I've Been Hired!

 (In case you don't follow my site www.digitalmention.com - post from today!)


There is one less person on the job market now that #HireHoff has been hired!

If you remember, on June 14, 2010 I launched my Campaign #HireHoff.



I had an overwhelming amount of support during this time. Here were some of my favorites:

• "Also, an online acquaintance launched her ‘hire me’ campaign, #HireHoff, today. It’s such a creative way of putting yourself out there. I can’t wait to see the results!" - Amanda Miller
• Twitterview #92 - with Sarah Kay Hoffman (@SarahKayHoffman)
• "Attn. Hiring Managers ... When you see creativity like @sarahkayhoffman 's #hirehoffman campaign you should take action http://bit.ly/cmUWVX" - @socialnicole
• "This is good stuff RT @sarahkayhoffman: @josippetrusa @genychat #GenYChat tries Campaign #HireHoff Thoughts? http://bit.ly/hirehoff" - @GenYChat
• "U of Minnesota grad creates campaign around hiring her: http://www.digitalmention.com/hirehoff/ via LinkedIn group-- http://ow.ly/22hK0" - @wkellyo

Here are some Stats:

• According to this Poll, most people think it will take them 4-7 months to find a new job. It took me 43 days.
• Here is what you get if you Google #HireHoff.
• 409 people clicked on the direct bit.ly link.
• Viewer Geography: US, Canada, Australia, UK, Argentina, Netherlands, Germany, Latvia, Italy, Brazil, Japan, Norway, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Russia, Belgium, France and Singapore.
• Direct Traffic: 29.33%, Referring Sites: 67.03%, Search Engines: 2.91%.
• Currently a Top Landing Page for the site.

I had multiple people contact me during this time for various positions. I was able to network with some wonderful people, and I learned a lot about being proactive and managing my own brand: Sarah Kay Hoffman!

So what position did I take on that 43rd day?

Community Manager - Fitness/Sporting Goods (FitClub) - Sears Holdings Corporation.

If you know anything about me, you know that I am most passionate about Social Media and Health/Fitness/Food. Merging the two is an absolute perfect fit for me! I believe that a company who can take advantage of this will benefit - at least that's what I am making a 100% commitment to!

I look forward to learning about and engaging with the "community." I am excited to embrace change, growth and success in this role and bringing forth many posts to accommodate it all! (Please note: This blog will continue to be based on my personal views.)

At the end of the day, I can honestly say that even though I was forced into Campaign #HireHoff, it only re-confirmed that, "everything happens for a reason!"

Foodie Friday: Salmon

Foodie Friday: Salmon

I am a huge fan of fish! Fish (Wild-caught, not farmed-rasied) is so good for us (though we need to be careful of fish with high-levels of mercury; ie. Tuna).

Today I am highlighting Salmon. According to World's Healthiest Foods, "Salmon is low in calories and saturated fat, yet high in protein, and a unique type of health-promoting fat, the omega-3 essential fatty acids." They also say that, 

• Enjoying Salmon or Tuna Just Twice Weekly May Help Raise Omega-3 Levels at Least as Effectively as Daily Fish Oil Supplementation
• Omega-3s Better Absorbed from Salmon than Cod Liver Oil Supplement
• Provides Cardiovascular Benefits
• Help Prevent and Control High Blood Pressure
• Protection against Stroke
• Eating Fish Daily Provides Substantially More Protection against Heart Attack
• Omega 3s Help Prevent Obesity and Improve Insulin Response
• Omega-3-Rich Fish Protective against Colorectal Cancer
• Increases Heart Rate Variability-A Measure of Heart Muscle Function
• 
  
  Protection against Fatal Heart Arrhythmia
• 
  
  Just Two Servings of Omega-3-rich Fish a Week Can Lower Triglycerides

And the list goes on! So how do I like my Salmon?

I love "simple salmon." My most favorite thing to do with salmon is to bake it on a little coconut oil and then sprinkle fresh-squeezed lemon juice on top. There is nothing more fresh and natural than this "Simple Salmon Recipe."

So tell me, what do you like to do with your Salmon? If you don't dabble in it much or have never dabbled in it at all, I strongly suggest you get some for this weekend! (And ps. Goes great with wine!)

