About Me

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Former teacher, clinical social worker and now entrepreneur. My focus, no matter what career I am engaged in, has been on helping people. Now I am on an incredible journey to change life in a leaner, cleaner, greener way. I hope you will join me in this transition.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Thanksgiving Dinner Under 600 calories ... REALLY!!

Yep ... you read that right .... a whole Thanksgiving dinner under 600 calories.  It includes:
 
Herb Roasted Turkey and Gravy
Cranberry-Apple Chutney
Mashed Sweet Potatoes or Potato-Cauliflower Mash
Balsamic Glazed Green Beans
Quick and Easy Pumpkin Pudding (instead of pumpkin pie!)
 
The calories add up to:
 
Dinner with Mashed Sweet Potatoes option: 573 calories (including the whipped cream)
Dinner with Potato-Cauliflowr Mash option: 591 calories (including the whipped cream)
 
These are really easy prep meals ... they really taste great ... plus they are diabetic friendly.
 
Now there is NO reason to go off your plan during this great holiday of family, friends and gratitude!! Let me know what you think!!
 
Happy Thanksgiving from Tom and Donna

Herb Roasted Turkey and Gravy

1 small turkey (8-10 pounds), thawed
1/2 cup coarse-grained or Dijon-style mustard
1/4 cup chopped fresh sage
2 Tbsp chopped fresh thyme
2 Tbsp chopped chives or tarragon
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1 cup reduced-sodium fat-free chicken broth
1/4 cup fat-free half and half
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
Heat oven to 450 degrees. Rinse turkey with cold water. Pat dry with paper towels. Carefully insert fingers under skin beginning at neck cavity and slide down over breast forming a pocket between skin and turkey breast.

Combine mustard, sage, thyme and chives in a small bowl. Spoon mixture into pocket formed under turkey skin. Use fingers to massage outside of skin, spreading mustard mixture into an even layer. Place breast side up on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Place in oven. Reduce heat to 325 degrees. Roast turkey 18 minutes per pound unstuffed, 20 minutes per pound stuffed or until internal temperature reads 180 degrees on meat thermometer inserted into the thigh, making sure not to touch bone. Once turkey browns, tent with foil for remaining roasting time. Transfer cooked turkey to a carving board with a well to catch drippings. Tent with foil; let stand 20 minutes before carving.

Meanwhile, pour drippings from roasting pan into a glass measuring cup. Spoon 2 tablespoons of the fat into a medium saucepan. Place over medium heat. Add flour and cook and stir 1 minute. Add broth. Simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly. Spoon off remaining fat from reserved pan drippings and discard. Add drippings to gravy. Stir in half and half, salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving pitcher.
Discard turkey skin. Carve and transfer to platter.

Makes 14 servings (3 ounces of meat, 2 tablespoons of gravy per serving)

Nutritional Info:
Cal 273; Total Fat 8g (Cal from fat 28%; Sat. Fat 2g); Carb 2g; Chol 181mg; Fiber < 1g; Pro 44g; Sodium 360mg
Cal. From fat 28%;
 
Cranberry-Apple Chutney

3/4 cup unsweetened apple juice
1 cup sweet onion, chopped
1 cup sugar substitute
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1 pkg fresh or frozen cranberries (12 ounces)
1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
Combine juice, onion, sugar substitute, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger and cloves in a heavy, medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes.
Add cranberries and apple. Return to simmer and cook uncovered 20 minutes or until mixture is very thick, stirring occasionally.
 
Cool to room temperature. Transfer to decorative serving dish or refrigerate until serving.
Makes 20 servings (2 tablespoons per serving)
Note: This recipe was tested with sucralose-based sugar substitute.
Nutritional Info:
Cal: 41; Total Fat <1g (Cal from fat 1%; Sat. Fat <1g); Carb 12g; Chol 0mg; Fiber 1g; Protein <1g; Sodium 3mg
 
 
Mashed Sweet Potatoes

2 large sweet potatoes (about 1-3/4 pounds)
1/4 cup fat-free half and half
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground red pepper
1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted

1. Peel potatoes. Cut into chunks. Place in medium saucepan and cover with water. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and return to pan.

