CHOOSE TO BE HEALTHY

At church today, our pastor was talking about how some people get confused when God calls some people but not others.  The people who don't hear God don't understand why others do and they don't.  Pastor Michael says that those of us who don't hear Him, simply aren't listening or making the correct decisions to be closer to Him.  Sometimes we make choices and claim it's God's will that we do something but then when things don't go as planned, once again, we are confused.  Why would God set us up for failure?  The point of today was to learn that we have a choice.  Always.  Whether it is what job to take, who to marry, what car to get, etc. and it is our job to look at the options and choose which one will help us live a more Godly life.  Just because one job gives you more financial stability, doesn't mean it's going to bring you closer to God.  Once you start making those good decisions and take some time to listen, you will hear Him.  You make the decision to walk with Him instead of away from Him.

I couldn't help but relate this to health. We have a choice.  Always.  Should I exercise?  Should I eat the whole tub of ice cream?  Do I need to have 3 glasses of wine? What if I just have one candy bar?  Should I keep those in my life who lower my confidence?  Should I continue to surround myself with people who have zero aspiration of living life to the fullest? Those things all provide us with instant gratification and we feel good about it for a brief moment, but the better decisions you make, the more you LISTEN to those trying to help you, the healthier and happier you will be!

The main point of this is in all aspects of life, WE HAVE A CHOICE.  ALWAYS.  If you keep making the wrong ones, you have no right to be upset about your currently unhappy situation.

I challenge you for this next week to really think about the decisions you're making.  For one week, choose the option that will guide you to the best you that you can be.  If you make all of those choices and don't feel awesome at the end of the week, leave your email on the comments and we can chat!

GET IN MY BELLY!!!

For those of you who know me, you know I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE peanut butter and chocolate.  If I could taste any combination of any food at any time, that would be it.  I have eaten Reese's my whole life, even melted them on top of tortilla chips with a perfection to avoid burning the peanut butter or the chocolate because that would be awful.  I have created my own peanut butter and chocolate dip.  I have the most difficult time turning this down and now I crave it but want to find healthier options.  SO, I have done some research and have come across a fantastic recipe:

Peanut Butter and Zucchini Brownies

1 cup CRUNCHY organic peanut butter
1.5 cups zucchini (1 small zucchini thinly sliced and diced, I used a carrot peeler and then diced that up)
1/3 cup honey
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1.5 cups chocolate chips (I use Enjoy Life brand)

Preheat oven to 350
Combine all ingredients and mix together with beaters
Pour into greased 8x8 baking pan
Bake for about 40-45 min

I know that it sounds insane to put zucchini into brownies and there is no flour or any gluten, but these are delicious!

TESTIMONIAL

I received this testimonial from one of my clients a couple of weeks ago:


"Two and a half years ago I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer after numerous surgeries and medications my body was weak and overweight. After working with Aubree for 5 months I have lost 30 pounds and feel stronger than I ever did before. It all requires a big commitment but she has been there with me every step of the way to get this amazing body that I have now. I never thought I could feel this good! I can't say enough about her and her commitment to my goals and my health."

This woman is so inspiring to me.  She kicks her own ass every single day, not only to look good, but to stay alive for her family.  She is a bad ass and she inspires me more than she knows.  She is a great example of someone who makes no excuses and has made a complete lifestyle change.

I am here to help and if any of you need that, please contact me.  I want to help you be the best person you can be and help you to feel the best you have ever felt!

HAPPY MONDAY :)

Healthy Breakfast Pancakes

I made delicious pancakes this morning with no flour!  Here is the easy recipe:

2 C Coconut milk (or almond milk unsweetened)
2 C Oats
1/2 C Applesauce (unsweetened)
1 T baking powder
1/2 t salt
2 egg yolks
2 egg whites (save on the side)
Blueberries (optional)

Mix all but egg whites together
Fold in whisked egg whites

Enjoy!!

Start planning your May goals today!  I can't believe how fast it has come up on us.

