Do you want to break free from your routine without breaking the law? 🙂 This blogpost is for you!
Note: Being B.A.D is intentionally meant as a separate (and occasional) activity, in addition to our established self-care.
Self-care is the routine we perform on a daily basis to keep our emotional, physical and mental health in check, whereas being B.A.D is about breaking the routine and indulging in your favorite, quo-on-quo, “naughty” pleasures.:)
Sometimes, we just want to be B.A.D. This is a manifestation of the Rebellious Inner Child Syndrome. What does our inner child want? She wants attention, adventure, creativity, and (overall) more fun.
B.A.D. is an acronym that stands for: B = Break free from your routine A = Act naughty D – Do some fun crazy stuff!!
When we deprive our inner child of our attention, eventually she finds a way to rebel: whether is through obsessions with different addictions (binge eating, overspending, orthorexia), self-sabotage or other means of seeking attention.
If we don`t nurture our inner child with love and attention, we numb a part of ourselves that needs to be expressed. Eventually, this neglect results in different issues: from commitment issues to attachment issues, from undereating to compulsive eating tendencies, from completely disregarding the body to obsessing with our physical image. The aftermath would look different for each person, but it comes from the same place: our inner child feels neglected and is acting out.
Experimental Exercise Related to Being B.A.D
Create a list of “bad” behaviors or activities that are not deconstructive to your health and bring you a lot of joy and excitement. Think of activities that you don`t usually do but have always wanted to try out, or do more of. Let your imagination go a bit wild! You have full permission to get very creative with this exercise.:))
For example, last week I decided to nurture my inner child by taking a day off, treating myself with a nice coffee and spending a few hours at a coffee shop reading a book!
Being B.A.D doesn`t have to be that extravagant either! It simply means you are breaking from your usual routine and doing something exciting and fun.:)
I really hope you enjoy this exercise. Forward it to a friend and why not be B.A.D together?:) The more people break B.A.D at the same time, the merrier!
When we are stressed for having a bad day we produce too much beta waves and too much cortisol, resulting in even more stress.
By employing the techniques I share with you in this post you can significantly improve any negative situation: whether is bad mood, too much stress, disheartening news, etc.
1. Change Your Day By Changing Your Attitude
Remember the time when something happened to you early in the morning that triggered a negative emotional reaction? And it quickly stirred an avalanche of “bad” feelings and experiences throughout the whole day? I believe we all have had those. And it is not our fault for succumbing to the feelings of disappointment, embarrassment, defeat, discomfort, stress, shame, humiliation, frustration, irritation, vexation, agitation, and the like, because this reaction is rooted in our biochemical design.
Just by the thoughts we send to our brain that we are having a bad day, we drive even more stress to our cells and, consequently, continuing producing cortisol throughout the whole day!
In reality, there is no such thing as a “bad” or a “good day.” It is entirely our perception of our experiences that frame our reaction to events. We are not our thoughts and we are not our emotions. By practicing emotional regulation and neutrality (check out my confidence article) we gradually learn to discern how to take a step back from our experiences and observe them for what they are, and for what we think they are.
Assume Positive Intent
Someone crossed you at the traffic light; gave you a condescending smirk that seemed as ridicule; didn’t reply to your e-mail, was late for a meeting, said something to you that seemed inappropriate or out of place (etc…). Use the benefit of the doubt.Assume that their actions or comments have nothing to do with you because even if they do, they still don’t. You are not responsible for other people’s thoughts and opinions of you. Furthermore, you never know if the person who triggered you to feel “bad” hasn’t just had an infuriating or distressful experience themselves (maybe their child is sick, or they lost their job, or someone said something harsh to them and now they’re taking it out on someone else).
If we perceive life as a game, where we need to learn a new skill/or a lesson in order to climb one level, negative experiences are the ideal opportunity to analyze our reactions and let go of our attachments to their meaning.
Ask yourself: “Why does this person trigger me to feel negative?“; “Are they actually right?” (Sometimes we hear truths we don’t want to admit, and we all have an infinite capacity for constant growth and improvement. And this is an immediate positive result of a negative comment.) “If I know deep down that their words are false and don’t apply to me why do I take it so personally?; “How can I learn to be more assertive and confident?”; How can I send compassion to those who wronged me and not judge them back? ; “How can I use this experience to be more mindful to my emotional and mental health?”
