Thursday, March 19, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
HBO Documentary - please consider watching!
Hello all. I hope you do not mind this forward, but I want to let you know of a documentary with much importance being aired on HBO, starting today. It was a news report, about such animals, that was the catalyst for me to choose a vegetarian lifestyle, almost 6 years ago. I try not to preach about my veggie lifestyle, and I hope you do not feel I am asking or telling you to give up meat. I believe it works for me, and I understand it isn't for everyone. But I urge you to watch this (I haven't seen it and can't attest to it's quality) with an open mind and heart. Please think about where your meat is coming from and what that animal has endured for you to receive nutritional and gastronomic satisfaction. And, if after watching this, you feel compelled to reduce the meat you consume or even choose a vegetarian lifestyle, please ask and I will guide you to websites and resources that will help make the transition easy and painless, for you and the animals!
I know there exist beliefs on both sides about vegetarian eating and living, and whether it is good for the environment and whether we could live in a fully vegetarian world. While I do not believe we can all be veggies, I do believe that we can certainly use more and that we need more compassionate people that are willing to not eat animals to stop the suffering. I like meat. I still desire it from time to time. But, I choose not to eat it (with a few slips in 6 yrs) because I do not need to kill an animal to be satisfied. And going veggie has lowered my cholesterol to amazing levels, and I rarely get sick. I haven't had a true cold in 3 years, and I am not even the healthiest vegetarian. I still like junk food, a lot of which is vegetarian! The best part of it all, I feel much more spiritually in tune with animals and nature. I truly feel the animals know that I am on their side, in every way.
Again, I do not mean to preach, just to enlighten. If this is for you, it is for you. If not, it isn't. I will still love you and respect you, no matter what you eat, or watch. Just consider watching this, and maybe giving up pork, or more.
Sincerely, Meg
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is stunning news in the animal advocacy world, particularly for those of us who have been working in the field for years and remember the days when it was hard to find a news story that even touched on the cruelty to animals being documented by activists. This coming Monday, March 16, HBO will premier a documentary called "Death on a Factory Farm." According to the HBO synopsis, "'Death on a Factory Farm' follows the undercover investigation of Wiles Hog Farm by the animal rights group The Humane Farming Association (HFA), and the resulting court case against it." The industry magazine, "Pork," reports with apprehension that the documentary will run on HBO twenty times through till April 1.
You'll find the full schedule at http://www.hbo.com/apps/schedule/ScheduleServlet -- just enter the documentary title into the search line on that page.
The Time Magazine web site currently has a terrific story on the issue -- an interview with, and photo of, 'Pete,' the undercover investigator and animal advocacy hero, who worked at the farm and videotaped the horrors. Many of us already know him from his previous undercover work that formed the basis of an earlier HBO documentary, "Dealing Dogs." The interview with Pete is on line at http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1883742,00.htmlNews outlets pay close attention to which stories get the most clicks and forwards, so please check it out and then go the bottom of the page where it says "Connect to this Time Story" and click on "Email," and email the page to all of your friends. You can also leave a comment on that page. Please do.
The HBO home page for this documentary is:http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/deathfactoryfarm/index.htmlIt includes links to pages where you can watch a brief preview video, read an interview with the multi award winning producers of the documentary, and read a synopsis of the film. The opening lines of the synopsis make the point that the film apparently drives home beautifully:
"Each year, ten billion animals are raised for consumption in the U.S., mostly on sprawling, industrialized farms, where virtually no federal laws mandate how the animals are treated - though guidelines exist - and state laws are ineffective. As a result, animals are frequently subjected to what many consider cruel treatment and inhumane conditions in the interest of economic efficiency.
"We learn about the undercover video:" Over the course of six weeks, Pete secretly filmed numerous disturbing scenes, including piglets being tossed into crates from across a room, impregnated sows held in pens that don't allow them to move, an unhealthy piglet being slammed against a wall to euthanize it, and a sick sow being hung by a chain from a forklift until it choked to death."
