When was the last time you went without solid foods for a week?

If you haven’t ever done so, here are some tips to do so easily and to enjoy it at the same time.

It’s now a week since I finished my Green Juicing Fast – and what a journey it’s been!

For a few days afterwards whilst my body adjusted to solid food again, I almost wished I was back on my juicing fast.

The key learning for me was this – most of us eat much more than we need to!

The body uses up so much energy to digest and clear out the “junk” food which we eat – and when we stop eating such food, our body has so much more energy for us. We feel that much more vibrant, healthy and alive!

 “I saw few die of hunger; of eating, a hundred thousand.” ~ Benjamin Franklin

A while back, I carried out a wonderful five day detox with just apple juice, but this time I was able to have other vegetables too.

I highly recommend that you too undergo a Green Juicing Fast as soon as you can. It could be life changing experience.

As Farnoosh Brock says in her Green Juicing Guide:-

Remember that the juice fast is an excellent time to reflect on your eating habits, your lifestyle and even your life. Take the time to really focus on the emotions you will experience, and learn to listen and understand your body better. Since you are making such a tremendous commitment, be determined to reap all the benefits that you can.

And these are my learnings – to help you with your own Green Juice Fast:-

1. Take stock of where you are now

First thing you can do is to review just where you are now. If you look at your current eating regime, you’ll be surprised how much processed food you currently eat.

I thought I had a fairly healthy diet but around Xmas and New Year time I had let it go a bit.

I was shocked to find out how much processed food had built up in my kitchen over the Xmas period.

So I decided to take drastic action and cleared out most of the processed foods in the picture.

You may not be ready to take such drastic action, but I challenge you to be honest with yourself and look at your larder. What processed foods can you stop eating!?

“We never repent of having eaten too little”~ Thomas Jefferson

2. Be Totally Committed to the Juice Fast

You do need to commit to the juice fast for a set number of days.

I chose to do mine for 5 days but you could choose 7 days or more depending on your intention and circumstances.

It does take a lot of planning, preparation and commitment to keep going.

Be committed – no half measures!

3. Be Disciplined

Once you do make this commitment, you’ll need the discipline to maintain your juicing regime.

It does take time and effort to source the best vegetables, juice them and to clear up afterwards. And of course it takes discipline to keep going for the duration of your fast.

I found it got easier after the first 2 days to remain committed to the juice fast, as my body adjusted and it began to thrive on highly nutritious juice.

4. Take Total Self-CareReview

You do feel tired some of the time during the fast so allow yourself plenty of free time and rest periods.

Also do not take on heavy social commitments or do your fast during a busy work period.

Your body does a lot of detoxing during the green juice fast so you want to give it plenty of tender loving care.

I cancelled all social commitments and spent a lot of talk on my own and walking in nature. These gentle walks also helped in my preparation for the London Marathon in April.

Also, the juice fast affected my sleeping pattern as suddenly I had lots more energy and I couldn’t fall asleep till late. But though I slept less, it was a much deeper and relaxing sleep.

5. Observe and Change your Eating Habits.

The greatest benefit of a juicing fast is your increased self-awareness about your eating habits.

Like me, you may discover just how much “junk” food you eat – and with this awareness you will naturally start eating less junk food and eat more nutritious, vibrant food.

You will also learn how much grazing you really do!

The other learning is you get to see how you dissipate your natural energy by focussing so much on food. When you know you are going to be consuming a healthy green juice every few hours, you don’t waste time on preparing and planning your usual meals.

6. Create a Support System

The best part of my Green Juice Fast was having someone else do it with me at the same time.

Farnoosh Brock undertook the fast at the same time as me and it was great to work with a juicing buddy, albeit virtually.

So when you undertake your fast, do also buddy up with someone – it will make your juicing journey even more fun.

It gave us a chance to discuss what was going for each other.

7. Enjoy!

The best part for me was to be able to try out different juices and to learn Farnoosh’s recipes in her Green Juicing Guide.

By the end of the 5 days, I did feel much more energised, clearer in the mind and healthily rested. My facial skin felt softer and clearer – and I look even younger

Just one word of caution – you do have to break your juice fast gently as otherwise you might get belly aches or headaches. The body takes time to adjust to “normal” food again.

Summary

Living on vibrant, healthy, living food in juice form is clearly good for us.

I highly recommend that you do try out this five day detox via juicing – it could be a life changing experience for you!

I thought I knew a lot about juicing already but Farnoosh has taught me a lot more and has inspired me to try out her 10 juice recipes and make them part of my daily diet.

With Farnoosh’s 10 recipes, you’ll never need to look any other juicing recipes or books. These green juicing recipes will keep you energised and vibrant for the rest of your life –all you have to do is try out one or more every day.

Check out Farnoosh’s Green Juicing Guide for yourself. And do let me know how you get on.

You just know that detoxing regularly makes sense – and you might as well do it the fun way!

Who else is taking up the juicing challenge?

Please share your experiences below

Related posts:

1. How to Detox in Five Days with Apple Juice
2. Time to Detox and Start Fresh
3. Detox your Body and Your Life!
4. Enjoy your Gifts and your Gold whilst you Can!

Just how healthy and fit are you?

Are you energised, full of vitality and youthful? Or are you over-weight, drained and getting old before your time?

To create a big and bold life for yourself, you need to be in optimum health and to eat the most nutritious foods. Just as important is to regularly detox your body and to rest your digestive system.

“Let food be your medicine and medicine your food.” – Hippocrates

Today I am delighted to interview my friend Farnoosh Brock who blogs at Prolific Living about her new “Green Juicing Guide”

Farnoosh’s new product is a very comprehensive “Guide to Green Juicing”, and it also comes with a bonus – “Your Juice Fast Guide”, which takes you through a 5 day juice fast.

Whilst speaking to Farnoosh last week, I suggested that we should try out her 5 day juice fast together. She didn’t hesitate and took up the gauntlet – and so here I am, already on the first day of my “fast”.

I’ll write another post in 5 days time about my experience of this fast – but in the mean time, here’s Farnoosh:-

1. So Farnoosh, here we are about to start this juice fast together. Tell us more about how you got into this way of healthy eating and why juicing?

Arvind, I got into green juicing in a fleeting moment – it was so sudden!

4:30am, I was watching an infomercial by the wonderful Jack Lalanne, and I was intrigued beyond control.

