Featured Archives - Page 7 of 9

Our Unique Wonderful Gut Microbiota!

We are all wonderful, unique and beautiful beings with very different needs! What works for one person doesn’t have to work for another! This is why diets don’t work!

One of the reasons, I think, why we all need very different diets and lifestyles is due to our gut microbiota. We all have a different unique composition of bacteria residing in our gut. As unique as our fingerprints! Isn’t that amazing? Factors like lifestyle, food and what we surround ourselves with influence our gut microbiota!

Some of the benefits provided by our gut bacteria are listed below:

Our intestinal system is where most of our nutrients are absorbed and enters the blood stream. Our gut bacteria help us make sure that only what is meant to enter the blood streams actually enters. It is very important that big harmful compounds do not enter the blood stream as the body will see it as foreign and attack itself.
The gut bacteria help us break down some of the foods that we cannot break down ourselves. For instance, they break down most fibers that we cannot break down ourselves providing us with vital nutrients.
They provide us with some vitamins that we cannot produce ourselves. Vitamins B and K, for instance.
They communicate with our immune system by producing certain cytokines that brings messages to cells inside the body.

The gut bacteria have so many additional functions and are useful in so many ways. It’s all quite fascinating and we are learning more and more about our microscopic friends. Every hour a new paper on our gut bacteria is published!

I hope by now that you can see the importance in taking good care of our gut bacteria, as they can be really important to our health.

So how do we take care of them?

Well, it’s really quite simple!

The good gut bacteria like to eat vegetables and fruit. They don’t like processed foods or sugar. Therefore, by eating real food, food that our ancestors would recognize as food, will feed our good gut bacteria and they will thrive. However, feed the bad kind with processed foods and sugar, and the effect can be quite harmful. They can signal wrong messages to the immune system, they can allow harmful substances to enter the bloodstream and they can deprive us from some really important nutrients. All factors that can result in lifestyle related disease, like obesity, auto immune reactions, allergies, asthma and food sensitivities.

So be good to your gut bacteria and eat your veggies!!

Anne Louise Littlejohn

Owner at GetReal.lu

How to make kombucha

Not your typical ‘cuppa’ but a delicious blend of black or green fermented tea none-the-less and something that has become part of my daily routine..

I suppose my curiosity peaked some months ago when I had been reading more and more about this wonder drink on the internet and all its touted health benefits, coupled with a close friend of mine sharing her own experiences on Facebook (thanks Erika!) which got me into sharing my thoughts with the Hubby and before I knew it – welcome the arrival of our new SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria & yeast)!

Admittedly, my nerves were on edge the moment the starter kit arrived and I realised what I had actually signed myself up for – pH strips, thermometer strips, glucose, loose tea.. The kitchen perfectionist that I am panicked big time.. and so the kit sat there and sat there some more until one day the Hubby couldn’t take it anymore and decided to take matters into his own hands. Together, we brewed some tea, added all the necessary ingredients and just let it ‘do it’s thing’. Putting all fears aside (the worst of it was over right?) it suddenly turned into a daily obsession, seeing if the temperature was right, had the fermentation process started, do we taste it or don’t we, OMG is it DEAD… haha. The saga went on for some time until eventually all nerves were calmed and we’ve literally lost count of the number of batches we’ve prepared.

It’s fair to say that by now we’re hooked, with Hubby having mastered the technique of experimenting from green to black to even rooibos varieties of tea and every type of sugar you can think of (in fact – the darker the sugar we’re finding the richer and sweeter the batch) while I have become the family ‘guinea pig’. Like anything, making your own is that much more meaningful and flavorful and so we’ve recently learned very rewarding and giving. Our ‘mother’ SCOBY has been thriving and with much delight we’ve been able to share out three SCOBY ‘babies’ to like minded people looking for a new venture of experimentation in their lives – ‘AWESOME’ I SAY! :))

So, if by now, your curiosity has peaked I say ‘give it a go’! Ask around… reach out to your friends and see if someone near you has a SCOBY ‘baby’ and let the adventure begin – you won’t regret it!

To get you started, see the below link for an easy ‘How to’ video and recipe.

http://www.culturesforhealth.com/learn/kombucha/how-to-make-kombucha/

Happy brewing!

