My Paint Nite creation from November 2015

1. I’ve rediscovered my love of creating. When I was a child, I did all things creative. I would spend HOURS in my basement painting, drawing, creating. I even painted the table I worked on 4 or 5 times with different scenes. My art time was my saviour. Throughout high school (and university as well), they kind of beat the creative out of you, and I lost touch with my love. Recently I’ve just been letting myself create- including going to Paint Nite. Have you heard of this? It’s some amazing shit where you pick from (literally tons) of ‘paint nites’ in your area for a picture you like. You go to a restaurant, and drink, eat and learn to paint. It’s bloody fantastic. Even as I’m writing this I’ll be heading out in a few hours to my second one.
2. The holidays are getting me down, to tell you the truth. I’m missing my grandmother, who passed away from cancer in the spring. While I’m excited about it, because of the great (mostly healthy) food, and time with family- grieving while celebrating is kind of a mind fuck. It is absolutely NOT stopping me from wearing my many (mostly cat-themed) Christmas T-shirts! I’m a festive cat-loving nerd. And that’s awesome.
   

   On my mat, at the studio. Ahhh…

3. My goals for next year are getting me super excited. You’re hearing it here first- one of my big goals is to practice yoga every. damn. day. For the whole year! 365 days of yoga, 365 days of saying YES! to me. Some other goals for myself are to learn the art of Fencing (already signed up), eat more sprouts (yum) and to blog more. So look out for that.
4. My hair is always a source of concern for me. Having PCOS, hair loss is something I face daily. While I mostly have a handle on it, when my life gets too stressful, I tend to show it in falling hair. This being a really weird, grieving holiday season for me- my hair is unhappy. For a long time I stopped colouring it, and have kept it short, thinking this is what’s best for hair. TOO fucking bad. I’m sick of living in fear, or feeling held back from my hair. So I dyed it, for the first time in over a year. It feels great! I will not allow my hair to bring me down. My hair brings me joy. I feel happy and confident in my hair.

What are your goals for 2016? Will you be pushing your boundaries for growth and transformation?

• Hormonal Imbalance
• Dysbiosis (improper gut bacteria)
• Toxicity
• Nutrient Deficiency (think B6)
• Food Sensitivities
• Low Stomach Acid (HCl)
• Leaky Gut
• Candida (Yeast) Overgrowth
• Parasites
• And the list goes on. . .

Lemon

Cucumber

Chia Seeds

Apple Cider Vinegar

Salmon

Green Shit

Avocados

Salmon with Avocado Lemon Sauce and Sautéed Greens

2015-12-03 11:04:57

Serves 4

A scrumptious and nourishing meal for excellent digestion and hormonal balance.

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Prep Time

15 min

Cook Time

20 min

Prep Time

15 min

Cook Time

20 min

For the salmon

1. Four 4-oz fillets of salmon, deboned
2. 2 tbsp olive oil
3. Salt and pepper to taste

For the sauce

1. 2 avocados, pitted
2. 1 tbsp fresh dill
3. 1 tbsp fresh parsley
4. 2-3 green onions (scallions)
5. juice and zest of one lemon
6. water or broth to thin
7. 1-2 tsp coconut aminos or gluten-free tamari
8. 1/2 tsp garlic powder
9. 1-2 anchovies fillets (optional)
10. salt and pepper to taste
11. 1/2 tsp onion powder

For the greens

1. 4-6 cups spinach, or a few leaves of kale or collard greens per person
2. 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
3. 1 tbsp coconut oil
4. lemon juice (optional) (I like to use raw apple cider vinegar with kale)
5. salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper, and place the salmon filets on the sheet. Sprinkle with olive oil and salt and pepper. Put in the oven and roast until cooked through, about 20-25 minutes (depending on your oven + fish thickness).
2. Meanwhile, make the sauce. In a blender, place all ingredients avocados through onion powder. Blend until smooth. Add water or broth throughout to achieved desired consistency (I like mine on the thin side).
3. During the last 5-7 minutes of the salmon cooking, make the spinach/greens. Heat a pan over medium heat with coconut oil until hot. Throw in garlic, and sauté 1-2 minutes- but don’t burn! Then add spinach or other greens and continually stir until all spinach is wilted and bright green. If it starts to take on the colour of those yucky canned green beans you’ve cooked it too long! Just before serving, add lemon juice is using and salt and pepper.
4. Take out salmon once cooked and flaking easily. Serve on top of spinach drizzled with avocado sauce.

