So it is now almost half way through March and all is going well! The temptation to eat things I shouldn't is going away, especially when considering sweets. I still have a day here and there where I still want things, but it is all getting easier. There are some things that I could be doing, like eating raw more than I am, (I tend to want to cook food more than I should. Still healthy food, but not raw.) Here are a couple of recipes that I have made lately. I am trying to find ways to incorporate more healthy foods and snacks for the kids too so here are a few of my attempts.
One thing that is super healthy for you is wheatgrass. Have you ever taken a whiff of or tasted wheatgrass by itself? It's very strong stuff. My favorite way to incorporate it into my diet is by juicing it. Here is my favorite wheatgrass juice recipe.
A handful of wheatgrass
1-2 Cups spinach
1/4 of a pineapple
Juice the wheatgrass and spinach first and then the pineapple. Stir and enjoy. The taste of the pineapple greatly overpowers the taste of the wheatgrass and it is super yummy!
I also have been making banana/oat/flax muffins for the family. The kids LOVE them and they are healthy. I am technically not supposed to eat them because they have yogurt in them, but I still have one here and there.
One bad side affect right now is nausea. Feeling really nauseaus from time to time and often in the evenings. Hope that detox symptom passes but it can last for up to 16 weeks. Great!
Monday, March 18, 2013
Saturday, March 2, 2013
One Month Down!
I successfully completed a FULL MONTH of not eating sugar, dairy, gluten or any processed foods!!!! I can't believe it and I am so proud of myself! I did have teeny tiny slip ups here and there, but never in the sugar department. I had some baked chips made from beans that had a little bit of cheese product in it and I had a couple processed chicken nuggets and a few pieces of french bread with butter in a weak moment. I also have found Odwalla bars! Oh my gosh, I love them! I was using them to help curb my sugar cravings because everything is natural and they contain good amounts of fiber and protein. But I did finally decide that whereas they are much better than a candy bar hands down, they still have too many grams of natural sugars in them so I will reserve them for special occasions only like going to the movies and such. Oh, and I also had an oatcake, which technically has dairy in it and a little bit of sugar. So overall, I am doing really good!
And best of all, I HAVE NOT HAD A BACTERIAL OR YEAST INFECTION! I keep waiting for it but it doesn't come! I have not had migraines, I am sleeping better, I am more alert, happier in general and feel less stressed. I still have my moments of course, but have definitely recognized a big difference in me. My skin looks better and healthier and my itchy head and armpits are a thing of the past. Also I have lost quite a bit of weight. During the juice fast I dropped to 121 pounds but after the cleanse I am maintaining at 123. People are noticing the changes in me without me even saying anything. Several people have called me and want to know what I am doing and how they can change their lives. I love being to help others make changes too.
So for March I am going to keep on keeping on. Craig and I are trying to figure out how to make this a lifestyle change for the two of us and how to incorporate our kids. I also will be doing a parasite and liver detox this month and will do another juice cleanse the first week in April.
And best of all, I HAVE NOT HAD A BACTERIAL OR YEAST INFECTION! I keep waiting for it but it doesn't come! I have not had migraines, I am sleeping better, I am more alert, happier in general and feel less stressed. I still have my moments of course, but have definitely recognized a big difference in me. My skin looks better and healthier and my itchy head and armpits are a thing of the past. Also I have lost quite a bit of weight. During the juice fast I dropped to 121 pounds but after the cleanse I am maintaining at 123. People are noticing the changes in me without me even saying anything. Several people have called me and want to know what I am doing and how they can change their lives. I love being to help others make changes too.
So for March I am going to keep on keeping on. Craig and I are trying to figure out how to make this a lifestyle change for the two of us and how to incorporate our kids. I also will be doing a parasite and liver detox this month and will do another juice cleanse the first week in April.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Sugar Addiction: The Perpetual Cycle
I saw this and had to save the picture and repost it. Read it. It makes sense. How many of you are addicted to sugar?
DAY 20!!!
Here's the breakdown at day 20! I weigh 123 pounds (lighter than I have been in like 8 years) and am on day 2 of my juice only fast. The juice fast is intense and mentally hard. I can't believe how even just the act of chewing food is comforting! Also, I have been nauseous which I read could happen. As the toxins are moving thru your body to exit they can cause unpleasant symptoms. I'm not having headaches, fevers or joint aches so I will take an upset tummy. I am still craving foods such as treats and carbs but the dairy is pretty easy. I am not tempted to cheat right now at all like I have been before though. I went to a meeting for the Republican women's group that I am in and the restaurant specializes in stromboli. Never has anything looked so good or smelled so good in my LIFE! When I allow myself an indulgence down the road, I am going there and getting me one of those!!!
