Retaining Calcium So Your Bones Don’t Crumble

April 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

If you are concerned about getting enough calcium, do be more concerned with how much calcium you are actually absorbing.
 
 
Foods you may be eating could be depleting your bones right now. I know you hear it from me over and over again, but the junk and phony foods will only cause problems for you.
 
Remember, live off an instant diet and you are assured a quicker death or a life full of symptoms.
 
 
Here is a list of foods that increase calcium DEPLETION:
 
SUGAR–it affects your bones among other things!
 
SODAS–they have a high phosphorus content that depletes calcium
 
COFFEE–it affects PH balance. 
 
Dr. Corsello explains,
"A good natural defense against osteoporosis is to keep the acidity of your blood in proper balance.  If you don't, your body will, by removing calcium from your bones to defend the PH balance of your blood". 
 
Betty Kamen, Ph.D. states, "My personal conclusion is that coffee and soft drinks contribute to more osteoporosis than current thinking acknowledges. I'm not waiting for more research.  These drinks [sodas and coffee] are out of my diet permanently."
 
CHLORINATED WATER–especially if consumed with a high fat diet reduces calcium absorption.
 
OXALIC ACID FOODS–decrease calcium absorption.  Beet greens, chard, spinach, rhubarb are OA foods (eat them with some real butter to help with absorption).
 
FOODS HIGH IN PHOSPHORUS–all junk foods, processed meats and cheeses, baked foods, breads, cereals, phosphate food additives.
 
What does help with calcium absorption? 
 
Eating fatty fish, eggs, butter and liver make calcium absorption more efficient. Eggs are a good source of vitamin D, the main regulator of calcium. 
 
Speaking of vitamin D, you need to be getting some sun everyday on your skin–no sunscreen!  One 30 minute sunbath provides 300-350 units of vitamin D.
 
Two large dried figs contain 80mgs of calcium, one raw portion of greens contains 250mgs of calcium and 4 oz of salmon contains 291 mgs. 
 
Summer vegetables have more calcium than winter vegetables. 
 
In the frequently asked questions section of the LW Plan, there is a list of foods high in calcium so do check that list if you are looking for sources.
 
Try this soup to help build bones and strong teeth:
 
3 quarts of water
1 package beef marrow bones (use grassfed beef bones if you can get them)
lots of green veggies of your choice
3-4 crushed garlic cloves
seasoning to taste
2 quartered onions–leave the tough outer skin on as it contains high amounts of quercetin which is good for the bones.
 
Note:  Male rats fed 1 gram of onion powder per day for a period of only four weeks increased the mineral content of their bones by over 17 percent, the thickness increased by over 13 percent and the mineral density increased by over 13 percent!
 
Bring the above ingredients to a boil and simmer over low heat for 45 minutes.
 
Remove the tough onion skins before serving. 
 
You can throw in more veggies if you like. and you can use this broth in any of the Living Well recipes.
 
Stay strong in your bones!
 
 
 
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I Know It’s Tough!

April 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

If you think eating healthy in this toxic world is tough, you are not alone.  Everywhere you look there is temptation to pollute your body with something that you know is not a healthy choice.
So what are you to do? 

Do you just give up and throw in the towel and hang up the idea that you could ever be healthy and slender?

Do you just give in to the old lifestyle and convince yourself it is too challenging? 

Do you say forget eating healthy and go and try "another" diet that you know you will not stick to?

What you do when you feel it is too hard is PERSEVERE.

You stick to it even when it gets tough. You eat that ole salad even when everyone around you is eating french fries and deep fried clams. You say NO when someone offers you a piece of chocolate in the office.

After years of fighting to stay healthy in life, I can tell you one thing:

THERE IS SO MUCH POWER IN SAYING NO!

There is no power in giving in to the garbage. When you say yes to junk, you begin to weaken.

But even if you do slip up, all is not lost. You can get right back on your healthy eating plan. You can make your next food choice a good one that will nourish your body and get you right back on track.

Is all of this easy to do? I say no. 

But hey, if it was easy, everyone would be healthy and slim.

Taking a look at the world around you, you will see that most people give into the temptations of life, they eat whatever is in front of them giving no thought to how it will nourish the body, they are not consistent when they do try to eat right and they sit around complaining that they can't lose weight.

This typical attitude does not have to be yours. You have the choice to be different and be responsible for your health and your life.  You certainly don't have to be another statistic and you can reach your goals if you push through and DO NOT GIVE UP!

Focus on where you want to go and don't give energy and thought to areas where you have failed in the past. This is a new day and you have a new opportunity to begin again.  

Yes, it is true that the past is a great indicator of the future, but it is also a fact that you can write your life story anyway you want. You  can begin again and do what you need to do to get you where you need to be. All you have to do is one thing:  CHOOSE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS NOW!

Good health and a trimmer body will be all yours if you just claim it for your own and hold on to it with all your might!

 

Heather wrote: "Thank you for the great recipes… I've tried the beef soup, turkey squash and the salmon last night. My husband loved all of them and didn't even realize he was eating healthy".

Pick up your copy of the Simple Meals Cookbook today!

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The Ugly, Stinking Truth You Don’t Want to Hear

March 28, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

?


Question:
 
Do I have to give up sugar when following the Living Well program? Can't I have it once in a while? I don't think I can give it up forever.


Answer:
Firstly, you need to come to grips with the fact that some people are extremely sugar sensitive. The bottom line is that sugar is as much a drug as any other chemical you can put into your body.


I am the best person to advise on this because I am a major sugar junkee, or should I say, ex-junkee. Like the alcoholic, I cannot have even one bite. Just one bite will set me back right where I was before I stopped eating it.


When I eat sugar, I am a stark raving, craving lunatic!  And that is putting it mildly.


I could write an entire book on why sugar is so harmful to the body but I will sum this up because I know how busy all of you are.


Of course the choice is yours on whether or not you will include sugar in your plan, but here are some reasons why you may decide to exclude it.


1.  Sugar raises your insulin levels quickly giving you a buzz, but when your blood sugar levels drop due to the surge of insulin secreted to control the rapidly absorbed refined sugar, your brain begins to malfunction.


2.  Once you eat sugar, all fat burning STOPS!


3.  Refined sugar contributes to constipation.


4.  Removing refined sugar from your diet will help you lose weight quickly and keep it off.


5.  There is strong evidence recorded in periodical literature that heavy use of sugar causes pituitary lesions and brain lesions like those produced in the study of mice – Edward Howell, "Enzyme Nutrition"


6. Removal of sugar from diets has cured symptoms of crippling diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart illness. As sugar consumption escalates wildly, fatal diseases increase remorselessly - William Duffy, "Sugar Blues"


7.  As little as 100 grams at one sitting (the equivalent of a 5 oz. chocolate bar and a can of soda) can suppress your immune system for up to six hours.- Dr. Joseph Pizzorno, N.D., president of Bastyr University of Naturopathic Medicine


8.  Sugar upsets the mineral balance in the body.


9.  Sugar can cause kidney damage, and leads to cancer of the breast, ovaries, intestines, prostate, and rectum.


10. Sugar can cause aging, heart disease, hemorrhoids, appendicitis, varicose veins, and can contribute to osteoporosis because it interferes with the absorption of calcium and magnesium.


The reasons go on and on but I will tell you from my own personal experience that it was only when I stopped playing the game of eating sugar occasionally, that I really and truly started Living Well.


You see, the truth is that as long as you eat the refined sugar, you will remain addicted and that addiction will make you stumble time and time again. Sugar addiction makes you weak and unable to say no, even when you want to.


Once you get rid of the sugar, you will no longer experience cravings that haunt you.


Of course having support helps tremendously whenever giving up the sugar, and you will get a ton of help from myself and others when you need it with The Living Well Plan. Many of us are ex-sugar junkees and are finally at peace now that we have gotten off of the nasty stuff.



Choose to LIVE WELL!
 
 


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Your Comments

March 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I apologize to anyone who has commented in the last two weeks. This site is being slammed hard with comments, even very nice ones, but just too many. I have to get help to get through them, so I thank you in advance for all of your patience.

 

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Your Entitlement & Hunger

March 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Did you know that you are entitled to eat whatever you want in front of anyone REGARDLESS of your body size?

You many not feel entitled to eat comfortably until you have reached your desired body weight. You might even be afraid people will judge you when they see you eat and think that you shouldn't be eating because you are so overweight.
 
This lack of entitlement MAKES you fat!
 
If you eat and no one sees you eat, it really didn't happen, right?  It is a way for you to hide from yourself and everyone else. Doing this forces you to eat in secret.
 
Here is the truth about normal eaters:
 
Normal eaters eat whenever they want in front of anyone. For you to become a normal eater, you must do the same.
 
Take your entitlement back! Do you feel entitled to go to the bathroom whenever your body says so?  It is the same thing.
 
Which brings us to another point:  You can't give up eating to be slim.  In fact you are going to have to really eat to lose that excess weight permanently.  Everyone who follows The Living Well Plan knows this to be true. To lose, you need to eat!
 
Follow these simple steps to help overcome any problems you are having with feeling entitled to eat in front of others:
 
1.  Whenever you eat anything, sit down.
2.  Eat consciously, slowly and without distractions.
3.  Keep your hands off of the food or utensils between bites.
4.  Eat in front of whomever is around.
5.  Don't judge yourself.
6.  Eat only when you are truly hungry.

Eating only when you are truly hungry might be a new concept. 

Before eating the Living Well way, I ate when I thought I was hungry, when I wasn't hungry, and even when I had a stomach full of food.
 
So how can you tell when you are dealing with true hunger?  Here are some signs of true hunger:

1.  You feel truly empty.

2.  Anything you eat tastes absolutely wonderful (especially living foods!).

3.  It is impossible for anything to distract you; you can only think about food.

4.  A tall glass of water doesn't satisfy you.
 
5.  Your food won't require any extra seasoning like salt, pepper, ketchup, or Tabasco.  Hunger is the best seasoning!
 
6.  If you are truly hungry nothing will interest you more than sitting down and savoring your food. If you feel compelled to do anything other than eat, for example, you want to watch TV, read,
or drive a car, YOU ARE NOT HUNGRY!
 
7.  Discomfort is not hunger. If you are feeling gas that is due to the combinations of foods you
put into your stomach the last time you ate. Eating more will not make you feel any better. It is best to wait and let your body digest the food.
 
8.  AND, IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE TRULY HUNGRY, YOU'RE NOT!

True hunger is unmistakable.
 


The best reason to wait until you are truly hungry to eat is because that is the time when the food tastes the best and gives you the most pleasure. So waiting until you are truly hungry to eat the Living Well way not only gives you pleasure, but you will begin to associate pleasure with eating nourishing foods and this positive association makes the plan a breeze.
 
BUT!  Do not go beyond the truly hungry point. Eat when you feel the first sign of true hunger. If you wait and let that first sign pass, you might not feel it again for a while.  Then when you feel it again, you are beyond true hunger and have entered into 'absolutely starved'.
 
When you reached the absolutely starved point, you will overeat because you will be too hungry to care what or how much you eat.  Listening to your body is key.
 
When you put more gas in your car than will fit into the gas tank, it will spill out and run on the ground.
 
When you put more food in your body than it wants, it runs out onto your hips, thighs, stomach, etc. etc..
 
