Building a Foundation of Health

Posted on January 15, 2012 | 2 Comments

I have fasted.

I have cleansed.

I have raw fooded.

I have spent time at Hippocrates.

I loved doing all of those things.

I got A LOT out of all of those things.

But I always wound up right back where I started.

Not that I didn’t gain knowledge, I did. Not that I didn’t grow, I did.

But I still never moved forward like I hoped.

And today I realized why.

I had never built a solid foundation of health.

I never started with one so therefore I could not wind up back there, standing on solid ground.

Building a strong foundation of health has become my goal and it is how I want to help you, too.

If you are standing on strong ground, you can really fly.

I want to fly.

And I want you to fly, too!

The 50/50 Diet Plan is an amazing way to build your very strong foundation of health.

So please join me this year as I help you to build this foundation.

It takes commitment.

It takes planning.

It takes patience.

So it is not for everyone but I promise you it will all be worth it.

We are going to be making the commitment to build this foundation. Then we are going to plan. Then we are going to put systems into place to allow us to succeed…every. single. day.

If you are ready to join in, stay tuned for what is coming up.

I’ve got lots of fun, inspiring, and life-changing stuff on the way.

It’s gonna rock.

I can’t wait to share it with you!

Yay!

Love,

Adrienne

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To Nurse or Not to Nurse….

Posted on January 8, 2012 | 10 Comments

My cute little Baby G is just about 14 months now.

This is her and I about 6-7 months ago.

We are still nursing.

About 6-8 times a day.

Yes, she is eating food but she is really more of a grazer.

My biggest conundrum with this is that she wakes 1-2 times every night and I nurse her back to sleep (this usually takes about 5-10 minutes, no drama, no baby wanting to play, she always goes right back to sleep).

This all means one very important thing…I have not slept through the night in over a year.

This makes a mama cranky. And a little crazy. And feeling like she has a constant hangover. Which often leads to hangover-like eating. Think: carbs, fat, salt, and sugar.

Ugh.

I am considering stopping nursing so I can ideally facilitate some hardcore sleeping.

I keep thinking of that Bon Jovi song, ‘I’ll sleep when I’m dead.’ But all I can think about is how if I don’t sleep, I WILL be dead and then what’s the point. :)

Oh, and I’d love to have 800 margaritas. Okay, maybe just 5.

But I am a big advocate of long-term nursing (however long works for you) and nursed my first daughter, now 7, for 2 years. I know it has a big impact on their health. I know it is great for soothing with teething and when they are cranky.

I really do love doing it.

But I am thinking of stopping.

But then I think, no. This will not be forever and to keep at it for another few months when I intuitively feel she will stop. I really do feel she will stop at around 18 or so months.

Also, I don’t feel great about the bevvies of choice for her to have instead of nursing. All that milk every day? Not a fan. I’ve tried to give her raw cow’s milk and she is not super keen on it. So we’d rotate some boxed milks, rice, coconut, almond, soy/rice blend, keep trying the raw milk, make some of our own ‘milks,’ etc. Truthfully, I’d rather wait on all that.

And would it be any guarantee that she doesn’t wake?

Who knows.

I know we could try all kinds of things, cry-it-out, dad goes in, gradually decreasing nursing and then going in for just a few minutes, etc. etc.

Part of me knows (and truly feels) it won’t be much longer and that I am so happy that it makes her so happy.

The other part of me just wants to sleep.

And have a margarita…or 5.

Any Mamas want to share their experiences?

Not looking for answers, just shared experiences.

Thanks!

Love,

Adrienne

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Musings from a Yogi

Posted on January 6, 2012 | Leave a comment

LOL.

I am so not a Yogi.

Or even aspire to be one.

But I have come to love yoga, especially the hot, sweaty kind.

I signed up at my yoga studio for the 31 in 31 challenge for January.

31 classes in 31 days (all of January).

Six days done and only 25 to go! (the math on that is right, right?)

Yoga and yoga classes, have become to me, like one giant A-HA moment.

They come fast and furious (that doesn’t sound right…). The A-HA moments, I mean, of course. :)

I’m like freaking Oprah, yelling ‘A-HA’ every few minutes.

In my head at least, I don’t think the people in class would appreciate my Oprah-esque outbursts.

Taylor Wells, one of the founders of Prana Power Yoga where I go, says that your yoga mat is like a mirror.

