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FAVE WAYS TO AVOID THE HOLIDAY FOOD, DRINK & OTHER HANGOVERS

12/23/2014

4 Comments

 
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Our most popular blog is back and includes more of my faves than ever before! Whether you’re suffering from food, alcohol or other over indulgences, sleep deprivation and/ or emotional runoff associated with the season, you can feel better and have more energy now by practicing  these tips. Best part, these can be used all year round to avoid acting like the Grinch.  

I recco CHOOSING LIGHT, TOP SHELF LIQUORS (vodka or tequila are the preferred) over dark liquors (brandy or whiskey).   But whatever you choose, STICK WITH ONE TYPE OF ALCOHOL.  Light liquors have fewer “congeners" (a minor toxic chemical element of alcohol that gives it it's distinctive characteristics) which may contribute to hangovers.     
  • MY FAVE: 2oz of  top shelf TEQUILA  on the rocks, with salt.  SIP IT or have your FAVE VODKA or tequila ON THE ROCKS and SQUEEZE IN SEVERAL FRESH LEMONS OR LIMES to your taste and fill with club soda or sparkling water. Order an additional tall glass of club soda/sparkling water and fill your drink with the water after every couple of sips.  Do not order a second drink until you’ve had 1-2 full glasses of sparkling water. This serves the dual purpose of diluting your alcohol/extending the time it takes you to finish the drink as well as helping you to stay hydrated.

  • STAY HYDRATED.  Alcohol makes you urinate more, which can lead to dehydration. But not just water, you lose minerals as well. The processes that break down alcohol also produces lactic acid and other chemicals that interfere with the production of glucose (sugar) and electrolytes.   ​
BEST FOOD AND DRINK BETS FOR YOUR EVENTS

ALCOHOL
  • Try to pace yourself to ONE STANDARD DRINK PER HOUR (2 ounces of hard liquor,) which is about the rate at which your liver can keep up. For most people, the most pleasant moment is when the first one kicks in (.05) and drinking more at that time just moves you away from the “sweet spot."  At one per hour, your blood alcohol level will tend to stay in that range, resulting in more pleasant feeling.  Never drink more than three. And if coming off a cleanse, stick with none or max, one. Even those with high tolerances’ livers cannot process well more than one per evening.
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I reco CHOOSING LIGHT, TOP SHELF LIQUORS (vodka or tequila are the preferred) over dark liquors (brandy or whiskey).   But whatever you choose, STICK WITH ONE TYPE OF ALCOHOL.  Light liquors have fewer “congeners" (a minor toxic chemical element of alcohol that gives it it's distinctive characteristics) which may contribute to hangovers. 

  • MY FAVE: 2oz of  top shelf TEQUILA  on the rocks, with salt.  SIP IT or have your FAVE VODKA or tequila ON THE ROCKS and SQUEEZE IN SEVERAL FRESH LEMONS OR LIMES to your taste and fill with club soda or sparkling water. Order an additional tall glass of club soda/sparkling water and fill your drink with the water after every couple of sips.  Do not order a second drink until you’ve had 1-2 full glasses of sparkling water. This serves the dual purpose of diluting your alcohol/extending the time it takes you to finish the drink as well as helping you to stay hydrated.

  • STAY HYDRATED.  Alcohol makes you urinate more, which can lead to dehydration. But not just water, you lose minerals as well. The processes that break down alcohol also produces lactic acid and other chemicals that interfere with the production of glucose (sugar) and electrolytes.   ​
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WHAT IS A HANGOVER?

Although there is no official definition, a hangover is the crummy feeling that follows a night of excessive alcohol or unhealthy food and includes at least two of the following symptoms:  headache, nausea, diarrhea, gastrointestinal disorders, fatigue.

Drinking drains and interferes with the body’s absorption of vitamins and minerals such as:  amino acids, B12, B6 and folic acid, calcium, magnesium, and more.  Eating foods that you may have allergies or sensitive to like gluten, dairy or sugar, can have the same draining effect on your brain and body-leaving you sluggish and bloated.  

Simply put:   Alcohol is a toxic substance.  When you ingest toxins of any kind (and as far as I’m concerned that can include being around emotionally toxic environments/people,) it may result in dehydration, lack of sleep and other side effects to throw your body out of balance. 

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FOOD

WHAT TO EAT BEFORE THE DAY OF YOUR EVENT:
  • 4 OUNCES OF LEAN PROTEIN AND UNLIMITED AMOUNT OF VEGGIES
  • ALOHA PROTEIN SHAKE
  • ALOHA DAILY GOOD or ORGANIC GREEN JUICES
  • ORGANIC CHICKEN BONE BROTH

I like to have a mostly liquid day on those days I know that I will either be eating late or that I may not have the best food choices at my event.  

WHAT TO AVOID:
  • The most common food allergens & difficult to digest foods that cause bloating, gas and fatigue: gluten, dairy, beans and grains.  
  • Nuts and dried fruits:  Nuts in large quantities have too many calories and may affect your stomach. Dried fruits have an extremely high glycemic index. Nuts are a good snack if you can have just a few, 8-12 total.   
  • Dessert and sugary foods. Sugar is a drug and a depressant.  
  • Champagne and sparkling wine. These can literally go straight to your head. Studies have shown that the effects of bubbles in alcohol increases the delivery of alcohol through your system and cause you to become intoxicated faster.  They can also cause bloating.

