Timing is Everything

Vulnerable post, here I come. 

I didn’t use to believe in God… I was raised Catholic and when my parents divorced we were basically told we weren’t welcome in the Catholic church anymore. I thought as a child, I did all the right things to be in God’s arms. I was baptized, I did confirmation, I could take the Eucharist.. I went to church every Sunday- what more could you ask for  from a child of Christ?

SO, I stopped believing. God didn’t seem like he loved me anymore. I WAS SO WRONG.

God has a way with timing. People say “timing is everything” in terms of relationships or careers, etc.; well it could not be more true than in your walk with God. “His timing is everything.”

Loving someone that I couldn’t see or touch was so delusional to me, for so many years. God had a different plan for me. Having faith again got me through some really rough times in 2018. I am forever thankful. So, so grateful. He made me believe again. Believe he has a greater plan for me than I didn’t know was even possible. I may be weak- he gives me strength.

*Serenity Prayer *:

God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
If I surrender to His Will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him
Forever and ever in the next.
Amen.

“Our deepest cry is to commune with and minister to our God. He is all we need.”

– Cory Asbury

 

Matthew 11:28-30

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

XOXO

-Meag

 

Ability to Love

Happy September ! 🙂

I just turned 30 a few months ago….  I write here for myself to get it all out there and share my knowledge of health and everything else I can think of. I love writing about my passion for health, nutrition, fitness, & fashion. However, I have a vulnerable post right now that has nothing to do with any of that.

Why is it that everyone wants to slow down in life? I want to speed it all up. I want my life to be the fullest. I want someone to be their fullest self from the get go and speed shouldn’t matter if it feels right. There must be something wrong from the start if you want it to slow down, per say. I feel like if you want to back away….. something is wrong in your life, not the person. Why do I keep attracting people that don’t have their life together? Maybe because I don’t have mine together??

Then, I got to thinking…….. 

 

At 30,  I thought I would have everything together- husband, kids, house, dog……… that’s the cookie cutter envision, right? I’m not that cookie cutter person; And I know I will never be that person. Not saying those that have that are bad or anything of the sorts. I love all my friends that have that!!!!!!)I just am not there YET or maybe ever be in this life. This journey of mine is a roller coaster- and I’m riding it as best I can 🙂 One thing I know for sure is that God loves me and I am only here because of him and he saved me from my darkest of times. 

Happy Days to everyone ❤

XOXO

-Meag

 

 

 

Healing Bone Broth

Before I scare you away with the term “Bone Broth”… read just a tiny bit more.

Bone broth is a common term in the health, gut healing world. All it really means is Homemade Chicken/Beef/Seafood broth. Not the kind you buy in a can (ew…. but necessary if you can cook), or put a bouillon cube in some water (I’d rather buy a soup in the can)… the kind that sits in a pot(crock pot will change your life) for 12+++++ hours, the kind that actually HEALS you from the inside out.

Ever heard of Pho?? HelloooOOOO- Pho!!!!! (Gosh, I’m not as funny as I think   ) I might have cut out a few steps on making Pho- but the whole concept of it is the same– you have the meat, bones, veggies, & noodles — there you have it- chicken/beef/seafood soup that heals you.

That’s why people have Chicken soup when they are sick. Did you ever wonder why that was the case? It’s because the bone marrow and collagen from the chickens seeps out of joints and bones during long-term cooking. It simmers for a longer period of time for this all to occur. You MUST put Apple Cider Vinegar in with the water + bones… it’s what draws out the goodness of the bones. You can add veggies, potatoes, whatever you would like to make it more of a Chicken Soup- go for it. I’m more of a plain broth when I’m sick- like right now… It really does HEAL YOU! It might take some time for you to get over the whole bone thing… it took me a few times… ok, fine it took me a year-ish. It sure does heal your gut and balance out your pH levels.

 

Benefits:

• Improve digestion
• Improve connective tissue
• Increase hair growth/strength (collagen baby)
• Boost immune system
• High in calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus
• High in amino acids

 

So here’s my recipe for homemade bone broth (SUPER EASY!)