Sabrina – HealthyLux

Cecilie’s approach to a healthy lifestyle

Give a short description of what you do.
I am a Norwegian woman, mother of two and a wife who is very passionate about life! I love inspiring people to take better care of themselves through healthy food, exercise, better self-esteem and being present. I am a former nurse and today I work as a personal trainer and wellness coach. Through my job I can help people lose weight, get back to their workout routine and take better care of themselves, inside and out. I call myself Lifestyle Optimiser and that’s what life is all about, optimising our life based on every individual’s capacity and ambitions. I would like everyone to become the best version of themselves!

Why, in your opinion, should people give up the food and activities they like to live healthier?
We only live once and we only have one body to live in. Sometimes life doesn’t give second chances. I wouldn’t dare gambling on my health. Through my former job as a trained nurse, I have seen the downside of people not taking care of themselves. I love life, my family and friends too much to ignore my health. With all the information we have today about health and the access to food and the things that we can do to improve it, this has become so much easier. It’s not hard to replace certain ingredients to make breakfast, lunch or dinner so much healthier. We all have time to exercise if it’s important enough for us. You just need to think small first. We live in a very stressful society, but who creates the stress and the pressure? We do! The reward of making some small and better changes to your health is so big. Of course, we will never have a guarantee, but I want to know that I did what I could! I would hate to live with a regret and say, “Why haven’t I?” Use the professionals around you, we are here to support, inspire and help you!

Why and how did you accept to live healthy?
Growing up, I watched my grandfather and father ignoring their health and they lived a very unhealthy life! Both of them got a heart condition when they were 44 and they both had a bypass surgery when they were 48! I l also watched other family members and my friends’ family getting sick and I realised it was because of their lifestyle. I understood early that we can make a huge impact on our health through some simple changes.
After having two beautiful boys my “why” became even bigger! I can make a big impact on their relationship to food, health and exercise. But I can’t only tell them about it, I have to show the way. It’s all about finding a balance that works for you. When you find yourself always having lots of energy and never being sick, you know you are doing something right! When my children are grabbing an apple or a banana instead of cookies, I feel, yes, they have learned something! For me, it’s about balance! Of course I enjoy a piece of cake when it’s someone’s birthday, I enjoy a glass of wine, I love a piece of chocolate from time to time, but not every day and in small quantities!

Is it challenging, expensive and time-consuming?
It takes a bit of energy and time in the beginning to change habits, but once it’s done, it’s not complicated anymore! We just need to know what to do! That’s why I love my job! There is nothing more rewarding than seeing people change their lives for the better thinking about their health and well-being!
Start to replace the ingredients in your cupboard with healthier things. It’s easy to cook and eat healthy, you just need to know what to use. When you have found an activity that you really like, you would like to do more because it makes you feel awesome!
I have chosen to eat only organic, yes, that is more expensive, but then I’d rather eat less! Never buy pre- processed food, it’s full of additives that can cause a lot of harm to your body. Home made food tastes so much better. Always make double portions that you can eat the day after or put in the freezer and save for busy days.
I always say, eating, living and staying healthy isn’t expensive, hard and time-consuming.
But being sick is tough, expensive and time-consuming! You can’t work, nothing is more energy-draining and the medical bills keep adding up… Where do you prefer to put your time, money and energy in? In living healthy or being sick?

Does it really work?
YES YES YES, no doubt about it! Being a nurse, this might sound a bit strange, but I don’t believe in medication. I believe in healthy food. You can eat yourself sick and you can eat yourself healthy! Saying that, we are all individuals and I think that food creates chemical reactions in our bodies. Something that is good for me, doesn’t have to be good for you. But our body is amazing, it will let us know.
Our health is a relationship between ourselves and our body. Nourish it with love, healthy food and exercise.
You will love the way it makes you feel, life will seem easier and the long-term positive side effects are amazing!
If it feels overwhelming, you don’t need to see the whole journey and do all the changes today. It starts with one step, one at a time!

What was the key factor that lead you to start a new healthier life?
It broke my heart when I was working as a nurse and saw all the young people dying of cancer and other diseases. Life is so precious and we are so vulnerable. Living healthy isn’t difficult and the reward is so high!
Make a decision today to start to take care of your body! Trust me, it will be a decision you will never regret!

Cecilie Rigneus

Owner at Lifestyle Optimiser

TO MEAT or NOT TO MEAT…?

