Monday 23 September 2013

Stressed, Exhausted, From Fatigued to Fabulous


Are you Stressed, Exhausted, Can't Sleep at night? - read on.
Our health is truly the foundation that supports every other aspect of our lives. It’s difficult to live passionately, strive for our wildest goals and give generously of ourselves when we’re sick and exhausted…believe me, I’ve tried it and I know!
For more than a decade, I suffered from extreme exhaustion, mysterious symptoms and the unpleasant side effects of more medications than I care to recall. I finally reached the point where enough was enough – it was time to try a different approach to life.
Funny thing is, the approach that ended up working for me had nothing to do with the marvels of modern medicine or any high-tech treatments. It was, quite literally, getting back to basics – eating real food, slowing down (while paradoxically, accomplishing more) and giving my body all the things it was (at that point) screaming for…but in a language I hadn’t yet learned.
When I finally deciphered my body’s code, the change in my health was nothing short of astounding. Given the right conditions, our bodies have a miraculous capacity to heal themselves! My life was so dramatically changed that I promptly enrolled into a nutrition and wellness course and became a board certified health coach.
Today, my passion is to help others overcome their struggle with fatigue, brain fog, digestive discomfort, stress, insomnia and other unexplained symptoms that keep us from leading vibrant, fulfilling lives. One of my first projects was to interview the 16 dynamic, inspiring and incredibly knowledgeable women in From Fatigued to Fabulous .  This interview series is filled with tons of useful tips and information about nutrition, sleep, relaxation, relationships, career and finance along with many other topics that are vital to our wellbeing.
Traveling the journey I have, I now know with certainty that good health truly is the greatest gift in the world – but for many of us, it’s a gift we have seek out and earn.  I hope From Fatigued to Fabulous  will make your journey that much easier and I wish you all the good health and hope in the world!
Having just graduated from nutrition school, along with taking lots of pre-med classes for my 2nd degree, I thought I knew a lot – but From Fatigued to Fabulous taught me even more! If you’d like to take your life and health to another level – especially if you’re struggling with exhaustion, stress and sickness like I once was – I hope you’ll join us.  You can download the program right here  and rest easy knowing there’s a 60-day risk free, money back guarantee.

About the author:
Maria Saracen is a board certified Health Coach and the host & creator of From Fatigued to Fabulous

Saturday 21 September 2013

Variety of fruit in the fall

If my practice has taught me one thing, it’s that a variety of foods are absolutely essential. Literally every one of my friends and clients eventually comes to a point where they just can’t stand to eat one more salad or filet of salmon. Boredom is dangerous when you’re learning how to be healthy – if you don’t have plenty of options, you’re more likely to fall back on the satisfying processed but bad-for-you foods you relied on in the past. Healthy eating requires variety, and lots of it.

Luckily, nature is on our side. The start of fall doesn’t only mean walking our kids to the bus stop and bracing for cooler weather. It also means we have a whole new variety of fruits and veggies to choose from! Eating seasonally offers real taste, budget, and health  benefits. Here are just a few of them:

  1. Fruit tastes better in season. If you’re eating a summer fruit in the middle of winter, chances are it was produced in one of two ways: It was either grown in a greenhouse or other controlled environment, or it was picked early so it could be saved and shipped to you on demand. While there’s nothing wrong with either of these methods – an out of season apple is still an apple – both methods have a real effect on taste. Fruit that’s allowed to ripen fully on the vine as they say, not only tastes better, but contains healthy sugars called monosaccharides. When you’re training your palate to like healthy foods, taste is essential.

  2. In-season fruit is less expensive. Transporting food across long distances in the off season costs companies money, and they’ll generally pass that cost on to the consumer. With a few exceptions, fruit is scarcer in its off-season. That scarcity is what drives up costs, which means that buying your fruit in season can significantly lower your shopping bill at the checkout counter. You can even buy in-season fruit and freeze it so you can keep it longer.

  3. Nutrients are more plentiful in seasonal fruit. Fruit has a certain amount of time it needs to ripen to be at its maximum free radical-fighting weight. Picking it early – or growing it in artificial conditions – depletes its nutrient store.
Keeping a list of what fruits and veggies are in season is a great way to make sure you aren’t eating exactly the same thing, day in and day out, for the entire year. Here’s a list of fall fruits to stock up on:

Apples: Some researchers believe that apples may aid weight loss by reducing the number of calories you eat throughout the day. For the full antioxidant effect, make sure you eat the skin, which is packed with nutrients.

Pumpkin: Pumpkin's are high in fiber and packed with vitamins A, C, and beta carotene, which help boost immune function. Plus, pumpkin makes a great entrée, and a tasty dessert (heat it up and sprinkle with a little cinnamon).

