When clients first contact me, often they are just emerging from their comfort cocoon of choice. As I have dabbled in some of the above indulgences, I can recognize (and appreciate) the phase for what it was: hiding from some kind of pain. I think some people are so good at hiding from their pain, though, that they accept the behavior as “normal” and lose themselves. Fear and discomfort (from too much of a good thing) are typically the catalyst for finally reaching out and asking for help. Perhaps it was a heart attack, a Type II Diabetes diagnoses, a divorce, or a cruel remark about their body fat that finally pushes them into action. Whatever it is, typically the POSSIBILITY of NOT CHANGING gets too painful so they finally make the call.

I don’t know if I have ever been clinically depressed, but I’ve had my moments when the world felt like it was crashing down on me and all I could see was a bleak future. Instead of facing my problems, I retreat for a while. I take time to regroup because I can’t face the breakup or the failure or the bills, etc. I’m not going to beat myself up for doing it either. It’s just what I do. But I’ve gotten a lot better at being aware of when I’m doing it so I can get out of the pain faster. Often it’s a matter of calling upon my friends and family and if that’s not working, I’ll find a new support system. I’ll also write in my journal every day and take time to be grateful for wonderful things in my life. That’s the strategy that helps me.

So I have the utmost compassion for another person who is fumbling around in a painful place. If that’s you… you’re not alone. I’ve been there, too. And mostly, you’ll see a huge smile on my face even if I’m in pain. (I bet you have no idea what that’s like, huh?)

Here’s how I look at it: most people are NOT brave enough to look closely at their lives and see what they really want… what they’d really like to change. They numb themselves with fleeting comfort (sometimes for years, sometimes until they die). But if you’re brave enough to examine what you really want out of life, there are people out there… like me… that will help you try to get it.

One thing I realized, though, is that life is NOT about being comfortable. It’s about doing things that excite you. In fact, I can’t think of a single triumph I’ve ever had that didn’t go hand-in-hand with quite a bit of discomfort: doing stand-up comedy for the first time, walking across fourteen feet of hot coals, chucking my six figure advertising career for one in fitness, or dating for twenty years before finally meeting my fiancé.

I think Timothy Ferriss, one of my favorite authors, said it best: “A person’s success in life can usually be measured by the number of uncomfortable conversations he or she is willing to have.”

And some of those conversations are with yourself.

Sending you love,

~Zen

Self Sabotage, Stivers Cartoons

Once again, a client came to me in tears saying that her spouse kept feeding her bread, rice, pasta and dessert when she was deliberately trying to cut back on refined carbohydrates. I had to share this very surprising and very real fact:

People closest to you are most likely to sabotage your weight-loss efforts!

Here’s the kicker, though…. it’s because they love you so much that you’re scaring them. They’re worried that you will get all new habits that don’t include them… or that you’re making them wrong for their lifestyle choices. They’re scared that you’re going to change and YOU WON’T LOVE THEM ANYMORE.

So, if you’re having trouble with your spouse or partner, your mom, your sister, your best friend, etc. and they don’t seem to be on board your new healthy program — take a moment to tell them that you love and appreciate them and that you NEED their help to succeed. ASK them for their help. SHARE with them what your new future will look like — with the healthier version of you AND THEM in it.

If you happen to be dealing with a saboteur yourself, please try out this strategy and let me know what happens.

To your health!

~Z

It’s no secret that the first day returning from vacation is usually the toughest day to get back on track with good habits. But I find that the sooner I jump back in with healthful eating and a quick workout, the better I feel and the easier it is to shed a couple “happy pounds”.

Certainly I’ve had the urge to prolong my holiday with another treat because I want to hold onto the sugary-haze of the last couple days… but I’ve got to suck it up and go for the spinach omelet instead of the strawberry waffle now. Like anyone, I can add 5-10 pounds in a weekend of unchecked eating. There’s a big difference between having just one cheat day as opposed to two or three.

Personally, I planned for one cheat day over the weekend. One of my clients had suggested we go to the Getty for the 18th Century Parisian exhibit and wear girlie hats and have a lunch-time picnic with Nicoise, bread, cheese, wine, fresh cherries and raspberries and the whole works.  Since my fiance is such a good sport, he came along to help carry all the baskets and get immersed in estrogen.  I think I may have gotten a little high on brie and date cake in this picture, actually.  (Also, the exhibit was gorgeous and if you’re in LA, you can go see it until August 7th: the dresses, jewelry, artwork, furniture and games, etc. of that era.) After the exhibit, we enjoyed our favorite chocolate butter cream cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery and THEN some macaroni & cheese deliciousness for dinner. It was a pretty big cheat day before we sank into our carb-induced comas.

