My New Digs

Well, that about does it! The floor is swept, the movers have been here, I've gotten settled and we are ready for comany over at the NEW Real Food, People & Health! We can't wait for you to see what we have in store for you!

The New Real Food, People & Health Website
Confessions of a Changed Shawn (my personal blog)

I hope to see you there!

Love, Me

Our New Look

A decision has been made! We are revamping Real Food, People & Health and heading for a new home! We are working diligently on bringing you a better, more informative website in the very near future!
Stay tuned - we are going to really explore the heck out of being well!

Liver Flush - Final Day

Last evening's liver flush rituals were harder on my brain than they were on my body. I had no trouble downing my epsom salts with water mixture twice - once at 6 pm and then again at 8 pm. It was the 10 pm concoction I dreaded, yet vowed to remain positive and just get through it. This drink included 3/4 cup of olive oil, 3/4 cup of grapefruit juice and 3/4 cup of lemon juice. Shaken well, you are to drink it standing up, then lie down on your right side (knees up to your chest) for 20 minutes. This was the nice part - the olive oil drink....not so much.

In order to get through the drink (I am a huge suck and can talk myself out of anything I really don't want to do) I used visualization techniques that I've been learning over the past couple of years. I imagined something from my 'comfort zone.' In this case, the drink I had to gulp down looked alot like orange juice. I used to love a huge greasy breakfast complete with bacon, eggs, toast, hashbrowns and fruit. I know - typical crappy meal....sue me, I loved it.

So, when I stood there last night with this drink in my hand, this breakfast is what I imagined. I always drank orange juice - it went so well together! So, in my head I visualized that I had just eaten my favorite breakfast and was downing the last of my juice......and before I knew it, that horrid mess of olive oil, grapefruit juice and lemon was gone! I never felt a thing. Yes, I realize I am 38 years old and am still needing to find ways to trick myself. Hey - whatever got that crap down. It was virtually painless and I had a great old fashioned breakfast without the guilt (in my mind).

So, laying down was easy - and I soon fell asleep until this morning. I woke up and had to drink yet another mixture of epsom salts and water. Then another. I did that and waited for what 'they' told me would happen next. It never happened...or should I say, hasn't happened yet.

I can start incorporating fruit juices back into my diet now. The object is to eat lighter at first so your system isn't overloaded. I am without alot of energy, but mentally I feel great!

We have also discovered that people who have had their gallbladders removed should be taking bile salts for the rest of their lives. There is an interesting website on this: AlaskaWellness. If what they say on this website is true, that will mean very good things for me! I had never heard of or been told about bile salts - and I need them for the rest of my life?? It's been 19 years since I had it removed! This alrams me - yet doesn't shock me. Why would they tell me?

Once my gallbladder was removed (and no bile salts added to aide in digestion), my body would then have a hard time dealing with hormones, prescriptions, alcohol, fats, oils, and on and on. They would be stored longer (the liver was then working alone) and during that time reabsorption of any of these elements was possible - and inevitable. No wonder I was so sick! Hormone reabsorption would throw everything off kilter - I'm shocked that I wasn't an insane madwoman. prescriptions - well, hubby has had a theory for awhile that all of the prescribed medications that I had been taking to cure my skin issue had resulted in overload. I tend to believe him these days. He has never steered me wrong and I am well because of him.

I will be investing in CHOLACOL - the bile salt required for those of us who have had our gallbladders stripped from us.

Hubby and I were talking about my gallbladder last night (we're passionate that way) and I told him that I didn't ever recall having an option to have my gallbladder removed. It was just something that was going to happen. I recall being told it had to come out because it would just make more stones anyway.

I was young too, 19 years old - and everyone mentioned how young it was to have gallbladder issues. The concern was genuine - the outlook on the bigger picture was not. The doctor, the surgeon - neither of them said anything more than "Watch what you eat". Bad foods were my good foods. I ate them all, whenever I could. I was aware that weight gain was an issue, but I had the mentality of a food addict - I would eat it if I wanted to. The problem was, I always wanted to. So yes, I watched what I ate - I could see the neon signs of every fast food joint long before I hit the drive thru.

