juicccccin!

Hey all! I had a friend/coworker ask me if I could write a little about juicing... because as you all know, I received a juicer for Christmas! I am IN LOVE with this thing! So Miss Fox, this is for you!


Well I am sure you have all heard the new juicing-weight loss craze... Yah know, "Drink this and you'll lose that." "Replace this meal with this and I promise you'll lose this!" I think everyone by now should know that replacing meals or just plain skipping them is not a good idea! Depriving your body of what it needs to sustain life and producing ENERGY (calories=energy) can not be the best idea. Yes, I know that juicing will provide your body with an overload of vitamins and minerals (which is what we are looking for) BUT, please note that a glass of juice for lunch is NOT enough. 

B E N E F I T S of J U I C I N G

1. Lets start off with absorption. The body can absorb the liquid much faster than its whole form. Fruits and veggies are FULL of fiber, which is found on the outer portion of the fruit (skin/peel). As your body is given the chance to easily digest these phytochemicals, minerals, and vitamins, it can also take a break from digesting the fiber. Fiber is a little more difficult to digest... so your little tummy will be happy about this!

2. How about trying things you wouldn't typically? Beets in my juice? Spinach? YUP! You can add a touch of anything to your juice in the morning and most of the time, the sweetness of fruit will overpower the veggies. So, this way you get your veggies you wouldn't typically eat... all in a glass. Kind of reminds me of V8 juice-- lets take a look at the ingredients. Yah know, the juice that claims to have everything you need?

V8 Splash-- Mango Peach

Ingredients: (10% juice) Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Carrot Juice from Concentrate (Water, Carrot Juice Concentrate), Apple Juice from Concentrate (Water, Apple Juice Concentrate), Citric Acid, Natural Flavoring, Peach Juice from Concentrate (Water, Peach Juice Concentrate), Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate), Mango Puree Concentrate, Beta Carotene. 

1. its only 10%juice... hmm NOT okay with me.

2. first ingredient is WATER??? following by my all time favorite HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP!? pass...

3. All from concentrate!! ... well I guess all 10% of it.

I mean I cant hate on V8 that much, I used to drink that stuff all the time. I think it more just being aware of what is going into your body. Compare that to fresh juice which is just what you are putting into the juicer :) FRESH AND DELICIOUS!

3.Healing through juicing. Many healing options come through juicing and the one that sticks out most to me is the Gerson Treatment. Now I know this is a little extreme, but I would just like to show you how powerful this can truly be for your body! The Gerson Therapy is a powerful, natural treatment that boosts your body's own immune system to heal cancer, arthritis, heart disease, allergies, and many other degenerative diseases. "The Gerson Therapy is a safe, natural treatment developed by Dr. Max Gerson in the 1920s.The Therapy activates the body's extraordinary ability to heal itself through an organic, vegetarian diet, raw juices, coffee enemas and natural supplements. The Gerson Therapy treats the underlying causes of disease: toxicity and nutritional deficiency." SO, basically you are cured through:

• one glass of juice every hour-- 13 times a day (organic)
• a strict, low salt, vegetarian diet (organic)
• coffee enemas-- claimed to relieve pain and eliminate liver toxins in a process called detoxification.
• supplements such as b12, potassium, pancreatic enzymes, thyroid hormone and liver extracts are taken. Also laetrile treatment (b17) is advised. Which by itself is an alternative cancer treatment. 

D i s a d v a n t a g e s of J u i c i n g

1. Losing the fiber!!!

2.  You have to drink it within 24 hours... this will have the BEST taste. Just think of a apple sitting out, oxidation allows it to turn brown. Same concept here, the more time the juice sits, the less fresh it tastes.

3.Since juice absorbs so quick, insulin levels tend to spike-- so please be mindful of this!

So, here is some OJ I made. This is just what I had on hand... always been my fav too :)

YUM, stayin' healthy and happy! :) 

pilates tonight at 5:30!

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR!

Well, first week over and on to the next. My first week was PACKED... I have deemed Tuesday the worst day of the week haha except I get to see all my SOAR FAMILY!!!... then teach my wonderful cardio sculpt and awesome abs! So, I guess it kinda ends alright :)  Can not complain, this is exactly what I love! Staying a busy girl! Today I thought I would right on something new to me and something a friend absolutely blew my mind with. Apple Cider Vinegar.

I think the fascination with this all started when my friend said he not only rinsed his hair in this but his dogs coat. Supposedly it made the dogs hair super shiny and also could cure fleas? Of course, I am all for a natural way of doing things...but I was skeptical too. I was not about to rinse my hair in VINEGAR, and I was NOT going to smell like this all day! So bare with me, I promise you will be just as amazed as me!

