BREWING FOR TOMMORROW!

MMMMM..MMMM... GOOD!

Tomorrow is Jo's Juicing Jumble day 2!
And Summer and Mine "Mommy & Girlie spa/detox day"

So I'm brewing up some scrumptious healing soup.
Typically when I juice... I juice.
Juice is raw, live and restoring and nothing can beat it.

But I do admit to being the corner cutting queen when I must.
I always keep a pot of cleansing broth handy.
It warms me if the detox chills hit, and its fast if I don't have time to juice.

This recipe is simple and strong:

• Several potatoes with peels intact (or just the peels)
• Several carrots
• lots of onions and garlic
• celery
• sea salt
• parsley
  
• a couple pieces of kelp (the odd green chunks on top)
• cinnamon, cayenne, turmeric and a slice of ginger

This will simmer for a few more hours, then I will reserve the broth and compost the rest.
Healing soup should never be boiled. Just simmer on low until your ready for it

You have no idea how good the house smells right now!

STEP THREE- THE WHEN

Step 3- The When

The when is my achiles heel!
Moi! ex-compulsive, grazer, binger, emotional eater.
To make myself format into a WHEN was a wrestle.
Still is a wrestle.

Truth be told. There are times when we are convinced only food will make everything better.
And we want it better RIGHT NOW

But giving into the RIGHT NOW gives over your control

No, not right now.

You wait. That monster within waits.

You wait until you are awake in the morning.

Get up, watch the sunrise, gather your thoughts.... exhale and speak over your day.

Were not dashing to the fridge with our eyes half shut. No more of that.

It is the furthest from our first thoughts.

One big glass of lemon water and thoughts of thanks.

That is our morning.

So when do we eat during our day?

Rules of food combining~ 4 hours after protien, before a carb

3 hours after carb~ before a protien

1 hour after fruit

Never less than 2 hours before bed.

The bulk of my success (or failure) has hinged on these three steps. Where I eat, how I eat and when I eat.

When you keep yourself aware of this, the WHAT you eat is of less importance.

STEP 2 - THE HOW

Step 2~

Now that we have determined where we eat.
How about HOW we eat!!!

Yes, basic rules for how. Guaranteed to put the ky-bosh on compulsive munchies, grazing and unintelligent eating.

Intelligent! INTELLIGENT AND EXCELLENT!
Thats what we are and thats how we'll eat!


Chew, chew, chew, chew.... while you are sitting at the table, on your butt, with your fork and knife!
Yes, you sound like a train. But chew. Grandma use to say 100 times a bite.
Thats not bad advice. So CHEW
Dr Jessen says at least until the mouthful is completely liquefied.
Digestion begins in the mouth
Especially for the carbs.
So, NO MORE INHALING!

We chew. We give thanks, we sit, we taste and chew.
We let the digestive enzymes begin their glorious job so we don't have a rock in our belly in half an hour.

Then we rest. Between bites, we rest.

I actually need to make myself put the fork down and count to 10 otherwise I turn into a wild woman. Something similar to an anteater, with my face in my food slurping.

Is there someone at the table with you?
Then talk to them! (not with your mouth full!)
Engage! Listen to them.
The meal is not just about getting that plate licked clean the fastest!

Its an event!
An intelligent excellent event.

So we chew, we swallow, we wait....one, two, three, four (ughhhh... its too hard) five, six (you can do it, yes you can!) seven, (I'm not gonna make it.... I.... WANNA..... ) eight....(PIGOUT!!!!!!!) nine (hanging............) TEN!!!

YIPEE!!!! Another bite! Do you taste that?
Wowzie!
Have you ever tasted so many flavors so vibrantly before???

No company at dinner?
Thats ok too.

Pray! God is good company

STEP ONE- THE WHERE

STEP ONE~

Where do you eat?

At the table. On your butt. With a plate, knife and fork.

Not in the car. Not at the computer or in front of the TV.

Not on the run out the door.



This is where INTELLIGENCE & EXCELLENCE comes in....



