For years I’ve been experiencing the benefits of intermittent fasting: Increased mental focus, energy, clarity in the eyes, and my favorite… more joy and laughter. Intuition and solid research has had me sold on this approach to detox for years, and I wrote about the metabolism boosting benefits in my eBook, Detox Lifestyle Diet.

Occasionally and sometimes regularly, I opted to fast one day a week, which worked great. But over the past few years it has become more difficult to go an entire day without eating, so  I decided to simply delay breakfast for a few hours in order to extend the benefits of my nightly fast. For those of you who do not know the research on intermittent fasting, we experience the benefits of a fast when we go 15-17 hours without eating. In addition to the benefits I mentioned above, fasting slows down cell production, which is a bummer for cancer, which thrives on rapid cell growth. It also decreases inflammation and stabilizes insulin. Oh, and the decreased cell production is anti-aging… Bonus!

I was feeling pretty good doing this, although hungry at first, since I was used to having at least a smoothie first thing in the morning. But then I came across a review for David Zinczenko’s book, The 8 Hour Diet. He’s the guy who wrote, Eat This, Not That and has been on The Today’s Show a zillion times. The 8 Hour Diet presents all the research that supports going a full 16 hours each day without eating. It can be any window at all, but because I tend to eat dinner late, my window is typically from 8pm to noon (Although, I sometimes I’ll have a 15 hour window because I know that works too). This extended my already delayed breakfast an hour or so and I’m feeling the benefits even more!

I’ve been doing a 15-16 hour fast most days now for three weeks and although I don’t own a scale, I do feel lighter. More importantly, my body feels clear and my energy is good. The reason that I like this is because it’s not a diet, but a lifestyle. But the proof it is the pudding… Pardon the pun. Try it! I think you’ll find that  you drop excess weight and feel great doing it. Intermittent fasting finally goes mainstream and we no longer have to fret over breakfast!

How do you know when your ego is in charge or if your intuition is trying to guide you? We all want to make good choices, but sometimes the ego gets in the driver’s seat and tries to run the show! Take shopping for example. Have you ever bought something only to get home and realize you don’t really need it?

The ego is very excitable… He or She can also be impulsive and a bit frantic. So if you’re feeling any of those things, buyer beware.

Your intuition will always feel calm and expansive. It speaks to you in a gentle language that comforts and guides.

At all times we are operating from either ego or intuition, so just start to get a feel of who’s in your driver’s seat at any given moment. If it’s Sir Ego, perhaps give him a chuckle and wait for a little bit to make your decision.

Click on Link for info: Talk on Transformation

I don’t know about you, but the energy I’m perceiving around 2013 is clean. There seems to be an energy surge that has been and continues to flush out anything that would weigh us down, making more room for fresh ideas, projects, and relationships.

I recommend cooperating with this cosmic renewal by prayerfully releasing all that is no longer yours and asking to receive that which is yours. This could include releasing old feelings that need processed, reorganizing, releasing relationships that no longer serve you, and being willing to let go of ways of seeing the world that are aligned with the old (and slower) reality.

The new way of being? Well, it’s not so new. The key word is present. But to truly be present, and therefore creative and powerful, we need to release all that keeps us distracted or puts a drag on our spirit.

Fresh vision, new ideas and a fresh bounce in your step await for the moment you create space within you by releasing all that’s keeping you tethered to the old world.

Being a fan of transformation, I love the fall. Even though I live in the desert where signs of autumn are subtle, there’s still an energetic force encouraging the release of all that’s no longer needed. It’s hard for us to let go of what’s familiar because the experience of transformation is the same for all living things – trees and humans alike. There is always a void before new life emerges and most of us don’t like the feeling of being in between the old and the new. It is unfamiliar and often uncomfortable. The rewards are great though, because with time, new life rushes in and makes us feel alive and vital.

Let the energy of fall support you in letting go of what you no longer want or need knowing that life will slowly but surely fill you up from the inside and make you new again.

Normally you’d hear me say something like, “Be Spiritual,” but today is different.  I just learned that my best guy friend from high school, Rodney, passed away. Too young…Too soon. In honor of him, I’d like to remind us all to enjoy our humanness. We don’t get to be in these bodies forever so just for today savor every bite of food, look at your loved ones with your whole heart and smell the fragrance of the trees and plants as you walk by. Life is fleeting and precious.

My new eBook, Detox Lifestyle Diet is FREE on Amazon for 5 days starting tomorrow (9/4 – 9/8). Grab a copy while you can! If you don’t have an eBook reader, simply download a free Kindle reader on your PC or iPad and you’ve got access to all the electronic books on Kindle!

In my quest for the perfect free spirit image, I stumbled upon a beautiful and talented free spirit! Her name is Shannon. Shannon is a life coach and and artist. I’m particularly exchited about an e-course she’s offering this September on living from the inside out. It’s 5 weeks long and super affordable! (79.00) This is some of what she’ll be offering:

• daily writing, art and creative play exercises
• journaling tips and techniques
• weekly audio guided meditations
• weekly yoga tips and breath work
• weekly LIVE journal jam sessions
• online access to a private e-course blog
• online membership to a private, ongoing community of life explorers (from all over the world)
• personal life coaching
• creative inspiration

Her website is beautiful too… Love her! http://www.afreespiritlife.com/free-spirit-learning/inside-out/

I’m no stranger to obsessive thinking. It runs in my family and is something that I have to be careful to avoid. A few days ago, I fell into one of those mental whirlpools and was struggling to get out. I decided to surrender and consciously give my problem over to Life/God or whatever you want to call the organizing force of the universe. The energy swirling around my head dropped down into my belly and I felt a sense of integration. It occurred to me that the power of surrender is in the peace of integration. It is a choice to move from being scattered to whole. Being whole and at peace, we are able to easily receive the solution as soon as it’s baked and ready to be digested!