Day 20: Alishineyas, Warriors, and Ever-loving Illumination

Alishineya (ael-i-shin-ey-a): A woman waking up to her true power, her light; unearthing the divine journey of her soul.
Ex. I have been blessed to know many strong alisheneyas who have shined the light for me to notice that I, too, am exquisitely alive.

Alishen (ael-ee-shen): The male equivalent.

Today I was assigned a writing project to invent a new word and use it. I thought about how the word "warrior" really isn't used regularly for women. I love the word "bodhisattva." This word is not made up. It's a Buddhist word: "those who train whole-heartedly in awakening unconditional and relative bodhichitta are called bodhisattvas or warriors- not warriors who kill and harm but warriors of nonaggression who hear the cries of the world." Bodhichitta is basically strong mindfulness without fear or judgment and the "ability to keep our hearts and minds open without shutting down" according to Pema Chodron in The Places that Scare You.

As this 21-day cleanse is coming to a close, I've noticed more than ever the strong tie between body, mind, and spirit, even in focusing simply on the diet and what we choose to consume.

This cleanse has re-awakened my Spirit; it has settled into my heart. By loving myself enough to make the right food choices for me, I feel happier, lighter, more free.

Even my choices at the grocery store lift me up. Now I do my best to support companies that are trying to nourish us instead of contributing to those who fill their pockets, then fill their products with sugar and concentrated, over-processed starch, pointing at kids with diabetes and saying "exercise more." Or worse yet, the ones treating animals in a way that they could never fathom being treated.

Yes, there was a bit of frustration, anger, ranting on my part. For a moment, I wanted to get my sword and go to war. But I love the idea of keeping "our hearts and minds open without shutting down." When I was vegan before, I rather made a point to tell everyone what they are eating, all the time. I felt so passionately it was hard to watch people eat. But being so one-sided can lead others to shut down. Our hearts must be ready, too. This time, this cleanse, I committed body, mind, heart, and soul and it's made such a difference. I know that I tread more lightly upon the earth and my heart smiles.

Making such kind and gentle choices for myself and for the world can't help but trickle into other areas of my life, awakening new parts of the spiritual journey.

There are alishineyas everywhere. There's my friend Lisa, who is following her dream to move to Costa Rica. The many brave entrepreneurs in the community, risking everything, working lonely hours to make their dreams come true. The yoga teachers who share the light, many in their "free time" after full time jobs. There's my sister, Amy, who pours her whole self not only into teaching young children, but also into tirelessly supporting and inspiring other teachers, then going home to bathe her toddler in endless love and attention.

To everyone who is living with their eyes open, to everyone who pours their entire being into their lives, into serving others, into honoring themselves, you inspire me to be better. To the alisheneyas and alishens- thank you for joining me for however many footsteps along the journey. As your path is illuminated, gently, lovingly, let's shine light into the darkened spots and lonely hearts of the world so others may find the way.

Day 15- Makes the Cheese Monster Cry and Say Goodbye

As I mentioned in an earlier post, my nickname used to be “The Cheese Monster.” At parties, my mom would hide the cheese plate from me or it was in danger of disappearing in minutes. My sister and I could polish off an entire 24 pack of Kraft singles in two days. Judging by the fact that I was at a hefty 140 pounds in 5th grade, it was probably more me than my sister… When I was diagnosed with dairy allergies in 6th grade, I listened to the doctor and stopped eating dairy products for 6 months. I was twelve and lost 30 pounds!

Unfortunately, after about a year, I rediscovered my love of cheese and suffered from constant sinus infections, headaches, never being able to breathe through my nose, and…well…a constantly uncomfortable tummy. I thought it was normal.

Dairy is NOT normal. We are the only species that drinks milk after infancy and the only species that drinks the milk of other species. And why did we pick cows? Cows produce the largest quantity of milk and it’s more economic to house them than elephants. (“Lucky elephants!” say the cows.)

“Cows’ milk, by design, grows a 90 –pound calf into a 2,000 pound cow over the course of two years. It allows calves to double their birth weight in forty-seven days and leaves their four stomachs feeling full. Sounds more fattening than human milk, right?  It is.”  Skinny Bitch

According to Freston, “So-called ‘2 percent’ milk may be 2 percent fat by volume, but it’s about 33 percent by calories, which is what actually matters.”

Remember all those nasty pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, and steroids that you know are in the meat? By eating dairy products, it is just as bad as though you ate the meat directly. As a matter of fact, Eggs have 10 times the hormone content of meat and dairy, along with a hefty dose of cholesterol and very possibly, salmonella.

I just finished watching the documentary Veducated and was crying as I watched the male chicks either thrown into a grinder or simply tossed into the garbage to starve and die since they won't lay eggs. Though places that claim "grass fed" and "free range" can be certified organic, there is still no agency that governs how the animals are actually treated. No one checks on the word "humane." I feel like this really changes things for me. Here I was, feeling good about my organic eggs, picturing those happy cows on the organic farms, smugly wondering how "those other people" can eat commercial eggs and meat. Now I find out that the treatment of the animals is basically no different.

Dairy products have been linked to osteoporosis, allergies, acne, anemia, anxiety, arthritis, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, fibromyalgia, headaches, heartburn, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, joint pain, poor immune function, ear infections, colic, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, autism, Crohn’s disease, breast and prostate cancers, and ovarian cancer.

Why do I have to keep re-learning this lesson? I swear off cheese, feel better, almost start to breathe and then...I dive face-first into cheesecake, "have to" eat the pizza, lose my mind in ice cream (pictured above.) Can I just say it wasn't my fault? That I was drugged?

Actually, yes. Casein, present in cheese, eventually breaks down through digestion to become casomorphins. Yeah, like “morphine.” So casein is an opiate, sending pleasure to your brain, soothing you and making you want more. You had no choice but to equate cheese with love. Not only are you drugged, but casein and milk proteins have been shown to “dramatically increase blood cholesterol and its associated lesion that leads to heart disease.” Not bad enough for you? It also promotes cancer development.

T. Colin Campbell is responsible for the China Study, one of the most significant studies on the pitfalls of animal products and their link to cancer and other diseases. After one of his clinical experiments, he wrote, “Even when huge doses of cancer-causing toxins were given to study subjects, tumors grew only when they were fed casein.”

The American Cancer Society recommends eating mostly plant sources and to limit high-fat foods, especially from animal sources, if you want to reduce the risk of cancer.

I was very surprised to learn that milk actually leaches calcium from the body! Where are the lowest incidences of osteoporosis on earth? Surely America, since we drink all that milk, right? WRONG. Dairy –free countries. “The more milk a population consumes, the weaker its bones get.” Yes, milk has calcium, but at the same time it also releases even more of it.  According to The Kind Diet, “Meat and dairy are the chief causes of osteoporosis, not the cures.”

So how to get your calcium? Eat fortified grains, kale, collard greens, mustard greens, cabbage, kelp, seaweed, watercress, chickpeas, broccoli, red beans, soybeans, tofu, seeds, and nuts.

