October 2013 - At Peace with Health

October 28, 2013March 15, 2020

Healing Disordered Eating, Part 2

Disordered eating is not just about eating disorders. It’s not just starving, bingeing or purging yourself. It’s restricting yourself in the name of dieting or losing a few pounds. It’s berating yourself when you “screw up” and bemoaning all the “bad” foods you ate. It’s forcing yourself to work out more later because of what you ate earlier. It’s calories in, calories out with complete disregard for the human being who has thoughts and feelings that are so much more important. Disordered eating holds you back from living.

In part 1, I talked about kindness and how important kindness is for ourselves and the world around us. So what’s part 2? Part 2 is curiosity. Curiosity is one of those mentalities that can determine whether you’re going to accuse someone, get in a fight with someone or just discover more about how a person works. Curiosity gives you the ability to discover things about yourself and others in a way that’s not inflammatory, not belittling and not accusatory.

I watch my kids and their curiosity, their sense of wonder about everything around them. The things that come out of my 3-year old’s mouth shock and amuse me constantly. But they’re honest, curious questions. Everything from “Do all boys have a penis, or just big boys like daddy?” Or “What is my nose stinking about? Did somebody fart?” “Why do flowers come in the spring? Don’t they like winter?” “When I was born, did I come rolling out of you, Mommy?” The questions! The innocence! The hunger for more knowledge! She’s truly interested in it all and it amazes me.

While we have matured enough (hopefully) to not go around blurting out some of these questions, we certainly can learn from them. Turn that curiosity inward, with just curiosity, not judgment or blame. “Why am I eating if I’m not hungry?” Let the answers come and accept them, consume them, learn from them. “I’m tired and it tastes good.” Okay. Okay, good. We’re getting somewhere now. “Why did I keep eating if I was full?” “Why am I choosing foods that don’t make me feel good after I eat them?” Do you see how these questions are kind and curious? They’re not hateful or mean and they elicit the kinds of responses that can help you learn more about yourself.

If you’re like me, you want to know when you get to step out of curiosity and into change… The answer is when you stop trying to step out of curiosity and into change! As long as you’re trying to change someone (including yourself), you’re not really being curious, are you? You’re being manipulative and trying to control the results. Being curious is just that: curiosity. Looking for clues. Seeking insight. Into you! Who could possibly be more interesting than you? The why’s and how’s of who you are, the what’s and where’s of how you think – these are fascinating discoveries!

When you stop trying to change and start seeking to learn, you’ll find that your curiosity has given you permission to BE. And in being free to be, you may find that you don’t have to control it all so much. By not controlling it all so much, you’re less likely to judge. By not judging, you’re able to let go. By letting go, you may find you’re not lashing out and reaching for things that you used to deem as “bad” and maybe grabbed them just to show you, to show them all that you can make yourself feel better. You can eat what you want and no one’s going to stop you! Because guess what? You don’t have to show them, or yourself, anything. You’ve been watching and asking and kindly observing how you operate and you can love those parts of yourself. You’re not “cheating” or “falling off the wagon”, you’re living and you’re aware of what you’re doing and you love yourself for taking care of yourself in whatever way you know how.

Some people fear that by letting go of the control, they’ll be eating take-out and donuts and cake until they gain 500 lbs and nobody loves them. My question is this: If you have to control yourself with such militant restraint, what pleasure is there? If you ate a donut once in a while because you wanted it and because it tastes good and because you have complete trust in yourself and compassion for who you are and why you’re eating it, wouldn’t that be a safer, more kind place to live? And wouldn’t you know that kind of trust if you’d taken the time to ask yourself a little bit about yourself? Instead of looking to a magazine that promises rapid weight loss or the latest diet craze to hit Pinterest, look inside. Find out who you are. Ask questions about what you want. How do you want to live? Who do you want to see living your life when you look back in 20 years? What do you want to eat? Right now? There’s no wrong answer. Promise.

In case this is all too vague and heady, I’m going to share with you an example of a conversation that I might have with myself:

I want a cookie.

Mmm, that sounds good. A cookie. Are you hungry?

Not really, but I want it.

Okay. I mean a cookie is just a cookie after all, but why eat it if you’re not hungry?

Well, it’s not often we have fresh baked cookies and it looks so good and I know it will taste good!