Notes

1. NOTE: I used a mixture of collard greens and rapini in the picture. Use extra avocado sauce on any proteins of choice, as a salad dressing, veggies dip or sandwich spread.

By Robyn Srigley

The Hormone Diva https://thehormonediva.com/

Hi, 

I just weaned my third child cold turkey at 15 months because of herpes on my nipples. Let’s say birth pains are nice compared to that stuff going on… Now i have some serious hormone fog going. I am extremely moody, irritable and easily angry. I feel tired too. I know that one can get similar symptoms like post part depression after weaning… From my experience it will all be fine once my period starts but that can take 3 months from now like my former weaning experiences… my question is do you know anything that could help my body adjust quicker…? Basically I want to help my hormones get back to normal. I suppose I need to get rid of excess prolactin and oxytocin and get higher levels of estrogen. Now that I wrote it I should probably just have lots of sex,… No serious, any ideas? – Lydia F.

• Pelvic floor muscle damage
• Fatigue and muscle strain
• Rapidly shifting hormone environment
• Stressed out adrenal glands
• Nutrient deficiencies: possibly Folate (B9), Vitamin B12, Calcium, Iron, Selenium, Zinc, Omega-3s
• Sex hormone drop after birth- both estrogen and progesterone

Foods

• Gut healing: bone broth, grass-fed collagen protein powder, organ meats (especially liver)
• Vitamin C foods for tissue repair + adrenal (stress) health: citrus, strawberries, rose hips, leafy greens
• Zinc foods for immune and mood balance: pecans, seame seeds, cashews, dates, flax, oyserts, cacao, crab, poppy seeds, beef, eggs
• Omega 3 foods for inflammation and mood balance: fish of all kinds (especially fatty fish like salmon and sardines), GRASS-FED beef, eggs
• Balance of protein, fat and carbs with EVERY meal- avocados, collagen protein powders, healthy meats/fish, coconut products, nuts/seeds- avoid processed grains (products using flours, even if GF), as many green vegetables as you can eat

Detoxification

• Primarily eat organic foods- with as much green as possible
• Include gentle exercise- yoga, pilates, barre classes, gentle strengthening with bodyweight or exercise bands
• Be mindful and practice stress reducing techniques like meditation or yoga
• Herbs- milk thistle is very helpful, and even safe while breastfeeding- it helps to repair/regenerate liver cells for proper hormone metabolism + mood balance

Stress Reduction

• Get help/support with your baby whenever possible. Have others cook, do laundry and run errands so you can rest.
• Meditation/deep breathing/yoga
• LOTS of sleep- whenever you can, even if it’s short naps
• Monitor hydration – aim for your bodyweight in ounces of water per day
• Implement a laptop curfew (no technology 2 hours before bed), stick to a bedtime routine, sleep in complete darkness 
• Cognitive behaviourial therapy has been shown helpful for mood issues after baby
• Regular sex- you are absolutely right that sex is important! Have it as often as possible to restore hormonal balance, reduce stress and encourage proper vaginal tissue tone

Bring Back Your Period

• There is some evidence that parsley tea can be helpful in bringing on a missing period. Assuming no kidney issues or possibility of pregnancy, 3-4 cups daily can be consumed.
• Reduce stress as much as possible with the suggestions above
• Blood sugar balance- your ovaries have a very finicky relationship with blood sugar, and having too many dips and spikes (from poor diet) will prevent a period (and ovulation) from happening
• Cinnamon and/or ginger daily. Both help to increase blood flow and reduce stagnation in the reproductive system. They can be consumed as tea, powder used in cooking or you can try capsules.

