My Personal Tip…Stop Focusing on Losing Weight!

So many of us are focused on losing weight and why not?  The obesity rate in America today is among the highest in the world.  According to the CDC, in 2008, only one state (Colorado) had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%. Thirty-two states had a prevalence equal to or greater than 25%; six of these states (Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia) had a prevalence of obesity equal to or greater than 30%.  Should current trends continue, 75% of adults in the US are projected to be overweight and 41% obese by 2015. [read more on that here]

No wonder so many of us have loosing weight on our mind, we need to!

But what we really need to be focusing on is becoming healthier…total health, not just seeing a number on the scale we are happier with or being able to get into that dress or suit before the big event.

So, continuing the conversation from last week’s post “The Fundamentals of Changing Your Health”, there are 4 basic fundamentals to experiencing true health and wellness.  To refresh your memory they were 1, to minimize the use of drugs, other toxins in our life and surgery-which we spoke about last week in the post “Stop Poisoning Yourself!”; 2, to eat as best we can to ensure ourselves quality nutrition; 3, to maximize oxygen and lean muscle through regular exercise; 4, to live a life of peace with positive and strong relationships; and my 5th, maximize nerve supply through chiropractic maintenance.  Remember, each of these fundamentals is important and they all work optimally together.

Now, why am I telling you to stop focusing on losing weight?  Well, again, what we need to focus on is total wellness for the mind, body and spirit and when you do and are honestly living the lifestyle, the weight will just melt off, naturally.  I’m just a normal person that much like you, has struggled to be “in shape” or to feel as if I look as good as that sickening fit person across the room…and I’m sure that many of you, like me, can feel like a failure at times when I don’t meet those lofty dreams or feel guilty at times when I eat something that isn’t in my ‘diet’.  I got tired of feeling like a failure, like I didn’t have what it takes to be “thin” and “in shape”…and instead I focused on just being healthy…and you know what?  The weight finally just melted off.

Here is a bit of history on my constant struggle with weight loss.  As a young child I was thin and tall, but once I hit puberty and my hormones kicked in, my body started absorbing everything and storing it between my hips and knees.  From then on I have always been a bit “thick”.  My grandfather used to say I was a true healthy southern girl.  When I was dancing with a local prestigious ballet academy I was constantly being weighed and scorned for getting too “big”.  In my high school years, my dad used to call me “Thunder Thighs” [Yeah I know-great for my self esteem right?].  Now, I wasn’t fat, just thick…and I struggled with this all my days.  As a young woman I started trying the fad diets.  Nothing worked.  Atkins made me gain weight, the Special K diet just starved me and caused me to binge from time to time and the Weight Watchers was too confusing back then and let’s face it, just too much work keeping track of all the various points.  The only thing that I did find to make a difference a few years ago was Zig-Zag dieting; changing your calorie intake on a daily basis.  You can read more on what a Zig-Zag is exactly, just click here, and if you do a Google search for the term “zig zag diet” you will find many calculators and menu plans.  Just be sure to check a few sites, not just the first one you go to.  For me though, the zig-zag diet was good while I was working part time because I had time to prepare the meals but once I started working full time again I no longer had the time to measure out every item I was going to put into my mouth, little by little I drifted from the plan.

So, how did I take of 15 pounds this year in less than 3 months and have kept it off easily?  By following the fundamentals mentioned earlier and most importantly…by eating pure, organic, all-natural foods.  I did exercise a few times a week when I had the time, but what really did it for me was getting rid of all, and I mean ALL, processed, man touched foods.  If you read the “How I Removed the Poisons from My Home.” post, then you know how I started this process…if not, let me quickly elaborate on this now.

