Having It Your Way

On April 25th I finished the Spring Green Clean.  This was a 10 day raw plant-based detox program I developed that you can have your way with amazing green smoothies and juicing.  The program included high levels of nutrition including only organic farm fresh fruits and vegetables, superfoods, cleansing herbs and spices, and relaxation techniques.   Objectives for this cleanse was to rejuvenate the body, break caffeine and sugar addictions, rid the body of toxins and chemicals and clear the skin.   This is the perfect spring renewal program that boosts your energy, revives your taste buds, and energizes your spirit and mind.

Palm of Hand Before Cleanse

Ankle Before Cleanse

One of the problems that has plagued me for about 8 years now is a skin condition that psoriasis and eczema that has gotten better over the years but still causes me issues.  I am trying once and for all to completely rid my body of this horrible affliction.  As my diet has become more natural and plant-centered I have noticed great improvements but unfortunately I still have some flare ups.  At the beginning of this cleanse I was in a typical flare up these pictures where taken on day 1 of the cleanse and show how my hand and ankle look during a typical day. The following pictures show the results on day ten 

Palm of Hand After Cleanse

Ankle After Cleanse

of the cleanse.  This is a great improvement and I know that for others with severe cases of  skin problems that prolonging the treatment would produce even more results.  My ankle still slightly itches but I'm not sure if that will ever go away unless I completely remove the tattoo.  Besides these amazing results for my skin, a wonderful side benefit for those looking to shed a few pounds of weight the average weight loss was anywhere from five to eleven pounds on the program.  I was not hungry due to the nutrient density of the foods being consumed.  I used some supplements while cleansing, some I have discussed in earlier blogs those that I have yet to mention include Ashwagandha and Neem, both ayurvedic herbs, Tumeric, Himilayan Salt, and Lemon Juice.  If you would like more information on my 10 day detox program, my one month Break Your Addiction Program, or 6 month Healthy for Life Program please visit my website Holistic Health Counseling, email me at fitchicmelissa@gmail.com or call 561-578-9492 to schedule your FREE consultation.

Springing Through 3 More Days!

I have conquered another 3 days in the battle to cleanse the toxins from my system and every day my head gets clearer and my step gets lighter.  I'm springing through my days and have bounds of energy at night!  I've even been getting more done than usual and have watched a few movies to relax at night because I'm not dying to crawl in be at 9 pm even though I get up before 5 am!  I have taken time to stop and smell the Hydrangeas and even enjoyed long walks with my partner where we discovered a small private beach hideaway jutting out on the coast.  We sat and talked and meditated.  What a wonderful feeling to become grounded and enjoy nature and just BE.  Sometimes we spend so much time hustling through life trying to WIN THE DAY, to be #1, to succeed, to make more money, help others, buy, sell, do that we forget to just sit back and relax, enjoy, contemplate, be alive and thrive.

In honoring our bodies, mind, and soul it is important to take time to reflect and enjoy quiet moments and get in touch with your own spiritual being.  This is also the perfect time to take extra care of yourself.  Soak in a bath, use a body brush daily to help the circulatory and lymph systems rejuvenate.  Use a tongue cleaner to help reduce your cravings. It is also important to provide your bodies with the nutrients it needs and digestion aids.

On Days 3 and 7 (and we will on day 10) we had Kombucha to help with the digestive and detoxification process.  Kombucha is a fermented drink that's roots date back over 2,000 years.  One of kombucha’s greatest health benefits is its ability to detox the body. It is rich in many of the enzymes and bacterial acids your body produces and/or uses to detox your system, thus reducing your pancreatic load and easing the burden on your liver  Komucha is a  probiotic beverage that improves digestion, fights candida (harmful yeast) overgrowth,and is noted for reducing or eliminating the symptoms of fibromyalgia, depression, anxiety, etc. Plus, it’s extraordinarily anti-oxidant rich, and you all know the benefits of anti-oxidants for boosting your immune system and energy levels.  You can purchase Komucha or make your own by buying a kit.


