It's the New Year so a lot of us are looking to jumpstart our weight loss journey for the year. One way that many around the world do so is my cleansing. Juice cleanses are cleanses that have grown in popularity in recent years.
I recently decided to purchase a juice cleanse system and my results were amazing!
I decided upon the Blueprint Organic cleansing system, specifically the Foundation Cleanse. I chose this cleanse because I desperately needed detox. Not only did I need to detox my body, I needed to detox my mind, body and soul which led me to the Foundation Cleanse. The Foundation Cleanse is centered around veggie based juices more so than fruit juices. According to their website, this cleanse triggers body digestion and detox that can help with managing weight.
I decided to do a 5 day cleanse which means that I ate no solid foods. I only drank 6 juices a day. I spaced the juices out to a juice every 2-3 hours.
The first day was easy, I believe it was due to my excitement. However, by the second day, things got a little harder. I was determined to stick to the cleanse no matter what because I wanted the results and I'm happy to say that by the 3rd day of the cleanse I no longer had a desire for solid food, instead, I craved the juices. As I stuck to drinking the juice 2-3 hours a part and drinking water, I must say I personally didn't experience much hunger during ANY of the days.
RESULTS
After the cleanse, I lost 8 pounds. My skin also appeared to clear up and I had a surge of energy by the 3rd day of the cleanse as well. By the 4th day, my brain fog was completely lifted and I found myself thinking clearer, feeling more positive and feeling lighter!
If you're looking for a cleanse to jumpstart your weight and to help you mentally, I would suggest this one. You never realize how much your eating is dictated and determined by your emotions until you do a cleanse. This cleanse helped me to become more mindful of that and helped me jumpstart my new healthy journey.
I do however suggest that you do research and speak to your doctor first before you start any type of extreme cleanse like this. I would also suggest that you research all of the cleanses that are on the market and know what you're looking to do to help you decide what brand and type of cleanse you want to do.
Creating a healthy workplace maximizing team happiness and productivity
Graphic designers in a meeting at the office
Those who embrace omens and adhere rules could pursue eternal workplace happiness. As in, it is the uncertainty of success which eventually lead even ‘The Kid’ to the far-side………
The Alchemy of workplace happiness
Rule #1. Draw a line for Rumor ----- of, course. One must.
Rumors tend to have a merger-effect on people. Based on situation, the same rumor can evoke laughter or bring about a molehill out of a molecule. And, moreover, most rumors tend to circle around leaders thus making grievance management a virtue of good leadership. Of, course. One must.
Rule #2. Embrace the odd showmanship
The HR should keep a watch on showmen whose hobby is to self-efface humorous stories. They should interfere if deemed, and differentiate good humor Vs. bad humor based on situations. And, embrace timely and appropriate reaction to humor sense for the cross-cultural Corporates or Office quorum.
Rule #3. Fulfill Self-Actualization Goals
Work satisfaction stems from the fulfillment, or the lack of it, of self-actualization goals. For that, the company HR should build a sizeable team of talent hunters who knows how to track careers. And, tackle professional ego without much personnel discretion.
Rule #4. Make HRM a Zero-Sum Game.
Best of HR makes Human Resource Management a zero-sum game it is being said. Meaning they must meet the economies of staffing and training and development, and form a healthy sync with clients. This would enact both the Company policy w.r.t financials, and an HR’s duty of employee motivation.
Rule #5. Allow seamless communication.
For that, there are many options like having an “Open Door Policy” in place. Empowering team leaders who knows their team inside-out. Providing platforms - Corporate Games - to break the railings in one-on-one discussions. And least of all set a benchmark between expectation and reality, performance and ‘post-truth.’
Rule #6. Provide Entertainment Value
Office ergonomics have influenced even SMEs (Small and Medium Scale Enterprises). And, thus, corporates are forced to invest on tawdry furniture which may add to the employee discomfort. Although, for a healthy workplace one must sacrifice money to simply buy the best branded furniture or suchlike. And, provide a couch for employees to endure long working hours. (Note: Ergonomics mean space and comfort.)
Rule #7. Mend outdated rules and regulations.
If a rule is in-sync with the new-millennials nobody would question its practicality. Here is an outdated rule as prescribed by NRLB - “Employees are not allowed to take unauthorized pictures” it says.
Of, course. The 2016 version of the same rule shall be apostrophe-d “Taking selfies on bathrooms are strictly prohibited.”
If anything happens, this would bring home clarity of thought and keep judgment to within confined limits.
Why Happiness Matters?
