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Throw Out the Willpower!
It happens every year, doesn't it? Somewhere on that New Year's list of goals or resolutions is the infamous "will loose weight this year statement". The diet starts, and then . . . the same statement appears again next year. The reason is because most people attempt to loose weight based upon willpower.
If you have been dieting on and off for years, then you probably know the desire to eat sweets, salty snacks, crunchy chips, late night binges and more - usually has nothing to do with hunger. The hunger most often comes from other areas of your life that are out of balance. I call these areas Primary Foods:
1) Your Relationships
2) Your Career
3) Physical Exercise
4) Your sense of Spiritual Connection.
When you were a child, you can probably remember being so busy and enjoying what you were doing so much, perhaps outdoors or playing with friends, that you were not even thinking about food and resented mother's request to stop playing and come in for dinner. Wouldn't it be nice to be living your life in the flow of joy once more?
Keeping a food diary can be one way to help you begin to understand what may be behind your desire to over eat. Take a piece of paper or a small notebook that you can carry with you throughout your day and write down not only what you ate, but what was going on right before you ate it and how you felt afterwards. After several days you may begin to notice an important pattern. Then, you can start to work on healing that, perhaps by nurturing or nourishing yourself in a new way. Buying yourself flowers, getting together with a friend, catching up on a project are several ways you can help yourself feel good without over eating. So, throw that willpower out the window and bring in a new sense of balance to your life. After all, when Primary Food is in balance, everything else steps into balance and that includes food. |
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Greetings!
 Happy New Year 2009! This feels like the year of change. It is happening all around from the upcoming inauguration of President Obama to personally taking steps towards meeting your goals. Change can be approached with fear or excitment. But remember, change is the only constant there is.
And, when life isn't feeling very good, it is most often due to a resistance to change. Resisting and attempting to keep the status quo takes a lot of energy, sort of like holding onto a boat when the current is running upstream.
So, I invite you to go within and see where it is that you are wanting to go this year and then yield to that change. Go with the flow and make 2009 your best year ever!
Brightest blessings,
Alyse |
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A Bite of Peace
Did you  Know you can change your mood by changing your food? It's true. And one of the foods with terrific benefits for mood, for skin, for detoxing the blood and is easy on the wallet as well, are dark leafy greens.
Greens are filled with fiber, chlorophyll, a lot of B vitamins, minerals from the soil and even sunshine, something most people don't get enough of.
When you eat dark green vegetables, you put a forest inside of your body and your body will love you for that. For, you are bringing the peace that you feel when deep in nature, right into your own body.
In addition, greens such as collards, curly kale, lacinato kale, swiss chard, broccoli, cabbage, spinach and others actually cleanse your blood and in doing so provide an inexpensive detox. So, save your money on expensive powders and pills and eat at least two servings of dark green vegetables each day. After about a week or two, you will notice your skin beginning to look so beautiful. And of course, the health of your body and your mood will benefit too.
Make greens a new staple in your life and you should be on your way to living healthier and feeling happier more often. |
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Vision your Life 2009
 Are you ready to live 2009 from a place of intention? Are you seeking that special relationship? More money? Your dream vacation? A new car? Work that you love? Are you ready to loose a few pounds or shift your relationship to food and exercise? Anything you desire can become a possiblity.
Join me on Friday evening, Feb 6th at 6:30 PM for the second annual Vision your Life workshop. This is a fun event in which you will able to actually create your own Vision Board, or Treasure Map, as some people call it.
I will supply the necessary supplies and you bring your intentions.
The workshop will be held at Ethical Planet General Store - 1110 W. Davis St. in Evanston. The evening will run from 6:30 - 9:30 and you will be able to take your Vision Board home with you that night. The cost is $20 and includes supplies.
Space is very limited as there is only room for the first eight people who sign up.
Join us as we have another year of great fun together! To sign up email me: emailalyse@aol.com or stop into Ethical Planet and sign up with Fran. |
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Article Headline
 Brazilian Style CollardsPrep Time: 5 minutesCooking Time: 5 minutes Yields: 6 servings
Ingredients: 2 bunches collard greens 3 cloves garlic 2 tablespoons olive oil Salt and pepper to taste Directions:
Wash collards.
Remove leaves from stems, tear leaves in half and stack into piles 4 leaves thick. Roll the stack tightly, turn to the side and cut carefully into very thin strips. Repeat with all collards. The effect is that the leaves will be shredded.
Mince the garlic.
Heat oil in a frying pan and sauté garlic until golden brown, about 30 seconds.
Add collards, salt and pepper and toss quickly for about 3 minutes with tongs or a fork, making sure all greens cook through.
Remove from heat and transfer to serving dish. |
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 If you have just read through this entire newsletter, then you have given yourself a gift. Connencting with your body and caring for your spirit brings out the true you. And, that is who the world is waiting for.
Start off the New Year by giving yourself the best gift possible, the gift of health and well-being. All the rest is icing on the cake. Did I say "icing and cake"?????
Happy New Year!
Alyse
PS. Treat yourself this year and if you have been thinking about making an appointment to speak with me in a confidential session, now is the time. Call (847) 840-0884 to leave a confidential message or email me at: emailalyse@aol.com
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Alyse Rynor, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
& Certified Holistic Health Counselor |
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