Anyhow, I have been trying lots of juices and will review some of my recipes for you.
Apple Cucumber Cooler
1/2 cucumber
1 green apple
1/2 lemon
Juice and serve over ice. Amazingly refreshing. I really liked this one.
Carrot-Cucumber Lemonade
4-5 medium carrots (peeled if not organic)
1 apple
1 small cucumber (peeled if not organic)
1-inch chunk ginger (peeled)
1/2 lemon (peeled if not organic)
Juice and drink! This was a very bright orange drink and was pretty tasty, however I thought the ginger was a little too strong and it burned your throat as it was going down.
Orange-Berry Blaster
2 oranges
1 cup berries (whatever kind you want, I used strawberries, but want to try others)
1 kiwifruit
Very yummy. I want to make this juice and freeze into popsicles for the kids!
The Morning Energizer
4 carrots
1 handful parsley
1 lemon
1 apple
2-inch chunk ginger root-peeled
Pretty good, but too lemony and I only used half the ginger because I am finding that I do not like a strong ginger taste, just a hint!
So there you have it. I will post others later this week!
Anyhow, I have been trying lots of juices and will review some of my recipes for you.
Apple Cucumber Cooler
1/2 cucumber
1 green apple
1/2 lemon
Juice and serve over ice. Amazingly refreshing. I really liked this one.
Carrot-Cucumber Lemonade
4-5 medium carrots (peeled if not organic)
1 apple
1 small cucumber (peeled if not organic)
1-inch chunk ginger (peeled)
1/2 lemon (peeled if not organic)
Juice and drink! This was a very bright orange drink and was pretty tasty, however I thought the ginger was a little too strong and it burned your throat as it was going down.
Orange-Berry Blaster
2 oranges
1 cup berries (whatever kind you want, I used strawberries, but want to try others)
1 kiwifruit
Very yummy. I want to make this juice and freeze into popsicles for the kids!
The Morning Energizer
4 carrots
1 handful parsley
1 lemon
1 apple
2-inch chunk ginger root-peeled
Pretty good, but too lemony and I only used half the ginger because I am finding that I do not like a strong ginger taste, just a hint!
So there you have it. I will post others later this week!
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Juice Fast Preparation
Yesterday I started my juice fast preparation. For three days I taper down what I am eating to just fruits and vegetable juices. Starting tuesday I will only be consuming vegetable and fruit juices for three days. I can also drink as much water and herbal tea as I want to. Yesterday I could eat fruit, salad, and cooked vegetables. Today I can eat fruit, salad and vegetable juices. Tomorrow I can only eat raw fruit and vegetable juices. I am doing pretty good. My caloric intake is of course lower than normal but that is why it is called a juice FAST. It's purpose is to clean out my organs of toxins that are stuck and causing problems in my system. So far, in the last 17 days I have lost 3 pounds and am sure that I will lose a couple more during the fast. That is not my end goal, but I am feeling good and pulled out a dress today that I haven't worn in quite a while because I felt a little too chunky for it. It was super tight in the arms and my lower belly bulge was not flattering. Today I felt so good wearing it. I had some room to breathe in the arms and my belly wasn't sticking out at all. It feels really good.
I have taken several juicing recipes out of a book called "The Juicing Lady's Big Book of Juices and Green Smoothies." She talks about her own inspirational story that got her juicing and eating a largely clean and raw diet and she has over 400 recipes for juicing and smoothies. I love this book and recommend it to anyone who is looking for a change. It is really eye opening and good to hear yet another story of someone suffering from similar symptoms to my own and how they cured themselves through this process that I am undertaking. I was talking to Craig last night about it and I realized that when this is over, I don't think I can ever go back to how I was before. Yes I will eat bread from time to time and indulge in a sweet treat, but this really is a lifestyle change. This process is at times painful but overall so rewarding. I know that Heavenly Father is helping me and knows what I need and I am so grateful for that help and strength. Craig wants to start making some of these changes in his life as well and he has been so supportive. I love him very much!
I will let you know how my full on juicing adventures goes. I will be trying a lot of new juicing recipes and reviewing them here.
