Favorite Gym Reopened

I tend to think a bit like Mireille Guiliano and steer clear of treadmills and sweat pants. I tried the gym thing and jogging and exercise videos, but keep returning to my two favorite forms of exercise, walking and gardening. Since spring has arrived in the mountains, I can put away the exercise tape and make my favorite form of exertion an integral part of my day. I walk and garden in the same skirts and dresses that I wear to write, clean house, play violin and piano, and read. To me the best exercise is digging garden beds and walking to the grocer. Because I enjoy it and am healthy enough for it this season, it is the surest way to overcome the mental hurdle of moving my tush. I reap the benefits of exercise without the bother of driving to the gym, avoiding the roving eyes and comments of middle-aged single men, performing repetitious and boring movements on machines, showering in a strange place, and driving back home again. Engaging in outdoor movement I love, my stress and fatigue are lowered, as well as my tan improved, vitamin D is absorbed, my body is strengthened, and my sleep improved. Plus, I don't have to shell out cash for a membership, I save gas and time, and I grow organic produce and flowers. Who could ask for more?

optimism...it changes the world

"Cultivate an attitude of happiness. Cultivate a spirit of optimism. Walk with faith, rejoicing in the beauties of nature, in the goodness of those you love, in the testimony which you carry in your heart concerning things divine."
— Gordon B. Hinckley

"Mediocricy will never do. You are capable of something better."
— Gordon B. Hinckley

"Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, but with great purpose in heart."
— Gordon B. Hinckley

"You can be smart and happy or stupid and miserable. . . it's your choice"
— Gordon B. Hinckley

"It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It all works out in the end. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers."
— Gordon B. Hinckley

"You can't plow a field simply by turning it over in your mind."
— Gordon B. Hinckley

"Get on your knees and pray, then get on your feet and work."
— Gordon B. Hinckley

“glorify God in your body”

try a walk in the country

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” I Corinthians 6:19-20

What does this mean? What does “glorify God in your body” command? What else can we learn from Scripture about this idea?

For decades, women have been too concerned with being over fat and not worried enough about having optimum health. Fad diets promote poor health. Thinness without vibrancy is sickness. Likewise gluttony or eating with abandon is unlikely to lead to happiness or health either. God created us and knows exactly what our bodies need to function optimally. Like everything else, He teaches us correct principles and lets us govern ourselves for ill or for good. As with raising children, we only get so many chances to get it right with our one body, one life, and one chance to live according to His directions. It's time to think about how we treat bodies.

It's not easy to say no to the decedent chocolate cake at the church dinner. It is a conscious choice to eat stimulating, addictive "junk food" or healthier options. I used to think I could get away with having occasional  unhealthy "foods." These only made me crave more and more until I found myself eating the whole plate of cookies or an entire box of chocolates. Science agrees with my new philosophy, sugar, white flour, hydrogenated fats, fried foods, animal products, corn syrup, and so on are poisons that produce addictive responses. Bummer!

Sadly the American diet is based on these things. But we can get off that wagon and choose NOT to put that junk in our bodies. But they taste soooo good. Yes, but not after you wean yourself off them. A giant, crunchy, green salad just tastes so much better than a piece of chocolate or hot off the grill tortillas--really. Our food of choice will not heal our emotional wounds and make us feel better. Our food choice should feed our bodies so that we can live the healthiest most vibrant life possible--not the yummiest, most couch potato life.

God has a lot to say about this. A glutton is one who continues to eat when already full or eats things known to be bad for the body. "When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat...Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.” Proverbs 23:1-3 and 20-21

“Put a knife to your throat…” That's pretty specific. God knows the temptations of the body, food being only one, and wants us to protect ourselves against them. God will give us power to combat our desire for unhealthy foods. "the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty" Just consider the cost of food induced illness such as cirrhosis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and so on--this alone can lead to poverty. He is strong and will help us. If we go to Him in prayer, he will help us combat eating problems, struggles weight issues, and apathy with exercise. He doesn’t want us to be sick and wish we felt well. He wants us to “do something” about it.  

“How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and they want as an armed man” Proverbs 6: 9-11. He wants us to turn off the TV, rise off the couch, and move. It takes strength to walk around the block or run a marathon. It starts with the first step or lifting that first dumbbell.