My husband and I began eating all organic, local produce and grass-fed beef, bison and free-range chicken.  Our meal menu did change slightly, but the main change was simply the ingredients.  Even our condiments, if we use any, are now homemade or organic products from the store.  We even took this a bit further and tried the Healing Diet.  Absolutely no sugars in the foods and drinks we consumed, good fats, and plenty of protein and we did a detoxification system (recommended by our doctor) called NeuroCleanse to help pull out additional toxins that had built up in our systems.  We followed this plan for two month and even though we were still eating as much as before, I had lost 15 pounds and my husband even more.  [He never weighs himself but the physical change in his body is obvious.]  To be perfectly honest we did this following the 80/20 rule.  We followed the “diet” very closely 80% of the time and allowed ourselves to eat or drink something not-so-good 20% of the time.  By the end of the two months we found that it was terribly easy and we didn’t crave the old bad foods any longer.  Once the two months finished, [the length of time on the Healing Diet is different for everyone] we slowly started to return natural sugars back into our meals.

We are now entering month eight of our big change and I find myself needing less and less to fill myself at meal time.  I also have the freedom in my schedule now to exercise everyday as much as I want and although I am walking 20+ miles and practicing about 3 hours of yoga a week and I am not loosing weight any longer my body is still changing and becoming leaner and stronger.  This tells me I may be at my optimal body weight.  I’m always getting compliments and my old clothes just fall right off.  I have dropped 4 pants sizes and am almost comfortably in the next size down.  It’s a great feeling.  Although the scale may not be at my dream number just yet, I feel fantastic and can’t wait to see where I am in another two months.

Try it for yourself.  Stop worrying about the weight loss.  Accept the fact that you are what you are, love yourself and remember that what is most important is that you live a long and healthy life, free of medications, pain and complications.  The best way to do that is by following all of the fundamentals-trust me, you won’t regret it!

Suggested Reading:

Where I started:

“Maximized Living Makeover” by Dr. Ben Lerner, Dr. Greg Loman, Dr. Charles Majors

The link above will tell you where you can find the book locally.

Where I get my motivation and additional ideas to add to the Maximized Makeover:

Inside-Out Wellness The Wisdom of Mind/Body Healing by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, Dr. Christiane Northrup

Recipes for Health Bliss Using NatureFoods & Lifestyle Choices to Rejuvenate Your Body & Life by Susan Smith Jones

Lighten Up! The Authentic and Fun Way to Lose Your Weight and Your Worries by Loretta LaRoche

How I removed the poisons from my home.

A quick review…removing toxins from your life as much as possible will make a huge impact on your health.  Common everyday toxins can cause such problems as:

• Neurological disorders (Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, depression, attention deficit disorder, schizophrenia, etc.)
• Cancer
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Hormonal imbalances
• Enzyme dysfunction
• Altered metabolism
• Reproductive disorders
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Obesity
• Muscle and vision problems
• Immune system depression
• Allergies/Asthma
• Endocrine disorders
• Chronic viral infections
• Less ability to tolerate/handle stress

We are bombarded everyday with numerous toxins that our body’s normal healing functions can’t keep up with.  When my husband and I decided to make the change and remove as many toxins from our lifestyle as possible, I admit I was overwhelmed with the information.  I didn’t know where to start first.  It was my Chiropractor and his wellness team that assisted my husband and me in getting started.

Step 1.  We started with our foods.

Although we ate pretty “healthy”; no fast foods, no sodas, no fried foods, used olive oil, tons of veggies…we weren’t eating and thinking green/organic.  We immediately changed our produce to organic.  Found it to be much cheaper to buy directly from the farmers at the farmer’s market than by shopping at the grocers or by ordering in bulk online.  Luckily Savannah has two farmer’s markets; one on Saturdays and one on Wednesdays.  It makes it very convenient to always have “farm fresh” produce.

We then started researching grass-fed beef and free range poultry.  It was very difficult to find these items locally and when we did there was very little variety and supply, and it was very expensive.  My husband followed a suggestion from our Chiropractor and looked into ordering our meats online.  There we found excellent suppliers of what we needed and then some!  We always try to find suppliers that are as close to GA as possible and we have found that by buying in bulk (thankfully we have a storage freezer) we save so much more money than if we were buying similar items from the few grocers in town.

