Inspriation

Why your coffee may be slowly killing you…

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Eeeeeeasy now…

Before you freak out on me for talking smack about your drug of choice, please give me a chance to explain. First, I’m not going to lie, I am a daily coffee drinker. A good cup o’ joe makes my 4am alarm clocks not quite as life altering. So, if I, Jessica Aubrey, food nazi, drink coffee, how could I say it may be killing you?

ANY GUESSES???

The answer is what you msy be putting in your coffee. I work in a place where I’m surrounded by Coffee Mate creamers. Many people actually have a little coffee with their creamer instead of a little creamer with their coffeee.

But Jessica…everything in moderation, right?

I am a FIRM believer in not developing orthorexia nervosa, which I am sure I could have been diagnosed with a couple years ago (This is a proposed eating disorder or mental disorder characterized by an extreme or excessive preoccupation with avoiding foods perceived to be unhealthy). It’s important for everyone to find what works for them; to find what balances them physiologically, mentally, emotionally, & spiritually. This will look different for each individual. HOWEVER, there are some things that should be avoided by everybody at all times. Like…rat poison for instance. That’s not really something that fits into the “everything in moderation” philosophy, does it. Ok, now take that mindset, and that’s where we’re going with a key ingredient in most coffee creamers (and processed foods…ready for it?

HYDROGENATED AND/OR PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED OILS AKA TRANS FATS

Oh I hate those words…

You and I are friends, right?? Well, duh we are! I get really protective of my friends, so when I know something is harming you, I want to fly in with my imaginary superhero cape and shield you from these harmful ingredients with my super shield of super knowledge. Now you know how I feel about this subject.

I want you to understand what these are and why, for the sake of our friendship, for the sake of your family, your loved ones, and your future… you should avoid them at all costs… 🙂

What are they/How are they made?

Hydrogenated oils are regular seemingly healthy oils that are HIGHLY processed. They are heated at temperatures anywhere from 500-1,000 degrees under several athmospheres of pressure. They then inject a catalyst into the oil, which is usually a metal such as nickle, platinum, or aluminum. As this combines with the oil, the molecular structure of the oil changes and is rearranged, transforming what once was a liquid at room temperature to a solid. That, ladies and gents is how we get Crisco, margarine, and the “non-perishable” fats they inject into processed foods. This finished product of hydrogenated oil now resembles plastic much more than any oil, it infact is only 1 molecule away from the molecular structure of plastic. Yummm….

How is it harmful?

Well, broski, now that the oil is thicker and denser, when you consume it, it has a thickening effect on your blood. The thicker your blood, the more difficult it is for your heart to pump it to where it needs to go in the body, this is where high blood pressure comes in.

All this thick gooey stuff in the blood can also cause plaque on arterial walls. Obviously this is no-bueno. In some studies it has been shown that such oils contributes to high cholesterol because it actually scars the internal walls of the arteries. This could be attributed to the nickle that is often used in the hydrogenation process. Our ingeniously created bodies then produce cholesterol in attempts to heal the walls of the arteries. Too much of this scaring and cholesterol build up becomes a major bummer in the long run when your heart cannot efficiently pump blood or a blockage is formed.

Decreased blood flow to the brain due to arterial build up IN ADDITION to the metals used in hydrogenation both increase risk for mental/emotional disorders and diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, & Dementia. Yikes!

From a digestive perspective, hydrogenated oils are pretty much impossible to breakdown and absorb. I take that back…they can absolutely be broken down, but in order to get your body temperature high enough to break them down, you’d be dead. Obviously our bodies don’t heat up that high, but as our bodies attempt to digest the plastic-like substance, enzymes and energy in large quantities is sent to the stomach. This increases the temperature of the stomach while decreasing enzyme availability in the body, both increasing risk of different cancers.  

Speaking of cancer… which most people would like to go without experiencing.. Hydrogenated oils are known to significantly increase risk for many types of cancer. Check out these studies…

“A study looking at the trans-fat levels and diet of 20,000 women over a period of seven years and showed that women with higher levels of trans-monounsaturated fatty acids (trans fats AKA hydrogenated oils) were 75% more likely to get breast cancer than women with lower levels. A further study on men showed that high trans-fat levels made them twice as likely to develop prostate tumors.

