Category Archives: Health

Steam Rooms

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I made a post a few weeks ago about my regular use of the steam room. I got some fantastic questions about it after! So I’m going to go into more detail of the benefits of a steam room in hopes of answering those questions!

During a steam, there is an increase in blood flow and circulation in the body. This is because the heat causes blood vessels in your skin to expand. The moist heat stimulates the skin causing the pours to open up. By opening the pores through perspiration, steam induces the expulsion of toxins. This also helps to eliminate black heads to give you clearer skin! My skin always has a light pink glow to it after and my skin tone looks more even.

The steam room helps to open up airways which improves your breathing and alleviates congestion. The wet heat from the steam room thins and opens the mucous membranes in the body, which helps to relieve pressure. Any time I have allergies or congestion I use the steam room and feel a significant difference after!

Benefits of a steam room:

-Increases metabolism

-Cleanses the skin

-Boosts your immune system

-Eliminates toxins from the body

-Relieves discomfort from allergies

-Relaxes muscles

-Relieves couching

-Enhances circulation and blood flow

-Hydrates dry skin

Not only does you skin look amazing after a steam but you’ll feel so much better! Give it a try if you have the chance!

Food battle

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“Are you going to be a picky eater tonight?” Or “why aren’t you eating that? The amount of times I’ve heard these……🤔

Why are we so critical of what other people eat or don’t eat? I’ve battled with a food allergy for almost 10 years now. I’ve gone to dinner at peoples houses and not been able to eat much of anything because they served something I’m allergic to. I’ve gotten better about letting people know ahead of time. But I used to be so shy about it that I wouldn’t eat. A people assumed I had an eating disorder because I wouldn’t eat. Little did they know, on my way home I was eating the protein bar I had stashed in my car and would wolf down everything in my fridge at home!

There have been other times where I had to pick around food in hopes of eating something without getting sick. I’ve been called a picky eater because of this. I don’t really think a food allergy qualifies someone as a picky eater. It’s not really their choice to have a food allergy. If I could get rid of it I would! It would definitely make life easier when eating out or at peoples houses!

Rather than assume someone has an eating disorder or brand them as a picky eater, why not give them the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they have a food allergy! Or maybe they just don’t like what you’re serving. 😂 I think we as a society need to work on being less critical. We also need to worry more about ourselves and less about what other people are doing (in some cases).

Disposing of unused medication

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Do you know what to do with unused or expired medications? So many people just flush them down the toilet or pour them down the drain thinking that’s the safest thing. Medicines that are flushed down the toilet or poured down the drain can end up polluting our waters, impacting aquatic life, and contaminating our food and water supplies. Most medications are not removed by wastewater treatment plants or septic systems. Please do not flush your medicines!

The FDA lists a few options as safer choices to dispose of medicines. The first is DEA registered collectors. They are pharmacies, hospitals, clinics and law enforcement agencies that will collect unused medications and dispose of properly. You can find a collection agency or take back event in your area by going to the DEA’s website.

If no take back programs or DEA registered collectors are available in your area, and there are no specific disposal instructions on the product package, you can also follow these steps to dispose of medicines in the household trash:

1) Mix medicines (do not crush tablets or capsules) with an unpalatable substance such as dirt, cat litter, or unused coffee grounds.

2) Place the mixture in a container such as a sealed plastic bag

3) Throw the container in the trash

4) Remove all personal information (name, phone number, prescription number) from the label of empty pill bottles or medicine packaging, then dispose of container

Keep our water safe by disposing of your medicines properly! And keep your personal identity safe by scratching off all personal information from the pill bottles!

Aging and weight gain

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As we get older, a common myth people still believe is that they gain weight because of age. Your age doesn’t cause you to gain weight.

As you age, your body’s production of hormones that help maintain muscle mass decreases. As you lose muscle, more of your weight can be attributed to fat. In addition, as we age we often become less active. Many people still continue to eat the same portions and foods they are back when they were more active and able to burn it off quicker. Additionally, as we age we think we need less sleep or busy ourselves so much that stress causes a lack of sleep. These are factors that cause you to gain weight as you get older. But there are things you can do to work with your body and fight off the excess weight gain!

Exercise: Exercise with weights at least twice a week at a minimum. Lifting weight builds muscle strength. You don’t have to lift heavy weights! Start light/moderate and build your way up in weight and intensity. No gym membership? There’s plenty of at home workouts you can do. If you have a desk job, make sure to get up and move every so often. Do a lap around the office every hour and take the stairs when you can.

Diet: Watch your food intake and be cautious of portion sizes. Figure out how many calories you should consume in a day for your age and size. Eat lots of veggies and lean protein!

Sleep: Get plenty of sleep. Lack of sleep causes a lack of endurance. So you’re less likely to want to workout or get up and move as much. Ultimately encouraging a sedentary lifestyle which brings on weight gain.

Don’t let aging be your excuse for weight gain! Stay active, eat a healthy diet and get a good amount of sleep each night!

Relieving headaches naturally

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Headaches….they are so incredibly common and can be brought on by the littlest things! Stress, noise exposure, straining your eyes, consuming too much caffeine, consuming too much sugar, dehydration and lack of sleep, are just a few examples of things that cause headaches. You can take an OTC med to alleviate the pain, or there are a few natural things you can try…..

🔹 Ease pressure on your scalp. Let your hair down, or remove your hat or eyewear

🔹 Dim lights, set your phone down and turn off the computer

🔹Massage your temples

🔹 Eat foods rich in magnesium. Low levels of magnesium can cause headaches

🔹 Take vitamin B-12

🔹 Try a hot or cold compress

🔹 Drink lots of water

🔹 Lay down and shut your eyes

🔹 Try reflexology

🔹 Go on a walk or try yoga

I have a habit of pulling my hair up too tight and giving myself a headache. I know better but I still do it every time! A few of these work for me, if just letting my hair down doesn’t work.