How often we notice that people have a different approach when it comes to eat meat!
We have interviewed Lynsey Baxter and here we are to share the answer to some common doubts.

Lynsey Baxter uses a unique approach together with all of her skills, knowledge and a wide range of tools to help you achieve your wellness goal, whether that is weight loss, to live a healthier, more vibrant life or to reduce stress. Lynsey is the only native English speaking hypnobirthing instructor in Luxembourg.
1. Do you think we should eat meat?
Yes I do. I believe that the building blocks of our bodies (amino acids) are most easily obtained from animal products. I do think that we should eat LESS meat and more vegetables though. I also think that we should eat different parts of the animal and not just the muscle meat of the same 3 or 4 animals.

2. There are so many articles saying meat is bad for us though?
True but big announcements make big headlines. These stories are usually based on very limited and often poorly conducted experiments.
For example, do they consider the provenance of the meats? Whether they are bio/organic? A little known fact is that when animals eat grass, their meats are higher in good omega 3 fats (these reduce inflammation in our bodies when we eat them). Animals that eat grains, which is not their natural diet, have meats higher in omega 6 fats which promote inflammation in our bodies.

3. So you don’t agree with vegan diets?
I think that vegan diets work well for some people – everyone is different though, what is right for one person may not work for another. Many people feel better after switching to a vegan diet simply because they become more conscious about the kinds of foods they are eating and they clean up their diet considerably. It is very hard to find any references to fully vegan societies now or in the past though and that speaks volumes to me.

4. How should we eat then?
I believe that we should follow a Paleo style, whole food diet that includes eating from nose to tail. There are nutrients found in muscle meats that in moderation are good, but too much (as with anything) means that we get a build up of certain elements in our bodies. We can balance this by eating other parts like the skin, organs and bone broth.

5. But the thought of eating offal makes me feel sick!
There are different things you can do to make offal more palatable. Liver pate is one thing that many people can easily eat. You can mince up liver and add it to meatballs with lots of herbs and spices and sweet and sticky sauce. Chopping up the organs into really small pieces and adding them to slow cooked stews and casseroles can help too. Whenever I roast a chicken, I fry off the skin and the kids fight over it I then put the bones into my slow cooker and use the broth to make soup or in place of water to cook rice and quinoa through absorption. Most importantly of all though, make sure you add lots of vegetables to whatever you are cooking!

Get to know more about Lynsey Baxter and her activities here.

Some very interesting workshops are coming up soon!

“I felt in control, I was calm and my partner so supportive in helping our child into the world…”

Lynsey Baxter is the only native English speaking hypnobirthing instructor in Luxembourg. She provides an in-depth antenatal training programme using the KG Hypnobirthing method.

What is Hypnobirthing ?

Hypnobirthing is designed to release fear and build confidence during the birth of your baby, this can help you to achieve a more comfortable birth experience.
It is also a way of allowing Dads to take an active role in helping their child into the world by understanding what happens when, and how they can help.
Lynsey Baxter is the only native English speaking hypnobirthing instructor in Luxembourg. She provides an in-depth antenatal training programme using the KG Hypnobirthing method.
Classes are available for private couples or small groups of couples and can take place in your own home or at a centre in Strassen.
Classes can start at any time during your pregnancy, but early on in the second trimester is recommended as the sooner you begin, the better it will be for you.

Read some of the most recent testimonial below or check here more info on Hypnobirthing services.

For more details contact us contact@healthylux.com

Next dates:

click here to check the next dates

Wednesdays:

-> Stay at Home Mums from 10 to 12

-> Couples from 19 to 21

Private sessions – time and location to be agreed.

Testimonials:

NM: Hi Lynsey, when I will have some computer time, I will write you in detail about the birth – but right now I have to say it was the BEST birth experience, exactly what I had hoped for! and I know the classes helped a lot (although I had no time to use the recordings, it took about 15-20 minutes from when I entered the birth room until the baby was in my arms but I did use the breathing techniques and the strokes on my back were a bliss! )

KD: The breathing and relaxation techniques were important, breathing especially!

