This Is Family Yoga When You Have A Toddler

Families who yoga together, areweright? Ah, the family unit. And trying to practice yoga with a toddler hanging around your neck. Or your leg. Or your back. This adorable family yoga video from DC-based photographer Eric Ellis sums up in less than a minute what it’s like to (try to) squeeze in some yoga with […]

from YogaDork http://yogadork.com/2017/06/30/this-is-family-yoga-when-you-have-a-toddler/
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Family Friday (vol. 51): The Days Are Long, but the Years Fly By…

It’s so true. Some days, I’m hanging on by a thread. I lack patience, I lack sympathy, I raise my voice, and I quickly forget I am so, so, so fortunate. My kids have a way of exhausting me to the point that I lose my focus on the beauty of childhood and the joy of being a mother. So what if Piper plays in the dog’s water bowl and Shea just over-shot her potty chair and created a puddle on the bathroom floor for the 3rd time that hour? (You guys, I’m so serious about both of those.)

But then Shea will do something or say something and I quickly realize that my baby is a little girl. She is so quickly morphing from toddler to child just as Piper is going to be a toddler in a matter of weeks (okay, like 9 weeks…but still!). It is all just going so quickly and I hate it so much…and yet I find myself frustrated, upset, or impatient only every other second. Please tell me this is normal and I need to show myself some grace here!

So, a little update on life.

Work is bananas, but mostly in a good way. I’m applying for an 18-month leadership course so, fingers crossed my application is accepted. Mark has had some work travel and has several more trips on the calendar. I’m planning my bestie’s bachelorette party this October and I pretty much cannot wait for that. My friends from earlier in life are, for the most part, unwed, and my newer friends in life I’ve met after their weddings…so I feel a little dumb when it comes to weddings, bachelorette parties, showers…the whole thing. But, this gal pal has been my friend for 30 (!) years and so I couldn’t be more excited for her and the fun ahead in celebrating properly!

Shea is full-blown potty training. It is not an exaggeration at all, whatsoever, to say that she’s been using the potty for the past year. YEAR, PEOPLE. We did introduce the concept early, but allowed her to take the lead. We were making good progress when Piper came along, and Shea regressed considerably, losing all interest in the potty. When Mark went in to get her dressed for the day on Tuesday morning, she requested “big girl panties”. We went with it. I packed up lots of extra clothes and panties. When I picked her up that afternoon, she was definitely not in the outfit I had dropped her off in…but daycare said it was a good first day. Fast-forward to Friday and she hasn’t worn a diaper other than to sleep and she’s accident free today for the first time! I do think having access to a potty at home makes it easier for her than at daycare – the potty is in a different room that is not attached to the classroom, so she has to ask to go. But, MAJOR progress and dare I say, there’s no going back now? I’m proud of her! We are doing “jelly bean” rewards (except jelly beans are really Reeses pieces…because that’s what we have on hand).

Shea is quickly emerging as extremely musical. Bless her heart, I have no idea where she got that gene because it is most definitely recessive in both Mark and I. Most of the time, her manners are great and she generally asks every day in the car, “Can I have songs, please, Mommy?” (Pandora, Toddler Radio over Bluetooth). So cute. She knows most colors in Spanish and her Spanish teacher says she does really well. We are working on understanding “left” vs “right” when we’re driving in the car. Lately she has started talking about the weather a lot and today she said, “It looks like rain showers soon.” My little meteorologist!

Piper is FINALLY sleeping through the night some. It took over 9 months and it is DEFINITELY not every night, but for the first time, I think I have reason to be hopeful. Ironically, I don’t feel any more rested when I do sleep through the night, but I’m not complaining! She goes down around 7:30/7:45pm and generally rises around 6:30/6:45am. Why is she sleeping better? NO idea. Why does she sleep through some nights but not others? NO idea. There seems to be no common thread with regard to her naps, intake, bottles, timing of bed – she’s an enigma. Sometimes you get the peanuts, sometimes you get the shells. You just never know. But…she has a very predictable 2 naps when she’s home (loves her crib and naps ~1 1/2 hours around 9am and 2 hours around 1:30pm) but at daycare she’s usually too stimulated to take a morning nap and crashes in the afternoon for a solid  2-2 1/2 hours. Depending on what time she gets up in the middle of the night, I will either give a bottle or nurse. Because I pump before bed, I often don’t have enough to satisfy her if she’s up too early in the night. I know this doesn’t help my supply, but she is nearly 10 months old, I have quite a bit of frozen breast milk, and I’m at peace with using a bit of formula at this stage of the game. It’s hard to compare my milk production to when I was breastfeeding Shea, but Piper takes CONSIDERABLY less milk than Shea ever did. She’s a little peanut and definitely enjoys food-food and purees. She nurses most every morning, though – that’s our time to still enjoy that bond. We both seem to really love that quiet time to start our day. Piper is quite the vegetable eater and seems to love meat and seafood, too. She hasn’t taken to fruit as much as most babies, but we continue to offer anything and everything at this stage. She has 8 teeth in with more on the way.

