May 31, 2009. Thursday.
A little sore today. Second day after returning to Bikram so the soreness is understandable. A little concerned because it seemed that the hurt in the hip was starting to come back. Otherwise, it felt great. I absolutely cannot do the third position in the awkward series. Seems like my legs should be strong enough. I feel that once I can get strong in the awkward pose then the Tadasana, Tree, pose, will fall right into line. I can go down but can't come back up in the 2nd position of the tree pose.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Day #4 - Internal Cleanse - Liver, Gallbladder & Para
Feeling great.
Bought some bottled organic apple juice to have handy for those nights when I am too tired or don't have time use the juicer. Unfortunately, I don't seem to know when I'm too tired because I fell sound asleep and didn't take toxin absorber before bed.
Bought some bottled organic apple juice to have handy for those nights when I am too tired or don't have time use the juicer. Unfortunately, I don't seem to know when I'm too tired because I fell sound asleep and didn't take toxin absorber before bed.
Breafast smoothie
3 stalks swiss chard
1 small handful watercress
blueberries (frozen)
goji berries
organic strawberries (frozen)
1 TBS camu powder
1 TBS bee pollen
1/4 c hemp milk (so i can throw out the container)
2-3 c distilled water (cold)
I bought camu powder because it is in some of the recipes. Thought I'd just throw it in the blender this morning. Same thing with the goji berries and bee pollen.
Camu comes as a powder form. Stuck my finger in it and tasted it before I ruined my smoothie. Reminds me of Tang. I grew up in Florida and that was the drink the astronauts drank so we all drank it. According to the literature, camu has lots of vitamin C. Much more that oranges.
It occurred to me this morning while sippin' my smoothie that strawberries & blueberries should be enough nutrition instead of buying all this 'exotic' stuff. At the same time, it's probably a good idea while I'm detoxing and purifying to get this body back in shape.
Traditionally, native medicine practioners and herbalists have recommended camu-camu to:
Strengthen the immune system
Promotes healthy viral blood ecology
Promotes mood balance
Promotes healthy brain function
Supports healthy red and white blood cell formation
Detoxifying the body, especially the liver
Promotes health of upper respiratory organs, including lungs, sinuses, nasal passages
Promoting a healthy heart and circulatory system
3 stalks swiss chard
1 small handful watercress
blueberries (frozen)
goji berries
organic strawberries (frozen)
1 TBS camu powder
1 TBS bee pollen
1/4 c hemp milk (so i can throw out the container)
2-3 c distilled water (cold)
I bought camu powder because it is in some of the recipes. Thought I'd just throw it in the blender this morning. Same thing with the goji berries and bee pollen.
Camu comes as a powder form. Stuck my finger in it and tasted it before I ruined my smoothie. Reminds me of Tang. I grew up in Florida and that was the drink the astronauts drank so we all drank it. According to the literature, camu has lots of vitamin C. Much more that oranges.
It occurred to me this morning while sippin' my smoothie that strawberries & blueberries should be enough nutrition instead of buying all this 'exotic' stuff. At the same time, it's probably a good idea while I'm detoxing and purifying to get this body back in shape.
Traditionally, native medicine practioners and herbalists have recommended camu-camu to:
Strengthen the immune system
Promotes healthy viral blood ecology
Promotes mood balance
Promotes healthy brain function
Supports healthy red and white blood cell formation
Detoxifying the body, especially the liver
Promotes health of upper respiratory organs, including lungs, sinuses, nasal passages
Promoting a healthy heart and circulatory system
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Colonics - #1
Right after Bikram, I went for the first of four colonics. Since I'm 'cleaning house' so to speak, it makes sense to keep the 'back door open' to rid the temple of all the trash. ☺
Afterwards, I came home to find that the cat had an eye injury so off to the emergency clinic we went. She had some kind of trauma to her eye so the doctor gave her antibiotics and pain medication. He asked if I could give her pills. I said 'yes" and decided to not mention my former life as a geriatric feline caregiver. My previous cat lived to 17 yrs. She had renal failure. I was giving her fluids subcutaneously. I had ordered needles, venoset (sp?) and the glucose bags from a medical supply place and towards the end, she received fluids twice a day. I have trouble even looking at needles so a process that would normally take five minutes took 20. First I had to cry, then insert the needle under the loose skin in her neck, then cry again. The cat was fine though, purring away while a small camel hump formed under her skin.
