Raw Food Cleanse

I have been focussed whole-heartedly on a month long raw food cleanse... that's why you've not heard from me in that long.

Always one to eat healthfully anyways, I decided to take it one serious step further and experiment with eating entirely raw for the first time. I’ve done well with it, liking the ease and energy of it all.

My commitment has been on making "Green Smoothies" as my morning and lunch-time meals, consisting of various pieces of fresh fruit as well as a few leafy greens blended together in the blender. (As I write, I am drinking a smoothie made with a banana, 1/4 of a pineapple, 1/2 an avocado, an orange, tsp. of bee pollen and 3 leaves of swiss chard... yup, you read it right.. and it's delicious!)

Later in the day I get my chewing satisfaction by eating a great salad... colourful with variety and now including a sprinkle of nuts and tuna, shrimp or chicken.

Ugh... the first week of cutting out dairy, wheat and meat launched me into a flu-like detoxifying condition for awhile. I got through the more serious symptoms of stuffy head and nose-blowing after approximately ten days... I suspect a by-product of having eaten a fairly high degree of dairy products pre-cleanse.

After eating 100% raw for the first two weeks, I admit to feeling that it was too radical for me and the temptations to totally blow it came forward, so I made a few shifts and vow that moderation needs to be more my way for now. Subsequently, I have settled into preferring a 95% raw plan, with inclusions of fish, hard boiled eggs, occasional bowls of non-dairy based soups, chicken, steamed veggies and even dark chocolate. I'm also allowing an occasional glass of red wine. Perhaps I’ll want to take raw a bit deeper at a later stage.

So, in addition to feeling much better and having more energy, I’ve lost another 4 pounds since going raw, down to the same slim and nicely comfortable weight I was at ten years ago… and down a total of 19 pounds from this time last year when I began my personal growth seminars at Haven on Gabriola Island. I’d gotten pretty “curvy” over the last ten years… two pounds gained each year over time. Thank goodness fitness has been in my daily routine... it's the greatest gift to myself, always has been and always will be. I'm feeling pretty good about my figure right now! : )

Here's another BIG difference from my cleansing month...

In addition to the “de-cluttering” of my physical body through raw eating, I have also been de-cluttering our home for a short 20 minutes each day… one closet, one drawer, one box at a time!

I went through my entire clothing closet and extracted 1/3 of the items I'd been keeping, some for 15 years. Business suits (no longer in style and not worn for 10 years), multi-sized items that no longer suit or even fit me... they're gone! My vanity dresser has been cleared of lotions and potions, cosmetics, hair barrettes, nail polishes, etc.

Next came de-cluttering our kitchen. A box of food went to our local Food Bank and six boxes of Tupperware containers, cookbooks, chachkas, flower vases, dishes... you name it... went to our local Ladies Auxiliary Store. They'll sell it and raise $$$ for necessary equipment at our St. Mary's Hospital here in Sechelt... so I'm not only helping ME, but others as well. Cool, hey!

I'm feeling more free and empowered as I...

• complete unfinished projects
  
• scan and saving digital photos


• catch up accounting


• and get rid of piles of paper

… so, even home is slowly getting cleaned up and more streamlined. Wow, this added component is such a HUGE piece to putting order to feeling freer and creating a simpler life!

Raw food isn't for everyone, but even the inclusion of a "green smoothie" into your diet and doing some de-cluttering of home can make space for big changes to come forward.

Feeling healthier overall,

Carolyn

Our Year In Review

And so arrives the very last day of the year... a year that virtually evaporated for me!

2007 has been a very good year for us... accomplishing LOTS, tapping new levels of life quality, experiencing travel, etc. We feel especially grateful for our good health this year. How has your past year been?... we hope it was a good one.

Please click on our SmileBox card creation below... clicking each of the enclosed four pages to read about our year and our message to you.

Make a photobook - it's easy!

Richard and I wish you and your loved ones a very Happy New Year and the very best for 2008!

Sincerely, Carolyn and Richard Clarke
www.life-balance-success.com

Matcha Tea for ENERGY!

If you're like me, interested in good health and boundless energy, I'm excited to share my recent discovery with you.

Two months into using this natural product, I have noticed a remarkable difference in how much energy I have! What is the product, you ask? Here's what the enclosed brochure says...

"History’s oldest and healthiest natural beverage, Matcha Tea!

