A VEGAN NO MORE

After 21 days as a vegan (zero cheating) I celebrated with a nice plate of foie gras, which is now illegal to sell in California - score one for the vegans.


So, after my foie gras feast it's safe to say that I am no longer living la vegan loco.


There were times during my diet when it was hard being a vegan - like when The Herbal Remedy Wife kept insisting that we go out to Mexican restaurants where everything is smothered in cheese and nothing, absolutely nothing, is vegan. 

But overall being a vegan wasn't nearly as difficult as I thought it would be. However, while being a vegan wasn't tough it did require a lot of effort. I had to constantly think about what I was going to eat each day and I had to plan accordingly. It's not necessarily a bad thing to give serious thought to your daily diet, but being vegan forces you to become obsessed with your diet and I've got other stuff to worry about - like my fantasy football draft.

I understand and appreciate all the arguments in support of a vegan lifestyle: it's good for the environment, it's good for your health, it's a proper allocation of food resources, it saves the lives of animals, etc. I think all of these arguments have some degree of merit, but what I am personally concerned with the most is the issue of health.

I embarked on this 21-day challenge to see if a vegan diet made me feel healthier - and it didn't.

Within a few days of starting the diet I felt weak, mentally sluggish, and had circulation problems in my hands.  All of these things I attributed to some type of deficiency in either vitamin B12, protein and/or omega-3 fatty acids. 

I know that all vegans reading this right now are mounting their best arguments about how healthy a vegan diet is. Well, save it, because I don't think it's healthy - at least not for me. You know what I think is healthy - a well balanced diet.  And there isn't anything well balanced about being a vegan. People in Japan have the longest life expectancy rate and they are not vegan. In fact, the Japanese are the biggest consumers per capita of fish in the world. 

If I am correct in my assumption that the vegan diet resulted in nutritional deficiencies for me, that means it boils down this - am I willing to compromise my personal health for the other social benefits of veganism? Should I make sacrifices in my health to save the lives of animals? Should I make sacrifices in my health for the very, very minimal (statistically insignificant) benefit to the environment? If I choose ME then am I selfish?  

Well, I guess I’m selfish. At the end of the day I am picking ME. I don't feel bad about it.

However, I am going to draw some arbitrary lines in my diet. For example, I am going to continue to avoid red meat, but I am adding seafood back to my diet, because I need to get the protein I've been missing.  I am also going back to a bit of dairy - like cream in my coffee, because it taste good and soy makes me fart. But I am going to try to go with organic dairy as much as possible. 

And to all the vegans out there - I do admire your commitment to what you believe in. You have my proxy to save the planet. But the vegan lifestyle just isn't for me. The truth is I am just too much of a foodie to be a vegan.  

IT'S HARD BEING A VEGAN

I got 99 problems but pepperoni ain't one.  Seriously, it's hard being a vegan, but it's got nothing to do with red meat.  It's cheese baby, cheese. And it's not because I crave cheese; it's because the world is covered in cheese.

In the past two weeks The Herbal Remedy Wife has forced me to go to two really good Mexican restaurants, where I couldn't eat anything. That is just cruel and unusual punishment, because there's nada for a vegan at Casa Del Cheese.

There is a website called Vegan Eating Out, which is dedicated to informing vegans about what options they have at various chain restaurants in the United States.  You just type in the name of the place and website tells you all the things you can eat, which usually isn't very much. And herein lies the big problem with being a vegan: you've got no social life because you can't go out to eat anywhere! You've got to stay in your house like a hermit and eat tofu and tempeh.

Even if you are a recluse and never leave your house being vegan is still hard, because you have to stay on your toes.  I accidentally cheated on my diet when I ate some Italian Sausage-less sausage. I thought it was safe, but only after I had a couple of links did I take a hard look at the ingredients and discovered that it contained egg white powder. It's vegetarian, but it's not vegan. Can you believe it - foiled by egg white powder! I immediately called the vegan police and reported the crime.  You know, the vegan police.  The people who refuse to sit on a leather couch, and junk like that.

