Weight Loss

Health & Fitness

Smiling is very important. If we are not able to smile, then the
world will not have peace. It is not by going out for a demonstration
against nuclear missiles that we can bring about peace. It is with
our capacity of smiling, breathing, and being peace that we can make
peace.

- Thich Nhat Hanh

Know Your Veggies 

I found this interesting.  Not sure how true it all is but worth a shot.    

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye...and YES science now shows that carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart is red and has four chambers. All of the research shows tomatoes are indeed pure heart and blood food.

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows that grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds are on the nut just like the neo-cortex. We now know that walnuts help develop over 3 dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.  

Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.  

Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet the body pulls it from the bones, making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.

Eggplant, Avocadoes and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats 1 avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? .... It takes exactly 9 months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).

Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.  

Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries  

Grapefruits, Oranges, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist
the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.  

Onions look like body cells. Today's research shows that onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes.

~Author Unknown

Have You Heard the Drum?

Have you ever been to a Native American/Indigenous People’s Pow Wow? Or how about a concert when a long drum solo that has capture you’re attention? Or when you were young, standing on the street as a parade walked by heard the drums coming closer from the marching band, Did the excitement built inside you? Did the drums get your feet to march as well? If you listen closely to these beats and rhythms did time itself seems to stretch or speed up to these primal sounds?

You are not alone if it seems that certain sounds and drumbeats affect you in ways that seem unexplainable, or impossible, so it may seem. At certain times we have heard a song on the radio and it moved us in such a personal way and it has been proven that the beating of a drum can do the same thing.

Research has shown that certain sounds can produce brainwave patterns in humans. They can resemble a dream like state, sleep or even excitement depending on the patterns and frequency of the sounds produced. And believe it or not we are made up of energy or spirit. That energy can be measured and affected by certain sounds and other energies. Sound is nothing more than energy. Currently there are several research studies on how to harness sound energy in many applications.

In January 29, 2005 an article by Ann Trieger Kurland from the Globe Correspondent wrote that a Dr. Barry Bittman, a neurologist, conducted scientific studies on the impact of hand drumming on health. "In one study, he found that stress levels, measured by the hormone cortisol, decreased in participants. In another, he found positive immunological changes in certain cells of the people he studied." Michel Drake a writer, rhythmist, and ceremonial drummer of Cherokee descent stated in his article about shamanic drumming that "Other studies have demonstrated the calming, focusing, and healing effects of group drumming on Alzheimer's patients, autistic children, emotionally disturbed teens, substance abusers, trauma patients, and prison and homeless populations. The primitive drumming circle is emerging as a significant therapeutic tool in the modern technological age."

In all cultures the drum was present. Even before you were conceived a drum beat was waiting for you. It was present in your life before your first breath, and it was sounding in your ears when you were first formed. That first drum was your mother’s heartbeat. After you were removed from the womb they put you upon your mother’s chest to return you back to a state of calm as you listen to your first drum. Even in your earlier childhood when you got hurt your mother would hold you to her bosom, and the sound of the heartbeat would calm & comfort you.

For many of thousands of years The Shaman’s of the tribe or villages were the healers, wise men/women, and leaders in things spiritual. And one of the tools that were used to see beyond the visual eyes and to help people in their time of need was the drum.

So the drum can do many things…If used by a learned person (Shaman) it can heal or find problems in your body. It can also have you enter into an altered state of conscienceless and induce what would be a dream state (journeying) and because it can do this, the drum was at one time outlawed in Europe for over 200 years by many religious factions.

Almost all the aboriginal people still on this planet know the power of the drum and the benefits of it without questioning. Not to mention that no two drums are really ever the same in the sound they produce because they will all have a slightly different tone even if you cannot perceive it with the natural ear and this vibrational energy can be harness much like people.

There is now though, moving through the underground and the corporate world as well a beat that has the ability to help you learn about yourself and the world around you. Not only that but the world within you and the power of the drum is just one of the keys you can use. It is a simple and with some training you too can find the path you were meant to be on before worldly clamor shut out your inner voice of truth.

