How have You been doing lately? Ready for summer?

I most surely am………

We’ve had a lot happening around us, and frankly, it hasn’t all been Shangri-La in the past few months.
There have been some fabulous things and some not-so-bueno things that have gone down.

First, I’ll share some of the Good Things: Sunday, we leave for Italy for a few weeks; BRAVO!

And when I get back I’ll be all pasta-ed out and revved up to host a late Spring 14-day Clean & Lean GROUP Cleanse. I hope you join us, so we can ease into summer feeling fantastic. More info, later-gator.

Also, I’ve received notes from many of you checking in with me and sharing your stories and progress, and may I say: Thank You. I love hearing from you. J’adore.

Here is something that filled me with a massive dose of gratitude for all the glorious transformation that can come when brave women take some simple steps towards feeling better. It’s a note I received yesterday from a  Client:

“I completed the 14 days! I’m feeling great and so happy I did the Cleanse – it’s truly the nicest thing I’ve done for myself in about 10 years! I lost 16 lbs., and my blood pressure was 117/53 yesterday (really good for me)  – the weight loss is awesome, and I want to keep going, but the REAL reward is in how I feel. Sleeping so well – and just feel more like myself. Do you think it’s okay if I stay on the cleanse for a couple more weeks? I’d just like to keep going for a while if there are no drawbacks to doing that.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!! Love your program. 🙂
Jody M. Bellingham, WA

Here’s the thing about Jody: She came in feeling discouraged, tired of being exhausted, burnt out by not sleeping well, and she mentioned that she was sick, sick, sick of being on “diets.”

Here’s the deal: Clean & Lean is not a “diet.” It’s a lifestyle shift, a big difference.

We’d love to have you join us.

Moving riiight along….

Having a Difficult Time? Please READ THIS:

Finally, here’s what I’ve been dying to talk to you about for a WHILE: 
Recently I’ve witnessed a slurry of dis-ease (cancer) in the lives of some of the people I care about and those immediately close to them (no, not my direct family).
To say that I’ve been feeling sad, stressed, or melancholy would be a sliver of the emotions here. Like many of you are, I’m a fierce Mama Bear, so I try to FIX everything.

But we can’t always fix or bend our circumstances to make all things healthy and whole, can we?

Ever tried that?

Oh, so then you know…..

But here’s what can happen when life throws us for a loop. When things feel out of control, as Fixers, we can heave ourselves into the line of fire, care-taking and reacting with such intensity that we can neglect to take any respectful care of ourselves.

Oh, sure, we might take shortcuts and do things to soothe ourselves like overeat, work too much, rely on carbs, sugar, or wine to perk us up, sleep in late rather than exercising, distract ourselves with shopping online or watching back to back episodes of Downton Abbey while munching on truffle salted popcorn or chocolate….or both. Who me? Neeevaaah 🙂

And that is okay for a bit.

Until it’s NOT.  

These things are Band-Aids that help us change how we feel in the moment and only temporarily, but things that eventually leave us depleted and further away from our healthiest, most vital place.

The truth is that the better we care for ourselves, mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, the more useful, courageous, and wise we can be when circumstances feel crappy.

So what can we do? 

We Can Take Radical Care…..

What does that mean?
It means taking unapologetically, steadfast, and consciously gentle care of where our innate strength and true self reside. And that place is threefold: It’s within our bodies, minds, and spirits.

We can’t get around this truth or treat each area individually and experience a more profound joy, which is not firmly planted in our circumstances, and radiant health.

It’s always mind, body, and spirit as one continuous whole, not three separate things.

At 52, it’s one thing I know for sure.

As Deepak Chopra says:

The way you think, the way you behave, and the way you eat, can influence your life by 30 to 50 years.

Yikes. Better get right ON it, no?

So, let’s DO this!