Ingredients:

(depends on how big your pot or crock pot is- this is what I do though)

• 4 lbs. of Grass-fed chicken/fish/beef/lamb(etc.) with the bone
• Chicken feet ( I know this is extremely gross- I can’t even stomach this while I’m typing- it grosses me out to the extreme but apparently it’s the best for the soup but I will not do it for the life of me, sorry; I just can’t) I just doing chicken soup is enough. You could also do Vegetable soup but I don’t think its AS beneficial as the chicken marrow
• 12 cups of water
• 2 tbsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1-2 tbsp. Himalayan or Sea Salt
• 4 cloves of garlic- chopped
• Optional: chicken, seasoning, 1 onion, 1 carrot, 2 celery sticks, pepper,

1. Put everything in a pot- simmer for 24-48 hours- I use a crockpot because you put it all in a pot then leave!!! 🙂 – I put it on low
2. Allow to cool slightly and strain. Transfer the broth to an airtight container and refrigerate for 4-6 hours or overnight. This will allow the fat to rise to the top and solidify.
3. Scrape the fat off the top with a spoon (if you want- however I want that collagen so I don’t because collagen is amazing for the skin and I’m not big on collagen in my smoothies- I can only take SO MUCH ha!) . If you don’t talk it off it will leave you with a gelatinous bone broth when cold if you leave it there on the top of the soup- do not be warned! It is good for you!!!!!.
4.  Store in an airtight mason jar or glass container or freeze until ready to use. When ready to use, slowly warm the broth over a low heat to bring it back to a liquid consistency. No microwave- kills all that GOOD bacteria your just created!
5. Enjoy!! Happy Healing!

 

Any questions- leave in the comments!!

 

Questions:

Has anyone ever been to a Chicken farm where they show you the humane was to kill them? Makes me cringe, however I want to know they are happy for a little bit of time?

 

Random question: Any farms in Denver, CO where I can pet goats and do yoga? I love goats, and I loveee yoga/pilates. 🙂

 

XOXO-

Meag

Salt that actually HYDRATES you!

Hi there!

I LOVE SALT!!!! Yep, me… a health weirdo… LOVES SALT. I may or may not carry Trader Joes himalayan salt grinder in my purse… Mmhhmm. Don’t hate…!

Here I am, going through the differences of Himalayan Salt vs Regular Salt– I find this wealth of knowledge below!

Once upon a time (a couple of hundreds of millions of years ago) crystallized sea salt beds, now deep within the Himalayans, were covered by lava. Aside from it being kept in a flawless environment that has been surrounded by snow and ice year round, the lava is thought to have protected the salt from pollution leading to the belief that Himalayan Pink salt is the purest salt to be found on earth. It is now hand-mined from the mountains and brought to the culinary market.

Why Pink? 

The many hues of pink, red and white are an indication of this salt’s rich and varying mineral and energy-rich iron content.  The pale pink color stemming from iron oxide deposits (rust) in the mountains as I mentioned in the paragraph above!! Many people believe it has many health benefits and is the purest salt on earth.

Wait a sec…. all these years and I’ve been told to cut back on Sodium because it’s bad for me?!?!?!

The reason salt is often perceived as unhealthy , is that it can bind water in the bloodstream and raise blood pressure which causes a plethora of other issues (i.e. heart attacks, strokes… etc.)

Just like anything in life- if consumed in excess it can be bad for you and cause health problems. And when I say this I am talking about “table salt” in every packaged food item and most dining out places.

There is a difference in these salts!! Yay! More salt for me! haha

I have a science-mind and always want to learn the background so I can perform my own analysis. So if that’s not you- skip ahead!

 

Table salt

• Stripped of potassium during process (this is needed for natural Sodium and Potassium- so stripped of necessary minerals)
• Sodium Chloride
• Iodine is added
• Many companies add anti-caking because salt
• Color is added so easy to pour

Sea Salt

• Natural evaporated seawater
• Still has some naturally occurring minerals = 5%

Himalayan Salt

• Naturally occurring salt. – has the potassium, sodium and magnesium already
• Himalayan mountains of Pakistan
• Used to exfoliate
• Himalayan Salt lamp (companies claim it aids in improved sleep and decrease in stress– I haven’t felt either)
• Detoxes you if you add to warm water and drink in the morning (i’ve been doing this for years and it actually works– does not work with regular table salt)

All in all- Researching all this has been confusing…  however, what I do know is table salt is no bueno and Sea and Himalayan salt actually hydrates your cells due to its greater concentration in trace minerals— so I’ll stick with those two. (NOT in excess my friends!). (By the way the himalayan salt at Trader Joe’s is $1.99 (cheaper than everywhere else).

