The Wellness Woman: Ready to start enjoying life?

Book Review: Be Your Own Shaman

The latest book sent to me by Hay House for review was Deborah King's Be Your Own Shaman. Intrigued yet skeptical (due to a less than great experience with an energy healer), I began reading immediately to find out what I could learn from the book that promised to 'heal yourself and others with 21st century energy medicine.' Could I really do that just from reading less than 200 pages?  

King takes you on a journey within yourself while sharing pertinent information about her background and experience.  Sharing her personal story of early abuse, striving to be and look perfect (what she terms her 'size 2 period') and her remission from cancer was powerful. Although my own experiences have been quite different, I felt an instant connection to the author.

Emanating from the pages of the book was my own personal coach/guru providing me with valuable information in healing and practical exercises to aid me in the adventure ahead.  Far from being a quick fix or an instant healer, King's sincerity in what is involved in becoming a healer (of self and others) is evident throughout, as she documents both her failures and what she learned from them to create her greatest triumphs.  She even gives valuable warnings of what to avoid when choosing to work with an energy healer (information that I wish I had possessed years ago!).  

If you are intrigued by the idea of energy medicine and fancy delving deeper into your own psyche, I highly recommend picking up a copy Be Your Own Shaman.  I'll certainly be utilizing the information in this book for years to come. 

To learn more about Deborah King, go to www.deborahkingcenter.com

Click here to purchase your own copy from amazon.com

Did I last 21 days without coffee???

No.  I lasted an entire 22 days without coffee!  WHOO HOO!!!!!  I made it!  Now it's time to share with you the good, the not-so-good, and the interesting.  

The GOOD:

1.  I lost it: No, I'm not referring to my sanity, which I kept in tact the entire 22 days (for the most part, anyway).  What I lost is my attachment to coffee.  Yes, I was certainly attached, feeling the day was incomplete without chugging down the obligatory 2 cups!  Now that it's no longer part of my daily routine, having coffee is a choice rather than a compulsion.  

2. I slowed down (and accomplished more): At the beginning of this challenge slowing down would not have been appealing but after I gave my adrenals a rest from caffeine, my mind stopped racing and I actually accomplished a lot more in my work and personal life in less time and with a lot less stress.  

3. Achievement: In the past, I have climbed the 3 highest peaks in the UK in 24 hours, walked a marathon in a decorated bra at midnight in under 6 and ran one (sans decorations on bra) in under 4. Giving up coffee for 22 days was more challenging than all of these challenges put together.  Perhaps because coffee was there for me through all these other challenges.  Or perhaps I just have a poor memory. Either way, this is now on my achievement list.  

The Not-so-Good: 

1. Sugar intake: In the light of giving up one thing, I compensated by adding another: sugar.  My sugar intake, particularly the last week of the challenge, went up as I reminded myself that it was coffee that  I was refraining from, so eating a sweet or two (or three or four) really was a non-issue. My next cleanse will surely involve avoiding sugar, even the raw vegan natural kind.  

2. Impure thoughts: Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.  The beginning of Week 3 and I was fantasizing about lattes at Lamplighter (a local roasting company).  Oddly enough, I have never been to Lamplighter, which I guess made it all the more intriguing.  I feel dirty.  My defense: It's the sugar that made me do it.  

The Interesting: 

What surprised me the most about the entire non-coffee experience was all the memories and emotions I have tied to this beverage.  Around Father's Day, I recalled how every time I went home to visit Dad, I would wake up early to have coffee with him before he left for work.  We would catch up over two steaming mugs, and Dad would scrunch his nose up when he saw me put in creamer, shake his head and smile before bringing his cup of straight black coffee to his lips.  Spending that time with him will always be one of my favorite daddy/daughter moments.  

Coffee has played a starring role in many social events and gatherings, whether it be with dates, friends, or family.  It is the one subject my brother and I actually agree on and enjoy together.  

I can't help but wonder: Is coffee the glue holding together my social life? 

My clear-thinking caffeine-free mind assures me coffee is just a beverage.  

On Day 23, I took a walk to Starbucks to redeem a voucher the company had sent me for a free tall drink (clearly, they missed me).  When I entered, I saw the familiar faces of friendly staff and customers who enjoy the place as their second office.  I ordered my old favorite, curious if it would live up to its old expectations.  I chatted with my 'Starbuddies' and took my first sip.  Sigh. It felt like coming home.  

Will I fall back in my familiar ways or blaze a new trail clear of coffee?  Watch this space, only time will tell. 

Photo by Apple\'s Eyes Studio

Are you Tired & Wired?

