...Sitting, stressing, and eating hospital food all contributed to me gaining about 20 lbs. Carbs were my comfort food. I kept teaching my 6 gym classes a week but the stress made me hold on to the weight. It's only since starting the Restoring Wellness program that I am beginning to release some weight.

I am an intelligent person; but the information I've learned in these last 6 weeks have truly opened my eyes to how I've been abusing my body for so long. Two trips a day on average to Starbucks for my soy latte fix was shattered cold turkey during the program. I've eaten Paleo, with great success. I've tried every diet under the sun from Weight Watchers to Atkins, but nothing has made me feel so good or successful as working with Stephanie. The dedication she has to helping me see how good my body is meant to feel is invaluable.

My husband and I knew just halfway into the cleanse that we wanted to continue it to at least 14 days. Today marks day 32. It has  gone from being a cleanse to a daily lifestyle. We are still eating vegan, trying new things and juicing each day. I feel healthier, have lost 11 pounds and have a greater appreciation for food. I've experienced hunger, but now? I don't eat nearly as much as before but my foods are so nutrient dense that I am getting what I need. I don't crave sugar or carbs and can be in a roomful of really poor food choices and not be tempted AT ALL. It's baffling to me how now that I see things clearly, I want to shout it from the rooftops to everyone I know.

This whole experience has piqued my interest into holistic nutrition. I'm so curious about how everything works and am excited to see how I can continue and share this knowledge with others and tie it in with my fitness career.

I'm very sad to see the program end but know that I will continue on my path to wellness, and that Coach Stephanie is just a Facebook post away.

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 "I started years ago, but I lacked the proper nutrition to do it the way it should be done. I lost most of the weight but never had the kind of energy or sense of "rightness" that I have now, thanks to you!"

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April 2014

She continues...

The second time around, the biggest thing I've noticed is how much easier it is to be able to try new things that were overwhelming before, such as making rejuvelac, rebounding, trying new recipes and circadian rhythm eating. It is hard to implement everything so I've learned to be gentle with myself and set a goal as to what I want to try to incorporate.

I had lost 12 lbs the first program, and as a lifelong sufferer of obesity, I wanted to lose more weight and knew I was eating too late at night. Simply eating before 7:00pm each night gave me a 4 lb loss in a week while not changing my food. I've now lost 21 lbs total, feel better in my clothes, walk with more confidence and most importantly, finally truly believe that that weight is going to come off in its own time. I know that by continuing to eat vegan and gluten and dairy free, I will lose the weight and I don't have to stress about when, how much and how long it's going to take. There's a peace that's fallen over me, it's hard to explain. I've ALWAYS lived tied to the scale. I still weigh in once a week just to monitor but I am not preoccupied with it any longer. I can truly say that I'm ok with the pace of my weight loss and it's not a focus. I feel good about my choices and there's a lot less "beating up" of myself.

My biggest struggle comes from the frustration of others; the lack of willingness to learn and educate themselves about what Stephanie has taught us. The lack of understanding that people have for how I am choosing to live my life. I want to help change others as I've been changed but I realize everyone must follow their own paths and it's by living my life optimally that others will see the changes and when they are ready, I can help guide them as I've been guided. My mission has now become to lead by example. Thank you Stephanie for helping me, not only physically, but with the emotional guidance that is inevitable when you embark on a life changing journey. I'm forever grateful and excited to see where else it takes us!

June 2014
This is the third consecutive program enrollment for my husband and me. There have been challenges along the way, temptations, internal and external stresses in my life that I have had to deal with and NOT fall back in to the old habit of emotional eating my comfort foods. As a teacher, the end of the school year probably more stressful than the beginning, and I survived, mostly because I have continued to eat well.  It's very apparent that it's not an option anymore; it's a lifestyle that is internalized and natural. It's been 22 weeks since we started on the Restoring Wellness program. I never thought I would eat like I do now; vegan most of the time, choosing healthy options for meals and snacks even when I normally would have reached for gluten filled comfort food. 

I am constantly surprised by the depth of this program that Stephanie has so lovingly crafted. There are so many layers; it's truly like an onion that you peel away one layer at a time. I've come across things this round that I have NO memory of every hearing about in the other two programs runs! As I have issues or questions come up, and Stephanie recommends a homeopathic remedy or nutrient that I've never heard of, it turns out that she DID teach it and it never resonated with me until I needed it. I've gone back through my binder and sure enough, there's the lesson!

