Reveling in my skinny bitch-ness

Remember the cleanse I did in early October? Well, it may have only lasted 15 days, but from that experience I lost a few bad habits that were no longer serving me and replaced them with some new habits that have really had a lasting affect on the figure.

Here’s a recap of what I gave up for 15 days, and what I’ve managed to keep out of my daily habits for the last 30 days since then.

• Sugar
• Alcohol
• Meat/chicken/fish (note – I’ve already cut out all but fish in my diet)
• Dairy and eggs
• Gluten
• Caffeine

Here’s what I’ve been able to keep out of my daily diet since then, with very little effort.

Refined sugar – Okay, aside from the odd nibble of dark chocolate here and there, I have successfully lost my refined sugar habit, which was primarily in my morning coffee. The hubbie and I have had a horrid habit of literally brewing a tank of coffee in the morning, and sucking it all back before 10am. Not only is the caffeine trip ridiculous, but also each cup was seasoned with a tsp of artificial sweeter and a tsp of raw sugar and creamer. The net result of this little AM indulgence is a shocking 190 calories and 5 grams of fat that I just don’t need.

So now I’ve successfully kicked the coffee habit, replacing it with yummy tea infusions. I don’t often need to sweeten tea, but if I do, it’s with a squirt of raw agave nectar, which runs about 30 calories for a half tsp.

Fish, dairy and eggs have been completely removed from my diet, and I have to say, it hasn’t been nearly has difficult as I thought it would be. Actually, I’ve really stepped up to the challenge of honing my veggie culinary skills, and I must say, it’s become a really interesting hobby. My husband loves the dinners I dish up, and I’m enjoying my Sunday morning trips to the farmers market to get new and interesting veggies to experiment with. I’m also finding the produce I buy from the local growers can stay fresh for up to 2.5, sometimes 3 weeks. You won’t get that sort of shelf life in the grocery store.

The best part about tossing these two habits is that I’ve been able to maintain my voracious eating habits and actually lose weight overall. My muffin top is no longer, and my thighs haven’t mingled in almost two months. This has happened in spite of a considerable reduction in running miles due to a knee injury.

Weigh less with less effort just by eating more veggies? I’ll take that, thank you.

As for the other things on that list, I never did eliminate gluten, as I just didn’t see the point. I love bread and plan to keep eating it. By switching from a tank of coffee to two or three cups of tea throughout the day, I’ve wildly reduced my morning caffeine jack-up and subsequent crash as well. I’ve chosen not to completely eliminate caffeine or alcohol, as I don’t think either one in moderation is bad for me, or the planet.

If you’re interested in learning more about the cleanse I did and the lifestyle habits I’ve honed because of them, check out Quantum Wellness: A Practical and Spiritual Guide to Health and Happiness. It’s a great read, not preachy, and the ideas are fresh and doable.

Here’s to being a Skinny Bitch.




XO
--Are you new to the blog? Consider adding your email in the subscriber box (top left of the page). You'll be notified when new content is added.

Choice paralysis!!

So, remember that “Monday intention” I created last week? Yeah, it’s Tuesday and I’m still not finished with last week’s goal. Oh well, I have at least cracked the first chapter of my text book (I was suppose to complete the first three), which is painfully boring. I plan to get through the next two tonight, then set a goal to read three more chapters by next Monday.

Ironically, in this little failure I can see a glimmer of growth. Earlier this week I was listening to a podcast with Robert Fritz who talks about the structure of a choice. A decision to pursue a goal or action is considered a primary choice, and the multitude of follow up actions that are necessary to complete the goal are considered secondary choices (i.e. the choice to do the work or not). In all cases, in order to achieve success in our primary choices, we have to go through the motions of these secondary choices.

When I look at the situations in my life right now, the biggest stress I have is making choices. I resist this process because I’m turned off by the list of secondary actions that are necessary to bring me to my primary want. But we all have to do these things we don’t want to do to get where we have to go. It’s unavoidable to be a brilliant cellist without practice and its impossible to be a novelist without writing a word.

So when my ideas arise, I look at the secondary choices I have to make and I’m suddenly struck with a feeling of exhaustion or disinterest and I promptly label that idea a non-starter. Perhaps its laziness, but I have this belief that the right choice for me is the one with the brilliant secondary choices that just gets me all giddy to get started. That’s what passion is right? Enjoying the process as much as the outcome?

That particular podcast inspired a brilliant ah-ha moment and a huge perspective shift. I don’t think there is necessarily anything wrong with looking under the hood of a primary choice to see what lies ahead, but to expect that the “right” choice will look rosy and crystal clear is just not realistic. Even the best choices we make, like having a child, starting a business or getting married to the person we love is wrought with pain-in-the-ass secondary choices. Ultimately, I realize that there are no perfect choices, primary, secondary or otherwise, so I should stop putting so much pressure on myself to “choose the right thing” and just go for what feels good.

All this to say, at some point in the last week, I thought to myself, I really don’t want to study this real estate stuff so perhaps I’m making the wrong choice. But the reality is that even though the process bores me to tears, ultimately the primary goal will be worth the painful hours of study.

And with that said…back to the books I go.



--Are you new to the blog? Consider adding your email in the subscriber box (top left of the page). You'll be notified when new content is added.

a sunday funny...

