Healthy Lifestyles for Today

Holiday Stress

2006-11-20T09:21:00.000-05:00

Most of us really love the holidays -- planning, preparing, spending time with family and friends. One of the things we don't seem to plan for is the stress. But planning ahead to have a stress free holiday season is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves.

I always find it is a great idea to make lists of what I want to accomplish. I choose what I can comfortably do in a day -- and mark off and appreciate what I have accomplished. More importantly though I visualize what I expect the holidays to be like and anticipate in the joy in advance.

Rather than rushing through card writing, really concentrate on your feelings and truly connect with the person you are writing to. Celebrate in your mind the past memories you have shared.

Don't let the holidays pass you by -- really enjoy them -- all the sights, sounds and fellowship.

Each day do something simple but relaxing just for you -- even if it is only five minutes to drink a cup of tea.

This year let's commit to having fun -- and getting through the holidays stress free.

Happiness is a Choice

2006-11-08T09:12:00.000-05:00

Why is it that we always look for happiness outside of ourselves? We try all sorts of activities, change our appearance, read countless books, etc. all trying to find happiness in the world, rather than within.

Author, speaker and coach Alexandra Watson has a wonderful site on creating lasting happiness. She is known as the "happiness coach". Happiness is something that needs to be cultivated from within. Only then we will find lasting happiness in our lives.

Please visit her site at www.AlexandraWatson.com.

Have a happy day!

Creative Visualization and Your Future

2006-10-24T08:29:00.000-04:00

Daydreaming is really an art form. Children know it instinctively and believe that they can achieve anything that they concentrate on long enough. As adults, we forget the power of daydreaming, of letting loose and letting our minds create limitless possibilities for our lives. We’ve let life and responsibilities interfere with our hopes of who we’d someday like to become, what we’d someday like to create and what we’d someday like to accomplish. We’ve allowed ‘someday” to be pushed so far out of our minds that we no longer believe we can achieve those things we dreamed about so long ago.

Dictionary.com defines daydreaming as “a dreamlike musing or fantasy while awake, especially of the fulfillment of wishes or hopes”. Without the ‘fulfillment of wishes or hopes’ life has little meaning. Instead we go through the drudges of life thinking that someday we’ll have time for ourselves, time to do all of the things we’d like to do, time to become the person we’d like to be.

The problem is that we’re caught in the middle. We’ve left our daydreams behind forgetting that life should be a fun and fulfilling journey. We’ve postponed our ‘someday” to when we retire, and we’ve left our responsibilities behind. Except that responsibilities are never left behind. That’s life; there’s always something we’re supposed to do. And so, we’re stuck in the middle, living life, going through the motions, with little time spent on fulfilling those dreams that once had so much meaning.

That’s when creative visualization and meditation techniques need to step in. That’s when we need to focus our concentration on becoming the best we can be. It’s time to let our imaginations go, follow our dreams and start on a journey of fun, fulfillment and self-actualization. It’s time to live up to our full and complete potential.

So what is creative visualization? And how does it relate to meditation? Creative visualization is simply setting our minds free, daydreaming and letting our creative thoughts flow. It is allowing our imaginations to run wild, setting us on a course of action we might never have taken. It’s about attracting into our lives those things that our hearts truly desire whatever they may be. Meditation allows us to reach a dreamlike state by relaxing our minds and slowing our brain frequencies. Together creative visualization and meditation allow us to focus on a life of fulfillment, a life we have first created in our minds.

Shakti Gawain in her book Creative Visualization talks about the steps of creating anything you would like to manifest in your life. The process is a simple one, yet one that leads to happiness, joy and the knowledge that we’re living life on our own terms. She defines them as:

1. Set Your Goal
2. Create a Clear Idea or Picture
3. Focus on it Often
4. Give It Positive Energy

Picture a goal you’d like to create or an outcome you’d like to achieve. It could be something material, a change you’d like to make, becoming more spiritual, improving your relationships – anything at all. Then form a clear mental image of that desire in your mind, complete with emotions, pictures, colors and as much detail as your can muster. Think of it as happening now, here in the present, already manifest in your life.

Throughout the day think of your desire, daydream about it, and meditate on it. It doesn’t take long, a few minutes here and there several times a day. Perhaps a morning and evening meditation with several minutes of quiet attention paid to that special desire.

Picture yourself as already having that desire, as already being, doing or having what you’d like to create. Let negative thoughts simply pass through without giving them any credence. Just concentrate on the positive, feeling it, seeing it, enjoying it.

Before long, you’ll start noticing some wonderful changes in your life. Things you’ve thought about will materialize; you’ll feel lighter and more relaxed; you’ll start accomplishing things you’ve always wanted to; your heart’s desire will begin to come true. You’ll be on a path of your own choosing; moving closer and closer each day to becoming who you’ve always hoped you would someday be. After all, isn’t that worth dreaming about?

Ginger to the Rescue

2006-10-17T14:48:00.000-04:00

For those of us who suffer from motion sickness, traveling can be a real problem. It doesn’t matter whether we travel by automobile, train, plane or boat; the result is the same. Overwhelming feelings of nausea, dizziness, and headaches prevail. We may even throw up. Closing our eyes and holding our heads steady may help temporarily – that is until we make the slightest movement. It also doesn’t help that after we’ve had motion sickness a couple of times, we assume we will again so are already waiting for it to happen.

Trying to focus on a particular object without moving our heads may give some slight relief. Breathing in fresh air and concentrating on our breathing also offers a bit of relief. But even after we’ve arrived at our destination, the feelings linger. It may take hours for these feelings to completely disappear.

Fortunately there is a natural remedy that has been proven over and over again to eliminate these sickening feelings when we travel. It’s Mother Nature to the rescue again. Its official name is Zingiber officinale; we call it gingerroot. The underground stem is what is used in health remedies and cooking.

Here are some wonderful benefits of adding ginger to your diet:

· Relieves nausea
· Relieves motion sickness
· Relieves dizziness
· Soothes upset stomachs
· Works as an expectorant for respiratory infections
· Supports the cardiovascular system
· Reduces inflammation
· Neutralizes stomach acids
· Limits flatulence
· Relieves muscle strain
· Relieves cold and allergy symptoms
· Stimulates circulation
· Relieves diarrhea
· Soaking in it relieves athlete’s foot
· Freshens breath
· Relieves stress

Fresh ginger can be sliced, minced or crushed. Ginger is available in pill or capsule form, powdered, crystallized and pickled. One of the great benefits to the pills or capsules is the ease in which they can be taken anywhere. Simply slip them into your purse and you’re ready to go. Ginger tea can be made by steeping the ginger is very hot water or you can purchase it in packaged teabags. Drinking Ginger Ale is also beneficial as long as it is made with real ginger and not merely flavored.

If you know you are going to be traveling it is best to start taking ginger the day before. It should also be taken approximately two hours prior to your trip. Continue to take ginger throughout your journey, and you will find that your motion sickness is a thing of the past.

Daily Motivation

2006-10-14T09:49:00.000-04:00

I envy people who decide to make a change and then completely follow through as if it were so easy. I wish I was one of those people, but I’m not. I need continuous reinforcement. Whenever I want to lose a couple of pounds, start a new habit, get rid of some bad feelings or make any changes, I need to spend some time each day really focusing on what I want.

Do you feel the same way? Do you want to exercise more, create healthy recipes, meditate, lose some weight or start some positive, healthy habit? If you’re like me, you may need to zero in on one or two key goals you’d like to achieve, and then do something each and every day to motivate yourself.

It could be as simple as listening to some upbeat music that puts you in the right mood. Or maybe a special quote or joke will put a smile on your face and put you in the zone to accomplish what you want to. Perhaps writing the reasons your goals are important to you and then reading them several times a day will keep you motivated.

For me, I use a few different ways to motivate myself. I meditate each day and visualize what I want to create. I see it as if it has already happened. I also keep a list of all of my goals in my organizer and review them daily paying specific attention to the ones I want to work on that day. Listening to motivating tapes or CDs while driving also works great for me. In fact, I rarely listen to the radio. I prefer spending my driving time learning or listening to something uplifting.

So if you’re like me and need that continuous reinforcement and daily motivation, maybe finding a couple of ways to get yourself going each day will help. Constantly keeping your goals in front of you and focusing on them each day really helps to get that momentum going.

And, after all, you deserve to accomplish all that you desire in your life.

Give Up The Dieting

2006-10-13T10:46:00.000-04:00

Dieting is an obsession, a way of life for most of us. We feel that if we could just stick to a restricted plan for a given period of time, we will get to our goal weights and that will be the end of the story. We calculate how much we can lose each week and how long it will take to get to that desired weight. The reward at the end of the road is another special meal or dessert. Something sweet would be wonderful, and we are already dreaming about how it will taste.