You learn to enjoy the event of eating.



It is very purposed and deliberate.

Sit, give thanks, partake.

With inattentive eating your body does not digest properly.

You have no concept of how much or how fast you are eating, and guaranteed you will overeat

Realize how many people would love to have the privilege you are having at that moment.

Whether its a carrot or a Dorito, your food is a gift.

Take the time and allow yourself to be blessed by your meal.



The French diet has fascinated us North Americans immensely as of late.



How could a country eat such rich, decadent foods, but not suffer the health and obesity problems that we do.

Answer....Eating is an event for the French.



They set their tables, set a time, invest effort and love into the preparation of the meals, invite family and friends, and make meals a celebration.



An article where several french tourists were asked the most surprising thing they noticed about North Americans and their eating habits summed it up best....What was the most shocking observation from the french??




"I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY EAT IN THEIR CARS!!!! "

Saturday Aug 23~ THE PLAN DEFINED

This is the plan....



It is something I have taken several swings at over the years.

It has been put together out of several well trusted sources and when I manage to walk well in it... I am well.



65 day juice fast has come and gone.
And as much of a wonderful holiday as a juice fast is for a food- addicted, compulsive overeating, exbulemic, it is not a real place to live.



One still needs to learn how to eat.

To eat with excellence and intelligence.




I will not tell you specifically what Iam eating because my plan is not your plan.


I have foods that are a specific challenge to me.

Thru the years, I have studied what is good for me.

What works well with my body. What gives me strength, what gives me health. What heals.

These are the foods I choose to eat.



I also know what foods bring me disaster and why.

I have learnt my trigger foods the hard way.



The plan is also very quantity specific.

How much and how often.



Again, I will not tell you my how much and how often because my plan is not your plan.

But recovery for an out of control compulsive over eater is control.



That means learning those hard word "put it back... I said NO!!!!"

Closing that fridge door and walking away.



Many, many of you know what I am talking about.




If you really must know my details, email me. I could explain further.




But some things remain the universal for all of us.



The disciplines.

Sat AUg 23 food

2 bananas

2 tb tahini

1 peach

(eating all of these on the run)

Friday, Aug 22 ~ THE STORY

Good Morning!!



It tis! It tis!!!



Was up early, as per sheduled and got the work out it.


So far eating is going as planned....



As planned you ask?!?!?


yes... (insert drum roll here)

THE STORY

Once upon a time there was a girl.

A girl whose entire life seem to be taken over by food.

Now, she's not sure how it happened,

but it took over her life.

It would control her, consume her, claim to be her friend and then lie to her.

Than it began to steal.

It stole her joy. It stole her health. It stole her peace.

Now the girl is taking it all back.

The monsters are shut away.

No more does she have to do their bidding.

No more do they control her.

But she controls them.

She chooses what to eat.

She calls the shots. She says where and when and what.

And she does it all with joy.

She is more than a conqueror.

She has rebuilt her health.

She is stronger.

Her thoughts are clear.

Her heart is settled.

She has life and life abundant.

But victory doesn't come without a price...

or a plan.

Wednesday Aug 20

Victory!!

This morning went so brillantly!
I am pumped! Expectant! Encouraged!
All in all..... feeling that flutter of hope.

Morning are my weakest point.
Those short but powerful moments that seem to control the rest of my day.

Tired of waking up fatigued, with a foggy head, low moral, and discouraged I am rebuilding.

Coffee free for 2 days seems to help.
As well nettie pot is remarkable.
I flush in the morning and evenings with sea salt water. What a difference in my head! How much easier it seemed to get the ole head off the pillow instead of wanting to burry in in the pillow.

Sleeping with the sea salt lamp next to me as well.

Got my workout and devotional time all in before work....

Ahhhhh.... bring on Wednesday.....
I'm ready for ya

Tuesday August 19 2008

THE DREAM!!

EXCELLENCE...

What does that mean to Jo?

INTELLIGENCE....

