Healthy Is As Healthy Does

When you hear, healthy, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? A little stick figure with a tennis racket? A hippy running through a field of dandelions and spinach?  A bear doing yoga?     

WTF?

Whatever the average mind thinks, there's typically the thought combo of rabbit food and exercise, and they're right.  We need physical activity and earthly good food, but what about the other stuff?  The things that can feed our minds, souls and bodies that have nothing to do with proper squatting or eating kale.   Have you ever thought about the positive effects of quality rest and relaxation?  Don't you feel awesome during/after vacation or even a long Saturday?  How about the joys of goofing around, having fun and almost pissing your pants laughing with good friends. Feels pretty good right? Well, until you do pee, then it's just gross. 

 Think about the positive power of good relationships? Lovers, friends, kids - doesn't it feel good knowing someone is thinking about you, relies on you, cares about you, would do anything for you?  That you have someone to look forward to seeing, being with, laughing with, sharing with.   How's that job/career?  Even if it is still work, if you're in a position you enjoy, feels pretty good to put in some time - contributing, learning, doing, teaching, making, creating.   Wouldn’t you agree that these pieces of your life, if intact and positively in place can contribute to making you happy and healthy in ways that fish oil, broccoli and sit ups cannot?   

Road Trips Suck! This Will Help

I made it! Just got back from a nine hour road trip. If you've ever made the grueling drive from Nor-Cal to So-Cal, you know just how hideous California can seem from the angle of I-5. And by the way, happy cows? The only smiling, happy cow I saw was on the side of a tractor trailer, and I'm pretty sure her name was Clover. Baking under the hot sun, in a field of dirt, fighting for the last centimeter of shade hardly describes a happy cow.  There is so much open space in this state (and country), someone please tell my why more animals are not free range.  It's better for you, better for the animals, better for the planet - I smell bullshit!

Oh, don't mind me and my negative attitude. That's what happens when I'm cooped up in a car for half the day. My hips are tight, my back needs a massage and all I can think about is running around the block till my legs fall off – if they're still there. They may have left me, along with my sanity while I was help up at traffic gun point, driving through L.A. The highlight was watching a car burn to death while spectators stood around, undoubtedly discussing the weather and other current events. Right.

I shouldn't be complaining, really. I know my trip would have been 10 times worse had I not followed my healthy travelers "how to" guide. Six ways to make your trip as healthy and pain-free as possible.

Jaime's Healthy Road Trip Guide:

1. How to Eat – You are already in an uncomfortable position. Let's not exaggerate the belly hanging over the belt by stuffing your face full of fatty, sugar-laced, processed foods. Stick with unsalted nuts, low sodium deli meats, fresh fruit and veggies. 

2. How to Rest – I have done this many times and I'm still alive.  If you didn't get a good nights sleep and are feeling a little groggy, pull over immediately. I always seek refuge in busy gas stations and restaurant parking lots. Never rest stops, too creepy. I park right in front, put the seat back and snooze for 15-30 minutes. Always worth it.

3. How to Pee – Don't wait until your bladder is about to explode. Make frequent stops throughout your trip.  Personally, my low back pain rages when I really have to go.  Probably near kidney failure since I usually wait till I'm about to burst, prancing around like a 4 year old.  Furthermore, making stops will break up your mental time on the road, as well as give you some relief.  

4. How to Drive – Sitting for that long tightens your hips, legs, neck, shoulders and back muscles.  Attempt to alleviate some of the pain by sitting with a straight back, hands gripping the lower part of the wheel and pulling your abs in a little bit.  

5. How to Fuel – Not your car, you! Your meals before the trip should be light and healthy. If you don't regularly follow my healthy eating tips, now would be a good time to start. Your passengers and your gut will thank you.

6. How to Exercise– You know how to do this, so make sure you do. The morning of your road trip, get a great workout out in. This is not only going to make you feel less guilty for sitting all day, but you will also give yourself an energy boost.  

Are You Strong or Are You Weak?

In the past, I have written about excuse making. Oh, the excuses people make to justify not working out and eating healthy.  

You: “No time. I work 24 hours a day.”

Me: Yet miraculously, you were able to designate five of those hours to watching television. Congratulations.  You've discovered how to add more hours to the day. 

You: “I have kids and they get in the way.”

Me: Then strap that kid to your your back and squat.

You: “My dog ate my apple!”

Me: Then eat your dog.

You see. It just takes some ingenuity. But today isn’t about making excuses. We’ve been there, done that. Instead, I want to focus on life’s little dilemmas and split-second decision making. That’s really where people get into trouble and fall off the health wagon.

