I have always wanted to donate my time, give my energy, and offer my love to people of an impoverished country. It's something that has been on my bucket list for a while. I've wanted to experience that for so long that I finally manifested the opportunity to do so. I am blogging from Malawi in this exact moment. MISSION POSSIBLE MALAWI!!! So what is my Mission? I've joined forces with an organization called Nourish The Children to bring food to those suffering from malnutrition and famine. DID YOU KNOW THAT EVERY 6 SECONDS A CHILD DIES FROM MALNUTRITION? We are bringing thousands of bags of a nutrient dense powder that, when mixed with water, provides 30 hot meals for starving children. We will be distributing them in the the village Mtalimanja.
So what's in these bags of VitaMeal?
A balance of carbs, protein, fat, and fiber
Essential fatty acids required for normal brain development, skin health, and immune defense
Electrolytes necessary for maintaining normal fluid balance and muscle function
25 essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A for normal sight and immune functions, as well as nutrients for normal growth and skeletal development
Not only are we providing them with food, we are also donating money to their school programs. There is a VitaMeal plant here in Malawi to reduce transportation costs and boost the local economy by providing jobs for the residents of this country. An American dollar here is like gold. It really puts a lot in perspective. On our way to the simple hotel from the one terminal airport, we passed by the land where Madonna is planning to build a school. Um, she's AMAZING! As we drove, I saw hundreds of people wandering the sides of the 2 lane highway. Some are just walking. Some are selling rotting fruit or boiled mice on a stick to eat. Some are balancing massive baskets filled with laundry on their heads. You see this stuff in movies, but actually being IN it creates an awareness that is humbling and priceless at the same time. My mind has been blown, my eyes have been opened, and I've only been here for one day.
After we settled into our rooms, we were asked to meet in the lobby because the Vice President of Malawi, Joyce Banda, wanted us to meet her in her home. We crammed into vans and headed over. At her gate (which was decorated with barbed wire) the guard spoke to our driver with a tone of intent authority. The way he casually held his rifle at his side made me feel like there was nothing to worry about. He granted us passage and we gathered in her living room. Her entrance and presence were both graceful and powerful. She spoke to us for 20 minutes before we asked her some questions and took pictures with her. She told us how she started an organization to support women entrepreneurs to gain economical independence. I was delighted to learn how passionate she is about bringing nutrition to her people.
I had the chance to speak with her one on one. She LOVES Mission Possible™! She loved my idea of educating those suffering with diabetes in her country. There is such a lack of education in the diabetic community. I told her that the complications of diabetes could be avoided with proper care and awareness. She could see the fire in my eyes. She could feel my genuine love for what I do. I saw my drive and Mission to make CHANGES in her. We really are all just reflections of each other. We would make an awesome team.
When I was a little kid, I always wished for an unbirthday. August 6th was the official day to celebrate my life and it just didn't feel like it was enough. I loved life in my early youth, every piece of it, and no one ever needed to twist my arm to have a party (even at the age of 7). My actual birthday was continuously like a beacon in the distance. I literally thought about it all year and made sure each birthday was better than the last one. The magical Alice in Wonderland "Happy Unbirthday" song made me feel entitled to have at least one more day of celebration every year. Thanks to the Law of Attraction, I just celebrated my 10th re-birthday...
In the months leading up to February of 2000, it's safe (and quite accurate) to say that I was the polar opposite of who I am today. I had been active and played every sport under the sun since the day I could walk, but I stopped playing sports altogether after my sophomore year. Basketball and water polo were the last team sports I participated in. Around the same time, I decided to become a vegetarian simply for moral purposes. My group of friends exposed me to animal torture literature and photographs that made me NEVER want to eat another piece of meat. So I stopped.
I knew NOTHING about nutrition so I ate anything that didn't cause the death of an animal. No matter what I ate, I never gained a single pound. Yes, I was that girl. I'd eat glazed donuts for breakfast. Pringles, Sour Straws, and Diet Coke were a favorite snack combination. A fast food pit stop with my friends was common. Cereal or pizza for dinner were normal options. I was inactive and I was eating garbage. I just didn't think about it like that. I ate food only if it tasted good. Still, no matter what I ate, I remained a skinny girl.
Slowly but surely, my grades began to drop, school became "not important", and I started to feel sleepy: ALL the time. I'd fall asleep in class and it was like pulling teeth to get me out of bed in the morning. I couldn't focus on anything, and I just wasn't feeling "sharp" anymore. I was self diagnosed as "chronically depressed" and asked my parents to send me to therapy. I started going two times a week and was eager to take anti-depressants. But it didn't fix me. I didn't know this then, but I wasn't dealing with the source of the problem. On top of my prescription meds I also decided to self-medicate. I started smoking weed everyday. Yes, every single day. I also smoked cigarettes everyday and drank alcohol every weekend. I was poisoning my body and brain on so many levels and I didn't see it like that. Or maybe I just didn't care.