Other than sleeping, it has been a busy developmental period for Piper. She has learned to cruise on furniture, clap, wave, kiss, and is just starting to stand unassisted. On par for the age, I think, she’s rather clingy and enjoys being held but her stranger danger seems in check. She never cries when I drop her off at daycare or at the church childcare during the service.

This weekend is my birthday and I’ve requested going to a local winery/brewery/distillery for the 4pm band that’s playing. It’s always fun to sit outdoors and enjoy a cocktail and some tunes. We really don’t have any other plans (I do need to start my book for book club and update Piper’s baby book, but nothing big) and I took PTO on Monday – it should be a long, relaxing weekend! Can I get some beach weather?!

Have a happy and SAFE 4th of July!

Be well,

from Prevention RD http://preventionrd.com/2017/06/family-friday-vol-51-the-days-are-long-but-the-years-fly-by/
via Heart Based Marketing

FOR THE LOVE OF FOOD: Exercise leads to better habits, Big Food manufactures authenticity, and sleep reduces stress eating

Welcome to Friday’s For The Love of Food, Summer Tomato’s weekly link roundup.

Next week’s Mindful Meal Challenge will start again on Monday. Sign up now to join us!

This week exercise leads to better habits, Big Food manufactures authenticity, and sleep reduces stress eating.

Too busy to read them all? Try this awesome free speed reading app to read at 300+ wpm. So neat!

I also share links on Twitter @summertomato and the Summer Tomato Facebook page. I’m very active on all these sites and would love to connect with you.

Links of the week

• Exercise Has a Cascade of Positive Effects, Study Finds – Being active is arguably the single best thing you can do for health and well-being, and that one great habit is often a catalyst for others. (WSJ)
• Why you shouldn’t exercise to lose weight, explained with 60+ studies – Of course, dramatic weight loss is not one of the benefits of exercise, though it can help with moderate weight loss and weight maintenance. It also helps you look amazing. This is an excellent review of the science if you’re curious why. (Vox)
• Yoplait Learns to Manufacture Authenticity to Go With Its Yogurt – I LOLed several times while reading this. Also some fantastic insights into how desperately Big Food wants your money. (NY Times)
• ‘Of All the Categories of Fake News, Health News Is the Worst’ – Alas, this is true. (The Atlantic)
• E.P.A. Official Pressured Scientist on Congressional Testimony, Emails Show – Outrageous. Just as alarming, “The Board of Scientific Counselors had 68 members two months ago. It will have 11 come Sept. 1.” (NY Times)
• The Paradox of American Restaurants – Fascinating insights into why American restaurants are simultaneously booming and struggling. (The Atlantic)
• The Best Place for Storing Cucumbers – OMG! Does anyone do this? I’m so intrigued. (The Kitchn)
• Eating your feelings? The link between job stress, junk food and sleep – Good to see scientists are finally starting to ask these questions, since in my experience stress and emotions are the crux of why people struggle to maintain healthy habits. P.S. Get to bed on time. (ScienceDaily)
• The Church of CrossFit – Amirite?? Great insights into the appeal of culty workout scenes like CrossFit and Soulcycle. This is not a bad thing. Finding motivations bigger than yourself are an excellent way to stick with habits. (The Atlantic)
• Greek Cauliflower Rice with Feta and Olives – I love simple-yet-interesting dishes like this, especially in the summer. (Foraged Dish)

What inspired you this week?

from Summer Tomato http://www.summertomato.com/for-the-love-of-food-exercise-leads-to-better-habits-big-food-manufactures-authenticity-and-sleep-reduces-stress-eating
via Holistic Clients

Curried Cauliflower Rice Recipe

Curried Cauliflower Rice is a remake of one of my favorite veggie recipes.

I decided to spiff it up with a simplified ingredient list, a nice new set of photos, and a schmancy 1-minute cooking video.

Riced cauliflower is the perfect vehicle for so many flavors. (It’s kinda like the tofu of the veggie world in a way.) It’s fairly neutral flavor and rice-like texture beg to take on all sorts of tastes.

If you’re looking for more cauliflower rice inspo, check out my Paleo Cauliflower Fried Rice or my Paleo Caramelized Onion “Cous Cous.”

Back when I created the predecessor of this Curried Cauliflower Rice in 2013, there were no commercially available “riced” cauliflower options for sale in the supermarket.

My preferred method for making riced cauliflower is at home in the food processor. I use a shredding blade, and it comes out with the perfect rice-like size.

While I have tried the store-bought options before, I’m usually left a bit disappointed: it’s typically quite expensive, and the serving size is very small. Or, the pieces of cauliflower are too big and chunky. When cooked, they tend to get soggy.