Since I'm back to being my genuine dorky self, I have to share something that just cracked me up today...



Here's the link if the file is not embedded. Its so worth the watch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DIc8jdra0o



--Are you new to the blog? Consider adding your email in the subscriber box (top left of the page). You'll be notified when new content is added.

she's back!

If there's such a thing as de-branding, then that's what I've done here.

About a month ago, I departed my beloved skeptic yogi icon, which to me has become a beloved representation of a wild and crazy personal journey, and I tried to reformat the site into something it wasn't... a blog about you.

If there's one thing that they say makes a good writer, its honesty, and to pay honor to that skill I have to write from my own experiences, views and opinions. From there, I can only hope the ideas I leave here resonate with you enough that you come back for more and more.

So my little skeptic yogi diva icon is back. Most of you receive my posts via RRS feed, so you may not even have noticed the updated layout that looked more like a 10-year-old girl's bedroom then an a blog that reflected the queen of chic that I am!

So I'm back to my old self, to my old style and my cheeky approach to spiritual self discovery.

I love that you've endured my personal transformations on this blog, and I hope that you stay with it.

Namaste


--Are you new to the blog? Consider adding your email in the subscriber box (top left of the page). You'll be notified when new content is added.

Thursday Musings

Endless path, originally uploaded by louistib.

I’ve been “off” from the world of work for about 8 months now. Over that time I’ve traveled to really cool places, completed a yoga teacher training, got engaged, got married, and I’m training for my second race of the year. In between all that, I’ve explored myself, my values, and really taken some time to consider what I want to do next. I’ve peered into several business ventures, exploring ideas to see what might stick, and I’m even taking a stab at a book proposal. But over the course of these 8 glorious months, the one thing that seemed to elude me was the real commitment to one decision, enough that I could remove my feet from the cement block in which they currently reside.

Yes, I am stuck.

The residual affect of my stuck-ness has manifested itself in many tangible ways, and I started to take notice of subtle changes in my level of engagement in my own life. I decided it was time to do something about it.

Today I sought the guidance of a career counselor in an earnest attempt to chip away at fears, misconceptions and unproven expectations. I look forward to seeing what unfolds from our time together over the next coming weeks.

Finding a place in the working world that authentically represents who you are is a job in itself. Not only do you want to bring together your greatest assets, skills and interests, but you also want to feel as though you’re contributing to something you care about. Blend this with a need to make a good living and a work/life balance, and it seems like an overwhelming task to find all of the above.

My counselor assures me that finding “THE JOB” is something few people uncover, but we all want to aim toward being in a quadrant of good to great rather than bad to “oh God, it’s Monday again”.

I’ve had the good fortune of having great jobs in my past that I think many people would envy. I’ve done events in some amazing places from the south of France to China - places that I may have never seen otherwise. I’ve worked with people smarter than me, met some of my best friends, and have some brilliant memories, all from my hours spent on the job.

I don’t regret a moment of my past in any way, and I look all my experiences, good and bad, as being worthwhile. But I can’t help but wonder where the compass points to next, and hope it’s something new, because to me, change is growth.

I don’t see myself in a valley right now, but rather at the top of a peak, looking down at so many options that I’m almost overwhelmed by choice. My counselor views my greatest challenge right now as the need to take a step in a direction – any direction – and see what happens. I finally realize that no matter what path I take, there will be dragons. But I have to rise to my own fears and take the dragons head on, lest I continue remain in this state of inertia indefinitely.

As my Mom used to say when faced with a choice to make change, “well, you know what it looks like to be where you are, why not try something else?”

I think she’s right.

Speaking of trying, thanks so much for your emails and comments on your Monday Intentions!! I want to send out a gentle reminder for you to keep that intention top of mind, as you’ll be revisiting it on Monday, and fail or pass; it will be brought to your attention once more!! So I encourage you to start chipping away if you haven’t already to whatever you wanted to achieve this week. Remember, movement is momentum, and momentum is what you need to keep in order to propel yourself forward, least you fall into my cement slipper syndrome!

Get started now!!!

XO

Oh What a Night!

Last night I was reminded of how amazing it is to live in this country. Watching Obama win the election reaffirmed my heartfelt belief that anything is possible, that calm steady action still wins over pettiness, and that enough people in this country believe we need someone smarter than “Joe six-pack” to run it.

I’m truly inspired by the direction this country is headed. I’m honored to be part of the movement toward change and relieved we’ve proven that the new face of America is based on civil equality, possibility for all, and compassion for its planet and everyone who lives on it, including other animals.

Here in California, Prop 2, a legislative measure that will put an end to the worst suffering of factory farm animals by 2015, was passed last night by almost landslide proportions. I was overcome with joy and relief that so many share the belief that all species have the right to basic humane treatment and comfort. I was reassured that the public is becoming aware that agri-business needs to be more concerned with the health of our environment and the fair treatment of animals.

I couldn’t participate in the election last night because I’m not an American citizen (yet), so I waited with a feeling of two hands tied behind my back hoping that this country that I admire so much would move in a progressive direction, and it did. My only disappointment is that the results for Proposition 8, which prohibits gay marriage in this state, might win. This is a sad situation for those Americans who have a right to equal treatment under the law.

