I’ve been quiet with my writing lately and am excited to buckle down a little and share what’s been going on! We have been enjoying a gorgeous spring and are now in the full swing of summer. I get to witness nature every day as I wake up and look out onto a meadow of blossoming wildflowers set on a backdrop of wild woodlands.
Nature provides the perfect model for many things and I’ve been trying to remind myself of that lately. In listening to some interviews with Dr. Doug Lisle, I have been reminded of some really important lessons. I’m hoping you may benefit from some highlights as much as I have. If this is remotely intriguing, listen to the entire interview! You won’t regret it
- The human body is a remarkable organism. It is however, just an animal, and like all animals we have biological mechanisms and instincts that help us survive.
- These biological mechanisms work perfectly. The drive for thirst and hunger are similar, and to deprive yourself of enough food is as crazy as depriving yourself of the right amount of water.
- These biological mechanisms have been working for a long long time. They even predate the 1970’s, the dawn of processed foods and the beginning era of today’s diet related chronic diseases…
- As genius as it is, the human body does not adapt well to processed foods. We are programmed to seek salt, sugar, and fat (an important instinct in our natural history), but the quantities found in today’s grocery store products and restaurant meals are downright inappropriate for human consumption!
- When we consume processed foods, we want more. It’s hard to believe but caged animals in laboratory studies will always select the artificially calorically dense food, gaining an absurd amount of weight, and they will die as a result. You don’t need to watch any more animal studies for evidence though. We have all been participants in the greatest experiment of all time. Just look around you. Have you noticed anyone eating food they know is harmful? But they just keep eating it? Many experience being overweight, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, or some kind of cancer, and then die?
- In order to maintain a healthy weight, you have two choices. A) Eat whatever you come across, including whatever processed foods you enjoy, but regulate the quantity carefully. Grit your teeth through hunger, eventually knowing you’ll give in, overeat on calories, and enter into a continuous cycle of dieting… And all the while you’re still probably starved for nutrients, so even if you can reach a healthy weight, there’s still no guarantee of health. Or B) You could just eat as much as you want, when you want, feeling full when you’re full, and eating when you’re hungry. The only catch is that you select foods that the human body was well designed to crave, consume, digest, and enjoy! Things like vegetables, fruits, starches, whole grains, and legumes. A whole foods plant based diet is exactly what fits the bill. Dr Lisle refers to the latter as losing weight without losing your mind.
What I’ve been following on Chef AJ and John Pierre’s Ultimate Weight Loss Program is exactly that – losing weight without losing your mind. Listening to Dr. Lisle’s recent interviews reminded me yet again that nature knows best. UWL works because it’s consistent with the way humans have eaten for by far the greatest part of our natural history. It’s sustainable because you never have to be hungry, and also because there is such a tremendous amount of food, you’ll simply never get bored!
Chef AJ has been building a library of great recipes and sharing them with us via live cooking demo webinars. I highly recommend an entertaining session learning some great new recipes and spending time with the most entertaining and knowledgeable chef in the business! The fee is minimal but now you have the chance to win access to the next one for free! One lucky Beans Not Bambi reader will be watching the next webinar for free. Why not you?!
To enter, you just need to do two simple things.
1) Post a comment on this blog post telling us why you would like to win.
2) Go to www.EatUnprocessed.com and sign up for Chef AJ’s newsletter.
The contest is now open and will close 6/18 at 11:59 pm.
If you would like to register for the cooking class webinar no matter what, you may do so here. You can win the contest regardless. If you have already paid the $14 registration fee, they’ll simply refund it! Mark your calendar for 6/21 9pm EST. Webinar will be recorded and you can also catch it later. Don’t miss out!
I so enjoyed this blog entry because I have experienced the success of the UWL way of eating having met my goal weight (30 lbs loss) in 6 months. I have been maintaining my weight on UWL for the past year. As you mentioned, the best thing about this way of eating is that you can eat massive quantities of food without gaining weight. Chef AJ’S recipes are great and are always appreciated so please include me in the raffle.
Karen,
Thanks for entering the contest. Unfortunately you didn’t win this time but congratulations on your UWL success. Keep up the great work!
Great website Christin! I’ve been McDougalling for a few months now, but the prep work and cooking meals are always my downfall. A lot of the ingredients in vegan recipes are unknown to me, and the ones I have tried I didn’t like, so it is time to learn how to cook from someone like Chef AJ. Please enter my name for the draw! Thanks!
I’m so glad Chef AJ recommended visiting your website, Christin & I’m looking forward to reading your blog. I’ve been on UWL since September & have enjoyed learning from so many experts in this field, including Chef AJ, Dr Lisle, Dr Goldhammer ,Tami @ nutmegnotebook.com & now you! I would love to have a chance to participate in Chef AJ’s latest cooking class. Thank you!
Karen,
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the blog, and welcome! I’m sorry you didn’t win this time but thanks for entering and I hope I’ll see you on the webinar anyway. It sure looks promising!
Starlene,
You’re so right that simple is key! There’s no need to go crazy cooking. Chef AJ is a pro at tasty, healthy, and easy, all of which are keys to lifelong changes!
You didn’t win the contest this time but I hope you’ll consider the webinar anyway!
I would love to win the webinar because I have been UWL for about 2 years but just found out I don’t tolerate beans. Would love to have some bean free recipes since I have been keeping it super simple plain potatoes and rice. Thank you for the effort you put into your blog and for such a great giveaway! You guys are changing the world. I know mine has.
Tiffany,
Thanks for your kind words and for entering the contest. Unfortunately you didn’t win this time but I hope I’ll see you on the webinar anyway! Bean free recipes sound like they could be a huge help to you.