I have taken several juicing recipes out of a book called "The Juicing Lady's Big Book of Juices and Green Smoothies." She talks about her own inspirational story that got her juicing and eating a largely clean and raw diet and she has over 400 recipes for juicing and smoothies. I love this book and recommend it to anyone who is looking for a change. It is really eye opening and good to hear yet another story of someone suffering from similar symptoms to my own and how they cured themselves through this process that I am undertaking. I was talking to Craig last night about it and I realized that when this is over, I don't think I can ever go back to how I was before. Yes I will eat bread from time to time and indulge in a sweet treat, but this really is a lifestyle change. This process is at times painful but overall so rewarding. I know that Heavenly Father is helping me and knows what I need and I am so grateful for that help and strength. Craig wants to start making some of these changes in his life as well and he has been so supportive. I love him very much!
I will let you know how my full on juicing adventures goes. I will be trying a lot of new juicing recipes and reviewing them here.
Valentines Day
By the time Valentine's Day came around I had again prepared myself mentally to be strong. As I was getting ready to go pop popcorn that I COULDN'T EAT for the entire elementary school, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to my sweet visiting teacher who had a plate of yummy, thick, giant, frosting covered sugar cookies. OH MY GOODNESS! Can you say a weakness of mine? I LOVE sugar cookies. But I immediately put them away in my cupboard and took them to the school and left them in the teachers lounge. Crisis averted. I popped 355 bags of delicious smelling popcorn and then went home and ate my quinoa and chicken veggie stir-fry, which was delicious. My sweet husband brought me some beautiful flowers and a vegetable tray and my great friend Carolina brought me a plate of strawberries and blueberries. I am so lucky to have so many people out there supporting me.
I am happy to say that I survived VALENTINES DAY! OH yeah, go me, uh huh! I am feeling very good and my energy is great. I am craving sweets and am still eating frozen grapes from time to time and have had an occasional Berry Super Mega Odwalla bar to keep me as clean as possible. However I need to lay off the fruits that have so much sugar or I will never be able to kick the sugar habit completely.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Day 11
I have been sugar free, dairy free and gluten free for 10 days! This is the longest I have ever gone without sugar, let alone the other foods that I have given up. I have lost 3 pounds in those 10 days and my energy is great. I am also noticing some changes in my body. I can feel the cleansing process happening. I have energy and I feel good! I got a little head cold over the weekend which was a little ironic because I am taking such mega doses of immunity boosting supplements, but all the kids had the fever and flu so I will count myself lucky!
One thing that I am finding to be very helpful is to stay busy and when I am craving I will grab a handful of nuts, some strawberries or a small bag of frozen grapes. Those frozen grapes are like candy I tell ya! I am having a hard time ingesting some of the things I am supposed to because they taste awful and I CANNOT swallow them by themselves and so I have to put it in a smoothie. Therefore, I have to have a smoothie everyday just to get some of the nutrients in.
Yesterday I was really craving some regular food, like a chili dog, or even just a burrito! I made burritos for the family and I have my smoothie for dinner. I am missing some of those foods that I ate before without even a second thought. But I am also learning to enjoy fresh whole foods and am learning more ways to cook them. Last night for dinner we had spaghetti. So for me, I had spaghetti squash and made my own sauce with a little bit of elk meat, tomatoes, salt, pepper, garlic, onion, zuchini and cauliflower. I ate that over the spaghetti squash and it was delicious. I also sauteed up some fresh green beans and they were yummy! For breakfast I had my homemade applesauce and granola again and for lunch I had just some random fruits and veggies raw because I was sick and didn't have a really desire to whip something up. Leftover spaghetti squash for lunch today and I can't wait! I am going to eat some quinoa this morning with a little bit of almond milk, nuts and strawberries!
I have been pinning a lot of desserts on pinterest and it makes me crave so it is my goal to try to limit my time on pinterest a little this week, because when I am constantly pinning yummy desserts I become a little anxious because I really want them but my mind is still resolute that it is just not going to happen. Gonna get in some good scripture study and prayer this week and focus on my kids and getting my house clean and sanitized!
One thing that I am finding to be very helpful is to stay busy and when I am craving I will grab a handful of nuts, some strawberries or a small bag of frozen grapes. Those frozen grapes are like candy I tell ya! I am having a hard time ingesting some of the things I am supposed to because they taste awful and I CANNOT swallow them by themselves and so I have to put it in a smoothie. Therefore, I have to have a smoothie everyday just to get some of the nutrients in.
