Tag / Nutrition

by tessbrennan

Tomorrow is 2015 – What is in YOUR Fridge?

In May of last year a reporter came to my home to report “What’s in My Fridge.”  She wanted to know what she would find in a health coach’s refrigerator.  It was an excellent opportunity to evaluate if I was actually LIVING what I teach/coach/preach.

Today, as you are preparing for the NEW YEAR, think about what is in YOUR fridge?

Is your resolution, or goal, for 2015 to become healthier, to lose weight, to improve your health statistics?  If you are setting realistic goals, You NEED to set yourself up for success. If it isn’t in your refrigerator or pantry, you are less likely to eat it.

Tips:

  1. Eliminate Soda and sweet drinks. Ramp down slowly, if you are used to drinking multiple sodas (or the gallon jug per day from the gas station) to keep from having caffeine withdrawal. You can reduce your caffeinated beverage by a cup a day until you have weened yourself off.  I switched to a natural soda for a while until I was ready to cut it out almost entirely.  (Izze)
  2. Switch to whole foods. Eliminate low fat/no fat.  Eliminate artificial sweeteners.  Look to fresh whole foods for high fiber, nutritive choices… apples, strawberries, grapes are sweet…  carrots, celery, and cherry tomatoes are crunchy… a sprinkle of Himalayan sea salt and they are great!
    Stock your Fridge 1 Health Grease Monkey Stock your Fridge 2 Healthy Grease Monkey
  3. Throw out the processed foods. Our media and advertisers have done an exceptional job of making us believe that we can’t do it all and eat too unless they do it for us!  LIE!  Bald faced LIE!  It is just a matter of learning new habits.  I have done it, it is possible, and you will LOVE the difference!  I enjoy showing people ways to create tasty treats and to make sure you have healthy foods, even when time is short!  When you stock up on the Whole Foods, you should immediately eliminate all the processed to make room for the healthier options.
  4. Gluten FREE does NOT equal HEALTHY. Many companies have jumped on the “Gluten Free” band wagon.  I have news for you… Processed food is Processed food whether it has Gluten or NOT.  😉  (Also, Fat free, sugar free, or any other “FREE” does not equal healthy.)
  5. ASK FOR HELP. Not sure where to begin. Ask for help.  JUST ASK.  I enjoy helping others and assisting them in learning to live healthier lives.

You don’t need to make the change all at once!  Even One Change Counts! I have videos to help you learn, blog articles, coaching, classes, and many friends who all work to share the good news. That healthier can be done.

Happy New Year!  Make 2015 HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND PROSPEROUS!

New Year Wishes

by tessbrennan

Training for a pain free 60-mile (Event Nutrition)

My event is ten days away and I am so excited to begin packing.  The pool table has been repurposed to my staging area, my nutrition order has arrived, and I am chomping at the bit to get it all ready.

RIBBONSSteinauers

This blog will cover exactly what I will pack and how I will pack it to keep me going strong, rebuild the muscles as I go and provide my body with its nutritional needs throughout and after the 60-miles.

Healthy Knees2012 WALK HealthyGreaseMonkey.com

This blog IS product heavy, it is what I use and TRUST for myself, my family, friends and clients.

Yes, I am picky.  Recently, there has been so much in the news about tainted and scary stuff out there.  (I will post some additional links at the end of this blog that show more of why I am so picky.)

I choose products from a company I have personally vetted. When my health is at stake, I am picky about what I choose and use.  With that being said… ON WITH THE SHOW.

All three days will have the same products used in the same order and for the same reasons…  Although after I finish on day 3, there will most likely be an extra recovery drink beyond what I have had the previous days.

When walking 20 miles a day, for 3 days, CALORIES ARE NO OBJECT! Well, actually, they are a HUGE object and it is important to consume enough to keep your body going – on the same note, those calories should be PACKED WITH NUTRITION to allow the body to recover quicker and easier.

Breakfast

  • 1 Shaklee 180 Vanilla smoothee with an extra serving of Instant Soy Protein 
  • Orange juice
  • Whole banana
  • Scrambled eggs (Day 2 & 3 provided by the 3-day)
  • Hash browns (Day 2 & 3 provided by the 3-day)
  • Any fruit or veggies offered – I will consume.
  • 2 Energy Chews  (these give me B vitamins and energy)

20121027_06575620121027_074228

Snacks

  • Throughout the day, at pit stops I will pick up whatever whole fruits are available to munch on.
  • I carry Apple Fiber Bars (cause it’s no fun to be backed up when walking a long distance)
  • Water, Water, Water, and Performance rehydration (I’ll go through 4-6 servings of Perfomance per day)
  • Shaklee 180 Protein Snack Bars (I’ll usually eat one before lunch and another after lunch)

