Summer Conditioning

I woke my boys up early with a request for a fun easy bike ride. The response from the older one, ok. The younger one, no. My answer, to bad, get ready.

As a motivational treat, we stopped at Lanikai Juice for a gourmet coco berry acai bowl mixed with bee pollen and topped with crunchy shredded coconut, bananas, strawberries, and granola. 

I blame my friend Angela who told me about this mouth watering treat. It's taken me a few days to get there, but was so happy to try it. There are so many different bowls. I was lucky another friend was there who helped me decide. 

My boys wanted Jamba Juice instead of the acai bowl and we walked across the street and found a shady spot to sit and enjoy our busy little neighborhood. 

What a beautiful day with my boys. We raced home to swim in the pool, just a little more fun cardio. I have to keep them moving and less time playing video games. It is summer, so I will give them lots of playtime. 

Happy Summer!

Love always,

Maile

@mailemmm

@hilegacybuilder

http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html

http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Power Juice

Smoothie's are an easy energy packed favorite in our house. I love the idea I can hide veggies in something my kids will drink. I also like controlling the sugar and packing in specific ingredients to crank up their immune systems and they actually like it.

Favorite stir-ins are:
Ground up Orange peels for added Vitamin C (it has helped with the vog scratchy throat thing to wipe it out. I can feel the difference when I take more Vitamin C).

Chia seeds for added omega 3's and protein that keeps you full, which can help with weight loss. As a bonus they add thickness to a juice smoothie.

Diatomaceous Earth is my favorite mineral to add. It is great for everything, especially making your skin look younger, besides all the health benefits of lowering cholesterol and so much more. I will write more about this one later. It tastes like chalk but it hides well in a smoothie.

Fresh mint and now spinach from my garden. Picking your herbs fresh, and then consuming them while they are alive, you can truly feel their energy with every sip. It's probably why the raw food craze has taken off.

You really can feel the difference from fresh and alive verses what you may have purchased at the grocery store and it's been sitting in your veggie drawer in the fridge.

Still, it's better to add it however you got it. It adds fiber and flavor that you just can't get from an extract. I still like those to...mmmm speaking of extracts, almond, vanilla and coconut extracts are very yummy splashes to add to a smoothie.

I love honey and have given up on agave for now. I need to research it more, but it may be that agave syrup is made like high fructose corn syrup, it may be better if you can get it organic and just check the manufacturers processing.

Alright, it's time to blend. I really do feel a bit like a mad scientist when I get to experiment with the blender. Just grateful to have brave souls to try whatever I create. At least it's fun.

Happy Healthy Eating!
Love Always,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Margaritas! Taco's! Ohana!

Cinco de Mayo!
Fiesta feast with the ohana! This is how to celebrate a holiday.

History says, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army's 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). A relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage.

Although I may have French ancestry, supposedly all the way to Napoleon, who in fact, history says caused this war...ummmm, I don't know any of my French relatives and I like a party! I do love Mexican food, which Napoleon may have as well :) maybe it's why he wanted his own piece of Mexico.

Taco's are so easy to make and yummy! Customize your own fillings on a good tortilla just the way you like it.

You can make it as healthy as you want, or really naughty! Must watch my boys, so they don't get carried away with the toppings.

This will feed my whole family plus leftovers for the week! Who doesn't love Mexican food?

For my Portuguese boys, I made a small batch of malasada's and tried to fill them with good vanilla bean ice cream. Sort of...the malasada batter melted off and I ended up making flat pancakes and scooping the ice cream on top.

The attempt to deep fry the ice cream was still yummy, just not pretty. Need more practice and an hour long hula practice session before bed to burn it off 0.0

Happy Healthy Eating!
Love Always,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Celery Juice?

Another attempt to juice and blend my celery was a disappointment. Either, celery has no juice, or I need a different blender.

Either way, the celery liquid that resulted was barely a few tablespoons and the rest was a fibrous and very stringy pulp.

I didn't really know what to make of it, except that I wasn't going to have it in my smoothie.

Into the compost for the pulp, the sad bit of liquid, I downed it like a shot of wheat grass. Tasted like healthy grass, I think.

Next up...what to do with the rest of the spinach 0.0 ...hmm???

Happy Healthy Eating!
Love Always,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Green Disaster!

There is such a thing as too much spinach!

Smoothie experiment this morning:
2 celery stalks
1 apple
4 cups spinach leaves
1/2 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup almond milk
1tablespoon diced orange peels
2 tablespoons chia seeds

Blended above ingredients except chia seeds. Added chia seeds and let sit in fridge for 10 minutes until they are plump like tapioca balls in bubble drinks.

Okay, it was sweet enough, but the green thick texture was hard to swallow :(

I think I got carried away with the spinach. Celery is a tough veggie to blend, very fibrous texture and it smells similar to grass when blended. I'm not selling this one very well.

It may also be my blenders. I ran it first through my commercial oster and then through the magic bullet. And once more through the oster. I may need a better machine. Until then, I will experiment with a little less spinach ;)

Happy Healthy Eating!
Love Always,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

I Can't Believe It's Spinach!

Kid Approved Super Greens!
Handful spinach
3 frozen strawberries
1 banana
5 peach slices
1/2 cup Pineapple juice
1/2 cup almond milk
2 tablespoons honey
4 tablespoons chia seeds

Blend all ingredients, except chia seeds. Add chia seeds after completely blended and let sit for 10 minutes in the fridge for the chia seeds to plump.

