Is fasting healthy?

FASTING for 12 hours…yay or nay?

Have you ever been confused by nutrition - specifically around fasting? You may hear that it's ok, even beneficial but then are doubtful after hearing from another source that breakfast is the most important meal of the day or that you need to boost your metabolism by eating as often as possible.


If you are nodding your head right now, then you're going to want to watch (or listen to) this recent live video I did on Facebook all about it.


In the video I talk about fasting, what happens inside our body during a fast, and my recommendations for most people, most of the time.


Of course you need to make sure you discuss any changes with a healthcare practitioner that you trust. I have to say that. ;-)


Please note: the 6-week group program I mentioned in the video is no longer open for registration at this time. We are currently working hard on making incredible body + mind transformations. Stay tuned for a future email (likely a few months from now) if you'd like to grab your spot in the program next time!


In good health,
Tara


P.S. While this video is only 14 minutes long, we get a little nerdy with the science. Fair warning. ;-)

FAT LOSS and Meal Timing

Fat loss - when the heck should I eat?

It's a common misconception that we need to be eating a million times a day in order to increase our metabolism and burn more fat.


First of all, let's talk about who is looking to burn more fat? If you are looking to lose weight or even just "tone up"…you're looking to decrease the excess fat you have on your body. 


Watch my latest live video (or just listen - you don't need to see my face) as I get into how to tap into your fat stores to use them up as energy. We're discussing meal timing (when and how often) and we nerd out on what insulin is and the role it plays in fat storage and fat loss. It's a pretty unknown concept to most. Definitely worth the 35 minutes if fat loss is on your agenda!


Here's a quick summary:


1) Insulin is a fat-storage hormone that helps us carry sugar into our cells to use as energy. Whatever we don't use gets stored as fat to use at a later time.


2) If insulin remains elevated, our bodies remain in fat storage mode and do not switch over to fat burning mode.


3) Lowering insulin is what allows us to switch over to fat burning mode. We can lower our insulin by focusing on nutrition upgrades and timing our meals properly (hint: eating every 2 hours will not allow your insulin levels to come down for you to enter fat-burning mode).



Watch or listen to the video for lots more details and for the 3 tips I share at the end so you can get going on your fat loss goals right away!!

In good health,

Tara

P.S. If you’d like a (FREE) 3-day meal plan designed to help you with WHAT to eat and WHEN to eat for healthy fat loss, you can grab that right here! Enjoy!

Get Motivated NOW

Get Motivated NOW

It's a top-5 question I hear, "Why can't I just get motivated to______?" (workout, meal prep, work on my emotional eating…)


Here's why…you are going about it in the wrong order! Motivation doesn't come first. Rather, motivation comes after we've:


1) Decide to change
2) Start asking better questions
3) Take small action ("5-minute action")
4) Gain momentum
5) MOTIVATION shows up!


If you'd like to learn more, watch the (20-min.) video below that I recorded live last week with more details and suggestions on how to work this process. 

In good health,

Tara

INTRODUCING - CUSTOM Meal Planning!

**INTRODUCING** CUSTOM Meal Planning!

I had a colleague reach out to me recently asking for my best business advice. The first thing that came to mind is ABL….Always Be Listening.


Those of you who have been hanging with me for a while know that I believe real change takes a lifestyle upgrade, education, practice, and accountability. That being said, you've also been requesting meal plans from me for a while. ;-) 


I get it! I do. I've seen first-hand how a curated meal plan helps me and my family. It also helps to kick-start results and motivation to continue kicking butt! In fact, someone recently emailed me to tell me she lost 4 pounds on my free, 3-day meal plan! Wow!


So, I have decided to listen to your requests. :-) This service is BRAND NEW and now available to YOU.


What does this entail? The cost is $89 for a 7-day, FULLY CUSTOM plan. After you sign up, I will email you a quick intake form to fill out online that gets me all the info. I need to create this plan for you. Once you've filled out that form, you will have your plan in your hands within 3 business days.


Along with the day-by-day, meal-by-meal plan, I will provide you with a complete grocery list and of course all the recipes!


Pretty exciting, right?


