I Love What I Do...Can You Say The Same Thing?

I LOVE what I do. I can't say that was always the case but it is now. About a year and a half ago, I retired from my day job and I have loved my life nearly every day since then.

I am the founder of Your Power Your Health, Nutritional Consulting and Holistic Health Coaching and I am a Health and Nutrition Coach.  As a coach, I work with people, mostly women, who want to regain their youthful vitality, avoid or reverse lifestyle related diseases and conditions like diabetes, heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. When they work with me, I give them the tools to regain the power and control they yearn for over their lives and health.

I'm also a WomenHeart Champion Community Educator. As a WomenHeart Champion, I go into the community to speak to people, again mostly women, about women and heart disease. Often what they hear from me surprises them. They learn about how cardiac events show up in women and what they may look like. They learn some facts and figures about how prevalent heart disease is among women and most importantly they learn where to go for support if they find themselves with or at risk for heart disease. WomenHeart is the only organization strictly in support of women and their cardiac health.

As an almost ten year breast cancer survivor and an almost two year survivor of a cardiac event called a Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD), I have been called to change my life and to help others do the same for themselves. When I recovered from cancer, I decided I never wanted to deal with that again so I changed everything about my life. I lost 135 pounds, removed processed sugar from my diet and over a period of about two years, became a non-dairy gluten-free pescatarian. And I never felt better.

Although I changed everything about my lifestyle after the cancer experience, I still had a SCAD. My arteries are clear, my blood pressure is good, my cholesterol is low. And yet, my coronary artery still dissected. Why? Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of information about this condition but it is getting more attention these days. What they know is it affects many more women than men and there may be a connection between SCAD and a condition called Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD). FMD increases your risk of aneurysm and possibly stroke, depending on which arteries are affected. I happen to have that condition.

Prior to my SCAD, I had no knowledge of FMD as you are typically asymptomatic when you have it where I do. I know someone who has it in her carotid arteries and she hears the sound of rushing water in her ears constantly. I'm fortunate not to have that issue.

I feel like I have dodged two gigantic bullets in my life but the lessons of those events have not been lost on me. I feel like I've been given multiple chances to do things better and want to use the remainder of my life to fulfill my mission to make this planet healthy, one human being at a time.

As I said, I love what I do. I hope you find something you love to do if you haven't already. It changes everything.

As a health coach, I work with women who are facing serious health challenges like heart disease, metabolic syndrome and diabetes or who have been diagnosed as having a precursor to a serious health issue such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or high blood sugar. I help them make food and lifestyle changes so they can get healthy, live longer and enjoy a fuller, happier, more energetic life. If you would like to have a free consultation about the health challenges you have and the improvements you would like to see in your health, click here to schedule a no strings attached call.

What's Eating You? Could It Be What You're Eating?

Did you know that Americans are sick and getting sicker? In medicine we have all the latest technology and pharmaceuticals. We have highly trained specialists and well equipped medical centers. We have access to all the latest and greatest in medicine but yet we are becoming more and more unhealthy. Why is that? What is wrong with us that is making this happen?

According to this article, more than 100 million adults have pre-diabetes or diabetes. About 122 million have cardiovascular disease and about 840,000 or about 2,300 people per day die from it. Three out of four or 75% of adults are overweight or obese. What all of this means is that there are more of us who are sick than who are healthy. READ THAT AGAIN. There are more of us who are sick than who are healthy. Wow! But what is making us so sick? I think you know the answer to that question. But in case you don't, I'm about to tell you.

IT'S THE FOOD! It's what we put in our mouths every day at least three times per day. Our poor dietary habits are causing at least a half a million deaths per year and it is the leading cause of mortality in this country.

According to the findings in this study, dietary factors were found to be associated with a substantial number of deaths from heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. These diseases are not only a significant drain on our physical health but they are also straining the healthcare system.

