Your Natural Food Coach

8 Ways to Regroup After a Holiday Overload

2012-01-23T11:42:00.001-06:00

January is back.

Many of us are secretly rejoicing that the holidays are over for another year.

Once again, we have probably over done it.
Festivities and feasting has left us feeling very weighed down and tired.

But January is traditionally a time of fresh starts and resolutions.

These quick tips and easy changes can help get you regroup after a holiday overload and have you moving and grooving in time for Spring

1. Drown Your Sorrows~

While not exactly as it sounds, however, some of the reason you may be feeling sluggish after the holiday is because you need a good flushing out.

Your body is more than two thirds water.
Not coffee, not pop, not eggnog… water.
It is easy to forget that during the holiday.

Water is needed for all proper cell and organ function and for elimination of collected waste.

Start reaching for the glass of water before you reach for anything else.

2. Veg Out~

How often do you binge on salads over the holidays? Fruits and veggies get pushed off the plate for much more tempting delicacies.

When the veggies get pushed to the side, so do the nutrients and all those intricate ingredients that make your body work properly.
If you body isn’t getting its best fuel, its not going run its best for you. Simple as that.

Making your plate at least 75% veggies can transform the staunchest couch potato

3. Veg Out Naked~

While you are choosing more fruits and vegetables, make sure as many as possible are raw.
Natural enzymes in the veggies can be altered or destroyed with heat and you would like to get the best bang out of every bite.

Speaking of your bites… chew, chew, chew and then chew slooooowly

Raw fruits and veggies need to be broken down very well for you body to utilize them efficiently.

4. Watch the Clock~

Yes, you have to eat more greens but don’t graze.
Holiday time tis the season for nibbling non-stop.
More food (and calories) slide down without ever knowing by popping bites here and there.

When we graze we don’t chew properly therefore we don’t digest the food’s nutrient potential properly.
As well, your body doesn’t send “full signals” to your brain when you constantly munch.
Blood sugar levels can shoot up and down like a roller coaster creating even more food cravings.

Not only does grazing make you feel lazy, your bowels get lazy too.
With only a little amount of food at any given time in your sewage system, there is not enough bulk to move everything along properly.
Stuff just sits, like a rock in your belly, weighing you down and creating fatigue.

Three meals a day with 2 light snacks is more than enough to keep you going. You won’t starve. I promise.

5. I Really Mean Watch the Clock~

Stop eating 3 hours before you go to bed. Not a nibble.
A drink of juice or tea is just fine but nothing solid.

Your body shuts down for repairs and rejuvenation while you sleep, but it can’t do that if its busy trying to pack away the bag of potato chips you just ate an hour earlier.

Your body will store all late night snacks as fat.
I repeat… Food eaten before bed will go directly to your hips, waist and bottom, or sit fermenting in your gutt making you wake up groggy and unmotivated.

6.Yes, You Have to Get Off the Couch~

Holidays are over. You need to move. Be wise about it, however.
How many of us have invested in gym memberships, expensive exercise equipment and gimmicky programs right after the holidays?

Instead, try starting with walking 15 minutes every day.
Manitoba weather right now is scrumptious and the days are getting longer and brighter.

So get out there and go.

Movement will get a stagnant lymph system pumping and flush debris out of your body.

Movement also causes you to inhale deeply compared to the shallow breathing we do when we are laying around.
Your body needs oxygen to function, the more the better.

Oxygen is the most important element required for human life and the key to vital health.

Every body activities require oxygen.
It is central to metabolism, circulation, respiration,

digestion, assimilation and elimination.

For those of you who don’t have the energy to move, I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news.
(Bad news) If you don’t move you will stay perpetually tired, but (good news) as soon as you start to move you will discover a wellspring of energy.

Something similar to your car battery recharging itself the longer it runs.

7. One Thing at a Time~

New Years brings many good intentions.
But if changing your health is part of those great intentions, do it with some strategy.
Don’t take on everything at once.

Your health and weight got the way it is one day at a time, one bite at a time.
Don’t try to reverse everything immediately overnight.

The enthusiasm wears off quickly and your body will protest very loudly.

Pick one or two ‘do-able’ goals and do them well.

Invest time and make a quality commitment.
Twenty-one days to establish a firm habit, they say.

When your new lifestyle change is well grounded you are ready to step into another new change.

8. Get Some Cheerleaders~

Whether your undertakings are going to be a marathon change or just a short sprint you will need a cheering section.

Surround yourself with people who will speak life and encouragement to you.

It’s easy to find those who are very happy doing nothing except complaining about their weight and health.

Leave them in the dust.

You will need to find someone who will walk the discouraging parts of this journey with you, keep you focused on your goal and celebrate your victories

How to Shop for Protein Powders

2011-10-09T13:12:00.004-05:00

Picking your Powders~ Part I
The Power of Protein

Quick powdered drinks are becoming a more familiar sight on the grocery shelves.

They are formulated powders that you mix with a glass of water or juice
or whatever you fancy, their variety seems endless and the claims they make vary just as much.

These liquid concoctions are being consumed for mental pick-me-ups during a mid afternoon slump or a speedy meal-in-a-glass on the run.

They are drunk to lose weight and drunk to gain weight.

They are manufactured by everyone from health food gurus, to the breakfast cereal companies to the department stores.

But as you look at the punch behind the product, you find they are all a little different.

Here are a few quick tips when shopping for your perfect powder.

Powders , Powders EVERYWHERE!

Which Powder is What?

Firstly, know what you are after.

Generally, there are 3 typical powders for you to sort out while you shop;
the protein powder, the weight loss/ meal replacement drink and the nutritional supplement.

Each will be formulated with a singular purpose with each having different results on your beautiful bod.

Over the next few articles, you will get a crash course on these handy beverages starting, today, with the protein powder.

OK, So What's The Protein All About?

Proteins are made up of amino acids, which are often referred to as the building blocks of life.

They build muscles, blood, skin, hair, nails, and are necessary for many internal functions and important in body repair.

A human body does need protein daily, as it does not store excess protein.

Obviously, as proteins have been the key to bulking up muscle, protein powders have been a staple for weight lifters and athletes.

But protein powders are also a favorite among vegetarians.

As well, they are being taken as a successful weight loss protocol and healing elixir.

Protein powders have also found a market as a brain-fog buster for working folk and students, alike.

What In The World Is In This Stuff?

A big key in picking your protein powders is an understanding of the different sources of proteins, and knowing which ingredients you want for yourself and your body, and making an aware decision.

There are excellent sources of both animal and vegetarian proteins
available.
All can be very potent for what you need and able to do what you wish.

Vegetarian sources that are high in easy to absorb protein are pea protein, brown rice protein, alfalfa, macca root and cranberry protein.

My personal favorites have become hemp and chia seed.
Hemp and chia seeds have the most complete edible and usable protein in
the vegetable kingdom.
Hemp protein contains all known amino acids, including the essential ones
adult bodies cannot produce.
They also have the added benefit of natural essential oils.

All vegetarian sources of protein bring with them additional nutrients found in the plant and a component of fiber.

Soy, which held the consumer market as a vegetarian super protein, has fallen from its perceived healthy glory.

Unfortunately, almost 90% of soy produced is genetically altered and chemically treated and soy has now been shown to cause havoc with your hormones.

In light of other clean and powerful natural proteins rising to the forefront, soy can easily be avoided.

Carnivores Drink Protein Powders Too!

Animal sources of protein have dominated the powders as long as there has been protein powders to blend.

Dairy sources include whey protein and casein proteins, both recognized for their high amino acid level.
Other sources you may find on your powder’s label could be egg and collagen.

Your protein powder label will often find many of these sources blended together to compliment each other.
That way you benefit from full spectrum of proteins, absorbing at varying rates into your cells and tissues.

Read The "Secret Ingredient" List

Now this is what you want to be on the look out for when shopping for your protein powders.

A drink is only as good as the sum of its ingredients and the source of your ingredients will always be as important as the ingredients themselves.

Many protein powder contains an array of questionable ingredients such as aspartame, Splenda, saccharin, fructose and artificial colors

Also avoid products with refined carbohydrates such as sugar, dextrose, fructose, sucrose, corn products or brown rice syrup.

Stay clear of labels with vegetable oils.

Secondly make sure that the powder that you select is mostly protein.

The cheaper powders have a lot of carbohydrates and fillers, and if you are shopping for protein, then its protein you want to get.

For a quick comparison, the favorite powders in my cupboard range from
15-20 grams per serving.

With both animal and vegetable sources make certain your label says organic and non-GMO products, other wise you may be absorbing hidden health stealing chemicals and doing more harm than good.

Protein Powders are Cool. But Do I Need Them?

For anyone considering that protein powders may be your next new thing, take the time to consider your needs and lifestyle.

Ingesting more protein than your body needs is not a small matter.

The average American already consumes about fifty percent more protein than the recommended daily amount.

Too much protein can strain your body’s digestion, age you prematurely and can cause significant harm in the long run.

And for anyone considering protein as a weight loss regime, also remember that the excess protein your body does not use is not stored as protein.

The maximum muscle mass a body can typically build in one week is about one pound; any extra protein is converted to fat.

Yes, athletes and those with a regular strenuous lifestyle require more protein than many of us; the body’s need for protein is proportional to the increased calories burned with exercise.

Along with physical activity, the amount of protein required, does vary on many factors, including body weight, age, health, with growing children and pregnant women requiring more.

As a general guideline, the recommended dietary allowance for protein for adults is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight per day.

Rebounding Back from Cancer

2011-07-26T14:43:00.003-05:00

The statistics hit close to our homes and hearts; every 56 seconds some one dies from cancer, and according to the National Cancer Institute, all men in North America (living past the age of 70) have a 1 in 2 chance of
getting cancer before they die and for women, it's 1 in 3.

More than 50% of the population will be diagnosed with cancer during their
lifetime and the percentage is steadily climbing.

So although cancer awareness, research and funding is as aggressive as it
has ever been, it appears that so is cancer, itself.

Could it be because cancer prevention, education and treatment, is still more “grass-roots” than we think?

It still takes more personal responsibility then contributing a few dollars to the cause and leaving it in someone else's hands.

The first steps to the beginning of “the cure” starts with accurate information, brave personal choices and consistent life changes.

The most successful anti-cancer/ after- cancer strategies are aware and pro-active lifestyles.
A lifestyle that consist largely of clean, low-processed, nutrient-dense foods and constant activity.

I’ve written alot about what you should be tweaking in you diet here in this column.

But today I would like to introduce you to the simplest exercise which is, by far, your body’s best bet in the war against cancer .

It is an exercise that is suitable for all ages, even those who are immobile.

It is not just low impact, but NO impact, and only needs mere minutes a day.

Rebounding grew to superstar status in the 70’s, but is becoming
re-noticed by a new generation.

It is the exercise that NASA itself has called, the perfect exercise.

Rebounding consists of gentle bouncing on a special mini-trampoline.

The basic movement of rebounding, called the "health bounce," is so simple your feet don't even leave the mat.

( Buyer beware! There is an important differece between the cheaper, foriegn-made mini-trampolines that are sold in department stores and quality rebounders. The cheaper mini-trampolines risk damaging your ankles, knees and back because they often don’t provide a proper bouncing mat, proper height from the the ground, and necessary 4-inch long
springs. )

The results of rebounding on the entire body is phenominal, but of particular interest is its attack on cancers.
This is because rebounding is the most effective stimulator for your lymphatic system around.

Your lymphatic system is the major dumping ground for toxins and waste
products.
It is a highway that specialized cells travel through countless vessels to flush diseased and damaged cells, destroying the danger and bringing in nutrients.

While the circulatory system and blood is kept in motion by a pumping heart, for example, your lymphatic system has no pump at all.

Instead it completely relies on you moving to keep it flowing.

Without adequate movement, the cells are left stewing in their own waste products and starving for nutrients

Poor lymph flow is common in sedentary people; this is one reason why less active individuals are more susceptible to illness.

Rebounding moves the lymph along as much as 15 to 30 times more efficiently as when the body is at rest.

But even better is that rebounding will cause an increase ,as much as three times, the number of white cells circulating through the body, particularly neutrophils, which are one of the white cells responsible for destroying cancer cells.

And rebounding will do this all within 2 minutes of engaging in the activity.

Not only does rebounding increase the mobility (15 to 30 times more activity) of the disease eating cells but it also triples the number of those cells.

But there is still another defence against cancer!

Rebounding also significantly increases the oxygen level in the body.
While healthy cells die in the absence of oxygen, cancer cells are opposite.

Cancer seems to thrive in an eviroment with low oxygen levels.

Rebounding floods your tissues with oxygen, making it less appealing to cancer cells but inviting to the growth of healthy cells.

With a good quality rebounder, cancer gets a triple whalop in less than a
few minutes with no perscriptions and no side effects.

STRATEGIC SHOPPING~ WHEN TO BUY ORGANIC

2010-11-16T13:59:00.004-06:00

One of my favorite secrets I share for instantly boosting health, is
not what you need to remove from your diet as much as what you need to
add.
Lots and lots of fruits and vegetables. (A healing diet should actually be
at least 75% fruits and vegetables)

It is by far, the best way to improve everything that is going on inside
of you, and boost everything your hard working body is doing for you .
Fruits and veggies are fully loaded with vitamins, minerals, macro and
micro nutrients, fibers and living enzymes that give your body the
ammunition it needs to build and thrive.

Unfortunately when we should be increasing our fruits and veggies, the
majority of us are are eating less and less.
Part of the hesitancy which I hear has definitely been the concern of the
cost of a high produce diet.

Economically, it is easier to fill up with quick and nutritionally void
(or damaging) processed food.
Particularly when we are faced with the choice to buy our produce organic
or not organic.

We are told that eating organic fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk
of developing cancer and other diseases for us and our children.
We have been warned that our produce supply is being coated with countless
pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, dyes, waxes and/or are being
irradiated or genetically modified into what has been dubbed as mutated
“Frankenfood”.

New studies, reports and red flags are being posted weekly. We are alarmed.
Our conscience is now wrestling with the reality of observations such as
this one from Dick Irwin, toxicologist at Texas A&M Universities:
“Chemicals have replaced bacteria and viruses as the main threat to
health. The diseases we’re beginning to see as the major causes of death
in the latter part of this century and into the 21st century are diseases
of chemical origin.”

Not fun, Joanne! You say!
On top of dissecting our food labels leery of trans fats, high salt,
artificial sweeteners, hidden sugars, excito-toxins and things we can’t
pronounce, we need to fret over our fruit!

When did grocery shopping become so much work?

My good news is that you may not have to break the bank when you are
loading your cart with fruits and veggies. I am going to give you a grade
A tip on how you can you can lighten the stress, guilt and fear about
picking your produce.

2010-11-16T13:59:00.000-06:00

For the Love of Food~ Midnight Munching and Snack Attacks~ part 2

2010-10-04T12:18:00.007-05:00

Understanding Binge Eating Disorder & Night Eating Syndrome

Oh we do love food!

It has become so much more than a necessity to grow and build these bodies through which we live life.
It has become an intricate enhancement to our lives.
We celebrate with food.
We comfort ourselves over food.
We fellowship around food.
Food entertains us and has become our hobby.

For many, food has not just become an enhancer of life but has become a dictator in their life.

And for still others, it has simply become their life.

We are looking into the dark secrets of our food romance: the addictions, the cravings, and the compulsions.

By touching on these topics, my prayer is for those who struggle silently,
right here in our community, to realize they are not alone and as powerless as they may feel.

We previously discussed the very real entity, the night binge.
How it grabs us, and how successfully shake free from its stranglehold grasp.

Read More

Bringing in your Garden Bounty: Canning, Freezing and Dehydrating.

2010-09-11T18:50:00.004-05:00

The garden is plump and plentiful and ready to be harvested.
The fresh fruit and vegetables ripe for the picking are packed with vital nutrients, minerals, vitamins and enzymes.

But the fresh garden season is short and often the haul is more than we can handle at once.
So what are the best ways to make the fruits of your labours last all winter, and which preserving method is the best bet for keeping that powerhouse of goodness intact?

For the Love of Food~ Midnight Munching and Snack Attacks~ Part 1

2010-08-24T22:29:00.001-05:00

There is a ritual that goes on in thousands of households every night.
I call it the bewitching hour.
Somewhere in between 7 pm and 10 pm there is
a constant lingering in the kitchen.
Fridge doors and cupboard doors,
swinging open and closed. Non-stop.

Searching, but no one is certain for what, unsatisfied with what ever they devour.

Hungry? No. Driven? Definitely

Night cravings are the monster under the bed that seem to come out every night after the sun sets, and lead you around by your nose.
( Or is it by your stomach?)

The desire can be unsatitable and overpowering.
It seems to make no difference when and how big of an evening supper you had, or how long you
stare at yourself in the mirror and swear “tonight will be the night” that you don’t sub come to the suggestions.

For the Love of Food~

2010-08-20T16:04:00.005-05:00

What came first the Junk Food or the Food Junkie?

I can almost hear your knuckles as they clench. I’ve seen the sweat begin to bead on your brow.
You know its coming but the knowledge of the inevitable never seems to soften the blow.

Yes, I, your Natural Food Coach, am going to tell you to put the junk food back on the shelf.

I will try to convince you in every way possible that, in only a few short days, new habits will prevail; your palate will reprogram its tastes, and your health with blossom.

I think you want to believe me. But still you will try to bargain with me. Negotiate. Some of you may even beg for mercy. For others it may be like the death of a dear old friend.

The most common request I hear is not for advice for disease prevention or for a diet that will restore the strength and vitality of youth.
Nope, the request I get the most of is much more primal and desperate than that,

“Joanne, help me stop eating!”

