Category / Healthy Weight

Tips for a healthy lifestyle to assist in with maintaining or attaining a healthy weight. Drug free, toxin free, and craving free. Contact us for your consultation to get started living life on the lead lap and having the energy to finish STRONG!

by tessbrennan

Boost that Metabolism!

Wanting to boost that metabolism? 

Need metabolism boost.

Here is an article that I found that has some good tips.

5 Tips to Speed your metabolism

In addition, I would like to add that my sources say:

  • Your first 16 ounces of water should be consumed first thing in the morning, and should be room temperature. 
  • Always pick a protein before/with a carb.  This prevents the blood sugar from spiking and quickly dropping – prevents cravings of more carbs 2 hours later.
  • If you choose to use a Calcium supplement to up your calcium, look for one with a guarantee and that is lead free. (literally)
  • Many Fish Oil supplements have been shown to contain heavy metals. Choose a supplier with a reputable reputation.
  • Soda pop depletes the calcium stores in your body, if you are looking to boost your metabolism by adding calcium, perhaps cutting back on ALL the Soda could help double the impact.

Have a Great Day!  Contact me when you are ready to Feel Good Fast and we will help you get on track.

by tessbrennan

Want to get healthy, not sure where to start.

When I started trying to get healthier, I wasn’t sure where to start. I tried diets of all types and yo-yo’d for years, but without a road map of where I was going, it was a futile attempt.  Lose weight, pack it back on plus some more.

Today, I want to share some resources that could help.

1. Decide WHY you want to get healthier, why EXACTLY and WRITE
IT DOWN!

2. Journal what you eat and drink, EVERYTHING, for a week.

a. Keep a written journal of everything you put in your mouth.

b. Use an app like http://myfitnesspal.com I really like this one to use on my phone AND my laptop… whichever I choose. (I also use the Shaklee 180 app that comes with my maintenance program.)

c. The average American over-consumes 300 calories a day. It isn’t
until we begin to pay very close attention to what we consume that
we realize where our challenges lie. (Many times this is from Drinks) This does NOT mean to substitute with “sugar free” options. Artificial sweeteners add a whole new set of problems.

3. Begin to move – the options here are limitless.

a.  I did it with walking, lots of walking. Park and walk the whole
outdoor mall, walk around the block, walk a 5K event, walk if
you haven’t “moved” with purpose in ages, simply begin small
walk to the mailbox and back, do it twice if you can.

b.  Join a gym, a lot of my friends have done this, I prefer to spend
my dollars elsewhere.

c.  Hire a personal trainer.  Get specific advice that works for YOU.

d.  Pick a cause & work toward an event. (I have done 60 mile walks)

4. Choose healthier options that taste GREAT!

a.  Knock out all artificial sweeteners, colors, & flavors.

b.  Look for new recipes, or do what I do, make healthier substitutions
for some of the ingredients.

c. Pick 1 thing and do it till you’ve got it down, then pick something
else to master.

IMG-20111030-00286
Starting line for day 3 of the 2011 Tampa 3-day, 60-mile walk for Breast Cancer.

For more suggestions or a personal consultation to get you started on your own, personal map for improved health, contact me.

by tessbrennan

Science mimics life–children with degenerative diseases.

I’m amazed and somewhat disheartened at the large number of children we see these days with degenerative diseases that, in days gone by, were only diseases of the aged.

Why the change? The change, I believe, is very multi-faceted.  I will attach some videos that explain a bit why I feel this way.

  1. Our Dietary choices – it is becoming common knowledge that the Standard American Diet (sad) is grossly lacking in nutrition and the sustenance our bodies need to continue building healthy cells and thus healthy bodies & babies.  An example of a study that showed very similar results in test animals was Pottinger’s Cats:
    Dr. Price & Pottenger’s Cats (6 minutes 46 seconds)

    This site also offers some excellent insight to what these studies and research mean to each of us.

  2. Our Body Care choices – In an effort to be the best looking, the youngest looking, the tannest, have the smoothest, most-manageable hair, yet we – many times – don’t take the time to stop and read ingredients and believe that because they are sold over the counter they must be safe.  However the industry regulates itself and writes its own rules… and if you use an average of 8 products a day under the “allowable toxic limit” of 1, say .80 then after you slather on your 8 products, you are now at a potential of 6.4x above the “safe level”.
    The Story of Cosmetics (8 minutes 18 seconds)

     

  3. The Cleaning Products we choose – We bring products into our homes that are advertised to “kill germs” to “clean without work” and such sound great in the advertising but can actually harm our families.  We bring in neurotoxins and other poisons with the intention of protecting our children.

