I love to eat and portion control is probably my toughest challenge. Biking is one way I help combat that. This is me at the Whiskey Offroad Mountain Biking event in Prescott, AZ.

A few months ago, after the holidays and a six week Rotary International Exchange program to NSW Australia, I found myself with few unwanted pounds. Now I’m no stranger to weight loss having lost close to 90 pounds about 15 years ago but I needed a reality check and a bit of detox… those Aussies love to imbibe. I also don’t believe in fad diets – they’re mostly unhealthy in the long term and unrealistic. A good friend recommended the Fat Flush Plan by Dr. Ann Louise so I decided to give it shot.

I love the way Dr. Ann uses cranberry juice naturally as a detox for the liver and given my background as an athlete and coach, I very much appreciated the all natural approach using fresh fruits, veggies, minimal salt and sugar and lean proteins. She also uses the thermogenic properties of certain spices like cayenne, garlic and cumin to boost metabolism.

After several months of indulging on too much bread, sugar and alcohol the clean taste of this plan was refreshing. I only wanted to drop about 5-10 pounds (ended up at 7) so i followed just the first two weeks which are probably the most difficult. The plan comes in a staged approach where you gradually add back in certain foods after time eventually ending up at a maintenance phase.

If  you’re looking for the UnDiet that promotes good healthy eating and portion control I would highly recommend The Fat Flush Plan.

To your health!

The EcoFitChick

Greewash is a term that is used to describe the actions of a company, government, or other organization which advertises positive environmental practices while acting in the opposite way.

Below are several paths you can follow to check up on a company’s claims.

1. Follow the Money Trail
2. Follow the membership trail
3. Follow the paper trail
4. Look for skeletons in the company’s closet
5. Test for consistency over time
6. Check how they handle their critics
7. Test for international consistency
8. Test for access to information

L to R Nathan, Lisa, Julie, Craig, Jeni and Michelle from Rotary Canberra outside the War Memorial

We’re heading into day 5 of our grand adventure down under and what an adventure it has been to date. We nearly didn’t get to leave Phoenix because of a faulty door mechanism on the plane. Fortunately we did leave but later than anticipated which had us rushing through San Fran airport with a United employee to make our connection to Sydney — they had been holding the plane for us for about 20 minutes. We had plenty of time to rest though on our 13.5 hour flight to Australia. Once landing in Sydney we learned the meaning of the word queue – lines to us – as we stood in many of them, missing our original flight to Canberra. Even though we had some travel issues everyone has been in good spirits and having an amazing time.

Our hosts here in Canberra have been amazing and are sending us on very imformative and fun tours and vocational meetings. So far we’ve visited with folks in the Ministry of Toursim, the CEO of the chamber and visitor’s bureaus, the Environment, Energy and Resources Dept. and have even met the ACT senator — and that’s just the vocational side. We’ve also given a couple of presentations and everyone has been very complimentary of our style and full of questions.

We’ve had some unusual weather since getting here, like the worst duststorm in decades and torrential downpours. Today, however, is sunny and crisp so we’re off to the zoo and visiting a fellow Rotarian’s vineyard.

All the best to everyone!

Now more than ever I feel like I’ve awakened. Perhaps nearing my fourth decade I’ve finally gathered enough information to feel like anything I have to say matters. Or perhaps I’ve just gotten past the point of caring what anyone thinks. Either way I’m choosing to speak about what matters to me and what I’m committed to.

My belief is simple and it is huge:  We are a global community.

That phrase is tossed around a lot these days but for the vast majority it is meaningless.

We are a global community. The people around the world are my brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers and aunts and uncles. We all want the same things, to be loved, respected, have a roof over our heads, food to eat, to be happy and ensure that our children have a better life than we did.

People are just people the world over. Just because they don’t share our beliefs doesn’t mean they aren’t fighting the same battles.

And, today more than any other time in history our choices affect our global family.

I don’t have all the answers but my belief is that WE CHOOSE. Our governments are small without us; we are their reason for being.

WE CHOOSE how our governments interact. WE CHOOSE with our voices, with our actions and our passions. We are connected more than ever before and every voice counts.

Let’s choose to not continue destroying one another. Let’s make it known that we don’t want governments fighting over oil when children are dying of starvation, being sold into slavery and prostitution. Let’s stop playing small when we know the consequences are so great. Let’s join our voices as citizens of the world with everything and nothing at stake.

My commitment to this global community is:

•  I will make conscious purchasing decisions.
•  I will listen.
•  I will advocate for sustainable and peaceful solutions.
•  I will connect our ideas and voices and;
•  I will communicate our shared vision for a global community.

Together let’s create a Global Community Manifesto. Let’s choose how we, the nations of the world, want to work together and let our governments know we won’t accept anything less.

Yoga Health Festival 10 City Tour

 Road trip to Delhi.      On the streets.

  Chai, chai?      Streets of Dharamsala.

 This is India. The old with the new all living together on the streets.

We were back on the train on the 7th and arrived late that night admidst the chaos of the Delhi train station. People everywhere and porters taking our group’s bags in every which direction. Yours truly finally had to lay down the law to the porters. I don’t think they understood every word but they knew I wasn’t happy. The group got split up and our group leader had her professional camera stolen on the train. It was quite a dramatic night and when we eventually settled into our oasis downtown we had about 4 hours to sleep before we jumped on the express train for Agra and the Taj Mahal.

