(90-Day Detox) Day 35: The Only Way Out Is Through! Part 1

Okay, lovebuttons. I know this is a late night post, but there was a parents’ meeting and a meeting with my new landlord and a hot date (and I do mean HOT date) with my pores at yoga!

I just HAVE to tell you what happened to me yesterday as I was walking and smiling and strutting my happy green stuff in the street. I was coming out of somewhere… oh! Having bought my groceries at the health food store. I was pushing the jogging stroller, loaded with fruits and veg, and I walked past a couple of men who were Italiano and chatting away…

…I smiled and just walked right past. When I was about 3 stores down, one of them yelled out at me at the top of his lungs,

“YOU ARE BEEEEAAAUTIFUL!!!”

*gush*

It’s that special? I felt happy the whole day for that one! Just another example of how you can make someone feel so good, when you’re brave enough to say what you think when you think it. That just made my day!

Today was pretty great, too. I did two great things for myself today:

• I RELEASED a project I had been ify about. I’d been thinkin’,. wonderin’, tryin’ waiting to see if and how I would make something happen and today I said,

“NO!”

In the nicest way possible, of course.

Here’s what became my affirmation for the day:

I CHOOSE to prioritize the projects and people that GIVE me strength and that excite and empower me and I RELEASE the rest to the wind.

Eventhough having released this project meant losing some significant opportunities, I just had to go with my GUT and not my brain and SET IT FREE.

So I did and I’m sure I’ll be really glad about it eventually.;-) It did hurt a bit, because there are always costs involved (emotional as much as financial) when letting go of something, but you know what they say about doors and stuff…

…you have to close one door before you can let another open.

So, here’s to promising possibilities with projects and believe that inspire me to be the best I can be and have the most positive impact on the world.

• The other thing I did for myself was I prioritized ME! I went to my yoga class even though I was heavily tempted to come here and do my late blog duties. I let the guilt go for the late blog post and just sweat myself to bliss by going to yoga!!

So overall, I’m feeling empowered. Voila today’s themesong:

CLICK HERE, LADIES!!

I’ll be putting up the announcement very soon for our teleseminar with Michael tomorrow! Remember, this is going to be YOUR opportunity to ask questions, so once that announcement is up, you better start sending me all your questions and concerns. ASK ANYTHING!!! He really said we could ask ANYTHING, so let’s do it!

You can leave you name out if you’d like it to be anonymous. That’s totallly fine. On the call, just so you know, I won’t say something like,

“Umm… Michael, Stacey in Winnipeg, wants to know if poop should sink or float and why?”

Love you, Stacey.

Okay, here’s another reminder that FRIDAY is my rescheduled date night with Brian Johnson. PLEASE, you do NOT want to miss that call, it’s going to be AMAZING and I’m so looking forward to it! There are more things up the pipes, but I think we’ve got enough to worry about for now.

It’s time for some emergency support, but since this is getting long and juuust in case you’ve been waiting for my post, I’m going to continue it and put the rest up in another post. I have A LOT to say and so I may as well keep it going. A sequel.

Stay tuned and in the meantime, check out Annie Lennox and Aretha Franklin on that theme song I told you to start up!

Our March Break Cleanse Extravaganza!

Last post I told you we had already begun our March Break cleanse.  I left off telling you for some added motivation I was heading to the big city to take in the sites while we all continued our intention to do a cleanse.  My reasoning is that even though we eat a very high-raw regime while at home, because the kids are in school and socializing with friends and attending birthday parties, etc., it isn’t always as ideal as I would like. 

So, every school holiday, we take several days to wind down, to re-connect, and tune-in to each other, and ourselves.  Using food is a great tool to help this process along.  And this year, after the usual yoga sessions, tubing, hikes, bike rides and visits with friends, we all thought it would be so fun to take a trip 1 hour south to the city to round out our little holiday with some cultural stimulation to go with our cleanse.

I like to occasionally do little water or green juice fasts and in the Spring and Autumn longer ones, but with children, that isn’t really necessary or practical.  So instead, what we do is have days where I only serve fresh fruit, green juices, green smoothies, and big salads.  This way, the kids aren’t really hungry, and they are getting great nutrition, plus, a little rest from the nuts and mixed combinations of usual raw gourmet fare like raw burgers or nori rolls, etc.

We completed our 3 days at home just doing juices, smoothies and bitter salads (arugula, radicchio, dandelion greens with avocado) and the morning of our trip, we all juiced and packed enough green juice (dandelion, romaine, cucumber, celery and apple) and salad for the whole day.  On the 5^th day, we ate fresh mangosteen and coconut and drank coconut water plus our usual lemon-ginger water.  For a late lunch at 4pm, we headed over to our fave raw restaurant- LIVE!  Ohhhhh, I just love Jennifer Italiano’s food!  To be perfectly honest, I am reeeeeeeallt picky!  Yet, I have enjoyed everything I have ever tried at her foodbar.  My kids were so hungry by the time we got there because we had been to the museum for 5 hours looking at dinosaurs and ancient Egyptian exhibits, and the smells were so tantalizing!  Jennifer also offers a few healthy cooked food options like brown rice dishes, and my boys nearly caved and went for those- but I firmly reminded them that we were still on our cleanse and they really had to choose something raw.  One chose the large mixed green with kale salad and a ginger garlic dressing, and the other chose a veggie wrap with a dehydrated burrito that was a dark red color.  My husband had a wrap and I had a salad.  And we all had desserts- Ok, that was NOT on the cleanse menu LOL!

