There are endless Diets, Cleanses and Protocols out there these days. Finding the one that’s right for you is hard enough, then when you do, having to adhere to so many new ‘rules’ can be overwhelming and very discouraging if you can’t seem to stick to it.

After working with clients over the years and researching many modalities, I finally noticed what the key to actually making it work is– The most important part is to truly Know the ‘Why” for what you are eating and Be Fully Connected to the Outcome of your choices.

Getting clear on what you value and how you want to feel each day is a great starting point to sticking to a new way of eating.

Meaning, truly knowing how food makes you feel; physically, mentally and ethically.

The best way to do this is to actually track what you eat and how you feel during and after. A food journal is a great way to achieve this. You may think you know, but seeing it on paper with energy and mood is an incredible insight.

An example from my own experience with a food journal involved my low energy and even my skin. I kept getting a rash on my face and couldn’t figure out the cause. Once I wrote everything out, I was able to see a distinct pattern I didn’t see before.

And part of what I had to omit were certain fruits. And I love fruit! Especially bananas and dates. But knowing that what I valued was steady energy and clear skin, it became easy to stick to a plan where my desire for the outcome was more important than a moment with a sweet date 😉

Becoming clear on what foods were causing a reaction and also what foods were zapping my energy was a huge tool. I was able to create a meal plan and follow it with ease. And no, it doesn’t match any specific ‘Guide’ or popular method. It follows what I need. And that is an important part of this.

It’s easy to get romanced or swallowed up with the newest trendy diet, but unless you know why you are trying it, it probably won’t last that long.

So figure out what’s important to you and how you want to feel. Then make your food decisions- for you.

It has now been a month, and it’s been way easier than I thought it would be. But I know it’s my commitment to feeling High Vibe that is fueling me 🙂

Then there’s Ethics. When looking back on diets that were so easy to switch to, my moral compass played a huge role. For example,  seeing how animals are terribly mistreated makes eating factory farmed animals that have been caged and injected with Antibiotics and hormones an instant and easy no for me.

Knowing the impact my food has on the environment or other living beings is a great driving force. There was a candy I use to be hooked on years ago. And it wasn’t the overdosing of Glucose that got me to quit, but seeing that it had Palm Oil in it. Palm Oil (when not purchased from a humane company) is sourced through deforestation. Leaving multiple species without homes and devastating sacred parts of the planet.

So yeah, that was an easy one to give up after knowing that 🙂

Another important factor when you truly want to stick to something is to find the value in the Outcome.

Maybe for you it’s to feel light on your feet, so you can play longer with your kids. Or it might be wanting to feel extra confident in your skin when going out for auditions- making it easy to stop with the foods that funk you out.

Whatever it is, having an emotional and specific connection can really help you to stay committed.

It does for me at least.

Remember that knowing the ‘why’ you are doing this, is just as important as figuring out the ‘how’ you can do this.

When you eat food that makes you feel great, you will show up as your best self. And that is true High Vibe Wellness.

Far too often I see clients back themselves into a corner with a specific plan. Knowing full well some of it doesn’t suit their needs. But their afraid that eating something different will take them ‘off the plan’, and they feel like they are failing somehow. Just know, this is not the case.

If you are eating what fuels you, You Are Succeeding!

And the people who create eating guides, are creating just that; a guide. They are showcasing what works best for them, personally.  It should not be black and white all the time (unless following it to a T is what works best for you too)

I really think that being too strict and abiding by Protocols and Guidelines has gotten way out of hand. Just listen to your own unique body. It will always know best.

And if you need any help along the way, you can contact me for a High Vibe Wellness Session, where I  show you easy ways to listen to your body and create your own unique guide. Fitted just for You and your High Vibe LIfe!

*A note on additional help

I Love taking a high Quality Probiotic every day. This will assist the body in killing off the bad bacteria in the gut that cause a lot of our unwanted cravings while also rebuilding the good bacteria that give us energy 🙂 This is my favorite. It helped ease my skin issues and is good for people who are histamine intolerant too. ProBiota Bifido | 60 Vegetarian Capsules | Bifidobacteria-only Probiotic | 10+ Billion CFUs | Dairy Free | No Cold Pack Needed | Physician Formulated

With allergy season among us, I know a lot of people are feeling a little under the weather.