Afterwards, I came home to find that the cat had an eye injury so off to the emergency clinic we went. She had some kind of trauma to her eye so the doctor gave her antibiotics and pain medication. He asked if I could give her pills. I said 'yes" and decided to not mention my former life as a geriatric feline caregiver. My previous cat lived to 17 yrs. She had renal failure. I was giving her fluids subcutaneously. I had ordered needles, venoset (sp?) and the glucose bags from a medical supply place and towards the end, she received fluids twice a day. I have trouble even looking at needles so a process that would normally take five minutes took 20. First I had to cry, then insert the needle under the loose skin in her neck, then cry again. The cat was fine though, purring away while a small camel hump formed under her skin.
Back to Bikram - w/Lynn
Yay. It felt so good. I did all the postures. I can still feel a little (sciatica?) in the hips but I was able to do the situps between the postures and everything. Well, according to my ability. Lynn is a very good teacher. About 7 of us in the 10am class this morning. It also felt good because I've lost a little weight now and could tell the difference. I'm looking forward to summer vacation (soon!) where I will be able to go every morning. My plan is to go six days a week.
Chocolate "Milkshake"
2cups distilled water (cold)
2 TBSP Organice Cocoa Powder (I use Black & Green's)
1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup blanched almonds
4 large pitted medjool dates
1 tsp vanilla, nonalcoholic
I grind the pumpkin seeds and almonds in a nut grinder (formerly known as my coffee grinder ☺). Throw all ingredients in the blender (mine is a Blend-Tec) and add water, ice cubes, to get the consistency I want. You could use 2 TBSP of organic cacao nibs in place of the cocoa powder.
Note: because I have a Blend-Tec, I probably don't need to grind the pumpkin seeds & almonds. This is probably an old habit. However, if you don't have a Blend-Tec, and don't want to spend $399 for one at this time, you can spend $15 on a coffee grinder and grind the nuts and seeds to a powder/butter and then throw everything into your cuisinart (or whatever) blender. ☺
For me, it's the best dessert.
2 TBSP Organice Cocoa Powder (I use Black & Green's)
1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup blanched almonds
4 large pitted medjool dates
1 tsp vanilla, nonalcoholic
I grind the pumpkin seeds and almonds in a nut grinder (formerly known as my coffee grinder ☺). Throw all ingredients in the blender (mine is a Blend-Tec) and add water, ice cubes, to get the consistency I want. You could use 2 TBSP of organic cacao nibs in place of the cocoa powder.
Note: because I have a Blend-Tec, I probably don't need to grind the pumpkin seeds & almonds. This is probably an old habit. However, if you don't have a Blend-Tec, and don't want to spend $399 for one at this time, you can spend $15 on a coffee grinder and grind the nuts and seeds to a powder/butter and then throw everything into your cuisinart (or whatever) blender. ☺
For me, it's the best dessert.
Sweeteners Talk with Green Smoothie Girl
Green Smoothie Girl Videos
Robyn Openshaw, a.k.a. Green Smoothie Girl, has a series of videos where she shows you how to make green smoothies and other things. In one video, #15, she talks about sweeteners. Which ones she considers to be the worst to avoid (refined sugars), better, and then the best. I'm decreasing/avoiding sweeteners now because I've started a cleanse. Below are listed the best sweeteners that she recommends:
Best:
Whole figs
Whole dates
Currants
By the way, I made a chocolate drink using whole dates (along with almonds, cocoa powder, pumpkin seeds, vanilla, distilled water) which had consistency of a milkshake, was very chocolatey and completely satisfying as a sweet treat.
