CHIA vs FLAX?I don’t know if one is better than the other so I use both.
Chia Seeds
Both are considered super-seeds. At least Flax was spared the humility of being sold as a pet. Let’s focus on chia seeds for now.
Not so long ago chia seeds were most well known for being spread onto terracotta pottery so that they would grow fur to resemble some kind of animal. I never had one of those and thought them to be in the same category as the useless pet rock.
But then we found out that the seeds are much more useful than for making novelty items; they’re incredibly beneficial for your health. So to be on the healthy safe side I put a handful into my vitamix to add to smoothies and top granola and oatmeal with the potent little seeds that have similar benefits to Flax except they don’t have to be ground prior to consumption, and they don’t go rancid as quickly either.
Chia seeds, along with mint, were a prized food to the ancient Aztecs and Mayans. “Chia” is the ancient Mayan word for strength, and the tiny seeds were valued for their energy-boosting properties.
A Rich Source of Healthy Fats and Nutrients
Chia seeds are a quick and easy-to-use source of protein, healthy fats, dietary fiber, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants, all rolled into one neat package. That’s a lot to boast about.
In addition, chia seeds contain a number of additional phytochemicals, each with its own unique benefits. This includes myricetin, quercetin, and kaempferol, known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties, and caffeic acid.
As it goes with the latest “IT” health boosters, you can buy it in other forms like the “Mamma Chia” energy drink shown here which has other added health benefits like spinach, kale, mint & spirulina and tastes similar to bubble tea.
It’s like Spring cleaning but for your body, and many of us partake at this time of the year right after several weeks of over indulging in food + drink. We say this year will be different, we won’t stuff ourselves nearly so much at the office parties and celebratory get togethers around Christmas and New Years but how many of us really have the strong willpower to say NO to that scrumptious looking piece of chocolate cake? Having said that…
Are you confused about the difference between a detox and a cleanse?
Many people use the terms detox and cleanse interchangeably. But there is a slight distinction between the two. It’s that distinction that will help you to make the appropriate investment of your time and resources to reach your optimal health goals.
In a detox, the goal is to remove the foods and food categories that are muddying the waters. We’re taking out the substances that slow you down, make you sick, clog your sinuses, cause bloating, make you retain unnecessary weight and leave you feeling tired and foggy. Who wants any of that?! Sometimes the things we’re removing are foods and sometimes they’re more than foods. . . behaviors or beliefs, patterns and habits that are holding us back. The protocol all depends on the intent of the specific detox.
So if that’s a detox, what’s a cleanse?
A cleanse is all that and more. We’re definitely removing the substances that leave you feeling high and dry in the ways I mentioned above. Yet we’re also going in a bit deeper. We’re delving into a certain area to detoxify and actually working to CLEAN it. We use food and supplements and herbs and practices to get those internal organs functioning to the best of their abilities. And because many of our organs are so easily regenerated, the healing you bring through these intense cleanses serves you well throughout the entire year.
Your gut is your deep-seated intuition. Intuition tells me that healing the gut is the very first step in remedying almost any health issue.
As you are well aware there are many, many cleanses out there to choose from. The most well known is the Master Cleanse. But for convenience sake I’m going to direct you to the trustworthy website belonging to none other than Gwyneth Paltrow. You know the one I’m talking about. I believe that she (and the people who work on her site) will have one of the best cleanses to tell you about. I mean who better to give us advice on a 21 day or a mini 3 day (for newbies) post New Years cleanse? But to be on the safe side, always check with your doctor beforehand.
The following recipes come courtesy of my good friend Kaeli Bauman who, as a holistic wellness coach helps women the world over tackle their nutritional demons so that they can live a healthy, vibrant life. Kaeli says:
What you put inside your body for beauty is far more important than what you put on the outside. Breakouts and sluggish looking skin are usually caused by an overburdened digestive system due to less than optimal food choices like heavily processed sugar and rancid fats. This is something that even the most expensive, highest quality skin product couldn’t repair. These quick little beauty elixirs are simple to make and have immediate healthy, beautifying benefits. When taken in the morning on an empty stomach or with breakfast, they absorb right into your bloodstream working their magic – detoxifying, energizing, regenerating, and adding a sweet glow to your skin.