Regardless of my less-than-desirable state of being, I wanted to have the party of the year at my house after Winter Ball. I gathered a handful of friends and we began decorating with absolute delight. We chose the barn on my property to be the headquarters of the fiesta. We were all in the hayloft adding the bells and whistles and I fell. Fourteen feet. On my head. On concrete. I was instantly unconscious and I don't even remember falling to this day. When I woke up from my coma in the ICU I had no idea where I was or what happened. Nothing made sense to me. I couldn't put my thoughts into words. When I spoke, my vocabulary was very limited. I even uttered words of gibberish. My parents were told that I had two brain contusions and a fractured skull from my fall. The doctors said it was a miracle that, not only did I wake up from my coma, but I also didn't break my neck and become quadriplegic. They were surprised that I even woke up from my coma. But that's not all, folks! They also discovered that I had been type 1 diabetic for about 8 months or so without even knowing it. Go figure.
So there I was. In a hospital bed. Unaware of the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and not sure of anything at all. My brain damage gave me these fun little things: no short term memory, no concept of time, no sense of direction, the vocabulary of a 4 year old, and little to no ability to carry on a conversation for more than a minute or so. Good times. I think it was the doctors who told me I could not smoke weed or drink any alcohol for at least a year while my brain healed. I remember being okay with that. I also was advised to eat better as I learned how to live with diabetes. I vaguely remember some doctor telling my mom (and not me - even though I was sitting right there - because he didn't think I'd be able to understand) that I shouldn't go back to school and try to graduate on time. "It'll be too challenging for her, I'm afraid..." Um, excuse me? WTF?!? Who ARE you right now?! I remember thinking that. It was in that moment that I decided to work my ass off to finish school on time. It was my senior year and I was in the class of 2000. I was looking forward to that graduation day since the drug-free program in middle school called: Here's Lookin' At You 2000! I love irony.
Over the next few weeks I went to intensive therapy to rehabilitate my brain. I had to relearn how to read and retain new information. I had to practice repeating phone numbers and recite instructions on how to prepare pasta. My "homework" consisted of unscrambling 4 letter words (like prak to park). I was eating more balanced meals and not poisoning my body with chemicals. After 3 weeks of missing school, I was elated to return. I didn't miss a single day the rest of the semester and I graduated on time with a 3.6 GPA. If I had ACCEPTED the doctor's prognosis I wouldn't have gone back to school, and I wouldn't have overcome what they told me was iMPossible. With a PMA, I persevered and I began my journey on a path of living holistically. I started learning more about how to eat in order to fuel my brain and body. I began a workout program tailored with yoga, cardio, and weight training. Before I knew it I was feeling like a new and improved version of me.
When I woke up from my coma that was the first day of my new life. February 5th is my official re-birthday (mark it down in your calendar, haha). It was a day that was given to me. I was given a second chance. You only have one life. You only have one body. You hold the key to optimal health in your own hand. Don't let anyone take that from you by accepting their prognosis. The only true obstacle in life is the actual self. If you tell your body it cannot do something, there is no way in Hell it will be able to do it. Believe in you. Know that nothing is iMPossible. Not a single thing.
I'd like to call this dish: A Whole Lotta Amazingness :)
WHAT DO YOU NEED?
1/4 pound of organic ground turkey meat
1 tablespoon of sliced dry roasted almonds
1 tablespoon of roasted and salted pepitas
2 tablespoons of whole flaxseeds
2 tablespoons of sesame seeds
a pinch of micro greens from Trader Joe's
1/4 avocado
2 cups spinach
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1/2 red bell pepper
1/4 teaspoon of ground garlic and rosemary seasoning
a couple pinches of white truffle sea salt
1 teaspoon of blood orange olive oil
1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon of white wine dijon mustard
1 teaspoon of capers
1 tablespoon of coconut oil
a few sprays of olive oil cooking spray
a glass of Robert Mondavi vintage Cabernet Sauvignon
HOW DO YOU MAKE IT?
-sautee spinach, carrots, diced bell pepper, and whole flaxseeds in olive oil cooking spray
-mix sliced almonds, whole pepitas, sesame seeds, white truffle sea salt, and ground rosemary and garlic seasoning into the ground turkey meat
-shape the mixture into a patty. Place into separate pan and cook in coconut oil. Cook to your preference (I like medium)
-remove sauteed veggies and arrange into a pretty little pile on your plate. Garnish with balsamic vinegar and blood orange olive oil
-remove your amazing turkey burger and place it next to your colorful pile of veggies. Add dijon mustard and dress with capers. Place micro greens on top to make it look like a fabulous piece of artwork. Don't forget about the avocado slices on your plate to balance it all out. You now have a triangle of deliciousness before you.
-this dish is yummy with a glass of fine wine. ENJOY!
