Friday the 13th

Dun dun duuunnnnn......

And it's a full moon tonight. Spooky! Since it's cloudy and a little cold and a slightly freaky "holiday" I have the perfect meal for y'all to try. This is actually the soup we make on Halloween. It's delicious, healthy, creamy, smooth and velvety. And it's souper simple (I couldn't resist). It's basically a must try. 

Have you heard about miso? It's been used in Asian cooking for hundreds of years. It's considered a superfood. It's loaded with antioxidants, essential minerals such as zinc and manganese, loads of phytonutrients and it's fermented so it's amazing for our gut flora! You can pretty much find it anywhere. This is the kind I buy. I get it from Whole Foods or Natural Grocers. I think QFC might have it too. 

If you don't have meal plans, give this a try! It's a crowd pleaser!

Carrot Miso Soup

2 Tbs water
2 lbs carrots - thinly sliced
1 large onion - diced
4 regular/ 6 small garlic cloves - smashed
1 Tbs freshly grated ginger
4 cups vegetable broth
1/4 cup white miso paste
maple or brown rice syrup - to taste
raw pumpkin seeds - to top

• In a large soup pot, add water, carrots, onions and garlic - sauté until onion is translucent (about 10 minutes)
• Add broth and ginger - cover and simmer until carrots are tender (about 30 minutes)
• Pureè soup in batches in a blender, or all at once with an immersion blender (I like to leave mine a little chunky)
• In a small bowl, whisk together miso and 1/2 cup of the soup - stir the mixture back into the soup
• Taste and add extra miso, salt and pepper and agave if needed
• Ladle in bowls and top with raw pumpkin seeds

Pair this with a delicious green salad and you're set!

Enjoy friends!

Sources:

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=114

Happy Dance

Lately, I've been thinking about being the happiest you can be. In order to do this, it is essential to have gratitude and love in your heart.

The more I look around at the world, the less and less love I see. It's so sad! But every now and then, a story pops up that restores my faith in humanity.

Rather than waiting to read or see something good, I decided long ago, that I would live my life in such a way that I would have joy and happiness and help others do the same.

Cue the song "Happy" by Pharell 

There's a challenge out there, have any of you heard of it? It's called 100 days of happy. I LOVE what they're doing! Check it out!

I will be doing this, starting tomorrow. If you want to see what I'm up to and what makes me happy, follow me on Instagram @ L_GIBSON22.

It is vital for excellent health and wellness to harbor a positive mindset. I'm pretty sure this is one of the best ways to realize how blessed we actually are. Not to mention, it will help get you out of the same old negativity rut.

Who's with me? Let's do this! It's happy time!

You deserve it!

The Coast

This weekend was a lazy one. Sometimes those are my favorites. The week is so crazy busy that it's nice to just chill with my man. So, we hibernated :)

Jon travels all over Oregon for his work and sometimes I get to tag along. This morning we woke up bright and early and headed over to Seaside. We left early enough that we were able to play on the beach for a little while. I love the ocean. It's so powerful and calming. The marina air hadn't burned off yet, so it was cloudy and a little drizzly. But it was still perfect.

After he visited a couple clinics, we enjoyed a picnic in the car. We packed a little brunch before we left. Oregon is so beautiful! I didn't realize how many different shades of green nature has to share until we moved here. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking. There were times I thought we were driving in a painting it was so impeccable.

I think planning ahead is one of the most important things when you travel - especially if you're out and about when you're hungry. Trust me, I have been tempted my the tantalizing smells of food that I know will not make me feel good more than once! However, when I've planned it out and have something with me, I'm able to resist.

Here's to a fantastic week!

Day 10 - 7 Ways I Quit Sugar

Day 10

Think about it. Every bite of food that you put into your mouth stays there for what? Maybe 15 seconds? That’s how long you get to enjoy it and then it’s gone. After that, it goes to your stomach, where your body then turns it into your blood cells, your tissues, your organs, even your thoughts. You literally are what you eat.

Every time you put something in your mouth, you are either preventing disease, or causing it.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO):

“At least 80% of all heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes would be prevented; over 40% of cancer would be prevented” through lifestyle changes.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) says:

“Chronic diseases and conditions—such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and arthritis—are among the most common, costly, and preventable of all health problems.”

If you don’t change, nothing will change. You can sit there and wish that things will happen, but wishing doesn’t do a whole lot of good without a genie.

These are some of the reasons why I did it, now let’s explore how I did it.

1. I educated myself on why it was so important to eliminate sugar. I had a clear goal and a vision of success.

2. I removed all the temptations from my home. Sounds simple enough right? Be sure to read labels and get rid of things with added sugar. And don’t forget to check for artificial sweeteners as well!

