HOLIDAY SURVIVAL GUIDE

Keeping Happy through the Holidays and Beyond…

                                        Jill Nix NHD, MH, Tbm

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Holidays are some of the most memorable times of our lives and for many, their favorite time of the year. Families gather, friends get to together, associates mingle and as we all know food of all kinds is in abundance: Meats, vegetables, salads, casseroles, dips, platters and spreads of all kinds, cookies, cakes, pies, chocolates, nutrolls, candies and more. The abundance is indeed a blessing, in fact, that’s part of why we celebrate is it not? 

For many, the holidays also bring with it indulgence. Habits of routine exercise can and many times do fall to the wayside, water intake is replaced to some degree with flavored mixtures, juices, eggnogs, hot chocolates, ciders, both ‘fake’ wine, real wine and other drinks.

People are busy working, taking care of their kids, job responsibilities and everything that kept them more than busy prior the the holiday(s), but now they must squeeze in time to locate a Christmas tree, put up their decorative lights, decorations, send cards, shop for loved ones and friends, as well as shop, prep and cook for the holiday(s). Busy time indeed. 

As I mentioned in a previous newsletter, it’s at these times, any time of high stress or overwhelm, when people’s defenses go down. Awareness of surroundings, time and day all become rather challenging as responsibilities blur one into another often leaving one feeling tired, taggered, and perhaps, a bit annoyed due to the stress build-up. 

This is when self-control and discipline can and often does take a backseat as the person goes into ‘survival’ mode, just happy to get through the day. Eating, for many becomes a coping mechanism, ‘stress eating’, picking at foods here and there and nibbling at less than nutritious food choices… soon become the norm as regular meals take too much time and effort. This my friends, is the beginning of what many fear and call ‘the holiday weight gain’.

Many come out of the holiday season several pounds heavier, having an idea of what happened but are still both surprised and disappointed it ‘happened’. 

Kiss holiday regret good-bye because I’ve put together this Holiday Survival Guide for you. Followed, it will give you direction and a do-able plan to come out happier than before the holidays, ready to move on with your New Year feeling like you’re already ahead of the game because you were simply able to control the outcome of the holiday season. Congratulations! 

Having conquered, you are now in the position to take your time, energy, resources and put them into your next big goal instead of spending time wallowing in regret, and working day in and day out to reverse the holiday weight gain.

People are starting to catch on to the value of a Meal Plan, especially during the holidays. Meal plans keep one on track, allowing them to both nourish themselves properly during stressful times and have the energy to meet the demands of their schedules. A Meal Plan will pay for itself many times over. 

Let’s go into strategy now, shall we? 

HOME

• Keep life simple
• Stay well-hydrated
• Plan on 8 hours of sleep a night, it pays off
• Ditto your daily exercise, even if it’s in 10 minute intervals throughout the day
• Bundle up: Save yourself the hassle of becoming ill, wash hands often, extra Vit. C
• Buckle up: Sure you know this, but people can forget when you’re running full bore
• Keep your meal plan, exercise, water and sleep routine despite life circumstances and you will be a better person for it, handle stress much better and get more done
• Simple, nutritious foods, easily prepped
• Keep sugary treats, etc, out of the home
• Neighbors who share their love and appreciation for you by bringing you treats can be enjoyed, just stick to a bit or two. If you have no control then you’re better of throwing them away, yes, you heard me right.
• Keep eggnog, ciders, hot chocolates out of the home until the holiday and then opt for either healthier versions such as Califia Farms NOG MILK, Perrier natural mineral water (‘sparkling’, lime or lemon flavored), or even better….lemon water and herbal teas. If someone likes hot chocolate, have it available then pack it away for the next year, it keeps well.

