Diary of a Whimpy Master Cleanser - Part 1

Welcome to the Diary of my Master Cleanse!
Also known as "The Lemonade Diet."

I would like to start by saying that I have never been a fan nor advocate of big, long, extreme cleanses. Rather, I've tended to side with ongoing, daily healthy habits for cleansing. This belief stems from seeing people start and stop cleanses prematurely and hurt themselves and their self esteem more, or from people so full of toxins who pick a cleanse and try and manage it without an experienced person walking alongside them.

So, in all honesty, this belief might also come from the fact that I have never been able to get past day three before and therefore think its too hard and unreasonable for most people to do!  Either way, I believe that there is truth to all of these statements.

However, last year the concept of actually doing a full cleanse  kept coming up. I decided last November after reading The Complete Master Cleanse by Tom Woloshyn that I would do it.  My wonderful friends Carol and Taylor  did this cleanse last year and were new to transforming their diets.  They did the whole thing! My pastor, Vince Antonucci, from Verve  just completed his first cleanse. He doesn't even like healthy things (just kidding Vince ;-)

People kept asking my opinion on cleansing. And I kept coming up with reasons why not to start. "Oh, but I'll be traveling....It's my daughter's birthday...there might be a shortage of lemons if I do it." ;-D

That is, until last Monday. I woke up and on an empty stomach said "That's it! Today day is D-Day." With no day of ramping in I armed myself with my first internal saltwater flush, a bag of lemons, some organic maple syrup and cayenne pepper.  The Following is my "Diary of a Whimpy Master Cleanser" Part 1  and will be continued upon finishing the cleanse and then coming off of it.

 

So for 10 days was my best friend:
My Modified Version of the Master Cleanse Recipe
*2 1/2 Tablespoons of fresh squeezed lemon juice
*2  1/2Tablespoons of Organic Grade B Maple Syrup
*1/4 Tablespoon of Cayenne Pepper (I like mine spicy)
*1  Glass Quart size Mason Jar with filtered water.

Day 1:  Monday January 16thI decided to jump in with both feet this morning.  "No More Excuses" just do it and quit stalling.  First thing was drinking a warm internal saltwater bath/flush. Although I didn't look forward to this, it really wasn't that bad. However, it did not seem to flush within the 1 1/2 hour window my book said, so I decided to have my first "lemonade." Viola! The flushing occurred!

The kids were home for Martin Luther King day and I felt like a warrior going to battle, I decided to finally bake those gluten-free, white chocolate, peppermint essential oil cookies for my publisher (Life Science Publishing) that I had meant to send over the holidays. (remember: this is now Jan. 16th)  Do you know how hard it is "not" to lick your fingers during a project like that?

The kids were home all day long along with half the neighborhood as I continued to bake cookies, make lunches and drink copious amounts of my new best friend...lemonade!   They say the key is in drinking the lemonade before you feel hungry, and this seemed to work.

However, by bedtime, my mouth really wanted to chew something crunchy, chewy or I think I would have settled for stale at that point!  I was a bear to my tonight. But Hey! Day 1 was under my belt. Sorry family  :-(
 Day 2:  Tuesday January 17th Holy Cow! What is up with the mouth full of ...of... I don't know, what the heck was that covering my teeth?!?!  No, seriously something small and furry must have crawled through my mouth while I was sleeping and shed fur.

For more "Diary of a Whimpy Master Cleanser" please go to my new blog home at Wordpress see link below.

FOR MORE please go to my new web home at:
http://thehealthyhabitcoach.wordpress.com/2012/01/23/the-diary-of-a-whimpy-cleanser

For "Diary of a Whimpy Master Cleanser - Part 2"  go to:

http://thehealthyhabitcoach.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/diary-of-a-whimpy-master-cleanser-part-2

Disclaimer: Tara Rayburn, The Healthy Habit Coach is not a doctor or nutritionist. She shares her own stories with the intention of helping support, inspire and encourage others on their journey to health.
Also, Tara does not advocate any one specific diet, including the vegetarian diet that Stanley Burroughs, the Master Cleanse original creator, advocates. She believes that there is no one size fits all perfect diet for everyone. She does believe that there are, however, certain principles to build into our diets for longterm health.

Healthy Habits to Kick Off 2012

Okay, so we are in the home stretch for holiday festivities. If you are like me, you might be feeling a little like "Toxic Frank" in the photo above. Maybe you are feeling the effects of too much sugar and starch, late nights, and making choices that are not very uplifting.

So what now?

Start with just one small step T-O-D-A-Y!

There, I said it. Don't wait for January 1st to start. Get a jump on it right now. Here is a simple process for deciding where to start and then creating a easy game plan all year long.

