The No Diet Solution to Losing Weight, Feeling Great, and Looking Beautiful

My sister introduced me to The Beauty Detox Solution by Kimberly Snyder and then gifted me with a copy for Christmas.  I made the commitment to give it a try this month and I have nothing but rave reviews!  I think it is a brilliant, fascinating way to look at nutrition and optimal health.  With an examination of our body's science, this book recommends a way of eating that maximizes our digestion and elimination.  It is not a diet book that proposes a restrictive way of eating for a finite period of time. This is a lifestyle plan.  The outlined menus and nutrition guidelines are intended to continually cleanse and detox the body to get rid of waste and toxic sludge that builds up from not eating optimally, making it difficult to shed extra pounds, comprising the immune system, and impeding the growth of glowing skin and shiny hair.  

Kimberly outlines three levels in her book (and her follow up book The Beauty Detox Foods).  She doesn't eliminate animal protein, but restricts it (except for the third level where it is eliminated).   For the True Beauty phase (which I am following), a typical day looks like:

Breakfast: Green juice followed by fruit a half hour later if still hungry

Lunch: Large salad followed by another plant based meal such as soup, veggie wrap, or veggie plate. No grains or starches are eaten until dinner.

Snack: More green juice or a green smoothie or raw veggies and a veggie based dip

Dinner: Large green salad followed by a plant based meal that can include starchy vegetables and non gluten grains such as quinoa, amaranth, millet or buckwheat.  I also eat 1/2 cup of fermented raw veggies (Wildbrine's Red Beet and Red Cabbage Sauerkraut is my go-to, but I am also going to make a batch of Kimberly's Probiotic and Enzyme Salad to interchange with it).

The guidelines for eating The Beauty Detox Way are straightforward, easy, and backed up by the science of why it's good for your body, which Kimberly explains in great detail throughout the book:

• Raw plant foods should be the majority of every meal, and should go in the body first.  Salads are not an appetizers, but the meal.  

• Green drinks are a big part of the beauty detox way.

• Cleanse on an on-going basis by incorporating probiotics, digestive enzymes, magnesium-oxygen supplements, and lots of raw, cultured vegetables.

• Eat only when you are hungry.  Forget those rules that say to eat 5 small meals, or breakfast at a certain time.  Only eat when your body tells you it needs it.

• Practice food pairing.  I have starting doing this and the results have been instantaneous.  Protein and starches don't digest well together, but protein and veggies do, as do starches and veggies.

• Eat light to heavy.  Your digestion system needs to be working optimally all day to break down what you feed it.  If you fill it with heavy foods first, it will get blocked up, leaving you feeling bloated, heavy, and rundown.  Stick to lighter meals and plant-based foods during the day, and save the heavier stuff for dinner.

• Avoid gluten  

• Eliminate dairy

• Avoid artificial sweeteners (use stevia instead)

• Avoid refined sugar and starches

• Avoid unfermented soy products and stick to only tempeh and miso as much as possible

As a vegan who already juices for breakfast, this plan has been fairly easy.  The major changes I have made are the food pairing, eliminating gluten, and keeping starches (gluten free) out of my diet until dinner.  I have added in all of the cleansing probiotics and enzymes above as well.  With these few simple changes, the pounds have been falling off of me, and I honestly feel lighter (my tummy is less bloated too).  The Beauty Detox Solution just makes sense.  I am only three weeks into it, but feeling very energized and optimistic about the results.  

As a nutrition-conscious mom, I am slowly working on how to incorporate this way of eating into my family's meals, mainly dinner, so we can share the same meal.  Mostly, I have found myself relying on my strategy of "mixed meals", where I have a base meal that everyone can add their own favorite ingredients to (see last week's post on Soba Noodle Bowls).

If you are looking to optimize your health and see some big changes in your weight and beauty, I highly recommend you check out Kimberly and her books.  Oh, and did I mention all of the great recipes in both books?  There are tons!  

As someone who already eats fairly clean and healthy, I had been frustrated with some extra bloating around my tummy and the pesky ten pounds that my body always seems to fluctuate between.  With The Beauty Detox Solution, my body feels better, my energy is even higher, and I am losing weight eating delicious food without changing anything in my exercise routine.  Check it out and let me know what you think in the comments below or send me a note at veegmama@gmail.com.