20121026_12214620121028_122652

Lunch

  • Stretch, stretch, stretch, put on dry socks!
  • 1 Shaklee 180 Meal Bar (packed with protein, fiber and vitamins & minerals)
  • The turkey & cheese off of the sandwich they provide. (I don’t do the bread, it is too refined and hinders my body’s ability to repair itself.)
  • Any whole fruits or veggies offered
  • 2 more Energy Chews
  • NO SODAS! (The high sugar content, as well as from the breads hinders the body’s immune system and I work very hard to keep it built up during this event)

20121028_124512IMG_4019

Return to camp

  • Physique smoothee, preferrably mixed with OJ and an extra shot of Energizing Soy Protein.
  • 2 VitalMag & 2 OmegaGuard
  • Fresh Fruit

Now, stretch, stretch, drink water, shower, and stretch!

20121027_19031820121026_182738

Dinner

  • At dinner I will usually have a second Physique smoothee as it is made to repair damaged muscle tissue and restore nutrients to my body.
  • I will eat whatever they have with protein (I peel all the skin off if it is fried chicken and ask for minimal noodles if it is spaghetti.
  • I will then take a handful of supplements to prevent inflammation & swelling, and to help my muscles keep from cramping.

Before Bed

  • Stretch, stretch, drink water, stretch, pee
  • Sleep tight knowing you are doing something big to make a difference.

HealthyGreaseMonkey 3-Day Nourishment

Links to information on the products I choose to use and represent:

http://athletes.shaklee.com/us/en/

http://landmarkstudy.com

http://physicians.shaklee.com

Links I promised about tainted nutritional products:

by tessbrennan

Training for a pain free 60-mile (Training Nutrition)

A couple of days ago, I wrote about “not poisoning yourself” when training for and participating in the 3-day, 60-mile event.  This post is a bit of an extension to that.

Immokalee-20110730-00126

If you have a high performance car, you don’t want to feed it crap gas, or you will get crap performance.  Our bodies are the same. Knowing and understanding this fact, should makes fueling our bodies for long distance training walks or the actual event a bit easier.

When I was in high school, I was very active in sports. The swim team would have “carb load” dinners the night before a meet. The purpose of this was to bulk up on the carbs to give our bodies the fuel they needed to kick the other teams booty in the meet, then next day.

While in theory, this was a great idea, the execution wasn’t always the best option.  We would bulk up on highly refined carbs (spaghetti) that, I now know, would bog down our bodies, and be burned off before our meet.  My nutritional choices these days are much different. 

A 10-12 mile training walk at a 3.5-4.25 mph rate will burn right around 1,000 calories.  That’s a ton!  Its important that we feed our body the right fuel for the job.  Here is an example of how I fuel my personal engine before a training walk.

IMG-20110820-00047

During the Week

All week long, I focus on high fiber, whole foods with quality proteins, plant based carbs, and natural fats.  (Nothing artificial – I did eat a couple of gourmet chocolates today.) Here are some of my favorites.

Fresh Produce Healthy Grease Monkey

Morning of my Training Walk

Wake up at 6 AM. All gear was prepared the night before.  Water bladder with 1.5 liters of water & water bottle with Performance are in the fridge waiting to be placed in the camelbak.

I then mix up a Protein smoothee or I grab a meal-in-a-bar, I quickly swallow my morning supplements, eat my 2 Energy Chews & head out the door.

My phone is set to track my walk, provide my sound track, and the game is on. 

As I walk along I sip on water regularly and occasionally take a swig from the Perfomance bottle.

After about an hour of walking, I will stretch some, including my shoulders and arms.  Then, at about 2 hour mark, I will grab a snack bar.  I usually carry 1 of two kinds… Protein Snack Bar or Fiber bars or both.  (Nothing worse than being bound up and bloated while walking a long distance.)

If I am out at the 4 hour mark, I usually grab another snack or meal bar too keep the calories and blood sugar pumping at a steady rate.  I know that personally, I need to refill my 1.5 liters of water at about mile 8 or 9.  (Be SURE you plan to have a pit stop/refill station on your route.)

So I am eating about every 2 hours.

When I return home, the FIRST thing is to STRETCH out.  THEN, as soon as I can, I get my recovery Physique Smoothee mixed and drink it down. Then I shower, put on loose fitting clothes and make breakfast for my family, standing at the stove. Smile  (yes, that’s really how it happens)

Training Nutrition

Sometimes I need a little extra

For those times when I am finished walking and my muscles tighten up more than I expect, or my feet or hips hurt, that tells me I am experiencing some inflammation.  I, personally, combat this with supplements that make all the difference in the world.

