Hello, my name is Lori ”Minky” Radcliffe, RN, BS, CFPC, Fitness Nurse. I'm the Joking Fitness Nurse and Health-Info-tainer.  I consider myself an INDEPENDENT thinker and I will give you the 'not your ordinary' health information while being entertained!

(Lori 'Minky' Radcliffe is also THE Fitness Nurse when you're ready to get started & sweat; in spite of your health concerns)

I am glad that you have visited HOT MINKY.com. I'd love to assist you anyway I can.

First let me tell you a little about me. I am a Registered Nurse (R.N.), with a degree in Kinesiological Science (Kinesiology) from the University of Maryland, College Park. I am a Certified Food Psychology Coach and self-proclaimed Holistic Fatloss Practitioner. I am a Stott-Certified Pilates Instructor, Certified and Licensed as a Lebed Method Dance and Movement Therapy Instructor for Breast Cancer Survivors, a Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Kickboxing Instructor. Lori 'Minky' is also a National Personal Fitness Trainer Certification Specialist.  (Trains individuals, through A.F.A.A., to become Nationally Certified Personal Fitness Trainers or Certified PFT's).  

Lori is founder of The National Association of Fitness Nurses (NAFN).  Lori was also Founder of Jersey Shore Area Chapter of the Weston A. Price Foundation (WAPF).

Well, that's my 'technical' training. Here's my inspirational story of the 'why' I'm doing this:

In November 2007, my best friend, hang-out buddy, fellow jokester...my mother died suddenly while on a treadmill.  I tell people "she died trying to live".  With a history of a previous heart attack and type 2 diabetes, my mother tried to live better.  Believe me, my mother was a 'sedentary sister'.  You look up the word sedentary in the dictionary and her picture would be right there.  So for her to exercise faithfully Mon., Wed., & Fri. for 6 years since finishing cardiac rehab, was a monumental accomplishment on her part.  She tried to do better.  What happened?  Well that's the 'why' of my work.  Why did this happen?

There's longevity in her family.  There was no cardiac disease, no diabetes, no obesity in her family.  She was only 130 lbs. when she died.  She followed doctor's orders.  As a retired RN, she did what she was supposed to do.  She took the statins, the diabetes meds, and ate a high carbohydrate, low fat diet, as suggested by the gov't. and other organizations with diseases in their name.  Oh yeah, and she exercised.  She stayed in 'her zone' faithfully for 45 min., 3Xweek. 

Again what happened?
After reading over hundreds of books & articles (in 2 years) on nutrition, natural healing and what non-conventional cardiologists (and other doctors) have researched, my conclusion is that my beloved mother was malnourished and inflamed. She lost 20 years off her life because she ate shit and took chemicals that didn't really help her. 

Because of this unconventional education/experience, I've learned that just about everything I was taught in school, for years, about diet and exercise was wrong and/or exaggerated.
Nutritional information and medical information is constantly changing.  Nothing is FACT.
When I hear that a research or lecture or speech is evidenced-based, I run in the other direction. What evidence is it based on?  Was it what was published during the time of the research? "Evidenced-based" is a marketing term only as far as I am concened.  So, knowledge is limited power. In other words, people have the knowledge; but that doesn't mean they will act on it.  Primarily because most people are 'sheeple'.  They ignore their common sense and values in order to be 'accepted' by other 'sheeple'.  In other words, "They care what other people think", at the high cost of their health and happiness.

We know that the standard diet & exercise information does not work, not for long anyway.  I want to try a different approach...a natural approach that doesn't fight our bodies.  Let's ease our way into weightloss NOT stress our way into it.  Let's face it...you can only eat boneless, skinless chicken breasts, oatmeal, egg whites and arugula for so long.  You can only exercise for 5-6 days a week for so long.  You can and should listen to your body when you ask it, "Why does your body want to be fat?"  When you answer it honestly, you will get smaller, without dieting and exercising like a maniac, and enjoying the process for good.

As a Certified Food Psychology Coach I help you/your body answer this question.

Also, and most importantly, you can't fix just one part of the body and expect good outcomes and/or outcomes that are lasting.  You need to look at the whole body system.  Mind, body, & spirit. The 'whole person' must enjoy the process.  In other words you can't be dieting and hating every minute of it, 'cause you'll quit!  You have to understand how your total body works. Stop fighting the natural way of your body.  Moving in a way your body works will enable you to lose weight long term and you can live this way forever without everyday stress and keep it off. I look at you as a whole being.  A feeling being.

As a child I competed for 9 years as a gymnast and ran the hurdles in track. While at the University of Maryland, I earned an Athletic Training scholarship and worked with world-class athletes. After graduating from there, I then gave my parents 'agida' when I disclosed that I was going on the road to do stand-up comedy. That worked out for 6 months, then I had to get a real job. But the experience was so humbling…like no other. So I went back to school for nursing.

Becoming a nurse changed my life. I eventually worked my way into positions that were more towards health prevention and community-based. Did I mention that right before starting nursing school I was on welfare and a single mother? Then while in nursing school, I worked full time during the day and went to school at night. I like to add that little tidbit because many women don't think I can relate to their stresses…but I can. I just put up a good front.

Through the years, I have worked with homemakers, to seniors, very tired and overweight women, assisting them in changing their life by first helping them to make a decision to change. I enjoy working with older people; not children. But what I share and show you will help your children immensely.

My seminar/educational company, 'Jest' for Fitness & Food, consists of myself and consulting Registered Dietitian, Debra A. Dobies, RD, MA in Holistic Health. She brings 30 years of experience working with all ethnic food cultures and clinical experience. She brings a much-needed component to the quest of becoming healthier. Our latest addition's name is Tracy Tucker, RN.  Tracy brings a fresh attitude and her 'real life' experience of life long battles with her weight.

As I developed HOT Minky.com, I believe a woman is strongest and happiest when she is cooking & eating foods that her family ate traditionally.  Like grandma used to make. These nutrient-dense traditional foods assist physically active women. To develop your muscles and your core, you must eat good food; not crap, frankenfoods. You get quicker, greater results when you use the right 'fuel'.

We also train the inner layers and deep pelvic muscles (our real source of power) and exercise our heart & lungs hard for shorter periods. When this happens, you feel the energy to continue towards trimming down, becoming more flexible and changing your old, politically-correct beliefs about exercise and especially food. Less female-related ailments!

We believe that all 'traditional foods can fit' and to ‘exercise smarter; NOT longer’!

My personal interests are going to the beach, the sun, laughing, reading and cooking. I like helping women with lowering their blood pressures, reducing blood sugars, reducing the waist lines/shapes, all while eating fried fish (in tallow).  I enjoy improving the body image and urinary control (see Kegelmaster on Home page) among women who fit our P.I.P. through Minky Parties (group parties that support those who chose to live the Minky Way).

Everybody is different. But we all want to feel empowered, know achievement, change in a positive way, and be loved. When you begin & enjoy your journey to regain control over your body and your choices, all of the above needs are met. Loving yourself is paramount. It is synonymous with caring for yourself. If you don't do this for your self, no one else will.