Change - It Isn't Just For The Seasons of the Year!

Change - It isn't just for the seasons of the year!

There are seasons in all of us :0)

Notice in this picture - There is green...in the middle, there are leaves changing color in vibrant reds and yellows...in the far back, there is snow on the mountain tops! How beautiful is this? I loved hiking up the mountain today with a friend to see the changing of the season!

Change is a scary thing sometimes.  At least when we are talking about changes that are happening in our own worlds.  What is happening around us and/or within us.  I love the saying, a time and a season for all things.  What does this mean to you? 

Sometimes I think of it like being asked when you are little - "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Well, as a child, it seems the answer is easy! It is exactly what you are feeling that day... what influenced your choice for an answer that moment? It could have been a tv show, or your parents example, a teacher you loved and who was a wonderful influence for you, hope - hope in that it was something you would love, enjoy, and always want to do with a smile. What happens in life as things "change"? The world around us give us different opportunities, a variety of circumstances...people do the same. Our choices may change a thousand times over years. We are scared to step out of our comfort zone to go from elementary school, to middle school, to high school, then to college, then to the "real" world! LOL - but in that, also excited to the next adventure! Hope for what is to come! Right?

So here we are... I am in a new season of my own life! I have loved being a wife, mother, and grandmother!!! I still get to be all of those things, however, my role in all of that is different than it used to be.  There isn't as much diaper changing for me going on these days.  Instead... I decided to go back to school to help me be in a position to do some of the things I love to do - Help others discover ways to better reach their health and wellness goals as an Integrative Medicine Health Coach Practicioner! I am looking forward to this new season in my life.  There are many reasons, circumstances, people, and opportunities that were a big part in how things fell into place for this change.  I am all the things I felt as a child when change came around....scared, excited, hopeful, and stepping out of my comfort zone in ways.  One thing is different though - I have learned in my life that you don't grow if you don't try.  I have learned that focusing forward is my only option...that is the direction I want to go - forward! 

I will be coordinating many things over the next couple of months to bring this dream I have to more of a reality. You may see things change as I throw things out there, and maybe see a reason to change it...or I MAY make a few mistakes even! LOL - So I am throwing this out there... Introducing Better Body Health Coach!  My draft of my logo is below... I will be using that until I get things firmed up...it may also evolve as my business does.  We shall see. 

Let's just say, this is a new journey for me... I would love for you to be part of it! In the meantime - Don't let change be scary...embrace and enjoy the changes that come your way! You never know what they may bring!

New Discoveries in My Healthy Lifestyle Changes!

My Protein Powder Discovery!

WOW!!! Have you tried to find a good protein powder lately? Holy cow...there are a LOT to choose from! I have tried many...from whey proteins, soy proteins... the ones even with nice looking labels that sounded like they had all the right stuff in them, but one thing they all seemed to have in common was this (and I am sorry if this is TMI) but they all tended to give me digestive issues! I would drink them and within a short amount of time feel extremely bloated or gassy...YUCK! No one wants to feel that way when they are attempting a new routine at getting healthy! 

LOOK WHAT I FOUND!!! 

 

Pure Vegan Pea Protein+

Smooth Vanilla Flavor

All Natural

and...it tastes DELICIOUS!!

Lactose Free - Soy Free

Gluten Free

No artificial Flavors or Preservatives
Sweetened with Stevia
Contains Flaxseed and Chia Seed
+good source of Omega-3

25g Protein/5g Carbs/

2g Fiber/Only 138 Calories!

Available at Healthshop101 - READ MORE

 I will usually drink one of these after my run in the morning.  Protein is good for muscle recovery after a good work out.  It can be used as a meal replacement as well.  In addition, it is yummy enough that if your diet is lacking in a good source of protein, you can incorporate this into many other foods like a healthy muffin, hot cereals, etc.  Other things like fruit, or pure grade b maple syrup can be added for a different flavor as well!

I am so excited that I found this that I just HAD to share! It works for me and I hope it will work for your too!!! Let me know what you think!!!

In the meantime - make every minute count, keep balanced as best you can, enjoy the balance of the sunrise and sunset, and most of all....embrace the beauty in your world...

Challenges - Curagious Changes... What are yours?

Challenges face each and every one of us EVERY day! Have you noticed? Some challenges are emotional; some physical...some financial...some family...work...schedules...relationships... the list can go on and on.  The key is to not let challenges overcome your determination and focus.  Embrace that which places challenge before you and use it to develop strength and heighten your perseverance to keep moving in a forward direction...with LIFE as it is presented to you. The idea is to keep on that road and celebrate the times you made it around one of the curves or uphill battles :0)

I am going to focus a lot of my posts in the next month on facing challenges.  I hope that if you relate to any of them, you can either share your experiences with me - to share with others so we can band together as a supportive community of people just trying to put the next foot in front of the other!I am not a doctor or healthcare provider.  I am simply a person who cares about improving my health and wellness, and sharing it with others.  Let's start with a firm focus forward!


A Personal Challenge:
When I am faced with challenges, I try to take just one step at a time.... My Next Best Thing.  A good friend said that to me once, and it stuck! So what is your challenge? What is your next best thing? Just one... after that has been mastered and fits with life...go on to the Next Best Thing.

