The #1 thing you might be doing wrong during a detox

It’s January now and you’re probably feeling the urge to do some sort of juice cleanse, detox, or Whole30 type diet to reset after a long holidays season of eating and drinking. Or maybe you’re already a few days in and wondering how the heck you’re going to make it to the end of the week without crying and binging on the candy bowel on the office manager’s desk.

First things first, you are absolutely awesome for prioritizing your health and wanting to do what’s best for that beautiful body of yours. That’s where it all starts – the intention to have more energy, sleep better, and feel better in your body.

I want to make sure you are armed with the best tools and information to give your body what it needs and feel really good while doing so.

Cleanses and detoxes can be really great to give our digestive and detoxification systems a break if we’re feeling out of balance.  They are a good tool to use to become really mindful of what we’re putting in our bodies as well. I’m a total advocate of them if done with intention and in accordance to what works for you specifically.

For example, a 5-day juice cleanse would wreak havoc on my blood sugar and energy levels, make me feel absolutely crazy and is definitely not something my body needs at this moment.  Plus, I would probably only make it ½ a day and then feel bad about myself for not completing it and get all guilty. I do, however, notice when I’ve been eating more carbohydrates and indulging in more alcohol or sweets than usual and prioritize incorporating vegetables at every meal for the next few days to come back to my foundation. It’s an ebb and flow for me, and never something that is strictly black and white anymore.

The intentionality and mindset behind the cleanse is the most important piece, and what I see frequently is people getting stuck about what to do after the cleanse or diet has completed.

Although any form of dietary restriction is challenging, sometimes having the black and white of rules and restrictions of what you can and can’t eat is easier than navigating the grey area of food choices.

Everyone’s “why” behind a cleanse might be a little different, so it’s important to get clear on that first. Did you have a wild and crazy holiday season and need a break from cocktails and cookies? Do you have digestive issues or symptoms of disease and want to experiment with dietary changes? Do you want to shed pounds?

Then ask yourself what are you doing to do after the cleanse has finished. If you are completing a Whole30, is it running out to eat that fried chicken and waffles that you were weirdly dreaming about during your 30 days? Will you go back to eating anything that crosses your path after your juice cleanse because you are just so damn hungry?

In my opinion, the most important part of the cleanse or diet is the reintroduction portion which is always the part that gets looked over the most. A cleanse allows your body to reset so that you area able to “clear the muddy waters” and really tune in to how food affects you.

I strongly encourage setting up a gradual reintroduction process of foods (such as dairy, grains, sugar, alcohol etc.) to gather data about how each of these things works in your body rather than go out and eat all of the things for the next three days of your “freedom.” With that data you can really understand how dairy affects your body, how much and what kind you can have, and how it works in your own unique diet.

Cleanses can set you up to feel like you are either “on the wagon” or “off the wagon” which is why they can be pretty ineffective if done in a haphazard way.  Gathering this information is really powerful because it helps us carry these good habits and new knowledge forward into our everyday lives so we can make empowered choices.

If you need guidance with the reintroduction process and finding the best ways to incorporate healthy, whole foods into your diet email me to set up a time to chat! I’d love to help you get out of the cycle of “on the wagon” and “off the wagon” and to a place of food confidence and freedom. Click the button below to book in a free 30 minute discovery session to chat. I'd love to hear from you!

Why Batch Cooking Will Change Your Life

We live in a world that’s set up to make feeding ourselves with nutrient dense food a total challenge.  We know we should eat more vegetables, less processed food and less sugar, but when we are busy and rushed we’re more likely to grab whatever is in front of us for ease and convenience.

I used to always find myself saying things like “Yeah if I had a private chef I would eat healthy all the time,” or “If I had more time to cook I would actually be able to sustain this whole healthy eating thing.” That was when I was trying to work a full nursing shift, figure out what healthy yet delicious recipe to make for dinner, rush to the grocery store, prepare a meal, eat the meal, clean up and have enough time to relax before bed. It wasn’t working, clearly.

I had to figure out a new system and it was a total revelation once I finally did.  In the quest to eat healthy, meal prepping is the number one thing you can do to set yourself up for success. By batch cooking, or making larger quantities of foods in one session, we make our lives a whole lot easier and free ourselves up to do all the things we love.

By devoting only four targeted hours per week towards meal prepping you will give yourself nourishing food for every single meal without giving it another thought. What a relief.

I’ve laid out my entire process for you in my step by step batch cooking guide so you can simplify your life as well.  Click here to download my free guide to batch cooking >> You’ll get:

+ 7 day meal plan

+ Step by step instructions for how to cook an entire week’s worth of food in just two 2-hour sessions (life changing)

+ Grocery lists

+ Twelve of my favorite, easy recipes!

Enjoy making delicious and nutritious meals in way less time! If you want to chat more about how to incorporate healthy whole foods into your diet successfully and how you might benefit from one-on-one health coaching, click the button below to book in a free 30 minute discovery session to chat. I'd love to hear from you!

