Happy Friday Friends! This one is promising to be a tasty, spring-infused salad. Up here in the Pacific Northwest we have yet to see the sun, but we heard on the news that it’s actually spring time up here! So why not implement a flavorful spring-inspired dish to at least embrace the season in the mouth!
This is a HUGE favorite in our house and we serve it with a side of Avocado ‘crack’ Dressing…because once you start you just can’t stop! (Yes, we’ve been known to lick the bowl).
Here’s what you’ll need to get started on the dressing:
1 Sweet Onion, finely diced
1 Bunch Cilantro, diced
2 Medium Ripe Avocados, chopped
1 Lime, squeezed
Pinch of Himalayan Sea Salt
1 tsp. Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
1-1/2 Cups Water
For the salad:
2 heads of romaine lettuce, washed, dried, and chopped
2 Medium Ripe Avocados, chopped
1 Bunch Cilantro, rough chop
1 Cup fresh strawberries, diced
In a blender combine all dressing ingredients and blend until combined. Add vinegar and slowly add water while blending until you get the preferred consistency. Less water will allow for this to be a great dip, more water will give it a dressing-like consistency.
Toss all of the salad ingredients together. The pour over dressing to desired liking, or serve on the side. Enjoy!
https://blissfullyhealthy.com/wp-content/uploads/strawberry-avocado-salad2.png3741000Elizabethhttps://blissfullyhealthy.com/wp-content/uploads/Updated-Blissfully-Healthy-Wellness-Coaching-PNG-copy.pngElizabeth2017-03-31 13:05:432018-07-12 15:56:52Food Friday – Strawberry Avocado Chop Chop
Have you tried everything to feel better without seeing results?
You might be surprised to learn the root cause could be what you’re eating, even if you eat well. Based on the experience of specialists in Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) these have four possible root causes. In this blog we will talk about the first root cause: Food Sensitivities
Signs that food sensitivities could be the culprit of your health struggles are:
Cognitive impairment;
Morning stiffness;
Insomnia;
Tender body points;
Sensitivity to light/sound;
Body aches;
Dry eyes;
Nausea;
Muscle pain;
Chronic headaches;
Poor bowel function;
Overwhelming fatigue;
Feeling cold;
Weight gain;
Inability to lose weight;
Massive and frequent sugar, caffeine and/or alcohol cravings;
Feeling blue, down or listless.
Avoiding foods that you are sensitive to may be the answer to help you feel a whole lot better!
The challenge with diagnosis of Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, IBS or migraines is that there is no solid understanding of the ROOT CAUSE of these issues.
Fibromyalgia is now the most common disorder seen by Rheumatologists after Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Nearly 25% of patients seen as rheumatology clients are actually suffering from Fibromyalgia.
The average person suffering from Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has gone 10 years before being diagnosed, they have seen 12 doctors, tried 15-18 medications and were put through unnecessary testing and operations for symptoms related to these conditions.
The Typical FMS patient looks healthy; no one can imagine that they are ill and in a great deal of pain.
As a result, Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue patients often receive little empathy from family, friend or even health care practitioners.
At the age of 25 years-old, after years and years of personally struggling with migraines, fatigue and an overall lousy feeling my primary care doctor diagnosed me with IBS, migraines and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Yes ALL three! Initially I was so thankful to have a real diagnosis after 11-years of going from doctor to doctor, receiving blood test after blood test and not having any answers as to what was wrong. Countless doctors suggested that I was depressed and so they would say: “Here is an antidepressant.” They were right, after all, I WAS depressed after struggling with awful symptoms without answers for over a decade and I was starting to feel crazy that it was “all in my head” as one doctor told me. Receiving these diagnoses was massively edifying and at the same time they were another roadblock to figuring out how to reclaim my health.
These are diagnoses that have no real cure and specific protocol as to how to get the symptoms in remission. It was so miserable living with chronic grogginess, migraines and muscle aches that made it insurmountable to do simple daily tasks. I was filled with appreciation of having an answer and at the same time felt total despair of what it meant for the prognosis.
I found myself not ready to give up so I asked my doctor if food testing could be what was causing the symptoms. “No, your symptoms have nothing to do with food” is what my doctor said. I decided that I had to be my own health advocate, my gut told me (literally with IBS lol) my symptoms and food were connected. I was right!! My testing came back with an allergy to soy, barley and oats.