WORK

• Bring your own pre-planned (Meal Plan) meals with you, be sure they are healthy, stored properly and nutritious
• Steer clear of candy dishes, spreads, etc., not that you can never have any, you’re simply choosing to save a ‘treat’ for the holiday itself, if you even still desire one then
• If asked or wanting to bring a treat or dish to work or a work party, prepare something like kale salad, etc.
• Drink plenty of pure water throughout the day. My athletes/clients often drink at least one gallon daily
• Stay focused on your responsibilities

FAMILY/WORK/GROUP GET-TOGETHERS

• Plan on controlling your environment before you ever even arrive, your desk, etc.
• Visualize yourself handling stress like a Pro
• Start the day with a cleansing drink
• Drink plenty of pure water throughout the day
• Eat a healthy breakfast: eggs, fresh vegetables or if you trained, some oatmeal with fresh fruit and protein milk
• Continue the day with healthy meals/snack up until the time you leave
• Prepare a healthy dish to take with you and share
• Once at the occasion, chat with people away from the snacks, and nibbles
• Sip on water or herbal tea, etc.
• Use a small plate to get something to eat
• Choose the healthiest choices and get a taste of other items you would like to try, these should be the ones you really want to taste, savor that bite and know more is not better
• Sit next to another health conscious eater
• Eat slowly
• Enjoy conversation
• Be mindful of what you’ve eaten
• If dessert or a treat is desired: take just enough to enjoy the flavor and taste. Remember: little things add up
• When finished eating, have a mint to signify you are through and give a cleansing feeling to the palate

HEALTHY DISHES FOR HOME/WORK/GET TOGETHERS

• Mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes
• Sweet potato fries instead of sweet potatoes casseroles loaded with butter and sugar
• Vegetable trays with salsa or hummus are always appealing to the eye and appetite
• Shrimp cocktail is a simple dish, ready-made
• A zucchini noodle dish instead of pasta
• A butternut squash dish
• Baked apples instead of apple pie

SWAPS OR REPLACEMENTS FOR VARIOUS DISHES

• Make your own stuffing and add fresh celery, carrots, water chestnuts….
• Light meat instead of dark (Dark has much higher fat and nearly twice as many calories)
• Roasted sweet potatoes instead of candied sweet potatoes
• If making a gravy opt for low-fat version
• Fresh green beans instead of a buttery casserole
• Whole grain bread, rolls or pasta instead of white
• Pumpkin pie is lower in calories and more wholesome than pecan pie
• Fat-free Cool-whip instead of full fat canned whipped topping

POST HOLIDAY SEASON

• Continue with 8 hours of sleep nightly
• Water intake
• Exercise routine
• Meal Planning, prep and tote
• Monitor your home for any items that do not belong, temptations, etc., and discard
• Continue with stress and energy management
• Enjoy executing your plans towards your goals for 2019!!!

I’m sure each of you knows at least a few people who could use help/guidance with their health and fitness goals. I can help them. Please, give them my contact information and in return you’ll receive a free STATS. Meal Plans, Training Programs, Assessments, Lifestyle Fitness Coaching, Natural Health Consults and more. I have more than 35 years experience and my athletes/clients get positive, lasting results.

I value and appreciate you, your friendship and desire the best for you and yours in the upcoming New Year. Have a wonderful and safe holiday season. Best, Jill

www.jillnix.com

This month I’d like to cover the topic of chromium. Chromium is a trace element necessary in small amounts for the human body and its biochemical processes.

Chromium was found to be lacking in the American diet as early as the late 1970’s. The ever growing list of manufactured ‘foods’, refined ‘foods’, junk ‘foods’, fast ‘foods’, alongside the ever expanding companies providing ‘soft’ drinks, energy drinks, flavored waters, coffee houses/bars, and so forth all contribute to the mass deficiency of chromium. 

The refining process that takes place in the production of the above, alongside the high doses of sugar, making both food and drink ‘hyperpalatable’ (as in sending off a cascade of biochemical processes within the brain and raising the endorphin level both quickly and to the point the individual ‘can’t eat just one’, or stay away from drinks loaded with caffeine and/or sugar), robs the human body of chromium, zinc, magnesium, and B Vitamins to mention just a few of the vital resources that are affected by the process of refinement.

Maintaining a habit of consumption of these type of foods will eventually lead to nutritional deficiencies, for some more quickly than others, depending on the food and/or drink of choice and how often it is consumed. 

Studies found children suffering from both hyper and hypo-glycemia were both relieved of symptoms by taking oral doses of chromium. Perhaps, one of the greatest challenges of our time is keeping excess sugar out of our children’s diets.

