Archive for the ‘health’ Category

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Don’t Take Your Vitamins or Supplements Within 15 Minutes of Drinking Caffeine!

April 28th, 2010 by Administrator | No Comments | Filed in Stress, health

I recently read about a study that showed that caffeine can block the absorption of vitamins and supplements. It was in my Shape magazine this month I believe. Anywho, it said to try to take your supplements with water and not to drink anything containing caffeine 15 mins before or after popping your pills.

This struck me as interesting because I have taken a multi and a few extra supplements for a while now, but back in January I started on a heavy-duty supplement regimen. I always took the pills with black tea because it was easier for me to get them down and it masked the taste some of them had.

After visiting a naturopath last month, I stopped drinking caffeine completely. He explained my adrenal glands were in a state of fatigue and that I had too much cortisol. He told me that stopping any caffeine intake would help me significantly. He was right. I felt a lot better within 3 days! It helped my adrenal glands stabilize, and on top of that, I am probably actually absorbing all of the nutrients from my vitamins and supplements! Hooray!

Brandi Hamrick

Are You An Oddball? How Being an Oddball Can Help You Succeed!

April 16th, 2010 by Administrator | No Comments | Filed in Goals and Obstacles, Stress, Time Management, health

Did you know that only 1% of people make over 350K a year? That means that 99% make less than that. If you want to be in that top one percent, that means you have to think and act differently that 99% of people. You have to go against the grain, and that probably means doing things in a different way than most people you know and are are around.

I love this statistic because it creates a mindset shift, not only about money, but about all areas of your life. Maybe you have no desire to make 350K a year. Maybe you just want to make a comfortable living while staying home and working less. Maybe money and business isn’t your end goal at all. Maybe you want to achieve optimal health, reach a fitness goal, or get a degree. You still need to act differently than people who are not doing whatever it is you want to do.

Whatever your “end goal” happens to be, you can rest assure that going against the grain and being an “oddball” will help you get there faster.

Health
Are most of the people you know healthy? And by healthy, I mean really healthy (energized, not sick very often, at a good weight, get enough sleep, not moody, etc.)… not the American definition of healthy. Most people opt to live with mediocre health and see a doctor when they are sick, then get a shot and some antibiotics. Chances are, if you want to have optimal health, you will have to incorporate dietary, lifestyle, and exercise habits into your daily life in order to prevent disease in the first place. This may mean you choose to go for a walk instead of watching TV, eat a salad when you would rather have fried chicken, and seek the help of other health professionals (nutritionists, personal trainers, naturopathic doctors, holistic doctors, etc.). You have to go against the grain and do things differently than the majority of people you know.

Biz
In business, if you want to achieve huge success, you have to plan on being a huge success right from the start. You want to play big and reach as many people as possible. You don’t want to stay small and mediocre…everyone else is doing that!

Academic Goals
We all know of “Bill Gates” types of stories where someone quit college and then went on to open a very successful business. And, maybe for some people, this is going against the grain. But, for some professions, you must obtain a degree to have a license to work (doctors, nurses, teachers, etc.). If your goal is to finish college for whatever reason, you must do things differently than the people who are flunking classes and dropping out. This may mean that you have to spend weekends studying while others are out partying. It also may mean you sacrifice other areas of your life for just a little while to see your end goal.

If your goal isn’t to get a degree, but to advance your life and business, you still need to stay on top of what’s happening in your industry. This may mean being a part of networking groups, going to seminars, and reading related magazines and journals when you’d rather be going to a movie.

I am not saying that you should never have leisure time. On the contrary, having “real” leisure time (really relaxing and not having the crackberry and laptop out) is crucial to success. And, by the way, it’s different than what most people do. Having dedicated work time and dedicated leisure time is a must, just be sure the two don’t overlap.

You have probably heard sayings about it “being lonely at the top.” Some people may regard this statement as putting yourself above others, but what I think it means is that you are on top of your biggest goals and dreams (your hearts desire). You will not let anything or anyone get in your way. You may have to decline social events at times, get past fear, and do things differently than most people you know, but it will payoff big-time when you achieve those goals!