Let me know if you have any questions in the comments! 🙂 Have a great hump day! 🙂

XOXO~ Meag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*I am not a dietitian or scientist so please take this information with a grain of salt (no pun intended)

Healthified Banana Bread (GF,V)

Hiiiii!

I am reallyyyyyy good at keeping up with blogging 😉 … I need ideas!! What interests you? Food, Nutrition, Supplements, Workouts, Research, Life updates, Fashion, Dogs ?! lol… those are my interests haha!  Anyways– I made this healthy banana bread and had so many people on IG asking for the recipe so here it is!!

Healthified Banana Bread

• Gluten Free
• Vegan

Ingredients

• 2 cups gluten free, spelt, or oat flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cup mashed, overripe banana (I add 4 banana’s)
• 1/2 cup yogurt, such as daiya vegan or another plain yogurt you like
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup, honey, or agave
• 1/16 tsp uncut stevia or 2 tbsp any sweetener of choice
• 1/3 cup coconut oil OR apple sauce
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips, optional

 

* I used the baby loaf pans instead of 9×5 and cooked less time

1. Preheat oven to 350 F
2. Grease a 9×5 loaf pan. Set aside
3. Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl
4. Whisk liquid ingredients in a separate bowl
5. Pour wet into dry, and stir until all lumps are gone
6. Add chocolate chips (I added white, chocolate or whatever I had on hand :))
7. Smooth into the prepared pan
8. Bake on the center rack 30 minutes
9. Let cool completely. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
10. Leftovers can be sliced and frozen for a month

And because my mom always baked banana bread when I was little I added the topping she likes. This would be for 1 of the baby loaf pan’s (no idea the size… hence “baby”)

• 1 tbsp non-dairy butter
• powdered sugar (eyeball it)

1. Melt the butter in microwave- drown the top of the bread with it (jk) just drizzle 😛
2. Sprinkle the sugggggggga

 

Nomz! Let me know how you like it!! 🙂

Happy Tuesday fraaaaaainds !

 

XOXO– Meag

Apple Cider Vinegar, Lemon Juice, & Water Benefits

Hi Friends!  Happy Wednesday!

I wanted to talk about this concoction for a second. It’s all over the internet and social media and many people do it because it’s popular but have no idea why they are doing it every morning.

Apple cider vinegar is used to cleanse, lose body fat, boost energy and help reverse disease, then adding natural detox drinks to your diet can help you improve your quality of life!

If you want the recipe it’s at the end however, I want to point out all the benefits of ACV and Lemon Juice first 🙂

Benefits of ACV:

1. Weight loss: a dose of ACV can curb cravings and help reduce your appetite.
2. Natural antibiotic properties: let’s say if you have a stomach ache, a little ACV with water can aid bad bacteria in the stomach.
3. Proactive against indigestion: it helps prep your stomach before you eat any heavy foods that may otherwise be hard to digest properly.
4. Energy boost: a shot of ACV is a great boost of energy.  ACV contains enzymes that can bring you a lift, which also (i haven’t tried this) i’ve read it can aid to a hangover because it helps relieve the build up of lactic acid in the body.
5. Aid in allergy and colds: ACV is known to help with sinus drainage and even assist in preventing a cold coming on by killing germs when you first feel a tickle in your throat, take down a shot (or gargle) with some warm water.
6. Teeth whitener: gargle some ACV to remove stains from your teeth, like right after your morning coffee.  Double win, it also is great for healthy gums and mouth in general since it’s a bacteria killer.
7. Balances blood sugar levels: It helps control high blood sugar levels so it is often used as a natural way to aid and treat those with Diabetes.
8. 8. Keeps everything “moving”(yeah I said it): aids in chronic constipation (tmi whatever!). But I don’t mean laxative status- just keeps you regular

Onto Lemon Juice:

1. Reduces inflammation: if you drink lemon juice in water on a regular basis, it decreases the acidity in your body, which is where disease states occur.  It also helps remove uric acid in your joints, which is one of the main causes of inflammation.
2. Aids digestion: main reason I add lemon to my ACV shot! It not only encourages healthy digestion by loosening toxins in your digestive tract, it helps to relieve symptoms of indigestion such as heartburn, burping and bloating
3. Cleanses your system: it helps flush out the toxins in your body by enhancing enzyme function, stimulating your liver.
4. Helps keep your skin blemish-free: the antioxidants in lemon juice help to not only decrease blemishes, but wrinkles too! It can also be applied to scars and age spots to reduce their appearance, and because it’s detoxifying your blood, it will maintain your skin’s radiance.
5. Gives your immune system a boost: vitamin c is like our immune system’s jumper cables, and lemon juice is full of it!  The level of vitamin C in your system is one of the first things to plummet when you’re stressed, which is why experts recommend popping extra vitamin C during stressful days or when you feel a cold coming on.
6. Excellent source of potassium: lemons are high in potassium which is good for heart health as well as brain and nerve function! Another one of the main reasons I make sure to get it in right away in the morning.
7. Energy Boost: it helps provide your body with energy when it enters your digestive tract and can help reduce anxiety and depression, even the scent of lemons has a calming effect on your nervous system!
8. Helps fight viral infections: lemon is easily the most effective way to diminish viral infections and their subsequent sore throats.  Plus, with the lemon juice also boosting your immune system like I mentioned before, you’ll simultaneously fight off the infection completely!

 

*the main reasons I take it in the morning, on an empty stomach, are to help prevent indigestion and the energy boost!

To make:

• 1 bottle of Bragg’s apple cider vinegar (you can find it at the grocery store as well)
• Lemon juice from lemon OR 1 bottle of Lemon Juice (you can find this at grocery store as well in organic section)
• WARM Water (easier on the stomach)
• Optional: honey and tumeric

If you are just starting out I recommend these measurements:

• 1 tbsp ACV
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• ¼ cup warm water (or more if it’s too sour for you to start)

Where you want to get eventually:

• 3 tbsp ACV
• A splash of lemon juice (1/2 tbsp)
• As much water as you need

The more ACV the better!

When to take it:

Take it on an empty stomach, before breakfast

BUT if you workout in the morning, don’t take it before you workout if it’s on an empty stomach because it’ll make you a weeeee bit nauseous.  Take the shot after you workout, even if you’ve had food, you’ll still reap the benefits!

 

Anyone have any questions??! 🙂 Happy to help@

~Meagan

 

Workout & Progress

Hi All!

So I’ve been focusing my 2017 on fitness. I lost some weight in December after having the stomach virus 4x in a row!!! AHHHH It was terrible. So I’ve been at the gym 5x/week lifting! I’m so excited to see some progress of muscle back in my arms and legs… it’s a process that you have to be patient with but keep at it and time will tell!!

 

 

Here’s your workout of the day:

• Preacher curls : 4×15
• Rear Delt raises : 4×10
• Close Grip Bar Pull Down : 4×15
• Smith Machine Rows : 4×12
• Seated Ab Crunches : 50
• DB Side Crunches : 50
• Pull Ups : 2×15
• Tricep Kick Backs: 4×12

 

Have a great Sunday! 🙂

 

xoxo-Meag

Arm Workout- Day After Christmas

Arms baby :

• Skull Crushers : 3 x 15
• Lat Pull Downs : 3 x 15
• Upright rows : 3 x 15
• Tricep Extension : 3 x 15
• Hammer Curls : 3 x 15
• Shoulder bombs : 3 x 15 ( google it because you might hurt me for making this workout with this included )
• Bench dips : 3 x Failure

 

K bye. Have fun

 

XOXO- Meagzzzzzzzzzzz

Salmon & Veggies Recipe +Workout

And it’s been awhile
Since I could hold my head up high
And it’s been awhile
Since I first saw you

• Staind

Wow, I am lame.

I don’t post often because, honestly… I haven’t been busy. LOL (got ya there- another lame comment…fail). I’ve been sleeping. 🙂 However, I am posting because I’ve been sick in bed for almost a week and I’m running out of Netflix Christmas movies. But come January 2nd I will be VERY busy. Changed jobs and will be fully engulfed in my job just like I always am. I’ve taken some time off to re-group, catch up on the sleep I’ve missed for the last 4 + years, hit the gym like I used to, and spend time with people I care about. So here goes nothin– here’s the latest recipe I created along with a workout!

