Healthy Living For Your Family

The heat is on!

2006-08-02T22:00:00.000-05:00

I'm no expert on heat related health issues. This isn't going to be an earth shattering insight ( just a healthy rant ) but I have FINALLY allowed my husband to put AC in our house. I am a country girl, I love to hear the frogs at night and to hear the wind in the trees or the feel the night air on my face but things have gotten OUT OF CONTROL!
Maybe it's my age (not THAT old)! Maybe I'm getting soft (well, a little around the middle, maybe) but I can't take the heat like I used to!
Now, when you live in Maine in the summer and you'd rather be indoors because it feels like Houston outside then 'we have a problem'!
We heard the weather reports and knew "it" was headed our way so I allowed him to install the noisy beasts and I am sitting in the 70-something comfort of my living room while the temperatures are remaining not just hot but HUMID!
Just about everything improves when your armpits are dryer than everyone elses! I am getting chores done and I am pleasant to my children (I try to be, always, but it's very hard when they are complaining of heat...like I don't notice!!) dinner was served (not cooked, just served) and we watched a DVD together! What a nice way to end the day.
I guess I DO have some suggestions. I seem to have some insight to staying well under any circumstance...except on Survivor. You can't pay me enough to do to myself what those nuts are doing to their bodies, especially the 'older' players! Starvation is very ugly! (but I digress)
I would encourage anyone who hasn't done what I have to try to get your hands on an AC for at least your bedroom! In order for the body to stay well during a heatwave it needs a cooling off period of at least 3 hours. If the evenings aren't cooling down then your body isn't getting the relief it needs to stay healthy. Don't forget to drink your water! In all situations (AC/no AC) your body needs to have plenty on board to keep your cells functioning at their optimum levels.
Eat light foods like fruits and veggies. It is hard to digest heavy protiens and your outer extremeties need the blood circulation to keep your body temperature normal. I don't want to imply that having a nice steak on the grill is wrong, but keep the portions under control. A healthy portion for an adult is about the size of your palm and no thicker than a deck of cards so maybe just cut it in half and have it over 2 meals? Keep your sense of humor. I love to hear my kids laughing over Calvin and Hobbs! Take your vitamins and try to get enough sleep.The house is very quiet and this seems to be the only time I can get words to pen (so to speak) so I must follow my own advice now and shuffle off to bed!
Next time I will share my thoughts on an amazing kids circus called Circus Smirkus! Not to be missed in the Northeast!
BFN,
Susan