I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with emotion for Barack Obama, as I’m sure he shares exhilaration for his win along with the sadness that his grandmother missed it by only a day. In the coming years he has his work cut out for him, but I know I speak for so many Americans as well as most global citizens as I wish him good luck and Godspeed!



XO


--Are you new to the blog? Consider adding your email in the subscriber box (top left of the page). You'll be notified when new content is added.

You'll wonder how you ever lived without this....

As previously promised, I’m going to try to become more useful for you. In an effort to be a beacon of inspiration, I’m bringing a new format for Monday postings. The idea is to become more consistent with my posts, but don’t expect too much “formatty” behavior as its just not my style. But with that said, I give you, my regular Monday format called (drum role please)…

Weekly Resolutions.

Every Monday for the rest of eternity, you and I will create one (or more if you’re a real eager beaver) resolution(s) to improve your way of life. Whether you vow to create, annihilate or turn on its head, any particular behavior, thought or thing that just needs change, its up to you. Does that make sense? In other words, resolve to do one thing a week to make you a sharper player in the world.

The intention is to painlessly move in the direction towards which we all aspire whether that’s superhero status or even just a little skinnier, kinder or whatever. You pick the topic. The key is to make it a priority over all the mundane “must do’s” that tend to suck up all our time. In order to create change, you have to consciously make room for it in your day, (or in this case, week), or it will simply fall by the resolution wayside.

Every Monday, I’ll declare my resolution for the week and report on the success of my previous week’s goal. You do the same. To make it real, you must write it down when you see the post. Write away (get it? Hee hee). I strongly encourage you to write your intention here in the comments so it’s out there for prosperity. You can also email it to me if you like and I’ll email it back to you mid-week as a reminder. If you think it’s none of my business, that’s fine too, but write it down where you will see it all week.

This is an actual real time experiment in self-growth history. Since I’m not allowing myself to read it, I’ve got to get my fix in other ways, so just humor me okay?

Week 1.

I resolve to get through the first four chapters of my Real Estate Principles Text Book. To date I haven’t even removed the shrink wrap, and its been sitting on my desk longer than I care to admit.

Now it’s your turn.



--Are you new to the blog? Consider adding your email in the subscriber box (top left of the page). You'll be notified when new content is added.

Life Lessons From The Ultimate Guide to Google Ad Words

The duckies invade Google, originally uploaded by Yodel Anecdotal.

You probably wouldn’t intentionally go looking for “rules to live by” in a book about online advertising, but I have to say that I was amazed that the Ultimate Guide to Google AdWords (Ultimate Guide to Google Adwords)
was loaded with nuggets of cool wisdom for the “non-woo woo” growth-seeker. Okay, I’m also open to the idea that I’m in total withdrawal since I started my self-imposed moratorium on self-help books. (I still get the shakes every time Amazon sends me one of those “you might like this book too!” emails).

But enough about my freaky addictions! I just have to share these pearls of wisdom with ya’ll. Enjoy!

1. Be outstanding
Have a compelling Unique Selling Point (USP) that sets you apart from your competitors, or in this case, the other 7 billion people on the planet. Answer these questions to help you develop your own USP. Keep in mind these questions are actually geared toward ad development, but I’ve answered them as an example of how they relate to me, and my personal approach to blogging

- Why should someone read, or listen to you?
Because my tone, approach and perspective is so down-to-earth and clearly pulled from experience

- Why should someone believe what you have to say?
Because I write in a conversational tone, my sarcasm is palpable and perhaps even funny, and I deliver non-woo-woo content for pragmatic growth seekers.


- Why should someone do anything (or even care) about what you have to offer?

Because it’s useful and thought-provoking without being vomit-inducing woo-woo speak. It also includes trial-and-error examples from my own life. Besides, I typically don’t like to write about my own failures, so you know you’re only getting my success tactics.

- Why should someone act now?

To “act now” would imply subscription to the blog in my case, and if you don’t subscribe now, well…you loose out on this thrilling content! (Okay, you can stop laughing now.)

2. Stand out from the rest. Don’t be a commodity.
According to the book, one of the secrets of creating compelling Google Ads, and subsequently, creating a compelling you, is to “discover how to do something valuable that few others can do”. This is probably the best career advice I’ve ever heard. Typically you enjoy doing what you’re uniquely good at, and if it comes easily, you can deliver great work with little energy, which is a key to living a balanced life. What do you do really well that others want? In my case, its witty-witty blog banter (okay, seriously, stop laughing).

3. Add zing and personality to everything you do to be unique. From an ad creation perspective, this might mean weaving a self-deprecating story about getting your heart crushed in high school into a newsletter article about industrial power supply boxes. In the creation of a better you, this would mean weaving a little “you-flair” into EVERYTHING you touch. From your daily dress to your boring cubicle walls at the office, your personal touch sets you apart, tells your unique story, and starts interesting conversations (which are always about you, right?).

In my case, my blog reflects some of the things that I love – like ideas about non-woo-woo spirituality and self-growth, the color pink, and of course, damask! It speaks VOLUMES about my girly tastes and specific interests.

So who knew a book about Google ads could be so insightful when it comes to developing a better you (and me)? I'm also going to surrender to the fact that no matter what I read, hear, or do, it’s always going to boil down to "how does this help me grow?" I guess that's just my personal touch!