Whether it’s the afternoon snacking, evening munchies, emotional eating, boredom grazing, night binging, sugar smacking, junk food craving, or a car that just seems to auto-pilot itself thru every drive-thru, when food beckons, we jump.

So what’s going on? Can it really be “just us”?
Are we simply horrible sloths with absolutely no self-control or are there bigger monsters at hand?

Is there another reason for bypassing the salad bar and heaping our plates with the fried rice, bright pink sweet and sour mystery balls and shiny egg rolls?

Or are we so weak that we can’t just “say no”?

Is it all in our heads, or is our food actually doing something to our heads?

Skechin Right Along~ Skecher Shape-up Review Continues

2010-04-08T17:17:00.005-05:00

Its been 21/2 weeks since I met my sole's mate,the Skecher Shape-up.
I've taken them off once, about a week ago just to see what walking with 2 feet firmly planted on the ground felt like.

I didn't like it.

Now for me to nix my big heeled clompy boots for anything, especially for something I still find semi-unsightly, has to speak for itself.

After 2 weeks of wearing them non-stop I had forgotten how comfortable they are until I took them off for the day.

In fear of sounding like a broken record (actually I'm not worried about it at all~ and I don't know if anyone knows what a record is anymore) they are HEAVENLY for anyone who spends all day on their feet.

These shoes are a necessity.

At the end of 8 hour day, my feet and legs feel like they could go another 5 miles.

The Skecher Shape-Up's have gone with me to the gym every day; tread milling, ecilipicalling and rebounding. They've taken a run at tae-boing, country hiking, malling, and 10-6 everyday on the retail floor.

When I'm at home puttering, I have them on, when typically I am a barefoot kinda gal.

They are still just as wonderful as the first day we met.

I do find I walk straighter and taller.
So, thats one check for the claim that it improves posture.

My tushy and inner thighs are tighter when I walk.
I have noticed an overall firming in butt, abs, and calves.
But wheter its the shoes or the treadmilling, ecilipicalling, rebounding or tae-bo-ing, I can not say.

The shoe is designed to create an off balance effect that causes you to work more muscles when you realign yourself.
Skecher's compare it to walking in sand.
I definately notice the challenge more when I am moving slowly and am more concious of how I'm stepping then when I am moving faster.

Because of the comfort factor, I definately stayed on the tredmill longer.
I also loved them for weight training.
Very, very comfortable, and I found the cush under my heel actually gave a little opposition and bounce to my free weight sets.
It seemed to make me work harder.

The most resistant and effective excercise I discovered in the Shape-Ups were simple calf raises; right there where I stood on the retail floor.
After a quick set of 30, my calves were SCREAMING.

I don't think the shoes are miracle workers but the claims on the Skecher web site doesn't promise you miracles.
They do claim to help contibute to burning calories and strengthening muscles,and if you strengthen muscles you burn calories.

So yes, The Skecher Shape-up gets Your Natural Food Coach's Big Stamp of Approval.

The only thing that makes me a little meloncholy is that the weather is starting to warm up here in Canada and soon it will be short and cute little skirt season.

And my dear friend the ugly Shape-up will have to be replaced by a much cuter, but much less comfy little summer shoe.

I think my next review will have to be the slightly more esthetically adventurous Skecher Tone-up sandal.

Stay tuned...

So What About Whole Wheat and Multi-Grains?

2010-04-05T13:26:00.004-05:00

So what about Whole grains?

I'm sure by now you have heard a lot about how good for you whole grains can
be. But when it comes to bread, what you see on the outside may not be what
you are getting on the inside.

A grain is considered whole when all three parts - bran, germ and endosperm
- are present. Most people know that fruits and vegetables contain
beneficial photochemicals and antioxidants , but many do not realize that
whole grains also offer a fabulous source of these key nutrients including B
vitamins, Vitamin E, magnesium , iron, proteins and fiber

Skechers Love Story continues...Day 3

2010-03-24T11:50:00.002-05:00

Well, besides learning that I insist on wanting to spell Skecher with a "t", I am also learning that I walk like a penguin!

It has taken me a bit, but I think I finally got this one foot in front of the other thing down.

The benefits that the Skecher Shape-ups gives is very dependant on how you walk in them.

There is a rolling heel in shoe which is what gives the resistance to your leg and butt muscles.

It reminds me of a yoga ball for your feet.

When you walk as you should, the heel is unstable, Skechers compare it to walking in sand,
everytime you step down into the heel, there is a little bit of a wobble and squish (no, it really doesn't make the sound), and your hidden, lesser-used muscles, jump into action to balance you.
Your core muscles kick it up a notch to keep your bod alignment; shoulder, abs, back.. the entire shee-bang.

I find it quite fascinating how your entire body is strung and works together.
God really does do beautiful work, doesn't He?

I had been trying to find out why I'm not experiencing some of the dramatic sensations and work out "burn" others had with these shoes and was getting a little worried.
After all, no pain no gain, right?

There are testimonies about back pain instantly relieved (a posture thing), but back has never been a concern for me.

After careful analysis of each movement of my step, and detailed attention to how Skechers recommends walking in the shoe, (the shoe actually comes with a training video) I came to the conclusion that I WALK HORRIBLY!!!

I have discovered that when I walk, I step from the very back of my heel onto the tip of my toe.
When I am on the tred mill or elliptical machine, I keep to my tippie toes exclusively.
On top of that, I also am leaning to the outside edge of my foot when I walk.

Too many years in big chunky heels?
Dunno... how about child birth? Can't we blame everything on childbirth?

Skechers instructions are specific in that you walk pressing down into the middle of your heel, roll to the ball of your foot, and launch from the toes.

Phew... much harder than one thinks, when your natural step is something like walking in flippers.
This will take a wee bit more reprogramming than first thought

Combining this proper step, with shoulders up, back straight, (altho its hard not to walk with your shoulders up, back straight in these) REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE!!

I find I need to concentrate more on balance, and core.

Donna at work laughs and tells me I walk like I'm drunk.

I'm discovering walking slowly works better for me, as I can really think about sinking my heel down into that wobbly place in the shoe.
If I get in too much of a hurry and start zipping, I default back to my penguin walk.

As a matter of fact, as of Day Three, I found the best work out I got was trying to stand still for long periods of time in them. Not on my toes, not on the back of my heels, but completely still, knees soft, pushing my weight into the center of my heel and that soft floating heel in the shoe.

Tell me, who does not love a work out where all you have to do is NOT MOVE!!!

Verdict Day 3~

BRAVO Skechers!!
I think you have taught the blonde girl how to walk!

Skecher Test Day 2

2010-03-23T09:51:00.000-05:00

Day 2 and still lovin' lovin' lovey-dove loving my Skechers Shape-ups.

I did take them off to sleep last night, but that was about it.

They went to work with me this morning, as fashionably twarted as they are, and my feet we so happy they didn't care how they looked.

Look me in the eyes, people!
Not at my feet!

The Skech's also met my arch nemisis, GYM, today.

We spent some time together on the ecliptical machine and the tred mill.

To be honest, wheter it made a difference or not, I can't say.
My legs, calves, and butt hurt regardless.
But I sure did notice the comfort and cushion under my feet, and that amazing spring up.
My feet didn't get tired at all, and if my gluts would have been more co-operative, I could have kept on going.

That nice little spring in the insole made them very nice doing weight training as well.
They are designed to force you to keep a straight posture which is always a bonus doing any resistance work.

I have been scouring the internet blogs and posts to find out why in the world I am not experiancing all the crazy instant effects that others are raving about.

Yes, they feel like I'm walking on pillows.
But I am not feeling anything particularly unusual in the calves or legs.

I think there may be a little more thought involved in walking in these than I first thought.

Verdict Day 2~

*Still keeping my two thumbs waaayyyyy up*

Meet the Sketch~ My Review of Skecher's Shape-Up's

2010-03-22T21:11:00.009-05:00

12:35 P.M:
I just wanted to take a peek at Urban Trail to "check them out for a minute"
I had spent an entire afternoon surfing skechers.com humming and hahing, secretly very intrigued with these new creatures "The Shape-ups" shoe.

"Get in Shape Without Setting Foot in a Gym" they tell me... hmmm,

"Shape up while you walk! Designed to ; promote weight loss, tone muscles, improve posture'

Pretty vague claims, me thinks, but, please, continue...

"Improves blood circulation, strengthens the back, tightens abdominal muscles, firms buttocks muscles, reduces cellulite and tones thighs, firms calf muscles, reduces stress on knee and ankle joints"

Cellulite? Well, now... if an advertisement ever wants to catch my attention, just toss the "C" word in there.

This new "fitness footwear' is designed with what they call a 'rolling bottom', a special soft insert under the heel, and a dual-density mid-sole

The theory?
Create a shoe that mimics walking on uneven, soft surfaces and we are forced to engage muscles not normally used when walking on hard ground.

The testimonies were definitely impressive.
People were smitten, claiming that workout 'burn' on their legs , tighter butts, looser jeans and CONFIDENCE.

Put on a simple shoe, and voila... head up, shoulder straight, instant confidence.

OK, I'll bite...
lets go price these puppies out.

And, yes, I really did intend to just price them out.

But before I had the right shoe on, I was sold.

Puppies had a new home.

I had gone thru my share of crazy insoles; memory foam, reflexology pressure points, jelly insoles, but NEVER had I laid foot on something like this.

Heaven on earth for my tootsies.

Thank you Jesus, because on top of it all, the bill was picked up by my shopping buddy, who just wanted to "bless" me.
(pardon me, was my drooling that obvious?)

So long story short, ten minutes flat and one hundred and sixty something bucks later, I walked out of Urban Trails on air.

Skechers air not Nike.

Definitely the fastest purchase I have made in a loooong time.

The first thing i noticed, was that crazy "kinetic wedge".
It really does 'keep you on your toes" and takes you by surprise.

You have to walk very aware of your balance, which, from what I understand is alot of the muscle work out.

Ever tried to do a curls on a exercises ball, girls?
Did you find all sorts of hidden muscles? Yup, the patent-pending Skecher kinetic wedge will do that too.

Always trying to get the best possible opp that I can, I choose on the cute little Baby-Jane style...in black.

Truth be told, I despise to look of runners, always have.
To me they just look so big and clunky.

I mean, really! Shoes should be cute and sassy with at least a 2 inch heel.
Absolutely under no circumstance, no laces, eva!!
My sincerest apologise to all jocks, I know these are a staple to your wardrobe.
But it seems to more athletic they are, the bigger, chunkier and unsightly they get.
No matter how many swooshes you put on them.

Running shoes are just ugly, period.

I figured at least with the Baby-Jane numbers I could wear them to work.
Who knows, the brochure tells me they work while I stand.
Perfecto for an eight hour day on the floor.

Maybe this might be the place to mention, if you never have seen these shoes... Baby-Jane style included, they are still kinda ugly.
Large looking and clunky.

It's that wild insole in the heel that bulks them up, but goofy looking or not, it wasn't long before I was refusing to take them off.

So how was Day One with the Sketch?

Very very nice indeed.

I tried them out for the rest of the day, shopping.
We still had the rest of the mall to get thru and Wal*Mart.

Once at home, I cracked open the instruction booklet and instructional DVD... yes, instruction booklet. (there was even a 15 and 30 minute workout and warm-up techniques included)

Apparently, I need to learn how to walk properly in these.

Feet are shoulder width apart, back straight, chin up, eyes looking straight ahead ( wouldn't walking like that in any shoe give you a sense of confidence?) stepping into the middle of your heel, rolling your foot forward and pushing off with your toes.

This was the hardest part for me.
I have discovered that when I step, I tend to dig down with the heel of my heel, so walking on the middle made me feel quite flat-footed.

No worries, I made it thru the afternoon of shopping, the 15 minute workout and an 45 minute evening walk.

I definitely did feel a "something" in my legs and calves while I walked, but not so sure if it is the same "something" that everyone else raved about.

The manual actually advises you to consider these shoes a very serious form of exercise and to start with 25-45 minute increments for your first several weeks, until you level of strength increases.

Don't think I've done any serious muscle strain by wearing them all day, I've seem to have survived intact.
Certainly isn't because I am a prime example of muscular versatility and stamina.
Probably, I just haven't got the "rolling action" down pat, yet.

So to sum up Day One in the "Shape-up"~

Two thumbs up way up.
Even if they are uglyish, an absolute must for anyone dying for foot comfort.
If you are on your feet all day where ever you are, these are a life saver.
All waitresses, nurses, aides, retail service peeps, imagine me, leaning thru your computer screen looking you deep in your baby blues (greens, browns) and saying "YOU NEED THESE NOW!!)

My feet and legs never got that tired aching feeling.
Yes, I felt a "feeling" but I felt more energized the longer I wore them.

My big wide, size eights were comfy cozy all day long, no blisters, no rubbing.
That is a huge rarity for me and new shoes.

Cellulite or not, no need to hang on to the receipt, these shoes are not going back.

PS~

Speaking of "Summing it up" make sure you give my daughter, Summer a hard time if you see her/know her.
Little Miss High-End Label's jaw just about hit the floor when she came home and saw me wearing them.

"OMG, MOM!! What is on your feet?? You didn't actually pay money for those did you?"

(Did I mention they are kinda funny looking?)

Tomorrow, the Skechs meet Whitey's gym...

So What about Margarine and Butter

2010-02-23T00:11:00.006-06:00

Ah yes, margarine vs.. butter

This is one of the most popular “so what about” and “which do you eat?” questions I get.

Margarine, definitely, is one of the most mismarketed and misunderstood food replacement products there is.

It is a topic that constantly needs to be brought to the forefront so you can make an informed choice.

Particularly, as margarine is still being touted as a wise food product by the Canada Food Guide, American Heart Association, doctors and outdated nutritionists.

Margarine was discovered in 1869 by Hippolyte Mège Mouriès, a French food research chemist, in response to Napoleon III's request for a “wholesome” butter alternative.

The word “margarine” came from the Greek for "pearl," because the original version was hard, white, and glossy.

It must have been less than appetizing, however, since it was made from beef fat, milk, and chopped sheep's stomachs and cows' udders, all treated with heat, lye, and pressure.

Certainly not an appealing combination but definitely a more basic recipe than what we find offered to us today.

Margarine limped along in popularity for many decades, while the recipe was tweaked from an animal based product to one comprised mostly of various oils.

It stepped from the shadows into the limelight, during the First World War when butter became scarce and into its current fame as a “healthy” spread when butter got a black eye because of it’s saturated fat content.

But do not be deceived. Margarine and butter are immensely different and the only reason they appear similar to touch, sight, smell and taste is because margarine has undergone a barrage of horrific chemical transformations.

So What about Soy?

2009-12-02T00:15:00.003-06:00

I am particularly excited about this next new series we’re starting in “Your Natural Food Coach”.
It one where I get to know you, my readers, and you get to choose your topics.

As I get alot of questions on a variety of natural food topics, I thought what a better place for us all to get to the meat of the matter together than here.

Ta-Dah!!! Introducing yours and mine, newest series "So, What About..."

A place where you ask, and once a month, I try to answer in 600 words or less!

One of the more common subjects I get asked about is soy, that alleged super food for the new millennium.

So, what about Soy?

Is it really all that and more?

Soy is a general term referring to many by-products derived from the soy bean. It appears in many forms, most commonly a brick, something like cheese, called tofu, but is also a milk substitute, as well as dried flakes and chunks called TVP or textured soy protein. Soybean oil is also becoming a cheap, favorite among processed food producers.

Twenty years ago, it was a quirky delicacy to an extremist vegetarian diet. But no more. It has found the spotlight and is receiving praise as being a perfect health food.
It is said to have enormous quantities of proteins and to be rich in calcium, magnesium, and other ultra important minerals essential for health.

Soy producers have blanketed the media with claims that soy prevents cancers, osteoporosis, heart disease and menopause symptoms.
Soy products hit sales of more than $4.1 billion in 2008 and the market is now saturated with soy options from soy baby formula, to soy hotdogs to soy ice cream.

But the truth about soy is more complicated than what we have originally been told. Soy appears to have a “dark side,” as more and more studies are revealing risks of soy.

So What about Chocolate?

2009-12-02T00:05:00.003-06:00

Once a month, you and I pull a chair up to the table and try to shed some light on your most pressing natural food questions.

With all the hall decking and mistle toeing, our thoughts and our bellies turn to that confection that seems to embellish everything Christmas… CHOCOLATE.

So what about Chocolate? Are the rumors true? Could it really be good for you? Or is another story with as much substance as the Easter bunny?

With the hundreds of studies that now exist over a few decades, these claims can not be explained away as wishful thinking. It appears that properly processed chocolate officially qualifies as a “health food”
But be warned before you indulge, not all chocolate is created equal.

Eating your way out of the heartbreak

2009-09-27T23:02:00.001-05:00

This is our last article on cardiovascular disease. We have looked at what exactly it is, in all its different dynamics, how it begins and who may be the culprits.

Now, its time for something practical. Many of you are living under the shadow of heart disease. You have either suffered through and are recovering or you can feel it sitting on your shoulder waiting for an opportune time to strike.

What do we put in our mouths tonight that will give our bodies a fighting chance?

Much of it is simple actually.
Just as Heart Disease developed over time, and many poor choices, one on top of the other. Reversing it will come the same way.

Day in and day out, making choices that give life to your body.

The first step would be to remove all the offending culprits that have contributed to putting you where you are. We mentioned these last time; white flour, white sugar, processed foods, and processed fats.

Heart Disease The Signs are Clear

2009-09-27T23:00:00.000-05:00

Heart Disease is an umbrella term that encompasses many different health conditions of the heart, including heart attack and Arteriosclerosis.
But put all together, Heart Disease is a top killer, slick and stealth and in many cases, predictable and completely preventable.

