We’ve been hearing for years that sugar is bad for us and causes weight gain, and that information led to the onset of artificial sweeteners, especially in the diabetes and weight loss industries.

Artificial sweeteners have actually been around for decades (and one in particular since the late 1800’s), with several being banned and then re-introduced again later on.

Before we begin, let’s back up a bit to find out more about how artificial sweeteners even came to be.

Let’s start with sugar.

Why is this toxin so prevalent in our society? Most people aren’t even aware of what they are eating. One third of dietary sugar comes from soft drinks, making soda the #1 dietary source of sugar.

(Please note that when I talk about sugar here, I am referring to refined sugar and the over-abundance of it that is added to our packaged and processed foods, and not naturally occuring sugars in whole foods that actually contain beneficial nutrients.)

The statistics in this blog are based on American data, however for my fellow Canadians, we can anticipate numbers close to these.

Americans average about 55 gallons of soda per year and it takes 30 cups of water to neutralize 1 can of soda.

High fructose corn syrup increased from 0% of American diets in 1966 to 63lbs a year in 2001.
The average American drinks 55 Gallons of Soda per year!

Sugar is in everything and these are just a few examples of things you might not expect it to be in:

Pasta sauces, Lunch meats, Canned foods, Condiments like ketchup & Mayonnaise, Sauces, Salad Dressings, Crackers, Fruit Drinks, Yogurt, Snacks, Breads.

Balancing blood sugar is a primary component of the work I do with my clients and also in my 5-DAY SUGAR-FREE CHALLENGE because blood sugar balance is that important.

For those wanting to lose weight, long-term weight loss will NOT happen if blood sugar is not balanced.

A few facts about sugar:

1. Sugar is the primary dietary cause of obesity
2. Sugar increases the acidity of the body
3. Sugar causes inflammation
4. Sugar is the primary reason for high cholesterol
5. Sugar causes hormonal and metabolic imbalances
6. Sugar is your fast track to diabetes
7. Sugar is a known toxin
8. Sugar leads to heart disease
9. Sugar is an anti-nutrient
10. Sugar promotes cancer

If sugar is so bad, is there anything worse than sugar?

Why yes, there is.

Introducing Artificial Sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners have long been positioned as “guilt free” and safe alternatives, causing many people to turn to them. We know now that “safe” and artificial sweeteners do not belong in the same sentence.

The slogan for Splenda is that it is made from sugar so it tastes like sugar.  Strictly speaking this statement is true.  However, by the time a single sugar molecule is transformed into Splenda it becomes something completely different.

Some serious side effects: gastrointestinal problems, seizures, dizziness, migraines, blurred vision, allergic reactions, blood sugar increases, weight gain, carcinogenic potential when cooking, and Splenda could kill as much as 50 percent of your microbiome.

Here are a few reasons artificial sweeteners negatively impact both your waistline and your health:

1. Artificial sweeteners mess with your brain chemistry and metabolism.
We’re led to believe that because diet soft drinks are calorie free or low-calorie that they’re a good option for our waist size, but the opposite is actually true. Drinking diet soft drinks can make you gain weight because the stimulate your taste buds and trick them to think you’re eating real sugar. Your body becomes confused and revs up the production of insulin, your fat-storage hormone. This causes your metabolism to slow down, which causes you to burn less calories every day. You then become even hungrier and more prone to eating carbs (like pasta and bread). Increased belly fat is the result.
(Fact: Artificial sweeteners can be 1000 times sweeter than sugar!)

2. Artificial sweeteners increase your risk for diabetes.
Studies are showing that sugar substitutes can increase your risk for type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and weight gain, among other things.

3. Artificial sweeteners are highly addictive (even more than sugar!)
Artificial sweeteners can become addictive quickly and diet sodas can be really hard to give up. We’ve been midled to thinking they’re guilt-free alternatives to regular soda. The truth is losing weight in NOT all about the calories. Blood sugar imbalance, hormone balance and metabolism have everything to do with weight loss, and artificial sweeteners mess with all three of these.
These sweeteners also alter your food preferences. They’re so incredibly sweet that your palate shifts from being able to enjoy fruits, veggies and whole foods to liking only the super sweet stuff. This is why I help people avoid sugar entirely for the full 5-days in my 5-DAY SUGAR-FREE CHALLENGE, so they can reset their taste buds, so to speak, making it much easier to be satisfied with the taste of real, whole foods again.


