Firstly Someone from LWL mis-heard me, I think, about my husband’s cancer…I said that we battled his cancer through the concepts in Healthy Living From the Inside Out. We took a holistic approach and absolutely did not fall prey to any doctor’s terminal diagnosis. Zeem (my hubby) is in remission for four years now and he is happy and super healthy. Sorry if I poorly communicated that FACT.

When someone does the thirty day program from the book, especially an obsessive personality, this book is designed for you because I am (or rather I can say was) an obsessive and addictive person. I had to figure out how to do things so that I wouldn’t trigger that obsessive quality in myself. The key is going slow not making big statements of, “I am changing everything I eat, do, feel and say in my life.” Instead “I am changing my breakfast and taking a twenty minute walk today” etc… Start there…start small a place where you are not throwing your life into upheaval. The very nature of the book is to get away from the all or nothing approach to life. Another Key is anything you do well or badly (what you think is bad) don’t make it wrong. Just see it and say “I ate crap for a snack, so be it. I did it and that is that”. Label it and see what it is you are doing and be done with it, and make no judgment one way or another. Don’t make it a bad thing otherwise it will always come up in your mind and create a road block to making good choices. And if you have lost track of your good health use the same principal…see it as done and move on, make a different choice for that moment. Our loved ones put pressure on us to stay the same because our human animal nature doesn’t really like change. So if you are taking care of yourself and it creates tension in the home don’t take it personally, they will love you and benefit from your staying on course, everyone wins from you being good to yourself.

Someone asked me if there is someone I emulate and I wouldn’t say I emulate anyone in particular. I think it is important to be open to many ideas and incorporate a variety of spiritual and health ideas into your life. Those ideas and paths come from so many we come across in our lives. The important thing to remember is that we need to follow our intuition, we need to learn to rely on it as healing tool that is just for us. We have gotten away from who is the best guide in the world for us and that is YOU and our personal connection with God or The Divine (something that is “bigger than me”). I have a spiritual guide and others in my life that I admire and absorb information from. I am so grateful for their help, but when it comes right down to it, I am the only one that really knows what serves me best. When your life begins to really feel good is when you embody the person you are and realize your powerful connection with the Spirit inside (and that Spirit has all the answers for you) you begin to live your best life possible.

I am not a psychiatrist or doctor but I know that, for me personally, taking care of my life through the principles in the book: food home exercise and silence, I have enhanced my mental well being. I have all the genetic coding that would, if I were not so driven towards health, lead me to a life of depression or worse. I know that lifestyle plays a KEY role in dealing with our sense of happiness and well being. That is not to say that serious mental problems should not be addressed with pharmaceuticals but one needs to address our habits as well. In regard to worrying about whether or not you should tell your kids about the mental health of your family? I am a believer that knowledge is power. I have always told my girls everything. I want them to know that they need to look at their lives differently because of my genetics and family history of suicide addiction and depression as well as cancer and heart disease. It has meant that I have warned them that drugs and alcohol will likely have an enormously detrimental effect in their lives as a catalyst for mental depression or even suicide as was the case for many members of my family. My being honest with my girls has been instrumental in them being uninterested in drugs and alcohol. Depression is so prevalent in most families and the fact is we need to be open and talk about it because the only way we can prevent it is by communicating with others about this important reality.

Bravo to the woman who beat breast cancer with HEALTHY CHOICES…I commend you!

Sugar is an addiction and the reason is it is, it reacts in the system just like a drug. It raises insulin and causes you to want more sugar. Just like with alcohol it raises seratonin in the brain so for a short time so we feel good then we are dropped like a bad habit and we feel like crap. It is simple; sugar is the first thing that cells eat and it is also the first thing that gets stored as fat. It sends the wrong message to the brain that you want it and screws up the hormone leptin’s signaling to the body about metabolism and satiation. It just is a deceptive way to make us feel like a victim to our food. If you can limit sugar and treats to once or twice weekly then you will overcome your addictive nature. I believe it is a place where one needs to find discipline to stay away from sugar on a daily basis and make sugar a treat. That is when you have learned moderation and then you begin to feel great about yourself!