Calcium Milligrams per 100-gram serving:

Butter
20
Whole Milk
118
Chickpeas
150
Collard greens
203
Parsley
203
Soybeans
226
Almonds
234
Sesame seeds
1160

“The Chinese, throughout their long and complicated history, have never included milk or cheese in their diets. It’s only in the very recent past that dairy has been introduced as a daily food, and with it has come a rapid rise in health problems like obesity and breast cancer.” – The Kind Diet, Alicia Silverstone

Where women consume high-fat, animal-based diets, the American Dietic Association reports incidences of breast cancer at the highest.

In fact, “in countries where dairy is not consumed the incidence of breast cancer is so low as to be almost nonexistent. Once women in those countries begin eating Western diets, however, their breast cancer rates increased eightfold.” – Kind Diet

So if you drop all animal products, these are the long-term benefits:
1.  More energy – Liver and kidneys work harder to digest animal products – you are testing this right now!  Do you feel lighter?
2.  Clearer skin – Animal meat contains hormones
3.  Alleviation of chronic conditions, like arthritis – “80 percent of milk protein comes from casein, and casein is believed to aggravate arthritis.” –Freston
(I can already feel a significant reduction in my chronic back pain and it's only been two weeks.)

Not to mention, much lower risk of all the other diseases listed above.

When sugar is back on the menu and you're ready for a treat, check out SoDelicious ice “cream” bars. They are made with coconut milk and they are, well, SO DELICIOUS! My favorite ice "cream" is by the Coconut Bliss brand- they have chocolate brownie and caramel fudge flavors that are incredible. I make “Tofutti” cheese sandwiches (best if you combine with veggies – the taste isn’t exactly cheese) and pizza with Daiya "mozzarella" shreds. Tofu can act like scrambled eggs, but be sure it's organic.


To be completely honest, I'm feeling upset with myself right now. I convinced myself for a year that I "needed" to be more flexible with my diet. It was a slippery slope into horrible health, weight gain, energy loss, and carelessly contributing to the demise of our precious environment. In our society where eating meat and cheese is a central part of the culture, it is very difficult to hang onto your principles, to choose tofu when cheese covered bacon is sitting next to it. To be constantly asked why, even openly challenged by loved ones and teased at gatherings. I was tired of being teased. I was tired of being "picky" and "annoying." But I'm more tired of being fat, sluggish, and achy. I'm more annoyed at how heartlessly animals are being treated. I'm feeling picky about the shape I want our earth to be in for my niece, for her children, and their children. I'm ready to stop whining, stop making excuses, and start protecting my health, saving precious lives, and preserving the environment with my consistent, daily choices.

Encouragement from the Quantum Wellness Cleanse:

Yes, this is a lot of information, “but with awareness comes resolve. The more aware you are of why it’s so important to change the way you eat, the better you will be able to stick with the program. With this knowledge under your belt, the cleanse will feel less like a restriction and more like the upgrade that it is. And should you decide to maintain these upgrades after the completion of the cleanse, you will do so with the awareness that you have made a profound lifestyle choice with far-ranging, life-long positive benefits.”


More fabulous recipes tomorrow!

Day 13- Moo-ve Over, Meat

“Avoid as many animal products as possible. The vast majority of major publications regarding disease prevention and reversal support this, and in the healthiest parts of the world, animal (whether it flies, swims, runs, jumps or slithers) and dairy consumption is nowhere near the epic proportions reached in the Western diet. Eliminate animals and animal products from your diet for optimal health.” – Dr. Todd Pesek, Eat Yourself Super

When I first blogged about this cleanse, this was the easy part for me and such a nice soapbox to stand on. I had been vegan for quite some time and had nearly forgotten how hard it is to give up eating meat. This time, I have actually called myself a “recovering vegetarian” for the last year and have even written in a local publication about my glorious reunion with bacon. So, I'm going to be very honest and tell you that I have been craving a bacon cheeseburger for the last several days. But I've also enjoyed being rediscovering this very light, gentle feeling in my body.

The biggest reason I decided to start this particular cleanse at this time is because though I had every intention of using meat only as a garnish, only about once a week, and only with responsibly sourced meat. Then, the slippery slope led me into more of a habitual consumption of meat and my rules became more and more lax. Now, I'm at my heaviest weight and am still battling to get my energy back. It seemed like the perfect time to re-set my body and remember why I had ever chosen to be vegan to start with.

So why is this such an important topic to consider for optimal health?

Eating meat and animal products leads to a great risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, contributes to arthritis pain, increases cholesterol, and has been linked with not only causing cancer, but also for serving as fuel when cancer already exists.

Every time you consume factory-farmed chicken, beef, veal, pork, eggs, or dairy, you are eating antibiotics, pesticides, steroids, and hormones:

“Half of all the antibiotics made in the United States each year are administered to farm animals, causing antibiotic resistance in the humans who eat them. A study at the University of California Berkeley linked eating beef to urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women. It just so happens that the most common infectious disease in women is UTIs.” – Skinny Bitch

Feeling proud about eating only “white meat” and maybe “the other white meat?” These were slogans invented by the meat industry. Chicken has just as much fat and cholesterol as beef. It hides in the muscle. It might even be worse; eating chicken and fish has been linked to colon cancer.

Fish alternatives that contain essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and protein are: flaxseeds, pumpkin, sesame, sunflower seeds, nuts, soybeans, fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, soy products, and whole grains. But please, organic soy only- more info on that in a few days.

And as if Mad Cow Disease, pink sludge, E. Coli, and tainted meat aren't scary enough, did you know that there is fecal matter in half or more of all chicken? Skinless was even worse than skin-on. Kathy Freston Investigates: There's Poop in our Chicken Meat!

What about protein? Will I get enough?
It’s a myth that vegans don’t get enough protein. There are many cases of disease caused by getting too much protein, but it’s exceptionally rare to not get enough. Just make sure you are eating beans, lentils, nuts, whole grains, and seeds.

“A portion of meat may have a high density of various essential amino acids, but it also has loads of saturated fats. Proteins from legumes and grains, on the other hand, can deliver an equal number of amino acids with little saturated fat.” Plus, vegetables are high in fiber, where animal protein has none, and high in vitamins and minerals (again, meat has none.)

There's always the argument: “Man is superior. That is why I eat animals. Because I can – we’re at the top of the food chain.”

Interesting. “If you study animals in the wild, you will note that they do not rely on anything other than their natural hunting ability, speed, strength, claws, teeth, and jaws. They have no tools or weapons. Now look at yourself. Look at your flimsy fingernails in comparison to an eagle’s talons. Look at your flat, blunt teeth compared to a lion’s fangs. Compare your speed and agility to that of a tiger. Compare the strength of your jaw to a wolf’s. Imagine yourself trying to run after an animal, catch it, and kill it using your bare hands, fingernails, teeth, and jaws. Not only would you look ridiculous, but you’d probably get your ass kicked, too. And even if you were successful, envision yourself feasting on the kill without the aid of an oven and silverware.” – Skinny Bitch

The more I read, the more considerable the evidence grows that we have been fed dangerous lies, hormones, chemicals, and complacency. There is SO MUCH more to this – the science, the studies, the specific chemicals, the acidity of meat, the diseases spread by tainted meat, the hormones released by terrified animals, all of the health complications linked to meat, the profit of an industry leading to loss in our health, the environmental devastation. It’s all preventable. If you are interested in learning more, I would recommend the following:

The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone – she’s even kind to you as you read it. Her recipes are awesome. Highly recommend.

Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin – a no-nonsense approach. They tell it like it is and sometimes that’s what we need to hear.

The Engine 2 Diet by Rip Esselstyn – Son of Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., MD, who conducted ground-breaking research at the Cleveland Clinic in reversing heart disease through a plant-based diet. He’s been a professional triathlete and is currently a firefighter. He has great advice, scientific evidence to back his claims, and even an exercise plan to go along with eating plan and recipes. A good one to give to your male friends; he makes being vegan sound very manly and cool.

21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart by Neil D. Barnard, MD – He’s one of the ones that all these other folks quote. Solid information and meal plans.

The Blue Zone: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest by Dan Buettner - Interviews with people in the “Blue Zones” along with advice and conclusions drawn based on research. Good stuff like “Walk six miles a day”, “laugh often”, “find the meaning in your life and live with joy”, as well as dietary advice.

The Quantum Wellness Cleanse: The 21-Day Essential Guide to Healing Your Body, Mind, and Spirit by Kathy Freston – I think you know a bit about this one by now.

Documentaries:
All very lively documentaries that held my interest the whole time. Fast-paced, fascinating, and life-changing. Check them out. You don’t even have to read.
Food, Inc.
Hungry for Change
Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead

I’m still reading and will keep you posted!

And now for a protein-packed meal:

Black Bean Enchiladas
Makes 4 servings

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
3 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 cans (15 oz) lack beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (4 oz) chopped mild green chilies, drained
1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 to tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Salt and pepper, to taste
8 (6 inch) corn tortillas (or other gluten free)
Quick Enchilada Sauce (below)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 C). Lightly oil an 11 x7 inch baking dish and set aside.

2. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. 

3. Add the garlic and cumin and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.

4. Add the beans, chilies, lime juice, cilantro, salt and pepper, stir until thoroughly combined and remove from the heat.

5. Meanwhile, arrange the tortillas on a large ungreased baking sheet (some overlap is okay) and place in the oven until just warmed and softened, about 5 minutes.

6. Spread about 1/3 cup of Quick Enchilada Sauce along the bottom of the prepared baking dish.  Spoon equal portions of the black bean mixture (about ½ cup) along the center of each tortilla and roll up; snugly arrange tortillas, seams side down, in the baking dish.

7. Pour the remaining Quick Enchilada Sauce evenly over the tortillas. 

8. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbling and the enchiladas are heated through.

I also made an avocado/tomato salsa topping that was delightful: Dice 1 avocado and 1/2 tomato, mix with cilantro, garlic powder, salt, and a spritz of lime juice.

Quick Enchilada Sauce
*For slightly less spicy, use ½ tablespoon less of chili powder

2 cups vegetable broth
3 tablespoons chili powder
½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon onion powder
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch, dissolved in 3 tablespoons water

In a small saucepan, bring all the ingredients, except the cornstarch mixture, to a boil over medium heat. Whisk in the cornstarch mixture and boil for 1 minute, whisking constantly. Remove from the heat and serve warm.
*Recipes From the Gluten-Free Vegetarian Kitchen (I am loving this book!)


*Note about the picture: I laid the tortillas flat , filled them, then made a top layer to make more of a casserole because I didn't feel like rolling them up. I also added chopped zucchini. The goo that looks like cheese is Daiya (non-dairy cheese) and helped it stick, but many people don't love it, so I didn't list it as an ingredient. 

Day 10- She seems so sweet, but she'll kill you slowly

This is really awkward… I’m so sorry to have to be the one to tell you this, but your sweetheart, Sugar – she’s never going to love you back. As a matter of fact, your SweetTart, your Love, your Sugar…has been trying to kill you for years. I know it must be hard to hear. But from what I can see (the attempted murder and all), I’m not sure it’s going to work out between you two…

“Sugar is like crack, and food manufacturers know that if they add it to their products, you’ll keep coming back for more.” – Skinny Bitch

White sugar, often called an “antinutrient” actually steals nourishment from your body. It leaches vitamins and minerals from your blood and bones. That’s why you get cavities, as I’m sure you know, but it also leads to bone loss, depression, and weak blood.

Additionally, “Refined sugar, a simple carbohydrate, has been linked to hypoglycemia, yeast overgrowth, a weakened immune system, hyperactivity, attention deficit disorder, enlargement of the liver and kidneys, mental and emotional disorders, cavities, and an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain.” – Skinny Bitch

Not bad enough? White sugar is associated with cancer. “Cancer cells swarm to sugar like bees to honey, because it is an important source of food for them.” – The Engine 2 Diet, Rip Esselstyn

Sugar contributes to insulin resistance and diabetes, where your “blood sugar remains high, but your cells are starving.” – Kind Diet

Also according to Alicia Silverstone: “Sugar makes you fat…Because excess refined sugar converts to fat, every soda, every cupcake, and every candy bar is going straight to your thighs.”

Rip Esselstyn agrees, “When sugars are refined, adulterated, and processed, they become empty calories: They contain almost no nutritional value, can raise cholesterol levels, and make a beeline for your waistline.”

Did you know that it was the arrival of refined flour and sugar that brought disease to isolated areas?

 “Western diseases followed closely on the heels of the arrival of Western foods, particularly refined flour and sugar and other kinds of 'store food.'…When one Western disease arrived on the scene, so did most of the others and often in the same order: obesity followed by type 2 diabetes followed by hypertension and stroke followed by heart disease.” – In Defense of Food, an Eater’s Manifesto by Michael Pollan

According to Kathy Freston's Quantum Wellness Cleanse, “the most important thing to realize is that no matter how out of balance your system is, even if you have type 2 diabetes, you can do a great deal to get healthy again by cutting out sugars, refined carbs, and high-fructose corn syrup, and by exercising regularly.”

Continue to avoid:
-Soda (Deemed “Liquid Satan” in Skinny Bitch)
-Store-bought cookies, cakes, or pastries
-Candy
-Condiments that contain sugar or high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which is processed even more than refined sugar
-Ice cream or frozen yogurt

Other words for refined sugar on packages are: evaporated cane juice, sugar, brown sugar, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, honey, barley malt, or beet sugar.

Also, a tip from The Kind Diet: “All ingredients ending in “-ose” should be considered white sugar: Dextrose, glucose, sucrose, maltose, and fructose are all simple sugars.”

Freston recommends avoiding fruit juice because “it contains high concentrations of naturally occurring sugar.” If you really love your juice, I have a trick to share: Pour yourself ¼ glass of juice, then fill the rest with water or sparkling water. You get the flavor, but much less sugar. It’s especially good with pomegranate juice, which has a strong flavor.

If you get a craving for sweets, these are some delicious substitutes:

• A piece of fruit (mango, apple, peach, banana, grapes, whatever you like!)

• You might just be thirsty – have some water with a squeeze and slice of lemon (or soak some cucumbers, oranges, or lemons in water for a couple of hours in a pitcher- so refreshing!)

• A spoonful of unsweetened, natural peanut butter- this has been my lifesaver. It tastes sweet and indulgent and the high protein and healthy fat keeps me full.

• Dried fruit in bakery, like in the recipe below

• Trouble kicking the soda pop? How about some sparkling water with Citrus Fresh essential oil?