Recipe for Choosing Sustainable Healthy Habits

1) Take out a sheet of paper or new notebook and write down your three top
Health Goals or Challenges

2) Choose the top Goal/Challenge and write it down.

3) Underneath that brainstorm 10 to 20 habits that could help you achieve that Health Goal.
Go crazy and have fun. No idea is too small or too silly. The most powerful idea is the one
YOU WILL DO!

4) Now write down the one Healthy Habit you are willing to do for just one week.

5) Commit to doing that Healthy Habit for 1 week.

6) Practice that Healthy Habit for 1 week.

7) Put up notes around the house encouraging you to practice your Healthy Habit.

8) After 1 week decide whether or not you'll keep it or try a new one. Did it fit into your life easily   enough? Did it have any effect? Did it help uplift you?

9) If you kept it, now go back to your list and choose a new Healthy Habit to practice for another week.

10) Repeat process at your command. Some people are comfortable adding one Healthy Habit a month, while another might be good to try one a week. The key is to do it. No matter how simple, it will move you in the right direction.

EXAMPLE:

Step 1: Top three Health Goals/Challenges
* Lose Weight
* Cleanse
* Increase Energy

Step 2: Choose One Habit to practice for 1 Week
*Lose Weight

Step 3: Brainstorm Ideas for Losing Weight

* Exercise 4 times a week
* Eat 3 servings of veggies daily
* Take 3 deep breaths before each meal (sets your body up for better digestion)
* Take digestive enzymes (via food or supplement) with at least 2 meals a day
* Reduce stress by getting 8 hours of sleep (supports hormones/aids in weight lose and maintenance)
* Chew food well at each meal
* Schedule a weekly massage (stimulates the lymphatic system)
* Learn about what my Lymphatic System is and how to support it better
* Sit down and sit up straight while eating
* Get a glass or stainless steel water bottle (getting a clean, chemical free source of water is important)

Step 4: Choose 1 Healthy Habit to support this goal for 1 week.

* I will get 8 hours of sleep for this week

Step 5: Commit to getting 8 hours of sleep for one week.

* Plan and schedule my week's activities in order to achieve 8 hours of sleep.

Step 6: Practice this Healthy Habit for the week.

* Make it Happen!

Step 7: Put reminder notes up around the house or in key areas

Step 8: Review and Revise your Healthy Habit.

*Did this Healthy Habit work? Did you feel a difference? Will You Keep it?

Step 9: Keep it or not, and go back to list to choose next Healthy Habit to practice.

* Cleanse

Step 10: Brainstorm at least 10 ways, Choose One and Repeat.

****Just think, if you only add 1 Healthy Habit a month, that is 12 new Habits a Year! WOW. I've seen lives change with just one habit change, imagine how you could transform your life with 12 new, sustainable habits.

Click this link for a printable copy of "How to Create Healthy Habits"

Peace and Be Well,
Tara Rayburn
The Healthy Habit Coach

Resources:
"Essential Gluten-Free Recipes" by Tara Rayburn & Mary Vars

Tara Rayburn's Young Living Essential Oils

Holiday Special for "Essential Gluten-Free Recipes"

Just a simple reminder that our publisher, Life Science Publishing is running a great holiday special on our book for only $20.

This makes a great gift whether or not someone is living a gluten-free life or not. Fun, simple, nutrient rich recipes.

Have great holidays!

Peace & Be Well,
Tara Rayburn
The Healthy Habit Coach

Links:

Life Science Publishing:
http://www.lifesciencepublishers.com/shopItemBanner.asp?tag=Holiday2

Tis' the Season for Chicken Broth - Fa, La, La, La...

Yep, this golden "nectar of the gods" is the #1 pick for our medicine cabinet this time of year, an really all year long. It's just that this time of year we all have challenges to staying healthy and so I make every effort to have a jar or two in the freezer at all times.  My friend Sarah Pope convinced me of the healing powers of chicken broth years ago when my son was a baby and came down with a nasty virus that put other children in the area in the hospital. He couldn't keep anything down from any end, so to speak. Sarah brought over the powerful broth and told me to give him a spoonful every hour. His symptoms stopped and he got over in three days what most children ended up in the hospital for.

It made a believer out of me!

Since then, I have seen hundreds of people's health change from using bone broth. I'd have to write a book to share the stories with you.

