My friend Ruth organizes raw food cleanses that are a great way to give your body a break.  The beauty of it is that the cleanse isn’t so long that you feel like you’re depriving yourself or have to give up too much, yet it’s convenient because each day you pick up freshly made, organic green juices, smoothies and soup.  Even better, this living food tastes fresh and fantastic.  You wouldn’t think drinking liquid for a week could be so healing, but truly it is.

I love the simplicity of a cleanse.  It’s a chance to eliminate congesting foods like meat and dairy as well as common allergens like gluten.  I loved that I don’t have to cook for a week. I loved that my cravings easily ceased and I wasn’t missing anything for those five days. And I loved how I felt energized and renewed when it was all over.  There’s something about organic, clean eating that really does put your body on a healthy track.

One of the things I noticed this summer after having my hysterectomy is that I did a lot of eating.  Let’s be real, I was spending copious amounts of time on the couch whether reading or watching movies. And there were lots of snacks around.  What started out as a little bit of eating seemed to morph into lots of treats. And without being able to exercise, I definitely gained some weight. 

But since doing the cleanse I’m happy to report that all my sugar cravings have happily fanished.  Lots of water during and after the cleanse helped with that too.  I easily navigated three office parties with cake last week and breezed through Halloween eating nothing more than half of a fun size Almond Joy! That’s when you know you’re on the right track — you’re surrounded by sweets yet you have no desire to eat them.

When was the last time you gave your body a break and did a cleanse whether for a day, week or longer? What have you noticed when you eliminate certain foods for awhile?

Due to a host of factors including sometimes not drinking enough water, making a few detours from my usual clean eating, healthy fare, and these pesky fibroid tumors that I have — things can sometimes move a bit slow, if you know what I mean.

And I’ll be the first to tell you that I’ve been at a host of family functions and parties where there’s been a bevy of food. I’ve literally been working on practicing what I preach — avoiding holiday overindulgence and the weight gain that comes with it.  Doesn’t mean I’ve totally avoided eating some super rich foods but I’ve been trying only small samples to whet my appetite and avoid going overboard.  I’ve also been working on the idea that holidays aren’t only about food — they’re also about enjoying the company of our family and friends.

But when it comes to clean eating and keeping things moving during the holiday season, I’m a big fan of eating as many raw veggies as possible. To me, that’s one of the most powerful ways I keep myself regular.  Even though it happens to be frigidly cold today and more warm foods would naturally be in order, I can’t help but create a beautiful green salad along with the other items I’m making for a family birthday dinner that we’re hosting.

The good news is that there are lots of ways to get more raw fruits and veggies in your diet during the holiday season. Here are just a few ideas:

• bring raw veggies and hummus to a holiday party
• make a delicious raw smoothie with fresh fruit and a serving or two of raw kale or spinach thrown in
• juice your favorite veggies and fruit like cucumber, celery, kale, apples and ginger
• cut up bell peppers and cucumbers for snack time instead of high fat treats like cheese and crackers
• create a raw salad with your favorite lettuce and added some roasted vegetables on top for a nice mix of flavors and textures

What’s your strategy to keep things moving during the holidays and feel your best? What are you doing to ensure you’re eating enough raw fruits and vegetables?

But the key to great health is always beginning with the end in mind.  It’s not enough to just do a cleanse or detox. While it’s helpful in the short term, the whole point is to have a vision and plan for the healthy eating you’ll do once you’re done with the cleanse, and then will maintain. By plan, here’s what I mean:

• Get  clear about what you’ll eat the day or two after the cleanse.If you happen to do a cleanse where you’re not doing any food prep, you don’t want to find yourself clueless about what to eat when you’re done. Keep it light and clean with a focus on fruit, vegetables and lots of water.
• Have an eating plan for the week after the cleanse. What will you eat? What will you avoid? How will you slowly build in more foods, in a healthy way? Before your start your cleanse, think about what you’d like to achieve when it comes to consistent, healthy eating so that you’ll have a clear target and planning will be easier. This week I’m focused on a mostly vegetarian diet, some raw (more juicing, of course!), some cooked but no sugar, dairy, wheat, packaged food or soy and the smallest amount of animal based protein (fish).
• Make healthy food shopping a priority. Whether you’re turning over a new leaf or just continuing with healthy eating post-cleanse, be sure to carve time into your schedule for a trip to the store to stock up on all the healthy items you’ll need.  When will you go and what will you need? A healthy shopping list is the key.

I’m in great shape this week because I was clear on what we’re eating and how to transition as easily as possible back into food prep.  And I took ample time this weekend to plan and shop.

How can you ready yourself for a cleanse and begin with the end in mind? What’s worked for you in the past?

Unsure how to get started? Let me know and I can guide you on creating a simple, super-healthy post cleanse plan that’s just right for you.

