Maria Rippo's Interview for Burn The Fat, Feed the Muscle InnerCircle

I was contacted by best selling author Tom Venuto who wrote Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle. He wanted to know some of my secrets for staying slim, healthy and young as a busy mom of four! Click here to listen to the audio MP3. Enjoy:)

Fresh Green Juice Recipes

Fresh V8 Juice
4 tomatoes
2 green onions
1/2 green pepper
1 carrot
2 stalks celery
1/4 bunch of spinach
1/4 bunch of parsley
1 lemon
Cayenne pepper to taste
Himalayan salt to taste

Run all ingredients through your juicer and add cayenne pepper and Himalayan or Celtic salt to taste if desired! Enjoy daily.

Simple Green Juice Recipe
1 cucumber
6 leaves of kale or romaine lettuce
3 stalks celery

Green Juice with Ginger
6 leaves kale
1 cucumber
6 leaves romaine lettuce
1 lemon
1 finger of ginger root
3 stalks celery

Green Juice with Sprouts
1 cucumber
3 stalks celery
6 leaves kale
1 bunch dandelion greens
sprouts of choice
parsley

David Wolfe and Jason Rabel Make Superfood Treats!

OH MY, these look good. One of my favorite nutritionists, raw food expert and superfood guru, David Wolfe watches as chef Jason Rabel makes almond milk, chocolate maca milk and a vanilla shilajit latte. A must watch video. Click on the title above to watch this short video. To order the superfoods mentioned you can try going to Raw Vegan Source or Ultimate Superfood

Spring Water on 164th in Lynnwood, WA

I am so excited because I found that there is an Artesian spring close to me!! You can fill your water bottles for free from a spout at this spring. I knew about it but it wasn't until I kept hearing that I should be drinking fresh spring water that I decided to check it out. If you click on the title above it will link you to a site where you can find out if there is a spring in your area too!!

So, I went to the spring with my three 5 gallon water bottles and there was a line of people getting water from it. I began to ask if they had been getting water from the spring for a long time and there were three older people there who had been getting water from this spring for 20 - 25 years. They looked healthy and all had great skin. Since our skin is made of minerals, it makes sense that drinking mineral rich water would make the skin beautiful. So, I'm a believer now!! I will no longer pay my 45 cents a gallon for water at PCC!!! I am so excited to get to drink mineral rich water fresh out of the ground for free.

Maria's Refreshing Cocktail for Moms AND Kids!

The Drink My Kids Call Sprite

1 bottle mineral water
2 limes
6 scoops of stevia

Pour the mineral water into a pitcher and add the juice from your limes and the stevia. Most stevia comes with a small scooper. If your does not have the scooper, then just add enough to make it sweet enough for your liking! Stir and serve. Pour over ice into pretty stemware. I have found that people of all ages find this drink very refreshing and it's a great alternative for alcoholic drinks!!

Good Mommy Tips

I'm out on the lake for the weekend with some wonderful friends who are all called "mommy" by some amazing littler people. We have had some really great conversations and I thought I'd share some of the wisdom that has been passed around. One thing that we have talked a lot about are emotions. So many of us were raised with the idea that emotions are bad and are not to be felt.

Emotions in fact are neutral. They are not bad or good or right or wrong in and of themselves. They are actually a very real, God given part of who we are and how we interpret the world. Emotions are a thing to be very aware of and to feel. What we do with our emotions is the part that we must be very careful about. We can easily act in a very destructive manner as a result of our emotions, especially when we attempt not to feel them. It is so important when we are acting out or when our children are doing that, to sit down and decide what is causing that behavior. Am I sad, worried, angry, stressed, tired, hungry, frustrated or...?? It is so important to validate that feeling. Often times just validating our own or our children's emotions is enough to get relief from it. Trying not to feel it is where we often err. This does not help and usually ends up in an explosion of emotion at a later time. A better way to deal with it is to realize that it is our choice as to how we handle and think about whatever is bothering us.

I have written an article about changing your thinking that you may find helpful and that you can link to right here. So, realize that what you experienced was in fact scary, stressful, frustrating, sad, etc... and next, think about it in a way that will help the situation. You must not despair. You alone can control how you think and behave about your circumstances. You may not be able to change them, but figure out what you can do to make the situation better and focus on that instead of on what you cannot change or do anything about. This is so important to grasp as a "mommy" because it makes a difference in how we talk to our children when they are upset. Validate their feelings and then, right away, get them thinking about what they can do about the situation. Very often the simple concept of returning evil with love will solve their situation. When they did not return evil with love, teach them to seek forgiveness for their part in the situation. Teach them practical ways of returning evil with love while still maintaining healthy boundaries so they see when others do actually treat them wrongly. Acknowledge that what the other person did was rude, mean, hurtful, etc... but that if we love them back even after they treated us wrongly, we will do more to help them than anything else we could do.

