Like many Instagram users, I have my go-to influencers that I enjoy watching stories and reading posts from. For me, @shutthekaleup and @leefromamerica are two of my favorite social media profiles for all things health, fitness, and well-being. I am in awe of how much they know about these subjects that I am also passionate about. Since I began following them a few months ago, I have began to experiment with their tested wellness principles. Check out a few things I have learned, below... 1. Not all fats are bad. Wellness influencers like, Lee Tilghman, preach often of the benefits of instilling healthy fats into your diet. She says "getting over the cultural 'fear of fat' is definitely not easy but these healthy fats can be so beneficial for us!" Besides keeping you full longer, including these in your meals can provide you with fuel for your day, help your body to absorb fat-soluble vitamins and antioxidants (like lycopene and beta-carotene), as well as providing you with optimum nerve, brain and heart function. The term, "healthy fats," applies to the monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats found in ingredients like avocados, walnuts, almonds, pistachios, olive oil, avocado oil (my favorite), salmon, tuna, chia seeds, eggs, and more! So what fats are unhealthy? Be sure to always avoid trans fats, which can be attributed developing heart disease. 2. Give Adaptogens a try. This fancy term is used to specify a group of healing plants that protect your body from the toxic effects of stress and illness. “Adaptogens specifically support your adrenals, the glands that manage your hormonal response to stress and help you cope with anxiety and fatigue,” says Amanda Chantal Bacon. Different adaptogens do different things for your system. Some enhance your mental and physical functions, while others help to calm your body and act as an anti-inflammatory. Before following Lee and Jeannette, I had never heard of these plant-based supplements. I decided to give ashwagandha a try after seeing how often the bloggers incorporate it into their daily matcha lattes and smoothies. This particular adaptogen is rich in iron and has a positive effect on stress and anxiety. I've been taking ashwagandha daily in a pill form for about a month now and I'm loving it! 3. Listen to your body. Lee and Jeannette both stress this on a regular basis. Every bit of health and fitness advice you hear is not one size fits all. Sure, quitting sugar or depleting your dairy intake may work for one person, but it might not be best for everyone. It's important to pay attention to the signals your body is sending you. Are you always bloated? Is your face constantly breaking out? Is your skin always dry? These issues may be related to your diet. One way to figure out what might be causing some of your health issues is to try the elimination diet. Maybe try quitting sugar or dairy for one week at a time to see how you feel. Make sure to only eliminate one diet component at a time to trigger the cause of these negative effects. 4. Steam your veggies first. I LOVE my veggies, but sometimes eating them raw or partially cooked isn't easy on my stomach. I now know that before sautéing, baking, or blending in smoothies, I need to take a minute to steam my vegetables. Doing this helps to break down their fibers and makes them much easier to digest. I gave Jeannette's go-to Brussels sprouts recipe a try one day and I was hooked to this cooking method. She usually steams these veggies for 10 minutes than sautés them in avocado oil until they're cooked through. Yum! 4. Avoid over-using traditional hair-care techniques. Popular shampoo and conditioner brands are infamous of stripping our hair of its natural oils. Using these products on a regular basis also encourage oil production and make our hair extra greasy. For the last few years, I've minimized the use of bottled hair-care products and I've cut down the amount of times I wash my locks throughout the week. Obviously, I still shower on a daily basis, but I only wash my hair about twice a week. This has dramatically decreased the unwanted aspects of unhealthy hair. I've also tested Lee's Oil Training method on my hair to help it go longer in-between washes. In addition to this technique, I do a weekly rinse with apple cider vinegar, an all-natural clarifier. Do you have any social media influencers that you enjoy following? Let me know in the comments, below!
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Happiness has such a positive effect on your life. Being cheery can make you a more pleasant person to be around and even improve your performance at work. Unfortunately, things occasionally come up that can majorly bring us down. So how do we bounce back from negativity and get on a happy track? Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others - Marcus Tullius Cicero After reading this Harper's Bazaar article, I was reminded that one of the key's to a happy life is constant gratitude. Remembering the blessings you were given and forgetting temporary troubles is an easy way to perk yourself up. The best part about counting your blessings is that it only takes a minute...