The one pictured above is for someone that wanted just 6 days of a vegan plan. But yours will be 7 days…and doesn't have to be vegan. ;-)


What types of things do I take into consideration when I make this for you?

• Your goals. Are you looking to lose weight, reduce bloating, balance blood sugar, have some new inspiration in the kitchen…?

• Your allergies / sensitivities. Dairy free. Gluten free. Nut free….

• Any particular style you like to eat such as plant-based, paleo, keto, mediterranean.

• Your likes and dislikes. Hate beets? I won't include any in your plan. Like guacamole? Bring on the Mexican dishes!

• How many people? I can give you a plan for 1 or make sure the servings can feed a whole soccer team if that's what you need. 

• Leftovers. Yay or nay? You'll see this sample plan pictured above has lots of grayed-out meals. These are leftovers and help save TONS of time in the kitchen. You may want to include lots of leftovers to maximize time, or you may want something new for each meal. Or something in between. Your call.

• Cooking time. Do you want fancy meals that may take an hour or more? Or would you like me to stick with things that can be thrown together in 20 minutes or less? You decide.

• AND MORE… I can adjust your meals and snacks to a certain amount of protein, calories, sodium, etc. if you have very specific needs.

Are you ready to sign up for your first-ever, fully customized meal plan for yourself or your family? I can't wait to help you!



In good health,
Tara

Dark Chocolate Love Bites

It’s Valentine’s Day week and it’s not too late to make something that requires minimal time + ingredients but looks super fancy…and tastes even better! ;-)

DARK CHOCOLATE LOVE BITES

Ingredients:

• 3.5 oz. dark, organic chocolate

• 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds

• 1/4 cup slivered almond

Directions:

1. Fill one large pot with water and place a smaller pot inside. Bring to a boil then reduce to simmer. Make sure no water can get into smaller pot.

2. Add dark chocolate to smaller pot and stir continuously until melted. It burns fast…don’t take your eyes off of it to help with your daughter’s math homework.

3. Spread a large piece of wax paper across your counter. Place a heaping teaspoon of melted chocolate onto the wax paper so it forms a circle. Repeat until all chocolate is used up.

4. Immediately place 4-5 pomegranate seeds in the center of each chocolate and then surround with slivered almonds.

5. Let chocolate cool for 1 hour before peeling off the wax paper. Arrange on a nice plate or place in mason jar.

   Make sure you tag me on social when you share these beauties! ;-) Enjoy!

   In good health,

   Tara

Metabolism article (with Dr. Axe)!

Hey guys,

Check this out…

I didn't pick this picture!! :-)

But, I did get to write alongside one of my favorite writers / educators in the holistic health space… Dr. Axe!

The article all about metabolism came out last week in Glam. If you'd like to find out if we are able to improve our own metabolism (spoiler alert: we can!), you can check out the article right here.

In good health,

Tara

P.S. If you struggle with a sluggish metabolism and are looking for a way to kick things in gear, grab my FREE 3-Day Meal Plan!

Eggs in a Butternut Squash Nest

Eggs in a Butternut Squash Nest
(Serves 2)

Ready for a new recipe?! This works just as well for Breakfast-for-Dinner as it does for regular Breakfast-for-Breakfast. Sorry, Lunch.


Ingredients:


1.5 cups butternut squash (spiralized into noodles)
2 tsp. coconut oil
4 whole eggs
sea salt + pepper to taste
1/4 microgreens (optional)


Directions:


1. Form the spiralized squash noodles into nests, making a small well in the center for an egg.


2. Heat a pan over medium heat and add the coconut oil. Use a spatula to transfer the squash nests to the pan and cook for about 7 minutes.


3. Crack eggs into cups and transfer them into the wells of the squash nests.


4. Transfer the egg nests onto a plate and season with sea salt and black pepper to taste. Garnish with microgreens (optional) and enjoy!

In good health,

Tara

P.S. If you enjoy recipes like this one, you’re going to want to hop onto my newsletter list! ;-)

3 NEW things to consider when meal planning

Hey guys,

In my latest live Workshop Wednesday video, I mentioned 3 important things I see so many of my clients skipping when they go about planning their meals out for the week. While almost everyone considers what they have in the kitchen, their budget, what they enjoy eating, and when they’ll be going shopping, these 3 things are often overlooked.

