Gratitude Weekend: Celebrate Your Health with Raw Food Recipes and Health Enhancing Resources

Traditionally the day after Thanksgiving has been called “Black Friday”. Although I understand the meaning, as it’s a day when businesses traditionally go “in the black” because of the flood of consumer buying activity, still I’m not fond of the name and I prefer to name our post-Thanksgiving Day sale something more in line with the theme of the holiday it follows. So this year, I decided to offer a “Gratitude Weekend” sale, filled with very special offers of products and services to empower you to be healthy and vibrant throughout the holiday season. The average person gains extra pounds of fat during this season, because food surrounds us at every turn. Yesterday, as I watched my relatives consume processed, nutrient depleted, and dangerous to their health foods without thought about how it affects their “bottom line”, I started thinking about ways to reach the masses with the message that their food choices are hurting them. So today, I am taking away some of the barriers. I’m offering some huge savings on my e-book and recipe collections, many of which educate about the dangers of the usual processed ingredients in favorite holiday and “treat” foods. Read on for details of my “Gratitude Weekend” sale. You’ll see 5 special sales! Enjoy these special offers through the end of the weekend. Order Today and Win! Just to make these amazing offers completely irresistible, anyone who participates in the “Gratitude Weekend” sale will have the opportunity to win one of: 1st prize: a seat in our next B4 Be Gone Program (Valued at $997!) 2nd prize: Dried and Gone to Heaven DVD set with e-book and 3 online videos (Valued at $297) 3rd prize: Dessert: Making it Rich Without Oil and physical book bundle (Valued at $29.95) Gratitude Weekend Specials: “Gratitude Weekend” Special #1: $37 Holiday Video Bundle Here’s what Special #1 includes: Enjoy access to TWO special holiday videos that will help you serve up delicious dishes for the holidays: Sweets for the Holidays: Class Video and Recipes   Join us for our class “Sweets for the Holidays: Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Sugar-Free, Oil-free Holiday Treats” and learn to make amazing raw vegan versions of traditional holiday dishes such as gingerbread men, cookies in festive seasonal shapes, candy, turtle brownies and more. You can take these to parties, give them as gifts or serve them at your own holiday gatherings. These recipes are not just for the holidays, either. You can use them for celebrations all year long. Healthy Holiday Feasts: Class Video and Recipes Join us for our class “Healthy Holiday Feasts: Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Living Foods versions of Traditional Holiday Favorites” and watch as we prepare eggless egg nog, turkeyless turkey loaf, potatoless mashed potatoes, cranberry relish, pumpkin pie and more. Then, sample all of the dishes that we prepare. For each class you’ll receive 2 1/2 hours of recipe demonstrations and all the recipes in a PDF eBook! Regularly $27 each, you can enjoy a special price of just $37 for both when you Order Here! http://www.drritamarie.com/go/Thanksgiving2011 Use coupon code: HOLIDAYVIDEOS2011 *********************************************************************** “Gratitude Weekend” Special #2: $97 Deluxe Holiday Bundle* Here’s what Special #2 includes: You’ll receive all of our holiday resources including physical copies of our Thanksgiving Feasts and Healthy Halloween Treats books. The package includes the complete Indulge without the Bulge DVD bundle (*Please note, shipping rates are in addition). Sweets for the Holidays: Class Video and Recipes Join us for our class “Sweets for the Holidays: Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Sugar-Free, Oil-free Holiday Treats” and learn to make amazing raw vegan versions of traditional holiday dishes such as gingerbread men, cookies in festive seasonal shapes, candy, turtle brownies and more. You can take these to parties, give them as gifts or serve them at your own holiday gatherings. These recipes are not just for the holidays, either. You can use them for celebrations all year long. Healthy Holiday Feasts: Class Video and Recipes Join us for our class “Healthy Holiday Feasts: Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Living Foods versions of Traditional Holiday Favorites” and watch as we prepare eggless egg nog, turkeyless turkey loaf, potatoless mashed potatoes, cranberry relish, pumpkin pie and more. Then, sample all of the dishes that we prepare. For each class you’ll receive 2 1/2 hours of recipe demonstrations and all the recipes in a PDF eBook! Indulge Without the Bulge Holiday Bundle You can get our ENTIRE holiday collection of books, videos, and guides with this DELUXE holiday package! There’s no better way to get through the holidays than with a complete toolkit of ideas, recipes, and video demonstrations that will leave you with a New Year’s waistline you’ll be proud of! In addition to the Sweet Treats for the Holiday and Healthy Holiday Feasts Class videos you’ll receive: Healthy Halloween Treats (pdf, hardcopy, and video recipe demonstration) Thanksgiving Feast (pdf, hardcopy, and video recipe demonstration) Healthy Holiday Traditions (pdf and video recipe demonstration) Indulge Without the Bulge (DVD and checklist) Regularly $202.95 for everything you see here, you can enjoy a special price of just $97 (plus shipping) for everything when you Order