Monday, November 17, 2014

How to get Clear Skin despite Hormonal Changes

     Anyone else struggle with acne?  Well what about acne when you are going through hormonal changes such as pregnancy, diet changes or like me during contest prep/post show (my preparation for fitness competitions)? Well, I surely am a candidate for all of the above.  My skin was a hot mess during pregnancy, during diet changes and my word close to my competition/post show my skin goes crazy.  With not much success I felt frustrated, embarrassed and at a loss of what to do for my skin.  
     This picture may not be a huge transformation but the fact that I was able to start this product close to the end of my contest prep until now (two weeks post show) and my skin actually improved is HUGE!!!!!  My skin typically would break out with lots of pimples, red marks and bumps.  It's something I have struggled with since taking on the healthy lifestyle.... Go FIGURE!  It may have simply been my age/hormonal profile but at 22 I decided to prepare for my first fitness competition and ever since my skin has changed. I have tried hundreds of products/regiments and nothing has seemed to help.
     I was hesitant to try Nerium because anything that is a huge hype I tend to sit back and see if it truly works but some of my closest friends could not stop raving about this product.  I gave it a try and after 30 days I was surprised how smooth my skin is.  I use the day and night cream and have found that it has prevented breakouts during diet/hormonal changes, cleared up my skin and when I do have a small breakout it seemed to clear up faster.  WHAT?!?!  I thought when you had hormonal acne that nothing really helped since it was hormonal?!?!  I guess not because Nerium really has helped my skin.  I'm excited to see what my skin looks like in 90 days.  I will keep you all posted. :)
     I feel fortunate to have found a product that will help keep my skin clear since I plan to continue my healthy lifestyle, as well as, compete next year in a National Figure Show.  We work too hard on our bodies... why not have FIT SKIN TOO!  If you are interested in trying this product please contact Kalen Upton at Kalenupton@yahoo.com or my fellow Optimum Nutrition Athlete Jaquelyn Kastelic at jackie@crossfitunrivaled.com.  In the Subject Line put "Nerium".  The only thing I ask of you is to cc me to the email at ts.fit.mom@gmail.com so that I can personally make sure that you are taken care of.  :) 

*** I AM NOT A SALES PERSON FOR THIS PRODUCT! Just Sharing my Personal Experience***

PS. Any typos in my blogs are my gift to you.  ;p (Actually I'm just a big fan of typing in flow and I'm not a grammar pro so bare with me) :) 