So, here I sit, years later - flushing my liver. It sounds like I'm old. I'm callin it smart. I'm not sure what interesting and unidentifiable things are going to emerge from my liver, but one thing is certain - there's 20 years of gunk in there. I'm taking responsibility for myself and doing things that work - naturally.

The liver flush ends today - and today is supposed to be filled with interesting trips to the throne-room (yes, we have a throne in our kingdom.....don't you?). I'll keep you posted!

Liver Flush - Day 4

The first three days of a liver flush (at least the one I'm doing) is to drink a quart of fresh juiced apples daily. I have now successfully accomplished this task. It wasn't difficult, but I am used to drinking fresh fruit and vegetable juices now. A breeze, I tell ya!

Today is one day I am trying to keep out of my mind for now. At 2 pm today, I stop eating food and will be mixing a concoction of epsom salts and water to chill in the fridge. At 6 pm, I will be drinking 1/4 of this jar. Yummy! I will repeat this step at 8 pm.

At 9:45, I will be consuming a mixture of 3/4 cup olive oil, 3/4 cup lemon juice and 3/4 cup grapefruit juice. Can't wait - sounds delicious! I then get to lie on my right side for 2 hours (movie night!). By that time I'm hoping to have passed out and allowed my body to take ther reins - we'll have healing going on!

Tomorrow (Friday) I wake up and repeat two doses of epsom salts. Then things are really supposed to get moving, if you know what I mean! Seriously - this is exciting! If positive results can be found by doing a liver flush - why wouldn't we? The only real downfall is knowing you have to drink some nasty stuff - but once that's done - it's done, and I have heard it's really not so bad.

I'm looking forward to seeing how it all comes out in the end. :)

A Letter to My Liver

Dear Liver,

Good Morning! How are you feeling today? I'm hopeful that you have been sent the memo regarding your 'flush' that starts today. You see, I have realized some things and they are not good. I have abused you, dear liver - and I feel horrible about it.

You remember at 19 years old - that incident at Chi Chi's restaurant where your buddy the gallbladder couldn't take anymore? He felt like he would explode after we enjoyed all of those tortilla chips and complimentary salsa. I have never seen such bile! Poor guy. You did so well, liver, suffering through Margarita after wonderful Margarita. You're a trooper!

The next year was hard - no one believed the gallbladder wasn't ill and they had to remove him from the scene. I had no idea that he could have been saved or I would have tried! No one ever told me there were other ways to deal with his issues. I took the easiest way for me and never thought about it much. I was selfish and wanted the annoyance removed.....and that's what I chose. I'm not proud, and if I could go back and talk to our gallbladder, I would humbly apologize for having removed a vital part of what I need to be who I am. Our lives are not the same without him.

I would also like to apologize to you, liver - for every horrible things I made/make you do. It's not your job to put up with all of that! You simply were not trained for that. The years of imbibing alcohol at alarming rates for....well....I'm not quite sure what all of that was meant to prove.....but I'm sorry.

The animal protien, dairy and sugars I consumed and forced you to bathe in while I enjoyed the addicting tastes and you enjoyed....well....nothing, I guess. You filter crap. You were busy at work and didn't have the chance to get the pleasure I did from what they call 'food.' The countless prescriptions I ingested without thinking because some guy or gal in a white lab coat told me it would help us. None of them did - and you had to filter through all of that to try to keep me well.

I could see you getting weary - I could feel it. I ached when you ached and I worried for you. I worried for us. Those few months when you stopped caring were so sad for me. I didn't realize what was happening, but you and the others were abandoning me. You saw I wasn't holding up my end of the deal, so why should you? It took me awhile to figure it out (and even then, I needed help to get it!) but once I did, I vowed to you that I would never let us get to that point again. We would never needlessly suffer when it came to being healthy.