We all wished we had ordered about double that amount of food as everything tasted sooooooo good!  But actually, by the time we were finished, we were full and satisfied.  We had an Art Gala of 300 International artists to attend at 6, so off we went very happy indeed!  We must have all been radiating a lot of joy, because when we attended the gala which was PACKED with people, just as we were standing in one of the lines to pay, my husband was tapped on the shoulder and a gentleman handed him FREE TICKETS for our whole family!  We couldn’t believe our good fortune!  I looked around in the crowd and found this man walking with a woman, and realised she was the lady I had assisted in the parking lot several minutes before…it was all so sweet!  I even bumped into several people I hadn’t seen in ages, and a client who had attended 2 of my raw recipe workshops with her husband.

When we returned to our hotel room at 9:30, we had all worked up quite the appetite…so although this isn’t the best idea because of how late it was, we broke open one of our DURIAN and had a little feast!

(Our young photographer Liam shot this little vid of us all feasting away: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eZoRQ5VWwc )

I find when one is raw, going with the flow and meeting your body’s needs and desires is healthier than constantly stifling them…

The next day we visited a Raw Market Fair at super Sprouts and saw our dear friend Wayne Gendel from foreverheathy.net who had a booth there, a little raw waldorf girl who was selling her wonderful poetry books for $3, and Groovinda from Aum My Goddess- she has the coolest clothing line made of hemp and cotton original designs- and several other raw friends and had a wonderful time!  We nibbled on bags of sunflower sprouts and green juices served there until the kids got bored about 3 hours in. After more fun going to the HUGE super health food store THE BIG CARROT and buying some raw honey and organic apples and bee pollen and nori sheets (my kids LOVE to nibble on them) we headed back to the hotel around 8 for a salt-water swim.  Our 3 day holiday and 6 day cleanse was fun, refreshing and a wonderful bonding experience that my family all really enjoyed.  Bless!

How to Mika a Fuschia Smoothie!

It’s finally here!
Mika’s Diva TV début! We actually recorded this last summer, but just now finally got to editing it. Brace yourselves, Ladies. JimboSunshine Gilker and I are getting ready for a video roll out, and it starts today!

Love and hugs!

P.S.
I used to be able to convince her to put greens in hers, too, but as you’ll see, she’s got her own fuscia agendas these days.

(90-Day Detox) Day 37: Back In Action With Gusto!

Good morning, my little Sparkle Puff of delight! I sure appreciate all the kind words people send me and encouragement to rest. I am feeling much better and I got a lot of sleep, so thanks!

I also used the opportunity of being “tucked away” to move forward on the detox announcement that we’re supposed to be putting together this week and I am SOOOOOO excited. I can hardly wait to show it to you and to kick-start the next stage of deep tissue detox for those of us who will be carrying through with that level of intensity in this program.

Okay, prepare for a mega-update.There’s a lot to say and a day in the bed feels like I’ve missed a week of action.

First of all, I’m going to make a little confession, here and it’s just slightly uncomfortable. My brother would squirm in disgust if I said this in front of him, and quite frankly a lot of other people I know would, too, but I still want to tell you what happened for me, because, well…

…I guess that’s just the way I am. I put it all out there, with the hope that it might help you, too.

So, here it is:

Yesterday when I wasn’t feeling well, I realized there was something toxic brewing inside. It must have come in through the seaweed salad I ate, because I remember reacting to it almost immediately. That or the green vegetables, I’m not sure. Maybe a bug slipped in through my celery juice. I don’t know, but it sure didn’t feel comfortable.

I spent a lot of time hugging the toilet bowl, but that didn’t seem to do the trick. Nothing would come out and I’m just not good at “forcing” that particular issue. So I waited and allowed things to move through a bit. When I was sure they’d moved “further down the track” then I did…

…an enema!

Yup! The “Big E” as Jimmy likes to call it.

Now, maybe it’s no coincidence that this week we have our special guest with Michael Perrine where he’s going to tell us “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Poop, But Where Too Afraid to Ask.” I am the one who gets to put myself out there and ask the rosy-cheek questions. (I can take it. ) Anyway, I know it’s a subject of controversy and the reason I’m bringing it up is because for a long time I advised people against it. For a long time I just regurgitated what people told me about it.

I used all the excuses that “it’s not natural”. We’re just “not supposed to” do that kind of thing. It’s the exit door, not the entrance, blah, blah, blah.

I heard fear tactics like “I know someone who did an enema and never took another natural bowel movement again!”

I’m sorry, I’m not totally convinced about that one, and fear-mongering isn’t my style. The next time someone tells me something like this I’m going to ask WHO, WHERE and How do I get in touch to ask them a few questions myself.

Fortunately for me, my commitment to base my truth on experience over indoctrination has allowed me to expand my horizons. That and the realization that there’s very little about how we live that is natural these days, so “natural” doesn’t serve as justification not to do something anymore.

It’s not “natural” to wear clothes, but if I tell the police that when I’m walking nude in the street, I’ll still get arrested.

