Just Lose It with Berta Newsletter                                                                                                                                        Volume 1                                                                                                                                                                        Issue 44   
                                                                                                                                                                                                     11-04-2010    
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
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 Hello

  

 

Welcome back!  I hope you have all made it through the Halloween Nightmare! Or have you?  This is the perfect opportunity to take any  candy or chocolate still hanging around and throw it out!  That's right; toss it! Now!  Before you even have time to think about it. Don't just throw it out: pour water all over it, or maybe some bleach, so you're certain you won't be tempted to resurrect the stuff! I know, a bit crazy, but these are crazy times, and now that you have made it through last weekend, the onset of holiday parties is just around the corner!  But wait! We still have time to pull it together!

 

In light of our crazy lives, today's "Tea Time" will teach you a very easy way to refocus-just in the nick of time, I might add, because we have mayhem ahead!

 

And did you know, that some of the foods you have been eating are throwing your body off?  Yes, many of the foods you are eating might be too acidic for your system, making you sick.  You can very simply rectify this; just read on and find the way.

 

It's autumn, a great time of year to start thinking about cooking up a nice warm, hearty soup, and that is just what I have in store for you!

 

I hope you all have a great week!  Please remember to check out my fan page on Facebook. I love to get your feedback and answer your questions.

 

Enjoy your read!

 

Berta

 

 

   

 

 
 


 
Tea Time with Berta:
                   Berta cup  of tea photo            
 
 

Breathe...

 
 

 


 Breathe!  That's what you have to do; that is what we all have to do: breathe.  Sounds good to just say it because in saying it I think we all realize that it is true.  Just saying the word helps us recognize that we feel better when we take the time to breathe. I am not speaking about our regular breathing; I mean a more methodical, clear-your-head,  from-your-toes kind of breath.  Why is this helpful? Well, most of us are off, and we don't know how to get back on, so I am telling you all, right now, to stop. Stop what you are doing, and take a deep breath in. Stop thinking for just a moment. Don't have a moment?  Well, of course you do; stop and take this moment to breathe.  Clear your head, start slowly, soften that belly, and from down bellow, start to inhale letting your lungs fill and swell with your breath. Maybe even close your eyes, and take a deep, deeper, breath.  Now slowly let it out, drop your shoulders, ahhh...better? 

 

Of course you feel better. In one moment you can feel better physically and more focused mentally.  We are going and going all of the time with everyone pulling at us from all sides. Situations seem to pile up continuously: problems with the house, cars, office, workload, kids, family. The list goes on forever!  Sometimes, no...lately it seems like all of the time...we are far, far too busy.  Don't you think that might be part of the problem with weight loss?  Maybe you are so busy in life that you don't realize  you haven't even taken a proper breath in a long time.  How can you stay on track with anything, or plan a proper meal consistently, when you are overloaded with stuff to the point that you are forgetting to breathe?  So stop! Take a deep one, right now!  Still don't have the time?  What will it take to make you slow down, to make you just stop and take a little "me" time or even better "Tea Time"?  I am only asking that you take a moment to breathe, again, not from your upper lungs, but from your toes!  Open up, open your lungs, relax your belly, and slowly inhale.

 

Now that you all know how to do this, I want you to do it every time, and I mean every single time, you are in a position or situation where you feel out of control around food. When you fear that you might succumb to a craving, be it in a restaurant, at a party, at home, in the middle of the night. I don't care about the place or the time, but whenever you begin to feel tempted or a little weak, I want you to follow a plan.  Don't make any major decisions at that moment, don't think "yes I will eat all of that double chocolate cheese cake that Nancy just put in front of me."  Wait to decide until you take a moment, excuse yourself from the table, or the group, or whatever situation you are in .  Even if you are alone in middle of the night and on your way to the refrigerator, take one moment and go to the bathroom, yep the bathroom-doesn't matter time or place, just excuse yourself and go to the bathroom.  Why the bathroom?  Because it's safe there with no one watching you. Sit down, and breathe.   Okay, better?  No? Breathe again, slower this time, from your toes, long and slowly. Soften those shoulders, and again.  Ahhhh.......Now, clear your head for a second and think about what you are about to do.  Think about it. You might still  return and do the same thing you were planning, but if you stay in the bathroom breathing long enough, you might not. Perhaps you might even order a salad? Pass on dessert? Go for a walk?

 

Breathe.....ahhhhhhh..... What are you doing?  How long have you been doing the same thing, same scenario?  Had enough of the same old, same old?  Breathe...Want something different?  Of course you do; that's why you are here breathing this way. Before you get back up, take a good look at yourself, and if you are not where you want to be, and you don't know how to get there, well... take another deep breath and think of an alternative plan. Perhaps you won't eat if you can have a nice cup of tea?  That's a good idea; drink a fragrant cup of tea and breathe...ahhh...

 

 

 

If you want to read more about how tea can get you through a tough moment, click on Tea Time is your time! and check out one of my earlier articles about why tea might be just the thing you have been waiting for. 




Did you know...


 

that  highly acidic foods are not good for you? The consumption of too many acidic foods creates metabolic waste and toxins, as measured by the pH level in the saliva or urine.  The higher your pH level, the fewer toxins you are carrying around making  you healthier, more energetic, and better able to stick to making healthy food choices.

 

There are two basic theories about disease:

 

1) All disease (including cancers) and all toxins are acidic.

2) Bacteria, viruses, and parasites die when exposed to high alkaline environments.