EXCELLENCE & INTELLIGENCE

EATING WITH EXCELLENCE & INTELLIGENCE
(seeing as this is and eating blog...)


I've been attentive to the Olympics, not alot, but aware enough to be stirred.

Quite regularly an story or a person or just a dream will cross my path that will stir and encourage me. Remind me that there is indeed more.

I am more....
and only I hold the keys.

They are here, right in my grubby hands... and I hold them.
They have all been given to me.
The keys to life and death.

Life for Jo
Abundant full, complete life... nothing missing, nothing broken

Zoe life.

Michael Phelps the Olympian to watch, reminds us in his own words that he is not unique.
That we all can accomplish what we dream.

So what does Jo dream??

Well, maybe too much for this one little blog.
So we will try to keep it edible for context sake.

DISCLAIMER~~~

APPRECIATING THAT ANY NEW-COMER HERE WILL MOST LIKELY SEE ME AS SOME COMPLETELY FOOD-OBSESSED, SHALLOW INDIVIDUAL WHO IS COMPLETELY PREOCCUPIED WITH MY MOUTH, BELLY, DIGESTIVE TRACT, TOXINS, OR BOWELS....

REST ASSURED, I AM NOT....

I DO REALIZE THERE IS MORE OF IMPORTANCE IN MY WORLD THAN THAT.

BUT THIS IS MY FOOD JOURNEY BLOG.

THEREFORE I BLOG MY FOOD JOURNEY.

IT IS IN THIS JOURNEY THAT GOD SO OFTEN TEACHES ME OF THESE WEIGHTIER THINGS IN MY LIFE.

THE THINGS IN MY HEART AND SOUL THAT NEED TO BE UNCOVERED AND CHALLENGED.

A LIFE UNEXAMINED IS NOT A LIFE WORTH LIVING.

JESUS TAUGHT IN PARABLES THAT THE CROWDS WOULD UNDERSTAND.

THE HOLY SPIRIT, IN TURN, TEACHES ME THRU PARABLES THAT I UNDERSTAND.

THIS IS A FOOD JOURNEY BLOG... I BLOG MY FOOD JOURNEY

I AM A FOOD COACH... A COACH TRAINS YOU FOR EXCELLENCE.

A COACH MUST FIRST UNDERSTAND EXCELLENCE.

ITS MY PRAYER THIS QUALIFIES ME .

I dream of intelligence and integrity.
To the core. To my core.

I dream to preach what I already practice. So I can bring hope to you.

It is possible.

I want to control what I put in me with intelligence.
Knowing that what I sow is what I get.
I want the control.
It will not control me.

I want to see those monsters gone, you know the ones....

Do I dare say them out loud???
yes... I dare... because what is in the darkness must be brought into the light.

That pull that makes me want to eat when I'm not hungry.
That thing that makes me eat when I'm bored, sad, tired, lonely, broken.....
That pull that makes me eat till the point when I'm ill and then fight with the disappointment of another failure.
The thing that makes me do what I do not want to do, even when I know I suffer the consequences of it.

There is a path to become all that you can be.
I have some very clear glimpses of the steps I must take.
Not all of them, mind you, but some.

I want to know what its like to accomplish my goals.
To know I did it.

To know I took on the Goliath and , like David with God's strength, defeated him with an effortless blow.

I want to know what its like to put my life out there.
Completely vulnerable, in faith, for the whole world to watch what God will do.

What He will make of me.
For when I delight myself in Him, He gives me the desires of my heart.

Intelligence and excellence.

I know what I need to do. To get where I see myself.

I see myself strong, victorious and healthy.
I see myself able to make the changes and choices I know I should to get there.

I see myself thankful for all I have, all I eat, and free to enjoy.
At peace.

I am no longer my worst enemy, but my best friend.

I see my self strong.
Intelligence says.... get up, get moving, get working out.
There for I must.

I see myself healthy vibrant.
Intelligence says... you know what to put in your body to accomplish this...do it

Integrity says, there is no other way.
There are no short cuts.
There are no tomorrow starts.
What steps you do now determine where you will start from tomorrow.