And if all that wasn't bad enough - here is the big kicker.  Last week a hard-core vegan tried to convince me that Guinness, the beer I love, isn't vegan. Whatcha you talkin bout Willis? Beer is barley and hops and stuff.  There's no meat in Guinness!!! But he told me they use isinglass in Guinness, so it's not vegan.  Isinglass?  What the hell is isinglass? Well, I Googled it, and it's the bladder of a fish and it's used - no joke - in the production of some types of beer to remove yeast. If Guinness isn't vegan... well baby, that's a deal breaker!

I've got one more week to go in this 21-day challenge and my refrigerator is stuffed with vegan options, like a frozen Tofurkey Pepperoni Pizza. It's got meatless pepperoni and non-dairy imitation cheese.  Now, that sounds yummy!  But seven days from now I'm having a Guinness and goat cheese party.

JUST SAY NO TO SATURATED FAT

The Skeptical Husband brings up some interesting points to ponder. Is he losing weight by avoiding fast food alone or is it the vegan diet that is causing him to lose weight? Here’s the deal, one pretty much avoids all saturated fat by eating a vegan diet. That’s big time. So let’s say The Skeptical Husband eats 3 meals and 2 snacks a day. So 5 times a day for 7 days straight he has chosen not to consume saturated fat. That’s 35 times he said no to saturated fat. No wonder he is shedding the pounds.

The other thing is that when you're vegan you say no to the many foods that you are offered throughout your day. You're offered a slice of pizza at a kids party. You ask if it is vegan. Of course the answer is no. This little scenario repeats itself throughout the day and week at potlucks, parties, bake sales, food samples at stores, etc. As a vegan you are forced to say no to most of these calories you never wanted or needed anyway.

Recently we discussed whether a vegan food truck would do well in our community. Here’s what I’ve concluded, unfortunately the answer is NO. Most Americans have developed an addiction to saturated fats because they taste good. That’s why there are so few vegan items on most restaurant menus.  Just think about how the husband said that the vegan cheese was acceptable. Most diners don’t want to part with their money at a restaurant that has acceptable food, they want their food to taste amazing. For most long term vegans health, the planet, and ethical eating are their top priorities when it comes to food. Fantastic flavor is a bit lower on the list. Sadly, for the general population this mindset is rare.

Regarding the husband's circulation issue, I am quite surprised! You would think if a vegan diet causes nutritional deficiencies, the side effects would not be noticeable for months or even years. I’ve read that stores of Vitamin B-12 in your body will get you through the first few months of veganism. Honestly, I think perhaps The Skeptical Husband’s body is undergoing a bit a shock to the system after regularly consuming animal products for his entire life. I’d love to hear a nutritionist weigh in on this issue.

I can say for certain that long term vegans should find out what constitutes proper vegan nutrition, and then, if necessary, supplement any nutritional deficiencies with plant-based protein powders, Vitamin B-12, Vitamin D2, vegan DHA capsules, iron, and calcium. Keep in mind that it is not advisable for pregnant women and babies to consume a vegan diet.  

That being said The Skeptical Husband brought up a good point the other day. According to Will Tuttle, author of The World Peace Diet, humans are not meant to eat meat. If we were our teeth and digestive systems would be designed differently. The husband’s argument is that if humans are designed to only eat plants then vegans would not experience any nutritional deficiencies and would not need to supplement their diets with vitamins to stay healthy. Hummm??? Food for thought.    

    

THE ONE WEEK VEGAN

I completed my first week as a vegan. I am proud to report that I went hardcore and there was ZERO cheating.

In just seven days I've lost four pounds.  I don't know if that is normal, but it seems like a lot of weight in just one week - especially considering that I am not starving myself.  In fact, I am eating a lot, but I'm just eating differently.

So here is the big question - did I drop four pounds directly or indirectly as the result of the vegan diet?  Is my weight loss the result of not eating any animal products or is the weight loss the result of not going to Taco Bell because a 7 Layer Burrito isn't vegan friendly? What I am wondering is this - could I have lost four pounds last week if I continued drinking milk and eating meat at home as long I just simply avoided going to fast food restaurants? 

The weight loss has been a nice benefit to the vegan diet, but the diet has not been all positive.  I have some tingling in my hands, which I have never experienced before. I am guessing that the tingling is some type of blood circulation problem.  I did a bit of internet research and discovered that blood circulation problems are a common side-effect from a vegan diet.