Robyn Openshaw, a.k.a. Green Smoothie Girl, has a series of videos where she shows you how to make green smoothies and other things. In one video, #15, she talks about sweeteners. Which ones she considers to be the worst to avoid (refined sugars), better, and then the best. I'm decreasing/avoiding sweeteners now because I've started a cleanse. Below are listed the best sweeteners that she recommends:
Best:
Whole figs
Whole dates
Currants
By the way, I made a chocolate drink using whole dates (along with almonds, cocoa powder, pumpkin seeds, vanilla, distilled water) which had consistency of a milkshake, was very chocolatey and completely satisfying as a sweet treat.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Internal Cleanse - Day 3 - Liver, Gallbladder & Parasites
"The eviction."
Jeff had said at the Food-based Healing class that if your poop is "stinky" then it indicates that you have parasites. Well... prior to that class, I could not help but notice how..uhm...it just seemed like I had the secret to peeling wall paint. Anyhoo, just a few days into the cleanse and it seems like the "air has cleared" and the walls are safe. While I was a bit surprised to realize that I had been harboring unwanted "guests", it does seem like they've gotten the eviction notice.
Meals:
I made two smoothies today. One for breakfast. Swiss chard, some black sesame seeds, berries and a packet of stevia. The second smoothie, from Jeff's book for the brain, which consisted of raw corn, ginger, goji berries, cilantro, pumpkin sees, lime with pith & seeds. It was actually very good. Yes, I'm surprised, I've just started using the recipes and so this is a nice discovery. The lutein in the corn is good for the brain. So I drank both smoothies. The second one just before lunch. Lunch was salmon, wild rice and broccoli. 4:30p snack: Cherries. 6pm: Still hungry. 6 black sesame crackers with smoked salmon & capers. I'll have soup later.
Jeff had said at the Food-based Healing class that if your poop is "stinky" then it indicates that you have parasites. Well... prior to that class, I could not help but notice how..uhm...it just seemed like I had the secret to peeling wall paint. Anyhoo, just a few days into the cleanse and it seems like the "air has cleared" and the walls are safe. While I was a bit surprised to realize that I had been harboring unwanted "guests", it does seem like they've gotten the eviction notice.
Meals:
I made two smoothies today. One for breakfast. Swiss chard, some black sesame seeds, berries and a packet of stevia. The second smoothie, from Jeff's book for the brain, which consisted of raw corn, ginger, goji berries, cilantro, pumpkin sees, lime with pith & seeds. It was actually very good. Yes, I'm surprised, I've just started using the recipes and so this is a nice discovery. The lutein in the corn is good for the brain. So I drank both smoothies. The second one just before lunch. Lunch was salmon, wild rice and broccoli. 4:30p snack: Cherries. 6pm: Still hungry. 6 black sesame crackers with smoked salmon & capers. I'll have soup later.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Internal Cleanse - Day 3 - Liver, Gallbladder & Parasite Cleanse
I've gone ahead to Step 2, the Liver, Gallbladder & Parasite part of the cleanse. There are some pills and tinctures to take before breakfast, lunch and dinner. Then the toxin absorber with apple juice before bed. Luckily I bought a very high-powered juicer so that making the fresh organic apple juice is pretty quick. After purchasing the juicer that I have, I read a review that made me realize that I could have bought the Jack Lalane juicer for half the price and would have been satisfied with it. In the end, I decided to keep the Breville Juicer Elite. It's solid, fast and easy to clean. There was a youtube video of Martha Stewart juicing. She was swearing that the pulp was so dry that even her chickens wouldn't eat it. Well, she must be getting a good % off that because the pulp is very wet. But it makes sense. The motor is so powerful that the apple just goes flying through it. Sometimes there are whole slices that end up in the bucket. However, here's how I see it... I am NOT going to stand there for 30 minutes juicing and then another 15 minutes to clean just for one glass of juice. I spoke with someone who went to Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center and trained as a raw foods chef. Her and her mom both went. They both were at the same seminar with me to learn more about healthy smoothies because smoothies are quick and convenient while the raw foods lifestyle was too time-consuming. She has the Omega juicer, which I was seriously considering buying, and told me that she doesn't juice because it takes too long. Chopping the veggies/fruits really small to fit in the chute just took too long. So, for me, it's really a matter of "know thyself" and I know that in the long run I won't use a machine if it takes an hour to make a glass of juice.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Internal Cleanse - Day 2 - Reflection
Initially, I had thought when I started preparing for the detox/cleanse/change in June that I would follow a raw vegan diet. And maybe I will once vacation starts and I have the time. While I am eating some cooked veggies and fish, I've also increased my raw veggie & fruit consumption greatly.
