Sheri’s Rants # 15: You, Me and Integrity

One of the more challenging pieces of this Transformation work is the ability to maintain integrity between what we SAY we are doing and what we are actually DOING.  With ourselves.  The lack of congruency from people who consider themselves ‘very honest’ is astounding when it comes to what we are putting into our mouths!

We have such histories of feeding ourselves tales, stories, and downright BS about what we stuff into the pie-hole; excuses, rationalizations, reasons…

I hired Joe M, a titled bodybuilder and personal trainer, to help me rid my body of the thirty pounds of fat that had inexplicably crept up on my body. I shared my mystification with him, explaining the cleanliness of my diet and the religiousness of my fervent exercise.  I told Joe that I was completely befuddled as to what was happening with my body.  I remember feeling annoyed that he wasn’t impressed as I expressed the lengths I was going to for my fitness – in fact he looked like he’d heard it before.  When he measured my body-fat and it was twenty percent higher than what was healthy for me at that age I fought desperately for some recognition that it wasn’t ‘that bad’.  He did not respond to this at all!
Joe asked me to keep a food journal by hand.  I told him there was no need, I could rattle off verbatim what I ate since it was the same every day.  He repeated his request a little more emphatically.  I did not believe this was a necessary step for me, and felt it was wasting my time.  I wanted him to just give me the quick fix.  I fortunately understood the value of following directions, so I complied.
I was in the habit of baking my boyfriend brownies, cookies or cake and leaving it on the kitchen counter.  When I would come home hungry from work, I would eat ‘a bite’ of whatever goodie was laying around to stave off my hunger while I cooked dinner.  The funny part is that my boyfriend lived six hundred miles away and was not a frequent visitor.  On top of that, a ‘bite’ turned out to be about five to six hundred calories at a whack – I would tell myself I’d have a bite, and then I’d have another one, and another, yet in my mind I had only had one bite!  And that one bite didn’t count, because I ‘don’t eat sugar’ and the goodies were for someone else!  Oh the deception!  I was shocked at the reality of my eating.  And the weekends!  Going out to dinner, Sunday brunch, random snacking – I abandoned all my healthy eating habits for the entire weekend!  I had no idea.  The reality of my denial was a revelation.  Through food journaling, I learned a valuable lesson that has served me well.  The lesson had more to do with how much I’d been fooling myself about my eating than anything else!
I am frequently asked what I do if a client ‘lies’ or misrepresents their food intake in Genesis.  That is not the problem of the coach.  It is an issue you have with you.  Our bodies change as the picture we have in our minds of where we want to go becomes congruent with what we say we are doing and what we are actually doing (you might want to read that again).  The tighter our integrity becomes, the tighter our bodies become!

We wouldn’t think we’d have to say to grown-ups “Work on putting into your food journal your actual food intake – not what makes the numbers look good or the pieces fit!” but we do.  And it’s not because folks intentionally lie!  It’s generally because we come from a messed up place with our integrity and congruency when it comes to food – it’s part of that “Diet Head” thinking we’ve talked about.  Pulling that piece together makes all the difference.  It’s truly ridiculous to get impatient with our bodies if our brains aren’t even straight with our food journaling!

EAT THIS!! SUPERB DESSERTS in time for Mother’s Day!!

These are easy, care free desserts that will blow your mind (and your sweet tooth!) as well as nourish your body!

SHEILA’S ALMOND JOY

Ingredients:

1 tsp – agave nectar

10 gram – raw almonds, chopped

10 gram – cacao nibs, raw

2 tbsp – shredded coconut

Instructions:

Dump all ingredients into a bowl, stir, and eat!  Serves 1.