I get it though…if pre-riced cauliflower is the only thing keeping you eating your veggies, do what you’ve gotta do! You know your life best.

This Curried Cauliflower Rice is the perfect mashup of flavors.

It’s seasoned with yellow curry powder, a mixture of Indian spices popularized by – believe it or not – the British. Curry powder usually contains a combo of turmeric (which gives it its golden color), coriander, ginger, cumin, fenugreek, cayenne, and more.

Curry powder is quite a warming blend of spices, and can vary in heat levels. I like mine with a touch of spiciness. (Click here to see my current fave.)

Besides the curry powder, the aromatic base of this Curried Cauliflower Rice comes from onion and garlic. Then I layer on cozy cinnamon, crunchy sliced almonds, and plump, sweet raisins. I finish it off with some chopped cilantro for freshness, and it’s done.

It looks like a lot of ingredients, but it comes together fast, and the balance of flavors is spot on. It’ll make a pretty big batch with plenty of leftovers for two people.

Curried Cauliflower Rice Recipe

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Preparation 0:15 2017-06-30T00:15:00+00:00

Cook Time 0:10 2017-06-30T00:10:00+00:00

Total Time 0:25 2017-06-30T00:25:00+00:00

Serves 4     adjust servings

Ingredients

• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 2 tbsp avocado or coconut oil, divided
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp curry powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1 medium head cauliflower, riced
• Large handful chopped cilantro
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, add one tablespoon of oil. When the oil is hot, add the onions and salt. Cook and stir the onions until softened, about 5 minutes, until they become translucent.
2. Add in the garlic, almonds, raisins, curry powder and cinnamon. Stir until combined well and cook for another minute.
3. Increase the heat to medium-high, add the other tablespoon of oil, and dump in the cauliflower. Cook for 3 to 4 more minutes, stirring frequently, until it's softened but not mushy.
4. Remove from the heat, and stir in the cilantro. Check flavor and add salt and pepper to taste.

by Steph

Pin this Curried Cauliflower Rice recipe for later!

The post Curried Cauliflower Rice Recipe appeared first on Stupid Easy Paleo.

from Stupid Easy Paleo https://stupideasypaleo.com/2017/06/30/curried-cauliflower-rice-recipe/
via Holistic Clients

Why Precision Nutrition has given away more than $1 million dollars in prize money. And why we’ll give away millions more.

Every year, through our Precision Nutrition Coaching program, we help men and women lose weight, gain strength, and transform their health and fitness. We also give them a big, exciting goal to shoot for: $250,000 in prize money. Read on to learn why… and how you could be one of our winners.

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Every year, Precision Nutrition gives away $250,000 to clients who have, over the course of our coaching program, undergone the biggest transformations.

We’ve been doing this for 15 years now. We’ve given away millions of dollars.

Why all that cash?

Consider it an antidote of sorts.

Typical fitness industry messages can make you feel guilty, judged, paranoid, or demoralized. It doesn’t have to be this way.

We want to make your experience with health and fitness a positive one, right from the very start.

So, in addition to getting personal attention and mentorship from the world’s best coaching team, you also get to shoot for something extra awesome.

Check it out:

Meet some of the people whose bodies — and lives — have been changed by Precision Nutrition Coaching.

 

My Beauty Bag & The Products I’m Loving

We’ve had lots of requests recently for an updated natural beauty posts, so I thought today would be a great day to go through what I’m enjoying at the moment. I’m really keen to learn more about this space though and get some real experts in to share their thoughts on what to look for, great brands, product recommendations, what to eat for your skin and DIY beauty recipes. I’d love to hear your thoughts on that and whether there’s anyone you think we should chat to about it. Below are all the products that I’m using at the moment, some of them are new and others are old favourites – let me know what you’re loving to and whether there’s anything you think I should check out.

Make Up:

• W3LL People Narcissist Foundation: I use this most days and it’s amazing, it’s really light and feels lovely on your skin.
• Kjaer Weis Eyeshadow in Charmed and Wisdom: These are my go-to’s, I use them as eyeshadow and to line my eyes instead of an eyeliner.
• Neal’s Yard Lengthening Mascara: An old favourite and something I use pretty much everyday
• RMS Master Mixer: Another old favourite, it really helps give you a bit of a glow
• RMS Magic Luminizer: This is a newer shade and it has a lovely pink tint, again good for a glow!
• RMS Bulti Bulti Bronzer: I use this when my skin needs a bit more colour and it’s great, although it’s a strong colour – so less is definitely more here.
• W3LL People Bio Correct Concealer: An old favourite, I use it for spots, blemishes and dark circles
• Burt’s Bees Gloss Lip Crayon: These are my new obsession, such great colours
• Jane Iredale Eyebrow Kit (Brunette): This is a new product for me but I was recommended it by a makeup artist and I really like it when I’m dressing up.