I recommend printing/downloading ALL the information so that you can refer back to it later. Better yet, re-enroll in the future because you never know when you might need something that you are finally ready to hear. Some things I've added, some things I've started and then let go, others I still struggle to implement weekly, if not daily. It's a journey; a process that takes time. If you are truly in need of a change or desire to live with more energy and vibrant health, then don't give up.

"Never consider the possibility of failure; as long as you persist, you will be successful." -Brian Tracy. Wise words. Thank you Stephanie - the longer I know you, the more I delve into the works of your labor of love, the more I am in awe of you and your dedication. 

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February 2014

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April 2014

Another journey

First I would like to thank God for bringing us to Stephanie and leading me and my family to this journey, one that has changed all of our lives. This is the second time around doing this program. The biggest realization this time is that we are no longer trying anymore, the lifestyle promoted in the program has become second nature, a way of living.

 I have a rare autoimmune disease called dermatomyositis and although I've been battling this for over a year (I spent 6 months hospitalized last year and couldn't move or swallow, I lost all muscle function and had to learn how to speak, eat and walk all over again). Once I started eating again, the hospital would give me food that I know now was promoting inflammation. Doctors helped save my life; medicine had it's place in my healing, but the nutrition never really played a part. Since getting out of the hospital, I slowly improved but went back to eating somewhat like I did before and started to feel poorly again. Since starting the program in January, I'm so surprised at how much nutrition has played a major part in my healing, and how quickly it's happening just from changing what goes into my mouth.

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I have seen so many improvements in my health: stains on my teeth have gone away, hemmoroids are gone, my skin tags have disappeared, my sleep apnea and snoring are reduced, my blood pressure is lower, my hair is getting thicker, little aches and pains I've had for years have gone away, my prednisone went from 100 mg to 5 mg and my big goal is to be off all medications. My food allergies have almost all gone away, and I know this comes from repairing my leaky gut.  I've exceeded my doctor's expectations and my own. I am improving my lifestyle but what I need to keep working on is my self discipline with circadian rhythms.

 Do I really want to go back to looking and feeling like that? No, I don't EVER want to feel like that again. I would rather have the porridge for breakfast which is so delicious than what I used to eat - 4 pieces of toast with coffee, wondering why I felt bloated after! It's all an education, I can't say enough about Stephanie and what she has taught me. If people could just look at it as information, education, and not that you are giving something up but adding to the quality of the rest of our lives!  I don't miss the foods I used to eat because I have either found a good alternative or I KNOW WHY it isn't good and why it made me feel bad after I ate it. I wish everyone I know would go through the program. It has opened my eyes and it is part of my journey for the rest of my life!

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June 2014
As I complete my third enrollment in this program, my health continues to get better, I keep getting stronger, and my energy and stamina is as good as when I was in my early 30's. I haven't had this kind of energy for many years, and I owe it all to the changes I have made in my diet and nutrition.  My biggest improvement this time around has been my eyesight. Before this, I was having issues with double vision and blurriness that was probably coming from some of my medications, but I have since stopped them and included more foods and nutrients to help with my eyesight. Now, I see clearer and the double vision has gone away. I have added many things to my daily nutrition, such as Vemma, apple cider vinegar, and oil pulling, and all have made a difference in my overall health. We have been living this lifestyle for 22 weeks now and the biggest thing is the realization that it really is a lifestyle, not just a diet or a program we are following.  Ever since January, I have not gone back to my main dietary weaknesses: sugary drinks, bread, pasta and lots of animal products like meats and dairy. Not only have I not gone back, I don't even crave any of those things any more. I can be around them and not want to have any. Thank you Stephanie, for your guidance and teaching,

From juicing to restoring wellness

The human body has been my fascination and career. I have a deep understanding of science but still was unable to put the pieces of the puzzle of my health together. I met Stephanie last summer and joined her for a juice cleanse while recovering from ankle surgery from an injury that had been misdiagnosed for several months. I felt I need to detox from anesthesia etc. and I had entered a "traumatic" menopause the day of the injury. The surgery fixed the tendon damage but this fall I was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis of the talus bone(ankle), and slow healing joint capsule rupture.

