Living in Balance is a Lifetime Journey

                                           Photo from youngblackdownandlow

It's funny when I first meet people immediately they point they eat healthy and exercise.  Of course, I always congratulate them on their dedication to living a healthy lifestyle.  
People don't realize that to be truly healthy really goes far beyond eating healthy and exercising.  What we consider today as nutrition is really a secondary source of energy. EVERYTHING is food! 

Photo from Flickr

Think back to a time when you were head over heels in love.  Everything was exciting and exhilarating.  Colors were in Technicolor.  You completely forgot about food and were high on life.

Remember that time when you were really involved in a juicy good project.  Your belief in what you were doing created a lot of confidence and stimulated you.  Time flew by, the outside world didn’t exist and you didn’t feel the need to eat until being reminded. 

Photo from RedPillReich

Imagine when you were a kid, playing outside with friends and your mother reminding you, “Come in, it’s time for dinner.”  You rushed in, gobbled down just enough food for your mother to approve of and then you ran back outside to play until bedtime.  Food never crossed your mind during that whole time. Right?

Photo from Real Simple

Primary foods feed us, but they don't come on a plate. Elements such as a meaningful spiritual practice, an inspiring career, regular and enjoyable physical activity and honest and open relationships that feed your soul and your hunger for living all constitute primary food. 

As children, we all lived on primary food. The same as when deeply in love, or working passionately on a project. The fun, excitement and love of daily life have the power to feed us so that food becomes secondary. 

The more primary food we receive, the less is our dependency on secondary foods. The opposite is also true. The more we fill ourselves with secondary foods, the less we are able to receive the primary foods of life.

NYC Healthy Chick’s Daily Practice

Eating 3 balanced planned meals daily will help sustain energy you get from your primary food practice. As well as keeping your blood sugar stable and helping you to become a fat burning machine.

Photo from Whole Foods

Breakfast:  Starting your day with a bowl of Overnight Oatmeal (http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/345). 
It provides a good source of protein, whole grains & fresh fruit.  This is perfect to eat hot or cold. 

Photo from Recipe

Lunch:  Keep fueling your furnace with this combo of heart healthy ingredients full of flavor and zest. Hmm, yummy Salmon & Spinach Salad with Flaxseed Dressing (http://www.recipe.com/salmon-and-spinach-salad-with-flaxseed-dressing/). 
Your tummy is sure to not rumble for hours. 

 

Photo from Whole Foods

Dinner: Bold flavors satisfy even the hungriest man on the planet, not to mention we all have a craving for a little beef every now and then.  Okay, well at least I do!  Try Steak with Piquant Italian Salsa Verde http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/985. 




 

Yes, even NYC Healthy Chick has “one of those days” still in her life.  Remember it’s a journey not a destination.  One thing I make sure to do on a daily basis is get all the hugs and kisses from those around me plus taking some time to exercise, or mediate to relax myself just a little bit more.

Photo from English-Net

So the next time you find yourself in front of the fridge getting ready for a food binge be sure to go seek out a hug or two from your loved one, go for a walk around the block, or call a friend to just talk.  Chances are you will feel much better and allow for the energy of your primary food to feed you and your soul. 

Have an AMAZING day!

Falling off the wagon in 2010

Wowsa! I've been so wrapped up with LIFE that I completely forgot my blog. Branding myself while being exposed deadly mold and taking on my former slum landlord in court has been a full-time job. 

While ending the year of all years - I've begun my journey called
HAVING IT ALL in 2011/New Year - New Me

I completed my Peak Potentials Training program this summer with Wizard Camp. What an amazing experience I had. All I can tell you is that I'm using all the tools taught during camp which has been one of my saving graces this past six months. 

This past August while attending Isagenix Convention, I made a YouTube video stating that, "I want to be Jen Smith when I grow up - an Isagenix Millionaire." GUESS WHAT? 30 days later my wish was granted. I got to become a guest team member of Jen Smith Training. AMAZING!!!!


I am currently following Winning the Inner Game of Money with John Assaraf. In just a few weeks I am experiencing some profound shifts in my thinking and my behaviors. I can't wait to see what I will be like in another 60+ days from now.