VANILLA CUPCAKES WITH CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Ingredients (for both cupcakes and frosting)

0.66 cup – agave nectar

0.25 tsp – baking soda

6 ounce – chocolate chips (we prefer Dagoba)

0.5 cup – coconut flour

6  eggs

1 cup – grapeseed oil

2 tbsp – vanilla extract

Directions:

In a medium bowl, combine coconut flour, and baking soda 2. In a small bowl, blend together eggs, .5 cup grapeseed oil, .5 cup agave and 1 TB vanilla 3. Mix wet ingredients into dry and blend with a mixer or hand blender until smooth 4. Pour batter into well oiled muffin tins 5. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes 6. Cool completely 7. Top with chocolate frosting: CHOCOLATE FROSTING: In a small saucepan over very low heat, melt chocolate and .5 cup grapeseed oil 2. Stir in 2 TBS agave, 1 TBS vanilla 3. Place frosting in freezer for 15 minutes to chill and thicken 4. Remove from freezer and whip frosting with a hand blender until it is thick and fluffy and spread on cupcakes

SNICKER SNACKERS

Ingredients:

1/3 cup – agave nectar

0.5 cup – almond butter

0.5 cup – carob powder

0.25 cup – shredded coconut

0.25 cup – flax seeds

0.5 cup – sunflower seeds

0.5 cup – raw walnuts

Directions: Grind flax seeds first and crush the walnuts. Then put all ingredients in a food processor until well blended and roll into bite sized balls.

PEAR TORTE (a personal favorite of Sheri Lynn’s)

This is a beautiful presentation as well as impressively delicious!

Ingredients:

5 tbsp – agar agar

2 CUP – apple juice

2 tsp – Braggs Liquid Aminos

1 TBS – cinnamon

8 date, pitted – dates (preferably medjool)

2 TBS – ginger root, grated fine

2 tbsp – kudzu root starch

2 cup – raw walnuts

8 small – pears (apples work well too!)

Directions:

To make the crust, soak the walnuts for one hour, then drain. In food processor, place soaked walnuts, 1/2 cup pitted dates, 1 tsp. cinnamon, and 1 tsp. Braggs Amino Acids; blend until mealy. (Optional: add 1 tsp. orange or lemon zest before processing.) Press into the bottom of a springform pan. Layer 4 cups of sliced pears onto the crust. To make the filling, dissolve 5 Tbs. agar-agar by stirring it into the apple juice and heat to boiling, then simmer about 5 minutes. Add 2 cups of chopped pears and heat to a simmer, then add 2 Tbs. kudzu. Stir until thickened. Puree in a blender or food processor. Pour over the sliced pears in the crust, and refrigerate until firm.

Happy Kids! A Healthy Birthday Party

(These boys are Samantha and Jamie’s sons, who share a birthday!)  Text by Jamie Lynn

Yesterday was a big day for two very special kids. Soran and Gates had a roller skating birthday party and what a success it was. Often parents will ask me, “how is it possible to have a healthy birthday party?”

Soran and Carver, yukking it up!

It is certainly possible. Our menu included: apples and almond butter, turkey hot dogs, grain-free dairy-free chocolate cupcakes, and dairy-free ice cream. The kids were so happy, as you can see.

Offering kids healthy food does not have to be difficult. Often times, I believe parents think that kids expect to have “yucky,” as my son calls it, food at parties. They do not want to feel badly. At our party, we had left over cupcakes, but all the apples were gone in no time. Interesting huh??!!

If I were not willing to put a certain food in my body because it will not serve me, why would I feed it to my child? I believe if we as parents spent a bit more time planning ahead for our children’s meals, parties, etc, our children would have more balanced behavior, sleep better, and perform better in school and sports.

A great place to start is with school lunches. Stop allowing them to buy school lunch. Encourage your child to be part of making

Gates & Soran prepare to blow out candles

school lunches. We go to the grocery store every Sunday and the kids help me to choose what they want to eat. Invest in a good stainless steel thermos and make soups or chili for them. Hummus and sliced carrot and celery, almonds and raisins, rice cakes with almond butter, tuna with crackers, sliced fruit. The feedback I receive from my kids is that they often do not have much time to eat, because they want to get outside to recess, so pack things that are quick and easy. Once again, IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE HARD!!

Jamie & Soran

Bottom line? SIMPLE, QUICK, FUN FOODS!!!