As a Kinesiologist, avid any thing outdoors person and life long rider this was unacceptable. I embarked on a quest to discover the true cause of my several malabsorbtive issues. A long time proponent of organic and local food and gluten free for many years I still did not feel "dialed in" to my individual sensitivities. I am still struggling with auto-immunity issues. This program has made me an even more conscientious eater. I discovered that insulin resistance was a bigger issue than any of my functional med doc's diagnosed. Though not considered overweight, last week I discovered everything I own is now too big even though my weight loss was only 4 lbs. I am sure I will repeat this program in the future and look forward to all the new and wonderful information from Stephanie as the program evolves.

P.S. I WON this program right when I needed it most.

Deborah Caldwell,
founder Cayucos Natural

Even more from Facebook

• I want to be honest, I tend not to share when I am struggling or need help. After seeing some of you share your highs, lows, and in betweens, it encourages me. I had a great deal of anxiety and stress leading up to my knee surgery, anticipating the end of the program, and "losing" Stephanie. I seriously fell off the wagon, eating anything and everything that wasn't nailed down. I looked and felt like crap and gained all but 8 lbs of the 30 lbs I lost. I can now say I am back on target, since Monday and have lost 9 lbs, feel better and my outlook is better. I am so excited to be joining the program again on June 28th! 
• Today's lesson on sugar is so sad. It truly is something we, as a society, abuse and eat too much of. It is up to us to do better for our children. If you scroll down to the very bottom on that page, Stephanie notes the dangers of the synthetic sweeteners.
  I just feel sad thinking of the last few years of my father's life. As a diabetic (among many other health issues) he LIVED on Splenda and Sweet N Low. I did too. Advised by his doctors, of course, because he was diabetic. No wonder all his organs eventually shut down. I truly wish he were alive so I could help guide him to Stephanie and better choices. Maybe it wouldn't have ultimately saved him, but maybe I would have had him around a bit longer.
  Sorry for the downer post; my point is really that we ALL have the knowledge, the control and the power to change our health. It truly is as simple as what we let pass between our lips.
  We know better; now it's up to us to DO better.
  Thank you Stephanie.
• Bay Area members: did you know we have created an event for those of us living here in Northern California? Check out the page and join so you can see events posted such as get togethers, post questions specific to our area like where to buy certain items, etc. Our first in person meet up is this Wednesday!! 
  
• Tonight was our first ever Wednesday Wellness day get together for our Bay Area Group! Thank you Rob and Sarah for hosting! We had a small group but talked non-stop about recipes, ideas, challenges, where to shop for items, shared a great vegan meal (chili with sour cream and avocado, quinoa tabouli and brussel sprouts) and then finished the evening watching Food Matters. The conversation never lagged and we can't wait to do this again next week, sharing food that's cleanse legal, of course! Bay Area friends, hope you can join us next Wednesday! Check the Event page for details.
• Day 4: I just wanted to share...the struggle was real today! This has been one of the more challenging days for me on this journey. I have wanted to cave and eat ANY food not on the approved list and 2 thoughts kept popping into my head, every time I saw someone devour a Costco slice of pizza or someone munching on a cookie at Whole Foods: how do I want to feel? and right before a breakthrough is usually when it is the most challenging! Instead I am now journaling and enjoying an herbal tea with fresh mint and a cinnamon stick.
  
• My circadian rhythm woke me up at 5:45am, well before my set alarm clock of 6:30. I'm not sure I like this, although I was able to get up and make a batch of salad dressing and my lemon water before my alarm actually went off. This is despite the fact that I went to bed later than usual. Hmmm.
  
• When I first found out about Stephanie's program, I went to her class to support friends.  I took my husband to support friends.  At the end of her class, he stood up and said "I'll do it if you want to do it".  That was six weeks ago.  While I am not 100% following the program, I have not eaten a cracker or cookie or piece of beef since March 8.  I never thought I could do that.  I also went through a huge withdrawal the first week of the cleanse and know I never want to go through that again.  So, my life has changed.  I am feeling better and have lost 17 pounds.  I recommend this program to everyone.  Even if you think you eat well, you can always learn something new.
• I want to give a big public thanks to Stephanie Austin for all you do. My daughter will be 2 in June has struggled with malabsorption due to food allergies. From these allergies we saw issues in her skin, gut, and even mental development. When we had her blood levels tested back in January for the second time she was still very vitamin D deficient. Our pediatrician wanted to send us to a gastroenterologist but instead I decided to go all holistic and I know I made the 100% right decision. I just knew this was all due to nutrition and even though I had done a TON of research myself I felt like I had hit my wall. She had made leaps and bounds already from foods we had removed but I was still missing something! We also visited a holistic muscle tester for her allergies, and between the two of these ladies my daughter has made leaps and bounds in just the past 2 months! We are still repairing her gut and skin and seeing improvement weekly. Thank you!
  
