This month we have a fantastic giveaway offer – Barlean’s Omega Swirl, an award winning Omega-3 product! I take mega Omega’s for the benefit of my heart, skin, joint mobility, mental health and overall well-being – maybe you should too!! All you have to do is check the facebook page for A Girl Named Guy Productions and check out the posts, respond and whoa-la! On any given day this month we’ll have fun questions, facts and contests – it’s easy! We love partnering with companies like Barlean’s to offer you great health options, education and free stuff! If you aren’t a facebook-er, you can also signup for my newsletter, Sage Advice, for a chance to win. Simply go to www.ModernSage.com.
Enjoy the Omega Swirl – truly it’s delicious!!
Archive for the ‘Food/Nutrition’ Category
Daily Diet for 3-Day Detox
Saturday, April 30th, 2011Each day you will consume the following diet. If you prefer (or need to) have the main meal at lunch, that is fine. Make SURE you are drinking enough water (I did not post all water consumption that is necessary, drink prior to each meal and in between), eating enough foods (smoothies, fruits and veggies) and getting enough rest. NOTE: EITHER take the fiber (psyllium) drink OR an herbal detox tea (for regularity like Smooth Move or Get Regular). DO NOT take both. Consult your health care professional.
The times are suggestions but try to set a schedule that works for you consistently each day.
See below Diet for Drink and Smoothie Suggestions
May use Stevia (no substitutes) in smoothies if needed.
7:00 am 4 oz luke-warm water
7:15 am 8 oz luke-warm water with juice of 1/2 lemon
Shower/Bath with Full-body dry-brush scrub, loofah scrub or sugar salt scrub (entire body)
8:00 am 8 oz Fruit Smoothie with 1/4-1/2 cup non-fat plain yogurt & 1 teaspoon flaxmeal sprinkled on top (if using prepackaged smoothie pack you will need 1/2 cup apple juice. No sugar added).
10:00 am Snack: Herbal Tea with 1/2 banana & almond butter or 1 grapefruit or 1/2 avocado with organic cherry tomatoes or small handful nuts with berries (no peanuts or cashews)
12:00 pm 8 oz Fruit Smoothie (Same as above)
3:00 pm Loaded Veggie Salad (with lemon juice spritz & olive oil dressing) or Green Drink
6:30 pm Brown Rice, 1 cup cooked vegetables (sweet potatoes, squash & peppers, or broccolli) & 6 -8 oz white, light fish (if you have an aversion to fish, may substitute organic lean turkey or tofu). Serve with loaded green salad or green drink.
8:00 pm Herbal detox tea OR 8 oz water with 1/2 tsp psyllium husks (start with 1/2 tsp, work up to 1 1/2 tsp if you can tolerate)
9:00 pm 6 -8 oz water prior to bed
Smoothie suggestions:
1/2 c Blueberries, 1/4 c strawberries, 1 kiwi, 1/2 banana, 1/4 c raspberries with 1/2 cup non-fat plain yogurt, sprinkle of stevia powder and 1 tsp flaxmeal.
1/2 c mango, 1/2 pineapple, 1/4 c passion fruit, 1/2 cup non-fat plain yogurt, 1 tsp flaxmeal.
Green/Veggie Drink suggestion:
Kale (about 8 stems), 1 beet, 3carrots, 2 quarters green apple, 6-8 ginger slices, 2 stalks celery
TIPS: Include lots of fresh cleansing veggies like beets, asparagus, fresh ginger. If you absolutely need a dash of salt, make it sea salt!
Detox Precautions & Notes
Friday, April 29th, 2011A few precautions before you begin your 3-Day Detox….
~You may experience cravings, moodiness, a bit of lethargy or feeling slightly “not right” – this is normal to a certain extent as the cleansing is taking place. Drink plenty of water and make sure you are not starving yourself – this is NOT a starvation or liquid diet cleanse.
~Staying hydrated is extremely important, in particular if you are taking psyllium or other fiber supplements/teas during the cleanse. Also, if you are exercising to the point of sweating, taking hot baths or have a demanding job, it is crucial to stay hydrated and supplement with electrolyte water/vitamin or mineral water during the cleanse.