Today I choose wisdom and control.

Today I choose intelligence and integrity.

Sunday August 10, 2008

Summer is more than half over. My 60+ day juice fast seems a thing of the distant past.
This fast was such a deeply private, long awaited goal for me. It was something I thought would profoundly change, and sculpt me.

Perhaps, in many ways, it did. By faith it did.
I am believing things were pulled out of my body, toxic, deadly things and that my body has begun a journey to rebuild.
I am believing that I have changed somehow intrinsically spiritually, that something has “shifted” but to be blunt, I don’t see it right now.

Life still seems par-the-course as it were.

I miss the fast. Everything was simpler then, clearer. And I do hope to do another. But I don’t know if now is the time.

It was almost to easy. Indeed, life was easy on the fast. And now here I sit. Appearingly, the same Jo.
So now what. This journey with food has not ended. It has become a profound tool from God for me. Opening up things in me that were once hidden from my sight. Things that go far beyond food.

Because honestly, life comes and soon it goes. There is more too it than an over anylitical relationship with my dinner plate.
But an unexamined life is not worth living.
And God in His brillance, has used this to show me, me. The good, the bad, the ugly.
Perhaps, that is not why I am done yet. This entire walk with my mouth and my belly goes far beyond calories and fat grams.
It is something that once controlled and stole from me. It held me in bondage. And now with prayer and the power of God, step by step, what was in darkness is being brought into the light.

So what path now, God?

A scrap of paper has floated around my house for months now, hap-hazardly scribbled on it a thought that I thought worth keeping.

“Eating with intelligence and excellence.”

A thought that has intrigued me.
Is there another way besides just stuffing things in your mouth at the refrigerator door, when I want to cry?

Intelligence and excellence….

I have devoted the past 6 years of my life, studying, learning, reading, absorbing all I could find about natural health.
I’m certain that could qualify as “intelligence”….

But what is excellence……

This, I believe is my next walk…

I need to discover and perfect with precision, my own personal excellence.

Because a life left unexamined is not a life worth living.

I will start by sharing some of my dreams…..

Thursday June 19, second sowing day 11

Good Morning one and all,
I am back!

So sorry for the lul.
Been a bit crazy around here.

First a general update, I guess.

Day 11 is starting off gorgeous.
I have been waking up WIDE AWAKE most days around 5 am or so consistently.
Usually in bed around 11 or 12. So it seems I am needing less sleep.

I have returned to concocting my hemp/ sf seed mylk in the morning. It is so full of energy, I keep going all day.

Spirulina, photoplankton and cracked chorella are a large staple of this fast.

Spring greens up now. ALot of them are making their way into my juice now, but lwould ike to work more into my diet. Time to get out and harvest them from my yard seems to be the issue.
or maybe just laziness.

12 days without coffee.
Getting on the rebounder or tramp every day, such an awesome w/o.... achey legs.... means that muscle is building.

Supplimenting in the evening with a few tablespoons of coconut oil, soaked fenugreek or fennel seeds. My GI system has gone thru alot lately, with a recent 55 day fast and I would like to keep a bit of fibre moving thru.

Now onto the more weightier issues of the day...

Holy Spirit is doing amazing work in the ones I love.

I have seen incredible break thrus that I know would never have happened except for work done first in the spirit realm thru the word and prayer.

I am thankful beyond all measure.
I have been given opportunities that I only dreamed would be possible.
My joy is overwhelming

God is above all faithful to his word.

I am standing here, watching him draw his children back to himself, watching him change hearts, and set the captives free.

But its not done. I am hanging on.
I will keep pressing in.

I take myself back to the what if...

What if I finish this?

WHat if I press in?

Soon we shall know.....

Saturday June 14, Second Sowing Day 6

Things have gone so well.

Feel like I am winning all the battles.
Particularly in my heart.
I am more than a conqueror.

Did some more soul searching and came up with more names of people I had to write and ask forgiveness for. All very good.
Very freeing.
Positions me for God's best.

