I promised to give you a breakdown of the ingredients in the Organic Liaisons supplements – and I’ve got a little bit of time now.  I’m sitting here with 5 bottles, a few nutrition text books, and I’m hunting around the house for my glasses so I can read the tiny writing on the labels.  I’ll muddle through and give you a breakdown as best I can on why these supplements are good for you – and what they benefits to weight loss each ingredient may hold.   Along with a variety of online resources,  I’m using the following books as resources for the information below:  SuperFoods RX, Anti-Fat Nutrients, Personal Fitness 6th Edition, and Weight loss Success for a Lifetime.

Rescue Me – Weight Loss Elixir

Directions – shake bottle well before each use.  Mix 1 capful or 10 pumps with 25 ounces of filtered water in the OL glass bottle.  Shake well and drink throughout the day.

Ingredients:

• OrganicPlease Login or Register to see the link. Concentrate – helps aid in the healthy flow of blood through the system and lowers LCD levels.
• Organic Lime Juice and Organic Lemon Juice – citrus fruit contains Limonene which stimulates our antioxidant detoxification enzyme system – which in turn blocks cancer before it can begin.
• OrganicPlease Login or Register to see the link. – with a low glycemic profile – this natural sweetener is better for those individuals battling obesity and diabetes.
• Water
• Organic Cranberry Juice Concentrate – one of the super foods – Cranberry is a great antioxidante, aids in urinary health, and studies indicate berries can aid in preventing dementia and Alzheimer’s.
• Organic Please Login or Register to see the link.(prebiotic fiber) – this is a “good” bacteria that works in the digestive system battling “bad” bacteria – aids in digestion
• Please Login or Register to see the link. – acts as a natural preservative – this aids in the removal of toxins from the body and helps energy development in the cells.
• L-Malic Acid
• Organic Green Tea Leaf  – contains over 4,000 chemical compounds – but the most studied are the flavonoids – a powerful antioxidant
• Organic Please Login or Register to see the link. Extract – an herb based sweetener great for low-carbohydrate diets.  Some studies show Stevia successful in treating obesity and high blood pressure.
• Ascorbic Acid – a natural preservative
• Organic Please Login or Register to see the link.- helps to detoxify the system and eases stomach issues
• Please Login or Register to see the link. – helps regulate muscle contractions, water balance and aids the metabolism and energy levels
• OrganicPlease Login or Register to see the link. Root – used in natural Chinese Medicine – eleuthero is used as an anti-inflammatory and enhances the immune system
• Organic Please Login or Register to see the link. – aka prickly pear cactus – a great source of soluble dietary fiber
• Xanthan Gum – a thickening agent and preservative
• OrganicPlease Login or Register to see the link. – Fennel has many medicinal benefits – but in this case may be used as a natural diuretic aiding in the removal of excess fluids in the system
• OrganicPlease Login or Register to see the link. – traditionally peppermint has been used to aid in digestion – but more recently peppermint has been found to be effective in appetite suppression.
• Di-Calcium Pantothenate – not many sources for this – but is said to battle fatigue
• Please Login or Register to see the link. – aka Vitamin B3 – helps aid in skin and acne issues
• Please Login or Register to see the link. – aka Vitamin B6 – aids in healing and is necessary for the metabolism to function properly
• Zinc Fumarate – from what I can tell this is a form of zinc that helps regulate the immune system
• Thiamine Mononitrate – aka Vitamin B1 – helps in cell regeneration
• Riboflavin – aka Vitamin B2 – vital for metabolic process
• Please Login or Register to see the link. – aids in bone health
• Please Login or Register to see the link. – apparently the supplement you take in the Please Login or Register to see the link. {hahaha!}  But seriously … health benefits are for the thyroid – which is great news for those battling hypothyroidism.
• Please Login or Register to see the link. – benefits of this supplement aids in weight loss or regulating your weight.  HOWEVER – there are some dangers involved when taken in large doses – this could be a cancer inhibitor.  Just be sure you’re not getting this supplement elsewhere.
• Please Login or Register to see the link. – aka Vitamin B9 – helps prevent colon cancer and heart disease – also important in pregnancy to prevent birth defects
• Please Login or Register to see the link. – another antioxidant cancer fighter
• Sodium Selenite – another antioxidant that helps the skin
• Please Login or Register to see the link. – aka Vitamin B7 – works to improve the use of insulin in the system
• Please Login or Register to see the link. – aka vitamin B12 – really helps with anemia and liver and kidney functions.