1. Goals - are you putting together your meals with your ultimate goals in mind? Does the meal plan reflect the types of food your body needs, the amount, the meal timing…?

2. Schedule - are you a bit overzealous in trying to cook too many new recipes in one single week? What days are busiest? Are you utilizing your leftovers in the best possible way? Leftovers save sooooo much time, money, and stress if done right. ;-)

3. Other people - who will you be cooking for? Are you making side dishes work for you so that everyone can enjoy the same meal and still be eating according to their body’s needs?

Check out the video for my tips and let me know in the comments…do you meal plan?

In good health,

Tara

P.S. Would you like a FREE meal plan to get you started? I’ve created “The Hangry Women’s 3-Day, Plant Based Meal Plan for Losing Body Fat” and would love to get you your copy!

Meal Plan Sign-Up:

Name *

Name

First Name

Last Name

Email Address *

Thank you for signing up for your copy of “The Hangry Women’s 3-Day, Plant Based Meal Plan for Losing Body Fat”. This will arrive in your inbox shortly. I can’t wait to hear what you think of the delicious recipes!

In good health,

Tara

Mac N Cheese Gone Wild

Hey guys,

Did you know it can do that? Me neither, but I thought it was fun to imagine those little dry noodles throwing a funky party inside their box when no one was looking. I hope the 'cheese' packet doesn't feel left out….I digress!

Alrighty, so I'm a realist. And, I'm a busy mama. Between the two, I realize that not everyone is making their own mac n cheese from scratch every time.

You have vowed to eat NO MORE bites of your kids' mac n cheese a million times. You are determined to introduce healthier foods to the family. You're also HUMAN and have a headache just thinking about banning their favorite boxed, yellow-orange pasta product from the house.

No worries! I've got ya covered today. Oh, and if you’re a DIY-homesteading-superwoman (my hat is OFF to you!), make sure you are signed up for my newsletter to get a constant flow of new, tasty, healthy recipes!

Ok, back to the boxed kind…baby steps! There’s no use having an extra reason for your kids to rebel or throw a tantrum. Let’s talk about some smaller steps to consider in order to first healthify your family’s favorite comfort food…

1) Dare I say it? Swap the box! Before you try to make mac n cheese from scratch, you might get more buy-in from the stakeholders (little humans in your house) if you start by choosing a different boxed variety. Rather than Kraft - which has lots of inflammatory ingredients - try Amy’s organic. They also have a gluten-free and dairy-free option if that fits your family’s needs.

2) Add veggies. This one works best when you do it gradually. You can start by adding some frozen butternut squash cubes into the boiling water with the pasta. The taste is sweet and it will break apart and enhance the color of the cheese sauce. Another great option is peas. These are small and you can start with just a few mixed in to get everyone use to the idea that green things can be expected in their food from now on. ;-)

3) Nutritional yeast. This can be found in most grocery stores or online and adds a cheesy taste to food - perfect for mixing into macaroni and cheese! Not only that, it also adds some protein and vitamin B12.

4) Sliced cherry or grape tomatoes can bolster the nutrition while giving your mac n cheese a “grilled cheese with tomato” feel.

5) Add mashed avocado into the sauce. Heck, use it in place of some of the sauce. More real food = a win! The avocado will add more healthy fats, creaminess, and …a fun color!

With these tips, you can steal a bite of your kiddo’s mac n cheese with a decent chance that you’ll actually have some real food in there!

*Warning: Results may vary. I make no promises that your particular child(ren) will be ok with any or all of these suggestions…but it’s worth a try! Try these steps one at a time for greatest chance of child consumption.

Which one do you think you’ll start with?

In good health,

Tara

Another booty exercise from the couch...with guitars and nesting blocks?

"More booty exercises, more booty exercises…!!"

Alrighty, I heard your replies and I raise you…another home exercise you can add to the mix to target those glutes.  (Also, why does auto-correct want to change 'glutes' to 'flutes' every time??  I've never played the flute…or talked about playing the flute in my life). 


