Not for this Chica!!

It has been a nutritional and health journey!  Numerous food allergies naturally brought me to a Paleo diet. And I use “diet” lightly!!  Way of life is more like it!

When Melissa Hartwig of Whole9 suggested I give eating AIP (Autoimmune Protocal)  for 90 days, let me tell you, it was the first time in a long time I felt A-MAZING!!  No brain fog, no aches, pains or inflammation, great sleep and energy!

I’m of the firm belief, you have to find what works for you, what keeps you on a path of health and eating whole, real food.  Everyone is different, celebrate the differences and celebrate health and wellness!

Lately, I have had a few run ins with judgmental individuals who believe in their way of eating is the only way!

I loved this post from Whole9 after an obese vegetarian told me I was going to get cancer from my breakfast turkey! UGH!  I just responded with grace and I know without a shadow of a doubt, I have made the right choice for me!!

“Humans are terribly binary. These days, both “plant-based” and “meat-based” are diet descriptors that are both overused, and are either defamatory or complimentary, depending on who you are. Whole9 is neither “plant-based” nor “meat-based”. Our diet is food-based.”  ~ Melissa and Dallas Hartwig

Find what works for you that brings you to WHOLE food!

If it’s plant based, great!  If you add meat, great!  Eat for your health and how you function best!

xoxo, Lori

The post Why Paleo? appeared first on Live Life Whole.

It’s important to know where your soil is made and what they are using to create the compost.

When I couldn’t get any clear answers about the source of the bio-solids from a local resource, I did a little more investigating!

{It could have possibly contained human bio-solids – G-R-O-S-S!}

In the past it was about the best price, now it’s about the safest soil for vegetable planting and consumption.

This brought me back to my landscape days and using a human bio solid in the flower beds. It smelt sweet, it was dark, and rich soil loaded with nitrogen! The source was perfect for flowers and did it create a beautiful display! Each year the Impatiens would grow hip high!!! Simply beautiful!

Just imagine this display waist high and full of flowers and color! Great for flowers, not so great for a veggie garden!

So the thought occurred to me, what is in my soil? Who’s my composter?

It’s important to me to know the source of my food so I took that thought a step further. GMO’s are showing up everywhere and if the cow are eating it what’s it doing to the compost?

I made some calls and one option I found was local at Nick Garden Center from a northern Colorado company BOSS Compost Planters Mix

 HOLY COW!!! that’s 6 yards of soil!!  I had a slight panic attack when I saw the size of the load!

Every last bit of it was used!

I had a few questions, so I emailed BOSS Composting and almost immediately received a phone call from Michael!

Talk about passionate about compost and soil!

It was a pleasure chatting with him hearing his excitement and passion, but also that he took the time to educate me about compost!

 He shared 2 great stories with me about GMO corn and cow manure as well as antibiotics and turkeys manure.   In the cow manure compost, 90% of the GMO microbs were not engaging. In order to compost it had to be determined what microb was bigger and better than the GMO!  GMO’s where disrupting the compost cycle, the microorganism and as a result the compost was unable to heat up.

The same occurred with the antibiotic laden turkey manure.  The antibiotics killed off all the organisms.  It took 9 months to cure the soil.

I’d say Michael {check out his story} is a soil scientist passionate about producing an environmentally friendly soil.

Good news ~  Nature will recycle and return to normal. ~ Michael Croissant

You’ll find me in the garden!

xoxo,

Lori

The post Know Your Compost appeared first on Live Life Whole.

GMOs, or “genetically modified organisms,” are plants or animals created through the gene splicing techniques of biotechnology (also called genetic engineering, or GE). This experimental technology merges DNA from different species, creating unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and viral genes that cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding.

Why Should we be concerned about GMO’s?

Human Health Risks: More and more studies point to the idea that there’s grave cause for concern about the health effects of consuming GMOs and the chemicals they are sprayed with, including food allergies, irritable bowels, organ damage, cancer

Environmental Risks: Seventy-two percent of US GMO crops are engineered to tolerate a certain type of herbicide. But the weeds that these herbicides used to kill are coming back bigger and stronger, creating herbicide-resistant “superweeds” that require greater quantities of more toxic pesticides to eradicate.

