Starting Week 6

Dilemnas:

1. Dr.Shen believes I should eat meat. I am O positive and O positive people need meat, red meat. While this bit of information is good news on the one hand, it's not so good on the hand that loves the animals and doesn't want them to suffer. That would be the same hand that doesn't want to ingest commercially raised, hormone and antibiotic fed beef. And the environmental impact of eating beef is devastating.

2. Feeling overwhelmed with information about food and supplements. I've added so many supplements that I'm starting to avoid taking any at all. I missed three days this week of herbs and vitamins. Now I've added a product called Zrii because Deepak Chopra endorses it as good Ayurveda medicine. One ounce three times a day seemed like more than I could do this week. I also ordered a protein powder from the same company to be used as a meal replacement. I was encouraged to replace two meals with this powder mixed with water or juice. I didn't like it. I felt deprived and it felt unnatural. Once in awhile, in an emergency I can see it, but as a lifestyle? I think not.

3. Juicing isn't as satisfying on cold rainy days. I want something hot, like oatmeal. But, what about my pH?

4. I went to California Pizza Kitchen for their Field Green salad the other day. The waitress put three menus on the table, one for wines, one for food and one was actually a nutritional information chart on each of the foods they serve. I looked up the the Field Green Salad and was shocked to see how many calories are in it. The bottom line to weight management is 'calories in, calories out'. I have a pretty good metabolism but if I want to drop pounds I need to eat about 1500 calories a day. I'm not calorie conscious so I bought a book, a dictionary on calories in everything even fast food. I also bought a digital scale that will calculate totals according the weight of just about any food you can imagine. I haven't learned how to use it yet. Note to self: Must study instruction manual.

It has been feeling like my health conscious devotion has taken over my life. I'm having to think too much about it. This is not the balance I am seeking. In fact,this feeling of overwhelm is a slippery slope to surrender. But I'm not about to surrender. So....I asked GUS, Great Universal Spirit, "What's a girl to do?". The answer was, "Trust your INTUITION". If you know me at all this must make you laugh right out loud. I teach classes on trusting intuition. I've been teaching about the importance of communicating with the divine energy that is our higher mind and trusting that communication, for not months, but years. So, go ahead and have a good laugh. I sure did. How could I possibly have missed this important aspect of intuition? The body's natural ability to vibrate with what it needs and how much of it it wants is basic 101 Self Care.

I've been an advocate of applied kinesiology, muscle testing, since 1992. I believe our bodies will resonate vibrationally a yes or no frequency that will strengthen or weaken our muscles. I know this is controversial and untested but it has never failed me.

Also, using the fuel gauge technique of holding your hand over your belly and testing to see where on the gauge your fuel level is. 1 being empty and 10 being stuffed. If we keep the gauge between 4 and 6 or 7, we will have a steady and balanced appetite. Never too hungry, which leads to poor choices and too many calories and never allowing it to go above 7, which leads to disease and dysfunction. Simple enough. That's intuitive eating.

Tomorrow is Monday, the beginning of week 6 on my journey to radiant health. I have two weeks of regular foods before I go on another round of detoxing and the full blown liver gallbladder cleanse. I will be mindful of testing foods and amounts as I carry on from here.

Energy level is 7 today.
Pounds lost: 17

Sunday Day 32

It's cold here. Really cold. 50 degrees may not seem cold to those living in Idyllwild, or New Jersey but my toes are freezing. I've turned on the heater and I have socks on my feet and put on my old red cashmere robe. I've lost the belt to it and it has a few little holes but it's so warm. It'll do just fine.

Sundays, in my family, usually meant a special breakfast of my grandmother's Oh Boy Waffles served with bacon, eggs and orange juice. My grandmother's recipe calls for one cup of melted shortening. Can you imagine? White flour, melted shortening, salt, baking soda, sugar, eggs, milk or cream all whipped up into a smooth batter. Mom would put more shortening on the waffle iron to prevent sticking and serve them golden brown with butter and syrup. I remember this today because I was feeling rather nostalgic when I went into the kitchen on this cold Sunday morning. I wanted to pull down the Bisquick box and whip up a batch of pancakes.

