6 Ways to Get Better Sleep

Have you ever heard that saying "I'll sleep when I'm dead"? I caught myself saying that a few years back almost as if it were a badge of honor. It's like I was saying it to prove to people that I was working harder, longer hours and on my way to big success. In my head less sleep = more hours in the day to get stuff done which meant more productivity and in turn, more success. Makes sense, right? 

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56 Different Names for Sugar

If you want to cut sugar out of your diet, the best way to do that is to read labels and look for sugar in the ingredient list. Now, if looking for the word sugar in an ingredient list were all we needed to do to avoid the stuff, it wouldn't be so hard! Unfortunately, sugar goes by over 50 different names, and whether it's plain sugar, dextrose, evaporated cane sugar or brown sugar your body treats it all pretty much the same. Use this handy list next time you're shopping or to just get familiar with all of the different names for sugar. 

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Ease Your Holiday Stress and Anxiety

I'm a huge fan of adaptogens. I first heard about them on Dave Asprey's Bulletproof podcast and have been hooked ever since. Adaptogens have been used for hundreds of years in Chinese medicine and have played an important role in helping me manage my anxiety and fatigue. 

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Snacking Ideas :: Fast, Easy and Convenient

Arming yourself with the right snacks when you are starting to implement a healthy lifestyle is incredibly important. You want to be sure to set yourself up for success so that you aren't tempted by all of the processed, pre-packaged junk that's out there. Especially during the holidays! 

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Ask Your Health Coach: 5 Burning Health Questions I Get From Clients

Can I eat carbs? How many hours of sleep do I need? Is fat bad? In this Q&A I answer the questions I'm asked most often by my clients. Some of my answers might surprise you, but they're almost guaranteed to help you feel happier and healthier in no time. Do you have other questions that you don't see answered here? Ask in the comments below! 

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The Science Behind Your Sugar Addiction and How to Kick the Habit

Why do most diets fail? Because many of the foods that we eat today are biologically addictive. That means that our food is so chemically engineered that it tricks our brains into thinking that our stomach needs more. This brings me to our current view on diets and of those who are overweight and obese. Do Americans simply have a complete lack of willpower or is food addiction a real thing?

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How to Have More Energy - Naturally!

Rest and rejuvenation seem to be lost words in this fast paced world. To most, they are signs of weakness or show a lack of productivity. Many of us work 10 plus hour days, whether that is in an office environment, in a classroom, or as a new mother (which is more like a 24/7 job). Whichever the case, we are stretching ourselves thin while still trying to exercise, have a social life and remain somewhat sane.

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This weekend is all about self love

This weekend is all about self love. Treat yourself to a massage, drink a nice glass of red wine and relish in how beautiful and strong your body and mind are. Take a second to think about where your gorgeous body has taken you in this life and give it a big hug and a thank you. Many times we search outside of ourselves for love when all we really need to do is love ourselves a little bit more. Then, just like the law of attraction says, more love comes into our lives. 

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5 New Ways to Detox in February

After the holidays, vacation and then a week packed with moving and seeing clients, I haven't been taking the best care of my body lately. By that I mean, I haven't been getting to the gym as often as I'd like and had one too many pizza and wine nights last week. Oops! But hey, that's life and the pizza tasted damn good. Now, I'm even more motivated to get back on track. So, when I'm getting my body and mind back on a healthy routine after a brief hiatus, I focus on these 5 things to look and feel my best. 

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The 5 Best Protein Powders

Navigate the world of protein powder with more confidence and knowledge. Here I recommend my top 5 protein powders, both whey and plant based. Power Up!

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Here's how to fend off the flu this winter

Unlike what most of us think, "the flu is not a season! It is simply our inability to adapt due to decreased sun exposure and water intake, combined with increased sugar intake and stress". This means that we all have a lot more control over getting the flu or a cold than we think. 

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I Gave Up Coffee for 6 Weeks and Here's What Happened

If you know me, then you know that I have a serious coffee addiction. It all started back when I was about 12 years old. I was always so much taller than everyone else in my grade and couldn't help but be really embarrassed about it. I had long limbs and seemed to trip over anything and everything on the playground. Not cool. 

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5 Day Reset :: My Hawaii Prep

Tomorrow I leave for Hawaii, so this surf and sun girl is really excited. I grew up by the ocean and almost aways in water, so needless to say I can't wait to get some salt and sun in my hair. Oh, and get a little bit of vacay time in too! 

To get myself as bikini ready as possible, (which can be quite a feat right after the holidays) I followed my quick 5 day "cleanse" protocol.

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Learn to "Crowd Out" This Holiday Season

Okay, it's so hard to eat healthily during the holidays. Like really hard. So do me a favor and please give yourself a little break. That doesn't mean go eat the whole pecan pie or drink a bottle of wine to yourself, but enjoy the season, amazing food, parties, friends and family. Now, how do you do this without jumping off the deep end into baked good la la land? CROWD OUT. 

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A Beautiful Holiday Reminder

 During the holidays things can get pretty hectic. There's a lot to do, stress is high and sometimes we can lose sight of what is really important; love and family. This letter from George Carlin is a beautiful reminder during this busy time and something I encourage you all to read and really take to heart. This really struck a cord with me and I hope that it does the same for you. Happy Holidays and lots of love! 

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Total Well-Being Quiz

Before I started focusing on integrative nutrition and holistic health, I was a total diet freak. I was rigorous about what I ate, had incredibly high standards for exercise and would punish myself for missing a day at the gym or eating something just a little bit "bad". I thought that if my diets was perfect and I exercised enough, then I would look like a Victorias Secret model. Well, surprise, surprise....I was miserable and hated how I looked. I couldn't sleep at night, I was stressed out of my mind and I wasn't in as great of shape as I should have been for how rigorous I was with my diet and exercise.

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5 Ways to Detox After a Holiday Splurge

Although living a healthy life is a huge part of my mission and who I am, I am a big believer in a good splurge every now and again. I actually think that indulging in a few special treats can be good for you.  First, it helps tame our daily cravings. When we tell ourselves that we are never allowed to have another cookie or piece of bread then all we can think about is the cookie or bread! If we allow ourselves to enjoy those treats every once in a while, then we can get a better handle on our cravings. Second, when we overdo it on unhealthy food or alcohol, we really feel the effects of it the next day. Especially when we've been eating clean. So, it gets us back on the healthy train really quickly and we aren't tempted by those treats for a while. Lastly, life just kinda sucks when we don't allow ourselves to enjoy everything that it has to offer. 

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