Monetary things will pass away, but experiences last forever

(Picture Credit)

 Who here likes to make New Year's Resolutions?  I do!  I like to make New Year's Resolutions because I feel like it's a great excuse opportunity to reinvent myself, start a new chapter or FINALLY get organized! I have many goals mostly having to do with health, nutrition and becoming closer to God(you know, the usual).  However, I really wanted to become a better parent this year. Now, I will probably have this goal every year and hope to build on the last year.  However, This year my daughter is going to kindergarten and I feel like I haven't had with her! Perhaps I will always feel like this?!

 Time needs to stop! You parents can relate, right? This year my parenting goal is to have 1 fun experience with my kids per day, whether it's educational or not.  Now, don't get me wrong I LOVE to have fun! Perhaps I may be too silly sometimes!  But, I have this issue with focusing on the business side of parenting. Business aspects like cleaning(don't get me started on laundry...why is there always so much?), meals, discipline, education...and so on, I tend to focus on the harder part rather than allowing myself to enjoy the lighter side. I realize this is a lesson every parent learns at some point.  I also realize that having three kids in three years tends to do that to person (ya, I did that). The maintenance alone will hospitalize ya! I have arrived  to the point where I want to start giving them more fun and enjoyable experiences (why is it hard to be a fun parent? I thought I had that in the bag?) It's a simple goal, but I think a powerful one.  I believe in love, imagination, carefree childhoods, endless summers, good books, laughter and family all lead to intelligence and a well-adjusted life. Toys, clothing, holidays, tv and other monetary things will pass away but positive and learning experiences stick with us.  Positive experiences engage all our senses when we recall them and  makes life sweet.



 I love how her brother is peeking out from behind her, haha!

Fermented Kefir Cinnamon Milk

I ferment (culture) a lot of things. What can I say, probiotics are king! I talk a LOT about probiotics. They are so good for you. My health dramatically improved when I started making my own and consuming it almost by the gallon. Ya, it's that good. This recipe I created is very simple but will soon become a staple in your life.

Fermented Cinnamon Milk

1 glass full of fermented milk (recipe here)
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
Vanilla Stevia to taste

Variations: I have also used pumpkin pie spice in place of cinnamon. If there is another sweetener you like better, try it and let me know what you think!

An INSANITY kind of day

So today I woke up thinking, "Today is an INSANITY kind of day." I am loving PIYO, I really am. I am getting some amazing results and most of it is happening on the inside. The kind of results you don't see. Our outward transformation is NOT as important as our inward transformation. The before and after pictures we see and take should ONLY be the tip of the iceberg. When we only focus on looking good, we are missing a vital element in our fitness journey. Now, I realize that looking good may be our inital motivation and the rest tends to sneak up on us. I challenge you to let it happen and embrace, if not make a conscious effort, for the inner change!

Now, after completely losing control and eating all that sugary junk yesterday it helped me realize sometthing. Although I am eating healthier than I ever have, I might not be feeding myself completely right. Let me explain....no there is too much, let me sum up. When I say I eat no sugar, I mean NO sugar. As in no fruit(except green apples) or honey, refined, unrefined sugar. Zero....ziiiip! The reason for this is because sugar in any form for me makes me feel sick and I mean literally. You know the feeling when you start to get a cold or the flu? Your immune system is supressed and your body feels achy? In addition, your brain fogs up, emotions go haywire (we're talking some serious stuff here people) Well THAT my friends is what sugar does to me! Total buzz kill right? Of course right! This largely due to possibly having systemic candida(a systemic yeast infection). 
Well, after losing control yesterday, I realized I was stronger and endured better through my 50 minute PiYo workout. Sugar lovers rejoice! Haha! Just kidding! I realized that when I take care of my body, especially with exercising, I am able to handle more. This morning I ate a banana...A BANANA! Do you have any idea how many grams of sugar AND carbs are in a banana? A million I think. Ha! I forget the exact amount, but A LOT! A few months ago that would've killed me!

I did Hardcore on the Floor and I may have, perhaps not been into the workout? Mainly because I felt I needed more. So what's a girl to do? I grabbed a banana and ate it, because I'm not a quitter, and pushed play with Shaun T doing Cardio Power and Resistance! WWWWWHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAATTTTTT? Did that just happen? Oh.....it did. And it did in a serious way. 
I felt so strong and did that workout better than I ever have! Go ME! Ha! 
So guess what? I am going expand my eating chart! Is anyone else as excited as me about this? Probably not....haha! 
I also realize that when I exercise and take care of my body right, I am able handle life in general. You get rewards like being able to eat a banana!!! Kind of silly I realize. Nonetheless! A reward!!! 
Do you want to be a more positive person and force for good? Exercise and nutrition! 
Do you want to have the energy you always wanted to DO the things you always wanted?
Exercise and nutrition!
Do you want to have an overall sense of health and welllness? 
Exercise and Nutrition! 
Well now that I have written an epistle, I shall retire to my kitchen and whip up a shakeology smoothie.....with a banana!!!! 

The Shaun T Hologram

There are many situations in life that exercise and nutrition prepare you for. One of them is grocery shopping with 3 toddlers. There are decent, productive trips to the food store and then there are days like today where it becomes a real test of endurance! Mentally, emotionally and physically! I wish I had a hologram of Shaun T walking with me to the entrance of the store yelling, " Are you ready? Let's goooooo!" Then as I am racing, literally at a slow jog, throwing things in my cart, ripping open snacks before they are paid for (just so baby won't scream the whole time), shoving my kids along because they think every item is completely fascinating (seriously, q-tips? You are stopping to gawk at q-tips?), taking items back out of my cart because my kids are trying to be so helpful, trying not to lose my children in the sea of Christmas shoppers and ignoring the seemingly peaceful looks on people who blissfully remember, "those days." Did I mention my baby's snack only lasted 3 aisles? His older siblings decided they were needed a "snack" too. Then of course he screams anyway because he wants to eat everything I put in the cart behind him. So as this is all happening my Shaun T hologram should be saying to me,"Stay with me, I'm right here." And when we are all done? "THAT was baNANAS YO!" So since I got such a great workout in at the grocery store with my trusty Shaun T hologram, I only did about half of PiYo drench. Oh well, 'tis life....and I love my life.

