5 things to leave behind in 2013!

Where I am it is 2 hours until the NEW YEAR!  It is so refreshing to start a new year! 

Here are 5 things I think we as people living on earth should leave behind in 2013:

1. Consuming GMO's and other chemicals and preservatives. 

2. Eating corn syrup, refined sugar and aspartame. 

3. Over indulging in processed junk foods. 

4. Dairy that is not organic.

5. White flour and white bread. 

I also wrote down 5 things I personally want to leave behind in 2013. And then I wrote down 5 things I want to achieve in 2014!

Write your lists too! Live the life you want. I know it's not always easy but we just have to do it.  Here's to our healthiest year yet!

And if you are struggling with a healthy lifestyle, it doesn't have to be that hard, hire one of the Earth Diet mentors or myself to keep you in check and help you with your health goals! 

HAPPY HAPPY healthy New Year! 

Love Liana 

302 days to book launch!

What will you do to celebrate? 

In 302 days the Earth Diet book will be out! Tuesday 28th October.

These recipes have already helped thousands to improve their health and even heal some diseases. It is obvious that when we put so much nutrition into our bodies that our immune system is boosted and our cells are nourished! Excess weight is usually the first to drop! 

Maybe this book can help millions of people?! What do you think? I am putting together an Earth Diet book launch team. Email me at liana@theearthdiet.org if you would like to be part of it! 

Imagine if you can make a huge difference to the lives of your loved ones and others around the world!

Love Liana 

The Eat Your Heart Out Diet

For quick contact > find me on Instagram @amazon_ashley

FOR OUR HEALTHY EATING EBOOK CLICK HERE

Welcome to the Eat Your Heart Out Diet!
It has been 2 years since we originally posted this to Pinterest and we have watched it grow like wildfire, and we couldn't be happier! We love seeing your success. 

Below is the information you will need to 10 pounds in one week by eating AS MUCH AS YOU WANT! The trick is eating ONLY the allowed foods, on each listed day- this works. 

This is a modified version of a diet we were given by a doctor- its very healthy and very effective. The reason we like this diet is its only 7 DAYS! It is a tough week, but we PROMISE IT WORKS. You get all the nutrients you need throughout the week, just spread out in different days. 

The secret of this diet is that the food eaten takes more calories to burn, than it gives the body- so you can actually eat as much as you want.

We recommend everyone read "It Starts with Food" - its an amazing book that teaches you about the food we eat and how it affects us, we have a link in our sidebar! Go click to change your life!!

We cant say enough about this book and what a game changer it is. 

design by @rosecourtneyrose

We consider this Eat You Heart Out Diet- PHASE ONE! Of course its just 7 days but its not very realistic to continue this process long term. After PHASE ONE, we suggest moving onto PHASE 2- which is basically sticking to WHOLE30. It is still only eating clean, whole foods - fruits, vegetables, protein and healthy fats- but you can have any of them- any day! This is much more realistic for a long term eating plan and the weight will continue to come off, just a little slower than your jump start week with The Eat Your Heart Out cleanse.

Here are my before afters doing 2 rounds of WHOLE 30.

In a nutshell, you only eat meats, veggies, nuts and healthy oils- with minimal fruit for 30 days. We recommend everyone read It Starts With Food (link in sidebar!) before starting Whole30. This Whole30 Program also lets you 'Eat Your Heart Out' No portion control necessary when you are eating clean, folks! I will be posting Whole30 recipes on this blog! Stay and Check them out HERE.

My sister, the amazingly talented graphic designer-  created this fabulous chart for you to print if you'd like to follow the diet.

FOR OUR HEALTHY EATING EBOOK CLICK HERE

Day 253

Thoughts: I have been getting quite a few emails lately asking exactly what I eat on the Earth Diet and what is my favourite foods; so thought I would share with you my five favourite recipes! Maybe you will love them too ;) Nothing processed, no artificial flavours, sugars, all natural ingredients straight from the earth!