One of the primary problems with dieting is that we are looking for a quick-fix, a one-time solution to a long-term problem. We try every kind of diet imaginable, find it isn’t right for us and go on to the next one. All the time we are feeling lousy about ourselves and our self-esteem is gone with the wind. Each time we start a new diet we are already in a failure mode. After all, we’ve gone off of every other diet we’ve been on.

Because we never think long-term, we are doomed to fail. This overwhelming desire for a simple “get it over with now” approach has cost us years. If we had just stuck it out, we’d be where we should be, right? If we had just gone ahead and stuck to the diet, any diet, we would be at our goal weight – and we’d be happy for life. Well, even if we did manage to obtain that goal there’s still the problem of maintaining it – that’s another story.

The problem isn’t only what we eat but our entire lifestyle. Addressing only one symptom won’t give us a cure to what is ailing us. The only way to truly achieve our desired weight, to overcome our lifelong battle with food and finally be able to look at ourselves in the mirror is a change in lifestyle. It isn’t just the food that’s ruining our lives. It is our attitude and our way of thinking about the “cure” to this addiction of overeating in our lives.

We need to stop dieting. We’ve got to start thinking healthy lifestyle instead. One of the problems with this is that we like our lifestyle of eating anything we choose. But if we keep eating what we’ve always eaten, we’ll keep getting what we’ve always gotten – heavier and heavier. We need to once and for all make that difficult but magnificent decision to change our lives, not just the food that we eat.

Committing to a lifetime of healthy eating might seem a bit mind-boggling at first. We’re not talking about never eating those wonderful foods that we love so much – the ones that got us into all this trouble in the first place. We’re talking about a healthy lifestyle, a commitment to ourselves to be the best we can be.

Wouldn’t it be great to get up in the morning without hating ourselves? Think of all the things we could do that our weight prevented us from doing before. Think of all the things we could try that we were too embarrassed to try before. And what about having a great feeling about ourselves instead of having self-esteem that’s been trampled into the ground.

Maybe it’s time we forego the diet. It’s time to let go of the past and move towards a great future. We’ve already given up enough years to this obsession. So let’s pursue a healthy lifestyle instead.

Let the Sun Shine

2006-10-11T10:08:00.000-04:00

Not everyone is a morning person, raring to go bright-eyed as they wake up each morning. I must admit that I am a morning person, loving to accomplish lots of stuff before mid-morning. But I live with a bunch of night owls -- who much prefer doing things later in the day.

So what's a person to do? I find that leaving the windows open, regardless of the temperature really helps to perk up everyone's morning. If the sun is shining, what better way to wake up those sleep eyes than to have golden rays and beautiful colors glimmering outside your windows. Even if the sun doesn't shine brightly, the sounds of nature are just too good to ignore. Besides that, a cool morning breeze just feels wonderful.

When you wake up feeling great and enthused, your day is much more likely to follow suit.

Create Your Own Destiny

2006-10-10T10:29:00.000-04:00

We all like to daydream and fantasize what our lives could be about if only we were able to make our dreams and wishes come true. Is it possible that maybe we really do have some power over our thoughts, wishes and dreams to actually make them a reality?

That's what creative visualization is all about. It is about creating your life, your way and living life on your own terms. Now what could be better than that? Through focused attention, with enough positive emotion and energy, and with some practice, we really can create our own destinies.

So isn't it worth the time and effort to spend some quality time each and every day visualizing your way to success? The process is a simple one; the reward is a life of total satisfaction and fulfillment.

The Power of Attraction

2006-10-09T09:22:00.000-04:00

Have you ever heard about the Law of Attraction? It really is an interesting phenomenon that like attracts like. So if you think positive thoughts, good things will happen. If you think negative thoughts, bad things will happen. So we actually attract things into our lives depending on whether our thoughts are positive or negative.

Have you ever had a day when you were just in a really bad mood and everything seemed to go wrong? The day probably started out poorly and then continued that way well until evening.

On the other hand have you ever had such a great day that everything seems to fall into place perfectly? These are the days when we are our best, as if we were on fire and nothing can stand in our way.

I normally have positive, uplifting thoughts throughout the day. My best days are when I stick to my normal routine of meditating three times a day. Each session doesn’t have to be long, just enough to rejuvenate me and keep those positive thoughts flowing.

Well, one day I really let my thoughts get out of hand. Someone had been particularly rude to me over and over again. He was just downright nasty to me, and I had no idea why. I actually had never even had a conversation with this person.

So there I was at work, thinking about this person and really being annoyed. I just kept thinking about it allowing myself to get more and more agitated. The result was that I was overwhelmed with bad thoughts, fell and broke my knee. I just couldn’t believe that I had done something so incredibly stupid when I know better.

I allowed someone who is not even important in my life to affect my thoughts. He has absolutely no significance in my life whatsoever. But I had allowed my mind to be taken over by bad thoughts – and wound up breaking my knee.

What a lesson I learned. We are in control of our own thoughts regardless of how anyone treats us. It is up to us to decide how we will react. Deciding in advance to think positive thoughts will set us up to have a great day. And when those bad thoughts do enter our minds as they will, we should just let them pass through without paying them any unnecessary attention.

So let the Law of Attraction work for you. Think great, wonderful, happy, positive thoughts and see what wonderful things will happen. At the very least, you’ll have a great day.

The Problem with Being Right

2006-10-06T10:34:00.000-04:00

This morning as with so many other mornings, I was cut off as I was driving to work. I find it absolutely amazing how rude some people can be – and how careless. My personal belief is that these are the people who would be the most offended if this were to happen to them.

So what does this have to do with living a healthy lifestyle? If I were to continue to dwell on this all day long – something I have done in the past – I would ruin my own day and affect my work performance.

But the truth is that the person who cut me off is never going to think about it. He/she has moved on and will not give it a second thought. So I now just take this as a fact of life – one of my three things that will go wrong each and every day – and get on with my life.

I am determined to choose and maintain my own moods and to be responsible for my thoughts and behavior. So if someone cuts you off or otherwise disrupts your day, move on and let it go. After all, the other person did. So you, and only you, are responsible for your own reactions.

A Lesson Relearned

2006-10-04T15:26:00.000-04:00

There are times in my life that I do something that I know is incredibly stupid but nevertheless do it anyway. This morning was one of those times. I had this craving to have a cheese Danish for breakfast this morning. Okay you say – what is so bad that that.

And here it is. My wonderfully sugary, empty calorie breakfast left me feeling absolutely, totally awful. Within 20 minutes of eating it, I was extremely tired and wanted to take a nap. Within 30 minutes, I had trouble concentrating. Shortly afterward, I had difficulty focusing and working on the computer.

Within two hours of eating this nonsensical, ridiculous breakfast I was in a terrible state of mind. I felt like crying and was totally and completely depressed. I basically ruined my own morning as I played with my blood sugar level.

I know not to eat this stuff – to stay away from garbage food. Yet I fell into the trap of eating something that looked and smelled scrumptious. Definitely a lesson relearned. If you want to look and feel great, you have to eat healthy.

Plan Ahead for Frustrations

2006-10-03T09:11:00.000-04:00

It is just a fact of life. Each and every day of your life something is going to go wrong or not according to plan. Here’s a great way to handle this in advance.

Assume in advance that three things are going to go wrong each and every single day. Promise yourself that you will not get upset about anything until after these three occurrences.

When this happens to me, I often find myself able to laugh things off that otherwise might have been upsetting. And I tend to sweat the small stuff less often.

The great thing about this is that you’ll prove to yourself that you don’t need to get upset, angry or frustrated each time something doesn’t go according to plan or something goes wrong. On the days when three or less things happen that are upsetting, think how great you’ll feel.

The One Percent Solution

2006-09-28T13:31:00.000-04:00

Okay, so you want to make some changes in your life whether it be physical, mental or spiritual. But when you look at the big picture you feel overwhelmed. Maybe you want to loose 50 pounds, look great for a reunion, interview for a new job, start on that exercise plan you've been putting off or really commit to meditating.

We all have things that we know would be great for us and make us feel better about ourselves long term. But sometimes the big picture can be down right depressing -- it seems as if the goal we set is just too big or too far away.

But tackling some big areas in our lives is really about small day to day changes -- the one percent solution. Commit to doing something today that is one percent better than what you did yesterday. You'll be surprised how much this adds up and pretty soon some amazing changes have taken place. And what's more the one percent keeps compounding so that a few weeks, months or a year from now your entire life has taken on a new wonderful direction.

Making massive changes or commitments may be hard. But one percent, well, that's certainly doable.

Living for Today

2006-09-27T14:25:00.001-04:00

It's great to look back at old memories and happy times. It's amazing how great memories can still put a smile on our faces. It's also great to plan for the future. I'm a big believer in meditation and creative visualization. I know that what I focus on with conviction can become my reality.

Both the past and the future are great places to spend time. But to truly make changes, we need to focus on today. Some of our goals take work, work that we choose to do to follow our chosen paths. And many things like health, well-being and vitality are something we need to spend time on each and every day.