--Are you new to the blog? Consider adding your email in the subscriber box (top left of the page). You'll be notified when new content is added.

self-help is a scam... who knew?

I just had the most brilliant AH HA moment inspired by this article from the Times Online calling the self-help industry a scam. I had to laugh at my own indulgent study of self-help genre which has been a shameless addiction for far too long. There I said it. I didn’t need this article to explain it to me, but I did need a little perspective on what I’ve been doing, which is clearly…too much reading and not enough action.

I have been a junky of the self-help world for a looong time. Even last week I was in a bookstore, strolled through the self-help section and had a hard time identifying titles I had not yet consumed. One would think that after so many books, seminars, audio talks etc, that I would be impervious to anything less than perfection at this point, but opposite is actually quite true in many cases.

Look, I believe whole-heartedly in the continued effort to evolve one’s self spiritually, intellectually and even physically, but what I read today was like coming up for air and finally seeing what I’ve been doing wrong all these years and book piles later. I spend too much time “preparing for life in theory” and not nearly enough time in execution. It’s like fussing over a business plan for the best concept in the world, but never considering it ready enough for implementation.

The hilarious thing is that self-help is a BILLION dollar industry that has grown so rapidly in the last 30 years, and yet one could argue we are more miserable as a society now, then we ever were.

So what’s the deal?

Self-help is only going to build your expectations of what life “should be” but will never actually do the work to get you there. Instead, it’s a distraction that leads to your own inaction and eventual disappointment. The greater irony is that the golden “nuggets” of true value in self-help, is the same advice our parents told us when we were kids that we poo-pooped as the talk of simpletons.

We have so many brilliant theories, applications and processes from the rule of 80/20 to the law of attraction, but none of these ideas bring success without action, focus and the willingness to fail a few times before you get it right. Its just that simple.

At the end of the day, what I love so much about this gene is the thought-provoking idea generation, which I can just as easily garner from a good show on NPR. So I'm calling an official moratorium on my self-help biblio-olic tendencies and opting instead for a little more action oriented living. Hopefully my years of endless study will come in handy ☺



--Are you new to the blog? Consider adding your email in the subscriber box (top left of the page). You'll be notified when new content is added.

Swimming up stream? Say bub-bye to roadblocks

I was listening to an interview podcast today with Cheryl Richardson, a rather popular life coach. Now, life coaching is just one of those things I’ve never quite understood, but I’m always open to the ideas that this profession generates.

During this particular discussion, Cheryl was talking about how the key to getting to a point where we can start realizing our dreams is to clear away the roadblocks that stand in our way first. Often when we do that, the dreams or goals themselves may even melt away as they only existed because of the roadblock, which stood in front of it. Interesting idea!

She suggests roadblocks as being anything from clearing clutter to dealing with big issues like finances or things that need to be fixed (like my car!!). She suggests starting with a list of 10 roadblocks which drain our energy, be it people, problems or areas of “stuckness” that are hindering the development of our goals and dreams. Carve out the time to deal with these issues, and you will start to see how energy naturally starts following in a positive direction again.

I am such a HUGE advocate of this process. I can name a million examples where I’ve had trouble moving ahead because of draining situations in my life. Once I was able to change, tweak or rid myself of the problem, the goal would become much much closer.

So here’s a task for you today. Sit down and think about a goal you’ve been trying to attain for some time, but feel as though you’re swimming up stream. Then list 10 energy-draining roadblocks that stand in your way of achieving the goal. That’s your task list. Now take the next week to take your focus off the goal itself, and start addressing the task list instead. Do whatever you can to remove obstacles immediately, or if they’re longer-term issues, start the process of removing or changing them. Then watch what happens. It’s truly amazing.



--Are you new to the blog? Consider adding your email in the subscriber box (top left of the page). You'll be notified when new content is added.

beauty conscious

because you're not doing the world any favors by being ugly...

Sheila B -
yoga diva of the eastern seaboard and very cool friend.


Okay, I'm going to be honest about something here. Going consciously chic
is not exactly the cakewalk I was anticipating. Not that it's rocket
science, but it does take quite a few lotions and potions to keep this gal
looking her best. Now that I'm taking a look under the hood of some of
these cosmetic wonders, I'm noticing that there's some ingredient uglies to which I'd
been turning a blind eye until now. Needless to say, I've got my work cut out for me if I'm to
be a consciously chic shopper going forward (aka, still have my fun beauty
products while maintaining my oh-so-tranquil I'm-now-part-of-the-solution
peace of mind...)

The upside to this "step in the chic direction" is my guilt-free license to
shop all the consciously chic beauty products to my blissful content,
because I've got to sample what I preach right? Right.

Ergo, my new segment on the consciously chic beauty buys! And to kick this
puppy off (not that we endorse kicking puppies), I'm going to highlight a
new product that I've just tried in order to glam up my otherwise lame
locks. I've been using Patene Pro V shampoo for a while now, and I just find it leaves my
hair a little on the greasy side. Apparently there's a high wax content in
it, so that's probably the reason. More importantly, Pantene is a Proctor
& Gamble product, and it tests its products on animals. I give kudos to them for being forthright about their use of animals, where many companies (such as Benefit Cosmetics) do not even respond to inquiries. But savvy marketing surrounding unspeakable acts is just putting “lipstick on a pig” in IMO. Shame on P&G! There are so many great companies out there making brilliant products such as bumble and bumble, so IT IS possible to serve the mainstream innovative products without injecting toxin’s in the eyeballs of bunnies.

