09 Mar 2021
Empowerment, Going Vegan Tips, Holistic Health, Podcast, Vegan Lifestyle, Vegan Nutrition
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To Cheat or Not to Cheat (EP 48: The Vegan Life Coach Podcast)

How would you like to build a relationship with food you never need to cheat on?!

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The idea of “cheat meals” and “cheat days” is one I became familiar with as a fitness professional and bodybuilding competitor. It’s a concept that goes hand-in-hand with diet culture. 

Most of our clients and Vegan Life Coach Academy members come to us wanting to remove the stress around food. They want to be free from obsessive thoughts about food and their bodies. They long for eating to simply be an enjoyable and easy part of life… A way to fuel and nourish their bodies without spending tons of time and energy thinking about what, when, where, or how much they need to eat every day to achieve the results they desire. 

In this episode we explore how using “cheating” as related to diet promotes disordered eating and self-sabotage. We share how our clients have been able to eliminate refined sugar from their diets permanently without feeling deprived. 

We discuss how to make the powerful mindset shifts necessary to create a balanced LIFESTYLE where there are no more wagons to get on or fall off… How refreshing is that?!

(All with the SIDE EFFECT of losing excess body fat FOR GOOD.)

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

EP 7: SECS

Wim Hof on Goop

Wim Hof on Russel Brand’s Podcast

Wim Hof App

CONNECT WITH US!

Subscribe to Ella’s Soul-Aligned Sunday Newsletter HERE.

Take the NEW FREE Self-Assessment to explore your relationship with food, exercise, and your body, and receive valuable, personalized insights and resources from Ella herself!

Check out Ella’s website HERE and learn about current coaching opportunities HERE.

Hogs & Kisses Farm Sanctuary Website

02 Mar 2021
Empowerment, Holistic Health, Podcast, Vegan Fitness
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Stop Working Out to Burn Calories… Start Seeing RESULTS! (EP 47: The Vegan Life Coach Podcast)

Can you guess how many burpees you’d have to do to burn off the calories of just 3 Oreo Cookies (1 serving)?

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*Links mentioned in the episode are at the bottom of this page.

Check out episode  47 of The Vegan Life Coach Podcast to find out!

I use this phrase a lot: “You can’t outrun your fork,” meaning that no matter how insanely hard you work out if you’re eating unhealthy foods, you simply will not get results (which for most people means weight loss)… At least not for long.

So many people are stuck in a self-sabotaging cycle, using exercise to try to burn off the calories they feel guilty about consuming, which is not only unsustainable but flat out makes you miserable and can lead to injuries.

In this episode, we talk about the powerful mindset shifts that have helped our clients see permanent results, including weight loss and a strong, fit body for life. 

Make sure you’re a member of our Empowered Vegan Life tribe to join us for tons of FREE opportunities to help you build healthy habits and adopt an empowered vegan lifestyle that brings you joy, freedom, and abundance!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

CONNECT WITH US!

Subscribe to Ella’s Soul-Aligned Sunday Newsletter HERE.

Take the NEW FREE Self-Assessment to explore your relationship with food, exercise, and your body, and receive valuable, personalized insights and resources from Ella herself!

Check out Ella’s website HERE and learn about current coaching opportunities HERE.

23 Feb 2021
Empowerment, Holistic Health, Podcast
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Vegan Life Coaching 101: Coaching vs. Therapy (EP 46: The Vegan Life Coach Podcast)

Since you’re listening to The Vegan Life Coach Podcast, it’s more than likely you’re actively seeking the tools you need to adapt, or at least move in the direction of a healthy vegan lifestyle.

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*Links mentioned in the episode are at the bottom of this page.

You’re probably invested in exploring the best ways to become empowered, tackle the limiting beliefs and obstacles standing in the way of becoming the best version of yourself. 

In this important episode, Stephanie & I discuss the differences between coaching, therapy, and counseling. With a better understanding, you can get clarity about the direction you may want to go when seeking professional guidance.

In a nutshell…

Therapy: Focused on taking care of underlying issues that drive dysfunction.

Counseling: Often a part of therapy, counseling focuses on specific life issues that arise. Therapy is more of an umbrella under which counseling can be a part.

Coaching: Future-oriented. Coaching can involve acknowledging the past in order to address unresolved issues that keep popping up, but it’s focused on mastering the tools you need to move forward powerfully in your life. It’s about helping you go from just functioning to thriving… An ordinary life, to an extraordinary life!

