New Site

Hey all!

Just in case you haven't heard from Facebook and Twitter, my blog has been moved!  I now have a dope, professional site PracticallyFit.  So switch on over to the new site to continue following my fun blog and see what I'm up to!!!

Thanks for reading!

Peace & Love

Ashley

Terminally Thankful

As most of you know (and hopefully love) my blogs are a sarcastic and jovial approach to living a healthy lifestyle, but with Thanksgiving approaching and my recent work experiences I thought it most appropriate to write a sentimental reflection today.  Because true to living well, we must be well in mind.

Our yoga niyama for November.

Over the past 2 months I have had the pleasure of working with many terminally ill patients, a rarity in my work setting and quite a challenge for me as I tend to get personally invested in most of my patients.  Initially when these referrals began coming in (some sort of weird flood of referrals) I was dreading each day, because let's face it working with someone who is dying is not exactly the most uplifting and I'm used to working with people who progress to their prior level of function and return to life!  However, as this has carried on I have begun to see it as a gift.  How amazing that I get to be reminded that life is temporary and we should enjoy every second?

Now I won't sugar coat this and say that all of my terminally ill patients feel as if life is a gift and they are just enjoying their last days in bliss, because that is most certainly NOT the case.  Like the stages of grief, they are grieving their lives and the fact that most of them will be taken young without experiencing the opportunities that come with growing older.  Seeing your grandchildren, seeing your children get married, and so on.  One of my patients who has been hit extremely hard due to his inability to work, was so embarrassed that he couldn't provide for his family that he was in tears.  There is anger, there is sadness, there is frustration, denial,
and resentment, but in between those negative emotions there is light.  The light that shines through is the appreciation for life, family, each day, and an ability to be thankful that most of us will not experience.  It has made me step back and look at my day to day with a new appreciation.

The things that worry me and drive me into a funk are not things that really matter in the grand scheme.  I still have a loving husband, a roof over my head, an ability to pay my bills, feed myself and my family and create and invest in a future.   There is a calmness that I have felt by working with these patients that I have never known.  Now, let's be real, regular challenges and wants are still there, and some days I come home and cry my eyes out because it doesn't change the fact that end of life is sad.  But it's nice to sometimes be reminded that what you "need" is usually right in front of you.

Thanksgiving is a time to look around and just be thankful for all that we have, not in a cliche sense but in a real sense.  My terminally ill patients have the most REAL appreciation that can ever be seen, and I am thankful that I have been able to use my relationships with them to reflect on my own life struggles.

The stunning 9/11/ memorial celebrating the life of all those individuals

Related to my work with my patients I was also lucky enough to visit the 9/11 memorial over the weekend and this just deepened my appreciation.  This year at Thanksgiving I am thankful for life.  The ability to wake up, breathe, and open my eyes.  Now I hug my man and my pups a little closer, because I have been lucky enough to be reminded that even love is only temporary and we should love with all we have while we can.  So I wish all of you a most Happy Thanksgiving, and I encourage you to be thankful for the "things" that cannot be replaced.  Squeeze all your loved ones a little closer this holiday season.  And if there is truly no love in your life give yourself credit because you are enough.  In the end always be thankful for you and the daily struggle that you have the privilege to be part of.

Happy Thanksgiving - love Harry & Olive

ReStart

Most of my summer posts......

Fall is a favorite season of mine.  I love the leaves changing and the build up of the holidays ahead.  Fall is also a time for me to reset, as is spring.  The extra beer over the summer beach days, BBQs, and constant socialization during the nice weather leaves me feeling a little plumper when heading into the autumn.  Spring and fall are a time to reset the lifestyle button.

See, told ya....

With the days getting shorter and weather turning cooler there's more time to focus on working out and good healthy eating.  Especially during the summer I don't like to waste any second of a beautiful day.  While most of my time is spent doing active things outside, mainly paddle boarding, running, hiking or swimming, I would say an equal amount of that time is spent having beers at the beach, heading over a friend's house to grill out or grabbing dinner/drinks at a great restaurant with outdoor patio.  Damn that is a lot of drinks and food!  And over the course of 3-4 months it adds up!



