☺ Motivational Mondays! ☺

. . . . . . . . . .

We're taking back Mondays!!!

"Motivational Mondays" are fabulous tips to get you excited and pumped for the week! 

Feeling low? Moody? Down on life? Well, that's what these posts are for! Time to feel awesome again and get some Positivity rolling! Just because it's Monday doesn't mean you can't have fun, smile, and enjoy Today! Apply these tips to your week and try to tell me that you don't start to see an improvement in your life! ;)

It's all about You! Change your perception, change your attitude, love your life! xo

. . . . . . . . . .

☺ Thoughts Become Things! Time to revisit the Law of Attraction's most basic principle: what you Think about comes about; whatever you are Thinking you are Attracting To You! If you complain about something you are attracting that thing into your life. On the flip-side, if you think positive thoughts then you will attract those into your life instead. So choose to think Positive so that you will attract the positive. Catch yourself complaining and turn your thoughts around before they sneak up on you. ;)          

☺ Pay Attention…  and look at how green everything is becoming! Spring is such a magical time, rain or shine, everything is greening back up, flowers are popping up, trees are budding, gardens are starting. How incredibly refreshing and wonderful! Take some time this week to go for a walk and keep your eyes wide open to appreciate and take in all this awe-inspiring beauty!   

☺ Anger Management Technique…  The next time you feel your mood dropping and the anger flaring, here's an idea: Text or Call a friend. A good friend will make you laugh and laughter cures all. Plus having someone to talk things over with will calm your mind and give you a new perspective and even help you reach some resolve and let go of whatever it was that made you angry. 

☺ Learn to Laugh at Yourself! Not only is laughing at yourself a great way to turn around a negative situation, or a clumsy trip or embarrassing moment, but it also means you'll always have something to laugh about. ;) Laughing is the greatest medicine. Learning to laugh at yourself and not take yourself seriously is life changing and will turn your world into sunshine! 

☺ Change up your Exercise Routine! Or if you don't yet exercise, now is your time to start! Repetition of any kind of exercise (unless it's yoga) can be bad for your joints and muscles so it's a good idea to change it up from time to time. Changing up your routine can also be refreshing for your mind and it will get you using muscles you didn't even realize you weren't using. The human body is absolutely amazing like that! If it's nice out, try getting outside, go for a hike, or an adventure. Exercise doesn't and shouldn't feel like a chore. Make it fun! Exercise can be playing sports with some friends, going for a brisk calming morning walk or jog. It can be wandering and exploring, it can be dancing around your living room or grocery store. It can be anything so long as you get your heart pumping and your body moving. 

☺ You Control Your Happiness! I will repeat this until you accept it because it is your single biggest cure to unhappiness. No matter what life dishes you, good or bad, you get to choose your happiness. Responsibility pushes you to take control; it allows you to snap out of a bad mood because you can, at any time, stop and say to yourself "I can Choose to Be Happy! Happiness is My Choice!" So Choose to be Happy. Put yourself in the control seat. 

☺ “A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.” ~ George Bernard Shaw. Failures are a part of life, I've said this many many times, again one of those lessons I will continue to repeat to engrave it into your mind so that you stop being afraid of it. ;) Without failure we don't learn, and without learning we don't change, and without changing then life is stale and uninspired or refreshing. Let go of fear of failing and embrace it instead. Remember you can always try try again; and no one ever accomplished anything in life without first failing a few times. 

Don't forget to get out there and Create a Nice Day!! 

Much Love from me to you! 

If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.

☺ The Balance to a Truly Healthy Happy Life ☺

Along the path to happiness, and manifesting (using the Law of Attraction) we often stumble and find it hard to maintain that positive level all the time. But there are some key points that many of us forget about, and that is that for happiness to truly flow freely and easily then you have to Feel Good. While choosing to be happy is indeed a choice that you do need to make in order to actually be happy, there are many things that will help your happy journey. Remember that everything in life is connected, and so if you want a truly happy life then everything within that life requires balance and love and attention. The key aspects of our lives that we should check on are our state of mind, our health (including diet and exercise), and general all-around balance in our active lives. 