• I want to share that I got behind things from the third week, but I'm trying to catch up & listen to the class recordings and information, this program totally changed the way I was eating. I learned a lot from it. I was addicted to sugar sweet Mexican bread, candy. But not anymore, now I can use raw organic Honey & coconut sugar. I was sick with headache, nausea, constipation, overweight with high cholesterol & inflammation But thanks to this program that's all gone since the 10 day cleanse except I'm still trying to loose more weight , I lost 20 pounds but want to work on loosing more. I used to snore very loud & was affecting my husband because he was not getting enough sleep, now he's happy that I'm not snoring as loud & he can sleep now  I have a tumor on my thyroid it was the size of a Golf ball now is gotten half the size smaller.  I for sure will continue to do what I learned from this program for the rest of my life, this program is amazing. Thanks Kristy for introducing me to it  I will stick with no gluten,my warm lemon water,chia seeds,coconut oil, dry skin brushing and eat lots of veggies. Thank you, thank you Kristy & Stephanie Austin
• I've had the opportunity of working with Stephanie twice- 1st with a 10 day cleanse and presently with the 6 week wellness program. Each time right before the program were to start, I would come up with so many reasons why this is the wrong time etc. I pushed through and never looked back. Stephanie is a true coach, never judgmental and always there with helpful information to get you to the next level of your journey. Here I am now, feeling better than I have in years..pain free, twenty pounds lighter and packed with so many useful tools to continue living a healthy gluten free lifestyle. This experience would never have been so successful for me if it weren't for Stephanie. I've tried other avenues to no avail. I know you will be saying the same thing if you just take a chance and do it.
• What an amazing transformative journey this last 6 weeks has been for me! 6 weeks ago, I was consuming meat, dairy, caffeine, processed foods, gluten, and lots of bad sugars. 6 weeks ago, I had never tasted quinoa, let alone cooked it, nor had I ever eaten chia seeds, hemp seeds, nutritional yeast and a bunch of other foods. I didn't even know what those things were. Make my own almond milk and drain it through a nut bag?! No time for that! Putting vegetables in a blender?! Seriously?! 
  
  Because of this program, I have totally changed my eating habits and approach to nutrition and clean living. It is hard to express in words how much better I feel. I feel more energetic, more vibrant, more "clean". Never before have I made such significant changes to my nutrition - yet it was not nearly as difficult as I expected. Now, if I'm tempted by something I know isn't good for me, I ask myself "how will eating this make me FEEL?". This is a good way for me to live. I have lost weight - but more importantly, I FEEL GREAT! My kids are benefiting from this too, which I feel great about too. I now MAKE time to prepare healthy food because I know how good it makes me feel.
  
  Thank you Stephanie and Kristy for all your support, knowledge sharing and encouragement. I have plenty more to learn and I look forward continuing my journey of wellness with you both.
• BEWARE OF RANT: 
  Hi all,
  I didn't submit any story about how the program transformed my life, just because i really fell off track with it and didn't experience dramatic results. But last night I had a breakthrough moment and I wanted to share with you.
  During the program I implemented some of the things, like gluten free eating, lemon water, chia seeds, mostly raw foods etc., but I didn't finish the cleanse, I cannot (and don't want to, I guess) to stay away from coffee and I feel like dairy does not affect me in any way. I don't drink milk, but eat cheese and yogurts occasionally.
  I've also tried to stick to circadian rhythm as much as I could. I figured that if I can't eliminate sweets/fruits, then I at least should not have them after 4pm. For the past couple of weeks I strived not to eat after 6pm
  
  Well, except last night.
  Last night was my father’s in law birthday and we took him out for Sushi for the first time in his life (he is visiting from Russia). 
  I was totally committed to sticking to not eating after 6, but my husband got stuck in traffic and we started dinner at 7.30. I also wanted to go for something with no rice, but there was no such option, and I found a million of excuses of course. 
  To make the long story short, I ended up eating too much salty, carbs-filled sushi too late at night. And then we came home and had dessert - the brownie cake I backed this afternoon (I didn't eat that) and my signature raw cashew-coconut rolls. That’s all on top of me finishing 2 remaining “Gematogens” for lunch (russian “healthy” candy, made of bulls blood and given to kids with low level of hemoglobin - its also packed with sugar).
  
