 Walking barefoot on the lakefront is so fabulous!!!!! Nature has always been a part of what brings me energy and happiness. As soon as my feet hit the water, I feel really good and a smile creeps on my face. Living in Chicago is a lesson in embracing change as we go through such quick seasonal transitions. Change is constant. And I thank God for that now. If any of you are really good at embracing winter, will you show me the way? haha! I need some serious work on embracing the cold weather in our city! I loved this quote by Donald Miller "Ten years from now, may we all look back and love who we were while hardly recognizing them'. I want to feel that way at the end of every single year vs. ten years though. And this year might be my biggest year of change yet - internal change that is. I have met humility - grace - forgiveness - self control - discipline - pain - love - head on and rolled around with all of it. Life is so messy. I love it. Don't you? I really genuinely love this short breath of life we all get. I think when I changed my diet earlier this year and stayed consistently on track w/ it, I realized the benefits of self control & discipline via health. I saw tangible change in action. I watched my body respond to the changes by.....transforming & looking/feeling differently. The experience broadened my view of 'what's possible' with our bodies. It was also a reminder to me that real change is possible with commitment - self control - discipline - and of course, desire. I have learned to 'ride out' discomfort without running. I entered 2015 not caring for change at all and I will be leaving 2015, absolutely embracing change! This entire year has been so special. I am loving what I've learned from God and how I am being refined by Him. He has given me new eyes to see through and an even more tender heart. Snapshots of Wellness will be undergoing changes as well which will alter the site for the remainder of 2015. I am heading to Seattle as well as diving into a number of wellness commitments outside of 'SW'. It's time for me to spread my wings a bit and dive head first into my health/wellness education even further by embracing new projects! What does this mean for you, the readers? I do not want to announce an official break from blogging but I will be not be blogging as often for October. My plan is to blog once or twice at most in October. I will decide then how often I will blog in Nov.-Dec.. I am learning not to make such sweeping statements rather process & plan in smaller time frames via SW. This works best for me. And I think it's most respectful to all of you. I am also re-evaluating my time spent on social media. I believe we are stealing intimacy from ourselves by the constant addiction (good word for it) to our IPhones and social media entirely. I notice people aren't even looking up from their phones anymore. Every single 'adventure' is being photographed at such a rapid rate via IG that we aren't even looking UP at our surroundings. It's gotten so unhealthy. I will be creating a much healthier balance and I cannot wait to fill more of my time w/ nurturing my wellness journey vs. being attached to my IPhone. Join me if you wanna (0: I hope this serves as an example to you to embrace change in your own life. Walk right into change so you can break any inertia in your own life and only then can your journey leap forward. I'll leave you with this quote below by Priscilla Shirer. And my hope for all of you (and me) is that we all ditch the fear & embrace change. If you have yet to embrace change, I am thinkin' you are going to be amazed at what God has in store for you when you just 'jump'. Your miracle is on the other side of just do it - Priscilla Shirer {To read more 'ah-mazing' quotes, head over to my Pinterest quotes page here}. Anna Shadid, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach & Creator of 'Gorgeous Gut' educates us....9/28/2015
 Anna Shadid - Making Health Effortless - Gorgeous Gut I am so excited to introduce all of you to Anna Shadid, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and Curator of the Gorgeous Gut here in Chicago! Anna specializes in digestive health as well as GUT HEALTH which we will be chatting about today. She is definitely carving a niche in Chicago as the Integrative Nutrition Health Coach that everyone is wanting to work with. Why? I believe it's because of her unique individualized approach to health combined with her clients transformative results! Prepare for an in depth education on the importance of healing the gut in order to heal your body. Please read Anna's own story here. Anna & I met earlier this year because we are both heavily involved in the wellness community in Chicago. And we decided to meet for lunch to learn more about one another. If you are an avid SW reader, then you know how selective I am about whose work (physicians, nutritionists, dietitians, etc.) I promote on my site. I really need to have a thorough understanding of their health/wellness vision -make sure that they are practicing a healthy lifestyle themselves and finally, that they are filled w/ integrity (a tough combination to come by in the health industry). To date, I have only promoted 4 physicians/nutritionists in totality over a 2 year time frame. And Anna Shadid will be the 5th! Expect to hear Anna's name often on SW as I strongly believe she is a clinical leader via gut health in Chicago. I highly recommend that all of you peruse Anna's site, scroll through the Gorgeous Gut event page to get involved in the Gorgeous Gut community and above all, I genuinely believe that working w/ Anna one - on - one would transform your health - mind, body & spirit! And while you're over at Gorgeous Gut, try Anna's delicious recipes!!! My personal favorite thus far is the Raw Sauerkraut! Andd I am giving the Mint Chocolate Truffles a go this week because they look beyond delicious! Let's get started!!! Readers, I recommend grabbing a pen & paper to take notes. And meet Anna and I over at the interview below....:  'Click' on the photo above to connect directly with Anna Shadid of Gorgeous Gut. 1. Anna, can you share with SW readers why gut health is often the underlying cause in so many people's health challenges? And