I am currently holding steady at slightly over ten pounds lost, I have fluctuated up and down from a half to a pound the last few days.  I began breaking out on my chest and face slightly on Day 8.  This is normal as the toxins that have long been with your body from the environment, food, etc start to be released.  Every person has different ways their body detoxes my is always through the skin.  My psoriasis had a slight flare up but still looks better than on Day 1.  Two more days to go and I will post the results!

Hump Day: It's all done hill from here!

OM

I made it!  I'm halfway through my 10 day cleanse and I'm feeling great.  I may be the only one that feels this way though!  "Hungry, Tired, and Cranky" seem to be just a few of the words being used to describe feelings of the last few days.  I'm keeping up with my workouts and even did yoga for the second day in a row. I love yoga because it not only helps me feel balanced mentally, but also alleviates the feelings of wear and tear from Insanity: The Asylum.  It is my time to put my intentions to the universe to center my thoughts and work out my frustrations.  My favorite yoga place in Fort Lauderdale is this amazing little studio off Oakland Park Blvd. call The Bombay Room.  I found it by accident last year when I bought a living social deal and it has been my home ever since.

The uphill battle is over, the hardest part is done.  Usually by Day 5 one's addictions to caffeine, sugar, alcohol, or other things starts to subside.  The withdrawal symptoms lessen and the energy will start coming back.  So it's all downhill from here!  Smooth going now is when the real work starts the body starts releasing the toxins and chemicals that have been holding it hostage for years.  My skin is already 75% better than it was five days ago!  I took pictures at the beginning and I will again at the end to compare.  My skin is glowing too.

Today I am cover another amazing spice that has so many health benefits that it is almost unbelievable. Its reputation is growing amount medical researchers and alternative health people such as myself. Cayenne pepper has been show to kill cancer cells, stop heart attacks in 30 seconds, increase metabolism, and help adjust blood pressure to normal levels.  These are just a few of the amazing benefits but even more importantly it cleans the arteries and helps rid the body of bad LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.  Cayenne aids in digestion from assimilation to elimination and will even help rebuild flesh and the tissue in the stomach facilitating healing of intestinal ulcers.  This is why I have added it to many of my green smoothie recipes in the past 5 days!

Some more good news I have now lost a total of ten pounds myself, with others following behind with anywhere from 3 to 8!  Again the weight loss is just a positive side affect of this amazing cleanse!  Want more information on how I can guide you to a life of health an wellness?  Visit my website at www.FitChicMelissa.com  and follow along on twitter @FitChicMelissa and @PlantBasedAthle

Why does Garlic repel Vampires?

I don't know why Vampires are repelled by garlic but I can tell you that I love it an have been using it in several of my green smoothies during my 10 day reboot!

Day 4 of the cleanse has come and gone and each day my skin gets a little clearer.  This is my ultimate goal, I have been dealing with skin disorders for about 8 years now they showed up in large scale after I moved to Florida and I have battled with them every since.  I have noticed that diet completely affects the severity of my skin condition and has gotten better over the years as my diet has improved, but unfortunately I still occasionally have flair ups and breakouts and I have one spot on my ankle that never gets better.  This is what I'm trying to end with this 10 day cleanse. When I eliminate all the toxins from my body I'm hoping it will break the hold on my body and give me some relief.
Today was similar to Day 3, nothing too exciting, except that I had fresh juiced pineapple with wheat grass, barley grass, and alfalfa!  That was AMAZING!!!.

Today's hot topic ingredient is GARLIC!!!  I love garlic and I put it in everything that I possibly can ( I've heard they make garlic ice cream.... hmm I would be game to try!)  Garlic is considered to be a herbal wonder drug touted to treat everything from the common cold to the Plague.  Although this isn't readily proven it is suggested that garlic helps maintain blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Modern science has shown that garlic is a powerful broad spectrum antibiotic. The bacteria in the body do not appear to evolve resistance to the garlic as they do to many modern pharmaceutical antibiotics. This means that its positive health benefits can continue over time rather than helping to breed antibiotic resistant "superbugs".
Studies have also shown that garlic - especially aged and black garlic - can have a powerful antioxidant effect. Antioxidants can help to protect the body against damaging free radicals.