Skincare and Beauty:

• Deliciously Ella x Neal’s Yard Rose, Cucumber and Lime Moisturiser: I’m still obsessed with the moisturiser we created together, it just smells so delicious!
• Neal’s Yard Seaweed Salt Scrub: I love this, especially in summer, for making my skin really smooth
• Jane Iredale Powder SPF: I only just tried this product but I think it’s genius, I’ve worn it a few times on sunny days and it feels great – seems like a lovely solution to everyday SPF
• RMS Nail Polish in Killer Red and Smile: I love these colours so much, they stay on really well and are the best natural nail polishes I’ve found
• Neal’s Yard Peppermint & Lime Deodorant: A go-to for me, just love it.
• Neal’s Yard Pillow Mist: I’ve been a bit stressed recently and Neal’s Yard gave me this to help me sleep – so far so good!
• Dr Hauschka Clarifying Day Oil: I use this everyday under my moisturiser and I really love it, it helps keep my skin looking it’s best.
• Neal’s Yard Lavender Essential Oil: My bath-time favourite, such a calming smell
• Neal’s Yard Melissa Hand Cream: This lives on my desk in the office

I hope that is helpful and please do let me know anything you’re enjoying, as I’m always looking for great new products to try!

The post My Beauty Bag & The Products I’m Loving appeared first on DeliciouslyElla.

from DeliciouslyElla https://deliciouslyella.com/2017/06/30/beauty-bag-products-im-loving/
via Free Spiritual Marketing

The 2-3-2 Workout + Body Fat Schmody Fat

Linley and I are sitting at Penny’s Coffee Shop right now in downtown Minneapolis. I just drank the most amazing homemade date-sweetened almond milk latte I’ve ever had. It made me think that I’ve never actually made my own almond milk at home! I’ve seen it done and know it’s easy, so it’s safe to...

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The post The 2-3-2 Workout + Body Fat Schmody Fat appeared first on Fit Foodie Finds.

from Fit Foodie Finds http://fitfoodiefinds.com/2017/06/2-3-2-workout-body-fat/
via Holistic Clients

10 Refreshing Infused Water Recipes (With Fruit & Herbs!)

Fruit infused waters are a wonderful and refreshing drink option for summer when the sun is out, the kids are bored and the bugs are biting. TB commercials will try to convince you that only soda and processed drinks are thirst-quenching enough for summer. Of course, you probably already know better, but sometimes it is...

Continue Reading...10 Refreshing Infused Water Recipes (With Fruit & Herbs!)

from Blog – Wellness Mama® https://wellnessmama.com/3607/herb-fruit-infused-water/
via SEO Derby

A Day in the Life for @LinleysHands

There is so much that goes on behind the scenes at Fit Foodie Finds HQ! Today we’re talking all about  what goes on in A Day in the Life for @LinleysHands.  It has been almost three years since I started at Fit Foodie Finds with my home girl Lee Lee. I still remember the moment...

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The post A Day in the Life for @LinleysHands appeared first on Fit Foodie Finds.

from Fit Foodie Finds http://fitfoodiefinds.com/2017/06/a-day-in-the-life-for-linleyshands/
via Holistic Clients

How to Make Sugar Scrub Cubes to Gently Exfoliate Skin

I’ve made my fair share of sugar scrubs before. They’re simple and easy, but the results are impressive. This recipe kicks it up a notch by making single use sugar scrub cubes that cleanse, exfoliate and soften skin all in one easy step. A Better Way to Use Sugar Scrubs Since these are in a...

Continue Reading...How to Make Sugar Scrub Cubes to Gently Exfoliate Skin

from Blog – Wellness Mama® https://wellnessmama.com/267119/sugar-scrub-cubes/
via SEO Derby

What We’ve Learnt So Far: the Biggest Pieces of Advice From Starting Deliciously Ella

This week marked a really special moment for Matt and me after we won the Rising Star award at the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in London. It wasn’t something we ever expected to have happened and I’ve been feeling pretty blown away by it. It was an incredibly humbling evening and something that meant a huge amount to us both. I know that entrepreneurship, the concept of #girlboss and starting a business in general is so often made out to be so glamorous and I’m sure what we do can look like that through the lens of social media, but the reality can be pretty different, so it was lovely to take a step back and reflect on how far we’ve come rather than assessing all our obstacles! I’ve loved every second of building Deliciously Ella but it would be fair to say the last few years have been incredibly challenging at times and a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. The ups, like getting stocked in Starbucks or opening a new site are huge, but the downs – like worrying about making payroll, figuring out how to solve one thousand problems at once, trying to manage a growing team of people, navigating criticism and dealing with things like building delays can feel overwhelming, especially when you don’t feel very experienced. We’ve both learnt so much through this process though and I want to start sharing more of this side of our journey with you, reflecting on both the good and the bad – I think it’s important that these posts are full of honestly, as I hope that will make it a lot more useful for you. I’m sure some of you stay up all night and spend all weekend working too, it’s definitely a choice you make when you decide to start your own business, and I think it’s important to note that you’re absolutely not alone in that!