The Risk To Farmers In Developing Countries: Every thirty minutes, a farmer commits suicide in India due to meet rising debts, a phenomenon that has been steadily rising since the 1970s. While the causes behind the farmers’ crushing debt and resultant suicides are complex—ranging from unfair government floor prices for cotton to international trade agreements skewed in favor of other countries—GM seeds do appear to play a role.

The Risk to Organic Farmers: Even when a farmer isn’t growing GM crops, contamination can easily occur—through seed mixing or pollen drift from neighboring GM fields. While this contamination is troubling for those of us who wish to avoid GMOs, it can be an economic disaster for organic and family farmers

GMOs cause organ disruption: A review of 19 studies concluded that consuming GMO corn or soybeans leads to significant organ disruptions in rats and mice, particularly in livers and kidneys. The researchers who conducted the review stated that the GMO soybean and corn varieties used in the studies “constitute 83% of the commercialized GMOs” that Americans currently consume.”

GMOs promote cancer and early death: Last fall, a French research team published a study in a peer-reviewed journal showing that rats exposed to low doses of both GMO corn and the widely used herbicide Roundup developed horrifying mammary tumors and widespread organ damage. The researchers said that 50% of males and 70% of females died prematurely, compared with only 30% and 20% in the control group.

Insecticide chemicals end up in our blood: A study published in Reproductive Toxicology detected a GMO insecticide chemical, known as Bt toxin, in human blood, offering proof that its widespread use is a major public health concern. Upon taking blood samples, researchers detected the Bt toxin in a shocking 93% of pregnant women, 80% of fetuses and 69% of non-pregnant women. The fact that Bt toxin was detected even in unborn babies shows that the chemical persists far longer than the biotechnology industry claims it does.

GMOs alter our digestive tracts: A shocking study showed that genetically modified plant DNA leads to the development of “GMO” microorganisms, which reproduce continuously inside the human body. These microorganisms actually become part of the bacteria in our digestive tracts and reproduce continuously inside us — even after we stop eating GMO foods. No one knows what the implications of having genetically engineered genes permanently living inside our guts may be.

GMOs may contribute to obesity: Research from Norway suggests that eating GMO corn and corn-based products, as well as meat from animals that are fed GMO grain, will cause you to weight gain faster and retain the weight. The study also linked GMO consumption to significant changes in the intestinal tract, kidney and liver, as well as pancreas, genitals and the immune system.

Resources:    GMOInside.org, Live in the Now

The US is the leader in GMO crops.

Steer clear of the top 9 Genetically Modified foods:

1. Soy

2. Cottonseed

3. Corn

4. Canola Oil

5. US Papaya

6. Alfalfa

7. Sugar Beets

8. Milk

9. Aspertame

10.  Zucchini and Summer Yellow Squash

Resources:  Green America, GMOInside.org

Know your food, grow your food!!

Get your own Non-GMO shopping guide.

You’ll find me in the garden,

Lori

The post GMO – Just say NO! appeared first on Live Life Whole.

It was a pleasant surprise to get seed catalogues in the mail this year! Last year was the first year I ordered online for heirlooms and non-gmo.

{Learn more about GMO!}

Botanical Interests is local and I can always find their seed at Vitamin Cottage and Nick’s Garden Center.

I shop local and small private seed companies who are conscience of preserving our food supply with heirloom and non-gmo seeds.

Here are my favorites who have signed the non-GMO Safe Seed Pledge and are Organic:

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

Botanical Interests

Bountiful Gardens

Find your favorites who have also signed the Safe Seed Pledge on the Council for Responsible Genetics website.

The post Seed Shopping appeared first on Live Life Whole.

Negative 10! Beautiful, but just a bit chilly for my liking!

65 degrees in the garden!