The main criteria are:
No refined sugar
No refined starches
Good oils only
And those simple criteria have ruled out most of the items in a regular grocery store. Essentially, I shop the perimeter of the store where the produce and seafood are located. If I didn't have a cat or used paper towels, I'd never have a reason to go down an aisle. But I still take a stroll down memory lane with the coffee. The cart slows down, I close my eyes a little and take a long luxurious inhale. Ah... But it's adios amigo to my old caffeinated friend. Coffee is very acidic so why would I make all these changes only to sabotage it with coffee? It's all about PH balance. More on that at a later date.
No white sugar. While agave nectar is the current rage, I just can't see throwing out the gallon jug of raw honey that our brother-in-law gave us. Honey has an indefinite shelf life. It is anti-microbial, anti-fungal and anti-viral. All the same, I'm using it sparingly so that my main sugar will be from fruits. In June, I hope to reduce to only those fruits that have the lowest Glycemic Index [GI]. I will have to check a glycemic index for fruits that are low in sugar. Oh yeah. I just found cherries and they are very low at 22.
Good oils. Coconut Oil for cooking, as a spread on toast and make-up remover and moisturizer. I have always cooked with olive oil but was told recently that it has a much lower smoking point and becomes denatured (carcinogenic), therefore, I will use olive oil primarily for salad dressings at this point. I've been told that hemp oil is good for you too. I'm now hearing from some that while flax is a good oil, it becomes rancid too quickly. I know that it must be refrigerated and keep my bottle in the fridge. But now that I have coconut oil which I understand will remain good for three years.... I don't see the point of having the more fragile flax oil. Another oil, DHA plus EPA cannot be found in plant sources. Just cold water fish like salmon, tuna, etc. Sardines are a good source, plus, because they are so young when caught they don't have a build-up of toxins. So I bought a few tins of sardines and oysters since I won't be preparing fish daily. Just two smoked oysters per day is all you need...
The first three days of the 24 day cleanse is actually a preparation to determine the number of 'digestive stimulators' (pills) necessary to ensure three Bowel Movements (BM) per day. Today I had three BMs before noon so I think I've determined that one pill is enough. Although the instructional booklet says that you can move on to the next step in the cleanse once you've determined the right number of pills, I just don't have time tonight to figure/plan/measure all that tonight. So another day won't hurt.
The main criteria are:
No refined sugar
No refined starches
Good oils only
And those simple criteria have ruled out most of the items in a regular grocery store. Essentially, I shop the perimeter of the store where the produce and seafood are located. If I didn't have a cat or used paper towels, I'd never have a reason to go down an aisle. But I still take a stroll down memory lane with the coffee. The cart slows down, I close my eyes a little and take a long luxurious inhale. Ah... But it's adios amigo to my old caffeinated friend. Coffee is very acidic so why would I make all these changes only to sabotage it with coffee? It's all about PH balance. More on that at a later date.
No white sugar. While agave nectar is the current rage, I just can't see throwing out the gallon jug of raw honey that our brother-in-law gave us. Honey has an indefinite shelf life. It is anti-microbial, anti-fungal and anti-viral. All the same, I'm using it sparingly so that my main sugar will be from fruits. In June, I hope to reduce to only those fruits that have the lowest Glycemic Index [GI]. I will have to check a glycemic index for fruits that are low in sugar. Oh yeah. I just found cherries and they are very low at 22.
