Life after the Ranch and back to reality

Arrived home after spending an amazing week of teaching at Rancho La Puerta. I met so many wonderful people of all ages and walks of life. It was like an adult summer camp filled with health, peace, emotional well being, exercise, nature, and pampering.

Although the weather in Tecate last week was not as warm as I was hoping for. The experience at the Ranch fulfilled all my hopes and desires. Most days started with an early morning hike through the mountains. Chatting with new friends and convening with nature. A healthy breakfast would follow with lots of fresh fruit, oatmeal, quinoa, eggs and even pancakes one morning. A nice warm cup of tea with a spoonful of agave warmed me up to teach.

Every day I taught a 9am Pilates Level 1 and a 10am Pilates Level 2. Tuesday and Thursday afternoons I also taught a level 2 Reformer class.It was a progressive series adding fundamentals and exercises every day. The clients were so fabulous. Open to learning something new or in a new way and making deep, internal changes in their bodies daily. I was so appreciative of their willingness and trust to explore with me every day. Each one of them was truly a gift to me.

Once my morning classes where finished, I had plenty of time to explore the ranch and take some classes on my own. Some of my favorites were Nia with Maya, Hulu Hoop with Hazel, Cardio Drumming with Miguel, and Release and Mobilize with Diane. I also tried a water class (which I have never done before). I felt a bit uncoordinated and retarded but was open to newness and got a great workout from Craig. I also explored some sound classes and some pampering treatments.

The Ranch's healthy spa cuisine left me feeling full and inspired to try adding some different things to my diet. So many wonderful meals and I ate all of them and actually lost 4lbs. Mostly what I will take away from the diet is to eat some complex carbs for breakfast like quinoa or rice with some fruit. Normally at home I eat carbs like bread for breakfast. Not anymore. As a whole there really was not a lot of bread in the menus. Lots of fresh vegetable soups and salads with toasted nuts and fruit slices and then a dinner of items like fresh fish, vegetarian lasagna, stir fry, enchiladas. Are you getting the picture that I ate and ate well?

Some evenings were filled with fun events like Bingo with Barry. This is definitely not to be missed. Hilarious. Fun. A bit raunchy. A good time had by all. Friday evening had a live band and dancing. A blast and a perfect way to end the week with all my new friends and students.

I truly enjoyed every minute at the Ranch. I feel rejuvenated, refreshed, invigorated, inspired, and at peace. I hope to be asked back in the future to Present again, as I would truly like to make Rancho La Puerta at least a yearly event.

Unplugged and Rejuvenated

This weekend I treated myself to a four day mini-break. All summer I had been scheduling around my clients vacations, schedules, and their children's obligations and realized that I neglected myself. So I decided to take a 4 day camping trip on my own with my 4 year old Golden Logan.

I was a little nervous camping by myself, but I am an independent, self sufficient woman and figured that if I can make it in a city on my own, I definitely can make it in the woods on my own. I had such a great sense of accomplishment as I arrived at my campsite and pitched my tent all by myself. Arranged my housing for the next couple of days setting up my chair, sleeping bed, cooking area, firewood, and sleeping bag. Then sat down to take it all in. I am so used to being in a scheduling crunch and then zoning out using technology like the computer or television. Here I could just sit in silence (or the sounds of nature) and do nothing. It was absolutely amazing!!

The first night as I sat by my campfire with Logan, I almost completely forgot to look upwards. Being in the city, I never see a sky full of stars, so I have gotten quite used to not even looking. As I laid down on the blanket and caught a glimpse of the sky I was surprised to see the black sky so full of bright, twinkling stars. It was gorgeous.  That day being exactly one month since losing my beloved 13 1/2 year old Golden Madison, as I looked up I wondered if her soul was up there in the stars looking down and shining her love down on Logan and I. I laid there for many hours just gazing upwards and taking in the serenity of the sounds, smells, and sights of nature. I was in a state of serenity that I so often lose in the hectic city life. I was completely unplugged and able to sit still in peace.  A natural, unforced meditative state that I can only describe as bliss.  Solitude.

Each morning I would awake to make breakfast for Logan and I. Then I would sit under the rising sun and read. Around 11am I would prepare myself for a 3-5 hour hike for the day. Arrive back at my campsite around 4pm and relax at the site until sunset when I eagerly lit my campfire, prepared dinner, and sat under my lovely sky of light and love. It was exactly what I needed. My four day trip reset me to come back to the city and be invigorated to get back to life. I am already looking ahead on my schedule to make a fall trip before it gets too cold, as I thoroughly enjoyed myself and know that it was exactly what I needed. We all need to unplug ourselves from society every now and then and rejuvenate our souls with nature and solitude.  It's a mental and spiritual cleanse for the body, mind, and soul.

Juice start your diet!

There are lots of quick fix diets and fasts out there. The Master Cleanse allowing you to drink as much cayenne pepper,maple syrup and lemon water as you like for a minimum of a week. Atkins, eliminating all the Carbs from your life. I don’t know about you but somehow when I try one of these strict fasts or diets the inner, rebellious child in me comes out. All of a sudden I will eat things that I never even liked just because I am not supposed to. Plus how in the world is eating a cup of cheese (fat) on Atkins, better than eating a cup of carrots (carbohydrates)? And how is a body suppose to survive and function on sugary, lemon water? Sure you might lose the weight quickly but what does this actually teach your body? And are you really able to keep it off once you go back to eating normally?

