Posts Tagged ‘Stress’

We Can’t Look Back Without Looking Ahead: Hopes & Goals for 2013

Sunday, December 30th, 2012

Every year the week leading up to January 1st seems to have a similar tone to it – we take a deep breath to mark that the holidays are behind us, we make plans for ringing in the new year, we remember highlights from the year that’s coming to a close and talk about what we want to accomplish in the year ahead. Maybe it’s just me but this year feels a little different. I was never really fearful that the world would end with the Mayan calendar on December 21, 2012, but the fact that it didn’t really excites me – it’s like a new lease on life!

I hear a lot of media and people a-buzz talking about what they want to change about themselves or their lives in 2013; the theme “New Year, New You” seems to pop up every year. For the team at Zobha though, it’s not about reinvention, it’s about continuing to grow, evolve, and challenge ourselves in new ways. 2012 was a big year for so many people and as we sat around the office talking about the good, the bad, and the ugly, it became apparent that we can’t look back at all that we’ve accomplished without looking ahead at everything on the horizon – both personally and professionally. In talking to the team I realized that while not everyone sets a “new year’s resolution” per se, everyone has goals, dreams, hopes for the future and I felt compelled to capture some of the most popular themes amongst our team:

  • Spend more time with loved ones. Some people have specific things they want to do with children, spouses, parents, friends, etc., and some people just generally spoke about being more connected to the ones they love, but the theme of spending more time with loved ones was a popular one.
  • Volunteer for a charity or organization that speaks to you. At Zobha we are always looking for ways to give back and many of us want to take it one step further and build that dedication into our personal lives as well.
  • Enjoy what we have. Take time to read a book purely for pleasure, enjoy the great outdoors more, appreciate your surroundings – we work so hard for all that we have, but like Ferris Bueller once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
  • Be healthier. Setting new workout and fitness goals, holding ourselves to a higher nutritional standard, and working to limit the stresses of every day life.

From our family to yours, we want to thank you for all your support over the years for helping to make this brand more than a clothing brand, but a community of people that want to make a positive impact on ourselves, our community and our loved ones.

Have a Happy & Healthy New Year!
Jen & The Zobha Family

The Skinny on The Latest Diet Fads

Monday, December 24th, 2012

The holiday season is a time for giving thanks, being merry, and spending time with our friends and family, but let’s face it, it’s also a time of great temptation and stress. We’ve been talking a lot about ways to battle the pounds between holiday parties and family feasts. There’s lots of interest today in fad diets like cleanses and juice diets. There’s no blanket solution to fighting the inevitable holiday weight gain, but we explored some of the latest crazes and gathered our findings here to help determine what solution is best for you:

 

  • Cleansing: Cleanse diets gained a lot of attention when Beyonce used the Master Cleanse to drop pounds for the filming of Dream Girls. The Master Cleanse is just one of many cleanses on the market but here are a few important things to keep in mind:
    • While a cleanse is not a long-term diet solution, it is a great way to reboot your normal workout and diet regimen, especially after a period of social eating and added stress like the holidays.
    • Look for cleanses that have the best nutritional make-up; cleanses made up of pressed juices versus pasteurized are best. The Zobha Team found Blue Print and Evolution to be good options.
  • Juicing: Juice diets vary from being structured like cleanses, to a lifestyle change where healthy juice blends are substituted for meals. When doing a juice diet the first question is whether to juice or to blend. If you’re a novice to juicing, here are some tips for figuring out which is best for you:
    • Smoothies are pulverized fruit and vegetables into liquid form, which maintains the nutrients and vitamins. Juice is made by separating the liquid and most of the nutrients from the pulp, which fanatics of juicing claim speeds up the process of getting vitamins and nutrients to your body.

These are a few ways to keep your system clean and functioning at its best, but holiday weight gain isn’t just about over eating, stress is a big factor for many people. It’s important to take time, even if its just 20 minutes a day, to do something for yourself. A brisk walk or run, a yoga class, or a good hike are a few ways to free your mind and distress. A little bit goes a long way!

Before making any drastic changes to your diet you should consult your doctor. This information is what we found helpful, but there is a plethora of information out there and in the end you and your physician can determine what’s best for you and your body.

 

Cheers to a happy & healthy new year!

The Zobha Team