Sunday, April 13, 2014

2014 Bodybuilding.com 12 week Challenge Blog- What this experience meant to me


 "Be the Change You Wish to See in the World" Gandhi




First I would like to say THANK YOU!  After being apart of this transformation challenge, I know this has, not only changed my life, but the life of thousands of people.  I admire and appreciate the motivation bodybuilding.com brings to the world. I will forever be grateful for this experience because bodybuilding.com has lit the fire under my tail to be the change I wanted to see in the world.  I now live my life with purpose, meaning and inspiration.  I look at life through the scope of being a FIT (female in training: mind, body and spirit) Mom and realize its my mission to give back (oh and just fyi I tried reading this to my fiance and he said...  you are such a cheese ball.  I guess I should take that as a complement since he said when we first met he had no clue I would be such a cheese ball and sweet him off his feet) haha! 
Why you should win & how do you stand out?
It’s hard for me to say that I should win over someone else since I know for a fact that there are hundreds, if not millions, of people that dominated this transformation.  However, something that may be different about me is that I did this transformation while being 2 weeks postpartum and breastfeeding.  For anyone that is a new mom this is a challenge! I had to determine how I ate, not on weightloss, but on nourishing my baby and hope that in the process I could still transform my body.  I had to let go of my prior expectations to be extreme so that my transformation would be noticeable and just listen to my body.  This was a HUGE blessing because it taught me that I could be intuitive and still make progress as long as I was consistent.  I had to ditch the scale since that was not accurately showing my progress and take pictures because we all know... unedited pictures don't lie. ;p 
So before I get started in telling you what I plan on doing with the money prepare yourself...  I AM a certified Cheese ball!  I have always been and always will be.  I didn't realize it until I met my fiance (who has let me grow into my true self without any expectations or limitations) that my inner self is pretty darn mushy.  I was raised to speak my mind and I guess my mind has a lot of sensitive things to say. I'm the person that will tell a stranger they are beautiful or walk up to someone on crutches in the gym and say great job...  why the heck not tell people they are awesome!?!? ;p  So here it goes...  these are the things that I plan to do with $50,000 if I were the one to be chosen. 
1.Pay it forward and sponsor a child
I HAVE ALWAYS wanted to sponsor a child.  I can remember wanting to do this when I was like 8 years old. Unfortunately as a child I got distracted and ended up using my allowance that I had saved up to sponsor a dolphin instead.  I guess its good that I spend my money in a good place but I still have a small void that I hope to fill by sponsoring a child.
I would have done this by now but over the years I have taken in a few lil orphans of my own (my brother when no one else would take him, my fiancés friend who lost everything he had to a relationship and a friend of mine who was living in hotels because he had nowhere else to go).  I currently am still helping a friend but with this money I could fallow my childhood dream to sponsor a child.  I think that would be SOOOOO COOL!  
2. Donate more to klove
This is another situation where I feel like every chance I get to donate something comes up financially or someone needs help.  Don’t get me wrong I DO NOT allow people to walk all over me but when I know that I can help someone that is in need I will do what I can.
WOW! For anyone that has not listened to Klove I highly recommend it.  This station is nation wide and runs purely on donations.  Every time I get into my car I listen to Klove and it doesn’t matter what kind of day I am having I just sing, let go and feel grateful! I would love to give back to something that impacts me (and the world) so much!
3. Give back to The Center for Change 
On March 23, 2012 my entire life was about to change. I was sent to the Dr. Phil show for being a professional athlete (WNBF [world natural bodybuilding federation] Figure Competitor) with self destructive behaviors.  Now I tell you what... if you are dealing with an addiction, mine was an eating disorder triggered by competing for 2.5 years and my ex fiance at the time being my contest prep coach, and decide to go to Dr. Phil he will call you out!  He is really good at what he does and the entire experience forced me to get real with myself.  
After the show Dr. Phil asked me if would I be willing to get treatment if he would pay for it.  I took the offer and had 1 week to file for short term disability, hope that my job would be okay with it and leave for 8 weeks of intense treatment. This was the most influential experience of my life and I owe my entire healthy mind and body to them.  They gave me the tools to dig deep in order to unlock my happiness.  
While I was there, I saw several women be forced to leave (by themselves) because insurance would stop paying.  It is my goal to give money where I can to help sponsor other women looking to change their lives. The Center for Change is the place where I learned the quote "Be the Change you Wish to see in the World" which was re-embedded in my brain while doing this transformation. 
4. Build True Strength of a Fit Mom Business
Now here is my baby! I have created True Strength of FIT (Female in Training: mind, body and sprit) Mom January 1, 2014 because I felt like there was not a lot of support for moms in the fitness industry. When I was pregnant I felt isolated to an extent.  I’m sponsored by an amazing supplement company but still felt like people did not appreciate fit pregnancy, fit postpartum and fit moms.  I wanted to create a fun place for women to go where they could feel safe, connected and inspired.  I put together a proposal for my sponsor to create this FB page in hopes to eventually have enough followers that they would want to create a market for FIT mom Motivators.  My goal is to get my own certifications, to have FIT Mom Gear, nutrition plans, workout plans and therapy sessions. I also hope to have several moms that specialize in these different fields to contribute to the site.  Right now I have a sponsored athlete who owns a crossfit gym (new mom) and another sponsored athlete who focuses on Spartan races (new mom). Since January we are at 980 followers and I’m amazed how many people feel connected to the site already. 
5. Give money to my fiancé to build his business (I believe he will change the world)
My fiancé and I had the discussion after I was 3 months pregnant if he could quit his job and peruse his business.  This was probably one of the biggest steps for me because I let go of my ego, allowed myself to be vulnerable and trust in him 100%.  This meant that I would be the one to support our family while he got his business running.  I think in order to have meaningful relationships you must be able to put all of your faith in each other without fear.  His business is human performance coaching where they believe integration drives performance… the more complete or whole you are the better.  In order to achieve sustainable high performance in anything you not only need moral integrity, but you must find integrity between all it’s parts.  It’s not balance you’re looking for, it’s seamless integration.  With integrity you don’t have to search for stability because there’s already a strong, durable foundation set to construct the life and business you truly want. (there mission statement)
He is one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met and I have no doubt he will change the world.  I didn't know what believing in someone entirely meant until I met him.  He is the first person EVER….  To let me find me… and be okay with that. 
6. Have a wedding
Okay here is the splurge.  I kind of feel guilty even saying this because it’s hard for me to say I would spend money on a wedding when ultimately we could just go to the court house.  Although, a small part (maybe medium part) of me would be overwhelmed to think I could have an entire day to celebrate us, our future and our commitment.  When I was the maid of honor in my moms second wedding the emotions were priceless.  My mom was the most beautiful lady I had ever seen. 
*Remaining money I hope to pay off our cars, invest or will keep my eyes open to whatever god has in store for me to use it. I tend to be the person that helps people out.  I feel like god either gives us enough for ourselves or enough to help others.