At the Vegan Life Coach Academy, we come from the perspective that, while it may be helpful to acknowledge your past, it is not helpful to focus on it. Understanding your core beliefs about who you are, what you are capable of can help you understand dysfunctional behavior, and from there, begin the “reprogramming” process. 

Check out the email I received from one of our 6-Week Intuitive Food & Fitness Coaching Program Clients:

I’m listening to the abundance part of the training and I just have to tell you how moved I am with your story. I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am that you took that leap to do what you are doing to transform people’s lives! When I joined this program, I never imagined that my life would be transforming in the way it is. I  kind of realized but didn’t fully realize what an impact all the past hurts and resentments were doing on my life and spiraling me out of control to not take care of myself. I didn’t feel worthy. I could not get a hold of this crazy eating, binging, restricting, beating upcycle. 

I know there is a long way to go and a lot of work to be done, but you are so right, this was an investment of a lifetime and really made me put in the work and dedication that I wasn’t giving it before. I feel empowered beyond belief and owe it all to you ( and Stephanie too!) And it is spilling over into other aspects of my life, thinking about a future Reiki business with my sister, decluttering the house that I haven’t been able to do for years….You are so insightful,  inspiring, and knowledgeable, and should be so proud of the tremendous work you do! 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for welcoming me into this program and I look forward to a long friendship from here!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Vegan Life Coach Academy

 

CONNECT WITH US!

Take Our New Going Vegan Quiz HERE!  

Grab the valuable gift we have for you HERE.

Have a question you’d like us to answer, or feedback you’d like to give us (we love hearing from you!)? Leave us a voice (or written) message HERE.

Interested in receiving a free coaching session to air on an upcoming episode? Apply HERE.

Hogs & Kisses Farm Sanctuary Website

16 Feb 2021
Empowerment, Podcast
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To Get Sh*t Done Like a Boss Lady, Let Go of THIS! (EP 45: The Vegan Life Coach Podcast)

If you want to get sh*t done like a boss lady you’ve got to let go of perfectionism!

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Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Stitcher | Spotify |  YouTube

*Links mentioned in the episode are at the bottom of this page.

We start this episode with a personal celebration… I share my story of the negative thoughts and emotions that were triggered when I found out I had to wear a brace on my wrist for 6 weeks and wouldn’t be able to workout normally. I talk about how I used the Self-Empowerment Coaching System to turn those thoughts around, and what I discovered about my body as a result.

We also share some laughs with another edition of our new segment, “Lovin’ on the Haters” where we have some fun sharing the comments of our “haters!”

We then dive into the main topic of the episode…. Perfectionism.

We cover:

  • What it REALLY means to be a perfectionist (I’m a “recovering perfectionist” myself).
  • My personal journey getting unstuck by letting go of perfectionism and how I was able to build a six-figure business as a result.
  • Stephanie’s powerful strategies to help you let go of perfectionism and go from surviving to thriving!

Enjoy!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Episode on the Self-Empowerment Coaching System

Hogs & Kisses Farm Sanctuary Website

CONNECT WITH US!

Subscribe to Ella’s Soul-Aligned Sunday Newsletter HERE.

Take the NEW FREE Self-Assessment to explore your relationship with food, exercise, and your body, and receive valuable, personalized insights and resources from Ella herself!

Check out Ella’s website HERE and learn about current coaching opportunities HERE.

09 Feb 2021
Empowerment, Going Vegan Tips, Holistic Health, Podcast, Vegan Lifestyle
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What’s Love Got to Do With It (EP 44: The Vegan Life Coach Podcast)

Let me share exactly how we came to decide the topic of “What’s Love Got to Do With It” for our latest The Vegan Life Coach Podcast episode (this is my text conversation with Stephanie)…

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*Links mentioned in the episode are at the bottom of this page.

Ella: The episode will be 5 days from Valentine’s Day… in case anything comes to mind related to Vday…

Stephanie: V-day is a made up holiday designed by Hallmark and Russell Stovers to make us spend money and eat candy?

E: Totally😆- so should we ignore it or challenge it?

S: Well, will we seem like the valentine equivalent of grinches or Scrooges if we challenge?

E: If we aren’t organized with our thoughts probably!