Someone recently asked me: "Is there such a thing as romantic love? Apart from the love that is God and spirit and universe? Or is Hollywood love completely a figment of ego?" Ego is the root of all things that can end a relationship, I replied. What stems from the ego that causes our relationships to fail?
jealousy
a need to control each other
insecurity
co-dependence
doubt
worry
fear
resistance
denial
dishonesty
infidelity
When the ego is in the driver's seat of a relationship, all of the above are probable roadblocks on your journey to what could have been AMAZING. The romantic love we so commonly see in movies is attainable and fully possible. Screenplays are all derived from a source built upon memories, desires, wants, and fantasies. If it can be visualized, it can exist. Most people expect all relationships to be paired with hardship, struggle and an acceptance of less-than-"perfect".
If those expectations always precede us, we will inevitably shake hands with that reality. Relationships require effort, mutual respect, integrity, consideration, thoughtfulness and reciprocated celebration of each other's amazingness. Problems arise when the relationship begins to feel like homework or when someone stops celebrating their partner. If we are truly ready for a "Hollywood" love story we can create it. We, as people, have a deeply rooted "knowing" that no relationship is perfect.
What is the definition of perfect anyway?
per·fect(pûrfkt) adj.
1. Lacking nothing essential to the whole; complete of its nature or kind.
2. Being without defect or blemish
3. Excellent and delightful in all respects
My definition of a perfect relationship is simple. I believe that a "perfect" and blissful relationship can exist if jealousy isn't present and the feeling of freedom is dominant. By freedom, I mean: the freedom to be an individual within a union. One plus one equals 3. There is no "right" or "wrong". There is only "different". My way of cooking eggs benedict is my way. My partner's way of communication is his way. If it doesn't work for me, that's MY problem. Asking someone to change for you is merely just to make YOU feel more comfortable. You either accept your partner and the way he or she is, or you do not. You can choose to stay in the relationship or not.
Avoid being determined to prove the other person wrong. That's just ego stuff. If you succeed in proving them wrong, you're left with a broken person. And who wants to be with a broken person? Instead, offer suggestions and build up the other person. Having open communication and finding a way to meet in the middle is not the same as asking someone to change who he or she is for YOU. Again, that's ego stuff. Release that kind of pressure. It won't serve either of you.
The most important element of dating someone is how you feel with that person. I don't think the "butterflies in the tummy" feeling ever has to go away - not when you truly love your partner. Someone once told me I'm a wild stallion that cannot be tamed. I don't want to be tamed. I want another stallion to run with me.
"A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle." -Erin Majors
Christopher Columbus had all odds against him. So did Alexander Graham Bell. Everyone thought they were both crazy. Did they give up? Did they listen to their naysayers? Nope.
Has anyone in your life ever doubted you or told you that your Mission is iMPossible? Um, goodbyyyyyye!!!! DELETE!!!!!! Remove negative energy from your life. Those people will only cloud your vision. Like energy attracts like energy. Surround yourself with positive people who encourage and support you. Never EVER lose sight of your dreams. iMPossible does not exist.
"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great. When you are seeking to bring big plans to fruition, it is important with whom you regularly associate. Hang out with friends who are like-minded and who are also designing purpose-filled lives. Similarly, be that kind of a friend for your friends." -Mark Twain
SUPPORT THE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY on 3/13/10!!!
Do you know Mark Bloom? If you don't, you should! He was chosen as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's man of the year. He accepted the nomination because his father, Dr. Robert Bloom, is a two-time cancer (lymphoma) survivor. Mark is very active within the L & L Society and I want to support his efforts.
He and I are joining forces by hosting a charity Mission in Santa Monica. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the L & L Society and we would be honored to have you there! Below is the information for the SPECIAL Mission:
A SPECIAL CHARITY MISSION
Hosted by Celebrity Fitness Trainer, Jenna Phillips.
WHERE
On the grass on Ocean Ave (cross street Georgina) in Santa Monica, CA.
WHEN
March 13th at 10AM so please arrive no later than 9:50AM so you can find the most perfect parking spot imaginable (meters on Ocean, street parking on Georgina ) and have time to get set up on the grass.
WHAT TO BRING
Please arrive with a yoga mat in hand, a positive attitude, and a bottle of water! Music will be on blast to get you all pumped!
Traveling can often present a bit of a challenge when it comes to staying on top of your workouts. That used to be an issue for me until I realized that I can work out no matter WHERE I am. I have to get a bit creative, but that's the fun part. I honestly don't care WHAT people think about my fitness spontaneity.
Click on the links to the videos below and see how I burn calories instead of waiting in line. For me, skiing downhill is not enough of a calorie blaster. I also have a video of me doing leg lifts with my ski boots on. When I was in Australia, the resort I was staying in didn't have a gym (gasp! I know!). Instead of pouting about it, I went on an excursion and found a deserted bobsled track. I gave it purpose, yet again. It looked so lonely...
A common tendency for New Year's resolutions "makers" is setting the bar too high and getting fried before they can actually complete their ultimate goal. Whether the goal is to lose 10 lbs, clean out the attic of total clutter, donate extra time to an animal shelter, or quit smoking, the initial intention is simply focused on the end result:
"I WILL FEEL SO MUCH BETTER WHEN I REACH MY GOAL..."