It was about four years ago when I made a life changing challenge decision.  I was feeling sluggish all the time, I had no energy, I was out of breath quickly, I couldn't run...I could hardly even walk fast...SOMETHING had to change.  I needed to exercise more.  I needed to eat better.  There were so many things I was sure I needed to do and I just felt so overwhelmed I wanted to just sit down and cry.  Where would I even begin? This was MY personal step forward.  I gave up drinking soda.  It was difficult for me to do.  I had been to a point at one time where that was almost ALL I was drinking.  I cut back a little at a time.  Then soon I was down to one a day, 1/2 a day, then every other day.  Once I kicked it, I couldn't believe the difference it made for me!  I was able to start moving in a forward motion with tackling other things that were in my way of setting and achieving my goals.  It has been about five years now and I am feeling great!

So this is Today's CHALLENGE:

If you are a soda drinker, start reducing your consumption of soda TODAY!

Struggling with this challenge? Let's get through it together! I am always looking up and researching ideas for getting through certain issues this way - other readers may also have some good ideas!

Here are some things you may not have thought about:
What are the BENEFITS you feel you are getting from drinking soda - BE HONEST!! For me, the only benefit I could honestly tell you that I just liked the ZIP it gave me in my mouth! LOL - That was it for me.  So, What does it do for you??

NOW - Let's talk about some of the RISKS of drinking soda:

These are just a few - I am sure most people know it just isn't good for you, but here's the deal...for ME - I can notice a difference like night and day in my running endurance if I do drink soda...Remember the Challenge - GIVE IT A TRY!!! 21 days makes a habit...I DARE YOU!!

How Do I Choose the Best Magnesium Supplement?

How do I choose the best form of magnesium supplement to take? This is a question many are asking themselves.  There are always new descriptive words coming out to declare the new best… “ionic”, “pico”, “trace”, “nano”, “angstrom”, “liquid”, “powder”, “capsule”, “tablet”.  What do these terms mean? How can they help me to determine which is best for me?  Have these same questions crossed your mind?

I am the kind of person who wants things simplified so that my personal health and wellness goals don’t have to be so difficult to achieve, so I break things down.  I wanted to share what I came up with for others who may be struggling with the same confusing ideas around introducing dietary supplements into their worlds.

Supplement Form:
Let’s first talk about the SIZE factor with minerals. It seems logical to me that a liquid would absorb faster than a powder, capsule, or tablet.  The powder, capsules, and tablets would have to go through the digestive system to be broken down by our bodies to be able to absorb any of the mineral at all.  How much would actually be absorbed? According to Livestrong Magazine, the supplements in pill form are only 5-20% absorbed by the body.  Why is this? The liquid form doesn’t really make it to the digestive system. Instead, it is more readily absorbed into the bloodstream because of the size.  Now, all liquids are not necessarily created equal either.  There are a variety of magnesium supplements available in the market today. Which is the smallest and most effective? I looked on several conversion charts for this answer.  Angstrom sized is the smallest and most cell-ready available.  All liquid supplements are not necessarily angstrom sized.  Some liquids are boasting “nano” or “pico” sized.  According to the conversion charts that I looked at, those are larger still than the angstrom sized.  So when referring to the size, I believe in going with a supplement that is angstrom sized for the most affective absorption for my body.
“Ionic” is a word that is being used a lot today as well.  This is how the mineral is bonded.  It is considered to be an ionic bond or a covalent bond. 

Supplement Concentration:
In addition to the “size”, there are also many different concentrations.  It is important to know the concentration, parts per million (ppm), or milligrams (mg) per serving, etc.  People have said they were taking a teaspoon of a specific mineral and think that would be the measurement they would go with.  However, every mineral is packaged according to that brand’s concentration criteria.  Be sure to know the amount of the mineral you are actually getting per serving.  They can also be recognized as “regular strength” or “professional strength”.  It is very important to know the difference.

Know your Deficiency or Symptoms of Deficiency:
There are tests to help you determine your level of deficiency. Tests can show conflicting results for minerals if they are in the blood or in the cells.  Magnesium for example is cellular.  Many times, a blood test will show normal while the cellular test will indicate a deficiency.  So testing can be confusing.  Iron on the other hand, will show up accurately in the blood test.  In my opinion, it is critical to become familiar with the signs and symptoms of deficiencies, as well as the kind of testing that you need to better determine which minerals you need and their dosages.  Many times, if a person is slightly deficient, it may be adequate to just supplement with the regular maintenance level serving size.  If an individual is experiencing issues surrounding a specific deficiency, they may need to increase the amount according to their unique circumstances surrounding their symptoms.  This is certainly something that could be discussed with your healthcare provider, whether it is a doctor who is knowledgeable in nutrition or someone who specializes in nutritional healing.

Know your Ingredients:
I personally don’t like having fillers or other ingredients in the supplements I am taking!  I prefer to have just the mineral itself.  This does a couple of things to set my mind at ease.  It assures me that I am getting just what I need in the specific mineral I am taking AND there will be less of a risk of experiencing undesirable side effects from taking the supplement.  Be sure to read the ingredients list when considering which supplement you are going to choose.

As wonderful as it would be to be able to get all of the minerals through a healthy diet, it just doesn’t seem possible in today’s world.  Our lives are so busy, it is easy to get caught up in eating convenience foods, processed foods, and fast foods.  It takes time to prepare the right foods and even then, you may not be getting enough of the mineral according to what your specific health needs may require. 

I am not a doctor or healthcare provider, so I cannot advise, prescribe, or recommend products for issues a person may be experiencing.  However, I feel like taking responsibility for achieving our own health and wellness goals is important.  It is my personal determination that the angstrom liquid minerals are the best choice for me in taking dietary supplements.  For magnesium specifically, it means better absorption without the frustrating side effect of diarrhea!

I hope this article has been helpful in answering some of the questions you may have in regards to choosing the best magnesium supplement for you!