Quite a few weeks ago now, I received the latest book for me to review from Hay House, Marcelle Pick's Are You Tired & Wired? At the time, I was incredibly busy with work and activities and when the evening came and I opened the book, my eyes struggled to stay open long enough to finish a paragraph, much less a chapter.  Upon awaking, I would pick up the book again.  As my mind raced through the numerous tasks I needed to complete that day, the words on the page blurred and the book would be abandoned after less than five minutes.  There it would sit, patiently waiting on my bedside table until the evening, when I promised myself I would pick it up again.  Finding yet again, when evening rolled around, I was too tired to do so. The vicious cycle ensued for weeks.  

When I finally was able to keep my eyes open and stop thinking about my busy schedule, I realized the answer to the book's query was a resounding 'YES!'.  As I delved further in the text about adrenal fatigue, many symptoms and situations she described sounded very familiar.  After taking a questionnaire supplied within the book, it appeared I was suffering from mild adrenal fatigue.  This book had reached me at the perfect time, before my symptoms worsened.  It was time to make some changes.  

The book is rich in resources, making it easy for me to begin the alterations of my lifestyle.  In addition to the test to determine where you are on the adrenal spectrum, Peck offers case studies for better understanding and a detailed 30 day plan including easy and tasty recipes along with handy shopping lists, advice on supplements tailored to your specific needs and exercise recommendations.  What I like most about Peck's suggestions is that they are just that.  Rather than berating you to follow a strict regime, she gives you the information and advice and encourages you to do what is right for you, in the time frame that suits you.  

After incorporating some additional supplements in my diet and using relaxation techniques, I'm feeling more relaxed and am actually achieving more with less stress, something that I thought would have been impossible a month ago.  Perhaps most surprisingly, I've been exercising less with less intensity (previously going to the gym six times a week) and the stubborn tasting pouch that had been hanging around my midsection has started to disappear.  According to the scale (which familiar numbers haven't changed in over a year), I'm six pounds lighter.  It's incredible what your body can do when you give it a chance to rest.  

If you feel too are feeling tired, or wired, or vary between the two, I highly recommend picking up a copy of this book.  It's certainly enlightening, and if you decide to utilize her advice, you may find yourself feeling lighter in both mind and body.  

 

 

 

Coffee Break: Week 2!

 

Photo by Surachai

Well, I've officially made it through Week 2 of breaking away from my daily coffee as well as refraining from alcohol.  I'll be honest, I wasn't sure I could make it through even one week without coffee but now that I'm two thirds of the way there, I'm feeling much more confident.  Blogging about my experience has certainly helped keep me on track and I'm very grateful to those of you who have commented and encouraged me along the way.  

That said, the week has not been without temptation.  Here are a few highlights: 

1. When logging on to check my yahoo email, being greeted/stalked by an icon of a coffee cup and the offer to 'Click here for your chance to win FREE coffee for a year!' WHAT?  Well, tried as I might, I couldn't get the icon to disappear...so I entered...if I do win, it might be a sign from the Universe to start drinking coffee again.  Hmmm....I wonder how much a year's supply actually is...? 

2. Being offered fresh espresso cookies.  They smelled divine...but I declined.  This was not easy.  

3. Being offered an espresso brownie...ahhhhh!  Never can I remember being offered baked goods with any type of coffee in them before, now twice in one week!  YIKES! The tests keep on coming.  I nearly caved, nearly, but I opted for a triple chocolate brownie instead (stay tuned for my upcoming sugar fast).  

4.  My visit to Target, which always starts at the Starbucks counter ordering a soy latte, was heartbreaking.  So I went to the counter and ordered chai tea instead.  Yummy!  

5. Pomegranate mimosas while brunching at Balliceaux on Sunday.  My original thought: YES!  Then, when I thought about how far I've come and how much I achieved, I was quite happy without it.  

In addition to E3Live and Pure Synergy, that I mentioned in my earlier post, I've also added milk thistle tincture* as it was recommended to me for cleansing the liver and aiding in reversing adrenal fatigue.  I'm also using a raw probiotic* for women, which was recommended to me.  I'll be adding magnesium* and Omega 3* oil in the next few days.  

All in all, a successful week!  I still feeling clear-minded and getting loads done with much less stress. Oh, and I'm sleeping better too. :-) 

Stay tuned to see what challenges and changes appear in my final week! 

* I'm NOT a doctor, nutritionist or otherwise.  I'm simply sharing my experience.  Please don't take any of this as advice, as it is not intended for you to do so.  Consult a professional health care practitioner before starting any supplements to find out if they are right for you.  

 

First coffee-free week: Feeling great...and lost some weight!

Photo by thanunkorn

 

Well, it is officially one week since I said ciao to coffee for 21 days (14 more to go!) and I'm spilling the beans what I've gained (and lost) so far.  It wasn't easy at first but it certainly got easier.  Or rather, I just got busy with other things and forgot about it.  But even when presenting my brother (a coffee aficionado) with a few bags of locally brewed coffee in amaretto and orange peel flavors in honor of his bday, I didn't feel the temptation to make a pot myself or fantasize about what it would be like if I did.  No really, I'm serious.  

Brunch (if it can even be called that without a mimosa or coffee), was a bit more difficult.  I inhaled deeply the scent from my companion's cup, but, alas, it smelled rather weak.  Had my keen sense of sniffing out coffee now been lost forever?  He tasted the coffee and made a face, 'Hmm..., it's weak.' Thankfully, I hadn't lost my caffeine sensing superpowers.  

So, what have I gained in the week of giving up one of my beloved drinks?  Well, I'll tell you:

1. Clarity: Although my work load has increased in the past week, my stress level has gone down.  I'm feeling much calmer and ready to handle things and also much more creative.  Or proactively creative.  Normally, I have a million ideas running through my mind and get little done on any of them.  Now, I'm getting more done than ever before, and all without an added caffeine boost!  

2. Memory: I stunned myself when I went to the salon today and remembered the conversation I had with the beauty therapist over six weeks ago!  Seriously, a few weeks ago, I couldn't even remember someone's name thirty seconds after their introduction.  Guess my mind was cluttered with all those ideas that were hanging around waiting for me to take action.

3. Time: Although I still have the same 24 hours each day, being more productive and less stressed has made me feel hours have been added to the day.  Nice feeling. 

4. Sleep: Finally, I'm sleeping like a baby, a healthy tired baby, no longer a colicky one.  Bliss.

Oh, I lost something too!  Six pounds!  WHOO HOO!  I think this is a result of being calmer and more mindful of what I eat and how much I'm eating. It could also be in part to the supplements I added that are curbing my appetite.  I'll be sharing all my additional supplement secrets with you in a future post!

Stay tuned to see what the next week brings!

 

 

 

Day 2 of Coffee Detox: Am I Hallucinating???

 

I had kinda assumed that after a day refraining from coffee, I'd sleep like a baby. Uh...well, a colicky baby perhaps.  I barely got a wink and was very tempted to get caffeine this morning and put off this detox for a later date.  But, as I had no coffee in my house and was too tired to make the effort to get some, I settled for a shot of E3Live.  It worked it giving me some energy.  

It gave me enough energy to walk to the local UPS store, somewhere safe from temptation.  As I walked to the desk and a familiar scent greeted me.  Sniff sniff...since when did UPS start selling coffee?  I looked around and although no coffee was in sight the scent was still present.  Was I hallucinating?  It's only day 2!  I still have 19 days to go!  I imagine I might have looked like an addict, if only for a second, as my mind raced through so many good coffee memories.  

The clerk must have sensed my desperation and put my fears of hallucination at bay.  'I hate when they come in here to send things.  It always makes me want coffee.'  I looked down at the large box next to me and saw the sender's name of one of the local coffee roasting company.  I inhaled deeply....

19 more days....let's hope I get some sleep in the meantime.   

 

Photo by  Jeroen van Oostrom

Day 1 of 21 day coffee kicking habit

Well, after a night of tossing and turning, I groggily awoke to Day 1 of my coffee kicking cleanse.  My first thought: 'This would be a lot harder if I hadn't finished off my bag of Cafe Verona yesterday. Mmmmmm, Cafe Verona....'.  Before I let my thoughts get carried away with what was missing, I focused on what I did have, although it was not a rich and bold coffee, it was still pretty exciting. Well, at least it was to me.  

Giving up alcohol for 21 days doesn't mean I can't start the day with a shot. 

I was originally introduced to E3Live when attending Living Light Culinary Institute.  We started each day with a shot of this potent algae and felt amazing for it.  When I arrived back home to England after my certification, I found out you could only buy it in bulk and as I was moving back to the States shortly after, I knew I would never get through a case of algae before leaving.  So I aimed to buy it once settled...and then...well, you can add memory loss to my list of symptoms. Thankfully, I discovered Bikram Yoga Richmond sells it by the bottle.  YAY!  I'll be honest, it doesn't taste like coffee (or anything remotely as pleasant) but E3Live will make your energy SOAR!  

Another green product that will make your energy soar is Pure Synergy.  

Awesome energy booster and nutritional benefits are off the chart.  

I put about a tablespoon in my green smoothie, along with wheatgrass, hemp milk, frozen bananas, stevia, vanilla extract and spinach!  This was seriously YUM!