Another study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, showed an 86% increase in the risk of developing pre-cancerous polyps on the colon for people with higher levels of trans-fats in their diet.” – http://cancertreatmentmx.com/hydrogenated-fats-cause-cancer/

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So… Now  you know a bit about nasty hydrogenated oils. Keep in mind this information is only about one of the many harmful ingredients in typical coffee creamers. This isn’t even including GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) ingredients, artificial sweeteners, artificial colorings, or the myriad of other harmful additives present in that little bottle. Just incase you easily shrugged off those proven effects of hydrogenated oils on the body, here are a few more articles you can read about on the damage these other ingredients cause…

Artificial Sweeteners & High Fructose Corn Syrup (Aspartame, saccharine, sucralose, splenda, etc…)

https://healthmasters.com/node/915

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/02/10/new-study-of-splenda-reveals-shocking-information-about-potential-harmful-effects.aspx

http://www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-side-effects.html

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/11/06/aspartame-most-dangerous-substance-added-to-food.aspx

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/high-fructose-corn-syrup-dangers_b_861913.html

 

GMO foods/Ingredients

http://www.naturalnews.com/037249_GMO_study_cancer_tumors_organ_damage.html

http://www.undergroundhealth.com/how-gmo-foods-alter-human-dna/

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/05/22/jeffrey-smith-interview-april-24.aspx

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Now it’s time you ask yourself… IS IT REALLY WORTH IT? I understand you love your sweet, creamy coffee. The great part is, I’m not even asking you to give it up! I’m asking you to switch to a delicious & nutritious alternative! Even my stubborn boyfriend approved of the switch. If he can do it, so can you!

Check out the options below…

 Have an awesome day!!!

Jessica Aubrey

RN & Health Coach

 

Article Resources:

http://www.naturalnews.com/024694_oil_food_oils.html

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Fitness

Train Together Stay Together

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Fitness - Fit Chicks

Hey guys!

Sorry it’s been a while since my last post. Life’s been a little busy, but it’s now settling down a bit and you’ll be hearing alot more from me from here on.

Today I wanted to do a quick post on the benefits of working out with your main squeeze. Let’s face it, in this day and age, by the age of 30, many of us have experienced broken relationships at one level or another. I am one of those. It’s become a learning process for me and I am SO thankful to have learned all that I have through the rough days. There are various reasons why relationships fail today: lack of character, lack of fidelity, no work ethic, low self esteem, selfishness, the list goes on….but that’s not what I want to talk about today. Today I want to touch on one of the awesome ways we can keep our relationships strong. Ready…go!

7 Benefits of working out with your special someone:

1. Keep each other accountable

  • If you’ve tried exercising at any point in your life, you know it really does help to have someone to keep you accountableCouples that workout together, stay together! to workout and give your all in the gym. Why not make that motivator be “your person”? You’re responsible for encouraging each other, motivating each other, pushing each other to go further. You create an encouraging, motivating, fun, and exciting relationship together both in and out of the gym.

2. HORMONES

  • OBVIOUSLY hormones can change your life. It can either be for better or for worse. When we workout, we release feel good endorphins which gives us that post workout glow. We increase testosterone (not in a scary way ladies…we have testosterone too which we need for hormonal balance) which increases our drive for life in general-ALWAYS a plus! So, obviously, when you both are happier with increased life drive, life is going to be much better together!

3. Train with your life teammate

  • When you’re in a relationship, you’re a team. It’s you and your teammate in life. You conquer life struggles together, you celebrate together, you are a source of strength for your person and they are a source of strength for you. When you practice this “teammate-ness” in the gym, it comes much more easily in real life situations. This may sound silly, but it really makes a difference! Professional athletes train together every day. The idea is to learn to know where your teammate is and build trust and confidence that your teammate will always be there when needed. This creates a seamless and effective team when it comes gametime.

4. Increased energy

  • Living an exhausted, drained of energy life is awesome, right?? WRONG! Exercise is KEY to keep your mind and body full of energy. Every day every single human being gets older. Unfortunately, as we age, most people slow down and stop moving as much. As the body gets used to this it starts to slow down and lose energy even faster. We can dramatically slow down the aging process by simply continuing to move. Obviously rest is essential as well, but if you can maintain a regular exercise routine, your energy levels are going to be much higher than those who never get their workout on. It’s commonsense that in a relationship, you’re going to have so much more fun together if you both have energy as opposed to you both being exhausted all the time. DUH!

5. Me time becomes “us” time

  • A foundational part of building a relationship is having fun and spending time together. If you have kiddos, work, and other things that get in the way, your gym time can become your recreational companionship time. It can be a time to have fun, get sweaty, challenge yourself, and use your best friend to push you through when your muscles want to quit.