  

  My party drink. :-)

Do not substitute with artificial sweeteners. More on that tomorrow.

For a really eye-opening documentary on our food industry and sugar, I strongly recommend the documentary Fed Up.

A lovely meditation from the 21 Day Quantum Wellness Cleanse:

“I choose wisely. I am more than just a body on autopilot. I am a thinking, rational, strong person who has pointed myself in the direction of ever-evolving wellness. I am no longer willing to do things just because they feel superficially or temporarily good. I want to experience a deeper sense of satisfaction now, which includes being responsible to myself and to the world around me. I know that sweating it through this period of discomfort will pay off. I choose wisely, and with each day, that wisdom lifts me to a higher level.”

Now for a quick & easy, sweet treat that even has chia seeds, as promised! Perfect alternative to processed snack bars with added sugar.

Super yummy right out of the oven!

 Warrior Bars (shared by Alyssa Gustwiller- Thank you!)

Ingredients
2 tablespoons chia seeds + 6 tbs water
1 cup almond meal + ½ cup coconut flakes
1 cup gluten-free rolled oats
½ cup dried fruit (I used pomegranate and goji berries)
2 cups mashed banana (super ripe)
1/3 cup pepitas + 1/3 cup sunflower seeds
1/3 cup sliced almonds
½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Pinch of ground cinnamon
Pinch of sea salt

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). Grease or line 8 inch square baking dish with parchment (baking) paper.

2. Soak chia seeds in 6 tablespoons of water for 5 minutes.

3. Combine the chia seeds and remaining ingredients in a bowl.

4. Press the mixture into the prepared baking dish.

5. Bake for 25-35 minutes, or until golden on top. Remove from oven and let cool.

6. Slice into 8 bars. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Day 7- Chill Out

“Yes, you have to live your life with all its regular demands, but you also have to give yourself the time and space to heal.” The 21 Day Quantum Wellness Cleanse tells us, "Do what you have to do to keep your life running, but make a point to take some time to rest during the cleanse.”

Your body is extremely busy getting rid of toxins and resetting your digestive system, so go easy on yourself. You could need a little more rest than usual.

According to Wellness Cleanse (as well as Ayurvedic practices), your body does most of its healing, detoxifying, metabolism burning, and re-balancing work while you sleep. Aim for 7-8 hours each night.

• Sleep refreshes the nervous system.
  

• HGH (human growth hormone) is produced during deep sleep. Not only is HGH critical for restoration and maintenance of bones, tissue, and muscles, but it also helps us build muscle and burn fat. You must sleep deeply to get the full benefit.
  

• Sleeping regularly and deeply regulates hormones like adrenaline and corticosteroids, relaxing us. Testosterone and fertility hormones are secreted while we sleep, as well (upping sex drive).
  

And here’s a fun fact you can take to the beach: “An annual vacation has been shown to cut the risk of heart attack in men by 30 percent and in women who take two vacations a year by 50 percent.” Vacations reverse burnout, which is real and very bad for your body. Any questions? Now book that trip you've been daydreaming about!

"Homework":
Kathy writes, “Go to bed early with a good book, and sleep in as much as you can during these twenty-one days.”

Meditation:
“Take a few minutes to sit in the sunshine (or the snow)- or in a beautiful spot out in nature- and soak in the beauty.  Look around and see how life thrives without our pushing it to do so.  The trees grow and flowers bloom; day turns to night, the seasons change, and the complex ecology thrives on its own.  Notice how life as a cycle of pushing forward and resting, of action followed by stillness.”

Your body is processing to let go of the old, healing and rejuvenating.

Today, focus on saying to yourself, “I trust the intelligence of my body.” 

While you are resting today, let your food cook itself in the crock pot!

Comfort Food - Sweet Potato, Lentil, and Chickpea Curry
Since this is cooked in the slow cooker, the ingredients get gooey, but retain the nutrients.  Delicious!
If you don’t have a slow cooker, you may make it like a stew and simmer for at least an hour or two.

1 cup dried, split chickpeas
1 cup red or brown lentils
3 cups water (or more depending on what package says for chickpeas and lentils)
2 teaspoons pure chile powder
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 sweet potato, peeled and diced
1 can diced tomatoes
½ cup coconut milk
Salt to taste
¼ cup cilantro (optional)
1 jalapeno chile, seeded and diced small (optional)
diced green onions

1. Put chickpeas, lentils, water, turmeric, chile powder, sweet potato, and diced tomatoes in slow cooker.  Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or until chickpeas and lentils are tender.

2. Remove the cover and gently stir in coconut milk.  Add salt to taste and also sample to see if you should add more turmeric & chili powder.  Cook for another ½ hour to an hour.

3. Serve and top each serving with one tablespoon of cilantro, green onions, and a bit of chopped jalapeno.

*Note- I needed less water than the recipe called for. If you are home and can keep an eye on it, I would use less and add if needed.

Day One- Powerfully Letting Go of Cravings

I hope you are feeling better than I am. My belated family Christmas was yesterday and seemed to be perfect timing to say goodbye to things like wine (I said goodbye to about 4 glasses), meat (in a parade of pretty much any way I could want it- I had to say goodbye to all the ways,) and of course every freakin' thing was cheesy (I told my aunt I ate so much cheese my eyeballs hurt.) And don't forget dessert! The way I feel today is reminding me exactly why I'm doing this cleanse. I want to truly find the BALANCE so I don't have to feel like this again.

As much as we might want to retreat, it is possible to fit this new way of eating into everyday life. Just today, I was reading a passage about yoga that also made me think about food. In Light on Life, B.K.S. Iyengar writes,

“Many associate yoga with a rejection of the world, its responsibilities, and commitments, and with extreme austerity leading even to self-mortification. But is not the greater challenge and greater fulfillment to be found living in the world with its tribulations and temptations, and at the same time to maintain both balance and self-control in the everyday life of a householder?”

 As good as it felt to just “be normal” and eat like everyone else, it also felt like physically hurting myself to appease others. The indulgence was delicious and felt good...for a very short time. Of course it's easier. And the more I read about food marketing, I find that it's confusing and exhausting on purpose. I'm tired of being called “picky.” I caved to the gluttony of yesterday and the stomachaches, the headaches, the lethargy of today. 

My goal in this cleanse is to flex my discipline muscles, learn what my body really needs, and eventually find the balance Iyengar speaks of in everyday life, even after the cleanse is over, even during family parties.

By now, your cravings might be talking to you a little bit. Maybe even more than a little. This is not a time to make big decisions or to have life-determining meetings. You might feel a little bit cranky as your addictions try to scream for your attention. Your body wants its fix(es)!

Right now we are eliminating our usual craving triggers as we break out of our habits of eating and ways of thinking (or not thinking) about food. We are more powerful than food, surely! If you feel a caffeine headache, just think about how strong you are to give up a substance that has such a powerful hold over you. After a few days, you will conquer it. Give yourself a little hug for being awesome.

To be honest, I thought something was wrong with me when I first gave up caffeine. Kathy Freston wrote that it would probably be a few days of headaches, but I had a full two weeks of excruciating headaches and feeling like I could fall asleep at any time. I was wading through molasses just to get through the day. Forget intelligent conversation. Forget exercise. I was wondering why I was doing it. But then… I started sleeping beautifully, deeply. The heightened sense of anxiety and irritability left me. I could have a kind conversation with my husband in the morning before drinking my coffee. I could even think creatively without coffee. What? It’s true.

