Laura Goes Way Beyond a Cleanse

LAURA CAPES TERRY
Marketing Director, Push Pedal Pull
Hobbies: Running around Austin with my 2 year old son

NEW FAVORITE FOODS
This breakfast is an energy powerhouse for me: quinoa with avocado and scrambled eggs. No better way to start the day.

FOOD  DISCOVERIES

• Dairy: Causes congestion and sneezing
• Gluten:  Causes bloating and breakouts
• A glass of Green Alkalizer first thing in the morning is better than any cup of coffee or energy drink for me!

THINGS I CAN DO NOW I COULDN’T BEFORE:
I have more consistent energy throughout the day... no more need for that extra shot of caffeine in the middle of the afternoon.

I also lost 5 pounds and no longer have a bloated tummy so my clothes fit much better.

Finally, I have more skills in the kitchen! I've learned how to cook healthy, whole, clean foods for myself and my family. I'm excited that my son will grow up learning how to do it for himself too.

MORE FROM LAURA:
When I signed up for this program, it was because I just came off a week of "partying" with family to celebrate my son's 2-year birthday. Normally I'm a very clean eater so a week of eating junkie foods left me feeling yucky and depleted of valuable energy.

Since it’s a significant financial and time commitment, I took the program very seriously and followed each step of the program to a T. All I can tell you is that I got way more out of it than I expected. I joined the program to clean up my diet and gain more energy but along the way I also lost those "last 5 pounds" and my skin has never looked better! I've spent tons of money on dermatologists and fancy skin creams over the years....the biggest thing I took away from the program is that if I give my body the nutrient-rich clean/whole foods that it craves, my body does the rest.

If anyone is on the edge about whether or not to do this program, I'd tell you it's a commitment... but it's worth it. If you put yourself into it 100%, it will give back to you 10x and your life will never be the same again. - Laura

Juicing VS Blending: One of our Top FAQ

One of our most commonly asked questions: Is it better to juice or to blend?  As with most good questions in life the answer to this depends upon numerous factors and there is no black or white. As the saying goes – it’s like comparing apples to oranges.

JUICING

• Juicing renders densely concentrated nutrients that are easily digested. You are able to literally mainline all of the phyto anthocyanins, minerals and micronutrients that plants have to offer.
• Because of this infusion capacity juicing is the absolute best way to receive a mega dose of food-based vitamins, minerals and enzymes IF they are non-sweet. When sweet veggies and fruits are stripped of fibers, healthy toddy’s become agents of blood sugar irregularity leading to energy crashes and increased cravings.
• Veggies, herbs and roots we recommend juicing: Celery, Cucumbers, Cilantro, Parsley, Ginger, Turmeric, Jalapenos (if you’re not Nightshade sensitive) and Leafy Greens such as Kale, Spinach, Swiss Chard (if you’re not suffering from hypothyroidism).
• Tip: If you wish to sweeten up your green juice, add just one carrot rather than an entire base of carrot, OR eat some protein along with your carrot juice. Hemp or Chia Seeds are a perfect antidote. Happy Hemp is our personal fave.
• Juicing is also preferable if you’re someone whose digestive system has a harder time with fibrous roughage.
• Since juice is less filling than a blended drink, it’s easier to drink copious amounts and to therefore crank up the wattage on your nutrients.

BLENDING

• Since blending retains fiber, opt to blend when using sweeter veggies such as carrots and beets or when mixing fruits. Though this will still spike blood sugar, its effects are less intense  As mentioned above, you can help to counteract the blood sugar spiking effects by adding a protein boost 
• Looking for a healthy meal replacement? Blending might be a good option, especially in the summer months or in warmer climates when the digestive system is more capable of processing cooler, richer drinks.
• Some constitutions are sensitive to food combining principles or have more sensitive digestive systems. If this is you, experiment and attune to the following signals to find out if your body appreciates blending: How are your cravings during the day? Energy levels? Are you experiencing afternoon crashes or holding strong? How about your digestion?
• If you have a strong digestive system, follow our Green Smoothie Equation below or check out our downloadable Green Smoothie Guide + Recipes here.

Student Scores an A+ on her TLC

Candy Cantrell

Full Time Student
Hobbies: Traveling, Food & Wine, spending time with her dogs

Snapshot Takeaway: "I have so much more energy! I have far less digestive issues that plague me during the day, which leaves me feeling so much happier and more energetic."

New Favorite Foods

The quinoa & avocado breakfast, and Lydia's bread with apple slices and sunflower butter.

