Vitality 2012 - Wellness for a Community

In my journey to lose 85 lbs and keep it off - I have LEARNED TONS. I have read so many books and articles this past year, and continue to do so. My brain is on overload with all the information I read...and I love to share what I learn. Thus the inspiration for forming a community support/accountability group for people who want to make healthier and smarter choices at the grocery store. Anyone can do what I have accomplished, simply by learning to make more wise choices.
This past fall I was speaking with several ladies at Crossroads Coffeehouse, and Mary Devitt, the owner. My friend Stacy Carlson has mentioned several times that we should form a support group for weight loss, and Mary was in agreement. With Stacy and Mary's help, we are launching Vitality 2012 - Crossing Over to Healthier Eating. This new community group will meet on the third Sunday of each month from 3-5 p.m. Anyone can join. There is no fee, however, I may end up asking for a bit of assistance with cost of making copies, especially if this group grows.
It seems I will be leading the group ... This is a natural for me as I have had this role in many organizations I have been a part of in the past, and have always loved teaching. This also means I will have to set aside preparation time each month as we want to have a topic for discussion each time. My goal is to provide a handout, go over some points and toss around thoughts and ideas. With all of the health newsletters I subscribe to and books I read, there is plenty to share!
The main premise of this group is for members to support one another, whether it is in a desire to lose weight or simply have more energy. We are to hold each other accountable, share successes and ideas, and hopefully even healthy recipe ideas. No, we don't have to divulge our weight, nor will we weigh in each time... but we do want to encourage one another!

Mary Devitt suggested our group might even tie in with the community garden that was launched this past year. For those who would like, we might gather before the meeting to take a walk.

I have MANY files on my computer with bullet points and paragraphs of information I thought important enough to blog (when I have the chance). The commitment to this group will mean forcing myself to sort through those files. I also have a file drawer with a number of articles that are earmarked "research for community group". I suspect I have plenty of information to share, and will probably be spending lunch hours preparing each month. (LOL)

Today I brainstormed topic ideas. If YOU have suggestions please feel free to comment. Or if there is one topic in particular you would prefer we touch base upon earlier vs. later.

Vitality 2012 Suggested Topics, In no particular order:

1. Pyramid for healthy eating (this is NOT the food pyramid I grew up with!)

2. Label reading - ingredients that prevent weight loss and contribute to disease

3. Good Fats/Bad Fats (Oils & Nuts, Spread vs. Butter)

4. Digestion - Importance of a Healthy Gut

5. pH - Acidic vs. Alkaline Foods - Why Should We Care?

6. Detoxification - Why A Healthy Liver is Key for Weight Loss

7. The Spice of Life - Spices that Promote Health

8. Hormonally Balanced Food Choices

9. Type II Diabetes and High Cholesterol - Is There a Connection

10. From the Ground Up - Being Aware of Plants/Foods That Absorb Trace Metals

11. Inflammatory & Allergenic Foods - How To Listen To Your Body

12. Vitamin Supplementation - Is It Money Down the Toilet?

I would also like to see a CSA vendor fair, inviting local organic farmers to set up booths and share what their farm offers. I especially find the ones who provide recipes on how to use produce, like rutabagas, very helpful. (LOL) In Cross Plains we are blessed with MANY trails thanks to the Ice Age Trail...and I would like to invite IATA to share with our group the various trail options in or near our town and how we can access them.

Soon a book and group of ideas from a PBS pledge drive we supported, "Eat to Live Well" will be arriving in the new year. I know it will become an important resource in preparing for these meetings, and was thinking ahead to this group forming when I decided to make the pledge. I am confident that high cholesterol, type II diabetes, achy joints and a malady of other common ailments can be reduced or eliminated through the information this series will provide. My husband is looking forward to learning as well - and our 2012 family goal is to continue our journey to restored vitality, and eat as God intended.

We will have a sign up sheet down at Crossroads soon to get a handle on the number of people interested, so that I can prepare enough handouts. Watch for it, or be sure to e-mail me (rita.purelyliving@gmail.com) or Stacy Carlson (stacy.liveforvitality@gmail.com) if you plan to attend.

To your health,

Rita S.