But some things are just, well, not too pleasant to do. If you're trying to lose weight, it's not likely that you look forward to the challenge every day. Not all of us are enthused about exercise although we know with certainly that it is a necessity, not a luxury.

So each day, remember that to make our futures the way we desire them to be, we need to do what is necessary today. Not everything may be pleasant, but it sure will be worthwhile.

Daydream Your Way to Happiness

2006-09-15T14:10:00.000-04:00

It’s been raining here a lot lately, and I’ve found myself gazing out the window and daydreaming – just like I did when I was a child. Remember those days? Remember when you were a young girl, sitting in class and daydreaming? Your teacher probably told you to pay attention and stop daydreaming. Well, she was wrong. Okay, maybe she was right about not daydreaming in class but that’s it.

Daydreaming is fun, it’s relaxing and it expands who we are as women. When you daydream you allow your mind to just wander freely, letting yourself be or do anything you can imagine. Remember all those dreams you had growing up --maybe of being a ballerina, an Olympic gold medalist, a championship rider, an astronaut, a best-selling author. Well, maybe you didn’t achieve those dreams exactly as you wanted to in reality. But, then again, it’s not too late.

After all, it isn’t too late to take classes – to learn how to fly, to ice skate, to paint, to sing. It isn’t too late to go back to school and take those science, writing, math or computer courses. It’s never too late to expand your horizons and be that person you’ve always dreamed of being. You may not get exactly what you daydreamed about as a young girl, but you certainly can come close – or even soar beyond those wonderful dreams.

Maybe it’s time to let those dreams loose and see where they lead. Maybe it’s time to set that little girl you once were free so you can be the person you’ve always daydreamed you could be. And, just maybe, it’s time to dream some new dreams.

Running Scared

2006-09-14T11:47:00.000-04:00

Are their things in your life that you really want but are afraid to go after? It is a problem that we all seem to have at some time or another. That’s where the courage part needs to take over. We need to step outside of our comfort zones – that place that we prefer to live knowing just what to expect.

The problem with living in our self inflicted safety zone is that we will never be satisfied. We will always look back on our own lives and regret what we let pass us by – mostly do to our own self-inflicted fear. Because of this our self-esteem drops. This cycle continues until we rarely do anything special or try anything unique.

To truly find happiness and inner peace, we must take that shaky first step outside of our own comfort zone. Then, and only then, we will truly know what the world holds in store for us. The first step is the toughest but after that we can take another small step and another small step towards growing and becoming the person we really want to be. On this journey, we will find our true selves and tap into our full potential.

The Diet Dilemma: Simple vs. Complex Carbohydrates

2006-09-12T10:48:00.000-04:00

We all want to eat healthier, feel great and live longer. We know that a proper diet is fundamental to a lifetime of health and well-being. The foods we choose help to determine our level of health and longevity. Sometimes it is difficult to know what to eat and why.

Choosing the right carbohydrates is important. There are three forms of carbohydrates – simple, complex and dietary fiber. The difference between these three is the amount of sugar units and how these sugars are combined.

Simple carbohydrates have a either one or two units of sugar. An example of a simple sugar, one with a single unit of sugar (called a saccharide), is fructose. An example of a double sugar, one made with two units of sugar (called a disaccharide), is sucrose. If you look at the ingredients on the labels of ordinary foods you buy at the supermarket, you will find these sugars in many of the every day items you buy. Some of these foods are table sugar, candy, soda, juices, syrup and jellies. Simple sugars are broken down quickly into the blood stream giving you a sugar rush. Although these foods may taste great, they have no nutritional value and are empty calories. These are the foods to avoid.

Complex carbohydrates (polysaccharides) have a string of simple sugars linked together. A starch is a complex carbohydrate that comes from plants such as seeds, beans, legumes, vegetables and grains. Whole grain breads are included in this category if they contain no refined flour. Complex carbohydrates fill you up, increase your energy and make you more resistant to illnesses. They take longer to be broken down so take longer to enter the blood stream. This gives you energy over a longer period of time, not a sugar rush. So when you eat complex carbohydrates, you help to regulate your blood sugar levels.

Dietary fiber is a polysaccharide like complex carbohydrates but unlike complex carbohydrates it does not get broken down by digestive enzymes. Dietary fiber comes from plants but is not digestible. Eating dietary fiber is important because it helps to maintain proper blood sugar levels. Some examples of dietary fiber are oatmeal, beans, peas, sweet potatoes, squash, grapefruits and oranges.

By eliminating or greatly reducing our intake of simple carbohydrates we are well on our way to a healthy diet. Complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber provide the nutrients essential to a healthy lifestyle. Simple carbohydrates lead to a sugar rush; complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber fill you up, give you more energy and provide the necessary nutrition vital to your body’s health. For a healthy diet, make the switch from simple carbohydrates to complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber.

For further information on living a healthy lifestyle, please sign up for our FREE NEWSLETTER.

Use Stretching Exercises to Start Your Day Off Right

2006-09-04T20:38:00.000-04:00

Do you ever wake up in the morning feeling stiff and uncomfortable? It may be a once in a while thing like sleeping in the wrong position or may be an ongoing problem like a sore back. I know on many mornings, I have woken up walking like a zombie. I felt stiff, tight, and clumsy.

Here’s a great way to wake up those tight muscles. Try stretching in the shower. Yes, in the shower. The warm water will relax your muscles, increase your blood flow and make your muscles more supple.

Here are some of the benefits of stretching:
• Stretching both before and after exercising lengthens your
muscles
• Improves tissue flexibility and elasticity
• Increases blood flow
• Makes your muscles more supple
• Helps to prevent injuries
• Helps with your balance and coordination
• Improves your range of motion
• Improves circulation
• Helps to improve posture
• Reduces stress
• Helps you to wake up in the morning, feeling fresh and ready to go
• You can do it anywhere – even in the shower

Do you love a warm, soothing shower in the morning as much as I do? Isn’t it a great way to start the day? By adding just a couple of extra minutes to your morning routine, you can start your day relaxed, invigorated, warmed up and ready for anything.

Wouldn’t you feel great starting your day stress free with a warm and cozy feeling? You’ll feel more awake and optimistic. And you’ll also help to prevent injuries caused by stiff muscles and joints. And if you shower at night, stretching is a great way to get rid of the stresses from that day. So start your day off tomorrow with a warm, soothing shower and some stretching time. You’ll start your day off feeling great.

For a Healthy Diet Eliminate Simple Carbohydrates

2006-09-01T17:21:00.000-04:00

The world is full of simple sugars. Everywhere we look we are surrounded by a multitude of cakes, cookies, pies, pastries, ice cream and candy. Our sodas, iced teas and many of our water products are loaded with sugar. Sugar is added to every day items including cereal, spaghetti sauce and canned fruit. It is everywhere, and it is killing us slowly – bite by bite.

Obesity and diabetes are at epidemic proportions. Many of our schools now serve junk food and have food and beverage vending machines. We reward and comfort our children with food. We celebrate our accomplishments and good fortunes with a tempting meal followed by a luscious dessert. We eat to comfort and console ourselves chomping on sweets without even tasting them. We entertain and socialize using sugary foods as part of our camaraderie.

This obsession with sugar and other simple carbohydrates including white pasta, white rice and white bread is not only contributing to our waistlines but making us ill as well. We are prone to diabetes, heart disease, stroke and other debilitating and deadly diseases. Overeating sugar leads to depression and cloudy thinking as well as other mental disorders.

For a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle, we need to dramatically reduce or eliminate sugars and simple carbohydrates from our diet. We need to eat complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber instead. Complex carbohydrates include seeds, beans, legumes, vegetables and grains. Dietary fiber includes oatmeal, peas, sweet potatoes, squash and citrus fruits.

Once these simple sugars are eliminated from the diet, other foods taste different to us. Fruits are sweeter, vegetables tastier and whole grain breads have a nutty sweetness to them. By varying the types of complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber we eat, we find foods with different tastes and textures that we might never have tried.

Simple changes in diet can have a profound effect on our health and well-being. Choose to eat more fruits and less fruit drinks and juices. Try different varieties of apples, pears, cherries and other fruits. Let the season guide you as to what is best to choose at that particular time of year.

Have vegetables and/or salad with lunch and dinner. With the many varieties of lettuces and the vast assortment of vegetables, varying the type of salad prepared is easy, enjoyable, colorful and tasty. Try adding beans, seeds and grains to salad for added flavor.

Choose organic whole wheat pasta over white pasta, brown rice over white rice and whole grain breads over white bread. Not only will you notice a wonderful change in flavors and texture, but you will find yourself fuller, more energetic and more resistant to illnesses.

For a healthy diet, eliminate those pesky sugars and simple carbohydrates. Instead energize and revitalize your body, mind and spirit with complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber. Your body will thank you for it.

