Creating a Healthy Lifestyle

You Can Only Offer An Opportunity

creatingahealthylifestyle — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:07:21 +0000

We can make an opportunity attractive to another person (adult or child) with a reward or with a threat, but ultimately it’s the other persons’ choice to decide what they will do.

When we want someone to do something they don’t want to do, rather than getting disappointed or angry at them, think about the times when you use your freewill to decline an opportunity from someone else.

We always have the choice of saying “yes or no,” or “not now or not in that way.” Every decision we make, whether it’s deciding to do or not do something, for ourselves or another person, has a consequence and an effect on ourselves and others.

Today, think about what you are expecting of others and what others are expecting of you. Before you answer, ask yourself if what you are being asked to do is something you want to do, don’t mind doing, or actually enjoy doing. We often choose to do things we would rather not do because they are self-serving, such as tasks at work, compromising to maintain relationships, and exercising or going to bed early to take care of our bodies.

Remember, you can never get anyone to do anything. You can only give them the opportunity to choose, and the choice is always theirs.

Love, Health & Happiness,

Phyllis

Release Your Stress

creatingahealthylifestyle — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:11:51 +0000

A baby’s way of handling stress is to cry, a toddler’s way is to have a tantrum, and then as we get a bit older, we are taught that it’s not socially acceptable to use these behaviors, especially in public. A dog’s way of letting go of stress is to shake it out. Sometimes it’s just their head, and other times it’s with their full body.

Take some time today to use your body to release stress, shake it out; shake out your hands, arms and legs, you might also try bouncing in place, like young kids often do.

Have fun with it, even if you choose to do it privately!

Love, Health & Happiness,

Phyllis

Finding My Way Home

creatingahealthylifestyle — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 20:08:06 +0000

Last night I was leaving San Jose where I had just heard Robert Holden, the author of Happiness Now speak. I was feeling happy, peaceful and filled with love. I got in my car and expected to be home in just over an hour.

I had confidence in being able to follow the freeway signs and navigate my way home. After 15 minutes I realized I wasn’t traveling on the same freeway I took to get there. I followed signs to San Francisco, knowing I was heading in the right direction, yet 30 minutes later I still was second guessing if I was on a route that was going to get me home to the East Bay.

Then, I had an epiphany. Recognizing that my feeling of happiness was being gradually taken over by stress, frustration and uncertainty, and wanting to get back to feeling happy, I had I asked myself, “What could I have done differently that would have been loving to myself?”

The answer was clear. The most loving thing I could do for myself when unfamiliar with an area would be to get out my map or turn on the navigation in my car or on my phone BEFORE driving.

I eventually made it home, as I always do, and I’m looking forward to creating a different experience for myself next time. What’s one area of your life where you could be more loving towards yourself?

Love, Health & Happiness,

Phyllis

Sleep and Your Fat Cells

creatingahealthylifestyle — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:34:14 +0000

Sleep has been shown to affect our fat cells! A new study from the University of Chicago, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, determined that four nights of sleep deprivation reduced insulin sensitivity in fat cells by a whopping 30 percent.

The less sensitive our cells are to insulin, the less our body produces the hunger-regulating hormone leptin. The less leptin we produce, the hungrier we are, and our sensors that tell us when we are full or satisfied don’t work properly. This can lead to overeating and weight gain or difficulty losing weight.

The following are links to previous posts on sleep:

Increase Your Metabolism, Part 2

Why Overcome Sleeplessness

Have You Found The Lifestyle That Works For Your Body?

Sweet Dreams

Love, Health & Happiness,

Phyllis

Overwhelmed By Choices

creatingahealthylifestyle — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 18:48:36 +0000

I was looking for a new lamp for my office last week and found myself overwhelmed by all of the choices. I started to question whether it was just about that there were too many choices or if there was something else going on.

I approached my lamp search like I do most things for me. Find something practical, that will do the job, and not cost too much money.

