Ocotea Quixos - To Help You Avoid the Holiday Candy Bowl

Ocotea Essential Oil is extracted from an evergreen tree (Ocotea Quixos) in Ecuador. Referred to as Ecuadorian cinnamon, the bark of this tree is used during cooking and food rituals.

Ocotea (pronounced: Ock-o-tay-a) has the highest level of alpha humulene of any Young Living essential oil, which is a compound that helps aid the body's natural response to irritation and injury.*

• Provides soothing comfort for aches
• Helps balance appetite
• Supports normal blood sugar levels
• Assists with curbing appetite and preventing binges
• Helps reduce inflammation
• Effective against bacteria and fungus for cleansing and purifying

How do I use it? Take it internally in a glass of water (mix in a breakfast smoothie!), or dilute with a carrier oil (like olive oil or coconut oil) and apply topically.

Ready to purchase?

To purchase you have 2 options:
Retail or Wholesale Distributor (think "VIP").Don't be frightened by the word "Distributor." Being a Distributor only means that you get a discounted wholesale price, and have the option to sell the product yourself, if you choose. To purchase wholesale as a Distributor you’ll need to make a purchase of a starter kit while you’re joining. No worries, there is absolutely no requirement to do anything ever again, other than log in and order products at your convenience, and only if you choose. It’s just like being a Young Living VIP!

Need more information?

1. Chemical composition and biological activities of Ishpingo essential oil, a traditional Ecuadorian spice from Ocotea quixos (Lam.) Kosterm. (Lauraceae) flower calices. Food Chemistry. http://www.academia.edu/3044948/Chemical_composition_and_biological_activities_of_Ishpingo_essential_oil_a_traditional_Ecuadorian_spice_from_Ocotea_quixos_Lam._Kosterm._Lauraceae_flower_calices
2. Antiplatelet and antithrombotic activities of essential oil from wildOcotea quixos (Lam.) Kosterm. (Lauraceae) calices from Amazonian Ecuador. Food Chemistry. 
   http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1043661806001721
3. Sacchetti, G., Guerrini, A., Noriega, P., Bianchi, A. and Bruni, R. (2006), Essential oil of wild Ocotea quixos (Lam.) Kosterm. (Lauraceae) leaves from Amazonian Ecuador. Flavour Fragr. J., 21: 674–676. doi: 10.1002/ffj.1648 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ffj.1648/abstract
4. Ballabeni, V., Tognolini, M, Giorgio, C., Bertoni, S., Bruni, R., Barocelli, E. (2009), Ocotea quixos Lam. essential oil: in vitro and in vivo investigation on its anti-inflammatory properties. 2010 Jun;81(4):289-95. doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2009.10.002. Epub 2009 Oct 13.
   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19825398
5. The Power of Ecuador Ocotea and Dorado Azul Part 1.https://blog.youngliving.com/the-power-of-ecuador-ocotea-and-dorado-azul-part-1/#.VFD2cJRdV2k

Caution:  Possible skin sensitivity. Keep out of the reach of children.
If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition,
please consult a health care practitioner prior to use.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
The information contained on this page does not constitute advice. 

Whole30 Round 2 Day 1 (Day 31) and Action Plan

 Say what!? I thought Whole30 was only 30 days?

This post was originally titled "Whole 30 Day 31" but then I went out of town on Day 31 and jumped off the wagon into a box of handmade tourist-town fudge.

I still have such a long way to go to get back in shape, and to change my eating instincts. I'm still fantasizing about indulgences and I know I have not slayed that sugar dragon yet. A couple weeks ago, around day 30, I was feeling so so good, and was definitely leaning towards committing to a Whole100. That's 100 days of eating strict paleo clean Whole30.

But then I went out of town for a wedding. And I not only fell of the wagon, but I hurled myself off. Two weeks later and I feel physically and emotionally about it.

I am still wanting to do the Whole30 program for 100 days, but because of my 3 week (gasp) hiatus, I guess it will be more like Whole30 + Whole70?

If I do a Whole100, then Day 100 is on Sunday February 8th. 

• If I do a Whole100, then Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years will have no dessert, no sugar, no wine, no EggNog!!, and no indulgent snacking all day. Con
• If I do a Whole100, then I get no birthday cake for my son's 3rd birthday. Con
• If I do a Whole100, then our upcoming trips will be that much more complicated foodwise: camping in Arkansas, visit with friends in Houston, two work trips. Con
• If I do a Whole100, then the positive habits I've learned so far will become more habitual and instinctual. Pro
• If I do a Whole100, that's 100 days of no sugar which sure as heck ought to change my taste buds for the better and lessen the cravings (and dependency), and love for sugar. Pro
• If I do a Whole100, and I lose a reasonable 10 pounds each month, that is only a third of what I need to lose. Which is 30% in the right direction. Pro
• If I do a Whole100, that's 100 days of regulating hormones, and detoxing years of processed foods, drive-thru fast foods, chemicals, toxins, and junk out of my system. Only 100 days. And I'm already a third of the way there. Pro

I could go on debating, but I think the answer is clear. For me, right now, this is something I need to do.

I think I just talked myself into it... Are you here to support me and cheer me on? Bueller? Anyone?

Based on my Lessons Learned, and known struggles, here is my

Whole30 Round 2 Action Plan:

1. Planning meals. I'm pretty good at this already, and just need to keep with it. I don't mean endless hours in the kitchen chopping veggies and prepping meals ahead of time (who really has time for that? Is that sustainable long term?). Planning meals to me means having the right food in the house.
2. Plan meals and snacks for times away from the house; work trips and vacations.
3. EAT breakfast! They say 30 grams of protein within 30 minutes of waking up. According to http://www.health-alternatives.com Vegetable Nutrition Chart, dried Spirulina (seaweed) has 64 grams of protein per cup! I need to know where I can get some of this! Ideas!?
4. A light early dinner will help promote the morning hunger.
5. No coffee at home. Drink tea and hot lemon water instead. I need to give my adrenals a break and regulate my cortisol levels, and save the caffeine for when it's truly needed (work trips).
6. Three (3!) colors at each meal = lots of veggies.
7. 8+ hours of sleep to reduce cortisol.
8. Water, Water, Water, Water, and more Water! It's a rare day when I drink more than 8oz of water.
9. Start exercising again.
10. What else am I forgetting?

What do you think? I completed 30 days in September, can I do 100 days of Whole30 clean eating with no dairy, no sugar, no soy, no legumes, and no grains of any kind?