TESTIMONY OF THE DAY!
“I just want to thank you for everything. I purchased your book Keto Adapted and it changed my life. I was doing low carb years prior to beginning a ketogenic diet and stalled out on losing weight shortly after. It wasn’t until I read your book that it all made sense. I lost over 20 pounds since January! Though my weight hasn’t been dropping quickly, I am less than 10 pounds away from my goal weight! I was 283 at my heaviest and 150 at my lowest. I am happy to report I now weigh 143!
On this journey, I learned that weight loss is a journey and not always linear. I am also learning to love and accept the body I have, even though some days it’s difficult. Weight loss is only half the battle; the other half is learning to accept any physical flaws in appearance that were caused by the weight loss. I am now proud of the body I have and have you to thank for that. Here are three photos.
The first one was before I went low carb and was over 200 lbs. The second one was when I was eating low carb and lost weight, though stalled out around between 160-170 lbs. The last one is recent, where I now weigh 143. I have less than 10 lbs to go, so I will send a new photo once I finally hit my goal! :-)” – Allie
Click HERE to start your journey to a keto-adapted diet!
BOTTLED VS TAP WATER
Do you spend the extra money on bottled water? The photos on the bottle bring to mind the idea of health, with the photos of fresh springs and mountains, but where does that water really come from?
I have a few issues with bottled water…
1. The plastic that embraces the water is estrogenic. Most of the clients I see are estrogen dominant and it takes time and detoxing to get rid of it (there are 3 types of estrogen and I am referring to the bad estrogen). Especially when the plastic water bottles are sitting in a hot semi while being shipped to the stores, that water becomes estrogenic to our body. The heat reacts with the chemicals in the plastic of the bottle which releases dioxin into the water. Dioxin is a toxin increasingly found in breast cancer tissue (microwaving in plastic and using plastic wrap on hot foods also produces dioxin). Even men are at risk for absorbing excess estrogen in their cells. Signs of estrogen dominance are belly fat, headaches, migraines, hypothyroidism, low libido, cystic acne (especially around the mouth), PMS, and fibroids, just to name a few. Don’t waste your time getting tested for excess estrogen, it is NOT accurate. Those blood tests can not measure the estrogen hidden in the fat cells.
I never recommend drinking from plastic. I use a glass water bottle like the one in the photo: Click HERE to find.
Photo from HERE.
2. It is NOT healthier than tap water. As you can clearly see in the chart, the regulations for bottle vs tap water are clear. Another important piece of information to point out is that bottled water in the US falls under the regulatory authority of the FDA, but on average 70% of bottled water never crosses state lines for sale, making it exempt from FDA oversight.
3. It creates a lot of garbage! It has been shown that over 80% of plastic water bottles are thrown in the garbage, despite all of the efforts to make recycling easier for consumers.
4. IT IS EXPENSIVE! Instead, spend your money on a glass water bottle (or 3… I have many with me at all times). Instead of spending your money on bottled water, invest in a filter on your tap. Reverse osmosis water is best. Getting rid of fluoride and chlorine in your water is important. These two minerals are known causes of thyroid disorders. I also would seriously consider investing in a Reverse Osmosis water filter to get rid of all chlorine and fluoride in the water you drink. Click HERE to find.
“HEALTHIFIED” TIRAMISU POPS
1 oz decaf organic espresso
4 oz mascarpone cheese, softened (or coconut cream if dairy allergy)
3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or coconut milk)
4 TBS Swerve (or erythritol and 1 tsp stevia glycerite)
1 tsp rum extract
COATING:
4 TBS coconut oil
4 TBS unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 tsp stevia glycerite (or to desired sweetness) OR 2 TBS of Swerve confectioner
1/8 tsp rum extract
OPTIONAL: small pieces of ChocoPerfection bars
In a bowl, mix all the ingredients until smooth. Pour mixture into Popsicle molds. Place in freezer for at least 2 hours. Meanwhile, make the chocolate coating. Melt coconut oil over low heat. Stir in chocolate, natural sweetener and extract until smooth. Allow to cool to room temperature before dipping the frozen popsicles. Dip the pops into the chocolate (or use a spoon to drizzle the coating over the pops). Sprinkle chunks of ChocoPerfection bars on the bars and coat with another layer of chocolate coating. Place on a piece of parchment and place back into the freezer for a moment, so the shell can harden. Makes 4 servings.
To find my favorite popsicle molds, click HERE.
Traditional Pops (using cream and sugar) = 339 calories, 24g fat, 4g protein, 29.6 carbs, 1.8g fiber
“Healthified” Pops (using almond milk and Swerve) = 174 calories, 16.3g fat, 4.6g protein, 4.2g carbs, 2g fiber (84% fat, 10% protein, 7% carbs)
I started on your awesome way of eating 2 months ago, stopped running and started cross fit strength training and have not lost weight but my body has changed completely and I have muscle tone!!!! Talked my sister into trying your way of eating because I believe she is a carb burner. She has eaten your way for about a month. She called and said she has gained a couple pounds and has gained around her mid section and some of her pants are not fitting like they use to. My question is: is this normal when switching diets and do you have a suggestion? Thanks!!!
Awesome! Way to go!