Maria Rippo's Lemon Cream Cookies

This morning we had fun in the kitchen just putting ingredients together and I made some very yummy cookies that taste just like lemon cream pie. I had made some almond milk for the kids and had some leftover pulp. I used to throw the pulp away, but now I just mix it up with other ingredients and make something out of it. The other day I made chocolate chip cookies and today I made lemon cream cookies. Of course, they are raw, I just dehydrate them. They are dairy, gluten, egg and flour free so anyone can really eat them. I always test these recipes on my kids and so far the girls have begged for more of both.

Raw, Lemon Cream Cookies
(All of these ingredients are estimations as I always just throw stuff in and then taste it!!)
1/2 cup almond meal or however much you have left after making almond milk
1/2 cup ground flax seeds
3/4 cup coconut flakes
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/2 cup xylitol
1/2 cup coconut butter
1 tsp vanilla
2 TBS hemp seeds
1/2 tsp Himalayan salt
1/2 cup or more water

Mix all ingredients together and add enough water to make a cookie like dough. Form into cookies and place on dehydrator tray. Dehydrate at 145 degrees for 2 -3 hours and then turn it down to 118 degrees and dehydrate for 8 hours or until done. I store these in the freezer.

For raw chocolate chip cookies just replace the lemon juice and coconut with some chocolate chips. I use the healthy chocolate chips, but they did have a little evaporated cane juice. I figure that is a big step up from the alternative of white flour cookies!!

Maria Rippo's Green Smoothies for kids

Maria Rippo's Raw Green Smoothie Recipe That Kids LOVE!

I just made a green smoothie for my kids and they all went nuts for it. If you have not heard about raw green smoothies, you can click here for my article about green smoothies.

1/2 cup frozen organic pineapple
6 or 7 strawberries
1 cup fresh spinach
water
vanilla
Himalayan or Celtic salt to taste

Blend well in blender and serve immediately.

High Raw

I recently had the pleasure of listening to Kevin Gianni at the local raw food festival. He is a high energy, very knowledgable and realistic raw foodie, author and successful personal trainer! He believes in a high raw lifestyle which is very in line with my own convictions about eating. He is very understanding about the busy lifestyle which most of us live. He has a book called "High Raw" which is a free downloadable book you can get here. He also wrote a book called "The Busy Person's Fitness Guide" which is availalbe for purchase on his website. His program only involves a medicine ball and an exercise ball and all of the exercises can be performed in a room as small as your bathroom....so anyone can do it:)

Quotes That Motivate

"The dictionary is the only place success comes before hard work. Hard work is the price we must all pay for success." Vince Lombardi

"The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that is is too low and we reach it." Michelangelo

"The strangest secret in the world is that we become what we think about." Earl Nightengale

"Focus your thoughts on what you want to acheive, not on what you want to avoid."

"Our doubts are our traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt." Shakespeare

"If you send a rocket toward the moon, about 90% of the time it's off course- it "fails" it's way to the moon by continually mkaing mistakes and correcting them." Price Pritchett

"Mistakes are natural. Mistakes are how we learn. When we stop making mistakes we stop learning and growing." Wally "Famous" Amos

Update on Maria Rippo's Candida/Eczema

As of today, August 5, 2009, my life on a 98% raw, sprouted diet has literally transformed every aspect of me in just 4 short months. I can't believe the impact this new way of eating has had on me. Just the other day as I was commenting on my new skin that is so hydrated, soft and beautiful, I said to my hubby that I just am so happy about the impact this lifestyle change has had on me. His comment back to me was that he's amazed that it is transforming not only my physical health, but my mental health as well. It's amazing what happens when you get some energy and vitality back and you can actually think clearly. I am a much more calm and nice person right now than I was 4 months ago. I have worked hard in this area for sure. I have really been focusing on my thought life and self talk. I have been practicing gratitude and thinking in positive terms about my circumstances instead of the constant negative/complaining ones I was practicing. I have truly come to realize that God has me right where He wants me right now and I am content to know that. I wake up and think about the things I am grateful for. I have helped my kids do the same and what a difference that makes in a person's perspective!!!

