Detox is vital in this toxic world. For so many years as a health coach I focused simply on clean eating and balance because I do believe that leads to a healthy life. But then one day the light went off in my head. I realized that even if you are eating healthy, you must be detoxing properly. Detox is a natural step toward a better good digestion. Good digestion leads to less inflammation, and less inflammation leads to less disease in this world. Let me say it again, decrease the inflammation and prevent disease. Hippocrates said it best: “All disease begins in the gut.” If this is true and disease begins in the gut, aka your digestive system, then having a healthy and strong digestion is key. But let me share a secret with you - when the body is toxic, your digestive system is weak. So even if you eat “clean” and only buy organic and hormone-free foods, you are still breathing toxicity in this world. We live, eat and breathe toxicity every day. Look around your home and think of the paint on the walls, the rugs, the pesticides sprayed on your green grass, the exterminator to get rid of the bugs. Even if you are chemical-free in your home, is your chemical makeup free? Even if you are doing your best to live a chemical-free life, we are still alive, and that means eating, breathing, and sleeping in a toxic environment. Unless you feel that are ready to live in a bubble or a hyperbaric chamber, then it is time to wake up to what I call daily detox. Now detox is not a curse word or anything to be scared about. Instead, it is exciting to think about your body and cells actually functioning. I do not tell people detox has to be living on juices, or water only, or only smoothies or just salad or soup. Detox is about lessening the toxic load in your body. As I say, “taking out the trash.” When we are toxic, our body cannot perform its job. The body cannot metabolize properly, detox properly, absorb nutrients and minerals, or stay hydrated. It is a vicious cycle. See, detox is necessary to be healthy, happy and free of disease. We all have some low-level inflammation because again we breathe, but even more so we stress in this busy world. Every time you stress you create acid in your body. Your body is then forced to pull minerals to buffer the acid waste. The liver, lymph and kidneys begin to work hard to filter out the toxic load. But what happens when the body is tired and clogged? When your digestive system is not working and cannot break down these foods, it cannot focus on getting RID of TOXINS. That means you cannot get rid of bloat and fat and skin breakouts and all that jazz that keeps you tired. TOXINS=>WEAK DIGESTION=>WEAK IMMUNITY
By detoxing you will improve digestion and free your body of inflammation and toxins in the process. The foundation of this detox is NOT to ever feel deprived or starved.The goal is to help you do what I have learned to do in my own life: learn how to EAT CLEAN and learn what foods are IRRITATING your body. Join me for my detox and cleanse starting on May 6. Click here and let's change your life today. Now that you’ve learned a little more about the benefits of detoxing, how can you start bringing it into your daily life? Here are a few of my favorite ways to stay healthy and detox naturally:
Implement these into your daily rituals and join me on my Spring Detox kicking off May 6 if you are feeling like you need a jump start this spring! If you are looking for a boost but not ready to commit to 14 days check out my Reboot and Rebuild!