So the next time you find yourself at home on a Saturday night studying, leaving your family for the weekend to go to a seminar, or asking for dressing on the side of that salad while your friend has the cheeseburger, relax… and own your oddball status!

You Grow Girl!
Brandi Hamrick
www.yougrowgirl.net

Quick Tip of The Week: Use Savvy Scheduling to Lose Weight!

March 9th, 2010 by Administrator | No Comments | Filed in Goals and Obstacles, Time Management, health

Here’s good news for planners who like to have a “routine” and schedule everything from vacations to meals….

A study from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California reports that mice who ate at the same time everyday and fasted for 12 hours at night turned on genes that burned more sugar and fat than mice who weren’t on the routine.

This supports the theory that humans who follow similar eating habits would do the same!

You Grow Girl!
Brandi Hamrick

You Do Have Time to Exercise!

February 18th, 2010 by Administrator | No Comments | Filed in Lifestyle, Time Management, health

Too busy to exercise?

New studies have shown that small bursts of exercise throughout the day have similar benefits to working out for longer all at once.

A brisk 10-minute walk after rising, another at lunch, and one after dinner can give you health benefits without compromising your schedule! Add a few lunges and squats while talking on the phone or watching TV and you will be fit in a flash!

Brandi Hamrick
“The Queen B Coach”
www.thequeenbcoach.com
www.yougrowgirl.net

Brandi Hamrick is a lifestyle expert and success coach who empowers women to go from “busy bee” to “Queen B” of their lives and businesses so they can grow into the person they are meant to B!

Take Care of Your SELF!

January 20th, 2010 by Administrator | No Comments | Filed in health

Keeping a check on your health is the greatest gift you can give yourself and your FAMILY!

January is a great time to make all of your overdue doctor’s appointments! Make your check-ups this month and keep it simple by seeing the docs every year at this time. Then, the docs that you need to see every 6 months you can see in January and July.

This way there will be no question of when your last appointment was and your health won’t slip through the cracks!

To your health!
Brandi Hamrick
The “Queen B” Coach
www.brandihamrick.com

De-Stress in Seconds

December 29th, 2009 by Administrator | No Comments | Filed in Stress, health

Here’s a quick way to eliminate stress and boost energy overall: HUM.

Yep, hummmm. Humming through your nasal passages helps to release nitric oxide, which naturally dilates blood vessels, helps blood flow, and reduces stress. Humming throughout your nasal passage and throat to where it tickles your sinuses works best.

Add humming to your morning meditation routine to get your day started on a stress-free, energized, foot…or hum as needed throughout the day.

Also remember to take big belly breaths throughout the day (set an alarm on your phone/watch every hour if you need to remember), as this helps boost energy and produce nitric oxide too!

Here’s to humming!
Brandi Hamrick
The “Queen B” Coach
www.brandihamrick.com

Keeping Your Sanity During the Hustle and Bustle

December 16th, 2009 by Administrator | 2 Comments | Filed in Stress, health

I know things are crazy right now, but don’t forget to give yourself a little time each day to relax. I suggest working up to at least 30 minutes of “me” time everyday, but for now, start with 5 minutes in the morning and 5 in the evening. Here are some tips:

In the AM, sit quietly in a private space (retreat to your closet if need me). Concentrate on your breath and allow your mind to drift if it needs to, but come back to the breath. For the last minute do some light stretches while repeating your favorite affirmations.

At night, unwind by retreating to your quiet place (or bathtub if your so lucky) and lying down. Concentrate on your breath for the majority of the time. Finish up with some super light stretches, massage your big toes (it helps release melatonin) and give thanks for your blessings.

You will be amazed at how 10 minutes a day will keep you centered and less stressed!

Peace and Love,
Brandi Hamrick
The “Queen B” Coach
www.brandihamrick.com

How to Reach Your Goals by Being Healthy

December 9th, 2009 by Administrator | 3 Comments | Filed in Brandi's Life, Organization, health

If you are like me, being healthier is always on your to-do-list! The most common New Year’s Resolutions have to do with weight loss, diet, and exercise. But, did you know that by reaching your health goals you are also setting yourself up for success in personal and professional areas as well?


