Recommendation for Stress

Hi all! I haven't blogged in quite some time and I am happy to report the my health has been improving slowly but surely as I move forward in the healing process.

I wanted to take a moment to recommend a great product that has helped me tremendously with anxiety and stress. Its a natural supplement by Shaklee called Stress Relief formula. I have to say that since I started taking it over a year ago, my sleep is better and I no longer have that pit of anxiety and fear in the bottom of my stomach. Click her to check it out and get 15% off!

Hope you are all well and would love to hear how you are doing!

Top Ten Weight Loss Tips

Happy New Year everyone- I have a great feeling about 2010 and I hope it's a great year for all of us! I am re-posting my top ten weight loss tips- I feel that a lot of people could benefit from this info:

Top ten things I do each day to keep over 100 pounds off:

I haven't mentioned this in my blog until today- I used to weigh 250 pounds and I am now maintaining a healthy weight range of 142-147 (I'm 5'8"). If I was still obese I am almost certain that my health problems would be have been ten times worse because of it.

1. Eat six times a day- healthy meals with protein, veggies, starchy veggies, some fruit, some oil. I also eat organic as much as possible, and I limit eating out to a couple of times per week.

2. Exercise- I try and walk (sometimes moderately hike) everyday, and I do my best to practice a healing form of Chi Gong two to three times per week. It has done wonders for my body, my mind, and my overall health.

3. Pray- I keep as connected to my Higher Power as possible. If I don't remember that I am not in charge and I try and control things, then my food and my life get completely out of hand.

4. Journaling- I try and write every morning about what is on my mind, especially if something is troubling me. I find that this helps to keep me emotionally grounded and I no longer need to turn to food to cope with my feelings.

5. Drink plenty of water and stay away from soft drinks, coffee, and blended drinks of any kind. I usually drink different flavors of iced tea, and I brew several different kinds at home most days. As a side note: I no longer use artificial sweeteners- I prefer liquid stevia for all of my sweetening needs.

6. Don't eat processed foods- the amount of chemicals and additives in processed foods are nothing that my body needs. They don't give me the nutrition I need (usually they are empty calories), I feel like crap after I eat them, and in my personal experience most of them cause me to crave more food after I eat them. They simply aren't worth the trouble. If I need a quick snack I can have a piece of fruit and some nuts to get me by.

7. Prepare meals/food ahead of time- I try and cook a lot of my food in advance. I will buy five or six days of protein and either bake it in the oven or BBQ it. That way I always have healthy foods available when I come home to eat. Same goes with my veggies- I make several days worth at a time so that I am always prepared for my next meal without having to think about it (sometimes that can get me into trouble!).

8. Limit fruits- personally I have problems with my blood sugar and I find that when I eat a lot of fruit it not only goes straight to my stomach (the pooch), but it causes my blood sugar to drop about an hour after I have eaten. This is a big set up for a binge and I avoid eating fruit by itself as much as possible. If I do have fruit, I combine it with a protein to keep my body stable. I used to only eat fruit twice a week; now I eat it every other day instead.

9. Support group- I regularly attend a support group for people with eating problems. If I wasn't open to a group I would either see a therapist that was familiar with weight issues (I do that also) or I would find a buddy who would exercise with me and we could support each other in our weight loss.

10. Acceptance- I know that this is a hard concept for people, but it has worked wonders for me in all areas of my life. I had to accept that I was overweight and I needed help. While I was loosing the weight, my focus had to be on getting my insides better instead of obsessing about the extra weight I was carrying. Once I accepted myself as I was, and felt gratitude for the fact that I was doing something to improve the situation, the weight began to come off easily. I have also found that self- love is extremely important and telling myself that I love myself in the mirror everyday has become part of my routine.


Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about my routine or the support group I attend- I am more than happy to help.

One of My Favorite Spiritual Guides

Check out the recent testimonial I wrote about one of my favorite spirit guides/psychics Melissa:

I have been going to Melissa for the past several years and it has always been a wonderful experience. That face that I continue to seek her guidance after all of this time should say volumes about how much her readings help. I've found clarity during some of the most stressful times of my life. When I leave a session with her, I feel uplifted and positive about what is about to happen in my life. She has been RIGHT ON THE MARK about job issues (including the fall of Bear Sterns), health, and relationships. Additionally she has suggested ways for me to grow and become more grounded and happy in my life over all. I cannot recommend her highly enough! If you want clarity, direction and answers, she is the woman to see.

Make sure and check out her web page by clicking on this posts title!

