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The Other 84% of Health

August 28, 2019

In last week’s blog, I mentioned water intake, slower eating, and increased movement. Did you pick up on the fact that I never suggested WHAT to eat?

This week, I invite you to look at all the habits you are living into throughout your day. The way you live plays into how, why, where, when, and even what, you eat.

Food and fitness, the physical aspects of health, determine only 16% of your success in achieving your optimal health goals.

Yes, you read that correctly. On the surface, dropping the pizza and getting off the couch may help you drop some pounds, lower your cholesterol, and give you more energy.

That’s a step in the right direction, if you find contentment with whatever you choose to eat and do instead.

However, if you feel as though you’re living life in food and exercise prison, you will never be able to maintain whatever it is you have achieved, for any sustainable length of time.

Which is why losing the weight and getting healthy is always about more than the food.

In order for you to reach your optimal health goals, we must also consider the other 84% of the total picture:

Relational: Do you feel connected to others? Do you feel as though you belong?
Existential: Is there meaning and purpose to your life?
Mental: Are you alert and focused? Do you continue to learn and challenge yourself?
Emotional: Do you feel a variety of emotions and express them appropriately?
Environmental: Do all your environments (work, home, social, etc.) support your best health and wellbeing?

All of these areas play into the total picture. This is the reason why diets are typically not effective on their own. There’s always more.

As you review your habits—food and otherwise—look for clues to help you figure out what may be keeping you stuck. And, celebrate those areas you’ve transformed that are helping you move ahead!

If you feel as though you keep hitting a brick wall, I invite you to email me and we’ll set up a time to figure it out.

By the way, this conversation is complimentary. Together, we will identify the most powerful action you can take immediately to feel balanced and energetic.

To your best life,
Carol

“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.”—Thomas Merton

food and fitness habits health goals

Back to School, Back to Basics

August 21, 2019

Health

When we break it down, practicing healthy habits is rather elementary. It can also seem rather complicated.

Since school is back in session, I figured it’s the perfect time to get back to basics. Here’s a simple review of the ABC’s of getting your weight, energy, and health, in check. And don’t get scared, there aren’t as many basics as there are letters of the alphabet.

My first basic for consideration: Are you drinking plenty of water? The usual response I hear is, “probably not.”

Before you do anything crazy, really get your water intake to a level that works for your body. A good quantity to begin with is your weight divided by two, in ounces. Some days, you may need more.

Signs of dehydration include headache, fatigue, muscle cramps, and foggy thinking, just to name a few.

When you feel hungry, first have a glass of water, since sometimes you are really thirsty—or bored. Start your day by drinking one to two glasses of water, and always take your water when you leave home.

The next basic is to slow down your eating and savor the experience. Being aware of what and when you’re eating may be a wake-up call. (“Gee, did I really just eat the entire bag of chips? Oops.”)

Are you truly hungry? Is what you’re eating delighting your taste buds? Or are you wolfing down whatever is within reach?

Spend about 20 minutes eating your meals. If that seems like an eternity, add a couple minutes at a time until you reach the goal. Enjoy the food and the people you are sharing the meal with. If you typically eat alone, plan some meals during the week with a friend.

Closing out today’s lesson with the reminder to move. A gym membership is not a requirement to do this. Consider activities that sound fun and are easy to accomplish, and go from there. Begin by doing something once or twice a week. When it works to increase that goal, go for it.

When we do something in life with intention and commitment, it’s a game changer—even if it seems simple.

Have fun playing your game.

Much love,
Carol

P.S. Need some help with your game? If you’re ready to be intentional and committed, let’s talk. Send me an email and we’ll get started.

“Most people fail not because of a lack of desire but because of a lack of commitment.”— Vince Lombardi

basics commitment eat slowly exercise water

The All or None Syndrome

August 15, 2019

Health

Ever experience Pause Button Mentality? Perhaps during the holidays, your birthday, after vacation, when work gets crazy, or kids go back to school?

