links.  If you choose to order from the Trim Healthy Mama store, I will receive some sort of monetary benefit. I do only recommend products that I use and love myself so please don't feel obligated or anything!

Motivate Me Monday - 8/10/2015

Hello and happy Monday.

Today's motivation is coming from ME!

I had posted a few months ago about Kayla Istines and her bikini body program - well summer happened and I got off track a bit. Well I've decided to restart and I'm on week 3 and feeling great. I'm starting to see some minor changes but instead of feeling frustrated I'm looking back a bit to see how far I've come.

Left is 2012, middle is June 2014 and the right is yesterday morning before my run.

I'm excited for what the next few months hold for me 😊

~Carly

Recipe: A Summer Quiche

Hello! Yes, yes - been some time again since my last post. But I promise this post will surely make up for my lack of posting. Last weekend I was blessed and fortunate enough to go away with my friend to her family's home on Shelter Island in New York. It was the second year in a row I've been invited and it's just a rejuvenating and wonderful experience. The home is beautiful and just amazing to be there. Truly.

A view I captured from Sunset Beach on Shelter Island, NY

While we were there, my friend Tracy made us breakfast each morning and she came up with this amazing quiche that I replicated last week (minus a few ingredients). It's got a fresh take and an ingredient you just may not ever think to include in a quiche but I assure you it's deeeeelish!

And fortunately two ingredients now are in full swing this summer season and you can likely grab them at your local farm stand or farmers market: zucchini and tomatoes.

Yep. That's right zucchini and squash.

What?!?! you say?  Yes.  So did I. Until I tried it and it was the best tasting quiche I think I've ever had. So run to the market and grab some squash, zucchini and tomatoes and whip this up.  I promise you it does not disappoint.

Oh, and for my fellow THM-ers this recipe would be an S.

Ingredients

1-2 medium sized zucchini or summer squash chopped (last week I used both yellow and green squashes but this week I only had green)

1 medium tomato chopped 

1 or 1/2 large yellow onion chopped 

Fresh basil (if possible) chopped

Dried oregano to taste 

Salt and pepper to taste

1 tablespoon of butter or coconut oil

Non stick spray or butter for pan

5-6 large eggs 

1/2 cup of heavy cream or 1/2 and 1/2

1 cup of shredded cheese - I used a Mexican blend but mozzarella or any of your choosing will do

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a skillet place butter or coconut oil and heat onion and zucchini until softened. Add tomatoes half way through just to soften.

2. Add herbs, salt and pepper to veggies.

3. In a large mixing bowl scramble eggs and combine cream. Then, add shredded cheese.

4. Spray or coat round baking pan or dish with nonstick coat.

5. With a slotted spoon, transfer veggies to the large mixing bowl - the tomatoes and veggies can leave liquid which you do not want in quiche! Mix well.

6. Pour all ingredients into baking pan/dish and bake for about 30-40 minutes depending on your oven and baking dish.

Softening the veggies 

Add the tomatoes last to soften - drain with slotted spoon

All mixed up and ready to bake

Ready to cook!  I can't hardly wait to eat this

Ta-dahhh! Done.  Oh and I made my husband a ham and cheese quiche too :)

So, what do you think?  So easy and fresh and a fantastic way to get in some additional veggies.  You could add anything else to this also - bacon or any other veggies you have laying around. 

I hope you have a great Sunday!  Now, onto laundry and cleaning.  

~Carly

Motivate Me Monday - 6/15/2015

Happy Monday!

It's rainy here today and I woke up with a headache but I'm trying to not let it get me down. 

For the first time in a long time I was able to get up really early before my kids and have a cup of coffee. I've been trying to do that since the beginning of the school year! Now that it's the last week of school - go figure! 

And then even though I didn't feel like it I worked out and ate a really healthy breakfast and was able to have a fairly productive morning with my son. 

As I ate my lunch earlier I thought "Wow, why can't every day be like this?"

And then of course I laughed. I can certainly strive for each day to be more on purpose and meaningful. But when you have a lot going on, two kids and just life in general it's a bit much to expect perfect days all the time. But today made me grateful I was able to do what I did.

So to remind myself I came across this:

Strive for progress, not perfection.

This was so fitting to see and take in. Right now I feel it applies to so much for me with health, life, exercise, parenting, organizing - anything! 

As long as there's a progression in the right direction I consider it a win.

I will attempt to get up early again tomorrow but just in case I don't, I will take this morning as progress and put perfection aside for now :)

~Carly