This Blog has Moved!

Hi there.

If you are here you must be curious about me, my business, or at least something I've written about.

This blog has moved because I have integrated it with my website. 

Why?

I started this blog a long time ago - before I even thought of creating another business. In fact, if you would have told me when I started this blog that by 2012 I would be a full-time health coach I would have said you were full of, well, let's just say baloney.

I used to own a business that I hated and I used to swear that I would NEVER own another one. Never say never. Ha! 

I LOVE health coaching. It rocks! I get to help people feel better, look better and have energetic fulfilled lives that they love. Doesn't get better than that.

I hope you check me out at http://health-harvest.com/.

My blog is there. . . with lots of new entries.

Have an amazing day!

XO

Tamara

Creating Optimal Health

What would our lives be like if we had optimal health? 

What that looks like for each of us is different. For me it is being in a body that strong enough to climb a mountain, healthy enough to stay well year-around and flexible enough to have no problem getting to the back corner of the cupboard under the kitchen sink. 


The research that I’ve done over the fall and winter on optimal health and wellness leads me to believe that it is possible to live in a body that is vibrant, strong, flexible and disease-free; to inhabit it with great joy, a sense of purpose and caring for self and others. And to have this body exist in an environment that is nurturing, enlivening and supportive. I am ready for that.


How to create health is no longer a mystery. The answers are available and easy to implement. So why not go there? 


Why not create Optimal Health? 


Deepak Chopra says that our bodies are a process not a structure. He says that, at the atomic level, our bodies are changing all the time and, after a year, our body has completely regenerated itself.  Our stomachs recycle every five days, our skin replaces itself once a month, and our skeletons renew themselves once every three months. Yes, our entire skeletons. Fascinating! Here is a link to a YouTube video where Deepak explains the concept that We Are Not Our Bodies. 


There is a woman named Dr. Terry Wahls who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2000. Even though she took the latest in medicines and got the best medical care, by 2003 she was wheel-chair-bound and getting worse. She did a lot of research on the brain and disease to try to figure out how to save herself and then healed herself completely be eating vegetables, fruits and certain other foods. Her story is absolutely fascinating and you can see it yourself in this TedX talk called Minding Your Mitochondria. 


There are certain people in my industry that I consider holistic health rock stars. Dr. Joel Fuhrman is one of them. He released a book last November called Super Immunity, which I highly recommend. In the book, he explains that eating the right nutrient-dense vegetables and fruit can create a level of health where we never catch a cold or flu, and if we do, it lasts a very short time. And, the best part, we can dramatically lower our risk of ending up with all of the major lifestyle diseases including heart disease, sugar diabetes and cancer. 


For me, the common thread in all this information is the insight into how, through smart nutrition and lifestyle choices, we can optimize both our mental and physical health. Literally, over time, we can create a completely different, healthier version of ourselves. 


I will be 49 in February and I’m going to give myself a gift this year that is actually for my 50th birthday:  the gift of my own version of Optimal Health. I am going to spend the next year creating the 2013 model-year of my body. I’m betting it will be stronger, healthier, happier and younger than the 2012 model. 


The best part is, I will be sharing the entire process with you! 


This is a long article. If you are still reading, you are one of the people who really care about your health. I bet some of your friends might even refer to you as a health nut. Good for you! I want you to join me on this journey. Together, we will create a support structure so that we can not only meet our goals, but also exceed our wildest expectations!


The party starts this week! 


Please join me on Tuesday evening, at 6:30 p.m. PST – 9:30 p.m. EST, for a free 30-minute teleseminar called Optimal Winter Wellness. On this call I will offer the best advice I’ve found for staying healthy all winter long. If you already have a cold, that’s an even better reason to join the call, because the tips I’ll be offering will measurably shorten the duration of any cold or flu. 


Sign up here. 


This is only the beginning. 


Over the next year, I will offer a no-cost teleseminar once each month, always on the 3rd Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. PST - 9:30 p.m. EST, on a different aspect of Optimal Wellness. I will also offer practical tips and ways to integrate the information into your life. 


Soon, I will be sending out the details on how you can join me for the first in a series of programs that have the potential to increase our individual wellness, no matter how healthy we are today, to an optimal level and sustain that level for the rest of our lives. 


Please RSVP for Tuesday evening’s Optimal Winter Wellness teleseminar by filling out the form below. After you RSVP, you will receive an email with the call-in information. 


Sign up here.


If you know other health nuts, or even just regular folk who might convert, you are welcome to share this email with them so they can register, also! 


