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My Top 8 Favorite Blogs

There are a sea of bloggers out there, and here, all in one place are eight of my favorites. I thought I’d share with you some blogs that I follow for fun and inspiration. I’ve had the joy of meeting some of these bloggers in person and I am inspired by the creative force of Jessica Mindich, and in awe of every word Anne LaMott writes.

Some of these blogs I follow are for very personal reasons. While many of you know that I lost my beloved husband to cancer in 2007, you may not know that I was adopted as an infant. This is one of the reasons I follow Megan Vos’ blog because she has written about their family adoption journey.

As you may have read in my newsletter, I am heading to Kenya in October with a few other widows and part of our trip will be visiting an organization that services widows. If you know of a blogs that feature widows in other countries, please send me a note.

1. Second Firsts
Christina Rasmussen is a widow and author of the book Second Firsts. Christina provides hope and inspiration for those women who are on the widow journey. She is honest about the challenges of being a widow and provides help for starting over. I adore her blog posts and newsletters.

2. Footsteps
Christine Somers of Footsteps. I first met Christine in a Montana hotel lobby. We were both headed to a writing retreat, and we decided to share a ride. Later that week, I learned that she is a gifted writer and single mom to adult children. On her blog, his is how she introduces herself, “In 1995, after my daughter headed off to college, I was on my own for the first time in my life. I was working in Charlotte, NC at a sales job that paid well but lacked the creative energy that I craved. I wanted to make a change, a drastic change. I wanted to craft a new life that gave me more time to write and pursue opportunities that were meaningful to me.” Christine offers practical advice on parenting (adult children), writing, organizing finances, and grandparenting. 20130809_170233

3. Women Run
This woman, Kyra Lawton, a Boston resident and CEO literally and figuratively runs. She runs her business, runs her three children to events, runs a household as a single mom and runs races. Last year I met her in her garage which she turned into her office and I wrote about her here for HuffPO.

4. Jewelry for a Cause
Jessica Mindich is CEO and founder of Jewelry for a Cause. This is not your ordinary jewelry blog that makes you reach for the delete function as soon as you see your email. This woman and mother of two boys is doing amazing work. She has a line of jewelry called Raise the Caliber, and she makes beautiful bracelets and cufflinks from gun parts. These gun parts were obtained through a gun buy back program to get guns that were not legally obtained off the streets. I wrote about her here on Huffington Post. She shines a light on others who are also working to Raise the Caliber in their community.

5. Cup of Jo
Joanna Goddard has a fabulous blog that I’ve been following for years. She is the quintessential New Yorker and writes about travel, design, food, relationships, fashion and beauty. I secretly envy her innate sense of style and substance. My dream would be to meet Joanna for coffee.

6. This is Me Being Real
Megan Vos is mother to 5 children and as I write this she, her husband and their children are on their way to China to adopt their beautiful daughter. As an adoptee from Korea, I’ve been carefully following their adoption journey, and Megan has even sent me a few messages.

7. Anne LaMott
Anne LaMott is the author of best selling books like Bird by Bird and Stitches. When I heard her speak at Calvin College’s Festival of Faith and Writing this year, time stood still. She is a straight shooter and eloquent. Unlike many writers, Anne uses her highly engaged Facebook page for to connect with her readers. It here that she openly talks about the stuggles of perfectionism, anxiety and self doubt. She’s honest that she is in recovery for substance abuse and encourages others to live one day at a time.
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8. Dr. Mark Hyman
Dr. Mark Hyman writes for the Huffington Post and in one eloquent essay, he wrote about the loss of his dear sister to cancer, and how he coped with this loss. Dr. Hyman challenges the food industry and government to be honest about what is causing obesity and illness. I also took on his Sugar Detox challenge and wrote about it here.

Do you write a blog? I’d love to hear from you, and perhaps even feature it in my next post.

Follow Kristin Meekhof on her journey on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+.