My older son who loves those bubble drinks, agrees that the chia seeds are very similar to the tapioca balls. Of course, WAY Healthier!!! ;) mmmmm try this one. It will rev up your day.

Happy Healthy Life!
Love Always,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Love at First Bite

It was a great night at the recognition awards dinner for the Kalaheo NJROTC.

Buffet! I took no photos of any food, shocking! But as it was $30 per person, I tried a little of everything.

With my tastebuds reset since my detox, flavors were WOW! It helps that the Officer's Club is well known for good food. Truly delicious!

I'm a little sad thinking about returning to my, "all the veggies you can eat" detox, but I've sort of just programmed myself for it and I like the idea of it becoming a healthy habit. Well, for a while longer, at least.

Wishing you a very very healthy and Happy Aloha Friday!

Love and Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Salad Again?

A few days into my detox, and I have been too busy to make anything more exciting than just salad.

Getting my whole family on board, that's another story. Apparently they need 24/7 security detail monitoring their every bite, and sadly no one has the time.

The first few days, I was honestly too cranky to care. I think it was toxins leaving my system. I cranked up my vitamins and omega three's and today, I'm feeling better than ever.

I love the increased energy and the diminished cravings for anything.

Healthy veggies, especially raw veggies, have a great effect on your body.

I'm already noticing the improvement in my skin and better sleep.

You can do your detox up to 14 days. I'm thinking about it. Tomorrow I get to add a little protein, as it's day 4. I'm saving it for dinner.

Happy healthy eating!
Love Always,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Raw Bites

My family is a bit freaked out over the "all vegetable" meals. So I decided to ease them into it with some yummy fancy raw bites.

Walnut Pate Stuffed Mini Bell Peppers.
My recipe feeds two people well, double, triple, etc, based on your own needs. Also mini bell peppers taste just like the regular size, use either, just adjust for volume.

4 mini bell peppers
1/2 cup walnuts
5 sun dried tomatoes.
Puree these ingredients until it is a smooth paste. I pre-chopped them just to make it easier on my hand blender as I was lazy to pull out the food processor.

1/4 cup finely chopped onions
Add the onion to pate. Sweet Maui onions or red onions would make it better, if you have it.

10 mini bell peppers
I sliced these open and stuffed as much pate as I could in each little bell pepper.

1 zucchini sliced in spirals - I had my mom's as seen on tv Japanese vegetable slicer. Side note- I honestly was irritated when she bought another kitchen tool that the food processor can do, but after playing with it, I admit, it's very cool.

Plating was fun with the zucchini noodles and topping them with the pretty stuffed bell peppers. I also chopped up more sun dried tomatoes and added a handful of chopped walnuts with a drizzle of olive oil.

My older son braved a few bites. He said it was ok. The younger son will need a few threats or bribes maybe to even taste it. Ugh kids!

Happy healthy eating!
Love Always,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Almost Triathlon

Jogging along the orange cones around Lanikai loop and being passed by much faster runners with smeared black marker numbers on their arms, hearing the cheers from the triathlon race attendants at different checkpoints, wow! It was extremely encouraging!

The bikes lined up on special racks were filled with amazing high performance racing bikes.
Athletes were sprinting over, dripping wet to get back on their bikes. It felt like an Ironman competition.

I could see the swimmers in the water after completing their run. From the top of the hill, it looked like a mile long swim to the set up buoy.

I wasn't actually racing, and it was almost over as my newly appointed fitness coach and fellow paddler jogged through the race course along with other fitness enthusiasts like us. It was still very exciting and I am really inspired to want to actually participate in one of these events.

I have a lot more work to do to achieve my personal fitness goals, but if you ever need a big boost of inspiration, run through a designated race course, if possible. Even though I know the race attendants weren't cheering for us exactly, it felt special :)

Tomorrow is my first day of my all veggie detox. I'm planning on making a green smoothie or assorted veggie salad. I truly hope to have great recipes to share while I do this.

Wishing you a healthy fun week!
Love and Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Got Veggies?

Mahalo to my mom who already ventured out shopping to buy an assortment of veggies for some yummy meals this week.

I still have no idea what I'm going to create, but am fascinated with my raw food cook book. Every recipe sounds yummy. I will honestly try a few and let you know.

So again, detox rules, all the veggies you can eat and a serving of fruit with each meal. No skipping meals and cut out or really limit the caffeine. No Alcohol. Drink lots of water and take your vitamins.

Ok, one more naughty day of eating. Well, it's my brother's birthday and he wants a pizza party. Yum!

Hope you are enjoying a beautiful weekend.
Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Veggies Are Yummy!

Planning a shopping trip for a week of all veggies is harder than I thought.

I have been pouring over all my vegetarian cookbooks and still am overwhelmed. I guess that's a good thing, so many things I want to try.

Hope my family is just as excited. Seriously, I am hoping, praying, wishing my picky children will just learn to love their veggies, like their younger cousin.

Happy Weekend :)
Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
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Hungry

Increased workouts, increased appetite. This is a little frustrating as I can't tell if my weight is fluctuating because of weight gain or muscle gain.

I definitely see a lot of toning in my body from paddling. Weight training and hula have also done wonders for my body but I am eating more.

