Marilu Henner's Blog, page 128

BLAST CLASS

Because you requested it Marilu has added a BLAST CLASS to the March roster.  We've been offering classes for twelve years now and some of our most popular, and effective, topics have been the "step classes". 

What that means is that every one of the 10 steps of The Total Health Makeover is covered in this class.  Members choose the ones they need to work on.  Marilu, along with her coaching staff, will give you information, helpful tips and personalized advice to fit your lifestyle and busy schedule. 

Sign up now to make a difference in your own life TODAY !!

Gaining Advantage

Circumstances can drag you down and get in the way of your healthy objectives.  In all circumstances it's best to approach it from a point of healthy living. And with common pitfalls, (such as  typical winter doldrums) there really is no excuse for not fighting back.  With so many people facing real loss these days let your gratitude propel you and get you moving. (Maybe you're even in a position to lend a hand?) 

 Don't take your good fortune or your good health for granted.  Protect it with the following tips:

Fight winter blahs with exercise.  Find a way to move.  Bundle up if you have to.  If you're indoors put on some music and dance around the room until you work up a sweat.  If you're not in the mood to move it probably means you NEED to break a sweat.

Say no to comfort foods.  Carbs beg for attention on cold days;  mac and cheese, grilled cheese and tomato soup, tea and toast.  Even the healthier versions of these can weigh you down and contribute to lethargy.  Give whole foods a star turn and relegate carbs to the role of supporting player.

Get out of your comfort zone.  Force yourself into more activity.  Volunteer.  Sign up for a class.  Make plans to meet a friend for a walk or a workout. 

Put a date on the calendar as a motivation.  Give yourself something to look forward to and keep that in mind when you want to succumb to a wintery mindset. 

By following a few simple tips you can gain advantage over the winter blahs just in time for SPRING !

Snack Attack

Can you tell we're excited about the BLAST class beginning on Friday?  Here's another list to help you prepare for the start of class.  Remember you don't need to eliminate snacks from your menu.  In fact, smart snacking will keep you from becoming famished.  Check out this list for a few ideas.  Feel free to post on the message boards with your own ideas and recipes.  We love to see our members and visitors take part in the conversation!

SNACKS

Rice cakes


Rice crackers


Pretzels, peanut butter pretzels and potato sticks (there are some delicious varieties of gluten free pretzels available as well)


Veggie Sticks


Hummus (makes a great sandwich spread and also a great replacement for cheese spreads)


Bean dips


Nut butters (peanut, cashew, almond)


Potato Chips (many natural healthy versions are available)


Fruit juice sweetened, non dairy cookies


Healthy Salsa


Non dairy ice creams (Rice Dream, So Delicious)


Non dairy puddings (Imagine foods)


Organic applesauce with infused fruit

Keep in mind that this is a partial list.  There are many more items available.  Just be sure to read labels and pass on any item that contains ingredients that you wouldn't recognize outside of a science lab or anything with an ingredient list that says "continued on the next package."

Stocking Up

There are a lot of great resources available when you're ready to make a lifestyle change.  It's possible that Marilu.com is the best of those resources with  24 hour support, comprehensive information, and a wide variety of topics and classes offered.  All of that can be traced back to Marilu's first book on the subject; Marilu Henner's Total Health Makeover, often referred to here as "the green book". 

We're providing this list, most of which was originally published in the green book, in order to help you take your first steps.  For those of you taking The BLAST class, beginning on Friday, consider this a shopping list that will help you be prepared before class begins.  You don't have to buy every item on the list but use it as a guide to help you find new healthy replacements.

BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND DINNER ITEMS

(breakfast)

Fruit juice sweetened jams/jellies


100 percent flourless grain bread and cinnamon raisin bread


Wheat free breads


Non dairy rice, soy and almond milk


Non dairy cream cheese


Egg whites from a free range or certified organic farm


Fresh squeezed juices


Non dairy yogurt


Dairy free and sugar free cereals


Vegetarian versions of sausage, bacon and ham

 

(lunch and dinner items)

Soups (prepared soups such as Amy's, Hain, Health Valley and Imagine are great to have on hand)


Chicken and turkey products in the form of hot dogs, sausages and patties


Meat substitutes for the above (tofu dogs, pepperoni, deli meats)


Ravioli with non dairy cheese


Veggie burgers, frozen non dairy lasagna, non dairy mac and cheese


Frozen dairy free dinners for a quick meal


Vegan burger patties


Frozen chicken patties and nuggets, veggie munchies, pizza munchies (Health is Wealth makes great frozen pizza veggie rolls)


Lentil loaf

BLACK BEAN DUMPLINGS

BLACK BEAN DUMPLINGS from The Total Health Makeover

1 cup cooked black beans (mashed)

1/4 cup tahini (ground sesame seed)

1 ounce scallion (chopped fine)

1 Tablespoon tamari

1 Tablespoon mirin

1/2 teaspoon rice wine vinegar

1/2 teaspoon ponzu (Japanese citrus)

salt and pepper to taste

1 Tablespoon chili garlic paste

12 dumpling skins

Mix all ingredients in a bowl,  except dumpling skins.