In the war on wellness - it's us or them.....and I've got my money on us. Get ready, liver - I have big plans for us this week! I have prepared a flush for you!! I know, I'm excited too! We are going to feel better then ever - and get back on track! We're going to BE better than ever!

It is going to be a long week of apples, epsom salts, olive oil and grapefruit - but I'm willing to do anything to make amends for the things I've done. I hope this will help to establish a new, healthier relationship between us. I've missed working with you and I know the reason we haven't done so is because of me. I am so sorry to have put you through all of this and I hope one day we can be friends again.

Love,
Me

V-5: Staying Alive Vegetable Juice Cocktail

From the book: Raw Energy by Stephanie Toules

Drink this daily for two weeks and I guarantee that your youthful vitality will spring forth once again. Your cells utilize the health benefits of this yummy "salad in a glass" almost immediately. If you consume an acid-producing diet (as most of us do!), heavy in meat, coffee, soda and refined carbohydrates, then this is the drink for you! It will help you alkalize and normalize the body's chemistry.

You will need:

4 stalks of Celery
1/2 medium Bell Pepper (any color), seeded and stem removed
6 medium carrots
2 medium tomatoes
1 medium cucumber

Steps:

Juice the carrots, peppers, tomatoes and cucumber together.
Stir well before serving. Pour into glasses and enjoy.

Yield: 2 or 3 generous servings

A good source of: balanced vitamins and minerals (especially Vitamin C), beta-carotene, folic acid, potassium, magnesium, calcium, silicon and sodium.

Italian Dressing Recipe

This dressing is great to create the night before, toss into the fridge in a glass jar and let it combine all those wonderful flavors! I'm thinkin' it will become a favorite in YOUR household too!

Ingredients:

4 cloves of garlic (minced)
1 1/2 teaspoons of Oregano
6 ounces of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
1 1/4 teaspoons Basil (fresh is best, but use what you can)
1 1/4 teaspoons Onion Powder
2 1/2 teaspoons of unpasteurized Honey
1 1/4 teaspoons sea salt (not iodized salt)
The juice of 1 lemon

Mix all ingredients - shake well.
Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks! Savor the flavor!

Ceasar Salad Dressing

This dressing doesn't contain ALL raw ingredients, but it is a great start for those who want to eat better! Simple and easy to make - your tastebuds will thank you!

Ceasar Salad Dressing

Ingredients:
9 ounces Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese (this is the naughty part, ladies!)
2 pressed garlic cloves (we use 4 - we LOVE garlic!)
1 teaspoon unpasteurized honey
1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard (tsk, tsk!)
1/4 teaspon pepper
1/4 teaspoon Sea Salt (ensure it is not procssed or iodized)
2 ounces Apple Cider Vinegar

Mix all liquids first
Add combined dry ingredients

Shake with vigor!! Smile - you're doing excellent things for yourself!
Store your dressing in a glass jar int he fridge - it will keep for about 2 weeks (if you don't eat it by then!)

Take a Chance on Yourself

Hubby has some new information that really put things into perspective for me. Yes, we learn incrementally - but we're learning! We tend to waver on the meat issue - it used to taste good. USED TO. Now, it seems we are just uninterested in meat. We know what it is about and why we don't need it in our diet. Actually, we know now why it can kill you.

OK - let's look at it this way. You have vegetables on one hand and meat on the other. If you eat the vegetables, you are eating what is called a "whole food." This means that the enzymes your body requires (not just wants or dreams of) but REQUIRES to break itself down - is contained within that vegetable. You NEED this vegetable and its enzymes to live well.

Yep - everything that vegetable needs to go from veggie to nutrition is all inside! All you have to do is get it into your mouth - now how hard can that really be? It breaks itself down and processes itself! We are a factory for health!

OK - now let's look at the meat. The meat has no living enzymes - so when we eat it, we have to use enzymes we already have stored up (because we didn't eat that vegetable!). So, while your enzymes are off breaking down that meat and making you tired (especially after a large meat meal) - there is something else going on....and what happens when you no longer have any enzymes stored up? Where do they come from then?

