Tag Archives: nutrition

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.

STAY FIT ON VACATION

WORKOUT ROUTINE ON VACATION?   
NO THANK YOU.   
BUT WE ARE ACTIVE IN THE ADVENTURE

Whether you work the gym into your weekly routine, attend exercise classes, work with a trainer or workout at home, you have intentionally added fitness to your routine. I hope you have found a workout program that is efficient in getting you to your goals, is safe in preventing injuries and building your body stronger, not tearing it down and is something you enjoy doing.  Even still, it’s part of your routine.

In normal life, we workout to reach a goal – weather it’s to decrease body fat, strengthen muscle, improve cardiovascular system, or provide a “home” we can live in that will support our lifestyle and help us to live to the fullest… and the list goes on.

When I’m on vacation, however, you will not find me in a typical hotel gym or visiting a familiar health club to get in a workout.  Nope.  The essence of vacation is to pause all (or as much) of life that produces stress and requires diligent focus, right?  You know, all the routines and demands of life.   It’s a time to rest, gain new perspective and refresh the soul.  I believe this to be good and true for you physically as well as mentally.  Now if you de-stress and “relax” at the gym – more power to ya!

HOWEVER

I am NOT implying that vacations need to be lazy.  NOT. AT. ALL!  Vacation should also include adventure, and this is where activity happens.  Staying ACTIVE on vacation can be a lot of fun and will push your body in ways it’s not use to!  At the end of the day, this mind set will remove the guilt that accompanies “missing a workout”.  Guilt can be replaced by fulfillment and a sense of accomplishment knowing that you’ve challenged your body beyond it’s norm.  I like to think of this like a “free” workout”!  And you will be able to return back to your normal routine once you get home without missing a beat.

FOR EXAMPLE…

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5 Really Good Reasons to Eat KALE This Year

A new school year is beginning and this is the PERFECT time to establish a few new healthy choices for your life.  What do I suggest?  Oh, thank you for asking.  Well here’s one:  

EAT MORE KALE.  

Here are 5 reasons to make KALE your best friend this year…
1. KALE has more vitamin C than an orange.
2. It’s… kind of fatty (in a good way).
3. KALE is the queen of vitamin A.
4. It has more calcium than milk.
5. KALE helps combat inflammation!  And arterial plaque formation!  WOW!  Food friends like avocado, olive oil, and lemon juice go great with kale and make the health-promoting compounds that are in kale even more powerful!  

Oh, be sure to buy this power-house food in the organic section because it is one of the crops to most likely have residual pesticides.
Read more about the goodness of KALE in this article of the 
My favorite way to eat KALE is by putting it in my smoothies.  
Yes, I really do this and you should too.

Here is the RECIPE for the SMOOTHIE I make my daughter before school.  
It has kale AND it is yummy!  🙂

NOW YOU TELL ME HOW YOU ARE PLANNING TO EAT KALE THIS YEAR…

Guest post for HYPERWEAR!

I had the privilege of being a guest blogger for a cool fitness company called
I wrote about 
FINDING HEALTH AS A FAMILY
 
Click HERE to read it!  
See how I engage my family in our health and fitness pursuit and watch a short demo video the kids and I made!  We created a few exercise games using Hyperwear’s awesome SANDBELL!
 
After you check out my post, take a look around Hyperwear!  🙂  
You will get lots of great ideas and encouragement!

FITNESS RETREAT… EARN A FREE TRIP!

To book a Fitness Vacation

Email 
and I will send you all the details.
Check THIS out to see what the St. Augustine trip was like in November.
 
If you get a group of 10
 – including yourself – 
signed up for a trip,
THEN YOUR TRIP WILL BE FREE!!!
The house we will stay in!  
 
 
 The roof top where we will do all sorts of workouts!  
Oh, we will also enjoy the stars at night from up there as well.  Don’t worry, there is plenty of vacation to be had 🙂
   Pilates on the beach.
 You will learn how to feed your body properly with your exercise…
 pre-and post workout nutrition to support your body as it strengthens and repairs.

Jumpstart your health with a week of inspiration,motivation, teaching and fun workouts!

 

HEALTHY FAST FOOD — CHIPOTLE mexican grill

For a smart fast food solution choose
CHIPOTLE
MEXICAN GRILL
GOOD * FAST * HEALTHY * PERFECT

CHIPOTLE is on a mission to change the way we eat fast food!

They focus on
FOOD WITH INTEGRITY
  • They support family farmers who respect and care for their land and animals
  • They use meat from animals who have been raised without the use of antibiotics and added hormones
  • Their dairy has come from dairy cows raised without synthetic hormones
  • They serve organic and local produce when possible

AND……. 
IT IS REALLY YUMMY!

EAT SMART!

KEEP CALM AND PRAY

This morning I was reading the book of Proverbs in the bible 
and something stuck out that I want to share.  

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6

I have seen God be faithful to this promise in my life many times.  
In the area of health and fitness, for instance, we can get extremely confused on what we should do.   What is the best “diet”?  What is the best exercise program?  What food brands are best?  The answers contradict each other.  Who do I listen to?  Every new fad claims to be the answer.  Every topic seems to be debatable. 
It is confusing and overwhelming!  
Not only do I search to find the right way to keep me and my family healthy, but I am responsible to you as a health and fitness trainer!  It is a HUGE responsibility that I don’t take lightly.  I don’t want to be pulled in by the latest trends,  I just want to give the best advise and true information.  
This responsibility is bigger than me.
The GOOD NEWS is that I have a God who cares about even the smallest things in my life… and yours! 
  • Invite Him into your meal planning. 
  • Invite Him into your grocery shopping. 
  • Invite Him into your cooking. 
  • Invite Him into your workouts.  
  • Invite Him into your muscle repair after your workout.  
  • Invite Him into your energy.  
  • Invite Him into your metabolism!!!  
  • Invite Him into every part of your life! 

 

HE WILL SHOW YOU THE WAY YOU SHOULD GO!
I hope you have a great, healthy, energetic day!
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The 14 Anti-Aging Foods List

We can’t turn back time, but we CAN

 slow down the inevitable aging process 

that we all must face!

We can improve our quality of life and reduce our risk of age-related diseases by what we eat!

Choose HEALTH by choosing these

Anti-Aging Foods:

  1. Wild Salmon

  2. Green Leafy Vegetables

  3. Blueberries

  4. Nuts

  5. Apples

  6. Cruciferous Vegetables

  7. Beans

  8. Pomegranate Juice

  9. Red Wine

  10. Prunes

  11. Dark Chocolate

  12. Oatmeal

  13. Spices and Herbs

  14. Tea