So bub-bye Pantene Pro V, hello BWC! I picked up a sample size of this little hair-o-licious wonder and it is AWESOME!! My waxy slime residue was stripped
away, and it really gave my locks some bounce. Love, Love, Love this new product, and it's not ridiculously priced as many boutique brands are. You can find their products in most health food stores, as well as on
drugstore.com , or simply buy it off their own site.

Thumbs up for the BWC folks for making a cruelty-free, 100% organic hair
saving shampoo and conditioner.

Next I need to tackle my roots. Enlightened highlights are officially on the
to do list!

xo


--Are you new to the blog? Consider adding your email in the subscriber box (top left of the page). You'll be notified when new content is added.

The Mantra de Jour!

I bet you have a saying that helps you gain perspective in challenging moments. If you don’t, you need to get one. Whether you adopt a profound quote from a well-known personality, or even your mom’s famous last words, having a personal mantra to pull out of your back pocket in times of complete anxiety-ridden moments is a very powerful tool.

In my own life, I’m embarking on new projects where I feel completely out of my element on a number of levels. I’m stepping into new industries, practices and territories where I’ve never been before, and it frightens the pants off me. At least once every twenty minutes or so I stop and ask myself what the heck I’m doing, because not taking risks is a TREMENDOUSLY easier (yet somewhat limited) way to live your life.

Want to know what gets me through these moments of pure panic? Here’s my mantra de jour and secret sauce extraordinaire.

Nothing is rocket science – except rocket science.

When I recite this to myself, my fear instantly stops its cheeky little rain dance, quietly takes a seat and I just get on with it. I’m instantly reminded that no task is so great that it’s just simply beyond my scope of abilities. I can do ANYTHING if I really put my mind to it, and so can you. If its been done before (and really, what hasn’t?), it can be done again.

Don’t let fear hold you back. Feel free to use my mantra in times of need, but I encourage you to find or create one that truly resonates with your soul.

And as for taking risks, I have learned that even if you fall flat on your face or get your heart broken, there’s always an equal chance that something brilliant will come out of it. We can always heal from our mistakes and be stronger because of it, but living with the regret of never trying seems like a much heavier load to carry.



--Are you new to the blog? Consider adding your email in the subscriber box (top left of the page). You'll be notified when new content is added.

yeah me!

I just found out I was recognized in a list of the top 100 yoga blogs! Now, I don't know what the connection is between the blog, and its list, but I'll take any recognition I can get :)

Yeah me!


--Are you new to the blog? Consider adding your email in the subscriber box (top left of the page). You'll be notified when new content is added.

A contraversial post - rewritten. From my heart to yours, please take the best care possible of yourself.

Earlier today I created a post regarding euthanized pets being fed to cattle, as well as a host of other unspeakable things. My beloved hubbie only saw this post once it went up, and he made two points that encouraged me to pull the article and re-write it.

1. I reacted too emotionally, which dilutes the creditability of my point.
2. I needed a highly recognized source if I’m to publish something so disturbing.
Otherwise readers may not believe it.

So I deleted my original post, and if you received it from a feed source, you’re among the few that know what I’m referring too. If I sounded too emotional to be credible, I apologize. My first priority was to circulate information that I felt was extremely important for consumers to know.

With that said, I’ll leave you with an excerpt from an article published by the US News and World Report. Hopefully we can all agree that this qualifies as a well-known source.

"Agricultural refuse such as corncobs, rice hulls, fruit and vegetable peelings, along with grain byproducts from retail production of baked goods, cereals, and beer, have long been used to fatten cattle. In addition, some 40 billion pounds a year of slaughterhouse wastes like blood, bone, and viscera, as well as the remains of millions of euthanized cats and dogs passed along by veterinarians and animal shelters, are rendered annually into livestock feed in the process turning cattle and hogs, which are natural herbivores, into unwitting carnivores."

I was also shocked to learn that chicken manure is now a standard staple in cattle feed as well

"Agriculture experts say a slew of new and questionable methods of fattening cattle are being employed by farmers. To trim costs, many farmers add a variety of waste substances to their livestock and poultry feed and no one is making sure they are doing so safely. Chicken manure in particular, which costs from $15 to $45 a ton in comparison with up to $125 a ton for alfalfa, is increasingly used as feed by cattle farmers despite possible health risks to consumers. In regions with large poultry operations, such as California, the South, and the mid-Atlantic, more and more farmers are turning to chicken manure as a cheaper alternative to grains and hay."

If you find this material disturbing, you’re not alone, but now you know. As I said in my previous post, I’m not evangelizing veganism here as I know its not for everyone, but I do think for the sake of our own health, we should be aware of the story behind our food choices.

Are you curious how this might affect your health?

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta estimates there may be as many as 80 million incidences of food-borne illness each year in the United States, and about 9,000 deaths (box, Page 24). Salmonella accounts for 4 million cases, of which 500 to 1,000 are fatal. Campylobacter, which causes acute gastroenteritis, afflicts between 4 million and 6 million people annually, killing about 100."