Kaeli Bauman
Glow
(I’ve been making a very close version of this simple recipe every day for almost a year now. Only difference is that I slice a few pieces of ginger very thinly & add less than a tsp. of virgin coconut oil and a little honey. Sometimes I even add a tsp. of apple cider vinegar). Didn’t realize I was concocting a revive/glow mix but in any case it gives a good start to the day & gets me glowing (ha, ha).
Ingredients:
1 Lemon juiced
Dash of cayenne pepper
1 inch of juiced ginger
Dash of cinnamon
Why? Cinnamon controls your blood sugar levels, ginger has anti-inflammatory properties, cayenne revs up your metabolism, and lemon is an awesome liver detoxifier. Together they create a magical potion that will have you glowing all morning.
Revive
2 Tbsp of Apple cider vinegar
Dash of turmeric
1 tsp of raw honey
1 lime juiced
Why? Limes are full of citric acid which help detox the kidneys, raw honey is rich in minerals, turmeric has anti-inflammatory and anti-aging compounds, and apple cider vinegar has a pH similar to skin, which helps restore and balance your skin.
Skin
1 tbsp of raw cacao
1 tsp of maca
1 tbsp of maple syrup
1 tbsp of flax oil
Why? Cacao contains antioxidants which help protect collagen in the skin, maca helps balance hormones (which can contribute to breakouts,) Maple Syrup contains active ingredients which help skin cells regenerate, and flax oil is rich in omega-3’s which help maintain skin’s plump structure.
I’ve belonged to the same gym which is located a very short walking distance from where I live for more years than I want to admit. If I really stop to think about it, If I went every single day since day one, my body would be in perfect shape right now. But because I only go a few times a week instead, it is in almost perfect fairly good shape right now with room for improvement..always. My criteria is location, equipment, cleanliness and classes. The classes are excellent and I go to the varied yoga classes with different instructors and practices. I must admit that as much as I want to love working out with weights I don’t. I tried and tried and liked seeing the results because weights really do work but I didn’t enjoy it. I have some weights at home that are still sitting on the floor waiting to be picked up…someday. I don’t even enjoy spinning because I’d much rather ride a bike outside and I don’t like to sweat very much. So spinning is out. Running, Yoga and Dancing (tango/swing) works for me right now. And I always walk. I can walk and walk and walk for miles as long as my footwear is comfortable. Basically I feel better about myself when I’m doing a physical activity to improve my body, but sometimes…
No matter how dedicated you are to fitness, sooner or later, it’s going to happen: You’re going to skip a workout… and another… and another. Maybe you can blame a vacation, a mile-high pile of paperwork at the office or just your run-of-the-mill funk. Whatever the reason, before you know it, you’re out of shape.
A running buddy helps you to get motivated
Neglecting the gym every once in a while is nothing to worry about—after all, sometimes your body needs to rest and recover. But, when you hit pause on your workouts for more than a week, you might actually be throwing your fitness level into rewind. Here is an article I read on thedailybeast.com
How Fast Will You Fall Out of Shape?
You worked hard to get fit, whether by logging regular runs, or striving for new personal bests in your bench press. When your workouts fall by the wayside, how fast you fall out of shape depends on more than just how much time you spent away from the gym. Your overall fitness and the type of workout you’re missing will also impact your losses, says James Ting, M.D., a board-certified sports medicine physician with the Hoag Orthopedic Institute in Irvine, CA.
As a general rule, the fitter you are, the longer it will take your muscles turn to flub, he says. Your physique doesn’t like change; it’s constantly trying to achieve homeostasis. So the longer you have been exercising (and the fitter you are), the more time it will take for your body to say, “Well, I guess we don’t need to build muscle anymore.”
If it’s only been a week since you broke a sweat, don’t stress. Whatever your workout history, it’ll take more than seven days for your body to soften. But two weeks? You might not get away with that as easily. One Journal of Applied Physiology study suggests that easing up on your workouts for just 14 days can significantly reduce your cardiovascular fitness, lean muscle mass, and insulin sensitivity. Meanwhile, it can take two months or longer to see complete losses of your fitness gains, according to Ting.
Endurance vs. Strength: Which Will You Lose?
Your body will react differently depending on whether you’re skipping endurance exercise versus strength training, says exercise physiologist and trainer Marta Montenegro, M.S., C.S.C.S.
That’s because your muscles contain both type I (slow-twitch) and type II (fast-twitch) muscle fibers. Type I fibers contribute to endurance performance. Type II fibers are more powerful, and their “fast-twitch” capabilities help you power through high-intensity exercise or strength training.
