A lot on my mind

Dolce Vita started this discussion · 7/15/2014

Good Morning! I am feeling very productive today. Had 8 hours of sleep, had breakfast and coffee, made a homemade potato soup for dinner tonight, and I am on my way to getting the house organized. I have a few questions for you all. I am rather interested in eating healthy, as it is not something I have always done. I am going to do some research in what to buy organic, but I was curious if you eat organic foods. If you only had the ability to buy a few products of organic each month, what would you choose? What do you find is important to eat organic and why? I am going to be considering buying a few things organic each month and I want to hear different opinions about this matter. If you have a healthy recipe that you love, please add it. I enjoy cooking and want to learn to cook healthier as well. I have also begun to think about my body weight. Ever since I married last August, I've gained around 30 pounds. It weighs me down a lot (literally). Does anyone have any suggestions for weight loss? And what about cellulite? Ugh, cellulite!! I never had it before this year- and it makes me very uncomfortable. Does anyone else deal with this problem? Any tips on what I can do to prevent and to get rid of cellulite?? One last thing to discuss. Any tips for energy? Some days, I feel very fatigued. Any smoothie/snack I can eat to help? Any supplements that I can take to help? I am drinking lots of water and I incorporate fruits and veggies in my meals. I also take a daily vitamin and take ZMA (Zinc monomethionine and aspartate and Magnesium Aspartate)at night. I appreciate all tips and comments. It's interesting how when you start working out, you really see changes in your body, and you also decide to really wonder what you're putting in your body. Well, here's to the first step of a healthier lifestyle--learning the do's the don'ts and researching further. Hope you all have a great day. -MG

13 replies

Ava Madison · 7/15/2014
Good morning beautiful :) Here's my quick two cents on the subject... First of all congrats on wanting to change your eating habits - it's a hard thing to do but once you do you'll never understand how you survived before haha!! This is another one of those 'life-changing' decisions people make that are really exciting to watch develop. Once I personally began eating healthy pretty much everything else in my life changed along with it and followed suite in a more healthy direction (and your progression with pole may very well astound you). Eat as much organic raw food as possible. If you have to choose just a few look up "Dirty Dozen + organic food" and make some decisions from your there. Eat well and you'll never have to worry about your weight. Cellulite: I remember reading this story I read once of a woman who was 'apprehensive and uncomfortable' going to her pole classes because of her own body image. She wrote about coming into class and seeing this woman (and noted that she had an incredible amount of cellulite) with just amazingly beautiful pole skills - she admired her skill (and confidence) deeply. As she spent more time watching this women from class to class she discovered that she actually looked forward to seeing this woman (and her cellulite) each week and how her own body image changed in the process of her discovering who she really was... fascinating read but I'll leave it there. No pill or crazy diet it going to change your beautiful dimples but a clean diet, lots of H2O and exercise will help - learn to love the skin your in babe! Supplements: I am not a pill taker - I won't take anything for even a headache lol but after I started poling I noticed my body was not keeping up so I began taking a few supplements and drinking (a healthy, organic no preservative etc) protein shake after working out. Doing this made a HUGE difference in my energy and muscle gain and I finally feel like my body is keeping up to my demands. This being said - DO YOUR RESEARCH - know what you are putting in your body down to every last ingredient (AND do your research on the company that makes the supplement - one brand is not necessarily comparable to the exact same dosage of another brand)! There are some scary things hidden behind 'good' labels and you need to be your own health advocate here. Putting together and article on this very subject has been on my to do list for a long time as I find it to be so important and also a tipping point to success in every other aspect of life... my best suggestion is to start small and keep making baby steps. One small change at a time leads to large transformations. Lots of hugs luck Mil!