I have had an interesting experience getting to the point of being as raw as I am with my eating. I have been gentle on myself and here and there when I have needed some fish or chicken, I have allowed myself to eat it. I have allowed myself to drink wine here and there and even have dessert on occassion. I do eat fruit from time to time as well and if I totally blow the whole raw thing, I don't worry about it. I just get right back on track and enjoy the process. The amazing thing has been that I get full so incredibly fast on flesh foods and wine makes me very tired quickly. Another interesting experience has been the cravings I have for salad. I try to switch up my eating here and there, but truly, I mostly only want green smoothies and salads right now with some raw nuts(especially walnuts), olives and lemon tahini dressing. I think that because it is summer my body just wants food that has a lot of water in it. Since I am not eating fruit right now, the next best thing is fresh veggies. I eat a very colorful salad full of greens, cabbage, celery, cucumbers, red peppers, tomatoes, cauliflower, parsley, basil, jicama, , radishes, etc...

One amazing side affect of eating like this is that I am rarely hungry anymore unless it has been 4 hours or so since I last ate. I get full very quickly too. I believe this is happening because the food I eat is so nutrient dense that my body simply does not need a lot. My weight is very stable even though I eat less, which is good. My body is just where it wants to be!

As far as my Candida goes, I just had a check up and it looks like I am getting to the end of the Candida challenge. My eczema still finds my eyelids to be good company and has chosen to stay with me for now. I am patient with it though and know that it will eventually go away!! My eczema is a blessing in disguise for sure because it is the one thing that made me take a good hard look at my life and the amount of stress I was choosing to allow myself to experience. Granted, our life experiences have been less than dull in the last few years, but I allowed it all to really eat at me and I became bitter and negative through it. Had the eczema not shown up, I am not sure I would have seen how truly devastating my negative attitude was on my health. I can happily report that I really am learning to see things differently and it is changing my life for the good (as well as my family's life!!) And when that anxiety or negativity pops up I forgive myself and ask for forgiveness and move forward.

As far as the differences in my health go, here is a list of all the positive changes I have experienced in the last four months ( it took 6 weeks on this diet along with very strong probiotics and lots of dark greens to begin to see any changes!!):

- My hormonal imbalance is regulated!! Thank God, no more dual personality for two weeks out of the month!!!
- My dry, scaly skin is gone and has been replaced with soft, hydrated, shiny new skin!
- I am no longer constantly hungry which I attribute to the fact that I am now fully nutrified by my diet as well as the fact that I am no longer using food to self medicate, calm and numb my emotions. Instead I am learning to deal with my emotions in a healthy manner... fewwhhhh!!
- The toenail fungus under one of my toes is totally gone, one more to go!!
- My energy level is amazing! I am clear headed and have a happy disposition rather than an exhausted, negative one.
- I don't need as much sleep.
- I am beginning to be able to run again and can take power walks daily!
- My weight is very stable. I no longer have a crazy cycle of gaining and losing and being mad at myself when I really get off track.
- My food cravings are totally gone. I only crave what is good for me! This is a hugely freeing feeling for me b/c I used to obsess about eating things that were less than optimal for my health.
- I am off of caffeine and feel very energetic. This took a good week of napping daily and feeling wiped out. My adrenals finally kicked in:)
- No more puffy eyelids
- No need to constantly use chapstick b/c my lips are no longer dried out
- Icky film on my tongue is gone
- No need for breath mints anymore
- I almost always have plenty of energy to read to my kids and be read to by my kids at bedtime and even fold laundry and work a little or read before going to bed!! This is another hugely satisfying part of eating so well. In the past I was absolutely exhausted by 8 o'clock at night and yelled often at my kids at that time of day.
- I get many more hugs from my children and husband now. I think it's because I am just much more calm and approachable:)
- I can accomplish much more in a day b/c I feel good and I sleep less
- My breathing much deeper now. It used to be very short and quick and uncomfortable because of my anxiety.
- Ok, this one is a little gross to admit but I used to get BO quite easily. I never could wear a shirt twice and now my BO is gone!! I don't use deoderant so this is a very handy detox side effect!!
- My foot cramps have disappeared. This is a really exciting occurence for me b/c my foot cramps were the reason I had to stop triathlon training b/c I could not longer swim without getting major cramps.

As you can see, the more I eat healthy and cleanse my body, the more I want to eat healthy and cleanse my body because it literally makes a difference in the person that I am. I hope my Candida recovery story and journey onto a raw food diet is inspiring to you. Please let me know!! I'd love to hear from you below:)