Health in High Heels

Spring has officially sprung and before we know it, tulips will be popping their pretty colored heads for the world to see. For those of us who have been under a thick blanket of snow for the last few months, this is a magical time of the year! The birds will settle back in on their ponds and the bees will start humming about with their business!

This truly is the best time of the year to focus on cleansing, rejuvenation and renewal! This month’s Health in High Heels is loaded with inspiration from your Raw Diva Community, as well as stories, programs and exciting news to inspire you to make the most of this season and get on board one of our cleansing programs!

We hope this issue of Health In High Heels finds you more confident and sassy than ever. Remember, this is written for and about YOU! Give yourself the time to sit back, relax, giggle and get inspired by another amazing issue of Health In High Heels. easter bunny

How did you hold up to the temptation of cute little innocently shaped chocolates last weekend. If you felt in control and a few nibbles passed without a problem, then good on you. If the post Easter intoxications are leaving you feeling a bit puffy and out of control, then you're going to love this issue. We've got a focus on Cleansing and Detox.

We've also added and incredible addition ot our Cravings and Emotional Eating program. As well, below you will find diva treats in the form of another complimentary interview that we'd like to share with you.

Members of our Sisterhood program get between 3 to 5 inspiration interviews a month. Tonight is Renée Loux, and we are SO excited about it. Anyway, be sure to scroll aaalll the way down to check out our calorie-free Easter treat sent with love and cleansing vibes from us,

If you had been hoping to catch a space in the Body Enlightenment Spring Cleaning program, then we're sorry to say that the program is COMPLETELY SOLD OUT!
A lot of people have been asking us:

We feel it's really important address your individual needs and get acquainted with you. When addressing weight loss and nutrition we just wouldn't feel good passing off another e-product without really listening to your concerns and finding out what we can do to support you the most! We spend a great deal of time chatting personally with each and every participant to make sure they feel supported and confident about the program.

The Body Enlightenment System is not just another program. We want to get people OFF the eating roller coaster, but that's only going to happen with real live communication.

If you order now, you'll still be able to participate in the events, but you'll be placed on a waiting list for private consulatations. At at this stage, we're sorry to say, you might be waiting several weeks!!!

This recipe was recently sent to us from one of our 7 Day Diva Detox participants, and we so appreciate the contribution! If you have a juicy kitchen success to share, please send it to us. If we fall in love it too, we’ll post it on our blog, a future issue of Health in High Heels, or even in an upcoming recipe book.

1 banana
1 kiwi
1 pear
a handful or two of mixed baby greens
3-4 leaves of dinosaur kale
and some water

Watching The Raw Diva Community expand this month has been really exciting. The addition of 7 new contributors to our website for Raw Moms has been so well received! We also have a new contributor coming to our Raw Diva site, but we're keeping her under lock and key for juuuust a bit longer!

We’re thrilled to have these contributions involved, and we're already busy working on some fabulous new projects that we’ll be announcing in the near future! Stay tuned!

I thought you'd be interested to see my new refrigerator collage to help inspire me to CONTINUE on my raw food & SMOOTHIE program!! It was fun & it's so colorful & enticing! Who knows maybe it will WORK!!!
- Vanessa

By the way, Vanessa is the Clutter Free Diva! She’s a decluttering and Feng Shui consultant and will be guiding us through an incredibly transformational closet cleaning and kitchen-purging adventure with Body Enlightenment System participants starting on March 29th.

In the Raw Diva Community, we’ve recently had a lot of people trying out the famous “Lemonade Cleanse” or “Master Cleanse”. Even Tera gave it a go, albiet with little success this time around. You can check out her repeated attempts on succeeding at Day Three on the Lemonade Cleanse Blog!

Tera's challenges aside, we thought you might appreciate the stories of two of our Raw Divas who did successfully complete the 10 day Lemonade Cleanse this month. Enjoy!

One Diva’s Journey on the Master Cleanse
By Katherine Joy Freeman

This all began when I took on the recent 3-day green smoothie challenge. After the first day I was feeling like I needed something even simpler. I was having a lot of bloating and water retention and was unhappy with some extra weight that was creeping up on me. I was discouraged and a bit confused about eating in general. I happened to mention these things to Tera in an e-mail and she told me she was going to do the Master Cleanse.

I had tried to do this detox on several other occasions and was not able to make it past day 2 or 3. I intuitively knew this was something I needed to try again but this time more informed. So after two days of green smoothies I transitioned to the lemonade diet which in turn transitioned me back to feeling better.

The day I started there was a teleconference with Peter Glickman and Tera which really got

me motivated. I read as much as I could about The Master Cleanse during the 10 days so I could understand what the benefits are and what my body could expect to go through. This was the key to my success! I was fascinated about the history behind the Master Cleanse and how it has been used for many years as a healing tool. I also read other people’s experience on the cleanse that kept me going during moments of weakness – and believe me there were quite a few! The literature really enforced how important it is to complete the full 10 days and then carefully follow the guidelines to come off the cleanse.

