Healthy eating is individual

How you start your day..

5/8/2012 9:23:00 AM

I just wanted to share my thoughts on how you start your day;

I believe that it is the first choices we make when we wake up that determine our attitude, behaviour and energy levels throughout the rest of the day.

The first food type or drink type that you choose can significantly affect all your other choices . Start your day with bad food and drink choices eg ; sugary, refined processed types and notice how you become erratic, lacking in control and focus, with energy levels going up and down all day and your cravings for more sugary processed comfort foods becoming inevitable. It's almost like this put your behaviour on a roller coaster for the whole day - with you not really feeling conscious or grounded in any way but rather existing in auto pilot constantly trying to regain control without success. However, notice the immense different when upon waking you choose to eat and drink very differently; a protein food choice or shake , no sugars or refined processed carbohydrates, whole natural fruits and foods. These choices will make your whole day a different experience. You will behave more calmly and with composure , you will feel grounded in control and stable. Your energy levels will remain constant throughout the day so you will not crave sugary refined foods at all, you will not need their comfort. All in all what's most fascinating is that your food choices really do determine your true power. When you eat the latter you gain the power not just over your body but over your emotions, your behaviour, your true self. You behave consciously with awareness and this lifts your mood and attitude since your body feels happy, nourished and able to function to its optimum ability.

Try it and see for yourself. You will be surprised what you have been missing. A nourished body only ever equals a nourished mind.. And nourished minds excel in every way :)

Thanks for reading ..

Energy

4/24/2012 7:48:00 AM

I've been thinking for sometime about the importance of living life to our full potential..

It is pretty clear to me that to live fully we need to have the correct energy to do so. Diet, lifestyle, stresses, expectations, workplaces etc , all drain us of our energy sources and gradually over time, they are steadily depleted. We are left demotivated and unenthused mainly because our natural energy has been cut short.

Of course, I am going to emphasise the importance of eating right to balance and maintain your wellbeing and energy. Our food choices ALWAYS affect our state of mind, our moods and hence our behaviour . As far as I see it we are all living on stimulus foods- sugar, refined carbohydrates, far too many cereals and grains, processed food and drinks etc. Because our bodies are loaded with all these unnatural substances and the chemicals to preserve or enhance their tastes, we become quickly addicted to them and we also get used to thinking this stimulus energy they give us is REAL. And there you have it... We exist in overdrive because we consume these things like drugs and they allow us to function fast because they stimulate our autonomous nervous system. The problem is that this can never last. It drives your body into a stare of exhaustion and then eventually disease and illness. So, learning to live without these bad food choices is the key.. If you try to eliminate all these foods and replace them with good quality organic proteins , green leafy vegetables, low GI fruits etc soon it will all become clear as your mind becomes clear too. The first week of elimination will be so tough! You will feel exhausted , hungry , experience cravings , desperation etc - yes like experiencing drug withdrawal. You will then start to realise too that your energy was FALSE based on the foods you were consuming. They simply masked your exhaustion and kept you going . This elimination process allows you to rebuild your energy levels naturally and healthily. Very soon you will start to have amazing energy again but at the same time feel calmer and more balanced. No stimulants other than your own true motivation because you are realising your true potential again as you respect your body and nourish it properly. In my opinion this is key to all you do. You will NEVER look back .. x

Word of the Day - 'BALANCE'

4/13/2012 10:33:00 AM

Today, I want to look at the importance of BALANCE in our lives.

The reason I urge you all to take note is because imbalance in our body leads to a gradual depeletion of energy. We are all so busy multi tasking, working harder, caught up in the 'I must have more' mind set. Then complete burn out and exhaustion creeps up on you.

You really do have to start listening to your body. Pay attention to the signs that tell you all is not good and let your body have a chance to recharge.

Imbalance depletes your energy. Note also the other common energy blockers that enhance imbalances within the body are :

Not gettting enough exercise,

Eating too much sugary foods,

Living on junk and highly processed food.

All of these add to the problem because they create disrupt the bodies own biochemistry, depleting it of essential minerals and trace elements needed to produce energy.