But then Sunday rolled around and old friends were in from out of town. We HAD to meet them for brunch, of course, and since they suggested eating at The Griddle on Sunset, we waited over an hour for a table. By that time, I was starving and just as in most cases when I’m starving… I ordered what I was craving instead of what healthy. (Plus it’s easy to do if you’ve ever devoured a pancake, waffle or french toast at The Griddle… omg… so delicious.) And once I open the flood gates at breakfast, the whole day is usually shot. So, I decided to just enjoy myself and start fresh the next day.

One thing I was really proud of was that we FINALLY decided to start cooking on the grill my brother and his wife gave us for Christmas. It’s been sitting out on the patio for ages with various grilling accoutrements because neither David nor I have ever grilled before. My brother told us to get this charcoal-starter-thingy so we wouldn’t have to use lighter fluid. And I loved the idea but when we went to implement lighting the fire, we just kind of looked at each other and blinked.

“Do you know how this goes?”
“Uh… put the newspaper underneath it, I guess.”
“Do I stick the paper in the holes and light it like a wick?”
I shrugged.

Grown adults were soon staring at each other and engulfed in smoke and our kind neighbors were nice enough to just close their patio doors without comment. But we would not be discouraged! Soon, my healthy red pepper, onion, and tomato kabobs, asparagus and turkey Italian sausage were filling the air with tantalizing aromas. And shortly thereafter, David triumphantly carried in the delectable-looking plate back inside along with the 2 1/2 foot tongs. (Is that really necessary? Are my meager foot-long stove top utensils hopelessly inadequate?) However, I’m thinking perhaps just one small meal is too little for charcoal grilling. David kept checking the coals before we went off to bed and I think they might just now be cooling off this morning…

I have decided to call this past weekend a success because we feasted on a great holiday bounce-back meal AND learned to do something new that had been pushed aside for months. It’s funny how just a little win can motivate me to continue the momentum for the coming week. Lots of canned legumes, tuna, chicken and veggies await to be savored. I know that my couple “off” days will force me to work a little harder this week, but I’m willing to put in the extra work to get back on track as long as healthy eating is delicious in it’s own way, too. And grilling those vegetables and lean protein was a VERY yummy way to enjoy my “on” days again.

Enjoy your week!
~Z

Madonna's iconic "Get Into the Groove" look

Madonna would be so proud of us. After living together for six months, my fiance and I have really gotten into a groove. We time our morning rituals nicely so that while I’m getting ready, he’s feeding the dog and taking her outside. I grab my protein shake and run off to the gym and then the house is free for David to get dressed and ready for work, too. When he comes home, I’m typically making a protein-packed dinner for the two of us and then we either take the dog to the park or head to the gym together before watching a movie and going to bed. Thursday nights are open for fun activities like dancing or karaoke or whatever else we choose.

Saturdays are typically spent working on career-improvement things — new certifications, classes or books for me and music-related research and rehearsals for David. Sundays are easy-going family days as well as grocery shopping/prep days for the week ahead.

Sundays are typically our cheat/binge-days, too, so I really look forward to them. Every time I crave something sugary during the week, it’s easier to triumph over the urge to blow my diet by writing down a list of all the food that I COULD eat on Sunday. (Even though once I get there, I don’t always have those cravings anymore.)

It’s a nice healthy groove we’re in… but I understand that sometimes a groove could be more of a “rut” for some people.

I’ve certainly had relationships where we’d have dessert every day and our habit would just be to complain that “we shouldn’t have” after we ate it. Then we’d do a little self-loathing, finger pointing and do it again the next day. Sound familiar? Or instead of going to the gym together or being active, we’d only hang out on the couch… secretly resenting the other person for not getting up off their ass and coming up with something more exciting. Fat and bored. Fun.

When clients come to me overweight and unhappy, one of the first things I do is ask them to describe a typical workday… from waking up to going to bed: all activity, food, work and relationship stuff. It all matters because all of those things affect the body. We discuss how we could make some small changes and try to adopt new habits every week… not go for the complete overhaul on Day One. I know I’d fail if I tried to make too many changes at one time so I wouldn’t expect anyone else to be able to do it either.