Grapefruit: Research suggests that grapefruits can aid weight loss. Plus, it contains 75% of your daily value of vitamin C.

Other fruits to look for in the fall, include cranberries, grapes, figs, pears, and pomegranates.
Why not check out Mike Geary and his Truth about Abs Program

Monday 9 September 2013

Does juicing provide good nutrition whilst dieting

Juicing works - you bet:

Apart from the fact that juiced fruits and vegetables have very low calories and no fat (just make sure you make them yourselves), they are loaded with a variety of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and enzymes that help your body to perform at its best. Our bodies spend a lot of time trying to detoxify, repair and protect cells. When we are undernourished our bodies go into protection mode and store fat for survival. But, when your body is functioning at its peak condition and getting all the  nourishment it needs,  it can focus energy on fat loss. Juicing delivers a concentrated healthy cocktail straight into your body. No extra effort is needed to break down the juice and so it is absorbed quickly and starts working magic immediately.

Keys to weight-loss success while juicing:

Juicing vegetables and herbs while reducing fruit. Yes, of course fruit makes it taste so delicious. Yes, fruit sugar is healthier than refined table sugar… but it’s still sugar and will still cause spikes in your insulin and if your body cannot clear those sugars out, they will convert to fat stores. Also, watch how many carrots you use, believe it or not they have a lot of sugar as well.

Save juicing fruits for before and/or after your workouts. For the same reason as above, when you work out your body becomes primed for using glucose.

Skip snacking and start juicing. It seems that people always get hungry between meals. The solution to avoid binging on things you probably shouldn't be eating before dinner, is to juice up a big green glass of nutritional goodness. Hopefully the liquid will tide you over until your next meal, or at least it will get your brain thinking about health-conscious snacks.

Snack while juicing. Not on cheese and crackers or anything man-made but on the vegetables you are getting ready to juice. Sometimes our brains like chewing and feeling food in our mouths and stomach's, so give it that satisfaction while nurturing you.

Healthy habits don’t end with juicing. Whether you are having 1 juice a day or 5, remember that beyond your glass jar, you need to be eating healthy all day long. It kind of defeats the purpose of juicing for weight loss when you eat a big bowl of sugary cereal for breakfast, pizza for lunch, and burgers and fries for dinner.

Fill up on fresh juice before meals or going out. Even though juice is digested quickly and doesn't leave you full for long, your hunger may be quenched by the nutrients more than the feeling of full.

Alternate your veggies. Two ways that this works: you don’t get bored and you get a variety of nutrients.

Add some chia seeds, avocado, or olive oil. Healthy fats and fibers are not only good for you, but will keep you fuller longer. No one wants to diet, or spend their time with someone who is dieting, who has a big hungry monster in their stomach.

Create lasting habits:

Remember, juicing for weight loss is not a diet. Let juicing be your basis for a  healthy lifestyle. If you are taking the time to clean, chop and juice fresh fruits and vegetables then you should be making time to prepare and cook healthy homemade meals.

Some people start cold turkey with a juice fasting session. Others like to test the water with one, slowly adding more as they feel necessary. If you prefer to start the day with a balanced, nutrition-rich eating plan, you will find that having at least one glass of vegetable juice per day will make it easier to reach your weight loss goals in the long run. Try replacing your morning, afternoon, or before-bed snack with a juice and you are well on your way!
Why not see what Mike Geary has to offer on such foods whilst dieting.
In the mean time why not try.

Morning-time:

     1 beet
     1 pink lady apple
     1 small slice of ginger

Before dinner:
     4 tomatoes
     2 green onions
     ½ green pepper
     2 carrots
     2 celery ribs
     Handful of parsley
     1 peeled lemon

Before bed:
     2 cucumbers
     4 romaine lettuce leaves
     Handful of mint

Tuesday 14 May 2013

Is your coffee and biscuits habit robbing you of Nature's wonder nutrient?

Psychotherapist Susan Smith is ‘not keen on traditional medicine’, she says. So she decided to treat her sluggish gut with magnesium supplements. 
Within a few weeks, says the 55-year-old from Bromley, Kent, she felt noticeably stronger and more energetic. Her eyes — and sinuses — are now clearer, and she goes to the loo regularly. Read more:

Weight loss gut bacterium found

Bacteria that live in the gut have been used to reverse obesity and Type-2 diabetes in animal studies.
Research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showed that a broth containing a single species of bacteria could dramatically alter the health of obese mice.
Read More 

Saturday 4 May 2013

Secret Supplement in Your Kitchen

Hi it's time for a  quick trick that will help you safely lose 10 pounds in a short space of time.

But first let's talk about a serious health problem - weight gain with aging.