Meet Christie Havey Smith, Author of From Feet Off The Ground

Christie Havey Smith is a fellow writer and friend of mine.  We both are on similar journeys in our lives, raising young children and sharing our voices through our writing. She recently published her new book, From Three Feet Off The Ground.  Her story is so inspiring and important, that I wanted to share it with all of you.  Get to know Christie and her latest project in today's interview!

VM: Tell us about your new book, From Three Free Off the Ground.

CHS: From Three Feet Off the Ground is the story of how I spent a year of my life letting my toddlers teach me about being whole and at peace. I was a multitasking mom, spit up in my hair, my children giggling at my feet, and suddenly I realized that I’d rather explore the possibility of being instead of trying to be everything. I wanted to remember what it felt like to really be amazed, to be present, how to let go and love with out limits… like my kids. So I became the student mother; I followed my children in a humbling yearlong lesson on how to see the world and made life-changing discoveries with a view from three feet off the ground.

VM: Can you briefly summarize what made you take a year to study your children's view of the world?  Was this a deliberate journey or did it happen organically?

CHS: When my oldest child, Adeline, wasn’t quite one-year-old, I realized that she (and all children) appeared to be more fully connected to life than any experienced and informed elder I’d ever met. She was able to take in beautiful details, knowing how she felt from one minute to the next, reaching out to anyone she met with compassion and love, no judgments yet in place. At the time I was counseling people going through difficult life transitions like death, divorce or a crisis of dreams, and these adults were struggling (as we all do at times) to understand where they belonged, how they felt, what they needed in order to move forward. It was then that I began to wonder if life wasn’t just a journey toward knowing or wisdom, but a journey toward remembering. What if we all come into the world with everything we need to feel at peace? The challenge then is holding onto that connection through the windstorms of life. By the time I’d had my second child, I found myself in a bit of a windstorm myself. I was a busy mama with a traveling husband, trying to balance a dozen things, including my sense of self worth. At the end of every day I’d stop and think, I don’t just want to get through the days, I want to enjoy them! After one horribly stressful day that resulted in me emptied out in tears, I got to my feet and made a commitment to myself: I would spend a year letting my children help me remember just who I am—the peace I too once had, the ability to let go and follow my heart! And so the student-mother project began. I journaled for a year and by the time I’d finished, I could see how I’d grown through the pages. That’s when I decided to share my story and I began the book!

VM: What is most important lesson you learned during this year?

CHS: Happiness is not something we have to work for; it doesn’t come with goals achieved, rather it is experienced by living through our own innate joy. It comes from our understanding of the world—simple, beautiful perceptions. And though life can be hard and at times even ugly, there is always something beautiful to see, something amazing to find that is truly good.

VM: What advice do you have for those who would like to do something similar and want to observe their children from their perspective?  How can we best bring ourselves to their level to really listen and be present in the way that they are?

CHS: Play. Just play. Even when you have ten chores to do, play while you do them. When we play with our kids, we begin to see things differently—we see through their innocence, their joy, their wonder, their hopes. And these moments are unarguably some of the best moments in a day for all those involved.

VM: How do you stay connected with your kids on busy days, as you balance responsibilities and commitments?

CHS: This can be such a challenge. Some days I feel like I never stop moving. But I invite them into my commitments whenever I can (especially commitments at home) and I consciously make myself available to listen. I look them in they eye when I talk to them, and often I see something there I didn’t see the day before. A hesitation, a curiosity. I try to stay aware of how everyone is feeling, and at the end of every day I reflect on where each child is in their life, their growth, and think of how I can better support them the next day.

VM: What is your favorite activity to do with your kids?

CHS: Each of my kids is so very different and I find that I enjoy different one-on-one activities with each kiddo. But my favorite thing to do with all three of them is go to the beach—dig in the sand, jump in the waves! I am able to completely let go and be present to their joy, finding that it further fuels my own.

VM: I am on a quest to live the "good" life in every meaning of the word.  What does the "good" life mean to you?