Will you forgive my turn of phrase if I write that the factory farming industry folks are crapping themselves in anticipation of this movie? (I did edit myself slightly.) The industry's general position is that the cruelty on this farm was an aberration. But while we don't yet have video from other farms of pigs being hung to death or slammed against concrete floors, some of the chronic cruelty, such as keeping the huge and intelligent animals in tiny individual pens too small to let them turn around or even lie down with their legs outstretched, is standard industry practice. Such cruelty is not limited to the pork industry -- most of us know about battery cages and veal crates, for example. Beef Magazine therefore reports at http://tinyurl.com/d3cfbc (my thanks to Mary Finelli for that link):"
For any of us the agriculture industry, this documentary sends shivers down our spines.... To put things into perspective, HBO has an estimated 35 million subscribers, and a premier program on HBO can reach between 1 to 3 percent of that audience, or about 500 thousand to 1.5 million people."
Woohoo!
The Beef Magazine writer recommends to readers:"I encourage all of you to tune in to this documentary, and follow up with letters of response to the producers and to HBO."
I always stress the importance of letting media outlets know how much we, the audience, appreciate their animal friendly content. With the meat industry calling for mobilization against HBO on this one, appreciative feedback from the audience becomes doubly important. Please send HBO a supersized thank you. Comments on HBO documentaries should be submitted at http://tinyurl.com/d6og4
You can also make sure that everybody who reads your local paper knows about the show. Some of the smaller papers publish close to 100% of letters they receive. The five minutes it takes you to send a quick note could help teach thousands of people in your area about the horrors of the modern food production system. As the show will air through the rest of the month you still have time to write now. Why not?
Yours and the animals',
Karen Dawn
(DawnWatch is an animal advocacy media watch that looks at animal issues in the media and facilitates one-click responses to the relevant media outlets. You can learn more about it, and sign up for alerts at http://www.DawnWatch.com. You may forward or reprint DawnWatch alerts if you do so unedited -- leave DawnWatch in the title and include this parenthesized tag line. If somebody forwards DawnWatch alerts to you, which you enjoy, please help the list grow by signing up. It is free.)
Please go to www.ThankingtheMonkey.com to read reviews and see a fun celeb-studded video and an NBC news piece on Karen Dawn's new book, "Thanking the Monkey: Rethinking the Way we Treat Animals," which was chosen by the Washington Post as one of the "Best Books of 2008."
I know there exist beliefs on both sides about vegetarian eating and living, and whether it is good for the environment and whether we could live in a fully vegetarian world. While I do not believe we can all be veggies, I do believe that we can certainly use more and that we need more compassionate people that are willing to not eat animals to stop the suffering. I like meat. I still desire it from time to time. But, I choose not to eat it (with a few slips in 6 yrs) because I do not need to kill an animal to be satisfied. And going veggie has lowered my cholesterol to amazing levels, and I rarely get sick. I haven't had a true cold in 3 years, and I am not even the healthiest vegetarian. I still like junk food, a lot of which is vegetarian! The best part of it all, I feel much more spiritually in tune with animals and nature. I truly feel the animals know that I am on their side, in every way.
Again, I do not mean to preach, just to enlighten. If this is for you, it is for you. If not, it isn't. I will still love you and respect you, no matter what you eat, or watch. Just consider watching this, and maybe giving up pork, or more.
Sincerely, Meg
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is stunning news in the animal advocacy world, particularly for those of us who have been working in the field for years and remember the days when it was hard to find a news story that even touched on the cruelty to animals being documented by activists. This coming Monday, March 16, HBO will premier a documentary called "Death on a Factory Farm." According to the HBO synopsis, "'Death on a Factory Farm' follows the undercover investigation of Wiles Hog Farm by the animal rights group The Humane Farming Association (HFA), and the resulting court case against it." The industry magazine, "Pork," reports with apprehension that the documentary will run on HBO twenty times through till April 1.
You'll find the full schedule at http://www.hbo.com/apps/schedule/ScheduleServlet -- just enter the documentary title into the search line on that page.