I don’t look out my window and find seaweed, chard or pineapples growing. If I had to live “naturally”, I’d have died a very loooong time ago. So this isn’t just about being “natural”. It’s also about doing what makes sense TO YOU, given your conditions and situation in life and then having the courage to try things and find out for yourself what works.

As much as I would have loved to have given birth to my son “naturally” I’m quite certain either he or I would have died on the table if science hadn’t been there to help us out. I’m all for nature and natural living, but I think science and the “unnatural” world has its valuable contributions to society, and the fact that you’re even reading this in the first place is proof of that.

I’ve lived in the jungle before and tried to lead a “natural” life and those of you who know me closely, know it didn’t work out so well for me. I’m okay with walls, with internet and YES! even high heels and lip gloss. There’s nothing natural about these things and I’m okay with that.

I want to feel good. I want to live a fulfilling life and make the world a better place. I want to learn, grow and share (love you, Fred!) and do whatever I can to make things work in my life and in the lives of those around me. So that’s why I’m coming out of the colonic closet to say that experience has now shown me that flushing the intestinal tract with water is far, far, far more comfortable than suffering with toxicity and constipation.

I am a believer!

Now, granted, I don’t know everything about it, perhaps there are risks, things I should be concerned about. But there are risks to constipation, too, and risks to worrying about the risks of constipation. And where I do not know all the story, I can seek answers and THAT is why Michael is coming this week on Thursday to answer our questions.

I encourage you to visit his site and check out some of his resources. (and eh hem, you can check HIM out while you’re at it.;-)) I think you’ll be more than impressed with this character and I do hope you’ll join us on Thursday for the scoop on poop and much, much more.

(Just couldn’t resist, sorry!)

Now, that’s all out of the way, what other juicy things do I have to share?

I suppose that’s quite a sufficient update, except for the fact that I forgot to mention, my date with Brian Johnson has been reschedule for THIS Friday at 9pm EST. I’ll make that call available again and change the links on the original announcement. Anyway, just pencil that one in your calendar, because it’s going to be inspiring.

I’ve been observing some things and I’m very excited about pushing a few buttons with him to ask him some questions about how he does it all.

A Really Neat Thing Is That…

…because the power went out at Brian’s place, his friend Daniel Aaron dropped me an email to let me know Brian couldn’t make it to the call. Turns out Daniel is *hold your britches, my dear* an expert on “the joys of the all aphrodisiac diet” and much, much more. He runs a yoga training center in Bali and I’ve so enjoyed my connection with him and was SO, SOOOO inspired by some of the things he’s doing that I’ve decided I’m moving to Bali!!

Okay, just kidding, but I know some of you wouldn’t put an extreme move like that past me. Nor should you.;-) He he…

Seriously, though. He’s going to be our teleseminar guest next week and you know, I’m SUPER excited about this. And while I might not be moving to Bali YET, I am wheeling and dealing with some close friends about the idea of doing a retreat there. We’re torn between Bali and Hawaii. Anyway, we’ll keep you posted, but that’s for later in the summer.

Here’s a quote from Daniel’s website that got me thinking in a BIG way. I loved it:

“Work does not kill you, food does. God does not kill you, food does. Food is your first and last enemy. If you take in more than you can handle, it takes all of your energy to digest it.”
( Yogi Bhajan )

I’m not going to show you his website yet, and dont you go googling his name either. Just busy yourself with checking out Michael Perrine and hang on to your shorts for that super inspirational call with Brian, and then I’ll show you all the juicy stuff Daniel has to offer.

*aaaaaaahhh…*

Guess the silence had gotten to me, huh? I seem to have purged a prolific expression of my thoughts for one day and so I will leave you with a few of your own thoughts, well, the thoughts of program participants like yourself that take the time send me their thoughts, expressions and appreciation. But before you get started, why don’t you click this link and get the musical soundtrack to this part started up:

What You Have to Say About Things

Tera,

I meant to write this yesterday (Saturday, end of GSC) but it just didn’t happen!  I did indeed make it to the finish line of the 7 day Green Smoothie Challenge and I feel great!  I feel more centered physically and emotionally.  Not noticing many detox symptoms either, but I was eating mostly raw before the challenge.  But this was a great way to really focus on the greens and I have been telling people how it cuts down on most all cravings, amazingly! But it does make sense if greens are one of the most nutrient dense foods available.

I have discovered during this challenge how much I enjoy collards and mixed baby greens in my smoothies and have really increased the green part of the fruit:greens ratio!  Thanks so much for offering these challenge!  I am now signed up for the 7 day free detox, printed out the materials and organized them into a binder notebook and excited to get started!  My focus will be on cutting down on oils and using fats a little less!  And drinking plenty of water of course!  By the way, yesterday I spent a whole 45 mintues with my Omega juicer, juicing the heck out of some veggies that needed to be used and made nearly a whole quart of pure veggie juice, including a whole handful of parsley!

With much green goodness thanks,

Jennie

I love this lady, she just hits me up with doozies all the time and yet insists she has nothing to say to the world. Check out this one:

This has most definitely been a week from Hell, but I never once wavered about how I was nourishing myself.  No wine, no pizza, no pills, no Hershey’s (or even Trader Joe’s 85%) chocolate.  I just kept on doing what you taught me to do…and it worked!

It worked because it’s the right thing to do, to eat like this.  To listen to our bodies and provide the things it really needs.  My son spent time in Nepal, in the Peace Corps. One thing that impressed him is that the people where he was stationed have no word for “want,” but several words for “need.”