1. Spanish Beans and Rice with avocado

I love to eat this after a workout:) The combination of beans, rice, avocado, and zingy lime salad is so fulfilling! mmm!



Ingredients:
1/2 cup white or brown rice
1 cup chicken stock; boil a chicken carcus until you have stock (optional for vegetarians/vegans)
2 cups of cooked red kidney beans or 15oz (450gr) red kidney beans can
1/2 onion
2 cloves garlic
1 stalk celery
1 tbs olive oil
1 tsp paprika
a handful of coriander (cilantro)

Action:
1. Cook rice (in chicken stock optional) for 15 minutes, or until done (check package directions).
2. While rice cooks, thinly slice onion and celery. Mince garlic. Open, drain and rinse beans. Heat oil in a pot/pan over medium heat.
3. Add paprika, onions and celery and sauté until tender, 6 - 8 minutes.
4. Add garlic and sauté 2 minutes longer. Add beans and coriander. Heat through.
5. Cover and reduce heat to keep warm.
6. When rice is done, stir into beans. Add cubes of avocado and fresh coriander and serve! Mmm and I love to eat it with Sweet and Spicy Avocado Salad!!!

2. Sweet and Spicy Avocado Salad



I love this salad with so many herbs, flavours, aromas and different textures in my mouth mmm! It is so refreshing especially in the summer ;)

Serves 2

Ingredients:
-2 Avocados
-A bunch of lettuce
-A bunch of kale
-A bunch of baby spinach
-2 cloves of garlic
-1 small chunk of ginger
-2 or 3 spring onion stems (green onion)
-1 green chilli (if you like spicy)
-2 dates (if you like sweet)
-A bunch of coriander (cilantro)
-A tablespoon of coriander seeds
-1 cucumber,
-2 limes
-A dash of olive oil
-A dash of himalayan salt
-Brazil or walnuts optional

Action:
1. Chop garlic, ginger, spring onion, chilli, dates, coriander (cilantro) and coriander seeds and add to a bowl.
2. Add the juice of the lime, a dash of olive oil and himalayan salt. Stir so the juices of each ingredient can soak each other up!
3. Chop cucumber and avocado in cubes.
4. Break the lettuce, kale and spinach with your hands.
5. Put the leafy greens in a serving bowl and add avocado and cucumber.
6. Pour the dressing over your salad. Add chunks of Brazil or walnuts if desired.
7. Enjoy your sweet and spice!

3. Honey Rosemary Chicken with baby spinach



I love the taste of sweetly marinated chicken with rosemary! It is a hearty protein meal, yet still light :)

Serves 2

Ingredients:
-Baby spinach
-Lime
-Free range organic chicken
-Garlic
-Fresh or dried rosemary
-Honey
-Olive oil
-Sesame seeds

Action:
1. Put baby spinach in two bowls and squeeze lime juice all over it!
2. Cut garlic into small chunks, cut chicken into cubes
3. Heat pan with olive oil, add garlic, fry for a minute
4. Add chicken and cook until just gone white then add a couple tablespoons of honey and fresh rosemary. Use as much or little as you like depending on taste.
5. Cook chicken until ready then serve over baby spinach
6. While the juices of that are drizzling over the salad, toss sesame seeds for a couple minutes in the pan and then serve on top!

This recipe was created by Stephanie Williams!

4. Peanut Butter Chocolate Balls



Oh for the chocolate lovers! This is a rich treat of sweetness, chocolate and peanut butter all rolled into one ball! ;)

Serves Many!