Cancer "Do Nots"

Recently I learned about an organization called the American Anti-Cancer Institute, as it endorses the skincare and nutrition products that my company offers. I love that…as the anti-cancer perspective IS the greatest reason I got into the business of offering Swiss-formulated, pure, safe and beneficial products.
It is a site worth perusing. I will share a few items from their site. I encourage you to send people who have cancer to this site, and also to support this organization with monetary donations if you are considering year end contributions.
I am glad to note that my family has already taken action towards many of the items on the “avoid these” lists. We have not cut out the microwave completely, but are reducing its use. We bought a teapot for heating water after learning that microwaved water is essentially “dead” water, as the microwaves change the molecular structure. Someday I hope we can afford a filtered water system, but at least we have well water and are not subject to chlorinated city water.
AACI "AVOID THESE" ANTI-CANCER CHECKLIST
1. Stop drinking and bathing in tap water; use a chlorine shower filter
2. Stop using flouride toothpaste
3. Stop using anti-perspirant; (you've got armpits for a reason) Deodorant, OK, if non-aluminum
4. Stop using teflon coated cookware
5. Stop cooking most of your food, go raw as much as possible
6. Cut out TV dinners and microwave cooked food
7. Discard dairy products except for the Budwig protocol (occasional goat milk OK)
8. Stop drinking regular and diet sodas, products with added sugar and/or aspartame, and acid-forming beverages including sports drinks. Stop drinking bottled water. Use filtered water and if possible, ionized water.
9. Cut down red meat consumption -- once per week acceptable, if organic
10. Don't eat farm fed fish, buy it Wild, please

There is MUCH MUCH information to take in on this site. I have only just begun, and downloaded the e-book. I look forward to delving into that as soon as I am done reading The China Study.

To your health!
Rita S.

Fructose - A Sweet Surprise

Today I received an email from Newsmax, publishers of the Blaylock Wellness Report that I often cite here. A product called Slimtevia is being offered, which sounds like a super replacement for sugar.
If you have tried Stevia, you may associate this all natural sweetener, alternative to sugar, as having a slightly bitter aftertaste. The company who is offering Slimtevia has found that the tiniest bit of fructose helps to offset the bitterness, making a sweetener that so mimics sugar that it is guaranteed that you won't be able to tell the difference.
Their explanation of fructose, in my opinion, was stellar...and I thought I would share this with you today. Basically, this is a cut and paste...I cannot take credit for the information as it comes from the makers of Slimtevia.
Here are some surprising health facts about fructose you may not know...Won’t spike blood sugar. While both table sugar and HFCS cause sharp spikes in blood sugar levels, fructose does not produce this effect.
Lowest GI of all sugars. Fructose has the lowest glycemic load and Glycemic Index (GI) rating of all natural sugars (GI is a measure of how quickly a food affects blood sugar). Pure glucose has a GI value of 100. HFCS ranks at 73. Table sugar weighs in at 65. Honey has a GI of 55. Skim milk is 31. And fructose is a very low 19.
Good for bad blood sugar. Because it does not cause surges and dips in blood glucose levels, small amounts of fructose are actually considered beneficial to people with blood sugar disorders. (Studies show that fructose consumed before a meal can lessen the total rise in blood glucose levels after eating. Click here to see the research.)
Doesn’t trigger insulin. Fructose is often recommended for people with diabetes because it does not trigger the production of insulin when consumed in small amounts.
Actually decreases blood sugar. In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, researchers found that in small doses, fructose actually LOWERS blood glucose -- and it was more effective at doing so in people who had poor glucose tolerance.
Satisfies hunger longer. Consuming fructose instead of glucose results in lower circulating levels of leptin (the hormone responsible for appetite), and elevated levels of ghrelin (the hormone which governs hunger satisfaction).
Less is more. Fructose is twice as sweet as sugar and HFCS.This means you need far less fructose to achieve the same level of sweetness. Result? Fewer calories of fructose achieve the same “sweetness satisfaction” as real sugar.

I admit, after reading this, I had an "ah ha" moment as I now understand why my favorite AB protein shake uses a trace amount of fructose, along with the stevia, as the natural sweetener. Now, when people express concern that fructose is on the ingredient list, I can assure them it is a good thing.

