ASK MISS BLISS - MEAT MADE MY BODY SICK AND I NEED HELP BECOMING VEGETARIAN
Written by Miss Bliss on May 14, 2008 – 10:23 am -
Dearly loved Bliss,
I recently became very ill and, as a result, had to have my body COMPLETELY flushed. As a result, I am having a really hard time dealing with “normal” food. Even before my illness, I had been considering becoming vegetarian for health reasons, but never really saw it as convenient. I was willing to tolerate my problems with food in exchange for yummy stuff! The more I research it, though, the more I am realizing I don’t have to trade taste for health, but can combine, thanks in part to your lovely blogs about a decadent and healthy lifestyle.
Now more than ever (and because of my illness) I am very seriously considering giving up meat. If you get a chance, I would love your opinion on it, tips on eating healthily, anything. Also…is your delightful husband health-conscious as well? My fiance is an amazing chef who delights in creating wonderful things with food, but he’s never tried cooking anything without meat. I think this could be a challenge for both us - more for him, honestly, because he does all that cooking (I know, I’m totally spoiled. :D).
I guess all I’m asking for is your input. I know living in California and New York probably makes it easier for you because you have more top-quality produce available to you, but here in Atlanta, it seems people haven’t yet discovered the meaning of the word health. 
I know you’re a terrifically busy woman, and if you never get a chance to get back to me, I understand. But I would love to hear your thoughts, maybe glean a bit of wisdom from you.
Love from afar!
Sick of Meat
Dearest Sick of Meat,
I very much understand how scary it must be to know that you no longer have a choice when it comes to food. Due to weak health, you have to dramatically change your diet to return to your vibrant self and the implications of this change do not only affect you, but affect your partner, as well. In a relationship, it can be hard to have different dietary needs, especially when one partner is the primary cook.
When I first became vegetarian six years ago last week (my veggie anniversary), my partner panicked. A dedicated carnivore, he liked very few fruits and vegetables and since I was the primary cook, he knew immediately, that my choice to stop eating animals would affect his life, too. At first, I thought it would be easy to continue as we had eaten before. When we stopped at Burger King, I ordered the veggie burger. At Subway, I ate the “veggie delight” sandwich (which basically is a cheese sandwich with lettuce, tomato, pickles, olives, etc.). I ordered pasta with marinara sauce at Italian restaurants and asked for salads without the meat in more traditional places. Basically, I tried to adapt without affecting the way my partner ate because I always saw my vegetarianism as “my choice” and never wanted to push it on my love or anyone else in my life.
But soon, I became bored of icky-tasting veggie burgers and cheese sandwiches. I didn’t want to get fat on carbs and dairy by making the mistake many vegetarians do of overindulging in macaroni and cheese and margherita pizzas. I knew that I had to learn how to cook if I was going to be a happy and healthy veggie girl. And, if I was going to be a vegetarian chef, my man’s diet would have no choice but to change, as well.
WAYS TO HELP TURN YOUR PARTNER ONTO A VEGGIE LIFESTYLE
1. FAKE MEAT HAS NO CHOLESTEROL AND DOES NOT CAUSE HEART DISEASE
Many transitional vegetarians feel confused as to what to eat to replace meat. In the beginning, I could not imagine a meal that did not have some kind of “protein”, so I tried to make my favorite dishes with “fake” soy meats because I had not learned to enjoy tofu and seitan yet (that took a good couple of years) and I also hadn’t realized how many marvelous dishes there are just veggies and grains. I made my man tacos with ground soy “meat”, and stir-fried veggies with soy “chicken” strips. For breakfast, we would make scrambled eggs with soy “bacon”. Even though it was not as satisfying as meat, we learned to enjoy how little cholesterol we were eating and my man got behind the idea that we were lowering our heart disease risk and losing weight. I encouraged him to continue cooking meat for himself, but he did not feel comfortable doing this, and so I tried to think of vegetarian dishes that were “almost” like his favorite foods – all with soy meats.
2. BEING VEGETARIAN IS THE BEST WAY YOU CAN FIGHT GLOBAL WARMING
Goveg.com reports that “A 2006 United Nations report found that the meat industry produces more greenhouse gases than all the SUVs, Hummers, cars, trucks, planes, and ships in the world combined.”
So tell your man if you both reduce your meat intake, you can help stop global warming and ensure there is a beautiful world for your future children and grandchildren. To read Fight Climate Change with Diet Change, CLICK HERE.
3. LEARN TO ENJOY VEGETARIAN MEALS BY EATING IN ETHNIC RESTAURANTS
For some transitioning vegetarians with meat-eating partners, the best way to find new veggie dishes you like (and that he may like, too) is to visit ethnic restaurants that serve both veggie and non-veggie entrees. Indian, Thai, Chinese, and Italian restaurants all have vegetarian options. He can order the flesh meal, and you can try veggie entrees and have him taste them. He might just prefer the meal you chose!
