GUEST POST BY JULIE GRIFFIN: The Magic is in YOU!

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A Note from Camilla & Melissa:

We love to have guest posts and we’re so grateful that others want to share their stories and experiences with all of us. Every individual is entitled to their own health beliefs and we respect everyones wishes. While some of the comments in our guest posts may not be reflective of a true “Paleo Diet”, it is our hope that the common goal of a healthier life will help to guide you in your own health choices.


The Magic is in YOU!

by Julie Griffin

So much of the time in life we are looking for that ONE thing to flip the switch for our life… that one diet to finally work. That one exciting fitness program or newfangled workout equipment that’s gonna be IT.

You know, the one that miraculously causes us to not quit just days in.
Or maybe it’s that relationship that will finally make us happy. That job that we’ve been dreaming of to fulfill us. That number in the bank account that will make all our problems go away…

We are always looking for that ONE Magic thing to bring about the change that we are desperately wanting in our life. But what if I told you that will never happen.

There is no Magic diet or exercise program. No Magic relationship or dream job. No Magic number in our bank account that can make our problems go away.

Yes, a diet may make us lose a few pounds for awhile, but if we don’t learn to how to heal our relationship with food first, or how to make sustainable life choices in our eating, all we will have accomplished is another failed fad diet and we’ll end up right back where we started. Many times even worse than before.

Or we may commit to that new fitness routine or show up to that exercise class, for a few days at least. We may even purchase that shiny, new exercise equipment and actually use it, for a bit… before we lose steam and it turns into another place to store our laundry and collect dust. Because if we don’t learn how to push past our feelings, creating discipline and consistency within ourselves first, there is no fitness fad, class, program, or equipment that will bring about the transformation to our bodies we so badly want to see.

Our relationships will follow the same patterns, we will still be unhappy in our “dream job”. And that bank account that finally looks like you want it to? Your problems won’t be going anywhere. Because all those things are just tools. Lifeless tools that hold no Magic. They only work in the hands of Magic. They are not the magic. They will never do what you are wanting them to. They hold no fairy dust that is going to come along and melt off the weight, or make you want to push your body to new heights while blowing your mind of what you are capable of! They can’t make you happy and fulfilled, or your
problems just disappear. Because they aren’t Magic. You are. The Magic is in YOU.

You ARE the Magic.

You are the only one who has the power to get in control of your eating and make good, healthy choices of what to put in your body!

You are the only one who has the power to wake up every day and produce the discipline and consistency required to watch your body change before your very eyes.

You are the one who makes yourself happy, not another person or relationship. Or a job. Or numbers in a bank account.

It’s you. Say it with me… You ARE the Magic. You are the MAGIC. YOU are the Magic!

The Magic is in you to overcome, to change, to conquer, to be happy, to be fulfilled, to be free. To finally be the person you KNOW is in there… maybe they’re really deep down in there, but you’ve seen glimpses. You feel the stirring at times. That’s the Magic. That’s the YOU that knows you can do this.

That’s the you that KNOWS how powerful you really are!

I’m not gonna lie. It’s hard. It’s painful at times. But it’s in those hard times, those painful places… that’s WHERE the magic happens. Because it’s where you discover WHO you are, WHAT you’re capable of, and just how POWERFUL you can be! And I promise you, if you will go there… if you will tap into that place inside yourself and stop looking to external sources to do what only you can do, you will Blow. Your. Mind.

You will never look at yourself the same. Because you, my friend, are so full of Magic it’s breathtaking!

So what is it that you want? What is it that you’ve been trying to accomplish and are always looking to some outside source, something that is just a tool, to make it happen?

Now close your eyes, take a deep breath, and feel that Magic come alive in you… you feel it? That stirring and knowing that you are made for more than what you’ve been living?

Now embrace it, own it, and get ready for the ride of your life. Because when we tap into our Magic, our lives are never the same again.

Who wants more of the same anyway? Not me, and I’m venturing to say if you’re reading this, not you either. You are just too full of Magic for that.


 

image1Julie Griffin is a Mindset & Identity Coach for women, working specifically with women in the area of Health & Fitness, positive body image, and connecting to their core identity of Womanhood.