MP: It was amazing in fact, me and my husband had one of the best days of our lives! After lots of natural inducing (ehm) we were so relaxed and in such a good mood. I started having the first contractions at 8 am but at that point i was already 5-6 cm dialated. The up breathing visualisations helped immensely too! And they (the midwives) did tell me afterwards that it was amazing to see how calm and focused i was when a contraction came! I have to say i was quite proud ???? Suddenly the contractions i felt were very different, less painful, just lots of pressure. And then three downbreathing pushes later, Max was there the doctor didn’t even have time to arrive. So what I meant to say was, thank you Lynsey, for helping us towards this incredible experience through your guidance. I do admit that there were moments when I doubted this would work out as I felt I was surely not practising as much as a proper hypnobirthing mum would. But then i though, it is still nice and relaxing so even just a little bit will be better than nothing. Plus, with a toddler in the house, it is so easy to almost forget you are pregnant! The fact that thanks to practising hypnobirthing i was making it a point to “spend time” with my second baby was very valuable on its own.

AR and ER: Dear Lynsey, A note to let you know that we really appreciate taking the hypnobirthing course with you. Thank you again! We do believe that it has helped us immensely and wanted to share with you our experiences.

Mum : My experience this time was so positive and far removed from the situation 3 years ago. I felt in control, was calm (relatively) and not fearful. We checked in the hospital at 1730 (after spending some time having a leisurely lunch, doing a bit of shopping in between my early ‘surges’ ) and our daughter arrived at 2000. E was so supportive, helping me to relax and encouraging me to breathe up/down and taking charge (e.g. talking to the midwife etc) so I could just focus on my breathing. Unlike my previous experience (where I was unable to hold my son nor appreciate his presence many hours after he arrived via emergency C-Section), I was able to hold and enjoy my daughter as soon as she arrived. What a gift. Before doing the course with you, I was dreading the delivery – wishing for a speedy C-Section to just get it over with (believing that history would repeat itself and I would find myself in trouble/not be able to give birth naturally). My confidence however grew with each session and after reading the course material and listening to the recordings, making me believe it was possible to have a smooth and easy natural delivery. I admit, I’m far from a model student and did the course relatively late at 35 weeks – yet still, I I gained a lot from our sessions with you. Thank you.

Dad: At first, I was a little bit skeptical regarding the hypnobirthing idea, but through out the sessions and practice, I could really see how A was becoming more relaxed and comfortable with the idea of a natural birth, which had a positive influence in the last weeks of pregnancy. It was also very good to understand the different scenarios and possibilities we had, so by taking decisions beforehand, we could really concentrate and go seamlessly through the birthing experience. As a husband, I would really recommend this course.

Check here for more info on Lynsey Baxter’s services or contact us contact@healthylux.com

Christmas with HealthyLux! ENTER THE CONTEST TO WIN EVERY DAY!

Like an Advent calendar we would like to celebrate with you each day in anticipation of Christmas. Starting on Day#1 in December, we will post a small quiz every day…

Like an Advent calendar we would like to celebrate with you each day in anticipation of Christmas. Starting on Day#1 in December, we will post a small quiz every day, until Day#25. Our wish is that this can be a Healthier Festive Season for Everyone! Have a look below!

HealthyLux would like to thank the kindness of all the partners of this Contest for offering (around) 1500 euro value gifts !

How to join #xmaswithhealthylux ?
1 – Like the HealthyLux facebook page @healthylux
2 – Comment this banner mentioning one friend
3 – Reply to the quiz on www.healthylux.com/christmaswithhealthylux – join the contest every day for 25 days and you will increase the chances to win !

The winners have been published on 6th January on www.healthylux.com/christmaswithhealthylux

Click on the links below to discover them!

Previous Days

December Day#25 #xmaswithhealthylux

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM HEALTHYLUX !

Did you feel refreshed when you woke up this morning?

How to stay healthy during the Holidays!

I love this time of year! Christmas lights are out and kids are getting excited about Santa! It is the time for joy, being with loved ones and PRESENTS!!! I love getting presents!

However, it is also the time for challenges to our health. Christmas is often the time where we let ourselves go and eat whatever we want and forget to take care of ourselves. One too many trips to the Christmas market or to a Christmas party and our balance of healthy living is totally off.

So what are you supposed to do to stay healthy? How are you supposed to not fall into the stress-trap? Is it even possible?

I think it is. Here are some of my favourite tips to stay healthy throughout the holidays!

Stay hydrated

Too much alcohol and salty food will throw you off completely. Make sure to balance it out and hydrate before and after a night out. You should be drinking around 2 L of liquid every day, but think about increasing a little bit on the days where you know you will be indulging on some Glühwein or other alcoholic beverages. Dehydration can cause headaches and is often mistaken for hunger, so we eat more. Don’t fall into this trap!