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PRACTICE MINDFUL EATING HABITS  

Chew your food UNTIL IT’S THE CONSISTENCY OF BABY FOOD + EAT ONLY UNTIL YOU’RE 80% FULL.


HEALTHY FOOD STAPLES TO HAVE ON HAND AT HOME-YOUR SHOPPING LIST:
  • ALOHA Protein Shakes and Daily Good Superfoods
  • Organic, hormone and antibiotic-free chicken breast or turkey
  • Organic, Cascadian Farms frozen veggies: Kale, chard, broccoli, brussels sprouts & asparagus.
  • Organic Chicken Bone Broth:  My new, most favorite healthy food.  
  • Amy’s Organic Gluten Free, Dairy Free Pizza (they come in small or large).
  • Andean Dream Quinoa Pasta:  Get them next time you’re at Whole Foods.  These non perishables are my quick and healthy go to’s for comfort food.
  • Food For Life Gluten free bread, muffins or bagels:  These taste great and are also corn and soy free which many gluten free products are not. Only for when comfort food is the only thing you crave.
  • Organic, free-range, hormone and antibiotic free eggs and turkey bacon.
  • Traditional Medicinal Gas Tea and Smooth Move Tea
  • Coconut Oil for cooking
  • Eden Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1 fresh LEMON and 1/2 inch piece of ginger.  Ginger is a great digestive aid and can soothe the stomach.  Great to keep around.  
  • CALM Magnesium
  • SOURCE NATURALS NUTRA SPRAY MELATONIN
  • BACH RESCUE REMEDY:  Natural Stress Relief.  Dr. Oz uses this for himself and the kids version for his kids.
  • BOIRON’S NUX VOMICA:  Natural hangover remedy


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YOUR PARTY DAY PLAN:
  • UPON RISING: Make a blender of MB CLEAN DRINK: Makes the blood more alkaline, is cleansing and starts you off on a good, hydrating note.    
  • BREAKFAST:  ALOHA Protein Shake for breakfast
  • EVERY HOUR TILL 5PM: Drink 8-12 ounces of Traditional Medicinals Gas Tea mid morning and mid afternoon or MB CLEAN DRINK
 
  • LUNCH/DINNER BEFORE EVENT:
  1. Protein shake
  2. 12 ounces Organic Chicken Bone Broth
  3. Lean protein and veggies

Eating food helps to reduce the acetaldehyde in your stomach, and it is the acetaldehyde that is thought to be one of the main causes of hangovers.  If you are going to a party that will be serving small bites, be sure to have a before going out!

  • WHEN YOU GET HOME IN EVENING:
  1. Blend one tablespoon of CALM magnesium + 1 packet Daily Good berry flavor with 8-12 ounces of water.
  2. Drink one cup of Smooth Move Tea. It’s good for elimination and you’ll want to eliminate as much as possible/flush toxins out the next day.

  • BEFORE BED: Best not to eat before bed but if you’re starving try these things in this order
  1. 1 T of almond or sunflower butter or
  2. ALOHA chocolate protein shake or
  3. One piece of gluten-free toast with grass fed butter + drop or two of raw honey.   

  • AT BEDTIME:
  1. Open a window to freshen the room and get some fresh air. This will oxygenate your body and help you sleep better too. Be sure your room is 67 degrees or cooler.
  2. Take two squirts of Source Naturals Melatonin under your tongue and hold for 60 seconds before swallowing
  3. Put your Melatonin next to your bed and if you wake up anytime before 3AM and can’t go right back to sleep, take 2 squirts and practice breathing through your nose six counts in and out until you fall back to sleep.
  4. Practice TWO BELLS BREATHING if feeling anxious. Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth, close your mouth and inhale/exhale six counts. Repeat for as long as you like. Optimally a minimum of 28 minutes per day. This is my fav meditation/stress reducer. Download the recording HERE and put on your iPhone today and use for immediate, stress relief anywhere, anytime.
  5. Avoid taking acetaminophen based pills. Alcohol metabolism increases the toxic effect acetaminophen has on the liver and can be dangerous when mixed with the alcohol in your system-even before going to bed while alcohol is still prominent in your system.  These also make you urinate more leading to further possible dehydration.

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DAY AFTER PARTY TIPS

SLEEP IN  if you can or follow the next two steps and go back to bed.