During your day-to-day activities (like walking, talking, sitting at a desk, etc.), your type I fibers are contributing to the bulk of your efforts. But you really have to work to get your type II fibers to switch into gear. So, when you take a break from exercise, your type I fibers are likely still being used, helping to prevent them from breaking down. But some of your type II, fast-twitch fibers may be rarely, if ever used, if you aren’t working out, she says.
That may explain why type II fibers tend to atrophy more quickly than type I fibers, she says. In other words, your max bench press will suffer before your 10K time does when you’re slacking. If you’re taking a break from strength work or high-intensity intervals, you’ll notice a huge difference when you finally do go back to the gym.
Endurance athletes aren’t entirely out of the woods, though. When you perform regular cardio, your type II muscle fibers gradually change from type IIx to type IIa, Montenegro explains. Type IIa fibers are key to endurance performance: They are powerful, but don’t tucker out as quickly as IIx ones, meaning they can help power your long runs. When you take a break from your long runs and rides, this essentially reverses, and your percentage of type IIa fibers decreases, while your IIx fibers increases, she says. So prepare to tire out way faster.
Breaks Aren’t All Bad
Before we terrify you into heading to the gym right now, know that it’s actually good for you to skip workouts from time to time. In fact, if you train hard , taking a break can actually help improve your strength, muscle development and aerobic fitness, says certified strength and conditioning specialist Brad Schoenfeld, Ph.D., assistant editor-in-chief of the Strength and Conditioning Journal.
Days off can also improve your mental fitness. “Your body and mind both need time to recover for overall health and in order to achieve optimal performance,” says Ting. “Failing to recognize this and training too hard can lead to fatigue and, ironically, underperformance, the so-called overtraining syndrome.”
If you’re sore more than 72 hours after a workout, you’re feeling ill, or your fitness progress is stalling, it may be time to back off. How long should your break last? “There’s no hard and fast rule for how long a ‘break’ from exercise should be,” Ting says. “It may be as short as a few days, but it’s important to realize as well that it can also be up to one to two weeks without any significant detriment or loss in previous fitness gains.
Just remember that taking a break from exercise doesn’t (and shouldn’t) equate to gluing your butt to the couch and Netflix-binging. “Taking up some light activity that isn’t part of your typical training regimen, such as yoga or even a long walk or leisurely bike ride, can all constitute a ‘break,’” Ting says. (Oh, I see…I’ve been taking breaks all this time instead of actually working out).
How to Jump Back Into Your Workouts
Depending on how long you took off—and lazy you were—you might not want to jump back into your workouts, but rather ease into them. If you’ve taken any more than a couple weeks off, you’ll probably notice some differences. After a month or more, you’ll definitely want to get started with a less-intense version of your regular workout, Ting says.
“The most important thing is to back off a little for the first week,” Schoenfeld says. “Choose a weight where you will be able to stop several reps short of failure on your sets. The following week you should be able to train at your previous level, assuming the reason for stopping wasn’t an illness or injury.” Meanwhile, if you’re getting back into running, start at a pace at which you can run comfortably and are able to speak in short sentences. After a week, try turning up the speed.
It can be frustrating to exercise at anything less than your max effort, sure, but gradual is the way to go to prevent injury. The last thing you want is to walk into the gym after a month off, try to squat your “usual” load, and throw out your back. (Hello, another month off.)
Luckily, when it comes to getting back into your pre-break shape, you do have muscle memory working for you, Schoenfeld says. There are two aspects to muscle memory. One involves your ability to carry out movements in a coordinated fashion. Wonder why your first rep on the bench press looked so sloppy? It’s because your body was learning which muscle fibers it needed to recruit, and which ones it didn’t, to properly perform the exercise.
Then second component of muscle memory involves your cells. “Muscles have satellite cells—basically muscle stem cells—that help to drive protein synthesis. Resistance training increases satellite cells and these changes remain for years,” he explains. “So even if muscle is lost from taking time away for many years, a person can regain the lost muscle much more quickly after an extended layoff.” Score.
Exactly how long it takes will vary from person to person, but by and large, you can expect to be back in fighting shape in a few weeks.
What kind of exercise do you do on a regular basis?
