Tag Archives: new years resolution

JANUARY 2015 – BREAKING BAD EATING HABITS – JOIN US!

TRUTH RIGHT THERE.  IF YOU NEED HELP WITH KITCHEN PART, JOIN OUR GROUP IN JANUARY – WE WILL BE DOING THE ADVOCARE 24 DAY CHALLENGE TO RESET A HEALTHY EATING ROUTINE.  IT HELPS KICK THE BAD HABITS TO THE CURB AND ESTABLISHES NEW GOOD EATING HABITS.  IT ALSO CLEANS OUT THE SYSTEM – MUCH LIKE AN OIL CHANGE – SO WE CAN ABSORB THOSE IMPORTANT NUTRIENTS FROM THE FOOD WE EAT AND THE SUPPLEMENTS THAT FILL IN THE GAPS.

EMAIL ashley@ashleybensonfitness.com FOR A FREE EVALUATION.

7-Day Brown Rice Cleanse

In my house, we make food choices that will strengthen our bodies and we keep our portions in control (more on that soon!)  You better believe, though, when I get invited to a wedding, I enjoy delicious slice of wedding cake (is there anything better???)  And when it’s girls night, I eat my pizza and enjoy a yummy drink.  And when it’s Christmas time, I celebrate with my kids homemade decorated sugar cookies, salted caramel mocha’s from Starbucks(however I only get 2 pumps of syrup… that’s plenty!), and my favorite chocolate covered cherries that my Granda gives every year as long as I can remember.  There are so many memories tied up in those little chocolate candies and the child within me awakens every time I unwrap my box.
image… and these cherries were homemade by Kerry from buddingbaketress

So I’d be missing a sweet part of life if I rejected these treats.  Now, I say all that to say I’m feeling a bit sluggish from all the memories I’ve partaken in over the month of December. Blaaaa.

It’s time to clean house and rid myself of the toxin that have built up in my intestines. Fancy. 
Cleansing is controversial and can be dangerous.  For me, I found the 7-day brown rice cleanse to be very good.  I’ve done it a few times fully and a number of times I’ve gone on it for 4-5 days.  

WHY I’M DOING IT:
1.  To Boost my immune system – don’t have time to get sick
2.  To Clear the fog and cobwebs from my brain and get better brain focus  
3.  To Press the reset button on what my body is craving.  Then making good food choices is much easier.  

So here are the details of the 7-DAY BROWN RICE CLEANS.  My hubby will be joining me this time 🙂  and my kids will do a modified version.  They will drink one glass of veggie juice a day a long with a serving of brown rice and steamed veggies.  I don’t care if they like it… it’s only a few days and we have to break the habit of eating candy and treats everyday!

7-DAY BROWN RICE CLEANS 
THE NIGHT BEFORE… eat a green leafy salad to sweep your bowels
DAY 1

First thing in the morning, drink 2 fresh squeezed lemons, 1 tbsp maple syrup and 8 oz of pure water.  
Breakfast green energy drink: juice 6 carrots, 1 beet, 8 spinach leaves, 1/4 cup fresh parsley
Mid-Morning drink a cup of cleansing & purifying tea or burdock tea
Lunch have a veggie juice like Super V-7: 2 carrots, 2 tomatoes, handful of spinach leaves and parsley, 2 celery ribs, 1/2 cucumber, 1/2 green bell pepper, add 1 Tbsp of green super food
Mid-Afternoon glass of carrot juice
Dinner cooked brown rice and steamed vegetables, sprinkled with sea veggies, add 1 Tbsp of flax or olive oil and 1 Tbsp of Bragg’s Liquid Aminos
Before bed cup of herbal tea like peppermint, spearmint, or chamomile 

THE NEXT 6 DAYS 

have 2-3 glasses of mixed veggie juice throughout the day.  Don’t eat any solid foods during the day.  Have brown rice and steamed veggies as an early dinner.  

IF YOU DO THIS CLEANS

Drink water and herbal tea throughout the day.  Have V-8 on hand if you aren’t able to juice yourself.  You can also have miso soup.  Use filtered water and organic whenever possible.  You will need a juicer as well.  If you need caffein, drink green tea but no coffee.            Here’s a shopping list – hope it helps.
Resources
If you are out and need to grab a veggie juice, find a place like my local JUICE BAR or YOUR BURGER.  Ask them to leave out any fruit… just for the 7 days!  
 
