I Love My Beautiful Body

I am not a certified nutritionist, doctor or therapist.

Please consult your healthcare professional before participating in any

lifestyle changes you may feel are questionable to your health.

I am not responsible for any action you resume, You are- Make it pleasurable.
© Tuesday May Thomas 2014

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Why Juice?

©TuesdayMayThomas

You've heard a lot about juicing, and everyone is doing it- or are they?......Some people swear by it, and others think its a fad, or too expensive ..... So Why juice?

The more 'green' in your system equals your body's ability to generate greater amounts of oxygen in your blood. More oxygen in your system means better sleep, more energy, better health, less stress and a growing youthful glow!

Veggies I love to juice!
Rainbow chard, celery, carrots, 1 apple, ginger, parsley and cilantro.
This makes enough for two glasses.

Chlorophyll; 'the green' in your greens, is bursting with benefits! It increases the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body. It has an anti-carcinogenic effect (which means it helps the body keep cancer causing properties to a 'low'), it works as an antioxidant- helping the body to release and cleanse itself of heavy toxins and metals. Chlorophyll is available from many vegetables especially in the form of RAW green leafy vegetables. Read this link to dive in deeper! Chlorophyll: Get More Blood Building Foods Into Your Diet

The skin and pulp of your fruits and veggies contain fiber and nutrients. Some fancy expensive juicers will blend everything- including seeds into the juice you drink, while low end ones will leave more nutrients behind. But it doesn't mean you have to leave it behind. These juicing left overs are great in soups. For example; mix your left over 'pulp' in with a low sodium veggie bouillon, or ready made can of healthy soup. You can add it to your quinoa, or other low carb side (such as rice or pasta- but you know I'm not a big fan of those two. See my blogpost 'What to eat when working out. Scroll down to the 'STOP WITH THE WHITE FOOD section! Make sure you add the pulp during the last few minutes of cooking, to keep as much nutrients alive as possible. You can also use it raw by mashing it into your guacamole or adding to your hummus for an extra value of nutrients.

* Instead of 'juicing' your lemon or limes, squeeze half into the juice you juice. Watch for seeds!

Consider not drinking juice from the supermarket anymore- unless it is fresh squeezed, fresh juiced, or cold pressed. If your like- "But Tuesday, I can't live without my morning glass of oj!" - At least educate yourself on how much sugar is in what you buy before putting it into your body. Sure, sugar is a great treat! haha- But pick your 'treats' wisely. Too much sugar in your system can cause overeating, poor memory, learning disorders, energy highs and lows, mental disorders and..... depression. Besides, after all the hard work you are doing to create balance in your mind and body, why not pay attention to the amount of sugar in the foods you may usually take for granted as being healthy. Check out this amazing link:Links between sugar and mental health

Organic, or not organic?

This is such a hot topic. My advise.... Do your own research and follow what feels right for you. I have been through stages of buying only organic EVERYTHING, to buying none because I could not afford it (although some would say, 'you can't afford not to.') And now I am in the middle zone whereby I have educated myself enough to know what veggies or fruits are heavily sprayed with pesticides and what are not- and buy what I need, according to my budget. For instance, many berries including my favorites; strawberries and blueberries are the most heavily sprayed, along with celery and leafy greens such as that lettuce in our salad. How can we receive any nutrients from what we put inside of us, if our body's are having to expend so much of its vital energy in breaking down the harmful chemicals sprayed on our foods?

*On another note, I truly believe you can raise the energy, or change the 'field' of energy around and within foods you will eat by speaking a blessing of gratitude over them, praying over them, or imagining them to be healthy and glowing with vital energy. At times when I could not afford organic, I placed my hands over the foods I would juice and say thank you to the greens and veggies I would soon drink. I imagined them alive and bursting with all the good nutrients I could imagine. You can too.

For added 'universal energy power', I sit my juice in the sun for a few minutes and place quartz crystals on either side of it. I believe this super charges the juice I will consume with extra potency. (Look at all of that rainbow energy glowing around it!) I also like to say a blessing over my juice such as; " Thank you for the life giving properties you imbue into my beautiful body. I am ever youthful, healthy, and glowing with radiant energy!"

All in all, if you have never had a FRESH JUICE before, I say go for it! Treat yourself, and see how you feel. Be your own scientist. Can you sense all the lovely lively organisms brining you vital energy and good health? Once you start, you may not want to stop!

Best Blessings of Health to Your Beautiful Body-
Love
Tuesday May Thomas

©TuesdayMayThomas

I am not a certified nutritionist, doctor or therapist.

Please consult your healthcare professional before participating in any

lifestyle changes you may feel are questionable to your health.

I am not responsible for any action you resume, You are- Make it pleasurable.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Take the Stairs!

©TuesdayMayThomas

Hello Beautiful Bodies! I have been doing my best to keep up with blog posts and promise to continue giving you juicy reading and informative insight. My book Confessions of a Spiritual Apprentice will be published and available very soon... I have been busy putting the finishing touches on it to make sure I meet my March 2014 goal. So forgive me for not posting as often.

