One of the biggest reasons I see in my practice why nutritionally people don’t lose weight is Toxicity.

(Don't feel like reading? You can watch the video above with the same information!)

We become toxic from our beauty products like shampoos, lotions, perfumes, what we’re cleaning our homes with, processed and convenience foods and the environment around us. Our toxic exposure is incredibly high and toxic exposure is a big contributor to diseases like cancer.

Now, our bodies have the ability to break those toxins down and eliminate them, but we need to nutritionally support those processes.

If we’re eating a lot of convenience foods and fast foods and we’re not getting enough whole foods, specifically fruits and vegetables, we’re not supporting those metabolic pathways in our liver and our body isn’t capable of breaking down and eliminating those toxins.

So, it does the next best thing -which is to wrap it in a fat cell and store it.

​The problem with that is we end up with toxic bodies and our bodies become really resistant to weight loss and fat loss because it has to deal with the toxins stored inside.

Remember, our bodies number one priority is to protect us first and foremost.

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​This is why the Shred10® program using the Juice Plus products works so well, because the only foods your body needs to support these metabolic pathways are plant foods.

If you’re getting a variety of plant foods into your body every single day, then you’re supporting those metabolic pathways and your body’s ability to break down and eliminate these toxins.

The problem is, most of us are not getting even close to the recommended 7-13 servings every day of a wide variety of fruits and veggies (and that number is just for basic health), not even myself who is a nutritionist.

When I stop and think about it, I'm a creature of habit and really eat the same foods over and over, and I don’t get the wide variety of fruits and veggies that ultimately my body needs.

The Shred10® program  is designed to give your body what it needs and eliminate what it doesn’t need, so your body can break down and eliminate toxins, which then allows you to lose weight more easily, have brighter skin and a brighter smile, more energy, less foggy thinking and irritability and overall vastly improved health with the ability to fight off illness and disease.

I'm thinking about running another Shred10® in my private Facebook group for women again soon, so if you want in, let me know and I will add you to the list!

Let's jumpstart to shredding the habits that no longer serve you - together!

Until next time,

May Anne xo

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Now that we’re full-blown into summer, let’s talk about summer weight gain.

You likely spent the winter working hard and if not, definitely the spring because summer was right around the corner and you wanted to look good.  You exercised consistently, you were careful to eat more healthy foods and you watched your portion sizes. 

Why?  So you would look great at the lake and have plenty of energy to enjoy summer.  Everyone wants to greet summer with a healthy, toned body.

But summer, in spite of all the fun and relaxation it brings, can be tricky and can deal us a cruel blow when it comes to our health and fitness.

Do you tend to notice the scale creeping up part-way through summer?  If so, you’re not alone. Summer is a very easy time to overindulge and pick up those pounds that you shed during the winter months.

No doubt that’s not what you want.

Remember that bad habits creep in slowly.  Perhaps you’re skipping your workouts a couple days each week, because ‘You have so much to do.’ Or maybe you’ve been indulging in unhealthy food or drinks a little more frequently when you are with friends.  It happens-little by little.  It happens one small choice at a time.  Unfortunately, those choices add up fast.

If this tends to happen to you every summer, there are some things you can do to save yourself this summer. Really! There’s no reason to let another summer pass by leaving you with guilt and feeling embarrassed to strut your stuff in your bathing suit by the end of August.  You can keep yourself looking awesome all summer long.