Choose It!

Happiness is in your head, and it is certainly the biggest step you need to take to change your life. You always have a choice and that will be the key to unlocking all other aspects of your life. 

I'm not going to focus too much on this topic in this particular article because I have so many others that go into more in-depth details into tricks and ways to make your life happy and finding that within yourself. So go and explore my "Inspirational" posts for more tips there. ;)

Eat Well!

You have a choice to be happy and you have a choice to be healthy, but we often pay attention to one and forget the other yet they are both so closely connected. Being happy all the time is much harder when you are eating crappy foods. Remember a happy body is a happy mind. Food is fuel for your body and if you are giving your body junk food that it can't get proper energy or nutrients from then you are living your life running on empty all the time. And that is not a happy body. Your body and your brain cannot properly (or happily) function on junk food. If you are starving your body of what it needs then you are also starving your brain of what it needs. When you make healthy food choices then your body will feel wonderful, nourished, energetic, and alive! So how do you suppose your brain responds? It will also feel wonderful, nourished, energetic and alive! So many of our health problems today are a combination of too much stress and a poor diet. Making simple healthy changes can clear your mind and make you feel new again. If you want to be happy--which I assume you do--stop kidding yourself and get healthy! It's simple as that! 

Remember that everyone's body is different, especially when it comes to food. Allergy tests are a great idea, but they are not always completely accurate as well. My suggestion is to cut out junk food, cut out common allergens (wheat & dairy), and seriously cut back on (or eliminate completely) sugar and refined foods. Some people can't tolerate grains well, others can't tolerate beans or starch well. Cut out the common problem areas and then slowly reintroduce them to see your body's reaction. If you don't think food affects you at all, please stop denying it, food affects everyone, we just aren't often very in-tune with our body's reactions and needs. If this sounds like a lot of work, take it one step at a time. Just remember that if you want to be happy then this really isn't as hard as you think.  

Exercise!

Being healthy also means being active. Exercise can do wonders for depression and your energy levels. All the amazing health benefits of exercise (read about them here!) will transform your life onto another level of bliss. Happy will flow much easier because you are giving your body more of what it needs--health! 

People & Surroundings!

Health is great, but what about your surroundings? What about the people you interact with on a regular basis? People can be just as toxic as food, negativity can completely overwhelm our minds and good energy. Bad vibes are bad vibes. If someone is negative all the time then chances are they are going to rub off on you. Don't put yourself through that. I'm not talking about people who need to do a little venting, most of us are guilty for needing a little venting, I'm talking about the people that literally have nothing good to say ever and complain constantly. Being in that person's negative cloud regularly is damaging to your own mental health and can drain you dry and leave you feeling just plain blah. People certainly can change, but there is no reason to primarily surround yourself with those types of people. If you have those negative people in your life but you don't want to end the relationship then make sure you have plenty of super positive people in your life to make up for it and try only to see the negative people on an occasional basis. Place yourself in a positive environment and surround yourself with positive people! It really helps--and it helps when dealing with those negative people as well.

Balance!

Maybe you've got all those topics covered, in which case good for you! But maybe happiness still isn't coming so easily. So how's the balance in your day to day life? Are you a workaholic? Do you have an active social life? Too much social life? Do you take time for yourself? Time for reflection and self work? We live in a very busy society that teaches us to be on the go all the time, but if we are always on the go then our minds can't keep up. Work should not be your whole life. Making money to buy things you don't need shouldn't be your life. Your life should contain the perfect balance for your time. Make time for work, for play, for people and social interaction, and for down-time (meaning You time). Every day you should also take time for self-reflection and positive affirmations to keep you on track. Balance is key.  

Unresolved Problems!

The last major issue that might be getting in your way to unreasonable happiness is any unresolved issues. It is hard to be happy when you have something nagging at your subconscious all the time with issues that have not yet been dealt with. Don't carry around extra baggage when you don't need to. When stress arises, deal with it. When problems arise, solve them. Work through things! And don't kid yourself, if you need help then get it! We are not meant to go through this world alone, so seek out others who can help you. 

