Tag Archives: diet

Fooducated For Sure: My Addiction to this App Grows Stronger

Posted in Motivation & Happiness, Year of Challenges (2013) by

By Allie DeLay

A week ago, I walked into Verizon store and I swear I must’ve had “sucker” stamped across my forehead. After the battery on my Droid decided to kick the bucket, managers encouraged me to use my upgrade. Despite the abysmal state that my bank account is in, seeing as how I’m entering the home stretch of my poverty stricken undergraduate college days, I couldn’t resist the beauty that is the iPhone 5. After years of being a phone outcast, sticking to my Samsung Alias while my friends all BBM’d each other or seeing little squares instead of emojis, the second my fingers touched the glossy screen, I knew I’d be hooked. And sure enough within hours I was updating contacts, setting notification sounds, and downloading apps.

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As if some higher power knew, I’d fall in love, I found the Fooducate App. Now apparently, I am some three years behind the times (since that’s how long my lovely Aunt Marianne has been using this app) but I cannot get over how informative and amazing this program is. Literally, if you’ve run into me on campus this past week, you’ve probably had to sit through some pathetic tutorial where I just smile at the screen and shake my phone, looking up nutrition information on random products. And honestly if I had any shame I may apologize, but that’s the thing I don’t. I AM OBSESSED! 

For the beginning of this week, I was back home in New York, taking a little mini-vacation and while I was home, I decided what better way to harass my family then to scan everything they were eating in the kitchen and point out what was wrong. When I scanned my brother’s beloved Fruit Roll Ups, I wasn’t surprised to see a personalized grade D rating because the product was highly processed and contained artificial colors.

However, I think I could’ve used some assistance peeling my jaw up off the ground when I read that Special K Chocolatey Delight was rated a “personalized C-“. For months, on days when I wasn’t feeling like making eggs or Kashi Go Lean Crunch (which the jury is still out on) wasn’t making the cut, I’d pour myself a bowl of this cereal and dig in. Granted I knew there was chocolate in it, so it obviously wasn’t every dieter’s dream, but I couldn’t imagine the nutrition information that Fooducate would enlighten me with. After all it is a Special K product!

Special K Chocolatey Delight has a High GMO probability, which isn’t necessarily the worst thing in the world. But, if you are someone that prefers ingredients in your food that aren’t processed, then this may not be your ideal choice. It is a highly processed serial, but so is really any product that contains more than ten ingredients (which is actually a good way to think about your food, and consider if you really want to indulge in something that contains certain ingredients that you can barely pronounce). It contains artificial flavors to enhance the flavor and increase shelf life at a more affordable rate.

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All of this I could’ve dealt with. Obviously it wouldn’t be my first choice cereal, but I might’ve been able to manage. Then, I saw it. Right there with the red exclamation point staring at me: “Contains Trans-Fats! Even if label says 0!” My heart sank as I continued to read what I already knew, trans-fats have been linked to increase risk of heart disease by raising LDL (bad cholesterol) and lowering HDL (good cholesterol). I then learned that there is a loophole with the FDA, where companies can round down the amount of trans-fats in a product, if it is less than half a gram per serving. Now, it’s not like eating one bowl of this every once in a while could hurt you, but every day? And when your family, like mine, has a history of heart disease, is that what I really want in my pantry?

In order to tell if products have trans-fats in them, look for the term “partially-hydrogenated” oils and fats in the ingredients list. If you see this and you’d rather be safe than sorry, it might be best to steer clear of that product as much as possible when you hit the grocery store.

As if learning this information wasn’t one of the most disheartening/exciting things this app did for me this week, I spent hours procrastinating actual homework reading the Daily Tip articles and then researching the information further. This week, in an a two part article by Vani Hari aka Food Babe, Hari goes into detail about how junk food companies are exploiting Americans by putting ingredients that are banned in other countries in our foods.

She explains how certain additives that are found in our American version of foods have been linked to hyperactivity in children, obesity, and food cravings. Ingredients that have not only been banned but have been made punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $450,000 fine are being thrown into the batter of products sold on our supermarket shelves to consumers, who might as well have the same “sucker” stamped on their heads that I had at the Verizon store. Not only did I find this outright appalling but I actually got worked up over it. So much so, that I cannot even fathom how many more products are out there that Hari didn’t describe in part two of her article.

