Should you eat like a Caveman?

Do you feel confused by the endless bombardment of information about good vs bad diets? Camps are drawing deeper lines in the sand on their “sides”. 

Grains are good. Then they are bad. Oil vs No-Oil. Gluten vs No-Gluten.....

One of the largest divisions is around Vegetarianism vs Caveman (Paleo) Diets. Vegetarians insist we are all meant to thrive on a plant-based diet and shun animal proteins. Paleos proclaim we are all meant to exist on the diets of our ancestors in the old stone age which allegedly was high meat and no grains. 

This TedTalk enlightens! An anthropologist studied the Paleo claims compared to those of our true ancestors.

One of the key takeaways of her talk is that our ancestors' diets actually varied significantly based on where and how they lived. Some ate more plant-based materials with very little animal proteins while others ate high proportions of animal protein. Grains were even present in some of our ancestors’ diets, but not all. 

Bottom line: We are all unique! Our take-away: Find what works for YOU and take your life to an entire other level. 

Divisions aside, Paleo and Vegetarians share a lot more common ground than is often noted:

• Eat lots of whole vegetables. Very few will dispute that a high percent of plants is a good thing.
• Cut out processed foods and sugars. This is a tenet of the Paleo Diet and one of their strongest. This is also emphasized by some of the better Vegetarian programs as well.
• Local, seasonal food is always in season. Enter shameless plug for Greenling Organics. Again, this is commonly emphasized in both Paleo and Vegetarian Diets and one most of us can agree is common sense.
• If you do intend to eat animal protein, choosing consciously raised, sourced and well cared for animals is night and day. Grass fed, free range and preferably selected from your local farmers market or a reliable resource such as Greenling.

The Segars Find What Works for THEM, Together

KAREN & JOSH SEGARS

KAREN SEGARS
3D ENVIRONMENT ARTIST

Food Rewards

• Weight: Lost 10 pounds
• Sleep Quality: "5" to "9"
• Waking Energy: "4” to “6”
• 2-4 PM Energy: "4” to “8”
• Cravings: "5” to “0-1”
• Hunger: "5” to “0”
• Bloating: "6” to “0”Anxiety: "3" to "0

New Favorite Foods

Breakfast has become our favorite! Now that we have incorporated more foods - our typical breakfast is quinoa, avocado, green onion, tomato, and hot sauce. So good!

Food Discoveries
I didn't have any major food intolerances - but I must say, now that my energy is up  and I feel better overall - when I do have a couple of glasses of wine, I definitely notice it the next day! I have also found that light snacks throughout the day really help keep my energy and metabolism up.

From Karen
"Josh and I really enjoyed this program. The structure of it (and treating our bodies like a scientific experiment) really helped with our success. There were definitely ays that we were "h'angry," but luckily we tended to be offset from each other. So, while one of us would be grumpy, the other could keep motivation and will power up. Part of the appeal of this program is the length of time - it set us up to create good habits with eating.

We already incorporated some vegan meals in our diet, but now we rarely have dairy or meat (still have eggs somewhat regularly). Also, cutting out processed foods has inspired us to expand our cooking repertoire - from baking bread to making pasta and salad dressings from scratch - and we love it!” - Karen

JOSH SEGARS
GRAPHIC DESINGER

Food Rewards

• Weight: Lost 30 pounds
• Heartburn: "10" to "0"
• Waking Energy: "3" to "7-8"
• 2-4 PM Energy: "2" to "7-8"
• Overall Energy: “5” to “8”
• Cravings: "4" to "0"
• Bloating: "8" to "0"
• Mental Clarity, Focus & Memory: "3" to "7-8"
• Sinus Congestion: "5" to "0"
• Itchy Eyes: “5” to “0”
• Neck Pain: “4” to “1-2”
• Back Pain: “5” to “1-2”

New Favorite Foods

Quinoa for breakfast! My wife and I add avocado, tomato and green onion. Sometimes we spice it up with an egg cooked over-easy or some black beans. Mmmm!