Source: K. Aleisha Fetters, Life by Daily Burn (thedailybeast.com)
I like to make my smoothies NAKED Have you tried this juice? As far as juices go it’s pretty complete.They label it a juicesmoothie so you can drink it asis but if you have a Vitamix and add a few extras it’s perfect! It has a high percentage of fruit mixed with all the power greens including garlic & ginger for good measure. 140 calories per 8 fl. oz. so it’s not without calories. Also has plenty of vitamins but no fibre – although you can add fibre to it. It has naturally occurring sugars (from the fruit) but that’s what gives you the energy boost. It’s perfect right after a run, workout or for a pick-me-up. I love trying out new healthy smoothie recipes that are simple to make. Here, half the work is already done for you in one bottle.
My own concoction for a quick ‘n delicious Energy Smoothie for two:
NAKED (Green Machine)
ORANGE JUICE
FROZEN MANGO CHUNKS
1 BANANA
SCOOP OF*PROTEIN POWDER
SCOOP OF *FIBRE
FILTERED WATER (adjust to desired consistency)
MONKEYS (optional)
Start with 1 cup each of the juices, add 1 cup of mango and go from there. *I use Brad King’s Ultimate Vegan FibreLean and Ultimate Vegan Protein Powder. I also added a couple scoops of Vitamin C with L-Lysine (Medi-C Plus) for additional anti-sickness protection.
far outweigh the non-benefits of being unhappy. But who is happy all the time? Being happy all the time is just as not normal as being sad all the time!Life throws you some curveballs and it seems almost everyone I know right now is carrying a heavy personal load in some way be it with their family, love relationship, health, finances or job. I know a family whose house burnt down on Thanksgiving day no less. They’re just thankful that they made it out alive & now they’re lucky to have found their cat that ran out when the firemen arrived. Their personal belongings gone. The situation is not a happy one but they themselves are generally happy people and other than being shaken up by this devastation they’re dealing with it in an emotionally stable manner even with having to soon face starting all over again from scratch. It will not be as easy as looking for a new job. Which leaves me with the conclusion that aside from family, if you strip yourself of all your worldly belongings and material goods you are left with only yourself in your own skin and your bare emotions. That is really all you have that is your own. My thoughts are if you are an emotionally balanced person you will be able to face any negativity that comes your way in a more graceful and stable manner to be able to get through it faster than someone who is not. I believe your emotional health is at the crux of your quality of life. Without happiness, hopefulness and well-being, it’s difficult to reach your full potential and embrace each day as it comes. Even though some days leave you listless and it can be really hard to get through them. But you’ve got to suck it up and get on with it or get over it! If anything, I’ve always been hopeless hopeful. Hope gives you; well….it gives you possibilities. You can see yourself succeeding instead of failing. Maybe you’ll end up failing but the thing is you expected not to. You’ll pick yourself up, brush yourself off and start again because you have faith in yourself and your abilities. Mainly you have faith in yourself that you can and will overcome temporary setbacks. This is what John Lennon had to say about it:The following is what Dr. Mercola has to offer on the subject:
Your emotional health is also intricately tied to your physical health, such that an emotionally imbalanced person will be at a greater risk of chronic diseases and acute illnesses like colds and flu.
It’s thought that genetics account for about 50 percent of your “innate” happiness while life circumstances make up another 10. The rest is under your control, and the first step to harnessing it is to choose it and believe you can be happy.
Research shows, for instance, that when people were told to attempt to feel happier when listening to music, they were (as opposed to those who were told to simply relax).
It was the intention to become happier that made a difference.
It might help to consider your emotions as a form of energy. According to Dr. Bradley Nelson, when you feel an emotion, what you’re really sensing is the vibration of a particular energy. Each emotion has its own vibratory signature, and when intense emotions are felt, they can become trapped in your body, much like a ball of energy.
These “balls of energy” can become lodged just about anywhere in your body, where they can then cause disruptions in your body’s energy system, which underlies your physical system much like an invisible matrix.
Your body cannot tell the difference between an actual experience that triggers an emotional response and an emotion fabricated through thought process alone—such as when worrying about something negative that might occur but has not actually happened, or conversely, thinking about something positive and pleasant.
The latter, of course, will help your body to express many of the health benefits associated with happiness, while ruminating or focusing on negativity can literally manifest disease.
The Health Benefits of Happiness
Happiness not only feels good… it’s physically good for your body, too. For instance, past research has found that positive emotions –including being happy, lively and calm — appear to play a role in immune function. One study found that when happy people are exposed to cold and flu viruses, they’re less likely to get sick and, if they do, exhibit fewer symptoms.