Ingredients:
-1/2 cup cocao powder
-1/2 blended nuts of your choice (peanuts if you want it extra nutty!)
-3 tablespoons water
-2 tablespoons agave
-1/2 cup of whole nuts
-2 tablespoons (or more!!!) peanut butter (organic no extra additives or blend your own peanuts)

Action:
1. Add cocao powder, blended nuts, water and agave syrup to bowl and stir.
2. Add peanut butter
3. Taste, and as desired add extra chocolate, agave, nuts, water
4. Stir in whole nuts
5. Roll into balls and store in a container in the fridge or

5. Creamy Strawberry Nut Pie



I love this as it is 100% raw! It may resemble a creamy dessert for many, or ice cream. It is very rich! Yum! It's a bit romantic too ;)

Serves many! Unless you eat it all ;)

Ingredients; crust:
-1 cup brazil nuts
-1 cup shredded coconut (optional)- crack open a coconut and shred it yourself!
-a pinch of himalayan salt
-2 heaping T of carob or cocao powder
-3 dates diced or blended with a dash of water
-A dash of olive oil

filling:
-1/2 cup coconut oil (optional)
-3 dates diced or blended with a dash of water
-2 avocados mashed
-Whole nuts - my favourite is macadamia!
-Fresh strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, your choice! I like to use all of them :)

Action:
1. For Crust: Blend brazil nuts, cocao, dates, water, olive oil and salt into a crumbly slightly wet consistency.
2. Pulse crust into crust-like consistency and line a 9" spring form pan.
3. Freeze while making the filling.
4. For Filling: Combine avocado, coconut oil (optional) and dates into a blender.
5. Stir in chopped or whole nuts.
6. Slice Strawberries and put a layer of them on the crust.
7. Pour filling into crust. Line the top layer with strawberry slices.
8. Freeze the pie for a few hours - until frozen entire way through.
9. Garnish with fresh strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and mint!

More recipes available on The Earth Diet website.

Challenges: Sitting on my butt all day in the car!

Triumphs:

What I Ate Today:

Food fest 1: A avocado!

Food fest 2: 3 nectarines.

Food fest 3: Another avocado :)

Food fest 4: A punnet of blueberries.

Food fest 5: A 3rd avocado :) I love avos - as you can tell from above that 4 out of 5 of my favourite recipes have avocado! Heheee ;)

Food fest 6: A red apple

Recipe: More recipes on www.TheEarthDiet.org

Exercise: I was on a roadtrip for 12 hours today - so I stretched on car breaks. I also exercised my mind - reading me new script for the film "Long Weekend" and locking that into my head!

112 days to go!!!

Day 252

Thoughts: Consistency consistency consistency.

The word “consistent” means “harmonious uniformity or agreement among things or parts” meaning the same throughout in structure or composition. Manifesting anything means being consistent at it. Doing something once won’t help acquire it.

Beholding health and fitness; if you want to either lose weight or tone your body, you don’t just go to the gym once or do a workout routine one time and expect to have the body of your dreams. You make a consistent lifestyle of going to the gym or doing the workout to achieve your desired intention.

It took consistent action to get you into the routine or rut you are in today. Where you are now with your weight, body image, finances, relationships, was not an overnight occurrence. It took consistent action of doing the things that got you to this point now.

"Consistency is everything. Diet is 70% everything." This is the ideology of Lori Morris who is a Personal Trainer at Big Al's Family Fitness. Today I had the opportunity to train with Lori and her consistency is key approach.

Having a trainer that is consistent in behaviour is comforting as I know that if I want to direct my life, I must take control of my consistent actions. Just like in life Lori taught me that toning the body must be consistent; that is constant and regular.

Being consistent also means maintaining a level of focus and concentration on what you do want instead of focusing on what you don’t want. Being consistent is to be consciously aware of what you consistently focus your attention on: what you consistently talk about—to others; to yourself.

If you want to manifest abundance then do actions consistent with that. If you want to manifest dearth then do actions consistent to that.

To me consistency is something you continue to do despite your 'feelings' or 'thoughts' to do otherwise. For example, if I set a goal to work out 5 days a week for a month and on the 2nd week I don't feel like it, or am tired, or think I would rather do something else, that is contradicting against my goal to be consistent. It can happen to me a lot if I allow it. When I do not honour my feelings, I am consistent with what I set out to do.

A successful weight loss habit is consistency. The more consistent the diet, the more likely you are to maintain weight loss year after time. Lori explained that she cannot train you if you go out and binge on junk foods.

