living free and healthy

Live Free, Live Healthy

A wellness and fitness blog dedicated to living happy, healthy, and free.

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person with bread and dip, vegan cashew dips
March 7, 2019March 7, 2019Marisa Donnelly

3 Vegan Cashew Dips You Have To Try Right Now

best gifts for fitness enthusiasts, girl holding exercise ball
December 4, 2018December 5, 2018Marisa Donnelly

7 Best Gifts For Fitness Enthusiasts

Project Juice Gut Challenge Smoothies
October 22, 2018October 22, 2018Marisa Donnelly

I Tried This Gut Health Challenge For A Week (And I Feel AMAZING!)

ways to reduce pollution, pollution on ground
September 18, 2018September 18, 2018Marisa Donnelly

5 Simple Ways To Reduce Pollution

how to get kids to eat fish, woman cooking salmon
September 14, 2018February 12, 2020Marisa Donnelly

How To Get Kids To Eat Fish

ways to boost metabolism, girl stretching
September 9, 2018August 17, 2018Marisa Donnelly

9 Easy Ways To Boost Your Metabolism

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Health is strange right now, at least for me. I'm Health is strange right now, at least for me. I'm in constant flux — one minute I'm eating healthy and on top of the world, the next I'm snacking on salt+vinegar chips straight from the bag. There are some mornings when I'm too tired to function, throwing back my second cup of coffee before noon, and other mornings when I'm moving too fast I simply forget to eat until 3PM. ⠀ ⠀ It's not great, but it's a work in progress. I think, at last for me, the most important thing is to remember that I'm human and health right is going to look weird (and that's okay). ⠀ ⠀ Let's give ourselves grace, let's be patient with our processes, and let's remember that "health" looks different for everyone.⠀ ⠀ PS: Styles says hi 🐕⠀
There is a major difference between eating healthy There is a major difference between eating healthy and restricting. Please know the difference! Eating healthy doesn't mean cutting calories, skimping on meals, or depriving yourself of your favorite foods.⠀ ⠀ Eating healthy means a balance, and that means a cheeseburger one day and a salad the next. It means running because you want to and not as a punishment. It means enjoying a milkshake, and then a smoothie the next time instead. It means giving yourself grace, especially in challenging times, to do what feels right for your body.⠀ ⠀ Having a healthy lifestyle is something only you can define for yourself.⠀
How do you balance eating healthy when other peopl How do you balance eating healthy when other people in your household aren't in the same boat? How do you make responsible food choices in the middle of a pandemic? How do you justify paying extra for organic ingredients when you're barely getting by?⠀ ⠀ Trust me, I get it. I've asked these questions myself, and I've talked to countless other people to share the same sentiments.⠀ ⠀ Living a healthy lifestyle can be challenging and frustrating, especially when the things that you want cost money (and even more so in the midst of a global pandemic 😂).⠀ ⠀ One suggestion I have for you is to take inventory of what you spend your money on. Do you have a monthly Netflix subscription? Do/did you routinely buy Starbucks on your way to the office? Do you splurge on gas station purchases over the grocery store?⠀ ⠀ These are just a few examples, but think about them in your own life. Sometimes making a lifestyle change doesn't have to be as overwhelming or as big as you think. #babysteps⠀
Yes, you CAN enjoy the things you love without hur Yes, you CAN enjoy the things you love without hurting your body. ⠀ ⠀ I'm a big believer in a balanced mindset. Rather than restricting or telling yourself you can't have certain things, I think learning to find a moderation and a middle ground is more productive (especially in the long term). ⠀ ⠀ When I first discovered my #cholinergicurticaria I was really worried about how I would enjoy the 'normal' foods + habits I've had for years. Before I even started to change my diet, I was stressed and feeling like I was going to 'miss out' on things I loved — but that wasn't the case!⠀ ⠀ With any lifestyle change, it's important to understand that things will be different. But that doesn't mean they have to be RESTRICTIVE. After learning what helped my body vs. harmed it, I was able to sub things like vegan cheese and cauliflower crust to make an (almost) #veganpizza I ACTUALLY enjoyed.⠀ ⠀ You don't have to give up on what you love to be healthy. You just have to modify and be open to new things. #balancedlifestyle
I never thought tofu would be something I'd find m I never thought tofu would be something I'd find myself eating. I never thought I'd actually learn how to cook it (although I can fully admit I have a lot to learn). 😜 Ever since I discovered my skin condition, Cholinergic Urticaria, I've been more conscious of what I put into my body and how it makes me feel.⠀ ⠀ I've always LOVED Greek salads (minus olives because those are nasty) so instead of creating a salad heavy with feta cheese and chicken, I subbed some balsamic + herb tofu with more veggies (and feta, because, well, I can't totally get rid of cheese).⠀ ⠀ Sometimes #healthyalternatives make healing a lot more manageable.⠀ ⠀ What's a healthy alternative that you love?⠀ What are your best #tofurecipes? Share! ↓
Do you have a #guiltypleasure when it comes to foo Do you have a #guiltypleasure when it comes to food? For my boys, it's pancakes. Honestly, I've never liked pancakes (unless they're filled with blueberries or chocolate chips, where I proceed to eat out every little piece and leave the scraps of the actual pancake behind LOL). But the boys are always BEGGING for this comfort food.⠀ ⠀ I was introduced to @kodiakcakes from a good friend and I'm such a fan of their #proteinpacked and healthy ingredients. Now I can make what the boys love (with fruit stuffed in, of course) and not worry about added sugars, starches, and other *blah* flavors.⠀ ⠀ If you haven't tried this brand, I'd HIGHLY recommend. My favorite flavors are the almond poppyseed (okay, not really pancakes, I know), the double chocolate chip, and the blueberry lemon. 😜 #healthygram