Yesterday I was really craving some regular food, like a chili dog, or even just a burrito! I made burritos for the family and I have my smoothie for dinner. I am missing some of those foods that I ate before without even a second thought. But I am also learning to enjoy fresh whole foods and am learning more ways to cook them. Last night for dinner we had spaghetti. So for me, I had spaghetti squash and made my own sauce with a little bit of elk meat, tomatoes, salt, pepper, garlic, onion, zuchini and cauliflower. I ate that over the spaghetti squash and it was delicious. I also sauteed up some fresh green beans and they were yummy! For breakfast I had my homemade applesauce and granola again and for lunch I had just some random fruits and veggies raw because I was sick and didn't have a really desire to whip something up. Leftover spaghetti squash for lunch today and I can't wait! I am going to eat some quinoa this morning with a little bit of almond milk, nuts and strawberries!
I have been pinning a lot of desserts on pinterest and it makes me crave so it is my goal to try to limit my time on pinterest a little this week, because when I am constantly pinning yummy desserts I become a little anxious because I really want them but my mind is still resolute that it is just not going to happen. Gonna get in some good scripture study and prayer this week and focus on my kids and getting my house clean and sanitized!
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Chicken Nugget
A funny thing happened today! This morning I was going through facebook and saw this super yummy picture of what processed chicken products look like before they are formed into patties or nuggets. This is McDonalds baby! Also, most store bought processed chicken products. I vowed never to eat another McDonalds chicken nugget again!
So.......I was making chicken strips for the kids today for lunch because I had them and they were hungry and they were white meat okay. I was making myself a super awesome and yummy green smoothy. I chopped and blended and got ready to enjoy MY lunch! However, after one gulp I realized that it was a miserable failure. Not edible AT ALL in my opinion. So, I was frustrated and hungry as I poured it all down the drain. I turned around and what was staring me in the face.......CHICKEN NUGGETS! They were white meat with no sugar but they were still processed and contained wheat flour. Without thinking much, I grabbed one and ate it. Then I ate a few more! They were good I am not going to lie! I can't believe that I had my first mess up! And here is my promise: I WILL NOT EAT ANOTHER CHICKEN NUGGET DURING THIS CLEANSE! Hopefully I can stear clear from the nasty little chunks of meat forever. Here's to a new day. And to redeem myself I am now eating a bowl full of celery, cucumbers and grape tomatoes with a little bit of EVOO, apple cider vinegar and salt and pepper. Yummy! I will redeem myself at dinner too!
.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Day 4
It is day four of my body cleansing program and so far so good. I have to admit that tonight I was craving a bit. Not just sugar, but food in general. Craig is gone for a quick business trip and so the kids wanted Totino's pizzas. Those things are cheap and horrible for you, but I grew up eating them and I really like them! I wanted to eat it sooooo bad! Instead, I made my green smoothie and ate my nuts and focused on how good I will feel when this is all over. Last night I made some really yummy chicken stir-fry with all fresh vegetables. I added in some raw cashews and some gluten-free soy sauce. I ate it over long grain brown rice and it was delicious! Todays menu was a BLT for breakfast using uncured bacon, a whole roma tomato, lettuce and brown rice gluten free bread. For lunch I had leftover stir-fry and for my snack I had a pear. Dinner was a green smoothie jam packed with goodness and a handful of raw cashews. I am very full tonight! I can do this!
Friday, February 1, 2013
Fat Doesn't Make you Fat....Sugar Does!
So today is the start of my first day of transformation including no sugar! I am eating some fruits but other than that....NO SUGAR....at all, in anything....even sugar alcohol. So here is part of the reason why. You might find some of these facts interesting.
Problems with fructose:
That is so true for me. I get the munchies in the afternoon and I find that I eat one snack and then I want more and more and more and I don't feel full. Fructose is the one thing in our body that does not tell us when we need to stop, it only feeds the fire. That's why we can sit and eat a whole sleeve of oreos and a bag of chips without stopping to breathe and then it will hit you later when it's already too late! Then you feel horrible and the damage has been done.
Some fun food facts:
"Change doesn't happen with an about-face. It happens by building up habits in our minds. Slowly, by flexing regularly, we build new neural pathways in our brains until we're doing things differently, effortlessly. So every day that we flex our "I'm not eating sugar, thanks" musicle, the stronger we get." Sarah Wilson I Quit Sugar
My menu today so far: (I am trying to eat as raw as I can)
Breakfast: oatmeal, chopped up raw pumpkin seeds
Snack: 2 raw unpeeled organic carrots
Lunch: Homemade guacamole over toasted brown rice bread (no gluten or dairy for me!)
