It’s Time to Step, Bust, and Break Out of Your Comfort Zone!
As I’ve been spending time getting ready to lead a group through my brand new Food Allergy Spy Program, I’ve been reflecting on how it feels to step outside your comfort zone and master a new skill. I’ve been stepping outside my comfort zone recently when it comes to art, and it’s been interesting to note the parallels between art and health.
Have you noticed that when you’re with like minded people and engaged in things you do well, you’re engulfed in a feeling of comfort? You feel accepted, valued, and confident.
Take the same YOU and put yourself in a situation where people don’t really have the same values and goals, or where you’re in a position of being less of an authority about the subject matter at hand and it’s a whole different feeling.
Why I’m Feeling Very Humble…
I recently started taking a pottery class. I’ve done it in the past, but it’s been a long time. I’ve noticed there’s a huge difference between how I present myself at my pottery class versus how I usually am during the day.
During the day, I speak with people from a position of being an authority on the subject matter of nutrition. Usually, I am the teacher or I speak to colleagues who are on a similar level. Socially, I am comfortably surrounded with people who are passionate about being healthy and are familiar with concepts of natural healing modalities. It’s a place of confidence that comes easily to me.
At my pottery class, I am in the company of folks who believe in the western medicine model and have very different ideas about the importance of nutrition when it comes to health.
I am also a beginner on the pottery wheel and am humbled by how difficult even the basic things can be. Whenever my instructor gives a demo that appears to be easy and I confidently sit down to duplicate the process, half the instructions become muddled and I lose track of the order of the steps. I very frequently need to ask for help on very basic steps.
You Won’t Believe What I DIDN’T Say…
In this situation, my old shyness emerges and I start to feel self-conscious and inadequate. This is such a sharp contrast to how I feel when I am guiding my patients and students on complex nutrition and health topics.
Even when I overheard a couple of women talking about nutrition and sharing what I know of as blatantly inaccurate comments, I didn’t feel comfortable enough in that environment to say anything.
When I heard one say to the other that it would be better for a nursing Mom whose baby is allergic to cow’s milk to be switched to a non-dairy formula so she wouldn’t have to restrict her own dairy intake, I so wanted to say something. But I was not in the mood for a possible confrontation, so I ignored it.
What is Your Discomfort Holding YOU Back From?
Perhaps you’re feeling a bit outside your comfort zone as you learn and apply new diet and lifestyle habits in your zeal for restoring your health or reaching your ideal weight.
When you step outside your comfort zone, you set the stage for new doors to open up as you learn and master new techniques.
But it takes time and the process is accelerated by having a good mentor you can turn to for questions and guidance.
Why a Mentor Can Make a Difference…
For several years, when my kids were younger, I took pottery classes. I was just getting started on the wheel when my husband’s travel schedule made it difficult for me to continue the classes. So I found a used kiln and wheel and set up a studio in the garage.
Know what happened?
I only used it two or three times over the past 6 years! Without the mentorship of an experienced teacher to guide me, I found it too difficult. Watching the videos and reading the books was just not cutting it and all of what I had learned before was not helping because I hadn’t been practicing long enough to make it a habit.
Now that I am back in class with a teacher to turn to when I am confused or need help, I am making progress.
I’ve stepped outside my comfort zone in attending this class and so far, I’ve thrown 8 very imperfect pots. The more practice I get and the more guidance I receive, the better my skills will be.
Next week I’ll post photos of my pots in various stages of completion to my blog.
You Don’t Have to Struggle Alone!
It’s hard being at the early stages of learning a new skill. Working with a skilled teacher will accelerate my growth.
In what areas can you step outside your comfort zone?
- Maybe you’ve been tempted to join my Food Allergy Spy Program so you can learn how to eliminate the foods that are hurting you.
- Do you use food for comfort and crave certain food items?
- Perhaps you’re feeling scared about the thought of giving up your comfort foods as part of the process.
- Maybe you’ve been struggling for so long that you don’t believe it could help.
Rest assured, the comfort you’ll feel after eliminating the suspect foods is so much greater than the temporary distraction offered by your comfort foods.
And with my support and guidance you’ll get over the confusing parts much more quickly that you would on your own.