Needless to say, week one and I’ve been Fooducated for sure. I am clearly hooked and how could I not be? By the end of this month, I hope you’ll feel the same!

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Stay Healthy, Stay Happy, Stay Fooducated

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The Fooducate Challenge

Posted in Motivation & Happiness, Year of Challenges (2013) by

By Allie DeLay

In the spirit of the Year of Challenges, I have decided to not only challenge myself but to put a part of the diet and fitness world to the test this month. For my March challenge, I will be using an app known as Fooducate.

Fooducate is an app that you can download to your iPhone or Android cell phone. The general version of the application is free but other versions, such as “Allergy & Gluten Free” and “Diabetes Nutrition” are available for a fee. (These have specific settings for the program to alert you of gluten, lactose, peanut, shellfish, sugars etc.) The Fooducate app allows users to create their own profile, input specific goals, and use a “Health Tracker” to document their daily eating habits along with their activity level.

Under the Profile tab, users input information based on gender, date of birth, activity level, height, and weight. Fooducate uses this information to calculate your Body Mass Index or BMI and explains what range (underweight, normal, overweight, or obese) you fall into. The Goals tab allows users to specify their weight loss goals by implementing their target weight. Based on your activity level (sedentary, somewhat active, active, and very active) recommended daily calories, carbs, and foodpoints are calculated.

Users can go one step further and indicate settings such as:

  • Eat Heart Healthy
  • Lower Cholesterol Levels
  • Lower My Blood Pressure
  • Avoid Processed Foods
  • Eat Vegetarian
  • Eat Vegan
  • Warn me about GMO’s

All of these features are AMAZING but what really sets this application apart from others is the “Scan” feature. Fooducate uses modern day technology to turn the Diet world on its head. Fooducate offers the widest database of universal product codes or UPC’s with over 200,000 different products. With the app, you can simply scan the barcode of any product found within the database and Fooducate will grade your food and explain what ingredients are found in it.

Fooducate’s grading system is a scale of 10 grades ranging from: A, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C, D+, and D. Grades are calculated based on the product package information, nutrition label, and ingredient list. Products that are rich in nutrients with little to no processing receive high grades allowing items that exist naturally to score above processed food. The application also offers “Daily Tips” which cover topics regarding food safety, kids nutrition, nutrition label analysis, or general food and diet news.

My goal for the next month is to get to know this application inside and out. I’ll be using it daily tracking my food intake, activity level, and keeping notes on how I’m feeling. In order to truly reap the benefits of this program, I will commit to using the calorie tracker, recommended daily food points, and even go so far as to brave carbs again (Ahh!) by sticking to the recommended carb intake. My personal goal for the next month is to lose 5 lbs. I’ve chosen this number because given the progress I’ve made recently I believe it is not an unattainable number for me. But, I will need to actively work to reach this goal. I’m hoping that through using Fooducate and keeping a daily record of my health, I’ll be able to meet this goal.

Each week, I’ll be sharing more details on the app’s features, a daily tip, a surprising food grading, and a little bit about my experience with the application.

Keep an eye out & until next time,

Stay Healthy, Stay Happy, Stay Fooducated

How to prepare tofu for cooking

Posted in Food & Diet by

By Emily McLaughlin

Tofu is not just for vegans and vegetarians—anyone can learn to love it. Tofu takes on any flavor your heart imagines and can be purchased in a variety of textures from silkened to extra firm from the produce or organic section in your grocery store. Top your salads with tofu for extra protein or cook up an excellent tofu-veggie stir-fry.

Something very intimidating about tofu is the preparation process. Lucky for you, I took some pictures yesterday while preparing mine for dinner. Here they are, organized into step-by-step slideshow instructions:

Tofu isn’t the only great soy product out there…

Soymilk

Soymilk might not have as much calcium as cow’s milk, but it is still a great alternative for those who are vegan or lactose intolerant. Milk made from soy beans is often lower in calories and has a smooth texture and nutty flavor.

