INTRODUCING THE OFFICIAL FACE OF FYR™

It just makes sense that the youngest member of FYR™, my partner and long time FYR™ enthusiast, Nina Lakota, should be the official face of FYR™, not because she is my daughter but because she personifies everything FYR™ stands for, youth, health and sheer joy. She even puts me to shame when I start to 'fall off the wagon' on my FYR™ journey:

"Oh, Mama, you know you're not supposed to eat that!", 

"That's just unhealthy!" 

"You can do it Mama, you promised yourself you would exercise today, come on, don't let yourself down." 

"I can't wait to do raw food again, and all those raw desserts, yum!" 

"Your form is off Mama, you're not doing it like the girl on the workout tape, squat lower..." 

"Mummy, I don't want eggs or meat, I want a salad, something fresh and healthy..." she goes on and on and on. Not that we don't splurge occasionally, we do, but when I'm on one of my quarterly detox periods, and I have to stick to the plan, she watches me with eagle eyes "I just want you to be successful at what you do," is what she tells me.

So I asked her a few days ago if she would like to be the Official face of FYR™ and she said yes, that is, after she asked "Will I get paid to do that?" LOL well, yes Ms. Nina, of course, and you can add that to your resume or portfolio too. Little Ms. Entrepreneur!

This got me thinking that we need more young and beautiful faces for this campaign. So FYR™ is conducting a search for 'little' faces to add to our site and eBooks, we need many more FYR Kids™.

Nina came up with some great recipes for her own FYR™ kids dessert Book, yes, this one will be in Print not just an eBook, and we are throwing a 'Mommy & Me for FYR™'  and/or 'Daddy & Me for FYR™' challenge to every parent. The idea is to come up with a simple dessert (ingredients have to match those on the FYR™ approved list, so you have to purchase the FYR™ Lifestyle eBook, The 90-Day Companion may also give you some great ideas). The best recipes (creativity and presentation) will be featured in the FYR™ Kids Dessert book, along with bios and photos. Also, Mom/Dad and child must be spotted with any of the FYR™ gears in their entry photo (mug, apron, t-shirt etc) you can get these from the FYR™ Shop at http://www.cafepress.com/foreveryoungrevolution

I am excited to see new FYR kids™ faces. This challenge runs till June 1st and winners will be announced June 15th (along with the winners of the 90-day challenge) and will be notified when the Book is published. Remember to drink and eat to your health, you'll thank me later!

B

Is it possible that our bodies could have a memory of their own?

4 Months after my 2nd child can you spy my 4.5 packs? :-O

4 Months after 2nd child

The human body is simply AMAZING, is it any doubt that even through years of constantly abusing it, it can still forgive us once we start treating it with care? Imagine how much harder it would be for us to lose weight or be healthy again if we had unforgiving bodies. Maybe we should all learn a thing or two from our bodies, I know I have.