What did you do to accomplish your goal?
Support:
The love and support from my faith, family, fiancé, friends and of course bodybuilding.com. There was an awesome support between everyone that was doing the challenge and the weekly videos from bodybuilding.com where fun, motivating and genuine.

Mind Prep:
As strange as this might sound prior to the challenge I decided to have a natural childbirth (no epidural).  It was a choice I made because I felt like 1. It was healthier for baby and I, 2. I needed to do something so mentally challenging that it would propel me into a place of knowing I can do anything and 3. The recovery was faster so that I could get back to kicking butt in the gym (started lifting 2 weeks postpartum which was approved from my OB)
*Just a side note I am the kind of girl that is terrified of pain and needles.  I think I was 18 when I called my mom to talk me through getting a TB skin test shot.  It was in that moment that my embarrassment trumped my fear of needles but still to this day I have to psych myself up to get shots.  Not very many people believe I could go through with natural child birth but I tell you what it has made me extremely tough, mentally.

Fitness:
Workouts:
Mon: Glutes/Hams
Tuesday: Back
Weds: Shoulders
Thursday: Off/Cardio
Fri: Legs/Calves
Sat: Arms
Sun: Off/Cardio

Nutrition:
I tried to fallow a plan several times just to realize that I would lose my milk supply or I would constantly need to increase my food.  I decided to do this challenge 100% on intuition which has been extremely hard.  It’s hard to be aware of your mind vs reality when it comes to cravings, mood changes and hunger.  It was nice to have something like my milk supply to help me pay close attention to what was true hunger and what was a craving because if I fallowed my hunger pains my supply would be fine and if I fallowed cravings (I ate nutrients based foods and 1 indulge meal per week) then my supply would be overboard and I would not lose weight.  After 2 months I felt like I had finally found a happy place where I was able to have a supply and still lose weight.  I hope I can be an advocate for other moms going through a similar journey. I can teach women the importance of mindfulness and give them the tools to find their balance. 

*I steadily started adding in more cardio but paid close attention to my milk supply.

Supplements:
Optimum Nutrition Multi Vitamin
Optimum Nutrition Fish Oil
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey
Optimum Nutrition Casein
Probiotic
Phylum Husk Fiber

   Overall, this was such an incredible experience and it would be an honor to represent bodybuilding.com as a fit mom transformation so that together we can inspire, motivate and encourage moms in all phases to be a FIT (female in training: mind, body and spirit) mom.
*I can totally help motivate guys too.  What guy doesn’t think it’s impressive that a woman can squat 135 pounds while being 37 weeks pregnant, going through natural child birth or showing the entire world her journey from 200+ pounds to where I am today?  :p

“At Bodybuilding.com, we change lives. We empower, facilitate, and cultivate positive change. We are more than a site, more than a store, even more than information, motivation, and supplementation. We are your personal trainer, nutritionist, supplement expert, lifting partner, and support group. We are the technology and tools you need to burn fat, build muscle, and become your best self. Join us! I WANT TO HELP YOU CHANGE THE WORLD!!!!!” ;p