Just like the kiddos get back to school, I try to get back to a schedule in the fall.  Time to start enjoying those cool runs and spending a Sunday making some good eats for the week ahead.  It's also a great time to get back in the swing of yoga and dog activities as it's finally cool enough for them to get some all day exercise!  While I love the summer, I really love the changing of the season.  So cheers to the fall ahead, the ability to reset onto a healthier track.....but don't forget a pumpkin beer .....or two.

A little flashback to warmer days....& from my fun yoga shoot!

CARBALICIOUS DEF

Thank you to the always fabulous Fergie Ferg for the title of this post, holla inspiration.  For those of you not catchin' my reference check it  Feralicious def .

So I don't know if we have flashed back to like year 2000 or what, but all I keep hearing about is the benefits of low and no carb diets.  What is happening?!?!  Am I in "Back to the Future" or what???  I thought we let this theory go once we realized Dr. Atkins had a heart attack, congestive heart failure, and high blood pressure.  So what gives??

History repeats itself is what.  True that cutting carbs allows you to drop pounds because you are eliminating a major sugar source from your diet.  But carbs alone are not the enemy
here, the type and way you are eating your carbs is the enemy!

Quick Carb Lesson (so you don't sound like Regina George, "Is butter a carb?"):  There are good carbs, complex, and so called "bad" carbs, simple, (I don't think they should be called bad, just maybe not as great?).  Complex are the whole grains, and these get processed by the body differently due to the fiber content.  Fiber allows sugar to bind differently in the body.  Therefore they are absorbed a little different and in a more efficient way to give you some energy.  Simple carbs are just that, simple!  They don't have the fiber and other mechanisms to keep you full.  Simple carbs are processed quicker as sugar and because they are gone so quick the body craves the sugar immediately.  True everything is good in moderation so if you are having white pasta and mac n cheese every so often, no biggy, just don't make it a daily thing.  Carbs are really a good thing!  Think of fruit and trust me I can't tell you how many women I've met who say they don't eat fruit, "because of the carbs."  Oh shove an apple in it already!  They can give you some great fiber, protein, and fuel your body for your kick ass work outs.

Now what really gets me hot about this is people saying how good things are without carbs!  Reference my above statement about Dr. Atkins having severe heart issues.  If all you focus on is protein and no carb your intake of fats goes through the roof!  Sure you may lose some weight because your body doesn't have that sugar to run on, so fat is burned instead, but inside you are fat!  Truth!  Your arteries and heart are suffering, all clogged up.....gross.

Do me a favor, grab a piece of fruit and some whole grain pasta and fuel your body!  Be practical about your decisions and then there's no need to cut out an entire food group!

Mainly simple carbs, but perfect for a throwback to making Christmas cookies!

Obsessed.

Summa time and the livin's easy!!! Whew this summer is flying by with plenty of beach days, paddle boarding and yoga!  It's been a while since I showcased a few of my favorite things so I figured I'd pick a couple things that I am LOVING this summer and let you in on my favs!  First off.....skin care!

Andalou Naturals Skin Care with a side of Trader Joe's.
I've been in the process of switching to more natural products throughout the house and this includes skin care products.  Andalou Naturals is a vegan, non-GMO brand carried by Whole Foods and it is perfect for my baby sensitive skin!!! The tall bottle on the left is the daily moisturizer, light, spf 18 and smells like roses....literally!  The horizontal bottle is the eye revive gel!  This gem rolls on smooth and rids your eyes of all the puffiness.  Their line also won't break the bank.  LOVE LOVE LOVE.
Now the last bottle is the Trader Joe's Antioxidant Facial Serum, full of vitamins, nutrients and a great skin toner! My skin instantly looks brighter after using this little baby at night

Important note:  It's super important to not over-product your skin, so I frequently take breaks from all products for a day or so and try to use only 1-2 products a day so my skin is not on overload!

Trader Joe's Coconut Oil & Coconut Body Butter
Hello smelling like vacation at all times!  I'm not a huge fan of cooking with coconut oil, well unless you want all of your food to taste coconutty (& hey do you), but I am a huge fan of using it on my skin!  I slather some of this oil on my elbows, heels, knees, face, wherever! before bed and you have an instant moisturizer!  I love using this when I'm taking a break from actual product.   Now as for the coconut body butter, yum!  This stuff is light to go on, smells like you are in the tropics, and is non-greasy.  Hell yea!!!  Plus the smell is an absolute boy magnet, Colin loves the smell of this one!