HEADACHES

I am currently reading "Eat to Live" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman and I came across a very interesting section regarding headaches.  We always try to use drugs to relieve them which in turn, cause more headaches as the toxins from those drugs begin to flush out of our nervous systems.  

Here are 15 common triggers he listed:

Sweets
Fermented Foods
Pizza
Monosodium glutamate
Yeast
Dairy and Cheese
Chocolate
Smoked Meats
Nuts
Hydrolyzed Protein
Salted or pickled foods
Vinegar
Alcohol
Food Additives
Baked Goods

He treated migraines and severe headaches from a nutritional approach and that has shown that 90-95% of the patients were able to remain headache-free after the first three-month period.

Phase One Anti-Headache Diet-to be followed strictly for two weeks:

Breakfast:
Melon, apple or pear
Oatmeal and water, no sweetener
Yeast-free whole grain bread

Lunch:
Large green salad, with one teaspoon olive oil
One starchy grain or vegetable-corn, sweet potato, brown rice
Grapes, apple or pear

Dinner:
Large green salad with tomatoes, with one teaspoon olive oil
One steamed green vegetable-string beans, asparagus, artichokes, broccoli, zucchini
One starchy vegetable or grain-butternut or acorn squash, potato, millet, whole wheat pasta
Tomato Sauce (unsalted) permitted

After two weeks if you are headache free, you can add in other fruits and begin to add beans to the second phase.  Still avoid nuts for the first few weeks.

Hope you headache sufferers find some relief in this plan!

H2O Fo Sho!

WATER!!!  

You all know that you should drink about 96 oz of water a day...but why?

As we closer to hotter temperatures and more exercise, we need to be sure we are hyrdrating.  Our bodies are made up of 60% water.  We can survive quite some time without other nutrients or foods, but we can only survive a few days without water.  Here is why this one thing is so important:

1. Improves endorcrine gland function-our endocrine system is responsible for adjusting hormone levels to keep us functioning normally.

2. Fluid retention is alleviated.

3. Liver functions improve, increasing the percentage of fat we use for energy!

4. Appetite is significantly decreased.

5. Metabolic functions improve.

6. Nutrients are distributed throughout the body.

7. Body-temperature regulation improves.

8. Blood volume, the total amount of blood in the body, is maintained.

This being said, our bodies CANNOT adapt to dehydration because it impairs every physiological function.

Water and Exercise:

*Consume 16 oz 2 hours before exercise.  Add an additional 8-16 oz if exercising in warm weather.
*Drink 20-40 oz of fluid for every hour of exercise
*Try to drink colder fluids for more rapid gastric emptying
*If exercise is longer than 60 minutes, use a sports drink to replace fluid and glycogen stores (energy)
*If less than 60 minutes, water is experts' choice for fluid replacement
*Goal is to replace sweat and urine losses
*Drink 20 oz of fluid for every pound of body weight lost after exercise

If you are on a fat loss plan, drink an additional 8 oz of water for every 25 lbs carried above ideal weight.

I tell my clients to aim for 3 Nalgene bottles a day.  Drink water right when you wake up and make sure to have a bottle with you at all times.  If you start craving something naughty, drink some water and pop in a piece of gum or have a piece of fruit.

BE AMAZING!

I wanted to share this inspirational quote from church this morning:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.  We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?  Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God.  Your playing small does not serve the world.  There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you.  We are all meant to shine, as children do.  We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.  It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same.  As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others"-Marianne Williamson

I believe this quote applies to each and every one of us.  I don't believe we are all reaching our full potential or being the amazing people we are supposed to be.  I challenge you to really let this sink in and take a look at your life outside of the crazy every day things and ask yourself how you can be great.  Stop living in fear of what other people think or in fear of rejection...just be you...be amazing.  You will be so much happier and your light will bring out the light in others :)

CHANNEL 7 NEWS APPEARANCE :)

HAPPY 2013!

I hope you are all ready for a brand new beginning!  I was recently featured on Channel 7 news regarding tips to be successful with your fitness goals and the card workout.  Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJYMJEa7_J0