We uploaded a fun, creative "How To" video on our Nourishing Your Family YouTube Channel

The wonderful music it is set to is from Mike Rayburn's CD's (yep, this is a shameless Holiday gift plug for my husband. ;-)

Here are some of the top Q & A's I encounter:

1) Can you get the same results from a vegetarian broth?
My opinion is a resounding No. The nutrients derived from the bones cannot be duplicated by a pure vegetable broth. There are reasons why our ancestors talked about the healing power of good ol' Chicken Soup.  I have used both bone broths and vegetable broths and while both are nutrient rich, they are not equal in their contributions to our health.

2) Do you really need to cook it for 24 hours?
Again, in my opinion and that of my mentors is "Yes."  It takes that long to truly draw all the nutrients out of the bones.

3) Do you really leave your burner on for that long?

This is really a question of each person's comfort level. I have made broth on electric stoves, gas stoves and in crock pots. My limitation with the crock pot is the size/quantity. I make 8-10 quarts of broth at a time. I figure if I go to that effort, I want a large yield.

4) Do you have to use "organic" chickens/parts?

If you truly want a medicinal broth, getting the highest quality (free range/organic) is a priority. If that is absolutely impossible for you, then do your best and bless the process and the final product. Your intention and love effort is equally as important as your ingredients.

5) Do you really use the whole chicken?

I like to use the whole bird and take out the meat once it's cooked and put the bones back in.  I've made it many different ways (bones/feet only, etc) and that provides the richest broth for me. Feet are gross, but provide a huge amount of nutrients. The broth is much richer for the effort. Just don't let the "squeamish" look in the stock pot.  ;-D

6) What do you do with all the "cooked" ingredients when you are done?

If you leave the meat in the whole time it is pretty nasty tasting and really not much left to it. You can make pet food with it or disguise it with BBQ sauce. When we had a dog, I used to puree the whole mess, bones and all. The bones were so soft they'd puree up nicely. I'd use it as a base for dog food.

7) How long will the broth keep?

If you let the fat rise to the top and create a seal in the jar, it stays good for a couple of weeks. If you are unsure, then skim the fat and use it for cooking. Then be sure and leave a good 1" to 1 1/2" of room in your mason jar and freeze. It keeps months in the freezer.

Here is our Chicken Broth Recipe based on Weston A. Price Foundation Principles

Reprinted with permission from "Essential Gluten-Free Recipes" 

by Tara Rayburn and Mary Vars:

The Healing Magic of Broth

Health Benefits of Chicken Broth: 

1. The ultimate, fast, nutrient-rich food! 

2. Outstanding healing powers for the digestive system. 

3. Easily absorbed mineral source 

4. High calcium content 

5. Great for building strong bones and healthy joints 

6. Protein sparer (you can eat less protein when you are using broths) 

7. Great comfort beverage 

8. Heals the gut lining (fantastic for children with autism, ADD/HD, etc) 

9. Community builder (make it together and share with others) 

10. Bone broth is #1 in our family medicine cabinet for all these reasons. 

See the Nourishing Your Family YouTube Channel for “How to Make Chicken Broth”. 

Chicken Broth Recipe: 

2 Tablespoons of raw apple cider vinegar 

One whole organic chicken cut up or two leftover carcasses 

Extra chicken backs, necks, feet if you can get them (these parts have more cartilage and are full of healing gelatin) 

4-5 coarsely chopped seasonal root vegetables 

5 stalks of celery coarsely chopped 

1 organic yellow onion coarsely chopped 

3-4 cloves fresh garlic 

• Add 4-6 quarts of spring or filtered water. 

• Add apple cider vinegar, chicken, root veggies and all ingredients. 

• Let sit for 1/2 hour to start pulling minerals out of bones. 

• Next, bring to a boil and skim brown foam from surface. 

• Pull out chicken and take off the meat after about an hour ½ of cooking to use in soup later. 

• Lower to simmer for 24 hours. 

• Strain and pour into clean canning jars with 1 ½ to 2 inches of breathing space 

• Cool, lid and put into refrigerator until completely cooled 

• Put excess jars in freezer (must have breathing space and be cold) 

• Optional: Once cooled, skim fat and use it for cooking. 

Optional: 

Chicken heads and feet offer huge nutrients to your broth. The amount of gelatin they contain 

is far better for your joints than any supplement. Check availability with local farmers, 

and don’t let the squeamish look in the stockpot.

SPECIAL HOLIDAY Pricing For Essential Gluten-Free Recipes

available from  Life Science Publishing at: 

http://www.lifesciencepublishers.com/shopItemBanner.asp?tag=Holiday2

Resources:

 "Essential Gluten-Free Recipes" information page

 "Essential Gluten-Free Recipes" Holiday Special Ordering page

 "Essential Gluten-Free Recipes" at Amazon.com

"How To Make Chicken Broth" by Nourishing Your Family on YouTube

 Music "Pachelbel's Canon"by Mike Rayburn available on iTunes or through MikeRayburn.com

 Sarah Pope, The Healthy Home Economist - http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com

Virtual Town Hall Meeting Recording - Post Mythbusters Discussion - for those who went and those who will!

