I am 51 years old and in pretty robust health, practicing
Bikram (hot room) yoga 3-4 times per week and
frequently hiking the Appalachian Trail. An
avid gourmande after living 15 years in France, I nonetheless kept
relatively close to the Eat Right for Your Type diet for several years. Of
late, however, I had gotten too heavily into cheeses, bread, sugar and
caffeine, some of which I attribute to menopause (sugar cravings,
notably). At the same time, I was plagued by hot
flashes, mood swings and poor mental clarity and acuity, as well as
greater tightness in my hips and shoulders during yoga.
Having heard my housemate talk about stopping her chronic lower back pain by eliminating gluten and dairy, I
decided to try Ellen's cleanse to see what would happen. By the middle of the third day, I realized that I had had maybe one very minor hot flash where normally I would have had at least half
a dozen, including in the middle of the night. Despite stopping my topical
progesterone cream and black cohosh supplements, the flashes are gone,
completely.
Even better, my mind and spirit are back to the higher focus,
clarity and equilibrium I knew before menopause hit. This cleanse has been a
true Godsend. Thank you, Ellen!
Marsha Johnston, Maryland
Upcoming Events
21 Day Fall Detox (This program will be similar to the Spring Rejuvenation Cleanse, which is described in detail below.) Please check back in September for more info on the specific dates and times for the Fall Cleanse.
- Would you like to lose some weight,
say goodbye to your cravings, and feel better in your body?
- Want to hear from friends and family
that you look 12 years younger (as one past-participant
experienced!)?
- Have you always wanted to do a
cleanse, but feel you need the support of others to be successful in
such a venture? (This cleanse is run in a group format, so you are
guaranteed all the support you need.)
Details:
I will be your guide throughout the 21
day process. The cleanse will involve a gradual elimination of foods
that are harmful or toxic to the body, along with incorporation of
cleansing/healing foods.
Although the cleanse is entirely
food-based I will be offering suggestions of SAFE cleansing products on the
market which you can use if you would like to enhance the experience.
This cleanse is open to anyone in the
country who would like to participate (I will be assessing your particular
health needs though to make sure it is safe) You will call in to a live phone
conference (teleclass) a week before the cleanse begins, during which I will
guide you through the details of the cleanse and answer any questions you may
have, so that you can take that week to fully prepare for the cleanse.
I will email
you everything you need to be successful with the cleanse, including recipes,
guidelines, and a day-to-day outline of what you will be doing for the cleanse.
I will also be emailing you the details for how to get on the live phone
conference once I receive payment.
I will be supporting you via email and
you will be added to an email group along with all the other participants
for the 21 days, which you can email at any time for support. I will be
moderating this email group and providing guidance every step of the way.
You will have an
opportunity to talk with me on a private call once a week to check in/ask
questions that may have come up.
TESTIMONIALS: Past Cleanse participants have this to say about their experience.
I am finding the cleanse challenging and glorious! Having
the structure of the group, and the progress reports of participants, all with
different experiences, is very steadying. Also, I have been purely percolating
with energy: my mind is much clearer (the effect I most longed for) and my
energy level remains high, with the exception of two days so far.
I have lost
that sludgy feeling that has vexed me for the past nine months or so, and
five pounds as well. Though losing weight was not
my primary goal in joining the cleanse, it is a lovely side effect. Thank you,
Ellen, for taking the time to set this all up, and to keep tabs on everyone
with such compassion and understanding.
Hester Hemmerling, Indiana
Though I generally eat a wholesome diet, giving up wheat,
dairy, caffeine and alcohol for 21 days definitely seemed scary. But with
Ellen's supportive emails and check-ins, as well as the support of the
community she created through the Google group, the cleanse had less to do with
what I was giving up and more to do with the revelations about food and the healthy habits I gained.
This cleanse got me thinking about food and nourishment in completely new ways.