Both chromium and zinc are needed by the body to prevent many diseases, particularly concerning is the link found between heart attacks and hardening of the arteries, as the American diet is currently found to be 80% refined foods. Shocking, right? Chromium and zinc are lost in the refining process and unless the lack is made up somewhere else that the body can actually assimilate, one will evenly become deficient.

You see, chromium is an essential element in the human body and plays a major role when combining insulin and the cellular membrane, it allows glucose to move cross the membranes. Why is this important? When chromium and insulin are lacking, glucoses effectiveness to transport from the blood into the body’s cells is greatly diminished… and this is when the first signs of diabetes appears.

“Today, in the United States, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the nation, accounting for more than 80,000 deaths every year.   It also contributes to other health conditions such as heart disease, which is the leading cause of death and stroke, which is the fifth leading and the leading cause of death.”

The advised amount of daily chromium is:

• Men: 35 mcg’s
• Women: 25 mcg’s

Best eaten with niacin (B3) rich foods:

• tuna
• chicken
• turkey’
• peanuts
• beef
• mushrooms
• peas and Vitamin C rich foods:
• oranges
• grapefruit
• strawberries
• papaya
• spring greens
• bell peppers

Food sources of chromium:

• cloves
• whole grains
• clams
• meat
• Brewer’s yeast
• mushrooms
• broccoli
• chicken

Be sure you’re getting enough chromium in your daily diet, you’ll have more energy, burn fat more efficiently, help maintain healthy blood sugar levels, and lessen your risk for diabetes, heart attack, stroke and arteriosclerosis.

Have a wonderful week!!

Jill

Know anyone who could use some guidance with their Health & Fitness? Contact me today! www.jillnix.com

The Power of Living a Disciplined Life

This is a post I encourage you to print up and share with your kids... With the start of a new school year, there's one personal characteristic trait that surpasses all others, and that is DISCIPLINE. 

Discipline of self. Otherwise known as Self-Mastery. Many people have the false perception that discipline/self-mastery must be sought out through meditation, in a far off land, under a prestigious teacher, and so forth, although these are all fantastic ways to learn, reflect, receive insights and knowledge they are no substitute for daily disciplined actions.

It is in the discipline of 'small' things that teaches one the art of following through with greater things: responsibilities, tasks, commitments and keeping of word. The art of discipline and self-mastery can only be learned through applied effort. 

With this, I'd like to share a timeless piece written by Jim Rohn... it's a treasure. Enjoy!

Reaping a Multiple Reward

by Jim Rohn

For every disciplined effort, there are multiple rewards. That’s one of life’s great arrangements. In fact, it’s an extension of the Biblical law that says that if you sow well, you will reap well.

Here’s a unique part of the Law of Sowing and Reaping. Not only does it suggest that we’ll all reap what we’ve sown, it also suggests that we’ll reap much more. Life is full of laws that both govern and explain behaviors, but this may well be the major law we need to understand: for every disciplined effort, there are multiple rewards.

What a concept! If you render unique service, your reward will be multiplied. If you’re fair and honest and patient with others, your reward will be multiplied. If you give more than you expect to receive, your reward is more than you expect. But remember: the key word here, as you might well imagine, is discipline.

Everything of value requires care, attention, and discipline. Our thoughts require discipline. We must consistently determine our inner boundaries and our codes of conduct, or our thoughts will be confused. And if our thoughts are confused, we will become hopelessly lost in the maze of life. Confused thoughts produce confused results.

Remember the law: “For every disciplined effort, there are multiple rewards.” Learn the discipline of writing a card or a letter to a friend. Learn the discipline of paying your bills on time, arriving to appointments on time, or using your time more effectively. Learn the discipline of paying attention, or paying your taxes or paying yourself. Learn the discipline of having regular meetings with your associates, or your spouse, or your child, or your parent. Learn the discipline of learning all you can learn, of teaching all you can teach, of reading all you can read.