UPON RISING & THROUGHOUT THE DAY


  1. MB CLEAN DRINK:  Sip (don’t chug) 20 ounces of Keep sipping throughout the day  until you’ve reached 80-100 ounces total.
  2. NUX VOMICA-Take 5-8 pellets under tongue.  You can repeat this 3x throughout day.
  3. BREATHE- Practice TWO BELLS BREATHING, EFT and/or MINDFULNESS.  
  4. BACH RESCUE REMEDY. Four to six drops under your tongue for 60 seconds. Repeat this as often as you like throughout the day.
  5. BULLET PROOF COFFEE - If you are a coffee drinker, have one cup.  But be sure to follow it with a big glass of water.  Caffeine will only dehydrate you more and it will not help your stomach.  AVOID Milk and other DAIRY products in your coffee and in general-they may make you feel more queasy or bloated.  If you’re not a coffee drinker try some GINGER or other HERBAL TEA-Ginger soothes the stomach.
  6. EXPRESS GRATITUDE  for all that you have. Be grateful for the family and friends with whom you’re spending the holidays and the job you have that requires you to go to that company X-mas party and for all those other social opportunities, good friends and family to celebrate the holidays. Some people are really alone at this time of year. Gratitude makes us feel better right away.

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7. EAT: BREAKFAST-After you’ve done steps above, have a breakfast with healthy alternatives to the normal greasy, hangover foods.  See ideas above.  LUNCH & DINNER:  Turkey Burger-no bun or Amy’s Organic Pizza or Rice Pasta.

8.  RINSE: Take a shower. A good shower, although it does not treat the symptoms of the hangover helps you feel revitalized.  Use warm water, not hot and finish with a 30-60 second cool rinse. Or take a cleansing Epsom Salts bath.

9. MOVE: Only if you’re well hydrated take your fave SOUL CYCLE or other spin class, a light jog, or 25 minutes on the BELLICON. They’ll make you smile and release some endorphins. If you are sleep deprived and you go to class it can make you feel worse. In that case, opt for a couple of planks + 3 sets of pushups + 30 squats.

10. LAUGH: Too tired to go to class?  Watch a funny movie. Love Actually is one of my holiday faves. Laughter always makes us feel better.   Whatever you do, don’t call that friend that’s always in a bad mood.  You’re likely to feel a little depressed if tired, hungover so you want to avoid negative people.

11. SWEAT: I live for my SUNLIGHTEN INFRARED SAUNA and try and sweat 3-6 days a week. If you can’t get to in one of Sunlighten’s, any dry sauna-especially the one at THE RUSSIAN BATH HOUSE will do. Three x 20 minute rounds with short breaks or dips in a cold plunge is optimal but pace yourself and be sure to take electrolytes and that your hydrated.

12. SUNSHINE and the FRESH AIR, even if only for a few minutes.  Our body in order to function properly needs oxygen.  


Find my Amazon Shopping List of Hangover Prevention Tools/Remedies HERE.


4 Comments

#3 FAVE HEALTHY TIP =  STAY HYDRATED

6/11/2014

2 Comments

 

 This week I'm blogging about the third of my eight, essential healthy living tips-stay hydrated. This is the one habit with which almost everyone needs a little help. Here are some reasons why hydration is so high on my list and some simple tips on how you can get the water & mineral balance right in your life. 

WHY DEHYDRATION COULD BE MAKING YOU FAT AND SICK-HERE ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS:

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  • Joint Aches/Muscular stiffness: Many times I’ve had a client complain of sudden, inexplicable*back ache. Once I out rule a possible strain or injury I ask, “Are you hydrated?” Nine out of ten times the response has been, “No, in fact I haven’t had anything to drink all day.”  After a couple glasses of water and some electrolytes the ache almost always disappears.  All joints have cartilage padding, which is composed mainly of water. When the body is dehydrated, cartilage is weakened and joint repair is slow resulting in pain and discomfort.
          * Meaning they’d not injured themselves or had a history of back pain.

  • Weight gain a result of insatiable cravings for sugar and other processed/unhealthy food-especially ice cream  and/or sugary drinks.  
  • Constipation - Click HERE for details on this and the below MNN’s fabulous “what dehydration can do to your body” Infographic
  • Fatigue
  • Asthma and Allergies
  • Digestive disorders
  • Bladder or kidney problems
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Skin Disorders
  • Premature Aging

BENEFITS OF HYDRATION:
  • Feel better: have more energy
  • Skin looks better
  • Make better food choices
  • Weight loss as a result of improved digestion, reduced cravings, increased energy/higher likelihood of working out.


FAQ’s RECOMMENDATIONS & TIPS:

Q:  How much water/liquids do YOU need?

A:   Approximately ½ your body’s weight in ounces.  Green veggie juices and herbal teas count.  The average adult loses about 10 cups of water every day simply by breathing, sweating, urinating and eliminating waste.   However the total amount one needs can vary a great deal from person to person depending upon how many veggies you eat, how much you exercise, medications you’re taking and your environment.

Q:   What do I think of seltzer water, soda water and mineral waters?

A:   I think they can cause bloating in some people and I avoid them for the most part except when out socializing (see below Q about what bevvy I reco).

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  Add another cup to your total if:
  1. You’re in extreme temps-hot or cold
  2. For every caffeinated or alcoholic bevie
  3. Exercising or sweating a lot
  • Purchase a 16 oz, BPA-Free container
  • Upon rising have one glass tea temp water with juice of ½ lemon  
  • Try to get ⅔ in by noon &  complete by 5PM
  • Avoid guzzling water during exercise. Click HERE to read reasons.
  • Download and app such as the cute and clever Water Your Body to track your intake and send you helpful reminders.