I realized I rely on food to fulfill all sorts of roles, from distraction to
comfort to reward. And, as I read fellow cleanser's input on the listserv, I
realized I wasn't alone. As the cleanse went on, I was inspired to seek out
other ways to satisfy those needs, while gaining appreciation for the physical,
psychological, social, and cultural power of food.
R. Kennedy, Maryland
I have
never done a cleanse before and started this adventure with a little
trepidation. Surprise, surprise – it’s been wonderful! I’m nearing the end
of Week 2 and feel fabulous. I sleep like a rock, feel calm and relaxed,
yet have the energy, focus and motivation to do what I need to. Ellen is
amazingly knowledgeable and compassionate, and answers all of our questions or
concerns with wise advice. Also, it’s wonderful to do this with a group of
other “adventurers”; the humor, diversity, creative ideas and caring support
are invaluable. Two thumbs up!
Holly Cooney, Maine
WHY AM I
OFFERING THIS CLEANSE?
Last year I took over 45 clients through this 21-Day Spring Rejuvenation Cleanse, and the experience was, without a doubt, one of the best experiences
I've had in recent times. This year the experience has been similarly fun and enlightening. Each year the Spring Rejuvenation Cleanse clarifies for me the truth of the adage "Food
is Medicine." I am truly amazed at the results that my clients (and I)
experience, which include:
* 8-10 lbs weight loss for many of the participants
* A reduction in or complete elimination of cravings
* Significant reduction in stress
* Overall heightened sense of well-being and peacefulness in the body
* Positive changes in eating habits and awareness around healthy food choices
* Enhanced clarity of thinking
* Increased desire to truly care for the body
* Continuation of improved symptoms and improved eating habits post-cleanse
*Cessation of menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and foggy thinking
I saw
results in 21 days that it normally takes 3 or more months for my individual
clients (who generally make changes more slowly) to experience. So, this is a
wonderful opportunity to get great benefit more quickly and at a much lower
cost.
Guaranteed: You will
be lighter, in body and in spirit as a result of the 21-day cleanse. Looking
forward to working with you this Spring! All you need to do is email me, and I will be in touch
with all the details to get you officially signed up!
Weigh Less, Live More: A Combined Nutrition and Movement Group Weight Loss Program - Registration for the next program TBA
Please contact Ellen with any questions, and to reserve your spot in the next program.
Not sure you can wait for the next group program? I also offer individual nutrition and weight loss programs, which are also highly effective. Simply contact me to learn more about the individual consults, of check out the PROGRAM page of this website.
What Weigh Less Live More offers to you:
- See measurable results in weight loss and "waist loss".
- Learn the skills needed to be successful with your weight loss goals - even after the program ends - on your own and in the real world!
- Discover how to integrate healthier lifestyle habits into your daily routine and experience a much-improved relationship with food and exercise
- And much, much more...keep reading to see the transformations past participants have experienced!
Ellen
is joining forces with Lauren Kelly-Washington, Annapolis-area movement
and exercise specialist, to bring this program to you. Find out more
about Lauren and how she makes exercise fun (!) at www.niahealth.com.
NOTE: Takoma Park/Silver Spring classes do not include the movement portion of the program with Lauren (though if travel to Annapolis is an option, then working with Lauren would be a possibility).
What are past participants saying about this program?
Food has been my comfort since childhood, so the thought of making a life change around my eating habits was down right terrifying to me. Ellen was extremely compassionate to the fact that changing my way of approaching food can be a real challenge. When I failed to follow the program, even while in it, she was so kind and supportive with me that it, in turn, gave me permission to do the same for myself and I was able to turn myself around and really go full speed ahead into a new way of life. She also really knows her stuff when it comes to nutrition.
- T. S., MD
Ellen is a gift and if the time is right for you to take the steps, your life will change in ways you have never imagined. She is there for you with confidence, encouragement, knowledge, enthusiasm, and friendship. Did I mention knowledge...it's like she knows you before she knows you. I will be taking another class or personal sessions with Ellen to further benefit my recovering body and mind. She is a blessing.