6. Increased self confidence

  • LADIES! This applies mostly to you, even though it’s essential for both parties in the relationship. Listen for a sec, IF YOU ARE CONSTANTLY BEATING YOURSELF UP AND THINK YOU ARE UNLOVABLE, TOO FAT, TOO SHORT, TOO UGLY, TO WHATEVER STUPID RUNNING THROUGH YOUR HEAD….YOU’RE GOING TO DRAIN YOUR PARTNER AND PUT STRAIN ON YOUR RELATIONSHIP. In a healthy relationship, you want to be confident (not cocky) in who you are as an individual apart from the other person. When BOTH people are happy with themselves, they come together and become a superpower team. Neither one is draining the other person, you’re not dependent on them for your happiness, you don’t become needy, you don’t “need” them to complete you… YOU are happy being YOU, but you realize with the other person, you’re a better version of yourself. They make you happy, you make them happy. You each are only giving to the other person instead of draining them. Make sense?? When you workout together, you are building your confidence. You feel more fit, healthy, sexy, the list goes on..who doesn’t want that in their relationship?

7. Reduce stress

  • There is WAY too much stress in our day and age. It’s everywhere we turn and is the culprit behind many health issues and relationship strain. Exercise is a key way to reduce stress, so why not do that together?

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Not in a relationship?? AWESOME! Keep getting your fitness on, work on improving yourself, being encouraged in fitness by your friends, find a workout partner, and when that time comes that you meet your iron pumping, protein drinking, snuggle buddy, you’ll be the best version of yourself for them. That’s what it’s all about. Encouraging eachother to live to your fullest potential.

Have an awesome day!

– Jessica Aubrey

RN & Health/Fitness Coach

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Inspriation

Salt: Secret Poison or Secret Weapon?

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Let’s talk about salt shall we?

Salt is SO critical to life, that without it, we would cease to live. That’s kind of a big deal! There seems to be many conflicting opinions and misinformation out there when it comes to salt. I thought I’d help clear up the issue today with a few must know facts about this commonly used condiment.

Iodized Salt vs. Sea Salt vs. Himalayan Salt

First, you need to know that there are various types of salt and signficant differences between each of them. I’m going to address the most popular 3 types used in our kitchens today.

  • Iodized Salt aka Table salt
    • Iodized salt is the white salt you find sitting on most tables in the US. This type of salt has been refined and stripped of all of its essential trace minerals. Once this happens, anticaking agents are added, and in most parts of the world, artificial iodine is added. Your table salt is actually 97.5% sodium chloride and 2.5% chemicals. It is then dried at over 1,2000 degrees Fahrenheit, this crazy high temperature alters the natural chemical structure of the salt rendering it basically useless for any nutritional benefit.
    • This is the type of salt that can cause increased blood pressure, inflammation, water retention, and all the negative side effects we have heard of related to salt.

     

  • Sea Salt
    • Sea salt comes naturally from the sea. This is what makes ocean water taste “salty”. When extracted naturally, without being refined, sea salt is full of beneficial minerals and nutrients that can be very healing for the body in numerous ways.

 

  • Himalayan Salt
    • This pink salt comes from the Himalayan mountains in Pakistan. Awareness about Himalayan salt has significantly increased in the past few years as more people learn about the nutrient density of this powerful salt. Himalayan salt contains all 84 of the body’s essential minerals! Wow, right? It is incredibly nourishing for the adrenal glands (aka your hormones), thyroid, pH levels, digestion, muscle regeneration, bone health, and basically every system in the body. You can read more here in Dr. Mercola’s article- http://products.mercola.com/himalayan-salt/

Now, let’s take a look at some health conditions related to salt…

Salt & Blood Pressure

  • If you go to the cardiologist, or if you have elevated blood pressure, you will always be put on a sodium restricted diet. This is because regular table salt and sodium found in processed foods, causes you to retain water and makes the work much harder on your heart, therefore increasing your blood pressure even more. Himalayan salt or authentic sea salt, however does not have the same effects. Proper mineral balance actually helps maintain healthy fluid levels in the body. Even more, the heart is a muscle. Muscles need minerals and magnesium to function properly. Many times heart palpitations can be attributed to a magnesium or mineral deficiency. Using a good Himalayan salt to restore the body’s mineral balance can actually be helpful for the heart!

