The Scale Doesn’t Have All The Answers.

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bathroom scales, change, determination, Healthy, Healthy Eating, new food tastes, obesity, overweight, poor diet, unhealthy lifestyle, weight, will power

Put the scale away, and start gauging your health and weight by how you look & feel. The scale doesn’t have all the answers. Your body does. Lee and I like to be in tune with our being. We like trying new foods, new cleanses, new options and facets towards better health. Without constant change, life can get boring. It’s to our advantage to try new things; you never know what health benefits may be one spoonful away. Eating healthy is not about losing tastes or sacrificing pleasurable foods… it’s quite the opposite. It’s opening up to new taste sensations that one has never experienced before. There’s a whole world out there full of flavors that we can’t even imagine, without actually experiencing them for ourselves. Read up, learn, and treat yourself to a whole new world and perspective of a healthy lifestyle.

Most importantly, we need to start putting ourselves first, and start caring about what we are putting into our bodies. The food we eat, as well as what we drink, affects how we feel. Are you sluggish? Do you have migraines? Do you have skin issues? Or… are you glowing and vibrant, with a zest for life? Do you need to exercise more? It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure this out. But, it does take determination and a will to live and be happy & healthy. What challenge or new road will we take this week? Hmmm…I guess we’ll find out.  I have a few ideas up my sleeve. Whatever it is, I’ll need to decide by tomorrow. A new week, and new day and a chance for new opportunities to open that next door. Have a self-motivated, inspiring start to a whole new week!

Love to All! Mary!

Saturday Morning YUM Just in Time

Tags

24 Carrots Cafe, brown rice tortilla, Healthy breakfast food, ME-gan food, tofu scramble, vegan gluten free food

I love when I find markets, restaurants and even individuals who eat and cook the way I do. It’s so refreshing. What a treat it is to have others cook for me once in a while and I can simply sit back & enjoy, knowing that it’s ME-ganly safe and delicious. JOY!

This morning was a morning where I needed food. Not all mornings are like that. Sometimes I am in the mood for a juice masterpiece that we’ve been making with our awesome Jack LaLanne juicer, or maybe just some fresh decaf coffee…you know, just a slow, kicked back easy breezy morning with no desire for anything heavy right off the bat. The only problem was that I’m having plumbing work done in the kitchen and it would be difficult to get in there and make anything. Thank goodness for 24 Carrots Cafe (click here to visit their site) in Chandler- yeah baby! I was able to pick up some scrumptious gluten free vegan breakfast food for Lee and I. We’ve eaten lunch there but have never tried breakfast, and boy were we delighted.

I just wanted to say thanks to them for being there and especially for being OPEN – it’s made my morning complete. Now I can get to work around this old house and get a few things done! Here are some pics of our breakfast:

Have a day filled with ME-gan goodness & love!

Mary

The Epiphany: When ME-gan Encounters Trying (Tempting) Times

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eating healthy, Epiphany, Gluten Free, guilt, health, long term happiness, Mary Bortel, ME-gan Lifestyle, obesity, pity, self-loathing, short term gain, The ME-gan Lifestyle, Vegan, weight

The ME-gan Lifestyle is a beautiful experience because the payoff is an incredible feeling of health, self control and euphoria of mind and spirit. But always remember, this is a “lifestyle change” and not a short term gain game. How many times have you seen the TV commercial pitch…”I lost 30 pounds in 20 days, I was amazed and I could still eat what ever I wanted!?” That is either a lie or a huge lie.

Sure, you can eat all you want of this, but don’t expect to stay thin and healthy.

Ohh yes, health by the spoonful! NOT!

All these NON-NUTRITIONAL treats just waiting to be bought for Mother’s Day! No thank you!

I’d rather have the love of my children on Mother’s Day, than the guilt and the extra pounds. Not to mention all the pain my tummy would be going through if I ate this crapola.

The truth and honest question is this; it took many years of unhealthy eating to reach a state of an unhealthy and over weight body, so how long is reasonable to reverse that trend? One month? Three months? The answer is simple:  as long as it takes for you to commit and stick to a belief system that works.

To pick a number out of thin air, 90 days is a reasonable time period to see dramatic results; however it must be approached as a true “take control” long term process that is directed by YOU and not a slick packaged system from a TV commercial. Just because it is color coded, doesn’t mean it works…it just means it is easy to follow the directions.