To your health!
Rita S.

Malnutrition is linked to obesity

If your body doesn't get the nutrition it needs it goes on the defensive, this may sound weird, but true. Dieting and cutting calories drastically doesn't work. If you truly want to lose weight you have to give your body the nutrients it needs to survive. If you do not, it thinks it is "starving" and every ounce of fat you have will be retained "for the famine ahead."
What you eat is more important than how much you eat. On my journey to lose 85 lbs., I never once counted calories, checked for carb grams, or tallied points. It was a change of mindset that warranted my success. Now, I did not count calories, but DID read labels. I watched for chemicals that retain fat on the body - such as glutamates (MSG), saccharin, aspartame; and those that spiked insulin production thereby storing fat - sugars, simple carbs, high fructose corn syrup.
It was important to detox my liver with an alkaline based detox derived from sea algae - as a dysfunctioning liver does not properly digest and utilize food, and can be a blame for weight gain. (This is a topic in itself.)
Today, I want to share the importance of taking a QUALITY multi-vitamin. Now, I do have friends who don't believe in vitamins - they claim to get all they need from whole foods. Interestingly enough, all the doctors whose health publications I read are pro-vitamin people. Dr. Russel Blaylock and Dr. Mercola state that U.S. soils are so depleted of nutrients that the whole foods, the spinach, greens, vegetables and fruits we depend on for beneficial nutrients, do not have the same nutrition-packed power as produce of the early 1900s. Dr. Peter Matravers states one would need to consume 5500 calories per day to get all the needed nutrients. Now, I know I could personally not consume that much - I am not physical enough to eat 5500 calories without becoming obese. One of my friends that is all about whole foods - is a daily "power athlete", as I would describe her ...and she can burn all that.
I want to share a post by Dr. Mark Hyman, whose blog you may want to subscribe to. He states, "Overwhelming basic science and experimental data support the use of nutritional supplements for the prevention of disease and the support of optimal health." Supplementation SAVES you money when you spend less on co-pays to the doctors office, Rx, OTC drugs - and health alone is worth its weight in gold, which many of us never realize until it is gone.
He provoides great insight, AND links to studies to back up his article, on the importance of quality vitamins, check it out.
Note that he stresses QUALITY vitamins, as I have in past posts. ORAC value is important. Dr. Peter Matravers says, “it’s not how much you eat but how much you absorb”.
ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity and is an indicator of a substance's ability to absorb (stabilize) radical oxygen molecules in the body that are responsible for many different types of cellular damage.
The vitamins my husband and I use have an ORAC value of 10,000 - which makes them a potent anti-oxidant part of our nutritional plan.
Often I am asked how much my vitamin has of this or that. Let's take calcium as an example. My vitamin brand has 600 mg of calcium citrate.
When someone makes a comment that they need to take 800 mg of calcium a day I ask what the ORAC value is of the supplement they are currently using. If they do not know I ask them to inquire, and explain: For any supplement to be labeled standard process it has to have a minimum ORAC value of 4000. What this means, is that non standardized supplements available from over the counter department store brands have an ORAC value less than 4000. Which supplement would you absorb more calcium from? 600 mgs of calcium citrate at an ORAC value of 10,000, OR 800 mgs of calcium with an ORAC value of 2000, or 400, or even 150, which is not uncommon in inexpensive supplements.
Make sense? You truly get what you pay for, and often people are flushing their hard earned dollars with inexpensive brands. Since we have been taking our essential vitamins daily, we have become a healthy family. Because our family nutrition includes multi-vitamins, vegan Omega 3s and other individually geared supplements, our metabolism is healthier, which results in healthier poeple.
2011 has been a great year for us. Our garden did well, and we may expand it this coming year. We expect to feel even more great in 2012 as we continue to explore whole food nutrition, cook creatively without convenience of malnourishing processed foods, and shop more from local farmers. We are fortunate to have several within a few short miles from our home that sell direct. CSAs are becoming more abundant, be sure to look one up in your area!
Lastly, I am booking into January for "New Year, New You" classes. Are you already considering a 2012 weight loss resolution? Are you confused by calorie counting, carbs, point systems, and label reading? This is my passion and I would be happy to share how I successfully lost 85 lbs. by doing only one of those things...label reading. Contact me to book your class for January, or jump start yet this December by booking a class the evenings of December 27, 28 or 30th!

