New Year, Same Me!

I couldn't believe how many emails I've received over the past week with the subject line "New Year, New You". Of course, I was intrigued by the first one but after the last one this morning, I really became annoyed. What's wrong with the old me? And why do these newsletters/companies insist on playing on the same old theme that each year we need to change something about ourselves? So the positive of this all is I'm now writing which I've avoided the past year.

To say 2010 was a little hectic is an understatement. I continued to try and grow my counseling practice, teach more yoga classes, work full-time as an Online Marketing Consultant and plan a wedding. Throw in training and running a half marathon, actually get married and then have a spinal discectomy with fusion and I become a little dizzy thinking about it. Of course, as I live and breathe my day to day life, I would continue to put pressure on myself that I wasn't doing enough. Everyone has their "thing" and mine is probably being too hard on myself. As long as I could remember I would over commit. Always too quick to say "I'll do it!" and then when the time came to do all the things I committed to, I would feel exhausted and hold resentment. I do take pride in myself and the drastic improvements this past year in this area. I'm more comfortable saying no and I don't regret it when I do. What a relief! It's literally the feeling of having a thousand pound weight being lifted from your chest. Being able to breathe normally, wake up each morning without a feeling a dread, and be excited about what lies ahead is amazing.

Taking time to reflect on the previous year is the best part of the "New Year" for me. I'm not completely against resolutions, but we all know they are forgotten by Feb 1st. I truly believe it's because we over emphasize on what we want to change about ourselves. How about loving or being content with who we are and taking time to reflect on all the positives we've done throughout the year? Maybe we can build upon the positives instead of making resolutions to do what we really don't enjoy anyway. Was there something you did that is out of your ordinary that you really enjoyed? Give yourself a few hours to sit with a pen and paper and write down all the events, activities, situations that made you happy this past year. You may find a glimpse into your true self that you didn't know was there. Enjoy this New Year with the Same You!

Running the Fairfield Half Marathon

Wedding Day

Cleansing 101

Cleansing removes toxins from the body, while helping you feel and look great. If you're cleansing for the first time, I would recommend that you start by eliminating processed and refined food and caffeine. This means you should cut out junk food, coffee, tea, soda, breads and anything that comes pre-packaged. Also, begin to cut out meat and dairy.

After you successfully cut out processed and refined foods, meat and dairy products for a couple of days, begin reducing the amounts of grains you consume and try to eat mostly raw or steamed vegetables, homemade broth or vegetable soups, and salads. Drink plenty of water and herbal teas. Fruit is okay for those without candida.

Essential elements of cleansing:

Next to water, fiber is the most important element needed to cleanse the body. Fiber is both a sponge we need to soak up toxins and a scrub to free the colon of debris.

Unless your diet is 60% raw foods, you need to supplement your diet with extra enzymes. They help the body break down food efficiently, which results in less intestinal irritation and better absorption of nutrients.

Basic “Do-It-Yourself” Cleanse
2 capsules of a general cleaning formula (All Cell Detox, Enviro-Detox or Bowel Detox) three times daily
2 capsules of digestive enzymes with each meal.
At breakfast time one tablespoon of a fiber blend (Nature’s Three, LOCLO, or Everybody’s Fiber) in large glass of water or juice.
Drink ½ ounce of purified water per pound of body weight each day.


Ivy’s Recipe
2 tbsp of Aloe Vera Juice
2 tbsp of Liquid Chlorophyll
1 heaping tsp of Psyllium Hulls Combination

Blend ingredients in glass of apple juice and drink first thing in the morning.

Fasting is abstaining from some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time. A fast may be total or partial concerning that from which one fasts, and may be prolonged or intermittent as to the period of fasting. I would not recommend a complete fast or water cleanse if you've never abstained before. You should work with your holistic health counselor or ND before you begin any cleanse or fast to see what program is best for you.