When you dont have balance, you will find that soon enough you dont have energy. When you dont have energy you will find that your atttitude and mood changes, that you find life harder than it should be. Your life can be whatever you want it to be. You just have to nurture and pay attention to the vessel ( your body) and then the rewards will be greater than you imagined!!

Health.. the way I see it...

4/8/2012 5:22:00 PM

First and foremost Happy holidays to all.. :-) !

Today , I am sharing with you the concept of health as I see it. in my opinion, there are 3 key parts to good health in any individual:

a) Mental health

b) Physical health

c) Emotional health.

Much of the emphasis in everyday media, usually stresses the physical health of someone being paramount to that person achieving better or optimal health. It seems to totally disregard emotional and mental health as being of any importance.

In my experience, all three parts need to be connected and functioning properly for an individual to be classed as 'Healthy'. In other words, you cannot have a healthy mind without a healthy body or healthy emotions. The three parts are inextricably linked and if any part is not functioning harmoniously, the other parts too will inevitably be affected. Our mind and body are so closely connected that when one is affected there is bound to be repercussions on another.. For instance, when we suffer a significant amount of emotional stress , we find that our energy levels drop, our muscles ache quicker, our performance falters, and we are more susceptible to illness. This in a nutshell is just a very simple example of how stress - (Emotional) has a profound effect on our performance ( Physical).

However, not to be forgotten amongst all this is the awareness that we all have a 'Spiritual Health' - a spirit like force that defines each and every one of us.This spirit is basically the summary of our individual physical, mental and emotional health/ journey.. Human spirit is a powerful insight into who an individual really is. 'You' yourself define your spirit by your emotional and mental attitude. For instance, ' My life is about growing, learning, exploring, awareness, being a better human being, living as best as I can etc.' That's my power, my spirit, my calling, and consequently affects my physical abilities and goals.. Maybe start thinking today about what you feel your 'spirit ' is. What defines you as 'YOU' and how maybe your ' SPIRIT ' can be strong enough to enhance your overall health and wellbeing each and every day.. All good wishes x x

What you choose to drink is as important as what you choose to eat.

4/4/2012 7:37:00 PM

While the whole world is so busy telling us constantly about what is good to eat and what is not, they seem to be missing a piece in the puzzle...

Here's the piece... What you choose to drink on a regular basis, is infact just as important as the foods we eat. Once upon a time there were so fewer choices in both food and drink and so much less processed and refined foods. The benefits of this were that our human bodies were not so dangerously damaged and affected as they are today. Unfortunately today, society is plagued with individuals who are insulin resistant, leptin resistant, diabetic, or with metabolic X syndrome. These disorders are all a cumulative consequence of too much processed and refined foods and drinks. They have simply overloaded their systems so much with these choices that the body gives up functioning as normal and starts to retain weight and to malfunction. Therefore it makes it very tough for someone to lose weight easily. Drinking sugary and diet drinks is a NO NO as it aggravates the system even more -again fuelling it's decline. Caffeine too has an adverse effect, stressing the nervous system out to the hilt and again leading to a viscious and continuous cycle of dysfunction.

So, my advice is that there are many drinks out there that may help you to reach your goals by helping the system into a state of recovery. Chicory root powder is a great substitute for coffee, nourishing the kidneys and liver and cleansing the system. White Peony Tea is miraculous as a white tea that is extremely high in antoxidants and again helps the liver and kidneys and lowers blood pressure. It also is said to calm the brain helping with stress and anxiety. Herbal teas are great , in many flavours and very refreshing. And lastly, WATER both carbonated and still are a MUST and with a slice of lemon lime or ginger in the morning really stimulate the body to function at its best. Try to make these good choices when you choose the foods you are eating. both are equally as important as each other and you will reap the benefits in how you look and feel ! :-)

positive influences are important when trying to go forward

4/3/2012 7:47:00 PM

Hey All,

Well,for any of you who are about to embark on lifestyle change of any kind, I think its important to consider the following: Whether it be a fitness makeover, a new path to healthy eating and living or a combination of both, it all stems from a desire within you to be better, more content because you know you truly can be. It's about living to your full potential, acheiving the body image that you prefer and now you are ready to take the first steps..

