My Big 3-0

There's something looming on the horizon... my 30th birthday!  Yes, that's right... my 30th, not 20th as some people perceive.  (I just got carded for mimosa at brunch this past weekend!)  My 10 year high school reunion was in 2009.  I've been with my boyfriend for over 5 years now, had Roxy for almost 3.  Been working at T-Tapp a few years over a decade.  Time is flying!!!  I certainly don't feel 30... or look it, which is a nice perk!  I want to look and feel my best to *glow* my way into 30... and think it's time to step it up and refresh my game plan...  The whole milestone and all is a real motivator for me!   Besides, what better time than now?

Here are some things that I want to incorporate into my lifestyle to be my best:

Spa Days At Home
Treating yourself by doing things that make you feel good in the comfort of your home.  For me that's body and face brushing, magnesium oil foot soaks, salt baths, salt masks, facials made with organic ingredients (good enough to eat!), massage, FIR sauna sessions, relaxing and meditation, stretching and of course some T-Tapp!  Every year T-Tapp hosts a fitness event at the Safety Harbor Resort & Spa.  The "Retreat" includes a few daily workouts, spa pampering, lots of water and healthy eating.  My goal is to try to duplicate that type of environment at home. 

We just finished up the T-Tapp Beauty Boot Camp Spa Retreat and have some great ideas.  I will try out some of the recipes for homemade beauty products and treatments from Shelly Ballestero's book Beauty By God.  I'm excited about this!  When you feel amazing you glow.  Will post details of my spa days, which I plan on doing once or twice a week.  Who doesn't need some pampering in their life?

Eat More Organic and Local Produce
I've been reading more and more about the power of eating a diet of alive nutrients from organic plant-based foods.  This will feed the body antioxidants, amino acids, minerals and vitamins to combat aging and dis-ease.  I plan on introducing more fresh raw foods into my meal plan... found some great recipes too!  I already love green smoothies/drinks/monsters so I'm interested in discovering tasty mixtures of blended and juiced produce.  It feels like the timing is right and it's been calling to me.  I keep gathering more information on this subject without really trying to. Also want to do a wheatgrass detox with fresh juice!

This will include trips to the farmers markets and natural food stores (instead of Publix and Sweetbay all the time because they're convenient) and making mostly all of my own meals (maybe eating out a few times a week).

Eat Stop Eat
I've read all about this concept on the T-Tapp forum.  Eat Stop Eat is not really a diet.  It involves fasting for 18-24 hours straight (only drinking water and calorie-free beverages like tea or black coffee) once or twice a week, and eating normally the other days.  There's science behind this method and, from reading what the T-Tappers have to say about their experience, Eat Stop Eat has proven to be an effective way to naturally detoxify the body and assist in fat loss.

Personally, I never thought that I could skip a meal.  I always felt like my blood sugar would drop too low and I'd get sick.  Plus I love food!  To do Eat Stop Eat you must be mentally prepared and fully understand why you are fasting, not depriving yourself or having to follow some fad diet plan.  The ESE book is packed full of educational information on the program and will be helpful in preparing you mentally to fast.  It's a simple approach and makes sense to me.  I don't have weight to lose (actually surprised to find out I weigh 15 pounds less than I did this time last year!), so I'd be following this method for detox and elimination benefits.  Plus, it would be nice not to have to worry about what I'm eating for a day.

Taken straight from the Eat Stop Eat website, Brad Pilon (creator of the Eat Stop Eat intermittent fasting diet plan) says:

“Scientific Research Proves That Eat Stop Eat Will Help You Lose Weight, and Get Rid of Stubborn Body Fat – All While Preserving your Metabolism and Without Making You Lose Lean Muscle.”

I need to buy the book and get started on the program this week.  (Currently priced at $39.95 or $57.00 for the whole kit and kaboodle.)

Emotional Freedom Technique
I'm so curious about the concept of EFT or Tapping.  This is powerful stuff!  Again, I first heard about this on the T-Tapp forum.  (T-Tappers are cutting-edge when it comes to all things health related!)  I just received the DVD and book combo in the mail.  I can't wait to learn more about it and get started.

Build on Current Healthy Habits
I've been on this health kick and don't want to stop the momentum.  This is a lifestyle not a magic pill!

• Consistent T-Tapp workouts plus extra core-building moves and some yoga
• Body and face brushing
• Oil pulling
• Magnesium oil foot soaks
• Far infrared sauna sessions
• Find a good multivitamin/multimineral, protein powder and organic sunscreen

I'm going to continue on with my own Beauty Boot Camp at home to work on being the healthiest and happiest me.  Anyone care to join me?  You don't have to do what I do, but just implement a few new healthy habits to improve your health, beauty and longevity.

The Moon Diet

The Moon Rules Cancer by Johfra Bosschart

My mom has studied astrology for years and I find it fascinating. She can tell me things based on the current planetary alignment and my natal chart (where the planets were when I was born) that make a lot of sense with what's happening or on the horizon at the time. I really appreciate having this insight and intellect in my life!  It's like getting advice from the cosmos.  Yesterday I read an email from her that included a link to a video by Rose Astrology about the New Moon in Cancer on July 11, 2010. This new moon is also a solar eclipse, which means the power of the moon's effects on us is about tenfold.  The moon actually rules the sign of Cancer also, which involves emotions, feelings, nurturing.  The video (linked above) discusses being in the present moment and focusing on how you feel, then nurturing yourself and others around you.  It's a good time to take care of our bodies, minds and spirits and be kind to one another.

CURRENT MOON

moon info

As I was stumbling around the internet today I discovered the Moon Diet.  It's not really a "diet" at all, but a short-term 24-hour liquid fast.  Mainly focusing on drinking pure water and also freshly squeeze vegetable juice.  On the T-Tapp Forums I've been reading the Nutrition/Diet section and all of the Eat Stop Eat (ESE) posts and to me the premise of the Moon Diet is pretty similar to ESE in the respect that you take one day to allow your body to cleanse and detoxify itself with fluids.  Only the Moon Diet follows the cycles of the moon.

Excerpt from Lunaf.com:

Centuries ago people associate the Moon with magic, space, romance and cyclic patterns. It is scientifically proven, when the Moon enters into a new lunar phase, a change occurs in the geomagnetic field of the Earth. The moon affects tides, the growth of plants, the breeding of the animals, and strongly effects the emotional and physical state of humans.

The lunar diet at full moon and new moon, 24 hours moon diet, or the three-day moon diet, each of these diets related to the lunar calendar, could help to regulate and maintain your normal weight or to clean your body.

(Lunaf.com is a pretty neat little site, btw.)

I've been seriously considering trying out ESE for the detoxification and health benefits.  Lately I've felt like I need to detoxify regularly to feel healthy (ie: sauna sessions, alkaline water, T-Tapp workouts, body brushing, oil pulling, massage, cleaner eating).  The more of those things I do, the better I feel.  So I think it's a good time for me to start! At least I'll try it out and see if it helps me.  Now I just need to purchase the ESE e-book (highly recommended on the T-Tapp Forum for success and better understanding behind the science of the program), alkaline water and organic veggies.

Au revoir!