4. ASK HIM TO KEEP THE MEAT ON THE SIDE
Many home-cooked meals can easily be modified to be vegetarian. If he cooks pasta with meatballs, ask him to keep the meatballs on the side so you can have veggie pasta with marinara sauce. If he’s making chicken with a salad, ask him to make an extra large salad for you and augment its protein by adding nuts or cheese. Or, have him pull a soy chicken breast from the fridge and cook that for you. At first, this can seem like a drag, but soon enough, it will get you helping him in the kitchen which can be a lot more fun and good for your relationship.
5. THE BEST PRODUCE IS AT THE FARMER’S MARKET
Even in California and New York, the best produce is not found in the grocery store, but at the Farmer’s Market. And, guess what, darling reader? There are Farmers’ Markets even in Atlanta, Georgia. CLICK HERE to see the many markets in Georgia. Shopping in Farmers’ Markets supports local farmers and also helps stop global warming because you are purchasing food that was not packaged or shipped, wasting precious natural materials, gas and oil. Plus, at the Farmers’ Markets, the prices are cheaper, the produce is fresher, and you get to taste food before you buy it. I personally find it moving to meet the people who make and harvest my food and it is easier to get good, non-pesticide-sprayed organic foods at the Farmer’s Market. Many markets also have musicians, fresh flowers and are a wonderful way to spend a Saturday or Sunday morning with the person you love.
6. WHEN HE FEELS MORE COMFORTABLE, GO TO VEGETARIAN RESTAURANTS TO FIND NEW ENTREES YOU BOTH LIKE
When I did a quick google search of vegetarian restaurants in Atlanta, Georgia, many options came up. So, when you are feeling ready, do a search and explore some new places and new foods in your area.
7. GET ONE NEW BIG VEGETARIAN COOKBOOK
I rarely cooked before I became vegetarian. But when I grew bored of the three or four veggie dishes I knew how to make, I finally purchased Marilyn Diamond’s massive cookbook, The American Vegetarian Cookbook From The Fit For Life Kitchen. With over 400 pages of recipes, you can find some dishes you will both like. And, since they are healthy for you, your new entrees will help you both be thinner, fitter and healthier while not denying you yummy taste.
7. BE GENTLE HELPING YOUR PARTNER TO ACCEPT YOUR NEW DIETARY HABITS
After six years of my being vegetarian, my man is now a vegetarian 26 days of the month. I have never tried to force him to be veggie and understand that sometimes his body needs meat. When it does, we try to purchase clean, organic meat in restaurants we trust. He understands that I will not cook meat and he does not feel comfortable bringing animal flesh into our home, but that is his choice, not mine. The number one thing to being successfully vegetarian is to notice how your body feels when you eat veggie dishes. As your body becomes healthier, you will naturally reach your ideal weight and trust me, your partner will want to be more like you!
XOXXOXOXOXO
BLISS WARRIOR
Posted in HEALTH, NUTRITION, RELATIONSHIPS, body size, boyfriends, natural health, soy, vegetables, vegetarian |
THE GREAT VITAMIN DEBATE
Written by Miss Bliss on March 31, 2008 – 6:31 pm -Do you take vitamins? I rarely - if ever - take vitamins. When I do, they often give me a stomach ache, and as I become healthier, I listen to my body. If a food or supplement makes me feel sick, that tells me I should not eat it.
When you become vegetarian, everyone asks the same questions, “How do you get protein?” and “Are you taking enough vitamins and supplements?” It is hard for many Americans to believe that one can stay healthy eating fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds and nuts alone. When I tell them I get my protein from veggies and nuts and the occasional egg, and never take vitamins, they look at me like I am crazy. “What about the B-vitamins? Vegetarians have to take B-vitamins!”
SHOULD VEGETARIANS TAKE VITAMINS?
A couple of years ago, I started going to a wonderful chiropractor in New York’s West Village. In the early 1980s, he participated in a longitudinal study researching the effects of vitamins on the body. After five years of medical doctors, researchers, and holistic practitioners studying patients and recording data, he said the only vitamin that the body absorbed in pill-form was Vitamin C. “Vitamins,” he told me, “are best absorbed into the bloodstream and the body when they come from whole, unprocessed food.”
Many friends I know swear by vitamins and say they give them more energy and make them more immune to colds and flus. Many medical doctors say that it is always a good idea for adults 40 and over to at least take a multivitamin daily.
