Month: January 2012

who’s joining me on Febfast this year? (a great IQS thing to do*)

by

If you’re currently quitting sugar* – or if you’re not, but would like to do SOMETHING to get your health back on flowing tracks – you’ll like this poke up the bum I’m about to give you:

join me in ditching alcohol in February

Yes, just one month. Actually, 29 days this year. Which is exactly enough time for your liver to regrouprefocus, that bloating to go, your skin to clear and your focus to get sharp.

 

Picture 4 who's joining me on Febfast this year? (a great IQS thing to do*)
image via 'break out'

For the past few years I’ve done FebFast. I’m now the patron of the national charity, which challenges people to send their grog on a holiday to raise money to help young Australians overcome alcohol, drug and mental health problems.  Find out more here.

My job as patron is to get you on board to abstain from drinking for the month. For your health. For your esteem. For your wallet. For the good of our community. For making a difference.

If you’re keen to join my team, and quit booze, click the button below.

FebFast button who's joining me on Febfast this year? (a great IQS thing to do*)Type in “sarahw” as the password.

Then you’ll need to contact all your mates to sponsor you. For the past three years Team Sarah Wilson has topped the fundraising ladder (and already we’re perched up there!).

Or you can choose to just sponsor me, here.

Just kick in what you can afford.

If you’re currently on the see-saw of ‘should I/shouldn’t I’, let’s see if this helps:

  • Eliminating alcohol from your diet is a quick way to lose weight. One beer is the caloric equivalent of a meat pie. Two glasses of champagne is one fifth of your recommended energy intake for a day. Ouch!

    Read more

how to heal autoimmune disease: infra-red saunas

by

So to kick off this occasional how to heal autoimmune disease series once again, a passionate rundown of the joys of the infra-red sauna.

double exposure by tierney gearon how to heal autoimmune disease: infra-red saunas
Image by Tierney Gearon

Nora Gedgaudas first suggested I use one. That’s all she said. Go. Use one. I’ve done it a number of times since, and it’s made a HUGE difference. I get a lot of lymphatic blockage and it bloats the right side of my body and my face. I also get joint pain from toxin build-up…and it all just… goes…. after a session in one of these. I can go in “thyroidy” and come out calm, enlivened.

I dug around a bit to see what’s been said about them and from a range of literature, this is what I found:

Is it just like a normal sauna?

Not so much. It heats objects rather than the surrounding air. Normal saunas get you sweating by sheer force of heat; infra-red saunas heat the deepest organs and tissues of the body by penetrating the infra-red band of light about 3-4cm below the skin surface. This causes the body to sweat at a temperature of only 35-45C, heating the internal tissues without overheating the skin and respiratory system as ordinary saunas do.

What will they fix and how so?

It assists with a whole bunch of auto-immuny symptoms and issues.

Detoxing

Infra red waves matches the frequency of the water in our cells, causing toxins to be released into the blood stream and excreted through sweat. Increased blood circulation caused by sweating stimulates the sweat glands, releasing built up toxins and waste. As the heat penetrates the deeper, denser tissues, the infra-red heat softens deposits of crystallized toxins and acid wastes in the joints, nerves, and connective tissues allowing them to be dissolved and excreted via the bloodstream, lymphatic system, and through the skin as sweat.

A lot of AI issues stem from heavy metal toxicity. This kind of heat is particularly effective for eliminating heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, zinc and nickel from the tissues as well as toxins like nicotine, alcohol and chemicals.

Read more

how to heal autoimmune disease: an update

by

OK, it’s been a while since I’ve done an auto-immune post (for those new here, you can find the backlog of AI posts here). But I’m going to start up a bit of a series again. For reasons I feel it’s worth explaining.

Picture 91 how to heal autoimmune disease: an update
photo via Colin Hill flickr

NOTE: For anyone who DOESN’T have an AI…

1. be damn glad

2. you’ll still very much find these posts helpful.

Any tips that help an AI disease are tips that go to the absolute heart of good health and top living.

What I share is only good, fundamental, well, ways to live the good, good life.

3. feel free to forward this link to a friend who does have an AI. I think they’ll like you more for it.

So, my update. My hashimotos has gone a little haywire over the past few months. As a result I’ve had to pull back on a few commitments (you might have noticed…my book, my column) and I’ve been digging deeper into some of the craziness going on, trying out some new techniques, like going paleo and talking to folk like Chris Kresser and Nora Gedgaudas. I’m starting to get some traction in my understanding if not my health.

I know some of you have asked: how BAD do you actually get. You’re not being rude. My friends and family have to ask the same because when I’m BAD, I go M.I.A. So they don’t really see thyroidy me. It’s hard for them to get it. I kind of exit stage left when I’m BAD, not so much due to shame (tho’ that does have a bit to do with it), but because when I’m “thyroidy” I simply can’t face the world. Dark, cool rooms. Not moving. That’s pretty much the spectrum.

On days like this I revert to this intentional resting technique.

When I made the decision to pull back and recalibrate a few months ago I was unable to function 4-5 days a week. It had been about one day a fortnight previously – which I could deal with. But the uggggh days crept up on me. I almost didn’t notice. Until I did.

Read more

paleo coconut flour muffins – sugarfree, of course

by

I’ve been asked a few times about coconut flour. Is it a grain? Is it starchy? Good for kids quitting sugar? I could’ve mouthed off based on a vague knowledge. But I dug around a bit…

IMG 0105 paleo coconut flour muffins - sugarfree, of course

Erstwhile, my conclusions:

There are six reasons to give coconut flour a crack.

1. It’s sweet tasting, but contains no fructose (as with all coconut products).

2. It’s great for baking – it gives things a dense texture.

3. But it’s grainless, thus containing no sugary starch nor toxins (phytic acid etc). Which is why it’s the paleo’s “flour” of choice.

