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Vegan Health and Body - Let the Transformation Begin!

1/9/2016

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About Vegan Health and Body

We are excited to launch our newest online program - Vegan Health and Body!! We cannot wait for you to join our unique program that we stand behind with full conviction.

We are ready to arm you with all of the right knowledge you need to build strength and burn fat. And, we promise to make it easy to follow to help keep you on track. Our lives are complicated enough so let us sort through all the facts and science and give you a version of a health and wellness program like no other!

VHAB is a 30-day guide offering videos, webinars, nutritional outlines, workouts, yoga, sample meal plans, motivation and more!! This will be the first ever holistic approach to disrupting the status quo and transforming how you look and feel.

We are here for you, and can't wait to join you in your journey of building strength, burning fat and getting healthy!
REGISTER TODAY!
LEARN MORE
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Join Our Free Live Webinar

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We know you are determined and ready to make 2016 your healthiest, strongest year yet!! We are excited to give you everything you need to get it done!

There are only a few more days left to take advantage of our Vegan Health and Body discount of 23%. You pay only $50 for invaluable information that could save your life. Getting leaner, meaner and greener has never been easier.

Our program will get you the results you have desired for a long time. Yes, you can do it and we can help make it happen!

Are you not sure if VHAB is the right fit for you?? We understand if you're skeptical or hesitant about joining. That's why we are hosting a LIVE FREE WEBINAR this Sunday at 7 p.m. EDT. Join us and we will breakdown Vegan Health and Body step-by-step.

"Do I have to go totally vegan right away?"

"Will I be challenged enough in the workouts?"

"How much protein should I eat and will I get enough?"


All of these questions and more will be answered by us plus any questions you have about the program. No more guessing about which protein sources work best before and after a workout. We will explain how our holistic approach to health and wellness is exactly what you need to transform your body and start feeling good.

Here is all you have to do:

1. Register for the webinar by clicking here.

2. Share this with a friend.

3. Start preparing your questions.

4. Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday!


10 Day Instagram Challenge - Let's Do It!

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Ready to get a taste of what we eat and how we train?

Join us for the 10 day ‪#‎vhabchallenge‬ on Instagram! We will alternate days with vegan food and exercises you can do at home! Here's how you join...

1. Follow us on Instagram!

1. Once there, find and share the challenge picture (right).

2. Tag your friends in the post.

3. Tag @veganhealthandbody in the same post.

4. Use #vhabchallenge for all posts.

5. Wait for our post Sunday night to kick it off for Monday the 11th!

We are excited and can't wait to get healthy with you!


Our TV Debut On The Chat

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We officially launched VHAB to the masses in the beginning of January on LIVE TV!

Julie and Nichele joined the ladies of The Chat to detail how this completely online program can change the way you look and feel.

Julie prepared super-charged, energy balls that are the perfect snack before or after a workout. They are protein-packed and effectively help with the recovery process while supplying endless energy to keep you going.

Click here for the recipe >>

Nichele finishes it off with exercises EVERYONE should be doing consistently that will burn fat and reshape your body. Have you ever done mountain climbers? If you have, great! Check out Nichele's twist she gives them to up your game. If you have not,  no worries just watch her form and start incorporating them today.

Watch The Segment

GET STARTED WITH VHAB!
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5 NATURAL REMEDIES FOR THE MOST COMMON AILMENTS

7/11/2015

1 Comment

 
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Using nature to help heal the body comes with many benefits including saving money and avoiding harmful chemicals and side effects found in over-the-counter drugs. Julie Watkins from The Girls Gone Green joins The Chat to discuss how to target the most common ailments with a few spices, herbs and oils.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE >>

1. SORE THROAT - Apple cider vinegar is helpful for treating a sore throat due to its antibacterial properties. Add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and one teaspoon each of lemon juice and maple syrup to a cup of warm water and drink it slowly. Do this two or three times a day. Soon you will get relief from the pain and inflammation. You can also make a gargle solution with apple cider vinegar. Mix one teaspoon of salt and one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in one cup of warm water. Gargle with it several times a day.
 
2.HEADACHE - Simply smelling the soothing scent of lavender essential oil can be of great help in relieving tension headaches. Research suggests that it can also help improve migraine symptoms. Put a few drops of lavender essential oil on a tissue and inhale it. You can also add two drops of lavender oil to two cups of boiling water and inhale the steam. Another option is to mix two or three drops of lavender essential oil in one tablespoon of carrier oil such as almond oil or olive oil and massage your forehead with it.
 