I find the whole thing is like a mirror! The class, the workout, the spirituality aspect, the mat, the sweating, everything. I am continually looking at myself and into myself each class. It is not always pretty, but I am learning a lot about my tendencies, my nutbagginess, and how to be at peace with (at least) some of it. As well as how to be at peace with others and what others do and do not do.

So, for example, today’s A-HA moment was this:

I get so completely distracted by what others are doing. And as a result I become off balance. Happened today in class, I fell over as I was looking at someone else’s much better half-moon. This happens in my everyday life as well. Busying myself up with what others are doing, is distracting and puts me off balance in many ways.

And IRONICALLY, as I am writing this, I have forgotten some other really good a-ha moments because I have being looking on the web, and texting, and tweeting, while I am writing.

Hmmmm…..

A-HA!

Any experiences in yoga you would like to share?

Do below!

Thanks!

Love,

Adrienne

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Goals (not resolutions) for 2012

Posted on January 3, 2012 | 2 Comments

Resolutions seem like a good idea, don’t they?

Resolve to do better, be better, get more shit done.

Well that all sounds good in theory but we all know how it winds up going. You make these grandiose plans (lose weight! be nicer! stop swearing! ;) call mother more! ;) get eating under control! and the list goes on and on) and while you may be successful for a few days, next thing you know, you are back to doing what you have done before and now you feel worse and like a failure.

Good times!

Resolutions also make me think of a time when I had a ‘You Are Fat’ folder (it was actually called that) when I was in my late teens. It was SUPPOSED to motivate me to lose weight but all it did was make me feel bad. Filled with pictures of skinny models that I could never, ever be like. As well as a picture of Rob Lowe (it was the late 80′s) with a bubble over his head that said ‘Adrienne, you are fat. No one likes fat chicks, especially guys like me.’

Lovely.

It seems resolutions focus on the negative (like my folder did) and don’t really help you. At least they never helped me. I was programmed to focus on getting rid of the perceived ‘bad’ things about myself (sending a message to myself that I was not okay just as I was, NOT at ALL okay) instead of focusing on the positive and reaching for goals.

GOALS on the other hand, now that is something I can get behind. Goals with action plans. Me likey. Goals feel better especially now that I know it is not about huge, unattainable goals. It is about focusing on the positive, moving forward and meeting yourself where you are at.

Here are some of my goals for the next year, in the context of building a lifelong foundation of health, based on my 4 Cornerstones of Health in The 50/50 Diet Plan.

1. More Fruits and Veggies. It is my goal that my diet is approximately 50% fruits and veggies. I am committed to do that and in the next few weeks will be putting an action plan together in order to do so.

2. Exercise. I committed to do the 31 in 31 at my yoga studio this month. It’s 31 yoga classes in 31 days. 28 to go!! I wanted to challenge myself this year and this is one of the ways I am beginning to do so. The other way (as far as exercise goes) is to complete a mini triathlon in June on Cape Cod. I am really looking forward to doing that.

3. Appreciation and Gratitude. This is something I highly recommend to all and something I want to become second nature. I do feel very appreciative and grateful for so many things but I tend to also let little things get me down. I can also get a bit self-absorbed. :) By committing to being more appreciative and grateful and putting practices in place to do so, I will be able to keep my mood more even and be more expansive in my life.

4. Meditation Any time I have had a meditation routine it has really ensured that the day just goes smoother. So it is my goal to get back to a daily meditation routine. I know it will help me be more present, more mindful, more grateful, more peaceful. Not in a perfect way, but in a real, true way. Meditation is a key player in creating this state of being.

I have other goals too! To be able to do a kick ass wheel pose, take my business to the next level, get into great financial shape. All of my goals have action plans to go with them and I will be putting them into place over the next few months. No rush, as these are plans for life. But none and I mean NONE speak to the fact that I stink or I am not perfect just as I am (like how that fat folder made me feel). Yes, I want to improve myself and some things in my life but not because I am unhappy with who I am. I feel very committed to putting systems in place to help myself and my family succeed in all of the above goals. So stay tuned to see how it all goes!

Do you have any goals for the New Year?

Tell us what you are excited about and your action plans to get going on what you want!

Happy New Year!!

Love,

Adrienne

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The Four Cornerstones of Health

Posted on December 29, 2011 | 1 Comment

My book, The 50/50 Diet Plan, is all about helping you develop a strong foundation of health that you can have for the rest of your life.

This foundation is built on the 4 Cornerstones of Health.