1 pan dinner: Ingredients:

• Wild Salmon (because it’s way better for you duh)
• FRESH sage
• Garlic
• Garlic Powder
• Lemon
• Yellow Squash
• Asparagus
• Olive Oil
• Himalayan Salt
• Pepper

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. If frozen salmon- thaw it in the fridge for 2 hours.
3. Peel the paper layers off the garlic and discard. Use about 4-5 cloves and finely dice.
4. Chop up the sage.
5. Slice the yellow squash into 1/2 inch rounds
6. Cut 1 inch off the asparagus.
7. Put thawed salmon on large foiled baking dish.
8. Add the asparagus and squash anywhere on the foil spread out.
9. Lightly use the olive oil to sprinkle on salmon and asparagus.
10. Sprinkle the garlic and sage over the salmon (I add a little bit of garlic over the asparagus as well)
11. Sprinkle garlic powder over the squash.
12. Put lemon all over salmon and asparagus (I’m a little addicted to lemon so I add more after its done as well!!)
13. Add himalayan salt(this kind of salt HYDRATES you instead of dehydrates so you can use as much as you’d like) and pepper to everything to your liking.
14. Pop that baby in the oven for 10-12 minutes and VOILA!!! Nomzzzz

Dec 2016 | Aug 2015

I only put this picture here to show what almost a year of NOT lifting weights does to you… I was training for a half marathon from November 2015- April 2016 so I held off on weight training and focused all my attention on running.  I might do that half-marathon again this April 2017 but I will incorporate weights into my running routine if I have to because I have never felt so weak in my life than I do now.  The squat rack is NOT my friend currently.  I am strong in other ways like my endurance ( when not sick..)  but I want a well-balanced routine of both strength and endurance. So here’s to new goals and getting back at it in the gym !!

Workouttttt time: Shoulders/ Tri’s

• Arnold Press : 4 x 10
• Lateral Raise Catch : 4 x 15
• Bottoms Up Kettle Bell Press : 4 x 10
• Kettle Bell Upright Row : 4 x 12
• Dumbbell Front Raise + Row : 4 x 12
• Z Press : 4 x 8
• Bench Dips : 4 x 12
• Cable Rope Extension : 4 x 12

Hope everyone had a good weekend full of holiday cheer and joy while I’m crawled underneath my covers searching for more Netflix shows and movies 🙂

XOXO~Meag

Want to Get Naked?

By all means, get naked, take your clothes off but do yourself a favor and don’t by into this Naked drink.

Naked- bare, undisguised, uncovered…

See what this smoothie brand owned by PepsiCo did there… ?  This “All Natural” drink is far from actually being all natural.  It is mislabeled and PepsiCo had to pay 9 million dollars to settle a lawsuit on this smoothie (USA Today)

Let’s pick this baby apart.

On the bottom of the bottle it states “No Sugar Added” … this is deceiving.  No CANE sugar has been added but let’s look at the ingredients.

The first thing that jumps out at me is the 1st ingredient! APPLE JUICE. Not Apples, not apple puree, APPLE JUICE PEOPLE! The juice that contains all that sugar! Pineapple JUICE! What is in puree? Sugar? You got it! When it says fruit juice and puree, they add concentrated fruit sugar without the benefit of the fruit’s fiber.

Let’s look at the grams of Sugar in this beloved drink.

28g Sugar x 2 PER BOTTLE = 56g Sugar…  I thought the bottle said “No Added Sugar” ?  (key in Thinking Emoji)

Fifty-Six grams is equivalent to 11 teaspoons of sugar. Might as well go have a Coke instead – same size container of Coca Cola has 41 grams of sugar. Just kidding. Please don’t…

Go have a Snickers instead at 29 grams of sugar. HA!

And the protein… 2 gram. Really? I hope you aren’t drinking this for the gains!

Whip this smoothie up instead my friends!

• 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk (I use unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze)
• 1 frozen banana (chopped) (or another frozen fruit)
• 1 scoop protein powder
• A handful of spinach
• 1 tsp chia seeds

Blend until smooth!!! YUM – about 280 calories and delicious !

What’s your favorite smoothie combination?

 

-Meag