I look forward to hearing your voice on the call this Tuesday! 


Have a wonderful, healthy day.


XO 

Your Optimal Health Coach

Happy New Year, Everyone!

Hard to believe it’s the 7^th of January already! I am writing because I want to share with you what I’ve been up to during the time between Christmas and New Years. I spent the time planning my 2012 – and I want to share the exciting news with you! 


The Health Harvest mission, this year, is to use the latest digital technology, web-based communications, group events and individual coaching to empower people, with a focus on entrepreneurs, to create optimal health through simple, effective and sustainable nutrition and lifestyle changes. By offering fun, informative and honest programming Health Harvest will enable more than 10,000 people to create measurable improvements in their overall health in 2012.

Yes, I am going to show 10,000++ people how to create their own Optimal Health!

Here’s how I’m going to reach my goal:

• Growing Your Health - a monthly 30-minute teleseminar on different aspects of holistic wellness. The first teleseminar is on Tuesday, January 17^th at 6:30 p.m. PST and the topic is Optimal Nutrition – nutrition that will keep you well through flu season and beyond

• A new website! I’m thrilled to say that my new website is in development.  There will be recipes, free information and lots of health-related goodness. So exciting! My fingers are crossed for a February 1^st launch. I can't wait to share this new site with you! 

• As a jumpstart for your health (and a way to kick food cravings and lose a few pounds) I will continue to offer the 7-Day Chinese Herbal Cleanse once each month beginning on the 1^st Friday and ending the following Thursday. I will announce a new pricing structure soon that will take effect in February. As you have heard, this detox is a no-suffering, eating-lots-of-food, health-enhancing miracle – and it only takes 7 days. I hope you’ll take advantage of it!

• Co-author a book entitled Entrepreneur Extraordinaire. I have submitted my chapter, which is on optimal health, and it’s been accepted! The book will be printed and available some time in March.

• An Optimal Health Group! This group is only for those who are serious about pushing their overall health and wellness through the roof. I will present an informative webinar and facilitate a digital open forum once a month.

• I will offer this group at no cost for a couple of months to get the bugs worked out and then charge a small monthly fee. Participants will be able to come and go as they please and pay only for the months when they wish to participate.

• There will be guest speakers, the latest holistic health information, a private Facebook page and lots of FUN!
  If you want to get in on the two free months, let me know and I’ll put you on the list. You’ll get all the details in February and this program will launch in March.

• I will continue to provide my Premium Six Month Personal Coaching Program. This year, in order to provide the best coaching possible, I’ll only be taking on a small number of private clients. If you are ready to meet or exceed your health and wellness goals and spend the rest of your life feeling great, and you know you will need support to make it happen, please consider me as your health coach. 

• In early summer I will be offering a webinar series especially for women – Loving your Libido. Yes, I have some fabulous libido-building secrets and I’m going to share them all with you! The info on this series will come your way in April and the six-part webinar series will start in June. You won’t want to miss this one

• I will continue to speak about health and wellness to groups and organizations. I love speaking and it’s a great way for me to reach a lot of people all at once. Please use me as a resource if you have a group that would benefit from learning simple ways to increase their health. I usually do these at no cost to the organization.

My favorite topics are:

• Lower Your Stress, Without Changing Your Life
• Eating for Optimal Immunity
• Optimal Health for Busy Entrepreneurs

Believe it or not, that’s not all! There are even more exciting happenings in the works and I’ll keep you informed as they jell.

We have an exciting year ahead of us! Let’s get started!

XO

PS - The pic is me this morning at the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market picking up some Racho Gordo beans. They are the best! They have a bunch of different heirloom beans. I've tried quite a few and every batch has been fabulous. The beans are so fresh that you don't need to soak them. I usually soak them for 24 hours anyway so they sprout and lose their acidity. Beans are the unsung health food. They are full of micro-nutrients, protein and fiber! 

Optimal Winter Wellness

I have a confession. I have been sick. Recently. In fact, the whole thing just wrapped up on Thursday. I’m a health coach; I’m not supposed to get sick. How embarrassing.  I was so hoping to get through the winter without getting sick. Bummer. How did this happen? Here’s how. The way it happens to everybody!

Before I left for Oregon to visit family for the holiday I had some deadlines so I was stressed and worked extra hours, not getting enough rest. Then, while I was there, instead of eating the nutrient-dense food that I am used to, I ate more meat and carbs than I usually do. On Thanksgiving, because the hors de oeuvres were so good, I was already full by the time the dinner was served, so, even though I took tiny portions, I overate.