I read that vegans are vulnerable to deficiencies of omega-3 fatty acids, which are commonly found in fish. Your body needs omega-3 fatty acids for brain memory and performance, behavior, vision, reduction of tissue inflammation and heart and nervous system health.  A deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids can cause a lot of health problems, including poor blood circulation - which I suspect is what is going on with me. 

The Herbal Remedy Wife gave me a vegan omega-3 supplement to take, which tasted like this awful "medicine" my Aunt Versie would cook up in the hills of Kentucky in the 1970s. 

If a vegan diet is so healthy why do I have to take supplements? Seriously, if a vegan diet is so great than shouldn't the diet by itself provide a person with all of their nutritional needs?

Maybe I was a bit naive, but before I started the vegan diet I thought the only potential risk was that it would be low in protein and I'd have to eat a bucketful of nuts each day to make sure I was getting the amount of protein I needed. But it turns out there are a lot of potential health concerns with being a vegan.  But if you don't believe me then listen to Lance Armstrong: www.livestrong.com.  

VEGAN CHEESE

Nothing makes my mouth water like the sound of these two little words… vegan cheese. Hmmm, yum. Just the thought of this dairy substitute stirs me into a frenzy. I jest of course. Vegan cheese is totally nasty, or so I thought.

Last night The Herbal Remedy Wife made me a vegan pizza, using a vegan mozzarella cheese.  I didn’t have high expectations.  It looked like cheese.  It felt like cheese.  But would it taste like cheese?

Now I should preface my review of vegan cheese by saying this - I really like mozzarella cheese. I mean, I really like it. And I am not talking about just any mozzarella cheese.  I love the real stuff – unpasteurized buffalo mozzarella, made from the milk from an Italian water buffalo.

    

Well, the vegan mozzarella didn’t taste anything like buffalo mozzarella. Not even close.  But it didn’t taste bad.  If I had to describe it in one word I’d say it was “acceptable.” 

On the vegan diet “acceptable” seems to be the benchmark to strive for. So I was pretty happy that the mozzarella cheese passed the test. 

Overall the vegan pizza, with mushrooms, olives and acceptable cheese, was decent.  I am actually looking forward to having it again, but next time I’m going to make it a bit more posh and add some capers.

Oh, one caveat – vegan cheese will make you very, very gassy. The Herbal Remedy Wife is telling me I need to take a digestive enzyme.  Right, either I could do that or I could just eat buffalo mozzarella. 

THE VEGAN CHRONICLES

I am on day number four of the vegan diet, and I have no major complaints. In fact, so far it has been really easy.

Before I started the diet I went to the supermarket to take stock of what I could and could not eat. I was disappointed to find out that an Indian lentil dish I really like has cream in it - so it's off the list.  But I was happy to discover that Pad Thai noodles are totally vegan.

My recent supermarket excursion was probably the very first time that I seriously looked at the ingredients on packages of food.  I've looked at price.  I've looked at calories.  But I have never studied the actual ingredients like I did a few days ago. That's really crazy when you think about it.  I am almost 40 and I have never given serious thought about exactly what I put in my body. That's insane, but I am guessing that it's probably pretty typical.

The biggest adjustment in my diet at this point is having to switch to a soy latte at Starbucks, which costs extra unless you have Gold Card. But if you have a Gold Card then there is no extra charge for the soy milk - so at least I've got that going for me.

TOP TEN TIPS FOR NEW VEGANS

Top Ten Tips for My 

Newbie Vegan Husband

1. Cheat a Little. I know that when you put your mind to something, you go all out! However, going vegan all at once may not work for you. You may want to give yourself a cheat day once a week. If you continue to stay vegan you can space the cheat days farther apart. If you do cheat (not on me of course!), forgive yourself and don’t throw in the towel over a few poor choices.

2. Experiment. If you try a new vegan food every day you’ll be opening up all sorts of culinary adventures. Have you ever tried tempeh? Coconut ice cream? Meatless meatballs? Hazelnut milk? Veggie burgers? Nutritional Yeast? Vegan pesto? You’ll thank me later.

3. Educate yourself. Find out what constitutes proper vegan nutrition so you won’t simply grab vegan junk food every time hunger strikes. You’ll feel better and your meals will taste better too. 