Now if eating cat and dog doesn't gross you out, keep in mind that you are also ingesting the drugs used to euthanize these animals as well. If you're not aware of the process of biomagnification which is the concentration of chemicals as food travels up the food chain, then you should do some research!

The moral of this story... know what you're eating so you can make conscious choices that are best for your body, and the environment.

If you are interested in reading the entire article, you can do so here.



--Are you new to the blog? Consider adding your email in the subscriber box (top left of the page). You'll be notified when new content is added.

got a sec?

Here’s a quick and dirty karma builder by showing your support for a universal declaration on animal welfare at the United Nations. It takes two seconds to sign the petition, and 2 more seconds to send this link to all of your friends.

Slowly but surely, with every petition signed, and every bill passed, humanity rises from the dark ages.

Giddy up! http://www.makeyourselfbeautiful.org

And just another sweet reminder, if you live in the beautiful sunny state of California, VOTE YES ON PROP 2!!! Because we all deserve the right to spread our wings…even the chickens.

You rock!



--Are you new to the blog? Consider adding your email in the subscriber box (top left of the page). You'll be notified when new content is added.

I heart Tonglen - A frustration management technique for dealing with things that drive you nuts.

Have you ever tried to call a big company to get help, only to have to navigate a million and one survey questions???

“Press one if your head is blue, press 2 if you’re about to loose your mind” … Argh, I HATE these things!! Honestly, I don’t like to use such a strong word, but that’s how I feel about automated phone services. Right…enough of the rant.

So while trying to get through to my bank this morning I had to deal with this painful process. Since they didn’t have all my information, it was close to impossible to navigate to a real person. Finally, after 15 minutes of trying, and nearly in a state of frustrated tears, I got through, only to find out that what I wanted them to do was not possible. Great.

So now I’m frustrated even more and I’m ready to loose it. But in that moment of complete irritation, I somehow came to a conscious place where I was able to ask myself what I could do to heal my state, before I took solace in a large bag of cashews.

And then it came to me…TONGLEN!!!

I had been listening to an audio book by Pema Chodren last week that talked about this ancient Tibetan practice that can melt away negative feelings in an instant by recognizing your own pain, then opening yourself to take on that same pain for everyone else who is feeling frustration in that moment. So in my case, I took a deep breath, and thought to myself, since I feel like blowing a gasket anyway, I ask the universe to give me the burden of everyone who is feeling that way right now. All those who feel as though their heads will pop off, can unload their suffering on me, since I’m feeling that way anyway. No sense in all of us feeling annoyed. The technique involves simply breathing in the suffering of others, and breathing out relief to all.

Now, this may sound a little counterproductive for dealing with your own frustration, but in almost an instant, my own frustration started to melt away, and empathy started to rise. That tightness in my own throat started to subside and truth be told, I felt great after a few rounds of deep breath.

The purpose here is to open your own heart and let compassion rise up. Whether it helped all those other acutely annoyed people in the world, I don’t know, but it sure as hell made me feel better. Who knew compassion could be so self-serving!!

Certainly don’t limit this to just moments of sheer frustration. It can be used with any emotion, pain, depression, sadness – and even joy. You can address one person specifically, or take on the burden for all. This technique is actually being used in hospitals to manage acute pain in patients, so there’s definitely merit for giving it a try the next time you want to throttle someone!!

What’s the take away here? When you feel a strong emotion, take a moment and notice how it feels, then offer to take on that feeling for everyone who suffers with it in that moment. Breath in the suffering of others, breathe out healing energy. Notice how quickly your own emotional burden starts to melt away.

Want to learn more about Tonglen? Start here.




--Are you new to the blog? Consider adding your email in the subscriber box (top left of the page). You'll be notified when new content is added.

Look at me!! I’ve EVOLVED!!!

They say all good things must come to an end… but not this blog!! However, I do have to say that the term “skeptic yogi” no longer suits my vision. Alas, I am no longer a skeptic, but a hard-core believist!! Okay, I made that word up but the point is, I have grown so much over the last 14 months that I feel my blog needs to start evolving with me.

So, what’s different?
I want to evolve my writing into a “less about me” and “more about you” perspective.

Why the name change?
Conscious = choices, behaviors, ideas and knowledge
Chic = simplicity, style, creativity and individuality.
oh so = well, that's just me talkin :)
Together these words embody everything I hope to inspire in my readers - elevated thinking, progressive ideas about how to expand your life and where to place your precious energy. Yoga has been the catalyst for my personal growth, but my vision for truly inspired living needs to cast a wider net. So I’ll also be covering inspiring books, amazing mentors, creative entrepreneurship, and TONS of info on the compassionate lifestyle, as well as my on-going random idea rants :)

And what else?
Podcasts… I promise to get back to podcasting. I tried this at the beginning of my blogging days and man they were bad. This time, I’ll try to embarrass myself less. Also, there will be a new look for the blog – it’s a hideous style of bland right now. I need a new header badly!

Who can I blame for this sudden change?
Jennifer Moore of Pink Heels, professional career and business coach extraordinaire has really inspired me to hone in on aligning passions with visions, both on and off the blog. Thanks Jennifer!

So stick with me! I promise to keep things a little light and funky while I take you on this fabulous journey from mainstream to higher being!



--Are you new to the blog? Consider adding your email in the subscriber box (top left of the page). You'll be notified when new content is added.