Nancy, Crownsville, MD
Weigh Less Live More started out as an effort to reduce some
failing lab numbers and to learn about nutrition altogether. I was a
novice to say the least. Little did I
realize that this program would
change my approach to eating and to living, entirely. Weight loss has been a side effect of learning and
exercising. However, more importantly, my total demeanor and
philosophy has
turned to a positive approach to living. My attitude toward food now is
that I do not want to harm my body in anyway. My attitude toward life is
now so
positive.
With the information and guidance from Ellen, I now have the
foundation for avoiding medication and choosing a healthy pathway for
the rest
of my life. Lauren compliments Ellen in so many ways, but mainly she is a
continuation of the principles Ellen teaches but carries them to a level
that
is spiritually uplifting and peaceful...while leading us through a
really good
work out! Lauren teaches us about our bodies through movement and
reinforces Ellen's teachings about taking care of them. My experience with the
nutrition instruction from Ellen, and the movement classes with Lauren
is a
matter of being in the right place at the right time. I only wish I had
brought
them into my life sooner.
Pat Jones, Maryland
Program Details:
The next Weigh Less Live More Group Program will include
- Your choice of once-per-week or twice-per-week movement classes with Lauren
- 8 one-and-a-half hour nutrition/weight loss seminars with Ellen, which will be informative, inspirational and will help keep you on track
- Handouts,
reading materials, giveaways, new food samples and other inspirational
tools to help you in the weight loss process
- Recipes
and cooking tips
- An
online google group which will be an opportunity for all members of the
program to post questions, provide feedback and get support
- A
buddy system: You’ll choose a buddy in the class and use each other for
support on a weekly basis
- A
potluck “final exam”
Interested in this program? Have more questions? Just contact Ellen today to schedule a FREE 30 minute session to go over the details, get your questions answered and determine if you are right for the program.
Additionally, Lauren has agreed to offer one FREE movement class to anyone who would like to experience this unique and fun form of movement/exercise prior to joining the program. You can find her contact info at www.niahealth.com
Past participants have gotten a lot from this program. Read on for more testimonials!
I am truly changing my relationship to food and my relationship to fitness - for the first time in years I do not feel as though I am depriving myself. Instead, I am nurturing my whole self. The combination of the mindful and fun movement and the Nutrition counseling group is awesome! Both aspects focus on living a Full life in all ways. Oh! And I have lost 6 lbs in just the first 5 weeks without agony! Thank you for creating such a unique program.
- L.K.
Ellen's class, Weigh Less, Live More, has taught me the importance of knowing what to eat and how to eat. Lauren's NIA class has renewed my joy for physical movement and has given me the emotional freedom to dance. And, I lost 7 pounds in the first 6 weeks!
- Jo
Since I started working with Ellen, I have begun to enjoy eating and especially cooking again. Her gentle education and insights about the value of the vegetables and fruits has made me realize I had been minimizing them in my meals, where now I am starting to look at how to have as many of them as I can squeeze in. I was in a rut about cooking, both the types of foods I was choosing and the ways I was preparing them. In the classes with Ellen, I have received a lot of fresh ideas for recipes and especially things that are easy and quick to prepare. The combination of Ellen’s classes and the exercise program has been really effective and again, FUN! I have been surprised at how enjoyable it can be to learn something totally new and different again. For me, the best part of working with Ellen is she is very accepting of "where I'm at", and has helped me move forward in a way that is really comfortable to me, and which has resulted in surprisingly big changes. Honestly, since I am so used to the relatively small results which come with a lot of "teeth gnashing" frustration from typical weight loss programs (of which I have experienced many, many), it has been a very pleasant change to be able to relax, enjoy, and get healthier and happier at the same time as I am eating better and feel better in my body and mind.