Once you commit to the ME-gan Lifestyle, you are on your way. However, temptations are part of the equation, it’s inevitable. Sure there are times when a double bacon cheeseburger (animal style) is something most people would love to devour…but wait, we are supposed to be in control; right? Trust me, you are the “only one” in control of YOUR life and your health; so grab the wheel and take command of your future.  No one else will, no matter how much money you pay them!

Here is a little inside tip that will help with your journey. When you are tempted by seductive TV ads or just the raw desire to turn that steering wheel to a hard right and pull into a drive-thru restaurant and “binge” your way to a temporary state of bliss, remember this undeniable truth; the “short term” ecstasy of a “fast food fix” results in a very short term period of “satisfaction” with many long term heart breaks. On the other hand, the ME-gan Lifestyle is all about discipline and restraint for long term health, happiness and a great self-image. Which would you choose? If you were a child the answer is simple…”take the ice cream cone.”  But as a mature adult the answer is just as clear…

Take the road of long term health and happiness over a short “fix” of indulgence.

Short term satisfaction & long term poor health and misery? Or, on-going discipline and a longer, healthier and happier life? There is only one correct answer. YOU are the only one in control of your life and your health. YOU are the one who must be the adult in the room and take charge!

The EPIPHANY:

Those who eat a no boundaries way of eating diet, go from “happy” a feeling of elation, because they can eat anything they want (so they make themselves believe)… pick one, gorge, but then…afterwards, they are miserable, sad, and guilty. The happy feeling didn’t last very long. Whereas, the ME-gan Lifestyle person is quite the opposite. There may be days (mamma said there’d be days like this)…where you wake up and want a greasy, cheesy, bacon and sausage breakfast burrito, but end up saying 3 rosaries before the temptation passes. You are miserable, grouchy and just not a happy person right now, and you begin to apply self pity…”poor, poor me, I can’t eat that because my body reacts negatively and I’m overweight.” But then, TA -DAH…once you pass that self-loathing part, you are HAPPY…HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY! Note, the non ME-gan is happy first, then miserable; the ME-gan is miserable at first then happy – and a long lasting happy I might add!

When I woke up this morning, I could have eaten food for an army.. but I calmed my self down, had fresh squeezed orange juice and ‘a’ ME-gan bagel (yes, only one!) I was not disappointed! 

You choose; it’s YOUR life! I wish for you a long, healthy and enjoyable life!

Love, Mary.

Bouna Festa Mamma; Feliz Dia De Las Madre; Happy Mother’s Day!

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Bouna Festa Mamma, children, Feliz Dia De Las Madre, Happy Mother's Day, humming birds, Mother's Day, Mother's Day Card for Jackie Costa, Mother's Day Poem, my mom, poetry, Sicilian, summers county west virginia

Happy Mother’s Day to ALL mother’s out there.

This posting goes out to MY MAMMA, who is miles and miles away! I miss her very much. I’ve always said, if I can just be a ‘spec’ of the mother she is, I’d be happy.  As I talk about in my book, The ME-gan Lifestyle, my mom grew up on a farm way out in the country in Summers County, West Virginia. She and my father raised 10 children; 5 girls and 5 boys. There was a pattern to her childbearing… it was boy, girl, boy, girl… all the way through. And to top that off, 5 were light and 5 were dark. The light skin coming from my mother, and the dark from my Sicilian father. How cool is this!

I, having raised 4 kids, can’t begin to fathom how my mother did it. I love to look back now at my age and try to piece together what she must have been going through at certain times in her life. She’s been raising children since 1950 and still is today! Just because they’re older, doesn’t mean they’ve flown the nest! God bless her – that’s all I have to say!

Here is my ‘from the heart’ mother’s day card for my dear sweet Jackie….

Happy Mother’s Day, Dearest Jackie!

May, 2013

 

 

Children cry out for their mama at all ages, not just when they are babies in the nest.

And no matter how far away mommy may be, the children know that they can

always count on her to give them unconditional & everlasting love.

Children can sense their mother’s love and concern; they long for her secure embrace.

As a child, I always felt your love. Now, as an adult, I also feel your love

and know that you are still there for me.

I wish we could have lived closer over the past 20 years, but only God knows

why we take the roads we do.

