MiI, the pie crust is easy to make, no rolling. I use it for quiche as well.

But how to do that is the big question!!!! I’ve come to the conclusion we never really get there, just always changing and hopefully going in that direction more and more (life is never ever static so true balance can never ever happen, but we can get healthier and healthier). I also totally agree with Mrs. S,it’s about taking one tiny step at a time, when we are ready. (btw, a big mazal tov on your son’s bar mitzvah) Here too I would make an exception, for those who are seriously ill, time is of essence, so would put it into a time warp and speed it up as much as possible.

I had asked a teacher of mine what she suggested should be my next step (this was a couple years ago) and she gave me a suggestion, which I tried, wasn’t consistent with, tried again and again and again – and still have the intentions to try again – I truly don’t know how this change thing works and would be happy to learn (for those curious, my next challenge was to do what we call a body rub, take a hot washcloth and rub gently all over – the principle being that the skin is the largest elimination organ and we need to eliminate toxins well – I can use the excuse that when something becomes a bit difficult, I get discouraged (along the lines of my previous comment) and as we don’t always have hot water here in Israel, it means boiling up water, so I don’t do it – but I KNOW it’s good for me, so I ponder all the time, why don’t I just DO IT!! Ditto with exercise)

In Judaism there’s a concept of doing something three times then it becomes part of you (something like that). In Flylady (on the computer, for creating order in life, and more – I don’t dare send a link again) she says it takes 21 days to create a habit. But my question again, how do you make those 21 days happen??

Also big question about influencing others – another thing I’m trying to give up – I’ve asked that question often, even from the big honcho of macrobiotics, Michio Kushi. At first he said to leave good books around, I had and that didn’t help. Then he said what so many say, be a good example. But I’m not, I still eat much which I shouldn’t – yet even that what I do eat which is healthier I think has had an effect, but not such a blaring one so people can notice (I wasn’t ill to begin with, but lots of those little annoying things, you know colds, headaches – so rare now). I know it irritates my family when I get on a soapbox, but I know how hard it is for me when members of my family get ill and I think food can help but they don’t want to hear of it. So I try to just keep it to myself. Not easy.

(Leora are their etiquette rules about comments being short?? if so, forgive me)

If you want an apple pie with no trans fats:
http://www.leoraw.com/blog/2008/02/11/easy-as-pie-crust/

Working together to meet a challenging goal is wonderful and inspirational, and I’m all for it.

Too much of anything — fruit (with its high sugar content) or whatever else — is not good, that’s why I encourage people to go with balance!

Not enough of certain things is also not good, and so I am putting this computer, and myself, to sleep….

One tiny step at a time sounds like a great way to go.

Instead, I find that it really helps to pick one small thing and just concentrate on that.

For instance, recently I’ve been trying to eliminate margarine from my cooking and baking.
(Recipes for cookies or bars that are made with oil are very much welcome right now… especially as we gear up for an upcoming bar mitzvah IY”H.)

I think about my health, diet and exercises to improve it, daily.