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We cannot change anything until we first accept it.
- Carl Jung
Happy New Year, !
How often do you spend time looking in the mirror? I'm not talking about fixing your hair or seeing if something's stuck in your teeth. How often do you really stop and look at yourself? Closely. Honestly. Exactly as you are. Without judgment. Whoops - some of you were with me until that last one, right?
So often we avoid mirrors. Or our time in front of the mirror is full of self-criticism and negativity. Or spent wishing we were different (always holding in your stomach?). My challenge to you as the new year begins is to spend some time in front of a mirror. Linger. And look at all of you. Begin to see who you really are. Without labels or criticism. Use a full-length mirror if you can. Lock the door if you wish. Dim the lights. Let it be fun. Be creative in making yourself comfortable, but push yourself to take on the challenge.
Now you're ready for the hard part (yes, there's more). Find at least a dozen things you appreciate about your body. Not things you can just tolerate but those you truly appreciate. Our bodies are amazing works of art. What do you see? Strength? Shape? Flexibility? Skill? Beauty? If criticisms creep in, gently let them go and refocus on gratitude for your body. Say "I love my body." Yes, you may feel self-conscious (or even hokey) doing this, but I encourage you to be brave. Do it anyway. This is not about arrogance. It's about accepting who you are. And beginning the journey to loving what you see.
Of course there may be things you want to change about your body. That's fine. But in my experience you cannot permanently change what you do not first openly acknowledge and accept unconditionally. Self-improvement from a place of love and growth can be powerful. That done from a place of self-disgust or rejection seldom yields long-lasting results, just more dissatisfaction. More unhappiness. An unending cycle of "not being good enough".
This is the time of year when many of us take stock of our lives and resolve to improve in the year ahead. If you want to be stronger or healthier, I encourage you to start today - by first accepting and embracing who you really are right now.
Be well,
Tracy |
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In this Issue
- The Mirror Challenge
- Not-Your-Mama's
Sweet Potato Recipe
- Winter Blues Solutions
- Celebrate Your Body
- Healthy Habits for Kids
- Eat On Purpose
Classes Begin Soon _________________ |
Not Your Mama's
Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients:
4 large sweet potatoes (skin on!)
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro
2 fresh limes
1-2 Tbsp olive oil
Sea salt & Pepper, to taste
Directions:
Wash sweet potatoes. Bake them whole, in their skins, at 375 until tender, about 40 min.. Wash and mince cilantro leaves. When potatoes are done, slit open skin and place on serving plate. Season with S&P and a sprinkle of oil. Then squeeze fresh lime juice all over and shower with cilantro leaves. | |
Eating on Purpose: Sweet Potatoes
Yes, I like this vegetable so much that I'm *still* talking about them! While they do seem to go hand in hand with the holidays, eating sweet potatoes and other sweet vegetables needn't be limited to this time of year.
Cravings for sweets can be greatly reduced by adding sweet vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, yams, parsnips, beets, squash, turnips and rutabagas to your daily diet. Sweet potatoes elevate blood sugar gently rather than with the jolt delivered by simple refined carbohydrates, so there's no energy crash after you eat them.  Much higher in nutrients than white potatoes and especially rich in vitamin A, sweet potatoes offer a creamy consistency that is satisfying and soothing. They are healing to the stomach, spleen, pancreas and reproductive organs and help to remove toxins from the body. They can increase the quantity of milk in lactating women and can lessen cramps and premenstrual symptoms. If you don't have any sweet potatoes in your kitchen, go out and buy some (organic and local if possible). They conveniently last in storage for several weeks.
This month's recipe is an eye-opener for those who find sweet potatoes cloyingly sweet or who are tired of eating them smothered in marshmallows and brown sugar. Try it for a wake-up-my-taste-buds-to-a-brand-new-year flavor, definitely not your Mama's holiday sweet potato recipe. Enjoy! |
| Upcoming Purpose Events
Weigh less; Live more! Seminar
Step off the dieting treadmill and learn about effective & permanent weight loss. Simply put, diets don't work. Fads & gimmicks end up making you gain weight in the long run and, more importantly, causing you great stress. There is a billion dollar diet industry designed to keep your weight yo-yoing forever. Come learn more about how you can lose weight once and for all - naturally.
Tuesday, January 13th, 6:30pm
at Andi Stern Acupuncture, 12 West Main St, Natick
The Sugar Blues Seminar Do you know Americans eat on average 185 pounds of sugar a year? Yes, 185! Learn more about why we eat so much (both obvious and hidden sources). Why do we crave it? What makes the Dunkin Donuts drive-thru at 10am or the vending machine at 3pm so incredibly irresistible? What will make the cravings go away? Why is sugar dangerous to our bodies? How does sugar affect obesity, diabetes, cholesterol, and heart disease? Sweet things taste good, so what are some healthy alternatives?