So what can we use as a sweetener?
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Stevia and xylitol can be used without raising blood sugar. Other natural sweeteners, but that do spike blood sugar and should be used in moderation are  honey, dates and maple syrup. These contain beneficial nutrients as well.

In my 5-DAY SUGAR-FREE CHALLENGE, I guide you through the best and worst sweeteners, and show you which sweeteners can be used in moderation after the challenge is over, so you can take back control of your cravings, without giving up all sweets. 

May Anne 
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Fall is here, and that means that cold and flu season has arrived.  Have you ever noticed that some people seldom get sick?  Or maybe you have wondered why after being exposed to the same virus, one person gets ill while the other remains well.  

I actually haven’t been sick in a few years, but this past weekend, it got me.

If you’ve listened to me for any length of time, you’ll know that I’m all about taking care of yourself first because you’re no good to anyone else if you’re not taking care of yourself first. Right? Right. Except that I haven’t really been listening to my own advice lately.

I think it’s that Wonder woman complex - I can do it all and do it well. Not.

Anyways, this past week was crammed full of big events for my business. A Wellness Fair, a Grand Celebration at Peterborough Maximized Living, a local Festival and the launches of both my Online Slim Down Program and the In-Person Slim Down Program - all in one week. Not to mention, hockey season starting up with four days of hockey in a row for my son.

It all makes sense now why I would get hit hard with the flu this past Sunday - right in the middle of the Purple Onion Festival. I’m talking fever, chills, aches & pains. Nasty. I left my booth half an hour early and came home and crashed in my bed.

Thankfully, the worst of it was over within 24 hours and now it’s just working it’s way out of my body.

The awesome thing though, is that years ago this same flu would have wiped me out for at least a week and has even turned into both pneumonia and bronchitis at the same time in the past, with a lingering cough and feeling lousy for a good 3 weeks.

Now, two days later I feel a lot better (I sound like I have a not-so-sexy telephone voice, but I feel tons better.)

So, what does make the difference between someone getting sick and someone not getting sick, or how badly the sickness affects them when they do get sick?

I’m going to share my two cents worth and get a little bit science-y here for a minute….

The reason lies in the strength of the immune system.  And the strength of your immune system is largely dependent upon the condition of your digestive system (ongoing STRESS is one way of letting your guard down with your immune system.)

When you are exposed to bad bacteria or viruses, it is up to your immune system to protect you from being infected.  If your immune system is strong, your body will fight off the threat.  If your immune system is weak or compromised, you may end up sick.
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Inside your digestive system are many microbes.  Microbes are live organisms that affect your overall health.  

Some of these organisms are beneficial and protect you from disease.  These good bacteria recognize when illness-producing intruders enter your body; they promptly attack the intruders so you do not get sick.  

​If you do not have enough good bacteria in your gut, you will be more susceptible not only to infections such as colds and stomach flu, but you will also be at risk for autoimmune diseases such as colitis, rheumatoid arthritis and Chron’s disease.

Ideally you have a large supply of these good microbes living in your gut.  But they can easily become depleted.  If you have recently taken antibiotics, you have had not only the bad bacteria wiped out, but also the good bacteria.  Antibiotics are not selective in their destruction.

Antibiotics are not the only way that good bacteria become depleted in your digestive system.  The chlorine in your drinking water can destroy them, as can the pesticide residue on the food that you eat.

Once the supply of beneficial microbes in your intestines dwindles, bad microbes such as yeast, fungi and disease-causing bacteria begin to take up residence.  When the scale tips in favor of the bad, your immune system becomes compromised.
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Enter Probiotics

If you think you might be deficient in good microbes, it is not difficult to remedy the problem.  The solution is to take probiotics.  Probiotics are good microbes that you can consume in your diet.

They then settle in your digestive system and get to work protecting you from illness and destroying the bad bacteria that may be living there.

Probiotics are available in capsule form, but you can also replenish the good microbes by eating the right kind of yogourt and other foods that contain good microbes (like kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir.) Check the label on the yogurt that you buy to make sure it says that it contains active cultures—those are the good bacteria that you need to eat. You also want to make sure it has a low sugar content, otherwise you’re defeating the purpose. Sugar feeds the BAD bacteria.

Take action now and get a head start on this year’s cold and flu season.  You can get ahead of the game by improving your gut function and fighting illness.