Snack: Green smoothie with spinach, banana, strawberry, wheatgrass and 1 tbsp EFA's
Dinner will be: Chicken breast with tomato sauce over green salad with raw broccoli
Also a whole load of new supplements that I have started today that will help with digestion, immune system and more such as enzymes, probiotics, Vitamin B, E, L-Glutamine, Coconut oil, Colostrum, Zinc and blood and skin rejuvinator. Also consuming a Barley and Aloe juice everyday and water and lemons up the ying yang.
Problems with fructose:
- It makes us eat more and more
- It converts directly into fat
That is so true for me. I get the munchies in the afternoon and I find that I eat one snack and then I want more and more and more and I don't feel full. Fructose is the one thing in our body that does not tell us when we need to stop, it only feeds the fire. That's why we can sit and eat a whole sleeve of oreos and a bag of chips without stopping to breathe and then it will hit you later when it's already too late! Then you feel horrible and the damage has been done.
Some fun food facts:
- Table sugar=50% fructose, 50% sucrose
- Banana=55% sugar-half of which is fructose
- Honey=40% fructose
- Agave=up to 90% fructose
"Change doesn't happen with an about-face. It happens by building up habits in our minds. Slowly, by flexing regularly, we build new neural pathways in our brains until we're doing things differently, effortlessly. So every day that we flex our "I'm not eating sugar, thanks" musicle, the stronger we get." Sarah Wilson I Quit Sugar
My menu today so far: (I am trying to eat as raw as I can)
Breakfast: oatmeal, chopped up raw pumpkin seeds
Snack: 2 raw unpeeled organic carrots
Lunch: Homemade guacamole over toasted brown rice bread (no gluten or dairy for me!)
Snack: Green smoothie with spinach, banana, strawberry, wheatgrass and 1 tbsp EFA's
Dinner will be: Chicken breast with tomato sauce over green salad with raw broccoli
Also a whole load of new supplements that I have started today that will help with digestion, immune system and more such as enzymes, probiotics, Vitamin B, E, L-Glutamine, Coconut oil, Colostrum, Zinc and blood and skin rejuvinator. Also consuming a Barley and Aloe juice everyday and water and lemons up the ying yang.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Tomorrow is the BIG DAY!
Tomorrow I start my Body cleanse and detox program. In a few short months I will be bacteria free! I am definitely a little nervous. I have planned, prepared and purchased and now it is all up to me. I have asked Craig to give me a blessing because I think that in the beginning I am really going to need all the help I can get and part of overcoming our weaknesses is realizing that we are weak and that we can't do everything on our own. I am very grateful to know that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and who WILL help me on this journey.
So, one of the things that I have been thinking a lot about is how I need to retrain my brain. Everytime I have a craving for something I can't have I have to find a way to deflect my energies into something else and tell my brain: "No thanks, I don't want that today." I am going to make a list of things that I am going to do for when a temptation strikes.
Afternoon snack cravings:
So, one of the things that I have been thinking a lot about is how I need to retrain my brain. Everytime I have a craving for something I can't have I have to find a way to deflect my energies into something else and tell my brain: "No thanks, I don't want that today." I am going to make a list of things that I am going to do for when a temptation strikes.
Afternoon snack cravings:
- Drink a big glass of water
- Put in my teeth whitening trays
- Brush my teeth
- Clean something
- Go to my craftroom and make a project
- Read a book
- Positive meditation and or journaling
- Call a friend
- Study my Sunday School Lesson
- Post on my Blogs
- Brush my teeth
- Go to sleep
- Read
- Pray
- Avoid snack table-sit far away from it and do not look at it
- Engage myself in conversation
- Have an acceptable snack in my bag to munch on
- Pray
- Eat before the event so I am not hungry
- Have my lemon-water on hand!
Monday, January 28, 2013
Here goes nothin'.....or hopefully EVERYTHING!
This blog is the beginning of my health transformation. Here is my embarrassing truth and torment. I have been struggling with bacterial and yeast infections for THREE years! That alone is enough to make any woman weep. Not only having to constantly deal with the physical symptoms, but the psychologically ones as well. And my poor husband has been so patient and supportive, even though he can't fully understand completely what I have been suffering with.
