why I still love group fitness classes
It's Tea Time Somewhere
If you follow me on Snapchat (candeeland) you know I drink A LOT of tea. Like, more than any one person should consume on a regular basis, a lot.
Tea for me is not only an alternative to coffee. I supplement my coffee habit with it because I happen to really love my tea moments. I’m no snob to tea either. I love ALL kinds. Even the weird stuff like beet tea and rose bud tea.
Tea is SO complex and it can be overwhelming finding your groove when you first start enjoying hot tea. So here are a few of my tips from years of trial and error!
First you should know that tea caffeine varies by brewing method. If you can’t have too much caffeine, you should stick to herbal tisanes, oolongs, or shou pu-erh styles. Or literally let your tea bag steep for 20 seconds.
What I’ve found when brewing teas. . If your brew is very hot your tea will be darker and more robust, but if your brew is cold, you will have a sweeter and milder tasting tea.
For me, sencha and matcha brew perfectly at 160° range. But honestly, just play around with it and you will find your perfect temperature.
Research on tea is necessary. Just like any other crop grown, organic may not always mean organic. If the neighboring farm isn’t growing organic crops, you can bet that your tea has some lingering pesticides. Sadly, we can’t be completely sure what we’re eating and drinking unless we are literally growing it ourselves. This is another area that I stick to the 80/20 rule. If you can, try to be as organic as possible (especially when it comes to teas) 80% of the time. There are some really delicious teas out there that have not gotten on the organic bandwagon, and if you’re only having them once in a while, all is good.
In Singapore, Tea Time is a REAL things and it's amazing.
My faves. . .
I like black tea in the early morning or on flights. I have it with cream and honey or whatever sweetener is available. I rarely drink black tea, so I allow myself the sugar. It's such a nice treat!
I love a good green or white tea in the afternoons. It really adds some flare to the afternoon caffeine break.
The Workout I'm Still Obsessed With
Pours Coconut Oil Over Entire Life
Smoothie Sunday : A Major Anti-Inflammatory Concoction
this charcoal body soap is amazeballs
the perfect detox after holiday indulgences
It’s January 3rd and it’s time to get back on track. If you’re anything like me, you definitely enjoyed yourself over the holidays. And although you may be a health freak, you said YES to just about every treat imaginable. My brain goes on vacation mode around November 20th and truly loses it until January begins. Then I freak.
Yea, no.
I’ve put together a list of my SUPER SIMPLE au-naturale ways to detox (most of these I do everyday, on a normal day, obviously when it’s not the holidays).
Let’s get our life back together – We can do this! Start slow, but treat your body well. I promise you by this time next week, you will feel normal again.
GREENS.
Lots and lots of greens. Buy (or make your own) green juice (not the kind that’s full of fruit, the kind that tastes like grass – I promise you will get used to it, don’t sabotage this whole thing by adding a bunch of sugar).. Take on a 3 day juice cleanse or simply replace one meal a day with a large green juice full of kale, spinach, chard, celery.. etc. I like to have my juice first thing in the morning when I’m feeling the most motivated.
PROBIOTICS.
Healthy digestion is important for soooo many things. If you have poor digestion, it probably causes you bloating and shows up as a rash or acne on your otherwise clear skin. Make sure you’re taking a dose as soon as you wake up on an empty stomach and one right before you go to sleep. My favorite travel probiotics they don’t even have to be refrigerated and are seriously a MIRACLE!
DANDELION TEA.
I don’t know about you, but I definitely drink more alcohol during the holiday season. My liver could use a detox and that’s just what dandelion root does. One or two glasses a week is plenty.
FILTERED WATER.
Drinking plenty of water improves digestion as well as keeps you hydrated and energized. I don’t know how much water you drink on a regular basis, but most of us could stand to drink more. Shoot for two liters a day. Try this water bottle that filters your water as you drink.
TURMERIC.
Turmeric reduces inflammation so you can kiss all that water weight goodbye (thanks to all the extra salt, we pack on water)! I add ground turmeric to every meal I can get away with. It doesn’t taste that great, so why not mask the flavor with food? You won’t even know it’s there! Another option is to take a small shot of it every morning with honey or grassfed clarified butter. My favorite pill form turmeric and shed some of that inflammation asap.