I took those foods out and I just could not believe the difference! I had energy! I released weight that had been stuck for years! My migraines were gone! I felt massively better. I noticed that oats and barley were the cause of my ‘IBS’. Avoiding those immediately meant I no longer suffered from IBS. I began to notice soy was the cause of my muscle aches and migraines so by avoiding all forms of soy I no longer struggled with those either! I still had daily fatigue but man was it great to be free of IBS and migraines! (Want to find out if seemingly innocent foods are the reason for your health challenges too? Find our more about Food Sensitivity Testing.)
A new lease on life!
Then, I must be honest I was also got very angry that my doctor had blatantly told me that food could not be causing my symptoms. Angry that after years and years of suffering, the doctors did not help, they did not know food was the culprit the whole time! This, in part, created my passion for what I do now: Wellness Coaching and Food Sensitivity Testing with my company, Blissfully Healthy Women’s Wellness Center.
I continued to struggle with fatigue and finally in early 2016 after a 3-month relapse of fatigue and massive testing from various doctors; MS specialist, Rheumatologist, Neurologist, as well as working with several Naturopathic doctors all tests came back ‘healthy’ again. No adrenal fatigue, no candida overgrowth, no MS, no Lupus and no Rheumatoid Arthritis. While this was a blessing it still gave no answer to why I felt so tired all the time and since I had done all of the testing, the diagnosis of exclusion was: Fibromyalgia and being re-diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as two separate conditions due to the significance of the daily fatigue.
I had a good cry, then wiped my tears away and decided that I would do what I need to feel better. I remembered how food testing, years ago had helped me feel so much better so I looked into different types of food testing. I discovered a different, highly effective, test that most doctors do not have access to, the FIT test and decided to give it a shot.
Two weeks later my test results came back and I was highly reactive to eggs, bananas, vanilla and a few others. No wonder! I ate a banana several times a day in my green smoothie, vanilla in my coffee in the morning and eggs for breakfast almost every day! No wonder I felt crummy!! I dived in and eliminated the foods. I felt so much more energy, the fatigue, asthma, body aches and joint pain were gone! Now I have so many more days without Fibromyalgia symptoms. All with answers to how to feel better from this amazing test. After my personal experience I knew I had make this available to my clients, I wanted them to feel their best too. During 2016 I was able to test over 53 clients, ALL of them reporting back how much better they feel with the knowledge they’ve gained and the lifestyle adjustments they’ve made. Symptoms have improved or have completely resolved in many cases–even symptoms they didn’t realize were connected to food sensitivities!
The biggest thing I can share with you if you are feeling hopeless is: Don’t stop until you achieve solutions! You deserve to feel your best.
If you’d love to achieve relief from your disruptive symptoms and discover the foods that are contributing to your health challenges, let’s find out if FIT Testing is the right fit for you.
Sources:
Dr. Don Goldenberg, Chief of Rheumatology at Newton-Wellesley Hospital Fibromyalgia: Profile of Fibromyalgia Patients By Thomas K. Van Sistine, MD
This recipe has been modified to be Blissfully Healthy Approved; original recipe courtesy of wellplated.com.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3 cups Brussels sprouts, trimmed and quartered (about 3/4 pound)
1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes (about 8 ounces)
2 Medium Sized Beets cubed
1 medium onion, chopped
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cut into 3/4 inch cubes
4 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 teaspoons)
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup reduced-sodium chicken stock, divided
Heat the olive oil in a large, nonstick or cast iron skillet over medium high, until hot and shimmering. Add the chicken, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and black pepper. Cook until lightly browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Transfer to plate lined with paper towels.
Add Brussels sprouts, sweet potato, beets, onion, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender and the onions are beginning to look translucent, about 10 minutes.
Stir in the apples, garlic, thyme, and cinnamon. Cook 30 seconds, then pour in 1/2 cup of the broth. Bring to a boil and cook until evaporated, about 2 minutes. Add the reserved chicken and remaining 1/2 cup broth. Cook until heated through, about 2 minutes. Serve warm and enjoy.
My 4 year old son Josiah has been showing a few small signs of food sensitivities. Eczema, bloating, and intermittent diarrhea. Knowing that food sensitivities run in our family, we decided to test him. It was so easy, just 1 simple finger prick and he was tested for 132 different foods to see what foods are causing reactivity.