Add to that a long walk on the cold windy beach with no hat on Friday and – bang – I woke up on Saturday with a cold.

Criminy!

I do know how to stay well during flu season, and I got into action to make myself better the second I got home. I’m feeling great now and my cold only lasted FIVE DAYS!

Here are the three most important things I did – that you can easily do, also - that fixed my cold FAST. And, the best part is, done consistently, these things will keep you well ALL WINTER. . .

I got right back to eating nutrient-dense food.

Vegetables and fruit that are all the colors of the rainbow, with a focus on dark green, keep you well. There are now studies that prove it. I eat at least four or five servings of vegetables each day. I eat primarily onions, carrots, broccoli, spinach, mushrooms, lettuce and kale. Because of my level of busi-ness, I keep it simple, except on Sundays when I take time to cook, but that's a different blog post. 

Preparing food doesn’t have to be complicated. You, too, can keep it simple if you like.

Here’s an easy recipe:

1 or 2 carrots

1 onion

6 or 8 mushrooms

1 small head of broccoli

- all organic if possible –

1 container of no-chicken chicken broth

Put ¾ of the container of broth in a pan, cut up the veggies. Throw it all in the broth except the broccoli. Let it boil for 15 or 20 minutes. While it’s boiling, eat the broccoli as a snack.

Voila! 3 large portions of soup in less than 30 minutes! Eat as much as you like. Eat the rest the next day.

I took a natural remedy that WORKS.

When I got home I immediately took a tablespoon of elderberry syrup. Scientists are now studying the stuff and preliminary studies show that elderberry concentrate enhances the body’s defense against viral infections, particularly influenza. It also helps shorten the duration of symptoms once you are already ill. It does this by inhibiting the adhesion of the invading virus to cell receptors, which keeps it from replicating, which lessens both the length and intensity of the illness. Plus elderberry syrup is high in antioxidants. 

I rested and took good care of myself.

I also made sure that I got an extra hour of rest each night until I was better. Our bodies work hard all day to keep us well and when we have a virus, they have to work even harder. An hour or two of extra rest, and I do mean sleep, helps us recover from illness faster.

Each evening before bed I took a warm bath. I am a big fan of warm baths. They just make me feel better no matter what. I usually use some sort of calming or relaxing aromatherapy oil. Just laying back in the warm water, breathing the moist air and allowing my body to totally relax feel so good - a boost for both my body and sprit. 

So there you have it! The three things I did to get better fast. You can do them, too. Take good care of yourself this winter. I don’t have time to be super-sick and I’m sure you don’t either!

Happy Winter!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving. May the holiday leave you feeling healthy, loved and energized!
I love this time of year. Even though I like the long days of summer best, I do appreciate the seasonal shift, the way the light looks different and even the shorter days. Makes me want to curl up in a blanket on the coach and read a good mindless work of fiction. And, even though that's not going to happen this year, I still have a lot to be thankful for.

I'm so grateful to have my career as a health coach. The training I received from the
Institute for Integrative Nutrition has allowed me to improve my eating, see the connection between what I eat and how I feel, and to also examine the Primary Nutrition in my life: my relationships, exercise, spirituality and career and to see how improvements in those areas increase my overall health. What a fascinating journey. As I continue to peel away the "layers of the onion" of my health and wellness, I'll keep you informed.

I'm also thankful for my family and friends. My children, now grown, are a constant source of joy and my grandson (yes, I'm a Grandma) is just a blast! My significant other provides a continuous supply of encouragement, not to mention graphic design assistance and errand running. I am also blessed with a large group of supportive, fun and inspirational friends, both near and far. Support and inspiration is just a phone call or coffee date away. Life is good.
And, I am grateful for you. I appreciate that you take the time to read, or at least skim, the newsletters that I send, attend my teleclasses, cleanse with my cleanse groups and trust in me as your health and wellness advisor and coach. It means the world to me to serve others by helping them meet and exceed their health and wellness goals. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to fulfill my soul purpose each day.

I hope that you will take a few minutes, or maybe even an hour (!), to sit and reflect on the things and people in your life that you are grateful for this Thanksgiving.

Have a wonderful holiday!

Getting Your Vitamin L

This is a guest post by Integrative Nutrition. 

Happy Valentine's Day and a Big Hug!

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Integrative Nutrition

February, the “month of love,” is here.  It’s the time every year we are reminded to recognize and celebrate the love in our lives. We mark our calendar and give flowers, chocolates and cards. 

