I haven't blogged since August 21 and it's now September 8. It's been an amazing three weeks. The best news is that I have worked hard to lose seven pounds!! Already I'm feeling like a new person. These past few weeks I've gone through an important detox process, kind of like an addict in rehab. I was certainly out of sorts, feeling run down even after exercise, and getting a little discouraged. Now I feel that in going through that process I was purging my body of toxins, namely, sugar.
But more importantly, I've gone through a dramatic change in the last week. Perhaps I was divinely guided to watch this documentary that has made a big impact on my thinking about food. The name of the film is Forks Over Knives and I hope everyone who reads this will make an effort to see it. It's out of theaters now, but available from the website by the same name or on On Demand. The film focuses on doctors/scientists from the Cleveland Clinic and elsewhere who, for years have researched the effects of a western diet here in the US and around the world, and it's impact on our health. Based on their solid research and results working with people who were virtually at death's door, struggling with everything from heart disease to diabetes, these doctors are advocating a whole foods, plant-based diet. Their patients gave up all meat and dairy and followed a strict vegan diet. They reversed their heart disease, lost weight, became more fit, and were restored to health. The film is stunning and truly eye-opening. Let me be the first to say that I have had some judgement regarding vegans. My thinking before viewing the film was -- mmm pretty extreme, I could give up my chicken and fish, but never dairy.
So I started reading everything I could get my hands on. Kathy Freston's book, Veganist, is excellent, and she talks a good deal about the film and Drs. Colin Campbell and Caldwell Esselstyn. I've been eating a vegan diet now for about eight days and already the results are startling.
* My energy is back
* The bloat in my stomach is gone
* My mood has stabilized, depression has lifted
* Weight feels like it is melting off
* I wake up early, 5 am, feeling so refreshed
* I am satisfied at every meal, and never feel hungry or experience cravings
* I'm experiencing more mental clarity, no more foggy thinking
* I'm more social
* My drive and motivation is returning
* Digestion is so much better
* My skin is more radiant, no more puffy eyes
* I've found my joie de vivre
I feel like I've hit the jackpot of health and wellness! This week I will write about a few vegan recipes I've created, as well as the great classes at The Village I've been enjoying.
Vibrantly Yours in Health & Wellness,
Sharon
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
I'm Feeling The Shift!
OK, things are definitely starting to change. I'm actually starting to look forward to my workouts. Yesterday was the first morning I woke up feeling sore (after that rather intense Kinesis workout), so I decided to use a different set of muscles. I jumped on my bike and rode several miles while it was still fairly cool. Today my muscles felt better, stronger actually, and I headed right back to the gym to workout with Billy. We put in an hour and 1/2 of cardio and weights. Feeling a bit joyful, no rapturous would be the right word, for being such a disciplined workout girl this week. New behaviors, new feelings, new outlook. Yes!
At a rockin' service at Creative Living Fellowship this morning, Rev. Michele talked about the power of inner and outer balance. Think of it as Yin being our internal grounding, and Yang being our outward force or energy. She explained that the two have to be equal, and when they are, we are in alignment and can access the fullness of our being. She had us imagine a baseball batter taking his stance. He is grounding himself inwardly and visualizing the ball sailing out of the park, while outwardly he swings the bat and hits a homer. Success! I will be thinking about this balance as a new approach to keeping up the discipline I need for the next six months.
Here is something fun to add to your healthy list of foods. Necessity being the mother of invention, I have created a new recipe, and I must say it is delish! So low-fat and tasty. Hope you will make it and enjoy it as much as I do!
Sharon's Post-Workout Take The Edge Off Until Dinner Dip
Put all of the following in a mini blender:
1/2 c. non-fat good quality cottage cheese (I use Alta Dena)
1/4 c. non-fat greek yogurt (I use Chobani)
1 T goat cheese
1 T lime juice
2 T water
1 tsp. dry spices (I use Desert Gardens Cilantro Lime Dip) If you can't find it look for a dry spice mix that suits your fancy.
Sharon
At a rockin' service at Creative Living Fellowship this morning, Rev. Michele talked about the power of inner and outer balance. Think of it as Yin being our internal grounding, and Yang being our outward force or energy. She explained that the two have to be equal, and when they are, we are in alignment and can access the fullness of our being. She had us imagine a baseball batter taking his stance. He is grounding himself inwardly and visualizing the ball sailing out of the park, while outwardly he swings the bat and hits a homer. Success! I will be thinking about this balance as a new approach to keeping up the discipline I need for the next six months.
Here is something fun to add to your healthy list of foods. Necessity being the mother of invention, I have created a new recipe, and I must say it is delish! So low-fat and tasty. Hope you will make it and enjoy it as much as I do!
Sharon's Post-Workout Take The Edge Off Until Dinner Dip
Put all of the following in a mini blender:
1/2 c. non-fat good quality cottage cheese (I use Alta Dena)
1/4 c. non-fat greek yogurt (I use Chobani)
1 T goat cheese
1 T lime juice
2 T water
1 tsp. dry spices (I use Desert Gardens Cilantro Lime Dip) If you can't find it look for a dry spice mix that suits your fancy.