Salt & Hormones

  • You’re probably thinking…what the heck does salt have to do with hormones?? Well my friend, let me tell you! One hormonal gland in particular that benefits from good quality salts such as Himalayan salt, is the adrenal glands. There are significant structures within the hormonal system pivotal to hormonal balance. The adrenal glands and thyroid gland are two of those esential glands. Mineral rich salts nourish the adrenal glands and enhance function. These days, nearly every American is struggling with insufficiently functioning adrenal glands. Any type of stress, big or small, good or bad strains the adrenal glands, and unfortunately we are surrounded with chronic stressors. When our adrenal glands are not functioning properly, our thyroid function suffers as well as the rest of our body. Common symptoms of adrenal and thyroid fatigue include weight gain, fatigue, dry skin, hair loss, inflammation, lack of drive for life, depression, hormonal imbalances such as PCOS, infertility, PMS, low libido, and more.

Salt & Heartburn/Acid Reflux

  • Did you know consuming healthy salts can actually help rebuild healthy stomach acid necessary for proper digestion? Here’s how… your stomach acid is called Hydrochloric acid or HCL. The main cause of acid reflux or heart burn interestingly enough, usually isn’t an overproduction of stomach acid, but an UNDERPRODUCTION of stomach acid. When you don’t have enough HCL, your food does not digest properly, and this causes the pressure and burning sensation you feel. Himalayan salt is high in chloride and essential minerals that dramatically help to replenish HCL levels in the stomach. It’s that easy! Use it in your food, and if your heartburn is really bad, I recommend drinking some salt water by mixing 1 tsp himalayan salt with 1-2 cups of warm water. Apple cider vinegar is also a great remedy for heartburn FYI.

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So, go get yourself some pink himalayan salt and start reaping all of these amazing benefits! You can find this salt at most grocery stores and for sure at any health food store.

Make it an awesome day!!

Jessica Aubrey

RN & Health Coach
Jessica@JessicaAubreyRN.com

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Cleanse, Inspriation

What the heck are Parabens???

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Oh Hey!

So, I constantly am asked questions on a wide variety of topics. Recently I was asked to read the ingredient list on a product that was marketed as being “all-natural”, hypoallergenic, and relatively “clean” as far as ingredients go. Immediately I called BS on the product when I read “butylparaben, methylparaben, & propylparaben”. First, it’s important you understand that our skin is our largest organ. WHAT YOU PUT ON YOUR SKIN IS IMMEDIATELY ABSORBED INTO YOUR BODY. Makes you think a little different about all of those skin products, huh?

 

What exactly are these weird sounding ingredients?

Parabens are a class of chemicals used as preservatives in a wide variety of skin products, supplements, and cosmetics. They can be found in shampoos, lotions, shaving cream, topical medications, spray tanning solution, makeup,and toothpaste. They can also be used as food additives.

 

What’s wrong with them?

Here’s where me and parabens don’t get along… These suckers mimic estrogen in the body, and in the worst way. These chemicals can be referred to as Xenoestrogens or “synthetic estrogens”. They are the bad types of estrogen’s that increase one’s risk for breast, prostate, or ovarian cancer. Ya..no bueno. There are millions of men walking around with way to much estrogen simply from the lotions, shaving cream, and soaps they are using. Those seducing manly soaps, sprays, lotions, & shaving creams that are supposed to make you more macho and drive the ladies crazy??? Sorry to break it to ya boys, but the majority of those are actually increasing your girly hormones. Awesome, right?

And Ladies…these are not the estrogen’s you want floating around your body. If you’re hoping to avoid being one of the 1 in 3 women diagnosed with breast cancer, it is IMPERATIVE that you eliminate these products from your daily routine. Want to hear something, crazy? A study published in the Journal of Toxicology in March 2012, showed paraben esters were present in 99% of women tested with breast cancer. Wowzas! That’s a MASSIVE number! Read more about the study & Dr. Mercola’s take on it by clicking here.

And for those of you wanting to shed the belly weight and extra fat on your body, getting rid of xenoestrogens is a must!

Xenoestrogens are fat soluble, and they must find a home. Where do they find it? They lodge in fatty tissues like the abdomen.

  • Xeno means foreign.
  • Xenoestrogens mimic natural estrogen.
  • Xenoestrogens deposit in fatty tissues like the abdomen.

Interesting, right?

Now, think about our kids. Hundreds of thousands of kiddos are being slathered in parabens from day 1 of life. How do you think that’s going to impact them as they grow and mature? Poor kids already have a toxic food supply and other issues to deal with!

 

How does one avoid these ingredients, they are everyyywheeeeeeere!

