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!

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!

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!

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.

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!

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!

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.

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).

Being a vegan, one faces many obvious challenges on a daily basis. One issue that I personally had many a sleepless night over was what to do with all of the animal clothing items that I had accumulated prior to becoming vegan. 

While most of us are not financially able to replace all of our items at once, the question is when you can replace something what do you do with the animal product that you once wore? There are many different opinions on this subject, such as selling the items and donating the money to an animal sanctuary, donating the item to the poor, and some people want to continue to wear the item as a reminder of the animal that they are now fighting for daily. Well, I thought about each of these choices and I didn't agree with any of them for my own personal reasons. I didn't want to sell the item to have someone wear it and cause another person to go and buy one just like it. This applied to giving it to the poor as well. As far as wearing the item? Well, I just could not do that. 


One item in particular that was part of my wardrobe was a jacket. A leather jacket. A leather jacket made of lambskin. Those of you that know me are saying “What???” I did not purchase the jacket, it was a gift for my graduation from my Grandmother, but yes, I owned a lambskin leather jacket.

So after thinking and thinking about what I should do I came up with this resolution: I was going to bury it. Yes, I said bury it. I wanted this poor creature that died a terrible death for its skin to finally be put to rest. So the decision was made. The first thing that I had to do was give my friend a name. While I owned the jacket it was just that....a jacket, nothing more. My friend who died to make this jacket deserved a name. Now many of you are saying “This is nuts!” Growing up, my father's best friend was Cherokee. He taught me many things and one thing he used to say to me was "Every animal deserves a name." You can call it whatever you want to call it but it will then be known to you and you to it. I have never forgotten this. I decided to name my jacket Baba. 

Baba was a beloved lamb in one of my favorite Christmas stories and I always wished I could hug him as a child. I didn't personally know Baba but he gave his life, a life that I had no right to. The least I could do was give him a name.

Now, how and where do I do it? I did a lot of research on this because I didn't want Baba’s remains to harm any other creature. Too much pain had already been in this poor animal’s life and his remains should be at peace. I found that I could make a home for other creatures and they would help in the decomposition of my dear friend (there are many specifics to consider when choosing the right site, especially concerning local regulations about burying animals around water locations both private and public, so if you make this choice you will have to research on your own for the perfect spot). 

I removed the things that he was not born with and put them aside (buttons, zippers, etc.). I gathered the things I wanted to bury him with and we headed off to his final resting place. Once we arrived I let him lie in the grass, something he probably never got to do. I let the sunshine warm his skin, even if it was just for the briefest of moments. I dug his grave about 3 feet down, gathered some dead sticks and logs from the forest floor, put them in the grave, and laid a cotton pillow case on top of them. Then I placed him in the hole and laid flowers on him. I sat there with him for a moment. I thanked him and made a promise to him that I would fight for the rest of my life for him and his sisters and brothers to be free. 

Finally, I told him to run and be free and that if someday he sees me I will gladly give him cuddles and kisses. Oh, and as many treats as he would want! I then dumped the potting soil that I brought with me on top of him, and plenty of water too. I wanted to encourage other animals to come and live there and be happy. I made a compost site out of Baba's grave. I gave Baba back all of the dirt that I took out when I placed him inside, and on the top I planted wild flowers.

In concluding, giving Baba his name, returning him back to the earth and acknowledging what he died for, and finally knowing that he was now at peace, I felt a little bit better. I felt stronger. I will continue to fight for him and all of the animals that die simply for our pleasure and vanity. I will not allow his death and so many others be forgotten. I wish you all well and hope that maybe this will help you make a decision on what you want to do with your items. Thank you for reading. 

Bright Blessings!!

Vegjax.com Promotes a Healthier, More Humane Lifestyle

The Girls Gone Green, a Jacksonville-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting environmental, animal and health issues, announces the launch of www.vegjax.com, Jacksonville’s Veg-Friendly Dining Guide. This is the first-of-its-kind local website dedicated to making it easy for residents and travelers to find healthier, more humane options at restaurants in Jacksonville and surrounding areas.

More than 50 restaurants are listed and broken down by area including St. Augustine, Riverside, Fernandina Beach, San Marco, Southside, Beaches and more. Every suggestion details what items on menus are free from any animal products or by-products, which have been linked to obesity, heart disease and cancer. The guide makes it extremely easy for people who have health concerns or special food requirements to eat out.

In addition to listing veg-friendly menu items in an easy to navigate format, the site includes recommendations from The Girls Gone Green, photos and local special event listings. The website is designed to make it easy to enjoy a healthier, more humane lifestyle while dining at local restaurants. Visitors to the site are welcome to submit new menu items for review.

Men’s Health magazine ranked Jacksonville as the 12th fattest city in America a few years ago and The Girls Gone Green would like to see the River City fall off that list by equipping people with healthier food options in a place full of fast food restaurants.  They feel if the demand is there, then selections on menus will begin to grow.

According to Dr. Jon Repole of Jacksonville Health and Wellness Center, “The Girls Gone Green’s new veg-dining guide is an invaluable resource for our community and anyone visiting or traveling through our great city who seek optimal health and longevity.”

The Girls Gone Green feels that the website helps to promote a healthier, happier First Coast. Also, the restaurant guide will not list businesses that serve two of society’s cruelest foods – Veal and Foie Gras.  Once restaurants remove these menu items, they can then qualify to be featured on the site.

The Girls Gone Green is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed in 2007 and devoted to heightening people’s awareness about how to improve the quality of our lives by improving the world around us. More information can be found at www.thegirlsgonegreen.com.