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Jolie Altman’s Beautiful Success

At a recent dinner party, guests were asked to bring an item they were proud of and could share with others. While some may have paused to think about what to take, Mrs. Jolie Altman immediately grabbed her passport and her Mt. Kilimanjaro certificate. The certificate documents a successful summit climb of the highest peak in Africa. “What I’m most proud of besides my family is my passport and my Mt. Kili certificate. Both of those things have opened doors for me.”

On a whim in 2009, Altman decided to take on the summit challenge. With no previous training, the then 42-year-old signed up with Road Monkey for the expedition, and then told her husband. The summit hike was beyond grueling. It is hard to imagine the very petite Altman climbing the Uhuru Peak. “We hiked for up to eight hours a day, six days straight, and this included some nights. I knew no one when I signed up, but I knew that I was going to meet like minded people. You help each other climb to the top and I couldn’t have been happier. ” Altman still glows with a sense of accomplishment when she looks back at that journey. After the summit climb, Altman spent time in Africa, with the other climbers, completing a community service project. “I slept in a hut under netting, bugs crawling on the wall, and no water. And it was beautiful.”

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Jolie Altman’s shout out on Mt. Kili. Photo used with permission. Photo credit: Paul von Zielbauer for Road Monkey

Beautiful is also a word many in the area have used to describe Altman’s spacious home that she shares with her husband Dr. David Altman and their three sons. The couple has noteworthy art collections of everything from modern to vintage. Their home has been featured in various press entities. Altman is clear that she chooses pieces based not on the designer, but their artistic quality. Her collection has everything from vintage carnival knock down dolls to a child’s framed drawing to things she found at an airport. At La Guarida airport, Altman spotted two large pieces of wall art. “This (pointing to the oversize modern art) was at the airport and they were going to get rid of it. Just as I was picking it up, I heard a woman say, ‘There’s something for everyone.’ I don’t care what people think. If I like it, I’ll purchase it.”

This confidence has translated well into growing her jewelry business. Altman is becoming well known for her original African design necklaces and bracelets. She only uses authentic materials, and each piece is original. What is remarkable is that Altman acquires everything she uses and frequently travels. “I go to Africa and Amsterdam and find things for my jewelry.” She pauses thinking about her growing success. “I have quietly gotten into many of the top stores in the country simply by making jewelry.”

One of those top stores that Altman is referring to is Bergdorf Goodman. She recalls, “I was wearing my things in Bergdorf Goodman’s a while back and someone noticed them.” Within hours, Altman had a meeting, and Bergdorf Goodman agreed to carry Altman’s jewelry. “A lot of it is word of mouth or people see things at some of my shows, and want to carry it at their stores. I have quietly gotten into many of the top stores in the country simply by making jewelry. ”

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Semi precious and precious gems jewelry. Photo taken by Boswell and used with permission by Jolie Altman

Altman’s husband of 25 years, Dr. David Altman, also noticed this wasn’t just a simple outlet for her creative energy. Altman says, “David told me that my hobby is no longer a hobby. I had to put my big girl pants on and open a bank account, get a Square (allows for remote transactions), pay taxes, and meet with an accountant. I really love to create but not calculate.” Altman’s designs are now carried by Ikram, Kitson, and Anthropologie.

Since Altman was a young child she has created items. Long before it was popular for top designers to make African jewelry, Altman’s mother was designing her own African necklaces. Some of her mother’s necklaces hang in Altman’s home office as inspiration. “I’ve always done some sort of artwork. I especially remember on Sundays growing up, I used to create all sorts of things: paintings, clothing, jewelry.”

However, Altman’s educational background does not reflect her passion for art. She graduated with a degree in political science. After doing some volunteer tutoring work at the University of Michigan hospital, she decided to pursue a graduate degree in education. She taught until the birth of her first son. “I encourage our children to be creative, open, to learn. I want my boys to be independent. I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro for my boys to set an example. ”

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Photo Credit: Boswell. Photo permission given by Jolie Altman

Despite being surrounded by one-of-a-kind art, Altman is incredibly down to earth. While sharing her parenting philosophy and business plans, she is open and is clear to admit what she doesn’t know. It’s also clear that she exercises, but shuns diets. Altman is high energy and very thoughtful. She’s is the type of person that is so open she can appear vulnerable. In her early business days, she says she learned a few surprising, yet valuable lessons. However, she is not jaded by these experiences. If anything, she is quite sincere about working directly with everyone. “I make all of my jewelry. It would be difficult to have the traditional line sheet because I am constantly creating mostly one-of-a-kind pieces. Although it is often difficult to do trade shows, I am proud of the fact that I have created a business that is all mine.”