She is passionate about seeing women truly learn to love and embrace their whole selves, inside and out, and be empowered to show up in this world in a vibrant and colorful way.

She is a mom of two crazy, creative, and talented kids, an avid traveler, lifelong learner, all around adventuring soul, and champion of the potential of mankind. In no particular order, she loves yoga, weight lifting, dancing, city lights, having fun, hot weather, and all things ocean!

She would love to connect with you, so jump over to her website www.wildandfitinspired.com where you can stay in touch and up to date with the latest that is going on in her world. You can also connect with Julie on Facebook and Instagram. She would love to hear from you so don’t hesitate to drop her a line!

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7 Health Tips for the New Year

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Let’s start the New Year off well, shall we?!

Here are our Top 7 Health Tips to support you in starting this year off healthier than ever:

#1 Hydrate.

Especially after consuming sugar and alcohol over the holiday season, it’s essential to drink plenty of water to help your cells cleanse and function optimally.

Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day (room temperature water is easier for your body to utilize!)

#2 Clear your pantry.

Go through your pantry and get rid of (donate preferably) old foods and unhealthy foods.
Make space for the new and the healthy and eliminate temptations.

#3 Stock up.

It’s a whole lot easier to make healthy decisions when you have healthy options available to snack on – stock up on fresh fruit, vegetables and nuts, and carry them with you everywhere you go.

#4 Read labels.

You might be horrified at what food manufacturers sneak into food products, but the first step to all change is awareness, so take the time to check the labels before you buy.

#5 Choose quality.

Since we’re Paleo we believe in the value of meat in the human diet, but there’s a BIG difference between processed, antibiotic ridden, cage-raised meat and natural grass-finished meat. (The same applies to fruits and vegetables.)

You’ve probably heard the saying “You are what your food eats” – it’s so true and worth pondering. Choose wisely!

#6 Know the difference between grass-fed and grass-finished.

Many food labels aren’t well monitored and marketing is everything these days, so food manufacturers are quick to label foods with the latest and greatest trend. Be careful what you believe and check the facts. Most grass-fed meat is actually grain-finished!

#7 When implementing dietary changes, stick to them for at least 21 days.

It takes 21 days to form a habit that you’ll stick to, but it also takes time for your body to get rid of unhealthy foods and feel the benefits of the healthier foods you introduce, so don’t rush the transformation – give your body the time it deserves and truly embrace the lifestyle changes you make.

BONUS TIP:

We couldn’t share our top health tips for the New Year and leave out Paleo Cleanse!! If you’ve done our 30-Day Cleanse already, now’s a great time to redo it and kick-start your health this year. And if you haven’t yet tried our Cleanse, grab yourself a copy over on Amazon or your nearest bookstore and give it a try! We walk you through more tips, meal plans and so much more, to help you detox, lose weight and supercharge your health.

Here’s to a healthy and abundant New Year! 

Camilla Carboni & Melissa Van Dover

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Quick And Fantastic Paleo Cookies

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It’s that time of year again…the holidays! In celebration we decided to open up our Quick & Fantastic Paleo Cookies cookbook and start baking. It smells delicious here and we hope you’ll join us in baking some fabulous cookies.

You can grab your copy of our Quick & Fantastic Paleo Cookies cookbook on Amazon. The best part you ask? It’s free!

Happy Baking!
Cookies Cookies

Now it’s time to dig out our coconut milk and enjoy these wonderful beauties. We’d love to see what you baked up this holiday season. Share your pictures and stories with us on Twitter @ThePaleoPact or Facebook. We look forward to hearing from you.

Happy Holidays!

Melissa Van Dover

@melissavandover | melissavandover.com

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Mediterranean Dinner Menu

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I’ve been on a Mediterranean kick lately when it comes to my meal choices. Thankfully we have several paleo-Mediterranean recipes on the blog. To show case these fantastic meal options we’ve put together a menu of delicious recipes.

This menu is perfect for a dinner party or even a themed dinner for the family.