Too bad the stomach is not just one size like the gas tank of a car!  The stomach can stretch to hold the excess, but it will also let you know when you have overeaten by making it painful.
 
Remember, getting too hungry is painful and overeating is painful. 
 
 
Keeping it pleasurable is key!

 
 
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The Healthiest Alcoholic Drinks Ever

March 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

GUEST POST FOR MEN

You must have certainly heard the females around you shriek out those two regretful words – ‘Muffin Top’.

You tend to stay well away from the hormonal happenings and unwanted questions; usually answered with ‘lies’.

So in masculine fashion, the pub is the classic place to nestle your head. Of cause this routine does have consequences… and, pretty soon it is you that apparently has the ‘muffin top’.

Obviously spotted by your wife and then translated into the easily mocking phrase ‘beer belly’.

This day and age, the pub is an escape for men to have ‘man time’- but do you really know what you are doing to your bodies!

Infographic researched and designed by professional insurance advisors, PolicyExpert.

Infographic researched and designed by professional insurance advisors, PolicyExpert.

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How I Lost the Baby Weight 13 Years Ago

March 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

A common question I got over a decade ago was, "What pill did you take to lose weight?".  Everyone wanted to know what supplement I took to lose weight and how long I took it.


I loved answering that question because it would show how effective The Living Well Plan really is. 


I did not TAKE ONE SUPPLEMENT, PILL OR ANYTHING ELSE when I lost my weight in 1998. The only thing I did was follow the eating plan described in the Living Well Plan.  I was diligent in following the plan and was determined to get rid of the weight. I did not stray off the plan one time.  I did not cheat one day because I was VERY MOTIVATED to get rid of excess weight!


I stuck to the rules of the plan, even on those days when it looked like nothing was happening to my body.  I remember there were times when I wanted to eat at night and I drank lots of water instead.  There were many days I did not want to do the deep breathing, but I did it anyway.


I did not weigh myself at all, but just kept following the basic principles of the plan. Then one day, I tried on a pair of jeans my skinny cousin gave to me just to see if I could even get into them and you know what? They not only fit, but they were loose! I remember how floored I was when that happened. I could not tell I had lost the weight from looking at my body, but the jeans said it all.


One other important thing I want to mention is the entire time I was losing weight I had undiagnosed and UNTREATED low thyroid!  I know there are many of you out there that think if you get the right thyroid hormone into your body the pounds will fly off, but getting the thyroid hormone into your body is only half of the equation. The only people I know of that lost weight after taking the thyroid were those that were eating correctly to begin with. In order to lose weight, you must follow the plan and follow all of it.  I cannot express to you how important following all of The Living Well Plan is to your permanent weight loss.


I am not discounting the fact that getting your thyroid levels corrected is crucial because it is, but if you want to get rid of the excess, you have got to follow the plan. The bonus here is if you are diligent in following the plan, you will also respond much better to your treatment. You will support your thyroid nutritionally and feel much better sooner.


I do understand it is hard to follow a healthy eating plan and change your lifestyle completely, but aren't you tired of feeling lousy and being overweight? Even if your metabolism is slow and you only lose a few pounds a month, it will add up over time and believe me, your body will thank you for nourishing it correctly.


YOU CAN AND WILL DO THIS!  If did it, anyone can. 


Stick with it, no matter what.  Stick with it when you don't want to and stick with it when you feel like giving up.  Just say no to the junk.  I promise it will pay off down the road.
 
 

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TWO MOMMIES WHO HAVE LOST ALL OF THEIR BABY EXCESS AND ARE BACK TO PRE-PREGANCY WEIGHT NOW! THE BABIES ARE ONLY SIX MONTHS OLD! AWESOME!

 


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Help For A Plateau

February 24, 2012 By 2 Comments

 

Think you have hit a plateau?


A true plateau is when you have not lost any weight for 3 weeks.  Use your tape measure as your guide instead of the scale. You could lose an inch and it might not show up as a pound. 


Here are some ideas for getting off the plateau:


Eat two big raw carrots per day. Carrots bind toxins and stimulate the colon to remove waste. Food in, nutrients absorbed and food OUT is my motto!


Avoid cabbages, radishes and mustard greens unless they are cooked (if eaten raw in large amounts, they can suppress thyroid function which is the heart of metabolism). You can saute radishes in a little coconut oil until lightly golden and add a dash of sea salt for a tasty vegetable dish.


Use only celtic sea salt and not the processed kind as it contains too much iodine and interferes with the thyroid. Sea salt is actually a diuretic, it stabilizes blood sugar and also contains 48 minerals. 


Consider allergens that could disturb the liver as being the cause of the plateau. Check the list of allergy foods in the LW Plan (see "Allergies").  Many times eating the "sensitive seven" can cause 10-20 pounds of water weight to occur. Even some of the healthy foods can cause the body to stop losing weight.


Dr. Raymond Peat suggests the following to get off the plateau:


Sleep less than normal unless the brain is really tired. It will help keep blood sugar up and fat down.


Lowering the room temperature and being in brighter lights will stimulate the thyroid.


Do you have acne or dandruff?  If so, you might have a vitamin A deficiency and that will slow weight loss. Grassfed beef is a good source of vitamin A.


Medium chain fatty acids found in coconut oil are effective in turning up the synthesis in the liver and will speed up metabolism.


If you are not doing the deep breathing in the Living Well Plan, start doing it! Deep breathing is great for boosting the metabolism and is the only exercise I did while losing weight! You can also add some light weights to the exercises and boost your metabolism further by firming your muscles.


If you are killing yourself in the gym, take a nice walk everyday instead. Endurance exercise depresses thyroid function.


I want to point out that I have never been the type to kill myself with exercise. I used to feel guilty about it but now I am glad I never have because it would have caused more problems for my thyroid.  Dr. Peat states, "it turns out that a walk through interesting and pleasant surroundings consumes more energy than does harder but more boring exercise. An active brain consumes a tremendous amount of fuel."


This makes me think an all day shopping trip would burn A LOT of calories! Only if you love to walk and shop and find the stores to be very pleasant surroundings!
 
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The Thrill is Gone

February 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 


Remember how excited you were when you first found The Living Well Plan?  You thought this had to be it and you went at the entire plan with zeal.  You were thrilled at the thought of finally losing weight and gaining better health.


In the beginning you lost weight quickly because cutting out all the junk made your body drop fluids quickly.  Weeks later the weight loss slowed down because your body was getting down to the real "FAT" loss and that takes some time to shed. 


You may have been discouraged as the weight loss slowed.  You may even have started eating some junk now and again.  Before you knew it, you were back to eating the old way, feeling less energetic and the weight is slowly creeping back on.  What happened here?  Did the Living Well Plan fail you just like all the other diets?


The answer to this question is a simple NO.
 
What happened was you lost your enthusiasm for what you were doing.  The plan was no longer new and exciting and there were days when you didn't want to eat a salad with lunch or fresh foods for breakfast.  You may have slipped up and had a donut instead.  But this doesn't mean the plan does not work or that the plan will not work for you. 


Don't let some bad foods choices knock you off the path of better health and permanent weight loss.  None of us are perfect.  If you have been eating a completely processed diet for most of your life, you are not going to be able to change over to a new lifestyle and stick to it forever right away. 
 
There will be the occasional slip up.  But when that happens, don't beat yourself up. Just get right back on the plan and start again at the very next meal.  It is really that simple.

Remember how you felt when you first fell in love?  Everything was so easy. Nothing your loved one did was wrong.  You felt exhilarated by just touching your loved ones hand.  Then time passed and reality set in.  You may have noticed some things you did not notice before and there may even have been a time where your love got on your nerves.  It is the same thing with following Living Well.


Be glad when you are out of the "honeymoon" phase.  This means you have made it through the beginning phase of changing your lifestyle and if you have stuck with it this long, I am here to tell you can stick with it for the long haul and reach all of your goals.


You can choose to feel anyway you want. You can look at your lifestyle as an opportunity to keep you healthy so you can live a quality life, or you can whine and complain and tell yourself all of this is too hard.  Believe me, laying in a hospital bed is much harder to deal with than making some healthy food choices everyday.


If the thrill is gone for you, you can get some of that thrill back.  Remember why you started this and pat yourself on the back for sticking with it this long.  Get back on the Living Well wagon and watch your body change!


If I can do it, ANYBODY can. :-)
 
 
 

 "I have almost been on the living well program for a month and have been using coconut oil and like it. I have lost 15 lbs to date and have 45 more to go. I have really commited. I have stuck to the plan like super glue. No sugar,no junk food, no problems with the plan.  I do miss my pizza and coke but not enough to give up my health! Thanks victoria for sharing Living Well! I am 4 days away from my first 30 days on the plan!:) YEAH!" – Cindy
 
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Get Inspired from Others Living Well!

February 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

The following testimonials were sent directly to me from those that are Living Well.


I've been on the Living Well Plan for a little over a week now. I lost 3 pounds!! I have been eating cantaloupe for breakfast at 6:30 and more fruit at around 9:30. My new favorite fruit is fresh pineapple. The fruit in the morning has really kept me regular. I haven't tried the deep breathing exercises yet, but I have been walking 3 to 4 times a week for the last 3 months. I am determined to keep eating healthy. I will not go back to my old eating habits after I lose weight. Stay motivated everybody!!!
L. B.
 
 
I just want to thank you for creating this program. I started last week Monday and I have already lost 7 pounds and a few inches. Best of all I feel fabulous. A mile stone for me was this weekend I went to a Chinese buffet and I had broccoli and crabs legs, and some other veggies, I made sure that they were not overcooked. I didn't have dessert and I did not miss it.  Yesterday I had an all fruit day, my mind was so clear. And I had so much energy.  
Thank you.  God Bless.
M.
 
 
I do believe I must be at my "happy" weight now, as I've dropped 12 pounds and have stayed there. I do my deep breathing exercises every morning incorporating a few other exercises along the way, and one day I did them while I washed my windows! I ought to have great arms after that round!  If one doesn't have the time to lay down on the floor for those sit-ups, just deep breathing for "40" seems to work. Thanks once again for sharing this program of eating with all of us.
C.M.

 
I just wanted you to know that I tried your method of abstaining from sugar. It worked and I want you to know that I am very grateful.
D.E.
 
 
Today marks the end of my first week on the Living Well plan.  I don't have easy access to a scale so don't know how much I've lost but I just measured myself and I've lost 3 3/4 inches.  My jeans fresh out of the dryer aren't cutting into my waist – in fact they're pretty comfortable. Thank you so much!


I messed up a little on Sun. AM for mothers day breakfast but got quickly back on track. So to encourage anyone else. If you fall down, just pick yourself up again. If I can do it anyone can do it!  When I messed up yesterday at breakfast I had some white flour and sweetened hot chocolate.I felt the cravings come back almost immediately. Also when I woke up this AM it was the first time in a week I have had killer WATER RETENTION! What a difference!
L.
 
 
Just last week I bought two three pounds bags of organic apples, and a 2 lb bag of organic oranges at the grocery store in the nearest town. It said "organic" on the label. And let me tell you!!! were they the juiciest fruits my family and I have ever tasted! mmmmmm….there really is a huge difference in the flavor, let alone the nutritional value. And meat is the same way. I buy organic beef from a natural foods co-op and that is such good meat. Grocery store beef tastes almost sour in comparison. It costs a little more, like, $3.00 a lb instead of $2.59, but it is more than worth it!  Once you start feeling the energy, you will KNOW how great this way of living is. Lots of luck,
H.
 