if you would even share some surprising gut health facts that might surprise people, that would be great! Great question. I could write a short book on this topic! Gut health is an emerging field of many research studies and it is fascinating that the information obtainable is perhaps just the tip of the iceberg. The gut is very complex. Based on my analysis, experimentation's and client case studies, I have found Dr. Alejandro Junger’s interpretation of breaking the gut down into four main parts, to be the best way to comprehend the gut ecosystem. Understanding the role of each part is imperative in knowing why gut health is often the underlying cause to so many health challenges. This way, you can effectively apply it to your own unique situation and build the connection and awareness that is essential for optimal health. To get my clients thinking about the intricacy of the gut and how it functions, I first ask how they would treat a plant that is dying. You look at the soil and water the roots because that is where health and disease start, right? You wouldn’t simply paint the leaves green to give it the appearance of good health or replace whole branches with healthier ones. So if you want to get truly healthy, you have to get to the root cause. The body’s health begins in it’s own internal roots, and that is the gut. The four main parts are: the digestive tube, the immune system, the intestinal flora, and the nervous system. As a basic understanding, each part functions as follows:
As you can see, your gut is always talking to your brain. It is in constant communication through nerves and hormones, having both a direct and indirect effect on every single cell in the human body. Consequently, the gut is exceptionally good at tricking you into thinking it is fine and that the real problem lies elsewhere, in fact anywhere in the body. Many factors can cause your gut lining erode including stress, antibiotics, lack of probiotics in your diet and eating the wrong foods. These instances can trigger and activate the immune system creating havoc that leads to problems system wide, unique to each individual. 2. As an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach in a world w/ such a wide range of holistic health practitioners, when should clients/patients come to you and when should they go to a licensed physician? My role as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach is not to prescribe or assess micro- and macronutrient levels; provide healthcare, medical or nutrition therapy services; or to diagnose, treat or cure any disease, condition or other physical or mental ailment of the human body. Rather, I am a mentor and guide who has been trained in holistic, Integrative Nutrition Health Coaching. I support clients to reach their own health goals by helping them devise and implement positive, sustainable lifestyle changes and mindset shifts. I take account of the whole person (body, mind, and spirit), including all aspects of lifestyle and their unique expression of health and vitality. I am not acting in the capacity of a doctor, licensed dietician-nutritionist, psychologist or other licensed or registered professional. Any advice given by me is not meant to take the place of advice by these professionals. If my client is under the care of a healthcare professional or currently uses prescription medications, I recommend that the client discuss any dietary changes or potential dietary supplements use with his or her doctor, and should not discontinue any prescription medications without first consulting his or her doctor. Clients choose to work with me in this capacity and understand that the information received should not be seen as medical or nursing advice and is not meant to take the place of seeing licensed health professionals. 3. You've shared with me how you do not provide blanket healing protocols for your clients rather, you have a completely individualized approach because everyone presents with such a unique set of symptoms & circumstances. Will you elaborate on this? This is the beauty of one-on-one coaching programs. In group settings, this is not practical. Everyone is different, so generalizing a strategy to eradicate gut dysfunction and meet individual health goals is not a one-size-fits-all situation. I have Gorgeous Gut Principles I use as the foundation of my coaching practice. These principles work best when you personalize them, doing what works for you and modifying what doesn't. I support my clients to become a detective in their own body. I empower them to listen to their body and make their own decisions about which foods work best, while giving them the support and accountability to do so. Through one-on-one coaching programs I am able to customize the path to follow and my recommendations each step of the way. I am able to provide specific tailoring to the individual to create and advise a rejuvenating lifestyle that will assist in resetting the body. By spending one-on-one time with these clients, I can listen to their health histories and look at correlations among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can influence their long-term health. 4. Can you share some basic health, supplemental & nutrition tips that all of us should be doing right now to improve our gut health? My top tips (in no particular order) would be to:
 Anna Shadid - Gorgeous Gut Recipes 5. What are some of the most remarkable improvements in health that you have seen in any of your clients after they 'heal their gut'? I have seen many clients who struggled with stomach pain, nausea, acid reflux or GERD and IBS (since they can remember), finally identify what causes those symptoms, remove them and live in control of their health and life without those concerns. Clients with arthritis have been relieved from years of pain. One client, who is a musician, had the best performance of her life, booked more shows than ever before in one weekend and for the first time ever did not need caffeine to boost her energy afterwards! Overall my clients experience satisfaction, relief from digestive distress, more energy (abnormally high energy levels have been reported), less inflammation, minimal cravings for refined sugar, a love for clean eating, relief from asthma and allergies, improved mental clarity, better meditations, better self care and self love, decreased anxiety and depression, healthy responses to stress, weight loss when needed and positive focus, attitude and mindset shifts. 6. What do you recommend that people completely eliminate from their diets and or lifestyles to improve gut health? In general, what I recommend to eliminate can be different for each person based on their unique situation and severity of gut dysfunction. Additionally, how long I recommend to eliminate, whether it be 2 weeks, 6 months or indefinitely, can vary. The most common toxic triggers based on clinical research studies and my own client case studies are gluten, dairy, sugar, corn, soy, eggs, nightshades, alcohol and coffee. Majority of my clients come to me unsure of what is causing their symptoms. I believe that doing an elimination diet is the best way to identify what isn’t working with your body. The reintroduction phase of an elimination is such a rare opportunity. You see exactly how certain foods affect you, body, mind and spirit. It is very powerful. 7. Let's talk about the patients with the most compromised gut health. I am referring to the patients with parasites, chronic infections and/or chronic illness rooted in the gut. What is your approach with these particular patients? My approach again is customized based on the client's overall health goals, concerns and lifestyle. They understand my role as a coach, and work with me for the support, accountability and recommendations I have for their unique circumstances. However, sometimes clients will come to me without any diagnose or thought that what is going on is more of a serious issue. After working with them for a month or so I can usually tell that there is more than likely an underlying issue or issues - whether it be a parasite or chronic intestinal infection of sorts. At this point, I would recommend they go see a Functional Medicine Practitioner, in addition to working with me. If I can, I will refer them to one in their area that I recommend or I will assist them with doing research to find one. The Institute of Functional Medicine’s website is a fantastic resource to find a practitioner who has trained with IFM in your area. In addition, I will ask other Functional Medicine Practitioners I know if they recommend any referrals. 8. Can people really heal 'leaky gut'? It seems leaky gut has become almost a 'tagline' in wellness. There is a lot of confusion as to whether a detox protocol can heal leaky gut or if leaky gut reappears.....repeatedly. People can heal their gut. So just like no two people’s health problems present themselves in the same fashion, there are endless ways in which the gut gets injured and at varying levels of severity. This is precisely why personalizing a path based on the unique circumstances that exist for each person becomes critically important. The body is always changing, and what works for you today may not work for you tomorrow. Personal experimentation and patience are key through the gut-healing process and life. Small habits done consistently tend to work best and produce big results down the line. I know how difficult it can be to change your lifestyle, but the more you take pleasure in and celebrate each success (no matter how small it may be) along the way, the more it will stick with you. I believe that periodic gut repair is the best preventative medicine of all. Once you are aware of the factors that can destroy your gut lining and understand the core principles assisting your body with rebuilding your gut, you can’t go back. The real secret to lifelong, vibrant health is to learn how your gut works, understand how to repair it, keep it clean and balanced.  I highly recommend you reading Anna Shadid's blog on the Gorgeous Gut site! What an education! 9. You've shared that gut health is not just about the physical state of a person's body but their emotional, mental & spiritual health as well. Can you share more about this? Of course, this is such an important aspect of overall health and well-being that often gets overlooked. A core coaching principle of mine revolves around the concept of primary foods and secondary foods. Nutrition is a secondary source of energy. Primary foods, or nonfood sources of nourishment, are what really fuel us. Primary food goes beyond the plate, nurturing us on a deeper level. The four main primary foods are: career, relationships, physical activity and spirituality. The more primary food we give ourselves, the less we depend on secondary food. On the contrary, the more we fill ourselves with secondary food, the less space we leave for primary food – our true source of nourishment. I always recommend clients take quality time to explore their personal balance between primary food and secondary food, and ask which area could use some attention? With this approach, I have been able to help clients find the root of their problem, learn how to become in-tune with their body’s unique language, establish necessary mindset shifts and maintain results while living life to the fullest. 10. If there was one last tip to share with SW readers about healing their guts, what would you add? The intention is not to be a purist for the rest of you life if you enjoy the foods and behaviors that become known as your toxic triggers. Have them and enjoy them, bringing your awareness fully to the present moment with each bite, sip and step of the way. Oftentimes there is nothing worse for digestion than guilt. What’s most important is that you dedicate time to explore this process and build the strong connection between what you consume and how you feel. Your lifestyle wasn’t created overnight, and it won’t be reset overnight either. There are thousands of theories and opinions about diet, lifestyle, stress management and health. New philosophies are coming out all the time. But nothing is more reliable than your firsthand experience. What I realize from my interview with Anna is just how complex the gut is and how worthwhile it would be for all of us to join the Gorgeous Gut community whether that be working with Anna one on one as a client, attending an event she is hosting or simply getting educated further on digestive and gut health via her blog. Anna, thank you so very much for sharing your expertise with all of the SW readers today! And readers, please share what you have learned today with others as that is how we thread wellness into community!  