For my birthday, my man gave me a copy of Michael Pollan’s new book, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto. Pollan argues that prevailingly scientific research has not improved our health, but made us fat and diseased. For decades, scientists have supported “nutritionism”; the theory that health does not come from whole food, but the individual nutrients within food. It is not the orange that is good for you, but the vitamin C within the orange. In “nutritionism,” then, vitamin C can be removed from the orange, be made into a pill, and be considered equally as “nutritious.” But what if there is something else within the orange that helps humans to absorb the natural vitamin C?
IF I CAN’T GET VITAMINS FROM PILLS, WHAT SHOULD I BE EATING?
1. “Eat mostly plants, especially leaves.” From interviewing numerous nutritionists, Mr. Pollan says that the best place to get Vitamin C and many other nutrients necessary for vibrant health, is to eat leaves. Obviously, when he says “leaves”, he means salad: lettuce, spinich, kale, mustard greens, chard, mixed greens, etc. One thing scientists do agree on, he says, one can never eat too many greens.
2. Where do I get vitamin B12? Vegetarians need to be concerned about Vitamin B12 because the only natural source for it is in meat or bacteria. However, Mr. Pollan points out, humans need only a very small amount of B12 and vegetarians may get enough from eating fermented produce or fermented teas, like Kombucha. The Vegetarian Society disagrees with this statement and argues that “the only reliable unfortified sources of vitamin B12 are meat, dairy products and eggs.” They recommend that vegans eat food fortified with B12. One egg a week will supply a vegetarian with enough B12 to not need to take supplements.
3. Juicing! If you missed my blog, Drink Your Vegetables, I recommend checking it out. Juicing fresh, organic vegetables is a great way to inject pure vitamins and minerals directly into your bloodstream.
DO YOU TAKE VITAMINS?
Once again, many people have many different opinions about what vitamins you should take when. I would like to hear from you, darling readers. What vitamins are you taking? Do you feel better than when you aren’t taking vitamins? Let me know!
XOXOXOXOXOXO
BLISS WARRIOR
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IF YOU ENJOYED READING THIS BLOG, YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY READING:
THE ONLY ZERO CALORIE SWEETENER THAT WON’T CAUSE CANCER
GET SKINNY EATING DECADENTLY
BLISS, HELP US BECOME VEGETARIANS!
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Posted in HEALTH, Uncategorized, chiropractic, dieting, natural health, vitamins |
NEW “PAINFUL” HPV VACCINE CAUSING GIRLS TO FAINT
Written by Miss Bliss on January 10, 2008 – 6:00 am -Dearest Bliss Warriors,
As many of you know, and all of you should know, human papilloma virus, or HPV, is the STD that causes cervical and vaginal cancer. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration approved Gardasil’s HPV vaccine for women age 9-26. At first glance, this seems like wonderful news. According to the Center for Disease Control, 80% of all women will contract HPV by the time they reach the age of 50. In 2004, over 10,000 women contracted cervical cancer and 2,900 died from it. A vaccine that will save women from surgery, chemotherapy, and potentially death seems like something we should celebrate. The problem is, Gardasil’s vaccine is not all that it is hyped to be, and may actually be dangerous.
According to msnbc.com the vaccine is so painful, it is causing young girls to pass out in doctors’ offices:
Pain usually brief
The pain is short-lived, girls say; many react with little more than a grimace. But some teens say it’s uncomfortable driving with or sleeping on the injected arm for up to a day after getting the shot.
Officials at Merck & Co., which makes the vaccine, acknowledge the sting. They attribute it partly to the virus-like particles in the shot. Pre-marketing studies showed more reports of pain from Gardasil than from dummy shots, and patients reported more pain when given shots with more of the particles.
Meanwhile, U.S. health officials have noticed a rise in reports of vaccine-associated fainting in girls. From 2002-2004 there were about 50 reports of fainting; from 2005 until last July, there were about 230. About 180 of those cases followed a shot of Gardasil, which came on the market in 2006.
IS THE VACCINE SAFE FOR YOUNG WOMEN?
LifeSiteNews.com reported on September 20, 2007 that the HPV vaccine has already been linked to deaths and severely painful side-effects:
In just little over a year, the HPV vaccine has been associated with at least five deaths, not to mention thousands of reports of adverse effects, hundreds deemed serious, and many that required hospitalization.
Judicial Watch, a U.S. government watchdog, became concerned while noting large donations to key politicians originating from Merck. A freedom of information request from the group in May of this year discovered that during the period from June 8, 2006 - when the vaccines received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - to May 2007 there were 1,637 reports of adverse reactions to the HPV vaccine reported to the FDA.