We are seeing more and more evidence of type 2 diabetes and cardiac disease in younger and younger members of our population. Young children are presenting with the cardiovascular system of someone much older and in poor health. Obesity in children is a growing concern. Children are more sedentary, preferring to play with electronic devices rather than outside with their friends. Couple that with a high consumption of highly processed and fast food, sugary soft drinks, and foods that have been stripped of nutritional components and filled with preservatives to extend shelf life and you have the perfect storm for a shortened lifespan. This is the first generation that is not expected to have as long a lifespan as the generation before.

This is startling information but what can be done about it? It is a very complicated issue with a lot of underlying issues. Over-scheduled families don't have time to cook wholesome meals at home. Parents are weary of fighting with kids to get them to eat healthy food. Families find it more affordable to eat highly processed fast food than to eat healthy alternatives. Overwhelm and confusion from so much information overload about what foods are good to eat lead people to give up trying to figure it out. Misleading labeling on processed foods makes people believe they are eating something good for them when in fact it is often quite the opposite.

One of the easiest ways to choose quality food is to eat food that doesn't come with a label...meaning food that is from nature. Eat from the produce aisle of the grocery store or eat grass fed, pasture raised, hormone and antibiotic-free meats in small quantities, or wild caught fish. Your plate should consist mostly of vegetables, some fruit and a small amount of animal protein, if any. Stay away from processed foods and anything in a box with ingredients that you wouldn't put into a recipe. Remove sugary breakfast cereals and soft drinks from your diet completely. Following these few tips can help to improve your diet a lot.     

I work with people to help them understand how to discern what is healthy vs. what is not only unhealthy but downright harmful. I help them learn to read labels and provide ideas on food preparation that is simple and quick for busy families. Go to my website for some easy healthy recipes and see below to contact me for a no strings attached call to see if I can help you.

As a health coach, I work with women who are facing serious health challenges like heart disease, metabolic syndrome and diabetes or who have been diagnosed as having a precursor to a serious health issue such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or high blood sugar. I help them make food and lifestyle changes so they can get healthy, live longer and enjoy a fuller, happier, more energetic life. If you would like to have a free consultation about the health challenges you have and the improvements you would like to see in your health, click here to schedule a no strings attached call.

False Evidence Appearing Real

 False   Evidence   Appearing   Real

What holds you back? Are you afraid of failure? How about success? Maybe rejection? Are you living your dreams? Or are you working at a job you don't care much about or even dread going to every day?

We all  have something we're afraid of; something that keeps us from doing what we want to do. It may be because of past failures or the anticipation of a future failure...you know, something that hasn't happened yet.

Fear has a purpose. It's a survival mechanism. It's what has kept the human race from dying out. It is our brain's way of keeping us safe. It works like it should when we are in a dangerous situation, like if we're being chased by a grizzly bear. Chances are, you have good reason for fear in that scenario because you aren't likely to win that showdown. But when you fear something that has never shown itself to be dangerous but to you is unknown, that could be F.E.A.R. rather than fear. Our F.E.A.R. keeps us from growing and living the life we were meant to live. It keeps us from stretching our creative muscles. It keeps us stagnant. 

Now, if you want to have the same thing you always had then keep doing the same things you always did. Because if you always do what you always did, you'l alway get what you always got. Who needs that? I have never met anyone who was so deliriously happy with the status quo they wanted to stay in the same place for the rest of their lives. To me, that is a terrifying version of the movie, "Groundhog Day". 

With that being said however, I often find myself being held back by my F.E.A.R. Although, I have recently overcome my fear of public speaking and now you can't shut me up. It's a matter of proverbially closing your eyes and jumping right in. 

If you follow the 5-Second Rule (Mel Robbins), you can start to overcome your fears. What is the 5-Second Rule, you ask? It works like this...you make a decision to do something, count backwards from 5 to 1, and jump right in before you have a chance to talk yourself out of it. This tricks your brain into not trying to protect you from the imaginary grizzly bear. It works, and the more you practice it, the better it works.