You can research places to purchase organic foods from the “List” here.

Now this does not mean that we never eat out anymore.  Luckily we do have a handful of organic restaurants in our town and when possible we go to them, but they are pricey.  We do however like to go out with friends and we do not force our views on them-we’ll eat nearly anywhere in town, but we are very selective about what we eat.  Once you get the hang of eating organic, farm fresh foods, you learn what you can get by on in while eating out with friends.

Step 2.  We cleaned up our water.

We had been drinking bottled water in the home for ages using tap water only for cooking.  We found out about cleaning your drinking water with reverse osmosis or using carbon filters and even by distilling it (very acidic-eventually removes the minerals from your body, you need to neutralize it after distilling it or take a mineral supplement) you can have “healthy water” at home.

Once we figured out what to do with our drinking water, we turned to our bathroom shower head.  We ordered a new shower head with replaceable carbon filters for our main bathroom. Why?  Remember that our skin is our body’s largest organ.  Anything that touches the skin will be absorbed.  Think about how much time we spend in the shower or bath in our lifetime.  That is a ton of chemicals being absorbed.   I am amazed with the difference in the quality of our shower water.  I’ve always had difficulty with dry skin, my husband as well in the cooler months, and our skin has become baby soft.  No more flaking, no more super sensitivity.  The change was really made clear to us recently.  We broke the shower head in the bath we use most often.  We quickly ordered a new one but it was on back order and we went nearly three weeks on a standard shower head.  Within a few days (less than a week) we both had dry skin, constant itchiness and I had developed dandruff for the first time.  We now have a filtered system in both bathrooms.

You can research filters from the “Lists” here.

Step 3.  We removed all toxic health and beauty and cleaning products from the home.

This took a little longer than the previous steps.  Cosmetics and bath and body products are expensive in general, there was no way I could empty out the house and replace everything in one day.

To begin my research on cleaning out my cosmetics and our bath and body items I turned to the Environmental Workers Group, also known as the EWG.  They are an amazing resource and even have a cosmetic database called SkinDeep where you can get a toxin rating on most cosmetic and bath and body products.

With their help I started researching companies that I could buy from worry free and found a few I am very happy with so far.  Two in particular are:
Beautorium.comand   Lavera

You can find them and more on the “Lists” here.

There are also numerous sites that give you information on cleaning products.  You can start your search from the “Lists” here.

I stared finding products that were recommended by Debra Lynn Dadd in the book “Home Safe Home”.  You can find her website in the “Lists” or here.

I am now experimenting with natural cleaning homemade recipes from various online sources.  I haven’t posted that information yet, I’m still testing them out.  Once I have a stronger opinion on the results I’ll be happy to share the information with you.

Step 4.  Clean out the body by pulling out the toxins.

We started a detoxification system (recommended by our doctor) called NeuroCleanse .  It was simple and easy to use and we felt wonderful on it.  For approximately two months we followed the plan (not everyone needs to use it for so long) and we sincerely recommend it to anyone interested.  This was not one of those celebrity fad detox systems.  This was a true cellular detoxification product.  We ate healthy, didn’t starve ourselves, nor did we pump our bodies full of other chemicals to ‘detox’.

Step 5.  Removed our amalgams.

Actually my husband had his removed a little over a year earlier.  Neither of us are on any type of medication so luckily that was not an issue for us, but some time ago, a relative gave us research material on the dangers of mercury used in dentistry and we dove into the subject more.  I, at the time, did not have insurance that would cover such treatments as amalgam removal, so as soon as we could (by the end of month two and right in the middle of our detoxification program) I had everything worked out and I had my amalgams properly removed.  So, again…people ask why.  Metal fillings are a major source of mercury. Be sure to have the removal done by a qualified biological dentist. Although nearly any dentist is technically qualified to replace your amalgam fillings, very few have any clue on how to do it properly so your risk of mercury exposure is minimized. Do it right the first time and save yourself the expense and grief. If you don’t personally know a qualified biological dentist, many people find one by contacting several of the health food stores in their area and asking the employees who they know. This is typically an excellent resource as they are usually networked quite well in the local health community.  You can also use the Dental Wellness Institute website to try and find an appropriate dentist in your area.

