Author Archives: rawgirl

Who else NEEDS the long weekend? 

From research that was quoted in a  2018 article in Harvard Business Review: Burnout is a syndrome that results from chronic stress at work, with several consequences to workers’ well-being and health. It very much can happen to entrepreneurs, caregivers, really anyone overwhelmed with mounting day to day responsibilities and giving too much to others without refilling their own well. 

Why does burnout matter? It was found through research that: Burnout was a significant predictor of the following physical consequences: hypercholesterolemia, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, hospitalization due to cardiovascular disorder, musculoskeletal pain, changes in pain experiences, prolonged fatigue, headaches, gastrointestinal issues, respiratory problems, severe injuries and mortality below the age of 45 years. The psychological effects were insomnia, depressive symptoms, use of psychotropic and antidepressant medications, hospitalization for mental disorders and psychological ill-health symptoms. Job dissatisfaction, absenteeism, new disability pension, job demands, job resources and presenteeism were identified as professional outcomes. 

Burnout matters because it affects your health, well-being, ultimately affecting your BOTTOM LINE and ability to #securethebag. To avoid it, Take a B.R.E.A.K. is my acronym that you can use to remember to hit some fundamentals in your own life. B stands for bring your own food, R stands for rest, E is for exercise, A is for access the subconscious mind, and K is for keep hydrated. 

Sis, as you enjoy the holiday weekend I hope you pursue balance and have fun engaging in self-care activities that help you take a B.R.E.A.K. -XO

That feeling you get when you know you’ve put in werk & are ready for #HotGirlSummer

The distance between who you are and who you want to be is only separated by what you do! This is why it’s important to not diet and commit to lifestyle changes instead.

If you are approaching healthy living, exercise, or plant based eating as a diet, just like any fad, your zeal will come and go, and Chile, all that will be left is you with indigestion and an empty tub of Haagen-dazs you said you wouldn’t eat. 

The word diet comes from the Greek word diata and means “manner of living.” Therefore your diet really should be a lifestyle change should be about transitioning to healthier behaviors and taking care of yourself emotionally, physically, and spiritually. That is the only way to have lasting effective change.

In Detox My Life, our 30 day plant based program on Staying Ageless University, we help you transition to a healthier lifestyle with a delicious meal plan and the option to get additional one on one support. We help you remove the ingredients you need to give your body a break, upgrade your habits throughout the process, and give you guidance on maintaining it longer term.

We call it Detox My Life, because I have seen that when clients get committed to transforming their health through the power of nutrition they can transform all aspects of their lives. This is why our clients not only LEVEL UP their health, they get the added bonus of new jobs,  new baes, and better living arrangements. Sis visit this link if you are ready to chat with a member of our team and jumpstart your health! -XO

My first love lol.

I’m a lifelong coconut fanatic. Drop a line in the comments if you are too! The best part about coconuts, is there is use for all of it. Sis let me tell you more about coconut oil…

In Polynesia, coconut oil is used cosmetically to maintain soft and smooth skin, and also medically to relieve joint stiffness, rheumatism and back pain. Polynesians also mix coconut oil with turmeric to treat sick newborns and apparently also massage coconut oil on the abdomen of pregnant women to move a baby from breech into normal position. 

In India, coconut oil has been used in their healing system, Ayurveda, for thousands of years. In Ayurveda, when used as food, coconut oil nourishes the body tissues, improves sexual health, improves intelligence, supports respiratory and urinary systems, and calms Vata and Pitta. It is also applied to the scalp to improve length, shine, and overall texture of hair. In addition, it is applied topically on wounds and heated with herbs, which strengthens the healing properties and benefits of the herb.

Coconut oil is a saturated fat that mostly contains chain fatty acids, which have amazing health giving benefits. The various fatty acids give coconut oil its immune boosting properties because they have anti-viral, anti-microbial, and anti-fungal qualities. When consumed regularly, it can help to lower your cholesterol, stabilize blood sugar levels, and double your body’s ability to use omega three fatty acids. But the best part about coconut oil is that it can also be used as a multi-purpose beauty aid.