Food Discoveries

• Nuts & Coconuts: These guys are killers for me. Within just a few minutes of eating, my energy tanks and I feel anxious, light-headed and queasy. I can't believe I never noticed it before.

From Josh
"The first two weeks were very tough for me. I was questioning the potential effectiveness of the program and was really concerned it wouldn't work for me. Week three wasn't stellar but I started seeing at least some improvement. Unfortunately, fat, salt and processed foods were still haunting me to the point that I was literally dreaming about bad foods at night! By week four I was still struggling but I felt empowered to continue, and was becoming addicted to the weight loss, foods, and new found energy. Then, after sussing out nuts and coconut as intolerant foods, everything really lit up and I finished the program on a high.

The LoveLife Method resonated with me on a personal level before ever starting the program. I loved the methodical nature of it and its focus on the individual. It never made sense to me to follow a diet designed for the masses. Sure there may be data supporting a fad diet's effectiveness for a percentage of the population, but everyone is unique. LLM's approach was geared toward the individual. Even though my wife and I completed the program together, we both found our own intolerances and nuances, and adjusted our diets accordingly. Although my results did come quickly, the LLM wasn't just a
quick fix either. It laid the groundwork for a life long diet specifically tailored to my body and my tastes.

So the program was great, but what about the dreaded rebound? Well, as I write this over a month after completing the program, I am maintaining a 30 pound weight loss, higher energy levels and fewer allergy issues. My wife and I even enjoy an occasional splurge night without much guilt because we truly enjoy healthier options and easily revert back to eating our new favorites from the program. 

Kim and Erin, I can't thank you enough. The Love Life Method was a great experience that will stay with me a lifetime.” - Josh

Is Cheese Bad For You?

As humans, we commonly like for things to fit in tidy little boxes with easy explanations. While this might work well for organizing our underwear drawer, with foods, it doesn’t hold a lot of water and often leads to lackluster results.

As someone who spent her lifetime following every ‘healthy’ diet on the planet, looking for the one-size fits all approach that would solve my health maladies, I get the temptation to want to be told - This is good for you. This is bad for you. Now just follow this diet and with a wave of your wand everything is better......

During SXSW Interactive I heard an inspiring talk by Linda Avey who created 23andMe. Her personal genome test kit was named “Invention of the Year” by Time Magazine in 2008. Her inspiration for wanting to make genomics accessible for the average person? Studies which show medicines only work 40-50% of the time. So why aren’t meds working for everyone as we’ve commonly been told? Many answers could be at play, but a large one resides in our genes. Hence the ultra-cool revolution in targeted gene therapy and personalized medicine.

Linda Avey was at the forefront of this movement in medicine. And now she is at the forefront of what she considers an evolution beyond personalized medicine. Personalized medicine is still ultimately about treating sickness. She wants to prevent sickness and foster wellness. Her latest incarnation is still being hatched, but she’s moving her genius to the personalized wellness movement.

The premise: Can you find what works for YOU and prevent the need for personalized medicine? It appears we are coming full circle with what our ancient philosophers have told us all along:

Know Thyself. And Let Food Be Thy Medicine.

Now you might be wondering....What does this have to do with cheese?!

Perhaps the temptation to place cheese into the Good Camp or the Evil Camp is misplaced as well. Maybe, just maybe, it depends on you, along with wisdom from our elders.

How to know if cheese works for you?

Cheese is a problem food for a large % of people creating everything from stomach bloating, lower energy levels, congestion, headaches, sleep issues and fatigue. Obviously if cheese is bringing you down, the only way up, is without.

But how to know for sure? The clearest, most accurate test is with a good old fashioned elimination and mindful reintegration. But in order to receive an accurate read, read on:

• Eliminate all forms of dairy for at least 2 weeks. As surprising as it sounds, even a trace amount of dairy can warp your results during this test period, since it can hang around in your body for several days.
• Towards the end of the test period, note any areas that have improved. Has your sleep improved? Your digestion? Your allergies? Energy levels?
• During your test period, suss out life circumstances that could interfere with your results. A big one is for us women and our cycles. PMS can mimic the effects of food intolerances: increased bloating, back pain, fatigue, irritability and headaches can all be indications of either PMS or the impact of dairy.
• Since dairy is only one of many foods that could be creating issues, it is most optimal to omit the common offenders all at once to get a true read on your vitals.