You can read this article on The Huffington Post

The Widow’s Guilt

When I started to write an upcoming book for widows with my co- author James Windell, I didn’t know quite what to expect. Sure, I was a young widow and talked about my own experience here but I hadn’t reached out to other widows. I quickly learned that no widow’s loss is exactly the same.

Nearly every day, you can read online about a tragedy in which a wife becomes a widow. You can see the look of despair on her face and sense the loss. When I talk with women who are recently widowed, one of the first things I’m asked is, “How did you get through it?” I have experienced this intense rawness that a new widow feels. I remember feeling like my world ended, desperate to find the one thing that would take away the hurt. The real problem is that there is no magic cure for grief.

I know the days following the funeral for widows are depressing. After my husband’s death, I remember coming home after work to complete silence. We had no children together, so there was no one to distract me. Those months following his death were in the midst of a Michigan winter. This meant it was dark by 6 p.m. and cold. Curled up with a blanket on the couch, I had the fantasy that I would quit my job, move to Hawaii and walk on the beach. It was, of course, just a fantasy. The cold reality was that I needed a job with health care benefits.

Nearly all of the widows James and I talked with report similar emotions: fear, anxiety, shock, loneliness, sadness and depression. There is no question that there are many challenges widows face, but the first challenge will relate to experiencing and coping with emotions. We also found that there is a difference in some of the emotional reactions based on how the husband died.

Widows whose husbands died as a result of substance abuse or an illness related to this also reported feeling guilt and shame. It is difficult because the widow often saw their spouse’s life deteriorate in a downward spiral. The widows often remarked that they tried various interventions throughout the marriage, only to feel, deep down, that their spouse lacked willpower to quit. The widows covered for his use, made excuses to others, and worst of all lied to herself.

When the widows discussed the cause of their husband’s death with others, they said they would often see a look in other’s eye that said, “What did you expect”? Sometimes, others had nothing positive to say about their spouse. One widows said, she asked a family member to make a few remarks at her husband’s funeral and was told, “I have nothing good to say. He was always a drunk to me.” Sensing judgement and criticism, widows often become more isolated.

This isolation led to depression. These widows would often ruminate on the past, wondering if they were somehow to blame for his substance abuse use. One widow admits that she gave up on her spouse and obtained a legal separation. She hoped this action would force him into treatment. Shortly after the separation, he died. She blamed herself for his death, feeling guilty for demanding the split, and thought he would be alive had they remained together. She sunk into a depression, and eventually at the urging of her family, entered into psychiatric treatment.

Coping with this type of guilt intertwined with grief is a heavy task, and there is nothing wrong with seeking licensed professional therapy. There are some others things that you can do to help with the guilt:

1. Give yourself grace — you deserve a pass. This is not a time to expect perfection from yourself.

2. Forgive yourself — if you can’t let go of everything, then, start with a few small things.

3. Seek non-judgemental support. This may be a trusted friend, a relative or member of a support group. You are already your own toughest critic. You need someone who is there to listen and love.

You can also read this article on The Huffington Post.

What People in Crisis Need

After writing The Moment I knew on The Huffington Post, I received some beautiful and empathetic emails from complete strangers to long lost friends. One friend, “A,” wrote me saying she “didn’t realize everything” I was going through and apologized for not calling me. Honestly, I couldn’t recall such a conversation.

However, this got me going back to the 2007 archives email folder, a time when I wasn’t on Facebook and didn’t text, but in “crisis mode” with my late husband. As I scrolled through this folder, I didn’t dare open certain emails, titled, “hospice, funeral arrangements,” knowing it would send me directly back into those painful moments. However, I did find this one email, not from friend “A.” Truthfully, I completely forgot I wrote it. It went something like this:

Me: Have a few hours to talk starting at one tomorrow.
Her: Oh, tomorrow — not good. At spa, no cell phones allowed. How about early next week?
Me: I’ll be at U of M (hospital). I’ll get back to you when I know more.

