Should You Go Gluten Free?

January 21, 2015

“Gluten is the devil, stay far away from it as possible.” “Gluten Free is a Fad.” “Going Gluten Free is Some Made Up Thing.” and the list goes on and on.  



There is no wonder everyone is confused about this topic, how do you know who to believe? 


I can sit here and give you a ton of research articles proving the facts of what gluten does to brain and thyroid tissues but that’s not what I’m here to do. I can give you the whole science and history of gluten but that would bore you! (If you want that kind of research let me know and I can give you resources)


I could tell you that no one should ever touch gluten in their life ever again and the many reasons why but I know that is probably not going to happen for most of you.  So I would rather take a simple approach and just give you some simple advice.  


You should avoid gluten if: 


You have celiac disease.  There are no exemptions here, if you have celiac disease you should 100% avoid all gluten 100% of the time.


You have a reaction when you eat a food containing gluten.  This means that either directly after or within 48 hours of eating gluten you may feel brain fog, break out into hives, have bowl distress or gas.  If you have clear reaction to gluten then you should avoid it.


You have a thyroid condition known as Hashimoto.  If you have been diagnosed with Hashimoto or you think you may have it then you should avoid gluten.  Gluten will aggravate this condition and make you feel worse.  


You have any autoimmune disease.  Gluten has been shown to increase and aggravate systems of autoimmune disease.  If you suffer from an autoimmune disease it is best to avoid all gluten products.  


You have digestive issues.  If you have been diagnosed with IBS or just have issues with constipation, gas, bloating, etc. I highly recommend you remove gluten from your diet and monitor how you feel after it is removed.  


When I first start a client on a program I like to eliminate gluten for at least the first 4-6 weeks.  However, I discourage the use of gluten free processed products.  Gluten free products can be loaded with other additives.  


Just because something is labeled gluten free doesn’t mean it is healthier or more fat loss friendly, a cookie is still a cookie no matter gluten free or not! 


I could talk about this topic for days but I will leave you with this simple information to get you started.  


Feel free to reach out to me if you have any specific questions about gluten.  

 

Do You Have a Purpose?

November 19, 2014

At the end of every calendar year I start to think about what I have accomplished over the year.  Did I reach the goals I set out for at the beginning or did I fall short on some?  Whenever I look at the goals I did not accomplish over the year it usually only comes down to I did not define my purpose or define why do I have this goal in the first place?  

This time of year always bring about thoughts of have I accomplished all I wanted to accomplish? Am I living to up to my potential?  Do I h...


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How Saying Two Simple Words Can Change Your Life

October 29, 2014


Almost every child from the time they can start communicating in taught two simple words that can change their life, Thank you.  We are taught from a very young age that we should be grateful for something when it is given to us.  But how many of us really understand why?


I feel that I am lucky to have been raised by a mother who has always had a thirst of self improvement and who always taught me about the universal law of attraction ‘like attracts like.‘  If you focus on positi...


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Does Halloween Scare You?

October 29, 2014



Ahh, Halloween, a time where people dress up and go door to door to get candy for free.  Sounds like a crazy tradition, doesn’t it?  If you want candy why don’t people go and buy it themselves? ! 


My friend Jill Coleman posted on her Facebook page the other day, “Ahhh, Halloween week! My favorite week to remind all of us that candy is conveniently available every single day of the year.”  I couldn’t agree with her more!!


Holidays like Halloween, Valentine’s day, and East...


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Fight Like a Girl

October 13, 2014



In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month I wanted to honor three very special woman who I know personally who are breast cancer survivors.  Each of these woman received their diagnosis when they were in their 30s, their stories are all different yet similar.  


All three woman talk about the importance of nutrition and the changes they have made to their diet after their diagnosis.  Since breast cancer is an estrogen dominate cancer it is important increase foods that high in antioxidants an...


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Surviving the Fiesta

May 1, 2014


Did you know Cinco de Mayo is one of my favorite holidays?  It is a holiday that is stress free, requires no expectations and generally people just want to have a good time.  I also love it because its MY BIRTHDAY!  

Yes, I love having my birthday on Cinco de Mayo because everyone likes to celebrate it too!  I love a good fiesta and I know that you can celebrate while still living a fat loss lifestyle.  

Here are some simple tips for having a healthier fiesta:

Be smart about your drinks.  Margar...

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How I Was 20 lbs Lighter After One Weekend

April 28, 2014

Last weekend after my usual Saturday morning workout at the gym, I walked into my home on a beautiful Spring day and opened the windows to let the fresh air in.  As I was about to sit down to relax for the afternoon and do some work on one of my newest nutrition program something stopped me.  


I got up and started completely cleaning out my home of clutter and things that I didn't need anymore.  Umm..do you think I can still use gluten free pasta that expired in 2009?  Now, in case you don't k...


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Boston Strong

April 21, 2014




It was a warm bright sunny day that started off with mimosa and celebrations.  Me and a bunch of friends were in Boston to watch our friend who traveled from Reno, Nevada to run her first Boston Marathon. We were all excited to head into the city to have a fun day.  I hadn’t been to Boston in years and I was excited to be there and it was my first time at the marathon.  


The city streets were filled with tons of people in good moods just there to celebrate the runners.  The energy was cont...


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Why Eating More "Pizza" and "Pasta" Will Help You Lose Weight

April 9, 2014


Whether you are gluten free, paleo, count your macos, a calorie counter, want to add more vegetables into your day or just like to try new things this is the post for you.  Using vegetables and preparing them a different way can not only change up your meals but can help to cut calories and carbohydrates while keeping you fuller and help you to lose weight.  You can make some amazing and inventive meals by just changing up how you think about simple things like cauliflower, zucchini and squa...


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10 Ways to Give Up Sugar

March 3, 2014



1. Manage Cravings.  When cravings happen because you have cut out sugar from you should have some tools to deal with them. 
Take 1 tablespoon of organic baking cocoa and mix it into hot water.  Sipping on this drink can help stimulate pleasure centers in the brain and help to fight cravings.  Also, drinking BCAAs (branch chain amino acids) can also help to fight cravings.  Place a scoop of BCAAs in water and sip on it to help prevent cravings.  

2. Eat regularly every few hours.  You want t...


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