Foodie Friday

Foodie Friday will definitely be one of my favorite "themes!" I LOVE food and since I'm on a journey to find out what I can eat and how to make the best of it, being a "foodie" is truly fun for me now!

Today it's all about the beet! Yes, a simple beet! 

I hated beets as a child. They had a taste that could not be acquired. But now I am drawn to their naturally sweet flavor!

According to WHFoods, Beets "Provide optimal health, protect against heart disease, lessen inflammation & protect against birth defects." In 1 c. of boiled beets you will consume only 74 calories and still get a whole lot of essential nutrients. 

Beets compliment salads very well! I wouldn't know about the power of beets + feta because I've never had that combination, but have heard it's phenomenal. Because I'm still a plain-old-Jane (working towards more) I appreciate spinach + romaine + beets + grilled chicken + olive oil currently. Try it out - I think you'll like it, too! And the "beet" goes on....

CHEERS!

Wild Card Wednesday

As I mentioned on Monday, many of my Blog posts will be more "themed." I am dedicating Wednesdays to all of you! 

People send me questions all of the time via email, private message and more. Typically people will preface their questions with, "I'm really sorry to be asking you this - I'm sure you get sick of people asking questions, but...." My response is always - "Please don't say sorry. I am happy to help and answer questions." The truth is that I believe the most positive thing about our lives is that we can take our own experiences (positive and negative) to benefit someone else. Mine just happen to be through health, fitness, food and an overall "zest" for life mixed with social media, marketing, personal branding and all things generation z.

That being said, Wednesdays are now "Wild Card Wednesday." To ask me a question, just go to my formspring profile & ask away! (http://www.formspring.me/sarahkayhoffman) Each time I answer (on Wednesday's only), I will have my answer automatically published to this Blog so you can all see the Question/Answer!

So what are you waiting for? Ask away! (ps. If you'd rather not ask via formspring, you can always ask via the comment section below, email or private message!)

CHEERS!

Gluten Free, the (only) way for Me

I am making an absolute, 100% commitment to ME to be completely Gluten Free. Here's how/why I've come to this conclusion.

How

I see my 20-40 feet of intestines as an "upper" and "lower" half, which they are. This is why doctors do Endoscopy and Colonoscopy. Endoscopy for upper and Colonoscopy for lower. I have problems in both. The difference is that my prior doctor only discussed my lower problems and told me to cure with medications and that I could still eat whatever I wanted and my new doctor has first focused on my upper problems and is helping me (mostly) via food recommendations.

So the new doctor has found a lot of inflammation in my stomach and esophagus so far. And he knows that I get severely bloated and distended. He also knows that me off gluten makes my upper problems disappear. Thus, the first thing he suggested - adios wheat/gluten!

I am confident that the wheat/gluten is the 100% cause for my upper digestive problems. As for the lower, I am still working on this. I am headed in the right direction, but (the lower) is not to the place I want it to be. 

Why

If the "how" didn't explain enough of the "why," then perhaps you've never felt even a slight bloat in your life and you just simply can't relate. Be Thankful!

There is not a day that goes by when I am "upper-bloat" free that I don't thank God! So many times lately I've been having these "mental blocks" where I feel like any moment I may bloat up again. My brain is remembering the past several years of constant discomfort. It's almost like some post-traumatic stress, and I clearly need to reverse those thoughts.

The only way I know how to take care of those lingering issues is to make a pact with myself to be completely, 100% Gluten Free because each day I'm not faced with an "episode" is yet another day of building confidence.  

Will this be easy? No! Will I cry sometimes, as I already have? Sure! Will I want to re-think this pact? Most definitely! But will doing this make all the difference in my life? Absolutely!

New Heights

As promised from yesterday....highlights from Montana!

Yet another trip with Ryan. 

New places, faces and scenery!

 Because I wasn't bloated and felt amazing, I was able to climb with Ryan to the top of Mount Helena. GORGEOUS!

Mind over matter. If I could do it there - I can do this anywhere!

Convenience is King

In Social Media we hear "content is king" all too frequently. What I learned from being in Helena, Montana for the past few days is: Convenience is King.

I have taken living in California for granted when it comes to food. In CA, I know that no matter where I go, what I'm doing, day or night, convenient health food is never out of reach. This is not the case in so many other places of the country. And quite frankly I don't think people care, either.

