Losing it! :)

so i'm on jenny craig to lose weight. and i did, so far 6 lbs in 2 1/2 weeks. yippee! eating every 2 hours has kept my sugar levels stable. i'm also increasing aerobic activity with eliptical interval training ie 1 minute fast, 1 minute slower for 20-30 minutes @ least. that way i raise my heart beat to 85% and burn more calories. i learned this when i was a competitive swimmer (and i was strong and way thinner than now). i need to lose all the weight i gained since i moved to LA 6 1/2 years ago. stress will do this to you. and having been on the road as a stand-up for the first 5 years of my LA experience didn't help. when you're on the road you eat what's available which is mostly crappy foods. there's no "whole foods" in winnemucca, nv! last time i was there, there wasn't even a starbucks! anyway, if you're trying to lose weight, i recommend eat small portions 6-8 times a day and do lots of cardio with interval training.

FOOD CONSULTANT NADIA SAYS (foodconsultant@yahoo.com)

FOOD OF the DAY:

Cucumber: Excellent diuretic properties to reduce fluid retention. Anti-inflammatory effect on the urinary tract, gums and skin. Rich content of silica is beneficial for the hair, nails and skin. Reduces hair loss and kidney stones.

Source: Sandra Cabot MD

THOUGHT OF the DAY:

“Have an indestructible personality. Refuse to give up. You will not be crushed. Let rejection roll off of you!”

-Ron Ball

EMBRACING FRESH, ORGANIC WHOLE FOODS

1. Fill up with healthy, unprocessed fats. Fats have the highest satiety rate, which means it will help stabilize your blood sugar levels and hunger. At meals and/or snacks, use fats to complement your meals. Use avocados, extra virgin olive oil (unfiltered), coconut butter, coconut oil, olives, raw pecans, walnuts, chia seeds, flax seeds, almonds, and pumpkin seeds.

Back to JC...not Jesus....Jenny Craig!

ok, so i counted calories and apparently my math is not as good as it used to be cause i gained 1 pound in a week. so today i made a decision, i'm gonna do jenny craig so i can lose 10 lbs before my shoot on december 11th. so i'll be blogging about my progress and of course always giving you guys recipes.

i'm also going to see my doctor tomorrow see if my hypoglycemia is the cause of my difficulty to lose weight. i know, excuses, excuses, excuses. shut your pie mouth, grace and you'll lose weight! that's what you're thinking , right? i understand. however, in my defense, i don't eat much and i'm forced to eat a lil bit every 2 hours so i can maintain my blood sugars in line.

FOOD CONSULTANT NADIA AREVALO (food.consultant@yahoo.com) SAYS:

1. Focus on quality of the food. Does it have white flour, preservatives, artificial colors, margarine, corn syrup, white sugar, pesticides? It is heavily processed by machinery? Would you find that food product in nature? If you’re eating a quality meal, take your time to chew and indulge in the complex flavors. Eat until you’re full. There’s no reason to feel guilty if you’re eating lots of organic vegetables! The more you fill your body with nutrient-dense foods, the more stable you’ll feel. And the less snacking you’ll need.

FOOD AND THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

Cranberry: Has antiseptic properties and contains benzoic and quinic acids, which reduce urinary tract infections. Excellent cleanser and skin tonic.

Source: Sandra Cabot MD

“Everyone has the same challenges in life, so your problem isn’t a big deal.”

SMOOTHIE OF THE DAY:

Veggie/fruit Smoothie

1 pear

1 apple

Handful of romaine lettuce

Handful of spinach

1 celery stalk

½ tsp vanilla powder

1 TBSP hemp seeds

1 TBSP honey (optional)

Blend and enjoy!

I can count on counting...calories, that is!

i've been counting calories....i have to lose weight! portion control is key, which is tough to manage with hypoglycemia! i have to eat every 2 hours so i have to make sure that the portions are small. i have always struggled with gaining weight quickly and i know i'm not alone on that quest. having been a competitive swimmer for 15 years has screwed up my eating and metabolism. our swim coach used to tell us we were gonna gain weight after we quit swimming competitively. i wish i had the time to train like an athlete again but i'm too old and tired to do that. :P so all i have left is control, control, control the portions. i'll be blogging the weight loss (hopefully) today i only ate 1400 calories. i hope i can keep it up this week.