So that’s how we did it in my home.  I hope this information was insightful and useful.  You can also go to Dr. Mercola’s site for more information on this topic and much more.

Earlier this week, we took a look at the basic fundamentals for one to follow in order to get themselves into true wellness. They were:

1. to minimize the use of drugs, other toxins in our life and surgery;

2. to eat as best we can to ensure ourselves quality nutrition;

3. to maximize oxygen and lean muscle through regular exercise;

4. to live a life of peace with positive and strong relationships; and

5. maximize nerve supply through chiropractic maintenance.

Remember, each of these fundamentals is important and they all work optimally together.

So, let’s now take a look at the first fundamental, removing drugs, toxins and surgery from your life.
This is an area that is highly overlooked in other “health” regimes. You’ll eat very well and exercise as you should, but never realize that our bodies are our largest organ and anything it is exposed to is absorbed into our systems. Our bodies are constantly being bombarded by chemicals in the home and outside.

The CDC’s “National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals”, [found here] third report (the fourth is due out in the 4th quarter of 2009) reviews studies ranging from 1999-2000 and 2001-2002 of levels for 148 environmental chemicals measured in people who participated in CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Chemicals measured included lead, mercury, cadmium, tungsten and other metals; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; dioxins, furans and polychlorinated biphenyls; organophosphate pesticides, organochlorine pesticides, pyrethroid pesticides and herbicides; phthalates; phytoestrogens; and environmental tobacco smoke. These chemicals are toxins that find their way into the body through pollution or consumer products. Exposure was measured through blood and urine samples of a group of volunteers. The report found positive results for at least eighty-nine chemicals. [Daily News Archives]

These toxins accumulate in our body tissues over time and this accumulation is now believed to be the heart of modern day disease. Columbia University’s School of Public Health reported that 95% of all cancer is caused by diet and environment, referring to the slow accumulation or stockpiling of chemicals over decades, leading to disease. Read that sentence again…and remember, this accumulation begins in the womb. [Summarized from Mercola.com]

While you can’t remove all toxins from your body, you can trust your body to do what it was created to do when working at its optimum level; clean itself. It is made to process and remove a certain amount of poison.

So, let’s look at the “Toxic Top Ten” found in “Maximized Living Makeover” by Dr. Ben Lerner, Dr. Greg Loman, and Dr. Charles Majors.

1.Household Cleaning Products; dishwashing detergents, oven cleaners, laundry detergents, floor and furniture polishes, air fresheners, hard-surface cleaners (esp. kitchen cleaners), antibacterial cleaners and soaps, dry cleaning, carpet and upholstery cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners. Solution: Use natural cleaning products.

2.Pesticides and Herbicides. Solution: Buy organic bug and weed-killing products.

3.Steroids, Growth Hormones and Antibiotics (found in dairy products, chicken, beef and pork). Solution: Buy raw milk products, organic free-range chicken and grass-fed beef. Avoid pork.

4.Preservatives, Additives, Colorings, Hydrogenated Oils, Rancid Fats, an Others…found in refined, fast, fried and packaged foods. These include excito-toxins (neurotoxins) like MSG (monosodium glutamate), aspartame and other artificial sweeteners, and hydrolyzed vegetable protein. Solution: Read labels and avoid products containing these chemicals.

5.Teflon Cookware. Solution: Buy stainless steel cookware. Use extra virgin olive oil at low to moderate heats and coconut oil at high heats to reduce sticking.