To your health,
Rita S.

Health Activisit Nominations are Open

Hi All,
I have a new post started on the importance of liver detox, but it may be a few days before I sift through the information I have gathered to create a plausible post.
Meanwhile, I received an email from WEGO, an organization I recently joined.
They are accepting nominations for health activist of the year - there are a number of categories. Perhaps you enjoy my blog and would like to nominate Purely Living - because truth is, who wouldn't want some prizes? I have no idea what they are, but I assume would be health related and I am always up for continued improvement of my health.
Previously I shared how important it is for me to be able to give back with my helath and wellness business. Today my company announced that it is partnering with the "Look good...feel better" program, which empowers and educates cancer patients all over the world in making smarter decisions for their well being and look and feel great at the same time. In December they will be donating $350,000 in retail product to these programs - now THAT is GIVING BACK!
I love the organization and ethics of my network marketing company. I love the values and beliefs that it stands for, and I LOVE that it gives back - always.
If you take the time to nominate me as a health activist - I thank you ahead of time.

To your health,
Rita S.

Giving Back With My Business

Today we kicked of the Advent Conspiracy at our church with messages of hope. We heard from key people serving in our community with Boys & Girls Club of America, R.E.S.P.E.C.T., and Middleton Outreach Ministry. This is the fourth of fifth year we will be involved. It helps us, as a family, to refocus the commercialism of the season to the real reason - the birth of Jesus Christ and the salvation He came to give.
In my home business, I love to see those who have already been successful give back. Two weeks ago when one of my friends received the keys to her earned Mercedes Benz - we celebrated with her. She shared with us, James, the child they support through Streams of Mercy. Prior to her network marketing business her family could have never afforded "extras" such as this.
As in past years I am collecting Toys for Tots for the U.S. Marines. If you are in Cross Plains, Wisconsin - look me up on facebook for drop locations prior to December 7. I am also in process of organizing a community caroling event which will also collect non perishbables. I will keep you posted on this as arrangements are made.
I do have bigger dreams of making a difference...as an independent consultant for AB International - my greatest vision extends beyond providing transportation for my family that is safe and won't break down. My sister's family works with Lifeline - a mission focused organization and they volunteer in Haiti. I was once told that materials to build one of the small homes, made with homemade bricks, costs about $500. Wouldn't it be cool to provide $2000 and tell my sister's family to "go build 4 homes"? Years ago, with my back being in such bad shape, mission work was not even a question. But who knows...the way my health has turned around with Essentials and losing 85 lbs. - perhaps I will be called to travel with my daughter in the future, to serve together as a family on such a trip. With God, anything is possible!
One of my greatest desires, that stems from 1999, when my husband and I first considered adoption, has been to create a foundation that provides scholarships. Not to students or children, but to parents who desperately want to open their home and love a child, but have no financial means to adopt. This is a heart breaking situation to be in. If it were not for 911 and the huge drop in interest rates, we would have never afforded the loan that allowed us to adopt. It is an injustice, considering how many children are in homes either abused and unloved, or both.
I love that I can make a difference in work I am passionate about. For those of you who support me, thank you. I encourage you to find your passion, and make your own mark in the world - make a difference!

To your health,
Rita S.

Progesterone Effects on Bone Density & Osteoporosis

As this weekend draws to a close I would like to say hello to those I met at the Holiday Market Expo in Madison this weekend. Thanks for coming by!
My mother gave me a printout of a very interesting article today regarding a spinal infusion surgery using Medtronic's controversial bone morphogenetic protein-2, or BMP-2 (Amplify). Standford U studies are finding numerous links to cancer, and I was just reading other articles about this citing additional serious side effects including sterility, and more.
What does all this mean to me? It makes me thankful that I am using Prolief natural progesterone cream not only to maintain hormone balance, but have peace in knowing that progesterone cream increases my bone mass index and I am warding of osteoporosis before it gets started (not to mention countering excess estrogen in my body to help ward off cancer).