I've Got To Sing My Song

I wanted to share the DVD I just got back from my singing performance in June- it was an amazing experience and I am blessed to have been strong enough to do it. I hope this inspires others to push past some of their limitations and see what they can accomplish if they put their mind to it! Click on the post title and it will take you right to my video.

My Amazing Visit With A Psychic Medium

Hi all,
I wanted to share with you the fantastic session I had with Marilyn Papa, who is a very gifted Psychic Medium. I can't say enough about how great her energy is, and what an emotional and eye opening reading I had. First of all, when I fist walked into the room, I was struck by how peaceful and loving the energy was, and how comfortable I immediately felt. I was blessed to not only have received messages from people that I have always loved and who have passed, but I left knowing that they were always with me and I am never alone. How beautiful is that? Honestly, if that knowledge was all that I received from this experience, it would have been more than enough, but I can happily report that it was so much more than that.
Marilyn could see me very clearly and was able to get to the heart of many of the issues that have been holding me back. In addition, she was also able to keenly hone in on what my life has been like, and some of the stuggles that I have gone through-it was quite touching. I was asked to bring a list of questions, and by the end of the sitting, they had all been answered in one way or another. Big stuff like my health, my move to Santa Barbara, and the topic of romance and marriage. I was really moved by the reading, and at one point the heat in the room became quite strong- that's how powerful the energy was in there! Anyway, I left there feeling touched, motivated, hopeful, grateful, and with an undeniable feeling that I had just had a life experience that I was not going to forget any time soon. In fact, I think it will stay with me for the rest of my life.
I have included a link to Marilyn's website below- she is in the LA area, so if you live here or are visiting, you can have a session with her in person. If you are out of the area, she does great phone sessions as well. I am not one of those who just believes that all mediums are for real, or even talented, but I truly think that she is one of the very gifted ones. I really can't recommend her highly enough. Feel free to contact me as well if you have any questions, and promise me that you will let me know about your visit once you see her for the first time. You won't be sorry!

http://www.moonridgespirit.com/index.htm

Sharing the Recipe for Two of My Favorite Dishes

As a lot of you know, I don't eat sugar or sugar free items, so I have to get my kicks from somewhere! The following two recipes are for winter squashes that I eat on a daily basis- I look forward to them and what's even better is that they are healthfully prepared and good for you too:

1. Butternut squash: preheat oven 400,spray a non stick pan with cooking spray or coat with oil, cut butternut squash into cubes and place in pan, then sprinkle with cinnamon, nutmeg and salt, cover with foil. I usually cook it for about 20-25 min with the foil on, then I take a spatula and flip the cubes over and let them finish cooking with the foil left off. If it happens to get too dry then add a bit of water and cover again. You can also use this on Acorn and other similar squashes but they are more delicate and cook much faster.

2. Kambocha: preheat to 350, put some water in the bottom of a non stick pan, cut squash into pieces and sprinkle with the same seasonings as the butternut squash. Cover with foil and after about 25 min check it to see how far it has progressed. This squash is a little trickier- if you cook it too much it dries out or even becomes like shoe leather. I have also found that when you buy the squash its best to get one that looks older and is not a vibrant green- when they are a vibrant green they aren't quite ripe and the don't turn out very well.


Let me know how it goes!!

Just Dance

Check out this wonderful email I received this morning- it really set a great tone for my day:

"Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music."

Angela Monet


Dear Erika,

Dance to the music of YOUR soul.

Who cares if no one else hears the beat?

Who cares if you dance alone?

Who cares if you look silly?

JUST DANCE

Passion is an INSIDE JOB!


Blessings,

Rev. James J. Mellon-Bailey
Founding Pastor
The NoHo Arts Center for New Thought


Check out our website:
www.nohonewthought.com

Are You Having A Romance With Life?

I just got back from church a few hours ago and it was a great service with a fantastic talk! Essentially the message was a wake up call to really dance with life and the universe and not hold back out of fear and old ideas. Our reverend asked the question "are you waiting to do what makes your heart beat faster, what makes you feel fully alive?" My response was yes and no. The stronger I get physically and emotionally, the more I reach out and try and do the things that make me happy: sing, be in nature, ride horses, sit in the sun. On the other hand, I also let my fears and my limiting beliefs stop me from even attempting many other things that I know bring me joy.
What is it in your life that you would like more of? Is there something that fills you with joy, makes you smile, and completely carries you away once you are "in it?" I have decided to challenge myself even more and reach for the things that fill me up- no more excuses. Are you ready to do the same?