I bet it will! Fresh baked cookies are the best! So, if you really want it you should totally eat it. I’m just curious though, why don’t you wait til you’re hungry?

I don’t know. I guess I’m impatient because it’s going to taste good either way.

True. Is it possible it will taste even better when you’re hungry than it will when you’re not?

I guess.

I’m not trying to talk you out of it, really! You can have it if you want it. I’m just curious. If it will taste better when you’re hungry, what’s the harm in waiting?

I know, I know, you’re on the edge of your seat wondering what happens next, right? Well it depends. Some fears might pop up. What if I’m not hungry later and I miss out on all that fresh goodness? Well, realistically, it’s not the last cookie I’m ever going to have a chance to eat. The end of this conversation could go either way. If I want it, I’ll eat it. If I don’t really want it and I know I’m not hungry, I won’t. Either way, there’s a kind curiosity here. Do you see it?

I want this for you. I want it for all of us. Not just with food, but with life. If you don’t like how someone is acting (including yourself), you can be curious about it and separate yourself from the judgment of the action. Look deeper into the feelings and thoughts behind what’s happening and learn more about them (or yourself). Curiosity can take you deeper into relationship with others and yourself if you let it. I hope that you will.

Their curiosity and kindness has taught me more than any book ever could.

October 24, 2013March 15, 2020

Chicken Curry Recipe Review – Gluten and Dairy Free

Once a week I try a new recipe. This leaves me some wiggle room with tried and true favorites and standards that everyone is used to. I like to experiment, but I certainly do not want my family to not look forward to dinner! This week I experimented with a new chicken curry recipe by Dr. Mark Hyman, MD. We were not disappointed! Dr. Mark Hyman, MD practices functional medicine, which looks for the root cause of issues instead of treating symptoms. He is a pioneer in his field and offers so much wisdom and education with his books, blog and website. I hope you’ll check him out here.

I make chicken curry every once in a while. I love the coconut milk and abundance of vegetables. I usually use a curry paste (red or green) made by Thai Kitchen. This recipe only called for curry powder and I didn’t think I’d like it, but we all did. In fact, my 20 month old ate her entire dinner for the first time in days!

Rarely do I deviate from a recipe when it’s my first time trying it out. In this case, I changed only a few things. I used a red pepper instead of green because it’s what I had. I added broccoli and a little Bragg’s Liquid Amino for color and flavor, respectively. I prepared organic brown rice and mixed it in 10 minutes before serving and it was enjoyed by all.

So check out this recipe and add something new to your menu next week! The amount of vegetables and color will make your body happy! Choose organic chicken if you can. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Curious about Bragg’s Liquid Amino? It’s like soy sauce except healthier and full of amino acids! Check it out:

October 23, 2013February 8, 2020

Start Your Day with Lemon Water

Every morning, after I take my Female Balance (my favorite natural PMS remedy), I boil some water and squeeze a half of a lemon into it. This is how I start my day. Not coffee. Not food. Hot lemon water. Lemons are like a scouring pad for the body’s insides. From mouth, to throat, to stomach and intestines, lemons scrub away the gunk and start your day off right. Digestion, especially, is improved by lemon water. Having it first thing in the morning gives your kidneys a wake up call and flushes out toxins. Unlike coffee which is acidic and oily, coating the stomach walls so that you don’t properly absorb the nutrients of the food you eat, lemon water goes in and paves the way so you get the most out of all those healthy meals you prepare.

You don’t have to limit this practice to only the mornings. Drinking lemon water 15 minutes before a meal will aid in the digestion of that meal. In his book, The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods, Dr. Michael Murray, N.D., lists lemon water as one of seven steps to controlling candidiasis, an overgrowth of yeast found in 1 out of 3 people! He states that the lemon water will enhance digestion. Don’t read “digestion” as just having a bowel movement; it actually means the entire process of digestion, which starts with the enzymes in your saliva before you take your first bite. Digestion also includes stomach acid breaking down your food and your body absorbing the nutrients of your food. When digestion isn’t functioning properly, no matter how well you eat, you’re not going to get the most out your meals.

I want to also tout briefly the other nutritional benefits of lemons. They are an excellent source of vitamin C, which boosts your immune system. They also contain good amounts of vitamin B6, folic acid, flavonoids potassium and limonene. Limonene is a phytochemical being studied for the dissolution of gallstones and anticancer activities. Promising stuff!