For each discipline, multiple rewards. For each book, new knowledge. For each success, new ambition. For each challenge, new understanding. For each failure, new determination. Life is like that. Even the bad experiences of life provide their own special contribution. But a word of caution here for those who neglect the need for care and attention to life’s disciplines: everything has its price. Everything affects everything else. Neglect discipline, and there will be a price to pay. All things of value can be taken for granted with the passing of time.

That’s what we call the Law of Familiarity. Without the discipline of paying constant, daily attention, we take things for granted. Be serious. Life’s not a practice session.

If you’re often inclined to toss your clothes onto the chair rather than hanging them in the closet, be careful. It could suggest a lack of discipline. And remember, a lack of discipline in the small areas of life can cost you heavily in the more important areas of life. You cannot clean up your company until you learn the discipline of cleaning your own garage. You cannot be impatient with your children and be patient with your distributors or your employees. You cannot inspire others to sell more when that goal is inconsistent with your own conduct. You cannot admonish others to read good books when you don’t have a library card.

Think about your life at this moment. What areas need attention right now? Perhaps you’ve had a disagreement with someone you love or someone who loves you, and your anger won’t allow you to speak to that person. Wouldn’t this be an ideal time to examine your need for a new discipline? Perhaps you’re on the brink of giving up, or starting over, or starting out. And the only missing ingredient to your incredible success story in the future is a new and self-imposed discipline that will make you try harder and work more intensely than you ever thought you could.

The most valuable form of discipline is the one that you impose upon yourself. Don’t wait for things to deteriorate so drastically that someone else must impose discipline in your life. Wouldn’t that be tragic? How could you possibly explain the fact that someone else thought more of you than you thought of yourself? That they forced you to get up early and get out into the marketplace when you would have been content to let success go to someone else who cared more about themselves.

Your life, my life, the life of each one of us is going to serve as either a warning or an example. A warning of the consequences of neglect, self-pity, lack of direction and ambition … or an example of talent put to use, of discipline self-imposed, and of objectives clearly perceived and intensely pursued.

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn

www.jillnix.com

THE BENEFITS OF A MEAL PLAN

I hope you’re taking advantage of the wonderful summer season!!! Please, shoot me a line and tell me what you’ve been up to…

Today, I’m focusing on Meal Plans and Eating Methods since they are all the rage in todays society. 

Let's first address what a Meal Plan is:

A Meal Plan is a set of meals to be eaten throughout the course of a day. Ideally, it is a Personalized Meal Plan that takes into account the whole individual, age, sex, lifestyle, schedule, finances, mindset, special needs and considerations, and so forth. 

Obviously, I'm not talking about a Hostess, Little Debbie, Cookie Diet, Burger/Fries Meal Plan here, I'm writing specifically about a balanced Meal Plan, full of live, fresh foods that fuel the body at the cellular level and leaves the consumer of such, feeling full and satisfied. 

Let's talk eating methods now:

- Atkins

- Zone

- Weight Watchers

- The Mediterranean Diet

- Intermittent Fasting

- Carb Cycyling

- Keto

- Paleo

-The Endomorph Diet

- Vegetarian

- Semi-Vegetarian

- Low Carb 

- Body for Life

- Jenny Craig

- Nutri System

- The Hackers Diet

- The Dukan Diet

- The South Beach Diet

- The Stillman Diet

- Th Beverly Hills Diet

- The Cabbage Soup Diet

- The Grapefruit Diet

- The Subway Diet

- The Juice Diet

- The DASH Diet

- The Diabetic Diet

- The Elimination Diet

- The Gluten Free Diet

- The Blood Type Diet

And on and on the list goes. These methods are no more than various ways of eating. 

Let me ask you a question…

Do animals in the wild need diets? Methods of eating? Have their diets and/or methods changed through the years? Or do they eat instinctively, perhaps, as they always have?

Studies show when other countries such as South America, Europe and Asia welcomed McDonalds into their countries, the people there started developing the same type of diseases as here in America, go figure. 

THE TRUTH ABOUT HOW DIETS HAVE COME TO BE

Did you know that humans - like animals, have built in mechanisms that inform us when we're hungry and when we've had enough? We were also born with instinct.

