Tuesday, February 22, 2011

NEW SITE

This site has moved! See the new and improved EnjoyYOURHealthyLife website :


See you over there :)

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Essential

As many of you know, I love all things health, wellness, and nutrition.  I finished my Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Exercise Science and teach fitness classes. I am a HUGE proponent of anything that is good for the body, mind, and spirit.

As such, I have been using some incredible wellness products, and I want to share some of that info with my blog readers!!

So friends, I know you care about your health (obviously, right?! Why else would you be visiting?) and as such I want you to also know about the most incredible health and wellness products known to man. The exact same products that successful spas such as the Bellagio, MGM, and Four Seasons are using. These products come straight from the earth-from PLANTS (we love plants, right?!) Truly a gift of the earth without any side effects or crazy added synthetics. Without anything added. That is right. I know, fabulous, right?!

What is it?! They are 100% Certified PURE Therapeutic Grade essential oils
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What are essential oils you might ask? Essential oils come from parts of plants that are carefully extracted using very expensive equipment and strictly controlled temperatures, all done so with complete precision. Essential oils have medicinal, health, and therapeutic benefits.  Many of the oils have powerful cleansing properties.  Because of their unique chemical structure, essential oils can pass directly through the skin for immediate systemic response.  Those oils that can be taken internally can cross the cell membrane and thus target viruses and bacteria that modern medicines and anti-biotics can NOT target (as they can't cross the cell membrane).  

The oils I use are the only oils in the world that can be labelled 100% certified PURE therapeutic grade because of the purity and clarity of the oils--NO pesticides. NO residues. NO synthetics. NO fillers. NO artificial anything. NOTHING added. Only PURE 100% essential oil.  (just like organic foods are really truly ONLY "organic" if the food says "Certified Organic" everything else could just be partly organic) The reason this is so, is because it is wayyyy more expensive to run the extra tests, find the best plants, and control the actual extraction methods. Each bottle is rigorously tested and only sold if it passes the 5 extra tests the company runs (as compared to any other essential oil company). 

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Essential oils can be used for everything from scrapes and bruises to sore muscles to headaches to curing ulcers (NO joke- my husband's stomach ulcers, in fact!). These essential oils can be applied topically, diffused aromatically (killing germs, brightening mood, calming the senses, etc.), and some can be taken INTERNALLy! If you have ever used essential oils you probably know that internal use of oils is a no-no.....that is because those essential oil companies can not guarantee that there are no pesticides, synthetics, or other 'junk' added in (added in b/c it is cheaper and easier production).

I use essential oils daily and have seen incredible things happen! The following are just a FEW of the things that have happened in my life because of using these oils:

-My ache in my left ankle disappeared (I use the supplements the company makes with essential oils blend) 
-my burned finger's pain was immediately relieved and NO scarring appeared (Lavender)
-I fall asleep faster and sleep more peacefully (Serenity blend)
-my stomachaches I often get when I eat too much dairy are relieved (DigestZen blend)
-my skin is clearer and I look younger!! (Melaleuca and Lavender)
-my water is tastier now (1 drop each of Lemon, Lime, and Grapefuit oils)
-my back aches (teaching over 3 fitness classes per week plus full-time work in a chair = achey back)    
     disappeared (when I rub DeepBlue blend on it--used for muscle soreness)
-my headaches and tension are gone (rubbing Pastense blend on my temples)
-my sleepiness and lack of motivation is zapped (Peppermint rubbed on my neck and upper jaw)
-I have lost a bit of weight and reduced cravings for foods I am not really hungry for (Slim and Sassy Blend)
-and like I mentioned earlier, my husband's ulcers are cured. 

Let me share with you a bit more about that experience....My husband started having pains in his abdomen at night. We were visiting my family and as my father is a doctor he did some tests, asked questions, etc. and then gave my husband some very strong medications. My husband's pain did go away/was subsided for several hours, but if he didn't take the medicine, the dull pain would return and he would be VERY uncomfortable. The rest of the trip was unfortunately much of the same....he'd be in pain, he'd take more meds, he'd be OK (but not great), and so on. We met my husband's mother at the airport when we got back to where we live and his mom had prepared 4 different essential oils for internal use for my husband. (She has a book that says what ailments can be treated with what oils). 34 HOURS later his pain was COMPLETELY gone. 

My hope is that I can share these essential oils with you and you can see for yourself the quality, purity, and power of these essential oils that beat out ANY other essential oil and will change your life dramatically. (Anyone else hate popping pills out there and taking awful, expensive medicines that never work?!) 

I enjoy knowing that I only put the best, highest quality, 100% natural essential oils on and in my body. 
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All that work at the gym and healthy eating is only enhanced with the use of these oils :) 

(you can always email me if you have questions: swissdancer@gmail.com)

p.p.s. in case you're really wondering about all those elite spas, the MGM, Four Seasons, Bellagio, and many many more spas all over the country are using these oils in their spas NOW.....replacing other (non CPTG) essential oils and products that have not come even close to matching these 100% CPTG essential oil's benefits, results, and sales. The spas know what is up.....do you??

Anyone sick of taking synthetic meds, drugs, and other stuff that they can not even decipher on labels? I am all for doing, participating in, and creating the healthiest habits!