Original Silk Soymilk has 90 calories per 1 cup. This serving size includes almost half your daily value of calcium and B12, along with 6 grams of protein. Don’t like it plain, make this smootie:

Nutty chocolate banana smoothie

1 cup of soymilk (any flavor really)

½ cup vanilla frozen yogurt (or regular yogurt with a few ice cubes)

½ small banana

1 tbsp. chocolate hazelnut spread (Nutella, or a peanut butter of your choice with a tbsp. of chocolate sauce)

        1. Put all of the contents in a blender, mixing until smooth and frothy (1-2 minutes)
        2. Serve immediately in a tall glass.
Edamame

Edamame is a soybean that has been picked right before it matures. It is the perfect bean for stir-fries, salads or a snack in between meals. Edamame is a great source of fiber and protein, which will fill you up without weighing you down. Serve it warm, cold or baked and crunchy. Find edamame in the freezer section or produce section of your grocery store. I like to buy it from Trader Joe’s—shelled and precooked. Try it in a stir-fry or fried rice.

Vegetarian lentil (meat)balls

Posted in Food & Diet, Recipes by

By Emily McLaughlin

These aren’t exactly meatballs since they are lacking any kind of beef or poultry, but they are a delicious vegetarian alternative to traditional meatballs if you are looking for something to accompany your pasta. Being pescetarian for the month has led me to have some interesting cravings brought on my temptation and the simple lust for what I can’t have. The forbidden is always so desirable.

Earlier this month, I was tempted by my Aunt Karen’s famous meatballs. When I say famous, I really mean it. If she didn’t make them for a holiday or family gathering, people might riot. Real talk.

Anyways, here is my vegetarian spin on meaty, meaty meatballs. Enjoy!

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Red Lentil and Kale Meatballs

Ingredients

1/2 cup kale

1/2 small yellow onion

1 tbsp parmesan cheese

1 clove garlic, roughly chopped

1 tbsp scallions

1 tsp olive oil

*preferred seasonings (I used red pepper flakes, curry, chili powder. You could go all Italian with basil, oregano, garlic powder, etc.)

1/2 cup panko

1 egg

1 cup cooked lentils (~1/2 cup uncooked)

*palm full of whole wheat flour

*optional

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and begin by cooking ~1/2 cup dry lentils according to package instructions.SONY DSC

2. Combine blue ingredients above (kale –> olive oil) in a food processor. Place mixture in a medium mixing bowl. SONY DSC

3. Add egg, panko, preferred seasonings and cooked lentils (once slightly cooled) to the same mixing bowl and combine.SONY DSC

4. Test the mixture next — If you are having trouble forming compact balls, add a palm full of whole wheat flour to the mixture. SONY DSC

5. Line a baking sheet or dish with tinfoil, lightly greasing the bottom. Form lentil balls from the mixture — You should be able to make 9 decently sized balls from the contents of your bowl.

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6. Place lentil balls in the oven for 15-20 minutes, turning half way through. Take them out when they begin to brown and crisp on the outside.

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Serve them up with some pasta, rice, tomato sauce… get creative! Yum yum yum! Once January is over, I might consider adding some ground pork/turkey to these lentil balls.

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My January mini-chewing-challenge

Posted in Food & Diet, Motivation & Happiness, Year of Challenges (2013) by

By Lauren Duffy

This month I began to see a few of my friends doing “January challenges,” and I decided that I wanted to try one, too. Since I knew I would be spending this month driving back and forth between Wrentham and Amherst a couple of times a week (an hour and forty five minutes each way), I realized that whatever challenge I did needed to be simple, easy, and not too terribly strict since buying diet-strict groceries and following an exact exercise plan was not an option with the commute and craziness.

After doing some research, I found an article about counting while chewing. At first I rolled my eyes at the idea; I thought it was a silly crash-dieting antick that someone like Regina George and her “I just wanna lose 3 pounds” mindset would do, but I was so wrong.
Apparently, most Americans don’t chew their food enough and they eat way too fast without even realizing it and I was no exception. This can mess up the digestive system and cause us to overeat, therefore causing excess weight.soup

From some wonderful health blogs and articles, I learned that good digestion starts in the mouth. When we focus on chewing and really break down big pieces, it makes our body’s ability to absorb nutrients and break down food much easier. Also, our saliva has powerful enzymes that can help break down food.

Chewing properly can also help our eating habits on a mental level. The more time we focus on chewing, the more time we are giving our brain and body to recognize that we have eaten enough and we can avoid that uncomfortably full feeling.

