Sunday, April 4th 2004


Good Morning! I hope this day finds you well and that you remembered to set your clocks and watches ahead by one hour.

This has certainly been an interesting week filled with many changes. We have installed a new Internet shopping cart system that I think you might like. The web site has been completely redesigned and the Low Carb, Sugar Free Recipe section of the Steviva.com web site has gone through a complete overhaul. I invite you to check it out.

You may have even noticed that the newsletter is a bit more colorful. I sincerely hope that these changes will make your experience at Steviva.com a pleasurable one. I invite your comments since these changes where made to accommodate you.

In the next few weeks we will be re-launching our product line with new labels and packaging. The Steviva Blend is now available in a 16 ounce re-sealable bag and the Steviva Stevia Powder is in a new 8 ounce (by volume) container that is nearly twice the size of our original container… same quality and same price.

Now that we have retooled our packaging and promotional materials we will be making a major push into Low Carb Stores, health food stores and main stream grocery stores. But, we can not do this alone. We need your help. We are looking for qualified sales people the have a passion for our products. If this sounds like something you might be interested in pursuing on a part time or full time a basis, please drop us a line at info@steviva.com.

Thank you for your patronage.

May God bless you.


Develop a Sense of Urgency
by: Brian Tracy

Perhaps the most outwardly identifiable quality of a high performing man or woman is "action orientation".

Take Time To Think and Plan
Highly productive people take the time to think, plan and set priorities. They then launch quickly and strongly toward their goals and objectives. They work steadily, smoothly and continuously and seem to go through enormous amounts of work in the same time period that the average person spends socializing, wasting time and working on low value activities.

Getting Into “Flow”
When you work on high value tasks at a high and continuous level of activity, you can actually enter into an amazing mental state called "flow." Almost everyone has experienced this at some time. Really successful people are those who get themselves into this state far more often than the average.

In the state of "flow," which is the highest human state of performance and productivity, something almost miraculous happens to your mind and emotions.

Double Your Productivity
You feel elated and clear. Everything you do seems effortless and accurate. You feel happy and energized. You experience a tremendous sense of calm and personal effectiveness.

Become More Alert and Aware
In the state of "flow," identified and talked about over the centuries, you actually function on a higher plane of clarity, creativity and competence. You are more sensitive and aware. Your insight and intuition functions with incredible precision. You see the interconnectedness of people and circumstances around you. You often come up with brilliant ideas and insights that enable you to move ahead even more rapidly.

Develop A Sense of Urgency
One of the ways you can trigger this state of flow is by developing a "sense of urgency.” This is an inner drive and desire to get on with the job quickly and get it done fast. This inner drive is an impatience that motivates you to get going and to keep going. A sense of urgency feels very much like racing against yourself.

Create A “Bias For Action”
With this ingrained sense of urgency, you develop a "bias for action." You take action rather than talking continually about what you are going to do. You focus on specific steps you can take immediately. You concentrate on the things you can do right now to get the results you want and achieve the goals you desire.

Action Exercises
First, select one major task confronting you and launch into it immediately. Don’t hesitate. Move fast.

Click here... and get them motivated!." And while you are at it get your FREE CD and find out the other 20 secrets of self-made millionaires.


Tips to Stay on Fitness Track
By Siona LaFrance
Health and fitness writer

A lot of people would like to get more exercise than they do, make smarter choices about what they eat and be more like the fit people they envy.

Unfortunately, many of those people find that while it's easy to start an exercise program or a new diet, it's just as easy to quit. The people who are most likely to stick with their fitness plan long enough to achieve those goals, experts say, are those who learn to make exercise and proper nutrition a regular part of their daily lives.

But how do you do THAT?

First, remember that every little bit helps. Then follow some of these 25 simple tips from exercise experts, dietitians and motivational experts to get your healthier lifestyle started or back on track.

1. Be reasonable. "Set some measurable, attainable goal," said Dean Reed, a personal trainer at Elmwood Fitness Center. If you haven't been active for a while, start a short-term goal, such as 15 minutes of exercise two or three days a week, and build from there, he said.

2. Get a new attitude. "You have to first change your mindset about the way you think about the quality of your life," said Rovenia M. Brock, a nutritionist known as "Dr. Ro" to viewers of Black Entertainment Television's "Heart & Soul." According to Brock, people who live in denial about their activity levels and weight are likely to keep packing on the extra pounds.

3. Keep moving. "It can be any kind of activity, anything that you enjoy," said Denise Hoffman, an exercise specialist at West Jefferson Fitness Center. "A little bit goes a long way."

4. Make daily activities count, too. The idea is to get more movement into your life. That can include things that we don't typically regard as "exercise," such as pacing while you talk on the phone or doing leg lifts while the coffee is brewing.

5. Pound the pavement. Walking is a great exercise that you can do anytime. Walk for a few minutes in the morning, take the stairs instead of the elevator or walk to the store instead of driving.

6. Make time for exercise. Set your alarm clock back 30 minutes in the morning and use the time to exercise. Or make an appointment in your calendar to work out and respect it as you would any other commitment.

7. Be prepared. Lay out your exercise clothes at night so you don't have to hunt for them in the morning.

8. Do your research. If you're thinking of joining a health club, consider it as you would any long-term relationship, Moran said. "Some gyms are very serious, and some are very social," Moran said. "You want to make sure that you pay your dues to a gym that you like. If you chose one that you don't like, you'll be one of the many people who drop out and pay dues for two years."

9. Easy does it. People who want to see quick results from exercise may be tempted to overdo it, Reed said. It's important to adopt a gradual approach to allow your body to adjust to exercise.