The cravings and withdrawal will go away, I promise. Just wait until week 3! You’ll be feeling SO GOOD.

How would you like a delicious recipe that you can leave in the slow cooker and come home to a delicious, gluten-free, vegan meal? No animals were harmed in the making of this meal. Alcohol free, too! Mmmm.

"No Hurry Vegetable Curry"

1 Tablespoon peanut oil
2 large carrots, sliced on a diagonal
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tablespoons curry powder
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 large Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and sliced  (I will be using about 10 small red potatoes)
8 ounces green beans, ends trimmed
One can Chickpeas (Garbanzo beans) - 15 oz, drained and rinsed (or dry soaked overnight)
One can diced tomatoes, 14.5 oz.
2 cups vegetable stock
1/2 cup frozen green peas, thawed (or fresh snow peas)
1/2 cup canned unsweetened coconut milk
salt

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the carrots and onion, cover, and cook until softened, about 5 min. Add garlic, curry powder, coriander, and cayenne, stirring to coat.

2. Transfer the vegetable mixture to a slow cooker. Add the potatoes, green beans, chickpeas, tomatoes, and stock cover, and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.
(If not using a slow cooker - perhaps boil or bake the potatoes prior and add in the last 5 minutes of sauteeing. I would recommend cooking everything in a pan for about 1/2 hour so that the tomatoes can get less sour. Since there is not the benefit of the tomatoes mellowing for hours, you may want to add a bit of agave nectar or approved sweetener that is NOT sugar or artificial flavoring.)

3. Just before serving, stir in the peas and coconut milk and season with salt. Taste to adjust the seasonings.

Borrowed from: Fresh From the Vegetarian Slow Cooker

Get Ready + Shopping List

Are you ready? I am getting really excited for Monday!

The Quantum Wellness Cleanse is “about choosing foods that don’t tax the body and make it work so hard; it’s about taking a break but not about starving.”

Remember to be kind and gentle with yourself as you are cleansing. Go to bed a little earlier (getting 7-8 hours is especially important  so your body can process the changes most efficiently), make some time for yourself, but also show yourself some compassion. This cleanse is pretty hard core- if you make a mistake, kindly vow to do better at the next meal without any guilt. As you get used to the changes, it will get much easier.

From my own experience, I do find that it’s easiest for me to be as strict as possible. If I have a piece of bread, then I find myself craving more bread at the next meal and it’s much harder to fight off the cravings. I “treated” myself with a caramel mocha at the end of the cleanse one time and next thing I knew, I was drinking coffee every morning, anxious, and not sleeping well. I had to go through the withdrawal headaches all over again to re-quit. So be kind to yourself and do your best to stick with it. It gets easier as you go.

Today, I made myself a "healthy" shake with protein powder and chocolate almond milk. Curious, I looked at the sugar content of the almond milk. It was over 20g, which is pretty ridiculous and truly not worth it as a source of sugar! So be careful, be sure to check those labels of your usual "healthy" products and double-check. I will make the adjustment in the future of using raw cacao powder instead, along with unsweetened almond milk or I may even try to make my own!

Okay, savor that coffee and toast, have your last omelette for awhile, and now get excited to meet the healthiest you! Hide that bread and stock up on gluten-free, sugar-free, vegan ingredients (I promise, you will find them and they’re yummy!)

So here we go, These are some of my favorite staples (shopping inspiration):
Tortilla chips (What diet? See!) Make sure they are certified by the non-GMO project.
Hummus (If you like it spicy, mix with Sriracha – almost tastes cheesy!)
Salsa (I like Jack's Special Garden Fresh Salsa)
Guacamole (Wholly guacamole or homemade)
Decaffeinated herbal tea (Mint helps you focus, there is decaf chai, Yogi teas tell fortunes!)
Brown rice or Organic Jade Pearl Rice (http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/organic_heirloom_rice.htm) (My favorite!)
Quinoa
Pasta made with brown rice/quinoa (I like Ancient Grains)
Lentils
Beans of any kind
Potatoes (Organic)
Steel-Cut Oats
Nuts & Seeds (almonds, walnuts, pepitas, pistatios)
Peanut butter/almond butter (unsweetened, natural)
Vegan Mayo (I just tried Veganaise –it was not bad!)
Vegan Butter (Earth Balance or Smart Start are good)
Tofu (Organic)
Lots of veggies! (kale, cucumbers, tomatoes, avocados, garlic, broccoli, green beans, etc)
Salad (Lettuce, cabbage, spinach)
Almond milk- unsweetened
Coconut Milk
Maple Syrup, Honey
Fresh herbs (basil, flat-leaf parsley, cilantro, fresh ginger root)
Popcorn (Organic)
Vegetarian broth
Tamari (Gluten-free soy sauce)
Extra virgin Olive Oil
Gluten free bread (Ezekiel Bread has one with almond rice)
Try to avoid processed foods and buy as many whole foods as possible.

Here's an ingredients list for recipes that will be posted in the next few days in case you need some inspiration:
First recipe for slow cooker:
Carrots (at least 2 - they are great to cut up and snack on, too)
yellow onion
garlic
curry powder
ground coriander
ground cayenne pepper
organic potatoes (at least 2 large)
green beans (at least 8 oz or more)
chickpeas/garbanzo beans (one can or dried ones that you've soaked overnight)
one can diced tomatoes
1 can vegetable stock (about 2 cups)
frozen peas
coconut milk (1 can)

Second Recipe:
Brown rice
sesame oil
1 pound green beans
garlic
fresh ginger (or dried, but fresh ginger root is best by far)
chipotle chili powder
tamari sauce (this is gluten-free soy sauce)
Chinese chili paste

Message me if you have any questions!  Can't wait to start this journey with you!

Pursuit of Wellness

 

 "Wellness is very big among my yogamates. If Wellness were a person, it would be Michael Jackson circa 1984, and my yogamates would be screaming, crying fans jumping up and down just to be so near to it." - Yoga Bitch, Suzanne Morrison

In my breathless pursuit of Wellness, that willowy, lovely ideal of balanced health, I am planning to draw my focus to the physical aspect, but for once, my resolution is not "lose fifty million pounds." It is to "Be healthy by moving regularly and eating mindfully."

Ever blown it on your weight-loss resolution?  I have some shocking news for you: It's not your fault! According to Dr. Leanne Deardreuff, DC in Inner Transformations Using Essential Oils,

"Starting a weight loss diet in the winter works against the system and actually makes the body want to put on more weight since it thinks it has been thrown into the starvation mode during the cold months when it already needs to conserve all the energy it can. This is one reason that New Year's weight-loss resolutions often fail: It's simply the wrong time of year."

The trouble is, if you've gone off the holiday deep end like me, the body may be craving balance and respite from the feasting. Dr. Deardreuff goes on to say that cleansing in the winter can still be beneficial, "especially if your body is screaming for it."

So, to honor my screaming body, I'm doing a cleanse! I've decided to use my blog posts from 2012 that were based on Kathy Freston's 21 Day Quantum Wellness Cleanse, but I will also be integrating other things I've learned about and experienced over the last couple of years, like juicing, green smoothies, and using essential oils and essential oil enhanced products. I may even have some new recipes.