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As of lately my energy level has taken a nose dive. My sleep has been way off and stress way UP! The erratic Chicago weather is certainly not helping my cause but I HATE feeling like this when I have so many things I want and need to get done. Anyone else feeling like this? I am feeling this sentiment echoed from clients, friends and family. My own energy dip has forced me to health coach myself and figure out how to turn this cycle around. Once I really started digging into things I realized there are several factors contributing to my lack of energy. It has been a crazy busy month and I didn't realize how much it has thrown off my regular routine, even the very basic things such as hydration have not been where they should be. Hydration is one of those small things that have a huge impact on our bodies. It seems so simple yet sometimes I just can't seem to prioritize this. So much of what we eat and drink affect are mood and energy level. I need to get back to the basics. If you are feeling tired and sluggish start looking closely at below. Keep a journal to see EXACTLY what you are putting in your body or NOT putting in your body. HYDRATION The earliest signs of dehydration are fatigue and lack of energy; if you are feeling thirsty, you are already behind. Our bodies require a substantial amount of water to function properly, so not replenishing it appropriately can immediately impact your metabolism and your energy. Check out the following tips to stay hydrated and maintain your energy levels. • Try to drink 10-12 glasses of water a day. Avoid heavily sweetened or caffeinated beverages as much as possible, because they can actually have the opposite effect. • If you are having trouble drinking that much water, try adding fruit or lemon juice to it, or try eating more fruits and vegetables with high water content. • If you work out regularly, you may want to substitute water with a drink that helps replace the electrolytes your body is sweating out. Forget sports drinks loaded with high fructose corn syrup and additives, though; opt for coconut water or water naturally flavored with lemon and honey instead FOODS FOR MORE ENERGY The following foods can be added to your daily diet for boosted energy levels: • If you feel down or have low levels of energy, you might be suffering from a deficiency of magnesium. Increasing your magnesium on daily basis will help alleviate fatigue and sluggishness. Some good food sources of magnesium are dark leafy greens, nuts and seeds, avocados and bananas. • Start by choosing a healthy diet. Simple carbohydrates are digested quickly, requiring a lot of insulin for your body to balance them out; consume them in moderation. On the other hand, complex carbohydrates are dissolved more slowly and are better for overall health. These are present in whole grain, brown rice, leafy vegetables, and oats, which are also loaded with vitamins and other nutrients. Get the majority of your carbs from vegetables. • Protein is essential for the body to stay healthy, so add lean meat like fish and chicken. Make sure to buy the cleanest versions that your budget will allow-organic poultry, grass fed beef and wild caught fish. Legumes and nuts can also be great sources of protein. • Remove added sugars and processed food from diet. Sugar and processed foods are energy zappers and gut killers! Period. No upside here ! • Know the difference between good and bad fats. Fat has got a bad wrap over the years and our brain and body require healthy fats to function properly. Unsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids are the “good” fats that don’t raise your cholesterol level. These are found in fish, nuts, and olive oil and in many other seeds. Saturated fats are the bad fats found in processed food that can raise your cholesterol level and cause heart disease, so avoid them as much as possible BOOST YOUR MICROBIOME: Do not neglect your microbiome. Your microbiome is the keeper of your energy, mood, immune system, metabolism and hormone production. 90% of our serotonin is held in our gut. Yes you heard that correctly 90%!!! Makes sense why when gut is off we feel low energy and low mood. If your microbiome is in a state of dysbiosis (more bad than good bacteria), no matter how good your diet is and how clean your lifestyle is you will struggle to feel energized! • Add prebiotic foods to your diet. Prebiotics are what the good bacteria feed on. The bad bacteria feed on SUGAR. Prebiotic foods consist of banana, Jerusalem artichokes, raw garlic leeks and onions. • Add probiotic rich foods to your diet such as kefir, yogurt, tempeh, kimchi and kombucha. If you are in the same boat as I have been add some of the above foods to your diet. Get back to the basics. This week to hit that energy head on! Let me know how you feel! It happens every time at this time of year. Holidays are over, days feel dreary and long and depending on where you live, the sun can be M.I.A. I know for those of us in the midwest it is nearly impossible to keep Vitamin D levels near where they should be during the long the winter days. Sunshine is limited and likely we are not spending a lot of time outside on these chilly Chicago days. Vitamin D is crucial to our health and happiness. The Basics: Vitamin D is found in 2 forms. Vitamin D2 (Ergocalciferol) is made by plants. You can find it in foods that have been fortified, such as juices, milk, or cereals (not really the best source). However, Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol), the most complete form of Vitamin D, is made when the skin is exposed to sun. Likely most of us recently have been told that all sun exposure is bad, slather and to not venture out in the sun without an SPF of at least 30. This is not true and in fact doctors are changing their recommendations on sunlight. It is now recommended to get 15-10 minutes of direct sunlight on unprotected skin. Nature is your best bet for Vitamin D. Including foods in your diet that contain vitamin D, like fish (wild salmon is good), cod liver oil, milk, eggs, fresh fruits, and vegetables will also help. Unfortunately, most of us cannot get enough Vitamin D through food sources or sun exposure. It is estimated that up to 2/3 of the population is Vitamin D deficient and needs to take a Vitamin D3 supplement. Keep in mind that it is a fat-soluble vitamin and should be taken with a meal for the best absorption possible. The benefits?