So this month I tried to slow down significantly and here’s what I found:
In the beginning, I realized how habitual it was to bite, chew a few times, then swallow. It was a huge effort to try to focus on slowing down and breaking down the food. I noticed that the chewing varied completely on the food and the texture. For example, I would struggle to chew a piece of pineapple 10 times, but a bite of an apple could be chewed 20+ times, and almonds 30+ times. I found that the only way to keep me on track was to count every single chew and make sure I chewed a bare minimum of 10 times for solid foods, otherwise I would mindlessly return to old quick habits. I kind of made it a competition with myself– how many times can I chew this until it’s impossibly small? Nerd alert.
clockSounds absolutely ridiculous, I know, and some even say this idea is a myth.. but this little experiment has made me feel amazing. For whatever reason, I’m craving water like never before, so I’m drinking my full water bottle several times a day, and feeling great from being so hydrated. I’m fuller faster, yet totally satisfied and I don’t ever feel bloated after eating. And, the more I’ve been focusing on this new habit, the more naturally slower chewing and chewing more comes to me. I was not too terribly strict with this little challenge, which is one of the reasons I liked it– it really worked with my schedule. I also had to be flexible because if I was ever eating with friends I would lose count or forget to count because I was talking, so I just tried to focus on it when I was eating on the run or by myself between shifts, which was frankly most of the time this month. The challenge wasn’t about the number of chews– but more about the bigger picture of slowing down and seeing what happened.

Sometimes in life we all just need to slooooooow down, and this is a nice way to start.

I plan to do a bigger challenge next month, like trying to go gluten-free or maybe even join my two roommates on their Paleo diet… maybe. But if you’re looking for a nice and easy challenge or just a healthy lifestyle change, I highly suggest you start with chewing! Weird as it sounds, it’s made a world of difference.
I have a week and a half left to complete this January mini-chewing challenge, but I’m sure I’ll try to continue this healthy habit for life. :)

The Paleo Diaries: Week One

Posted in Food & Diet, Motivation & Happiness, Simply Paleo, Year of Challenges (2013) by

By Allie DeLay

Will power. That was my number one word going into this first week. Will power, which was something I usually equated with a sprint during the last 400 meters of a timed mile or an extra push up to finish up a plyo workout, took on a whole new meaning this week. Learning to say no to some of the staples in my diet was a real challenge this week.

As a self proclaimed Carb Fanatic, I knew it wasn’t going to be a cake walk giving up my morning bowl of cereal, afternoon sandwich, or as I like to refer to it my “night cap,” a piece of toast with Nutella and fluff (which I would like to point out to my roommates I have successfully done away with). But, I didn’t anticipate how often I was going to have to decline food and avoid giving in to temptation.

450px-Paleo_foodWhen I decided to start eating Paleo, I told my family and although I don’t think they fully understand it, they’ve been extremely supportive. Since I’m still home on winter break, I managed to stock the fridge with plenty of fruits and vegetables but that didn’t mean there wasn’t going to be bread, cereal, and other tempting foods that were a definite no-no in the Paleo Diet, sitting on the shelves in the kitchen just mocking me. (Okay, maybe they weren’t mocking me but, when your mom comes home with four boxes of Special K Chocolatey Delight the week you decide to go Paleo, you may feel a little resentment towards that cereal.)

Thankfully, fruits, vegetables, and eggs become my saving grace. I have managed to stir-fry pretty much anything and everything this week, relying albeit maybe a little too heavily on chicken. I have learned to appreciate more natural flavoring from my vegetables and I have definitely been experimenting a lot in the kitchen.

I have noticed more changes in my energy level and I’ve been feeling full a lot faster, without having the whole “I have a food baby, pull the car over so I can puke” kind of feeling. I just have to remember how great I’ve been feeling and I’m sure if I set my mind to it, my will-power will help me keep this inner cave-woman alive!

Breakfast bowl: Sweet potato hash, kale and egg (for one)

Posted in Food & Diet, Recipes by

By Emily McLaughlin

Sweet potato hash, kale, egg.

Sweet potato hash, kale, egg.

Ingredients

1 sm/med sweet potato

1 cup kale

1 egg

1/2 tsp parmesan cheese

1/2 tsp fresh minced garlic

2+ tsp olive iil

Fresh black pepper (and any other seasonings you might enjoy)

Directions

1. Wash and grate the sweet potato. In a small bowl, mix sweet potato, cheese and 1+ tsp of olive oil (enough to coat the potato lightly).