We keep hearing outrageous excuses to leaving one’s job to concur dreams. In fact, if you connect those excuses you could see an irony…….
Bottom line is it is the engagement, or the lack of it, which gives a healthy and productive work place from both an Individualistic point of view, and holistic. The takeaway from this blog should be plain and simple. You can maximize team happiness and productivity by limiting rumor (#1) with proper rules and regulations in place (#7) that has a tinge of humor in it (#2). And, by fulfilling self-actualization goals (#3) with tactical HR management (#4). The byproduct of it all would give you some entertainment value at the workplace (#6) it shall be deemed. Welcome Feedbacks. Thank You.
Author- bio: Levin George is a Search Engine Optimizer at OfficeRock.com. He actively pursues interests related to latest internet marketing trends. He spends his leisure time reading, meditating and enjoying the joys of technology.
It's the New Year!!!
Which ultimately means you're hearing around the office, "New Year, New Me", "I'm going on a diet", "I'll be hitting the gym tonight and every night until I get to my goal weight THIS YEAR! "I'm finally going to get out of DEBT" And that's great! But it's actually time to be practical. The New Year is a great time for new beginnings, but we really have to make sure that we stay realistic so that we never fall back into our old habits within a month... Below are a few tips that'll help you stick to your New Year, New You goals...
1. Be Realistic
Be real with yourself. Though it's possible, it's not healthy, nor realistic to lose a LARGE sum of weight within a short period of time. And though it's possible to win $40 million to pay off all your debt, the chances are slim. So be realistic with yourself and don't push yourself to failure by applying too much pressure on yourself.
2. Set short term goals... and stick to them
This is very similar to being realistic. We all have things we really and truly want to work on. So if it's weight, saving money, getting out of debt, or attaining any personal goal, how about set weekly and monthly goals for yourself in quarters. This way you're able to be realistic and feel accomplished. So an example of this would be to break the year down into quarters. That would give you January - March, April-June, July-September, October-December. Within those months, set up monthly goals for you to hit and things you need to do weekly to hit them and watch how amazingly you'll succeed.
3. Reward yourself
Anyone that's taken a psychology class, or lived for more than 2 years knows that positive reinforcement is a great tool to help change and shape behavior. So, with that being said, use your short term goals to reward yourself. But don't reward yourself with FOOD or SHOPPING if you're trying to lose weight or save money! Instead, reward yourself with a spa day, a pedicure, a walk around your favorite park, something worthwhile that won't set you back (remember, tailor this to your goals and end result).
4. Accept setbacks but don't stay there
Face it, you will encounter set backs, whether major or minor. But don't allow your setback to define you or deter you from your goals. You ate a cupcake when it wasn't time for your cheat meal, you couldn't resist a good deal on amazon.com so you bought something, you missed a week at the gym... Well, things happen. Accept it and move forward! You're not a failure until you quit trying, so just try again... You can do it!
5. Believe in Yourself
We've all heard it... Believe in yourself. It sounds so simple, but honestly, it's something that you really have to work at. Believe in yourself and believe that right now you have everything that you need to reach all your goals. Remember that and keep pushing through and before you know it, you'll be celebrating a year fulfillment next year at this time... So do yourself a favorite and believe in yourself and go for everything you want in 2017!
Keep Cortisol in Check with these Natural Supplements
Written by: Sean Tierney, Head Coach Team T-Rex
The main difference between a personal trainer and a contest prep coach is that one trains you in a gym and the other helps to manage every possible aspect of your life that could potentially be playing a role in how your physique ends up looking on competition day. One of the most common factors I routinely assess when working with a client, in addition to training or diet, is stress. In a chronically stressed client, the body is essentially working against you – holding onto bodyfat, limiting lean muscle growth and negatively impacting several other key systems of the body such as digestion. This can be extremely frustrating for any client that seeks to obtain that stage or photo-shoot ready look when they’re otherwise working their butts off in the gym. What’s even more troublesome is that 90% of clients completely overlook the stress-cortisol connection as a factor and just assume that training and diet is supreme. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. I like to say – you’ll never win a battle against hormones. They’re just too powerful and can’t be outworked, no matter who you are. Outsmarted – yes, and I’ll get into that in this article.
Let’s call this part one and get into what’s probably the most simple and basic way to win the fight against chronically elevated cortisol – supplementation. Here is a list of natural supplements that have shown promising results in scientific research when it comes to maintaining normal levels of cortisol and preventing against the negative effects of the ‘c’ word. (Note that some cortisol is actually good and plays key roles in many physiological processes and overall health. It’s when it gets out of control that it becomes a problem.)