Humans LOVE quick fixes and instant gratification. Is it realistic to get in the car for a 500 mile road trip and expect to be there in 57 minutes? Um, nope.
What do we do on long road trips? We listen to music, we take in the scenery, we think and have inner reflection, we play I-spy-with-my-little-eye games, and we stop along the way for a pit stop or to take pictures of cool stuff. All of the aforementioned makes the road trip MUCH more enjoyable. It takes the same amount of energy to be happy or miserable. YOU are ultimately the one who chooses how to expend your precious energy. So choose wisely.
How will you reach your goals and continue on a path of self-improvement? The great way to start is to write your resolutions or goals down on a piece of paper that you will be able to see everyday. I sometimes tape my goals on my bathroom mirror or my front door so I can see them every time I get ready to take on my day!
Want to shed some pounds? Don't do a crazy crash diet. DIETS DON'T WORK IN THE LONG RUN. Let's keep it SIMPLE and just focus on food today. Exercise ideas will be in another blog. Try some of this food for thought:
Have smaller portions. Use a salad plate instead of a dinner plate so you'll be less likely to pile on more food than you should eat.
Eat balanced meals (healthy fats, lean protein, & friendly carbs) more frequently throughout the day. Skipping meals (especially breakfast) is not a fun or smart way to lose weight.
Add more fiber into your daily cuisine. High fiber foods like veggies, oatmeal, and brown rice are GOOD CARBS, low on the glycemic index and will make you feel full so you are less likely to overeat.
Go easy on the sauces. Ask your server to bring you dressing on the side. You may be avoiding up to 600 calories! You can also try using lemon juice and balsamic vinegar for your salad instead of a high calorie dressing.
Water does a body good. Drink a cup of water before you start to dive into your food. You will feel fuller and not have the usual desire to eat UNTIL you are full. Let your stomach and brain meet in the middle. It takes about 20 minutes for your brain to tell you how full you actually are. Your stomach will appreciate your patience.
Variety is the spice of life. Instead of going for the same types of food every single day, try mixing it up. Some of my favorite cuisines include those of Japanese, vegan, Mediterranean, macrobiotic, and anything organic :)
As a gift to you, I am offering a December special. I want you all to stay committed to MP over the holidays and I always love having new people to come to Missions. December is usually a tough month to stay on top of a fitness regimen, but DUDE! Don't be like everyone else! If you and a friend sign up for the month of December, you each pay only $99 for the entire month instead of the normal monthly unlimited rate of $199.
I offer 8 workouts a week (4 Missions, 2 spin classes in Hollywood at Made In LA, and 2 spin classes at the Sports Club LA). You have the opportunity to train with me 32 times in a month! At $99, that is basically $3 per workout if you come to all of them, or $4.13 per workout if you come to all of them except my Sports Club spin classes! Even if you train with me 4 times for the entire month you will still save a dollar.
Find a friend who hasn't been to MP and motivate them to try something new so you can all stay lean over the holidays! Get a head start on your New Year's resolution.
Aaaaaahhh, it’s that time of year again. Sweet aromas of comfort food fill the house while marching bands in the parades and cheering fans at the football game chime loudly on the TV. Chaos and company add zesty flavor to your recipe of stress while you comb through your Christmas shopping list in your head. Oh, and don’t forget about carving out a sliver of your day to burn off the calories from the pumpkin pie. But HOW?! And WHEN?!
Sound familiar? You might need a mini guide to get you through the gluttony and culinary shenanigans that will take place over the holidays. We make time for whatever is most important to us. Whether it is catching up with the family, football with chips and dips, Black Friday shopping, or a post-Turkey Day workout we all have the ability to create a window to do what we want.
The average American will consume more than 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat on Thanksgiving Day alone, according to the Caloric Control Council. YIKES! The majority of these calories actually come from the all-day snacking in front of the TV while the turkey is being morphed into an edible masterpiece. We consume over 675 million pounds of turkey on Thanksgiving Day! True story.Most people think that their post-meal sleepiness is from the natural sedative found in turkey called Tryptophan, but that chemical isn’t really what it’s hyped up to be. That "food coma" you experience is the result of your body working overtime to digest all that food!
The good news? Yes, I know you want some. Here it is, anxious readers: (drum roll…) you have options! I have some tips for you that’ll help you to burn calories without swimming upstream during this joyous time of year. I will also give you some weapons of defense to prevent an excessive consumption of the food you’ve been waiting for all year. Enjoy!
Let it burn!
You can simply add a little more activity to your holiday routine to help "make up" for some of the extra calories you eat. Since it’s a family event ask your relatives to join you in a brisk walk in your ‘hood after dinner and/or before dessert. It’ll get your blood moving, help your body to digest some of that gluten rich stuffing, and maybe even make some room for a few bites of sweet treats.
You can also build lean muscle that’ll boost your metabolism without even going to the gym by adding 20-30 reps of these fabulous exercises:
Plie Squats—while you prep food on the stovetop
Lunges—do walking lunges in your driveway or backyard before dinner
Knee Push-Ups—do these in your living room before the parade starts
Bicep Curls—get creative with your shopping bags while you power walk to your car
Crunches and Bicycle Kicks—do these during commercials or right before your company arrives
Plank—hold for 30 seconds to one minute before dessert
Armor yourself!
