This morning has been crazy and it’s only 8am. I am getting ready to head to NYC this weekend for an IIN conference but before I go I have a million things to do including:
Pack
Print Travel Documents
Work
Blog
2M Run (supposed to run this weekend but I don’t want to bring all my gear to NYC with me)
Finish Up finalizing my Self-Care Workshop- which is Monday evening….who am I? and why did I plan a workshop for the day after I’ve been gone all weekend!?
Needless to say I’m feeling a little stressed out about all this but I’m working on prioritizing things and getting my list checked off. Due to my busy day I am holding off on my Fitness Friday post until later today after I finish up the things above.
So now here I am sitting at Mags drinking an Americano and trying to get work done. I also scarfed down a bagel earlier, which didn’t get photographed because it was gone in a within a few minutes.
Any other IINers heading to NYC this weekend for the conference? I am flying into JFK tomorrow morning and back out Sunday night. If you want an airport travel buddy e-mail me (Lindsay@gethealthywithlindsay.com)!
Wow this has been a crazy month! I’ve been bogged down with a huge work event that has been dominating my life but now it is finally over (WAHOO!) and I can get back to normal. That being said on top of my day job I also have my health coaching job which has really been doing amazing. I have a few new clients and I have a bunch of workshops going on this summer; the first one is next week! In addition to working one-on-one with clients and doing workshops I am also working on setting up a few podcasts and other healthy living materials. I also am back at IIN doing the immersion program, which so far is wonderful. I know things are sounding crazy already but they get crazier.
I recently was contacted by a friend who writes for Ecorazzi asking if I would be interested in attending and covering Wanderlust Vermont. UMMMMM hello of course I would be! I have actually been talking about Wanderlust to my husband for months now and had been debating going so when I was approached to cover the event I jumped at the opportunity. The Hubz is going to head down to Stratton with me so he can take advantage of the hiking and he will also be attending one day of Wanderlust, my anniversary gift to him. So some of you are probably wondering what the heck is Wanderlust?
Wanderlust is a festival combining the holistic experience of a yoga getaway with the swagger of a rock show.
WHERE:
Stratton Mountain, Bondville, VT WHEN:
June 23rd – 26th
WHO:
Talent includes regional bright lights and international stars, such as:
· Yoga instructors: John Friend, Seane Corn, Bryan Kest, Boston’s Amy Wren, New York’s Schuyler Grant, Elena Brower, Rodney Yee, Kristen Leigh & Barbara Verrochi plus dozens more · Musical Talent: Michael Franti & Spearhead, Andrew Bird, Todd Boston, the Wailers, New York’s Krishna Das, Northampton’s Sonya Kitchell, and Brooklyn’s Sub Swara · Theatrical Performers: Berkshire’s 1st burlesque show Gypsy Lane, Vermont’s own Bread & Puppet (one of the oldest nonprofit theatrical companies in theUS), + Vermont Vaudeville · Art Installations: Stratton resident Hugh Joudry · Speakers: Deepak Chopra, with the support from theOmega Institute, will lead the speakeasy series
If you are attending Wanderlust Vermont let me know!
Among all of this chaos the Hubz and I are still going strong with our running and have some really S.M.A.R.T. goals around what we would like to do and achieve. We are just finishing up C25K and we are going to then work on doing two 30 minute runs and one long run (starting at 2.5m and increasing by .5 until the race) per week until our 5k in July. Following the 5k we are planning a 10k in September and will be using the Hal Higdon training plan; if we like his we will use it to train for our half as well. In other active news the Hubz and I are gearing up to do some backpacking on the Long Trail this summer which should be a lot of fun. We had planned on doing an overnight trip this weekend but we might have to reschedule do to rain. Do you hike? Are you into backpacking?
Lastly lets talk about food. I haven’t been doing much for cooking lately due to the crazy schedule I have had. Most of our food has been pretty boring and basic like greens, beans and grains or salads, however this is all going to change soon! I have plans to start working on another e-book (probably won’t be looking for testers until August) and also working on some really great healthy recipes for the blog.
Well that is what’s going on with me- what is new and good with you?
I hope you are enjoying this series! The second item is a tongue cleaner which you can find at most pharmacies and super stores. I had always heard of brushing your tongue but I had never heard of or even seen a tongue scrapper until I started at IIN. Once I started using one I found that my cravings were reduced and yes it really does improve kissing!