While you're at it, if you like this post, please do me the HUGE honor of a little digg --

move over tory burch!!

I was at the veggie food fair this weekend, just looking for inspiration and information from their awesome line up of talkers. I heard a number of great authors talk so eloquently and passionately about something that’s dear to my heart, the welfare of animals.

John Robbins, author of Diet for a New America (a MUST read), Sarah Kramer, author of La Dolce Vegan!: Vegan Livin' Made Easy, and How It All Vegan!: Irresistible Recipes for an Animal-Free Diet, and Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, author, activist and podcaster extraordinaire and founder of Compassionate Cooks all blew me away with their talks. I’m a HUGE fan of John Robbins, and had the honor of getting a book signed by him personally… so very cool.

But the speaker that rocked me to my core was Nathan Runkle. What an amazing guy. Very young, very hip and very outspoken and knowledgeable about the mistreatment of livestock animals. His non-profit, Mercy for Animals is definitely a place I’ll be putting some donation dollars. I read the title of his talk and wondered whether or not I should put myself through something I knew would be harsh. Well, it was, but I’m glad I did. His very first slide of a pit-bull with a half rotted face, alive and chained to the floor sent me into a series of convulsive tears that didn’t stop till the end of his talk. It was mind numbing to me, simply inconceivable how the people who worked on egg farms could beat a bird’s head against a wall until it was half dead and leave it on the ground to die in misery. Or throw birds on the ground and stomp on their necks till they lay limp. I saw videos of birds that were half picked to death by their cage mates because they went mad in such small confinements and the birds that lay dead and rotting on the bottom of the cage without even notice. And that’s just the eggs…. The ones we eat without a thought.

Man, it was wild to see humanity at its worst.

The upside to this tormenting speech was the renewed vigor that I left with. Move over vegaquarianism I am now as vegan as vegan can be. I realized that the dairy and egg industry is even worse than the slaughter industry, and I’ll never partake in it again.

SIDEBAR: EVEN IF YOU LOVE TO EAT EGGS, CHICKEN, COWS ETC., YOU CAN STILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR TREATMENT. VOTE YES ON PROP 2 THIS NOVEMBER!!!!!

The other great news was the UBER cute vegan shoes and boots I picked up!! So happy to see that conscious living doesn’t mean wearing rubber Birkenstocks or sporting the dirty hippie look (not that there’s anything wrong with dirty hippies). Just look at these babies, they’re awesome and CHEAP!! Check out Ragazzi Vegan based out of LA. I totally support their very chic shoes.

XO


--Are you new to the Skeptic Yogi? Consider adding your email in the subscriber box (top left of the page). You'll be notified when new content is added.

While you're at it, if you like this post, please do me the HUGE honor of a little digg --

A nudge on several cool things

I came across this youtube piece that I was compelled to share. I've never even heard of Russell Simmons before today, but I was amazed at what he had to say, and how he delivered it. For a man that rules the rap world, he's got one heck of a benevolent demeanor.

Anyway, I LOVE what he has to say about the vegan lifestyle, yoga and Obama!

As you all know, I don't have the privilege to vote in this country as I'm Canadian. But if I could, this is hands down the only man I see with the potential to raise the consciousness of this amazing country.



Can't see the streaming video above? Cut and paste this URL:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYX18NGTwls

Do your part... go vote!

--Are you new to the Skeptic Yogi? Consider adding your email in the subscriber box (top left of the page). You'll be notified when new content is added.

While you're at it, if you like this post, please do me the HUGE honor of a little digg --

Technorati Favorites">

Ode to a cleanse…

So I’ve been reading Kathy Freston’s book Quantum Wellness and I have to stay it has challenged me to take a look at the underbelly of my life habits and start cleaning out some cobwebs.

 Her book focuses on the eight pillars of wellness which include

1. Meditation
   
2. Visualization (yeah, fun!)
   
3. Fun activities (even more fun!)
   
4. Conscious eating
   
5. Exercise
   
6. Self-work
   
7. Spiritual practice
   
8. Service
   

 Now, I haven’t made it through the whole book yet, but I must say that even though I’ve heard the “wellness” speech a million times now as we all have, her book just clicked for me.  She talks in a very compassionate tone, never gets preachy, and I love her ideas about how to become a more “whole” person.  For the first time, that term actually resonates with me.  (Mostly I think of what un-whole must look like, and it’s always a visual with missing body parts.)

So in her book, she suggests a 21-day cleanse.  During this time, you completely avoid

•  All animal based products (meat, dairy, eggs)
  
• Alcohol
  
• Gluten
  
• Sugar (and its substitutes)
  
• Caffeine
  

 I’m now on day four of this cleanse, and I must say, I feel wonderful!  The first day without caffeine was hard given that I’m such a coffee whore.  I slept 11 hours my first night.  But by this morning, the caffeine cravings were starting to subside.

 The wine with dinner has been a tough one for me as I love a little vino to compliment my culinary creations, but I’ve been sticking to sparking water for a little flare, and saving myself the extra calories. 

I think the hardest thing to overcome is the SUGAR!!  We have a little habit of nibbling on chocolate after meals.  Not much, but enough to get the essence of sweetness on the pallet.  I’ve missed that, but I’ve replaced the habit with grapes, which well… isn’t the same as yummy milk chocolate, but it’s only for 21 days right?