I'm starting this coming Monday- January 12th. Would you like to join me? My blog posts each day will have enough information for you to follow along, whether for the full 21 days or to flirt for a week, even a day here or there. If you simply read along without doing it, you'll still find surprisingly great recipes and info.

This cleanse is the perfect way to refresh your digestive system. It gives your body a break from all of the things that contain the most toxins and use up all of the energy for digestion. These items are:

•     Caffeine

•     Alcohol

•     Gluten

•     Animal Products

•     Sugar

Some of the changes you can expect, according to the author are:

•     More energy

•     Clearer skin and eyes

•     Weight Loss

•     Cessation of certain aches, pains, and digestive ailments

•     Release from addictive habits

•    A profound and deepened awareness of your personal power and the effect you have in the world

Well, those things sound awesome! And it's only 21 days. You'll be done by Valentine's Day...but will you still look at the candy the same way? Hmmm... So you're in, right?

Still on that Quest

Yes, it’s been quite awhile. I’ve missed you and I hope that you’ve missed me. To be completely honest, my whole world was thrown off balance and I started asking myself, "Who am I to write about balance, wellness, health?" My typical effort to find balance means hurling myself face first into one thing or another with all of my passion and rather focused obsession.

The look of obvious balance and wellness as I gorge happily on "sladoled," Croatia's super-rich take on ice cream, to which I am horrendously, painfully, unequivocally allergic.

I've never been one of those people that you would use the word "moderate" about; it probably couldn't even enter your head if I was in the room. I was always that friend coaxing you to get the fully sugared caffeine drink, eat the chocolate, pretend the doughnut has no calories. Blow off the obligation and roll down a hill drunk with me instead. For my friends who understand the meaning of the word moderation, this is great for them- I help them find balance by indulging sometimes. But for me, it was life as usual. When reading, I'd always cheer along with the teenage character to follow their heart, always, and then I'd be shocked when everyone died in the end from the choices that had no regard for others. So here it is again. Balance.

Often, when we genuinely seek health, it’s like peeling back the layers of an onion. As one thing heals, another cries out for attention. So in my search for balance, first I found a whole lot of imbalance. A journey of healing is a very personal one. I was hiding in my chrysalis, hibernating, experiencing extreme metamorphosis and hanging on for dear life.

But you know what I forgot? I did not title the blog, "Advice from a Health Nut and Overall Perfect Person." No, it's called, "Shaking Free- a Quest for Balance." And I am still searching. I hope you're up for rejoining me on the very imperfect journey.

An Illusion of Separateness

In the doctor’s office waiting room, I was overcome with the strangeness of our efforts to pretend we are alone in the world.  Everyone in the waiting room was sitting with at least one chair between them and a stranger.  Every single person avoided eye contact with everyone else.  I even tried an experiment where I looked around and tried to catch someone’s eye.  It seemed to make people even more uncomfortable, pulling closer into their personal bubbles.  Obviously, we are all people.  We are all sharing space here.  Why the very conscious efforts to look down, to pretend to read a magazine, to remain separate?  What are we afraid of?  (OK, it is the doctor’s office… maybe we’re afraid of communicable diseases…)

So, what about when you’re stopped at a red light, consciously looking straight ahead, anywhere but at the car next to you (especially if you’ve just behaved badly on the road, thinking of racing the other little box beside you and not thinking of the person behind the wheel)?  What about those who text the whole time they are out to dinner?  How emails, chats, and smart phones are quickly replacing face-to-face exchanges?

I’ve begun to notice that everywhere I go, people seem to be trying with all of their might to pretend that they are the only ones there.  At restaurants, movie theaters, in lines.  I’ve always been so busy doing the same that it never occurred to me how STRANGE it is to pretend other human beings aren’t there.

Are we not all sharing in this journey?

What is happening to our society?  Would we rather wrap ourselves in little bubbles and not interact – ever?

I don’t know where the balance is, however.  Obviously, we can’t go have conversations with everyone in an entire restaurant.  There is a point where you just want to talk to the person you came with.  Sometimes, the waitress wants to get your tip and go, not chat.  And we're all so used to this as the expected norm. 

I’ve tried looking into the other car and either the other person isn’t looking or it seems pretty creepy for both.   Why do I feel weird looking for a human behind the wheel?  We're not "supposed to" do that...

I’m not proposing we turn the entire world into a kumbaya commune.  But I am asking, has anyone else noticed that we might be going in a weird direction? 

*Note:  Image borrowed from: blog.lib.umn.edu

Day 20 - Awakening to the Power of our Food Choices

“Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.” – Albert Einstein

There are some weighty health and spiritual implications that we have now managed to free ourselves from for nearly 21 days – long enough to change a habit!  We will discuss conditions that affect our health in the big business of meat and dairy, a little bit about the abilities of animals, as well as the severe environmental toll caused by these industries.

This is all so important – I wish everyone could know these scary facts about what happens to our meat.  You must know what you are putting into your body.  You have a choice.  Though this gets a little heavy, I left out the bits about the animal treatment in the slaughterhouses.  You can look that up for yourself, if interested.

“You have just dined, and, however scrupulously the slaughterhouse is concealed in the graceful distance of miles, there is complicity.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

First, let’s continue talking about our health:

“Illegal hormones are regularly pumped into veal calves, which are suspected of increasing the growth of cancer cells in the humans who eat them.  The USDA has not only been accused of overlooking these practices, but also of falsifying lab results, altering records, and pressuring staff to lie about events.” *  If they operate like this with veal, who is protecting the rest of the meat?

When a worker in a horse slaughterhouse was interviewed, he said, Might be part of him’s [a contaminated horse] bad, might be the pneumonia’s traveled everywhere.. The meat’s supposed to be condemned, but still you’d cut it up and bag it.”  When asked, “Doesn’t it have to be stamped ‘USDA inspected?’ the factory worker replied, “He [his boss] got the stamper.  He can stamp it himself when the doc leaves…You take a condemned horse, skin him up, sell the meat…We’ve sold it as beef.”

The USDA has also allowed the processing of “downed” animals, or ones that are too sick or injured to walk.  In 2004, with the outbreak of mad cow disease, this was banned.  But then in 2005, it was announced that downed animals could once again be used for human consumption.  “So in addition to all the other filth you’re eating, you’re also eating whatever illness the animal had.  You are what you eat.”

At the expense of our health, large corporations are making billions of dollars.

Did you know that the USDA is “responsible for ‘the safety’ of meat, poultry, dairy and eggs and also promotes the sale of them.  In fact, they even go so far as to purchase the products themselves, using our tax dollars.  The USDA will spend $30 million a year on beef buyouts alone.  Another $30 of our hard-earned money goes toward pork purchases…” 

And where do these products go that couldn’t be sold to consumers?  The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is “a nation-wide $4 billion scheme that allows the USDA to buy up all this meat, milk, and cheese with our tax dollars, and then dump this crap into the bodies of more than 26 million school children.  Ever wonder why school lunches are required to include milk?  The NSLP directly benefits the meat, dairy, and poultry industries at the expense of our nation’s children.”

