Health 'N' Beauty http://healthnbeauty.com Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:35:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 The Thrill is Gone http://healthnbeauty.com/2012/02/19/the-thrill-is-gone/ http://healthnbeauty.com/2012/02/19/the-thrill-is-gone/#comments Sun, 19 Feb 2012 22:14:43 +0000 Rachel {Raw-kul} http://healthnbeauty.com/?p=599  


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
 
]]> http://healthnbeauty.com/2012/02/19/the-thrill-is-gone/feed/ 0 Get Inspired from Others Living Well! http://healthnbeauty.com/2012/02/12/get-inspired-from-others-living-well/ http://healthnbeauty.com/2012/02/12/get-inspired-from-others-living-well/#comments Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:36:58 +0000 Rachel {Raw-kul} http://healthnbeauty.com/?p=586  

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.
 
 
 
 
]]> http://healthnbeauty.com/2012/02/12/get-inspired-from-others-living-well/feed/ 0 How Overeating Gambles with Your Life: 10 Ways to Protect Yourself http://healthnbeauty.com/2012/02/12/how-overeating-gambles-with-your-life-10-ways-to-protect-yourself/ http://healthnbeauty.com/2012/02/12/how-overeating-gambles-with-your-life-10-ways-to-protect-yourself/#comments Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:08:47 +0000 Rachel {Raw-kul} http://healthnbeauty.com/?p=578  

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!
 
 
]]> http://healthnbeauty.com/2012/02/12/how-overeating-gambles-with-your-life-10-ways-to-protect-yourself/feed/ 0 5 Reasons to Adopt the Crunchy Health Salad http://healthnbeauty.com/2012/02/08/5-reasons-to-adopt-the-crunchy-health-salad/ http://healthnbeauty.com/2012/02/08/5-reasons-to-adopt-the-crunchy-health-salad/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:06:23 +0000 Rachel {Raw-kul} http://healthnbeauty.com/?p=566

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:
 
]]> http://healthnbeauty.com/2012/02/08/5-reasons-to-adopt-the-crunchy-health-salad/feed/ 2 Simple Slimming Tips http://healthnbeauty.com/2012/02/02/simple-slimming-tips/ http://healthnbeauty.com/2012/02/02/simple-slimming-tips/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:51:32 +0000 Rachel {Raw-kul} http://healthnbeauty.com/?p=553  

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!
 
 

]]> http://healthnbeauty.com/2012/02/02/simple-slimming-tips/feed/ 1 30 Days to Living Well – Day 30 http://healthnbeauty.com/2012/01/30/30-days-to-living-well-day-30/ http://healthnbeauty.com/2012/01/30/30-days-to-living-well-day-30/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:39:29 +0000 Rachel {Raw-kul} http://healthnbeauty.com/?p=539  

 

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!