The upside is a definite improvement in my sense of well being already.  I feel calmer, more focused and my self-diagnosed ADD has certainly improved!!  It’s a subtle change, but definitely having an impact, and so worth the short-term sacrifices.

They say it takes 21 days to start a new habit.  It will be interesting to see how I feel at the end of this journey, what I’ll want to re-incorporate, and what I’ll want to let go of for good!

Wish me luck!!

--Are you new to the Skeptic Yogi? Consider adding your email in the subscriber box (top left of the page). You'll be notified when new content is added.

While you're at it, if you like this post, please do me the HUGE honor of a little digg --

Sharing of the big day...

Some of you have been asking about the big day that passed just a few weeks ago. Here are some pictures taken by our guests, and a webcast of the event.

Enjoy!



The reception!




--Are you new to the Skeptic Yogi? Consider adding your email in the subscriber box (top left of the page). You'll be notified when new content is added.

While you're at it, if you like this post, please do me the HUGE honor of a little digg --

Some good reasons for veggie-ism

I said I’d post a few reason’s to take the veggie path, and as promised, here they are. WARNING: the clip included is graphic. I couldn’t watch the whole thing, but perhaps you can.

And a final note: This blog is about becoming a better person, and living a gratifying life. It’s not about making people feel bad about their dietary choices or beliefs. If you do eat meat, that’s fine, although I do hope to influence you with this single post on the perils and impacts of putting a steak on your plate.

I honestly don’t mean to sound self-righteous here, and I promise this will be the only post where I get graphic. I just felt it needed to be exposed.

And if you live in the state of California, please vote in favor of Prop 2, and at least give these poor creatures a better quality of life while they live.

Namaste

Reasons in favor of Veggie-ism

So your ass won’t look fat in those jeans, and to keep you out of the hospital.

• Avoiding meat is one of the best and simplest ways to cut down your fat consumption. Modern farm animals are deliberately fattened up to increase profits. Eating fatty meat increases your chances of having a heart attack or developing cancer.
• Vegetarians are fitter than meat eaters. Many of the world's most successful athletes are vegetarian.
• The following diseases are commoner among meat eaters: anemia, appendicitis, arthritis, breast cancer, cancer of the colon, cancer of the prostrate, constipation, diabetes, gallstones, gout, high blood pressure, indigestion, obesity, piles, strokes and varicose veins. Lifelong vegetarians visit hospital 22% less often than meat eaters and for shorter stays. Vegetarians have a 20% lower blood cholesterol level than meat eaters and this reduces heart attack and cancer risks considerably.
• Some farmers use tranquillizers to keep animals calm. Other routinely uses antibiotics to starve off infection. When you eat meat you are eating those drugs. In America, 55% of all antibiotics are fed to animals and the percentage of staphylococci infections resistant to penicillin went up from 14% in 1960 to 91% in 1988.
• It's must easier to become (and stay) slim if you are a vegetarian. (By 'slim', I do not mean 'abnormally slender' or 'underweight' but rather, an absence of excess weight!)

To feel as though you’re not part of the problem…

• Every minute of every working day, thousands of animals are killed in slaughterhouses. Pain and misery are common. In the US alone, 500,000 animals are killed for meat every hour.
• African countries - where millions are starving to death - export grain to the developed world so that animals can be fattened for our dining tables.

Because it’s NASTY!!!

• 'Meat' can include the tail, head, feet, rectum and spinal cord of an animal.
• A sausage can contain ground up intestines. How can anyone be sure that the intestines are empty when they are ground up? Do you really want to eat the content of a pig's intestines?

Because it’s heartless, and you are not heartless…

• Every day, tens of millions of one-day-old male chicks are killed because they will not be able to lay eggs. There are no rules about how this mass slaughter takes place. Some are crushed or suffocated to death. Many are used for fertilizer or fed to other animals.
• Animals who die for your dinner table die alone, in terror, in sadness and in pain. The killing is merciless and inhumane.
• Animals suffer from pain and fear just as much as you do. How would you like to spend your last hours locked in a truck, packed into a cage with hundreds of other terrified animal and then cruelly pushed into a blood soaked death chamber. Anyone who eats meat condones and supports the way animals are treated

Because its tress chic to be green!!!

• If we eat the plants we grow instead of feeding them to animals, the world's food shortage will disappear virtually overnight. Remember that 100 acres of land will produce enough beef for 20 people but enough wheat to feed 240 people.
• Half the rainforests in the world have been destroyed to clear ground to graze cattle to make beef burgers. The burning of the forests contributes 20% of all greenhouse gases. Roughly 1,000 species a year become extinct because of the destruction of the rainforests. Approximately 60 million people a year die of starvation. All those lives could be saved because those people could eat grain used to fatten cattle and other farm animals - if Americans ate 10% less meat.

Lastly, here’s a video clip from PETA. I warn you in advance, I couldn’t watch the whole thing, and if you’re not down with watching violence, then this isn’t for you. But if you need to see something real to shake you into taking the next step, something that happens, and something you can prevent, then watch this now.




Watch more videos at PETA.org

--Are you new to the Skeptic Yogi? Consider adding your email in the subscriber box (top left of the page). You'll be notified when new content is added.

While you're at it, if you like this post, please do me the HUGE honor of a little digg --