Opting for the cheesecake instead of the fruit. Choosing to sleep in instead of working out. These things aren’t planned out. You get a moment’s notice before they wave that hot fudge under your nose at Baskin Robbins and you have to decide right there if you’re going to be a victim to the chocolate or grab your kid’s tee ball team and get the hell outta there.    

To me, this fitness stuff is second nature. I don’t think about it anymore because it’s simply my lifestyle. Does that always make it easy? No! In fact, I’m sitting at my table right now wanting something not so good for me, but I won’t do it! Some of you may think I’m too strict and should give into the temptation every once in awhile.  Well, here’s the deal with that.  

1) I literally don’t feel well afterward. So as good as that traditional pizza looks,  it actually makes me sick. So why would I give into that? What, for 30 seconds of pleasure just to feel ill, then crave more later? Um, I don't think so.  

2) I currently like my ass where it sits in my jeans. Thanks.

We all run into these dilemmas, it’s called life. But you must decide if you are weak—falling victim to temptation, always. Or are you strong—making good decisions because you are fully aware of the ultimate outcome. 

Too often people find themselves choosing the path that leads to guilt, upset stomach, further away from looking good naked or D) all of the above. Below are a few examples of everyday dilemmas and the decisions we must make. Are you weak or are you strong?

Dilemma No. 1: You’re on the road and you’re starving.  

The Weak: Surrenders to the hunger and the neon sign! Stops at the first fast food chain and gobbles down a heart attack deluxe. Why not have some fries and a shake. That will sit nicely in the car for the next four hours. 

The Strong: Probably planned ahead (because you knew this would happen) with healthy road snacks and if not, will stop at a grocery store or convenience store and grab a natural nutrition bar, fruit, veggies, jerky, nuts and water.  

Dilemma No. 2: The dessert tray comes by your table after dinner. Everyone else is ordering, even though they claim to be stuffed.

The Weak: Surrenders to the sugar! Orders a 1,000-calorie dessert because they are either being a piggy wiggy or giving into peer pressure.  Where was that after school special?

The Strong: Knows the dessert, even sharing, will make them feel horrible afterward and opts to order a side of fruit.  

PS you don't look nearly as cute eating dessert as this little guy. Although, he may be chewing on a sponge. Though I don't recommend, it's a far superior choice over cheesecake. 

Dilemma No. 3: You want to sleep in but realize how busy the day is and the chances of working out later are slim to none.

The Weak: Surrenders to the bed! Stays in bed for 30 extra minutes, which really did nothing at all. 

The Strong: Knows how important sleep is, but realizes that the extra 30 minutes will not compare to a 15 minute power nap in the car later. Proceeds to wake up and do 30 minutes of high-intensity work.

Dilemma No. 4: Only have 15 minutes to workout.

The Weak: Looks at it like there isn’t enough time, might as well skip today.

The Strong: Looks at it like a challenge to get as much intense work done as possible. Fifteen minutes of hill sprints, go!

Dilemma No. 5: Eating new foods that are healthy, but maybe different.

The Weak: Blame texture. Blame being a picky eater. Blame it being “grosssss” without ever trying it.

The Strong: Eats for function. “Bring on the nutrition!”

Seriously.  If you are acting weak, stop it! YOU are not designed to be weak.  YOU are designed to be STRONG, POWERFUL, CAPABLE, INCREDIBLE.....so be it, like NOW! 

How To Make Shit Happen

Here I am, almost 1 month into my homeless (yet healthy) adventure.  It's been interesting to say the least. Between the night drifters making casual conversation about the latest block busts and the dyer need to have a "mother f#cking" Long John Silver in the hood, I consider the 45 seconds of sleep mt first 2 weeks a blessing.  And since the gym opens at 6am, it's super awesome that the cleaning crew blasts heavy rap so loud, Tupac Shakur asks to keep it down.  But it's totally cool and I'm NOT complaining, just sharing the fun. I love to tell my stories, my experiences.  If someone can benefit through humor, insight, motivation or plain old, thank God I'm not her, well then that's just a bonus. 