2. Move Your Body
From a scientific perspective, when are stressed, the combination of increased beta waves and high cortisol lead to lack of coherence in the four lobes of our brain. And when those lobes are are not coherent, we aren’t able to think clearly. Consequently, we literally don’t behave as usual and simply “calming down” is biologically impossible.
You can, however, use the adrenaline that rises with cortisol in your advantage! Sweat it out!
Dance, boxing, jumping jacks, mountain climbers, upbeat walk. If you are at your office you can use your lunch break to get outside and refreshen your mind with a high paced jog. The sooner you get your emotions out the sooner you will calm down and reestablish hormonal homeostasis.
3. Eat Mindfully
According to Dawson Church, in his book Mind Over Matter, “We cause chronic cortisol production by turning our attention to those factors in the environment that stress us out.”
The disruption of hormonal homeostasis resulting by stress often leads to imbalanced insulin levels and its associated cravings for the “good-feel” serotonin in the face of sugar&fat rich foods like candy, donuts, cake, etc.
None of those foods are detrimental for your health if consumed on occasion, and within reasonable quantities, but when you’re stressed, you’re literally predisposed to overeat them.
Have some fruit, protein-rich snack or water, and herbal tea instead. Take care of your mind by nourishing your body.
I really hope those techniques are useful. Let me know in the comments below and forward this post to anyone who might benefit from it.
Processing…
Success! You're on the list.
Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.
For most of us, food is more than a fuel. It is a cultural exchange of traditions, a gastronomic experience, an individually customized eating plan, a collective commemoration of festivities, and, above all, a resource that feeds our biological, mental and emotional hunger.
Feed Your Body. Feed Your Soul. Equally Important. IG:
Food`s presence (or lack), nominatively, is built in our vernacular, and plays a significant role in our daily life. In all polarities of its expression: from being an orthorexic obsession, to causing binge eating addictions, to simply being f o o d: a term coined to describe the types of sources of energy we choose to consume, and don’t worry about it.
I, personally, have struggled with disordered eating in the past, and know from experience that there is always an underlying reason that causes us to either fear or idolize food.
Food deprivation is linked to fear, and lack of self-love. Binge eating signals emotional numbness and lack of safety. Either way, there is always a cure. It is calledself-care.
In my practice, I advocate for mindful eating. A type of eating that leaves plenty of room for exploration of foods your soul desires, while still intuitively choosing foods that are healing for your body: for your adrenals, for your gut flora, for your brain, for your organs, for your hormonal health.
Eating “healthy” simply means Being heathy. Not just physically, but also mentally.
I cured all of my issues with food by incorporating daily self-care and learning how to unconditionally love and accept myself, and my body. I personally choose to eat vegan because that’s the diet that helps me thrive, be energized, sleep well, and restore my formerly wracked hormones. Whichever way you choose to eat, fruits and vegetables (especially vegetables!!), are an integral part of your wellness. “A sound mind in a sound body” is the foundation of a mindful living, being, and eating.
Take your journal and free-write about those five prompts.
When I eat, do I tend to feed my emotional or physical hunger? Or do I feed them both? Please describe.
For what kind of emotions am I hungry for? Comfort, satiation, pleasure, reward, etc…
Am I kind to myself when I eat? Does the food I eat make me happy and excited, or bored and restricted?
Do I eat in a way that is intuitive and natural to my body, or do I often feel perplexed about what “shall” I eat?
Do I listen to my body’s hunger signals, or do I try to numb, or control them (either by restriction, or by abusing my stomach with regular excessive consumption?)
Take as much time as you need to complete this, and – if you have any questions – please send me a message here, or dm me on my IG: @ana_maria_georgie.
Processing…
Success! You're on the list.
Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.
And, as always, don’t forget to eat your vegetables!:)
If you would like to work with me one-o-one go ahead and sign up for a free consultation.