~If possible, take a 3-day break from your normal supplement routine.
~If you are taking medication for any reason, consult with your doctor prior to cleansing.
~If you are hypo or hyper-glycemic, consult with your health care professional prior to cleansing.
~If you are pregnant, nursing or menstruating, do not follow the detox diet at this time.
~If the yoga/movement exercises are too intense or you do not have the proper mat, please do not attempt. Modify or ask for other suggestions.
Good luck and happy cleansing! The SHOPPING LIST is posted, and the DAILY DIET for the 3-Day Detox will be posted Saturday, April 30 and the following 2 days!
3-Day Detox SHOPPING LIST!
Tuesday, April 26th, 2011
Fruits and veggies
Welcome to your 3-Day Detox Diet Planner! This is a great way to cleanse your body and feel totally revitalized, but first you need to get prepared. Two to three days before starting this cleanse (in this case, Thursday prior to the Sunday start date) start reducing intake of heavy foods, meats, alcohol and caffeine from your diet. During this time, whatever you can buy organic, I recommend you do so. Get creative with the fruits & veggies, we want to pack in the nutrients and avoid boredom. The details of how to cleanse will be posted by Friday and I’ll lead the cleanse from Sunday, May 1 – Tuesday, May 3. See the blogs prior to this post for additional cleansing tips and equipment you may need!
FOOD SHOPPING LIST:
Fruits** (bananas, grapefruit, green apples, mangoes, kiwi, blueberries, figs, oranges, raspberries, etc.)
Veggies (broccoli, beets, sugar snap peas, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, kale, bell peppers, lettuce, carrots, etc.)
3-6 Lemons
Brown Rice (short grain preferable)
Nuts (unsalted pistachios, almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans) NO Peanuts
Olive Oil &/or Coconut Oil
No-Fat PLAIN yogurt (I like the thicker, Greek yogurt myself)
Fish (white fish preferable or salmon or tuna)
**To reduce cost and increase ease of preparation, I’ll be using a pre-packaged frozen smoothie by Jamba. They are super easy to make and contain a variety of fruits with a bit of yogurt, so you can eliminate chopping and cleaning fruit before making smoothies! Store locator and product info is on Jamba’s site. Will require juice.
SUPPLEMENT SHOPPING LIST:
Psyllium Husks (ground)**
Epsom salts (if you have a bath tub)
Flaxseed Oil or flax meal (I use Forti-Flax by Barlean’s)
Herbal Teas (and/or natural coffee substitutes) – See below–
**If you want to use herbal colon/detox elimination teas in the evening, do not take psyllium husks during the cleanse. You may do one or the other. Some of the detox teas that are recommended may include licorice, red clover, dandelion, chamomile, mullein and a variety colon cleansing herbs such as senna. Use as directed and with caution, along with ample water.
Filtered Water
**If you are extremely active &/or participating in sports/yoga during the cleanse, I recommend a good energy elixir like YogaEarth pre/post exercise elixirs. They are easy to mix, fortify your body with nutrients and keep your energy up! At the least, with heavy activity, make sure you are hydrated and don’t overdo it during the cleanse. Coconut water is a great way to replenish your body as well.
ELIMINATE:Coffee, caffeinated and fizzy drinks
Sugar, chocolate (my addiction!),
Breads, pasta or other yeast or gluten products
White rice, potatoes, crackers
Dairy (with the exception listed)
Fast food & fatty food
Alcohol
All meats (fish listed ok)
If you have any questions, please leave a comment so I can address them for all to see. I will post the How-To Cleanse along with meal suggestions, pictures and cleansing yoga moves by Friday!
I’m excited – let’s do this!
3-Day Detox Prep Step 1
Sunday, April 24th, 2011The cleanse is coming, the cleanse is coming! On May 1, I’m going to lead a 3-Day Detox so we have 1 week to prepare. The Shopping List will be posted by Tuesday morning, so check back to allow time to get the goodies! This cleanse won’t break the bank, no worries.
