10 Signs You Need a Fresh Start

When was the last time you took a few moments to do some a self-inventory. Not like a counting freckles, or hairs, but a nitty gritty introspection sesh? When was the last time you examined your habits and your moods and really thought about how youre doing. If its been a while, you may be missing the blatant evidence that its time for a fresh start. Sometimes when we are stuck in a bit of a rut, it can be pretty easy to miss the 10 signs that you need a fresh start. Let me break them down for you:

1. You would categorize or mood as kind of, "eh." You dont really find yourself passionate about anything.
2. You dont feel like your normal self. Youre not sure whats up, but you know that a couple weeks ago, we were not feeling like this.

You feel indifferent about most of the decisions you make.
3. You would rather sleep than spend time with loved ones. You and your bed are pals. When you get home you just want to lay in your bed and tell it about all of your problems.
4. Nothing makes you feel motivated anymore. You know you should workout, but you dont wanna. You know you should probably shower, but you dont wanna do that either. And laundry? Yeah... probably should... but no. All motivation = GONE.
5. The ones closest to you keep asking what is wrong. Your family thinks youre a little depressed. They keep asking you how you are and if everything is OK. Your response is usually, "Im fine. Just been tired."
6. Your confidence is in the toilet. You look in the mirror and you just arent feeling in. So, theres no point in getting ready, because that too is something youre just not feeling.
7. You feel insecure about your decisions. You put a lot of thought into choosing simple things like what to have for dinner and what to watch on Netflix, and then when you do make a choice you still arent sure if it was the right one.
8. You feel like running away from all of your problems. Your ideal situation would be a vacation for you and your friend Bed far, far away where no one can reach you. Preferably somewhere that doesnt require money, or bills, or other general life activities.
9. You realize youre not on track with your 5 year plan. This is not where you wanted to be with your life. You were supposed to have your dream job by now. Whats wrong with you? Your plan is totally ruined.
10. You feel like youve maxed out your potential. You cannot see yourself getting passed this. Youll be stuck here forever. All of your potential is maxed out and this is where you level off.

Even if only two of these apply to you... Its time for a fresh start. You need to re-vamp your life.

So how does one just start fresh? You cant just run away and sleep forever, and as good as that sounds it wont make any of your problems go away. Here are some suggestions to help you feel excited about life again and slowly start climbing out of the slump youve been camping in:

1. Start with gratitude.If you really stop and think about it you have a lot of amazing things around you. Set an alarm on your phone that will go over every day at the same time. Open up a memo app on your phone and write down 13 things you are grateful for and do this every single day. Seeing how awesome your life really is can be just the right push to get you living it to the fullest extent.

2. Watch this pep talk from Kid President. He is a pretty cool kid with some big ideas on getting out of a slump.

3. Make a list & reward yourself when everything on that list is done. Write down everything you need to do that day, and then write down what you get when its all done. So maybe when you shower, do laundry, and finish that report for work you get to take a break and watch a couple episodes of your favorite show. This will help you start getting things done so you dont get overwhelmed by tasks.

4. Do something for your body. Dropping a few pounds or even just doing a detox can help you regain some of the confidence youve been lacking for awhile. Try doing the Lemonade Detox. No need to change your diet, all you do is just drink the drink and reap the benefits.

5. Get outside. The weather is warming up and its time to spend less time inside and more time soaking up the sun. Go for a jog, go play a round of golf, or even go lay outside and read a book. You need some fresh air and some Vitamin D. You will feel better physically and mentally when you step away from the couch and when you step outside.

6. Reconnect with some friends. If youve been putting off hanging out with your friends, its time to reconnect with them and start surrounding yourself with people who make you laugh.

7. Cut down on naps, but still get your 8 hours. If you sleep too much, you actually feel more tired. If youre getting more than eight hours of sleep per day, its time to cut down on the naps. You are training your body to want sleep that it doesnt really need and in return it is making you more tired. Before you know it, your over-sleeping has got you caught in a cycle that makes it hard for you to get anything done.