Q: I'm drinking my recommended daily amount of water but still suffering from the symptoms of dehydration. What are possible causes?


A: Dehydration is often a combination of liquid and essential mineral depletion such as calcium and magnesium. I reco. you have 2TB of the magnesium supplement with calcium, CALM a day and one Nuun Electrolyte for every hour of exercise or the morning after you've had more than 2 drinks. See below for related advice on the latter.


Q:  What to drink if you want to have a cocktail when out socializing? (Most commonly asked Q.)

A: My pick to avoid hangovers and to keep you hydrated:
  1. Order Patron/Don Julio or other "top shelf" tequila in tall glass on rocks filled with FRESH lime juice and seltzer  
  2. At the same time 1 large glass seltzer/soda water, no ice
  3. As soon as you drink a couple sips of drink fill to top with soda water. Repeat every time you take a sip.
  4. Do not order another drink until you've gone through 3 tall glasses of seltzer. You will have to get a side of ice before you get through three glasses water.
  5. Limit your total drinks to two per evening. Easier said than done when having a good time, I understand. See related blog for other ways to avoid hangovers.

Happy hydrating ya’ll! xoMB




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EIGHT FAVE HEALTHY HABITS BLOG SERIES: #1 ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

5/15/2014

3 Comments

 
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CHANGE YOUR THOUGHTS, CHANGE YOUR LIFE!
ONE OF MY FAVE HEALTHY HABITS - AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

After 20 years in the business of helping people feel and look their best, I’ve distilled my healthy living recommendations down to eight essential things, that if done most of the time (meaning 80%), lead to a healthy, happy, energized, peaceful mind and body and can allow you to avoid the effects of life’s stresses and avoid most if not all disease and stave off common issues associated with aging.

Next week I’ll be speaking  about five of my eight fave healthy habits at my friend’s Joe Cross’ Reboot Camp. The prep for my talk entitled “ Setting Yourself Up For Success - Simple tips for establishing routine of healthy habits”  prompted me to do a series of blogs on all eight of these healthy habits starting with what I consider to be the most essential of the eight, GRATITUDE.

What if I told you that by being more grateful you could feel happier, be more alert and energetic, have more determination, optimism, less depression and stress, be more likely to exercise regularly and make greater progress toward achieving personal goals and improving your romantic and other relationships? Cool, huh?

 "Gratitude is not only the greatest of the virtues but the parent of all others." -Cicero


WHAT IS GRATITUDE

Gratitude is a feeling, an emotion and an attitude. It means thankfulness, counting your blessings, finding simple pleasure in the seemingly mundane daily occurrences and an acknowledgement of a benefit you’ve received or will receive. It means treating even small wins as miracles, and being aware on a continuous basis of how fortunate you are. We are what we think and what we think we're not....

Gratitude shifts your focus from what your life lacks to the abundance that is already present. It makes you feel better instantly among many other benefits and research shows it heightens the quality of your life.


THE BENEFITS OF GRATITUDE

GRATITUDE INCREASES QUALITY OF LIFE

Two psychologists, Michael McCollough of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and Robert Emmons of the University of California at Davis, wrote an article about an experiment they conducted on gratitude and its impact on well-being.

The study split several hundred people into three different groups and all of the participants were asked to keep daily diaries.

The first group kept a diary of the events that occurred during the day without being told specifically to write about either good or bad things.

The second group was told to record their unpleasant experiences; and the last group was instructed to make a daily list of things for which they were grateful.

The results of the study indicated that daily gratitude exercises resulted in higher reported levels of :
  • alertness,
  • enthusiasm,
  • determination,
  • optimism,  
  • energy.

And LESS:

  • depression,
  • stress,
AND...
  • were more likely to help others,
  • exercised more regularly, and made greater progress toward achieving personal goals.

More on gratitude and associate with well-being from Wikipedia:  A large body of recent work has suggested that people who are more grateful have higher levels of subjective well-being.

Grateful people are happier, less depressed, less stressed, and more satisfied with their lives and social relationships[16][19][20] Specifically, in terms of depression, gratitude may serve as a buffer by enhancing the coding and retrieve of positive experiences. [21] Grateful people also have higher levels of control of their environments, personal growth, purpose in life, and self acceptance.[22]

Grateful people have more positive ways of coping with the difficulties they experience in life, being more likely to seek support from other people, reinterpret and grow from the experience, and spend more time planning how to deal with the problem.[23]

Grateful people sleep better, and this seems to be because they think less negative and more positive thoughts just before going to sleep.[24]

Gratitude has been said[by whom?] to have one of the strongest links with mental health of any character trait. [25][4]

GRATITUDE CAN BOOST A ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP 



While being grateful is good for you, being on the receiving end of it can juice your romantic relationships! A recent study found that after receiving gratitude, participants noticed that their partner was more responsive to their needs;) and overall more satisfied with their relationship.

I learned from a very smart relationship's therapist that successful relationships tend to have  a  20/1 ratio of positive to negative things said to one another and a 5/1 ratio of positive interactions to negative ones that predicts whether a marriage will last or become one of the sad statistics of divorce.