GREEN TEA.
Green tea increases fat burning and improves physical performance. It’s ok to have a few cups of this a day – you could even replace your coffee with it. (I know, LOL).
MORE VEGGIES, LESS MEAT.
It’s no secret that vegetables have less calories than meat. Try to find a different source for your protein (at least for one or two meals a day). Try beans, almonds, kale, avocado, quinoa, etc – just don’t go for the soy protein (it will bloat you, but more about that later). If you can’t eat a meal without meat, reach for fish (fishes with low mercury levels) or chicken (organic, no added hormones or antibiotics).
GO TO THE GYM.
Yea, I know how dreadful this sounds. It’s also like the worst time to start working out because of all the extra people at the gym – BUT try to see this as a positive. This means there will be a lot of people at the gym with no clue what the F they’re doing. You will look like an IFBB pro compared to these people. Everyone starts somewhere. Get your workout in, even if it just means walking on the treadmill. Find what you love. I love reading about Ernest Hemingway’s first wife Hadley on the bicycle. Sometimes I forget I’m there and go for way too long. It’s the best workout because I’m not wishing it were over the whole time.
Even if you do workout, but you’re having a hard time getting back to your regular routine – don’t go back to that one. Start a new one. There are so many new and effective workouts out there! One’s that you can do right at home.
REDUCE STRESS.
I have never felt heavier than I did on my wedding day. The months leading up to such a happy (but VERY stressful event) I skipped meals because I would forget to eat (BAD). I ate healthy (when I ate) and worked out, but I still packed on pounds because of my lowered metabolism and that cruel cruel CORTISOL. Guess where cortisol stores fat? Yep, right in the tummy. Stress can cause a whole host of problems and effing up your fitness goals is one of them. Try sniffing sage oils when feeling stressed- they work for me!
apple pie on smoothie sunday
Nutritious Apple Pie Protein Smoothie
1 organic red apple
1/2 cup unsweetened plain almond milk
1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
3 drops of vanilla Stevia
a few sprinkles of nutmeg
one sprinkle of clove
a few sprinkles of cinnamon
a few dashes of ground ginger
1 scoop plain Dale’s protein powder (optional)
two small handfuls of ice
Simply blend these ingredients together in your Vitamix and you have a delicious smoothie. It’s great for after workout recovery and/or a meal replacement.
graduating from runyon canyon
a complete breakfast
I love mornings that I get to start slow and snack on healthy treats. My ideal morning booster “break-the-fast” is an egg scramble with tons of green veggies. But most mornings I don’t have the time to chop veggies and stir up eggs. Replacing the fat and protein in an egg with a fast breakfast can be a little tricky. Most people would tell you to have a yogurt or some type of cheese. I don’t believe starting your day with dairy is the best route – or atleast – it has not been for me.
My go to? Avocados. Avocados are THE perfect food. I would still eat them if they were $10 a pop.
Avocado stuff (according to me and my many research on this incredible fruit over the years;
- The Avocado is Incredibly Nutritious
- Contain More Potassium Than Bananas!!
- Loaded With Heart-Healthy Monounsaturated Fatty Acids
- Loaded With Fiber
- Eating Avocados Can Lower Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels
- People Who Eat Avocados Tend to be Healthier
Need I say more? More on Avocados HERE (if you must).
hehe!
Ok, so lets talk berries. Antioxidants and brain power. Just go ahead and eat blueberries everyday because (according to Scientific American and others) they can enhance your memory. I’ve always believed in the power of food, but this just blows my mind.
Life has been a little crazier and seems to only be speeding up this year. I keep my system clean by drinking Tiny Teas (not a promotion, I just LOVE the stuff). Eating healthy is my life — but even I get a little bogged down and bloated because of travel and lack of routine. This tea seriously helps me stay on top of my game, keeps my skin clear and tummy flat. My favorites are the Anti-C and the Gluten-free Tiny TeaTox.
So now that you’re armed with the knowledge to eat a quick healthy breakfast.. Stock up on this stuff so you have it ready when you wake up late! I’ve been known to eat my avocado straight out of the shell with a spoon. No excuses!
What is your favorite breakfast?
sleepy city stuff
I don’t know about you, but when I burn my magical sage candle, things start happening.