Drink smart

When you are drinking, go for lower calorie drinks. I only drink wine on a night out, because it has less calories and I drink less as opposed to when I drink beer (which I must admit my digestion system cannot take anymore). If you are a long-drinks-type, then mix your alcohol with sparling water and lime, this limits the calories and helps keep your blood sugar stable. And remember to drink water in between drinks, it will keep you hydrated and pace your alcohol intake. Keep in mind that Glühwein contains a lot of sugar, so enjoy one, but then go over to something else.

Stay active

Christmas is no excuse to stop exercising! Even if your regular fitness class pauses throughout the Holidays, you can still go swimming, go for walks, go ice-skating and lots more. No excuses! Why not dance the night away at the Christmas party? It is fun and you burn calories! Win-win! Exercise also boosts your immune system to fight off nasty colds and flu’s! And if you do overeat, then do yourself a favour and stand up and walk around. That will signal your body that your cells need energy and it will ease your digestion and you will feel better.

Get your zzz’s

Make sure you get enough sleep. Stress is almost inevitable during Christmas, but you will be able to handle it much better if you get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation is also often mistaken for hunger, so enough zzz’s will help you make better and healthier choices!

Focus on the fun not the food!

Christmas food is mandatory and Christmas wouldn’t be the same without it, but that doesn’t mean food has to be the main focus. Why not focus on some other things instead? How about carolling with your kids or decorating the tree? Or focus on great conversations with loved ones. Some of us only see our families during the Holidays, so why not really get to know them? Find out what your cousins do and what makes them tick. Start listening and being more mindful of the people around you. They may surprise you!

Go for quality over quantity

We all know it is coming; the cookies, the alcohol, the roast and gravy, etc. My advice is to go for quality instead of quantity. Skip the store bought cookies and go for delicious homemade cookies made with love. Go for the treats that are special to you and your family. Think of it as if you are on a budget and you have to make the money last for the whole month. Which treats and foods would you like to spend your money on? Go for the good stuff!

Balance is key

Have you heard of the 80/20 principle? You eat healthy and conscious 80% of the time while leaving space for delicious treats for the remaining 20%. Don’t deprive yourself of your favourite holiday snack, but do it consciously. If you‘ve had salty, greasy food one day, then balance it out and have fresh salads and fruit the next day. Listen to your body and find out what is wants and needs.

Remember – it’s not what you eat between Christmas and New Years, but what you eat between New Years and Christmas.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Anne Louise Littlejohn

Owner at GetReal.lu

LESS FAT to get…FATTER !

It’s now time to dispel a myth : There are no crocodiles in the New York’s sewers!

Ok I’m just kidding… In reality, there is one myth still more absurd: ’’Eating fat makes you fatter!”

There is nothing more fake and recently more and more scientists are coming to the same conclusion: fats aren’t our enemies. On the contrary, they can save your life!

In fact, research suggests that eating healthy saturated fats actually promotes weight loss.
When you eat healthy fats in a meal, this slows absorption of the food and you can go longer without feeling hungry.
The fats give a lot of satisfaction, especially when combined with a diet with few carbohydrates. It’s hard to eat too much if you follow a diet low in carbohydrates and high in fats and proteins.
Also, eating a lot of fat and few carbohydrates, the body is forced to burn fat to produce energy. If, instead, you eat lots of fats with large amounts of carbohydrates, the body burns carbohydrates (and then fats are accumulated).

The human being can go without sugar (because it can produce glucose from its reserves of fat and protein)… but he can not deprive himself of the good fats.
We are, for example, unable to produce ourselves the famous omega-3, so important to the proper functioning of our heart and our brain.
This is why our diet must contain fats, rich in omega-3.

In addition, by depriving yourself of fat, you also deprive yourself of foods that are delicious and good for your heart:

Avocado – full of fiber and potassium
Walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts – full of vitamins
Dark chocolate – packed full of antioxidants,
Eggs – full of choline.

Carbs won’t help you ‘’feel full”, because they don’t offer the same feeling of satiety as fats. It is even the contrary that is true: the more you eat sugars, more you want to eat those foods that are less good (like ice cream or bread and industrial snacks).