We never think it could happen to us. But could it? Is it on its way?
Many early indicators have been identified which we should be aware, and attentive to.
Some risk factors for heart disease are out of your control, such as genetics, sex and age.
However, an INTER-HEART study, one of the largest studies of its type ever conducted, leveled the playing field and identified the majority of risk factors which are very much self induced.
This study looked at more than 29,000 individuals from around the world, roughly half of whom had had prior heart attacks. The other half had never had heart attacks. Indeed, these risk factors appeared responsible for over 90% of the heart attacks seen in these patients. The risk of heart attack for individuals who had all of these factors, amazingly, was almost 130 times higher than for somebody with none of them
Further, these same risk factors "worked" in predicting heart attacks for every racial and ethnic group in every region of the world.
The telltale indicators were as follows~
¨ Increased LDL/HDL ratios.
¨ Smoking
¨ Diabetes and Sugar Intake:
Diabetes was considered a "controllable" risk factor on this list because, while type I diabetes is not preventable, the much more common type II diabetes is absolutely preventable with proper diet and exercise.
¨ Abdominal obesity:
Interestingly, obesity itself was not a high concern, however where you store that extra fat was. That spare-tire you carry around increases you risk of heart attack dramatically. In the Nurses' Health Study of nearly 50,000 subjects, women who had larger waists had more heart attacks. Women with a waist-to-hip ratio (waste measurement divided by hip measurement) of 0.76 or higher, or a waist circumference of 30 inches or more, had a 200 percent greater chance of developing heart disease. The waist to hip also applies to the men, the larger the difference between the two measurements, the greater the risk. For most men, the risk factors for heart disease and other diseases increase with a waist size greater than 40 inches.
¨ Psychosocial (increase in stress level or depression)
¨ Failure to eat fruits and vegetables daily
¨ Physical inactivity - Regular, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity helps prevent heart and blood vessel disease. The more vigorous the activity, the greater your benefits. However, even moderate-intensity activities help if done regularly and long term. With over half of North Americans, and now children, classified as living sedentary lifestyles, this is playing a far greater role than ever.

Although, the signs are crystal clear heart disease does not appear over night. It is something that is developed over 20, 30, 40 years of putting yourself at risk with poor health choices.
If you found yourself falling into to many of the above categories, take heart (pardon the pun) it is never to late to slam the brakes on this speeding vehicle and turn it around.
Dramatic results have been obtained in a very short time.
Next time we start with “where do I go from here”.
What you can do, today, to reverse and repair heart damage and protect yourself for the future.

Defining the Heart Break

2009-09-27T22:58:00.001-05:00

Unfortunately many of us are introduced to heart disease the hard way, suddenly, with a shock. The shock may involve a friend, family, co-worker or maybe even yourself.

Maybe the shock found you sitting in your doctor’s office hearing words that were, once upon a time, just generic terms. Long, dark, words like “coronary artery disease”, or “arteriosclerosis”.
Maybe the shock came when you found yourself laying in a hospital bed.

Now all those words that we’ve been overhearing in news reports, TV commercials, and coffee shops step into a new place of reality for us.

Heart disease is the number one killer of Canadians. Stealing the life of one Canadian every 7 minutes.
But the greatest heartbreak of this killer is the preventability. Over 80% of cases are preventable.

Yes, Nutritional Health offers real help for those wanting protection against heart disease. It also offers real help to reverse heart disease.

Over the next few weeks we will put some very substantial tools into your hands, simple solutions that make sense.

But first, I wanted to get a clearer understanding of what we are talking about.

Although, heart disease (also referred to as cardiac disease) is a term we hear alot, it actually is not a specific condition at all.

Making Sense of the Heart Break

2009-09-27T22:54:00.001-05:00

To be honest with you, the health statistics sometimes boggle me.
I research hundreds of them, but to make sense at times can be a mind bender.

An article released just last month had me looking twice.
Apparently, Canada appears to be making progress in preventing heart attacks.

The Health Indicators 2009 report by the Canadian Institute for Health Information suggested the rate of heart attacks in Canada dropped 13 per cent between 2003-2004 and 2007-2008.
There were 251 hospitalizations for heart attacks per 100,000 people the first year, which dropped to 219 hospitalizations per 100,000 last year.
The rate of deaths from heart attack within 30 days of being admitted to hospital also dropped, decreasing by 11 per cent between 2003 and 2008.

Lets just look for a minute here, shall we? Do you notice that these numbers are for hospitalized heart attacks?
The Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation report about 40,000 Canadians experience heart attacks, every year, 17,000 will die. Every 7 minutes someone dies from either a heart attack or stroke.

The majority, 70%, of heart attacks and cardiac arrests (when the heart stops pumping blood) occur in homes and public places. And, less than 5% of those who have a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital survive.

Strangely enough a study, also published last month, in the June, 2009 Canadian Medical Association Journal reports the prevalence of heart disease as increasing in all age groups and most income groups in Canada.

In 2005, the most recent report available from Stats Canada, cardiovascular disease accounted for:
· 31% of all deaths in Canada
· 30% of all male deaths
· 31% of all female deaths

Now, just to clarify, cardiovascular diseases are defined as diseases and injuries of the cardiovascular system: the heart, the blood vessels of the heart and the system of blood vessels (veins and arteries) throughout the body and within the brain.

Previously mentioned heart attacks, definitely fall into this category, but CVD is not limited to only heart attacks. A stroke, for example, is the result of a blood flow problem in the brain.
It also is considered a form of cardiovascular disease.

So what do all these numbers really mean? Is Canada getting healthier or is heart disease on the increase, but people are enduring longer ?

A study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, claims a 30% decline in rate of death and hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease over a 10-year period in Canada,

Is this encouraging?

Dry Skin Brushing~ Crazy Cheap, Effective, Fast Detox

2009-08-26T00:25:00.008-05:00

I'm working my way thru my WILD AND GLORIOUS FORTYISH Makeover!

Basically, I challenged myself, 40 days before my Fortieth Birthday. I wanted to hunker down, put all the tricks, tweeks, and simple solutions that I have discovered over my years of walking into God's wonderful, natural health and jump start my new decade.
A fresh start, a fresh me, for a fresh era

. But even cooler still, I'm dumping out my simple toolbox, and letting you play along side of me.

Today is trick number 2~ Dry Skin Brushing.

If I'm neeked, then I'm dry skin brushing.
It is so simple and all you need is a natural fiber skin brush.
But if you don't have that, even a towel will work

. When perfectly disciplined, I brush when I get up, just before bed, and before my detox bath.

Remember, your skin is your not only your biggest organ, but your biggest elimination organ.
It is known to be responsible for 10 to 15% of total body elimination, and is sometimes referred to as the third kidney.

So, if we want to eliminate crud from our bod, we best not forget to love on our skin.
Dry Skin Brushing removes dead skin cells, so your body can remove waste.
It also stimulates new skin to regenerate.
It also enhances blood circulation, the lymphatic system, and toxin elimination.

And after you are use to it, it really does feel wonderful. It is a quick picker-upper, when you are starting to drag your feet.
Kind of like your own personal and private "on switch".
Many, many times, I'll take 3-5 minutes just to brush, and afterward I feel completely invigorated.

I had often wondered if it was just my crazy me imagining it brush away my worries , the power of suggestion and all, but after I read this wonderful article on chronic fatigue I have no doubt.

I LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT! And you should DO IT! DO IT! DO IT TOO!

This is the most thorough step-by-step to dry skin brushing I know of.
You are welcome to follow it to the tee, if you like, when I do, I can tell a difference, but, life being life, more times than not, I'm on the run.

I've found a quicker brush to be just as glorious.
I've even began to notice that, making myself take the time for this ancient remedy, is possibly more powerful, when I feel I have even less time.

Strange perhaps, but there is untapped healing and freedom in the choice.
There is power when you choose to stop the whirlwind, saying "I may not have the 5 minutes but I CHOOSE to find the two"

It is a wee way of reminding yourself that yes; I am valuable, and I choose to invest in me.

Dry Skin Brushing is one of my most favorite treats, and definitely the one that gets the craziest looks from people I share with.

Is the age-old practice of Dry Skin Brushing too simple and primitive for our complex generation? Maybe.
But absolutely effective, invigorating and addictive in all the best ways.

Raw Foods First Step to Total Vibrant Change

2009-08-25T23:52:00.001-05:00

I’ve started my 40-2-40 countdown, and wow, can time fly by when you are already feeling you don’t have enough hours in the day.
It’s almost as if the big cosmic clock winds itself into overdrive or the treadmill of life jump up a m/hr and the incline goes to the straight-up. (or any other cheezy word picture )

You know what I mean, Jelly Bean?
As soon as you set your heart on a goal, and all the forces in hell will try to undermine your victory.
Since leaping off this bridge, I have had an anniversary dinner, birthday dinners, out-of-the-blue, let-me-totally-spontaneously-bless-you dinners, crazy fatigue, sleepless nights, bouts of depression, discouragement and every undermining tactic in the book, throw under my feet.

Forces of hell don’t worry me much, however it’s those reoccurring nasty, ugly things that rise up inside me, my own stinking-thinking, and bad habits, that will do more damage than anything.
We will blog about those closet skeletons, soon, as I dust them all off.

But as I promised, my agenda for my Wild and Glorious Fortyish Make-Over.

Step by step, thought by thought, all my little secrets and tweeks that I have found along my road to grow my health.

These are the areas that I re-evaluate, first, when I want to take my health out of a rutt, and on to a higher place.

Things that I know bring success, and bring it quickly.
But (sigh..) things that are first to get pushed to the side and neglected in my health/freedom journey.

1. Raw Foods~
Just Google the benefits of raw foods, and the hits go crazy.
It is a principle that is finally coming into its own.
No longer just for hippies, tree-huggers, and extremists.
A diet high in raw fruits and veggies, is unequaled to increase health, detox the body and heal disease.
Experts and advocates of a raw food diet, challenge us to a diet of no less that 75% raw fruits and vegetables to see the change.

What I know is that it works for me.
I don’t know if there is a regime, “diet”, theory (call it what you will) that has ever been more successful in my life.
It has been a weapon to kill compulsions and food addictions I never thought would die.
I am free from eating disorders that haunted me for decades.
I feel better. My emotions don’t rule my life. I sleep better. I think clearer. That bloat is gone. My bowels do amazing things. My skin clears up. My cellulite disssolves. I never struggle with colds, flues, and allergies.

I’m a die-hard believer. Period

For anyone wanting to see fast changes, I absolutely challenge you to a raw food cleanse: all fruits and veggies, all raw, all the time.
You’ll never believe me till you try it for yourself.

Step number one, to catapult myself into my 40-2-40 challenge:
I aggressively become aware of my raw food ratio, and try to keep it at 100%.

As, I said, you can Google the subject till the free-range, organic cows come home, but here are some quick sites.
Hang tight, in a day or two, I’ll get some real powerful flabby- butt kicking resources into your hands that you won’t want to miss.

rawfoodhowto.com
raw living
howtodothings.com

Wild and Glorious Fortyish Makeover

2009-08-06T21:21:00.004-05:00

The countdown has begun!!

Last week I tipped you all off on an inevitable destiny that is racing at me with lightening speed.
Soon, I will be arriving at that special number, 40 years young.

Ah, yes, although, I am already enduring the onslaught of “middle-age’ stabs, I am quick to reassure every one that I am actually entering the second third of my full and abundant life.

Things can only get better from here..

This has been time for a wee bit of introspection, and one thing that has been bubbling to the surface of my conscious memory is a promise I made to myself when I turned 35…

“when I’m 40, I’m going to be SOLID” I determined.

Yup, Buffy the Body building babe, I was going to be.

Well, ok, maybe not so enormous, but I was determined to not jiggle anywhere except by my choosing and I wanted my tank tops to showcase somewhat jaw dropping, nicely chiseled, sexy mom arms.

Anyways, 5 years after my great decree, here I am, and I’m not sure where my abs are... They seem to have gone missing over the past winter.

Last week, I decided I was going to enter grown-up-hood with a running start.
After all this is a time that I will never have again.
A once in a lifetime shot to prune off some loose ends that I had been toying with.

I am meeting 40 years young, clean, lean and hopefully not as mean.

I have determined to enter this decade striving towards excellence, in all I do and all I stand for.

The little compromises that I have been dusting under the rug really need to go.

If you have spent any time with Your Natural Food Coach on FACEBOOK you know by now that I am the EVENT QUEEN!
I love any reason for a party, and Counting down to Forty is a huge MOTIVATION!!

So, because I know that we all love those makeover shows… (and this is more fun, well… cause its me)… starting 40 days before my 40th I have embarked on my (drum roll…)

Wild and Glorious Fortyish Makeover!!!

Over the next 40 (now 35) days, I am going to pull all the tricks out of my Natural Food Coach hat, and give myself a total tweeking.

I have to find my abs, lose some jiggles, clean up my skin and my attitude with The Almighty, and find a little more pep.

But even better than listening to me rant, I’m going to share some of my little secrets with you, and let you build your own arsenal of really clever, really user-friendly, strategies to love on yourself when you feel old and your abs are missing.

So just to make this clear, I may indeed be one of the laziest person around.
I don’t do self denial and self abuse well.
So don't expect an hour in the gym everyday.
(Probably why I never transformed into Buffy)

But I have learned on my journey that there are wonderful, delicious ways to tune into a new level of health and being.

So lets go there over the next few days!
Lets chase after a new level in our walk with God, new level of health, new place of looking at ourselves.

Ready?? Times a tickin...

I'm Turning Forty

2009-08-01T13:29:00.004-05:00

Your Natural Food Coach Musing on Turning Forty.

That big Birthday is coming. Forty candles will soon be melting my birthday cake into a puddle.

But first, lets not overlook an equally big, equally crucial celebration, yesterday. It was one big ole party; Sushi and a movie with my big girl and my little boy.
The occasion?
Yesterday was my official 40-2-40 day!!

I have watched friends and family surrender, some with class, some with fear to “that number”, and the way the days are swirling by, and it’ll soon be my turn.

In forty days, I’m turning FORTY YEARS OLD!!

Fortieth birthdays, seem to be a momentous milestone for folks. Its that definitive line between youth and maturity. It’s like the little bell that gongs just to remind you, that you are finally grown up.
In your thirties, maybe we just weren't sure, there still may have been room for childish play. But forty seals it. This is it. We are unquestionably adults.

Forty years old, what wisdom have I occurred? What races have I won? Not as many as I’d like, but I have made some strides...

I have humbly realized the reality of the Lord Jesus Christ and that He is the reason I breathe. Together, with His strength we have walked out of impending illness, eating disorders, depression, alcoholism and strongholds that bound my life.
Most of them self-inflicted during those 30 previous “less mature” years.

The forty-year mark, finds me voyaging out into a career that called me while I argued with it. It’s my prayer that my story becomes your tool and strength to your own victory http//www.naturalfoodcoach.com

I have raised three children, and sent one off into adulthood to find herself. I have buried a parent. My 40th birthday has found me coming full circle. I guess I grown up now.

I am excited! It’s a new era. All things have passed away and all things have become new.
I want to stand on my rooftop and yell to the world, I’M TURNING FORTY!!!!
I am pressing on to the goal ahead with huge anticipation.

But before my Forty candles came something even more pondering and powerful snuck up on me...

The Forty-to-Forty. Or is that 40-2-40?

40th Birthdays come only once in a life. But so do these, and it is helping reshape, re-motivate and push me forward on to my next milestone being the Jo I was meant to be.

So hang tight, tomorrow we start counting down my 40 days till my 40th Birthday and the force with which it has struck.

Screening your SunScreen

2009-06-30T08:24:00.002-05:00

I have a confession, I love hot summers. I love the sun and I love the heat!
Whenever there's a chance, you'll find me curled up in the sunshine just like a kitten soaking it in. The hot temperatures don't bother me one bit. My hair is blonding up, freckles are running amuck and, dare I say it, I'm working on my tan.
Yes, and I apoligize for any healthy cows I'm going to kick over, it is close to impossible to get me to put on sunscreen.

Just a few short decades ago, the leading manufacturers of sun screen products had us convinced that any sun exposure is deadly and the only chance of survival we had was to never leave home without being lathered up with sunscreen.

However, as often happens, time and science is now telling a different story.
Inspite of mega marketing and record-breaking sales of sunscreen, skin cancers have more than tripled in the past ten years

Perhaps, its time to look at this from another side.

Breathing in Summer

2009-06-17T07:43:00.002-05:00

Now that summer is finally here! I’m giving you some homework.

Not to worry, it’ll take less than 10 minutes of your day and one of the easiest things you’ve ever done. Better still, it will flood every cell of your body with life, protect you health, reverse illness and give you energy while reducing mental and physical stress.

Get outside and take a big deep breath.

Think about it. Most of us could live a few months without food; a week without water, but not more than a few minutes without oxygen.

There is nothing more immediate and essential than our need to breathe. Breathing oxygenates every cell of your body, from your brain to your vital organs. Oxygen is the most important element required for human life and the key to vital health.

Earaches and Tears

2009-04-25T01:00:00.011-05:00

Beating Earaches With Home Remedies

As a natural food coach, I thrive off of moments to play doctor with my home remedies, and tonite we pulled all stops on a throbbing pain filled ear.

Let me share our victory over the archenemy Mr., Earache with you.

I’m certain there is nothing quite like the agony of an earache.

Earaches and ear infections can bring the toughest cookie to their knees.

I know because it happened to Your Natural Food Coach’s own cookie tonight.

Imagine if you will the most dangerously beautiful girl you have ever met.

