Healthy Summer Things

Summer time has me feeling all kinds of ways ....

Like I love it. But I hate mosquitos despite them loving me. And not a fan of ticks, either. And why is it so weird getting into a bathing suit for the first time every Summer?




I think often about how most of us grew up fearing the sun and yet one of the most beneficial things we can be doing for our health and body composition goals is ensuring that we're getting enough sun (but preventing harmful burns, of course).



Then there's the whole chlorine thing -- which I posted about recently right here.



And how can we leverage the fact that most of us are outdoors more often this time of year to help us build momentum on our goals? One way is by thinking about restructuring the water inside our body. Once again, for health AND body goals. Check this out.



Another great opportunity we have is to leverage temperature. Hot + humid outside? Go workout outside around sunrise or sunset and you've got your very own "infrared sauna" (we get natural infrared light through the sun around both sunrise and sunset). Then hop into a cold bath, shower, or baby pool filled with hose water and ice cubes. Boom. Contrast therapy!



I'm a big fan of the food that's in season now too! If you missed it, you can grab my 42-recipe Summer healthified dessert recipe e-cookbook, Sweet Surrender. 



Every season has its challenges. It's a regular showdown around here with those darn blood-sucking flying jerks. But each season also makes it a little easier to focus on our health and body goals in a slightly new way. What are you loving most about Summer?



XO,
Tara

Willpower is NOT your issue

Imagine hearing that willpower was never an issue for you ... all of these years??

Well, that's what I'm about to tell you. I know we got into willpower a little a couple of weeks ago, but I want to tackle it head-on today and from a different angle.



Maybe you don't have an issue with willpower. Maybe you are super Type A / perfectionist or just really able to follow a plan and never deviate (but you're still not happy with your results and that's for entirely different reasons that I'll cover in a future newsletter).


But if you have ever found yourself feeling like you are just weak in the presence of your favorite foods, YOU HAVE TO WATCH THIS. Well, it's just my talking head so you can actually pop some headphones on and just listen to it like a 21-minute podcast during your morning sun walk. ;-)


It's not willpower, it's biology. But when your biology is out of whack and you add a ton of stress + heavy emotions or just a mindset that's been corrupted by diet culture, you get this perfect storm that feels a whollllllle lot like a lack of willpower.



If you're having trouble starting the day with the type of breakfast that I describe in the video, try one of these smoothies while we're still in the thick of summer. Before long it'll all be apple cinnamon this and pumpkin that -- which I, personally, don't mind. ;-)



If you'll be joining us for the September round of TRANSFORM: Body + Mind, write down these dates: August 31st is when the cart will be open to sign up. You'll get access to the course app + materials on September 8th. And September 12th is when we officially begin. Make sure you're on the waitlist if you're interested to reserve your spot and to get a discount code when the cart opens.



XO,
Tara

You are too comfortable!

Are you too comfortable?

Ever think, "I'm ALWAYS putting myself LAST!"?? I'd like to invite you to think of that in a different way. Now, I'll warn you, THIS VIDEO is a bit tough love (with an emphasis on love). So if you're already having a day, maybe watch this one later. ;-)



I'd love to hear your thoughts! Let me know if this resonates at all.



Happy day,
Tara

Fat Loss MUST be slow. Here's why.

Fat loss HAS to happen slowly. Here's why...

I know we want it to happen quickly. I know we hear things like, "I lost 5 pounds the first week of doing keto." and assume those 5 pounds came from rapid FAT loss (it doesn't). But there's actually a limit to the amount of body fat we can lose per day per person (it varies from person to person).



Restrict your energy intake more than that point and you'll be eating away at your muscles instead.... which will lower your metabolic rate. YUCK!



Here are 3 reasons fat loss MUST happen slowly.



As always, if you have any questions you can hit 'reply' to this email. I'm happy to help!



XO,
Tara



P.S. Check out these awesome client success stories squished inside of 27 seconds. ;-)

Your metabolism isn't broken!

Your metabolism isn't broken...or too slow.

You see, your metabolism is ALWAYS exactly what it needs to be. It's a survival thing. So if you don't require much fuel before you'd start to store it as excess fat, there's a reason for that.



CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO if you've ever believed that your metabolism was broken... or even a little disheveled.



Questions? Comments? Need some help or guidance? I'm a simple email reply away. ;-)



Happy day,
Tara

Fat loss: 6 things you don't need to try...

Fat loss: 6 things you DO NOT need to try...

...and the 3 things you DO!