Challenge yourself to do something that scares you. You may find that it wasn't nearly as scary as your F.E.A.R. made it out to be. Try it and see.

As a health coach, I work with women who are facing serious health challenges like heart disease, metabolic syndrome and diabetes or who have been diagnosed as having a precursor to a serious health issue such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or high blood sugar. I help them make food and lifestyle changes so they can get healthy, live longer and enjoy a fuller, happier, more energetic life. If you would like to have a free consultation about the health challenges you have and the improvements you would like to see in your health, click here to schedule a no strings attached call.

A Balanced Life...Is It Possible?

What is a balanced life really? We've all heard of work/life balance but few have been able to really achieve it, until they no longer have to work. We've heard of a balanced diet but there are many people who aren't really sure how to achieve that either. You can balance your checkbook, look at the balance in your bank account, and hopefully maintain your balance when you climb a ladder, but do you know how to have a balanced life?

If your life is out of balance you may want to look at what's going on. Really assess your life as it is right now. Are you working too much? Are you struggling to maintain personal relationships? Is your health questionable? Are you practicing adequate self-care? Are you eating well? Are you getting enough sleep? Are you finding ways to have fun and relax?

Do you know what a balanced life would look like to you? The first step after making an honest assessment of your life, is to determine what balance is to you. Everyone's definition of a balanced life will be different. Ask yourself the questions outlined above and decide where you are lacking. Here are some tips to bring balance into your life where you need it.

• set boundaries - You cannot be all things to all people, including your family members. You teach people how to treat you. You can be supportive without being enabling. Everyone will benefit from you setting healthy boundaries for yourself.
• set goals - Sometimes we are out of balance because we are spread too thin doing a little of this and a little of that but never really finishing anything. Or maybe we procrastinate and then have to be all in to complete what we put off, putting everything else on the back burner. If you set goals and break down the goals into manageable steps, you will have time to do other things.
• set priorities - You get to decide what your priorities are, not someone else. Decide what is important, what needs to be done right now, what can wait and what you can delegate to someone else.  
• take consistent action - Decide what you need to do and do it consistently. Exercise regularly, be prepared to eat well every day, go to bed and get up at the same time every day and set routines for yourself. This will help you to free up time for other areas of your life.
• schedule your time - decide how you will use your time by using a schedule to map out your day, your week, your month. You may not be able to stick to it all the time, because you know...life, but most of the time a schedule will help you to say on track.
• make self-care a priority - If you don't take care of yourself, you can't take care of anyone else. You cannot pour from an empty vessel.  Be kind to yourself, do what you need to do to make sure you stay healthy, vibrant, and energized to get through your days.
• take breaks - you don't have to be "on" all the time. Make time for you and take breaks as you need to. The rejuvenation you will experience will help you to be more effective when you return to whatever you were doing.
• do a digital detox - I know that sounds really scary, doesn't it? Put down the phone, turn off the computer and the television and get out in nature. Look at the world around you, smell the aromas of the earth, listen to the sound of the birds and everything else. You don't have to do it for long but an hour or two won't kill you. Use the time to meditate, read a book, cook a healthy meal, take a nap, or go for the aforementioned walk.

These are but a few of the ways you can rebalance your life. Balance doesn't necessarily mean that everything in your life gets the exact same treatment, time allotment, or focus of energy. It means that you are happy and feeling at peace with the way your life is going. If that isn't the case, it's time to reassess and take stock of where you might be falling off the rails. Then do what you can to rebalance. By balancing your life, you can show others by your example what it means to live a balanced life. It's for your own and everyone else's good if you do.

As a health coach, I work with women who are facing serious health challenges like heart disease, metabolic syndrome and diabetes or who have been diagnosed as having a precursor to a serious health issue such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or high blood sugar. I help them make food and lifestyle changes so they can get healthy, live longer and enjoy a fuller, happier, more energetic life. If you would like to have a free consultation about the health challenges you have and the improvements you would like to see in your health, click here to schedule a no strings attached call.