How do I know if I am getting enough? You can test Vitamin D levels by a blood test called 25(OH). It is the ONLY blood test out there that measures the amount of Vitamin D to determine if you are getting enough or not. Everyone's requirements are different. Most doctors are now making vitamin D checks part of your routine exam, although most of us will not go wrong with adding a basic vitamin D supplement to our routine. My child's pediatrician is now recommending a standard 2000 mg during the winter months and 1000 mg regularly, I personally take 5000-10000 MG as I tend to run pretty low. It's a great place to start if you are not feeling so stellar this winter. Ladies, there are those times when you just don’t understand where your mood is coming from, and it changes without warning. This is a common experience for many women. Fortunately, there are foods that can effectively improve your mood. By simply eating the right food, you can experience a great difference in your energy and mood. A diet packed with highly nutritious food and proper supplementation can drastically reduce the symptoms of hormonal imbalance such as depression, mood swings, acne, and weight gain. Mood Enhancing Foods and Supplements: SPIRULINA Are you familiar with the blue-green algae found in ponds and lakes? Well, it is known as Spirulina and it contains high amounts of magnesium, calcium, and potassium. It is rich in hormone-balancing nutrients, which can help reduce mood problems, cramps, inflammation, and breast tenderness. Therefore, it can reduce the risk of blood sugar problems by resolving the root cause of hormonal imbalance. COD LIVER OIL Cod liver oil is a historically popular remedy for its nutritional content. Fortunately, the contemporary variety is much tastier than its predecessors. Cod liver oil is rich in essential concentrated hormone-balancing nutrients such as Vitamin A and omega 3s that help address mood problems, inflammation, and fluid balance. VITEX Vitex is also called Chaste Tree Berry, which is a powerful medicinal herb. This is especially ideal for women’s health because it helps produce high progesterone levels. Vitex can help relieve PMS symptoms such as depressed mood, irritability, headache, skin disorder, fatigue, bloating, breast fullness or sleeplessness. Vitex tincture gives you the best results and can be added to herbal teas. BEE POLLEN In traditional Chinese medicine, bee pollen is specifically used to increase energy, reduce cravings, improve digestion, and build iron. Bee pollen is considered a complete food and is a great source of proteins and other important nutrients such as folic acid and vitamin B. These nutrients are effective in balancing hormones, improving your mood, and stabilizing weight. AVOCADO Avocados are great sources of the good fats that are essential for hormone synthesis. The nutrients from avocados help your skin release and circulate the hormones necessary to stay healthy. It is recommended to eat a half an avocado per day to get a beneficial amount of fiber, monounsaturated fatty acids, vitamins C and E, potassium and lutein. SALMON Salmon is good for your brain and heart health. It also balances your hormones because it contains omega-3 fatty acids, which serve as a major building block for hormone synthesis. Its anti-inflammatory properties can help fight skin irritations, including eczema and acne. AMARE FUNDAMENTALS Through a combination of prebioics, strain specific probiotics and phytonutrients, Amare Fundamentals works to balance the gut microbiome and targets the Gut Brain Axis resulting in lower tension, depression, anger and fatigue. When the microbiome is not balanced often hormone imbalances will result. To stay healthy as well as balance your hormones, you need to eat the right food. The foods on this list can produce amazing results. Put an end to your mood swings and other hormonal imbalance symptoms by adding a few of the above to your diet. A Different Kind of Weight Loss Program: Manage Stress, Balance your Gut, Lose the Weight10/16/2018 Tired of gaining 5-10 pounds over the holidays? Giving back all of those extra pounds you worked so hard to lose? Let's try something different this year .Use the last 60 days of 2018 to heal your gut, lose weight and set up healthier habits so you can go into 2019 feeling good about yourself. Wouldn't that feel so good?? November 1 – December 31 is typically the time of year when people gain the most weight. Holiday treats and libations get the best of us, as well as holiday stress. Holidays are one of the most stressful times of the year. As a result our stress hormone cortisol spikes, sleep get's interrupted and we can't control our cravings so we EAT, alot. January 1 rolls around and we are left feeling like we are starting over...again! I'm trying something different this year and would love you to join me. This is a little different than the groups I