Our eyes are bigger than our stomachs. If you stack your meal on a salad plate instead of a dinner plate it’ll look like you have plenty of food to enjoy.
Ghandi said: “Chew your drinks and drink your food.” What a smarty pants. Fully chew each bite of food before you swallow it. Put your fork down in between each bite to help you eat more slowly.
Water does a body good. Drink a cup of water before you start to dive into your comfort food. You will feel fuller and not have the desire to overstuff yourself.
Variety is the spice of life. More than likely, you will be confronted by a plethora of dishes. A smorgasbord of yumminess! Serve yourself a small portion of each item so you can “taste” everything.
Let your stomach and brain meet in the middle. It takes about 20 minutes for your brain to tell you how full you actually are. After you finish your first plate of food wait a little bit to see if you really need seconds. Your stomach will appreciate your patience.
What do you jam to when you hit trails outside? What songs keep your furnace burning while you pump iron or go on a long run? Music is my life and I rarely burn calories without it. I pride myself on having wicked fabulous playlists for all of my SPIN classes and Missions. Below are a few samples of how I keep everyone en fuego while we all get stronger and leeeeeeeean! Each class or Mission has a different crowd and attitude so I cater each playlist accordingly. I know how to amp my crew! :) I reward them all with cool down and stretching music. Every element is considered.
11/12/09 Made In LA SPIN class (attitude - ROCK&ROLL!)
1. Give It Away by Red Hot Chili Peppers
2. Crank That (Soulja Boy) [Travis Barker Remix] by Soulja Boy
3. Savior by Rise Against
4. Shut Up and Let Me Go by The Ting Tings
5. Numb/Encore by Jay-Z & Linkin Park
6. Lion's Roar by Asher Roth, New Kingdom & Busta Rhymes
7. Bulls on Parade by Rage Against The Machine
8. Uprising by Muse
9. Girl's Not Grey by AFI
10. Misery Business by Paramore
11. Are You Gonna Be My Girl by Jet
12. Smack My Bitch Up by The Prodigy
13. Headstrong by Trapt
14. Mudshovel by Staind
15. Why Did We Fire The Gun? by Waldeck
16. Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap
I'll post more playlists if you want. Just let me know! I have over 50 different playlists and they're all different (hip hop, techno, rock...). Post your comments below and I'll give you some sweet beats ideas!
If you know me, then you know I'm a complete foodie! A food detective, if you will. Everyday I search out new restaurants and food products to share with all of you. I have been frequenting a fabulous place called The Veggie Grill in West Hollywood, located at 8000 Sunset. Check out their website to get some visuals of their amazing menu. It's an entirely vegan restaurant but they don't even claim that! They don't even mention the word "healthy"! They don't want people to expect cardboard-tasting food. They refer to their amazingness as: "The Perfect Indulgence!" BRILLIANT!
Their substitution "meats" are FILLED with low-soy protein and taste INSANELY delicious! They also have one of my most favorite things on the menu: sweet potato fries. I pride myself in being a sweet potato fries connoisseur and I can say, without slight hesitation, that theirs are the BEST I've ever had! I almost ALWAYS get the Chipotle BBQ shredded veggie steak (protein style served on a bed of kale) and Sweetheart Fries on the side. All of their meals are diabetic-friendly so I'm a fan of their whole menu.
It's a place that any junk food junkie or canivorous being will love. There is NOTHING cardboard about this place (except maybe the to-go box when I bring extra goodies home with me). Run, don't walk, to The Veggie Grill! I give it my full approval!
I had an AMAZING dinner at Veggie Grill with some of my friends tonight. Instead of driving straight home and going to bed, I drove into Brentwood and parked my car at Whole Foods. It was after 10 so I walked to the furthest gas station to get a bottle of water and then in the opposite direction to get a cup of chamomile tea at The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. It was a perfect night for an evening stroll.
When I lived in Spain I walked EVERYWHERE! I lost 3 sizes from walking and dancing (and eating smaller portions because that's just how they roll over there). Your body will LOVE and THANK you for giving it daily movement. Every minute of it counts. People say: parking in LA is SUCH a royal P.I.T.A.!!! Well, duh, that's because everyone is fighting over the CLOSEST spot to the front door of anywhere they're going. Park an extra block away and you'll find a spot for sure! Plus, you'll get to walk some more. Nobody walks in LA? Wanna bet? Here's one Angeleno who walks as much as she can!
Have you ever paid attention to the way you feel when you have inner dialogue? Have you ever noticed a shift in your emotions when you instantly shift your thought process? Do you know that you can modify almost anything if you simply just change the way you look at it? Our reality is exactly what we make of it: for the better or worse. Anything we focus our energy on will become our reality. Many of us often say: "that happened TO me." What if you looked at what you learned from the experience, how it improved you as a person and said, "that happened FOR me"?
