Good-bye carbs + that one little word

So there I was eagerly breaking in to the box on my dining room table that had just arrived from USANA (www.USANA.com).   This was not just any box this was a BIG box, which was in alignment with my one little word for 2012  . . . H-E-A-L-T-H-Y (more about this in a minute).

With great anticipation I lifted out the packing material to reveal the 5-day Reset Program (http://bit.ly/zEgnoR).  In my mind’s eye there was this picture of looking carbs straight in the face and saying “You won’t own me anymore!” 

Next to be unpacked were the nutrition bars, Oatmeal Raisin (http://bit.ly/yy4VAQ) and Chocolate Peanut Butter (http://bit.ly/wKJ2l3).   Yes I broke into each one for a taste and both were surprisingly very yummy. 

After removing more packing material I was greeted by a cloud of Dutch Chocolate, literally being covered head to toe in a chocolate cloud!   Yup, the Nutrimeal bag (http://bit.ly/wTcc9S) had a 4-inch gash, spilling out all over the bottom of the box… so wish there was someone around to have taken a picture!  Actually, there was someone there with me, in spirit, some 3,000 miles away… it was my dear friend, USANA rep and nutritionist Rosie Bank (www.manifestingvision.com).  When I called her to tell her what happened she immediately dialed into USANA customer service (while keeping me on the line) and a new shipment was on the way … gotta love exceptional customer service!  The Vanilla Nutrimeal bag was in tact J

As you can imagine, I was super excited to get going and to do that it was first determining when to start the 5-day Reset program.  With Rosie’s guidance I started it within 3 days of receiving it.  What happened next?  I’ll tell you this much for now (more to come in my next blog entry) … within 24 hours there was a noticeable difference in my appetite … I was feeling full, satisfied and lighter which helped me to stay motivated and on track through the remaining days.

Okay.  About my one little word … H-E-A-L-T-H-Y and how it all fits in and extends beyond what was in the USANA box.  I was actually introduced to this concept by scrapbooker extraordinaire, Diana Fisher who lived and breathed her one little word for 2011, H-A-P-P-Y (check her work out at http://www.designbydiana.blogspot.com/) … and yes she has another word for 2012, B-A-L-A-N-C-E.  Here’s some background:  One Little Word was founded by Ali Edwards, a scrapbooker and photographer (http://aliedwards.com/about-ali/), who wanted to encourage her blog readers to put a focus on their year. At the start of each new year, followers of the One Little Word idea choose a word for their upcoming year and promise to live it. By choosing One Little Word for your new year, you go into the year with a goal and a focus to help align you in what you want for the year.  Yes, I know we are into March but it’s never too late to pick your one little word … what will yours be?  

Part 2 - Priority #1 - YOU!

February is an interesting month representing so many things amongst which is Black History, Valentine’s Day, National Heart Disease Awareness … and these are just the tip of the iceberg!  This year it’s even a leap year yet still remains the shortest month out of a year at 29 days.  Does it remind you of your life? So many things and feeling like there’s so little time?  I know it does mine (or at least it used to until this year)!

The reality is when my health flat-lined just around Thanksgiving last year, the fast paced life I live came to a screeching halt.  Thankfully if it had to happen, the timing was perfect.  I’m in sales and travel a great deal across the country throughout the year.  Between Thanksgiving and New Year it’s a much slower pace and I actually get to be home for a little over a month without doing any business travel. So what did I do with this time?  I started to plan my upcoming travel season of course!  The realization quickly hit that the current condition of my body would never allow me to do everything I want and need both personally and professionally.  It was in this ah ha moment that I took action to turn things around, making the decision to take control now, thinking in terms of what will happen if I don’t.  What will it cost me (and I’m not talking about just money)? And then what steps I could take immediately to make positive progress. 

Here are those steps (starting the week of Thanksgiving 2011):

1.       Appointments with my chiropractor, Dr. Sean Konrad (http://www.lifeinmotionchiro.com).

2.        Bring on the massage therapist, Chris Speranza (csperanza1@rochester.rr.com)

3.       To hit a home run, nutrition from the inside out with the help of Rosie Bank (www.manifestingvision.com), Certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant (who by the way lives 3,000 miles away from me in California and kicks my butt with positive energy/reinforcement!).

December was filled with appointments:  chiropractor, massage therapist and chats with Rosie. Rosie was easing me into nutritional options provided by USANA (www.USANA.com) and by the end of the month I was eagerly awaiting a box with nutritional goodies!

Early January 2012 brought with it decreased chiropractor and massage therapy visits … gone was the feeling that I live with both these people. Then the path to embracing the benefits of gentle yoga at least twice a week (http://www.pranayogarochester.com) and for those that know me this is a HUGE step.    Oh yeah, that box of nutritional goodies?  It arrived! 