And they are…

1. Fruits and veggies. Eating lots fruits and veggies is probably one of the best things you can do for your body. Vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants all help our bodies work optimally. The 50/50 Diet Plan shows you how you can easily add fruits and veggies into your diet in a non-dogmatic, non-dramatic way. I do promote that 50% of those fruits and veggies should be consumed raw but just increasing ANY amount you eat (raw or cooked) is huge.

2. Exercise. Ya gotta do it. We must move our bodies every day. But it does not have to be time consuming or boring. Find what you enjoy doing, and do that. There is no perfect exercise. The perfect one is the perfect one for YOU.


3. Appreciation and Gratitude. I believe without this very important piece of our health foundation, we cannot be 100% abundantly healthy. The art and momentum of living in appreciation and gratitude is easily created with a daily practice taking only minutes.

4. Meditation and Mind-relaxation techniques. Quieting the mind has massive health implications. Spending even just a few minutes a day breathing and focusing on nothing but breath allows for peace to filter into every aspect of your life.

Most diet programs are missing Cornerstones #3 and #4. They focus only on what you are eating. But we are not just what we eat. We are emotional, spiritual beings. And that part of us needs to be nurtured and addressed too. For overall long-term health, all of these Cornerstones need equal emphasis. And what is great is that Cornerstones #2, 3, and 4 are FREE. Hey now.

And finally, I believe that the Four Cornerstones of Health are best wrapped up in a big bow of passion. Passion for your life, your health, the things you love.

I am so looking forward to helping you in the New Year achieve this strong foundation of health!

Love,

Adrienne

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Tired Mama Baby Food Face Mask

Posted on December 26, 2011 | Leave a comment

Self-care is not always easy to come by when you are a mama.

I know I have let a lot of things fall by the wayside. And sometimes I am just too tired to even do simple things like wash my face!!

My youngest is now 13 months so things are beginning to come together and I am feeling more like myself (whoever that is LOL).

But I am always looking for short cuts and easy ways to take care of myself.

The other day the baby had avocado and banana mash and did not eat all of it.

I hate to see that go to waste but it turns brown very fast so I am often tossing it in the trash.

Boooooooo!

But I realized that I CAN use this mushy, goopy stuff.

It makes a perfect face mask!!

Here is what I did:

In a bowl I mixed…

Leftover avocado and banana mash

1 scoop of MSM powder

1/4 spoonful of coconut oil

Then I smeared it on my face!

Kinda like this:

Pretty, huh??

I left it on for 15 minutes or so and then I wiped the majority of it off gently with washcloth. Then I rinsed the rest off with water.

Your skin will now be smooth and glamorous, so give it a try.

I know I DID feel a little more snazzy and my skin was super soft afterward.

The combination of things you can add to your face mask is limitless.

I have some leftover yogurt and blueberries that I am going to try today. Any fruit combo will do. And you can add things like oats/oatmeal, honey, sugar, cucumber, and any good quality oils you have around.

Have fun with it.

Don’t over think it ~ you’ve got enough on your plate (and now face!!).

And what is even MORE fabulous about this is that it’s made with stuff you have around the house so you are not spending any extra $$ AND you are using natural products and not exposing yourself to any of the nasty chemicals that are found in so many skin care products.

If you make any of your own combos, be sure to let us know!

Love,

Adrienne

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What I Learned in Yoga Class Today

Posted on December 11, 2011 | 3 Comments

I go to the hot, sweaty flow yoga.

I like it.

A lot.

It’s challenging (I’m still quite the beginner but can see that this type will remain challenging and fun for a long time). I sweat and sweat and then sweat some more. I love doing that knowing I am sweating some crapola out of my system.

Where I go, it is pretty much always the same ‘flow’ although some teachers do mix it up a bit here and there. Quite honestly, if I did not have this great yoga place to go to, I would be at a Bikram class. It is hot and sweaty too and they do the same 26 poses, in order, every single time. I am a gal who likes to know what is coming next so this yoga speaks to me. But I love the yoga studio I go to and the fairly predictable ‘flow.’

Today I went to class and within the first few minutes the teacher asked us to set an intention for our practice. My intention came to me quickly: become more flexible in the MIND as well as body.

Fair enough, right?

An easy (ish) request, right?

Um, no.

This class was different than the usual flow class. It was all mixed up and very challenging (for me at least, remember I am still a beginner). My brow was all furrowed and I kept thinking, where is my flow? Where are all the poses I know and can rely on coming next? Why am I not sweating my arse off?