Hosted by: theHealthyHabitCoach 
Phone Number: (724) 444-7444
Call ID: 114784

You can listen to the recording at:

http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=114784&cmd=tc

Mythbusters- Post Conference Sharing from the recent Weston A. Price Foundation's 12th Annual Wise Traditions Convention.

Our panelists range from first time to veteran conference attendees and presenters.

This is an informal and account strickly by real folks who attended sessions and experienced first hand what it is like to be with 1400+ "Foodies" and "Advocates for Real Health"

We  share information, inspire and help support those who attended, and those who may attend future WAPF events.

Panel Guests:

Tara Rayburn, The Healthy Habit Coach

Seneca Rayburn, First time attendee and Student Mentor

Mary Vars, Ms. Mary's Cooking

Joette Calabrese, Homeopathy Works

Laura Waldo, First Time Attendee and fellow Mom-on-a-Mission

With Special Guest Stacey Hall, Creator/Author of the "Chi-To-Be! Movement. With special insights how to keep the amazing information learned and energy sparked alive and moving you and yours forward in health.

OPERATION TURKEY DAY - Las Vegas Style!

Several of us  have decided to ambush Vegas with some Turkey Day Guerilla Love, and you can help whether or not you live here.

We will be preparing and serving food for the homeless on Thanksgiving Day and passing meals out downtown between 10:30am and noon.

Last year, Cici Holt decided to do this on her own and fed 75 people by herself. Some of us in the Verve community and beyond have decided to collaborate and help her reach her goal of feeding 125+

Here are ways you can be a Turkey Day Guerilla Lover -- Vegas Style!

1) You can donate food to be cooked

2) You can cook and donate food to be handed out

3) You can be a part of the team handing meals out

4) You can pray for our endeavor

5) Or cook a little extra for your meal and bring it to us on Weds.

6) If you have a van or covered truck offer to help drive

Here's a List of Items Still Needed.
We are cooking for a goal of 125 people.

Items in Red Priority

1) We need 2 Turkeys donated and/or cooked
    (have 2 shooting for 2 more) 

2) Mashed Potatoes  (have one person Vyju, love 2 more)

3) Green Beans (have one person Nalini, love 2 more)

4) Pies (we have 15, thank you Anna)

5) Paper plates (we already have these)

6) Forks  (we need approximately 50 more)

7) Small bottles of Water (need about 70 more)

8) Napkins (need about 200)

9) Foil to cover dishes without lids

RSVP @ http://www.meetup.com/HealthyHabitsLasVegas/events/41843092

Choose one or more ways and let Cici Holt know @ cici.holt43@gmail.com 

We will be cooking at our own homes on Weds. Or you can contact one of us to cook together. Then on Thursday morning, we will meet at Verve on Dean Martin (see address above)

RSVP: Cici Holt - cici.holt43@gmail.com

Toasted Coconut Squash Pie

Recipe From "Essential Gluten-Free Recipes"

by Tara Rayburn & Mary Vars

Ingredients:

1 large butternut or 1 acorn and 1 kobucha squash

1-2 farm fresh eggs

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup coconut or rice milk or farm fresh milk

2 Tbsp of raw honey or maple syrup

1/4 tsp cinnamon or 1 drop of cinnamon bark essential oil

1/8 tsp nutmeg or 1 drop of nutmeg essential oil

1 drop or hint of clove essential oil

Dash of sea salt

1-2 Tbsp of shredded coconut

Use coconut or palm oil to grease pans

Directions:

• Cut squash in half and seed.

• Bake squash on greased glass pan or stainless steel sheet for 30-45 minutes until

soft.

• Then puree

• Combine all ingredients except shredded coconut. Mix and pour into greased

glass pie pan.

• Sprinkle shredded coconut on top. You can sprinkle some on the bottom before

pouring for a nice crust texture.

• Bake for 20-30 minutes at 350 degrees until slightly browned.

Tips & Tricks:

Although it is similar to pumpkin pie, it is far less sweet. Calling it pie and serving it with

the meal makes it a fun veggie side.

You can use recipe for quiche crust if you desire to have a piecrust.

Whip canned coconut cream with vanilla and maple syrup for sweeter dessert.

Essential Gluten-Free Recipes is Available at 

Amazon.com

Or Christmas Special at Life Science Publishing 1-800-336-6308

Find out how you can help with
OPERATION TURKEY DAY - Vegas Style!