Saturated fats and monounsaturated fats are safe to consume even in large quantities.
In weight loss and calorie restriction diets, these are often the first macronutrients to be eliminated. But this is a serious error.

The body tolerates very well saturated fats, and if it can consume in large quantities, in fact:

Fats are structural building blocks of the human body, and produce from 75 to 80% of the fatty acids in most cells.
They are the primary sources of energy for the most part of the body and are actually a healthier form of energy when compared to glucose.

I am unaware of any known toxicity, even at high doses, unless a metabolic disorder or a high presence of insulin prevents fats from being used or stored in the forms of triglycerides and phospholipids.

Another factor that supports the safety of saturated fats and monounsaturated fats is the ease of the body to keep them in reserve. As structural elements of cells, these fatty acids constitute almost half of the lean mass of the body. The main reserves are in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue.

The consumption of saturated fat improves the lipid profile in two ways:

increases levels of HDL cholesterol (commonly known as good cholesterol)
it makes LDL particles (commonly known as bad cholesterol) wide and elastic, protecting them from glycation and oxidation – so effectively making them safer forms of bad cholesterol.

Here are some examples of fats that are excellent for your health:

Extra virgin olive oil is made of monounsaturated fatty acids (which promote the replacement of LDL cholesterol in the blood, cause heart attacks and obstructions of the vascular, with HDL cholesterol), with the right quantity of linoleic fatty acid, polyphenols, vitamin E and beta-carotene.

Coconut oil contains vitamins and iron. It is very good for hair and skin, promotes immunity and improves the metabolism. You can use it in the cooking and to make sweet puddings.

Ghee is a clarified butter (subjected to a slow cooking through which you have deleted all of the substances that are most indigestible). Nourishes, rehydrates the body and prevents excess heat.

Another valuable source of good fats is raw egg yolk. It is one of the richest sources ofenzymes existing in the world, it is immediately assimilated without leaving toxins and without interfering with the metabolism of fats and cholesterol.

Other sources of good fats are wild salmon, shellfish, and meat of grassfed cattle and lamb.

Mauro Maza

Naturopathic Practitioner at Naturopathe.lu

Christine’s approach to a healthy lifestyle

As a part of a group challenge I took it on myself to stream a video via Facebook Live Every Day for 30 Days.

Day #1

This comes at a perfect timing because I have just started to change my diet (and have lost 4 kilos in 3 weeks), signed up to a gym and am taking care of myself a bit more.

Because I realised that I am healthy but not fit and just put strain on my body by not giving it the foods that help it be in good shape. I also noticed that I will burn out if I don’t practise more self-care…

Another bonus is that it helps me practising my discipline, keeping my friends up to date, who I see too rarely because I am so busy and keeping my fans up to date on what is going on. And that is a lot.

On top of that I am going to give you insights on sleep and answer any questions I might have. So tune in !

Day #2

Today I had to remind myself that responsibility starts with yourself. A single step everyday can create massive results later on whether it is a healthy eating choice, communicating more clearly, taking some time out during the day. It doesn’t matter what it is but it is all about YOU every day.

Day #3

Today I went to the hairdresser’s for my Keratin treatment. Yes it takes 3 hours but listen to why I love it and get an insight into my food prep here !

Day #4

Back in the game!
Today is a very, very honest post about why I do what I do, why this is a coming out of sorts and I talk about what it is like to have exercised for the first time in a long time. In conclusion, I have missed working out even though that totally surprised me. And being so honest was really tough but it was necessary and it was scary but also helpful to me to develop. Have a look !

Day #5

Today I really noticed how my body is not used to any physical exercise anymore. I am in pain! I know that for many that is a great sign and they kind of enjoy it but seriously . . . I prefer a massage any day.

However, I can’t wait to not feel like this after my sessions anymore. Let’s get this body fit!

Day #6

Today’s video nearly didn’t happen. I was so tired and had just deleted more than an hour’s worth of work BUT I had told myself to be disciplined and so doing this video in the end was much more rewarding than just “doing a video”. It truly goes to show that we sometimes make more of a fuss around things than they are and if you just pull through then you can do it and it isn’t nearly as exhausting as you thought it would be. I am convinced that is applicable to anything in life.