Natural Cortisol Support Supplements
Phosphatidylserine (PS)
What is it?
A naturally occurring phospholipid (derived from fat source – typically soy lecithin) that’s been shown to supress the release of cortisol from the adrenal glands when taken after a workout. PS is also considered a nootropic supplement and has demonstrated some impressive cognitive enhancing benefits as well, including preventing short term memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Dose?
600-800 mg daily split over two doses typically taken in the post-workout period or after intense activity.
Coach Notes
Not the cheapest cortisol support supplement, but on my own trials with clients, it does seem to provide some great results. I usually gauge this by how full and hard a client’s muscles stay while dieting over a period of a month, as well as changes in abdominal fat distribution.
DHEA
What is it?
A naturally occurring androgenic hormone that works in a balance with cortisol. You can think of it like this – normal DHEA levels help keep cortisol in check, but as we age, DHEA levels tend to decline and this takes away from it’s protective benefit. Supplementation can help to keep the ratio of dhea:cortisol in the normal range while maintaining the opposing effect of DHEA on cortisol.
Dose
25-100 mg/day. It is possible to experience side effects on this supplement. Watch for androgenic side effects, start low and increase dose only as tolerated.
Coach Notes
Because this is considered a hormone, you would want to test your own DHEA levels before even considering supplementation to see if it’s even needed. Anyone under the age of 35 should have plenty of DHEA still and it’s more for the 35 and older demographic that could see the greatest benefit from this supplement.
Vitamin C
What is it?
Water-soluble vitamin with protective, antioxidant properties. Has been shown in research to blunt the cortisol response post-workout and assist in the recovery process when taken prior to the exercise.
Dose
1-2 grams per day, with one dose about an hour prior to training.
Coach Notes
Vitamin C should be a staple in any bodybuilder’s arsenal for the wide range of benefits it provides. Many aren’t even aware of it’s cortisol suppression abilities!
B-Vitamins
What is it?
B-vitamins can be depleted during intense periods of training and can make us more susceptible to the effects of stress and cortisol. Maintaining normal levels of b-vitamins has a protective effect on the adrenal glans and our reaction to stress.
Dose
B-complex 50-100 mg once per day or split into two doses taken with food.
Coach Notes
You can have your b-vitamin levels checked in any routine physical. I’d suggest doing this before starting on any b-vitamin supplement.
Magnesium
What is it?
Chronic stress can deplete magnesium levels from the cells and make you more vulnerable to the effects of fight or flight reactions. Supplementing with magnesium can help to maintain your reserves and have a protective effect against stress and cortisol.
Dose
300 – 600 mg/day as magnesium glycinate, gluconate or citrate.
Coach Notes
Magnesium is one of the most important minerals in a bodybuilder’s supplement cabinet. It helps with muscle contraction and relaxation, protein synthesis, atp production, increased anabolic hormones and helps maintain healthy blood pressure.
Adaptogenic Herbs i.e. Rhodiola, Ashwagandha, Relora, Astragalus Root
What is it?
I’ve clustered together this group of natural herbal supplements, known as adaptogens. Adaptogenic compounds increase our body’s ability to handle stress and strengthen our physiological reaction to it. It’s like giving your body some extra weaponry when you go into battle so you’re more prepared. You’ll find many of these ingredients in adrenal support supplements, which has many crossover benefits for buffering cortisol.
Dose
Rhodiola – 200 -500 mg /day
Ashwaganda – 300-500 mg/day
Relora – 150 -400 mg/day
Astragalus Root – 30 mg/day
Coach Notes
These ingredients have become a staple in my post show protocols or when I get a client that’s been using too many stimulant-based fat burners for an extended period of time. They help to strengthen adrenal function and restore the body’s natural ability to combat stress.
Carbs
What is it?
Most of us already know that consuming carbs during and/or after your workout can effectively lower the cortisol response from training, but with the ongoing popularity of ultra-low carb diets, and carb-fearing competitors running rampant, it never hurts to give a reminder. At the very least, get your carbs in post-workout or you’re just breaking down what you worked for.
Dose
Highly variant and dependant on the individual client. Anywhere from 20-70 grams of carbs intra or immediately post-workout is the typical range for my clients. Usually followed by one more meal of solid food carbs an hour or so later.
Coach Notes
My preference has been for the supercarb – Karbolyn for it’s easily mixability, pump enhancing properties and insulin response – which is beneficial for the peri-workout period.
Omega 3’s
What is it?
Polyunsatured fatty acids, typically extracted from fish or flax, with a wide range of health benefits including the ability to reduce cortisol levels and calm the central nervous system.
