The Cooking Class That Changed My Life
         By Lisa S. Lawless, Ph.D., Holistic Wisdom C.E.O.

As a psychotherapist and a spiritually natured person, I have often neglected my physical health. Like many Americans, I get that internal nagging to take better care of myself, but I have often gone for that quick microwave dinner or passed on working out.

As I often follow my intuition, I was getting a very strong message that I needed to take the time out of my busy schedule to attend an Asian cooking class locally. So,I decided to go, and on the way there, I heard a little voice within me that said, "this is going to change your life." I smiled and looked forward to the new adventure, but had no idea what was in store.

After two classes, and a private consultation with the teacher of the class, and owner of the store Crimson Dragon Herbs... I am here to tell you about my newly found dedication to a healthy diet.

My physical struggle has often come from feeling like I was always starving, even though I have struggled with keeping excess weight off. The truth was that I was starving... starving for nutrients that I was depriving my body of. I was eating way too much sugar, and processed foods, and my body was saying "yeah, where is what I really need?" So my body kept sending signals that it was hungry.

Don't get me started on the sugar highs and lows I was experiencing! Talk about a roller coaster. My favorite way to describe myself when I would walk into an acupuncture session to get "fixed up" was to say "I am wired and tired."

In this cooking class, learned how to eat well, while making delicious food. Rich grains such as millet,spelt, brown rice, vegetables, soy, legumes, and fruits have replaced my daily ritual of sugar, bleached flour, meat, and dairy.

Let me say, that I have read many an article, book and heard the testimonials of the physically healthy who have preached these eating practices for years, but it never really motivated me. I tasted a few vegetarian meals, and thought them horrible. Being the Taurus that I am, I have to have food that tastes good! It has to be quick too...as I live such a busy life.

During one of the classes, when I put the first bite of the vegetarian chili into my mouth, my taste buds applauded! That was one of many incredible dishes that were prepared for me in this class. These dishes took very little time to make, they were very healthy, low in calories, and tasted wonderful.

At the end of my first class, I sped home to tell my hubby that I had found the "light" in a bowl of chili of all places. I have replaced my milk with Vanilla soy milk (very tasty by the way if you get a good brand).

I have replaced my cheese with soy cheese, and most of my meat with tofu and beans. Let me say, that if I were reading this article... I'd be cynically thinking, oh sure, that sounds appetizing... but I am telling you that it is!

Great Resource-

For a great weight loss program visit the site of Extreme Makeover's Michael Thurman... he really knows what he is talking about!

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