How Well Do I Love My Body?

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How Well Do I Love My Body?The topic for our group call this month is weight loss, so this month’s article encourages us to  focus on the ways our body serves us and how we can serve it, which helps us to accept—yes, even love—our bodies and to stop obsessing about appearance only.

If losing weight is one of your goals, it helps tremendously to have a loving relationship with your body. Sometimes people are afraid if they love their body as it is, and they are not the size or shape they’d like to be, that it will be more difficult to drop the extra pounds or firm up the muscles. They say, “I don’t want to love this extra weight, I want to just concentrate on loving the body I want to have instead; the body that is underneath this extra weight!”

The thing is, when you love yourself for who you truly are, and who you see yourself becoming, that vital connection strengthens you as you take better care of yourself by making healthier food choices, drinking enough water, getting enough fresh air, exercise, and sleep, so that it is much easier to lose any extra weight.

Its our thoughts about ourselves that can be damaging or productive. Furthermore, our own opinion of ourselves influences others’ opinions of us much more than we realize.

Below is a list of statements that will give you some positive ways to see your body and hopefully help you be more open in how well you love your body. As you read through these statements just notice how they feel in your body. Do you feel any resistance? Sadness? Hopefulness? Do any of them make you smile? Just observe how they land for you.

1. I do things that let me enjoy my body—dance, take a hot bath, walk, get a massage.

2. I see myself as a whole person, not just as a body.

3. I wear comfortable clothes that I really like and that feel good to my body, rather than trying to hide or camouflage my body or to follow uncomfortable fashion trends.

4. I act the way I would if I had what I consider an ‘ideal’ body.

5. I do things I enjoy and don’t let my weight or shape keep me from it.

6. I tell my body at night how much I appreciate what it has allowed me to do throughout the day.

7. I appreciate that my arms enable me to hold someone I love, that my thighs enable me
walk and run.

8. I exercise to feel good physically and clear my mind, not only to lose or maintain weight.

9. I count my blessings, not my blemishes.

10. I think of my body as a valuable gift.

12. I consider myself the expert on my body, not the fashion magazines, the cosmetics industry, the weight charts.

13. I am as “in love” with my body as an infant is.

14. I think of my body as a tool, as an instrument of my life, not just as an ornament.

15. I act as though I am my body’s ally and advocate, not its enemy.

16. I listen to my body and take its needs and wishes into consideration when making decisions.

17. I refuse to waste time criticizing my body or worrying about my appearance, and instead spend my time on something more productive.

18. When someone says, “You look great today,” I enthusiastically respond, “Why, thank you so much!”

How did you do?

Remember, your cells are very aware of every thought you have, so you never want any part of your body to feel unloved. It’s important to put as much love into your body as possible.

If you struggle in this area, I would love to help. Join me for my Group SimplyHealed™ phone session where we will be “de-fragging your bio-computer”, releasing limiting beliefs that are keeping you stuck and sluggish in the area of weight loss, and “installing” new, positive thought patterns to help you get healthy and stay healthy! Register here.

Author’s content used under license, © 2008 Claire Communications

Green Smoothie Power

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Green Smoothie PowerI start almost every day with a green smoothie, my husband usually has two a day.

I do not measure anything, just toss in what’s in the fridge of freezer, or what I feel like for that day.

And, btw…I don’t pay much attention to those who say smoothies have too much sugar.  It is all natural sugar from fruits and my motto is, if it was in the Garden of Eden, I’m not going to be fearful about eating too much of it. (Says the girl who just ate an entire watermelon by herself!)  -Hey, it was one of those smaller, seedless kind…don’t judge me  *smile*

I’m all about simple, and this makes it simple for me. I buy the huge bags of Kale and Spinach at Costco, then separate them out into small baggies (a big handful size) and put the small baggies back into the large Kale or Spinach bags (just to make it easy), then put the big bags into the freezer.  So when I’m preparing a smoothie I just pull out a baggie or two of each.  Yes! It gives me 2+ servings of greens before I’ve even exercised or showered!