  Then I went to bed at 8.30 with bloated stomach, ready to throw up and full of guilt. I was cold and could not stop drinking - tea, water, lemon water, everything. I woke up with puffy eyes and my wedding ring would not come off my finger. 
  Teaching my 6am class was so hard and I was dripping sweat like never before.
  
  Then I remembered all the info we got about social eating, emotional eating, and realized that:
  
  - The sushi, even though I wanted them, were not so good
  
  - The sweets are too sweet and disturb my taste buds.
  
  - The feeling of being full and bloated is disgusting and I want it gone.
  
  I think that it was kind of the deepest deep in the cycle of wellness I could reach and I am now starting from scratch - on our last week I am starting with week one. How funny is that?
  

OMG! How is it possible that I never tried this before?? This dressing is better than most bottled I've tasted! No oil! I'm a believer. The nutritional yeast smells cheesy, looks like little fine flakes, and makes this hemp seed dressing taste like a cross between Caesar and Ranch dressing

Thank you Alyssa for hosting Wellness Wednesday this week! The kitchari was liked by all but one (with all of us dutifully picking out the mushrooms, Stephanie) salad with hemp dressing and a killer guacamole with pepper strips that even Cassie devoured!! Conversation centered around cleanse successes and challenges and it was a great evening. Thanks Alyssa, Leslie, Rob, Sarah, Cassie and Franklin for a great evening!

Good Morning Everyone Starting my morning, feeling awesome Have a productive & blessed Day

• Just had my 1:1 with Stephanie and excited to implement a few things we talked about. Throwing out the vitamins and going to try Vemma. Thanks, Stephanie for your words of encouragement! I'm excited.
  
• Just bought a big-girl blender, a Vitamix. Looking forward to drinking some vegetables next week.
  
• I'm so exited, I just got back from my Shopping at Whole Foods. Got my organic Veggies,almonds,dressing etc.
  
• Thank you Alyssa for the suggestion to add mint to our green juice! Success!
• We tried the kichari tonight. It was real good. Was missing a few of the seasonings, but was still really good. My 1 year old scarfed it down. 3 yr old a little weary but did eat it! Love leaning new healthy recipes!!
  

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I've come along way (and the "before"was taken after a 14-day cleanse with Stephanie (I lost 14 pounds on that one). I've had such a transformation that many people don't recognize me. I have to flag down the people I really want to talk to....

Yum! I found my first savory quinoa dish that I love! I had some already made (with water) quinoa and steamed broccoli in the fridge. I chopped some garlic and onion and sauteed it in coconut oil, then threw in the quinoa and broccoli to warm it back up and voilà!

Getting ready for the week. Fresh organic almond milk - DONE!!!!! Next: green juice!!! This is fun

Yummy lunch! Hemp seeds, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, avocado, celery, and carrots dressed with ACV, fresh lemon, garlic, pink salt, and olive oil

Dinner tonight! Adzuki bean/sweet potato chili, served with a bit of brown rice and avocado. I've made this before but omitted the lime. I don't know why because I put in lime tonight and WOW! Totally added to the flavor! All consumed before 7pm....making my circadian rhythm happy

Oh yes.... another journey!

I have tried over the years to live a healthy and fit life and was able to accomplish that when I was in my mid twenties.  When I started hitting my late thirties, I noticed that it was harder to keep the weight off.  I fought for many years but the number on the scale kept going up.  My methods for keeping my weight off were not working anymore!  

When I was 48, I was diagnosed with Diabetes Type II.  It runs heavily in my family so it was a matter of time when it would rear its ugly head.  Once again I tried to adjust my diet, but the weight wouldn't budge.  Only when my glucose level was 389 did I lose weight.  My body was basically starving and I ended up losing 20 lbs.  Finally, when my levels came down to more normal ranges, the weight started to creep back up and the 20lbs came back over a period of several months.  Even though I was exercising and being careful, the scale did not budge.  

When I first heard about Stephanie's program, I thought, "Oh my God, I can't eat Vegan!  