I am so surprised by the results! NEVER would have been able to guess apples! This is why I am proud to offer this service to my clients at the Blissfully Healthy Center! It’s incredibly life changing by allowing for a specific plan of how to feel better!
Now we have his unique food plan to help him be as healthy as possible. Here’s the BEST news: By identifying his reactive foods, avoiding them as much as possible, he has the possibility of NOT being sensitive to some of these foods in the future!
If you would like to see how food sensitivity testing can help you feel better and release weight, we can help! Contact us and we will be in touch for an initial conversation!
https://blissfullyhealthy.com/wp-content/uploads/food-sensitivity-testing-coach.png3741000Coach Emmiehttps://blissfullyhealthy.com/wp-content/uploads/Updated-Blissfully-Healthy-Wellness-Coaching-PNG-copy.pngCoach Emmie2016-09-06 15:25:152018-06-24 19:46:26Food Sensitivity Testing – FIT Test
“If you can change your mind, you can change your life.” — Williams James
Mindset is everything when it comes to weight loss. You don’t have to starve yourself to lose weight and doing so is actually counterproductive to your journey. Are you feeling overwhelmed? Are you tired of fighting emotional eating on your own? Contact Us today for a Complimentary Discovery Session to see how we can help!
https://blissfullyhealthy.com/wp-content/uploads/starving-to-lose-weight.png3741000Coach Emmiehttps://blissfullyhealthy.com/wp-content/uploads/Updated-Blissfully-Healthy-Wellness-Coaching-PNG-copy.pngCoach Emmie2016-08-23 11:10:082018-06-24 19:46:26WAIT- you mean you don’t have to STARVE yourself to lose weight?
Veggies? GOOD! But… all vegetables are not created equal. Eating Psychology Coach Emmie talks about carrots as they relate to a blissfully healthy approach to weight loss.
https://blissfullyhealthy.com/wp-content/uploads/carrots-and-weight-loss-aug2016.png3741000Coach Emmiehttps://blissfullyhealthy.com/wp-content/uploads/Updated-Blissfully-Healthy-Wellness-Coaching-PNG-copy.pngCoach Emmie2016-08-15 10:55:512018-06-24 19:46:26So What’s the Deal with Carrots?
Are you unable to understand why you emotionally eat even though you hate the results? Are you either emotionally eating out of control or dieting? Do you ever feel like you are stuck in habits that just don’t serve you?
Hello my name is Coach Emmie, owner of Blissfully Healthy Women’s Weight Loss Center, where I specialize in helping women overcome emotional eating so that they finally release the weight that they have lost and regained countless times.
I understand your struggles, because I was once where you are now. On my own personal journey I have learned the secrets to overcoming emotional eating and lost 50 pounds which I have kept off for over 10 years now. I know the pitfalls on the journey to lose the weight for good and especially understand the ins and outs of overcoming emotional eating. Since losing the weight, I’ve dedicated my life to helping other women who struggle with their weight to achieve the same results!
In my I spoke about the first step to overcoming emotional eating, today I am offering you another step forward on your journey.
Are you trying to control your drive to emotionally eat and failing over and over?
HERE IS YOUR GATEWAY TO TRANSFORMATION!
The answer is not to control the emotional eating behavior, it’s to release it…. to have it fall away because you don’t need to use it to cope with life anymore, or to soothe yourself anymore, and so in THIS place the emotional eating is released, your desire to use food fades, disappears, and so there is…nothing to control. Imagine that you are free and present to all the beauty in your life, feeling fulfilled, secure in your ability and greatness, confident in your image and open to all the wonderful possibilities that you can actually create from this place. Along this path you find that you are no longer using food and so the weight easily falls off.
It is possible for you! I am here to share how to get there. We start in understanding that trying to control the behavior does not work. Instead, let go of the desire to try to control your behavior and get present, get mindful so that you can release the emotionally eating.
I know what you might be thinking… “If I stop trying to control my emotional eating then I fear that I will lose ALL control, eat everything in sight and gain even more weight!” This idea might be bringing up some fears for you. It’s alright, let’s take a look at this one step at a time.
Think of your emotional eating and weight problem as a weed in your garden. Controlling your behavior is like plucking the leaves off the plant, but this never gets to the roots of the weed and so it grows back. We want to get to the roots of your emotional eating problem so that we can take it out at the source of the problem.