Tongue Cleaner
The tongue cleaner, an inexpensive yet transformative utensil, is a simple, thin, u-shaped piece of stainless steel. It consists of a blunted edge that removes plaque and build-up from the surface of the tongue. Dentists in America are recommending the tongue cleaner more and more because it helps to fight cavities by removing bacteria from the mouth. The tongue cleaner also prevents bad breath, especially for people who eat a lot of dairy and build up mucus in the mouth, nose, and throat.
The tongue cleaner comes from the tradition of Ayurveda, which asserts that people who use one are better at public speaking, express themselves more thoughtfully, and speak more sincerely and authoritatively. Some people ask if the same effect can be gained by brushing the tongue with a stiff toothbrush. Brushing the tongue moves stuff around and is helpful, but a tongue cleaner is more effective as it clears out the deep deposits and generally keeps the area cleaner, stimulated and alive.
Cravings can be reduced by cleaning the tongue of leftover food. When the mouth can still taste the food, you may experience cravings for previously eaten foods. A tongue cleaner reverses the process of desensitizing your taste buds, which has happened to everyone to a greater or lesser extent. It allows you to taste more subtle flavors in food so that you can eat vegetables, fruits and whole grains with greater joy. When old residue is removed from the tongue, you will be better able to taste your food and won’t need to eat as much since you will have gained greater satisfaction from your meal.
And finally, a big advantage is that it enhances kissing because it makes the tongue more sweet, fresh and sensitive. If you are in a relationship, we invite you to check this out with your partner. Make an agreement to scrape twice a day for one week, and notice the difference.
Directions:
Apply a few quick strokes, 2-3 times a day, or after brushing your teeth
Use the rounded cleaning edge to scrape gently down the tongue several times, while applying slight pressure
Rinse under running water and gently scrape again until no white residue is left
There should be no pain or gagging involved whatsoever—if you feel any discomfort, you are probably scraping too hard or starting too far back on the tongue. And if you are wondering what those bumps are at the back of your tongue, they are your salivary glands and they are supposed to be there. If you found them you’ve gone too far.
Over the next three posts I am going to reveal three wonderful (inexpensive) things that are great for your health. When I first heard about these three things during my program at IIN I was skeptical and couldn’t really understand how three simple things could really change your life and improve your health, but they really DO work. It is amazing how small changes can have such a large impact on us.
The first of these three things is a hot water bottle. Yes you know those big oddly shaped bags that you fill with hot water that you have probably seen in old movies and cartoons. It sounded a little crazy to me too at first but the benefits are really wonderful and they are inexpensive too.
Fill it with hot water from the sink. The water bottle will stay warm for up to 2 hours.
Use it to:
Relax particular muscles or use for the entire body
Deliver nurturing comfort to enable a deep state of relaxation
Try using the hot water bottle on:
The feet for warmth
The back for strain
The lower abdomen for cramps
The abdomen for digestion and relaxation of body and mind
Additional Uses:
To combat illness: use as a warm, soothing companion to help you through flu, chills, and aches.
To ease menstrual cramps: a hot water bottle on the abdomen brings pain relief and soothing comfort.
As a bed warmer: a warm hot water bottle placed in your bed makes for a cozy sleep, especially on cold winter nights.
To ease arthritic pain: a natural, moist heat therapy for arthritic pain relief, especially great for hands.
To calm children: a warm cuddly companion to provide a calm secure feeling when children are ill or upset.
As a traveling companion: take it with you on trips to comfort you – no electricity needed.
To calm your pet: placed under a blanket, a warm hot water bottle soothes puppies in new surroundings — it provides warmth and security and calms them down.
To encourage restful sleep: to help you sleep after a high-stress day, lie down with a hot water bottle on your stomach, close your eyes and breathe deeply, so the bottle rises and falls. Many people carry a lot of tension there and the weighted heat releases it. Try it!
There’s no denying that everyone, at one time or another, has had a snack attack. Views on snacking differ.
Some feel that snacking is bad and that eating between meals leads to weight gain. Others believe that eating
many small meals and snacks throughout the day is healthy for maintaining energy levels and optimal weight. If there were one way of snacking that was right for everyone, we would all be doing it!
