One word...Bloating

Bloating has become so common these days, we could probably refer to it as an ‘epidemic’! The combination of poor diets and high level of stress there is no wonder that people are suffering from bloating! Whether it be the uncomfortable feeling, the appearance or maybe the gas that comes along with it, a bloated stomach can seriously impact on your life.
 

Foods to Eat

Probiotics: “Good Bacteria”. This includes foods such as Kimchi, Sauerkraut, yogurt, kefir and kombucha! These foods help to kill the bad bacteria that trigger digestive issues!

Raw Dairy: As opposed to conventional diary, aged/raw cheese, kefir and yogurt help to limit negative reactions.

Water Rich Fruits & Vegetables: Leafy greens, cucumbers, celery, fennel, artichoke, melon, berries, steam veggies and cultured/fermented vegetables.

Herbs, Spices & Teas: Such as ginger, dandelion, aloe vera, fennel, parsley, oregano and rosemary, herbal teas, essential oils, bone broth and green tea all naturally soothe digestion.
 

Foods to Avoid

Sugar & Sweetened Snacks: Sugar easily ferments in the gut therefore can contribute to inflammation.

Conventional Dairy: Flavored yogurts and other dairy with added sugar and artificial ingredients remove important enzymes that protect your gut.

Refined Grains: Gluten, corn and other grains can prove to be difficult for many people to digest.

Sulfur & FODMAP Carbs: Veggies like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, onion and garlic are very nutritious with several anti-cancer properties but can produce relatively high volumes of gas thanks to a type of carb (raffinose) which can remain partly undigested in the intestine.
 

If you do find you are still suffering from bloating, here are some simple tips to follow!

Talk to your doctor: Your Doctor will be able to run tests to help determine the cause of your bloating!

Get some Exercise: Being active definitely helps with your digestive system to function to its optimal capacity. Try doing something active for at least 30 minutes per day!

Increase your water intake: To ensure that the fiber entering your body can perform its job correctly, you want to be drinking 2 - 3 litres of water per day! Staying hydrated is essential for beating the bloat!

Reduce Stress: Stress and anxiety can create a huge impact on your digestion! When you are anxious or sad it causes your brain to divert attention away from proper digestion in an effort to conserve energy and high amounts of stress can increase your cortisol levels therefore causing you to become overly hungry, constipated and store unnecessary fluids.

I hope that all the information and tips above provide you with understanding of bloating and how to beat it! If you want some more insight, please email me at sophia@sophiafit.com and we can discuss further!

Why aren't I losing weight?

Have you been trying to lose weight and only seeing minimal maybe even no changes? There are a few simple things that you maybe doing wrong! All it takes is a few simple adjustments to your diet, exercise regime and you will be seeing results again!

Skipping Breakfast

It may seem like a great idea to save calories but skipping breakfast almost guarantees that it will leave you consuming unnecessary amounts of calories later in the day to make up for it which can actually have an negative effect on your metabolism. Breakfast doesn’t need to be complex, it can be as simple as making a quick protein smoothie with banana and berries or scrambled eggs! All you need is a simple healthy calorie hit to jump-start your metabolism.
 

You are slogging out hours on the treadmill!

Increased muscle = increased fat burning! Swap the hour you spend pounding the pavement with a 30 minute weight training session. Not only does lifting weights prevent injury by strengthening the joints but it also builds lean muscle which leads to an increase metabolic rate meaning you will keep burning calories long after you have left the gym!
 

Not eating carbs!

Eliminating carbs can actually do the opposite! It can put your body into a state of ketosis which I think is not so good for women. Plus if you are a performance athlete you will find that your energy levels are lower and you can’t get through your training sessions well! Your body DOES need carbohydrates in order to fuel it throughout the day and to help metabolise fat. When talking about carbs, the type of carbs are very important. Starchy carbs such as pasta and potatoes will lead to weight gain but choosing healthier carbohydrates that are unrefined and unprocessed such as brown rice or quinoa or root veggies are a much healthier option!
Key point: Eat them in moderation and eat them around your workouts!
 

No drinking enough water!

A glass a day won’t suffice but ensuring your drink 2 -3 litres per day, according to recent studies, can aid with weight loss. Filling up on water before a meal can help ensure you don’t over eat therefore helping with portion control! Also eating foods that contain a lot of water such as fruits and veggies, will help fill you up faster! And what does that mean? You eat less! If you struggle with your daily water intake, I suggest adding a few slices of lemon or some fresh berries to add a little “zing” to your water!  
 

You don’t leave yourself time to have fun!

I know what you may be thinking, what does fun have to do with why you aren’t losing weight! Well stress is shown to cause weight gain as it triggers the body to eat more of especially the foods high in sugar and fat! Make sure you allow yourself at least 15 minutes everyday to relax and unwind.  Meditation is a really great stress relief since it calms your nervous system. If you have more time take the opportunity to catch up with friends, go on a hike, a yoga class or a relaxing walk in nature.