I think, as a country, we’d be a lot better off if we did, bought, ate, lived more of what we need and MUCH less of what we want.

It’s time to make juice, and later a smoothie…and probably another one tonight.  I’m loving the simplicity of them and feel no need for fancier meals.  I’m grounded and at peace, and you showed me the way.

Thanks again, love.
S

Now, this is pure love and enthusiasm in 1s and 0s. ENJOY!!

Hi Again Tera,

Well, I’m on a Diva inspired roll here!

I’m reading Leslie Kenton and Cherie Calbom and
I am SO ready for the Deep Tissue Detox.
Bring it on Sistah!!

I love the Gradient concept.
I realize that that is just what I’ve been doing on my raw food/optimum health journey BUT
instead of patting myself on the back for all the progress I’ve made, I was beating myself up for
not being “good enough”!

So, for my fellow travelers on this journey….
When I started “going raw” about a year and a half ago, I couldn’t imagine how I was ever going to
“give up” cookies, ice cream, candy….
Then a few months into it, I was rarely eating those foods but couldn’t imagine how I was ever going to
“give up” crackers, chips, bread….
Then a more few months into it, I was rarely eating those foods but couldn’t imagine how I was ever going to “give up” cheese, yogurt, kefir
Hmmm…..me thinks there’s a pattern emerging here )

Now…although I do occasionally partake of a less than optimal food choice, most of the time the foods I eat are raw, living and plant based.
Now…although I do occasionally crave a less than optimal food choice, most of the time I crave “weird” things like kale or parsley (REALLY…. I DO!!)

This morning, while reading over the last few days of Tera’s blog posts, I had an A-HA moment:
I wasn’t “giving up” anything, I was “letting go” of those things (food, possessions, habits, relationships) that no longer served me. Wow! How liberating. Yeah, I’ve got a way to go on this journey but wow, I sure have come a long long way in a very short time.

Thanks Tera
Thanks Diva Friends!

Oh … I have to share another recipe.
Here’s what I made last night for dinner.

I’ve named it my “Diva Inspired Detox Salad”
(Sorry about the lack of measurements …. my food preparation tends to be more art than science)

INGREDIENTS
Large handful of sunflower sprouts
Large handful of arugula
Small handful of dulse
2-3 stalks of bok choy
1-2 green apples (granny smith)
Sprinkling of raisins
Drizzle of cold pressed extra virgin olive oil
Lemon juice (I used a half slice cut maybe about 1/4″ thick)
Fresh ground pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:
Place the sprouts, arugula, dulse and bok choy leaves in a bowl & cut into small pieces (I use a pair of kitchen scissors and cut everything pretty fine)
Dice the bok choy stalks and toss ‘em in
Chop/dice the green apples and toss ‘em in (I include everything – core, seeds – just not the stem)
Sprinkle on the raisins
Drizzle on the olive oil
Squeeze on the lemon juice
Grind on the pepper
(Do a little dance while you’re doing all this — so much fun!)
Toss and enjoy!

Bright blessings,
Karyn

And with that, my lovelies… I’m on my way to purge what little bacteria might still be wriggling about in a sesssion of (you guessed it) HOT YOGA!!! Mmmmhmmm…Love you!

YOU!! What are you going to do to make this day the best day ever? And what do you think off all this chatter-whacking I’ve just done! My goodness gracious!!! Look forward to hearing from you…

P.S.

DON’T wait on the world to change! Get up and change it yourself!

P.P.S

Jimmy wants me to do a bulleted list to that he can do a cool new trick on the blog. Here’s a list of all the things I can do to make this day (here’s to you Wolfie) the BEST DAY EVER:

• Go to hot yoga
• Buy a whole bunch of greens and load up on fresh fruit and veggies
• Do my hair and get myself some new, styling yoga pants
• Snuggle my muffins with 1000 kisses
• Have a phone conversation with someone who inspires me
• Pee. No, really. I have to go pee, now!!! Byeeeee! Love you!!

Rawvolutionarily Different: Healing Diabeties and More with Green Smoothies and Raw Foods (Green Smoothie Guest Post by Naturopath and Living Foods Coach Pamela Reilly)

Hello! My name is Pamela Reilly. I’m a Naturopath and Living Foods Life Coach who lives in Indianapolis and who has experienced truly miraculous healing from raw foods. I want to thank Tami so much for inviting me to be a guest blogger! I consider it a privilege and an honor to be able to share information on this amazing blog.

I am currently in the process of allowing my body to heal from 42 years of having Diabetes. My posts therefore focus on using raw foods to reverse or control Diabetes. Today’s post shares the special challenges folks with Diabetes face when they go raw, and my second post will share nutritional information about foods known to lower blood sugars along with recipes for delicious Green Smoothies made without fruit.

I’ve “played” with raw foods since 2005, going through periods of high and low rawness. Late last year I decided it was time to get serious. I went 100% raw, vegan on January 1. The difference between being 25-75% raw with few restrictions and 100% raw, vegan with restrictions related to my Diabetes has been incredible.