It depends. If she is cheating at times (weekends, etc) eating the higher fat could make her gain weight. It is really an all or nothing thing. Like Dr. Davis says in Wheat Belly, you would think you can eliminate 80% of the wheat and get 80% of the benefit, but you don’t get any. You need to cut out 100% to see the benefits. It is similar to that. If she is still a sugar burner and eating higher sugar, she could gain weight. If she is 100% typically you lose a bit of weight at first (mostly water weight) and then after becoming fat adapted (fat burner) you lose more slowly (a pound or so a week). 🙂
I agree about a filter, but I am currently torn between an RO filter and a several tier carbon filter that filters out chloramines. Apparently, RO can’t filter out chloramines and they are just as dangerous as flouride. I feel like now I have to choose which is worse: flouride or chloramines! So frustrating….I also want to add that those chloramines and/or chlorine will come through your shower while showering and we can inhale them, sometimes deteriorating the lining of our lungs and causing other potential problems, so a shower filter is always a good ideas, too!
It is frustrating. We are on well water that is really good so I feel blessed. 🙂
I’m so jealous! That’s great…
Though Jamie Oliver, I found Jamie’s website, and though Jamie’s website I found yours. So all three of you have ultimately led my family on this amazing journey of better eating and health. Its amazing to see the difference in our eating over the past year and a half. We are so blessed to have gone down this path. Thanks for all that you do, you are my family’s angel.
Awe, thank you! 🙂
If I purchase the health assessment, will that include an eating plan? I have been eating this way for a while and the loss had stopped and now I have started gaining some because of the discouragement. I have a lot to lose.
Hi, The meal plans come with all the packages from email support on up. So no, the health assessment doesn’t include them. 🙂
Those pops look so dreamy and refreshing on a muggy Wisconsin day like today.
Thanks for the post on bottled water, it always boggles my mind when I see people at the grocer’s with a cart FULL of water (I mean its water, why all the $$?)
I know! I think the same thing. 🙂
These popsicles are fabulous! I have another batch freezing right now. I’ve been low carbing for over three years and this is the first popsicle I’ve had in a long time. I refuse to buy ice cream and the like in stores, due to all the additives. I’m excited to try out more of your recipes! Thank you!
Awesome! Thank you! 🙂
I am lucky to have well water too! I tend to buy a case of bottled water however when we travel though. Do you use the 22 oz. Water bottle from your amazon page? I need to order one!
Yes, I do. I really like it. 🙂
I found you through Jamie! You are both lovely women:) thanks for all the info you both provide!
Awe, Thanks! 🙂
Do you have alternate choice for sf chocolate? The ingredients show ChocoPerfection has soy lecithin. I don’t eat anything with soy.
It is very hard finding ones without soy lechitin. I try to avoid it too but it is in almost everything. I have a couple options here:
http://astore.amazon.com/marisnutran05-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=53
I made these earlier today for tonight’s dessert. Let me first state I have not eaten a dessert for a very long time. I usually just get my sugar fix with a drink I buy from Whole Foods (Honest Fizz Orange Pop), or the Think Thin bars. Oh MY GOODNESS!!! I ate all four of the Tiramisu Pops in less than an hour. I couldn’t stop myself. They were the most DELICIOUS pops ever! Way better than sugar ones. I ate them so fast I didn’t even have a chance to put a chocolate coating on the outside. Swerve is amazing. Because I devoured them so quickly I probably won’t make them again too soon. It makes me nervous that I ate all four. It is probably because I have not had a dessert in a long time. OH no all the caffiene is making me hyper too. Probably should have used decaf espresso. Oh well. What FUN! Thank you MARIA!!!! I love reading your blog because you are so inspirational, and share so much of your joy. (…note to self don’t do caffiene.)
Thank you! I love these pops too! 🙂
I’m thinking about getting some kind of water filter and am wondering why you recommend a reverse osmosis system as a opposed to a carbon filter such as Brita, etc. (assuming that the way they filter water is different)?
I have a couple options here. 🙂 http://astore.amazon.com/marisnutran05-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=126
Sorry to be such a pain, but I only see the reverse osmosis filters. Maybe I missed something. Definitely going to check out some of the bottles you have in there, too. Thanks!
Sorry, yes reverse osmosis is best, but you can use some of the other filters (britta, etc) out there too. 🙂
What kind of glass bottles of water do u recomend? Also, where can I boy unsweetened cocoa butter?
I have some good glass water bottles here. 🙂
http://astore.amazon.com/marisnutran05-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=126
And what about unsweetened cocoa butter…I didn’t find it in your store???
I get mine here:
http://astore.amazon.com/marisnutran05-20/detail/B004I8G6JE
Hi Maria, I stopped drinking from plastic water bottles some time ago. I had been doing Bikram Yoga (Hot Yoga) and on the days that I was going to yoga, I would drink several bottles of water to properly hydrate. Each night after yoga, I would get extreme night sweats and wake up drenched. I assumed it was from the yoga. Subsequently, I stopped using plastic water bottles. Since then, I no longer experience the night sweats after yoga. I sincerely believe the sweats were from the estrogen boost from the plastic. I just thought I would share my experience.
That is very interesting. Thanks for sharing!
The water in our town is absolutely atrocious. You have to get water delivered, which means plastic bottles, or filter it in a pitcher which also means sitting in plastic although for a shorter time. Which would. You recommend? I need help with this please.
If it is only in contact for a little while and is not hot water, it is less of a concern. Alternately you can do something metal like this. 🙂
http://www.bigberkeywaterfilters.com/blog/berkey/help-me-choose-a-berkey-filter-system