Mediterranean Dinner Menu

  1. 5 Minute Olive Tapenade– A great start to a fantastic meal.
  2. Mediterranean Gnocchi– A great starter or main course.
  3. Paleo Tzatziki Sauce– The perfect sauce to dress your gyros.
  4. Paleo Garlic Naan– This may have been created from Indian inspiration but it’s the perfect wrap for your gyros.
  5. Beef Gyros, Lamb Gyros & Chicken Gyros– It’s your choice but let us warn you…all options are delicious!
  6. Date Orange Loaf– Of course we can’t end without something sweet.

We hope you enjoy this menu as much as we enjoyed preparing it for you.

Happy Dining!

Melissa Van Dover

@melissavandover | melissavandover.com

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Paleo Summer Picnic Menu

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Nothing says summer like a picnic. So to celebrate the start to this summer we’ve compiled a simple but delicious summer picnic menu. These dishes will delight your taste buds. They also travel great so they’ll be intact when you make it to your perfect picnic spot. We hope your summer is a wonderful one.

Paleo Summer Picnic Menu

  1. Paleo Fruit Basket– Design your own fruit basket and load it up with the bounty of summer!
  2. Paleo Smoked Salmon Wraps– Bring your wraps and a container of ingredients, and make your wraps on location.
  3. Simple Tuna Wraps– You can keep these as wraps or serve it as a tuna salad. Both options are delicious.
  4. Paleo Energy Bars– These bars will give you a nutritious boost but they’re also fantastic as a dessert.
  5. Baked Apple Chips– These chips are delicious, will fill you up and pair well with most dishes.

For other great picnic recipe ideas take a look through our blog. We hope you enjoy your picnic and time outdoors.

Happy Summer!

Melissa Van Dover

@melissavandover | melissavandover.com

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Valentine’s Day Treat Menu

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Nothing says “I Love You” like a specially baked, homemade treat. When it comes to baking paleo, many people are worried that it’s too much work or too difficult of a task. We’ve made it simple for you by compiling a list of treats for your special someone this Valentine’s Day. These treats are delicious, but more importantly they’re simple and easy to make.

Take a look at our treat menu below! We’ve got something for everyone this Valentine’s Day.

Treat Menu

  1. Quick & Fantastic Paleo Cookies– If you’re looking for a cookie this is the place to find it. This book is packed with amazing paleo cookie recipes.
  2. Chocolate Date Nut Balls– Delicious, easy to make and packed with goodness.
  3. Chocolate Sauce– Lets be honest. What’s Valentine’s Day without a little chocolate?
  4. Valentine’s Peaches– If you’re not big on baking or cooking, this is simple and very easy!
  5. Paleo Chocolate Pudding– For those chocolate lovers.
  6. Salted-Chocolate Brownies- These are delicious and soon to be a favorite…

If you didn’t find what you were looking for here, don’t worry. Take a look through our blog and we’re certain you’ll find something that fits both your valentine’s and your taste buds. Have fun baking and have a wonderful Valentine’s Day.

Enjoy!

Melissa Van Dover

@melissavandover | melissavandover.com

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The Perfect Holiday Dinner

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Are you planning a holiday feast in the next few weeks? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. We’re here to help and have compiled some great Paleo recipe options to fill any holiday feast menu. These recipes are simple, quick and of course…Paleo! All you have to do is select your favorite recipes from each section. You’ll have the perfect holiday dinner whipped up in no time!

Paleo Recipes For The Perfect Holiday Dinner:

We hope you have a wonderful holiday season! As always, we’d love to hear from you, reach out to us on Facebook or Twitter.

Happy Holidays,

Melissa Van Dover

@mvandover | melissavandover.com

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The Three Course Paleo Thanksgiving

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It’s that time of the year again…the holidays are here! Which means that it’s time to get your chef hat on and do your best when it comes to maintaining your Paleo lifestyle. Though it can seem overwhelming when it comes to preparing for your holiday feasts it doesn’t have to be.

To keep things simple for you we’ve compiled a three course Paleo Thanksgiving feast. These recipes will make your Thanksgiving preparations quick, simple and Paleo. We may have also added some additional “optional” recipes…just incase three courses won’t cut it!