have run in past. This pilot group will be run by Dr. Shawn Talbott who is an expert in Nutritional Biochemistry, Exercise Physiology, and Psychological Vigor. He’s also a very cool guy who makes all of this science stuff easy to understand and fun. It makes sense. This is very unique opportunity to get insight and guidance from a guy who is an expert in the areas of physical and mental wellness. His full bio is at the end of this post. In addition to this you will have my support, 9 other health coaches and two functional medicine doctors in our group to support you and answer any questions you may have. I have coached individuals as well as groups in the areas of nutrition, detox, gut health, mindset and stress management since graduating from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in 2015 and you will have my personal support as well. I have teamed up with Dr. Shawn because these supplements address gut healing and stress and cortisol management, 2 things that often prohibit people from reaching their goals. Dr. Talbott, along with myself will guide participants through 8-weeks of diet/exercise/lifestyle tips – using the very same techniques that he has written about in his books and which have helped thousands of people lose weight (and feel great while doing so). Expect to see huge benefits for both stress levels and body fat levels – which means you can start off 2019 a happier and more fit. This program is not a traditional “calories in, calories out” approach. By addressing stress resilience and gut health , your body can better function. It is about eating REAL whole food, stress management along with proper supplementation to get your body back to working how it was meant to. The only cost for participants is the cost of supplements for program from Amare, the award-winning mental wellness and gut/brain connection company. There are a few options we can explore together to ensure the best package for your goals, struggles, and budget. All products are non-GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, soy-free and contain no artificial sweeteners, colors or preservatives. They are all designed to address microbiome imbalances, heal your gut and help you gut and brain more effectively communicate. This program will also help address cortisol imbalances, cravings, stress, sleep and more. Amare has won awards and received significant praise and attention from the nutrition industry for their innovative approach to mental and physical wellness. Watch this short video to learn more about the science behind the gut/brain connection and Amare. Amare Supplement Benefits: * Antimicrobial herbs eliminate bad bacteria in the gut and rebalance healthy flora for optimal health * Rich in nutrients that boost the liver for healthier weight loss, increased energy, and mental clarity * Ancient herbs improve mood and decrease tension * Supports natural serotonin and dopamine production * Phytobiotics boost cognitive and functional clarity * Vitamins and minerals for overall health and immunity * Superfoods that protect cellular oxidative stress * Fiber that helps control appetite and reduces feelings of hunger * Phytonutrients cleanse the gut and eliminates toxins for a complete digestive reset to leave you feeling lighter Dr. Talbott will provide (free and online) weekly blog posts and Zoom video calls that you can join live for advice/Q&A (or view later at your convenience). There will also be a Facebook community to keep all participants connected and supported. Interested? Reach out to me via email jencovey3@gmail.com to learn more or hop on a quick call to customize your program. Let’s do this! SHAWN TALBOTT BIO Dr. Shawn Talbott received dual Bachelor’s degrees in Sports Medicine (B.S.) and Fitness Management (B.A.) from Marietta College, his Master’s degree (M.S.) in Exercise Science from the University of Massachusetts, and his Ph.D. in Nutritional Biochemistry from Rutgers University. He is also a Diplomate of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Sports Nutrition program, and has completed a wide range of entrepreneurship studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), including the Entrepreneurial Master’s Program (EMP), the Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP), and the Advanced Certificate for Executives (ACE) in Management, Innovation, and Technology. He has served as a nutrition educator for elite-level athletes in a variety of sports. As an athlete himself, Dr. Shawn has competed at the national and international level in rowing, cycling, and triathlons. He is a Fellow of the American College of Nutrition (ACN), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), and the American Institute of Stress (AIS). Dr. Talbott’s recent educational projects include two academic textbooks, an award-winning documentary film, and several best-selling books that have been translated into