Been up at 5 am and WIDE AWAKE consistently for a few days.

One of those answers to prayers that your not so sure if you really wanted.
But now I just try to make the best of all my time.

Not tired until midnightish.

Lots of romaine, carrot, yam, beet, cuc juice today.
Lots of blue/green glory.

Been able to hit the rebounder for 20 minutes daily.

Coffee free for one week. Whoopie!!

Managed to do some work outside today.
the rain finally stopped

Trevor and I hauled alot of big logs.
Felt good to work, alot of strength.

Can"t wait till tomorrow.
Gonna be an awesome day

Day 4- Thursday June 12

I can't rave enough of the magic of juice!

Fresh, living, power packed, healing juice.

Feeling the attack today.

Both in the spirit and in the flesh.

Quit and give up. The voices say....
Its just not gonna happen for you.

Just cave, and comfort yourself. It'll soothe the pain and weariness.

I made up one big jug of juice after work, spinach, carrot, beet, chives, apple, celery, and a hot detox bath.

Voila!! Alls gone, all's refocused.

So many of you have written, either not wanting to drink fresh juice or not wanting to keep the colon properly cleansed.

I believe both are so important.
Just because I have seen the difference so often in my fasts.

Almost like flipping a switch. The mood and outlook changes.

I can only imagine the impact that a highly toxic life has on ones mental and emotional well being.

And whats worse is these folks are making no connection at all.
They are really believing the lie that there is something wrong with them.

Wide awake at 5 am again.

Dry skin brushing, benntonite col clease.
20 minutes rebounding.

Amazing time in the presence of God.

All is settled.

Did I mention I have been almost a week coffee-free?

Yup. True story,
Living proof of miracles.

From HK, June 11

"I had a vision of you,

You were standing facing a great light, wearing white flowing clothes and robes and there was a wind, your hair and clothes were billowing softly around you. You also wore a smile, with your eyes closed and your arms stretched out from the east to the west. I felt maybe the HS was the wind going through your hair and clothes, you were facing God, and he was saying "your finally mine again! my love is back with me! "


Thats exactly how I feel...
Thank you HK

Wednesday June 11~ Second Sowing day 3

what an amazing time.

How can 3 days accomplish more than the previous 55 day fast.

I believe my heart is different.
It is committed. It is expectant.
It is desperate.

Such a perfect, perfect day, in so many ways.
Tonite I go to bed with singing, no longer tears.

I will never begin to express my gratitude and love.

LOVE!!!
OH YES!!
THE LOVE~

It is overwhelming.
It is all encompassing.

I have never felt such an immense love like this before for someone.

Love does truly cover over a multitude of sins.
It really is the goodness of God that brings us to repentance.

I had been emptied out, but now I am full.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Morning started at 5 am.
Wide awake. Just as I had been asking for the past couple months.
Contrast shower, and time on the rebounder.

Drinking lots of coconut mylk, and broth, bluegreen glory as I called it (spirulina, chlorella, photoplankton and barley greens)

2 skin brushings, and ACV colon cleanse.
The colon cleanse made such a difference with mood and tude...
Felt depression and discouragement sneaking in.
Once the toxic debris moved out, the attitude changed dramatically.

I can't help but think of so many folks wrestle daily with depression, but have no idea how closely linked it may be to toxic build up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sat down to write BLESS

one chapter done. YAH~

Cabbage, carrot and tomato juice. Very full.
Tastes so much like borscht.
Dry skin brush, rebound, and sitz bath to draw toxins and disease.

The many events of the past few weeks have made me sit down and start to write.

The book has always been close to the surface, and I hope that by the end of this fast, it will have form. Its words have challenged my life for a year since it was dropped in my heart.
Somehow I seem like the biggest failure to write it.
But it is what I know I need to do

If it would touch just one person.

All I know is I must never wonder what if.

BLESS must be writ.

I must do this journey.

The road appears long.

But never, ever, turn your back on the journey.
Never ever, turn your back on the work.
No matter how much blood, sweat and tear it may cost you.