Good oils. Coconut Oil for cooking, as a spread on toast and make-up remover and moisturizer. I have always cooked with olive oil but was told recently that it has a much lower smoking point and becomes denatured (carcinogenic), therefore, I will use olive oil primarily for salad dressings at this point. I've been told that hemp oil is good for you too. I'm now hearing from some that while flax is a good oil, it becomes rancid too quickly. I know that it must be refrigerated and keep my bottle in the fridge. But now that I have coconut oil which I understand will remain good for three years.... I don't see the point of having the more fragile flax oil. Another oil, DHA plus EPA cannot be found in plant sources. Just cold water fish like salmon, tuna, etc. Sardines are a good source, plus, because they are so young when caught they don't have a build-up of toxins. So I bought a few tins of sardines and oysters since I won't be preparing fish daily. Just two smoked oysters per day is all you need...
The first three days of the 24 day cleanse is actually a preparation to determine the number of 'digestive stimulators' (pills) necessary to ensure three Bowel Movements (BM) per day. Today I had three BMs before noon so I think I've determined that one pill is enough. Although the instructional booklet says that you can move on to the next step in the cleanse once you've determined the right number of pills, I just don't have time tonight to figure/plan/measure all that tonight. So another day won't hurt.
Internal Cleanse - Day 2 - Meals
Before breakfast: hot water w/lemon, cayenne, smidgeon of honey
Breakfast: Smoothie of swiss chard & berries with coconut milk base.
Snack: cup of tea w/1/4 tsp honey
Lunch: wild salmon w/orange sauce, wild rice, broccoli
Snack: cherries
Before Dinner: 1 digestive stimulator
Dinner: homemade soup, sprouted grain muffins w/coconut oil,three smoked oysters
Before Bed: Toxin Absorber w/fresh organic apple juice, followed by 1 big glass of water
The hot water with lemon, etc. is to detox the kidneys. I've been doing it for some time. I recently added the cayenne & honey just to give it an extra kick.
I ate the oysters while preparing dinner because I was really hungry and forgot that I had salmon for lunch. So I didn't need it. Salmon, oysters, sardines, etc are a good source of DHA plus EPA.
"DHA is required in high levels in the brain and retina as a physiologically-essential nutrient to provide for optimal neuronal functioning (learning ability, mental development) and visual acuity, in young and old alike. DHA plus EPA are both considered to have beneficial effects in the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease plus associated risk factors as well as other chronic disorders." DHA/EPA Omega-3 Institute
I love the soup. It's the "Fat Flush Soup" by Louise Gittleman. Basically, the fat flush diet is about supporting the liver. The recipe that is linked to her website is a bit different than the one I use which is in the Fat Flush Diet book. I only use turkey, no beef, and I don't use eggplant. However, it's the same basic idea.
The toxin absorber. The toxin absorber. Main ingredient is bentonite clay. Once, while doing the colon cleanse by the same company, I forgot to drink it right away and it turned into a sludge and then I could NOT drink it. That's what it does inside you. It coagulates into this mass that goes through your intestines pulling the mucoid plaque from the intestinal walls along with it and out of you. Fun, eh? If you want to have a really great time, look at the photos of the mucoid plaque. Truly gross. Yes, that 'sand juice' coagulates and takes on the shape of your intestines and then it gets that gnarly look. ack.
Breakfast: Smoothie of swiss chard & berries with coconut milk base.
Snack: cup of tea w/1/4 tsp honey
Lunch: wild salmon w/orange sauce, wild rice, broccoli
Snack: cherries
Before Dinner: 1 digestive stimulator
Dinner: homemade soup, sprouted grain muffins w/coconut oil,three smoked oysters
Before Bed: Toxin Absorber w/fresh organic apple juice, followed by 1 big glass of water
The hot water with lemon, etc. is to detox the kidneys. I've been doing it for some time. I recently added the cayenne & honey just to give it an extra kick.
I ate the oysters while preparing dinner because I was really hungry and forgot that I had salmon for lunch. So I didn't need it. Salmon, oysters, sardines, etc are a good source of DHA plus EPA.
