Dealing with Unclarity

A surge of stress has overcome me these days which rarely ever happens...my best friend has changed, my plans have changed and my lease ends September 16th. The next step is unclear.

I focused the past four years of my life mainly on one thing--dance. I fostered an even deeper love of this art form more than I could ever imagine. I risked relationships, lost the person I loved the most and moved extremely far away from my family all for this one thing. And what am I doing now you ask? Four years later, magna cum laude graduate with a bachelors degree in dance, I'm dancing. I'm in a professional dance company and totally happy about it despite all the hardships and heartache that went along with it. To me, it's worth it. Anything that makes you happy is worth it in the end.  But let's be real this can't support me forever, because it barely does now. Even the big time dancers dancing in more familiar dance companies in New York City have second or more jobs to be able to support themselves.

I don't regret going to school for dance. I'm forever grateful my parents granted me the opportunity to study dance in college, probably knowing full well I'd graduate and and be broke with a dance degree. Here I am a year after graduating college and totally unsure of where I'm heading career wise. I've played around with the thought of many careers such as things from being a nurse, an EMT, a midwife to things such as being a nutritionist. But going back to school for these things takes time and money and after spending so much time focused on dance it's hard to tell what I really want. I thought for awhile I wanted to be a nurse but after volunteering in the cardiac unit at the hospital I saw the sickly cycle of heart attack victims going through surgery just to be fed with the same crap that got them there and then told to take medication for the rest of their lives. Don't get me wrong, nurses are amazing. Just not the job for me.

The problem is, is that I don't know what the job for me is and I don't know what it is I want. If I knew, I'd go at it with full force. You see I'm the kind of person that goes for things. Even though I can sometimes be an introvert and shy with strangers from time to time, when I want something I work hard and go for it. I was the student in school who went to every class, studied hard for tests and made sure I was going to ace that class no matter what it took. Now without the structure of school and fulfilling those little goals and criteria I had to meet for classes I feel lost and a tad bit purposeless. No one's telling me what to do and I feel like at 23 I should have these things at least somewhat together.

As stressful and agonizing as the situation can be, the other half of me sees a really exciting time. It's a time where nothing is holding me back-- no serious job or serious responsibilities such as kids. I can essentially do whatever I want. The process can either be accepted or denied. Right now I'm accepting the process. Accepting the confusion, the tears and frustration. Accepting the fact I may have to move home for a few months to figure it out. But all along I keep in mind all the many loved ones who support me and take care of me even from miles away and knowing that it's all going to be Ok. It always is.

3 Things I've Recently Added to my Diet for Better Health

I recently read one of Dr. Fuhrman's many books called Eat To Live. I absolutely loved this book. He encourages his readers that eating healthy doesn't have to be hard (no counting calories!) and he stresses the importance of good health and it's effects on your body in the present as well as down the road.

 

In one section of the book, Dr. Fuhrman talks about the importance of eating GBOMBS or 

GREENS
BEANS
ONIONS      

MUSHROOMS

BERRIES &

SEEDS

According to Dr. Furhman these are "the most nutrient-dense, health-promoting foods on the planet...[and] should [be] eaten every day."

I follow a plant based diet so my diet revolves  mainly around these foods. However, after reading Eat to Live, the 3 foods I recently have added to my diet for better health are: 

Raw Onions, Mushrooms & Tomato Paste 

 I typically throw one or all of these things into my salads or into a bean dish

 According to Dr. Fuhrman, "these foods are extremely effective at preventing chronic disease and promoting health and longevity."  

For more information on why these are healthy check out these 2 posts on Dr. Fuhrman's website: 

http://www.drfuhrman.com/library/gbombs.aspx 
https://www.drfuhrman.com/library/tomatoes_protect_against_heart_attack_stroke.aspx

Also, if you get a chance read Eat to Live ! I love, love loved it :) 

source: http://www.drfuhrman.com/library/gbombs.aspx

Goal Setting & Staying Focused

I always strive towards a productive, healthy and happy life. 

I feel as if all of us at some point become complacent in our lives from time to time. We get into a comfortable pattern and stick with it, instead of branching out. I am always yearning to learn, grow and experience more. This can be in the tiniest of ways. For example, I listen to a lot of podcasts on health as well as read books on the subjects that interest me. I also try to mix up my schedule from time to time just so I don't become stuck on the same routine. Usually when we're stuck on the same schedule we begin just moving through the motions without really thinking about them or being aware of them...and then BAM our day is done.

Just recently I sat down and sat with my thoughts. I put my electronics away and turned my phone on silent. With this time I listed a bunch of goals and things that I want to accomplish. I included:

• Career goals
• Relationship goals
• Immediate goals
• Long term goals

The great thing about goals is that you can always deviate away from them, change them or add on to them. I don't think they have to be set in stone or necessarily achieved exactly the way you initially wrote it down. Goals for me are things that I currently am desiring to achieve as well as something to give me direction and focus in life.

Wherever you are in your life, setting goals can help you become more focused on your future as well as today. 