The change in season and weather can always be hard on the body. My very favorite thing to do to keep myself at full health year round is high dosing on Vitamin C.

When I spoke to multiple Dr’s about how they stay healthy while exposed to so many people, they all answered the same way;  high Doses of Vitamin C.

But here’s the catch, it’s not just any Vitamin C, but a lyposheric form. Which basically means there is a gel that will hold the Vitamins so it can make it through your entire system, where it can be fully utilized.

When we take the absorbic or citric acid forms, we have the chance of excreting it rather quickly, sometimes before our body can even use it!

We can’t boost our immune system if we’re just flushing out the vitamins every day.

This is my favorite form of C to take on a regular basis 🙂 

I have now taken it a couple of winters in a row and through allergy season and stayed healthy the entire time. I also just traveled to Europe and back on multiple flights during the winter. On one of the flights, at least one person coughed every minute for 9 hours straight. Gross.  This was the ultimate test for me. I took a couple of packs that day, and never even coughed myself. I made it! So now I really swear by this stuff.

But usually, just one packet first thing in the morning on an empty stomach is best.

And if you feel your immune system is fine, know that this also helps with healing the gut to properly absorb nutrients.

And, the best part, Vitamin C helps produce collagen. Meaning it will help reduce the sign of aging and make your skin look amazing!

Another great source is Navitas Naturals Organic Goji Berries, 1 Pound Pouches

I love adding these to my daily smoothie. But if you’re in colder weather, I know a cold smoothie won’t help you stay strong.  So instead, you can actually add a Tablespoon of Goji Berries to a hot cup of water, and voila- Healing Tea!

It will add a bunch of Vitamin C and other beneficial nutrients to the water, then afterwards, the berries will be hydrated and ready to eat at the bottom of the mug. Perfection.

Since they’re rehydrated from soaking, they will be even easier to digest. Which is an added bonus.

I truly hope this helps you feel stronger and have more tools to use as the seasons change. Here’s to an abundance of High Vibe Wellness!

 
As someone who as struggled with bouts of depression since my early teens, I now make feeling better and Happy, a priority.
My lifestyle and daily choices play a huge part in this. But sometimes, even when I am consistent, I can still fall off into the gloom and I need a reset to feel better.

I wanted to share what has worked most recently for me, to quickly lift my mood and help me feel happier and more motivated to live the life I love 🙂

Here are my Top 5 Steps:

1: Getting rid of what brings me down-

Sounds simple enough, right? Why would I even have things that bring up bad feelings. Well, sometimes it‘s really subtle and I don’t even realize it right away.
A chipped mug for my morning tea, a dirty car that needs to be cleaned, or just simple items that need to be cleared or replaced.

A main culprit for me- my workout clothes. Since I’m using them to just workout in, I have the bad habit of letting them get a little too run down. Then each morning as I dress for the gym, I pull on yoga pants that are all stretched out and a tank top with a tear on it, and I feel pretty terrible about it.

Just because I’m only sweating in it, doesn’t mean it needs to be ruined.

So, I took the time to toss these items and go get new clothes for the gym, and I immediately felt recharged! I was more confident and excited to leave the house, and I even felt happy about it.
Next, I removed all the bird poo from my car with a simple wash, and voila! I love my car again. These little things can really wear us down if we’re already feeling a little low.

2: Be Authentically Me

This is a great one. Being myself. The more I am trying to be who I think others need me to be, the faster I burn out. There is a great book called The Charge: Activating the 10 Human Drives That Make You Feel Alive
 This book discusses that when we live in Congruence with who we desire ourselves to be, we are much happier. I love this! My mentor Rha Goddess speaks about Congruence being such an important step to success and happiness too.
Meaning, if you see yourself as a very motivated individual, but you can’t pull yourself off the couch on your days off… you’re going to feel pretty down about it. Or if you desire becoming more athletic, but you can’t make the time to train, then you won’t feel like your best self. Because your image of your ideal self is not matching your actions. Woah.

