Happy Spring-it is time to take a deep dive into our shorter clothes ,  and gasp, even bathing suits!! In honor of that and dealing with some inflammation related to  some auto immune diseases, I have jumped into Paleo. Now , before any  strict Paleo peeps come at me, please remember the title is "Paleoish". I am all about doing the best we can with what we know and  also that when we make health changes, they need to be sustainable. That means, for me, I still eat some chocolate chips  and once in a blue moon, I have eaten a dressing or sauce that is not Paleo. 

To start, what the heck IS Paleo?To me, it is "eating like cavemen did"-if they didn' t have the food, I can't eat it . It is pretty limiting,but also basic. I CAN NOT  eat: 
legumes  (including peanuts, but I started back eating those,as they have not made me swell and I love them)
beans 
grains (no wheat/no  oats)
 gluten
refined sugar
corn ( no nacho chips.....)
processed food (never really a good idea)
sweetened drinks or soda (also really not a good idea)
artificial sweeteners (I did have some when I had Dutch Bros in AZ,but ya gotta live a little;) It was bette r than adding in 90 g sugar in a drink!)
tofu
many oils
white potatoes

You CAN eat
beef
pork (nitrate free)
chicken
fish ( I love salmon now!)
coconut sugar
almond butter
nuts
veggies
fruits
green peppers/red peppers/tomatoes-allowed,but I also gave them up for a bit,bc they are called nightshades and can cause swelling, so I tested that out)
avocado or olive oil
olives 
coconut milk (even full fat)
chia seeds
sweet potatoes
cassasva (a root veggie that makes amazing chips)
eggs

If you want to know more, please refer to Paleo Running Mama to one of the below sites, as they are far more knowledgeable than I . I just want you know that it IS doable and you will be ok.  I don't buy the Paleo sauces/dressings/etc bc they are almost double the non Paleo sauces..  I have learned to make some things on my own with a few spices or just eat salad with no dressing or with lemon. I also have learned to like mustard on tons of things-including tuna fish salad instead of mayo! Your tastebuds truly do change. 

I am happy to share more and share some recipes I have found and love.  Overall, remember when you choose  your food, it is not a "diet" but a lifestyle. ENJOY what you are eating and know WHY you are choosing to give something up. Lastly, do not beat yourself up or quit  if you eat something on the NO list.. I promise, the two times I had chips n salsa in AZ were worth it;)   Let me know if ya give it a try!!

Are you guilty, like I was  FOREVER, in seeing a vitamin at the store, checking which is the cheapest, and hoping for the best?I mean, I don't science much, so I know the "basic" ingredients or vitamins that most women  need. The dr may have suggested, " Be sure you have Vitamin b12 " or " Be sure you have enough Calcium." Other than  that,  I was on my own. 

I also was raised in a medical home-dad was a doctor, mom worked in the hospitals my entire life and  my step mom was a surgical nurse-so  "alternative meds" or  Eastern medicine was never , ever discussed.  I have been fortunate to not deal with stress or anxiety as an adult, and other than my lovely autoimmune disorder and degenerative disk disease, I am a pretty  healthy chic.  So,  I , perhaps like you, fell into the " I didn't know what I didn't know until I knew" category.

I learned about some vitamins that are all packed together  to be sure that the  amounts of nutrients are  in harmony with each other and thus not negatively impacting each other. I learned about some  words I had never heard of " adaptogens " and one ingredient called " Ashwagandha".  I researched  , and was honestly skeptical ( remember, my medical mind).. However,  the Cleveland Clinic states that 
"Adaptogens are plants and mushrooms that help your body respond to stress, anxiety, fatigue and overall wellbeing. You can take adaptogens by adding them to food or beverages or take them as tinctures. Adaptogens bring your body back to a steady balance by managing both physical and mental stressors." They also state on their website that , " Ashwagandha has a positive effect on the endocrine, nervous, immune and cardiovascular systems by regulating your metabolism and helping you relax by calming how your brain responds to stress. Ashwagandha offers protection for your cells as an antioxidant and reduces swelling (an anti-inflammatory reaction)."

So,  I figured I would give it a try-couldn't hurt, right?  Let me tell you... after one week of taking these vitamins , I was hooked! I have not slept so soundly in years.. like, I dream now, I am sleeping so well:)  I also have an extra pep in my step and  have some days where I am giddy( yes, I am the queen of joy, but like this is LEVELING UP giddy!). Like I said, I don't get all the science, and I was a skeptic, but I am living , breathing proof that these do what the drs and scientists say.  I can share all the science and all the deets of what I use and where I get them if you are open to learning more.  I challenge you to give yourself a week and see how you feel! Cheers to a happier and healthier you!

