Don’t assume…it makes an ASS out of U and ME
April 30, 2009
I was 23 and working in Paris when my manager showed me the A*S*S U ME play on words after I naively took some project “facts” at face value. I never forgot that lesson. And it’s one I’m thankful explorers of all types understand. From those who discovered the world was round (there’s debate about who gets credit) to women like my Mom who was the first woman in her family to go to college and in effect, gave her daughters a belief in endless opportunity and sons across the nation a chance to grow up watching girls do the same things they did.
Each time I travel overseas, further my education, and expand my business, I’m grateful to these trailblazers for allowing me to live with more choices than there are combinations of Starbucks lattes. Thank you for asking, “Says who?”
Right now, families, communities and our nation are being forced to re-examine many of the beliefs mistakenly swallowed as facts. Many are questioning how to define themselves without things they can no longer afford, how to trust government or Big Business and how in a land of plenty, how our health-care system has become one giant misfortune.
Contrary to all the reports about people being stressed out (minus those listening to fanatical views on the right and left), people’s health actually improves during a recession. We get back to what is important. We cook. We walk. We connect. Now is an ideal time to get your health and your life back into working order.
To help, I’m starting to unravel the top misconceptions (some call them excuses) I hear every day about living a healthy lifestyle. This will start today and continue in upcoming newsletters. And for those of you who used to believe this hypnotic rhetoric, I’d love to hear from you on what helped you chart a better course (and with your permission, include your comments in upcoming newsletters.) Don’t be bashful—I know you’re out there: you always stand out in a crowd because you genuinely feel great all around and have the accompanying glow to prove it.
Top 11 Assumptions About Healthy Living
1. Healthy eating is expensive (see my tips here on NBC on how to save money and your health).
2. My Grandma smoked, drank like a fish and ate whatever she wanted. She lived to be 90.
3. Healthy eating takes discipline and sacrifice. I like to enjoy what I eat.
4. Being healthy is hard work. I don’t have time.
5. There’s medication for that. Taking a pill is easier.
6. Nutrition can’t help me. I have high cholesterol, blood pressure, Type 2 Diabetes, IBS, Depression, Anxiety and MS (to name a few).
7. I eat healthy! I have Kashi for breakfast, a salad for lunch, Activa yogurt for my probiotics and put Splenda in my coffee…and always eat fat and sugar free.
8. I just can’t lose weight. I’ve struggled with my weight all my life and probably will forever. No matter how much I count calories or exercise, I can’t seem to get my weight under control.
9. My doctor said…
10. I’m always exhausted and drained. But that’s part of getting older.
11. [Insert ailment or disease here] runs in my family. It’s genetic.
Have you ever said any of these things to yourself or believe them on some level? I’ll start unraveling these myths over the next several months and, even if you don’t believe all of them, there will be fascinating information to help you look at your own health care in a new way. Regardless of how the winds of change affect the U.S. health care system, the ultimate responsibility will always be yours.
Don’t put the most precious asset you’ll ever own, regardless of a recession or plunging stock market, into someone else’s hands to manage. Definitely consult with experts and get support, but be in charge. Call the shots like Sherrill, a former client of mine, did. When we started working together, she was pre-diabetic and after five short months, she is off her medications and feels better than she ever has. Check out her story here and be inspired.
And then start challenging yourself and your assumptions about what you believe is possible for your health and your life. My clients and me – our stocks are rising. Are yours?
To a blooming May,
Ali
Ali has given me the greatest gift in life…me! For the first time in my 53 years I can honestly say that I love myself. For years I went to counselors asking for happiness and to doctors asking for health…to no avail. Each and every time I would be given prescription drugs with side effects as an added bonus! I just got sick and tired of being sick and tired. I was pre-diabetic with high blood pressure and high cholesterol. It was time to get healthy with food and Ali was my very patient teacher.
Six months ago I came to Ali asking for health and happiness and this time I received all the answers. She taught me how to be happy in my relationships, career and spirituality; thereby, relieving my need to find solace in an unhealthy diet and lifestyle. Ali lovingly showed me how not to sabotage my diet and life by deconstructing cravings. This was not a diet of deprivation; it was just the opposite, more healthy foods were added to my diet. With Ali’s knowledgeable, passionate and enthusiastic guidance I am now free of all medication. Ali has empowered me with the secret to a vibrant lifestyle.
~ Sherrill Barrett, New Jersey
Gluten-Free Restaurants in Philadelphia
April 27, 2009
When you have a gluten sensitivity or Celiac disease, dining out can often be a game of Russian roulette you’d rather leave to the Russians. But in the spirit of Quakerism, it looks like Philly restaurants are becoming more tolerant and inclusive for those of us trying to keep our intestines happy. Happy intestines = clear focus, great moods, flat stomach, feeling optimistic, strong immunity and then of course, no itchy skin, no headaches, no obsessive thoughts, no GERD, the list can go on.
Check-out this article, complete with some Gluten-Free recipes, highlighting the growing understanding of the sticky wheat protein that gets many of us into sticky situations. And where you can eat and feel great afterward.
Gluten-Free Granola
April 22, 2009
Add 2 tablespoons of Grade B Maple Syrup
Save Your Money and Health
April 20, 2009
Healthy food (and what is the other food called – disease food?) doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, if you stick to food instead of trendy health products, you’ll save money in so many ways. Here are some tips to get you started.
And remember, in the long-run, food, exercise and fun are your true health insurance.
The Ultimate Smoothie
April 15, 2009
Now Carlos tells me making smoothies is no big deal. But I find it is because you want them to be SMOOTHie not a RUNnie which can happen to me when I make them. The secret is adding in a banana at the end. So simple, so wonderful!