If you suffer from an eating disorder and you are scared to give it up because you think you will gain weight. I understand this completely. Eight years ago I had to begin eating fat and protein on a regular basis and I was freaked out because it sent my body into a healing crisis and I gained weight. Not a lot, in fact to my friends I didn’t look different but to me it was horrific. I thought I looked obese and I was terrified and I mean terrified that I would lose control of my body altogether. Here is the real issue… the whole thing was about control. The fact is that I had to learn to give up control. I needed in that time to know that my body is intelligent and that when you make what is going on wrong the healing is slow and full of suffering. But if you see what is happening label it (and don’t make it wrong) then your body finds it’s healthy ground again, hence your body will find it’s perfect weight naturally. You have to trust that your body is doing the right thing for you and that giving up the old habit is crucial for your health. If I had known that all I had to do wasto accept my body’s intelligence and let it heal then my suffering would have been a quarter of the time. The more I made myself wrong and hideous in my mind the worse my weight and body was for me. When I learned about acceptance, labeling what was happening and how I felt, without any judgment, just feeling then I was fine. My body since has never been anything but just right for me.

If you’re struggling with ten pounds and do all the right things here are some things to check into: are you eating too much dairy? Dairy for women is almost always fat gaining. Are you eating too many high carbohydrate nuts such as cashews? Are your nuts raw? Oil roasted nuts are bad for you and cause fat. Are you eating too much protein? Too much is bad, moderate is great! Are you really eating no sugar? Sugary processed carbs or even whole grains are fattening. Do you eat any gluten products? Gluten causes weight gain and body aches, frankly it is bad for you on every level so check out the labels. Finally are your hormone levels good?

Speaking of hormones…I have mentioned bio-identical hormones and I believe in them but I do believe that your practitioner must be good. I do not think that what I do is the same as Suzanne Somers it’s my understanding that she does one protocal for her age group and I think I follow a different system. I think finding a good bio-identical endocrinologist is a good idea. I am not sure that is an easy task but I do believe there are naturopaths and endocrinologists that are very good with bio-identical natural hormones so check it out.

My solution for TMJ is Sacral occipital therapy SOT which is a form of chiropractic that address the jaw and the sacrum and it has been life changing for my jaw and back problems. Personally this works best for me it is not the hippest form of chiropractic treatment but it makes the most sense for me. It basically teaches your body how to adjust itself, therefore empowering you to heal yourself over time! I am always first to be the concert master in my own health so I love it!

If you love my dogs they are Maltese and I love them too. They come from different breeders.

You can buy MBT’s through Bliss spa or MBT.com

A green Halloween is genius!!! How did you do it?

My Blissquits recipe will be on line as soon as the cookies are on the grocery shelf and they are coming soon.

It is cold season and a great way to prevent colds is with a nedi pot. You pour a saline solution into your nostril and it flows out the other and it clears the nasal passages of germs. It has saved me many a cold.

I didn’t vaccinate my girls and it is important to have a holistic doctor back your decision as this can cause a lot of controversy for many parents and in schools. You need to feel supported but I am sure there are others whom too don’t feel vaccination is good for there kids so look to your community for support.

I smoked socially a bit and then I realized it gave me get a headache. It is so bad for you and the issues to look at are…. what is the smoke screen that you are putting up? What do you want to avoid? Those are the questions I addressed and when I realized what it was I was trying to hide, the desire just dropped away.

Green sauce:

Basil

Spinach
yellow mustard

Kalamata olives and the juice

Olive oil

One Sweet leaf stevia packet.

I have no recall as to exactly how much of each but I will say a lot of spinach and basil a 1/4 to 1/3 a cup of olive oil, ten olives and a splash of the juice, then squirt a lot of french’s yellow mustard in it and the Stevia packet and taste after thoroughly blended.

LAST BUT ABSOLUTELY not least…a young girl named Mariel wrote to me and I am thrilled because you are the first Mariel I have known that spells it our way. I am honored to share the name with you!!

