Just say no, to GMO’s & The little packet of death!

What is a GMO might you ask? Well it stands for Genetically Modified Organism, eww. Below is a link that will give you a good explanation of what GMO’s are and what are the most commonly contaminated foods containing GMO’s.

http://www.nongmoproject.org/learn-more/what-is-gmo/

So, as a consumer and lover of all foods, I took a couple simple steps to make my journey to being GMO free!  I am not totally living a GMO free lifestyle, as I have to travel for work at times and have a busy schedule (this is no excuse, but hey I’m only human)!  I will say that about 99% of the time I avoid GMO’s at all costs, and when I don’t then I have to pay the consequences and they are not pretty! Starting on the path to eliminating GMO’s can be very overwhelming as you will find that MANY if not all products, fruits, veggies and meats in conventional food stores contain GMO’s.  So below are a couple of simple steps to start on your own path…

Step # 1- Take a peek in your refrigerator and read the ingredients on the products that you own. This link below from Foodbabe.com has a whole list of GMO ingredients

http://foodbabe.com/possible-gmo-ingredients-a-z/

Step # 2- Throw away whatever you can. You don’t have to throw away everything in your fridge, the feeling is very overwhelming, but if you see a pattern of things that you buy containing GMO’s look for some alternatives.

Step #3- Do your own research, but beware of products that are labeled “organic” or “natural,” because they very well might be contaminated with GMO’s, (I definitely made that mistake at first)

Step #4- Don’t drive yourself crazy about GMO’s they are everywhere! There have been moments where I have panicked about what is in the food that I’m eating especially while eating out, like today. I ordered a piece of salmon at lunch, when it came to the table it looked so yummy, but I forgot to ask them where they get their fish! So I calmly asked the waitress is your salmon farmed or wild? I had my fingers crossed and was praying that she would say wild, and then she said it was farmed, I almost fainted and my work friends were like “it’s not gonna kill you!” My response was, well “it might!”  I’m embarrassed to say I did eat the fish because I well I just did.

So,  start small, as you become more aware and conscious about what you put in your body!

My journey to living a healthier lifestyle started in 2010 when I learned how to balance my meals (proteins, carbs and veggies). However my knowledge about GMO’s, what they are, where they are, and how they affect my body started in April of 2013, when I read an article about Splenda. Yes, in 2010 I made a major transformation, and well I’m still transforming, learning about nutrition and what it really means to be healthy.  Since my super cool transformation, I had supplemented my sugar consumption with Splenda. I used it in my coffee and tea, in my morning oatmeal and in pretty much any recipe that called for sugar. It was hard to admit that I was addicted to the so called no calorie sweetener SPLENDA.  Ashamed and embarrassed, I went cold turkey after reading this article.

http://institutefornaturalhealing.com/2013/06/splenda-the-little-packet-of-death/

Everyone needs a little sweetness in their life! So how do you add a little sweetness to your life without that little packet of death or without using refined sugars which can derail your weight loss goals (oh and refined sugar isn’t good for you either it typically contains GMOs)!?!

In tea or baked goods I use local honey (if you live in Orlando this is my favorite http://www.winterparkhoney.com/) I typically pick this up from my local nutrition store, College Park Nutrition http://www.collegeparknutrition.com/

In my morning oatmeal or pretty much anything else that I want to make sweet I use and organic agave or coconut crystals! If you haven’t noticed there is a little non-gmo sticker on these containers, anything containing this sticker is good to go with no GMO’s! I would love to hear anyone else’s story or mission to cut GMO’s out of their diet!

Related articles

• GMO products could be cause of epidemic in US (voiceofrussia.com)
• Hawaii bans GMO (consumerresources.in)
• 7 Simple Ways to Avoid GMOs (fool.com)
• Los Angeles to become largest GMO-free zone in the US (southweb.org)
• True GMO Science and Dangers You’ll Never Hear About from the Media (wakingtimes.com)

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”

― Hippocrates

The New Year Is Upon Us!!!

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone, and hopefully for everyone it was a great one! The one thing that I don’t like to give thanks for is the horrible food hangover that I’m left with! THANKS A ALOT! So, for me thanksgiving is a very important event to share with the people that you love and care about, however it’s also important because for me that means that the end of the year is approaching and what happens at the end of the year??? You guessed it…Happy New Year!!!  What is the main focal point and numero uno question that your’re asked at any New Years Party? So what is your New Years Resolution?!?

We all have areas in our lives that need improvement–whether it’s our careers, relationships, fitness or just overall mental and emotional state. Although making changes in any of these categories sounds like a huge undertaking, it all starts with making goals and taking that first step. Sometimes even that sounds daunting and we need a little bit of inspiration before we can take any steps.  Here are a couple of ideas to get you off to making all your aspirations come to pass in 2014!

1. Make your goal public (No, you don’t have to tell everyone what your resolution is), but for me telling the people who are closest to me what I want to accomplish so they can hold me accountable!

2. Make a couple small and attainable goals if you have a major one! If your goal is to lose 40 pounds, try breaking it up into a weekly or monthly goal that is attainable to ensure that you stay focused!

3. Have someone hold you accountable

4. Keep a journal, log or blog! Writing things down makes them more realistic!

5. All in all BE HAPPY

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness 

My Claim to fame and one of my biggest accomplishments, thus far….

In 2010, I decided it was a time for major change in my life, I wanted to start another diet. Big deal right? I wanted to feel healthy, full of energy, happy and fit. Being a woman is difficult enough, and figuring out how to fulfill our own expectations, as well as the self imposed expectations that we “think” other people have of us is even harder.  Well, my “diet” turned into a fitness journey, and I’m still growing and learning.  Being fit has been a journey and I haven’t found my destination.  So below, my claim to fame and a short synopsis of my fitness journey for your reading pleasure.

http://www.parrillo.com/publications/265.pdf

http://www.parrilloperformance.com/2011/06/21/stephanie-caits/