2. In a non-stick skillet over medium heat, cook sweet potato in the shape of a patty. Flip after ~2 minutes, or until underside starts to brown. Use a large spatula and don’t be mad when your potato doesn’t stay in patty-form.  When your sweet potato hash is cooked, toss it in a bowl.

3. In the same skillet, heat 1 tsp of olive oil. Add garlic and cook on low heat for a minute. Add kale to the skillet and turn the heat up to medium. (To prep your kale before cooking, wash thoroughly and leave it as wet as possible.) Cover kale, and cook until it begins to wilt.

4. Crack your egg right on top of the kale, sprinkle some pepper (and other seasonings) on top of that. Cover the skillet again and cook the egg to your liking. You might want to add a little more water (1/2 tsp at a time) to steam both the kale and egg.

5. Add these things to your bowl, top it all with a little hot sauce and a dollop of Greek yogurt.

Voila!

Calculate your protein needs

Posted in Food & Diet by

By Emily McLaughlin

Mmm, protein.

Mmm, protein.

Going pescestarian has made me take protein consumption into greater consideration. But how does one go about calculating those needs exactly? Well… I did some research for us.

Protein needs are calculated in grams per kg of body weight. A person needs anything between 0.8 g and 1.8 g of protein per kg of body weight. This number is completely dependent on your activity level.

Here are step-by-step instructions to calculating your protein needs:

1. Weight in pounds divided by 2.2 = weight in kg

2. Weight in kg multiplied by 0.8-1.8 g = daily protein needs in grams

Okay, so what should you be multiplying by? If you are healthy, but mostly sedentary throughout the day, multiply kg of body weight by 0.8-1.0. If you are fairly active, participating in cardio or endurance training, get between 1.0 and 1.4 grams of protein per kg of body weight. Finally, if you are big on weight-training, or do a lot of heavy lifting throughout the day, get between 1.4 and 1.8 grams of protein per kg of body weight. Trying to bulk up? 2.0 grams of protein per kg of body weight.

Here is an example of a 135 lb woman who does cardio 4+ times a week and strength training 3+ times a week:

1. 135 divided by 2.2 = 61.4 kg

2. 61.4 kg multiplied by 1.4 = 85.9 g of protein daily

How does this translate to calories? Your daily caloric intake should be ~20% protein calories. 1 gram of protein equates to 4 calories. I try to maintain a 1,800 calorie diet, sometimes more on big workout days.

1,800 calorie diet multiplied by .20 = 360 protein calories

360 divided by 4 (calories/gram of protein) = 90 grams of protein daily

This is similar to the numbers I calculated above. I aim to consume 70-90 grams of protein per day. This will ensure that I feel full, strong and energetic throughout the day.

Calculate your daily protein needs! … Especially all your vegetarians, pescetarians, vegans and Paleo-peeps out there.

Food is fuel

Posted in Food & Diet by

By Emily McLaughlin

If there is anything I have learned about being hypoglycemic, mostly-vegetarian and an avid-workout buff it is that FOOD IS FUEL. The other day I shared an article from prAna, Handbook For Life 2013 – great read if you haven’t taken a look yet — which proposed 39 must-do’s for 2013 covering health, personality, society and life.

The first three pointers really spoke to me:

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

1. How many times have I stressed the importance of drinking water? Whenever someone says that feel a cold coming, they are tired, they have a headache, the have a sore throat… my first words are always something along the lines of, “Did you drink enough water today?” or “Make sure you drink extra water.” The human body is 50-60% H2O and the brain is about 70% H2O… don’t you think you should filter it through every once in a while? Water is one of the best medicines. Give your body what it needs to complete it’s daily tasks.

Breakfast at the Mayflower Grove Grille, a cute little place that recently opened up in my hometown (Pembroke, MA).

Breakfast at the Mayflower Grove Grille, a cute little place that recently opened up in my hometown (Pembroke, MA).

2. I like how prAna broke up meals here. Breakfast is, by far, the most important meal of the day so make sure it is a nutritious one. By nutritious, I don’t mean a bowl of heart-healthy cereal, I mean 400+ nutrient-dense calories. My go to? Eggs, vegetables, whole-wheat something (oatmeal, English muffin, toast) and a side of fruit. Two exceptions to this big breakfast: a. You enjoy a morning workout. Eat light and then make this meal post workout. b. You can’t stomach a huge breakfast once you wake up. Start with something small (a piece of fruit, for instance) and then make this ~400 calorie meal after you’ve been up for an hour or so — don’t wait too much longer than that! I usually make breakfast to-go and then eat it at work and hour after I’ve been awake.