CHS: This is such a great question! When I see the pictures of my family above our fireplace every day, I have a sense that I am living the good life. The good life to me is celebrating life with people I love. Whether it’s just a walk through the park, sharing an amazing meal, traveling, or dancing in the kitchen, it’s about really showing up, taking in the beauty of it all, and feeling gratitude for each opportunity to connect with another. The good life is about enjoying the details, not just racing through. And if those details involve good friends, the beautiful outdoors, great music or amazing food… well, then I’m in heaven!

VM: Can you share a favorite quote?

CHS: “Like water, be gentle and strong. Be gentle enough to follow the natural paths of the earth, and strong enough to rise up and reshape the world.”  - Author Brenda Peterson

Thank you, Christie!  To learn more about Christie, read below and to learn more about her book, click here.

Christie Havey Smith is a Los Angeles-based author who specializes in narrative non-fiction literature. She teaches writing workshops throughout the L.A. area, empowering both adults and children to find their true voices and write themselves further into their own lives. Since Christie was a child she has been fascinated with books and films that inspire change and celebrate life. Christie studied television and film writing at Ohio University, and her first manuscripts were screenplays. But her interest in character struggle did not stay tied to the screen. Christie brought her passion for the human condition back to academia where she studied spirituality and earned a Masters of Arts in Theology from Loyola Marymount University. Christie and her husband live in a community on the outskirts of L.A. with their three children. Christie is a writer, a teacher and a storyteller with a passion for the health and happiness of the human spirit. But above all, she is a mom. It is within this role that she has truly found herself.

Meet Rachel Macy Stafford, author of Hands Free Mama

Hands Free Mama is a blog that has come to be very special to me.  A grad school friend (thank you Jen Med!), introduced me to it via a Facebook share many months ago.  I identified so strongly with the "lessons" and insights that the author, Rachel Macy Stafford, was sharing that I kept reading.  This was a mom trying to do it all and be the perfect mother/wife/daughter/etc., but discovered that in her madness to achieve that (im)perfect ideal, she was living a very distracted life.  I admired her vulnerability and appreciated her honesty - especially, as someone who could very closely relate at the time (and still struggles to live in the moment).  Hands Free Mama  became a sort of lifeline for me at a time when I was feeling very overwhelmed and not so joyful in the life I was so desperately trying to make perfect.  Reading her blog has motivated me to stop striving for perfect, and has brought me encouragement (and support) on those tough days.  Hands Free Mama is one of those gifts that the Universe delivered to me just when I needed it.   Rachel and her blog are a constant source of inspiration.

I am so thrilled that she has agreed to let me interview her on VeegMama as she launches her new book, Hands Free Mama, (debuted yesterday on book shelves).

VM: Can you quickly summarize how you ended up on this mission of being hands-free?

RS: A little over three years ago, I experienced what I call my “breakdown-breakthrough.” For the first time in my life, I honestly answered the complimentary question I received on a daily basis: “How do you do it all?”

I painfully admitted that I was able to “do it all” because I missed out on life – the playing, connecting, memory-making parts of life.  Tragically, I knew every precious moment I had missed could never be retrieved.  With clarity, I saw the damage that daily distraction was having on my relationships, my health, and my life.

Once I acknowledged that living distracted is not really living at all, I vowed to change. From that day forth, I began taking small steps to let go of distraction and created designated times of the day to be FULLY present with the people I love.

The impact of my “Hands Free” tactics were so immediate and so profound, I knew I must share them with as many people as possible. So three months into my journey to grasp what matters, I published my first post on “Hands Free Mama.”  The responses I receive on a daily basis confirm that my journey is meant to be shared publicly.

VM: It is so hard to put our phones away and turn our email off. How do you stay awake as a mother/parent especially while trying to maintain a blog and Facebook page?

RS: There was a time in my life when I thought it was “hard” to put my phone and computer away in the presence of my family, but now it is a way of life.

The day I experienced my painful awakening about the cost of my distraction, I committed to being “Hands Free” in the presence of my family. I knew with certainty that I did not want my children’s childhood memories to consist of a mom who was always on her computer or looking at the screen of a phone. I also realized that in the moments I was consumed by technology, I was missing valuable opportunities to connect with my family.

