The WRONG kind of fixes

I am baffled at how many people, both men and women have given in to "fast fixes" trying to hold onto their youth, trying to "look the part" and trying to boost their self-esteem. Fad diets, botox, surgeries for bigger boobs and smaller butts. People are trying to get rid of what unhealthy living caused instead of living healthy because it's "right now" and does not require long term effort. It's all fine and dandy until you realize that fast fixes, don't last and there are not many of them that are good for your health in the long run.

 I get it... there is a lot of pressure to look good especially when magazines are graced with pictures of perfect people, but the reality is these people are not perfect... they are Photoshopped to LOOK perfect.  The fact is that because of this, many people are left feeling imperfect, tossing thousands of dollars onto credit cards and getting into debt to alter their appearance so that they are "socially" acceptable and well... it really bothers me.  I am sure it seems a bit of an oxymoron hearing this from someone who does makeup and hair for a living; but what I do is temporary and it's not harmful to your health. When your hair is a mess and your makeup is off you are still the same person you were before.

My message today is simple... don't forget to work on who you are internally; whether it be through motivational books and articles, the bible or church. Don't forget to eat healthy, pay attention to ingredients in your products, use sunscreen, relax, get enough sleep, have fun and laugh. Most of all, wake up every day and decide to be happy with what you have and set goals to achieve if you want more. In the end, despite everything else in life... the thing we should all want the most is to be remembered as a good person with a big heart; not a so-so person with big boobs, six pack abs, perfect teeth, and pretty clothes.

And that's my wellness blurb for today! 

See you next Monday, until then... Stay healthy!

www.beautynerdwellnessgeek.myarbonne.com

The Gluten Free Dairy Free Sweet Tooth

Hello again everyone! First and foremost, I owe you an apology for skipping out last week! I was in Las Vegas from Sept. 2nd- 8th on a freelance job doing makeup and hair at Photoshop World for 4 heavy hitters; Kelby Media, Westcott, Canon and Adobe. I truly underestimated how tired I would be upon my return after 4 hard core days of working and showing my face at events, so blogging had to go on the back-burner behind taking care of my three children and typical business as usual. Good news is, I am back and tonight I plan to deliver as promised my sweet tooth go-to's when it comes to living a gluten and dairy free lifestyle. So here it goes!

I love chocolate... and luckily I am a bigger fan of dark chocolate which has very little dairy and more antioxidants. Occasionally I indulge on my favorite healthy choice for chocolate lovers. Yes... these may incidentally have a hint of dairy in it, but being that it is so minute, my sensitivities to dairy do not knock on my tummy. This indulgence is a tasty treat called Banana Babies. They are frozen bananas covered in high quality (that means less milk) dark chocolate. No need to feel guilty eating one of these when you get a chocolate attack at midnight!

Now if you hate dark chocolate and/ or bananas or are simply in the mood for a different tatse perhaps one of these will float your frozen treat boat...

Sorbet...  a few more calories a bit more sugar, but always gluten & dairy free

Getting your frozen fruit fix can also be gluten and dairy free and oh the choices of flavors... yummmm!

Since I have to eat soy very sparingly due to having no thyroid and being on thyroid hormone replacement medication, I was on the hunt for a dairy free, gluten free, soy free ice cream. Yeah... not very easy I thought. But low and behold Sweetbay grocery store rocked it again with a coconut milk alternative. Now, I really don't like coconut so I was worried, but with all the flavors you have to choose from the coconut is not over powering. And an added bonus is that when you are paying $4.95 for a small container of ice cream you eat it in small helpings like it's a rare truffle! Less calories, feeling like royalty and getting your ice cream fix? Win win win!

Now if you are not sensitive to soy this may become a favorite. Again... Sweetbay grocery store. If you do not have that store, just Google the product and find a location in your area.

If frozen treats sting your teeth or if you are needing to cuddle up on the couch on a winter night with some sweet treats, you can always go for some cookies or baked goodies. These lemon wafer cookies are amazing! You guessed it Sweetbay. Many of these shelved goods can be found in online gluten free friendly stores much cheaper.

 Or perhaps you want to bake some chocolate chip cookies with soy free, dairy free, gluten free chocolate chips that use REAL chocolate. I use Bob's Red Mill flour in place of regular flour along with my Earth's Balance butter with my typical cookie recipes and if the recipe calls for oil, it's Safflower all the way! (don't forget to keep Xanthan gum in the baking cabinet)

Not a from-scratch baker? Well here is something for you! They will never know it's healthy!

So there ya go people, living a gluten free, dairy free lifestyle doesn't suck, you CAN indulge and food DOES taste good. You just have to stop missing what you can't have and start exploring what you can! 

And I am living proof that you can eat tons of carbs after 4 kids when you are over thirty five and not go to the gym and still be a size 4, just by going HEALTHY and CLEAN! 

Take those chemicals and SHOVE them anywhere but in your body! 

Until next week (and yes, I promise I will be back next Monday!) 

Stay Healthy!

Shelley Giard