Check out my latest video all about this topic. I kept it short this time... 3 or 4 minutes. ;-) Let me know what you think about this format by commenting on this post. I appreciate any and all feedback!




Lots of love,
Tara

Frustrated with weight loss?

Has your weight loss progress (or lack thereof) frustrated you?

And let me add ... it doesn't have to be weight / fat loss. Sub any other health goal.



Oh, and one more thing ;-) .... when I say weight / fat loss, I am hardly EVER talking about looks here. Sometimes our brains do this thing where they make short-cuts (read: assumptions) because it's a conditioned response. So many people equate weight loss to looks exclusively and therefore you might mistake my information or videos for being 'one of them'. I'll tell you what ... our looks are the LEAST interesting thing about us, in my opinion. But that doesn't mean we can't talk about weight or fat loss. Some people seek out those goals to optimizer their health, feel vibrant, have more energy, etc. It's all about the way we FEEL so we can show up as the best version of ourselves.



So, I challenge you to notice where you might have these pre-judgments happening. Do you tune out weight loss because you're so sick of diet culture and assume it's all about a quest to "get skinny"? I hear ya! But that's N E V E R what you're going to get here with me, FYI. ;-)



Last week, I discussed some big lessons that were missing from my childhood education and how they are such important aspects of our humanness. Try to lose weight, optimize health, flourish inside your relationships, or achieve ANY goal without this knowledge and I bet it feels like an uphill battle.



The best news is that as adults, we get to learn about this stuff now ... and teach the next generation!
CHECK OUT THE VIDEO RIGHT HERE.



Any questions? Need to vent? Wanna chat? Email me: Tara@TaraAllenHealth.com



Happy day,
Coach Tara

P.S. Want to meet my small business team?

Just a cold, sweet treat today...

Keepin' it simple today...

...with a delicious recipe. If you want to catch up with the workouts and health and fat loss tips of the week, come visit me on instagram. Be sure to check stories ... I post there everyday!

Chia Seed Breakfast Popsicles

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup Plain Yogurt (coconut, Greek... whatever you'd like)

• 1/2 cup Unsweetened Almond Milk

• 2 tbsps Raw Honey

• 1 tbsp Chia Seeds

• 1/3 cup Strawberries (sliced into small pieces)

• 1 Peach (sliced into small pieces)

• 1/3 cup Pineapple (sliced into small pieces)

• 1/2 cup Granola (buy, make... your call)

  
  
  Directions:

1. In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine the yogurt, almond milk, honey, and chia seeds. Mix well.

2. Fill popsicle moulds about 1/4 of the way with the yogurt mixture then drop in the fruit. Spoon more of the yogurt mixture in to cover the fruit. To burst any air-pockets in your popsicles, press down on the mixture with a spoon.

3. Sprinkle the granola into the moulds to cover the yogurt and fruit, and press down with a spoon so that it gets incorporated with the yogurt mixture.

4. Freeze for at least 5 hours. When you're ready to eat, leave on the counter for 10 minutes before removing from moulds, so they will slide out effortlessly. Enjoy!

XO,
Tara

The world is reeling...

The world is reeling...

Twenty twenty has been off to an interesting start, to say the least. And as we're pushed beyond the sharp edges of our comfort levels in what seems like ALL areas, we must choose to learn and grow from it all. Without that very deliberate and often tricky decision, we will merely wallow in self-pity and sorrow for others. Rather than wallow, let's let it in, feel it, and move through it.



Let's move to awareness.
Listening.
Action.
Hope.
Help.
Community.
Momentum.
Resilience.
Strength.



In all areas. In all we've been experiencing. 



And if you know anything about me, you know I'm the biggest believer that everything starts with us. If we are taking care of our physical and mental health, we are able to focus on our needs and the needs of our family, friends, and community.



If we are energetic and vibrant and confident, our voices get a little louder. Our hobbies creep back in. Our family sees more smiles out of us. We stand up for what we believe in. If we are healthy and glowing, we can be better leaders, more productive, calm and kind. We can volunteer. We can take an extra few minutes to give the better answer to our kids' complicated questions. With greater health comes greater capacity - we can love all over others. 



Today, I want to remind you of this one thing: taking care of your physical and mental health so you can be that elevated version of yourself is something you get to have power over right now. 



So while some will say this is not the time to focus on you, I offer the opposite perspective. This is not the time to take the focus OFF of you as you are needed now more than ever, regardless of how that is showing up in your life. This year has rocked our worlds - every single one of us. I know you're needed. Whatever your role, do it with magic. And how can you be magic when you don't feel magical?