So I had a much needed appointment with Mary, a hydrotherapist, this afternoon after work. This, has made all the difference in the world. If you’re not so up on the terminology, simply put, it’s a colonic. And contrary to what you might be thinking, it’s a gentle, immensely helpful way to get things moving.  Just like other parts of the body, the colon needs to be properly hydrated to work optimally.  When we’re dehydrated (and most of us are, yours truly included!), eating poorly and not taking good care of ourselves, things can get, well, a bit backed up.

How am I feeling post treatment?  Much, much lighter and all that bloating has gone way (and let’s face it, we are what we eat — keep up poor eating year and year and you can only imagine what that can lead to). Quite frankly, it’s amazing. And the cleanse has contributed greatly to this.  Easily digestible raw juices are a little catalyst to make your digestive system much more clean and efficient. I know it might sound kind of gross, but hey, I want you to be totally informed and understand the power of a cleanse, especially when it’s all natural.

Ever been for a hydrotherapy treatment? In what way, if any, did it help you?

I’ve definitely been surprised to find out that not having everything hot, especially in the middle of winter, in one of the coldest weeks we’ve had, is actually tolerable. I might even say doable.

Every morning I’ve been picking up my allotment of freshly made organic juices, smoothies and soup at my friend Glen’s cafe.  And I’ve been surprised by how great soup can taste at room temperature. Each day we’ve been treated to a delicious concoction of healing and cleansing ingredients. To give you an idea, yesterday’s soup was asparagus, tomato, avocado, parsley, sun dried tomato, yellow pepper, lemon, lime, green onion, Braggs amino acids and Italian seasoning. Delicious. Today’s soup was even better and it was seriously green – dandelion greens, spirulina, sunflower seeds and a host of other super healthy ingredients.  But the taste was simply divine. I could definitely eat this every day.

I’ve also noticed that I’m not nearly as hungry as I anticipated I’d be considering I’m eating all liquids for a week. It’s interesting how our body can adapt.  And eating lighter and really tasting the food has increased my mindfulness. It’s a nice and welcome shift from my overeating during the holidays when I was away from home visiting family and gave myself a little license to eat more than usual. Last month my mindfulness went out the window so I’m pleased to be getting back on track.

I like this journey – it’s helping me slow down and tune into my body in interesting ways.

I’ll be the first to admit that I ate more during the holidays than I planned to despite my best intentions.  Something about being away from home, outside of the normal routine and in different facilities that made it especially tough this year.  We were visiting relatives in Florida and somehow I seemed to take that as license to eat A LOT.  So my friend Glen’s timing was perfect.

I’ve done cleanses before but never one that’s totally raw and is only juices and smoothies. Honestly, doing this at home would take me a huge amount of time and since I don’t have some of the tools that make it handy, like a Vitamix blender, it was a long shot for me. This however, is the perfect arrangement.

Today is the second day of the cleanse and I’m doing pretty well though I’m waiting for the “you’ll feel worse before you feel better syndrome.”  So far not too bad — I did have some strange tooth pain this morning and I’ll admit now I’m tuckered out.  But doing the cleanse is helpful for me in multiple ways:

• I’m allowing my body to slow down and get some much needed rest
• I’m going to bed earlier because I’m so tired
• I’m eating beautiful, healthy food that I don’t have to prepare but I have total appreciation for those who did
• I’m investing in myself and making my healthy a priority (a mantra I’m always repeating with my clients)
• I’m starting off the year on a healthy foot, feeling inspired and motivated

How have you used cleanses to help you feel your best? Ever done a raw cleanse? I’d love to hear your thoughts about it. And check back for more updates on my progress this week. 

Check out this week’s audio tip about eating more raw foods. In it, I mention my friend Glen’s new cafe – Catch a Healthy Habit – located in West Haven. It’s an awesome place, located right on Campbell Avenue in Downtown West Haven (487a Campbell Avenue, located in the Look At Me Now Wellness Center). So check out the recording and the cafe as well and let me know your thoughts.

Truth is, it is bitter to me in it’s raw form, but with a little imagination, you can do all kinds of creative things and get all the health benefits too! What’s better than a simple and quick way to focus on healthy eating and make you feel good at the same time?!

Learn more by listening to this week’s audio tip on cacao.

What do you think? Have you tried cacao before? What was it like? Share your thoughts. And check out these recipes from Dr. Ben Kim, one of my favorite experts on whole food nutrition.

Try your favorite leafy lettuce with different sliced, diced or grated veggies. The possible combinations are endless. Fresh herbs are a wonderful option to mix in, as they are packed full of flavor. Experiment with adding different forms of protein to your salads, such as nuts, seeds, beans, tofu, fish or poultry. Pick up a light and healthy dressing at your local health food store, or mix up something easy, like lemon juice, black pepper and olive oil.

