Changing my Relationship with Alcohol
For most of my adult life, alcohol was a lot of fun.
I was a social drinker. I never considered that I had a problem with alcohol: I drank only on the weekends and didn't seem to have drastic negative side effects. Perhaps because I am naturally an introvert, a glass of wine would give me a warm buzz that left me feeling confident, funny, lively, creative. I realize now that on many occasions I used alcohol as a crutch. I felt that drinking loosened me up, highlighting my more socially enjoyable features. Truthfully, I was disguising a confidence issue: I didn't think I was enough.
Giving Away the Skinny-Me Jeans
I finally did it.
I have a special shelf in my closet that has housed the jeans I wore like a boss during my twenties. My husband loved the jeans, my friends complimented me when I wore them. I felt amazing. Except I didn’t. To wear those jeans I was following a very restrictive diet and exercising excessively. I was miserable, aside from the fleeting moments following a compliment. To wear those jeans I wasn’t living my life. I didn’t notice the beauty in the present moment, instead I obsessed about what I was or wasn’t going to eat, how many calories I was burning. My fitness plan ruled my life.
Looking Inside to Transform the Outside: Body Image and Freedom
Adopting a primal lifestyle transformed my life in countless ways. I solved digestive issues, I felt nourished and satisfied with delicious food, my body learned how to use fat as fuel, I ended a sugar addiction, I stopped dieting and started living my life fully, moment to moment.
But honestly, this lifestyle change would not have been possible without addressing internal issues as well. I had to look inside to transform my outside. This is how I began my transformation:
Sacred Mornings: My Hour of Power
I love morning time: the quiet, the peace, the unlimited potential of starting anew. I heard the term "hour of power" on a podcast a few years ago and I thought it was the perfect way to describe my morning rituals. I've always been an early riser, but it wasn't until fairly recently that I realized the power in an intentional start to the day. I now know that I create every single day with my thoughts and actions upon rising. There are so many beautiful ways to begin a day; I will share my routine as an example.
Water and Creativity
The focus of this morning's yoga class (courtesy of YogaGlo) was creativity. The instructor encouraged body movements that mimicked the flow and ease of water. Gliding through the poses, I could indeed feel an opening to that meditative, creative channel that gives birth to inspiration.
Intermittent Fasting and Discovering What Works for You
I was reading an Outside magazine article entitled “We have Found the Cure! (Sort of…)” in which the author describes her adventures in cleansing treatments including fasting. The treatments leave her glowing and feeling beautiful and young, but then she asks doctors about the science behind the treatments. When asked about fasting the quoted doctor rolls his eyes and states, “There are no proven health benefits from fasting.” Another doctor said it might be okay as long as you don’t do it too often. I found these statements interesting, particularly when compared with the research described in The Complete Guide to Fasting by Dr. Jason Fung and Jimmy Moore.
Rediscover Play!
If you are anything like me a few years ago, you are tired. Physically tired from working out. Mentally tired from thinking too much about food and what should or should not go into your mouth. Emotionally tired when your pants feel tight or if the scale isn’t budging. This was me pre-primal, followi
Spring Cleaning for the Body, Mind and Soul
The arrival of spring motivates many of us to clean out our closets and garages. This process feels so amazing- so why stop with the house? I encourage you to take that momentum and utilize it in the most important cleansing endeavor of all: YOU!
Enjoying the Now: A Primal Perk
Years ago, a friend gave me the “The Miracle of Mindfulness” by Thich Nhat Hanh. I didn’t really get it; I skimmed through the pages and my mind drifted off until I placed it on a shelf and forgot about it. I realize now that my friend was tactfully trying to enrich my life by pointing out the reality that all we really have is NOW.
The Joy of Releasing Chronic Cardio
For the entirety of my adult life I was a chronic cardio junkie. Determined to avoid the freshman fifteen, the college me spent hours every day running, doing step aerobics, and climbing the stairmaster. Post college, and burned out on those activities, I became a DVD addict. Jillian Michaels, P90X, Buti Fitness, Insanity- if there was an infomercial for it, I’d completed the program.