I’m going to share a little secret with you. When I am looking to shed a few pounds in a timely manner, I turn to juicing. I load up on all the fruits, vegetables, and nuts that I want for two meals of the day and have a healthy protein based meal for my third meal. Try to juice at least two of your meals. I suggest always starting the day with juicing for breakfast and then based on your schedule and your day you can decide if your second juice meal will be lunch or dinner. In between, snack on fresh fruit/vegetables or a handful of nuts throughout the day. Your body gets all the nutrients it needs (probably more, since you will be meeting your fruit and vegetable quota), you still get the satisfaction of actually eating, and the regular meal feels like a reward that you get everyday. You will find your body making healthy choices and wont feel deprived along the way. By juicing you will get a variety of fruits and vegetables, find new tastes that you may not have ever tried, and be able to tolerate fruits/vegetables that you may have disliked before.

The best way to jump start your body into losing weight and teach your body to use food in the most productive way, I believe is through juicing . As Amanda Cross states in THE MIRACLE JUICE DIET “when a person eats nutritionally depleted food, not enough food or is putting extra pressure on the body through overwork, during illness or following surgery or when you are undergoing high levels of stress”, juicing is the answer.

Here is a breakdown of some fruits and vegetables and their benefits. I have also included a few hints and recipes. Try to get fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables first. Second best would be flash frozen. I prefer to water down my juice for a lighter, less pulpy consistency.

Melon highly nutritious, natural diuretic, powerful cleansers and detoxifiers, great for rehydration, orange melon (i.e. cantaloupe) high in beta carotene, watermelons have anticoagulant property, all are antiviral and antibacterial
Kiwi packed with vitamin C and fiber, excellent for immune system, lowering blood pressure, and heart health known in traditional chinese medicine for healing effect on stomach and breast cancer (called Chinese gooseberries)
Bananas best source of potassium (mineral for maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function), contain pectin; help normalize movement through the digestive tract and ease constipation rich in pre-biotics that nourish probiotics in the colon, help to decrease the risk of colon cancer
Berries antiviral and antibacterial, fabulous for the bloodstream
blueberries and blackcurrents help diarrhea and any urinary tract infection, raspberries contain a natural aspirin and help menstrual cramps, strawberries help the cardiovascular system as a whole
Avocados lower blood cholesterol and block carcinogens, high vitamin E content excellent for maintaining healthy skin, healing wounds and bolstering the immune system, help the body digest and metabolize fats
Cranberries deodorize urine and prevent bacteria in the bladder, prostate, and kidneys, can prevent kidney stones, very sour and may need to be combined with sweeter fruit in juices and smoothies
Citrus Fruits contain carotenoids, bioflavonoids and huge amounts of Vitamin C which are key in the fight against cancer, lower blood cholesterol and arterial plaque, antiviral and antibcterial
Papaya tops when it comes to aiding digestion as it helps to break down protein, protects against cancer and replenishes lost levels of Vitamin C, making it a good choice for smokers
Apples antioxidants, reduce cholesterol, cleanse the digestive system and boost the immune system, aid in the digestion of fats, small amount with soften the taste of a stronger vegetable blend
Plums help increase the absorption of iron into the body, great source of Vitamin C, Vitamin A, B2, dietary fibre and potassium
Pineapples anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial, help to dissolve blood clots, contain bromelain, which is essential in the digestion of protein
Mangos high in beta-carotene and full of potassium, perfect to replenish energy after heavy workout
Tomatoes lower the risk of cancer and heart disease, fight off free radicals
Broccoli high in antioxidants and Vitamin C, vital intake will help guard against lung, breast, and colon cancer, on low carb diet will help to regulate insulin and blood sugar, has been reported to deactivate cancer cells
Cabbage leading cancer fighter, can regulate estrogen metabolism and discourage formation of polyps, best raw and should be included in the diet 2-3 times per week
Sweet Potatoes help stabilize blood sugar levels and lower insulin resistance, good source of Vitamin A, C and manganese, copper, dietary fibre, B6, potassium, and iron, anti-inflammatory, can help in reducing the severity of conditions where inflammation play a role (i.e. asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis)
Peppers Vitamin C, guard against macular degeneration and respiratory infections, help to keep arteries decongested and helpful with asthma, bronchitis and even the common cold, help keep nails, skin, and hair glossy and healthy
Green Leafy Vegetables full of lutein and beta-carotene and will battle cancer and regulate estrogen, try to have a couple green juices per week even if you favor sweeter juices
Celery and Fennel great at cleansing the digestive system of uric acid, high potassium content and therefore great for lowering high blood pressure, If you hold onto excess fluid and suffer from regular bloating, their diuretic effect is very powerful and should be the basis of the juices you create
Carrots nutritional power houses. when cooked=high on carb scale, high beta carotene content, fight cancer, protect arteries, battle infections and boost immunity, said to eliminate putrefactive bacteria in the colon and facilitate elimination of intestinal parasites

Also think about adding in supplements like milk thistle (liver function) , flax seeds (omega-3 and omega-6), Psyllium Husks (colon health), Yogurt (probiotic enzymes), Brewers Yeast (metabolism), ginger (immune system), and raw garlic (antibiotic) to name a few.

Hope you will share some of your favorite recipes. Here is one of mine. Red seedless grapes, cucumber, lemon, ginger root, and mint leaves. Great for digestion, bloating and water retention. Perfect for a day in a bikini.