That’s all I have time for tonight – whew!  A ton of research right there!   Check back in a few days for the remaining supplements in the Organic Liaisons family.

UPDATE: I just received a personal call from the Director of Operations.  He is going to personally ensure that I get a new Starter Kit AND he’ll be double checking his process to make sure this sort of thing doesn’t happen again.  He explained that the boxes are all hand packed – so he didn’t understand why this might have happened.  He actually sounded quiet skeptical – but my son witnessed me opening the box and knows the supplements are missing.  I’m glad he’s sending a replacement regardless of his doubts as it shows they really want the business to succeed.  It’s a great concept – and I want them to succeed as well!  My new box should be here tomorrow!  Yay!!  Doing a happy dance now!

I was so very excited to get my 1st package from Organic Liaisons today.  I had ordered the Starter Kit, Pagoda, Relieve Me and an extra Etched glass bottle.  I tore open my two boxes, pulled the lid off this gorgeous box the starter kit came in and found this:

Yep – that’s right! Missing the Nightingale and the Release Me supplements.  Combine this with the web site issues and I’m getting somewhat annoyed with this brilliant new all organic program.  I know it’s “a new thing for us” … I’ve heard that about 10 times in the past two days.  But come on!  Check the boxes before you mail them out!!

Left a voice mail message just now for someone to call me 1st thing tomorrow morning to resolve this.

I REALLY want to get started!

Here is the recipe for the all-important GREEN SOUP – a staple in the Organic Liaisons program.  Kirstie talked about this during her Oprah interview and swears by it.  She recommends a cup before lunch and dinner to help fill you up!  At 62 calories per serving – you can’t go wrong.  If you’re making this for yourself – half the recipe.  You’ll be making 1 weeks worth at a time.  I plan on shopping for the ingredients fresh every Sunday morning – then pre-portioning into 14 1-cup servings {thank you Ziploc Containers!}

Kirstie Alley’s Green Soup – from OrganicLiaisons.com

Servings: Makes 23 cups

Ingredients:

* 6 to 8 big chunks shallots
* 8 leeks (Cut leeks just above their white part, about 2 inches. Peel the outer layer off and then slit them open lengthwise, but not completely severed clear through. Rinse them out well.)
* 1/3 cup organic olive oil
* 2 big bunches asparagus (cut the hard ends off about 3 inches)
* 3 big bunches broccoli (cut the stems off halfway up the shafts)
* 2 big bunches spinach (cut off the tiny part of the dirty ends)
* 6 containers (32 ounces each) organic chicken broth (for vegetarians, use vegetable broth)
* Sea salt (at least 3 tablespoons of coarse grain)
* Pepper , to taste

Directions

Peel and slice shallots thinly.

Put all the olive oil in a very large, deep pot. Turn the heat to medium-high. Put the shallots into the oil and sweat the shallots. “Sweating” means to cook the vegetables to tenderize them without browning them. Adjust heat as necessary to ensure they do not brown.

Add 1 tablespoon of coarse, ground, good quality sea salt to shallots to absorb while they are sweating. Cut the leeks into thin slices and toss them into the oil with the shallots. Sweat the leeks along with the shallots. Chop the asparagus into small bits and then add them to the mixture and sweat them, along with the shallots and leeks.

When the shallots, asparagus and leeks are fully sweated and tender, break the broccoli into small chunks and throw them into the soup pot. (If the shallots, leeks and asparagus combo gets too dry before they are tender, just add small amounts of chicken broth to the mix and keep on sweating.)

Let the broccoli sweat a little while (about 2 minutes) and then add half of your organic chicken stock. Cook this for about 10 minutes.

Add remaining chicken stock and continue cooking for another 5-10 minutes. (You want the broccoli to be tender, but not overcooked, and you want the color of soup to always remain a nice, bright green.) Add all the spinach and cook for an additional 3 to 5 minutes. Turn the flame off the mixture and season to taste with sea salt and pepper.