Below are some items you want to get together (either borrow or buy if you don’t have) and pre-cleanse healthy living tips. As mentioned, this spring cleanse involves some movement (basic yoga type) exercises that will assist in the detox process. I’ll be walking you through the daily diet and movement regime with pictures, food ideas and inspiration. It’s going to be a great 3-Day rejuvenation for your body, mind and spirit. Join us!
1 – Blender (or food processor)
2 – Exercise mat. I prefer a good yoga mat (if you’ve been wanting to buy a mat, now’s a perfect time! Manduka’s eKO Mat For the same price as at target $39 you can get a great quality mat that will support your body and keep you safe!)
3 – Loofah, dry skin brush or sugar salt body scrub
4 – Juicer (optimal but not necessary)
That’s it! The food and supplement list will be posted by Tuesday.
2-3 days prior to the cleanse, begin to reduce your meat, coffee, alcohol and sugar intake. We want to be gentle to our bodies and allow time to purge the toxins.
Of course, if you can’t start the cleanse on Sunday, May 1, do it at your leisure but we would all love your support!
It’s that time of year!
Friday, April 8th, 2011Couple of new things to kick off the spring! It’s that time of year to do a cleanse, and I’m hosting a 3-Day Detox in early May! Last year’s 2-week spring cleanse was so popular and we have even more asking for a shorter version (imagnine that!) so here we go. I’ll be posting everything you’ll need for the detox starting April 15th so you’ll have time to get it together. This year, we’re also going to be adding “movement” to assure a body that is strong, lean and purged of that icky winter weight and toxins. So if you’ve been wanting to detox and want some support, find it here!
Two new giveaways coming your way: April’s prize is a generous gift package from FruitFast’s CherryFlex. The winner will receive pure cherry juices, supplements and fruit bars from the country’s finest! This stuff is amazing for your health, especially your heart and joints!
In May, we’ve got a great giveaway from Manduka Yoga Mats!
To get a chance to win, simply sign up for my newsletter, Sage Advice (right side bar on homepage).
Looking forward to cleansing with you!
Are you throwing money away with the supplements you choose?
Thursday, February 10th, 2011No one wants to throw away money. Let’s face it, during these times we have to ask ourselves with each purchase, “Is it worth it?” When it comes to living a healthy & organic lifestyle, there are a lot of unknowns about the products on the shelves and we’re tempted by price alone. But, is it wise to go cheap for supplements? Are you throwing your precious paycheck away?
I recently compared 2 products in a popular category: Fish oil supplements. Fish oil supplies necessary Omega-3’s, DHA and good fats that your body and brain need. These oils have been shown to prevent coronary heart disease, increase good cholesterol, reduce inflammation, reduce pains associated with arthritis, reduce the risk of developing macular degeneration, help prevent Alzheimer’s, help develop health brains, better sleep and so much more. So, I have 2 questions for you. 1. Why would you NOT add fish oil to your diet? 2. Why would you skimp on the quality of the product?
The 2 products I compared both make similar claims on the label. Heart healthy, immune support, great taste and fish from a purified source. The price difference? About $25-$30 dollars per bottle. What’s the difference? I’ll let you decide. Please, as I always ask, if you don’t understand some of the words below, take a minute to research them.
Product 1: $12.99 (approx)
Provides (in 2 softgels):
Omega-3 (EPA) 488 mg
Omega-3 (DHA) 178 mg
Other Omega-3 fatty acids 54 mg
Ingredients: Fish (Anchovy, Sardine) and Soy. May also contain (so I’m sure it does) Methacrylic Acid Copolymer, Triethyl Citrate, Polysorbate 80, Propylene Glycol, Ethylcellulose, Ammonium Hydroxide, Medium Chain Triglycerides, Oleic Acid, Sodium Alginate, Stearic Acid, Talc.
Product 2: $39.99 (approx)
Provides (in 2 softgels):
Omega-3 (EPA) 650 mg
Omega-3 (DHA) 450 mg
Other Omega-3s 180 mg
Ingredients: Purified Deep Sea Fish Oil (from anchovies and sardines) natural lemon oil, d-alpha tocopherol, rosemary extract.