I have approximately seven hours each day when my family is not home. Those are the hours I write and work online. I also utilize time in the evening to work once my family goes to bed. I will be honest, I seldom “get done” everything I want to do in a day, but that is a pressure I have learned to let go of – the pressure to “do it all,” which almost cost me everything I hold dear.

My productivity level is not as high as it was when I was constantly tied to technology, but the connection to my family and my personal happiness have never been better. Living “Hands Free” is actually living life, not “managing” life, and I will never go back to the way it was before.

VM: I love learning about other family's traditions and rituals. Can you share a specific family tradition or ritual that your family enjoys doing? Tell us about how it started and why it's so important to your family now.RS: My children and I love to bake together and do so on a regular basis. This tradition started when my oldest child was two-years-old and she helped make her own birthday cake. I was amazed at how much she could do to help, and before we knew it, she was even cracking eggs!

Our baking tradition has evolved into our family’s favorite way to express kindness and appreciation to people in our lives. Every holiday, we make goodies to package up and give to others as a way of saying “thank you.” We include people inside our inner circle of family and friends, but we also strive to include people who provide services in our lives like the trash collectors and mail carrier. 

I see this as an important tradition because it provides a way of expressing gratitude at a concrete level that my kids can easily grasp and have a part in creating.  In addition, they have witnessed the profound impact simple acts of kindness can have on someone’s life. I believe my daughters will continue such practices throughout their lives.

VM: I feel that making parenting fun is my No. 1 job as a working mom -- for many reasons, not just in order to maintain sanity and good mind-body-soul connections. Tell us a little 
about your favorite fun thing to do together that evokes laughter and silliness?

RS: Part of being “Hands Free” is not just letting go of distraction, but grasping the moments that matter. I realized that if I was going spend time “undistracted” with my kids, I might as well be there FULLY. This notion got me off the sidelines. I have gone from watching them play to being part of the action. In the past eighteen-months, I have done things that I haven’t done in decades. My kids delight in seeing me ride a scooter, slide down a grassy hill on a cardboard box, do a cannon ball into the pool with goggles on, climb a mountain of dirt, and pet a snake. I have never seen my kids laugh and smile as much as they do when I step into their world – completely hands free!

VM: What do you find to be the most valuable way to stay connected and engaged with your children, even after a really busy day?

RS: When my oldest daughter was three, she asked for “talk time” at the conclusion of her bedtime routine one night.  We have continued “talk time” nightly for the last five years.

During this sacred ten-minute period, I get to hear what is on my child’s heart and mind. She shares everything from what happened at school to what she wants to be when she grows up. She asks questions about everything from what she was like as a baby to what would happen if I die.

My youngest child has really taken to her “talk time” journal where she and I sit together at bedtime while she draws and writes what is on her mind.  As a means of improving my pursuit to be “Hands Free,” I invited her to share her thoughts about how I might be an even better parent in her journal. The journal has been enlightening for me and liberating for her.

Our “Talk time” ritual is single-handedly the most connective activity I do with my children. I am convinced that the reason they share with me as much as they do is because of this established routine each night. Regardless of how chaotic or fragmented our day was, this peaceful feeling of unity that occurs when we cuddle side by side ALWAYS brings us back together as one before the day ends.  


VM: What has been your favorite activity to do with your children?

RS: In an effort to be more “Hands Free” one summer, I conducted simple science experiments with my kids. We ended up inviting a few neighbors over for the weekly science lesson, and it became quickly became the highlight of each week.


I used a book I discovered on clearance in the back of a craft store entitled, The Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions. The ingredients were often things I had around the house and the steps were easy.  

What I most enjoyed was hearing the children “hypothesize” about the expected outcome of the experiment and then watching their faces as the results unfolded – pure excitement, wonder, and delight!

Who knew creating foamy paint, peanutty play dough, fruity lip gloss, and a crystal rock garden would lead to laughter, connection, memory making, and learning?

VM: What do you do as a family to help others?RS: Our family is passionate about helping children in poverty situations. For the past five years, my family has helped me conduct a community-wide event where children in our neighborhood learn about what it means to live in poverty and fill empty shoeboxes with needed items. The shoeboxes are sent to children in impoverished countries through an organization called Operation Christmas Child.