* SUGAR is an addiction. It is like any other addiction whether it be alcohol or cigarettes or caffeine etc…. It is a drug and affects your body and mind every time you ingest it. I am not preaching that everyone should give up sugar altogether, but if you are an addictive person and you know if you are, then looking at your sugar intake is critical because if it is a problem for you, then cutting it out of your life may be the difference between obsession and freedom. Freedom from addiction comes when you can break the habit that the addiction has become and the only way I know how to break it is by abstaining for at least several months. I personally don’t eat sugar at all and I truly believe that I am free of my addictive traits, but I also know that I don’t ever feed the addiction. And frankly, it has been so long since I experienced sugar I have no interest in it any longer. I just don’t have the temptation lurking in my brain anymore so why tempt it? That is because I know my habitual tendencies so why go there if you can have freedom from those obsessive thoughts? I don’t drink alcohol either, but that is also a sugar addiction. That is why so many in recovery eat sugar or drink caffeine. One Addiction to another… we like to alter the state of our consciousness. Humans will find many ways to try to feel different and to get away from their pain. My tactic is to look at my pain, feel it and let it go. I know after years of practice that facing pain is never as bad when you actually do it, then when you think about doing it. Stuffing any feelings away causes them to slap you in that face harder sometime in the future, usually when it is least convenient.

* Every month I am asked about BLISSQUITS and I swear to you that when I finally get them into the market place I can then share the recipe…so sorry.

* I love Himalayan sea salt and recommend it for your daily salt use. I have done a salt cleanse but to do one properly, I would suggest looking into it with a naturopath or your local health store expert for advice.

* Recipes for someone with a family and who is pregnant… Just the fact that you are eating correctly when you are pregnant is a huge advantage to your system and the growth of your baby. Your body is so heightened now in its sensitivity that you are naturally drawn towards eating what is good for you if you pay attention to it. As far as recipes go I can say that my BEST advice is to put away time enough for you to make simple food, it is better for you and takes less time. What I mean by simple is a grilled or broiled protein… literally find a good piece of fish or organic meat or chicken and marinate it in the fridge in the AM, slathered in a healthy bottled salad dressing (as a marinade) that is not full of sugar… a vinaigrette of some kind… or even a pre-packaged pesto or tomato sauce you like, and put it over your protein, and let it absorb the flavors all day long or even an hour will be enough time too. Then grill, broil, or bake it in the evening. It takes 15 minutes or maybe twenty to grill. Just keep checking it under the heat for what texture you like. You can steam a veggie & put lemon, olive oil and Himalayan salt on it or grate some parmesan over it and pop it under the broil to toast the cheese….yummy… and then have a gluten free bread if you must or skip the carb and have berries and Stevia sweetened whip cream (organic whipping cream, vanilla, and one packet SWEETLEAF brand Stevia) and whip it good, dollop over berries and sprinkle with slightly toasted nuts that you like and a dash of cinnamon, easy to make and takes very little time!

* As far as hair color goes: not the best idea to color your hair when you are pregnant. I quit when I was and the roots were SPECIAL and then pronto after baby was born I got my roots done…chemicals? Yes. Bad for me ? Yes, but until they come up with GREAT natural color I am afraid I am running that risk. I hate to say this but there are SOME choices that I make that are not ALWAYS perfectly natural. As much as I would like for all my choices to be that way, I find that my vanity will sometimes get in the way of that…OH WELL!

* I talk about Ron Rosedale’s diet and it is NOT at all far from my own food program, BUT I recommend in my book that you find the diet that suits you and sometimes for some people that may mean that they eat more carbohydrates than I would personally eat. Ron’s program is cutting edge science in the world of food and the importance of FAT and how to eat fat to turn your body into a fat burner and to create optimum health.

* If you are overweight my best advice is to GO SLOW make small goals, not necessarily for weight loss but for body and food awareness. Change your breakfast then the following week, change your lunch etc… see how you feel with the changes. You are trying to create an environment where your body shifts and your mind gives up it’s need to control your body. And look at the reasons you eat and the reasons you make it difficult to change the way you eat. Did you feel love through food as a child? Are you lonely? Are you bored? No need to do anything more than just be aware of your thoughts, reasons and habits by seeing them and becoming aware of them over and over again until finally you can let them go (or they let you go) and you can move on. It really is that simple…the mere acceptance of something can turn your life around.

* I love the sun and think that it has gotten a BAD RAP. Sun and vitamin D are critical for your good health and SENSE of well-being. So get some sun everyday not a lot but definitely some. I have found a new product that has great sunscreen and a great make up line. It is really a fantastic mineral make up line that is better than any I have tried on the market. It is made by COLORSCIENCE and can be looked up on line.