  • Omegas– for the inflammation A full days dose all at once
  • Alfalfa – also for inflammation
  • VitalMag – magnesium for cramping muscles (I’ll take a double dose here b/c I know I am deficient if I am cramping)
  • Calcium Magnesium – Again, if I am cramping, I am deficient so I take at least 1000 mg
  • Tons of filtered water.  Keep the fluids pumping
  • I may also do a second Physique 2 hours after my first

After my supplement cocktail, I notice, about 20 minutes later, that the tightness, the stiffness, and any pain subsides.  I also, have a massage therapist who works with me directly to assist me in my training and a chiropractor who keeps me in line. Smile

My personal, bottom line

I don’t discuss other products, that I am not knowledgeable about.  I have found a brand I trust that has NONE of the artificial things, NONE of the doping things (thus many of my friends, who are Olympians, also use them) The products are all low glycemic, gluten free – for those who need it, and only contain nutrition boosting ingredients.

My article here is about what I use, what I have found success with and what has allowed me to enjoy 60-mile walks mostly pain free as opposed to the 60-mile walks before my friend introduced me to them (8 years prior – younger) Smile

I hope this helps you. If you would like any additional information, or would like to join me on a training walk, please contact me.

Have a GREAT Holiday weekend and…. HaPPY WALKING!

Samsung phone 180

by tessbrennan

Making Eating healthier Easier NOT more Difficult.

Bonita Springs-20111124-00427

 

I came across this article today, 10 Secrets to Cooking Healthier .  I thought it was a really good piece and wanted to elaborate on it a bit more.

  1. Use smart fats – We hear it everywhere – EVOO is your best option
  2. Go unrefined (whole grain vs processed) – This is actually one of our biggest sources of “sugars” in our diets.  We need the FIBER not the sugars.
  3. Eat more fruits and veggies – Find ways to sneak these in.  Prepare enough that you can snack for a couple of days on them. Buy them from local growers and they will stay fresh longer and maintain more of the nutrients than those purchased in the supermarket or super store.
  4. Its not all about meat – we’ve begun eating more legumes for our proteins.  The majority of our “meat” is chicken or turkey & fish with an occasional steak night for my “mainstream hubby”.
  5. Choose low-fat dairy – We choose Soy milk or Almond milk over cow’s and limit our dairy intake due to the hormones fed to the grocery store source herds.
  6. Keep portions reasonable – This one is really easy. When we eat a steak, my hubby & 6 year old split the big ole monster rather than eating one each.  when eating out, ask for your to go boxes up front, put half or more of your meal in the container and take your time enjoying the tasty food  you’ve just ordered. Most places now offer steamed veggies like brocolocoloccoli or carrots or green beans.
  7. Use sweeteners judiciously – steer clear of artificial sweeteners, they have side effects, move toward the more natural options and use them much less. (See #9)
  8. Keep an eye on sodium – When you begin making your own foods from whole sources, this becomes much easier since most things we buy in the store ready made are LOADED with the stuff!
  9. Go for flavor – We like adding sliced strawberries & lemon to our water for a tasty treat.  Fruit infused water is one of the special things our 6 year old likes since she can’t have other flavored drinks. (I’ll be adding an article soon on bold flavors with metabolism boosting properties.)
  10. Be Mindful and Enjoy  (healthy can be convenient when we think ahead) When we take the time to really enjoy what we have to eat instead of inhaling it like a vacuum cleaner many positive things happen in our bodies. A favorite book of mine on this topic is Eating with Fierce Kindness.

 

For more information, please feel free to contact me, or stop by our Facebook pages, The Healthy Grease Monkey or Feel Good Fast.

by tessbrennan

I want to Feel Good Fast

A few tips on how to begin to Feel Good Fast.

In today’s society, everyone wants everything FAST! NOW! IMMEDIATELY! LIKE YESTERDAY!

If your goal is to Feel Good Fast there are a few things you can do to begin getting there.  Here are a few tips.

  1. Focus on what is good.  No matter how tiny the detail. Focus on SEEING what is GOOD.  Allow yourself to let the not-so-good pass away.
  2. Think about what you are putting into your mouth before you put it there. 
    • dirty hands – wash them, its cold and flu season
    • junk food – there are better fast food options
    • soda pop – water, herbal teas, even A cup of coffee is better
  3. Think about Moving. Move your body, begin making a conscious decision to take the stairs one floor rather than the elevator.  Park 2 spaces farther from the store. Walk to the mailbox and back TWICE.   Just get moving.  Add a bit more to your daily grind, and make it a pleasant choice – NOT a requirement. 
  4. Invite friends to join you in the journey.
  5. Be patient, you didn’t get to the place you are over night, it takes time to get out of shape and develop degenerative diseases, and time to get that health back.
  6. Ask for help. We are here to support you through:
    • Support Groups
    • Education
    • Personal Consultations
    • Resources

Power of 7

Contact me for additional information on how you, too, can begin to Feel Good Fast

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.