This was the first year that my older daughter created the PowerPoint presentation about poverty and taught the children about the living conditions of children in need. It was uplifting to see her take over something I had done for five years. To me it was a confirmation that our children lead by our example.

VM: I am on a mission to live the "good life" in every sense of the word.  What does the "good life" mean to you?
RS: Before I started my Hands Free journey, I put off living. I banked on vacations and holidays to make up for the lack of time spent connecting with the people I love. The other days of the year I was too busy, too distracted, and too productive to slow down, enjoy life, and simply be with the people I love.

Now I don’t wait for holidays to slow down, laugh, and play. I don’t count on family vacations to create my children’s fondest memory recollections. I’ve discovered that the most meaningful experiences in life happen when I take pause in the ordinary, mundane moments of a busy day.  

It’s hopping on our bikes after dinner for a quick ride and pointing to a "cotton candy" sky. 

It’s staying just five extra minutes at bedtime just to hear things on her heart that only come out in the darkness. 

It’s holding her hand as we walk into swim team practice and thinking how good it feels. 

It’s expressing gratitude for life’s simple joys like fresh air, belly laughs, and worn-out treads on running shoes.

I’ve learned that there are some things that can wait and some things that can't. I am trying to stop putting off the things that matter most. Taking a few minutes each day to savor the joy in the ordinary is making my heart fuller, my inner doubts quieter, and my human connections stronger. To me, this is living “the good life,” and it is available to anyone who chooses to grasp it.

VM: Do you have a favorite quote you could share?

RS: "You never know who might be using your love and light to grow. So keep sharing your love and never stop shining your light." ~ Nasim Hassan ~

Thank you, Rachel!  Read more about Rachel below and click here to get your copy of Hands Free Mama now!

Rachel Macy Stafford is a certified special education teacher with a Master’s Degree in education and ten years of experience working with parents and children. In December 2010, this life-long writer felt compelled to share her journey to let go of distraction and grasp what really matters by creating the blog “Hands Free Mama.” Using her skills as a writer, teacher, and encourager, Rachel provides readers with simple, non-intimidating, and motivating methods to let go of distraction and connect with their loved ones. Rachel's work has been featured in USA Today, TIME.com, MSN.com, PBS.org, The Huffington Post, and Reader's Digest. Her blog currently averages 1 million visitors a month. Her first book, Hands Free Mama, is now available.

Live The Life You Desire This New Year

Happy New Year!  It's a new day, a new year, and a new beginning for many of us.  How do you want to feel this year?  How do you want to feel when you wake up in the morning?  What do you want to feel as you drive to work each day?  How do you want to feel when you walk through your front door at the end of the day?  Let the feelings you desire guide your daily decisions and lead you to the joyful life you are meant to live.

There is no time like the present.  How do you want to feel?  Capture that feeling now.

Danielle LaPorte is my desire guru and motivational coach in this area (virtual, that is).  Once I started thinking in terms of how I wanted to feel (instead of what I wanted), my life started to change.  Small changes so far, but I can see how they are building into something bigger.  My perspective is shifting and people around me are too.  When I let my feelings guide me, I am more confident about what I want and more at peace with myself and my desires.

Doesn't it just make sense?  We do what we do, (the work we choose, the commitments we say 'yes' to, the exercise routines we endure, the family units and relationships we create), because we want to feel a certain way.  Instead of chasing another goal this year, I am going to focus on capturing a feeling.

If you are interested in doing the same, I highly recommend you get a copy of Danielle's new book, The Desire Map.

Click here for a great interview with Danielle and business coach, Marie Forleo if you need a little more information (and convincing).

Blessings for a joyful and prosperous new year, full of joy and all that you desire.

Meet Award Winning Author, Sheri Fink

I met Sheri Fink at a children's writing conference this past summer.  She instantly struck me as someone living and breathing the "good" life.  I connected strongly with the inspirational themes of her books, identifying my own writing mission with that of hers to inspire self esteem in children.  Her beautiful books and heartfelt stories are winning tons of awards and accolades.  I am truly grateful for the opportunity to interview her for all of you, especially in between her busy schedule as she launches her next book, The Little Seahorse (coming March 2014).

VM: Please tell us a little bit about the whimsical world of Sheri Fink and the beautiful books you write.  

