Pole Fitness & the Modern Woman

Written by: Karina

The “pole” is no longer just for the Strippers (no hate here) but for any woman who wants that extra bit of confidence! Pole Fitness is not just trendy but (trust me) it’s an amazing workout and definitely brings that extra spice into the bedroom.

I remember my first pole fitness class- I walked into the classroom extremely shy since I didn’t know what kind of people to expect. First thing came to mind was that I was in a class meant for strippers who were perfecting their skills. However, as I made few friends, surprisingly some were married to physicians and lawyers, and some were stay at home moms. They all had a few things in common - to get in shape, get their confidence back and bring some spice into the bedroom.

A few days after I took a spin on my first pole, I was extremely sore and it was surprising how tough yet entertaining it was. During your pole fitness session your whole body is engaged and all your muscles are working together so don’t be surprised when you can’t walk the next day- for whatever reason! ;)

The class starts off with a 10 min warm up and the instructors are usually telling you positive feedback & motivate you by telling you how great you are doing. This helps your confidence levels automatically rise and you feel amazing! The musical playlist is fun and energizing making it feel like a slumber party with your girlfriends, rather than a difficult work out!

One of my favorite moves was the FIREMAN , here is the video if you happen to have a pole at home ;)  

Also, on a side note: It really helped my flexibility. With moves like Hip Stretch, Quad Stretch, Shoulder Stretch I not only toned up but became increasingly flexible.

Take a look at this video-- Both males & females from around the world doing some of the most advanced moves- Don't try this at home folks!! 

The more you continue to attend & practice your moves, the better you will get! Don’t give up, I know at first it can be hard to imagine that you can achieve some of the more complicated moves but after few classes you’ll almost be a pro!  Here's one example of a mom changing up her look with the pole!

Let me know how it goes!! :)

Bring it on Cold & Flu Season

Written by: Idalisa

With cold and flu season well on its way & the new Enterovirus going around, I’ve really wanted to share some of the things that I do to keep my family healthy. I have always taken a multi-vitamin & tried to stick to “clean” eating habits.  My big boys take their daily multivitamin and baby Nicolas breastfeeds and takes Vitamin D supplements.  We also try to juice or make a green smoothie every day. 

After months of research, these are 3 things that I have added to my family’s regimen in order to keep those nasty illnesses away & boost our strength:

#1 Fermented Cod Liver Oil

Cod Liver Oil is something that people have been taking for generations.  I clearly remember my fish breath after my mom and grandmother would make me drink this stuff! The taste fits in the same category as apple cider vinegar but is well worth it because of the health benefits. Those ladies were on to something!

Cod liver oil, SPECIFICALLY fermented cod liver oil, is a great & simple way to keep your body healthy.  It retains high levels of fat soluble vitamins A and D, as well as Omega-3’s, which we all know are very beneficial for our body to function at its optimal level. Lucky for our kids, they have flavored fermented cod liver oil, so your breath is not as fishy.

 *I purchased regular cod liver oil before learning about fermented cod liver oil. Oops!  It still has great benefits; just lower levels of everything due to the heating process. *

#2 Elderberry Syrup  

Elderberry syrup is exactly what it sounds like.  It's a concentrated syrup made from black Elderberries (sambucus nigra).  Elderberry syrup helps boosts the immune system and is a great source of vitamins A, B and C.  It has also been known to help avoid and reduce flu symptoms.

You can get elderberry syrup at health stores or online, or even make your own.  We opted to purchase ours this time around, but will make our own next year.  It seems fairly simple and straight forward, and is more cost effective.  Most recipes out there consist of black elderberries, water, honey, and spices such as cinnamon and clove. Here is an elderberry Gummy Bear Recipe !