I bought my “weird foods” and some regular food from swansonvitamins.com 
Here are their prices so you can compare.
flax oil  $7.79
organic brown rice  $3.85
100% pure organic maple syrup (16 oz)  $11.29
Maine Coast dulse flakes (sea veggies) $8.72
Wellements Daily Detox tea  $5.99
(gentle enough to take everyday)
organic spearmint tea $3.49
spearmint/peppermint medley tea 2.79
organic raw superfood $19.99
and you will receive a $5 coupon if you are a new Swansons customer!
 
I know some of these items are expensive, but remember
1.  This is all your food for 7 days.  NO EATING OUT!
2.  The stuff like superfoods and sea veggies last a lot longer than this 7 day period!
3.  You are getting SUPER NUTRIENTS with these items!

SHE LOST 77 lbs!!!

 

I want to celebrate my cousin, Katheryn, for her consistent commitment and perseverance to better health this past year.  She jumpstarted her journey with the Slow-Carb Diet (details HERE) which jumpstarted her into better eating habits.  She did a beautiful job transitioning out of the 6 week program into a good eating lifestyle.  She also committed herself to exercise.  I watched her journey on Facebook, sometimes excited to go to the gym, sometimes dragging herself there, but ALWAYS approaching it with a good, positive attitude.  In 2013, she lost 77 lbs!  Katheryn says she still has 33 to go until she reaches her final goal. Great job, Katheryn… we are very proud and your story is inspiring!

2013 has been a year of change! I married my best friend, lost 77lbs, and I found my self! I was severely over weight and felt so lost on how to lose it, I would sit cry and then destructively eat more. The day I took this pic(on left) I decided then I’m done. It was the hardest thing I’ve had to do and I still have to do. Some days I would sit and cry out of complete hopelessness. My family stood by me 100% and kept telling me to push through. Cody had to deal with the most though. I know a lot of it he had no idea how to make me feel better, but he always tried to make me feel beautiful. I am very thankful for my support, with out it I don’t think I could’ve done it. I still have 33 lbs to go, but that’s nothing compared to what I have overcome! Now I look forward to going places, I can go walk with my daughter or get down and play with her, and I can be the wife my husband deserves! I will reach my goal in 2014. I will continue my journey to be healthy and fit from now on, not just the new year. I also want to help anyone who was in my position or anyone who just wants to live a healthier life! Today’s a new day, the beginning to a new book. Let’s write the story we deserve!                    Katheryn Hendrix

Slow-Carb: The Five Rules

RULE 1:  
AVOID “WHITE” CARBOHYDRATES
all breads, rice (including brown rice), cereal, potatoes, pasta, tortillas, fried food with breading, anything that is or can be white…. with the exception of cauliflower. 

RULE 2:  

EAT THE SAME FEW MEALS OVER AND OVER AGAIN

“The most successful dieters, regardless of whether their goal is muscle gain or fat-loss, eat the same few meals over and over again.  There are 47,000 products in the average U.S. grocery store, but only a handful of them won’t make you fat.”    Tim Ferriss

Some examples of good Slow-Carb foods

Proteins

  • Egg 2-5 whole organic eggs
  • Chicken Breast or thigh
  • Grass-Fed Beef
  • Fish
  • Pork

Legumes

  • Lentils
  • Black Beans
  • Pinto Beans
  • Red Beans

Vegetables

  • Spinach
  • Mixed Vegetables (including broccoli, cauliflower, or any other cruciferous vegetables)
  • Sauerkraut, Kimchee 
  • Asparagus
  • Peas
  • Broccoli
  • Green Beans

Eat as much as you want of these foods.
“Most people who go on ‘low’-carbohydrate diets complain of low energy and quit because they consume insufficient calories.  A half-cup of rice is 300 calories, whereas a half-cup of spinach is 15 calories!  Vegetables are not calorically dense, so it is critical that you add legumes for caloric load.”   Tim Ferriss

*  MAKE SURE YOUR FIRST MEAL IS WITHIN 1 HOUR OF WAKING UP! 