When you are ready to re-integrate cheese and find out how it works for you, follow what we call the basics. In true form with - “Let Food Be Thy Medicine”, ask yourself, would this pass what Hippocrates or our great grandparents considered real food?

• Eat non-processed dairy. Food did not come in packages with multitudes of chemicals, preservatives and coloring agents to make it spreadable.
• Eat unpasteurized, raw cheeses. There is an abundance of raw dairy that has avoided the pasteurization process. Pasteurization renders any food unrecognizable to our bodies and it certainly didn’t exist in the time of Hippocrates.
• Know the quality of the herd. Shop at your local farmers markets to receive cheeses produced from free range animals that graze on the land rather than those that are factory farmed, which of course, didn’t exist in our elders' lives.
• Not all dairy is created equal. If consciously sourced cow dairy does not work for you, try consciously sourced raw-chevre (goat cheese)
• And with all good things in life - moderation is key. If eating dairy, begets eating more dairy, this might be a signal.....

Hiring LoveLife Coach

Do you have a passion for healthy eating and healthy living? Do you feel inspired in the presence of others creating positive changes in their lives? Is your work history rich with different types of responsibilities? Do you want to work for a small company with big things on the horizon? Are you a master at written communication? 

If so, read on! 

LoveLife Method is growing at a rapid rate. We are currently hiring a wearer of many hats with an emphasis on client coaching, administrative responsibilities (to start), community outreach and content creation. Please read thoroughly for full details. 

ABOUT US:
Here at LoveLife, we have a passion for helping people realize how great they can feel, through the simple power of food. LoveLife Method is a food-based cleanse system which allows our clients to connect the dots with what they eat and how they feel. Through a suite of tools including a product kit, technology, a unique coaching methodology, food partners, recipes and more - our clients achieve unprecedented results in weight loss, higher energy levels, improved digestion, decreased allergies and pain. Our unique method allows clients to optimize their diets and find the one that’s right for them. We are in a high growth phase and are preparing to be a major force in the health and wellness field. 

You will have the opportunity to help others create lifelong changes that will serve them in living their healthiest, happiest lives. Every day is an adventure and you will be amazed by what you witness.

As mentioned, we are a growing start up with serious vision and potential. We want to help change the way individuals and the world views food. And we’re looking for someone to join us who will be vital to our growth. 

YOU:

• You are interested in food, health/wellness and live a life that reflects this
• You are open minded, curious and passionate about the potential within each of us
• You are flexible, grounded and not easily flustered - we are a start up, after all! 
• You thrive in environments that require you to be creative. 
• You want to and will be able to make a difference in this organization and understand that this is a great opportunity to be involved at the ground level.
• You have a positive and can-do attitude.
• You don’t subscribe to what we call ‘diet dogma’ - each of us is unique and requires unique foods. Some of us thrive as vegans, while others need animal protein, and every variance in between. Our method helps us to uncover what is best for each person. If you feel that there is only one way to eat whether raw or paleo or vegan, etc – this will not be a good fit.
• You are very comfortable with and love technology including Word, Google Docs, Facebook, Twitter, basic blogging - no exceptions. 
• You are an excellent communicator, writer and excel at communicating complex topics, a good amount of our communication with clients is via email and online forums (a writing sample is required if brought in for an interview)
• You enjoy a high level of customer service and sensitivity to nuances of individual clients
• You are a strong team player who likes to dive in and help teammates wherever your skills are needed
• You deeply value confidentiality and commit to dealing with private information and handle this with the utmost discretion.
• You live in Austin, TX and have your own reliable transportation. This is a must. 
• You are seeking a long-term career in Austin with no plans to move. 
• You are willing to sign a nondisclosure and non-compete agreement.

