GIVING THE GIFT OF HEALTH

I love giving during the holidays but I like to support my clients in their goals by giving them things to support the lifestyle they have worked so hard for. Instead of the cookies, chocolates, or other treats take a closer look at some other ideas to support your family and friends to be healthy and fit also. I promise they will truly appreciate you thinking about their Massage:
It’s not considered just an indulgent to get massages anymore. It’s about taking care of yourself and giving your body what it needs to relax or work out those tight muscles. This is a perfect gift for someone who is over-stressed.

Workout Clothes or shoes:
Everyone that workouts at a gym or does outdoor sports need the proper clothing. This is a perfect gift to support someones fitness regimen.

Workout Equipment:
If you know someone that likes to workout at home or isn’t comfortable going to the gym workout equipment is perfect to support their goals. Think exercise balls, hand held weights, bands or yoga mats with a yoga video.

Gym Membership:
Has your loved one always wanted a gym membership. The gym is the perfect place for support, classes, expert advice and learning about nutrition and fitness.

Personal Trainer:
Do you know someone that wants to learn how to weight train to change body composition but doesn’t know where to start. Hiring them a personal trainer to get them started by showing them proper form and techniques would be perfect. Individualized instruction will give them the confidence they need to do it on their own.

Healthy Food Basket:
Giving a basket filled with fresh, delicious fruits is a blessing to so many this season who are tired of being tempted with all the sugary treats. I hope you enjoy and have a happy, healthy holiday!

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CLIENT OF THE MONTH - MARYAM

I am so proud of this amazing women Maryam! She committed to train with me twice a week, and learn new strategies for cardio and nutrition. In a short three months Maryam lost 17 pounds, 14 inches overall and 7.2% body fat. 

When someone is ready to make the commitment to change their health for the better it makes the journey so much easier and a lot more fun.

Ever since I was in high school, I’ve never really had much motivation to work out. I’ve never been very physically fit, but luckily I was able to get by with an average metabolism and an average build. Then after I realized that I was the heaviest I’ve ever been, I decided to join a gym and try and stay in shape. For two years, I worked out by myself and I barely lost a pound, doing just cardio and barely able to curl 5lb dumbbells (no exaggeration!).

Then I found Sandy. Sandy singlehandedly helped me lose over 7% body fat, over 15lbs, getting me to the lowest weight I’d been since I was 16. She helped me with the knowledge of how I should feed my body, and showed me the right way to lift weights.

The amount of muscle I’ve gained since starting with Sandy still amazes me to this day, and as a full time student with a full time job (and a full time social life), I never would have gotten there without her structure, accountability and guidance. It’s not just a workout with Sandy, it’s a lifestyle; and I’m forever grateful that I found a trainer, and more importantly a close friendship, that will last a lifetime. Thanks Sandy and I can’t wait to step on the stage one day soon representing you!!

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Mindful Eating for Weight Loss

Photo by alan KO on Unsplash

This post is the first of a five-part series on mindfulness, and it tackles the inescapable struggle of weight loss. When it comes to losing weight, you may assume you need to muster up a huge amount of willpower and force yourself to stick to a diet through sheer discipline. But this isn’t always the case. Instead, you can start your weight loss journey by eating more mindfully. 

What is mindful eating?

Mindful eating is a relatively simple technique that helps you gain more control over your eating choices and habits. It’s based on the Buddhist concept of mindfulness, which calls for you to bring your full attention to the present moment. With mindful eating, this means paying close attention to your cravings and other physical cues when eating. Instead of automatically falling into old eating habits, mindful eating helps you make more conscious, healthier choices.

Tips for Eating More Mindfully

Photo by Icons8 team on Unsplash

Listen to your body.

Before you even start eating, take a moment to really, truly listen to your body. Are you hungry – or is it something else that’s making you reach for a chocolate bar? Know your body’s hunger signals so that you can tell the difference between snacking out of boredom or stress and actual hunger. 

Listening to your body will also help you notice when you’re full, so you can stop eating before you get to that miserable, “Stuffed” feeling.

Eat more slowly.

Once your food is in front of you, there’s no need to dive in and devour every last bite – your food isn’t going anywhere! Eat slowly to give your body time to catch up to your brain. It actually takes about 20 minutes for the “I’m full” signal from your brain to reach your body, so slowing down can keep you from overeating. 

To help you eat more slowly, try taking smaller bites, chewing each bite 25 times, and setting your fork down. 

Cut down on distractions.

Have you ever stood in your kitchen with a pint of ice cream, scrolling through Instagram while eating a few spoonful’s of Ben & Jerry’s – only to look down at an empty pint? Distractions are the epitome of mindlesseating. To cut down on mindless eating, you must also cut down on distractions. Don’t try to multitask during mealtimes. This means turning off the TV and putting away your phone. Instead, tune into your body and savor the food you’re enjoying – this is one of the best parts of eating mindfully! 

Savor every bite.

Speaking of savoring your food, did you know that you’ll actually feel fuller and more satisfied at the end of a meal if you simply pay more attention to what you’re eating? By eating mindfully, you’ll notice textures and flavors you probably haven’t noticed before, even in foods you’re familiar with. And more satisfaction means you’re less likely to overindulge or immediately start looking for something else to “fix” that craving. Really enjoy your favourite food and feel satisfied instead of guilty. 

