Healthy Happy and Free

Let's get real. That's the theme of NEDA (National Eating Disorder Awareness) week for 2018. This is obviously something personal to me because I had an eating disorder and would still say I am in recovery because I still struggle mentally. When I was in the darkest part of my eating disorder, I would never be open about it, would never discuss it. Eating disorders carry a stigma. They're not real illnesses, right? Wrong. Eating disorders are real, life-threatening illnesses. They have the highest mortality rate of any mental illnesses.  ( https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/get-involved/nedawareness/resources ) They affect anyone - any shape, size, race, or gender can be affected by an eating disorder.  Eating disorders are NOT a choice. People would tell me to just go eat a cheeseburger. Let's get real - it's not that simple. Let's spread awareness so that those who are suffering can get the help they need.  If you or someone you know is...

Are you stressed? Chances are if you aren't stressed now, you were or you will be. Stress is abundant in today's fast-paced world. How can you reduce stress? I'm definitely an expert on being stressed so here are some things that have helped me and I hope to implement even more. Don't overbook yourself! If you feel obliged to do this, go to that, volunteer, work overtime, and still find time for yourself, you will undoubtedly feel stressed. Keep this in mind when you agree to things and remember it's okay to say no! Keep a planner or journal. For many people time management or finances are big causes of stress. These  things can be documented and managed well in a journal or planner. You could also use a journal for writing down feelings and that can make you feel less stressed as well.  Talk to someone. If you have a friend or family member that you're comfortable talking with, sometimes this can help you to get some perspective. Maybe what you're s...

Do you love chocolate? Of course you do. I am a self-proclaimed chocolate aficionado. While I do think it's perfectly acceptable to "treat yo'self", I also try to keep my sugar intake somewhat reasonable for the effects it has on me. So I am always excited to find/try chocolates with lower sugar or no sugar at all. Chocorite is a company doing just that. They make protein shakes, chocolate bars and candy. Why? They saw that many people want to enjoy these types of foods but they don't always fit into a person's diet, whether they are keto, low carb, low calorie, diabetic, etc. They also believe using natural ingredients is important along with great taste. None of their products have added sugar and they are all reduced calorie, low net carb and have no hydrogenated oil. I've tried both the dark chocolate and milk chocolate crisp bar out of the chocolate bar selections. I love that they are a nice serving size so I can eat the whole thing! They ar...

Another month, another hike! If you're not aware, my mom and I have set the goal to hike a new trail each month of 2018. We decided we were in need of a weekend getaway so we chose a destination with some great hiking nearby. We stayed in Gatlinburg, TN and the Alum Cave trail in the Smokies was just a quick 30-ish minute drive to the trail-head. Note that the trail-head offers restrooms, HOWEVER, they were closed for the season. We got close with nature this hike. I was a little disappointed that the weather wasn't cooperating. It was a decent temperature but there was a dense fog. One of the perks of this hike is the stunning views and our views were mostly of fog! It was still very pretty as you hike along the stream for much of the hike. There have also been bear sightings here! Arch Rock After 1.3 miles, you reach a dark staircase that goes up through a rock and this feature is called Arch Rock. After one more mile, mostly uphill, you reach the Alum Ca...

Did I just say healthy and chocolate dipped in the same breath? Well, actually I typed it. But, yes. I think you can have both! Lakanto seems to agree with me. They are a company that utilizes monk fruit to sweeten some delicious chocolate bars! They also have monk fruit extract, sweeteners, and liquid sweeteners. The sweetness is derived from monk fruit (Luo Han Guo) which is a natural sweetener with zero calories and zero glycemic index. Lakanto's mission is to create delicious sugar free foods that promote well-being and vitality. I think chocolate is definitely good for my vitality. So with that in mind, I created a low or no sugar shortbread cookie dipped in chocolate and sprinkles! The sprinkles are optional if you want to go completely sans sugar but I opted to add them because they're so cute and fun! I was so happy with how these came out and they even got the seal of approval from my parents who usually resist my creations! Did I mention these are gluten, g...

"Gut health" seems to be a bit of a buzz term lately. Why is it important? In short, gut health affects our overall well-being from autoimmune disorders, mental health, digestive issues, and the list goes on.  One way to have good gut health is to include probiotics (good bacteria) and prebiotics (food for probiotics) in your diet. If sauerkraut isn't your thing, never fear - the Truth Bar is here! Truth Bars have 1 billion probiotic CFU's, fiber rich prebiotics, micronutrients and healthy fats which will contribute to a healthy gut flora.  With so many protein supplements abounding, many people are not suffering from protein deficiency. They may, however, be deficient in good healthy fats, carbs, fiber, or probiotics. That's what founders, Sean Fay and Diana Stobo, knew. Thus, the Truth bar was born, founded on the truth that overall well being starts in the gut.  Here comes the but. But how does it taste? Diana is a French trained baker a...

I went to many shoe stores. I searched high. I searched low. I scoured the internet. Trying. To. Find. New. Running Shoes. Honestly, I felt quite overwhelmed with the options and information available to me. My current running shoe was the Brooks Ravenna 7 with an insert. With all the overwhelming information, I decided to go with Brooks Ravenna 8. Simple enough, right? I first ordered my sneakers from Dick's Sporting Goods and was so excited to get them. I ran in them a few times and they hurt my feet so badly! I ended up with bruises all over my foot. I couldn't bear to run in them any more. Embarrassingly Gross I was very distraught because now I was back at square one. What to do? I tried on more shoes but I have to say I felt a weird loyalty to Brooks. I've only ever run in Brooks.  I realized that the new shoes I had purchased were the wrong size! They were half a size too small! I got an email from Brooks about the Ravenna 8 being on sale for a great ...

Pounds. Lbs. Stones. Kilos.  How often do you weigh yourself? Weekly? Daily? Multiple times a day? I can happily say that I don't remember the last time I weighed myself. The last time I was weighed was at the doctor's. I don't think it's completely wrong to weigh yourself. As a matter of fact, it's a very simple and easy metric to gauge your progress toward whatever your goals may be. If you want to gain strength, you may have set the intention to gain weight because muscles weigh a lot. More muscle = more weight = more strength. Of course, that's just one example.  However, weighing yourself can become an unhealthy ritual, especially if you struggle with an eating disorder or disordered eating behaviors. Warning signs that you have an unhealthy obsession with weighing yourself: weighing yourself multiple times a day, allowing the number to dictate how your day goes, adjusting your diet or exercise regimen based on a daily fluctuation, allowing...

TGIF! Time for Friday Finds! Here are some of the things I've been loving lately: Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker Okay, I have been wanting a coffee maker (cue Sandlot quote) FOR-EV-ER. I always came up with a reason not to invest in one so I used coffee filter, stapled them shut and basically steeped them in hot water. It sufficed but it was a bit labor intensive and messy, not to mention, I'm not entirely sure I want staples touching my coffee. I'm a part of a program called Influenster where you receive different products to try and review and share your thoughts on the Internet. In previous years, I've received hair products, and accessories, etc. This time, they sent me the Keurig K-Elite with 2 boxes of K-cups. To say I was ecstatic is an understatement. This Keurig has a water reservoir that can make 8 cups without being refilled, it brews quickly, has a drip tray that removes so I can fit my knock-off yeti underneath it, has a temperature control to adjust ...