Thursday, April 3, 2014

How to love your body through Pregnant or Not

    Da...Daa....Daaaaa!!!!!  So  you are pregnant.  This is supposed to be a happy time in your life. You start to take on that glow...  well!  Not everyone! I think that might be more so showing off your happiness rather then a glow. Although for my situation, I was actually glowing from the increase in oil production on my forehead!  One thing about pregnancy that I was not prepared for was the way my body changed from just looking pudgy to, "she might be pregnant" to "WHOLLY MOLEY! Are you having twins"  I swear I heard that at 12 weeks and at 18 weeks I was told, "You must be delivering soon."  So with all these changes in our bodies how to we adjust to the transition?  
  
    After receiving lots of emails on this topic, as well as, dealing with the battle of the Bulge (actually multiple bulges) I decided to write out tips on how I coped.  It wasn't easy with everyone telling me, "Oh, you workout. You wont gain much" or "You will be all belly."  Not sure if they got the memo from my jeans but they stopped fitting after 6 weeks.  Pretty sure my entire body began to grow ASAP!  I started growing very quickly into my new pregnant body despite my efforts to eat clean and workout.  There were many times when I had to reset my mind to focus on the reality of being pregnant rather then.... OH MAN! I had to buy a size Large Maternity Pants (means my hips are a 45-46 inches). 
   
    After my, what seemed like a million, mind reset moments I figured out how I made it through pregnancy loving my body and how you can too! 

How to love your body through Pregnant or Not



Focus on how you feel and not what you weight
    Does your weight really matter if you physically feel good? I quickly realized that I allowed myself to feel a certain way based on how much weight I gained.  I started to get frustrated that my weight skyrocketed because most people were telling me that you were only supposed to gain x amount of weight per week. What I didn't realize is that everyone gains their maternity weight differently.  Our bodies will do whatever they need to do in order to prepare for the birth of a miracle its creating. 
    In order to live an energetic life while being pregnant we must eat to nourish our bodies because our bodies will take what it needs to grow the baby first and leave us with whatever is left over.  I knew I needed to maximize what I could do to feel energized because I had to work to support my family. My baby depended on me to feel good, to get the nutrition we needed, to rest, exercise and think positively.  
*Try putting yourself in your daughters (or someone you cared about) shoes. Would you want her getting down on herself because her body is changing or would you rather her focus on how she feels and resetting her mind to cope in positive ways?  So why should you act differently? 

Wear clothes that fit and don't freak about the size
Omgoodness!!!!  This one is HUGE!  I can't express to you enough to buy clothes that fit.  Stop trying to fit into your pre pregnancy clothes and buy clothes that accent your growing tummy.  It was really hard for me to feel good about my body when I was trying to squeeze into clothes that really didn't fit.  Once I bought clothes that fit my body I could start to embrace the transformation. 

Change your Mindset
Your thoughts are everything. They form your mindset, moods, attitudes and habits. This is why when you lead change, your success is directly dependent on your mindset.  Something I did to help create a happy place in my mind is whenever I had a negative thought I would say 3-5 positive affirmations that would debunk that negative thought.  I've been doing this for 2 years and now its almost like instinct for me to say something positive soon after a negative thought arises.  I'll be honest some days it takes a little more time for me to feel the positive thought but with consistency it creates a happier environment in your mind.  
Example: 
Statement: 
"Seriously! Its been 3 months and I am still in my maternity pants." 
Positive Affirmations: 
"It took me 9 months to gain this weight so I need to be patient. Its only been 3 months" 
"If my daughter were in my shoes would I want her beating herself up" 
"I may be in my maternity pants but I feel Strong."
"I may be in my maternity pants but I am healthy and I'm a great mom"
"I may be in my maternity pants but I've lost 40 pounds already" 

Surround yourself with positive reinforces (be careful to not be around negative mental enablers)
This goes for anyone!  The minute I decided to Detox and divorce my negative friends was the moment that my life changed.  I went from living a dramatic lifestyle to stress free in a matter of weeks.  I had no idea how much being around negative people could change your own mindset.  You can be a positive person but if you surround yourself with people that do not promote personal growth then you will remain a floater in life.  You will just float along without direction, a specific goal or passion.  Divorcing friends is hard but it is 110% worth it.  It has allowed me to set up boundaries that I never had and the time to create new amazing relationships.  

