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!

So last month I told you I was starting theGrain Brain Challengebased on Dr. David Perlmutter's book: Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth about Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar--Your Brain's Silent Killers.
Check out the initial post to learn all about the surprising effects carbohydrates may have on your brain health, and what the challenge entails.  It also contains some photos of foods that helped get me through!


Now, after four weeks have come and gone, the challenge is over and it's time to recap the experiences and outcomes regarding food, fitness, sleep, and general health:

Food:  As I discussed last time, the food didn't have drastic changes in selection; I just was more careful about my non-paleo, grainy/glutenous treats (namely, not choosing them), as well as carb-dense foods. About twice I went ahead and had a snack I wouldn't have usually c…

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…

TGIF!  Today we've got a variety of topics, so take your pick -- they're ALL insightful and informative. Enjoy and educate! 
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Mark Sisson asks, "Are You As Healthy As You Think You Are?"
Dare you to go beyond "better" in comparison to others and shoot for your own BEST.

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Think you know what you're eating?  Think again!   Fox uncovers some scary truths in "19 Foods That Aren't Foods."
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In a similar vein, BuzzFeed highlights eight foods and ingredients
that we eat here in the U.S., but are banned in other countries.
Learn more by clicking here!  (Why oh why oh WHY hasn't this caught on here??)

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Remember when we learned about proper posture?  There's a lot more where that came from! Check out these 15 Blogs Informing You How to Improve Posture in You and Your Kids.
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This moving TED Talk by Peter Attia urges us to question our
long-held assumptions, following this surgeon's lead as he overturns his own
prev…

The folks at Greatist bring the latest in scientifically-backed health information to the masses via their website, Twitter, Instagram, podcasts, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest... and MORE! (Believe it or not..)  It may seem like a lot, but I--and many others--also have just as many outlets for sharing information and ideas.

This month, they asked the Greatist Ambassadors:

How does social media influence your health and fitness?
Well... well.  A zillion thoughts raced through my mind when this came up.  I'll try to touch on all aspects, highlighting the ones I find most influential.


First: What social media?The most popular outlets for all genres are those listed above.  These may be used by celebrities, bloggers, and also those without a large public persona, just as a way to connect with friends.  These include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, and the slowly growing Google Plus (PS: You can find me on ALL of these! See my contact page).  These can largely be ac…

Last week marked one year since I first began eating according to a paleo template.  One wonderful year of paleo-esque eating.  Happy Paleoversary, me!

What have I learned in my (more-or-less/progressively improving) "paleo" year?  1. It works.  2. It's about consistency. 3. It's about you.  Let's look back...

It all began with an innocent week without wheat, and the positive results were so immediate and astonishing, that I dove head-first into a 30-day paleo challenge.  I enjoyed feeling like my body was functioning as it should--better than I knew it could--and it was still new, so I kept it up for the next few months, with a few non-paleo treats on rare occasions.  Then I became a bit lax, a bit lazy, a bit "why can't I have that," although I never reverted back to the Standard American Diet. Grains are no longer something I eat daily or even miss.  I've remained mostly gluten-free and paleo; nowadays, I'm pretty consistent, but do still …

But actually.


Dental floss. That annoying little string that seems much more inconvenient than it ever actually proves to be.  It's time to get flossing.


If you're perfect and floss daily, feel free to close the browser right now.  But if you're like most of the people I've spoken to, stick around.
I confess, I'm guilty of not flossing nearly as much as I should. I do it when I remember, which is rarely, or when I stumble upon the tiny containers, after the dentist gives me a new one, or when I am reminded of the benefits of flossing.  Now, understand, my teeth have been just fine.  My dentist has yet to comment on my gums or accuse me of not flossing enough.  However, I am no longer taking that to mean I'm in the clear.


Floss isn't just for getting that stubborn piece of food out from between your teeth.  It's a habit that leads to health in other ways. Let's see how:

Dangers:
PlaqueGingivitisGum disease (may trigger inflammation in the body)Tooth d…

One of my goals last month was to spend at least 30 minutes per day reading, and I had four books on my must-finish-before-August list.  (See how that went here.)  One of those books was...

It Starts With Food

I first heard of Dallas & Melissa Hartwig when they were guests on Robb Wolf's podcast, The Paleolithic Solution - Episode 26.  After that, I explored their website, whole9life.com, which is full of useful guides, helpful forums, and interesting blog posts.  More recently, they were on Underground Wellnesswith host Sean Croxton. They've certainly been getting their fair share of the spotlight since their recent publication of It Starts With Food. 



Another paleo-inspired nutrition book?  How could I not read it?  And I literally breezed through it.  It Starts With Food is very readable, targeted toward readers who are new to such a "radical" approach to eating.  They lay it out, plain and simple, and remind you that they understand your concerns, but they…

It's Freeky Friday! My friend Amanda helps host this weekly summer blog series, with different prompts for us all to ponder and share about!  She explains the background here, and you can see some of the past prompts and her posts here. 


This week's prompt:
How do you stay healthy?
Excellent question!  I'm so glad you asked.


Really, the way I stay healthy happens to be through the four tenets of FitFluential, the main areas underlying everything we do: EAT, SLEEP, MOVE, ENJOY

EAT: I nourish my body by eating plenty of vegetables, fruit, fish, and real foods.  I (mostly) avoid eating foods that I know are harmful or that make me feel lousy.  I try to stay cognizant of the connections between my foods and my physical health, so I can eat to promote my own health and longevity.


... and might I add, DRINK.  Water, that is.  Anyone who knows me know I drink water like I breathe oxygen.  With meals, on the go, and while working.   Always have a glass or bottle by my side.  Without…