There is a method here...

For those of you who have my book(s) on diet, exercise and life etc, and for those who are currently reading and following The Pagan Diet, just a little bit more on the importance of following a healthy diet.

When you start to make changes to your diet, your body shifts into higher gear, I call it 'detox mode' as well. I realize that there are many people out there who follow intermittent fasting in some form or other - taking time out to just drink and take a break from all that digesting of food.

What is different with my methods is that it comes down to one basic thing - if you put rubbish in, you will get rubbish out. You simply cannot expect to clean your body while your beverage of choice is full of caffeine, or your snack on your food day is full of sugar or processed something or other.

These are NOT foods, they are anti-nutrients, which cost you energy to digest. When you are fasting drink clean water, the Master Cleanse juice, herbal tea etc. Otherwise you are bathing your delicate internal tissues with chemical laden goup. 

The days that you are eating you are boosting your immune system, replenishing your reserves, repairing body systems and adjusting your metabolism in positive ways. Once again this is not the time to fill up on junk, rubbish or anything else that is not really food.

Even on your planned feast and celebration days - there is no excuse to start abusing your body and consuming unhealthy junk foods. I enjoy my meals thoroughly and am not deprived of anything - cookies, cakes, sweets and treats of all sorts. They are just made with natural, healthy ingredients and taste great! 

Once you start incorporating fasting into your lifestyle, your tastes will change and you will crave healthier foods, until then - use some discipline and pass on the sugar.

Have a lovely day,

April

I love my Fasting Days... No Procrastination!

And I am serious here, today I am back to fasting after many days of over-indulging in some great foods while we celebrated the various special days. It is nice to be back to myself and to feel that I can also get down to other things. 

I just came in from the (very wet) garden after doing an hour of weeding and decided that I would work away down my list of things that I would like to do today - only to find that I have accomplished several things already. And have time for them all. 

It was then that I realized I have wanted to take some time to paint for a few days - but because of all the cooking, celebrating and general business of life, I had not taken even 10 minutes to do some painting. I kept putting it off, and then off again and yet again each time I thought about getting my paints out.

Why do we do that? And what should it matter so much to us? Perhaps it might mean to me that if I am thinking that I would like to paint, then my creative side is trying to break out in some way. Often when I take the time to paint or draw or even colour with my daughter I feel so much better in myself afterwards. 

These activities create inner links and pathways between mind-body-soul that really are significant. I am even considering doing a mini cleanse this week and fasting for 3 days, we'll see how today goes and then how I feel in the morning. If today is any indication, I feel fantastic and want to go a little deeper into my creative side...

Perhaps a mini cleanse it is then!

Talk later,

April

And A Celebration Day today!

Today my son is 12 years old and I am no different from any other parents out there - thinking back to the day he was born and wondering where the time has gone. He seems so grown up in some ways - yet still a boy in others. I just hope that he doesn't grow up too fast, too soon - and that is one of the reasons why I home school my children.

A home is a place where we should be safe, be accepted for who and what we are, yet expected to be a part of a family with a role to play, chores and work to do as well as contribute in other meaningful ways. It is also the one place where you can expect to learn all that you need to know in preparation for the world out there. And that is why I home school my children. 

On our birthdays here we get to choose the menu and eat whatever foods that we want to have - today I have been making macaroon and nut butter cookies, goat's cheese cake, whole grain spelt spaghetti and lamb meatballs for lunch, and then a roasted duck dinner for later tonight! (I will be exhausted LOL)

For me though I have long felt that there are a few significant years in a childs' life and developmental milestones that are reached recorded in those years. Age 12 is no exception - this is the year when the immune system reaches a stage of maturity making the child ready to go out in the world a little more. When fed properly and living in a healthy environment our immune functions in top form. However, when filled with drugs, vaccines and rubbish foods - sadly this is not the case.

This is a big day for him (and me!) and the start of a big year - the first of many, each one better than the last. 

Now, after all of these feasting and celebration days, I will be good and ready for another Master Cleanse. It all evens out, though and I am so glad that I have the fasting to look forward to. Now, I always enjoy my food without giving one thought to putting on weight or that I am eating too much. I love my food and it loves me back.

In a couple of days I will be back to day on/day off fasting and back on track again - what could be simpler? 

Have a lovely day,

April

The birthday boy on Soldier's Lookout Lough Hyne, West Cork after climbing the hill

Today is a Fasting Day

After having spent the weekend cooking, baking, harvesting and eating lots of rich foods - I was ready for a break this morning. It is actually really nice - a break from the cooking and preparation of food, leaving the kitchen clean for the day as well as giving my digestion a break and only taking in water and herbal teas.

It just feels so natural - like I have found my balance through giving my body permission to empty out instead of constantly eating. What was worse about those days of overeating was that I felt I had to or should - eat every single day. It turns out that this was such an unhealthy attitude towards diet and nutrition and only now have I got it right.

Never before in the history of the world has food been so available and out of season food grown and flown anywhere we would like it. The food pushers are no different than drug dealers - keep us full, fat and unhealthy - and you can nearly do anything. We are not paying the slightest bit of attention!

So, now, with an empty tummy I can contemplate my life, plan my day and accomplish many different tasks. The top one amongst them is to be clean - inside as well as outside!

Well, off to go for my walk, have a great day,

April

My Morning Cup of Coffee....

Today is a Food day so already I have eaten my breakfast of toast, muesli, bean burgers and goat's cheese - and am pleasantly full. Now I am sitting with my cup of dandelion coffee and allow my body to digest my meal as I this is my favorite time of the day.

I have not ever appreciated food in the way that I do right now. Each meal, every bite is special, I can taste everything and my body appreciates nicely prepared fresh food. I look forward to my meals like never before and now that there is no fear of gaining weight or the food making me feel poorly, the joy of eating is finally a part of my life. 

Most food days, I try to eat my largest meal in the morning, then as the day moves on the meals are smaller until I feel that I have eaten enough and my mind actually shifts to the next days fasting. After I have had enough food my body now says 'that's enough' and moves into another mode - getting ready for fasting or the cleansing phase.

Works like magic! And the dandelion coffee - the perfect digestive aid, that tastes great and helps you digest your food at the same time. Life couldn't be better.

Have a lovely day,

April

It's finally here!

My new book - The Pagan Diet is finally ready. For those of you who are interested in fasting, detoxing, Master Cleanses, losing weight or just getting your health back - this is the book for you. Inside you will find out how I go about living each day following my own inner guidance, choosing foods to heal and uplift as well as using day on/day off fasting to stay healthy and maintain my weight.

I go into detail on how I came eat this way, what it means to me to be exactly who I am and why this is important for the lives we are living. I have also included 3 full diaries from Master Cleanses that I have completed - for your information and motivation. 

The exact details on how to get started on a water fast for weight loss, health, spirituality and general living are in here to lead you through each step in this gentle process. Contact me for details on how to order your copy today. 

April