Howdy! Happy Friday! Here's the thing.. ...if you are in Chicago, now is the time to get outdoors! We have less then two weeks (so I am told by the folks who pay attention their weather apps) of beautiful & extra warm weather and then we have to wait months to experience this again! It's beach weather today & this weekend so, the Chicago lakefront is jam packed! This is our last chance to wear the bathing suit, flip flops, shorts, etc. Revel in that! Sooo... The BeHealthful Retreat is this Sunday! If you follow SW on social media, then you already know this! Plan for a day of pilates, yoga, fitness training, eating healthy, talking to holistic physicians, nutritionists, health coaches, etc. It's SO hands on! After this weekend, Snapshots of Wellness has quite the treat for my readers! I am so excited and hope you will be too! I have interviewed Anna Shadid from Gorgeous Gut so that all of you can get a very detailed education on gut health! This interview will be published on this upcoming Tuesday! Anna is a Nutritional Health Coach and well, she is brilliant! She is generously sharing so many tips on how to have a healthy gut JUST FOR YOU - the SW readers! Another 'bit & bite' is that my small group is studying this book called Armour of God by Priscilla Shirer and wow, it's an education! I highly recommend it. At one point in the study, she talks about not living any aspect of our lives by our feelings. And this registered w/ me b/c I did this in a particular relationship of mine in my recent past. It did not serve me or the relationship well but, when you know better, you actually do - do better. Thankfully I was not doing this in any other area of my life so it's not a pattern. The insight she provides really wakes you up and my goal is to never do that again (Donald Miller has led me to believe that it's possible to not repeat a behavior once you really move forward from it...you just cannot go back). After listening to her, it seems very illogical to ever do that again. She has a brilliant delivery! I love learning & growing. Anyway, it got me thinking about how people apply this to their diets & health, etc. People allow their feelings to dictate their wellness journey which is a disaster. So, I think we will chat more about this on SW at some point and I will share what I learned from the study. What's next....hmmm.....I read this really great excerpt on suffering which I shared under 'Him' on my site. My hope is that if you are suffering in any way at all, it brings you comfort. I was able to relate to what J. Sparks had to say. You can read it here. And lastly, so many of you keep asking me about fashion - haha! This is not a fashion blog but - in my opinion - the most amazing fashion blogger in the city of Chicago is Blair Staky of The Fox & She so, if fashion is your 'thang', go check her out here. Eat up this weather and enjoy the weekend ahead!  My computer has been getting repaired which is why there wasn't going to be a blog post until next week! I got it back early though (tap dance). I really appreciate all of your emails and questions but, my time is limited to respond to everyone. Sooo, I thought it would be fun to post 10 of your questions below (minus your names) and answer everyone in one swoop (0: It certainly feels odd to answer questions about myself via my own blog but all of you keep asking so, this is for each of your inquiring minds! Thank you for tuning in! 1. I read an article of yours that was controversial on MindBodyGreen about being single & not having kids. Do you want kids? Why did you write that article? I am so happy to address this question publicly because so many people have asked me questions about that article. The whole intent of the article was for people to embrace where they are in life - to reach for the joy in our present circumstances - especially if we ended up somewhere we didn't think we would be. And my present circumstances is (and was) that I am single & therefore, I do not have children yet. The article was received as a feminist stance where I was so proud & empowered to be 'childless' and without a husband. The responses from the article (there were hundreds - literally) were so cruel....oh my. To answer your question above, yes, I do want children and God will see fit as to how He will bring them into my life. I even state this in the article. My deepest desire is to get married and have two children via adoption, biological, surrogacy....whatever God wants. And I trust the Lord knows best as to what I need so I wait on Him. 2. What is your favorite juice place in Chicago - you post about several of them! My favorite place to get juice in Chicago is JuiceRX in Old Town. They have raw, cold pressed and fully organic juice. I have found that a lot of the juice companies in Chicago are not fully organic. And these companies do not advertise this. For example, Whole Foods on Kingsbury St. now has pressed juice when you walk in but they fail to mention it's not organic. And this was disappointing to find out. 3. I saw you recently at NW and you lost so much weight!!!! How did you do it and why are you not talking about that more on SW? haha - thank you! Yes, I did lose a lot of weight. And I am enjoying a thin frame immensely - I worked so hard to get back to this size. I think the biggest contributor to me losing weight was eating organic whole fresh foods and ditching sugar the 'majority' of the time. And loving myself! As for sharing this on SW, I don't know. I have shared about weight loss along the way but I really prefer to keep the focus elsewhere. It's strange to talk about yourself on your blog to be honest so I don't ever do that too much (I share my thoughts of course but sharing a whole article about my weight loss would be strange) outside of these Q&A's. Please explore the articles on SW though because I do share a lot about healthy organic foods and how to get the sugar out of your diet.  4. Do you ever