I am in love with fruits and vegetables so it was a natural next step to explore them in a different state, beyond cooked, baked or salad state!

Then I found out how delicious and refreshing and beneficial green juicing is so it became a part of my life.

I have done lots of other things: vegan diet, raw food challenges, vegetarian diet, green smoothies but there is something about green juicing that is pure, simple, and phenomenally good for the body, mind, skin and heart.

You’ll see. You’re doing a juice feast with me now!

2. Why GREEN juicing?

Well, let me first define it: a green juice doesn’t mean all the juices we make are from green vegetables. It means that you have some vegetables in the mix.

Ideally, yes, a green juice is green and mainly vegetables but a beet-carrot-ginger juice is also a green juice to me.

Green means vegetable. And the reason I focus on green, although I do have fruit juices as well, is because of the low to almost-zero sugar content, lower acid content and the higher nutrient and antioxidant content of most vegetables compared to fruits.

I really think vegetables, in raw form or juice form, in a reasonably good to large quantity, can be your salvation and your return to health.

3. You look so healthy and fit in your videos and photos. Do you really need to do juicing? Or maybe the juicing came first?

Can all my readers end up being as vital, healthy and full of life as you? What about me? Can I!?

Let me address all of these wonderful questions.

First, I don’t *need* to do juicing, no. I enjoy it immensely and I love what it does to my body and mind.

The reason I look fit and healthy is my holistic lifestyle, from yoga and exercise to taking care of my body and skin and eating well and avoiding alcohol and stress and even toxic relationships and environments.

It’s not one thing that makes for a healthy body and mind and it is a good thing to pay attention to everything going on in your life when you take the journey toward your best health.

Your vitality lies in many areas and you can revive it and take it back with some very simple steps.

Juicing has had tremendous effects on my body.

I really believe that juicing combined with my Oolong and green tea habits have made my digestive system more robust than it ever was in my early 20s!

And juicing can be for everyone; you just have to know what you are doing and how to get started and I outline all of this step-by-step in my Green Juicing Guide.

All your readers, my readers and everyone can be full of vitality and health if they first set the intention to do so and then take tiny steps – not even large ones but small tiny ones – to get there.

You are included in this category, naturally:-).

4. What precautions should we take if any before starting on your juice fast?

Great question! I am so glad you asked because you really do need to be careful.

You need to try to eat very well even before you start the juice fast, ideally, go on a raw-food diet or a vegetarian diet before your fast for a few days and just eat fruits and vegetables the day before the fast.

You need to do it at a time where your social and work life is not very intense and at a time when you can give yourself some quiet time for reflection and meditation.

You also need to carefully monitor yourself and make sure you are staying rested and have the chance to rest when you need it.

If you are interested in more, I outline every single step of the juice fast in the bonus guide that comes with the “Green Juicing Guide” and share with you my lessons from my 5-day juice fast.

Both guides come in PDF version, Amazon Kindle version and ePub version i.e. you get all 3 versions in this package and you can use any version that suits you best.

Also, this is a comprehensive step-by-step guide that teaches you all you need to know about green juicing.

It assumes no previous knowledge on your part, so that’s why it covers all the basics and the essentials as you embark on your juicing adventure.

And it answers all the questions you have, including the ones that you may be hesitant to ask!

Plus, you also get an audio product -  “Motivation Track for Your Juicing Journey” in MP3 version that works with all digital audio players.

5. I personally prefer to see this as a juice feast, not fast, as I will be
feasting on all sorts of raw, living foods.

I find this is an empowering way of looking at it without any negative impressions of having to suffer or starve myself. What do you think?

A beautiful way to look at it, Arvind!

Just look at all the amazing colours of fruits and vegetables that your body will consume.

It’s also good to take a break from eating once in a while, to let our bodies rest, to let our digestive systems go into hibernation, I like to think of it, and prepare for the next phase of eating. It is a great way to cleanse and also to enjoy delicious drinks.

Regarding the starvation part, you know, I was worried sick about that first time I fasted.

It was a fascinating discovery how after a few pangs of hunger, my hunger went away and I entered into this quiet blissful state with clarity and energy and yet extreme peace and calm.

I think that’s what I crave this time more than anything and definitely, more than any food. Let’s see how we get on, shall we?

6. So detox diva, what’s next for you?

Well, this is supposed to be an extremely productive week for me, with my hubby gone and me all to myself.

I plan to finish working on the Smart Exit Blueprint course and to put together some great things for Prolific Living in 2012.

I will also read a lot, meditate and do yoga and spend time reflecting on the beauty of life and the immense gratitude that I need to remember constantly.

In other words, I will be very busy!

7. Thanks Farnoosh for your inspiration! Any final words re your juicing?

First a huge thank you for doing the juice feast with me and also for showcasing Prolific Living on your wonderful space here, Arvind.

Also a few words to encourage you, the wonderful reader, at juicing or any other health change or challenge, please believe that you are no different than anyone else.

You just need to set an intention that you will make a change and then take care of the rest, which is mainly detail. Your intentions and promises to yourself, those are extremely powerful.

You can do anything you set your mind to.

That old cliché rings true every day if only you let it.

Here’s to your vibrant health!

Footnote:- Check out Farnoosh’s Green Juicing Guide today and also her inspirational blog Prolific Living.

My Coaching Offer:-

I am now opening up my coaching practice for more clients – please contact me for an initial discussion.

My commitment is to walk with you in 2012 and give you everything I have to help you find your greatness, and to help you make the world a better place at the same time.

You only have one life – are you ready to make yours BIG?

Please Help to Spread the Word

Related posts:

1. Turn the World Green in the Blink of an Eye!
2. Why Youth is No Barrier to Greatness
3. Why You Should Make 2012 all about YOU
4. Time to Be Bold and Play Big in 2012!

Are you a couch potato or a dynamo?

Do you live a healthy balanced life or are you stressed out and overwhelmed with challenges?

No matter where you are in your life right now, you can start making changes today. Rest assured that it’s never too late!

A few days ago I shared with you how one of my blogger friends Steven Aitchison is on a quest to help you become energised and bouncing around with just five hours sleep a night.

Now I am delighted to share with you the wisdom and exuberance of another blogging friend Anastasiya Goers of Balanced Living who is launching an online retreat to help you go from a sedentary to active lifestyle in 1 month.