Pool Issues

2006-07-27T19:31:00.000-05:00

I told you I'd share with you my pool troubles! Just so you don't feel sorry for me I want to assure you they have been more or less resolved. I am sharing this so you, or someone you care about, doesn't make the same mistake!
Let me start by telling you we have one of those hysterical "blue-BLOB" above ground pools where you blow up the rim and fill with water and "presto" you have a real pool! I've lovingly referred to it as a "Pool in a box" (for about $300!!) which came to us from our ever lovin' Wal-Mart! It was literally a box 4' x 18" and had everything we needed to be "ready to go in a half hour"! What they didn't mention was it took my dear husband the better part of a VERY hot, humid day to level out the ground under it or that it takes about 24-36 hours to fill (ours is the big one)! There went the weekend! But oh the fun we've had since then!
We've had this pool for 3 summers now and we put it away every winter and take it back out in the spring because we live in the north, it will not survive the winter! This year I recieved an ad for a chlorine generator that creates chlorine for the pool by turning sodium choride (with titanium plates) into chlorine. Sodium Chloride is , of course, SALT! I thought 'Hmm' sounds VERY interesting! Less chlorine and no chemicals to buy! I went for it and ordered the generator. My next challenge was to get my hands on enough salt (non iodized) to accommodate the volume of water. No problem, right? WRONG! The pool suppliers don't carry it. It was a big "thing" 10 years ago, but not now so they have no need to stock it. Well, why can't we just use the sodium chloride from the hardware (it said that was a resource right in the directions).
We went to our local ACE and picked up 25lbs of the salt you use on the sidewalk in the winter. Seemed like a great idea! The bag said the only ingredient was Sodium Chloride.
Well, I got in the pool and Hubby handed me the first bag and I started to sprinkle it in to our perfect pool water and I said to him, looks like there's dirt in this. He said (bless his good heart) "Oh, that will dissolve it's just minerals or something". Well, it was something all right!
By the time I finshed putting in the last bag our pool water was very cloudy. We weren't discouraged, though! We pushed it around to dissolve it. There was still this filmy stuff but I was sure the filter would fix it. We turned on the filter and waited for the following day to hook up the generator and SWIM!
When I went outside to check the pool the next day I was SHOCKED to see a very distinct film of dirt (I hoped it was dirt!) on the bottom of my pool. I spent the next DAY trying to vaccum the pool, but the vaccum had only a cheesecloth bag and the "dirt" would go right through it! It was really more like silt! Uhhh! That was the day I got my sunburn (previous post)!
Well, I'm a clever country girl so I rigged a filter for the cheese cloth bag and started to vacuum the pool. Let's just say that I stopped vaccuming last week. It would have taken FAR less time to just empty it and scrub it out and start over, but I thought I was going to hook the generator up and I still needed the salt.
Well, I have since given up the idea of the generator and I am sending it back. I had a conversation with a pool store gal I wish I had had way back at the beginning of the summer. She said the generators were popular about 10 years ago (as I mentioned) and that the problem with them was they weren't able to regulate the amount of chlorine they put out which meant I would probably have been adding much more chlorine than I do right now (which is VERY little)! That was all I needed to hear! I am able to control the chemistry in the pool very well with very few chemicals.
So that is my sorry story. I haven't taken the water out of the pool, the kids are telling me it tastes salty...well, they are more bouyant! The water sparkles, but there is still some residue on the bottom. I'll get that when we empty it in a month. I'll be using the Bac-Out (available at www.NEDlife.com/Susan ) to clean it because it won't hurt the pool material.
I have shared this with you so you don't make the same mistake I did and spend hours of time trying to clean your pool when you really have the ability to be the chemical police, yourself!
Happy, Healthy, (SAFE) Summer!
Susan

Healthy Living Kitchen tips

2006-07-20T18:24:00.000-05:00

Welcome back to my Healthy Living For Your Family BLOG!
I want to share some tips for you to use in your home & to help in the kitchen!
Before we begin I have a confession to make. The kitchen is not my favorite place to spend time as I have had past issues with food and I often feel it is a chore to have to make food for everyone around me all the time. All the planning, implementing and then the clean up! Sometimes I just wish I could go enjoy myself in my art or reading or anything else!
I have had to learn ways to make it more enjoyable. I have many little things I do to entertain myself and one of the ways I do that is to research and try out different tips I come across as a Healthy Living Coach! I find this gives me a new perspective on the "perceived" drudgery and it becomes fun (most days)! :o)
This list is by no means complete and as I learn of new ideas I will be sure to share them by updating this blog! Let's get started!

Here are some of the products and tips I use to make my time in the kitchen fun and healthy.
Some of these tips will be familiar to you so bear with me.

1-I only use cold pressed OLIVE OIL in the kitchen for cooking. It is the right kind of fat and will not break down at higher temperatures. It has a gentle flavor and my homemade salad dressings taste yummy!

2-I make MOST of my own salad dressings with some basic ingredients such as olive oil, balsamic (and a variety of other) vinegars, some fancy mustards (some from Stonewall Kitchens), sea salt and fresh ground pepper. I also use maple syrup for sweetener.
I have only one other dressing in my fridge Brianna's Poppyseed, I just haven't been able to top it! I find it's easier to make my own because then I blend the flavors with what I am preparing.

3-I use a lot of frozen veggies from Cascadian Farms for side dishes and soup ingredients in the winter (mostly) because we live in the North and fresh food in the winter comes from such a distance that frozen food has more nutrition because they pick it and freeze it the same day (so the nutrients aren't compromised). I use the frozen fruit year round as additions to our fruit smoothies and my morning USANA Nutri-Meal shake. Mmmmm! You can find more info on the Nutri-Meal shakes at www.healthylivingcoach.usana.com under products.

4-I always try to buy local produce in season and I go to a local farm to buy beef that is grass fed (most of the year) again, we live in the North! They also provide us with raw milk which is a whole 'nother blog!