WHAT THE POSITION LOOKS LIKE
This role is a combination of different functions including the following:

• Your primary role is as a coach. You will begin training as a Jr. Coach. and will participate in online Q&A forums, interacting on a daily basis with clients. Training time is estimated at 2-3 months. Eventually, you will also hold in-person meetings with clients, along with sending daily emails supporting them in experiencing these changes for themselves.
• For the short term, as you are training and we are transitioning, you will also act as our administrative assistant (this role to replaced with a full time administrator). Initially, your hours will include managing and organizing the office, acting as the intermediary between clients and company, client email support and assisting in research, marketing and other areas as needed. This is a fabulous way to learn the ins and outs of how our programs and methodology works.
• Community Outreach: Meeting with vendors and partners, helping to facilitate community events.
• Content Creation: Social media posts, content editing. Amateur photography a plus.

As you can see, this position really does require someone who loves to wear a myriad of different hats and has fun doing it. 


Full time, non-exempt (40 hours/week ) at our office in 78704
Salaried position, commensurate with experience. Benefits after three months.

Get more of a feel for us, our programs and who we are here.
Read more about the founder, Kim Love here.
See what our clients have to say here.

TO APPLY:
Please send a cover letter, resume to careers@lovelifemethod.com.
Do you have a blog, Instagram, Tumbler you’re proud of? Include it!
We WANT to meet you - highlight why you’re our missing piece!
Also be sure to confirm in your cover letter that you live in Austin and have your own transportation. 

Because of the number of applications, we regret we will not be able to respond to emails without ALL requirements. 

Austin Monthly Editor-in-Chief Rocks Through SX

Photo by Andrew Chan

ERIN QUINN

Editor-in-Chief, Austin Monthly

Food Rewards

• Weight: Down 8 pounds
• Sleep Quality: "5" to "9"
• Waking Energy: "3" to "8"
• Digestive Discomfort: "7-10" to "0-2"
• Hip Pain During Exercise: "7" to "1-1"
• Dry Skin: "9" to "2"

Food Discoveries

• Chicken & Fish: Optimal protein sources
• Potatoes & Red Meat: Impact weight holding
• Citrus: Acidic stomach

From Erin:
"Whew! I made it. My official cleanse is done (I was down 8 pounds when I finished on March 1), but I'm still working on figuring out my food sensitivities. And, the biggest bonus of all: I made it through SXSW Interactive and Film (a feat in itself) and a vacation in Mexico with plenty of energy and no big digestive problems!

What I loved most about The Love Cleanse (read about my full journey here, here and here) is that I've been able to tailor it to my real life. While I definitely indulged on vacation—though I did avoid gluten as much as possible and focused on lots of fish, fruits and veggies—I got right back on the horse today, eating a healthy breakfast and lunch and my favorite cleanse snack in the afternoon: baby carrots dipped in sunflower seed butter. Delish!  

As I mentioned before, I learned that veggies, fish and chicken work well for me, while potatoes and red meat don't. I incorporated eggs just fine, and dairy seems to work, too. (Hallelujah!) I'm going to officially test gluten soon, but until then I am avoiding beer, bread and pasta like the plague. The biggest lesson I learned from this cleanse? The reward for eating what works well for your body is feeling amazing. And feeling amazing is priceless!”

”

- Erin

Spring Recipe Sneak Preview: Asparagus Ribbon Salad

INGREDIENTS

• 1 bunch fresh asparagus, rinsed, stems and tips removed
• 2 cups watercress, arugula or salad greens of choice

DRESSING:

• 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 scant tsp honey
• 1 tsp dry mustard
• 1 tsp Dash of Spring (included in your kit) 
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Optional:

• Diced Avocado
• Hemp or Lightly toasted Sunflower Seeds

INSTRUCTIONS
Using a vegetable peeler, start from the top of the spear, and gently shave downward, to create a thin ribbon. Continue shaving into ribbons until spear is mostly used up. Slice tips of asparagus in half.

Combine dressing ingredients in a jar covered with a tight-fitting lid and shake to combine. Taste to adjust seasoning. Toss asparagus with the dressing until fully coated. Let marinate for 15 to 20 minutes. (Also excellent the next day)

Toss the marinated asparagus with salad greens. 