Please note that I typically avoid the use of the word “diabetic” because I never want to define someone by their disease. To save space, however, I do refer to my friends with Diabetes as “raw diabetics” in these posts. For those of you unfamiliar with Diabetes, it is an illness where a person’s body is unable to turn glucose (a simple sugar) into energy. This inability is either caused because the person’s body stops producing insulin (Type 1) or because the person’s body stops using the insulin produced by the body (Type 2). I chose not to devote much time to explaining diabetes in these posts. Please feel free to contact me if you’d like additional information.

I switched to raw foods because I was determined to reverse 42 years of Diabetes and associated complications. I had experienced healing from many health issues using nutritional support and other natural remedies, but Diabetes and a dead Thyroid gland remained a constant battle. Raw foods allowed my body to completely regenerate my Thyroid gland so that I no longer need any medication. Raw foods also reduced my insulin needs from 70 units per day down to 7-10 units, and that amount continues to drop. You can read more about my healing journey at my blog: Rawvolutionary Healing and in another recent guest blog post at:  Pamela Reilly’s Rawvolutionary Healing.

My biggest passion is teaching about and coaching others in the living foods lifestyle. Diabetics face some very specific challenges when they go raw, but have few resources to help them get over the bumps. The focus of my life is providing practical tips and encouragement to raw diabetics. Perhaps the most obvious challenge faced by raw diabetics is that they experience dramatic changes in how they control their blood sugars after they go raw. Most experience dramatic drops in blood sugar levels and insulin needs, which is a good thing, but many also experience periods where their blood sugars drastically drop and rise for no apparent reason. These extreme fluctuations are exacerbated by the detoxification process. The fluctuations wreak havoc with the raw diabetic’s emotional outlook, energy levels, and
overall feeling of well being.

It is incredibly frustrating to do everything right but have their blood sugar control actually worsen. The emotional side of going raw for a diabetic is a much larger issue than it is for most raw foodists. The interviews I’m doing show that some diabetics experience far more emotional upheaval related to physical changes created by raw foods than others do. This may mean they require more support and encouragement than others. On the other side of the coin, some diabetics experience such dramatic changes in their health that their emotional outlook greatly improves.

Raw diabetics’ struggles are often complicated by the fact that their doctors don’t understand raw foods and refuse to work with them to make the necessary adjustments in medication dosages. Many of the diabetics I’ve interviewed and spoken with either abruptly quit taking all medication, or stop consulting their physician and make all medication changes on their own. This is potentially a very dangerous situation. One of my goals is to create a database of MDs who will work with and advise raw diabetics on making medication adjustments in a safe manner. I also hope to eventually work with MDs to provide training on the living foods lifestyle to mainstream medical professionals, but many “attitude hurdles” must be jumped before that can happen.

The second largest difference between a raw diabetic and other raw foodists is the raw diet a diabetic eats to control their glucose levels. Many diabetics go raw after seeing the movie, Simply Raw: Reversing
Diabetes in 30 Days, a movie that follows six diabetics on a 30-day raw adventure. The movie is incredibly inspiring and eye-opening. I still get misty when I watch it, and I’ve shown it more times than I can count! I encourage you to get a copy of the video to share with diabetics you know and love, your church or civic organizations to which you belong. This message needs to be heard!

The diet followed by most raw diabetics is the one proposed in Dr. Gabriel Cousen’s books, There is a Curefor Diabetes, and Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine. I highly recommend both of these books to anyone with diabetes, and highly recommend the “Rainbow Green” book to anyone seeking extreme healing from any health issue.

The diet proposed in these books has some interesting restrictions and is broken into three phases. Each phase restricts some foods but progressively allows more foods to be included in a person’s daily meals. Right off the top, the program eliminates all animal products, processed foods, white flours, white sugars, caffeine, mushrooms, nutritional yeast, and other foods considered to have high levels of minute toxins called “mycotoxins.” Phase 1 of the program strictly eliminates the intake of any and all fruits. It also eliminates the intake of high-glycemic veggies such as carrots and beets, starchy vegetables such as potatoes, all fermented foods, and raw cacao. Raw diabetics also typically need to limit the amount of grains and seeds they eat, as these can elevate blood sugars.

Some raw diabetics experience glucose spikes from nuts and therefore also need to limit their intake of nuts. Dr. Cousens explains that restricting these foods accelerates the body’s ability to heal itself in a variety of ways. His organization graciously shares an online chart showing the foods allowed in each phase at Summary of Phases.

The restricted foods can make it tricky to follow many “mainstream” raw food recipes, but I’ve found it’s very easy to adapt recipes to fit the program. In main course recipes, it’s usually OK to just delete dates and raisins from the recipe, using common sense. I also substitute Stevia for raw honey or agave, use thin cucumber slices instead of mushrooms, and so on.

This diet is anything but restrictive, though! The foods that are permitted can be combined to create a wide array of dishes that are both gorgeous and truly delicious! I feel I have more variety in the foods I eat now than I ever did before. I also never feel “deprived,” but savor and celebrate the uniqueness of every meal. Both of Dr. Cousen’s books contain a wide variety of recipes, and I’m very busy creating new recipes every day for my hubby and I to enjoy. (He went raw a few months after I started Phase 1, mainly because of the miraculous health he saw me regain.)