I know, it's the middle of the holiday season-what on earth am I thinking talking about NOT gaining weight-the pandemic alone is enough to make us eat everything in sight and now holidays?!  For real..it's possible.. I was one who always ate my stress.. ate my pain...ate my worry...but then I learned there are better ways..thought I could share a few!!

First of all... we are not supposed to be eating out much... some states you can't eat in restaurants, others there  is limited seating and others made the menus so small, you can't even find your fav dish. That helped me..I mean, I don't go out often anyways,but we definitely lessened how often we brought home bagels and other  quick meals....

Second, drink water..there is no excuse-you have it in front of you ALL day.  Get a water bottle and add a straw* yes a metal one, chill* It fills ya up, it hydrates you, it helps your skin look better and it flushes out junk..win/win all around.

Third, get some healthy supplements... some have appetite suppressants that are natural*none of that fake junk I see people slapping on their skin or popping that gets them shaky and wound up* , some  that help melt belly fat and some that give you energy to get off the couch and DO stuff (if you saw my stories on FB or IG today, you would see the whirlwind of goodness I am getting done!

Fourth, Intermittent Fast. This has been HUGE for me-there are lots of ways and what you can eat and what you can't ..but I am focusing on the time..I don't eat past 7 or 8 pm and don't eat again until 11am.. Dude, I promise, if I can go that long without food, you can. It has made ME in control of food vs food controlling me.. it's been a life changer.

Love to hear what you have done to help yourself  during these hard times. I see you, I feel you and I truly want to help you!! 
​#SchleytheDay

What is liquid collagen and why is it the big rage?What's the difference between plant collagen and animal collagen? I see collagen that is super cheap-isn't that good enough? 

These are some questions that have come up lately and I want to try to address them. Most importantly, there is no such thing as plant collagen. Plants don't have collagen in them, only animals do. Collagen is what holds our body together.It is vital for  youthful skin, healthy joints, overall gut health, and healthy nails and hair. As we age, our body produces less, thus we see more wrinkles, fragile nails, and increased joint pain.

Our Liquid Collagen, which comes from chicken sternum,  has 7 patents and has won over 25 awards, because it is a patented  Collagen /Hylaronic Acid(HA) mix. Our bodies  also produce HA and it helps with keeping your tissues moist and lubricated. The combination creates the best results in our bodies.   Our patented  collagen/HA matrix is found in many of our products, so that we can improve our health from the inside , as well as topically.  Reach out for  more specifics to see what would be best for you and your needs. 

Hi, I am Alli, a 50 year old who HATED coffee..I know, that's blasphemy... so why on earth am I blogging about coffee? Ah, because,now,  I crave it and all its goodness!!

I heard about the benefits of the coffee and I knew that I, like ALL Humans, in my opinion , could benefit. I mean, it helps with memory ,anxiety,  brain fog, stress, mood and gives clean, jitter free energy! On top of that, it is  full of our liquid collagen which lessens joint discomfort, helps hair grow and creates  younger looking skin.. I was in!

So I had to find a way to drink it, because everyone loved it and I wanted to enjoy it,too. I made my first cup with  unsweetened almond mix and the coffee..I was hooked. I added some ice and chocolate belly blaster and was in Heaven. 

I was that girl who didn't want to give coffee a try, or try something new.. I am so glad I did,because my brain fog and memory is definitely  much improved! I hope you jump in and give it a try!! We could have some cawfee chats:)

I have never been one to love on non toxic products. I mean, to be honest, I thought people were a bit over the top. What's the diff?If the chemicals and bleach were good enough for my parents, they must be good enough for me.

The more I started hearing about it recently, the more I checked it out. I tried some hand soap and kitchen cleaner,just to see...and I was  BLOWN AWAY. The light citrus smell vs the bleach was an instant win for me. The fact that they cleaned the same as or even better also blew me away... so maybe people knew what they were talking about?

I started dabbling and fell in love! I even started telling friends about them. I am also a very thrifty mama,so I wanted to use up what we had at home. Going back to bleach smell  was a big eye opener. It took my breath away the first time I used it-how did I not notice it all those times? Now, my body is sensitive to the smells, so it is an instant trigger. 

Glad I made a choice to do better for my family and me. It is never too late to start over!! When you know more, you do more. 

I gave up carbs for a few years.. yes, like good ol delicious pasta, rice and bread.. No, I didn't get hard core and give up the carbs in other food like fruit, etc.. Who has time for counting all that stuff? I don't:)
I used to drink shakes,too..like JUST shakes.. maybe a snack and then dinner.. I mean, who has time to give up all the food?I guess I thought it was smart...ummmm.....

Fast forward to July where I started learning more about being healthy and eating well vs not eating. Someone told me carbs are actually GOOD for my body-I about laughed in her face..until I understood that they really are energy for the body!!

I also learned the difference between "good" carbs and carbs like the pic above...yea, french fries, white pasta and chips don't quite fit in the "good" carbs category.  I started eating wheat bread and veggie pasta and was S O happy and stopped drinking shakes and GASP, I started losing inches like never before!!

Let's be real, though, sometimes, we want to eat crap. I had a TO DIE FOR gyro last night (I mean, it had onions and tomatoes on it, so that is healthy, right?!) and  french fries...  I didn't die , didn't gain weight and won't do it again for a few months. I am not indulging in any of the above snacks today-don't even know who is playing in the SB, to be honest!!

HOWEVER, if you are  or if you like pizza , fries or other carbs once in a while, I have your back. Comment below with your best recipe or GIF of a yummy Super Bowl  treat! I will enter ya into a giveaway for some goodness that will keep you  covered!! 

Remember, life is about moderation and enjoying food!! 

Happy Hannukah and almost Merry Christmas to those who celebrate. Happy  almost end of 2018. I can't believe that the end of ht year is here so fast. I feel like we just started this year in so many ways. 

As we get closer to January, we all suddenly seem to think about what our goals were for this year and how much we have to get done to reach them. Some of us give up, thinking that there  is no way we can get there. What if we don't reach our goals, but at least we are one step closer than we are today? what if we love ourselves that much louder and try that much harder? Ya never know where it can take ya!

Some of us start to make resolutions or goals for the following year-lose weight, eat better, get a better job, get divorced, get married..the list is endless. I challenge you today to answer this-WHY wait? What is stopping you from being a better version of you TODAY? Do not fear if you think it is too much or too hard. Find someone who will help you be accountable and  help you get tiny steps closer to whatever goal you want. 

I can be that person to help you get healthier, financially freer, find more time freedom, find a tribe of amazing people who will lift you up, get thinner, get in shape..the list goes on. I truly  love serving others and cheering them on.   Let's chat today..I will be waiting!!

As a woman and as a mom, I know I always would help others before I helped myself. I would not take time to rest or heal or feed my soul.... I did feed my belly. That is how I got through a lot of stress. That does not work.. it feels good in the moment,but then it backfires.I would feel bad about myself for overeating and for not dealing with issues. 

I finally took time for me and I was able to find myself and who I am and who I wanted to be, other than a deaf/ed teacher, wife, mother and friend. I want to inspire and motivate people. I want to help others see that they are ENOUGH, just as they are. They can always improve and make themselves a better version of themselves. Just because we want to improve on the current model of ourselves does not mean that we are not enough, we are not good , or we are not worthy. It means that there is SO much life to live and we deserve ALL the goodness.

Take time today-write down three areas of your life that you want to improve.. it can be spiritually, physically, emotionally, financially,etc.. Whatever speaks to you. Don't over think it..just write. 

I am here to help you improve your motivation, your inspiration, your finances, your mental happiness and your physical well being. Please reach out. Send me a message here or connect on Facebook at  Allison Brooks Schley.

Have a beautiful week and remember you can always #AskAllisAdvice.
​

There is so much beauty around us, that I think we often forget to look around us. I had the blessing to go to Europe last week. It was beyond amazing. To see things I only dreamed of, with my daughter who has a chronic illness, is a dream come true. 

I wanted to see puffins SO badly.. It was rainy and cold and we were not sure we were up for a boat ride. Then I heard the cost and I realized I would just be looking at them through binoculars, not  having them walk next to me, so why bother.. I chose not to see them. I was sad..then I realized there was so much more beauty in Iceland that I was seeing... looking at the faces of the Icelandic people was beauty. Listening to the accents of their voices was beauty. Seeing the old harbor, the tiny cobblestone  roads (that seemed to go up both ways), seeing the tiny cafes filled with delicious scents, and trying a magical fish dish (did I mention I HATE fish) and loving it...that was beauty! 

I realized it was important to not over focus on what I wanted to do,but enjoy what I was doing. Let the time I had there be the beauty-seeing my daughter visit with a friend  she hadn't seen in two years was beauty. Seeing my daughter get a  Norske rune tattoo was beauty. Seeing ancient buildings in  Europe was beauty. 

As we toured Europe, I was struck by the beauty of the details of the carvings of the  buildings and statues. I was  in awe of the  glory of the palaces. I loved the details in the old clothing.

When we returned home to the USA, I had to take my daughter and her dog back to Minnesota, so we had about a 5 hour drive through rural Wisconsin. I smiled. I saw so much beauty HERE in the farms, the rolling hills, the green grass and the cows. 

There truly is beauty everywhere -in my opinion, none is better than the other, just different. What are your eyes opening to today that you never noticed?