That’s her, my daughter, Butch.

Actually, its Shastan but Butch seems to work for her.

A whopping 18 years old; ruby player, soccer star and track wiz.

Five foot two; one hundred and forty solid pounds. Not a part of this girl giggles. She’s a rock.

She is just finishing serving her first year in the Arm Forces.

She shoots big guns.

Remember, one tough cookie.

An earache took her out tonite. The pain was excruciating.

My big tuff GI Jane was an absolute crumpled ball in the front seat of my car.

Tears streaming down both her cheeks. “Mommy, make it stop!!!” She sobs.

How many of you know that when they call you “mommy”, no matter how old they are, you throw on your super mom cape and get prepared to move mountains.

ONE BIG CRAZY WELCOME!

2009-04-22T12:52:00.009-05:00

I love this Internet Blog stuff!!

This is absolutely CYBERLY CRAZY!

Japan! Sweden! Denmark! Ireland!

Your are all HERE!!

RIGHT HERE AT YOUR NATURAL FOOD COACH!

This is such an honour to me.

Thank You! Thank You! And THANK YOU!!!

I am a very scrutinizing surfer myself and I immensely appreciate what it means to have captivated your attention!

Are you here to learn and to thrive?

Natural Food, Natural Health, Natural Remedies, Juicing, Fasting, Colon Health, Eating Disorders, Disease Prevention and recovery..

It can all happen with some Simple Solutions that Make Sense!

Lets learn to use food as a tool and not a weapon against ourselves.

And then lets wrap it all up in a big ribbon of faith!

Yes, It can be you!

You can be free, healthy and vibrant!

I am working very hard to present this all in an immensely useful forum to you.

However, as you will so keenly notice we are indeed in BEDLAM!

I have been readjusting the format and the learning curve is one wild ride!

Remember, I'm a Food Coach not a geek!

We have been busy as little bees over here, trying to redesign and get valuable information up and out for you!

Tell me? What do you think so far?
Its quite the change, do you like it?

But I still need YOUR HELP and it would be immensely appreciated!

I really want to know where you's all at.

Whats your palate's pet peeve?

What your goal?

What are you struggles?

What BROUGHT YOU HERE? And did you find it??

This post first started off as my place to ramble on my first 50 day fast.

But now I would like to very much hand it over to you!

Please post your thoughts, questions and comments.

I would very much love to get to know you! YES YOU!

Lets put our head together on this..

Tell me, please... WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU!?!?!?

Aside from the comment boxes, you will notice several handy dandy options~

*One is to become a FOLLOWER of the Site.
That means you are contacted every time something new and fabulous is posted!

*You can also subscribe Via a RSS Feed and have the new fabulous posts sent right to you with a smile!
Very Fun Stuff!

Keeping you informed and saving you wear and tear on your fingers with all that extra clicking.

*If we need to chat privately, by all means, my email link is there, or even better, drop me a note right now!

*Natural Food Coach.com has a "monthly" newsletter which will take you by surprise.
"Encouraging", "Refocusing", and "Bringing you right back to Center" are words used to described this crazy endeavor!

*Follow the subscription link for a monthly house call from YOUR NATURAL FOOD COACH!

Keep popping by to see the content growing and flowing.
Let YOUR NATURAL FOOD COACH know what interests you and where you need to grow and flow, and it will get it into your hands.

with immense thanks,

Joanne Smith
Your Natural Food Coach

13 Serious Super Foods

2009-04-17T09:27:00.005-05:00

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

su·per·food / • n. (not in technical use) a natural food regarded as especially beneficial because of its nutrient profile or its health-protecting qualities:

1. Salba~ (chai seed)

Salba® is the richest whole food source of Omega 3 fatty acids and fibre found in nature. Every serving (12 grams or approximately 2 flat tablespoons) of Salba® provides over 2,400 mg of Omega 3s, over 4,500 mg of dietary fibre, with less than 0.5 net carbohydrates per serving. Gram for gram, Salba® provides six times more calcium than whole milk, three times more iron than spinach, and fifteen times more magnesium than broccoli. Salba® is all-natural, has no trans-fats, is gluten free, has almost no carbohydrates, and is certified Non-GMO (Genetically Modified Organism).

2. Hemp~

Many health care professionals now recommend the use of Hemp Hearts. They attribute their success with Hemp Hearts to a superior balance of proteins, essential fats, vitamins, and enzymes; and a relative absence of sugar, carbohydrates and saturated fats.
Contains more required amino acids (proteins) than milk, meat or eggs.
Is a complete protein rich source, much more balanced and digestible than Soy products.
Contains about 47% oil, 78% of which is omega 3 and 6 , the essential fats.
Has all the essential or omega fats required for human health.
Contains several times more omega 3 essential fat than any fish.
Provides more energy than energy bars, without their sugar and with much less saturated fat.
They are suitable for those unable to eat gluten, sugar, nuts, and meat.
Excellent for those troubled with constipation.
Perfect for those avoiding carbohydrates.
A 42 g serving (4 tbsp) contains 240 calorie energy from 15 g protein,15 g polyunsaturated fats (11.4 g omega 6 and 3.6 g omega 3), 2.7 g mono-unsaturated fats, 2.1 g saturated fats, 2.5 g fiber, 4.5 g carbohydrates, 2 mg iron, 31 mg calcium, 3.8 mg sodium, 3.8 mg vitamin E, 956 IU vitamin D, .42 mg vitamin C, .05 mg B6, .58 mg vitamin B1, 1.6 IU vitamin A.

3. Quinoa~

Called a supergrain, quinoa is highly nutritious and can supply us with all of the body's requirements: carbohydrates, fats, protein, vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

Quinoa is gluten free and considered an ideal food for those prone to food allergies. Common allergens include grains from the grass family such as corn and wheat.

Quinoa, a leafy grain, is not in the grass family, making it beneficial for people who cannot tolerate common grains like wheat, corn, rye, barley, and oats.

Nutritional data on quinoa can vary from one variety to another, from one method of saponin removal to another, and from variations in growing conditions.

Therefore, the data offers a wide spread in its figures.

For instance, its protein content can range from 7.5% to 22.1%.

Compared to common wheat at 14%, rye at 12%, and brown rice at 7.5%, quinoa's figures are impressive.

In fact, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization considers quinoa equal to milk in its quality of protein Most grains are deficient in the amino acid, lysine.

Because quinoa has an adequate quantity of lysine, it is considered to contain all the essential amino acids, making it a complete protein.

Quinoa possesses larger quantities of calcium, fat, iron, phosphorus, and B vitamins than many other grains.

One-half cup of dry quinoa contains 51 mg of calcium, compared to 28 mg in the same quantity of whole-wheat grains. The protein content is a whopping 11 g for that one-half cup of quinoa. Potassium is impressively high with 629 mg. as is zinc with 2.8 mg.

Other impressive figures include 42 mcg of folic acid, 7.9 mg of iron, and 179 mg. magnesium.

In the category of fiber quinoa rates top scores with 5 grams for one-half cup dry grain. One cup of cooked quinoa has a calcium content equal to that of a quart of milk.

Quinoa is high in minerals and B vitamins, especially vitamin B6. Two ounces of cooked quinoa offers 14% of the RDA for B6. Niacin, one of the B vitamins usually measured in trace quantities, totals 2.49 mg, a figure considered impressive when it comes to the B vitamins.

An important component of any grain is the germ, that portion of the grain that is capable of sprouting and becoming a whole plant.

The germ of each quinoa grain is larger than that of any other grain and encircles the outer surface, explaining its exceptionally high protein content.

"If I had to choose one food to survive on, quinoa would be the best," said Dr. Duane Johnson, New Crops Agronomist at Colorado State University.

4. Sea Salts~

Sea salt contains about 80 mineral elements that the body needs.

Some of these elements are needed in trace amounts. Unrefined sea salt is a better choice of salt than other types of salt on the market.
Ordinary table salt that is bought in the super markets has been stripped of its companion elements and Contains additive elements [sometimes] such as aluminum silicate to keep it powdery and porous.

5. Raw Sunflower Seeds~

There are many health benefits of sunflower seeds. They contain high levels of vitamin E, choline, betaine, and phenolic acids.

Vitamin E may protect against cardiovascular disease, lignans may protect against some cancers, and choline has been shown to play a role in memory and cognitive functions.

They are also among the best foods you can eat to get cholesterol-lowering problems.
There have also been studies indicating that sunflower seeds are high in many phytochemicals– such as choline, lignan, phenolic acids, and betaine, as well as the amino acid arginine — which have a wide array of health benefits.

6. Raw Pumpkin Seeds~

Pumpkin seeds are one of nature's almost perfect foods.

They are a natural source of beneficial constituents such as carbohydrates, amino acids and unsaturated fatty acids.

They contain most of the B vitamins, along with C, D, E, and K.

They also have the minerals calcium, potassium, niacin, and phosphorous.

Pumpkin seeds have mainly been used to treat prostate and bladder problems, but they have also been known to help with depression and learning disabilities.

Because they are high in zinc, pumpkin seeds are a natural protector against osteoporosis.

Low intake of zinc is linked to higher rates of osteoporosis.

Pumpkin seeds effectively reduce inflammation without the side effects of anti-inflammatory drugs.They prevent calcium oxalate kidney stone formation, according to studies.

They are used in many cultures as a natural treatment for tapeworms and other parasites. Studies also show them to be effective against acute schistosomiasis, a parasite contracted from snails.1/2 cup of pumpkin seeds contains 92% of your daily value of magnesium, a mineral in which most Americans are deficient.

Pumpkin seeds contain phytosterols, compounds that that have been shown to reduce levels of LDL cholesterol.

7. Walnuts~

When it comes to their health benefits, walnuts definitely are not a hard nut to crack.

This delicious nut is an excellent source of omega-3 essential fatty acids, a special type of protective fat the body cannot manufacture.

Walnuts' concentration of omega-3s (a quarter-cup provides 90.8% of the daily value for these essential fats) has many potential health benefits ranging from cardiovascular protection, to the promotion of better cognitive function, to anti-inflammatory benefits helpful in asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis.

In addition, walnuts contain an antioxidant compound called ellagic acid that supports the immune system and appears to have several anticancer properties.

8. Sea Vegetables~

Spirulina is a blue-green algae.

Spirulina is a simple, one-celled form of algae that thrives in warm, alkaline fresh-water bodies. Spirulina is being developed as the "food of the future" because of its amazing ability to synthesize high-quality concentrated food more efficiently than any other algae. Most notably, spirulina is 65 to 71 percent complete protein, with all essential amino acids in perfect balance.

In comparison, beef is only 22 percent protein.
In addition, spirulina is one of the few plant sources of vitamin B12, usually found only in animal tissues. A teaspoon of spirulina supplies 2 1/2 times the Recommended Daily Allowance of vitamin B12 and contains over twice the amount of this vitamin found in an equivalent serving of liver.
Spirulina also provides high concentrations of many other nutrients - amino acids, chelated minerals, pigmentations, rhamnose sugars (complex natural plant sugars), trace elements, enzymes - that are in an easily assimilable form.
Chlorella has been touted as the perfect whole food. Aside from being a complete protein and containing all the B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, and the major minerals (with zinc and iron in amounts large enough to be considered supplementary), it has been found to improve the immune system, improve digestion, detoxify the body, accelerate healing, protect against radiation, aid in the prevention of degenerative diseases, help in treatment of Candida albicans, relieve arthritis pain and, because of its nutritional content, aid in the success of numerous weight loss programs.

The elements and electrolytes in marine plankton are almost tailor-made for the human body. The composition of human plasma is similar to that of seawater. Phytoplankton provide many if not all of the trace elements we need, to keep this balance in our bodies, and thus to help us live a full life at optimum health levels..
Here are some examples of how phytoplankton benefits humans:
* For General Nutrition they contain ultra-potent lipids to enhance brain function.
* They support a healthy heart with their variety of minerals and vitamins.
* Clinical tests show that phytoplankton can reduce cholesterol.
* They are shown to stabilize blood sugar levels.
* Phytoplankton in our diet supports us in general mental alertness and can combat ADHD, Parkinson’s and general dementia.
* They relieve pain and inflammation in our joints.
* They help prevent psoriasis and dermatitis.
* For good vision phytoplankton have been shown to be more effective than Lutein. As well, they support a healthy liver, good sleeping habits and an increase in energy levels.
* A list of the nutrition available from phytoplankton will go on for pages. These include Vitamins B12, C and E, magnesium, chlorophyll, potassium and numerous other vitamins and minerals.
* Many people use marine phytoplankton to solve major problems.

9. Coconut Oil~

The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, heart diseases, cholesterol levels, weight loss, kidney problems, digestion, metabolism, high blood pressure, immunity, dental care, diabetes, bone strength, HIV and cancer. These benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and its properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, soothing, etc

Coconut oil is very useful in reducing weight. It contains short and medium-chain fatty acids that help in taking off excessive weight. It is also easy to digest due as it helps in healthy functioning of the thyroid and enzymes systems. Further, it increases the body metabolism by removing stress on pancreases, thereby burning out more energy and helping obese and overweight people reduce their weight. Hence, people living in tropical coastal areas, who eat coconut oil daily as their primary cooking oil, are not fat, obese or overweight.

Internal use of coconut oil occurs primarily as cooking oil. Coconut oil helps in improving the digestive system and thus prevents various stomach and digestion related problems including irritable bowel syndrome. The saturated fats present in coconut oil have anti microbial properties and help in dealing with various bacteria, fungi, parasites, etc., that cause indigestion.
Coconut oil also helps in absorption of other nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids.
Coconut oil is also good for the immune system. It strengthens the immune system as it contains antimicrobial lipids, lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid which have antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties.
The human body converts lauric acid into monolaurin which is claimed to help in dealing with viruses and bacteria causing diseases such as herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, and even HIV. It helps in fighting harmful bacteria such as listeria monocytogenes and heliobacter pylori, and harmful protozoa such as giardia lamblia.
When applied on infections, it forms a chemical layer which protects the infected body part from external dust, air, fungi, bacteria and virus. The curative properties of coconut oil are useful in healing as well. It speeds up the repairing of damaged tissues.
Coconut oil is very effective against a variety of infections due to its antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties.
According to the Coconut Research Center, coconut oil kills viruses that cause influenza, measles, hepatitis, herpes, SARS, etc
It also kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, etc.
Coconut oil is also effective on fungi and yeast that cause candidiasis, ringworm, athlete's foot, thrush, diaper rash, etc.
The presence of medium chain triglycerides and fatty acids helps in preventing liver diseases as they substances are easily converted into energy when they reach the liver, thus reducing work load on the liver and also preventing accumulation of fat.
Coconut oil helps in preventing kidney and gall bladder diseases. It also helps in dissolving kidney stones.
Coconut oil helps in controlling blood sugar, and improves the secretion of insulin. It also helps in effective utilization of blood glucose, thereby preventing and treating diabetes.

10. Bee Pollen~

Bee pollen is sometimes called 'the perfect food'. Bee pollen benefits stem from the fact that it contains more than 96 different nutrients, including every single nutrient that is needed to sustain human life. It is made up of 40% protein, nearly all of it usable by the body without any further breakdown or metabolism. The health benefits of bee pollen have been known for thousands of years. It was a mainstay of traditional Chinese herbal medicine, a discipline that is gaining a great deal of respect among western doctors recently.
Bee pollen combines 22 amino acids, vitamin C, B-complex and folic acid, polyunsaturated fatty acids, enzymes, and carotene - all of the major antioxidants that have so far been discovered.

11. Royal Jelly~

For decades Royal Jelly has been widely used as an addition to mans diet acting as a natural 'health supplement'. Royal Jelly is an entirely natural substance that is created by bees that is packed full of nutritional bounty.People who intake Royal Jelly commonly express the opinion that it helps slow down the ageing process, improves a persons vitality and energy levels, improves the condition of the skin and improves the strength and condition of the hair and nails. It has also been used for helping control cholesterol levels and to improve sexual vitality.The range of nutritional content in Royal Jelly is impressive. It includes Vitamins: A, C, D, E, B1, B2, B3, B6 and B12. It is also a good source of Folic acid.It is around 12% protein and has all 8 of the essential amino acids that the body cannot manufacture, but needs to be supplied with. These amino acids are essential for growth and repair of our cells and tissues and are thought to be of great importance in helping combat 'free radicals' in the body.It also has a good balance of lipids and carbohydrates as well as aspartic acid which is used in growth and repair of cells and tissues.Royal Jelly also has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.Some people with allergies can react to Royal Jelly so consult your health professional before consuming Royal Jelly.

12. Avacados~

Avacados are almost a complete food.
Avocados contain folate, potassium, monosaturated fats and are very high in fiber. The monosaturated fats in avocados contain oleic acid. It has been found to improve fat levels in the body and help control diabetes. By using avocados as their primary source of fat in the diet, diabetes sufferers can lower their triglycerides by up to 20%. In addition to being helpful to those with diabetes, the monosaturated fats in avocados are good for lowering cholesterol. A lowfat diet containing avocados has been shown to both lower levels of dangerous low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and raise the level of healthy high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In addition, triglycerides were also lowered slightly.
Avocados are also a huge source of fiber, containing 10 grams in only one avocado. As we all know, fiber is known to help prevent high blood pressure, heart disease, and certain types of cancer, particularly colon cancer. Avocados also contain 30% more potassium than a banana. Potassium is beneficial to the body by lowering the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack and cancer. In addition, avocados are the perfect food for pregnant women. The folate in one avocado per day provides almost 30% of the recommended daily dosage and helps prevent life threatening birth defects of the spine and brain.
As you can see, the benefits of avocados are long reaching. Still worried about fat? Look for Florida grown avocados. They contain about 2/3 the calories and half the fat of California grown avocados. Also, stick with those harvested between November and March; they contain 1/3 the fat of those picked earlier in the season.