When we aquire disease, it means the body is lacking something. In this case, it is lacking enzymes needed to break down food. Now, cancer cells have a protien coating that is tough to break down (as I understand it from hubby's excited rants last evening). Enzymes can break this protien coating down, allowing your immune system to get rid of cancer over time!! Wait - but they're off fighting to break down that rack of ribs you devoured earlier and they are still working on that burger you had for lunch. This isn't a good thing.

There are alot of meat myths out there - and they are scary! We remember trying to ensure our daughter ate her meat at dinner - we were told it was good for her. We were lied to. Every online search we do (there are some great youtube videos out there!) has said the same thing and that is what gets us. THEY ARE ALL SAYING THE SAME THING. Meat is detrimental to human health - and it tastes delicious because it is meant to! We are food addicts in this country, and we don't even realize it. It doesn't matter how thin or obese you are - we are food addicts if we eat processed, packaged, homogenized, hydrolized or autolyzed foods. This wasn't accidental.

I was once told, "When you want to make a change - be with those that are the change you want to be." Made sense - not that I did that. Instead, we hunkered down and dove into the internet, books and eliminated television from our lives. It does no good, really. Ask yourself the next time you sit down to stare at your boob tube - what does it really mean that I am watching programming. I know - sounds conspiracy theory-ish. Too bad. It's true. When I was a TV viewer, I could waste hours at a time! I got nothing out of it - except that I could sit in a group and explain how funny some show was.....and it was. They even tell you at what point to laugh (thank you, canned laughter!). Yet it all kept me distracted from real life - MINE. I was your typical, average, junk food eating sheeple.

I never actually thought I would be where I am these days - neither of us did. I never thought I'd be anything than I was - and I have far surpassed that already. There is no ceiling! It has been an incredible journey of discovery and realizations. Our society is definitely in deep crap.

So, if you make any resolutions this year, get rid of your television. Try it for a week. If you can't find anything better to do in that time then you're not trying hard enough, then go back to it and enjoy your reality TV. They are out living life while you watch - fun for you! You just have to believe it to be so, and it will be.

I applied the same ideas - and when it started working - THAT was when I couldn't believe it! After two years of this exploration and knowledge gathering (as well as 132 pounds of weight lost), I'd say seeing is believing!

Take a chance on yourself - it will be worth it!

Love,
Me

Wrapping up 2010!

PHEW!!

That holiday season flew by! Well, it's all over but the recycling in our house. New Year's Eve is the last stop on our wrapping up 2010 and then we'll be venturing headlong into 2011! We are excited to be accomplishing alot of necessary tasks - one of which will be detoxing ourselves of the nibblies we consumed during Christmas! Yes, we did partake - but not surprisingly, we managed to eat less crap than we have in the past years. We feel great!

Instead of a dinner plate consisting of ONLY a giant turkey breast, mountain of mashed potatoes and a swimming pool of gravy floating the entire mess, I opted for a greener plate! I had a small serving of turkey (breakin' up is hard to do!), a couple of tablespoons of potatoes (with a little gravy) and half my plate was salad and vegetables. I was proud! I did drink two glasses of juice though - and regardless of what the label SAYS, I know it's crap. We'll explain why (and the formula for this discovery) in a later post!

So with the holidays fading, I still feel AWESOME. Hubby says we are far healthier going into Christmas than ever before - and we didn't go completely food bananas. We also know that it can't continue - I already feel a dull ache in my kidneys thanks to the Raspberry 7-Up I thought would be 'festive.' My brain knows how festive poison can be - yet my body said have one! I had one....and it was my last.

Overall, it was an inspiring holiday! We visited with the people in our lives and had a blast!

When we had a day to ourselves, we crashed and watched an amazing video called "Processed People." It really makes you think! Released in 2008 and full of amazing information that we all need to be well! It really enlightens a person and makes them responsible for the choices they make when it comes to 'food.'

Click the following link to watch:

PROCESSED PEOPLE: MOVIE TRAILER

This video is truly phenominal - an eye opener - an epiphany. It may just be yours......