splurge with food or do you eat clean every single day? What do you splurge on? I absolutely splurge. My entire perspective of food is so different then it used to be....drastically actually. While I do not believe in 'all things in moderation', I do believe that if you are going to splurge on a rare occasion, embrace & enjoy it! I eat daily for 'fuel'. This means that each meal of each day, I strive to put the best fresh organic healthy foods in my body. It makes me feel good - happy - energized. I also splurge though (by the way, I like that word) sometimes and when I do, I really embrace it! I think beating ourselves up over food is really psychologically unhealthy. Think about that 'I am going to choose to eat this piece of cake and then after I make that choice, I am going to be mean to myself about it' - it's kind of a messed up mentality so I do not partake anymore. So, when I eat the cake, I smile with each bite and enjoyyyy - haha! My favorite meal to splurge with is breakfast! I do this rarely but once in a while, I will have a really warm cup of sweet & spicy tea by Honest Earth (my favorite) with thick pancakes (I prefer my pancakes to be vegan) & gooey organic maple syrup. I also love organic chocolate bars (of all varieties - haha - I'm not picky) and I will always smile about a really good slice (or three) of pizza! And that wraps up what I splurge on.  5. Will you be writing more about Christ on your blog? Yes! 6. I really loved your quote page on Pinterest. Do you have a favorite quote? Thank you! I appreciate that. Hmmm, I love the following two quotes: - The times I feel most alive are when I'm caught up in something that makes me forget myself. Art. Work. Other people. Nature. God - Donald Miller (I love this quote because this is when I truly feel most alive and most happy). - 'The stakes are high. The water is rough. But this love is ours - Unknown (This quote always reminds me of being in love). 7. When you do share photography of yourself, why don't you show your face very often? I cannot find many pictures where I get to 'see' you? hahaha - I have always wondered why not one reader asked me this and here you are! I do not show my face often because I love mystery. And I love camera angles that add a layer of art to a photo. I will share more of my face though in the future (0: 8. Any fun facts about you that are not on the blog? Let's see. I will share several: 1). I took Equestrian for a couple of semesters in college - my love for horses is major and riding/loving them brings me so much joy, 2). I love to sing...la la 3). I dream of being in Kenya serving others & holding their hands on dirt floors - I have a vivid dream of this often, multiple times a year - same dream, 4). I rarely (if ever) watch movies but I appreciate the scenery in the movie 'Wild' with Reese Witherspoon - I've seen that move about 5x, 5). I can tap dance really well & enjoy getting lost in music. 6). I really love homemade apple pie but only eat it - at most - once a year 7), I appear to be a dreamer - to live by whimsy - but those that know my work ethic and how I really approach life - through the years, know I am a meticulously organized planner/a focused strategist in life. I am a total enigma: I'm an introvert trapped in an extroverts body - a dreamer/seeker/explorer trapped in a realist body - I'm a nerd trapped in a non-nerdy persona -and I am super feminine but have a lot of tomboy in me. I can go on but I think ya'll are getting the idea. I don't know if those were 'fun' but that's what came to my head. 9. Are you going to share more about Food Tank? YES! 10. Do you work for Vega because you talk about them all of the time on social media? No I do not work for Vega but I LOVE LOVE LOVE Vega (big cheesy grin with jazz hands)! And that's all she wrote! Thank you for the questions - I know I only answered 10 but it's time for bed! You are all so kind and inquisitive - it's genuinely flattering so thank you for even caring to ask. Enjoy this beautiful fall weather!  Me...drenched.... having been caught in a major rainstorm w/ friends and realizing I had a Theo's Organic PB Cup in my backpack. Now there's some JOY. It's Friday! Yay! I am typing fast because I am eager to jump off social media buttt wanted to share a quick post on what is coming up in addition to BeHealthful Retreat! ! I also wanted to share a tidbit of insight on a question asked from a reader of SW. So,.....September 27th is the BeHealthful Retreat! I know a ton of you are attending!!! I cannot wait to hear what your wellness takeaways are! After next week, SW will be all about organic healthy autumn recipes! You wanted this so, you're gonna get it! And please note: SW will be not be blogging until after September 27th. As for today, a reader wrote in wanting some tips on how to 'find joy'. And I was drawn to the question because my 'fall back' is consistently joy. My typical day to day demeanor is one of joy. Joy comes from deep inside of your soul and pretty much pours out of you EVEN if you are sad, stressed, frustrated, down, etc. Joy is so so so different then 'being happy'. I am definitely not happy all of the time but I have joy almost all of the time. If you really know joy, this will make sense to you. Soooo to answer this reader's question, you can find joy a lot of ways via the world but I think TRUE joy comes from within. My advice - since you are askin' - would be to start with your faith in Him (or whatever your faith is) and ask Him for joy. Pray. Tell Him exactly what you told me and then be patient. He will provide you with the joy you are ultimately on the hunt for! As for other ways to 'capture happy' until you actualize joy, I would recommend eating organic & unprocessed. I am telling you, this will make a world of difference!!!! Your body will respond in so many amazingly positive ways to you eating nutritious 'real food'. I would really explore holistic health even beyond food! It can prove to be a radical education! Also, call a friend that you know makes you laugh or indulge in an activity alone or with others that makes you smile. Move that body of yours ((((0; I can continue to list off potential activities that will possibly bring you all sorts of 'happy' but you asked about 'JOY". And my humble pie opinion is that true JOY only comes from having true faith in Him. And that's a wrap! Enjoy this weekend!  