6.Tap Water. Full of heavy metals, contaminants and other toxins. Solution: Drink purified water.

7.Personal Care Products: soaps, conditioners, shampoos, toothpaste containing toxic ingredients like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), DEA, Propylene, Glycol, and fluoride. Solution: Use natural products that do not contain these chemicals.

8.Heavy Metals: Mercury found in vaccinations, flue shots, silver (amalgam) fillings and fish. Also lead and aluminum found in old paints, toys and kitchenware. Solution: Educate yourself on the ingredients and contents of these items and make informed decisions about whether to use them.

9.Biotoxins: Mold is the most common infiltrator in our homes. Solution: These require specialized testing from natural physicians that work specifically in this area.

10.Medicine: The purpose of these unstable chemicals is to radically alter body function and change physiology. They are so toxic that it is a fact that medicine without a side effect isn’t a medicine. Solution: Work with your doctors to take as few medications as possible, if any.

I find that many people in the world around me tend to focus on only one area to improve their health and claim they are “healthy”…most commonly it’s nutrition.  The second most common is by doing some form of regular exercise but not changing many of their eating or lifestyle habits.  How many of you fit into one of these two categories?  Now, how many of you are taking prescription drugs or still smoke?  Yes it is important to eat well, but if you ignore the other fundamentals your body will not assimilate the good food that you have eaten.  It’s nice to be in great physical shape and have a good looking body, if the other fundamentals are ignored…as it has been said…you’ll look good in your coffin but can still suffer from many ailments that affect most couch potatoes.

If you wish for your body to function and heal normally, if you wish to lead a long, joyful, fulfilling life, follow these fundamentals.  The fundamentals were introduced and explained to me simply and thoroughly in the book “Maximized Living Makeover” by doctors Ben Lerner, Greg Loman, and Charles Majors, and are referred to as “The 5 Essentials”.  Each of these fundamentals is necessary to live the full, healthy life that you were intended to live.  You need to practice these fundamentals if nothing else to improve your health by keeping the cells in your body in top shape and replicating normally for optimal body function.

So, What are the basic Fundamentals?

#1 Minimize the use of drugs, other toxins and surgery… Toxins and chemicals found, for example, in medications and refined foods affect hormone balance and glandular function.  We all know that you die or get really sick from being poisoned. This includes exposure to chemicals and carcinogens found in medications, foods, unhealthy environments, and household cleaning products.

#2 Maximize quality nutrition… Diets high in carbohydrates leave a constant level of insulin in the system, which lowers serotonin levels and causes inflammation. Imbalances in omega-3 and omega-6 ratios have been found to be the first factor to address regarding depression, according to professors at Harvard and Oxford universities.  If your pH balance is off it can lead to inflammation.  Stimulants such a sugars, artificial additives negatively affect brain function.  Nutrient deficiency can be solved by the right foods, foods robust in soluble fiber, and supplements.

#3 Maximize oxygen and lean muscle… Inactivity and lack of “intentional” exercise has many damaging effects on body function and mental health.  Staying active, getting at least 30 mins of “intentional” exercise a day will greatly improve fat to muscle ratios.  Movement creates the necessary intake of oxygen. The movement is what transports the oxygen-rich blood through your body, and you become more efficient at the circulation, absorption, and storage of this oxygen. When this happens, your cells have the oxygen they need to survive and live in health. With a sedentary lifestyle, you’re literally choking yourself to death. Fat-to-muscle ratio imbalance: How much fat you have in comparison to lean muscle will be a determining factor in organ function and the development of many diseases and disorders.

#4 Maximize peace and strong relationships… Increase in stress hormones creates everything from obesity and high blood pressure to high cholesterol, decreased libido, and aging. Peace is a vital health and longevity necessity in addition to making sure you’re not miserable.