My first sign that "my food" would be too far away was on the drive from Spokane, WA to Helena, Montana - there was not one Starbucks. In California, you barely go 3 miles without seeing one. Trust me, I realize that Starbucks is not necessarily my "health food," but I'm #JustSayin'.

I struggled the entire time there - I mostly went to the grocery store to gorge on carrots, watermelon and my new "love," the Fruit & Nut Bar (see picture above). Oh, and water. Lots of water! 

In California it's not only "convenient," but it's also the "norm" to cater to people like me. And I have truly taken this for granted. At this point, my health and fitness lifestyle is probably the only lifestyle that California complements. 

But I must embrace it while I can....

Though it sounds so negative, negative, negative, there were 3 amazing things that came out of Montana:

1. Yet another trip with Ryan. New places, faces and scenery!
2. Because I wasn't bloated and felt amazing, I was able to climb with Ryan to the top of Mount Helena. GORGEOUS!
3. Mind over matter. If I could do it there - I can do this anywhere!

More on those 3 points tomorrow...pictures included!


CHEERS!

Endoscopy Full Results

My full endoscopy results came in yesterday.

Seems as though I'm basically a dog just out there chasing my tail! 

The Doctor said I definitely have a lot of inflammation, but it doesn't point to any specific cause. If I don't know the cause, I don't know the action - well, the full action anyways. 

I don't have Celiac, though he said that staying away from Wheat/Gluten will probably only help me. The only harm he sees with me eliminating Wheat/Gluten is total daily caloric intake (and me not getting enough). I don't have a problem with this, though! I teach myself daily that when I'm hungry, I eat!

In a few weeks, he wants to do further "exploring" via, you guessed it - more blood tests. I won't lie, it's getting old. Very old! I'm just trying to remain positive. And of course, I'm dotting my "I's" and crossing my "T's" when it comes to being careful with food. Between the two, it's been my best bet against this "fight with my 40 feet of intestines!"

My mom says, "I think you're quite healthy." To her I responded, "I sure am. It's just a bum-tum."

I take each day at a time. Smart (food) choices, healthy (workout and movement) habits - and of course, a smile!

CHEERS!

Online Communities for Health Nuts

Just in case you have never ventured to the DigitalMention Blog, I thought I would share with you the posting I put up there today. The posting was called, "Health Nuts Unite via Online Communities."

There are so many places online for daily support, motivation and overall "acceptance" for whatever your interest is in health, fitness & food. I encourage you to find a community, participate, engage and "show up." You'll be surprised at the connections you can make and the rewards you'll reap from that! (Please let me know of any others I forgot - would love to add more to the list!)

It was another fabulous day for the "Sarah-Food Camp!" No problems to report. Perfectly "perfect" feeling. The only complaint I have is that due to the leg workout around 10:30am, I felt completely famished for the rest of the day. That's okay, though. I just listened to my body, ate and felt no bloat! 

Tonight for dinner I'm going to introduce carrots, as the thoroughly-steamed version. I may have a cup, with some sprinkled cinnamon on top! I'll report back:)

I am supposed to have my Endoscopy follow-up tomorrow. Seems as though my biopsy results are not in yet, so this may be rescheduled. I'm not happy about that. I'm not very patient! 

I'm looking forward to a great night sleep. I worked so hard at the gym today that I have a feeling I'll be out before 9pm!

CHEERS!

Watermelon

Happy 4th of July!

We had a BBQ at our house yesterday. There was so much great-looking food. It was definitely a challenge for me to stick with my own chicken and turkey only!

But then I decided to try the watermelon. It looked so juicy! There is obviously no wheat, gluten or anything I'm not supposed to have in it. I still got worried, since I haven't "ventured out" in 2 weeks (YES, today is the 2-week mark)!

So I ate some. And then some more. And even some for breakfast today! No, not some - like 3 cups! Good news....no bloat! I'm in the "clear" to have me some low-cal, high-water concentration, watermelon!