3. SINUSES/ALLERGIES - Turmeric root is a wonderful, fragrant spice commonly found in Indian and some Middle eastern dishes. Not only does Turmeric contain the natural anti-inflammatory curcumin, this spice is also an anti-oxidant. When combined with spicy ginger root and brewed for hot tea, this combination can help loosen mucus from clogged nasal passages, alleviate sinus pressure, and make you feel better all around. Ginger root also has the added bonus of calming an upset stomach – a frequent side-effect of excessive nighttime sinus drainage.
 
4. WRINKLES/STRETCH MARKS - For wrinkles, try using remedies that contain comfrey, calendula and lavender. Maca powder is also an excellent choice for helping skin remain youthful. Stretch marks can be reduced more rapidly by massaging coconut oil and shea butter into the skin.
 
5. JOINT PAIN - Cayenne Pepper is an herbal remedy made from the dried pods of chili peppers. Besides being a very popular spice in cooking, cayenne has also been used medicinally for thousands of years. Known for its spicy-hot taste, cayenne makes an excellent topical ointment that relieves joint pain. Rubbing cayenne on the affected area causes a mild irritation, which in turn “distracts” the nerves from the more severe joint pain. Repeated topical applications of cayenne pepper can reduce arthritis pain significantly. To make a topical paste, mix 2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper with 1/2 cup of cocoa butter or coconut oil. Apply it directly to the sore joint. You can also mix 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper with 1 cup of apple cider vinegar and soak sore hands or feet for 20 minutes to reduce pain and inflammation.

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5 Easy Tips to Growing Your Own Food

6/18/2014

3 Comments

 

by Julie Watkins

Growing food.

Humans have been gardening since the dawn of civilization so by now there must be some instinct built into all of us. And besides, when you are reaching out to your constructive and creative primal state you are waking things inside of you that have been asleep for far too long. I think that's why gardening has so many health benefits like relieving stress, improving mental health and physical well-being.

If people were successful at planting and growing food thousands of years ago what makes you think you can't do it today given ALL of the freaking resources available to you 24-7? FYI, way back when, they managed to grow food just fine without all the toxic, polluting, soil-eroding, water and air contaminating, bee- and baby-killing chemicals so ORGANIC, ORGANIC, ORGANIC is the way you were meant to grow food. And the current state of your health is there to confirm that statement.

Reasons To Grow Your Own Food:

  • Save money
  • Increase your food security
  • Avoid deadly chemicals
  • Save energy
  • Improve your health through better nutrition
  • Prevent Monsanto from patenting and owning your food
  • Connect to yourself through nature
  • Prevent soil erosion
  • Tastes better
  • Improve the planet's health
  • Protect future generations
  • Save the bees
I am definitely no expert on gardening, heck, I've only been doing it for a few months. However, I am good at taking something that might seem overwhelming and complex and JUST DOING IT! (For example, I'm not very good at blogging as it takes me a long time to write just one measly blog, but here I am). You want to learn how to swim, you jump in a pool. You want to learn guitar, you get a guitar. You want to grow your own food, you get seeds, dirt and a pot. Keep it basic. But, like everything else that matters in life, it takes a little patience, a willingness to make mistakes and a determination to keep trying.
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1.

Don't Overthink It!

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Thinking about where to start for too long just might stop you dead in your tracks. You may begin to ponder things such as growing seasons, what will and won't grow in your region, whether or not to try companion planting, what insect repellants to use, etc.

I'm not saying don't be prepared, but just find a fruit or veggie you like to eat and plant the damn thing. It'll take  a while to grow and bear fruit, during which time you can "dig" a little deeper into the dos and don'ts of what you just planted. Your knowledge will "grow" along with your new plant, ha!

Now, isn't that much better than thinking you have to know-it-all before you can begin this journey into green thumbland?


There's just
no need to overcomplicate how a seed buried in the soil basking in the sun getting watered from time to time begins to grow. It just happens so begin right there.


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Lettuce is by far the easiest thing I have grown to date. Well, that and basil - they both grow great in pots! I planted 4 groups of seeds in which 3 sprouted quickly. The fourth took a while, but it's now caught up and filling in quite nicely.
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After just a few weeks, I have fresh greens that I can now add to any salad, smoothie, sandwich, juice, etc. Minimal effort required!

2.

Gather Your Supplies

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Gardening is pretty inexpensive to do even BEFORE you've bought the organic seeds. Don't want to buy seeds? Then just remove the seeds from your produce and use those.