5-I make up a dozen hard boiled eggs at a time for a fast lunch or snack. I keep them peeled in the fridge and can reach for them when I am starving (usually while I am fixing dinner)! Perfect HBE's are super easy! Put eggs in a large enough pan so there is no stacking or crowding and cover with cold water about an inch above the eggs. Bring to a boil and then turn down the heat to low and set the timer for 10 minutes. When the timer goes off place them in a bowl of ice water. I use a slotted spoon to remove them from the hot water to the bowl of ice water. Then you'll need to peel them in cold water! Eggs that are over-cooked are not good for you as the protiens have been damaged. I sometimes put peeled HBE's in a half water half vinegar solution (pickled) where they will last much longer in the fridge! That's an old fashioned tip, before refridgeration, I suppose.

6-I always use fresh ground BLACK pepper on all my meals. I use this funny little squeeze handle pepper grinder I found at Wal-Mart. It is very important you do this because fresh ground pepper allows the nutrtients in your food to be more completely assimilated by your cells!

7-I only use course "grey" Celtic sea salt. It has the correct ratio of sodium to potassium for our bodies. We get plenty of sodium in processed foods but our bodies cannot properly utilize it without potassium (a mineral we are often very deficient in)! This is why doctors tell us to cut back on salt. It can raise your blood pressure if you don't have the correct amount of potassium to properly assimilate the sodium.

8-I only use PURE MAPLE SYRUP! Don't bother using anything else! I'm a maple syrup snob!
Maple syrup has minerals and nutrients in it so it isn't leeching the minerals from your bones like the fake stuff! You want to have sweeteners as close to thier original state as possible so they still have some of their nutritional integrity, like unprocessed cane sugar. By the way, brown sugar is only white cane sugar and molasses so why not make your own with unprocessed cane sugar and organic molasses? It's easy!

9-I have a simple collection of cook books I can reference but one of my favorite resources is "The New Best Recipe" from the editor's of Cook's Illustrated! It was my favorite Christmas present! I have a very thoughtful Sister-in-Law, thanks A.M.! Some of my other favorites are the Silver Palate, Nourishing Traditions (off-beat, very earthy) and of course, Joy of Cooking!
I have also enjoyed Cuisine Magazine, very simple directions and wonderful color photos of the creations you can make, I do not regularly subscribe because when I do I find I begin to gain weight! Too many good choices and too many calories! Find what works, as long as it is very healthy, and stick with it! Keep It Simple! Save the "beautiful" recipes for special occasions!

10-When I make oatmeal I use steel cut oats or whole oats, never instant! Instant oatmeal is very high glycemic and will spike blood sugars so stay away! I "lacto-ferment" it the night before to release the phytates in the grains which then allow for better absorbtion and digestion of the grains. To lacto-ferment oatmeal you need to add 2 C water to 1C oatmeal in a bowl and then put a large "dollop" (1/8th cup?) of whole fresh yogurt and a pinch of sea salt in the mixture. Stir, cover with a plate and let sit on the counter over night. Whe you make the oatmeal in the morning it will cook up as fast as instant in a pan on the stove, don't forget the cream and maple syrup (just a little!) YUMMY! If you are dairy intolerant you'll just want to add just sea salt and you will get a similar result in braking down phytates.

11-Cinnamon is very good for lowering cholesterol! YUP! Add it to as much of your food as you can stand. I put it in teas, on my oatmeal (of course) in hot chocolate, coffee, on bananas...shall I go on?

12-Kitchen tongs, a collection of wisks, wooden spoons and my Cutco Kitchen Scissors are all with in easy reach of my counter top so I do not have to search for my favorite tools! Put them back where you will find them easily the next time so you don't get frustrated! My Mother in Law used to have peg board in her kitchen and outlined the space where each utencil belonged so it would always be put back where it was supposed to be...Brilliant! She has 6 kids!
She also labeled the inside of her fridge which I thought was crazy until I was having dinner at their home and realized I could be helpful because I knew where to put things back! To this day my poor husband has to ask me where I want something put away. Hmmm. Maybe I should do some labeling...it would keep my fridge a little neater!

