Today’s Health Tip

Holiday Gifts - Safe Beauty

If you have special someone on your list who loves beauty but is also wellness focused may I suggest Beauty Counter.

Their entire product line is SAFE.  Did you know that the average woman uses 168 chemicals on her body every day....but if you use Beauty Counter you will get none of those.

There are plenty of products for women and a whole line for men called Counter Man.  They even have safe products for babies.

Check them out www.beautycounter.com 

Holiday Gifts: Vital Proteins Collagen Peptide

It's my daily ritual.  I put a scoop or two in my morning coffee.  

Great for skin, hair and nails and also for joints.

It's probably been my ritual for the last 2 years and I even travel with a small container of these peptides.

If there is someone in your life who likes nutritional supplements and fancies themselves knowledgeable about wellness chances are this will be an awesome gift for them!

http://www.vitalproteins.com

 

Holiday Gifts: A massage gun

Percussive therapy is all the rage in fitness recovery.

A small wireless handheld device with a knob that rapidly pulsates to deliver targeted force to sore muscles.

Prices range from $100-$500 (I have a cheap one that works beautifully) and are available on Amazon.com

I just typed in Theragun (a popular brand) and had very many to choose from.

Great gift for that special person in your life that loves to workout and is often sore.

 

Reminder: You can say no!

Just a gentle reminder that this is the time of year that you can say no to the things that don't serve you.  We spend so much time and energy pleasing others and saying yes when we really feel the answer is a no.

Please be kind to yourself this time of year when we are pulled in so many directions.

Put yourself first to stay on track.  Make sure to keep eating healthy and get in your movement.  Make your physical and mental health a priority!

Make a Thanksgiving Dinner plan

Does your Thanksgiving start with a cocktail and end in a turkey coma?

Perhaps you travel to a relatives house who cooks unhealthy foods and you feel trapped?

Plan ahead!  You can bring a vegetable crudite with a yogurt based dip.  You can make a bring a big green salad.  You can bring a case of sparkling water to drink or add to wine for a spritzer.

Make a plan for less holiday stress

Time to make a plan.  You know I am a planner.

Making lists is my game.  It's time to make a list of all you need to get done and set aside time - really, put it in your calendar.

Whether it is baking, or cooking, or decorating or shopping - put it on the calendar to make sure it gets done.

Set expectations with your loved ones in terms of the work load the holidays bring.

Plan now so you can enjoy later.

Holidays are for giving and for forgiving

Something to think about: the holidays are a time for giving but also a time for forgiving.

Set aside differences as best you can.  People don't change but we can control the way we react.

The holidays are not a time to get things off your chest or bring up past issues.

Also, be forgiving of yourself when you get upset or frustrated.

Leave your grievances at the door when you see your family.

Open your heart and aim to come from a place of compassion.

Remember you can remove yourself from a situation and take a time out if needed.

Less Holiday Stress

All week we are talking about holiday stress and how to handle that.  We need to be pre-emptive if the holidays have been hard for us in the past.

Putting our mental health first is super important.  It's hard to try to feel happy during these merry celebrations when we are sad or stressed.

Remember it's ok to say no if you aren't up for it.

Seek out community whether it be religion or a self help group if needed.

Circumstances change and what our holiday celebrations look like change.

Remember you can always reach out to a professional. Call a hotline or a friend.  Talk to a spiritual adviser.

You are not alone, please don't isolate.

Skip the bag and the box

Listen in today for making better choices.

We shop the perimeter of the grocery store for our best choices.

When you need a snack please reach for something in the fridge.  When we reach for things in bags and boxes we are taking in chemicals like preservative and flavor enhancers - not our best choices.

Just a thought for making better choices.

Remember our motto here: Simple Changes, Better Choices....every day!

Time to Veg Out!

Boy it went from fall to winter with the flip of a switch and though I am a warm weather gal I do like my winter comfort foods.

Roasted vegetables are my very favorite.

Listen in today as I talk about the best way to roast brussels sprouts which you should try if you don't think you like brussels sprouts because when you roast them and char them they take on a crispy, salty potato chip like goodness.

Butternut squash roasted an blended with ginger and garlic and coconut milk is my favorite soup and so easy to make.

Love a good roasted sweet potato as a side for some roasted chicken.

Winter is a great time to roast and braise and stew my meats (and can cook my vegetables at the same time!)

And if you have never made crispy kale chips this is your season.

I love www.yummly.com and use the app on my phone all the time to look up and save recipes so check that out if you are in need of some inspiration.

 

 

On taking more photos and videos; TimeHop

One of my very favorite iPhone apps is called TimeHop.

I love it and see it as part of my gratitude practice.  Here's why...looking back over the years it reminds me of how blessed I am.  We rarely take photos or videos of bad or troubling times and most often when we are happy and celebrating something.

