Hey friends!
I switched blogging mediums. I really wanted to hear from you, and this platform wouldn't let me read your comments - no matter what I did. Since you're all really important to me and I want to know what you think, I switched over to wordpress.
Now for the good news: it works! I would love to hear from you over on my new blog! It's
www.laciegibson.wordpress.com
Thanks for your support and I look forward to the next part of our wonderful journey. So come on over! Join the party!
Friday, June 27, 2014
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Weight Loss Tip Tuesday - Drink, Drink, Drink
Welcome to weight loss tip Tuesday!
As a health coach, I love love LOVE helping women lose weight, have more energy, fall in love with themselves, sleep better, de-stress and so much more!
There is so much information about nutrition out there. It feels like articles are always telling you to eat this and not eat that. New superfoods are constantly emerging and there are foods you may eat that are scientifically proven to cause horrific diseases practically every second. On top of that jumble of information, throw in the crazy busyness of your job, your family, your life and...phew! Where do you begin?
That's where I come in! As a health coach, I am able to help you navigate the waters of nutrition and lifestyle. Everybody's different so it's ridiculous to think that there's one miracle "diet" that will work for everyone. (Plus, I hate diets! They don't work.) I collaborate with my clients to find what works best for them. It's fantastic!
Today's weight loss tip is to DRINK WATER! It sounds so simple, but 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.
Drink your way to weight loss. Feeling a little hungry? Try drinking a glass of water before you reach for a snack. Thirst is often confused with hunger. Drink a glass of water before your meals. This will help you eat less and feel satisfied.
How do you know if you're dehydrated? Here are some common symptoms that you may experience:
As a health coach, I love love LOVE helping women lose weight, have more energy, fall in love with themselves, sleep better, de-stress and so much more!
There is so much information about nutrition out there. It feels like articles are always telling you to eat this and not eat that. New superfoods are constantly emerging and there are foods you may eat that are scientifically proven to cause horrific diseases practically every second. On top of that jumble of information, throw in the crazy busyness of your job, your family, your life and...phew! Where do you begin?
That's where I come in! As a health coach, I am able to help you navigate the waters of nutrition and lifestyle. Everybody's different so it's ridiculous to think that there's one miracle "diet" that will work for everyone. (Plus, I hate diets! They don't work.) I collaborate with my clients to find what works best for them. It's fantastic!
Today's weight loss tip is to DRINK WATER! It sounds so simple, but 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.
Drink your way to weight loss. Feeling a little hungry? Try drinking a glass of water before you reach for a snack. Thirst is often confused with hunger. Drink a glass of water before your meals. This will help you eat less and feel satisfied.
How do you know if you're dehydrated? Here are some common symptoms that you may experience:
- Thirst
- Headache
- Irritability
- Weakness
- Dry Skin
- Cravings for sugar and salt
- Dizziness
- Dark urine
- Dry, sticky mouth
- Nausea
- Vomiting
One of the simplest ways to tell if you're dehydrated is to look at the color of you pee (seriously!). It should be a very pale yellow. If it's dark, that's a sign from your body to drink, drink, drink!
How much water should you be drinking? Strive for half your body weight in ounces every day. That means if you're 200 lbs, you need to drink 100 ounces (about 12.5 cups) of water. You need more if you exercise, drink caffeine, are in a hot/humid environment, high altitude, you're pregnant or breast feeding, you're ill and have diarrhea, vomiting or a urinary tract infection.
How much water should you be drinking? Strive for half your body weight in ounces every day. That means if you're 200 lbs, you need to drink 100 ounces (about 12.5 cups) of water. You need more if you exercise, drink caffeine, are in a hot/humid environment, high altitude, you're pregnant or breast feeding, you're ill and have diarrhea, vomiting or a urinary tract infection.
It may seem a bit overwhelming to drink so much, especially when you're not used to it. Here's a tip: keep a BPA free water bottle by your side during the day. Drink a little bit every 30 minutes or so (you can set a timer on your phone to help you remember). Keep refilling it. It may feel awkward for a few days, but you'll get used to it and your body will thank you!