2. Add half and half, salt, cinnamon and red pepper. Mash with a potato masher. Top with pecans
.
Makes 6 (1/2 cup) servings

Nutritional Info:
Cal 152; Total Fat 3g (Cal from fat 19%); Sat. Fat <1g); Carb 28g; Chol 2mg; Fiber 4g; Pro 3g; Sodium 370mg
    
Potato-Cauliflower Mash (Alternative to Sweet Potato Mash)

3 cups water
2 cups cubed Yukon Gold potatoes, skin on (about 12 ounces)
10 oz frozen cauliflower florets
1/4 cup fat-free evaporated milk
2 Tbsp margarine, trans-fat free
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
Bring water to boil in a large saucepan. Add potatoes and cauliflower and return to boil. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Remove from heat and drain. Place vegetables and remaining ingredients in blender container and blend until smooth, scraping sides frequently.

Makes 4 (1/2-cup) servings

Nutritional Info:
Cal 173; Total Fat 6g (Cal from Fat 32%; Sat Fat 1g); Carb 25g; Chol 0mg; Fiber 3g; Pro 4g; Sodium 531mg
 
 
Balsamic Glazed Green Beans

1 pound green beans, trimmed
2 tsp olive oil
1 small red bell pepper, diced
1/3 cup sliced shallots or chopped sweet onion
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 tsp balsamic vinegar

1. Simmer beans in water in a large saucepan until tender, 6 to 8 minutes depending on size. Drain in colander and rinse with cold water.

2. In the same saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add bell pepper and shallots. Cook 5 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Return beans to saucepan. Add salt and pepper and stir until heated through. Remove from heat. Stir in vinegar.

Makes 8 (1/2 cup) servings

Nutritional Info:
Cal 38; Total Fat 1g (Cal from fat 26%; Sat Fat <1g); Carb 6g; Chol 0mg; Fiber 2g; Pro 1g; Sodium 150mg
 

Quick & Easy Pumpkin Pudding

1 box Jell-O Sugar Free Fat Free Instant Vanilla Pudding (1 oz size that serves 4)
1 cup canned pumpkin (put in refrigerator for a few hours before using)
1-1/2 cups ice cold skim milk
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

Directions: Pour cold milk into mixing bowl. Add box of pudding and beat with automatic mixer for 1 minute. Mix together the dried spices and then add this to the pudding mix, and finally add in the cup of pumpkin. Blend for another 1-2 minutes until completely mixed. Spoon pudding into individual bowls and chill for 30 minutes to an hour before serving.

Serves 4 people:

Each serving has only 77 calories, 0g fat, 380 mg of sodium, 15g carbs, 2g of fiber and 4g of protein.

Optional: Add 2 Tablespoons of Fat-Free Reddi-whip and add only 5 additional calories per serving.
Note: You can use the Reddi-whip on top of the pudding or mix it in for extra creamy deliciousness.

 


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Sunday, March 16, 2014

The Most Important Video You Might Ever Watch

If you are my friend, you know that I credit of the remarkable turnaround of my health, which kept me bedridden for over eight years, to nutritional cleansing.  I am on a mission.  I believe that everyone who is living, breathing, and eating in this world should be cleansing.  The reason?  We are so bombarded by toxic elements in our environment, food and air that we have opened ourselves up to all sorts of diseases and cancers.

I hope that all I know and love will view this video .... I think it is one of the most important videos I have ever seen.  Please watch because I love you.
.



If you want to know more, please contact me at newtraditions99@yahoo.com.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Do You Feel Too Fat To Be Photographed?

OMGosh ... you have to read this article ... this hit me hard.  I have very few pictures of me. I didn't want to have my picture taken because I was "too fat."  I am so phobic about having my picture taken that I once, while in a very crowded restaurant, tried to scoot back out of the range of the camera and the chair broke and I was sprawled out on the floor in front of more than 100 people.  So much for hoping no one noticed I was fat.  I was so humiliated.  Please read this article ...
 

The Many AMAZING Uses for Hydrogen Peroxide. Who Knew?

Image from diycozyhome.com
If you have been reading my blog for awhile you know that I have been on a mission to find alternatives to store bought "chemicals," especially for cleaning.  I saw this article on Tammy Carter Farrell's FB page and I thought you would enjoy it.  She provides a whole list of things that you can use Hydrogen Peroxide in your home.  Who knew?
 
