Often times clients will ask me how they know when they're "there". Are we there yet? Have we reached our dietary goals? Is this the stopping point? Is it all better now? But for some of us, there is an elusive place that's as hard to reach as OZ during waking moments. It's not that we can't (and don't!) achieve our goal weight, energy and physical stride.

Long after I stopped eating refined sugar, and that afternoon walk to the nearby bakery was a distant memory, I still suffered the 4pm risk of an energy outage. You know the one I'm talking about, right? Your body feels heavier. There's still a stretch of the day in front of you. The tasks ahead become foggier as you struggle to keep your head off your folded arms or attempt to convince your kids that it's "quiet time" so you can lay down. The idea of making dinner seems as monumental as climbing Kilimanjaro‎. Back then, my solution to restore energy was peanut butter. That's right, peanut butter. (Now a substance that's gone by the wayside right alongside the refined sugar!) My structured work day ended at 4 o'clock and with spoonful after spoonful (after spoonful), of peanut butter, right from the glass jar where I can scooped the organic creamy mixture from the co-op bin. It wasn't until I was faced with the rude awakening that I had adrenal fatigue (and thyroid issues), that I realized the importance of the energy expiration. Even though I hadn't eaten refined sugar in years my blood sugar still mattered.

It's blood sugar balancing RecipEmail time!iStock plantain RecipEmails, from Replenish PDX are a monthly recipe delivery with a side of information highlighting one key ingredient and one key health concern to bring you deeper into your understanding of you. This month's featured ingredient: PLANTAINS (called "macho bananas" in the south!) also in this RecipEmail: ▪ join me for a Even Keel, a free class about balancing your blood sugar ▪ glycemic in a nutshell ▪ a recipe for Paleo "Macho" Bread ▪ plantains: what makes 'em macho?

Q&A With Andrea Confused by conflicting nutrition advice? Get Answers from an Expert! Question: Is agave good or bad? The agave question comes up a lot. Many of the answers in this regard stem from how agave is processed. Some of the confusion lies in the differing methods by which the agave plant (or plants, as there are different species) is converted into a sweet syrup. But I’d like to focus on another question: How does the body digest agave?

I've got good news for you. . . It's not to late to join BOSS! And I'm eager to tell you why this news is good for you! I'm guessing you've tried a "sugar detox" before. Perhaps with a group or flying solo. Maybe you felt good (or bad!) during the detox but whatever you were doing didn't feel sustainable. Your old friend sugar lured you back. The muffins and mid-morning mochas returned to your routine. Maybe you're reluctant to try again for fear of failing. But here's the thing. . . BOSS isn't your average sugar detox. In fact, it's NOT a sugar detox at all, or should I say alone. BOSS is about balancing your blood sugar (we do indeed remove sugar but that's not the end game). And this is one thing that makes BOSS different. I want you to be empowered by what's going on inside your body and mind when those sugar cravings strike so you can truly address them.

You know what? I'm sweet on you and your health. That's why I'm hosting the free class tomorrow,'Even Keel: The Three Keys to Sustainable Blood Sugar Balance' and still want to take time to explore some of the top questions I receive about blood sugar. It's that important. (And dare I say, that misunderstood!) There are a host of possible causes for bogus blood sugar metabolism. Things such as: ▪ excess or deficient release of the hormone insulin ▪ impaired cell receptivity ▪ under or overactive adrenal glands ▪ compromised liver health ▪ too much sugar or refined carbohydrates or even high glycemic foods in the diet ▪ thyroid issues ▪ surplus stress ▪ and more!

Are we there yet? Have we reached our dietary goal? Is this the stopping point? Is it all better now? But for some of us, there is an elusive place that's as hard to reach as OZ during waking moments. It's not that we can't (and don't!) achieve our goal weight, energy and physical stride. It's that it can be challenging to stay there. . . forever. I'm not talking about the difficulty of Sticking With It!, of learning how to heed your prescribed dietary plan or known parameters for optimal health. Instead I'm referring to the changes that occur within our bodies themselves. As your body changes, so does its dietary needs.

You know what? I'm sweet on you and your health. That's why I hosted the 'Why Does Blood Sugar Matter' Q&A last week and still want to take time to explore some of the top questions I receive about blood sugar. It's that important! There are a host of possible causes for bogus blood sugar metabolism. Things such as: excess or deficient release of the hormone insulin impaired cell receptivity under or overactive adrenal glands compromised liver health too much sugar or refined carbohydrates or even high glycemic foods in the diet thyroid issues surplus stress and more!

Oftentimes clients will ask me how they know when they're there. Are we there yet? Have we reached our dietary goal? Is this the stopping point? Is it all better now? But for some of us, there is an elusive place that's as hard to reach as OZ during waking moments. It's not that we can't (and don't!) achieve our goal weight, energy and physical stride. It's that it can be challenging to stay there. . . forever. I'm not talking about the difficulty of Sticking With It!, of learning how to heed your prescribed dietary plan or known parameters for optimal health. Instead I'm referring to the changes that occur within our bodies themselves.

Have you ever felt like you're eating beautifully, exercising regularly, taking care of yourself in all the ways you know how and yet still the number on the scale is tipping higher and higher each time you step on its platform? OR Maybe you've tried several cleanses and detoxes and if you're not starving yourself, you watch or listen to every single person around you broadcasting their weight loss successes and while, yes, you feel more clean and clear and maybe even a little less bloated, not a pound has been shed from your body. OR Perhaps you hold strict rules for yourself. You're committed to your health and to aging gracefully and indeed, you are! And yet, if you go to a party and even look at a piece of cake, it seems your waist thickens.