Other things I'm working on is getting NYC HEALTHY CHICK out there in a BIG way with the following:

• 1000 fans on my NYC HEALTHY CHICK fan page by 12/31/10
• 1000 followers on my NYC HEALTHY CHICK twitter account by
• Then launching my coaching business in 2011-2012

I want to wish everyone the BEST holiday season as we are winding down the last days of 2010.

Here is to living a SASSY ~ JUICY ~ HEALTHY LIFE!!!

NYC HEALTHY CHICK

Are You The One?

Check out my YouTube video -  Are you the ONE?

One of my favorite questions to ask my potential clients is how important is your health? All of them say that is very important but how many are actually ready to make the necessary changes to be healthier. I have found that 1 in 10 people actually decide to make changes to get healthy. When you make the decision to get healthy and commit to it - all the right people, resources and circumstances will show up.

Off and on for the past 20 years, I have committed to getting healthy. It has been a journey for me and just keeps getting better each time I make a decision to improve my health. Three years ago, I made a decision to upgrade and improve my nutrition through a program called Isagenix. Making that one decision led to meeting several graduates from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) who used Isagenix in their health counseling program. My next step on my journey was to attend IIN and become a certified holistic health counselor. I had also made the decision to become a certified personal trainer because exercise was just one of the key components to better health and wellness for me.

Bottom line? Based on making that one decision 3 years ago to improve my health has led me to where I am today with my own health journey. If you told me 20 years ago I would be branded as NYC Healthy Chick who empowers and educates others to live healthier, happier and more fulfilling lives - I would have probably said - YOU'RE CRAZY!!!!!

Shhhh - They Are the Best Kept Secret to......

Green vegetables are the foods most missing in modern diets. Learning to cook and eat greens is essential to creating health. When you nourish yourself with greens, you will naturally crowd out the foods that make you sick. Greens help build your internal rain forest and strengthen the blood and respiratory systems. They are especially good for city people who rarely see fields of green in open countryside. Green is associated with spring, the time of renewal, refreshment and vital energy. In Asian medicine, green is related to the liver, emotional stability and creativity.

Nutritionally, greens are very high in calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorous, zinc and vitamins A, C, E and K. They are crammed with fiber, folic acid, chlorophyll and many other micronutrients and phyto-chemicals.

Some of the benefits from eating dark leafy greens are:
Blood purification
Cancer prevention
Improved circulation Strengthened immune system Promotion of healthy intestinal flora
Promotion of subtle, light and flexible energy
Lifted spirit and elimination of depression Improved liver, gall bladder and kidney function Cleared congestion, especially in lungs, by reducing mucus

There are so many greens to choose from. Find greens that you love and eat them often. When you get bored with your favorites, be adventurous and try greens that you’ve never heard of before. Broccoli is very popular among adults and children. Each stem is like a tree trunk, giving you strong, grounded energy. Rotate between bok choy, napa cabbage, kale, collards, watercress, mustard greens, broccoli rabe, dandelion and other leafy greens. Green cabbage is great in the form of sauerkraut or raw. Arugula, endive, chicory, lettuce, mesclun and wild greens are generally eaten raw, but can be consumed in any creative way you enjoy. Spinach, Swiss chard and beet greens are best eaten in moderation because they are high in oxalic acid, which depletes calcium from bones and teeth, and may lead to osteoporosis. Cook these vegetables with something rich like tofu, seeds, nuts, beans, butter, animal products or oil. This will balance the effect of the oxalic acid.

Cooking Greens
Try a variety of methods like steaming, boiling, sautéing in oil, water sautéing, waterless cooking or lightly pickling, as in a pressed salad. Boiling makes greens plump and relaxed. Boil for under a minute so that the nutrients in the greens do not get lost in the water. You can also drink the cooking water as a healthy broth or tea if you’re using organic greens. Steaming helps vegetables to retain their fiber, causing them to move more easily through the digestive tract. Raw salad is also a wonderful preparation for greens. It’s refreshing, cooling and soft, and supplies live enzymes.

When some people hear “leafy green vegetables,” they often think of iceberg lettuce, but the ordinary, pale lettuce in restaurant salads doesn’t have the power-packed goodness of other greens. Get into the habit of adding these dark, leafy green vegetables to your daily diet. Try it out for a month and see how you feel.

I Eat Healthy So Why Do I Need Nutritional Cleansing?

This is WHY I practice a nutritional cleansing lifestyle. 