multiple languages. His work to educate people about nutrition and health has been featured on The Dr. Oz Show, the TED stage, and the White House. Shawn is the Chief Science Officer and a Founding Executive with Amare Global, the mental wellness company. He is responsible for Amare’s research, development, and product strategy. Shawn’s unique ability to explain complex terminology in simple terms helps people understand the science behind new and existing products. Dr. Shawn leads all aspects of the development of new product formulations and specifications, as well as clinical and experimental research, product claims substantiation, and technical support. His 20+ years of experience developing nutritional products that have generated over $1 Billion in sales has all lead to him finding his true passion at Amare – using his skills & experience to help people feel better through improved mental wellness and psychological vigor (mental acuity, physical energy, and emotional well-being). Stress is a MAJOR issue often over looked when we are trying to get healthy and lose weight. Self care and stress management usually slide to the very bottom of our to do list, myself included. Often, we do not even realize how much stress we are carrying because we are so used to living this way. Who isn't juggling 100 things daily? Stress has become part of our "normal". A little bit of stress is a good thing. It's what fuels us, it can motivate us. When we stress our adrenals release cortisol. I am sure everyone has heard this by now, but what is really going on in our body during these stressful times? Cortisol and adrenaline spike and then they return back to normal levels. This is a natural process. The real issue is chronic stress. You body releases cortisol and more cortisol and more adrenaline and you are constantly in that activated state. Your body is constantly in "fight or flight" mode which leads to sugar cravings and emotional eating. Eventually these chronic high cortisol responses will lead to adrenal fatigue, where your adrenals can no longer produce the right amount of cortisol. I have seen women do everything right. Eat Right. Exercise Right. If your body is constantly in stress mode or has been for years it makes it nearly impossible to lose weight. Stress management is often the missing piece of the puzzle for many of us. Yet, for some reason it is the most difficult for all of us to fit into our lifestyles. I am assuming if you are reading this you have tried everything, every diet, every exercise program, logged hours at the gym and still no results. Look at your stress. Schedule stress management in as a part of your day. Figure out what works for you. Find a stress management practice you like and stick to it. You are not going to notice a huge difference from sitting down to meditate for 10 minutes one time, the same way you won't lose weight from one 3 mile run on treadmill. A couple things I love for stress management: 1. Meditation Apps-There is no shortage of apps out there for basically anything you want to do. Find one you connect with and one that resonates with you. I love Buddhify and Calm. Many men I work with love Headspace 2. Deep Breathing. Don't have time to sit with an app? You don't need one. There are so many deep breathing techniques and numerous studies that show how these balance your nervous system. The majority of my clients love the 4-7-8 technique. a. Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound. b. Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a mental count of 4. c. Hold your breath for a count of seven. d. Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound to a count of weight. This is one breath. e. Now inhale again and repeat the cycle three more times for a total of four breaths. 3. Not the meditating type? Find what you like. Go for a walk, take a yoga class, take a hot bath with essential oils, get a massage, acupuncture, read a book... There is no right way to manage stress. The right way is the one that works and one you will commit to. 4. Supplements-The right supplements and herbs can have a huge impact on your stress response. Ashwaganda and L-Theanine are the 2 I started with and now use a much more comprehensive system that targets the microbiome to reduce stress. These are part of my daily routine along with my basic vitamins and have had a HUGE impact on my stress level and sleep as a result. Happy to share more details about my regime for those interested please reach out. Try it, you have nothing to lose..but possibly those extra pounds you are carrying. XOXO, Jen Is this how you are feeling right now? Does weight loss as you age seem like an insurmountable task? Do you feel like you have been eating right and exercising and still cannot crack the scale? Can you not lose those extra 10 pounds that you honestly don't know where they came from in the first place? You are not alone.