Along with those symptoms I have also been dealing with embarrassing psoriasis and dermatitis, hormonal imbalance problems, mood swings, migraines and more. I attributed it to having my fourth child and turning 30 all in the same year. I heard that when you hit 30 everything just goes to pot. I refused however to just live with my ailments for the rest of my life. My infirmities albeit mild compared to what some have to suffer on a daily basis, it was VERY hard for me to bear at times and lately I had finally just worked myself into a cycle of depression and acceptance because nothing was working.
And when I say nothing was working, I mean that WESTERN MEDICINE WAS NOT WORKING!
I have visited the doctor SO MANY TIMES, and have taken EVERY ANTIBIOTIC and EVERY anti-fungal cream and pill. I took medication for my dermatitis and psoriasis and also was taking synthetic hormones for my imbalance problems. My persistent plight baffled the doctors and so they just continued endless rounds of antibiotics. They couldn't understand it anymore than I could. I am a young active, healthy mother with no previous health problems in my history. But yet, there I was, month after month.
I started to do my own research and found that what was most likely happening was that the antibiotics were killing my friendly, good bacteria and the bad bacteria was thriving and wreaking havoc on my system. I tried a few holisitic rememdies but with little success. Not even much relief of my symptoms. So, back to the doctor's I went.
Craig and I were talking one night and I was again complaining about my situation. I was just Soooo tired of it and wanted relief badly. Long term relief that is, like a CURE. So my wonderful husband did some research and found this e-book written by Linda Allen called "YEAST INFECTION NO MORE." She had been a sufferer for years and as I found out, there are a lot of women out there who have suffered like I have. Over years of research and study she put together her own Holisitic Healing system that has worked for thousands of women. I purchased it immediately and read the whole 260 page e-book in 2 days. Craig also read over it and we decided that it was something that I needed to do.
I have not felt this hopeful and scared in a long time. Hopeful, that this might take care of the problem once and for all! Scared because it is an intense program and it is going to be hard. Physically and maybe even more emotionally. I will not only be healing myself through specific steps and procedures, but I will be rebuilding myself by changing more drastically my eating habits that attribute greatly to my disease. Because as it turns out, it is as persistent as a disease at this point. My organs have been flooded with bacteria and toxins and have made it next to impossible for the good and healthy bacteria to grow and heal my body.
The program is a several step program. First I change my nutritional habits. I have to cut out ALL refined sugar, all dairy, all processed foods, little to no red meats and all gluten. It is encouraged that you should eat 75% raw everyday. Bacteria feed on these foods and for this purpose I need to exclude them from my diet and really consider cutting them from my diet forever to stay healthy. I also will be using her prescribed vitamins, supplements and oils to aid in each stage of healing.
After I change my diet and become accustomed to it, I then begin a cleansing process where I begin the detoxifying of my organs. This can be unpleasant as the toxins will be moving thru my organs and I will really be limiting my food consumption then. I can only consume what I can juice along with water and herbal teas. This includes an all over organ cleanse followed by a liver and parasite detox. This whole process can take up to a month with breaks in between each cleanse.
At this point I should be feeling really good. My energy should be thru the roof and my symptoms gone. Then I will take specific supplements and oils that will kill any bad bacteria left in my system, followed by a flooding of my system with healthy friendly bacteria.
If all goes as planned, I should be bacteria and yeast free forever within 12-16 weeks. Just before I head off to Hawaii! I then will have to do the cleanse twice a year and should decide if I want to reintroduce any specific foods back in to my diet.
The whole diet and food restrictions thing is going to be difficult for me. I have always pretty much ate whatever I wanted and I definitely have a sweet tooth. I am also an emotional eater so the psychological transformation that I am required to make will be tedious. That's why I named this blog SUGAR FREE ME because I honestly feel like this will be the most difficult step for me.
To help me prepare to become SUGAR FREE I got another e-book by Sara Wilson called I QUIT SUGAR. She outlines some really great steps that I am going to follow as I detox from sugar. It also outlines why we should all take this step in our lives to one degree or another. We were not ever meant to consume the amounts of sugar that we do. It leads to a multitude of health problems and diseases that most people never attribute to their sugar and processed foods consumption.
Anyway, I am going to try to blog as often as I can on my progress and daily assess my mental state as I take this journey. I think this will help me every day to remind myself why I am doing this. BECAUSE I WILL FEEL SO GREAT AND I CAN'T WAIT!