In July 2004, my doctor discovered an 11 lb. non-cancerous mass on my liver. 

He said it was killing me.
The surgery was successful, but devastating: my body was disfigured and I faced four very long, tedious months of discomfort and recovery with no family nearby.  I was left weak, very blue and nutritionally depleted. I really hit rock bottom; most days I couldn't get out of bed.  These were the darkest days of my life.  I never felt so helpless, lifeless and bleak.  Many times a day I would get angry that this was happening to me and I turned to unhealthy food for comfort.
Several years prior to my surgery, I had been a few pounds within my ideal weight, but now I could not lose weight no matter how much exercising or dieting I did. The rapid weight loss and weight gain after 2 major surgeries that year drastically affected my metabolism.  On top of that, my successful nanny referral business suffered as I wasn't able to work for most of that year.  I was physically and financially bankrupt.
Thank goodness one of my trusted doctors told me about Isagenix.  It was a challenge for me to get healthy but if I knew I could lead by example I could help others do the same.  I started using the Isagenix technology in June 2007. In a short time, I started feeling better than I had in years - more energy, better mental clarity, improved sleep and building back lean muscle mass I lost.
Today I am fabulous and 42  - when most people think I am in my early 30's.  Not only am I a cleansing coach, I have become a certified personal trainer and holistic health counselor.  With great pride, I show others how to incorporate Isagenix cleansing as a part of their balanced healthy lifestyle. Isagenix products have given me more energy than I've ever had before so I get to do the things that matter the most to me every day. Ask me how we can get you started with the right program for you.

If you think you eat pretty healthy, check out the facts here as seen here in TIME Magazine - what exactly is going on with our fruits and vegetables. I think the results are profound and you may want to consider what you can do to fill in the gaps. 

How Safe Is Your Drinking Water?

Water is the basis of all life and that includes your body. Your muscles that move your body are 75% water; your blood that transport nutrients is 82% water; your lungs that provide your oxygen are 90% water; your brain that is the control center of your body is 76% water; even your bones are 25% water.

Our health is truly dependent on the quality and quantity of the water we drink according to The Water Cure - The Miracles of Water to Cure Disease. 

Remember 64 ounces is key for daily water intake if you are sedentary. Bump it up to half of your body weight in water ounces if you are active or drinking caffeinated beverages and/or alcohol.

How Safe Is Your Drinking Water?
If you live in the most populated cities - like Boston, Dallas, New York, and Seattle - they consistently receive top ratings for high-quality drinking water. Check where your city ranks at EWG.org/tap-water.

A good rating means your water has very low levels of bacteria, fertilizers, pesticides, medicines, industrial waste, heavy metals like manganese, and by-products from home cleansers, according to ongoing tests by local authorities.  Contaminants are frequently found at harmless levels.

Sometimes and in some locations, however, there are some problems with drinking water. If you live in an area where the water doesn't rate well - or if you are concerned that there's lead in it (which can happen in an older home with lead pipes) - use a filter. Philip Tierno, PhD, an immunologist and microbiologist at New York University, says a filter can eliminate lead and other pollutants and improve taste by cutting back on chlorine, which utilities use to treat water.

Did you know the dollar amount Americans spend on bottled water every year is $16 billion dollars? If your water taste funky, it is a good idea to start filtering your own water instead of buying bottled water all the time.  Here are some filters you can try at home or on the go....

• The HoMedics Restore Clean Water System ($99.99)
• The Pur 3 Stage Horizontal Faucet Water Filter ($39.99)
• The WaterGeeks Filtered Stainless Steel Bottle ($24)

Another important thing to consider is the alkalinity of your water. Drinking water is key to good health—so why not drink the best water possible? Most of us don’t realize that the water we drink, even bottled or purified may be acidic. That’s why it’s important to add IsaWATER Alkalized Concentrate to your water. By drinking alkalized water, or water with a pH level higher than 7.0, you can maximize hydration at the cellular level.

IsaWATER proprietary process delivers a stabilized alkaline concentrate. Just adding 1 mL to an eight-ounce glass of water can energize your water and provide Oxidation-Reduction Potential (ORP) promoting the body’s overall health and wellness by neutralizing free radicals.

Available in 4 oz. bottles for your home or office. You can also purchase an empty 1 oz. travel size bottle, which you can conveniently fill and take with you when on the go.