S: Maybe we could share alternative ways to celebrate…

Whether you think “Valentine’s Day is a made-up holiday designed by Hallmark and Russell Stovers to make us spend money and eat candy,” or not, most of us can agree that love is something we all want and need in our lives.

The holiday can be a source of joy or a source of stress and grief for different people at different points in their lives. If you’re single and don’t want to be, or you’ve recently had a tough break-up for example. 

The holiday can also cause strife between partners when they have different expectations for each other in terms of how it should be celebrated.

In this episode, we encourage you to try an alternative way to celebrate Valentine’s Day that could spread love to yourself and the world in more meaningful ways that bring you a deeper sense of fulfillment. Things like…

  • Donate/volunteer (e.g. Hogs & Kisses Farm Sanctuary)
  • Make a list of 10 things you love about yourself (or write a love letter to yourself)
  • Random acts of kindness

Sending you all lots of love!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Episode on the Self-Empowerment Coaching System

Hogs & Kisses Farm Sanctuary Website

Take Our New Going Vegan Quiz HERE!  

CONNECT WITH US!

Grab the valuable gift we have for you HERE.

Have a question you’d like us to answer, or feedback you’d like to give us (we love hearing from you!)? Leave us a voice (or written) message HERE.

Interested in receiving a free coaching session to air on an upcoming episode? Apply HERE.

02 Feb 2021
Empowerment, Going Vegan Tips, Holistic Health, Podcast, Vegan Lifestyle
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Creating Unity Among Vegans (EP 43: The Vegan Life Coach Podcast)

In this special episode, guest co-host Anne Molina (founder of Hogs & Kisses Farm Sanctuary) and I discuss our mission to create healthy conversation around controversial vegan-related topics.

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*Links mentioned in the episode are at the bottom of this page.

As Anne was doing research and networking with other animal-lovers in Facebook groups, she witnessed turmoil within many of these communities. The discussions all too often seemed to end up as unproductive arguments driven by ridicule and harsh judgment. 

Anne and I decided to produce a series of roundtable discussions to address tough topics in productive ways. We’re calling it, “Beet Around the Barn,” and the first episode will be coming out on our Hogs & Kisses YouTube Channel within the next month. We’ll be covering subjects like, “What exactly is a vegan?” “Should vegans adopt cats?” “What about dating as a vegan?” and so much more.

Stay tuned!

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Hogs & Kisses YouTube Channel

Hogs & Kisses Farm Sanctuary Website

Take Our New Going Vegan Quiz HERE!  

CONNECT WITH US!

Grab the valuable gift we have for you HERE.

Have a question you’d like us to answer, or feedback you’d like to give us (we love hearing from you!)? Leave us a voice (or written) message HERE.

Interested in receiving a free coaching session to air on an upcoming episode? Apply HERE.

26 Jan 2021
Empowerment, Going Vegan Tips, Holistic Health, Podcast, Vegan Lifestyle
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Picking Your Battles (EP 42: The Vegan Life Coach Podcast)

One of the most common challenges we tackle at Vegan Life Coach Academy is how to handle the people in your life who don’t “get it” when it comes to your decision to go/be vegan.

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Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Stitcher | Spotify |  YouTube

*Links mentioned in the episode are at the bottom of this page.

Vegan newbies are particularly vulnerable to being criticized and made fun of by the people in their lives who may feel threatened by the person’s lifestyle changes.

In this important episode, after having some fun with our “Lovin’ on the Haters” segment, we dive deep into the tools you need to navigate the critics powerfully and with grace.

After all, the best way to be an effective influencer is to inspire. And the more you can focus on your own growth, the sooner you can inspire other people as you radiate the love, strength, compassion, and confidence everyone strives for!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Vegan Life Coach Academy (Doors opening soon – for 48 hours only so get on the waitlist HERE!)

Episode #7: Reprogramming Your Mind

Take Our New Going Vegan Quiz HERE!  

Hogs & Kisses Farm Sanctuary

Live Ultimate (the supplement I mention in the intro)

CONNECT WITH US!

Grab the valuable gift we have for you HERE.

Have a question you’d like us to answer, or feedback you’d like to give us (we love hearing from you!)? Leave us a voice (or written) message HERE.

Interested in receiving a free coaching session to air on an upcoming episode? Apply HERE.

19 Jan 2021
Holistic Health, Podcast
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Veganuary-Inspired Q&A (EP 41: The Vegan Life Coach Podcast)

It’s Veganuary!  Veganuary began in 2014 by a UK nonprofit organization and is an annual challenge that promotes and educates people about veganism by encouraging them to follow a vegan lifestyle for the month of January.