The final unique challenge that raw diabetics face is opposition from those who love them and who believe they are harming themselves by eating living foods. When most people go raw, their friends and family may respond with surprise, but eventually accept their lifestyle change and give it little thought. This is not always true for raw diabetics. Some raw diabetics are surrounded by people who love them dearly but who can’t believe that a simple dietary change could reverse diabetes. These family members are extremely fearful and are often angered that their loved one is trying an approach that goes beyond their physician’s recommendations. I hear repeated stories from raw diabetics who were subjected to many angry outbursts by a family member or friend, or who even had a loved one break off a relationship because of the diabetic’s switch to raw foods. This type of opposition and stress can be overwhelming and often comes during the most difficult initial stages transitioning to a raw food lifestyle. Thankfully, most of this opposition disappears once the loved ones see the dramatic healing experienced by the diabetic.

All of these challenges require a raw diabetic to have extremely high levels of determination to successfully go raw and stick to the program. Let’s not forget that in the midst of these special challenges, a raw diabetic still goes through the “normal” raw food transition challenges of changing ingrained habits, detoxing, battling cravings, and so on.

It takes a very special person to choose to reverse their health issues by adopting the raw food lifestyle. If you know a diabetic who has gone raw or is considering going raw, please go out of your way to encourage them on a daily basis. They will love you for it! I look forward to sharing with you again! Go find the abundant wellness God intends for you!

Please feel free to contact me via any of the following:

My website: Good Works Wellness Research, LLC

My Blog: Rawvolutionary Healing

Twitter: RawHealer

~ Pamela Reilly

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Editor Note: I’m so excited that Pamela is sharing her expertise here with us on the Green Smoothie Blog! Thank You Pamels! I discovered Pamela via Twitter! Are you using Twitter? Leave your Twitter link in a comment to this post so we can all connect! And be sure to check back next week for Pamela’s next post that will include green smoothie recipes that are “diebetic friendly.” These recipes and information is useful for everyone — those on a raw food diet and those simply trying to safely incorporate more greens into their diet.

And … if you have questions for Pamela — PLEASE post them in our comments to they can be answered here for everyone in future posts!

P.S. In April Pamela will be launching a 30-day “Rawvolutionary Healing” Living Foods Coaching program specifically designed
for diabetics and others on Phase 1 of the Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine. Please contact Pamela if you’d like to receive updates on this program.

(90-Day Detox) Day 36: An Invader

I woke up in the night feeling like I needed to be sick. I hugged the toilet bowl for a while, but no action. Mr. Wheatgrass thought maybe I caught some kind of bacteria or something. The only thing I ate yesterday was Green Juice and a seaweed salad. But I’m not feeling so hot right now.

Jimbolina Sunshine just sent me this when I told him how I was doing:

Halo Daisy Pumperfly,

Today is the first day of your new life. But you must struggle in rebirth for four days. You will be released to Freedom later in the afternoon on Thursday of this week if, and only if, you allow yourself the nap to end all naps during the afternoon of that day. If you choose to skip this nap, or are unable to attend this meeting with your bed, you will  have to wait until Friday am….after a sound night’s sleep. This is imperative.

During these days you will have two best friends…the Hollow Reed, and Faith. Unshakable Faith. Listen to what speaketh the stomach! Stop caring! (For so often, ‘caring’ is fearing…)

Angels shall swarm and warm you…if you follow Her ways.

Whoooosh!

That’s why I love Jimbolina Sunshine Gilker. I can’t say I always fully understand what he’s saying to me, but I sure do like that guy.

*waaaave of nausea*

Whoops. That’s my cue! I’m outta here.

I have lots to say but need to purge this little villain invader before I’ll have the energy to say it. So, I’m tucking myself in bed, letting the sun shine on my face and I’ll resurface when this critter has left the building.

Loooove and hugs,

Tera

Seeing the Connection

By Linda Hansen

People often comment to me that I have very good looking children, and my reply is something to the effect that we always try to eat healthy.  I usually get a puzzled look.  What is the connection?  That is the problem.  Our health is in a great part, a function of what we do, and what we put into ourselves.  In addition, our health is not some dark secret deep in the hidden recesses away from sight.  It is reflected in the brightness of our eyes, the color of our cheeks, the softness of our skin, the readiness of our smile, and so many other things we see every day we look in the mirror.  Some say we shouldn’t focus on beauty, and I agree.  It is not the do all and end all by any means, but it is an indicator.  If we see dark circles under our eyes, it is a sign that we have something to discover about ourselves, and to work on. We must learn to make the connection between what we put in and what we get out.

Next time you go to the grocery store, take a little time to see what people have in their carts.  Look into the carts, and look at the people.  Look at their faces, look at their bodies, and their energy.  It is easy to see.   I see many sick people buying health destroying food items at my grocery store.  I talk with my children about this connection over and over. We have loved ones who have suffered with their health. We talk about their choices.  I feel it is absolutely imperative for my children to see that the lifestyle choices they make for themselves are powerful for their own lives.

What if we don’t see our children care about what they eat or do as we wish they would?  First, we ask ourselves a few questions.  Are we doing a do as I say, not as I do?  Are there things we are eating and drinking that obviously do not build health, and we wouldn’t tolerate for our children to take, but we excuse for ourselves?  Are we complaining about healthy eating?  Do we have only healthy selections available for them at home?  Is there enough variety available to keep it interesting and fun? Are we listening to their likes and dislikes?  If they are growing, or especially with teenagers, is there actually enough prime food around?  They can eat a lot, especially boys.