Watch this super-quick video of me doing this move using my couch.  If that's not a win-win, I don't know what is.  I also may bring a guitar and some nesting blocks into the mix.  You'll see.


Oh, and squeeze your butt cheeks together at the top. Happy booty-building!

In good health,

Tara

Microwaveable Paleo / Keto Bread Recipe and Demo

You can make bread - from scratch - in 3 minutes using your microwave.

It almost seems impossible, doesn't it? Now, I know what you may be thinking.  "Tara, isn't the microwave unhealthy?" Yes, sort of.  Studies have shown that some nutrients are depleted when using the microwave to heat up or cook food.  So, as an everyday thing, I wouldn't suggest this cooking method. Here's where the 'sort of' comes into play.  If you make this bread instead of heading out to pick up your Wonderbread (or other bread that lives in the middle aisles of the grocery store), then this is definitely the healthier option!! 


If I'm being real with you - and I always am - I do use my microwave sometimes. This bread recipe would come out great in the oven too!  I just haven't nailed down the temperature and timing of it yet. If you end up trying it and want to save me some recipe-testing time, I'd love you to reply and let me know what worked for you.  ;-)


For now, I knew this one was too good not to share.  I've already had a few messages from people who saw the recipe when I first posted it on social media last week.  They're loving how easy and versatile it is!  Not only is it versatile in use (sandwiches, toasted with butter or coconut oil, cut into squares and served as a dinner side dish…) but it also happens to be paleo, keto, and vegetarian-friendly.  With just a few net carbs per serving, it's a great choice for someone that needs low-glycemic.

IF videos that make you sea sick...filled with cute toddlers, runny noses, and a lot of whining is your thing, you're definitely going to wanna check out this video demo that I did LIVE with my son, Jagger, when he was home sick from school.


If you're like, "Tara, just give me the freakin' recipe please.", then check out this pretty PDF that you can print.  It contains the nutrition facts as well!


'Til next time...


In good health,
Tara


P.S. If you are enjoying these recipes, make sure you join my private Facebook group, Lean In with Tara Allen Health, where there is a very large - and growing! - database of healthified recipes.  :-)

The 4 most popular diets...and what they have in common.

Hey all,

So, one of my favorite ways to share wellness tips and strategies is through my weekly, live Workshop Wednesday videos.  My most recent one was about the 4 most popular "lifestyle" diets at this time and what they all have in common.  


Yup, that's right!  There are 3 things you can do right now that will help you get the same health-promoting and weight loss results that people following these top 4 diets are raving about…without a million rules or a list of "good" and "bad" foods! Check out the video right here and start to tackle these today!

In good health,

Tara

At-Home Booty Exercises

Ready to work your backside?

Well gee…that was really personal!  Sorry about that.  But not really ;-) because I hear from so many women about how they'd love to sneak in workouts at home and focus on toning up their boot-y!

So, I figured I'd share a few of my favorite moves in a super-duper-fast video demo (do you have 36 seconds?!).

Try these 2 exercises for your glutes.  Scale the reps and sets up or down depending on your current fitness level.  Add in a march-in-place warm-up and weave in a few sets of jumping jacks or stairs to turn up the heat.

In good health,

Tara

What's everyone getting worked up about Keto for? BravoTV feature

Hey all,

Unless you’ve been avoiding all TV, internet, and media of all kind, you’ve probably heard about the very popular “keto” diet (a.k.a. ketosis, ketogenic diet, high fat low carb, HFLC…) What you might’ve noticed, too, is how many people seem to take this diet choice so personally - regardless of which camp they fall into. Check out my latest article feature for BravoTV to read up about what the diet is, what it claims, and why I believe people have such strong feelings about it!

I’d love to hear from you…do you know anyone trying this diet?

In good health,

Tara

Coconut Cherry Chia Overnight Pudding

We’ve been speaking a lot about healthy habits lately here at Tara Allen Health - what with the New Year and all. I can't think of anything more helpful than setting yourself up for success the night before.  For me, this looks like making the kids' school lunch and snacks, setting out my workout clothes (I either train clients or myself very early every morning), and taking a look at my schedule for the next day so there are no surprises.


