The usual applies, of course—exercise (thank you Pure Barre :)....and daily walks with a certain adorable Mini Austrian Shepherd)…. and eating healthy.
And I'm talkin eating healthy like you MEAN it…
Mini cheat sheet—no processed foods (duh), no sugar (that's what's making us fat), high quality protein (pasture-raised eggs, meat, chicken, wild salmon, quinoa), LOTS of veggies (especially non-starchy ones), high quality fats (yes, I said it. FAT….ghee, unrefined + cold-pressed coconut oil, grass-fed butter, avocados …) and fermented foods (kefir and cultured veggies).
Not that difficult, right?
Now let's talk about a different kind of taking care of yourself.
How about doing something you just really want to do?
-Maybe something simple, silly, liberating…. How about blasting some music and singin along –Florida Georgia Line anyone ;) Who cares if the guy in the car next to you's looking over—"is he checkin me out or does he think I’m crazy?…I just don't care!!!"
-How about looking at that magazine you've been putting off opening because you're too busy or feel guilty? Just dive in and absorb the beauty and creativity (it'll probably inspire you to put together the perfect outfit from clothes you ALREADY have).
-Taking 5 minutes to just sit STILL and look at that beautiful sky. Or not! Just sit still!
-Going to the salon to get your hair blown out (you know how amazing you feel when you get that done).
-Meeting with a girlfriend for a drink and checking out cute guys (even if you're married…you're still a hot-blooded woman…then go home and attack your husband).
I wanna do most of the things on this list, plus whatever else I can think of (even that yoga retreat I've been fantasizing about).
Food-wise, the following recipe is how I'll be taking care of myself now that I'm coming to grips with the non-summery weather in my area—a big old pot of vegetable soup, with a mineral-rich (and skin enhancing) sea veggie broth.
We're entering batch-cooking territory again, my favorite place to be :)
Coconut Oil is anti-viral, antimicrobial, it increases energy and can help you maintain healthy and youthful looking skin. It will also help you absorb the nutrients in this soup.
Kombu is a sea vegetable that's considered the most completely mineralized food and is rich in calcium, iodine, potassium and vitamins A and C (both wrinkle fighters). It also aids in weight loss :)
Celery contains silica, which aids collagen formation and slows down skin aging.
Carrots are rich in beta-carotene which gets converted to vitamin A, which prevents cell damage and premature aging. Foods high in beta-carotene also give your face an attractive glow ;)
Onions and garlic contain sulfur which is awesome for skin health, as it affects collagen production and can make your complexion radiant.
Daikon radish is a fat scrubber and good for detoxing and it's also high in vitamin C (wrinkle fighter).
Vegetable Soup With Kombu Broth
Ingredients
-6 cups water
-2 tbsp coconut oil, unrefined + cold-pressed
-2 strips of kombu or Maine sea kelp
-4 celery stalks, chopped
-4 carrots, chopped
-4 onions, sliced
-4 garlic cloves, sliced
-1/2 daikon radish, chopped
-1 tsp sea salt (Celtic, if possible)
-extra virgin olive oil, to drizzle
-any spices you like, such as cayenne or chili powder
Directions
1. Bring water to a simmer and add the coconut oil and kombu.
2. Let simmer with the lid on for 30 to 40 minutes so that the minerals in the kombu will be released into the broth.
3. Add the celery, carrots, onions, garlic, daikon and salt; bring back to a boil, cover and simmer for approximately 20 minutes, or until the veggies are cooked to your liking.
4. Drizzle each bowl with some extra virgin olive oil, sprinkle on some cayenne or chili powder and enjoy with a high quality protein and a salad.
Take care ;)
Lauren
P.S. If you're confused about how to incorporate my mini cheat sheet of healthy foods into your life, sign up for a free session with me.
How do you take care of yourself? Or just leave a comment or suggestion below.