It’s been happening for a while now.
I’ve been collecting information. Information about life, how to set goals while not getting so carried away with them that you forget to enjoy the present moment, how to cultivate healthy relationships (I’m still happily married, so that has to count for something….right husband, Ted?…..Ted?….), how to eat properly (or at least, getting a basic understanding of why it’s not exactly healthy to eat a hot fudge sundae for breakfast…I know…sad news…).
You get the picture.
And for the past 4 years, I’ve shared as much as I can with you on this blog. You’ve listened to me drone on (does she ever shut up?). Hopefully, some of what I have written has resonated with you at some point, helping you to get from point A to point B when you weren’t quite sure of your next step.
Or maybe you’re just a good friend who reads this blog to support me, in which case, thank you for being a friend (sing it with me now!).
I took a leap of faith last year when I enrolled in a school of nutrition out of NYC, which has helped me to further cultivate my understanding of not only nutrition, but also, life in general.
And as I’ve been chugging along, something remarkable happened:
I realized I had the makings of the contents for a book.
With a little discipline, many tubs of coconut bliss ice cream, a few stressful outbursts (sorry, husband), and a lot (like, a lot) of help from my very talented designer, Allie, I am weeks away from launching my very first e-book!
No, it’s not a memoir. Nor is it a thriller or murder mystery (though that would have been pretty cool).
What I’ve been writing is something I’ve come to call a Reset.
It’s called A 14 Day Nutrition Reset: Nutrition that fits your life.
It’s not a cleanse. It’s not a detox.
What is is, is a jump start. A new beginning that works within the confines of your already wonderful life.
It’s for anyone who is looking to make a shift toward healthier thoughts, healthier relationships with both yourself and others, healthier food, healthier outlooks, healthier everything.
It’s a framework that lets you be in charge of your own destiny, that let’s you decide what healthy means to you, and how to subsequently go about getting there.
It does not boss you around. It does not deprive you. It does not ask you to count calories. It does not ask you to deny the things about you that make you human!
It is simply a guide to help you in the direction of sound nutrition – body, mind and spirit – at the most basic of levels.
It’s a plan designed around Mark Bittman’s now famous words: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants but that also includes what I think is the most important element of any nutritional plan:
Your mind.
Because, as I mention in the book, it’s your mind that decides what food you will put into your mouth. And if you’ve got a mind lacking in nutrition because of poor sleep, destructive thought patterns, or otherwise, then how could you possibly be set up to make good nutritional choices where your food is concerned?
You couldn’t. And if you can, it’s not without great restraint.
I’ve taken all that I’ve learned about goal setting and life coaching and applied it to a nutrition plan that’s approachable, fun, easy to use, and most importantly, that has really tasty recipes that you’ll actually want to eat.
As a former Fruit Loops addict who wouldn’t eat anything unless it was white, processed, smothered in ketchup, butter, or doused in chocolate, I can assure you that the recipes in the book have been painstakingly crafted to ensure proper taste and texture. Some you might recognize, others not.
I’ve got a few weeks to go before the launch, and I can’t wait to share it with you (though I’ve admittedly got sweaty palms, a painful zit surely trying to break through the skin on my chin, and a stomach filled with so many butterflies it’s making me start to not like butterflies! The horror!).
As I try to calm my nerves, I’d love your help in creating the final edits!
Sharing is caring, and I value your thoughts, so please let me know:
- What do you think of the word “diet”?
- What does “healthy” mean to you?
- Have you ever tried a detox,cleanse or diet before? If so, which one(s)? What did you find was really effective? What wasn’t?
- What do you think I absolutely must put into this nutrition reset in order for it to be effective for yourself and others?
A thousand times thank you for your continued support, past, present and future. Without you, this blog just wouldn’t sparkle, and its words would bounce off into the nothingness of the squiggly sounds of the internet.
Your crazy friend,
Lauren
xxx
P.S. Here is a sneak peek of the cover!! Let me know what you think!!