I try to be mindful of my thoughts in stressful situations, and it always helps to say, "this is happening FOR me because..." When I list reasons for why something is happening FOR me I can more easily watch my thoughts. Plus, that feels a WHOLE lot better than saying, "I can't freaking believe this is happening TO me right now!!!" Everything we encounter is meant to shape us as individuals. It's not really WHAT we experience, but HOW we choose to experience it, that makes all the difference.
This also applies to our fundamental health and the state of our bodies. The other day, I overheard someone say, "no matter what diet or kind of exercise I do, I cannot lose the fat on my stomach." First of all, I thought she was perfect just the way she was. And secondly, I wanted to ask her, "how often do you tell yourself that every single day?" When we tell ourselves that we are a certain way, we synergistically do things to keep ourselves in that box in both negative and positive ways. Our body will believe ANYTHING we tell it. So someone who tells herself: "I cannot lose the fat on my stomach" will also do things to fulfill that prophecy.
I bet she would lose the weight she wanted to if she would just stop obsessing about it, i.e., not weigh herself every single day, stop trying a new diet after the last one stops working, or exercising in an upstream way. I lost at least 20 lbs. when I moved to Spain in 2004 because I stopped focusing my energy on the fact that I was not happy with my size. I walked everywhere, ate bread everyday, sensible servings of ice cream most days of the week, and sun bathed on the beach every chance I got. I relaxed and I breathed in life. I occasionally went on a jog or climbed stairs and I did yoga in the comfort of my home when I felt like it. I think I weighed myself twice in the 7 months that I was there. I just gently R E L E A S E D the fixation on not being able to lose the weight. And then I did.
Today I trained my team of Agents on a Mission in Santa Monica and then I went on a jog with a friend right after because it was SUCH a beautiful day! I came across a vegan restaurant on Wilshire and 11th called Golden Mean Cafe. I ordered the gluten free pizza and the owner insisted that I also try the spelt flour vanilla/cinnamon/blueberry cake. So I did. I ate the whole piece, and I loved every bite. Everything we do in life should be enjoyable with a healthy amount of variety. That includes eating and working out!
The intent of my website, and at the same time the purpose of Mission Possible™, was to create something that offered subtle suggestions and alternatives to enhance the lifestyles of millions of people. I want to share with everyone the things I encounter while on my path to optimal health. I enjoy everything I eat and I have the most fun exercising when I lead a Mission! Mission Possible™ is everything except serious. We always just M O V E and S W E A T and L A U G H and F E E L amazing during and after the Mission! Get out of your comfort zone with food and fitness! Try something new this week!
I honestly believe that everyone would be better off if he or she ate like a person diagnosed with diabetes "should" eat. As much as I don't like the word "should" (because "should" is so subjective), there's no reason why people can't eat foods to nourish their bodies instead of those that DEGENERATE them. We hear so much about low-glycemic index foods but what does that really mean?
The glycemic index of food is a ranking of foods based on their immediate effect on blood glucose (blood sugar) levels. Carbohydrate foods that breakdown quickly during digestion have the highest glycemic indexes. Eating these foods typically require a BUNCH of insulin (blehhhh!). Carbohydrates that breakdown slowly, releasing glucose gradually into the blood stream, have low glycemic indexes and don't require as much insulin. I'm all about eating foods that don't SPIKE my blood sugar so I don't have to take a beyond-crazy load of insulin.
And why am I a huge fan of low GI stuff?
Low GI means a smaller rise in blood sugar and can help control established diabetes (yay!)
Low GI diets can help people lose weight and lower blood lipids (woo hoo!)
Low GI diets can improve the body's sensitivity to insulin (yessssss!)
DUH! So, WHY ON EARTH would you NOT eat more low GI foods?! Oh, because high GI foods are soooo tasty? Um, really? Ok, fine. Let me give you a few suggestions:
sweet potato french fries instead of regular French fries
I discovered these yummy treats at the WHOLE FOODS on Wilshire and 6th street in Santa Monica. I fell in love at 1st taste and my blood sugar was SO happy with me when I munched on a few pieces of my new healthy find. With my high-intensity fitness regimen, this is a perfect source of sustainable energy for my multiple workouts throughout the week.
As a person diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, I'm delighted that my sweet tooth can be satisfied with such a healthy treat! I honestly feel like I'm cheating when I eat them! Haha! But I'm so NOT cheating. With a nice dosage of fiber and ingredients like: Organic Oats, Semi-Sweet Chocolate, Raw Organic Blue Agave, Honey, Banana Chips, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Organic Flaxseeds, Almonds, Olive Oil, Organic Cocoa Powder, & Natural Vanilla Flavoring how can I possibly be cheating? My tastebuds are fully confused when I nourish my body with the yumminess of Granola Gourmet™. So quit messin' around with "pretending to be healthy" energy bars and GO GET SOME!!!
Be a rockstar with your health at home or on the road!
