Functioning or just getting by?

What is healthy to you?

Generally when the body is not functioning properly, there are 2 reasons why.  Either there is too much of something or not enough of something.

A couple easy examples:

  • When someone is very dehydrated the body will exhibit symptoms of thirst, headache, fatigue or hunger. Their body is in need of water. If the symptoms are due to dehydration, they will dissipate within a few minutes of drinking 8 ounces or more of water..

  • When someone has a hangover due to too much alcohol consumption they may exhibit a headache, nausea, fatigue and brain-fog. Their body has an excess of alcohol and their liver is struggling to process it. Generally, water, rest and time will address this symptoms. Additionally, ingesting some type of healthy fat will also support the liver’s recovery.

The same is true for many other "mild" symptoms which can be attributed to ones body having too much or not enough of something.  

Sinus congestion and excessive mucus could be a reaction to a difficulty in digesting dairy products... Yes, it is not always a symptom of digestion when something is out of balance.

Interesting…. Some degrees of anxiety, constipation, certain types of heart palpitations and cravings for chocolate have been traced to a deficiency of magnesium. 

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What is best for you?

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If they were all the perfect option -why would we need the options at all... wouldn't everyone already be healthy, in great shape and living their best life?

Each of us have choices to make regarding our own health and well-being. Lately we are overwhelmed with numerous diet and exercise options and choices on how to get healthy, lose weight and live our best life. And everyone one of the options claims to be the one YOU need.

How do you decide?

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An Ongoing Natural Process

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Your body makes new cells from what you eat. During sleep, your body works to repair muscle, organs, and other cells. Additionally, chemicals are produced through the metabolism of the nutrients you consume that strengthen your immune system and are in full force of circulation through your system during your sleep.

You are what you eat and your body rebuilds while you’re asleep.

No matter how much it gets abused, the body can restore itself. The first step in to stop interfering with nature. -Deepak Chopra

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Allow the time for change

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Life is a delicate balance of holding on and letting go.

During this season of turning inward, seeking warmth and comfort, looking for change, uncertain of what direction to go or what are the best personal choices to make; the secret is in knowing …

What to hold on to, and what to let go…

  • Let go, once the lesson is learned.

  • Hold on to what is adding value.

  • Let go of beliefs that no longer serve you.

  • Hold on to what energizes you.

Letting go

- Holding on

When to stand your ground, or when to walk in someone else's shoes. When to hold yourself accountable, and when to forgive. When to remember and when to forget. When to accept and when to change. What to hold on to, and what to let go. The list goes on and on.

All of it comes down to choice. The choice is a personal one. A choice we each own. We can be influenced by those around us, although it still comes down to each of our choices.

What does an attitude of gratitude have to do with it?

Everything!

  • What does gratitude look like to you?

  • Is it based on the simple things?

  • Is your ability to be grateful more complicated this year?

We all need reminders, nudges or words of motivation to focus on what we have, what we have gained and what is truly important. A serving of humility and empathy will guide each of us through… and improve our outlook as well as our health!

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What is EMPATHY to you?

Definition : the ability to understand and share the feelings of another; to be with and understand others' emotions. To hold space for another unconditionally.

What is HUMILITY to you?

Definition : the ability to be confident in your decisions, and not need or desire others to pay attention to them. To do what needs to be done without explanation or judgement.

#awareness #change #healthy #choices #wellness #pause #livewellwny #bodybewellsolutions #onechoiceatatime #resilience #flexibility #attitude #gratitude #yoga #listen #observe #checkinwithyourself #whoareyou #healthcoach #starttoday #justdoit #makehealthyahabit #mindful #mindset #humility #empathy

What is resilience? What is flexibility?

Excerpt from Article by Kells McPhillips

Many folks believe that stretching elongates your muscles, but that, my friends, is a myth. Instead, it mobilizes and lengthens the connective tissues surrounding your muscles, allowing both them and your joints to move more freely.

The ability to transition successfully through change is directly connected to resilience and flexibility. What are you doing to increase or strengthen yours?

Do you believe there is a connection between your behaviors, beliefs and your physical body?

How RESILIENT are you? 
Definition of resilient: the ability to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions, to recoil or spring back into shape after bending, stretching, or being compressed.

How FLEXIBILE are you?
Definition of flexible: capable of bending easily without breaking, to easily modify response to altered circumstances or conditions, able to adapt to different circumstances.

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Are you curious about tapping into an understanding and becoming familiar with your own resilience -you just might create an opportunity to increase your flexibility!

You only know -what you know

As Body Be Well Solutions, reopens and is welcoming clients back into the office…

Many things have changed -many things have stayed the same.

While in this space, I ask that we recognize and respect the fact that each of us are experiencing something that we have never been in the middle of before -on so many levels.

As we each work our way through this, I ask to please remember to be kinder, listen more, have patience and respect that YOU DON’T KNOW - WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW

In this space of relaxation, restoration, peace, and comfort -please allow your words and your thoughts to emit the same.

As this has been a time of reflection, learning, coping, and evolving. No matter what stage you are in -acceptance, denial, blame, transference, anger, depression, shock, disbelief, guilt, etc... it is where you are, and that is alright.

 

What direction should you go?

Keto? Vegan? Vegetarian? Intermittent fasting?

These are just a few and there are so many more to choose from! How do you know which to try or is right for you? Before going down one path or another; consider these questions honestly. Changing eating habits is hard enough -Don’t set yourself up for self sabotage and failure by not planning and making a solid decision on which path to take.

  • What is you goal or objective? Losing weight? Getting healthy?

  • Does it fit into your current lifestyle? Meals made at home? Food ordered in? Dinning out?

  • Is it flexible? Or is it ridged and based on extreme restrictions?

  • Is it sustainable? Is it for a lifetime of habits? Or a quick fix?

  • What is the financial cost involved? Is that sustainable?

  • Do you have regular access to the food?

  • How much time is necessary for preparation? Are there time saving options?

  • What is your motivation for choosing one over another?

  • Is it based on counting, measuring or recording consumption?

Your success will be based on the results of an honest assessment of these questions. No matter which approach you decided these items should definitely be part of your path:

  • Sustainable

  • Balanced

  • Flexible

  • Based on non-processed food choices

  • Real food choices -not made in a Factory

  • Proper hydration

  • Cost Effective

  • Well supplemented to cover the gaps in nutrients

Who’s path are you on?

A start to making healthier choices

Some basic and simple guidelines to get started are:

Focus when shopping and reading labels on factors of 5

  • 5 Grams of FIBER or more

  • 5 Grams or PROTEIN or more

  • 5 Grams of SUGAR or less

Focus on portion sizes as the size of your hand

  • Your Fist is a serving of VEGETABLES (try for 2x)

  • Your Palm is a serving size of lean PROTEIN

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Isn't it simply Chemistry?

Understanding how your body responds to what you put in it, and making even minor changes can significantly alter your Health. Simple Chemistry? Each of our bodies are like chemistry beakers. Every item we consume causes a shift in the chemistry. Some shifts are good, some not so good. Although what may cause significant negative impacts to your body, may not effect another person the same way.

Some people have issues in digesting and processing dairy, although they may not all respond the same way or to the same degree. Dairy can cause digestive issues in one person, excess mucus and sinus issues in another and then cause skin issues such as acne in still another.

We all have the same “basic chemistry”. So how to do really begin to understand the impact of what you are consuming? You can start now. It cost nothing. It can be done without any medical testing in the privacy of your own home. Are you willing to try it?

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Every single thing you put into your body...

Are you familiar with the term Comfort Food? Of course you are. We all have our personal favorites.. some salty, some sweet and some savory. Generally we crave these items when we are in need of “comfort”… from something being out of balance with our Primary Foods. Its normal. Its ok -in moderation. Which is the key to why we started with an awareness of the Health of your Primary Foods.

Secondary Foods are your everyday food and beverage choices. Obviously they are a component of the foundation of your health. But why?

Essential nutrients. These are nutrients that your body requires for energy and to carry out basic functions. These are not produced by your body; so you must consume them in some manner.

Regarding the Comfort Food -Ever notice how easy it is to eat and eat and not seem to satisfy the hunger? Generally Comfort Foods are significantly lacking in nutrients and will not satisfy your body’s need for essential nutrients.

The more you know -the Healthier Your Choices.

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Everything except what you consume...

Primary foods are a culmination of your relationships, hobbies, career, beliefs -pretty much all aspects of what makes you you, beyond food. Why are they primary? Consider the “health” and the impact on you regarding the following:

Relationships -companionship, love, trust, acceptance, respect

Finances -lack of debt, ability to pay bills, consistency of income, credit rating, freedom

Career-enjoy, fulfilling, well compensated, engaging, manageable schedule

Physical Activity -interesting, affordable, accessible, healthy, regular

Home - safe, comfortable, organized, sense of belonging, nurturing

There are many more to areas to consider, but this was a start. If there is a significant imbalance in a Primary Food… it can negatively affect your health. Spending time to go through the process of examining your personal Primary Foods will allow you to make necessary adjustments to further support you in making Healthier Choices into Healthier Habits.

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How do you look at yourself?

Becoming aware of your behavioral preferences as noted over the last 4 postings, creates a framework for your success. Your health is more than the food you put in your body. Your health is a culmination of your relationships, hobbies, career, beliefs and much more.

Your over all Health and Well-being can be a reflection of the BALANCE you have in these varying preferred behaviors and your respect of them in yourself and those around you.

Reminder, there is no right or wrong in this. This is a shift in Mindset… simply an awareness of how the pieces of your puzzle fit together. Each preferred approach Extroversion or Introversion, Sensing or Intuition, Thinking or Feeling and Perceiving or Judging… has the potential to reveal your personal strengths -although when out of balance can be your greatest casualty.

*Learn more about the “Basics” at Meyers & Briggs Foundation.

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#awareness #change #healthy #choices #wellness #pause #livewellwny #bodybewellsolutions #onechoiceatatime #yoga #listen #observe #checkinwithyourself #whoareyou #healthcoach #starttoday #justdoit #sustainablechange #makehealthyahabit #mindful #mindset

Have a Plan or Have Options?

What is your approach to how you spend your time? To do list? Or go with the flow? Maybe a little of both depending on the situation? How you “live” your outer life--what are the behaviors others tend to see? Do you prefer a more structured and decided lifestyle or a more flexible and adaptable lifestyle? Take a minute to ask yourself which of the following descriptions seems more natural, effortless, and comfortable for you?

This final area will help provide you an understanding of why a structured diet, set of tasks or the freedom of simply having guidelines is most preferred by you as you work toward Making Healthy a Habit, One Choice at a Time.

Judging (J)

To others, I seem to prefer a planned or orderly way of life, like to have things settled and organized, feel more comfortable when decisions are made, and like to bring life under control as much as possible. Do not confuse Judging with judgmental, in its negative sense about people and events. They are not related. The following statements generally apply to me:

  • I like to have things decided.

  • I appear to be task oriented.

  • I like to make lists of things to do.

  • I like to get my work done before playing.

  • I plan work to avoid rushing just before a deadline.

  • Sometimes I focus so much on the goal that I miss new information.

Perceiving (P)

To others, I seem to prefer a flexible and spontaneous way of life, and I like to understand and adapt to the world rather than organize it. Others see me staying open to new experiences and information. Perceiving means "preferring to take in information." It does not mean being "perceptive" in the sense of having quick and accurate perceptions about people and events.. The following statements generally apply to me:

  • I like to stay open to respond to whatever happens.

  • I appear to be loose and casual. I like to keep plans to a minimum.

  • I like to approach work as play or mix work and play.

  • I work in bursts of energy.

  • I am stimulated by an approaching deadline.

  • Sometimes I stay open to new information so long I miss making decisions when they are needed.

*The preceding is a clip from the Meyers & Briggs Foundation.

The final piece in this process is to review all 4 letters that are your preference. Fascinating insight and very valuable in all aspects of life. We’ll touch on this further in the next post.

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#energy #change #healthy #choices #wellness #pause #livewellwny #bodybewellsolutions #onechoiceatatime #yoga #listen #observe #checkinwithyourself #whoareyou #healthcoach #starttoday #justdoit #sustainablechange #makehealthyahabit

Data & Facts or People & Impacts

Ever look at someone and seriously wonder “Why did he/she do that?” We all do from time to time. It can be truly frustrating when others don’t make the same decisions as we do. Do you make your decisions by focusing on the data, facts and the bottom-line? Or do you put more weight on the impact on people and relationships? At times, we all make decisions based on both.

As we continue to work on building your support system in Changing your Choices to develop Healthier Habits, understanding how you personally make decisions as well and those around you will be part of your success.

Take a minute to ask yourself which of the following descriptions seems more natural, effortless, and comfortable for you?

Thinking (T)

When I make a decision, I like to find the basic truth or principle to be applied, regardless of the specific situation involved. I like to analyze pros and cons, and then be consistent and logical in deciding. I try to be impersonal, so I won't let my personal wishes--or other people's wishes--influence me. The following statements generally apply to me:

  • I enjoy technical and scientific fields where logic is important.

  • I notice inconsistencies.

  • I look for logical explanations or solutions to most everything.

  • I make decisions with my head and want to be fair.

  • I believe telling the truth is more important than being tactful.

  • Sometimes I miss or don't value the "people" part of a situation.

  • I can be seen as too task-oriented, uncaring, or indifferent.

Feeling (F)

I believe I can make the best decisions by weighing what people care about and the points-of-view of persons involved in a situation. I am concerned with values and what is the best for the people involved. I like to do whatever will establish or maintain harmony. In my relationships, I appear caring, warm, and tactful. The following statements generally apply to me:

  • I have a people or communications orientation.

  • I am concerned with harmony and nervous when it is missing.

  • I look for what is important to others and express concern for others.

  • I make decisions with my heart and want to be compassionate.

  • I believe being tactful is more important than telling the "cold" truth.

  • Sometimes I miss seeing or communicating the "hard truth" of situations.

  • I am sometimes experienced by others as too idealistic, mushy, or indirect.

*The preceding is a clip from the Meyers & Briggs Foundation.

The last area of focus on increasing our awareness of our preferred behaviors will be how we each tend to approach life.

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#energy #thinking #feeling #change #healthy #choices #wellness #pause #livewellwny #bodybewellsolutions #onechoiceatatime #yoga #listen #observe #checkinwithyourself #whoareyou #healthcoach #starttoday #justdoit #sustainablechange #makehealthyahabit

How Do You Process Information?

Ever wonder why 2 people can look at the same set of directions and get different results? Some people can look at an image and then assemble… others read each and every detail step by step. Both approaches are effective, although it generally depends on the task at hand.

The next area of focus in understanding how to support you making Changes in your Choices for better health is to determine the best way to deliver the information.

Do you pay more attention to information that comes in through your five senses (Sensing), or do you pay more attention to the patterns and possibilities that you see in the information you receive (Intuition)?

Take a minute to ask yourself which of the following descriptions seems more natural, effortless, and comfortable for you?

Sensing (S)

Paying attention to physical reality, what I see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. I'm concerned with what is actual, present, current, and real. I notice facts and I remember details that are important to me. I like to see the practical use of things and learn best when I see how to use what I'm learning. Experience speaks to me louder than words. The following statements generally apply to me:

  • I remember events as snapshots of what actually happened.

  • I solve problems by working through facts until I understand the problem.

  • I am pragmatic and look to the "bottom line."

  • I start with facts and then form a big picture.

  • I trust experience first and trust words and symbols less.

  • Sometimes I pay so much attention to facts, either present or past, that I miss new possibilities.

Intuition (N)

Paying the most attention to impressions or the meaning and patterns of the information I get. I would rather learn by thinking a problem through than by hands-on experience. I'm interested in new things and what might be possible, so that I think more about the future than the past. I like to work with symbols or abstract theories, even if I don't know how I will use them. I remember events more as an impression of what it was like than as actual facts or details of what happened. The following statements generally apply to me:

  • I remember events by what I read "between the lines" about their meaning.

  • I solve problems by leaping between different ideas and possibilities.

  • I am interested in doing things that are new and different.

  • I like to see the big picture, then to find out the facts.

  • I trust impressions, symbols, and metaphors more than what I actually experienced

  • Sometimes I think so much about new possibilities that I never look at how to make them a reality.

*The preceding is a clip from the Meyers & Briggs Foundation.

We will continue building upon this awareness foundation, by next becoming familiar with how we make our decsions.

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#energy #sensing #intuition #change #healthy #choices #wellness #pause #livewellwny #bodybewellsolutions #onechoiceatatime #yoga #listen #observe #checkinwithyourself #whoareyou #healthcoach #starttoday #justdoit #sustainablechange #makehealthyahabit

Alone or in a Group?

We each have a preferred set of behaviors. A tendency toward one approach or another. Have you ever considered what energizes you? An awareness of where you get your “Energy” from aides in creating the most supportive environment for your success. Let’s look to understand your preference to be involved in a group, maybe even a group on social media for support or a preference of one on one coaching or working with a buddy.

We want to create an opportunity to develop an environment that would be most supportive to you changing habits.

Some of us fall in the middle -although generally we each have a preference of one over another. A blended approach to Health Coaching is always an option as I strive to offer support that is to “Tailored to You”.

*Take a minute to ask yourself which of the following descriptions seem natural, effortless, and most comfortable for you.

Extraversion (E)

I like getting my energy from active involvement in events and having a lot of different activities. I'm excited when I'm around people and I like to energize other people. I like moving into action and making things happen. I generally feel at home in the world. I often understand a problem better when I can talk out loud about it and hear what others have to say.

The following statements generally apply to me:

  • I am seen as "outgoing" or as a "people person."

  • I feel comfortable in groups and like working in them.

  • I have a wide range of friends and know lots of people.

  • I sometimes jump too quickly into an activity and don't allow enough time to think it over.

  • Before I start a project, I sometimes forget to stop and get clear on what I want to do and why.

Introversion (I)

I like getting my energy from dealing with the ideas, pictures, memories, and reactions that are inside my head, in my inner world. I often prefer doing things alone or with one or two people I feel comfortable with. I take time to reflect so that I have a clear idea of what I'll be doing when I decide to act. Ideas are almost solid things for me. Sometimes I like the idea of something better than the real thing.

The following statements generally apply to me:

  • I am seen as "reflective" or "reserved."

  • I feel comfortable being alone and like things I can do on my own.

  • I prefer to know just a few people well.

  • I sometimes spend too much time reflecting and don't move into action quickly enough.

  • I sometimes forget to check with the outside world to see if my ideas really fit the experience.

*The preceding is a clip from the Meyers & Briggs Foundation.

We will build upon this awareness, by next looking to become more aware of how we take in information.

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#energy #introverts #extroverts #change #healthy #choices #wellness #pause #livewellwny #bodybewellsolutions #onechoiceatatime #yoga #listen #observe #checkinwithyou #whoareyou #healthcoach #starttoday #justdoit #sustainablechange #yourpreferredbehaviors

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What do your pieces look like?

What makes you who you are? What are your preferred behaviors? Understanding what makes each of us approach life the way we do, can be the key to managing our Health. As I referenced in my last post, we each approach CHANGE differently. This plays a critical role in how we “change” our Choices and Habits in caring for our health.

We each also have a set of “preferred behaviors” that I will be sharing over the next few posts. To be clear, this awareness of ourselves is not RIGHT or WRONG. It is what it is... and will be what we make it. Having this additional insight promotes an awareness of our Choices and can reflect where we have struggled in the past. As a result, our opportunity for sustainable success in the future can be increased.

Making Healthy into a Habit, Once Choice at a Time… begins in the Mind, before it becomes an Action.

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#change #healthy #choices #wellness #pause #livewellwny #bodybewellsolutions #onechoiceatatime #yoga #listen #observe #checkinwithyou #whoareyou #healthcoach #starttoday #justdoit #sustainablechange #yourpreferredbehaviors