My Second Favorite F-Word

My Favorite F-Word

 
 

My husband is active duty Navy. I never cussed before I married him, for no other reason than not to do it, but while he was away one deployment there was The Pumpkin Incident (a story for a later day). And as I drove away from the Wal-Mart in the rain, at a stop light, I said F*** really loudly. Just to myself, but it felt SO GOOD. And from that moment on, I cussed like a sailor. Pun intended.

Since that fateful October day, I’ve understood the power of release. I’m * maybe * a little uptight, and I didn’t realize it but dancing was my release. Since I was forced to stop that life path after 17 years, I’ve had so much build up and I was set to explode at some point.

Now, I have several, healthy forms of emotional release in my toolbox (including appropriately-uttered cuss words). But there’s another release to which we can all relate, and just just might save your live:

Poop.

More specifically, colon health. Before you close out this blog, yes, this pertains to beauty, so stay with me. You won’t be sorry.

My Second Favorite F-Word

Fiber. It’s not sexy, but it’s been the biggest game-changer in so many ways in my everyday life that if I don’t tell you about it I might burst. Pun intended.

According to the Mayo Clinic, yes, fiber helps you poop. But the benefits I love include blood-sugar regulation, lowering cholesterol, potentially helping you live longer (holler), and, my favorite, helps you get rid of excess junk in your colon. AKA a flat stomach. Don’t come at me. If your goals are different, that’s amazing. This is my blog and I’m sharing my heart.

So, if you want to eat less while staying full for hours, get several health benefits at once AND reduce the belly pooch , adding fiber to your life can help. Win-win.

My Favorite Resource

Since I was nine years old, I’ve been very aware of my food choices due to the aforementioned dance career. I’ve seen it all and tried a few fad diets. The best diet that works for me, though, the one I’ve been able to stick with consistently for years, doesn’t have a name.

Thanks to THIS BOOK by celebrity nutritionist Kelly LeVeque (if you’ve seen a start get her body back after having a baby, she probably worked with Kelly), I’ve learned to simply incorporate protein, fiber, greens, and healthy fat into each meal. It’s that easy.

My Favorite Fiber

You get fiber from a plethora of foods, but if you’re looking to zero in on a couple of stand-alone versions, these are my go-tos.

Acacia Fiber

Selfishly, I want my husband around and healthy forever, but, like me, he’s a very tough critic in the kitchen. Imagine telling the men in your life, “Hey fella, we’re working more fiber into your diet!” Visions of old people chugging Metamucil is unsexy. But what’s VERY sexy is health and vitality. And it can be deadly serious for men. So we sneak in the fiber.

The easiest, tasteless way to get fiber into your diet is dumping a scoop of fiber into a smoothie. THIS FIBER is my favorite, it also has prebiotics which are amazing. It’s soluble, so it makes things creamy.

While Kelly’s book offers so many incredible smoothie recipes, here are the ones we consume on the regular (again, pun intended).

Adam’s Breakfast Smoothie

He’s had this daily for years! Makes 5 10-0z smoothies.

In a blender, add:

Blend until smooth, then add:

  • 16oz frozen spinach

Blend all together until smooth, then add to glass mason jars and store in fridge for up to one week.

Jessica’s Favorite Smoothie

I have this almost every day for breakfast or lunch. Makes one smoothie.

In a blender, add:

Blend until smooth and enjoy immediately

Flax

Packed with both soluble and insoluble fiber AND omega-3s, flaxseed meal has a slightly nutty flavor and can be used in a myriad of ways. When I need a speedy breakfast (like this morning), I’ll drink some green juice, then top some whole-milk Greek yogurt with a teaspoon of raw, unsalted peanut butter and a tablespoon of flaxseed meal. Really filling and a nice texture.

Finishing Touches

Health is wealth. After two years, I think one thing we can all agree on is how importantly we must take our health, to include lifestyle, diet, exercise, and mental health.

Clearly I’m not a health professional, so please seek the advice of one before making any changes, but for me, fiber has made a huge difference in my life. I feel full and satisfied after meals without the need to snack, and fiber is like exfoliating your insides. So when things are going well on your insides, it shows on your outsides.

We know that makeup is only as good as your skin. Good skincare helps, but one of the best way to get glowing, clear skin is through diet. Fiber has become a good friend, so I hope you’ll give it a chance.

Good Makeup Every Day