I hope you are enjoying following me on this journey!  If you are interested in more information please sign up for my monthly newsletter!  You can scan this barcode into your smartphone or text GREENBUNNI to 22828 to send your email!  Till tomorrow!

Seeing green

So Day 3 of the Spring Green Clean was great for me!  I had lots of energy (but I wasn't going through caffeine withdrawals as much as others).  I did light cardio in the morning and some heavy weights upper body then did Insanity: The Asylum Day 24 later at night.  I feel my energy stores picking up and I wasn't hungry.  Although I know at least one person doing this detox with us was quite hungry!


In my cleansing program I have include many superfoods and other ingredients for their amazing properties.  I will try to inform you about each of these throughout the 10 days. Today I'm going to talk about one of the important ingredients in my detox plan.  

Wheatgrass

Is Wheatgrass important? Yes! It increases red blood-cell count and lowers blood pressure. It cleanses the blood, organs and gastrointestinal tract of debris. Wheatgrass stimulates metabolism and the body’s enzyme systems by enriching the blood. It  aids in reducing blood pressure by dilating the blood pathways throughout the body.

Stimulates the thyroid gland, correcting obesity, indigestion, and a host of other complaints.

It also restores alkalinity to the blood. The juice's abundance of alkaline minerals helps reduce over-acidity in the blood. It can be used to relieve many internal pains, and has been used successfully to treat peptic ulcers, ulcerative colitis, constipation, diarrhea, and other complaints of the gastrointestinal tract.

Is a powerful detoxifier, and liver and blood protector. The enzymes and amino acids found in wheatgrass can protect us from carcinogens like no other food or medicine. It strengthens our cells, detoxifies the liver and bloodstream, and chemically neutralizes environmental pollutants.

Wheatgrass fights tumors and neutralizes toxins. Recent studies show that wheatgrass juice has a powerful ability to fight tumors without the usual toxicity of drugs that also inhibit cell-destroying agents. The many active compounds found in grass juice cleanse the blood and neutralize and digest toxins in our cells.

Todays Menu Included: (each smoothie has different greens for variety such as romaine, kale, beet tops, carrot tops, dill, parsley, swiss chard, spinach, etc)  These are all my own creations!

Breakfast:  Orange, Carrot, Collard Green Juiced

Snack: Beet Me into Submission (Superfoods smoothie)

Lunch: Brocolli Soup (garlic, cayennne)

Snack: Orange you in Mint Condition (orange, mint, carrot tops)

Dinner: Salad in a Cup Smoothie

Before Bed: Pearly Coco for You ( coconut oil, flax)

I have now lost a total of 8 lbs in 3 days, please understand though that this is not normal I retain A LOT of water.  I am completely nourished and not worried about losing muscle. I am "seeing" green every where you will notice it too just check the toilet!

Interested in doing your own cleanse?  I offer guidance!  Health Coach

Springing a well of emotions DAY 2

Day 2 is in the past!  My Spring Green Clean detox program is going wonderfully.  I attempted to do yoga in the morning after my thirty minute cardio session but alas it was not meant to be I was going to try a new place but it took me longer to find than I expected.  I, of course, at 8 am broke down crying in the car frustrated with my partner looking at me with mysterious eyebrows raised.  Which brings me to an important point about doing a detox/cleanse. 

We mainly focus on the physical aspect of a detox when we talk about them. How much weight will I lose?  How will my skin look?  My body will be ridding itself of chemicals, metals, toxins.  But what about the other side…. The emotional detox!  The emotional detox is just as important if not more important than the physical detox.  This is the perfect time to get rid of old ideas and memories that do not serve you well, to clean out the closets of your mind and send all the garbage to the dumpster.  Meditation and yoga are both great for clearing the mind and making room for new healthy energy to flow.  Journaling or Morning Pages is another great avenue to release pent up emotions.  Sometimes during this process it will come to you to make amends to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while. 