So, first I wanted to establish what exactly this was. Yeah, I knew it was probably something that had quite the smell and looked like apple juice, but other than that... I've got nothing. Vinegar is the result of fermentation: or breaking down of sugars by bacteria or yeast. Vinegar can be made from all sorts of things -- like many fruits, vegetables, and grains -- apple cider vinegar comes from pulverized apples. The main is ingredient in vinegar is acetic acid. This is colorless but provides the sour taste we all know and well love in vinegar. When the vinegar is mature, it contains a dark, cloudy, web-like bacterial foam called mother, which becomes visible when the rich brownish liquid is held to the light. The mother can be used to add to other vinegar to hasten maturity for making more Apple Cider Vinegar. When I first saw the mother, I'm not gonna lie, I thought it looked pretty gross and well it looks like something you would discard... but defiantly NOT!! If you're up for it, drink this as well! It is believed to have antibacterial and anti fungal properties!

Literally, the list could go on and on for all the uses of this product. Everything from bathing in it, washing your dog (shiny coat, rid of fleas), preventative techniques... I mean you name it, Apple Cider Vinegar can do it. So, here are just a few things I found:

Diabetes: This is one of the most researched topics with ACV. It has been linked to lower the blood glucose levels! "For instance, one 2007 study of 11 people with type 2 diabetes found that taking two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before bed lowered glucose levels in the morning by 4%-6%." -- WebMD. The Acetic Acid may play a role in this. It appears the the acid slows the digestion of starches in the body which ultimately lowers blood glucose.

Heartburn: If you mix just 1 tablespoon of ACV and 4 ounces of water (more if you'd like), this has been found to be a natural remedy for heartburn-- not the yucky heartburn meds!

Face: If you dilute ACV and water 50/50, it can be used on your face as a toner. Just use a cotton ball and apply! Careful not to get your eyes, just like any other facial products, it can sting. ACV is VERY acidic.

Hair: It is said to treat dandruff by destroying the fungus Malassezia furfur and restoring the PH balance of the scalp. Some people recommend applying a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar, applying it to the scalp, and leaving it to dry. Others suggest applying a couple of tablespoons of straight vinegar to the scalp and leaving it on for an hour or two before rinsing.

PETS! Can help rid of fleas and ticks! Also gives just about the shiniest coat EVER! 

Okay, so here is my caution. This is a vinegar product (duh haha) which means is VERY ACIDIC! If you choose to drink this in the pure form, always water it down! It could potentially harm your GI tract and the enamel on your teeth! So, please use caution!

Well, I hope you find some use out of this and maybe research a little more! I find things like this so interesting! I hope everyone had a wonderful first week back! Have a great hump day tomorrow :)

Stay Happy and Healthy!!

Cooking Up A Change

Well happy Monday and happy MLK Jr. Day :) I feel like such a slacker, I have not written in forever! Upon returning to Statesboro, which I thought would be a nice relaxing few days before school, turned into a busy few days! I never thought I would be so excited to get back to the Boro, but I was actually VERY ready to be back. I miss being in a routine, having an accessible gym, my friends, and just the comfort of my little-baby room. Unpacking after Christmas break always seems to be a joke, IT TAKES FOREVER! But, on Thursday I was able to be reunited with all my fellow RACys at All CRI Training. As I was sitting at the table I turned my good friend and co-worker, Sharol, and told her I much I was really gonna miss CRI when I graduated. Gosh, I know 3 semesters seems so far away (haha kinda not really! AHHH), but I have been working with these people since the start of my college career. I have been so blessed to be given the opportunity of working with such awesome people! To end the night, I received "Leader of the Pack" award. Great night to say the least! CRI TILL YOU DIE!

Friday, I met with my boss and reviewed some new kickboxing moves. I am so excited about this semester. Come see me!

Monday-- Pilates 5:30

Tuesday-- AA 8:05 Cardio Sculpt 8:30 

Wed-- Kickboxing 5:30, AA 6:35

Saturday was full of thrill to say the least! Group Fitness decided to do the high ropes course at Southern Adventures. Whenever you get us together its the best time, but when you decide to throw us up on a ledge 40 feet in the air... Oh, I sure did learn a lot about my co-workers!!


Well, know that you've heard my whole life story, I want to share with you something I thought was pretty awesome. In honor of the holiday and well FOOD, I came across this article: Cooking Up Change: How Food Helped Fuel the Civil Rights Movement.

I wish I knew more about the Civil Rights Movement and could sum this up for you, but I honestly don't. The fact that simple lunch counters could play such a role in this pivotal point in history astonishes me! Amazing to think how far we have come, still so far away from what it should be. Also, they provided a link to a blog which documents the Civil Rights Movement through food and also provides the recipes. 

Stay happy and healthy. Giving thanks today!

Beeean Burger!

It has been forever since I posted something I cooked... So, here it goes! This Christmas momma and pops gave me 2 veggie cookbooks! I have made bean burgers before and they turn out kinda dry... but this recipe is SO easy and is DELICIOUS!