True. True. They are everywhere, but lucky for us, there are some kick ass companies out there who are committed to doing their part to make this a safer, cleaner, healthier planet! When you’re weeding through your current collection of soaps, gels, lotions, creams, shaving creams, makeup, etc.. and you need to replace those items (because you will), my recommendation is to go into a Whole Foods, Sprouts, local health food store, OR to go shopping online. I LOVE www.iherb.com. (First time users of iherb, who use this specific link will get $5-$10 off your first order!) You can get pretty much anything from this website and with free shipping, which is amazing! Shop around their cosmetics section and read the ingredients. Look for the “NO PARABENS” label. If a company is proud of their clean product, they’re going to let you know by having a list of “No’s”.

 

Ok, so I cleaned the parabens out of my house, how do I get them out of my body after being exposed?

Great question! I’m so glad you asked! Here are 4 tips to get you on your way!

1. JUICE- For those of you who are juicers, the combo of celery & beets are awesome to flush out the “bad estrogens” in the body. Any green juices are going to help you naturally detox toxins.

2. EXERCISE- Exercising, especially performing exercises that stimulate your lymphatic system such as rebounding, running, or jumping, are very effective for helping the body get rid of those nasty parabens. Aim for at least 20 minutes per day. You can do that, I know you can!

3. LOVE YOUR LIVER- Our liver is incredible. Unfortunately, though, it gets clogged up rather quickly with the world we live in. Our liver is a major detox organ, so giving it some TLC will really help your body eliminate unwanted toxins. Here are some easy ways to love on your liver:

4. CRAM THE CRUCIFEROUS VEGGIES- Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, kale, cabbage, collard greens, & brussels sprouts contain specific components that help the body eliminate xenoestrogens such as parabens. Two of these compounds are called Indole-3-Carbinol (I-3-C) & Diindolylmethane (DIM). There are numerous studies on this powerful duo when it comes to anti-cancer properties and flushing xenoestrogens out of the body. Ask google, you’ll see! 😉

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So, how are you feeling about this whole thing? Overwhelmed? Relieved? Pumped up? Pumped down? I know it can be a bit much hearing about all the crazy things that seem to be out to get you in our world today, but the awesome part is that there is always something we can do to move in the right direction! Get excited instead of overwhelmed! We’re getting healthier together, becoming more aware, setting up future generations for success! It’s going to take effort and determination, but everything worth anything does, right?! I promise you it’s worth it to take these simple steps now instead of waiting until you’re in a sense of panic because of an abnormal test result. Ain’t nobody got time for that whole sickness stuff, right? Right!

You’re AWESOME!

Jessica Aubrey

RN & Health Coach

Jessica@JessicaAubreyRN.com

 

More resources:

 

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Inspriation, Recipes

The Breakfast Sandwich.

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Hey!!!

I wanted to share this scrumptious and easy breakfast sandwich with you! This was my breakfast this morning before a looooooong day. It is filling, delicious, & nutritious!!

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1. Heat up 1 tbs coconut oil in a pan. When melted, place 1 slice of *organic* turkey in the coconut oil on one side of the pan and crack an organic egg on the other side. Flip when necessary to evenly cook both sides of turkey slice and egg.

2. While egg and turkey are cooking, slice a gluten-free english muffin in half and put in toaster.

3. When english muffin is done, spread coconut oil on each side, add avocado slices, thinly sliced raw cheese, cooked turkey slice, and egg. Sprinkle with Himalayan salt.

4. Cut sandwich in half if desired. Add a side of sauerkraut with sandwich to start off the morning with some enzymes & probiotics.

5. If desired, drink with good-belly juice and/or inner-eco. Recommended to eat while reading some inspiring literature such as a devotional or your favorite book in the Bible to start off the day strong!

 

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“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations…Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead..and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was STRENGTHENED in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.”- Romans 5:18-21

 

YOU’RE AWESOME!!!

Jessica Aubrey

Jessica@JessicaAubreyRN.com

 

 

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Inspriation, Recipes

January 1- Juice, Jesus, & Gym

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Happy first day of the best 2014 EVER!!!

Haha…see what I did there?? 🙂 I hope you had an amazing first day of the year today and that it was full of excitement, anticipation, motivation, and taking steps towards new goals. I wanted to share with you a few fun pieces of my first day!

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JUICE

I’ve had many requests recently for juice recipes, which is is SO awesome because many of you are getting into eating more live foods and juicing is a great option to do that when done right! To be honest, I don’t juice all that often, but when I do, I usually make a large amount of it and throw in whatever I have in the fridge. Here is what today’s looked like-

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  • 2 lemons
  • 2 granny smith apples
  • whole celery stalk
  • 5 stalks of broccoli (just the bottom parts that I had cut off when I used the top part)
  • 3 inches fresh ginger
  • 1 pomegranate
  • 5 Kale leaves
  • 3 Fresh fennel tops
  • 5 large carrots

This made a gallon of juice! I added some inner eco probiotic to preserve it and drank it throughout the day. 🙂 Super delish!