Elderberry syrup is used differently by different people.  Some take it daily as a preventative measure, while others take it when they start to get symptoms of illness.  Some do both, which is what we do.  We take a daily dose and then increase it when we experience symptoms of illness.  I try to give this one to the kids after the fish oil since it tastes MUCH better! 

and lastly 

#3 Probiotics

I used to take probiotics back in college when I had all sorts of “tummy problems.”  I know, TMI!  Don’t worry, I’ll spare you the details! When I think back, my stomach issues were most likely caused by my totally unbalanced college diet consisting of an assortment of baked goods, late night pizza, and ice cream.  After a few weeks of adding consistent probiotics, my tummy troubles were all gone and haven’t come back since. 

Why, you ask?  Probiotics help maintain gut health by providing us with the bacteria we need to have optimal intestinal function. It even helps babies with "colic" symptoms! Check out this Study done on babies with colic- What does this have to do with fighting a cold or the flu? Well, if we have a healthy gut, it usually means our body is in pretty good shape. If you don't believe me, check out this peer reviewed article : Bacteria May Be Best Defense Against Nasty Germs.

With the weather starting to change, my kids and I will be spending lots of time outside & around other families so hopefully these natural preventatives will give us that extra boost we need to fight off those icky germs and to have that energy to run, play and enjoy more beautiful fall days!

What are your natural cold and flu season preventative measures?  Any generational remedies work for you? We would love to hear about them!

Vinegar Anyone?

Written By: Karina

Many of us are constantly trying to find that one “miracle pill” that will instantly shrink our waist without considering how we live. A healthy lifestyle is crucial to making this shrinkage actually happen, but it has to become routine and not a temporary or quick fix. By changing a few unhealthy habits, we can begin to see and feel a difference in our appearance and our demeanor. –Keep in mind, it takes 21 consecutive days to create a habit, so let’s get started!

Go look in your pantry right now! I’m sure you already have this amazing body cleanser in stock. Apple Cider Vinegar is my newest obsession! 

I know, it sounds horrible! It is horrible, in fact just thinking about it is making me cringe, but it’s SO WORTH IT! You don’t even think about the sour taste or smell once you start feeling that instant rush of energy!

I drink a ½ cup every morning instead my former daily coffee habit & now I reserve a shot of espresso for those desperate times that I need a serious mental jolt! 

It’s best to take it first thing in the morning before brushing your teeth because the acid can destroy your enamel. I brush immediately after. If you aren’t into the taste or prefer an alternative, you can find Pure Apple Cider Vinegar Tablets at your local vitamin shop, or whole foods market.

Some of the surprising benefits of this new habit are….

Protects & Detoxifies Organs:

*Research suggests that ACV protects your red blood cells, kidney and liver from oxidative injury and it lowers the blood lipid (fat) levels in mice that were fed high cholesterol diets. (Nazıroğlu 2014) .To get the best results you have to exercise and practice portion control. Not only is a great detox but if you drink plenty of water, you are flushing several toxins out of your body. ACV helps balance your body’s pH and also detoxifies major organs like your liver.

Constipation:

I know, I know- don’t blush!! This isn't bs! You would be surprised to know how common it is to suffer from constipation. I hated those moments when I tried to squeeze myself & my pooch into that tiny little black dress- only to look like I was in my 2^nd trimester! Constipation is a condition in which bowel emptying occurs infrequently or less than three times a week. I am proud to say that I have not felt any belly babies since I started to drinking my daily ACV and I am EXTREMELY happy about that! 

Candida:

No, that is not a mistype. Candida is a fungus that naturally occurring within our bodies. We have small amounts of it in our mouth and intestines. When your PH balance is off, or there is an overgrowth of this fungus, you can suffer from digestive issues as well as issues such as thrush or a yeast infection (fun). 

ACV is rich in natural enzymes that help your body remove excess candida and helps maintain neutral levels. Did you know that Candida infections can create symptoms like fatigue, poor memory or sugar cravings too?

If you have some of this at your house you can start tomorrow morning, otherwise, I expect a full report the day after tomorrow! Drink 4-6 ounces on empty stomach every morning & before or after each meal then flush with 8 oz. of water. Bottoms up!

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