    Toxic Brew Part one (9 minutes 23 seconds)

  4. Unclean/un-pure water – Finally, we no longer drink fresh, clean water.  We drink water from bottles that can leach toxins into the water when the bottles are transported and allowed to reach hot temperatures, our tap water contains Flouride and we aren’t given a choice in the matter. Antibiotics, hormones, and pharmaceuticals & chlorine are showing up in our tap water.  Fresh water is becoming more difficult to come by.

What do we do?

We stay calm, focus on each issue one at a time, and make a conscious choice to pay attention to prevention and protect our families, our children, our grandchildren and the other future generations.  We’ve voted to make the popular products available with our dollars for years.

As we begin redirecting our spending to healthier choices, 1 choice at a time we begin to see a difference in our own household, then those of our friends, and eventually our world.

The change begins with me.

For more information on ways to begin redirecting toward healthier choices or for a personal consultation and road map for you and your household, contact me.

Make it a GREAT day!

 

by tessbrennan

Bigger isn’t always better, or is it?

I wasn’t sure about raising this topic, it’s a bit touchy, then my friend told me to go for it, so here it is! In a story run by MSNBC today it was stated that “Penis Size Does Matter” 

So, why the title? Well that comes from Dr. Oz.

“And, losing weight improves the sex lives of men in another way. "If you lose 35 pounds, if you’re a male, you are gaining one inch of penis length," he says. Often when a man is carrying a lot of extra weight, Dr. Oz says a fat bundle builds up and starts to surround the shaft. As a man drops the weight, that fat starts to recede.”

(I do want to clarify that by losing 35 pounds he means 35 pounds of extra weight not by losing 35 of your 70 pound body, sorry.)

I’m not saying that the size of a man’s penis makes a difference one way or another, I am not a scientist. 

obese

What I am saying is if this: If losing 10-100 pounds or more could help you in any way, I am here to assist you, coach and support you. I’ve lost over 55 pounds and kept it off for over 5 1/2 years and I have a host of colleagues that are here to work with us as you dive into your goal.

Contact me for a consultation to see what would be the best plan of action to get you back on the road to better health, and maybe better… Smile

by tessbrennan

Finding Healthy Snacks

Hungry

I saw some really good advice the other day.  When someone offers you something not included in your diet, instead of saying I can’t have that, answer them with I don’t eat that.  (for my daughter that is corn products, for me that includes foods laden with tons or refined sugars)

The difference in those two words is immense. Can’t implies you are not allowed, you are prohibited, it is against the rules.  Don’t implies it is my choice and desire to nurture myself with this decision.  A simple, yet profound difference.

So, once you decide you don’t want something as a snack, what are some healthy choices that will not knock you off your lead lap to regaining/maintaining the health you desire. 

Please enjoy this list of “free” produce snack ideas.  I gathered this information from the book, Why Do I Feel This Way? – Understanding Your Body…Discover Your Solutions ~Gaber, RHN & Day, RDC.  These colleagues of mine have spent a lifetime using nutrition to maintain and regain health.

If you would like more information on healthy snack options, contact me.

by tessbrennan

Am I Clouding up for a Health Storm?

I CAN create you own health, whether I realize it or not, and whether I want to or not. 

Whether or not it can be freely expressed depends upon the strength and vitality of your tissue cells—and the strength and vitality of those cells depends upon the nutritional substances I provide.

Cloudy Health

If I don’t provide the proper building materials, how can I expect my body to build quality cells.  If I don’t have quality cells, how can my body hold up to all the stresses I place on it? My diet, my supplements, and the products I surround my body and home in can either support health or detract from it. 

When I, personally, begin Clouding up, my first thought to myself is, “What’s missing? What can I do to assist my body in repairing this issue?”

For this reason, I try to make more conscious choices in the things that surround me, the things I slather on me, and the things I eat.  It does make a difference.

I am a living example of my own choices.

by tessbrennan

Attention to Prevention–Water and other Drinks

The beginning of a healthy lifestyle does NOT begin with a prescription or something man has invented… it begins with the simple, life-giving, pure water.

I talk a lot about water, but it is so important in our day to day lives let alone in our attempts to avoid the major degenerative diseases. It’s the starting point when beginning a weight loss program, or a lifestyle change toward better health!

Our daily goal should be to drink the appropriate amount of water.