Wednesday, January 21st, 6pm
at the Metrowest Spine & Laser Center, 171 Main St, Ashland
508-881-7766 to register. |
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Living On Purpose: Celebrate Your Body
Almost all of us have a distorted image of our body. This is often due to the importance our culture places on outward appearance and the onslaught of media images featuring airbrushed models and celebrities. On a daily basis, we talk to ourselves in ways we would never speak to another. Imagine speaking to a child the way you speak to yourself about your body. It would devastate and squelch a child. It affects you similarly, causing stress and emotional pain in your body, which can make improving your health or losing weight even more difficult.
 Our culture's preferred body type shifts every decade or so, but whatever it is, the ideal is usually unattainable to most without spending enormous amounts of time, energy and money. Think of all the intelligence, creativity and time you spend on improving, altering and judging your appearance. Who would you be and what could you accomplish if your valuable resources weren't used this way? Constant emphasis on the external makes us discount the great presence and intelligence that is housed by the body. It makes us forget the magic of our internal rhythms and fail to acknowledge the beautiful bodies we have.
The body you have right now is incredible! It never misses a heartbeat. It miraculously digests whatever you put in it. It maintains homeostasis. It is also your unique instrument for expressing creativity, intelligence and love. When we focus on the 1% we don't like or wish were different, we end up ignoring the remaining 99% that is beautiful and delightful.
Let me offer a radical notion. What would your life be like if you were simply at peace with the body you have? You may wish to make your body healthier and stronger, but could you do that out of love and respect for your body instead of the opposite? Could you begin to treat yourself with kindness, to limit the negative self-talk and to reconnect with your inner wisdom? Take a minute to imagine what that would feel like. It would mean celebrating your body rather than punishing it. It would mean nourishing your body rather than depriving it. It would mean a chance to watch your body flourish - just like a child flourishes when treated with care and respect.
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Most people do not eat on purpose.
We eat by default, by convenience, at random, or even mindlessly.
There are so many conflicting media and marketing messages bombarding our lives. Even those of us who try to eat healthily often give up. We end up sick. We take more and more drugs with endless side effects. Worst of all, we may think this is inevitable. But it doesn't have to be that way. This is a Rare Opportunity to learn to Eat on Purpose.
My clients...
- Eat healthily in a way that's fun, simple, and practical.
- Say they feel many years younger.
- Wake up refreshed and energized.
- Report less illness and true healing (not just symptom relief).
- Often prosper to the point of eliminating medications for good.
You deserve this kind of life too.
Eat on Purpose: Unlock Your Best Self
Group Health and Wellness Program
Begins soon! Choose either in-person sessions in Hopkinton, MA - or - virtual sessions from the comfort of your home anywhere in the US (all you need is a phone and an internet connection). Find more details at www.purpose.us.com under Programs.
Purpose Group Programs: Education. Simple solutions. Grounded in science. Easy cooking ideas. Food Samples. Lifestyle Tools. Small classes. Unlimited individual email support. What you need to take charge of your health for good.
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Do the gray and shorter days of Winter tend to get you down? You may find yourself with low energy, unexplained sadness, and big cravings for sugar or refined carbohydrates. If so, you're not alone. Many people struggle with some level of seasonal affective disorder because they develop a serotonin deficiency. Serotonin is one of your body's "feel good" neurotransmitters, and its production in the body can go down in response to the darker days. When it's low, your mood can be too.
Fortunately, there are some simple, natural solutions that may help you without medication. First of all, try to maximize the amount of time you are exposed to light, ideally outdoors. Natural light and regular sleep patterns help to keep your brain chemical cycles regular. Next, make sure you are getting enough Omega-3 essential fats with foods such as flaxseeds, walnuts, and fatty fishes like salmon and tuna. If you don't enjoy these foods, try a molecularly distilled fish oil supplement. I'd be happy to suggest a reputable brand for you; just email me.
Next, make sure you get sufficient Vitamin D. Since intense sunshine is our primary source, most Americans go D-deficient in the winter. Choose a Vitamin D3 supplement.
Lastly, stay hydrated. It's cold, and so we tend to stop drinking water throughout the day. Unfortunately dry winter air leaves us dehydrated quickly. This can make us feel sluggish and fuel sugar cravings too. Carry a water bottle to remind you to drink more or perhaps try several cups of hot, herbal tea each day. |
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If you're looking for a way to increase your happiness in 2009, consider volunteering your time and strengths to help others. You may feel too busy or too overwhelmed. Many of us talk about volunteering but seldom get around to doing it. Studies show, however, that it can be an effective way to reduce stress and increase life satisfaction. This Fall, I started a new volunteer project and am loving it!
I teach a Healthy Habits class to elementary-aged kids at the local Boys and Girls Club (Pearl St). I believe so strongly that early awareness and empowerment are the key to helping people live healthy, strong lives. Kids are smart, adventurous, and eager to learn concepts if they're taught in a fun way. Click here to learn more.
Where would you be excited to contribute your time and passion?
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Eat on purpose.
Live on purpose. | |
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