Do you know that our bodies have memory cells? I know this for sure because twice after having both my babies, it 'remembered' what I used to be like before I packed on the pregnancy weight. I have always loved working out and I know with the law of reciprocity, my workouts have loved me back :-). With my second pregnancy I put on more weight than the first and still unbelievably returned to my pre-pregnancy weight faster (mind you, I'm still breastfeeding, so I still eat well enough to produce milk for my baby).  Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that if you 'remember' your body, your body will 'remember' you. I consciously made an effort to be in good shape before both my children, but with the second child I was even more dedicated, if you can remember my 60-day raw food journey from last year (I 'remembered' my body) and my body 'remembered' me as soon as I started eating healthier (FYR™ Approved foods) and working out. Could it be as simple as that? You bet! It definitely got me thinking for sure. And if you didn't 'remember' your body before, it still will love you once you start to 'love' it, cool huh? Anyway, I am super excited to share with you the upcoming FYR™ eBooks. This new year, I got so many emails from so many people asking me how to get back in shape. And so I decided to put everything into a series of eBooks that you can soon purchase. Here are the first few titles soon to be released:
1) The Forever Young Revolution™--"I just love myself a little differently." (Basically tells you about the  FYR™ lifestyle, provides you with a shopping list of FYR™ approved foods, and a detailed 21-day detox menu and recipes for every meal of every of the 21 days, plus a whole lot more you wouldn't want to miss)
2) FYR™ 90-Day Superstar Challenge Companion-- 90 motivational Quotes, 30 Juice and Smoothie recipes and 10 Great Reasons Why You Should Take the Challenge (This is your conscience and me as your coach in words, a detailed breakdown of every day for 90 days of your challenge, great motivational quotes from a few of the greats and yours truly and a bonus star-studded FYR™ Superstar menu for the star in you. Recommended in conjunction with the first eBook above)
3) FYR™ Deserts--Melt away the pounds with every sweet and delicious bite (Just like its title states, you will eat as much deserts as you want and still watch the number on the scale descend. This is the one time when you can eat your cake and have it too!)
I encourage everyone of you to join me in making this year, 2011, the most fabulous one yet. Join the Challenge and see what stuff you're made of. Let's DO IT!!!

The Youngest FYR™ Revolutionist, my daughter, Nina.

I will continue to keep you updated. I must go now but I'll be back soon...
Remember to eat and drink to your health, you'll thank me later!


B

Exercise & Breastfeeding

THIS PICTURE SHOULD BE THE POSTER FOR 'BREASTFEEDING FOR HEALTHY CHILDREN & MOTHERS'

How beautiful is the girl you see above? This picture got my attention because what she's doing is just incredible: in the middle of a busy beach, Mother of three, Pauline Thomas stops to breastfeed her baby. I have always been a big advocate of breastfeeding because I know the benefits to Mother and Child. Also, that's all I knew growing up: I watched my Mom breastfeed all my siblings and I was determined to do my best to follow that example. I believe any amount of breastfeeding is better than none at all. My hats off to those women who go all the way till baby is 12 months and beyond!

With my first daughter, I woke up every 20 minutes to breastfeed and I thought I was going to lose my mind. But later when I watched her grow with little or no health issues, I was glad that I did. It was also very easy to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. I waited till I was done nursing (six months later) before starting any form of exercise, partly because I was tired all the time but mostly because I was just lazy. But after 3 months of diet and exercise I surpassed my goals and went down to a size 4 (I was a size 6 when I got pregnant and ended up a size 10 by the time I had her). Breastfeeding had helped me burn alot of calories to begin with, I guess the late night feedings were worth it, LOL.

Anyway, my point today is that I now have my second child and I wanted to start exercising while I was still breastfeeding and was not sure if it would affect the quality and quantity of my breastmilk. After some research, I was inspired to go ahead and start exercising. I must say I've had no adverse reactions from baby so far, plus I realized that I produce more milk as well. I eat a healthy diet and the recommended 500 more calories you should eat while breastfeeding and I still feel like a million dollars :-) Mommy is happy and baby is, too.

My daily routine is hectic but who says mommies don't have the hardest/best jobs? I wake up before everyone and drink a big glass of water, baby usually wakes up soon after. I had asked my friend Pauline (pictured above) what to do with all the leakage during exercise and she had told me she pumps first.

I must say breast pumps and I have issues, for some reason they hurt for me (my nipples to be precise), so what works for me is that I nurse the baby on both sides and when he goes to bed, which is usually soon after, I use some breast pads and I hit the floor and start my exercise routine. I make my healthy shake for breakfast, make coffee for hubby and get Nina ready for homeschool(brush teeth, bathing, breakfast etc)I do a marathon shower before baby wakes up and then my busy day really begins. Now I am accustomed to the schedule and it works just great.

I would like to know about your experiences with breastfeeding and exercise and how you make it work for you.


Mother of 3, Pauline Thomas, looking like she's just 16! BTW, the picture to your right was taken barely three months after she had her third baby, and she's a full-time working mom too, wao!