The Three Course Paleo Thanksgiving:

  1. Paleo Sausage and Fruit Stuffing– Lets be honest, you can’t do Thanksgiving without stuffing.
  2. Lemon Butter Chicken Roast– This recipe can easily be adjusted for turkey, simple update the cooking temp, time and seasoning portions based on the size of your turkey.
  3. Egg-Free, Paleo Pumpkin Pie– The perfect end to a delicious feast!

Of course, sometimes three items simply isn’t enough for a feast. Here are a few other optional recipes to bolster your Thanksgiving meal…

We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and holiday season! As always, we’d love to hear from you, reach out to us on Facebook or Twitter.

Happy Holidays,

Melissa Van Dover

@mvandover | melissavandover.com

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The Case For Stepping Out Of Your Comfort Zone

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We have comfort zones for a reason. They help protect us from bad things and fulfill our need to be safe and grounded. For this reason comfort zones are great, however with everything there is a good and a bad. The bad with comfort zones is that they can lead us to being complacent and to act without thinking.

Complacency and acting without thinking are major contributors to becoming out of shape, having a poor diet and being generally unhealthy.

So it makes sense that if you find yourself in any state of living unhealthy that you may want to make a change and such a change will push you outside of your comfort zone. In this instance you have a great cause for stepping outside your comfort zone, that being said it could still be intimidating and scary. So to help make this change less intimidating we have 5 tips that will make stepping outside of your comfort zone to become a better you less overwhelming.

The 5 tips are…

  1. Don’t do it by yourself, find someone to join your on your journey to a healthier you. In the Paleo Cleanse we call this an accountability buddy.
  2. Have a plan. A guideline can be really helpful when you’re reaching for a health goal, spend a few minutes writing out what you plan to do.
  3. Get some help from those who have done it themselves. In the Paleo Cleanse we share our journey to health, listening to others who have been through the same experience will help to alleviate stress regarding your journey to a new you.
  4. Take it one day at a time. Rome wasn’t built in a day and the stress you may feel as you step outside your comfort zone and change will take time to ease.
  5. Keep the end prize in mind. Whenever you have doubts remember what you’re fighting for, it will keep you going.

Stepping outside your comfort zone can be intimidating but rewarding. This is especially true when we’re doing so to find a healthier version of yourself.

Happy Transformation!

Melissa Van Dover

@melissavandover | melissavandover.com

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7 Tips For Paleo Living While Traveling

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Trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle while traveling is a challenge. Let’s be honest, often times when we’re traveling it’s difficult to stay on track. Especially if you’re running around to meetings or have limited food options, lets say if you’re stuck in a theme park.

Don’t worry though, maintaining your paleo diet while traveling isn’t impossible. It just takes a little more work and determination.

The top 7 tips for staying paleo while traveling:

  1. Don’t wait till the last second- make sure you have snacks on hand or start preparing for a meal before you’re starving.
  2. Stay hydrated- often times we get so caught up with what we’re doing when we’re traveling that we forget to drink water. Your body can confuse thirst for hunger, so make sure you stay hydrated.
  3. Visit the grocery store- buying snacks or food from a restaurant or the hotel gift shop can be expensive and often times there are no paleo options. Take a half hour break and run to the local grocery store and pick up some fruits and nuts to stay on track.
  4. Preview the restaurant menu- before you go out to lunch or dinner spend 5 minutes online and find the best paleo option for your meal.
  5. Keep it simple- when you eat out keep it simple, vegetables and protein are always a safe bet. If you don’t know what to get order a steak, chicken breast or fish fillet and pair it with some veggies.
  6. Start off right- you’re much more likely to stay on track throughout the day if you start it off right. Make sure to eat a paleo breakfast and get in your morning exercise, you’ll be much more likely to stay on track for the rest of the day.
  7. Think about your options- it’s so easy to say that you can’t, before you get their think about your options and think about what you can control. You’ll be amazed at what you can actual control if you don’t count yourself out right away.

Maintaining your paleo lifestyle while you’re traveling isn’t impossible, it just takes a little extra work. Don’t give up before you’ve started, you’ll be amazed at how manageable it actually it is.

Here’s To Staying Paleo!

Melissa Van Dover

@melissavandover | melissavandover.com

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