Fortify your #smoothiebowl in seven steps: 🍏🥒🔅🎨🎾
1) Add greens (I used lettuce, one large zucchini, celery)🔰🚣🏼🏅
2) Use fibrous vegetables and antioxidant-rich fruits for your base (Here I have two medium beets, one tiny green apple and a cup of frozen blueberries.) 🔮⛹🏽♀️🍇
3) Don’t forget to add protein (I used two tablespoons of hemp protein and a tablespoon of pumpkin seeds: also very rich in Zinc and Magnesium 😉) 💪🏼🖕
4) Improve your brain function with seed sources of #omega3 (I used flax seeds) 🤴🏻
5) Upscale your daily #selenium intake with (one to two Brazil nuts provide you with more than your basal daily needs ✨)
6) Supersize the nutritional value with #superfoods (though optional!). I used matcha and maca powder. 💛🍀😎
In addition to consuming greens in their unprocessed form, I also recommend using a green powder that you can add to your smoothies.
This is the best brand I have found so far and it actually tastes great!
Green Powder For Shakes And Smoothies
You can use my link for orders and get a free shipping.
7) Spice it up! 🖕A dash of cinnamon regulates your Insulin levels and cumin assist digestion (I use them interchangeably in my smoothies). 😊
Voila! 🏹7 steps to a super potent and energizing breakfast/lunch! 🏃🏽♀️ 🥁🎷🤽🏼♀️
Thank You so much for your kind consideration to support my freelance work, projects and graduate school expanses.
All of your donations are greatly appreciated.
It is this time of the year when we start to anticipate the taste of grounding foods and spices.
And since we are approaching November (and Thanks Giving), in this post I am sharing with you my favorite recipe with pecans..which is actually not a pumpkin pie!
If you are curious about my sugar-free pumpkin pie recipe, please comment below, and I will happily share it (*make sure to subscribe to get a notification).
What you need:
A cup of cauliflower rice (I buy it frozen and leave it in the fridge overnight to melt down a bit)
A cup of blueberries
A cup of raw pecans
A cup of coconut/almond milk
A touch of stevia or, if not a fan, a tea spoon of Maple Syrup
1/2 cup of raw coconut flour
Mix all of the ingredients very well and enjoy this raw pecan pudding:
Ideal for a light snack, after-dinner snack or a pick-me-up breakfast in the morning.
If you want to make it heartier, you can also add two tablespoons of chia seeds to add fiber, volume and protein and satisfy your hunger for longer.
I hope you liked this recipe and, if you did, check out those two related posts.
If you train a lot, get sick a lot, recover from an injury, or simply want to strengthen your immune system – add turmeric to your daily routine!
WHY -> Turmeric contains curcumin, a substance with powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Most studies used turmeric extracts that are standardized to include large amounts of curcumin. Curcumin blocks NF-kB, a molecule that travels into the nuclei of cells and turns on genes related to inflammation. NF-kB is believed to play a major role in many chronic diseases.
WHAT YOU NEED: a cup with boiling hot water, a freshly squeezed lemon juice, a teaspoon of unfiltered apple cider vinegar, a dash of cayenne pepper.
It won`t be very delicious at first but this concoction is my go-to remedy when I need to boost my performance or fight the flu.
I guarantee you would feel better! Give it a try and let me know how you feel!
Do you have those days when you really wish you were somewhere warm and cozy? If so, this recipe is for you!
Blend three ripe bananas, a cup of frozen mango, a scoop of your favorite plantbased protein powder (optional!), a teaspoon wheat grass powder, two-three cups of spinach, a dash of turmeric (very anti-inflammatory), cacao, a tablespoon of flax seeds, two tablespoon of pumpkin seeds.
According to studies, a serving of wheatgrass is estimated to contain over 100 different elements needed by man, as chlorophyll.
Wheatgrass is rich in the following nutrients:
Chlorophyll
Antioxidants like flavonoids and phenolic acid
Iron
Electrolytes including magnesium and calcium
Amino Acids
Vitamin A
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Selenium
Chlorophyll, on its own, is the substance that gives wheatgrass its signature, bright green color. Like other nutrient-dense greens, the chlorophyll acts like an antioxidant to reduce free radical damage, detoxifies the body and strengthens the blood. You can buy it in a liquid form and use it as a supplement.
All greens contain chlorophyll but if you are not a veggie person and still try to consume them regularly for their health benefits – you can obtain your minimum daily intake of vitamins and minerals only from a teaspoon of wheatgrass powder (it is that potent!)
Hope you like this recipe and you stay warm during the cold season!
