Fresh food – fast! 3 tips to quick, healthy & delicious food prep

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Ana

Love your body up!

I’m often asked how I am able to enjoy healthy, home-prepped meals all the time with a busy lifestyle (that includes a fair amount of travel).

My short answer is I have fun systems as well as a few favorite tools.

Here are 3 of my top “secrets” for loving your body up with great food:

  1. I use my time at home to prepare things while I’m doing something else and I ALWAYS prepare food in bulk. If I create a raw pate from nuts or seeds, I make enough to enjoy for a few days . . . If I make a soup, I make enough for 3 or 4 meals. When I make raw crackers or my raw wraps, I fill the dehydrator . . . If I roast vegetables, I make a couple of trays . . . When I wash and spin salad greens, I do a big batch . . . if I cook up some quinoa or lentils, I make extra so that I can easily toss them into a salad or other dish . . . and a bulk batch of yummy homemade salad dressings or pestos can be an amazing way to add instant flavor and nutrition to the simplest of meals. Soups, stews, baking, cooking grains or beans . . . these can all be “happening” while you are attending to other things. Just set a timer. : )
  2. I use the Vita-Mix – A LOT! Yes, it’s true I’m in love with a blender. : ) But it’s actually so much more than a blender – it’s an instant soup, dressing, pesto, hummus, batter, ice cream, nut butter, dessert, smoothie and juice maker all in one. When it comes to saving time and money in making healthy creations, I am definitely a huge fan, and it is one of my biggest “secrets”. When I make my green smoothie, I’ll make extra and have something quick and nourishing for an afternoon snack. Click here to get free shipping on a Vita-Mix ($25 value)
  3. And lastly, my super healthy travel secret . . . shhhh! Keep it simple and fresh. While I was in Costa Rica and no longer at the retreat center, I bought fresh items like cucumbers, avocados, tomatoes, lettuces (all perfect for the hot temperatures) along with eggs, nuts/seeds and my very special secret ingredient . . . black olive paste. The black olive paste (tapenade) adds instant flavor to mashed avocado or a soft boiled egg. For an easy beach picnic I would grab sliced cucumber and tomatoes, whole lettuce leaves and either mashed avocado or hard-boiled egg with olive paste. I could make little lettuce wraps on the spot or simply dip the veggies into the avocado mix. I even found raw crackers at the local mini-super for a little extra crunch.

 

How can you support your own SIMPLE and ELEGANT healthy food lifestyle?

Post your ideas below.

Much love,

Ana

PS – There are just 2 more days to enjoy significant savings with the Body Love Sale happening through Feb. 24th, 2012 on the much-loved virtual 10-week BlissBody Transformation program. Don’t miss this one-time opportunity to save $200 . . . AND gain a healthy, happy body for life! : ) Check out the Body Love Sale here.

I can’t wait to hear from you!

My ceramic scupture homage to Body Love : )

Posted in Body Love, cooking, Energize Your Life, fat loss, getting healthy, health, Health on a budget, healthy bliss, healthy habits, holistic health, increase energy, longevity, nutrition, quick healthy food, raw foods, Self love, self-care, smoothies, stress reduction, travel, Vita-Mix, weight loss | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Power of Your Love List

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Ana

A love list ignites body love & fulfillment

“I realized that being grateful to my body was key to giving myself more love.” ~ Oprah Winfrey

 

This past week (while preparing for and sharing the Body Love Sale), I have once again been reminded of the POWER of love.

The power of loving your body, yourself and those around you . . . but also the power of love IN ACTION. Meaning fueling what you DO, what you SAY, how you THINK, what you EAT . . .  with the intention of love.

This sounds really simple, and yet, if I were to ask you “what do you really love?” or “what to do you love to do?” Can you rattle off an AUTHENTIC list of 10 or more? Or do you get stuck wondering “what do I REALLY love?”