What happens if you get tired of just drinking water all the time? Try drinking some herbal tea or add fresh fruit to your water. You can add strawberries, kiwis, raspberries, cucumber, mint, lemon, lime, the list goes on and on. You're only limited by your imagination, so get creative, think fun!
Let me know what you come up with! You are all wonderful!
Sources:
http://bodyecology.com/articles/dehydration_more_common_than_realize.php#.U6jm-Ba7tBU
Friday, June 20, 2014
Why Lentils Are Amazing
The recipe I tried last night was a winner! And, as an added bonus, it's packs a major nutritional punch! We couldn't get enough, and ate 'til our tummies were stuffed. Needless to say, it's husband approved.
I cooked with lentils for the first time probably about 6 months ago and have never looked back! There are a variety of different kinds of lentils. I've tried quite a few different ones, but for what I've cooked, I really like the French Green and regular Green lentils.
Let me tell you why they're amazing. First, they are one of the easiest things to cook. You don't have to measure out water or pay close attention to them. Just fill a pot up with water (at least enough to cover the lentils) and pop it on the stove - cook for 20-25 minutes until they're tender. That's it!
These guys help fight against obesity and help us lose weight. They are loaded with protein and fiber. They help keep blood sugar stable, have tons of vitamins and minerals (including folate and magnesium) and help protect against heart disease. They help keep us full so we don't feel the need to jump off the wagon. All this, and they're low in calories and have virtually no fat! Talk about a superfood!
The recipe I tried is from Oh She Glows. To see the recipe, click here.
I ran out of cumin, so I added 1/4 tsp cumin (that's all I had) and 1/2 tsp garlic powder instead. Jon likes things spicy, so I cut up a jalapeño for him. Other than that, I pretty much stuck to the recipe.
It's fast, easy, delicious and healthy! Let me know what you think!
By the way, I'm still trying to figured out how to make the comments work. I would love to hear from you, so I'm working on it!
Sources:
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-5488/7-Health-Benefits-of-Lentils.html
I cooked with lentils for the first time probably about 6 months ago and have never looked back! There are a variety of different kinds of lentils. I've tried quite a few different ones, but for what I've cooked, I really like the French Green and regular Green lentils.
 |
| French Green Lentils |
 |
| Green Lentils |
These guys help fight against obesity and help us lose weight. They are loaded with protein and fiber. They help keep blood sugar stable, have tons of vitamins and minerals (including folate and magnesium) and help protect against heart disease. They help keep us full so we don't feel the need to jump off the wagon. All this, and they're low in calories and have virtually no fat! Talk about a superfood!
I ran out of cumin, so I added 1/4 tsp cumin (that's all I had) and 1/2 tsp garlic powder instead. Jon likes things spicy, so I cut up a jalapeño for him. Other than that, I pretty much stuck to the recipe.
It's fast, easy, delicious and healthy! Let me know what you think!
By the way, I'm still trying to figured out how to make the comments work. I would love to hear from you, so I'm working on it!
Sources:
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-5488/7-Health-Benefits-of-Lentils.html
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Road Trip!
My hubby and I went on a little road trip these past few days. He needed to go to southern Oregon for work and I was able to tag along. It was such a blast! Oregon really is an incredibly gorgeous state. I was in awe at the scenery that surrounded us pretty much the entire time.
I knew that we were going to be taking this trip, and I wanted to be prepared because, let's face it, it can be difficult trying to find healthy food on the road. Saturday we went to farmer's market and picked up some beautiful bright red strawberries, delectable white raspberries, the sweetest rainbow of cherry tomatoes, juicy rainier cherries, and fresh little carrots. We went to the store and grabbed some raw nuts, Dave's killer bread, peanut butter (only ingredient is peanuts...yum) and some raw, local honey. I snacked on PB&H and all my other lovelies on the road. I was in heaven!