SF: I write books that inspire and delight kids while planting seeds of self-esteem that can have lifelong benefit. Everything I do for The Whimsical World of Sheri Fink children's brand aligns with that mission, including the upcoming stage version of The Little Rose. 

VM: I love how your books all focus on themes of self-esteem, acceptance, and confidence.  What inspires you to write your books?  Why are these themes so central in your books?

SF: I'm inspired by my own life experiences. I focus on the messages that I most wish I had received and internalized as a child. If we plant the seeds of self-esteem early, everyone wins. I want kids to know how precious they are and to really go for it in life. That requires healthy self-esteem and encouragement. I hope that my books provide that for kids worldwide. 

VM: You had a successful corporate job before you you wrote your books.  What made you decide to leave and pursue children's literature?

SF: When I left my corporate career in 2010, I didn't know that I would be writing children's books. I just knew that I needed to find something new that I felt passionate about doing. I created the space by leaving the relative comfort and security of my corporate job and then a few months later, I was inspired to pull a story out of a drawer. The story was The Little Rose and that bold choice completely changed my life.

VM: What suggestions do you have for anyone wanting to pursue a dream that means leaving behind a successful career in a different field?

SF: Be brave and go for it! Create an exit strategy so you can leave the current career with dignity and grace. Save up as much money as you can and take extraordinary care of yourself in the transition process. It's not easy, but it's so rewarding and worth it. 

VM: Your books are very successful and are winning lots of awards.  Do you have any tips for writers?

SF: My best tip is to write completely from the heart. That's what resonates so strongly with readers. Don't write to trends, write what you feel passionate about and chances are it will touch the hearts of others as well. 

VM: What trends do you see today in children's publishing?

SF: In general I see a greater acceptance of independently published books. There are a number of authors in the children's publishing space who are doing well and changing the perception of "self-published" books. Even the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) had panels discussing how to independently publish at their annual LA conference this year. That's really exciting to see because the readers don't care who publishes a book, they just want to read good books. :)

VM: Can you share your top 3 favorite children's books?

SF: 1. Watership Down by Richard Adams

2. Leo the Lop by Stephen Cosgrove (a pioneer in independent publishing)

3. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

VM: What are you reading now?

SF: I'm just starting to reread Watership Down and I love it! I'm also rereading The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. 

VM: I am on a quest to live the "good" life in all aspects of the word.  What does the "good" life represent/mean to you?
SF: Here are the ingredients of the "good" life for me:

 - Beautiful inspiration and creative expression

 - Authenticity and deep connection

 - Passionate love, joy, laughter, and celebration

 - Fitness, well-being, and extraordinary self-care

 - Fun, travel, and adventure (delicious experiences that tickle your soul) 

 - Sharing amazing experiences with people I love (friends, family, and Fans)

 - Making a HUGE positive difference in the world while experiencing lifestyle freedom and financial serenity. 

VM: Can you share your favorite quote?

SF: "The person who believes it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it." ~ Chinese Proverb 

Thank you, Sheri!  To learn more about Sheri, please read below.

Sheri Fink is a #1 best-selling, award-winning children’s author, creator of “The Whimsical World of Sheri Fink” children’s brand, and an international speaker. Sheri writes books that inspire and delight children while planting seeds of self-esteem. Her first children’s book, The Little Rose, was a #1 best-seller on Amazon for over 60 weeks, became the #1 top-rated e-book on Amazon, and received a gold medal in the 2012 Readers Favorite International Book Awards. Her subsequent books have all been #1 best-sellers. Her children’s book series received the Gold Mom’s Choice Award for excellence in family friendly entertainment. Sheri was selected by CBS Los Angeles as one of the top 3 authors in her local area, a distinction she shares with Dean Koontz. Sheri was awarded with the Gold Medal by the Readers Favorite International Book Awards for The Little Gnome and Exploring the Garden with the Little Rose. Sheri's upcoming book, The Little Seahorse, is set to debut in March 2014 and became a #1 Best-seller on Amazon 6 months prior to release. 

Fans can connect with her online: 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SheriFinkFan

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sheri-Fink/e/B004T9ZJA4/

Website: http://www.WhimsicalWorldofSheriFink.com

Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/Sheri_Fink