TimeHop pulls photos and videos from this day a year ago, two years ago, 8 years ago from my Instagram/Facebook accounts and from my camera roll.  The photos always bring a smile to my face when I see photos of my children when they were little, parties we've been to and special celebrations.

So today a few reminders: take more photos and especially videos which captures voices and faces and reactions.  These are the best to look back on.  Download the TimeHop app and make it a part of your morning gratitude practice.  Share this with others so they can do the same.

 

10,000 Steps

Are you getting in your 10,000 steps a day?

You can track your steps with a FitBit, an Apple Watch or an Oura Ring (all great choices) to make sure you are moving enough but it can be tough if you are working a desk job.

Here are a few easy ways to get in more steps:

1. Take the stairs.  It will get your heart pumping and the major muscles of your legs and butt and quick workout.

2. While running errands park far from the front door of the store.  Those extra steps to and fro really add up!

3. Pace while on phone calls whether at work or at home.  I always find myself thinking better when I am on my feet and moving.

Get moving!

What's your hydration situation?

Today - make sure to amply hydrate.  Remember best to use a glass or stainless steel water bottle.  Know how much water it holds.  Shoot for at least 60 ounces of fresh, filtered water.  More if you are super active or living in a hot environment.  Flush your body from all the toxins we take in daily.  Feel mentally fresher.  

Are you doing this MORE MOVEMENT thing with me?

Hey, are you joining me for the one month movement challenge?

Every day this month we make just 10 minutes for some movement.  A few yoga poses, a brisk walk, active stretching...whatever you like, just move for 10 minutes a day.  See how it makes your body feel.

PS. If you wake up stiff in the mornings you might want to consider your exercise right out of bed is a little walking and some stretching to get your blood moving and your body loose.  If you get sleepy after lunch it might be a great time for a quick break to get some fresh air and some outdoor movement.

It doesn't have to be hard and you shouldn't have to plan it into your day or overthink it...

Let's get moving.

Why Doctors don't make you healthy

A short rant powered by an instagram post ( www.instagram.com/theguudcompany ) about taking responsibility for the doing our own work.

Listen in - it's a guud one!

Ugh, I've got a cold...

I've come down with a cold...now what?

First I like to take it easy.  I'm usually tired and cranky when I don't feel well so the first thing I do is try to take things off my calendar that are not super important.  Rest is key.

I'll up my hydration and lessen my caffeine intake. I'll eat very lightly or do some fasting if that feels appropriate.  I will start taking herbs: blends that contain immuno-stimulators like Echinacea along with Turmeric for inflammation and Ginger and Cayenne to warm me.

Vitamins C, D and the mineral Zinc are all needed more when your body is in fight mode.

I will make time for gentle movement and also some heat therapy whether that is the infrared sauna or a hot epsom salt bath.

And I'll wash my hands super often so I don't spread my germs to others...

Oura Ring Sleep Tracking Device

Not sleeping well and not sure why?

I just purchased the Oura Ring as recommended by Dave Asprey in his new book Super Human.

It tracks the different aspects of your sleep, computes a readiness score for you based on yesterday's activity level, perceived stress, respiratory rate and body temperature....all measured though a bit of technology that surrounds your finger.

It works with both iOS and Android and you'll need to download the app to visualize your data.  It also suggests an activity goal and will let you know when you have reached it.  It charges on it's own charger and seems to do so quickly.  I know it's only 3 days in but I'm hooked.

Being someone who struggles with sleep fairly often I am pleasantly surprised that I seem to be doing well and it's very reassuring.

Do you have an Oura Ring?

Connect with me on Facebook or Instagram www.instagram.com/thguudcompany

www.ouraring.com  Check it out!

 

30 day MORE MOVEMENT MONTH

Will you accept the challenge?

This month I am asking us all to get moving...at least 10 minutes a day for the month of November.

That might look different for you everyday.  A morning jog, 5 yoga poses, push ups and sit ups, planks and wall sits, a lunchtime stroll....I don't care what you do for those 10 minutes, the only rule is that it has to be acknowledged as your exercise for the day.

If you get into it and spend more time moving well, bravo to you, but don't think that an extra 20 minutes today buys you two days off.

EVERY SINGLE DAY this month we are moving.  No excuses and every one of us can find 10 minutes to dedicate to our selves and our bodies.

LET'S DO THIS!

Methylene Blue

In Dave Asprey's book "Super Human" he talks all about living longer, optimizing health and even looking better.

He claims that a simple dye known as Methylene Blue is a skin optimizer and makes a noticeable difference.  Just mix a few drops into your night cream and body lotion.

Page 239 of Super Human

Also, here a link to the article I mentioned about using Methylene internally: http://bit.ly/MethBlueArticle