Effective & Proper Cleansing

Cleansing has taken on a dietary lifestyle all of its own these days. Not unlike going low carb, low fat, clean eating, or any other style of eating, when it comes to health and wellness a “cleansing diet” has been the latest way to stay healthy, fit, and well, clean.  There is a very valid reason for this. It’s very important to keep it clean. To keep the internal part of yourself, the side that others don’t see, clean and functioning properly.  It is in fact a lifestyle that’s sole purpose is to keep you alive and functioning optimally.  By continuously feeding your body cleansing foods, you activate your natural cleansing process which mitigates the need for intense depleting cleanses.  There is a difference between eating cleansing foods and actually being on a cleanse.

Eating cleansing foods help to assist in proper elimination of waste and assimilation of nutrients. When the digestive system is challenged with processed foods, alcohol, prescription medications and drugs, and stress, the entire system slows down, or even stops, halting the release of waste and toxins. This is where we start to become malnourished. Our digestive system is the gatekeeper when it comes to health. When you consume a food/beverage/or drug, your digestive system via your stomach, small intestine, colon, and liver has to separate the good from the bad. The more bad it has to sift through, the more challenging of a process it becomes increasing the burden of detoxification on the liver.

We all know we need to eat more vegetables, fruits, and wholefoods. There is no mystery there. With little exception given credit to hormones and genetics, the majority of health and weight issues these days are related to overconsumption of processed convenience foods, alcohol, and little if any exercise. The majority of the clients I have seen over the years are trying to correct their digestive systems due to poor dietary and lifestyle choices. Cleansing through colon hydrotherapy (CHT) is always a great first line of defense to restore health. But it doesn’t stop there. Conscious and deliberate creation of a whole new lifestyle needs to be implemented. You don’t just cleanse and then go back to eating the way you previously had which led you to your current condition.

So how do you know the ins and outs of cleansing? How to start? What to do? Who to turn to for coaching during this process?  Or if cleansing is even appropriate for you? The internet in not qualified to give you bioindividual feedback. Cleansing is not to be taken lightly and you really want to make sure you don’t overdo it. The body wants to maintain homeostasis. It wants to feel good and function naturally. We don’t ever want to force it. I tend to take a less is more gentle approach when it comes to cleansing utilizing CHT and dietary modifications. Then, if need be, we can add in a few supplements to help support the liver and keep the channels of elimination open to encourage the process.

Opening up the channels of elimination via the colon takes the burden of detoxification off of the rest of the organs, i.e the liver, kidneys, skin, and lungs. When the colon is not eliminating waste consistently, other bodily systems have to work that much harder increasing the overall workload on the body. Cleansing through colon hydrotherapy and dietary modification helps to ease up the stress on the body so its natural detoxification process can take place and bring you back to a healthy digestive system.

A cleansing session lasts approximately 45-60 minutes depending on the client and the condition of their health. During the session, the client is on a treatment table, much like a massage table. A small speculum which is attached to a water line and a waste tube is gently inserted into the rectum. Warm filtered water is administered at a very low pressure to the point of feeling a fullness sensation, at which point the waste is released via the waste tube.  A series of fills and releases are done throughout the session as well as abdominal work and pressure point stimulation to enhance the release of waste.   Deep breathing to encourage the parasympathetic nervous system is also recommended.

While cleansing, it’s important to eat foods that continue your cleanse once your session is complete.  Consuming whole organic foods including lots of green vegetables, low glycemic fruits like berries and apples, healthy fats like coconut oil, avocado, fibrous proteins like chia, flax and hemp seeds, and lots of fresh alkaline water are recommended as well. I highly recommend staying away from dairy, gluten and grains in general, soy, or any processed foods. A little bit of protein goes a long way. So if you do eat meats, try to go as natural as possible with grass fed and free range organic meats.  Daily exercise helps to enhance the lymphatic and circulatory systems and it actually strengthens the muscles of the intestines as well. So think core exercises….yoga, running, resistance training, pilates, and rebounding all help to keep the digestive system running smoothly.

Initially it is recommended to do a series of sessions to establish bowel integrity. Depending on the condition of your digestive system will determine how many sessions you may need to do. But as a rule of thumb, 3-5 sessions close together is a great way to jump start your cleanse. Often times clients will then come in on a maintenance plan or space it out and do seasonal cleanses. We customize your cleansing plan to suite your specific needs.  The goal is to get your system healthy and strong. By cleansing with CHT and a healthy diet specifically for you, we will, together, have you on your way to feeling your best.

To Your Health!!

No Such Thing As Failure

Well, the better part of the first month of 2014 is closing in on itself. It’s been quite a month and we are only 22 days into the year. I have truly been networking and working on living the life I love living. That includes, of course, my study and application of nutrition and wellbeing. I am one of those who believe that if you are going to talk the talk, you better walk the walk.  I feel that I have always lived, with the best of intentions, a life that would allow me to feel good in my body. However, I have noticed that the measures I have taken have truly only allowed me to feel good for the time being.

Healing is never a one step process. There is no magical pill, diet, or program that can possibly FIX everything that is going on with you. Our physical health does not rely on food and fitness exclusively. Yet I too tend to fall prey to the latest ground breaking nutritional information only to find that yet it’s another program that in and of itself is ground breaking…..however, I am me and this diet/plan was not designed solely for me. So things need to be tweaked.

Earlier this month I embarked upon my experiment, if you will, with a Ketogenic Diet, which for the record, I happen to love. I have tweaked my diet ever so slightly. It wasn’t a dramatic change for me because I’ve been gluten free for years and have never really adhered to a high carb lifestyle. So the adjustments were not so earth shattering to me. Some of the benefits that I have experienced with my new style of eating and supplementation include longer periods of satiation due to the high amount of healthy fats I’m consuming, better sleep, more energy, weight stabilization (meaning not losing any weight which I am very prone to), consistency in my skin (although I am still not 100% there yet, improved mood, and the kicker for me is better bowel habits. I was one who had to team up with magnesium and aloe to keep my system going. The aloe has been completely eliminated and the the dose of magnesium goes lower and lower every week.