* As far as my grandfather goes, I adore him and my legacy with such an amazing man, but I didn’t know him because he died before I was born. Hence my stories are from my father and they have become somewhat remote.

* Finally I want to say hi to my friend from kindergarten through elementary school in Ketchum Idaho. Hi Paula…. I am thrilled that you wrote into the blog. STAY WELL… and many blessings!

Thank you to all who wrote in this summer! Until next time…. Blessings to you all!!!

I have been on the road with the book again to great response. I feel the message of slowing down and being more observant of your life is hugely needed. It is as though people feel relieved to hear that they can do a little and feel the difference. Also I have come across many who are uncovering their SECRET addictions. It is as though we have a blind spot to how we really live and by slowing down and making different choices or asking different questions the revelation that “Oh my gosh I eat sugar all day long” or “I say mean things to myself all the time”. This discovery for many is the beginning of healing, of stepping out of a dark hole. So those of you on the program hang in there and write me. Know that your journey is supported.

The book is indeed about moderation in food and in how we live and make choices in all areas of our lives. I received a few letters about my book being a call to simplicity and it’s true. The CLUTTER we create in all areas of life; debt, food, clothes, possessions build up and create tension. Things cause us to feel burdened. Freeing yourself from what you don’t need (including food) is liberating. It’s funny, as one gets clean in their body/mind, a lifestyle clean-up comes naturally. You just do it. It is about moderation & slowing down so that you taste and enjoy all you have in your life.

You can buy UDO’s 3 6 9 oil at any Whole Foods market and probably any health store. I also really recommend fish oil!!!

If you are a major athlete this program is for you, it invites you to slow down & add some breath intent to your work-outs. Yoga can always be added beneficially to any heavy athletic schedule. The thing is to choose a yoga that is more about breath, since you are already getting the heavy work out elsewhere. Kundalini yoga is powerful as well as Iyengar and just simple pranayama (yogic breath work) is great. On the subject of athletes, I am excited to share that the nutrition that has been touted for years for athletes is high in sugar/carbs, and although burnt up in heavy work-outs, it is not the best solution for high intensity training. The best thing you can do for your body is get more GOOD FAT into your system this will sustain a workout and the body for a long period of time. I recommend raw nuts (sprinkled with cinnamon is a treat) or Coconut oil this is the best fat on the planet for sustaining your energy. PLUS remember that good fat does not create body fat. Body fat is created by sugar/carbs. Naturally most bad sugar snacks are full of fat hence why fat got the brunt of the bad name but don’t be fooled by the non fat labels, likely that means it is sugar alone which means it is a short term energy source and unused turns to fat. It is about training your body to burn good fat. This is the key to health and longevity!

And for a great yoga routine that anyone can watch and try, check out my Yoga Now DVD with Rodney Yee.

I want to address grains. I personally do not eat grains because I have to stay far away from sugar and that is what grains are. Regardless of the packaging, grains whole or not, are sugar in your system. Whole grains HAVE fiber and that is a benefit. My advice to you is if you can limit whole grain fibrous foods to a small amount I say go ahead. I stay away from them because my addiction light goes on, any grain /carb makes me want more and more…that is just me. Remember this book is your journey. It is about finding the lifestyle choices that work for you.

Last but certainly not least my dogs: I have six of them. I have two Yorkies, two Maltese, one Belgian Shepard and one Black lab. They are all special loving and great peace givers!!!

ps – for those of you who have signed up to my mailing list, thank you and look out for my 1st newsletter really soon!! to sign-up, simply click here or on the envelope found in the menu to the right.

Vitamins…I think that vitamins are a great source of getting your nutrition right but again you have to ask yourself what your needs are. If you are massively stressed then a complex multi b vitamin is essential and I think that antioxidants are great as well as nutritional oils and amino acids. I highly recommend that you buy good vitamins from a reputable source like what is available at a Whole Foods market, it is worth the expense to have your vitamins vital and alive.