A few years ago, I read a great book about a woman, who touts the wondrous joys of dark chocolate. Before that I hated chocolate, but decided to give it a try. She said that it was a wonderful way to end the day. Ohhh and it was. I also started making more desserts according to her weight-loss advice. Instead of loosing weight, I became heavier than I had ever been in my life because of what I was putting into my mouth. She jested at American gyms so I quit going there, too. With little movement and lots more sugar, fat, caffeine, and thoebromine, well you get the picture. Not pretty!

Reality hit me when I got very ill. The illness lasted over 2 years. God led me to some reading material and classes and scriptures. After another year, my weight is better than it was in high school without starving myself like I did then. I sleep a normal amount and enjoy exercising in moderation. Because my healing was so profound and miraculous, my husband joined me. Together we eat our pounds and pounds of greens and laugh about the old days. 

Because I gave this burden over to God, He gave me the strength to get up and take care of my body, His temple. If I am healthy, He can use me to build His kingdom. If I am ill and in bed, He cannot. "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." I Corinthians 9:27

This nutritarian lifestyle seems to work for anyone who gives it a chance. According to the research of Dr. Fuhrman, it gives you energy, eliminates diet related diseases, and keeps His temple healthy and fit. God wants us to feel comfortable in our bodies and to use them for Him. The body you have is God's temple. Ask Him to help you to get educated and motivated and to learn about healthier, wiser food options and to give you strength to get up and move. “The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment” Luke 12:23.

greens? for this? I'm a believer now!

The worst part about entering my forties was the appearance of age spots, those gigantic dark brown freckles on hands, face, and arms. Three or four years ago a really big, really ugly one about the diameter of a kindergarten pencil appeared on my left arm. Glancing at my arm a couple days ago, I noticed all the color has faded and the texture is returning to normal. I'd heard that my nutritarian/vegan/green smoothie diet can reverse aging but didn't believe it for a minute. I'm a believer now!

Oh, yeah, I'm also down another 4 lbs. I love this stuff!

four camps

I've spent a lot of time thinking about what goes in my mouth this year and how I got so ill. I've found people are usually in four camps, when they learn of my eating habits--the ones who are angry that I won't eat ice cream and cake, rude about my weight loss police, the staff of life crowd, and the anti-abstaining from meat people. Sometimes I get grief from the same people about all of these. 

Sadly, the once erect and noble American citizen is generally fat and unhealthy. Our life expectancy is longer----but longer for what? As we hobble down the hall with our walkers and oxygen tanks, are we really living. Ice cream and cake might be tasty morsels, but they are not worth the consequences. Refined foods are anything but what their name implies. Refined is defined thus:

1. not coarse or vulgar; genteel, elegant, or polite

2. subtle; discriminating

3. freed from impurities; purified

Subtle--maybe the way they use propaganda, but a bowl of ice cream even the stuff without added chemicals that comes from a cow fed growth hormones and oodles of antibiotics and has lived knee-deep in her own filth is not freed from impurities or elegant in any way. Plus, many people are allergic or sensitive to dairy products. Frankly, humans do not need to drink milk after the age of weaning. We haven't even discussed preservatives, high-fructose corn syrup, factory eggs, sugar, white flour, and so on. Others can eat their cake and have their ice cream, but with that choice may come diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, stroke, and other painful debilitating diseases and maladies. No thank you.

After my winter in Seattle, I came back to Cedar City quite a bit lighter. Some commented that I was too thin--was I having trouble with anorexia? Hmmm...I began to question my new found health. I re-read Green for Life, Eat to Live, The China Study, Original Fast Foods, and other material that had helped me gain my new vibrant-health lifestyle. No...At that point, I was still about 5-10 lbs. over a proper weight for my size. Americans are just fat. Some are intimidated by those who choose to reject the American way. Joseph and Spencer pointed out that the people who gave me grief probably felt jealous, because they were fat. That made sense.

The Doctrine and Covenants talks about meat in two places D&C 89:15 and D&C 49:18. (Look at the footnotes in 49:18; it doesn't mean what most people believe it means.) Read these along with the Old Testament verses in Daniel, I believe the Lord is telling us that meat can be used for food if we need it. It pleases Him, when we choose not to use it, when it is not needed. Currently, I don't need it with plenty of organic fruit and veggie choices. He made animals for our use, for both clothing and food, but we should be sparing and good stewards of this privilege. Vegetarianism and meat eating are both sanctioned by Him at certain times.We should eat meat sparingly, if we eat it at all. There are many problems with eating more meat than our body needs. The China Study is a wonderful scientific study that agrees with the teachings of God. Daniel,  D&C 49: 21 and 89:15 were God's plain words on the subject.