Three deaths were related to the vaccine, including one of a 12-year-old. One physician’s assistant reported that a female patient “died of a blood clot three hours after getting the Gardasil vaccine.” Two other reports, on girls 12 and 19, reported deaths relating to heart problems and/or blood clotting.
THE VACCINE ONLY PROTECTS AGAINST 4 STRANDS OF HPV
According to LA Daily News, the vaccine only protects against (HPV) types 6, 11, 16 and 18. There are many other strains that could cause genital warts and cervical cancer, but the vaccine only affects the most common strands. So, ladies, do not expect this vaccine to protect you from contracting the many forms of HPV.
YOU MAY HAVE HPV RIGHT NOW AND NOT BE SYMPTOMATIC
HPV is a very tricky STD since it is asyptomatic in men (they are only carriers) and women can have it without showing symptoms for up to 2 years. This is why the pap smear is one of the greatest gifts medical research has given women. Pap smears detect pre-cancerous cells early and when HPV is detected early, it can often be healed naturally. Many natural health advocates advise women with HPV to avoid sugar, dairy, and refined flour to help balance the body and help the body heal naturally. (There are many girls I know who have been successful healing HPV by changing their diet, going to acupuncturists, and doing yoga.) Of course, if you are developing cancerous cells, it is important to talk with your doctor, get second opinions and find HPV support groups online before making any decisions about the best way for you to heal.
ABSTINENCE IS STILL, SADLY, THE BEST WAY TO AVOID HPV
Condoms work (at least for the areas they are covering) but the best defense is to be honest with your partner(s) and get tested every six months if you have more than one sexual partner. Make sure to get regular pap smears and visit your gyn once a year, at least.
20 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE HPV RIGHT NOW
If HPV were symptomatic in men and caused penile cancer, I doubt 20 million people would be affected with this disease. HPV research has been underfunded and much more scientific work needs to be done. As women we need to actively fight for new cures; cures that do not cause young women to die from blood clots. Merck developed the vaccine, threw money around Washington [as they did during the trials for their VIOXX, another FDA approved drug that was pulled off the market after it was linked to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes], and did not test it adequately.
Please, Foxy Girls and Moms out there, make sure to think twice before taking the vaccine or giving it to your daughters…
Tags: cancer, chemotherapy, fainting, HPV, Merck, natural health, vaccine
Posted in HEALTH, HPV, NUTRITION, STDs, cancer, cervical cancer, condoms, daughters, natural health, vaginal cancer |
GET SKINNY WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP!
Written by Miss Bliss on January 3, 2008 – 6:00 am -There is nothing like the holiday season to leave you feeling bloated, fat and grumpy. Unfortunately, when it is cold outside, it is hard to go back to eating salads and drinking water. This is where vegan soups come in. They are warm, easy to prepare, and full of water to help fill you up and slim down.
BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP
My favorite vegan soup comes from Renee Underkoffler’s amazing cookbook, Living Cuisine: The Art and Spirit of Raw Foods. This is not technically a raw soup, as the squash, onions and garlic are simmered, but the key is to watch the squash and to avoid overcooking it, as many other recipes recommend.
- 1 organic butternut squash, peeled and cut into one-inch cubes
- 4 cups filtered water, or enough to cover the squash
- 1 medium sweet yellow onion, chopped
- 3 organic garlic cloves, chopped
- 2 T cold-pressed organic olive oil (or raw organic coconut butter or omit altogether to avoid fat)
- organic grade B maple syrup
- sea salt & fresh ground black pepper to taste
In a large soup pot, combine the water, onion and garlic. Bring the water to a boil, then lower the temperature to medium or medium-low. As the onion & garlic simmer, peel and chop the squash (about 10 minutes). Add the squash to the simmering water and simmer until the squash is soft enough to be pierced by a fork (10 to 20 minutes, depending on the size of the squash). Transfer the soup to a blender or food processor and add the olive oil, if using. Puree until smooth. Serve in bowls and add a dribble of maple syrup and salt & pepper to taste. If necessary, gently reheat on medium-low stirring frequently.
This recipe makes a large amount of soup that can last 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator and even longer in the freezer. Make yourself a week of meals in one sitting!
Butternut squash is full of vitamin A and C, so help protect your immune system as the pounds slip off you.
REMEMBER: HEALTHY = HOTxoxoxoxoxoxoBliss IF YOU ENJOYED THIS BLOG, YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
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Posted in BEAUTY, HEALTH, dieting, natural health, recipes, vegan, vegetarian |
SHE SIPS SAKE
Written by Miss Bliss on November 29, 2007 – 11:50 am -He slips his arms around me, still cold from the November chill, and whispers, “I have a present for you.”
“For me?” I kiss him and his lips are soft. “You didn’t have to get me a present.”