You have given me some great ideas to research and write about in upcoming blogposts, including a 'how to' create a dynamic and varied workout routine at the gym, daily food planner ideas, how to count protein in your diet, along with more recipes and as promised, MORE WORKOUT VIDEOS! You've been asking for an everyday ten minute ab routine to do at home, and an all over body sculpt video that mirrors a lot of the moves from the classes we share. I am happy to say its all in the works!

For today, lets talk about how often you take the stairs. I work at two gyms in the Downtown area and can't tell you how often I see students taking the escalators up and down, before and after class or working out. Then they complain about not getting results at the gym. REALLY? Yes! Really! If you are dragging along the escalator, does this mean you are also dragging at the gym? Are you putting effort into what your doing?

If you want results, you gotta put the effort in, and that means challenging yourself in your breath, (breathe deeply when exercising to get oxygenated), in your physical form (do your best not to slouch when working out and keep to what you know are the rules of each exercise), and be methodical (avoid going through exercises sloppily and quickly, this can cause injury and can do more harm than good.) Little if any results come from a sloppy workout.

A little over a year ago, when I decided to take back my butt, I made a vow to myself- to never take the escalator unless I was injured, had a raging hangover (which happens rarely by the way!), or if there was just absolutely no other way to get where I am going.

If you want to enjoy strong, toned, beautiful, tight legs- you have to take every opportunity to take the stairs. I know, I know- sometimes it just happens, like you are somewhere new and don't realize how close the stairs are, so you end up taking the escalator, or you usually park on the eight floor and take the elevator up or down. I get it, I do it too. After a major workout, walking eight flights of stairs can be a lot, and deserves extra points! But I'm not talking about those extra long hauls, no- I'm talking about the every day stairs that allow you to take maybe fifty to one hundred more steps that usual each day.

Heres an idea, when walking up the stairs, try taking a double step each time. Squeeze your butt and work that stride for extra booty love. I recall the first time I witnessed a pal doing in this in New York I nearly feel over. But then I tried it and after finding my stride, I enjoy doing the 'two- step'- especially when properly 'shoed'. I wont try it in heels, but doesn't mean you can't!

Lots of Love,
Tuesday May

I am not a certified nutritionist, doctor or therapist.

Please consult your healthcare professional before participating in any

lifestyle changes you may feel are questionable to your health.

I am not responsible for any action you resume, You are- Make it pleasurable.

Friday, January 24, 2014

Chew Your Food for Better Digestion

My mom was a 'Macrobiotic' for a long time. She ate a strict clean vegan diet of fresh steamed veggies and grains and aduki beans. One of the most important parts of her diet was chewing each bite of food a minimum of thirty-five times.. "What?" I shouted when joining her for a Macrobiotic dinner. "Will there be any food left in my mouth after chewing that much?" I asked. I couldn't believe there was even such a thing as chewing your food THAT much. But after years of uncomfortable digestion issues including bloating, abdominal pains, and gas from above and below.. haha... Well, I thought I would give it a sincere try.

If you suffer from any of the above issues- try more chewing at every meal (maybe even up to thirty-five times) and you will be astonished at how much easier digesting is. For fun do a count of your usual chewing and notice if you are swallowing huge portions of food at a time. If so, that will make it harder for your body to digest what your putting into it- causing uncomfortable bloating and gas. All of this said, some people have a high 'digestive fire' or a high metabolism naturally. These people can wolf down a hamburger, fries and a shake in two minutes and not even blink. Their bodies are churning so much energy, they can break it down easily.

Of course there may be times to supplement your meal with a couple digestive enzymes when eating a spicy curry or a plate of foreign beans, tofu, or even if there are onions or garlic in sight of a dish you will be eating. There is nothing worse than being all groomed for a lovely date out, only to be burping up garlic-onion flavor air all night and feeling uncomfortable in your gut. No Thanks. Remember, you can always request no onion or garlic at a restaurant- where possible they will do it for you.

When you double or triple the amount you chew before swallowing, your saliva begins to break down foods in your mouth by way of offering enzymes to the mix. Enzymes help your body break down the proteins, fats and carbohydrates you take in and also help it to absorb their nutrients properly. Chewing helps your saliva not only prepare the food for its next stop, it lets the stomach and small intestine know you are sending down nutrients, so every part of your body is well prepared to receive your food offering and absorb its properties to the best of its ability. Even if you are a fast metabolism burner- consider chewing more and breaking down your foods in the mouth before swallowing, rather than shocking the digestive tract with huge chunks of food. Your body will enjoy an easier time digesting and receiving nutrients and you will have less of a food-baby gut too.

Another tip is don't drink a lot of water with your meal. Especially if you have a slower burning metabolism. Sip small amounts of water or tea. A friend constantly complained about her slow buring metabolism and painful digestion. It ends up she was drinking a pint of ice water with each meal. That totally inhibited her digestive fire and body's ability to break down the food she ate. After switching to sipping very little water with meals, she has a much happier time digesting overall.

Enjoy more energy, sleep better and increase your body's ability to absorb the nutrients you put inside of it!

Lots of Love,

Tuesday