Ever since I started using Hydrogen Peroxide to get rid of armpit stains, to clean cookie sheets, as a miracle cleaner in my kitchen and bathroom, and to make my own “oxi clean”…I ALWAYS have at least one bottle of the stuff under my kitchen sink, under my bathroom sink, AND in the laundry room. This stuff is amazingly versatile!

But it wasn’t until recently, after doing some IN DEPTH research on the subject, that I came to realize what a “miracle substance” hydrogen peroxide really is! It’s safe, it’s readily available, it’s cheap, and best of all, it WORKS! It works for a LOT of stuff!

Hydrogen peroxide should really be called oxygen water, since it is basically the same chemical make up as water but with an extra oxygen atom (H2O2). Because of this it breaks down quickly and harmlessly into oxygen and water.

Some other interesting facts about hydrogen peroxide:

It is found in all living material.

Your white blood cells naturally produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to fight bacteria and infections.

Fruit and vegetables naturally produce hydrogen peroxide. This is one of the reasons why it is so healthy to eat fresh fruit and vegetables.

It is found in massive dosages in the mother’s first milk, called colostrum, and is transferred to the baby to boost their immune system.

It is found in rain water because some of the H20 in the atmosphere receives an additional oxygen atom from the ozone (O3) and this H2O2 makes plants grow faster.

Next to Apple Cider Vinegar, hydrogen peroxide ranks up there as one of the best household remedies.

Besides the obvious (cleansing wounds), did you know that it is probably the best remedy to dissolve ear wax? Brighten dingy floors? Add natural highlights to your hair? Improve your plants root systems? The list goes on and on!

There are SO many uses for this stuff that I’ve started replacing the cap on the hydrogen peroxide bottle with a sprayer because it’s easier and faster to use that way.

I have compiled a rather impressive list of uses for 3% hydrogen peroxide that I hope will have you as thrilled and bewildered as I was!

Wash vegetables and fruits with hydrogen peroxide to remove dirt and pesticides. Add 1/4 cup of H2O2 to a sink of cold water. After washing, rinse thoroughly with cool water.

 In the dishwasher, add 2 oz. to your regular detergent for a sanitizing boost. Also, beef up your regular dish soap by adding roughly 2 ounces of 3% H2O2 to the bottle.

Use hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash to freshen breath. It kills the bacteria that causes halitosis. Use a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water.

Use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to make a paste for brushing teeth. Helps with early stages of gingivitis as it kills bacteria. Mixed with salt and baking soda, hydrogen peroxide works as a whitening toothpaste.

Soak your toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide between uses to keep it clean and prevent the transfer of germs. This is particularly helpful when you or someone in your family has a cold or the flu.

Clean your cutting board and countertop. Let everything bubble for a few minutes, then scrub and rinse clean. (I’ve been using it for this a LOT lately!)

Wipe out your refrigerator and dishwasher. Because it’s non-toxic, it’s great for cleaning places that store food and dishes.

Clean your sponges. Soak them for 10 minutes in a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and warm water in a shallow dish. Rinse the sponges thoroughly afterward.

Remove baked-on crud from pots and pans. Combine hydrogen peroxide with enough baking soda to make a paste, then rub onto the dirty pan and let it sit for a while. Come back later with a scrubby sponge and some warm water, and the baked-on stains will lift right off.

Whiten bathtub grout. First dry the tub thoroughly, then spray it liberally with hydrogen peroxide. Let it sit — it may bubble slightly — for a little while, then come back and scrub the grout with an old toothbrush. You may have to repeat the process a few times.

Clean the toilet bowl. Pour half a cup of hydrogen peroxide into the toilet bowl, let stand for 20 minutes, then scrub clean.

Remove stains from clothing, curtains, and tablecloths. Hydrogen peroxide can be used as a pre-treater for stains — just soak the stain for a little while in 3% hydrogen peroxide before tossing into the laundry. You can also add a cup of peroxide to a regular load of whites to boost brightness. It’s a green alternative to bleach, and works just as well.

Brighten dingy floors. Combine half a cup of hydrogen peroxide with one gallon of hot water, then go to town on your flooring. Because it’s so mild, it’s safe for any floor type, and there’s no need to rinse.