FOOD CONSULTANT NADIA AREVALO SAYS:

Food of the day:

Cilantro: Relieves gas, and reduces stomach and intestinal cramps. Used successfully for appetite loss and indigestion. Excellent for salads and juices.

Source: Sandra Cabot MD

Thought of the day:

“Whenever you believe a negative thought, you are lying to yourself.”

HEALTHY RECIPE OF THE DAY

Warm Smoothie:

1 cup pure water

½ cup almonds, soaked

Bunch of greens

1 ripe banana

TT Nutmeg

TT Allspice………. blend!

I'm ba-ack!

it's been a long 2 weeks with lots of changes and drama. but that's material for "my hollywood life" blog. so i have made a decision about losing weight. i'm gonna try weight watchers! my doctor told me that's the only program you lose the weight and keep it off. so i'm going to a meeting on tuesday. i'm gonna still be eating healthy of course and blogging more recipes. i'm also gonna blog about the weight watchers program and how well it works (or not).

FOOD CONSULTANT NADIA AREVALO (foodconsultant@yahoo.com) SAYS:

Food of the Day- Coconut: “Coconut milk helps to relieve sore throats and peptic ulcers. The flesh can be used by the body to manufacture hormones and cell membranes. Excellent base for non-dairy smoothies.”

Source: Sandra Cabot MD

Thought of the Day: “Any ideas, plan, or purpose may be placed in the mind through repetition of thought.”

-Napoleon Hill

SALAD OF THE DAY:

Green string bean/yam salad:

1 cup finely sliced green beans

1 med grated beet

1 med grated yam

4-5 grated radishes

1-2 TBSP parsley

TT nama soyu

tt eden brown rice vinegar

1 TBSP olive oil

optional: top with raw nuts

Homemade Nori Rolls:

Holder	Stabilizer	Flavor	Fillers
1 or 2:		TT:	LOTS:
Nori Sheet	1 Avocado…. or ½ cup Hummus…. or ½ cup Guacamole	Nama Shoyu + Ginger	Sprouts, lettuce, carrots, yams, beets, turnips, (finely diced) cauliflower, radishes….

Nutty snack:

· 1 (or 2 if really hungry) handful of almonds, walnuts, cashews or pecans

Let go...and the weight will come off!

i realized lately that after 3 car accidents in 3 years and several bouts of bronchitis due to tutoring kids (big time germ pools), i have gained weight. my doctor says my body doesn't wanna let go of the weight in case i get in another accident or develop more bronchitis. so i realized hat not only i have to let go of my fear of needing extra pounds for survival but also that i need to let go of my fears in general. lose the extra baggage...in more ways than one.

FOOD CONSULTANT NADIA SAYS:

Food of the Day- Citrus fruits: “Soothes inflamed mucus membranes. Powerful antioxidant with anti-aging properties. Improves collagen formation and skin tone.”

Source: Sandra Cabot MD

Thought of the Day: “Happiness is found in doing; not merely possessing.”

-Napoleon Hill

Embracing Fresh, Organic, wholefoods…..

1. Make ¾ of your plate vegetables, whether they’re raw, steamed, roasted, grilled, sautéed, shredded, fermented, marinated, etc. Use as many or as little variety of veggies, but keep adding them to meals to help you fill up with fiber. You eat with your eyes first, so when you see a plate with an over abundance of volume (from vegetables), your already see you’re not being deprived of food.

The good carbs :)

ok, so i had bad carbs today. i was hungry and i wanted to be bad. i had a cheese pastry....yum! except for today, i have been eating way less carbs and no refined sugar. it makes a huge difference in my weight management and my energy level. the only carbs i allow myself to have are: brown rice, wheat cereal and maybe a slice of wheat bread. i have lots of protein, veggies and fruits. and it's working! :)

FOOD CONSULTANT NADIA SAYS:

Food of the Day- Cherries: “Good blood cleanser. Valuable for anemia, rheumatism, asthma, high blood pressure, constipation and cramps.”

Source: Sandra Cabot MD

Thought of the Day: “Edison failed 10,000 times before he made the electric light. Do not be discouraged if you fail a few times.”