On our way down south, we were able to take a detour and see Crater Lake. It's incredible! It's actually a volcano and when it erupted a few thousand years ago, it lost too much magma, rendering it unstable so it caved in on itself and naturally filled up with water. The water is a combination of the prettiest blues I've ever seen! We weren't able to get as many pictures as we wanted though, both of our phones died because it was so cold! Here's our adventure:
For some reason everywhere we went, almost all the hotels were booked solid. Crazy! The last night was the most difficult but, we finally found a hotel. It was pretty sketchy. It definitely had a slight serial killer vibe. We said a prayer that we wouldn't get murdered in our sleep and went to bed. Luckily, we're still here!
Road trips are fun, but it's true that there's no place like home. I loved snuggling up in my bed last night! I've missed cooking...and it wasn't even a super long road trip. I'm trying a new recipe tonight, I'll let you know how it goes and post it tomorrow if it's a keeper!
I knew that we were going to be taking this trip, and I wanted to be prepared because, let's face it, it can be difficult trying to find healthy food on the road. Saturday we went to farmer's market and picked up some beautiful bright red strawberries, delectable white raspberries, the sweetest rainbow of cherry tomatoes, juicy rainier cherries, and fresh little carrots. We went to the store and grabbed some raw nuts, Dave's killer bread, peanut butter (only ingredient is peanuts...yum) and some raw, local honey. I snacked on PB&H and all my other lovelies on the road. I was in heaven!
On our way down south, we were able to take a detour and see Crater Lake. It's incredible! It's actually a volcano and when it erupted a few thousand years ago, it lost too much magma, rendering it unstable so it caved in on itself and naturally filled up with water. The water is a combination of the prettiest blues I've ever seen! We weren't able to get as many pictures as we wanted though, both of our phones died because it was so cold! Here's our adventure:
For some reason everywhere we went, almost all the hotels were booked solid. Crazy! The last night was the most difficult but, we finally found a hotel. It was pretty sketchy. It definitely had a slight serial killer vibe. We said a prayer that we wouldn't get murdered in our sleep and went to bed. Luckily, we're still here!
Road trips are fun, but it's true that there's no place like home. I loved snuggling up in my bed last night! I've missed cooking...and it wasn't even a super long road trip. I'm trying a new recipe tonight, I'll let you know how it goes and post it tomorrow if it's a keeper!
Friday, June 13, 2014
Friday the 13th
Dun dun duuunnnnn......
And it's a full moon tonight. Spooky! Since it's cloudy and a little cold and a slightly freaky "holiday" I have the perfect meal for y'all to try. This is actually the soup we make on Halloween. It's delicious, healthy, creamy, smooth and velvety. And it's souper simple (I couldn't resist). It's basically a must try.
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Have you heard about miso? It's been used in Asian cooking for hundreds of years. It's considered a superfood. It's loaded with antioxidants, essential minerals such as zinc and manganese, loads of phytonutrients and it's fermented so it's amazing for our gut flora! You can pretty much find it anywhere. This is the kind I buy. I get it from Whole Foods or Natural Grocers. I think QFC might have it too.
If you don't have meal plans, give this a try! It's a crowd pleaser!
Carrot Miso Soup
2 Tbs water
2 lbs carrots - thinly sliced
1 large onion - diced
4 regular/ 6 small garlic cloves - smashed
1 Tbs freshly grated ginger
4 cups vegetable broth
1/4 cup white miso paste
maple or brown rice syrup - to taste
raw pumpkin seeds - to top
.png)
And it's a full moon tonight. Spooky! Since it's cloudy and a little cold and a slightly freaky "holiday" I have the perfect meal for y'all to try. This is actually the soup we make on Halloween. It's delicious, healthy, creamy, smooth and velvety. And it's souper simple (I couldn't resist). It's basically a must try.
Have you heard about miso? It's been used in Asian cooking for hundreds of years. It's considered a superfood. It's loaded with antioxidants, essential minerals such as zinc and manganese, loads of phytonutrients and it's fermented so it's amazing for our gut flora! You can pretty much find it anywhere. This is the kind I buy. I get it from Whole Foods or Natural Grocers. I think QFC might have it too.
If you don't have meal plans, give this a try! It's a crowd pleaser!