10. Do what's comfortable for you. "If you hate to be on a treadmill, you're not going to do it for more than a month or two," Reed said. "If you don't like to do weights, you can't set up a program and expect to stick with it."

11. Try something new. If you get bored with your current workout, try a class that you've never taken or buy a new workout video.

12. Get support. Find an exercise buddy or consider hiring a personal trainer to help you stay motivated.

13. Keep an exercise journal. Write down your activites and your thoughts to help you stay focused and motivated.

14. Don't say 'diet.' "People don't stick to diets that restrict a lot and that are very complicated," said Martina Musmeci, a local registered dietitian. "Instead of dieting you should just eat healthier foods."

15. Clean your pantry. "Take out the snacks that are high in sugar and the bad fats," advises Musmeci. "If you don't, you'll think about it and dream about it." That doesn't mean that all snacks must be banished she said. But she suggests choosing snack foods that are lower in sugar and fat.

16. Don't clean your plate. "If you were brought up by parents or grandparents who went through the Depression, that goes against everything you know," Brock said. "But your heart will thank you and eventually your butt will, too."

17. Eat smaller portions. Try putting your food on a smaller plate, Musmeci suggests.

18. Brown-bag it. Pack your lunch for work. "Cook enough at dinner tonight to take to work tomorrow," suggests Byron Richard, a registered dietitian at Tulane University Hospital. "The thing about cooking at home is that you can have complete control over the ingredients. If you're looking for something light, you can get a bag of salad from the grocery store, put it in a Tupperware bowl and put tuna on top. You can add a piece of fruit to your bag and some yogurt. It can be as simple as that."

19. Eat some blueberries. They combine more powerful disease-fighting antioxidants than any other fruit or vegetable, according to Dr. Steven Pratt, author of "SuperFoods RX" (William Morrow, $24.95).

20. Eat other colorful foods, too. "Ounce for ounce you'll get fewer calories and more vitamins and minerals to protect yourself from disease," Brock said.

21. Drink up. Sipping water, rather than calorie and carb-laden soft drinks, can quench your thirst and help you feel more full.

22. Look on the bright side. Your feelings exert a powerful influence over your physical health, writes Lucy MacDonald, in her book "Learn to be an Optimist." "If you believe you are healthy, your health will actually benefit."

23. Make time for quiet time. "If you take 10 or 15 minutes just to sort through your thoughts or review your day," Moran said, "you can go out in the world a much calmer person, prepared to make wiser choices.,

24. Seize the day. "One of the most important things we should do is stay in the present and know that goals have to have a corresponding intention," said Peggy Brown, a licensed clinical social worker. "Most of us are stressed because we're looking into the future all the time. One of the most important things we can do is to not just think about it, but do it."

25. Sleep tight. When people sleep well -- experts recommended seven to eight hours a night -- they awake refreshed and better able to handle the day's challenges, including the challenge of maintaining healthy habits.

Click here and get your FREE diet profile!


The power of silence

"Growth takes place in a person by working at a deep inner level in a sustained atmosphere of silence."

-- Dr. Ira Progoff

How can we hear our wise voice of intuition if we are always thinking, talking and distracted by outer events?

If we take time daily to experience physical stillness and to direct our attention inside, we can begin to find the peace, love, will and wisdom that exist as our essence.

"Only when one is connected to one's own core is one connected to others... And, for me, the core, the inner spring, can best be refound through solitude."

-- Anne Morrow Lindbergh

"In the sweet territory of silence we touch the mystery. It’s the place of reflection and contemplation, and it’s the place where we can connect with the deep knowing, to the deep wisdom way."

-- Angeles Arrien


Low Carb New York Style Cheesecake with Brazil Nut Crust

Makes 1 9-inch cake, which can be cut into 12 slices.

Crust:

2 cups raw Brazil nuts
4 Tbsp. unsalted butter
2 tsp. Molasses
pinch of cinnamon
pinch of salt
Filling:

2 1/2 lbs. cream cheese, at room temperature
pinch of salt
10 Tbsp. Steviva Blend
a tiny dash of Steviva Stevia Powder
1/2 cup sour cream
2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 large egg yolks
6 large eggs
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper and coat the inside of the pan with soft butter.

If you are using raw Brazil nuts, spread them on a baking sheet and roast for 10-15 minutes until they are lightly golden. If using roasted macadamia nuts, omit the roasting. Let cool. While the nuts are toasting, melt the butter. Transfer the nuts to a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add the remaining ingredients and pulse to combine. Pat evenly into the bottom of the springform pan. Place in the fridge.

Increase the oven temperature to 500°F. In a food processor or mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the sweeteners, sour cream, lemon juice and vanilla and process or beat until combined. Add the egg yolks and then the eggs, two at a time, beating until incorporated before you add the next two. Remember to scrape the bowl frequently while you are mixing.

Carefully pour the filling over the chilled crust and place the springform on a rimmed baking sheet or larger pan. Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 200°F and continue baking for 1 1/2 hours. Do not open the door! The cheesecake should still look soft in the center.

Transfer to a cooling rack. After 5 minutes, run a paring knife around the outside of the cheesecake to loosen it from the pan. Continue cooling to room temperature. You can serve it right away, or chill.

Total count with the Brazil nut crust:

Total calories: 8790
Fat: 806 gr
Carbs: 104 gr
Fiber: 15 gr
Protein: 314 gr
Alcohol: 3 gr
Total count without the crust:

Total calories: 6665
Fat: 585 gr
Carbs: 68 gr
Fiber: 0
Protein: 279 gr
Alcohol: 3 gr