Did you know that runners between the ages of 18 and 50 gain weight at the same rate regardless of the number of miles run per week. The average is 3.3 pounds every 10 years...for a runner.

Weight gain as you age is inevitable.

It's part diet, part exercise, and part gravity. If runners can't keep weight off by running, what are the rest of us supposed to do? Since we can't turn off gravity, we going to have to work on the other two.

I have a simple solution that will help you start losing weight safely and naturally.

I use it every day.

We have a common enemy you and I. That common enemy is processed foods and their condiments. The amount of junk in today's factory-made food adds to our waistlines and our national obesity problem.

It's one of the reasons I am so passionate about healthy eating.

Let me ask you 3 simple questions:

1. Do you struggle to add green vegetables to your diet?
2. Do you add unhealthy condiments to veggies?
3. Do you want to lose weight eating healthy food that tastes great?

Did you answer "Yes" to any of these questions?

If so, I have a simple solution for you.

And, it's the exact same solution I use.

Find out exactly what I'm talking about here.

Imagine what it would feel like to lose 5 pounds, 10 pounds...even 20 pounds.

I remember when I started eating healthy and lost my first 10 pounds...

- It felt amazing to put on my jeans without struggling.
- The people around me  started making comments about how fantastic I looked.
- I was ever so excited about heading to the beach with the family.

Its alright, it's not your fault. The processed foods that we have been force-fed with for so many years have made it virtually impossible to keep the weight off.

Why not check out Nick Pineault and his Truth about Fat burning foods Program



Sunday 28 April 2013

How to lose weight without getting hungry


“I really need to lose weight but I hate feeling hungry most of the time,” I suppose this has to be one of the most common statements, made by people who follow many of the so called fad diets. If your diet leaves your stomach rumbling every hour on the hour, your body is telling you it’s time to make a change. I used to think that losing weight meant starving yourself. It took me along time to accept the fact that I could actually eat heartily and still drop a few pounds in weight.
The times I spent starving myself in the name of losing weight were miserable. When I did manage to shed a few pounds, I would sadly put it all back on, in a matter of weeks. Sometimes I’d even gain a few extra pounds. Now that's what I call depressing!
What I learned through many years of research (trial and error) is that when you follow a healthy eating plan, you can eat until you’re full, and still see amazing weight loss results.

What Are Healthy Foods?

Healthy foods are not created in factory's where food is processed to death. If the food is dried, dehydrated, canned, frozen or filled with ingredients you can’t pronounce, I suggest that you stay away from it. Examples of healthy foods include fresh fish, naturally raised meats, legumes, seeds, organic poultry, organic whole eggs, raw nuts, and fresh fruit and vegetables.

How to Make Healthy Meals More Filling


There’s nothing more miserable than having to deal with hunger pangs all day. If your meals aren’t satisfying your nutritional needs, this is exactly what’s going to happen. Here are some tricks to make your meals more filling:
  • Add a source of good quality protein and a source healthy fat (yes, fat) to each of your meals. Doing this should make your meals more appetising and curbs the hunger. Sources of healthy protein include natural meats, organic whole eggs, organic poultry and fish. Sources of healthy fat include avocados, fish, beans, raw nuts, coconut oil and olive oil.
  • Fill your plate with veggies. They help to divide your plate into three sections, and fill the larger section with veggies. Leave the other two sections for meat and other foods. Veggies are full of fiber, so they expand in the stomach, digest more slowly so keeping you full longer. Try eating green leafs such as cabbage, spinach, broccoli which are rich in magnesium. (57% of the US population does not meet the US RDA for dietary intake of magnesium)
  • Drink a glass of bottled water before each meal and throughout the day. This will help you feel full faster and reduce hunger.

Examples of Healthy, Filling Meals and Snacks


  • At Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs, 1/3 cup of oatmeal with cinnamon and a small pear.
  • Snack: 1 medium apple, 1 cup of cucumber slices and 1 oz of raw nuts.
  • For Lunch: 4 oz ground turkey, 1/2 cup of cooked brown rice, 8 oz carrot sticks, and a small green salad with vinegar and olive oil dressing.
  • Snack: 2 tablespoons of almond butter, 2 slices of rye crisp bread and 8 oz of celery sticks.
  • For Dinner: 5 oz boiled halibut steak, 1/2 cup of green beans sautéed in garlic, small baked sweet potato and a small green salad with apple cider vinegar and olive oil dressing.
Diet plans that leave you hungry all the time (or even some of the time) are useless, why make life so miserable. Why not ditch the diet altogether and eat healthy instead? If you do it this way, you can eat delicious, filling foods and still lose weight.
Enough with the yo-yo dieting!
Why not check out Mike Geary's Fat Burning Kitchen Program for more great advice and recipes.