Bohemian Island Pants
I embrace my inner Princess Jasmine when I'm wearing these pants and am obsessed!!! These pants are the most comfy, lightest and cost effective (only $27!!!) pants I've bought in forever!! I actually just ordered another pair (elephant print yes!) and have shorts from the same company! They have super funky patterns and they benefit a dog rescue in Thailand.  I mean, hellooooo, does it get any better?

Side note:  be careful with washing they are super delicate!


Last but not least.....

Zella brand tank & CoolMax race hat
 I had been on a scavenger hunt for a perfect running hat and finally the hunt is over! This CoolMax race hat is the bomb dot com for sure! It's cool with great ventilation, and suctions to my head (comfortably of course) to keep the sweat from running down my face into my eyes.  Love the coral color and the price.....on sale at Athleta for $12.99.  That is what I'm talking about.

Now you guys know I love me some Nordstrom and their active brand, Zella, is great all around, but their running tanks can't be beat!  This tank was $8 on Hautelook, it's loose, breathable and super cute!  Can't beat it!  It also wicks the sweat so I am not overheating in this one!





Hope you guys love some of the products just as much as I do.  If you have a favorite thing, share with me! I am always up for trying new gear, food, and products!!!  HAPPY SUMMER!!

Quickie Low Back Exercises

It's been FOREVER since I've posted a video, so I figured I'd give you a little treat with a quick low back video!  4 simple exercises, 2 stretches and 2 stabilizers!!!

Don't judge, my lighting sucks and this was impromptu so I am scrubbin' it big time lol ;)

5 Meditation Tips

Part of maintaining a healthy and well lifestyle means maintaining a healthy mind and mind/body connection.  I've had a lot of questions from people about meditation lately.  Meditation is my means of mind maintenance.  It keeps me clear minded, peaceful, and improves my reactions to stressful situations.  But meditation is no picnic, it's hard work!  So I've put together a few tips to improve your meditation practice.

1.  Designate a space:  Find yourself a comfortable spot where you can consistently go to in order to perform your meditation.  I don't care if it's your bed, floor or basement, just find a spot.  We have a 3rd bedroom that we don't use and that is my go to spot!  You will associate that area with your meditation, helping you get into the mindset once you sit down.

2.  Kick the judgement to the curb:  everyone thinks the point of meditation is to shut your mind up, well if you can do that puhlease tell me the secret because it ain't possible!  The point of meditation is for self-reflection and examination of your thoughts.  So let your mind go wild and don't judge yourself for it!  Use a meditation technique to keep yourself centered (i.e. counting your breaths, or questioning your thoughts) and really just get in tune to what is going on in your head!



3.  Comfortable position, not a sleeping position:  Sit upright or lie in a relaxed position, however don't put yourself in a sleep position.  The point is not to fall asleep, it's to actively examine your inner self, so stay awake!  I prefer to sit on a yoga block usually in a cross legged position and this is comfortable, but not uber comfy where I'll be snoring in 5 minutes.

4.  Make it part of your schedule:  If you are like a me and love a "to do" list or a plan then put this on it!  Meditation is just as important as brushing your teeth in my opinion and I definitely would not go through a full day without brushing my pearly whites.  If you make it a normal routine you are less likely to skip it, so put it in the schedule and do it!

5.  Be realistic:  Just like any other wellness habit, specifically related to diet or exercise, don't expect too much of yourself!  You wouldn't go out and try to run a marathon without training right??  Meditation is a practice and requires just that.  Start with a 3-5 minute session and gradually increase as you feel able.  If your expectations are too high you will definitely just throw in the towel, however if you are achieving small goals at a time you will stick with it and the motivation will continue.  Think of it as mind training!

Meditation is a practice just like any other wellness practice.  Some days are good, some days are bad, and there's a learning curve.  So take these tips to the meditation bank and next thing you know you'll be the next Gandhi!