What NOT Listening to Doctors Can Do For You –

(Lisa Duetsch posted this on the GT Support Forum. It is re-printed here on the Blog with permission. Thanks Lisa!)

Hi everyone! I know I don’t have to tell any of you how fabulous genesis is – losing fat, feeling fab, and looking good too. At the same time, I wanted to share how significant this experience has been for my health, and how grateful I am to have ignored the advise of doctors.

It was 1 yr ago that I was recovering from my 4th or 5th bout of a slipped disc in my back in about three years. Each time, the problem seemed to get worse, and the bouts started coming with more frequency. Of course, being 90-130# overweight wasn’t exactly helping my situation!

Never-the-less, last spring, two different doctors advised that I needed to have back surgery to deal with my degenerating disc. I was resistant, for obvious reasons. It seemed so drastic – doesn’t it make sense to try the least invasive method(s) first, and only use surgery as a last resort? My only surgery to date (I’m 41) was to repair a torn tendon in my pinky finger smiling smiley when I was a teenager. And I’d like to keep it that way. It was obvious to me that the first thing I should try was to lose weight (duh!) – but it amazed me that the doctors bypassed the obvious recommendation, and went right to the drastic measures.

Now, 1 yr later, I’m down 65#, working out, stronger, more active and able to do things around my house that I not only didn’t have the energy for a year ago, but was terrified would cause a disc to slip again. Did I mention that I have had ZERO back issues since starting GT? Now I go to the chiropractor every 6-8 weeks and simply get a tune-up, rather than an overhaul 3-4 times/week.

My point isn’t to gab about me (although I just did) but to point out just how off-the-mark doctors can be in their recommendations. If I had listened and gone for the ‘easy’ solution, I would have spent a gazillion dollars on MRIs, drugs, surgeries, hospital stays and follow up doctor visits. I would probably have gained another 20-30# out of depression and lying around recovering. Oh – and my cholesteral would still be 285, I’d still drink like a fish,I’d still be eating prepackaged crap, and I’d definitely still be depressed. I would have further polluted my body with drugs, and would have picked up speed down that slope to death (either dying or living, right?).

So – this program is clearly about more than having a gorgeous body. And I’m so thankful to have stumbled upon it, because it’s truly transforming my health.

~woohoo~
Lisa

Sheri’s Rants # 14 – Standing in the Mess You’re In

THIS RANT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.  NEEDED A REMODEL.  WAS UNFIT FOR VIEWING.  I’M NOT KIDDING.  IT WAS BAD.  I CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT.  THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE.  HAVE FUN, SL

My Genesis Transformation Journey – Kelly Mortensen

Kelly (before)

My Genesis Transformation journey began in November 2007 at 37 years old and 220 lbs. I

Kelly Today!!

had been diagnosed with high blood pressure, pre-diabetes, and other weight related health issues. I was appalled at how I let myself get to that point. There is no reason that I should be facing such health issues at my age. I was mad…and scared.
I had tried every diet out there and failed. I lost a ton of weight with Weight Watchers, but gained it back and then some. I knew I needed to eat healthy and exercise, but I just didn’t know how. After a Genesis Transformation fitness camp flyer landed in my lap, I did some research, and was excited to see that there was someone out there that was actually willing to teach me.
I have never experienced success the way I am experiencing it now. A year and a half later, 48 pounds lighter, and healthy! My blood pressure is back to normal. No more health issues! Not only am I losing weight, but I am repairing my body and making it healthy again. In fact, I have NEVER felt this healthy in all my life.
The really great thing is that my head is getting healthy too! My moods are much better…I no longer feel like I’m constantly on a roller coaster. I have discovered and battled through my food “issues”. I am no longer looking to food for comfort, escape, or punishment. I am looking at food as a fuel source for my high performance machine.
Every experience with GT has taught me something. I have learned that with TIME changes happen…it does not happen overnight. I have learned what feeling good feels like…and when I eat clean I feel good. I have learned that I don’t want to feel bad anymore. I have learned that when I plan ahead, eat clean, and exercise my body changes. I have learned that when I listen, not just hear my coach, I have success. I have learned that every failure has made me stronger and every success propels me forward. I have learned that health is….easy.
It’s important to always look for inspiration no matter where you are in the process. Thank goodness for my kids, because they are really smart..this is how they inspire me:
From my daughter, Hailey 17, who lives for softball. She has this quote on her mirror and looks at it every day;
“I make my weaknesses my strengths, and my strengths stronger” – Lisa Fernandez, Pitcher, Team USA
This makes so much sense to me. Pick a struggle, and decide to no longer struggle with it. Beat it, and get really good at it. Then, with practice, get even better.
Advice from my son, Trent 18, avid motor-head;
“You gotta pin it to win it”
I love this…if you embrace this process with your whole heart and mind, you will be successful! You have nothing to lose.. so go all out!! Believe in yourself…if you don’t, who will?
For the first time, I am ok with what I see in the mirror. I enjoy my new body. I enjoy my new attitude. I enjoy my new knowledge. Without a doubt, I know I will get to my goal. I look forward to becoming a Certified Genesis Coach and paying it forward…giving back what Sheri Lynn and the Genesis team has so graciously given me. My health.