As soon as I reread this, I gritted my teeth, and eventually I deleted it. Looking back, it comes across as insensitive, but I know this person met no harm. When you are in a crisis you need help, but for many reasons it’s stressful to ask. Acknowledging the gravity of the situation and repeating the “story” is emotional. It’s as if you feel like you are talking under water and no one understands you. Coming up for air, while treading for water, you see your friends and family on boats looking down on you. Deep down, you want someone just to pull you out of the water, give you a towel, a hug and tell you, “everything is going to be okay. I love you.”

In reality, there are loved ones who truly care and are looking at you, but don’t know what to say or provide what you need. For all of you out there wanting to provide support, this is what people in crisis need:

1. Hug. Even if it’s brief, with no words. This is a tender, needed gesture.

2. Send a text, email, leave a voicemail but don’t expect a reply. Sometimes, the person is living moment to moment. Lost for words? Simply say, “I’m sorry this is happening. I love you.”

3. Small gestures are huge. I remember coming home late from the hospital to find a loaf of banana bread (with no note) by my door. Starving, I immediately cut into it, and I remember saying, “thank you” out loud.

4. Go out of your way to be helpful with actions (e.g., child care, meals), but don’t ask lots of questions. There’s a fine line of being nosy, wanting to know all of the intimate details, and being respectful of boundaries. When you genuinely want to support someone, your actions will reflect authenticity, and the receiver knows it’s sincere.

5. After time has passed, still offer support. Know that the person is still fragile. Several weeks, after the funeral, my friend put together a girls night, just her and I. She arranged wine, comfort food, a pedicure. It meant the world to me.

Emotional support makes difficult situations less stressful, and softens painful edges. It helps with healing and is never forgotten.

You can also read this article on the Huffington Post

5 Easy Tips to Becoming Your Own Health Advocate

When Wendy Holman noticed her hair was falling out, she immediately assumed the cause to be a recent hair color treatment, and even changed stylists. However, what she thought was one bad hair week quickly turned into a nightmare. Not only was her remaining hair turning brittle, but she also had increased spurts of energy and excessive facial hair.

She made an appointment with her female primary care physician and was told that these symptoms were related to high cholesterol. Holman, then 41, was told to return in six months for a follow up visit.

When she began having vision trouble, she went for an eye check-up, where the doctor discovered fluid in her eye. Still suffering from her other symptoms, Holman went online to do research before heading back to her primary care doctor. With a detailed chart of the symptoms in hand, she told her doctor that she thought she had Cushing’s disease.

From The Shriver Report click here to read complete article.

Reaching for Support

A traditional Danish proverb states that, “No one is rich enough to do without a neighbor.” This in essence is true of everyone. There is a point in all of our lives that we are socially interdependent. Some of us create relationships with others for the very goal of reaching happiness. Health science researchers have found that individuals who have social support experience improved physical health. Not surprisingly, social scientists have also found a connection between social support and an individual’s sense of well being. This sense of having a community of people to talk and share resources with underlies the study of social networks.

Last month, I was interviewed about how I coped with my late husband’s health crisis. On The Huffington Post, I wrote about my husband’s brief battle with adrenal cancer here —https://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristin-meekhof/the-moment-i-knew_25_b_3414936.html — and as a result strangers have written to me asking questions. Many of these questions follow a similar pattern. Generally, people want to know if I have any advice for young widows, what adrenal cancer is, how I learned to navigate the health care system, and how I coped with loneliness. So when I agreed to this telephone interview, I thought I was mentally prepared for the usual questions. The interview was coming to a close and I was reaching for my handbag to check my cellphone (yes, I confess, I was not completely focused) when I was asked this: Is there anything you regret about your husband’s medical crisis?

