Cookies, Milk and a Bedtime Story; OR Confessions of a Health Coach

Three weeks ago my husband and I spent the weekend at a B&B in Milford, Pa.

We love traveling, meeting new people, seeing unique places and eating in great restaurants.

I know that as a Health Coach, people have the perception that I maintain a perfect diet, but this is not always the case. 

At this B&B milk, cookies and a bedtime story were included with the turn down service.

Sweet!  Short bread cookies dipped in dark chocolate and tea; I ate and enjoyed. It was decadent, delicious and there was no guilt. 

Before we left on Sunday, we bought a big loaf of whole grain artisan bread for my husband to freeze and enjoy at home. By Monday most of that fragrant, dense and delicious bread was gone, too.

Now, here is the clincher, just before I left work Monday night, I decided I was having pizza and garlic rolls for dinner. This is a blog post, not a book, so I can’t tell you all the reasons for this decision, but I can tell you I enjoyed that meal.  Imagine the yummy garlic rolls dripping in fragrant olive oil, covered with chunks of fresh garlic accompanied by piping hot Brooklyn pie topped with fresh mozzarella and basil leaves. It was mouth watering and delicious as I had expected.

Two hours later I hit the wall. I was bloated, restless, miserable and I suddenly remembered WHY I eat the way I do.  I eat the way I do because it makes me feel great. I appreciate the positive shift in energy a good meal provides and I don’t miss the bloating, gas, lack of energy and the other unappealing symptoms associated with those meals. 
To be honest there are foods that I desire from time to time, usually I remember the WHY long before the food gets on the fork.  For example, when I was a kid I loved cheese cake.  I would never eat cheese cake now, it quite literally makes me sick, but with some foods it's just not that obvious.

I am happily back to my ‘geeky’ self.  Last night I  made kale chips  and could not wait for them to come out of the dehydrator this morning.  I love crafting great salads and in some circles I am known as the ‘Salad Queen.’  I consider that a huge complement.

I enjoyed this slight  detour from my normal routine. It was a helpful reminder about how badly I felt before I changed my diet. 

I am back to enjoying kale chips, raw nuts, crazy salads,  green juice and feeling the vital force associated with those foods.  I feel lighter, satisfied and energized and I won’t be dreaming of pizza and garlic knots anytime soon!

Now if I could just get back on the treadmill……………

Set Your Intention and Go!

The universe works in mysterious ways.......well not really!  The universe is really within us all and if you set your intention, or set your goal, I know for sure you can meet any challenge.

2011 is nearly over and I have a list of things I want to accomplish in 2012, what about you? Is there something you really want to accomplish, do you ever feel discouraged?

Many people that I speak with say that they know what to do to  reach their goal, loose weight or get fit, but something is keeping them from reaching their goal and they move from the cookie diet to the  no fat diet, etc. 
There is a huge disconnect between what we know and what we do. So how do we bridge the gap? 
Set your goal and map out a plan, think of the 'why'  that drives you, take actions steps daily and the most difficult thing of all, ask for help.

What has happened in our society that makes us all so independent? Why is it so difficult to ask for help? John Dunne wrote the words, "No man is an island," but I think  that is what we have become.  Modern technology is fantastic, but in some ways isolating.

Make 2012 your year to connect with others, ask for help if you need to, it does not make you weaker or less of a person.  In fact I think it makes you stronger and smarter for recognizing the fact that you might have a weakness and another human being might be able to help or support you.

Imagine this, you are having difficulty solving a problem, someone close to you is good at this particular issue or you have to seek out someone that can help you.  You then ask for help to solve the problem or support you in some way and a bond is formed, two become stronger than one. Each person in the equation gain something.  Giving is a gift and so is receiving!

Imagine what 2012 can look like for you, and remember a few key things to make that happen; Set your goals, take action daily, do something different to get something different and ask for help if necessary.

From my heart to yours, I wish you all the best year ever and remember, "Don't dream your life, live your dream."

Laurie

What's a Jicama?

Did you ever notice that you buy the same food every time you go to the food store? Many people do the same thing as you because it is what we know and are comfortable with.  There are two ways to beat this habit and try new foods.  #1. Every week when you go to the store ask the produce manager to help you find a fruit or vegetable that is new.  He or she should even be able to give you some cooking tips, too. Or #2. Before you go to the food store bring a recipe with one or two new ingredients  and make sure to buy them so you can make this new recipe during the week.
Jicama is a sweet and crunchy root vegetable grown in South America.  It can be used in salads and salsas or as a crudite for dipping.

Celery root is also showing up in the food store now and it is great in soups. I love it's creamy texture and subtle celery flavor.

Daikon Radish is another favorite of mine.  It is a long white radish that looks like a white carrot on steroids.  It has a mild radish flavor and is great in miso soup, salads and a treat when pickled.


The list is endless so next time you are at a food market or in the produce section of your food store, look around and see if you can find something you have never tried before. Let me know what you discover, I look forward to your feedback.  If you can't respond below, e mail me at bellahealthyliving@gmail.com.
To your good health,
Laurie

Harmony, Harmony, Harmony................

Harmony, what does that mean to you? This past Labor day weekend we were in Nashville, at the National Folk Festival and the experience has caused me to think about the many meanings of harmony.
Music comes to mind first, after all it was a music festival.   Harmony of the musical kind included bands, dancing, singing and instrumental harmonies but truly it was so much more than that.  What does harmony mean to you?

When You Can Get a 'Do Over?'

Yesterday there was an earthquake from Virginia to New York.  Everyone has a story, but somehow I missed it. No story, no shaking desk, rumbling ground, swinging lamp or leaving work early.  In fact I heard it first from a patient who told me she was about to go to the bathroom before she left her house and her toilet was shaking! TMI, don't you think?

WALK WITH ME

            Walk With Me..........


Walk With Me is an idea I got from one of my clients. It was a beautiful day and I was checking in with her to see if she had gone for a walk yet.  "I have my sneakers on," she said.