I know that many who read this material will dismiss it without even finding out if it is true or not. But I ask you to keep an open mind. Herbert Spencer is quoted as saying "There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments, and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance that principle is contempt prior to investigation".

Keeping an open mind is key to unlocking the barriers that have held you in the chains of the mundane. Many doors that are closed to you know can be opened and all it takes is the courage to step through. One of the greatest teachers said that he stands at the door knocking that is the beating of your own drum the heart.

So if you like to find out for yourself what drumming can do for you find a teacher or guide and prepare for a journey of a lifetime.

By

Robert W. Vaughn

June 2006

Reconnecting with Nature – Part 1

by John Newport, Ph.D.

I am currently reading a fascinating book by Richard Louv titled "Last Child in the Woods". In this groundbreaking work, Louv portrays the debilitating effects on children, as well as adults, of various disturbing influences in modern living that serve to isolate us from our natural environment. As a wellness advocate, I share his sense of concern over our growing sense of isolation from nature. I also believe that this has profound implications affecting our ability to achieve maximum growth and enjoyment in our journey through recovery.

As Louv points out, we’ve reached a point in history where incredibly large numbers of people have become overly enmeshed with technology and have lost touch with the natural world. He coins the term "Nature Deficit Disorder" to describe our growing sense of alienation from nature. He goes on to present a compelling case that a number of disturbing childhood trends that have risen to prominence over the past several decades – including obesity, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), and depression - are directly linked to the lack of intimate contact with nature in our harried modern day lives.

Likewise, I suspect that our increasing sense of isolation from nature is closely tied to our growing epidemic of alcoholism and drug addiction. As we have moved away from a sense of connection with our natural roots, a profound spiritual void has been created. In a misguided effort to fill this gap, millions of young people, as well as adults, have turned to artificial means of sensory stimulation – including the addictive use of alcohol and other drugs.

Reconnecting with the Source

As a child growing up in the mid-1940s in an apartment house just outside of New York City, I was definitely reared in an urban environment. Yet directly in back of our complex was a wooded area where I spent countless hours with my buddies exploring every nook and cranny of our little stream and its adjacent banks. Later in my childhood we lived in a little town in upstate New York, where I spent the Summers and weekends exploring the surrounding countryside with my adopted collie dog "Snow".

These were very happy, carefree times of exploration and day-dreaming – invaluable experiences that fostered a deep-seated sense of connection to a power in the universe that is infinitely greater than myself. Yet when I reflect on how few children in today’s world have the opportunity to enjoy the close contact with nature that I experienced, I am deeply saddened. In our obsession with technological advancement and material consumption, we have replaced open access to meadows and streams with the harshness of the concrete jungle and endless miles of clogged freeways. And by doing so, I fear that we have unwittingly deprived our children of those truly magical moments of childhood that are nurtured by direct and intimate contact with our natural surroundings.

I firmly believe that our growing sense of alienation from nature lies at the root of much of the unrest that permeates our society today. Along these lines, I fear that as a culture we’ve become caught up in a dangerous pattern of over-consumption and exploitation of precious natural resources that threatens the very livability of our planet. By the same token, I believe that this process is reversible. Indeed, I suspect that a large part of the "cure" to the growing sense of alienation that we experience in our busy modern lives, lies in our ability to creatively find ways to SLOW DOWN and reestablish our primal connection with nature. I believe that reconnecting with our natural surroundings is of vital importance in attaining a firm grounding in our individual processes of recovery – as well as in taking proactive steps to prevent both young people and adults from succumbing to the perils associated with alcoholism, drug addiction, compulsive workaholism and other addictive disorders.

In next month’s column I will elaborate on this theme and offer my thoughts concerning steps that we can take to strengthen our recovery through reconnecting with nature. In the meantime, I’d like to close by encouraging you to get outside and do some exploring on your own – seeking creative ways of reconnecting with your own natural surroundings. Until next month – to your health!