Thank you Pauline for your love and support and Merry Christmas to you, Rere and your beautiful children, Cynthia, Chris and baby Ntu :-)

For more on Breastfeeding visit lalecheleague.com they are just wonderful.

Drink & eat to your health, you'll thank me later!

B

Good morning Chunky-monkey-pina-strawberry-banana

Recipe:

1cup of pineapple
1 1/2 banana
3 strawberries
2 cups of soy or almond milk
2 Tbsp of flax seed
1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

This recipe came about because i had some left over pineapple and didn't know what to do with it and I didn't want to eat the pineapple by itself. I was scared that a mixture of pineapple with soy milk might be yucky but it was actually yummy to the tommy lol. So there you go, have some for breakfast and enjoy.

Once in a while I let Nina indulge so this morning I made her some pancakes, with sliced strawberries, some chocolate syrup and lots of whipp cream, she loved it! eventhough she turned and said to me "Mommy, I feel like I'm eating unhealthy." hahahahahahaha she is too much. I told it was okay on occassion.



The ressurection of FYR is back so get ready, you don't have to wait for the New Year to begin, if you can make it civilized (lol) through the Holidays then you can make it anytime, so be strong and remember to eat and drink to your health, you will thank me later!!!


B

Resurrection of FYR

Wao! it's been almost a year since I last posted on this blog and I know you all have been wondering where the heck I was. I am a proud mama of two now, yup, just had my baby boy on August 26th, handsome, healthy, young man! During my pregnancy, the first three months were filled with Day sickness--not morning sickness-- so I could not even post here at all, I was sick like a dog (well worth it :-). Anyway I will tell you the story sometime later. Just wanted you all to know I am back and once I'm done breastfeeding, I will be going through a weight loss plan to lose the etxra pounds I gained while pregnant, so stay posted just in case you want to join me,lol. For now enjoy this video of my 7 year old daughter making her favorite breakfast smoothie. Also feel free to visit our older posts from the previous year ( 2009)there's lots of information to digest while waiting. Here's Nina!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FRdWfTOxVw

xoxo

B

Santa will be a vegan this year...

Has the jolly guy been to your house yet? He has been to mine and there is only one popular person's name under that tree, lol. Well anyway, Nina came up to me a couple of weeks ago and said "Mommy, Santa will be a vegan this year!", "He's going to have to eat like us." and I thought, hmm, that would be a great title for my blog at Christmas time. Santa has been getting fatter or should I say hasn't lost a pound since we first saw him. Could it be that we are giving him a heart attack with all our cookies and cow's milk in every house? lol Well I think he would appreciate our house more this Christmas, to show him we love him not only for our fancy gifts *wink* we are also feeding him with heart-healthy vegan treats. I will make him my favorite raw pie from my own recipe this year and a tall glass of almond mylk (Alexa spells it this way, I like it). How is that for a change huh? SANTA WILL BE A VEGAN THIS YEAR...IN MY HOUSE, how about yours?

We went to Stone Mountain the other day and although it was freezing cold, we did enjoy the beautifully lit houses, trees and cabins. My mom couldn't help but wonder how much the light bill would cost, lol. Only someone who doesn't take things for granted will think like that. When you are from a place where every little bit is appreciated, your view of certain things change. I didn't even think of that until she voiced it and I'm glad she did. My best Christmas ever will be the Christmas where me and a few others save enough money to build at least 2 wells in a village somewhere where people don't even have the luxury of having clean drinking water. We can do that next year, so if you want to join me do send me an email. I have done the research already for groups and missions who can help us fulfill this dream. Just imagine giving the gift of life to not only one person but a whole community. Things like that change the course of someone's life. And even if I have to do it alone, by next Christmas I would like to have saved enough to help build a well somewhere for people who need it. Nina has already joined me in this so we are two in this for now but we hope it grows and we can start a movement. I am so proud of her for since we talked about this project she has already saved up $7 dollars, seven precious dollars that tug at my heart, seven precious dollars that can change not one but several people's lives...