What you gain is everything.
Or you will always wonder "what if"

DONT
PLEASE DONT

Do the work, reach for the prize.
Stop talking about it and reach for it.
Its yours.
It could all be yours
Walk in faith. God is close.

Don't quit.

It could all be ours

Never be scared of the journey before you.
Always better if you can walk it with someone.

But it seems some of us are forced to walk it alone.

That is why I write.

Second Sowing ~ Day 2~ Tuesday June 10

The sun came up today.

Always a good thing.

Off to Gladstone. Todays moving day.

Beautiful day for a new start.

Thank you for new starts. And mercies that are new every morning.

Lemon, water, lots of spirulina, photoplankton, and chlorella and stevia for breakfast
Perfect combination
Today I heal from the inside out.
I sow again.

I see so much grace in the lives of those I love.
Do they know its you.

How often I fail, but with God's grace, in this I walk....

Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Second sowing ~day 1~ June 9, 2008 Monday

Raw and juicing.

Mostly juicing.

Soon to be all juicing.

Juicing takes away the pain. The excruciating pain.

Hard to feel like vomiting when your belly's empty.

Faced with a really hard choice.

My head throbs. I don't understand. My eyes hurt. I can't see.
Everything swirls.
God it hurts so much.

But there is a choice to be made at this point.

Today I lay before you life or death.
Choose life.
Deuteronomy 30:15

I choose life.
Life to my spirit.
Life to the dreams and visions God has placed in my heart.
They cannot/will not be stolen from me.

Satan is exposed. Light is shone

I choose life.

So many questions that may never be answered.
I don't understand.......
God I would give anything to understand.../

and yet somehow I do.

Only Jesus can set you free from your pain. For whoever the son sets free is free indeed.
I wish I could have seen it. I wished I could have walked it with you.

I would have walked it for you.

I wish.....

The fast brings us back to that place.
The truth.
We are here for such a sort season.
And for such a time as this.
And for such a heavenly purpose.

How can I stay in my own pain, when so many others hurt.
When so many are dying lost inside tonite.
So many broken hearts. Screaming, aching....

Who am I, that mine would matter.
My dreams, my loves....

This fast is for you.
Please shake off the chains that so easy beset and run the race.

The fast, removes the disease. The toxins. The poisons. The cancer inside.
So fresh flesh can grow.
Health will start.
Life will start.
New, perfect life.

If you want life. Either physically or spiritually, there is no difference.

Three things you must do.

First, remove the crap. It is all poison.
It will kill you. There is no doubt on that.
Slowly from the inside out. So stealthily that you will never see it coming, until one day it all crashes in.

The fast will do the cleansing for the flesh.
God will do that for both.

You must choose the fast.
You must choose the Christ.

Second, you must fill the body with life.
Fresh, living, nutritious life.
The juice will do that for the flesh.
The Christ will do that for both.
The living word of God, designed to be the soul (and sole) food for the spirit man.

Dont look anywhere else.
Sex, drugs, drink, money....
Anger, offense, pain, regret, jealousy, bitterness..

it is all poison.

it feeds the emptiness.

Please stop and get on your knees, now and here with me, and ask Jesus to fill you.

He will.

He will meet you right where you are at, right now.

Because He has met me here tonite.

He will never leave us or forsake us, for we are His.

And I am thankful.

For one more night, I will be able to sleep.
For one more morning, I will be able to get up.

His mercies are new every morning.

I have been given the first step....


sow again...

The Eve of Day One

Funny how everything can change in a few short days.

Fast #1 was a remarkable experience. But I realize it was just the doorway.

Things are different now.

Motives have changed.

Directions have changed.

I have changed.

What was urgent before, seems only a vague cloudy dream.

I have been lost somewhere. "I" am not in this.
God, I hope "I" don't come back.

My life is not about me.
I am not here for me.

But I will have to give an account for me....
I hope I will do well...

I have never been so excited about anything before....
This fast is such an amazing opportunity.

I can't wait to start this leg of the journey.