Health and Beauty from Within

2006-08-31T09:59:00.000-04:00

It’s seems these days that women are obsessed with health and beauty. We try just about every product imaginable. We read loads of information putting us on overload. The more information we get the more confused we seem to become.

A key factor in health and beauty is to look within. When we value ourselves more and look to the positive, we will feel a greater sense of self worth. First we need to honor and value ourselves as women – trusting in our intuition and inner strength.

We need to stop running all over the place looking for just the right health and beauty products that will change us. Instead we should focus on health and beauty products and ideas that compliment our personalities and lifestyles.

Cooking With Kasha

2006-08-29T11:10:00.000-04:00

Do you eat the same foods that you grew up with? For about half of my life I did – eating the same foods I was used to, the same familiar recipes. Isn’t that what most of us do – stick to eating what we know?

To have a truly healthy diet you need to expand your horizons. You need to go out of your comfort zone of cooking and try some really great, really easy recipes using a variety of grains, beans, legumes, etc. By reducing the amount of simple carbohydrates in your diet and replacing them with mouth-watering complex carbohydrates, you are well on your way to a healthier diet.

One of my favorite foods is Kasha—also known as buckwheat. It has a wonderful nutty flavor.

Here are some facts about buckwheat:
• Buckwheat is full of protein, vitamins and amino acids
• Buckwheat is a complex carbohydrate that will satisfy your
appetite
• It is gluten free
• It is a great source of dietary fiber
• Buckwheat is actually a plant
• It has no cholesterol
• It is almost fat free
• Buckwheat can be used as a main meal, a side dish or in soups,
salads and stuffing

One of the best things about Kasha is how easy it is to make. Here is one of my favorite recipes:

Cut several onions or one large Spanish onion into thin strips. Sauté the onion in a small amount of olive oil until the onion becomes golden and caramelized.
While the onion is cooking, place one cup of Kasha in a separate saucepan. Mix in one beaten egg. Cook the mixture over medium high heat, stirring continuously for about 3 minutes. When the kasha kernels are dry and separated, it is time to add
some liquid.
Add 2 cups of water or vegetable broth to the kasha mixture and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes or until the liquid has been absorbed.
Mix the onions and kasha together and you have a great meal or side dish.

You can vary this easy recipe by adding some sliced sautéed mushrooms, celery or peas. Vary the vegetables by what you have available in the house.

To make life even easier, make a double batch. One night serve the Kasha using the recipe above. For another meal, cook up a pound of Bow Tie pasta and add the Kasha mixture. The sweetness of the onions and the nuttiness of the kasha make a great addition to pasta.

Learn to Meditate and Control Your State of Mind

2006-08-26T10:49:00.000-04:00

Control your brainwaves and you control your state of mind. By raising or slowing our brainwaves, we can altar how we think, feel and act. Meditation is the process of slowing our waking beta brainwaves to the slower states of alpha and theta. By learning to control these states, we can improve our health and well-being.

Brainwaves are the electrical movements in the brain. The frequency of these brainwaves can be measured using an electroencephalograph (EEG). Electrodes placed on the scalp measure the frequency of these brainwaves. From highest to lowest frequency, these brainwaves are called beta, alpha, theta and delta.

Beta is the waking, thinking state. During beta, brainwaves range from 14 to 40 cycles per second. In beta, an individual thinks and listens, can solve analytical problems, make decisions, and intake and process information. This is our normal state of mind when working, going to school and shopping. During beta our minds are the most alert.

Alpha is a slower state more indicative of relaxing and reflecting. During alpha, brainwaves range from 9 to 14 cycles per second. In the alpha state, an individual is fully aware of his/her surroundings but in a much more relaxed state of mind than beta. Meditation is often practiced in the alpha state.

Theta is an even slower state perfect for daydreaming and intuitive thinking. During theta, brainwaves range from 5 to 8 cycles per second. It is the state between wakefulness and sleep. In this state of mind, memories, thoughts and facts that eluded a person in a wakeful state can be recalled. It is often in this state that answers to problems seem to appear. Deep meditation and prayer are practiced in the theta state.

Delta is the slowest of the four states where sleep occurs. During delta, brainwaves range from 1.5 to 4 cycles per second. At the slowest delta level, sleep is deep and dreamless.

During our waking and sleeping hours, the brain moves through all four of these stages. At any given level, there is a range in brainwaves that effect how deeply we have entered that state. By knowing how these states function, we can knowingly enter a particular state and control how our thoughts are processed.

Meditation allows our minds to move through these states leading us to a healthy lifestyle. When we control our brainwaves, we control how we think, feel, reason and react. Relaxation, creativity and self-awareness flow naturally. As we mediate, our physical health improves as we move closer and closer to a healthy lifestyle. Consciously controlling our brainwaves is a step towards healthy living.

Finding the Right Weight Loss Diet

2006-08-20T18:12:00.000-04:00

It seems that women are always looking for a weight loss diet. Maybe you need to lose just a couple of pounds or maybe you need to lose 100 pounds or more. The common ground for any weight loss diet no matter how much you want to lose is eating healthy and exercising.

We all want that quick fix. We decide to go on a weight loss diet and expect miracles. The problem with waiting for a miracle is that it keeps us from reaching our goals. Quick fixes just don’t work. Even if you do lose weight, the weight will just come right back. To truly lose weight and keep it off you need a weight loss diet and an exercise program that suits your lifestyle.

Thinking long term and keeping your focus is really important. Think about the end result you are looking for and then design a program to suit your own personal needs. It is important to remember that you need to develop a plan that you can stick to for a lifetime.

Meditate Your Way to Self-Actualization

2006-08-18T15:46:00.000-04:00

Meditation is so easy to do that you will benefit from your very first session. The more you meditate the easier it will become. And as you start noticing changes in your life, you will want to continue the practice of meditating on a daily basis.

The more you meditate, the easier it is to reach an Alpha or Theta state. It is in these states that you will experience tranquility, serenity, inner peace, a clear mind, feel a sense of belonging, and find your purpose in life. It is here that you will feel connected to God and the universe.

As you start your journey of self-realization, you only need to spend 5 to 10 minutes a day practicing meditation. After a while, you will want to increase the amount of time you meditate to 20 or 30 minute sessions. You may even want to meditate more than once a day.

You may think that you don’t have the time. I used to feel that way too. But here’s what happened to me. I have always, absolutely positively needed 8 hours of sleep a night. Without 8 hours of sleep, I couldn’t function the next day.

I started meditating once a day for 20 minutes. Within a short period of time, I increased that to twice a day. I now meditate three times a day, 20 minutes each session. Since I began this practice, I only need 7 hours of sleep a night (one full hour less!) – and I feel more relaxed and peaceful than I did when I was getting 8 hours of sleep a night. So meditating did not take up any of my time – in fact, it made me feel more energetic and sleep better than ever before.

Meditating is so easy to do yet so rewarding. It won’t be long before you start to see some amazing results.

Healthy Eating without Pesticides

2006-08-17T12:02:00.000-04:00

Eating a healthy diet is so important for feeling and looking great. Without a healthy diet our bodies just deteriorate since they have nothing of substance to fuel them. For a healthy diet, eating organic foods is vital. Organic foods are healthier and more nutritious, and they are grown without harmful toxins.

One example is eating organic fruits and vegetables instead of traditionally grown fruits and vegetables. When you eat organic fruits and vegetables, you are eating wholesome, nutritious food grown without harmful toxins. When you eat traditionally grown fruits and vegetables, you ingest the toxins that are sprayed on the food. It is really no different than spraying bug repellent on your food before you eat.

When you wash off traditionally grown fruit and vegetables just prior to use, the toxins remain. They have already penetrated the outer layer and are now imbedded in the substance of the fruit or vegetable. The same is not true for organic fruits and vegetables. When you wash them prior to eating, you are simply washing away dirt from the normal growing process.

Always remember to wash off all fruits and vegetables especially since they were handled by so many people prior to getting them to market.

For a healthy diet, choose organic fruits and vegetables.

One Forkful at a Time

2006-08-11T09:50:00.000-04:00

One of the many problems with diets is that we expect them to work quickly -- actually we hope for instantaneous rewards -- without thought to how long it took to gain the weight in the first place. If you’re overweight, a problem I have struggled with for most of my life, it is important to remember that your weight problem was achieved one forkful at a time. Weight gain doesn’t happen overnight and neither does losing weight. The same rule applies – one forkful at a time. Eating right and living a healthy lifestyle are the way to lasting success – one step at a time.

Healthy Lifestyle vs. Dieting

2006-08-10T10:19:00.000-04:00

Have you ever thought about the difference between dieting and living a healthy lifestyle? One is a difficult way of living and the other sets you free. One looks for perfection and the other at choices.