I don’t know about you, but I endeavour to fit in as much in my life as I can. If I could get by on no sleep, then I would be out enjoying life 24 hours a day!

But then my life would soon be a mess and even I would be washed out.

Clearly we all need a balance in our life between work and downtime as well as play and rest.

Anastasiya and I have been friends for over year, ever since we met on the A-List Blogging Bootcamps.

From being a newbie blogger, she has made giant strides and is now a leading authority on balanced living. I am honoured to have her share her innate wisdom and also tell us more about her retreat.

1. Anastasiya, we met through the very first ever Alist Blogging Bootcamp. You had only just started blogging then and for me it has been heartening to watch your progress and development. Please share what got you started and why you took this route.

When I read my first blog post (I think it was an article from Steve Pavlina that somebody sent me) I thought to myself “Hmmm, this sounds interesting. I can write my thoughts and communicate with people who go through the same things. Maybe I should give it a try.”

After that I started following more and more blogs (including A-listers like ZenHabits, Problogger and others) and I was hatching the idea of starting my own blog.

I put a lot of thought into the topic of the blog and I decided to go with balanced living.

Life balance was something I was striving for my entire life and I felt that it was the right route for me. I thought I could write about various topics that people are interested in: health, self growth, spirituality, relationships, career, parenting – and show a way to balance all these important areas of life.

2. Your Active Lifestyle Retreat sounds unusual and almost contradictory in its description!  How did you get the idea of the Active Lifestyle Retreat? What was your inspiration and motivation?

Active lifestyle has been my passion for many years. Living actively is part of a balanced lifestyle in my opinion because we need to take care of our bodies as well as about our other needs (spirituality, finances, family, emotional balance.)

I find that physical activity does not only promote good health, it helps to find connection between your body and mind, it helps to control emotions and find clarity, it helps to focus and find that inner peace that many of us are looking for these days.

I was never very active when I was growing up (I was a complete nerd who loved to read, study and could spend the entire day on some arts and crafts project) and my mom always pushed me to be more active.

Of course at a certain point my weight started creeping up and that’s when I understood that I needed a change!

Basically I was forced to start living a more active lifestyle, but once I got into it I realized how much I loved it.

Now I understand that active lifestyle is a perfect balance for my introverted, quiet and “nerdy” nature:-)

Once I learned how much fun it is to be active I made a commitment to show other people this joy. This is the reason why I became a fitness instructor (more than 8 years ago, I can’t believe it’s been that long) and I am running the retreat From a Sedentary to Active Lifestyle in 1 Month LINK starting next week DATE

I want to show other people that it is fun to be active and you do not need to give up your current lifestyle or all your free time for the sake of exercise.

3. Tell us more about the retreat? What does it entail and what will participants get at the end of it?

The retreat will last 4 weeks and during this time you will get daily workout videos, daily emails to keep you on track and to give you motivation.

You will also get articles that will teach you about active and healthy lifestyle with practical steps about how to incorporate this lifestyle into your life.

I understand that most people are busy today and they do not have time for exercise that is why the retreat focuses on weaving active lifestyle into your current schedule rather than changing your lifestyle completely.

I am really happy that several people who I greatly admire agreed to be guest presenters during the retreat.

First of all, Melanie kindly agreed to be a guest presenter and to share her wisdom about healthy eating during the retreat (thank you again Melanie!)

Leo Babauta (ZenHabits), Joshua Becker (Becoming Minimalist), Mary Jaksch (GoodLife Zen), Steven Aitchison (Change your Thoughts), Lisa Byrne (Well Grounded Life) and Esther Ekhart (Yogatic) have all prepared very special bonuses and interviews that I will be happy to share with all the members of the retreat.

Of course during the retreat we will also have a forum where we can talk, encourage each other and participate in fun challenges that will keep us from getting bored.

I think that we will have a great time together but at the same time all the information will be spread out during the month so that we do not get overwhelmed!

4. What’s your suggested approach for taking part in the retreat?

The best way to benefit from the retreat is to join it (of course ) and commit to small lifestyle changes one step at a time.

I believe that it is very important to set SMART goals (more about those during the retreat) and create an action plan. I will facilitate all participants in creating their goals and action plans and how to stick to them.

I also believe that community and warm support that you get from people who are going through the same things as you are a very important part of the retreat.

Being part of this community will make your lifestyle changes fun and “sticky,” you won’t go back to your old lifestyle anymore.

5. How did you research and test your ideas?

During the 8 years that I taught fitness, I tried different approaches and routines. I watched my clients and their progress and also paid attention to how my lifestyle was changing over the time.

I am always eager to try something new and to bring the best parts of it into my workouts.

I also follow research about the effects of a sedentary lifestyle on our bodies.

The last findings were especially alarming:

people who spend more than 6 hours a day sitting are 94% (women) and 48% (men) more likely to die early than those who are active and sit less than 3 hours a day.

I do not want to be part of this statistics and I want to show as many people as possible how they can change their lifestyles for the better.

6. Are you yourself now living a very balanced life? Share 3 of your top tips for Make It Happen readers.

I feel very balanced now and I hope to maintain this state for many-many years. My top tips are:

i) Always go forward. Balanced living is not a finish line that you cross ones. As circumstances in your life change you need to change your priorities, goals, routines, habits. It is really fun in my opinion because you constantly grow and try something new in life.

ii) Find your core belief. I believe that everyone should have one deep core belief that can get them through the darkest hours of their lives; that can help them see the meaning in what they are doing and have faith that they are going in the right direction. If you have this belief life balance becomes effortless.

iii) Allow yourself to relax. Sometimes all we need to regain balance is a break. Spend a few minutes in silence, breathe deeply and let your thoughts and worries disappear. It is important to give time to yourself as well as to everybody else around you.

7. Finally what’s next for you?

Once the retreat is over my next thing is a vacation:-)

I have a lot of plans for future projects, some of those projects are joint ventures, others are new retreats on Balance In Me.

I am hoping to launch a Balance In Me club next year where members will find the most balanced approach to living.

Thanks Anastasiya for sharing your wisdom with my readers – and congratulations for your success and for creating such a useful retreat.

It has been a real pleasure and honour to get to know you and to share your journey.

I wish you even more success with all your projects in the coming months and years – the world is a better balanced place because of what you do.