I believe that these past 3 weeks have taken a huge burden off of my digestive system with the diet being completely starch free. I have been MEGA-DOSING on over 300 billion units of bifido bacterium tagged with 20,000 mg of L-Glutamine a day to to help heal leaky gut. By healing the gut, everything else falls into place. The amount of fats that I am consuming is pushing the liver into a NATURAL state of detoxification which will ultimately improve bowel habits. 🙂 !!

I still have not completely rid myself of what would appear to be some sort of an allergy on my skin. And so I keep on trying to see what’s up with that. Hopefully in time that will work its way out as my gut continues to heal.  I have eliminated the make up that I was once using to see if that could be a potential trigger. We shall see. I have however, felt the need to change things up. I am not bored at all with the diet. Don’t get me wrong. I just am feeling that I am at the place where I can bring in a couple cycles a week of starch and see how I do with it. I will start off with some gluten and grain free pancakes which I’m totally excited about, as well as some sweet potato and kabocha squash. I plan on staying on plan 5 days a week and 2 days playing around a bit.

I think we all jump into a program feeling that this is the be all end all of nutrition not realizing that just like the Midwest homes, many of these diets are cookie cutter. They come in the form of books, websites, online coaching, etc. They are all wonderful in and of themselves, however, they are not customized for YOUR specific needs. And that gets frustrating. Because we rely on these “experts” to FIX us.

There is no such thing as being FIXED. Even when you have achieved your goal there will always be another goal to achieve. So by tweaking these programs and making them personal to you, you can have your perfect program. And it will change as you go along.The foods you once ate you may no longer be able to eat and you will see that as you heal, the foods that you were once not able to eat you will be able to eat in small portions or it may not be an issue for you at all. The supplements you once took may no longer serve you. So be aware of what you are spending your money on. Pay attention to the signs your body is giving you. Are you bloated, constipated, having diarrhea, headaches, fatigued, irritable?? Make adjustments as you go along.

Our bodies, like the Universe, are ever changing. It wouldn’t be much fun if we were always the same day in and day out. And so we need to change things, perhaps not daily, but as we move along in life. For me it actually comes in waves. I see it either in my skin, my digestion, and my sleep. We need to experiment little by little and find what works. And when it stops working or slows down a bit, make adjustments as we go along.

The most important thing to remember is that no doctor, coach, or other “expert/professional” knows what it feels like to live inside your body. And so even with all the amazing information out there, it is our responsibility to listen to the signs and symptoms our body is sending us.

I have worked with my body for almost 40 years. I think I know myself better than anyone does. And so I think it’s my resonsiblity to honor how it feels and listen to what it tells me. So this next week, starting today actually, will be the implementation of customization. We will see how it goes.

What diets, products, and programs have you implemented into your lifestyle that you have had success with after you tweaked it to your specific needs? That customization can make all the difference in the world.

To your health,
TLR

Week One Follow Up And Getting More Rest

Well, this past week has been an interesting one with wrapping my brain around this new commitment to myself to health and wellness. I often think of New Year’s Resolutions and Monday mornings as a clean slate to start off your year/week slamming it out in the gym at 5:00 am. Yet, it is 6:08 am and I’m sitting here in my bathrobe with my fluffy slippers on doing some oil pulling. Ya, the cleanse continues. Or should I say since it’s Monday morning that it is just beginning.

I received my health assessment from Maria this past weekend and was pretty much not shocked at all at her review of my symptoms and health issues I’ve experienced over the years. I have always been one who is extremely in touch with my body and so it was of little surprise to me. Having gone through the list of dos and don’ts, I finally made a little bit of sense of what it is that I need to zero in on and then follow up with the other recommendations.  Clearly there are some hormonal, adrenal, and obviously thyroid issues. I had mentioned before that I am on a rather high dose of Armour Thyroid which hopefully will not need any adjusting other than to LOWER it. In Maria’s assessment of me, there are some digestive health issues that need addressing. But this is really not about cleansing. It’s about repairing and keeping the natural channels of cleansing and detoxing open and moving. Keeping the elimination cycle regular and restoring natural and normal bowel function. We are addressing that with high doses of probiotics, L-Glutamine, and Magnesium. All of which have been on my program but just manipulating the timing and dosage. I also will be back on my digestive enzymes that include a simple dose of HCl and Pepsin at each meal.  There were a ton of other recommendations that I am still mulling over and will slowly implement into my program bit by bit. But the two areas that definitely need addressing are digestion and sleep.

Resting the body is so critical in our healing process. Although I always go to bed very early, I am waking up way before the crack of dawn, hitting the floor running, and then feeling extremely burnt out and extremely irritable by the end of the day. My body and my mind have been taxed beyond my own recognition of myself. The amount and kind of sleep you get is imperative to your overall health and wellbeing. Many people will say that they do fine on 4-6 hours of sleep. But truly your body is not getting that deep restorative rest that it needs to go all those hours you spend awake…..especially if you are involved in fitness and need to expend that extra energy on your workouts.  So part of my program is making sure that I get at least 8 hours of sleep a night. I am taking some supplements such as GABA, 5-HTP, and Magnesium to help make sure I go down and stay down. The hard part for me is keeping myself in bed when my eyes go BING at 4 am. Really for me there is no need to wake up that early. It’s all about retraining myself.