Keep a picture of your ultrasound with you (or something that represents your baby) 
I know for me having a baby has been THE MOST valuable thing I have ever done in my life.  I think we can get caught up in the negative self talk that we forget what is actually happening.  WE ARE CREATING LIFE inside ourselves.  Having a picture to remind yourself of the reason behind the body will ZAP those negative thoughts and reroute you to a place of peace.   

Yes! Stare at yourself naked before you shower and tell yourself 3 things you love about your body.  
This is another big one! At first it was a little difficult but I went from saying, "I'm glad my arms are still small" to "I LOVE my Giant Belly!" To hear yourself say that you love things about your body and to view your body in a new light is a beautiful process. Don't hide from the transformation.  A lot of women told me that they never looked at themselves naked but this is the only time you have to look at yourself as a Miracle Maker. Plus how can you expect (hope) that someone else will find your body beautiful if you can't stand the way you look?  I know for my situation, I was understanding that my body changing could be weird for Brandon but I hoped he would see the beauty behind my body. Not only did he see the beauty but he appreciated the confidence and self love I had for myself. 
*If you go around complaining about your body don't you think that opens the door for other people to look for the "flaws" you are complaining about?  Have you ever thought someone was beautiful and then they mentioned something they didn't like and you were like, "Oh, yeah! I see what you are talking about." When in fact if they had never mentioned it you would have never even realize it.  Your perception would have been, "they are beautiful".  

    So whenever you are having a hard time loving you body try a few of these tips.  All of them apply to pregnancy/postpartum but I feel like these tips could help anyone in the journey to self love. 


*IF THAT DOESN'T WORK THEN LISTENING TO THIS SONG WILL: "Happy"





   



Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Fit Pregnancy Inspiration: Melissa Moshetti

Basic Info
Name  Melissa Moshetti Tanner
Age  30
Occupation   High School Math Teacher
Number of Kids 0…..(1 on the way!)

Favorite Season  Summer
Are you pregnant now  Yes


1) How did you get into fitness?  
After swimming, playing softball, and field hockey through high school and college, I knew athletics would take me to another level. I was a pitcher for SUNY Cortland and spent every second of my four years focused on getting fast enough to take the team to Nationals.  Once those days were over for me, I had to fill that love for fitness and team work somehow.  I then began coaching both sports and also on my own time, studying about health and physical fitness.  Fast forward to now, where I am 100% sold on how important it is to live a healthy life style and continue to move and be physically fit.
I am a high school math teacher by day, and a personal trainer at Garage Gym by night, where I mold my clients like clay into self-confident machines!   Preaching proper range of motion, quality of movement, functional exercises and teaching clients to make it a way of life versus a “cookie cutter” quick fix. Health and fitness is a game of preparation and self-discipline. It’s looking around at your friends before you grab the jump rope, or the barbell, being anxious, nervous, and having a genuine excitement for the undetermined that will NEVER get old.

2) How was your pregnancy? Did you have an easy or challenging pregnancy?
The first three months were horrible.  Not to be graphic, but, I was vomiting on average 5 times a day.  I couldn’t keep a single thing down that I ate.  I was able to come to terms with the idea of feeling sick since I knew I was growing a human being, which of course will change the chemistry in your body.  However, what I could not let myself come to terms with was the fact that I was not able to keep down the clean foods I was used to eating.  I reverted to eating processed carbohydrates like pretzels, dry cereal and crackers.  Thankfully, after I passed the three-month mark, I was back on track eating the whole, clean foods I was used to eating on a daily basis.  I would be lying if I said I didn’t crave random foods with zero nutritional value every now and again, so I made a deal with myself.  That if the cravings were strong enough, I would let myself indulge every now and again, making sure the portion size was nothing out of control, but just enough to satisfy that craving!