The association held true regardless of the participants’ levels of self-esteem, purpose, extraversion, age, education, body mass or pre-study immunity to the virus, leading the lead researcher to say:
“We need to take more seriously the possibility that positive emotional style is a major player in disease risk.”
Further, in a study of nearly 200 heart failure patients, those with higher levels of gratitude had better mood, better sleep, less fatigue, and less inflammation, which can worsen heart failure, than those with lower levels.
What this means is that investing in your own happiness should not be viewed as a self-indulgent luxury. It represents an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to piecing together your overall health.
Your mind can only take so much stress before it breaks down, yet many neglect to tend to their emotional health with the same devotion they give to their physical well-being.
Strategies to Stay Emotionally Healthy
It’s clear that your emotional state is intricately tied to your physical and mental states. So what can you do to stay emotionally healthy? Like achieving physical fitness or a healthy weight, this is an ongoing process… something that must be tended to each and every day. The good news is that small steps add up and can make a major different for your emotional health. Tips for emotional nurturing include:
Be an Optimist
Looking on the bright side increases your ability to experience happiness in your day-to-day life while helping you cope more effectively with stress.
Have Hope
Having hope allows you to see the light at the end of the tunnel, helping you push through even dark, challenging times. Accomplishing goals, even small ones, can help you to build your level of hope.
Embrace Your Quirks
Self-deprecating remarks and thoughts will shroud your mind with negativity and foster increased levels of stress. Seek out and embrace the positive traits of yourself and your life, and avoid measuring your own worth by comparing yourself to those around you.
Stay Connected
Having loving and supportive relationships helps you feel connected and accepted, and promote a more positive mood. Intimate relationships help meet your emotional needs, so make it a point to reach out to others to develop and nurture these relationships in your life.
Express Gratitude
People who are thankful for what they have are better able to cope with stress, have more positive emotions, and are better able to reach their goals. The best way to harness the positive power of gratitude is to keep a gratitude journal or list, where you actively write down exactly what you’re grateful for each day. Doing so has been linked to happier moods, greater optimism and even better physical health.
Find Your Purpose and Meaning
When you have a purpose or goal that you’re striving for, your life will take on a new meaning that supports your mental well-being. If you’re not sure what your purpose is, explore your natural talents and interests to help find it, and also consider your role in intimate relationships and ability to grow spiritually.
Master Your Environment
When you have mastery over your environment, you’ve learned how to best modify your unique circumstances for the most emotional balance, which leads to feelings of pride and success. Mastery entails using skills such as time management and prioritization along with believing in your ability to handle whatever life throws your way.
Exercise Regularly
Exercise boosts levels of health-promoting neurochemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which may help buffer some of the effects of stress and also relieve some symptoms of depression. Rather than viewing exercise as a medical tool to lose weight, prevent disease, and live longer – all benefits that occur in the future – try viewing exercise as a daily tool to immediately enhance your frame of mind, reduce stress and feel happier.
Practice Mindfulness
Practicing “mindfulness” means you’re actively paying attention to the moment you’re in right now. Rather than letting your mind wander, when you’re mindful you’re living in the moment and letting distracting or negative thoughts pass through your mind without getting caught up in their emotional implications. Mindfulness can help you reduce stress for increased well-being as well as achieve undistracted focus.
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We all want to feel good. A stream of studies in the last decade have focused on oxytocin’s effects on body and mind.
the best things in life are these
Like antennas picking up a signal, oxytocin receptors are found on cells throughout the body.
Oxytocin has long been called the “love hormone” (although it sounds more like a laundry detergent) — responsible for attachment, bonding and plenty of those feel-good moments we have with other people and our pets. The naturally-occuring chemical is thought of as an anti-anxiety drug and used in couples counselling. But, new research shows the hormone isn’t all hearts and roses — there may be a dark side.
Like love, this powerful hormone is a complicated thing and it affects men and women differently. Here’s how the oxytocin is affecting your relationships, from sex to breakup recovery.
1. It Makes Breakups Worse
Have a painful memory of your ex that never seems to go away? A new study found that oxytocin has the ability to enhance anxiety and fear for stressful events in the future. So, when something is negative, like your failed relationship, oxytocin activates a part of the brain that intensifies, even prolongs your bad thought, which increases the chance it’ll become a long-term, painful memory. Ouch. As if breakups weren’t bad to begin with.
