After watching Fat, sick and nearly dead I have decided to do the 15 day juice fast diet.  That and seeing my cousin and his wife who did it together. He lost 26 lbsin 15 days on straight juice and she did juicing but 1 meal a day as she is still breast feeding but she lost 6lbs.

Needlesss to say, I was inspired.  So I started the fat sick and nearly dead diet and let me tell you.

DAY 1, Day 2 and Day 3 were harder than heck!  but by Day 4 my face started glowing and I had more energy. and I lost 5 lbs.

My reasons for wanting to the fast were really to start 2012 fresh! and the movie and real life examples inspired me.

I found that I needed to modify the fast as just juicing was not enough for me. I added in the raw fruits and veggies, made some soup of raw veggies and it really helped.

My suggestion if you are going to do the sick fat and nearly dead diet to plug into their website http://jointhereboot.com/ and go raw for a few days before just to get an idea if you like the diet.

Some things you need to get started:

1. A juicer

2. Time- it takes time to juice

3. fiber….trust me on this one

4. lots of fresh fruits and veggies

5. An adventrous soul

6. The mindset make it to day 3 and all will be well

I’ll be posting my favorite juice recipes tomorrow!

But the group says the science isn’t yet strong enough to advocate infant formulas containing probiotics. And probiotics shouldn’t be given to children who are seriously ill.

That’s according to a new American Academy of Pediatrics report published Monday in the journal, Pediatrics.

About 500 different bacteria live naturally in a healthy human’s intestinal tract, and there’s a growing understanding of the role they play in health. For years, companies have been making claims that their probiotic pills, yogurts, milks and juices help digestive health and the immune system.

The new report summarizes findings from high-quality scientific studies on some of the active ingredients in the products. The report says probiotics taken early during diarrhea from a viral infection may shorten the illness in otherwise healthy children.

And probiotics also may prevent diarrhea in children who are taking antibiotics, which can sometimes cause the condition.

On the other hand, more evidence is needed before AAP can recommend probiotics for constipation, irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn’s disease. And there’s not enough evidence for recommending probiotics in pregnant women or infants to prevent eczema or asthma.

Future research may find more benefits, the report says. And “prebiotics,” which contain fiber and other nutrients that feed probiotic bacteria, also may someday prove helpful.

One warning: Children with compromised immune systems or who use intravenous catheters should not receive probiotics because serious infections have been reported.

The bacteria in the products are only helpful if they’re alive, which isn’t always the case.

“Consumers should keep in mind that a large percentage of organisms in a probiotic supplement may die before the product is even purchased and labels can be misleading or incorrect,” said Dr. Tod Cooperman, president of ConsumerLab.com, which tests products and reports on their quality.

The company tested probiotic supplements last year. Two children’s probiotics contained only 7 percent and 21 percent of the listed amounts. Cooperman suggested that products be stored in sealed containers out of heat, light and humidity. He said it’s best to refrigerate them.

___

Online:

American Academy of Pediatrics: http://www.aap.org

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 Cheap & Exciting date idea #1 :  Skip the movie and go to a hotel.  Movies are expensive and you can wait for them to come out on netflix.  Spend the same $50.00 on a hotel, much more fun than watching some one else enjoy life!

#2: Hire a babysitter and go to a drive through movie and act like a teenager again

#3:  Take a walk on the beach or park while holding hands.  As a couple you can talk or say nothing at all but the simple act of holding hands can be wildly refreshing.

#4: Play a sport together.  There is nothing more exciting than playing a game of horse or soccer or touch football.  In addition to the competition ( I am very competitive) the exercise and sweatiness makes the date much more fun.

#5: Send the kids to Grandma’s house or their best friends – Spend the danicing.  Who says you have to go to the “hottest” club to dance, some times your Ipod and living room can do the trick!

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The O’diet by Missy Giffor with Center of New Beginning in Lake Oswego, Oregon is a wonderful book. 

Having met Missy personally and seen the results that she has gotten over the years from her 12 week Make over I knew that she was on to something good.  I mean every woman that walked in that door looked AMAZING and felt great 12 weeks later.

I had to buy the book.

This book teaches you all the benefits of eating preservative, organic and pesticide free.  I really did not understand that the preservative and pesticeds that I was consuming in my food was hurting my body so much. However, in the book ” The O’diet” I finally get why eating Organic is so good for you.

Anyways, I have almost finished the book and am anxious to start my 12 weeks.

 Did you know that plastic bags take up to 1000 years to decompose on land and 450 in the water ?

Speaking of Water- there are more than 100,000 marine animals dying from our plastic bag fetish er uh..convenience.

 Let’s make a change-let’s stop using plastic bags, there are several viable alternatives.

1. Paper- paper is an option that seems viable and easy to do.  Most paper bags are made from recycled paper.  The benefits are that paper bags can be reused and hold more than plastic bags. 

2.  Switch to carrying re-usable canvases/mesh bags.  While I understand that it’s difficult to shop w/kisd and bring your own bags- I think that its a good start. 

Here is My Personal Challenge:  Use Canvas bags for Grocery shopping!

So here is my thought- I am going to try using canvas bags to carry my grocery for 30 day or 4 trips to the grocery store. 

I think that I will need at least 4 large canvas bags to take with my to the store.  Now remember, I have a 2yr  old-so shopping should be a fun experience! I will blog how my alternative to plastics trial goes.

Wish our planet well, one bag at a time! ~Melody

It’s almost like fighting a battle at the grocery store.  Even if you try to eat healthy buying fresh fruits and veggies-you have to hope that they don’t have dangerous bacteria on them.  Why do we as American consumers allow this to go on?

Eating fresh, healthy foods should be our right.  And it’s a shame that we have spend extra time sorting out what’s good for us and what’s going to cause cancer, hormone deficiencies, diabetes, etc.  It’s wrong really.

Never in our lifetime have so many Americans been on on medicine for diseases that are treatable with Gulp-diet and exercise.

What are the solutions? For the lucky few that live near organic farms, or have markets we can shop there. Others can shop at Whole foods or Wild Oats or other large healthier grocery stores.

 But what about the rest of us? those who are on a budget or live in the boonies (like we do) what are we to do?

 I’d like to hear from you-how do you think that we can get our grocery stores to only carry healthy foods?  That won’t cost you an arm & a leg?

Here are some cool links: http://www.thefutureisorganic.net/index.html

http://www.organicconsumers.org/