Food Allergies and the Paleo Diet

We found out recently that good family friends of ours found out that their daughter is mildly allergic to wheat, corn, and sesame. Although they were relieved to find out what had been causing their 8 year olds stomach issues they were nervous about the transition and how it would affect their life. Immediately after finding out I began googling information because I really wanted to help them out. The husband and wife had recently began a quest for a healthier lifestyle and had already made great changes in the way they eat but it was a bit overwhelming for them to think about everything their daugter could not eat. I found an article that talked about gluten intolerance specifically and the article suggested that rather than focusing on what you CAN'T eat it would be best to focus on what you CAN eat. I thought this was genious!! So often we focus on the negative things and I believe it makes it even harder to cope with the changes. If we are able to focus on the positive aspects of just about anything we are likely to go through life much happier. Now, you read that she is allergic to 3 things and that doesn't sound that bad but once you begin to research the allergies it is amazing what those three products are in. Everything from the obvious bread and pasta, to candy, to soy sauce, to ice cream...the list can go on. BUT, there are also a TON of fods that you can eat that are actually a lot healthier for you...lean meat, fruits, veggies, legumes, quinoa, beans, eggs, many dairy products and of course there are numerous gluten free conveniece foods that have made their way in to our grocery stores. I know this family will do fabulous with the new challenges they face and I am excited to share some ideas with them to make it a little easier.

After searching the internet about her food allergies it started to make me think about the food that we are eating and how it can affect our bodies. I have been on a quest to eat healthier for over a year now and as a family we have made a TON of changes but I also want my kids to be kids and eat the treats that everyone else does at times as well. It may not be the best for them but in moderation it can be a good balance and keep everyone happy. I have wanted to go completely clean for a while now but to be honest I have struggled. Because of this, I am giving myself a new challenge and hoping that it will push me past the current plateau I am experiencing. Starting February 24th I will be participating in a 30 day Paleo challenge group and I cannot wait. It will be challenging but I am really looking forward to it. My family will eat most of the same food I am eating but they will not be following the Paleo lifestyle because they will still have dairy, quinoa, and a few treats here and there.

Here is an article that explains the differene between eating clean and eating a Paleo diet.
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/paleo-diet-vs-eating-clean-9561.html

Shakeology Frappucino

I don't know about all of you but I love to mix up my Shakeology flavors depending on my mood, needs for the day, etc. I have been trying to cut back on my morning coffee mostly because I can only drink it with Bliss Vanilla Coffee Mate creamer which isn't the best for you. So on the mornings that I still want my morning coffee fix but not the creamer, I choose to make  Shakeology Frapuccino. There are numerous ways to mix it but a very easy recipe is 10 oz water, a packet of Starbucks via instant coffee, chocolate (or vanilla) Shakeoly, a bunch of ice and blend! It tastes great and you are having your healthiest meal of the day. Feel free to share some of you favorite recipes. I would love to hear them.

 

 

Nicole Link

Team Beachbody Coach

www.facebook.com/fitlifewithnicole

nicolelink@beachbodycoach.com

BLT Bacon Weave

Okay....let me just say this is one of my all-time favorite pins from Pinterest. My husband requested BLT's for dinner and although it isn't the healthiest dinner option I wanted to cook him something that he really wanted. I remembered seeing something on Pinterest that had to do with BLT's and how to cook the bacon so I went searching and I came across an online article from the Huffington Post.

Here's how to make the PERFECT BLT. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray. Cut bacon pieces in half. Using 6 halves of bacon weave them into a square shape.  Repeat this process for all bacon pieces (each BLT will use 3 full pieces of bacon).

Place in oven for 25-30 minutes watching them towards the end until they are to your desired crispness.

 Remove from oven, place between paper towels to remove excess grease, place on toasted bread and top with lettuce, tomato and avocado if you wish. With the bacon weave you don't have to worry about the bacon falling off the bread and you get bacon in every bite. YUM!!

My Sister's Wedding

This past weekend I had the pleasure of standing next to my sister on her wedding day. My sister was my Maid of Honor six years ago when my husband and I got married and I got to return the favor last weekend as her Matron of Honor. The wedding was in La Jolla, CA and we could not have asked for a better day, better weather, better people or a better couple to celebrate. My sister was the most beautiful bride I have ever seen and the reaction her husband had as she walked down the aisle said it all. He was beside himself and she literally took his breath away. I felt so honored to be a part of their special day.

This is the view she and I woke up to from our ocean front hotel room the morning of the wedding.

My sister and her bridesmaids

 

I can honestly say that I have never felt more beautiful than I did that day. The pretty dress and getting my hair and makeup done helped quite a bit. But it also had to do with the fact that I have never been in better shape in my whole life and I felt confident standing in front of 85 people because of the hard work I put in to get to this point. I love my sister with all my heart and I was so honored to stand next to her on her big day. 

 I mean really?!? She is GORGEOUS!

And my babies got to be a part of the wedding too. The ring bearer and flower girl did a fabulous job and were as cute as can be!!

Vanilla and Peanut Butter Shakeology

Vanilla and Peanut Butter Shakeology

 

 

As many of you know, Vanilla Shakeology was released in the last few months and initially I really liked the flavor but then I found myself comparing it to my beloved Chocolate and I wasn't really feeling it. UNTIL....I found this recipe. Oh My Gosh!! I love this recipe and it is my go-to recipe when it comes to vanilla.

 

8 oz water

2-4 oz of almond milk

1/2 banana

1 Tbsp all natural peanut butter

Blend with a LOT of ice

 

If you are struggling with the taste of vanilla I suggest you try this recipe. You will not be disappointed!



 

 

Getting Started

Have you been thinking about getting fit for a while now but you can't seem to make the commitment. Don't let another day go by where you "think" about getting fit, let's get started today. One small step today can make a huge difference in your life. If you are unhappy with the way you look or feel then why not make a change for the better.

After having my second child I was determined to lose the weight and began working out when I was cleared by the doctor. I lost a lot of the weight but then I plateaued and stayed at a consistent weight for months. I wasn't happy with the way I looked but wasn't miserable enough to focus on why I wasn't losing anymore weight. I have always struggled with food and eating healthy for a prolonged period of time and it was not until I committed to Shakeology in December of 2012 that I really began to see my weight decrease but most of all my body was toning and I was putting on muscle. I ended up losing just under 20 lbs in 4-5 months time and I have kept it off for 3 months. The difference for me was changing my food. I had made a financial commitment to pay for Shakeology and there was no way I was going to waste that money so I began really looking at my food and cleaning up my meals. I finally have a positive relationship with food and I truly enjoy trying new healthy meals and snacks. The girl who hated tomatoes now really enjoys them. It is true your taste buds will change after you change your eating. I saw a quote once that said "If you continue to eat the same food you've been eating, you will continue to stay the same weight you always were." So true!! Make the commitment to yourself TODAY to start a new journey in your life. The best time to start is NOW!!!


Shakeology is a meal replacement health shake that is known to decrease sweets and cravings, promote weight loss, promote digestive and heart health and it truly is the healthiest meal of the day filled with vitamins, nutrients, and superfoods. Follow the link below to try it. The time is NOW!!!

Dance Your Way To Fitness!!

Not a fan of working out? Hate going to the gym? Bring the workout to your home and dance off the pounds! Sean T created an at home workout program that allows you to shake your body in order to get fit. And the best part...it is currently ON SALE!! When you buy a challenge pack you get a month's worth of Shakeology and ROckin Body and Hip Hop Abs for only $10! Can't beat that deal.