  

Again I will say that balance is everything. Your body being in harmony and healthy is everything. If you are struggling to find happiness then be sure to check what it is you are eating, how active you are, if there are unresolved issues, and how your day to day life is. 

Happiness is within everyone's grasp, so long as we are attentive and kind to our individual needs.

If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.

☆ The Fantabulous (and many) Benefits of Exercise! ☆

There are so many reasons to exercise, but we sometimes only think about weight loss or bikini season, but truthfully, it goes so far beyond just that. Personally, I am a workout fiend, I feel so so much better and energized and pumped about life after I exercise. It is addictive in a lovely healthy way. And since ReLove Plan.et is all about being happy and healthy, then I simply have to boast about the magic of exercise!
Obviously, exercise is good for your health, but do you know the full benefits? 

Live Longer!  There have been several studies done that indicate exercise leads to a longer healthier life. One said that even just walking or getting your body moving for a mere 30 minutes a day is the biggest key to health, prevention against illness, and prolonging your life. 

Weight Loss. The obvious one that most of us know. Exercise burns calories and allows your body to use calories more efficiently, increases your metabolic rate, and gets your body working optimally so that you get the most benefit from what you eat. You don't even have to do much, if you can't fit in a regular workout at the gym then just try to be more active in your everyday activities. Take the stairs instead of elevator, walk or bike instead of drive, take random dance breaks while doing anything and everything. Get moving and get happy!

Happiness! Those regular sweat sessions feed oxygen to the brain, stimulate various other brain chemicals and gets happy endorphins going to leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. The benefits of exercise have been shown to be as effective in warding off depression as medication--except minus the zombie feeling and instead you get to feel energized and good about your life and not worry about dangerous side-effects. ;) I swear by this as I too once was skeptical, but it truly truly works! So get moving and get happy!

Look younger. Aerobic activity in particular increases oxygen consumption during exercise, which can take years off your skin and stimulate new brain cells. Neat huh?  

Improves… Posture, flexibility, muscle definition, endurance and stamina, sex life, mental focus and clarity, coordination and balance, self esteem, complexion, circulation. 

Immune Booster! Exercise strengthens the immune system over time by raising the body's temps. It also helps regulate hormone levels and may reduce the risk of breast and prostate cancers. And, again, it only takes 30 minutes a day of your time to maintain this lovely healthy level.   

Healthy Heart. Getting your heart pumping raises good cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, and reduces arterial inflammation, all of which help protect your heart and decreases heart attack risk so that you can have a happy heart.  

Health health! Other awesome health benefits from exercising include… lowering blood pressure, increasing "good" levels of cholesterol, strengthening your joints and bones to help prevent osteoporosis. 

Balances your blood sugar. Regular workouts increase sensitivity to insulin and managing weight, therefor decreasing risk of type 2 diabetes. 

Manage PMS and Menopause. Even just light exercise, like walking or yoga, elevates the mood and helps to manage symptoms of menopause and PMS. If you have bad cramps during aunt flow's monthly visit, try regular exercise--especially like cardio--to help relieve those menstrual cramps. 

Improves Digestion! Regular physical activity helps keep your digestive system working efficiently and healthily. You'll even poop better! 

Sleep Better! If you're having trouble sleeping then, yup, regular exercise can help you to sleep better and sleep deeper. Just don't exercise too close to bedtime or you may be too energized from your workout to fall asleep. ;) 

Energy Boost Please! Regular physical activity improves your muscle strength and boosts your endurance so that all of your daily activities won't feel like such a chore. It also helps your cardiovascular system work efficiently and delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues. And when your body is working more efficiently, well, you get an energy boost and have more energy for your entire day. 

What more reasons do you need? Plus there are so many fun ways to add physical activity into your life, no matter what your "busy" schedule may be. Get active, feel better, feel healthy, feel happy! Wooo wooo! ;) 

If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.

Love, Life, Happiness: Being Fit & Healthy, Part 2...

It is said that there is nothing that the body can't cure through diet and exercise. 

Diet is absolutely crucial to a healthy body and mind, as discussed in Part One of this segment. However, diet is only half the battle and without exercise you won't get results. 

A few things to keep in mind...