 
I started "Living Well" four days ago. I could tell already that I felt lighter (although I hadn't lost weight) and my thinking clearer.  Today I didn't get to eat breakfast because of situations kind of out of my control so I snacked on whatever was around…mostly animal crackers. I can say I am really sold on Living Well because after one day of eating bad my mind got foggy again, I have absolutely no energy and I have a depressed feeling.


My husband and I have decided to put a calendar on our fridge with the Living Well principles next to it. Each day that we follow the Living Well plan we are going to give ourselves a star. Hopefully, we will see May filled with stars. Thanks for sharing this plan!
L.K.
 
 
Thank you for the advice!! And I am so thankful to have been introduced to your web site!! Words can not express how great it has been. I have been doing the breathing exercises everyday and it has done a world of good. I feel like a new person!! I don't have those times during the day when I feel like I am not getting enough air anymore. This is so wonderful. And I have not had to use my nasal spray at all!!  Thanks, Keep up the good work!!
E.R.
 
 
I have a medical condition-Hypothyroidism, and find it difficult to lose weight secondary to my slow metabolic processes. I find the Living Well Plan simple to use and effective. I have been slowly incorporating your plan into my lifestyle (two weeks). I have more energy and find I can wear clothes that I have not worn in a year (smaller waist size).  Thank you for sharing your healthy eating plan. May God continue to bless you.
M.N.
 
 
Hey, also you may be interested to know that my husband has lost 40 pounds since February!! I'm so proud of him, today he got into an outfit that he hasn't gotten into in years.  Both he and I still have more to loose (I want to loose at least 8 pounds. And he needs to loose about 30 to 40 more.) But I'm just glad that we've stuck with it and that it's become more of a lifestyle then a "diet".
Thanks again.
J.
 
 
Thank you all for your wonderful testimonials!  If you have any questions, please post here so we can share the info with everyone. You can also send them directly to me.
 
Live Well!
 
 
All testimonials are the opinions of those following The Living Well Plan. Individual success stories will vary.Testimonials do not imply that similar results will happen with your use of The Living Well Plan or certain products. These testimonials are not intended to recommend any supplement as a drug, as a diagnosis for specific illnesses or conditions, nor as a product to eliminate diseases or other medical conditions or complications. We make no medical claims as to the benefits of any of products to improve medical conditions.
 
 
 
 
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How Overeating Gambles with Your Life: 10 Ways to Protect Yourself

February 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

The subject of overeating definitely needs to be addressed when Living Well. I have said repeatedly that it is impossible to overeat 'raw high water content foods'. Have you ever tried to eat 5 pounds of raw broccoli?
 
But isn't it amazing that some of us can wolf down a five pound pizza and still have room for a carbonated beverage?
 
In the morning it is suggested that you eat as much fruit as you want. Let me clarify this.
 
In the morning, you should eat only fruit because you do not want to spend any energy digesting food.  Fruit requires little digestion and it frees your body's energy to do more important tasks (the most important task!) of eliminating food and toxins from the day before.
 
When you get up, have a tall glass of water. This will help your body to flush the toxins. 
 
Then, when you are feeling truly hungry, have a piece of fruit. When that piece of fruit has digested completely, AND only if you feel true hunger again, feel free to have another. You only want to eat more if your body is telling you that you are truly hungry. Forget what your mind is telling you.
 
Eating as much fruit as you want in the morning and during the day doesn't mean eating food just to eat food. It means to eat food when you are truly hungry.
 
Keep in mind, you are trying to help your body's digestion by not stealing away energy it needs so desperately to complete the elimination process.  Digestion takes more energy than any activity you could possibly think of.
 
That is why fruit is so valuable in the morning. It is satisfying, sweet, gives energy, and cleanses your insides.
 
Getting back to gluttony…
 
While learning to retrain your taste buds, you need to also be learning how to recognize what it feels like to be truly hungry. Many of us don't really know what this feels like. 
 
We are so used to eating when our mind tells us to. We watch the clock to tell us when to eat. 
 
Learning to eat when our body is hungry needs to be learned in order to be really healthy.

If you eat only when you are truly hungry, the excess weight will melt off. This is a weight loss secret that is tried and true.
 
Another weight loss secret is eating ONLY until you are satisfied and no longer hungry.  When you stop eating at the satisfied point, that is your body's natural mechanism for letting you know it has had enough food.
 
Isn't it wonderful that if you listen to your body it will absolutely talk to you? 
 
Your natural hunger will give you the body you have always desired.  You have to learn to pay attention to how your body feels before you eat and after you eat. This is very simple and if you will pay attention, you will see results quickly.
 
Tips to help avoid overeating:
  1. Only eat when you are truly hungry.
  2. Listen to your body and not your mind when it comes to hunger.
  3. Notice how your body feels before a meal and especially after a meal.  This will help you to recognize which foods do not agree with your particular body chemistry.
  4. Stop eating when you feel satisfied and are no longer hungry.
  5. Put your fork down after each and every bite. Chew your food thoroughly before swallowing.  Don't gulp your food down.
  6. Focus on making your meals easy for your body to digest, assimilate, and eliminate.  Be kind to your body.
  7. When eating a meal with cooked food too, eat the raw food first, then eat the cooked food. This way you won't be tempted to overeat concentrated foods.
  8. Always eat your meals while sitting down, with no distractions. Turn off the T.V. (most of the commercials are trying to convince you to eat junk anyway) and play some soft, relaxing music or listen to a Living Well audio.
  9. If you are using food for emotional reasons, use a food journal and record how you are feeling before you begin to eat. Seeing the reasons why on paper will help to motivate you to get this under control.
  10. Pray before each meal and ask for wisdom to help you recognize when you are satisfied and most importantly, give many thanks for being blessed with a nutritious meal.
Live well!
 
 
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5 Reasons to Adopt the Crunchy Health Salad

February 8, 2012 By 4 Comments

The main portion of your plate is either raw or cooked vegetables, and sometimes both. Sure, having a green salad is nice and can provide that much needed fresh food into your healthy eating plan, but there is an even better option that will leave you feeling more satisfied that you ever thought imaginable.

Introducing: The Crunchy Health Salad!
 
 
This is a salad that has many benefits and fits into your lifestyle perfectly:
 
1. It is CRUNCHY and CRISPY and satisfies that need to chew, releasing endorphins that leave you feeling satiated.
 
2. You can make this ahead of time and the leftovers will taste as fresh as the day you made it.
 
3. This health salad will fill you up and also give your body enough time to feel the full 'signal'.
 
4. Different dressings take this salad to different continents, giving you the variety you need in your eating plan.
 
5. It is easy to figure out what to eat when you have the health salad dominating your plate. The health salad makes planning your meals much easier!
 
Here is how to whip up your crunchy health salad. It will take about 20 minutes, but after you have prepared this, you won't have to make any for a couple of days. Pick and choose the veggies you like for your unique health salad. You can be creative and I encourage you to be! Suggestions below are just examples:
 
a. Crunchy vegetables – carrots, celery, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, 
b. Crispy – summer squash, zucchini, cucumbers, eggplant, peppers
c. Detoxing herbs for sauce – parsley, cilantro, basil
d. Soft vegetables – tomatoes (add these just before tossing with the sauce because they don't hold up well)
 
Chop all the vegetables, cutting them in uniform pieces, and toss with a Dripping Sauce from "Dripping Sauces that Detox" just before serving. The vegetables will stay crisp as long as you don't add the dripping sauce. Anytime you add vinegar or lemon juice, the vegetables begin to 'cook' and soften. So keep them crisp by adding the dripping sauce just before serving.
 
An example of a Dripping Sauce:
 
1 cup of herb leaves
extra virgin olive oil
lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
salt
crushed red pepper
spices
 
Blend the ingredients well until smooth (a Vitamix works great for this). The sauce should be runny and dripping, making it easy to coat all the vegetables. Dripping sauce tastes good on anything that needs extra zip!
 
Enjoy this satisfying and crunchy health salad and serve with your choice of a starch or protein dish. For a lighter meal, add avocado and a few nuts and skip the concentrated portion.
 
The crunchy and crispy salad will become a staple in your home, making it easy to turn any meal into a richer, more wealthy experience!
 
 
P.S. Struggling with raw vegetables? Go slow and eat them cooked for now. Remember, Living Well is a lifestyle change and there is no torture involved. Try this recipe from Rouxbe:
 
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Simple Slimming Tips

February 2, 2012 By 1 Comment

 

Try these slimming ideas to enhance your Living Well journey:

1.  Eat only when you are really hungry. This means do not eat unless there are physical signs. Wait until your stomach is completely empty before eating more food. It is good to feel a pang. The pang is your friend when focused on melting butter.

2.  Listen to your body before you have eaten and after you have eaten. 

3.  Stop eating the minute you recognize you feel satisfied. It takes 10-15 minutes before some of us get the signal, so this one might take some time before you get the hang of it.

4.  Put your fork down after each and every bite. Slow down the shoveling!

5.  Trust your body, not your mind when it comes to food. Marketers advertise to your mind when they design packages.

6.  Find solutions to your problems other than food. Food is not a good solution for soothing oneself. There are many others available. Try one of my audios!

7.  If you just have to have something that is not the healthiest choice, just eat it and don't beat yourself up for doing it afterwards.  If you deprive yourself of that one particular food, you will most likely end up bingeing on it later so just eat it (until satisfied) and get it over with. Savor each bite.

8.  Take note of how your body feels after eating foods that are not particularly healthy for you.

9.  Know that your body's natural hunger will give you the body you have always wanted.

10. ALWAYS, eat your meals while sitting down. No single person, eating over the sink habits!

Do you have a weight drop tip that has helped you and can help others too?  Let us know!
 
 

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30 Days to Living Well – Day 30

January 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

 

Day 30

True Wealth is Yours for the Taking.

 

  • Give thanks
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day

Your Breakfast - Fruit until noonish, 2-3 pieces, scattered over the morning, add protein if needed and avoid bananas if your weight is not moving.
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack - Keep it raw and light. If you eat nuts, you MUST measure the amount because it is easy to overeat them. No more than 1/4 cup of nuts for a snack and chew them well.
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 

 

If you are reading this, you have survived all 30 days! Congratulations!  

And you didn't even have the entire plan either… and you still achieved success!

Just think what you could do with the ENTIRE Living Well Plan!

Imagine adding the guided imagery audios too. It is a wealth building program like no other!

The Living Well Plan has always been PRICELESS when it comes to assigning a value to it, and with the new audios, it is truly incredible.

How much would you be willing to invest to gain true WEALTH?

I am excited to tell you that The entire Living Well Plan is available to download to your computer right now, and I have included the Sweet Speech audio too. 

The price is also sweet. FREE, just like in 1998! 

There is a catch though.

I am putting a limit to how long this offer will be available, so sign up NOW. I want your email address so I can stay in touch with you.  I also want to hear about all of your Living Well success, as well as inform you of when the Simple Meals cookbook and new audios are available. :-)

Download your copy now and enjoy Sweet Speech beautiful ladies! 

Live well!

 
 
 

 

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30 Days to Living Well – Day 29

January 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

Day 29

Staying Strong at All Times.