More veggies and protein, still trying to keep carbs to a minimum and choose as healthy as possible. It's harder coming home wet and tired from being on the ocean for a couple hours and mom has made a big pot of beef stew and rice...mmmmm all thinking goes out the window.

At those moments, I kind of feel like a teenager when I would come home from volleyball or softball practice and just eat. Love my mom, she has hot food when I'm too tired to cook.

I think it's my turn to cook tonight. But I need to be better, and with the longer daylight hours of spring and summer, it is a perfect time to push my whole family to get healthier.

It's time for a 7 day detox. The first time I did it, I lost about 7lbs I think. The second time it was closer to 11lbs. It's easy- all the veggies you can eat, and a serving of fruit for three meals a day. Follow along with me if you like and let me know any favorite veggies and how you like to eat them.

I will post more about this when I get started, hopefully next week. Need to plan a shopping list and survive my brother's birthday. One more last hoorah before the detox. Yay!

Until then, Wishing You A Happy Thursday!
Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Happy Thursday Wishes

It's been such a beautiful Wednesday, my body is really exhausted. Early bedtime is on the agenda.
Sweet dreams.
Love and Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

How do you sneak up on an Eagle Ray?

Rain storm all day and afternoon. It finally let up a little around 5pm when I was heading to the beach for paddling practice.

Surprisingly the ocean was calm and out behind the Mokulua Islands we saw Eagle Rays.

Let's go see, we said. Quietly, our team of seventeen women started paddling the canoes over to where they were swimming.

Beautiful blessing. Wishing you a lovely week.
Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Love

There is always a silver lining on the darkest clouds.
Sending love and light,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
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Party Food

It's been a weekend of eating! Not that I intended it to be, but parties tend to be about food and social eating and drinking. If there wasn't food, I don't think anyone would show up.

Don't even think about the calories when everyone is making sure your glass of wine is full and if you tried grandma's mac salad or the ono spicy sushi that uncle brought. The steak and chicken were grilled to perfection and with every bite, I was having such a great time, I forgot all about the portion size and went back a few times for more crispy gau gee.

The one hour extra paddling practice early Sunday morning help to lessen the guilt of party indulgences. Again, I remind myself, I will balance it all out during the week. It may be a minor set back, but it was worth it. I loved every fun moment laughing with my family.

Happy week ahead.
Love to you and your ohana,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
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Weekend Ahead!

I can already smell the weekend, or its the beach :-) i'm ready for sunshine and playtime! Hope your weekend is relaxing and beautiful.
Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Baby Carrots

Babies love healthy fruits and vegetables. The trick is to never let them stop eating them as they grow older. Wether they like it or not.

My older son, Kekai, will eat almost anything. During my first pregnancy, I actually ate pretty much everything and (tmi, sorry) threw it all up to. Morning sickness from beginning to end.

My second pregnancy, I was very picky about what I ate, mostly veggies and probably too many carbs, nothing reactive. It didn't matter, I threw it up anyway. Yet, Kamalu hates veggies :( ugh!

He ate them in his baby food, but as he transitioned to other foods, he started eliminating the veggies and only ate the carbs and protein.

I didn't think it was to much of a problem, and hoped he would learn to like them, but he still fights me on it.

Actually, my brother was the same way, and now that he's older, he finally eats his veggies. I think in high school he finally realized they weren't so bad.

I sneak pureed veggies in as many dishes as I can, but I still wish my younger son would just eat them. Fruit he will eat, but fingers crossed, he starts to like veggies on his own soon.

I will keep serving it to him, and teach him everyday how important they are, but ultimately, it really has to be his choice. This is where parenting verses stubborn child gets a little complicated. I can compromise for now, as I know he's still eating them (the veggies he can't see), but I would be happier if he ate more.

My nephews are awesome little veggie herbivores ;) and so cute and healthy to. I love every chance I get, to tell Kamalu, "Your cousins are eating their veggies!" I wonder if they will help convince him.

Alright, I get a short break, as the kids are enjoying a day of learning at school, I can squeeze in a workout and have my own veggie, fruit, and protein smoothie! Yum!

Happy Thursday <3
Love and Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Blade

This is becoming my favorite way to start my day. Just my body slicing my paddle into the ocean.

Each stroke moves the canoe, gliding effortlessly on the water.
My fellow paddlers in sync is poetry on the ocean.

Wonderful Wednesday Wishes -say that five times fast ...made you smile :p

Love and Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Hooker

I have no problem jumping out of a canoe, but getting back in, ummmm, that wasn't as easy as I had hoped.

I'm afraid I was lacking upper body strength yesterday to pull myself up. The preferred method was to hook your foot under your seat and use the strength in your legs to step up out of the water. It sounded easy, but I definitely need more practice.

Coach said, men frown upon hookers, but we are not guys and don't always have the upper body strength that they do. I really don't care, as long as I can get in to the canoe any way my body will climb up there.

No matter how tired my muscles are, I will be squeezing in more upper body strength training. Anything and everything that seems like push ups and pull ups with weights that my bowflex can do.

Hula practice is also on my busy agenda today. At least I got to sleep in a whole hour later to 6:30...well it is a school day.

Happy Tuesday!
Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Ready? Set? Go!

I love that everyone in my family is getting Fit and Healthy! Playing together is the best kind of workout for your body. Not only burning calories, but creating memories.