A random lemon water note: My husband has a history of kidney stones and his doctor told him drinking fresh squeezed lemon in his water everyday would keep them away. He explained that the lemon juice goes into the kidneys and breaks up the stones that may be forming. Needless to say, he gets the other half of my lemon in his water each day and knock on wood, he hasn’t had one since. It should be noted, though, that lemon peels contain high amounts of oxalates and could contribute to the formation of kidney stones.

Another random lemon water note: When my parents were visiting, my dad informed me that his dad started his day off with hot lemon water every morning also. This is something I never would have known because he passed before I was old enough to know him. He lived a long, healthy life though, with a strong constitution. Coincidence? Maybe, but I’m proud to share a habit with him that I know keeps me healthier.

Like anything, it’s a habit. Just like starting the coffee pot, waiting for it to brew and taking that first sip. Sitting down with a cup of tea. Checking your e-mail. The things you look forward to doing every day. This can be one of them. Leave the lemon squeezer, lemon and full teakettle out the night before as a reminder. Once you get into the habit of starting your day with hot lemon water, it will be easy to remember, and perhaps, like me, you’ll miss it dearly when you don’t have it.

And don’t get me started on plastic! Use a stainless steel lemon squeezer like this one:

October 16, 2013March 14, 2020

Natural Remedy for PMS

That empty spot? That was mine…

It’s here! My latest shipment of Female Balance has arrived. I want to share this with you, for your mothers, daughters, wives, sisters or any woman you know who may struggle with hormone fluctuations that wreak havoc on everyone and everything.

PMS (premenstrual syndrome) is not a friend of mine. In fact, about five years ago, I realized that the issues in my relationship always revolved around that one pesky week of each month. My insecurities would rise and my sensitivity would heighten. It seemed like everything hurt my feelings during this time, which would lead to deep, dark “discussions” with my boyfriend. Many tears were shed. Many days I felt like I didn’t know who I was and I wondered if I had some alter ego taking over my heart and mind. I do not want to make light of what horrible out-of-control feelings occur during that week leading up to your period. Sometimes I walked around feeling like the tears were building up behind my eyes and it would only take one thing, just one thing, before the dam burst. Other times, I was angry, dissatisfied with life, with my relationships, my friendships, my present, my past, my future and I would spread that frustration everywhere I went. The decisions I made in my non-PMS life were mature, responsible and confident. Faced with similar choices while PMS-ing, I made choices based on insecurity, fear and sadness.

I tried Female Balance on a whim and within a couple of months my boyfriend said, “This stuff has saved our relationship.” I tried not to let that comment hurt my feelings… Then I realized, he was right. He’s my husband now and he’s been with me through the many up’s and down’s of figuring out how to regulate my moods. Nothing has helped like Female Balance. It’s been so long since I’ve had those mood swings that I can barely remember them. Until I talk to a client or a friend… and then I remember just how awful PMS was for me and can be for many women. If I get low on Female Balance, my husband is the first to say, “Spend the money. Buy it. It’s important!”

The company that makes Female Balance is Apex Energetics. During my education at John F Kennedy University, I attended many of Apex’s conferences and seminars; their products are incredible! Female Balance is a homeopathic blend designed to regulate your hormones and it does just that! The label states that it is used “for temporary relief of menstrual cramps, backache during menstruation, sadness, and menstrual irregularity”.

You can order Female Balance through me (use the Contact Form) or search for it online. Unfortunately, they’re not offered through Amazon, though I’ve found them online before, for roughly $19 a bottle. I sell them for $18 a bottle and cover shipping costs when you order three or more. When starting out, I recommend three bottles because you start off taking it three times a day. As time goes on, you will either not need it or need it only once a day and then it will last much longer.