Although Mother’s Day gives me a chance to ‘tell’ you how much I love you,

you are in my heart with every breath I take and always will be.

You are a wonderful mother, who has always taken care of her nest, and

you continue to do so today!

May God return all the goodness you do for others, and may you

have a blessed and happy Mother’s day.

 

Love always, Mary

Rollin’ With The Flow

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bad luck, car trouble, carma, Charlie Rich Rollin' With The Flow, dark clouds, good fortune, Lee & Mary Bortel, luck, Phoenix, Roll'n with the flow, staycation, the devil's lose

Lee and I have to decided to roll with the flow, so we don’t get knocked on the flo no mo! LOL!

Sometimes the best antidote for stress, or whatever the world serves up, unannounced and certainly not asked for, is a complete get-away.

We had decided to seek refuge at a 3 day “staycation”, low cost, low stress, high pleasure and fun. Little did we know what we would encounter once our “stealth like” plan was put into play.

We packed all morning (for 2 1/2 days), getting ready to go, made a quick run to the store to pick up some last-minute fruit, veggies and ‘spirits’ to keep in our hotel room, and lo and behold the devil was on the loose and kicked us right in the tailpipe…actually the radiator. We got out of the car at the liquor store to find a “green goo” running rapidly out from under our car. Lee’s face turned purple to accentuate the green, and I said with a smile on my face….”it’ll still be here when we get out, let’s go get our shopping done!”

And when we did get out we knew that we would have to drive it straight across the street to the local Enterprise car rental. While driving a 1/4 mile over, our car temp was heating up by the SECOND! This became scary with visions of $$ attached to the solution. And do remember, this was to be a 3 day escape from stress and problem solving.

Well, we arrived at the rental place without our car engine catching fire, but the ‘luck’ just continued; when we got to the front door we discovered they had closed 15 minutes earlier! On a Saturday? What!? Not a person to be found. Here it is, 12:20 on a Saturday, in Phoenix, AZ., in May…let me just say this – it was already hot! If there was any positive outlook to any of this it would be that there was a box of booze in the back of the car, oh…but then again, we had no ice! Bummer!

What to do? Ok…we had to think logically in all this despair ..even though we had already promised our brains they wouldn’t have to do any high level thinking or problem solving this weekend! But, it’s ok… fortunately Lee and I have become experts at doing so. We called our dear neighbor Kathye who came to our rescue.

Long story short, the tow truck barely arrived just in time to get our car to the dealership before they closed until Monday morning. And when I say barely, we are talking minutes and seconds! Once all the paper work was done, we received our beautiful loaner. We would worry about fixing the car next week, when we ‘had’ to.  Nonetheless, YAHOOOO…our staycation would begin.

We arrive at this beautiful resort, and start unwinding and enjoying life instantly! There is nothing but peace and serenity surrounding us (and LOTS of chirping birds). Thank you JESUS! Whoa…HOLD that thought! We enjoyed a beautiful, ME-gan salad for dinner, and went back to the room to change into our bathing suits for an evening swim, and shockingly enough (NOT!) my stomach began to gurgle. Imagine that. Really? I thought. Uggg… bacteria in the salad? I was glued to the POT for over an hour!

Oh yes…the dark cloud was still hovering! <SIGH!>

It too (meaning my poo) passed, like all things do and we actually ended up having a spectacular night in the pool & hot tub, enjoying some of Lee’s awesomely crafted drinks!

We are off to the gym now, to begin our day! We are expecting nothing but…as the Beach Boy’s sing…Good Vibrations! But if you never see a follow-up to this blog, then it could mean that we did encounter more drama or we just simply ran away to another land – far, far away.

This is not a tale of woe, we’re just rollin’ with the flow!

Click here to listen to Charlie Rich, Rollin’ With The Flow! Life’s all about GREAT music!

May good fortune follow you all! Love,

Lee & Mary

If You Like It Then You Should Have Put A Ring On It!

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beyonce, blogging, commenting on the ME-gan Lifestyle, if you like it then you should have put a ring on it, sharing the ME-gan Lifestyle, social media

Hey ladies! Want to get inspired to lose some weight and get in shape? Watch this video by Beyoncé, click here!

Hard work pays off; and it doesn’t come over night.