I was asked this question last week, and had that moment of hesitation and questioning. I realized that in that moment I was NOT in my heart, I was not FEELING “the love”. Once I took a pause, a deep breath and dropped into my heart, that’s when the list began to flow with grace and ease.

Why am I sharing this with you? Because this month about Body Love – really, unconditionally loving yourself and  your body.

What I discovered when I let my “Love List” flow, was that it was in this space that magic started to happen, and my love, inspiration and opportunities began to grow. This exercise of connecting to what I truly love literally opened the door to more self-confidence, pleasure, relaxation, creativity, peace and prosperity opportunities.

(See my personal “love list” below!)

Why?

Law of attraction, baby! Like attracts like. : )

If you can connect with what you love, you are opening the energetic doors to invite even MORE of what you love and desire to flow in.

The next important step is to then to commit to DOING and including these things that you love DAILY.

What’s so interesting is that you may discover that you are not doing the things you love to do! I found this to be the case for myself.

Why?

Fear, resistance, limiting beliefs, habit . . . I’ve run up against them ALL, which is why I can share openly with you about this.

Your Body Love Assignment

  1. Ask yourself: “What do I REALLY love?” “What do I really LOVE to do?”
  2. Start writing your list. If you get stuck, take at least 2 deep breaths, close your eyes and tune in.
  3. Choose at least ONE item to incorporate daily. If it requires getting outside support, then schedule the next step NOW (i.e. purchasing something, signing up for a class, making a call, etc.)
  4. Connect daily to your “Love List” to continue to expand your capacity for Body Love and receiving your desires

Ready to receive loving support in your Body Love and Healthy Transformation? Join us for the special BODY LOVE SALE – $200 off my popular virtual 10-Week Body Transformation program! I’ve included some extraordinary bonuses . . . but you will need to take loving action by February 21st, 2012 to take advantage of this one time opportunity. Learn more and register here.

In joyful service to your body love and radiance,

Ana

PS – Curious to see my personal LOVE LIST? Here it is (I can’t believe I’m sharing this with you!):

My Love List (so far)

  1. The feeling of bare skin
  2. My morning smoothie
  3. Smelling fresh roses
  4. Playing in an organic garden
  5. Being in water
  6. Sunrise (over the ocean)
  7. Sunshine on my bare skin
  8. Beauty of nature
  9. Supporting women in living their dreams, overcoming their fears and owning their exquisiteness
  10. Expressing creativity – collaging, making jewelry, dancing, playing in the kitchen
  11. Hiking and being in nature
  12. Going to the farmer’s market
  13. Lying naked on my sheepskin
  14. Celebrating – being celebrated and celebrating others
  15. Unique jewelry
  16. Shoes
  17. Yoga!
  18. Free form dance
  19. Touching
  20. Performing/sharing  my passion in front of a BIG group
  21. Supporting others in shining their light and receiving success
  22. Learning about and exploring all things mystical
  23. Eating and smelling vanilla
  24. Avocados
  25. Watching/reading uplifting stories
  26. Music
  27. Sleeping
  28. Eating raw cheesecake
  29. Going on adventures
  30. Snuggling
  31. Smelling my essential oils – jasmine, orange, grapefruit, nutmeg, lemon . . . the list goes on!
  32. Gazing at the moon
  33. Creating rituals
  34. Creamy foods
  35. Laughing
  36. Wearing cashmere
  37. Sparkly gems
  38. Surprises (good ones!)
  39. Eating my homemade coconut yogurt/pudding
  40. Being in Big Sur
  41. Being authentic, being around authenticity
  42. Quiet time
  43. Looking at driving in “sexy” cars – Porches, Jaguars . . . yes, it’s true!
  44. Inspiring others (towards health, growth, joy, transformation . . . )
  45. Eating foods that truly feel GOOD in my body

Enjoying coconut love on the beach in Costa Rica!

