Studies have shown that people that have a healthy spiritual life tend to be healthier mentally and physically as well. Here’s a verse to meditate on.

For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. – 1 Timothy 4:8

Well it’s the beginning of a new year and it’s time for a change. As I edge towards a new phase of life and think about my future I start to contemplate many changes in all aspects of my life. My blog is no exception. Yes, you will see my blog change. The look will be different and the link will change as I switch over to a new domain. I know I have some followers, although they are not all registered, so I hope you will all find me okay. The old domain will stay in place until February when it expires, hopefully giving everyone a chance to make note of the change. I think this will be my last domain name change though. As I’ve been looking for a long term one and trying to decide on something (that was available of course). I will also be rebuilding a new website. I’m having to do some server cleanup first from to previous things I’ve done for groups and friends that I have given the opportunity to move. I hope you all will enjoy the change. It will be more of a reflection of me. Of course there will be a period of refinement as well as I tweak my themes and such. At any rate, please make note of the new domain livingnaturallyforlife.com. I look forward to seeing you all there.

Just when you thought I was gone, I’ve returned. lol.  Sorry I haven’t posted in a while. October was a horrible month for my family. First, it rained constantly in our area, a record amount, kicking mold and fungus counts through the roof. Then swine flu was in the kids school. All three kids plus my husband and myself ended up getting sick one right after the other. I also ended up on antibiotics (which I absolutely hate) for sinus infection and bronchitis. Of course you know moms are not allowed to be sick, so it was slow going. Now I’m trying to get back to the grindstone.

First let me start by saying to those of you that were following my detox progress. I did take off some additional weight after ending detox. I’m within 2 pounds of my target BMI. However there has been a new development. Which now marks my next journey. And after attending an in-depth seminar given by a wonderful master herbalist, a new passion has sparked within me as well. I aim to spread the word and help as many possible as I can.

So here’s the deal. I’ve been diagnosed with Candidiasis. Candidiasis is also known as Yeast Overgrowth or Candida Overgrowth. Not only me but my two daughters has it as well. Candida overgrowth can be present even outside of a “yeast infection.” If left too long it can affect every major system in your body and manifest it self in many, many ways. Things that may seem unrelated can be a symptom of candida. As candida grows, it release toxins all over your body and every system can be compromised and your immunity shot. Plus, it doesn’t take much to get out of balance. Our bodies need a million good bacteria to keep one candida cell in check. And when your immune system is compromised and the good bacteria killed off, the candida grows very rapidly, taking over.

For years, although I thought myself to be fairly healthy and tried to eat the right things and do the right things, I always knew something just wasn’t quite right. For a while I thought I was pre-diabetic. I would get very tired and sleepy after eating. I still get really tired during the day and sometimes have to take naps. I’ve always experienced some sort of fatigue constantly, indicative of an adrenal problem. Adrenal supplements do help, but that may not be the underlying problem after all. I had three major bouts of depression in the last seven years which required medication and a couple of years ago I was diagnosed with PMDD. Now I have come to learn that all these seemingly unrelated things can be traced back to one culprit-candida.

I am now about to embark on a “Kill the Candida” program. The eating restrictions will be even more intense than the detox, but in the end totally worth it. Among other things I will not be able to eat any sugar (which I don’t do much of anyway) or anything that turns to sugar like starches and some grains. I will also not be able to eat any fermented products like miso, tempeh and soy sauce. Since my diet is mostly vegetarian these days, this will be hard. In addition, I can have no mushrooms or anything created with a fungus or mold like cheese. I will have to take major amounts of probiotics and enzymes to digest the candida after it’s killed. It will be hard, but I am willing to do it.

I also learned that candida can be a major factor in allergies. (A very long story to explain here, but if you are interested in more information please contact me and let me know, I’ll happily share.) So I’m excited to see what good it will do for my girls who have severe allergies after getting the candida cleared up.

Did you know that kids can be born with candida already if the mother has it? And if it goes unchecked, can cause major problems including allergies, rashes and digestion problems.

Did you also know that the antibiotics in food can kill off your good bacteria, giving candida a chance to grow? Another reason to eat organic, antibiotic-free meat and dairy. Everything that the animals are given end up in your system too when you eat it.

