Goodbye to Coffee

                                                                      

Above is a photo of two of my favorite things in life. I’ve had to say goodbye  Its 10:00pm on day two of my cleanse and my headache is finally starting to go away. I have craved coffee non-stop for the past two days.  I had no idea how addicted I was to this stuff.  Talking with Jon today I realized that this is the longest I’ve gone without caffeine since I started drinking coffee when I was twenty-two. My diet and lifestyle have improved but I’ve never really given coffee much thought. Until now. I am amazed at how my energy levels have evened out. I haven’t had those big highs and lows that you experience with coffee. I decided today when my cleanse is over to go back to decaf. 

I’ve been eating raw foods for two days now and already feel better, even with the huge headache. Tomorrow we start in on the Master cleanse for a few days. Looking forward to feeling better each day. This would be hard to do alone, it helps to have someone doing it with you.  Today in yoga class Gina challenged us to decide why we came to class and then choose to fully be present in class. I guess I’m applying her advice to this cleanse.

Starting my 10 day cleanse

I’ve wanted to do a cleanse for some time now.  My life has been so full of changes this year that the thought of giving up coffee for longer than a few days kept me wishing and planning,  not actually doing. The time seems right so I’m diving in. I will try to record my progress and the way I feel.

Before:  I’ve been getting sick a lot this summer, this tells me my immune system is weak. I’m addicted to coffee ( coffee makes me jittery, anxious and tired.) I want a sugar and coffee detox, I tend to use both as an afternoon pick me up. Finally I have been under an incredible amount of stress this year due to some huge life changes. I’m interested to see if this cleanse will help me manage my stress levels.

The Details: I am doing this with Jon ( boyfriend) so the moral support will be helpful. We basically want to give our organs, digestive tracts and bodies a much-needed rest. We are easing in the first few days with raw foods and juices. Spending three days on the Master Cleanse, then two more days on raw and then finishing with a Ayurvedic kitchari fast.  It’s a little disjointed but we decided to put together our own cleanse and see how it goes. 

  We started this morning with carrot, ginger and celery juice. The beet juice was gone so fast I couldn’t get a picture. I’m not looking forward to the detox from coffee, this will be my biggest challenge over the next few days.  I totally believe food has the power to change  physical health and mental health.  Why not make myself another living example of this? Why not spend ten days participating in something that will improve my mood and health?

light and love to all…I’m feeling better already

  

 

 

Could gratitude could be the new diet pill?

I’ve  been feeling sorry for myself the past twenty-four hours. I mean really sorry for myself.  I opted to sit home and feel sorry for myself instead of having coffee with my friend Marwa, an evening with my boyfriend and a morning of productive writing. I know we all need time for rest and reflection but this was me deciding to focus on what I didn’t have.  As a result of my blues I found myself chosing a less than healthy meal last night and dealing with extreme fatigue this morning.

I know its our thoughts and attitudes that often trip us up when it comes to living health and vibrant. My simple solution this morning was to start listing everything I have to be thankful for. What a shift this brings. To start I have the most incredible set of siblings. They are my best friends, biggest fan and ultimate support system.  I have a amazing man in my life who is self-aware and kind. A supportive mother, work that pays my bill, fun girlfriends, roof over my head, food, water, an education….

This list is really never-ending. So now you try. If you are feeling stuck with your diet or health plan try a little gratitude, maybe it will influence the choices you make for the better. Actually I know it will. 

Overcoming Sugar Blues

Come see me talk at UMKC’s Communiversity!  

#4202 A 

Overcoming the Sugar Blues 

Learn to identify hidden and addictive sugars in 

foods and their effect on the body, sleep patterns, 

stress, weight management and mood swings. 

Obtain techniques for overcoming sugar cravings 

and discover ways to incorporate sensational sweet 

alternatives into your daily diet. Be prepared to 

have some fun while you’re at it! Aubry is a certified 

holistic health counselor, a graduate of the 

Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City, 

and is accredited by the Association of Drugless 

Practitioners. 

CONVENER: Aubry Hoffman 

Web site: www.kansascityhealthcoach.com 

CLASS FEE: $9 

Sec. A: 

Plaza Library, Large Meeting Room, 48th & Main, KCMO; 

LIMIT: 15 

1 session; Saturday, October 2; 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM; 

 

Water

Image via Wikipedia

 

When working with clients the first thing I tell them is to drink more water. I get blank stares. I think they would rather me prescribe fish oil and a long list of Chinese herbs. Water seems too easy a solution. In a culture obsessed with health, where new diet books fill the shelves, water seems too simple. 

I like simple. Living healthy isn’t complicated. If you don’t do anything else for your health this week promise yourself to drink more water. Water prevents dehydration which leads to feelings of fatigue.  Water flushes toxins out of your vital organs and allows your body to carry out its normal functions. Dehydration can be confused with hunger, so if your feel hungry  mid morning try a big glass of water first. Remember, when you start feeling thirsty you are already dehydrated. 

If water is boring try adding lemon or drinking sparkling water. Carry around a water bottle. Ask for water instead of soda at lunch. Buy a water filter so your water tastes good. Drink a big glass of water first thing in the morning to flush out your system. Be thankful that you live in a country where water is free and easy to access. 

Sign Up To Take My Class!!

My class on overcoming sugar blues can be found in the health section under nutrtion.

http://web2.umkc.edu/commu/catalog_fall2009/health.pdf

Quote of the Week

I am so small I can barely be seen. How can this great love be inside of me? Look at your eyes. They are so small, but they see enormous things. -Rumi

Hafiz

I Took It as a Sign

Someone sent a band to my house,

And it started playing,

At five in the morning.

 

I took this as a sign

God wanted me to sing!

 

Then the moon joined in

And a few of the tenor-voiced stars,

And the earth offered its lovely belly

As a drum

Before I knew it,

I realized

All human beings could be happy

If they just had a few music lessons

From a Sweet Old Maestro

-Hafiz

Every Moment

“I rarely let the work ‘No’  escape from my mouth. Becauseit is so plain to my soul, that God has shouted, ‘Yes! Yes! Yes!’  To every luminous moment in Existence.” – Hafiz

Please go see this film

Quote for the week

I’ve found that luck is quite predictable. If you want more luck, take more chances. Be more active. Show up more often.
Brian Tracy