“Of course, I didn’t.” His eyes change color from green to grey and back again as he smiles, and he hands me a box.
“What is this?”
“Open it.”
I unwrap the box to reveal a ceramic sake dispenser with four small sake cups. “So we can invite friends over for sake!”
“Exactly.” I hug him close and am amazed that he surprised and delighted me once again with the perfect gift.
MAKE YOUR HOLIDAYS HANGOVER-FREE WITH SAKE
Raw food gourmet chefs, Matthew Kenney and Sarma Melngailis, recommend throwing out your rum, vodka, and gin and replacing it with unfiltered cold sake. Instead of mixing your drinks with toxic alcohols that are sugar-based and full of calories, mix your drink with a good, organic, cold, unfiltered sake. Although sake is not technically raw, (it is fermented from steamed rice, yeast, a mold called koji, and water) it is rich in amino acids and has been known to be an aphrodisiac. Since it is supposed to be sipped slowly, it reminds us to also take our time and linger which makes it an excellent apertif for a romantic evening.
STAY SLIM WITH SAKE
Best of all, as someone who easily gets a headache from one mixed drink, an organic sake will not give you a headache or a hangover (unless you really over do it!). Plus, with all the good enzymes, you will not have the weight gain you get with many popular alcohols.
I am including one of my favorite sake cocktails from Pure Food & Wine’s cookbook, Raw Food, Real World. Everyone who’s tried this drink loves it.
PLUM-PASSION FRUIT LONG ISLAND ICED TEA
1 1/2 cups steeped and chilled plum-passion fruit tea (or any fruity tea you like)
1 cup sake
1/2 cup lime juice
1/4 cup agave nectar
lemon or lime wedges for garnish
In a large pitcher, combine the tea, sake, lime juice, and agave nectar and stir well. Pour into cocktail glasses or tall glasses full of ice and garnish with lemon or lime wedges.
XOXOXOXOOXXO
BLISS WARRIOR
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Posted in BEAUTY, HEALTH, NUTRITION, natural health, raw food, recipes |
ASK MISS BLISS - MAKE ME PRETTY DOWN THERE
Written by Miss Bliss on October 31, 2007 – 2:01 pm -Dear Miss Bliss,
I’m you’re new biggest fan, and I’m confident you have the answer I need for my question….
I hate pubic hair. It’s disgusting - ew ew ew - and so I shave it all. I saw you recommend waxing in your blog, A Girl’s First Threesome, but I’m half scared and half broke so it won’t be happening any time soon. The problem is, when I shave, I never get a pretty pussy. 
For the very first two or three weeks I started shaving, it was BEAUTIFUL…but now, EVERY time I am bumpy and some of my pores become red and extremely sore. When the stubble begins to come through, I always have at least 4 or 5 hairs that grow UNDER my skin, causing MUCH irritation and …UGLINESS!!! I have asked several ladies and tried different things such as Dove Sensitive Skin instead of cream, sensitive skin shaving creams, and even bought a special 5-blade razor to be used very especially for PUSSY ONLY. I’ve tried shaving it lightly, slowly, against the grain, with the grain, sideways, YOU NAME IT! My husband said it was just because my skin had to get used to it but that was a year ago and it’s not any better! HEEEELLLPPP!!!
Femme Love,
Pussy-Control
Darling Pussy Control,
The first time I went to get waxed, my Korean-American waxer looked at the hair down there and said, “Oh, no.” Embarrassed, I tried to make her laugh by saying, “Well, I am part-Italian.” She looked at me blankly. “Italians have a lot of hair,” I said, feeling more and more awkward. “We Koreans have no hair,” she said and showed me her perfectly hairless arm. “So you became a waxer,” I asked. “Isn’t that like an alcoholic tending bar?”
I bring up this example, not to push waxing on you, but to share that some of us are lucky and born with little or no hair, while others have to struggle to keep their hair under control. I do not always wax, because it can be expensive and sometimes there is just not enough time to wait for a waxing appointment.
Over the years, I have tried everything to avoid red bumps and ingrown hairs, and as you have learned, dear reader, many products sold in drugstores today claim to help, but often make the problem worse! It has only been in the last year that I have found a solution to ingrown hairs and bumps, but along the way I learned many tips that might help you. Every girl’s body hair is different, so it does take time and experimentation to find what works for you best.
SHAVE WITH TALCUM POWDER
In Toni Bentley’s erotic memoir, The Surrender, she explains that before every tryst, she shaves her pussy with talcum powder BEFORE she bathes. The genital area is very moist and moisture, Ms. Bentley argues, is what causes the blade to slip and cause redness. To soak up the moisture, she dusts herself with talc and then shaves dry, AGAINST the grain, for smoothness. She uses two double-bladed razors each time, and throws them out immediately after. I tried this for a year and it did work better for me as long as I was shaving every day or every other day. This is a lot of shaving and a lot of razors, but it did keep the bumps from returning.
