Wellness Vs. Weight Loss... The Real Deal

Healthy Habits Create a Healthy Body... a Healthy Life!

beets

My beloved beets; nourishing food for the blood, liver... all of your body cells!

We live in a culture that constantly markets physical weight loss.  This makes sense as keeping an your weight at your best level supports healthier and more natural physiological functions. You are as healthy as the cells you reproduce every day. Think of my writings and workshops on whole foods and cellular health.

Yes, there is much more to the equation than being a healthy weight for your body type, as we know... "skinny bitches" (men as well) have heart attacks, other health challenges, and also die young.

So we are told to eat less, exercise more, ditch the desserts, bag beverages with calories, eat superfoods that are transported from all over the earth... but what is being left out of this physical equation?

Weight loss is a body, mind, and soul experience.  When we humans realize we are far more than a physical being, healing (i.e. weight loss as just one example of a healing challenge) becomes accessible and easier.  We are divine beings living in our physical bodies. When we embrace our heart-mind (emotions) and heart-soul (spiritual aspect), physical healing opens up and a whole new dimension is available to us.

How to?

To step into this space, I recommend to the divine souls I work with in healing relationships, to simply start making their lifestyle choices based upon wellness. When you are contemplating what you are thinking about eating next or what you are about to put into your mouth right now, ask yourself this question:  "Is this what is best for my wellness; best for every cell in my body?"

Use this question with all wellness choices:

  • exercise,

  • nurturing earlier sleep times,

  • one more beer or not?,

  • choosing a relaxation activity for self,

  • volunteering to help someone or help a local cause...

Truly, most people think and work from a space of: "Will this food make me gain weight; will this go right to my belly, hips, and ass?"

The belly, hips, and ass mindset only creates a deprivation and guilt cycle in our hearts, minds, and soul.  If I eat it (or do not get out and exercise), I feel guilty.  

I am so bad. I have no self-control, no will power, discipline.  These self incriminating thoughts are pure BS.

But then... If I do not eat it, I feel I am depriving myself of something.  That something then takes on more and more power in our lives because if we are depriving ourselves of it, it must be something wonderful.  Generally speaking, when we evaluate this thought process honestly and from a space of wellness AND self-awareness, we can acknowledge that the "something" being deprived of truly is not a wellness, life giving, cell enhancing choice.

Life giving, nurturing choices are easier to make when our wellness is the space we live in and create from.

Positive energy begets positive energy!

Bodies come in all sizes and shapes.Bone structure is different is all of us.Look at your body as the gift that it is, the home for your soul to live in.Treat it well. Honor it just as it is:slender,small frame,juicy and voluptuous,bones of substanc…

Bodies come in all sizes and shapes.

Bone structure is different is all of us.

Look at your body as the gift that it is, the home for your soul to live & thrive in.

Treat it well. Honor it just as it is:

slender, small frame, juicy and voluptuous, beautiful bones of substance, etc.



Make wellness choices that nourish the Divine IN You.

Going with the Flow

“Water flows because it's willing.”    ― Marty Rubin In life, I have learned to go with the flow.  OK, most of the time. I am human!

AM yoga is never a peaceful, alone process.  There are kids, cats, and a dog always interrupting the tranquility.  I have learned to go with the flow.  It makes it more pleasant in the long haul.

I relate this to life, things just come up that we have to work around.  Like the below cat, Ember, who thinks she has to be a part of every yoga pose I do! She will be outside, doing her cat thing, when I start to do my AM yoga.  Bam, she comes exploding through the cat door (which happens to be right next to my "yoga studio", see cat door in the window!) every time and is under me, on top of me, purring up a storm and thinking yoga is the best thing in the world!  I think she hears the "whisper" of the yoga mat as it gently lands on the floor for me to begin my morning poses.  I think that mat and Ember have some intuitive communication going on!

Where is your life can you release and just let life flow, be willing to let go?

going with the flow

Can you tell I love kitties?

FUN FOOD HINT

This 'lil hint came from my sister Terry.  As you know, I make home made mayonnaise with olive oil, http://wholefoodhealer.com/2013/07/14/olive-oil-mayonnaise/.

I never thought to use my homemade creamy dressings, as a mayo alternative.

I am very thankful for my sisters and their wisdom!