Speaking of retraining myself and rest….I am working on my mind structure as to how I look at my life and fitness. Like I said, I hit the floor running and normally first thing on a Monday morning I’m pounding it out at the gym. Well, this Monday morning I’m pounding it out on my keyboard. In the past 5 days I went to the gym one time and that was just for a stroll on the treadmill. I am not feeling my usual super fit self right now due to all the changes my body is experiencing; however, the changes that needed to take place were in other areas of my life and truly involved cutting back on the intense working out I’ve done for over 24 years now. My new routine involves truly letting my body rest……but let’s be clear, I will never give up working out and when I do, it will be full of heart and muscle.

How am I feeling physically??? It’s different from day to day. This past weekend was horrible. I experienced some pretty insane Herxheimer’s reaction (die off) from the Candida Cleansing herbs I am taking. YUCK!!! Intense migraines and nausea which were alleviated by eating and resting. So I rested a lot on Saturday and Sunday. I am definitely noticing a difference in how my mind is thinking lately. I had started on some of the neurotransmitters long before working with Maria. I am very optimistic that working together and adjusting the timing and dosage will help me in that department even more. The power of the mind over the body is so intense that simply by balancing your brain chemistry—NATURALLY—you will see a huge difference in your gut which leads to all other areas of your body. So for that I am really excited.

Since there is adjustment with my digestive process, the day to day process is different. Between the cleansing herbs, the probiotics, L-glutamine, and other add ins, one day I feel amazing, the next day I feel not so amazing. There is a healing process going on and I am adjusting to the changes. I know that over the course of the next month, months rather, there will be amazing changes especially as I continue to increase the recommendations and go further into my Keto-Adapted lifestyle.

The food is amazing. I’m feeling satisfied for the most part and know that when I’m feeling off, it’s generally because I am dehydrated or didn’t get enough fats in my diet that day. That’s the part about this program I love the most. I love the low carb higher fat lifestyle. Always have. So it works for me.

What works for you?

What programs, dietary lifestlyes, and fitness programs have you worked with that have actually cured/healed you from that tie that binds you in life? True healing doesn’t leave scars. True healing allows you to move forward and know that what you once experienced is in the past and no longer leaves you in fear of your condition. Truly it is called a transformation. It may not be easy, but then again, anything worth having is worth fighting for. Especially your health.

To your health,

TLR

To find out more about Maria and her amazing health programs just click on the link below

http://mariamindbodyhealth.com/

I’ve Got A Gut Feeling

So New Years has come and gone. I’ve read so many posts on Facebook, Twitter, the internet in general, and yes, personal emails, texts, and other messages about how this is going to be the best year ever, like so many years in the past.  2013 was actually a very hard year for me. But that’s not what this is about. I’m actually not into making New Year’s Resolutions. My philosophy is why wait for a timeline to start being happy, being healthy, being fit, finding the love of your life, making more money, or forgiving someone for a misdeed.  We can make a resolution each and every moment to conquer our demons, lose those 10 — heck 110 pounds if need be, and move on into a life that we specifically carve out for ourselves. Just because the calendar says January 1st, doesn’t mean that these resolutions magically come true. And that’s why, in my humble opinion, come February we are back on to whatever it was we were doing in years past.

My life has always been about being healthy and feeling good. I always put it out there that I knew what I was doing. And I do. But not really when it applies to my life in particular. I mean, again, I do. However, it’s the application that really matters. You can be a wealth of knowledge, but if you lack the discipline or the actual know how of how to apply this information to your life, it’s useless. Go ahead and listen to a Tony Robbins CD, nod your head in agreement, get excited. But if you don’t follow up with his tips and tools, well, you will not see results in your life.

That’s me. A wealth of knowledge. I have all of this information, and very little application…..in my life anyway. But that, here and now changes. I have tried every program in the book to get healthy, feel well, and be more energized. I have gone on medication for my thyroid, have had that medication adjusted more times than I care to count. I have gone on adrenal support supplements, taken this, that, and the other thing. I have gone on a VERY STRICT food allergy elimination diet and the only thing I had to show for it was an unnecessary 8 pound weight loss.  But what I have not tried, something completely radical for me, is giving up the experimenting and trying to figure it out on my own.  No….I have always done my own research which obviously brought me very little results as it was applied to my specific life and health.

This time it’s different. After years of fluctuating in and out of programs, between a very good friend of mine and I, we together discovered a program that not only is really starting to work on a physical level, but it is helping in the mental and emotional capacity as well. Many of you may not agree with this style of eating or living; however, I am going to be that cliche that says, “If it works for me, it can work for anybody.”

The program I am speaking of comes from a woman I have been following on Facebook and through her blog page. Maria Emmerich of Maria Mind Body came into my life several months ago and I have been completely fascinated by the information I have received.  For the first time I can say that I feel I can eat and live in a way that literally has made a difference for me. First off, the difference I am feeling is in my brain. I feel calmer, I feel more satiated with the foods I’m eating, and I feel less drama/trauma in my belly.  The Keto-Adaptation program that Maria has developed is the first program that,  and I’ve only just begun, not only is making a difference, but it makes sense. If you have been following the USDA recommendations or a high carb/low fat diet, it takes some time to get past the idea of high fats and low to no carbs actually being good for you. But I am seeing a difference….and again, I have only just begun.

Through the month of January and well into February, I will be doing little mini blogs on my updates, how I am feeling, the improvement in my health, and photos of some of these Keto-Adapted meals that come along with the meal plans. I have started off with the Maintenance Plan which is what I needed for my specific goals since I do not want to lose any weight. The program offers a plethora of books, menus, and educational videos to not only tell you what to do, but to inform you and empower you as to why you are doing this. I think that that is the key to success. Understanding WHY you are doing a specific program. To understand WHY and HOW food affects our bodies. WHAT a specific nutrient or macronutrient does to our hormones, our tissues, and our organs.