Now that I have hit the 2-week mark, here is my comprehensive '"Definitely "Okay"" Food List: 

• Turkey
• Chicken
• Beef
• Fresh lemon juice
• Fresh lime juice
• Fresh orange juice
• Coconut Milk
• Coconut Butter
• Cayenne
• Avocado
• GF Flax (grounded)
• Watermelon
• Banana
• Olive Oil
• Coconut Oil
• Garlic + Sea Salt + Olive Oil
• Sea Salt
• Cinnamon
• Honey
• (weakened) Coffee
• (small amounts) Soy Milk
• Red Wine
• Vodka
• 100% Raw, Pecan with Cashew Nut Butter

And here is my (very) "Questionable" Food List: 

• 100% Durum Whole Wheat Pasta (reaction on 7.1.2010)
  

I'm looking forward to even more "Definitely - Okay" Discoveries!

For today, in honor of the 4th, I leave you with....

"I cover my heart with my hat when they fly that Red, White & Blue. Just like my Daddy taught me: How 'bout you?" - Eric Church

Cheers!

But my Grocery Bill got in the way....

How many days/times have you thought to yourself either:

1. I would eat healthy/organic/gluten free/etc., but I can't afford it?
2. I'm trying to stick to this diet, but it's getting too expensive?

I think we have all been there at one point or another. I know that you can do all these things, but where most people get caught (me included) is having the time to "sift" through stores, ads, online, etc. for the best deals and best places to shop with the best prices to make this affordable!

Since my interest is finding these, what if I did this for you? I would invest my time in order to save your time, all while getting us healthy, fit and fabulous and being able to use the extra money to put towards a sassy, classy, hot new outfit or anything else your heart desires!

If you would be interested in this please do one of the following to help me get my process started:

1. Add a comment here, letting me know which (food and/or restaurant) places you shop at (or would like to shop at but just don't due to budget constraints - ie. Whole Foods).
2. Tweet at me, with any thoughts, places, needs & wants. 
3. Send me a Facebook Message on anything pertaining to this.
4. Take this Quick Poll for an easy submission. (If you don't want to take it there, please feel free to pick your options and Facebook Message me!)

Please remember: I am not promoting me for a "one-stop-shop" for any and all food needs. There are plenty of bloggers out there who do this. One of my favorites is The Frugal Find. What I am is someone who wants to bring you the best deals in health, fitness and food. For example, this doesn't mean I won't find deals on "chocolate," but I'm not going to bring you deals on Snicker's Bars. I don't promote them because I know there are much better alternatives. So, I might bring you deals on the best chocolate(s) for you (since Lord knows we all need some from time-to-time). 

Thank you for your help! 

CHEERS!

An Unlikely Pizza

 One of my most favorite things to do is to take "bad" foods and make them "good." Why? Because I'm just like you. I love food - and I don't want to eat lettuce all day. I refuse to. But because I'm (supercalifragilisticexpialidocious) when it comes to food, health, fitness and working out, I am overly conscious about everything. Some call it annoying. I call it "why the hell can't everyone see the benefit of this?!" 

Since not everyone can or cares to, I do it, post it and hopefully those of you who try it love it, too! So....
 
Have at it! Brought to you by the CalorieKing.com, nutritionals on all your favorite pizzas! Scared? I'll help you with one. The average 14" Pizza, Cheese Topping, Original Crust has (per 3.6 oz/1 slice serving): 272 calories, 9.8g fat (4.4g saturated), 33.6g carbohydrates and 551mg sodium. And consider, this is the average, with only cheese and just one small slice. And let's be honest, we never have just one slice. Ever!

Pizza, done right, can simply be alright - for all of us! I wanted to gauge whether or not people are interested in this sort of "foodie post" before I put a ton of work in it. So I have to be honest when I say that I don't have the exact nutritionals, products and brands. But here is what I do know about my Pizza I made:

• Low-Carbohydrate, High Fiber Tortilla (80 calories and 12g fiber)
• Made with tortilla, low-fat cheese, sauce, extra-lean turkey and mushrooms
• We guessed it was less than 350 calories (for the entire pizza!)

Taste = A (you will only find an A+ when it's done exactly right to my "likes:)")

What you could do differently = Add more vegetables. They are super-low calorie and great for you (I have to be careful with them due to my stomach issues)  

What I would definitely do differently = 

1. Different sauce (Don't get me wrong, it tasted great, but I know there is a much lower-sugar one available at the same great taste.)  
2. Sprinkle some herbs and spices on after the sauce is on (zero-calorie flavor!)
3. Use a different cheese. I would attempt to make a Laughing Cow Cheese work because it's one of my favorites.