Kelly Mortensen

STEPPING OUTSIDE OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

“Of course we all have our limits, but how can you possibly find your boundaries unless you explore as far and as wide as you possibly can? I would rather fail in an attempt at something new and uncharted than safely succeed in a repeat of something I have done.” by A.E. Hotchner.

One of my absolute favorite quotes!!

Samantha Gilman

Exploring our boundaries far and wide and stepping outside of our current comfort zones allows us to experience expansion and growth. To think “outside of the box” or “outside of our current beliefs and patterns” will ensure change and transformation. How will we ever experience self growth if we don’t push ourselves to learn or try something new, think differently, or change our behaviors and actions? As a coach I often hear a myriad of excuses from my clients on why they “had to have that glass of wine at the party”, “couldn’t resist the cake at the baby shower”, or how dare they “insult someone by not eating what that person made”. I never judge my clients for their choices but I do recognize this reasoning as self sabotage and being stuck in old patterns. How do we get unstuck out of these old beliefs, thoughts, and patterns that keep us prisoner to our old ways and deter us from meeting our goals?

First, we must recognize them and then be pro-active about changing them. Yes, this may mean feeling uncomfortable and traveling into unchartered territory for oneself in a variety of ways. Unknowns often bring up fear, denial, and resistance in ourselves. However, we must persevere through it and trust that the resistance and fear will pass. Once we take this step and break through the resistance, what is on the other side is so rewarding and surprisingly comfortable! The world is full of unlimited possibilities, why wouldn’t we explore these opportunities to allow ourselves to continually evolve into the absolute best that we can be? We are all unique and beautiful individuals with many gifts, wisdom, knowledge, and talents to share. By being open to the unknown and exploring beyond our current boundaries we allow ourselves to grow on a deeper and more profound level. These experiences of self exploration lead to long lasting success because we feel EMPOWERED when we have breakthroughs. We are meant to shift and not stay static, everything in the world is constantly changing. Recently in a lecture Sheri was talking about how each thought, behavior, choice, and action is either directing our lives on the path of regeneration or the path of degeneration. Which path will you choose today?

Yoga, meditation, and quiet time allows us to sit with ourselves and see our “stuff”. This time brings great clarity, peace, and empowerment in one’s life. These tools will also support you in integrating these regenerating new ways and letting go of self sabotage and degenerating old ways with grace and ease So have fun and give yourself the gift of expanding and exploring by trying new foods, new exercises, books, yoga classes, meditations, different habits when attending social functions, different ways to deal with stress and all without any degeneration or harm to yourself!! Find more ways to seek growth, education, ways to love and take care of your WORTHY self and to regenerate your body, mind, and spirit!! Think, be, and do in ways you never have thought possible before and the rewards will be magnificent indeed!!

Be well,
Samantha