If you are serious about this, you really need to invest in a high-powered blender.

I invested in a Blendtec a few years ago and love it!  Ours gets used many times a day.  Another great brand is VitaMix. Green Smoothie Girl has a great article about blenders here:

http://greensmoothiegirl.com/favorite-things/tools/blenders/

GreenSmoothie

This is my basic Green Smoothie Recipe:

  • 1 small baggie kale
  • 1 small baggie spinach
  • Banana
  • 1-2 cups Frozen fruit– whatever combo you like.

Note: Berries will give you a brown not green smoothie. And I prefer not the berries with seeds. Peaches, Mangos, Pineapple, Cherries, Berries, or mixed combo!

  • Any non-dairy milk – Rice, Almond, Hemp, Soy, Coconut

Note: my favorite is Rice because it tastes a little sweeter. I do about ¾ cup and then the rest water –

  •  Optional Additions:

1-2 Tab. Chia Seeds

1-2 Tab Ground Flax seed

1 tsp coconut oil (not too much or its greasy)

Sometimes I add some mint leaves, or a tsp of vanilla flavoring. You may want to add some Stevia or Agave nectar – I used to do that occasionally, but I’ve been off sugar for so long that this tastes plenty sweet to me.  If I add extra greens I will throw in a date or two to add some sweetness (make sure the pit is out).  And the dates don’t always blend completely so you may get little chunks of sweetness here and there –mmm, delightful!

If I have any fruit or even salad items that I know won’t get eaten before they get too old, I just chop them and put in a baggie in the freezer to throw in a smoothie!  I never throw out old fruit/veggies anymore.  The veggies can be thrown into a soup, or enchiladas, lasagna –whatever. They are a great exchange for the cheese and meat.

 

Here’s another refreshing idea:

Lately, we’ve been freezing watermelon (chunks) and then putting them in the blender (alone) for a delightful melon slush! Yumm. (add in a little mint too!)

 

Enjoy!  This is such a fun journey ~ and every cell in your body will love it!

What’s Up With A Plant Based Diet?

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What's Up With A Plant Based Diet?

Many of you know I eat a whole food plant based diet and have asked for some resources to look into and get a feel for how that would work in your life. Yay You!

I’ve gathered up some of my favorite videos to help get you started:

Forks over Knives

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfY2C4WaJ3s

If you are interested at all in moving towards plant based diet, I highly suggest watching the documentary Forks over Knives. Here is their website: http://www.forksoverknives.com/

There are so many documentaries similar to this. If you google “plant based documentaries” you’ll find several lists. You can probably find many of themat your local library or on Netflix.

Also, if you go to Youtube and search for plant based diet, there is a lot of info.

My favorite authorities on this subject are:

Dr. Neal Barnard  –love this-  “Breaking the Food Seduction”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDgA3T_JF2A

Dr. McDougall

Dr. Furman

Dr. T. Collin Campbell   author of “The China Study”

Dr Caldwell Esselstyne

Rip Esselstyne author of “The Engine 2 Diet”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv-lE6f7Gug

Juliana Hever –author of “The Idiot’s guide to Plant Based Nutrition”

Juliana has a great 9 min Tedtalk here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgCSunBfREQ

That’s the talk I wish I would have written and given. *smile* She also has many videos (short cooking demos) on YouTube with Chef AJ, called “The Chef and the Dietitian”.

You can also do a search for plant based nutrition BLOGS –there are many with great recipes and ideas!

I will list some of my favorite plant based recipe blogs in an upcoming blog post.

Please comment below on how these helped you, or if you have any questions!

Muscle Testing

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Muscle TestingMuscle testing is a great little tool that provides information on energy blockages, the functioning of the organs, nutritional deficiencies, and food sensitivities, among other things. It can also be used to test the body’s responses to herbs, essential oils, and other remedies. It is a non-invasive way of evaluating the body’s imbalances and assessing its needs. The body’s responses will either test strong or weak when applying slight pressure to any muscle.

