The Daily Good - Inspiralized

How I Live Healthy

Since starting Inspiralized, I have become much more aware of everything I eat (or consider eating, for...

Inspiralized - Healthy Living Tips

Since starting Inspiralized, I have become much more aware of everything I eat (or consider eating, for that matter.) As a “healthy food blogger,” I wholeheartedly want to inspire others to choose a healthier lifestyle, like I have. With that, I’m that much more inspired to “practice what I preach.”

I mean, how can I tell my readers to avoid processed sugars and then go off and throw down a pint of Talenti gelato with Lu? It wouldn’t feel right.

What you don’t see on my Instagram, blog, Twitter or Facebook are my “slip ups,” but I wanted to take today to talk about my healthy journey and let you know that, yes, I will polish of a box of chocolate Teddy Grahams… and no, they’re not vegan, gluten-free, Paleo, “clean” or remotely “healthy.”

But, I am healthy.

Why don’t I share that on my Instagram? Well, it’s not my personal Instagram to brag about what bar I went to on Friday night or post pictures up of how cute Lu looks like when he puts on a suit – which is really cute, you’re missing out!

Inspiralized is as much for me as it is for you. Every time I think of OD-ing on cheese and bread, I think about my mission: to encourage and inspire others to make the right, healthy decisions.

Then, I put down the cheese. I have an orange instead or maybe a portion-controlled bowl of Veggie Booty or even a banana with almond butter. I like to showcase these moments on my Instagram, because they keep me focused on my health journey. When I scroll through my Instagram, I think:

Heck, I’m so healthy! 

And that, my friends, keeps me motivated. As I imagine it would for you – if you’re sitting at your desk reaching for a Snickers, you might see a picture pop up of me drinking a green juice or coming back from a run. I’d hope that little moment would make the decision to stay on track that much easier.

Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset

Small victories like these are what mean the most when you’re on a weight loss journey or simply trying to be a healthier person. It’s not about that end goal, it’s about each and every single day and every moment you reach temptation.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not perfect – I’m Italian, I have an irrepressible sweet tooth, and I live with a guy who loves to eat. When we go out to dinner, I definitely have one too many pieces of bread or glasses of wine, and I’ll always need to order dessert.

So, how do I stay fit and feel good? Well, today, I’m going to give you my top healthy living tips and talk about ALOHA, a wholesome brand that has helped me in my own health journey.

Before I give these tips, I’ll let you know that these simple changes in my lifestyle helped me drop 20 pounds, and I never ONCE felt deprived, frustrated or felt like I was on a diet. Oh, AND I’ve maintained that weight loss and only continue to slim down. The one tip that I didn’t include? Eating Inspiralized! Eating Inspiralized meals has been crucial in my health journey – it’s so easy to eat healthy when everything tastes so delicious. I’ll save my meal planning tips for another post, if you’re interested.

Inspiralized - Healthy Living Tips

My Top 3 Healthy Living Tips

1. Drink water. No, really drink a lot of water. The best investment you can make is in a refillable water bottle. I like this one, because my parents’ nickname for me is Bobble, so it seemed appropriate. Even if you’re not thirsty, drink water. I make a point to fill it up at least three times. I’ll also obviously drink more water during and after a workout, to keep hydrated and replenished.

If you’re bored by water, lemon is your new best friend. Every week, I quarter about 5 lemons and use them in my water. Lemon water is great for digestion, taste and a myriad of other natural health benefits. It keeps water interesting, most importantly. It also fills you up, keeps your head clear and honestly, half the time you’re reaching for a bag of chips, you’re really just dehydrated.

2. Don’t get discouraged if you fall off track. I can’t stress this enough – this used to destroy all of those diets I use to go on (before Inspiralized.) I’d have a moment of weakness and stuff my face with two back to back almond butter and banana sandwiches. Then, I’d freak out and just binge eat the rest of the day, because “I ruined my diet.”

This might be my #1 tip: IT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU FALL OFF TRACK. WHAT MATTERS IS HOW YOU GET BACK ON TRACK.

Seriously, consuming, say, 600 extra calories on a giant muffin or a few cookies at 3pm isn’t going to cause you to gain 10 pounds. Sure, it’s “off track,” but just do a spin class and work your patooty off and afterwards, you’ll say “what cookies?” because you’ll have burned them right off. It’s so important to keep a balance here.