This is a great opportunity to try a new vegetable from your market. What are some creative flavors you’ve never tried before? Fennel and mint? Daikon radish and arugula? Summer squash with watercress? Whatever you choose, have fun with your food and stay cool. Happy summer!

I’ll be motivating American Heart Association staff in support of the Power to End Stroke program, an important initiative geared toward reducing the incidence of stroke in the African-American community. Stating with a healthy breakfast, we’ll break bread, discuss healthy eating strategies and learn simple techniques to be in optimal health.

Living Healthy for Business Success – FREE
Tuesday, April 10 12:00-1:30 pm, Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, New Haven CT

Do you know the keys to being in optimal health? Do you understand the correlation between a healthy body and great business results? Join Dr. Eric Meyers of Chiropractic and Sports Rehabilitation Centers and myself for this free workshop designed to keep you healthy. Bring your lunch and stay for some great conversation and healthy snacks.

Live/Raw Food Dinner
Tuesday, April 10, 7:00 pm, The Loft, South Norwalk, CT

Have you ever experienced a completely raw meal? Would you like to learn about the benefits of raw foods? Enjoy a delicious raw foods dinner prepared by my friend and colleague, Lisa Storch. $60. For more information, go to www.catchahealthyhabit.com and click on the Events page or call 203.829.9065.

Oasis in the PhD Program: 60-Second Strategies for Reducing Stress!
Wednesday, April 11, 4:00 pm, Hall of Graduate Studies, Yale University

Are you a stressed out Yale graduate student so focused on your studies that you neglect yourself? Then join me for this interactive workshop designed to teach you simple yet profound strategies you can use anytime and anywhere to reduce stress and have a calmer, more satisfying life.

Oasis in the Overwhelm: 60-Second Strategies for Balance in a Busy World – FREE workshop
Wednesday, April 11, 6:00 pm, Jared Andrew Studio, 42 State Street, North Haven, CT

Got stress? Join Millie Grenough, author of Oasis in the Overwhelm and business coach extraordinaire, and I for this fabulous, fun and fascinating approach to stress management. You’re sure to feel calmer, more confident and ready for your own Oasis when we’re done.

The Ecstasy of Eating: Six Steps for Satisfying Self- Nourishment – FREE
Friday, April 13, 12:00-2:00 pm, Sogno Boutique of Dreams, 83 Audubon Street, New Haven, CT

Do you know the secrets to creating a pleasurable eating experience? How can you increase the enjoyment you get from your meals? Come to this free workshop and learn to be more present, focused and in touch with your body as it relates to eating and enjoying your food. For more information, call 203.777.3226

Book Signing: Fat Loss 10: The 10 Commandments of Fat Loss
Saturday, April 14, 2:00 pm, AKAD’s Unisex House of Styles, 1382 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, CT

Mubarakah Ibrahim, owner of Balance Fitness in New Haven will be signing copies of her new book, Fat Loss 10! Don’t miss the chance to connect with Mubarakah and hear her unique story (She was recently featured on Oprah!) about how as a Muslim personal trainer, she inspires women of all backgrounds to get fit.

The Principles of Investing: A Seminar for Women – FREE
Tuesday, April 17, 5:30 pm, UBS Financial Services, 750 Washington Blvd, Stamford, CT

Join my colleague Sandy Cerqueira and I for an engaging discussion on investing for women. And not only with you gain the benefit of Sandy’s wisdom, but you’ll also have a chance to learn some simple stress management strategies that I’ll be sharing. For more information and to reserve your spot, call 203.326.7109 or 877.202.6340 ext. 109.

Calling all Real Estate Agents: Let’s Get Healthy at the Health Body, Healthy Business Seminar Series – FREE!
Wednesday, April 18 – 12:00-1:30 pm, Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, 900 Chapel St., New Haven, CT

Are you a local real estate agent always on the go? Then join me for the Healthy Body, Healthy Business series that’s designed to help you expand your business and grow your income by starting with you! This month’s topic is entitled Oasis in the Overwhelm and focuses on how you can use simple yet profound techniques to reduce stress and create calm. Sponsored by Kim Hafford of Washington Mutual Home Loans and Edna Colucci of the Colucci Law Firm, LLC, this free series includes a healthy lunch, great learning environment and information to keep you healthy. For more information call 203.641.0653.

“Supersize Me” and a Healthy Shopping Extravaganza
May 1 & 2, Common Ground HS, New Haven, CT

What’s better than viewing Supersize Me and facilitating a lively discussion with high school students about the perils of McDonalds? I’m teaming up with one of Common Ground’s amazing teachers to provide an engaging learning experience on May 1. And the following day we’re headed to the supermarket for some healthy shopping tips