"DHA is required in high levels in the brain and retina as a physiologically-essential nutrient to provide for optimal neuronal functioning (learning ability, mental development) and visual acuity, in young and old alike. DHA plus EPA are both considered to have beneficial effects in the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease plus associated risk factors as well as other chronic disorders." DHA/EPA Omega-3 Institute
I love the soup. It's the "Fat Flush Soup" by Louise Gittleman. Basically, the fat flush diet is about supporting the liver. The recipe that is linked to her website is a bit different than the one I use which is in the Fat Flush Diet book. I only use turkey, no beef, and I don't use eggplant. However, it's the same basic idea.
The toxin absorber. The toxin absorber. Main ingredient is bentonite clay. Once, while doing the colon cleanse by the same company, I forgot to drink it right away and it turned into a sludge and then I could NOT drink it. That's what it does inside you. It coagulates into this mass that goes through your intestines pulling the mucoid plaque from the intestinal walls along with it and out of you. Fun, eh? If you want to have a really great time, look at the photos of the mucoid plaque. Truly gross. Yes, that 'sand juice' coagulates and takes on the shape of your intestines and then it gets that gnarly look. ack.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Afternoon
Blended a cup of water with goji berries. My first goji berry juice. Not bad. The berries are red but when you blend them into a juice, it looks very orange. Like carrot juice. However, it supposedly has 50x the beta-carotene. Some people have reported that it has improved their eyesight. That would be great since I have to wear reading glasses these days. Just typical aging.
Walked for an hour. Felt good. After showering I stepped on the scale and had dropped 2.5 pounds since waking up this morning. I could not have lost that much fluid. During the walk I talked to the body (if the chiropractor can do it during the kinesiology, why can't I?) and asked if it would be alright for us to lose quickly. Maybe that was its way of saying yeah baby! ha.
Then early dinner of salmon with herbs and steamed asparagus. Used a small dab of coconut oil on the asparagus w/some salt & pepper. Yum!
Tonight I have to juice the apples and drink the toxin absorber. Fun fun fun.
Walked for an hour. Felt good. After showering I stepped on the scale and had dropped 2.5 pounds since waking up this morning. I could not have lost that much fluid. During the walk I talked to the body (if the chiropractor can do it during the kinesiology, why can't I?) and asked if it would be alright for us to lose quickly. Maybe that was its way of saying yeah baby! ha.
Then early dinner of salmon with herbs and steamed asparagus. Used a small dab of coconut oil on the asparagus w/some salt & pepper. Yum!
Tonight I have to juice the apples and drink the toxin absorber. Fun fun fun.
Today's Smoothie
I just made this one up. I will start using the ones that Jeff has in his smoothie book. Some of those are more veggies than fruits. It will be a change since I usually make the smoothie first thing in the morning and have grown accustomed to fruit mixed in it.
2c unsweetened coconut milk
2 large leaves of Swiss Chard
1.5 c papaya with seeds (because it was in the fridge)
1.5 c raspberries
additional water for consistency of smoothie
I'm trying coconut milk for creaminess since Jeff said that bananas were too yin for most people.
2c unsweetened coconut milk
2 large leaves of Swiss Chard
1.5 c papaya with seeds (because it was in the fridge)
1.5 c raspberries
additional water for consistency of smoothie
I'm trying coconut milk for creaminess since Jeff said that bananas were too yin for most people.
Changed the title from Bikram Yoga Journal
Well, I've changed the title of this journal because I don't want to have a separate blog for the Bikram and another one for the cleansing, Qi Gong, or whatever else I happen to be doing. So the concept of the blog is evolving along with me....☺
No Big BM - What gives?
Well, I've been sitting here at the computer and reading while sipping my lemon water and I normally have a nice big BM before now. But no, I'm still waiting. Maybe I'll try the digestive stimulator now just to get this show on the road...