4. It’s efficient. It’s the natural byproduct from making coconut milk – the dried coconut meat that’s left over. I like this. It’s using up stuff that would otherwise be chucked.

5. It curbs cravings. It’s rich in protein, fiber and good fat. As well as manganese, which is craving-curber.

Read more

I Quit Sugar program: love that fat (week 2)

by

All things cruising well, most of you are probably a good few days, if not a little longer, into this sugar quitting caper. I’ve loved following how you’re all going.

Unknown I Quit Sugar program: love that fat (week 2)

First up, some little house keeping:

* I have a new Facebook I Quit Sugar page: I’ll be updating it mostly daily with new helpful information and tips and offers… feel free to wade into the community and hang out there.

* If you’re on twitter, use the #IQS hashtag. See what everyone else is saying, support each other, post photos of the food you’re making. It’s a growing thang!

* And I invite you to join the IQS mailing list here. To be really honest, I haven’t thought of how I’ll be using it yet, but I PROMISE it will be only for special offers and information. NEVER spam.

So, how’ve you been going?

I think the general vibe is that most of you have skipped the easing off process and gone straight to NO SUGAR. All good.

But equally, no stress if you’re taking a slowly, slowly approach. I did and I found it was the best attack.

This week we’re introducing some more fat and still cutting back on the sugar, gearing our bodies up to the change.

Also no stress if you’ve QUIT. Then lapsed already. Seriously. No stress. This might happen from time to time.

And no stress if you’re just getting on board now.

Let me share three things:

1. We’re doing this gently. When we’re gentle, things feel good. When things feel good, we continue. Studies show we’re more likely to stick to a resolution if we’re compassionate with ourselves as we go.

Read more

friday giveaway: 10 copies of the luscious “Supercharged Food” cookbook by Lee Holmes

by

It’s Friday. It’s summer. Everyone seems to be on some sort of healthy switch-about. So a fitting giveaway! This week I’m giving away…

10 copies of ‘Supercharged Food’

SuperCharged Icecream friday giveaway: 10 copies of the luscious "Supercharged Food" cookbook by Lee Holmes
From Lee’s book: sugarfree coconut icecream! See recipe below.

Regular readers will have caught previous posts about Lee Holmes‘ cooking. Lee has an autoimmune disease and has healed herself through diet and her new book – Supercharged Food – includes 90 recipes that don’t contain gluten, wheat, sugar, yeast or dairy. Seriously, this cookbook is the most perfect little package of whole food eating ideas. Honestly, as sound as it comes. Which is why I put my name to a blurb of endorsement on the cover.

Anyway, a lot of you got as frothy over it as I did, so Lee and the good folk at Murdoch Books have generously offered to give away some copies to regular readers here.

9781742663159 300 friday giveaway: 10 copies of the luscious "Supercharged Food" cookbook by Lee HolmesTo be in the running for a copy of the book, you’ll simply need to do the following:

* Go to my new! I Quit Sugar Facebook page (“like” it) and then share a sugarfree eating tip you’ve been playing with. Or a factoid you’ve come across. No rush: just like ‘n’ post by Friday 13 January.

* We will randomly select ten people, and a copy of Supercharged Food will be on it’s way to you.

* For anyone too impatient to wait: Lee’s book is available from her website. Lee is a regular columnist for Wellbeing magazine, and a writer for Miranda Kerr’s Kora Organics blog. Check out her website and blog.

 

But to that ice cream recipe…

Read more

I love this idea: the plentitude economy

by

This video from the Center for the New American Dream paints a picture of how I think we all want to live.

Everyone talks about green economies, decluttering, recycling…which are good. To a point. But they’re still focused on consuming and growth. Right?

The. Only. Way. To. Be. Sustainable. Which at the same time is The. Best. Way. To. Live. Happily and Purely is…

To consume and do less.

The video suggests:

  • Reducing work hours – a 4 day work week. The Dutch have done this. It works. My God we need to do the same.
  • DIYing our lives a lot more. This makes us happy, I’ve written about this in Sunday Life.
  • Building communities. I want to investigate this further myself. Which is why I’m thinking of going to Scandinavia this year – to check out how it’s being done over there.

I truly try to live this way.

  • I have a car and it’s not a new “green” one. But I drive it less. I move less. When I do move, I ride. I read a report that says walking to the shops once a week instead of driving reduces one’s footprint more than owning a green car for a year (don’t quote me on the specifics…it was something to this effect…and if anyone knows the study, please share!).

    Read more

I Quit Sugar Program: let’s start

by

Welcome! Welcome! And Happy 2012 to you. I reckon it’s going to be a ripper. And a great time to shed the stuff that holds us back. Like sugar. (The astrologists agree, apparently).

will murai 1 I Quit Sugar Program: let's start
Image by Will Murai

For the next eight weeks I’m going to “hold your hand” through the process of quitting sugar. It is a bit of a process and it took me months of research and guinea pig antics to find the safest, most effective, gentlest, most permanent and enjoyable (yes!!) method.

I overeat. I’m food obsessed. I was a starch addict. I have an auto-immune disease which means I have problems with hypoglycemia.

Ergo, I get your fear and resistance and I know all the little tuggings going on right now in your being.

But know this: this process works. And it’s worth doing. Even if just for eight weeks. To see what happens.

This is our mantra: to see what happens. We’re experimenting.

This is how it’s going to work:

* You read the book. I suggest reading the whole lot. Then refreshing week-to-week as you go through the process. No drama if you’re just getting around to reading it. You can follow the 8-week program in your own way.

* Every Monday I’ll do a post that updates you with some extra tips, provides comfort and answers to a bunch of your questions. Because you will have some!

Read more