4. Supplement! If you decide to go vegan long term, plant-based protein powders, Vitamin B-12, Vitamin D2, vegan DHA capsules, iron, and calcium will help ensure that you don’t experience any nutritional deficiencies during your vegan journey.

5. Play the Game. Treat this experience like a game that you want to win! When you are vegan you have to figure out how to take some of your favorite meals and swap out the animal products for vegan ingredients. When traveling you have to find the best vegan restaurant in town. When at Taco Bell you have to tell them what to add and what to subtract from your taco to make it vegan. When attending a potluck you’ll need to dream up a vegan dish that will satisfy you and delight others.

6. Shop Ahead. When shopping for vegan foods, fall in love with the produce and bulk areas at your local health food store. Remember that fruit and nuts are your new fast food. Make sure you read labels for non-vegan ingredients. Most products have an allergen statement listed below the ingredients that will let you know if the product contains milk or eggs. Sometimes the allergens are bolded in the ingredients list. Also, look for whey, casein, rennet, gelatin and carmine in ingredients lists. These items are NOT vegan.

7. Enjoy Accidentally Vegan Items. Believe it or not some items that you already regularly consume are vegan! Peta has a list of accidently vegan items here: http://www.peta.org/living/vegetarian-living/accidentally-vegan.aspx

8. Remember Why You’re Taking on this Challenge. Re-read the passages of The World Peace Diet that inspired you the most to make this change. Watch Mercy For Animals’ Farm to Fridge video and other vegan inspired videos on YouTube. Watch Forks Over Knives. Read The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vegan Living.

9. Research and Connect. Join Vegan online groups like www.vegweb.com, buy a vegan cookbook like Vegan Cooking for Carnivores: Over 125 Recipes So Tasty You Won't Miss the Meat, and find vegetarian and vegan restaurants in your area through http://www.happycow.net/.

10. Celebrate Your Progress! In three weeks time, step back and reflect on the progress you’ve made. Think about what new fruits and veggies you’ve added to your diet, consider the new vegan foods and recipes that you have discovered that you love, and acknowledge any new connections you’ve made as a result of going vegan. Perhaps you’ve even lost some weight and feel more energized. Celebrate the little victories you’ve made and reward yourself accordingly.

The World Peace Diet - A Non-Hippie Review

Most hippie books are written by hippies, for hippies, and then later quoted by other hippies in support of their hippie agenda.  So I think it is important to say from the start that I am not a hippie and I didn't read The World Peace Diet with hippie eyes. I like beer, football and red meat; I even voted against the 2008 California ballot initiative that allowed chickens to get out of their cages and walk around for an hour a day. So it's safe to say that my take on this book is from an anti-vegetarian prospective.

Most people eat hamburgers and drink milk and try not to think about how the meat gets on their plate or how the milk gets in their glass. But this book forces you to confront a lot of the issues that the majority of people intentionally or unintentionally avoid.

Why do you eat meat? Is eating meat good for your health? What impact does eating meat have on the environment? Do the animals we consume suffer - and if so, how much?  All of these issues are addressed in the book.

These are difficult questions to examine. Most people probably know that they are not going to like the ultimate answers to these questions, so they avoid dealing with them.  I am no different, I guess, which is why the book sat on my shelf for over a year.  I knew that when I confronted these questions I was going to have a lot of thinking to do.  And I was right.

So why am I a meat eater?  Honestly, I never really thought about it very deeply. Do I eat meat simply because it tastes good? Do I eat meat because humans are designed to eat meat? Do I eat meat because by evolutionary luck humans have found ourselves on top of the food chain? Do I eat meat because I've made the choice that it is essential for good health?

Tuttle claims in his book that I have been socially programed to eat meat. And I think there is some validity to that argument. My parents exposed me to meat (I ate a lot of hot dogs as a kid). Their parents exposed them to meat, and their parents before them, and their parents before them.  That alone doesn't necessarily make eating meat wrong, it just helps explain why I - and maybe you - eat meat.

I must confess, the idea that we are socially programed to eat meat really fascinates me and it got me thinking about all the other things in life that people have been socially programed to do and think - religion is one thing that springs to mind. This probably isn't the intended message of the book - but it is the concept that personally struck the biggest chord with me. But I digress... Back to the book.