SNACKS:

Cereal:

Fiber	Liquid	Stabilizer
½- 1 ⅔cup:	TT:	Optional:
365 High Fiber Organic Cereal and/or Eziekel Original Cereal (sprinkle with cinnamon)	Nutmylk… . or Coconut water …. or water (sweeten with stevia or crystals)	Top with small handful of nuts for a quick breakfast meal

Juice it up!

i made an amazing discovery. it's called JUICING. i did an infomercial with jack lalanne 6 years ago. that's when i was introduced to it. camera was rolling and i pick up a glass of juice. i'm into colors so i picked up the deep red one. as i start tasting it, i have to say "it's yummy!". well, it wasn't. my face gave it away so i hear "cut!". so that left a bad taste in my mouth. until i met hank. he introduced me to yummy juicing. what a healthy snack! i don't know about you but right before i go to bed, i'm hungry. so hank patiently makes me a magic juice brew: carrots, celery and apple. delish! i feel satisfied and my blood sugars are perfect!

FOOD CONSULTANT NADIA SAYS:

Food of the Day- Celery: “Reduces acidity, which is beneficial in cases of arthritis, gout and toxicity. Excellent in cases of stomach acidity and reflux. Calms the nervous system. Lessens a ‘sweet-tooth.”

Source: Sandra Cabot MD

Thought of the Day: “All achievements, all earned riches, have their beginning in an idea.”

-Napoleon Hill

SNACK IDEAS!

JUICE JUICE JUICE!

And.....

CRACKERS

Organic rice crackers
Leaf's corn chips www.leaforganics.com
Leaf's kale chips www.leaforganics.com
Mary's Gone crackers

I eat my frustrations, do you?

so most of us eat our frustrations. other people starve their frustrations. living in hollywood is a whole different world. and that world is full of frustrations. the one that's been eating me away...that i've been eating away is the consequences of dating a celebrity. while most non hollywood people would treat my bf and moi the same, in hollywood there's a cast system that gives people permission to behave like rude, inconsiderate a-holes. let me expand: they introduce my bf and leave me behind like i'm not even there. and these are the people that know ME ie my friends or my acquaintances. or they start talking to him and completely ignore me like i'm a piece of furniture. now the same people that do this, then ask ME for favors. "would you pitch my show?", "can you book me on your show?", you get the picture. to those who have made this a habit, let me tell you something: i go home with this man and tell him how i feel when people do that. so if this people were a tad smart, they would learn to treat me like a human being. LA takes your humanity away, i swear! i thank God for having the gift of teaching lil ones cause they're the only ones in my life that keep it real.

so now that i vented...i feel better...i'm gonna celebrate! with cake...vegan cake....;)

next time, instead of eating my frustrations away, i'm gonna write about them. so be nice to me or you might end up on my blog. and you're so blinded by your bullshit that you won't even recognize yourself.

ttfn!

FOOD CONSULTANT NADIA SAYS:

Food of the Day- Cauliflower: “Excellent blood purifier and liver tonic. Useful for kidney/bladder disorders and constipation.”

Source: Sandra Cabot MD

Thought of the Day: “There are no limitations to the mind except those we acknowledge.”

-Napoleon Hill

GREAT SNACKS:

Homemade Trail Mix:

In a plastic Ziploc bag MIX:

Complex Carbs	Stabilizer	Sweetener
½ -1 cup:	7-10:	Few:
365 High Fiber Organic Cereal and/or Eziekel Original Cereal…. sprinkle w/ cinnamon J	Any mixture of: RAW almonds, walnuts, cashews or pecans	Any mixture of: Goji berries, Inca berries, dried cranberries

No time to exercise!

i've been sooo busy lately! producing 2 sizzle reels, working on my solo show, auditioning, doing acting gigs, doing stand up & improv shows and tutoring to supplement my income. CRAZY! but loving it! (hank doesn't love it so much..) anywho, my biggest problem is no time or energy to exercise. like today, i just want to vegetate at home doing nothing or doing fun things like blogging.

so since i can't exercise like i used to, i find that my incorporating vegan is helping me to NOT gain weight. i eat very lil carbs and focus on protein (meat 3 times a week) and lots of veggies. not just lettuce and tomato, i'm talking awesome salads that have all the vitamins and nutrition that you need. add grated beets, grated yams, celery, corn and beans to your salad. it's filling, nutritious and low cal.

so i'm including a few fun salads for you to incorporate in your diet.