Clean kids’ toys and play areas. Hydrogen peroxide is a safe cleaner to use around kids, or anyone with respiratory problems, because it’s not a lung irritant. Spray toys, toy boxes, doorknobs, and anything else your kids touch on a regular basis.

Help out your plants. To ward off fungus, add a little hydrogen peroxide to your spray bottle the next time you’re spritzing plants.

Add natural highlights to your hair. Dilute the hydrogen peroxide so the solution is 50% peroxide and 50% water. Spray the solution on wet hair to create subtle, natural highlights.

According to alternative therapy practitioners, adding half a bottle of hydrogen peroxide to a warm bath can help detoxify the body. Some are skeptical of this claim, but a bath is always a nice way to relax and the addition of hydrogen peroxide will leave you – and the tub – squeaky clean!

Spray a solution of 1/2 cup water and 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide on leftover salad, drain, cover and refrigerate. This will prevent wilting and better preserve your salad.

Sanitize your kids’ lunch boxes/bags.

Dab hydrogen peroxide on pimples or acne to help clear skin.

Hydrogen peroxide helps to sprout seeds for new plantings. Use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution once a day and spritz the seed every time you re-moisten. You can also use a mixture of 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 32 parts water to improve your plants’ root system.

Remove yellowing from lace curtains or tablecloths. Fill a sink with cold water and a 2 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide. Soak for at least an hour, rinse in cold water and air dry.

Use it to remove ear wax. Use a solution of 3% with olive or almond oil. Add a couple drops of oil first then H2O2. After a few minutes, tilt head to remove solution and wax.

Helps with foot fungus. Spray a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry. Or try soaking your feet in a peroxide solution to help soften calluses and corns, and disinfect minor cuts.

Spray down the shower with hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria and viruses.

Use 1 pint of 3% hydrogen peroxide to a gallon of water to clean humidifiers and steamers.

Wash shower curtains with hydrogen peroxide to remove mildew and soap scum. Place curtains in machine with a bath towel and your regular detergent. Add 1 cup full strength 3% hydrogen peroxide to the rinse cycle.

Use for towels that have become musty smelling. 1/2 cup Peroxide and 1/2 cup vinegar let stand for 15 minutes wash as normal. Gets rid of the smell.

Use hydrogen peroxide to control fungi present in aquariums. Don’t worry, it won’t hurt your fish. Use sparingly for this purpose.

De-skunking solution. Combine 1 quart 3% H2O2, 1/4 cup baking soda, 1 teaspoon Dawn dish detergent, 2 quarts warm water.


Tuesday, July 9, 2013

The NEW Bedtime Belly Buster plus Sleep Info

Here is the NEW BEDTIME BELLY BUSTER complements of Larry Fuchs, Jr. and Dr.Suk Cho.
So why the NEW Bedtime Belly Buster?During a recent phone conversation, Susan Sly and Dr. Suk Cho started discussing the Bedtime Belly Buster (BBB). They both had concerns about the amount of daily calcium, when calcium was included in the BBB. With 2 IsaLean shakes daily, along with the Ageless Essentials a.m. and p.m. you are getting all the bio available calcium you need for the day. Newer studies shown that at a certain level of calcium, it becomes to high and you can get more calcification in the joints and can lead to greater challenges.

The main reason for having the IsaCalcium in the BBB, was it put you in a deeper sleep, faster. This is know as the REM (rapid eye movement) cycle. Now we have the Isagenix Sleep Spray which can safely accomplish the same objective. You can read more on the REM cycle below.

For the New Bedtime Belly Buster, you will need:
1 scoop Isa Pro (NOT IsaLean Pro!)
1 scoop or 1 packet of IsaFruits
4 ounces purified water
2 ice cubes (optional)
Shake or Blend

1 to 4 sprays of the Isagenix Sleep Spray
2 to 3 IsaOmegas

When do I take BBB?Shut down you computer and shut off the T.V. Take your BBB and Sleep spray, and then brush your teeth. Go to bed and relax, write down your gratitude's for the day, read some kind of self developement. The best time for you to produce growth hormones is getting quality sleep between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Step 1:

 
BBB with Ice: Place 4 ounces of water along with 2 ice cubes in your IsaBlender vessel. Screw on the blade and blend until the ice is dissolved. Then add 1 scoop Isa Pro and 1 scoop IsaFruits and blend again for 5 seconds. Since the IsaFruits blend together better than the former IsaCalcium, a quick 5 second blend will cut down to foam.
 