Irritable bowel syndrome has been a huge issue for me since my late teens. It’s been drama/trauma trying to manage it and figure out how to fix it. This year I will turn 40 years old. And I simply refuse to spend the rest of my life in anymore pain, discomfort, or fear of food, travel, or dining out experiences. I want to enjoy my life, enjoy my body, and enjoy my well-being. I trust Maria because she is the only one with the information that truly resonates with ME. Many of you may not agree….and that is your prerogative. We have to follow what is best for us. But I have got a gut feeling about this and I’m all in.

Today will be day 3 of my Keto-Adaptation program. This afternoon I will do my full Health Assessment with Maria online to kick my program into high gear.  This is my version of really healing. By giving the body what it NEEDS. Healing the digestive system which leads to every single other area of our body, is where it is at for me. I am focused, determined, and ready to push on. For this is my resolution here today.

So in the spirit of the New Year, I wish you all health, happiness, love, and prosperity.

To find out more about Maria Emmerich and Maria Mind Body, follow her on Facebook and on her AMAZING website which is chock full  of recipes and information to help feed your mind, body, and spirit.

Best in health in 2014!!

Tracy Lynn

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maria-Mind-Body-Health/337393421445

http://mariamindbodyhealth.com/

Theta Healing

I recently posted a blog on my experience with Theta Healing. Well, as much as so many are focused on their exercising, nutrition, and other forms of well-being, I have incorporated this method of healing into my personal healing practice. I find that it is really easy to get the day to day physical tasks done.  It’s never been an issue for me to get my workouts in or to prepare healthy meals that fuel my body. However, I have the tendency to neglect a very powerful aspect of my life that actually drives these other areas. And it’s not an uncommon thing. It’s become the norm to burn the candle at both ends. It’s become accepted to be depressed, unhealthy, and to rely on prescriptions medications to “get us by” and painkillers to numb the aches. But it isn’t healing. And don’t fool yourself into thinking that it is. I get it. I have to pop a pill now and again too in order to get past something that is physically painful. But I’m talking about the long term “stuff we deal with” in life that holds us back from being fully expressive and healthy in a real way.

For about 7 years now I have been being treated, on and off, by my Theta Healer, Beatrice, for, well, you know…..life stuff. Stress, anxiety, fears, and even physical health and well being. So what is theta healing anyway???  It is “The technique that allows you to replace beliefs that hold our bodies and mind back from functioning their best. It is effective for both physcial and emotional issues such as relationships, money, and fear.”  It is basically reprogramming your mind and body through the alignment of your chakras, points on the body that serve as energy centers.  And I have to tell you from personal experience, that when those chakras are not spinning in the right direction, your life will be spinning out of control. The technique is so subtle, but the results are extremely profound.

My experience with Beatrice has been extremely positive throughout the years. When I am consistent with my treatments, when I stay on track with my extremely easy exercises, and when I avoid toxic situations….life flows. Life Gives. Life is just good.

We all have challenges in life. It’s not to say that theta healing is going to fix those challenges. But it sets you up to be prepared for those challenges. To manage them properly because you are in alignment. When you start to have financial problems, relationship problems, or health issues…and many of us are having those issues all at the same time…you are out of alignment. It is easy to fall into a pattern of blame game. Something happens and then a domino effect takes place and it seems like life comes crashing down on you. I know….I’ve been there. In fact, all three and then some.

I know how to help heal clients on a physical level. But are you aware of how much of our physical being is directly related…even more so….to the mind. You can do everything right. Eat healthy, exercise, and sleep 8 hours a day. But if you are stressed in life, if you are not in alignment and spinning in all the right directions, something is going to give. For me, it was always my digestive health and my reproductive system. Interesting how on a physical level they are so closely related. Our GI and repro systems make up who we are…physically. But our mind, our energy centers, make up who we are emotionally and spiritually. I have seen the most physically looking healthy people be the most unhealthy. That was me. I exercised daily, ate healthy, and did everything I could to be well. But I was a mess in so many areas of my life.

This time around with Beatrice has been ground breaking for me. I have seen things shift in my life in a way that I just know bigger and better things are on their way in the future. I can see it and I can feel it. Topics of discussion that used to cause me stress and anxiety now just put a smile on my face. Because I know and I feel deep inside that I am developing the tools and strengths to handle these life situations.  And it is exciting for me coming from where I have been these past couple of years.

Working as a cleansing coach has often caused me to question my clients beyond what they are eating and physically doing in their lives regarding their health. Yes, the physical has a lot to do with it. But we think of the mind and the gut as a figure 8. Constantly connected. No break in the loop. They feed off of each other. But when there is a break due to trauma, stress, anxiety, or other life issues, then the connection between the two becomes severed. We can start to experience lots of digestive health issues that ultimately will affect other bodily functions. Setting yourself straight in spirit has a direct impact on your bodily functions. I know that through theta healing, that I have been able to drop baggage, see things for what they really are, breathe a little deeper, and make wiser choices that will only benefit me in the future. I’m letting go more and with that I am feeling better in my body. Is it perfect? No. Will it ever be? I don’t have the answer to that. But I do know that like training myself at the gym and taking the time to prepare healthy wholesome and nutritious meals that feed, fuel, and serve my body well are only part of the picture. We must nourish our minds and spirits as well. When we put it all together, we have that Figure 8. We have that solid boundary. We have achieved health and wellness.

For me, with all that I have tried in my life, I have added and am keeping Theta Healing into my personal healing practice. Because for the first time ever, I do feel in alignment. And it’s an amazing feeling to wake up in the morning with a purpose, bounce out of bed, and take on your day with passion.

For more information, please visit Beatrice at:
http://www.mypositivehealing.net.

Best in health,

Tracy Lynn

Time To Say Goodbye

One of my dearest friends  sent a text message to me just days after I left him. “The grief you are  experiencing is no longer the loss of hope for what you thought could be, but more the loss of who you are truly clinging to.”  My old self. The woman who I thought I was. Trying to live up to an expectation and all the while not only not pleasing others, but failing to please myself as well. It was all an act. All put on for show to illustrate how strong I really was and that I could handle anything that ever came my way. Because I always was able to do that.

