THE FRESH DIET & MY THOUGHTS

Just recently, our good friend, Jim, from THE FRESH DIET, asked us, When you think of THE FRESH DIET, what do you think of more 1) Fresh 2) Taste 3) Convenience 4) Balance 5) healthy (or something else entirely).

 After consuming THE FRESH DIET for seven and a half months now and going from a size 12 to a size 2, I think I can a qualify to answer that question. 

As you can see in this photo, I'm showing 2 weeks worth of empty FRESH DIET containers and 7 1/2 months worth of their menus. But more impressive to me personally is losing all that weight in a very HEALTHY manner. In fact the first answer I gave Jim was HEALTHY. I decided to give him a second answer which was RESULTS. 

Now look at this photo again, don't I look healthy and doesn't it show results! I would say so!

OK ... Let's get serious about this for a minute. I'm an "older" woman. Almost 64, but let's not rush it. I still have until November 24 th for that number to pop up. I never thought,( I had maybe hoped), that at that age I would be trim. Looking around though at women my age, so many are carrying more weight than they ever wanted. 

Having had children and "almost" 64 years of living, I figured I'd be carrying much more weight than I ever wanted.

  It did creep up little by little, always around the Holidays. Then like everyone else I'd make a New Year's resolution to lose it.

One fad diet after another.

 I used to buy "Slim Fast" by the case! I was always starving . NO WONDER! Drinking my meals like that! I'd throw in a salad and a piece of chicken or fish for dinner. After all, I did want something healthy in me.

 It was just a quick fix. 

No sooner I'd get off after losing some weight, it would come on again very quickly.  I tried many other ways to lose weight but it always came back on. 

THEN CAME THE FRESH DIET

THE FRESH DIET has made such a big difference in my life, I wanted everyone I knew to try it out. In fact, not only my friends here but my family and friends 3000 miles away.  A few months ago I took a trip to my hometown and did tell my family...see picture below.

                      I also told all my friends at a gathering we had. See photos below.

I couldn't seem to tell enough people! I wanted everyone to feel as healthy as I did and to experience everything that I did with THE FRESH DIET.

1) FRESH food all the time. Produce that is always crisp and garden fresh. Quality meats, chicken and fish. Meals that are delivered fresh daily.

2) Taste that is satisfying, flavorful, delicious and gourmet, never boring.

3) Convenience as in no shopping needed. No cooking, meal planning, food prep, or cleanup. No calorie counting. Portion controlled. THE FRESH DIET makes it all easy.

4) Balance. Executive Chef Yosef Schwartz, a graduate of the world-renowned Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute and his culinary team develop menus that fulfill The Zone Diet's 40/30/30 nutritional balance , with an "Eat Only What You Love" philosophy.

5) Healthy. The Zone Diet that it's based on is designed to promote lean body mass, weight loss, decreased carbohydrate craving, lowered blood sugar, increased energy levels and improved mental clarity.

Here are a few photos of a select few meals:

You can see why I've chosen so well with THE FRESH DIET and why all these containers and so many more are empty. The meals are fresh, delicious, convenient, balanced, and healthy!

Do yourself a favor and call THE FRESH DIET ( 1-866-FRESH-50 ) or 1-866-373-7450. Get healthy and lose weight at the same time. 

THE FRESH DIET AND BELLY LAUGHS

Let THE FRESH DIET nourish your body and BELLY LAUGHS help cure what ails you.
                                                                       

                                                                          

Therapeutic Benefits of Laughter
Dr.  Lee Berk and fellow researcher Dr. Stanley Tan of Loma Linda University in California have been studying the effects of laughter on the immune system. To date their published studies have shown that laughing lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, increases muscle flexion, and boosts immune function by raising levels of infection-fighting T-cells, disease-fighting proteins called Gamma-interferon and B-cells, which produce disease-destroying antibodies. Laughter also triggers the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, and produces a general sense of well-being.
Following is a summary of his research, taken from an interview published in the September/October 1996 issue of the Humor and Health Journal.

                                                                                                            
 Laughter Activates the Immune System                  
In Berk's study, the physiological response produced by belly laughter was opposite of what is seen in classical stress, supporting the conclusion that mirthful laughter is a eustress state -- a state that produces healthy or positive emotions.Research results indicate that, after exposure to humor, there is a general increase in activity within the immune system, including:

	An increase in the number and activity level of natural killer cells that attack viral infected cells and some types of cancer and tumor cells.
	An increase in activated T cells (T lymphocytes). There are many T cells that await activation. Laughter appears to tell the immune system to "turn it up a notch."
	An increase in the antibody IgA (immunoglobulin A), which fights upper respiratory tract insults and infections.
	An increase in gamma interferon, which tells various components of the immune system to "turn on."
	An increase in IgB, the immunoglobulin produced in the greatest quantity in body, as well as an increase in Complement 3, which helps antibodies to pierce dysfunctional or infected cells. The increase in both substances was not only present while subjects watched a humor video; there also was a lingering effect that continued to show increased levels the next day.