GRATITUDE AS A MOTIVATOR OF BEHAVIOR

Gratitude may also serve to reinforce future pro-social behavior in benefactors. For example, one experiment found that customers of a jewelry store who were called and thanked showed a subsequent 70% increase in purchases. In comparison, customers who were thanked and told about a sale showed only a 30% increase in purchases, and customers who were not called at all did not show an increase.[10] In another study, regular patrons of a restaurant gave bigger tips when servers wrote "Thank you" on their checks.[11]


TIPS ON HOW YOU CAN CULTIVATE AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE


The brain can only hold one thought at a time. When we’re busy noticing what’s right we can’t be worrying or thinking about what’s wrong; we’re in the present as opposed to the past and future.

I think the the best
way of cultivating an attitude of gratitude and the one I practice myself is to start as soon as I wake up in the morning, just as I'm cracking my eyes open, I start to list those things for which I am grateful. And try not to stop until I get to my kitchen where I turn on my water on to boil. Some days it’s hard, especially when I’m tired or I didn’t complete the things I wanted to complete the night before. The monkey mind jumps around and says, things like,  you shoulda gone to sleep earlier , then you woulda been able to do your TM first thing in the morning and you....coulda. And on and on. By the way, let’s take those words, shuda, wuda, coulda right out of our dictionary today, ok? They’re all about the past.

“Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.”   -Brian Tracy

MY RECOS:

1. Practice at least 1x a day, pref at the same time every day. Think it.

Like most new, healthy habits, it’s best to practice at the same time every day. Research suggests it takes anywhere from 30-60 consecutive days of repeating the desired behavior for it to become a habit. So it's best to start first thing in the morning before your mind gets over active. Say something to yourself like “Thanks Universe for this cozy bed I don’t want to get out of, the roof over my head, for my body that's getting healthier day by day. Thank you for my clients...Whatever you can think of works. List at least three things and if you can, keep going. You will see that your active  monkey mind will get quiet.

2. Repeat. Write it down.

The more you repeat something the more likely it is to become a habit. This is true of unhealthy habits as well. The easier a habit is to do, the harder it is to break. Keep a gratitude journal, a spiral notebook or something more special and in it every morning once out of bed or asap, write down at least three things for which you’re grateful. Writing something is just another way of reinforcing the ideas and the energy you get from them. And you can keep a running list and look back on it. My Dad gave me my first Gratitude Journal when I was 18. I still have it. I love looking back on my lists from a few years ago, they always make me smile. There are even apps, like The Happy Tapper that can help remind you to list your three (or more) things for which you're grateful.

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Other tips:  Start a Gratitude Jar-If you’d rather not keep a journal try keeping a Gratitude Jar. Can you guess who taught me about this?....Yep, my Dad. We started one together last New Years. It’s never too early to start practicing  gratitude. And my clients have started them with their kids and they really get into it. 

It’s never too early to start practicing gratitude. Psychologist and researcher Jeffrey Froh created and implemented a gratitude curriculum for kids aged 8 to 11. The youngsters who received the lessons showed an increase in grateful thinking, appreciation and positive emotions as compared to their classmates who did not partake.


3. Practice. Speak it. 


Throughout the day whenever I catch myself thinking or worse, saying something negative, I find something positive to say. I look for what’s right, what’s working, what I like. I make a point of telling as many people I encounter what’s great about them. Speaking is the third way to reinforce and share the good energy and love you feel or want to feel. It’s a law of attraction thing. Like attracts like. 

From telling the cab driver how nice his maneuvering skills are, to complimenting the waitress’ attentiveness, small acts of gratitude and kindness pay off for everyone involved and for the people that the person to whom you’ve just expressed gratitude encounters next. Yes, it’s contagious, so YOU have the power to affect many people's day and life in general. 

What happens when we encounter a difficult person...someone else’s monkey mind? 

Limit as much as possible the time you spend with people who are always complaining. Just as gratitude is contagious, so can be negativity. If you can't just leave the conversation and you're experiencing them ranting, dumping or worse, talking poorly about someone else, be polite and compassionate and tell them, ”I’m really working on staying upbeat and having a better attitude. Could we change the topic of conversation?” Or offer to help them find a solution to their conflict and ask them questions that will create a more productive conversation about whatever is upsetting them. Or if you know there’s no real solution, for example it’s an ailing parent they’re complaining about, let them vent some then give them a big hug. It releases feel good chemicals in the body and brain and they probably need it. Aw. Whatever you do, be kind.

TRY OUR OWN 100 DAYS OF HAPPY CHALLENGE:  Tag us in your gratitude photos and quotes on Instagram. @mindbodyreboot or Twitter @magenbanwart and we’ll repost em for you and share the love. A great way to start practicing and to develop a new, healthy habit of happy. 

And finally, one of my fave books is an interpretation of the Tao Te Ching  by Wayne Dyer called Change Your Thoughts Change Your Life. And it's really good at helping you to shift your perspective about life's events and ourselves. I've used it in my Yin Yoga classes for years. You're meant to read one short  section each day so it's easy. Not a reader? Try watching this video or get the audiobook and play it or another inspirational book in the background as you do your busy work or simple tasks. It will help you keep your mind in a happier place. 