Put water around the dumpling skins.

Add 1 teaspoon of the black bean stuffing and seal tightly.

Saute in a non stick pan coated with olive oil.

Brown 1 minute on each side.

Finish in a 350 degree oven for 3 minutes.

Serve with RED MISO DIP WITH MANGO:

1 Tablespoon organic red mioso

2 ounces filtered water

2 Tablespoons mirin

1 Tablespoon ponzu

1 Tablespoon chive

2 Tablespoons diced mango

Whisk first 4 ingredients together.  Add mango and chive

TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE

"As a society, Americans eat a higher-fat diet than people in most other cultures, and we live a life of fast food and instant meals.  Who has the time to cook anymore?  From a health perspective we don't take care of ourselves as we should.  We ignore common ailments, put off that workout, completely overwork ourselves, and underestimate our need for sleep.  Do any of these sound famiiar?  Then it is time to make a change in your life!"

Marilu Henner

Be honest with yourself.  Do Marilu's words resonate with you?  At the end of the weekend are you feeling refreshed or does your body feel a little tired and unloved at this point?  

Join us this FRIDAY, March 9th, for our BLAST CLASS.   Yes, we're going to make this coming weekend a fresh start.  Use the first three days of class to determine which of the ten steps you want to work on this month.  (You may want to dive in to all ten but we suggest choosing a "major"  and a "minor" for this class.) Then on Monday the 12th we will work it HARD and take giant steps towards our health goals. 

Spring is a great time to consider membership at Marilu.com.  In addition to this hard core class we've got "Booty Camp" coming in April, birthday celebrations and book signings with Marilu and a special Memory Class with Marilu in May ! 

Change It Up

Variety is the spice of life, and adding variety to your workout will  liven it up and keep things fresh and interesting.   

Yoga is getting a lot of press these days.  If you're interested in seeing what all the talk is about we would suggest looking into a reputable studio in your area.  This article from Women's Health discusses the different varieties of yoga.  We all have different needs and goals.  This can help you determine what it is you want to take away from your sessions

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/best-yoga

Local Vegetarian and Vegan events

If you've ever been at a local street fair or other event where you wished there was more available for you to eat, why not try a search for vegetarian and vegan events in your area?  There are more than you might think.

In a search of just one suburban zipcode we were able to find;  a vegan professionals networking group,  a group for vegan families with young children  sponsoring a date night this weekend.   A vegan ice cream party was advertised along with a vegan potluck brunch for the community.  There were also open invitations to a vegan group that has their basis in compassion and a faith comunity and another that supports vegan athletes, particularly marathon runners. 

All of this was within approximately 20 miles of our random zip code.  If you live near a major city chances are you'll find much more.

If you're involved in a group in your area we would love to have them join us here at Marilu.com.  Contact us about sponsoring a class for them in our public forum and be sure to mention our popular VIVA LA VEGAN class this summer.  (Mark your calendars, we can't wait until July….Viva la Vegan takes off in JUNE this year !!)

Pitfalls of Procrastination

"I work better under pressure."    This is practically the calling card of the procrasinator.  It's true for many of us because when you're out of time you HAVE to work under pressure.  But leaving things until the last minute causes more stress in our lives and robs us of our leisure time where we recharge with activities and people who are important to us.

Procrastination becomes dangerous when you're procrastinating about making healthy changes.  Don't wait until you're "under pressure" because with your health that pressure can mean illness.

Join us for our upcoming Blast Class and learn how to protect yourself NOW !

March 9th in the members area !  Don't put off the changes you know you need.

Don't neglect your feet

It's a sad fact that we use and abuse our feet, often neglecting them during the winter months.  Then we expect them to emerge looking pretty in the spring.

Marilu offers a simple tip that will help cushion your feet and keep them soft.  Before you put on your work out shoes apply a coat of Vaseline to your feet and cover them with an extra pair of socks. 

You'll love the soft way they feel and the extra socks will help provide a cushion that will be gentler to your body during any impact moves.