EXFOLIATION IS KEY IN THE PUBIC AREA
I also get horrible ingrown hairs that expand into ugly red bumps. Researchers say that ingrown hairs are more likely to affect girls with curly hair, as curly hairs easily grown back in and under the skin. Ingrown hairs also are more frequent when there is more moisture in the air, something you may notice in humid climates. Exfoliation is the key to removing old layers of skin that the hair can grow under. Believe it or not, dry brushing your vaginal area is a quick and easy way to exfoliate old skin cells and help trapped hairs to be freed before they become ingrown. I also highly recommend the all-natural, vegan, lemongrass cleanser from Suki Naturals. It is meant as a facial cleanser, (and if you have red skin or problem skin, it’s truly amazing!) but works incredibly well as a pussy exfoliator and will not disrupt sensitive skin.
NO BUMP GEL THAT ACTUALLY WORKS
I have tried many products that claim to stop ingrown hairs and to clear red bumps, and very few worked to my satisfaction. A month ago, I started using Surgi-Care Bare ‘N Clear No Bumps Gel and I am proud to say, it not only cleared any red bumps, I have not had an ingrown hair since I used it. I bought the product at CVS Pharmacy, but you can find a store that carries Surgi-Care products by clicking here.
SHAVING CREAM
I do not use shaving creams on the pubic area because they do not seem to make a difference in the quality of a shave. I always exfoliate with Suki’s lemongrass cleanser before shaving, and leave it on to serve as a shaving cream. Raw food gurus also recommend using raw coconut butter as a shaving cream and as a post-shaving moisturizer. Coconut butter will even help heal old shaving and ingrown hair scars.
LASER TREATMENTS
If none of the above treatments help you, dear reader, I recommend saving your money for laser hair removal. This is the secret of porn stars, models and strippers who have to stay bare for a living. Although it is initially expensive, and you may need up to three treatments for stubborn hair, it will solve your hair problems in the long run. Think of all the money you will save if you never have to buy razors, creams, and lotions ever again. I’m saving my money as we speak!
BLISS GIRLS - ANY HAIR REMOVAL TRICKS YOU’VE DISCOVERED?
POST YOUR TIPS HERE!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
XOXOXOXOX
BLISS WARRIOR
BLISS BRUNCH IN SAN DIEGO IS HEATING UP…. WILL YOU BE THERE?
A BLISS GIRL ASKS…
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WE ARE STILL SEEKING GIRLS IN DETROIT, CLEVELAND & MAUI FOR BRUNCH….
LOVE ALL GIRLS!!!
IF YOU’RE IN LA, I HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE BONDAGE BALL TONIGHT!!!
keywords: bisexual, women, shaving, dry brushing, laser hair removal, waxing, skin care, beauty
Posted in ASK MISS BLISS, BEAUTY, BISEXUALITY, HEALTH, SEX, bi-girls, bisexual, bisexual girls, dry brushing, laser hair removal, natural health, shaving, skin care, threesomes, vegan, waxing, women |
SILKY, SOFT, SMOOTH SKIN — THE NATURAL WAY
Written by Miss Bliss on October 21, 2007 – 5:42 pm -Lesbians like to joke that girl-virgins always say the same thing after they first kiss and hold another female: “Oh, my God! Your skin is so soft!”
Stunning, blonde and Russian, my married friend Ivanka sighs as she stirs her drink. “It is such a shame that a girl cannot feel how soft her own skin is. We can feel how soft another girl’s skin is, but we have to trust our lover when we’re told our own skin is soft.”
“That’s true.” I say, “When a girl tells us our skin is soft, it seems to mean more than when a man says it.”
“That’s because she wouldn’t say it unless it were true!”
“Your skin is incredibly soft,” I say as I touch her arm.
“So is yours,” she says as she touches mine. And for the first time that day, I can almost feel how soft my skin really is.
Like many girls, my skin can get dried out and throughout my life I have used lotions, creams, and oils to try and make my skin supple, smooth and soft. Last year, I picked up Natalia Rose’s book, Raw Food Life Force Energy: Enter a Totally New Stratosphere of Weight Loss, Beauty, and Health, which I highly recommend for people wanting to lose weight and detox. The book includes some raw, cooked, and fish-based recipes, for those who are not prepared to be 100% raw vegan, but want to include more fruits and vegetables in their diet. Ms. Rose also describes natural techniques to keep your body looking and feeling great.