So what happens if you eat that extra 600 calories and you can’t make it to the gym? Have a bowl of my chicken detox zucchini pasta for dinner or just a similarly light dinner. Don’t starve yourself – it’ll only cause you to binge later.

What if you’re having that extra 600 calories after dinner? Simple: just stop right there, chug a few glasses of water and wake up extra early and fit in a killer workout and decide that that day is going to be very very healthy.

3. Workout, but don’t stress about working out. It’s hard to get around this, but … workout. Your diet is more important, but working out is better in the long run for your body. Just make time for it. After a few weeks of consistent working out, you’ll ask yourself why you dreaded it for so long.

But, don’t stress about it. If you can’t make it to the gym for whatever reason (ie you don’t want to), don’t stress. Stressing is bad for everything, including your waistline. I used to say, “Well, I can’t make it to the gym, so I might as well just eat this bag of chips.” No, no, no. Now, if I can’t make it to the gym, I’ll eat lighter (because my body doesn’t need the extra fuel anyway) or I’ll squeeze in 10 minutes of TV exercises, which include sit ups, pushups, squats, lunges and those sorts of things while Lu and I watch TV. It doesn’t feel like working out, but it’s better than nothing.

Also, do workouts that you like. I used to kill myself over not running at least 3 miles on the treadmill everyday. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t work out because I thought “well, nothing’s as effective as running, so there’s no point.” Wrong, again. Take it from me, 20 minutes of HIIT training is better than most 45 minute workouts! And, they’re more fun.

I workout 4-5 days a week, generally for 45 mnts- 1 hour. I do a combination of cardio and strength training. If I don’t want to go to the gym, I’ll turn on Apple TV and do some YouTube workouts from the Tone It Up girls. But I have to tell you, sometimes, I work out 6-7 days a week, if I’m feeling it.

Find out what works for you. Don’t compare yourself to others or what you “used to do” when you were “at your best.” We all change, we all have bad days. Namaste, alright?

ALOHA

Last, but certainly not least, I love having a green smoothie in the morning and a green juice in the afternoon.

Inspiralized - Healthy Living Tips

Half of the time, I make it with 2 packed cups of spinach (or kale), a handful of frozen blueberries, half a banana, 1/3 cup of vanilla almond milk, 1/2 cup of ice, a little less than a 1/2 cup of water and 1 packet of my favorite protein powder (Tone It Up‘s vanilla Perfect Fit Protein.)

The other half of the time, I use a packet of ALOHA‘s The Daily Good green juice powder to replace the spinach/kale. The Daily Good is only 40 calories and its packed with 14 real fruits and vegetables dried through a process that keeps them whole to preserve their fiber. Who the heck knows, but it tastes herbal and fresh. 

The Daily Good - Inspiralized

That graphic above is from their website, which goes more in depth about the health benefits of The Daily Good. Actually, if you want to try it out yourself, they’ll send you a FREE trial pack, which is awesome.

I have to say, when I use ALOHA’s green juice powder mixes in my smoothies and juices, I feel energized, hydrated and so… healthy! I wouldn’t be giving them this much face-time on Inspiralized if I didn’t really believe in them. Plus, all of their packaging is completely compostable or 100% recycled. That’s pretty awesome.

When I don’t have time to use my juicer (who does?!) for my mid-afternoon green juice, I’ll more often than not use a packet of The Daily Good combined with 1/2 cup of grapefruit juice with 1.5 cups of water and some ice. So delicious!

Inspiralized - Healthy Living Tips

ALOHA also sent me “The Foundation” which is a 5-pill daily nutrient pack. While I’m not a big daily supplement taker, I’ve been using them three times a week and honestly, the few blemishes I usually get from working out (around my temple) disappeared a week after I started The Foundation.

ALOHA boasts that these supplements:

ALOHA - The Daily Good

If you’re looking to get some added nutrients during your week, I recommend The Foundation. And, of course, The Daily Good has been a big time saver for me with my juices and smoothies.

What did you think of this post? Would you like to see more from me about how I keep healthy? Let me know what you think with the poll below:

[poll=”4″]

Inspiralized Canvas Tote Bags

Inspiralized Canvas Tote Bags

Also, totally unrelated, but the Inspiralized Canvas Tote Bags are now available for pre-sale! There’s a special pre-sale discount, so take advantage of it: Inspiralized Canvas Tote Bags.