Why IsaWater Alkalized Concentrate?*

• Proprietary process delivers a stabilized alkaline concentrate.
• Helps the body to efficiently cleanse away toxins
• Energizes water and ensures maximum hydration at the cellular level
• Helps the body to perform at optimum levels
• Makes your water taste fresher
• Neutralizes the harmful free radicals often found in regular drinking water

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.

If you are committed to a healthy lifestyle, make drinking enough natural water a habit in your life. It won't take long for you to feel the benefit. It is a free investment for your long-term health.

Is Where You're Living Zappin' Your Energy?

According to Galina Rozetti, NYC's Apartment Guru, your neighborhood and living space has everything to do with your energy. If you live in a neighborhood and/or an apartment that you can't stand -- it can affect your well-being. Chances are it feels more like a hotel rather than a home. Side effects may include: depression, anger, sadness, low energy & overeating. All these factors may affect the way you interact with your environment and others.

I had an AH HA moment when Galina shared this with me! It made total sense why I was out of balance last year when I moved from my UES cozy studio apartment in a great neighborhood to a 2 bdrm apartment close to beautiful Central Park border of NYC & Harlem. My lease was just about to end and since landlords were offering great rental deals I decided to make a move. The rent was as much my as my studio with more space in an up & coming neighborhood in Harlem. Any NY'er appreciates the value of more for less in the rental market. Then the drama began when I had to take another apartment in the building because of a paperwork mishap with my inexperienced broker - UGH! The apartment didn't come all tidy and freshly painted because of the mishap -- which added to the stress of being a rookie personal trainer at Equinox working 15-20 hour days. Let's just say I wasn't enjoying the experience at all and began really resenting the fact that I had moved.

Man this all really affected my outlook and attitude on life. I found myself tired and exhausted all the time plus this dump became a crash pad for the few hours I was home until returning to train evening clients. The shift began for me when I left my erratic schedule behind at the gym to resume working for myself, demanded a new paint job from my landlord upon renewal of my lease, donating and/or throwing away a ton of useless items, and re-staging my furniture. That's when I FINALLY fell in love with my new apartment. Since then, I have been enjoying cooking & entertaining in my home more along with discovering what a real jewel my neighborhood is plus having daily gratitude to be living so close to Central Park.

Bottom line is EVERYTHING is energy and connected to the space and place where I live.

If you are in need of an apartment and/or neighborhood make over.
Contact Galina Rozetti at 917-363-2359 to find the best match for you!

How To Have More Natural Energy

As a busy health coach, I do find it challenging to manage my time and energy just like everyone else. My clients depend on me every day for inspiration and guidance to share ways to keep their energy high while keeping it easy, fun & affordable. In order to walk my talk, it requires me to be sure I am putting food into my body that is nutritionally dense and higher quality. It is so easy to go straight for junk food when I'm tired and want to "party with food" to relax and forget my worries.

How do I get more natural energy? I drink a minimum of 64 oz of water every day, eat mostly plant based foods like 1-2 pieces of fruit, 3-5 servings of vegetables (especially those leafy greens), whole grains & beans instead of meat, chicken or fish. Plus, I have 1-2 Isalean Shakes. They are a deliciously complete meal replacement containing 23 grams of the highest quality New Zealand whey and casein protein from grass-fed cows with no added hormones or antibiotics, as well as filling fiber, calcium and vitamins to support my body’s vital functions. This perfectly balanced shake also contains Ionic Alfalfa™, a proprietary blend of 70 super-charged minerals, trace minerals and alfalfa juice. Active enzymes in each serving help maximize the absorption of key nutrients.

And that my friends is how I manage to have more natural energy.

Why My Diet Failed Me Last Week

So I partied LIKE a rockstar last week. Full schedule with meetings and events. No time for a good workout or eating right. By the time Saturday came around, I had no energy and felt like a piece of chewing gum and needed to be scrapped off the sidewalk.

Yep, that bad folks.

So what went wrong? I got out of balance by eating food and drinking beverages that just zapped my energy instead of consuming quality foods to support my energy demands needed to perform my daily schedule. Plus, I didn't make enough time to exercise, mediate and drink enough water.

Sound familiar? Ask me how I got back into balance ASAP after a week of living like a rockstar!