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Showing posts from September 12, 2017

Seed Cycling Update

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Guys, I don’t even know how to begin this post because so much has happened in the last 46 days. Let me start off by saying two things about seed cycling : 1. It’s working . *knock on wood* (I feel like every time I talk about something good happening with my health, I jinx myself. Let’s hope it’s not the case this time!) 2. I’m shocked … to the point where I actually called my OB/GYN, before I even started the seed cycling protocol, to ask her to prescribe me another birth control pill, just in case my mood swings were brutal and acne popped up all over my face. I really didn’t think it was going to work. Plus, after being diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in 2011 and trying every diet protocol and supplement under the sun with NOTHING ever working, I just figured seed cycling wouldn’t work either. (Mrs. Optimistic over here.) On Day 1 of seed cycling, I started a journal to track all of my symptoms, including my waking temperature, moods, skin chang

Are Natural Flavors Really That Bad? (MUST WATCH)

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Are Natural Flavors Really That Bad? (MUST WATCH) I have a confession to make. My once in a while processed food meltdown is with Annie’s Chocolate Bunnies. Once I crack open the box, I literally cannot stop eating them. (And thinking about them right now, is making my mouth water.) It’s insane! I’ve noticed when I make homemade cookies I don’t get the feeling that I need to eat the entire plate… but with those Annie’s Bunnies, man, I really can’t stop. Why is it that they’re so addicting? Is it all the sugar? There’s actually more to it than that. I recently sat down with Mark Schatzker, the author of The Dorito Effect – a must read book for all you foodies out there who read ingredients and care about what you’re eating. You know how addicting Doritos are…well, the stories he tells in this book about food and flavor are out of control incredible. I highlighted my copy like crazy and immediately reached out to Mark because I was so impressed with the investigative work he has d

8 Tips for Cooking Vegetables

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This spring when I asked what nutrition topics folks would be interested in reading about on the blog, the subject of vegetables came up repeatedly. Specifically, several readers wanted more ideas for how to cook them—with a mind to preserving (or enhancing) both nutrition and taste. As much as I love my big-ass salads , I get it. Sometimes you need to mix it up, and moving toward the cooler seasons only underscores the point. With that in mind, let me offer a few points that help folks have their vegetables and a hot meal , too. See what you think and if it might offer some ideas for this week’s Primal dinners. Don’t Overcrowd the Skillet Almost any vegetable can be prepared by slicing the vegetable thinly, heating oil in a pan over medium-high heat, and then sautéing it until tender. Add a little garlic if you like, and finish with sea salt. Easy, right? However, if you want the sautéed vegetables to be genuinely tasty instead of mediocre, here’s the trick you need to know: Don

Nighttime Checklist For A Peaceful Morning

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This post is sponsored by Quaker Oats , but all opinions are my own. So much about getting organized in life is about timing. Because no one can predict what interruptions or spontaneous events pop up, it’s always best to prep for as much of your life in advance as you can. That goes for meals, packing for a trip, making lunches, and work tasks (like putting together a presentation). In college, I once read an entire textbook over the summer so I could be uber prepared for a busy senior-year semester. #nerdalert ! I absolutely  hate feeling rushed and consider myself one of the biggest anti-procrastinators out there. Anything that I can do in advance, I will. To get ahead, you must work doubly hard once to create the time to get ahead, but once you do, you’ll be doing the same amount of work just on a different schedule. When Mazen started school three years ago, I learned what works best for us is to do the most important tasks first and the most fun ones last. So, we always got

Episode 372 – Gretchen Rubin – The Four Tendencies

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This episode we have Gretchen Rubin back on the podcast. Gretchen is the author of several books, including the blockbuster New York Times bestsellers, Better Than Before , The Happiness Project and Happier at Home . In Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives, she provides surprising insights and practical advice drawn from cutting-edge research, ancient wisdom, and her own observations, about how we can make our lives better than before. Listen in as we talk about her new book The Four Tendencies, what it means to be an Upholder, a Questioner, an Obliger, or a Rebel, and how to use that to better your own life and motivation. Download Episode Here (MP3) Take the Quiz here: happiercast.com/quiz GretchenRubin.com Happier Podcast with Gretchen Rubin Twitter: @GretchenRubin Facebook: Gretchen Rubin Instagram: GretchenRubin     30 Day Guide to the Paleo Diet Want some extra help? Have you been trying Paleo for a while but have questions or aren