Practice every day in little ways starting first thing in the mornin' tellin'  yourself what you appreciate about yourself, your life and those you love. Then repeat, write it down. Challenge that monkey mind and the negative Nelly's in your world and stay vigilant for looking for what's right. Share with anyone who will listen. Give compliments, do good deeds without expectation. Life is so very, very good and "all you have to remember is how fortunate you are." -Sri Sri
3 Comments

 Fave Fitness Finds from 2013 That I'm Takin' Into the New Year

1/1/2014

1 Comment

 
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You asked, so I’m sharin’ my fave finds for meltin’ off the excess fat & stress from 2013. 
Many of my best tricks and tools are in this list which is why they’re all in my 2014 Mind Body RE BOOT programs.

FOOD/DIET​
1.  Try Intermittent Fasting​:  NOT NEW but finally becoming mainstream. It’s simple, it works! Combine with HIIT for a winning combo.

 2.  Eat Fermented Foods​ (1/4 cup w each meal) or easier, take 2 TBS Apple Cider Vinegar before every meal​:  No it’s NOT a new concept either, but I started using it daily in 2013- so do my clients and it works! 

3.  Read Grain Brain:  My new bible. Written David Perlmutter, a neurologist, it's an easy read. Made #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list because of the life changing information it contains.  I’ve been recommending Dr. Perlmutter's advice in my RE BOOT food protocol for years, but sometimes reading the research and recco's from an  MD is much more compelling.


WORKOUT
4.  High Intensity Interval Training/HIIT​:  3x a week, short & sweet, just 7 x 30-second intervals and within 25 minutes you’re done. Not a new concept but the recent research is definitive and it’s now an integral part of my personal and RE BOOT exercise protocols.

 5.  Workout ​Tunes:  Because you need great music to get you through the intervals:)  See my “MB Move & Melt Faves” Spotify Playlist under my username magenbanwart.


STRESS MANAGEMENT/WAYS TO EASE MIND AND BODY
6.  Tapping/EFT:  Looks weird but easy to do and it works. 

  INSPIRATION
7.  My Fave You Tube Ted Talks and other, inspirational speeches:  I like to turn one of these on when I’m , filing, makin’ lunch or sittin’ in my Yin stretches.  Listen to while getting ready in the mornin’ to silence the monkey mind and motivate you to be great all day!  Watch HERE. 

 


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Fave New Ways to Burn Fat + Have Optimal Health by Exercising LESS & Changing the TIME You Eat!

10/30/2013

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As a fitness professional living in NYC for the past 20 years and working with the city’s busiest, time-crunched professionals, full time parents and often those juggling both career and family, you can imagine how happy I am that a brilliant scientist from the University of Copenhagen decided to do a little study1  that proved you could not only get the same, but better results by working out less time at a higher intensity-practicing High Intensity Interval Training.   So if you want to take your fat loss and overall fitness to the next level—and spend less time in the gym—then high intensity interval training (also known as HIIT) might be for you. 

Note, I didn’t say it would be easier, just that it would take less time. :)  So before giving you all the details, it’s key to know that because the HIIT approach to cardio exercise is very physically demanding, it isn’t for everyone.   If you have any cardiovascular problems or other health concerns that limit your ability to exercise at very intense levels, HIIT may not be for you—at least for now.   If in doubt about whether it's safe for you, check in with your medical professional before trying HIIT.
 
WHAT IS HIGH INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING (HIIT)?  
HIIT is an enhanced form of interval training, an exercise strategy, alternating periods of short intervals of maximum* intensity  anaerobic exercise  with longer intervals of low to moderate** intensity recovery periods.  

For example:
  • Warm up for three to five minutes
  • Then sprint as hard as you can for 30 seconds
  • Then recover  for 90 seconds
...and repeat

 The key is that your recovery period needs to be three times (3x) longer than your sprint period. The goal is to work yourself up to 8 intervals over time. Because it involves briefly pushing yourself beyond the upper end of your aerobic exercise zone, it offers you several advantages that traditional steady-state exercise (when your heart rate remains within your aerobic zone) can’t provide.

*Maximum intensity = a 9 or 10 on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being an all out  runnin’ for your life sprint. 
**Low to moderate = a 3 to 5 on the same scale. 

 Scroll to end of blog if you want to cut to the chase and get my recos, sample HIIT workouts and Intermittent Fasting Schedules!

THE STUDIES & BENEFITS OF HIIT
By Dr. Mercola

"Compelling and ever-mounting research shows that the ideal form of exercise is short bursts of high intensity exercise.

Not only does it beat conventional cardio as the most effective and efficient form of exercise, it also provides health benefits you simply cannot get from regular aerobics, such as a tremendous boost in human growth hormone (HGH), aka the “fitness hormone.”

One study published in the Journal of Obesity2 reported that 12 weeks of HIIT not only can result in significant reductions in total abdominal, trunk, and visceral fat, but also can give you significant increases in fat-free mass and aerobic power.