Smoothie Recipe (this is for multiple servings)
1. Put a tray of ice cubes in the bottom of your Vita-Mixer or blender
2. Add in rice or almond milk (enough so it blends the ice)
3. Add in whatever fruits you choose (we buy frozen strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries ) and blend.
4. Add bananas and blend. I cannot say how many because it depends on your preference. I’d start with one and then go from there.
We make enough for multiple servings and then put the remaining smoothie in the freezer so we only have to clean the Vita-Mix once. Saves time and your sweet tooth!
Feeling Reborn With the Power of Smoothies
April 12, 2009
As of today, I am one month sugar-free. Or to be exact, refined sugar free. Regardless, I feel wonderful.
As a Health Counselor, one of the most common things I support my clients on is getting off sugar. It’s in everything so it can take time to help people convert their eating habits. I find that they don’t think the process is nearly as difficult as they thought with one exception: the night time treat.
This has always been my challenge. I do eat a whole foods, home cooked diet 95% of the time and know what foods work for me so my sweet cravings are minimal. What has always been the challenge for me is having something sweet after dinner. It’s my time to exhale from the day and relax.
Many people also find this time challenging because they too are living busy lives and come home exhausted, to an empty home or more work so a sugar snack provides something to look forward to.
So the reason that this is one of the more challenging sugar habits to break is because it’s not about eating differently, it’s about living differently. It involves slowing down, doing less and being more, finding more joy and learning how to remain calm in the midst of chaos.
After the detox Carlos and I did a month ago, we felt amazing. And we also knew that we had done detoxes before, felt amazing and then went back to our old habits (which really aren’t bad but one can always improve). So we decided to focus on one thing each that we would change and hold each other accountable. His was giving up coffee and me sugar. At the time I said this, I said I’d have to be allowed to have it at least once or twice a week because as a former binge eater, I know if I have too tight restrictions, I’m going to want that food even more.
But what has happened has shocked even me. I haven’t touched sugar once. I’ve had some home made things with agave or maple syrup in them but no chocolate or anything sweet enough to wipe out this clean feeling I’m experiencing. I’m sleeping less, feeling optimistic and been able to handle the stress (good and bad) of life magically.
I’m still in amazement what a minor tweak like this can do. I say minor not because getting of sugar is minor, which it is not (I’ve been working on this for two years!) but what eliminating the night time snack can do.
What has helped are fruit smoothies (and I’ve committed myself to four days of yoga to help with staying calm). They are my magic bullet. Carlos is the smoothie master. I’ll post the simple recipe on Wednesday so you can try and see if this helps you too. I bet it will. If I was wanting something sweet, we’d have one of these after dinner. It was enough to knock any cravings out…and really healthy at the same time.
This reminds me of three things: First, how helpful it is to have support – whether it be from a boyfriend, partner, friend or Health Counselor. Second, the power of making gradual, simple changes. I do it everyday with my clients and see miraculous results but sometimes forget the power in simplicity. And third, that we can achieve powerful levels of health if we continue to try, even if we cannot imagine ever getting there. We will if we keep on, keepin’ on.
Carlos is still coffee free. He’s also gradually phasing gluten out of his diet after he saw how much his “allergies”, lower back pain and morning alertness were affected by gluten.
So onward and upward. I know I’m never not going to eat refined sugar again but I’ve had this experience long enough to know I’m never going back to where I was, even though it wasn’t that bad. This is better!
Spring is here!
After a successful detox, I feel like I just came out of the shop! My mood matches the sense of renewal accompanying spring. For those who want to reboot their own health, I’ll join two of Philly’s premier wellness professionals on April 25th to provide you with an ultimate health makeover. All the details to hit the reset button on your health are on this blog under “Events”. This workshop will provide the information and inspiration to achieve and sustain the loftiest of health goals.
The warmer weather brings sun dresses, tank tops and bathing suits. Regardless of how cute the outfit, radiant skin is the best accessory. Food choices make or break your complexion.
Here’s my recent NBC segment on this topic.
After viewing the clip, you can see I discuss food allergies. Because of genetic modifications to our food supply, overeating the same foods and an increase stress on our digestive system because of processed foods and environmental pollutants, food allergies are skyrocketing.
In this clip, I mention gluten, the protein found in wheat and grains in the wheat family (think spelt, kamut, barley, and rye). Some people think this is another fad-diet trick to drop weight. While it’s true many people do lose weight after eliminating gluten from their diet, it’s in large part due to inflammation levels dropping dramatically.
Food allergies and sensitivities of all kinds trigger inflammation in the body. Too much inflammation will prevent you from losing weight (we’ll discuss this cutting-edge science in detail at the Ultimate Health Makeover workshop) and in many cases, cause you to gain weight. But more than that, food allergies contribute to a dramatic decrease in the quality of life. If you experience constipation, diarrhea, anxiety, depression, asthma, disturbed sleep, PMS and/or lower immunity, you might want to examine if you have food allergies or sensitivities. The video clip provides a starting point on how to do this on your own.
Since cutting gluten out of my diet, my anxiousness and sweet cravings are down (you tend to crave what you are allergic too), while my focus, energy and optimism are flying high. I’ve seen several clients experience a dramatic turn-around in their own health once they go on low to no gluten diets. From eliminating debilitating PMS symptoms to clearing up skin rashes to dropping stubborn weight, they enjoy how wonderful they feel in their bodies more than working around glutenous foods. But as always, test it out for yourself if you suspect any food allergy. Your body will tell you the truth if you take the time to listen.
In the spirit of spring, try to look at things anew, especially the messages your body (including your skin!) are telling you.
Be well,
Ali