DRY BRUSHING
Ms. Rose recommends dry brushing your entire body before showering in the morning. This will wake you up, remove dead skin cells, and help your body tone and remove cellulite. It does this by stimulating the lymphatic system and helping it to remove lactic acid and other wastes that can contribute to cellulite. It also increases oxygen in the body which helps to wake the body up.
At my Long’s, I was able to purchase a body bath brush with a long wood handle for only $4.99. I followed Ms. Rose’s technique and began first by brushing the tops of my feet, then up my calves, and then up my thighs. If there is any fat you don’t like on your legs, take a moment and brush those areas in circles to tighten and firm those areas.
Move to your backside and brush the buttocks upward. Again, if there’s any fat you don’t like, take a moment to brush those areas in circles.
Then go to your hands and start brushing up your arms. Make certain to brush the armpit area thoroughly as this is the major lymphatic drainage region. Then down your chest, down your breasts and slowly around the abdomen (circling the abdomen too fast can upset the digestive tract).
Finally, brush your back in downwards strokes. The whole process should take between 3 and 5 minutes.
Your body should feel alive and energized, and each day you brush, you will see your skin tighten and get softer and smoother. Within a week, I had no need for body lotions and my dry skin problem was gone. My husband could not believe how soft my skin became so fast and started dry brushing his skin, too. He was amazed at how awake he felt each time he dry brushed his skin in the morning, and you will, too!
XOXOXOXOXO
BLISS
BLISS WARRIOR IS SEEKING DETROIT GIRLS FOR BRUNCH.
WRITE ME IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN MEETING OTHER BRILLIANT BIGIRLS IN YOUR AREA.
IF YOU ENJOYED THIS BLOG, YOU MAY WANT TO READ:
SWEETER THAN SUGAR AND SO MUCH SEXIER
ALSO, RAW ORGANIC COCONUT OIL MAKES A GREAT SKIN MOISTURIZER AND CAN HEAL SCAR TISSUE IF USED DAILY!
Posted in BEAUTY, HEALTH, natural health, raw food, skin care, vegan, vegetarian |
CHANGE YOUR DIET, CHANGE YOUR LIFE
Written by Miss Bliss on October 13, 2007 – 4:27 pm -Dear Miss Bliss,
I had a few questions for you about your eating habits. I am really interested in how you started out changing your diet slowly. I think I could get rid of the dairy in my diet, because I hate milk to begin with, although it would be hard to forgo tres leches and cheesecake.
I am not even sure where to start. Should I get rid of sugars first? I have already quit all sodas and switched to tea and water. I made an appointment to go talk with a physical trainer at the gym at my school to get me an exercise plan mapped out. I am really excited about this and ready to get back down to my size 4.
Also, why exactly do you not eat meat?
I remember you saying one of your secrets was apples. I am going tomorrow to buy some.
–Ready to Change
Dear Ready to Change,
Guess what? You have already started to change your diet and your body is already changing! Remember, the more you DECIDE your body is changing, the faster the change will happen.
1. WATER AND WEIGHT LOSS
The number one secret to losing weight is drinking water. Often, when our body is thirsty, we misread this as hunger and eat more food than we need. When I began dieting, I drank one tall glass of water before each meal. This ensured my body was hydrated, prevented bloating, and helped me to “shrink” my stomach. If your stomach is already full of water, you will eat less. This is why many nutritionists recommend having a bowl of soup before a meal, because the soup will fill you and you will eat an average of 100 less calories per meal.
2. APPLES
In my blog, AN APPLE A DAY, KEEPS FAT AWAY, I did recommend eating an apple before a meal. Apples are rich in water and fiber, and also have a chemical in them which naturally curbs the appetite. Everywhere I went while dieting, I carried a bag of sliced apples and lemon juice to snack on and the weight came off.
3. SALAD AND VEGGIES
Many women claim not to like salad, which I find shocking. Salads are full of protein, good carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals and can be very low in calories. When dieting, be wise and buy organic vegetables from your local farmer’s market. The salad will be fresher and taste better, plus you will feel good knowing you supported American farmers. Avoid salad dressings with milk, cream, corn syrup and/or sugar. One of my favorite simple, sugar-free, raw, vegan dressings is a simple combination of olive oil, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, agave necter, salt and pepper. It tastes amazing on all salads, especially salads with sliced apples!
4. PORTION CONTROL IS WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT
A lot of women are already eating healthy meals, but they are still consuming too many calories.
Stop living in denial and start counting your calories! Read the labels on the food you are eating and start keeping a calorie-counting journal. When I was dieting, I worked in an office and logged everything I ate on my online calorie-counting journal (FREE CALORIE COUNTER). It helped me to get a sense of what my ideal portion size was and helped me to train my stomach into eating less food per meal.