What if I started my search for a lamp by looking for something that was appealing to me, and that I would want to look at daily? I realized that what was missing in MY lamp search was ME.

The new lamp, although nice, is going back. I decided to keep the one I have, even though I have to plug it in every time I want to use it, because I like the way it looks and the amount of light it provides.

Love, Health & Happiness,

Phyllis

Stargazing, Sunrises and Sunsets

creatingahealthylifestyle — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 15:24:21 +0000

When is the last time you looked at the night sky, I mean really took the time to notice the stars and the moon? Or marveled at a beautiful sunrise or sunset? Stargazing and watching a sunrise or sunset are activities that adults and children can enjoy together.

There is something magical about looking at the sky by day or by night. It can put us in a feeling of awe or in touch with our sense of wonder.

Take some time this weekend to notice the sky!

Love, Health and Happiness,

Phyllis

A Busy College Student’s Healthy Shopping List

creatingahealthylifestyle — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:50:00 +0000

I’m so proud of my daughter for planning ahead, making her (stock-up) grocery shopping list, sharing it with me, and allowing me to share it with you.

With her job, she has been paying for her own groceries, yet I was more than happy to send her some extra money to replenish her food with this list:

salmon, chicken, or turkey

pretzels

string cheese

salads

frozen meals

yogurt

eggs and turkey bacon

apples, bananas, grapes, blueberries

carrots

bread, bagels

smoothie ingredients: spinach, blueberries, oranges

May we all be inspired to cook healthier and eat healthier!

Love, Health & Happiness,

Phyllis

Eggplant and Greens

creatingahealthylifestyle — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:49:02 +0000

1 eggplant, cubed

2 teaspoons olive oil (divided)

water

1/8 teaspoon oregano

salt (to taste)

1 bunch greens (beet greens, spinach, kale or collard greens), washed and removed from any thick stems. Tear extra-large pieces in half or smaller.

Coat a large frying pan with 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Add the eggplant cubes and cook for 1 minute, add 1/2 cup water, oregano and salt, then stir. Saute eggplant covered, stirring frequently. Add more water if necessary. Cook until eggplant softens. Remove cooked eggplant from the pan and set aside. Using the same frying pan, place 1 teaspoon olive oil and greens, sprinkle with oregano and salt, if desired, and saute until wilted. Place the greens on a serving dish and top with eggplant or mix them together.

Makes 2-4 servings

Serving suggestion: add 1/2 cup whole grain pasta or 1/2 cup brown rice per serving, or stuff into a whole wheat pita.

Nature Does A Body Good

creatingahealthylifestyle — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 19:54:12 +0000

I’ve been in awe this past week, as I noticed trees with pink blossoms, patches of yellow daffodils and even orange poppies.

Everything in nature happens in a predictable way each season, yet it still amazes me. As I look at the spectacular transformation of these plants, I find myself taking a deep breath, pausing for an extra moment, and looking for more beauty, as am thoroughly enjoying the calming effect nature has on me!

As spring unfolds, look for the beauty as you drive your daily route, take a new route, go for a walk, a hike or a bike ride. Enjoy this brief time of spring and feel the harmony of nature and all that is beautifully alive and growing.

Love, Health & Happiness,

Phyllis

Ask For What You Want

creatingahealthylifestyle — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 16:38:42 +0000

How often do we complain, blame and criticize when it would be so much easier to just ask for what we want? Why is it so difficult to be direct rather than beating around the bush or expecting that people should know what we want? We often wait, focusing on what we don’t have, and suffering in silence while building anger and resentment.

What would it be like to simply ask for what we want? That would require us taking responsibility to get our own needs met, and to be open to the possibility that if we ask, we may not get what we want. Which is worse, feeling the disappointment or rejection of asking and not getting, or not asking in the first place?

No one person can provide all of our needs. We may have to rely on friends or other support to help us. If we don’t ask for what we want and seek ways of attaining what is important to us, we most likely will not get it.

Love, Health & Happiness,

Phyllis