When I first started Deliciously Ella I had absolutely no idea that I would end up here. I had no experience in the work place, I’d never had another job before (I started this while I was at university) and I was relatively shy and lacking a huge amount of self confidence. I didn’t know what a P&L (profit and loss) was, I’d never heard of a balance sheet, the only maths I could do was counting on my fingers and I had no idea how to create a spreadsheet, how to calculate a margin or conduct an interview and I certainly didn’t know how to manage a team of people with much more experience and knowledge than me – it would be fair to say that I was missing pretty much all practical business know-how. Yet fast forward five years and somehow I’m running a team of seventy people, overseeing one of the fastest growing product business and operating three cafes, as well as running a social media platform that reaches around twelve million people a week and writing a series of books that have been published in over twenty languages. It feels surreal and completely unexpected. At times it’s made me feel uncomfortably vulnerable too, but I’m learning to see that as a passing feeling and instead just be grateful for the opportunities we have – I definitely believe that if you don’t put yourself out there and challenge yourself to move out of your comfort zone everyday, you’ll never get to where you want to be.

The question most people have is how have you done it? So I thought that was the topic I should try and cover today. I think a lot of it is luck, being in the right place and the right time; a lot of it is a willingness to do whatever it takes and never take no as an answer and the rest is down to a few factors that I believe have played a big part in our growth and I want to talk about four of those factors today….

1. Finding Endless Optimism

I went to a talk a few years ago where someone said the one quality you need to create a successful business is optimism. Every other talk I’d been to had focused on the slightly more obvious things –  creating a great product, clever marketing, good margins and all the rest, but nothing had resonated with me more than this concept of unwavering optimism. The reality of starting your own business means there will be a lot of problems, a lot of unexpected crises and a lot of sleepless nights worrying about everything, some of it rational and some of it completely irrational. Naturally I’m a real worrier and have a tendency to over-think everything, which isn’t the best state for running a business and I definitely spent a lot of hours crying and panicking when we were first starting. I’ll never forgot sitting on the floor of the kitchen in Seymour Place crying and telling Matt that we couldn’t leave for our own wedding after a series of disasters had unfolded. Taking this concept of optimism on board was a game changer for me and something that Matt really helped me to embody, after he insisted that I really did need to come to my own wedding! I realised that no matter what happened I needed to keep that feeling of absolute positivity and bring it into every situation. No matter how bad something seemed I needed to be the one that found the solution, found it quickly and helped get everyone else there. Over the last year or so I’ve realised that nothing is as bad as it seems either and even the worst issues got resolved in the end. We’ll still here, we’re still standing and I truly believe that with the right attitude we’ll get through anything – that’s not to say that there won’t be huge hurdles and bumps in the road, we still feel those growing pains everyday, but they’re getting easier to handle. I have to say that Matt embodies this attitude better than anyone I’ve ever met, it’s something that he learned from his parents, and it inspires me everyday and I feel very grateful to have him by my side to help navigate the varying twists and turns of the business.

2. Losing Your Ego

This next concept is something that Matt is obsessed with and when we started working together he said ‘we need to be the dumbest people in this room.’ I truly thought he’d lost the plot at this point, but he could not have been more right. We needed to acknowledge where our strengths were and the areas in which we could help the business, and then we need to acknowledge where our weaknesses were and where we could potentially hold us back.

I’m the first to admit that I’m definitely a stubborn person, I like doing things my own way and I always have an opinion on everything! I ran Deliciously Ella on my own for the first few years, it was an incredibly personal project and I felt so protective of it. I was hesitant to let other people in to what I was doing, yet I desperately needed them – I could never have taken it much further without them, as I simply didn’t have the knowledge or the confidence. Matt was the turning point in our business and my journey with it and it’s thanks to his wisdom, his experience, his calm resolve and his unwavering vision that we’re where we are today. I had a huge passion for the message behind Deliciously Ella and I loved creating the brand, the food and the social media. Matt had worked in finance and business development and had a real understanding of that side of the business. Neither of us had ever worked in a food company or a retailer and we knew we could only get so far without people from that world. So we prioritised finding people with the expertise and experience that we lacked, we learnt to take their advice and let them have real autonomy in their areas of the business. We learn from them everyday and feel so lucky to do so, and in the same vein we try to take advice from everyone we’re lucky enough to meet. We really believe that to do well we both need to be sponge and soak in everything we can. So my advice would be to read every book, watch every TED talk, ask every question and just learn learn learn. We’re still learning every day and there’s so much more to go, but I’m loving the process of it and can’t wait to take it all further.