Dose
2-5 grams/day. Increasing dose as tolerated.
Coach Notes
Improving insulin sensitivity has always been my favorite benefit of omega 3’s but lowering cortisol is a very close second.
In part two, I will go over some of the other, non-supplemental ways to control cortisol including things like : avoiding overtraining, quality and duration of sleep, avoiding excessive stimulant intake and managing stress through your day. Hope you enjoyed part 1, stay tuned for part 2 in an upcoming blog.
I came home earlier this month to find an amazing box at my door. It was from penguin books. At first I was a bit confused as I had not ordered any books. Brought it upstairs and to my surprise it was a care package from Joyous Health.
It was not only her brand new book Joyous Detox but it was an entire package that included essentials to help me with my detox! Talk about a surprise package! The book includes 100 gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, detox-friendly recipes! Joy is previously known for her best seller Joyous Health.
About her new book:
It is actually a complete plan and cookbook. She wrote this book in order to share with the readier how easy and delicious it is to detox naturally by following a whole foods based diet that emphasizes detox-friedly foods. It gives your body a break from gluten, dairy, sugar, food additives and junk foods that can have a negative effect on your digestion, energy levels and even beauty.
*You may even notice that your hair is shinier and your skin glows more from just 10 days of following the meal plan that is outlines on page 88 in the book*
The care page that she sent me included:
Joyous Detox Tea
Smooth Like Butta Body Butter
Lovely Lavender Deodorant Stick
Limp Treatment Balm
Dry Skin Brush
Joyous Detox Tea: Her detox tea is a handcrafted organic blend of carefully selected ingredients to support your digestive system, especially your liver. This will enhance detoxification.
Smooth Like Butta Body Butter: It is so clean your an eat the ingredients. And it smells amazing. By far my fav body butter to date.
Lovel Lavender Deodorant Stick: Her natural deodorant contains clinically proven sage extract to keep things stink free. It is formulated for sensitive skin and contains no chemicals.
Lip Treatment Balm: Firstly this is so tasty! Its also certified organic.
Dry Skin Brush: Dry skin brushing is an essential to your health, beauty and detoxification as brushing your teeth. This totally natural body brush is the perfect coarseness and you will feel instantly invigorated and rejuvenated!
Thank you so much Joy for the care package! I truly appreciate the gesture! And good luck with your new book! I know it is going to be another best seller!
175 Best Superfood Blender Recipes - Using Your NutriBullet - Book Review
I just received this book this month! I absolutely love using my blender for shakes and my protein ice cream (if you follow me on snapchat: trainitright you know my late night obsession with protein ice cream). Anywayyyyyyy...
These recipes are fast and convenient. They are single servings which means they are great on the go for someone with a busy lifestyle. They are also great from children. From a nutritional point of view, smoothies are a super easy way to pack a lot of nutrients into a relatively small serving size. The only thing with the recipes in this book is that it is written specifically to use for a nutribullet. If you don't have one (like me) and you just have a regular blender they work ok but are slightly smaller than what your blender is usually made to hold.
If you happen to be a lucky person and have a nutribullet then you are all set to go! This ingenious book covers the principles of healthy eating, nutrition and superfoods. There are 175 easy to prepare recipes, smoothies, dressings, dups, soups, sauces and desserts!
All of the recipes in this book by Marilyn Haugen & Doug Cook are made from wholesome foods and are an effective way to increase the overall nutrient density in your diet. Ive tried a few since my diet is a bit more flexible right now and you definitely wont be disappointed.
Tis the season of Pumpkin still. So I tried out the Pumped-Up Fall Harvest Pumpkin Breakfast Bowl on page 88! And it was delicious! If you get the book and give it a try let me know!
200 Best Smoothie Bowl Recipes by Alison Lewis - Book Review
If you are like me and you hate drinking your calories a smoothie bowl sounds like a much better option. You literally can make anything into a smoothie bowl. Author Alison Lewis is also an internationally published author of two cookbooks, a professional recipe developer, nutritionist, and the owner of Ingredients Inc., a food and travel media company based in Birmingham, Alabama. So when it comes to food she definitely knows her stuff.
From reviewing thats amazing book I have learned how simple it is to prepare a smoothie bowl. I incorporate a lot of her recipes into my client programs when they get sick of shakes or for a great late night snack. They can be very satisfying and satiating. This book was originally published back in April but because of my prep I was unable to make use of it until now!