Transfer the soup into a blender by increments and puree the mixture. Put the pureed soup mixture into one big pot. Then taste and season it to your liking. Only season with salt and pepper. If you desire any other seasoning, create an individual serving, not in the whole pot.

Split the soup into 2 equal parts, one for you and one for your Chubby Buddy or for storage. Cool the soup before refrigerating and/or freezing.
You are basically adding the vegetables in order of their hardness. The spinach is so soft, you would never want to add it too early. If you do, it can make the soup turn brownish…ICK!

Eat this soup once or twice a day or whenever you are hungry. Green Soup is 62 calories per cup.
This recipe yields about 23 cups of soup, enough for you and your Chubby Buddy for an entire week. Make sure your cooking pot is big, or you can halve the recipe.

I have decided to give Kirstie Alley’s Organic Liaisons {Please Login or Register to see the link.} weight loss program a try.    I went ahead and plunked down the $89 for an annual membership {tons cheaper than Jenny Craig!} – and sent away for my Starter Kit of supplements – and will get started as soon as the kit arrives.

The Organic Liaisons web site doesn’t give you much information when you first enter.  You have to register in order to see more information … and then you really won’t see what the program is all about until you pay that membership fee.  I’m getting a TON of hits on my blog from others looking for more information – so I’ve decided to blog about my experience with the program here so others can decide if they’d like to join in the fun as well.

To get started on the Organic Liaisons program – you will need to register on the site and purchase a membership.  You can chose a monthly membership at $10 per month, or pay $89 for the year.  My Jenny Craig fee was $499 down and then $50 a year to continue.  So $89 for the year was nothing in comparison!

Once you’re a paid member, you’re encouraged to purchase some important supplements to take while on this ALL ORGANIC program.  {Eating Organically is encouraged – but you CAN complete the program eating non-organic foods if you don’t have easy access to an Organic Market}.  The supplements are OPTIONAL as well .. but if you take the time and watch the videos Kirstie has created you’ll see the benefits of getting these.  1 month supply is $139 – and you get the following items:

1.  Rescue Me – this is an energy drink of sorts that you mix with water and drink throughout the morning.  It gives you a boost of energy and helps battle hunger and cravings.  It’s all natural – all organic.  Once I get my Starter Kit I’ll post the ingredients of this supplement here on Willo’s Web.  I’ll look them up in my supplements book and let you know what each ingredient targets as well.

2.  Release Me – a powder that you mix with hot water at the end of the day.  You can then add in Green Tea or other beverage of your choice to flavor the product.  Kirstie’s video recommended drinking the beverage hot for best flavor.  It’s basically a mix of calcium and magnesium and is supposed to help you relax at the end of a busy day.

3.  Nightingale – this is a supplement that can be added to the Release Me.  It is a natural sleep inducer – tryptophan {that same ingredient found in Turkey that makes us all sluggish on Thanksgiving!}  Use this only if you normally have trouble falling asleep at night.

You can then opt to purchase additional supplements.  There’s a colon cleanser called Relieve Me – you take this every night to help cleanse your digestive system.  I’ve not been a big fan of cleansers in the past – but I bought a bottle to try out and see exactly what it does.  I’ll let you know how it works – but will save it for an evening before my day off work!

Pagoda is a natural Metabolism booster – it’s a Green Tea Extract that’s designed to improve your metabolism and keep it fueled while you’re losing weight.  Since my metabolism is my biggest battle – I am getting this to try out.  Again – will report back results here at Willo’s Web when I get the products.

And that’s it as far as supplements go.

The Organic Liaisons web site takes you to the “O-Zone” once you’re a paid member.  Here you will find a plethora of tools to use during your weight loss journey.  The Body Game is your first stop – enter in all your statistics {height, weight, etc …} – and then select a meal plan.   I wanted to see what the Vegan Menu Planner would suggest – and am now stuck on this.  It suggested just 5,000 calories a week which is HIGHLY dangerous.  I’ve got several messages in to tech support to get this switched to a “No Preference” menu so that I can eat my full 1,200 calories per day.  Tech Support has yet to respond – and if they continue to ignore my requests … well .. you’ll hear all about it here!  haha!