Beyond that, I'm all set! We had it on Friday night. It's a great Friday-night meal. Really...it's a great meal any night!

So tell me....what is your most FAVORITE "junk food" or otherwise "unhealthy food?" I'd love to cook up another "unlikely health food!"


CHEERS!

It's Getting Hot in Here

I've been eating Cayenne Pepper with everything lately. I once went on a detox where they said you should drink hot water with lemon and a pinch of Cayenne Pepper. So I listened. And I did it. I hated it. It's been a few years since, but I decided to revisit the spice. And I have to say, I'm glad to be back - on my own terms of course! (Which, as we all know, is critical to the success of anything we do in life!)

So what exactly is Cayenne Pepper and why is it so good for us?

Cayenne Pepper, according to the Wikipedia is, "a hot, red chili pepper used to flavor dishes and for medicinal purposes."


The spice is so good for us because it is high in Vitamin A and also contains Vitamin B6, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Riboflavin, Potassium and Manganese.


And According to The Healing Daily Website, "Ayurveda also utilizes cayenne to treat poor digestion and gas. Chinese medicine uses Cayenne for digestive ailments. When taken internally, cayenne soothes the digestive tract and stimulates the flow of stomach secretions and saliva. These secretions contain substances which help digest food."


There are many things you can do with Cayenne Pepper. Here is my latest and greatest recipe I use it with:

• 1/2 c. oatmeal
• 1 egg yolk
• 1/2 c. extra lean ground turkey
• a couple pinches of cayenne pepper
• pinch of sea salt and pepper

I'm sure this looks like a weird combination. It is! But it's so good. I eat it for breakfast. All I do is literally mix it all together. There is no sugar, but instead all the healthy protein, fat and complex carbohydrates to get your day off right!

Try my recipe for breakfast tomorrow or put some Cayenne Pepper on your Grilled Chicken tonight. And then just wait and watch it getting "hot in there!"

Garlic Breath

Do you eat garlic? If not, you should!

Lately, I have been highly interested in herbs/spices and anything that can naturally "flavor" without the added calories or additives.

I'm starting with Garlic today because it has quickly become an obsession of mine.

It's simple and beautiful. Garlic, according to the Wikipedia, "The cloves are used for cloning, consumption (raw or cooked), or for medicinal purposes, and have a characteristic pungent, spicy flavor that mellows and sweetens considerably with cooking."

Garlic has many benefits: 

- Cardiovascular

- Anti-Inflammatory, Antibacterial, Antiviral Activity

- Cancer protection

- Promotes optimal health

- Promotes weight control

- And more!

You can learn all about those from the WH Foods HERE.

Here is my favorite thing (currently) to do with Garlic: Garlic "French Fries." Don't get too excited, though, there are not any actual potatoes involved. 

We bake boneless, skinless chicken almost every night. So we place rosemary and garlic all around the chicken. I typically put 2 whole pieces of garlic on the pan - NOT 2 garlic bulbs, but the entire garlic head. I leave the garlic in it's "shell." The pan is coated with a little olive oil and sea salt. 

We bake the chicken, rosemary and garlic for about 25 minutes on 425 degrees. When the garlic comes out, peel away the "skin." It's just like a Garlic French Fry, but minus the "French Fry!" I love it so much I can eat an entire garlic head!

I worried this might not be good for me until I read an article that stated, "You can never eat enough garlic." Whew!

And ps. Who cares about your Garlic Breath!

Recovery Week: P90X, Food & Vegas

I'm now in my fourth week of P90X. This is "Recovery Week," and the final week of Phase 1 already!

It's been nice to give my muscles a break this week. I've been taking time just doing some cardio, stretching, Yoga in a couple days and of course a Kenpo X session yesterday!


I love the "routine" of P90X, but I also think these "Recovery Weeks" are just what the body calls for. It's a good break from routine and schedule. I love the discipline, but I also love the rest!