2. It Puts You In The Mood
A drug that gives you a better sex life? Nope, not talking about Viagra. Oxytocin, along with it’s ability to facilitate hugs and touches, has also been proven to boost sexual arousal. In a study from the University of California, men who sniffed a nasal spray containing oxytocin became more affectionate, had a stronger libido and they even were more satisfying lovers. Naturally, the wives weighed in for that one.
3. It Makes You Fall Head Over Heels … Sometimes Too Quickly
Released during sex, oxytocin is what connects us to our partner. The chemical accelerates an emotional connection right after a physical one. Studies suggest the bonding hormone is more powerful in women, making them attached to the men they sleep with — whether they’re a friend with benefits or a husband. Sound familiar? Your Tango expert Moushumi Ghose writes that there may be a such thing as an oxytocin overdose. And, studies show that too much oxytocin can cause men to be even less interested. “In this all too common scenario, one person may feel attached and therefore chase, while the other will run away.”
4. It Strengthens Your Relationship
The bonding hormone has been known to increase trust, make us generous and keep us supportive, but it’s also keeping you there for the long haul. The chemical is also responsible for the longevity of a relationship. A study published in Psychoneuroendocrinology discovered that couples with high-oxytocin levels laughed more often, touched more frequently and even finished each other’s sentences than those with low levels of the hormone.
5. It Makes You A Better Mother
The powerful hormone isn’t just affecting your romantic love — it’s responsible for maternal love, too. It plays an essential role in helping moms give birth and bond with their babies. Not only does it help induce labour, post-birth, it’s makes moms affectionate with their little ones. Researchers at Bar-Ilan University in Israel found a strong connection between the levels of oxytocin and the amount of attention new moms paid to her baby. In fact, it was the first trimester of the pregnancy that was most significant in predicting the mother-infant bonding behaviour. Higher levels of the hormone during that time period correlated to more bonding and embracing after the birth.
6. It Helps Resolve Your Arguments
Several studies have found that increased oxytocin levels can improve facial reading, empathy and how we determine others’ emotional states. But it might go beyond understanding our partner’s feelings better. Researchers from the University of Oxford argue that giving oxytocin nasal spray to couples may end marital conflicts, decrease stress hormones and boost the relationship.
7. It Makes Men Monogamous
Oxytocin is an essential hormone for monogamy in the animal kingdom and it’s been proven to foster trust in humans, but a recent study reveals it may also be what’s keeping your man faithful. Researchers in Germany found that oxytocin may be strengthening your bond even when you’re apart. The study found that attached men who were given a oxytocin-filled nasal spray kept a significantly greater distance between themselves and attractive women than the single participants did. Good work, oxytocin.
Now, where to get that nasal spray??
It works the same way with our pets.
What is it about the bond between human and dog that is not like the relationship between parent and child?
KIRA , I will definitely miss our sleepovers. XO
Now science offers a new explanation for the similarity. When our dogs gaze into our eyes with that “you are everything to me” look, our bodies — and theirs as well — are flooded with oxytocin, the hormone of love and nurture that cements the bond between people.
From feel-good Friday to feel-sad Saturday: feeling sad is not a choice and it happens….but being sad for toooo long can become a health issue.
Excuse me, but how long is too long? This is a timely post because in a fairly short time span there have been a steady stream of things to feel sad about. You would think that it would center around health issues concerning my parents at this stage but no, we lost them way too early, within six months of each other. Now it concerns the illness of other loved ones, not knowing the outcome, the untimely death of some friends and now the loss of Kira, my brother’s beloved half yorkie, half schnauzer that he fawned over. He did everything he could being the health guru that he is, gave her the best life possible. Every dog and even many humans should be so lucky to be cared for like that. She will be greatly missed.
Normally we are pretty well adjusted, capable, happy, positive & upbeat people in everyday life. But when everything hits you all at once and people you are close to are experiencing losses and breakups it’s harder to put on a happy face.
We know it’s normal to have bad days and we have many good and bad days throughout our lives but man oh man, how many bad days are considered the norm?
My brother phoned me yesterday in tears to say he didn’t know how to say goodbye to Kira, that it was so difficult but he didn’t want to be selfish and keep her around just for him. He saw that she was uncomfortable and he hadn’t slept in several days. But then he said sorry to me for crying. Imagine apologizing for feeling sad about losing a family member? It was nothing to be sorry about, sometimes you just have to let go.