If you are feeling upset, take 60 seconds to make a "gratitude list." Write down all the reasons why your are thankful at that moment. Doing this easy activity draws your attention away from any icky situation and brings a smile to your face! Meal delivery boxes are all the rage right now, so I was eager to try one of the services for myself. Although there are many companies offering these meals, I chose Green Chef after hearing a few friends' feedback. With eating healthy, the question is usually, "how do I make food that is both healthy and delicious?" Green Chef is the perfect answer. It is great for those that enjoy cooking, but are looking to use healthy, organic ingredients in a yummy way. Each package contains sustainable ingredients in 100% recyclable containers. How it Works:
The Recipes: I've enjoyed just about every single meal that I have made from Green Chef. For three weeks now, I've received their vegan meals. While these may not contain meat, seafood, dairy, or eggs, they are large and hearty enough to fill you up for hours. These has been a few times that I've added seafood or meat to them, though. Every vegetable looks as though it was picked a day in advance and the herbs are vibrant and not limp. Another plus? The meals are huge! There have been recipes that have lasted us about 4+ portions. One of my favorite recipes was the Mango BBQ Tofu (pictured below). How much does it cost? Green Chef's pricing is based on the plan you choose and how many people you will be cooking for. 2-Person Plan: 1 box contains 3 dinners for 2 people Family Plan: 1 box contains 2 dinners for a family of four, served family-style. Vegetarian= $10.49 per meal Omnivore= $11.99 per meal Vegan= $11.99 per meal Carnivore= $13.49 per meal Gluten-free= $13.49 per meal Paleo= $14.99 per meal Upon signing up, you receive 2 FREE meals during your first week. To find out more about Green Chef and their menus, check out their website. I would love to know if any of you have tried the boxes before. Let me know your thoughts in the comments, below!
ALSO- If you'd like to read more about other meal delivery companies, check out Reviews.com's article on the Best Meal-Delivery Services of the year. xoxo, Cassie I originally wrote this post almost a year ago when I was still in college, working to maintain balance between my job, life, and school. Even though I have completed all of my classes, I have since adopted new responsibilities that have resulted in a similar degree of "busyness." While enjoying life and trying to do my best at work, I've adopted these ways to help me stay productive each week... 1. Getting a calendar, and using it. When appointments and deadlines pop up, it's important for me to keep my schedule (with necessary details) listed out somewhere. Calendars come in several forms, so it is easy to find something that works for you. It can be a default app on your iPhone, a downloaded version like Planner Pro, or a physical scheduler like my favorite, ban.do. All of these methods are great ways to keep track of work deadlines, dentist appointments, birthday parties, and list out to-do items. I refer to my agenda at the beginning and end of each day to make sure I accomplished everything I needed to. If you carry a both physical planner and use a digital calendar, like I do, cross-check these references at the beginning of each week to make sure you aren't forgetting any appointments. 2. Writing out a Weekly Schedule Although I am dedicated to my job 40 hours a week, there are other priorities that I aim to spend time on each week. Aside from my calendars, I have made myself a general "time designation" schedule. To do so, I jumped on good 'ole Excel and created time slots in my week where I will spend time on work and my other activities, like going to the gym or doing laundry. Obviously things come up, but doing this will helps me to be sure I am spending enough time on important assignments in all aspects of my life. PS- I never forget to leave time out for myself to do something that I enjoy. This usually includes reading a book, blogging, or watching some mindless television. 3. Learning to say NO (Sometimes) Being busy means that assignments and personal to-dos will pile up. As much fun as the dinner that my friend planned for Thursday night may sound, I might have to say no. When projects accumulate, it's easy to get stressed out. This is where the calendar comes in handy... If I feel like I am prepared for my upcoming meetings and I've completed all of my tasks, I could probably say yes to a Thursday night dinner. Balance is key! 4. Keeping a Tidy Workspace at Home. When I come home from work, I usually need an organized space to finish up any assignments from the day. I try to keep a designated desk or table area cleaned up for working. Cluttered spaces can create frustration, which does not help productivity. I hope this helped you get some ideas on your journey to a well-balanced life! For me, balancing everything is still a work in progress, so I am eager to hear your ideas! Let me know in the comments below.
You know those outrageous recipe videos all over social media? Yeah, I follow them too. As I am scrolling through my feed, I almost always stop and watch the mysterious hands make the concoctions...maybe even a couple of times. I will usually like the video and save it for future reference for "when I am going to make it." That usually doesn't happen and I often forget about the recipe an hour later. Somehow I was roped into making Tastemade UK's Oreo Pie. A lot of the recipes I find on Buzzfeed Tasty or Delish look so fun to make, but they aren't always easy. This oreo pie required NO baking, and used very little ingredients. Making it was a no brainer... My only complaint with the measurements was that there was not enough of the oreo mixture to create a fully walled crust. So, this "pie" was more like a tart, but it still turned out pretty great. The filling was fluffy, sweet, and so creamy.
Try out the recipe for yourself and let me know about your experience in the comments below! |
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