Many people have candida and don’t even know it. It can show up most obviously as a yeast infection in women or jock itch in men, but also as athlete’s foot, rash, dry skin, eczema, fatigue, bloating, gassiness, spots in your eyes, brain fog, inability to lose weight and other things. Things you would not even think of being related. If can even show up as a mold or yeast allergy or allergy to mushrooms. Because it can affect any and every system you never know how it may show up.

I’m going to post a checklist shortly for you to look at. If you think you may have candida, there is a simple test that you can do at home that does not require any test equipment or kit to perform. If you discover that you do have a candida overgrowth, I urge you to get it under control. Your health may depend on it. Some of the testimonies I heard are amazing. I hope to have my own amazing story in a few weeks. If you need info on clearing out candida effectively, drop me a note. I’d be oh so happy to share. Otherwise, please feel free to track me and my family on our journey to health and wellness.

It’s been almost two days since the last “official” day of detox. I feel so great. I love that I can wear my favorite jeans again without having a muffin top and feeling like my circulation is cut off. lol. They are actually feeling a little loose today. I will be working on losing those last 10 now though. I really want to do it before the holiday season so I can have a few treats here and there without feeling guilty. I miss my organic super dark chocolate.

As mentioned, I decided to go another few days before adding food back into my diet. I think I’ll start with my favorite whole grains, oatmeal and quinoa. I actually could have had those during detox, but since my supplements had it in there, I chose not to have extra. I will be putting off any other allergen food for a little while though. I’d actually planned to have eggs first since it is my preferred protein of choice, but after reading a PETA story about male chicks, I’m having a hard time reconciling that. I purchased some organic extra firm tofu today so I might decide to have a great stir fry soon. Our family is celebrating a special occasion this weekend, so I have to be careful about what I select to add back in because I won’t be able to have anything else new for a few days. I have opted to stay off wheat products for as long as I can. I’ve found that my body does not do well with wheat and considering two out of my three kids have wheat allergies, it’s probably best anyway. No sense in cooking it for only part of the family. I really like pita bead though, so I may have to find an alternative. I already make oat bread for my girls. Maybe I can figure out a recipe for oat pitas. I think I will work on that.

I’m creating a new exercise routine for myself and hopefully I can kick my body into gear and get exactly where I want to be. What are you doing for yourself to get healthier?

By the way, I now have a link set up for supplements and homeopathic remedies I like. You should check it out. (www.mynsp.com/livingnaturally) Don’t let the  “business opportuntity” look fool you. The products are excellent and affordable. I highly recommend them. Many other NC’s and health professinals do too. I would not recommend anything that I wouldn’t use myself. You won’t be disappointed.

Yesterday was detox day 21. The last official day. I decided to go until the end of the week and put in a few more days before starting to add other food back into my diet. I did not make my super goal of the last stubborn 10, as expected. But I did take off my summer weight and started into my final trek to finally get it all off. I am determined.

I feel so much better for having done this. My body is thanking me. I haven’t been suffering as much from allergies. My body is more energized and I haven’t been stress eating, which is a big plus. Yes, I’m a nutritional consultant studying to be a natural health practitioner, but like everyone else, I am human too. I guess that’s what makes me suited for this. I’ve lived it. I go through the same things the average person struggling to get healthy goes through.

Anyway, although I didn’t make my super goal, I am extremely proud of going through detox again. So what are my final numbers? Here they are:

Weight: don’t know I didn’t weigh myself in the beginning. At least 10 pounds.
Waist: 3.5 inches
Belly: 2.0 inches
Hip: 1.5 inches
Thigh: 1.0 inch

Seriously, in three weeks! I am so proud. Of course during my first intensive detox I lost almost 30 pounds, but I had a lot to lose then. I’ll post pictures soon if you want to see.

I’m going to keep working and maybe in another month or so I will have those final 10 off. I purchased the Jillian Michaels Shred video. I might try that along with kickboxing.

Remember though, if you decide to do your own detox and exercise program: muscle weighs more than fat. Muscle also helps you burn fat. So don’t get overly concerned about the scale number when you get closer to your goal.

How fitting that I would finish my detox on the day the Biggest Loser new season started. I’m inspired to, as we say in Texas, “Gitter Done” lol.

So what will be my next thing for you to follow? I don’t know yet. Maybe you’ll just have to come back and see.

Have a blessed day readers.

Do you want my detox program? Contact me for details.