"I get up every morning determined to both change the world & have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult" 

~E.B. White

Current Favorite Workout Tunes

I always try to get in at least a 30 minute walk or run everyday especially on the days I do not get to work out at the gym...

here are some of my current favorite songs I listen to while working out:

• This is What It Feels Like - Armin van Buuren
• Explosions - Ellie Goulding
• Pumpin Blood - NONONO
• Wicked Games - Parra for Cuva 
• Walking on Air - Katy Perry
• Heartbeats - The Knife
• Hurricane - MS MR
• Birthday - Katy Perry
• Drink You Away - Justin Timberlake
• XO - Beyonce 
• This Is How We Do - Katy Perry
• Let There Be Love - Christina Aguilera 
• Young & Beautiful - Lana Del Rey
• Soldier - Gavin DeGraw
• Patient Love - Passenger 
• Cha-Ching (Till We Grow Older) - Imagine Dragons  
• Take Me Home - Cash Cash 
• The Riot's Gone - Santigold

Whatever motivates you to workout and start moving your body, do it today! :)

How I eat healthy:

My All Time Favorite Vegan (& healthy) "Milkshake"

After making myself a super tasty salad I decided I wanted something sweet.

YUM!

I usually make my milkshakes with cocoa powder but I have been out lately and too lazy to go get some. I've recently been making these milkshakes which are AMAZING! It literally tastes like a milkshake and it's super simple to make!

Ingredients:

• 1-1.5 cup unsweetened Almond Milk
• Scoop of peanut butter 
• Half a packet of Truvia (or more--this is up to you)
• 1/2 FROZEN banana (can do more if you want)

Blend and enjoy this amazing "milkshake"

:)

The Easiest Way to Lose Weight and See Results

I teach fitness classes at two gyms and I have had a handful of people ask me about nutrition and tips on how to lose weight. These people come religiously to class after class yet some get frustrated when they aren't seeing results. Here's the easiest way to lose weight and see results from your hard work at the gym: change your diet to a whole foods plant based diet. Many people work so hard at the gym, both males and females, but without having a healthy diet to compliment your hard work, little results will be shown.

I personally know people who weren't happy with their weight and all they did was change their diet and they lost impressive amounts of weight, all without even going to the gym! What you put into your body is so important because without a focus on good nutrition and health you won't be able to reach your fitness or health goals. My good friend who is a guy (who is also a vegan and follows a whole foods plant based diet) tells me all of his guy friends who go to the gym are constantly asking him what he does to gain muscle and stay fit because these guys go to the gym with him and basically do the same things he does. They wonder why they aren't getting the same results as him and he explains it is largely due to his clean diet.

Now I strongly believe that it is not about what you look like but rather more how you feel. I've been on a whole foods plant based diet for over a year, I don't have six pack abs but I work out almost five days a week and I feel strong, healthy and full of energy. I also feel like the work I do at the gym pays off because I'm eating a healthy diet. At the same time I can eat as much as I want...that is by far the best part about a whole foods plant based diet. No counting calories and no depriving yourself from eating. If you're interested more on a whole foods plant based diet check out this awesome book: Eat to Live by Joel Fuhrman

He also has a website:  http://www.drfuhrman.com/

An Example of a whole foods plant based diet Day of Meals:

• Breakfast: Old Fashioned Oatmeal with chia seeds, walnuts and a banana mixed in (all optional)
• Mid-day snack: I usually work out in the morning so I refuel after with either a vegetable juice or a green smoothie
• Lunch: Quinoa or brown rice with beans (I like black beans and chick peas) and some salsa mixed in (avocado is always great too!). I'll do veggies on the side too like broccoli or cucumbers and tomatoes cut up
• Snack before dinner: Apple and a PB&J sandwich. I use Ezekiel bread (you can get this at Trader Joe's) which is super healthy/ way better than regular bread (here's why: http://authoritynutrition.com/ezekiel-bread/) and peanut butter that only has peanuts as the ingredients
• Dinner: Usually a big green salad and I like to get creative and put anything and everything in it such as: veggies, beans, nuts, pumpkin seeds, cranberries, sometimes fruit, avocado, salsa. Anything that is healthy and helps make the salad taste zestier. Depending on how hungry I am I may also eat a sweet potato
• If I get hungry later or if I'm craving something I'll make a vegan "milkshake" check out my simple recipe here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlSZYbayPAk

This is just an example..I'm always trying to get more greens into my diet whenever I can. I also always eat if I'm hungry. Hope this helps :)

Green Machine Guilt Free Pancakes

 

These pancakes are SO good as well as healthy for you! Here's the best part: YOU CAN'T EVEN TASTE THE GREEN! :)

 
Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cup oatmeal
• 1 1/4 cup almond milk (or regular milk)
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 packet of Truvia or Stevia 
• 1-3 handfuls of spinach (how much is up to you)
• 1 tbsp flax seed (optional) 
• A splash of vanilla extract (optional) 

 

 Put all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth

 Pour a small amount on a pan (w/cooking spray on it) with the heat on medium high. Since the batter is thick pour SMALL amounts in...it will cook quicker. I found it easier to cook if I put a top on it for a minute or so then flipped it to the other side.

After flipping, press on the pancake with the spatula to help the pancake cook all the way through, flip a couple more times till the middle is cooked through. These aren't like normal pancakes...they will be a little bit more "gooey" but there isn't anything wrong with eating them not fully cooked

 Add Agave Nectar as a syrup and enjoy these healthy, guilt free pancakes! They are filling but don't make you feel over stuffed like normal pancakes :)

 

Left over batter? Put it in the freezer & save for another morning!