(Your weight in pounds/2 = your daily goal in ounces of water)

Life giving Water

The goal of drinking fluids is to hydrate your body. (not dehydrate)

Water Does many, many things for our bodies.  It flushes toxins our bodies, assists with digestion and metabolism, keeps our kidneys healthy, and even enhances brain function.  Amazing cool clean water.

When choosing what to drink, here’s a helpful chart.

Hydrating (in order of value)               Dehydrating

Purified Water

 Coffee
Tap Water Caffeinated tea
Bottled Water Beer
Juice –fresh-squeezed better Wine
Herbal teas, non-caffeine All other alcoholic drinks
Milk & non-milk(soy,rice,almond) Carbonated soda w/ caffeine
Carbonated soda w/o caffeine  

(information from Treasures of Health Nutrition Manual by, Reeder & Dr. Couey)

For more information on ways water could assist you in improving your health, please contact me.

by tessbrennan

Sadness is NOT Hunger

My Grandmother is 95. She’s led a full life of serving others, making memories, and loving all of us.  Her body and mind are beginning to fail her, rapidly. She needs constant care and assistance and I am 1700 miles away.

IMG-20120903-01844IMG-20120903-01846

Grandma’s 80th Birthday party.                       Grandma snuggling in 1975.

My tendency is to take charge of a situation & handle it. I am not in a position to do that with my Grammy this time. Distance is the challenge. Emotions are seemingly overwhelming but my need to reach for comfort food, finally, is not.

I am comforted in the acceptance that it hurts, that she may be gone very soon, and that she knows I lover her and she loves me. Instead of needing a grilled cheese to cope today I allowed myself to feel the grief and found comfort in a hug from my husband and some sunshine.

The results of my acceptance allow me to enjoy my desire for a healthier lifestyle and the knowledge that I am capable of feeling the emotions without the harmful choices to cope.

Today I will celebrate my small victory over “sadness not hunger” and reminisce on the many amazing memories of my Grammy and thank God for the chance to talk to this confused, precious woman.

I will strive to maintain my health and quality of life so MY grandchildren may have as many memories of a vibrant, grandma able to care for, love, and participate in their lives.

by tessbrennan

7 Tips to Healthy Weight Loss and Attaining Your Health Goals.

No matter what system you choose to use, there are 7 tips to attaining your health/weight loss goals.  They sound easy, they are easy, however, the trick is in maintaining all 7 tips at the same time for an extended period of time.

It can be done. I’ve done it, my friends have done it, and others are doing it too.

The tips I will mention here will be specific to the Shaklee180 Turnaround Plan, but are basically the same for other balanced systems.

7 Steps to Weight Loss

  1. Know your why. (Here are some examples from my clients.)
    — To fit on the roller coaster with my kids
    — To get healthy so I can play with/coach my kids in sports
    — To eliminate my type 2 diabetes
    — To get my “sexy” back
  2. Make a PUBLIC commitment. (When others support you, the challenge is easier to maintain.)
    — Tell your family
    — Tell your friends
    — Tell your co-workers
    — If you tell a friend & they don’t support/back you – FIND A NEW FRIEND!
  3. Get an accountability partner. (Its always fun to work with someone along side you.)
    — Someone to join you in the journey
    — Someone who also wants to improve their health/get sexy back
  4. Exercise 30 minutes each day. (The more you exercise, the more you can eat!)
    — Walk briskly
    — Train for a 5K or other event
    — Find a Yoga class
    — Find a High Intensity Interval Training Program (HIIT)
  5. Follow the plan as it is DESIGNED. (Shaklee180 Turnaround is designed to be complete and work as a system.)
    — Science backs the program
    — It is proven to work – when you work it
    — Complete nutrition is a must – the system provides it
  6. Keep a food journal. (Many times my clients find they eat more than they thought in a day.)
    — Everything you eat AND drink
    — Trouble shooting is easier when we know where to begin
    — Many times we find the lips are very busy during the day
  7. Don’t get complacent. Don’t Give up. Don’t be mean. (Attitude makes a difference.)
    — Set the goal – reach for the goal
    — If you have a set back, move on from there
    — Don’t beat yourself up for mistakes you make

For additional information on the Shaklee180 Turnaround or how we can work with you and coach you to reach your goals for your why, contact me.

 

by tessbrennan

Ignorance is NOT bliss when Nutrition is considered.

Nature's Court

Nutrition is how we feed our cells.  If we feed our cells crap, they don’t have much to make quality new cells.  When we provide a balanced diet of whole foods and quality supplements, then quality cells are built and our health is better.  We are then better able to fight off illnesses or degenerative diseases.

For more information on how you can come out of the dark and begin working toward better health, contact me.