When we hear the terms “grass-fed” beef, “free-range”, “free-roaming”, we imagine happy animals enjoying sunshine, fresh air, and the company of other animals.  “But labels- other than ‘organic’ on egg cartons” or beef products are not subject to regulation by the USDA.  And even if the farm is free-range and humane, the animals are still being sent off to the slaughterhouse, where the conditions are unconscionable. 

Then there is the spiritual side – the kinship with other living beings.  Did you know that “cows actually nurture friendships and bear grudges?  One study showed cows displaying excitement while solving intellectual challenges.”

“Chickens are as smart as mammals, including some primates…they are apt pupils and can learn by watching the mistakes of others…A PBS documentary revealed chickens’ love for television and music.”

And here’s a fun one – Pigs can play video games!  “They’ve been labeled as more intelligent than dogs and three-year-old humans.”

If you choose to go vegan, you are sparing the lives of over ninety animals a year.

“An individual can adopt the way of life of the future- the nonviolent way- without having to wait for others to do so.  And if an individual can do it, cannot whole groups of individuals?  Whole nations?” – Mahatma Gandhi

There is also issue of environmental devastation.  In Quantum Wellness Cleanse, Kathy shares the results of a United Nations scientific analysis of raising animals in order to eat them.  They declared eating meat, dairy, and eggs is “one of the …most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems at every scale from local to global” and “should be a major policy focus when dealing with problems of land degradation, climate change and air pollution, water shortage and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity.”

According to Freston, the meat and dairy industry’s deleterious effects on climate change, for instance, are more significant than “all the cars, trucks, and planes in the world combined.”

To look at the even bigger picture: “The amount of feed that it takes to funnel through an animal to create one 8-ounce steak could fill forty to fifty bowls with cooked grain….the world’s passion for meat is a much bigger cause of global hunger than its passion for the car.”  This means that choosing to eat a vegan diet helps to combat world hunger!

In Matthew Scully’s book, Dominion, he writes “…inside the factory farm, animals…received no comforts, no names, no affection, no nothing, only my silent and resolute indifference…  Each creature bred and born just for me.  Confined and isolated just for me.  And then in lonely terror packed off to die, just for me.  And every time I saw and heard them I would have to remind myself just why I as doing this, to ask if my taste for pork loins or ham or steak or veal was really worth this price, to ask if this was really my choice and there was no other way…Therefore, I want no part in any of it.  I do not want this product…When you eat flesh extracted in this way, as novelist Alice Walker puts it, ‘You’re just eating misery.  You’re eating a bitter life…’ For me, it comes down to the question of whether I am a man or just a consumer…Whether to side with the powerful and comfortable or with the weak, afflicted, and forgotten.  Whether, as an economic actor in a free market, I answer to the god of money or to the God of mercy.”

*All quotes are from Skinny Bitch unless indicated otherwise.

Meditation (From Quantum Wellness Cleanse):
“I awaken.  I am no longer asleep.  What is good for my body is good for my soul.  I can take a huge leap as I move along the continuum of consciousness by staying alert and adhering to the great wisdom passed down through the ages that advises us to be loving, merciful, and compassionate.  I am no longer willing to be greedy, gluttonous, or ignorant.  Eating with spiritual integrity is of the utmost importance.”

Also, be proud that your choices can make a positive impact in the world.  By voting with our choices and our economic power, we can make a difference!


Spicy Black Bean Soup (in the Slow Cooker)
2 cups dried beans
8 cups water
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, diced
1 roasted red pepper from a jar or bell pepper of any color, diced
2 ½ tomatoes, diced large
½ habanero pepper, diced small (optional)
1 TB olive oil
2 tsp cumin (one in the beginning and one for later)
2 tsp chili powder (one in the beginning and one for later)
2 tsp garlic powder (one in the beginning and one for later)
1 tsp salt
2 ears of corn, grilled or cooked (frozen corn would be okay, too – ½ cup)
½ yellow squash, grilled and diced into small pieces
For the garnish:
½ diced avocado
½ diced tomato
¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 green onions, chopped

1.    Heat the olive oil in a small pan on medium heat.  When hot, add the onion and sauté for about 2 minutes.  Add 1 tsp each of cumin, chili powder, and garlic powder.  Then add the garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds, until garlic is aromatic.

2.    Place onion mixture, beans, water, tomatoes, roasted red pepper, and habanero pepper into slow cooker.  Stir, set on low, and cook for 8-9 hours

3.    One hour before serving, stir in 1 tsp each of cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and salt.  Re-cover and let continue to cook on low.

4.    Use an immersion blender or hand mixer to puree some of the beans to thicken the soup.  It’s up to you how many beans to puree and how many to keep whole based on the texture you like.

5.    Grill the corn and yellow squash, then scrape corn off and dice ½ of yellow squash.  (I used the other half in a salad that I served on the side.)  Place corn and yellow squash into slow cooker, stir and you are now ready to serve the soup.  Check seasonings and add more salt/chili powder/cumin, if necessary.

6.    Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with diced tomato, avocado, cilantro, and green onions.

If you like, you could bake corn tortillas, cut them in strips, and float on top of the soup.  This would probably take 2 hours on the stove.  If you don’t have a hand-held immersion blender, you could scoop some of the soup out and put it in a blender to thicken.



I served with a salad on the side to make it a beautifully balanced meal.

Day 18- Embrace your inner “freak” to incite positive change in the world.

“As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same.”
-Nelson Mandela

One thing that I love about a vegan lifestyle is that it's non-conforming.  It’s a personal revolution and utter rebellion to say, “I will not buy into an industry that is cruel, does not care about my health, and is followed as a matter of convenience for most.”  When you order your meal without meat and without cheese, you’ve probably already noticed some of the reactions.  It’s confusion, raised eyebrows, sometimes even hostility – especially if you don’t live on the West Coast, USA.

Freston agrees, “Our challenge as humans is always to love the part of ourselves that is rejected and disowned.  When we come to terms with the part of us that is vulnerable, we arrive at a deeper inner peace, and thus are able to act in the world a bit more peacefully.”

A couple of weeks ago, I was sitting in a restaurant and overheard a young woman saying, “I felt so emotional.  I know, I told him.  I’m so crazy!”  This struck a chord with me as I remembered saying the same thing more times than I would like to admit.  My heart moved for this girl.  Why should we be labeled as "crazy" for letting ourselves emotionally react?  For being ourselves? 

Why do we tuck these emotions, these eccentricities away?  We are all unique, with differing needs, interests, bodies.  Yet, society has groomed us to want to be competitive versions of the same prototype.  It makes us more apt to buy things, to stay in line by striving for sameness, constantly asking ourselves, “Is this okay?  What will they think?”

“The system does not want us to know our own best selves, because if we do we then have no need to buy things that ‘they’ say are worthy and desirable.  Satisfied people don’t buy as much stuff.” – The Minimalist Women’s Guide to Having it All

Let’s stop judging ourselves based on society’s imposed standards.  How about judging based on our own heart’s standards?  Or best yet, don’t judge yourself at all!

I am curvy.  My hair is purple.  I don't have cable.  I don’t eat animals.  I love yoga and find that “church” is on my mat.  Totally weird?  Not fitting into society?  So?  I’ve been exceedingly happier since realizing: It’s my choice how I live; what I wear, how to nourish my body, what’s important to me!   