3) What did you do for fitness during your pregnancy (examples: yoga, lifting, walking, cardio, dance, ect)?
As mentioned above, for the first three months I found myself with little to no energy to get a workout in.  I went from training intensely 5-6 days per week to getting one day of mobility training in per week (if I was lucky!).  Mentally, that was tough for me.  After the 3 month hump, my energy levels returned and I was back to killing it in the gym.  I went back to doing my normal routine:  A mix of Olympic lifts, Crossfit, and anaerobic capacity work; All of which was of course taken down a notch to ~80% of my max.

4) Was it difficult adjusting to your new physique and how did you manage it?
I am almost 6 months along and I still struggle with my new physique!  I think it is difficult for anyone who has worked so hard to obtain a lean, strong physique to watch it soften and change over time.  The reason for this, however, is definitely worth it, as I know once the baby is born, I will be able to resume my normal workouts.   

5) How was your nutrition during your pregnancy? Don't sweat it if your nutrition was not exceptional. I'm pretty sure I craved powdered donuts so bad that if I didn't have money I would have robbed a doughnut shop (totally kidding but it was pretty intense). Also was your nutrition different based on which trimester you were in?  (See response to #2)

6) Any funny stories that happened during your pregnancy that involved fitness? An example may be, "I knew I was done doing squats when I peed my pants doing them while I was in the gym."  haha! I will say, I now have to plan ahead when it comes to my workouts.  If I am planning on doing doubleunders, I have to be sure I wear some extra, ummm…. padding? in my shorts! Ha.   Also, I now have to take a big swig of anti-acid before doing burbees.  The acid reflux/heart burn is SO BAD, that when I do burpees it starts to come right up! Oh the joys of pregnancy.  

7) How did you manage maintaining a fit pregnancy when you were not motivated to workout or eat right? I know we all have had days where we ate like crap and didn't workout but this is about balance so what did you do when you knew getting some exercise would make you feel better but you didn't want to?  There were days where I had arguments with myself about going to the gym; where I would have to literally drag my bum there!  So I made a deal with myself:  Just physically get to the gym.  IF I started my workout, and my body was still not having it, then I would stop.  But, 90% of the time, once I started moving, I instantly felt better!

8) What would you tell another expecting mom that says, "I was told to eat whatever I want and don't workout because its not healthy for the baby."
I was told by pretty much everyone that I need to do the following:  a.) Stop working out, b.) “Eat for two” and c.) Do as little movement as possible.  Individuals who gave this poor advice all said it was because if I did any of the above, it would increase my chances of a miscarriage.  I did my own research and spoke with my doctor.  Both resources told me, in a nutshell, to listen to your body.  You will know when you should/shouldn’t be doing something.  This advice has not let me down yet! 

9) While being pregnant what would be the number 1 or top 3 things that you learned about yourself?
Not to take myself so seriously.  I would come down on myself SO HARD for things like: missing a workout, not moving the amount of weight I used to, or having my benchmark timed workouts be a minute or more longer than they used to pre-prego.  It took me a while to get here, but, I have finally accepted that this is all for a good reason.  I am creating a person, and that is hard work!

10) If there is one thing about your pregnancy that you hope to do differently next time what would that be?
To not fight the changes that are happening to my body; To embrace them, and know that these changes are temporary.





Monday, March 24, 2014

That DARN Peanut Butter!



    Have any of you really loved certain foods but your body says No...No....and H.E.Double Hockey Sticks NO? Well that food for me is peanut butter.  Honestly nearly all nut butters and nuts do that too me but I can't help but crave them.  Then, when I feel like I have conquered the craving my stubborn mentality is like, "okay, I've not had peanut butter for a week surely my body will be able to handle it now."  So I go into the cabinet, grab the peanut butter, eat a tablespoon (which is AWESOME for me since when it comes to peanut butter when I say a tablespoon I typically mean the whole jar is gone with MANY tablespoons straight to the mouth), feel pretty good for awhile and then an hour later..... BUBBLE GUTS!!!!!  Its such a terrible feeling and I keep trying to convince myself that I can handle everything in moderation.  Well, folks I'm hear to tell you that saying is bull crap!  My body says no way!  Keep the peanut butter at the grocery story and let your GI system take a break.  

