“Forgiveness is powerful and hate is too, but one heals and the other destroys. Determine what end you want to be on because they both affect your life and that of others. Lessen the burden on your spirit by carrying less anger and more love instead. Don’t hold yourself hostage to what impedes your growth. –Marala Scott
The U.S. News & World has released their 10th annual ranking of the best and worst diets in 2019.
They looked at 35, including Keto, Whole 30, and Paleo, concluding that many of the most popular diets ranked among the WORST in terms of safety, weight loss, nutritional adequacy and sustainability (ease of following).
For example, the Ketogenic Diet ranked almost last at #34. This is a popular, very low carbohydrate diet which puts the body into a state of fat burning for energy. Experts gave it very low scores for safety, nutrition, long-term weight loss, heart health, and ease of following. I personally agree that it is unnecessarily restrictive for most people, and comes with too many potential drawbacks.
Happy Self Care Sunday!
Here is my Sunday night checklist. If you can commit to a minimum of 4 tonight, that’s really wonderful.
Please let me know how it goes for you either in a comment below or via email.
You stayed up late binge-watching The Crown. Then you woke up extra early to beat the boss to the office. Some days, there’s no mystery as to why you need an extra shot of espresso (and if you can’t sleep no matter what you try, check out these 10 sleep myths and real solutions for better shuteye.)
But sometimes, the root of your fatigue isn’t so obvious, and everything from a hidden health issue to your gym habits could be to blame. “It’s like asking a pediatrician why a baby is crying; the answer could be any number of things,” says Tanvir Hussain, MD, a preventive cardiologist in Los Angeles.
My name is Dan and I am an addict.
Whenever asked, I am happy to share about what happened years ago and what life is like now. My mom brought me to Montreal shortly after being born in Sao Paulo, Brazil. For all of my Freudian therapy over the decades, the only “traumas” I have been able to identify in my childhood are related to divorce and a genuine sense of abandonment by my biological father. Besides this, I had a privileged childhood and life. I did the JPPS/Bialik/Marianopolis/McGill circuit (all private schools in my city), and even finished first in my B Com class. I went on to start a career on Wall Street (which I guess can help mess anyone up!), had a lovely girlfriend (to be wife), and the sky was the limit for me.
My introduction to drugs came quite early, but the abuse really started in New York City with cocaine and quaaludes. For many years, everything was manageable.
But suddenly, it no longer was.
Today is Blue Monday, a day rumored to be one of the saddest or “most depressing days of the year.” It falls on the third Monday of every January. As the days are shorter and darker, many people experience seasonal depression. The less sunlight in combination with cold winter weather, many just want to stay indoors and put their head under their covers.
Are there any foods that could improve your mood?
For starters, starting off your day with breakfast is the best way to increase your alertness, energy and mood for the day. It’s easy to feel better in the morning if you jumpstart your day with breakfast. You will increase your chances of experiencing that same great feeling all day if you include these types of foods:
This morning I had one of the most meaningful experiences of my entire life. I volunteered to teach yoga at a women’s shelter, and how coincidental on #WorldKindnessDay.
I worked with one woman in particular whose trust I was lucky enough to earn over the 60 minutes. These women are vulnerable, abused, neglected, most living in poverty. I helped her find her breath. Her breath was quick and shallow, and we were able to deepen it and slow it down. Tears streamed down her eyes as I gently stroked her arms and legs on the mat. I held her gently and told that her she is safe. To visualize inhaling love, kindness, peace into her body, and to exhale any tension or negative thoughts that aren’t serving her.
I hope I made her feel seen, heard, loved, appreciated, and safe. I kept it together while teaching, but the moment I walked out of the shelter, I honestly wasn’t able to hold it in. Tears started streaming down my cheeks too.
There are no words to describe the gift of connection I experienced this morning.
Kicked up my heels this morning for National #StressAwarenessDay at Global News!
Stress is real – you might have “good” stress or “eustress” (when you feel excited, and it can actually be interpreted as beneficial), acute stress (once the exam is over, you can relax), or chronic stress. The chronic stress is the stress that weighs heavy on us over time- like a stressful job or unhappy marriage. Chronic stress can be dangerous to our health as our bodies aren’t designed to handle constant stress.
As a certified life coach and certified yoga instructor, I shared some proven tips and techniques to help with stress management, but please know if it’s something that has become unmanageable for you, it is time to seek help.
CAUTION: IF YOU’RE SQUEAMISH/PRUDE ABOUT SEX, PLEASE PASS ON THIS POST.
Yes, I’m serious. 😉
Okay, now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s discuss the research on longevity, aging and sex. Shall we?
I had the great honor and privilege of hearing Dr. Ruth Westheimer talk about sex this week in Montreal at McGill University. There’s just something about a little 91 year old woman talking about erections and orgasms in a quiet European accent that had me giggling.
Another notable highlight of the afternoon for me was Harvard Scientist Dr. David Sinclair, author of Lifespan: The Revolutionary Science Of Why We Age and Why We Don’t Have To.
Happy International Self-Care Day!
And I couldn’t think of a better day to discuss mindfulness than on this day. After all, mindfulness (a form of meditation), is indeed a form self-care.
Mindfulness has almost become THE word of 2019. But what is it, and does it work?
Well it does, and as a yoga instructor and life coach, this morning I shared some mindfulness exercises you can teach your children to help them feel calm when they feel stressed or anxious. What we teach our kids now, become their tools for life.
Simply put, mindfulness is bringing your awareness and breath and attention to the present moment and your surroundings, allowing thoughts to come and pass without judgement.
I help busy women (like you!) prioritize self-care so you can experience less stress, more calm and greater joy every day!