5. LIMITING SUGAR, ESPECIALLY HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP
I am a naturalist, and I strongly believe that you should avoid refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, Splenda, Sweet ‘n Low, etc. If you have a sweet tooth, use natural vegan sweeteners like agave necter and stevia. Some women do not like the taste of stevia (it can have a licorice aftertaste), so I recommend using half agave, half stevia. This will give you a low-calorie sweetener that does not cause cancer or diabetes. I also use grade B maple syrup and raw honey, but only when maintaining weight.
6. EMOTIONAL EATING
Remember, we often eat to soothe and suppress our negative emotions. When we lose weight, suppressed emotions begin to surface and we may start to feel depressed. It is important to journal about these emotions and recognize they will pass. Through journaling, it becomes apparent which foods we use to soothe emotions. Is it sugar? Chocolate? Pizza? Each week you are dieting, give yourself one “free” night where you are allowed to eat your “bad” foods. For me and my man, we ate pizza every Thursday night while dieting. Our pizza nights kept us going through the week and helped us not feel deprived.
7. ALCOHOL PACKS ON THE POUNDS
Are you still drinking, love? I try to avoid alcohol as much as I can as it destroys your body and packs on the pounds. Beer is the worst culprit, but sugar in mixed drinks is number two. If you are dieting and drinking, remember to choose wine (preferably organic), sake or vodka with soda water. Anything else is a fat attractor.
8. EXERCISE ALWAYS HELPS
While dieting, I recommend starting a yoga class. Yoga is gentler than aerobic exercise, yet it tones and strengthens your body. It also makes you more flexible, which leads to greater, more pleasurable sex.
9. EAT RIGHT FOR YOUR BLOOD TYPE
I am vegetarian for many reasons, but the main reason is my body is healthier, leaner and stronger since I stopped eating animals. In the book, Eat Right for your Blood Type, I learned that people with my blood type (blood type A) have a more difficult time processing cholesterol than any other blood type. Because of this, people with type A blood are at a much higher risk of developing heart disease in their 40s if they do not become vegetarian. This is one of the reasons I stopped eating meat, and I highly recommend this book for all blood types. I will write more about why I became vegetarian in future blogs.
10. HAVE MORE SEX
Sex is not only good for your brain, it is great for your physical body. The more sex you have, the more calories you burn, the more endorphins are released, and the more you will love your body. Loving your body is an essential part of changing your body, so get back in bed!
MANY OF YOU HAVE ASKED FOR MORE VEGAN DESSERT RECIPES, AND MORE ARE COMING!
I AM DELIGHTED SO MANY OF YOU LOVED THE VEGAN CHOCOLATE PUDDING…
XOXOXOXOXOXO
BLISS
Posted in HEALTH, NUTRITION, alcohol, dieting, natural health, recipes, vegan, vegetarian |
SWEETER THAN SUGAR AND SO MUCH SEXIER
Written by Miss Bliss on September 15, 2007 – 6:56 pm -BLISSFUL GIRLS…
Do you want all the sweetness without the sugar?
Try AGAVE NECTAR.
Agave nectar comes from the agave cactus and is very popular among raw foodists because it does not spike your glycemic index and is safe for diabetics to use.
Sold in most fine health food stores, agave nectar is one of the cheaper sugar replacements.
It resembles honey and can be used as a replacement for sugar in all recipes.
Agave nectar is not calorie-free, but is easy to digest and will not cause a sugar crash an hour after you have eaten. Sugar spikes the glycemic index, causing your body to want more and more sugar, and less of the good things your body needs, like water and vegetables. Since agave nectar does not spike your sugar levels, you are not as likely to overeat.
Agave nectar is my favorite way to sweeten foods without the emotional ups and downs (and inevitable weight gain) of sugar.
And look what it has done for me…
STAY SWEET WITHOUT SUGAR!
XOXOXOXOXO
BLISS
Posted in HEALTH, NUTRITION, dieting, natural health, vegan, vegetarian |
THE ONLY ZERO CALORIE SWEETENER THAT WON’T CAUSE CANCER
Written by Miss Bliss on February 12, 2007 – 3:54 pm -It’s the herb, Stevia. Now available in easy to use packets from Stevita at www.betterherbs.com and many fine health food stores.
Don’t eat Splenda or any of that other toxic, chemically-made crap that will give you cancer and trick your glycemic index into making you fat even without the calories.There is an all-natural, herbal alternative that sweetens even a diabetic sweet tooth.
Remember, healthy equals hot.
You heard it here first.
Posted in HEALTH, cancer, dieting, natural health, raw food, vegan, vegetarian |