Do you realize the vast array of processed, manufactured, 'food', is full of chemicals foreign to the human body:

- Preservatives (carcinogens)

- Colors, dyes (carcinogens)

• Manmade, synthetic vitamins and minerals (not plant which means they are much less, if at all, bioavailable to the cell)
• Hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated  and other unstable (rancid) fats and oils (promote free radical damage)

- bleach… yes, seriously, bleaching is a process that’s been done for decades 

• Refined flour of bread, rice, pasta (spikes insulin, robs the body of vital nutrients, acts   as a glue in the intestines)

- High fructose corn syrup

• Artificial sweeteners (carcinogenic, scews the leptin and ghrelin receptors of the brain, causes migraines, seizures, destroys healthy bacteria in the gut and more...

- Nitrates and nitrites (carcinogens and lead to diabetes)

- GMO’s (carcinogenic, destroys healthy gut bacteria)

- Hormones (Not your own)

- Antibiotics (Not only available through your PCP, but also through the food supply)

The list goes on...

Long story short, the following is from bodyecology.com and should be included in every health class taught in America:

1. Processed foods are addictive and can cause you to overeat.Whole foods are made up of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fiber and water. When foods are processed the components of these foods are modified (for example, fiber, water and nutrients are removed) and in other cases, components are concentrated. In each case, processing changes the way they are digested and assimilated in your body. Eating highly processed or highly concentrated foods can artificially stimulate dopamine (the pleasure neurotransmitter), which plays a role in addiction. In this way, you are eating foods that lack nutrients and fiber, but create a pleasurable feeling. A food addiction starts because you feel good when you are eating these foods and they make you think they taste better. You crave that pleasurable feeling again and again and viola…this is what starts a food addiction.1
2. Processed foods are linked to obesity. Additives in processed foods, like high fructose corn syrup, sugar and MSG have been linked to weight gain and obesity.2 Dr. Mercola recently reported about a new study that showed childhood obesity could be reduced by 18 percent, simply by cutting out fast food advertisements during children’s programming.3 The Australian government is clearly more concerned about their children’s health as television advertisements to children were banned several years ago.
3. Processed foods often contain ingredients that do not follow the principle of food combining, which can lead to low energy, poor digestion, illness, acidic blood and weight gain. An example would be a frozen meat and cheese pizza. Cheese (a dairy product), meat (an animal protein) and pizza crust (a grain product) make a terrible food combination that can wreak havoc on your digestive health.
4. Processed foods contribute to an imbalanced inner ecosystem, which can lead to digestive problems, cravings, illness and disease. Beneficial microflora cannot survive in your digestive tract when you are poisoning them. Like us they thrive on foods that are made by nature not by man.
5. A diet high in processed foods can lead to depression, memory issues and mood swings. Ingredients in processed foods are often the lowest cost and sub-par, nutritionally. For example, the fats and oils used in processed foods are refined, which means they are stripped of the essential fatty acids necessary for healthy blood sugar levels, moods and memory. Your heart, hormones and brain suffer when you choose to eat these fats and oils. Instead choose the organic, unrefined or “virgin” fats and oils.
6. Processed foods often go hand in hand with “eating on the run” or multitasking. Most people will choose convenience if they are on the run and in today’s busy lives, who of us isn’t? Unfortunately, multitasking while eating causes people to lose touch with their natural appetite, often leading to weight gain. Additionally, multitasking sends the wrong signals to your digestive system, which needs to be in a restful mode to digest properly.
7. Nutrition labels on processed foods are often misleading and have harmful health effects. Many labels say “sugar free,” but contain other sweeteners like agave, which is like high fructose corn syrup. Additionally, product labeling may hide ingredients like GM (genetically modified) foods and harmful additives like MSG. (These are hidden behind words on the label like “natural flavorings” or “approved spices”).4
8. Diets high in processed meats (like hot dogs and deli meats) have been linked to various forms of cancer, such as pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer and stomach cancer.5
9. Eating too many processed foods can lead to infertility and malnutrition. Processed foods, like cereal, are stripped of important vitamins and nutrients that your body truly needs. You could be eating a large amount of calories and still be malnourished if your diet is high in processed foods.Animal studies have shown that over three generations, a deficient diet causes reproduction to cease.6 Today, infertility is on the rise, affecting 7.3 million people in America.
10. Processed foods are made for long shelf-life, not long human life! Chemicals, additives and preservatives are added to processed foods so that they will last for a long time without going rancid or affecting the taste of the food. Food manufacturers spend time, money and research on beautiful packaging and strategies to lengthen shelf-life, with little attention on how the foods will lengthen your life or create lasting health.7

