the Skinny...or better yet, the STRONG!

I just realized that I haven't posted on my blog in almost a month. For SHAME! Well, I have been a might busy, what with trying to become a Yoga Goddess-like Instructor and trying to give my health and fitness biz a make-over...oh and there's being an awesome mom 24-7...but enough with the excuses!!!

So, one of my self goals recently, to parallel my biz's new look, has been to push myself training wise the hardest ever. I have been fit for many years but it was time to get ripped. Now mind you, I do not want veins popping or to look like a dude. I want to be sleek, muscular, sexy-woman-roar... like I'm about to enter a fitness contest. That is something I've always thought of doing, so here is the trial run. Since there is no fitness show to prime for I decided to set a photo-shoot date instead. :) March 25th is judgement day! Plus new pics for my revamped site!

I just finished week 1 of 5 and I'm feeling great. My diet is cleaner and getting cleaner as we go. I still have my square of dark vegan chocolate every day and my glass of wine twice a week, and one day where I cheat one meal if I so choose, but come week 4 all that will be gone. Eating clean is pretty easy for me as a rather clean eating vegan already, but there have been some things cut out. My daily diet includes a ton of veggies and fruits, nuts, nut butters, hummus, vegan protein shakes, oatmeal, tea, and a ton of water. This is no hunger diet because the point is not skinny or weight loss, it's muscle and strength and healthy goddess!!

Health and fitness is my life so I get pretty amped about it. I know not everyone is as crazy gung-ho as I am but I do encourage you to get amped about getting healthy, whatever that definition means to you. I guarantee that you will feel lighter, happier, and better about yourself. You may not have a crazy goal like mine (or maybe you do and want to join me in my madness), but goals are important and motivating, so I encourage all my friends and followers to set a goal for health and go for it. Could be as simple as getting more greens in your daily diet! GO FOR IT!!!

*if you would like help discovering a more happier & healthier you email me @ lovelightandwellbeing@gmail.com

The Self-Love Remedy

You have heard it before, "in order to truly love someone else, you must first learn to love yourself". What does it mean to love ourselves? Why is self-love so important? It's an easy thing to say to someone , "love yourself more and things will work out better," but it is a far harder thing to accomplish when you don't understand the true meaning of self-love.

"Self love is not conceit or vanity - it is the unconditional love and respect that you have for yourself that is so unwavering, so solid, that you only allow into your life situations and relationships - including the one with yourself - that reflect that same respect and unconditional love."

Self- love can not be bought in a store. It grows from actions that support your psychological, physical, and spiritual growth. When we take actions to improve our self-love we begin to find self acceptance in our weaknesses, pride in our strengths, a willingness to learn from our mistakes, and a confidence that keeps us from constantly belittling ourselves or letting others do so.

So how do we improve our self-love? I encourage you to try these steps listed below.Start with focusing on 1or 2 of the below, and then continue to try more.

1. Be aware. It is proven that those who have more self-love in their lives have a much better idea of what they think, what they want, and what they feel. That means that YOU are much more likely to NOT worry about what others think or want from you.
2. Focus on what you need, NOT on what you want. By focusing on what you need you are less likely to fall into bad habits of automatic behavior, which can get you in trouble...whether that is eating away your feelings or choosing the wrong mate.
3. Self-Care! In order to love yourself, you must first take care of yourself. Feeding yourself good nutritious foods, exercising, getting enough sleep, and spending time with positive people all aid in self-care.
4. Friend filter. Especially now in the age of Facebook, we are surrounded by hundreds of “so-called” friends. Unfortunately, with so many friends there are bound to be those that care little about your best interest or well being, and often there are those who feed off of your pain and loss instead of celebrating your happiness and success. Filter these people out of your life and you will find it easier to self-love.
5. Keep Boundaries. Learning to say no is often easier said then done. You are only one person and sometimes you may spread yourself too thin or put yourself in situations that deplete or harm you physically, emotionally or spiritually. Learning where your boundaries are and learning to say no to those depleting things is key to protecting yourself and self-loving.
6. Learn to forgive yourself. You are your worst critic, but it's important to remember that you are also human, and we as humans make mistakes. Don't beat yourself up over it. Brush yourself off and try again.
7. Set goals and live with intention. When you visualize your intentions you are more likely to succeed in anything you chose. Set short term goals and then when you complete them, reward yourself and then set new ones. Visualize where you want to go, what you want to do, and what you see yourself being and doing. There is nothing impossible if you put positive visualization behind it.

Once you are able to incorporate all of these above tips, I encourage you to take note, not only the difference in yourself, but the difference in the people around you. Self-love is contagious. When you begin to take care of yourself, other will follow. They will begin to treat you better and begin to treat themselves better. What a wonderful ripple effect!

Stop Dieting and Start Living!!!

Ahhh, a new year is here. I'm still reveling in it. Hello 2013!!!
I went to the bookstore the other day to entertain my daughter with puppets, train tables and books and had to do a drive by the new books display. Of course the new book display is loaded down with shiny new diet books just in time for everyone's New Year's resolutions.

Step AWAY from the shiny diet books!!

If you want to lose weight in 2013, STOP dieting and START living! Did you know that about 95% of people who go on a diet gain the weight back? 95%! You know why? Because going ON a diet implies that you will eventually go OFF the diet. The only true way to lose weight and keep it off permanently is to make a "LIFESTYLE CHANGE".

There is no magic pill, no amazing diet, no exercise regime that is going to make you lose the weight and keep it off if you don't address the real issues that are keeping the fat on. It's not JUST about the food you eat, or the miles you pound on the pavement. It's about YOU!

Here's a couple of reasons why diets don't work:

Most people think diet and think about cutting calories. However, if you start cutting calories too much your body and brain begin to think you are starving and so they start holding on to fat. Now I know you have heard it a million times before, "DON'T SKIP BREAKFAST". Well, let's use this as an example. If you skip breakfast, your tummy starts growling sending messages to the brain. The brain begins to believe you are in starvation mode and sends messages to the body to hold on to fat so that you might survive this starvation period. ACK! No good! But if you continue to provide your body with healthy, whole food throughout the day, your brain takes its hand of the panic button and you stop holding on to fat. YAY!

Plus, many of those calorie cutting diets may also have you unknowingly cutting precious nutrients. This works against your weight-loss efforts. In order to receive the necessary nutrients your body needs, you must provide it with high-quality whole foods full of nutrients and vitamins. Then, and only then might weight-los be permanent.

Further more, diets don't address the toxic waste in your body and perhaps in your life. If your organs are bogged down with toxic waste and not functioning smoothly, or if you have toxic things in your life that you have yet to resolve, chances are that no diet will work permanently. You must first learn to detox your body and your life!

So, if you would like to lose weight in 2013 the right way, and keep it off, forget about dieting and commit to a "lifestyle change". A healthy new you awaits!!

email Ellie @lovelightandwellbeing@gmail.com