I love that I have this opportunity to wake up on the coast at Rancho Palos Verdes here in Southern California. Today I am stretching and breathing on the edge, enjoying abundance, and remembering that we don't need to worry about running out of air to breathe or that the sun will run out of sunshine to shine upon us. I'm feeling deep gratitude and joy. What brings you joy today?
Today is what I call "Fitness Friday" because it's when I like to post an activity we can all enjoy over the weekend that will help us keep active and get outside. Something as simple as an urban hike, aka walk (LOL), is a fun way to discover a new neighborhood with friends and/or your canine companion. As you may know, Kanga and I love to urban hike. We found an industrial area in West LA at the end of the afternoon that was bathed in golden sunlight. The lighting was magical. I guess that's why it's called 'Magic Hour' or 'Golden Hour', which is the one hour before the sun sets. (We took this photo without a filter!) I guess you can say our Happy Hour is Magic Hour! What will you do to get outside this weekend?
I'm offering my final 2013 series of Ani's Raw Food Certification Courses in September in Santa Monica, CA. Level 1: September 20, 21, 22. Friday 3pm to 6pm. Saturday 8am to 4pm. Sunday 10am to 2pm. Level 2: September 27.28.29. Friday 3pm to 6pm. Saturday 8am to 4pm. Sunday 10am to 2pm. Level 3, Teacher Training: September 29, 30, October 1st. Sunday 4pm to 6pm. Monday 10am to 4pm. Tuesday 10am to 2pm. My inspiration for creating these courses is to help people learn how simple, quick, and easy raw food preparation can be! It's all about delicious and nutritious recipes made using a handful of easy to find ingredients. Complexity is added with sauces and plating. To support a healthy diet and lifestyle, we need to know how to make our own food, quickly! In my courses, I also discuss lifestyle topics including fitness, natural beauty, organic and eco-green living, healthy detox, weight loss, and much more. And for those interested in launching their own business, writing a book, and or creating a show, I talk about business strategy, entrepreneurship, marketing strategy, and keys to building your brand. I hope you can join me in September for one or all 3 of my courses! It's a really fun course, and a great way to detox feasting on the best raw food ever!! For more information, please visit my course page.
When the weather's nice out, all I want to do is play outside. I love hiking, biking, walking, swimming, and most of all...dancing! Yesterday, my ladies and I spend our Sunday Funday a Beverly Hills rooftop pool party where my friend and DJ Eric Sharp was spinning the best beats ever here in Los Angeles, CA. Swimming and dancing are both great ways to soak up sunshine while burning calories. Dancing burns about 350 or more calories an hour and aides in weight loss because it takes about 3500 calories to loose a pound. I'm targeting to loose about 3 pounds in the next couple weeks. So, dancing is a fun way to workout and get in some accidental cardio. For the next 3 months, I'm avoiding wheat and gluten, refined sugar, starches, and alcohol. Enjoying nuts and seeds in moderation, lots of vegetables, and some fruits. Focusing on upping my protein with sea vegetables, buckwheat, spirulina, and legumes. I'll keep you posted on how this makes me feel and how it changes my body. Hoping to get leaner and stronger for my Powerlifting Competition in November. Let's all keep active this summer, while remembering to eat clean too. xo
Energy Truffles are a great way to power a long hike, bike ride, and even a car ride. These truffles travel easily, and are packed full of delicious organic goodness. I took this batch on a 4-hour hike in the Santa Monica Mountains this past weekend with my personal trainer. Each time our energy would get low, we'd pop one of these truffles to boost our endurance and stamina. They are made with omega-3 rich walnuts, antioxidant filled cranberry and raisins, and superfood cacao and maca. Flavored with a hint of vanilla, and rolled in coconut. Delicious!
I recently spent a few days with Kyra and Billy at their home in beautiful Carmel Valley, CA to help Kyra with her weight loss and health goals. I left Kyra with 2 days of recipes and a couple new exercise regimens that will help build her muscle mass while accelerating her fat burning. BACKGROUND: Kyra had been struggling with her weight since she turned 40. She lives a clean life, is mostly vegetarian and eats fish a couple times a week, and is in tune with healthy living. Kyra goes to the gym several times a week, and takes long walks almost daily. She travels for work about 2 weeks each month, and wanted an easy plan for preparing her own food when not at home. Plus, she wanted to be able to balance out the excess food and drink across the rest of her life with healthier detoxing foods made at home. Kyra needed refinement to her regimen to up her health results. Her man Billy, on the other hand, is not as health conscious. His diet consists of primarily animal products, and it's been a struggle to get him to even taste the healthier foods Kyra makes. SHOPPING AND PANTRY: First, I helped to clear out Kyra's fridge and pantry. Next, we went to the local co-op, where I taught her to shop for ingredients and produce. We also went to Earthbound Organic's Farm Stand, which was full of amazing veggies and fruits. MY FOOD PROGRAM FOR KYRA: I replaced all of Kyra's protein powders with whole, unprocessed foods like quinoa, buckwheat, sea vegetables, dark leafy greens, with occasional eggs and fish. To offset her intense sugar cravings, I upped her protein intake, [...]
This recipe can be found in “Ani’s Raw Food Essentials” Makes 4 servings: 1 cup diced ripe avocado (about 1 large) 2 1⁄2 cups cherry tomatoes 2 Tablespoons lemon juice (from about 1 lemon) 1/3 cup coconut oil, liquid 1⁄4 cup cilantro, fresh 1 Tablespoon curry powder 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1 teaspoon sea salt 1 cup filtered water Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. To serve, divide among serving bowls. Top each portion with fresh cilantro leaves. Enjoy immediately! Will keep for 2 to 3 days in fridge. :)
I love green juices, and think of them as my daily multi-vitamin. In the same way I would never think to live off a bottle of vitamins only, I don’t think to starve myself on a 5-10 day juice fast in order to detox (unless I had a tumor to starve or some other acute health crisis). It seems to be a new trend here in LA that people with unhealthy processed diets and lifestyles, who even smoke, suddenly think it’s okay to starve for 7 days on a juice cleanse to make everything better. How about focusing instead on creating a healthier lifestyle through exercise, clean eating, mediation, and happiness rather than starving? These are the real keys to longevity. Green juices are wonderful for vitamins and minerals, and for nourishing our bodies. But, it’s so much more FUN and less painful to enjoy delicious Raw Foods while accidentally DETOXing! Feasting on Raw Foods, rather than starving on a juice cleanse, is safer and healthier for you. We’re designed to be eating whole foods. Starving our bodies on just juice cannibalizes our muscle mass, slows down our metabolism, and will make us gain weight as soon as we eat again (besides throwing off our hormones, along with triggering a slew of other biological reactions). It’s painful to starve ourselves. Why deny ourselves when instead we can feast and enjoy delicious Raw Foods to cleanse and detox? I’d rather eat clean, detoxifying foods, than starve myself. Wouldn’t you agree? Ani’s Favorite Green Juice Recipe: Dandelion Kale Cilantro Jalapeño Fennel Basil Turmeric Cucumber Celery Spinach Lemon
Stretch your body and mind by trying a new outdoor activity this weekend! The weather's getting warmer, it's staying light outside later, and summer is just around the corner. My favorite spot for a super challenging stair climb in Los Angeles is at Baldwin Hills in Culver City, CA. The views from the top of the climb stretch from beyond downtown LA to the east and all the way west to the ocean.