Human beings tend to have this “all or none” attitude, so we usually end up with none—because, last I checked, life is not perfect.

We have the desire to do our best, so if it isn’t going to be our best, we want to start over, or give up entirely. It feels easier. This is actually the route to self-sabotage.

The Pause-Button Mentality only builds the skill of pausing.

This is not about building willpower. It’s about building skills. How to get and stay fit under non-ideal real life conditions, which happens to be most of the time.

The game of life keeps going on and there is no pause button, no time-out. There is never going to be a time when things are magically easier.

When you hit the bump in the road of life that makes you want to pause, just say NO. Don’t turn off the food and fitness routine that gives you better energy, helps you avoid getting sick, relieves stress, and produces better sleep. Simply dial it down.

If 10 is you hitting all your workouts and eating pretty well, then go for 8, or 5. Even ONE is a courageous choice here. Dial it back up, as you are able. This helps you avoid mental beatings, which so many of us do extremely well.

The same process holds true with food. Let’s say you go out with friends and REALLY enjoy an amazing burger, fries, and shake. Next meal, make a choice that includes more vegetables than the pickle or tomato you had on that burger—and omit the fried anything.

The mantra of the Balanced Warrior is “ALWAYS SOMETHING!”

Much love,
Carol

P.S. Plagued by a pause you can’t get past? I’m here to support you. Send me an email and we’ll start dialing it up again.

“Do something today that your future self will thank you for.”—Sean Patrick Flanery

Lessons from Nature, and Grounding

August 8, 2019

Health, Spiritual

We must be moving into fall, as school supplies are in the sale ads. Didn’t summer vacation just get rolling?

As I look around, I see many of my lilies dying off, along with a handful of the summer annuals. While there are still many blooms around the house (and weeds), there is tiredness about them. I suppose if I fed them a bit of fertilizer, that would help.

Summer is the time to enjoy so much of Nature’s bounty: a multitude of fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers, available locally in most areas of North America.

As children return to school and we move into fall, we feel the process of slowing down. Plants and animals begin preparing for the cold that will soon befall many of us. Squirrels start hiding those pesky acorns.

Winter brings hibernation and rest. Bears sleep, people in colder climates tend to hunker down and make soup, and plants are dormant. It’s tougher to get moving in the morning, at least in my house.

When spring finally arrives, the earth awakens and everything, and everyone, comes alive. It’s exciting to see tiny crocuses pop through the dirt, producing those first flowers of hope.

And so the cycle goes– over, and over, and over. The pattern of Nature offers stability and is a great teacher.

As the Earth cycles with the seasons, so do our lives.

Which season are you in today? What energy suits your present situation?

Although the seasons of life seem apparent, they are not necessarily age dependent. I know people in their 70’S+, who appear to be living summer year ’round. They are full of vibrancy and in full bloom, even when winter brings snow.

If you’re feeling a bit weary and disconnected from Mother Earth, here’s a tip: try grounding, or earthing. It’s easy, and even comfortable, this time of year.

All you have to do is take off your socks and shoes and stand on the earth: grass, stone, sand, or dirt work best. You can stand in one place, walk, or lay down.

Connecting directly with the earth helps reduce anxiety, stress, and offers healing in the form of boosting the immune system, reducing inflammation, and feeling good. About 30-40 minutes a day brings benefits.

The energy of the Earth supports us. Think about how free and relaxed you feel when you are at the beach, sinking your toes into the warm sand. AAAHHHH.

Go live summer with your toes in the grass, and soak up the sunshine. These are the days we remember in the midst of deep winter.

Much love,
Carol

P.S. Looking to “live summer” year ’round no matter how old you are? What you eat plays a huge role. Send me an email if you’d like help sorting it out.

“Feeling rooted in the earth is soothing to the body, and it is our connection to the earth that gives us our most basic sense of belonging, home, resilience, and safety.” ― Jessica Moore

earth energy grounding Mother Nature seasons

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