Awaiting us at the Agra train station was a luxurious private bus and a room at the Hilton. After three weeks in mostly spartan furnishings the Hilton felt like we’d died and gone to heaven.  When we reached the Hilton it was off to the buffet for a proper breakfast and coffee. After that I walked down the street to the local mall — yes a real mall. I needed sunglasses and then found a tshirt, which then necessitated a new sports bra. The only store available was a Jockey store which was fine but it was odd buying it from a young Indian man particularly when he asked me if I wanted the matching panties.  

In Agra we did the traditional tourist thing visiting Agra Fort, a marble factory and an gem factory — a few of us opted out of this and headed back to the Hilton for drinks. That was much more fun!  

Early on the morning of the 9th we went to Taj Mahal. Its spectacular but somewhat disappointing because with the fog and pollution our view of the Taj was ghostly at best — except up close. After that it was back to the Hilton to pack up and head out for our bus ride back to Delhi.

We took a diversion to the Hare Krishna Ashram which was quite a feat for our bus driver with all the tiny roads in the villages. Once back on the main “highway” I put on my music and watched India pass by to Evanescence, KT Tunstall, Dixie Chicks and others. It was surreal listening to my American music and passing by camels, elephants, horses, sheep, people and cars. It was a bittersweet ride back and I said my goodbyes along the way waving to everyone.

Our earlier diverson almost cost a couple of people there plane back but we made it — barely. The arrival back at our downtown hotel was chaotic as are most things in India traveling with 16 people. I had my last Indian meal with few people in the ground at the hotel restaurant and then showered and repacked for my long journey home.

It was a sad return home as my Shih Tzu, Sage, that I’ve had for 14 years passed away while I was gone. I had the oddest feeling when I left home back in February that he might not be here when I returned.

I’ve been home for about 36 hours or so and  I’m still tired,  a little sick and somewhat spacey. I miss India — the chaos, noise, the food and the people. It was an amazing trip. The entire trip was serendiptious and it even followed me home. My first contact at a meeting Tuesday morning, the 11th, was with a business associate I hadn’t seen in a while — Nimesh who is from India and returns to his home in a small village regularly. He shared with me that there is a local group in Phoenix that supports the ashram I stayed at in Rishikesh; and that Pujya Swamiji visits here every summer. It seems like my Indian connection might just continue here in Arizona.

Thanks everyone for taking the journey with me. Stay tuned if you’re interested as life after India unfolds.

Namaste.

In the States we’re really only exposed to one form of yoga, asanas or the physical postures. Asana is the most basic — beginner stage — of yoga allowing one to begin understanding how to quiet the mind. Here at the ashram I’ve been exposed to all kinds of breathing, chanting and meditation yogas. The art and science behind yoga is quite old and very detailed. I’m just beginning to grasp even the most basic concepts.

Today, myself and a couple of hundred people participated in the Yoga Aid Challenge in which we did 108 sun salutations in support children around the world. I didn’t have time to sign up for fundraising before I left but check out the web site and if you feel compelled give what you can. A little bit goes a long way in this part of the world.

It’s an incredible experience to be here and listen to swamis who can quote scripture from all religions, economics, poetry, etc. These people are not just mystics but wise sages promoting peace and love through yoga. It’s humbling to be in their presence.

I’m oddly comfortable here though and haven’t experienced any sickness. It’s serendipitous that I decided (prior to deciding to take this trip) to become a vegetarian. I think it’s helped with the transition these past few weeks.

It’s difficult to convey what I’m feeling here; it’s dirty, smelly, polluted, crowded, poor and at the same time happy, vibrant and rich in all things cultural. As Dorothy would say “We’re definitely not in Kansas Toto.”

Om shanti, shanti, shanti

(this is a mantra we sing, loosely translated as one in peace)

Arrived in the holy city of Rishikesh on the banks of Mother Ganga and in the lap of the Himalaya at the ashram for the International Yoga Festival. Today, March 1, is the first official day of the festival.  I attended a 6:30 a.m. Power Yoga class, 8:15 to 10:30 Vinyasa, a 11:15 lecture on finding your inner divinity through yoga and my first chanting/meditation class in the afternoon.

Yoga Nidra is a guided meditation where the yoga master gives you certain things to focus on to guide your thoughts ie. make your body very heavy, now make it very light, etc. I maintained a fairly alert state but my mind did wander a few times, however I was able to pull myself back without judging my lack of concentration. At a few points I experienced some out body phenomena like seeing myself floating above my body and the face of someone in my traveling group. It freaked me out a bit and I snapped back to consciousness.

I’m looking forward to the break at the ashram. Life on the streets here is a bit chaotic — noisy, smelly and constantly tearing down any facades I have at home. I have been near tears at many points during this trip because its putting me face to face with a side of humanity I rarely see at home. Despite the disparity that exists here, I find myself falling in love with the country. I see a devotion here to family, God, tradition and rituals that I rarely see at home. Mostly, at home, I am trying to BE more and DO more.

I don’t think the full impact of what I’m experiencing is going to settle in until I return home. I’m trying to soak it all in, stay present and be open to whatever shows up. Things are becoming clearer and the clearer they get the more afraid I become. Heavy stuff to deal with thousands of miles from home.

On a lighter note, I’ve managed to stay healthy and lose weight. I’m not sure how that’s possible. Maybe its because most of the food is fresh, all vegetarian all the time, very little fat, very little sugar and definitely no Starbucks.  As one American put it here we’ll have to re-tox to go back to the states.

Peace and love from India.