I love my fun and crazy family :)

Sending love and aloha always,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Night night

Early to bed, early to rise...or something like that ;-) I'm sooo tired, the sheep will just have to count themselves.
Sweet dreams and happy wishes for a great week.
Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Alooooha!

I love the weekend! The sleeping in late is my favorite.

I could ignore my children and let them enjoy their weekend playing video games and eat everything in my house...ummm no.

It's more fun to drag them out and play, even if they don't want to. Silly, as soon as we are out, they love it.

I keep telling them, live the video game, don't just watch the avatar play it. Be the Avatar!

Happy weekend avatars!
Love and Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Honu

I love love love turtles!!!
I didn't take this photo, but send a mahalo to the person who did, whoever they are.

This morning while out paddling, a beautiful honu swam right up to our canoe. I said hello and reached out as if to pet it. Of course, it was beyond my reach, but it made me feel like it got the friendly message, hi, it is so nice to see you ;)

That made my day!

My great, great, great, idk how many, grandfather was rescued by giant turtles when their boat overturned on their way to Okinawa. That is another story tho, next time ;)

Happy Aloha Friday wishes!
Mahalo,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Hula

I am enjoying the Merrie Monarch and happy to see the Hawaiian culture thriving.

My body is exhausted from reawakening so much Hawaii culture in my own life, but it amazes me to.

Dancing hula and canoe paddling somehow feel like a perfect fit. Both depend on the strength of your legs. As a bonus, paddling has improved my posture, which, for now, I guess I can look good while I stand, because my gluteus maximus muscles are not allowing me to sit.

Happy Thursday!
Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Mini veggie garden

I have a great pot, but it doesn't drain well and is need of more potting soil.

I just happen to have half a bag stored in an outdoor bench. As I reached to grab it, something loud moved inside the storage bench and I saw a gaping hole in the bag.

I admit that I am not a fan of bugs, but this hole is a bit big and makes me think it could be a mouse or rat! Ewww! I have made a request for someone braver than I to reach in and take out the soil and add it nicely to my veggie garden pot.

Is it possible to be a gardener and not like bugs? I know I should get myself a healthy crop of earthworms to, there is so much to learn.

Speaking of learning, I was so excited to tell my gardening guru, Diane, about my lettuce that it was growing so nice and tall, like a tree. She informed me, it was bolting and to eat the leaves, it was going to die.

I love all my plants, and it does make me sad when they aren't doing well. If you had seen me worrying over my Chinese Lantern plant, which my mom said was a weed, but I vigilantly begged it to survive and kept moving it back and forth in sunny and shady spots until I finally thought, just to give it a final resting spot with my roses.

My roses aren't actually blooming, they just look like thorny green stems poking in various directions from two inch pots. At least they are green, it gives me hope they will sprout little buds soon. Maybe its a season thing, even though we don't really have seasons in Hawaii.

Oh my, I've rambled on too long. Wishing you a wonderful Wednesday!

Love and Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Growing Healthy

Spring gardens are all the rage it seems. I'm not the only wannabe gardener out there.

A visit to see my nephews garden and they have been successfully growing eggplants, bananas, chocolate mint, and even a strawberry. Just one strawberry so far, but it's leaves are really healthy ;)

With all the concerns of pesticides, and how our food is grown, so many of my friends and family, and me to, are attempting to just grow things ourselves.

My own little garden, has a tomato plant, dill, and lettuce. I have a few pineapples and a coconut tree, we will see how long it takes for them to produce fruit.

I love seeing the greenery in my yard and am having fun caring for my little plants. I have even more talented gardening friends, my lovely friend Diane, can take cuttings and root them. This is so beyond where I am in my gardening skills, which really is just watering when I remember.

My brother is giving me my own banana tree, I am so excited! I just need to figure out where to plant it. They grow like weeds, but give a lot of bananas. Yum!

Wishing you a wonderful week!
Love and Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Sweet Dreams

Facing a big fear to do something I wanted to do my whole life, I can't even describe how that feels.

When I was younger, body surfing, or boogie boarding in the surf was so much fun. Sadly, I had been pulled under the waves and dragged out with the current so many times, that waves scared me enough, I never felt like surfing ever again.

I would see the canoe paddlers catching the waves to, and I desperately wanted to try it. I actually can swim pretty well. I would never admit to being an expert, but swimming out in the open ocean, is still something I want to try.

Diving, and seeing the reef and swimming with the dolphins and whales in the open ocean, I know, sharks to, but thats ok, they are all magnificent creatures.

I have fallen in love with canoe paddling and even more excited to surf the waves, it's been so long, I forgot what that felt like.

My body hurts. I'm, once again, discovering more muscles on my body that I just haven't used. It's worth it. The thought of climbing up and down the stairs right now, or hula is a little frightening. Eventually, my body will adjust with all this conditioning.

Wishing all your dreams come true, and of course, I hope they don't hurt, unless it's a little body conditioning ;) it will only make you stronger.

Best health always,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Easter Brunch

Waffle station chef, four year old Ethan, was creating breakfast master pieces for our family brunch. Topping his creations with healthy blueberries, strawberries, and bananas. Even a little whip cream for his older cousins.

Mom bought ono fried rice from Times Coffee Shop, while Tabitha cooked up a lot of Portuguese sausage, bacon, and eggs.