If your groove feels more like a rut, then take a look at one entire workday over the last week. See where you can make small changes:

• Can you get more sleep?
• Can you start your day with a better breakfast?
• Are you drinking enough water?
• Do you enjoy your job? Is there anything you can do to improve it?
• Do you have healthy, supportive co-workers?
• Do you need workout buddies?
• Are you eating balanced meals every 3-4 hours?
• Are you addicted to caffeine?
• Is your home a place that feels rejuvenating?
• Are you active with your loved ones?
• Do you take time to play?
• Are you taking steps to improve your life or are you coasting and hoping?

I think that if you’re not excited about SOMETHING, then you’ll be depressed about everything. One of the first places to start making a change, is to create ANY vision that sparks some passion in you and start working toward it. Whether it’s your work, your partner, your family, or your dreams… start tracking SOMETHING and the momentum will help you succeed in more areas than one.

It doesn’t matter if you’re just making one more sales call or adding one more minute to the treadmill, make today just a little better than before and soon you’ll notice you’ll be groovin’, too.

Health & Happiness,

~Zen

Last night at 11:18am, my parents called to sing “Happy Birthday!” to me like they do every year. (It was 1:18am where they live… the exact moment I was born forty years ago.) I laughed, thanked my parents, told them I loved them and hung up. Then I turned to David and said, “I’m no longer thirty-something…” and my eyes began to tear up.

I’m not sure why I got emotional. Perhaps it’s because I thought my life would be very different. I remember putting “over the hill” signs on our front lawn when my dad turned forty. He was so old! I don’t feel old at all. And I always thought I’d have the house and kids by now, too. It’s just different than I thought… but in many ways, my life is so much better than I expected.

I have a wonderful fiance who loves me, makes me laugh, goes dancing with me and supports me. We have an amazing puppy that is so sweet, happy, obedient and house trained. My career is fulfilling and full of opportunities. My friends and family are healthy and I’m incredibly lucky to live someplace beautiful and sunny most of the year. Life’s pretty great… so what’s with the water works?

It’s no secret that most women like to hide their age. We certainly want to look and feel as young as possible. Perhaps it’s the Hollywood thing, too. Most actresses I know lie about their age simply because it could help their chances of getting a killer role. I get it.

But wouldn’t it be great if we all fessed up and said, “Hey, this is what forty looks like!” I know plenty of hot sixty-year-olds so I know it’s possible to have a great ass no matter how old I get. Plus, I’m thankful for all the laser advancements and cosmetic beauty pioneers like Cher and Demi. I’m not sayin’ I’m getting some work done… I’m just happy there are lots of options out there for the possibility of a quick nip n’ tuck if I so choose.

Now that I think about it, when I blow out my candles today I might just end up thinking “Thank You!” instead of making a wish.

Well, I’ve got to get ready for the incredibly sophisticated day I have planned… I’m off to Disneyland!

Wishing YOU a wonderful day full of love,

~Zen

Miley and Cher both look hot.

David and I have already taken puppy to the dog park this morning and walked to Starbucks to get a chocolate croissant. We’re getting together with family later and I’m pretty sure that ham and deviled eggs will be on the menu. I’ve tried to drink lots of water today and I’ve already got the eggs, green powder, chicken breasts and broccoli ready for tomorrow so we’re back on the health wagon immediately. A little planning always helps me from going astray for too long.

Along those lines, I just got a book from Amazon yesterday and I’m so excited to read it: Tim Ferriss’s “The Four Hour Body”. I’m so impressed with his willingness to use himself as a guinea pig for all of his experiments and the guy’s just a genius. I’m sure he’ll have some great ideas and it looks like he’s consulted with a ton of doctors and other health experts.  The unresponsiveness of my fitness coach is frustrating me so I’m using this book at as catalyst to find new guidance and inspiration.

Looks like we’re off to the egg hunt… HAPPY EASTER!

In case you haven’t read any of my blogs before, here is a picture of what gallstones look like (not mine):

Many people have these building up inside of them before they ever show symptoms or pain. I know I’ve eaten plenty of fatty foods in my day and I’m happy to do a cleanse JUST IN CASE I could POSSIBLY prevent passing one of these suckers. They’re usually made up of cholesterol, calcium salts and bile pigments and as you can see, they can get quite large.