I made my weekly calls to my sisters and when I asked Linda what she was doing she said she was making Oh Boy Waffles for her family. It's the only way to get all of her kids to come over on Sunday mornings. I've been thinking a lot about the way I used to eat. I was the Queen of Cheeseburger. Since I was a little kid it's all I would eat. No pickles, no tomatoes, no mustard, just meat, cheese, bun and special sauce. As a teen I ate at Jack In The Box every chance I got. I'd order the Jumbo Jack with extra secret sauce. You can keep the french fries, just give me a burger with a diet coke. Later the Whopper became my burger of choice, then Hennessey's Bar and Grill's cheddar burger with guacamole and salsa.

I was also the Goddess of the Rib Eye steak, medium rare. Houston's and Macaroni Grill have the best rib eye's in town. And let's not forget the baby back ribs from Chicago for Ribs, delivered to my door and the carne asada taco's at Taco's Amigos while out running errands. How am I not dead? Really. How have I not dropped dead from a heart attack? Butter on my toast, cream in my coffee, and sour cream on my potatoes. It's not that I didn't know how bad it was for me. I just didn't care. I wanted the pleasure of the taste. Every good cook knows butter makes everything taste better. Just ask Julia.

I dropped by my sister Sharon's house yesterday and it was like a mine field with sweet goodies everywhere. Her husband buys a box of donuts everyday. He cooks fried potatoes and chorizo and eggs. He bakes cookies and cakes because their granddaughter loves them. There are bowls of candy everywhere. I wouldn't have noticed it except ...well...now I do.

My sister Vicky has recently been diagnosed with diabetes. She's learning from a nutritionist what she needs to do to keep her blood sugar level but it isn't easy. She's lost 50 pounds and has about 75 more to go. It's crazy what we have done to ourselves for the pleasure of briefly tasting foods.

Sundays are the hardest for me. It's traditional to eat through a football game. We fill our coffee tables with chips and dips, big sandwiches filled with meats and cheeses, bowls of goodies to help us cheer on our favorite team, all downed with cold beer. Pizza, calzones and fried chicken. This all seems so disgusting now.

Here is my dilemma for this week. Cucumbers are now out of season. I went to our farmer's market yesterday and couldn't find one cucumber. This mornings juice just wasn't the same. I've added ginger to my juice and discovered quickly that a little ginger goes a long way. I'm beginning to get bored with my limited vegetarian recipes. I need to search out new ideas for juicing and new recipes to keep my taste buds happy. Winter had come to Redondo Beach and with it a desire for chili, stews, soups and cassaroles. Today is research day.

I had one more mini Akashic Field Therapy session with Valerie Elster this week. Tomorrow I see Dr. Shen for acupuncture and more herbs.

My energy is holding steady at 8 and I've lost a total of 18 pounds. Onward and upward.

Four Weeks Today!

Let me take a moment to pat myself on my back. Four weeks with eating an animal. Four weeks of juicing organic veggies for breakfast. Four weeks of drinking lots of water. Four weeks of supplements, and nastyass tea. I've lost 16 pounds, but that's not the point, just a happy side effect. Point being, I'm feeling healthier and more energetic. I'm sleeping better and my level of patience has grown exponentially. I feel happier, and I was happy to begin with. It's all good.

There are stressors all around me and I'm not taking the bait. My mother has asked for me to bake Christmas cookies and I'm so not likely to be able to do that without eating them. But, I found a solution. She loves coconut and I hate it. I'll make coconut cookies and then she can have that smell in the house she so misses and eat all she wants and I won't be in the least bit tempted.

The remodeling contractor began demolition on Monday and the exterior painters have completed the front building and are now painting the back one. It looks great. Our sump pump went out over the weekend and I've had plumbers, electricians and pump specialists in and out for three days. I've lost my bank card and my car really needs to be cleaned out, as does the garage. But, I'm mellow yellow Baby, and loving my life. How strange is that?

Can't wait to see blood work.

Energy is very high today....I walked three miles yesterday and my butt feels it. I'll go out again in la manana.