Dare You To...

The following post is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of Grain Brain. As always, the opinions expressed are all my own!


Grain Brain:  The Surprising Truth About Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar --  Your Brain's Silent Killers
David Perlmutter, MD, is a name you will be hearing a lot more about.  He is a board-certified neurologist with an impressive resume:
President of the Perlmutter Health Center in Naples, FloridaCo-founder and president of the Perlmutter Brain FoundationsA Fellow of the American College of NutritionRecipient of the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the American College of Nutrition; Recipient of the Linus Pauling Award; Recipient of the Leonard G. Rowntree Research AwardAssociate Professor at the University of Miami School of MedicineFrequent lecturer at symposia sponsored by medical institutions like Harvard University, the University of Arizona, Scripps Institute, New York University, and Columbia UniversityPublished author in The Journal of Neurosurgery, The So…

How often do you become so engrossed in a task--whether work or play--that you suddenly realize it's way later than you intended to go to bed?  Where did the evening go?  Now you've only got six, five... four(?!?) hours to sleep, and no time to unwind properly?

I've spoken before about the importance of shutting down electronics before bed, but if you want to have time to shut down and begin to wind down for sleep, you've got to recognize that it's bedtime 30 to 60 minutes before you actually intend to sleep!

For this reason, I often keep a "bedtime alarm" set, so that on weeknights, my phone will remind me, "Hey, it's almost ten o'clock; you might want to finish what you're doing and start getting washed up and ready for bed." In case you were wondering, my bedtime alarm sound is crickets. Thank you, iPhone.


This is my little trick to make sure I get my eight hours in. It may seem silly, but why?  It's just a friendly (self-imp…

For a few years, Diane Sanfilippo has shared her expertise on sugar cravings in an e-book called The 21 Day Sugar Detox, where she outlined a program for a three-week detox from sugar.  Whether you think you've got a sweet tooth or not, you may be surprised how sugar affects your daily life (eczema, fatigue, mood swings, acne, blood sugar rollercoasters, and more!).  Take a look at the videos below and consider whether a detox might be beneficial for YOU!

Want some testimonials? I completed the program twice, myself, and shared my experiences here and here.  My friend Amber has recapped her experiences at Exsoycise.com, and you can also find great experience posts by Sarah on her blog The Paleo Mom, and George of The Civilized Caveman.  Just google "21-Day Sugar Detox Recap" and you'll see countless positive reviews for this life-changing program.


Now, Diane has revamped and added to her program to create an all-inclusive resource in a real, physical, keep-it-on-you…

Here's a dare I've taken on that people have noticed.  I've gotten compliments on my glowing skin, and some have asked me what I'm up to.  If you want to stop worrying about what's on your face and finally have glowing, balanced skin, then this post is for you.

Just as I got rid of the unpronounceable ingredients in my body lotion, I wanted to avoid the artificial cleansers in my face wash, too.  What good does it do to use coconut oil to moisturize my face, if I'm still washing it with strange chemicals twice a day?

Well, I'd heard of "oil cleansing" before, and you may have, too.  There's a website dedicated to it (The Oil Cleansing Method.com, and it's outlined extensively with various options in The Skintervention Guide by Liz Wolfe.  THere's also a helpful tutorial on Mommypotamous.

It may seem counterintuitive, but using oil topically actually helps balance your skin.  It's nourishing, cleansing, and moisturizing.  It helps …

Happy Friday!   Here are a few links to get you thinking this weekend:
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Dare you to OWN IT.  Love this honest and encouraging post
from Sarah Fragoso on Everyday Paleo.

The Huffington Post shares 23 Things Every Woman Should Stop Doing. Worth reading, reflecting, and reconsidering.
All in favor of the family meal?
Carla Birnberg advocates for the family meal, and I agree!

Lindsay explains the way she is  Doing More AND Less, Thanks to Technology. 
The Angry Trainer gives a great explanation
of how social media affects the fitness industry.
Spoiler: it does BOTH--helping people get healthy
but also hurting the industry and standards. Great post.

Here are 5 Simple Beauty Products You Can Make From Coconut Oil ...and you knowhow much I love coconut oil! 
Chris Kresser shares What Everyone--Especially Vegetarians-- Should Know About B12 Deficiency.
Why GMO Labeling MATTERS! The basics and what you can do for the cause.
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As always, follow along on recent dares, news, information, and he…