As I’ve talked about before, you want to be very choosy when buying your supplements because they are NOT all created equal and if you’re not careful, you’ll basically be flushing your money down the toilet because you’re body won’t be able to absorb the benefits due to binders and fillers from poorly made products.

(As part of my healthy community, you have access to practitioner-grade, safe supplements delivered straight to your door, at special pricing through FULLSCRIPT. Simply click on the image below, create an account and search for products or click on "My Dispensary" on the left for my personal favourites.)
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MY PERSONAL FAVOURITE BRAND OF PROBIOTICS:

Genestra HMF (you can find them HERE under “My Dispensary”)

MY PERSONAL FAVOURITE SUPPLEMENTS FOR BOOSTING MY OVERALL IMMUNE SYSTEM ARE: 
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Vitamin D3 by Pure Encapsulations
Oil of Oregano by CanPrev
Juice Plus 3-blend capsules (kids eat FREE! Let me know if you're interested and I'll set you up.)

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Now, as I mentioned above, sugar feeds the bad bacteria. I also know how hard it is to reduce the amount of processed sugar in your diet, because sugar is added to almost EVERYTHING. Even things we wouldn't think it's been added to (read your labels!)

Remember, anything made with white flour TURNS INTO sugar in the body (breads, bagels, muffins, pasta, crackers, cookies, etc.)

Sugar addictions are at an all-time high and because of this and we can get stuck in a vicious cycle very easily of consuming sugar and feeling good, then the resulting energy crash which leads to reaching for more sugar. 

I've been through this myself and am now helping others to take back control of their willpower by crushing their cravings for sugars, carbs, caffeine and alcohol (all of which feed the BAD bacteria.)

Grab my FREE 5-DAY SUGAR-FREE CHALLENGE HERE.
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Let me know in the comments what you're doing to boost your immune system this Fall! 

Until next time,

May Anne xo
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As soon as people enter the diet world, they’re usually taught the simplistic notion that input versus output is the key to weight loss. That basically, you must burn off more than you eat.

Sounds reasonable enough, right?

I’ve met a lot of women like this, and in all honesty, I believed this myself for years and spent most of my grade 11 year nibbling on bits of lettuce and hardly anything else.

The problem with most diets out there is that they result in people being half-starved with metabolisms crawling along at a snail’s pace.

So now, this notion of eating less and doing more doesn’t apply. In fact, it’s this concept that has put so many people in this situation in the first place.

They’re denying their bodies the calories and nutrients they need in an effort to shed those pounds and not only does it not usually work, at least, not long-term, they’re often hungry, tired and irritable in the process.

You see, studies show that the vast majority of people (mostly women) who lose weight on a diet gain it all back within 5 years.  This is why the diet industry alone is worth BILLIONS. If it actually worked, there would be no money in it.

So what does work?  Learning how to actually eat, so you can tune out the massive dieting industry and stop buying into diets, pills and potions and start actually feeling good and enjoying food again!

I want to help you understand how this works.

Continued calorie-restricting causes your metabolic rate to slooooow down. The metabolic rate is the rate at which your body burns calories for energy.

When you’re in an extended state of calorie-restriction, your body goes into survival mode and stores incoming calories (since it thinks it’s starving and wants to save every last calorie for survival, instead of using up your fuel for all your bodily functions.)

This is a lose-lose situation.

When we’re under prolonged calorie restriction, many basic biological functions also slow or shut down, and we end up with compromised immune function, and that can lead to not being able to fight off infections and viruses, or being able to filter toxins from the body, and low energy.

I get it. We believe this is the way to go because they’ve seen so many other people do it. But it never lasts and it’s not sustainable!

This concept is so widespread, yet it’s dangerous. If you continue with cutting calories, then you are causing more damage to your body.

In other words, the more you ‘diet’ the more damage you are doing to your body and it will get harder and harder to lose weight the more you do it.

Having the knowledge, or the tools as I like to call them, about the right way to eat means you can avoid “dieting” and all the negative aspects that go along with it. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never met a happy person on a diet!

Once you understand the powerful effect food has on the body it can help you reach your goals without dangerously cutting calories.

You won't be able to lose weight long-term without these things:

• balanced blood sugar
• balanced hormones
• boosting metabolism 

So remember, cutting calories is not the answer to long-term weight loss.