* * * * * * * * * * * *

John Newport, Ph.D., is author of The Wellness-Recovery Connection: Charting Your Pathway to Optimal Health While Recovering from Alcoholism and Drug Addiction (Health Communications, Inc., 2004). He is a free-lance writer and wellness counselor based in Port Townsend, Washington and is available (either in person or by telephone) for low-cost personal counseling on all issues relating to wellness and recovery. To contact "Dr. John", visit his website at www.wellnessandrecovery.com or call (360) 385-0229. The above article originally appeared in "Steps for Recovery" (www.steps4recovery.org).

THE WELLNESS-RECOVERY CONNECTION
By: John Newport PhD

For those with drug or alcohol addictions, arresting that dependency is, obviously, crucial for survival. But overcoming addiction’s insidious effects on the body by taking charge of one’s health is critical as well. Newport, a wellness professional and counselor with 25 years of experience, focuses on the "neglected stepchild" of recovery: basic wellness concepts that, he says, are often disregarded. Newport emphasizes that "taking it one step at a time" works for integrating a wellness-oriented lifestyle into recovery. Years of drinking and doing drugs produce an undernourished body that needs a decent nutritional foundation, which Newport covers in detail. Additionally, many former alcohol and drug addicts develop new addictions (to caffeine, nicotine or junk foods), and Newport discusses ways to prevent this from happening, including engaging in "moderate intensity physical activity," stress management and meditation. He outlines meaningful applications to accompany the spiritual dimension of wellness and recovery, and challenges readers to set long-term goals. Numerous resources, from literature to Web sites, will be of further assistance. This excellent book would be a fine supplement to any recovery program. (Jan.)

 Health Communications, $12.95 paper (300p) ISBN 0-7573-0213-0
Preview from Publishers Weekly    For further information on "The Wellness - Recovery Connection", visit www.wellnessandrecovery.com.

Did you know...U.S. consumers eat about 74 pounds of added sugars per year, according to 1999-2002 survey data analyzed by researchers at the BHNRC's Community Nutrition Research Group. That's about 23 teaspoons of added sugars every day--or 460 calories that supply no additional nutrients.

In the Agricultural Research Service's new online table, added sugars are defined as those sugars added to foods and beverages during processing or home preparation. The data reported are estimated values based on the added sweeteners listed under "ingredients" on the package labels of processed foods and beverages. Some added sugars listed under ingredients include honey, molasses, fruit juice concentrate, brown sugar, corn sweetener, sucrose, lactose, glucose, high-fructose corn syrup and malt syrup. This special interest table will help users identify foods that contain high levels of added sugars.

The new table is entitled "USDA Database for the Added Sugars Content of Selected Foods." Entries are listed alphabetically within 23 food groups such as "Baked Products," "Fast Foods" and "Snacks." To download the new special interest table as a PDF or Excel file, go to:
http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=12107

Plans of Eating

WEIGHT LOSS AFFIMATIONS

CRAVINGS
To all of you gathered here
I say: Good fortune.
Dig up craving
--as when seeking medicinal roots, wild grass--
by the root.

Don't let Mara cut you down
--as a raging river, a reed--
over & over again.

