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ZING! Living Newsletter
DECEMBER 2010 |
Greetings!
Give yourself the gift of excellent health this holiday season. For most of us, the annual American tradition of overindulging and under exerting really packs on the pounds, but you can do something different this year. With Dr Lane's help, you can learn the art of moderation: enjoying what you love, while still treating your body with care. Sound intriguing? Please visit my website where you will find resources, blog posts, and even a free online course to help you achieve your wellness goals and get more ZING! out of life. If you need personalized assistance to create a life in balance, please contact me for a free consultation. Don't wait until you set your New Year's resolutions, start living your best life today!
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Develop A Consciousness for Healthy Eating
(For all seven tips, please see the full article on my blog.)
 Here are three tips for self-discovery to help you cultivate healthier eating habits.
1. Find your powerfully compelling motivator. Clearly envision whom you want to become and what it is you want to accomplish with your life. Write this information down; it will help you generate motivation. Next imagine how integrating more wholesome eating practices supports you in becoming that person who achieves those goals. Once you have a clear picture of him or her, ask that wise, healthy person what he or she would recommend you eat when mealtime rolls around.
2. Cultivate patience. Fad diets don't work and are often dangerous. If you want to look, feel, and be healthy, you have to eat that way most of the time. Try viewing this as a journey; it takes years, maybe decades for a full set of new eating habits to really root within you.
3. Celebrate your imperfection. Thinking in absolutes (I must eat exactly according to plan) guarantees you will not succeed long term. Give yourself permission to learn and grow rather than crucifying yourself for your setbacks. Remember that we all fail at times. What can you learn from your failure? What can you do differently next time?
To grow a shiny new crop of eating habits, nurture a mental environment of patience, forgiveness, and non-judgment. Add plenty of water then watch as your new lifestyle blossoms. |
Life Purpose Reduces Risk of Alzheimer's
(Summary of Huffington Post article by Scott Mendelson, M.D.)
 Dementia is a devastating disease causing loss of memory, loss of independence, and eventually death. Alzheimer's Disease accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases. Scientific evidence now indicates that about 95% of Alzheimer's Disease may be avoided or postponed through our lifestyle choices and our attitudes.Neurologists, brain specialists, have known for a while that healthy eating and regular physical exercise reduces or postpones your risk of Alzheimer's Disease. What's really interesting is a new study cited in the American Medical Association journal, Archives of General Psychiatry, demonstrating that having a strong sense of life purpose can also diminish your risk of the disease. In the study conducted by Patricia Boyle, Ph.D. at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, participants were given a questionnaire to assess whether they thought their lives held meaning and if they believed they had some control over their destinies. Those participants who believed they had a sense of direction and purpose to their lives were less likely to have developed Alzheimer's after seven years. Those with the most pessimistic outlook more than doubled their risk of developing dementia. Other modifiable behaviors that protect us from Alzheimer's include:- Acquiring a good education
- Challenging your mind with games and puzzles
- Staying socially active
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Getting plenty of sleep
- Eating a healthy diet
- Regular exercise
- Smoking cessation
Experiencing a lack of purpose or direction to your life may lead to significant unhappiness and increases your risk for memory loss. If this describes your mental outlook, consider seeking guidance from a counselor, spiritual adviser, life coach, or trusted friend.
For the full article by Dr Mendelson, please see A Sense of Purpose in Life Reduces the Risk of Alzheimer's Dementia.
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Try Tai Chi
 Tai chi or tai chi chuan is a graceful, slow moving martial art practiced by the Chinese since the 13th century. Practitioners train tai chi for self defense and for its many health benefits.
The tai chi forms flow from one movement to the next such that you are either in constant motion or standing completely still. Your awareness is focused solely on form and breath, creating an avenue for release of mental agitation and stress. Tai chi practitioners report betterment of body, heart, and mind.
Only recently have the boons of tai chi been studied by the scientific community. Some confirmed advantages include:
- Reduced anxiety and depression
- Improved balance, flexibility and muscle strength
- Reduced falls in older adults
- Improved sleep quality
- Lowered blood pressure
- Improved cardiovascular fitness in older adults
- Relieved chronic pain
- Increased energy, endurance and agility
- Improved overall feelings of well-being
Due to its tranquil pace, almost anyone at any age can train tai chi. It can be performed anywhere and requires no specialized equipment. If you are interested in finding a tai chi school, consider your Parks and Recreation center or YMCA. If you are local to Phoenix, I urge you to visit United Kung Fu in Peoria or Zen Wellness in Sun City for more information.
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Thank you for reading my newsletter. I hope you found the information relevant and interesting. If you've enjoyed it, please pass it along to someone else.
Need help learning the art of moderation, cultivating a mindset to make way for healthier eating habits, or discovering your life's true purpose? Call me at 623-242-8809 or email me at Melanie@ZingLiving.com. I look forward to working with you!
Sincerely,
Melanie Lane, MD, CPCC
Dr Lane, ZING! Living Coach |
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| Quote of the Month |  | |
"To practice engaging in heartfelt thanks every day, regardless of what life presents, generates a tremendous presence of mind that is not subject to external conditions."
-Margaret Stortz
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