Agreed, grain is the staff of life. Let's explore the use of a staff. When we hike in the nearby mountains, we use a staff to support us as we climb steep hill sides, a secondary support tool. In no way can that staff propel us forward; we lean on it. The same is true of grain as a food source. Fruits and vegetables including legumes can meet all the nutritional needs of the body with the fewest calories and provide the greatest volume. We use grains to support our caloric needs above and beyond those obtained through consumption of fruits and vegetables.  Using grains, nuts, and seeds as a primary, rather than secondary food source, leads to health issues for both man and animals. Grasses (which grains are) are the primary food for horses and cattle; the over-consumption of grass and grain by horses leads to foot maladies, digestion problems, arthritic symptoms, and allergies. Humans similarly experience a plethora of afflictions, when fruits and vegetables are under-consumed and grain is over-consumed. Therefore, while grains and especially wheat are to be used as the staff of life, the staff of life does not mean it is to be exclusive in our diet any more than meat or sugar.

Anyone reading this should know that none of the ideas above are originally mine. Instead I read and read and read. Then I write about what I have learned from the many great men and women, who researched plant-based dietary practices. Only the interpretation of the ideas are mine. I never intentionally use the words of others and call them my own.

"To a great extent we are physically what we eat... What needs additional emphasis are the positive aspects--the need for vegetables, fruits, and grains, particularly wheat. In most cases, the closer these can be, when eaten, to their natural state -- without over-refinement and processing -- the healthier we will be. To a significant degree, we are an overfed and undernourished nation digging an early grave with our teeth, and lacking the energy that could be ours because we overindulge in junk foods...We need a generation of young people who, as Daniel, eat in a more healthy manner than to fare on the "king's meat" - and whose countenances show it." (Ezra Taft Benson, Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 476-77)

“The condition of the physical body can affect the spirit. That’s why the Lord gave us the Word of Wisdom. He also said that we should retire to our beds early and arise early (see D&C 88:124), that we should not run faster than we have strength (see D&C 10:4), and that we should use moderation in all good things...Food can affect the mind, and deficiencies of certain elements in the body can promote mental depression...Rest and physical exercise are essential, and a walk in the fresh air can refresh the spirit. Wholesome recreation is part of our religion and is a necessary change of pace; even its anticipation can lift the spirit.” President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994), “Do Not Despair,” Ensign, Oct. 1986

Hurray!

Wilma Romine Sutton Bradshaw Weedon, Ginger Lee Downen Conrad, Judith Ann Bradshaw Downen Teeters

It's been a roller coaster week of unbelievable proportions. The lows and the highs came from unexpected places, but I'm grateful for each experience. I've learned a lot about myself and the nature of the people I love.

I've only begun my new study goals to get degrees as a Master Herbalist, Master of Education, and Naturpathic Doctor. But with the little I know, I'm helping and serving the people I love. This week I've been in AZ visiting family, where I thought nobody would listen to my message of health, that no disease is incurable. It started with my SIL on Thursday night. The men were out watching Iron Man 2, which I had no desire to see at all. We were having a gab fest. I think she must have asked a hundred questions about green diets and herbs. She's determined to add greens at least once a day to see what happens.

Then yesterday I went to the girl's party given by my 93-year-old grandmother. All there were people I love dearly and would love to help, aunties, cousins, and so on. I came in 10 minutes late to a room riveted on me. I've been emailing Aunt Kathy and Mom about my health successes. Apparently, they spent the ten minutes talking up my success. The room exploded with questions. Now I have eight green smoothie converts on my mother's side and at least three on my husband's side.

God was most instrumental in placing the book Greens for Life in my path last summer. I've taken that information and combined it with research found in Eat to Live, Original Fast Foods, and the many works of Dr. John Christopher and Ann Wigmore. This new path God placed me on has helped me get rid of hypothyroidism, hypoadrenalism, hypoglycemia, bursitis, acne, severe digestion problems including 40 years of chronic constipation, constant chest pain and shortness of breath, debilitating female problems, pain and illness induced depression, chronic fatigue, iron-poor and pernicious anemias, high cholesterol, eczema, fungus infections, chronic kidney infections, candida overgrowth, arthritis, menopausal symptoms, tinnitus, raynauld's syndrom (almost gone), hay fever, chest pain, and mitral valve prolapse. Next I'm going to work on my eyesight. Yes! There are no incurable diseases. Anyone can change.