Mat Mothers by BJJ Tees

I was honoured to be included in the group of badass BJJ moms who were interviews for this article written by Nikki Sulivan at BJJ Tees called Mat Mothers. The article features 5 ladies who have all achived awesome things in thier bjj journey and career all the while being mothers. The arcitle features Venessa Wexler, Rachel Morrison Casias, Monique Ricardo, April Parks and myself. We all shed some insight into juggling it all and goal setting. A motivation read for sure.  http://www.bjjtees.com/blog-2/mat-mothers/

Seminars and workshops in Oregon!

The other weekend I had the pleasure of visiting Oregon for the 1st time. It was amazing. Truly a slice of heaven with so much stunning nature. 

My 1st stop was at Lazy Lover headquarters in Portland to teach a women's workshops. Lazy Lover is an awesome clothing brand that makes top notch training and street wear. I taught spider guard techniques and concepts that work well for women. We also touched on some Q&A mostly about empowerment stuff. 

My  next stop was in Bend where I taught a co ed seminar at Clarke's University of Martial Arts. And the following day I taught a small women's workshops. The ladies got to work on grip breaks and guard recovery.  It was so amazing to see so many men on the mat, once again.. a real sign of how women's BJJ is  progressing.

Alex one of the ladies was also awarded her purple belt and I was so happy to be present for it! It so so great to see us all move up the ranks!

Thank you Almine, Prof. Ryan and TK for making this all possible. : #jiujitsufamily

Mexican Style Chicken Salad published in WLC magazine!

One of my favourite healthy salads was published in Whole Life Magazine. This is also one of the recipes in my 7 day Meal Plan - Spring into Summer.  Read the article for the recipe directions and read about why  this salad is so good for you!. Let me know what you think. https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/mexican-style-chicken-salad/

If you would like to purchase my e book, click on this link: https://sophiadrysdale.squarespace.com/springintosummer7dayplan/

DIscount code is: LAUNCH10 for 10% and only for this month!!!

My 7 Day Meal Plan - Spring into Summer is ready!!!

My new e book, 7 Day Meal Plan - Spring into Summer is ready!!! I am really happy to share with you all the recipes that I enjoy year round. The book is loaded with yummy meals and snacks for you to use for 7 days as a cleanse, detox and boost as well as a guide for future use.

 One of the biggest reasons people fail with diets is because they don't eat enough and they are also stuck eating the same boring food every day. There is only so many days in a row one might be able to eat bland chicken breast and steamed broccoli. My meals and recipes are different, delicious, full of variety and goodness. I tweak normal recipes and make them healthy- making sure they still taste just as good. I change the way some recipes are cooked and exchange some ingredients for healthier options that are whole, unprocessed, free of trans fats or heavy saturated fats, refined flours, sugars, chemicals and preservatives.

Grab your copy now while the  discount is available. Only for the month of May. Type LAUNCH10 for a 10% disount! 

https://sophiadrysdale.squarespace.com/springintosummer7dayplan/

Sophia's 5 Day Challenge, done and dusted!

Last week I held my 3rd 5 Day Challenge. This was about the mental aspect of health and fitness and the focus was on goal setting and planning. I arrange a task where the ladies had to work backwards from their long term goals all the way to their daily goals. This was probably the toughest of all the tasks.  The next task was to create a vision board, to help manifest all that they wanted in life. The 3rd task was provided by Sheila Kennedy who has a business, Sounds From Source and The Athlete Sportsbag where she focuses on getting that athlete to the next level by working on the mind and body. She contributed with a wonderful  relaxing meditation that was filled with some positive affirmations. You can check out here work here: http://thebestworkoutforyou.com/ 

the 4th was all about snuffing negative thought patterns and replacing them with positive affirmations and understanding that you deserve to have all that you desire and finally on the last day I provided a workout that was a yoga/zen workout. The focus was strengthening through stretching and breathing through the movement. My aim was to offer a way to de-stress through moving the body. 

For those who would like to see this workout it is on my YouTube Channel. Please subscribe to stay tuned for more workouts. https://youtu.be/moj63s3YB6c

I truly hope that everyone enjoyed the challenge and found it worthwhile. You can join the group for future challenges here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/248316812183450/?fref=nf

Sophia's 5 Day Challenge Starts Today!!!

Who is ready to do this 5 Day Challenge? It starts today!!! You can join the Facebook group here!. https://www.facebook.com/groups/248316812183450/ This will be the best one yet since it focuses on the mental aspect. For those who compete, it is all mental. We will be looking at creating positive affirmations to help with all this so you can get out there and do your absolute best. For those who don't compete these skills can be used for other goals you may be striving for. So we will be covering goal setting strategies as well as meditation and yoga to eliminate stress. Sheila Kennedy from The Athletes Sports Bag Featured Athletes has provided the meditation which is such a blessing. She focuses on getting that athlete to the next level. Join the group and add your girlfriends!!!