If this is your first experience with the Total Health Makeover® you may be wondering where to begin. Many people begin with one of my books and that's an excellent way to start. Others have seen or heard me discussing the program on television or radio. That is also a good way to begin.
But what if you've heard good things about "Marilu's program" but you don't know anything at all about the specifics? Well, that's why this website is here. This is your place to get more information - and the very best support from my coaches. Are you ready for your total health makeover?
I just celebrated my 55th birthday January 21st, and I feel fabulous! I am now older than my parents when they each had their first heart attacks in t .... read more
My THM journey began Oct of 1998. I finally figured out that dairy was making me sick. Every time I ate it I was in the bathroom immediately. It can r .... read more
If you want a fit, toned body, get up early to exercise.
Try an early morning boot camp class.
Run or walk with a friend.
Get to the gym or fitness center before work (hey, they have showers, and you’ll free up the bathroom at home for someone else).
You’ll start your day by boosting your metabolism, you’ll have more energy through the day, you’ll be motivated to fuel your body with healthy foods – and your evenings will be free for friends and family.
The Rrazz Room at the Hotel Nikko, San Francisco is hosting the 2nd Anniversary Gala & Benefit for Haiti Relief / American Red Cross on Wednesday, March 17, 8 PM.
This is a special night to celebrate the premier nightclub of the West coast with a star-studded lineup including: Marilu Henner, Lucie Arnaz, Stefanie Powers, Paula West, Valarie Pettiford, Linda Purl, Wesla Whitfield & Mike Greensill, Sarah Dash, Edna Wright & Honey Cone, Sandra Reaves-Phillips, Kim Nalley and more!
Stop by next Tuesday, March 16 at 1 PM Eastern/10 AM Pacific for another chat with Marilu. These chats are a collaboration between Marilu.com and PCRM’s 21-day Vegan Kickstart program.
One thing we don’t pay enough attention to is indoor air quality. Are there improvements you can make?
Add houseplants * Many common houseplants help filter indoor air quality. Try philodendron, dracaena, English ivy, spider plant, weeping fig, golden pothos, peace lily, Chinese evergreen, bamboo, and snake plant – all recommended by NASA.
Reduce plastics * Swap your plastic shower curtain liner for a fabric one (you can wash it, too!).
Change air fresheners * Stop using commercial sprays and plug-ins (really – that’s wasting electricity, too). Google “essential oil air fresheners” to find recipes for making your own. Bonus – you’ll always have the scent you want. And don’t forget to open the windows. Sometimes that’s all it takes.
Ban the dry cleaning * When you bring home dry cleaning, take the clothes out of the bag and hang them in the garage overnight. Then bring the clothes in. The solvents used in dry cleaning are toxic, and have no place in your home. Search out a dry cleaner that uses non-toxic materials, too.
Yum, another delicious vegan recipe! Use green split peas, and you’ll get your green in today, too! If you want, you can add several handfuls of chopped spinach or a couple of stems (pull the leaves off the stem) of chopped kale to this (see, we’re serious about greening you up for St. Patrick’s Day).
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ Split Pea Soup Blue * Serves 8
2 cups split peas, washed
2 quarts water
1 cup sliced celery
1/2 cup diced onions
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup diced potatoes
1 garlic clove minced
1 bay leaf
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
pinch cayenne
Combine all ingredients in a stock pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer one hour or until peas are cooked through. Remove bay leaf before serving.
Get yourself some green by keeping track of all the money you spend on bad food and bad habits.
You know what we’re talking about – the candy bar you pick up at the checkout counter, the drive-through fast food stop that just “happens” to be on your way, the cigarettes you smoke when you’re out with friends, the way you hit “snooze” instead of going to the gym.
Figure out the cost of your gym membership per visit (aiming for three times a week is reasonable). How much does it cost you to skip a day? We know you want to say, “Fine, I just won’t renew my membership, and that will save me money.” Well, yes, but it will also cost you unless you are dedicated to your own non-gym workout. Sometimes the money is the motivator.
Look at your grocery bill and figure out what doesn’t need to be there. How much did you spend on junk food? It could really add up in a year.
Now think green, and start saving that money. You might have enough for some really great incentives – like jewelry or vacations or hey, there might be enough to cover that gym membership (which you’ll be using) after all!
The next time you cook pasta, add a handful of baby spinach for every serving. Just drop it into the pasta water about 2 minutes before the pasta is done cooking. Drain the pasta and spinach into a colander, and top with your favorite sauce.
It’s easy to add GREEN (and all its nutrients) to your meals.
Dr. Barnard is the founder and president of Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine. PCRM is a group of doctors and laypersons working together for compassionate and effective medical practice, research, and health promotion. Recently, Marilu worked with PCRM to help improve the school lunch program.
The CHAT ROOM (< click that) will be open just before the scheduled chat time. There's a help link on the page if you need help getting connected. A link to the transcript will be available after the chat here on the blog.
Here’s some music to get you moving – inside and out.
You don’t need to fit anyone else’s idea of perfect to be your best. You don’t need to measure yourself against someone else’ standard of beauty. Your beauty and your perfection come from within. Celebrate who you are and who you are becoming each day.
And while you’re at it, take care of your body with some movement.
Get up and dance.
Confetti R&R is a Purple Week staple for many followers of Marilu’s Total Health Makeover®, You can use up leftover Rice & Rye, or make some fresh for this.
You can adapt this recipe to add or substitute other veggies you have on hand. Especially good? Chopped fresh spinach or kale.
2 cups of cooked brown rice and rye*
1/4 cup vegetable broth
1/4 cup minced red onion
1/4 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup julienne red cabbage
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/8 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/8 cup chopped fresh basil
In a large sauce pan, combine vegetable broth, red onion, celery, cabbage, and peas. Bring to a simmer. Add cooked rice and rye, parsley, and basil. Heat at low temperature for an additional 3 -5 minutes.
*To prepare rice & rye if you don’t already have some in the fridge or freezer –
Measure 1 cup brown rice and 1 cup whole-grain rye (sometimes called rye berries – NOT rye flour or rolled rye flakes) into a medium saucepan. Add 4 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer, cover, and cook until liquid is absorbed, about 30 minutes.
Marilu Henner is a well-known actress and the author of New York Times and national bestselling books, Marilu Henner's Total Health Makeover and The 30-Day Total Health Makeover, I Refuse to Raise a Brat, Healthy Life Kitchen, Healthy Kids, Healthy Holidays, Wear Your Life Well, and By All Means Keep on Moving. For more than twenty years she has championed a vigorous, healthy lifestyle and has inspired millions of people along the way. Read More