I got very, very, VERY cranky.

I considered leaving.

I considered yelling out ‘WHAT THE F?????’

I may have quite possibly growled.

But I stuck with it and decided to get the most out of the class.

This was challenging for me to say the least. I had to fight with my mind because I was all unhappy and irritated.

Then about half way through the hour and a half class, I almost laughed out loud.

OH!!!!!!!!

I asked to become more flexible in the MIND and body today.

Well, this is what the universe sent me!

LO-FN-L, Universe.

Oh, yeah. Flexibility is not just all-of-a-sudden going to be my strong point (and boy, it is not my strong point at all!). It is going to come by being flexible at times like this!

I stuck with class and while it was not my favorite class of all time by any means, it was there to help me learn something quite valuable about myself.

So that is what I learned in yoga class today:

That I am certainly NOT flexible in the mind or the body.

Flexibility is not just gonna show up in a purty wrapped boxed all ready to be taken in.

It is fine to get cranky and irritable when things don’t go your way or go as expected but there is no need to let those things ruin any experience or be all-encompassing.

Flexibility (body and mind) for me is gonna take-a some time!!

If I went to the same ole class every single time I would not be challenged mentally or physically and would not grow and I am in this journey to grow and learn, like it or not.

:)

Have you learned anything in yoga class or any place in your life today?

Tell us in the comments below.

Thanks!

Adrienne

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12 Days of Love Letter Writing!

Posted on December 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

I have just signed up for this:

More Love Letters

I found out about this great site and amazing idea here:

More Love Letters

Check it out and join in yourself or just write a love letter anytime and leave it anywhere.

Perfect for the holiday season and beyond.

Love,

Adrienne

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Why so serious? (talkin’ God and spirituality here)

Posted on November 30, 2011 | 2 Comments

I was in yoga class the other morning and I had the most interesting thought (well, it was interesting to me :) ).

It was the end of class and we were in a ‘legs in the air pose.’ I have no idea what it is technically called but its name is not important to this post.

Over the past few weeks of being back to yoga, when we are in a pose like this, I have the urge to move my feet, souls pointing to the ceiling, back and forth a few inches. It feels so great! It almost feels like there is some invisible force lightly touching them with a big ball of cotton or something soft and I want to keep rubbing the bottom of my feet on them!!

So silly, right?

Then yesterday when we went into this pose and the teacher had us stay there for a bit and I was doing my little foot dance, an image came to my mind. The image was almost like one of those smiling chubby Buddahs was tickling my feet with something.

A big smile came over my face. It just seemed so cute and so silly.

And then this thought…

Maybe God, our higher selves, the universe, whatever it is for you, wants us to be ridiculously happy, wants us to laugh more, and not take everything, including spirituality and religion, so gosh darn seriously.

I have been wanting to be more spiritual over the past few years but I am not sure how to get there, what it looks like, what it ‘should’ be. I often think it should be a serious thing or it should include a serious practice (of something).

What if spirituality or religion (and life overall) is fun? Light? Even silly at times?

What if the lesson is about just being happy?

And big, smiley, giggly happy?

I certainly don’t have any answers or think I know anything about anything.

I found this to be such an interesting and poignant revelation that came to me. It felt like something I needed to know/experience/feel.

And I wanted to share.

:)

Thanks for reading!

If you have any thoughts on the subject, I’d love you to share in the comments below.

Love,

Adrienne

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Coconut Flour Pancakes

Posted on November 19, 2011 | Leave a comment

I recently bought a bag of coconut flour.

I have been dying to use it. I love the idea of using a flour that is not just another grain (like wheat, rice, spelt, etc). And I love coconuts!

My first attempt at using coconut flour was a terrible baking experiment.

I learned that coconut flour is VERY dense and lots of eggs are needed to offset that density.

I found a coconut flour pancake recipe here and gave it a try!

They turned out okay.

Just okay.

And they were very ‘eggy’ tasting.

This didn’t bother me or Baby G (she is one) too much but my seven year old daughter did not like them (too eggy) and my husband did not either.

I am saving the rest of the batter for me and the baby for the next day or two.

I read that coconut flour is great when you use it along with other flours in a recipe but I am hoping to master a 100% coconut flour recipe.

I have a cupcake recipe using it so I will try those next.

I will keep you posted!

Have you tried coconut flour in baking yet?

Do tell!

Thanks!

Love,

Adrienne

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