In the book, The False Fat Diet by Elson Haas, MD, the connection between food allergies and reluctant fat is explored. In it he describes elimination and provocation. I read many books like this in my years of struggling to regain my health. Finally, I got it all figured out. Yet, had I the opportunity to participate in a program like my Food Allergy Spy Program it would have saved me two years of suffering and countless dollars.
Afraid? Let’s Face Your Food Fears Together.
While the thought of an elimination diet may seem scary for you, it’s well worth stepping outside your comfort zone to do it. The process I have developed for conducting an elimination diet actually has side benefits, too. Most drug approaches to illness have side effects. FAST has side benefits. The elimination phase of the program is also great for strengthening your detox mechanisms and healing your gut.
Just a reminder, the FAST program starts this evening (Tuesday, January 17th, 2012) and it’s filling up fast. I only have a few seats remaining and then it’s filled.
If you can’t make tonight’s live class or decide to wait until tomorrow to register, you can easily “catch up” by listening to the recording, but you run the risk of the class filling up while you’re deciding. Also, the opportunity to get started for just $57 goes away tonight at class time.
There’s No Risk. Only FAST Benefits!
I want your total satisfaction and happiness. You can get started today and participate for a full week. If after next week’s Q&A Coaching call you feel unable to proceed, we’ll refund your money. It’s that easy.
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I commit 100% to my program participants. I am invested in your success.
This program is loaded with opportunities to get my personal assistance with the process.
http://www.FoodAllergySpy.com
Since I will be training new coaches to help with the program in the future, this is the ONLY time the program will include so much of my personal attention. So step outside your comfort zone.
You can start with a tiny investment of $57 and there’s no risk.
Magic happens when you step outside your comfort zone. And you’ll be amazed at how much more quickly you’ll make progress with the support of an experienced and caring mentor… me.
I look forward to getting to know you!
http://www.FoodAllergySpy.com
Tags: comfort zone, Dr. Ritamarie, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, FAST, food allergies, food allergy, Food Allergy Spy, food allergy spy training, food allergy test, food cravings, food intolerance, immune system, mentorship
Posted in Chronic Fatigue, Fatigue Treatment, Health Coach, Immune System Support, Leaky Gut, Raw and Living Foods
Pain and Inflammation From Food Allergies: How to Live an “Itis” and “Algia” Free Life
I work with lots of people who suffer from the effects of inflammation in their body. When I work with clients, we work closely to identify and eliminate the causes so they can lead happy and fulfilled, pain-free lives.
Inflammation causes pain, stiffness, heart attacks, ulcers, and all diseases ending in “itis”.
The list of “itis” diseases is long. Here are just a few of the most common ones. You or someone you love just may be suffering from one of these:
- arthritis
- gastritis
- colitis
- thyroiditis
- dermatitis
- sinusitis
- and many more…
Other diseases whose names end in “algia” are also caused by inflammation. “Algia” means pain. Among the most common “algias” are fibromyalgia and neuralgia.
What most people don’t realize is that inflammation can be caused by what you eat.
Oh! Mega Trouble!
Some foods are inherently inflammatory. These include many fats in the omega-6 family.
There’s a particular omega-6 fat that’s especially inflammatory called “arachidonic acid“. It’s found in commercially raised meats, poultry, dairy products, eggs, peanuts, and many hydrogenated oils.
An imbalance in omega-6 to omega-3 fats creates inflammation. The Standard American Diet (SAD) is very imbalanced when it comes to omega-3 and omega-6 fats.
The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats ideally should be 3:1 or less. The average American has a ratio of 12:1 or higher. That’s a big part of why so many of us suffer from inflammatory diseases and why heart disease and cancer affect such a large percentage of the population.
What most people don’t realize is that even most people on a “healthier” diet, including vegans and raw fooders, have an imbalance of fats that sets the stage for inflammatory diseases. The imbalance of fats is due to their widespread use and consumption of vegetable oils, grains, and nuts.
Put a Fork in the Road of Inflammation!
Your fork can be a powerful weapon or a mighty healing tool. It all depends on what you put on the end of it.