Every tempting bite was delicious, and we all worked it off, running after the two busiest little boys. One year old Connor races across the house and under furniture at lightning speeds. He will also do sneak attacks and grab your legs when you least expect it. He made me jump twice.

Even faster is Ethan, who can change activities and move from place to place so quick, I kept forgetting what we were doing in the first place.

A great weekend, again I'm exhausted. I felt almost guilty when I got home and took a nap. I kept thinking about my adorable nephews who were not going to give their parents any nap time and probably limit their sleep.

We laugh, soon my nephews will be sleeping peacefully all night and their parents can catch up on the years of sleep they have given up. I know all about that, I'm still trying to catch up, and my kids have both been sleeping through the night for ten years. Ha ha!

Wishing you a wonderful week!
Love and Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Eggs, Eggs, and more Eggs!

Eggs are delicious and super healthy. Also very useful. A healthy serving of protein and so very delicious. I already mentioned the egg yolk hair mask, but I am always throwing my egg shells in the compost planters outside to. I think my plants like them. They are still growing, and look great, just like my hair ;) lol.

My mom is always boiling eggs and my children are always stealing them from her fridge. I love my egg white omelets and also over easy, running gooey all over any hot veggie, or brown rice with kim chee.

We shouldn't have too many leftover this year, as my favorite nephews hunt down the plastic eggs. Less smelly if you can't find it again and a treasure to find later.

Happy Easter Celebrations! A lovely family holiday, no matter what your faith. Wishing you many blessings.
Love and Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

I'm going to sleep good tonight!

I had a great bike ride this morning. Practiced hula for cardio and just to practice. Totally freaked out all day, about how hard my first day of paddling was going to be, and completely surprised at how kind our coaches were on the first day.

Seriously, I was in a bit of a panic with thoughts of running up and down the beach.

I don't think they wanted to scare us off, and I couldn't be more grateful.

Signing up for a physical sport, like paddling, I'm certain it will get harder, and I hope to be ready physically to run and swim the distance.

Tonight, I'm just wishing we could have practiced longer, or I could get back out on the water tomorrow. Until next time...

Wishing you a wonderful Easter weekend!
Love and Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Surprises Around the Corner

Reward for my efforts of biking up the hill is my favorite ocean view. Always a good surprise!

Bad Surprise, would be joggers, cars, other cyclists, or slow walking tourists. I honestly, am just so happy I'm back out on my bike again. A day goes bye and I wonder when I will ride next.

I let little things suck up so much time in my day, that I just want to get some exercise. I really have to get it done first thing in the morning. Then I won't be spending my day watching the time, and thinking how I will fit it in.

I think many agree with me that first thing in the morning is the best time. I see the regular runners, who know what to expect when they see a cyclist trying to squeeze safely between them and moving cars. They not only wave a friendly good morning or hello, they also move to the side to let me safely pass.

I expect, living in a tourist destination, the tourists. They are so awed by the scenery, they forget they shouldn't walk in the middle of the road. Okay, they are on vacation, I will wait until they pass.

Wishing for lots of good surprises for all of us. Because, they always say, rewards are just around the corner. Happy Aloha Friday!

Love and Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

I miss my workout buddies!

It's harder to motivate myself without dragging my boys along. Wait a minute, their is a thought there. It actually may be an even better workout without the complaining children.

Seriously they have no idea what they are missing. Well, unless they have PE.

You know I hated PE in my younger school days. It wasn't until high school that it really was fun. Looking forward to a day of play, just for me ;)

Happy Thursday Wishes!
Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

New Curves

Adventuring out on a new bike route is terrifying, exciting, and full of unexpected twists, and turns. The scary part, is always facing a new hill.

This is so de ja vue and metaphorical, it's spooky.

So when I was a little girl, my dad and I would bike all over our neighborhood. To be going back out on these once familiar rides takes me right back to being a kid again. Very de ja vue.

Just before we left, I asked my son, are you sure you want to ride there, lots of hills? He said yes. My memory of those hills were that they were so big and difficult to pedal over when I was a kid, but today, easy.

Time always changes our perspective on every challenge or situation we have ever faced. I'm not afraid of a hill, because, one day it will be just a small bump in the road.

Alright, I'm done with the zen for now. Time for a ride!

Happy adventuring!
Love and Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Indulgence or fuel?

I love to eat, therefore, I must learn to LOVE exercise!

I really do like that feeling of pushing my body and trying to exercise as many muscles in a workout as I can. I Love the adrennaline and endorphines pumping through my system keeping me motivated to go a little longer.

The thoughts before exercise, ugh, unmotivated, tired, cranky, grouchy, rebellious, and probably a million more emotions that would all wish to crawl back under the warm covers and snooze all day.

Love gets me moving! I love my family, and to enjoy this life with them, I need to love me, for them. I want them to love themselves to take care of their bodies and enjoy this life with me. Love, love, love keeps me going.

Love also feeds me to much. At my age, I see food in different categories. Food is either fuel or indulgence. I have learned to put in my body what I know I need to function at optimal performance for my days activities. I also love to enjoy yummy indulgances with friends and family and live each fabulous moment of my life.

Balance is key, and something I have to practice everyday. I'm learning to be better, I want to be my best, not just for me, but for those I love. I will be the change that I want to see in them. That's all I can do. It's for love.