Let’s take a deeper look at this concept so that you can start to understand it more. What I see over and over in my clients who are stuck in emotional eating is that they are very disconnected from themselves. This is because the very purpose that the emotionally eating serves is to go mindless, it’s to escape from some form of pain that is going on in life.
Being mindless is the problem.
When you go mindless, you are going on automatic pilot. Through your experiences your subconscious automatic pilot has been trained to ‘numb out with food.’ If you are unknowingly feeling anything out of the range of what I like to call, ‘the numb zone,’ then your subconscious triggers your automatic pilot’s trained response of ”give me food to get back to the safe place of the numb zone!”
Even if you are happy, you may find that you want to celebrate with food to the point that you don’t feel good. Feeling horrible because you ate too much is not a loving way to celebrate and so this is also emotionally eating.
Many times the clients I work with are not able to even identify why they are emotionally eating. This I personally understand. I was there myself when I first started my journey. I would love to help you start understanding why you are emotionally eating. If going mindless is the problem, then what is the solution?
It is in the power of being present.
Being present starts with becoming aware of what you are thinking…at this moment right now, what are you thinking? Are you thinking…
“How can getting present help? Ugh, I will never be able to overcome this emotional eating thing…. How is this going to help me lose weight?’’
Take a moment and consider, what type of thinking is this above? Does this type of thinking inspire you into action?
If you are like most women that I work with, you may be getting present to how you have you been mean, harsh, and judgmental of you and your body. You may try to punish yourself in order to force yourself “back on track.” This is trying to control. How does this harsh, cold, judgmental body shaming attitude make you feel? Has this cold judgmental attitude worked for you?
Being harsh, hypercritical of your body, or trying to force control over your eating behavior cannot heal your emotional eating tendency. It can’t help you lose weight. In fact it makes it worse, it creates more struggle in your journey, more resistance, and more negative emotions that lead to wanting to numb out the very negative emotions your harsh, critical, negative thinking has created! You then may notice a sudden craving for food. In order to get back into the numb zone what do you do? Yes, you guess it …. EMOTIONALLY EAT.
Negative, mindless thinking FEEDS a weight problem!
This way of thinking has not worked for you as a long term solution. Stop the insanity! It has only kept you unhappy, stuck and unwilling to put the effort in. How could your weight or emotional eating tendency be solved by more coldness and more judgment?
You can’t expect yourself to start healing yourself until you stop hurting yourself.
I invite you to stop the negative, controlling, judging thoughts that punish you. Is it becoming clear to you now that controlling, condemning thoughts do not inspire you into action? Are you starting to see how more negative thinking adds to the struggle in your journey?
What you need most now is relief.
Your path to freedom from emotional eating is paved in a compassionate loving relationship with yourself. Adopt a present, peaceful and accepting inner voice. This concept is so powerful that when you allow a compassion voice to live inside you, you won’t have lost your control you will have gained it!
Ready to change? So how do you shift your thinking?
Use this simple way of thinking to start bridging the gap to positive and present thinking.
Just for today…
“Just for today I let go of the negative self-talk and try on a present, positive kind way of thinking. Today the mean, harsh critical thinking ends! In its’ place, just for today, I am kind and loving to myself. Just for today I am enough the way I am right now, today, regardless of my size. My journey to freedom starts with me. It’s an inside job and I am willing to be kind, loving and accepting of who I am, now in this moment. Just for today I feel secure that when I am positive and kind to myself I have more willingness to eat whole foods, move my body and make healthy choices! Just for today, I take this journey one day at a time and trust that when I am present and kind to myself my transformation will happen!”
A Compassionate, present way of thinking isthe way out of your weight problem.
Are you thinking about discovering if weight loss coaching is right for you?
I invite you to contact me, together we will discover if coaching is the right fit for you to achieve a Blissfully Healthy Life. With personalized coaching from a women’s-only coach and community who understands the same issues you do, you can be free! Release the extra weight and the emotionally eating. Finally find something that you can stick with and achieve real results!
Have a Blissfully Healthy Day! With Love and Compassion Always.
***
We migrated to a new platform but wanted to preserve the comments left on our blog, like this one from former client Elizabeth C.
“Emmie, Your two articles are spot-on!! I was just talking to someone about how to learn to love yourself, and writing down three things everyday is Such a great idea!! Thank you so much, Emmie! You have once again re-inspired me to keep on this Path of self love which will translate into getting my body healthier by making better choices. Thank you, your friend and former client, Elizabeth”
Ingredients:
