Take Care of Yourself Body, Mind, and Spirit

I am week 2 on the challenge and 10 pounds down.  I want to emphasize that this challenge is about getting healthy, and in the process I am seeing the results.  As I have mentioned yes I am healthy and some may say too healthy, but it is about getting rid of things that I do not need so my body can benefit.  A funny story of how people don't understand even as simple as you may make it.  At a restaurant I ordered grilled chicken with double veggies instead of the rice and beans.  When the waiter brought my food out he asked if I was a Vegetarian?  My husband said well she is eating chicken so no.  The waiter seemed confused and asked well can you eat pork because it is in the beans? I answered will eat pork, but I wanted the double veggies instead of the rice and beans.  Paleo made simple can even be confusing for some.  We laughed a little about the confusion after the waiter left, but the truth is some people just do not understand and they may never understand.  I am lucky because Matt my husband started his challenge last Monday, and we have been doing great grocery shopping together and planning our meals and snacks on Sunday.  A new way of life does require planning, but after a while it becomes second nature and you would not want it any other way you start to accept it.  Of course I have cravings that I have to fight through, but the truth is I would take not being bloated and feeling stuffed over denying my cravings any day.  I am not saying you have to deny yourself just do what is best for your body and drink plenty of water.  Most of the time we may feel hungry we may be thirsty.  Learn to listen to your body, and you will understand the difference.  The next challenge I will face is we leave for Grand Caymans on March 7th for 4 days.  Most people would use this as an excuse to indulge.  I also know Spring Break is coming up for a few of you so how do you handle your health when you are out of routine?  Here are some helpful Travel and on the go tips for sticking to your healthy plan to take care of yourself.

1.  Be Prepared
2.  Pick your indulgence; indulge and move on if you must
3.  Exercise; do something active
4.  Drink in moderation if you must
5.  Stick to Paleo meals or your healthy picks
6.  Keep it simple for meals
7.  Take snacks with you for a backup plan
8.  Enjoy yourself while taking care of your body
9.  If you mess up don't stress get back on the wagon
10. Hydrate; drink plenty of water

Make Room For Change

This is the time of the year where people are making changes.  Some are doing it for the Lenten Season to grow their relationship with God, and others are making changes to make room for a better year and a better life.  We learn from our mistakes and we grow from our challenges.  You set your goals at the beginning of the year, and now you have either found the challenges and gave up or you are fighting through.  The Lenten Season everyone gives up a possession or luxury or adds something in their life to enrich their relationship with God.  I have gone through many challenges in my life such as marathons, Yoga teacher training, deaths, failures; too many to count, but my story comes in how you fight through until the end.  I started a Paleo Challenge last week that last 45 days, and this is the first time that I am following this challenge without any substitutes.  I have been following the Paleo diet for a while, but I have not seen any real change so I must face my challenges.  My challenge like lots of people with changing your diet is taking away things that you do not need and holding onto them as a crutch.  I have learned that I do not need as much food as I put into my body even if it is healthy.  I have cut down on my snacks and portion sizes.  I have also decided to cut out fruit and nuts since it carries extra fat and sugar.  Yes both of these are good for you, but in moderation and I personally have a challenge with eating too much.  I have also limited my caffeine to one cup a day.  The theory behind all of this is I want to see the change so I have to overcome my challenges.  This is very hard and you also run into critics along the way who do not understand why you have chosen this particular lifestyle or why you are not drinking like all of the others.  You have made a choice to be healthy; do not let others take this away for you it is your gift to yourself.  It does help that this is the time of year where others are making changes and may be more accepted than the Holiday Season a time to indulge.  We will run into our challenges, but stay strong and make room for change.  Here are some helpful tips if you are looking to make a change for improved health, and are having problems overcoming your challenges.

1.  Be Prepared- Prepare your lunches and snacks the night before
2.  Portions- for weight loss one plate of food or until you are full
3.  Snacks-protein and veggies
4.  Meals-Veggie with every meal
5.  Limit fruits and nuts-1-2 servings for weight loss
6.  Travel with Snacks
7.  Eating out-Keep it simple a protein and veggies
8.  Drink as much water as possible- carry a liter of water with you and refill
9.  Ignore the critics
10. Celebrate your success-let others know your goals
11. Have an accountability partner
12. Get your family involved
13.  Be patient-you are making a permanent change it takes time
14   Believe in yourself

 

 

Gratitude In All Things Good and Bad

Gratitude, thankfulness, gratefulness, or appreciation is a feeling or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive.  How do you look at your life are you grateful or is it hard for you to look at the light at the end of the tunnel?  Most of us can be grateful when things are going the way we planned, but what about those hard times and the hurdles that are thrown our way?  We have talked about that life is like a series of waves and to surrender in the moment, but what happens when everything is falling apart?  Every week I think about the message I want to bring with my blog, and sometimes the message changes before it is written because life changes.  At the beginning of the week you are faced with Monday back to the routine and by the end of the week you evaluate did you have a good or challenging week?  The message are the challenges and life lessons that prepare you to be grateful for the good and bad times in your life.  In Yoga the time on your mat is sacred no one else can take that time away from you except for yourself; there is a focus on the presence and just being in the moment and grateful.  The challenges such as loss of job, loss of a loved one, or just living in uncertainty can change your character.  What do you do when your life is turned upside down?  As a Yoga teacher I get to see people change throughout their practice when they walk through the door with the weight of the world on their shoulders and leave the class with a freedom of surrender and gratitude.  Gratitude is the answered and unanswered prayers it makes us who we are and helps others get through their hard times.  Live your life as an example to others and know that you can make a difference today and every day.