The O-Zone {Please Login or Register to see the link.} also includes a daily planner to log your food and exercise, a recipe section for all organic meals, a graphical representation of your weight loss, a place to find a “Chubby Buddy”,  an Organic Market locater, and other fun tools you’ll have to see when you sign up for a membership.

And really … that’s it.  The FAQ section promises a customizable Menu Planner – but I’ve only been able to delete foods I don’t like – and am not able to add in substitutions.  Again – this is one of my questions in to the Customer Support that I’m waiting to have answered.  It would be nice to have that ability – as the Menu Planner allows you to print out a grocery list as well – which is a major time saver for me.

It’s a great concept – I’ve been wanting to switch to a more Organic food program since I became certified as a Nutrition and Weight Loss Consultant.  Now … to get my 30 minutes of activity/exercise a day and I’ll be back on track.

I’ll update you when my Starter Kit arrives!  If you decide to join up – feel free to add me as friend on Phitter {Please Login or Register to see the link. - just look for WilloKeays!

I’ve never been one to follow the History books.  I don’t watch the news anymore because it just makes me cry.  I tune in to particular stories that interest me via the Internets – usually those involving whatever Hurricane is headed to Florida.  I do however follow The Orlando Sentinel via Twitter – and I do click on stories that might be important.  I’m not entirely clueless as to what is going on in the outside world.

I’ve always been more interested in what the every day people are doing – I’d rather sit down and hear the folk stories from the past.  I often wonder what secrets we might have known if the Internets and Blogging where available hundreds of years ago.   What would the little wife on the prairie have told us about her adventure into the new frontier?   Would Benjamin Franklin have shared his thoughts via twitter every day?  Think of the insight we might have into Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s madness and brilliance!

I was browsing through the Blogs and Tweets I typically follow on a daily basis and was surprised to read this on Ryan Star’s twitter page:

I am here to bore you with my daily adventures which these days happen in a van somewhere in the states as my band and I tour. I like to toilet tweet.

NO … not the part about tweeting in the restrooms.  The part about BORING us with his daily adventures.  Ryan Star .. up n coming Rock God … BORE us?  My goodness … Ryan has more adventures in one day than I’ve accumulated in a lifetime.   Which made me think of how many times I’ve said the same thing about my blog … my writing … having few readers.   Are those of us who Tweet and Blog that insecure about our writing that we automatically assume our daily lives are boring to others?

Those blogs that I do read, I’ve selected because their authors interest me.   I’ve become attached to their stories, and I always want to see what they’ve been up to since the last time I check in.    Bloggers do tend to be the attention hounds of our generation.  We all have stories to share  … each and every one of us.  But really – as blog authors we don’t actually need an audience.  We just need an outlet to share.  If others read what we’ve written – that’s a total bonus.

As my life morphs into this next phase I’ve found it difficult to find things to write about.  I’ve used the “rut” mentality really as an excuse not to write – thinking that things are so ho-hum boring right now – who wants to read THAT?  On Sirius Radio 11 – BBC Radio 1 – the DJs said something similiar.  “Who wants to read about MY life.”  The obvious answer for

them is their listeners … they want to know more about the men behind the radio mic.  The good thing about writing on the Internets … there will always be SOMEONE who is interested in what YOU have to say.

So right now my life is focused on my transition back to work – a job in women’s fashion that I adore.  And while an everyday recap of what I’ve accomplished each day may be tedious … the stories of customers that come in to my shop are somewhat fascinating.  Why not write blogs about THEM?  Even if I don’t know all the details … I can still tell their story based on what I’ve observed.   The wealthy business women who saw nothing of dropping $2,000 to outfit her Alaskan Cruise – but ever so thankful for some fashion advice.   The young tomboy having to wear a dress for the first time as she stands up as “Best Man” for her life long friend at his wedding.  The mother overcoming a battle with breast cancer struggling to find her beauty and confidence once again.

There are TONS of stories to tell in the world around us.  We just have to stop and listen.  These are the stories that are important to me.  These are the stories that need to be shared.  The every day people are the ones that REALLY made the world what it is today.