Importance of using Social media

Hi friends!! After reading this article, I was awaken from my misuse of Linkedin. With all of the facebooking, twittering, google posting, pressing, pinnng ...and Linkedin; its hard to keep track of what each site is unique for. Facebook is primarily for reconnecting and connecting with people from your past and present. No, this does not mean you should be looking up your ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend and stalking them! You should be finding people from your past who have the same interests as you, same likes..or people that you had a good relationship with in the past and somehow it just went out the window, for whatever reason. Why is this important? You never know when you'll need a connection for your business, (present or future) or if you need a job lead. If you have QUALITY relationships built with friends on facebook; they'll more likely be there to help. Linkedin...is similar to facebook , yet its professional. Posting your family vacation photos would not be acceptable on linkedin. Who do you want to connect with? primarily the same..people from your past. Linkedin is powerful for groups. To make the most out of your groups, be ACTIVE in them and Engage in the conversation. This is how people will ADD you. you don't want to become an "adding" machine, it's best when you have people adding YOU!!

Twitter...is good for following the latest news and trends. Whether its CNN, health, fashion, cars..whatever you're interests are...you choose what you want to follow. For business owners, this would be your "selling" platform. Although, doing it in a sharing way is more powerful than that sales pitch.

Pintrest...is great for sharing what you love . Do you have that DIY nitch? Ever want to be that fashion editor ? Now you can with pintrest. What's great about pintrest is you can connect with people on your facebook and twitter. Like other people's trends and create your own. Also a good business tool.

Most important thing to remember is to not be discouraged if you don't get the results you want right away. It takes time and patience. You also have to be consistent. Consistency is probably the most important thing to remember when using social media. Will that long time friend really be your friend after one talk/tweet/post/share? Most likely not..it takes time..same goes for Linkedin..don't just message once or post once and expect an instant job offer. You have to develop the relationship (the same way you do offline..can be done online); then maybe one of you find a way to help each other out.

Which social networks are you using? Any better than others? Stay social my friends Julie

Why we must supplement!

Hi Friends!! The debate has continued for years over whether or not our fruits and vegetables have the same nutrients our parents and grandparents' crops had. It is true with all the enhancements being made to grow these crops faster does decrease its nutrient value. This is from soil depletion. However, this does not mean you should choose that hamburger and fries instead of the salad. The salad will still be a healthier choice in that it keep you feeling full longer and have less calories than the greasy meal. It does mean, taking your vitamins is more important than you think. Because of this soil depletion, we are getting less essential nutrients we need to function properly. Especially, if you don't want to be getting sick all time, I'd choose to supplement if I were you.

Already know which vitamins /minerals you need to take? I wouldn't go running off to the store just yet and start the pill popping just yet. It has been studied that pills only have a 30-70% absorption rate. The remaining part just ends up in your waste. Isotonic supplements on the other hand; have a 90-95% absorption rate.

Isotonic means "of equal pressure" ; which is same pressure as your bodily fluids, in other words, its same as having an IV injection. Still don't get it? Here's a map of how Isotonic supplements are absorbed in your body compared to pills.

Which supplements are for you? To be sure which supplements you are lacking; I'd suggest visiting with your doctor and have him/her test your supplement levels with a blood test. This is the only way you can truly know which supplements you should take. Or you can simply take this free Nutri-physical exam here: http://www.shop.com/NutriPhysical-t.xhtml . Anymore questions, message me or post comments please! Stay healthy my friends!! Julie

Who says you can't eat healthy dining out?