But it is funny (or strange rather) that we put pressure on ourselves not to show our true feelings. We don’t want to appear weak and helpless. It’s “the mask” we put on in public to save face and honestly I think we have to watch who we choose to open up to. The thing is feeling comfortable enough to know who to share those feelings with. Sometimes people you were really close to suddenly don’t have the time of day for you. It makes you wary. It’s disappointing and hurts but moving right along…
We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be ‘the best we can be’, to be perfect, to always do the right thing. Humans inherently are seeking happiness. But damn it, sometimes life just sucks and we do have bad times.
Brad & Kira
My friend sent me a link to a meditation instructor’s blog by the name of Wendy Quan. She posted the following on “permission to be sad”:
Here I am, someone who has faced cancer, a muddled through a myriad of other things and am now dealing with aging parents and managing through my remaining cancer treatment. People call me inspirational, probably because I do try to make the best in life no matter what, and I teach meditation and mindfulness to others. But do you know what? I’m not perfectly happy. I’m not perfect.
I have good days and bad days. And when I have the bad days sometimes I feel down about feeling that way. I have found a great way to weather the bad days that I’d love to share with you. Give yourself permission to be sad and have the bad days. It’s OK. We are human. Bad days will happen. We don’t have to be perfect. It’s OK to be angry, to cry, to feel sorry for yourself on occasion. I often give this advice to people going through divorce – sadness, guilt and regret can come and go. Just remember to apologize to others if you have lashed out at them.
A few weeks ago, I was alone and suddenly felt really sad. I thought to myself “I have no idea why I’m feeling this way, but I do. Why do I have to deal with all of this?” I happened to be unloading my dishwasher at the time and burst out into tears. Then I gave myself permission to be sad – it must have been a comical scene – me bawling my eyes out but still unloading the dishwasher until the task was done! After that crying session, I felt so much better. It didn’t matter why I cried, but what did matter is the perspective I took. I knew the down period would pass, and I gave myself permission to experience it.
Now, if the sadness had lasted consistently for several weeks, of course this could be a different story, but it didn’t last. When you think about it, how can you even know what happiness is unless you’ve gone through sad times?
So be self-aware, gain perspective, and give yourself permission to have these human emotions. After all, we are human and meant to experience the ups and downs of life.
Guess I was feeling a bit mentally drained from recent life events.
this is not me
On Thursday I was invited to a special beauty event held at a wellness clinic (called a wellness boutique – not really a boutique as we know it) in Yaletown. I’ll tell you more about the evening later. An allopathic practitioner administered my very first B12 injection. I’ve always hated needles but at least it was quick. It was a dosage of 1000 mcg by Hydroxocobalamin form which is the preferred form to use because its effects are long lasting and it does not contain the cyanide component of Cyanocobalamin (which I had no idea about). This is the required dosage per month which is given intramuscularly. The rationale being that B12 is stored in the liver allowing for potential overdose. Vitamin B12 is a water soluble vitamin. There is a very low incidence of B12 toxicity even with large amounts up to 1000mcg daily.
So the very next day which was yesterday, I had energy to spare from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm non-stop. Of course my day didn’t end at 7:00pm but I got to relax after that. It began with yoga, then a run, cleaned the house strenuous physical exercise by itself made a pie, planted geraniums, packaged up some skincare products, shopped for groceries and gave the dog his usual 3 walks before putting together some munchies for my visitors.
Why B12?
People have been getting B12 shots regularly. Here are some of the Benefits:
Helps to boost the immune system and increase energy
Helps with Stress
Depression
Digestive disturbances
Treats some kinds of nerve damage
Treats diabetic and peripheral neuropathy
Treats restless or weak and tingling arms & legs, pernicious anemia, allergies, skin problems, fatigue, mental symptoms
Prevents B12 deficiency in vegan vegetarians and persons with absorption difficulties
Improves memory and teaming ability
I know people who have been getting these shots for a long time and swear by them.
The IV Wellness Boutique is Vancouver’s first ever wellness boutique specializing in intravenous vitamin therapy – a treatment which delivers high doses of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids intravenously. They’ll hook you up!
The IV’s approach to health care incorporates IV vitamin therapy with a multitude of health care services including:
In addition, chia seeds contain a number of additional phytochemicals, each with its own unique benefits. This includes myricetin, quercetin, and kaempferol, known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties, and caffeic acid.
Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION. 
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