P.O.W.E.R. Clean Eating Challenge Debrief

We recently wrapped up leading our first Clean Eating Challenge.  Several of our POWER girls said they would love to see a debrief blog post.  You asked, we deliver! 

First, a huge THANK YOU to those of you who took the time to fill out surveys for us!  We (& many of you) really wanted a face-to-face debrief meeting with all of you at the conclusion of the Challenge.  But, because May very well may be the craziest month of the year, especially for those of us with school aged children on a traditional school calendar, we were not able to make it work out this time.  Which is why your feedback was even more important to us!  Thank you!

Fitness Friday

I get a "nudging" (as my friend Jenni calls it) to write sometimes.  I've had a nudging, but I haven't had the time.  And now that my kids finished school two weeks ago for the summer (cue angels singing!), I HAVE THE TIME!  If I could send them to school half the time, and homeschool the other half, I'd totally do that in a minute.  Because, man, the school rat-race is tough!  If you have kids in school (real school, not preschool), you know what I'm talking about.  The month of May is IN-SANE.  Definitely worse than December, which ranks right up there.  And every year seems to get a little more insane.  How is that?!  I always thought that when they started school things would slow down.  Ask any mom with big kids and they'll tell you I was dead wrong!  But, I digress...The point is, I have TIME.  Time to actually enjoy my kids (instead of my kids' to-do lists!), time to try new recipes, time to actually read a book, or blog.  It's been at least 9 months since I had TIME.  Such a precious commodity.

Tummy Troubles

If you are having Tummy Troubles with your new way of eating, Jenni offers some great insight in her latest blog post.


Tummy Troubles

Clean Eating Challenge, Day 1!

Hello Clean Eaters!  Today is the big day we kick off P.O.W.E.R.'s Clean Eating Challenge!  We even have some blog readers that have let us know they are participating from home.  So exciting!  Remember, this is a CHALLENGE.  It is meant to be....CHALLENGING, for lack of a better word!  It's good to challenge ourselves.  There is so much to be learned.  Challenge is where life change happens.  LeAnne and I are on the other side of the challenge this time, as we lead you, but we are both participating with you as well.  It is a great nutritional reminder to have!  We have already gotten a few emails sharing with us ways you have been enlightened, about food, and about yourselves.  And we are only on Day 1!  Please feel free to share those moments with us!  That is what this truly is about.   

Remember, you are not alone in this!  There are others out there, including us, who are glad to support and cheer you on.  And there are two POWER studios full of women taking on the same challenge.   Use each other as resources!  Share recipes, products you find at the grocery store, tips/tricks, failures & successes.  Speaking from my own personal experience, living healthfully is made so much easier in community!  #85 at 101 Revolutionary Ways to Be Healthy (which is full of awesomeness!) is Find Your Tribe:  Surround yourself with other healthy, positive, active people who share your passions. It's a lot easier to thrive around people who are thriving.  Can I get an 'amen'!

Reposting another of Jenni's fabulous blogs for you, on the subject of reading labels, as that is something many of you will learn to do this month.  We cannot stress enough, the importance of reading the Ingredient List.  We've all been taught, especially in recent years, that the Nutrition Facts are the most important part of the label, but we beg to differ.  The Ingredient List is where it's at!  Learn the importance of knowing what is in the food you put in your body.  Your body was made for whole foods, not a load of sugar, and especially not chemicals.  That's like going to the gas station and putting the wrong gas in your car.  Your body will run and respond more efficiently, depending on the fuel you put in it!


In Jenni's post, you will also find a great list of nutritious snack options.  To ensure your body runs most efficiently, the best snack is made up of a combination of a lean protein and a complex carbohydrate.  Your body, in general, best handles food (=fuel!) every 2-3 hours, as a lean protein/complex carb pairing.  You can read more on the "why" of that, on Jenni's blog also.   


Labels Lie & Liars Make Labels


Happy first clean eating week, friends!
Dawn

Hands Off My Ho-Ho's!

As we're all working on getting prepared, both mentally and physically, for this challenge, we'd love to share some great thoughts from Jenni...

Hands Off My Ho-Ho's!

Whole Foods "Field Trips"

On Tuesday, we led two "field trips" to Whole Foods in Cary, just for our P.O.W.E.R. girls.  We showed them how to navigate this amazing store (seriously, if you don't have one in your area, you are missing out!), and lots of our favorite products.

In our favorite part of the store, the produce section!  9pm, store closing.  Fun times!

Make today matter-

dawn & leanne

POWER Clean Eating Challenge Kickoff

Wow!  What a great turnout of women we had for our P.O.W.E.R. Clean Eating Challenge Kickoff/Q&A!  It is a very special sisterhood we are blessed to be part of:  women passionate about fitness and nutrition, while seeking balance in all other aspects of life - faith, mothering, family relationships, work, ministry....  The energy was electric at LeAnne's on Sunday!  What a thrill to be part of that, and to see so many women hungry (no pun intended) for change, especially in the area of food.  We are blessed beyond measure with this crazy ride we are on, and the opportunity to serve others with the knowledge and experience we are gathering!  For some "light" blogging, in the midst of a crazy kickoff week, enjoy some photos from this amazing, successful event! 

Us "green girls" in action... 

Over 40 POWER women (and a few teenage daughters!)...

Sweet Jenni opened our fun evening and we were so happy our much loved Janine was able to join us halfway through, after her own very crazy, busy day!

