CamieKarma

Happy 2012 my friends!  I hope that you had a great holiday season and rung in the new year right!

I know that I am not the only one feeling the push to get back to the grind, as laundry, taking down of holiday décor, and work is on everyone’s shoulders.  I have a huge to do list before I teach tonight.

We all know that with the ringing in of a new year means setting goals and resolutions.  I can tell you that my number one advice is to not make it too big or you’re setting yourself up for failure.  I used to be a pro at those kinds of things.  For example; if you want to work out 5 days a week but you’ve only been going 2 times, aim for 3 or 4 and start slow.  You can’t push too hard in the beginning or else you will bail out in the end. 

Here are some questions to help you figure out what you want to accomplish in 2012:

• What lessons did I learn in 2011?
• What was I grateful for in 2011?
• What dreams came true in 2011?
• What would I like to learn in 2012?
• Who do I want to spend time with this year?
• How do I currently spend my time?
• How do I want to spend my time in 2011?

Those are just a few things to kind of get your mind turning.  Some people say to pick a word or a theme of what you’d like to experience for this new year.

I guess for me I’d like to love more, judge less, spend more time with my family and friends I rarely see, and meditate/reflect/have quiet at least 5 minutes a day. 

I am grateful for the work that I do and having the ability to share my love of yoga with so many other people.  I’d also like to be injury free!  But we’re not going into that right now.

Moving on.

At this time of year everyone talks about DETOXING.

Before I go any further I just have to remind you as a disclaimer that I am not a doctor or health care professional.  What is posted here is based on solely my opinion personal experience.

When people hear the word detox, they think fasting, juice dieting, and whatever that one is with the maple syrup cayenne pepper water.  No no no no no.  You can detox in a healthy way without starving yourself and depriving yourself of food.

If like me- you ate too much and had to much wine over the holidays, there are many easy ways to get rid of the bad and put the new inside of your body.

You have to eat clean.

(source)

Fill your fridge with the fruits and veggies that you like and try to get rid of processed foods.  I have talked many times about green juice and green smoothies that are such an easy way for you to get extra veggies in.  I’m not going to give you a meal plan- however I can tell you that I have been filling up with fresh juice (drank it before I could take a picture), smoothies in between when I have to teach classes, quinoa, brown rice, sprouts, homemade hummus, beans, kale, spinach, avocado, etc.  You get the idea.  Making things like your own soups, salads, oatmeal, and the like are a much healthier option that just getting what’s already made.  My sister always gets the smoothies at the gym and I’m screaming on the inside because you don’t even know what kind of fake ingredients are in that thing. 

Also- cut out alcohol and caffeine.  Now- I know this is hard because I’ve been drinking both of those for the last month.  When I have tried to cut out alcohol before- I would basically try not to drink wine or anything during the week and then allow myself to have some on the weekends.  Once you do this for a while, it’s easier to decide- do I need this? Or don’t I? The caffeine is much harder.  My only advice is to those of you who are having multiple coffees and diet cokes a day- it to ease up slowly.  And stay HYDRATED!

One of my own personal debates is eating a pure vegan diet.  I have been an off and on vegetarian for years and I’d say I probably am meat free 85% of the time.  It’s a struggle for me because sometimes with my job being physical and I don’t take the time to plan ahead, I feel like I need it and well- I love cheese and feel like I can’t live without it!!! But, with all the news that’s coming out about dairy being bad for you and meat being linked to cancer- it clearly makes me want to change.

Here’s an idea for a meal plan from the 21-day Vegan Kickstart

Breakfast: Cereal, plant milk (your choice), and banana and berries

Lunch: Vegan veggie burger (use whole grain bread topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, and your favorite mustard) and cup of Carrot and Red Pepper Soup (leftover from yesterday’s lunch)                                                                                               

Snack: Air-popped popcorn topped with curry powder or nutritional yeast        

Dinner: Southern Beans and Greens (toss in your leftover black-eyed peas here) with side of Couscous Confetti Salad (leftover from yesterday’s lunch)

Seems pretty easy to me.  Anyone want to sign up with me?  I’m nervous and probably couldn’t do it alone!

Here are some things you can read that may spark your interest

Dairy no longer part of a healthy diet

Crazy Sexy Diet

Ani’s Raw Food Kitchen

Natalia Rose and The Raw Food Detox Diet

Healthy Eating tactics for the new year by Peas and Thank you

**All in all don’t be too hard on yourself.**

Whether you are tackling career, health, or fitness goals, make your list, start out small, and then cross things off.  Plan things out week by week.  What are you going to eat for lunch, when are you going to yoga, who do you have to email…that’s what I do.

I plan to keep it coming with the recipes, videos, and hopefully a new ab burner sequence this week!

Happy New Year!!!!

Tags: blogs, food, holidays, recipes, something to think about