3. I stocked up on fresh fruits and vegetables, especially sweet vegetables (carrots, corn, onions, sweet potatoes and squash).

4. I picked up some medjool dates. (In recipes, like mygranola, that usually call for sugar, I would substitute date paste. It worked like a charm.)

5. I grabbed some peppermint and licorice tea. Both of these are herbal and naturally sweet.

6. I had a meal plan. I came up with a menu for my 10 days so there were no surprises. It’s human nature to act on cravings when you’re starving and don’t know what you’re going to eat.

7. I planned my day. I would wake up, remind myself why I was doing this and I would make a checklist for my day.

Now, the big question…what did I eat?

For breakfast, I would have oatmeal with blackstrap molasses, or homemade granola, both with a smoothie. Sometimes it would be my green smoothie, other times I would make my banana smoothie. (I added some hemp seeds to this – delish!)

For lunch, I would have leftovers.

If I needed a sweet flavor in between, I would drink my licorice or peppermint tea. (with this weather, I enjoyed it iced)

For dinners, it varied. But we always eat the trifecta (protein - I prefer plant based, carbs and fats). This set up is critical to feeling full and satiated.  After dinner, I would usually indulge with some chilled watermelon. That’s it, that was my dessert and there were only a couple days where I felt like I wanted more.

Need more ideas for what to eat? Check out my website and enjoy healthy, nutritious, delicious meals!

I also scraped my tongue twice a day. (Get a good quality tongue scraper, they last for years.) This actually helps with cravings as well. Plus it makes your tongue more sensitive to tastes and touch. Eating whole foods that are plant based with no added sugar, will open up your taste buds. You won’t believe how good simple things will taste! Things that didn’t have a whole lot of flavor before will baffle your mind with explosions of flavor. Like a tomato I got from farmer’s market. Can you say YUM?!

I feel marvelous! My skin is clearer (remember that acne family that moved onto my forehead? They are finally packing it up and moving out!). I have more energy, my husband will tell you that I’ve had less mood swings (and so will I), I’ve been sleeping better and I feel so much happier!

I don’t think I’ll go back to eating sugar for a while. I feel too good! I don’t want this to stop! All this and it’s only been 10 days!

If you decide to take a whirl at my 10 day sugar detox, I will provide you with daily emails, each with an action plan. There are more tips for getting to the root of your cravings in those emails. It sounds way more scary than it is. Go ahead and dive in…you can do it! I would love to hear from you! Come say hi on Facebook! 

Sources:

http://www.who.int/chp/chronic_disease_report/part1/en/index11.html

http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/overview/index.htm?s_cid=ostltsdyk_govd_203

Days 8 & 9

Day 8

Last night, we went to the movies. Jon decided that he wanted to jump off the wagon and have some movie theater popcorn with sour patch kids. We made a deal: he would make me air popped popcorn and put it in ziplock baggies so I could sneak it in (I know, I’m a rebel) and I wouldn’t say anything about him ditching me on the detox.  He air popped some for me and away we went. I thought it would be difficult to resist the tantalizing treats, but it actually wasn’t bad. I was more than satisfied with my air popped bliss and the best part was that I didn’t feel gross, or bloated, or disgusting later!

Today was absolutely gorgeous! I love opening our doors and windows on days like today! Here’s my beautiful view!

Lately, I've been thinking about how important it is to be grateful. Saying what we’re grateful for in our heads is fantastic, but if we write it down it’s phenomenal. Gratitude is key for creating a healthy, happy life. 

So, I have a challenge for you. Write down 3 things you're grateful for every day. You’ll be amazed by how much life opens up for you. This helps put you in a positive mindset which is critical for happiness. Try it, you’ll be glad you did.

Day 9

One more day. I can’t believe it’s almost over. I will have a full report for you tomorrow including successes, recipes, and tips of how I did it.

Does thinking about getting off sugar scare you? It scared me, and I knew I had two choices. The first, continue what I was doing. I felt ok, but why settle? The second, try new things, feel the fear and take that step forward anyways. That’s what I decided to do. With all the evidence, I knew I had to. You can too! It’s not too late. Are you ready to feel amazing and try something new, a little scary but incredibly beneficial? You CAN do this!

Do you get freaked out thinking about taking this step alone? You don’t have to do it alone! I’m here to support you. If you’re thinking about doing this, but you’re not quite sure, contact me for a free health history and we can discuss your dreams, your goals and your ambitions.