Here are a few common reasons that people gain weight in the summer and how to remedy them:
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1. Disrupted sleep cycle.  Summer brings with it more daylight and longer days.  This extra sunshine can cause our circadian rhythms to change which causes us to sleep less.  But if we don’t get enough sleep, our bodies will respond by packing on a few extra pounds because of the hormone cortisol!  So the solution is to get at least seven hours of sleep each night.
2. When it’s hot and humid, we tend to move around less.  Our energy is lower and besides, who wants to sweat even more, right?  But the less you move, the slower your metabolism is and the fewer calories you’ll burn.  Be intentional about keeping up with your exercise.  Find indoor exercise alternatives like boot camp classes,  or maybe even take up swimming.  My favourite is hiking through the woods. Whatever it is, just keep moving.
3. Summer means travel and travel means healthy eating just got harder.  Eating on the road presents big challenges if you are trying to eat clean.  Before your summer trips, brainstorm some ways to reduce the amount of fast food that you’ll consume while you are away.  Consider packing a cooler with hummus, nuts, lean proteins sources like chicken, some fresh fruit and raw veggies.
4. Summer barbeques, parties, family reunions.  I love them! However, all this spells danger because the food at these festivities is usually about as unhealthy as you can get!  It doesn’t mean you can’t go and still have fun though. Make sure you pass on the hotdogs, potato salad, creamy salad dressings and rich cakes.  Look for grilled vegetables, fresh fruit and lean cuts of meat prepared without greasy marinades.

Don’t let the summer festivities undo all the hard work you’ve done to get you where you are right now.

It’s not about taking the fun out of summer, it’s about making the best possible choice with whatever circumstance you’re in. 

If you find that you’re struggling with trying to eat healthy while you’re on the go, grab my Healthy Eating On the go guide for free HERE, and if you know other busy, on the go people that would enjoy this video, please share it!

If there's a topic that you would like to hear more about, please let me know in the comments below.
​I always personally reply.

Until next time,

May Anne xo
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Almost all of the women I see in my practice want to look and feel better than they do right now, and a lot of them either focus on food OR exercise, but not always both.

The thing is, being in optimal health is 80% nutrition and 20% exercise, so if you want 100% results, you have to do both.

Today I’m going to cover the nutrition aspect of working out. Fueling your body with good nutrition at all times is important. However, it's especially important when you’re being physically active.

The ideal meals or snacks prior to a workout would be ones that include a complex carbohydrate.

Examples of these would be things like Banana Bread Overnight Oats (see recipe below), greek yogourt with berries or fruit with nut butter.

After a workout, your body will require protein and carbohydrate to support recovery.

We consume carbohydrates to replenish our depleted muscle glycogen stores. Protein is consumed to provide the needed amino acids that will help build muscle and bones. The current research has shown that consuming a snack or meal that contains both within the first two hours after a workout is optimal.

Dr. David Phillips, M.D., tells us, “Complete by Juice Plus+® shake mix stands superior to other protein shake mixes on the market today because it’s a clean-burning, macronutrient-rich, plant-based drink.

The primary plant protein, non-GMO water-washed soy, is a complete protein which means it contains all of the essential amino acids necessary to build muscle as well as maintain other vital bodily functions.” In addition, this product provides a good source of complex carbohydrate from whole plants.

Don’t have the shake? Simple snacks such as hummus with crackers and nut butter with fruit are other options.

Think of antioxidants as the good guys that fight the oxidative stress in your body. Throughout the Shred10® program that I’m currently running, we encourage fruits, vegetables, and berries, which are some of the best sources of antioxidants.

However, the reality is we often don’t consume enough in our daily lives. This is why I take Juice Plus company’s Garden, Orchard, and Vineyard capsules which provide similar benefits to my body in a convenient and easy way. These products are never meant to replace what we should be consuming from fruits and vegetables, they are only meant to bridge the gap.

The last thing I want to mention is to drink plenty of water, especially if you’re exercising in the heat.

Being active increases your needs due to fluids lost through sweat. If you don't replenish the water loss, you can become dehydrated. Dehydration affects both your mental and physical performance and can lead to impaired coordination, inability to make appropriate decisions, a greater rise in body temperature, and cardiovascular strain.

Always begin your exercise activity well hydrated. Drink at least half your body weight in ounces daily, and increase as necessary with exercise, and sip on fluids during your activity.

If you want to be included in an upcoming Shred10™ or have questions about what the Shred is all about, just send me a message HERE.
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