13. Sprouts~
Sprouts are a living food. Meaning they are absolutely full of live enzymes. They are not a root such as carrots or a fruit such as a tomato. They are the actually living plant. Such a little plant but a true powerhouse of nutrition. Eat sprouts whenever and in anyway possible.

YOUR NATURAL FOOD COACH NEWSLETTER~ April 09

2009-04-05T20:33:00.001-05:00

How I Found More Hours in My Days

Or maybe that should be daze?!?!?!

Regardless, I am pondering it as a title for a new book. What do you think?

Catchy? Intriguing? Did I captivate you?

As” infomercial” as it may sound, I think I may have found it. Or, at least, a part of the puzzle.

But first, let me share real quick what I’ve been up to and how I need more hours in my day.

Your Natural Food Coach is having a big awkward growth spurt.

Yes, I feel like I’m 13 again.

If you’ve popped by the blog lately you will notice a change. Its been gutted. A lot of soul searching (actually it didn’t take too much time at all)

I realized a self-indulgent blog about my crazy life would interest no one.

It’s just not that interesting.

So besides some glichy layout changes, it is really now YOUR Natural Food Coach. It is being redesigned into something that you can contribute to and grow from.

I absolutely invite you all to pop by, read and share. There are many of you out there in the medical profession; your opinions are very appreciated.
There are many moms and grammas who have home remedies that work, please share them.

Many of you are walking the road out of sickness and disease. Let us walk with you.

Also, to take a moment, I want to THANK YOU all so much for the awesome response to my questionnaire. Yes, I have learned my lesson and it will not be so long next time!
But if you still want your say, Yes! Please! Still submit them.

I would love to know your thoughts!

It helps me create a site useful for you!

Now zip past the blog and Ta DaH... Pop over to www.naturalfoodcoach.com and take a look.

Still some fine touches to put on but much better don’t ya think?
Phew, she says as she wipes her brow…. All in one month!

Now please bear with me, and remember all these changes are not so simple (as I am learning the hard way) they take hours of screaming at the computer screen for not doing what its told and reading my mind.

I mean REALLY!

Who would have thought that adding one little email gadget would take 3 days!!

Anyone who works with computers, raise your hand…

Which brings me back to my book title. “How I found more hours in my day.”
I’m a single mom. I work full time and take nutrition clients on the side. Somewhere inbetween 2 teenage girls updating their FACEBOOK and a boy who needs to practice his spelling words, I sneak on the computer and try to save the world one colon at a time with 4 blogs and one site.

When I’m not blathering on a blog, I am meathodically extracting the 3 books lodged in my cranium. All inbetween the laundry, dishes, car-pooling to volleyball practice, yard work, mass appliance breakdowns, da, da,da, do, do, do...

I spend a lot of nights close to tears. I don’t say this to play on your pity, because I know your world looks very much the same, if not worse.

But I found a secret. And that, my dears, is what I want to impart to you.

A secret discovery from my crazy world to yours.

A miracle that’s LESS THAN TEN DOLLARS AT THE GROCERY STORE!!!

¨ Gingerroot,

¨ Baking Soda

¨ Apple Cider Vinegar.

¨ Epsom Salts

Fill a bath with hot water, and add. No measurements just pour. The more the better.

WAIT~ Don’t laugh just yet!

This is the absolute truth. On the days when I did not take the time and make myself a hot sweaty bath, are the days I train-wrecked.

It seems that in those baths, magic happens.

I slow down. I pray. I sing. I take time to let the God of the Universe readjusts my priorities and my stinkin thinkin.

I take the time to seek first the things that matter, and lay myself, my agenda, to the side.

It is in those very Holy 20 minutes, everything in the spirit around me changes. Creative thoughts begin to flow. Peace settles. The panic leaves. I get filled with a love of life that does not come from me.

I emerge from my watery sanctuary refocused and on fire.

Its amazing, night after night, things flow smoothly.

I have seen more pieces of the puzzle fall into place quickly when I take the time to be still.

What was once striving becomes effortless.

So take that for what its worth.

I know, for me, it has added up to countless hours of prosperous production!

It’s more wonderful proof of the ageless spiritual principal of “sowing and reaping”.

It goes contrary to all our natural understanding but if you need time you sow time! It works.

Please have my blessings to forward this to whomever may be on your heart.

Jo

MOMENTS~ Addicted to Satisfaction

2009-03-29T00:21:00.006-05:00

I receive a daily email from a wonderful gal named Jinjee (isn't that just the cutest name evah?)
Her husband and her are living and raising their family on a 100% raw food diet.
These folks are amazing.
He is amazing.
He's somewhere in his sixties and looks not a day over 30

You really have to see this, if you haven't meet them already.

My email today was about her own discoveries with self discipline.
It really was a bonsai moment for me too because I have been growing and accepting the reality that self discipline is going to be my "make me or break me" point in all avenues of my life .

I read it and had a loud BONSAI!! inside!
YES! YES! YES!
I want to be there too!
Not just with my food, but to have that satisfaction in every area of my life.
I'm ready to jump in!!

Jinjee shares~

I have been wondering why we are all so addicted to different foods, even when we get as far as becoming raw vegans; we are addicted to raw cacao, addicted to overeating, addicted to msg. In the store, I was tempted to eat raw cacao, but I didn't. On the way home I felt a bit strange, not having an addiction to satisfy. It felt kind of empty. I am addicted to addictions. What could I replace that feeling with? And then later I felt it - a sense of satisfaction that I had been able to use self-discipline. And then I realized the answer to my question - that discipline is the new satisfaction, replacing the satisfaction of our addictions! Not only is discipline the cure for addiction, it is also the replacement. Not only is it the harsh reality, it is also the soul satisfaction.

In Joy!
Jinjee

MOMENTS~ When Stress Abounds, Monsters Appear

2009-03-28T23:41:00.007-05:00

Well its not quite midnight, so certainly can't break routine and go to bed YET!! Today started well, but is ending on the cr@pola note.

Maybe rambles will help. One thing I have noticed, when I stretch myself to the point of pooped, stress comes. It all seems frustrating, nothing falls into place well. Stinkin Thinkin starts to swish in my brain and Satan's taunts add fuel to the fire. I don't dare tell you the things I have said to myself tonite. Probably not much different than things you have told yourself. Questions of your worth and value. Declarations of eminent defeat. The white flag already in your hand and the towel, ready to be thrown. Have you been there? Maybe today?

What I have noticed is when I get stressed I want to crumble. And crumbling to me means EATING~~
Eating as much as I possibly can, as fast as I can, till I buldge and burst. Then what I notice is if I eat, and if I don't CHOSE what I know is best for me, a new temptation sneaks in.
Today, I picked at more cooked food then I have in a while.
It made my flesh feel happy at the time.
I chose very little raw veggies and fruit, drank no water, no juice...nothing life giving. Nothing cleansing. Certainly nothing at the level I am used to. Just chemicaled dead food. And what did I feel inside? Dead.. Then what happened next?~ Cravings showed up. Sugar. Carbs. Binging. Purging. Even Liquor. I more aware of their entrance than I had ever been. They paraded on stage like a diva stealing the show. It was all about them! They WANTED TO BE NOTICED!
And they had no intention of being satisfied.

Whats a girl to do? Get back to where you should have been all along.
Kneeling in the throne room. Quiet and submitted.
Feeding on the bread of life will kill any carb craving.
Seeking first the Kingdom, accessing His strength. Reminding myself what He has to say.....

There is value in all of this, eternal value beyond measure. And there is value in me. With me strapped to His yoke, it will all fall into place and it will all succeed.

Square Eyes

2009-03-28T23:00:00.002-05:00

I have square eyes....

Ok corney, I know, but you have no idea how long it took me to make that....
(alright... actually not that long)

But what a super trooper I am. I have been plugging away on Spiffy the Puter for 12 hours now, for my 4th day in a row.
I am one mind- mushed Jo Jo.

But STILL I forget not all you faithful bloggies, whom I love so much.
"I MUST" I told myself "Give you the courtesy of dropping by today!"
After all you have done, with your loyal rambles reading, it is certainly the
least I could do.

But what have you been up to Jo? To put yourself thru such bedlam?

Why THANK YOU for asking my darlings! I have been a buzy little bumble creating, fretting
and concoting the new and improved Your Natural Food Coach.com

It will be full and fab, of this I am sure! But even more exciting, is the creation of my very first EBOOK!!! YES!! You have heard it here first!

I am an e-author waiting in the wings.... But my, oh, my... there is so much involved, my dears.

Just the programs alone are enough to make a girl cry.

You guys, I want this soooo perfect for you. Absolutely top notch stuff!
And with only few hours in my day to myself, I trudge on. To bring you my first labor of love.

"NINETY DAZE OF SMOOTH MOVES"

My hope and prayer?
That it could be a real tool to help you get free, get healthy and get strong beyond anything you've imagined!!

Sweet Dreams my darling bloggies....
I'm going to stay up a wee bit more, got a few thots I haven't tucked in yet.

OW!! But it HURTS..........

2009-03-26T00:29:00.004-05:00

I had a quote swirling thru my noggin tonite

You know that crazy drilling in your brain when you're trying to remember something and its
juuuuuust riiiight there????

Think I could remember it.... na uh...

I Googled "DISCIPLINE" quotes and wowzie did I hit the jackpot.

Ponder some of these juicy goodies....

"The first and best victory is to conquer self."
Plato

Greek Philosopher

A man without decision of character can never be said to belong to himself . . . . He belongs to whatever can make captive of him."

John Foster

"Let me . . . ; remind you that it is only by working with an energy which is almost superhuman and which looks to uninterested spectators like insanity that we can accomplish anything worth the achievement. Work is the keystone of a perfect life. Work and trust in God."
Woodrow Wilson

"We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then is not an act, but a habit."
Aristotle

"Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound. The man who does not shrink from self-crucifixion can never fail to accomplish the object upon which his heart is set. This is true of earthly as of heavenly things. Even the man whose object is to acquire wealth must be prepared to make great personal sacrifices before he can accomplish his object; and how much more so he who would realize a strong and well-poised life."
James Allen

"There are no short cuts to any place worth going."
Beverly Siles (I'm hearing ya, Bev)

"If we don't discipline ourselves, the world will do it for us."
William Feather (oh cr@p)

"Rule your mind or it will rule you."
Horace

"A successful career will no longer be about promotion. It will be about mastery."
Michael Hammer ( two Jo thumbs-up)

"The good Lord gave you a body that can stand most anything. It's your mind you have to convince."
Vince Vince Lombardi

It's not the work that's hard, it's the discipline.
Vincent Lombardi (ouch...)

So, I've upped my game today
Determined, focused...

Yes, I am my only obstacle.

I've been burning that proverbial candle and things are starting to take a form.

Today I doubled my workout, talked myself out of more lazy mistakes than ever, sought first the kingdom,
and got the job done... phew...

It feels good to be the master and not the mastered.

Think I would like to get use to this....

and now I am OFFICALLY done stalling sinking myself into a sitz bath. (if you've ever had a sitz bath..
you know... the end result is glorious, the event leave a wee bit to be desired)

O, yes, I did finally remember that quote in the wee hours...

It comes from the 2007 film "Great Debaters"
out of that little cutie petutie "James Farmer Jr" played by Denzel Whitaker

"We do what we have to do in order to do what we want to do."

Monday March 23- MY SON HAS MOOBS

2009-03-23T12:57:00.009-05:00

I saw him come out of the bath with a towel around his waist, earlier in the day.
I've known it for a while but I can't deny it any more.

11 years old, and my boy has man boobs.
He's a tall boy. Genetically a husky fella; to see him you wouldn't think "fat";
but as of late we have to keep replacing his jeans because the middle just doesn't fit.

Theres a rootbeer belly that hangs over his waist band, and u
nderneath the skin from his chest to his groin are large "cottage cheesey" dimples.

I am a hodge podge inside~
Mortified, guilt ridden, ashamed.

Me! The Natural Food Coach with unhealthy children!

The only consolation is the observation that he's still not
as bad as most boys out there....

Have you seen the stats on childhood obesity? OUTRAGEOUS!!
Whatever happened to the day with hard working farmboys, who keep the yards, hauled the garbage and climbed trees, rode bikes and played street hockey till you had to call them in because of the dark.

Now, I have to force them away from the Playstation with the reminder that "TV is for when we don't have friends over"
Do little boys even know who is sitting beside them
as they stare into these flashing screens,
blowing things up for hours on end?

But solely, I know it falls on me.
I'm the mama. Its on my shoulders.

I'm the one that takes him thru the drive thru as a treat or
brings home something quick,
empty and carby when I work late.

I'm the one that has made movie and chip night the expected norm and not the treat because I'm to tired to pull out the board games, or pack us up for an adventure.

I'm the one that compromises the family budget and decides what is more important to spend the money on than our health.

I DON"T WANT THIS FOR MY BOY!!
I DON"T WANT THIS FOR YOUR BABIES!

More than everything in the fiber of my being...
I DON"T WANT THiS!

If this is the start of their adolescence we already know what their future holds....

diabetes, heart disease, ONE THIRD of the leading cancers have a permission
to flourish and grow in my son's body! Will my grandchildren be without their daddy?
Will they have to watch him struggle and fight to enjoy the family he will be blessed with?

And what about his beautiful brillant brain?
Is it missing the ESSENTIAL FATS and other goodies it needs to flourish?
Will he be prey for depression, mental illness?
Will he look in the mirror and struggle with his identity?

He will be at a greater risk for alcohol and drug addiction....
the sugar cravings will be master over that.

I DON"T WANT THIS FOR MY CHILD!
I DON"T WANT THIS FOR YOUR CHILD!!

We sat in the living room reading books last night~
I watched him. Not 2 hours ago, he finished a nice solid supper.
But here he was, reading; book in one hand, bag of pretzels in the other.

In, in, in went the pretzels....
I don't even think he knew they were in his mouth

So mom did it... she got up and took the bag!
You would have thought he was about to die,
but with a reminding that the sun would come up tomorrow

he complied.....

One wee little battle won... but we are entering a merciless war....

YOUR NATURAL FOOD COACH NEWSLETTER~ March 09

2009-03-23T12:55:00.000-05:00

Well, here I am on the eve of my third night without sleep this week.

But I would feel guilty taking your pity... I have to confess, its self inflicted.

A big jug of carrot juice and I should be fine.

I am trying to slay the procrastination monster in my life

Motivations and moments of inspiration are like manna; they spoil quickly and taste awful when they are "day-olds",

So when they show up, I jump on it.

I am learning the hard way that there is just no other way to get something done but to do it.

I heard something a few weeks ago that has been rooting itself deeply in my spirit. I'll share it with you.

Then I'll show you what's had me staying up all these nights.

"Your destiny is determined in your daily routine"

yup... that folks is what has made me look at another layer of me.

We all have dreams and visions, goals and desires, but so many of us fail to see them come to fruition.

We never see them come to pass.

Is my answer in the above statement? Are my goals and dreams never going to drop on my lap some morning unannounced and

say "Hi Jo, we're here?"

Think about it physically. Do you want to lose weight? Build muscle? Beat the sugar bug? Coffee? Maybe the procrastination bug? (he hem... blush, blush..)

The end is not in the end... it is in every moment between the beginning and middle, then comes the end.

The Mechanics, March 16 & 17

2009-03-17T22:35:00.005-05:00

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Monday March 16~

on the road most of the day,~ a big glass of spirulina and oj started and ended my day
a nice warmed cup of coconut milk and cinnamon wrapped up the evening.

Dry skin brush,
Nice hot detox bath, with baking soda, ACV, ginger root
Colon cleanse, and sitz bath.

And tonite in honour of St Patty Day and to celebrate my purchase of a big jar of GREEN CLAY;
I dug out an old bo dy wrap recipe
and made myself look like a big leprachaun!
Its been years since I've done a full body wrap and I had forgotten how scruptious (and itchy) they are.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

HIP HIP HORRAY!!!
ITS GREEN DAY!!!
AND GREEN WE ARE!!!

lots of spirulina, and a big jug of spinach, apple, cuc juice to hit the spot
The morning started at 5 AM with 20 minutes on the rebounder
followed by a contrast shower to rinse off last night's clay bath.

Some Miso soup to end the day
after a nice hot detox bath, drybrush scrub, and sitz bath.

I am remembering how magical sweat baths and detox baths really are.
I was absolutely unbearable today~
Backaches, and fatigued.

How I wish I could have bathed earlier in the day.
You can feel it lift INSTANTLY!
It is one of my absolute favorite cure alls!

Its now 11 PM and time to tune out,
but unfortunately zee brain is finally tuning in.

In a true pioneering spirit,
I am reapplying and experimenting with my clay recipe
on my favorite jiggly places again tonite.

Will keep you posted....

As well, I have begun to supplement with sea water
Truly amazing stuff

Take a Gander....

Here.....

Or Here

The Moments~ Monday March 16, 2009

2009-03-17T06:13:00.009-05:00

All I wanted was a bath, I had had a long day,
and a few wee wittle things had pushed my buttons.
I had fallen into stinking thinking and all I wanted
was to submerge in the tub and make it go away.

8:30~ FINALLY.... in I sunk.... ah, sweet surrender.
8:40~knock, knock went the door....
"MOM? I GOTTA GO!!"
(I swear, they hold it)
8:42~ out I climb, dripping and red, just to return 5 minutes later to my watery sanctuary freshly fragrant.
8:50~ knock, knock.... "MOM? are you in the tub?"