To alleviate snack attack guilt, try to understand why you are snacking and what snacks work best for your body. Perhaps you snack because your daily diet is missing nutrition, or because you are eating too little at meals. You might be snacking to soothe jangled nerves when you are emotional, or to entertain yourself when you are bored. Whatever your reason, acknowledge it and start thinking about how to create a life that is nourishing and truly satisfying.
Although snacks are no substitute for loving your life, they can be great energy boosters. Many convenient snack foods are highly processed and full of chemicals, additives, damaging fats and refined sugars. When a snack attack hits you, try foods that are filling and satisfying, but also nutritious. Here are some tips:
Snack on things that don’t come in a plastic wrapper or a box, like fresh fruit, leftover vegetables or rice
cakes with almond butter and fruit spread.
Make your own signature trail mix, organic hot chocolate made with almond milk sweetened with agave nectar, or blue corn chips with hummus.
You can also try “upgrading”:
If you are craving something crunchy, upgrade from potato chips to raw carrots, apples or whole grain
crackers.
If you are craving a candy bar, upgrade to a handful of nuts and dried fruit.
Instead of a cup of coffee, upgrade to green tea.
Instead of ice cream, upgrade to applesauce with cinnamon.
Upgraded snacks are high in nutrition and give you a greater sense of satiety and satisfaction; you won’t feel
physically or psychologically deprived, and you’ll have plenty of energy to sustain your activities for hours.
Snacking is enjoyable and there is a wide variety of healthful goodies for whatever you’re craving, be it sweet,
crunchy, salty, creamy or spicy. Dive in, be creative and enjoy your snack attack.
Today’s post is supposed to be about self-care but honestly you’ve been getting a lot of those lately so I’ve decided to switch gears and do a little life check in. If you are looking for a self-care post I encourage you to read my two latest posts:
In other foodie news the Hubz and I have been on a parfait kick for the past week. They are quick, easy and so delicious. We have been making them for breakfast and sometimes for dessert in a variety of combinations. Our favorite though is vanilla soygurt, Justin’s chocolate hazelnut butter, berries and Uncle Sam cereal for some crunch. Other combinations have been vanilla coconut yogurt with dates, kiwi, mango and Uncle Sam cereal for some crunch and then a variety of different flavors of coconut yogurt with berries and Uncle Sam cereal. We are just loving it and I can make one cup of soygurt/coconut yogurt be enough for the two of us when it’s bulked up. However the better deal that I have turned to are the large 3serving tubs of Whole Soy vanilla soygurt so good and so easy to use for parfaits.
Health Coaching Update- The Hubz is working on my new site and I hope to have it up and running in the next 6 weeks – there are are lot of details to workout. I also have arranged for four workshops throughout this summer at Hunger Mountain Co-op so if you are in the area you should sign up for one of them. I will be providing more details when everything is confirmed.
I also got my brochures printed and they look beautiful but I need to get a new photo of myself for the inside and I need to find some place less expensive (than Staples) to get them printed- any suggestions?
In other news the Hubz and I have a currently secret project that we’d like to roll out this summer and it is something I know you will be excited about. I also am getting back into recipe mode and I am planing to work on a summer recipe ebook. We also will be working on community summer garden plot soon and I will be doing more post about that. So there are a lot of things to look forward to.
The Hubz and I have been spending the weekend enjoying the sun and each others company. I have also made a few updates to the blog that I want to let you know about.
2. Newsletter Updates: I know that many of you signed up for the newsletter months ago and If you can remember how it was:
Then
Check out how it looks now:
Now
HUGE improvement! I really appreciate the positive feedback from those who received the most recent newsletters. I also would like to put it out there that if you are interested in any specific topics or have questions that you would like to see featured on the blog or in the newsletter please email me (Lindsay@cookingforaveganlover.com).
3. Special Health Counseling Rates for CVL Readers This also went out in the newsletter but since some of you have not signed up yet I will give you the chance to see it here. However to receive additional special CVL only rates, news and additional promotions/specials please sign up for my newsletter (you can do so on the side bar.)
Tongue Cleaner
I also got my brochures printed and they look beautiful but I need to get a new photo of myself for the inside and I need to find some place less expensive (than Staples) to get them printed- any suggestions?
