Holli Thompson

Headlines around the world blasted the news earlier this month, “Stanford Scientists Cast Doubt on Advantages of Organic Meat and Produce” Really? How can this be so? Organic farmers reacted, and chemical companies rejoiced. Was it true? The study, it seems, was full of holes. There was a comparable study, conducted by Kirsten Brandt of Newcastle University, who published a similar review of relevant studies in 2011 and concluded that organic was more nutritious than conventional. Kirsten even identified a spelling error that swayed one of Stanford’s results. It seems that Stanford found no difference in total flavanals between organic and conventionally grown food, but her results showed that organic foods carried far more of the heart healthy nutrient. It seems the team had calculated flavonols, spelled with an “o” not an “a”, so it was actually a different nutrient altogether. That mistake was just the beginning. The study downplayed the higher levels of omega-3’s, as well as lower levels of pesticide residues and antibiotic-resistant bacteria found in organic compared to conventional foods. Studies show that higher levels of pesticides can be harmful to our bodies, especially for small children and pregnant women. Since the study focused on the nutrient…

It can be really hard to get going. Maybe you’ve taken a few months off, maybe you’re the queen of inconsistency, or maybe you just hate to exercise. You know it builds a healthy brain. You know how good it feels when you’re done. You love the feeling of muscles emerging, the word “toned” seems all of a sudden possible. You love the happy, endorphin rush you get, and you really love the way it feels to be strong. But you still don’t always do it. Whatever your reason, it’s hard for you. I get it. Been there! Especially for us busy types, (is anyone not that type?) the excuses are endless, time is short, and it’s so much more fun to talk on the phone or enjoy your latte. Here are three fun ways to add muscle tone, boost your mood, and improve your self confidence that you gotta try. They’re fast, easy and totally do-able. 1) Buy a REBOUNDER Rebounder’s (mini adult trampolines) are fantastic for overall toning, and they’re fun too. I have one next to my desk, and I bounce all the time. Rebounding is great for stimulating your lymph system, so it’s detoxifying and overall…

What would you do if you were at your ideal weight? I was staring-down at a new swimsuit, in a house on the beach, with family, friends, and a wild surf nearby. I wasn’t at my “ideal” weight, and it was ticking me off, holding me back physically and emotionally. “What would you do if you were at your ideal weight?” , flashed into my mind, and the answer came immediately. “Anything I want to.” It hit me over the head. It smacked me silly. It flattened me. Years of holding back, always wanting to lose those two, or five, or ten, or twenty pounds, (at times even more) before I would “do it”. I’d held back from all kind of things over the years, feeling not quite good enough, not yet my best. I’m a grown up now. I’m happily married. I’m successful. I have my own company. I have a child. Who really cares? When does good enough, become good enough? When does happiness begin to reflect what’s in your heart instead of the amount of body weight you carry around? I put that swimsuit on. I smiled. I grabbed a sea kayak, joined my athletic husband and…