Foods-Based Healing
Okay. I took a two day foods-based healing class with Jeff Primack of Supreme Science Qi Gong. As with most seminars, there are things you already know. But it's the things that you would not have done without someone else showing or introducing it to you that makes it worth the cost of attending. I felt that way when Jeff started talking about some of the Chinese supplements like wild reishi and the herbalist that he trusts, Ron Teeguarden, at Dragon Herbs.
I met some lovely people there and enjoyed learning from them all. Also, I reconnected with a yoga teacher that I absolutely love. Edeley of Yogamatrix. She healed herself through yoga after a bus accident (it went over a cliff if I remember correctly) and was able to leave the wheel chair and medications behind. She is dedicated to yoga and healing and just a joy. She's Brazilian, how could she not be?
So it's Monday, and I have the holiday off. What to do? Well, I'm going to begin the weight loss program that I've been preparing for all this time. I intended to start it around June 8th. I'll be off work and it will be after the "Girls' Weekend". But I'm ready now!
Since I have the internal cleansing kit from Blessed Herbs, I'm going to start it now since the diet supports the cleanse.
I'll be, essentially, using the Diabetic protocol that Jeff outlines in his book "Conquering Any Disease". With a few exceptions though... I will use berries in my smoothie. And a smidgeon of honey in the hot water/lemon/cayenne/honey I have first thing in the morning. Oh, and I will be making fresh organic apple juice to drink thee toxin absorber and at the end of this cleanse when I do the liver/gallbladder flush, which is not part of the Internal Cleansing Kit but an entirely separate cleanse.
Right now, I'm typing away while sipping on the hot water/lemon/cayenne/honey mixture. Now that I have the Blend-tec, I peel the skin away and put the lemon with pith and seeds into the Blend-tec with some warm water. The phytochemicals are in the pith and seeds so it's better to include them. Go easy with the pith because it is very bitter. Jeff was reminding us that in Chinese medicine they teach about the different tastes (sweet, sour, bitter, etc.) which is also taught in Ayurvedic. So, one of the tastes that we don't really subscribe to here in the U.S. is "bitter". However, bitter is the medicine, so you need to have bitters.
I met some lovely people there and enjoyed learning from them all. Also, I reconnected with a yoga teacher that I absolutely love. Edeley of Yogamatrix. She healed herself through yoga after a bus accident (it went over a cliff if I remember correctly) and was able to leave the wheel chair and medications behind. She is dedicated to yoga and healing and just a joy. She's Brazilian, how could she not be?
So it's Monday, and I have the holiday off. What to do? Well, I'm going to begin the weight loss program that I've been preparing for all this time. I intended to start it around June 8th. I'll be off work and it will be after the "Girls' Weekend". But I'm ready now!
Since I have the internal cleansing kit from Blessed Herbs, I'm going to start it now since the diet supports the cleanse.
I'll be, essentially, using the Diabetic protocol that Jeff outlines in his book "Conquering Any Disease". With a few exceptions though... I will use berries in my smoothie. And a smidgeon of honey in the hot water/lemon/cayenne/honey I have first thing in the morning. Oh, and I will be making fresh organic apple juice to drink thee toxin absorber and at the end of this cleanse when I do the liver/gallbladder flush, which is not part of the Internal Cleansing Kit but an entirely separate cleanse.
Right now, I'm typing away while sipping on the hot water/lemon/cayenne/honey mixture. Now that I have the Blend-tec, I peel the skin away and put the lemon with pith and seeds into the Blend-tec with some warm water. The phytochemicals are in the pith and seeds so it's better to include them. Go easy with the pith because it is very bitter. Jeff was reminding us that in Chinese medicine they teach about the different tastes (sweet, sour, bitter, etc.) which is also taught in Ayurvedic. So, one of the tastes that we don't really subscribe to here in the U.S. is "bitter". However, bitter is the medicine, so you need to have bitters.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Advanced Qigong Level 4 - Neigong
Happy Mother's Day.
Today's class was the best of all. Primarily for the Kundalini practice.