Truthfully, I have to tell you that most of my life I have been obsessed with dieting – but all in the wrong way. Think of it – if you’re on a diet, you have to get it right, you have to be perfect. And if you go off of your diet, you’re a failure – not a good way to live.

So what’s the difference? When you are on a diet you try so hard to be perfect, to do absolutely everything right; then one day, you’re eating out with your friends and you really want to have a piece of chocolate cake. So you go ahead and order it. After all, your friends are having dessert, why shouldn’t you. The entire time you’re eating it, you’re not really enjoying or tasting it – just shoving it down and already feeling awful about how weak you are.

By the time you get home, you know you have screwed up. You feel absolutely terrible, like a complete failure. You can’t stick to anything. You’ll never be at your goal weight. What’s the point anyway, you might as well eat anything you want now since you’ll never lose weight. Your self-esteem just dropped through the floor. Sound familiar? That’s what dieting is all about – getting it right or failing.

Now, let’s say, you’ve chosen to have a healthy lifestyle. You’re not just making short term changes; you have made a lifetime commitment to healthy eating. So same scenario you’re out with your friends and you have that piece of chocolate cake. Here’s the big difference – so what? So what if you choose to have that piece of cake. It’s no big deal. Now you are free to really taste and enjoy it. In fact, next month you may decide to have another slice.

With your healthy lifestyle, you make the choices. You’re not looking for perfection; you’re focused on eating right and living right most of the time. Not all of the time, most of the time. Indulging yourself every once in a while is really no big deal. Since you are eating right most of the time, choosing the right foods and sticking to a life plan of healthy choices, an occasional indulgence is really no big deal.

So forget dieting – choose a healthy lifestyle. You’ll be glad you did!

Add Stretching to Your Fitness Program

2006-08-09T19:26:00.000-04:00

Stretching both before and after exercise is key to any fitness program. Stretching prior to exercise warms up your body making it less prone to accidents and injuries. Stretching exercises increase joint and muscle flexibility making for a better workout. During the warm-up period, stretches should be held between 15 and 30 seconds.

Stretching following exercise relieves muscle tightness, improves flexibility and cools down the body. After a workout, your body will be able to stretch even further than it did prior to your exercise program. During the cool-down period, stretches should be held between 30 seconds and one minute. It is during these longer stretches that flexibility increases the most.

It is important to breathe normally as you stretch and avoid holding your breath. Concentrate on the stretch itself and on your breathing, relaxing the rest of your body. A mild tension should be felt but no discomfort. Avoid bouncing.

When standing during a stretching exercise, you can hold onto a steady object such as a chair to maintain balance and proper posture. If you prefer not to hold onto anything, keeping your eyes focused on a point of interest such as a painting will help to maintain the proper balance and posture.

One of the great things about stretching is that it can be done anywhere and anytime. Stretching exercises are not limited to exercising alone. They can be done in any environment whether working, shopping or going about your daily routine.

Here are some of the benefits of stretching exercises:

· They are calming and relaxing
· Provides a sense of peace and well-being
· Lengthens your muscles
· Helps to prevent accidents and injuries
· Improves tissue flexibility and elasticity
· Increases blood flow
· Makes muscles more supple
· Helps with balance and coordination
· Improves range of motion
· Improves circulation
· Improves posture
· Reduces stress

Stretching both before and after your fitness program is important in maintaining a healthy body. Stretching at other times of the day is a great way to limber up, relax and reduce stress. For peak fitness, be sure to include stretching in your daily routine.

Simple vs. Complex Carbohydrates for a Healthy Diet

2006-08-08T12:13:00.000-04:00

You’ve chosen to eat a healthy diet but you’re still not quite sure about your choices. You know you need to eliminate sugars and simple carbohydrates from your diet and replace them with complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber. But what’s the difference between these types of carbohydrates?

There are three forms of carbohydrates – simple, complex and dietary fiber. The difference between these three is the amount of sugar units and how these sugars are combined.

Simple carbohydrates have a either one or two units of sugar. An example of a simple sugar, one with a single unit of sugar (called a saccharide), is fructose. An example of a double sugar, one made with two units of sugar (called a disaccharide), is sucrose. If you look at the ingredients on the labels of ordinary foods you buy at the supermarket, you will find these sugars in many of the every day items you buy. Some of these foods are table sugar, candy, soda, fruit juices, syrup and jellies. Simple sugars are broken down quickly into the blood stream giving you a sugar rush. Although these foods may taste great, they have no nutritional value and are empty calories. These are the foods to avoid.

Complex carbohydrates (polysaccharides) have a string of simple sugars linked together. A starch is a complex carbohydrate that comes from plants such as seeds, beans, legumes, vegetables and grains. Whole grain breads are included in this category if they contain no refined flour. Complex carbohydrates fill you up, increase your energy and make you more resistant to illnesses. They take longer to be broken down so take longer to enter the blood stream. This gives you energy over a longer period of time, not a sugar rush. So when you eat complex carbohydrates, you help to regulate your blood sugar levels.

Dietary fiber is a polysaccharide like complex carbohydrates but unlike complex carbohydrates it does not get broken down by digestive enzymes. Dietary fiber comes from plants but is not digestible. Eating dietary fiber is important because it helps to maintain proper blood sugar levels. Some examples of dietary fiber are oatmeal, beans, peas, sweet potatoes, squash, grapefruits and oranges.

For healthy eating, eliminate those simple carbohydrates and fill up on complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber instead! A great way to do this is to have a salad with lunch and dinner. Try some different types of lettuces and vegetables to give variety to your diet.

So the next time you’re tempted to reach for that piece of candy, go for a piece of fruit instead. Your blood sugar will thank you for it.

Ten Reasons to Meditate

2006-08-07T15:03:00.000-04:00

Meditation is the practice of lowering one’s brain frequency from a waking Beta state to a slower Alpha state. Just as a heart beats a certain number of beats per minute, the brain pulses a certain amount of brainwaves per second. In the Beta waking state, brainwaves vary from 15 to 40 cycles per second. In the Alpha state, brainwaves vary from 9 to 14 cycles per second.

Beta is the normal state for waking thoughts and daily activities including talking, working, and shopping. Beta is the state most people are in when in a working mode. Alpha is the slower state where an individual can reflect, meditate or ponder thoughts.

The following are 10 key benefits to daily meditation:

· Oneness with God and creation
· Stress reduction and decreased anxiety
· Reduces the noise and chatter of our waking minds
· Pain reduction and management
· Supports the immune system
· Reduces blood pressure
· Improved memory and ability to learn
· Feelings of peace, calmness and an awareness of self
· Improves moodiness and irritability
· Feelings of rejuvenation

In his book Getting in the Gap, Dr Wayne Dyer discusses how daily meditation brings us into a closer, more personal relationship with God. By knowing God, our source of being, we can find true meaning for our lives. Dr. Dyer writes, “The paramount reason for making meditation a part of our daily life is to join forces with our sacred energy and regain the power of our Source (God). Through meditation, we can tap in to an abundance of creative energy that resides within us, and a more meaningful experience of life, which enriches us permanently. By meditating, we come to know God rather than knowing about God”.

This deeper, richer, calming experience has a profound effect on body, mind and spirit. Our minds become clearer; the noise and chatter in our minds fades away. In its place come feelings of peace, calmness and a sense of awareness. We feel lighter, younger and rejuvenated. Moods brighten and irritability is eliminated paving the way for clearer thoughts, improved memory, insightfulness and creativity.

The ability to relax and calm our minds has its physical benefits as well. As our minds our soothed, physical pain and tension are reduced or eliminated. Chronic pain including severe headaches can be completely negated. Our circulatory, cardiovascular and immune systems operate more efficiently.

The benefits of meditation are vast. In a world of daily stress and anxiety, meditation paves the way for a healthy mind, body and spirit. For healthy living, practice meditation daily.

Eggplant for a Healthy Diet

2006-08-06T18:19:00.000-04:00

Eggplant is quite a versatile vegetable perfect for a healthy diet. When choosing eggplant make sure the skin has a good deep color and that the eggplant is firm to the touch.

One of the problems that arises when cooking eggplant is that it tends to get soggy or mushy due to its high moisture content. An easy way to remove excess moisture from eggplant is by salting it. Kosher salt works well since the crystals are large and can be wiped off when the eggplant has dried. Table salt because of its small crystals sinks into the eggplant leaving it with a very salty taste.

Although eggplant can be fried, it is best to broil, sauté, grill or stir-fry it. Frying is less healthy and adds lots of needless calories. For a healthy diet broiling, sautéing, grilling and stir-frying are best. Cut or slice the eggplant depending on how you will cook it. For broiling or grilling slice the eggplant into approximately ½ inch round slices. For sautéing or stir-frying, large diced pieces work well.

Place the cut eggplant on a cookie sheet that has been lined with paper towels. Salt the cut eggplant on both sides for the slices and all around on the diced pieces with kosher salt and cover it with additional paper towels. Change the paper towels if they become very wet. When the eggplant has lost most of its moisture, gently rub off any excess kosher salt. This normally takes 30 to 60 minutes.