8. Start dreaming & planning. If you arent where you want to be, change it. Simple as that. No one is going to change it for you, its up to you. Start dreaming again. Then start planning out way you can make that dream a reality. Sign up for a class at the local college, Read a book on investing. Whatever your dream is, start working toward it.

9. Surround yourself with motivating things. Find a happy post, rummage through old pictures and find your favorites, or turn on some happy music. Surround yourself with things that remind you to be better and things that inspire you to stay positive.

10. Lighten up. Dont take everything so seriously. Life is good and its worth living. All you need to do is decide that as of this moment, this moment right now, you are going to start fresh.

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What is Oil Pulling

Ive been seeing a lot of people on Facebook talking about oil pulling. I am a little late to the oil pulling party,

but when I saw that it could help whiten teeth and prevent bad breath, I decided I should probably look into it.

When I first started researching, I had no idea what oil pulling was and I had no idea how to do it. So thats where I started.

How to Oil Pull:

Oil pulling is done to promote oral healthy & detox the body. It is done by swishing organic oil such as coconut oil, sesame oil or another vegetable based oil in your mouth for 20 minutes. After the 20 minutes is up, you spit the oil in the trash and rinse your mouth out with warm water.

So what exactly does this swishing do exactly? Well, the lipids in the oil are said to pull bacteria out of your mouth and saliva. It also prevents bacteria from attaching to your teeth. This means that there is less bad breath and yellowing causing gunk in your mouth and more vitamin E. Say hello to stronger, whiter teeth.

Not only does it make teeth stronger and whiter, but a lot of the blogs I read from veteran oil pullers report that it helps headaches go away, it helps improve skin, and it helps people with insomnia and TMJ.

My Experience Oil Pulling:

Ive  tried some pretty odd things for the sake of trying them. Ive done the super glue black head removing mask (terrible freaking idea), Ive done It Works! Wraps, Ive tried dozens of creams, oils and balms, and Ive tried Cali Kickers, but trust me when I say that this is the weirdest thing I have ever done.

I picked up some Organic Coconut Oil (Im not fancy, I just got it from Wal-Mart for like seven bucks). I ran the bottle under hot water for a few minutes to soften the oil, then I scooped about tablespoon out. It was still pretty solid, but easy enough to scoop out with a measuring spoon.

I was super nervous. I held it in my hand for a second and and just kinda stared at it. Then I woman-ed up and went ahead got started. Since mine was kind of solid, it took a couple minutes before it melted completely in my mouth. Having some clumps in there made for a really weird experience texture wise. Then once everything was melted it took me a good 7 minutes before I was used to how t he oil felt and tasted. 

Swishing something for 20 minutes is a REALLY long time. One tablespoon isnt a lot, but as the 20 minutes

goes on the oil soaks up saliva and bacteria and before you know it your mouth is VERY full. I tried staying busy to keep my mind off of the fact that I was basically tasting all the germs in my mouth all at once but those 20 minutes went buy so slowly. 

Finally it was time to spit it out. The articles I have read say to spit it in the trash because the oil can cause problems in your sink. Then I rinsed with the warm water as instructed. I brushed and used mouth wash. My teeth instantly felt awesome. They felt smooth and looked wonderful. I cant really say if they were instantly white, but I know that my mouth felt great. I also didnt feel like I needed gum 10 minutes after brushing.

Despite how weird it was to try, I would definitely do oil pulling again. The benefits are there and I think the texture is something that you can get used to.

What crazy things have you done to whiten your teeth?

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6 Reasons Why Your Last Diet Didnt Work

If youre at the end of your rope with trying diets and eating programs that arent working, it might be time to face the music. You might be falling into diet sabotage without even realizing it. Diet sabotage can happen to anyone, and usually we dont realize how harmful simple ideas or words can be to our day to day actions until its too late. Here are 6 reasons why your last diet didnt work, and of course, some tips to help avoid these in the future.