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*Links mentioned in the episode are at the bottom of this page.

Participation in Veganuary has more than doubled each year since 2014.  Now, it is a worldwide event inviting people to explore vegan life for the month of January.

With the worldwide reach, we always get some really great questions during the month of January.  These days you can go just about anywhere and get vegan recipe ideas or suggestions about staying true to your commitment to eating plant-based, but where can you go to get your embarrassing questions answered? 

HERE!  No topic is off-limits on The Vegan Life Coach Podcast!

In this light-hearted episode, we answer a few of those hard-to-ask questions that are common among vegan newbies.

Question 1 

I’m on day 11 of Veganuary, and I am really GASSY!!  HELP!  Is this going to regulate or do I just need to accept that this is the new me?

Answer:  

  1. The short answer is that as your body adjusts, you are sure to experience less gas. Right now, you are likely getting a lot more fiber than you are used to, and eating foods that are new or in larger quantities, can mean you body needs some time to adjust. This is your gut making the way for a healthier microbiome, so even though being gassy can be uncomfortable or even embarrassing, it’s a sign that your body’s digestive system is working hard to make the shift.
  2. A few things that can help:
    1. Introduce new foods slowly so your gut bacteria has time to adjust.
    2. Hydration!  Make sure you are drinking plenty of water.  
    3. Chew your food thoroughly (I’m talking about chewing your food to a paste before swallowing… 20-30 chews!).  
    4. Rinse your beans very well and/or use a pressure cooker.
    5. Ginger and peppermint help soothe the digestive system.
    6. A probiotic can help, but getting some prebiotic and probiotic foods will help more.  Up your intake of fermented foods like kimchi, miso, sauerkraut, pickles.

Question 2: 

What’s the deal with soy? Am I really going to grow man boobs if I start eating tofu?

Answer: 

We don’t find plastic surgeons telling women who want to augment their breasts to eat more tofu, right?  This confusion is a case of wild rumors being blown out of proportion.  

  1. Read THIS Sexy Fit Vegan blog post to discover the truth about soy.
  2. The phytoestrogens found in plant foods like tofu are not the same as the hormone estrogen. The risk for consuming high amounts of estrogen comes with the territory when consuming animals products and biproducts, particularly dairy.
  3. Speaking specifically of man boobs, the medical term for this is gynocastomia, and this condition is linked to any kind of hormone imbalance.  The truth is that soy has not been linked to gynocastomia. You see this condition a lot in bodybuilders who take steroids, NOT those who eat tofu!

Question 3 

I’m embarrassed to ask this question, because I think I should know, but what’s the difference between vegetarian, vegan, and plant based?  Are they just synonyms or what?

Answer: 

Being vegan is a way of life based on the idea that all living beings deserve to be respected and loved, and not exploited for any reason. Vegans do their best to avoid contributing to the suffering of animals. This means avoiding leather, products tested on animals, etc.

Plant-based is simply a diet that consists of mostly plants. And vegetarian is a diet free from animal flesh, but can include animal biproducts such as milk, cheese, eggs, and honey.

Question 4  

Do vegans really taste better?

Answer: 

OH YES!!

😉

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Take Our New Going Vegan Quiz HERE!  

Vegan Life Coach Academy (Doors opening soon – for 48 hours only so get on the waitlist HERE!)

Dr. Michael Klaper (Plant-Based Telehealth)

@alan_the_vegan_chef

Hogs & Kisses Farm Sanctuary

Live Ultimate (the supplement I mention in the intro)

CONNECT WITH US!

Grab the valuable gift we have for you HERE.

Have a question you’d like us to answer, or feedback you’d like to give us (we love hearing from you!)? Leave us a voice (or written) message HERE.

Interested in receiving a free coaching session to air on an upcoming episode? Apply HERE.

12 Jan 2021
Empowerment, Holistic Health, Podcast
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Vegan Tri Guys on Veganism, Chronic Fatigue, & Following Your Passion (EP 40: The Vegan Life Coach Podcast)

In this intriguing episode I sit down with James Aubry, aka @VeganTriGuys and we chat it up about a number of topics that a ton of our listeners will relate to.

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Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Stitcher | Spotify |  YouTube

*Links mentioned in the episode are at the bottom of this page.

