Has this year left you stuck in a quagmire? I joyfully share this picture of what happened when my friend and I plowed STRAIGHT THROUGH a recently poured sidewalk! We were walking and talking so fast that we were halfway through before we even realized what had even happened! The workers, taking a break around the corner, slowly emerged and just STARED at us, open mouthed. SOMEHOW we missed the turning cement truck, and the caution cones. Thankfully, after standing there in disbelief for what seemed like minutes, we all burst out laughing. (See future newsletter on the negative effects surrounding "Mindlessness.")
All joking aside, do you feel like you are currently moving so fast or mindlessly that you find yourself stuck around some aspect of your wellbeing? Do you feel little hope for a hand up or a way out?
One of my powerful "go to" tools to invoke a quick change or jumpstart to my wellbeing is to focus on my physical health, or how I am currently eating, sleeping, or moving.
Last week I was invited to address the topic of hope and how it relates specifically to positive change around nutrition during the Positive Psychology Hour. If you are in need of a little inspiration, I am including some highlights from the workshop. Additionally, you you can access the full recording and 5 Hope Invoking Nutritional Tips HERE.
What I love about Hope:
Hope is the only positive emotion that needs adversity and even despair to emerge, and haven't we had much experience with THOSE challenges over the past year? The great thing about hope is that it takes just a few steps forward towards a meaningful goal to activate self efficacy and the positive pathways in our brain.
Hope and Nutrition:
-First the bad news-Chronic Disease, including Autoimmune Disorders, Heart Disease, Diabetes, Depression, Anxiety, Allergies, Eczema/Psoriasis, Dementia, affects 6 out of 10 Americans
-Our bodies send up "signs and symptoms" of distress, including, low energy, weight gain, stomach upset, bloating, headaches, anxiety, depression, joint pain, acne, cognitive fuzziness, allergies, and more
-These "signs and symptoms" are lovingly referred to as the "FLS" Syndrome, or the "I feel like crap" syndrome, according to Dr Mark Hyman, Head of the Functional Medicine Department at the Cleveland Clinic
-Silent inflammation is at the root cause of Chronic Diseases and these signs and symptoms of distress
-Our food and lifestyle choices, including not only what we eat, but how we handle stress, lack of sleep, and lack of movement are at the foundation of silent inflammation
-Hidden food sensitivities contribute to silent inflammation
-The field of Nutrition is beyond confusing, and we are often perplexed around the topic of what we should eat-for example, are gluten, dairy, sugar, or processed foods really all that bad for us?
-If it is true that we should limit these inflammatory foods, then what healing foods SHOULD we add in instead?
-Now the GOOD NEWS! There is HOPE! Food greatly contributes to the cause of silent inflammation AND food can be used as part of the cure
-Food is information, food is connection, and food IS medicine!
-Healing foods include grass fed meats, poultry, fish, vegetables, fruits, grains, beans, legumes, healthy fats, nuts, seeds
-Eating a rainbow of color in the form of fruits and vegetables is an excellent way to optimize our health
-We can allow our own individual bodies to lead the way in helping us uncover the most ideal way of eating to move towards not only hope but a healthier immune system
The reality-you may be sick and tired of being sick and tired. Would you like a hand up and a way out?
Many of you have reached out post-workshop commenting on this very important topic. Especially at this moment in time, many of us realize that focusing on our immune system is vitally important.
Many of you have asked, how can I uncover my best way of eating for my own individual body? How can I regain my energy, vitality, and take back control of my health? Because of these questions, I am holding a special session of the Pure Energy Program (PEP), my 11 Day Clean Eating Program.
What happens during the PEP? During the PEP we will:
-Uncover hidden food sensitivities and jump start your health by experimenting with an Elimination Diet (The PEP)
-For 11 days, you will be guided in "adding in" real whole foods, such as meats, fish, vegetables, fruits, grains, beans and notice the amazing and healing effects of these foods
-You will "crowd out" inflammatory foods including, sugar, dairy, gluten, processed foods, caffeine, and alcohol
-Session includes three live Zoom webinars as a bonus to help you feel connected and supported in a bigger way
The program materials will be emailed on May 3 so that you can begin preparing, and the Cleanse Phase will begin officially on May 10th.
Now more than ever, we need to focus on taking care of our amazing physical bodies in order to not only activate hope, but to also address signs and symptoms of inflammation and to boost our immunity, health, vitality, and joy.
Let's scrape off the cement and step up and out of this quagmire together!
Activating Hope helps us to think about and take action towards WHO we want to become. In essence, we are taking steps forward in designing a better future for ourselves.
If you are interested in learning more about the program you can always Email Me, or Click Here to sign up for the PEP. Register by April 30 and also receive a personalized 30 minute goal setting session with me.