For broiling, lightly brush the slices with olive oil and broil, turning once, until slightly browned on both sides.

For sautéing, lightly coat the diced pieces with olive oil and cook over a medium high heat, stirring occasionally until browned, approximately 8 to 10 minutes.

For grilling, lightly coat the slices with olive oil and grill, turning once, until slightly browned on both sides.

For stir-frying, lightly coat the diced pieces with olive oil and cook with other vegetables and a sauce of your own choice over medium high heat.

Adding garlic to any of these methods adds a great taste.

Eggplant is a great addition to soups, salads and many, many vegetarian recipes. For healthy cooking, add eggplant and other vegetables to your diet.

Reasons to Meditate

2006-08-06T11:46:00.000-04:00

When you think of meditation do you picture in your mind some monk in long robes, incense burning and chimes? Do you wonder if there is some kind of mind control attached to meditating? Do you worry that you will lose control of your thoughts?

Well, stop worrying! Meditation is a wonderful, relaxing experience that once you start, you won’t want to stop. When you meditate, you are in complete control of your mental faculties.

Meditation is the practice of lowering your brain frequency from a waking, thinking mind (Beta brain waves) to a more relaxed stage of Alpha or Theta. It is in the Alpha stage that you can find answers to questions, commune with God, visualize what you’d like to create and relax. While in the Theta stage, biological changes can be made – including reducing and eliminating pain.

Have you ever had a problem that you just couldn’t solve when you were awake, but the answer “just came to you” in your sleep? Did you ever try so hard to remember something when you were awake and then it suddenly pops into your mind when you are sleeping? In your waking Beta state, the answers eluded you. But in your more relaxed Alpha state, your brain easily found the answers you were looking for.

Here are some facts on meditating:
• Gives you a clear mind
• Calms the chatter in your mind
• Reduces stress
• Very relaxing
• Helps you to sleep better
• Relaxes muscles and relieves pain
• Makes you more mild mannered and patient
• Recommended by many doctors
• Scientists have proven its benefits
• Athletes use meditation to improve their performance
• Students use meditation to improve their study skills
• Improves breathing
• Can lower blood pressure
• Eliminates fears
• Can lower cholesterol levels
• Improves heart functions
• Slows cell damage
• Slows the aging process
• Increases levels of melatonin
• Strengthens your mind
• Helps you make better decisions
• Stops negative feelings and emotions

Meditation is easy to learn and easy to do. It is simply a matter of calming your mind. And the more you meditate, the easier it becomes to enter an Alpha or Theta state.

Flax Seed for a Healthy Diet

2006-08-03T09:39:00.000-04:00

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential to a woman’s health. The most beneficial of these fatty acids are Flax Seed and Flax Seed Oil. Both contain large amounts of alpha-linolenic acid, also known as ALA. Alpha-linolenic acid is deemed an essential fatty acid. Although it is essential in women’s health, ALA is not manufactured in the body so it must be obtained from an outside source. Certain plants, most particularly, flax seed, provide this much needed nutrients.

Flax seed has been called a near perfect food. It is abundant in fiber, essential fatty acids, also known as EFAs, as well as other nutrients including vitamins and minerals.

Flax seed is important for a healthy diet because of its many benefits. These benefits include more radiant skin, aids in digestion, helps to control moods and depression, supports the bodies cardiovascular and other systems, improves PMS and menopausal symptoms, reduces stress plus many, many other benefits.

Tired Shoulders From Overload

2006-08-02T13:13:00.000-04:00

It's amazing how heavy my handbag gets as the week goes by. It seems I just keep adding to what I carry as the days go by. Whenever my family and I go out, someone always has something 'small' to add to my increasing collection. With the added weight comes additional strain on my shoulder. Sometimes I feel as if I am walking slanted to the side.

I found that emptying my bag each week is really helpful -- especially since I love being neat and orderly. But more important is carrying a pocketbook with a wide comfortable strap that fits more comfortably over my shoulder.

We recently came back from vacation. I used a new bag while we were away that had a wide comfy strap -- and had no shoulder strain at all.

Healthy Living, Healthy Thoughts

2006-07-14T13:48:00.000-04:00

I find that controlling my thoughts is not only a super way to ensure that I have a great day, but also a great health benefit. It’s amazing how the mind controls the body. Have you ever gotten so uptight that you’ve gotten a headache or stomachache? It is so easy to get upset or stressed -- and then come the physical symptoms. Similarly it is so easy to control your state of mind and feel upbeat and happy – and then watch how great you feel physically.

Affirm it Loud, Affirm it Clear

2006-07-13T15:33:00.000-04:00

Affirmations can be done by writing them, reciting them in your head or speaking them out loud. There is definitely power in speaking affirmations out loud. You can hear the doubt in your own voice when you don’t really believe the affirmation. But the longer you repeat it, out loud and clearly, the more you will believe it yourself. Pretty soon the doubt is gone.

Floating in AIr

2006-07-13T10:12:00.000-04:00

One of the best things to me about meditating is the fact that your body becomes so weightless and free. As your mind clears and thoughts dissipate, your body feels lighter and lighter. With practice, and not much of it, you can easily get the feeling of being so light that your body can float in the air. The senses around you such as the feel of the chair you are sitting on or the floor that your feet are touching just gets softer and softer until you don’t feel them anymore. Definitely a relaxing and calming sensation.

Learn to Speak Up

2006-07-12T19:06:00.000-04:00

When I was a kid, I was always sad that my classmates didn’t automatically know it was my birthday. They seemed to make a big deal out of everyone else’s birthday except mine.

Then I found out something really interesting. Everyone who was greeted with birthday wishes, smiles and hugs had told their classmates it was their birthday. I never did. I just assumed everyone would know. They didn’t.

So I felt left out for no reason at all – except that I chose to remain silent. As soon as I told one classmate, the rest all knew. I then received the same great birthday greetings as every other birthday child had.

Now I know how important it is to speak up. Don’t assume. Whether it is something little or something really important, remember to speak up. Never assume that someone can read your thoughts.

Cell Phone Stress

2006-06-28T09:54:00.000-04:00

I am often amazed when I see people talking on their cell phones. It has become a national obsession. I like my cell phone – I really do. I feel more secure knowing that my family can reach me if they need to and that I am only a phone call away from the office.

I just don’t understand the need to talk on it constantly. I personally feel that cell phones are adding to our daily stress. Recently I was shopping with my daughter. It was getting late, and I wanted to call three friends before the night was over. I did something that I never do and used my cell phone to call them from the store.

As I followed my daughter around the store, hardly paying any attention to her, I tried to concentrate on the calls. All I really wanted to do was say a quick hello and speak to them the next day. By the time I hung up from the third call, I was totally stressed.

I had wandered around the store aimlessly, trailing behind my daughter. I had given up precious time that I could have spent with her. My friends did not get my full attention as I normally would have given them.

I felt stressed and disconnected. And I felt guilty because my daughter had all but been ignored. I learned a great lesson. Cell phones can be a wonderful accessory and certainly helpful in an emergency. But they can also add undue stress and cause us to lose focus on what is truly important.

Golden Rays

2006-06-23T08:52:00.000-04:00

Today is another sunny beautiful morning. The golden rays of sunshine woke me up again today and instantly put a smile on my face. What a healthy, happy and relaxing way to start the day! I love when the sun shines through the blinds and slowly wakes me up with nature's alarm clock. There is also something very grounding about. It reminds me that we are all energy and all connected. When I close my eyes on a morning like this to do my early meditation, I continue to picture the sun's golden rays surrounding and warming me. What a perfect way to start the day!

What a Beautful Day for Walking

2006-06-21T13:32:00.000-04:00

Walking is such a fantastic way to exercise and energize. I particularly love those mornings when the birds are chirping and the leaves are rustling in the trees. I think I am addicted to the sounds of nature. Even when I am working at my computer I love listening to these same sounds through my window. After walking, the sounds of spring stay with me and continue to brighten my day. Treadmills are great in the really cold or bad weather but nothing beats a morning jaunt on a beautiful day.

Oven Fries Great in the Summer Too

2006-06-19T15:54:00.000-04:00

I really like crispy veggie burgers and portabella mushrooms on the grill. They are so good on organic whole grain buns. My thing is that I prefer hot potatoes to potato salad or macaroni salad.

So all year long I love to make oven fries. I cut 4 to 6 russet potatoes into chunks. While they are still wet from slicing, I put them in a plastic bag that has about 1/2 cup of seasoned bread crumbs with a little parmesan cheese added. I use a Misto spritzer to spray some olive oil on top.

I place the potatoes on non stick aluminum foil in a shallow baking pan. Then I bake them for about 25 minutes in a preheated 450 degree oven. They really taste great.