PS- I know what y'all are thinking, but don't say it! Don't say, "Enjoy it, it goes fast!" I will climb through the computer and smack you!

Ferment your way to better health

What do you mean Fermenting? 

Fermenting basically means culturing bacteria. We often associate fermenting with the process of making beer or wine. The process of fermenting beer or wine is structured around creating the byproduct alcohol.   When I say fermenting, I mean culturing good probiotic bacteria that has a laundry list of health benefit. Health benefits ranging from improved digestion and immunity to a clearer complexion. Check out this, this and this  article on the benefits of consuming probiotics. 

So, does probiotics have alcohol in it?

According to the company that I buy my probiotic starter from, there is no way can get an alcohol by product.  

I already consume kombucha, rejuvelac, activia and take a probiotic supplement! Why do I need this?

Here is the thing, you already understand the importance of fermented foods! However, the specific drinks and yogurt that I mentioned (there are others too) create more problems than good. We know there is good bacteria, but there is also bad. In addition, some products have some good bacteria in a sea of bad bacteria and it's not enough to make it beneficial 
for your health.  More details on kombucha here and other products here and here.

Where has this been all my life? I need some of that!

You're telling me! My health has vastly improved since I started making making my own  probiotic drinks and cultured vegetables.  For more details on why I decided to give fermentation a try go here.

What probiotic drink do you drink?

I drink my own cultured coconut water kefir and sometimes dairy kefir.  I mainly drink coconut water kefir because it digests better in my body and has the most health benefits. Diary kefir can be constipating and toxic to certain body types. Read more details here and here.

Where do I start?

This is the fun part! The first thing you need to do is get a starter.  There are two different starters that I use.  I use a Kefir starter and a cultured veggies starter. Go here for the kefir starter and here for veggie starter. 

What about kefir grains? 

Personally, I do not use the kefir grains. Mainly because they are finicky and more of a challenge to work with( I do easy folks) and they have not proven healthy for me. I also don't drink dairy kefir as much as coconut water kefir. The grains do not work for coconut water kefir. Go here for a detailed explanation.

Do I have to be a scientist to make my own?

Boy, if that were true I wouldn't be writing this article!!!  The process of culturing your own cultured probiotics in the form of kefir and saurkraut is very simple!!! I promise! Did I mention I do easy?  You only need a few simple ingredients and your good to go! Click here for the recipe for coconut water kefir, here for dairy kefir and here for cultured veggies. 

Chocolate Zucchini Bread (Adapted for Body Ecology)

I LOVE this recipe! I may or may not eat this for breakfast sometimes. It is so simple to make, this will help you with those sugar cravings! I found this recipe and tweaked it a bit to meet my nutritional guidelines  Let me tell ya, it is so good!!!! You won't believe it is as healthy as it is!  I sometimes enjoy it with a glass of  my homemade fermented cinnamon milk. Bam! Mind blown!

Step 1. Preheat oven to 350. Line your baking pan with parchment paper.

Step 2.  Mix all the dry ingredients together. It should look like this:

Step 3.. Whisk the wet ingredients until combined

Step 4. Combine wet with dry. Except zucchini. The consistency may be different than what you are used to, it will be a little "spongy." Don't worry!!! It will be ok!  If you want to take your life in your hands like me, just give a little taste test! I always do, I sometimes wonder if I have enough for an entire loaf after all my taste testing. Ha! 

Step 5. Add the zucchini....you have my permission to taste it again.

Step 6. Pour the batter into prepared pan and put it in the oven and cook for 45-55 minutes. Test with a toothpick or knife. When a few crumbs fall off, you'll know it's done.

Step 7. I know it's tempting, but put the loaf down and walk away. Let it cool down before you burn your taste buds and can't taste the healthy goodness you just made! (Trust me, I know from personal experience) 
The bread will also just fall apart if you dig in too soon.  Let is cool down in the pan for 20 minutes and then completely on a cooling rack.  Enjoy!!!!  

Condensed Recipe Instructions
Ingredients

1/2 cup (36 grams) Cocao (or unsweetened cocoa powder)

1/4 cup (33 grams)Coconut Flour

1/4 cup (27 grams) Quinoa flour (homemade or store bought)  or Brown Rice Flour

1/4 cup (30 grams)Tapioca Starch

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum

3 large (155 grams) eggs

1/2 Cup Lakanto (read about it here and buy it here)

1/2 cup Organic Butter, Ghee or Coconut Oil

2 teaspoons (8 grams) vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon liquid vanilla stevia

2 cups (190 grams) unpeeled, grated zucchini (use large holes on box grater)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease an 8- x 4-inch loaf pan. Line with parchment paper. Grease the paper.

Sift together the cocoa powder, coconut flour, quinoa flour or brown rice flour, tapioca starch, sea salt, baking powder, baking soda, and xanthan gum.

Whisk together the eggs, lakanto, butter or other. vanilla extract, and liquid vanilla stevia.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Mix until combined.

Stir in grated zucchini.

Turn into prepared pan.

Bake for 45 - 55 minutes or until just a few moist crumbs stick to a toothpick when inserted in the center of the loaf.

Let cool in the pan for 20 minutes then remove and let cool completely on a baking rack.

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This loaf also freezes well.