This is a post from my running blog. It is really about re-learning health in that it is about identifying and overcoming psychological barriers to exercise.
So I have a couple of personality-twin friends who went from couch potato to marathoning in a couple of years. They started doing strange things like, joining running sites, getting running partners, going to running events, competing in marathons. I viewed this " reliance on others for motivation" as weakness, even though I logically knew that they were actually strengths.
I had belonged to various "support groups" my whole life and I knew they were excellent motivators. So I had to ponder, why were physical activities different in my mind? I concluded the following:
I was athletically challenged growing up. The extent of "team sports" for me was being picked to be on the 6th grade basketball team (that I know my teacher chose me for to boost my self esteem and not for ability). That resulted in being knocked flat on my back, and smacking the back of my head on concrete, during a game. That was the end of team sports for me.
I was also a social outcast and since team sports was not just about team work, but also had a strong social element, that did not jive well with me. And as everyone knows, the most social people in school, were also the ones that always ended up in teamsports.
Also, team sports involved competition. Due to family dynamics, I came to associate competition with conflict, and I viewed conflict as negative. So conflict/competition, in any area of life, was to be avoided at all costs.
Lastly, I spent the last 10 years fighting chronic musculoskeletal pain due to car accidents. Thanks to excellent healthcare, a little luck, and a lot of my own hard work, my pain is now manageable. Though I do still have limitations and have to be careful. Differentiating "good pain" from "bad pain" is a constant struggle for me.
Both of my personality-twin friends had very similar life experiences as me. I realized that their journey into the world of running was a testament to them overcoming very similar psychological barriers. They both became my inspiration to do the same.
So I decided to get over my hangups and get on with it. So I joined this group (barefoot running), I went to a group run (really just to meet some of the people -didn't really run- lol), got a running partner (just once a week but it's a start), and have made strides to push my body just a little harder, and I now regularly get on here and read about others' setbacks and accomplishments, and this all really does motivate me. And in the back of my mind, I even think about competing (if only with myself). And it's a positive thought.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Juicing
My husband and I started juicing and drinking juice for breakfast about 2 months ago. We bought a good refurbished juicer for $200. It works great.
My husband researched a bunch of food using a couple of books on Chinese Medicine and through trial and error (mainly sorting out nasty tasting veggies) we came up with the following:
Celery
Carrots
Berries
Zucchini
Spirulina/Kelp (powder)
Cinnamon
Mineral drops
This combination is fairly filling, and gives noticeable energy, and the best part, is my skin became noticeably healthier after drinking this -and it only took about a week.
My husband researched a bunch of food using a couple of books on Chinese Medicine and through trial and error (mainly sorting out nasty tasting veggies) we came up with the following:
Celery
Carrots
Berries
Zucchini
Spirulina/Kelp (powder)
Cinnamon
Mineral drops
This combination is fairly filling, and gives noticeable energy, and the best part, is my skin became noticeably healthier after drinking this -and it only took about a week.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Mantras
I can't say enough about how incredibly effective simple mantras are, regarding food and exercise -even if you only say them inside your mind.
These two mantras are the ones I use. When I was learning to eat better I would say this one a couple of minutes before each meal:
"I control what I eat." Wasn't that simple?
I am a morning exerciser and my husband is an evening exerciser and he will generally only exercise if I exercise with him. Unfortunately that is usually around the time that my biorhythm (sp?) is on the lower energy side. This makes it exceptionally difficult to motivate myself to exercise. So during the day, off and on, I will say this simple mantra, "I AM exercising!"
It is very important that mantras be in the correct format to be effective. Here are some examples.
Incorrect: I am going to eat well.
Correct: I am eating well!
Incorrect: I am going to workout today.
Correct: I am working out!
It must be said as if you are currently engaging in that activity. And it must be said with enthusiasm!
You would be surprised at how big of an impact these mantras make, even if said a few minutes a day.
These two mantras are the ones I use. When I was learning to eat better I would say this one a couple of minutes before each meal:
"I control what I eat." Wasn't that simple?
I am a morning exerciser and my husband is an evening exerciser and he will generally only exercise if I exercise with him. Unfortunately that is usually around the time that my biorhythm (sp?) is on the lower energy side. This makes it exceptionally difficult to motivate myself to exercise. So during the day, off and on, I will say this simple mantra, "I AM exercising!"
It is very important that mantras be in the correct format to be effective. Here are some examples.
Incorrect: I am going to eat well.
Correct: I am eating well!
Incorrect: I am going to workout today.
Correct: I am working out!
It must be said as if you are currently engaging in that activity. And it must be said with enthusiasm!
You would be surprised at how big of an impact these mantras make, even if said a few minutes a day.
