Marilu Henner's Blog, page 194

It's "NO"vember

The first two letters of November are NO.

That means this is the month to say "No" to everything that holds you back – bad food, bad habits, bad advice … and bad invitations!

Check your vices.

Know your limits.

Get your priorities straight.

And learn to say "NO."

 

Featured recipe from Marilu's table * Red lentil soup

Soup weather is here! Yes, as the weather gets cooler, one of the things we love to eat is soup. It's warm and filling and easy to digest. Best of all, it's easy to make your own soup that far exceeds anything you can buy.

This is a favorite soup of THM'ers. It's easy to prepare, and everyone (even the "I'm not eating healthy!" crowd) loves it. Plus, if you pack a lunch, it travels well.

Red lentils are smaller and cook faster than regular green lentils. Sometimes we make this with smoked paprika for a slightly different flavor.

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Red Lentil Soup

Purple * Serves 4

1 Tablespoon of olive oil

1 Tablespoon of sunflower oil

1 large onion, diced

1 large carrot, diced

2 stalks of celery, sliced

2-1/2 cups of vegetable stock

4 ounces of red lentils

1 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon of paprika

small pinch of cayenne pepper

Heat the oils in a frying pan. Add onion, carrot, and celery cook until the onion is soft. Add the stock, lentils and seasoning. Bring to a boil then cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Reduce heat and cook for about 45 minutes or until the lentils are tender. Serve hot.

On the side, try: green salad or crudite plate, and crusty whole-grain bread for those with hearty appetites.

 

Spirit Sunday * Happy Halloween!

Our Spirit Sunday focus at Marilu.com is more on the part of our lives that is not physical – not tied to food or exercise, but to our thoughts and feelings and a sense of interconnections.

Today the word "spirit" brings a different image to mind – ghosts! We remember the trauma of wanting to be a ghost for Halloween one year and realizing that there was not a single white sheet in the house. Every sheet was either striped or floral. Of course, it was a last-minute idea, and there was no time to run to the store. (We ended up as a gypsy with the best earrings ever – hot pink blown glass balls. It was a great costume, and we're still begging mom for the earrings.)

Think about your favorite Halloween memories. Share them with family and friends. Who had the scariest Halloween? The tamest? Who had the best costume? Did anyone pull any tricks? How old were you when you stopped trick-or-treating?

Have fun today. Smile and laugh. Get into the spirit of the holiday by dressing up (or at least doing fun makeup). It's a good day to play.

Image by prestonluxon

 

Baby steps…

Baby steps have a better chance of leading to success than great leaps, when it comes to your goals.

Whether your goal is losing weight or building your bank account, you're more likely to stick to your plan and reach those long-term (really big! really exciting!) goals.

Lose weight 2 or 5 or 10 pounds each month.

Build savings $25 or $50 or $100 each paycheck.

Eat more vegetables by adding one or two servings a week.

Get more sleep by going to bed 15 minutes earlier each week.

Drink less caffeine by cutting out 1 -2 cups a week.

You'll meet your big! exciting! long-term goals slowly but surely. And isn't surely the most important part of meeting your goal?

 

Fitness Friday * Crunch it!

Before you start abdominal crunches, take a minute to get yourself centered.

Lie on the floor with your knees bent, feet on the floor.

Tip your pelvis up a little to get the small of your back on the floor.

Then lift your shoulders, neck and head up a little and roll them down slowly to lengthen your neck.

Slowly slide your feet out so they're about two feet from your booty.

Put your hands behind your head, gently cradling your head in your fingertips.

Take a slow deep breath in through your nose, and slowly blow it out through your mouth.

Now you're ready to crunch.

 

A little Halloween music

Well, not really…

But it might remind you of The Great Pumpkin. At least we hope it does.

This is a feel-good tune that you can use for motivation (feeling good, keep going, you can do it!), or meditation (it's a glorious day!).

Right now, use it to get up and do a happy dance. Because the Great Pumpkin is coming, of course!

//www.marilu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/04 Linus And Lucy.mp3

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Parents, take note

Did you know that the number one day that teachers call in for substitutes is the day after Halloween?

It's because of the candy. Kids are hyped up on sugar from the night before (and sometimes from candy for breakfast), and they're tired from the excitement of the night before. They have almost no focus … and then they have a sugar crash, and they get cranky and sleepy. What teacher wants to deal with that?

Do your kids – and their teachers – a favor. Ration the candy. Trade their candy for something way more interesting to them – a new toy, new music, some sports equipment. Let them choose 10 pieces to keep and throw the rest away. Just don't send your kids to school on a sugar high.

 

Featured recipes from Marilu's table * Creepy spiders and Brain dip

Here are a couple of recipes for Halloween snacks. Of course, they're good any time. If you're watching football on Sunday, serve these as halftime snacks.

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Creepy Spiders

Green * Makes 1

For each spider:

2 round organic crackers

2 teaspoons creamy organic peanut butter (no sugar added)

8 small organic pretzel sticks

2 organic raisins

Spread the peanut butter on one cracker, and put the second cracker on top for a sandwich. Insert the pretzel "legs" into the filling, putting four on each side. Put a small dab of peanut butter on one quarter of the top cracker and set the raisin "eyes" into the peanut butter.

Repeat to make as many as you need!

Brain Dip

Blue * Makes about 1 cup

1/2 cup organic natural peanut butter or other nut butter

1/3 cup reduced-fat organic silken tofu

3 Tablespoons maple sugar

2 Tablespoons fresh organic lime juice

2 Tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce

2 cloves garlic, crushed

Assorted vegetables for dipping. See below.

Place all ingredients into a blender and process until smooth, scraping the sides as necessary. (It's easier to blend everything but the peanut butter first, and when the tofu is smooth, add the peanut butter, and blend more.)

For extra fun * Place the dip inside a hollowed out cabbage head, and use other vegetables to make a "skeleton." Sliced zucchini and yellow squash rounds can be lined up for a spine, cherry tomatoes are joints, baby carrots are ribs, celery sticks are arms and legs, broccoli and cauliflower are hands and feet. You can make one big skeleton, or make a smaller one for each person (put the dip in a tomato half, scooped out, or in a leaf of Bibb or butter lettuce.

 

Vacation with Marilu on the Taste of Health cruise

A Taste of Health presents the ultimate gift for your mind, body and spirit. Share the experience and wisdom of some of the world's leading authorities and experts in holistic living and natural health, including Marilu Henner!

Cruise the Western Caribbean from Ft. Lauderdale on one of the world's premier Italian luxury liners, the MSC Poesia, which combines the style and sophistication of Europe with American comforts and convenience.

Visit exciting ports of call, such as Cozumel; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; and Grand Cayman. Enjoy optional shore activities like kayaking, hiking and snorkeling. Dine on specially prepared organic natural foods and beverages prepared by our own chefs.

Lectures and workshops included. Marilu's Role of Your Life workshop will be featured. It's the perfect time to create the best version of YOU!

Start saving now – and book your cruise today!

Program information * Holistic Holiday at Sea

Toll-Free: 1-800-496-0989 or 1-828-749-9537

Email Taste of Health

Reservations * Travel Group International

Toll-Free: 1-866-447-0750, ext. 102 or 108

Email Travel Group International

 

What's the best thing in your life?

Think about it.

What's the best thing in your life?

What gives you the motivation to be your best?

Tap into whatever it is today. Celebrate the best thing in your life. Be your best. Choose to put out more than 100% in everything you do.

Get started here with a little sweat equity.

Put your best into your workout.

//www.marilu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/04 The Best Thing.mp3

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