If you recall from my last blog, this is all just a way to revamp my life and ultimately, make some shit happen.  What shit you say?  Still figuring that out.  Do I want to focus more on training or nutrition with clients?  Do I want to travel, educate myself and others or simply put my life on hold and live a little?  I don't know.  But you can bet your last dollar, I'm not waiting around for something to happen.  My ears are perked, my head is on a swivel and my eyes are open.  There's no hiding in the corner (cause nobody puts baby..or me in a corner), I'm center stage, looking for new people to meet, new avenues to take and new opportunities to seize.  In order to create a new life, it's a must.  In fact, because my new plan of action, which you'll learn for yourself by the end of this blog, I've been making shit happen.  So far, I have traveled to Utah with New Balance Shoes, working one of the biggest trade shows of the year.  I shook a lot of babies and kissed a lot of hands....or something like that.  On another occasion while pirating wifi at a San Diego coffee house, I ran into and introduced myself to Drew Canole, the founder of fitlife.tv.  After discussing shoes, juice and my blog, I have become a part of his elite team of health advocates. The last and probably most bizarre thing to happen, I now work at the hippest, friendliest, awesomest and most talked about bakery/bar/cupcake haven - Babycakes.  This happened while I was accidentally, on purpose, listening in on an interview some other kid was horribly failing.  No shower and sweaty clothes, I explained how I would be a good candidate for the position.  That was apparently my first interview, nailed the second and was offered a job on the third.  Is it a career choice?  No, but it makes me money and makes me happy.  Plus, you never know who you'll meet next, right?  So that's the shit that's been happening lately.   

But enough about me, let's talk about you.  What's your shit?  What do you want to change, add to, take away from your life?  Come on, think about it.  Everyone has something they want -  Strength, love, happiness, money.   Everyone has something they don't want - stress, bad relationships, crappy job, bratty kids (good luck with that one).  Whatever it is, you'll need a plan, a map, a how to guide ensuring you aren't just floating in space with desire, but making proactive decisions based on making shit happen.  This plan works for all shit discovery.

Guide To Making Your Shit Come True

No. 1  Set Your Shit Goals

How will you get there if you don't know where you are going?  Make a list of exactly what you want. Pretty simple and yet, often overlooked. DUH! 

No. 2  Attack That Shit

Look at each goal on your list and form a plan of how to reach each one. What will it take to get there. I like to work backwards.  Start with the end result.  Example: I'm rich! I made $15,000 per month.  That means I had "x" number of clients, that I charged "x" amount.  I did "these" things to market and advertise. I supplemented with "x,y,z."  Think of it as a paint by numbers.  Don't over complicate things, just know where you are going. K.I.S.S.S -  Keep it simple stupid shit.

  

No. 3  Be a Shit Eating Politician

Get your ass outside your comfort zone and talk to people.  Smile, shake hands, talk to strangers, go to events, go to parties and say yes more.  You may not be trying to gain support of the voting party, but everyone needs to be in contact with the right person, the right situation, at the right time. Consider this; You talk to the right person who knows of a job opening at a place you've been thinking about applying to.  Or maybe you're in a black hole of depression and the right person with the right words comes along and gives you a glimpse of hope and light.  A simple compliment from a total stranger might be enough to give you that needed boost to ditch that loser bf/.gf, good thing you were smiling.  The point is, you never know, so always have a shit eating grin on your face.

No. 4  Keep Your Shit Accountable

Just like anything else, accountability creates success.  Why?  Nobody wants to be looked upon as a loser.  Find someone, a mentor, a friend, a business consultant or even facebook.  Tell someone what you want to do.  Maybe they can help, maybe it's just a way to drive you forward.  Tomorrow I fly to SF to meet with Wendy White.  She's an amazing web designer, graphic artist, photographer and all around bad ass.  She will be my accountability, along with all of you readers.

That's it.  Now, go find your shit.

Healthy Renegade Turns Homeless Renegade...sort of.

A story of sacrifice, how I ended up sleeping at the gym and why I have been m.i.a


I have no doubt that I will be a complete and total success.  If you can taste your dreams, bold statements are allowed. I have no need to fear, the accountability that comes with sharing my aspirations with the world is simply fuel for the fire. How can I be so sure?   As I sit here and I write this entry, I'm starring at a group of people performing jiu jitsu in my living room.  I can also hear others lifting weights and running on the treadmill in the hallway.  Just around the corner, the floor is vibrating from the boxers jump roping where I sleep.  The front door is next to the cash resister and I share a bathroom with 350 other people.  This would all sound a little weird if they were actually at my house but the reality is, I'm in theirs.  What they call the gym, I now call home.  Let me explain.


 The life I was living just wasn't getting me any closer to where I wanted to be. Long exhausting hours in a job that no longer made sense, only to pay for an apartment I hated and also could not afford.  Spinning my wheels became part of my routine.  Wake, eat, work, get no where in life, sleep, repeat.  So I did something about it.  Quit my job, packed my things,  and came up with a new plan.  For the next 30-90 days, I will be re-grouping, re-evaluating and re-inventing my life.  