Raw Pumpkin PIe Cheesecake by Nutrition Stripped (nutritionstripped.com) Fall is in full swing in Chicago which means 'tis the season' of pumpkin everythingggg....yummm! My mind goes straight to pumpkin pie which I LOVE! I do adore Fall and all that this season represents (psst, summer is still my favorite): The colorful leaves, full beautiful trees, warm breeze in the air coupled with a bit cooler temps, plaid, football season, pumpkin patches, apple picking, pumpkin lattes (I don't drink them but I love how they smell), fresh organic seasonal produce at farmers markets, butternut squash w/ cinnamon and pumpkin spices flavor more dishes. Did I miss anything (smile)? Chicago seems to sense the 'urgency' in being outdoors this particular season because we know what comes next......ugh, I won't even say it. Today, I wanted to share this crowd pleasing recipe I found on one of my absolute favorite sites, Nutrition Stripped! Please head over to make this insanely delicious Raw Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake! When I do indulge in a dessert now-a-days, I make sure that it has the healthiest fats, natural sugars, organic ingredients, oils, etc. So, I typically make my own so that I know organic ingredients of the highest quality are being used. And I share ((((0: I love when a dessert doesn't leave you with that sugar crash either. For me, that crash is no longer worth the seconds of ''yum''. This Raw Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake is hearty, creamy & soooo yummy without any processed ingredients at all. I actually prefer this to traditional pumpkin pie. And I will be making this (again) for an event a friend is hosting this weekend. It's a great addition for Thanksgiving as well. What do you love most about Fall? And what are your favorite Fall desserts?  “Climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view. Climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you.” ― David McCullough Jr.  Food allergies are the fifth leading chronic illness in the US – and their incidence is on the rise. From 1997 to 2007, food allergies increased 18 percent among children under 18 years, and today an estimated one out of every 13 children has a food allergy. The body’s immune system keeps you healthy by fighting off infections and other dangers to good health. A food allergy reaction occurs when your immune system overreacts to a food or a substance in a food, identifying it as a danger and triggering a protective response. From my experience learning from Dr. Mercola, undiagnosed food allergies affect a much larger number of adults then even the clinical statistics above suggest. Dr. Mercola suggests that if you have food allergies, then you need to tend to your gut health (discussed in this article). SW readers will be hearing a LOT about gut health in my upcoming interview with Integrative Nutrition Health Coach - Anna Shadid - of The Gorgeous Gut. My own personal advice is to see an Integrative Health Specialist (such as Anna Shadid), Naturopath or Functional Medicine Physician - all of whom can provide testing via food allergies and/or walk you through a nutritional plan designed for your body/needs. I will share briefly that prior to 2015, I was eating a lot of wheat, soy and grains - all of which I have eliminated from my diet. My Naturopath uncovered - through actual lab testing - severe food allergies to wheat (go figure), white flour and soy. How terribly ironic that I had been eating (daily) soy and wheat! Ugh! When I cut them out of my diet, my belly bloat disappeared, my weight began a steady decline & numerous symptoms dissipated. It's SO important that you are not just taking advice from personalities on the internet about diet rather, getting tested for food allergies and/or working with an Integrative Specialist to determine what is best for your specific body. Medical Disclaimer: Just a gal with a lot of experience both professionally & personally in the medical realm. I am not a doctor which is why I am urging you to go to your holistic physician to discover what is best for you.  Sometimes the people, perspectives & moments in life that lead me to actual transformation also leave me the most tongue tied. I often struggle to put what is happening in my heart and mind, into actual words. And maybe I don't need to find the words all of the time rather, I can just let my life speak for itself As a Writer & a Blogger though, I do need to make some sense out of what I want to share....haha. So, I will try my best. The book - Scary Close - by Donald Miller is a catalyst for a complete shift in my life. And not just a slight shift but an all out 'leap' into a healthier direction that is growing my faith in Him. When I say 'leap', I mean, I am showing up in my life completely differently......after a ton of hard work and mentor-ship by those I feel most safe with. The process of growth has been both exhausting & gratifying. It's been such deeply hard work........life altering really. I was introduced to Donald Miller by someone special in my life. And he recommended that I watch a video of Donald's at the beginning of this year. And I watched. It made an impact on me 'in the moment' but then I went right back to my daily life not giving the video or Donald Miller another thought. My ex-boyfriend believed that Donald Miller was 'changing the face of Christianity'. Powerful statement. It still wasn't enough for me to explore Donald Miller's teaching further. It wasn't until about 4 months ago, that I was just reflecting on life - praying to God - and contemplating where God was leading me next that several people started mentioning Donald Miller to me....again. And a dear friend referred me to Donald Miller's book, Scary Close. Scary Close is about Donald Miller having said 'enough' of failed relationships, 'enough' of trying to impress people and 'enough' of the life he was once building that wasn't enough at all. Scary Close is about a man - after the age of 40 (which blew me away) - who radically changed his life........his inner life...... which translated