Creating a Life You Love with Cass O'Neill

I've been thinking a lot lately about why I don't just DO THE THING. I was at my friend’s apartment, relaxing and catching up as you do, and I leaned into a standing forward fold. It was in this upside down moment that I had a right-side up lightbulb go off in my head. Do the thing. Just do the thing Cass.

I’ve been thinking for months now that I want to develop and work on my home yoga practice. To allow myself to tune into the natural rhythm of my own body. Simple as that. Just do a little yoga at home. But it stops there. As a thought, as an idea, an idea with good intentions but an idea nonetheless. With no action behind it. And they say that we judge ourselves on our intentions and others on their actions. So I get stuck in this world of ideas, with little action behind them. And the longer I wait to begin, the further away it feels and the inertia is in the non-action, so I remain there.

I have apartment with inspiring spaces, I have a yoga mat that I’m connected with and I have the added tools for the ambiance – candles, incense, plants, music. So it doesn’t have to do with the tools, because I have the physical things I need to do the thing, yet I just don’t do it. It’s the same thing sometimes with doing the dishes, or putting my clothes away right away, or the fact that I love reading and have all of these inspiring books that I have already purchased, yet I don’t read them. Great ideas of things that I know will make me feel productive and organized and on top of things, yet no action.

So, I’ve decided to change my story.

I’ve decided to flip my script in order to provide a little more insight into why it is that sometimes we don’t do the things that we know will make us feel good, in some way. I’m moving from the story, “I don’t have the time” to the story, “it’s not a priority” and am allowing this to add a little fire, a little motivation, a little clarity around some of these subjects. And I’m taking a look at some areas in my life that are habitual. The parts of my life that have become routine, and as the seasons change, so does my lens for my life. Tonight, I am making the time to do a little time for my at-home yoga practice. And tonight, I’m making a list of the other things that I want to do but just don’t make the time. And tonight, I’m doing things.

I would like to invite you to do the same:

1. Think of something that you desire, something that you want, but have been putting it off – What is it? Write it down. 

2. Put words to why you have been putting it off – What is your story behind not harnessing action around this?

3. Find one thing you need to clear up in order to allow for this idea to become an action – Write it down & visualize yourself doing the thing you desire or having the thing you desire.

4. Begin! And take it one day at a time.

Here’s to living in the possibility that we have all the time in the world to do the things we want to do. Let’s revel in that and allow ourselves to just do the thing. The small little things that bring us to the arrival point of the bigger things. And here’s to feeling the shifts in our lives as we step back into choice. Step back into choice of our time. Here’s to feeling like you are taking ownership of your life and the way you want to fill your time. Here’s to doing the things.

Much Love, 

Cass

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She bops, she grooves, she slides, she baps through life. She is tuned in. Yes, she was probably born with this--after all rhythm is not taught—but she has certainly sharpened her soul through her recent world wanderings, life experiences and saying yes to life. Cass believes that we are all on this earth to love & connect & share in all of the expressions of life. 

A new yoga instructor who is hooked on all things that light her soul on fire - movement, writing, & sharing and speaking truth. She wants to connect and share with all walks of life over what lights them up and makes them feel alive. She is a chaser of the light, believe of the magic and lover of vulnerability. 

Follow along on her journey

Cass O'Neil | Come and Take a Walk

Why We Shouldn’t Be So Black and White About Our Food Choices

I just spent three and a half glorious weeks working and traveling around London, Paris and Amsterdam (I’m actually writing this on the plane back to Seattle hoping my battery doesn’t die before I get out all of my burning thoughts!) This trip was a very momentous occasion for me because it was the first time, ever, that I’ve been able to work remotely and take my business on the road. I haven’t been away from nursing in the hospital setting for this amount of time in almost 6 years. Having the freedom and flexibility to travel and do work I love is something I’ve always dreamed of, something I always felt was possible for other people but not for me.  It felt really good to make it a reality because it was something I designed and created.

Traveling, exploring and immersing myself in new cultures is what I love and something I value deeply.  If I’m in your hometown I want to eat and drink everything you do and fully embrace what it means to be from that corner of the world. It feels important to me. If I’m in Paris I want to drink wine and eat fromage, pâté and baguettes and be all fabulous strolling along the Seine, ok?!  (I may or may not have purchased a beret…ok I bought two.)

I also want to feel good in my body, eat to fuel myself and keep my stomach, skin and immune system happy. These things are also important to me.

So where do I strike a balance? How do I navigate between these two desires in a way that isn’t totally stressful?

This trip brought up something really powerfully me to me that I’ve been thinking about a lot and exploring with literally all of my clients. That is the “black and white” mindset of being healthy.