I'm so happy with my new found health that I want to shout my success and the blessings of God from the rooftops. God loves me and has other missions in store for me on earth. I'm so glad I have a bit of energy to teach again and am beginning a High School Literature and Composition class on Monday. Hurrah! Thank you God!

minestra di verdura, fagolli, e pasta

This is not my veggie garden, but I would be delighted with something very similar.

Seriously, I want to do this in my front yard, picket fence and all. I can see espalier pair and cherry trees lining the fence with various herbs and strawberries growing beneath them. In the center raised beds as above, contain lush veggies and herbs to put in my minestra di verdura.

"Nothing feeds the center of being so much as creative work.

The curtain of mechanization has come down between the mind and the hand." A. M. Lindbergh

I haven't missed a lot of things with my new way of eating. Although, Pasta Fagolli has been a sorely missed, well-loved, family favorite for almost 20 years. After watching Colleen Simmons' Chinese Noodle Soup video, I was inspired to make-over our high-calorie, low-nutrient dish into a delicious, low-calorie, high-nutrient soup. We ate this for dinner last night, and I tweaked it even more.

minestra di verdura, fagolli, e pasta

2 leeks, washed and sliced thinly, white part with only a bit of the green
3 stalks celery including leaves, crescents
1 carrot, coins
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1 lb. mushrooms, sliced
1 small can tomato paste

2 c. sliced cabbage
1 c. chopped parsley
1-2 T. minced fresh rosemary
1 c. quartered and sliced zucchini
1 t. Italian dried herbs
3 c. cooked white beans (It really helps to always have a pot of beans cooked and ready to eat in the fridge or freezer. You could replace the white beans with kidney beans, lima beans, garbanzo beans, or almost any other except pinto.)

1 red pepper, large dice
4 oz. whole wheat fettuccine, broken into small pieces
freshly ground pepper

Sweat leeks, carrot, celery, garlic, and mushrooms over low heat, covered for about 20 minutes. Add tomato paste, continuing to sweat for an additional 10 min. Add 4 c. water, cabbage, parsley, rosemary, herbs, and beans. Simmer for 20 min. Add fettuccine, continuing to simmer for 5 min. Remove from heat. Add peppers and pepper. Let stand for 5 min. Serve sprinkled with Bragg's nutritional yeast. Of course don't forget to have a large green salad with romaine, arugula, cucumber, green peppers, lemon, and freshly ground black pepper.

I like her focus...I won't even consider his...

In The Orchard

Walter Boodle

I hate to admit that I agree with someone with the last name of Obama. Obesity among US children and citizens in general is rising at alarming rates. After reading several books on this topic lately, such as Original Fast Foods, Eat to Live, Green Smoothie Revolution, How to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, The China Study, The Starch Solution, Herbal Home Health Care, and others, I'm beginning to understand why. Sadly, we have turned from a nation of vibrant, lean, strong people who ate mostly whole garden foods, to a group of circus-seeking, obese, sick invalids, addicted to psuedo-foods and drive-throughs. True, we live longer because of better hygiene. Nevertheless, we are surviving a diseased existence instead of really living. Are fake foods and TV really worth all this?

Mrs. Obama's ideas to change school lunches and educate children about healthy eating and exercise are right on. There is one sticky point here, though. The machine that created the obesity and disease-producing, nutrition misinformation is of the last 60 years is the very same group lobbying for her husband's pet project. They spread their message of "healthy eating" through government funded public school programs, which were then carried all the way to medical schools. Hopefully, Mrs. Obama will be able to spread her message of growing one's own organic garden produce, exercising together as families, eliminating "government cheese" school lunches, eating more fruits and vegetables, and staying away from junk. It's a valid message, but will the drug, fast food, dairy, and meat lobbies allow her to continue?

Instead of relying on the government's intervention for this and other problems that are really not government concerns. Let us all think before we reach for the bright packages of chemicals in the grocery store or drive through for a "99 cent heart attack." Let us "bridle our tongues" a bit and eat to live instead of dying to eat. Twinkies and Coke are not worth dying for; really they aren't.

