Essential oils. Do they really live up to the attention they have received the past few years? I have always been someone drawn to natural remedies before taking over the counter medications, so when I started hearing about essential oils, my interest was piqued. I heard about them through friends and then at work and everyone I talked to was so passionate about the products they had been using, so I decided to do some research and ended up ordering a few...I was instantly ho

If you are in Nashville, you know the drill…sunny day, rainy day, cold day, warm day, tornado warning, perfect day, random snow and frost, high pollen count, more rain, and so on and so forth. So the weather is a little unpredictable here, but the sunny and warm days are absolutely amazing! Have you noticed you feel happier in spring and summer? This is because sunlight triggers an increased release of serotonin, which in turn makes you feel happier. Serotonin is a neurotrans

Lately I have noticed that my vegetable intake has been low. I think it's for a couple of reasons - 1 that veggies don't always taste great (I prefer mine smothered in butter and cheese) and 2 that veggies are not all that convenient. So I've been trying to figure out ways to sneak veggies into food I already eat to see if I can trick myself into eating more. If you also struggle with eating your greens then pay close attention. The easiest way is to add greens in throug

If you are into eating healthy, you know how tricky shopping can be. There are new “miracle” products what seems like every single week and grocery stores are overwhelmingly full of choices. While I have so many new favorites, here are my current top 5. Looking at the list below, the products seem random, but I use each of them daily. Hope y’all enjoy! 1. Vital Proteins, Collagen Peptides I stumbled across Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides this summer and was honestly unsure i

Since one of the things on Amanda's list last week was motivating yourself with new workout gear I thought I would highlight some of my favorite local shops for athletic apparel! $ Tjmaxx - great for all workout gear, I especially like to get  leggings,  sports bras and yoga mats (they are like $12!). $$ Volunteer traditions - does not just have cute UT  gear but they also carry Harper Knit which makes very cute and comfortable workout gear. They also have amazing sales! In

As expressed in previous posts, I am not one for cardio, especially running. However, I have found that rowing is a great cardio activity that I surprisingly enjoy and I thought you might too! Using a rowing machine works your upper and lower body while promoting your stamina and kicking up fat burning. It is also lower impact on your knees and other joints than running. Additionally rowing machines can be purchased and easily used at home for maximum convenience (so no exc

It is speculated that 80% of New Year's resolutions fail before February (Business Insider). If your wellness resolutions are fading fast this ones for you! The way to "cheat" resolution goals in your workout is to incorporate supersets! What are supersets you may ask? They are the practice of doing two or more workout sets together with out rest between them. They can be done focusing on the same muscle group (think bench press and pushups) or different (think bench press a

A lot of us are trying to carry out new years resolutions that involve fitness/health. I have found that a great way to to help me reach my wellness goals is by including detox water in my day to day. Detox waters are easy to incorporate, relatively inexpensive and taste great. They help flush out toxins in your system. Some of them are even supposed to help burn fat and fight off cancer. Detox waters consist of fruit (or fruit peel) chopped up and put into water. Let the fru

This post is a little different than my usual posts but I have recently found out about an expo/job fair that is coming up and I wanted to share! Nashville, TN - On January 27, 2018, the Winter Wellness Expo and Job Fair - For Women will be heard at The Scarritt Bennett Center from 10-6 pm. This Expo prizes from local business owners; inspirational speakers on mental health, relationships, and starting a business; and will have fitness classes being taught there! If that was

Originally written by Heather Clift for Live Laugh Love Nashville on 09/30/2017 After completing her undergrad at Vanderbilt, Kathy Mead returned home to Atlanta and worked in various offices but felt like something was missing. The athlete within knew she needed to get out and stretch her boundaries. She had been a certified exercise instructor for a long time and thought being a Strength Coach at a University would be a better fit to her passion as well as help others along

The holidays are upon us and this time of the year is associated with lots of travel and big meals. To combat some of the health problems that come hand and hand with these holiday traditions we started up suspension workouts. Besides weight gain from the over eating that tends to happen during holiday meals, blog clotting and misalignment of your hips and spine are serious concerns associated with long car rides. You can take your suspension workout system anywhere which is

Oatmeal is an healthy and warm breakfast for chilly winter mornings. Oats also have many health benefits. Oats are whole grain, are gluten free and are a good source of fiber. They also are packed full of vitamins (including Zinc which is an excellent cold fighter - important in the cold weather months). Furthermore, oats help to keep you full and can promote weight loss. So to get you through the brisk winter mornings here are some of my favorite oat recipes! I like to use s