When your body is functioning at it’s optimum level you have more success in every area of life. Some examples:
1. You have more energy. When you have more energy, you get more done.
2. More time. Being healthy means less time being sick, less time at the doctor’s office, and less time feeling sluggish.
3. More creativity. One result of not exercising and eating right? Brain fog. When you have brain fog it’s almost impossible to think clearly and outside the box.

Unfortunately, this week, I know the symptoms of lethargy and brain fog all too well. After spending 10 days in California and stuffing myself with rich food on my trip and Thanksgiving, I am run down this week. As many of you know, I struggle with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and the smallest slip-ups in my nutrition, sleep, and supplement routines leave me feeling run-down for days. Luckily, I haven’t felt this way in a while now, and it’s enough to make me want to not fall off the wagon ever again!

Most of us know what we need to do to be our healthiest, we just don’t implement. Let’s talk about some ways to be healthy and stick to the plan!

See your doc.
Whenever beginning a diet and/or exercise plan, be sure to talk it over with your doctor. She will be able to tell you if you have any health concerns that would affect the way you need to eat and exercise. If you are clueless about nutrition, your doc will also be able to refer you to a nutritionist. In addition, be sure to go for your annual appointments.

Eat well.
Once it’s been determined what you should be eating, make it easy on yourself to stick to the plan. Eat foods that nourish your body and don’t skip meals. Plan your meals for the week on Saturday and go to the grocery store. Make it easy on yourself by having healthy foods and snacks on hand (and throwing out the junk food).

Start moving.
A trainer I had once told me that most people fail at their exercise plans because they can’t stick with their routine. They get super excited and motivated for a month or so and hit the gym for hours each day. Schedule exercise into your day. Even 15-20 minutes adds up. Also incorporate movement into your habits: take the stairs, fidget at your desk, pace while on the phone, and knit while watching TV. A recent study showed that among a group of non-exercisers who had similar diets, the “fidgeters” of the group weighed up to 30 lbs less simply because their fidgetting during the day added up to about 350 calories burned. Every little bit helps!

Write down your goals.
Write down what health goals you want to achieve. Next, make a list of the steps you need to take in order to achieve each goal. Lastly, write down the motivating factors behind each goal (living a long life to be here for your family, feeling better and work, having more confidence, etc.).

Journal.
Get a small notebook that can easily fit in your purse and keep a food and exercise journal. This will help create consciousness. Also be sure to jot down how you feel after eating and exercising!

Affirm.
Create positive affirmations that support your goals and say them throughout the day. Jot your affirmation on a post it and stick to the mirror to be sure to get your day off on the right foot! My favorite health affirmation? I am slim, trim, and healthy!

Let’s work on our health together, oh and don’t forget to get your SLEEP!

To our health!
Brandi Hamrick
The “Queen B” Coach
www.brandihamrick.com

My Favorite Appliance: The Rice Cooker

November 9th, 2009 by Administrator | No Comments | Filed in Brandi's Life, health

I have this rice cooker from Sanyo and I just LOVE it!

Not only does it cook rice PERFECTLY, but it has this wonderful timer on it. You can put the rice in the cooker before you leave the house and tell it what time you want it to be ready. Then wallah, when you get home at 5:20 and you have a delicious, nutritious meal!

Not only that, but it can cook meat too! I also dice up chicken and throw on top of it for chicken and rice meals…frozen peas and carrots in the mix make the meal well-balanced!

My favorite easy meal: throw a thin chicken breast on top of brown rice and frozen peas/carrots, use chicken broth instead of water and season w cilantro and a splash of soy…MMMM

Oh, and it has this steam tray that inserts into the top, so you can throw some shrimp or veggies in there for about the last 15 minutes and they turn out just PERFECT!

The hubby sets it up to cook oatmeal before he goes to bed at night, so when he wakes up he has steal cut oats waiting on him! Add a little apple juice and cinnamon for oats with some flavor!

Brandi Hamrick
The “Queen B” Coach

If We All Ate Properly There Would be 200K Fewer Deaths From Cancer a Year!