3. People Are Everything 

The other pillar in our journey so far has been the people that have come on it with us, and that’s our team and you guys, the amazing community that have been kind enough to support us in the most phenomenal way since day one. As I said above our internal team have enabled us to do so much, but so have you guys. More than anything we want to be guided on everything we do by you and be as engaged as possible. When I first started writing Deliciously Ella I was really unwell and I was spent most of my time on my own at home, so I was pretty thrilled to chat to strangers over the internet! I quickly realised how much I enjoyed connecting with everyone and how much I learnt from each person I engaged with, and that’s been the cornerstone of the Deliciously Ella community. I’ve always obsessed over reading every comment and trying to respond to as much as I can. When you see people replying on twitter, responding to your Facebook message or liking your Instagram photo, that’s me. It’s what I spend hours doing everyday – every evening, morning, taxi journey and weekend I sit there and go through it all. Lots of people think I’m mad, and a lot of people I’ve spoken to have told me what a waste of my time it is, but I really believe it’s been instrumental in our success. I make notes on what I see, both on the positive and the negative. I try not to shy away from constructive criticism, as I find it’s often the best guide and helps us understand you even better – at the end of the day we’re nothing without a customer base, so I want to make you guys the happiest I can and give you the best content that I can.

4. Accept That You Can’t Make Everyone Happy

This is the point that I struggle with the most and the one that I’m still working on everyday. There is an element of vulnerability for anyone starting their own business, as you’re really putting yourself out there, and that really intensifies if you choose to operate through the public lens. The birth of social media has been instrumental to our success and we’ve really taken advantage of the amazing platforms that have been created in the last few years. Having the ability to create a brand and talk directly to your customers and community everyday is revolutionary for a small business and it means you can start a company without a big marketing/PR budget. That being said, when you’re talking to millions of people it is inevitable that some people won’t like yo and I’ve realised that no matter who you are and what you do, you simply can’t please everyone. It’s not possible for everyone to like you or what you do and you have to find a way to be ok with that. There will always be complaints to deal with and misunderstanding to iron out and you’ve got to divide the criticism into two categories.

The first is, constructive criticism, which is so important. This is what makes you reasses what you’re doing, ensure you’re doing it as well as you can and ultimately I think these challenges are what push you to do better and be better in every sense. Of course it’s lovely to hear that someone is enjoying what you’re doing, but that doesn’t necessarily help you improve. I’ve found it’s looking at your weaknesses and working on those that helps you most in the long run, even if that can be hard to do. Giving great customer service when an issue arrises also brings you so much closer to that customer and we’ve found that being incredibly understanding and generous in our responses has often helped us form a better relationship with the person that was initially unhappy.

The second is the kind of criticism that you just have to find a way to ignore, because it brings you down and it’s not constructive. This can be things like people writing totally unnecessary personal comments telling me I’ve put on weight, that I look pregnant (when I’m definitely not!), that I have an annoying voice, that I am just generally annoying or that I rushed into my marriage so it won’t last: I don’t think there’s a huge amount to gain by taking these on board, and you’ve got to find a way to totally ignore them. Likewise when customers make suggestions that you appreciate but that would stop your business from being viable, you have to acknowledge them and then move on. Lots of people will have suggestions of how you can do things better, but only you know which ones of those and valid and which just aren’t.

I could go on for hours and hours, days even, on what I’ve learnt but I have a feeling that you’ll get bored after a while so I’ll stop here for today! I really would love to hear more from you on this though. What else can I help with, what else do you want to know about and how often should I write these. Please do comment below, not just because I’ve confessed my love of chatting online, but also because I really do want to be helpful and I know how overwhelming this can all feel. I’m passionate about inspiring people to start their own business, as well as getting them to eat more broccoli, so anything I can do in this space just let me know…

P.S. Here’s us looking really happy (and blurry!) with our award last night!

The post What We’ve Learnt So Far: the Biggest Pieces of Advice From Starting Deliciously Ella appeared first on DeliciouslyElla.

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Soothing DIY Salve for Cracked Heels

When I married my husband, he had horribly cracked heels. Apparently, he’d had these most of his life, but as we learned more about natural living, I set out to find natural remedies for his cracked heels. In the summertime especially, when our feet are more exposed (hopefully going barefoot or in minimalist shoes), cracked heels...

Continue Reading...Soothing DIY Salve for Cracked Heels

from Blog – Wellness Mama® https://wellnessmama.com/12869/cracked-heels-salve/
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Precision Nutrition Coaching: July 2017 Men’s Finalists. Help us give away $60,000!

15 guys who completely changed their eating habits, their bodies, and their lives. $60,000 in prize money for the most inspiring transformations. Scroll through these amazing photos and help us choose a winner.

Every year in Precision Nutrition Coaching, we help men and women from around the world dramatically improve their eating habits and lifestyle.

They lose weight, gain strength, and completely transform their bodies, health, and fitness.

We also give them a big, motivating goal to shoot for: $250,000 in cash prizes.

Consider it an antidote to the “you must suffer and feel guilty to get in shape” message you typically get from the fitness industry.