You Went In Expecting to Fail

If you go into a diet program feeling skeptical of it, or feeling insecure in your ability to do it, youre setting yourself up to fail. With each new opportunity you approach, you need to feel 100% confident in the process and in your ability to stick to it.

• The wrong mindset: "Ive failed at everything else Ive tried, Im sure this will be no different. But Ill give it a try."
• The right mindset: "This time its going to work because Im going to make it work."

Your Goal Wasnt Realistic

While confidence is crucial to success, over-confidence is not. Going into a diet with the idea that its going to fix all your problems and help you lose half your body weight with a few weeks of better eating is just plain unrealistic. Its also worth mentioning that if your goal involves dropping below a healthy weight, its not realistic. Be sure to check out your BMI while you set your goal, then create a realistic timeline to help you reach your healthy weight. There will be good days and bad days, its all a process and its important to acknowledge the process when defining your goals.

• The wrong mindset: "Im going to lose 30 pounds this month and finally get down to 110." 

• The right mindset: "My goal is to lose 2 pounds per week and get out of the overweight category on the BMI chart by end of the year."

You Didnt Ask For Help

At times you might feel like youre all alone in your weight loss battle, and when youre struggling, that can be hard to deal with. The truth is, youre not alone. Even if none of your friends and your family support you, there are forums and Facebook Groups out there dedicated to supporting people who are trying to lose weight. You can always find encouragement and get answers to your questions when youre struggling. All you have to do is reach out and ask for help.

• The wrong mindset: "No one understands what Im going through."
• The right mindset: "I am going to look for people who can help support me."

You Failed to Plan

If you know you have a huge party coming up or if youre planning around a vacation, you might not want to start a diet until those events are completed. Starting a diet and having to take a break mid-way through and start up again can be really difficult. Its not impossible to navigate events, but it does require planning, including taking lunches or setting a timeline for getting back on track after the event is over.

• The wrong mindset: "Oh, I forgot I have a wedding coming up. I guess Ill just quit my diet now since Ill be eating cake."
• The right mindset: "I know I have a wedding coming up, I need to make sure I eat before I go and avoid the cake table so I can stick to my diet."

You Werent Committed

Commitment issues arent just for relationships. Committing to a diet can be just as tough as finding a lover you can settle down with. Commitment means staying focused on what you want long-term and giving up what you want in the moment. Being committed to your diet means avoiding the doughnut shop on Friday mornings and hitting the gym instead. Just like you wouldnt cheat on your partner, you shouldnt cheat on your diet. If you cant commit to that idea, then you shouldnt start a diet until you can.

• The wrong mindset: "One little cheat wont hurt."
• The right mindset: "I know I want this treat now, but I want to fit into my size 7 jeans even more."

You Werent in it for the Long Game

Its so important to remember that dieting is not a permanent fix. If you go back to how you were eating before you started the diet, youll most likely gain the weight back. Remember that once you finish your diet program, youll still need to make healthy, balanced choices. While it may only take a month or two to reach your goal weight, its going to a much longer commitment to smart choices in order to maintain your weight loss.

• The wrong mindset: "Once I finish this diet, Im going to eat a large pizza all by myself."
• The right mindset: "Once I finish this diet, Im going to make sure I plan healthy meals so I dont go back to eating fast food every night."

Have you done any of these? Remember that you can lose weight. Dont sabotage your own success and always make sure youre mentally prepared before you start. Being involved 100% in your desire to get healthy is critical for success. When you prepare mentally, youll see success physically!

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5 Signs that you Need to Detox

Spring is slowly but surely approaching, and as you make plans for spring cleaning you house, you might also want to consider spring cleaning your body. OK, that sounds weird... let me clarify: Ladies, its time for a detox! Dont believe me? Here are 5 signs that you need a detox.

1. Sleeping beauty has an easier time getting out of bed than you.

If you press the snooze button more than 3 times each morning, youre obviously more tired than you should be. Doing a detox can help you have more energy to get up and greet the day with enthusiasm. Since detoxing helps flush out harmful toxins and chemicals that make you feel tired & groggy, getting up in the morning will feel less like waking the dead, and more like a fresh start.