The Time Magazine web site currently has a terrific story on the issue -- an interview with, and photo of, 'Pete,' the undercover investigator and animal advocacy hero, who worked at the farm and videotaped the horrors. Many of us already know him from his previous undercover work that formed the basis of an earlier HBO documentary, "Dealing Dogs." The interview with Pete is on line at http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1883742,00.htmlNews outlets pay close attention to which stories get the most clicks and forwards, so please check it out and then go the bottom of the page where it says "Connect to this Time Story" and click on "Email," and email the page to all of your friends. You can also leave a comment on that page. Please do.
The HBO home page for this documentary is:http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/deathfactoryfarm/index.htmlIt includes links to pages where you can watch a brief preview video, read an interview with the multi award winning producers of the documentary, and read a synopsis of the film. The opening lines of the synopsis make the point that the film apparently drives home beautifully:
"Each year, ten billion animals are raised for consumption in the U.S., mostly on sprawling, industrialized farms, where virtually no federal laws mandate how the animals are treated - though guidelines exist - and state laws are ineffective. As a result, animals are frequently subjected to what many consider cruel treatment and inhumane conditions in the interest of economic efficiency.
"We learn about the undercover video:" Over the course of six weeks, Pete secretly filmed numerous disturbing scenes, including piglets being tossed into crates from across a room, impregnated sows held in pens that don't allow them to move, an unhealthy piglet being slammed against a wall to euthanize it, and a sick sow being hung by a chain from a forklift until it choked to death."
Will you forgive my turn of phrase if I write that the factory farming industry folks are crapping themselves in anticipation of this movie? (I did edit myself slightly.) The industry's general position is that the cruelty on this farm was an aberration. But while we don't yet have video from other farms of pigs being hung to death or slammed against concrete floors, some of the chronic cruelty, such as keeping the huge and intelligent animals in tiny individual pens too small to let them turn around or even lie down with their legs outstretched, is standard industry practice. Such cruelty is not limited to the pork industry -- most of us know about battery cages and veal crates, for example. Beef Magazine therefore reports at http://tinyurl.com/d3cfbc (my thanks to Mary Finelli for that link):"
For any of us the agriculture industry, this documentary sends shivers down our spines.... To put things into perspective, HBO has an estimated 35 million subscribers, and a premier program on HBO can reach between 1 to 3 percent of that audience, or about 500 thousand to 1.5 million people."
Woohoo!
The Beef Magazine writer recommends to readers:"I encourage all of you to tune in to this documentary, and follow up with letters of response to the producers and to HBO."
I always stress the importance of letting media outlets know how much we, the audience, appreciate their animal friendly content. With the meat industry calling for mobilization against HBO on this one, appreciative feedback from the audience becomes doubly important. Please send HBO a supersized thank you. Comments on HBO documentaries should be submitted at http://tinyurl.com/d6og4
You can also make sure that everybody who reads your local paper knows about the show. Some of the smaller papers publish close to 100% of letters they receive. The five minutes it takes you to send a quick note could help teach thousands of people in your area about the horrors of the modern food production system. As the show will air through the rest of the month you still have time to write now. Why not?
Yours and the animals',
Karen Dawn
(DawnWatch is an animal advocacy media watch that looks at animal issues in the media and facilitates one-click responses to the relevant media outlets. You can learn more about it, and sign up for alerts at http://www.DawnWatch.com. You may forward or reprint DawnWatch alerts if you do so unedited -- leave DawnWatch in the title and include this parenthesized tag line. If somebody forwards DawnWatch alerts to you, which you enjoy, please help the list grow by signing up. It is free.)
Please go to www.ThankingtheMonkey.com to read reviews and see a fun celeb-studded video and an NBC news piece on Karen Dawn's new book, "Thanking the Monkey: Rethinking the Way we Treat Animals," which was chosen by the Washington Post as one of the "Best Books of 2008."
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Hello everyone. I have been out of the habit of posting regularly for a while now. I haven’t been well, and it has been a struggle just to work. I have been having major migraines, extreme fatigue, joint pain, blurred vision, vertigo, hearing issues…I could go on but I won’t. I don’t want to bore you. The good news is, I am hopeful that I may be getting to root cause and I am getting treatment and care.