My intention was to cure the water retention, release the extra weight I put on, eliminate bloating, give myself a well needed break from eating, and to evaluate my relationship with food and most importantly regain some peace of mind. At the end of 10 days the water retention was gone, I lost 10 pounds, the bloating was gone, and I got the peace of mind I was in search of. I also felt a great sense of accomplishment and renewed confidence in my body’s ability heal and restore itself. My skin was very clear and hydrated, my eyes were brighter, I felt very clear and focused, and it was great to slip right into my “skinny” jeans. I loved the simplicity, and I felt back in control. I had these incredible moments of clarity and feeling the best I have in years.

I was eating about 80-90% raw prior to the cleanse but realized I was consuming too many fats. I slowly transitioned off the cleanse with the recommended orange juice then I have been doing a lot of mono meals and lots of green salads. Seems like by body can’t get enough greens – that’s really what I crave since I started the cleanse. It’s like my body reset its natural way of eating clock and now I just need to stayed in time with myself and follow its lead.

scale

I am now 10 days post cleanse and I have kept off the weight – I may have put back on 1lb or less. I decided that my body was not feeling “done” with the lemonade so I started going back to having mostly lemonade and then having a mono meal or green salad or green smoothie in the late afternoon and/or early evening.

After the cleanse, I slowly introduced food back in to see how my body was responding – the mono meals are great for doing this. I am eating smaller portions, less fat, and I am eating less often later in the evening. I can’t say enough about the wonderful benefits of doing this cleanse. If you allow yourself to go through the entire 10 days it’s really an amazing process. It was not super easy for me to do but I found that I felt very confident in the end and was reminded that I can do more than I thought I could! I am carrying that reminder into other areas of my life.

I am truly grateful for the inspiration of our Raw Diva Tera who initiated this journey for me. Being apart of the Raw Diva Community continues to lead me to wonderful new experiences and higher levels of self love and acceptance. Thank you for allowing me to share this with you all.

Katy Joy Freeman

The Raw Divas created a website: mylemonadecleanse.com where you can read my daily journal while on the cleanse.

Several weeks ago The Divas had a teleconference with Peter Glickman, author of "Lose Weight, Have More Energy, and Be Happier, In Just 10 Days".  I was impressed with Peter. I was especially impressed with his feelings that his fast is not for everyone. Like me, he feels that each person has to find that which is ultimately best for them.

After talking to Keely, we made the decision of attempting Peter's ten day Master Cleanse.  To be honest I wasn't sure I could last the ten days without eating.  Today is day nine.

Like any fast, the Master Cleanse is not something to be taken lightly. I'm not really sure that its natural for the body to go ten days without food. Maybe a day every now and then, but ten days? I know there's a "juice feast" that has become the craze lately, but 93 days is just totally crazy in my book. This boy can't see 93 days without solid food.

Ten days is really my limit.  But it really hasn't been that bad. I really haven't been hungry.

The lemon juice, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and water mixture is rather tasty. The biggest issue has been boredom. I'm not a mono meal person. I like new things that excite the palate. Eating is not just to give our bodies the fuel they need. Down through history it has been both a religious and social experience.

If you want to fast, Peter's program is an easy way to jump-start the system in a short period of time. Of course some may wish to consult their health care provider, because 10 days without food is a shock to the system.

The one thing I wish Peter would do is spend more time in his book talking about coming off the fast. That's why I'd also recommend Sproutman Peter Meyerowitz's book, "Juice Fasting and Detoxification" to be read and used in combination with Glickman's book. The Sproutman spends an entire chapter on ending your fast. More damage can be done to the body by jumping back into bad habits, than all the good you might have accomplished by fasting. I plan on taking close to five days before I'm back to a regular raw diet.

Am I glad I did the Master Cleanse? Yes. I think it was a great experience. I was impressed by Peter Glickman, and his belief that ultimately we have to make our own choices. I agree with him that the Master Cleanse isn't for everyone.

What now? I spend more time on portion control and food combining. Just because I'm mostly raw doesn't mean that I always eat right. I'm guilty of having liquids with my meals, which flushes the system without allowing the foods to naturally digest. I'm guilty of having "raw junk food". I'm learning that some raw plans can be just as unhealthy as a SAD diet.

Thankfully, we've got the Raw Divas to help pull us together as a community, and to remember that life is a learning process.

Oh, and I've lost at least 8 pounds and another notch on my belt...

We think so. In fact, we have received so much positive feedback from this INCREDIBLE and inspiring call with Peter Glickman, that we decided to transcribe the interview and turn it into an inspiring e-book.

If you sign up for The Diva's Guide to Cravings and Emotional Eating TODAY, you'll get access to this original teleseminar transcript, as well as the original teleseminar recording and WE GUARANTEE this call alone will transform the way you look at cravings and emotional eating and get you totally inspired to take on your health in a whole new way!

Hear ye! Hear ye! After multiple requests, much consideration, finger twiddling, and gum chewing, the Raw Divas have decided to make it OFFICIAL!!

Over much of the last year we've had a lot of giggles about the idea of hosting a great, big pajama party and sassy Raw Diva event. Well, it seems our plans are finally about to be realized!