In coming issues and blog posts, I’ll explore how to balance the fats in your diet to heal inflammation and protect yourself from inflammatory diseases.
In the meantime, you can’t go wrong by eating a fresh diet loaded with green vegetables, sea vegetables, and omega-3 rich chia, flax, and hemp seeds.
What many people don’t realize though is that even healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds can cause inflammation WHEN you develop an allergy to them.
Food Allergies: Potholes on the Path to Healing Inflammation
On the Vibrant Health Solutions Radio show “The Pain of Undiagnosed Food Allergies,” I reviewed one of the very important AND controllable causes of inflammation – Food Allergies!
If you’re suffering from chronic health symptoms in spite of all your attempts to control them naturally and/or using Western medical approaches, I suggest you listen to the replay for a wealth of information.
On the radio show, I explored the relationship between pain and food allergies and discussed ways you can identify and eliminate triggers AND heal the underlying causes so that “innocent” foods no longer hurt you. If you’ve been suffering from chronic pain; digestive upset; weight that just won’t go away; or other vague symptoms like depression, brain fog, or fatigue, you owe it to yourself to listen in.
http://www.drritamarie.com/radio/2012/01/the-pain-of-undiagnosed-food-allergies/
Not Sure if You Have Food Allergies?
I recently hosted a teleclass where I shared the details about an exciting new program I’m offering to guide you to identify and eliminate food allergies that may be causing inflammation in YOU. You’ll learn how to heal the underlying dysfunctions in your gut and immune system that caused you to become allergic to what you eat.
If you missed the teleclass you can register for the free recording here:
http://www.drritamarie.com/go/TurnFoodAllergiesInsideOut
If the teleclass message resonates, you just may consider joining me for my brand new, fully coached “Food Allergy Spy Training” program. I’ll guide you to identify all your trigger foods, heal the underlying immune and digestive issues that are likely at the core of your problems, and help you start to feel really good again.
The FAST Way to Heal Allergies and Inflammation
The Food Allergy Spy Training (FAST) program is one of a kind. Up until now, identification of food allergens was expensive, time consuming, and confusing. I’m eliminating a lot of the confusion and guiding you through the Gold Standard for identification of food allergens – the Food Elimination Provocation Process (FEPP).
The FAST program will guide you to become a super sleuth detective by training you to carefully observe changes in your body around food choices.
http://www.FoodAllergySpy.com
Food allergy tests are fraught with error and are very expensive. For a fraction of the cost of a comprehensive food allergy test, you can reliably determine what foods may be triggering you to feel unwell.
The FAST program starts next Tuesday, January 17th, 2012 and the dozens of people who’ve jumped onboard have already gotten a head start on the first two assignments designed to help you identify potential food triggers.
I would love the opportunity to get to know you and guide you to start the new year on a great path to new-found wellness of a magnitude you could only imagine before now. Because this is the first offering of the Food Allergy Spy Training program, it’s very affordable to participate in this live group program!
For a limited time only I’ve slashed the price by $100 to make it easy and affordable.
http://www.FoodAllergySpy.com
Imagine an “Itis” and “Algia” Free Life!
Imagine how it would feel to know you’re handling the cause of your ill health rather than trying to treat the symptoms.
- Think about how it would feel to know that the food you eat will no longer mistakenly trigger and over-activate your immune system.
- Step into how it will feel to experience freedom from food allergy associated conditions like depression, headaches, poor digestion, fibromyalgia, or fatigue.
If you’d like to stop imagining how it would feel to be well again and make vitality a reality for yourself through a 30-day process, I hope you’ll join me.
Let’s balance your omega fats, identify your trigger foods, and turn your fork into a powerful tool for healing and health so that you can enjoy a life of vibrant living!