DISCLAIMER: ALOHA sponsored this post, but all opinions and tips are my own.

 

with love, Ali

leave a comment

comments

  • My biggest piece of healthy advice is to always try to be better than you were yesterday. Keeping in mind that we are not comparing ourselves to others but simply to ourselves.
  • Love this post. Have been considering trying a product similar to Aloha but haven't picked any up yet. Would love to try these before buying another brand :) thanks for sharing!
  • Great post. Success is built upon failure, and I think a lot of people forget that. I love the way you shared your journey, which is not so different from our own, even if you are The Inspiralized Muse.
  • My biggest "tip" (or something I like to always keep in mind) is everything is about moderation. :) We can sometimes get too obsessed one way or the other, and when it comes down to it, healthy living is making the best decisions 80-90% of the time ;)
  • Awesome! Thank you for the tips.
  • Cook on Sunday so you have healthy leftovers to come home to after a long day!
  • Love to hear about your journey. Thanks so much for sharing with us!
  • Would love to try this. Thanks for the tips.
  • Never skip breakfast! And exercise, even if it's just a power walking session.
  • I love this post! I agree with Stacy, moderation is key and paying attention to what you put in your body is important.
  • My biggest tip is just plan your meals ahead if possible. I'm usually rushed for time, so if I already have my food prepped and prepared as much as I can, then there is less chance I'll slip up.
  • Thank you for great ideas! I would love to try these Aloha regimes! My favorite thing I do each morning is an ACV and lemon juice water before my bullet proof coffee.
  • Great info! I eat healthy 80/20 as well and like to exercise. I've been looking for the extra boost, so your post was perfect timing.
  • Thanks for sharing!
  • Thanks for the inspiration!!! This post cracked me up because I try to eat healthy and exercise often, but my fiancé and I have DEFINITELY polished off a pint of talenti gelato on the couch ..more than once..! But I agree--I don't let it destroy me, I just wake up motivated to have a super healthy day. Thanks for your post.
  • a touch of lemon, 1 tsp of honey and apple cider vinegar in water is great
  • Love it. I'm not huge on juicing, but I definitely want to check out Aloha now!
  • Mine is… Put down the glass of wine. You have no idea how many sugars and calories are in it!
  • I just love you! I'm also Italian, so as you know eating is at the center of almost every social gathering! It's definitely okay to indulge once in a while (who can resist a glass of vino, or pass up on that dessert...we're only human right?!) but I try to do it only on special occasions and not make it a daily or even weekly occurrence. Sometimes I struggle with getting my greens in, so I love the idea of the Aloha packets...thanks for all the tips :)
  • This sounds like it would be worth a try! Helps when it's easy to do and if it tastes good id be less tempted to snack on something less Healthy :)
  • I love Aloha's green juice! When I wake up every morning, I always have a cup of warm lemon water with apple cider vinegar. It's supposed to help wake up the digestive system and detox the body.
  • My healthy living tip is to stay motivated and get your friends involved...it's easier to live a healthier lifestyle if your friends and family are in it with you and keep you going!
  • Loved the honesty of this post. Never heard of Aloha but curious to try it!
  • My healthy living tip, find some time to be alone. Even just ten minutes of quiet time will help you de-stress.
  • I start each day with a huge glass of water and a green smoothie. So much easier to stay on track when you start out healthy.
  • I've just started doing green smoothies and have even converted y boyfriend. I wouldn't mind trying juicing, but that's hard to do without a juicer! So I'd love to give Aloha a try!
  • I love this post. Coming from someone who has lost 70+ pounds and maintained that weight loss (while still on my journey now addicted to running!) it is still all about balance. I slip up but I remind myself how much better I feel when I am eating clean and healthy and putting things into my body to fuel my body.
  • These are some solid and logical tips! I LOVE the green juice - it's just a little outside of my budget. I'm very interested in their supplements after trying the green juice.
  • My healthy living tip is sweat everyday. The endorphins released will keep your mood high and you'll be more likely to treat your body with kindness, both with food choices and mentality.
  • My best healthy living tip is to meal plan. I can't stress enough how important it is!! If someone wants to lose weight and eat healthier, it is nearly impossible to just do it by the seat of their pants, lol. Knowing what you are having for your meals and snacks throughout the week makes such a difference.