Sources:

1. Goldhammer, Alan, D.C., Dietary Addictions: Why eating healthfully is so difficult. National Health Association.
   http://www.healthscience.org/index.php?view=article&catid=75%3Ahealthy-eating&id=398%3Adietary-addictions-why-eating-healthfully-is-so-difficult&option=com_content&Itemid=123
2. Tsang, Gloria, R.D. and Girdler, Lauren. MSG and Your Weight. September 2008. Health Castle.
   http://www.healthcastle.com/msg.shtml
3. Mercola, Joe, O.D. Simple Change Could Reduce Obesity in U.S. by 20 Percent. Mercola.com.
   http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/12/13/simple-change-could-reduce-obesity-in-u-s-by-20-percent.aspx
4. Krebs, Al. New Poll – 94% of Americans Want Labels on GE Foods. Organic Consumers.
   http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge/newpoll102303.cfm
5. Tsang, Gloria, R.D., Processed Meat and Cancer. August 2006. Health Castle.
   http://www.healthcastle.com/processed_meat_cancer.shtml
6. Fallon, Sally. Dirty Secrets of the Food Processing Industry. Weston A. Price Foundation.
   http://www.westonaprice.org/modernfood/dirty-secrets.html
7. Davis, Jordan K., M.D. Shelf Life is Not Your Life. Total Health Communications. Feb/Mar 2005.
   http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/147070/shelf_life_is_not_your_life/index.html

So, there you have it. Think about this the next time you're tempted to go get fast food, hit the vending machine, or the corner store.

With the loss of dulled receptors, tastebuds that have become accustomed to 'hyper-palatable' foods, and neurotransmitters gone haywire with their receptors dulled, people begin finding they are trapped in poor habits:

- fast food

- junk food

- sugar addiction

- late night ice cream, brownie, pizza habit

- chips, crackers, cookies, candy bars, chocolate…

The very inner mechanisms that we were created with to instinctively let us know when we're hungry and when we're not have been manipulated through the careful, intentional, and power hungry 'giants', to line their pockets, entrap the masses, and set up a population for addiction, disease, and of course... the giants have set-up medical facilities and given all your symptoms names and titles of disease to further line their pockets.

I recently read Americans are now consuming 80% of their diet from processed 'foods'. Where do you think this will lead? Looking for job security? Hospitals, care facilities, medical centers are and will be alive and well.

Folks, plant your gardens, eat from the earth, from nature's goodness, fresh fruit of the trees, vegetables from the earth, fresh water, grass fed beef, free range poultry, unadulterated nuts and seeds... and your body will thank you. It knows what to do with viable nutrients at the cellular level, it builds a strong mind and body, clears itself of waste and foreign material such as the aforementioned and will fortify the immune system. Now, where will this lead?

People who mock at those following a Personalized Meal Plan understand not the freedom that comes disguised in a regimented Plan. One may appear as a 'slave' to a Plan, but in the process their tastebuds begin to recognize real, wholesome food once more, the gut begins to heal, the brain, liver, kidneys, and so on. It is when one is free that they realize they were prisoner to the food god(s). 

In the process, they find the achey joints have disappeared, the stomach issues, digestive issues, headaches, dry skin, 'beer' belly, and with it a new hope in life with more energy, positive attitude, and a desire to 'go after life', with life because now they feel alive, free and in control once more. 