Sending love and light to you always.
Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Rain or Shine

Morning bike ride after a rainy night, maybe it wasn't the best idea. Riding through puddles just sprays that liquid all over you.

Tires are great at splattering your entire backside with muddy droplets and without fenders, it will splash it right into your face.

Riding mortorcycles, I'm sort of used to it. Some car drivers though, charge through puddles, regardless of pedestrians or cyclists. Bummer!

Still, I'm just happy to be outside, enjoying nature at a slower pace, and completly fascinated at how much our bodies can physically move us over, what I thought were, long distances, but weren't.

Reminding myself, a little mud won't hurt me and to just splash through the puddles like the big kids.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Adventure Day 4

Gave up on pushing my boys on the exercise for another day, they said they needed their own time to enjoy their Spring Break Vacation. Whatever ;)

Their reprieve was only granted because I had a better offer for a walk on the beach. My lovely friend and the happiest dog in the world.

Catching up with friends is so healing. I wish we had more time, but grateful for every moment.

A great walk, enjoyed the beach, and grateful for this paradise we call home.

I wasn't feeling like I got enough of a workout in, hah! OMG Hula was a workout! I was hurting in class but woke up feeling ok, and the scale was so generous with another pound lost, I could almost sing. Ahhh but no one wants to hear that...maybe I will finally greet my bike again, or drag my boys out for a run, weather they like it or not. Seriously, it's another beautiful day, I want to play outside.

Happy Aloha Friday! Adventure Day 5 Awaits!
Love and Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Adventure Day 2

I think I bruised my butt! The thought of sitting on anything but soft pillows is frightening.

Bike seats are not comfy. If I could only make riding with a pillow under my butt look cool, I would totally do that. I may fall off my seat though, and I can't afford to bruise any other body parts.

I'm rediscovering muscles I haven't used in years, and they are all unhappy! Oh well, I knew getting back on a bike after so many years wouldn't be so easy.

There is such an adrenaline rush rolling down a steep hill right after you huffed and puffed and pedaled, you and the heaviest bike in the world, up it.

The views are amazing and the distance that you can travel so quickly with just pedal power is enough of a fascination to keep me doing this for awhile, I hope.

Now if I can just convince my butt that it won't hurt to sit on that hard tiny seat. Even the memory foam seat cover isn't helping.

Adventure Day 3 awaits! To be continued...
Smiles for your day.
Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Surprise Breakfast

I have my feet up and resting with my morning smoothie after an exhausting bike ride.

Surprise, my son cooked up breakfast. French toast. I don't think I ever taught him how to even make that, but he googled the recipe and wa la! Bon apetit! And he delivered right to my comfy spot by the pool.

Okay this is a moment I want to enjoy. Yum! It tasted really good to. I can almost feel a tear, he is growing up so fast.

Of course I'm going to blog, post and tag him.
I'm a proud mommy, ahhh the legacy ;)
Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Adventure Day 1

Monday was officially day one of Spring Break! In a serious effort to get my kids moving, we were up early...ummm this seemed to confuse them, as they whined that it wasn't a school day. I said, it's eight, not six thirty, wake up, I want to go for a bike ride.

Older son got up and started getting ready, younger son, ugh! Opposition and defiance. I made him choose an activity that he would promise to do if he wasn't going to join us on the bike ride, he finally agreed to walking in the afternoon. Fine.

The bike ride was a quick hour and a half. We really need more bike lanes and it needs to be safer for kids to ride in neighborhoods, especially around schools. Sorry, I went off track. Ummm?

Oh yes, the afternoon walk was great except for the complaining child that was refusing to go. I thought we had a deal?

He forced me to use my threatening scary mom voice! I really don't like doing that, but as it was for his own good and mine, I had no choice. As soon as we started the walk, he was great and really enjoyed it.

Reflecting back on the day, it was a good start to the possibility of getting my kids more active everyday. I'm hoping.

Okay, ready for adventure day 2? To be continued...

Wishing you an amazing day!
Aloha,
Maile

@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

It was an ice cream extravaganza this weekend. Homemade ice cream experiments have taken over my freezer.

Last weekend, I purchased really good organic ice cream from our local all organic vegetarian grocery store -Down to Earth. My boys loved it. After recently finishing off a container of ice cream from Costco, they realized there was a difference.

We had a serious discussion about using good quality organic ingredients versus ingredients used to make mass produced ice cream. Actually its really about the air and making ice cream in small batches with the best ingredients that you like.

My boys have proclaimed themselves ice cream connoisseurs. They now insist I buy the good organic store ice cream, or make it at home.

Truthfully, I have had a beautiful ice cream maker sitting in the cabinet for a few years. After dusting it off, we made a few yummy batches of ice cream. The whole family gave it a thumbs up.

Whole, good quality ingredients, will make you feel full and satisfied. You actually can't eat to much, because it really is very rich.

I loved that I could control every ingredient and adjust flavors based on our personal preferences. Customized just for our tastebuds makes my ice cream maker worth every penny. They really aren't very expensive, but they are big and take up a lot of real estate in my cabinets. For a family that loves ice cream, it was a yummy investment.