Supplements

• The nutrient deficiencies mentioned at the beginning- you may want to supplement and focus on foods with these nutrients
• Parsley tea, up to 3-4 cups daily
• Cinnamon and ginger, as tea, used in food or capsules
• Turmeric- for inflammation, also very helpful for mild depression (1000mg per day)

Detoxing and cleansing have been (and are!) very hot topics. Everyone wants to detox the gunk out of their body, often in the hopes of weight loss, glowing skin and increased energy. You may be wondering: Why doesn’t this happen when I try it?

I hear you- I’ve been there. Over the years I’ve tried many different types of cleanses, including:

• Mono diet (I ate nothing but apples for a whole day)
• 10 bottles of supplements detoxes
• Whole foods detoxes
• Smoothie-only cleansing
• And others. . .

My problem with the majority of these programs (save the whole foods cleanses) is that they just don’t work. I feel like shit for the entire time, don’t lose any weight, feel irritable and like I want to scratch my (or someone else’s) eyes out. Not conducive to transformation. Not conducive to happiness. Being grouchy and hungry doesn’t make me happy- it makes me grouchy and hungry.

Did you feel these symptoms on your last detox? Or did hearing about these symptoms stop you from trying a detox? There are a whole host of symptoms people experience on improperly designed cleansing programs. There’s nothing inherently wrong with cleansing, and in fact I wouldn’t be where I am today with my health without them- BUT it shouldn’t feel like punishment. It should be a fun, reflective + transformative ride.

It shouldn’t feel like this:

1. Aching or stiff joints and muscles
2. Excessive skin breakouts
3. Life-interfering fatigue
4. Family-scaring mood swings
5. Crying, and crying and crying (unless you need to release some shit)
6. Libido – what’s that?
7. I’M SO HUNGRY
8. Body betrayal
9. Mind feeling like a foggy night in a horror movie
10. I wish I could eat a whole tub of ice cream right now. . .and spoon it with potato chips. . .

It should feel like this:

1. Couple days of mild fatigue or headaches (especially with caffeine withdrawal)
2. Being a ball of energy
3. Feeling grounded, calm and content
4. Radiant joy
5. Dessert love no longer overcomes me (no willpower needed)
6. Clothes fitting better
7. Sleeping like a baby
8. WOW I’m a sexy lady
9. Green shit makes me feel great- and now I WANT to eat green shit
10. It’s a fishnet, push-up bra kind of sexy time with significant other
11. Aha. . .now I understand my body and how to nourish it
12. Give the big round belly back to the pregnant ladies
13. Release of weight that no longer serves you

So how do you know if your program is doing it right?

3 Ways To Do It Right

1. Open The Doors

In your body, there are several emunctories, or ‘doors’ of elimination for toxins and waste to get out. They are:

• Bowels/colon
• Skin/sweat
• Lymphatic system
• Kidneys/urine
• Menstrual blood – unique to YOU as a woman, an extra monthly release
• Lungs/breath
• Liver

For proper and complete cleansing, all of these areas must be open channels for elimination. Unfortunately, we live in a toxic world and many of us are consuming and using toxic foods and products every day. These things all add up to sluggish emunctories. They get gunked up, and you get sick. Your detox program should encompass all emunctories, like opening the kidneys with water and greens, loving the liver with cruciferous vegetables, and glowing that skin with sweaty practices.

2. Set Your Intention/Big WHY

Why do you want to detox? Because it’s trendy? Because you feel horrible? Because your friend asked you? Any good detox program won’t just focus on the food you stuff in your gob, but also your mindset. In my opinion, mindset is 80% of what’s needed for healing.

You must detox your mind as well as your body. Well-rounded detox programs will guide you through this process so you understand the real reason that you want to cleanse. This will keep you 100% focused and primed for lasting transformation- not intermittent change.

3. PREP

Whole food detox programs often involve more cooking and food preparation than you’re used to. Prepping as much food ahead of time as possible will help you sail through the process, not to mention the money you’ll save by not purchasing stuff you don’t need. Cut your veggies up, mix a salad, make some smoothie packs or a big pot of nourishing soup. Then go about your business, grabbing these items as needed for your meals. 

Remember, you DON’T have to suffer. The programs you’ve done in the past failed you– you didn’t fail them. Inhale the future, exhale the past.