When the body is too acidic, the result might be sluggishness and a propensity for depression, illness, chronic fatigue and a host of other ailments. Fresh veggies, and many other foods, can raise your body's pH. While researching this topic, I noted that food lists differed slightly from source to source, but one thing stood out: fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds consistently topped the alkaline list, while processed foods, red meat, white flours, and refined sugars-staples of the typical American diet-made up the acidic list.

 

How can you tell the state of your pH?  Well, there is a very easy test you might remember from science class: the litmus test.  You can buy litmus paper at any natural supermarket or pharmacy. All you have to do to test for acidity is wet a strip of litmus paper with your saliva.

Saliva is usually more acidic than blood, but the pH of saliva also reflects the level of the body's alkaline mineral reserves. 


Ideally, before a meal, your saliva pH should range between 6.4 and 6.8. A reading lower than 6.4 shows low alkaline reserves. Saliva pH after a meal should increase to about 7.5. If your saliva stays between pH levels of 6.5 and 7.5 on average, your body is functioning well.

 

What happens if it turns out that you are acidic?  Well, it's easy, really.  It's a matter of temporarily omitting foods that are acidic and eating foods that are primarily alkalinizing.  Alkaline forming foods include most fruits, green vegetables, lentils, spices, herbs and seasonings, seeds and nuts. Acid forming foods include meat, fish, poultry, eggs, most grains, legumes, and especially desserts, processed foods, and fast foods. 

 

Your diet should consist of at least 50% alkaline forming foods. Here is a short list of some acid and alkaline forming foods:

 

Alkaline Forming Foods

 

Vegetables - Alfalfa, barley grass, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chlorella, collard greens, cucumber, eggplant, garlic, green beans, green peas, kale, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, nightshade veggies, onions, peas, peppers, pumpkin, radishes, spinach greens, sprouts, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watercress, wild greens, wheat grass.

 

Fruits - Apple, apricot, avocado, banana, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherries, coconut, cranberries, currants, dates, figs, grapes, grapefruit, honeydew melon, lemons, limes, muskmelon, nectarines, oranges, peaches, pears, pineapples, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangerines, tomatoes, tropical fruits, watermelon.

 

Grains - Millet

Sweeteners - Stevia

 

Spices and Seasonings - Chili pepper, cinnamon, curry, ginger, herbs, mustard, sea salt

 

Acid Forming Foods

 

Vegetables - Corn, olives, winter squash

 

Fruits - Pickled fruits, cranberries

 

Grains - Barley, bran, oat, bran, wheat, bread, corn, cornstarch, crackers, flour, macaroni, noodles, rice, rye, spaghetti, wheat

 

Animal Proteins - Bacon, beef, carp, clams, cod, corned beef, fish, haddock, lamb, salmon, sausage, scallops, shellfish, tuna, turkey, veal.

 

Sweeteners - corn syrup, sugar

 

Other foods - Catsup, cocoa, coffee, mustard, pepper, soft drinks, vinegar

 

The above is a short list of both types of foods. You can easily go online to find where other foods fall on the continuum.  

 

Try going on a short 1-2 week cleanse, eating only alkaline forming foods to see if there's a difference in how you feel, look, and behave. I can almost guarantee that you will feel great, look great, and start getting back your mojo!  A side benefit will be the weight loss you will experience.

 

Good Luck!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


My Favorite Things to Eat!
 

Butternut, Apple, and Sweet Potato Soup!

serves 8



butternut, apple, and sweet potato soup

 

 

As promised, this is an easy and delicious fall soup!  Easy to make and great for lunch or a light dinner with a small spinach salad, perhaps?  Remember to make a lot of it so that you have a few dinners, or pack it up and take it to work for lunch.

 

What you need:

2 tsp. olive oil

1 cup finely chopped onion

1 small (2 pound) butternut squash, peeled and cubed (about 6 cups)

1 pound sweet potatoes

1 large Granny Smith apple

4 cups fat-free low-sodium vegetable broth (Trader Joe's has a good one)

1 tsp. dried mixed herbs

 

What to do:

Heat oil in large saucepan or Dutch oven. Saut� onions, squash and sweet potato for 5 minutes. Add apple, vegetable broth and herbs. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Remove from heat. Working in batches, transfer soup to a blender and pur�e until smooth.

 

 

 

  Bon App�tit!

   
 

Where to go and what to do to GET STARTED!

If you can say Yes! I am ready to get started!  this is the link to the blog page that will explain how to go about doing it. You don't have to read it all in one sitting! Please take your time, absorb my words, and when you fully understand where I intend to take you, read on.  The journey we will take together might be a long one, but it promises to be unforgettable. The first step is committing to yourself. From there, you will begin the work of finally identifying why you are where you are, and how you got there. The moment you can honestly own your personal truth, you will have reached your goal. The rest is simply a matter of time. 
Enjoy the ride!  
  
Berta is a respected weight loss counselor who has educated and empowered hundreds of women JUST LIKE YOU to lose the excess weight that prevents them from living their dream and Berta by mantlebecoming the woman they were meant to be.

 

Her gift, and the reason her program is SO SUCCESSFUL, is her ability to break down every detail of your weight loss journey so you can be prepared for the challenges and understand the emotional components behind them. 

 

This on-line program has been designed to bring you the same experience of her methods and common sense explanations that Berta uses in her successful private practice, at a fraction

of the cost.  If you liked today's issue, you'll love her blog and the main site as it is being built, which you can find at JustLoseIt.com.


DON'T LET ANOTHER DAY GO BY!

 

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