Now run to the store and get a pot or two, some dirt, (rocks, if your pots DO NOT have holes in them) and perhaps a little shovel and watering can. Well, lookie there, you've got everything you could possibly need to grow some fantastic food!

3.

Get Dirty

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Now rip open that big bag of dirt and get ready to dig in! If your pots DO NOT have holes, then place a layer of rocks at the bottom. This will allow for the water to drain.

Otherwise, fill the pot with dirt and read the directions on your seed packet to find out how deep to plant your seed. It could be from 1 inch to 1/8 inch. Throw them seeds on in there, cover and water.

Now brace yourself, the fun is just about to start!

4.

Check On It Frequently

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Plants have feelings, too, you know, so check on them now and then. (They don't really, but they do respond to energy so talking to them or wishing them well doesn't hurt one bit. And, this is a great way to get your neighbors to leave you alone.)

Just make sure your new friends are getting enough sun and water. I would recommend watering them once a day unless the soil feels damp to the touch, then let it dry out a bit.

5.

Live and Learn

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You've made a huge mistake? Good! Congrats, you just got in touch with your human side and you learned what not to do. That's just as valuable as learning the right way to do it. Did you accidentally grow some weeds like I did (see below)? Did your leaves turn white and all wilty?

Well, just try to diagnose the problem and then do it all over again. As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, you have resources available to you 24-7: YouTube, garden clubs, community gardens. store clerks, social media, books and more. The universe will not let you fail as growing food has never been easier to figure out than right here, right now. And since you're not going anywhere anytime soon, grab those seeds and refer to step 1!


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I planted wheatgrass here, but now I'm thinking I've been tending to and nurturing weeds for the last few weeks. It doesn't look like the wheatgrass I'm used to seeing which is thinner and a brighter green. But, that's a damn fine pot of luscious weeds.
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I have a plot in an organic community garden where I planted these beans. I find growing items in pots at home easier only because I can check on them more often. Here, it seems something got to the leaves. Apparently, spraying a concoction of water and biodegradable liquid dish soap is all it needs. I recommend Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps.

I love this website because it lets you know when produce is in season in your state! Do you have a favorite fruit or vegetable, and you'd love to get it fresh and local, but you don't know when it is normally harvested in your area?  Then you are in luck: click the button below to get the United States first national crop harvest calendars.
Click here for the CROP CALENDAR >>
3 Comments

Try This 3-Day Detox! Eat, Drink & Sleep Your Way to Feeling Better.

12/2/2013

3 Comments

 

by Julie Watkins

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I stumbled upon this awesome detox and decided to try it the very next day in hopes of getting good food in my body and becoming more energized. Well, it worked! It worked better than I thought it would. Keep in mind the first two days will be your transition days. Your body will be going through some changes adjusting to all the good meals you're consuming and will start ridding your body of the bad stuff like caffeine, sugar and white flour. By day 3, hopefully you will feel and look better. Detoxes actually become easier the longer you do them and that's why many people have just as much success with 7, 10, even 30 day detoxes. But, you know what I loved about this particular one so much? YOU GET TO EAT! Unlike juice fasts or master cleanses which really take your health to the next level, this one is a nice transition into taking care of yourself while still satisfying many urges. Enjoy and good luck!


DAY 1 LIST:
GREEN TEA
GRAPEFRUIT
COCONUT or SOY YOGURT (they are hormone-free)
BLUEBERRIES
SPINACH
BABY TOMATOES
LETTUCE
CARROTS
BANANAS
BROCCOLI
RED ONION
COCONUT or OLIVE OIL
DAY 2 LIST:
GREEN TEA
2 LEMONS
Medium GRAPEFRUIT
Handful of CHERRIES
2 GREEN APPLES
APPLE JUICE (if desired)
COCONUT OR SOY YOGURT
BLUEBERRIES
CARROTS
CABBAGE
RADISH
WALNUTS
VEGETABLE STOCK CUBES OR VEGETABLE BROTH
1 RED ONION
1 GARLIC
BEETROOT
DAY 3 LIST:
GREEN TEA
1/2 LEMON
Medium GRAPEFRUIT
COCONUT OR SOY YOGURT
BLUEBERRIES
SPINACH (8 ounces)
BABY TOMATOES
LETTUCE
CARROTS
ALMONDS
BROCCOLI FLORETS
BEETROOT
WALNUTS

DAY 1:

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After the first day you should notice you feel a lot happier within yourself, a little less bloated and feeling a tad more energized. Make sure you can get 8 hours of sleep to allow your body a full recovery and to repair its functions ready for the next days detoxing.

