April 23, 2009

Spring Greetings at last,

                        Well this new blog experience is  really something different  and wonderful!  It truly is full of wonder....like I wonder how to do this and I wonder how to do that....and I wonder how to set up the email subscription widget.....I wonder what a widget is.....so this whole experience is wonder-full.   It is fun when it finally works ....especially if I can just get through the frustration and when I tell myself I am not giving up .....that I am truly going to figure this out.....then something good happens and I feel a glimmer of hope.....and then the magic starts to take hold  and I  find that I am pointed in a positive direction......   This is a metaphor for all endeavors and especially the endeavor of making healthy lifestyle changes....it sometimes doesn't feel like it's working at all and you feel like maybe it's time to give up .....why am I doing this anyway?  but all of a sudden something changes even the smallest of things.....the tide turns ....you get a glimmer of inspiration and then woosh you let go of the oars and enjoy the ride on the river!

                       It takes a lot of awareness to persevere and not give up.....Mindfulness seems to really be the key.  What is it and how do we become more mindful?   Anything you strive for can come to you if you just flip the mind switch on.  How do you flip the switch on? Education is a great way.... Get advice from the experts and just start reading....find out how successful people became successful....what was their process?  What is motivating the change that you want?  Is it a healthy body?  More energy?  More ability to focus?   Now that leads me to the next point....What is your vision.....Is it crystal clear in your mind.....Why is it important to you?  Can you see the change?  How would you feel if you never make a change?  Can you live with that?  Will that work out for you?  Is it working for you now?

                      

         Let's imagine for a minute that you have high blood pressure.  It has been clinically proven and supported by the National Institutes of Health that blood pressure can be managed  and brought into balance through therapeutic lifestyle changes.   The NIH also states that TLC is the first line of defense to prevent high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases.  With that said......imagine the implications of doing nothing to deal with high blood pressure ....that scary picture can be an excellent motivator for change.....so the vision of  normal blood pressure can be very motivating and everytime a certain food choice or other lifestyle choice is before you, you can see your crystal clear vision of health  and easily ....your choice becomes a no brainer!!!!!  You simply move to a healthy choice because you've trained the mind and made a positive association with the choice that brings you to your vision!!!    This is easy  once you align with your vision.

• A few good resources that may inspire to make positive changes in your life are:
  
• Tony Robbins website www.TonyRobbins.com  .....go there and poke around and listen to some of his video clips.
• Eckhart Tolle's books.....The Power of Now and A  New Earth...excellent reads for learning how to be more mindful and more present.
• Go to the website www.stopchronicdisease.com/ and hear inspiring stories of other people using the FLT program to overcome chronic disease, lose weight and get healthier.
• Call Lisa to make an appointment if it's been awhile....come and have a cup of tea and get inspired.
• Make a new recipe to inspire the tastebuds.....Try the following recipe. 

      This is a recipe from the FLT Guidebook that is perfect for this time of year.   I just made it last night...it is delicious on its own or spooned over baked fish or broiled tofu.

Spring Salad (serves 6)

2 1/2 tsp. fresh lemon juice

2 tsp olive oil

1 clove garlic, crushed

1 # asparagus

1/2 cucumber, cut into quarters, then sliced

1/2 red pepper, finely minced

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp pepper

3 scallions, finely sliced white part only

1 cup fresh or frozen peas

1 ripe avocado, diced into 1 inch pieces

Combine lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic in a small bowl.  Snap off ends of asparagus and slice into 1 inch diagonals.  Blanche 3 minutes, remove and run under cold water and set aside.  Blanche fresh peas for 1 minute or defrost frozen peas and set aside.  Combine all veggies in a bowl.  Just before serving, add dressing and avocado and gently mix .  Enjoy!

That's all for today.  I'll be signing off now and leave you with this quote from the cards on my desk......If you can't get out of it,

                                              you might as well get into it!

                                                              All my best,

                                                                        Lisa