POWER girls enjoyed a table full of examples of Clean Eats we buy at the grocery store.  

In the kitchen, they enjoyed samples of Kale Chips, Roasted Chickpeas, Black Bean & Avocado Salsa, Peanut Butter Cookies, Raw Fudge, Green Smoothies, bread from Great Harvest Bread Co.and samples of Soy, Almond, and Coconut milks. 

And, of course, fun and fellowship! 

And, our newly put together recipe and info binders...

We are overwhelmed and amazed at what is happening here in the suburbs of Raleigh, in our little part of the world!  Something BIG is happening!  Bigger than any of us.  We have no idea where the road is leading, but our hands are open to however God wants to use us.  It is a joy and a privilege to serve you!

Blessings-

dawn & leanne

POWER Spring 2012 Clean Eating Challenge DATES

POWER Girls participating in Clean Eating Challenge,
Some important dates to put on your calendar...


Sunday April 15, 7-9pm:  Kickoff/Q&A at LeAnne's
We'll have some clean tasty treats for sampling, go over the challenge details, give you a chance to ask questions, and have a little fun while we take care of business!  You'll decide whether you'll be participating as a Cadet (clean eater, beginners) OR as a Firefighter (advanced, based on Engine 2 Diet book)  You'll also have the chance to sign up for one of two "field trip" opportunities to Whole Foods. 
*Please RSVP for Kickoff/Q&A and let us know if you'll be attending!


Tuesday April 17, 10:45-11:45am:  Whole Foods "Field Trip"
Tuesday April 17, 7:30-8:30pm:  Whole Foods "Field Trip"
By popular request, we'll be offering two different opportunities to participate in a "field trip" at Whole Foods.  We'll do a walkthrough of pantry staples, our WF Favorites, and answer any questions you have.  (Note:  Please plan to do your actual shopping at a separate time.)

Sunday April 22:  Challenge begins!

Your green girls-
dawn & leanne

 

Clean Eating Challenge

Mark your calendars, because on April 22 we will begin our Spring 2012 Clean Eating Challenge with P.O.W.E.R..  This time, we are excited to be on the other side of the challenge, helping Janine and Jenni make things happen.   As we prepare our fellow POWER girls to get on board, we'd like to extend the challenge to our blog followers as well!  You do not have to be part of POWER to participate.  You do not even have to be local.  Join us as we help others say "no" to the Standard American Diet (highly processed, sugared & void of nutrition).  We believe, and have experienced for ourselves, that nutrition is the key to optimal body composition, health/wellness, and strength.  The challenge will run for 4 weeks, from April 22-May 20. 

The premise of the challenge is simple:  to eat "clean".  Never heard the term "clean eating" before?  The goal of eating clean, is to eat foods closest to the state in which God made them.  To learn more about Clean Eating and what the challenge will entail, take a peek at Clean Eating Challenge and POWERfuel Eating Guidelines. 

Stay tuned!  More to come...

Your green girls-
dawn & leanne

S.C.R.E.W. This! Challenge, Week 2

As we enter into P.O.W.E.R.'s second week of the S.C.R.E.W. This! body image challenge, we'd like to share with you our friend & trainer, Jenni's, blog post titled Taking Thoughts Captive...

Negative mental chatter is something I have known since I was a child.  I was not even aware of how naturally it came to me.  And even up until six months ago, I would have told you that it was "just who I was", a part of my personality that was unchangeable.  Within the last year I have become aware of how strongly my thought life affects not only me, but all of the people around me.  It is draining.  I am here to tell you that I learned that I have the power to control my thought life!  It is a choice!  Just like practicing gratitude is a choice.  At first, it had to be a very intentional choice.  As in minute by minute and hour by hour, I had to remind myself that with God's power, I could choose what I filled my mind with.  There is truth to the saying that if you do anything for 21 days, it becomes a habit.  Months later, I am still Dawn, a cautious realist, but my mind isn't nearly the poison to my soul that it once was.  There is hope for you, if this is something you struggle with.  And even if it isn't, we can all use an extra dose of healthy self-talk this week. 

Today I urge you to meditate on two of my favorite scriptures, that I claimed on a daily basis as I set out to "renew my mind":

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Romans 12:2a

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Phillipians 4:8

Special Sunday blessings-
Dawn

S.C.R.E.W. This! Challenge, Week 1

Here's a warm Sunday hello from your two favorite plant-strong bloggers!  We had great fun today at our very unofficial "business" meeting over lunch!  If you're wondering what looks different, we aren't wearing make-up today, to kick off Week 1 of P.O.W.E.R.'s month-long body image challenge, otherwise known as the S.C.R.E.W. This! challenge.  (From the home page, click on the Body Image tab)  Yeap, no make-up for a whole week.  Fortunately, neither of us wear much make-up to begin with, but I've got to say I felt a little naked going to church this morning.  Someone told me I looked tired.  Why yes, I am, thank-you-very-much!  But I'm thinking it's the lack of eyeliner. 

Please check out the challenge, consider participating (you don't have to be local!), and spread the word.  Share it with everyone you know, boys and men included, as we are ALL in need of a new definition of beauty!  Oh, and please leave us a comment if you decide to participate!  We get bonus tickets for getting someone outside of the POWER family to participate, even if it is just for one day! 

We'll leave you today with this thought-provoking video, put together by Chris Cockerham, husband of one of our very special trainers. 

Make today matter-
Dawn