I have to admit that when I started working with Ellen and Lauren, I thought I knew EVERYTHING there was to know about dieting (since I have been on so many diets for practically my whole adult life, and just recently have come to terms with the fact that the extra weight is just going to come off when it does, and I just need to be patient and not worry) and exercise (since I have recently converted from the "I hate exercise" to feeling the joy of moving my body and doing it regularly for myself, and have studied and taught yoga/tai chi for 10 years). So in both dimensions (eating and exercising), I was basically moving along in a positive direction, feeling positive, and without worry for the first time in my life, which is a miracle. Plus I am a lot older than both Ellen And Lauren, and I really was pretty sure that they weren't really going to teach me anything. I mostly decided to do the Weigh Less Live More Program as a support for my mother who wanted to do the program.
SO... I wasn't expecting anything, and I have been very surprised!
Ellen has brought a lot of information about eating and food and digestion to help my brain relax into more natural eating habits, and has gotten me focused on trying to eat as many vegetables as I can, rather than focusing on all the other sugar and fat laden things I am no longer eating. It is a really great approach, and somehow my creativity about eating has come back out. I used to love to read cookbooks and then experiment, and that sense of play is coming back.
Lauren and the NIA similarly have surprised me a lot. I went there to help my mother get into some movement exercise. She used to do yoga but for a zillion reasons it isn't inspiring her now. Lauren does not look like your basic fitness guru, which ended up being a really great advantage. She doesn't have that string-bean figure that so many of them have, so it was easy for me to relax and not worry about how I look and whether I am doing it right. The NIA classes keep me so busy moving and noticing how my body is feeling, that I don't have time to be looking at anyone else, and so I feel comfortable that they don't have time to be looking at me. Usually I get myself kinda mixed up in a dance-type setting where there are steps to follow, and I am seeing that a big part of that is because I have been worrying at some level about how I look and whether I am going to do it right rather than just focusing on feeling the rhythm of the music and moving.
Just realizing that, and being able to notice when am I focusing on the natural rhythm inside (when my feet just naturally follow along with what Lauren is doing) or when am I distracted by my thoughts (when my feet go every which way, but not in any kind of rhythm) is a great benefit for me. Lauren is always right there, always gently pushing us to do more, get more results with our bodies. There is this way that she can move her body that is very inspiring. It is as if she were a marionette, each part is light and capable of moving independently, and somehow she also can move everything together in great harmony. It is very inspiring, and makes me want to do more and try again with my body.
Thank you Ellen and Lauren for a great program!
- Susanne Miller
Ellen guided me to make nutritious choices in my eating habits. She did not focus on low calorie choices but to choose foods rich in nutrition to help me feel better. I travel for business and managed to eat healthier on the road. My cooking and food choices improved and the best part was she was not judgmental and encouraged me to make food choices that were beneficial to my own body.
- Patricia Horn
Past events include:
Workshop:
Weigh Less Live More
This workshop will be the launch of a brand new group weight management program that combines nutrition counseling with Nia, a fun and unique movement/exercise program.
When: November, 13 2008
Where: Ridgely Retreat, 203 Ridgely Ave, Annapolis, MD 21401
Cost: Free
RSVPs are appreciated: Please contact Ellen Kittredge at ellen@ellenkittredge.com or (202) 577-1940 to hold your spot
Suffering from the Sugar Blues?
-> Do you crave sweets and want to understand why?
Please join me for an interactive and information-packed lecture. Past attendees attest: You are guaranteed to walk out with practical tools and tips to start addressing your cravings right away.
When: Monday, June 30, 2008. 7:45 - 9:00pm
Where: Ridgely Retreat, 203 Ridgely Ave, Annapolis, MD 21401
Cost: $15
RSVPs are appreciated: Please contact Ellen Kittredge at ellen@ellenkittredge.com or (202) 577-1940 to hold your spot
Attendees will receive handouts and other takeaways and be eligible for a free follow-up session to discuss specific health concerns in more detail.
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