I know I have felt like that and still feel like this at times in my life. Just when I think I finally have my body figured out, BAM something shifts and once again I have to adjust, play detective and through trial and error figure out what my body is asking for. Unfortunately, with every shift my body is usually asking for less wine, but that's a whole other topic. Often we get so frustrated with the process and lack of results that we give up RIGHT before a major breakthrough is about to happen. I have been fortunate enough this year to team up with some amazing people at Momentum Health Center in addition to working for a Functional Medicine Doctor. The wealth of knowledge I have gained through these opportunities has been incredible. I hear this same story over and over, one incredibly similar to my own and I am sure a lot of yours as well. I cannot tell you how many woman cross my path with almost the same story. They hit a certain age and weight shows up out of no where, through no changes in diet or lifestyle. It's a hard thing to wrap your brain around. We all get the weight showing up after a bender of over indulging in french fries, ice cream, wine, beer and chips and dip. It's the weight that seems to slap us in the face when least expecting it that we struggle with. It's a confidence killer and that along with hormones out of whack can send us all into a bad space. After 40 the weight loss formula changes, amongst a lot of other changes going on in our bodies as well. It's a new decade and as women we need to reevaluate and treat our bodies differently than we have in the past. It is not a simple calories in calories out approach. It's not about punishing yourself for an hour on the treadmill. It's not about eating 700 calories a day. Often, the reason why are bodies are responding like this is the result of things that have built up over the course of our lifetime, not the burger from last week. We need to take a look at all pieces of the puzzle. I will be covering each of these in more detail over the next four weeks but a few of the key areas to look at if you are stuck. 1.Reevaluate your food choices. You may be eating "right" but not eating the right foods for YOUR body . 2. Supplement when needed. It is very difficult to get all vitamins and minerals we need from today's diet. Herbs and supplements are a great place to fill in and to support your ever changing hormones. 3. Manage your stress. This is the single most overlooked factor when trying to lose weight and the impact that is has on your weight loss efforts. 4. Exercise Appropriately. Your exercise could be doing way more harm than good. Discover what YOUR body really needs and often it's counterintuitive to what your brain is telling you to do. 5. Get those zzz's. Is uninterrupted sleep a thing of the past for you? Quality sleep is imperative for your body to heal itself. 6. Be Kind and Patient to Yourself. You didn't get here overnight and you won't lose weight overnight either. Being too hard on yourself creates even more stress...and the cycle continues. XOXO, Jen Cold and flu season is not far off but there are things you can do now to boost your immunity and give yourself a better chance against those nasty colds.
Our bodies are designed to fight disease on their own, however, if the immune system gets weak or stops working, you become more susceptible to diseases. This happens when we do not take care of ourselves properly. Let's face it our health becomes the last priority in the busy lifestyles of today. Make yourself a priority this fall. A few things you can do to naturally boost your immune system: 1. Get enough sleep: You may have noticed that if you don't sleep well or enough, you are more likely to catch the flu, a cold, or other illness. Studies have shown that people who sleep seven to eight hours a night are less likely to get colds. Don't let yourself get run down this fall and winter. 2. Exercise more: Exercise benefits nearly everything about your body, both inside and out. But exercising isn’t always that easy, especially for people who have to start from the ground up. If you keep exercising you will start to feel a change in your body. You will start liking it and it will become a habit. Exercise is more than lifting weights or strenuous workouts. Anything you do that makes your muscles work is exercise. Moderate exercise is just as beneficial for your immune system as strenuous exercise. Walking just 30 to 35 minutes a day can make your immune system healthy and more powerful against diseases. 3. Proper diet: A poor diet will compromise your immune system. The Standard American Diet of heavily processed foods wreaks havoc on the immune system. Look at your food closely. Sugar and processed foods do more harm than good. Foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals are great for boosting the immune system. Increase your consumption of vegetable and fruits like apples, bananas, cherries, kiwi, carrots, spinach and other leafy greens, onions and sweet potatoes. Herbs such as garlic and oregano fight bad bacteria naturally. 4. Manage Stress: Stress can weaken both your body and your mind. You cannot control the situations that cause stress but you can control how you respond. Learning to manage your stress is a vital part of being healthy. Figure out what helps you manage stress effectively. Incorporate stress reducing techniques into your life whether it be mediation, accupuncture, exercise or time with friends. There are also many supplements and herbs such as ashwaganda and L-Theanine that help control the stress response within your body. Start implementing these into your daily routine for a healthier fall and winter! What do writing words on paper have to do with healing your gut? The answers might surprise you. Journaling can help your digestive health in a few ways. There’s been a surprising amount of research done on the help benefits of keeping a journal.
