B +

Fit and Feelin' Fabulous is my new mantra as the real me begins to reappear before my very eyes, just in time to flaunt that gorgeous Victoria's Secret swimsuit I've been using as an incentive for the past two years!

I downloaded Natalia Rose's Raw Food Detox Diet book to my PDA after running into Carol Alt's website while surfing the Web not long ago. Carol and I are practically the same age, but definitely not the same physique, and I have been struggling with the same health and weight challenges Carol described since switching back to the Standard American Diet after a brief love affair with living foods ten years ago.

This latest encounter prompted me to seriously reconsider my interpretation of "Take no thought" since I've spent so much time in the kitchen over the years planning and cooking family meals, but literally "took no thought" when it came to grabbing something fresh and natural from the frig -- no thought about preparation (always ready to eat,) no thought about quantity or quality of the food on my plate, no thought about health or weight or energy levels.

I know in my heart of hearts "there is nothing either good or bad," but leaving my ingrained food beliefs behind has proven to be one of the biggest challenges of my life! I also realize "Right is radical," as Mrs. Eddy so eloquently demonstrated in her own lifework, and I went to extremes in the opposite direction from her teachings in Christian Science when I first stepped into the living foods movement. OTOH, Carol and Natalia seem much more sensible in their relaxed, easy-going approach to improving one's lifestyle than most raw advocates I've known. Natalia also talks about the Law of Attraction in her newest book, The New Energy Body, so I'm really looking forward to reading what she has to say.

The great thing about this program is it allows for the occasional dinner out with family & friends, unlimited fresh fare with no need for calorie counting or a rigid exercise regime, and best of all - rich dark 70% chocolate is regarded as a staple treat for those in transition! I know it works because I've done it and never felt better in my life, and yes, I have no doubts that I attracted this into my experience after a very rough day a few weeks back when I made a decision that something had to give... and NOW!

Prior to that, I had jokingly challenged myself to get into a pair of my daughter's old jeans by the time she returned at the end of the spring semester, so that inadvertently put out a specific goal to the Universe and got the ball rolling. Obviously, this has been one of the missing ingredients to successfully implementing my ultimate plan to feel fit and fabulous forever!

So far, I've taken things slowly and let my husband do the thinking about what he wants for dinner, while I eat what is readily available and most appetizing to my palate. Interestingly enough, DH had begun to frequent the produce section more often on his shopping trips for the family before I discovered Carol and Natalia's work -- so the Universe was preparing the way for a new day even before it was revealed to me! Btw, I've already dropped a dress size in the past week or so and it FEELS SO GOOD :D See ya' on the beach!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reflection of Perfection ~ I AM!
Your Secret Pal, Pen :o)

L.U.C.K. = Living Under Correct Knowledge (James Ray)
*Blinkie by Fawn@DuckDollz*

Labels: carol alt, feel fabulous, fit, law of attraction, living foods, natalia rose, raw, secret, swimsuit

What Is The Secret?: Oprah Discovers "The Secret" ::: The Official Secret Blog

This past month I've been checking out the works of Kimberly Mac, The 'Naked' Vegan ;) who presents Healthy LIVEstyle courses for incorporating into the menu, whole, natural, and living foods such as Michael Thurmond advocates in the Six Week Body Makeover, which I presented to myself as a birthday gift last year.

Kimberly recently sent me an autographed copy of Wake Up... Live the Life You Love: Finding Your Life’s Passion, a compilation of inspirational stories with co-contributors, including herself, Deepak Chopra, Dr. Wayne Dyer and others. As one who has also overcome serious health challenges in the past, Kimberly's story was especially uplifting.

About twelve years ago, Kimberly was suddenly stricken with a debilitating illness, leaving her unable to walk. The doctors eventually diagnosed her with an "incurable" condition known as Fybromyalgia. Kimberly faced the spectre of living the rest of her life on drug therapy, but instead she decided to take control of her own destiny and sought out holistic methods of healing. Today Kimberly Mac is disease-free, in the best of health, and successful as a Rejuvenation and Health Educator, Best-selling Author, Certified Living Foods Chef & Instructor, Speaker and Radio Personality. Life goes on!



Another inspirational contributor to the book, Bruce Towers, sums up his positive approach to life in two brief words: Pay Attention. In his article, "Childhood Dreams, Adults Wake Up," Bruce writes:

"There's only one of us here. Energy is just another word for love. Love is all there is.

"We - for lack of a better word - are playing a game. We are pretending to be separate people. There is no you. There is no me. There's only love. We're looking in a mirror. We're talking to ourself. This appearing to be you and me is an illusion. So pay attention.

"The universe is our body. The universe is a projection, a creation, an emanation from and of our subconscious. Change the deep beliefs and feelings in our subconscious and the universe changes. Or, as Wayne Dyer likes to say, 'Change the way we look at things and the things we look at change.' We regain control of the universe by knowing, as we look at it, it's us.

"The only sane way to deal with a universe of love is with love."

Vayan con Dios {Love}, Amigos ~

Happy Easter

La Vierge à L'agneau (1903) by William Bouguereau
[translation: Virgin and Lamb]

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser:
teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. - PROVERBS.

LAMB OF GOD. The spiritual idea of Love; self-immolation;
innocence and purity; sacrifice. ~ GLOSSARY,
Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy

Consecration required
Paul had a clear sense of the demands of Truth upon mortals physically and spiritually, when he said: "Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." SCIENCE OF BEING, Ibid.

Keep the Faith, Hope, but most of all ~
Love, Penne

I expect to pass through life but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, for I shall not pass this way again. --- William Penn 1644

This quote has been shared here courtesy of WWW.HappyOtter.Com in exchange for 1 Random Act of Kindness. If you pass it along to others, please email a brief description of your act of kindness to Kindness@HappyOtter.Com

New Wings' remembrances and encouragement of me & my goals!! I adore the bright, sunny "Gratitude Journal" graphic on your 43T entries. Is that your own unique design? God is Love, and truly All I need to feel fulfilled in my heart all year long.

Vayan con Dios, Amigos

May you all have a Happy V day! on grow spiritually on 43 Things

Six Weeks Perfectly on Plan with the Six Week Body Makeover and counting... Lost 8.5 lb. and 26.0 in. total for the New Body U. Winter Session — 10 lb. and 28.0 in. total since the first of the year. Swimsuit season, here I come!!


Welcome to the Team! on be Fit & Feel Fabulous Forever! on 43 Things

Joined a simulation game called New Body University on the Six Week Body Makeover forum and have been having a blast for the past few weeks... not to mention sticking with the program! So far, so good -- I've surprised myself with the will and determination to make this a bona fide lifestyle change for good.



Be Fit & Feel Fabulous Forever! on 43 Things