That kind of living and thinking inevitably almost always lead to more health issues for me of which I’ve blogged about previously and won’t necessarily go into great detail here. But one thing I will point out is that when we live to please others, we stop pleasing ourselves. When we are constantly going out of our way to make others happy and fulfilled, we are the ones that wind up with a void on the inside. And for many years, that was me. Running my business and being in a destructive and abusive marriage did so much damage to my health, that I had no choice but to pull in the reigns and take back my life. But not the life I once lived. A completely new life.

I have not written out the word DIVORCE in any blogs or Facebook posts. Even now, after all this time, it’s still such a scary word to me. Something that nobody should ever have to experience. It’s a horrible experience and can turn your life upside down.

I remember being in family court asking my attorney if I should be nervous. His response to me was, “YES!! You should be nervous, scared, and horrified, Tracy. This is a horrible place. People’s lives get destroyed here. There are evil spirits in this place.”
I remember him saying it like it was yesterday. I still get a stampede in my stomach thinking about it. And his comment didn’t make it any easier for me, only that I wanted to get it over as quickly as possible.

Today I sit here and I look  back at this past year. The time I have had to reflect on what once was and what I now see possible.  I hear a lot of people say “I just want to get back to who I was.”  And that would have been me. But if I think about it, then I would keep making those old mistakes again. Attracting the wrong people, clients, and situations. Not that they were all bad. I’ve developed some of the most amazing relationships especially in these past couple of years. The friends, who have been nothing short of being a solid rock for me to lean on, have been a tremendous source of strength for me.  Never letting me believe for a second that I made the wrong choice or that there was anything I could have done to prevent it. Because to know me is to know that I don’t quit. I fight. It’s just who I am.  And that’s the part of me that  I will take with me into this next adventure.

I recently saw my Theta Healer, Beatrice. Such an amazing woman. For some reason, well for many reasons, she is the one I turn to when I feel all hope has up and vanished. Our work together has been amazing. This time she gave me an exercise. A writing exercise. I love to write, right? 🙂 But this time it was to write a letter…..in my left hand…..to my ex and to express all the emotions….all the anger, upsets, disappointments, and frustrations.  Take as much time as you need and just when you think you’re done….keep writing.  Well, I’m a righty. So writing with my left hand was not exactly easy. But with the help of some David Nevue music I was able to tap into that space that needed to be released. You see, by writing with your less dominant hand, you tap into your inner child energy. The one who is scared to stand up for herself when she needs protection and thus quiets herself to the point of no self expression. Ya, that’s the one. Then when you’re done with the letter, burn it.  I thought this was going to be a cool experiment.

I wasn’t able to write the letter right away. It took me about 3 days where I could get in the space.  I had a box of Kleenex sitting next to me just in case and with my headphones on listening to my music, I wrote away. After only being able to fill one sheet, both sides, with my left hand …. I felt that there was nothing left to say.  I got in my car and called my good friend Joleen who has not only been an amazing friend, but my peer coach as well. She talked to me on my drive over to Torrey Pines at 9pm that night. I asked her if she would stay on the phone with me. I pulled up to the beach. Not a car in sight. I opened my window and could hear the silence of the ocean pulling up on the shore.  Truly the best place for me to be.  Then I proceeded to read the letter outloud to Joleen as she listened to me.  I got out of the car and walked to the edge of the cliff, struck a match and watched as two hours worth of writing, almost 7 years of emotion, and a lifetime of hope incinerated in a matter of maybe 8 seconds.

Seeing that paper go up in flames reminded me so much of how flamable our lives really are.  If not properly cared for, anything can burn up and turn to ashes.  We take so much for granted in life. We toss around the word love. But do we really mean it?  When you love someone, truly love someone, you take them for better or for worse. There is no question about that fact that there will be fights, upsets, and disappointments. However, when it comes down to it, at the end of the day, during the pressing times, the ones that really love you are the ones that are going to show up for you. And sometimes it turns out that your very own “love” wasn’t what you thought to begin with.

I have taken this past year off of work. I have taken this time to complete school. To heal. And to move forward. I never though this year was going to end. I never thought I would make it. There were times I just wanted to go back just so that I didn’t have to feel. So that I didn’t have to acknowledge the pain….the fear….and that ever so devastating disappointment. But you wake up one day and you realize that you had love in your life all along.  It comes in the form of family, friends, and even your pets.  They are the ones who don’t bail on you because your single again. They don’t judge you for the reasons you left. No!! They take your calls at 2a.m or even better, they call you at 2 am because they know you are up and in need of a friend.  They bring you solace. They are your rock.  And without them, I wouldn’t have come as far as I have in this past year.

I’ve picked myself up. I’ve dusted myself off. And I’ve looked myself straight in the mirror. I like what I see now. And I’m grateful for this time of healing and taking it easy. I am blessed that I was in the position where I could do it. But now…..well, now it’s time for the new, not the old, the new me to come through. Getting back to work is first on my list of things to do. I love the healing work that I do with my clients. I love the writings that I do. And I love the amazing relationships I have developed over this time.  They have given me hope and inspiration and a constant reminder that it’s never too late to live happily ever after. But first, you have to say goodbye. Goodbye to old relationships that no longer serve you. And goodbye to that part of you that no longer serves you. Whom ever that is……let it go. Move forward. Because you deserve nothing less than being happy, loved, and fulfilled in life. Write that letter and burn it. Or do whatever ritual works for you.

I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving and spent time with those you love and care about.