What's clear is that a healthy body, detoxification, weight loss and toning is a slow, steady process that requires a certain amount of vigilance, commitment and discipline every day. It also requires that we take chances, getting away from those comforting, and often distracting habits, and replacing them with ones in true alignment to what you want ones.

Being consistent doesn't mean you have to robotically follow the same diet day after day. Some of the things I do to ensure I am having fun along with being consistent are:

-I work treats into my diet. I find that having a small indulgence each day, like Chocolate Balls, Strawberry Nut Cream Pie, Or Earth Diet Chocolate Nut Cookies (recipes on The Earth Diet website) or a handful of macadamia nuts mmm or a bowl of peanuts or cherries, or sweet nectarines, or buckwheat pancakes with maple syrup and strawberries keeps me fulfilled and healthy!

-I plan a cheat meal rather than a cheat day. Giving myself an entire day to eat what I want usually leads to overindulgence and overeating! Instead, I plan on having something I really enjoy like cooked foods, or Honey Rosemary Chicken, Spanish Rice and Beans (Recipes both available on www.TheEarthDiet.org) and then I get back on track with being consistent inside my goal!

-I am always prepared so that I have healthy yummy Earth Diet foods in my house, and if I am going into the city, or traveling to another country or city I will pack avocados, nuts and fruit like cherries and nectarines! Being surrounded in healthy foods absolutely reduces cravings and any temptations I may have when I am out and about!

-I keep things balanced. I realize that watching what goes in (or calories) and eating healthy is important for a goal of being healthy, and so is enjoying life and not obsessing about everything I eat. Sometimes, being too restrictive can lead to me bingeing on the very things I am trying to avoid (like macadamia nuts! Hehe!) .

-I don't give up. There are those days when I eat too many nuts, or chocolate balls, or rice. I do overindulge at times and previous to The Earth Diet I would use that as an excuse to quit and go back to old, unhealthy behaviors. I realize one step out of line with being consistently healthy isn't the end of the world (although my mind likes to tell me it is!) and even if I've really fallen off the fence, at any moment I can always get right back on track by simply making the choice to not give up.

Granted it won’t take you years of consistent action to turn things around like it did to create your present routine or rut; you did that more or less unconsciously. Now you can create consistency consciously, aware and awake.

It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently.

Lorri Morris a Personal Trainer from Big Al's Family Fitness!!!
www.bigalsfamilyfitness.com

Challenges: The old adage, “Practice makes perfect” is a half-truth if you are practicing the wrong thing; then practice only makes permanent.

Triumphs: A consistent player conforms to a pattern; he repeats phrases and thinks in a groove.

What I Ate Today:

Food fest 1: 1/2 of a rockmelon (Cantaloupe)

Food fest 2: A avocado.

Food fest 3: A bowl of peanuts. A nice hearty meal after a body workout :)

Food fest 4: Some more peanuts.

Food fest 5: Mediterranean Dinner! Rice and beans with Cucumber Salad and Avocado :) Oh what a combination :) mmmmmmmmmm



Recipe: Recipe for The Chocolate Balls, Creamy Strawberry Nut Pie, Honey Rosemary Chicken, Chocolate Nut Cookies, Buckwheat Pancakes with Maple Syrup, Meditterranean Dinner can be found on The Earth Diet website www.theearthdiet.org

Exercise: A training session with Lori. I worked my legs and butt with squats and a hand weight, my shoulders and abs. Then I stretched in the sauna :)

113 days to go!!!

Day 251

Thoughts: Colloidal Silver

The Rediscovery of a Super Antibiotic? Colloidal silver appears to be a powerful natural antibiotic and preventative against infections. Acting as a catalyst, it reportedly disables the enzyme that one-celled bacteria, viruses and fungi need for their oxygen metabolism. They suffocate without corresponding harm occurring to human enzymes or parts of the human body chemistry. The it is the destruction of disease- causing organisms in the body and in the food. Colloidal silver was in common use until 1938. Many remember their grandparents putting silver dollars in milk to prolong its freshness at room temperature.