    I hope everyone is doing well on their 12 week challenge.  Keep everything you do in moderation according to what your body can handle.  A good way to figure out what you are sensitive to is by cutting it out of your diet for 1-4 weeks and then try adding it back in slowly to see if you respond with GI upset, inflammation, fog brain or overall fatigue.  Some people may not be aware of their sensitivities because they have always exposed themselves to the same foods so they aren't really sure what normal feels like.  An example for some of my clients was that they had milk every single day.  They cut dairy out of their diet and noticed HUGE improvements in their mood, energy, weight, GI system and even improved skin.  Once they tried adding it back in all of the old problems that they didn't even realize they had came back in full force.  Some people may feel its better to be naive to what amazing feels like but don't limit yourself.  Live beyond the status quo and figure out what works for you!  

*These clues can help you figure out you have an allergy or intolerance. A doctor can help you know for sure.

Food Allergy:
  • Usually comes on suddenly 
  • Small amount of food can trigger 
  • Happens every time you eat the food 
  • Can be life-threatening   

Food Intolerance:
  • Usually comes on gradually 
  • May only happen when you eat a lot of the food 
  • May only happen if you eat the food often 
  • Is not life-threatening 


Shared Symptoms

A food allergy and an intolerance both can cause:
  • Nausea 
  • Stomach pain 
  • Diarrhea 
  • Vomiting 

Different Symptoms

When a food irritates your stomach or your body can't properly digest it, that’s an intolerance. You may have these symptoms:

  • Gas, cramps, or bloating 
  • Heartburn 
  • Headaches 
  • Irritability or nervousness 

A food allergy happens when your immune system mistakes something in food as harmful and attacks it. It can affect your whole body, not just your stomach. Symptoms may include:

--> Rash, hives, or itchy skin
--> Shortness of breath
--> Chest pain
--> Sudden drop in blood pressure, trouble swallowing or breathing -- this is life-threatening. Call 911       immediately. (got the information about the difference between Food allergy and food intolerance from Web MD online)

 Keep living the FIT (Female in training-mind Body and Spirit) Life. I have a True Strength of A fit mom facebook page that I would love for you to fallow.  There we have 3 moms that are all trying to live the FIT life while working full time jobs, managing a family and sponsorship.  One of our moms is a Optimum Nutrition Sponsored Athlete, Crossfit gym owner and competitor. Another mom is an Athletic Extreme Sponsored Athlete, Figure Competitor, Full time Commercial Loan Administrator and a mom of a 5 month old son.  Last (myself) is an Optimum Nutrition Sponsored Athlete, Suits By Amy Sponsored Athlete, Full time Respiratory therapist, Fitness Coach and a BRAND NEW MOM to a 9 week old baby girl!  Hope to see anyone that is planning to have kids, is currently pregnant, has had kids, a father or even someone just looking for a positive place to go for motivation.  Help us create a healthy mom movement.... 1 birth at a time!  :)  

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Raichael Novello's Crockpot Chicken Chili



Crockpot Chicken Chili
Ingredients:
- 27.5oz boneless/skinless chicken tenders
- 1 jar Barilla marinara sauce
- 1 jar mild Green Mountain Gringo salsa
- 1 pkg low sodium chili seasoning
- 1 cup water
- 1 can kidney beans (I omit – I do not like beans!)
Directions:
- Place chicken (and beans) in bottom of the crockpot
- Mix remaining ingredients together until seasoning is dissolved
- Pour over chicken
- Set crockpot for 8-10 hours
*stir halfway through to avoid sticking/burning
5 Servings (5.5oz chicken with 1¼ cup liquid) – without beans
283 Calories, 44 Protein, 25 Carbs, 3.2 Fat

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Jaime Eason Turkey Muffins



Ingredients
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Spray muffin pan with canola or olive oil.
  3. Mix all your ingredients together in one large bowl.
  4. Roll the mixture into balls and place in muffin pan. Muffins should be about the size of a racquetball.
  5. Bake for 40 minutes.
Makes 12 muffins.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 muffin
Amount per serving
Calories 182
Total Fat 8 grams
Total Carb 4.6 grams

Protein 22.2grams