Best in health,

TL

Anything Nutrition

You know when you have food sensitivities and you see someone digging into something you’d love to have but can’t? That’s what it’s come to these days. The can and can’t haves of nutrition. There are more foods listed on the no-no list than on what you can eat. Makes you want to curl up with a hot cup of water and a book.  More than likely there is a food item that you simply cannot have.  And by process of elimination you’ve probably narrowed it down to one of the most offending foods out there…….dairy, gluten, eggs, soy, corn, or grains in general. Lots and lots of people are avoiding all sorts of grains these days in an attempt to be healthy.  And it makes sense. Our foods are so overly processed, the amount of nutrition you are getting is next to nin.

I’ve worked in the nutritional/cleansing field for a great number of years. There are no hard facts when it comes to nutrition. On one hand you have one person telling you that it’s calories in vs calories out that matters. Another person will tell you go ahead and eat all the protein and veggies you want….but stay away from all starches because they are fattening and cause inflammation in the body. Who’s right and who’s wrong?

They both are!! When it comes to nutrition and YOUR body all theories are right and wrong. They are right for one person and completely wrong for you.  A person who lives a sedentary lifestyle obviously cannot eat as much as a person who is active and runs marathons. However a person who is hormonally sensitive to insulin and cortisol may need to monitor the types of foods they eat vs the actual calories. Calories matter. Macros matter. And Volume matters as well. I’ve seen people eat nothing but salads, veggies, and proteins and gain weight while those who are eating pasta, rice, and other grains are losing weight. So portion size matters as well. What it comes down to is what works best for you.

In my 20s, when I really took a hold of my diet and lifestyle, I ate more so for quality and was truly able to stomach enormous amounts of food and still be hungry a few hours later.  I ate regular meals and snacks. These days if I eat too much “volume” in one sitting, I am still too full to eat at the next meal. So I have to make my calories and nutrients count at each meal. And that’s important. I workout regularly and am very physically active. So if I skip meals, it shows up for me in my health elsewhere.

Nutrition absolutely is based on one person’s individual needs. The ads and articles I see everywhere stating that a certain lifestyle way of eating is for everyone is hogwash. I’ve played around enough. A few months ago I did the 28 day Primal Challenge and never felt worse in my life. Three meals a day I ate protein, vegetables, and a source of health saturated fat. Although these are foods that I eat regularly as it is. The elimination of all starches like oatmeal, sweet potatoes, and kabocha squash completely eliminated a huge foundation of my diet and caused me much digestive distress. As soon as I rotated back these foods into my diet, my digestion and energy balanced out a bit more. But there are some who simply cannot tolerate grains, even gluten free grains, and find that the primal or paleo way of eating is much better for them. If you are vegetarian and do well with soy, that’s your body tolerating it. I personally digest soy really well, but I steer clear of it do to its effects on the thyroid.

Sometimes it’s challenging figuring it all out on your own. I get that. I’ve had some health issues in my life and have thrown my hands up in the air wondering what I could possibly do to fix it. I’m finding now that actually smaller portions over all work best for me. Eating  consistently, steering clear of dairy and gluten, never going too low in any one macronutrient (like carbs for instance) and making sure my foods are properly prepared really works for me. Going gluten free wasn’t enough for me. The grains still needed to be soaked overnight in an acid base before I actually noticed a difference. Now a day doesn’t go by that I don’t have a big bowl of oatmeal.

So, work with yourself first. Cut the portions down. Play around with the food choices. If you are feeling bloated, think about the foods that you eat the most of. Do you eat a lot of dairy, bread, or sweets. These foods can cause a great deal of inflammation for many. Eliminate them for a good 14-28 days and slowly reintroduce them.  If they cause a reaction then you know that you need to keep them out temporarily until your body heals. And it will heal. It always does.

If you are still struggling to find that perfect fit, seek out someone to coach you through it. A health coach, a naturopath, or someone qualified to help you with your nutritional needs. It could be one food….it could be a whole group….or it could be something completely unrelated to your diet entirely.

Born To Be “A Little” Bad

A few weeks ago, in one of the online modules for school, there was a lecture  about “Being Bad.”  We were encouraged, if only for a day, to take on an activity that would be considered a little bad or selfish, if you will.  Although, I’ve never seen being a little selfish as a bad thing. If we are not taking care of ourselves then there is nothing left to give to others.  The encouragment wasn’t about being bad in the sense of going out and doing something illegal. No. It was encouragment to fulfill desires in life that we neglect to do out of other obligations like family and work. A lot of us feel guilty if we take time away from our kids or our jobs. We forget that in the big picture, we count too. Our physically and emotionally achy bodies need just as much attention as that 3 year old tugging on the back of your apron calling “Mom… Mom….Mom” until he finally gets what he wants. Before you know it, between the family, the job, and all the other life demands, you are spent. Ready to explode. And often times we do.

What would it mean for you to be a little bad? To go out there and really indulge in something that you would not do otherwise because it simply doesn’t fit into your regular schedule. To call up your husband or wife last minute and say that you are having a “Me-Night-Out” and go and treat yourself to something that would really make you feel good. Even if it’s a little sinful. Meeting friends for dinner and cocktails. Getting a massage. Having an extra scoop of ice cream (now you’re really living on the edge). Taking a personal day from work last minute regardless of how high the paperwork is stacked. Getting a babysitter and having a long weekend away with yours spouse or a group of friends…or even better,  by yourself.  Or whatever it is that you have been keeping yourself from in order to be able to give more to others. How would that feel?  Feels pretty good just to think about it doesn’t it?????

When I think of all the times that I kept myself from doing something that I know would have made me feel better, I cringe. I often times would forego the massage because I had a bill to pay. Yet, on other occasions I’d say just go for it and there was still money to pay my bill.  I’d forego the dessert because it was too high in calories/carbs/sugar/fat (whatever it was I was trying to avoid). Yet when I go to the Cheesecake Factory and have my favorite flavor, Lemon Raspberry ya’ll,  I never gained any weight from it and I loved every bite. Or when I overworked myself at the office because I needed the money and didn’t want to disappoint my clients only to be exhausted and more stressed. Yet when I took a week off for my birthday, it just so happened to be exactly what I needed and every one of my clients completely understood.