Here's Nina and her sister Savi after Sunday school. They made angels that day and colored a birthday cake for Jesus.

This is the pie that Santa is going to feast on. Hmm, how great does this look?

Yummy-deliciouso!

Upside-down

The biggest order I have had for my special pie. It felt great to see people eat it and lick their fingers and go "Hmm, this is sooooo good, and you say it has no animal products in it? and it's raw?" I am coming up with more great recipes for I now know that if people have the option to eat or give their loved ones a healthier choice, most of them would do it in a heartbeat. The thing is, most people (like me in the past) don't know there are choices out there like these. We need more raw food activist and more vegan activists as well.

Anyway I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a FANTASTIC New Year. May all your dreams come true and may this year be the best year ever for each and every one of you. God bless! I will be back after Christmas to share all the goodies.

~B~

Food Inc.

Good morning FYR folks, lol. I hope you had a great and perfect day yesterday like me but if you didn't why not try to make this day the one? I woke up this morning very refreshed and well rested and decided to start my day with my FANTASTIC, GREEN, SLUSHY-NUTRITIOUS ELIXIR. This consists of

1 tbsp organic barley max
2 ripe bananas
2 ripe, golden pears
2 tsp coconut oil
12 oz water

I later juiced some fennel/apple/celery and ginger....mm, mm great! Not everyone at home (except for Rick, likes it so it's more for me.)

If there is one movie anyone should watch going into the new year, let it be 'FOOD INC.' I can't imagine anyone still eating animal flesh, or at the very least reducing their intake of animal protein, after this very important movie but to each his/her own, right? At least do yourself a favor and know how your meat is fed, raised/handled and packaged. Some people choose to live in ignorance but I choose to know and then make a choice after the facts. If you have netflix service you can rent it or watch it on your computer or TV.

I wish more people were as passionate about this planet and what they eat as they are with every other thing aspect of their lives. More passionate people means better communities, changes in laws, less sick people and a better environment for our children and those who will come after us someday. More passionate people means more organic foods and less processed foods, it mean lower rates of cancers and every other disease that plagues our society. More passionate people means more voices that are heard, more determined and decisive people who can make a change and start a revolution. More passionate people means less ignorance about what we choose to feed ourselves and our families, more passionate people means more happy people, more happy and healthy children, more happy and healthy children who can pass it on.....does anyone care to join? does anyone hear the cries? does anyone care to make a difference starting with themselves and their households and then to the communities and eventually to the world/planet.

Those who fought and dedicated their lives to preventive medicine have been ridiculed, bashed and forgotten. The selfless ones are the ones who are called tyrants and pushed away. So today I dedicate this blog to a few of my heroes and heroines:

Dr. Max Gerson (for his relentless efforts and commitments towards eradicating cancer--which he countless cases. You can purchase The Gerson Therapy at any local book store and online)
Dr. John R. Christoper: Herbal Legacy
Dr. Ann Wigmore: For her amazing discovery of the benefits of juicing wheat grass and more.
T. Colin Campbell (For his amazing contribution to nutrition and health. Read The China Study)
Victorai Boutenko: Green For Life

My gosh this list will never end if I continue but these are my heroes because they dedicated their lives to serving others in the most basic ways we often forget; food. We can become, pilots, doctors, teacher, farmers but we must all eat to live. We must all eat the right foods to have a full life that not only enriches us but everyone in our community. I thank God everyday that I was open enough to learn these truths and willing enough to incorporate it in my life and my loved ones and also to have this forum where those who seek can be inspired to open their ears, hearts and minds to dare something new. I applaud all of you who seek, the truth is right in front of you, reach out and grab it for yourself. It is your birthright!

"When the Student Is Ready, the Teacher Will Come." Are you ready?

~B~