Tuttle makes some valid points on many other fronts, as well. He argues that it is morally wrong to consume animals, it is unhealthy to eat animals, and it is bad for the environment to eat animals, just to name a few. Several times he goes off the rails and gets a little too hippie on me. For example -- this isn't in the book but instead took place after the lecture I saw him give -- he offered to compose, for a small fee, a piece of music for me based on the connection he felt from my aura. Now, the dude can really play the piano - but no thanks.

I do have to confess, he makes some strong arguments to support his position that we should stop eating meat, fish and dairy, and that instead people should switch to plant based diet. Now, coming from a fervent anti-vegetarian this is hard to digest (pun intended).

For example, the book highlights the pain and suffering the animals we consume are forced to endure, which is 100 times harsher than I ever imagined.  I am not sure why, but the suffering of the average dairy cow is something I learned about in the book and it greatly troubles me.

Before I read the book, when I had a glass of milk, which I love to drink, I didn't give much thought to how that milk went from the cow to my refrigerator, and I definitely didn't give much thought to the quality of life of the cow that produced the milk. "Happy cows live in California,"like the TV commercial says. Right? Wrong!

If I considered cows at all, I had a vision of an old farmer getting up early in the morning, going out to the barn, milking his cow by hand, the milk going into an old bucket, and then somehow that milk got magically transported to me.  But that's not how it happens.

Deep down inside I probably knew that there aren't happy cows in California, or anywhere else for that matter.  I knew that there was no old farmer milking the cows by hand, but I just blocked it out of my mind like most people do, and I just enjoyed my glass of cold milk. The World Peace Diet forced me to honestly confront the process of how the milk I love gets to me, and the tremendous suffering endured by dairy cows in order for me to drink my milk.

I am not going to go in to detail about the animal suffering or environment impact.  You'll have to read the book for yourself - if you are ready.  But I truly think that everyone - especially meat eaters should read this book and educate yourself about the food you eat and the food you feed your kids. At the end of the day if you still choose to eat meat that's your choice - but at least it will be an educated choice.

So, now that I've read the book and a lot of these issues are at the front of my mind - what am I going to do about it?  Well, I am going to go vegan for 21 days, starting on May 28th. Right after I watch the Indy 500 and eat a fridge full of pork sausage.

I'll keep you posted on both my progress and struggles - I anticipate a lot of struggles. At this point, it's just an experiment and not a permanent life altering choice. It's possible that being a vegan is just too hard, but I'll give it a try - because deep down inside I know it's the right thing to do for many reasons - all illustrated in The World Peace Diet. But remember, even if I go vegan I am still not a hippie!

The Herbal Remedy Wife’s Thoughts on Veganism

First of all, what is a vegan diet? In a nutshell it’s a plant-based diet that includes no beef, no chicken, no pork, no seafood, no dairy, and definitely not these lovely chicks that were hatched from a carton of eggs using an incubator. 


Let me start by saying that I am not a vegan - at least not a pure vegan. I did attempt to be a hard core vegan for several months, but it is really challenging to swim against mainstream society - and it's even harder to find tasty vegan cookies. 


Now I would describe myself as more an aspiring vegan, or an every other Wednesday kind of vegan. 


During my exploration with veganism I've discovered that it is probably the best diet for your health, your conscious, and it is the best thing for our planet; knowing this makes me feel great - even if I'm only 97% vegan. 

Honestly, The Skeptical Husband and I had never considered why we eat an animal-based diet, and we never considered how it might affect our health and the health of the planet. Then we made the brilliant mistake of attending a lecture by Will Tuttle, author of The World Peace Diet, and we were forced to think about these things. 


Standing before us was a lean, articulate man who looked half his age talking about his journey to veganism. He spoke of how people are socially programmed to eat meat from birth. He talked about the health consequences of a meat-based diet (diabetes and heart disease to name a few).  He shared how thousands of gallons of water are used to raise one pound of meat and how animals are tortured and enslaved during their short lives in order to feed our meat hungry culture. He promised his book would lay out even more arguments against eating the standard American diet.

