We've all been there - tired, achy, cranky, and running on empty. Something just feels off and we can't quite figure out what the problem is. Tossing and turning at night, we finally decide to see our physician who prescribes a medication that offers some temporary relief, but we still feel out of sync. Sure, we get through the day (just barely) but at the end of it we're drained, bloated, maybe even a little sad. What the hell is going on? Well, Dr. Frank Lipman just may have the answer to what's ailing us: we're spent.
Dr. Lipman's book "Revive: Stop Feeling Spent and Start Living Again" identifies the modern causes of energy depletion (stress, light deprivation, processed foods, too much sugar & too little sleep) and shares valuable information garnered from his thirty years of medical practice. A few weeks ago I was invited to hear Dr. Lipman speak and the experience has impacted me more than I first realized - his words keep popping into my head and I find myself bringing him up in conversation! At first I thought, how can I tackle such a serious topic on my blog? But then I realized, how could I not? Health is really the passport to a fulfilling life. Without health, traveling the world, or sometimes just across the street, can prove impossible.
“We all look to go away to rejuvenate, but the key is how to live in chaos and find the calm. Frank Lipman’s Revive is a Bible for how to heal and thrive in the midst of it all”.
Donna Karan
I've seen so many people that I love suffer from diseases like hypertension, heart disease, and cancer - I know that I can absolutely not take my health for granted. One of the key things that I learned from Dr. Lipman is that while I may be genetically disposed to certain conditions, that does not mean that I just have to sit back and wait for the worse. I can make conscious choices to safeguard my health.
Revive is chock full of information to help you "slow down, detoxify, replenish, and restore your body." That sounds pretty ambitious but Dr. Lipman has developed a simple day-by-day wellness program. You will learn to eliminate sugar, gluten, caffeine, and processed foods from your diet and replace them with foods that energize and heal. I really love the Daily Beats in the book - these are 42 daily actions that remove burdens from your body and add things that will help your body heal more quickly and make you feel better. Some of Dr. Lipman's Daily Beats are Laugh, Take Omega 3 Fish Oil, Reach out and Touch Someone, Take Gluten Out, and Meditate with Nature - each beat is accompanied by a scientific explanation of the benefits. Revive also features research-based exercises & stretches and delicious recipes. Skip that morning latte and have a Blueberry Pear Smoothie!
“When you’re running on empty, the first step can be the hardest. In Revive, Dr Lipman provides 42 options to jump start your body and keep it cruising.”
Dr. Mehmet C Oz
I could really go on and on about Dr. Lipman but you should know that he is the founder and director of Eleven Eleven Wellness Center in New York City and is an internationally recognized expert in the fields of Integrative and Functional Medicine. Truly a pioneer, Dr. Lipman is Board Certified in internal medicine and has also studied acupuncture, Chinese medicine, functional medicine, nutrition, herbal medicine, biofeedback, meditation and yoga. He now practices his unique blend of what he calls “Good Medicine”, combining all the systems in which he has trained.
Originally from South Africa, his background greatly influenced his medical practice. Dr. Lipman said,“I was born and raised in South Africa under apartheid. Apartheid literally means “separate.” Black South Africans did not have the same rights as whites and were forced to live in separate areas assigned to them by the government. My parents, who were political activists and fought the apartheid system, instilled in me a sense of social justice and the importance of questioning the status quo. This philosophy, in many ways, is the theme of my story as a physician."
In addition to Dr. Lipman's book, he offers a line of supplements to help you get started on your journey to wellness. "Most people start with CLEANSE, a safe and gentle 2-week detox. However, if you're totally exhausted and depleted start with REVIVE to restore your energy and boost your resilience to stress. If you’re just looking for the most essential daily supplements, then I recommend SUSTAIN to maintain your health."
Dr. Lipman generously provided me with the 2 week CLEANSE program. I have been procrastinating and coming up with every excuse under the sun (wine tastings, dinners out, time of the month cravings) but I think I'm almost ready to give it a try! Stay tuned.