What we do, is much more important than what we say. As Rha says, “It’s how you Be.”  Love that 🙂

Also, the more we become who we desire to be and know who we authentically are, the brighter we shine!

Because let’s face it, trying to be who we ‘think’ we should be for other people is exhausting. There is something so empowering about knowing who you are and owning it. Even if it takes a little more discipline to get going.

All of the people I admire have the same trait- they are unapologetically themselves, even when it isn’t easy or ‘cool’.

When I take the time to do what I desire and need to do to feel my best, it always pays off to me being happier, and therefore being way more present for all of my clients and loved ones.

3: Get Sleep

I was going to say move my body, because this always helps. But, sleep still comes first. If I am not sleeping, I am not functioning at my best, I can’t workout and I am definitely not happy.

Prioritizing sleep is a must! This means arranging plans around making sure I have enough down time before bed, and also the right amount of hours once I’m in bed.

This is so important. People love to brag about their lack of sleep or how they only need 5 or 6 hours. If you’re a trained sleep-hacker, go right ahead and brag. But the majority of us all need more sleep.
And not just more sleep; better sleep.

My favorite sleep tips:

Black out your room- This will ensure your body knows it is time to rest and also stays resting. Our skin picks up ambient light, so even if you’re eyes are covered, you still need to hide glowing electronics or streetlights seeping through the blinds, or your body won’t fully relax.

No electronics before bed- if needed, make it easy reading. But no emails or intense tv shows. These raise your cortisol levels (stress response) and tell your body you are not ready for bed.

*If you want to read or look at your devices before bed, use these glasses Blue Blocking Driving Wayfarers Sunglasses Amber Tinted Lens 8451

They are blue blocking glasses that block the bright blue light from your device in a way that still lets your brain produce melatonin ( the hormone that tells your brain it’s time for sleep). I started using them a couple years ago, and I love them!

Making sure I am well rested helps me to balance the rest of my day. Giving me the chance to feel Happy and High Vibe.

4: Exercise

Of course, good rest is coupled with movement during the day. My dad (who hikes at least 2 miles a day) always says he can’t help but feel good while exercising, that nothing can really bother you while you’re sweating. So true.

So yes, exercise has become a healing tool for me. The hardest part is getting there- or even, getting the shoes on 😉 but once I do, the rest falls into place. Yogi Bhajan says, “90% of the practice is just showing up.” I find this to be so true.

They have run studies where they were trying to make exercise a daily habit. In order to do so, they had to train people to just get out of the house, lock the door and put on their running shoes. Once they had that part down, the rest followed suit.

Sometimes, that is what I do. I will just get to the gym with zero expectation other than showing up, then- the rest falls into place.

Best part is, once my heart rate is up and I have a good sweat going, just like my dad says- all my anxt or sadness seems to fade.

Flooding our body with endorphins is a great way to boost our mood and happiness. But, since it can be hard to motivate in a funk, having a partner to workout with helps immensely. Don’t be afraid to ask a friend or your partner to stick to a time and make sure you go 🙂 You’ll both be happier that you did. I promise.

5: Write out a Gratitude list

This helps me so much. Taking the time to be present and really feel the gratitude in all the little things in life, really adds up. At the end of the day, the things make me the happiest are the things I am truly abundant in- Like living in a great city, having an amazing family and of course, doggy cuddle time- The Best 🙂
Thinking of what I am grateful for always relaxes me. It can really help to gain some perspective too. Simply writing down three simple things is a wonderful way to feel good and remember that I am truly happy and grateful for this incredible journey 🙂

So there you go, those are the Top 5 things that help me to really turn it around. =But most importantly-maintain my happiness. 

I hope this helps you in some way. Being happy is a daily choice we make, but sometimes we really have to shift our lives to really feel it and maintain it. I know this firsthand. So remember to keep it up the best you can.  xoxo

And if you need any help moving forward, know that I do one on one coaching and specialize in Self-Care and Wellness. So please feel free to reach out for a free High Vibe Wellness Session so I can help you to truly amplify your life!

Lots of Love and Smiles,

Whitney