August 2004 Newsletter

Total Fitness Sponsors Health and Fitness Challenge

 Join Total Fitness on Saturday, Aug. 14, for the kickoff of a 90-Day Health and Fitness Challenge at the Rhema Christian Fellowship. This 90-day challenge will inspire you to eat better, rest more, exercise safely and feel your best. It is free and open to the public. Prizes will be given out to those who lose weight and exercise. Find out the details of how you can be a winner when you join us for the first meeting. If you have been wanting to put together a foundation program for eating and exercise, mark your calendar for 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 14, and come to the Rhema Christian Fellowship at 1766 Lakewood Avenue, S.E. At the kickoff, Catherine Carrigan of Total Fitness will present: - A 27-point questionnaire to evaluate your health. You can use this information to discuss with your medical doctor which organ systems need further attention.

There is a difference between health and fitness - if you are not healthy, there is a limit to how fit you can be. We start all our programs at Total Fitness with this thorough evaluation because there are often hidden factors - hormonal imbalances, insulin resistance, faulty digestion or chronic inflammation - that keep even the most determined dieters and exercisers from losing weight. - A stress questionnaire to evaluate your stress level.

Many people totally miss the subject of stress management when beginning a diet or fitness regime. Stress changes your metabolism. The more stressed you are, the more your body is challenged to handle carbohydrates or digest fats and absorb proteins. In addition, stress is the backdrop over which many chronic illnesses develop, including heart disease and cancer. Only when your body is out of extreme stress can you build muscle or handle high intensity exercise. - A nutrition plan you can live with the rest of your life.

Find out how to figure out how many grams of carbohydrates your body can really handle, and how to plan meals that will stop your cravings and help you lose weight. - Basic fitness information, including how to figure out how hard you should be exercising to get the best results.

For more information about how you can join the 90-Day Health and Fitness Challenge, email Catherine Carrigan at daylilly@aol.com or call the church at 404-622-5999. Directions to Rhema Christian Fellowship From I75 N traveling South: Start on I-75/I-85 S. Take the Exit 244 . Turn left on University Ave SW and travel 0.5 miles Bear right on Mcdonough Blvd. SE and travel 0.2 miles Continue on Jonesboro Road SE and travel 0.9 miles Bear right on Lakewood Avenue SE and travel 0.1 miles Arrive at 1766 Lakewood Avenue SE

From I 285 East: Exit Moreland Avenue SE Turn left on Constitution Rd SE and travel 1.0 mile Turn right on Jonesboro Road SE and travel 1.1 miles Turn left on Claire Dr. SE and travel .1 miles Turn right on Lakewood Avenue SE and arrive at 1766 Lakewood Avenue

The Diet Soda Solution

If you want to lose weight and be healthy and happy, one of the best things you can do is eliminate ALL diet sodas. That means, in my book, there is no acceptable, healthy level of diet soda consumption. None. These drinks have a severe effect on your mood, your energy level, your adrenal glands, your appetite, your brain and your entire neurological system. I have helped many a depressed client improve their mood simply by encouraging them to give up diet soda.

One year, I had two clients. Each was the same age. Each had fibromyalgia. The first gave up diet sodas. After three months, she was no longer my client because she was completely out of pain and no longer depressed.

I followed the exact same protocol with the second client, but she was not willing to give up her diet soda. She paid the price with an uncontrolled appetite, failure to lose weight and unremitting depression.

You hold toxins in your fat cells. Your body tries to protect your internal organs from these artificial chemicals, and it really doesn't like anything it can't use to make hair, bone, muscle or healthy tissue. That means your body doesn't like fake foods or fake drinks - only real foods like meat, vegetables, fruit, nuts and real fats like olive oil and coconut oil. If you don't believe me, read the websites at http://www.pricepottenger.org/ or http://www.mercola.com/.

The good news is you can drink delicious, bubbly sweet stuff that tastes great without the neurotoxins. Try these two easy recipes:

Organic Lemonade

Juice 2-3 organic lemons with the peels - the peels contain pectin, which is good for you. Just wash the outside of the lemons.Add stevia to taste.Add sparkling mineral water to taste.Variation: Try limes!Lemon juice is fabulous for your liver and gallbladder. It helps you secrete bile, which helps with fat digestion.

Organic Juice Cocktail

Pour 1-2 ounces of unsweetened cranberry juice into a glass. This is fabulous for your kidneys and a great source of antioxidants. I also like to use unsweetened organic blueberry juice or pomegranate juice, both excellent sources of antioxidants. Add stevia to taste. Add sparkling mineral water.

Understand Your Brain and Special Gifts

There is still time to sign up for our weekend seminar, Aug. 7-8, on Understanding Your Brain and Special Gifts. The first day we'll go over brain profiles. Find out how to understand yourself and communicate more effectively with other people. The second day we'll discuss psychic gifts, how to use them, how to find out the truth about anything, how to muscle check yourself and how to access your highest guidance.

Fresh Summer Soup

Note from Catherine: This is the best soup I think I have ever tasted! Keep it in your refrigerator for a great afternoon snack or a healthy first course at any meal. It will satisfy your need for something healthy and delicious! Use organic ingredients for best results.

• 1/2 cup Vidalia onion
• 1/2 cup red pepper
• 1 cup fresh mint leaves
• 1 tablespoon garlic
• 1/2 cup wheat-free Tamari sauce (a soy sauce substitute)
• 1 medium apple,chopped
• 2 large oranges, peeled and pureed in blender
• 2 large tomatoes

Chop onion and red pepper in blender. Set aside in a bowl you can refrigerate. Mince mint leaves, garlic and Tamari sauce together. Add to the bowl. Chop apple in blender. Add to bowl. Puree oranges into juice. Add to bowl. Chop tomatoes in blender. Add to bowl. Take about half the mixture, puree again, then mix all together. Keep it slightly chunk and refrigerate.

Classes

Yoga Classes: Every Tuesday and Thursday, 7:30-9 p.m., Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 4465 Northside Drive. $15 per class or $65 for the month of August. For a map with directions to yoga, please visit http://totalfitness.net/directions.html.

Qi Gong Class: Every Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., at 1951 Northside Drive. Qi Gong resumes regular classes every Wednesday in August. $15 per class. For a map with directions, please visit http://totalfitness.net/directions.html.

Go to Catherine Carrigan's home page.