Food Discoveries

• Nightshades: Bloating, weight gain
• Soy: Bloating, Stomach Pain
• Citrus: Impacts Energy Levels

More From Candy
"I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and have been plagued with digestive issues all of my life. Before beginning this program, I had to take daily digestive medicines to combat any number of tummy troubles- sometimes several times a day for a mix of different problems. After day 3 of the cleanse, I no longer had any stomach pain or bloating! I seriously could not believe it! It has been 2 months since I started the cleanse, and I still have not taken a single medication for digestion. I am amazed by that!

Having Hashimoto's makes it difficult to lose weight and during my cleanse, I lost TEN pounds, and since reintegrating have only gained 3 of those back. My weight has been consistent every day for the first time in years. Plus, I have realized that a lot of the negative feelings I was having about my body- that I thought were tied to weight- I think were actually tied to my digestive health! Since my tummy feels better, I feel better about myself! 

I am a vegetarian, and before the cleanse, I thought I was eating healthy and exercising and was so frustrated by my weight and my health! I thought I was doing everything right & it wasn't working! I have since realized that there was a lot I still could learn! I am a full time student and really value education- I feel the real value of doing the Love Life Method is that I feel like I took a college course in myself, in my body, and how to keep it happy! To me, that has been priceless!

I have since reintegrated many foods back into my daily routine. Now I know what foods to avoid, if possible, and what foods I can use to reset my system and put me back on track- say after a bowl full of chips and salsa, washed down with a margarita- I know the next day, I need to repair my system & now I know how to do it!

So, not only do I feel lighter, but my purse feels lighter because its not full of antacids, anti-nausea & anti-bloating medicines!" - Candy

Grilled Veggies + Hemp Sauce

Simple, delicious and an excuse to pull out the grill. Pick a selection of your favorite veggies, toss in olive oil, salt and pepper to your taste, a handful of freshly chopped herbs (basil and tarragon are perfect for the summer), or a tablespoon of our seasonal mix included in your kit. We added fennel to zucchini and squash which took this dish to a whole 'nother level. After grilling we served bowls of veggies with hemp dipping sauce on the side but it would be great drizzled over the top as well.  

No grill? Roast the veggies on a baking sheet 400 degrees until browned on edges, about 10 minutes, check after 5 minutes, shake pan and continue checking every 3 minutes or so until desired level of doneness. 

Veggies we used:

• 1 large fennel bulb, cut into wedges (tip: save the fronds for a killer veggie stock!) 
• 3 zucchini, cut about 1/2 inch thick
• 2 yellow squash, cut
• Mushrooms (if participating in our programs, hold off until Phase 2 to include)  

Place veggies in bowl and toss with:

• 1 TB of olive oil (maybe a little more if veggies you are using are bigger, we're not looking to soak in oil, rather just enough to thinly coat) 
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 TB of freshly chopped basil

Hemp Seed Dressing: 

• 1/2 C hulled hemp seeds
• Small handful of fresh basil
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• Himalayan to taste
• 1/3 C filtered water (more if a thinner consistency is desired)

Dressing recipe courtesy of Chef Yvette Franco of Natural Epicurean Culinary Arts.

May Group Member Annie ROCKS out her TLC!

Before & After: 3 weeks & 11 pounds

ANNIE TEVELIN

Owner, SkinOwl Consulting
Hobbies: Traveling the globe little by little, hanging with my puppy, being outdoors, makeup artistry

Food Rewards

• Weight: 11 pounds lost
• Overall Energy levels throughout the day are very steady and high at "8"s where at PreProgram there was much more flux
• Late Afternoon/Evening energy: Up from "5" to "8"
• Cravings: Decreased from "5" to "0"
• Anxiety: Reduced from "4" to "0"

New Favorite Foods

I am in love with the Superfood Shake. I add a half of a banana and it keeps me full for a good portion of the day! I also have to say that I'm in love with cranberry beans. Fun to cook with and filling.

I also fell in love with making tea. Having tea at night, after dinner, is still a part of my life. It nightcaps any stress in the day and relaxes me before I drift to sleep.

Food Discoveries

• Nightshades: Swelling, fogginess, bloating
• Spicy foods: Mild anxiety, swelling, bloating, confusion
• Corn: Bloating, Addictive qualities

More From Annie
In the beginning, I was nervous. I hadn't had very good discipline in the past

when it came to diets and elimination cleanses, but I'm happy to report, this was unlike anything I had ever experienced. In sum, this program was one of the most hand's on, customized, supportive operations I've ever been a part of. Every day, I knew I had an arsenal of support, whether waiting for me in my inbox or within the Facebook Group. I felt encouraged daily and the amount of support I received never wavered. It is what got me through as I look back on the last three weeks. 

I just wanted to say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for everything Kim, Erin, and this program has done to encourage me, push me, and motivate me. It goes without saying that I feel SO much more in control of my body, my mind and my overall level of discipline. I know what does my body good and what distracts my body from feeling its best. Its felt like a lot longer than 3 weeks, which a good feeling, There are routines and recipes I will indulge in for the rest of my life and lessons that will last a lifetime. 