This week is also a "Recovery Week" from my food disaster weekend in Vegas! I must say - I am not complaining about Vegas - we had a BLAST! But my system needs a good recovery from food and everything else. We got in to Vegas on Friday morning. By Friday afternoon my stomach was already severely bloated. Food...food...food! 


I am honoring and appreciating being back on my diet this week and recovering! I guess all good things must come to an end...that is until I return to Vegas again! Cheers!

Red Square - Mandalay Bay - PRICELESS!

A New "Pancake" Breakfast

I now have a new breakfast that I am addicted to. And I am happy to report that it is NOT meat and broth nor does it involve anything with meat or broth! However, it is still GAPS Diet friendly!

There isn't even really a name for this and the ingredients are so random that I could only come up with one clever name, "A New Pancake Breakfast." Clever, right?! This recipe is (mostly) in the GAPS Diet Book. However, I have altered it a little bit. It's supposed to be Pancakes (which works perfectly for my psyche because anyone who knows me knows that I could eat 10 big, fluffy pancakes in one sitting if I could - my days prior to GAPS)! This is what it starts out looking like:

Unfortunately, though, this is also what it ends up looking like as well! I have even tried making tiny, little "cakes." That also does not work. Either I am a terrible pancake maker or the ingredients just don't allow for it to truly take pancake-form (which is probably the case because these "pancakes" lack flour).

In any case, the final product tastes fabulous! The final product is basically like a very thick pudding or chunky oatmeal even maybe. The consistency is a little off, but that does not change the wonderful taste. I love it so much that I even have it for dessert sometimes!

I encourage you to try it out! Here's how I do it:

Ingredients (This "batch" will make me about 3-4 servings):

• 5-6 Zucchini
• 2 Egg Yolks
• 1 Tbsp. Raw Nut Butter (Your choice - I have used Almond and Walnut)
• 1 Banana - extremely Ripened
  
• 1 Tbsp. Coconut Oil

Steps:

1. Peel and cut up about 5-6 zuchinni.
2. Put the zucchini in a boiling pot of water and cook until the zucchini is very soft.
3. Drain the water and transfer the zucchini to a mixing bowl and whip.
4. Add the 2 Egg Yolks. Continue whipping.
5. Mash the extremely ripened banana, add to the mixture and whip all 3.
6. Add the Nut Butter. Stir.
7. Pour the mixture onto a pan (melt the Coconut Butter on the pan instead of using Pan Spray).
8. Cook for as long as you'd like. I typically only cook it for 3-5 minutes. 

And that's it! Whatever you don't eat, you can refrigerate and it will taste wonderful cold as well!

Let me know if you try it and how you like it!

Time for some P90X Yoga X.... Cheers!

Homemade Mango Salsa

Perfectly delicious!


We made the best dinner last night: Wild-caught Mahi-Mahi sprinkled with Mango Salsa and steamed vegetables. Since I'm not eating any preservatives or "unnatural" and "GAPS unfriendly" items, I knew I would have to make my own salsa if I wanted it. And so I did!


I first decided what flavor I was going for. Did I want sweet or salty? And when I decided I wanted sweet, since that's what I think goes best with Mahi, I chose the Mango as my main ingredient. From there, I made it all up and in the end, it turned out to include:

• 1 Whole Mango
• 1/2 Baby Tomato
• 1/8 Red Onion
• A few pinches fresh Cilantro leaves
• Pinch of Sea Salt

I cooked it in a little Coconut Oil for the final "hint of sweetness." 

The final product was amazing and we cannot wait to have it again! The best part was that not only did it make our tastebuds bounce, but there was not one single artificial ingredient or preservative in it! Cheers to that!

P90X: Plyometrics

Day #2 of P90X and Plyometrics kicked my butt! Again, thought I was in good shape, but was quickly brought back down to earth.

First let me rewind to the middle of the night. I woke up, muscles sore already. As the day has gone on today, so much muscle soreness from yesterdays Chest/Back and Ab Ripper X workout. I am feeling muscles in places I didn't know existed. I am having a hard time maneuvering around tonight!


The Plyometrics workout burned the legs! It's about 50 minutes of constant moving, jumping, sliding, lunging, squating and shaking every which way. Towards the end I could hardly keep up, but I pushed myself as hard as I could. 