Sprinkle the asparagus-arugula mixture with the seeds, avocado, fresh black pepper. 

Linda Returns to Dig Deeper

LINDA ASAF

Founder of Linda Asaf Design: Austin's consistently rated top designer
Lover of Sailing and the Outdoors


Lisa's Food Rewards(as of Day 17)

• Weight: Down 6.5 pounds
• Sleep Quality: "4" to "8"
• Stress: "8" to "4"
• Congestion: "8" to "3"
• Itchy Eyes: "8" to "1"
• Hives: "9" to "0"
• Skin Glow: "3" to "6"

Food Specifics

• Prior to the Cleanse, Kim Love helped me figure out that I had sensitivity to soy, citrus and milk. I had gone without these foods for about two years much to my chagrin but at least my hives were either gone or under control. I have now successfully reintegrated citrus with no allergic reaction!!! Kim said that my body may have 'cleared' that allergy. Thank heaven! I missed margaritas and mimosas. I 'face planted' into a grapefruit the other day : )
  
  
• The Green Juice is better for me later in the day. For some reason, it has a calming effect on me. Overall, the LLM diet has made me less irritable, more relaxed, and more upbeat. Even my friends have noticed!

From Linda:
"I can't say enough positive things about how The LoveLife Method has helped me. I suffered from allergies and hives on my forearms and lower legs for years. I also had urticaria which is hives from pressure like a scratch or anything constricting on my body like an elastic waistband. I thought it was stress or that I might even have an auto immune disease. My allergy doctor had me on antihistamines for years and said that something had triggered a histamine response in my body that was causing all this mayhem.

Kim and the LLM helped me not only get my allergies under control but now after going through the Group Cleanse program, I may have even 'reset' my body as I no longer have an allergy to citrus (hello margaritas!) I am still reintegrating other foods but so far so good. My urticaria is gone too and even my 'cedar fever' allergies are practically non-existent.

The LoveLife Method has also taught me a whole new way of eating healthy and living. I was hesitant in the beginning thinking I would be suffering through the cleanse but it was far better than the years of suffering from ailments. I have started to feel so good that I have a new spring in my step not to mention that I've lost 7 pounds in two weeks (hello bikini!).

I don't think I'll ever go back to my old eating habits. For me, The LoveLife Method is a 'Love Lifestyle'. Thanks so much Kim! You've changed my life!”

- Linda

Stacy Shows Her Thyroid Who's Boss

STACY TRUSCOTT

Sr. Project Manager

Stacy's Food Rewards:

• Weight: Down 16.5 pounds
• Sleep Quality: "5" to "9"
• Waking Energy: "3.5" to "9"
• 2:00 - 4:00 PM Energy: "5" to "9" (goodbye afternoon slump!) 
• Overall Energy: "4" to "9" 
• Mental Clarity: "4" to "8"
• Anxiety: "8" to "4"
• Irritability: "8.5" to "2"
• Sinus Congestion: "8" to "3"
• Itchy Eyes: "5" to "0"
• Headaches: "7", 4-5x/week to "0"

New Favorite Foods:
TLC Green Juice and seeds

Food Discoveries:

• Gluten: Causes Anxiety, Fatigue
• Nuts: Impact Digestion
• Citrus: Impacts Mood Levels and increases Cravings

From Stacy:
"I started the LLM as a way to try to manage multiple "thyroid related" symptoms rather than agree to start multiple prescription medications. These symptoms were physically and psychologically draining and extremely frustrating. My Endocrinologist told me my symptoms were "normal" for people with thyroid imbalance, yet didn't really have any answers except referring me to other specialists. I had heard that some of my symptoms might be related to gluten intolerance, so as a last ditch effort, I thought I'd give LLM a try. I knew I couldn't go off gluten without help (baked goods addict). I turned to Kim and LLM for that help.

Within 10 days of starting the LLM, all of my painful, debilitating, anxiety-causing, supposedly thyroid related symptoms were gone! I am shocked and thrilled that I was able to end the cycle of helplessness I felt trying to cope with the many ill effects of gluten and other food intolerances.