There are lots of articles and lawsuits out there right now on Medtronic's Amplify. Basically Amplify allows surgeons to do a bone graft without using bone from the actual patient. As we have already learned with synthetic hormones - introducing foreign substances to the human body that do not match molecular structure of what God has created only causes problems. You can read more about Amplify here.
To help my parents out with their failing eyesight, I retyped Dr. Bean's hand out she had provided to consultants with instructions for using Prolief progesterone cream in a larger type size. I was feeling a bit lazy in regards to typing all the text, and wanted to find the information Dr. Bean had provided at the bottom of the page regarding osteoporosis, but could not find the exact excerpt from his book, “What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause” by Dr. John Lee.
However, I did find information that you will find interesting no doubt - as I did...
Patients of Dr. John Lee have found relief from menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and insomnia, and they also reported relief from a wide array of other symptoms as diverse as dry eyes, bloating, irritability, gall bladder problems, osteoporosis pain, hair loss, and lumpy or sore breasts, for example.
Lee has documented research from around the world noting the positive effect on bone health with progesterone use, and began to get bone density tests for his patients on progesterone. Within a few years Lee realized that these women were gaining significant bone density - particularly those with the worst bone density to begin with.
Lee recommends patience: “If a woman has not been making progesterone for a number of years her body-fat progesterone ratio is probably very low. Since progesterone is fat soluable, it is likely that during the first month or so, much of the progesterone that is absorbed will be taken up by body fat." For these women Lee recommends 2 oz. of the cream each month (Prolief is a 2.5 oz bottle) for the first two months. (Essentially this is approximately 3-4 pumps per day rather than the recommended two). After this period one ounce should be sufficient.
This is one of the reasons why I tell many premenopausal woment that it may take 3-4 months for their symptoms to subside.
Since prevention or reversal of osteoporosis is a goal, Lee recommends a serial lumbar bone density (BMD) test to monitor improvement. If BMD rises one-half jar per month for 10-12 months, then one knows the dosage of progesterone is sufficient. Individual needs vary - the correct dose is the dose that works.
Previously I have blogged about studies indicating many positive attributes of progesterone cream for brain function. I came across this today as well...
Progesterone and Brain Health: Brinton RD, Thompson RF et al, “Progesterone receptors: form and function in brain,” Front Neuroendocrinol 2008 May;29(2):313-39. Epub 2008 Feb 23. Research is coming out almost weekly showing how important progesterone is to brain function. “…progesterone has multiple non-reproductive functions in the central nervous system to regulate cognition, mood, inflammation, mitochondrial function, neurogenesis and regeneration, myelination and recovery from traumatic brain injury.” Furthermore, progesterone is everywhere in the brain: “Remarkably, PRs [progesterone receptors] are broadly expressed throughout the brain and can be detected in every neural cell type.” I have downloaded a PDF of the abstract of this entire study and will be happy to email it to you if you wish to learn more.
Dr. Lee stated he would apply progesterone cream to his parent’s foreheads if either were to have a stroke. That statement resulted in many colleagues from all over the world contacting him to learn more. It wasn't too long ago I had shared a news story of a young man in a tragic accident and in a coma for months. He was predicted to be brain dead. However, every day his mother applied progesterone cream to the young man's forehead, and when he came out of his coma he had 100% brain function. The man stated how grateful he was to his mother for her diligence and knowledge so that he can live a full life, as he has a long journey ahead to learn how to walk again.
Knowing this ...it is one reason that I make sure every week I apply my progesterone cream to my forehead at least once a week. I am fully aware of the importance towards brain function on many levels, and benefits in stroke prevention. I will close today with one more quote by Dr. Lee:  “Over the past 15 years I have been struck by the fact that patients on progesterone (without estrogen supplements) have been remarkably free of heart disease.”
I began my business because of a $34 bottle of progesterone cream that can change lives and save lives. It allows me to help people and I am passionate about doing so. And although it took awhile, what is especially fulfilling for me is that my message is getting through to my parents and in-laws, and they are using natural progesterone cream. Protecting my loved ones means everything!
To your health!
Rita S.