13-Keep a quart of whole yoghurt in the fridge. You can flavor it any way you want (add cinnamon) and it is handy for adding to baked goods, keeps them moist. It will be easy to lacto-ferment your oatmeal and it is very good for helping keep your digestive tract healthy. I make my children smoothies with frozen fruit and Kefir (a thick, milk-like yoghurt product). Always a big hit on school mornings. Obviously this is NOT a good idea if you have a dairy intolerance.

14-Home made cookies are about all I'll give my kids for treats! I use way less sugar than is called for, I only use butter for shortening, I use spelt flour (or combinations of gluten free flours to keep their exposure to wheat at a minimum...it is everywhere!) and I add some of my whole oats to slow the digestion of said goodies in my (not so) little ones! When you add oatmeal to a sweet treat you are slowing down the absorbtion of the sugars in the treat. I would not suggest this for Gluten sensitive individuals unless you are certain the oats were processed in a gluten free processing plant. I think the jury is still actually out as to whether they are even o.k. for Celiac patients. A good substitute would be coconut flour, which is high fiber and gluten free. I like Simply Coconut, Coconut Flour from www.simplycoconut.com .

I can go on and on but I want you to be able to read this over just one cup of tea!
I'll keep my radar up for some other fun tips and add them as I find them!

Next time I'm going to share with you my disasterous pool chemistry story...which does have a happy ending. Don't want others to make the same mistakes! Live and learn!
Stay Healthy,
Susan

My Favorite Sunburn Remedy

2006-07-10T13:26:00.000-05:00

I'm going to tell you a story, but before I do I must preface it by suggesting that you NOT make the same mistake I did! I want to share this with you to let you know that even though I did something (OK!) STUPID, I had a solution I was very sure would solve the problem because I had seen it work over and over on friends and family members! Here goes!

A week ago I was cleaning out our pool. That's a story for another time, but suffice it to say the pool was REALLY filthy. In fact, I'll BLOG about that as soon as I get the problem completely remedied! So, I was in and out of the pool for 5 HOURS in my swimsuit. I was very comfortable because it was quite overcast and I was so preoccupied with the job at hand I never even thought to put on a shirt or apply sunscreen. I did some shopping later that day and went into a dressing room to try something on to discover I was bright red on my back! I didn't panic, though. I have something in my "tool box" to fix a sunburn!

If you are a Dermatologist or Plastic Sugeon I want you to understand that I KNOW sunburns are the worst kind of sun exposure you can get. I would LOVE to tell you (and everyone who will listen) about some products I discovered 4 years ago from a company that has created a whole line of self-preserving (that's right, no parabens or formaldehyde doners) nutritional skin care. There are 8 pieces in the facial care line, very simple. They are the most powerful healing and hydrating products I have ever used! I am not a medical professional and I do not claim to be. I don't diagnose or perscribe. This is my own experience and my story, just so we are clear here!

So I grabbed a bottle of my favorite product and went crazy! I know, you're getting a little impatient! What's it called?? What's the name??? Well, it's called NIGHT RENEWAL. It's incredible stuff because it's a formula to heal sun-damaged cells. YES!!! You read that right! Somehow it works with our circadian rhythms and has special "regeni-somethings" (don't ask, I'm not a scientist) to re-generate cells that have been damaged from over-exposure to sun and other oxidative stress. I applied it liberally (no time to be frugal, more is better here) to my back and shoulders. I went to bed and woke up with almost normal skin (I was really burned). My shoulders and most of my back were a normal color and just a couple of spots were still slightly pink. My skin did not hurt and I never peeled! AMAZING, but I KNEW it would work!
Remember, I am making NO medical claims about these products, this is just my own experience!

So what's an example of oxidative stress besides sunburns? I took it with me to the Dermatologist's office when I had some lazer treatments! I have a whole recipe for that with Homeopathy and water and products...another BLOG! I had NO swelling the next day! The first time I ever had a treatment like that I was swollen for 3 days, like I'd been in a fight (I've never actually been in a fight, mind you, but I looked like it). This time I had nothing you could see that was obvious! I asked at the end of the treatment to wash off the gel they used and applied my Night Renewal every few hours for the next couple of days (and I also stayed out of the sun)!

I can go ON an ON about these products! They have saved my family from so many skin irritations like insect bites to odd rashes to razor burn! You name it and I'll tell you which product can help! I LOVE them!
I appologise if I seem somewhat "cryptic" in my story by not mentioning the name of the product line or the company, but I have to be careful not to over-step my boundries as I am an Independant Representative with them and there are advertising rules I wish to follow to protect my right to share these products with you and others! If you want to get more information you can go to my website at www.healthylivingcoach.usana.com and take a thorough look at this amazing comany and the products they manufacture, in their own facilities. Once you've had a good look around and wish to purchase the products at wholesale you should contact me via Email Susan@NEDlife.com for preferred customer prices.
Why pay more if you don't have to?
I think you will be as pleased with these products as I am. They also come with a guarantee!

In my next BLOG I'm going to share with you some of my kitchen tips!
I have some very helpful (easy) ideas to keep your family well fed and healthy!
Your Healthy Living Coach,
Susan

What's the Deal with Farm Raised Salmon?

2006-07-08T18:51:00.000-05:00

Whew! I'm back!
It has been an incredible Spring. Full of deep sadness for the loss of a friend to a heart attack at 41 and great joy for taking time to be with the ones I love. We must make the time to do whatever it takes to get healthy and stay that way! We just never know when we will be "called up to the Big Show" (pls. forgive me, my boys are watching "The Rookie")!
I've also been following my own advise (previous BLOG) and the wise council of others and the weight continues to come off plus I have TONS of energy!
More BLOGGING on that another day!

I've been thinking about so many wonderful things I want to share with you to help you get and stay healthy. I want to educate you about the difference in quality of farm raised salmon vs. wild salmon. The fish we buy in our local groceries are farm raised fish. They are Atlantic Salmon raised on huge "farms" on the coastal shores of far-away countries (like Malaysia) where the conditions are deplorable. They are hatched and vaccinated (why??) then raised in over-crowded pens where they have no room to "run" as they do in the wild for thousands of miles a season. They eat a pellet-diet of soy and corn. Because they cannot graze on their natural diet they will turn grey if they aren't given additives to create the "natural pink" color (I wonder what FD&C dyes are used for that... red dye # 40, perhaps?). The diet they are fed also creates an improper ratio of omega oils (too much 6, not enough 3) which turns what is supposed to be a very healthy, anti-inflamitory protien source into a PRO-inflamitory food!! Whoa! Salmon is supposed to be GOOD for us! But there is a huge distinction. We now KNOW that inflammation is the root cause of most ( OK, all) diseases. We must not over-indulge in foods that will cause inflammation in our bodies so here is how we can eat salmon and decrease inflammation!
Buy Alaskan Salmon, canned or frozen! If the fish you are buying is fresh in the winter you can be very certain it is farmed (not good, remember?). Alaskan Salmon is only available fresh in the spring, summer and fall. I live on the East Coast so I prefer to get my Salmon fresh frozen or canned (sometimes smoked...but not often, too salty). If the Salmon you want to buy has streaks of fat you can also be certain it is farmed. Wild salmon has to work so hard to migrate it cannot afford to be fat!
If I have convinced you to be very careful about the quality of Salmon you are buying then you can skip to the bottom of my BLOG and look for an excellent resource for great canned Alaskan Salmon.

If you still aren't sure it is such a big deal than let me tell you what happens to the fish as they mature in the over-crowded pens. They develop parasites and fungus which require treatments with anti-biotics. Again, not good! Don't worry though, when they are harvested they cut off any infected and deseased parts and toss the parts back in the ocean...where they can (and do) infect wild populations of countless other species of aquatic life! That's some "Circle of Life", HUH??
If you want to invite me to dinner can we do some eggplant on the grill?

I APPLAUDE YOU! Here's a treat! www.vitalchoice.com Mmmm!

Hey! Have you ever had a sunburn??
In my next BLOG I'm going to share something very interesting with you about healing a sunburn! Yah! It's possible!! I promise I'll let you know VERY soon!