-Dhammapada, 24, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

I recognize and reject all false messages of hunger now
I forgive myself for eating unhealthy foods
I'm able to refuse extra helpings now
I alone am responsible for my eating habits and desires
I say no to refined sugar and say yes to foods that are
naturally sweet
I've happily freed myself from harmful food additives
I choose proper eating habits over skipping meals or
starving myself to lose weight
Stomach aches and the need for antacids are a thing of the
past
I'm free of all physical symptoms of overeating
I'm drinking plenty of water every day
In complete joy, I'm free of the temptation to eat
processed foods
I've now dissolved the desire to eat past the point of
being full
I put only the appropriate amount of food on my plate
I forgive all those who laughed at me
I've let go of any desire for foods that cause discomfort
I'm free of all desire for refined sugars
I eat right because I respect my body and my health
I've dissolved all issues around eating and acceptance
from others
I've let go of all food addictions and obsessions in total
peace
All desire for bleached foods has left me for good
I know that the best way to reach and maintain my ideal
weight is by eating right
I transcend any feelings of unworthiness
I forgive myself for any unhealthy eating habits
I substitute high fat foods with foods naturally high in
water content
I understand and appreciate what eating right does for my
body
I forgive myself for being influenced by diet fads
All diet related problems are behind me now
I've let go of all resistance to eating right in divine
grace
I know the difference between fad diets and lifelong
healthy eating habits
Any eating disorders or addictions have vanished forever
I happily decline all offers for high fat, salty and
sugary foods
My diet is now free of all refined sugars
I choose health over convenience every time
Any food obsessions are a thing of the past
I trade high fat foods for high-energy foods
Eating and emotional comfort are separate for me now
I'm willing to adjust my diet to achieve my health and
fitness goals
When I'm comfortably full, I say no to another helping
I eat the foods that energize my body and mind
I enjoy learning about the affects of all foods on my body
I always make wise food choices-even in restaurants and on
holidays
It's OK for me to eat healthy foods
I eat the right amounts at the right times
I shed all excess weight easily
My thoughts are positive and encouraging
It's easy for me to be happy away from food
I love fruits and vegetables
I'm completely healed in my body and my mind
I enjoy preparing healthy foods
It's OK to leave food on my plate
Eating healthy meals gives me great enjoyment
I've made a firm decision to eat healthy for the rest of
my life
I trust myself to make healthy diet choices
Water is my favorite drink
I'm richly rewarded for my healthy eating habits
I'm open to trying new foods
I like the taste and texture of vegetables
My relationship with myself is growing happier and more
rewarding everyday
I have a wonderfully healthy outlook on life
Healthy eating and I are one
I choose healthy food over junk every time
I'm in complete control of all my desires
I have complete faith in my inner strength
I'm allowed to say no to unhealthy foods
I'm proud of who I am and who I'm becoming
I'm being cleansed from the inside out
I have many worthwhile interests away from food
It's easy for me to say no to snacks and soft drinks
Inner peace and joy are growing in my life
When I feel comfortably full, I say no to more food
I'm smart about everything I put in my body
I easily refuse junk food and sweets without feeling
deprived
I embrace my healthy diet
I have the power to choose what I eat
The healthier I eat the better I feel in my body and mind
I have a wonderfully healthy outlook about food
I've replaced dieting with healthy eating principles and
habits
All excuses and reasons for overeating have evaporated
forever
I'm worth the effort it takes to plan and prepare healthy
meals
I forgive myself for ever letting my tongue control my diet
Boredom and eating are separate for me now
There's more than enough food for me
I've easily let go of all desire to eat when I'm not hungry
I refuse to blame others for my diet choices
The habit of eating late night snacks is now dissolved in
divine grace
On the soul level, I forgive myself for eating to feel
better emotionally
I know nutritional information doesn't come from
commercials designed to sell food
I'm able to let go of all unhealthy eating patterns
All willpower is unnecessary for me now
All food addictions have dissolved in total grace
I enjoy reading food labels and making wise and healthy
choices
Any habit of snacking between meals is ancient history
I can refuse offers for unhealthy food without hurting
anyone's feelings
All taste for processed foods has left me now in total peace
I eat slowly, and thoroughly chew and taste every bite
I've let go of all feelings of despair surrounding my
eating habits
I've dissolved all desire for salty and sugary snacks
All reasons and excuses for a poor diet, no matter how
good they sound, are senseless
When I'm comfortably full, I stop eating
Television and snacking are separate for me now
I refuse to let other people influence me to eat too much
All excess fat is being removed from me now
I forgive myself for not learning about nutrition
I'm proud of my commitment to eating right for the rest of
my life
Food has released all power over me
I'm free to put off eating as appropriate
I forgive all those who forced me to eat
I'm proud of my commitment to a healthy lifestyle
On the soul level, I release and forgive myself for
feeling unattractive
I easily give up snacking between meals forever
I'm free to keep my meal portions small
I feel tremendous about myself now
All powerlessness over food has disappeared
I recognize the issues around my self-image and I embrace
them
I'm able to release hopelessness and guilt about my eating
patterns
I feel satisfied and encouraged when I resist unhealthy
foods
I release and forgive myself for not believing in my inner
strength
Food and feelings of love are separate for me now
It's within my power to stick with my healthy eating habits
I can eat right without hurting anyone's feelings
My clothes fit me perfectly now
It's easier to make healthy diet choices than I ever
thought possible
I enjoy myself immensely without food
Fruits and vegetables are now cleansing my body internally
I feel myself increasing in energy now
I choose fruits and vegetables over salty, sugary high fat
foods every time
I'm allowed to say 'No' to food and I do so in total peace
I welcome positive self-esteem and hold my head high
I forgive myself for feeling frustrated or ashamed of the
way I've eaten
I eat small meal portions and recognize when I've had enough
I love what my healthy eating habits are doing for me
I enjoy many kinds of vegetables prepared in different ways
I have all the time I need to eat in healthy ways
I can put off eating if I have to wait
I'm willing and able to change my eating habits
I enjoy learning about proper nutrition and how it keeps
me healthy
I only eat the foods that are good for me
My energy increases day by day
I always eat the right foods at the right times
Fresh vegetables feel and taste good in my mouth
I'm happy to step on the scale and wisely monitor my weight
I get all the vitamins and nutrients I need
My good health is increasing even more today
Appropriate diet guidance comes to me in divine grace
Eating in healthy ways is easy and natural for me
The power to eat right is within me now
I accept complete responsibility for my diet choices
I see my diet as an important part of maintaining my
overall good health
I see special gatherings as opportunities to strengthen my
commitment to my healthy diet
I celebrate today by eating only healthy foods in the
right amounts
My foods are naturally filled with energy and life force
I radiate good health and well-being