2. Things have been rumbling and tumbling down under.
Theres is a reason this one is number two... ladies were going to talk for a second about number two. Bare with me. Youre not sure whats happening in your stomach, but everything is broken when it comes to bathroom time. Even when you feel like you need to, you just cant go. Once per day is the ideal frequency for number two, but if youre going a day or so with no movement, you need to detox. Sometimes when we arent getting enough fiber, our digestive system has a hard time moving things through. This happens when we eat too much junk foods that dont have much nutritional value. The great thing about detoxing is that you can get rid of some of the waste that is building up in your body. Getting rid of this waste will help ease a lot of the cramping that often accompanies constipation.

3. As bad as youve been breaking out, youd think that youve been washing your face in pizza grease.

When you eat junk, it affects your skin. It messes with your body chemistry and this can manifest in the form of breakouts. Me personally, I break out if I drink soda. My body doesnt react well with artificial sweeteners. Detoxing is great for your skin, a good detox will take your skin from dull and blemished to radiant and clear.

4. The button on your skinny jeans has more stress on it than an valedictorian during finals. 
Bloating is bad news. Water retention happens to everyone at some point or another. It can be caused by workout out and getting sore the next day, eating too much salt, and Aunt Flos monthly visit. Typically water retention sticks around for 3-4 days, but what most people dont know is that it doesnt need to be suffered through for so long. You can minimize water retention by regularly doing a detox. Most detoxes contain ingredients that help your body release excess water, such as lemon juice.

5. Youre thinking about checking yourself into rehab, because seriously.... Your eating habits lately, are an issue.

If you need to break an eating habit like snacking before bed, bored eating, or eating too much in single sitting, detoxing is one of the best ways to do it. It helps get rid of the chemicals in your body that are keeping you addicted to food. There are several detoxes out there that help curb your appetite, too.

Have you ever gone on Facebook and cleared off all the embarrassing pictures of you from your college days, then afterward felt like a new person? Doing a detox is kind of like that. Its like a total body reset. After you get rid of all of the toxins in your body, its easier to start fresh with healthier habits!

So what are your detox options?

Master Cleanse
The Master Cleanse has been around since the 1940s. It gives your body enough nutrients to function, and you basically just drink the drink and eat nothing else. The drink combines organic lemons, organic Grade A maple syrup, organic cayenne and filtered water. These ingredients help flush your system out. It is typically a seven day cleanse. While I personally havent tried it, I know that Beyonce used it to slim down for Dream Girls. For me, the reason I didnt choose Master Cleanse for a detox is because I dont have time to mix up the stuff through out the day. Its not very convenient for me, but like I said, thats just my take.

Dr. Oz Detox Diet
A couple weeks ago, my mom was looking in to doing the Dr. Oz Detox Diet. Its only a few days long which is a major plus. The program includes all of the recipes, and the smoothies look delicious. One draw back to this program is the cost. Because the ingredients on the Dr. Oz Detox Diet all have to be fresh and organic, its slightly pricey. Also you have to have access to a blender throughout the day or you have to prep all of your smoothies before hand and pack them with you throughout the day. If you have prep time, a blender, and a budget for organic fruits and veggies, it would be a great detox to try.

Lemonade Diet 

Learn More About Lemonade Diet By Clicking on the Image!

The Lemonade diet is actually a supplement and not so much a diet, but aside from the name, this has been Lemonade Diet is more convenient than most other detoxes Ive researched, which is a huge plus because Im always running errands or rushing out the door.  It contains the stuff that is in the Master Cleanse, but in powder form. The Lemonade is delicious and so I never feel like Im torturing or punishing myself by drinking a couple bottles of it each day. When I use Lemonade Diet, I notice that I dont feel hungry, I dont feel bloated after eating, and I have so much more energy than the days when I dont drink it. Out of the three, I would say that the Lemonade Diet is the most convenient and most cost effective. In fact, its less than a dollar per day to do it for a month!
my detox of choice. It comes in a capsule or powder form. The powder mixes with water. You just add it to your daily regimen, you dont need to totally stop eating food, and you can actually use it daily, its not just a two day thing.