The way forward

So what will you do from today to bring your life more in balance. Will you do fewer things or take on some new activity?

Please do share your ideas below so we can learn from each other.

See you all at the retreat!

Related posts:

1. Detox your Body and Your Life!
2. Life is full of Delights if You are Open to Them!
3. Avoid the Crooked Trolley on Your Life Journey!
4. How to Detox in Five Days with Apple Juice

Do you ever suffer from a heavy head?

I had a heavy head yesterday morning and it didn’t feel great. Maybe you can relate to this – a sheer feeling of heaviness and sluggishness.

So I found a simple solution – I had a haircut. And immediately I felt so much better.

It always helps to let go of all that extra weight:-)

Now I also know why some of our most popular bloggers such as Seth Godin and Leo Babauta are bald. Surely having less on your head means you can get more out of it?

Looking around, Gandhi was bald too.

Dr Wayne Dwyer, one of my inspirational teachers, is also folliclely challenged or should that be folliclely gifted? Or maybe it’s just old age:-)

Let me point out that I didn’t go the whole way and have a bald hair-style, but given the chance, my barber would have loved to have shorn off all my hair.

So here’s an idea for you – next time you feel heavy headed, go and get a haircut.

I know how some of you will be really attached to your hairstyle – but try something new and get a different look.

Even if you are female and you have longish hair. Indeed, especially if you are female. New look, new beginnings

Leo Babauta of Zen Habits in particular takes a minimalist approach to sartorial elegance. Maybe we should take a leaf out of his book and shorn more hair off our heads.

Failing that you can also consider these ideas to clear that heavy head in just 10 minutes:-

• Walk around your neighbourhood
• Drink herbal or green tea at your local café
• Sit in a garden and do nothing
• Take a power nap (and make sure its no more than 10 mins)
• Listen to some soothing, soft music.
• Do the hula hoop (my favourite – video coming soon!)
• Bounce gently or even rigorously on a rebounder or trampoline
• Meditate in a quiet spot
• Have a freshly squeezed vegetable or fruit juice, ideally made by you

Now over to you – how do you get rid of that heavy feeling?

If not a haircut, then what do you do?

Related posts:

1. Re-Energise Yourself in Just 5 Minutes!
2. How to Get to Your Nirvana in Just a Few Minutes

This is a guest post from Stephen Farah

I am delighted and truly honoured to be hosting Stephen’s first ever guest post.

I once heard a line in the movie A House of Games (1987) which I have never forgotten:

“When you have done something unforgivable, I will tell you exactly what to do. You must forgive yourself.”

This makes sense because to live in blame, be it blame of others or ourselves is just not a way to live. At least not if we want to live a meaningful and fulfilled life.

We also learn that in order to live our lives forward rather than backwards, we need to assimilate everything that has ever happened to us. Be it good or bad.

What do we mean by Assimilation?

The Oxford English Dictionary defines assimilation as:

1.    Take in and understand information.
2.    Absorb people or ideas into a wider society or culture.
3.    Absorb or digest food or nutrients.

This gives us a good starting point in understanding assimilation. However in the sense we use the term here, let’s broaden that definition slightly:

Take in, understand, digest, utilise, collate and make part of oneself, information, experiences, tool/s, technology, education, culture etc.  Such that these things no longer remain outside and alien to yourself. They are no longer at arms distance.

Absorb and digest food, nutrients yes, but also medicine, ideas, teaching, toxicity, experiences good and bad, happenings, dreams, intuitions, successes and failures.

I even speculate that the whole of psychology and the myriad of New Age therapies all concern themselves with just one single issue – a  lack of assimilation.

Whether this is called hysteria, neurosis, stress, psychosis, a lack of adaptation, it all boils down to a very simple idea:-

The person suffering from the condition has failed to assimilate something.

The goal of the therapy is often to allow that person to assimilate the unassimilated content.

When you or I have failed to assimilate something it stands outside us, frequently over and against us. It is an experience for example which detracts from our ability to be present, to be happy, and to function optimally.

The following short story illustrates this idea quite well:

Two Zen Monks and a Young Lady

As the two Zen Monks walked along a road they came across a young woman wanting to cross a river, but afraid to, for fear of being washed away.

One of the monks lifted the young lady into his arms and carried her over.

As they walked back to their monastery the other monk was silent but clearly distressed. Eventually unable to contain himself any longer he blurted out,

“How could you lay hands on a woman? Have you forgotten your vows of chastity?”

To which the first monk replied,

“Why are you still carrying that young lady? I put her down hours ago?”

What is the young lady you are still carrying on your back?

What is it in your life that you have not assimilated, or not yet come to terms with? And how would your life change of you were assimilate it?

What heights of being are you capable of reaching were you simply to put the young lady down as the monk did in our story?

In our lives, putting down this proverbial young lady frequently requires a consciously directed intention.

Assimilation does not always come naturally – we need to learn to assimilate.

Here are my key 5 steps to conscious assimilation:-

1. Acknowledgement

You first need to recognise and acknowledge the young lady is on your back before you can put her down. Become aware.

2. Acceptance

You need to accept that you did what needed doing, for better or worse. You cannot let go of it whilst you have not accepted that it happened. Forgive yourself.

3. Assimilation (psychic digestion)

You need to metaphorically swallow the event, meaning it has occurred and only by taking this reality onboard can you evolve beyond it. So it is not through denial but rather the acceptance of that you evolve. Swallow.

4. Amalgamation

Once you swallow the reality of what has occurred, where do you put that reality?  Where in your personal make up does it belong?

You need to find a home for it – put it in its place.

5. Adaptation

The process of assimilation must of necessity change something in you.

If it does not, then you have not truly assimilated it. But if something in you changes, then this is adaptation. You have transformed.

Conclusion

Whilst coming to terms with assimilating our lives is not always the easiest thing, it is one of the most worthwhile.

Don’t let energy and attention trapped in your past hold you back from all you can be today and tomorrow.

The act of assimilating is incredibly liberating. Whilst we cling to an event or experience in our past, regardless of whether we perceive it positively or negatively, it drains us. It is like a leak in our psychic funnel.

The moment we truly assimilate the event we are immediately present in our lives again and that energy that was previously being wasted is available to us.

Your future is waiting for you, open your arms to receive it.