I’m already on Chef AJ’s newsletter ! Her recipes are always delicious, and I love the way they make my body feel……..somehow lighter. I’m looking forward to learning the new Mexican Fiesta recipes she’s demonstrating !
Lani,
Thanks for entering! Unfortunately you didn’t win this time, but thanks for playing!
I hope you’ll consider doing the upcoming webinar anyway. Looks like some great recipes coming our way!
Hi Christin, thanks for giving us this awesome opportunity. I would really like to win, because – to be totally honest with you – I am a HORRIBLE cook. Experimenting and trying out things in my kitchen usually turn into a not eatable disaster. And this has certainly not improved since I became a gluten and SOS-free vegan. So I would really like to win this space because otherwise I might starve or live off of HORRIBLE food for the rest of my life and I know that AJ could turn this around. Also, I would really like to cook for my family one day, who is def. not vegan and def. not SOS-free. But I want to make them a meal that they truly enjoy eating and so the will realise that this is not an extreme or weird way of eating at all.
Thanks Christin again!
All the best,
Nathalie
Nathalie,
Thanks for entering the contest! I’m sorry to say you didn’t win this time. I hope you’ll consider watching the webinar anyway though! No one deserves to survive on horrible food!! AJ makes it nice and simple to cook great food!
I already receive Chef AJ’s newsletter, and have been part of UWL from the start!. I love it! I’m going to sign up for your newsletter too. Trying your quinoa pizza crust tonight. Thanks for the chance to win the webinar!
Elizabeth,
How did the pizza crust come out?!
Unfortunately you didn’t win the contest this time. Thanks for entering and as you know, with UWL we’re all winning!!
I would love to win this webinar because I can relate to Chef AJ’s story of a life-long struggle with weight. Her encouragement and recipes are so helpful! And the recipes in this particular webinar look like they would fit right into my family’s lifestyle!
Karen,
Thanks so much for entering the contest. Unfortunately you didn’t win the freebie but I hope you’ll consider signing up for the webinar anyway. You’re right these recipes look amazing!
I would love to win the webinar! I’ve been doing UWL since February 2015. My rheumatoid arthritis is so much better and if I don’t eat the two pounds of non-starchy veggies a day, I just don’t feel right. I have not missed a day of eating them since I started. Love all Chef AJ’s cooking webinars and I always, always learn something new. I would like to win because it would be a great reward for all my hard work at sticking to eating to the left of the red line and exercising so much with doing Bikram yoga four times a week and the Step up and down every night while I wear a five pound weight vest. Thank you!
You’re rocking UWL Ellen! Keep up the good work. Unfortunately you didn’t win the contest this time, but thanks for playing and keep up the good work! Hope to see you on the webinar anyway!
Thanks for hosting this great giveaway, Christin and Chef AJ! I’ve been in UWL since 2/2015, and love this lifestyle! I really enjoy the webinars, because they have some awesome recipes, and it’s fun to see AJ cook. She’s a speed demon in the kitchen, and I can’t get things done nearly that fast but it’s still fun to watch. 🙂 I’m already signed up for the next one, but will take it as a freebie if I win the giveaway!
Hi Colleen,
Thanks for entering! Unfortunately you didn’t win this one, but you’re right that the webinars area blast to watch! Can’t wait for the next one!
I’d like to win because Chef AJ is an amazing chef, all her recipes rock!! I am a staunch follower of UWL, and have been a lifelong vegan.
MaryEllen,
Thanks for entering the contest. You didn’t win this time, but on UWL we’re all winners! Hope to see you on the webinar anyway!
I would love to win because I love Chef AJ’s videos ~ I’ve watched a few and they are great! Have been plant based for about 5 years and am still learning. Any tips I can get to make quick, healthy meals is always appreciated! I’m already signed up for her newsletters, but I signed up for tours!😊
*yours!
Thanks for joining my newsletter! Unfortunately you didn’t win the contest this time, but I’m glad I’ll “see you” at the webinar anyway. Can’t wait!
I watched Chef AJ “Fat Vegan to Skinny Bitch” and it was touching, powerful, and unforgettable. She really understands our weight loss struggles, and she is also a multitalented chef. She makes cooking easy and fun and I would love to win and learn more from her.
Sheila,
Thanks for entering the contest. Unfortunately you didn’t win this time, but I hope you’ll consider signing up for the webinar anyway and stay tuned to my blog for more inspiration!
I would like to win because I adore all that Chef AJ does! Her webinars and videos are lots of fun to watch and every recipe I’ve ever tried has been amazing. I have no doubt this will be more of the same awesomeness I’ve come to enjoy.
Michele, thanks for entering the contest. Unfortunately you didn’t win this time, but I hope you’ll consider signing up for the webinar anyway and stay tuned to my blog for more inspiration!
Great post Christin! I am already signed up for the webinar. I’d love to win because I’d share it with friends who say “your food looks so yummy” followed by “I could never eat that way!” I’d love to get them interested in Chef AJ and eating more of a WFPB diet. Doug Lisle rocks, btw! Loved his interviews/webinars.
I SO love Doug Lisle too! Soaking up as much as I can!
Thank you for entering to win. Unfortunately, you didn’t win this time, but you’re already a winner on UWL!
I’ve been subscribed to UWL for a long time, hoping to get back to healthier eating, detox from sugar, and weight loss. I finally restarted 6/6/16! I have quite a few cookbooks, they are vegan but not UWL compliant. In looking through UWL files, I happened along to your website. I would love to win this webinar, I desperately need some easy recipes.
Congratulations Audrey, you have been selected as the winner of the giveaway! Please email me or contact me via Facebook for details!