Nowadays, we have a society where everything has to be instant. Who isn’t looking for a magic pill or drink that will give you immediate results? The reality is that anything worth doing is worthing doing right! In the end, that usually means taking small steps that help us slowly and steadily reach our end goal.

Everyone has had at least one experience where something is worth all the time and effort they put into it. Whether that be their education, business, health, or family, anything of true value costs you some effort. In most cases, the more effort you put in, the greater the reward. For me, one of my experiences of slow and steady is with my weight loss.

It All Adds Up

It’s funny how quickly we forget that the pounds didn’t just show up overnight. Yet we’re so surprised when they don’t just disappear overnight. Did you know that a healthy, sustainable weight loss is between 1 to 2 pounds a week? When you need to lose 150 pounds, those numbers make the end seem far, far away. What works for me is looking at the small numbers, For example, one pound a week. Who can’t lose one pound a week? My average is about 2 – 3 pounds a week. I know what you’re thinking, woo baby 2 pounds. Well, it all adds up. 

After 8 months, I have lost over 70 pounds. Now that’s a number I can get behind. If you want to find out what did and didn’t work for me, stay tuned. I will be writing it in here! I have been trying a bunch of different diets and supplements. For the record, as a doctor of natural medicine, I am only willing to try natural forms of weight loss. Everyone is different, so you will find what works for some might not work for all. I’m going to put up a blog for everything I’ve tried and if it worked or not. Keep in mind this blog will co er more than just weight loss. If you have anything you are interested in or would like me to research, let me know, and I will share my findings with you.

How to Plan Ahead

We all know just how important it is to start the day off right and just how bad things can get when we don’t. Yet, so many of us are constantly getting in our own way when it comes to a successful morning routine. One of the biggest ways we do this is by skipping breakfast. Now don’t get me wrong, I was once like you and I hated to eat breakfast. It felt as if my body was just not ready to eat that early in the morning. I had to constantly force myself to at least drink a morning smoothie (which did help me adjust to eating in the am).

Still Not a Morning Person?

You may find that it is still difficult for you to eat in the morning. If this is the case, a great way to adjust your body to get back into the swing of things starts your day off with a little movement. Nothing crazy. I suggest just starting with a morning walk. Walking 30 minutes a day is extremely beneficial to your overall health, digestion, and mindset. In fact, when asked, the people who start their days off with a daily exercise and meditation routine were ten times more likely to be successful and productive in their day. You deserve to have everything you have ever wanted, and a great way to give back to yourself while staying on track with your goals is to create a morning routine. Make sure when you are creating your morning routine, it is something you can and will do consistently!

Lacking Morning Motivation?

No worries, we have all been there. I find the best way to help bounce you out of bed is to have as much preparation as possible. That means if you struggle to get in your daily workout, get it done and out of the way first thing in the morning. Ensure you are laying out your clothes the night before, and grab a buddy if you need an extra boost. After your morning exercise, why not take some time to get your mind right by meditating (try not to meditate too close to when you woke up, or you end up falling back asleep). This will help clear your mind so you can focus on getting more done in less time. Then finish your morning routine off with breakfast!

Maximize Your Mornings!

Your mornings should be one of your most productive time frames throughout your day. The best way to ensure it stays that way is by setting yourself up for success. How do you do that? Easy, you get as much done ahead of time as possible. For example, you can set your clothes out the night before or make your breakfast ahead of time (overnight oats are a great idea). Another great way to increase your morning productivity is by writing out your daily goals the night before and starting with the ones that are the fastest and easiest to do. I am sure you have heard that you should start with the hardest, and then it is all downhill for the rest of the day. However, most people don’t finish the hardest task in one day. Therefore when you start with the quicker tasks, you feel more accomplished and tend to complete more of the harder tasks than the other way around. 

Buffalo Chickpea Quesadillas

Gluten Free Vegan Serves 4

• 1 Cup Raw Cashews Soaked over- night
• 1/2 Cup Plain Coconut Yogurt
• 2 Tbsp Water
• 1/2 Cup Salsa
• 1 tsp Cumin ground
• 1/2 tsp Chili Powder
• 1 tsp Sea Salt
• 1/2 tsp Smoked Paprika
• 2 Tbsp Nutritional Yeast
• 1/4 Cup Vegan Butter
• 4 Tbsp Frank’s Hot sauce
• 2 Tbsp Coconut Sugar
• 1 Medium white onion
• 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 4 Cloves Garlic minced
• 15 ounce can Chickpeas Drained & rinsed
• 6 Green onions just chives
• 8 Gluten Free Tortillas

Directions:

Prepare cheese sauce. Drain nuts and pat dry. Add nuts, yogurt, water, salsa, cumin, chili powder, paprika, salt, and yeast into a blender. Mix until creamy and smooth. If you would like the sauce thicker, cook on the stove over medium heat for a few minutes.

Add melted butter, hot sauce, salt, and sugar whisk until combined. Mash peas to desired texture. Sweat onions in skillet with oil and garlic. Add hot sauce, chickpeas, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook for 2 more minutes. In a new skillet, heat tortilla, cheese sauce, chickpea mixture, chives, and cook for 3 minutes on each side. Repeat until done.

Need A Hand?

A happy and healthy life is closer than you may think. We all have to deal with our health daily, and when we don’t feel our best, it shows. If you are tired of just making it through your day, you NEED to start investing in your health today! You are not alone on this journey. If you ever need any help, I am always here to do just that. Even if it is something as small as acting as a sounding board, do you have any questions or concerns I can help you with? Feel free to contact me directly at [email protected], or you can even book a one-on-one call with me. Be sure to subscribe to gain access to tons of free goodies and check back daily for more great recipes and information!