 

  • Give thanks
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day

Your Breakfast - Fruit until noonish, 2-3 pieces, scattered over the morning, add protein if needed and avoid bananas if your weight is not moving.
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack - Keep it raw and light. If you eat nuts, you MUST measure the amount because it is easy to overeat them. No more than 1/4 cup of nuts for a snack and chew them well.
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 

 

You need to remain strong at all times when Living Well. You might be the only one in your immediate circle that is interested in taking the nourishment of their body seriously. 

Your loved ones might even try to sabotage you. Don't take it personally. 

Not everyone is ready, willing and able to participate in completely changing unhealthy habits and sometimes, we need to have patience, on top of being strong.

We might be the only one leading the way to change, so we need to be strong, patient and a leader too. This is where it can get to be too much on certain days.

My secret weapon? Prayer. I pray for strength every day of my life because I know how truly limited I really am.

After giving thanks, I ask for strength and wisdom. This is the only way I have found to stay on top of all the things I have going on and remain completely balanced. I go to the Source and get a good dose of strength in the early morning hours.

I am not preaching any religion here, but I am telling you that you need to connect with your Creator regularly, to feed your soul. It is part of true wealth and you simply cannot Live Well when you neglect that part of you. Praying is so good for you; similar to one of your nourishing meals for the day.
 
Maybe you are struggling and don't know what to say? It has happened to the best of us. 
 
Here are some ideas to address in prayer: 
  • Struggles with food 
  • Challenging relationships
  • Learning gratitude
  • Help with forgiving
  • Help with being motivated to work harder in your business
  • Help with preparations that will take you further
  • Help with being a strong parent who will raise children right in an over indulgent society
  • Help to be better at giving 
  • Help with anger and lack of patience
  • Or any other thing you can come up with
 
There is nothing like pouring out your heart and soul in prayer. Consider it to be a dose of vitamins and minerals for that part of you that is deeply hidden, but on a serious mission, nonetheless.
 
 
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30 Days to Living Well – Day 28

January 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment


Day 28

Choosing to Say No to Mediocrity.

 

  • Give thanks
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day

Your Breakfast - Fruit until noonish, 2-3 pieces, scattered over the morning, add protein if needed and avoid bananas if your weight is not moving.
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack - Keep it raw and light. If you eat nuts, you MUST measure the amount because it is easy to overeat them. No more than 1/4 cup of nuts for a snack and chew them well.
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 

 

The worst part of mediocrity is the fact that everyone gets used to it. 

It becomes accepted and even embraced, and those wrapping their arms around it are blinded to all that 'uninspired indifference'.  

 
Mediocrity is like abuse for the soul. It is stifling and keeps one bound, in a sedentary position. 

Being that mediocrity is so obviously anti-expansion, it is easy to see how unhealthy it is. We must remain fluid and keep growing. Staying still is the opposite of Living Well and will not add one asset to your portfolio.
 
We are all here to reach our highest potential, no matter where it is we are in life. Since we only live 70, 80, maybe 90 years (if we merit living that long), why not live each day refusing to settle for mediocre anything? 
 
Say NO to: 
  • Mediocre food 
  • Mediocre relationships
  • Mediocre gratitude
  • Mediocre forgiving
  • Mediocre business
  • Mediocre moments
  • Mediocre preparations
  • Mediocre parenting
  • Mediocre giving 
  • Mediocre patience
  • Mediocre effort in anything we do
 
There is no settling in Living Well and any valuable energy that is spent pursuing true wealth will pay you valuable dividends and keep you from going any where near mediocrity.
 
Be the best you can at all times and don't settle for anything than trying your hardest, whatever it is you are doing. Remember, you deserve the best of everything and to get it all you need to do is rise above mediocrity.
 
 

 

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30 Days to Living Well – Day 27

January 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

Day 27

The Simple Message of Hope.

 

  • Give thanks
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day

Your Breakfast - Fruit until noonish, 2-3 pieces, scattered over the morning, add protein if needed and avoid bananas if your weight is not moving.
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack - Keep it raw and light. If you eat nuts, you MUST measure the amount because it is easy to overeat them. No more than 1/4 cup of nuts for a snack and chew them well.
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 

 

We are not left without hope, no matter what we see or what we are feeling. No matter how unsurmountable the challenges appear to be, we always have hope.
 
We need to cling to hope with all of our might and hold on. 
 
 
We need hope, every day and in every way, to be able to deal with all the tests that lie before us. 
 
The following Psalm says it best:

I rise before the dawning of the morning, And cry for help.  I hope in your word. - Psalm 119:147


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30 Days to Living Well – Day 26

January 27, 2012 By 1 Comment

 

Day 26

When You Are Overwhelmed.

  • Give thanks
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day

Your Breakfast - Fruit until noonish, 2-3 pieces, scattered over the morning, add protein if needed and avoid bananas if your weight is not moving.
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack - Keep it raw and light. If you eat nuts, you MUST measure the amount because it is easy to overeat them. No more than 1/4 cup of nuts for a snack and chew them well.
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 

 

There will be days when you are overwhelmed and how you respond will make all the difference. When feeling like everything is too much, it is time to prioritize. 
 
Don't leave those things that need attention in your head – write them down.

The most effective way I have ever found to prioritize is by using the simple "list". 

My list always has three sections:

1. Urgent matters
2. Important matters
3. Everything else

Prioritize according to this list and rotate accordingly. Items on the important section will move to urgent or everything else until they are off your list. 

This is a beautiful and simple system I have been using for over 20 years and it works.

Prioritize your Living Well Plan today and enjoy less chaos!
 

 

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30 Days to Living Well – Day 25

January 25, 2012 By 1 Comment

 

Day 25

The Slow Starter.

 

  • Give thanks
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day

Your Breakfast - Fruit until noonish, 2-3 pieces, scattered over the morning, add protein if needed and avoid bananas if your weight is not moving.
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack - Keep it raw and light. If you eat nuts, you MUST measure the amount because it is easy to overeat them. No more than 1/4 cup of nuts for a snack and chew them well.
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 

 

 

I know you are out there, lurking in the background.

You have read through the plan and you believe it is the lifestyle for you. You are convinced that if you follow The Living Well Plan, you will attain true wealth/great health, but still… you are hesitant.  You may be stuck in your old 'poverty' mentality.

What is poverty mentality?

When you are a bit bamboozled, and can't take a step forward, towards reaching a goal that will eventually enrich you; this is one type of poverty mentality.
 

When your mind knows one thing, but you are unable to exercise control over what goes into your mouth or what comes out of it, that too is poverty mentality.

Break free from the poverty once and for all! 

The investment of wealth begins by taking the tiniest of baby steps towards Living Well. 
 
 
Start with drinking water. That is all you need to do. Just get the 16 ounces of water down in the morning and don't worry about anything else. Once you have mastered hydration, try having a piece of fruit and build your assets from there.

There is nothing wrong with being a slow starter, just make sure that at one point, you actually get started!

How to make it easy on yourself…
 

Get a dedicated water bottle to get you started on proper hydration and detoxification. Water helps to dilute and carry out waste, so you must stay hydrated to assist your body (that is constantly working overtime for you).

This Nalgene water bottle is awesome because it is a large 32 ounces. I fill this up twice and I am good for my water for the entire day. The cap stays put and doesn't get in the way when drinking. 
 
I highly recommend any BPA free water bottle and especially this one, because of how crystal clear it is. It makes me want to drink more water… it is so pretty. Hey, whatever works to help you Live Well, do it! :-)
 
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30 Days to Living Well – Day 24

January 25, 2012 By 1 Comment

 

Day 24

Looking for Motivation?

 

  • Give thanks
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day

Your Breakfast - Fruit until noonish, 2-3 pieces, scattered over the morning, add protein if needed and avoid bananas if your weight is not moving.
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack - Keep it raw and light. If you eat nuts, you MUST measure the amount because it is easy to overeat them. No more than 1/4 cup of nuts for a snack and chew them well.
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 

When we first start Living Well, we are propelled by enthusiasm and excitement and feel like we can reach any goal we want. We are MO TI VA TED!  

Then time passes. 

And we say yes to some foods that are not so healthy for us. 

It might happen more than once and then we feel as though we are slipping, reaching for a rope to pull us back to where we were days before. 

When in this low-motivation place, forget MOTIVATION or depending on it to bring you back.

The simple answer is to just LIVE WELL whether you feel like it or not. Just do it! I don't mean to steal Nike's famous line here, but that is what needs to be done. 

Don't listen to that side of you that tries to convince you that you need MOTIVATION to continue to Live Well. Take it one meal at a time and get right back on the plan. 

There are days when you will be motivated and other days may seem like you will never get there. This is all part of the process. 

Ignore the old negative thoughts that run through your head and say ENOUGH!  I am Living Well right now, whether I am motivated or not. I am just doing it! 

You have to argue with your mind sometimes. As long as no one hears you, you will be fine. :-)

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30 Days to Living Well – Day 23

January 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Day 23

Have a Good Laugh.

  • Give thanks
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day

Your Breakfast - Fruit until noonish, 2-3 pieces, scattered over the morning, add protein if needed and avoid bananas if your weight is not moving.
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack 
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 


If you ever have one of those days, sit back, relax and find the humor in it. Quit taking everything so seriously and allow yourself to chuckle (even if it is serious…).

It doesn't mean you are denying what is happening, it means you choose to be grateful you are alive to have one of 'those days' to begin with. 

If you find yourself in a low place emotionally, changing your physiology will change your attitude. Smile and keep smiling, even if you don't mean it. It works.

Think about how funny life really is sometimes and appreciate how your body will gain good health from your joyful attitude. Laughing is therapeutic and it puts things in a proper perspective. Look for the funnies that surround you (they are everywhere).

The second mouse gets the cheese. :-)

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30 Days to Living Well – Day 22

January 22, 2012 By 1 Comment

Day 22

Commit Now.

 

  • Give thanks
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day

Your Breakfast - Fruit until noonish, 2-3 pieces, scattered over the morning, add protein if needed.
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack 
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 


Until you are committed to your plan, there is hesitancy. Unless you are totally committed to a new way of life, there will always be the chance to draw back, reverting to your old lifestyle. 

The moment you definitely commit yourself, then everything begins to fall into place. You will begin to achieve all sorts of new goals that you thought you could never achieve before. 

Be committed everyday when you arise in the morning. Give thanks for strength and move forward with your commitments. When you finally make the "choice" to commit, the struggle is over. 

The true struggle is just making the commitment in the first place.  

Once committed, you can begin to plan and take action. And taking action puts you on the path to your goals of health, wellness and weight loss, and ultimately, true wealth.

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30 Days to Living Well – Day 21

January 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

Day 21

The Buddy System.

 

  • Give thanks
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day

Your Breakfast - Fruit until noonish, 2-3 pieces, scattered over the morning (add protein if needed).
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack 
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 


If there was one statement I could make about starting a journey into true health and wellness, it would be, "Don't give up"!  

 

Losing weight, healing your body, and getting rid of harmful addictions takes TWO things:  TIME and PERSEVERANCE.  

It will not happen overnight because what you are doing is making a complete lifestyle change. In the beginning, you will be walking through deep waters.

You may be undoing years and years of damage and it takes an "I will not quit no matter what" kind of attitude. Simple put, you can do it! 

So where is the buddy in The Living Well Plan? You are sitting and reading with your buddy now. 

