From Sad to Glad

7 Steps to Facing Change with Love and Power

Master the Day

Unless you work on the underlying reasons for why you are eating, NO diet will ever work.  This is a book all about life style changes for life-long success. Alex addresses these issues in very easy steps that can be applied to any facet of your life!

 The China Study: Expanded Edition

The China Study: Revised and Expanded Edition: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss, and Long-Term Health

Do you have a hard time making decisions?

I sure used to (and occasionally, I still do). Then one day when I became keenly aware that I was spending way too much time on a particular move to make, or not, I realized a pattern in my life. When I was younger, it was nothing for me to quickly decide whether I wanted something or not, to go there, to do this, or whatever the situation– mostly, I just did it!

As I got older and realized that deciding to do something (or not) can sometimes produce not so great results, I became more cautious. But, I also realized that the more I said “Yes!” to things, the more great opportunities that came my way and the more I said “No” the more I would stay stagnant.

If we expect things to change in our lives, it means taking risks and not letting fear of failure, fear of the unknown or fear of what others think get in the way. By opening up to the opportunities in my life and saying “Yes” more often, I became more in the flow again. When I learned that there are no wrong answers, no failures and that we all are just given chance after chance until we ultimately serve our higher selves, well, then it really became much easier.

Here are 4 tips to help you gain better decision-making power:

1. Make decisions that keep you in alignment with your goals and that serve you best. For instance, is eating that hamburger keeping you in alignment with your desire to be a vegan? Or, is sitting on the couch watching TV after dinner in alignment with your desire to be fit and energized when you could be out on a walk?
2. Think about all possible outcomes and ask yourself how you feel about each of them. Sometimes we stay in think mode so long trying to rationalize (I call it rational lies) that we never even consider how we truly feel about it. What are the possibilities of saying “yes” or “no”? Stay true to yourself, feel it, visualize it, and then go that way! Learn to trust your intuition.
3. Know when enough research has been done. So often, we feel we just don’t know enough, when in fact, sometimes just making the decision will reveal what we are looking for! There comes a point when you just have to ask yourself, “Will any more information really aid me in making this decision?” Case in point: I was invited to attend a specialty workshop a while back and I found myself asking everybody what they thought about it, surfing the internet for background information and questioning myself over and over as to whether I really needed this. In the end, I simply realized that an opportunity was being handed to me to grow and expand more toward my ultimate goals and when I stopped to feel into it, I came up with a resounding “Yes!” It was a good decision…
4. Know that every decision you make is just one in a long life-line of decisions. If you accept the risk (no matter how big it may seem) and know that some things will not turn out the way you planned, you may just find they are what you needed, none-the-less. Making the best decision you can in the moment, no matter the outcome, will build your confidence and help you stay in control of your life, instead of life just happening to you!

Making decisions, which we do consciously and subconsciously about 60,000 times a day, can really be fun if you think about it. You have so much power to drive things your way, and the best way to do that is to be aware, stay in alignment with what’s most important to you and make your choices based on that!

Many people hear me say put yourself first and wonder why I’m asking them to be so selfish. I, too, was raised to think that everyone else’s needs and wants should come before mine but I finally learned that I wasn’t serving anybody very well by just doing that. Putting yourself first is all about self-nurturing your own well-being so you can live a vibrant life and really be present in the most positive way for those around you.

When you are selfish, you are typically devoted to ONLY your needs and many times that selfishness causes harm to others. And, being selfish does not mean one is actually taking care of oneself either. Conversely, self-care is crucial in being healthy, being happy and being there to enjoy your time with others as well as caring for them.

How many times have you been on an airplane and heard the flight attendant say, “If you are traveling with a child, put your oxygen mask on first and then place a mask on the child”? That still strikes me as strange every time I hear it; however, it makes perfect sense that if you don’t take care of yourself first, you may be of little help to others; and such is life!

Throughout my years in the medical field and as a healthy living coach, I have observed people from all walks of life drive themselves into physical illness, emotional fatigue and even mental depression by putting themselves last. It’s a repeating theme in our society to run the kids all over town, hold down a job and take care of the home with little or no downtime. Add caring for a sick loved one to the mix, as happened in my family, and you really wear yourself down without proper attention to your own well-being.

Another area that gets overlooked often is those looking to fill voids by seeking relationships that can only play out with the same results time and again. You have to learn to truly love and accept yourself before you can enter an honest relationship with someone else. You will avoid unnecessary stressors, conflicts and misunderstandings for yourself and the other person.

So, how can you put yourself first so you are truly present in your relationships, successfully achieve your goals and can stay focused on your dreams? You have to start by allowing yourself to take time to enjoy the things that are most important to you. Whether it’s a favorite hobby, listening to music or just spending time walking the dog; it doesn’t matter, as long as you make it a priority somewhere in your schedule to just nourish YOU.

Nourishing your body with what it needs to stay strong when life’s challenges come up and keeping yourself in physical and emotional well-being is also paramount. This means eating plenty of fresh whole foods, staying hydrated, being physically active and getting adequate rest and relaxation. Surround yourself with people that lift you up and focus your thoughts on the things you do want in your life instead of what you don’t want.

Meditation is very effective in nourishing your whole being. It helps to reduce the stress in your life and gives you the ability to greet the day with a calm, refreshed attitude. It increases your energy levels and helps you to connect with your authentic self. Meditation is one of the simplest practices I know, yet the benefits can affect your entire life in amazing ways.

Remember, you are just as important as anybody else. Put yourself first in terms of greater self-care and watch how much nicer your life flows!

If you’d like more information on how to truly start putting yourself first, then click here to meet Lisa and learn what living a happy, healthy life on purpose is all about!

“Astounding! I’ve work with many coaches before Lisa and she was by far and above the most capable in guiding me to living a healthier lifestyle and helping me get in touch with my passions. She provided me with the tools I needed to get through the roadblocks on my journey and start applying new strategies easily and effectively. After a very short time I feel so much better about my health and my energy has allowed me to truly focus on the things I want to achieve most in life. Thank you Lisa!!”

“Lisa is so amazing! She has so much knowledge about how food really works to support our healing, and she is able to easily transfer that knowledge into simple, actionable information for her clients. Lisa also has a huge heart and truly cares for her clients and wants only the best whole-life outcome for them.

Lisa’s energy is contagious! Being around her or talking to her on the phone inspires me to be the healthiest I can be. As a health coach myself, Lisa is my go to person for information and support for my own health as well as my clients.”

“I have had the privilege of working with Lisa and I can honestly say that she has changed my life for the better and has opened me up to greater levels of self-awareness. I have learned to enjoy the constant adventure of discovering more about what I want out of this life and how to make it happen through great healthy living habits and focusing on what’s most important to live a full life! Thank you Lisa!”

“Through my sessions with Lisa, she inspired me to change the way I eat. She explained to me why eating organic is so important. Many people have told me to buy/eat organic, but I never understood WHY. That is such an important aspect of changing the way I eat. She got me so excited about making positive changes in my lifestyle! Lisa made great simple suggestions for a healthier approach to changing my eating habits. Her suggestions were tailored to my tastes and my family’s tastes. She even told me which stores near me have food options. She gave me multiple solutions for every meal, some of which were only slightly different than what I have already been eating. I learned about food choices that I could easily avoid in my diet to promote better health. It has been easy to make a smooth transition to a healthier lifestyle with Lisa’s help. She has so much education and knowledge to share with the world!”

“Lisa’s coaching was much more than I had hoped for. Part of me wanted to make big changes before, and part of me was holding back. Lisa reassured me and took things at my pace (which picked up quickly) so I would not feel overwhelmed. I found her methods easy, refreshing and not at all like “going on a diet.” I have a new way of looking at food, and building energy. Feeling so much better about things helps me to enjoy life much more and I see through new eyes, not just with food, but with all my lifestyle choices. If you are looking for ways to increase your energy and get so much more out of your day and your life, this program is for you! Thank you Lisa!”

“Lisa is worlds apart from any other holistic lifestyle coach you will ever meet! She knows about food’s affect on the body and she knows which foods are better to eat and can tell you why. Additionally, Lisa takes a wholistic approach when working with you that includes spirituality and relaxation. She will work with you to achieve your goals and does not impose her own eating style on anyone. Instead of just lecturing, Lisa teaches you in a way that you truly understand and then make better choices based on this understanding. You will be so glad you worked with her!”

“I have been working with Lisa for a few months now and have had amazing change in my life! She not only helped me to understand why I was eating the way I was, but showed me how easy it is to change my attitude and habits for better eating. I have more energy and I just feel happier. My daughter is only two years old and I am so excited to be getting her started on the right track now so she can develop good, healthy habits too. Thanks Lisa for not just teaching me how to eat right, but how to live right – my relationships are great and I am truly starting to live my passions! With much gratitude.”

“Lisa is an extraordinarily talented, extremely knowledgeable wellness coach who literally helped me turn my life around. Today, thanks to Lisa, I am eating whole foods – gluten free, fresh veggies, fruits, healthy proteins, delicious smoothies, as well as taking appropriate supplements. The results – natural weight loss, more energy, clearer thinking, and much happier in my skin!

Lisa’s ability to listen carefully, and provide personal guidance and unique recommendations for lifestyle changes definitely leads to total wellness – in body, mind and spirit. BRAVO Lisa! And thank you so very much.”