Here are some things  to try:

• Allow yourself to feel what you are feeling. Let sadness, anger, fear, or whatever it is, come. Don’t stuff it down. Acknowledge, observe, and honor it, but don’t linger in it for too long. Recognize and listen to the thoughts that precede these feelings and write them down.
• Challenge Your thinking. I believe that much of our emotional pain is caused by our thoughts about a situation..not the situation itself…gulp. This is why no two people face similar circumstances and react the same way. Ever notice that? When we learn this truth and begin to challenge areas where we feel crappy or stuck, we can begin to move through our circumstances in a powerful way. Learning to think intentionally is a habit that you can cultivate, and it transforms everything. Check out the master life coach who trained me, Brooke Castillo, here. This is game-changing stuff. I promise.
• Tap into the spiritual side of life. I have a personal version of meditation and prayer that has been my deepest source of strength since I was in my 20s. It’s evolved and grown since then, but the ultimate truth is that we are not in this whole life thing alone. The benevolent force that created and continues to create all the beauty we know is available to all of us if we are willing to seek it out.
• Ease into taking a few positive steps. Don’t make huge pronouncements to yourself and others about what you are going to do to take better care of yourself. Pick one or two things to start with. Make sure they feel right for you. Don’t force. Just nudge.
• Spend time outdoors walking or hiking with a supportive friend who knows how to listen. Try to keep the conversation two-sided. Talking too much about what hurts doesn’t feel that great after a while. We simply re-live the pain in our “story” each time we give it all our attention. Move it along. Share the conversation, and let things go a little. Let yourself laugh.
• Say “No” to OPTIONAL things that feel like a burden. This is tricky and unnatural for many of us to do but stick to the core of what you really want to do when you have an option. And there usually ARE options.
• Go to yoga. I know I always say this, but there is much more to yoga than the physical aspect. Some people think that it doesn’t really matter what type of yoga you try, but I believe you need to learn the structure and principles first. Iyengar Yoga is where I began my love of the practice (after injuring myself in other classes) and where I’ve recently circled back. It also happens to be where I seem to get the fittest. But this, just like how we eat for ourselves, is individual. Whatever you choose, be gentle. Breathe. Listen. If yoga is entirely new for you and you know you want to start slow, try yin yoga, or for something fun, try intuitive vinyasa flow yoga, which I also practice. There is a cleansing and a building up that comes through meditative movement that I’ve found is easily accessed through a good yoga practice. It’s not always fun at first. In the beginning, it takes more pushing and pulling, but eventually, the flow becomes more effortless. And you will find that the lightness and vitality you bring in during this practice will become more and more accessible throughout your days. Yes, it’s THAT good.
• Cook your own damn food. Sorry for the D-word : ) This is something that can feel intimidating to some. It’s also tricky when you have a demanding schedule or you have a sticky relationship with food. But being more in touch with what you eat and how you nourish yourself is healing and grounding. It doesn’t have to be a huge ordeal. With all the controversy around food, it can be confusing, No? So don’t let all the B.S. You hear bog you down. Please keep it simple. Here are a few tips: When you get up in the morning, ask yourself:

“If I was truly going to eat gorgeous healthy food today, what would that look like for me? “

Then try going with Michael Pollan’s best food idiom: Eat REAL Food. Mostly plants. Not too much.  

It’s not really that tricky. If you clear out the clutter, your body will tell you what it needs.

Some ideas? – not rules:

• If you feel stagnant or heavy, try GREEN smoothies for light meals to alkalize your blood and infuse your body with restorative plant power and light, fresh energy.
• If you feel scattered and full of nervous energy or are struggling with sugar, carb, and other cravings, try beginning your day with protein-packed blood sugar balancing smoothie.
• If you can’t sleep, skip the vino at dinner, and ditch the electronic gadgets. Get a tantalizing book that takes you to a fantastic place – LIKE ITALY! Here’s one of my favorite books EVER. Then pop into a Soak it Out bath before bed. You won’t believe how well you will sleep after this while dreaming of lovely things.

Not too shabby, No?

Trials often = a new path. Lean in and see what you can learn from what is happening around you. When you become stronger, you become lighter. When you become lighter, life looks different to you.

It’s okay to ask for support. I’m here. Feel free to reach out.

As always, take radical care of your beautiful self and have a fabulous week. Ciao for now.

With Love & Respect,