See, guys come to us wanting big changes:

• They want to lose weight, build muscle, and shed body fat.
• They want to feel physically and mentally strong.
• They want to make healthier food choices, consistently.
• They want to stop worrying about their health.
• They want to start doing all the awesome things they previously wanted to but thought they couldn’t.

Above all, they want to become the fittest, strongest, healthiest versions of themselves.

In our experience, big, inspiring, life-changing goals like these are a whole lot easier to achieve when something awesome is at stake.

So, every six months, we give away prize money for the best transformations among our male and female clients.

For the current group—which started in July 2016 and is wrapping up now—we’ve committed $125,000: $60,000 for the men and $65,000 for the women.

And right now, we need your help to choose our Men’s Grand Prize winner.

Help choose our Men’s Grand Prize winner (Top prize = $25,000)

The guys below started their Precision Nutrition Coaching journey in all shapes and sizes, and they hail from all parts of the globe. They’re a diverse group that achieved similarly awesome results.

How’d they do it?

No crash diets. No Biggest Loser-type bootcamps. And no full-time chefs.

Just research-based nutrition and lifestyle habits practiced daily with personalized help from our expert coaches.

To vote for the guy you think should win the $25,000 Grand Prize, scroll through the photos below. Make your choice by clicking the “Vote for Finalist” button under the one you think achieved the best transformation.

But please don’t stop there. Once you’ve seen all the finalists and selected your #1 choice, scroll down to the bottom of this post.

At the bottom you’ll need to verify your choice. To do this, click the “Place your vote” button. This will log your vote and help us make our decision.
Thanks for your help!

Finalist #1

Lost 41 lbs and 24 total inches!

Age: 40 years
Weight Lost: 41 lbs (from 207 lbs to 166 lbs)
Total Inches Lost: 24 inches (from 246 inches to 222 inches)

Vote for Finalist #1

Finalist #1 selected!

After reviewing all the finalists - you can change your vote at any time - click "Place your vote" at the bottom of this page to record your choice.

Finalist #2

Lost 43 lbs and 31 total inches!

Age: 39 years
Weight Lost: 43 lbs (from 212 lbs to 169 lbs)
Total Inches Lost: 31 inches (from 255 inches to 224 inches)

Vote for Finalist #2

Finalist #2 selected!

After reviewing all the finalists - you can change your vote at any time - click "Place your vote" at the bottom of this page to record your choice.

Finalist #3

Lost 45 lbs and 23 total inches!

Age: 29 years
Weight Lost: 45 lbs (from 219 lbs to 174 lbs)
Total Inches Lost: 23 inches (from 245 inches to 222 inches)

Vote for Finalist #3

Finalist #3 selected!

After reviewing all the finalists - you can change your vote at any time - click "Place your vote" at the bottom of this page to record your choice.

Finalist #4

Gained 27 lbs and 22 total inches!

• Age: 26 years
• Weight Gained: 27 lbs (from 151 lbs to 178 lbs)
• Total Inches Gained: 22 inches (from 203 inches to 225 inches)

• 
  Finalist #4 selected!
  After reviewing all the finalists – you can change your vote at any time – click “Place your vote” at the bottom of this page to record your choice.

Finalist #5

Lost 87 lbs and 51 total inches!

Age: 47 years
Weight Lost: 87 lbs (from 274 lbs to 187 lbs)
Total Inches Lost: 51 inches (from 284 inches to 233 inches)

Vote for Finalist #5

Finalist #5 selected!

After reviewing all the finalists - you can change your vote at any time - click "Place your vote" at the bottom of this page to record your choice.

Finalist #6

Gained 19 lbs and 13 total inches!

• Age: 38 years
• Weight Gained: 19 lbs (from 192 lbs to 211 lbs)
• Total Inches Gained: 13 inches (from 226 inches to 239 inches)

• 
  Finalist #6 selected!
  After reviewing all the finalists – you can change your vote at any time – click “Place your vote” at the bottom of this page to record your choice.

Finalist #7

Lost 55 lbs and 29 total inches!

Age: 33 years
Weight Lost: 55 lbs (from 255 lbs to 200 lbs)
Total Inches Lost: 29 inches (from 266 inches to 237 inches)

Vote for Finalist #7

Finalist #7 selected!

After reviewing all the finalists - you can change your vote at any time - click "Place your vote" at the bottom of this page to record your choice.

Finalist #8

Lost 25 lbs and 18 total inches!

Age: 35 years
Weight Lost: 25 lbs (from 210 lbs to 185 lbs)
Total Inches Lost: 18 inches (from 250 inches to 232 inches)

Vote for Finalist #8

Finalist #8 selected!

After reviewing all the finalists - you can change your vote at any time - click "Place your vote" at the bottom of this page to record your choice.

Finalist #9

Lost 35 lbs and 26 total inches!

