Happy New Year!

Well the New Year is finally upon us again! I hope that if you have made any New Years resolutions, that you do not allow them to cause you any STRESS while you work towards accomplishing them. I spent some time reflecting on some of my past resolutions and I remembered how each one made me feel.
When my goal was weight loss (10 years ago) I felt that I put tremendous pressure on myself. This can set you up for an unfavorable result. For instance, instead of focusing on the enormous difficult task of weight loss (which is food and exercise) focus on the small steps you will need to take on your path.
Here is an example:
1. Add more water into my diet each day. Aim for 1 liter of a mineral water (Evian, Volvic, Jana and Fuji are my favorite) Add a pinch of sea salt to your bottle and finish the bottle each day.
2.Eat breakfast and Try a new breakfast: 2 organic egg omelet with tomatoes or veggies, nitrate free smoked salmon on rice cakes with strawberries and blueberries, a home made smoothie with flax seed, steel cut oatmeal or a quinoa cereal.
3. Take time on Sunday to prepare foods for the week so that when you are hungry, you are prepared.
4. Plan your meals ahead of time and don't go food shopping while you are hungry.
5. Keep your sugar levels even throughout the day.
6. Limit caffeinated coffee to before 2pm each day
7. Have alternative snack and munchies ready for when you feel a craving. There are so many delicious snacks such as strawberries and raspberries with 2 tablespoons of a real whipped cream. Try fresh cut veggies with hummus or salsa. Pumpkin Seeds are filling with an apple dipped in fresh honey. Put some peanut butter or almond butter in the ridge of the celery. Veggie Soup is also a good snack.
8. Eat a well balanced dinner and allow yourself something sweet for dessert. Maybe an ounce of a high quality dark chocolate, or berries dipped in melted dark chocolate.
9. Start by adding at least 20 minutes of exercise. You can even break it up. Try squats or walking lunges in your home. Climb your steps 2 at a time and do it 3 times. Park far from the store and walk. Jump rope.

As you begin to add a new change every few days, you will begin to feel better and then see results.

Maybe your resolution is to spend more time with the people you love and care about a lot, or the people you laugh a lot with. But you say, what about the other people (who sometimes bring you down but are in your circle?) Give yourself permission to say No! this year. Don't make plans unless you know you will truly have a great time. Spend your time with people that give off a positive energy. If you look for it, you will know who they are. Those people will make you happy.

Laugh a lot this year!!!!! Don't watch the news while you are eating or before bed. It's bad for you.

Another thing that will help to alleviate your stress and get you to a better body is to get to bed earlier.

Choose Organic foods when possible (especially proteins, eggs and dairy) as well as certain fruits and veggies.

Try giving up Gluten for at least 2 weeks. Most of you will tell me your stomach feels flatter and you have more energy and mental clarity. Go on...try it!

"Gluten is a sticky protein found in a number of grains that helps bind things together. Basically, it’s the “glue” that helps bread hold its shape, stops sauces from curdling, and gives cheese spreads, canned meats and many condiments their smooth texture.

Gluten is ubiquitous in our food supply today and is found in everything from oats, bran and cereal – to the not so obvious – ketchup, soy sauce, chewing gum and salad dressing. Truthfully, if you eat any type of processed food, you’re likely eating gluten." an excerpt from precision nutrition


Gluten Free Grains
Amaranth - Teff- Buckwheat
Quinoa- Sorghum - Millet
Rice and Corn

Hidden Gluten
Broth - Deli Meat- Rice Mixes
Sauces- Seasoned tempeh & tofu
Seasoned tortilla chips
Seasoned potato chips
Soymilk - Soy Sauce
Veggie burgers & dogs

Most of all.. Be grateful for this year and everything that you have. Be appreciative of all the people in your life who mean something to you. Admire every sunrise and sunset and yes, even the snow when it first falls.

Always have a smile, and things won't seem so bad. Look for the positive in every situation and this year should be pretty great. Remember, how we perceive any situation is our choice. Yin and Yang says that everything has 2 sides (in order to exist) So your job and a Resolution can be to focus on what you consider to be the positive message in every event.

Happy New Year!

Improve your health and you will automatically REDUCE THE STRESS.

Tip of the moment form Stress-O-MOM-oter is:
LoLA
Laugh Often Love Alot!!!!!