As I mentioned in a past post, you can also use it directly on the skin to fade or prevent stretch marks, wrinkles, and age spots if used consistently. It also will assist in improving any skin conditions such as keratosis, which involves rough skin and bumps on the back and other areas of the body. For dark under eye circles, you can increase circulation in the area by using a small amount of coconut oil to massage under the eyes and keep the skin from wrinkling. For a leave-in conditioner, simply melt coconut oil, apply to the scalp and leave hair in a shower cap overnight. -XO

To change your body you must first change your mind.

One of the common misconceptions is that weight loss is just about what you eat. That’s why fad diets are so popular. But the truth is that it can be much more complex than we think, and requires mental, emotional, and physical toughness. 

Weight loss is also complex because your body type is different from mine and vice versa. Unfortunately many people believe  eating less calories and working out more is the answer to losing weight. Instead working out effectively, changing the quality of the food you eat, and eating in a way that suits your body type can help you shed pounds faster. 

I have witnessed that when clients are given the tools to deal with emotional trauma that may or may not be connected to eating habits, are encouraged to set stronger personal boundaries and commit to radical self-care this in itself can activate weight loss. This is why at Raw Girl coaching we have clients meet with our Dynamic Change Therapist, to uncover the subconscious roots of any negative habits, and then follow up with a nutritionist regularly to ensure that your diet and exercise is properly tailored to your body type. By doing this we help you FINALLY work through emotional baggage that may have caused you to yo-yo diet for years, and also give you specific holistic recommendations that work so you get results.

If you or someone you love has been trying to lose weight for years, sign up via this link to speak to a member of our team. If you have over 100 lbs to lose ask for Gina, a Certified Nutrition Specialist and our weight loss specialist who has a protocol to help naturally rev up your metabolism and allow you to shed a larger amount of lbs. -XO

I am back stateside again for a short spell! Heads up if you live in the DMV area – I’m going to be chatting at a LIVE event this Saturday!

I’m excited to share that I’ll be part of Live at the Elm’s #BeWellattheELM Wellness Retreat! Join me on June 26th from 2 pm – 3 pm as I chat about all things nutrition with Amy Waldman, Founder of Puree Juice and Dietitian Nutritionist Rachel Gabauer from Tepper Nutrition in a panel moderated by Nycci Nellis!

Spots are limited, so be sure to RSVP with your friends, you mama and your cousins too via this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/157232722305 -XO

P.S. If you want to get some Ageless Tips before the weekend, check me out on the No BS Wellness Podcast: https://www.nobswellnesspodcast.com/episode-78

Hey girl hey! Are you dehydrated? 

Early on in my practice, there were a surprising number of clients who were suffering from fatigue, high blood pressure, constipation, and more just because they were not drinking an adequate amount of water. Water is one of the essential macronutrients and is vital for all forms of life that gives our bodies’ energy sufficient to complete its basic functions.

The necessary water intake for each individual can vary based on climate and level of exercise, but generally speaking, the average person needs around half of their body weight in fluid ounces to be consumed for adequate daily water intake. I found while in Freetown I have to increase my water intake because of the heat. 

Drinking water that is purified is ideal and there are many methods of purifying water including filtration, distillation, and the reverse osmosis process. Before you drink your tap water, you might want to conduct some research on the safety of the water in your area because in some locations, the water is exposed to toxic chemicals, organisms, and even pharmaceutical drugs. And bottled water promoted by an array of companies is often no better than tap water. Bottled water also has the added issue of BPA, an endocrine disrupting chemical that can leach from the plastic into the water, and have deleterious effects on your health. 