Let's hear your comments and thoughts on this--
have a healthy day, friends!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

the "unperfect" Valentine's



I had it all planned perfectly. 
My day would include lots of red/pink foods.

see my lunch below:
lots of pink and redBaked sweet potato with ketchup, spinachsalad with Raspberry Balsamicall on a cute red plate!
 On with my plan:
I'd surprise my husband with an amazing home-cooked meal he loves.
We'd enjoy the night.

Enter in my HUGE mistake. I set the oven at the wrong heat.
I got busy doing other things.
I was not paying attention to the oven AT ALL.


AHHHHH burnt to a CRISP

this one wasn't TOO bad....

 DO you even know what the dinner was SUPPOSEDto be?!


Homemade HEART pizzas. That is what.

Bless my heart (haha no pun intended), forINTENDING to make it from the heart, right?!

actually, bless my husband's heart. He still ate it and ENJOYED it.
(some small scraping ensued to rid part of his pizza of blackcharred stuff. Weird, how that got there
?!)

Anyone else have an "unperfect" Valentine's day??
by the way-my husband and I thought it was still delicious, semi-edible,
and had a fabulous evening together, thank you :)

Monday, February 14, 2011

Valentine's

Like I mentioned, I am a complete OFB addict.

Proof?

PINK and RED

YUMM

RED Raspberry JAM in my oatmeal in honor
of VALENTINE'S DAY
What foods are you going to make/eat today that are red or pink?!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Breakfast

Anyone else a complete OFB (Oatmeal For Breakfast) addict?


Hi. My name is Annette. And I am OFB.


yummmmy oatmeal
I adore oatmeal for breakfast!
In this certain bowl of oats:
-1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
-1 cup water
-1/2 cup light vanilla soy milk
-1 Tb almond butter
-pinch of nutmeg
-1 Tb granola (on top)
-crumbles of a black bean brownie

What are YOUR favorite combos for an oatmeal bowl?

Oat Facts:
1. oats contain soluble fiber-this fiber dissolves in water/binds with water that gives a feeling of fullness
2. soluble fiber has been shown to help reduce the risk of heart disease and some cancers
3. oats are inexpensive, versatile, and delicious
4. oats can be used for breakfast, in cookies, as a bread crumb alternative to casseroles, in muffin mixes, an addition to protein shakes or smoothies, and eaten raw with milk
5. because of the fiber and protein naturally found in oats, oatmeal for breakfast is the perfect break-your-fast (get it?!) meal. It is also a perfect post-workout meal because of the carbs:protein ratio
6. Oats are portable, drinkable, easy to use, and economical
7. try to avoid the oats in a box--there is a lot of added sugar, chemicals, and additives your bodies don't need
8. old-fahioned oats are unprocessed and allow for a slower digestion and release of sugar into the bloodstream....allowing that feeling of fullness to last! No mid-morning snack needed.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Weekend Eats

Does anyone else tend to eat a tad differently during the week? 
I sometimes do.
When I do, I tend to eat more sweets and less vegetables. Weird, I know!
But, I eat REALLy healthy during the week- so it sort of balances each other out.
Sort of.

Some recent weekend (split between 2 weekends) eats:
Best Salad (with chicken and black beans and whole wheat tortilla)

home made hot cocoa- Deeeelish!

homemade turkey/cheese/spinach panini with a spinach salad (cottage cheese and almonds atop)

Snickerdoodle, Vanilla, Dark Chocolate Frozen yogurt with a black bean brownie and toffee
I. was. in. heaven.

you can go ahead and be jealous.

Now can you see why my husband puts up with me during that special time during the month?
He gets to partake of the goodness also!!


Enjoy your weekend friends!

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Viewpoint


Just a few pictures I have taken with my brand new camera lately...

How grateful I am for this earth and the beauty we have ALL around us




Spend some time in nature today and you just might have a totally
new VIEWPOINT on your life

We live in a beautiful, majestic world, my friends.
It is refreshing just walking in the woods 
or seeing the mountains when I step out of work
or running along a snowy trail
or sloshing through the huge puddles
or freeezing my bumm off getting to the gym.....
(okay that is a bit of a stretch as far as beauty goes)

All I am saying is step out, and view this world from a different eye tomorrow,
you just might surprise yourself!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

my secret love


is Frozen Yogurt. Ice Cream. Caramel. Almonds. More Caramel.  
Don't tell my husband ;)

I ate this glorious dessert 2 weeks ago with the husband celebrating my sister-in-law's birthday. It was AH-mazing and made me fall in love all over again with the above foods (minus the banana. ick!).

Luckily these foods don't show up often in my diet as I usually eat nutritious foods, or ELSE my husband would think something was competing for his love.....wink wink (I do eat nutritious nuts often though-they were just included because they were atop the dessert) 

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Mantras

I have a lot of exercise mantras that keep me going and help me stay motivated. Want to hear some of them?


"You're stronger than you think you are"
"Only ___ minutes left" (and then I say it again and again until I finish
"Think about how good you'll feel after you're done" (to get my butt to the gym)
"If she can run that fast than so I can I!"
"It is only 10 hours out of the whole week!" *in reference to going to the gym and being physically active
"fuel your body right and it will carry you further"
"I think I can, I think I can, I think I can"
"Just one more Lady Gaga song...." :)
"Push through it"
"You get to have breakfast after you finish....." *I love my oatmeal in da mornin'!

I want to hear yours! What are some motivational things YOU tell yourself as you sweat it out at the gym, in the yoga studio, or on the sidewalk?