With blessings,

Stephen.

Read more inspiring articles about the meaning of life from Stephen Farah at his blog In Pursuit of Meaning.

You can also subscribe to Stephen’s posts via Subscribe to “In Pursuit of Meaning”.

Related posts:

1. It is Snow Time to be Young Once Again
2. Stop Alcoholism at a Young Age
3. It’s Tight Hamstrings for Me: Is What’s Holding You Back Helping You?
4. Change the World Through the Young People of Today

How healthy are you nowadays?

Can you remember the time when you were really young and you had boundless energy?

Do you still go through life with a bounce in your step?

Today I am sharing with you the story of my father who had boundless energy and went through life with a bounce in his step. He was actually a radio DJ in his sixties in his home town, and would have still carried on if given the chance.

He was indeed the oldest DJ in town!

So what was my late father’s secret for longevity and zest for life?

I am reminded of him today as right now I am writing this from the very desk that he used to write from until his last days when he was almost 80 years old.

It’s already over 2 years since his untimely death and a lot has happened since then as I have tried to get my life back together again.

Though I will always have my father’s lessons in compassion, one of his many legacies for me was his way of living, his zest for life and his energy that would put to shame people half his age.

You are never too old to be fit and healthy.

And it’s never too late to start looking after your health and fitness.

Today, as I am finally able to look back on my father’s life with fondness rather than sadness, I am reminded of his health habits which we can all learn from:-

1. Get up early

The earlier you get up the fuller your day. My father used to wake up every morning at 4am and then meditate for a couple of hours, do his morning stretches, followed by a half hour walk around the local park. He would then have his breakfast around 7am, a time at which most people are still in bed!

I grant you that 4am might be pushing it a bit for most people, but why not get up an hour earlier that what you do now.

How about 4.30 then?!

Then you must check out how my friend and mentor, Steven Aitchinson who runs the UK’s number 1 personal development blog, gets up at 4.30 am everday of the week and gets so much done. Read what Steven says about the 5 benefits of being an early riser.

On a personal note, I am also getting up an hour earlier each day than I used too. One day I would like to be able to get up as early as Steven and my father.

In a future article soon, I shall cover my experiment in getting up early in more detail and let you know my learnings and future suggestions for you.

2. Review your eating habits

Eat frugally and eat healthy food. But just what does “healthy food” mean to you?

My friend Barrie Davenport has just written an excellent article about taking control of your health and eating real food.

She talks about The China Study, the most comprehensice study of nutrition ever conducted and the startling implications for diet, weight loss and long-term health.

I read this book a few months ago and it was quite an eye opener about why we should follow a plant based diet.

My father followed just such a diet and I do believe that a key for his longevity and vigour was that he was a vegetarian all his life.

I am not advocating that all of you also become a vegetarian like I am, but review how often and how much meat you do consume.

Reduce your intake of animal products and you will definitely notice significant improvements in your health.

Apart from that, do cut down on processed foods and do eat a lot more fresh food. Of course more fruit and vegetables too.

My father also used to drink a lot of water, so make that part of daily habits. Of course, reduce your intake of coffee and fizzy drinks.

On a personal note, though I am already a vegetarian, I am experimenting by cutting out all dairy products this month and following a vegan diet. I shall write about this experience in a future article.

3. Reduce your alcohol intake

My father was a teetotaller all his life – except once when at a cousin’s wedding, his older brother (who lived to 102) offered him a sip of brandy.

My father accepted out of respect, but that was the one and only time I ever saw him have anything alcoholic.

Incidentally, at the same time, I politely declined the offer of a drink out of respect to my father! This is what makes me so proud of my Indian heritage – we have our own quirky but noble ways of showing our respect to our elders.

Watch how much alcohol you consume – even cutting down by 10 to 20 percent will make a huge difference to your body.

On a personal note, I have hardly drunk over the last few years, except for the odd glass of champagne. Recently at a friend’s wedding, I had a sip of wine and almost instantly I had a headache. My body was telling me that this stuff was toxic for my body. So now I will just stick to water.

4. Exercise daily

My father loved his daily walks – and he did yoga till his last days. It always used to amuse us to watch him do this stretches, and his brisk runs on the spot.

Early morning walks are wonderful for getting your day off to a great start and I highly recommend that you take this up, especially if you choose to get up an hour earlier.

Start gently and build up your exercise regime and see how much better you feel. Your body is for life – why not start treating it well from today?

5. Have a wide range of interests

One of my father’s enduring qualities was his interest in other people and in current affairs from around the world.

He was very well read and could speak on those topics he was passionate about for hours on end with no notes. He often spoke at community events and only three weeks before he passed away, he presented a 10 minute spiritual lecture at a Diwali celebration.

So cultivate an interest in the world around you and the people in your life – you will definitely feel and look younger.

Take a leaf from the 87 year old man who gatecrashed our family wedding a fwe weeks ago.

Be alive and interested in the world around you – and in other people.

6. Learn to relax and meditate

My father meditated for a few hours each day for the last 30 years of his life. Now that’s quite a bit of accumulated meditation hours!

He also belonged to a spiritual community of likeminded people and he was very active with this group.

How about starting your own regime of meditation from today onwards? Simply take 10 minutes each day to start with. Mornings are best, but see if you can also do night time too, before you go to sleep.

Then you can gradually build up as you wish. Who knows  – by the time you are in your seventies, you too could be meditating up to a few hours each day.

If it helps, then find a community of like minded people who will support you in your efforts to meditate and relax.

I am not advocating that you suddenly become all “spiritual” – whatever that means. All I am suggesting is that a bit of time spent meditating and relaxing each day will really help you in all areas of your life.

7. Have a sense of fun

This is quote key – you must have a sense of fun and enjoy life no matter what it brings to you.

My father had an impish sense of humour and this stood him in good stead through some tough times. He also liked being with people and visiting places.

And of course he was a radio DJ too!

So look at your own life and see where you can bring more fun and lightness into your life.

Lighten up and light up the world.

My challenge to you for the next month

Here’s my challenge for you for the month of August.

Review and change one life habit which will really impact your life. Here are some suggestions:-

Could you cut out alcohol completely this month?

What about abstaining from meat?

How about getting up an hour earlier each morning?

Please publicly state your commitments below by add your comments – and then we can review at the end of the month.