Choosing physical activity that you enjoy is important if you want to stay motivated. And it definitely doesn't mean you are restricted to the gym. Be adventurous and don't be afraid to try new things! Maybe Yoga interests you? Or perhaps something like mountain biking? How about a sport? The options are endless and feel free to change it up as often as you like. 

Now I don't want to hear excuses about not having time. Make time! Re-arrange your schedule if you have to but quit making yourself pitiful excuses (yeah, you know they're excuses as well as I do). Remember, a happy body is a happy mind. ^_^ 

The benefits of exercise are endless! Physical activity stimulates the brain, leaving you feeling happy and de-stressed! It enhances your mood, and fights depression when done regularly. It fights disease (it can reduce the risk of Breast Cancer by up to 60%!!). Exercise will also help you lose weight, boost your energy levels (see? who needs caffeine? ~_^), helps you sleep better, alleviates menstrual cramps, improves appetite for healthy foods, and even makes you poop better! See, it rocks!! Now do it!! ~_^

It is best to workout in the morning if you can, as it helps to boost the brain and body at the start of your day. This means you're less likely to eat crap after a good workout, and you're less likely to make up excuses not to work out later in the day. However fitting in physical activity where you can is obviously better than no exercise at all.

My health routine...

I've fallen in love with exercising (and you will too!!)! It took me a long time to get off my sorry ass though and actually commit to it. I used to be a miserable, inactive slob and never had the motivation. Finally, I forced myself into a routine and haven't looked back since. Now I'd have to actually make the effort NOT to workout! That's how much it's become a natural part of my life. Oh and my depression kicked the final boot thereafter as well. Who knew? 

I personally dislike gyms, but that's just me. One of my best investments was into an Elliptical machine I could use from home. No more getting to and from the gym. Just wake up, stretch, and workout from the comfort of my own home. I love the elliptical because its low impact, meaning less stress on my body, as opposed to running on a treadmill. I do love to run, but Edmonton's weather sucks for 60% of the year, making that difficult. So that's my cardio. I also do a good stretch everyone morning (whether I workout or not) before and after exercise. To tone up, I use the "Skinny Bitch" fitness DVDs. Yes, I'm clearly a fan of theirs haha, but they work!! I've managed to get rid of areas that I used to be self-conscious about because of those DVDs! And they'll kick your butt! No kidding! ~_^

I typically exercise every single day for at least 30 minutes (not including stretching). The Elliptical takes up at least five days a week. The DVDs alternate every two days or so either by themselves or before my cardio. I'll randomly do push-ups and other such things, but I find the others work much better and get me better results. 

So, there you have it. Now, stop making excuses and get on that healthy diet and exercise lifestyle and watch your life (and body) transform!! 

Love & Bruises, 

~Bianca xo 

If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.

Love, Life, Happiness: Being Fit & Healthy, Part 1...

First, let's make one thing clear. There is no "perfect" body shape, and beauty is not a defined concept. True Beauty comes in all different shapes and sizes. Individuality is so much more beautiful than unrealistic magazine pages. Second, everyone has their insecurities, that just seems to be the way humans are. 

What is important though is being healthy and feeling good. So whether your goal is to lose a couple pounds, tone up, or just plain be happy and healthy, this post might be for you.

This topic has come up a lot lately, so I thought now was a good time to share for all those that have asked, and for those that are wondering; what I do to stay Fit & Healthy... 

I may have been blessed with a good metabolism, but it takes more than just that to stay fit and healthy. I'm a health nut (for those that didn't already know) & this includes me working on my body. Diet & Exercise are the key to any rockin' bod! So I'll get right to it then shall I?

Quite simply; I'm Vegan, and my Diet is Gluten & Wheat Free, Sugar-free, Coffee-free, and packed full of Fruits and Veggies. And I don't really drink alcohol (meaning I might decide to drink if I really feel like it, so once every several months, if that).
Now I know this may seem terrifying to some of you and you're probably thinking to yourself "Dear Lord! What do you EAT?!" Well, the answer is LOTS! I love Food and I love to eat! So make no mistake about it, my belly is always happy ^_^. The North American diet is quite possibly the most unhealthy in the world, and our soaring Cancer and Illness rates are enough to prove it. Trendy diets are also bullshit. They hide behind fancy scientific jargon that SEEMS to make sense only because people Want to believe them. 