Eating Healthy Food While Traveling...
doesn't have to be boring or difficult! Just make sure you're prepared and bring some healthy goodies with you. Click on the links below to see some examples of how I mastered it while I traveled in Australia!
As well as watching WHAT you eat, it's important to watch how MUCH you eat - "standard" portion sizes around the world vary greatly. Did you know that coffee in Australia is ridiculously strong compared to here? I was shocked to see that the "large" coffee was the size of a Starbucks TALL (until I tried it and realized why! Haha!).
Exercising While Traveling...
is also much easier than you think!! On the super long flight there AND back, I made sure to stretch and happily did lunges while everyone was passed out. Once I got off the plane, I jumped rope at the airport in Sydney without an ounce of shame. I have it on video to prove it but you'll have to wait til the next newsletter, or follow me on Twitter, to see it! A jumprope is such a small item that you can easily tuck it into the corner of your bag. That's how I roll. :)
I'm super random and I work out in the wackiest ways, again without shame:
We are all different. There is not ONE cuisine for everyone.
Most of you know that I ate a RAW/VEGAN cuisine for about 30 days. I learned so much about alternative food choices and the health benefits of eating food in its purest form. I enjoyed everything that I ate and had fun turning my carnivorous friends onto healthier options. I am now back to my usual cuisine filled with tons of fresh veggies, egg whites, fish, oatmeal, nuts & seeds, COCONUT EVERYTHING!, sprouted grains, quinoa, brown rice, and occasional fruit like apple slices and berries. My diet is mainly that of macrobiotic (with the exception of egg whites).
I believe the key to everything is moderation. We are all different, and while there are SO many theories out there about what is healthy and what is not, you have to do what works best for YOUR body. Listen to what your body tells you when you eat certain foods. Don't limit your relationship with food to only the TYPE that you eat. Also pay attention to how your body feels based on the TIME of day you eat certain foods. For me, eating even low glycemic fruit at night will guarantee a spike in blood sugar the next morning. If I want to have fruit I make sure to have it in the middle of the day and/or right after an intense workout. My body loves egg whites or a whey/casein protein shake first thing in the morning. I never skip meals and I always make sure to eat within an hour of waking up.
When I eat this way, my blood sugar is the most stable. This means I have to take less insulin: my ultimate goal! The main thing is to just keep your life simple when it comes to food. I don't mean simple as in "convenience" (although that can be a bonus most of the time). What I mean is that the amount of ingredients in your food should be minimal. My rule is: 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 ingredients max! I have found more of a balance in taste and satiation when it comes to an odd number of ingredients. Just something I've noticed.
It may take a little bit of experimenting or consulting a nutritionist to figure out what works best for your body type. No matter what the outcome is, you can always make the healthiest cuisine for your body type taste delicious! Want some food tips? Follow me on Twitter!
Mission Possible for this Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are cancelled b/c I will be in Australia with my family! Stay tuned for updates regarding next week's missions.
Did you know that coconuts are one of the healthiest and most complete sources of health and nutrition that you can find? Yup! True story! I drink ZICO coconut water almost everyday to rehydrate after an intense workout. I also love to drink the water from an actual young coconut (which can be bought at a health food store), then I scoop out the meat with a spoon and devour it!
This tasty treat, offered to you by Mother Nature, provides a nutritious source of meat, juice, milk, and oil that has fed and nourished millions of people around the world for centuries. Coconut is super rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It's been called a "functional food" because it has an endless amount of health benefits, even beyond its nutrient-dense content. Coconut oil has a ridiculous amount of healing properties (way more than other dietary oils) and is a medicinal favorite in Asian and Pacific populations. Pacific Islanders consider coconut oil to be THE cure for all illnesses. They even call it: "The Tree of Life."
So, FINALLY, modern medicine is figuring out that Western meds are not the end all! DUH! Some recent studies found an INSANELY long list of some great benefits! Get ready for some serious food for thought! I, of course, bolded my favorite facts, but all of it is great stuff to know!