This is also the time to get your worries out of paper and then let the universe take care of them!  One way to do this is to take a piece of paper and divide it the middle.  On one side write Me at the top then   three things you MUST accomplish today.  On the other side write Universe at the top then EVERYTHING else that you have to get done.  Now rip the page down the center crumple the universe side up and throw it away or burn it.  Only do what you need to do and allow the universe to work in accord to help you finish the other tasks (stop worrying), this is really great for financial worries or careers or your future.

I checked in with a couple of others doing the cleanse and general consensus for day two was at least 2 lbs dropped, cravings for coffee, sluggishness and some headaches.  I finished day 23 of The Asylum.  I'm feeling good my only obstacle come when I have to sit in a coffee shop (because my internet went down) or watching the people from the play I went to see ordering drinks at intermission!  Damn those toxins!

My meals for day 2 were the same except for my morning juice which was kale, beet, and apple.  I have some amazing new smoothies for tomorrow!  Can’t wait to try them! Hopping to health and looking for my golden carrot!

Spring Green Clean: Detox Day 1

I finished day one of my Spring Green Clean!  So what is this detox program?  It is a ten day system reboot to clear the system of unwanted chemicals and toxins. Juicing and Green smoothies can maximize nutrient intake, fight disease, strengthen cellular defense against free radicals, alleviate pain, encourage weight-loss, and decrease the need for medication. Following a juicing and green smoothie detox program can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, strokes, diabetes, certain types of cancers, mental illness, metabolic syndrome, and may result in longer lifespans.  


I have ventured on this journey with several other people try and boost my energy levels.  I have several reasons for trying this cleanse.  I have a skin condition called psoriasis that has plagued me for years.  The condition got better as my healthy habits improved but has never completely gone away.  I want to see if I can cure this skin condition once and for all.  I also have serious issues with water retention, I can retain upwards of 4 to 6 lbs. on a bad day.  I think that it is related to something that I eat so by flushing my system I will have better control over the situation.


This program is designed to break caffeine and sugar addictions, help reset your internal system, clean the organs and skin, and aid in weight loss.  

Day 1 Menu

Breakfast:  Carrot, Apple, Wheatgrass Juice

Snack:   Superfood Green Smoothie (spirulina, maca powder, chorella)

Lunch: Raw Asparagus Soup (garlic, Himalayan sea salt)

Dinner:  Kaloe Cayenne Smoothie (Aloe Vera, Cayenne, Tumeric)

Before Bed:  Li Me Gingerly Smoothie (Ginger, Lime)

Each of these smoothies have special ingredients that help with purification, detoxification, antibiotics etc.  Which is why I chose them for my recipes.

After one day I am down 4 lbs, which is just the water dropping!  I did 30 minutes of cardio and took a 3 mile walk for my first day.  Day 2 will be back to my regular workout routine.

Delicious Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pie Waffles

I'm always trying new recipes that are nutritious, yet taste amazing and this is my new favorite.  This morning as I looked in my refrigerator I was out of my green smoothies and still needed to head to the local farmer's market for my weekly produce. So I searched for something that would taste great and required little effort.  I've been wanting to try to make a gluten- free waffle because I've been trying to stay away from wheat ( I think it is one of the major causes of my skin irritations)

WAFFLES (can be made Vegan by omitting the EGGS) will be slightly less fluffy but taste amazingly the same

Sweet Potato Pie Waffles

1 1/3 cups of Sweet Potato flour (organic product of Peru)
2/3 cups Almond flour
1/3 cup ground Flax meal
1/2 tbs baking soda
pinch of sea salt
1/2 tbs Cinnamon
2 tsp Pumpkin Pie spice
1 tsp Nutmeg
pinch of Stevia powder

Put all dry ingredients in a bowl make a well in the center for liquids

1 1/2  cups almond milk
1 tbs apple cider vinegar
2 tbs coconut oil
(optional) 2 Free Range Eggs

Mix apple cider vinegar with almond milk and let curdle. Pour all wet ingredients in bowl and mix with whisk.  Pour in waffle iron.  Top with raw honey or 100% pure Maple Syrup.  Make 3 to 4 servings depending on how hungry you are!!

Spring into Health & Happiness

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Spring Into Action April, 2012 Dear Blogger, Hello!  Welcome to my first Newsletter!  Spring is in the air and it is a time for new beginnings.  I welcome you in taking this journey with me to a healthier and happier life.  I look forward to getting to know you on a personal level and helping all your dreams come true. Sincerely,   Melissa Binkey Melissa Binkley Health Coaching   Are You An Addict? What is 4x more addictive than cocaine and heroin?  Has an opiate effect like heroin?   Causes loss of control?   Addicts will continue use despite adverse consequence?   Has a 97% relapse rate (higher than any other drug)!!   Certain types will cause liver damage equal to that of alcohol?  Withdrawal symptoms include: HEADACHES TIREDNESS FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS CRABBINESS MOODINESS AND IS SOLD ON EVERY STREET CORNER IN THE USA? SUGAR Sugar comes in many hidden forms:  Read More   Spring Cleaning   People like "stuff". We tend to hold onto it year after year. We save and stock up on things that we don't know what to do with anymore. Maybe we keep things because they hold precious memories of days gone by, or they remind us of our parents, grandparents, past loves or childhood. To part with these precious possessions seems out of the question. There is a saying that goes, "You have to get rid of the old to make way for the new."  If you are feeling stuck or stagnant in your life, try spring-cleaning. Throw out some of that stuff, say goodbye to your past and welcome the new energy of your happy, healthy future. Try these three ideas:   For good mental and physical health, we actually have two "houses" that need to be spring-cleaned: our physical homes and our physical bodies. Just as we accumulate "stuff" in the form of outgrown clothes, magazines, rusty bicycles, tools and random keepsakes, so do our bodies accumulate old food residues and toxins that need to be cleaned out. 2.     To spring clean your body, give it a break from rich and complicated foods by either cleansing or fasting for a short period of time. Cleansing means paring down your food to just simple fruits and vegetables, lots of water and perhaps whole grains. Fasting means limiting most foods and drinking lots of water, fresh vegetable and fruit juices, teas and soups. Without much energy going toward digestion, more energy is available to the rest of your body and mind. Cleansing and fasting can sharpen your concentration, help you gain insight and promote spiritual awareness. It can also bring improved immune function and better digestion.   3.     While you're cleaning out your body and home, don't forget to spring-clean your heart. Throw away negative thoughts and habits you've been harboring that no longer serve you. A clean, open heart will allow you to receive all the good that awaits you each and every day. If your heart and mind are cluttered, there is no room for life's gifts and surprises to enter.     In This Issue Are you an Addict Spring Cleaning Melissa Binkley Health Coaching          www.FitChicMelissa.com 561-578-9492  Contact me for a Free Consultation Melissa Binkey Food Focus: Greens    Leafy greens are some of the easiest and most beneficial vegetables to incorporate into your daily routine. Densely packed with energy and nutrients, they grow upward to the sky, absorbing the sun's light while producing oxygen. Members of this royal green family include kale, collard greens, Swiss chard, mustard greens, arugula, dandelion greens, broccoli rabe, watercress, beet greens, bok choy, napa cabbage, green cabbage, spianch and broccoli.   How do greens benefit our bodies? They are very high in calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorous and zinc, and are a powerhouse for vitamins A, C, E and K. They are crammed full of fiber, folic acid, chlorophyll and many other micronutrients and phytochemicals. Their color is associated with spring, which is a time to renew and refresh vital energy. In traditional Asian medicine, the color green is related to the liver, emotional stability and creativity. Greens aid in purifying the blood, strengthening the immune system, improving liver, gall bladder and kidney function, fighting depression, clearing congestion, improving circulation and keeping your skin clear and blemish free.   Leafy greens are the vegetables most missing from the American diet, and many of us never learned how to prepare them. Start with the very simple recipe below. Then each time you go to the market, pick up a new green to try. Soon you'll find your favorite greens and wonder how you ever lived without them.   April Events April 14th- We-Xist Tall Girl Convention- Speaker April 22- Cooking Class

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