I tried that before and I was miserable!"  Well, I tried it before but didn't have the right information and tools to be successful at it. Looking back over the last six weeks and the changes I have made, it's just been amazing. I never thought I could eat vegan but I am having so much fun with these recipes, learning about different foods and different ways of making things (like Hemp dressing for salads - totally yummy!!!  And once in a while I can even have vegan, gluten free pizza - Oh, I love pizza and am so happy I can still eat it!) 

It makes a huge difference when you have the right tools and information.  Stephanie is so knowledgeable and such a wealth of information that she has made this program so easy to follow. I can't believe how good I feel! I've noticed a lot of things: my allergies have subsided and are not as bad, my lower back pain when I get up in the morning has subsided and I know it's because I can feel the inflammation subsiding inside, my digestion has improved, my stomach doesn't get upset after eating a meal, and I have lost 10 lbs during my journey!  The number may not sound big, but my body has dramatically changed in so many ways, it's just incredible! 

But most important, I have been keeping track of my blood sugar and when I started the cleanse, I stopped taking my medication because I wanted to see how this way of eating affected my glucose levels. Normally, in the morning my fasting sugar ranges from 145 to 160. Over the last few weeks my glucose readings have definitely changed. One morning it was 142, next morning 125, next 123, then - 102!   Today my fasting blood sugar was 100!  That is the lowest reading I have had in the morning in a long time. It still bounces around but has not gone up higher than 132.  I am so excited to see that and will keep on my journey of living a healthy, organic, vegan and a gluten-free life so that I can be at normal levels once again. Thank you, Stephanie, for all your help and support and for sharing your knowledge and expertise throughout this amazing journey. I thank you for your program and will be forever grateful that I was able to be a participant.  Ready for the journey to continue! THANK YOU!!!!

Other Programs

• One thing I've noticed that I forget to tell you is that even though I still get hungry at certain times, when I sit and eat, I am satisfied sooner, so I'm eating less. I also, even though I "miss" things like eggs and fruit, haven't had a single real CRAVING for anything.I find this really bizarre! Haha
• Dinner tonight: more veggie soup but I added lots of kale and bok choy. I'm loving my new rice cooker, and tried millet for the first time! Love! I think I prefer it to brown rice! On the agenda tomorrow: I'm soaking adzuki beans tonight and will make the sweet potato, adzuki chili recipe from today's email. The caffeine detox is about done; I'm finally headache free and out of the "fog"!
  
• Just wanted to say that I really like the program so far. I feel as if I am learning enough and am able to add a few things at a time without being overwhelmed. Reading the info about water this morning was very interesting as I have been very open about how energy and thoughts have an effect on things. Love the visuals! At this point I can say I am giving much more thought to what I eat and how it can be utilized, positively or toxically. Have added the shower finish, the lemon, the tongue scraper and made a list for other items to purchase. Will be making the Kale and black eyed pea stew tonight.
  
• Every time I shop, whether it's at Trader Joe's or the regular grocery store, I find a shift happening. I usually read labels but now I'm looking deeper, more specifically for sugar and other unnatural ingredients. It's much easier, on day 9 of the cleanse, to quickly put an item down as soon as I see an unapproved ingredient
• I've come to the realization that I will likely never go back to the way I used to eat. Even just a few days into this, I realize what poor choices I have always made and it's this awareness that fosters long term change. I still miss certain things and may not give them up forever, but the foundation of how I used to eat has been obliterated and many new habits have already been formed. Super exciting!! Thank you Stephanie
• Since we are having company over today, am offering Gluten-free fare. Vegan chili, cucumber rounds with raw herb dill cashew cheese and of course, dessert, raw lemony cheesecake with berry sauce...made with cashews, almonds, fresh lemons and dates. Oh My!
  
• 2 different Super Bowl parties today! Prepared our salads and celery and hummus to be prepared, and ate our black bean chili before we left. Right now we surrounded by all kinds of food, NONE of which are good for us to eat, and honestly, none of it is appealing to us! The ultimate temptations and we are just fine 
  
• Today, between teaching my two classes at the gym, I went to Starbucks with 3 class members/friends. Several awesome things happened: I thoroughly enjoyed my herbal tea while they had their lattes; all three of my friends noticed how much better my skin looks and that I've lost 8lbs; but the best was that the entire time they asked what I was doing and were genuinely interested in the lifestyle changes I'm making. All three suffer from something - diabetes, psoriasis and diverticulitis. All three are going out to buy chia seeds and want the recipes for the quinoa porridge I was snacking on. One is going to try her hand at the homemade almond mylk. Two want more information on the Restoring Wellness program. Paying it forward by example. Stephanie would be proud 
• Just made some roasted brussel sprouts and onions from the Templeton Saturday Farmers market / inspired by your recent pix So simple and so yummy!
  