If you are just starting out with this supplement, or are one of my clients and need a reminder, this is how it is often used: One dropper full three times a day (under your tongue) for a month (or a cycle), then taper down to twice a day and after another month, once a day. Some women find they can go off of it completely after a little while and their hormones remain steady. I am not so lucky. Whenever I run out, I feel that creepy, crawly feeling inside of me that something is not right. I also end up with pimples around my chin and jaw line when I’m not taking it. This is the area that breaks out due to hormonal imbalance. When I’m taking Female Balance, these breakouts stop. With homeopathic remedies, it is not recommended that you take them with coffee or mint. I take mine once a day, first thing in the morning, about an hour before brushing my teeth or drinking any coffee. Another thing I recommend when trying any new supplement is to chart your own progress – this is how you know if things work or not! Before taking something, write down, on a scale of 1-10, how you’re currently feeling regarding the symptoms you’re experiencing. Then, after a month of taking it, check in with yourself or perhaps your spouse to see if there’s a noticeable difference. If not, try for another month at the same dosage and proceed from there. There will be times that supplements don’t have an effect on you and that’s okay. There are other options available. Better to try with consistency, to give it 100% and know for certain whether something could have an incredibly positive influence on your life or not.You can order Female Balance through me (use the Contact Form) or search for it online. Unfortunately, they’re not offered through Amazon, though I’ve found them online before, for roughly $19 a bottle. I sell them for $18 a bottle and cover shipping costs when you order three or more. When starting out, I recommend three bottles because you start off taking it three times a day. As time goes on, you will either not need it or need it only once a day and then it will last much longer.

October 10, 2013February 8, 2020

A New Mop for Non-Toxic Floor Cleaning

Remember that post I did on non-toxic floor cleaner? You can see it here: Non-Toxic Floor Cleaner. I still love this cleaner, but I wasn’t thrilled with the method. It worked when I had the house empty and I could pick everything up and mop and let it dry. It worked great. However, when there’s one messy floor or a spill or a sticky spot, it became wasteful to make a bucket of cleaner, only to have to clean one area. I put it in a spray bottle too, as a good friend suggested and it is one of my favorite cleaners for all surfaces, but mopping was not simple.

Then I heard about this mop in a mom’s group and I went to check it out. While it’s $31 on Target.com, it was on sale for $18 at Target. I hear the sale is over but it’s still only $19.99 now. I wanted to use it a few times before posting about it and now that I’m sure I love it, I’m sharing it with you. It is the Rubbermaid Reveal Microfiber Spray Mop System. The one on-line comes with extra microfiber pads, whereas the one in the store only has one pad. They’re washable and the bottle can be filled with the cleaner of your choice. If you want the $19.99 version and don’t have a Target near you or you want to order online, like I prefer, check out Amazon:

I’ve now used this mop more times than I can count and I only purchased it a week ago! I have quickly mopped the dining room, the bathroom, the kitchen floor or a hallway whenever I had a minute and didn’t have to wait til the kids were sleeping or the house was empty. I fill it with ¼ peroxide, 10 drops of tea tree oil and the rest water and it’s ready for me whenever I need it. I just thought you should know, in case, like me, you can only get around to mopping once a week just because there’s not enough time. This mop makes it easy!

I have no affiliation with Target or Rubbermaid. I only want to share with you because I love it! I do have an affiliate account with Amazon, and purchasing through the Amazon link above will contribute to this website (and cost you nothing extra!).

This is the trigger you pull to release the spray.

October 7, 2013January 14, 2020

Dad’s Apple Crumble Gluten-free

I remember eating dad’s apple crumble many, many times… (We grew up calling it “apple betty”, but I thought I’d call it a “crumble” to avoid any confusion.) I remember sneaking in and eating the crumbles off the top because they were the best part! I even saved the piece of paper I scribbled the recipe on probably 10 years ago. I had called him one day, craving this warm, sweet, apple goodness and he told me how he made it. Maybe I’m just sentimental like that, but I like to remember…. moments. I hope this becomes a staple in your family the way it has in mine. Simple. Easy. Good.

Dad’s Apple Crumble

Ingredients

5c sliced apples (more is better)
1 Tbsp flour (any gluten-free flour blend will do)
5 Tbsp white sugar (I use organic, unbleached)
½ c oats (I have Jules organic certified gluten-free instant, which I like to use for baking)
½ c brown sugar
½ c flour (any gluten-free flour blend will do)
¾ tsp nutmeg
¾ tsp cinnamon
1 stick butter (to make it dairy free, use a stick of Earth Balance)

You can see I have 9 apples here. In retrospect, I could’ve used even more. The apples cook down and the more the merrier as far as I’m concerned!

Directions

Peel and slice the apples. Spread them out in a 9×13 or 8×8 pan. The size of the pan totally depends on how much of a ratio you want of crumble to apple. I like to make it in a 9×13 so it seems to last longer! Sprinkle with flour and white sugar, mix together with a fork so the apple slices are covered.