Tags: arachidonic acid, arthritis, colitis, depression, dermatitis, digestion, Dr. Ritamarie, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, elimination provocation, FAST program, fatigue, fibromyalgia, food allergies, food allergy, food allergy spy training, food allergy test, food elimination, food elimination provocation, food intolerance, gastritis, immune system, inflammation, Leaky Gut, neuralgia, omega 3, omega-6, pain, ritamarie loscalzo, sinusitis, thyroiditis
Posted in Autoimmune, Chronic Fatigue, Exhaustion, Fatigue Treatment, Health Coach, Immune System Support, Leaky Gut, Reduce Belly Fat
Dr. Ritamarie’s Food Allergy Spy Training: FAST Relief From Leaky Gut, Fibromyalgia, and More
If you have any of these problems, you should find out if underlying food allergies are the cause:
If you have persistent weight issues that won’t go away
If there are dark circles under eyes
If you ever experience upset stomach and poor digestion
If you’re embarrassed by skin eruptions
If you suffer from fibromyalgia (long-term, body-wide pain and tenderness in the joints, muscles, tendons, and soft tissues)
If you have autoimmune disease (an overactive immune response where the body mistakenly attacks its own cells)
If you’re struggling with hormone imbalance
If you have concerns about your thyroid health
If you’re experiencing fatigue and adrenal burnout
If you struggle with depression
If you need to correct blood sugar imbalances
If you suffer from headaches
These unwanted health symptoms may actually be a “good” thing if they are the early warning signs that your body is trying to get you to hear. The sooner you listen to what your body is telling you, the sooner you can heal the inflammation that’s causing the problems and avoid more serious health risks.
For a limited time, Dr. Ritamarie’s Food Allergy Spy Training program (FAST) is being offered for $100 off the regular price. You’ll receive 30 days of step-by-step guidance to help you detect your hidden food allergies through a proven Food Elimination-Provocation Process (FEPP) and get a handle on your symptoms. After, you can participate for two months in the new VITAL Community (Vibrant Ideas and Tools for Awesome Living).
The first live group run of the FAST program begins on January 17th, 2012.
Click HERE to learn more:
Tags: autoimmune conditions, autoimmune disease, depression, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, Dr. Rtiamarie, fibromyalgia, food allergies, food allergy, food allergy spy training, food allergy test, food intolerance, food sensitivity, headache, Hormone Imbalance, Leaky Gut
Posted in Adrenal Fatigue, Autoimmune, Fatigue Treatment, Immune System Support, Leaky Gut, Reduce Belly Fat
Happy New Year 2012: Tips and Resources for Vibrant Health
Happy New Year 2012
If you’re like many, today is the day to create New Year’s Resolutions.
The sad truth is the majority of people who make New Year’s Resolutions abandon them and fall back into old habits by the first of February.
Why do so many people fail to make lasting habit changes, even though they are so determined to succeed?
What I’ve noticed is that when you set a New Year’s Resolution, usually a habit that needs to be changed, you do so before taking the time to get connected to the mindset and feelings it takes to put the new habits into action.
You attempt to change a habit without first changing the underlying thoughts and emotions that created the habits that need to change. In my experience with thousands of patients and students over the years is that long lasting change happens when you make changes in the following order:
Head, Heart, Habits
12 Steps to a Healthy and Happy 2012
When you approach your health in an organized fashion and take steps in logical order, you are setting yourself up for success.. Below are the steps I have found to be most useful and are the ones I take my VIP private clients through. The order may be slightly different based on individual circumstances but the overall flow is similar.
Go ahead and get started. Your health will blossom and flourish when you do.
- Get in touch with your core values and visions: Start by getting in touch with what’s really important to you. Knowing what you value above all else helps you make choices that support your health and life goals. Make a list of your core values – those things that are most important to you. Imagine that it’s the end of 2012 and your life is exactly the way you envision. Nothing has gotten in your way, you’ve done everything you needed to create the body and life of your dreams. Write a description of your life in vivid detail.Take the time to stay focused on your vision and values. Every day, make choices that will bring you closer and closer to your vision. http://www.vibranthealthmindset.com
- Move your body every day, even if it’s only for 10 minutes to start.
- Rest and sleep need to be at the top of your priority list. It’s essential important for hormone balance, blood sugar balance and optimal fat burning. Check out my blog posts on sleep:
- Keep hydrated. Half your body weight (pounds) in fluid ounces is recommended.
- Eat and Drink Green Food – Lots of it – every day. http://www.drritamarie.com/BlendedGreens
- Balance your fat intake so that you have the correct ratio of omega 3 and 6 fats and avoid the dangerous heated, processed and oxidized fats.