Start taking baby steps from today – and see how much your life improves immediately. You know it makes sense in the long term.

And then one day YOU can be the oldest DJ in town!

PS Post publication note – This article has just been featured as the top post of the day on The Daily Brainstorm! I am so grateful and really honoured.

Do you know how much stuff you carry around with you unnecessarily?

By stuff, I mean not just physical but also the mental clutter we have most of the time.

It is not always easy to get rid of the mental chatter, but you can certainly let go of the physical stuff quite easily.

Earlier on today, after a spell of writing, I fancied some fresh air and so off I went for a brisk walk. It had been snowing and rather than sensibly wrapping up, I decided to go minimalist and wore just a light coat over a t-shirt.

This time last year I was training to walk the London marathon so I am quite used to walking briskly and dressing lightly. It’s amazing how quickly one warms up by walking briskly, especially when it’s so cold!

What was different today was I went as light as possible and de-cluttered my pockets and got rid of all distractions.

It was a wonderful walk in the park and I came home refreshed and reinvigorated. Apart from the crisp air, what really helped me today was my preparation beforehand.

I went minimalist with nothing unnecessary on me. This also made me realise just how we go through life with so much stuff, both physical and mental.

So what should you take and not take next time you go for your own walk?

Here’s what worked for me:-

1. House keys – leave them with a neighbour if you can, if no one else will be home when you return.

2. Jewellery – don’t wear any. Not even a ring – its only for a short time.

3. Watch – leave this behind too. It’s wonderfully liberating not having to worry about the time.

4. Wallet – leave all your money and wallet/ purse behind. Plan not to buy anything along the way. Not having the money will help you resist any temptations.

5. Mobile phone – definitely leave this behind. I did so today – and guess what, the world didn’t end!

6. Camera – for once, do without any gadgets. This was quite a challenge since I am always tempted to carry a camera with me every time I go to my local park.

7. MP3 player – listen to the birds in the park, if you are lucky and the music of your soul rather than any tinkering from a gadget.

8. Clothes – wear light clothes, just enough to keep you warm and dry.

9. Shoes – wear comfortable walking or running shoes, not work shoes or high heels.

When you go on a minimalist walk, do tell someone beforehand where you are going, if it’s dark. If you must, then carry a water bottle if you plan to go far.

What about letting go of the mental clutter?

There are a number of things you can do:-

1. Breathe deeply – of course being in nature in a park will help. But if you are on a road with heavy passing traffic, then just be more cautious and find an alternate route as soon as you can.

2. Walk erect and with your head held high – this will do wonders for your posture and you will naturally feel better and happier.

3. You can try walking meditation simply by focussing on each step as you move forward. Focusing on your breath and your step will really clear out any repetitive swirling thoughts.

4. Do look around and be present to what’s around you. If you meet strangers, do look them in the eye and acknowledge as appropriate – it’s amazing what a simple stare and nod can do to make you feel more alive and connected with others.

5. Smile – this is possibly the most important thing you can do on your walk to clear out your mental clutter. Of course, your smile must be genuine and be careful how long you keep the smile glued on your face when smiling at strangers!

I got back from my walk and I wrote this post in less than 30 minutes – clearly my walk helped to get me refreshed.

So the key learning for me today is to go on more empowering walks and continue to declutter my life.

And yet again, it’s clear that we can all do much more to simplify our life and start using and keeping only what we really, really need.

So when will you go on your own empowering walk – and what mental and physical clutter will you clear out along the way?

Top photo courtesy of House Of Sims

Related posts:

1. Walk the Talk – Don’t Eat too much Sugar!
2. If No one Walks with You, Walk alone
3. Spread an Epidemic of Smiles and Walk Tall

This morning I had a fabulous breakfast feast with home made bean sprouts, fresh coconut from the Notting Hill Carnival and garnished with vegetarian Furikake and smothered in oodles of virgin olive oil.

Furikake is a wonderful Japanese seasoning containing black & white sesame seeds, Nori Seaweed and Red Shiso leaves. (LINK)

Learn how to make your own bean sprouts.

I must say it was a wonderful way to start the day and I could literally feel the goodness in the food. My gourmet dish also looked rather attractive.

Now that was over 3 hours ago and I still have loads of energy and no hunger pangs.

This reminded me of the oft repeated phrase that you are what you eat. On that basis if I continue to eat fresh, healthy “live” foods, I will always be highly energised and healthy.

My eating habits have changed significantly since I started on my journey of personal development and self discovery. During this time, I have found that my taste buds have changed quite a bit and I no longer crave sweet foods apart from the occasional chocolate. Funnily, I tried some luxury chocolates last week and also found them far too sweet. So maybe those tiny chocolate cravings will disappear too!

As for Indian sweets they are rapidly becoming taboo for me – if you have ever tried Indian sweets, you will know just how sweet and sickly they can be!

So what really stops us from following such a healthy eating regime even though we know what is good for us and what is not?

1. Lack of knowledge.

With the advent of the internet there really is no excuse for anyone not to find out about what’s really good for us and what is not. For instance, it is now well known and chronicled that fried food in excess clogs up the arteries – and yet here in the UK, a fried breakfast is still the norm in many homes.

So the first step is to learn more about healthy eating.

2. Media and conflicting advice

At the same time, there is so much conflicting and confusing advice that seems to come out on a weekly basis from the media. The solution is to be discerning and sensible and follow what seems to be right for you.

The media of course has vested interests with many sponsorships and programme endorsements being made by multinational food companies.

The best way of judging whether something is good for you is how you feel after eating it. If you feel energised and vital then it is more likely to be good for you. Contrast

Also, you can even “ask” your body what it thinks. There is a lot to be said for literally following your gut reaction!

3. Lack of time and convenience foods

We so often choose ready made, microwaveable convenience food – and then plonk ourselves in front of the television. I am not a fan of TV dinners and got rid of my TV set a while ago, but I remember how easy it is to gobble our food down whilst mindlessly flicking through the TV channels.

Sometimes we are just too lazy to put that extra effort into preparing a healthy meal! But what I have learnt over the years is that it really doesn’t take much time to prepare a nutritious meal.

Ideally, we should then eat our meals on our own in a Zen like zone without any distractions or share it with family and friends. In many cultures including my Indian background, mealtimes are often a big family feast though sadly that tradition too is observed less and less, especially in the West.