Here! http://www.drritamarie.com/go/DeluxeHoliday2011 Use coupon code: DELUXEHOLIDAY A Great Gift Idea: You can keep the e-books for yourself, ~Contact.FirstName~, and give away the hardcopies as gifts to your loved ones! ********************************************************************** “Gratitude Weekend” Special #3: 50% Off All Digital E-Books! We have many, many valuable e-books and recipe guides to keep you on the path of vibrant living. You can access many of our digital e-books for 50% off (some exceptions apply*). You’ll find a list of our available e-books HERE! Here are some of the e-books you may enjoy for Special #3: Power Breakfast Ideas Start Your Morning off Right by Learning Easy-to-Make Raw Food Breakfast Recipes that Give You Plenty of Energy to Fuel You Through the Day! You might have heard many health experts say that it’s crucial to begin your day with a meal. What they might have failed to say, though, is how to make your first fuel of the day powerful enough to propel you forward with energy and gusto! Order here! http://www.rawpowerbreakfast.com/ Use coupon code: GRATITUDEFRIDAY2011 Deliciously Quick: Lunch and Dinner Ideas Avoid the Fast Food Drive Through Line at Lunch and Dinner Time and Enjoy a Hearty, Quick and Easy to Prepare, Nutritious Meal Instead! If you’re sick and tired of feeling sick and tired because you don’t have time to prepare healthy meals for you and your family, we have GREAT news for you. By using the simple, yet delicious recipes in this e-book, you’ll soon be on your way to the lean, strong and energetic body that you desire and deserve! Order here! http://www.drritamarie.com/classes/lunchdinner.htm Use coupon code: GRATITUDEFRIDAY2011 Greens From the Sea The Secret to Increased Energy A Strong Lean Body and Vibrant Health Sea vegetables are filled with difficult to get minerals and nutrients in a concentrated form. Research shows that eating sea vegetables on a regular basis supports the endocrine system, especially the thyroid gland. People who eat sea vegetables regularly are less likely to experience osteoporosis, fatigue and adrenal exhaustion. There are delicious recipes included in the book to help you to start receiving the health benefits of sea vegetables right away. Order here! http://drritamarie.com/seagreensorder.htm Use coupon code: GRATITUDEFRIDAY2011 Holiday E-Books: You can also purchase any of our individual holiday e-books with this special 50% off deal: http://drritamarie.com/shop/seasonal Healthy Halloween Treats (pdf) Order here! Thanksgiving Feast (pdf) Order here! Healthy Holiday Traditions (pdf) Order here! Use coupon code: GRATITUDEFRIDAY2011 *Please Note: The 50% Off Special does not apply to Dried and Gone to Heaven nor Dessert: Making it Rich Without Oil. But remember, any “Gratitude Sale” order will give you a chance to win either of these books! *********************************************************************** “Gratitude Weekend” Special #4: $47 Discovery Consultation (75% Off!) Here’s what Special #4 includes: Discovery Consultation with Dr. Ritamarie What would you do in life if you had all the energy in the world and nothing to hold you back? With over 20 years of experience in guiding people to their full health potential, Dr. Ritamarie will work with you to identify your particular obstacles and suggest a wellness strategy for you to overcome your unique challenges. With individualized attention through your Discovery Consultation, you’ll receive both immediate strategies to empower you to action NOW and long-term options for taking your health, and your dreams, to the next level. Order here! Use coupon code: DISCOVERY2011 A Great Gift Idea: If you have friends or family who need help with their health, ~Contact.FirstName~, you can arrange a health consultation as a gifts to your loved one! Limited Availability: There are only 10 of these specially priced consultations. They are available on a first come, first serve basis, so don’t delay. *********************************************************************** “Gratitude Weekend” Special #5: Register for the Green Cleanse and Add a Friend for Free! ($97 Value!) Here’s what Special #5 includes: Harness the magic of blended greens to increase your strength, energy, and vitality! What if there was a method of cleansing that was quick, easy, affordable, fun and effective, left you feeling satiated and energized, and could be shared with a group of like-minded people to support you through it? The Energy Recharge Green Cleanse has all the components you need to become more energetic, vibrant, and strong. There are delicious green recipes and menu planners, daily e-mail messages, support calls, a community forum, and countless bonus features to optimize your results. You’ll also receive 3 months of free post-cleanse support in the Eat Green Be Lean Club! This program is the result of hundreds of hours of research, recipe development, and one-on-one coaching. You get a full week of support and continued access to the forum for ongoing community and connection. Register now, and for our “Gratitude Weekend” special, you can invite a friend for free! Order here! *********************************************************************** Reminder: All specials are in effect until Sunday, November 27th, at midnight! Ensuring that your weekend and the holiday is centered around delicious and nutritious food that will leave you feeling energized and appreciative all year long and wishing you love, health, and joy, Dr. Ritamarie