What Is Your Superpower?

As I mentioned earlier in the week, we lost my dear cousin Kathy to pulmonary hypertension. Today we laid her to rest. It was a very sad day for our family. We listened to our cousin John talk about what it was like growing up with Kathy from the perspective of her younger brother. It started out as a typical annoying younger brother/impatient older sister dynamic and later morphed into a relationship of friendship and deep love and respect. We heard John tell the story of how Kathy used her superpowers for good.

Kathy was an incredible nurse who anyone facing a medical situation could count on for guidance and expertise. She was an incredible patient advocate for anyone who needed her...including herself. Regardless of your issue, Kathy was able to educate herself about what your particular ailment was and help you to not only understand your condition but also help you find the best solution for you.  She made sure you were cared for. If someone ended up needing surgery or to be in the hospital for any given time, she was there for the patient and the family. This was her superpower.

Today made me think...if I had to leave this earth today, what would someone say was my superpower? Would they say I was kind and caring? Was I generous and giving? Did I help ease pain and suffering? Was I good at what I consider my calling as a health and nutrition coach? Did I set a good example for people around me? Did I act in integrity? Was I someone people could count on? Did I raise good kids? Was I a good wife?

I know I have many good people around me who love and respect me. I have good friends I know I can count on and I hope know they can count on me. I love and care deeply for the people in my life. I'm also scrappy, sarcastic and outspoken. I speak my mind and I don't usually back down from a fight (verbal not physical). I will also defend someone I feel is being unjustly treated. I won't tolerate bullying or exclusionary treatment of people. I hate when people are treated as "other".

So, what is my superpower? I hope people will think I was a good person who made a difference while I was alive. I hope I will have made someone or many people's lives a little better by being here. I will never be half the person Kathy was, but she gives me something to aspire to. She makes me want to be someone who can help people find a healthier version of themselves.

My mission is to make this planet healthy, one human at a time. If I can do that...just a little, maybe that is my superpower.

As a health coach, I work with women who are facing serious health challenges like heart disease, metabolic syndrome and diabetes or who have been diagnosed as having a precursor to a serious health issue such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or high blood sugar. I help them make food and lifestyle changes so they can get healthy, live longer and enjoy a fuller, happier, more energetic life. If you would like to have a free consultation about the health challenges you have and the improvements you would like to see in your health, click here to schedule a no strings attached call.

Fat Is NOT The Problem!

Sometimes I think it's important to repeat information I have shared before because I think it's something that we all need to understand. This is one of those posts.

I recently read yet another article about how the sugar industry paid for research to implicate dietary fat, rather than sugar, as the major contributing factor for heart disease. The research was being conducted in the 1960s and was being funded by an organization called the Sugar Research Foundation. The group directed the outcome of the study to deflect blame from sugar and onto fat as the primary cause of heart disease. Interestingly enough, there was no mention of where the money for the study came from when the results were published.

The results of this so-called research has been the basis of the dietary guidance we have been given on prevention of heart disease for over fifty years. The problem is, however, we have not seen a decrease in cardiovascular health problems, but rather the opposite. 

Obesity is a major contributing risk factor for developing heart disease and ever since we have been cutting fat from our diets, waistlines have grown, not shrunk. Fat reduction also means taste reduction so in order to sell low fat or non-fat foods, the fat was replaced with, you guessed it...more sugar! What a perfect way to not only deflect blame but also to use more sugar in the production of processed foods. It was a win-win for the sugar industry!

Marion Nestle, Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health at NYU was quoted as saying, "Is it really true that food companies deliberately set out to manipulate research in their favor? Yes it is, and the practice continues. In 2015, the New York Times obtained emails revealing Coca-Cola's cozy relationships with sponsored researchers who were conducting studies aimed at minimizing the effects of sugary drinks on obesity. Even more recently, the Associated Press obtained emails showing how a candy trade association funded and influenced studies to show that children who eat sweets have healthier body weights than those who do not.