Following the lecture The Skeptical Husband surprisingly lined up to buy an autographed copy of the book. I looked at him and said, “You know what’s gonna happen if I read that,” and sure enough less than a week later I was a vegan. As the holidays drew near my resolve weakened and the Skeptical Husband was happy that I was willing to compromise and eat a pescatarian diet (a seafood consuming vegetarian). To be honest, showing up to family dinner to find that there was nothing for me to eat but lettuce leaves was starting to wear on me.

I think everyone should explore veganism and the ideas behind it at some point during their lifetime. And the sooner the better! There are a number of great books and movies to educate and motivate you and I’ll let them do the convincing. So if you’re ready, I highly recommend the following:

The World Peace Diet by Will M. Tuttle
         * The Skeptical Husband is reading this now and will post his review in a few days.

Forks Over Knives  Starring T. Colin Campbell, Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr

The Engine 2 Diet by Rip Esselstyn

The China Study by Thomas M. Campbell II

The Kind Life website: http://www.thekindlife.com

PETA: http://www.peta.org/living/vegetarian-living/free-vegetarian-starter-kit.aspx

NATURAL WEIGHT LOSS SUPPLEMENTS RESULTS

Well, after three weeks of taking natural weight loss supplements I didn't drop any weight.  I can't say I am shocked by the results, because I ate the same food and I worked out the same amount of time, as well. 


You can swallow as much kidney bean extract as you want, but if you don't change your diet and your exercise routine, I don't think you are going to lose any weight. 


Maybe that was the problem - maybe I didn't slim down because I never believed the natural weight loss supplements would work. You see, there was no placebo effect.


Placebo effect?   


There was a recent of episode of the CBS news program 60 Minutes, which highlighted a Harvard study that claimed that antidepressants worked on people only (emphasis added) because the patients believed they would work, and not because of the ingredients contained within the drug.


Here is the link if you want to watch the 60 Minutes story:http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7399362n


If the theory behind the Harvard study is correct, maybe natural remedies work for some people simply because they believe they'll work. And perhaps the natural weight loss supplements didn't work for me because I didn't believe they would work. Who knows? 


I do know this - I am sure that the Herbal Remedy Wife has another challenge waiting for me. What could it be?

First of all let me say that I don’t think The Skeptical Husband used the prescribed diet product as directed. The label states that you need to take a capsule before every meal. I noticed the husband doing this about every fifth meal or so. So there was big time “user error” involved in this experiment. However, it’s no secret that good ole diet and exercise is truly the best way to shed some pounds. I think eating right and counting calories is a fantastic way to lose weight.

When it comes to optimal health, diet and lifestyle choices are hugely important. Many people have the attitude that a medicine or remedy will do all the hard work for them or don’t always see the connections of how their poor diet and lifestyle choices are contributing to their health problems. One small example: I see many people looking for a magic pill for heartburn and acid reflux. While there are some supplements that will provide temporary relief for this problem, a better solution would be to eat smaller meals, not eat late at night, and to consume foods that are less acid forming. The most acid forming substances often found in the typical American diet include meat, eggs, dairy, white flour, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, soft drinks, prescription drugs, and chemical sweeteners.

So is heartburn the only bad side effect of a highly acidic diet? You wish! An acid forming diet can decrease the body's ability to absorb minerals and nutrients, decrease energy production in the cells, decrease the body’s ability to repair damaged cells, and can make the body more susceptible to fatigue and illness. So think about it, if you feel like crap there’s a good chance it may be because of crap you’re consuming. Does this mean one should cut out all acid forming foods? Not necessarily, just make sure that the majority of your diet is not made up of the worst offenders. Just some food for thought.

Speaking of food, the next challenge for the Skeptical Husband is to read The World Peace Diet by Will Tuttle. The book details why Tuttle became a vegan. Look for his review soon.

NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS FOR WEIGHT LOSS

There certainly are a lot choices when it comes to herbal weight loss supplements. In fact, there are so many options to choose from it can be overwhelming.  You’ve got protein powders, fiber blends and green tea, just to name a few.

Protein powders replace some carbohydrates with protein, which gives your metabolism a boost and curbs cravings. A top selling plant-based protein powder at my store is Vega by Sequel.

If you’ve watched Dr. Oz recently, you may have seen him promote PGX, a fiber blend that has proven in studies to control appetite and keep blood sugar stable.