Another helpful trick - especially if your mornings are typically frantic - is to pre-make breakfast for whoever you're responsible for feeding in the AM.  Some of my favorites that can be made ahead are overnight oats, veggie-egg cups, and this Coconut Cherry Chia Overnight Pudding recipe...

Coconut Cherry Chia Overnight Pudding
(Serves 2)

Ingredients:

• 3 T Chia seeds

• 1 cup coconut milk (or another non-dairy milk of choice)

• 1 cup chopped cherries (frozen or fresh - your choice!)

• 1 T raw honey

• Dash of pure vanilla extract

• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients in a glass container and stir well.

2. Cover the container and place it in the refrigerator overnight.

3. When it's time to eat, place a serving in a bowl and garnish with an optional teaspoon of almond slivers, or another kind of nuts / seeds.


If you try this recipe (or any of my other recipes) and decide to post to social media, please tag me so I can see it!  


Facebook: Tara Allen Health
Instagram: @tara_allen_health


In good health,
Tara

Your goals are set. Now what?!?

Don't wait for motivation to 'strike'!

Have you ever entered a new year (like right now) with tons of great intention, motivation, and a list of things you want to magically change about yourself or your routines?  And then something derails your progress a day, a week, or a month in?  Or you're making so many changes at once it becomes impossible to get them all straight?

I've been there!  In fact, I'm the queen of lists and dreaming big and taking on wayyy more than I can manage (sanely, anyway).

My latest Workshop Wednesday video was all about how choose where to focus and how to not rely on feeling motivated to do so. The truth is, successful people are no more motivated than you or I.  Successful people just implement a plan that involves taking action regardless of motivation being present or not.  The specific tactic I get into in the video is called The Domino Effect. If you have been nerding out on goals and creating new habits lately, you're going to want to check out this video!

Happy New Year!

In good health and holiday cheer,

Tara

I have a surprise for you! (Sugar cravings? Health goals? Read this!)

Psst…

Yeah, you!  The one that knows she's destined to make some amazing progress in her health this year. The same one that's also dealing with the post-holiday sugar cravings and telling herself she'll "start" when those go away...

I get you. I do. The holiday cookies, pies, bread, pizza, chocolate, and wine are SO DELICIOUS, but come with tons of baggage like your favorite toddler when you try to leave the house for 30 minutes.  

It can be tricky to gain any traction with your goals when you're still battling those cravings for sugar and carbs.  So, as a thank you for allowing me to hang out with you every week in your inbox, I have a surprise for you!

Coming January 14th to an inbox near you: Crush the Cravings, a 5-day (FREE) Challenge.  No need to do anything if you’re already signed up for my newsletters.  Well, you could tell a friend (or 5) if you want to help me help others!  ;-)

If you’re not yet on my newsletter list, it’s not too late to join! Sign up at TaraAllenHealth.com - right on the home page, and get ready to open a new email everyday next week with a new tip or habit to practice that will have you well on your way to eliminating those cravings by week's end.

Sound good? Great! I'm excited to hear how awesome you feel at the end. Use #crushthecravings and tag me in your posts as you track your progress!

"See" you soon,

Tara

THRIVING this Holiday Season: Part 2, FITNESS

Ready to THRIVE?

What are you waiting for?!  


If you celebrate Christmas, then today is a very special day for you. Merry Christmas! If you are reading this in real time as it showed up on my site, right now I am probably taking too many blurry pictures of my children as I choke back tears as I remember "how little" they were last year at this time. I'm emotional. I cry over everything.  :-)  


But, chances are you are reading this at another time.  Maybe it's Tuesday night now or Wednesday morning. Regardless of whether or not you celebrate Christmas, you might be thinking ahead to more parties this week as New Years approaches quickly. If you thought that I was going to tell you right now to avoid alllll cocktails, cookies, and pie…you thought wrong.  I want you to enjoy yourself…with intention!  And, I want you to feel as though you're not "off the wagon".


One way to allow all of the merriment to happen and also not feel like you've tossed away all hope at any of your health goals is to keep (or re-establish) an exercise routine right now. Before I lose you here, I'm not talking about going from nothing to 60-minute workouts!  How about 5 minutes today?  How about 10 tomorrow?  What can you do?  Let's start there.