How a Lack of Sufficient Sleep Makes You Fat

The subject is SLEEP:  how lack of sufficient sleep disrupts your hormones, your immune system, and your ability to think clearly. The average person in our modern world gets between 5 and 6 hours of sleep each night.  And that’s just not enough.

Ever wonder why you can’t diet or exercise your weight down to where you’d like it? Or, have you ever thought about why you have a spare tire around your midline, even though the scale says you’re not overweight?

Resistant weight loss and belly fat are intimately related to your hormones, and your hormone balance can be severely disrupted by chronic sleep disruption.

Did you know that your sleep habits are just as important as what you put on your fork when it comes to releasing weight? (especially the extra padding around your middle!) Research shows that shift workers are, on average, heavier than those who work day jobs! And it has to do with disruption to the hormone dance that happens while you sleep.

The hormones affected by sleep control your appetite, the growth of lean muscle and your fat, and carbohydrate metabolism.

How Insufficient Sleep Affects Your Weight:

1. Decreased serotonin and dopamine production, which leads to cravings for sugary foods to bring the levels back up.
2. Increased ghrelin (a hormone that makes you feel hungry even if your body has enough food) and decreased leptin (makes you feel full and satisfied after eating) – the result means sugar cravings and continued hunger even after you’ve eaten a full meal.
3. Decreased growth hormone, leading to decreased ability to burn fat and lay down lean muscle.
4. Increased cortisol, “the stress hormone” which triggers the breakdown of muscle stores, increased blood sugar, and increased insulin. This leads to the deposition of fat, mainly around your waist.

Module 3 of my new program, B4 Be Gone, is called The Hormone Dance. In it, I outline the exact steps to take to determine how much sleep you need and what to do to get your hormones in balance so you burn rather than store fat at night.

Sleep Your Way Slim

My video, The NOT-So-Sexy Hormone Imbalances That Keep You Flabby, Foggy and Fatigued goes into a lot more detail more about the hormone imbalances and offers you a couple of steps to take right away to turn your bed into a super charged fat burning monster. On that video, I bust the myth of eating small frequent meals, which plays havoc on your hormone balance.

It’s not just important for your appearance that you get a good night’s sleep. These same hormone imbalances can have long term, dangerous consequences on your heart, increase inflammation and pain put you at a higher risk for cancer.

The loss of my parents, then my sister, a couple of friends and cousins, and most recently my brother-in-law and father-in-law has made me fiercely determined to stop the madness. I know their deaths could have been prevented had they just known what to do and had a guide to take them through every step of the way.

Turning Loss into Life

I created the B4 Be Gone Program to offer just that step by step guidance that so many need. Within 30 days, most people have lost their cravings and reset much of the faulty metabolism by bringing into balance five key elements: diet, stress, exercise, sleep and TIMING.