Sometimes I omit the breadcrumb mixture. I spray the potatoes lightly with the Misto and add a little kosher salt. The cooking time and temperature are the same. Totally wonderful all year long.

Stop the Circle of Bad Thoughts

2006-06-12T09:20:00.000-04:00

Most people, including me, keep replaying bad thoughts over and over again in our minds. If we feel that someone has wronged us, the thought lingers in our minds well after the deed is done. As women, we have long memories -- great for some things, bad for others.

These bad thoughts and feelings can be so destruction that they overshadow the good feelings and thoughts we might otherwise be feeling. So the damage is to ourselves more than to those around us. Although, we must admit that when we are thinking bad thoughts, we might not be too pleasant to be around!

Here's an easy way I found to eliminate those nasty bad thoughts. Put your head down towards your chest. Think of the thought that is bothering you. Now just release it; let it dissipate or pretend there is a funnel that the bad thought flows through to leave your body. Do this a few times until the feeling is gone. It really works!

Put on a Happy Face

2006-06-11T13:12:00.000-04:00

It is amazing how one small change in a facial feature can make such a difference. I find that even the smallest smile makes me happy. Even if I feel overworked or stressed just putting a tiny grin on my face seems to do the trick. That one small change seems to brighter my eyes and my mood. I think that sometimes we just get too serious during the day-- with so many errands, chores, work and family responsibilities that we forget to take a moment to feel good. A little smile goes a long way in uplifting spirits and giving us the energy to accomplish more with a happy heart.

Yummy Grilled Peaches

2006-06-09T12:14:00.000-04:00

I just had the most wonderful organic peaches that were grilled outdoors. I split the peaches in half and took out the pits. Then I put them in a basket on the barbeque with a little squirt of lime juice. When they were soft, we ate them with some organic yogurt. What a special treat. They are great with a little cinnamon or nutmeg added.

Treat Yourself

2006-06-07T08:56:00.000-04:00

Healthy eating is great. I especially love the way that organic fruit tastes-- so unbelievably sweet. The flavor of organic fresh fruits and vegetables just can't be beat. But every now and then I like to have something crunchy -- something like potato chips but without all of the fats and other unhealthy ingredients. This week I tried organic corn chips. The flavor was so much stronger that any of the old junk food I used to eat. Plus a little goes a long way.

Count Down Your Stress

2006-06-06T15:46:00.000-04:00

Stressed? Who isn't? Let's face it; people and your daily life are going to get you down even if your day starts out great. Here's an easy way to reduce stress -- sit quietly, close your eyes, count backwards from 50 to 1 (or 100 to 1) while breathing deeply. Just concentrate on counting and breathing and let your thoughts just drift by. Before you get to 1, you'll be feeling less stressed and ready to go.

The Majesty of Nature

2006-06-05T13:26:00.000-04:00

My thirteen year old daughter is in Italy, and I'm here at home. She's having a great time, and I'm miserable and lonely without her. When I spoke to her last night she was so excited and happy even though she was exhausted. She was standing by the balcony of her hotel room gazing at the water and mountains in Sorrento. She said that the landscape was magnificent and that everywhere she looked was breathtaking beauty. The entire day had been filled with unbelievably gorgeous sites.

When I got up this morning, I opened my windows and gazed into the sunny blue sky and thought of her. My spirits immediately brightened. God and nature are so wonderful, connecting us all, and gracing us with their magnificence and awesome majesty. Although we are thousands of miles apart, I felt that same connection with her that I always have.

How wonderful that we can both look around us and appreciate the beauty, peace and serenity that nature offers.

An Ounce of Enthusiasm

2006-06-02T12:06:00.000-04:00

I love affirmations. I really do. They keep the positive momentum going during the day -- that is, when they are done correctly. To really be effective an affirmation has to have some great emotional power behind it. Otherwise, the affirmation is nothing more than repetitive words. Thinking the affirmation in your mind with some enthusiasm or some very visual pictures is wonderful. To see if you really mean it though, try saying the affirmation out loud. Do you really believe the affirmation in your heart or does it sound phony? Try adding some enthusiastic positive emotion and acting as if what you want has already occurred. You don't have to believe it completely -- you just need an ounce of faith. Once you get that enthusiasm going, your subconscious mind will take over. Then the magic begins.

Flush Out Allergens with Saline Solution

2006-05-27T12:14:00.000-04:00

The pollen in New York seems to be getting worse every day. I normally don't have allergy symptoms but this year is an exception. With all the green covering the cars and so much rain, it's easy to see why so many people are suffering. I've been drinking extra water and using a saline solution nasal spray several times a day when I have symptoms. Water helps to flush out the irritants. The saline solution helps to keep the nasal passages moist, flushes the allergens from the nose and thins out mucus. It may not always get rid of all the symptoms but it sure helps.

Loving Warm Weather Fruits and Vegetables

2006-05-26T12:13:00.000-04:00

I really love the colors and tastes of warm weather fruits and vegetables. It’s like eating a rainbow of wonderful, bright, juicy colors. I especially love strawberries and other berries at this time of year. I love the taste of corn on the barbeque. Everything seems to taste better when the weather is great.

Daily Affirmations

2006-05-25T11:11:00.000-04:00

I love affirmations. I keep an entire list of different motivating affirmations in my organizer. Each morning I choose the ones I want to use that day. If I have a particular project I am working on, I often come up with a new affirmation for just that purpose. Throughout the day I either think about them or say them out loud. This keeps the motivation going and reminds me to stay on track. Affirmations are a simple way to keep your attitude positive and keep you moving in the right direction.

Cure for Aching Neck

2006-05-24T09:08:00.000-04:00

Unfortunately, I was in a car accident years ago. I was stopped at a light, and a young kid slammed into the back of my van. I wound up with five herniated discs among other things. My neck hurt so much I could barely move it, and I had trouble concentrating. My daughter saw a FOM travel pillow while shopping in the mall. She bought it for me, and I started using it while sleeping every night. It is a small, u-shaped pillow. Wow, what a difference. The pillow supports my neck throughout the night. Now I wake up pain free every morning. Plus it is absolutely soft, comfortable and squishy like a stuffed animal.

Too Many Diet Choices

2006-05-23T10:31:00.000-04:00

I was online this morning as I normally am and was once again amazed at all of the diets being advertised. They were everywhere on the page, all types of diets, all promising the same result. One of the problems with so many different diets, all promising to be the greatest one, is that it makes us question our choices.

Instead of choosing a diet and sticking to it for two weeks to a month to see if it is the right one for us, we start to question our choice. The multitude of advertisements makes us believe that a different diet might be better for us. So we go off of the initial diet and then try another and another.

The result is that we may lose little or no weight at all and then feel even worse about ourselves. Instead we should honor our first choice and give it some time. Concentrate on the plan you have chosen and then stop looking at other plans until you have given your choice a fair chance. There are lots of different plans that work great if we just let them. So let's give them a fair chance without casting them aside at the first sign of "something better".

It's Strawberry Season!

2006-05-22T10:29:00.000-04:00

Strawberry season is here! I just had the most fantastic strawberries -- so bright, sweet and juicy. They are one of my favorite fruits especially since they are so versatile. They are great alone as well as in salads, cereals and so many recipes.

An entire cup of strawberries is only about 50 calories. Plus they are a wonderful source of dietary fiber, vitamin C and potassium. Choose bright red strawberries since they do not continue to ripen once picked. To maintain freshness, wash right before eating.

I really envy people who know how to make preserves. I think I just may give it a try this year.

5 Years as a Vegetarian

2006-05-21T18:32:00.000-04:00

This week is a great anniversary week for me. It has been five years since I became a vegetarian. I was never really that fond of meat but was brought up eating it, and I also cooked it for my family. But 5 years ago the thought of eating a dead animal became too nauseating for me. I am so glad I made the change. The health benefits have been terrific. My diet is better than ever before. I have tried many new foods and recipes. I enjoy what I eat now more than ever before. I also feel better than ever.

Meditation and the Sounds of Spring

2006-05-19T10:08:00.000-04:00

I pulled up onto my driveway after working all day and running some errands. It was a gorgeous day outside. It was in the low 70’s, sunny with a light breeze. It was just my kind of day.

Normally, I immediately go into the house to start dinner, the laundry and any other chores I think I can multi-task at the time.

This time I decided to sit in the car and meditate. I rolled down the windows, closed my eyes and thought peaceful, weightless thoughts.

As I meditated I felt the spring breeze floating through the car and heard the soft rustle of the leaves on the trees. The birds were chirping merrily. The chimes on the porch swayed a gentle tune.

I stayed in the car for over half an hour, just listening to the sounds of springs while I meditated. It was such a gentle, comforting way to end the workday. I felt rejuvenated and refreshed.

Mother Nature and the sounds of spring sure have a way of brightening my spirit and making me appreciate the priceless blessings in life.