In my latest Workshop Wednesday video, I shared a little bit about how to set goals in a completely new way (hint: behavioral over outcome), and also get into 7 ways to get your fitness in during the holiday season…and Winter in general.  There are unique hurdles that present themselves this time of year, but there are also unique opportunities!  


Here's a summary:


Tip 1: Commercial breaks.  During your favorite holiday movie, Netflix, or DVRed show, march in place or do dips on a chair.


Tip 2: Be creative.  Ten squats every time you go to the bathroom (yes, even at work) is that much more than you're already doing.


Tip 3: Festive decorations.  Bundle up for a walk or run as a different way to experience the beautiful lights this time of year.


Tip 4: Holiday fun run.  There is still time to sign up for a New Year's run or walk.  Be social and active at the same time.


Tip 5: Track your steps.  Use an app or wearable device to try to improve the number of steps you take.  Using those gifts cards or making returns at the mall?  Perfect!  Do a few extra laps.


Tip 6: Shoveling. You have to wait for Mother Nature to cooperate for this one, but take advantage when the white stuff gets here.


Tip 7: Winter FUN. Snow tubing, ice skating, sleigh-riding, skiing, snowboarding...


Which one of these is your favorite?  I'd love it if you hit "reply" to this email and let me know.  


In good health and holiday cheer,
Tara


P.S. If you want to catch the video, here it is!

Thriving this Holiday Season: Part 1, The Food

The holidays are upon us! If your life is anything like ours, you will have parties and gatherings and events everyday for the next week and a half. :-) It’s fun! And also, it can be tricky to manage any type of health goal with all the food, cookies, alcohol, and hot cocoa.

Check out my recent Workshop Wednesday video in which I shared my top tips for not just surviving, but actually THRIVING, during this festive time.

In good health and holiday cheer,

Tara

P.S. Stay tuned until next week when I share Thriving this Holiday Season, Part 2: Fitness.

Eliminate these 2 things to see near-immediate results!

You just want someone to tell you what to do sometimes...

I get it! I do.  If you've been reading my blogs for a while now, then you know that I believe in the, "If you bring a woman a fish, she'll eat for a day.  If you teach a woman to fish, she'll eat for a lifetime" approach. (That was paraphrased with a creative twist).  ;-)

However, I do really know what it's like to sometimes just want someone tell you what to do. When it's a week before a big holiday and 2 weeks before another big holiday and there's so much to do and what seems like an unlimited amount of parties with food and alcohol...

It can be hard to stay focused. It can be tricky to remember how to fish for yourself.

Today I'm sharing with you 2 things to eliminate (or greatly reduce) from your plate that will bring you near-immediate progress.  These tips are NOT easy - especially this time of year.  So, you get to choose when to use them.  Save these tools in your tool belt for the day after a particularly fun party.  :-)  Or, start immediately so you can get a bit of traction and energy before all of these events.  It's up to you!

The video is below. If you don't have time to watch or listen to the video for all of the details, here's the cliff notes:

1. Refined sugar
2. Refined flour

They are not doing you any favors for your health.  If they are soul food for you - as in, your soul is happy when you eat them - then by all means, keep some of it in!  But, choose intentionally. Be picky.  Save it for special foods and special occasions.  Watch how much better you feel when you do that!


In good health and holiday cheer,
Tara


P.S. 2019 is coming!  It's our year and we're coming for it.  One of the things that I do to give me a leg-up is keep my healthy habits in place.  If working out consistently or eating properly for my body type and goals weren't a habit, I wouldn't be able to accomplish a whole lot, to be honest. This took some time for me to establish.  And then, I had to figure it all out again post-babies. Things change.  But, the fact that I need my health, energy, and confidence in order to go after my dreams has never changed.  If you are looking to improve your health, energy, and/or confidence in the New Year so you can crush your goals…and your life, then I think you should! That's where the magic is.


I coach women through this transformation through nutrition, fitness, and lifestyle changes that bring great health, energy, confidence…and JOY!  Let me know (email me at Tara@TaraAllenHealth.com) if you are interested in chatting (free of charge) to discuss what some of your goals are.*

*Limited offer: This offer is available to the first 5 people that email me.