However, many times the difficulty is not you, but the people you surround yourself with. You will be surprised at the amount of negative energy and comments that are thrown your way from so called friends and even family when you tell them of your plans. It's almost as if they don't want to accept a 'better ' you in the future - they are quite happy to have you as you are because it lies within 'their' comfort zone and is not about whether you are happy, healthy or both! So.... , today's advice is while you re on your challenging journey, try to surround yourself with positive energy and encouragement from the right people. You will soon know who they are!! You will only be dragged down by those who try to discourage you or undermine your intentions, and for this journey you need lightness in your step and in your heart. 'Positive attracts Positive' and hence outstanding results. People who find fault with you now and discourage you, will ALWAYS find fault and discourage no matter what changes you make. It is in their makeup, stemming from maybe jealousy or dissatisfaction with themselves - who knows.. You need support, favorable comments, true friendship and lots of shining bright energy!!!!! So my friends .., on that note I am sending you TEN MILLION STARS right now to lead the way!! ... :-) :-)

Believe in your own Power..

4/2/2012 8:50:00 PM

It's true what they say about every individual out there having the innate power to bring changes to their life. And, on that note - I know that the same applies concerning each individuals personal ability to change and achieve their physical goals including :- their likes and dislikes about their body shape, their struggle with maintaining or even starting weight loss, their desire for a toned conditioned body etc....

This POWER lies within you- ready to bring the changes your body needs to feel healthier and happier. You just have to 'BELIEVE' and 'TRUST' in your own capabilities and know that whatever physical goals you have are 'POSSIBLE'.

When you give yourself the chance to move forward in this way , instantly you will feel as if a huge weight has been lifted off your shoulders, your whole being.This weight was made up of all those doubts, fears, failures and negativity about your current body image and the trap it was in. As you allow yourself to believe in all of it being possible, your mind and body will start to truly connect and you will know that although gradual, this connection will allow you to change your body and your life - FOREVER..

Human intention is a powerful force. It works when you apply it to other mediums, so why for a moment doubt it's power to give you to the body you deserve?? :-) IT WILL !!!

more than just calories...

4/1/2012 8:38:00 PM

My holistic approach to weight loss is more than just about calories. Diets as we know rarely work because once we stop the pounds pile back on.. My experience always starts with trying to understand why a person may be overweight in the first place. This is very much to do with their physical makeup, environment, work, stress , lifelong habits, social scenes etc. In many instances it appears that a change in lifestyle and attitude is needed for any permanent weight loss. The difficulty lies in whether that person is willing to make the necessary changes as their habits of a lifetime breed COMFORT.. Its a choice that only you can embrace. However, once you have taken the first step it will become easier day by day as gradually these changes become familiar. It takes a very BRAVE person to venture forth, but rest assured... Any weight problems will be a thing of the past as you start to see a new YOU evolving .. :-)

Thought of the day..

3/31/2012 8:02:00 PM

' DREAM ... BELIEVE... BE POSITIVE... ACHIEVE...

Then realise it means nothing unless you are truly happy ....'

Just a thought...

Wake up every day and know that if your spirit is "free" , your life will have no boundaries..

Its friday ... A time to reflect..

3/30/2012 4:14:00 PM

Well ... its Friday .. the day which I choose to reflect on the week i've just had on many different levels.. If I feel happy, energised , full of light on a friday it means I am on the right path and my energy levels soar with motivation and creativity.. If i feel lethargic, unenthused, listless and dull then I know I have strayed off my true path that week and I need to to reassert myself and get back to "my truth" My truth is my definition of living your passion, your dream, your soul, your energy to inspire not only others but yourself to always grow and become a better human being.. my vision is that each day is about discovering ways to learn and share your truth with others. Ultimately, I believe we are all striving for the same inner peace, the same inner calm, questions to our answers. The confusing part to this is that each one of us is different, individual, unique,and therefore our journeys will be too.... Have a good weekend .. :-)