It really all worked out for the best. And that’s because being what we consider bad is actually a really good thing. I have heard so many people, even myself truly, refer to food as being bad. Yet they will go ahead and eat it anyway….regularly. The only thing that makes it bad is the label we put on it.  Because the truth is that even bad food is good food if done as a treat and in moderation. Same thing with all of these other “Bads”…….No we can’t get massages every day. And I wouldn’t recommend doing a double scoop every night. Every other weekend away with your friends or spouse might get a little pricey too. But these things, like a good piece of chocolate, certainly can fit into your lifestyle without the guilt associated with it.

Taking care of ourselves on a high level, giving ourselves the same kind of love and care that we would give another is just as, if not MORE important. If we burn out, we lose ourselves.  Unfortunately this happens a lot. Illness results from lack of self care. We start turning to expensive medications and supplements to manage stress when it really is all within our power to manage and balance things just by taking better care of ourselves. And those supplements are not only expensive, but the majority of them are ineffective.

The wisest investment that you can make in your life is YOU. So take the best care of you as you can. Be good….But be a little Bad too.

You’ll actually feel like you’re getting away with something……and that feels anything but bad!!

To Your Health!!

Tracy Lynn

Apple Banana Bonanza

I read in a blog earlier this morning that “Your Skin Is A Mirror To What Is Going On In Your Body.” Whatever your struggles are with your skin, it can all be traced back to your inner health and balance.  If you are struggling with acne, eczema, psoriasis, or any kind of fungal infection like candida or athlete’s foot, it will show up either in your skin, hair, or nails. And this is a good thing. Sometimes we cannot always know if there is an imbalance. So the skin being our largest organ is a great indicator of how healthy we are on the inside.

More often than not, with some simple dietary modifications, you can truly improve the appearance of your skin giving it a clearer and healthier glow.  If you are struggling with skin issues, the first thing you will want to do is eliminate the most common food allergens like dairy and gluten. These seem to be the foods that are consumed the most and create the highest level of sensitivity in the gut. Add into that the daily consumption of eggs, soy, corn, sugar, and processed foods and you are just asking for trouble. Yes, I know there are people out there who eat nothing but junk and still have amazing skin. We love to hate them just as much as we hate the ones who can eat whatever they want and not gain an ounce of fat. But make no mistake…..somewhere on their timeline they will pay the price for it whether it be in their energy levels, chronic digestive problems, or something worse that awaits them down the line.  Processed food creates an acidic environment which reduces our immune system and ability to fight off infection including those that show up in our skin. Especially those that show up in our skin.

Sometimes, regardless of my diet, my skin will for no apparent reason just break out horribly. When I asses my diet and see that I’m eating loads of healthy veggies and fruits, properly prepared grains, no dairy or gluten, lots of healthy fats from coconut oil, hemp seed oil, GLA sources, and EVOO, the only conclusion I can come to is that my lifestyle and stress levels are what is acidic and causing my issues. And it’s true. I’m sure if I dissected my diet completely, I could find little tid bits here and there that could be corrected, but overall stress trumps diet when it comes to how we look and feel.

Taking all of that into consideration, there are certain things that we can do to assist the body in re-alkalizing itself on a nutritional level. Certain fruits and vegetables get a gold star over others. GREENS GREENS GREENS & MORE GREENS.  Go for your kales, chards, spinach, broccoli, asparagus, cucumber, and dandelion. Excellent detox veggies and can easily be slipped into a smoothie or veggie saute. Certain fruits are extremely beneficial as well such as apples which contain Pectin, Pineapple which has bromelain and reduces inflammation, bananas (not super green and not spotted….but just right), lemons, cherries, strawberries, apricots, grapes, pears, coconut, and cantaloupe all have high vitamins and minerals to help heal your skin and rebuild tissue.

One of the fastest ways to ensure that you get maximum nutrition without your body having to work so hard to break down the components of food is through juicing and blending. Personally I’m a blender kind of gal. Juicing doesn’t satisfy me and it extracts all the fiber from the fruits and veggies. But do what works best for you.  Tossing a combination of these fruits and veggies or eating them individually have a tremendous impact on your health and your immune system. Start your day off with a green smoothie and see how you look and feel in the weeks to come. Rotate your foods so that your body doesn’t get too used to any one food and develop another sensitivity. And be creative. There are so many combinations and they are ALL GOOD!!

This was my combination for today and it really hit the spot. Play around and see what works for you.

Apple Banana Bonanza
½ cup Light Canned Coconut Milk
1 scoop vegan protein powder of choice (I used Nutrasumma’s Pea Protein)
½ medium sized banana
½ apple cut up
1 tsp coconut oil
handful of mixed greens (I used an organic blend of kale, chard, spinach from Earthbound’s Organics)
Ginger powder
Cinnamon
Stevia or sweetener of your choice/or omit
5-8 ice cubes depending on how thick you like it

Blend on high until veggies and ice are all smooth and drinkable
If you like it thinner, add more liquid

This drink offers you lots of antioxidant pH balancing nutrients. It has healthy fats from the coconut, fiber from the fruits and veggies, protein, and is low on the GI Index….which is important when trying to control skin issues. A high glycemic index diet spikes your insulin levels which can increase inflammation if this is the foundation of your diet.

There are other foods to consider adding to your diet to help with the health of your skin as well. Foods high in zinc like pumpkin and sunflower seeds, pine nuts, and coconut help to heal wounds. Healthy fats from avocados, nuts like almonds and walnuts, and omega 3 fats from fish have been proven to reduce inflammation in the body as well. And that’s what acne is…it’s an inflammatory response within the body that shows up in the skin when detox pathways are congested. Opening up those pathways via an alkaline based diet is one way to truly start seeing results.