• Upgrade your habits one by one.

• Sleep, seriously. Please sleep.

• Eat well, balanced, and not more than your body needs. Most of our chronic disease comes from excess.

• Move your beautiful body.

• And learn some tricks for dealing with stress. You might be 'Type A' like me or easily wound-up, but you can teach yourself to become much less reactive through mindfulness and breathing protocols. It's a change worth making. I promise. 

If you need help with the specifics of any of this, let me know. I'm here to help YOU.



Peace + love,
Tara



P.S. Come say "hi" on Instagram. I was muted & listening for a week to stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter as I shared resources and many beautiful voices and perspectives of people of color. And now I'm back doing what I do best - focusing on healthy bodies and minds for everyone. I share my workouts, tips, recipes, and answer every single (appropriate) DM. I'd love to connect with you over there. 

Fat Loss During Quarantine?

Fat Loss During a Quarantine?

Ok, so we're stuck at home for some time...and some time seems to be expanding. Some of us will cave to our fears and frustrations, others of us will feel them anyway (because we're human), but will start to look at how we can make the best of what we have. Build resilience. Get stronger in body + mind....



...and use it as an opportunity to lose some body fat?!



Wait. Stop please. I'd love to share with you my opinion about fat loss during this time. There are a few extra things to consider when talking about fat loss during an extra stressful time. Check out this video I did last week all about it.



Oh, and I created a (free) recipe book: 20 Healthy Quarantine Recipes for you guys. It's full of meals + snacks that require mostly non-perishable ingredients. Grab your copy (instant download) now!



XO,
Tara




Phew....It was a busy week on social media! (instagram):


Resistance Band Workout

Sock Workout

Blueberry Chia Jam Recipe

Banded Glute Workout

I don't like feeling helpless

Amazon Box Workout

Laundry Detergent Workout

A Poem from My Kids' Eyes

Couch Cushion Workout

Quarantine Nutrition 

Body Weight Workout

Newsday: How we are making the best of our quarantine

Apple Brussels Sprouts Salad

You have to try this new salad! The apple adds a sweet-tart taste to the this bitter vegetable. :-)

Apple Brussels Sprouts

(Serves 4)

Ingredients:

1 tbsp. avocado oil or coconut oil

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

1 9-oz. package of shredded Brussels sprouts (or shred about 3½ cups of whole sprouts)

1 organic apple, peeled

2 tbsp lemon juice

Sea salt

Pepper

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Add the onion and saute until it starts to caramelize, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the brussels sprouts and continue cooking another 5 - 10 minutes..

2. Add the chopped apple to pan and saute for another 2-3 minutes, and then stir in the lemon juice. Cook for another minute or so before seasoning to taste with salt and pepper.

3. Serve and enjoy!

In good health,

Tara

Choco-PB Yogurt

Hey there,

So….I know you have a sweet tooth! I do, too. ;-)

Here's my latest low-glycemic / low-carb CONCOCTION - basically just a recipe without any measurements. I'm calling this one:

Choco-PB yogurt

Ingredients:

Unsweetened coconut yogurt (I used So Delicious brand)
Powdered peanut butter (use any protein powder you like)
Peanut butter (or any nut / seed butter)
Raw cacao powder

Toppings pictured: frozen blueberries and hemp seeds


Directions:

1) Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and add toppings as desired. 

2) Enjoy it as a healthy snack, side dish, or delicious dessert!



In good health,
Tara



P.S. If you are ready to make your health a priority once and for all and would like a coach to take you through your transformation, you're welcome to sign up for a (free) 15-min. call so we can chat about your goals and whether or not we're the right fit to work together. 

Chocolate-covered Watermelon Treats

Make these for your next Summer party!

1. Watermelon slices.
2. Top with homemade chocolate (melted coconut oil, cacao powder, and maple syrup OR honey.  See this post for the chocolate tutorial video I made with my kids).
3. Sprinkle coconut flakes on top (or coarse sea salt!).
4. Keep in a single layer on a wax paper-covered tray in your fridge or freezer.
5. Pretend it took you longer than 5 minutes to make because they are SO pretty!

Will you be adding this to your Summer recipe round-up?  Let me know in the comments!

In good health,

Tara

P.S. Did you know that I share recipes like this one at least weekly inside my private facebook group, Lean In with Tara Allen Health?  All recipes are dairy free, gluten free, and vegetarian.  We also participate in weekly challenges together and I share workouts.  Consider it your one-stop health / weight loss / fitness / nutrition stop.  :-)  Come join us!