  • Get post! I learned a lot and have never heard about Aloha.
  • I recently started working out at home using a DVD. My two young daughters saw me working out, and started cheering me on. It feels great knowing I'm setting a good example for them!
  • Choose organic when you can, meal plan each week, don't deprive yourself, and love every part of you!
  • I used to tell people I was on 'the common sense diet'. The response would be: Is there a book or a website??!!:) Like others have stated, moderation is key. Success is easier to achieve when you don't feel deprived (cue the big bowl of zucchini noodles). As frustrating as it can be to lose weight sloooooowly, it does seem to stay off.
  • Keep moving so you don't rust.
  • So easy and healthy! I've got to try it!
  • I love this post Ali! Thank you for your honesty and you are right that it definitely helps us all stay motivated. My biggest advice is to start small, prepare and keep it simple. Well I guess that's 3 but it works :)
  • My little late night tip is to brush my teeth after I eat. Less likely to eat a late night snack if I've already brushed my teeth.
  • I love your blog and this post is so helpful. Whenever I've done traditional diets, I have found my whole day is consumed with thinking about food. Since using your recipes as guides, the way I feel about myself and living a healthy lifestyle has really changed. I think these great tips will only increase how healthy I continue to feel.
  • Stress less about workouts is the best point!
  • I enjoyed learning that you, like most of us, have days when you slip up!
  • Thank you for the insight as to what you do to feed your body in addition to meals, greatly appreciated.
  • I completely agree with all your tips. I used to be an all or nothing girl in the fitness and healthy eating department too. Another good tip is to do weekly food prep on Sundays (or any day that works best) so you always have healthy food to reach for when you're hungry instead of binging on something in reach that isn't healthy.
  • Im turning my life around with healthy eating and would love to try the Aloha juice
  • Im turning my life around with healthy eating and would love to try the Aloha juice
  • The ALOHA sounds yummy.
  • I always follow (through social media) a lifestyle/health guide that I look up to - keeps me motivated!
  • Healthy tip: make small changes. You don't have to make a 180 overnight. Instead of soda, perhaps drink kombucha or tea. Instead of pasta, use spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles. Clean out your cupboards to get rid of the processed junk. Don't quit!
  • I love your blog and your honesty! You rock! I will have to check into Aloha, it sounds great =]
  • Love these tips and I am so motivated to try the Aloha mix. So much easier!
  • I might have to try using the mix in my Nutribullet!
  • Thanks for the tips on how not to get discouraged when there is a set back, love your recipes!
  • I think a good tip for healthy living is also keeping mental health in check. If there are people in your life bringing you down or causing negativity, or an issue at work that is unresolved, etc., it can really affect your overall wellness. Sometimes you have to 'trim the fat' and realize if there are mental toxins in your life, and get yourself back in the driver's seat! Thanks for the great tips. The Aloha looks really interesting -- I'd be intrigued to try it in my juices as well!
  • Thanks for the tips and I look forward to reading more!!! Love your blog, Ali..!!!
  • Its so helpful to know that everyone has slip ups. It's hard to keep to a great diet when there are so many tasty things out there! Drinking water is my saver when I get the urge for something not so healthy!
  • I eat paleo and i found that i function best when i eat all my carbs in the morning. by bedtime I'm already down to burning that fat!
  • Great tips, thanks!
  • Thanks for sharing your tips, and what works for you. We are all on a journey to find good health in the best ways possible!
  • Thanks for sharing. I've never heard of Aloha-good to know about it!
  • This was so awesome! I bought my spiralizer about a month ago and it's seriously changed the way I eat. I absolutely love it. You've definitely inspired me, and I can't wait to see more of your healthy tips and tricks!
  • I love having smoothies for breakfast, just drop some frozen fruit, unflavored Greek yogurt, and vanilla almond milk in a blender and blend up into a delicious breakfast smoothies!
  • This sounds like a great product! I would love to try it out!
  • I'm a huge fan of the green smoothie in the morning! And I agree, little slip ups happen, it's all about how we live our life as a whole. :)
  • Thanks for sharing!
  • Love the tip about getting back on it and not stressing if you splurge. It's so easy to think you blew it and that you have to start fresh the next day/week/month, but if you don't let it derail you, you'll feel so much better!