- Put fun into your daily routine and learn to transform stressful moments to health enhancing opportunities. Join me on Thursday Jan 5 at 10AM Central time on My Radio Show as I explore play with a very special guest. http://www.drritamarie.com/radio/2011/12/play-living-life-to-the-fullest/
- Balance your blood sugar: http://www.B4BeGoneSystem.com
- Identify and remove hidden food allergies. Join me for a free teleseminar on January 3
http://www.drritamarie.com/go/TurningFoodAllergiesInsideOut - Optimize your digestion – read up on Leaky gut and digestion HERE
- Clean up your environment – replace cleaning and self care products with natural, non toxic equivalents.
- Balance Your Hormones http://www.VibrantHormones.com
Bonus Tip: Fine tune your body with structural and energetic balancing. Get regular chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, and/or energy work keep yourself in balance.
Free Yourself in 2012 from the effects of Hidden Gluten Sensitivity and other Food Allergies
If you’ve been having any persistent health challenges at all, serious or mild, or are struggling with weight that just doesn’t want to come off, you might have hidden food allergies that are keeping you sick. Gluten, dairy and eggs are high on the list of most common allergens, and they are all ingredients in the conventional versions of holiday treats. Some researchers and authors estimate that 30 – 50% of the population may be sensitive to gluten, and most don’t know it.
That’s because gluten sensitivity symptoms are often vague and chronic, and so don’t seem to flare up when gluten is consumed.
Part of the inability to detect a change in symptom presentation when eating gluten is that the average American eats gluten all day long every day! If you add it up, you might be surprised to find that many people eat more than 50% of their calories as gluten containing foods.
If you’re ready to learn how food allergies may be hurting you and what you can do about it, sign up for my free teleclass on Tuesday, January 3rd: Turning Food Allergies Inside Out: Revealing the Culprits, Causes and Cures
http://www.drritamarie.com/go/TurnFoodAllergiesInsideOut
2012: A free kit to help you kick gluten in the gluteus!
My gluten-free survival kit has just been updated to include a fabulous new e-book called Eliminate the Gluten and Accelerate your Health. It’s filled with recipes, articles and lists of foods that contain hidden gluten. The kit contains an audio, recipes, an article on the link between autism and ADD and gluten, and a presentation about the thyroid gland.
You can access it here:
http://www.drritamarie.com/glutenfree
Please pass the link to anyone you know who might be suffering from gluten sensitivity.
I look forward to connecting on Jan. 3rd to demystify food allergies and guide you to assessing the likelihood of hidden food allergies compromising your health.
http://www.drritamarie.com/go/TurnFoodAllergiesInsideOut
Lov, Health and Joy to you in 2012,
Dr. Ritamarie
Tags: blood sugar balance core values, Dr. Ritamarie Losalzo, food allergies, Gluten Free Diet, happy new year, hormone balance, life goals, year 2012
Posted in Gluten Free Diet, Vibrant Health, Vitamins and Minerals
Food Allergies: Taming the Health Stealing Holiday Grinch
As the mashed potatoes and gravy call to you and the apple pie and pretty cookies lure you, I ask you to stop and consider the dangers in those foods and explore healthy alternatives like the delicious and festive cookie recipes I’m sharing with you today.
In addition to the blood destabilizing effects of the sugar and flour, these typical holiday foods cause havoc in your immune system.
When your immune system reacts to food as if it were a dangerous bacteria or virus, you experience discomfort and inflammation. We generally refer to these types of reactions as food allergies or hyper-sensitivities.
Hidden food allergies cause many serious health challenges that often puzzle doctors and patients alike. That’s why I am offering a FREE teleseminar:
Turning Food Allergies Inside Out:
The Causes, Culprits, and Cures
Tuesday, January 3rd, 7:30 p.m. Central
Register HERE:
http://www.drritamarie.com/go/TurnFoodAllergiesInsideOut
Are the Foods You Eat Naughty or Nice?
At the top of the list of common food allergens are gluten and dairy. All your favorite holiday goodies are high in both.