Mealtimes should be a perfect opportunity to take a break from our hectic lives. Do what the French do – spend a leisurely hour or two over a gourmet lunch if your work allows!

4. Peer pressure

I remember times when friends have made fun of me for taking a packed salad lunch with me for work assignments – and then they used to wonder where I got my energy and youthful looks from

Eat what you feels right and healthy to you rather than what everyone else is eating. Of course, you can be a little flexible too and not let your eating habits become a hindrance to your social life.

For instance, being a vegetarian I am often restricted to where I can eat out healthily, but I don’t let that become an issue when out with friends.

5. Lifestyle and personal choices

At the end of the day, what you choose to eat and how you live your life is your personal choice and no one else’s. So a lot of your current unhealthy eating habits may have arisen from your chosen lifestyle.

However, it is common sense that you are what you eat and by even making minor changes to your lifestyle and therefore changes to what you eat, your whole being will benefit. Then gradually you can make more changes as you notice and appreciate the positive benefits.

Eating healthily is not about having a tough, unrelenting regime – it is simply about taking some sensible precautions and forming new habits.

It is not about feeling deprived of say chocolate – it is about moderation and cutting back on unhealthy eating habits over time.

So here is my challenge to all of you from today. Adopt just one new healthy eating habit every week and maintain it. Soon within a few weeks you will have adopted many new habits.

Do share below your ideas and what healthy eating habits you are committing to take on this week.

And do go easy on those chocolates!

Related posts:

1. How to Have your Easter Chocolate Bunny and Eat it Too!
2. Eat your Sprouts Daily!
3. Walk the Talk – Don’t Eat too much Sugar!
4. Eat well and Save the Earth!

“True good health is a state of dynamic well being, one that is like that of childhood exuberance and joy, boundless energy, keen awareness of surroundings, positive emotional state and a natural love and zest for life. ” – William Woolcott

This is a quote sent to me recently by a friend and highlights once again the importance of our health. Everything we do in our lives either makes us more joyous or less.

If we could learn to be aware of how we feel at any time, we could then continuously make adjustments in our state and move towards greater joy.

I have found that one of the simple ways of creating more joy in our life is to appreciate and enjoy what we already have all around us and to share it. This could be something as simple as a walk in the park, a nice glass of wine, lunch with a friend, laughter of a child and so on.

We are only here for a short time and what we have today will one day all be gone and so will we.

So might as well enjoy and share our gifts now whilst we can.

This reminds me of a simple story about keeping the gold, which highlights my point:-

“There was once a man who loved gold so much, he melted down all the gold he owned into a huge golden boulder. Thinking it would be easier to keep in this form, he buried it in the ground behind his house.

Each night he dug it up, looked at it, and then buried it again.

One night, a thief, who had seen him at his nightly task, stole the golden boulder and put an ordinary stone in its place.

When the man came out to dig up his gold, he discovered the switch and began to moan and shout about his loss.

The thief, watching in the shadows, heard the pitiful moans and said, “Why are you so upset? The golden boulder you buried might as well have been stone. For you never ever used it while you kept it for your own!”

So what gold are you keeping buried and not sharing? Why?

When will you begin to start sharing it?

And do you have a heart of gold or stone?!

It is time to share your gifts and make it happen in your world.

Let your gold shine and see how your life changes.

True health, vibrancy and joy are yours for the taking if you really want them.

Related posts:

1. Dig Just a Little and You will Discover Gold!
2. How to Detox in Five Days and Enjoy It!
3. Valentine’s Day – Enjoy Life as a Single Person!
4. Save our Water – Whilst We still Can

I am back with my article for Friday and as one of my regular readers has already pointed out, I missed the article on Tuesday.

Well, the reason for that is I chose to take some time out for a green apple juice detox.

I have been carrying out this apple detox regularly now and it always leaves me energised and ready to take on the world. It gives my digestive system an almost complete rest for a few days.

What I have also enjoyed is the simplicity of my “meals” – I am not expending any time or energy on deciding what to eat, how to prepare it etc. The long term benefits will be considerable too as over the next few days my body detoxes and gets cleaned up.

Amazingly having had no whole food for 4 days, I have more energy and focus than I have had for a long time! Weighing myself this morning, I am 6 lbs lighter than I was 5 days ago.

Also, it seems as part of the detox I have let go of many other things. Such a detox makes one aware of all those foods and things in our life we just do not need.

We all eat so many things that we do not need or which we eat just for the sake of it. In the same way, we all do and have things in our life which we don’t need and are not necessary for us in the bigger scheme of life.

For example, today I finally let go of an opportunity to train for the London marathon next year for the next 11 months with a running coach. Though it didn’t feel right for me, I had been holding on saying no until today.

I guess it all comes back to listening to our intuition and our body and going with that.

We can all clear out the clutter from other areas of our life and like me, you can literally start a new week afresh.

On the eating front, the key is to note how you feel after a meal – does the body feel vibrant or does it feel lethargic and tired?

So the key learnings for me to share from my apple detox is that such a detox helps to:-

1. Clear out the body and your mind.
2. Let go of many things now unwanted or no longer relevant.
3. Get clearer focus and new energy.
4. Start eating food which is better for you.

So there we are – if you really want to start making it happen in your life, start with your body and begin to let go of things by detoxing.

Your body is for life – and the best time to start looking after your body is today .

Your body is your temple – start treating it as sacred from today.

Finally a couple of events I am organising – a charity cabaret evening on Saturday 27th June to support Nirvana School and Shivia .

Find out more and book your tickets online.

And the annual Friends and Friend’s Friends picnic will this year be on Sunday 12th July in the usual place, Regents Park, central London. I hope to see you all there.

Related posts:

1. Time to Detox and Start Fresh
2. How to Detox in Five Days with Apple Juice
3. How to Detox in Five Days and Enjoy It!
4. Food for the Body and Soul!

Food is one of my favourite topics and recently I came across a great metaphor linking the humble potato with some ideas for life.

My friend, Servane Mouazan, a social innovator who runs Social Leadership courses for women groups and other entrepreneurs gave me one of her leaflets which says all you need to succeed is to be like a potato!