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Jesus Time

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I love the beginning of the year when it comes to spiritual growth, because I can look back at all the Lord’s taught me and brought me through in the past 365 days and make new commitments to Him for the next 365 days. Today I opened my absolute FAVE devotional right now- “Jesus Calling” to January 1st. Such a great little book that takes 30 seconds to set the tone for the rest of the day. 🙂 And I also dug into Romans. Let me tell all my Jesus friends out there…Read Romans 2:17-28 in both NIV and in the Message version. Replace “Jew” with “Christian”. This got me so pumped up today because it’s exactly what our “Christian culture” needs to hear. There is SO much boasting about Christianity and someone’s religious actions, but Jesus wants our hearts. Our outward actions are not nearly as important as our inside heart and desires and the motivation behind our outside actions. Such a deep concept that needs to be shared. I highly recommend studying that and soaking it in for a while. 🙂

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GYM TIME

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How many of you were in the gym today on January 1st?? Haha.. It’s the most popular gym day! I’m not going to lie, I LOVE working out. There is something so liberating and strengthening to the mind, body, & soul about breaking a sweat and earning every drop of it. I want to encourage you to keep up your exercise goals. Stop thinking about it, and just DO IT! Make a commitment to yourself to do something every day! Even if it’s a 20 minute brisk walk with air squats! And HAVE FUN, set a goal and achieve it, believe in the power of your body to transform. The mental part is THE most difficult part of getting healthy, so no matter what kind of workout you do, make sure your mind is in the right place. Stay motivated, make it fun, change up your workouts, and be THANKFUL for the ability to exercise! It’s a GIFT!

“I wish I didn’t feel so strong, fit, and lean” –  SAID NO ONE EVER!

If you need a program to follow, here are some recommendations and my personal favorites:

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Remember, you are AWESOME! You have been perfectly created mind, body, & soul. Make sure you take care of all 3 areas. Believe in yourself, love who you are-where you are right now. Enjoy every day because you’ll never get it back! Cheers to an amazing 2014 and being Co-creators in our future!!

XOXO,

Jessica

Jessica@JessicaAubreyRN.com

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Inspriation

A Real Reflection on My 2013

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We’re only a couple days away from ringing in a new year. It’s a time of anticipation and preparation of the future and all it will bring, and a time of reflection of what 2013 brought us.

Have you seen those really cool instagram videos that have been going around with snapshots of people’s most liked pictures of the year? I love seeing those things. Most of my friend’s are filled with weddings, babies, and more babies. Haha.. It’s so amazing to see all the smiles, new beginnings, and happy moments so many are reflecting on.

A couple weeks ago I posted a video challenging myself and you to be real with ourselves and those around us. I talked about how on social media we usually only see someone’s happy moments and not their struggles, and when we compare our behind the scenes to someone’s highlight real, we will almost always feel bad about what’s going on in our life because it’s not an accurate comparison. So, I’m risking being vulnerable here and wanted to let you know that if you’re looking back at 2013 and your highlight video isn’t full of what you wished it would be, you’re not alone, but it doesn’t mean it didn’t have a purpose.

Today, I was reflecting on my 2013 and as a surprise to me, tears came to my eyes. First, let me say, the point of sharing this with you is NOT to get pity from you or have a pity party for myself. It’s a statement of authenticity and ends in thanksgiving. This time last year, I was in Spain with my husband. I was the wife of a basketball player living what many would call “the dream”, living in a foreign country, moving every year to different parts of Spain, living by the beach, soaking in the rich culture. It wasn’t a bad life. I look back at all that happened between December 29, 2012 and December 29, 2013, and if someone would have told me what would go down, I never ever would have believed them.

I lived in Spain on the coast of La Coruña until June 2013 when I went home for the summer to see my family.

I shortly after found out I’d be moving to Kansas in August for my husband’s job and completely shift my life from European culture to the heart of America, this was a very exciting and challenging time.

Shortly after the big move all my dreams of having my own home and finally being able to settle down were shattered on September 11 when my other half decided he had other plans that didn’t include me.

For those of you who have been through divorce, you can probably agree that it is one of the deepest pains our heart can feel. I was talking with my mom about this and we were comparing our experiences as she lost her high school sweetheart when my father passed away 15 years ago when I was 11 from the motorcycle accident we were in together. We both agreed, that there is something different about a divorce. The pain of rejection has a sting uncommon to other forms of grief.