We’ve made Valentine’s Day the big day, however we need to give and receive love all the time, not just on that one particular day. At Integrative Nutrition, we feel passionately about the importance of healthy relationships. We like to call this Vitamin L (the ‘L’ stands for love!). Getting a daily dose of Vitamin L is essential to living happier, healthier lives.  Vitamin L comes in many forms and isn’t just about romantic love between two people. It can be love for ourselves, or a particular practice of self-care. Vitamin L can come in the shape of  our partners, our pets, our kids or parents.  Love is food for the soul and heart; it nourishes body, mind, and spirit for optimal wellbeing.

How do you get your Vitamin L? To celebrate the month of love and all of the different ways love can exist in our lives, we are having a fun contest.  It’s easy, just show us how you get your daily dose of Vitamin L by submitting a picture. You could win a gift certificate to SoLove Self-Care.  Help us inspire others to get a daily dose of Vitamin L!

Find our more about the Vitamin L Contest here.

11 Healthy Ideas for 2011

Happy New Year!

For the new year, I want to share with you a list of simple ways to improve your health. Try the one that seems like a good idea, or try them all. Sometimes the smallest changes make the difference between feeling good and feeling great!


1. Drink more water.
Simple and heathful. Drink two or three extra glasses of water early in the day. Filtered is best. The human body is about 60% water in adult males and 55% in adult females (thanks, Wikipedia). More fresh water will increase your energy and help your body function better.

2. Take a walk.
We were made to move. Walk to work, to the store or just around the block a couple times. Park farther from work. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk with co-workers at lunch. Walk with friends. Take a walk for entertainment. Look around. It's fun!

3. Eat a new green vegetable.
There are lots to choose from. Try a new one. You might fall in love. Fresh spinach, kale, collard greens, dandelion greens, beat greens, chard, cabbage, etc. There are lots to try and recipes are easy to find - go green!

4. Shop at a farmers' market.
A great way to support your local economy, make some farmer friends and improve your health at the same time. High quality fresh food has everything your body needs.

5. Care for yourself.
Try a new self-care idea. Snuggle with a water bottle. Give yourself a hot towel scrub. Try a tongue scraper. Enjoy a warm relaxing bath with essential oils that smell good to you. Invigorate at the end of your shower with a cool rinse (this is not as chilling as it sounds). Take a belly-dance class. Sing!

6. Make simple food.
Home-cooked simple food is great for our bodies. Brown rice and veggies really only takes 15 minutes of pre-time. 10 for veggie washing and chopping, 5 to get the rice started and finished. Just set the timer. No need to stand in the kitchen while the rice cooks. Season with your favorite seasonings. A good resource: Simple Food for Busy Families. Buy it locally - this link is just so you can see the cover.

7. Step into the sun.
Warm sun on the skin creates vitamin D. Vitamin D protects against osteoporosis, heart disease, breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer. Just 15 minutes on your bare arms and face each day in the summer or 2000 IUs of a high-quality supplement in the winter is all you need. Sunlight also helps protect against depression, insomnia  and helps regulate the immune system.

8. Try a super-food.
Cacao or Raw Chocolate - highest anti-oxidant food on the planet, known as the "bliss chemical", Goji Berries - This superfood contains 18 kinds of amino acids, including all 8 essential amino acids, Spirulina - the world's highest source of complete protein (65%), Raw Honey - rich in minerals, antioxidants, probiotics, and enzymes, Sea Vegetables - the most common is nori (the green sushi wrapper) seaweeds benefit the entire body, and are especially excellent for the thyroid, immune system, adrenals, and hormone function.

9. Sit quietly.
At the beginning or ending of the day, sit and concentrate on your breathing. Let you mind be empty. Relax. Connect with yourself. Don't do. Just be. For 5 minutes or 30 minutes. After all, we are human "be"ings, right? If you want to try something a little more formal, here are some choices.

10. Eat colorful food.
Beets, carrots, yams, kale, berries. Colorful food is nutrient dense and good for you. Raw or cooked, it's your best bang for the buck. Enjoy some!

11. Sleep better and longer.
Sleep is important. The body mends itself while you rest. Darken your sleeping space, or try a sleeping mask. Move the clock radio across the room and away from your head. Drink water early in the day so you don't have to wake up to pee. Avoid caffeine in the afternoon. Avoid alcohol just prior to bed time. Don't eat anything within three hours of bed time. Keep stimulation to a minimum for an hour before you plan to sleep. Take a warm bath before bed, or warm your toes with a hot water bottle. Go to bed early enough that you don't need to use an alarm to wake on time. Rest well.

Here's to YOUR health and happiness!