Hi Friends! Who ever told you eating out wasn't healthy? The reverse is actually true! Eating out is a part of life that everyone enjoys! Just because you made the decision to change your diet and eat healthy, doesn't mean you can't eat out. Of course, if you do want to lose those pounds you've been wanting to lose, I'd follow these simple Do's & Don'ts of eating out:

Do's: Order sauces on the side Start your meal with a salad, soup or consommé Split your plate in half and save one half for lunch the next day Have a small snack before you go Balance your plate with mainly vegetables, keeping meat and grains in their proper portion sizes Order main courses based on vegetables, not with vegetables as an after thought Order foods that are roasted, braised, steamed, grilled, broiled, or pan seared

Don’ts: Order heavy cream sauces Load up on the butter Forget the veggies Fill up on alcohol Fill up on empty carbs like chips Add extra sauce Overdo the cheese Double/Triple/Quadruple the meat portion Order fried food If any "diet plan" tells you not to eat out, I'd continue looking for another plan. It is possible to enjoy life, dine out AND still be in control of your weight and weight loss goals.

Another, big point to "dieting" ; if the plan says you will lose weight without exercise, they are LYING to you!! To live a healthy lifestyle , you must exercise!! This helps your body fat turn into lean muscle mass.

Okay, one last thing; if you do want to lose weight take a look at the Transitions Lifestyle System (or TLS); or simply reply to me and I'll connect you with a local certified weight loss consultant.

Stay healthy and hydrated my friends :)

Julie

Why you should re-evaulate your cleaning products

Why you should re-evaluate your laundry detergent Hi friends! So this blog is kind of long, hope you can make it through, lots of good info. Most people wash their clothes with heavily chemicals which they think is cleaning their clothes. Okay; that detergent might get your clothes clean, but what else is it doing? It's causing you and people around you to be less insulin resistant. Which can lead to diabetes. (Among other factors). Your store-brand/name-brand laundry detergent probably contain these chemicals. Another reason why it's important to read labels!!! For the food you eat, AND the cleaning supplies you use, the fragrance you wear, the makeup you wear, AND the skincare products you use!!! Most of the skincare /body wash products that you would be getting in the store contain these harsh phthalates which can all cause your insulin to spike. Of course, not ALL people get affected by this, but I bet it's more than you think. Ever get a headache at work? It could be your co-workers' laundry detergent...or it could be their perfume.

So, what do you do? We all have to wash our face, bodies, hair , use makeup (ladies), wash our clothes, home, cars etc. ...Best advice is to stay away from harmful products on the market; unfortunately those are the ones you will find in the store at the cheapest price. Yup, you get what you pay for! What are the Options? Well you could make your own laundry detergent with natural ingredients. Don't have the time, creativeness or energy to make your own laundry detergent? That's fine! There is hope! Thanks to SNAP cleaning supplies. SNAP stands for (Safe and Natural for Animals and People)

Snap Free & Clear Laundry Detergent is a highly concentrated detergent, perfect for all your washing needs. The hypoallergenic formula is dye free and fragrance free making it gentle enough for all types of clothes including delicates and baby clothes. One 40-ounce bottle of Snap Free & Clear Laundry Detergent will do more than twice as many loads as the leading 50-ounce bottle of HE laundry detergent when used in a HE washing machine. It could save you as much as half the cost per load as compared to the leading HE laundry detergent. Which products are you using ? Do you think you would make the switch? Stay healthy :) Julie

Hi Friends! Making time to exercise may seem like it's a simple thing to do, but in reality, are you really exercising as much as you should be? Its not hard to get absorbed in the daily grind of things like work, kids, significant other etc. etc... It only takes an hour a day to get your exercise routine a A ROUTINE. Here are some simple tips you can try to get your daily exercise in:

1. Try waking up an hour earlier. The morning is a great time to get your exercise in, it's also a great way to start your day. You'll probably even get more done throughout the day. Doesn't have to be much, just start with going for a walk and build up to a run. 2. Use your lunch break to go out the gym (if your office is close enough), or just go for a walk. You might even be able to walk to the restaurant you want to eat at. Simple way to get exercise. Don't forget to stretch. 3. Try swapping your chair at work for a bouncy ball, this will get your ab-core worked out. May be uncomfortable at first, but after awhile you'll have those rock hard abs. 4. Not a morning person? Go to the gym or for a walk after work. Make it part of your daily routine and if you skip , then you pay yourself $1 for every workout missed. 5. Make it romantic. Go for a stroll with your sig other before or after dinner, either walk or run. This might even improve your relationship :) Best advice is to just move throughout the day, take frequent breaks to stretch, walk around the office and reconnect to yourself. Stay healthy my friends! :) Julie

