Eating My Way Skinny!

For many months by my bedside sat four books all focused on health and well-being. Actually, my night table was overwhelmed with so many books, I finally had to read a few. The lack of time I had for reading was a part of the bigger problem, I had put on weight. No time to read, no time to exercise, not enough sleep and so on. I know enough to know this, if you don't sleep well, your cortisol levels rise, you crave carbohydrates, you gain weight. Not to mention waking up and drinking coffee to kick start the day. This interferes with Lecithin that helps to break down body fat. So it made sense to me, to at least read the books. By downsizing my night table I had high hopes it would trickle down to a "smaller" me.

While I have never been fanatical about being thin or having a flat stomach, I have always been health conscious. I know when I start having sugar cravings that my body is out of balance. And as a beauty consultant, I see first hand how poor digestion shows up on the skin. For me this was in the area of under-eye circles and over all puffiness. So after the New year, among my many other resolutions, I have now added, "Eating My Way Skinny"

I should really say, that first I have thought my way skinny. Each of the books I read below, have helped me to get into the mindset to think about food in a more positive way. I'm inspired now to do what I need to do, and after ten days I can report that I have dropped two of the twelve I set out to lose. My motivation is this simple,
1. To fit back into my favorite clothes. 2. to have more energy. 3. To reduce water retention.

While my goal is to downsize my waist, I have decided to do it by eating and gained some great advise from the books I read. I believe that balance is the key, so I took away from one book to eat more raw foods, from another to eat healthy fats, and interestingly enough, all four authors advocated eating breakfast.

My skinny on the books I read...
Eating for Beauty: The premise is that eating a raw food diet will enhance your health. I love the concept but it is not my calling. I am always cold and can't imaging not having my warm soup. But I have already added many of the delicious raw food recipes and try to eat raw foods throughout the day.
Eat Fat Lose Weight: There is a lot of good information in this book. Basically the book successfully challenges the low fat/high carb way of losing weight. Most of the fats she mentions as being "healthy fats' such as nuts, and avocados I have incorporated into my diet. But I have read controversial research about animal fats and still debating this. The advice is to eat about 30% of protein a day.
Anti-Aging Revolution: This book offers great facts about vitamins, has some decent recipes and would be good for someone to read who wants to become a vegetarian. It is written by a doctor who is steadfast in providing details to support his ideas. Although I have contemplated a vegan diet, I'm not there yet.
The Swiss Secret: I've read this book three times in hopes it becomes ingrained in my brain. This author (also a physician)takes a holistic approach to wellness and believes in the mind and body connection. Since not all of us can make it to his wellness clinic, he offers great recipes for cleansing the body especially if the liver is overtaxed. Not only is the book informative, it provides a balance diet by advocating that one eat from all the food groups.
MY PERSONAL TIPS:

• I weigh in once a week at the same time. Since I retain fluids, the best time for me is late morning. (On this day, I prepare a fresh vegetable juice in the morning as my breakfast so my I know that it can't be the breakfast moving the scale.)
• I don't count calories, fat or protein grams. If you just look at your plate you can divide it in three-one entire half is dedicated to vegetables and the second half in two equal portions; one for protein and one for grains. You'll get fats from fish, chicken and meat. Additionally I cook with olive oil, canola or avocado oil. I have added a tsp of butter to certain recipes.
• I snack. It may be a small container of Greek yogurt or some nuts. Other days chopped carrots with hummus.
• My sweet tooth is controlled by organic unsweetened hot chocolate with a tsp of agave or honey, or organic cottage cheese with cinnamon, or a baked apple drizzled with maple syrup.
• I cleaned out my closet, got rid of what doesn't suit me any longer and went to Good Will and Dress for Success. I have a newly organized closet with a section of clothes that fit now and a section with all my great clothes that I can't wear yet. Everything is hung on my new "skinny hangers" ( I bought these great hangers at BBB-$25.00 for 50)
• I give myself two off days where I can have a cocktail (or two-but really no more..) and maybe a desert. But even then, I balance what I eat. If breakfast was an egg and bagel, lunch is a big salad.

And the last tip, is I am not on a time table. This is the new me, with a new perspective about eating in a positive way. I am archiving my recipes, many can be found on my website www.intelligentskinsense.com

Fall 2009 Newsletter

Hi everyone. I am back from my blogging hiatus (as I needed to recharge my batteries to get my age rebel book in gear). Here is the link to my latest newsletter. Love to hear from you and please forward any skin care or wellness concerns my way. I'll get back with answers and tips.

New Years Resolution

What a year that has passed! It makes me really think about my goals 2009. I think about my five year plan and how it must be revisited. I'm also thinking about a quote that read

"The one constant in life is change"

and realizing how true it is. I've always believed that the real beauty is inside us and for that reason have persevered in the service of holistic beauty. More than ever we need to better ourselves in order to better the world. And this is my New Years resolution. Stay with me...and stay tuned. Peace, Namaste, Marlene

Why Organic Skin Care?