UGHHHH! God, is it THAT HARD?????

"Can't YOU SEE! " I scream inside!

"All I want is a half an @%$& hour to myself!"

sigh..
eventually and humbly I did get my bath...
after reminding myself of how someday,
when the children are all grown and gone,
I can soak till I shrivel, finally undisturbed

But the wonderful Lord Jesus, being as patient as He is, was not content to leave me
enroute to Pity City

The scripture I had read just a hour before began swirling thru my spirit....

Let us not become weary in doing good,

for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9

And I did~
I stilled the whirlwind inside, I spent my quiet time.
It was holy and ordained.
The God of the Universe spoke and I listened.
He really can be closer than breath if you so desire Him to be.

I returned to the real world, re focused, my spirit full,
my mind spinning with fresh revelation and direction.

Big deep breathe,
all is well again.

MECHANICS~ March 13~ Friday

2009-03-11T07:47:00.005-05:00

Its been a spirulina kinda week

Several years ago, the brilliant Tom C donated me about 50 lbs of spirulina and I have been devouring it nonstop ever since.

I absolutely love the stuff. It makes me alive.

Undoubtedly the greenest green you've ever seen but power packed.

This week has been a reboot week-

Tues & Wends~

Spirulina and lemonade

Publish Post

Water and chlorophyll

Thurs

Big jug of kale, carrot, apple, pear, cilantro, sprouts juice

Friday~ spirulina & oj

Hot detox baths all nights, some stretching

The Mechanics~ no need to Pass My Shotgun anymore

2009-03-09T19:40:00.011-05:00

pssttt..... gather round.....

I have a secret...and a confession....

ready???

I don't get PMS!!!

eeekkkkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(oppps... sorry boys, close your eyes)

but its true....
I use to be a monster.
Cramps, headache, backaches
moods swings, RAVENOUS appetite,
(if it wasn't nailed down, down the gullet it went)

but now Auntie Flo arrives very much unannounced and is quick to leave
I average a 2 day cycle with 2 liners...

yes... I said LINERS
(please don't throw that)

I must admit it is quite heavenly compared to the hell I lived thru for years.
Long gone are the days of laying in bed and hot pads.

Just another perk of going CLEAN AND GREEN folks~~~
Get rid of that cr@p and your body LOVES YOU BACK!!!

The only indication that TOM was sneaking up this month was a little attack of the munchies last night...
(this is the confession part)

Last night I polished off two big ole bowls of popcorn.
My special recipe?
Air popped and swirled with some hemp oil and organic herbs....
nummy,nummy, nummy.....

A far cry from binges of bowls of Rice Krispies and pans of cinnamon bun of days past

***********************************************************

Alright so back on track and very green today,
feeling much more in control.

Juicing lots of kale, spinach, beets, parsley, cilantro, carrots.
Managed 3- 20 minute sessions on the rebounder
1 hour of yoga for my poor,poor back
and a sweat bath and colon cleanse.

With Dearly Beloved home, things have been really whacked.
to be honest (confession #2)
I almost quit on me...

But I have re-grouped and re focused...

but you'll need to "tune in next time" to hear that one,

Right now, I have a boy all tucked in and waiting for his kiss...

X0xOXo

REMUSING.....

2009-03-07T16:19:00.007-06:00

I remused on my INTRO .....

what started out as a 50 day juice
fast has morphed into alife altering journey....
With God's grace, I will never
be the same...

I know I have been blogging my juicing adventures,
everyone looooves to read about a long, passionate fast....

and I will update soon....

But I needed to remind myself that this blog is not about the juice"event" per say~
I've done juice fasts;

I've done wonderful, glorious, health restoring juice fasts,
and I love them!!!!!

but real life is in the slow steady change when what the fast "represents",
really becomes who I am.

I am seeing further within myself.
I am becoming who I was designed to be before the

foundations of the world!

BIG DEEP GREEN BREATH

2009-03-07T11:47:00.011-06:00

I found a wonderful little article to keep your gears cranking...

We all know that plants are a nessessary part of our world, but even closer to home, they can make an amazing difference.

So with spring's on its way... let's green up our thumbs and get some dirt under our nails...

This article, plus others for perusing ,can be re-read at HEALTHY CHILD

*********************************************

If you can believe it, indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air, and cleaning products, aerosols, air fresheners, paints, and disinfectants are some of the main problems.

Children and adults in the U.S. spend 90% of their time indoors, which means improving indoor air quality should be a priority.

A great way to combat this problem is to cleanse your air with indoor plants. All plants convert carbon dioxide to oxygen, but some actually remove chemicals like benzene and formaldehyde from the air.
The following is a list of plants that are known to function as efficient air detoxifiers and remove toxins from air (as well as producing essential oxygen, of course).

We chose these because of their high efficiency and low maintenance, although points were also awarded to plants with low light requirements or were esthetically pleasing. Good choices include:

Peace Lilly

Chinese Evergreen

Golden Pothos (Devil’s Ivy)

Snake Plant

Daisies

Chrysanthemums

Spider Plants

Australian Umbrella Tree

Dracaena Ficus

Philodendron

Aloe Vera

English Ivy

Boston Fern

Remember that plants need to breathe, too.

Dust them gently with a damp cloth, moisten the cloth with milk to add some extra shine. Keep their soil or root area clear - some of the air-cleaning action occurs there.

I'M STILL HERE!!!!! DON'T LEAVE ME......

2009-03-07T11:23:00.017-06:00

HELLO!!!!!!! I've MISSED YOU, my pretties!!!!!!

MWAHHHHH! MWAHHH! MWAHHH!!!!

just a quick fly by here while I'm at work, (shhh... don't tell the boss man)

We have contracted a VIRUS......

... da, da, da, duuuuuuuum........

No not us but SPIFFY the PUTER;

So she has been detoxing in the hospital; and I am hoping all to be well by the weekend.

(otherwise I will be "puter-detoxing"... not a pretty sight)

So much to tell.
So many rambles...

I wish I could get some Star Trek Brain Sucker to zap all my thoughts and put them

into cyber type.

Darling Beloved is back and attempting to wine & dine me.
I'm afraid he does not share my juicing passion...

I so proudly sat him down and told him all my accomplishments while he was gone,
but just to have a stone looking back at me.

mR StoNE fAce has definitely been a challenge and a heart break

Not so much to conform and convince him...
altho I do have concerns as I sit across the table and watch him devouring
potential death....

But a challenge within me....

How do I make my lifestyle choices pertinent to my reality?

How do I stand for what I have chosen to be necessary for my life?

quietly, but firmly...

Where is the balance? Can there be a balance?

Do I need to balance?

A heart break because,
the greatest opposition that I know is in myself....

I am so aware of the weeny teeny rebellious part that desires my own destruction,

and is willing to use any teeny weeny innocent-by-stander as the catalyst.

That includes my Beloved
mR sTOneFacE..

If I cannot represent all that I know to be valid and powerful in me while in front of him,

than who am I really?

Am I really real?

And as you who read my randoms know by now...

That is my desire, to become the real thing...

your Natural Food Coach, who preaches what she practices.

************************************************

I remused my INTRO up top.....

what started out as a 50 day juice fast has morphed into a
life altering journey....
With God's grace, I will never be
the same...

I know I have been blogging my juicing adventures,
everyone looooves to read about a long, passionate fast....

and I will update soon....

But I needed to remind myself that this blog is not about the juice"event" per say~

I've done juice fasts; I've done wonderful, glorious, health restoring juice fasts,
and I love them!!!!!

but real life is in the slow steady change when what the fast "represents",
really becomes who I am.

******************************************

THANK YOU my BELOVED
mR sTonEFaCE
you are letting God use you to teach me...
I am seeing further within myself.

I am becoming who I was designed to be before the foundations of the world!

I LOVE YOU!!

MOMENTS~ Friday FEB 20, 2009

2009-02-20T08:09:00.003-06:00

I am consistently coming across clients recovering from heart attack and Cardio Vasc. Disease.

It has become the number one killer in our nation, and even worse, completely preventable.

ABSOULTELY RIDICULOUS and an ABSOLUTE CRIME.

But that being said, what a phenomenal data base these encounteers

have been causing me to develope.

The research and resources are miraculously powerful.

It is my prayer I will continue to be placed in a position where I can speak life to people.

I am so thankful that in spite of my need to run ahead and do my own thing; my compulsion to be Lord over my own life, God still has HIS PLAN & HIS PACE.

More than my ability to follow, I trust HIS ability to lead.

He will cause me to walk in my path.

Today I choose to set aside my agenda, my frantic worries, and my overwhelming "ta-do" pile, and choose to say that my steps are ordered.

I roll all my cares upon Him, and in all things He causes me to triumph.

Today I choose a directed, purpose life.

HERE'S SPUD IN YOUR EYE

2009-02-19T22:12:00.004-06:00

(as promised Summer, I will not call you little Miss Potato Head)

And now for something completely different....

My girl has been battling a nasty looking red eye since the weekend.
I suspect a combination of cheap, shared makeup and not properly removing it at night... but she'll deny it.

After a trip to the doctor, who ruled out pinkeye, she appeared with a nice little prescription for antibiotic drops.

Unable to fill the prescription, my brave little 13 year old fell victim to her wacky mom's experiments.
Summer-Grace became a true living salad.

We began her healing regime last night~

flush the eye with salt water & a wee drop of Hydrogen Peroxide.
make the girl go back and flush several times properly
large doses of chopped garlic (swallowed unchewed) & Vitamin C caps, washed down with lots of lemon water.
apply a thin layer of coconut oil and unpasteurized honey around both eyes. Start with the healthy eye and move over to the infected eye so you don't cross contaminate. Coco oil and honey are tremendous antibacterial and will be absorbed into the tissue around the eye and kill all sorts of icky stuff.
A nice dry skin brush before bed, to stimulate her lymph glands.
and the cherry on top??? Nope, not a cherry... but a POTATO~ Off she went to bed with a poultice made out of grated potato and a chamomile/lavender tea bag. She smelt wonderful! Cham & Lav are immensely soothing and the potato is powerfully drawing. It pulled the infection out of her eye as she slept.

When she woke this morning her eye was full of pus! It had come to the surface.
She complained of a sick stomach but not eye discomfort.
This is very typical of drawing and detoxing.
Her bod is pulling the infection (which would not be solely in her eye btw... but spreading internally) to her colon for removal.
After a wash with warm water, the eye looked awesome.
No where near as FIRERY RED as yesterday.

She repeated the dance tonite much to her chagrin~ (she thinks life would just be easier if mom just got the darn doctor drops) minus the skin brush ("it hurtz")

I am expecting to see a perfectly healthy eye tomorrow.

Wishing we still had a functioning camera to document all this drama....
But alas.. life will have to go on.

To somehow make it up to you, heres a shot from this fall of my sweet little french-fry eye girl slugging back some crazy life-giving yummy juice

Just look at those eyes sparkle!!
(no, she's not gagging~ she's goofin..)

THE VERDICT~ Week Three

2009-02-17T23:52:00.003-06:00

Is it really week 3?
The thing is such a smoz and a blurr...

To be honest, I am quite embarrassed to blog this fast, when there are so many more encouraging and successful juice blogs to be had..

Thank you for your patience with me..

Week Three, hmm... let me see.

Successful. YES...
but not according to Jo's standards.

I have grown in ways i did not expect.
A solidness. A realization.

With the arrival of HuNNy BuN home next week, I started to panik.
MY GOALS HAVE NOT BEEN REACHED!
I HAD NOT ARRIVED!

But the past couple days a coolness has come upon me.
I have only just begun.

I must learn to walk in what I believe, even before Hunny Bun.
In all the wining and dining, I have to do what I need to do.

The juicing will continue until I'm done, and I will know when that is.
There is more healing in my body to be done, and I do not want to stop now.

Honey Bun will just have to wine and dine alone, and he'll have to understand.

This week, I finished 2 liver flushes. Very successful.
The mucus drain down the back of my head seems to have stopped.
Clothes fit nicer. No difference in measurements, but fit nicer.

I am starting to move again on the rebounder.
And I am realizing I like this life.
I like health.

The cravings and compulsions seem to be fading. Peace is slowing swelling over me.
After years of the fight, could there finally be a place of peace?

When food and illness become your master, it is a horrible bondage.

I am meeting the inside of me more and more.
I am learning the lies and tricks i would tell myself that keep me in my bondage.

And now with God's grace, I am learning tools to change my me.
I will not go back.

This is what I stand for.

I am a natural food coach and I am determined to walk the road to qualify me to speak life into all those who are mired in the same mess.

Week 3~ well done.....

MECHANICS~ The Bottom Falls Out

2009-02-17T21:40:00.004-06:00

Darling beloved has returned.
All tanned and sexy looking from one month in Mexico!

Ah... to spend 30 days lying on the beach and crawling under the sea.

And OH HOW HE LOVES ME!!!
He came bearing a nice little bottle of REAL VANILLA and CACAO BEANS!!!!

How Heavenly!

But as expected, the eating had begun. He shared tales of pirate ships, underwater taverns and an iguana that fell out of the tree while we dined.

I managed to get away with several cups of broccoli and cauliflower, and a smattering of potatoes.

I did try to explain to him all I was doing, but I'm afraid it fell on a blank stare.
I don't have words to make him understand; some how I wonder if I understand.
Why I wrestle. Why this is priority. Why I need to know what is on the other side of victory in this.

Ah, well yes... the mechanics....

I was horrendously proud of myself... (yes, and pride does come before a fall)
I have been keeping a daily organizer close at hand, and EVERYTHING gets measured and written down.

I feel the need for control here, desperately...because somehow.. I feel it could evade me at any minute.

The day started brillantly...

* up at 5:30 feeling awesome. Rebound 20 minutes
*sweat bath, dry skin brush, sitz bath all by 7 AM
* breakfast.... half a dozen cacao beans... I couldn't resist...
but then off to the teas and juices.
(dinner with honey was over, I really want to return to my juicing)
*home by 7~ to tired to juice. Instead big cup of warm coco milk with (yup) cacao and cinnamon.... mmmmmmmmmmmmmm..................

But this my friends is the end of the happy tale....
Some where around 9 pm the bottom fell out.

In between a rough day at work, some cr@ppy self-talk, or just not giving a damn at the time, I fell into a bowl full of mashed potatoes.
ok... it was several bowls of mashed potatoes.....

I ate, I almost enjoyed... all the time, knowing now would come.
The moment I would have to sit down and figure out why this happened.
Why once again I became the mastered, not the master.
And even worse deal with all the shit I will throw at myself.
Why I didn't do better? How could I have let this happened? What if I've lost precious time and ground?
Oh, I know I will not spare the condemnation......

So, I sit.....
desperately pounding on the keyboards rambling gibberish to you all.
Trying not to get up and feed the wakened beast with cookies, spaghetti, scrambled eggs with Tabasco, PB & J, or anything else I might dig out of the cupboards.....

Trying hard not to let the demons of my past eating disorders, Mr Binge and Mr Purge, resurrect themselves.
Because no matter how much distance I put in between them and I.

Some how they are only one bad choice away.

Sitting here, trying to figure out why I ever wanted to do this in the first place.
Who the hell do I think I am? And wondering why anyone would want to read this drivel.....
I know I'll have the answers. I think tonite is part of the journey.
It must be
I have a new road to victory to forge thru this.
I will not take the one most familiar to me.

I will walk out of this.
I'm not sure how, but I think I'm doing it as I type......

MECHANICS~Sat Feb 14

2009-02-15T16:10:00.006-06:00

Happy LOVEY Day one and ALLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

XOXoxOXOXOOXOXO
MMMMWAHHHH!!!!!!

Once again I apologize for disappearing into cyber space... but I have returned.
When I left you last, I was recovering from LIVER FLUSH #2

And flush, indeedy I did....

The first time around, I passed approximately 50 stones,
and this time i did as well.

I was so excited to post pictures for you, but somehow, by the time I figured how to upload from my phone, the pics went missing....

These pics were taken off of CUREZONE, but mine were very similar,
It gives you a really good indication of what I'd been up too the past couple days....
enjoy...

tee hee....

THE MECHANICS~ Sunday, Feb 8

2009-02-08T22:51:00.001-06:00

Today was my second liver/gall bladder flush.

Apparently once is never enough, so, ughhh... one more time.

If I can pull it off next weekend, I don't know. I think I may have had my fill of salt flushes for a while.

Anywhooo... the day was water and tea until around 3 pm.
Then I start the regime, apple juice with Epsom 3 times.

I'm just gonna settle down with the 11:PM news and my grapefruit/oil mix.
(that part I actually like, believe it or not)
I'm all out of olive oil so it'll be a toss up between flax or hemp...
aren't I just a rebel?

Then we wait...........

yes, I'm sure the suspense is killing you......

THE TECHNIQUES~ DRY SKIN BRUSHING

2009-02-07T15:26:00.004-06:00

What is Dry Skin Brushing?

Dry skin brushing is the practice of brushing the surface of the body to clear away dead skin cells, improve skin texture and tone, enhance blood circulation, and eliminate toxins from the body.
Skin brushing has been a traditional practice throughout Asia, some European countries, and other countries for centuries. Native-American Indians use dried corncobs to brush their skin, while Chinese people use a sponge made of dried fruit fibres, called a loofah. A modern, skin brushing tool is the natural bristle brush with a long handle so you can brush your back and other hard to reach areas.
Dry skin brushing of your whole body takes about 5 minutes and is usually done daily before showering. The face may be brushed using a special, soft face brush, however the breasts and genitals are not brushed at all.
Long-handled, natural bristle brushes like the one below are easy to buy and inexpensive. Try your local health food store, or wherever health and beauty products are sold. Make sure you buy a brush with natural fibre bristles.
With brush in hand you’re ready to see for yourself how immensely beneficial this natural health practice is.