*A 5^th Fundamental  and number two of the “Essentials” that I practice is ….Maximize nerve supply.  Not everyone agrees with Chiropractry but I do.  The central nervous system is your brain and spinal cord. This system is the central computer and master control system of the entire body. If there is disturbance or interference with CNS function, everything breaks down. Emotional stress is one factor that affects, or interferes with, your CNS function. Also, misalignment of the spinal column directly affects and even damages long-term nervous system function.

This is a topic that will return to this site often.  We’ll soon discuss how to put these fundamentals to work on a daily basis.  This is not a “fad”.  This is your life.  In the meantime you can read more at www.maximizedlivinghealthsite.com

My husband and I have been ordering meats via the internet since February of this year and it has been such an amazing convenience. Selections for grass fed, organic meats in our location are slim to none and this option is perfect for our lifestyle. Greensbury Market has the answer if you are in a similar situation. Everyone likes to get their meats directly from farms that do things the right way, but don’t have the time to make lengthy trips out to the farm, or make weekly trips to the farmers’ market or each grocer or health food store in town. Greensbury Market makes it easy for everyone to shop for premium-quality meats that also are good for the environment. And now with the addition of their new promotional offer of 20% Off the Greensbury Variety Pack, now is the time to give them a try!

SPECIAL OFFER: 20% Off Greensbury Variety Pack

CODE: n/a

DURATION: Now – 09/30/09
Eat healthy! Greensbury Market certified organic grass-fed beef. Buy now and save 20%.

Reasons for choosing Greensbury Market:

• * Absolutely no antibiotics or synthetic hormones

• * Humanely raised and vegetarian-fed

• * Every Item individually sealed and delivered to the customer’s front door in environmentally responsible packaging

• * Our 100% grass-fed beef has less calories and saturated fat than conventional beef, plus added health benefits of omega-3s and CLAs

• * Our beef comes directly from Natural Acres, which has been featured on Oprah and Jon & Kate plus 8

• * We support sustainable agriculture, family farms and organic practices that produce healthy, environmentally friendly food

If you wish to check out additional meat providers, be sure to check out “Foods” in  “The Lists”. There you will find additional information on meat and poultry providers I have also used.

I’m sure you are like me and have been hearing more and more about people going “gluten-free”.  My husband and I have both become “gluten aware” but are not gluten “free”.  Neither of us have Celiac Disease, an immune disorder but we do realize we could go without many of the foods that contain gluten helping in our digestion;  foods such as those containing Wheat, Rye and Barley and the ‘hidden’ glutens like Natural Flavorings, Modified Food Starch, Hydrolyzed or Textured Plant or Vegetable Proteins (HPP, TVP, HVP), Malt Flavorings and many others. These products are usually pre-packaged and fast foods.  You may have noticed “gluten-free” foods  appearing in your local grocer, but there are some things to consider before trying to become “gluten-free” if you do not have Celiac Disease.  For starters it can be very expensive, you can become deficient in your vitamin intake and you can actually gain weight.  I’m not saying it is a bad thing, as I said before, my husband and I have drastically decreased our intake of gluten foods….BUT be sure to research the idea thoroughly or even speak with your health care provider before you change your diet.

Here are a few articles to help you begin your research:

Life123.com “Why Go Gluten-Free?”

USA Today  “Gluten Free Diets Gaining in Popularity”

Examiner.com “Why Should [You] Go Gluten Free”

Health.com “Why Would Anyone Go on a Gluten-Free Diet if He Didn’t Have to?”

Here’s a few homemade beauty recipes for you to give yourself some extra special attention this weekend-recipes brought to you by Roni Proter from Veria and Natural Wellness USA.  Enjoy and be Well!