Combine oats, brown sugar, flour, nutmeg and cinnamon. Place butter on top and cut it into the mixture with two knives until the butter is in tiny clumps covered in the mixture. Pour crumble mixture on top of the apples evenly.

Bake for 30 minutes at 375. Serve hot, warm or cold, with or without ice cream. Enjoy!

See my scribbled note, Dad?
Makes me think of you!

October 2, 2013January 14, 2020

Healing Disordered Eating, Part 1

I really keep meaning to write about nutrition, supplements, and health. I have so many posts I’ve started about lemon water, meal-planning on a budget and more recipes. However, my heart is leading me elsewhere and so I follow.

I say this is “Healing Disordered Eating, Part 1” because I believe there will be many more posts on this subject because disordered eating is thick and deep and intense, as are we. So, where should we start?

The first step to healing, the one that I had the hardest time taking, is kindness. Yup, kindness. To start with, kindness for oneself is so challenging and yet, isn’t it said that you can’t love others until you love yourself? I have to disagree. I have loved and continue to love deeply, though at times I have not loved myself. Let it be said, though, that as I have learned to be kind to myself, my love for others flows more freely and without obstacles. So, perhaps it should be said, you can’t love others freely until you are freely loving yourself.

I wish it was as easy as saying, “Be kind to yourself” and then we could move on, but it’s not. It’s a daily, hourly, by-the-minute practice. It takes conscious effort until it becomes your unconscious norm. Kind thoughts, kind feelings, kind words, kind actions…. Where, oh where do we start?

Let’s get one thing straight: Mean people suck. It’s true. They leave such a bad taste in your mouth and perhaps a PTSD feeling whenever you think about encounters you’ve had with them. I’ve been hurt so badly by people I’ve trusted and by complete strangers. These encounters are not easily forgotten. They shape our view of the world. Words can hurt. Period. I’m sure I’ve hurt many people as well and I am sorry that there have been times I was a “mean person”, or acted meanly. I’ve been most hurtful to myself. Perhaps you have too.

I hear stories about bullying and I cringe. How can people be so cruel? Of course this kind of cruelty is not just small town, schoolyard drama; people are fighting on social media, bullying on blogs, and just being violent and hateful in general. And so it spreads to a national and global level that makes me scared for my children, for all children. And then it just makes me angry.

Before my anxiety and frustration can run rampant, I have to bring it home and I invite you to do the same. Start with yourself. Affirmations go a LONG way. (A quick aside: I practiced an affirmation every day for a few months that stated, “I run five miles effortlessly.” At the time I started the affirmation, I was walking and jogging two to three miles every other day. A couple months in, I truly was running five miles and it was effortless. Making a long story short, it worked!) When a negative thought comes into your mind, try adding, “And I love myself.” Or say, “I am loveable.” Because you are. I know it. Some affirmations to try are the following: “I eat when I’m hungry. I stop when I’m full.” “I am beautiful, healthy and strong.” “I am kind to myself.” “I take care of myself.”

Be nice. To yourself, to others, to all. I don’t have all the answers to the cruelty that exists in the world, but I know it starts somewhere deep within, some kind of wound that festers and breeds all kinds of ugliness. So heal it. Heal deep down inside, the places that you don’t want people to see and the places that cause you to lash out at others when they get too close. The insecurities. The failures. The “I’m not good enough’s”. Speak kind words into those places.

I’m sorry if you thought this was going to be a step-by-step posting on how to cure your roller-coaster dieting or your binge eating struggles. I wish I could give that to you, but it starts deep within. It starts with kindness. That first, giant step is one that will lead you on a path of complete healing. I can almost guarantee it. When you eat something you think is “bad”, try saying, “I ate this and I am still loveable.” Step off the scale and step into your life because it’s moving forward and you deserve to live it. Stop agonizing over it. Stop bullying yourself. This kindness that your spirit so desperately needs is waiting for you. Speak it. Find it. Feel it. If you want off the roller-coaster and you want to feel comfortable in your own skin again, the exit, the starting line, the journey, and the destination are all at the same place: Here. Now.

I do offer intuitive eating coaching sessions and will continue to post Parts 2, 3, 4 and however many I come up with for this subject of disordered eating that is so near and dear to my heart. For now though, practice kindness.