• The joy of simply adding 6 raspberries to my morning porridge = not missing sugar at ALL.
  
• Today I got tears in my eyes as a proud momma: my son, a 19 year old college freshman who is away living in a dorm, told me about his trip to Trader Joes for groceries in his room. He is a college athlete and is pretty disciplined with his exercise and diet, but he had asked me for ideas of healthy foods to buy. He said he was going to buy vanilla almond milk but saw it had too much sugar so he bought the unsweetened instead  He has also added chia to all his water and already eats lots of veggies and salad daily.
  
• Tonight's creation: cauliflower/yellow bell pepper salad with a dressing of ACV, small amount of olive oil, garlic, pimientos and a whole lemon. Stir fry with quinoa, chopped veggies, asparagus and Bragg's Aminos. Yum!
  
• I was quite amazed tonight after I taught 3 classes at the gym (fueled by my chia/quinoa porridge) only to find that my hunger pains were satiated by my fresh green juice: Apple, cucumber, celery, parsley, ginger, Tumeric and kale. Fascinating!
  
• Day two of green juice to an 8 yr old: she reminded ME to give it to her! She then asked me to make it sweeter (I won't) and then complained about the chia. However, it's progress!
  
• With every lesson you send, my nutrition knowledge seems to leap forward to areas never before explored! With the dietary changes you've prompted, I’m feeling so much better. I’m no longer classified as “diabetic” nor do I have acid indigestion problems. My brain is working 100 mph – my memory is sharpening - I leave bed in the middle of the night to write short stories, which I haven’t done in years :) You’re an amazing mentor – you’ve changed my life for the better so much!
• Day 39 program mentions a spiralizer for making veggie pasta which is what I used. I love that kitchen gadget, super easy to use and clean. Added bonus for kids (and us adult "kids") makes eating veggies a little more fun. The sauce I made was close to being within program. Depending on what I have on hand make with combo of garlic, ginger, lemon, jalapeno pepper, sesame seed and/or sunflower seed butter (usually run a handful at a time in a coffee grinder), olive oil and a few drops of stevia.
  
• I'm amazed that less than a week into drinking my green juice, I now LOVE it and have to have it daily. We are all drinking it. It's a staple in the fridge and even yesterday when I made a double batch, it's almost gone and I had to make again. It's become a daily ritual to make.
• I am not very hungry at night anymore. I eat a good amount of chia/quinoa porridge in the morning, a huge salad and maybe some soup or stir fry, my green juice in the afternoon and for dinner I will only be hungry for more juice or very small bowl of soup. I'm completely baffled.
  
• Unfortunately I caught a flu a couple weeks ago. I tried homeopathy and healing teas based on Stephanie’s recommendations. It decreased the severity and length of my illness. I look forward to using more homeopathic products and essential oils in the future. I thoroughly enjoyed the Restoring Wellness class and learning from Stephanie.
  
• The Restoring Wellness program taught me a lot of new healthy ways. I used to call my body puffy, now I learned that it is really called inflammation and I learned about what causes inflammation.  My inflammation has gone done and I've lost about 10 pounds. I learned the difference of food-like products versus nutritional foods. I have watched my sister make almond milk for years, thinking I would never do that, it's so much easier to just buy the box milk. Now, I love making fresh almond milk. 
• I realized I had less garbage to put out each week. That really made an impact on me.
• Eating healthy has become my new hobby. I look forward to making many of the recipes from the program; the few meals that I've made so far have been delicious.  It's difficult for me to travel often and to eat healthy on the road but I've learned what to best order and to pack a few key things to bring with me. It's hard to imagine being gluten free for the rest of my life, so right now I'm taking it one meal at a time and have been 99% gluten free for over a month now (just one slip up of eating a wheat free fig newton)!  My favorite dessert is a donut, so I will be on a hunt for the best vegan gluten free donut out there and will love my healthier donut indulgence occasionally!!