I’ve taught classes on muscle testing for many years, and have noticed one thing that people really seem to struggle with.

I often get asked, “If you’re testing supplements it will always give you an answer either yes or no, and that will be a ‘Universal truth’”.

But when you’re testing for emotional issues it may test strong for someone on a negative belief they have about themselves but that is not a “Universal truth”, it is just a false-belief they have about themselves. It is just their own truth they have come to believe.”

So why does muscle-testing give the truth on
remedies, and not the ‘real’ truth for
negative misperceptions about ourselves?

Why does it work one way with remedies & supplements,
etc, and in a different way with emotions?

I can understand the confusion about this IF you are assuming that a strong response always means true and that a weak response always means false.

Think of it more in the sense of how does that resonate with what my patterns and beliefs are. Because what we are actually testing is:

Does this resonate with my body?
Does this resonate with my emotions?
Does this resonate with what my belief about this issue is?

Whenever you say or think something that resonates as true with your subconscious mind, the electrical and magnetic fields around your body actually become stronger therefore strengthening the muscle.

Similarly, when you say or think something that resonates as false with your subconscious mind, the electrical and magnetic fields around your body actually become weaker, so the muscle will test weak.

Let’s take this example of a woman who is a good mother, but is struggling in that area right now. If I test this statement on her:

“I am a good mother” and it goes weak, it is not saying that that statement is false and the truth is that she really is not a good mother – that is not a “Universal truth” It is simply showing that she has some doubts about her mothering at that time (or some stored ones) in her subconscious or conscious mind that are weakening the electrical and magnetic fields. The worry and doubt she has about it are what is making it weak.
The fact that it is not a “Universal truth” does not mean that the muscle testing is working in a different way than if we were simply testing for a supplement.
Again, we are seeing how strong or weak the energy is, not if something is true or false.

muscle test coverI hope that clears that up! Feel free to add your comments below and let me know…

If you need more clarity or want to WATCH and learn how muscle testing is done, I recommend my DVD, The Art of Muscle Testing available here. That way you can watch it as many times as you need to, practice, practice, practice and you’ll be a pro muscle tester in no time!

Do Different Energy Modalities Interfere with Each Other?

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Question: “Is it a bad idea to try lots of different methods of energy healing?”

In this short video I give my answer about how different methods of energy work can work together and how you can determine what works for you and what doesn’t.

dedication energy work

How Do Dedications Work?

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In an Ask Carolyn call, someone asked me the following question:

Q. Is it okay to do energy healing work for people who are not present or people who don’t know you’re doing it for them? If so, why? How does it work? And how can it help?

A. Great question! This is my answer.

Special Mother’s Day Gift

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Special Mother's Day GiftCall me a party-pooper, but I’ve never really loved Mother’s Day. Oh, I’ve had some good ones over the years, also some not-so-great ones, but all in all, let’s just say it is not my favorite holiday.

Don’t get me wrong, I like being able to honor my own mother, and give her the thanks she deserves, but since she lives in a different city I don’t usually spend the day with her.

I’ve had this conversation with other moms over the years, so I know I am not alone. I think the thing is, it is a day specifically set aside where we feel (or we choose to feel) “judged” on our mothering skills. And as much as I try not to, if I’m really honest, I do find myself comparing myself to moms who seem to have it all together. I’m talking about moms who…

  • always speak in quiet tones to their children,
  • have dinner on the table every night,
  • are on the booster club of every sport their child participates in,
  • volunteer constantly at their children’s schools,
  • understand the ‘new math’ and how to explain it to their kids,
  • never miss reading with them at bedtime
  • have a healthy breakfast AND after school snack every day,
  • know how to make a delicious apple pie,
  • bake their own bread (including grinding their own wheat)
  • have an immaculate home,
  • are always caught up on laundry,
  • know the exact right words to say to get their kids to practice piano or other musical instruments every day,
  • actually have long term follow-through on chore charts,
  • have all their scrapbooks up to date,
  • know how to say “no” and mean it,

…the list can go on and on if we let it.