The program was so straight forward, the support was so valuable and the results are truly life changing. I was advised by my doctor that to gradually stabilize my thyroid function and see some relief from my symptoms could be up to a year-long process Instead, in two months, I've learned that gluten and other foods caused many of my symptoms and, with medication, my thyroid levels are normal.

This program has helped me identify gluten and other food intolerances in a manner that has permanently altered my understanding of how what I eat affect me and my health. A great bonus on top of all the above is that I also lost weight."

- Stacy

Lisa Rice's Love Cleanse Burgers

A huge thank you to past client Lisa Rice for creating a seriously tasty recipe we know our clients are going to love. These chickpea burgers are so delicious we had a hard time keeping them around for the photo shoot! Not only are they entirely Phase 1 compliant, the burgers freeze beautifully making them an ideal recipe to batch cook the weekend before your cleanse to use throughout the week for lunches.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups cooked chickpeas (or 1 15 oz. can) rinsed and drained
• 1 T olive oil
• 1 celery stalk, chopped small
• 1 carrot, grated
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 3/4 tsp himalayan salt
• 1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
• 2 pinches hing/asofetida Optional: If you use, make sure to get gluten-free, some brands contain wheat)
• 1/2 cup roughly chopped cilantro leaves *
• 2 T ground flax
• 1 T Happy Hemp

INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 400°.

Heat olive oil in sauté pan on medium high. Saute celery a few minutes until slightly soft. Add carrots and sauté another minute. Add spices, salt and pepper and saute one more minute. Turn off heat and stir in cilantro until it wilts. Put chickpeas in pan and mash with potato masher or fork until partially mashed (so some whole chickpeas remain and the mixture is chunky - not smooth like hummus!). Mix flax and hemp in with beans and veggies.

Lightly oil a cookie sheet or baking pan with olive oil. Using a 1/2 cup measuring cup, make patties with bean mixture and place on cookie sheet. Should make about 5 patties. Lightly spray of brush with olive oil. Bake in oven 15 minutes until golden.

Enjoy with side salad or folded into toasted nori with sunflower spouts, lettuce or other veggies.

Variation:
Omit cumin, coriander and cilantro, and replace with 1 tsp dried thyme, 1/2 tsp dried oregano, and 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil.

*Cilantro can be inflammatory for some; if you have past knowledge this herb doesn't work for you, please omit. Otherwise, keep it mind as you eat these tasty burgers and stay open to it's possible impact. 

ChocoLove

Like many of you, we heart our chocolate! We scour the globe and aisles of our favorite haunts to find chocolate that loves us back. Many chocolates are laden with loads of sugars, dairy, sweeteners, gluten and other ingredients that put it smack dab in the same category as Candy. But choose well and you can indulge without the unwanted effects. 

Whole Foods Raw Chocolate Brownie (pictured above) is the absolute healthiest and best chocolate lover's treat around! Why? Don't blink or you might miss the ingredients: Walnuts, Dates, Cacao. That's it.

It's the closest you can get to a gooey, chocolate brownie taste, without the usual suspects of agave, sugars and other sweeteners. The protein in the walnuts makes for a nice blood sugar stabilizer to counterbalance the hint of sweet from the dates, which translates to.....no increased cravings but all of the fun!

Our friends at New Earth make another of our faves with their Chocolate Goddess Clusters which are high and mighty in the raw chocolate lovers world. Moist, chewy and luscious we love these clusters. They do have a healthy dose of agave, not one of our favorite sweeteners, but notice how it effects you. Does it increase cravings? Or hit the spot? Found in Austin at the Daily Juice Cafe, People's Pharmacy and Whole Foods Market or online here.

Drink your cacao! Our favorite drinkable cacao comes from Daily Juice, the Girls on Film Superfood smoothie. Ingredients: Exotic Durian Fruit, Coconut Water, Cacao, Banana, Vanilla. Add pecans for a protein boost. And Kale to give it more alkalizing properties. Yummmm!