Posted in beauty, Body Love, depression, essential oils, finding joy, happiness, healthy bliss, holistic health, Inspiration, Love, nature, Self love, spiritual transformation, weight loss, Yoga | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Valentine’s Day Chocolate Body Love

Posted on February 11, 2012 by Ana

chocolate & raspberries: A match made in heaven

This deliciously naughty-tasting smoothie is the perfect way to treat yourself to a healthy indulgence on Valentine’s day or any day!
Play with the flavors to suit your taste – no rules! : )

Chocolate-Raspberry Green Smoothie Indulgence

Blend until smooth and creamy in the Vita-Mix (a great Body Love gift if you don’t have one!)

  • 1 cup (or more) Coconut milk (I like SoLicious brand or you can make your own)
  • small handful of Dandelion greens (loaded with minerals & enhances chocolate flavor)
  • handful of Spinach
  • a few chopped fennel fronds or ½ a bulb (optional, but really good)
  • 2-3 stalks Celery
  • 1 tbsp. coconut butter or coconut mana (this is different than coconut oil)
  • 1 tbsp. Coconut oil
  • Chocolate or vanilla stevia (I like Sweetleaf brand)
  • 2tbsp. hemp seeds
  • 1 scoop Chocolate Raspberry Clearvite* (or you can use Vanilla flavor and add 1 tsp. cacao powder)
  • ¾ cup fresh or frozen raspberries
  • cinnamon powder to taste (optional, but nice)
  • 1 tsp. Maca powder (optional, but helps “put you in the love mood”)

*To order Clearvite, an amazing professional-grade vitamin/mineral, detox, protein powder, you will need to call Apex Energetics at 1-800-736-4381 and use patient code P2660. Chocolate Raspberry Clearvite: product # K-36  OR  Vanilla: product # K-24

Chocolate Love

Rich Chocolate Halvah Hearts

This is definitely a rich, decadent treat that you will want to save for special occasions. Like Valentine’s Day!

  • 1 cup raw tahini
  • 1 cup fresh medjool dates
  • 1/4 cup each raw cacao powder & carob powder
  • small amount almond or coconut milk
  • 1 cup soaked sesame seeds, drained

Mix the first four ingredients thoroughly in a food processor until smooth. Stir in sesame seeds and spread thinly onto a flat sheet. (Tip: Rolling it out underneath a sheet of wax paper with a rolling pin works terrific) Refrigerate until firm and use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out individual candies.

*Don’t like chocolate? Just omit the cacao, carob and “milk”. You can add a dash of vanilla for an extra yummy taste.

Have a beautiful day!

Posted in anti-aging, aphrodisiacs, beauty, chocolate, dairy-free recipe, gluten-free recipes, green smoothies, happiness, healthy desserts, increase energy, raw chocolate, raw foods, Raw Valentine's Day, recipes, sexy foods, smoothies, Superfoods, Valentine's Day recipes, Vita-Mix | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

End Sugar Binging in 5 Simple Steps

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Ana

If you missed the blog post “Finding Real Sweetness”, please go read that first. It will offer you the foundation, then watch this video: End Sugar Binging, for 5 Tips to end your sugar (or food) binging.


Be sure to leave a comment below to let me know what you thoughts, offer any insights you had or share suggestions.

With love and healthy bliss,

Ana

Posted in anti-aging, beauty, binging, boosting metabolism, cravings, depression, emotional eating, fat loss, immune health, Inspiration, self-care, stress reduction, sugar, sugar addiction, sugar cravings, weight loss | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Finding Real “Sweetness”

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Ana

Finding your new, healthy sweet spotHow’s your relationship with sugar these days?

Loaded question, I know. ; )

But a good one to get really real with if you desire a vibrant, fulfilling, and even prosperous life in which you can truly thrive.

For most of my life my relationship with sugar was totally dysfunctional at best, and completely destructive at worst (which was most to the time). Not only was it destroying my immune system, wreaking havoc on my energy levels and skin, contributing to horrible PMS, digestive pain and headaches, and playing a huge role in the depression and severe hypoglycemia I struggled with for many years, but there was an even deeper, darker truth.