Dolce Vita · 7/15/2014
Ava, What fantastic advice you give! It seems you always know what to say and how to say it! You're very gifted that way. I think my first baby step is going to be--organic milk. My husband and I can really put away a gallon of milk in a day or two, so I think buying organic milk could make a huge difference. From there, I'll be buying organic meat. I already eat organic eggs since my MIL has chickens, she's always giving me eggs, which I LOVE. The natural eggs she gives me are delicious- they look better and taste better to me. These are just the two baby steps that I've decided will be healthiest for me. I've talked to my husband and he agrees that organic meat and milk is the way to go first. I've also decided to look up ways to make your own shampoo and soap. I know that may sound like a lot of work, but it's actually easy. I remember when I first started reading the ingredients on my shampoo bottles. I don't even know what most of what is in my shampoo! I found that a lot of shampoo's can really dry out my hair and I think it's because of all the chemicals. I saw online that you can make your own shampoo with things like coconut milk/oil and essential oils, like peppermint and lavender. I am going to really look into making my own shampoo very soon. I am excited to try it. I agree, when you eat well and are exercising you really don't have to worry about weight. I know that I slip up a lot on the junk food. The more junk food I eat, the more I crave it. When my husband and I first started dating, I was working and going to school full time and had no time to cook let alone hardly eat. So we started to go out to eat a lot. Bad idea. I gained 20 pounds within 6 months. Pretty terrifying since I had always been about the same relative weight. We've now cut back on going out to eat-save it for special occasions and date night. It is tough though because I still crave the really unhealthy things. What I've decided to do- is try to replicate whatever I am craving. For instance, if I am craving a hamburger and fries. I make homemade lean beef patties, with fresh onion, lettuce, tomato, pickle, etc. And I make my own fries, by cutting up my own potatoes and frying them myself. And even though frying basically anything is bad for you, I get my craving out of the way and I know what ingredients I am eating. I do this everyone in a while and it's a really nice treat. I think the cellulite will eventually be worked out of me. (I really hope it is anyway). I am still quite comfortable with my body in front of my husband. I don't mind being in front of him, but it's when I have to be in front of ME. Silly, I know. I am working out and I am building a lot of muscle. I think the cellulite thing might just take some time. I am going to do more research to see what I can do about the cellulite- who knows maybe there's a specific exercise that I can do to help it. I am also going to look into a protein shake or maybe a smoothie that I can drink after my workouts. The extra boost will help. If you write an article about this very subject, do let me know as I always enjoy reading your work. Thanks for replying to this. I really enjoy hearing from you and your advice is always helpful. Have a great day. *hugs*
Ava Madison · 7/15/2014
:) That all sounds like a great beginning Milla. I also make most of my own products (lotion, toothpaste, face cleaner, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent) - I've not only eliminated an enormous amount of chemicals from mine and my family's lives but saved a ton of money as well. Do you foam roll? It's not only enjoyable and helps with sore muscles but I've heard, from some women (and men), that it helps with cellulite ;)
Dolce Vita · 7/15/2014
Ava, I just got my foam roller last week! I love it. I am going to set time aside every morning and night to roll and stretch. It helps the muscles a lot but I am def going to see if it helps the cellulite. Thanks for sharing that with me!! Also, If you don't mind, I'd LOVE to have those "recipes" for the lotion, toothpaste, face cleaner, cleaning supplies, and laundry detergent. That's amazing! You are a jack of all trades, for sure. Maybe you can message me these recipes when you have a minute. I'd love them. :) -Milla
Stefana of Light · 7/15/2014
Oh good im glad to see this post!! Yes for organic! One thing i tried that i really notice a difference in my energy is spirulina, also its one of the highest absorbed nutrients! You'll find once you dive in knowledge is power and you'll do wonderful from there. What we power our bodies with Makes a world of difference. As far as the heat, I've been having to work up to it in increments as well! My naturalist lady here in town recommended vit c, she says it works as an internal a\c !! I have a hard time taking any 1 thing everyday, its this weird phobia of needing anything in specific i guess:) besides h20. I'll admit I'm addicted to h20! Congrats on this new Heather you journey, it's an eye opening one!
Veena · 7/15/2014
We personally don't seek out only organic, so I think that it's more of a personal preference and I don't feel it makes a difference for me in how I feel or how healthy I am. However I do love to use products with few ingredients but again they don't have to be all natural. I have cut out dairy milk and feel sooooooooooo much better then before! Do you have a crockpot/slowcooker? We use ours a lot and there are some very simple and healthy recipes for crockpot cooking we only have the magazine but here is a book with the same recipes in it. I LOVE the Mediterranean Succotash! http://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Light-Slow-Cooker-Tonight-practically/dp/0848736575 Cellulite is normal and there's not magic way to change it, however a healthy diet and making sure you are hydrated can lessen the look of cellulite. I'm thin and have cellulite, in the sun and those lovely store dressing rooms it looks the worst. lol But it does look less noticeable if I drink water and eat well. For energy our bodies like to have a regular meal and snack time, this keep blood sugar level and energy up! I've also found that eating spinach, kale, and thinks of that nature, usually in juice form, helps with energy. I can tell when I don't have my greens!! With both of your posts in mind, remember that life is about balance and balance doesn't mean doing all things, everyday. Just like physical balance happens not be staying ridged and unmoving, but rather by making many slight adjustments, our lives too just like physical balance must include the ability to make many small adjustments. Learn to make choices about what's important for that day, hour, minute. Somedays family may need you more, so workouts need to be shortened or skipped. If you pay attention to your surroundings you'll know what to focus on and somehow things work out! xoxoxo
Ava Madison · 7/15/2014
Absolutely Milla - I'll put together something in a few days when I get a chance and send it over to you. I too love Spirulina - we put it in our 'green juice' :)
ntrujilloc41719 · 7/15/2014
@Veena I love your comment about cellulite and being in the sun and dressing rooms.. you are so dead on there! ugh! The joys of being a women. Otherwise I can't really comment on this post, I do not have the best eating habits at all, so hats off to you ladies with more self control than I have!
Lucca Valentine · 7/15/2014
Just a note about the cellulite, I was watching Viva Las Vegas and in the pool scene you could see Ann Margaret had visible cellulite. It's interesting cuz it was in the prime of her career and clearly was in wonderful shape and a dancer by trade, nobody ever mentioned it or probably even noticed it. The way magazines are air brushed now it just creates unrealistic ideals (so cliche, but seriously no one looks like that, not even those girls). 99% of ladies (and some men) have cellulite it just is what it is and is part of the human and (especially female form). If you work out and eat well cellulite will be lessened, especially as you increase muscle tone in your legs. Like Ava said, the foam roller and/or deep tissue massage can help too. Cellulite is a part of life for almost everyone and it doesn't make you any less beautiful!
Dolce Vita · 7/15/2014
@Veena I am really glad that you commented here as well. I don't think going all organic is doable for me, but I am going to give a few things a try. Yes, I have a slow-cooker and I LOVE it. It's so easy to throw a meal in there and then hours later, dinner is ready! I am working on drinking more water. I used to be really bad about drinking water, so maybe that's why my cellulite looks so bad. But I am doing better now, and pole requires me to stay hydrated. I am going to try to juice some. Although, I prefer smoothies more than juice. I've heard good things about juicing though. I like what you said about balance. I agree with you. I guess I am really just trying to find my balance with being healthy. It's a journey but I know I can create healthier habits. @Ava, thank you so much!!! I can't wait to have those recipes!! @Lucca, I am glad to hear that a majority of people have cellulite. I wouldn't even mind having some if I didn't already have so much. I think with the muscle tone it really will lessen. I've noticed a lot of muscle tone in my arms with poling but not a whole lot of muscle tone for my thighs. Maybe that's normal since pole is a lot of upper body strength. I will have to look up some thigh exercises and stick with them while foam rolling every day. It is sad that magazines air brush everyone. It does put unrealistic ideals into people's heads about what they should and shouldn't look like. Having grown up with this, I've found to be hard because as a normal human being, no one will ever look like that. That's why we have to set up our own ideals and goals. I just want to be healthy with less cellulite, lol. You're really sweet and I appreciate you commenting on this. Thank you :)
pr1nc3ss · 7/16/2014
Hi Milla I have done organic eating and lost weight although organic products are most always more expensive. Unfotunately there isnt a good organic store around here so I will buy it here and there. if you have a good blender you can make your own smoothies which is what I do. I will buy frozen fruit add banana spinach broccoli carrots cauliflower almonds and vanilla rice milk and flaxseed sometimes I will add honey for a sweetner. I have found this to be a good for energy.
Ariabella · 7/21/2014
Ava, Please share your "recipes"! Thanks.
Ava Madison · 7/21/2014
I sent you ladies a link with a few starters :)