Want to lose weight and increase your effectiveness at burning fat? Start with these super effective strategies that support gut health from Nutrition and Fitness Expert JJ Virgin. We love how practical they are and that you can easily integrate them into your lifestyle…

When it comes to the causes of weight gain, you know the usual suspects. Poor diet, not exercising, and being stressed out — these are all common reasons for watching the scale go up. But did you know poor digestion could be a major contributor to weight gain too? A healthy gut is critical for fat loss.

Underlying weight loss and gut health are the trillions of bacteria that find a home in your gut. You have over 500 species of different bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract. In fact, you have more bacteria than you have cells! Most of that bacteria is good for you; it helps you break down food, absorb nutrients, and keep your immune system primed.

Some of that bacteria are the kind that attacks...

We thought it would be fun to dive into 3 of the best ways to bake from our friends at BrainMD! Enjoy these simple tips as you make your favorite summertime treats.

Baking can be a great way to provide delicious foods for your friends and family.

It also can be an altruistic expression. Whether making cookies for a bake sale or taking some baked goods over to a new neighbor, baking can be a great way to show others how much you care.

Whatever the reason or occasion, many people derive satisfaction from baking, especially when it’s for the ones they love. It’s common to experience positive feelings when baking. In the end, many people bake simply because they enjoy it.

Indeed, there’s a whole host of benefits to consider since baking can…

• help relieve stress
• have a positive effect on mental health
• encourage creativity by adjusting recipes/experimenting with ingredients
• help improve concentration
• be a sensory experience
• provide a sense of accomplishment...

Imagine your world in motion. Everything is moving in the right direction. Your work, your relationships, your health, your wellbeing and your life. All of your hopes and dreams are moving forward in a positive, exciting and meaningful way. 

What would a world like this look like? What would a world like this feel like? 

For many, this world of being “on the move”, is not a reality. In fact it’s just the opposite. Most of us find ourselves or those we live with, work with or associate with stuck, trapped and imprisoned like birds locked in a cage, unable to fly. This silent majority, for years, has longed for the day and the key to break free and unlock their dreams and potential, wondering when they will discover the solution to break out and spread their wings and finally fly.  

Well, that time….IS NOW! 

There is a key to unlock our immobile, inactive and unrealized hopes and potential and get our lives and those we care about...

You probably have never heard of him before, but chances are, you’ve seen an example of what he did for a living. His name was Eric Brenn and in the 1950’s and 60’s he was the best in the business. He was so good at what he did, he made it on national television and inspired a generation of performers. It was February, 1969 when Brenn made his national debut on the famous Ed Sullivan Show. He appeared on stage in a snazzy black suit and bow tie with a stack of dinner plates in his arms along with a number of long sticks.

Then with a coy smile and a wave of his hand, loud circus music began to play as he carefully set one plate on top of a wooden stick and spun it with the flick of his finger.  He repeated this with two, three, four and five plates, all now, mounted on top of sticks on a dinner table, all spinning in rhythmic unison. The audience was thrilled! Brenn, the consummate showman, smiled from ear to ear, bowed to the camera and studio audience taking...

Ingredients

2¼ cups full-fat coconut milk

2½ teaspoons unflavored gelatin powder

½ cup maple syrup

zest of 1 lemon

½ teaspoon ground cardamom

1 teaspoon alcohol-free, gluten-free pure vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon sea salt

½ cup fresh or frozen raspberries

Directions

Step 1: Place ¼ cup of the coconut milk in a medium heatproof bowl. Sprinkle the gelatin over it and set it aside to bloom for 5 minutes.

Step 2: Heat the remaining 2 cups coconut milk with the maple syrup, lemon zest, cardamom, vanilla, and sea salt in a saucepan over medium-high heat for five minutes. Whisk the softened gelatin into the saucepan and continue whisking until all of it is dissolved.

Step 3: Allow the mixture to chill for 15 to 20 minutes. Place 3 to 4 raspberries in each ice pop mold, then fill with the liquid. Place the pops in the freezer to set for a minimum of 4 hours.