Other research published in the journal Cell Metabolism3 showed that when healthy but inactive people exercise intensely, even if the exercise is brief, it produces an immediate measurable change in their DNA.  To read more, click HERE. "


NET NET OF HIIT
By Fitness and Behavior Expert Dean Anderson

  • HIIT trains and conditions both your anaerobic and aerobic energy systems.  
  • HIIT increases the amount of calories you burn during your exercise session  
  • HIIT causes metabolic adaptations that enable you to use more fat as fuel under a variety of conditions. This will improve your athletic endurance as well as your fat-burning potential.
  • HIIT appears to limit muscle loss that can occur with weight loss, in comparison to traditional steady-state cardio exercise of longer duration.


INTERMITTENT FASTING & HOW IT RAMPS THE FAT BURNING:
By Dr. Mercola

“Is it a good idea to “starve” yourself just a little bit each day, or a couple of days a week? Mounting evidence indicates that yes, intermittent fasting (IF) could have a very beneficial impact on your health and longevity.

I believe it’s one of the most powerful interventions out there if you’re struggling with your weight and related health issues. One of the primary reasons for this is because it helps shift your body from burning sugar/carbs to burning fat as its primary fuel.

As discussed in the featured article,1 intermittent fasting is not about binge eating followed by starvation, or any other extreme form of dieting. Rather what we’re talking about here involves timing your meals to allow for regular periods of fasting.

I prefer daily intermittent fasting, but you could also fast a couple of days a week if you prefer, or every other day. There are many different variations.

To be effective, in the case of daily intermittent fasting, the length of your fast must be at least 16 hours. This means eating only between the hours of 11am until 7pm, as an example. Essentially, this equates to simply skipping breakfast, and making lunch your first meal of the day instead.” To read more, click HERE 


BENEFITS OF COMBINING HIIT AND INTERMITTENT FASTING:  

Several books published in the last couple years prove that working out in a fasted state (before your first meal of the day) shifts your body into an maximized fat-burning zone by  protecting your active muscle tissue and activating your sympathetic nervous system, responsive to both exertion and the absence of food. The Intermittent Fasting method is most effective and beneficial when a foundation of healthy eating (such as the Mind Body RE BOOT eating protocol) is already in place.  


NET NET OF HIIT & IF:  

HIIT and IF are the ultimate power couple when it comes to disposing of adipose tissue. To read more about this duo by Dr. Mercola click HERE  


MY RECOS-HOW TO INCORPORATE HIIT AND INTERMITTENT FASTING: 


1.  
First and above all, eat a healthy balanced diet: lean, clean proteins, lots of green non- starchy veggies and juices. Avoid all processed and fried foods and the most common allergens or food triggers: dairy, gluten, sugar. 
Have your largest meal at lunch and eat a healthy, light dinner as early in the evening as possible. For example 4 ounces of low mercury fish or other clean protein and lots of non-starchy veggies. 

2.  
Incorporate Intermittent Fasting as many days a week as you can. See my sample day HERE. 

3. Do 3 x 20-25 minute HIIT workouts per week, in the morning, optimally 30 minutes before breaking your fast.  See my sample HIIT workout HERE. Yes your fave Soul Cycle, Flywheel Sports and other high intensity group fitness classes or personal training workouts count as long as they incorporate at least 7 “sprints” followed by recovery periods. 

Remember to round out your exercise program with three, strong core workouts like my PATY’s and three good stretch or Yin Yoga  sessions each week

I recommend that because of the intensity of the workout that you do it no more than three times a week and best with at least one day in between each. Supplement your HIITS with at least three core workouts a week.


1. M. Rosenkilde, P. L. Auerbach, M. H. Reichkendler, T. Ploug, B. M. Stallknecht, A. Sjodin. Body fat loss and compensatory mechanisms in response to different doses of aerobic exercise – a randomized controlled trial in overweight sedentary males. AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 2012


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FAVE WAYS TO GET THE HEALTHIEST GREEN LOVE IN YOUR LIFE

10/7/2013

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Organic Avenue (my favorite juice vendor) calls me the "Juice Fairy" and in a lot of ways I am, but I'm more of a juice zealot.  For over 25 years I've been juicing veggies and preachin' the benefits of drinking greens to anyone who will listen and I'm still tweakin' recipes and discoverin' new stuff every day about the best ways to get my greens. Two green juices or smoothies are an essential part of my daily routine and my Optimal Mind Body food plan. They give me energy, loads of essential nutrients I might not otherwise get from my salads,  help curb my cravings for processed food,  enhance my digestion and I actually think they make me a better person or at least a nicer person to be around. My saying is "two juices a day keep the doctor, the need to diet and the depression away." 

Thanks to friends and juice pioneers like Doug Evans, Jill Pettijohn and Joe Cross, this country's in the midst of a juice revolution. Now we can find (or have delivered to our door) fresh green organic juices in more places than imaginable-even at Starbucks. 

Unfortunately most (more than half) of the juices or smoothies you'll find in stores or that we make are surprisingly high in sugar.   While the sugar found in fruit is not bad, too much sugar, even fructose, the sugar found in fruit, raises your insulin levels and leave us wanting and needing more sugar to feel better and more energized. Ultimately too much sugar also leads to insulin resistance which can lead to a whole host of health problems, including diabetes. 

