You’ll be on the call with Alex on Thursday night, right?

If you’re going to be there, you should download this handout here, print it out

and use it to take notes about the important topics we’ll cover at 9pm ET on the 28th:

How To Slim Down This Summer_handout

It’s been said that “one of the best things a man could do for his health is to be married to a woman, whereas for a woman, one of the best things she could do for her health was to nurture her relationships with her girlfriends.”

Women’s need for connection with other women is built in to our DNA – it’s part of our biological makeup.

Expert Louann Brizendine wrote about how women find biological comfort in one another’s company in her book “The Female Brain.” Our brains just work differently than men’s, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

We get energized by our own “happy” hormones when we respond to stress with nurturing, fun activities and the creation and maintenance of protective social networks. (That’s why women are the most active users on Facebook and Twitter!)

That means we actually feel better and become healthier when we connect with supportive girlfriends.

Quality “girl time” physically and mentally helps us create more Dopamine, a neurotransmitter that controls and kicks on the brain’s reward and pleasure centers.

Bonding between babes and mamas, as well as between trusting girlfriends, is cemented with the attachment hormone, Oxytocin. Yeah, we actually bond with our girlfriends as we do with our offspring, creating a chemical love cocktail between us when we share and support.

What’s strange is that, as a society, we’re experiencing a decline in girl time and connection. A major national survey jointly-conducted by Duke University and University of Arizona in 2006 found a big dip in friendships. More people are feeling more isolated, and this lack of social ties creates mental and physical health problems, on a big scale. It’s basically the same as the risks we see from being overweight or smoking cigarettes—that’s how bad it is.

See, most women need connection to maintain their health like they need sunlight to create Vitamin D.

When us girls get together, start sharing worries and experiences, talking about our feelings, and unveil our souls with our sisters, our bodies feel as rejuvenated as if we had gone to the gym, and our brains are filled with those happy, anti-depressant neurotransmitters that make life so juicy.

Rather than feeling guilty for hanging out with our friends, we should give ourselves a squeeze and a “yeehaw!” for doing something that is so good for our health, hormones, and outlook. We women are very lucky – when we indulge our true desires for connection and girl time, we actually promote within ourselves the ability to heal.

See? Now you can join me in the Reboot & Refresh totally guilt free! Not only will you have life-changing experiences as you open yourself up to self-exploration, but with the community and quality girl time we’ll share each week, you’ll be taking really good care of yourself as you get a nice mega-dose of serotonin. Now that’s something sweet to chew on!

One of my Delicious Detox members has jumped into the process early and has been making awesome changes already – and we haven’t even officially started! Amanda shared with us on the members-only online community:

“I’m going to post a copy of the letter I just wrote my husband enlisting family support:

I, Andrew, understand that my wife is preparing to embark upon an 8 week detoxification program, beginning September 20. I may be unaware that my wife has been consuming copious amounts of sugar (often in the form of dark chocolate) and caffeine (a drug) just to make it through the day. Increasingly she has been eating processed non-foods such as chips and drinking soda (chemical soup). This has been a pattern for many, many months and she has been unable to pull herself out of these daily dietary habits on her own. This letter is to inform me that when my wife begins to detox, she is going to feel worse before she feels better, because she will be flushing out lots of toxins and chemicals. She will likely feel irritable, emotional, impatient, and fatigued. She will want to quit and may do some crying. She will have headaches, mood swings, and may catch a cold or other minor illness. Symptoms should be the worst the first 1-2 weeks. Please support her through this time and gently remind her that she is doing this to be healthy and is using this program because she felt that she needed help. Tell her that her commitment and hard work will be so worth it and that she will be feeling more energetic, stronger, healthier, and more positive very soon. Suggest that she takes a hot bath, do some yoga, read a nice book, drink some herbal tea, or offer to play pool or cards with her. Do not let her veg out in front of the TV with unhealthy snacks and do not let her have a self-pity party! During these 2 months, please refrain from suggesting that we eat out anywhere that she is unable to order a yummy, healthy meal (like a big ‘ol salad!). Please do not bring home chips, soda, etc… for the home when you run errands. Please be discreet with the things that you buy for yourself for work and take them to work soon after buying them! This will be extremely helpful until her food cravings no longer have a hold on her. Please do not suggest to the kids during dinner that we hit Dairy Queen or Fro Yo for a special treat (maybe you can take them on the evenings that she is working!). Please understand that your wife may temporarily become a worse version of herself before she becomes a better one. Also try to understand how important it is to her to become healthier. She wants to feel good and to be the best wife and mother that she can be. She no longer wants to feel controlled by Trader Joes’ organic dark chocolate covered almonds and Dunkin Donuts coffee.

XOXO Soon-to-be-a-healthier-Amanda

He loved the letter (I was a bit nervous). He thought it was funny–I had to clarify that it wasn’t really a joke. Hahaha. Needless to say, he made a lovely salad to go with dinner tonight. I think it was a success.”

Today, Amanda reported that she’s down to 1 cup of green tea a day, so her Delicious Detox is already working wonders!

If you’re interested in making awesome changes to your diet and wellness, you still have time to join us.

Go here and choose a membership level - we officially start on Tuesday 9/20 at 2pm EST!

Be well, Alex

“I am amazed at how my determination and motivation are restoring to my 20-something vigor. I’m still a work in progress but am incredibly happy and, might I add, healthier nowadays.

Not enough thank-yous to cover your support, encouragment, etc. to help me get to here. And, I look forward to another installment of your Week in a Weekend series. Keep doing what you’re doing! Go vitality!”

~ T.M.

Go here to sign up for my next Delicious Detox 8-Week Group Tele-Course,

starting Tuesday, September 13th