 Laughter Decreases "Stress" Hormones
The results of the study also supported research indicating a general decrease in stress hormones that constrict blood vessels and suppress immune activity. These were shown to decrease in the study group exposed to humor.
For example, levels of epinephrine were lower in the group both in anticipation of humor and after exposure to humor. Epinephrine levels remained down throughout the experiment.
In addition, dopamine levels (as measured by dopac) were also decreased. Dopamine is involved in the "fight or flight response" and is associated with elevated blood pressure.
Laughing is aerobic, providing a workout for the diaphragm and increasing the body's ability to use oxygen.

                                                                      
 Laughter brings in positive emotions that can enhance – not replace -- conventional treatments. Hence it is another tool available to help fight the disease.
Experts believe that, when used as an adjunct to conventional care, laughter can reduce pain and aid the healing process. For one thing, laughter offers a powerful distraction from pain.
In a study published in the Journal of Holistic Nursing, patients were told one-liners after surgery and before painful medication was administered. Those exposed to humor perceived less pain when compared to patients who didn't get a dose of humor as part of their therapy.
Perhaps, the biggest benefit of laughter is that it is free and has no known negative side effects.
So, here is a summary of how humor contributes to physical health.  More details can be found in the article, Humor and Health contributed by Paul McGhee

                                                                        
Muscle Relaxation - Belly laugh results in muscle relaxation. While you laugh, the muscles that do not participate in the belly laugh, relaxes. After you finish laughing those muscles involved in the laughter start to relax. So, the action takes place in two stages. Reduction of Stress Hormones - Laughter reduces at least four of neuroendocrine hormones associated with stress response. These are epinephrine, cortisol, dopac, and growth hormone. Immune System Enhancement - Clinical studies have shown that humor strengthens the immune system. Pain Reduction - Humor allows a person to "forget" about pains such as aches, arthritis, etc. Cardiac Exercise - A belly laugh is equivalent to "an internal jogging." Laughter can provide good cardiac conditioning especially for those who are unable to perform physical exercises.

                                                        
Blood Pressure - Women seem to benefit more than men in preventing hypertension. Respiration - Frequent belly laughter empties your lungs of more air than it takes in resulting in a cleansing effect - similar to deep breathing. Especially beneficial for patient's who are suffering from emphysema and other respiratory ailments.

                                                        
Internal Workout: A good belly laugh exercises the diaphragm, contracts the abs and even works out the shoulders leaving muscles more relaxed afterward. It even provides a good workout for the heart.

                                         

THE FRESH DIET GIVES ME A RARE GIFT

Because THE FRESH DIET provides all my meals and snacks for the day, it leaves me with a lot of leisure time to pursue other interest. No more menu planning, no more grocery shopping at various places looking for special ingredients for recipes, no food prep, no cooking, no baking and best of all no more clean up and scrubbing pots and pans. WHEW! I'm already tired just thinking of all I use to do!

I thank THE FRESH DIET for giving me a rare gift.... LEISURE.

I've been able to pursue lots of hobbies as well as spending more time doing other things I love to do .

        WALKING THE HARBOR WITH LAURENCE AND NIKKI

               GOING TO THE LA JOLLA COVE WITH GRANDKIDS

          TAKING MY DAUGHTER AND GRANDKIDS TO THE BEACH PIER

          CHECKING OUT THE PELICANS ON THE PIER

I CAN GO TO THE AQUARIUM BECAUSE TFD HAS DINNER READY!

                                              WOW! I'M HUNGRY!

                                             BACK TO THE BEACH

                 OR THE ZOO...OOPS THIS IS AN OLD ONE!

THE FRESH DIET GIVES ME MORE TIME TO MEET WITH FRIENDS.

YOU CAN SEE ME IN THE HAWAIIAN DRESS CENTER ROW LEFT.

THE FRESH DIET ALWAYS HAS THE TASTIEST DESSERTS! NO BAKING FOR ME.

Since THE FRESH DIET does so many chores for me I can spend time making all sorts of crafts, painting being one of them:

WATERCOLOR AND GREETING CARDS ARE A GOOD PASTIME.

BIRDHOUSES IN ACRYLICS ARE SO MUCH FUN!

            HAND PAINTED CLAY POTS ARE HANDY.

LOOKING AT ALL THIS WORK I DID WORKS UP AN APPETITE. HERE'S A PEEK AT WHAT IS WAITING FOR ME FOR DINNER FROM THE FRESH DIET.

One of my favorite meals. WALNUT CRUSTED CHICKEN APRICOT ROULADE with SOUTHWESTERN CORN SAUTE and SAUTEED KALE. That Chicken actually taste like dessert! Kale is one of my favorite veggies and THE FRESH DIET CHEFS know not to overcook veggies ever.

When I say that THE FRESH DIET gives me more time on my hands, I mean it. What was I thinking when I actually started painting rocks that I gathered from the beach! Would you say I have too much time on my hands?

HERE'S THE PROOF OF TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS. I actually painted my own eye...geesh! Then some rocks to look like Easter Eggs!

NOW, I'll show you some more productive pastimes....beautifying my yard.

When it's time for dinner, I think I'll sit in the gazebo and enjoy my FRESH DIET meal as well as the fruits of my labor, while I'm waiting for the sun to set.