When you need encouragement to keep going, this is where you need to be. You are never alone when focused on Living Well. Staying connected here is your daily  golden opportunity to get the support you need. 

See you soon!

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30 Days to Living Well – Day 20

January 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Day 20

Suffering: Is A Good Thing.

 

  • Give thanks
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day

Your Breakfast - Fruit until noonish, 2-3 pieces, scattered over the morning, add protein if needed.
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack 
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 


Suffering can be a good thing.  

Getting shaken apart without being destroyed makes us strong and courageous. 

Besides, if you are going to truly Live Well, wouldn't you agree that you need to be strong and courageous? 

When you start to Live Well and give up the unhealthy habits it may be terrifying to you. When we are addicted to chemicals it doesn't feel good to take them away. 

But the only way to get out of bondage is to feel the pain of breaking free. 

This small sacrifice will give you much needed strength for the road ahead. Saying no to those toxic foods means a healthier life, better relationships, more energy, and a clearer journey for your soul. 

Indeed, your body truly is a temple and any suffering will clean you out and purify your mind. Give thanks for the hardships and know they are there for your ultimate benefit.

True wealth means seeing the riches in all you have and when you recognize this, you will also notice how your real fortune is right before your very eyes. It is there, not beyond the suffering, but amidst it.  

Have a beautiful day everyone. It is raining and storming where I am. So lovely. :-)

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30 Days to Living Well – Day 19

January 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Day 20

The Magic Pill


  • Give thanks
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day

Your Breakfast - Fruit until noonish, scattered over the morning, add protein if needed.
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack 
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 


There is no magic pill, or quick answer to permanent weight loss or good health. 

If weight loss really came in a bottle, everyone would be thin! 

Living Well does take some work.  It does mean saying no to poisonous foods we are used to eating all the time.  Being committed to feeding your body healthy foods is the only answer.

I wish there was some sort of pill that would take the weight off and keep it off, but there isn't. 

The desire for a secret, magical pill comes from a lack of experience with the real engine of success, which is a consistent, focused effort on nourishing the body. You have the tools now, and you will be consistent with your healthy eating plan, naturally and easily.

Live Well!

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What 5 POUNDS Really Looks Like

January 19, 2012 By 2 Comments

WAY TO GO to anyone who has lost EVEN ONE POUND while Living Well!  

Keep these butter sticks in your mind when choosing to Live Well. Know that your intent to melt will supercharge your fat burning power. You can most certainly be in charge of your full body melt!

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30 Days to Living Well – Day 18

January 19, 2012 By 1 Comment

Day 18

Practice Makes Perfect.

 

  • Give thanks
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day

Your Breakfast - Fruit until noonish, add protein if needed.
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack 
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 


The more you practice anything, the easier it gets and more routine it becomes.  And one thing is for sure, you will be paid for your due diligence. 

Living Well does take some practice.  If you have been eating processed foods your whole life, eating healthy foods for 18 days is not a long time.  There will be slips and occasions where you will mourn junk food.  It is okay and perfectly acceptable to fall off the Living Well bandwagon. 

Don't beat yourself up for it.  Instead make a healthier choice at your very next meal.  Practice, practice and practice some more of making healthy, whole food choices to put into your body.  Focus on nourishing your body and make it a practice. 

You can do anything you set out to do with enough focused and persistent action.

Though you start at the beginning, your consistent efforts quickly build upon themselves and you will see the effort in weight loss and better health.  Don't wait for life to hand you happiness and fulfillment.  If you do this, you will undoubtedly be disappointed. 

Practice Living Well with diligence, learn from the mistakes, be persistent and YOU WILL KNOW THE REWARDS AND HAVE THE BODY YOU WANT!


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30 Days to Living Well – Day 17

January 17, 2012 By 2 Comments

Day 17

Use Your Weaknesses.

  • Give thanks
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day


Your Breakfast - Fruit until noonish, 2-3 pieces scattered over the morning, add protein if needed.
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack 
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 


Weaknesses can contain an abundance of hidden positive value.  If you are only making use of your strengths, you are missing a big part of the picture. You must use both your strengths and weaknesses because weaknesses are the areas in your life where you can make the most powerful improvements.

Sure, you can improve on your strengths but any improvement will be small. Just imagine when you set out to overcome your weaknesses.  The change will be dramatic, making a serious shift in your life for the better. 

For example, instead of saying to yourself "I have failed at every attempt I have made to lose weight", consider now that by nourishing your body with healthy, whole foods, and being consistent at that, you will shed the weight for good and feel great while doing it. 

You can turn any old weakness into an enormous strength.  The strength you gain by overcoming the urge to eat junk can be used to keep you strong and encourage others to start nourishing their bodies with healthy foods too. 

We are all blessed with numerous weaknesses. Instead of denying them or using them as a crutch, overcome them and use the strength you gain to bless others.

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30 Days to Living Well – Day 16

January 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

Day 16

The Power of Persistence.

  • Give thanks
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day


Your Breakfast - Fruit until noonish, 2-3 pieces, scattered over the morning. Eat each piece when you are truly hungry.
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack - Choose raw veggies and if you eat a concentrated food, keep it to 1/4 cup or less.
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 


Okay.

So you need some motivating to stick with this. Some days may seem harder than searching for a needle in a haystack.  

You may find yourself failing more often than not and your choices are not as healthy as you wish they were. This might give you the silly idea that you should toss in the towel because this whole Living Well business is just too tough.

Failure and hardship. They are inevitable you know. Why not embrace it now and see the good in it?

Do you know that Abraham Lincoln failed at every business he tried until he became president of the United States? And he did not get elected to the presidency until he was in his 60's!

One thing is for sure. If you don't give up you have no choice but to end up successful in what you are doing.

I am the first to admit it is challenging eating healthy in a toxic world, but it does get easier.  Hang in there!

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30 Days to Living Well – Day 15

January 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

Day 15

We All Slip Up Now and Again.

  • Give thanks
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day

Your Breakfast – Fruit, 2-3 pieces until noon, scattered over the morning.
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack 
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 


After you've been defeated is not the time to give up. If you give up, then the hard-earned knowledge of what went wrong will be of little use.

Look at your defeat as a payment in advance for your ultimate success.

It does not matter that you've been defeated because what really counts is how quickly you get going again.

Forget the self pity routine.  It will not move you forward and I know you really don't like it anyway. : )  Find something else to do that you enjoy (except eating junk!) and pick yourself up. 

After 2 weeks of Living Well, you are much smarter now.  You have experience and a new understanding of why there was a slip up.  You know exactly how to get right back on track.

Have a beautiful day.

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30 Days to Living Well – Day 14

January 15, 2012 By 1 Comment

 

  • Give thanks
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day

Your Breakfast - Fruit, 2-3 pieces, scattered over the morning until noonish. Add protein if needed.
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack 
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 


The great thing about today is that it is wide open and any wonderful thing can happen. 

With all the positive choices you can make for your body, mind and soul, opportunities await you.

Even the small things in your life that you are not satisfied with are not such a big deal now. 

You are feeling good and all the choices you made brought you here, right where you need to be. 

Treasure this day and know that they can all be this way if you want.  It's all about choice.

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Your Weekend Visual

January 13, 2012 By 1 Comment

Use the power of your mind to visualize what your healthy food choices are accomplishing in your body. Your choice to Live Well is fueling the melt down that you desire.

You will naturally and easily be able to Live Well at every opportunity while gaining great and lasting wealth along the way.

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Living Well Starch Meal Inflammation Reducer

January 13, 2012 By 2 Comments


 

Diet Rich in Slowly Digested Carbs Reduces Markers of Inflammation in Overweight

and Obese Adults

ScienceDaily (Jan. 11, 2012) — Among overweight and obese adults, a diet rich in slowly digested carbohydrates, such as whole grains, legumes and other high-fiber foods, significantly reduces markers of inflammation associated with chronic disease, according to a new study by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Such a "low-glycemic-load" diet, which does not cause blood-glucose levels to spike, also increases a hormone that helps regulate the metabolism of fat and sugar.

 

This study is conflicting with other information I have read recently about inflammation (Wheat Belly), but still, it is good to know that you could be keeping inflammation from raging out of control by choosing to eat a big salad and a portion of slowly digested carbs for your Living Well meal.

Lentils are a great 'slowly digested' carb. Make sure to eat your big salad first!

 

Simple Meals Cookbook

LENTIL PATE

 

1 c. lentils

2 c. water

1 large onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tbsp. organic butter or

extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp. black pepper

1⁄2 to 1 tsp. organic apple

cider vinegar

sea salt to taste

water

 

Cook lentils in water in a medium size pot until done. At the same time, saute onions and garlic in the butter in a separate pot over medium heat for 3 minutes. Add pepper. Mix lentils, onions, garlic and pepper together. Blend the mixture in a food processor adding water if necessary until well mixed. Add the vinegar last to your liking. Chill before serving. Serve with a salad for a light lunch.

Serves 4.

Method: Stovetop/Food Processor.

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30 Days to Living Well – Day 13

January 13, 2012 By 4 Comments

Day 13

Live with Passion!

 

  • Give thanks
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day

Your Breakfast - Fresh fruit, 2-3 pieces, until noonish. Add protein if needed.
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack – Keep it raw and don't eat more than 1/3 cup of concentrated food.
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 


Get passionate about feeding your body the right way. Love your body and every organ in it!

Treat yourself with the same love and passion that you do your significant other. 

When you think of eating a meal, love yourself with enough passion to eat a meal that will nourish every cell in your body. 

You know, your body does a lot for you everyday.  Your body is passionate about keeping you alive no matter what you feed it, so reciprocate by nourishing it properly, every chance you get. 

Fill your life with passion and watch how successful and truly wealthy you will become in everything you do. 
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30 Days to Living Well – Day 12

January 12, 2012 By 1 Comment

Day 12

Learn From Little Mistakes

 

  • Give thanks
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day

Your Breakfast - Fruit until noon (2-3 pieces), add protein if you need to.
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack 
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 


Wisdom comes from the difficult lesson of learning from your mistakes. When you have made a little error, take the challenging route and discover the fortune that is hidden in the opportunity. 

Taking the easy way out means you choose to become angry, depressed, complain or even blame others.  When you choose this route, you will gain zero value from the mistake. Mistakes are inevitable when changing over to a new lifestyle.

In a world that encourages a party in your mouth at every meal, snack and drink, mistakes happen. Especially on those days when you didn't plan to have that party. When this happens, simply move on and make a better choice at the next meal.

Mistakes are golden nuggets to learn from and gain great riches. They will assist you on your quest for true wealth.

Take advantage of the mistakes you make by gleaning the gold dust that surrounds them.  Then add to your portfolio of assets.

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30 Days to Living Well – Day 11

January 11, 2012 By 1 Comment

Day 11

Listen and Learn.

 

  • Give thanks
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day

Your Breakfast - Fruit in the morning until noonish (2-3 pieces) – add protein if needed.
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack 
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 


Hear more than you want to.  Listening and hearing only the things you want to hear is not listening. 

Listen to what you don't want to hear as well. I am referring to the criticisms that others may have of your behavior.

If you do this with an open mind, you will grow, become stronger and gain true wealth too. 

You may be confident in your knowledge but none of us know it all. Consider that others have much to teach you and that their opinions are of great value, assisting you in becoming the wealthy individual you were designed to be. 