They both are in a gelatin capsule, I did not list those ingredients.
Obviously, if you like more “stuff” in your product, (you think you’re getting a bargain by paying less for more?) then you’d opt for product one. If you don’t know what you spend your money on, it may seem like a great deal. Again, I ask you to check out that ingredient list in a dictionary. If, however, you want a pure, clean product that contains more of what you are paying for (the fish oil), then it seems wise to go ahead and spend the $27.00 and avoid the not-so-healthy ingredients product one.
As a consumer, it’s up to you to read the labels. I know it’s hard to decipher some of those words and compounds, but when you are spending money on the health of yourself, your child or family member, it’s worth the time to get educated and essentially stop throwing your money in the trash can for a product with big claims, and, big misconceptions.
Warm & Fat?
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011
I just read an article (sourced below) about how raising the temperatures in our homes may be adding to the obesity problem in our society. Now, I see the premise here, but come on. Are we really spending dollars on this kind of research to find exterior reasons for the steady rise in jean sizes? Yes, it’s true that when your body is at a resting state, your metabolism may work harder (faster) in chillier climates. (65 degrees in the 80’s was the norm vs. 67ish now). But really – are we going to blame a mediocre temperature of 67-68 degrees for our fatness? When are we going to take an ounce of responsibilities for their health? When are we going to demand our food companies provide acceptable foods? We are fat for 2 reasons. Laziness and poor choices.
We have become lazy, period. Most of us don’t know what ‘labor’ is any more. And unfortunately, many people with ‘labor’ jobs are making wages that don’t afford real food. They eat out of plastic wrappers and cardboard boxes. We cuddle up to our computers/ipads/tv’s instead of getting outdoors in the fresh air and sun to move our bodies. We sit in chairs all day, don’t go to the gym, we eat crap food from crap companies that process it. We are addicted, lazy people.
It’s not all our fault though. Prices are cheaper for crap food. This is the fault of our businesses and frankly, the government. Companies put chemicals, addictive substances and sugars of the worst sort in a processor, package it real fancy and call it food. And, they get away with it, even getting approved by our FDA. The taste buds (and wallets) get hooked. Then the body feels like the same crap that it just ate and can’t muster the energy to take a long walk or hit the weights. The vicous fat cycle has begun.
If you want to not be fat, don’t turn down the thermostat, eat natural food & move your body. Eat fresh, live and untampered food. Stop giving your money to large companies that make false claims on colorful boxes. And if you love to eat like I do, eat all of the real food you want and I bet you won’t get fat. Dates, figs, lean poultry, farm-fresh eggs, cocoa, wild fish, asparagus, brown rice, the list is long..
If you turn down your house heat to try to loose weight without eating a healthy and natural diet, fat chance. You may save 50 cents on your bill, but otherwise you’ll probably just be cold.
Article source: http://bodyodd.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/01/26/5917711-turn-down-the-thermostat-your-heater-may-be-making-you-fat
Radio Interview – Sexy Secrets for Radiant Beauty
Thursday, October 14th, 2010In case you missed the live radio interview yesterday, you can still tune-in and hear me talk with host Brad King (author, Beer Belly Blues, Fat Wars) talk about sex, health, beer bellies and beauty! Click http://www.voiceamerica.com/voiceamerica/vepisode.aspx?aid=49341
to listen to a fun-filled hour of straight talk about what women need for a healthy, happy life.
It’s a new organic lifestyle trend, full of easy, healthy living tips you will love to have!
Leah Guy is a Producer, TV Host, Writer and passionista for inspired, lifestyle content. In 2006 she created A Girl Named Guy Productions and hasn’t slept since. 
A Girl Named Guy Productions is a multi-media company that serves a variety of audiences. Who's On Deck is a new celebrity TV Show produced by the company and Modern Sage is a site geared toward women's wellness. Creator & CEO, Leah Guy, launched the company in 2006 with a goal to meet the demand for positive, inspired content for the mainstream audience. AGNG produces videos, 