Along with those symptoms I have also been dealing with embarrassing psoriasis and dermatitis, hormonal imbalance problems, mood swings, migraines and more. I attributed it to having my fourth child and turning 30 all in the same year. I heard that when you hit 30 everything just goes to pot. I refused however to just live with my ailments for the rest of my life. My infirmities albeit mild compared to what some have to suffer on a daily basis, it was VERY hard for me to bear at times and lately I had finally just worked myself into a cycle of depression and acceptance because nothing was working.
And when I say nothing was working, I mean that WESTERN MEDICINE WAS NOT WORKING!
I have visited the doctor SO MANY TIMES, and have taken EVERY ANTIBIOTIC and EVERY anti-fungal cream and pill. I took medication for my dermatitis and psoriasis and also was taking synthetic hormones for my imbalance problems. My persistent plight baffled the doctors and so they just continued endless rounds of antibiotics. They couldn't understand it anymore than I could. I am a young active, healthy mother with no previous health problems in my history. But yet, there I was, month after month.
I started to do my own research and found that what was most likely happening was that the antibiotics were killing my friendly, good bacteria and the bad bacteria was thriving and wreaking havoc on my system. I tried a few holisitic rememdies but with little success. Not even much relief of my symptoms. So, back to the doctor's I went.
Craig and I were talking one night and I was again complaining about my situation. I was just Soooo tired of it and wanted relief badly. Long term relief that is, like a CURE. So my wonderful husband did some research and found this e-book written by Linda Allen called "YEAST INFECTION NO MORE." She had been a sufferer for years and as I found out, there are a lot of women out there who have suffered like I have. Over years of research and study she put together her own Holisitic Healing system that has worked for thousands of women. I purchased it immediately and read the whole 260 page e-book in 2 days. Craig also read over it and we decided that it was something that I needed to do.
I have not felt this hopeful and scared in a long time. Hopeful, that this might take care of the problem once and for all! Scared because it is an intense program and it is going to be hard. Physically and maybe even more emotionally. I will not only be healing myself through specific steps and procedures, but I will be rebuilding myself by changing more drastically my eating habits that attribute greatly to my disease. Because as it turns out, it is as persistent as a disease at this point. My organs have been flooded with bacteria and toxins and have made it next to impossible for the good and healthy bacteria to grow and heal my body.
The program is a several step program. First I change my nutritional habits. I have to cut out ALL refined sugar, all dairy, all processed foods, little to no red meats and all gluten. It is encouraged that you should eat 75% raw everyday. Bacteria feed on these foods and for this purpose I need to exclude them from my diet and really consider cutting them from my diet forever to stay healthy. I also will be using her prescribed vitamins, supplements and oils to aid in each stage of healing.
After I change my diet and become accustomed to it, I then begin a cleansing process where I begin the detoxifying of my organs. This can be unpleasant as the toxins will be moving thru my organs and I will really be limiting my food consumption then. I can only consume what I can juice along with water and herbal teas. This includes an all over organ cleanse followed by a liver and parasite detox. This whole process can take up to a month with breaks in between each cleanse.
At this point I should be feeling really good. My energy should be thru the roof and my symptoms gone. Then I will take specific supplements and oils that will kill any bad bacteria left in my system, followed by a flooding of my system with healthy friendly bacteria.
If all goes as planned, I should be bacteria and yeast free forever within 12-16 weeks. Just before I head off to Hawaii! I then will have to do the cleanse twice a year and should decide if I want to reintroduce any specific foods back in to my diet.
The whole diet and food restrictions thing is going to be difficult for me. I have always pretty much ate whatever I wanted and I definitely have a sweet tooth. I am also an emotional eater so the psychological transformation that I am required to make will be tedious. That's why I named this blog SUGAR FREE ME because I honestly feel like this will be the most difficult step for me.
To help me prepare to become SUGAR FREE I got another e-book by Sara Wilson called I QUIT SUGAR. She outlines some really great steps that I am going to follow as I detox from sugar. It also outlines why we should all take this step in our lives to one degree or another. We were not ever meant to consume the amounts of sugar that we do. It leads to a multitude of health problems and diseases that most people never attribute to their sugar and processed foods consumption.
Anyway, I am going to try to blog as often as I can on my progress and daily assess my mental state as I take this journey. I think this will help me every day to remind myself why I am doing this. BECAUSE I WILL FEEL SO GREAT AND I CAN'T WAIT!
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