Mothering is so individual and such a tender topic, none of us want to go to church and hear stories of amazing mothers and feel we can’t measure up. But the truth is there is no “perfect mother”.

However, I do believe we are all “perfectly matched up” in a way that is divinely orchestrated by God, with the little souls that come into our lives and call us mama.

I trust that as mothers we are all doing the best we can. It really helps to recognize and acknowledge our own gifts, abilities, and talents, and how those fit with the needs and gifts of our children.

This year I will be traveling on Sat, spending Mother’s Day Sunday with a friend, then attending a coaching/collaboration retreat for a few days. So, I was feeling a little bad about not being home for Mother’s Day- then this idea floated in:

“Write each of your kids a sweet note telling them how much you adore them and love being their mother!”

Wow, just that thought makes me see Mother’s Day in a different (and much better) light. Instead of making it about me, (since I am the mother, after all), I now see it as a fantastic opportunity to make my kids feel special and remind them of my unconditional love for them.

I may not do all the things on that list above, but my children are mine for a reason. I am blessed that I get to be mother to these special souls. God knows my weaknesses, my tendencies, my imperfections, and he sent me the children whose personalities can help me and teach me. And boy, do we learn a lot from being a mother. And I love every second of it!

Family Stress Test

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Family Stress TestStress is a natural and normal “by-product” of every family’s life. In fact, family stress can bring out the best of us: as we stretch to meet the challenges we face, we become better parents, our children blossom and our families grow. But too much stress can spiral our families in the other direction. Take this Thriving test to see how your family fares.

Set 1

1. There is a lot of bickering in our house. Someone is always angry at someone else.

2. There’s never enough time to sit down together, either to talk or to eat. There’s always too much to do.   3. My spouse and I argue a lot about how to raise the children.

4. It’s like pulling teeth to get the kids to help around the house.

5. Our family has experienced a lot of significant change recently (divorce, death, blending family, job loss, illness, other trauma).

6. Money is very tight. My partner and I have constant conflicts about how to spend it.

7. My child has been having behavioral problems at school.

8. The children get upset when they hear us arguing.

9. I work too much, and it’s really getting to me.

10. We don’t really talk about hard issues; we just try to hold our breath, wait and let them go away.

Set 2

1. We acknowledge feelings, encourage their expression and allow time for dealing with the issues these feelings raise.

2. We plan time for family activities. And we eat together at least once every day.

3. If a blended family, we maintain and nurture original parent-child relationships and let new relationships develop in their own time.

4. I feel confident in my role as parent.

5. Our family easily maintains a sense of humor and playfulness.

6. Family priorities take precedence over work.

7. I know what’s important to my kids.

8. When issues arise that we get stuck on, we ask for help from other family members, support groups, community-based programs, clergy and/or a therapist.

9. We have enough money for the important things.

10. Everyone in the family has responsibilities around the house and does them without being nagged.

If you answered true more often in the first set than in the second set, you may want to seek help lowering the stress level of your family. Families that communicate about problems, who face issues as they arise, who support one another and seek help when it is needed, can build strong bonds among themselves, nurture a healthy and loving family and have a lot more fun doing it!

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Do you have a family that puts the FUN in dysfunction? Do you cringe at the thought of spending a weekend with certain family members?

Or, maybe you have a great family, but there’s been some recent ‘upsets’ that have caused some tension or awkwardness.

And yes, even if you feel like you are the only “normal” one in your family! We are the chain-breaking generation, and it’s time to release those unhealthy patterns.

Join me for our next Group Energy Clearing Session!

Author’s content used  under license, © 2008 Claire Communications

April Is National Poetry Month

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April Is National Poetry Month“Inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month is now held every April, when schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets throughout the United States band together to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture. Thousands of organizations participate through readings, festivals, book displays, workshops, and other events.” ~ The Academy of American Poets

One of my favorite poems:

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes

You can steer yourself any direction you choose.

You’re on your own. And you know what you know.

And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

~Dr. Suess

Have a favorite poem or poet? Share with us below!