Ready to ditch the dieting, restrictions and rabbit food and instead lose weight while becoming healthier AND feel amazing? Awesome. Send me a message here.

May Anne xo
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Well it’s officially Back to School time, and with that brings the challenge of making lunches!

As moms, we want to provide our children with not only nourishing lunches, but lunches they will actually eat, and because we’re busy moms, lunches that also don’t take up a ton of time!!

​As a mom and Nutritionist I know the struggles families face when it comes to packing healthy meals for school!

I know how hard it is when you pack healthy snacks for your child, only to see them come back home again in the lunch box - untouched. One year, my son likes cut up green peppers, the next year he suddenly doesn’t like them anymore - What??

A big concern of mine is the amount of processed foods that make their way into kids lunch boxes.

Now, my sons lunches are never perfect, and yes we do purchase certain granola bars and the occasional treats, BUT what I am talking about is when the majority of a child’s lunch comes from pre-packaged foods that are full of preservatives, colouring and flavourings.

These chemicals will not help your children focus, and are setting them up for cravings for these types of food, AND will also impede their choices for real, whole food.

To help them focus, they need stable blood sugar and real, whole foods to fuel their brain. This is where WHAT we pack for their lunches comes into play. Now, before you throw your hands up in despair, thinking that your picky eater would never eat what I’m suggesting, hold tight - I’ve got your back with this one!!  Here’s the thing, picky eaters usually aren’t born that way - it has a lot to do with the flavour enhancers, sugars, and chemicals that our children’s processed foods are loaded with, not the whole foods!

Children’s foods are so loaded with chemicals and sugars, their body’s start to expect the chemical reaction and intense taste every time they eat something.  If the food you are providing them does not offer that chemical/sugar reaction, then it often ends up on the NO list! But hang tight - there is a way to help re-wire them!

The challenge is to eliminate the processed options and work with your children on what they DO want in their lunches without offering the flavoured and food-colouring foods. This brings me to Tip #1!

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​TIP #1 Create a Lunch Box Plan, and let them choose!
​This is the first step. The old is not an option anymore, so you will need a lunch box ideas chart to help them choose the items they want in their lunches.  Either use this form (above), or if you are a Pinterest mom, sit down with your children and scroll through healthy lunch ideas and make a list! This list will be one of your most valuable healthy eating tools!


If you were to work with me one on one for your own personal health goals, I would help you choose foods that you like, in order to help you eat the right foods. The same thing needs to happen in your home around your children’s lunches.  Having a plan makes you way more likely to stick to it. It also makes planning for your week way easier when you have the right foods available!! Gone will be the processed foods that can decrease their ability to focus, and offer ZERO nutritional value!


Not only do Zero Nutrition value foods NOT give your child the nutrients they need, but they actually ROB your child’s body of its stored nutrients in order for these processed foods to be broken down and eliminated. This sets your child up for catching every sickness going around the classroom!

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TIP #2 Plan Your Shopping.  
This is just as important as number one, and should be based on the healthy lunch choices each week. The trick is to create routine around what day you grocery shop. After you’ve planned your healthy menu, do your weekly shopping. It helps to do this on the same day each week. Don’t worry about getting it perfect! The moment you start planning for healthier and less processed meals and snacks, and shop for those particular foods, the sooner your entire family will start eating more of the right foods!


TIP #3 Do weekly Prep.  
I know you feel that you don’t have time for this, but doing this will ultimately create more time for you! This is the step most families miss, and it’s really the one that determines if your child is getting a lunch full of pre-packaged food, or a healthy lunch!

I get it, the BIGGEST challenge I see in most families when it comes to healthy eating is a total lack of time. That's why so many families are eating WAAAAAY too much processed foods - because it’s easier.

But, in my opinion that is a huge contributor to why we have so many issues with attention deficit disorders, immune and gut health issues, and even diseases and illnesses that have become so prevalent since the onset of convenience foods.


FOOD IS THE FUEL FOR YOUR BODY, JUST LIKE GASOLINE IS THE FUEL FOR YOUR CAR. Everything you put into your body determines how it will function.


Once we’ve planned for the right foods and shopped for the right foods, the final step is to prep the right foods. I suggest a non-negotiable weekly time slot for prep time.

Create a routine around getting your children’s healthy lunch set up for the week, which WILL reduce stress and time in helping them eat the right foods!