Onward and upward! I have the knowledge and now I can have the results whenever I need them!" - Annie

Short on time? Dial ‘this’ in to get more!

As you know by now, we talk a LOT about food. And, there is no denying that discovering our personal diet, is a secret weapon to looking and feeling our best. 

But of course, there’s more to this story than how we fuel with food. We also fuel our body and mind with our daily activity levels. Exercises benefits are undeniable. 

Now, as a health coach you’d think I’d have no excuses, right? Up until 2 years ago that would be a resounding Yes! Since first joining my Dad at the health club when I was 14, I’ve been addicted to the power of movement and strength. 

However, recently, I’ve let things slide, and while I’m not overweight by any stretch (thanks to optimizing foods), I know how much better I feel when I’m active and fit.

So what’s MY excuse? Lack of time. 

But as we all know this is totally bogus. I am actively choosing to prioritize work over my health and well-being. 

Sound familiar?

Time is a sneaky excuse and whether it’s diet or exercise it’s too easy fall prey to this one. But we are worth more. 

Read on to find out how to tell Time who’s boss and to take the reigns on our motivation. I’ll be revisiting this tool with you!

...........

Get out a pen and paper. Follow these 3 steps in a journal to take the reigns on your motivation.

Connecting with our source of motivation is essential. It all starts with “Why”. Without this, we are aimlessly pulled in different directions. 

STEP 1
What are your pain points? Write them down. 

• For Diet: Maybe you are tired of having digestive issues. Or you’re tired of being tired and you know that food can help you. 
• For Exercise: You are tired of not feeling strong or in shape. Or maybe you’ve gained weight and can’t fit into your pants. Perhaps you’re not sleeping as well. 
• Free-Flow journal on what’s not working for ya and throw it all down. There’s no right or wrong. This is all uncensored and viewed only by you. 
• While it is important to acknowledge what isn’t working, we also don’t want to dwell here, especially because chances are high that we already remind ourselves of these pain points, through negative self-talk.

STEP 2
Now that you’ve tapped into what’s not working, let’s move on to what you would rather create in your life. This is the fun part! Envisioning is key to success and is used by world-famous athletes like Michael Jordan to well known financial tycoons such as John D Rockefeller. Masters in their field know the value of envisioning and imagining your desired outcome. 

• Close your eyes. Imagine how you want to feel. Run with it for 60 seconds or more. Visualize it. Feel it. 

STEP 3
Put it on your calendar. What can you move to tell yourself you’re worth it? As Stephen Covey says: “The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” 

We're also teaming up with KOR180 to offer you an outstanding deal to get back in the gym! 

KOR180's offer for You

Our dear friends and partners in health prosperity, KOR180, have a generous offer for you. Kor180 is way more than a gym! Their offerings include pilates & ryde to tunes to keep you jiving, healthy recipes, amazing green juice and sparkly happy people who believe that life is about more than fitting into size 0 jeans. We adore them. 

Kor offers a free week for all new clients but have even more for LoveLife clients and friends:

• No contract
• Cancel anytime
• Free to freeze in monthly increments
• Unlimited Ryde classes
• Monthly member event
• No enrollment fee when you use NOFEE promotion code at checkout (normally $100) 
• $149/mo auto-pay when you use LOVE promotion code at checkout (normally $169/mo)

Get started here today!

Hemp Seed Kale Chips

My 93 year-old grandfather eating his first kale chip and loving it.
Corona Beer in koozy, not Phase 1 compliant. ;)

Are you in Phase 1 and looking for family weekend crowd pleaser? These will do the trick. There are tons of kale chip variations floating around the web but this one is a favorite for us because it uses Hemp Seed Butter - makes the chips especially satiating. But you can easily make them with Kale, olive oil, salt and a sprinkling of hemp seeds if you like. The trick is to be sure the kale is washed and thoroughly dried before putting in the oven and cook till they're browning on the edges for max crunch factor. 

*Update: Both Greenling and Whole Foods now offer pre-washed and chopped kale making this recipe even more of a snap! 

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 head of kale, rinsed and thoroughly dried (or else chips will not crisp up)
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil 
• Hemp Seed Butter or Tahini 
• Himalayan Salt to taste

INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Roughly chop kale. Lay kale in a single layer on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Spread several dollops of hemp seed butter with the back of a spoon throughout the chips (it's okay if it's not entirely even). Roast chips in oven until crisp, about 10-15 minutes. Keep a good eye on the chips near the end as they can quickly go from crispy to burnt. Salt to taste as soon as you remove from oven. 

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