into a completely different life entirely. Scary Close is about "the risk involved in choosing to impress fewer people and connect with more, about the freedom that comes when we stop acting and start loving:. It's a story about knocking down old walls to create a healthy mind, a strong family and a satisfying career {Excerpt from Scary Close}. Scary Close is about surrounding yourself with 'safe people' and being a safe haven for these people as well. Before I read Scary Close, I was failing at my relationships with men. I am single and every single relationship I have been in with a man has led to a break-up or divorce. And while some can look at their 'break-ups' as 'meant to be' or stepping stones to 'the one'. I stopped looking at my break-ups that way. Thank God. And I started to dive into why I was choosing the partners I chose- my own unhealthy patterns - my healthiest patterns - and what I wanted out of relationships moving forward. And then I started to examine my friendships. The friendships that I did not feel particularly safe in but kept in my life. And the friendships that were thriving. The friendships where I was afraid to speak up. And the friendships that were toxic. And in examining all of these people, I was mostly examining myself. Anddd then I looked back at the family I grew up with. I talked through every single tough memory with people I feel safe with. We talked about how I showed up in life as a child - how I was treated by others - and how I treated them back. Through Donald Miller's story, various aspects of my own story began to make sense. I actually began to understand God better and what He wanted for me. I wanted a brand new story. I wanted to radically change the way I was living. And I wanted to be in the healthiest relationships & community possible. This would require massive change on my part. The healthier I get, the more blown away I am about how unhealthy some of my relationships were.......which means, taking responsibility for my own unhealthiness. Humility is such a brave teacher. I am also recognizing those that were so manipulative - those that would 'take' - those that have taken advantage of me entirely while I fed them my heart - those that projected themselves right onto me. So, as much as I was realizing about myself through reading Scary Close, I was also seeing others through a very clear and healthy lens.....finally. And rather then feeling prideful, I felt pain. I felt pain that I allowed those people into my life - pain that I participated. I was seeing the people who would not admit when they were wrong - the self righteousness - the controllers - the utter bullies . The ones who Donald Miller described in depth in Scary Close. And yes.....yes, I saw myself too. Donald Miller writes in Scary Close "What else changes a person but the living of a story? And what is a story but the wanting for something difficult and the willingness to work for it"? He also says "There's truth in the idea we're never going to be perfect in love but we can get close. And the closer we get, the healthier we will be". If Donald Miller was reading my blog, I would tell him 'thank you' knowing that he might just understand how much heart was behind my gratitude. I am grateful to Donald Miller for his own bravery and courage. I am grateful for him taking a step out from behind the curtain to expose his own vulnerability....to the world. I am so impressed that at 40 years of age, he decided that he would embark on a journey that led him to the healthiest life, the healthiest marriage and the healthiest friendships. And I am grateful that Scary Close influenced me enough to do the same. No book other than The Bible has impacted me more deeply then Scary Close. I've loved many - hundreds- of books but no, no other book served as a catalyst for me following through with change (the 'following through' part is the key). I don't know too many people who actually 'change' but I know a lot of people who blame and point their fingers at the world. Donald Miller looked inward and through massive amounts of humility and wise/safe counsel, radically changed every aspect of his life by understanding healthy love and then living it out. I feel rescued by God through Scary Close. I finally have no desire to look back.....only forward. Scary Close has taught me to move on into a life of healthy love & connection.  I absolutely love reading (well, what I truly love is learning)........I devour books, blogs, articles, etc. I think we need to be constantly learning - growing - changing - evolving - and challenging our hearts & minds. There is so much to learn every single day - every age - every phase.......of life. This is what I know to be true about myself..... If I am not intellectually challenged & stimulated on a daily basis (yes, daily), I get incredibly bored. I know God has no intention of providing an entirely traditional life for me. And I'm good with that. My life must have whimsy, adventure, electricity, fire, community, mountains to climb & conquer, a deep love & great joy despite trials. And it does. I want more of 'all of this' though with His leading. I am in this stage of life where I am rediscovering what makes me tick - what makes me come alive- what makes me feel Him saying 'yes'. I am definitely an explorer - a seeker- an adventurer.....even if my adventure is curled up on my roof deck of my loft building. Adventure is everywhere. Today, I wanted to share three articles with SW readers. I found them not only to be compelling but practical/useful advice that I am personally applying to my own life in relation to where I am headed via my vision & health. Enjoy! Oh quick, justttt in case you are new to reading a blog, simply click on the article names below and you will be transported right to the article (0: What Makes a Meaningful Life by Donald Miller Adrenal Fatigue & Dehydration by Lisa Callinan (Note: It was GREAT to read someone sharing information about 'Aldosterone' regarding Adrenal Fatigue - seriously fabulous because Aldosterone is often left in the dust via treatment). Lessons on Amplifying Life from Bob Goff's 'Love Does' by Shawn Parr  Recently at my church, one of our Pastor's - Jason Helveston - talked