6 tips for Clearer Skin

Having a clear face can boost your confidence. I know I'm most confident when my skin is clear of acne. When pimples pop up and acne starts to flare, it really does deflate your ego/confidence. Fortunately, I came across Loren Ridinger and tried her tips to clear skin; and today my skin couldn't be more beautiful! Thank you Loren!

skincare-fighting-acne 6 Skincare Tips for Fighting Acne Keep your skin super clean. That means never forgetting to wash your face before you call it a night. Make face washing your nightly ritual. Especially in the heat of the summer, avoid heavy, pore-clogging make-up. Try a light tinted moisturizer instead. Try a toner before bed each night to get rid of excess oil and dirt (if you like to go the natural route, apple cider vinegar works great too!). Get a little sun, but lather up the sunscreen of course! Try keeping your hair away from your face – all the natural oils and products can add to possible breakouts. Don’t pick or squeeze! (I know this is a tough one) How about you – got any secret tips for fighting acne that work for you?

Hi guys!! Why is it when something goes wrong, we immediately go to the doctor to find out what is wrong, take the prescribed medication and then repeat this Vicious cycle. Instead these prescribed medications are only eliminating the symptoms, but solving the problem at the root. Why are we okay with this Vicious Cycle? I for one, am disgusted by the thought that Dr.'s would do this. It's simple why the Doctor's are doing this, the get paid by the pharmaceutical companies; so they want you to keep taking the meds! Then eventually need surgery later in your life (sometimes its actually sooner) to increase their income even more...get it? The VICIOUS Cycle we call "healthcare" . When its really a "sickness business" . True Healthcare is taking care of yourself to eliminate those doctor visits. hmm...if there are less doctor visits..maybe cost of healthcare would go down? What's the trick? Eat a variety of colors in every meal. The more colors, the better! Here's your guide to follow:

When you choose fast-food joints as your foods, be wary of how its cooked and the ingredients used. It's usually cooked at high temperatures (to cook fast), and overloaded with sodium. Sodium will bloat you up. I'm not saying don't eat at this places, just do it less and be more choosy with the foods you eat. Make sure the meal still has your colors, naturally. Also, stay away from soda or dyed food. These colors would not do any justice for you. Instead it will only harm your bodies!! Especially Soda! Happy eating!! Stay healthy and peace out :) Julie

Tips on how to live a healthier lifestyle

Everyone seems to want to know the secret to losing weight or living healthier. The #1 secret is to NOT DIET! Yes, that's right. Diets are not the answer! Why? When you diet, such as cut your caloric intake, you can actually get gain weight! why is this? When you starve your body or cut your calories, your body will go into starvation mode. Actually, telling your body to store your calories as Fat instead of burn it. So what's the secret to losing weight? Eating based on the Low-Glycemic index and exercise. The key is to not starve your body. You should be eating 5-7 times per day. Basically every 2 hours. This will allow your body to not get hungry and go in to Starvation mode. The first thing anyone should do before changing their eating habits is to go through a 7day cleanse week. We get oil changes for our cars don't we? Therefore, we must clean out our system, especially if all we've been eating is junk!!! Cleanse week can be hard for some, after all you will only be eating fruits and vegetables. The NO's are Meats (especially red meat. Some fish and white meat chicken is ok after day 3), No Alcohol!!! NO Coffee and tea!!..the hardest thing for me! No carbs.) That may sound impossible to get through, but Cleanse week will give you the opportunity to love new foods. For more information on Cleansing watch this video: