After looking over what has worked and what has hindered their progress, I’ve put together a list of the top reasons why people don’t succeed in their cleansing efforts:

1. Going Alone:

Embarking on a detox, cleanse or major change in diet and lifestyle can be daunting, especially when you do it all by yourself. Flying solo makes it hard to get through tough times when you’re tired and just want to give up. If you’re the only person at work or in your family who is making changes, you might even get some grief from those around you who don’t understand how much you want to create healthy, lasting changes.

Success Strategy: Do your detox with a group of people who are as committed to changing their diet and health as you are. You’ll find support and ideas from others, and you’ll be able to offer suggestions too. Sometimes helping someone else is the best way to help yourself through a difficult transition.

2. Too Extreme = Rebound Effect:

Many detox programs and cleanses severely limit the number of calories and foods you’re “allowed” to eat. Living off of lemon juice and cayenne pepper has been useful to some people, but if your life is already super busy you’ll need more variety and flexibility to provide flavor, adequate calories, nutrition, and the option of eating with other human beings.

Success Strategy: Choose a detox plan that is based on real food. A diet of delicious whole foods that avoids common food sensitivities will allow you to feel satisfied while still supporting your body to cleanse and heal.

3. Not Planning Ahead:

Someone once said “If you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail.” Jumping into a new diet without knowing the when, where, why and how this is all going to work is a recipe for disappointment.

Success Strategy: Starting a detox or cleanse requires some advanced planning, so be sure to read up or talk to an expert on how others have weathered a similar program or diet plan.

4. Only Changing Your Food:

You nourish yourself in many ways, and your health, body, and ability to lose weight are affected by more than just your food. Most detox programs only address the food on your plate and don’t consider the other areas of your life that can be contributing to how you’re feeling…or the triggers for your food cravings!

Success Strategy: Start looking at every area of your life and how it affects your body, cravings, and energy. We are emotional and spiritual beings in a physical world, and sometimes your life matters more than your meal.

If you’re ready to make some major progress on your detox, diet, and cleansing goals now, I have 6 spots open for new clients before July 6th. After that, my rates will be changing and I won’t be taking any new clients until September.

* Go here and sign up for a 4, 8, or 12 week personalized program:

Once I receive confirmation that you’ve signed up, you’ll receive an email from me  with health history forms and we’ll talk about scheduling our first appointment!

If you’re psyched to make a rockin’ detox happen for you, but have too many weddings, vacations, and trips planned this summer, you can sign up for my group 8 Week Delicious Detox Tele-Course that begins on Tuesday, September 6th! And this one is open to men for the 1st time!

After looking over what has worked and what has hindered their progress, I’ve put together a list of the top reasons why people don’t succeed in their cleansing efforts:

1. Going Alone:

Embarking on a detox, cleanse or major change in diet and lifestyle can be daunting, especially when you do it all by yourself. Flying solo makes it hard to get through tough times when you’re tired and just want to give up. If you’re the only person at work or in your family who is making changes, you might even get some grief from those around you who don’t understand how much you want to create healthy, lasting changes.

Success Strategy: Do your detox with a group of people who are as committed to changing their diet and health as you are. You’ll find support and ideas from others, and you’ll be able to offer suggestions too. Sometimes helping someone else is the best way to help yourself through a difficult transition.

2. Too Extreme = Rebound Effect:

Many detox programs and cleanses severely limit the number of calories and foods you’re “allowed” to eat. Living off of lemon juice and cayenne pepper has been useful to some people, but if your life is already super busy you’ll need more variety and flexibility to provide flavor, adequate calories, nutrition, and the option of eating with other human beings.

Success Strategy: Choose a detox plan that is based on real food. A diet of delicious whole foods that avoids common food sensitivities will allow you to feel satisfied while still supporting your body to cleanse and heal.

3. Not Planning Ahead:

Someone once said “If you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail.” Jumping into a new diet without knowing the when, where, why and how this is all going to work is a recipe for disappointment.

Success Strategy: Starting a detox or cleanse requires some advanced planning, so be sure to read up or talk to an expert on how others have weathered a similar program or diet plan.

4. Only Changing Your Food:

You nourish yourself in many ways, and your health, body, and ability to lose weight are affected by more than just your food. Most detox programs only address the food on your plate and don’t consider the other areas of your life that can be contributing to how you’re feeling…or the triggers for your food cravings!

Success Strategy: Start looking at every area of your life and how it affects your body, cravings, and energy. We are emotional and spiritual beings in a physical world, and sometimes your life matters more than your meal.

If you’re ready to make some major progress on your detox, diet, and cleansing goals now, I have 6 spots open for new clients before July 6th. After that, my rates will be changing and I won’t be taking any new clients until September.

* Go here and sign up for a 4, 8, or 12 week personalized program:

Once I receive confirmation that you’ve signed up, you’ll receive an email from me  with health history forms and we’ll talk about scheduling our first appointment!

If you’re psyched to make a rockin’ detox happen for you, but have too many weddings, vacations, and trips planned this summer, you can sign up for my group 8 Week Delicious Detox Tele-Course that begins on Tuesday, September 6th! And this one is open to men for the 1st time!

Learn more about Healthy Meals

Cardiovascular Health Tele-Series

Starting February 15th at 2pm EST

How this program helped Morgan Spurlock from Super Size Me lower his blood pressure and cholesterol naturally – while improving his energy and helping him to lose weight!

I know not everyone wants to totally change her body and lifestyle. Many of you would be thrilled to increase your energy and finally get a good nights sleep while enjoying easy natural foods, and others, well, you’re ready to fully step onto a new path and revamp every aspect of your life.

In my Red Hot Hearts 8 Week Tele-Series, wherever you are is where you are met. The intention of this program is progress and implementation, not perfection and comparing ourselves to others (which always feels bad).

“The past is behind us, love is in front and all around us.” ~Terri Guillemets

This special group of 20 women will practice simple, fun ways to learn to love their bodies just as they are now, which, funnily enough, will enable them to transform their health and energy.

Detoxification – at least as I teach it – is about removing the negative and adding positive foods and techniques that help you live a healthy life. It’s a bridge that leads to rejuvenation and restoration and launches you fully into total wellness.

Too Many Talented, Driven Women Are Suffering From Or

Are On The Road To Heart Disease

I’ve seen it, time and again. Focused, brilliant women like you get held back from living an authentic life because of the very thing meant to fuel your days: food.

It’s not your fault – it’s pretty much engrained in our culture to eat a diet high in sugar and refined products and chemical-laden food. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a way out. In fact, there are many healthful, TASTY, wholesome foods available to you – if you know where to look.

That’s why I created my signature 8-Week Detox Tele-Series Program based on my books, including The Great American Detox Diet. This is the book I wrote after healing my partner-in-crime Morgan Spurlock after making the movie Super Size Me together, in which he ate nothing but McDonald’s for a month! (and you’ll get a signed copy if you sign up by 2/3!)

Morgan’s cholesterol grew over 60 points during the month of fast food, and his blood pressure shot up as well. His energy was low, and he felt terrible. After 8 weeks of following my menus and advice, Morgan’s cholesterol and blood pressure were back down to a healthy range.

Watch my video about one of my top secrets for lowering cholesterol naturally!

Go here to learn more about the 8 Week Red Hot Hearts Tele-Course with Alex: http://www.nutritionforempoweredwomen.com/blog/red-hot-hearts/

When you sign up for this program, I’ll walk you through the steps that worked for me – and have since worked for countless others. The vital curriculum you’ll follow is made up of targeted advice that will steadily lead you toward a balanced, vibrant life.

Go here to learn more about the 8 Week Red Hot Hearts Tele-Course with Alex: http://www.nutritionforempoweredwomen.com/blog/red-hot-hearts/

Not sure if this program is right for you? Write to me at alex@nutritionforempoweredwomen.com and I’ll be in touch when I return from my Costa Rica retreat with Ariel & Shya Kane on 1/31!

Order your copy of the Great American Detox Diet Here:

Great American Detox Diet

Order your copy of the Great American Detox Diet Here:

Great American Detox Diet

Here’s the real scoop: trying to lose weight in winter is the hardest, and most unnatural, time of year to reduce your calorie intake. This whole New Year’s Resolution for weight loss is arbitrary, media-hyped, and a losing-bet. The human body naturally tries to keep weight on in the winter as a survival technique. Confused? Keep reading and I’ll tell you more.

Your body goes through seasonal changes just like trees, plants, and hibernating animals. The human body uses calories to keep us warm and naturally holds onto fat to help us weather the freezing weather. Since calories = heat = winter survival, eating gives your body the fuel it needs to protect itself from cold winds, frigid temperatures, and walking your kid to and from school 20 minutes in sub-freezing temperatures twice a day.

Limiting your calorie intake in the winter flips an invisible switch that triggers your body’s natural survival mechanisms to store fuel like a squirrel hiding nuts.  The crazy part is, restricting your food intake starting January 1^st can actually cause your body to create more fat storage.

So wait until springtime for a real cleansing and calorie restriction program. Honor your human nature and give your body the calories it needs to get through winter successfully – but this doesn’t mean you can throw all caution to the wind!

January is a great time to create a Resolution about food and health: Decide to transform your menus into natural, real meals filled with whole foods and seasonal ingredients. Get acquainted with whole grains, beans, seasonal veggies from your area, nuts, seeds, and sea vegetables. Create a new habit of including whole grains, beans, and steamed leafy greens at least twice a day. Use the seasonal produce available in your area to bring balance and energy to your body while you remove the junky, processed, and packaged foods this winter.

By changing the quality of your meals, rather than focusing on the quantity of calories and restricting yourself during this season, you can create a total body transformation that will give you the energy you need to make big changes to your weight in the spring when cleansing and reducing is more appropriate. The cool thing is this: when you start shifting your foods to be natural and high-quality, your weight will slowly start reducing on its own! But not in a forced, deprivation style. You’ll get balanced. Your energy will be better. You’ll sleep better and have an easier time kicking caffeine and sugar cravings.

If you want to make this shift with expert guidance, camaraderie, and support, you can sign up for 1 of 20 spots available in my upcoming Red Hot Hearts Tele-Series, which begins 2/15/11. The program provides recipes, meal planning, support, emotional guidance and fun!

I’d be glad to have you!

I hope you have a blessed year full of fun, adventure, healthy vibes, and laughs!

Be well,

Alex

Here’s the real scoop: trying to lose weight in winter is the hardest, and most unnatural, time of year to reduce your calorie intake. This whole New Year’s Resolution for weight loss is arbitrary, media-hyped, and a losing-bet. The human body naturally tries to keep weight on in the winter as a survival technique. Confused? Keep reading and I’ll tell you more.

Your body goes through seasonal changes just like trees, plants, and hibernating animals. The human body uses calories to keep us warm and naturally holds onto fat to help us weather the freezing weather. Since calories = heat = winter survival, eating gives your body the fuel it needs to protect itself from cold winds, frigid temperatures, and walking your kid to and from school 20 minutes in sub-freezing temperatures twice a day.

Limiting your calorie intake in the winter flips an invisible switch that triggers your body’s natural survival mechanisms to store fuel like a squirrel hiding nuts.  The crazy part is, restricting your food intake starting January 1^st can actually cause your body to create more fat storage.

So wait until springtime for a real cleansing and calorie restriction program. Honor your human nature and give your body the calories it needs to get through winter successfully – but this doesn’t mean you can throw all caution to the wind!

January is a great time to create a Resolution about food and health: Decide to transform your menus into natural, real meals filled with whole foods and seasonal ingredients. Get acquainted with whole grains, beans, seasonal veggies from your area, nuts, seeds, and sea vegetables. Create a new habit of including whole grains, beans, and steamed leafy greens at least twice a day. Use the seasonal produce available in your area to bring balance and energy to your body while you remove the junky, processed, and packaged foods this winter.

By changing the quality of your meals, rather than focusing on the quantity of calories and restricting yourself during this season, you can create a total body transformation that will give you the energy you need to make big changes to your weight in the spring when cleansing and reducing is more appropriate. The cool thing is this: when you start shifting your foods to be natural and high-quality, your weight will slowly start reducing on its own! But not in a forced, deprivation style. You’ll get balanced. Your energy will be better. You’ll sleep better and have an easier time kicking caffeine and sugar cravings.

If you want to make this shift with expert guidance, camaraderie, and support, you can sign up for 1 of 20 spots available in my upcoming Red Hot Hearts Tele-Series, which begins 2/15/11. The program provides recipes, meal planning, support, emotional guidance and fun!

I’d be glad to have you!

I hope you have a blessed year full of fun, adventure, healthy vibes, and laughs!

Be well,

Alex

Want to join us? Click here to learn more and sign up for the tele-series, which starts 2/15…

These two delicious dips are cholesterol free, filled with heart healing ingredients, and super easy to make.

The first recipe contains Avocados. Packed with monounsaturated fat, avocados can lower the “bad” cholesterol in your body, the LDL, while raising the HDL, the “good” cholesterol.

Avocados are awesome, because they help your body absorb carotenoids—especially beta-carotene and lycopene—which are essential for heart health.

The second recipe, hummus, is made with chickpeas or Garbanzo beans, which are high in fiber and a great source of cholesterol free protein. Diets high in legumes (aka beans and peas) are associated with lower cardiovascular disease! Garbanzos’ contribution to heart health lies not just in their fiber, but in thier high amounts of folate and magnesium, which are known to support cardiovascular health.

So check out these recipes and get to dippin’!