Avoid caffeine and alcohol and try to drink 3 liters (13 cups) of water throughout the day.

*Try to buy as much organic as possible (less chemicals will be ingested and you'll get greater benefits from the detox).

Feel free to adjust your eating times:

Upon waking drink your green tea (it contains many antioxidants and plant compounds that instruct the body to speed up its metabolism for the day, also containing many vitamins which will also help cleanse the skin).

8:00AM - Slice your grapefruit, scoop out flesh and juice, enjoy!

10:00AM - Mix your blueberries and 1 cup of yogurt.

12:30PM - Heat olive oil in a frying pan at low heat, place 8 ounces of spinach into the pan and cook for 2 minutes. Place 10 diced baby carrots in and 10 baby tomatoes, toss the pan for 3 more minutes. Lay the lettuce leaves on a plate and place everything else on top. YUM!

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Day 1 Lunch
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Day 1 Dinner
4:00PM - Banana

7:00PM - Chop 1/2 cup of broccoli florets into small pieces. Chop 2 large carrots and 1 whole red onion. Heat a teaspoon of oil in a pan over medium heat. Place all the vegetables into the pan and cook for 10 minutes. Once browned, you're good to go!

Try to fight your cravings and addictions. All these foods will work together beautifully throughout the day to give you what you need. Remember it's ONLY 3 DAYS!! We can do this!

Day 2:

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As Day 2 is over you should already be feeling the benefits and the detox, noticing the skin is a lot more hydrated, smooth and less oily. The stomach should feel a lot fresher and not feel bloated at all.

Upon waking drink your green tea or change it up and squeeze some lemon juice into either cold or warm water and sprinkle some cayenne pepper on top.

8:00AM - Slice the grapefruit, scoop out flesh and juice. Add to a bowl along with cherries (cut in half) and thinly sliced apples. Pour some apple juice over the fruit if desired.

10:00AM - Coconut or soy yogurt mixed with blueberries.

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Day 2 Lunch
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Beets & onions being turned into beet soup.
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Beets are nature's Viagra!
12:30PM - Dice a handful of carrots, chop a handful of radishes and peel cabbage leaves. In a frying pan with a tablespoon of oil, heat all the veggies for 15 minutes. Dish it on a plate, squeeze lemon juice and enjoy!

(FYI, the cabbage's potassium levels with its Vitamins C, A and Fiber help attack cancerous cells while helping to replenish the skin. The carrots provide a great deal of potassium and Vitamin A to help cleanse the blood, build the immune system, but most of all eliminate waste. The radishes purify the blood of the toxins and will give the skin a great complexion helping to maintain hydration. Finally, the lemon clears any intestinal illnesses and helps cleanse the digestive system).

4:00PM - Handful of walnuts (these will provide the body with good fats which help to transport all the nutrients and vitamins consumed over the last day and a half, they are also high in proteins to help repair muscle tissues.)

7:00PM - Use 1 tablespoon oil, 1 red onion, 1 cloves of garlic, 4 beetroot, 1 and 1/3 cups of vegetable stock (broth)

1. Put 4 vegetable stock cubes into 1 and 1/3 of boiling water, stir until smooth.

2. Warm oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.

3. Chop onion an garlic, add to saucepan for 5 minutes.

4. Chop the beetroot and stir for 1 minute.

5. Stir in the stock with the vegetables and season with a little salt and pepper. Cook for 20 minutes until beetroot is soft.

6. Remove from heat and let cool 5 minutes.

7. Pour into a blender or food processor and pulse until smooth. Return soup to saucepan and heat for 5 minutes.

(FYI, beetroot will help with inflammation due to its high level of betaine, it provides the body with anti-oxidants which help destroy toxins in the liver and it also helps cleanses the kidneys and spleen which make for a better digestive system. Beetroot does so much it's considered the best detox food possible as it aims to restore organs, blood, skin and immune system!)

Food can truly be a powerful thing! Use it wisely :-)

Day 3:

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On Day 3 we are really packing in the super-foods which will help eliminate those bad toxins and bad bacteria! After the final day of detoxing you will feel energized, healthier and happier with your skin looking and feeling improved.

Upon waking drink your green tea or change it up and squeeze some lemon juice into either cold or warm water and sprinkle some cayenne pepper on top.