Let me guess?  You’re now wondering what was in that box and how I’m feeling at this point, right?  Well, I am still in pain every now and then as opposed to all the time.  I am walking daily, for at least a ½ hour 4-5 times per week, which includes a mix of either walking with my dog or with the ladies at work during lunch.  I also joined a WalkFit program put on by Fleet Feet (http://www.fleetfeetrochester.com/news/walkfit-program-added-to-popular-no-boundaries-learn-to-run-program).   Each time I’m able to push just a bit harder/further.  My energy level is improving daily and carb cravings are under control.  While I haven’t gotten on a scale, my clothes are fitting better/looser and some clothes I haven’t been able to get into now I can (although I’m not ready to wear them in public just yet)!  So this is where I’m going to leave off until next time <smile>.

Yes, in my next blog, I promise to tell you what was in that box from USANA, share some healthy food options (you may even start craving them like I have) plus I’ll tell you about my one little word that’s helping me stay on track.  

Part 1: Priority #1 = YOU!

In late September 2011 the nurse at my doctor’s office called saying that the results of my blood work from my annual physical were in and the doctor wanted to see me. The next morning I was sitting in my doctor’s office.

The conversation went something like this:  Me:  “Hi”.  My doctor:  “Hi, how are you?” Me:  “I don’t know.  You summoned me!”  He then went on to say that my numbers for weight and cholesterol were trending in the wrong direction.  Added to this was the fact that I was quickly approaching being pre-diabetic.    

What immediately registered in my mind was the word “diabetic”.  So after pushing away the mental image of a needle going in to my arm, I stared at my doctor.  The conversation continued:  My doctor:  “Here’s what I want you do to.  Give up pasta, bread, potatoes and rice until February and since you like milk so much take it down to drinking skim milk (I was drinking 1%).  Also, get moving … exercise; lose weight and then go for blood work again in mid-February; here’s the lab slip.”  Me:  “Thanks. Can I have cheese?”  Yes, I said that; I was shocked … how did I let my health get away from me?  BTW ... if you're wondering what my doctor's response was to the question about cheese,  he said “yes” and then got up and walked out of the room.

So what did I do next? Drove to our local health food store and immediately became overwhelmed.    Almost as quickly as I walked in, I walked out.

Over the next month I became best friends with Google.  What ‘s a good substitute for pasta; for bread and lets not forget about those French fries I love so much!  And I started to exercise … working my way up to walking our dog, an 8-year old honey brown colored lab named Ellie (who also needed to lose weight so I was in good company) at least 2 miles per day 5 out 7 days each week.   And when I could get a Jazzercise class in I would do that too.   Oh yeah, I also signed up to learn how to run.

Fast forward to mid-November.  Did I start losing weight?  Was I feeling better?  You would think I would right?  NOT!  My health actually took a turn for the worse with lower back pain that radiated down my right leg and out through the sole of my right foot.  By Thanksgiving I wasn’t walking Ellie any more, forget Jazzercise and learning how to run became a distant memory. 

I’ll stop here since this is where my health flat-lined.  In my next blog, I’ll share what steps I took to dramatically turn things around … steps that you too can take which are manageable and measurable by something other than a scale! For now though, it’s time for that action I’d like you to take … don’t put off taking care of yourself any longer! And you decide the benefit for you … is it more energy? Is it getting the carb cravings under control?  Perhaps it’s being able play with your children without becoming tired in the first 5 minutes (or maybe it’s playing with your significant other <smile>)!

Last but not least, I’ll sign off with something my dear friend Rosie Bank (who is also a Certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultants and who I’ll introduce you to in my next blog) says, “To your radiant good health!!” 

Soul of the Firewalker

Now some people will tell you firewalking is an illusion, or the coals are not hot or even that it’s not possible.  Here's what I know - I've walked across 12 feet of coals burning at 1400 degrees Fahrenheit at UPW (Unleash the Power Within) ... it is real and they are HOT.  If you are not in focus I promise you will get burnt!

So why did I do it? Good question! Tony Robbins says the fire walk is a metaphor.  It taught me many things some of which are:

1.     The physical is ALWAYS ruled by thoughts.  Basically what you think is what you are. 

2.     The power of focus will get you through even that which seems to be the most impossible obstacle.  The longer you lose your focus though during extreme challenges, the more you will get burnt.

3.     Many people will let fear rule their lives and won’t even attempt what seems impossible. 

So the action I’d like you take is stay tuned to this blog.  The benefit you’ll receive is the next time life presents you with an opportunity or challenge you’ll be able to look it straight in the eye and say “BRING IT ON”!!!!