Which detoxes have you tried? Are you planning on doing one again?

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Lily Chocolate Bar Review

I love chocolate. Its something I constantly crave! If I was granted one wish by the imaginary diet genie that lives in my head, it would be to take all the carbs and calories out of chocolate but leave the taste. And then all the women in the world would love me. :)

Too bad theres no real diet genie. And too bad chocolate still has calories and carbs.

 We all know what too much chocolate does. For some women it goes to their hips, some to their butt, for me it goes straight to my belly. After losing 100 pounds, putting weight back on  is the last thing I want to do. In order to maintain my weight loss I try to stick to a low-sugar diet.... that means my chocolate craving usually goes unfed.

And let me tell you, thats rough. When I started Phase 3 of the HCG Diet, I was almost immediately overcome by chocolate cravings. With all the freedom of more healthy food choices in Phase 3 came all the temptations of unhealthy choices. But instead of giving into my craving for an entire bag of Dove dark chocolate, I did a bit of research and found Lilys Dark Chocolate, a sugar-free chocolate bar.

The Healthier Chocolate Solution

Lilys Dark Chocolate is all-natural. There are no genetically modified ingredients and its sweetened with stevia. Thats right... chocolate sweetened with STEVIA! As if that wasnt awesome enough, they have 25% fewer calories than a regular chocolate bar.

Lilys Dark Chocolate comes in 4 flavors: Original, Coconut, Crispy Rice, and Almond.

I ordered one of each flavor and anxiously awaited their arrival. Each bar is about $4.50. I know this price seems steep, but its worth it because these are non-GMO, sweetened with stevia, and part of the proceeds go to charity. Lilys Sweets is dedicated to creating products that are good for your body and the earth!

These chocolate bars are only available in stores at select locations, but they are available online. I ordered mine online and as soon as the bars arrived, you better believe I didnt waste anytime trying them out.

Are They Good?

The bars are quite big and they were SO GOOD. All of the varieties had a rich flavor and tasted great. My favorite was the coconut bar! It has a softer texture in comparison to the other bars and its better than a Mounds bar!

I also really like that Lilys bars were easy on my stomach. A lot of sugar free chocolates contain malitol. Malitol is a sugar alcohol that cant be digested by the body and as a result it acts as a laxative  Lilys bars dont contain any malitol and they had no negative effect on my digestive system.

One bar goes a long way, too! I would only eat a few squares at a time so they lasted me about 3 weeks. The chocolate is so rich that it satisfied my craving, and 6 little squares was under 100 calories

I had a couple of my office buddies who arent dieting try these and they even loved them. It definitely does not taste like diet chocolate. I highly recommend trying these out. Even if you arent on a diet. Overall, Lilys is a healthier choice. It tastes good and the company is one thats worth supporting.

Things Worth Noting

• When I ate 6 pieces per day, I did not see any gains the next day while using these on Phase 3 of the HCG Diet. 
• These are not recommended for Phase 2.
• Just like regular chocolate, you should still eat Lilys chocolate in moderation. 

Get Your Chocolate Today
You can order Lilys Dark Chocolate online if you click here:

http://www.amazon.com/Lilys-Dark-Chocolate-Stevia-Almond/dp/B0082H1SOA

You can also find where Lilys Chocolate is sold by using the location finder on Lilys website by clicking here:
http://www.lilyssweets.com/store-locator/west

Have you tried Lilys chocolate? What did you think?

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5 Things You Need for Phase 3 of the HCG Diet

Today is my third day of Phase 3 of the HCG Diet and everything is going well. Even though this is my fourth round and Ive managed to maintain my ending weight through all of the rounds, I still get really nervous for this phase. It can be scary going from 500 calories to 1000 overnight. Of course I hope that I dont gain weight, but part of me always finds it hard to believe that I wont. My biggest piece of advice for Phase 3 is this: you prepare as much as possible, then jump in.