One of my personal favorites is green tea. That’s right, good old green tea. Almost every natural weight loss formula lists green tea as one of the ingredients.  Green tea contains epigallacatechin gallate (The compound known as EGCG), which helps the body burn fat. A study in Switzerland found drinking the equivalent of 2-3 cups of green tea daily caused the participants to burn 80 extra calories each day, without increasing their heart rates. Weight loss is just one of many of green tea’s benefits so if you consume caffeine, switching to green tea would be a fantastic choice for improving your health.

Another option is the homeopathic form of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG), which is known for causing rapid weight loss without hunger.

You may also consider natural weight loss formulas that include ingredients like African mango, tyrosine, l-gluamine, 5-HTP, and B vitamins.

So, what am I giving the Skeptical Husband?  Well, we’re going to see if LifeSeason’s Metabolism Weight Control supplement has any effect on him. It comes in capsule form, which he has to take with each meal. The ingredients in the supplement include:  kidney bean extract (a natural carbohydrate blocker), cocoa bean extract (an antioxidant), glucomannan (a soluble fiber that makes the body feel full), chromium (a nutrient that reduces sugar and carbohydrate cravings), and theobromine (a bitter alkaloid of the cacao plant that has a diuretic effect). This formula will help manage his appetite and support his body’s ability to burn fat.

Just so we’ll know whether it’s truly working, The Skeptical Husband has been enjoying the same foods he loves (which sadly includes a few runs to Taco Bell) and he’ll continue his usual exercise routine. He’s agreed to do a weigh-in at the beginning and again at the end and will let us know if there has been any difference. We’ve got a three-week supply (retail price $35). He actually started taking the supplement two weeks ago, so he has almost finished and he'll have a full report soon!

The Skeptical Husband's 21-Day Meditation Review

As far as challenges from The Herbal Remedy Wife go, this one was a piece of cake. I didn’t get injected with anything. I didn’t have to eat anything nasty.  I didn’t have to drink any mysterious concoction.  For three weeks I just had to put on my headphones and listen to my iPad for a 15-minute mediation each day.

Most of the meditations followed the same basic format: a short introduction, a couple of minutes of talking and ten minutes of calming music. Each meditation had a different topic, a few even offered some thoughtful nuggets of information to ponder, and a couple went off the metaphysical rails a bit.

For instance, during one meditation I was told to think about a part of my body that had pain. That’s easy - I have plantar fasciitis and my heel friggin hurts like a gunshot wound. Then the meditation guide told me to breathe into that part of my body. What?  How in the hell am I suppose to breathe into my heel? That’s crazy talk!  And then there was the laughing meditation.  That’s right, 15 minutes of random people laughing, which was equal parts odd and annoying.

I didn’t really mind the more typical mediations, like the one where you had to repeat the same two-word mantra over and over for 15 minutes, but my throat got a bit parched after that one. I probably fell asleep during half of the mediations, an unexpected bonus, so I can’t say exactly what happened at the end. 

Overall, the meditations were very calming. Now, I’m not running off anytime soon to hug that Amma lady (Google her if you don’t know what I’m talking about), but on a stressful day if I had 15 minutes to spare I’d consider listening to a mediation to help me relax.  Luckily for me, they are all available for purchase: a perfect symbiosis of capitalism and Eastern Philosophy.

THE GREAT DEODORANT DEBATE

The husband and I had a very intense conversation about deodorant last night. I asked him if he will try a natural alternative to the Gillette deodorant that he has been using for years.  He responded emphatically, “Hell, no!”

The Skeptical Husband’s firm reluctance to natural products isn’t uncommon, and I think I know why.

There is a big misconception that natural products won’t be as effective as their conventional counterparts.  I’m not sure where that comes from, but this is big reason people shy away from natural products.

I understand that people can be very attached to their favorite body care products. I’ve even seen people on Pinterest who posted boards titled “This is Me,” and they have photos of their favorite shampoo.  Wow, they must really love their shampoo. 

But I truly believe that a lot of natural products are just as good as their more toxic alternatives.  And I really do mean more toxic.

Are there poisons in your products? Yep, there is a good chance there are – especially if you live in America. The European Union has banned 1,136 ingredients from body care products because they have been deemed unsafe. Check out this website for a complete list: EU banned list


In the U.S. the FDA has banned eight. That’s right, eight! See the FDA banned list. So Americans are exposed to 1,128 ingredients that are forbidden in Europe. If possible, I’d like to try to avoid those 1,128 ingredients. 