Like a potato you want to:-

• Have firm foundations in life
• Be unique, organic and useful
• Blossom and grow
• Be multifunctional
• Be sustainable
• Make a positive impact on people
• Be inspiring
• Be celebrated and rewarded

So as we begin another week, do give some thought as to just what it will take this week for you to dance like a potato!

Related posts:

1. Celebrate your Life with Dance and Love Every Day :-)
2. Do the Gratitude Dance to Make It Happen!
3. Are you Ready to Blossom?

Food is one of my favourite topics. And what better time than spring time to try out new recipes and new experiences?!

As I write this from my home office in London, it is a typical British spring day – beautifully rainy, blustery and cold!

Regardless of that, spring is certainly in the air and I can feel the freshness of new ideas, people and events coming into my life. How about you?

As is the custom, I have cleared out a few things (physical items, commitments, even people!) from my life and have made the space for new things more suited to where I am now in my life.

Another major thing to bring in the freshness of spring is that this week I am honoured to be hosting the Carnival of the Recipes and what a wonderful set of mouthwatering and refreshing recipes are coming your way.

Though I am a vegetarian and cannot say hand on heart that I will be savouring all these recipes soon, there is enough here for all tastes and preferences. Enjoy!

1. To start with, please do check out my own recipe for the ideal food feast for a spring morning.

I also grow my own bean sprouts, and you can do it too now – no more excuses!

2. Lokendra Rathore presents A Fish Curry Recipe From Jaipur,INDIA posted at Karan’s Guest House.

This does sound quite spicey and tasty – I can almost recall my own trip to Jaipur. Being a vegetarian (ie no fish), I will be trying this but with tofu instead of the fish.

3. Deb Bixler presents Tomato Soup with Quinoa » Increase Metabolism & Live Healthy posted at Increase Metabolism & Live Healthy.

Deb adds that whole grains are more than just wheat, so do try this fun, fast and healthy soup…

I certainly will try this out soon, especially since I love Quinoa – read more here about Quinoa, the soul food of the Andes.

4. This one from Katy uses a secret ingredient- Fennel! I use this ingredient a lot too – do check it out how Katy cleverly uses this – Steamed Mussels with Tomato and Fennel posted at sugarlaws.

5. Jennifer presents Cinghiale My Love posted at The World of Jenotopia.

Now this is definitely not for vegetarians or if you are in a hurry – allow 2 to 3 days preparation and great if you like venison or boar! One I shall definitely NOT be trying out – not in this life time anyway.

6. Jenny presents Share The Food You Love posted at the so called me.

7. Heidi Saxton presents Getting Ready for Easter… posted at Mommy Monsters Inc..

She adds – “Our annual Easter morning tradition: Easter Egg Bread!”

8. Cheese Adventurer presents Artisan Cheese 101 posted at Artisan Cheese Center.

Just the recipe for classic parmesan risotto and edible parmesan bowls!

9. Marsha Hudnall presents Healthy Recipe: South Pacific Chicken posted at A Weight Lifted.

10. woopi clients presents some interesting tips for eating and health improvements posted at You and Your Health.

11. Melissa presents The Ultimate Vinaigrette posted at A Penny Closer.

12. MBB presents Be A Vegetarian Part Time posted at Money Blue Book.

13. Expat Chef presents Going Green for St. Patrick’s Day posted at The Expatriate’s Kitchen.

This is an all-green menu in honour of the holiday with some excellent BONUS tips from two renowned pediatrician-authors on how to get your kids to eat green foods!

Green Pasta! Another one for my try out list

14. Katy presents Goat Cheese Soufflé posted at sugarlaws.

15. Kathee presents green chile chicken enchildas posted at Chicken Recipes. Another one for me to try out with tofu or soya chunks instead of the chicken!

16. Bill presents Irish Flag Cookies posted at Famous Recipes.

17. Drink Recipes presents Outback Margarita copycat Drink Recipes.

18. Famous Recipes presents Baked Breaded Chicken Breast Recipes.

19. World Famous Recipes presents Corned Beef and Cabbage.

20. Yi Hui Chang presents Shrimp pasta with parsley oil posted at The Simple Wealth.

A simple and tasty pasta dish with pan seared shrimps and blended fresh parsley oil.

21. James Brausch presents Costa Rica Drinks posted at Costa Rica HQ.

22. Bothenook presents “Old Time” recipe: Quick Corned Beef and Cabbage. posted at a geezer’s corner.

23. Leo and Catherine in their own imitable style present Food In The Fort — East Meets West Chicken.

And here’s a call for action from them for anyone who thinks they have no time for cook anything. Think again! In the time it takes to make Top Ramen you can make this delicious chicken dish AND follow it up with their favourite lumpy garlic mashed potatoes.

Funnily enough here is just the recipe for their favourite lumpy, garlic mashed potatoes

Leo’s adds – “Who doesn’t love mashed potatoes? But why does everyone leave out the lumps? And the garlic? You can’t have mashed potatoes without lumps and garlic!”

OKay -mashed potatoes I can certainly eat

With lumps of course!

24. Jennifer in OR presents He Makes Pancakes With Such Purpose posted at Diary of 1 – all about how her son makes pancakes

Indeed, pancakes a child loves to make!

25. Laura Williams presents Chocolate & Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies.

26. Elisson presents Dinner with Denny.

27. Woman Tribune presents Natural Mango Banana Soup.

This sounds divine – a recipe for mango banana soup, an all-natural soup that will lift your spirits!

28. Tea Party Girl presents Tea Party Girl Answers Seven Tea Party FAQs.

29. And finally, Christmas is only 9 months away, but here is a taste of things to come.
Christmas Recipes presents Christmas Recipes – Chicken scampi.

Phew! That will take some getting through. But exciting foodie times ahead this spring

Enjoy and share these recipes with others.

Next week’s carnival will be hosted at http://expatriateskitchen.blogspot.com/ – please do send in your favourtie recipes for Greens, Eggs & Ham. Please submit your recipes to recipe.carnival@gmail by 12 p.m. CST, next Saturday, 22nd March.

And of course if you would like to host a future carnival, please send an email to the same address with the word host in the subject line.

Enjoy! And remember the recipes above are not just for spring time.

On that note I am off for a Thai lunch

Related posts:

1. The Ideal Food Feast for a Spring Morning!
2. Food for the Body and Soul!
3. Spring – it’s Time to Find THE One
4. Quinoa, Soul Food of the Andes