Exercise and Back-up Plans!!!
"And when you're trying to get yourself up off the couch, having a plan B (like using an exercise DVD when rain dampens your enthusiasm for a power walk) makes you 20% more likely to become a habitual exerciser."
THIS is SO true! It's one of the best lessons I ever learned to become a regular exerciser. Right before ...I go to sleep each night, I plan out MULTIPLE exercises I can do the next day, as well as MULTIPLE times I can do them -since everyone knows that schedules almost never go as planned. If you plan for the unexpected you will exercise more regularly.
For example, today is Saturday. During the workweek I do my ball/roller/yoga/Qi Gong exercises in the morning and walking in the afternoon. Today I woke up too sore from yesterdays exercises to do them first thing today. So, I will do my morning exercises this evening when I am less sore. (I have a tendency to over-do my exercises, especially when starting new ones, so I really have to be careful to give my muscles a rest when they are telling me they need one).
David and I were going to go for a walk first thing this morning as well. But then, he decided that he was going to the boat store this morning instead. So I rescheduled our walk for when he get back.
I had alternate times picked out already so it was no big deal.
In the olden days, when schedule changes arose that impacted my exercise plans, I would of thought, "Oh well, now I can't do them, I will just have to wait until tomorrow". Which of course is just a cop out. It is MUCH harder to cop out when you have back-up plans.
THIS is SO true! It's one of the best lessons I ever learned to become a regular exerciser. Right before ...I go to sleep each night, I plan out MULTIPLE exercises I can do the next day, as well as MULTIPLE times I can do them -since everyone knows that schedules almost never go as planned. If you plan for the unexpected you will exercise more regularly.
For example, today is Saturday. During the workweek I do my ball/roller/yoga/Qi Gong exercises in the morning and walking in the afternoon. Today I woke up too sore from yesterdays exercises to do them first thing today. So, I will do my morning exercises this evening when I am less sore. (I have a tendency to over-do my exercises, especially when starting new ones, so I really have to be careful to give my muscles a rest when they are telling me they need one).
David and I were going to go for a walk first thing this morning as well. But then, he decided that he was going to the boat store this morning instead. So I rescheduled our walk for when he get back.
I had alternate times picked out already so it was no big deal.
In the olden days, when schedule changes arose that impacted my exercise plans, I would of thought, "Oh well, now I can't do them, I will just have to wait until tomorrow". Which of course is just a cop out. It is MUCH harder to cop out when you have back-up plans.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Elimination
Edgar Cayce was one of the best known medical intuitives who ever lived.
"Edgar Cayce (1877-1945) has been called the "sleeping prophet," the "father of holistic medicine," and the most documented psychic of the 20th century. For more than 40 years of his adult life, Cayce gave psychic "readings" to thousands of seekers while in an unconscious state, diagnosing illnesses and revealing lives lived in the past and prophecies yet to come."
http://edgarcayce.org/
I have read some of his work, mainly his Encyclopedia of medical remedies based on readings he did for people with such ailments.
A very strong pattern emerged from his remedies. And that was...elimination. As I learned more about healthy eating, I found out that elimination is so important, I would seriously list it in the top 3 of things to do to improve your health -improve your elimination.
The medical community states that "every body is different" when it comes to elimination and as long as you are going at least once a week (worst case scenario) but an average of once every three days, that is enough. That is so, so wrong. You should be going AT LEAST once a day.
Unfortunately all sugars, dairy, starches (sugar), wheat, and most meat, slow down the digestive and elimination process IMMENSELY. *
So the average person eats what? Meat, potatoes, cheese, bread, sugar -allllll day every day.
Most people do not know that my NUMBER ONE reason for not eating meat (other than fish) is due to how much it slows down my digestive/elimination mechanism.
It really is all about poo.
*The same foods that grind your elimination system to a halt are also the same foods that are inhibiting proper absorption of vitamins and minerals.
"Edgar Cayce (1877-1945) has been called the "sleeping prophet," the "father of holistic medicine," and the most documented psychic of the 20th century. For more than 40 years of his adult life, Cayce gave psychic "readings" to thousands of seekers while in an unconscious state, diagnosing illnesses and revealing lives lived in the past and prophecies yet to come."
http://edgarcayce.org/
I have read some of his work, mainly his Encyclopedia of medical remedies based on readings he did for people with such ailments.
A very strong pattern emerged from his remedies. And that was...elimination. As I learned more about healthy eating, I found out that elimination is so important, I would seriously list it in the top 3 of things to do to improve your health -improve your elimination.
The medical community states that "every body is different" when it comes to elimination and as long as you are going at least once a week (worst case scenario) but an average of once every three days, that is enough. That is so, so wrong. You should be going AT LEAST once a day.