I started making a list what I considered fails in my life: Tractor beam work drama impossible to escape = fail. High rent, credit card debt, fail.  Long hours, low income, frustration, exhaustion - fail and F#ck!!   These things were making it impossible for me to keep my head above water. Can you relate?  So instead of continuing down the path leading to mainstream societal death, which is exactly what I consider settling for a life you are unhappy with, I decided to do something about it. I quit my job, where everyday was a toss up between banging my head against the wall or hanging myself in the bathroom with my shoelace. Now what about a place

to live?  Paying almost $1400 every month to a shoe box apartment that is so small, I could brush my teeth, wash dishes and sit in my living room all at the same time.   I'm just not comfortable  with that.  Who the hell is?  Yes,  I could have possibly downsized to a less expensive situation, but frankly I didn't want to.  I guess I was looking for a challenge.  So after vetoing the living in my car idea (which was seriously considered but a little too challenging, even for me), sleeping in hostels and flea bag motels, I turned to a friend who owned the boxing gym downtown.  Since I'm a husslin' kind of girl, always looking for a way to leverage my skills, talents, abilities, I explained the situation and told him I would trade him for rent.  Nope, not that kind of trade and not those kind of skills.  I prepare healthy meals for him in exchange for staying at his gym, which has full facilities including clean bathroom and shower, a fridge and even a couch I could sleep on.  But don't think for a second this place isn't a full on boxing gym, in all it's capacity.  Have you seen Million Dollar Baby?  I'm Morgan Freeman, less the private space and lazy eye. 


 So yes, I willingly gave up my seemingly comfortable life for one that by most standards is anything but comfy.  Keep in mind, I do not share this story to create some pity party, nor to make anyone worry or offer me food (the first person to offer me food or a dollar will get punched in the mouth).    It's not that I couldn't continue to do what I was doing.  It was no longer making me happy and so, needed to change. As a friend told me, perhaps I need a little self created drama to thrive off of.  I believe that I do.  Nothing is more driving than fear.  I have wonderful people in my life that have offered to let me stay with them and help in any way they can.  While I appreciate that beyond words, my choices, past and present are no one's responsibility but my own.  This entire venture is my choice and so I will rely on my strength, capability, courage, craftiness and independence.  Remember what I said in the beginning. Do what it takes.  Get where you want to be. Make things happen.  Live how you want to live.  Feel how you want to feel.  Look how you want to look.  Use fear as your fuel.  There are no excuses, only different levels of commitment toward the cause.  So really, am I all that crazy?  Ok, yeah, a little.  But at least I'm no longer insane.  


To your success and mine. Cheers!

Follow Up: Paleo Questions Answered

If you're just tuning in, last week I wrote about my experiment with the Paleo Diet, eating the way our ancestors ate.  This diet is comprised of foods our bodies were meant to consume: animal protein, vegetables, fruits and healthy fats. Completely devoiding grains, dairy, legumes and if you can believe it, processed foods and sugars are also a no no.  
As I said last week, I am not attempting to change your mind about any one way of feeding your body, just enlightening you on the basics of Paleo eating and why it's a good thing.    
Since last weeks article, I received nine emails and comments.  Although six were from my inquisitive sister, all had questions regarding the diet and you know how I feel about questions - they must be answered. Below are the questions I have been getting the most. 

The Paleo Diet Works

I'm a believer!


You know I'm not a fad diet kind of girl.  Anything that claims to "get you the body you've always dreamed of in 7 days or less" is a bunch of hoopla.  Non the less, they're out there, preying on desperate people who claim to have "tried everything!"  -except a natural healthy diet and consistent exercise of course. Weird how that option is somehow overlooked and yet it's the one thing that works every single time.

I have a client and friend who recently got married.  Big shout out to Dr. D!  1 month before her wedding, we had a discussion about the final "leaning out" stage in her training.  The time where the last few abs start to show and shoulders have a nice rounded line at the top.  Basically, how most of us want to look all the time. A lot of this has to do with food, but I wasn't about to give her some jacked up Lemonade or Hollywood Diet.  Insert DUH  face.


I had heard of The Paleo Diet  in the past.  Something about being a caveman, eating dinosaurs and other cavemen.  Come to find out, in addition to Brontosaurus Burgers and Flintstone Surprise, you fuel your body with tons of fruits and vegetables, healthy fats like nuts, avocados, coconuts, seeds, healthy oils etc. while completely eliminating processed foods, grains, dairy - all things human were not meant to consume. Sounds healthy and effective, I like i.....hold up.


No dairy, grains, no legumes?  No yogurt, no oatmeal, no whole wheat bread, no beans.