So, I just had to add my day-after findings because I thought it was significant to keep seeing results even after I finished the cleanse. My sinuses are clearing up, too, so whatever was bothering me was temporary, I guess. And yeah… the tummy is nice and flat after that whole experience. An easy, delicious and cost-effective cleanse even if I only did an ounce of prevention. Just my opinion

Please feel free to ask me any questions you may have — or contact Dr. Foster on her website discussion board at www.DrFostersEssentials.com.

1. My face is stuffy again. (I’m not sure if that’s me getting sick or if it has something to do with the cleanse.)
2. Legs feel better… no more aching.
3. Chin and jawline are breaking out. (So are David’s.)
4. Energy level is pretty good until I do a class… then I’m wiped out.
5. I’ve lost 2.5 pounds.
6. I’m not having any sugar cravings.

I have to admit that this was an easier cleanse and I’m sure it’s because we didn’t juice the entire time. Mostly we had the apple juice concoction but we also ate some delicious vegan food from a restaurant around the corner and had some organic fruit. I think the natural sugar from the fruit could be contributing to a sinus infection, if that’s what it is. Perhaps the timing of this cleanse was a little off because I couldn’t tell if I had an allergy or a cold… and then David got sick, too. It’s unclear whether our symptoms are from the cleanse but nothing is too severe so I’m OK with it. I’m confident that I’ll feel better in a day or two.

I’m VERY excited that I’m not having any sugar cravings. (For those of you that have read prior blogs, you know that refined sugar is my vice.) I’m sure it’s because I have been getting natural sugars (fructose) from the apple juice and the fresh fruit we’ve eaten but usually I’ll crave candy and chocolate anyway. I noticed today that the Easter candy aisle at the store had very little affect on me — which is a first. I’m going to try to continue a “no refined sugar” policy even after this cleanse and even on my cheat hour… which we didn’t do this weekend.

I’ve got to edit and post the video blogs that go along with this cleanse tonight… so stay tuned for those. Our Day 4 is the same as Day 3 — except I forgot to take the colon detox caps at noon so that’s probably why my face is breaking out (and maybe why I’m stuffy, too).  Colon Detox caps are supposed to absorb toxins in the intestines so crap isn’t floating around your bloodstream or trying to get eliminated through the skin (like the pretty pimples on my face). I think I’ll up my dosage because I’m probably detoxing a little more on Day 4 than I was before.

One more follow-up tomorrow!

Anyway, just wanted to do a little report on Day 3 of the cleanse. My energy level was great all day until after I taught a spin class. I think I just didn’t have enough calories in me although I ate an apple before jumping on the bike. The vegan meal afterward was so satisfying, though, that I felt better immediately after eating. David continued feeling achy yesterday although he said he felt a little better. He can’t tell whether it was because he was sick or if his symptoms were from the cleanse.

On a side note, one of my clients told me yesterday that Gloria Vanderbilt had her gallbladder removed and her gallstones made into a necklace. I’ve been searching for a picture of that this morning, but I can’t find anything on Google to back that up. I have, however, found several pictures of gallstone jewelry that you can get from China. Weird, cool or gross? All of the above, I guess. But the green stones do look pretty, right?

I haven’t been looking too closely to see what’s coming out… but I’m pretty sure I’d notice if sparkly green gems popped out of my butt. I’ve read some accounts of people “blasting” their stool to check out the stones or to have them sent off to be analyzed. I get it, but I’m not that interested in “panning for gold” in my toilet at this point. Perhaps if I were in pain, then I’d be more motivated, but I’m just not.

Still continuing with Colon Detox caps first thing in the morning, then drinking a 1/2 quart of the fresh organic apple juice/tea/Stone Buster concoction throughout the day. Had an apple and a vegan dinner but other than that… I just drank distilled water and took two Vibrant Colon pills with dinner. I only took one dose of Peaceful Nerves all day, too.

David and I were discussing how many people we knew that have had their gallbladders removed and how wrong it seems that everyone is SO YOUNG! Many people have commented on my facebook page that they’ve had their gallbladders removed after giving birth, that birth control pills were a factor, that it was hereditary or that they just ate too many pizzas and burgers. And perhaps this cleanse isn’t enough to save someone’s gallbladder if it’s already full of stones — but for about $100, I’m totally willing to try an ounce of prevention even if it only has a slight chance of helping. Plus Dr. Foster is adamant that cleansing has healed so many of her patients. Why wouldn’t I try this? It’s only 4 days out of my life, it tastes good, and I’m feeling pretty good throughout the process. I’m guessing it’s a lot easier than going through gallbladder surgery and costs a lot less.

Just one more day to go!