Words straight from my sister Terry:

"Ok, so I did not have any mayo freshly made for my sandwich yesterday, so I substituted….i used the creamy dressing I had in the refrigerator.  The recipe in Paula’s book…..it makes a lovely gourmet “mayo”, without the mayo.   Give it a try on a sandwich next time."

I was not sure which "flavor" Terry was using that fated sandwich day, so I am adding all the recipes!

Creamy Yogurt Salad Dressings

You can re-create any flavor of creamy salad dressing using plain, unsweetened yogurt.  Making homemade dressings is a great way to avoid commercial products.  Read the labels, they are scary.  Most commercial dressings are made with cheap vegetable oils and GMO ingredients.

Do not make huge quantities at a time unless you will use them up within a week or so.  Foods without preservatives will get moldy far quicker than commercial products.  These dressings all taste best when given one hour for the flavors to meld.  Enjoy them on salads or as dips for veggie sticks and chunks!

 Russian Dressing

 1 cup yogurt

1 tbsp. tomato paste and apple cider vinegar

2 tbsp. Tabasco sauce

1 tbsp. each finely chopped celery and onion

1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce (read ingredients and purchase a natural one)

¼ tsp. unrefined sea salt

 Blend all ingredients together well.

Thousand Island Dressing

1 cup yogurt

¼ cup Tabasco sauce

2 tbsp. pimento stuffed olives, minced

1 hard-boiled egg, chopped

2 tbsp. each scallions, green pepper, parsley finely minced

¼ tsp. each paprika and black pepper

 Blend all ingredients well.

Roquefort Dressing   This is a French sheep's milk blue cheese, if you prefer, substitute your favorite blue cheese.

1 cup yogurt

2 tsp. raw apple cider vinegar

¼ tsp. cayenne pepper and sea salt

fresh ground black pepper to taste,

½ cup Roquefort cheese, crumbled

Blend all ingredients well, except the cheese.  Gently fold in cheese.

Caesar Dressing

2 small garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp. anchovy paste  (optional and found near the tuna fish in the supermarket)

2 tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice, from one lemon

1 tsp. Dijon mustard and 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 cup plain yogurt

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

In a medium bowl, whisk together the garlic, anchovy paste, lemon juice, Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Add the yogurt, Parmigiano-Reggiano, salt and pepper and whisk until well combined. Taste and adjust to your liking.

Ranch Dressing

1 cup plain yogurt

½ tsp. each: chives, parsley, dill

¼ tsp. each: garlic and onion powder

1/8 tsp. sea salt and black pepper

 Mix ingredients well and enjoy!

 

French Dressing

1 cup plain yogurt

½ cup organic ketchup (no corn syrup)

¼ cup finely chopped onion (green onions in the spring is a fun variation)

1 tsp. sea salt

1 ½ tsp. Worcestershire sauce (read labels and buy all natural)

¼ tsp. garlic powder (more to taste if you like garlic)

1-2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar, add slowly to the consistency you want to create.

Mix ingredients together.  Slowly add the vinegar last.

Diet "Dr. Doom"

   Diet Dr. Doom
diet dr. Doom
Photo courtesy of Eli Schechter

True life is lived when tiny changes occur.

                             -Leo Tolstoy

People see me coming and they say, "Oh no, it is her, the one who wants to take away all of our goodies!" 

I am here to tell you, deprivation is not my focus.  I am all about helping you see what you are inviting into your life: (And I would be happy to teach you how to make whole food treats; cakes, pies, cookies, donuts...I will say that they are a treat, not an everyday food, but make them well and enjoy your indulgence, once in a while!  Whole Food Treat cooking class is coming up November 14th with the Local Living Venture, see link below.)

1.  Yummy, whole foods... real nutrition that feeds the body cells right down to your tippy toes!

2.  Movement that makes your body sing,

3.  Outdoor activity for fresh air, sunshine, and promoting good sleep,

4.  Awesome, vibrant health to a ripe, old age!

Focus on the positive: what you are going to create and the good things you are inviting into your lifestyle!

Want to learn more?

Call me, we can chat & set you on your healing path.

Come to one of my workshops:

Nature's Storehouse, Canton.  November 6th in the evening, 6 PM   http://www.natures-storehouse.com/
Attend a cooking class I teach for the Local Living Venture:   http://www.sustainablelivingproject.net
So, I meant to send this on October 30th... a 'lil Halloween BOO to you.  
However, life was busy, I forgot, so it goes!  
Hope your Halloween was spooky and full of whole foods (not sugar)!