How It Works
The presence of colloidal silver near a virus fungus, bacterium or any other single celled pathogen disables its oxygen metabolism enzyme its chemical lung, so to say. Within a few minutes, the pathogen suffocates and dies, and is cleared out of the body by the immune, lymphatic and elimination systems. Unlike pharmaceutical antibiotics which destroy beneficial enzymes, colloidal silver leaves thew tissue-cell enzymes intact, as they are radically different from the enzymes of primitive single-celled life. Thus colloidal silver is absolutely safe for humans, reptiles, plants and all multi-celled living matter.

Medical applications of Colloidal Silver (use liquid CS internally, gel CS externally): Acne, Dandruff, Lyme Disease, Septic conditions (of eyes, ears, mouth & throat), AIDS, Dermatitis, Lymphagitis, Septicemia, Allergies, Diabetes, Malaria, Shingles, Appendicitis, Diphtheria, Meningitis, Skin cancer, Arthritis, Dysentery, Moles, Skin rashes, Athlete’s Foot, Ear infections, Neurasthenia, Sore Throat, Bacteria, all forms, Ebola, Parasitic infections, Staph infections, Bladder infection, Eczema, Pavo virus, Stomach flu, Bleeding gums, Encephalitis, Plant viruses & fungi, Stomach ulcer, Blepharitis, Fibrositis, Pleurisy, Strep infection, Blood Parasites, Flu, Pneumonia (viral, fungal & bacterial), Syphilis, Blood poisoning, Furunculosis, Prostate, Thrush (yeast infection), Boils, Gastritis, Pruritis, Thyroid, Bubonic Plague, Gingivitis, Psoriasis, Tonsillitis, Burns, Gonorrhea, Purulent Ophthalmia, Tooth decay (neutralize), Cancer, Halitosis, Pyorrhea, Toxemia, Candida, (yeast infection), Hay Fever, Quinsy, Trachoma, Canine parovirus, Hemorrhoids, Rheumatism, Trench foot, Canker Sore, Hepatitis, Rhinitis, Tuberculosis, Chilblains, Herpes, Ringworm, Ulcerated Stomach (ulcers), Cholera, Impetigo, Rosacea, Venereal diseases, Chronic fatigue, Indigestion, SARS, Virus, all forms, Colds, Keratitis, Scabies, Warts, Colitis, Leprosy, Scarlet Fever, West Nile Virus, Conjunctivitis, Leukemia, Scarletina, Whooping Cough, Cystitis, Lupus, Seborrhea, Yeast infection.

Anything liquid Colloidal Silver can do internally, gel Colloidal Silver can do externally. Suggested uses of GEL: all skin irritations including, acne and pimples, eczema, athlete's foot, chilblains, boils, warts, yeast infections, cold sores,sun spots, grazes,rashes,leg ulcers, insect bites, sunburn, cold sores. CS Gel helps speed up healing of cuts or minor burns, helps bring out bruising too. Upon drying it leaves a protective coating. It is transparent, completely odourless and does not stain. After it dries it helps keep out infections.

Satisfied users have taken one tablespoon daily, to a full glass for four days, to establish a level, then one quarter cup daily for maintenance (proportional to body weight for children). Also, colloidal silver can be applied directly to cuts, scrapes, and open sores, or on a bandage for warts. It con be applied on eczema, itches, acne or bug bites. To purify water, add one tablespoon per gallon, shake well and wait six minutes. Mixed this way, it’s tasteless. It is not an allopathis poison.

Veterinary and Garden Use Colloidal silver has worked just as well on pets of all kinds. Used in proportion to body weight, it brings the same, sure results. In the garden, field or greenhouse, add enough to the water or soil and the plants will do the rest. Additionally, there has never been a drug interaction with any other medication, nor can you overdose. Colloidal silver has proven to be both a remedy and a prevention for all infections, all colds, all flu and all fermentation due to any bacteria, virus or fungus even the non-apparent low-grade, general body infections most people have. All living things are in the colloidal chemical state, not the crystalline Substances already in that form, are more readily assimilated by the body. Colloidal silver is the most useable form of the most effective disease fighter there is.