Listen to learn and learn to listen. You will be surprised at how the dividends pay off now and in your Living Well future.

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30 Days to Living Well – Day 10

January 10, 2012 By 4 Comments

Day 10

Getting Rid of Pollutants.

  • Give thanks
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day

Your Breakfast - 2-3 pieces of fruit until noonish (add protein if needed)
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack 
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 


Look around your bathroom, under the kitchen sink and especially in your cosmetic bag.  All the chemicals you put on the largest organ of your body, THE SKIN, are being absorbed daily.  The toxic shampoos, soaps, anti-perspirants, disinfectants and other household cleaning products contain potentially harmful and cancer causing ingredients. 

When I first wrote Day 10 over a decade ago, I was buying non-toxic personal care products and making my own toothpaste. Since that time, I founded Tooth Soap®, and have manufactured an entire line of non-toxic and organic oral care products and organically preserved skin care and health supplements.

I am going to take the opportunity on Day 10 to pitch Tooth Soap®. I think it will be okay since there are currently no ads here, aside from the nudge to visit my other sites. Am I making excuses for my shameless plugging? No. But I am going to PITCH hard now and I wanted to warn you beforehand. :-)  

I recommend Tooth Soap®, the world's leading, patented and non-toxic alternative to toothpaste! Toothpaste is the ONE product that is used almost as much as toilet tissue in the bathroom, yet it is also the cheapest, most chemically laden product that you could ever imagine and it goes into your mouth daily, readily absorbed by the sensitive mucosal lining.

Why anyone would put a product that has a warning label into their mouth is really beyond comprehension, but since our society is so used to these warning labels and organizations using their propaganda to convince us that they are perfectly 'safe', most people don't give it a second thought. But they most certainly should.

If a person brushed their teeth for 80 years, twice a day, that is 58,400 brushings. Fifty-eight thousand, four hundred brushings. It could be 58,400 brushings with a natural, effective and non-toxic product or it could be 58,400 brushings with a product that has a warning label.

You have the choice now to use something that is highly effective for cleaning your teeth, and also non-toxic.

Tooth Soap® wasn't available when I was growing up, and I have only been brushing with it for 9 years, but my children grew up brushing with Tooth Soap® and they are currently cavity free, with no dental problems. I have managed to escape the dental chair myself, and most of that had to do with the fact that I don't frequent dentists, but the truth is, Tooth Soap® cleans teeth so well that you can avoid many problems that are associated with teeth that are not completely clean.

The job of your tooth cleanser is to clean your teeth. Current dental protocols, however, are focused on applying chemicals to teeth when they should be focused on the simple act of CLEANING!  Tooth Soap® cleans teeth so well that you will think you just had a professional dental cleaning and I believe that any dentist would be happy with a patient that could maintain teeth so clean that it was like they were just in his office.

Here is the good news for those that are reading this today. You can buy any Tooth Soap® and get another one absolutely FREE. This offer is valid during January and will expire at midnight, on the 31st.

Use Coupon Code: JAN and take advantage of these savings today! I have also reduced the shipping to a flat rate of $5, no matter where you live, so start doing your mouth a favor and wash it out with Tooth Soap®. 

Shop for Tooth Soap® now.

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30 Days to Living Well – Day 9

January 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Day 9

What Are You Thinking?

 

  • Give thanks
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day

Your Breakfast - Raw fruit, no more than 2-3 pieces, until noonish.  Add protein if needed. 
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack 
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 


What are the thoughts in your head? 

What are you giving your brain to think about? 

Are you thinking about how unfair life is?  If so, you can bet life will be cruelly unfair to you.

Are you thinking about how great life can be especially since you decided to respect your body and encourage health? If so, you'll see exciting possibilities that others cannot even imagine.

What do you think of others around you?

What do you think of the work you do?

Your thoughts will fuel or reduce passion for the things you do, depending on where your head is.

Your mind is constantly turning out thoughts and these thoughts have the power to change your life or bring you down.  Choose the healthiest and most positive thoughts at all times.

When you have an unhealthy idea pop into your head, toss it out and replace it with a healthy thought. Practice this, and over time you will become those healthy thoughts you ponder.

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30 Days to Living Well – Day 8

January 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Day 8

WOW!

 

  • Give thanks
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day

Your Breakfast 
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack 
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 


If you did all live yesterday, nothing can stop you today.  You are superman or superwoman and you are unstoppable now. 

Keep up the healthy living so you can have an absolutely fantastic week. 

If you slipped up a bit, take a deep breath and forget about it.  Move on and make a better choice at the next meal. 

Just because you make ONE not so healthy choice does not mean the whole day is shot. 

Be kind to your mind and pat yourself on the back for making it this far.

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30 Days to Living Well – Day 7

January 8, 2012 By 1 Comment

Day 7

A Live Food Day.

 

  • Give thanks
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day

Your Breakfast 
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack 
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 


If you have given up all the chemicals and were feeling good on day six, go for it and do an all live food day! 

You will not believe how good you will feel tomorrow.  Try it, you will like it! If you don't want to go "LIVE" all day, do live until dinner and you will still feel great.  Try doing a live food day once a week.

This doesn't mean you are going to be all raw, but it means you are in a place where you can handle more live food than before. Maybe all raw doesn't sit well with you right now and if that is the case, do your best to eat only FRESH foods on this day, even if you have to steam them a bit.  

Vegetables are easier to digest and your body will SING when you get into the habit of letting the vegetables dominate your plate.

Whatever you choose to do, each step you take, even if it is just DRINKING WATER in the morning, it MATTERS! Every little investment you make towards your health is building true wealth in your life.

Know now that every movement you make towards goodness in your body,  mind, and soul, will pay off for you. The dividends I speak of are truly priceless!

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30 Days to Living Well – Day 6

January 6, 2012 By 3 Comments

Day 6

Starting to Feel Better Now!

  • Give thanks (!)
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening – this is becoming natural and easy for you now.
  • Dry brush your body – Stimulate your body's defense system!
  • Move your body – Oxygenate your mind!
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day – Hydrate yourself!

Your Breakfast 
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack 
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 



Day six will be a good day. You have started to clean out and are off sugar now. You can naturally and easily get through the day without any chemicals. :-)

The salad and fruits and vegetables are really starting to taste delicious and you may have dropped a few pounds. You now know how doable and livable The Living Well Plan is.

Pat yourself on the back for sticking to this for almost an entire week!

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30 Days to Living Well – Day 5

January 5, 2012 By 1 Comment

Day 5

 

Still Suffering?

  • Give thanks (especially if you are suffering…)
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day

Your Breakfast - Fruit until noonish and add some protein if you need to.
Your Lunch:  raw food salad and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack 
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 


You may be one of those that are dealing with toxic release and you are hurting right now.  You might be feeling one or many symptoms of detox. 

Once you make a healthy change in your diet or lifestyle, your cells begin to eliminate the toxic substances. Before finding the exit, however, the toxins are released into the blood stream and are carried through the circulatory system. 

Below are the possible symptoms you may get: 

  • clogged sinus
  • constipation
  • cough
  • diarrhea
  • fatigue
  • fever
  • flu symptoms
  • cold symptoms
  • gas
  • headache
  • irritability
  • moodiness
  • skin rash
  • stomachache, etc.

 

Once you have cleaned out your body, the symptoms will subside.

After this phase ends, you will begin to see how much richer you are for having decided to Live Well.

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30 Days to Living Well – Day 4

January 4, 2012 By 1 Comment

 

Day 4

Off Sugar Yet?

  • Give thanks
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day

Your Breakfast 
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack 
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 


If you have stopped all sugar, white flour and other processed junk, today may be the first day you are not a mad, craving, lunatic. 

This may also be the day when you have no appetite.  That is a sure sign that your blood sugar levels have dropped. 

Take it easy if you are going through detox.  Lay in bed if you have to.  If you are going at this easy, and still caving in to the chemicals, that is okay.  Congratulate yourself for getting to the 4th day. 

There is no hurry.  Living Well is a life long journey and a complete lifestyle change.  One day at a time… true wealth is never built in a day.

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30 Days to Living Well – Day 3

January 3, 2012 By 5 Comments

Day 3

Free Yourself.

  • Give thanks
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day

Your Breakfast: Fruit until noonish (add protein if you need to)
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack 
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 


Free yourself from any anxiety. 

Know that by deciding to Live Well, you are deciding to take control of your life and not be a victim anymore. 

You do not have to be overweight, sick or diseased.  You have control, the brain power and the will to be in the driver's seat.  You can and will do this for yourself and your family. 

Free yourself from the addictions of limitation.  Life is yours to live. Though it is challenging, it is real and all yours.

Though sadness comes, it is possible only because you care so much.  You are wonderful because you do care so much. 

Let go and live the joyful experience that is yours. Move forward and delight in your new found freedom.

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Recipe: Quinoa Primavera

January 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I am currently mad for quinoa since wheat blows me up.

I put my toes into wheat waters once again this past weekend, and the infamous bloated tummy was all mine for over 24 hours. It really irritated my digestive system and I noticed it more than I ever have before.

As we remove those foods that don't agree with our bodies, we become more sensitive to how they feel when we dabble in them again. Personally, it is a struggle to completely remove wheat from my lifestyle, and I won't deny it. It is beyond being addicted to wheat. I live in a wheat culture and community. It doesn't stop me from dreaming of being wheat free again though…

In the search for alternatives to bloating wheat, I have embraced spelt and quinoa…

I've been cooking with quinoa recently and I absolutely LOVE it! It feels so good in my tummy and I am not left with the bloated madness that wheat and oats always give me. Do try quinoa, it is different at first, but you will acquire a taste for it.

Here is a recipe for Quinoa Primavera. Basically, you can use quinoa to replace any pasta or grains in all of your recipes. Quinoa is an ancient grain and is known as complete protein grain, so it is ideal for those lunches or dinners when you want a vegetarian meal. 

 
Quinoa Primavera – STARCH MEAL
 
Serves 6
 
1 package organic quinoa
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 minced garlic cloves
3 cups sliced mushrooms (12 oz.)
2 cups asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup green peas
5 chopped medium tomatoes
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil and 1 tablespoon
  extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup thinly sliced sundried tomatoes
sea salt and pepper to taste
 
Cook quinoa according to directions on package and set aside to cool.  
 
Saute the garlic in olive oil for 1 minute.  Add the mushrooms and cook on medium heat until just tender.
Remove from the heat.  Steam the asparagus and peas lightly until just tender.
 
Toss all the vegetables with the quinoa and add the rest of the ingredients.  Toss well. 
 
Serve at room temperature on a large bed of lettuce greens and other vegetables of your choice if desired.
 
You can exchange any of the vegetables for ones that you like. I used carrots, crookneck squash, onions and bell peppers in this quinoa dish:
You can also serve this with some whole grain garlic bread if you are not gluten sensitive.
 
Live Well and enjoy!
 
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30 Days to Living Well – Day 2

January 2, 2012 By 1 Comment

Day 2

Am I Really Doing This?

 

  • Give thanks
  • Do 10 deep breaths
  • Drink 16 ounces of water upon awakening
  • Dry brush your body
  • Move your body
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day (start with 5 and work your way up)

Your Breakfast - Fruit until noon'ish'. 
Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 
Snack 
Your Dinner:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 


Day 2 may find you wondering why you are doing this Living Well thing.  You may be very overweight and all you can see is the pounds that are going to take so long to come off. 