Taking one hour per week will make the rest of your week run soooo much more smoothly! AND you’ll be instilling the importance of nutrition into your children, which I can’t even begin to describe the life-long benefit that will have for them!

I can’t tell you how many clients I see that are suffering from poor health and/or from being overweight, because they are eating the same way they learned to eat as children. Now, they’re forced to change the way they eat due to health concerns, and they’re finding it incredibly hard to change those habits. Make the changes now while you can!

So what will you be prepping?

Here are my favourite foods to prep for healthy lunches:
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• Muffins! I make extra homemade muffins each week and freeze them once they are cool. It’s so easy to throw a muffin into the lunch bag in the morning.
• Healthy granola. There are many great organic granola mixes at the local grocery store (low-sugar, in the natural aisle) Granola is a great topping for yogurt in your child’s lunch.  It’s easy to pack a container of yogurt and add frozen berries to the top of it.  Then pack a side container of granola they can add in during snack!
• Vegan Protein Balls.  These nourishing balls are a cross between cookies and granola bars and are crazy easy to make! In fact, Isaac has made these so often he has the ingredients list memorized! I will be running Protein Ball Classes in Peterborough where you can make and take home up to 20 balls of 4 difference recipes!! Most of these are mix all ingredients into a bowl, stir, roll and freeze!  Want to join our next class? Message me HERE.
• Cut up veggies. Cut these up ahead of time and store in a container in the fridge, making grabbing a handful each day quick and easy! You can add a little container of organic dressing on the side.
• Diced Fruit. The choices are endless with fruit! You can cut up pineapple, strawberries and wash and portion grapes.  Don’t forget about dried fruit (unsweetened of course!) Dried mango, raisins, dried apricots and dates are all tasty.  The goal is to have 2-3 servings of fresh fruits and veggies each day in their lunch box.
• Homemade soup. This can be a simple soup made from veggies in the fridge. If you have picky kids, let them help make the soup! Children are usually much more open to eating food they have participated in preparing!

I know, this is a lot of information! Revisit the steps above as needed and make a commitment to get started right away. If you’re anything like me, you can’t put it off - otherwise it will just sit on the ‘good intentions’ shelf and never actually get done.

Make a list of healthy options your children want in their lunch, plan your lunch menu each week, shop for the items you need, and set aside 60 minutes a week to get your prep done. I promise you, you will be so proud of the healthy lunches you are sending your children to school with, and if they’re helping, they will be proud too!
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​Based on the responses of more than 150,000 families in the Juice Plus+ Children’s Health Study, taking Juice Plus+ has far-reaching effects on the health and well-being of children.

After only one year, parents reported:

• 56% were taking fewer over-the-counter and/or prescription drugs
• 60%were missing fewer days of school
• 61% were eating more fruits and vegetables
• 66% were visiting the doctor less
• 71% were drinking more water
• 71% were consuming less fast food and soft drinks
• 89% were more aware of their health
• 96% were reaping a positive benefit of some kind

​Ask me how your children can be a part of the Children’s Health Study!

As a Nutritionist I highly recommend Juice Plus+ for families, as it is a whole food based supplement made entirely from juiced fruits and vegetables!  

​The Children’s  capsules contain only concentrated whole food powders without the sugar!  Juice Plus+ is not a replacement for healthy dietary choices but helps families bridge the gap between what they are eating and what they should be eating. https://mayjordens-laflamme.canada.juiceplus.com/

Need some support? Connect with me  HERE  and we'll set up a time for a phone call or Skype!

​Until next time!

May Anne xo

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September is National Fruits and Veggies—More Matters Month!

We all know we should eat our fruits and veggies - I’m mean, we’ve been told that since we were little, right?

How many of you weren’t allowed to leave the table until you had eaten the last of your peas and carrots? I know it wasn’t just me!

Surprisingly though, I’ve had many a client tell me that although they might eat some fruit once in awhile, they either don’t eat any veggies or they only have a few servings per week!

What they don’t realize is that they’re missing out on the amazing disease prevention benefits of these superfoods, which are responsible for warding off everything from cancer to heart disease, and so much more!

Aside from the long-term benefits, loading up on fruits and veggies can also have immediate benefits to your health and well-being!

That’s why you don’t want to forget about these superfoods!