I made a bunch of healthy low calorie ice creams to, they are virtually guilt free. I hope to post how to videos and recipes soon. There is a spinach ice cream recipe that I'm a little nervous about, but the reviews say its good. I will let you know ;)

Life is sweet, wishing you lots of yummy bites.
Aloha,
Maile

@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Healing swim

My youngest son is home sick today. Actually since yesterday and my only thought is to stick his head in the ocean. Growing up in Hawaii, it is what we all know to do when you have a head cold, just go to the beach.

I love the ocean and truly feel it's power to calm my mood just looking at it. I prefer to take the long way home from Honolulu every chance I get, and drive around Hawaii Kai and Kalama to see Sandy's and Makapu'u all the way through Waimanalo and into Kailua. I don't even care if there is traffic, I just want to see the ocean.

The salt water, and the warm sunshine is the best combination to heal your body. If I didn't live in Hawaii, I would take a hot bath filled with Hawaiian Salt. Epson Salt is okay to. Actually when my muscles are sore, nothing is better to soothe my tired muscles. I made my oldest take salt baths everyday he came home from football practice, as a bonus it help clear up his teenage acne.

It also helps with weight loss. Your skin is your largest organ and it loves salt water. Feed your skin and allow it to send healing through your entire body. My skin is soft and happy, my hair is beautiful.

I love the ocean. Let's all take care of our oceans, and if you can, send the ocean some nice thoughts of love and healing to. Grateful and blessed to live a healthy life.

Sending Healing thoughts to you and your family.
Love and Aloha,
Maile

@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

A Message of Love

This is really a message that has been echoing in my thoughts and dreams for a while and I keep trying to say it better and soon, I will. Love yourself first and allow healing, then you can love others and help them on their path to love and healing.

Everything in this life is about love. Every life lesson, every relationship, every hardship and every reward in this life is all about love.

It seems so simple then, that if we live in a place of love, that our life will only be filled with love. Like a magnet attracting the energy you send out, it will come into your life.

If we perceive every situation with love, it is always a reward.

Every step on my journey, I have to look back on it with love. No matter the difficulty, no matter the blessing, it is all behind me and I move forward to the next step. Remembering that with love, my journey is blessed.

Tears flow as I send love out to everyone, that they walk this life with love and attract many rewards and blessings with every step.

You are blessed, you are loved!

Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Kids may not think this is funny

The other day my son asked me to pick him up from school. I said sure. He usually will ride his bike, but this morning he didn't want to. He often is lazy in the morning and asks me to pick him up and I say, "What was the point of getting you a bike, if you aren't going to ride it?" If he dares reply anything but ok, I have a long lecture that follows, but he knows better now.

So in the afternoon, I showed up and was waiting for him at the school exit. He looked past me and at the long row of cars trying to find mine. I watched him walk back to a bench, where he pulled out his phone to call me. I started walking toward him and answered his call, "Hello?" He hung up, as I was now standing in front of him and asked, "Where is the car?" I said, "What car?"

I was wearing my favorite walking shoes and carrying my bottle of water, he looked at me and groaned. I said, "I'm here to pick you up." He didn't smile, but I was laughing. The happy endorphins were already flowing in my brain from the short walk from our house, I was in such a good mood.

Seriously, he is eleven years old and should be in better shape than me to walk the short distance home. I used to love walking home after school, he's just lucky his dad is nice enough to drive him in the morning when he is tired. It's more about making sure he gets to school on time, as I don't trust that he would walk at a snails pace and miss as much school time as he could get away with.

My other son, has no problem staying active, such different personalities. Except my younger son used to be incredibly organized and neat my older son would happily live in a mess if I wouldn't nag him to clean his room, or their bathroom, and I could only hope they may give the dog a bath at least once a year.

Someday, I hope they find beautiful, and highly organized girls, who can cook, clean, and take care of them. I'm trying to teach them these skills, but I feel like I'm running out of time as they seem to be lazy learners.

Ugh, I need a mom to teenage boy translator. Someone make it soon! They do keep me up to date with the latest lingo, I guess. My youngest has defined me as a hipster and his dad as just old. I laugh, that's kind of funny.

Happy Thoughts for your day. School will be out soon, it's time for a walk ;-) lol

Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Drunken Shrimp ;)

Do you know what cleans out and almost empty jar of chopped garlic or pesto? Wine. I still have half a bottle left.

I love cooking with wine, because it softens and tenderizes everything and the alcohol cooks off leaving a hint of yummy fermented grapes.

Last nights dinner emptied two more jars out of my fridge.

Shrimp, capers, sun dried tomatoes in a white wine garlic butter pesto sauce with a few dashes of balsamic vinegar over whole wheat pasta. Oh wow! It sounds very yummy and tasted pretty good to.

I started with half a stick of butter, 4 generous tablespoons of garlic, 1/4 cup of pesto and 2 cups of wine. Let that simmer with a a couple tablespoons of whole wheat flour to thicken. I usually don't like to thicken white sauces, but my mother would have complained.

While that was going, my pasta was boiling also. Tasting while it cooked it needed a little sweet. I added several dashes of balsamic vinegar to taste.

I have to admit, green pesto plus black balsamic with wheat flour wasn't a pretty color. At that moment I added the red sun dried tomatoes.

The more veggies the better. If I had more leftover peppers, it would have been perfect. I did have two cans of diced mushrooms but still it was more brown color and I was wishing for green spinach. Instead, the pretty little capers were my added green, and I love capers.