I’ve heard from several people that they have tried to post comments, but for some reason they aren’t being published. I’m working on this problem, until then, you can get a hold of me through Facebook. So come on over! I would love to hear from you!

Days 6 & 7

 Day 6

Lately, we’ve seen a few HUGE spiders in our home. Yesterday we were getting ready for bed, I had my contacts out and I’m pretty blind without them. As I was snuggling into the blankets, I looked up and saw a gigantic black blob above my head. If it were up to me, I would kill the dang thing, but my husband is so sweet and literally wouldn’t hurt a fly. Every time we have an insect invader, he catches them and lets them go outside. So, he got a jar so he could catch it... 

The spider moved to the corner where the ceiling meets the wall. That’s like the most difficult place to catch an eight legged beast. As Jon was trying to coax him into the jar, the spider decided that it was time to tuck and dive. He dropped to the floor. I was standing on the bed yelling “Kill it! Kill it!” We were both freaking out because we had no clue where he was. All we knew was that he fell behind our bed. 

This thing moved freakishly fast so I thought he was probably half way to China by now. Jon turned on his phone flash light and dropped to the floor so he could attempt to spot him. He moved a couple boxes around and started banging his phone on the ground screaming “I found him, I got him!” He had located the beast and destroyed him. My hero! I’ve never seen him kill a bug, I think I’m rubbing off on him. Last week I scheduled a time for the bug guy to come spray.  So they came today. Finally!

The rest of the day consisted of running errands (where we saw the pics above), doing laundry and watching my guilty pleasure, The Bachelorette. The sugar cravings were much better today. Thank heavens! I can’t believe we’re past the halfway mark! We’re doing awesome!

Day 7

Last night I had a dream that I had a big bowl of Halloween candy in front of me. I mean, this thing was overflowing with goodies. I ate the whole dang thing! In my dream, I felt so sick after eating it. I felt sluggish, I had a stomachache, I couldn’t concentrate and I gained 20 lbs. It was horrible! I was so glad when I woke up! I felt fabulous. (This is a pic of my in-law's dog at Halloween time)

I have been waking up with so much more energy! My thoughts are more clear and focused. Before I was in this sugar detox, I didn’t even realize that I was in a brain fog. I guess you never really know you’re in one, until it’s lifted. I feel amazing! And the best part? I’m not constantly thinking about my next sugar fix. I don’t feel like a slave anymore! We can do this! I believe in you! You are spectacular and unique and incredible! Never forget that!

P.S. If you want in on the action, it's not too late and it's easy! Just write me on Facebook.  (For some reason, comments on my blog aren't coming through. I'm working on it though.)

Days 4 & 5

Day 4

Last night  (day 3) we went out to dinner and I have to say, it was a bit difficult to say no to the tantalizing sweets after. But I did! And I lived to tell the tale.

It’s day 4. I woke up this morning feeling fabulous! I looked in the mirror and is it my imagination, or is the acne that’s been plaguing my face nonstop for the past 4 months finally disappearing?! This is awesome!

It’s Saturday and that usually involves a sweet treat of some kind, so instead we did something new. We went hiking up to Pittock Mansion to see the view. Here are some pics we took along the way.

Man oh man! Tonight was tough! We came home and snuggled up with a movie. I wanted a sweet treat like you would not believe! I stood my ground though. I had homemade popcorn and a little more watermelon instead.  Phew!

Needless to say, today was a fun, adventure packed day with no sugar involved! Life is good!

Day 5

This weekend has been difficult! Weekends are usually when I indulge. Today we went to church and then came home and made an amazing dinner together. We tried a couple new things, forbidden rice and garlic spears.

We had Hawaiian Teriyaki Chickpeas with rice. We mixed the forbidden rice with brown rice. It was so cool, while it was cooking the water turned black! We sautéed the garlic spears with some water and a little salt. They are so bizarre! They had a texture kind of like asparagus and a light garlic-y, artichoke flavor. They we good. We also had steamed kale, broccoli, zucchini and carrots topped with my Better Than Cheddar Sauce. Yum!

It was after dinner that was arduous. I was having such bad cravings, I almost gave in! But I stayed strong! I thought of all of you that are doing this with me, and I couldn’t give up! We're half way there!

To curb the cravings, I drank some licorice tea. It’s herbal and it’s naturally sweet.

I'm excited for this coming week and the amazing opportunities it brings! Keep up the good work! You guys are phenomenal! I'm so proud of you!

It's still not too late to sign up for the 10 Day Sugar Detox. You can do it! You are strong, fierce and fabulous! Sign up by leaving a comment here or messaging me on Facebook. This is YOUR life, LIVE it and feel more amazing than you ever have!