Curb your cravings

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Craving something sweet? You don’t have to eat candy or ice cream. Sometimes you body just wants something as simple as fruit and yogurt!

These are a few things I go for when I’m craving something savory, salty or sweet but want to stay on track with my diet!

Don’t get me wrong, I love a DQ blizzard on occasion. But that’s not always the best choice for me. Especially when I’m trying to stay on track. You can find healthy alternatives to curb your food cravings!

Social Media Break

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Everyone has their “me time.” And I believe everyone needs me time! Mine are my workouts. I don’t answer calls, texts, look at social media, etc. I literally go dark. Unless my husband calls or texts. Then he’s just checking in on Ryder so I of course respond. But besides that I am non responsive.

I know it may sound ridiculous but I believe everyone needs at least an hour away from their phone, computer, tv, etc. Step away from technology and just take a break! Put your phone down or put it on silent. Distract yourself for one hour. Go on a walk, clean, take a nap, workout, read a book, etc. Do something that doesn’t involve your phone! See how different you feel each day. You may be surprised. I always feel a little more relaxed after some “quiet time.”

Challenge yourself! One hour a day with no phone, social media, tv, etc. Can you do it?

That scary word…..”Fat”

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I’m sure people are going to think I’m ridiculous for saying this, but I wish we could rename fats, from food, something else. Yeah yeah I know it sounds stupid. But a good majority of the general public sees that word and freaks out. I think it’s due to the word association with the word body fat. We define fat (from the body) as connective tissue that stores cellular fat. Or….the yellow blob stuff that we see in pictures in ads and learned about in heath class.

Body fat is not the same as food fat. Will fats from food make you fat? Yes and no. It’s all about portioning and eating the correct fats. If you eat a proper amount of fats, you can make it work to your advantage. With that being said, I’m referring to fats from avocado, olive oil, eggs, etc. NOT fats from things like Doritos, pastries, sugary drinks, etc. Should you completely avoid the “bad fats” all together? Some would argue yes. I say no. That’s what cheat meals are for! I don’t recommend consuming them every day but on occasion is fine! If you can completely avoid them all together, more power to you! I however want a greasy burger and pizza every so often. 😉

Fats are a good thing! Let’s stop being so scared of them! Use them as fuel for your body and don’t feel bad about consuming them, when they’re the good kind. Eat your avocados every day, and eat those eggs! They are fantastic for your body. Just make sure to portion things out properly! Figure out how much fat is recommended for your body per day. Once you understand the fat amounts in each food, you can portion things visually and it becomes really easy! Let’s get back to enjoying foods (especially ones with FAT) and not being scared of them! 🍴💪🏻

Boost Your Immune System Naturally

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We are approaching cold and flu season!! Help boost your immune system with the foods you eat every day! Many fruits, veggies and meats are high in vitamins and minerals that help your immune system to fight off infection. Below is a list of 6 (yes there are way more) vitamins found in certain foods that can help you keep your immune system strong and functioning at its best! 💪🏻

1️⃣ Vitamin C- Helps protect white blood cells from toxic compounds. Ex: leafy greens, bell peppers, Brussels sprouts, strawberries, citrus fruits and many more.

2️⃣ Vitamin E- An antioxidant that helps your body fight off infection. Ex: Spinach, broccoli, almonds, sunflower seeds, and many more

3️⃣ Vitamin A- Foods high in carotenoids (colorful foods) are turned into vitamin A in the body and gave an antioxidant effect that helps strengthen the immune system from infection. Ex: carrots, sweet potatoes, squash and many more

4️⃣ Iron- Helps your body carry oxygen to cells. Ex: beans, broccoli, kale, turkey, and many more

5️⃣ Selenium- Has the ability to slow the body’s over-active responses. Also lowers oxidative stress on the body. Ex: garlic, broccoli, tuna, and many more

6️⃣ Zinc- Helps slow down the immune response and control inflammation. Ex: yogurt, crab, oysters, lean meats, and many more

In addition to these vitamins, remember to wash your hands often! You can pass on millions of germs with the touch of a hand! 🤚

Small Victories

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I’ve said it before, even small victories should be celebrated! It’s not a huge visible change but it’s one I’m proud of and worked hard for! There is exactly one month between these two pictures. The difference is 5lbs, more muscle and me loving wearing shorts again!

The picture on the left was taken Aug 10. I weighed in at 130lbs at the time. The picture on the right was taken today, Sept 15, and I weighed in at 125lbs. My goal wasn’t to lose a bunch of weight. It was to lean out a little. Build more muscle and lose a little fat. I think I successfully achieved that! My legs are a little more defined than they were a month ago. I am incredibly happy with my progress.

How did I do it? Consistent workouts, fueling and hydrating my body and a HUGE load of support from my husband. Days that I had no energy and was so exhausted my husband would send me a text telling me to get after it, telling me I can do it and remind me how great I always feel after I push through. Sometimes I just need a little kick in the butt and he knows that. It always worked! And he’s right, I always did feel amazing after, even on my most tired days.😉

My goal now is maintenance! I’ll continue to eat healthy while occasionally treating myself! Like tonight! I’ll be enjoying a pizza, or burger or whatever my little heart desires as my celebration!

Everyone has different goals. But make sure you are rewarding yourself and celebrating even the smallest milestones!

Celebrate your small victories! 🎉