Do I need to eat Organic??

People ask me this all the time. Do I need to eat organic fruits and veggies? Well the answer is yes and no. If you have the ability to eat all organic foods all the time, then go for it, but the average person is on a tight budget and this can get pricey if you are purchasing at a supermarket.

You can tell an organic food by the PLU sticker on the item.
If it starts with a 9 followed by 4 digits, it is organic, meaning grown without synthetic pesticides or chemicals. Organic is really talking about the method of growing the food.

If you are peeling it, and not eating the skin of the fruit/vegetable, its ok to buy conventionally grown and wash it well. Soft skin foods, like tomatoes, carrots, grapes, apples, pears, peaches, ETC are the food that you should consider organic. In addition, the veggies that you eat the entire thing, like lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, those that have no peel.

I don't typically purchase bananas that are organic, but I do make sure they are not GMO.

So whats the big deal with GMO? This area remains controversial, with some saying it's not a problem, however there are still studies underway that show that ingesting GMO foods are so altered that our bodies don't get benefit and long term harm is still a matter for discussion.

Many countries have outlawed rBGH, the hormone given to cows to increase milk production, however the US has not.
GMO corn and soy products have been modified to resist pests, so that less pesticide can be use. Do you really want to eat a food that contains some form of pesticide from within?
Tomatoes are GMO to increase their shelf life, to prevent rotting. Well, whose shelf life is more important? Yours or your tomato?

Much of these GMO actions are driven by financials. To help companies save money and make more.
Monsanto is another controversial topic, in which all seeds much come from that company and farmers are not able to use their own seed to plant.
We personally purchase heirloom non-GMO seeds from a website , for which we grow our own wheat grass, sprouts and such. It's easy and they add  nutritional value to the food.

So, I encourage you to have a good look around the kitchen and the store, and choose what's right for you. Get more educated and reap the health benefits later...more to come...
In health,
Barb

Re-inventing myself with intentions

Well, it’s Monday all. What a crazy weekend. I taught, I walked, I played soccer. Gary and I went to the long garage sale in Cleburne and checked out the “junk”. Most of it was just that. I am going into the next week of my education in Nutrition. Got work to do, study study…

Today, I am writing about how heavy my heart is as I am hearing of friends, acquaintances, who are all struggling with medical problems. I am seeing posts on Facebook and talking to people I work with, and the health of these people is not good. Cancer, diabetes, heart disease, degenerative joint disease, Rheumatoid arthritis, blood clots....the list goes on.....

While walking around the large garage sale yesterday, my eyes were open. I saw so many young people who were very large, their gaits were uneven, some even limping. Their skin, was dull, or acne marked and bumpy. Some had discolorations around the ankles, wrists. They looked life lifeless.

But I also have to point out that they were busy eating and drinking, whatever was available. This was mainly soda, and BBQ, burgers, and fried pies. There were healthier options available, like roasted corn and water, but that was not the norm.

So, as I move towards my goal of ultimately being a health coach, I realize, although my passion is there, and I really want to help people really understand how they can turn their life around. They can feel great, every day. They can be off long term medications, they can look and feel vibrant, but they have to take a step.

There are thousands of people out there, that have no clue where to start, what to do, and how to make it happen. The question for me, is, are they going to ask me? How can I start this conversation? I have plenty of people that I know, that come to me, when they need advice or a supportive ear, but most of these people are on a path to health. I meet them at the Y or they come to me for health advice, as the nurse/fitness chic.

I have had many people in my life, that I have been helpful too, that I have encouraged along the way, and they tell me how much difference I made to them. And that makes me SO Happy. But it’s not enough, I want to do more for more. The thing that makes me tick, is impacting lives through health. And I want that to be my path, my light, my ultimate goal.

I hear it all the time, “she’s the health nut”, “Barb is obsessive about health/fitness”, “she exercises too much”.  I am not trying to impress anyone, I am not training for a marathon, I am not showing off, I am trying to make my life vibrant and hopefully to inspire others.

So, I want to close by saying the body is an amazing thing. Our hearts beat automatically, our blood flows without our actions, when we  cut our skins, our bodies know what to do to heal it. We keep an internal temperature of 98.6 F and when we are exposed to illness, our bodies respond to fight it off.  This amazing system needs care and maintenance, like a car, to run smoothly. Let Nutrition be the care and the maintenance, and if you don’t know how…please ask.