I didn’t get out to the garden before the deep freeze hit!  There were a few carrots I didn’t get a chance to harvest.  I was able to dig these up because the raised box was in full sun and was warm enough to dig the carrots out.  To my surprise they were firm and perfect!

Such a fun surprise in January to eat fresh carrots.  They were sweet and full of flavor!

You’ll find me in the garden,

Lori

The post January ~ In The Garden appeared first on Live Life Whole.

AIP is Auto Immune Protocal way of eating.  Ideally it’s removing foods that create inflammation and truly allows your body to calm down.  It’s a very strict diet and at times hard to follow, so I wanted to share some encouraging stories from other blogs.

Categories of Autoimmune include:

• Alpopecia (spot baldness)
• Arthritis (all forms)
• Atopic Allergy (tendency to be hyperallergic)
• Dermatitis (all forms)
• Cancer
• Type I Diabetes
• Eczema
• Endometriosis
• Gastritis
• Lichen Planus
• Lichen Sclerosis
• Lyme Disease
• MS
• Morphea (localized scleroderma)
• Myositis
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Narcolepsy
• Polymyalgia rhematica
• Psoriasis
• Restless Leg Syndrome
• Schizophrenia
• Scleroderma
• Vasculitis

Whole9

It Starts With Food was the beginning of my Journey and Melissa and Dallas’ seminar changed my life.  Find a workshop near you or get the book!!! Read testimonials of Whole30

The Paleo Mom

Sarah Ballantyne of The Paleo Mom wrote a guest post on Robb Wolf’s blog. She has experience huge success with weight loss and I found her story inspiring in how she kept searching for health even after the weight loss. You’ll find lots of great info on her blog about Auto Immunity Protocal.

Autoimmune-Paleo

Mickey Trescott of Autoimmune-Paleo has a recipe page worth checking out for AIP ideas and will soon be offering a Paleo AIP cookbook!  Learn more about the role of Th1 and Th2 and the immune system.

Alt-ternative Universe

Angie Alt of Alt-ternative Universe   I can relate to this post When Nobody Understands.

Robb Wolf

Read about others experience succes on the AIP diet on Robb Wolf’s blog.

Are you following an AIP Paleo diet? Tell us about your success!

Nutrisclerosis  - Reversing MS

Eating AIP doesn’t have to be boring!  Check out great AIP recipes from Nutrisclerosis and follow on FaceBook.

If you have found resouces you love regarding the AIP-Paleo protocal, please share.

xoxo,

Lori

The post What’s AIP? appeared first on Live Life Whole.

I really like this post by A Beautiful Stasis “Don’t Let the Biscuit Win” ”There’s a bit of a nip in the air and you don’t want to get out of bed. When you finally get out of bed and stagger to the kitchen, you rub your eyes and on the counter you see your nemesis: a warm biscuit that Satan himself has left on the counter just for you.

One participant admitted she caved {so brave of her}. Her nemesis, wine!  Another was working though eating her “blah” while everyone else enjoyed Pizza Hut.  Oh the temptation!!

Biscuits, Pizza Hut, wine serve the illness, our healthy choices serve our health. I don’t know about you, but I want to have energy, feel great, sleep good, think clear, etc.  It’s worth the commitment {I almost said sacrifice, but it’s not a sacrifice, it’s a commitment to my health and future}

I will admit, I myself “caved” too. It was a very conscience cave! My birthday is in January and I knew going into Whole30, I would enjoy a glass of wine at my birthday dinner.

Eating Paleo for over a year now and knowing it serves my body the best and will be they way I eat for the REST OF MY LIFE, I felt I could celebrate with one glass of wine! I enjoyed it guilt free and it was delicious!!!

Next date night, I will refuse my nemesis, the wine list and the temptation in front of me!

 What’s your nemesis?

xoxo,

Lori

The post Caved appeared first on Live Life Whole.

Isn’t it big and beautiful?!!

OMG!!  It’s intimidating!!

September marked one year since I lasted went to a gym or did any sort of physical activity. {Seriously, I didn’t even take a walk}

August I started thinking about starting yoga and was very pre-occupied with back-to-school {my excuse}, then the holidays, etc.