I froze. My shoulders tightened. I couldn’t even swallow. I wasn’t able to process anything. The interviewer sensed my startled response and said, “It’s okay. Take your time.” I couldn’t even mumble, “Thank you.” No words. Nothing. Eventually, these words went through my brain, “No regrets.” This was the safe answer. I could wrap up this interview, show very little vulnerability, and move on. However, I chose to think deeply about this question, and answer it with complete honesty. I did have a regret and it was this — not reaching for more support. When my husband was ill, I was in crisis mode. Things were happening very quickly, and I was running an emotional marathon with no end in sight.

I don’t blame anyone for what I am about to say, but I wish I had said “yes” to more offers of help. I felt raw and adding one more thing to my plate, like meeting for coffee, seemed overwhelming. However, I know in talking with others that support does make a difference.

Recently, I talked with Shauna McLaughlin. In 2010, she faced a mother’s worst nightmare. Her then 19-month-old daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. As a single parent, Ms. McLaughlin was solely responsible for her daughter’s medical, emotional, and financial care. Ms McLaughlin recalls, “I left my job to take care of her because she needed me around the clock. I couldn’t leave her alone at the hospital. She was critically ill, and at times on life support.”

Support is something McLaughlin desperately needed. A social worker at Dana Farber hospital, where the Ms. McLaughlin’s daughter was receiving care, recognized the challenges the family faced. The social worker connected Ms. McLaughlin with Carla Tardif, Executive Director of the Family Reach. Little did Ms. Tardiff know how much this single mother was struggling. Ms. McLaughlin recalls, “I didn’t have heat, and wasn’t able to make the monthly rent payments.” She was struggling in silence, and it was the kindness of a stranger that made all the difference.

Looking back at the time during my husband’s health crisis, I know that acts of kindness from people I knew and those I didn’t know mattered. Reaching out can be challenging for those of us who want to appear pulled together and independent. However, from time to time, we all need a little help from others.

To learn more about Family Reach, you can go here: https://www.familyreach.org/

References: Health Science research studies: Schwazer & Leppin 1991; Uchino, Cacioppo, Marakey, Glaser & Kiecolt- Glaser, 1995; Ryff & Keyes, 1995.

This article first appeared on Huffington Post

Cooking With Compassion

In 2010, Shauna McLaughlin faced a mother’s worst nightmare. Her then 19-month-old daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. As a single parent, Ms. McLaughlin was solely responsible for her daughter’s medical, emotional, and financial care. Ms McLaughlin recalls, “I left my job to take care of her because she needed me around the clock. I couldn’t leave her alone at the hospital. She was critically ill, and at times on life support.”

Support is something McLaughlin desperately needed. A social worker at Dana Farber hospital, where the Ms. McLaughlin’s daughter was receiving care, recognized the challenges the family faced. The social worker connected Ms. McLaughlin with Carla Tardiff, director of the Family Reach Program. Little did Ms. Tardiff know how much this single mother was struggling. Ms. McLaughlin recalls, “I didn’t have heat and wasn’t able to make the monthly rent payments.”

Sadly, Ms. Mc Laughlin is not alone. The Family Reach Foundation estimates that over 100,000 children and young adults battle cancer, and one half of those families confront a financial hardship. Ms. Tardiff maintains that they help out these families by making direct financial payments to the landlord or a utility company. Ms. Tardif also recognizes other areas where families need financial assistance. Some families, for example, struggle to pay hospital parking fees and medical co-pays.

Last month in Boston, I met Ms. Ms Tardif at Chef Ming Tsai’s Blue Dragon restaurant. Ms. Tardif, herself a breast cancer survivor, arrived early and was slightly distracted. She remarked, “It was a tough week. Two of the families we help lost loved ones. Over the weekend, I called Ming (Tsai) telling him that this family really needed help. He immediately drove out to their home and brought all of this food. When we left, Ming knew that the child didn’t have long to live. I said, ‘No, I think it will be a while.’ It wasn’t long.”