Age: 56 years
Weight Lost: 35 lbs (from 164 lbs to 129 lbs)
Total Inches Lost: 26 inches (from 219 inches to 193 inches)

Vote for Finalist #9

Finalist #9 selected!

After reviewing all the finalists - you can change your vote at any time - click "Place your vote" at the bottom of this page to record your choice.

Finalist #10

Lost 43 lbs and 34 total inches!

Age: 35 years
Weight Lost: 43 lbs (from 248 lbs to 205 lbs)
Total Inches Lost: 34 inches (from 273 inches to 239 inches)

Vote for Finalist #10

Finalist #10 selected!

After reviewing all the finalists - you can change your vote at any time - click "Place your vote" at the bottom of this page to record your choice.

Finalist #11

Lost 34 lbs and 22 total inches!

Age: 37 years
Weight Lost: 34 lbs (from 246 lbs to 212 lbs)
Total Inches Lost: 22 inches (from 260 inches to 238 inches)

Vote for Finalist #11

Finalist #11 selected!

After reviewing all the finalists - you can change your vote at any time - click "Place your vote" at the bottom of this page to record your choice.

Finalist #12

Lost 18 lbs and 13 total inches!

Age: 25 years
Weight Lost: 18 lbs (from 194 lbs to 176 lbs)
Total Inches Lost: 13 inches (from 232 inches to 219 inches)

Vote for Finalist #12

Finalist #12 selected!

After reviewing all the finalists - you can change your vote at any time - click "Place your vote" at the bottom of this page to record your choice.

Finalist #13

Lost 12 lbs and 8 total inches!

Age: 40 years
Weight Lost: 12 lbs (from 196 lbs to 184 lbs)
Total Inches Lost: 8 inches (from 239 inches to 231 inches)

Vote for Finalist #13

Finalist #13 selected!

After reviewing all the finalists - you can change your vote at any time - click "Place your vote" at the bottom of this page to record your choice.

Finalist #14

Lost 18 lbs and 13 total inches!

Age: 39 years
Weight Lost: 18 lbs (from 180 lbs to 162 lbs)
Total Inches Lost: 13 inches (from 226 inches to 213 inches)

Vote for Finalist #14

Finalist #14 selected!

After reviewing all the finalists - you can change your vote at any time - click "Place your vote" at the bottom of this page to record your choice.

Finalist #15

Lost 32 lbs and 13 total inches!

Age: 57 years
Weight Lost: 32 lbs (from 221 lbs to 189 lbs)
Total Inches Lost: 13 inches (from 249 inches to 236 inches)

Vote for Finalist #15

Finalist #15 selected!

After reviewing all the finalists - you can change your vote at any time - click "Place your vote" at the bottom of this page to record your choice.

Confirm your choice for the Men’s $25,000 Grand Prize winner

When confirming your vote, it’s important to remember that we’re not rewarding the best bodies per se. We’re rewarding the most incredible transformations.

In Precision Nutrition Coaching, we certainly don’t expect folks to start off looking like fitness models. Heck, we don’t even expect folks to end up looking like fitness models.

We’re looking for winners who’ve made the most dramatic changes in their own bodies, starting from wherever they were at the beginning.

That’s because our coaching is for men and women of all shapes and sizes. And your vote should reflect who you think achieved the most dramatic changes over the last 12 months.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Want to transform your body like these men did?

Most people know that regular movement, eating well, sleep, and stress management are important for looking and feeling better. Yet they need help applying that knowledge in the context of their busy, sometimes stressful lives.

That’s why we work closely with Precision Nutrition Coaching clients to help them lose fat, get stronger, and improve their health… no matter what challenges they’re dealing with.

It’s also why we work with health and fitness pros (through our Level 1 and Level 2 Certification programs) to teach them how to coach their own clients through the same challenges.

Interested in Precision Nutrition Coaching? Join the presale list; you’ll save up to 45% and secure a spot 24 hrs early.

If you’re interested in coaching and want to find out more, I’d encourage you to join our presale list below. Being on the list gives you two special advantages.

• You’ll pay less than everyone else. At Precision Nutrition we like to reward the most interested and motivated people because they always make the best clients. Join the presale list and we’ll give you over 45% off the monthly cost of Precision Nutrition Coaching, which is the lowest price we’ve ever offered.

• You’re more likely to get a spot. To give clients the personal care and attention they deserve, we only open up the program twice a year. Last time we opened registration, we sold out within minutes. By joining the presale list you’ll get the opportunity to register 24 hours before everyone else, increasing your chances of getting in.

If you’re ready to change your body, and your life, with help from the world’s best coaches, this is your chance.

The post Precision Nutrition Coaching: July 2017 Men’s Finalists. Help us give away $60,000! appeared first on Precision Nutrition.

from Blog – Precision Nutrition http://www.precisionnutrition.com/finalists-men-july-2017
via Holistic Clients