Benefits of Skin Brushing

As mentioned, regular brushing clears away dead skin cells and improves skin tone and texture. The more substantial internal benefits, however, are due to the fact that the skin is the largest eliminative organ in the body.
Regular brushing not only helps the skin to sweat away toxins, it also stimulates the underlying circulation of blood and lymph (a waste-removal fluid), which helps the body eliminate deeper level toxins, via your colon.

With many people these days suffering from clogged colons, allergies, acne, regular colds and other signs of toxic build-up (which are usually due to or exacerbated by poor diet), daily skin brushing is an ideal way to enhance the body’s natural waste removal systems.
Modify your diet and brush your skin daily and you will notice positive changes in your health and vitality.

Dry skin brushing benefits

• Stimulates your lymphatic system to remove waste & toxins via your colon
• Stimulates sweat glands & opens skin pores, which helps the cleansing process
• Increases blood circulation & improves blood quality
• Sweeps away dead skin cells, making your skin look & feel smooth & vibrant
• Improves skin tone & texture
• Encourages more nutrients to your skin, improving its look & feel
• Stimulates nerves in your skin, which enhances skin function
• Improves muscle tone & reduces cellulite & fat deposits
• Alleviates muscle tension – try it for stiff neck, back & shoulders
• Rejuvenates your nervous system & relaxes you
• Improves overall health – your skin eliminates about 1kg (around 2lb) of waste a day

How to Brush Your Skin

As mentioned, it’s important to use a natural bristle brush. It should also not be too hard or too soft - it needs to cause friction on the skin but not scratch it. The basic direction of brushing is from your extremities to the centre of your body, i.e. towards your colon, through which toxins are eliminated. Four or five brushes along each aspect, e.g. along the outside of your arm, or back of your leg, are enough.

1. Remove all clothing, necklaces, bracelets, etc. Brush your legs from your toes up to your hips and groin. Brush every aspect with long, smooth, sweeping strokes - do not scrub your skin. To make it easier to reach down, put your foot on a stool or the edge of the bath. Also brush the soles of your feet, which contain many reflexology areas and pressure points relating to other parts of your body.

2. Brush your arms from your fingertips to your shoulders and armpits. Once again, use 4 or 5 smooth, sweeping strokes. Like your feet, your hands also contain reflexology areas and points corresponding to other body areas.

3. Brush down the back of your neck and across the backs of your shoulders.

4. Brush down one side of your back from the base of your neck to the base of your lower back. Repeat on the other side.

5. Gently brush down the front part of your neck and throat, from below your ear and jaw to the top of your chest, on both sides.

6. Gently brush across one side of your chest (not your nipples though) from the midline to the sides. Repeat on the other side.

7. Brush from below your chest to your belly. Also brush the sides of your trunk from under your armpits to your hips.

8. Gently brush your abdomen in circles, in a clockwise direction as you look down. This follows the path of your colon and helps stimulate elimination.

9. You may spend more time brushing areas of flabby, un-toned, stretch-marked skin, such as your buttocks and hips, and any tight or painful areas, such as your neck and joints. Stop brushing if it starts to hurt, or when the skin turns a pinkish-red color, and always brush towards your colon.

10. You may also lightly brush your ears – including the backs – but only if your brush is soft enough to not overly irritate the skin. Ear brushing is very relaxing. The ears also contain reflexology areas and pressure points, so regularly brushing them has a therapeutic affect on other body areas.

Tips

• If you haven’t done skin brushing before, start gently until your skin adapts to it
• If you are ill, have a cold, or just feel sluggish, brush your body morning and night
• Brush daily for 2-3 months and pay attention to your diet for best overall effects
• Always use a dry brush on dry skin
• Don’t brush over broken, irritated or infected skin
• Wash your brush well in warm, soapy water at least once a week and hang it up to dry

re: dry skin brushing

another dry skin brushing link

still another dry skin brushing link

LEMONAIDE CLEANSE/ MASTERS CLEANSE

2009-02-07T12:08:00.002-06:00

There are countless varieties of this cleanse out there now, but this is the original that started it all...
this guy was a genius...

Stanley Burroughs' Master Cleanser Lemonade

12 small, organic lemons or 6 large ones
1 gallon distilled water
8 to 12 ounces pure, organic, grade-B maple syrup
Dash cayenne pepper

In a one-gallon pitcher, squeeze about a dozen small lemons (or six large lemons). This should make about 12 ounces of juice. Filter the pulp and seeds. The lemons contain the vitamins and antioxidants that will be a vital part of your nutritional needs during the fast.

Next, pour 8 to 12 ounces of pure, 100%, organic, Grade-B maple syrup in with the lemon juice. Grade A is fine, too, but Grade B contains more minerals that are refined out of the Grade-A syrup. This will give you the sweetness to counteract the sour lemons. More importantly, the maple syrup supplies the glucose for essential brain activity and more minerals and vitamins for your body to utilize. It's expensive, but remember, this lemonade is a substitute for food and you won't be spending money on food every day that you are on the fast. If you want to lose weight, I suggest that you only use 8 ounces of syrup per gallon. If it's not sweet enough, add another ounce.

Next, fill the remaining portion of the one-gallon pitcher with distilled water. You can find gallons of distilled water in any grocery store. It is very important that you use distilled water. It is the purest form of water you can drink and does not contain inorganic minerals to further toxify your body.

Stir this mixture well and pour a glass. You can make it the night before and let it chill overnight. Every now and then, if you want to clear your sinuses, you can sprinkle a little cayenne pepper in a glass of lemonade. Feel free to drink distilled water at any time during your fast. You can even make herbal mint or laxative tea, sweetened with maple syrup, during your fast. This will give you variety and help your cleansing and weight loss.

Do not substitute for any of these ingredients. Refined, white sugar will only toxify you further. Lemon juice in a bottle is from concentrate; it will not work. Only fresh-squeezed lemons, organic maple syrup, and distilled water will work. Buy enough ingredients for one day and see how you feel. The one-gallon of lemonade will last you one full day, easily. Try this fast for a maximum of three days the first time. You can stretch it to five or so later.

(Burroughs, Stanley. The Master Cleanser. Auburn, California: Burroughs Books, 1976.)

MISO SOUP

2009-02-06T21:02:00.002-06:00

I'm so glad I found this recipe for Miso Soup.

I have a tendency to not make alot of effort when I make a recipe just for myself;
I was just warming the paste in water, basically. But this gave me permission to fancy it up a bit.

Yummy...

This comes with a nicely written article from NATURAL NEWS

Traditional Miso Soup Recipe

Ingredients:

5-inch strip wakame (sea vegetable), or 2 teaspoons dried wakame
1 large onion (about 1 cup)
4 cups purified water
2 to 8 Tablespoons light miso depending on the richness desired

Instructions:

Soak the wakame in water for 10 minutes and slice into 1.5 inch pieces.

Thinly slice onions.

Put water, onions and wakame in a saucepan and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer for 10-20 minutes, until tender.

Remove 1.5 cups of broth from the saucepan and place in a bowl.

Allow water in the bowl to cool a bit and add the miso, mixing it into the water (the water should be cooled to a temperature of 105 degrees or lower so the beneficial microflora and enzymes in the miso remain in tact).

Turn off heat, allowing the remaining water in the saucepan to also cool to 105 degrees or below. When it has cooled, add the miso broth to the soup in the saucepan. Add chopped parsley, green onions, ginger or watercress for garnish.

This is a vegetarian version of miso soup. Dried bonito fish flakes found in Asian markets can be added to this soup to make a more substantial broth. Simmer one tablespoon of bonito flakes in the soup water for 10 minutes and strain.

MECHANICS~ Feb 6, Friday

2009-02-06T20:32:00.003-06:00

I have not been excited like this, since the beginning of this adventure.

It has been close to 3 weeks, 3 absolutely roller coaster weeks, and my focus and fervor is rekindling quickly.

Even as I sit here, there is a bonfire building inside....

This journey is not ending this week, folks, that much I know.

And I really do believe that because this may been one of the most complicated and awkward juice fasts, I've done, it is because it will be the one to bring the greatest results. What relief beyond description.

CHANGING LASTING RESULTS~~
I can't wait~

But that is for another post.....

We're all about the MECHANICS here.

Today, looked very much like a Masters Cleanse regime. Lemon juice and cayenne.

However, I have found a trick that seems to, in theory work.

My hardest moment is walking in the door when I get home late.

I have keep my juicer out on the counter ready for me and veggies cleaned and prepped in the fridge.
This has helped my internal argument about it beening soooooo hard to juice when its late and I'm tired....

But I also keep miso soup warmed in a slow cooker all day so when i get home it is INSTANTLY ready AND SNUGGLY WARM!!!!

The house smells delic too! So much nicer walking in the door.

Rest of the day was dry skin brush, colon cleanse, sweat bath, 10 minutes sitz bath and 20 minutes rebounder.

Dug out the pedometer ~ the goal? 20 thousand steps......

MECHANICS~ SHOCKED AND AMAZED

2009-02-04T23:23:00.005-06:00

Alright!!! I am absolutely, completely, utterly speechless on this one.

Altho, I have done a liver flush before... (everyone say... ewwww........)

I have never FLUSHED LIKE THIS BEFORE!!!!!
ABSOLUTELY ASTOUNDING!

First, praise God, the flush itself went so much easier than last I remember.

Opted for the epsom salt flush as opposed to the previous experienced, chunk-blowing sea salt flush.

And I did it with fresh APPLE JUICE~~
1000 Billion Percent BETTER!!

Now don't get me wrong.. still unbearable... but 1000 Billion percent LESS UNBEARABLE and I can stomach the thought of me doing it again in the near future.

Second, I opted for olive oil and FRESH GRAPEFRUIT JUICE!

Went down like BIG YUMMY CREAMSICLE!!

What an effect....
Truth be told... yes, and you are about to hear ALL TRUTH

I had ordered a recipe for a new liver flush...
Spent an whooping FIVE BUCKS for it..

THE ULTIMATE LIVER CLEANSE !!
they called it.
only to find it varying ever so slightly from the FREE LIVER CLEANSE recipes out there...
(and poorly written I might add)

SLIMEY GUY! Me thoughts to me self...
When I upload my ebooks
I'm NEVER ripping people off like this!

Well, Jo is eating crow...
(juicing crow?)

I have passed over FIFTY STONES!!!!
starting on Monday night...
(the evening after my flush....
the 24 hour delay, nicely confirming the nasty thought I thought about Mr Ultimate LC writer)

And still passing 2 days later....
Most stones ranging from pea right up to cherry pit size!

(warned you, about this truth part, don't say i didn't)

Again everyone....... EWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pictures soon to be uploaded for those brave, and bored in heart.
(soon as I figure this entire upload from phone deal)

THE VERDICT~ Week Two

2009-01-31T20:28:00.007-06:00

Well, week two
SUCKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No other way to put it. I struggled thru it all. My attitude, my focus.
It was so cold here, all I could do was to curl up in a ball.

I got behind on my sitz baths, which should be done consistently in order to see any effect.
I went back to drinking some coffee, waking a horrible beast, telling myself...
tommorrow, tomorrow...

My attitude with the kids stunk.
They could do nothing right.
I was miserable and grumpy, all the more wanting to wallow myself if a big bowl of something gooey with a big glass of red.

No.... make that a whole bottle of red....

My studying time...nil
My devotional time....nadda
My writing time... na uh

And now I feel the pressure. I feel the defeat. I have lost sooo much time.
I realize that BF is back in 14 short days and then the wining and dining will begin again.

......

AUGHHHH!!!

I fall dramatically across my bed, like a forlorn damsel...
How ever will I stand then? Will I ever see victory?

The monsters yell in my ear. HOLY HANNAH!!!!
are those things still alive?
I must punish myself. I can cheat my way around this.
Just binge Jo.
BLOW IT! BLOW IT!
You know you WANT TOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

How oh How!!! Swirly whirly goes the head..... ummm, just like a toxic, pasturized cow pus, artificially colored, flavored, preserved, swirly ice cream cone......

now... xhale.......
deep breathing.....

some where in there... Holy Ghost met me....
grace came flooding......

I xhaled..

This week I made decisions... do I want this? YES!!
Am I still able.... YES!!!

Do I need to grasp the concept that this is a journey I will need to walk when BF comes home, and not make him my xcuse for my food choices..... (weakly... yes)

Do I see now, that my enemy roams like a roaring lion looking to devour me, and I must always be watchful.

Am i even more strengthened to love on others when they wrestle with their defeat and monsters...

YES!!!!

Do I really realize that it all starts with submitting myself quietly day in and day out, moment by moment, to the peace and strength of Christ because in and of myself I can do nothing....

YES.......and YES.......

So in the grand scheme of things,
Whats the Verdict for Week 2??

Walking a Natural Path Newsletter~ January 09

2009-01-31T20:17:00.000-06:00

January is coming. ... The time when the dreams take flight.

"The time when the dreams take flight"

Wow, I had just finished typing those words to you in my last newsletter and somehow they would not let me go.

January has always been wrapped up in regret for me. It was my yearly reminder of all I hadn't done since last year at that time, when I promised myself "THIS WAS THEE YEAR!"

It always ended being THEE YEAR to fall flat on my face.

But yet, this year I have chosen to dream once again.

Incredible things have happened since you first started letting me invade your email boxes one year ago.

(Thank you for those who have endured).

It seems God has absolutely changed something in my heart.

Instead of January being the season for condemnation. January is the season of new dreams.

Do you have dreams?

Mine are to grow daily stronger; to increase my health, my control, my knowledge base. To take back that was stolen from me years ago.

To learn ,to do and to listen.

To walk this path and to deserve to wear the title; COACH.

There are many out there who will sit on the edge and tell you how to do it, what it should look like.

But I strive to be the real deal. Warts and all.

Not with bandages; no quick fixes.

Only with real work.

As much as I shudder at the thought, yes, it is real work.

I want to walk this, so others can walk beside.

Little by little, step by step.

Do you let yourself dream anymore?

Dreams are out there, swimming around in your spirit. Grab them!

Imagine the things just beyond our finger tips, longing to be claimed, if we just get on our knees and streeeeeeeeetch.

Many of you took on your New Years resolutions in the "Get the Crap Out Event" that was hosted on FACEBOOK. It was a success.

Please, make sure that you add Your Natural Food Coach to your FB groups. We have alot of fun.

The new www.NaturalFoodCoach.com should be launching shortly so keep popping by and seeing how things are progressing.

And for all of those who aren't tired of my rants yet, I am back blogging my recent juice feast and cleanse at www.juicing-jo.blogspot.com

The blog is still so rough looking compared to some of the beautiful blogs I have seen out there, but I'm learning.

I would love to see you all stop by.

"Reminding one another of the dream that each of us aspires to may be enough for us to set each other free."
~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Please have my blessings to forward this to whomever may be on your heart.

MECHANICS~ Watch Out Mr Gall Bladder

2009-01-31T16:18:00.004-06:00

And just who is Mr Gall Bladder, you may ask, and why ever should he be ware?!?!?!?

Why Mr GB and his side kick Mr Liver, are in for the shock of their little life in a few short hours.... they are getting flushed...

(unfortunately for me, i have to endure this right along with the rascally rat)

But JO, you may ask, who exactly are this gall bladder/ liver duo and why ever should I care?

Actually, dear friend, they are the unsung heroes of our health, that Mr Liver is the hardest working (and most neglected) organ in your beautiful bod, and when they are overloaded and crapped up with stuff, guess who suffers.... yup....

Its these guess who work as the filter, busy busy busy cleaning out all the unwanted stuff we put in our bodies before it gets into our bodies.

And do we ever work them hard. Alcohol, smoking, fatty foods, chemical ladden food products, heavy proteins, metabolic waste... all this over loads the liver/

World renown Dr. Hulda Clark says "cleaning the liver bile ducts is the most powerful procedure that you can do to improve you body's health".

And what about Mr. GB, well we have all heard about Gall Stones, but what are they?

"Gallstones are formed in the liver. They are made from a waxy substance called cholesterol which is manufactured in the liver. 80% of the cholesterol in the body is produced in the liver. 95% of gallstones are not "stones" at all, contrary to what the medical profession would like you to think. They are waxy agglomerations of coagulated cholesterol.

In fact, only 5% of gallstones are hard, or calcified. So, they seldom show up on x-rays or with ultrasound because they are waxy, not solid. They are coagulated cholesterol. They are usually green in color because they are infused with bile which is also produced in the liver. Cholesterol "stones" clog the bile ducts in the liver as well as the gallbladder itself."

And the gallbladder/liver flush, should remove them.....

Now i have done this before, I have released stones, and in case you are wondering, yup.. its gross....

So, off we go into more grossness, tomorrow.

Today its just lots of apple juice, allegedly the pectin helps "prepare" those silly stones to get moving, and lemonade.

I am really not looking forward to this...

Mechanics for the rest of the night....

Sweat bath, dry skin brush, colon cleanse, sitz bath.

MOMENTS~ Friday, January 30, 09

2009-01-31T01:39:00.002-06:00

Dear Jo,

Just dropping you a little note to let you know to expect more from me.
Jo, this has been the roughest week of a fast you have ever had, mentally, spiritually.
Shocked you didn't it? You really thought that after developing a nice little resume of fasts, that you were in for no more surprises...

surprise...... Jo, just know that this one is going deep. Its looking at all those ugly things, those tuff questions that are going to take you to the new place.
Rejoice Jo. This is awesome.
Don't forget your Maker, and that your strength comes out of those moments with Him.
It all must come out of moments with Him. Everything

Tomorrow is a fresh day. You will start your liver cleanse and your lemonaide cleanse.
Take advantage of every moment to rest and restore your spirit. Keep sitting with those dreams and promises. Speak them out. Give them life. The authority is in your mouth.