All you need is:

2 cans of dark kidney beans

1 egg

1/2-3/4 cup bread crumbs

Start out first by washing/draining your beans!

Add your 2 cans beans, 1/2-3/4 cup bread crumbs, and 1 egg in the bowl. Use either a fork or a potato masher to smoosh the beans to a nice consistency!

At this point you can add anything to the mixture to flavor it. I use creole seasoning to make mine a little spicier. You can add peppers or whatever your heart desires! Next, form them into patties, just at you would a normal hamburger.

On medium to high heat, add a little bit of oil to your pan (just enough to coat the bottom, not where the burgers are sitting in it) and add your burgers. Cook on each side for about 6-8 minutes or till warm in the middle!

Serve with anything you would typically have on a burger. I love adding cheese and BBQ sauce, my dad recently tried adding salsa on this recipe and he loved it! Get creative!

My dad is the most finicky eater and he loved this recipe... SO if you absolutely hate beans or have someone in your family who is anti-healthy food, try this out! Its a good way to slip in lots of vitamins and nutrients!

B E A N S!!!

Beans are a staple item of most vegetarians diet, for all the health benefits they offer and the versatility provided! They are naturally low in total fat, contain no saturated fat or cholesterol, and provide important nutrients such as fiber, protein, calcium, iron,folic acid and potassium. YUMMM!

ENJOY!!! Stay happy and HEALTHY!!!

Not A Do-Over

Happy 2012! 

Wow, I can not believe it is already here! I hope everyone had a safe and fun New Years! I brought my 2012 in with my 2 best friends from high school, and well of course the whole 6th floor of Brooke Army Medical Center. My first trip to San Antonio, Texas was very memorable and I'm not sure if I can look at a hospital chair the same way again (I SLEPT IN ONE THE WHOLE TIME!!). I am happy to say Cortney is doing very well, her doctors started her on some more medication and she will hopefully be out in a week. Love you girl, I don't know anyone stronger than you.

So, of course with the new year comes new goals and resolutions. I actually came across last years list that I made, because that was one of my actual goals... to write things down! Well, I nailed that one, my planner is my life. I remember this time last year sitting down at LEADERSHAPE and writing that list, and it actually was more of semester goals. But, whatever... I was heading in the same direction, right? Last years "goals" were things like:

1. Get an "A" in Nutritional Biochemistry-- i got an 88.... well that did not turn out the way I planned BUT I can tell you A LOT more about how gluconeogenesis and glycolysis work :)
2. Get Organized-- Check.
3. Research/read more in spare time-- not exactly the best about this BUT I have read a lot more and started this blog. So, I'd say success.

I had a whole list of stuff, things looking back now, I would never consider a "goal". That was another thing, my list was too big! On my way home from San An, I read this awesome article about goals and resolutions. This is what I got from it and here are my 2012 goals :)

1. I stress TOO much. I always preach about it, so why not do it??? Laughter is the best medicine.
2. Start running. I have never been a runner... literally NEVER. Yes, I know I teach group EX, but for exercise gurus, you know that those are two completely different levels of fitness. SO, time to lace up.
3. Get through my Fall 2012 Senior Semester. I know it sounds bratty/selfish, but I am generally concerned for my safety! AHH! Between 2 jobs, applying for internships, SCHOOL, and extra whatever comes my way... I'll need happy thoughts 24/7!
4. Cook more. Now that I have gone veggie, there are so many options for recipes! I love to cook and not to say that I really have the time... but a home cooked meal is always the best!
5. Be less critical. Say no more.

So, that'll be the start. Something else I'm pretty excited about is that I'm going to start juicing! This Christmas, either Santa or my parents (idk who!) got me my first juicer! So, with the help of that, I'll be on my way to fresh juice/soup daily! AHHH!!!! STOKEDDD :) Last but not least, I came across this list of 10 things in Whole Living Magazine-- Thought it pretty inspiring to start the year! What are your goals/thoughts/resolutions?? PICK AT LEAST ONE! Stay Happy and Healthy!!!

1. Nourish your mind as carefully as you nourish your body.
2. Brisk, crisp, invigorating--Remember all the positive sides of winter
3. Finding balance in your relationship requires all your senses.
4. If you feel the need to be critical, be sure the urge is coming from a place of kindness.
5. When you break a small bad habit, you teach yourself that you can change anything.
6. Prosperity begins with the assumption that theres more than enough for everyone.
7. Willpower is sometimes a biological issue, not a moral one. Don't judge yourself harshly.
8. The best work environments foster personal connection as well as productivity.
9. Speak your mind. Unmet needs create resentment when they go unexpressed.
10. THE NEW YEAR IS NOT A DO-OVER; its an opportunity to take your next big step.