The final months of 2013 for me were some of the most painful and most enlightening times of my entire life. I experienced the most brutal, deepest form of heartache and the most powerful, healing forms of grace and love I have ever felt.

This is the beauty about pain and suffering…if you allow God’s love and truth to penetrate your heart and come to a place where you fully trust HIM, you will ALWAYS come out stronger, refined, more patient, compassionate, and prepared to more deeply love the people around you. I can’t explain how I have overcome this huge obstacle so quickly, how my heart feels more loved than it ever has, how I have no resentment or bitterness on the other side, how I feel better than I have in years, how much JOY I have in my heart… all of that is supernatural, I can’t take credit for it. All I KNOW is that we are UNCONDITIONALLY LOVED by an AMAZING God. A God who is there through the thick and the thin no matter how many times you may doubt Him or turn your back on Him. He is aching to hold you right where you are. The idea that you have to do anything to earn His love is a lie. It was in my darkest moments that I was able to experience a supernatural strength in ways I never knew it. It was in those moments that I knew I was being molded for something greater…a calling I never knew I was cut out for, to love on others through some of life’s most painful moments including death and divorce. That may sound morbid, but I’ve lived through it. I know the pain, and I’ve experienced the grace, peace, and hope. I’ve reflected on life and instead of tragedy, I see beauty from ashes, strength from fear, rejoicing after sorrow, and I am SO THANKFUL.

YOU, my friend, have your own story. You’ve experienced your own darkest moments that you never thought you would heal from. Many of you have experienced more heartache than 100 people will in their lifetime. I want you to know that not a tear is wasted. You’re being molded and prepared for something greater beyond yourself. We are not here on this crazy planet just to exist. We’re here to love on others and use the gifts and experiences we go through to help others through this insane journey. Together.

So, my 2013 may not have been full of smiles, butterflies, and rainbows, and I may have fallen on my face quite a few times, been thrown a few dozen curve balls, and had the rug pulled out from under me, but I am walking out of 2013 with a new found strength, love, grace, humility, understanding, wisdom, and appreciation of life. A new compassion for those who are hurting, a more mature view of the brokenness of humanity and desire to simply love on people and CHOOSE to be THANKFUL in EVERY circumstance and situation. It’s like a magic trick! Thankfulness is anger’s worst enemy. Try it, I dare ya! 🙂

The biggest lesson that I am walking away from 2013 with is to BE LOVE. Love everyone around you just like Jesus did. Don’t get so caught up in organized religion that you completely overlook the lessons and example that Jesus taught. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. Religion has in many cases become a more effective tool of evil than of good.

To people who don’t know me, I’m a girl who lost her dad at a young age and now divorced at 26. Do you know how many labels the average person would slap on me without even knowing my heart or the situation? How many times do we do that? I know I have been guilty several times! Isn’t it time that we stop this madness and encourage instead of discourage, empower, inspire, strengthen, and lift others up no matter who they are or what they’ve been through. We can’t change the world all at once, but we can start in our little circle of family and friends and create a ripple effect throughout the world. We all want change, it’s time we step into action.

So, my challenge to myself and to you is no matter how 2013 went for you, let’s end it stronger than we started, because that IS our choice. YOU CHOOSE how you view your circumstances. Choose to let them make you stronger instead of weaker.

I know my foundation is in who my Creator made me to be. I know He loves me unconditionally no matter what I do or don’t do. I know in Him I can do all things. I know that nothing can touch the peace and joy that is from Him, because ALL things work together for the good of those who love the Lord. I KNOW that HE wins every time. So, I have nothing to fear. And I KNOW He’s just as crazy about YOU.

2014…Bring it.

Jessica Aubrey

RN & Health Coach
www.JessicaAubreyRN.com

Jessica@JessicaAubreyRN.com

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Inspriation

2014 Challenge

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We are now days away from a new year! How CRAZY is that?! Every year is the same, we make our goals, our lists, our half-hearted commitments…blah..blah..blah. Rarely do we follow through on these grandiose ideas of ours. So, let’s do something different this year! Let’s focus instead on the moment we are in instead of looking ahead into the future. Don’t get me wrong, goals are an amazing thing, but what I’m seeing these days, is a massive group of miserable people with amazing goals who are so focused on “I’ll be happy when…”, that every day they miss out on what could be making them happy right in that moment. Make sense?

Through having fun and enjoying every day, we will MUCH more quickly reach those long term goals, rather than running around in circles, never truly happy, exhausting ourselves day in and day out, when it really doesn’t have to be that way. So, this year, let’s ENJOY life, notice the little things, be thankful in everything, and love every moment.