(As soon as you’re done you’ll be directed right back to this Health and High Heels so you can continue your reading!)

Stop Obsessing About Fruit, Fat or Raw vs. Cooked ! Just Eat More Greens!
By Amy De Wolfe

An often repeated discussion here in the raw food world, seems to center on disagreements of whether a high fruit diet is best, and then assumptions are often made that a diet not high in fruits needs to be high in fat. These discussions frustrate me, as they really miss the whole key to a healthy diet (raw or otherwise).

While fruits, nuts, and seeds all play an important role in a well-rounded, healthy diet, the real stars of the show in optimum health are greens. Whether you’re a fruit-loving raw foodist, a supplement fan, a low-sugar advocate, or anything in between, the core of your diet should be fresh greens of all kinds.

1. Mineral salts naturally occurring in greens help neutralize and expel waste in our bodies.

3. Greens provide important nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, potassium, phosphorus, zinc and other minerals not found in fruits, nuts and seeds (unless you eat the white pith or seeds of oranges or figs, blended for digestion)

5. Greens (especially sunflower greens – which are delicious) are a wonderful source of lecithin, which helps break fatty acids down into a digestible form

6. Greens are full of chlorophyll and carotenoids (components of vitamin A), which benefits the blood, tissues, and inflammation, supports our immune system, our vision, and protects against coronary disease, and tumours

7. Greens are our best sources of folates and folic acid (a B vitamin), which are important for cell growth and reproduction

8. Greens like spinach, parsley, kale, and mustard greens, are extremely high in vitamin C.

Unlike fruits and fats, leafy greens have never been accused of causing acidity in the body.
In fact, greens help the body become more alkaline, which is a goal of many raw foodists who understand that illness can only exist in an acidic environment in the body.

Worried about the cost of buying fresh, organic greens in sufficient quantities?

Remember, farmed greens are simply cultivated wild herbs and greens. For a truly low-cost and nutrient rich diet, consider edible wild greens. A little research into your local edible flora and fauna could provide you with some of the highest quality food in your diet!

Another cost-saving tip, is to grow your own! There are many books and website dedicated to teaching people how to easily grow the highest quality greens, even in small, city kitchens. Sunflower greens are one very easy and delicious green that can be grown this way, without fancy equipment.

So now that you know why you should focus your diet on greens, and you know how to do it in a way that suits any budget or environment, you might have one other issue that has kept you from becoming a full-fledged green practitioner yourself:

Many people have the notion that greens don’t taste good. If you fall into this unfortunate category, take heart! Greens are an acquired taste for some people, especially if your taste buds are more familiar with processed grains and fat-filled sauces than fresh produce! Most people find that the more greens they eat, the more they come to fall back in love with the food that nature intended for us.

A great way to ease into a greener diet, is by adding green smoothies to your daily menus. While the appearance of a green smoothie can be intimidating, an attractive jug and a few recipes have proven that even the most cooked food eater can enjoy greens in their diet in this form!

Another great way to get more greens is to eat them in salads with fruit. Salads of luscious and soft baby spinach topped with juicy mandarin orange slices and velvety sunflower sprouts don’t miss fatty dressings at all, and you might be surprised at how enjoyable they are as a main dish.

According to Ann Wigmore, “after you’ve been eating lots of green foods for six months to a year, you will feel that something is missing unless you have them each day. When you recognize this, your body is beginning to take a more active role in food selection, and that is the purpose of any good health program – to help you tune in to your own body’s needs.”
April’s Issue of Health In High Heels will be pulling out all the Green Stops! Watch for April’s Great Green Gazette to learn more!

The 4 Things To Focus On To Ensure You Look and Feel Your Best
(Hint: One of them, you might NEVER have thought of!!)

What it takes to get to the place where you can easily maintain your weight.

How to get off the raw-cooked roller coaster. (It's easier than you think!)

We wouldn't be divas if we hadn't asked him to give us the scoop on his new girlfriend!

What are his plans from here on out?

The two things you simply must avoid if you don't want a puffy face and dark circles under your eyes!!

How vanity sparked his raw food pursuits and interests and how his passion for raw food and conscious living may help him leave modelling behind.

When you've reached a plateau with your raw food diet, the next step in your nutrition evolutions is... anthony

What makes him the PERFECT consultant for most women who are passionate about raw foods, natural beauty and... ...eating disorders.

How many days it takes for cooked food to show up on your skin, and how many days it takes to get rid of it again.

The 3 things you simply must eat to have BEAUTIFUL skin.

Superfoods: Are they necessary?

How to Eat Like a King in Central Park for free all summer.

How to make use of your neighbors back yard and public parks for your own wild food gardening.

To enjoy these and other bits of inspiration, and Anthony charm that will leave you smiling click this link. Enjoy more calorie-free treats, sent with love from The Raw Divas.

If you would like to send The Raw Divas feedback, suggest a "Health in High Heels Newsletter" topic, or ask a question that could be featured in a future issue of "Health in High Heels", please do not hesitate to send us a message customerservice@therawdivas.com. Please note that we are unable to offer medical advice.