The book has easy to make recipes that don't involve a lot of complicated ingredients, and it even includes kid friendly recipes. She also gives you topping alternatives and options. You can get as creative as you want on top of the base. There are yummy dessert recipes, any time of the day recipes and even smoothie bowls with coffee and tea as the base. And if you follow my social media you will know that I love both my coffee and my tea! So you know those are some of my favourite recipes. Another one of my favourite recipes that she includes is what she calls the Peanut Butter Cup. It's on page 99 in the kid-friendly smoothie bowls. Be careful it is addictive!
Overall I give this book an 8/10. There are some really great healthy ideas for smoothie bowls. I wish that there was calorie counts and macros for those of us who do competition prep or track macros. And there are a lot of great recipes but no pictures to go with the recipes and I love a book that shows me beautiful photography along with the great recipe! I would suggest getting this book and adding it to your collection for fun meal prep ideas! Especially if you have kids!
150 Best Recipes For Cooking In Foil - Book Review
Foil packet meals = cooking at its simple best
I couldn't agree more with the above statement. As you guys know I am a fitness competitor and prepping meals is a huge part of my nutrition when I am on prep. It can be very time consuming. That means I am always looking for quick and simple recipes to get my food ready so I have more time for training. I also want them to taste good. I don't limit my sodium on prep so I flavour everything! And foil packets are so much fun, easy, and help create amazing flavours with your ingredients. They can also be prepared for oven, bbq or even camping!
This book: 150 Best Recipes For Cooking In Foil by Marilyn Haugen has quickly become one of my favourites for preparing meals! The delicious grilling and one recipes offer convenience with minimal cleanup. I hate cleaning so this is tremendously helpful for me. Its also great for the busy person who doesn't have a lot of time. Many of the dishes I ate ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze for reheat later.
I also like that the ingredients that she uses for her recipes are easy to find every day ingredients. You just chop, mix and you are ready to go. I make mine in the oven but you aren't just limited to the oven with these recipes which is particularly useful no matter what your cooking situation is.
I give this book an 8/10 simply because it is in black and white and not every recipe has a photo. However every recipe that I have tried has been amazing! So grateful to have been sent this book!
150 Best Meals In A Jar - Tanya Linton - Book Review
I love mason jars! I have always said that "everything tastes better in a mason jar." And it does! Thats why I was excited to receive this book 150 Best Meals In A Jar. Once you start using mason jars you will see just how easy it is to do meal prep, eat on the go. You can even be as innovative as you want with the recipes. There really are no limits.
The book has a wide variety of delicious meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It includes soups, snacks, fruit and vegetable salads, grain and legume salads, pastas, rice bowls, over night oats and even desserts.
My favourites are the over night oats. I always love including that into my own plans as well as my clients. One of my top fav recipes is the chocolate protein smoothie that is on pg 19.
The recipes are easy to follow, have great ingredients that are easily available and most often times you already have in your panty. Tanya Linton also provides great variations of the recipes so you aren't limited to exactly what she has in the originally recipe.
Overall I give this book an 8/10. There arent pictures of each recipe but there are just so many amazing options and variations its a go to book for meal prep. If you are into health and fitness and want amazing healthy recipes this is a go to!
To purchase your own copy head on over to:
Hey Guys! Do you have picky eaters in your family? If you said yes to that question you definitely need to pick up this book! Sneaky Blends by Missy Chase Lapine, the New York Times -Bestselling Author of the sneaky chef has cooked up another great recipe book.
I was sent this book a while ago and since I was on prep and following a meal plan it was hard for me to implement some of these recipes. Now that I have a little more flexibility in my diet I have been experimenting with them quite a bit. I even think that I have found a way to include them into my next prep.
The book was originally launched in September 2016 and retails at $19.99 US and $26.99 Canadian. This book includes recipes for 15 base blends, 75 mouth watering dishes, each using a base blend and also Missy's custom blends cleanse which is a 3 day body reboot. She gives you good tips and tricks on how to start blending and there are amazing pictures of all of the blends!
You don't even have to have picky eaters in your household. I would recommend this book to kick start your own health and help transform your body. Almost everyone has a blender and why no use it to blend your way to better health. This book has 100 sneaky blend recipes that help teach you the power of purees. With recipes you could never dream up yourself Missy will have you craving the most unique combinations.
Why does blending help with your health goals? A study at Pennsylvania State University found that swapping vegetable blends for some of the more high caloric ingredients in recipes helped participants eat 357 fewer calories each day. Thats 2, 500 calories a week!
I give this book a 10/10 and I think it is a must have in every house hold. It will give you tons of variety and options for your meal prep!