Salt and pepper to taste til I liked it. Then I spooned out almost all the sauce onto the hot pasta. I left maybe a 1/4 cup of sauce in the pan and sauted the peeled shrimp. It cooked fast. I tossed it with the pasta and sauce and served it up to a hungry family with a big salad.

Perfectly simple experiment that my family voted as edible and tasty. Yeah! That's good enough for me.

Enjoy life's tasty bites.

Aloha,
Maile

@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

New Moon, New You!

I love new moon energy! Having released all the bad habits and negative energy in the shrinking moon phase, we have finally arrived.

Take this time for yourself, and shed old skin, old habits, old thinking, and allow healing.

What small step can you take that makes you feel purified, devoted, purposeful, and respectful of your body today?

It is time to nourish your body, your mind, and your spirit and live the life you were meant to.

The entire universe sends its healing to you. Allow it in your life. Feel the love that surrounds you. You are blessed.

Sending love and light always.
Aloha,
Maile

@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://foreveryoungandfithawaii.blogspot.com/
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Hawaii may be in serious trouble!

Hawaii may be in serious trouble. The world needs places like Hawaii to grow organic foods! True Organic in a perfect paradise conditions with our unique proximity to the equator and multiple climate zones, we can no longer ignore this issue. 

The world's food supply is at stake. What you and your family will be consuming for the rest of your life and there's should be everyone's number one priority. 

We truly can stop all illness. Healthy food will mean healthy populations, a healthy planet and the best future! 

Let's work together to finally voice our concerns and make healthier lifestyle changes that will benefit you and the world. 

You don't have to do it all in one day, and you are definitely not alone! Little steps to a healthier lifestyle, will make an impact to a better and healthier life. 

Save Hawaii...Save the planet...Save yourself! I'm not being overly dramatic, this is a serious issue that really scares me. I want everyone to be healthy, but how can you be healthy, when you eat your fruits and veggies that are genetically modified or worse? Why do so many chemical companies have so much control over acres of Hawaii's Land? Please pass on the link. Mahalo nui loa, Maile

 

The Legend of Surfing: Kelly Slater | Living an Organic Life

 

Wishing you your best health always.
Me ke aloha pumehana,
Maile

@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://foreveryoungandfithawaii.blogspot.com/

 

http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet Addiction

Sugar is a bad habit. It has been my hardest habit to kick. I'm not perfect and I fall off the bandwagon, so to speak, every so often.

Today is day 2 of another day without added sugar, chocolate to be specific. I wish I didn't even have it in my house, but as I don't live alone, I have to honor other family members desires to have it.

I have insisted though, that we no longer buy cheap sugar candy. They seem to be the most addictive. If I bite into chocolate again, I want the best quality chocolate with the least added sugar.

Birthdays, parties, any celebration, especially here in Hawaii, revolves around food and there is usually a tempting dessert somewhere in the buffet.

I actually am pretty good and can limit myself to a small piece of whatever, or better, refuse it all together. Will power is amazing, but I'm not bulletproof when it comes to some favorites, and my friends and family know exactly what they are. It's why I love them...ha ha

To get myself off sugar, I crank up my proteins and especially my omega three's. A really good quality fish oil, I take good supplements, and avoid simple carbohydrates.

You can't get all your nutrients from food, especially omega 3's. Not only does it balance your mood, it has so many benefits, especially for children. Please choose a good quality fish oil! Make sure your fish oil comes from a good source. My fish oil is from anchovies and sardines from the cold waters of the Mediterranean. Small fish, short life span, less possibility of mercury. Don't pick a fish oil from big fish, mackeral, or even salmon as it usually is just treated as a cheap by product of the fishing industry.

My favorite omega 3 Link: http://www.shop.com/ul!1358008!Omega+3-trends+260.xhtml?credituser=C3929526

There have been almost no withdrawls or crankiness and cravings are gone today. The first day is always the hardest because, I had allowed it as almost a usual part of my day.

It takes 90 days to start any habit, but it can take even less time to stop a bad habit.

Distractions are the biggest help, and avoiding all possible access to sugar in all its forms.

Let's be realistic, sugar is in almost everything, I'm not afraid of natural sugar-honey, real maple syrup (without added sugar), agave, or fruit. Sugar substitutes, made from sugar, like stevia and splenda seem to be ok. I don't seem to have any serious sugar cravings from having added them to things. Of course, everyone is different, and you will have to see how it affects you.

Sugar has so many disadvantages, besides the addictive qualities, it can cause your body to age, weight gain, and illness. Our bodies were never meant to process the amount of sugar that seems so acceptable in American diets.

I wish you your best health. I wish it so much for my loved ones. Life truly is sweet and I would never say, you can't eat dessert ever again, just make the best decisions in the rest of your diet, so you can indulge a little.

Everything in balance, be kind to those you love and stop sharing cake, go for the chocolate dipped strawberries instead.

My favorite alternative to ice cream...frozen bananas! Naturally sweet and really yummy. I don't feel a twinge of guilt even when I add a big handful of almonds. Salty sweet...ugh, I know another craving thing.

Eat the best quality proteins, veggies, fruits and nuts you can afford. Treat your body with love and care, and skip the processed sugar and carbs, it won't take too long for your body to adjust and kick the sugar habit.

If I can do it, anybody can. I believe in you!

Love and Aloha,
Maile

@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://foreveryoungandfithawaii.blogspot.com/
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html