Focus on the day and that is it.  Take it one meal at a time. 

When your old habits kick in, know that you are in charge and you do not have to be a slave to unhealthy habits. 

This is easier said than done! 

There will be times when you think about reverting back to unhealthy ways.  Even when you are going slow, you are making progress. 

Wouldn't you agree that it is better to move an inch forward than to not move at all? 

Every little bit counts.  You can be the person that is going somewhere very slowly or the person who is not moving at all. 

A snail moves forward very slowly.  But notice how he also reaches his destination eventually.  Being a snail is a fine thing to be. 

If you have a little setback, find one small thing you can do to move forward in some way.  This will propel you further and keep you on track.


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30 Days to Living Well – Day 1

January 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Day 1

Becoming Aware.

 

Everyday do the following:

Wake up and thank God for being alive and count all your blessings. This is the first step in living with gratitude which is at the heart of true joy.

Do ten Deep breaths to help your body eliminate toxins through your lungs.

Stand up, sit up straight, or lay on the floor*.  Exhale completely and fully through the mouth.  When you think you have pushed out all the air, push some more to get out any stale air still left in your lungs.  Then slowly inhale, through your nose, making sure your belly is filling with air.  Exhale again completely through the mouth and follow with another deep inhalation through your nose making sure that your belly is filling with air each time.  Do ten of these everyday, preferably in the morning.  You will want to also do some sort of exercise that you enjoy for 15-20 minutes everyday as part of your Living Well routine.

*If you are laying down, you can put a plastic bag full of rice or beans or another object similar and watch the bag go up and down to make sure you are filling your belly with air.  Filling your belly with air means you are expanding your diaphragm muscle completely.  The diaphragm muscle has been referred to as "the muscle of life" and it needs to be exercised just like all the other muscles in your body to stay in shape.  When we don't use our diaphragm muscle when we breathe, we breathe in a shallow way.  Shallow breathing does not allow the toxins to be removed completely and does not provide your body with sufficient oxygen.  Deep breathing is crucial and will give you a boost of energy at any time during the day when you need a little pick me up.  It also is great to do when dealing with cravings for not so healthy foods. 

Have a 16 ounce glass of water, as soon as you can, after you wake up.  

Dry brush your body. 

Exercise in the morning hours or at another time of day that you prefer.  You must move everyday.  Take a walk at the very least. 

Drink another 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day, preferably between and 10-15 minutes before meals. If 8-10 sounds like too much, drink FIVE. Try just five and work your way up.

Your Breakfast - Fruit until noon'ish' or add some protein if you need to.

Your Lunch:  raw foods and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 

Snack - When snacking, the best foods to eat are going to be the live ones (fresh vegetables).  In the afternoon, snacking on raw vegetables is ideal.  Or have fresh vegetable juice if you are fortunate enough to be around a juicer.  If you want something heavier, have a handful of nuts that have been soaked for at least 8 hours and then dried, or sprouted.  Soaking will get rid of the enzyme inhibitors that make digestion difficult and tax your body into making more enzymes.

If you want something more than vegetables in the afternoon, have some dip with them.  If you decide to eat a concentrated food with your vegetables, make it is very small amount.  Don't eat more than 1/3 to 1/2 cup of concentrated food.  You do not have to measure, but remember a snack is just that–a snack.  If you eat more than enough to take your hunger away, you will have food in your stomach when it is time for dinner.  It is best to let each meal digest completely and leave the stomach before adding more food.  And another important tip is that dinner will taste best when you are truly hungry.  When you are truly hungry, live foods taste lip smacking good!  This is a true test of hunger.  When you are really hungry, a real, live food will satisfy you easily.  Keep your snacks light so your energy levels will remain high and you can encourage weight loss.

Your Dinner:  raw food salad and a Starch dish OR Protein dish of your choice.  You can make a dressing with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, OR coconut oil, OR essential fatty acids for your salad. 


If there is one thing you will need to do from now on and until you leave this earth it is this:  Be aware at all times.  Begin to notice everything and everyone around you.  Notice people and their eating patterns.  Notice what they eat, when they eat, why they eat.  Look at their bodies.  Not just the outside, but realize that those thin people that wolf down garbage all day may not be healthy on the inside.  There are little signs.  Brittle hair and nails, dry skin on the elbows and heels on the feet, fine lines around the eyes and mouth and little pouches of fat on the tummy and thighs.  Everyone is held accountable for what goes into their body. Picture that everything that people ingest was really meant to nourish the body but notice how many times you see people put things into their body that don't nourish. 

Don't look at people in a critical way. 

Just notice all the things they do and also notice how you may be doing the same thing.  When you can recognize your own not so healthy behaviors, you are on the way to making changes.

 

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When You Don’t Want Fruit in the Morning

December 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

I was hungry early this morning, which is unusual for me. When I thought of eating, I knew right away I didn't want cold fruit.
 
For some reason, I was craving carbs. Maybe because I was a cheesehead last night with that dish in the previous post. Everyone loved it too and after three hours, our food had digested and we were HUNGRY again.
 
That is how you know you are digesting properly. The food leaves your tummy and you feel hunger, a true hunger, not the false 'sugar high' hunger that is never satisfied.
 
Because my appetite has picked up I know my metabolism is also running on high. I weighed myself this morning and I really don't want to lose more than a couple of pounds, so I am going to eat what I need to, when I need to.
 
Remember that fruit in the morning speeds up the weight loss and detox process.
 
Back to not wanting to eat fruit this morning…
 
I knew I wanted carbs and how many of us want carbs in the morning? The fact that Krispy Kreme is where it is today verifies this morning carb deep desire. But just because you crave carbs doesn't mean you need to choose a donut. There are other more satisfying carb meals that will leave you satisfied and with energy.
 
I easily said NO to the 95 pounds of Boston Baked Beans (I have seen others pop them in their mouth at all hours of the day…) and decided I wanted REAL beans this morning… and the carrots sitting in the fridge looked really good too.
 
I found a can of organic beans, threw them in the Vitamix, added some salt, lemon juice, a drizzle of olive oil, a dash of onion and garlic and it was whipped into what you see below; it looks a bit like oatmeal.
 
 
I ate my mini-meal and was quite satisfied. This way of eating is more in line with The Living Well Suppressed Metabolism Plan so if you are struggling with fruit in the morning, you will want to try this approach.
 
The raw carrots are amazing as they speed the transit time through the bowels and they cause you to chew a lot which is good when eating carbs. It is important to fully masticate the carbs in your mouth before swallowing because carbs are digested in the mouth, with saliva.
 
Chewing also releases certain endorphins (this is listed somewhere in The Living Well Plan) and that is why people run to crunchy foods when they are stressed. Carrots are the perfect crunchy food and they also help remove toxins which is a very good thing.
 
Also, I include canned food in the recipes because I believe everyone should have extra food in their house in case of an emergency. All of us should be prepared for any natural disaster, and that means knowing how to cook out of a pantry as well as cook and cut with fresh foods. When you cook with mostly fresh and use canned and frozen for convenience (occasionally) it is much more doable and healthy in the long run. You will also be prepared and know how to cook if there is an emergency and you can't get to the store.
 
The idea with Living Well is always doing the best you can with what you have at the moment.
 
Have a great weekend everyone!
 
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Confessions of a Wheat and Cheese Addict

December 29, 2011 By 5 Comments

I confess.
 
My worse food addiction during the past few years has been the occasional craving for … pizza.
 
It is true.
 
I have even believed that I was addicted to this concoction at times, so I tried to avoid it. 
 
The Fukushima business has also made me shy away from cheese, but I have yet to completely remove it from my eating plan. 
 
This past couple of weeks I have reduced my cheese intake to almost none, and I have kept the cheese away from any wheat. 
 
But then today came and I had that craving for a pizza. Actually, the craving first came on Tuesday but I ignored it until today.
 
When my husband brought home some zucchini and crookneck squash from the farmer's market this afternoon, I knew I had to make something with sauce and cheese right away. I get a craving for the taste of Italy sometimes. I blame it on the Italian blood that my father so graciously provided for me.
 
There is always a way to Live Well, no matter where you are. There is always a way to make the best choice possible and do the best with what you have in front of you.
 
The truth is, Living Well just means rearranging a few things, so that you can facilitate digestion and keep your energy levels high and your body eliminating regularly. This happens when your meals are dominated by vegetables.
 
When dealing with cheese addictions, make sure to eat it with some high water content foods to help move it out of your body easily.
 
You can still feed your little cravings and keep yourself from bingeing and harming your body with excess food.
 
Know this important fact: OVEREATING is the cause of more bodily harm than anything. It doesn't matter if you overeat good or bad foods, the overeating and the excess is at the heart of most illness in our day.
 
Pay attention to those foods that nag you and keep you bloated. Cheese and wheat is the most common bloating combination you can eat. 
 
Maybe you crave another poorly combined dish? Tell me what it is and I will find a solution for you.
 
The idea is to make all of what you do livable, for life.
 
Your eating plan must keep you healthy and give you energy, keep you free from bingeing, and completely satisfy your taste buds too. This is the only way you can stick to a new lifestyle longterm.
 
You also need a coach and I am happy to help you here.
 
Continual support is KEY so visit often and join all of us who are Living Well!
 
 

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What about beverages: coffee? tea? milk? wine?

December 28, 2011 By 2 Comments

 

 

        From: Paula

Date: December 28, 2011 12:35:26 PM EST

Subject: Re: HealthnBeauty.com is Back

To: healthnbeautycom@aol.com

As a long-time, trusting user of Tooth Soap, I immediately checked out your HealthnBeauty website. I have a question:

What about beverages: coffee? tea? milk? wine?

Thanks,
Paula

 

Hi Paula,
The highest level of health would be to exclude any foods that would cause any type of inflammation in the body. Maintaining that high level is a challenge in our world. If coffee, tea, milk and wine are something you regularly drink, and you don’t want to exclude them from your eating plan just yet, there is a way to work them in.
Moderation is key though, and you will have to minimize your consumption of them if you are planning on encouraging weight drop.
The best way to drink them would be on an empty stomach, as to not interfere with digestion. Wine is best on an empty stomach; you will feel it faster thereby drinking less since there is no food to absorb the alcohol. Coffee and tea are okay between meals for some people.
There are, however, those that retain water by including caffeine in their eating plan. They will still be able to drop weight, but when a plateau rolls around, that is the time to tweak and remove some of those things that have been a constant before.
Drink milk alone and I suggest organic and raw if you are going to drink it.  Milk is loaded with hormones and pesticides and some dairies are still monitoring the radioactive particles that came out of Fukushima.
I am not a milk drinker and I didn’t drink milk while losing weight. You will have to see what works best for your unique body.
Go slow with everything and the more you add to your eating plan, the more you will want to exclude. This happens over time.
Here is more information from The Living Well Plan regarding drinks and water:

What about diet sodas, mineral waters and other bottled drinks?

Diet sodas are carbonated drinks that make you fat by aggravating your sweet tooth and encouraging your body to retain water.  They keep you addicted to that artificially sweet taste. Besides aspartame has been proven to give headaches.  And we all know the truth about saccharin.  Mineral waters can make you retain water because of the carbonation and salts and they are also acidic.