Here are three ways fruits and vegetables can help you enjoy better health and well-being today (shared from Juice Plus):

1. They make you feel happier and more energetic. Think that cinnamon roll will make you feel happier than an apple? Think again! A 2013 study published in The British Journal of Health Psychology revealed that fruits and vegetables are the real comfort food. For three weeks, young people filled out food diaries tracking their fruit and veggie intake. Turned out, the more produce folks ate in a given day, the better their mood and energy level that day — as well as the next.
2. They lower your stress levels. Chowing down on fruits and vegetables daily can slash your risk of experiencing psychological stress — especially for women. That’s the take-away from breaking research reported by the journal BMJ Open. In fact, women who ate 5-7 servings of produce every day were 23 percent less likely to feel stress than those who ate 0-1.[2]
3. They help you sleep better. Many fruits and vegetables contain nutrients that facilitate healthy sleep patterns. For instance:

• Spinach is a great source of calcium, and research indicates that lack of calcium can cause difficulty falling asleep.
• Bananas are packed with magnesium, which helps your muscles relax, and potassium, which encourages deeper sleep.
• Tart cherries and tomatoes supply melatonin, the hormone that signals the body to sleep.
• Passionfruit contains the compound passiflorine, which is a natural sedative.

Despite all the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables, more than 90 percent of American kids and adults don’t eat the recommended amount.


An easy way to stay on track is to fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables at every meal and snack. You’ll want to limit juice, because it lacks the fiber found in whole fruits and vegetables.

Now, even as a nutritionist, I know I don't getting the recommended 13 servings a day as hard as I try, nor do I get the wide variety, so my family and I take Juice Plus.

It makes sense for me because I can rest assured that we are getting 30 servings of whole food, chemical free fruits and vegetables in a wide variety every day in capsule form. It’s super easy and my son is free (all kids are!)
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​If you also struggle to get the recommended daily dose of antioxidant-rich, phytonutrient-rich fruits and veggies, click HERE (your child is free!!)
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Now, as busy mom and wife, I know how hard it is to eat healthy on the go. We're busy all day at work and then have to rush home, grab a quick snack and rush off to soccer or hockey practice with our kids.

If this is you too, and you struggle to make healthy choices when you're strapped for time, grab a copy of my HEALTHY EATING ON THE GO Guide for FREE right HERE.

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Until next time,

May Anne xo
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Admittedly, I used to have a love/hate relationship with exercise, but I’ve actually come to enjoy it now and that is because I choose to do exercises that I enjoy, and I leave the rest.  

(Don't feel like reading? No worries - just watch the video above!)

Really, a lot of my exercise comes from daily movement and isn’t just for the sole purpose of working out.

By that I mean, I take my son to the park and we play baseball or soccer, I go for family hikes, I take my dog out for walks, and I even make my house cleaning into a workout! (Can you picture me doing squats as I clean the shower walls?) 

Some of my body movements are from actual intentional exercise but a lot of it is from just being intentional about getting my body moving with things I enjoy!    

It’s important to understand WHY exercise is an essential component of healthy living or weight loss program, and HOW it will increase its effectiveness by helping you to tone up, strengthen your bones and speed up your metabolism, which will help you to lose weight more quickly.    

While 80% of weight loss is what we eat, exercise is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle and plays a really important role in weight loss as well.

Benefits of Exercise:

• Weight Loss,
• Increases Metabolism,
• Boosts Mood,
• Improves Libido,
• Boosts Energy,
• Clears Your Mind,
• Speeds Removal Of Toxins,
• Reduces Risk Factors Of Many Diseases,
• And that’s just to name a few!  

You don’t have to join a gym or buy fancy equipment. Incorporating movement into your daily living is easier and less complicated than you might think.

Getting your body moving four to five days per week for at least 30 minutes will do wonders.

As I mentioned earlier, finding something you enjoy is key. If you don’t enjoy it, you won’t stick with it. You can start small and gradually increase the time and intensity.
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The picture below features one of my absolute favourite ways to get my body moving - hiking in nature with my family (this was during our summer vacation in Gaspe, Quebec last month.)

​When I hike, I get it all - fresh air, sunshine, exercise, nature AND time with my family - Bonus!
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Here are some other great ideas:

• Walking (parking the car further away from work, walking on your lunch break, walking the dog, taking the stairs instead of the elevator/escalator)  
• Yoga,
• Cycling,
• Jogging,
• Swimming,
• Sports,
• Racquet sports,
• Aerobics class,
• You get the idea!