Yesterday, I attended the Level 1 - form for becoming an instructor. I don't know why since I don't have a desire to be an instructor nor do I want to be a "Qigonger". But I went anyways. I didn't know what they were going to do and was surprised to discover that we were to perform the Level 1 on a stage and it would be a test from memory. Oh no. During lunch, I read the book and memorized it. To my amazement, even though I was on stage, I really got into it and it felt really great. I passed too. Which was a mixed blessing because I then had to decide whether to go this Saturday for the certification. But truthfully, it was a no brainer since this Saturday is our niece's wedding and everyone is going to be in town.
The most important thing was getting the form right, which I did, not the certificate or my photo on a website. Then again, I learned from one of my new friends that they will have L1 instructor's certification in July in Tampa......☺
Today's class was the best of all. Primarily for the Kundalini practice.
Yesterday, I attended the Level 1 - form for becoming an instructor. I don't know why since I don't have a desire to be an instructor nor do I want to be a "Qigonger". But I went anyways. I didn't know what they were going to do and was surprised to discover that we were to perform the Level 1 on a stage and it would be a test from memory. Oh no. During lunch, I read the book and memorized it. To my amazement, even though I was on stage, I really got into it and it felt really great. I passed too. Which was a mixed blessing because I then had to decide whether to go this Saturday for the certification. But truthfully, it was a no brainer since this Saturday is our niece's wedding and everyone is going to be in town.
The most important thing was getting the form right, which I did, not the certificate or my photo on a website. Then again, I learned from one of my new friends that they will have L1 instructor's certification in July in Tampa......☺
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Chocolate Pudding
Whoa! I just made a chocolate pudding using the meat from a Young Thai Coconut, cashews, almonds, honey, cocoa, vanilla, a bit of salt, and some water. Whiz'd in the blender, then poured into a few glass bowls and popped into the freezer for a bit to cool down. Voila! Heaven with a spoon.
The bottom-line is that there is no reason to feel deprived on this diet and that's good thing.
The bottom-line is that there is no reason to feel deprived on this diet and that's good thing.
Excalibur Dehydrator
Ordered a five tray Excalibur Dehydrator today.
The Blend-tec should arrive sometime this week. I had to return it because it was the wrong color. Had no idea it would take this long. Can't wait for it to get here. I want to see how much smoother my smoothies will be. Today, I tried blending the watermelon with the rind. Not the green outer rind, the white part. Had to add water and then a lot of ice to make it cold. While it was good, I thought it was much better when I juiced it in the Oster Juicer. I'm thinking about returning the Breville Juice Fountain Elite that I just bought to replace it because for $299 it isn't that much of an improvement on the cheap Oster. For one thing, in Martha Stewart's youtube clip, she went on and on about how dry the pulp was. Well, it seemed to be as wet as the pulp that came out of the Oster. Also, things go through so fast because it is so powerful that it isn't much good with leafy greens.
Besides, the item that I'm realizing that I will use primarily is the Blend-tec. In that way, I get the fiber as well as the phytochemicals that are in stems, seeds & rind of the fruits/veggies.
Well, the Blend-tec will get here soon and I'll be able to decide then.
The Blend-tec should arrive sometime this week. I had to return it because it was the wrong color. Had no idea it would take this long. Can't wait for it to get here. I want to see how much smoother my smoothies will be. Today, I tried blending the watermelon with the rind. Not the green outer rind, the white part. Had to add water and then a lot of ice to make it cold. While it was good, I thought it was much better when I juiced it in the Oster Juicer. I'm thinking about returning the Breville Juice Fountain Elite that I just bought to replace it because for $299 it isn't that much of an improvement on the cheap Oster. For one thing, in Martha Stewart's youtube clip, she went on and on about how dry the pulp was. Well, it seemed to be as wet as the pulp that came out of the Oster. Also, things go through so fast because it is so powerful that it isn't much good with leafy greens.
Besides, the item that I'm realizing that I will use primarily is the Blend-tec. In that way, I get the fiber as well as the phytochemicals that are in stems, seeds & rind of the fruits/veggies.
Well, the Blend-tec will get here soon and I'll be able to decide then.
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