I felt great again today! I was a little too hungry, so I'll be looking to add more food and (hopefully) carbs via vegetables and fruit very soon! Today I added in one banana, some avocado, yellow miso and one egg yolk (partially raw). 

Tomorrow I can move onto Stage 4, where I will be able to add meats that have been roasted or grilled (though I'm sure I won't have time for that until next weekend), cooked vegetables, cold pressed olive oil, ghee and the special "baked bread" (made with ground almonds or any other nut and seeds ground into flour). I will probably not have much time to spend on any of that, but I will do what I can to get more calories! 

I will wake up and do the Shoulders & Arms workout prior to work. That should be interesting. I'll have a 4:45am wakeup call, get a little coffee in and be ready and focused around 5:30am. Sound crazy? Nope! Sounds exciting! Cheers!

2010: A Brand New Year and a Brand New Decade

Happy New Year!

I spent most of my first day of the Brand New Year and Brand New Decade resting, relaxing and detoxing. I needed to after the fun last night!

I have completely dived back into the GAPS Diet. Today I gave my system a much needed "break" from digestion. I ate very little (chicken and turkey) but focused more on broth and water. Now that Day 1 is over, I can move on. This week, though, I will remain completely carb free, except for maybe 1/2 a ripe banana and/or well-cooked allowed vegetables. I will be back on all Probiotics, Enzymes and Probiotic Foods. I can guarantee that come Wednesday or before I will be feeling amazing!

I am so excited for this Brand New Year, 2010 and the Brand New Decade! There are so many things I'm looking forward to and so many goals I have put out there for myself.  


I want this year to be another year of change! Change is good! We need to keep "shaking it up!" I find that it's the moment I let myself become complacent that I am not as happy. Each day I reinvent myself, my thoughts and my attitude is just one step closer to another goal accomplished! 


I am reminded, yet again, of my Power Quote from the Curly Girl Designs, 

"I am fairly certain that given a Cape and a nice tiara, I could save the world."

I believe it's as simple as that and as simple as this: Positive attitude. Quirky thoughts. Random-ness. A good laugh, smile or cry. And Passion. LOTS OF PASSION!

Goals are waiting and ready to be achieved....CHEERS!

I'm Hungry: What's For Dinner

In my last post I discussed, "Treatment for the GAPS Patient - Part I - Diet I."

Today is, "Treatment for the GAPS Patient - Part II - Diet II - I'm Hungry: What's For Dinner."

JUST because I can't really eat things "most people" eat, doesn't mean that I don't still need to eat! So, what will I eat?

The GAPS Diet is basically an "advanced" or "extension" version of the popular Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD). Dr. Natasha states (about the SCD), "There is a diet already invented, a very effective diet with a more than 60-year excellent record of helping people with all sorts of digestive disorders, including such devastating ones as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis."


The difference lies in the fact that the SCD allows lactose-free dairy products, GAPS Diet does not allow. Dr. Natasha says that "whether it is lactose or casein or allergies or a combination of factors, the clinical experience shows that GAPS children and adults should not consume dairy products until their digestive system is well enough to handle them. The only exception is for the milk fat, which contains virtually no milk proteins or lactose and is generally well tolerated. Pure milk fat is called ghee or clarified butter." 

Recommended Food List

• Meats and Fish (Fresh or frozen, but not preserved)
• Eggs (Especially raw egg yolk; I am actually very intolerant to the egg white, so I will stay away from that completely)
• Non-starch fresh vegetables (Fresh or frozen, but not preserved or with any additives)
• All fruit, including berries (Fresh, cooked or raw, dried and frozen, as long as there are no preservatives. They also need to be well-cooked in the beginning)
• Nuts and seeds (Raw only. Not until stomach has completely settled)
• Beans and pulses (Dried white, lima, string, lentils and split peas; must be soaked for several hours prior to cooking)
• Honey (All natural honey, the only sweetener/sugar allowed)
• Beverages (Water, freshly pressed juices and meat/fish stock. Weak tea and coffee without milk. Red win, gin, Scotch, bourbon and vodka on rare occasions)
• Natural fats and oils
  

This is what I live off of. And beginning Friday, January 1st, I'm getting extremely strict with it! I'm going back to the beginning; back to Phase 1. The GAPS Diet worked miracles for me. I've been off it and I've been on it; I know what is best for my body!