Eyes up Jo, this is your greatest adventure ever.

love,
Jo

As a food coach, i spend so much time speaking life into others who sit where I do now.
Maybe its time I start listening to myself and taking my own advice.
I am doing awesome, and I deserve a high five.
My goal tomorrow... do better than today.

MOMENTS~ Thursday, January 29

2009-01-29T21:18:00.001-06:00

How long has it been??

Shy of 2 weeks... ah... cr@p... this week is killing me.

I'm sure the better thing would be is to flat out lie to you all, tell you I'm having a wonderful time, wish you were here.
But these last four days or so sucked.

I think its the freeky cold. Hard to motivate, hard to dream, just want COMFORT!!

And of course, for emotional eaters.... comfort means food.

So I've been slouching by... juicing, miso, nice warm coconut milk..... and a daily spoonful of coconut oil and flaxseed. I dunno, i think I thought the fat would keep me warm.... sigh....

honestly I want to quit.
This entire past week has just reminded me of how much compulsion can still rule and reign if I let it. I can so easily become an emotional juicer if I let it. But does that really kill the beast.

Nope, the agenda remains the same. Lets deal with it.
I am realizing my flesh screams when I'm juicing and when its fed. Its never happy no matter what I seem to do.

Nope, I control it, it will not control me.

I never want to "wonder what if".

I want to know..... if I do this....
If I can help one other.....

I know your out there~ desperate for health, wishing you weren't led around like a dog on a leash. Doing the things you know to do, not the things you wish you wouldn't.

yup... there is a way there.

Ears open, eyes up, heart kneeled.... this is really happening, and life will transform.

MOMENTS~ Wendsday, January 28

2009-01-28T15:40:00.002-06:00

The thoughts and ideas come like a flood when you are on a fast.

Sitting, listening......

So many, my head sometimes swirls.....

I'm not even sure there is enough of me for all the ideas.

I'm praying for wisdom and supernatural understanding.

A work smart in the spirit discernment.

Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you.

I choose to seek Him first.

MOMENTS~ January 28, Wednesday

2009-01-28T15:31:00.002-06:00

The week was stretcher.... augh....

why am I doing this... I sit and I try to grasp my reasonings, but still my self is hollaring enough, enough....

Would life be better if I was licking that muffin batter spoon? The mashed potatoes? My mother's stuffing.....

nope, I have fallen for this logic time and time again... nope.

My arguements are not unique by anymeans. I know myself so well. Unfortunately, on the flip side of things, I know myself so well to know what is the best way to undermine myself.

I want to do this.

I want to know.

I want to be able to stand victoriously on the end of my goal and know it was done, and it was done well with excellence and integrity.

I've had two dreams in the past couple days about a fella I'm in prayer for.

Not encouraging dreams by any means.

What if people hadn't stood in the gap for me?

What if saints hadn't done warfare for me?

Would I be here?

The battle is real and some of these things only come out thru fasting and prayer.

Nope, I don't want to miss a thing. I don't want to wonder what if.

By grace ... we refocus, regroup and walk in strength that is not my own.

MECHANICS~ Wendsday, January 28

2009-01-28T15:25:00.003-06:00

No big worries.... I am still here...... melting into a big hot bath.....

Pretty typical end of week one... alot of wrestling.
Why in the world am I doing this??? My mind goes blank, the spoon in the muffin mix looks good...... Think, think, think Jo.....

Why am I here?

But I am here.... incognito..... in stealth mode.... holding on by my bloody knuckles....
But holding.....

The nights have been ridiculously cold. Record breaker cold.
So its all I can do is to soak and sweat under the flannels, hoping the inspiration will return.

Juicing last night... orange, apple, beets, cilantro, celery....

Lots of lemons, and a weekend off. Grapefruits, and apples are on sale, so me's thinking a liver flush and a Master's Cleanse in a couple days.

THE MECHANICS ~Sunday, January 25, 2009

2009-01-25T09:04:00.000-06:00

This needing less sleep thing is not all that its cracked up to be!
Wide awake at 2:30 last night, pondering my ceiling.....
Now only to we awakened by 8:30!
My day off..... the house is could, my mind in on holidaze.... I love you all but I really don't want to want to function today.

Alas, 9:14 finds me to awake for my own pleasure, sitting with puter and a big glass of lemon water.

GUUUUUUUD MORNING CYBER SPACE....

THE VERDICT~ Week One

2009-01-24T21:19:00.003-06:00

Alrighty, adding one more Options for all you Fast-Watchers....

THE VERDICT... ta da!~

To break this whole ordeal down nicely we have~

THE MECHANICS~ where I'll give you the technical play by play of what I'm juicing, what I'm doing
THE MOMENTS~ my profound or not so profound encounters with myself and God while fasting
THE VERDICT~ my weekly synopsis of whether I really think the past week was worth my effort and the results I've noticed....

My oh my... this certainly is becoming quite organized isn't it??

Alright... on with it then.... VERDICT WEEK ONE~~

Feeling pretty awesome about it all.
The biggest difference I've noticed is in sleeping habits. I've been waking up easily by 5
BIG BIG improvement right there.

Seems a little bit of "bloat" has moved from my middle as some tighter pants do up much easier.

Still passing debris in the colon cleanse... exactly how much cr@p is up there me wonders??

The biggest difference I've noticed however is that the slight mucous drizzle that I've always had is gone~~~ almost 100%!!
This is unbelievable to me, as it has been there as long as I can remember, even thru previous fasts. The only thing I can attribute this too is the daily sitz baths.
They are the only thing I have added that I hadn't before.......

Guess, we'll see whats what next week at this time....

MECHANICS~ Saturday, January 24

2009-01-24T21:12:00.003-06:00

So much for feeling ahead of the game.....
Last night I feel asleep on the couch about 9 and stayed there until 9;30 the next morning.

Rush, rush, rush off to work...

Lunch at work was my first "meal". Barley greens and oj.

Lots of detox tea, and yes... I must confess... a cup of coffee.

It was a small... my motive was driven out of curiosity than the feel of "need".
The verdict... I dumped 3/4 of it... tasted funny....

Home now... to lazy to juice, its already 9:30.
One hot sweat bath, dry brush, colon cleanse and sitz bath.

Sipping fennel & fenugreek tea.

The evening is lovely, and I'm feeling fresh, focused and full.

THE MECHANICS ~ Friday, January 23, 2009

2009-01-23T06:57:00.001-06:00

Up @ 5 easily... on the rebounder... not that easily~ put is 20 mediocre minutes.

Hot sweat bath, dry skin brush, followed by a sitz bath.

Feeling so ahead of the game, right now... will actually have time to make some juice.

Orange, apple and ginger... nothing too weird so I can get some down the kids before they head out the door.

THE MECHANICS~ Thursday, Jan 22, 09

2009-01-22T08:58:00.005-06:00

Yesterday was a total right off.

I expect one or two of those during a fast.

I got home, had a warm cup of coco milk and cinamon.

Then another cup of warm broth, no bath, no cleanse, no brush.

Just snapped at my kids and off to bed by 9

Slept intil 7:30... so GLORIOUS!!! (not the snapping @ the kids part....)

Today was starting in "write off" mode. Woke up wondering why on earth I'm here, why on earth I'm doing this....

But decided to get my head out of my but and trust God to crank me around.

Got 10 intense minutes in on rebounder before I left, and deep breathing...

Things are much clearer.

At work 1 cp warm water & bee pollen
1 cup spirulina/barley greens lemonaide

Home time.... yummy yummy!!
Big glass of orange, apple, carrot, potato, cilantro, ginger

2 cups of miso....

Sweat bath, dry brush, cc, sitzbath....

THE MECHANICS~ Wednesday, January 21,

2009-01-21T13:15:00.004-06:00

Up again at 5 am... (by choice) 10 minutes on rebounder but purdy stiff.. will try again tonite.

I've been experimenting with Niacin for sleep and I sure have noticed a difference waking up the days I've used it.

8 am~ warm coconut milk, cinnamon, honey, and a splosh of butterscotch flaxoil.. yummy

11 am~ 3 tsp of beepollen in warm water.

really missing the coffee today.... gonna convince myself to grunt it out... will be better tommorrow.

THE MECHANICS ~Tues Jan 20, 2009

2009-01-20T06:06:00.006-06:00

Up @ 5AM Miracle in itself~ for so long that has been an unachievable goal.

40 minutes rebounder, lemon water, dryskinbrush, contrast shower.

8 AM ~ big glass of pineapple juice and spirulina.

Off to work 2 liter bottle of water and ACV in hand, wish me luck

Lunch at work~ 2TB bee pollen dissolved in water.
detox tea

Home 6:45~ juiced apple, carrot,beet, ginger, potato
sat at the table and ate.

7:45~ spirulina and lemonade. Sat at the computer and guzzled... bad, jo

9 PM 20 minute sweat bath, dry brush, colon cleanse, 20 minute sitz bath

10 pm one cup of the great big batch of cleansing broth I made

THE MOMENT~ Monday January 19, 2009

2009-01-19T14:57:00.004-06:00

WORD VS NOTEPAD

Have you ever tried to write an article in NOTEPAD?
Every computer is programmed with it.
It does the job, I supose, but it looks like cr@p and you feel no incentive to work with it.

Even worse, I don't think anyone feels the incentive to open up and read a NOTEPAD article.

I have WORD on my puter.
I use it all the time. Will never go back to NOTEPAD.

And yet, there is so much more I could do in my WORD.
So many quick shortcuts and features that would make my "creations" AMAZING!

The more I work in WORD the more I learn.
The faster I get. More efficient.
I can get the job done best.
Its FUN and I'm learning from it.

As born again children of God, we are all programmed with NOTEPAD.

There comes a time when we should upgrade and upload WORD.
Thats Holy Spirit.

Thats the program that gets the job done as it was meant to get done.

Thats what this fast is.

I am learning the program more and more.
I'm taking the time, reading the manual, the help menu,
and discovering the story and it is being written.

So much better than I could ever have dreamed.

THE MECHANICS ~ Monday Jan 19, 2009

2009-01-19T13:36:00.008-06:00

One more day off... all for me...

Morning started with big glass of lemon water.
Then bee pollen in water.
25 minutes rebound, followed by dry skin brushing, 20 min detox bath, colon cleanse, 20 minutes sitz bath.

2 pm~ juiced, carrot, apple, red pepper and ginger, all I had in the fridge.... wow!
DELIC!

Working on a couple new theories.... first, I am a lazy juicer.
I don't like the mess, don't like the work.
I'm trying to reprogram my stinking thinking, because logically I know its not really that bad.

So every night I get my juicer put together and sit it right in the middle of my cupboard.
Can't avoid it... there it is! FRONT AND CENTER, staring at me, ready to go.

As well, I try to get all my juicing ingredients ready the night before.
Washed, separated and in a nice little veggie bag in the fridge.
No fuss. Just pull out the bag and we're off.

I'm also noticing I need my sink clean when I juice.
Some how the thought of adding my dirty juicing stuff to an already full sink is enough motivation to put it off.
So far so good.

Also working on reprogramming.

As an recovering emotional/compulsive eater, my bod needs to reprogram

I notice in my previous juice feasts, I still default back to these tendencies, just with juice.

If I'm upset, I run to the fridge. But if its juice I'm guzzling, I tend to excuse it.

No more. I want these habits broken.

Now, I'm trying to make myself follow the "STEPS".

Juicing with intelligence and excellence.

This time, I stop, I sit, I drink.... same as if for food. No juicing on the run.
No guzzling at the puter.
At the table, slow, thankful, thoughtful.

Day one... so far so good...

cont....

20 minutes yoga... ughhh... felt amazing to stretch!

6 PM dinner with kids~ sipped my 2 cups of potato water, from potatoes.

supplementing with enzymes and niacin.

8 PM~ 25 minutes on rebounder

10 PM dry skin brush, sweat bath, colon cleanse, sitz bath...

Midnight~ lemon water, garlic, to bed....

THE MECHANICS~ Jan 18 Sunday

2009-01-19T12:20:00.002-06:00

Woke up to no heat on Sunday, yipee..... didn't get off to the well focused, streamlined plan I had originated.... (somehow that doesn't surprise me.... when ever you make a well focused, streamlined plan, count on one thing......monkey wrenches)

Dig manage to get out from under the warm covers (later than planned) but regrouped and had a contrast shower while waiting for Mr. Furnace-Fixer.
No time for detox bath, but contrast shower helps all the same.

No time for juice, on the road... go, go,go......
Managed to slug back 2 litres of lemon water, and a quick spirulina and lemonade.

I have also discovered bee pollen dissolves well in warm water, and is awesome when lazy or in a rush

Got home later, drank a couple cups of warm miso, xhaled and refocused for Monday.

THE MECHANICS~ Saturday, Jan 17, 2009

2009-01-17T12:10:00.003-06:00

What a fabulous sleep.

Started the day with Lemon water, 20 min on the rebounder, dry skin brush.

Mid morning I did my detox bath (ginger, ACV, Epsom salts, H2O2)
Colon cleanse, followed by 20 minute sitz bath.

This really gets the bod releasing crap, the lymph pumping and moving things out.

Spent the afternoon sipping cleansing tea

Supplementing with Digestive Enzymes.

2Pm ~ Deep breathing ( I REMEMBERED JENN!! WOO HOO)

4 PM Feeling pretty weak, been going like crazy cleaning house. Made a big pot of juice (lemon, apple, yam, carrot, romaine) and climbing under electric blanket for a while.

Napped to 6 PM- rebound 25 minutes, dry skin brush, 20 min sweat bath, colon cleanse, 20 min sitz bath

THE MECHANICS ~ Friday, January 16, 2009

2009-01-17T00:57:00.004-06:00

I had spent the past 2 weeks in sort of a pre-fast prep.
Consuming mostly raw fruits and veggies, alot of bee pollen and spirulina.

I had been waiting for BF to head off for his one month adventure in Mexico, so I can attack this without someone trying to wine and dine me every Saturday night.

I really need to be strategic about my long haul fasts. Its amazing how many people want to invite you over for dinner out of the blue as soon as you commit in your heart to do something like this. Murphy's Law? I'm starting to wonder.

This weekend all the kiddos are gone, and I have 2 days almost to myself.
I am pressing in and kicking this baby off.

Today was a hairy unorganized rush, delivering kiddos to various locations. Alot of time in the car and go, go, go...

Tried to work my way thru a big bottle of lemon water. But honestly it rolled under the front seat of the car, and I forgot.

I grabbed an OJ (real OJ not orange pop) at McDicks when kids and I hit the drive thru.

When I got home to my quiet little sanctuary, I started in with the baths.

Hot sweat bath. 1 cup Epsom salt, 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup Apple Cider Vinegar, one inch chunk of ginger.
Colon cleanse and dry skin brushing.....

Too late to drag out juicer and make a mess, so drank 1 cup cleansing broth and 2 cups of warm miso thru out the night while playing catch up with vacuum, dishes, laundry and puter.

1:07 AM and I'm off to bed.

THE MECHANICS AND THE MOMENTS

2009-01-17T00:37:00.006-06:00

mI thot I'd make this fast's blog a little more streamline and user friendly than last.

There's seems to always be alot of interest, comments and questions, when I do this.
But primarily from 2 completely different directions.

That just fine and dandy, as my fasts usually mesh from two completely different directions.

The first being the practical fast. The cleansing, and restoring aspect to my health.
I always want to preach what I have first practiced and each time around I learn there is so much more to learn about natural hygiene.

There doesn't seem to be anything I won't try once. Because, simply I wanna know.
I had spent so many years in mediocre health, eating disorders, emotional distress... when I discovered raw foods, juicing and cleansing- it saved me, and it has become a passion.

I love the juice fast (or juice feast if you prefer)

The second angle is that of a believer. My Jesus taught us to fast to seek God.
He made it very clear there are some things that can only be accomplished in the spirit by the fast. It is a time of holy fellowship with God. A time of setting yourself aside, your screaming, demanding flesh and just being with HIM.

I love this even more than any perks of health of longevity.
This is MY PASSION!
My spirit always takes priority over this old wasting away bod.

For those interested in the googey details of my fast, my colon, my toxins or anything else "mechanical", look for the posts marked "MECHANICAL"

All other ramblings as I "detox" my soul will be posted "THE MOMENTS"

Simple huh.....

Shall we begin?

When You Fast.....

2009-01-05T19:39:00.004-06:00

I think its interesting that when Jesus taught his disciples he said "When you fast..."
Not "if you fast".

Now I'm not so sure about you, but if Jesus thought it was important enough to make it a command. Then I'd better give it some credence.

When you change things in the spirit. You change things in the natural.
Jesus knew this all to well.

My natural needs some changing. The natural of my loves needs some changing.
And there is an entire world of complete strangers who's natural needs some changing.

I love the fast.
It slows me down.
(tee hee... where ever do I come up with these things?)

But when all of IT becomes too close, and I have strayed too far...
The fast will draw me back to HIM.

So everyone raise your glass of celery/spinach/apple juice and lets welcome the new year and a new adventure!

Ah yes.... one more thing.... I've noticed alot more traffik on this blog (by which I am humbled and strangely baffled) but I invite all FACEBOOKERS to join us at

YOUR NATURAL FOOD COACH

and to plug into the EVENT "2009 GET THE CRAP OUT" where myself and a bunch of very brave souls do exactly that!
Bringing in the NEW YEAR removing cr@p in any way shape and form that cr@p may come