Without Ice: Place 4 ounces of water in your IsaBlender vessel, add 1 scoop Isa Pro and 1 scoop IsaFruits and blend for 5 seconds and drink. Because the IsaFruits blend easier than the calcium,Take you can also mix this in your Isagenix Shaker Cup.
 

Step 2:Use 1 to 4 sprays of the Isagenix Sleep Spray , your normal amount. If you have not used the sleep spray in the past, start with 1 spray and work from there.

Take up to 3 IsaOmegas. Caution! If you are on blood thinners or at any risk of having thin blood or have a family history of strokes, you want to skip the IsaOmegas.
 
Isa Pro builds muscle, Muscle burn 300% more calories than fat.
 
IsaFruits has many ingredients to help torch body fat. Contains Prebiotics and probiotics
 
Isagenix Sleep Spray help get you into the REM cycle faster.
 
IsaOmegas helps burns fat and help your body get shredded.

There are two main types of sleep:
  1. Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) Sleep (also known as quiet sleep
  2. Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep (also known asactive sleep or paradoxical sleep

The Beginnings of Sleep

During the earliest phases of sleep, you are still relatively awake and alert. The brain produces what are known as beta waves, which are small and fast. As the brain begins to relax and slow down, slower waves known as alpha waves are produced. During this time when you are not quite asleep, you may experience strange and extremely vivid sensations known as hypnagogic hallucinations. Common examples of this phenomenon include feeling like you are falling or hearing someone call your name.

Another very common event during this period is known as a myoclonic jerk. If you've ever startled suddenly for seemingly no reason at all, then you have experienced this odd phenomenon. While it may seem unusual, these myoclonic jerks are actually quite common.


Stage 1

Stage 1 is the beginning of the sleep cycle, and is a relatively light stage of sleep. Stage 1 can be considered a transition period between wakefulness and sleep. In Stage 1, the brain produces high amplitude theta waves, which are very slow brain waves. This period of sleep lasts only a brief time (around 5-10 minutes). If you awaken someone during this stage, they might report that they weren't really asleep.


Stage 2

Stage 2 is the second stage of sleep and lasts for approximately 20 minutes. The brain begins to produce bursts of rapid, rhythmic brain wave activity known as sleep spindles. Body temperature starts to decrease and heart rate begins to slow.


Stage 3

Deep, slow brain waves known as delta waves begin to emerge during stage 3 sleep. Stage 3 is a transitional period between light sleep and a very deep sleep.


Stage 4

Stage 4 is sometimes referred to as delta sleepbecause of the slow brain waves known as delta waves that occur during this time. Stage 4 is a deep sleep that lasts for approximately 30 minutes. Bed-wetting and sleepwalking are most likely to occur at the end of stage 4 sleep.


Stage 5

Most dreaming occurs during the fifth stage of sleep, known as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. REM sleep is characterized by eye movement, increased respiration rate and increased brain activity. REM sleep is also referred to as paradoxical sleep because while the brain and other body systems become more active, muscles become more relaxed. Dreaming occurs due because of increased brain activity, but voluntary muscles become paralyzed.


The Sequence of Sleep Stages


It is important to realize, however, that sleep does not progress through these stages in sequence. Sleep begins in stage 1 and progresses into stages 2, 3 and 4. After stage 4 sleep, stage 3 and then stage 2 sleep are repeated before entering REM sleep. Once REM sleep is over, the body usually returns to stage 2 sleep. Sleep cycles through these stages approximately four or five times throughout the night.

On average, we enter the REM stage approximately 90 minutes after falling asleep. The first cycle of REM sleep might last only a short amount of time, but each cycle becomes longer. REM sleep can last up to an hour as sleep progresses.

If you would like to get started on YOUR flat belly please feel free to contact me at:
or visit my website
 

You Can Do It!!

Just a reminder ... to achieve your goals it takes courage, strength and determination ... and sometimes a little help from your friends.  Whatever your goal is, I'm here for you ... YOU CAN TO IT!!!



DREAM BIG ... IF YOU WANT IT BAD ENOUGH ... YOU CAN DO IT!!!!