So try starting your day off with a blended green drink or find a way to slip it in at some point through your day. I generally have mine after my workout and I’m working on incorporating more variety of fruits.  See how it makes you look and feel.

Cheers!!

“Every type of blemish you have acts as a messenger from the body. It’s suggesting changes in your DIET & LIFESTYLE that will only benefit you in the long run. Without eliminating the “SOURCE” of your condition, you will never get rid of your acne.”~ Mike Walden (Acne No More)

Stress Kills

Kind of a scary title. But let’s cut right to it. Stress does actually kill. And if it doesn’t kill you directly, it certainly can dampen the well being of your spirit. Trust me on that one. We have ALL had a period of time in our lives whether it be short lived or chronic where we’ve been bombarded with the extra stresses of life. Some of these are day to day more manageable issues that we are able to balance and our bodies are equipped to handle. Some, eh, not so much.

There’s no getting away from stress. Not in today’s world. Just turn on the news and you start to sweat hearing about what’s going on in the world….like government shut downs, high unemployment rates, health issues, and natural disasters.  Other than the health issues part, we really don’t have all that much control over what’s happening  outside our immediate world. That’s why I love the little power button on the remote that shuts that noise off.  Yes, it’s important to be informed; however, it can be down right depressing hearing all that negativity all the time. But even with our televisions off, we still manage to beat the drum over and over with what’s happening in our personal lives. Most of the issues that are causing us stress are either blown out of proportion or we truly do not have control over. Yet we keep hitting the replay button and reliving it day to day as if it’s happening right NOW.

Stress has had the ultimate effect on me. I’m writing this now because I feel it’s time for me to put it in its proper perspective. It’s much easier said than done. But the physical manifestation is very real.  For many it shows up emotionally in the form of depression, anxiety, and relationship problems. But the physical stuff is there as well….strokes, heart attacks, weight gain/loss, digestive problems, skin issues, and yes, cancer as well.

Whatever it is is that it hits in you, it can truly kill your spirit and sense of well being. You start to not even recognize who you are anymore. All because of an event, or series of events, that already HAPPEN[ED]. Let me say that again. It already happened. It’s not happening NOW. It’s in the past. Done!! Finished!! And now you are left with the physical signs of your stress. We want so badly to right the wrong. By reliving it day to day, we hope that the situation will end differently. But it doesn’t. It never will. Only our outlook on it can change.

We all have our weak spots that stress goes after. For me, it’s my skin and digestive system.  For years I had been under a chronic state of stress and for years I tried to clear up these physical issues by changing my diet and exercise habits. I changed everything I ate. I did more balancing kinds of workouts. I tried to sleep more. Take more supplements. The list goes on.  Now granted, a good diet is very important. Unhealthy foods do cause a certain amount of undue stress on the body. But it was really about what was going on for me in my life. Problems both at work and at home took a major toll on me. My digestion was a wreck and my skin was broken out and had rashes. It was horrible trying to manage it.  It actually caused me more stress. I took out all the foods that I thought were causing inflammation and stress on my body and NOTHING worked. The only thing left to eliminate was the situation…..the actual stress itself. Or at least how I process it.

We will never be able to eliminate stress completely from our lives. It’s a natural day to day process. Issues will come up with family members. There will be days where you hate your job. And there will be days where the driver next to you will test your patience.  But how we manage the stress is another thing entirely. Some people find exercise to be beneficial. That’s my personal choice. But for someone who has been an avid fitness person the majority of my life, I found that the extra pounding away actually caused more damage on my body.  Being in nature. The beach, a hike, or just kicking your feet in the water pool side. Just being outside. Reading, writing, and spending time with family and friends. LAUGHING has been proven to reduce stress hormones.  Talk therapy, massages, yoga, or just pack it up and take a 3-day vacation either by yourself or with your family or friends. Remember this is to reduce stress….so choose wisely who you spend your stress free time with. I’ve gone on vacations and was more stressed out being away than being home. Deep breathing is something that you can do here and now and doesn’t cost you a penny.

I personally am finding that getting in touch with my spirituality has been so great for me.  Never underestimate the power of prayer. Letting the Universe/God take your burdens from you really takes the pressure off of having to figure it all out. After all, you were not meant to suffer. You were meant to thrive and be happy.

There’s an old saying–“Life’s A Gift–That’s Why They Call It The Present.” And it’s so true. We cannot enjoy the gift of the present if we are busying ourselves with the past. Yes, we have issues to clean up. But do it, be done with it, and move forward. We don’t get do-overs in life. But we do have other opportunities to look forward to.  If a relationship didn’t work out, allow yourself time to heal knowing that there are other opportunities for love in your life. If you are struggling to find work, keep plugging away, the opportunity is around the corner. If health and wellness are your sticky spot, there are coaches, trainers, and qualified professionals to help guide you to you place of feeling great.

We all have a past.  But it’s time to put it where it belongs, close the door, and step unto the present. Your future is just moments away.

I’ve missed out on some time in my life. I don’t believe it necessarily to be a mistake. However, I see so clearly that it hasn’t gotten me anywhere. Whatever it is that has occurred for you in your life, it’s time to let it go and move forward and experience life as it’s happening. You’ll know you’ve moved on when the time comes and you do visit the past that you don’t stay there very long. It’s a quick trip down memory lane and then right back to the now.

Am I there yet? Heck NO!! But I’m a work in progress. My greatest blessing is the amazing support system I have. I have wonderful family, the best friends, and I know that God is keeping his eye on me. I’ll make mistakes, but I’m learning from them.

As you step into today, start releasing yesterday. Whatever it is–it already happened. Time to forgive, release, and move forward. You may just see that those physical ailments you experience will also be a thing of the past.

I’m always interested in hearing what you have to say. What is it that you do to decompress, release stress, stay centered, and thrive??

Blessings!!

Tracy Lynn