I eventually saw how this dysfunctional and destructive relationship was an unconscious way to keep myself small, and not really live my truth and my desires.

How could I? I felt awful, and was in no shape to take on the role of successful business owner, leader, mentor, mother, lover, creative spiritual being . . . it affected literally EVERY area of my life.

My creative life force was completely shut down, and I had no idea HOW much my addiction was keeping me down until I started to break free, and find what I call “real” sweetness – the sweetness of life.

Now, you might be reading this thinking “so, does she NEVER eat sugar?!!” Let me assure you, I’m not into perfection and “never’s”, but I will say it’s honestly very rare at this point in my life.

Why?

Because I’ve found so much sweetness in other ways. Even when I do make a conscious decision to have some cake at a party or sample a holiday cookie, I often leave most of it behind because it just doesn’t hold that same appeal and satisfaction.

The first time this happened, I was actually pretty shocked! I thought maybe it was a different kind of cake or cookie that was just super-sweet and felt really “empty”.

But I realized that I had changed, not the sugar treat. I often suggest to my clients after they begin to transform their diet and relationship to food that they go back and try some of those favorite “forbidden” foods so they can have the same “aha” that I did.

All of them come back to me saying something like, “I can’t believe I used to love this!”

Proof that transformation CAN happen. It’s very possible.

Denial is no fun. Deprivation is NOT the spice of life . . . but addiction (whether it’s sugar or cocaine) will suck the life out of you. I know that sounds rather harsh, but I’m saying this out of love . . . and from some very difficult life experience.

Inspired decisive action, on the other hand, is empowering. Making a conscious choice to honor your body, your energy and your success in all areas supports that beautiful, magnetic creative life force that you see in those you admire.

This is NOT about making the decision to be perfect or even “good”. It’s the decision to be EXQUISITE.

It’s the decision to feel beautiful (inside and out) . . . the decision to drink in the subtle, sweet nectar of life . . . the decision to feel clarity and energy . . .  the decision to experience the pleasure and depth of life in all it’s peaks and valleys . . . the decision to embrace your purpose and shine  your light . . . the decision to enjoy success (in your business, as a volunteer, with your kids, whatever!) . . . it’s the decision to experience a truly extraordinary relationship with yourself and with a life partner

Yes, making a clear-cut choice is not for the faint of heart, or for those who would like to just survive and settle . . . but I have a sneaking suspicion that you’re different – you want to thrive.

So, for now, I invite you to just breathe into all this.

Breathe into whether any of this is even true for you . . . breathe into where you are right NOW . . . breathe into what you truly desire for yourself as you progress in this beautiful and short life . . .

As we move towards the dark (New) moon on Monday, it’s the perfect time to take a little time to begin to release what’s not serving, and set a joyful intention around how you really want to move forward in your life.

Journal, draw, imagine . . . don’t be afraid to take a little journey into the depths of your truth. I’m here with you every step of the way.

And then, stay tuned for next week, where I’ll share some juicy tips for finding real sweetness in your life instead of in the cookie jar. : )

If you’re feeling ready NOW to get some support in this, then let’s set up a time to chat – you and I.

I have 2 0 more spaces left for complimentary New Year’s Body Transformation Breakthrough sessions. Click here to reserve  yours today! These are all taken, but stay tuned.

PS – And don’t worry, if it’s sweetness from food that’s the order of the moment, there are soooo many options for getting that need met without suffering from the negative effects of sugar. More on that next week . . . or search the site for recipes!

PPS – Watch the follow up video on this post here

Posted in 2012, anti-aging, beauty, cravings, depression, digestive disorders, emotional eating, fat loss, happiness, Inspiration, reaching your goals, stress reduction, sugar, sugar addiction, sugar cravings, weight loss | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments