Inspiration and Energies

Today I had the first person, who is almost a stranger to me, tell me that my blog inspired them! Yay! What an amazing feeling! I hoped that my experiences, my words, my thoughts/advice, etc., wouldn't just engage people and create dialogue, but that it would inspire people to move forward, take action, make goals, and accomplish the shit out of them! That's what I hoped and continue to hope for, that we can work together, be accountable to each other and become the amazing people we know we can become.

I'm so excited that I was able to inspire someone I didn't know to do this! I mean, sure, some of my real life and online friends are following and commenting on my blog, but we inspire each other all the time, but a stranger saying I inspired them... that's awesome! I hope I can motivate more people along the way 

Interestingly enough, I also had an awesome motivating conversation with one of my buddies today, and another incredible conversation with a new client I've never met before.  Energies.  Our energies attract who we need to, when we need to, to get what we need when we need it.  Life works in mysterious ways, my friends!  Keep on trekking, and put that positive energy out there and it will come back to you! <3 

Moving Forward

Remember what I said yesterday, or rather what I asked?  About why we do or do not do certain things?  Well today I say, fuck it!  Forget the why, just move forward and do what you're going to say you're going to do!  During a conversation with one of my buddies today, he said never mind with the why's, that's just going to mindfuck us.  Go forward.  Do it! Make a choice to change, make a choice to eat healthier, to go to the gym, go swimming, etc.

It reminded me of that course I mentioned in a previous blog, Thought Patterns (when I used the analogy of planting pretty, positive flowers in our weed infested minds).  In the course, we learned about a progressive type of therapy which does not spend endless hours delving into your past to try to figure out what happened in your childhood that fucked you up so much now.  Instead, they said, okay, this is where you are... let's not focus on where you've been, but let's decide where you want to go and set goals to get there.  They did a study on grade 12 students using this technique and almost all of the students soared through with flying colours!  I am going to dig up my notes from that course and post some inspiring stuff for you all!

So that's it.

Tomorrow I am going to wake up a whole new person!  Because I'm making the choice to be better, to be healthier, to be motivated, spiritual, and progressive.  I'm making the choice to go forward, to meet my goals and to get to where I want to be.  I hope that is one journey you will definitely choose to take with me!

Commitments overpowered by Cravings

Today I'm not just feeling like my diet hasn't been that great, but I'm finally admitting that I'm just not committed to it.  Why?!  Why can't I be healthy?  Many reasons, probably some I am unaware of.  When I consider it, I think today's junk food session was caused from exhaustion and starvation, and by 'starvation', I mean I had not eaten since noon (for over 5 hours which is really bad, because we know that we have to eat small meals every 2-3 hours, right?  I will write more about why soon, from a biological, cellular perspective).  I only slept 3-4ish hours last night. I find when I don't sleep much, I crave junk.

But let's get back to commitments. How many times have you started a new lifestyle change, but never wholly committed yourself to it, and gave up, or didn't follow through to the best of your ability?  How many failed diets have you gone through?  How many successful ones?  Let's hear successful stories!  However, without knowledge of the unsuccessful ones, how will we relate to failure?  Not all attempts can be successful, but what do you need to do to change that?  What will it take to really make a commitment to something, and stick to it until you reach your goal?  What do you need in order to make this happen?

If I ask myself these questions, my answer is... I don't know.  That's my homework.  Something to really think about, and while I do, I will be better.

Cravings and A Little Help From My Friend

Yesterday I was really craving coca cola. That's my one big craving for the past year. Well, chocolate also, but that's a given!  I've cut back my chocolate intake quite a bit since Christmas. I've cut back on pop also but sometimes I still get overwhelming cravings for it. I had such a craving yesterday and almost fulfilled it, but my coworker, Irena, talked me out of it!  And so far so good! It's nice to have people who've got your back. Thanks Irena :)

Malfunctioning Seeds in my Ears Proving Mind Over Matter

Good evening everybody!

Here is an update on how I am doing. I have gone to two sessions of aquafit (yes, I am the youngest person there, but those elderly ladies are lovely and incredibly helpful. I've already had two of them give me pointers on how to do the exercises!). I've also been going on dog walks with my dad and Sasha, his cute, furry companion (my dad would be totally lost without her. She has become quite attached to him since my mom passed away. The two of them just dote on each other all day long! It's very comforting <3 ).  Some days we walk around the track at one of the local parks, or we go for walks in the neighbourhood conservation area. It's quite lovely!

And yes, it has paid off! As of yesterday, I am down a total of 8 lbs (I decided to stick with pounds to make it easier.. for some reason, we tend to weigh ourselves in imperial instead of the metric we use daily. How odd... ) since I began my journey three weeks ago. Yay!  I was actually down a few more, but I swear these seeds in my ear are giving me more cravings instead of taking them away!! It's the first time I've ever had them in. My acupuncturist, Jessica, thought auriculotherapy (ear acupuncture) may help me, but honestly, I think I was doing better beating my cravings before they went in!

I have a theory about this. When I began my health journey, earlier this month, the first weekend I freaked out and ate everything ALL WEEKEND LONG! Seriously... does this happen to you? When you have decided to take on some sort of diet (I hate that word) or health regimen, lifestyle change (I love this phrase!), what's the first first first thing you do? Do you get all gung-ho into it? Does it take time to ease into? For me, I do the exact opposite of what I should be doing. I make excuses; I hmmm and huh about it. Knowing my body is going to be going through changes, i.e.: getting ready to cut back on the yummy foods I love - chocolate and breads, all kinds of breads! Plus, about to put it through pseudo-vigorous physical activity which goes against *my* norm, is like an excuse for me to go wild with food, any food! And to rest up before the big game!

I think these ear seeds are working in the same manner for me.  Jessica put these seeds in my ear - they are actually tiny needles bandaged to certain acupoints on my ear.  Your acupuncturist may also tape mustard seeds or seeds from the vaccaria plant to various acupoints depending upon what you're using them for - weight loss, quitting smoking, depression, etc.  The ones in my ear were supposed to help fend cravings, but instead... I ATE EVERYTHING!  haha! OOps :/ I started having cravings for things I haven't been craving so much anymore - like pop and chocolatey things. I don't think it was that the ear seeds weren't working, I think it was that my mind was more powerful and put me back in that phase, like I was getting ready to starve and needed to consume EVERYTHING!  It's like some sort of freak-panic mode. Perhaps it's stemmed from a fear of failing.  Maybe I think I can't lose weight, so I fight it.  Maybe I'm too comfortable in my own skin, that my mind is unwilling to allow myself change, no matter how positive that change may be. The sad thing is that I'm aware I'm doing it - overindulging, but I can't stop myself. I did that for two days then started getting back on track and today, am down the extra few pounds I put on.

What does this prove?  Other than I lack discipline, or I'm just freaky....?!  Our minds are such intricate engines.  They can make us believe all sorts of crap.  They can really mess us up and hold us back from greatness!  So what do we do about this?  Plant seeds!  I have that image in my mind... (screw the engine analogy, let's talk gardens!).. we may have many weeds in our minds which have grown because of negative experiences in our lives. Unfortunately, those weeds are here to stay, but they don't have to take over. Let's stop the weeds from growing before their overgrowth controls us. Let's start planting some flowers, some lovely, bright, colourful, positive-energy radiating flowers!  Let's start planting positive thoughts in our minds. From now on, before you go to sleep, I want you to write down three positive things that happened today, or that you did today.  It could be anything. Any three good, positive things about your day today.  I'll start.

1. I had a productive day at work and was able to tick a few things off my to-do list
2. My brother called to ask me to babysit my 5 year old nephew for 5 days while he goes away for work. It's going to be a tremendous amount of work because my nephew is exceptionally precocious and active active active! But... I get to hang out with the cutest kid for 5 days.. yay! 
3. I'm happy! I'm happy I have this opportunity to reach out to you and share my experiences with you, and I look forward to us continuing this relationship and continuing to share our experiences and learn from each other
4. I have to add in a fourth, just thinking of some of the people I've spoken with the past couple days. People love to share. I think we don't often appreciate the generosity of people who may be pseudo-strangers to us but who are willing to share their knowledge and experiences with us and just try to help us for the sake of helping! Kudos to you! 
5. *edit* I just remembered.... Christina, RMT of  Alternative Healing Massage Therapy is joining me in my Cut for Cancer!  That's two ponytails now!  I'm still working towards getting 6-10 in total... so remember.. if you want to join us... let me know! 

Wow. That felt great to make it a point to state that.  I really feel a little lighter from writing that down. That's one new seed I've planted :)  Now you try it and let me know how it works for you!

Good night dear friends.

PS: I heard that weed analogy years ago in a positive thoughts course I did. I hope it works for you!

Homemade Almond Milk with a side of a Polish Change

Good afternoon! 

Welcome to Friday :)

I came across an article on almond milk recently and it inspired today's post. I was going to share the article with you, but I found it too negative.  The gist of it was.... people are straying from dairy, the almond milk market is growing quickly, and we're spending way too much money on "almond milk" which is mostly just water with a tiny bit of almonds in it. Well my friends, that is almond milk! If you are trying to stay away from dairy and you enjoy the taste of almond milk but don't want to buy it, then why not make it?

My blog's first guest (yes, that's right, my blog will have guest appearances on it! I've spoken with several people in the health, wellness and beauty industries, asking them to be make guest appearances on my blog or be guest bloggers. Basically, I thought it would be awesome if we hear from people around the community who can share information with us via interviews, videos, etc.) is Nadia Capetola, hairstylist extraordinaire, owner of HBS Spa Life and long time friend. I thought of her and her organic, homemade almond milk when reading the article and asked her if she would share her recipe with us.

Now, we are all supposed to be working today... I mean.. we *are* all "working" today.... I was trying to get Nadia to sign papers while sitting at the manicure station across from her, and while Irena (another of HBS's awesome stylists!) paints her nails.  Yes, it's a fun job, I can't deny it! I asked her to give us her recipe and here it is:

• 1.5 L of water
• 1/4 cups of almonds 

Yep folks... that's it! 

Okay, wait, there's more... 

• In a blender, add almonds and water
• Blend. Blend. BLEND! 
• DO NOT STRAIN! 
• Drink! 

Or... Nadia recommends blanching the almonds first if you want a white almond milk texture, otherwise your milk may come out gritty. She says you can also add honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar if you want some added sweetness.

I asked Nadia how her favourite way to enjoy it was. She replied, "I froth it for my morning chai tea", and rarely do we ever see her without her chai! mmmm chai!

Other uses she recommends with organic, homemade almond milk: have it in cereal, or add cocoa for a yummy chocolate milk. One word she uses to describe homemade almond milk, "Refreshing!"

If you try to make your own almond milk, let me know how it goes!

Before I leave for the day, here are Nadia's nails: 

Enjoy your Friday! 

..And moments later.. a little bit of a gloomier entry

I checked in on my dad and Sasha (his companion, the cutest little Yorkie Pooh!) earlier. My dad was watching a video he made at an engagement party we threw for one of my cousins back in the day.  First of all, I was blonde and skinny in the vid! Zoinks! (Okay, "skinnier" not "skinny" haha!) Oh, the nineties!

Then my mom walked onto the screen and my dad and I both started bawling our eyes out :(

I miss my mommy :(