FOOD CONSULTANT NADIA SAYS:

Food of the Day- Carrot: “Excellent for skin problems. Reduces inflammation of the mucus membranes in the intestines and respiratory tract. Is a liver cleanser and tonic. Healing effect in ulcerous and inflamed conditions of the stomach and intestines.”

Source: Sandra Cabot MD

Thought of the Day: "A person is a product of his own thoughts. Believe BIG."

-David J. Schwartz

A lil Something about Nadia:

Hi Everyone,

Here’s a bit about me J I have been studying nutrition for almost 10 years as the inspiration of my elderly father, teachers and my personal health has taught me to discover how food is closely related to mood, energy, mental clarity, aging, and disease prevention. I received my Bachelors of Science in Nutritional Sciences and a Certificate in Alternative Nutrition from California State University of Los Angeles as well as a Certificate in Beginning Culinary Arts.

My years of gained knowledge through education, research, doctors, travel, seminars and receiving mentoring from masters of different dietary disciplines has endowed me with a wealth of expertise I enjoy sharing with my clients and friends alike. Toxins and chemicals are so embedded in our daily consumption that, in many cases, making just a few changes increases the vibration of your life. I invite you to take the first step in revealing the best you can be. Feel free to contact me through e-mail.

~Nadia Arévalo

Wellness Food Consultant

food.consultant@yahoo.com

SALADS GALORE!

Celery, turnip & beet salad:

1 cup thinly sliced celery
1/2 cup of grated turnips
1/2 cup of grated beets
1/2 tbsp brown rice vinegar
1/2 tbsp lemon juice
3/4 tbsp nama shoyu (basically soy sauce)
1 tbsp olive oil
dandelion TT

Zucchini salad:

1 cup grated zucchini
1/2 cup grated carrot
1 whole large smashed avocado
1/2 tbsp nama shoyu
1/2 tbsp grated ginger
1 1/2 tbsp sesame/olive oil
turmeric TT
dill or basil TT

Snack away!

after a hard core vegan regime, i was able to accept and LOVE veggies and fruits. so now i'm eating meat twice a week and eating way more greens! and LIKING them! i'm also repelled to sugary foods which i used to be addicted to. i eat every 2 hours to keep my sugar levels in good shape and eating more veggies & fruits helps me do this and NOT gain weight! if you're hypoglycemic, this is what my research and experimentation says: eat every 2 hours. eat foods like string cheese, wheat crackers, apples (they're the best fruit for this condition), grapes, bananas and raw almonds. these are also easy snacks to carry in your purse. that way you know you don't spend a fortune buying crap from starbux that is loaded with calories and costs a fortune. i included some snack ideas!

FOOD CONSULTANT NADIA SAYS:

Food of the Day-
Carob: “Carob powder can be used as a chocolate substitute. Contains no oxalic acid or caffeine like chocolate. Good source of protein and carbohydrate and has excellent general health benefits.” Source: Sandra Cabot MD

Thought of the Day: “Fears are nothing more than a state of mind.”- Napoleon Hill

SNACKS

Dips:

Stabilizer	Crunchy Fiber
½ cup:	Lots:
Almond butter	+ Celery/ Apple/Jicama
Guacamole	+ Lettuce/ Collards/Radishes
Hummus	+ Celery/Zucchini
Leaf’s Cashew Kreme Cheese	+ carrots/yams

HERE'S SOME 411 on Nadia:

Hi Everyone,

Here’s a bit about me J I have been studying nutrition for almost 10 years as the inspiration of my elderly father, teachers and my personal health has taught me to discover how food is closely related to mood, energy, mental clarity, aging, and disease prevention. I received my Bachelors of Science in Nutritional Sciences and a Certificate in Alternative Nutrition from California State University of Los Angeles as well as a Certificate in Beginning Culinary Arts.