Holiday Workout Ideas for Women on the Go

‘Tis the season to feel frazzled! With the holidays come the stress and chaos of the season. And if you’re planning to hit the road to see family this year, you may wonder how you’ll ever be able to squeeze in a workout.

Whether you’re in a hotel room or stuck in bunkbeds at your mother-in-law’s house, I’ve got you covered. Check out these travel-friendly workout ideas that you can do anywhere.

Bodyweight Exercises

Skip the workout equipment and get back to basics with these bodyweight exercises that are perfect for on-the-go resistance training.

·      Upper Body and Core

You’re probably already familiar with both push-ups and side planks, so why not combine these two movements to pack a one-two punch for your upper body and core.

Simply do a push-up, then rotate onto your side and reach your arm up for a side plank. Back down into a push-up position and repeat. Modify as necessary. Do 3 sets of 8 to 10 reps on each side.

·      Legs and Booty

It’s all about the squats when you’re trying to get a mega bang for your buck. This one bodyweight exercise hits several major muscle groups and can be done anywhere.

If you have enough space, lunges can also be a great option, and they boast a big lower-body impact as well.

For both of these exercises, do 3 sets of 12 to 15 reps (per leg for lunges).

·      Cardio

You don’t have to be outside or in a gym to get in your cardio. If you’re stuck in a bedroom or hotel room, do intervals of jumping jacks, burpees, or mountain climbers to get your heart racing.

You can also combine any of the upper body, lower body, and core exercises I mentioned earlier into a HIIT type session to get both strength and cardio done in one workout.

·      Yoga

If stress from holiday travel is bumming you out, namaste your way through it with yoga. There are plenty of quick and easy yoga sessions that you can stream anywhere to help you stretch, strengthen, and tone.

Get Active Outside

If you’re sick of being stuck in the house during your travels, bundle up and get outside. Taking full advantage of the outdoors is a great way to stay active.

Are you traveling to a snowy winter wonderland? Hit the slopes or visit an ice rink for some ice skating. Not your cup of tea? Go sledding! Believe me, lugging a sled up a hill will have your quads on fire (bonus points if you load your sled with kiddos first).

Final Thoughts

Don’t get put on the naughty list – commit to staying active even when you’re on-the-go this holiday season. Plus, squeezing in a few training sessions now will make jumping back into your fitness routine a breeze once the holidays are over.

Need more ideas on how to stay fit through the holiday season and beyond? I’d love to help you start the new year off stronger and sexier than ever! Let’s chat.

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Is Intermittent Fasting For Women

You might have heard one of your friends or someone on social media mentions they are doing intermittent fasting for weight loss. You might think its just another trend, however, there is actually some good research and science-backed benefits on why this is not just a trend. Intermittent fasting produces more weight loss compared to long-term calorie restriction. 

What is Intermittent Fasting?

Intermittent fasting is a dietary approach where you only eat during specific time periods, and then give your gut a break from digestion and insulin spikes for 16-24 hours or more. I personally eat in this manner and have coached many clients, who have experienced tremendous benefits in health and weight loss. The basic American diet routine has shown us that what many of us have been doing has tragic results. Many now have chronic inflammation which brings about troubles like immune and hormonal dysfunction, thyroid disease, cancer, and even weight management resistance. Intermittent fasting is known to be a wonderful tool for taking care of these issues. There are a few reasons why it's particularly useful for weight loss.

Walk right into a mechanic's workshop and you won't see just one device hanging on the wall. You'll spot a fixed board covered in tools of all various sizes and shapes. Each has a purpose and a value, yet you wouldn't necessarily utilize every one of them at the same time.

Nutrition is not much different: There are a great deal of different tools you can utilize to maintain healthy functioning as well as look the way you desire. Understanding just what those tools are, when and how you can best utilize them, can aid you to maintain and improve your health.

Intermittent fasting seems complex, however it actually a very simple concept. The idea is to not consume food for 12 to 24 hours, therefore, only consuming food during specific hours of the day. Research shows you get the most benefits of Autophagy is when you fast 16 hours or more. Autophagy is a natural way the body cleanse itself. For examples, this is one scenario how it works; you stop all food intake after 7 pm, sleep, awaken the next morning, skip breakfast, and continue the fast up to mid-day. Only drinking purified water, organic coffee, or tea. Food for that day is consumed between the hours of 2 and 8 pm. As you get familiar with intermittent fasting, you can push that window of time to be much more press. Some like to eat earlier in the day rather than the night hours, i.e. 9 AM to 3 PM, whichever works well for you. The key is to consistency find what works for your schedule and lifestyle.

What are the benefits?

•    Weight-loss
•    Anti-aging
•    Upgrade in cell Autophagy
•    May help with prevent diabetes

Who should not do intermittent fasting

•    It is not for you if you are not eating healthy whole foods, but more sugars, carbs and junk food.
•    If you are on medication such as insulin
•    If you are not providing your body with enough calories
•    If you have a history of eating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia
•    If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
•    If you are on any medications, you need to talk to your doctor before doing any intermittent fasting

References:

1.    Short-term fasting induces profound neuronal autophagy: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.4161/auto.6.6.12376
2.    What is Autophagy? https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Autophagy.aspx
3.    Alternate-day fasting and chronic disease prevention: https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/86/1/7/4633143
4.    Metabolic Effects of Intermittent Fasting: https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-nutr-071816-064634