Shortly after Ms. Tardiff finishes her story, Chef Tsai arrives, dressed casually and ready to talk about the foundation. He never once mentions his own success as a chef and business man. Ms. Tardiff reached out to Chef Tsai in December 2010, to help grant a final wish of a young woman, named Darlene. Darlene knew that she was dying from cancer. She wanted to meet Chef Tsai, and have him prepare a meal for her. Chef Tsai not only granted Darlene’s wish, he vowed to help Ms. Tardiff reach other families. Chef Tsai explains, “I can’t fix cancer, but I can help with the foundation. Financially, families don’t recover when something like this happens. They wonder if they can make their car payments and if they have enough money to get gas. Family Reach helps with gas cards, and other expenses, and these families appreciate it.”

Ms. Tardiff is extremely appreciative for Chef Tsai’s support. In 2012, he founded “Cooking Live with Ming Tsai and Friends.” Families fighting cancer are given front row seats and other celebrities participate. These events are an important fundraiser to support families like Ms. McLaughlin. She says, “Carla (Tardiff) and Ming have becomes friends. They’re always emotionally there for me. I feel that Ming puts his whole heart into this foundation and genuinely cares about everyone.”

To learn about the April 1, 2014 “Cooking Live with Ming Tsai and Friends” in Denver, you can go here: https://www.familyreach.org/events/cooking-live-kick-denver/

To learn more about the Family Reach Foundation, go herehttps://www.familyreach.org/

This article first appeared on Huffington Post

3 Things I Would Like Health Care Workers to Know About Hospice Caregiving

In 2007, I was 33, and my husband was diagnosed with a rare cancer — adrenal. Approximately seven weeks after his diagnosis, we made the decision to begin hospice care. In our home, my husband received hospice for about one week, and then he died.

These are three things that I would like health care workers to know about hospice caregiving.

1. As a Caregiver, I Was Living on Empty
Despite a graduate degree in clinical social work, I struggled with understanding what the hospice workers told me. Before my husband came home to hospice, I was living in a state of crisis. I thought my husband was healthy. His blood work was normal. Adrenal cancer is often asymptomatic. Now, suddenly, we were told that my husband had maybe seven months to live. I hadn’t slept. I misspelled my name on the initial hospice paperwork, and that home health worker seemed annoyed that I’d not only signed on the wrong line, but there was also a spelling error. And in normal circumstances, I read everything. However, that first day my husband came home from the hospital to enter hospice, I was in shock. I read nothing, and I signed all the paperwork. Big error in judgment, you say. Honestly, I was living on empty.

2. “Just One More Thing” Is the Tipping Point
Let me explain what I mean by this sentence. If you read number one, you know that I was living on empty. The emotional marathon had taken its toll, and I was only 33. I was in good health, and I looked strong. However, I was often sick to my stomach. I wasn’t able to keep food down and had no appetite. I was the primary caregiver for my husband. He knew that he was dying, and so did I. The stress was unlike anything I’ve ever encountered. And while it appeared that I was able to manage his pain through morphine drops, there was nothing to help ease my emotional pain. And that pain was real. Watching my husband melt away was hell. So, when the health care worker comes into my home and says, “Just do this one more thing — like write down when he was awake or how much he ate,” I lost it. That “one more thing” may appear trivial, but it was the tipping point that sent me into a complete meltdown.

3. Living in a Cloud of Fear
Each day, fear was as fresh as morning sunlight peeking through the clouds. However, the only cloud that appeared over me was fear. I was afraid I would make a mistake with the morphine. I feared that I would hurt him when I would try to roll him on his side to avoid bed sores. I was afraid that he was in more pain than I realized. I was afraid that my husband could sense my fear, and he would think that he was a burden. I was afraid that if I made a serious mistake, hospice would remove my husband from my care and place him outside of our home. That was his worst fear and mine as well.

It is my hope that in reading this you may get a little glimpse inside the fragile state that caregivers often live in. While caregivers may be extremely successful in other areas of their life, very little prepares them for the responsibility of caring for their loved one. Few caregivers have done this before. It is an emotional marathon.

This article also appears on Huffington Post

Letting Go of Sugar with Dr. Mark Hyman

If your New Year’s Resolution goals failed or you are looking for a healthy and simple way to approach meals, this new book, The Blood Sugar Solution 10- Day Detox Diet by Dr. Mark Hyman is your answer. This book provides a comprehensive blueprint for integrating pracitical tips to help you live a healthy life. The recipes are delicious and easy to follow. Buying the book just for the recipes is well worth your purchase.