November 7th, 2009 by Administrator | No Comments | Filed in health

Yes, you read that correctly. If everyone ate all the fruits and veggies they should each day, around 200 thousand fewer people would die from cancer each year!

Wow. That’s a very strong statistic. This doesn’t imply that every case of cancer could be prevented, it just means that some cases may not exist, and others would have a better outcome.

How? Because, in lab tests, powerful antioxidants (like the ones found in bok-choy, berries, pomegranates, and the skins of red and purple grapes to name a few), not only prevented some cancer cells from forming, but they even destroyed some types of tumors. Also, the antioxidants would cause the other systems of the body to run at peak performance so it would be much easier to prevent and/or rid the body of, cancer.

Of course this doesn’t mean that a healthy diet is a cure-all for cancer. Other factors such as environment, stress, and things we don’t even know about, come into play. But, this statistic should give us all inspiration to eat a healthier diet not only because of cancer, but other diseases, and to live a better quality of life.

Here are some tips on how to get your veggies and fruit:

1. Shop local.
Local farmer’s markets are typically cost effective, and you are likely to get more vitamins and nutrients. The more time it takes to get from the ground to your plate, the less vitamins the produce will have. It’s estimated that spinach loses half of its nutritional value it just 5 days.

2. Go organic when possible.
Organic can be expensive, which is another reason to shop your local farmer’s market. Ask the farmer about what practices he uses to farm. Many small farmers actually meet the criteria of organic, but just haven’t spent the money to become USDA certified yet. Though organic fruits and veggies don’t necessarily have more nutrients, the verdict is still out on the effect of pesticides on the body. Chemicals in pesticides have been linked to nervous system disorders, Alzheimer’s, and cancer. Keep in mind that anything with a thin peeling (or peeling that you eat) will be more of a concern. Peaches, apples, and grapes are a few items you may want to splurge for organic on. Citrus fruits and other fruits with hard protective layers aren’t likely to contain as many pesticides. Which brings us to number 3.

3. Wash your produce thoroughly.
Cold running water should suffice. To go the extra mile, you can mix water with a pinch of vinegar (a natural disinfectant) or purchase produce spray. Not only will this help remove any pesticide residue, but it will help get rid of any other germs on the produce. Think other people’s hands, animal waste, and soil.

4. Hide veggies.
If you have a picky eater at your house (or are one yourself) you can sneak veggies into sauces. My favorite is to cut up squash, mushrooms, and zucchini, sautee’ until soft, and mix into marinara or spaghetti sauce. The tomato sauce flavors will overpower any veggie taste and the veggies give it some nice texture.

5. Juice.
There are some fabulous fruit and veggie juices on the market today. Just be sure to check the ingredients. You want 100% juice, with no added syrups or sweeteners.

6. Buy canned or frozen.
When you can’t get fresh, canned and frozen are the next best thing. A great way to save time and money is to buy frozen or canned. This way your veggies won’t ruin. Look for quality items with no fillers. You can also give canned veggies a good rinse under the faucet to get rid of salt. Keeping frozen strawberries, bananas, and blueberries on hand will give you no excuse to not get your fruits for the day. You can simply throw them into the blender with a few ice cubes, yogurt and/or juice, and have a super healthy treat on the go!

7. Make eating healthy a priority.
The main reasons people give for not eating their fruits and veggies? Not having enough time and/or money. Remember buy local, shop in-season, and buy frozen/canned to save money. You can also buy many pre-cut varieties at most grocery stores to save time. Better yet, buy the whole item yourself and spend an hour on the weekend washing, slicing, and putting into single sized servings. Also, it is estimated that people who spend a little more on their diet save hundreds of thousands over time in medical bills. This means you will also save time by living longer and not having to go to the doctor as often or recover from procedures!

Your assignment:
1. Each week buy one new fruit and/or vegetable that you haven’t tried before. This will keep your taste buds from getting bored, and you are likely to find items you love.
2. Over the weekend, make a list of past-due doctor’s appointments or screenings. Make these appointments on Monday. Also start your self exams if you need to.
3. Visit localharvest.org to find farmer’s markets in your area.

Brandi Hamrick
The “Queen B” Coach
www.brandihamrick.com

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