Photo by tlst

It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our own home. Bring love into your home, for this is where our love for each other must start.

~ Mother Teresa

I’ll be performing my new club act at The Gardenia in Los Angeles on March 4, 5, and 6! The show is at 9 pm each night. I hope to see you there!

The Gardenia
7066 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90038
Street Parking
RESERVATIONS 323-467-7444

One of our members offered to share what she learned in the recent Stop, Drop & Roll class on self-sabotage.

This class has been awesome for me! What has helped me the most was reading the posts from all of you. All of the sharing has made me so aware of my own fears and reasons for self-sabotage. I really feel as if I have opened up to some things that I have been holding on to with out even realizing they were hurting me. Now that I am aware of these things I feel like I can move on in a positive direction and that I will grow stronger and wiser; now that is progress.

Before this class I couldn’t have told you one thing that I considered self-sabotage; now I know. I “get it.” Knowledge is a powerful thing and it feels so good. Falling in love with myself and the process of getting healthy actually seems doable. Ten days ago I would have said no way.

A great big thank you to all you helped so, so much. Thank you especially to coaches Heather and Kecia who shared and encouraged so valiantly.

~ Patriciaann, Marilu.com member

You can join a public chat with Marilu and Neal Barnard, M.D. right here at Marilu.com.

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.

Save the date * Tuesday, March 2 * 1 PM Eastern (10 AM Pacific)

The link to the chat room will be here on the home page. The transcript will be available after the chat as well.

More chats are planned for Tuesday, March 9 and Tuesday, March 16. Stay tuned!

That’s right – climb!

Climb a wall, climb a rock, climb a mountain.

If you’re new to climbing, call your local rock climbing gym or club and ask about lessons. Make sure you can also rent the necessary equipment. Grab a friend or two – remember how people used to do things together (besides eat)? Have a climbing wall party and invite a bunch of people to try it with you. Even if you don’t fall in love with it, you’ll be introducing the idea of “activity as fun” and one or more of your friends may fall in love with it.

Climbing is a great workout for your legs and your upper body.
Plus, you’ll end up – on top of the world!

The reason it is so difficult for us to change is that we focus too much on the microcosmic steps, or the “program,” and not enough on changing the perspective that landed us where we are in the first place. Deep and true changes come from the inside out, not the other way around.

~ Baron Baptiste, Journey Into Power

Risotto is one of those dishes that seem hard. It’s not hard; it just takes patience and some time. This vegan version is worth the time, so set aside some time to make it. It’s filling and really good on a cold winter day.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Risotto with Roasted Root Vegetables
Green * Serves 4

4-1/4 cups organic vegetable broth (try Imagine Foods brand)
3 cups root vegetables (sweet potatoes, carrots, turnips, parsnips, squash — not red beets as they will color the entire risotto)
2 Tablespoons Earth Balance margarine
1/2 cup finely chopped sweet onion
1-1/2 cups Arborio or medium grain rice
1/4 cup dry white wine or vermouth
3 sage leaves sliced in chiffonade
salt and pepper to taste

Cut veggies in small (1 inch) cubes and lay flat on a baking pan. Drizzle with olive oil and sea salt and stir to coat. Bake in preheated 350F degree about 20-30 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

In a medium saucepan, warm the broth over medium heat. When heated through reduce to low and keep warm.

In large heavy saucepan, melt the margarine and sauté the onion until translucent. Add the rice and stir to coat. Add wine and cook on low heat until wine is completely absorbed.

Add broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring slowly on low heat until each addition is absorbed. (Risotto is not difficult but it takes patience and should be “loved into being.” If you try to hurry the process your rice will be undercooked and the risotto will be ruined.)

Remove from heat and gently stir in the roasted vegetables and salt and pepper to taste.

Transfer to serving bowl and garnish with the fresh sage.

Several years ago, one of our coaches set a really extraordinary goal for herself. She wanted to become a bodybuilder. That’s a goal that takes a lot of dedication – time, effort, money, and serious commitment. In her case, it also involved child care (yes, she had very young children, and moms know what that means about how your body feels).

But she did it. You can read her story here.

Her first step was to make a public declaration. She said, “I AM AN ATHLETE.”

It made all the difference in the world to her. It was not just a fitness goal, it was the definition of Shelagh as a person. Just four words changed her life.

It made all of us at Marilu.com look at her differently, too. As one of her support networks, her words gave us an image of her. We supported her image and her goal based on those four words.

Use your words wisely. You are who you think you are.

What words do you use to describe yourself?
Are you the person you describe yourself to be?
Is it time to find some new words that fit your goals?

Thirty-five percent of all heart attacks occur in people with a total cholesterol between 150 and 199 mg/dl.

Your doctor may be happy with anything under 200 mg/dl – but you should be striving to get below 150. That’s the “heart-attack proof” number. You also want your LDL number (the bad ones – think “lousy” or “loser”) to be under 80.

The best way to get these numbers is to eat a plant-based diet.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) saves lives.

Take a class in CPR through your local Red Cross or American Heart Association chapter. Look in your community education course offerings, or check with a local college. Some employers offer CPR classes, too.

One day from your life can save someone else’s whole life.