As far as other food and drink during the day, I kept it light: heirloom tomatoes (SO GOOD!), flax crackers, half a mango, and a massive salad of greens, sprouts, and other veggies.  Feeling satisfied. 

So far so good.  No jitters, headaches or cravings...but I'd be lying if I said my thoughts didn't wander back to a big mug of my favorite joe...

 ...but I do think I'll sleep well tonight!  

 Will let you know tomorrow if I'm right!

21 Day Coffee Cleanse

Well, I've made a big decision: I'm giving up coffee (for 21 days).  

That might not sound too dramatic but if you know me, or have a similar love of java juice, I think you will agree this is/will be quite a feat.  Oddly enough, when I looked up the last time I posted regarding  my love of coffee it was exactly 2 years ago today.  Perfect timing.  

What prompted this decision? Well, I'll tell you.  (Thanks for asking.)

I received Marcelle Pick's new book Are You Tired and Wired? about adrenal dysfunction to review for Hay House and promptly feel asleep each time I tried reading it before going to bed.  When I finally was awake enough to absorb the info, I realized the answer to the book's question was...well...yes!  Seemed I was in the beginning stages of adrenal dysfunction, or at least suffering from a few symptoms.  

So, in an effort to reverse this and create a 'well-er' Wellness Woman, I've decided to trial 3 weeks without coffee and see what happens.

 So....au revoir my dark and lovely friend 

and hello my new friend

In addition to coffee, I'm refraining from alcohol these 21 days too, cutting down on sugar and bulking up on supplements . 

So, fancy following me on my 21 day journey?  You can choose to join me or simply read about it while sucking down a latte.  Your choice.  No judgment.  

At the end of the 21 days, will I  have reached higher levels of consciousness and beauty...or running as fast as I can to Starbucks and pushing my way to the front of the line while praying the barista still remembers my regular order after so long...

Stay tuned!

Let the adventure begin!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hay House Book Review: The OMG Chronicles

From the ages of four to twelve, I was educated at a Lutheran school.  I grew up thinking God was this big dude in the sky that was watching your every move and quickly doled out punishment through your teachers every time you did something to tick him off in any way.  This punishment was normally in the form of writing sentences, Bart Simpson-style.  If Bart's character would have existed at the time, I might have had a new nickname.  

Ironically, it was only when I left behind religious studies, transferred to public school, and gave up going to Church, that I found God.  Or rather, I changed my definition of God.  So, when I opened up the package containing the latest complementary copy to review from Hay House and took out The OMG Chronicles by Peter Rodger, I was intrigued. Peter, accompanied by his friend, travelled the world to discover the spiritual and religious views of people around the world by simply asking the powerful question, 'What is God?'

As you can imagine, he got a lot of answers, but perhaps not the answers one might expect. Peter travels across 23 countries with his companion, whom he bestows the nickname,Vishnu. The pair encounter an array of diverse characters. and the question is posed to everyone, the rich and the poor, the sick and the healthy, the young and the old.  They also interview some well-known celebrities, including, Bod Geldolf, Seal, David Copperfield, and Hugh Jackman.  

If you are looking for an around-the-world adventure but currently lack the funds, join Peter and Vishnu as they travel from one continent to the next and experience the highs and lows of their journey all from the comfort of your couch.  No baggage or passport required.  No sentences required either.  Although you might ask yourself: 

"What is God?"

 If you fancy further visuals, the accompanying documentary is available on DVD and provides stunning scenery, allowing you to relish in the ride a bit longer.  

 

 

Review for Ravenous: A tasty tale of one woman’s path to gastronomic enlightenment

Delighted to review another new release on behalf of Hay House, when I received my complimentary copy of Ravenous: A food lover's journey from obsession to freedom in the mail, I laid my eyes on the pale blue jacket and wanted to dive right in to the chocolate pot on the cover.  Alas, it looks like someone beat me to it.  

 

But lickily...uhm...I mean, luckily, the book is quite satisfying.  Dayna Macy takes you on a journey of her favorite indulgences, including olives, cheese, and of course, chocolate.  At the end of each chapter is a recipe to tantalize the taste buds.  Macy aims to discover more about the origin of these foods in an attempt to gain greater control over her eating, her weight, her life.   She weaves in stories of her past and reveals how these foods are not merely foods, but memories as well.  These memories include happy holidays and celebrations.  They also contain moments of despair, where food was a handy tool available to stuff emotions as well as the stomach.  The link between food, family and emotions is explored more as she cooks with a Zen master, forages in the wild, visits a slaughterhouse, and embarks on her first fast.  

For anyone who loves food...perhaps a little too much (and that includes me), this book is for you. At the end, you may discover the flavor of something new.  The taste of freedom.