In addition to focusing on the water you drink, in recent years I have had experiences that reminded me to be concerned about the water in which I bathe!!! Remember your skin ABSORBS. Dermal absorption is the transport of a chemical from the outer surface of the skin both into the skin and into the body. Studies show that absorption of chemicals through the skin can occur without being noticed, which is why it’s important to research the quality of your water source and get a shower filter or whole house filter, depending on your needs and budget. 

For more great information about water quality, be sure to listen to my past Staying Ageless podcast episode “How to Access the Best Quality Water” with Dr. Floyd Atkins. -XO

Some of my clients look at me like I’m crazy when I tell them to go buy a bag of bark and boil it to make tea, but I ain’t playin LOL.

I’m referring to pau d’arco – a dietary supplement made from the inner bark of several species of Tabebuia trees that grow in Central and South America. Also known as taheebo or lapacho, it has long been used to treat a range of ailments.

Research suggests that pau d’arco extract has antibacterial and antifungal properties. While the exact mechanism remains unknown, pau d’arco is thought to inhibit the processes bacteria and fungi need to produce oxygen and energy. Several test-tube studies show that the bark extract provides protection against a number of disease-causing organisms and may also inhibit the growth of infectious bacteria in your digestive system. 

Pau d’arco extract is also believed to inhibit inflammation — your body’s natural response to injury. Several animal and test-tube studies demonstrate that pau d’arco extract inhibits the release of specific chemicals that trigger an inflammatory response in your body. For example, in one study, pau d’arco extract blocked inflammation in mice by 30–50%, compared to a placebo. As such, it may help treat inflammatory conditions like osteoarthritis, which causes swelling, pain, and stiffness in your joints.

Lastly, pau d’arco helps the body fight candida which is one of my favorite uses for it. Candida, also known as candidiasis, is a common yeast infection that can lead to many health problems. The body normally produces yeast in the mouth, vagina, rectum and digestive tracts, and in normal amounts it remains harmless; however, if the body’s natural pH balance is upset, candida symptoms can quickly grow out of control.

If you are suffering from headaches, an inability to concentrate, hyperactivity, chronic fatigue syndrome, sugar addiction and stomach problems, you may be suffering from an overproduction of yeast and candida and we can help. Check out my Candida & Parasites Be Gone course or sign up for a meet and greet with a member of our team.  -XO

Them: You need birth control to resolve your PMS issues.
Me: 🙄

Chile in case you hadn’t heard, hormonal birth control wreaks havoc on women’s bodies! And we are often not given enough information to thoroughly assess the potential dangers of long term use. Below are some of the dangers you may be unaware of. 👇

A study conducted at the Department of Public Health, University of Oxford, Institute of Health Sciences, UK showed that women who took oral hormonal birth control for at least two years took an average of nine months to get pregnant compared to three months for those who had used condoms to avoid pregnancy.

Researchers in Denmark have found that hormonal birth control causes a 70 percent increased risk of depression. Those same researchers, in a study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, found that women who use hormonal birth control, including pills, the patch, the ring, and hormonal IUDs, have up to three times the risk of suicide as women who have never taken hormonal birth control. The risk for suicide was highest with use of the patch, followed by an IUD, the vaginal ring, and pills.

Combination hormonal birth control pills that contain desogestrel or drospirenone continue to increase the risk of blood clots which are likely to occur in the legs or lungs. A clot in the leg can travel through the circulation system and cause a pulmonary embolism which can cause damage to the lung or at worst, death.

Depo-Provera, the birth control shot which uses the hormone progestin to prevent ovulation, comes with an increased risk of decreased bone density. A decrease in bone density can lead to osteoporosis and bone fractures later in life.

Many of my clients are seeking alternative natural methods because of the damage BC has done to their bodies over time. I can’t tell you the number of clients who have spent years on birth control and once off got a surprise diagnosis for fibroids or endometriosis. It’s maddening. 😡 If you are experiencing health issues as a result of BC and need help transitioning off, sign up for a free meet & greet for my Hormone Balancing Academy.-XO