James is a plant-powered cyclist and triathlete with an inspirational story of resilience. We talk about his battle with chronic fatigue, his journey into veganism, and the courageous step he took away from the corporate world to follow his passion.

Here’s a little bit about James, in his words…

In James’s own words:

I’m James, from London, England. I have been into endurance sport my entire life, it runs through my veins. It’s been a rollercoaster ride though in terms of health. After getting onto the British Cycling Youth Development Programme at 16 years old, I was on my way to fulfilling my dream of becoming a pro cyclist.

At the age of 17 however, I was struck by chronic fatigue, which plagued me on and off for 12 years. I eventually discovered veganism which helped me manage these symptoms, which haven’t returned since.

Veganism wasn’t without it’s challenges though, I learned first hand that a vegan diet isn’t necessary healthy if you eat a lot of refined/processed food, and you cannot out-exercise an unhealthy diet.

Coming from a history of disordered eating, I overcame food-restricting patterns by adopting a whole food, plant based diet, which is what I eat and recommend.

I have recently quit my engineering job in the corporate world to start Humble Hedgehog Productions and pursue my passion for videography. My mission is to use my talent to create content that will motivate and inspire people to make a positive impact on the Planet.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Take Our New Going Vegan Quiz HERE!  (Plus an opportunity to book a Discovery Session with Ella!)

@VeganTriGuys on Instagram

Vegan Tri Guys on Facebook

Humble Hedgehog Productions on Facebook

Hogs & Kisses Farm Sanctuary

Gary Yourofsky‘s Talk

Live Ultimate (the supplement I mention in the intro)

CONNECT WITH US!

Grab the valuable gift we have for you HERE.

Have a question you’d like us to answer, or feedback you’d like to give us (we love hearing from you!)? Leave us a voice (or written) message HERE.

Interested in receiving a free coaching session to air on an upcoming episode? Apply HERE.

05 Jan 2021
Empowerment, Holistic Health, Podcast
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Hacking Your Happy Chemicals (EP 39: The Vegan Life Coach Podcast)

Think you can’t hack happiness? Think again!

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Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Stitcher | Spotify |  YouTube

*Links mentioned in the episode are at the bottom of this page.

Dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins are neurotransmitters in our brain that are responsible for our happiness. 

We have the power to activate these neurotransmitters in order to access happiness… We simply have to get intentional about it.

In this fun and empowering episode we help you discover the ways you can dial into your happy chemicals on a daily basis. A little effort can produce a lot of joy… We show you the way and give you plenty of personal examples!

Dopamine: Reward 

Dopamine is a motivator that gives us positive reinforcement when we achieve goals and meet our needs.

We can activate dopamine by things like…

  • Checking off an item on your to-do list (breaking big goals into smaller manageable goals is therefore helpful)
  • Self-care
  • Celebrating a win (the reason we do so much celebrating at Vegan Life Coach Academy!)
  • Feel-good music
  • Exercise

Serotonin: Mood 

Serotonin flows when you feel valued and worthy. Depression is a side effect of low serotonin production.

We can activate serotonin by things like…

  • Meditation
  • Visualization exercises (Our brain doesn’t distinguish what’s real versus imagined, so it produces serotonin in both cases)
  • Gratitude practice
  • Sunshine
  • A walk in nature
  • A massage
  • Exercise

Oxytocin: Love 

Oxytocin facilitates intimacy and helps builds healthy relationships. 

We can activate oxytocin by things like…

  • Being compassionate (living a vegan lifestyle!)
  • Playing with a dog
  • Interacting with rescued farm animals
  • Cuddling
  • Having an intimate conversation with a close friend
  • Giving a gift
  • Sex

Endorphins: > Painkiller 

Endorphins decrease pain and boost pleasure by acting on the opiate receptors in our brains.

We can activate oxytocin by things like…

  • Uncontrollable laughter 
  • Donating to a good cause
  • Exercise
  • Watching comedy
  • Dark chocolate
  • Sex

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Take Our New Going Vegan Quiz HERE!  (Plus an opportunity to book a Discovery Session with Ella!)

CONNECT WITH US!

Grab the valuable gift we have for you HERE.

Have a question you’d like us to answer, or feedback you’d like to give us (we love hearing from you!)? Leave us a voice (or written) message HERE.

Interested in receiving a free coaching session to air on an upcoming episode? Apply HERE.