Guilt free,  for 15 months I allowed myself to take a break.  Somewhere along the line, I really gave myself a guilt trip if I wasn’t in the gym pounding out 5 mile runs and lifting weights.

My thinking was hurting me, my body wasn’t responding, pounding it out would put me in crash mode for 3 days.

My energy levels were all over the place.  I’d lift 30 lbs one training session and 2 days later, I could only lift 10 lbs.  Even after this experience, I left that gym and joined a crossfit gym! {That pound it out mentality again,  I really wasn’t listening to my body}.

After a crossfit injury {8 weeks of recovery} I quit.  I wasn’t enjoying workouts, mainly because I didn’t feel energized from them like I use too.

It wasn’t until I started visiting a neurological chiropractor, did I discover why I couldn’t pound it out at the gym any longer. As I explained my lack of energy, Dr Steadman of Integrated Health Systems we went into a series of testing.

It all made sense when the discovery of Epstein Barr and Lyme came up on my test results. Yep!!  I was bit by a creepy  crawly bug {I just get the willies thinking about it} and  at one time in my life I had Mono, I guess I pounded through that too because I have no recollection of lack of energy as a child or teen.  I recall someone having it in high school, but it wasn’t me.

No wonder my energy was zapped!! I let myself off the hook, guilt free and let my body focus on healing.    I learn the complete opposite of “pounding it out” and learned to mediate, rest, and calm my mind and body.

These days, I’m waking up with the energy and mindset to work out.  Not pounding it out, but starting with yoga and core strength.  {I hope to find balance and not feel like my workouts beat me up}

Have you even let go of something you know you should be doing and allowed it to be a guilt free experience?

xoxo,

Lori

The post Guilt Free appeared first on Live Life Whole.

I hear my son say this all the time and it made me think of day 3!

I’m just waiting for the headache to arrive.  The withdrawals have set in and they arrived day 2 and I went to bed the a nice headache and woke with it.

The insulin levels have dipped and the good news, the body will begin to calm and balance the the insulin roller coaster.

So why the headache?

Check out FAQ from the  21 Day Sugar Detox for answers to why the headache.

A word of caution, keep the fruits to low sugar fruits on the Whole30 program.  The idea is to calm the body, reduce the insulin response and allow the body to return to balance.  It’s easy to trade refined sugars for fruit sugars.

xoxo,

Lori

The post Wait for it, Wait for it!! appeared first on Live Life Whole.

I cleared my schedule (just a few days before a 2 week vacation) and on May 18, 2012,  my life was changed! I heard lots of new positive nutrition information from Melissa and Dallas Hartwig the authors of It Starts With Food.  The information just made perfect sense. It pulled all of the nutritional pieces of the puzzle together for me.

On the lunch break, I had the opportunity to chat with Melissa,  after explaining to her my health challenges {Epstein Barr and Lyme} she recommended  not only the Whole30 program, but the AIP Whole90 {AIP Auto-Immune Protocal}! Just a few more guideline to follow, like removing all nightshade vegetables, eggs,  nuts, seeds and advil, motrin from my diet for 90 days.

For me, the best time to start this program was on my 2 week vacation.  Call me crazy, but I just find it easier without the distractions of “real life” to sabotage my efforts.

In two weeks, I lost 6 lbs.  Losing the weight was great, but this isn’t a “weight loss” program.  This is a lifestyle change! More importantly than the scale {and I suggest you hide it while on the program} I felt A-MAZING!!  Total energy, no more brain fog, slept like a baby, not to mention how much my body loved the program, internally.

After 3 weeks on the program, I removed 5 supplements from my diet and reduced what was left in half {Omega3, probiotic, Juice Plus and enzymes}.

I promise you, Whole30 WILL change your life! Join our LiveLifeWhole Meetups and LiveLifeWhole Facebook page for support and recipe ideas!

xoxo

Lori

The seminar was perfectly recapped in their book release in June 2012 “It Starts With Food” 

The post It Will Change Your Life appeared first on Live Life Whole.