Source: www.2012unlimited.net/CS_gel2.html

Challenges: All happiness comes from the desire for others to be happy. All misery comes from the desire for oneself to be happy.

Triumphs: A sick body with a good heart is more beneficial to future lives than a fit, healthy body that is used for self-cherishing.

What I Ate Today:

Food fest 1: Orange and Grapefruit Juice

Food fest 2: A nectarine

Food fest 3: A avocado

Food fest 4: A beet, celery, ginger, carrot juice

Food fest 5: Jamaican Red Beans and Rice! Ingredients: Rice, kidney beans, garlic, whole peppers, green onions, fresh thyme, the juice from a coconut, and himalayan salt.




Food Fest 6: Rockmelon! So sweet :)



Recipe: The recipe for Jamacian Red Beans and Rice is available on www.theearthdiet.org

Exercise: A one hour workout at Big Al's Family Fitness. Using the weight machines I worked out my calves, abs and legs and I walked 84 stairs! www.bigalsfamilyfitness.com

114 days to go!!!

Day 250

Thoughts: Acupuncture!

Acupuncture is the art and science of regulating the body's energy to relieve pain, treat and prevent illness and to nourish your health and well being. It originated in China more than 2,000 years ago and it was not until the 2nd century BCE during the Han Dynasty that stone and bone needles were replaced with metal.!

Intense or prolonged emotions can cause physical problems. Anger, fear, worry, sadness and joy fluctuate normally throughout our lives. In excess, they can decrease the circulation of energies and substances throughout the body and lead to sickness. Acupuncture unblocks these habitual emotions.

Today I had the opportunity to receive acupuncture followed by massage by Joseph D'Antona who runs a private practice as a licensed acupuncturist, Herbalist and Massage Therapist in New York. He received the distinguished "Clinic award" for demonstrating outstanding clinical performance within a teaching clinic that is one of the largest and most renowned outpatient Holistic facilities in the United States!

Joe used very fine, sterile, surgical steel needles that are slightly thicker than human hair. The needles are used once on a patient and then disposed of. In Joe's hands, it is a safe, effective and usually painless method of utilizing the body's innate ability to heal and maintain a healthy state of balance. Acupuncture is also drug-free, so you avoid and side effects and/or dependency's.

Some conditions that Acupuncture can treat:
*Addictions (drugs, smoking, alcohol, food etc)
*Arthritis
*Asthma, Allergies, Bronchitis
*Acne
*Back Pain
*Breech Pregnancy
*Carpal tunnel
*Chemotherapy nausea
*Delayed labor
*Depression
*Digestion conditions (ulcers, nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, irritable bowel, constipation, diarrhea)
*Ear conditions (ringing & earaches)
*Eczema
*Facial Palsy
*Fibromyalgia
*Flatulence
*Headaches
*Hemorrhoids
*High and Low Blood pressure
*Infections, Colds and Flu
*Impotency
*Infertility
*Insomnia
*Menstrual and female disorders
*Menopause
*Muscle and joint pain (Tendonitis, bursitis, sprains)
*Post-op dental pain
*Sinusitis
*Skin disorders
*Snoring
*Stroke rehabilitation
*Trigeminal Neuralgia
*Ulcers
*Urinary disorders