Seriously??? Kids who eat candy are at a healthier weight than kids who snack on things like fruits and vegetables? I don't think so.

More studies have to be conducted by impartial researchers to see how significant the link is between sugar consumption and cardiac disease but the link is there. The results of the studies done in the 60s are flawed and should be heavily discounted if not ignored. Our misguided belief that fat is the enemy has been a contributing factor to the obesity epidemic we now face in modern society. We need to rethink the dietary guidance we have been given for the past fifty plus years. 

The bottom line is, we should be eating whole, mostly plant-based foods. If we eat what nature intended in moderation, we will go far in maintaining a healthy weight and a healthy lifestyle. It's when we reach for the highly processed convenience foods that we get into trouble. Stick with the real food. Mother Nature knows what she's doing.  

You can read the whole article here.

As a health coach, I work with women who are facing serious health challenges like heart disease, metabolic syndrome and diabetes or who have been diagnosed as having a precursor to a serious health issue such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or high blood sugar. I help them make food and lifestyle changes so they can get healthy, live longer and enjoy a fuller, happier, more energetic life. If you would like to have a free consultation about the health challenges you have and the improvements you would like to see in your health, click here to schedule a no strings attached call.

Did You Ever Have One Of Those Days?

Did you ever just get up in the morning and feel like things just might not go well? I rarely wake up feeling like that but today I did. I was just "off". It's nothing I could pinpoint but it was just that feeling.

First, I slept longer than I wanted to. I woke up earlier and should have gotten up at that time but I didn't. When I came downstairs, I had some stuff to do like laundry that I just didn't want to do. Usually, laundry doesn't bother me but today it got on my nerves.

Then, I was in search of a document I was sure I had somewhere but I couldn't find anywhere. I had to call the place where I got it and couldn't find anyone who could help me. It's nothing earth-shattering, just a nuisance. So now I have to call back next week when the person who might know what I'm talking about is in.

I also had a couple of unpleasant phone calls that any other day might not bother me quite so much but...today.

And to top the day off, I lost my credit card. I went into a store with it in my hand, paid for my merchandise and came out to the car. The next thing I know, it's missing. I have no idea where it ended up. The store didn't have it and it wasn't in the parking lot.

I had this feeling of anxiety all day. I'm sure part of it is because I've been thinking about my cousin who, you may remember, passed away on Monday. We're attending the funeral Saturday and I'm dreading it.

But here's the thing...I am not going to let a lousy day turn into a lousy week. Even though this might not seem like a bad day for someone else, it was for me. But I looked back on my day and this is what I saw:

• I maintained my eating plan and my intermittent fasting schedule and I have all week. Another time I might have thrown that right out the window as soon as something went south in my life.   
• I was not baited by one of the unpleasant phone calls that I might have fallen into the trap of another time.
• I lost the credit card but I have others and I was able to freeze it with a simple phone call.
• I went to the gym for the 19th day in a row. Again, I might have used the day as an excuse to not exercise.

I committed publicly to exercise daily and eat according to the plan I laid out for myself and I intend to honor that commitment to the extent I am able to do so. This was one day and it was moderately lousy. It really was more of an internal feeling of uneasiness that I had all day and that may have made it lousy. But here I am at 11:00PM after exhausting myself at the gym and I feel pretty good.

And after all, tomorrow is another day. - Scarlett O'Hara Gone With The Wind

As a health coach, I work with women who are facing serious health challenges like heart disease, metabolic syndrome and diabetes or who have been diagnosed as having a precursor to a serious health issue such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or high blood sugar. I help them make food and lifestyle changes so they can get healthy, live longer and enjoy a fuller, happier, more energetic life. If you would like to have a free consultation about the health challenges you have and the improvements you would like to see in your health, click here to schedule a no strings attached call.