Next time you’re craving a double double, monster style from IN N Out Burger, turn on something motivating like this video!

Well, let me keep this short. I truly just wanted to say to all my readers, followers, and visitors, that if you like my blog…then put a ring on it by clicking the ‘like’ button! You can also Facebook it, Tweet it, Stumbleupon, Digg and Pin it! It’s really not that time-consuming, and it means a lot to me. Tell your friends and family about it.

Sharing is caring!

All your input is needed and welcomed. What do you like about The ME-gan Lifestyle blog? What don’t you like? What would you like more of? I’m all about positive criticism. We can all grow by being positive, but negativity will bring us down.

I am looking forward to hearing from you!

ME-gan Love,

Mary

ME-gan Proves That Food Can Be Exquisite. Mary’s ‘Raw Ecstasy’ Recipe!

Tags

chocolate lover's delight, Exquisite Desserts, gf desserts, gf vegan desserts, Mary Sparacino Bortel, ME-gan desserts, Raw Ecstacy, vegan desserts

I love that you are asking for this recipe; you won’t be disappointed! Some of you have already tasted it and know first hand how exquisite it is! The moment it touches your lips and hits your taste buds…all your troubles melt away for a moment. The flavors are so amazingly deliciously delicate (yes, that is all one run on words – get over it!), yet powerful, you just begin to moan…

Mmmmmm

Just remember…ME-gan food is exquisite! And it’s all GLUTEN FREE VEGAN! That’s the beauty of The ME-gan Lifestyle! I found this recipe a long time ago and doctored it up to fit my tastes & preferences; in other words, I made it my own. So, wait no longer, indulge yourself into this sinfully, yet heavenly, delectable recipe:

Mary’s Raw Ecstasy

Note: This recipe demands a preface, so here goes…

If you will need to purchase most of the ingredients, it may add up to a pretty penny, but you will be able to make several batches. I also want to give you a heads up that this takes a while to make; approximately 1.5 hours start to finish. A little tip for you; I measure out the ingredients before I get started and make 3 areas on my counter top, since there are 3 layers to this orgasmic treat.  Ok, I said the ‘O’ word… again, get over it, or better yet…enjoy it! If I have a favorite brand name on a product, I will suggest it. Lastly, give the recipe a good read over before you start shopping or making it.

First area on your counter of ingredients will be for the bottom layer:

• 1/4 cup organic coconut oil
• 4 oz. Baker’s Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate Squares
• 1/4 cup raw honey (organic if possible) *Note: for vegans who choose not to eat honey, replace with date syrup or brown rice syrup.
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1.5 cups almond flour
• 1.5 cups unsweetened finely shredded coconut

Second area on your counter of ingredients will be for the middle layer:

• 1 cup MaraNatha All Natural No Stir Almond Butter, Crunchy- Ready to Stir (this is my preference. You can use your choice of raw almond butter)
• 1 Tbsp. organic coconut oil
• 1/4 cup unsweetened Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Almond Coconut blend
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Third area on your counter of ingredients will be for the topping:

• 4 oz. Baker’s Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate Squares 

Directions:

Line an 8×8 (or a 9×2 round pan – which is what I had to use because I don’t have a square pan) with parchment paper. I lay a long piece each way so that no piece of the pan is uncovered.

Let’s start with the bottom layer:

In a heatproof bowl, over a saucepan of simmering water, melt the coconut oil, and then gradually add in 4 oz. of semi-sweet chocolate. Whisk it until they are well mixed. Add in the honey and vanilla. Stir in the ground almond flour and coconut. Once it is well mixed, pour mixture into prepared pan and press it evenly into the bottom. Cover with plastic and put into refrigerator for about 20 minutes. While that is cooling, we will go on to the middle layer…

Place all middle layer ingredients into a medium sized bowl and mix until smooth with an electric hand mixer. You can add more milk if mixture is ‘too’ thick to spread. Pour this over the bottom layer (after bottom layer has cooled for at least 20 minutes), and cover again with plastic wrap, place into refrigerator for another 30 to 45 minutes. Now we move on to the last, but not least, top layer…

Time this part so that the last step is just about done cooling in the refrigerator for it’s 30 – 45 minute period. Then, in a heatproof bowl, over a saucepan of simmering water (yes, just like we previously did with the bottom layer), melt 4 oz. of semi-sweet chocolate. Once this is melted, pour over the filling that’s been cooling. Once you have spread it on top, put this back into the refrigerator to cool for about 10 minutes (don’t wait too long or it will be hard to cut), and then cut into as many squares as you’d like. Once your squares are cut, place back into the fridge, and allow the mixture to harden.