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” - Dr. Seuss

Today’s yummy recipe is a little bit different, too.  I made it up the other day when I had an abundance of peaches and corn.

Laura’s Fabulous Peach Salsa
3 green onions, chopped small (or 1/2 sweet onion, diced)
½ green pepper, diced small
2 jalapenos, diced small
1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
7 peaches, peeled, pitted, and diced
4 cobs of corn, grilled and sliced off cob
Squirt of lime juice
salt to taste (just to bring out the flavors)

Mix and enjoy!

Hint:  You will need more cilantro, green onions, green pepper, jalapenos, and lime for tomorrow’s recipe.

Kathy Freston’s Wellness Cleanse Meditation for Today:
“I open my eyes so that I may heal.
I am ready to confront the darkness within (the parts that care only about immediate or personal satisfaction) and the darkness in our world.  By nudging myself to open my eyes, I will begin to see what needs to shift on a fundamental level.  By healing myself and becoming more aware and thoughtful about my choices, I am also offering that light and healing outward into the world.”

Day 12- Food for your Spirit

“There is a sacrosanct quality to taking something into your body to nourish it.  Treat the foods you eat with the respect they deserve.”- Eat Yourself Super, Dr. Todd Pesek

You’ve made it through eleven days!  We are more than halfway there, and I’m sure you’re starting to feel amazing.  Have you started noticing a more kind, spiritual connection yet?  I know that I was surprised by it the first time I did the cleanse.  I felt, and still feel, more gentle in the world and proud of myself.

“By giving up meat and dairy, you withdraw your support from industries that take a toxic toll on the environment and on the well-being of your fellow humans…By not eating animals, you are reducing the needless suffering that occurs in the world, on many levels.  Whether or not that’s a priority for you, isn’t it nice to know that being good to yourself benefits others?  You’ve arrived at the place where kindness to yourself meets kindness to the earth meets kindness to other creatures, and that’s pretty cool.  Abstaining from animal products is a profound act, with physical, emotional, and even spiritual benefits.” – The Kind Diet, Alicia Silverstone

Kathy writes that by changing a few eating habits, we also align our behaviors with our spirituality, our sense of values.  She encourages us to keep our eyes – and our hearts- open and to think deeply about everything that goes into feeding ourselves the diet that we’ve grown accustomed to.  In this way, we become more conscious eaters.  She writes: “Just slow down enough to ponder the big picture, and soon enough, it will begin to come into focus.”

The reason that I have posted a new recipe every day is to share with you how abundantly delightful vegan, and even gluten-free eating can be.  You have traded in brown and gray colored foods for the colors of the rainbow, for vegetables so delicious they make you crave more, grains that are nourishing and make your body sing, like quinoa and brown rice, new sources of protein like black beans, black-eyed peas, chickpeas, seeds, and nuts.  An avocado can taste like butter and is wonderful on top of spicy, Mexican dishes in place of cheese.  I never used to like green beans until I found the recipes I’ve shared with you.  This has been a great opportunity to reach outside of my comfort zone and to try new vegetables and recipes. 

In Eat Yourself Super, Dr. Todd Pesek writes:
“There is no substitute for home-prepared, close-to-nature whole foods…plant based, nutrient-dense, calorie sparse.”   He also says, “When you love people, feed them.  But only yummy, healthful food.”

Kathy urges us, before sitting down to eat, ask yourself:
How can I eat in a way that is kind, responsible, and attuned to the needs of my body?
What can I do to bring my life to the highest vibration possible?

Kathy’s Meditation:

“I open my eyes so that I might heal.  What a powerful statement.  It means I am ready to confront the darkness within (the parts of myself that care only about immediate or personal satisfaction) and darkness in our world.  By nudging myself to open my eyes, I will begin to see what needs to shift on a fundamental level.  By healing myself and becoming more aware and thoughtful about my choices, I am also offering that light and healing outward into the world.”

It was really hot today, so I was in the mood for a nice, light veggie salad.  This is one of my go-to recipes.

Light Summer Tomato Salad
3 tomatoes, diced large
1 avocado, diced large
½ medium onion, diced or sliced
1 large cucumber, diced large
1 TB Apple Cider Vinegar
2 TB Good Olive Oil
2 TB Fresh Italian Parsley
1 TB dried oregano
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion salt
Salt & pepper to taste
plus a couple handfuls of walnuts

Mix together, let marinate for 10-15 minutes, serve and enjoy!



We had the tomato salad with grilled corn on the cob and grilled bell peppers.  Tastes like summer!

Sometimes being Kind is as important as being Present

Because I was trying so hard to focus on being present while my Type A family members were trying to rush from point A to point B while discussing point C, I found myself growing utterly impatient.  I wanted my companions to EXPERIENCE New York City since it was their first time there.  I wanted to “stop and smell the…” ok, in NYC maybe I didn’t want to use the sense of smell as much.

But definitely to linger, to soak it in.  I found myself getting rushed along and growing bitter.

However, I now realize that just because being present was important to me, it was still something that I was struggling with just a month ago.  How could I expect my travel companions to be open to it or even consciously trying to employ it when it was still so new to me and not at all a focus for them? 

What’s ironic and a little bit awful is that I was so critical of how we were losing our experiences in the present moment, that I spent a great deal of time in my head being angry, also losing my own experience.  What I missed was kindness and compassion.  And now I can never get that time back to experience travel with 3 of my truly favorite people who I love dearly.

I’d like to illustrate an experience to give you an idea of what I was facing - If only I had been able to giggle then instead of turn grumpy (another excuse: it was 95 degrees and humid…)

Ahead of time, my mom emailed: “I was told by the hotel that we must be sure we travel only in the YELLOW NYC TAXI CABS.  Not the black gypsy cabs.”  I acknowledged the email, saying, “yes, this is good advice.”

As we were exiting the airport, there was a sign: Ground Transportation.  As we were walking in that direction, my mom said to my aunt, “We must make sure it’s a yellow taxi cab.”  My aunt said to me, “make sure it’s a yellow taxi cab.”  While looking at the sign, my mom asked, “But does Ground Transportation mean they will have the YELLOW taxi cabs?” 

My aunt promptly found someone working at the airport to ask if “Ground Transportation was the way towards the YELLOW taxi cabs.”  We were told yes, go outside the door and you will find many yellow taxi cabs waiting.  As we walked outside, they were still reiterating to each other that we must find a yellow taxi cab.

The line was very long and I saw a sign for another taxi stand around the way.  I decided to go ahead and check it out.  There were yellow cabs lined up all around the corner and very few people waiting, so I ran back and told my mom and aunt to follow me.  The questions:

“Did you find taxi cabs?”  “Are you quite sure they are YELLOW taxi cabs?” 

Exasperated, I walked forward, wordlessly leading the way.  As they looked at the yellow cabs lined up around the block, my mom asked, “But are they New York City yellow taxi cabs?”  I pointed out that they said “New York City” on the side and that they were indeed very yellow.

As I looked around the city, my mom and aunt discussed among themselves how they had to be sure that all of our taxi cabs were yellow…

Looking back now with love, I can see that they were just nervous to be in a new city and they wanted to try to control the few things that they saw themselves able to control for their comfort level. 

The Experience is just as much about not judging everything that happens as it is about stopping to notice and appreciate the moments.