This light, healthy snack tastes rich and creamy.
Vibrantly Yours,Sharon
Friday, August 19, 2011
What a Workout!
You just never know what great surprises the day will bring. After power walking/running on the treadmill for 45 minutes, I had my first experience with Kinesis at The Village today. This 45 minute workout is a full body, multi-planar workout that includes cardio and strength training on the Kinesis wall and other stations. (About 12 people including me led by Kevin.) To me it felt like one of those fabulous grunt and sweat workouts you see on The Biggest Loser Show! Just what I need. It felt fantastic! Thank you Kevin -- my Kinesis trainer -- for a great morning!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
My Writing Journey to Health and Wellness
Here begins a transformational journey. August 18, 2011. The purpose of this blog is to write myself to a better place, to live a more health-filled life and to live life more fully! It's an experiment really. Can I become a strong, fit, disciplined (yikes) and vibrantly healthy person by accessing my own inner resources? Of course I can. But in the midst of many a menopausal fog of late, I have lacked discipline, motivation, energy, blah, blah, blah. But menopause be damned! I'm ready to adopt all the right behaviors in order to feel healthy, vibrant and alive again! I've had a few aha moments lately, and my intuition is strongly urging me to write. This blog, in a sense, is a path to freedom. It will help me to have the life I truly desire, to sort out all the things that perplex me, and most of all, it will help me to create new habits. (Oh the habits I need to release!!) For me to change my behavior I have to start with the truth. Here's what's true for me.
Truth: I have known for a long time that I am not creating the results I truly desire in my life. What am I waiting for???
Truth: I want to come clean about the ways and reasons for hiding my light "in a hat box with the lid down tight" as my Irish Grandmother would say. I will write about the ways I hold myself back. And I will write
to free myself.
Truth: I realize that we are bombarded with so much health and fitness information, but the truth is, all of us who are health conscious know exactly what we need to eat and how we need to keep our bodies moving in order to live in optimum health. So I want to move forward in wellness and fitness by tapping my own inner resources and strengthening my discipline. Tall order for me. I get very excited out of the gate and tend to lose steam. So I'm writing to tell the truth and become stronger.
Truth: I will post a photo of my current shape and post a photo every three weeks so that I have a visual of my progress. Ugh. So embarrassing! But seeing the results will be so inspiring.
Truth: I am taking a holistic approach to my wellness. My amazing friend, Jamie, is a health and wellness coach. She taught me to look at the whole of my life, a circle she calls our primary foods. Career, Spirituality, Relationships and Physical Activity. She explains that when our primary foods are lacking or out of balance it affects our consumption of secondary foods -- the things we put in our mouth. Very smart. And very true for me. So my journey will include what the greatest spiritual masters throughout the ages have been teaching us to do -- a daily meditative practice. Fifteen to twenty minutes a day. Stillness, quiet, breathing, listening.
So off I go. I welcome all encouraging words and any cheer leading you feel inclined to do. It will surely help me stay motivated. The beautiful Village Health Club will be my home away from home for the next six months. My friend Billy has graciously agreed to be one of my work out buddies. Come on down. Everyone is welcome. I can give you a pass for the day and we can work out together!
Vibrantly Yours in Health & Wellness,
Sharon
Truth: I have known for a long time that I am not creating the results I truly desire in my life. What am I waiting for???
Truth: I want to come clean about the ways and reasons for hiding my light "in a hat box with the lid down tight" as my Irish Grandmother would say. I will write about the ways I hold myself back. And I will write
to free myself.
Truth: I realize that we are bombarded with so much health and fitness information, but the truth is, all of us who are health conscious know exactly what we need to eat and how we need to keep our bodies moving in order to live in optimum health. So I want to move forward in wellness and fitness by tapping my own inner resources and strengthening my discipline. Tall order for me. I get very excited out of the gate and tend to lose steam. So I'm writing to tell the truth and become stronger.
Truth: I will post a photo of my current shape and post a photo every three weeks so that I have a visual of my progress. Ugh. So embarrassing! But seeing the results will be so inspiring.
Truth: I am taking a holistic approach to my wellness. My amazing friend, Jamie, is a health and wellness coach. She taught me to look at the whole of my life, a circle she calls our primary foods. Career, Spirituality, Relationships and Physical Activity. She explains that when our primary foods are lacking or out of balance it affects our consumption of secondary foods -- the things we put in our mouth. Very smart. And very true for me. So my journey will include what the greatest spiritual masters throughout the ages have been teaching us to do -- a daily meditative practice. Fifteen to twenty minutes a day. Stillness, quiet, breathing, listening.
So off I go. I welcome all encouraging words and any cheer leading you feel inclined to do. It will surely help me stay motivated. The beautiful Village Health Club will be my home away from home for the next six months. My friend Billy has graciously agreed to be one of my work out buddies. Come on down. Everyone is welcome. I can give you a pass for the day and we can work out together!
Vibrantly Yours in Health & Wellness,
Sharon
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