Yours in Health,
Susan

Emotional Eating

2006-04-20T13:55:00.000-05:00

I've found myself doing some emotional eating lately. I wake up each day and feel determined to begin again by only putting food in my mouth when I am actually hungry....not as easy as it sounds. If you have never eaten to sooth, or ground yourself then you will have no idea what I am talking about (you may actually be unstable....Just KIDDING!) but many of us use food as our "drug of choice" instead of illegal substances, properly (or improperly) perscribed drugs or alcohol. Food is easy to get and comes in SO MANY flavors!
I will give myself some credit this time as I have figured out how to "graze" on low glycemic foods thanks to USANA Health Sciences 'Macro Optimizers' and Dr. Ray Strand's book "Releasing Fat" which has helped me get back to my pre-second baby weight and not backslide. Taking off the first 35lbs have seemed almost effortless to me but now I am faced with the emotions my body was going through when I was at this weight 10 years ago (he just turned 10 on Tuesday). The fact that I have even recognized this is HUGE to me and I thank author, Christiane Northrup for that awareness. Her books ( on Amazon) are powerful beyond measure...but let's get back to me! :o) The emotions my body has been re-living are several...first of all I had 2 Spring babies over 3 years, 'nuff said. The second challenge is the fact that my body has spent years reliving the trauma of the first pregnancy I spoke about in another post. For many years I would get sick around this time of year after my daughter was born until once (or twice) a friend reminded me about the correlation! The last thing I think my body has been feeling is the stress of motherhood, even though it is no longer new, the needs of my family change and grow and it falls on my shoulders to provide those needs when my husband isn't able, or available. (He's usually pretty good but has a demanding Spring schedule) I'm not complaining, mind you. I signed up for this and I LOVE it, but it can be challenging at times!

So now it's time for me to step up to the plate and bat since it's Little League season! I have decided to "Release" the rest of my weight (more lbs. than I care to mention just yet) by trying some new tricks I'll share with you.

Step One: Journal a food log daily which includes what I ate for each meal and snack, but it also records the circumstances around the eating event and how I felt before I ate and after. It also includes tracking water consumption, nutritionals consumed (vitamins),how many minutes of exercise, how many hours of sleep and how many vegetables and how many fruits consumed. You could email me for a copy if you want me to send you the template I made at: Susan@NEDlife.com
I think by tracking all the above I will be very aware of how I am treating my body. Obviously we need enough sleep and exersize and I only have to answer to myself but I don't want to let myself down! I am worth the effort.

Step Two: Tell someone (that's you) what I intend to accomplish and how. If I can talk the talk I'd better be able to walk the walk! My reputation is at stake!

Step Three: Take some time each day for reflection and meditation and/or to play. By that I mean do my art or needlepoint or just read a great book! Find your quiet time.

Step Four: Increase my workout intensity, which I have been gradually doing through the winter. I walk about an hour a day through the woods with my pups. (Don't forget to do tick checks when through). I am going to add Nordic poles to do Ski Walking which is said to increase the workout by up to 40%!! WOW! (Get them from www.LLBEAN.com) You should start out slowly and work up to where your body responds (sweats) but MOVE! I'll be sweating, too!

Step Five: Get plenty of sunshine on my skin (between 15 to 30 mins. before or after the peak hours of the day, 10-2) without a sunscreen for the full vitamin D benefit. I want to remind people to please be sensible about your exposure. The lighter your skin the less exposure you will tolerate, bring a cover-up so you don't burn if you are out longer than expected! Being in the sun won't damage your skin, however, BURNING will! A burn is never good and can be dangerous. I beg you to use common sense! Darker skin can stand longer exposures and the closer you are to the equator, the less exposure you will need to get your daily dose of Vitamin D.. You can also hedge your bets with "Nordic Naturals Cod Liver Oil" (sounds worse than it is, believe me, if my 10 yr old will take it then anyone can) from WWW.NEDlife.com/Susan or "BIOmega 3" from USANA Health Sciences at www.spennoyer.usana.com (or contact me directly for wholesale). These oils will add all the omega 3 your cells need to get and stay healthy throughout the year...even when the sun isn't cooperating!