Acupuncture is a powerful treatment for depression and anxiety. Anxiety disorders affect about 40 million American adults age 18 years and older (about 18%). In a given year, it affects women twice more than men. In Western medicine, generalized anxiety disorder is a psychological and physiological state characterized by excessive, exaggerated anxiety and worry about everyday life events with no obvious reasons for worry. People with symptoms of anxiety tend to always expect disaster and can't stop worrying about things such as health, money, family, work, or school. In people with anxiety, the worry often is unrealistic or out of proportion for the situation. Therefore, daily life becomes a constant state of worry, fear, and dread. Eventually, the anxiety dominates the person's thinking and eventually interferes with daily functioning.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, generalized anxiety disorder is understood as a disorder of Shan You Si ( 善 忧 思) or YuZhen (郁 证). Traditional Chinese Medicine views anxiety not as a brain dysfunction, but more as an inner organs dysfunction. Traditional Chinese Medicine theory holds that each of the Zang Organs plays a role in the emotions. Emotions and organ’s health are intimately connected.

1. Heart/Spleen Qi Deficiency: preoccupation, obsessive worry, aversion to speaking, palpitations, insomnia, fatigue, poor appetite, abdominal distention, teeth mark in the tongue, a pale tongue, and weak pulse.

2. Liver Qi Stagnation Affecting the Spleen: preoccupation, feelings of irritability, moodiness, poor appetite, hypochondriac tightness or pain, muscular tension, fatigue, alternating constipation and loose stools, a pale or dusky tongue with distended sublingual veins, and a wiry-weak pulse.

3. Kidney Qi Deficiency: preoccupation, feelings of fear and dread, and may be accompanied by lower back and knee weakness, lack of sexual desire, frequent urination, cold hands and feet, a pale tongue, and a weak pulse.

4. Lung Qi Deficiency: preoccupation, rapidly changing moods, sadness and easily feeling grief and loss, inability to "let go," aversion to speaking, shortness of breath, fatigue, sweating easily upon exertion, a weak cough, throat discomfort, a pale tongue with a thin white coating, and a thin pulse.

The acupuncturist decides which points to treat by observing and questioning the patient in order to make a diagnosis according to the tradition which he or she utilizes. Joe focuses on the body to see stagnation points using four diagnostic methods: inspection, auscultation and olfaction, inquiring, and palpation.

* Inspection focuses on the face and particularly on the tongue, including analysis of the tongue size, shape, tension, color and coating, and the absence or presence of teeth marks around the edge.
* Auscultation and olfaction refer, respectively, to listening for particular sounds (such as wheezing) and attending to body odor.
* Inquiring focuses on the "seven inquiries", which are: chills and fever; perspiration; appetite, thirst and taste; defecation and urination; pain; sleep; and menses and leukorrhea.
* Palpation includes feeling the body for tender "ashi" points, and palpation of the left and right radial pulses at two levels of pressure (superficial and deep) and three positions Cun, Guan, Chi.

Joe believes we can heal ourselves, and that he cannot heal you, however assist you focusing your energy in healing yourself. He also says clients ask him "But I am not spiritual and don't you have to believe in acupuncture for it to work?" - Joe replied that acupuncture is science; Acupoints are tiny areas on the skin that contain relatively concentrated levels of nerve endings, lymphatics, and blood vessels. Acupoints can be readily identified by their lower electrical resistance, and are usually located in small palpable depressions detectable by trained acupuncturists. Stimulation from needling an acupoint initiates a complex cascade of events that have been studied, researched and grouped into Western theories that attempt to explain how acupuncture works.

My experience:
I had needles in my feet, legs, arms, stomach, forehead and ears to release the trigger points! Trigger points are spots that are not receiving oxygen or blood circulation, so the muscle is shortening up, like a permanent cramp, a thumb-sized dead zone. The acupuncture needle stimulated the muscle, and blood would flow to the area, and my body began to heal that spot. Having these trigger points stimulated is a unique experience and I did not feel most of the needles go in (at all!), except the ones in the ears! The needles caused involuntary movement, like twitches deep in the muscle; I could feel blockages being released and letting go. Once all needles were in place Joe had me lay and breathe while imagining fresh oxygen flowing through my entire body, from my feet to my head, and then a sigh release on the exhale where I could relax and melt into the table. At times I could feel the needle points and the blockage of energy, so I would breathe into it until it was flowing in which I would experience sensations, like a rush or flow of light bubbly energy throughout my entire body. It was like my body, cells, blood and organs were being woken up! After Joe removed the needles he completed the session with a massage. It was absolutely the greatest manipulation of superficial layers of muscle and connective tissue I have ever had, and he is known for his integrity, ethics, consciousness and love for his patients. I walked out feeling calm, light, balanced, and awake - conscious and alive!!!