All the sleep research has me really taking a look at my own choices. I push the envelope with sleep because I feel fine even when I don’t sleep. But that’s on the outside. I know enough to realize that what’s going on inside as a result of my lack of sleep could come back and bite me in the you-know-what. Indeed, I have noticed that I’ve been extra hungry during the day these past few sleep-deprived weeks.

I am looking forward to doing the 30-day metabolic reset with the group and committing to getting enough sleep.

It’s All About Balance.

Balance is the key. It’s not enough to just drink green smoothies or just exercise daily or just get lots of sleep. The balance among stress, sleep, exercise and diet are key.

And on top of that, Timing is EVERYTHING.

You can do all the right things, but if it’s out of sync with your bio-rhythms, your belly will stay flabby — no matter how many sit-ups you do or green drinks you drink.

If you’re feeling flabby and frustrated, my advice to you is to sleep on it and then join us in the next B4 Be Gone Journey.

Thyroid Issues: What’s Really Leaving You Feeling Flabby, Foggy, and Fatigued!

- by Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo

Thyroid imbalance can leave you feeling flabby, foggy, fatigued and unfocused because your thyroid gland rules your metabolic rate.

Fatigue is a huge part of thyroid imbalance… and not just general fatigue either. Did you know that your organs and glands can suffer from fatigue? Your skin and immune system can too.

When you turn down the internal metabolic furnace and burn your fuel more slowly, the inevitable result is weight gain or the inability to easily shed your extra pounds. Generally, this slow-down is accompanied by a feeling of exhaustion, but not always.

Often the “exhaustion” is at a cellular level. When your skin is tired, you get outbreaks and slow wound healing. When your digestion becomes sluggish, you may experience constipation or indigestion. A fatigued immune system can’t adequately protect you from microbes and starts to attack itself. And a worn out liver is unlikely to be efficient at eliminating toxins.

While fatigue and exhaustion can have many causes, an underactive thyroid is a very common one. And what most people don’t realize is that most hypothyroidism (about 80%) is caused by an autoimmune process. Which, incidentally, means the real cause of your fatigue and weight gain has nothing to do with your thyroid.  The thyroid gland is just an innocent bystander in the war that’s raging in your immune system, for it’s your immune system that creates antibodies that attack the thyroid and make it malfuntion.  So simply replacing thyroid hormon without fixing your immune system does not solve the problem.

Learn all about thyroid function, testing, and a few tips to restore balance on my video here. It’s best to identify autoimmune thyroid problems early on, before your thyroid is completely destroyed. And the best way to do that is to balance your immune system. We’ll discuss that more in the new 5-part video series Bye-Bye Belly Fat, Brainfog, and Burnout, so be sure to sign-up and follow the series!

Join the program here:

http://www.B4BGone.com

Fatigue and Burnout: Strategies for Adrenal Exhaustion and Just Plain Tiredness

Are you suffering from adrenal burnout and fatigue? Low thyroid function? Chronic fatigue or Fibromyalgia?

Do you have as much energy as you’d like to have?

What would you do if you had more energy? Think about what it would be like  to pop out of bed in the morning, bright, cheery and ready for the day.

As you go through your day, you feel energized by your food, your conversations, your work and your activities. When asked by a friend or family member to participate in a fun evening activity , you always say yes,
without fear of losing steam at the end of the day, and being too tired to to do much more than flop on the couch.

You participate in activities you love, eat healthy meals, exercise and are fully present for your relationships. You never hear yourself utter the words, “I’m too tired.”  Instead you say, “I feel so energized.”

Sound like a romantic fiction novel? This life is possible for you.

Fatigue, exhaustion, tiredness, weariness, low energy…whatever you choose to call it, it’s a real problem and it happens to real people like you. There are many causes. Some are obvious, others not so obvious. When I asked  at one of my workshops for a show of hands of people who felt that were fatigued, or had low energy, all but 1 or 2 people raised their hands.

Then I proceeded to give one of my favorite definitions of fatigue. The definition goes something like this:

The decreased capacity or complete inability of an organism, an organ, or a part to function normally because of excessive stimulation or prolonged exertion.