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Featured image photo credit: Eva Marie Pursley
Cover photo design credit: Allison Renee Meyer
Lisa Boolootian
January 7th, 2015 23:04
Hi Lauren, I am so excited for you!!! I absolutely love the cover.. the look, feel, colors, warmth..feels real. I think the word diet refers to how and what people eat. I do not think of the word in terms of going on a diet but the type of food that nourishes the man/woman Healthy to me is how does one take care of their self regarding nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress. Healthy is good and nourishing for ones body. I have not tried a cleanse or detox. If I have not been eating good I make sure I get back on my routine of good food and eliminate what wasn't good in my diet. I would like to see many pictures in this book with any recipes. I like to see what I am making even if it doesn't turn out looking the same way. I guess it would be nice to read something different in this reset and I won't know it until I am engaged reading. You're awesome!! Lisa Boolootian
lauren
January 9th, 2015 2:41
Thank you SO MUCH for your answers, Lisa! I cannot tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time to answer them. I will take all into consideration! Wishing you a beautiful night! xoxo
patty phillips
January 8th, 2015 2:02
I'm better on the phone, if you want to ask me any questions. Wishing you the best of luck and I'm sure it will be a huge success! With the cover, I can't tell what the picture is? I like the color and layout, but is it soup? Hugs
Jessica Holdcroft
January 8th, 2015 19:33
Hey Lauren, Congrats on your book! I'm excited to read it! Here are my thoughts on your questions: What do you think of the word “diet”? - It really depends on the context. For instance, if you called your book "A 14 Day Diet" then I'd think of fad dieting where you try to be healthy for 14 days and then go back to your old habits. If you said "the goal of this book is to improve your diet" then I'd think of making long-term, healthful changes to what I eat. What does “healthy” mean to you? - I think "healthy" is very relative to the person in question. As someone in her late 20s with a couple of long-term but not life-threatening conditions, healthy looks very different than for an Olympic athlete or a senior with serious illnesses. For me, "healthy" means my conditions are being treated to the point of being under control, I follow a balanced diet with mostly fresh rather than processed foods, and my activity level is high enough that I feel strong and fit. Have you ever tried a detox,cleanse or diet before? If so, which one(s)? What did you find was really effective? What wasn’t? - I tried a two-week sugar control diet (with no processed sugar, no sugary fruits, no simple carbohydrates, no wheat). It was meant to be a "reset" of the sugar levels in my body, after which I would crave sugars less. It did work as intended, at least to some degree. Effective: although it was a drastic dietary change, the fact that it was only for 2 weeks made it seem manageable; Since many foods were off limits, the fact that the information contained suggestions for foods you could replace the off-limits foods with; The goal of the diet was not to lose weight for two weeks but to have a longer-term positive impact on my diet and health. What do you think I absolutely must put into this nutrition reset in order for it to be effective for yourself and others? - Sample daily meal plans, recipe ideas that are simple and contain common ingredients (or offer suggestions of substitutions that are more common), has the goal of long-term changes to health rather than short-term weight loss. -Jess Holdcroft (LCS '03)
Denise
January 11th, 2015 19:41
the word diet used to mean a way to lose weight, i now think of it as a way in which you choose to eat. The word Healthy will mean something different for each person but a general meaning to me is digesting food that is closest to the earth, unprocessed. I have done kitchari cleanses, a juice cleanse and Standard Process Cleanse. Juice cleanse was not as effective as the kitchari and standard process was as they were whole food cleanses. including portions of the food for those who want to shed weight and portions for those who exercise a lot and want to maintain their current weight may be nice
Peter Lynch
January 14th, 2015 2:46
Lauren, As promised I made sure I read this tonight. I agree with Lisa about the cover - excellent. And about the word 'diet' meaning the things you eat, however, I would say that most people, who are constantly trying to lose weight, think of it in the negative restrictive sense. Healthy to me is a mindset that allows only (or at least mostly) positive inputs: foods, thoughts, actions. The inputs directly affect the outcomes. I did the 21 day ultimate reset by Beachbody for which as you might know Missy did the menu. I had plenty of food and lost weight (which was not my goal) but most importantly I tried some new foods that I had never tried before and have since incorporated them into our diet (yes, that's how I use the word). I like a schedule and easy to follow steps. That's why I like Tony's stuff. Tell me what to do and when and I am there. Risa and I wish you the absolute best and can't wait to see the final result. Pete
Nicole Harshey
January 18th, 2015 20:09
Hey Lauren! I'm so happy to see that your making this amazing jump into the book world and I cant wait to see your name on my bookshelf! So excited for you
lauren
February 4th, 2015 14:49
Thank you, Nicole!!! xoxo
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