I work with so many clients who say they do really well with black and white guidelines, when they have clear restrictions on what they “can” and “can’t” eat. They may avoid dairy, gluten and sugar for periods of time during healing diets and although it’s challenging at first, they feel good with these strict boundaries because there is no ambiguity. When they begin to add in foods and things like travel, work events, holiday parties, and dinners at friend’s houses come up, however, they have a really hard time navigating this grey area.

It’s this gray area that I’ve been thinking so much about. This grey area is so important because really, it’s life.

It’s easy to hand someone a list and say avoid these “bad for you” foods and eat these “good for you” foods.  We know we should eat vegetables and avoid excessive doughnut consumption. But what prevents us from doing so on a regular basis? Where the real transformation happens and the real work gets done is in navigating the gray area with intention.

Five tips for navigating the gray

1. Get clear on your "why"

It is so crucially important to get clear about why you want to eat healthy or feel a certain way and what your real motivations are. For me, the reason why I don’t just go for it and eat chocolate croissants and macaroons every day (just some days) is because I have a genetic predisposition to autoimmune disease. I know how eating those foods makes me feel and affects me at a cellular level, and I do not want to feel that way.

Excess sugar, grains and dairy affect my gut, which affects my immune system and symptoms of autoimmunity, makes my skin break out, alters my mood, sleep and overall sense of well being. I choose to eat whole, nutrient dense foods 90% of the time because they keep me feeling great and not getting sick. That’s a very powerful “why” for me and makes it pretty simple to stick to my guns when choosing how to eat (note: his has been a lifelong journey to be sure). My why is different to yours though and it’s important to get clear on what’s true for you.

What is your why? Do you want to feel good in your body? Reduce symptoms of disease? Improve frustrating bloating? Maintain energy to run around? Look good naked? Take a minute to think about it and write it down.  If you first come up with “feel healthy” go deeper and keep asking “why” to get to the powerful core (there is always one).

2. Start with a good foundation

To be able to make good choices you need to know what works for you and what doesn’t.  We are all so different and thrive with different foods in our bodies. In general it is advised to avoid overly processed foods and refined sugars and eat a diet with lots of nutrient-dense vegetables. From there however, we must take into account our own unique bodies and needs. This involves tuning into your body and experimenting with what works and what does not.  

Once you really know how certain foods make you feel and you consistently incorporate foods that make you feel good while taking out foods that make you feel bad, you create a great foundation and your body responds accordingly. Once you have a solid foundation of health, it’s easier to veer off and come back to your baseline. You become more easily able to tune into how you feel and you know exactly how to bring yourself back. I work with people to uncover sensitivities and move towards a healthy, whole foods diet that works specifically for them in order to create this solid foundation. It can be really helpful to have a guide through this process so message me if you want some assistance!

3. Follow the 90/10 Rule

If you focus on putting good, nutrient dense foods in your body 90% of the time and do whatever the heck you want 10% of the time you are doing great. So great. This rule helps you to maintain a good foundation without restricting yourself on a daily basis. Perfection is not the goal, sustainability is.

5. Cook for yourself

When you are traveling, going to dinner parties, and living daily life, cooking food for yourself is the best tool you have. Nothing fancy, and yes you can do it. I swear. When we prepare food for ourselves we know exactly what ingredients we are eating, and we can make simple, affordable meals and snacks that help give us a good solid foundation. Eating out every single meal and snack while traveling makes it tough to strike a good balance. Also, it makes it less special or enjoyable once you do go out to a lovely place.

If you have access to a kitchen you can easily whip up an omelette, have rotisserie chicken and greens, microwave a sweet potato, boil some eggs, make avocado toast, etc. If you are going to a dinner party and you have no idea what food will be there, bring a nutritious dish you know makes you feel good to share. That way you can load up your plate with 90% of the good stuff and go from there. Cooking is the ultimate act of empowerment. It gives you control over what you put in your body and therefore how you feel.

6.  Everything in moderation even moderation

Sometimes you just gotta do bad things. Even when you know they’re bad (I’m talking about food here not felonies people). Constantly being “good” and vigilant has it’s benefits for sure but it can be exhausting. And boring. What usually happens is that thing we were building up for so long in our heads turns out to not be that great after all, and we learn about what we really want for next time. Sometimes it’s really good though, and in that case you should enjoy the shit out of that bacon-maple doughnut without feeling once little ounce of guilt. Oh and once you enjoy whatever it was you were pining after, move on. No feeling bad and guilty and vowing to do a juice cleanse when you get home or run 20 more minutes on the treadmill. Move. On.

That’s how you live in the gray.

If you are always “black and white” about food and health and feel like you are constantly “on the wagon or off the wagon” without any in between, I've got your back. 

I always offer free 30-minute discovery sessions for you to get crystal clear on your main health goals and the blocks that are holding you back.  There is no one-size-fits-all approach, and together we can create a plan that works for you and your unique body. Book your free session with me by clicking the link below! I can't wait to hear your story :)