Matcha, or ceremonial Japanese green tea, has been by far the healthiest natural beverage known to humanity since its discovery over 900 years ago. Matcha is the oldest and most premium variety of Japanese green tea and it has the highest concentration of antioxidants, chlorophyll, vitamins and minerals compared to all mainstream beverages in existence to this day. Historically only enjoyed by Buddhist monks and nobility throughout the feudal ages of the samurai.

Origins of Matcha

Over 900 years ago, a Buddhist monk by the name Eisai brought over tea from Mainland China to be used as a miracle potion for ailments. When the teas arrived from China, it came in a powder form. It was customary of the times to grind the teas into a powder to facilitate transportation. When the Japanese incorporated green tea into their culture after the arrival of Eisai, it remained in its original powder form and consumed by diffusing it into water. As other surrounding tea nations continued to develop unique varieties of green teas, Japan steadfastly kept the old tradition of grinding the tealeaves and consuming the infusion and leaves whole. In short, the ceremonial Japanese green tea of the 21st century has remained the same since the 11th century.

Nutritional Value of 2g of Matcha:

• Polyphenols and antioxidants 0.212g
• Caffeine O.06g
• Protein 0.448g
• Plant Lipids 0.086g
• Fibre O.77g
• Calcium 8.4mg
• Magnesium 4.6mg
• Iron 0.34mg
• Zinc 0.126mg
• Potassium 54mg
• Copper 0.012mg
• Phosphorus 7mg
• Vitamin A Beta Carotene 500ug
• Vitamin A Retinol Equivalents 84ug
• Vitamin B6 0.092mg
• Vitamin C 5.44mg
• Vitamin E 0.56mg
• Vitamin K 58ug
• Thamin 0.012mg
• Riboflavin 0.027mg
• Niacin 0.08mg
• Folate 24ug
• Pantothenic 0.074mg
• Ascorbic acid 1.2mg
• Raise energy Elevate mood
• Calm nerves
• Boost metabolism
• 70 x antioxidants of orange juice
• 1 0 x nutrients of regular green tea 9 x beta carotene of spinach

To put these numbers into perspective:
• 2 cups of regular green tea has approximately twice the antioxidants of red wine, 7 times that of orange juice, and 20 times that of apple juice. Matcha, on a gram per gram basis, has approximately 10 times the polyphenols and antioxidants of regular teas.
• Matcha has approximately 9 times the beta carotene of Spinach, 4 times that of carrots

This is Matcha!"

I put one teaspoon into a fruit smoothee every morning. Match Tea can be quite strong in flavour and while some people simply mix the tea powder into water or juice and drink it, I like to blend it with several pieces of delicious fruit and frozen berries, making it taste delicious... play with your own combinations. Check your local health food store or specialty grocery store for your supply.

Here's to your "shazam" of energy!

Do you know that our "Becoming the BEST YOU Possible" eBook has a 24-page chapter about physical health, including numerous other excellent supplement ideas that are equal to Matcha Tea! Get your copy at http://www.life-balance-success.com/

Warmly, Carolyn

Welcome!

I was forwarded the following thought provoking idea (thanks to my friend, Deep) and want to share it with you, too.

Imagine there is a bank that credits our account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no new balance from day to day. Every evening it deletes whatever part of the balance we failed to use during the day.

What do we do? Draw out every cent, of course!

Well, each of us has such a bank. The name of the account is TIME.

Every morning it credits us with 86,400 seconds. Every night it wipes away any time we have failed to put to good use and gives us a new 86, 400 seconds to use how we choose. It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account for us. Each night it burns the remains of the day.

If we fail to use the day’s deposits, the loss is ours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against “tomorrow.” We must live in the present of today’s deposits. We must draw from this to get from it the utmost in health, happiness, and success!

The clock is running, so make the most of each day.

• Realize the value of ONE YEAR, as a student who failed a grade.

• Realize the value of ONE MONTH, as a mother who gave birth to a premature baby.

• Realize the value of ONE WEEK, as the editor of a weekly newspaper

• Realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who meet.

• Realize the value of ONE MINUTE, as a person who missed the train.

• Realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who won a silver medal in the Olympics.

Treasure every moment that you have.

Treasure it more because you shared it with someone special.

And remember that time waits for no one.

Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery.

Today is a gift. P.S. That’s why it’s called the PRESENT!

Warmly, Carolyn

http://www.life-balance-success.com/

Remember, our "Becoming the BEST YOU Possible" eBook goes on sale starting on August 28th, but for only seven days. Stay tuned!