In health, always,                                                                                                                 
Barb

Longevity....we are in this for the long haul...

I was talking to a member yesterday and she told me "thank you" for teaching classes, as she was excited for the arrival of her second grandson. I looked at her and said, that no she did the work. But her point went much deeper than than.
Her point was that as an instructor, I motivate and make class fun, which for her has led to a healthier life.
This in turn will give her the gift of having the health and energy to be there to watch her grandkids grow up and be engaged with them.

How profound is that?
Many of us don't think like that.
I hear the same statement all the time...I don't know how you do it all....they are talking about my life.
I work full time, I teach classes part time, I am a student, a mom of 3 and a wife....
Yes, it's a busy life but I look at differently. Nutrition and exercise is the way I do it.
If I didn't eat healthy, and fuel my body well, I would not be able to keep up with the demands. If I didn't exercise, I would likely hurt someone during those times of stress.
If I didn't have a supportive husband, I would never be able to do all that I do.

But it goes further than that. The fact is, I am not getting any younger. Time passes no matter what. And I do not want to be 45, 50 or 60 and unable to enjoy the wonders of life. I don't want to battling a disease that makes me have to sit  and watch the world go by.
I have watched too many people do that, in my years as a nurse. My own ex-mother in law said it so many times...If only I had....

I am not going to be that tired, feeling like crap mom sitting in the sidelines watching my kids play soccer. No, I am the mom on the field playing soccer while my kids and husband watch.

My point is. it's never too late to make a change. Learn to eat better, less processed, more real food...
Get up and move...I know someone who walks in place during TV shows.
You don't find time to it, you make time to do it. And if you need help, with balancing your life, then you seek out someone you know, who does it and you get tips.

Would you ask someone who is financially broke for advice on money?? NO!! You would ask someone who is financially free and stable to help you.
Would you ask someone who is sick, tired and isn't active to give you advice on exercise? Not likely.

Seek out people that have the same goals and work with them. Ask for help.
Last but not least, take care of yourself now. You have a family, kids and someday, grandkids who need you, and want you there, to share in the joys of life.

Don't wait for tomorrow....get started on your journey today..
In health, Barb

Time wasters...

So, as I prepare for this new journey to get educated in Nutrition, time management will be very important part of my daily routine. Planning and preparing for each and every week, to fit it all in.
As I look at my schedule, I quickly feel overwhelmed.
It appears that I may be a slight overachiever.

Work, every day. Teaching fitness classes every night  except Friday and Saturdays.. Soccer games on Sunday. So, I will have to figure out a time to get through the lectures, and study and balance the kids and hubby too. Not to mention all the choreography I need to learn too.

SO, What are my time wasters?
Games on my cell phone...how I love playing Scramble, Phrase, and even Candy Crush. I guess they are the first to go. Next, Facebook.
I can sit and look at facebook, blogs, and articles for hours. But I need this time back for the next 12 months. I am going to cut down my time on FB significantly.

My plan is to use my time in the car for choreography, Lunch breaks to study, and my Sunday mornings for lectures. So far so good.
I will commit to reading one article each night 3 times a week, from our resources.

Now, I am asking you....when I hear you talk about how busy you are? Are you really busy or do you have alot of time wasters?
Only you know the answers.
Our wonderful world of technology is one that steals time. There is a wealth of information out there, but we tend to get hung up, searching for it.

When someone tells me they are too busy to work out...I always wonder...are they really that busy or are they just not putting exercise above their time wasters?
Really think about this...and work on getting your life back.
A few tips on time management:

1. Set an alarm for your time wasters. Permit yourself 5-10 min of play in between mandatory tasks.
2. Get up 15 min earlier every day. Its' amazing how just 15 min can give you a sense of not rushing.
3. Plan ahead. Make a meal plan for the week, and stick to it. Pre-cook chicken or ground beef. that way you have a quick meal without all the prep time.
4. Take a brisk walk at regular intervals to clear your mind and let you be fresh. You will likely stay on task better.
5. Check your email only 1-2 times per day. Leaving it open only pulls you in many directions, losing focus on what you were doing. Check and answer in the AM and again later in the afternoon.

So, you may see a little less from me over the next 12 months or so...but I am still here for you all!!

In health, Barb