Step Six: I am going to say "NO" more often to the demands on my time that do not include my family or my studies. I have goals in mind for myself and I need to stay on a schedule. It can be very stressful to be pulled in too many directions. If everyone knows they can ask you for anything and you'll DO IT...well, they'll just keep asking! It never ends. I am giving myself permission to tell them I am not available (unless I really DO want to do it!). Some kind ways to let someone know would be "I'm sorry but, it won't work for me at this time." or "I wish I could help, but I know I can't get the project done in the time you need it." or my favorite "I'm going on vacation and won't be available to help." Now, that won't work very well, unless you really are going on vacation. You have my permission to "just say NO!"

Step Seven (last one): I am going to stay on my nutritional supplements and skin care regimen from USANA Health Sciences. I look better than I have in years and have so much more energy than I can remember. I feel 10 years younger this Spring!! Contact me if you want to know how to feel more Spring-like yourself! www.spennoyer.usana.com
Here's to a healthy Spring!
Susan

Our Words Shape Our Reality

2006-03-28T21:42:00.000-05:00

What do words have to do with raising a healthy family, you ask? Well, you've found your way to my first blog and I don't mind sharing with you that they have EVERYTHING to do with creating and keeping your family healthy!
Some of the most powerful experiences of my life occured because of the words I chose to use to create my reality at the time. To give you an example I was very worried (worried sick, you might say) by my first pregnancy. I had a difficult time conceiving and then would miscarry in the early weeks. This happened a couple of times and it was heartbreaking, causing me much anxiety. I didn't feel I could bond with the very small spirit in me for fear of losing yet again! Well, one finally "stuck" but toward the end of that first pregnency I landed in the hospital for 8 weeks with pre-eclampsia, high blood pressure and insulin dependant diabetes! I was a mess, but what else could I expect? "My body wasn't cut out for a normal pregancy" and "I had a hard time conceiving so of course the rest will be hard".
Those words were so much more powerful than I ever imagined!
I'm not trying to suggest there weren't underlying factors that played a part in this process. I was not healthy enough to have a normal pregnancy, but no one told me about proper nutrition before pregnency. I had also developed Metabolic Syndrome (belly fat) which probably predisposed me to the gestational diabetic experience (not a hard and fast rule, it can happen without belly fat, too). Everything I was experiencing was somehow a direct result of my belief system! I believed I knew how to eat a vegitarian diet (bagels and cream cheese, right?). I believed I just needed to exercise more to lose the belly fat...no one in the medical community had a better idea!
When I became pregnant with my second child I made a huge decision, an agreement with myself, really. I decided I had gone down the highly invasive medical route the first time and I was going to do everything in my power to have what I thought of as a normal pregnancy and delivery this time (my last). I did have just that and I KNOW it had everything to do with the thoughts I carried with that child everyday of my pregnency. Because of the intention I had set with that first glimmer of an idea I was pregnant again I was working to improve my diet and exersizing while caring for my first child! I intuitively knew my body was in need of better nutrition ( no more vegitarianism for this Type O) and that I was making changes to improve my odds of having a normal second pregnancy. I was not consious of this process, it was purely intuitive. I had simply set the intention by declaring I wanted to have a normal pregnancy and delivery and then my higher-self (or the God in me, however you wish to refer to it) took over and made the all the things happen that would allow the experience I longed for!
This is a long story but my hope in sharing is to help you see that each and every thing we say to ourselves and the ones we love can have a powerful impact on their health and happiness.
I hope by sharing this story you will be inspired to really focus on using language that empowers you and your family. No more negative self-talk "I'm too fat" or "I'm having a brain cramp or a senior moment"! Empower yourself by saying loving words to the reflection in the mirror, like "My body is goddess-like" or "My mind is clearer with each new day". I know it feels awkward at first but in a very short time you will notice subtle changes in your own attitude. You will begin to have more value for the words you say to yourself... Speak to those you love with the loving words you wish to hear from them and see what happens! We all want to be loved and accepted for who we are and deserve no less. Take the time you need to create loving words with your children, as well. Instead of yelling and screaming, "don't run inside", try to get down to their level, gently hold their arms, facing you and tell them in an even tone you want to have "walking feet only in the house". You would be amazed at the response you will get....like maybe a HUG, or an invitation to a Tea Party! It's certainly worth a try!
Now it is true you can "eat your words" and words can nourish the soul but the body still needs to be fed and cared for with great nutrition so I hope you will take a good look around the www.nedlife.com site to get new ideas your family can use.
Namaste, Susan