The main thing is to find something you enjoy – so you stick with it! 

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You also want to choose some weight-bearing exercises to strengthen your bones. A benefit to this is lean muscle mass speeds up your metabolism, which helps with weight loss.

Even after your workout is over, you’ll continue to burn calories because of the increase in muscle.  

If you’re worried about looking bulky – don’t. Basically, if you can lift the weight you’re using 10 times in a row, you’re only going to tone your muscles and not bulk up.   

Here’s your ACTION TASK: Choose an activity (or more than one) from the list above, or use your own ideas, and get your body moving 2 days this week. You’re going to gradually increase that to at least 4 days/week.   

If you’re like me, you’ll need to schedule it in your agenda, and give it the same level of importance (or higher!) as paying the bills.  

Whenever we do something for ourselves, for some reason, it’s the first thing that gets set aside when anything seemingly more important comes up. Do you see this happening in your life? If so, make sure you read this blog post about why it's essential to put yourself on your to-do list. 

So, expect that to happen and when you see that happening, take note of it, and make sure you rearrange your schedule so that exercise and the time needed to prepare your foods is a priority.

You’re worth it and when you take the time to take care of yourself everyone around you benefits.

When you feel better about yourself and you’re giving your body and mind what they need physically, emotionally and nutritionally, others are going to notice a shift in your mood and your attitude and it’s going to affect your relationships for the better.

After you watch this video (or read this post), I want you to share in the comments below what exercises you’re choosing to get your body moving this week!

Until next time,

May Anne xo

My family and I just returned from our vacation to the Gaspe Peninsula and due to internet connectivity issues, I was unable to write a blog post last week :(

We go every summer, but both my husband and myself found it really hard to leave there this time. I think it's because we were both really just starting to relax and unwind, and leaving when we did seemed like we were cutting off the relaxation process too quickly. 

Does it take you awhile to get in the groove of relaxing too? It takes me a few days just to start unwinding and allowing my mind to quiet down from the hustle and bustle of being an entrepreneur and running my own business.

You see, I've only been an entrepreneur for one and a half years, so I'm still learning (sometimes the hard way!) how important it is to take the time to temporarily shut off the many thoughts and ideas that are constantly running through my head at any given moment.  

But I was finally able to do that - around day 4. Next vacation, I'm aiming for day 2 :)

While I was strolling the beach (one of my absolute favourite things to do in the whole world) on our last day I filmed a little video with my "aha" moments from this trip. 

You can check out the video HERE. 

Also, I recently had the pleasure of being asked to contribute to this month's edition of Durham Region's "East of the City" magazine. In this issues, we're talking Keto & Paleo diets, along with the benefits and challenges of each.

Check it out HERE in the Health Section on pg 36.


Before I go, I want to leave with another variation of Energy Bites (these are perfect for making double or triple batches of and storing in the freezer for whenever you need them!)

Hemp Heart Energy Bites
 
Ingredients:
25 whole pitted dates
½ cup unsweetened, raw nut butter (peanut, almond, cashew, sunflower seed, etc)
2 TB coconut oil
1 cup hemp hearts
1/3 cup unsweetened coconut
½ cup dark chocolate chips (50% cacao or higher)
 
Instructions:

1. Process dates, almond butter & coconut oil until it forms a blended paste
2. Mix in hemp hearts, coconut & chocolate chips. You may have to use your hands!
3. Roll into 2-inch balls. You may have to squeeze a little to get them to stick
4. Place on a baking sheet and let set in the fridge or freezer for 1 hour.
5. Take out and enjoy as needed! Good idea to make double or triple batches.

ENJOY!!

Until next time,

May Anne xo

P.S.  Have you joined me on Instagram yet? If not, please do! I love sharing through photos and showing you snippets of the behind-the-scenes of my life through Instagram Posts and Instagram Stories which consist of either food, nature, my hubby or my son, Isaac!

One of the biggest reasons I see in my practice nutritionally why 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.

This is why the Shred10 program using 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.

Most of us are not getting the recommended 7-13 servings every day of a wide variety of fruits and veggies, not even myself who is a nutritionist. When I stop and think about it, I 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 that I’ve been running and am running again very soon 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.

Our next Shred10 will be starting soon, so if you want in on this Jumpstart to shredding the habits that no longer serve you, send me a message here and I’ll help you get started.

Until next time,

May Anne xo

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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