I love that I was asked about protein diets and kids. I am a HUGE believer that protein and GOOD FAT are GREAT for kids. Muscle and bone are built by protein and fat is essential to healthy brain growth and function. There is no need to over do carbs for children they are going to experience lots in their lives anyway…they can certainly get away with more as their metabolism is high functioning but why teach children’s bodies to burn sugar when they will be healthier and more efficient if they learn to burn FAT. Meaning that good fat is what cells long for so the more they get fat the healthier they are for a lifetime. My friend doctor Ron Rosedale, who is at the at the cutting edge of the science of Leptin and insulin says that,

“Health and lifespan is largely determined by the proportion of fat versus sugar people burn throughout their lifetime”.

I think that starting kids off with a philosophy and practice of good REAL food is fantastic for their growth and lifestyle habits in the future. Even if they go for eating crap (trust me they will) for a few years as teens they will come back to their healthy early training, (that too happened with my girls).

I feel that soy protein is not that great for you. I mean what animal eats soy? not one in the animal kingdom, and in Asia it is a condiment not a source of protein. Anyway I like it a lot but find that it doesn’t agree with me in my regular diet. I like animal protein but only if it is free range, organic or grass fed or with fish wild caught when possible. But if you are a vegetarian then nuts seeds and sprouted live food is a great source of protein. Or if carbs are not an issue then Mung beans and Brown rice or quinoa is a whole protein. I like Whey protein too. It is made from dairy but it is only the protein of the milk not the lactose etc…

My skin is the result of what I put into my body. I take UDO’s 3 6 9 oil and fish oil and I eat good fat ie. – olive oil, avocadoes and nuts. I think this is the key. That said I do use great products on my skin. I am currently using Dr. Brandt’s skin care line, which you can get at Sephora. Dr. Brandt is a friend and his ingredients are GREAT. I also like Dr. Haushka. I change my skincare sometimes because I think that skin gets used to a system and longs for a change so I like to rotate my products.

Thank you to everyone for your letters and keep being good to yourself!!!

I am going to address a few issues that came up in many of the letters I received. One is about organic food and how pricey it is to buy organic. I have two schools of thought on this #1 yes buying organic is SUPER pricey but when it comes to your health and making better choices for yourself then to indulge in some organically grown produce is not only a luxury it is a major choice on the path to prioritizing your health…and the more people that buy organic the more available it will be come. Could you give up a few Starbucks runs this week to buy some organic food? All that being said it is expensive and that may not be an option for you so I say it is more important for you to get better nutrition than not. Buy fresh real produce and soak it in a few tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide in a full sink of water then rinse and you will take a lot of the pesticides off your food. I understand how difficult eating well can seem so in making HEALTHIER choices for yourself: choose real food rather than packaged and choose organic for a few items on your grocery list. Maybe one bag of lettuce or a few good organic apples…the choices you make are up to you and eating food that needs a little preparation is better than eating from the fast food line.

I was asked about tofu or soy and this is an individual choice…I do not respond great to soy or tofu so I eat it once every few weeks when I was vegan it seemed to be my only source of protein and yet it didn’t agree with me. The jury is out on SOY, some say it is a health priority and some are saying it is truly unhealthy, be a detective and see how it makes you feel. I think if you have hormone issues my suggestion is stay away from soy because of the estrogen in it.

Interesting question from another reader: why are my arms tight at my age? I do my yoga and MY ARM swings are so helpful I describe them in my book and for a great yoga program check out my Yoga Now DVD. It has a great easy program that is a definite plus for the ol’ arms. I also think that hiking and walking with intention will sculpt you in ways you cannot even imagine. Turn off the tunes and tune into you.

Yoga headaches come from the rush of oxygen to your brain…keep up your breath it is not the culprit but the benefit…your body will adjust. Also do alternate nostril breathing which I describe in my book.

Lastly I was asked about Jay Robb protein powder…I don’t bloat from it because it is NOT soy and although it comes from Milk protein it seems to be okay for people with lactose intolerance. I love this brand and feel great using it but again this is a personal choice, see what happens for you.

Finally I can’t give out my “blissquit” recipe yet because I am soon to have them in the market place and once that is done I will post the recipe. I am sorry as I have had many requests for them and I do not blame you they are so tasty you would never know they are GREAT for you.

Everyone who is out there and reading Healthy living from the inside out and doing the program, keep it up. You will only feel better and honestly, doing it is one of the kindest things you can do for yourself and those around you!

Peace and blessings to all!!!

Mariel

ps – please keep continue to send me your comments and questions and don’t forget to sign-up to my mailing list!