  • My healthy living tip is to stop and think before I eat a treat--is it going to help me accomplish my goals? If it isn't, is it really that good that I need it? 9 out of 10 times I decide it's not worth it and move on!
  • I don't have a juicer, so the Aloha is interesting and I keep reading about how great spirulina is for you!
  • I'm really glad you've posted your journey through healthy eating! It's extremely inspiring and I'm hoping I can follow the same path!
  • I love to start the day with a small glass of water with 1 tbls of apple cider vinegar, 1 tbls of lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of raw honey and add in whatever spices you like (ex. pinch of cinnamon, ginger, tumeric) Really makes me feel energized to start the day right.
  • To get in all the water drinking: drink as soon as you wake up, 30 minutes before a meal, and a glass before bed! Also eat an apple or other 'rough' fruit (nothing squishy ~ gotta get the motor running so to speak) 30 mins or so before lunch; it'll keep the belly full and keep you from eating as much as well as a daily fruit!
  • Instead of sugar, I get up from my desk and fill up my water bottle. After I walk a little bit and chug water, I sometimes forget I needed sugar.
  • Thanks for the tips!! I'm heading over to get a sample of Aloha right now!
  • I am excited to try this!
  • Thanks for Sharing!! I will love to try this with my nutribullet smoothies :)
  • Love it! So inspiring. Also, your skirt is ridiculously adorable. Wherever is it from??
  • I totally agree with you! Sometimes it is so easy to say, "I threw off my regiment" and just let everything go. That is the worst thing to do! One slip up does not change the entire trajectory! You can "keep on, keepin' on"
  • Im not a big juice person the green/grapefruit juice combo intrigues me. Also great advice!
  • Great tips! Reminds me I need more green smoothies in my diet.
  • Your number 1 tip is mine too! It took me many years of giving up after a bad day or week to realize that in the long run those little slip ups are not that big of a deal as long as you get back on track. We're human, it happens. Love your blog!
  • Cucumber is also good in water, especially in the summer. It makes it seem more refreshing.
  • Those supplements look great, especially if they incidentally help to decrease breakouts!
  • Sleep. You need to be sure you're getting an adequate amount of sleep. Something I've been working on recently, and feel better as I continue to get a little more each night.
  • Water all day long, especially a large glass in the morning. A smoothie every day with fruit veggies and fresh ginger. it makes getting in the good stuff so much easier. I use coconut milk or almond milk with the lowest calories and put it all in the vitamix.
  • I have never even heard of Aloha but I'm definitely interested. Thanks for the tips!
  • Deleting comments that don't agree with you I see. Terrible form. Unfollowed.
  • Never heard of Aloha will have to check it out. Love your recipes!
  • I am excited for the opportunity to win some ALOHA!! It's my favorite color and Sounds yummy :)
  • Thank you for your post. Even people who are working to improve their diet and health need some extra help for those times that they are just too busy.
  • be prepared.... it's easy to grab something healthier to eat when its ready/available!
  • Love these tips and I'm dying to try Aloha! My healthy tip is everything in moderation and never dieting...eat real foods and enjoy what you eat.
  • I think I would like to try these! Thanks for your blog!
  • sugar is my downfall, especially working in the hospitality industry right now! while i workout nearly 6-7 times a week, those couple of jelly beans or gummies get to me! thank you for this post makes me feel a lot better about not beating myself up because i think that stress truly adds to weight gain or just feeling heavy. over it! looking forward to trying your inspiralized "rices" this week.
  • I just found out about Aloha and now that I see you drink it regularly makes me even more intrigued to buy it! I am looking forward to seeing more healthy living tips from you!
  • Oh, you are totally missing out by not having the Talenti gelato. It's so delicious and a scoop is totally satisfying. If you can't enjoy ice cream without feeling like a fraud blogger, then maybe your blog mission is too restrictive? I don't know when the internet decided that this year was the year that sugar was the enemy but it's getting ridiculous. It feels like the whole fat free fad which was followed by the anti-carb fad... I like your blog for all the veggies in the recipes you feature. But I'm definitely not a fan of fads or pimping supplements and other products for vendors.
    • Sorry you feel that way, but I'm not "pimping" anything. I'm sharing what helps me keep on track. It's okay to have a healthy scoop of ice cream, but finishing a pint of ice cream is not healthy for your body. That was my point. Hope that clears it up!