Start with…

Blossoming Bubble Bath
1 bar unscented castile soap
1/2 cup powdered milk
1/4 cup dried dandelion blossoms
1/4 cup dried chamomile Flowers
1/4 cup dried rose flowers
Grate the castile soap and place it in a bath proof container.
Next add the powdered milk.
Last add the flowers
Add one to two tablespoons of the mixture to the spout as you fill up your tub.

or the…

Honey Orange Blossom Body Scrub
1/2 cup sugar
4 T. honey
10 drops orange blossom oil
1 cup olive oil
In a mixing bowl, place 1/2 cup of sugar.
Next, add the honey
Now place the essential oils into the mixture.
The last step is to stir in the cup of olive oil
Keep this mixture in a shower proof container. Use it after you’ve washed your body with soap.

Followed by the…

Blooming Body Mist
1 cup distilled water
1/2 cup organic rose petals
1/4 cup lavender flowers
10 drops rosehip essential oil
5 drops lavender essential oil
Place the water in a pan and turn the heat on to medium high heat, until it comes to a boil. Reduce the heat so the water is simmering, add in rose and lavender flower, then turn
off heat, let cool and sit for 20 minutes.
What we’re doing is infusing the water with these fragrances.
Next, strain the water through a colander, pour it into a spray bottle.
Now add your essential oils.
Put on the spray top, give a gentle shake, then spray on the body.

or the…

Simple Moisturizer:
1/4 cup jojoba oil
1/4 cup grape seed oil
1/4 teaspoon bergamot oil
1/4 teaspoon ylang ylang oil
1 vitamin E capsule
bottle
1. Combine the jojoba oil and grape seed oil in the bottle.
2. Add two essential oils to give it a pleasant scent.
3. Add one capsule of vitamin E. Best way to add is to prick the capsule and then squeeze it in.
Give your oil mixture a good shake and it’s ready to use. For best results, apply the oil directly after your shower while you’re still wet. Then pat dry. You’ll seal in that moisture
and feel simply beautiful while keeping that itchy, dry  skin at bay.

then the…

Clarifying Grapefruit Toner
Juice of one grapefruit
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
For our grapefruit toner we need to juice this entire grapefruit. Best when bought ripe, I am using a beautiful ruby red.
Combine the juice with the apple cider vinegar and apply sparingly to face with a clean cotton ball. Leave for 5 minutes, then gently wipe off with warm, wet towel before
moisturizing.

And if you’re heading out tonight…

Glittery Body Glow
1 cup sweet almond oil
1 tbsp mineral makeup, golden
10 drops natural perfume or essential oil
I am using a bottle with a spout so I can pour small amounts of this body glow directly onto my skin, then just rub it in. Pour in the almond oil
Now add the mineral makeup, I found this powdered eye shadow works really well.
Last, add your favorite natural perfume or essential oil.
Put on the top and swish the bottle around to incorporate the minerals and essential oil with the almond oil. Then smooth onto arms, chest and legs for a glittery glow that will last
all day long!

Don’t Miss It: September 26, 2009 Thrive A Carry Out Cafe  10:30am ~ 11:30am; Whitemarsh Island, Savannah GA.
Thrive A Carry Out Cafe and Debbie McIncrow are teaming up at the Cafe for an enchanting hour of woman strength, health and well-being. During our time together we will discuss eating healthy, …living lighter and finding further peace and balance in your life.

Keep up with Thrive events on Facebook.

I recently found out that Lavera is doing a special event where if you send them your old lipstick, they will color match it with a Lavera Organic Lipstick and email you a promo code for $10 (50%) off your next liptsick purchase.  I’ going to give it a try.  I’ll share with you my results.  If you’d like to try for yourself before I report back, you can follow this link:

Lavera all natural paraben-free skin care and makeup
Or click on the image below. 

If you have trouble finding the address to send it to, join the mailing list and I’ll share it with you.  We would also love to hear your results, so come back and leave us a comment.  Cheers!

Not interested in ‘just’ the lipstick?  Use this coupon code for your shopping: Save 10% and Get Free Shipping on Trend All Natural Cosmetics When You Spend $75. Use Promo Code: TRENDKIT at checkout.