Here is an example of a simple mind-body-soul strategy for starting this new concept:

MIND

“Today, I love myself for who I am, right where I am, and who I was created to be. Thank you God for this place I am in right now, whether I am surrounded in blessings, or my world is falling a part, it’s part of my story and it’s pushing me to become a stronger, more compassionate, loving person. I thank you that I am not here just for me, I’m here with a purpose to serve and help others! Right now, right where I am at, I am complete, I don’t need anything or anyone else to make me who I am. I love myself right here, right now, because I have been created for greatness, and ONLY I CAN GET IN THE WAY of that happening. So, I choose today to love who I was created to be, love the passions I was given, love the struggles I have and have had, and I will use those experiences and abilities to love on as many people as I can.

“Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
    you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
    Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
    I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
    you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
    how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
    all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
    before I’d even lived one day.” – Psalm 139:4 (MSG)

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BODY

“Today I CHOOSE to love my body, and because I love it, I naturally want to take care of it through clean powerful nutrition, fun exercise, playing, laughter, hydration, and guilt-free rest. I will listen to my body and what it needs, and I’ll do whatever I can to take care of it. I love feeling my heart pounding when I have the privilege of exercising, I love the energy I feel when I fuel every cell in my body with nutrient dense foods, I love how happy I feel when I give my body the nutrients and vitamins it is craving! I know the science and facts behind what is good for me and what isn’t, I’m going to choose to eat a colorful variety of foods every day. I know everyone’s body reacts differently to different foods. Some thrive off of being vegan and some thrive off of being Paleo, I know what’s best for me and that’s what’s important. I know sugar, processed foods, gluten, and similar food-like imitations will only make me feel slow, sad, and depleted, so I’m just going to avoid those so I can feel the absolute best I can. I’m SO thankful I get to do that!”

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SOUL

“I feed my body physical nourishment, I feed my mind positive encouragement, but I know there is a third piece to the puzzle that cannot be left out. I have a deeper craving to connect with something much greater

beyond myself. Everyone has a different way of connecting with this greater power, but if I’m honest with myself, I know the feeling I get deep in my soul that no words can describe…this faith, it feeds me, it empowers me, it challenges me. I know without it, I am incomplete. From this source, I radiate love, joy, and hope that is not dependent on any of my worldly circumstances. This. This cannot be shaken. Today, I will take a few minutes to recognize this thirst in my soul and whether it is praying, meditating, or reading a devotional, I’m going to recharge my soul so that I can continue to be a fully charged being, ready to pour love and encouragement into whoever may cross my path today. I’m SO thankful for this deep connection I have…it goes beyond human understanding, and I’m ok with not fully understanding it, because I know. I know what my heart feels, my heart does cartwheels, I rejoice with thanksgiving in EVERY circumstance.”

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Don’t ever forget how awesome you are and how much POWER you have to impact the world around you for the better! Happy healing!!

 

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Jessica Aubrey

RN & Health Coach
www.JessicaAubreyRN.com

Jessica@JessicaAubreyRN.com

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Inspriation

Are You the Reason Behind the Drama?

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If you clicked on this article after seeing the title, then congratulations!! You’re in a great place to learn, change, and grow into the best version of YOU!! Woohoo!! These words can be hard to hear, I know they have been hard for me to hear and absorb and apply to my life, but there is SO much freedom in it!!! I’m finding there is a word that many people in our culture and younger generations don’t like…

R.E.S.P.O.N.S.I.B.I.L.I.T.Y

When we accept it, we admit it’s in our control to change and we are no longer a victim, so we can’t blame it on other people anymore. Sure, maybe it’s more humbling and difficult at first, but it is SO worth it! Check out today’s quick video on how to simplify the drama and live a full life no matter what your circumstances.

 

You’re Awesome!!

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Inspriation

Show Off Your Scars

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Hey Everyone!

So, I know I’ve been a little quiet the past few months, there have been quite a few changes happening in my life that I will share with you in time, but today is an EXCITING day. Today, for the first time in a while, my brain has been exploding with ideas, thoughts, lessons, and inspiration that I just can’t keep to myself, so expect to be hearing/seeing a lot more from me from here on out!

Today’s video I’m sharing with you is about showing off your scars…take a couple minutes to hear where my heart is when it comes to reflecting on “cuts” from our past and a fresh perspective of how to live with those scars and make them work for you instead of against you!

And I REALLY wish I was having this convo face to face with you over a cup of organic coffee.  I prefer a dialogue, instead of a monologue, so I want to hear from you!

 

You’re Awesome!!

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