RULE #3: 
 DON’T DRINK YOUR CALORIES
Drink water.  
You can also have unsweetened tea, 
coffee (with no more than 2 Tbsp of cream).  
NO MILK.  
Red wine is good.
RULE #4:  
DON’T EAT FRUIT

“Humans don’t need fruits six days a week, and they certainly don’t need it year-round.  If your ancestors were from Europe, for example, how much fruits did they eat in the winter 500 years ago?   Think they had Florida oranges in December?”    Tim Ferriss


So, for the best results, avoid fruit 6 days a week. TOMATOES and AVOCADOS do not count under this rule. PLEASE EAT THEM!

RULE #5: 
 TAKE ONE DAY OFF PER WEEK
This is the best day!  I usually celebrate my cheat day on Saturday.   Tim calls it your “Dieters Gone Wild (DGW) day.”  
In order for this diet to work effectively, this rule must NOT be skipped.  

“dramatically spiking caloric intake in this way once per week increases fat-loss by ensuring that your metabolic rate doesn’t downshift from extended caloric restriction.  That’s right:  eating pure crap can help you lose fat.”  

Tim Ferriss

Isn’t this good news?  
Imagine eating ice cream, cake, chocolate, fully loaded Starbucks Drinks, with 0 guilt!  Last time I did this diet with a group of friends, we had a blast texting each other pictures of the food we ate DGW day.  It really is a lot of fun.

I recommend writing down everything that tempts you and everything you crave throughout the week.  Make a list of what you will eat on DGW day.
If you want a real boost in reaching your goals, consider joining me and Holistic Chef Laura Lea  on a 
HEALTH & FITNESS BEACH
VACATION!!!  
We are now booking for the June 2-6, 2014 trip!  
Next 3 people to sign up will get 10% off of their trip!  
See what this trip is all about at hfvacations.com

Want to showcase your product on the blog?  
Take a look at our ADVERTISING options!

Invitation to the Slow-Carb Diet

I EAT LIKE THIS EVERYDAY

SO I CAN EAT LIKE THIS ON 
CHRISTMAS DAY! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME!

So now Christmas is over and I am ready to get back to HEALTHY!  I’m reminded that HEALTHY makes me feel SO much better!

MY NEW YEARS SOLUTION…

SLOW-CARB DIET!
It’s effective and healthy!
Read THIS to find out how to get started!

INVITE YOUR FRIENDS!
Social is Better!

If you want a real boost in reaching your goals, consider joining me and Holistic Chef Laura Lea  on a 
HEALTH & FITNESS BEACH
VACATION!!!  
We are now booking for the June 2-6, 2014 trip!  
Next 3 people to sign up will get 10% off of their trip!  
See what this trip is all about at hfvacations.com




New Years Resolution Solution

Raise your hand if you feel gross because of the amount and type of food you have been eating lately.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE! 
 My hand is up too 🙂

theADVISE 
Enjoy this week.  
Embrace CHRISTMAS and your family.
Eat Christmas cookies with your kids.  
CELEBRATE THE SEASON…

and then STOP in JANUARY!  

thePLAN
Jeremy and I are diving into the SLOW-CARB DIET.  We want to invite you to join us if you need a plan.  It is the most healthy and effective eating plan.  I will be posting more about this method from now until our 

START DATE:
JANUARY 7! 

I hope you can enjoy this this week, have a 
MERRY CHRISTMAS…

and JOIN me in JANUARY!


Join me in January! SLOW-CARB DIET

As much as we love this time of year, 
I think we are all looking forward to

 a NEW BEGINNING.  
a FRESH START.  
NEW YEAR!

thePlan:
by Tim Ferriss

Let’s get focused, healthy
 and REACH OUR GOALS! 

This is a 6 WEEK plan that will change your life.  My husband and I have done it multiple times and NEVER FAIL to see results!  

Three years ago I invited a small group of friends and clients to join me in this.  I had read all about the diet and needed to put it to the test.  ACROSS THE BOARD, every person that stuck with it was left with a great testimony!  

it’s HEALTHY
it’s SAFE
it’s TESTED
it’s EFFECTIVE


theDIET 
  • 6 weeks long
  • 6 disciplined days per week
  • 1 mandatory “cheat day” per week
Details HERE.
Here’s a great book by the creator of The Slow-Carb Diet Tim Ferris 

Share pictures, recipes, cheat foods, restaurant experiences, highs, and lows through my Facebook page 

Be sure to ‘LIKE’ it!

Oh, and invite your family and friends to join you!  
It’s more fun with more people!