My Grandmother used to talk constantly.  And she talked to me about food and health more that I wanted to hear when I was a girl.  I remember wishing she would just let me eat my chocolate cake or drink my soda in peace.  But you know, she had a real affect on me.  Now it is my passion.  When she passed on at ninety-four, I was the one who inherited her water distiller, her Vitamix, and her library of health books with her handwritten notes, and I remember what she told me about the connection between our choices and our lives.

What works best for me is to have a lot of fresh produce on the counter.  Today, I have baskets with avocados, lemons, and sweet potatoes, onions and garlic, and fresh ginger, and organic apples.  In jars of water are standing bunches of kale, parsley, and cilantro. On a shelf above, are clear canisters of nuts and seeds, and there is another row of seaweeds and herbs. Everything is in sight. In the icebox, are carrots, a box of spring mix, collards, brussel sprouts, broccoli, and celery.  I often have a pot of lentils and one of cooked quinoa or something similar available, and we each assemble our own dishes according to what is most appealing to us that day.  I think that is very important.  Each person has his own needs, and appetite.  If we have a variety of healthy foods available, it works to start with the most appealing food, and eat that until something else presents itself as more appealing.

Parents often fuss that their children don’t eat enough of different foods, and set themselves up for problems with the child, trying to force him to eat something when he has no appetite for it.  Be comforted, studies have shown that when  children are presented with a variety of healthy foods and are allowed to eat as their appetite dictates, over time, they will get a balance of nutrients.  My suggestions are: First, let the child get hungry.  Food tastes better when we are hungry.  Second, let the child taste it.  A large serving can be overwhelming, even to adults.  Let him decide when he is full.  It is no problem as long as there is not junk around that will take its place as soon as you leave the table, if that is where you eat.

I try to do this with my older children, also.  I have two who drive an hour to University every day, leaving early in the morning, and returning home sometimes after dark.  They are usually in a rush to get on the road, and they have to be able to grab stuff they can pull out of their packs to nibble on during the day.  I try to have something ready for them when they get home.  If there are enough choices, and everything is good for them, it is usually successful.  I think the only reason this works is because they know that what they do to take care of their health makes a big difference.  I have been talking about this with them for years.  When I homeschooled them, I read them articles, and abstracts of nutrition studies ad nauseum.  When I had health challenges, they saw me up the nutrition for myself.  They saw the foods in our house gradually change and refine, and they know why.  And now, it has come full circle.  My daughter especially often didn’t seem very interested in listening to me read endless studies aloud.  But now she and her brother, are both studying the science of it, and can be caught reading the chemistry of enzymes or cellular water absorption just for fun, and that makes it all worthwhile.

The F-Word: FOOD!

The greatest evil that can befall man is that he should come to think ill of himself.  GOETHE

What do you eat?  What do you like to eat?  What do you deny yourself?  What games go on inside your head about your food.  Games, or tyranny?  Do you eat in fear?  Do you eat with guilt?  Do you feel afraid, ashamed, bad?

Last time I talked about a guilty pleasure of mine, and how we tend to judge ourselves and each other…but it’s just so strange that we do this to ourselves.  I mean, no one can control our thoughts.  No one can think for us. It’s all up to us, yet, we still think in ways that hurt ourselves.

I recall when I decided to ‘go raw’ some of the games I played with myself- and they were pretty harsh:  you can have this only if you wait until Friday…you can’t have that anymore, even though you love it…you better not eat that- at least not until the kids are in bed so they don’t see you…how can you eat that when you don’t even believe in that anymore- what is wrong with you…?  Any ‘closet cooked eaters’out there?

On and on it went.  I was my own worst enemy.  I doubt any raw guru or coach out there would have been so hard on me.  I was so determined to ‘change’.  I practically threw my entire life into a tizzy over food.  It wasn’t good enough that I change- I needed my entire family to change too!

My husband and I had many fights over mealtime.  I wanted his ‘support’ and he just wanted to eat!   I felt he was ‘sabotaging’ me and all my efforts.  I used to work so hard making raw cookies and little treats to tempt our kids with.  They were so young that they actually took to everything quite well- at least the sweet stuff…But then in Mr Man would walk with half of his hot chocolate- or a donut or something- and he would leave it lying around, and the kids would find it and ask to have it.  He would say ‘sure’, I would say ‘no!’ and I was always the BAD GUY!  Eventually I would give in and let them share the little bit that he had left, but the damage would be done.  Because after trying that little goodie with all the sugar and addictive chemicals on their pure little taste buds, they would no longer want MY healthy, raw treats anymore!

I know some of you reading this are in a similar situation.  I feel your angst.  I know how much you want the best for your family!  I doubt I would have gone to the lengths I did if I were single…I felt a HUGE responsibility to give my kids the best I could.  I looked up to Victoria Boutenko so much- she had done so well by her family and everybody not only benefited but came to really appreciate it her efforts.

She is a shero!  Her family are role models.  I have learned so much from them as we all have.  And I bless her everyday and have a heart filled with gratitude for this path and all the learning I have been so blessed to experience.

AND, not ‘but’, its all perfect.  There is so much more to this food game than it seems.  It goes very deep.  From my past of living on the streets for a while after my mom died when I was only 16- and going hungry, there are issues that I can’t just ‘will away’.  We ALL have our stuff, and we cannot just ‘stuff it’ with food- or be disciplined like I tried to be, and deny ourselves into submission.  This isn’t HEALTHY on any level.  And I am sure you feel as I do, raw isn’t a rawligion, and the percentage isn’t the point- having a healthy body temple is.