My weight is another story. I took a couple months and comforted myself with food and I have gained quite a bit. I am working on shedding those unwanted pounds and I am doing the Simply Filling program. I still call it Core and probably always will.
I lost a pound this week!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am including the text from the Indy Veg Society’s March Potluck flyer to celebrate the Annual Meatout day. And I am also including a recipe that looks yummy from the Whole Foods website.
Zesty Spiced Cauliflower*
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/recipe.php?recipeId=2433
*Note: Each serving is your 2 t of healthy oil for the day. What a yummy way to get it!
Indianapolis Vegetarian Society
DATE: MARCH 21 (SATURDAY)
TIME: NOON
JOIN US AND HELP CELEBRATE THE 2009 MEATOUT HOLIDAY! BRING YOUR FAVORITE VEGAN/VEGETARIAN DISH TO SHARE, THE RECIPE, AND A PLACE SETTING.
Indiana Humanities Bldg
1500 N Delaware
Ample street parking
www.indyvegsociety.org
Free !!
My weight is another story. I took a couple months and comforted myself with food and I have gained quite a bit. I am working on shedding those unwanted pounds and I am doing the Simply Filling program. I still call it Core and probably always will.
I lost a pound this week!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am including the text from the Indy Veg Society’s March Potluck flyer to celebrate the Annual Meatout day. And I am also including a recipe that looks yummy from the Whole Foods website.
Zesty Spiced Cauliflower*
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/recipe.php?recipeId=2433
*Note: Each serving is your 2 t of healthy oil for the day. What a yummy way to get it!
Indianapolis Vegetarian Society
DATE: MARCH 21 (SATURDAY)
TIME: NOON
JOIN US AND HELP CELEBRATE THE 2009 MEATOUT HOLIDAY! BRING YOUR FAVORITE VEGAN/VEGETARIAN DISH TO SHARE, THE RECIPE, AND A PLACE SETTING.
Indiana Humanities Bldg
1500 N Delaware
Ample street parking
www.indyvegsociety.org
Free !!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
March 20th is a BIG day!
Spring starts, and it is the Great American Meatout. A day that urges awareness of a vegetarian lifestyle through events nationwide.
I have been veggie for 5 and a half years and I couldn't be happier. Within 6 months to a year, my cholesterol was as good as could be! My body functions so much better as a veggie. I haven't had a real cold in years. I get sniffles, but nothing more! And I am not even that healthy of a veggie sometimes! ; )
Why not celebrate by being meat free on the 20th? And the good news for those celebrating lent, you probably already are that day. Do you feel different? Why not try and keep it up post lent?
I have been veggie for 5 and a half years and I couldn't be happier. Within 6 months to a year, my cholesterol was as good as could be! My body functions so much better as a veggie. I haven't had a real cold in years. I get sniffles, but nothing more! And I am not even that healthy of a veggie sometimes! ; )
Why not celebrate by being meat free on the 20th? And the good news for those celebrating lent, you probably already are that day. Do you feel different? Why not try and keep it up post lent?
Monday, March 2, 2009
Very interesting talk Wednesday night
http://www.journeysfire.org/docs/Oceanflyer.pdf
I just thought I'd share this, for anyone interested in progressive thought, action, and way of life.
I just thought I'd share this, for anyone interested in progressive thought, action, and way of life.
Monday, January 5, 2009
A New Year, A New You!
How many times have you heard that in the last week? How many times have you said that to yourself in the last couple weeks? The new year always seems to bring those pesky resolutions. Come on, you know you have made a new year’s resolution in the past.
Everyone uses the new year to start fresh and do things that they feel they need to accomplish. Lofty goals are set, only to be unachieved! Below is some history on the New Year’s Resolution, some current data, and an example of the success rates.
The History of New Year's Resolutions
The tradition of the New Year's Resolutions goes all the way back to 153 B.C. Janus, a mythical king of early Rome was placed at the head of the calendar.