Make lunch a little bit smaller than breakfast, and dinner a little smaller than lunch (snacking in between, of course, to keep your metabolism up). Move from carb-y foods earlier, to lighter meals at the end of the day. Carbs are for energy… you don’t need too much energy post-dinner.

3. Duh. That’s what this whole Paleo-thing is about… and that is just what we should all do in general: avoid processed/manufactured foods. If you can’t avoid them completely (I can’t at this point in my life), at least be conscious of how much you are consuming and limit your intake. By organic when possible and read labels on packaged foods to make sure there isn’t a long list of artificial-sounding words in the ingredient list.

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Food is fuel. Make sure you are putting the right things in your body at the right times to maximize energy and keep you feeling healthy as an ox.

Stay healthy, stay happy. :)

The Paleo Diet Diaries

Posted in Food & Diet, Simply Paleo, Year of Challenges (2013) by

By Allie DeLay

2013, is a year of new beginnings. This is the long awaited or dreaded year, depending on how you want to look at it, where my college days will be put behind me and I will be staring straight into the unavoidable and unpredictable future that lies ahead. And I figure what better way to look forward to the future then by adopting a diet from the past.

277886239477085960_IoJq1Gt5_cThat’s right. For the next month I have decided to go Paleo. Inspired by the one and only Emily McLaughlin to challenge myself this year, I decided I needed a change and a healthier diet could be it. So for the next thirty days, I have decided to eat a strictly Paleo diet.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Paleo diet, (popularly referred to as The Caveman Diet, Stone Age Diet, or Hunter-gatherer Diet) it is a diet that is based on eating the foods that our ancestors ate during the Paleolithic era. For the next month I’ll be sticking to fresh meats, fruits, nuts, healthy oils (olive), seafood, and a whole lot of vegetables. I will be avoiding grains, starches, dairy, and of course any and all processed food and sugars. The idea is that if you eat natural foods and remove all processed foods with extra preservatives, you should see health improvements in many aspects of your life.

I exercise regularly and I wouldn’t consider myself a junk-food fanatic. But, like most people I enjoy a slice of pizza or two (ok, maybe its four) every now and then. By changing, my diet I am hoping to see improvements in the way I look and feel. And I figured why not make it a little more interesting and challenge myself.

In order to stick to the diet I have adopted a few tactics that can be used for any diet or healthy lifestyle change. For the next thirty days I will:

  • Create a 7-Day Menu at the beginning of each week. By planning out all of my meals I’ll be able to come up with a shopping list. This way when I head out to the grocery store, I know exactly what I need and I don’t accidently stray into temptation and walk out of the store with seven frozen pizzas (not that this is something that has happened before).
  • Keep a Daily Food Journal. Each day I will carry my small trusty notebook with me and make sure I write down everything I eat. This will allow me to keep track of everything I consume throughout the day.
  • Not be Afraid to Elicit the Help of Others. I was so excited when I saw Stay Healthy, Stay Happy’s  “{Monday Motivator} Why did you choose Paleo?” article featuring Mary Catherine and her experience with Paleo and I cannot wait to start pulling recipes from her blog Nourish Paleo Foods along with other amazing online resources and books for people who have chosen the Paleo diet.

    Broccolini Pesto over Spaghetti Squash from Nourish Paleo Foods

    Broccolini Pesto over Spaghetti Squash from Nourish Paleo Foods

  • Be Open to the Prospect that I Might Fail. I am going to give this my best and commit 100% but I am only human. If I have a slip up, I’ll be the first to admit it and move forward. This is a challenge, but it’s my challenge and I just need to make sure that I am happy with myself at the end of the thirty days.
  • Share My Experience With You. Each week I’ll be posting a little something about my journey over the next thirty days. So keep an eye out for my upcoming posts.

Do something for you this month also! Even if it isn’t something as crazy as a Paleo diet. It really doesn’t even have to be a diet at all. It can just be something as simple as making your bed everyday, which may not be so simple after all. But, give yourself a challenge this month. Try to improve your life in some way, no matter big or small. I can guarantee any challenge you give yourself you can accomplish, if you set your mind to it.