I’ve read that the skin absorbs 60% of skin care products, and there is concern that a significant amount of cosmetic ingredients, including carcinogenic substances, penetrate the skin and end up in the blood stream and slowly poison the body through repeated use.

One thing I am really concerned with in particular is aluminum chlorohydrate, an active ingredient conventional antiperspirants and deodorants. This is why I pressed The Skeptical Husband to try a natural alternative. 

Proponents of natural products believe that there is a connection between antiperspirants, underarm shaving and cancer. I also do not like antiperspirants because they interfere with the body’s ability to cleanse itself of toxins, and many people believe there could be a connection between aluminum in deodorants and Alzheimer’s. 

For those considering a switch to a natural deodorant, my favorite brands for cleanliness and scent are Aubrey and Weleda. But don’t just take my word for it. Check out this super informative website by the Environmental Working Group to get recommendations and ratings for the safety of hundreds of personal care products. They even have a wallet guide with ingredients to avoid that you can take with you next time you shop for personal care products.

The Skeptical Husband says…

First, show me the study that shows there is a direct link between cancer and/or Alzheimer's and deodorant. 


And second, I’m not trying a natural deodorant. I'm just not doing it!  


There is nothing "natural" about natural deodorant. What is natural is the fact that people have body odor. It is unnatural to try to cover up this odor.  But I'm good with that.


I am sure the people who share a tiny office space with me appreciate my firm position on this issue. Listen, I’ve been to enough Grateful Dead concerts to know that natural deodorants don’t work. So I am not doing it. 

I’d be willing to try natural shampoo, shaving cream moisturizer, etc., but not deodorant.  I am a smelly guy. I accept this. Without my Gillette Cool Wave Antiperspirant I’d smell really bad.  Maybe I’m ingesting toxins – but hey, I’m willing to take one for the team on this one.

Okay, deal.  After you're done with the 21-day mediation challenge, I'll have a list of natural body care products for you to try, with the exception of deodorant. Oh, and how is the meditation going? 

It's going great. I'm about halfway done.  I'll have my review ready in about 10 days. I'm becoming real familiar with some guy named David G., who is very mellow. He reminds me a lot of the Tim Robbins character in the movie High Fidelity, the guy who  Jack Black and John Cusack give a good beat down.  

IT’S TIME FOR SOME MEDITATION

When I first attempted meditation I tried the “expert” version, where you sit in lotus position and repeat a mantra over and over. This was just too much for my lower back and my brain to handle. My mind would constantly bounce from thought to thought and I couldn’t stay focused.

So I switched from the “expert” version of meditation to simply listening to guided meditations. Basically, I just lay down on my bed and listen to a calming spoken-word CD, which really helps me focus and relax. Yes, occasionally I fall asleep, which I have no problem with because I’m usually in need of a good nap.

I know that some people may view this as a very novice version of meditation, but it really works for me. Since meditating daily for the past year I have found that I worry less, don’t get as bent out of shape when things go wrong, and get fewer migraine headaches.

I’m not the only one who thinks mediation is good for you. Studies show that the practice of meditation:

·       Increases blood flow

·       Leads to a deep level of relaxation

·       Reduces anxiety attacks and emotional stress

·       Decreases muscle tension (including tension headaches)

·       Can have a positive effect on digestion, blood pressure, and heart disease

·       Can boost the immune system

So what’s in store for The Skeptical Husband? You guessed right, he’s going to participate in the Chopra Center’s 21-Day Meditation Challenge which starts on February 20th. The beautiful part is that he can listen to the daily guided mediations at home, work, or during his train commute.  Check back in 21 days when he’ll report on the results of this enlightening experience. I really love this meditation challenge. I’ve participated several times and have found it to be one of the best gifts I receive each year. If you are interested, you can do the challenge with him. All of the mediations are guided, you just need to find a quiet spot and listen.  And the best part is that’s free. Yep, you heard me FREE! To get started you simply need to register online at www.chopracentermeditation.com/bestsellers/MEDITATION_WINTER_2012/register.asp. Good luck Skeptical Husband!