Since embracing a vegetable and fruit centered, mostly raw diet and participating in almost daily exercise, I feel fabulous. Slowly, I'm getting to my proper weight and health. I feel better than I did at 18. My amazing body is healing itself of all degenerative disease just the way God intended. I'm ready to really live the second part of my life.

Here's my newest recipe:

Very Veggie Yaki Soba Sorta

4 oz. 100% buckwheat soba noodles
2-3 sheets nori, cut into narrow strips
1 c. nappa cabbage, shredded
1 c. julian cut carrots
1 c. red bell pepper, 1/4 inch squares
1/2 c. celery, very thin crescent cuts
1/4 c. green onions, 1/2 inch. diagonal cuts
1/4 lb. baked tofu (recipe below)
1T. honey
1T. Bragg's liquid aminos

Have all ingredients (organic if possible) prepared ahead of time. Bring 1 quart water to a boil. Add noodles and set aside, covered for 5-7 min. Drain, reserving about 3 T. hot water. Add veggies, tofu, honey, and Bragg's to reserved water. Toss with noodles and eat. Serves 2-3

Baked Tofu
Slice tofu block into 4 equal slices. Put on a tea towel lined plate. Place another plate on top and something heavy like a gallon of water. Drain for 20 min. Place slices in a 9X13 pan. Pour over the juice of one lemon and 1 T. Bragg's liquid aminos. Marinate for 20-30 min. Bake at 350F for 20-30 min. Cut into cubes. Use immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to 6 days or freeze up to 2 months.

After dinner and clean-up go out and enjoy a nice walk around the neighborhood or swim at the local pool.

OK so I'm an overachiever

Daniel's Challenge is wonderful, because of it's emphasis on the Word of Wisdom. Over the month of March, I've worked on Daniel's Kitchen Challenges except for making naturally leavened bread. Until I get back to my Bosch in April, making bread is out of the question. I'm having so much fun with these challenges. Of course I modify everything to make it my own, but that's how I like to do things.

So how do I feel? The switch from a mostly grain diet to a mostly green diet has been phenomenally life changing. I've been working on this transition since August. Daily movement except during illness is now something, which I look forward and even anticipate with a sense of joy. I feel like I want to shout my new discoveries from the house tops. This is fantastic.

I love huge salads and green smoothies. Something I have in the works will cut the costs of all this 10X. When I get my kitchen garden going, I'll take pictures and show everyone how awesome it is. I've been searching for a viable, affordable solution to my need for less expensive greens. After reading The Sprout Book, I think I've found the answer. Hurray! God does guide our paths and is so good.

Last night I made Daniel's Chili with low-heated pinto beans. I know it was wonderful, because my bean-hating, 14-year-old nephew wants me to give the recipe to his mom. It's not much different than the recipe from The Pantry Principle minus the meat. Low-heating beans, which I learned about in Every Woman's Herbal, takes a bit longer than the PP method or Original Fast Foods' canned beans. The beans are first soaked for 24 hours in distilled water. Then they are cooked over very low heat until soft, which takes about 12-24 hours. Yes, it is more involved than using a can of beans, but the end product is much better than canned beans or even conventionally cooked beans. Cooking this way is quite calming, but planning is required.

I absolutely love gaining health. Why don't you join me?!

If it isn't in there, you won't eat it, baby!

The healthy space makeover idea is not hard for me. I've spent the last few years mentoring women in to cleaning up the their physical and internal environments including the kitchen cabinets. Although some of the things I believed were healthful actually were not~but only a few. If it isn't in there, you won't eat it, baby! (BTW- I follow The Word of Wisdom, Green for Life, Eat to Live, Starch Solution, and Original Fast Foods.)

People who offer me great support are my husband, mom, and youngest son unless I get too needy. I've learned how to walk away from toxic people, when they turn on the poison. This is so necessary in avoiding stress and ill health. For me the best places are my home, the temple, and nature~I especially like to be near water or playing in the dirt. I've learned that going to the movies physically hurts my heart and spirit. That sounds so strange, but the booming, bass, rock music, crude language, and immodest, unkind people leave me feeling drained. I also discovered that places where people refuse to listen to anything but their own agenda or opinion are not conducive to joy. I love dialog and friendly debate, but not with contentious, close-minded people, whether they claim to be conservative or liberal, religious or not. The last place I avoid is entering someone else's bad mood or day. I just don't have to go there. Grandma told me to be a duck and let it roll off my back. That was very good advice.