At first glance, I seem an unlikely candidate for a health fix detox program. In an average week, I run four days a week; it’s routine for me to stop at the gym before work or run outside with my running group after work. Thin and fit, I don’t worry about my weight but recent blood work showed that despite my high level of fitness, my blood sugar levels are still too high. Like most Americans, I consume too much sugar, bread, and caffeine. Mini- chocolate bars, hot cocoa packets, peanut butter crackers, organic dark chocolate chips are in my cupboards, freezer, car console, desk, and purse. I find myself justifying my sugar and bread consumption because I run. You know that person running in deep snow, when it is ten degrees outside? That is sugar addicted me.

At the onset of Dr. Mark Hyman’s new 10-day detox program, I admit, I was second guessing my commitment to give up my chocolate bars stashed away in my desk drawer and that post run hot cocoa. I scheduled the detox to begin on a week that didn’t have any scheduled dinner parties. I announced to a few friends that I was “breaking up with sugar for 10 days”, and the looks I got ranged from horror to genuine care and concern. Clearly, they knew, for me, that this wouldn’t be an easy task. “Who in the industry is doing this to you?” I explained, “No one. I need to eat better.” Another friend, with a glass of wine in her hand, put her arm on my shoulder and said, “You are about to turn forty and you need to enjoy life.”

For many Americans enjoying life equates to indulging in whatever food is easiest to obtain. Unfortunately, this means we are getting our meals out of a paper bag passed through a drive-thru window or eating mindlessly out of a cardboard box.

Dr. Hyman argues that we should hold the big food industry accountable for their conscious and negligent behavior. In his new book, The Blood Sugar Solution 10- Day Detox Diet, he writes, “We live in a toxic food landscape with tantalizing, addictive choices everywhere we go. The food industry justifies its production of toxic, addictive food by saying, ‘We are just producing what our customers want.'” Major food corporations and fast food restaurants would rather hide behind this argument than admit that they continue to play a major role in starting Americans on a lifelong path of poor nutrition. Ultimately, the path for most Americans leads to obesity and diabetes. Dr. Hyman calls this national health crisis ‘diabesity’.

Even if you are not experiencing ‘diabesity’, this detox plan can help you end your tight grip on sugar. Dr. Hyman also believes that our relationship to food is directly connected to how we think. He writes in 10- Day Detox Diet, “The biggest challenge you’re facing here is not your waistline or your weight.  It’s not your belly. It’s your brain. Changing the way you think about food so you get your mind working with your body, not against it, is critical to weight loss and healing.”

One of the ways that we can become aware of our thinking is through journaling. Part of Dr. Hyman’s 10-Day Detox Diet includes keeping a journal. He offers some suggestions about what to write about each day. There is also an online community to provide you with support.

I will share this with you about my experience (Full Disclosure- I did not use any of the supplements recommended). On day three of the detox, I felt the positive effects of a healthy diet. I embraced it now that I got through the first two days and my break up with sugar no longer seemed like a long haul. I don’t own a scale, but I felt lightweight. No cravings. My head was clear; no clutter; no anxiety despite the difficult phone call the night before. Now, I notice that my running is stronger and I’m sleeping through the night.

Even if you don’t feel that you are ready or can commit to ten days, I encourage you to take a look at this book. Many of the meal and suggestions you can incorporate into your daily routine. Feeling better about ourselves comes when we are living a healthy lifestyle. This plan teaches you how to listen to your body and provide it with nutrient rich foods. The recipes are easy to follow. Even the kitchen challenged, like myself, can complete them. Dr. Hyman explains his reason for developing this plan. “This is why I decided to write this book: to give people powerful tools to painlessly detox from sugar and processed food and reset, reboot, and restore their body to health.”

To learn more about Dr. Hyman’s The Blood Sugar Solution 10- Day Detox Diet you can go here drhyman.com.

Follow Dr. Hyman on Twitter @markhymanmd

Photography by Brooke Collier