Reduce Stress and Digest Writing in a journal is a powerful exercise in stress reduction. There are few opportunities in life to spill out your deepest emotions without fear of judgement and journaling is one of them. Stress is terrible for your gut health. It inhibits healthy digestion and chronic stress can even lead to more severe conditions like leaky gut. Chronic stress also triggers your cortisol which can lead to weight gain and difficulty losing weight. Using a journal as an outlet vent negative emotions gets them out of your system and has a cathartic effect. It might seem weird if you’ve never journaled before but you’ll probably grow to view writing as a form of therapy. It’s simply a space to write down how you truly feel and process the good, the bad, and the ugly. Keeping Track of Your Reactions The other benefit of journaling for gut health is keeping track of what goes into your body and your reactions to it. You don’t have to do this forever, but if you want to get on the fast track to healthy digestion and figure out what foods work for your body, it’s necessary. It is surprising to find sometimes the very foods we think are "healthy" foods are the ones that hinder our health goals the most. Try writing down what you eat and how you feel for one week and you’ll be so much more aware of your reactions to certain foods. It doesn’t have to end at how you feel physically, you could also make a note of how you feel emotionally after eating certain foods. Perhaps eating soup makes you feel comforted and cozy, where eating a fast food burger might make you feel bad about yourself. Write it all down and over time you’ll be more conscious of only putting food in your body that’s deeply nourishing. Make it Special Journaling is an act of self-love. You do it for yourself and no one else. Get yourself a beautiful journal that inspires you to take action. Having a gorgeous journal will inspire you to use it, happy writing! This is one of the most important things I work with my clients in our one on one sessions. Once you figure out what foods really work for you, eating healthy will be effortless. It is always the first thing my clients are resistant to do because no one wants one more thing on their "to do" list. It often ends up being the most eye opening and beneficial work we do together. Once you start really tuning into what your body is telling you, change happens. Please reach out if you need any help in your wellness journey To your wellness, XOXO Jen Did you know that you could be carrying around 5-10+ pounds of toxicity right now? When the body consumes products that are not organic, or are heavily processed, and loaded with “junk", weight gain will happen and then you'll get zapped of energy!
I never thought that I was carrying around all the extra pounds because of toxins until I tried my first elimination diet per the recommendation of a Functional Medicine doctor. My system was on overload and my body was going haywire. I couldn't sleep, I felt chronically stressed and the fact that I couldn't button my jeans was seriously pissing me off. I tried an elimination diet and it was the best advice I have ever received regarding my health. At the time I had no idea how impactful this could be. Once I eliminated all of the junk and foods that could cause sensitivities I couldn't believe how awesome I felt. By eliminating things like sugar, dairy, wheat and soy I was able to finally CRACK the number on the scale that hadn't moved in a year, despite the miles and miles logged on the treadmill. It wasn't only about taking things away it was about adding in the good stuff- REAL,whole, unprocessed foods. It is one of my favorite things to lead my clients through. Everyone feels better once they experience real clean eating! It is not about depriving yourself but feeding your body whole nourishing foods. I religiously do a seasonal detox to clear the junk out of my body and get my body to ground zero. I have found it is one of only ways I can maintain or lose weight when I need to. Now I don’t suffer from unwanted weight, poor sleep, bad skin, lack of energy, and poor digestion. It's nearly impossible to control our exposure to toxins but a seasonal detox can give you the reset your body needs to continue to be able to filter these toxins and get your body back on track. I almost always lead my clients through a detox when we begin working together. The benefits are infinite. If you need any support in detoxifying your body and shedding some winter weight, please email me at jencovey3@gmail.com. xoxo, Jen |
AuthorI love sharing my knowledge of clean food and healthy living. It's not as overwhelming as people think it is. I am not about eating salads 24/7. Anyone who knows me knows I don't really deprive myself. Through trial and error I learned what works for me, my body and most importantly my sanity. Archives
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