I have made tremendous progress.  I am so happy about it!  But there is still late night eating and little reminders here and there that crop up to let me know that I am still human.  I don’t think we ever really perfect our diet.  All we can ask for is progress.  Today, I am ecstatic about the progress I have made for myself and in my family.  And I joyfully look forward to even more, all in divine timing.  We don’t have to stress-out over food.  We can embrace the changes we desire, and move towards them by honouring where we are and where we would like to be.

I hope all the support and tools and tips and recipes and interviews and information that you find here is helpful!  That is my sincerest wish for everyone who stops by.  And also, that you would be loving and compassionate with yourselves, your family and your progress.  Food isn’t an enemy.  It’s a mirror.  We need to love our own unique reflection.  And allow ourselves the space to grow at our own pace. It will happen.  It is happening.

It is ‘March Break’ and so I have convinced my family that going on a wee cleanse would be a really swell idea and a jolly good time, hehe!  And we actually finished DAY 3 today- but the peanut gallery is getting restless…so, as a BIG reward for all their efforts, and to keep us all motivated, we are heading to the big city tomorrow for a couple of days to buy lots of durian, continue with our green juices and bitter weed salads, and take in the sites of the MARKETS, CHINATOWN, MUSEUM, SCIENCE CENTRE, and ART GALLERY!

CIAO BELLAS! Muah!

xoShannon

(90-Day Detox) Day 35: It’s SUNday! Time to renew our commitments!

This is the song playing in the background while I write this. You might like to play it and get a jist of where I’m at right now. A friend of mine is having a hard time with depression and fell off the raw food bandwagon, so I’m on my way out the door to help him get rebooted on green juices and kale salads and stuff.

As for me, my little pumpkin of loooooove, I’ve given myself a MAJOR green juice injection and I’m IN LOOOVE WITH LIFE! I swear. Just follow this blog and take check marks on every day that I am BILLOWING with bliss bubbles and you’ll find a direct correlation to my green juice consumption.

Mmmmmhmmm… I LOVE YOU, CHLOROPHYLL!!!

Wherever you’re at right now, no matter what is festering in your intestinal tract, just know that Green Juice will get you to where you want to be. Okay, so maybe that’s an oversimplied vision of my utopian dream, but I really think we’re on to something here. Joshua says superfoods, but I’m not convinced, because the day after I eat chocolate, I’m ready to eat the first person that disagrees with me. That may be in part due to my hair, too. You know what they say about redheads, right, Darling…

Just for fun, here are the words to the son that was playing in the background! Kinda apropro wouldn’t ya say.;-)

So, tonight is our teleseminar for the 90-Day detoxers who took the high support plan. I look forward to connecting with you. Then after that is our cozy coaching group. Mmmm…. (Love you, Ladies.)

I admit. ‘Round here I’ve noticed that recipes definitely get better responses than bribery, so I may be revisiting my strategy although, I admit I’ve not been as inspiring as I sometimes can be. I’ll work on it. This week’s teleseminars should definitely help! We’ve rescheduled the call with Brian. That’s going to be on Wednesday night at 9pm EST. Then the bowel health call is going to be on Thursday evening. We’ve got quite a week, my lovelies. The other thing is that I PROMISE this week we’re releasing the detox program with Dr. Ritamarie! That’s going to be VERY Exciting.

Today is the day for making/renewing our commitments.

It’s the day we declare what we’re going to improve upon next week. Well, I promised myself to keep to my yoga this week and I did that. I had some great sessions and prioritized myself. That was totally fulfilling.

This week, hmmm… this week… I commit to GREEN! I commit to billowing my fridge with celery, chard, kale, parsley, cilantro and broccoli in industrial quantities. I commit to green  juices and salads! I commit to cucumbers! I commit to dancing in my living room like no one is watching and to meeting new people that inspire me.

Oh. And I commit to releasing the new detox program with Dr. Ritamarie!!

Yikes. I’ve got work to do, but before I do, I’ve got a green juice rescue mission with a friend and a hot (literally) date with my pores at yoga along with some sunshine to soak in.

I’ve been getting some really interesting feedback from some of you and I’m looking forward to sharing it. There are some people who are struggling and I’m going to take the time to address that tomorrow morning when I’m just a bit less distracted by my to do list for the day. Until then,…

I looooove you! Keep smiling!

Tera

p.s.

I thought I’d include the lyrics to the song I’d been listening to. Kinda appropriate, n’est-ce pas?

*smooch*

“Unwritten”

I am unwritten, can’t read my mind, I’m undefined
I’m just beginning, the pen’s in my hand, ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

Oh, oh, oh

I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We’ve been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can’t live that way

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwritten

Oh, yeah, yeah

How to Mika a Fuschia Smoothie!

It’s finally here!
Mika’s Diva TV début! We actually recorded this last summer, but just now finally got to editing it. Brace yourselves, Ladies. JimboSunshine Gilker and I are getting ready for a video roll out, and it starts today!

Love and hugs!

P.S.
I used to be able to convince her to put greens in hers, too, but as you’ll see, she’s got her own fuscia agendas these days.