8:00AM - Slice the grapefruit, scoop out flesh and juice. Enjoy!

10:00AM - Coconut or soy yogurt mixed with blueberries.

12:30PM - Heat oil in pan at low heat, place spinach in the pan and cook for 2 minutes. Place about a 2 handfuls of diced carrots and baby tomatoes in the pan and cook for 3 more minutes. Lay the lettuce leaves on a plate and place everything on top.

4:00PM - Handful of almonds (these will provide the body with good fats which help to transport all the nutrients and vitamins consumed over the last day and a half, they are also high in proteins to help repair muscle tissues.)

7:00PM - Heat oil in a frying pan. Chop the broccoli and beetroot into small pieces and place in the pan. Cook for 10 minutes and add the walnuts. Cook a bit more, then squeeze lemon on top, eat away!

(The super-food broccoli can help get rid of cancers by using its high levels of folic acid, calcium and vitamins. It can also prevent the risk of cataracts and heart disease, therefore making this dinner very powerful in a detox diet. It is so healthy you can eat as much of this meal as you want. Beetroot can provide all kinds of goodness to the body, helping to replenish the skin and digestive system. The nuts help beat heart disease and help repair muscle tissue while the lemon destroys bacteria in the intestines and cleanse the digestive system).


My Experience:

Day 1: I noticed I missed three things during day 1's detox...bread, vegan butter and sweets. I realized I like the sensation of being full that only bread or other heavy carbs can provide. However, I heard your stomach and brain can adjust to this sensation so I look forward to day 2.

I would describe myself as a moderate coffee drinker and have suffered many headaches when attempting to steer away from caffeine. Luckily, I had decreased the amount I drank leading up to this detox, by accident mind you, so I didn't have the pounding afternoon headaches for which I'm thankful. But, be mindful you may experience this while detoxing.
Day 2: The food was really good from breakfast to dinner. I looked forward to the big fruit bowl for breakfast and it didn't disappoint. What a great way to start the day with an abundance of delicious, low-sugar and filling fruits. I'm thinking of alternating this with a bowl of oatmeal, hemp seed and goji berries for breakfast now.

This has been a very low maintenance detox given the meals take less than 20 minutes to make from prepping to completion. Some are only a couple minutes. It proved to me I DO have the time to eat right.

I will say my evening cravings have been the hardest for me. I sometimes work late and will get hungry around 9 o'clock. Otherwise, the rest of the day is fairly easy...it's just trying to distract myself a few hours before going to bed. I'm not used to going to bed on such an empty stomach. 
Day 3: At the conclusion of day 3 I hope those of you who participated this go-around are feeling good. For me, day 3 was the best, I woke up so energized and mentally alert! It was the mental alertness that really took me by surprise. It was as if I drank 3 cups of coffee, very noticeable. I ran around all day, but never ran out of energy or got that afternoon slump. I will say I'm feeling really relaxed now and ready to settle into the evening.

What was your favorite meal? I really liked the beet soup from Day 2...so tasty and easy to make. I'll be incorporating that more often into my meals.

Thanks so much for participating or at least being curious! I really hope it helped in some way. I think its awesome you gave your body the attention it deserves and fueled it with such powerful foods. Hopefully you feel different. It's good to check in with your body every now and again. Please share you experience.
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No Meat March - Should You Challenge Yourself?

1/21/2013

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by The Girls Gone Green

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WTEV/WAWS Meteorologist and President of the local nonprofit - The Girls Gone Green, Julie Watkins is encouraging people to get healthy and take the No Meat March challenge during the month of March. 

According to Julie Watkins, “March is National Nutrition Month and what better way to celebrate than by participating in a community-supported initiative developed to help you feel and look better.” No Meat March is a Jacksonville-based campaign presented by The Girls Gone Green. It invites those curious about exploring a plant-based diet to sign a pledge and become part of a growing population seeking healthier alternatives to animal protein.

Watkins explains, “We just want you to use the 31 days of going meat-free as a way to explore your body and health. Try giving your body a break from foods high in fat and cholesterol to see if you like the way it makes you feel. We are here to offer support and encouragement.”

During the month, there will be a number of events and gatherings for participants to get together and enjoy community-related activities. Participants will receive daily emails sharing nutritional information and recipes to support their commitment to NMM. Plenty of resources are available to foster community, allowing participants to communicate, ask questions and get feedback.

For more information please visit www.NoMeatMarch.com.

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