For Acupuncture and Massage in New York visit The Balance Health and Wellness Center www.631balance.com
Phone: 631 BALANCE

Acupuncture chart from Hua Shou (fl. 1340s, Ming Dynasty). This image from Shi si jing fa hui (Expression of the Fourteen Meridians). (Tokyo : Suharaya Heisuke kanko, Kyoho gan 1716).

Challenges: Know emptiness, Be compassionate.

Triumphs: My religion is to live and die without regret.

What I Ate Today:

Food fest 1: A orange and grapefruit juice mmm mmm mmm a sweet way to start Wednesday ;)

Food fest 2: Strawberries

Food fest 3: Rockmelon (cantaloupe) I love fruit especially in the summer! So sweet, fresh and nourishing!

Food fest 4: A avocado!

Food fest 5: Some more rockmelon :)

Food fest 6: Half a avocado

Food fest 7: Spanish Beans and Rice. Ingredients: rice, red kidney beans, onion, garlic, celery, olive oil, paprika, coriander (cilantro).



Recipe: I ate mostly mono raw foods today, the recipe for Spanish Beans and Rice is available on www.TheEarthDiet.org

Exercise: A 1 hour workout at Big Al's Family Fitness! I worked out my legs, arms and abs and then stretched in the sauna. And then rode my bike home ... in the rain! Lovely and refreshing :)

115 days to go!!!

Source:
www.631balance.com
www.acupuncture.com
www.bigalsfamilyfitness.com
www.theearthdiet.org

Day 249

Thoughts: California Becomes the First 'Cage-Free' Egg State

California Governor Schwarzenegger has signed legislation requiring that all whole eggs sold in that state come from hens that are able to stand up, extend their limbs, and spread their wings without touching either one another or the sides of the cage.

The legislation comes two years after the passage of Proposition 2, which improved the standards for the treatment of animals on factory farms.

Planet Green reports:

“Of course, the hens will still be kept in cages, so the ‘cage-free’ term is still a myth, but for the chickens in California, it will make a world of difference. And the law doesn't come into effect until 2015, but it's a certain sign of a positive future.”

Source Planet Green

In Food Inc. the filmmakers visit inside a chicken farm so Americans can see first hand what antibiotics and high-tech breeding are doing to the nation’s chickens. It used to take a chick three months to grow into adulthood, but with the chemicals put into the feed by the big industrialized food companies, the chicks grow in only 45 days and develop oversized breasts. Morison shows how it has affected the chickens - some of the chickens can no longer stand and die before they are brought to market.

To read more visit Blog Day 201 and Day 195.



Visit: www.theearthdiet.org

Challenges: Truth is only as real as our delusion allows.

Triumphs: I picked the very first ripe tomato off the vine in my garden today! It is my first experience of planting something, producing something and then being able to eat it. Quite unique. :) I also had a nice light day - physically, and I ate entirely raw foods.

What I Ate Today:

Food fest 1: A beetroot (beet), carrot, celery, ginger juice!

Food fest 2: A avocado

Food fest 3: Another avocado mmm creamy!

Food fest 4: A orange and grapefruit juice so sweeeet!

Food fest 5: Green Spicy Avocado Salad - my favourite summer salad and yes I did have it yesterday as well!

Food fest 6: Strawberries while watching Paris Je t'aime

Recipe: Green Spicy Avocado Salad is available on www.theearthdiet.org

Cost:

Exercise: a 1 hour bike ride - 30 minutes of it in the rain! Not by choice, and then I chose it and it was delightful and refreshing!

116 days to go!!!