Carrot Miso Soup
2 Tbs water
2 lbs carrots - thinly sliced
1 large onion - diced
4 regular/ 6 small garlic cloves - smashed
1 Tbs freshly grated ginger
4 cups vegetable broth
1/4 cup white miso paste
maple or brown rice syrup - to taste
raw pumpkin seeds - to top
- In a large soup pot, add water, carrots, onions and garlic - sauté until onion is translucent (about 10 minutes)
- Add broth and ginger - cover and simmer until carrots are tender (about 30 minutes)
- Pureè soup in batches in a blender, or all at once with an immersion blender (I like to leave mine a little chunky)
- In a small bowl, whisk together miso and 1/2 cup of the soup - stir the mixture back into the soup
- Taste and add extra miso, salt and pepper and agave if needed
- Ladle in bowls and top with raw pumpkin seeds
Pair this with a delicious green salad and you're set!
Enjoy friends!
Sources:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=114
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Happy Dance
Lately, I've been thinking about being the happiest you can be. In order to do this, it is essential to have gratitude and love in your heart.
The more I look around at the world, the less and less love I see. It's so sad! But every now and then, a story pops up that restores my faith in humanity.
Rather than waiting to read or see something good, I decided long ago, that I would live my life in such a way that I would have joy and happiness and help others do the same.
Cue the song "Happy" by Pharell
There's a challenge out there, have any of you heard of it? It's called 100 days of happy. I LOVE what they're doing! Check it out!
I will be doing this, starting tomorrow. If you want to see what I'm up to and what makes me happy, follow me on Instagram @ L_GIBSON22.
It is vital for excellent health and wellness to harbor a positive mindset. I'm pretty sure this is one of the best ways to realize how blessed we actually are. Not to mention, it will help get you out of the same old negativity rut.
Who's with me? Let's do this! It's happy time!
You deserve it!
The more I look around at the world, the less and less love I see. It's so sad! But every now and then, a story pops up that restores my faith in humanity.
Rather than waiting to read or see something good, I decided long ago, that I would live my life in such a way that I would have joy and happiness and help others do the same.
Cue the song "Happy" by Pharell
There's a challenge out there, have any of you heard of it? It's called 100 days of happy. I LOVE what they're doing! Check it out!
I will be doing this, starting tomorrow. If you want to see what I'm up to and what makes me happy, follow me on Instagram @ L_GIBSON22.
Who's with me? Let's do this! It's happy time!
You deserve it!
Monday, June 9, 2014
The Coast
This weekend was a lazy one. Sometimes those are my favorites. The week is so crazy busy that it's nice to just chill with my man. So, we hibernated :)
Jon travels all over Oregon for his work and sometimes I get to tag along. This morning we woke up bright and early and headed over to Seaside. We left early enough that we were able to play on the beach for a little while. I love the ocean. It's so powerful and calming. The marina air hadn't burned off yet, so it was cloudy and a little drizzly. But it was still perfect.
After he visited a couple clinics, we enjoyed a picnic in the car. We packed a little brunch before we left. Oregon is so beautiful! I didn't realize how many different shades of green nature has to share until we moved here. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking. There were times I thought we were driving in a painting it was so impeccable.
I think planning ahead is one of the most important things when you travel - especially if you're out and about when you're hungry. Trust me, I have been tempted my the tantalizing smells of food that I know will not make me feel good more than once! However, when I've planned it out and have something with me, I'm able to resist.
Here's to a fantastic week!
Jon travels all over Oregon for his work and sometimes I get to tag along. This morning we woke up bright and early and headed over to Seaside. We left early enough that we were able to play on the beach for a little while. I love the ocean. It's so powerful and calming. The marina air hadn't burned off yet, so it was cloudy and a little drizzly. But it was still perfect.
After he visited a couple clinics, we enjoyed a picnic in the car. We packed a little brunch before we left. Oregon is so beautiful! I didn't realize how many different shades of green nature has to share until we moved here. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking. There were times I thought we were driving in a painting it was so impeccable.
I think planning ahead is one of the most important things when you travel - especially if you're out and about when you're hungry. Trust me, I have been tempted my the tantalizing smells of food that I know will not make me feel good more than once! However, when I've planned it out and have something with me, I'm able to resist.
Here's to a fantastic week!
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