I talked about how you may feel like you have plenty of energy (caffeine and other stimulants can give you that illusion), yes parts of you are operating sub par. Maybe your neurotransmitters are sluggish and you have difficulties with focus, or your digestion and you’re constipated, or your hormones, and you have menstrual irregularities.

It takes all of your parts working in harmony to achieve vibrant energy.

At the end of the presentation, one of the women who’d not considered herself fatigued, thanked me and said that she didn’t associate the sluggishness in her digestive tract with fatigue. She just figured it was “normal” for her. My talk inspired her to look at ways she could energize her digestion and thus improve her overall experience of vibrant health and high energy.

There are many causes of fatigue. Here are five:

1. Underfed and toxic mitochondria
2. Hormone imbalances – especially thyroid, adrenal, insulin and leptin
3. Digestive Inefficiencies
4. Autoimmune Processes
5. Serious diseases, like cancer, heart disease and diabetes

I’ll be exploring the topic of fatigue and its underlying causes and strategies for identifying and removing them on my Creating a Vibrant Life Blog Talk Radio Show on Wednesday, March 24 at 12:30 PM central time.

We’ll demystify adrenal fatigue, and distinguish it from thyroid fatigue. We’ll share strategies, stories and inspiration, to help move you from exhausted to energized.

Submit your questions for me pertaining to fatigue and regaining energy in the comment box below so we can address your concerns on the show.

The shows are all recorded and you can access the recording and download to iTunes by going back to the show link afterward. There are archives of past shows there as well.

http://www.drritamarie.com/go/RadioShow

And watch for my article called Running on Empty in the spring edition of Purely Delicious Magazine, due out in April.

http://www.drritamarie.com/go/PurelyDelicious

I look forward to connecting with you soon.

Love, Health and Joy to You,

Dr. Ritamarie

P.S.  Comment below:  What are you committing to for your health?  Today is day 22 of the 30 Day Sleep and Fun Challenge.  I am happy to report that I have gotten more than 6 hours of sleep for 3 days straight.  Over the weekend, I actually managed to get 9 hours!  And my exercise is consistent again – almost everyday!

How about you?  Commit below and make it happen.

My Commitment to My Adrenals: No Fatigue, Just Sleep!

When I work with people with fatigue symptoms, related to thyroid and adrenal overload, I talk about several key things:

1. Whole foods, fresh diet, high in raw foods
2. Proper hydration
3. Omega 3 fat balance
4. Getting off allergenic and inflammatory foods, including gluten, dairy, and sugar.
5. Fresh air and sunshine
6. Exercise
7. Restoring their adrenal reserve and enhancing detoxification via sleep.

I model the first 6 beautifully. I am committed to being as healthy and vibrant as I can be so that I can be a role model to others.

So why is number 7 so ###!!## hard for me?

I did really well on my sleep commitment the first week of my 30 day challenge.

My adrenals loved me for it, and I warded off a bout with adrenal fatigue by giving myself what I needed.

So why can’t I make a firm and lasting commitment?

I’m backsliding. I won’t even say how late it was when my head finally hit the pillow.

There’s still lots to do…there always will be. Yet I am off to meet my pillow and keep my commitment to me.

I made no commitments today and I kept none. What a deal. Tomorrow is a new day.

I did make myself a quart of green juice to start the day. It was lovely. I also did a great job on my omega 3′s today.  The subject is on my mind, as balancing the immune system was the topic of the week for Balance My Body.

I noticed dark circles under my eyes…not good for a fatigue expert to look tired. Not good for someone who prides herself in looking much younger and having the body of a 20 something year-old to notice signs of aging.

Commitments for Sunday, and the rest of the week.

• I will get outside and exercise
• I will make at least 16 ounces of green juice and 32 ounces of smoothie
• I will get my omega 3′s again
• I will eat consciously and with gratitude
• I will…can I say it and mean it…I will…..I will…..go to bed by 11PM…at least Sunday

Please hold me to it. Write me and ask me what time I went to bed. I can’t lie.

Post below and be bold enough to check in and make sure I am doing what I committed to. Sleep is vital for health. Food is great, exercise is great, greens are great…but they will only take me so far if I keep burning the candle at both ends.

Have a wonderful Sunday.

Sleeeeeeeeeeeep!

Love, Health and Joy,

Dr. Ritamarie