Spring Allergies

2006-05-18T13:31:00.000-04:00

I recently developed allergies. I never had them as a kid, but somehow they caught up to me as an adult. At times I get severe headaches and find it hard to work and concentrate. I prefer not to take any medications. Although I meditate, I never really thought about meditating and visualizing these headaches away. Yesterday, I decided to do some deep breathing and visualize the headaches fading away. The result was a headache free afternoon plus I felt rejuvenated with an extra session of meditation added to my day.

Spring is in the Air

2006-05-17T07:59:00.000-04:00

I love spring. It is my favorite time of year—a time of rebirth and hopeful thoughts for the future. The sun is out; the grass is turning green and the flowers blooming. Everything seems new again.

I know for many people that New Year’s is the time for making resolutions and pondering changes. Not for me. Springtime seems to be the start of my year. I love planning projects and vacations. I love trying new foods and recipes. I love making a list of all of the things I want to try and then seeing how many I can accomplish.

And most of all I look forward to renewing my mind, body and spirit.

A Quick Cure for Motion SIckness

2006-05-16T12:40:00.000-04:00

I’m a big baby. I admit it. I really don’t travel well. Whenever we go on a family vacation, a long ride, pretty much anywhere at all, I’m always the one to get motion sickness. If I’m the one driving, I’m fine. I’m usually okay when my husband drives, but absolutely no one else.

We went into New York City one day. One of the things we decided to do as a family was take the Circle Line cruise around Manhattan. It wasn’t long before I was violently ill. I was completely sick to my stomach and could barely turn my head because I was so dizzy. The motion of the boat was like a slow, torturous death to me.

The awful truth of it was – we hadn’t even left the dock yet! The boat was swaying and knocking into the dock; and I was leaning overboard turning green. That’s when my kids asked me if I had taken my ginger – the ginger I normally carry with me. So I admit it; sometimes I’m not too bright. The ginger was still in my purse.

Fortunately, ginger works quickly for me. Within 45 minutes, I was feeling back to my old self. Of course, I did have to listen to my husband and kids make fun of me. But I figure I deserved it.

Apparently it isn’t enough to just carry those ginger capsules with me; I actually need to swallow them! That’s the last time I forgot. Ginger capsules and I have a great relationship now; we always travel together.

Live Like You Were Dying

2006-05-15T12:18:00.000-04:00

I listened to Tim McGraw's song Live Like You Were Dying over and over again this morning. I really love this song and its meaning.

I have a really big organizer that I carry with me everywhere I go. In it, among other things, is a list of things that I want to try for the first time. I think it's time to update that list and come up with some other great ideas.

This week would be the perfect time to Live Like I Was Dying, try doing something I've always wanted to try, and really enjoy life to the fullest. Now all I have to do is choose which one to try!

The Music in My Heart

2006-05-13T11:19:00.000-04:00

I must admit I live in fear; a daily overwhelming fear that is what propels me forward. My fear is simple really. I don’t want to die before I achieve my heart’s desires. It is the fear that I will leave this world never having accomplished my life’s purpose.

Now some fears can be horrible and debilitating. On the other hand, some fears can be great. That’s what my fear is – absolutely, truly, wonderfully great. Whenever I am hesitant about trying something new that I really want to try, I listen to the music in my heart. Whenever I wonder if I can accomplish something, be good at something or make a difference, I listen to that music.

I know I always have a choice. I can live my life choosing to follow my own path or I can choose not to. The fear that I will come to the end of my life never having listened to the sounds in my heart is a blessing. I don’t want to compromise. Each day I want to live according to my values and morals, cherish my family and friends, acknowledge my blessings, and be the best I can be. Each day I choose to do something special just for me even if it is just some extra quiet time.

When I reach the end of this life, I don’t want to think ‘what if’. Instead I want to think back and reflect on what a magnificent symphony my life has been.

Stormy Nights and Fog Horns

2006-05-12T11:35:00.000-04:00

Wow, the rain was unbelievable here last night. By the time I went to sleep, the rain was coming down so hard that the windows shook. It made me think about another storm that happened years ago.

I was really tired and decided to do a different meditation before going to bed. I spent fifteen minutes visualizing myself on a boat off of Montauk Point. Fortunately, I’m able to form pictures in my mind with great detail. I felt the gentle swaying of the boat, saw the beautiful blue water, smelled the salty air and felt the smooth wood railing. I pictured a blue lighthouse, with windows overlooking the water surrounded by sand and shells. Occasionally the sound of a fog horn could be heard in the distance.

Well I certainly slept well that night. Throughout the night I heard the fog horn over and over again. I thought it was just my imagination recalling the details of the meditation. I woke up feeling relaxed and refreshed – perfectly ready to start the day.

My husband, on the other hand, woke up with huge bags under his eyes. He told me that he kept waking up during the night and had difficulty falling back to sleep. He said it was one of the worst storms he could ever remember.

I told him how well I had slept and that I heard a fog horn occasionally through the night. He gave me one of those looks of disbelief. He then told me that the fog horn I had been hearing was actually the sound of house and car alarms going off, thunder, trees banging on the windows, branches breaking off, and the leaders and gutters overflowing.

I thought it was funny; he didn’t until he got some more sleep.

The power of meditation to relax mind, body and spirit is an awe-inspiring experience. It certainly is a great way to reduce stress. And a good night’s sleep isn’t bad either.

Rainy Days and Daydreams

2006-05-11T08:47:00.000-04:00

It's been raining in New York for a couple of days now, and it looks like it will for a few more. I've been gazing out my office window, letting my focus go and just, well, daydreaming. A rainy day seems like the perfect day to daydream. I like to close my eyes and drift back in time reliving some of my favorite memories. I love to close my eyes and picture the faces of all of the people who have touched my life -- teachers, friends, family, mentors.

Daydreaming lets me wonder what it would be like if I took a chance and did something new and unexpected. Well, maybe I won't be an Olympic Gold Medalist, a championship rider or a famous scientist as I daydreamed when I was younger; but then again maybe I'm not too far off the mark. After all, it isn't too late to take skating lessons, learn to ride a horse, take some science classes, write a best-selling novel. It could be that those very things I used to daydream about as a kid were a prelude to what I can accomplish as an adult.

I may not become world famous but I know I can let loose and take that giant leap to actually living out some of my daydreams. Besides, I want to hold onto some of those dreams of knowing I can accomplish anything and everything. And even if I don't get to live out all of those dreams in reality, I know I can close my eyes and be anything or anyone I want to be. And, well, isn't that what rainy days are all about?

Thoughts for Mother's Day

2006-05-10T14:30:00.000-04:00

My friends and I were talking about Mother's Day. We reminisced about all the silly little crafts we made for our own moms when we were growing up. We laughed about how we used to dream of having our own families when we were younger. And now here we are with our own children almost grown.

My son will be away at college this Sunday. I already know that he will call, tell me how much he misses me and loves me. He'll remind me that he'll be coming home for the summer next week so we can do something special then. And we will. My daughter is already making plans for a special Mother's Day. That's just the way she is and always has been. To her it is a special day, a time when we do things together like baking or making candy. I cherish each day spent with her, Mother's Day or not.

Mother's Day isn't just a once a year holiday for us; every day spent with my children is Mother's Day. It is a day of making memories. This is the day that they got to make special plans hoping that I would love each moment of the day. And I did. I look back on all the funny things that happened in years past -- like my daughter making a batter for chocolate cake and taking the beaters out of the bowl before turning the mixer off. We found out just how far chocolate can fly! Or my son letting me know what special meal he thought I should make that day or how he thought I would love going to a baseball card show! And I did.

This Sunday we should remember that the day isn't just about moms; it is also a day about making special memories that our kids can laugh and think about years from now when they have their own children. To those no longer with us, thank you for the great memories left behind. To my daughter, Jennifer, I'll be looking up at heaven this Sunday wishing that you were here with us. I'll love you forever.

The Voice Within...Listen To It!

2006-05-10T14:24:00.000-04:00

I was stopped at a light yesterday, waiting to make a left turn. The road I was about to turn onto was a 55 mph two lane road with lights. When the left turn signal came on, I took my foot off of the brake, getting ready to make my turn. The little voice in my head quietly whispered “stop”. It was just a single word, nothing dramatic or overwhelming. It was just that one quiet word.Well, that little voice has never let me down. Women’s intuition is just too great a thing to ignore. So I stopped. I must admit that if the car behind me had honked, I still wouldn’t have budged.A second or two later a truck ran the red light right in front of me. He went by so quickly that my vehicle shook. He was going well over the speed limit and had probably speeded up to get through the light. He certainly missed since he ran a red light. Had I ignored that little voice, I would be either seriously injured or dead. He would have rammed into the driver’s side of the car.I drove home with a smile on my face, feeling absolutely wonderful. I love that little voice. The few times in my life that I have ignored it, I have always been sorry. Women's intuition is too great a gift to ignore.