to us about the biblical verse Micah 6:8. Basically to 'DO' justice - 'LOVE' mercy - and 'WALK' humbly. Do you notice the 'call to action' in front of 'justice', 'mercy' and 'humbly'??? We are to DO - LOVE - WALK. I know God is telling me to get out on the front lines to serve others vs. behind the keyboard. Blogging is certainly a gift and it's enjoyable but, I believe that God meant so much more when He said 'DO' - 'LOVE' - 'WALK' in respect to justice, mercy and humility. And I am certain God has much more in store for me on the dirt floors of villages in both the United States & other countries where animals and children desperately need our help. With that being said, Snapshots of Wellness is a brand that is now thriving as a leading wellness resource in the city of Chicago. And the blog will continue to have a presence via integrative & holistic health content. Wellness is an all encompassing lifestyle & journey that I am passionate about sharing with others. There is so much more to my personal journey though....there always has been. And I am starting to feel God's tug on my heart.....to be of service more in the actual world vs. the virtual one. Thus, you will notice that content as well as frequency of content will continue to change as God gives me direction. My ultimate goal is to be so entrenched in serving children & animals as well as sustainable agriculture, that my involvement on social media is minimal (with the exception of documenting photo-graphical experiences & interviews via other blogs). If I am blogging, I want to be blogging about my experiences 'on the front lines' of 'doing justice' or making a difference somehow. And if I am not blogging about these two topics, I don't want to blog at all. So, I am plotting my vision & strategic plan moving forward with the help of Donald Miller's Storyline Conference. And life is going to start looking very different for me (as God intended). An amazing example of someone 'doing justice' - 'loving mercy'- and 'walking humbly' is Christy Turlington Burn's, Every Mother Count's organization. Please get educated and if you feel led, involved!  Hi everyone! SW is back from a rejuvenating break! Thank you for your patience. I am so elated to talk to all of you today about my perspective of the 2nd Annual BeHealthful Retreat hosted by Sarah Baker on September 27th! The BeHealthful Retreat is a one day holistic wellness summit that is going to absolutely blow you away! You will leave with a hands on education on overall wellness, health, fitness & nutrition from the experts located in Chicago, IL. You will have experienced spa treatments, yoga/pilates classes, interacted with numerous health & nutrition coaches, given advice from holistic experts on just about every topic you can think of that will empower you, sampled numerous products, tasted hearty yet health plant based foods and more. What you will experience in ONE day at the BeHealthful Retreat is not being offered anywhere in the United States (I tripled checked & feel comfortable stating this as a fact) to date & the ticket price is so beyond reasonable! Snapshots of Wellness will be doing press for the BeHealthful Retreat! What this means is, I will be at the retreat leading live Twitter discussions about what wellness tips I am learning from the experts as well as a live - hour to hour - photo reel via Instagram - showcasing my favorite moments at the retreat! The purpose is to share the BeHealthful experience for those of you that cannot be there with us! Finally, a day spent at this wellness summit is a day investing in YOU - your health - your overall well being. And you will be surrounded by women and men who are making their health a priority as well! It's so energizing! You will walk out of this retreat transformed in some way and I cannot wait to hear how! This retreat has the potential to change your life and I say that with absolute certainty.  Enjoy this long weekend everyone! Soak in the sun - hike, bike, stroll, swim, enjoy cookouts, love on your community.........and do every single thing you can outdoors Chicago! This is the closing chapter of our summer so, savor it! I know I will be. I highly encourage all of you to take a breather from the virtual world these next few days to be present in the real world. There is so much to see & experience and sometimes we miss it because we are dialed into technology. I am taking my own advice - Snapshots of Wellness will be back after September 10th. “By all these lovely tokens September days are here, With summer’s best of weather And autumn’s best of cheer.” ~ Helen Hunt Jackson  Anu Alphonse I rarely talk about music on Snapshots of Wellness but that's about to change. Music is such a part of wellness. Music ignites the gamete of emotions in all of us. Doesn't it? Music is cathartic and sparks memories - Songs cultivate the love inside of us for another - Lyrics remind us of a moment or help lead us where to go next. Music energizes us to move - to dance - to let go. Music picks up our spirits or brings us down low. Music invigorates the soul. Music brings us alive. Music speaks. Who are your absolute favorite musicians? What are your go to songs & lyrics? Please share w/ me across any of my social media handles. I always love being introduced to new music! One of my absolute favorite musicians is Anu Alphonse who is based here in Chicago! Head over to his site to get to know him as well as his sound. You can follow him on Instagram 'here' or Facebook 'here'. Well actually, you can go see him this weekend if you are looking for plans to kick off Labor Day weekend! Anu Alphonse is playing at The Abbey alongside of Ethan Butler & Luke Wade. I'll be there in the audience w/ a bunch of friends & I'd love to hang out with any of my readers so, swing by! Deets can be found 'here'.  Your body cannot heal without play. Your mind cannot heal without laughter. Your soul cannot heal without joy. — Catherine Rippenger Fenwick |
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Created and curated by Kelly, Snapshots of Wellness encourages all of you to cultivate your 'joie de vivre': Compassion for Animals via food, style & lifestyle. 
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