With two faces, Janus could look back on past events and forward to the future. Janus became the ancient symbol for resolutions and many Romans looked for forgiveness from their enemies and also exchanged gifts before the beginning of each year.
The New Year has not always begun on January 1, and it doesn't begin on that date everywhere today. It begins on that date only for cultures that use a 365-day solar calendar. January 1 became the beginning of the New Year in 46 B.C., when Julius Caesar developed a calendar that would more accurately reflect the seasons than previous calendars had.
The Romans named the first month of the year after Janus, the god of beginnings and the guardian of doors and entrances. He was always depicted with two faces, one on the front of his head and one on the back. Thus he could look backward and forward at the same time. At midnight on December 31, the Romans imagined Janus looking back at the old year and forward to the new. The Romans began a tradition of exchanging gifts on New Year's Eve by giving one another branches from sacred trees for good fortune. Later, nuts or coins imprinted with the god Janus became more common New Year's gifts.
In the Middle Ages, Christians changed New Year's Day to December 25, the birth of Jesus. Then they changed it to March 25, a holiday called the Annunciation. In the sixteenth century, Pope Gregory XIII revised the Julian calendar, and the celebration of the New Year was returned to January 1.
The Julian and Gregorian calendars are solar calendars. Some cultures have lunar calendars, however. A year in a lunar calendar is less than 365 days because the months are based on the phases of the moon. The Chinese use a lunar calendar. Their new year begins at the time of the first full moon (over the Far East) after the sun enters Aquarius- sometime between January 19 and February 21.
Although the date for New Year's Day is not the same in every culture, it is always a time for celebration and for customs to ensure good luck in the coming year.
www.goalsguy.com
A New Year's resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to a project or the reforming of a habit, often a lifestyle change that is generally interpreted as advantageous. The name comes from the fact that these commitments normally go into effect on New Year's Day and remain until fulfilled or abandoned. More socio-centric examples include resolutions to donate to the poor more often, to become more assertive, or to become more economically or environmentally responsible. People may act similarly during the Christian fasting period of Lent, though the motive behind this holiday is more of sacrifice than of responsibility. The new year resolution is one example of the rolling forecast-method of planning. According to this method, plans are established at regular short or medium-term time intervals, when only a rough long-term plan exists.
There are religious parallels to this secular tradition. For example, in Judaism's holiest holiday, Yom Kippur, one is to reflect upon one's wrongdoings over the year and both seek and offer forgiveness. The concept, regardless of creed, is to reflect upon self-improvement annually.
Recent research shows that while 52% of participants in a resolution study were confident of success with their goals, only 12% actually achieved their goals. Men achieved their goal 22% more often when they engaged in goal setting, a system where small measurable goals are used (lose a pound a week, instead of saying "lose weight"), while women succeeded 10% more when they made their goals public and got support from their friends.[
www.wikipedia.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some of the top NYR!
http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/New_Years_Resolutions.shtml
http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/new-years-resolutions-in-one-year-out-other
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A New Year’s Resolution is an ancient tradition, full of mythical and religious lore. It has long been a practice and will likely continue to be a practice. Personally, I do not make New Year’s Resolutions because they seem to largely be based on negative motivators.
Now, my history with WW will prove otherwise. The year that I finally reached goal, I joined on January 4th! While I didn’t start 2009 at goal, I did recommit on January 3rd! So, maybe I am into NYR more than I would like to admit.
The goal of achieving and maintain those resolutions is to not go cold tofurkey (turkey), and to not make your resolutions too lofty that you will give up easily. For many, the resolution practice every January 1 is a great motivator and a great tool to make healthy changes. These changes can stick, if you want them to! You have that choice.
So, what is your resolution(s) this year? Are you getting back on plan after a hiatus? Are you deciding to finally give into the new program and follow the new WW guidelines? Are you resolving to drink more water, exercise more, use that oil in your cooking, attend more meetings, post on the message boards…the list could go on and on?
