Here is a great testimonial and incredible inspiration from one of my recent clients. The reason I love T.P’s story so much is because she refused to accept she had to live with horrible PMS symptoms. I’m talking dehabiliting, life interrupting symptoms.
She might have been skeptical at first (read her story and you’ll get a laugh!) but she was open to dreaming about possibilities. And knowing how smart T.P is, I know she’ll now be better equipped to challenge other things that might come in her path about how things “have to be”. She’s in charge now of her health and her life.
Here’s her amazing story:
When I originally started to work with Ali, all I wanted was to lose weight. What I got was a new positive relationship with food, an understanding of how important balancing all areas of your life area and an end to emotional eating & PMS symptoms…oh yeah and I lost weight. Thank you Ali, for giving me my life back!
Ali’s approach is not a diet and it’s not only about food. I learned a lifetime worth of lessons in months. In addition to learning about new foods and food combinations, my love/ hate relationship with food became one of love/ love. I now understand that cravings are not just about food and taking time for yourself is just as important as eating foods that are good for you.
I also found the answers to my emotional eating. I have always been an emotional eater, but by asking myself the right questions, I no longer let my emotions control my eating habits. What I loved about working with Ali was that she would always suggest things; she would never say, “You MUST do this.” She would say, “Let’s try this and see if it works for you.”
It was through these suggestions that I realized that I have gluten sensitivities. I discovered that gluten was wreaking havoc on my body. Since being gluten-free, I have noticed an incredible difference in how I feel and how much easier my body digests foods.
One of my biggest issues was that due to my crazy PMS symptoms, I would have 1 good week out of the month. My symptoms included: sore breasts, very drastic manic mood swings and intense cramps. These symptoms would last for 3 weeks out of every month. But I had just assumed this was my plight and there was nothing I could do about it.
Ali said that changing my way of eating would lessen these symptoms. To be completely honest, I thought Ali’s great and all, but she’s lost her mind. I mean that’s just crazy. I’m a woman! Of course I’m going to have crazy PMS symptoms. It’s just the way it is! I could not have been more wrong!
After a few months of working with Ali, my symptoms have not just lessened…they are gone! Yes, you heard me, I said GONE! I actually had to check the calendar to see when my period was coming because I had NO symptoms! This has changed my life in the most drastic way…I can actually have one now! Gone are sore breasts that lasted for 2 weeks, drastic 3 week long mood swings and intense cramps. Now every week is a symptom free week! To say that I’m downright giddy is an understatement!
Ali really works with you to come up with a way of eating & living that works with your schedule and lifestyle. She is a joy to work with!
T.P., New York City, NY
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
Recipe for Radiant Skin
March 27, 2009
Stop wasting your money on ineffective skin products and get to the root of the problem. Skin issues are a sign of an internal imbalance. Making a few tweaks to the foods you eat can clear up your skin and that drug store habit.
Learn how with my Recipe for Radian Skin on NBC.