As far as bottled water goes there is much controversy on that subject.  Too much fluoride is toxic, not enough of the naturally occurring kind can contribute to tooth decay.  Find out about the water quality in your area.  If it is bad you will know it.  If the city agencies tell you it is good, know that their standards are a lot lower than yours.  Their regulations keep it at a level that is considered “safe for consumption”.  Pesticides are considered to be “safe” too, according to government standards.  But bottled spring water is not necessarily the answer.  Think of all the gallons of water sitting in warehouses growing bacteria.  There are no standards for levels of bacteria in bottled water.  Mountain spring water also contains inorganic minerals that your body can’t use.

There are some really sophisticated water filters out there now.  Some filter the water to remove lead and chlorine and then treat it with ozone and ultraviolet light inside the unit to kill microorganisms and parasitic cysts.  Then there are the health gurus that recommend you only drink distilled water, but I have also read that distilled water leaches the minerals out of your body so it is not good to drink it long term.  It is fine for when you are trying to heal, but it could cause problems down the road.  Check Chet’s site for more info on distilled water.

Drink filtered water at all times as chlorine is deadly.  It never ceases to amaze me why information on the dangers of chlorine are not more widespread.  Researchers proved years ago that most cases of bladder and urinary cancer have direct links to chlorine and it’s byproducts in our drinking/bathing water.  Further studies have implicated chlorinated water in increased rates of deadly pancreatic cancer, rectal cancer, and possibly even breast cancer in women.  (AM J Epidemiol 92;136(7):836-42) (Epidemiol 98;9(1):29-35) (AM J Epidemiol 93;138(7):492-501) (Cancer Causes Control 97;8(2):192-200)

In this latest study involving brain cancer, the longer you drink chlorinated water, the greater your risk of developing cancer.  What is surprising about this study is that that association between chlorinated water and brain cancer was stronger among men than women.  Maybe because men drink proportionally more water than women?  Men drinking chlorinated water for 40 or more years are at 2.5 times more risk that those that did not drink chlorinated water.

You must drink filtered water especially when taking fulvic acid.  It will attach itself to small particles and deliver it to your cells quickly, so make sure to take fulvic only with pure, filtered water.  Don’t put your health in jeopardy by consuming tap water at any time whether you are taking fulvic acid or not.


 

 

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The Body Melt Begins

December 27, 2011 By 5 Comments

There is an ancient saying that goes like this, "The beginning is in the end and the end is in the beginning".  I can see this truth revealing itself once again in my life as I embark on another wonderful journey with reviving The Living Well Plan.

 
I am seeing The Living Well Plan and the benefits, in action, before my very eyes.
 
My family doesn't eat much meat, except for Friday night, or celebrations or special occasions, and last night was one of them. We ate meat, sauteed vegetables and a huge garden salad.
 
I was so content with my meal. I felt so good afterwards!
 
Around 11:00 pm I could feel the melt… I could feel that my body was in fat burning mode. At that point, I imagined the melting butter in the pan. I knew that any excess on my body would soon be history, just like before.
 
There is this feeling you get when you combine your foods properly. Your stomach is not bloated, and feels empty sooner. It is an awesome feeling!
 
I spoke with Dr. Berzow about this yesterday and she also noticed when her body was in the 'melting mode'. It is a certain feeling in your body and gut and I know it well.
 
This morning when I opened my eyes I felt pure joy and bliss!
 
I felt so good.
 
I had to wonder for a moment if proper digestion is that important to everything and honestly, I have to say YES! Digestion is everything!
 
If you are sick and tired, of being sick and tired, of being fat, bloated and disgusted, help is on the way!
 
It has been over 13 years since I first brought The Living Well Plan to the world via the web and after reading the info again, I am more excited than ever to Live Well again! 
 
I was a believer in facilitating proper digestion back in the day, and I am a most firm believer in it now.
 
As a person who has been reviewing products, diets and all sorts of items relating to health and beauty for over a decade, I give my highest recommendation to The Living Well Plan!
 
I know that might sound a little biased, but I can't help it.
 
Join us!
 
 

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Wheat Belly AKA Bloated Belly

December 26, 2011 By 3 Comments

 

 
Having gone wheat-free once in my life for over six months, I know the freedom that goes along with it, but it is certainly not easy in our culture.
 
I am once again working to keep wheat out of my eating plan, and I can say before ever reading the book "Wheat Belly", that wheat makes me puffy, it interferes with my sleep, and makes my joints ache, especially as I climb that hill towards fifty.
 
Wheat is also highly addictive and that is simple to see when you can't stop at just one cracker. Or one bowl of cereal. Or one brownie, etc…
 
I chose to go five days without wheat last week, but the day I included it in my eating plan, I ended up puffy and retaining some water the next day. It wasn't a lot of water, but enough to see it. That 'puff' is actually my body retaining water to dilute the irritation that wheat causes in my sensitive system.
 
My daughter was off of wheat for 4 days and she felt a difference too. The main thing she noticed was NO MORE BLOAT!
 
For sure, wheat causes a 'bloating belly' in many people.
 
"Wheat Belly" is a most appropriate title for the new book by Dr. William Davis, a cardiologist who has seen extraordinary results in his patients that he put on wheat-free regimens. 
 
Dr. Davis states that a wheat-free diet is associated with significant benefits including:
 
  • Weight loss of 20, 30, even 50 pounds in the first few weeks
  • Alleviation of metabolic syndrome and type-2 diabetes
  • Recovery from intestinal woes, like ulcerative colitis and celiac disease
  • Marked improvement in overall cholesterol and LDL counts
  • Improvement in bone density and reversal of osteopenia
  • Cessation of skin conditions from psoriasis to oral ulcers and hair loss
  • Reduction of inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis pain
 
Besides the obvious problem with wheat, which is the GMO factor, we are just getting too much of it in our diet, similar to how soy and corn are put in everything. Soy, wheat and corn are the three main crops in our country, so it is no wonder we are having problems with allergies and sensitivities to all three of them. The body needs a great variety of foods to meet nutritional needs and most people live off of the same foods daily.
 
Dr. Davis states, "Did you know that eating two slices of whole wheat bread can increase blood sugar more than 2 tablespoons of pure sugar can?"
 
Those of you that have read the chapter on "Chemicals" in The Living Well Plan know what I have to say about sugar. :-)
 
Consider eliminating wheat for a few days to see if you notice a difference. You will be glad you did (and you will be less puffy too).
 
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Moodiness, Irritability, Bloating & Wonder Drugs

December 21, 2011 By 2 Comments

When I see these symptoms in women (and men), I consider their diet first and foremost, because I know that these physical and psychological issues are absolutely rooted in a poor diet. If I had not seen the changes in women who made the choice to nourish their bodies years ago, I could not say that with full conviction, but I have seen exactly that, and have experienced this truth with myself. I have seen personalities change when they ate the wrong combinations of food or were eating sugar and processed foods. 

Recently, the birth control pills marketed under the names, "Yaz" and "Yasmine" were reported to cause more side effects than earlier birth control pills. The possibility of getting blood clots is much greater in these new designer wonder pills, according to recent findings.

I remember warning women about all birth control pills a decade ago, but when I stopped watching TV around the same time, I missed all the drug propaganda and commercials. I didn't realize that these birth control pills were being marketed for moodiness, irritability and bloating until today, when I watched the video below on CNN! Seriously, when I saw that the drug companies were marketing this way, my mouth dropped open. I said, "WHAT?!"

Why would we need a pill when we can change our diet from a chemically laden one to a whole food approach? This instant society we live in has deeply infected and affected our minds. I should have put the HealthnBeauty.com site back up sooner!

I find it to be pure comedy that the women in this video have the questions they do, but it is also a good thing that some are now using their common sense when they consider taking these drugs as an instant "fix it". Besides, weren't birth control pills supposed to be for preventing pregnancy? Now they are a wonder drug for every thing that ails a woman in our day?

Such hogwash, it is incredible that people fall for it. Then again, the marketing companies are MASTERS at knowing how to penetrate into the brain, the part that you don't even realize is there. It is called "neurolinguistic programming" and there are certain words used in marketing that instantly tell your brain to "believe" what they say. These drug companies know exactly what they are doing and when you don't know any better, you are a puppet on Big Pharma's string.

Precious ladies (and men): Crankiness, feeling bloated (and gross), has everything to do with your food not digesting properly. This theory has been around for over 100 years, and the doctor that wrote a book about it in 1902 was the same doctor that we quote in that Psych 101 class. Remember "Pavlov's dog"?

Digestion is everything and when you don't digest properly, you don't absorb nutrients and you are left hungry all the time. When you don't give your body what it needs, it will be moody, irritable, bloated and hanging on to excess weight.

Simple changes in your eating plan will make all the difference. Join us as we Live Well and reduce bloating, gassy tummies, moodiness and more!

 

Popular birth control pills Yaz and Yasmin linked to increased blood clot risk

Yaz and Yasmin were once marketed as "wonder drugs," used by millions of women across the country. But these two popular birth control pills may have some very dangerous side effects. 

New research shows that the pills are linked with a higher risk of blood clots. The FDA is holding a hearing Thursday to discuss these health concerns.

CNN senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen previews the hearing with Carol Costello and Alina Cho.

 

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Welcome Back

December 19, 2011 By 18 Comments

 

 

In 1998, HealthnBeauty.com went live and featured health and beauty product reviews, an active forum, ezines, and The Living Well Plan, one of the first online diet support networks for women (men liked it too). 

The Living Well Plan was a whole food eating approach that I used to lose weight after I gained 55 pounds during my second pregnancy. The Plan included hundreds of recipes, charts, and support from myself and other members.

Members lost weight, felt great, and always had a place to go to when they needed a boost in inspiration to live healthy.

Times changed, and The Living Well Plan was put into a vault, never to be seen again.

Over the years my life changed drastically, I was still working online, but I wasn't living well so much anymore. Living Well Members contacted me over the years, asking if they could access the information, but I could never get all of the information together, because some of the files were on an old laptop that needed repair.

When I finally got the laptop started again, and I read the member's testimonials and experiences, and saw the photos, I was inspired more than ever to Live Well again.

I realized that the wealth of knowledge in The Living Well Plan worked well back then, and it would most certainly work now!

Reminded of how much I missed supporting everyone in their quest to live well, I also realized that if I was going to truly live well again, by building up wealth for the body, mind and soul, I needed to support others in that same quest.

I have always believed those that struggle the most in certain areas of life are the ones that can best help others with those same challenges.

With that being my motto, I am so happy to bring HealthnBeauty.com live again, and I encourage all old Living Well Members to join us in building great wealth!

HealthnBeauty.com and The Living Well Plan are not only back, but now are truly new and improved. With  the addition of audio, video and teleseminars, support will be as easy as a click away.

I am thrilled to be able to bring this website back, and I am excited to inspire all of you to live well once again.

Now I have to explain about my name…

In 1998, I chose the name "Victoria" because the web was too unknown back then, and to be honest, I wasn't sure how long I would be online. Later on I let everyone know my real name was Karen and that Victoria was just a pen name.

Then, over six years ago, I was on an intense soul journey that changed my life completely, so I changed my name to Rachel {pronounced Raw-kul}. Being that so much of my life is about my soul, I am using my name Rachel here.

Again, welcome back to HealthnBeauty.com and I look forward to all good things!
Love,
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