Ingredients:

– 2 dozen free-range chicken wings (or mini drum sticks)

– 2 tablespoons ghee or coconut oil

Spice Blend Ingredients:

– 1 teaspoon onion powder

– 1 teaspoon garlic powder

– 1-2 teaspoons ancho or chipotle Chile powder (less for most kids)

– 2 tablespoons smoked paprika

– optional- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

– optional- 1/2-1 teaspoon sea salt

– optional- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Sauce Options: Try serving chicken wings with zesty aioli sauce, or homemade ranch dressing

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.

2. Blend spices together in small mixing bowl.

3. Place chicken wings in large mixing bowl and toss with spice blend. Be sure to cover all pieces with a light coat of the spice blend.

4. Place chicken in baking dish and bake for approximately 30 minutes.

5. Serve hot.

Ingredients:

• ½ pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch strips
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
• 1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
• 3 tablespoons wheat-free tamari or soy sauce
• ½ cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth, plus a few tablespoons extra
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 2 cups small broccoli florets
• 1 cup corn
• ½ cup sliced water chestnuts, sliced
• ½ cup shredded carrots
• ½ cup bean sprouts
• ½ cup mushrooms, quartered
• 3 scallions, sliced diagonally
• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
• 2 cups cooked brown rice

   

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, mix the chicken strips, garlic, ginger, jalapeno, and 1 tablespoon of the soy sauce. Set aside.

2. In a small container, combine the remaining soy sauce, chicken broth, corn starch, and sesame oil. Place lid on container, and shake well. Set aside.

3. In a large sauté pan or wok, heat the coconut oil over high heat....

We’ve been obsessed over the past years to learn everything we can about the science of behavior change. From all our work with the Daniel Plan and in the Corporate arena, it’s been a central focus. Why? We want to soak up the wisdom, and then impart those life-giving learnings with YOU!

Bottom line, when we find important keys to lasting change it’s a treasure to be able to share those…

...in fact it’s one of our greatest joys!

So this week we wanted to feature an excerpt from the bestselling book Atomic Habits by James Clear, as it is one of the best texts on how to transform our lives one simple step at a time. It’s been transformative for us and we know it can be for you as well.

"We all want to become better people — stronger and healthier, more creative and more skilled, a better friend or family member.

But even if we get really inspired and start doing things better, it's tough to actually stick to new behaviors. It's more...

Ingredients:

Coconut Creme

• 1½ cups water or coconut water
• 1/3 cup raw sweetener of choice
• 6 cups young Thai coconut flesh
• 1 tsp sea salt

Toppings

• 1 cup diced pineapple
• 1 cup diced papaya
• 1 cup blueberries
• juice of 1 lime (optional)

• In a blender, combine all coconut crème ingredients, loading in liquids first.
• Blend on high speed for 30 to 40 seconds or until well-combined, rich, and creamy. Some coconuts are naturally thicker than others. You may need to add more moisture to thin out the mix to a creamy texture by adding 2 Tbsp of water at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
• Chill the crème until ready to enjoy.
• For the toppings, toss all fruits together in a medium mixing bowl. Drizzle the lime juice over the fruit. When ready to enjoy, combine the crème and the fruit in ramekin bowls or other fun serving dishes. Don't forget to top it off with superfoods, like hemp seeds and goji berries, for added...

There is a lot to be anxious and worried about these days and it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and stressed out. Indeed, these are normal human reactions to adverse events, but the good news is that we don’t have to be controlled by these feelings.

We thought it would be great to check in with an expert in the field of neuroscience and focus in on the latest research to proactively manage anxiety. Check out Dr. Caroline Leaf’s 5 practical strategies… 

“We can’t always control the circumstances of life, but we can learn to edit what has happened to us.

We have the power to determine how these emotions impact us.  

In fact, everyone experiences a level of anxiety from time to time; this is completely normal. Often, there are times in our life where “stuff” accumulates, and it is okay to be anxious when this happens. However, if left unmanaged, this “stuff” can progress to a point where we feel so...