Unfortunately all sugars, dairy, starches (sugar), wheat, and most meat, slow down the digestive and elimination process IMMENSELY. *
So the average person eats what? Meat, potatoes, cheese, bread, sugar -allllll day every day.
Most people do not know that my NUMBER ONE reason for not eating meat (other than fish) is due to how much it slows down my digestive/elimination mechanism.
It really is all about poo.
*The same foods that grind your elimination system to a halt are also the same foods that are inhibiting proper absorption of vitamins and minerals.
Profit
Some people I know will not even consider the possibility of truth behind information without a "repeatable double-blind study" to back it up. They throw their own intelligence, powers of observation and objectivity, their ability to deduct and use logic, and understand cause-and-effect, as well as their own personal "experiments" -away. This is unfortunate because in order to complete scientific studies, these studies have to be funded. And, more often than not they are funded by companies with agendas that are self-serving in increasing their profit margin and not necessarily on the greatest good for the greatest number of people. The sugar industry is probably number one, followed closely by dairy. Therefore, people who ONLY rely on studies for health information, are a lot more likely to make unhealthy food choices. Understanding the power of profit is very important for your health.
Monday, July 12, 2010
The Purpose of Pain
From a biological viewpoint pain and discomfort is an indicator that something is wrong and SHOULD BE AVOIDED.
When it comes to being healthy you should always "listen" to your body. Do not ignore the signs that your body is giving you.
If you get heartburn after you eat a certain food, or have to take acid reducers or antacides to be able to eat- that means you should not be eating that food. Unless you have actual "acid reflux" from an actual malfunction esophagus aparatus (I forget what it's called but you know what I mean) -THEN YOU SHOULD NOT BE EATING THAT FOOD.
If you get massive gas or bloating from a food that you eat -DON'T EAT THAT FOOD.
If you get stomach ache from certain food that you eat -DON'T EAT THAT FOOD.
If you get diahhrea or constipation from a certain food, even slight, -DON'T EAT THAT FOOD.
If after you eat a certain food you become excessively sleepy or excessively hyper -DON'T EAT THAT FOOD.
If you have to take lactic acid to digest certain foods -DON'T EAT THAT FOOD.
And if you can't figure out which food is causing you pain or discomfort you can find out in several ways:
#1.) For at least one week keep an "after eating" journal, where you write about any unusual symptoms of pain or discomfort related to what you ate. You will start to see patterns.
#2.) If you eat multiple things at one time, and can't tell for certain which one is causing it, then don't eat one for a week, and then the other for the next week, until you can deduct which one it is.
#3.) See a Naturopath who will be able to put you through extensive food allergy tests.
#4.) See a dietician to find out what are "known" aggravators of the digestive system.
#5.) Do research online about what foods are typically aggravators of the digestive system.
And to save you some time, I know from experience and research that there are two foods that cause pain and discomfort for most, if not all people.
-Dairy
-Wheat
Yep. Those would be the two biggies. No one will believe me at this point, but more on that later.
When it comes to being healthy you should always "listen" to your body. Do not ignore the signs that your body is giving you.
If you get heartburn after you eat a certain food, or have to take acid reducers or antacides to be able to eat- that means you should not be eating that food. Unless you have actual "acid reflux" from an actual malfunction esophagus aparatus (I forget what it's called but you know what I mean) -THEN YOU SHOULD NOT BE EATING THAT FOOD.
If you get massive gas or bloating from a food that you eat -DON'T EAT THAT FOOD.
If you get stomach ache from certain food that you eat -DON'T EAT THAT FOOD.
If you get diahhrea or constipation from a certain food, even slight, -DON'T EAT THAT FOOD.
If after you eat a certain food you become excessively sleepy or excessively hyper -DON'T EAT THAT FOOD.
If you have to take lactic acid to digest certain foods -DON'T EAT THAT FOOD.
And if you can't figure out which food is causing you pain or discomfort you can find out in several ways:
#1.) For at least one week keep an "after eating" journal, where you write about any unusual symptoms of pain or discomfort related to what you ate. You will start to see patterns.
#2.) If you eat multiple things at one time, and can't tell for certain which one is causing it, then don't eat one for a week, and then the other for the next week, until you can deduct which one it is.
#3.) See a Naturopath who will be able to put you through extensive food allergy tests.
#4.) See a dietician to find out what are "known" aggravators of the digestive system.
#5.) Do research online about what foods are typically aggravators of the digestive system.
And to save you some time, I know from experience and research that there are two foods that cause pain and discomfort for most, if not all people.
-Dairy
-Wheat
Yep. Those would be the two biggies. No one will believe me at this point, but more on that later.
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