There are many people who buy into the belief that organic skin care is the best. I prefer the term holistic. To me holistic is taking the whole into consideration rather that simply parts of the whole. When I shop for food, I buy for the week and make sure I use the food so there is little or no waste. I make decisions to be conscious of the environment. So I bring my own bags, I don't buy plastic goods and I recycle. When I buy organic foods, I am assured of many things; that my foods do not contain growth hormones, and that the farmers follow rules and ethics dictated by USDA organic standards. Why do I bring this up when we are talking about skin care? First off, in reference to skin care organic is very gray term It is still to be defined and until then anyone can say what they want without too much scrutiny. Last point I wish to comment on is that there is much more to formulating a good and healthy skin care product than just to use organic indgredients.

There is a large push for "green chemistry" which addresses environmental concerns. The myth that synthetics are "bad" for the environment needs to be explored as often it is not the case. Rather I point out that science is a good thing. People with acne, rosacea, and sun damaged skin have benefited from scientifically engineered products. Preservatives that are added to a natural based formula will ensure that harmful bacterias, molds, microbes will not grow. To be able to mix together in a beaker the best of science and nature is a truly holistic formula.

Turkey Hangover

With some guilt I will admit that I am happy Happy Thanksgiving came and went. Let's face it family and food do not always mix well.So if you are hungover from family dynamics, then hours of feasting and now the glutenous feeling left over, you are not alone. My advice is to lighten up on food this week, especially protein and carbs. I am suggesting lots of fresh vegetables, beginning your day with a fruit and veggie juice, a colorful salad at lunch and light protein with green leafy vegetables in the evening. Munch on nuts, vegetables and hummus or some fruit salad. In a few days the heavy feeling will subside.

My favorite juice blend-(I like Acme juicer)PS: Whole Foods makes this too.
1 apple
1 sliver of a beet
1 sliver of ginger
2 carrots
2 celery stalks
1/4 cucumber

Add in a home-spa tip-dry brush before showering. This helps stimulate your circulation, and works to combat cellulite.

Leftovers made gourmet

Let's see, what is in my fridge, my freezer, my pantry??? This is how I begin each meal. I despise waste, can't throw away food so I have to eat what is there. But that is not the same as left overs. Here is an example. In the fridge are some grains from last night, some veggies. In the freezer there is frozen Mahi Mahi. In the pantry I've got some beluga black lentils. See some almonds...So the meal evolves from this.

Menu: Almond crusted Mahi-Mahi, Israeli cous cous with black lentils and a chopped salad with feta cheese, olive and balsamic drizzle.

The age rebel factor: Skin friendly oils from the fish, almonds and olive oil. (FYI: I love almond oil and it is found in many of the Intelligent Skin Sense moisturizers)

My daughter and I enjoyed our very own slumber party. Waited till dad went out, scurried into the bed and had a picnic. She is six and I guess I am too because I had as much fun as she did. Her job was to guard the bed from our two dogs. They shouldn't have been hungry as I cook holistic foods for them too! Last night they had chicken (yup, cage free) with their doggie grains. But I guess they wanted Chinese-our stir fry created a few hopeful whimpers...anyway wanted to share my quick concoction with you. But I warn you, I am a "little bit of this and a little bit of that" kind of a cook. I never measure so I'll do my best...

Veggie Stir Fry-four to six servings-depends on your appetite, and palate!

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 15 Minutes

Vegetables: 1/2 cup ea: mushrooms, carrot, celery, and add to this any of the following

1/4 cup ea: broccoli, bean sprouts, cabbage, bok-choy

Protein: a handful of Almonds and optional is 1 cup of shrimp, chicken or beef

Flavor makers Scallion, Garlic, Ginger, Orange or Lemon, Soy or Tamarind sauce, Tabasco or Chile peppers (for hot spice) honey or agave (to sweeten sauce).

Chop one garlic clove (or use garlic powder if need be), grate a small piece of ginger (or use ginger powder) a few scallions, half a lemon or orange (or both) and set aside in a bowl.

In a frying pan or Wok, heat 1/4 cup of olive or sesame oil (or both) for a minute and then add the vegetables. Keep stirring with a wooden spatula for five minutes and then add the flavor makers to the pan. Stir again, and add soy sauce to taste. If you have a problem with soy, then use sea salt. Add in sweetening agent to taste. Add in hot spice to taste. Continue cooking (and stirring) until the vegetables are at a texture you like. I like Al-dente so ten minutes is perfect for me. Set veggies aside in a large bowl. Add the protein in the same pan and brown to your liking. Add some more soy or salt. When cooked, add the protein to the vegetables, mix in well and serve alone or over rice or noodles.

Salad Dressing: Take two carrots, one (quarter size) small piece of ginger, 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar, a couple of tbsp. of soy sauce and put into a Cuisinart or blender. Puree. Great over greens or cucumbers.

Age Rebelling Factors: good for skin and for health!

Cucumbers and Celery: Natures diuretics, great for kidney strength

Carrots: beta Carotene's: High in anti-oxidants, helps with adult acne, (and adult eyes...)

Garlic and Onions: Natural anti-inflammatory properties

Ginger: Aids digestion

Green Vegetables: Chlorophyll, Folic-Acid- wonderful nutrients for the cells