For those seeking in-depth information on why you shouldn't be eating certain foods, I highly recommend picking up the book "Skinny Bitch". It is a no-nonsense guide to stop eating crap and to eat right and to, well, be a Skinny B*tch. They explain everything straight and to the point in a savvy and humorous way to understand healthy eating habits. 

For myself, here's a breakdown....

Veganism:  If you don't want to do it for ethical reasons then maybe doing it for your body will convince you? If you think not eating meat is enough, here's a reality check: Breast milk can grow an 8-pound baby into a 24-pound toddler! And that's just humans, not Cows! Milk is intended to allow for the biggest growth spurt of a person's entire life. Mother nature did not mean for us to continue drinking milk thereafter. And FYI, we are the ONLY creatures that do so, AND that drink milk from another species 0_o. To the point: Dairy=Fat. Period. So be a Healthy Vegan. 

Carbohydrates: Carbs have had a terrible rap for no good reason. Low-Carb diets have got to be one of the dumbest trendy diets in existence. Sure, let's eat shit loads of meat and cut out fruits and veggies!?? The truth about Carbs is simple: Some are good, some are bad. But cutting out all Carbs is a recipe for disaster. Stay away from Simple Carbohydrates, they are evil and void of nutrition (and will go straight to your thighs ~_^). This includes white flour, white pasta, white rice, and white sugar. Pay attention! Most cereals, bread products, cookies, muffins, etc. fall under this category. 

Complex Carbohydrates are the kick-ass good ones with healthy starch and lots of fiber that your body needs for energy. These include; potatoes, barley, corn, brown rice, beans, lentils, quinoa, millet, whole wheat, and vegetables. And fruit! Fruit is awesome & your body will love it!

Sugar: is the devil in the form of food. Remember this well. Not only does your body store it as fat but it also messes with your moods--it turns me into a psychotic, depressing mess! If you're craving something sweet then there's lots of healthy options. To start, bake your own goodies and use Agave Nectar (or organic cane sugar or maple syrup) instead of the refined stuff. Craving chocolate? Grab some Vegan Chocolate sweetened with beet sugar, such as Endangered Species brand. Or hop online for lots of other choices. :) Or how about some Soy or Coconut or even Rice Ice Cream sweetened with Organic Cane Sugar or Agave Nectar? See, there are yummy alternatives to satisfy your sweet-tooth. ~_^

The Rest... 

I cook almost everything from scratch which gives me a lot more control over what I put into my body. Processed Foods usually contain most of the ingredients you should be avoiding, as well as corn starch and other fillers, and unhealthy oils and nasty preservatives and colorings. Steer clear. No matter what. As far as eating out goes, I don't often for the same reasons I don't eat processed foods. When I do eat out I'll choose healthier dining spots and go for high-veggie dishes instead of greasy foods. 

I eat several small meals a day as opposed to three large ones. This is a much healthier choice, providing you with a steady supply of calories and therefor energy as you need it. It also means you're not going hungry for hours between meals and then bloating with over-sized portions come supper-time. I also make sure I drink my two liters of water a day.

Lastly, if you need a little extra help in getting into new eating habits and not over-eating, then I recommend the website Nutrimirror. It is essentially a food log where you can keep track of calories, but I like it because you start to feel guilty if you have to log in the bad foods you've been eating, making it pretty convincing to eat better. I don't however recommend using it long-term simply because food should not control your life and counting calories is a bore. Use it to develop new eating habits. Once you're in the swing of those new habits, ditch it and keep doing what you've been doing ;).

It may seem a bit intimidating at first, but all it takes is adjusting to new eating habits. Trust me, once you change your diet you will stop craving unhealthy foods and will wonder why you ever ate junk in the first place. It will stop tasting good to you, I promise.

Check out the second part to this Segment for exercise. ;) 

Til then, 

Love & Peace

~Bianca xo

If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.