Day #7

Today I am sharing quite a few news from a summit called Permission to
Leap, which is encouraging you to be the true YOU and feeling good about that. I give you a sneak peek into my Kickstarter campaign for my book Sleep Like A Boss and I have also been chosen for a portrait about entrepreneurs, which I am so excited about. It goes to show that your work is being seen, even if you sometimes don’t think so. So whatever you do: stay positive because you never know who’s watching. I am sure the HealthyLux community appreciates this approach!

Day#8

Today’s video is about a project I have been working on to help all of you out there get better sleep! Intrigued? Have a look at the video but you will hear more about it soon.

I also just came back from my second workout soooo so far so good with my diet and workout and we had some really nice fish with lemongrass, canelli beans and spinach for dinner which was delicious! Stay tuned for more . . .

Day#9

Today you get an peek at our healthy Tagine that we had for dinner and that is super easy to do and practical as you can have it simmer for a couple of hours. Add some cinnamon for your bloodsugar levels and some garam massalam to burn your fat 😉 and you are good to go!

I am also pledging to take 2 weeks off and am featured in Telecran woohooo! Watch the video !

Day#10

Today I am discussing the difference between a glass drinking bottle vs plastic ones. Personally, although BPA’s are regulated in Europe I don’t really like nor trust plastic bottles, especially on hotter days, and so I invested in a glass one and I love it.

I think it is a good investment for adults as well as for kids when you are out and about and take it along.

Day#11

As a mother it is tough to do it all but I am truly lucky and grateful to have my wonderful husband who is helping me build the dream I believe in and impact other people.

Today you will see how I juggle different plates to get ready for my live event and rush from one meeting to the next, whilst still incorporating my goal to become fit.
It can be a lot sometimes but in the end it is always worth it. Have a look !

Day#12

Today I am explaining what my Kickstarter campaign is and how it works. My book Sleep Like A Boss is a real gem in terms of that I truly care about my readers and want them to succeed without pills or meds but holistically with mind and body in sync.

Day#13

Hello & welcome to my #30DayChallenge

Today you can witness me doing my live podcast! For me it is the easiest way to keep in touch with my clients and to be present. I tried blogging but it just isn’t me so if you are a business owner I would really encourage you to do whatever works for you, whether it is blogging, Facebook Live a podcast or whatever speaks to you. It will make your life a lot easier!

Day #14

Today I talk about how I fell of the wagon and how you can deal with it any any other event that might not have gone as planned.

Day #15

Today I am greeting you from London and how it makes everything better in your life if you truly stand for who you are and makes you happy.

Day #16

Today I am totally taking some time off. And it is helping me so much to get new ideas. It is ok to take breaks and just focus on yourself. You “simply” need to give yourself permission 🙂

Day #17

Today I am travelling back home and I am cristal clear on my health, my goals and who I am so it was definitely worth it.

Martina’s approach to a healthy life

I have been interested in an active lifestyle ever since I was very young. I am very fond of sports in general and especially interested in dancing. During my childhood I practiced classical dance for more than 7 years, participated in hip hop and jazz dance classes and went to a dancing school for standard and Latin dance (in Austria where I am from, dancing the waltz and other standard dances is quite common, also for the young generation).

I also like going to the gym or doing different types of outdoor activities such as biking, playing badminton or going for walks. Therefore halfway through my pregnancy I was looking for an adequate activity for myself and the baby bump and came across the MammaFit classes. For more than three months during my pregnancy and then again after the birth of my daughter, I have regularly participated in MammaFit classes.

I especially enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the classes and the fact that the exercises take place in a park. Participating in the MammaFit classes is a great occasion to meet other mums with their babies and to get into shape at the same time.

Although I have always been a healthy eater, e.g. buying only organic versions of certain products, rarely eating fast-food and cooking fresh meals on an almost daily basis, my perception of food has become different since my daughter is part of my life. More concretely ever since she started eating solids. Like every mum I only want the best for her. I therefore pay attention to the food she eats, especially in terms of local, organic products. This is particularly true for meat (there are so many things one hears and reads about medication that is fed to the animals in order for them to grow quicker so I prefer to limit the consumption of products coming from these animals). Even though high quality meat is very expensive I prefer to buy good quality and, as a result, have meat less often.
I am very happy with my decision. Simply watching my daughter putting food with her tiny hands into her mouth and grinning happily because she is proud of herself (and seems to like what she is eating) is sufficient confirmation to continue making an extra effort when buying food.

Martina

MammaFit mum and HealthyLux volunteer