Speaking of preparations....

Ive found some fun items Im using to help me stay focused on long term healthy habits. Other than the Phase 3 Menu I wrote last week, I have rounded up some things that are an essential part of my plan. These are 5 things I recommend you also look into purchasing before you start Phase 3.

Appetite Control
Youve heard me talk about appetite control in this video. I used it on Phase 2 of the HCG Diet and saw come great results. Because it contains an appetite suppressant, its a great tool for Phase 3 of the diet as well. Some times transitioning to more food choices can be overwhelming. In order to keep your appetite in check and avoid eating too much to fast, I use Appetite Control caps. I take 2 per day, usually 2 in the morning, and they make a world of difference, especially the first week!

You can purchase appetite control here: http://www.hcgdiet.com/hcg-triumph-raspberry-ketones-appetite-control.html

Blender Bottle
I am still using Triumph Slim as a meal replacement shake even though Im no longer in Phase 2. It is the most convenient, not to mention the tastiest, way for me to get dinner in on the nights that I have class. Blender bottles have a unique wire ball in them to ensure that your powder mixes into the water well. I am also excited to use this for other protein drinks Im looking into for when I start Crossfit this summer!

You can purchase blender bottles here: http://www.blenderbottle.com/category

Gym Membership
Now, Im not saying you NEED a gym membership, but I am saying you NEED to exercise. For me, the gym environment is very motivating. I like the variety of machines, I like being able to go with friends, and I love being able to escape from the world for an hour and a half, five times a week. I am now a member of a gym for the first time in my life and Im loving it. I go to Planet Fitness and I get unlimited workouts, access to free personal trainers, unlimited tanning, unlimited red light therapy, and I can bring a guest... for only $20 a month. :) Each day in the gym is a unique challenge. Maybe the gym environment isnt for you, and thats OK. You will need to find another way to get up and get moving. Exercise will play a key role in maintaining your weight loss!

Find a Planet Fitness near you here: http://www.planetfitness.com/PlanetFitnessMap.aspx

Food Diary
I cant stress the importance of keeping a food journal. In Phase 3 of the HCG Diet, there are some weird things that will trigger weight gain, and these things vary person to person. Keeping a food journal will give you insight into what those things are. Youll be able to track trends in habits, and see whether or not youre hitting your calorie goals for the day. I use My Fitness Pal to add up my calories, but ultimately I have found writing everything by hand works a lot better for me, especially if Im writing in a cute notebook.

When it comes to the notebook Im using, a woman I go to school with, named Emily, gave me a fantastic little notebook for me to food journal in. The best part, its adorable and she made it herself! Its is small enough to fit in my purse but big enough to write all my food down on one page. Having a cute notebook gives me something to look forward to writing in, and the bold design helps me remember to take it with me wherever I go.

Emily is just getting ready to launch her business and I appreciate her gift. Shes looking for support for her amazing products. You can learn more about Emilys business and notebooks here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/emilydesigns/your-love-will-get-the-owl-collection-to-surtex-in

Personal Journal
I mentioned last week that part of my weight loss journey includes an emotional aspect. Through out Phase 3, I will be documenting areas of my life that usually lead me to emotional eating. By writing these situations down, Im hoping to gain more control over some of my eating triggers. I found this big notebook that matches my room and it sits there waiting for me to jot down any thoughts. Writing has always been an amazing release for me. Notebooks are great secret keepers, they dont judge and they dont mock, and they are always there when I need them. If you currently arent keeping a personal journal, I highly recommend it.
The one I purchased cost about $5 at Wal-Mart! The first night of Phase 3 I sat down and wrote a few pages. Instantly I felt more relaxed and in control of my life. I can already tell that keeping a personal journal will be a big part of my Phase 3 success.

What are some of the tools you use on Phase 3 to help you succeed? 

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