Personally, I have been off program much of the last 16 months. Once I left, I thought, here is my chance! I can go crazy. That is what I did. The foods I chose to allow into my body were not always healthy and certainly sent my weight to crazy high numbers. I will not go further, as a prior post goes into the numbers. The key, I have felt like crap.
I decided this past Saturday to do a fruit and veggie detox. This is basically eating no animal products and just fruits and veggies. I felt like crap all day. I was so tired and loopy. Okay, maybe the fast had nothing to do with me being loopy. I am most days! I tried this once before and it didn’t have near the effect that it had this go around. I ate a sweet potato, avocado, fruit smoothie (may have bent the rules for that), a fresh squeezed juice in the am, salad, olive oil as dressing, sautéed veggies…it tasted so good! I continued this as much as possible Sunday and did have some bread at dinner. That was basically it that wasn’t on the detox.
Sunday, I was so warm and I felt clammy. I didn’t feel too good. I could tell that my liver was cleansing, as sweating and body heat are a sign that the liver is impure. I also started Garden of Life’s Perfect Cleanse yesterday. It is a 3 step evening process that is all natural and herbal. 3 pills before dinner, fiber drink after dinner, and 3 pills before bed. The fiber drink is nasty! I will be honest. But, it will help get rid of the last year and a half, cleanse my body, and allow my body to function at it’s tiptop shape. Today, I feel great!
I am even going to bring in a bowl to keep fruit on my desk! This re-embrace of healthy eating feels very good. I truly do love eating healthy foods and I love that I can enjoy food again and not feel bad afterwards!
Everyone uses the new year to start fresh and do things that they feel they need to accomplish. Lofty goals are set, only to be unachieved! Below is some history on the New Year’s Resolution, some current data, and an example of the success rates.
The History of New Year's Resolutions
The tradition of the New Year's Resolutions goes all the way back to 153 B.C. Janus, a mythical king of early Rome was placed at the head of the calendar.
With two faces, Janus could look back on past events and forward to the future. Janus became the ancient symbol for resolutions and many Romans looked for forgiveness from their enemies and also exchanged gifts before the beginning of each year.
The New Year has not always begun on January 1, and it doesn't begin on that date everywhere today. It begins on that date only for cultures that use a 365-day solar calendar. January 1 became the beginning of the New Year in 46 B.C., when Julius Caesar developed a calendar that would more accurately reflect the seasons than previous calendars had.
The Romans named the first month of the year after Janus, the god of beginnings and the guardian of doors and entrances. He was always depicted with two faces, one on the front of his head and one on the back. Thus he could look backward and forward at the same time. At midnight on December 31, the Romans imagined Janus looking back at the old year and forward to the new. The Romans began a tradition of exchanging gifts on New Year's Eve by giving one another branches from sacred trees for good fortune. Later, nuts or coins imprinted with the god Janus became more common New Year's gifts.
In the Middle Ages, Christians changed New Year's Day to December 25, the birth of Jesus. Then they changed it to March 25, a holiday called the Annunciation. In the sixteenth century, Pope Gregory XIII revised the Julian calendar, and the celebration of the New Year was returned to January 1.
The Julian and Gregorian calendars are solar calendars. Some cultures have lunar calendars, however. A year in a lunar calendar is less than 365 days because the months are based on the phases of the moon. The Chinese use a lunar calendar. Their new year begins at the time of the first full moon (over the Far East) after the sun enters Aquarius- sometime between January 19 and February 21.
Although the date for New Year's Day is not the same in every culture, it is always a time for celebration and for customs to ensure good luck in the coming year.
www.goalsguy.com
A New Year's resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to a project or the reforming of a habit, often a lifestyle change that is generally interpreted as advantageous. The name comes from the fact that these commitments normally go into effect on New Year's Day and remain until fulfilled or abandoned. More socio-centric examples include resolutions to donate to the poor more often, to become more assertive, or to become more economically or environmentally responsible. People may act similarly during the Christian fasting period of Lent, though the motive behind this holiday is more of sacrifice than of responsibility. The new year resolution is one example of the rolling forecast-method of planning. According to this method, plans are established at regular short or medium-term time intervals, when only a rough long-term plan exists.