Kills viruses that cause influenza, herpes, measles, hepatitis C, SARS, AIDS, and other illnesses
Kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, gum disease and cavities, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, and other diseases
Kills fungi and yeasts that cause candidiasis, ringworm, athlete's foot, thrush, diaper rash, and other infections
Expels or kills tapeworms, lice, giardia, and other parasites
Provides a nutritional source of quick energy
Boosts energy and endurance, enhancing physical and athletic performance
Improves digestion and absorption of other nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids
Improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose
Relieves stress on pancreas and enzyme systems of the body
Reduces symptoms associated with pancreatitis
Helps relieve symptoms and reduce health risks associated with diabetes
Reduces problems associated with malabsorption syndrome and cystic fibrosis
Improves calcium and magnesium absorption and supports the development of strong bones and teeth
Helps protect against osteoporosis
Helps relieve symptoms associated with gallbladder disease
Relieves symptoms associated with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and stomach ulcers
Improves digestion and bowel function
Relieves pain and irritation caused by hemorrhoids
Reduces inflammation
Supports tissue healing and repair
Supports and aids immune system function
Helps protect the body from breast, colon, and other cancers
Is heart healthy; improves cholesterol ratio reducing risk of heart disease
Protects arteries from injury that causes atherosclerosis and thus protects against heart disease
Helps prevent periodontal disease and tooth decay
Functions as a protective antioxidant
Helps to protect the body from harmful free radicals that promote premature aging and degenerative disease
Does not deplete the body's antioxidant reserves like other oils do
Improves utilization of essential fatty acids and protects them from oxidation
Helps relieve symptoms associated with chronic fatigue syndrome
Relieves symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate enlargement)
Reduces epileptic seizures
Helps protect against kidney disease and bladder infections
Dissolves kidney stones
Helps prevent liver disease
Is lower in calories than all other fats
Supports thyroid function
Promotes loss of excess weight by increasing metabolic rate
Is utilized by the body to produce energy in preference to being stored as body fat like other dietary fats
Helps prevent obesity and overweight problems
Applied topically helps to form a chemical barrier on the skin to ward of infection
Reduces symptoms associated the psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis
Supports the natural chemical balance of the skin
Softens skin and helps relieve dryness and flaking
Prevents wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots
Promotes healthy looking hair and complexion
Provides protection from damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation from the sun
Helps control dandruff
Does not form harmful by-products when heated to normal cooking temperature like other vegetable oils do
Has no harmful or discomforting side effects
Is completely non-toxic to humans
Click HERE to see the site where I found all of these great facts!
Here's a little FYI stuff about Coconut Oil
This incredible stuff was once misconstrued as "unhealthy" because of its high saturated fat content. It's finally gaining some well-deserved recognition as a nutritious food because the fat in coconut oil is a totally different from almost every other other fat. Some call it the "the healthiest oil on earth." The saturated fatty acids in coconut oil are medium-chain fatty acids, whereas almost 100% of other saturated fats are composed of long-chain fatty acids. So, what's the big deal with MCFA and LCFA?
I like to make things short, but sweet... So here ya go: MCFA do not have a negative effect on cholesterol. MCFA also are little warriors when it comes to lowering the risk of both atherosclerosis and heart disease. BAM!!! Both the saturated and unsaturated fat found in meat, milk, eggs, and plants (including almost all vegetable oils) are composed of LCFA. Bleh!
Stay slim while you travel and eat your favorite foods!
I absolutely LOVE to travel. Making a habit of it can present challenges in maintaining my desired eating habits and necessary workout routine. I find myself getting rather creative when I venture out of my Los Angeles bubble.
Example: I was in Las Vegas last weekend watching Motion City Soundtrack and Blink-182 in concert. Both bands had a killer performance at The Joint in The Hard Rock casino. I was stoked to hear one of MCS's new tracks from their upcoming album (click HERE)!!! Another highlight: Travis Barker's INSANE solo on the drums was beyond mind-blowing. He did a "flying drum solo" at another show that I was lucky enough to see. Click HERE to see it for yourself!
I was so proud to see how far my MCS guys have come! They are STILL on track with their eating and exercising! They all looked like lean machines with tons of energy! What a stage presence!!! I almost cried like 5 times. True story... Haha! Mark Hoppus from Blink-182 looked incredible as well! I was amazed to see how quickly he shaped up in the 3 weeks we had to prepare him for his tour!
As we all know, Vegas isn't THE healthiest place on the planet. It's laced with temptations of all kinds (i.e., excessive alcohol consumption, buffets up the wazoo, or a desire to pass out by the pool, post-rough night, instead of hitting the casino's gym). Well, I did my best to stay on track while I was in the City of Sins for 4 days. I arrived with a cooler filled with RAW/VEGAN food/snacks/meals and promised myself I wouldn't spend a dime on food while I was there. I "caved" and bought a jar of un-raw almonds. Haha! I invented a super yummy recipe for a partially RAW, but fully VEGAN, snack. I call it JP's 57 MIX (because it's balanced with all 5 elemental tastes using 7 ingredients! Yay!). Here it is, get ready:
2 tablespoons of organic raw cacoa nibs
2 tablespoons of organic goji berries
1 tablespoon of shelled dry roasted salted pistachios
1 tablespoon of organic raw coconut flakes
1 tablespoon of organic raw pepitas
1 tablespoon of organic raw almonds
1 tablespoon of organic flax seeds
BAM! Talk about a creation jam-packed with healthy fats, lots of fiber, and total satiation! Your taste buds will have a party in your mouth! JP's 57 MIX is great in a ziplock bag for an on-the-go snack, and even super yummy in a small bowl with a splash of hemp or almond milk.
To stay on track physically, I also brought workout clothes and went to the gym everyday that I was there. I just woke up, changed into my LULULEMON gear and went for it while my friends slept well into the afternoon. I felt incredible when it was all said and done! Just an hour at the gym helped me to feel energized throughout the rest of the day! I will be filming some videos for workout ideas for the traveler. They'll be uploaded on my YouTube page. Stay tuned!
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