Becca's Fab Five- August Edition

I LOVE the Human Body with all of its mysteries and intricacies. New products and science are always coming down the pipe and it's hard to know what to read, where to spend your dollars, and when to focus your energy. I thought it would be helpful to show you just FIVE things I'm loving each month. Maybe a recipe, or a book, or an exercise or stretch..... Maybe a product, or a podcast, or a restaurant or venue. I'm giving you ONE THING in each of the areas of our Four Cornerstones or Health, plus a bonus. I hope you'll try them in your life and find a benefit for you!

NOURISHMENT:

You know what annoys me.... like alot? That it is so damn hard to find coupons for healthy foods. Sometimes, I feel like I need a degree in engineering to piece together the metaphysics of the value of the health of an item against the inconvenience of shopping in yet another store minus the one item that is BOGO that is actually on my shopping list. Or Whatever. Recently, a friend introduced me to a better option! It's called Ibotta and it's a simple app you put on your phone. You can add savings from all of your favorite retailers but you can also get cash back on online purchases through popular sites like Amazon. Here are a few of the savings that are great:

* $.50 back just for uploading a receipt from Walmart, Publix, Target, Sam's Club, Costco and more

* $.25 back on Bananas, $.50 on Brussel sprouts, and other produce coupons

* $.50 back on ANY BRAND of shredded cheese, alternative milk, granola, etc

Plus there are saving on foods I actually buy!! You can get 3% back on grocery items you buy through Amazon and tons more. The app adds the money to an account when you upload your receipts and once you reach $20 you can withdraw anytime. Or you can let it sit there and build up until whenever you are ready. In the last ten days, I've saved over $26 on the stuff I buy anyways!  It’s an easy to use, cash back rewards app.  I use it every time I shop, and thought you would like it too! Use my referral code, ekdcehp, and you can get a $10 welcome bonus. Sign up at

MOVEMENT:

This month I asked Jake Vandergriff to share some Movement love with us. Jake is a staple at our gym, Haka Fitness, in Lakeland, FL and his workouts are always amazing! Lately, we've been programming versions of an exercise called the Renegade Row. Take a look at this video and give it a try yourself! Be sure to let us know if you love the little workout format we provide at the end ;-) Hint: Renegade Row and Burpees... Every Minute on the Minute..... 8 each on alternating minutes..... OUCH!

ENJOYMENT:

Often times, the JOY is sucked from our lives because we pack it so full of things we like to do. It seems like a great way to boost enjoyment, but it's actually just a quick way to turn the things you love into stressors! Creating and utilizing a Sit Spot is one of the best ways to cultivate the 5 Principles of Nature Immersion that we teach and model at our Deep Roots Nature School. What's a Sit Spot? It couldn't be simpler! Find a spot that's outside and that you love... in the woods, in your backyard, anywhere. Visit it regularly and just sit. Be still and quiet and allow the natural world to come alive around you as you become part of the scenery yourself. Wonder about the things around you: What bird is making that call? How old is this tree? How did it even end up here in the first place? How many different bugs use this one plant as a home? This kind of practice hones your mind and starts to create an awareness of the infinite mysteries of the world around you. It can be a bit of a practice in humility as you start to become aware of your place in this world you've been ignoring.Most people have lost touch with the awareness of simple life around them. Do you know the name of the plant closest to your front door? What phase is the moon in tonight? Is it waxing or waning? Where is the closest source of running water? These simple Nature cues would have connected you to the Earth AND ensured your survival in times past!

Taking time in our Sit Spot is treasured time with our family. My kids are small, so we might sit there and listen and look and discuss the bugs or wonder what the Cardinal is telling us. We'll look for stories in the clouds and watch the lizards dance. Here's a picture of our little nook!

FULFILLMENT:

Spirituality and Religion: These areas are tough to maneuver. There is clearly a Human yearning for some depth of spirituality, as we see its pervasiveness through the ages across peoples and lands. There is some sort of energetic necessity to the pursuit of a deeper understanding of life. There is a current surge in what is referred to as "scientism" which looks to science for the answers to everything including love, happiness, connection, and more. It's compelling. Who doesn't want a study that provides the answers to literally all aspects of everything? I'd also argue that it is sad, disheartening, and ultimately misguided. My thoughts on these topics are, at best, still confused. But recently, I listened to a fantastic podcast put out by Mind Pump Media, Episode 827. You can read the show notes HERE. What I'd really love is for you to listen to it. Then, let's have a cup of coffee and discuss it. Where do you have clarity where I have fog? What can each of us bring to the conversation? Where can we both stand in awe at the limits of our minds and the infinity of our hearts?

BONUS:

Improving your health starts in your kitchen. The ONE BEST THING you can do for your health (and your waistline) is to learn to cook. The Haka Fitness 12 Week Recipe Challenges is BACKKKK!!!! We kick it off on August 20th. It's simple. I put out a list of 12 ingredients, one per week. You find a new recipe to try for the ingredient of the week. Make it. Take a pic. Post it in the Facebook Group with a little review and share it to your timeline with #HakaFoodChallenge. Hop onto the interwebs and join the Facebook group. It's a ton of fun and food inspiration for days!!!