There are religious parallels to this secular tradition. For example, in Judaism's holiest holiday, Yom Kippur, one is to reflect upon one's wrongdoings over the year and both seek and offer forgiveness. The concept, regardless of creed, is to reflect upon self-improvement annually.
Recent research shows that while 52% of participants in a resolution study were confident of success with their goals, only 12% actually achieved their goals. Men achieved their goal 22% more often when they engaged in goal setting, a system where small measurable goals are used (lose a pound a week, instead of saying "lose weight"), while women succeeded 10% more when they made their goals public and got support from their friends.[
www.wikipedia.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some of the top NYR!
http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/New_Years_Resolutions.shtml
http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/new-years-resolutions-in-one-year-out-other
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A New Year’s Resolution is an ancient tradition, full of mythical and religious lore. It has long been a practice and will likely continue to be a practice. Personally, I do not make New Year’s Resolutions because they seem to largely be based on negative motivators.
Now, my history with WW will prove otherwise. The year that I finally reached goal, I joined on January 4th! While I didn’t start 2009 at goal, I did recommit on January 3rd! So, maybe I am into NYR more than I would like to admit.
The goal of achieving and maintain those resolutions is to not go cold tofurkey (turkey), and to not make your resolutions too lofty that you will give up easily. For many, the resolution practice every January 1 is a great motivator and a great tool to make healthy changes. These changes can stick, if you want them to! You have that choice.
So, what is your resolution(s) this year? Are you getting back on plan after a hiatus? Are you deciding to finally give into the new program and follow the new WW guidelines? Are you resolving to drink more water, exercise more, use that oil in your cooking, attend more meetings, post on the message boards…the list could go on and on?
Personally, I have been off program much of the last 16 months. Once I left, I thought, here is my chance! I can go crazy. That is what I did. The foods I chose to allow into my body were not always healthy and certainly sent my weight to crazy high numbers. I will not go further, as a prior post goes into the numbers. The key, I have felt like crap.
I decided this past Saturday to do a fruit and veggie detox. This is basically eating no animal products and just fruits and veggies. I felt like crap all day. I was so tired and loopy. Okay, maybe the fast had nothing to do with me being loopy. I am most days! I tried this once before and it didn’t have near the effect that it had this go around. I ate a sweet potato, avocado, fruit smoothie (may have bent the rules for that), a fresh squeezed juice in the am, salad, olive oil as dressing, sautéed veggies…it tasted so good! I continued this as much as possible Sunday and did have some bread at dinner. That was basically it that wasn’t on the detox.
Sunday, I was so warm and I felt clammy. I didn’t feel too good. I could tell that my liver was cleansing, as sweating and body heat are a sign that the liver is impure. I also started Garden of Life’s Perfect Cleanse yesterday. It is a 3 step evening process that is all natural and herbal. 3 pills before dinner, fiber drink after dinner, and 3 pills before bed. The fiber drink is nasty! I will be honest. But, it will help get rid of the last year and a half, cleanse my body, and allow my body to function at it’s tiptop shape. Today, I feel great!
I am even going to bring in a bowl to keep fruit on my desk! This re-embrace of healthy eating feels very good. I truly do love eating healthy foods and I love that I can enjoy food again and not feel bad afterwards!
Friday, January 2, 2009
Happy New Year!
Here it is, 2009! Can you believe it? 2008 was our year to be great. What can you do to be fine in 2009?
Fine could be the epitome of hot and sexy, as in “She’s so fine!”
Or
Fine could be fine with where you are on your journey, no matter where you are
Or
Fine could be accepting that you need to make some adjustments to your habits and attitudes and being okay with that.
So, what are you going to do this year to be fine in 2009?
Fine could be the epitome of hot and sexy, as in “She’s so fine!”
Or
Fine could be fine with where you are on your journey, no matter where you are
Or
Fine could be accepting that you need to make some adjustments to your habits and attitudes and being okay with that.
So, what are you going to do this year to be fine in 2009?
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