To keep calories, body fat, sugar cravings and inflammation at bay, as a standard recommendation, just as some of my fave functional medicine doctors like Dr. Mercola, I strongly advise keeping your TOTAL fructose consumption below 25 grams per day.   A small apple has 15 grams of sugar, a big apple, 23 grams and there are a whopping 47.8 grams in one cup of blueberries.   See below for more info on highest and lowest glycemic fruits. 

This is why when it comes to drinking green juices, I suggest 80% green veggies: kale, chard, cucumber, celery, cilantro, parsley, etc. and only 20% low glycemic fruit: 1/2 avocado, as much ginger & lemon as you like and only 1/2 an apple or pear. And if you buy a juice, 12 grams of sugar or less per bottle, not per serving.
 
 To help you decide whether to make or buy your green juices and smoothies, I've answered some of the FAQ's about the benefits of drinking your greens, the differences between pressed and other juices, the pros and cons of juicing versus blending, blender recos, etc. in a previous blog post.   

HERE ARE MY FAVE WAYS TO GET THE HEALTHIEST LIQUID GREENS IN YOUR LIFE:

1. BUY THEM:

ORGANIC AVENUE
Mellow Love :  6 grams of sugar
 
THE SQUEEZE: 
Stand and Deliver:  4 grams of sugar.  

JUICE PRESS: 
Simple Green:  8 grams of sugar.

STARBUCKS: 
Essential Green:  12 grams of sugar.

Unfortunately, I could not find a low in sugar green juice at Whole Foods.  I tried Suja, it was great but it had 20 grams of sugar. For juices higher than 8 grams of sugar (per juice), my suggestion is to drink 1/2 in AM & 1/2 in afternoon, to avoid a sugar rush or pour half in a water bottle and fill both with water OR get a Multigreen Kombucha  which is delicious, low in sugar AND good for your digestion/gut health. Swap one green juice out for one Kombucha and do 1 of each per day if you get bored with just green juices. 

The Whole Foods and Starbucks juices are bottled with a special process that allows for a longer shelf life-up to two weeks! So if spoilage is your concern, choose these: 

Reach for the juice furthest back on the shelf. Those are usually the freshest. Look at the expiration date. Organic Avenue says that you can wait 1-2 days after the expiration max although to maintain the best quality, consume by the expiration before or on the expiration date.

For a great NYC Juice Roadmap check out this awesome blog by Well and Good.   

2.  MAKE YOUR OWN JUICES OR SMOOTHIES


 It really doesn't take more than five minutes to make a delicious juice or smoothie, if you have everything you need. I'm partial to my MB Green Smoothie because all you need is a blender, it's yummy, it has avocado and fills me up.   

TIPS:  Keep organic frozen veggies stocked in your freezer for your juices. All Whole Foods have organic frozen kale, spinach and lots of other frozen yums, you can keep on hand to reduce the amount of waste that comes from unused fresh veggies.

3. STIR THEM INTO YOUR WATER:

I use Innate Green Powder from Mountain Health Products for when I'm traveling to a 3rd world country or other places, where it's hard to find organic green veggies. I also use it to supplement my juices back home.

IF YOU WANT TO DO YOUR OWN JUICE CLEANSE CLICK HERE FOR MY FAVE MB CLEANSE SCHEDULE.  You can use an combination of store bought or homemade green juices or smoothies. But I recommend you add a vegan protein shake and a salad or soup as well. 

Need more guidance, want someone to customize and guide you through your own juice cleanse or just don't want to go it alone? Schedule an appointment for a consultation.

  XOXO MB
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Magen's Favorite Healthy Must Have for Your Travel Bag

7/25/2013

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Hello Friends! Back from my teachin’ in Tokyo, time in Montauk and even Topeka.  I’m now in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains standup paddleboardin’ and chillin’ with my Dad. Next week I’ll be back in NYC and the Hamptons and teaching: Soho Summer Class Series, 21 Day RE BOOT! and SUP, SIP N’ STRETCH.  


After my trip halfway around the world I wanted to share some of my travel-well faves and answer a question I get asked all the time: What do you pack to snack? So here are my current top five gluten-free, dairy-free, low-sugar must haves to keep in your bag to keep you sated. All but the Kind bar can be purchased from Organic Avenue. 


1.  Crunchy/Salty
The Squeeze Chocolate Raw Granola
Cacao Gogi Superfood Power Snack- Cut each piece into 4 smaller pieces and mix with sprouted almonds, walnuts and Organic Avenue own spicy pumpkin seeds for an uber healthy DIY trail mix


2.   Sweet n’ Savory
Bars: 22 Days Daily Mocha Mantra OR Dark Chocolate Nuts and Sea Salt Kind Bar-Only 5 grams of sugar! Cut them up into pieces and just eat a small piece at a time. Go Raw Chocolate or Pumpkin Pie Super Cookies


3. For energy  
Perfect Fuel Chocolate-Dark Chocolate with Ginseng- Avoid getting too big of a rush by taking little bites when you need it as opposed to eating the entire thing. Only 3 grams of sugar for the entire piece. I have one in my bag at all times. Better than coffee! 



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