12 Steps to Whole Foods

Introduction
Document any “cleansing reactions” you have, noting them as such to help you get through them. Very
common are headaches, digestive disturbances, cold-like symptoms, and skin breakouts. Write about setbacks
you have—why did you have them? How do you anticipate success the next time you have a similar challenge?
What recipes do you like? What ingredients do you like so much that you want to find more recipes that use
them?
If you can afford it, you may also want to start this year of change with a panel of blood work to document that
your health risks are decreasing, which will be another powerful motivator for you. Ask your doctor for a
prescription for testing for cholesterol (LDL and HDL), triglycerides, B12 and folate, blood glucose, and
hormone testing (especially important for women age 40+).
You may then wish to get tested again at 6 and 12 months later as you begin to see changes in your health. The
more scientific you can be in documenting important changes both large and small, the more likely you will be
to make long-term lifestyle changes rather than going on yet another short-term “health kick.”
Why Should I Make Changes with a Support System in Place?
We are spiritually and emotionally connected, social beings. We need someone to talk to every day about things
that matter. Quit-smoking programs, Weight Watchers, professional organizations, church groups, and many
other examples are evidence of how people are more successful when they come together in a common goal.
Many research studies have documented how people lose weight more successfully if they do it with someone
else.
To that end, please talk about 12 Steps—your thoughts, successes, health improvements, favorite recipes,
challenges—on the 12 Steps blog at www.greensmoothiegirl.com/12-step-blog/. If you are married or have
children or roommates living with you, ask them forthrightly for support in your efforts. Tell them your hopes
and goals, why you want to make a change. You may want to ask a friend to do the program with you.
The importance of the support of a spouse or “significant other” cannot be overstated. My own family lets me
know when a recipe I invent isn’t very good, which I want them to do—but they also thank me for meals I
make. Some of my family members have genuinely appreciated that they are healthy and fit partly because of
my efforts, and they tell me so. I hope that you will obtain the support of those closest to you, because it’s
tremendously important.
You can’t always control what your spouse thinks about eating right, and many of us live alone. You can
control one thing, however. Almost regardless of where you live, support groups are available. I am a member
of a number of groups that gather for monthly potlucks and to discuss a topic related to health and nutrition.
Ask someone you know who is “earthy crunchy,” ask at the health food store, or call a naturopathic doctor’s
office until you find a support group. Of course, you can always start your own group, too! It’s probable that
you have several friends who would really like to take charge of their health but need a bit of hand holding, as
we all do. I like the names of a couple of support groups in my area: “A Healer in Every Home” and “Raw
Lunch Bunch.”
The benefits of a support network are more than just someone to share your experience with: you’ll gain new
friends, new knowledge, recipe ideas and, most importantly, inspiration every time you get together. I am just
like you. Even though I get hundreds of “love letters” from GreenSmoothieGirl.com readers whose lives are
changed for the better, and I love that, nothing recharges my battery like meeting with real, live people.
© Copyright Robyn Openshaw 12 Steps to Whole Foods 23