Fitness Tips to Combat  “Stress Eating”

As we all know stress can add  unwanted extra pounds. Whether it’s finding time to balance your check book, spend time with the kids, do the grogcery shopping  in crowded stores, or navigating our busy streets & freeways, even good stess makes us want to eat. Many people find themselves snacking day and night and fat-laden food and drinks seem to be everywhere. There are some simple things you can do to slow the eating down:

-          Don’t try to stay on a strict diet. Just be moderate.

-          Eat before you go out. You’ll eat fewer high calorie foods at holiday parties.

-          Exercise whenever you can. Even 10 or 20 minutes a day is better than not.

An Introduction to the Benefits of Massage Therapy

We've all thought it, heard it or said it before "I need a massage". No longer consider pampering for just the rich and famous, massage therapy is now finding enormous popularity among millions of Americans.

Massage therapy provides relief to people from all walks of life. The weekend athlete, the home gardener, the overstressed executive, secretaries, waitresses, laborers, virtually any active person can feel a need for a massage.

Massage relaxes tense muscles. Muscles can become tight and ineffective for many reasons. Stress, injury, poor circulation, overuse and misuse, can all cause you pain and discomfort as well as restrict your normal range of motion. When left unattended, these conditions can become habitual and hamper the quality of your everyday life.

Massage therapy stretches and loosens tight muscles and connective tissue. A tight muscle cannot hold much fluid nor can it allow much fluid to pass through it. This decreases your circulation of blood and increases the strain placed on your heart.  This can leave you feeling sore and fatigued, reducing your precious energy reserves.  Massage therapy releases contracted muscles and pushes venous blood towards the heart, thus easing the strain on this vital organ. This increase in circulation brings energy-producing nutrients and oxygen to your cells as well as carries away metabolic waste products that can make you feel listless and drained.

Massage therapy not only improves the circulation of blood and it's vital nutrients, but also increases the circulation of lymph in your lymphatic system thus helping your body to fight off infection and speeding your recovery from injuries and illness.

Remember, this is the only body you're going to get.Take great care of it!

Stephanie C. Loew, Certified Massage Therapist

Pasadena, CA