Besides the benefits I've already mentioned, here are more benefits of following a Meal Plan to consider:

1. SAVES TIME

You can save a tremendous amount of time because your meal plan spells everything out for you: 

- What to eat

- How much of it to eat

- How to prepare it

Even a time frame of when to eat it. Believe it or not, this frees up a lot of your time. You no longer have to ponder, "Hmm...what to eat, what have I eaten so far, etc.".  I can't begin to tell you how much energy is saved simply because you're no longer standing in front of your refrigerator with the door wide open, mystified as what to eat. This is when the best of intentions becomes an ongoing dream, no plan means no success. You'll also save time at the grocery store since you have a list, and shop for only what's on your list. Since you eat the same meals a month at a time, you have this system down to a 'T', and get in and out of the store faster than 97% of the population.

2. SAVES ENERGY

I've already mentioned the amount of energy you can save, literally. Here I'd like to mention the energy saved mentally, which trips over into your physical realm, as well. Less thought equals more energy, and greater output elsewhere. I liken this to having children. You want to leave the house for a few hours, but don't want to bring your three kids 5 and under with you. If you leave them unattended, you're mentally preoccupied the entire time your away, consciously, and sub consciously, you have no rest, your energy is usurped. Now liken this to constantly wondering if what you're eating is what you should be eating, the amount you need, and if you're really even hungry. Many folks don't realize how preoccupied they are with food, until they have a meal plan, and feel a release from the guessing game, thus freeing up more energy.

3. SAVES MONEY

Meal plans are very affordable. Most people spend at least as much money going out for meals whether at fast food outlets, or sit down restaurants, not to mention all the garbage food and so called 'soft' drinks bought weekly. Save your money and put it where you will receive a pay back, just like a true investment. Look for ways to get back at least as much as you invest, hence, once you get your plan, follow it. 

The door only opens when you turn the handle baby!

4. EASY TO FOLLOW

Everything is spelled out for you, there are no guessing games, no confusion, no tricks. Simply read through your plan, make sure you understand everything, ask questions and get answers if you don't, make your list, clean out your kitchen, and get shopping!

5. AFFORDABLE

Anyone can get a meal plan. Save up for your initial if need be, set aside $10.00 at a time if you have to, and get it done. Updates are a drop in the bucket when you look at the benefits you receive by being more healthy, more alert, more functional, happy, and invigorated. Yes, you're spending, but you are saving so much more.

6. EDUCATES YOU

Indeed, you are educated by simply following your plan each month. You learn how to eat, what it feels like to eat properly, how your body responds to good, wholesome nutrition, and even where to find the bargains, join a co-op, store, maintain, and prep, as a Pro! Soon your family and friends will begin asking questions. I haven't had a person yet, who has entered our home, and not left a better person for it. I don't mean this in a  boastful way. What I'm saying is, the next time I see them or they come over, they have a gallon of water with them, or tell me how they bought some asparagus to try, or want to show me their latest record in pull-ups. I love it. You will surely have an influence on those around you, just as you do now.

7. SETS YOU UP FOR SUCCESS

As you save money, time, and energy, and have more physical energy, you'll begin to branch out and look at other areas of your life you'd like to take action on. What once seemed only a dream, now seems to be something perhaps within reach, with some effort. As you feel successful, you will desire to succeed in other areas, as well.

8. REVS UP YOUR METABOLISM

I can't tell you how many clients come to me undernourished, underfed, and undermining themselves. You must et folks. Starving is a slow death of both mind and body, it's half living. Following your meal plan makes it obvious the importance of eating, because guess what? You are always eating, lol. Meanwhile, your body is making adjustments and sending messages to your brain that the scarcity is over, it can manufacture its hormones normally, relax, and yes, burn, baby burn, that fat right up.  

9. FAMILY AFFAIR

It doesn't take long to figure out you've got to get your family on board, especially if you're a female, mother. You see, it gets draining rather quickly fixing meal A for you, meal B for the kids, and meal C for the hubby! Ditch it. Get everyone on board. Point out the benefits along the way, "You're sleeping so much better", "You're so energetic", "You're grades have improved", etc.

10. CONTROL

Then, alas, we are back functioning with our body's natural 'control' mechanisms in place. 

If you or someone you know is looking to kick a poor habit, get their control back, is struggling with food addiction, poor health, or just feel like they'r eating habits or tastebuds need a revamp, have them contact me at:

jillstightbodybootcamp@gmail.com

Twitter: JillNix7

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