I keep them in the fridge wrapped in plastic wrap, all the time anyway, I like them cold and firm. Once they are out at room temp, they begin to soften. It’s your preference!

I usually make these at night, and when I wake up in the morning they are perfect.  A great snack for lunch, or anytime of the day or night! Enjoy with a glass of almond milk or a glass of red vino!

MANGIA!

Chocolate lover’s raw, ecstasy love to you!

Mary  

RAW ECSTASY… ME-gan Goes Wild!

Tags

chocolate lover's delight, Gluten Free, healthy dessert, ME-gan, raw, raw ecstast, Vegan

C’mon on over to the ME-gan Lifestyle….

No…these are not brownies!

No…these do not have flour, eggs or dairy, imagine that!

They are not even cooked!

They are pure organic, raw, vegan, gluten free, ME-ganly delicious … better than brownies! They are so good, and so rich that just a small bite lingers….I call them RAW ECSTASY!

What are YOU waiting for?

The ME-gan Lifestyle is no punishment… just satisfaction, flavors beyond imagination, extreme happiness, delicious foods and most of all better health for YOU!

ME-gan love,

Mary

The ME-gan Lifestyle; Beauty, Health, Nutrition and Taste…All Wrapped Up In Nature’s Goodness!

Tags

eating for your health, faith, Gluten Free, greens, Happiness, health, LOVE, mini peppers, Mother Nature, obesity, Salads, sickness, Vegan

Taste and see the goodness of The ME-gan Lifestyle!

 

Get on board the train of better health! What have you got to lose? What could you possibly gain? You DECIDE!

ME-gan love, health, peace, happiness & faith to you and yours!

Mary

A “Green” Juicing Delight

Tags

english cucumbers, gardening, health in a glass, Hearts of Romaine, Juicing, Mother Nature, quench your thirst, refreshing summertime treat, rutabagas

TGIF! Yes indeed, and we’re starting the weekend off by drinking to MOTHER NATURE!

Enjoy of glass of her champagne and reap the goodness. This green juice we made this evening consists of 1 head of Hearts of Romaine, 1 English cucumber, and 1 rutabaga. It is so delicious…sweet & smooth.  

What do you get when you cross a turnip with a cabbage? Any bunny will tell you, a rutabaga!

The name “rutabaga” comes from the Swedish word “rotabagge.” “Rota” means “root.” It is often called Swedish turnip. I never knew, did you?

Try eating rutabaga for constipation. I hear that due to their mustard oil content, they can cause gas, uggg. I also read that they should not be consumed by anyone with kidney troubles. They have a rich vitamin C content which is known to help reduce the breathing difficulties in asthma patients. I wish I would have known this while raising my son, who was born with bronchial asthma. Here’s a good one for my two daughters who are with child, rutabaga stimulates milk production and also enhances digestion and stamina.

It is rich in potassium, which goes hand in hand for decreasing risk of heart stroke. It also helps in lowering high blood pressure. Wow…what a plethora of health and wellness in just one of the many foods we’ve been blessed with on this earth.

The English cucumber, similar to the Persian cucumber, has thinner skin and few and smaller seeds (seeds are the source of the sometimes bitter taste in a cucumber), try these wholesome goodies in your next salad – Mmmm! They are easily digested, and can quench your thirst. What a refreshing treat just in time for summertime!

Romaine lettuce is rich in vitamin C and beta-carotene which benefits the heart. It’s fiber helps keep the digestive system healthy. It lowers cholesterol by helping the body to make more bile. Plus, they are rich in potassium which is another heart healthy nutrient and aids in lowering blood pressure.

So, what can we learn from this “green” juicing delight? Once again, we have discovered that everything we need to maximize a healthy body is, and always has been, right outside the back door in the vegetable garden!

Mother nature does the work and we reap the many, many health benefits. Now that is a great deal.

So, lets grab a hoe and a shovel and get busy planting our very own garden!

GREEN ME-gan love to you!

Mary