My years of gained knowledge through education, research, doctors, travel, seminars and receiving mentoring from masters of different dietary disciplines has endowed me with a wealth of expertise I enjoy sharing with my clients and friends alike. Toxins and chemicals are so embedded in our daily consumption that, in many cases, making just a few changes increases the vibration of your life. I invite you to take the first step in revealing the best you can be. Feel free to contact me through e-mail.

~Nadia Arévalo

Wellness Food Consultant

food.consultant@yahoo.com

Can I lose, please?!

so....so far with my new "incorporated vegan" food regime, i haven't lost a pound. after analyzing what was preventing me from losing lbs. , i came to the conclusion that the vegan desserts were to blame (see top pic and you'll see why). so i broke up with the desserts (temporarily) and focused more on fruits, veggies and nuts. and guess what? in 2 days, i lost 3.5 lbs. yippee!!the coolest thing about all this, is that i now love eating more vegan stuff! i'm not ordering food from leaf for a while just to see if i can make myself vegan food.... on my own. and i'm proud to say that i do! :)

when you get hungry and feel like eating cake, here's a list of snacks that will "curb your desire":

SNACK IDEAS

Drinks:

· Juices, veggie
· Smoothies
· Coconut Water, canned or fresh
· Coconut Kefir
· Kombucha
· Druid’s Detox

SMOOTHIE OF THE DAY:

1 Mango
lots Spinach
1 Tsp Coconut butter
2 Tbsp chia seeds
R.O. Water

SALAD OF THE DAY:

GARBANZO BEAN SALAD:
2 cups of chopped lettuce
1 cup Eden organic garbanzo beans
1/2 cup thinly sliced chard
1/4 cup yellow or orange bell peppers
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
1 tbsp olive oil
chevril TT

FOOD CONSULTANT NADIA SAYS:

Food of the Day- Cantaloupe: “Useful in feverish states, high blood pressure, constipation, arthritis, intestinal gas/bloating, and kidney/bladder problems.” Source: Sandra Cabot MD

Thought of the Day: "Belief in success is the one basic, absolutely essential ingredient in successful people." -David J. Schwartz

I can't eat crappy foods anymore....

ok, this is what happens when your palate and your body get used to eating organic food ie the way God intended. you become more sensitive to the chemicals that are used to enhance flavor in processed foods.

today i had a looooong working day. 9am-9pm....i had 2 auditions, and 5 spanish classes to teach (good $$$) i have to work a lil harder to afford "good" organic food. crazy! apparently, it's cheaper to poison than to nourish yourself. but we already know we're living in a screwed up world. you don't need lil me to tell you that. ok, this is what happens when your palate and your body get used to eating organic food ie the way God intended. you become more sensitive to the chemicals that are used to enhance flavor in processed foods.

anywho, back to my long day. what happens on busy, long days is....you run the risk of eating...CRAP! being hypoglycemic, i have to eat every 2 hours or else i feel really tired. so at night, hank ordered some "vegetarian" restaurant food. he ordered soy chicken....i always steal food from his plate. i ate some of the soy chicken which tasted very salty. the apparently put a lot of crap to enhance the flavor of this soy chicken. i not only could TASTE the salt and for the first time ion my life, didn't like it...but i could also feel that my stomach did not like this food....i felt nauseated! conclusion: once you go vegan, your body won't love crap anymore. amen!

FOOD CONSULTANT NADIA SAYS:

Food of the Day- Cabbage: “Excellent for many digestive and intestinal problems, such as bowel infections, parasites, bowel ulceration, and colitis. Reduces gallstones and disorders of the bile ducts. Good skin cleanser in cases of acne and skin infections.

Source: Sandra Cabot MD

Thought of the Day: "Strong belief, triggers the mind to figuring ways and means and how-to."

David J. Schwartz

SMOOTHIE OF THE DAY

Almond milk

½ cup Bok Choy

1 cup lettuce

3 Tbsp chia seeds

pinch stevia

SALAD OF THE DAY

Garbanzo Bean Salad

2 cups of chopped lettuce

1 cup den organic Garbanzo beans

1/2 cup thinly sliced chard

1/4 cup yellow or orange bell peppers

1/2 cup cherry tomatoes

1 tbsp olive oil

chevril