It’s easy to identify and avoid food allergens when they cause obvious signs like hives, diarrhea, or difficulty breathing.
It becomes a bit more tricky when the reactions are not immediate or dramatic. Reactions that are delayed and subtle are less likely to be attributed to the offending food because there doesn’t seem to be a direct cause/effect relationship.
I have worked with thousands of patients over the years. Many say to me that they have no food allergies — wheat doesn’t bother them, dairy is not an issue — only to find out that eliminating these foods and eating more fresh, whole green foods clears up long-standing, chronic problems related to inflammation.
Inflammation: The Grinch that Steals Health
Unfortunately, most doctors don’t recognize the relationship between food and conditions like irritable bowel, celiac, Crohn’s, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, eczema, psoriases, fibromyalgia, lupus, and even MS and heart disease.
Hidden food allergens trigger inflammation. Food allergens in your body overwork, confuse and weaken your immune system. In many cases, the ultimate consequence of not addressing hidden food allergies is autoimmune and heart diseases.
Heart disease, the number-one killer in America, is caused by inflammation. What most people don’t realize is that cholesterol is an anti-inflammatory substance that’s triggered by inflammation in your blood vessels. Inflammation is frequently triggered by toxins, allergens, and improperly digested food.
Inflammation triggers a stress response in your body, leading to overworked adrenal glands and subsequent fatigue and serious health challenges. Many people suffering from arthritis, fibromyalgia, and joint pain can be helped by identifying and eliminating foods that trigger an immune response.
So ask yourself as you reach for the cookies and mashed potatoes with gravy – is it worth the risk?
“I Will Honour Christmas in my Heart, and Try to Keep it All the Year.”
While many of our holidays are centered around food, when we look closely at these gathering times, it’s more about our relationships and celebrations of LIFE.
The gluten and dairy in many foods may leave you bloated, tired, and irritable. Long-term, these foods or other hidden food allergies may lead to debilitating pain and inflammation. They also greatly increase your risk for heart attack and diabetes. They take away from the very thing you wish to celebrate!
So this holiday season, try something different.
I’ve posted a yummy Christmas cookie recipe that is free of gluten, dairy, and sugar. The sweetener is dates, a whole food. If you prefer to avoid all sweets, even fruits, there’s also a low-glycemic version of the recipe there too.
When you choose to make healthy alternatives for your favorite holiday recipes like these cookies on my blog and those in my e-book, Healthy Holiday Traditions: Nourishing Recipes for Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s Celebrations, you’ll not only feel more energetic and lighter, enjoy a smaller waistline and clearer thinking, you’ll reduce overall inflammation in your body and set the stage for healing or avoiding chronic pain, auto-immune disease, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Because inflammation of your intestinal lining impairs the production of serotonin, you’ll also reduce the risk of depression, anxiety, insomnia, PMS, cravings, and attention disorders as well.
A Free New Year’s Resolution You Can Start Today!
So think twice. Prepare in advance and make healthy alternatives this holiday season. Then join me on January 3rd, 2012 for our free teleseminar to find out the full scoop on food allergies and learn:
- What causes your immune system to attack your food
- The step-by-step events that occur during a food allergy reaction
- The most common food culprits that trigger reactions
- How to clear and cure your food allergies
- Positive ideas for enjoying your food and loving life
Register HERE:
http://www.drritamarie.com/go/TurnFoodAllergiesInsideOut
I wish you happy, healthy and love filled holidays,
Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo
P.S. I have seen many people think they could get away with “just one cookie” then set foot on a slippery slope into eating too much and compromising both their physical and emotional well being.
Food allergies cause food addiction.
SO do yourself a favor. Make my 6-minute cookies and earn more about how to determine if hidden food allergies are getting between you and your slim, vibrant and energetic self.
Register HERE:
http://www.drritamarie.com/go/TurnFoodAllergiesInsideOut
Tags: Dr. Ritamarie, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, food allergies, food allergy, food allergy test, food intolerance, heart disease, immune system, inflammation, teleseminars
Posted in Adrenal Fatigue, Chronic Fatigue, Gluten Free Diet, Healthy Holiday, Immune System Support, Leaky Gut
