a nice quote to carry around with you

The only person you have to measure up against is the person you have the potential to become.

snowy choices

Im certain that all of us AHL girls have had sooooooo many opportunities to challenge us these past few days. I want to admit that just before the snow, I bought my favorite chocolat dark milky way midnight bar. The purpose of this choice was just for "emergency useage". I can't beleive that it is still in the pantry untouched!! i am committed to leaving it in it's original form but with more snow on the way (YIKES)!!, I am going to try to continue to resist it. I have been eating alot of homemade soups, especially after shoveling. If anyone wants a good french onion soup recipe that is easy and delicious just let me know. Topped with alittle cheese... yummy!!

~myra

Home Decor and Abundant Healthy Living

As an interior designer/decorator and subscriber to the Daily OM messages, I felt an appreciation for and a connection to the following OM article and wanted to share it. I am a believer that the space you live in can truly contribute to a sense of well being and abundant healthy living.-Betty Robinson:

"Intuit Your Home's Decor - Working with Space"

When we decide the time has come to change the look or feel of our personal spaces, it is the spaces themselves that can provide us with the most useful guidance. Working with a single room, an apartment, or an entire house allows us to unearth the innate potential of these spaces and also better understand how we want to relate to them. To be conscious of the possibilities of a space, we need to listen to, look at, and bond with that space in a deep and personal way. Just as no two people are alike, no two rooms, however similar, are identical. The more we know about the spaces we wish to change, the better equipped we are to make them both beautiful and functional.

Before you contemplate colors and layouts, spend some time in the rooms you may plan to modify. Observe the way light moves through each space at different times of day. In the course of a week or so, note those times when you feel drawn to a particular space. You may naturally gravitate toward one room when you want to relax and toward another when you want to socialize. Also, remember that not all rooms have to be used as originally planned, for example a dining room may make a wonderful sitting area. Writing your thoughts down can make the process of examination simpler.

The discoveries you make regarding the rooms in your home can help guide you as you choose color schemes, furniture layouts, and decorative styles, so that you bring out the natural qualities of each using your creativity and eye for detail. Using the cues you pick up, you can design a beautiful room that is bright and exciting, or one that calms the soul and invites meditation.

By treating the layout and decor of your personal spaces in a mindful way, you can honor their natural rhythms while creating a cohesive and comfortable home through which energy can flow unencumbered. The design elements you subsequently choose will work together like the diverse instruments that come together to form a symphony orchestra. Each will resonate harmoniously with the next, ensuring that your home resounds with a lasting message of beauty, serenity, reassurance, and comfort." Daily OM, February 3, 2010 http://www.dailyom.com/

Find Healthy Comfort Food

It's been a busy week and I know I haven't blogged like I'm used to doing. I have missed this!

I'm looking out the window now at the beautiful winter wonderland developing. Then thinking of getting out and shoveling which can detract from that beauty. And that can send my thoughts towards 'comfort' foods rich in carbs...rich in poison.

This is definitely a time when we all need to remind ourselves of Abundant Healthy Living principles, of our desire to live as healthy and fit amazing women and men, and of being alive and aware to making the best choices we can.

So I'm sending out warm healthy wishes to all of you on this cold, wintery night. And I'm looking forward to connecting with all of you again next Monday on our call.

Love! ~Gerri

committment to change

Making the choice to change fixed ways definitely has a mixed bag of emotions attached to it. Excitement with cautiousness comes to my mind. Excited about the possibilities that I know I can achieve and cautiousness about temptations and potential pitfalls. AHL has definitely taught me about forgiving myself of temptations and pitfalls. Now, I can approach the journey with multiple daily recommittments if needed. I can regroup and redirect with optimism and quickness without going on a downhill slope for days or weeks. Bright days are ahead with possibilites, a changed outlook and a new group of people to support me.
Thanks to all that have helped me see the journey ahead.

This week I have cycled twice, stetched, made yummy split pea soup and did Qi Gong on Tuesday eve. Looking foward to Geri joining me next tuesday evening and our signed up refresher at Tai Sophia for Redefining Health.

-Myra

Lime shake

Made a vanilla protein shake with fiber and added a teaspoon of sugar-free lime jello. And as usual, topped with a swirl of whipped cream (only 15 calories)! Delish!

Have been more vigilant about taking my Going Going Gone and have been seeing a real difference in my appetite. Also finishing the day with a cup of detox tea with a dab of honey.

One stumbling block is the amount of food I eat at dinner. Am going to try to make sure I take the GGG 1/2 hour before and not with dinner to see if that helps. : )

Anne

Savor That Cup of Tea

I've rediscovered the enjoyment of savoring a good cup of tea and in the process have been reading up on the health benefits and varied ways to enjoy tea.

For centuries, drinking tea has been synonymous with taking time to relax or sharing hospitality. Today mounting research suggests that tea is good for your arteries as well as for general health. Tea ranks as high or higher in antioxidants than many fruits and vegetables, nutrition experts say. The key antioxidants in tea are flavonoids, which can help prevent blood clots and lower cholesterol. One study at Boston University showed that flavonoids in black tea inhibit the formation of plaque in artery walls. Somes studies have found an association between drinking three cups of black or green tea a day and reduced risk of heart attack. The varieties of teas are endless and include white/yellow, Black, Oolong, Pu-erh, Green and many more. Some contain more or less caffeine. Four fun ways to enjoy tea include:

• Add dried loose tea leaves as a rub for meat
• Add tea leaves to marinades or brines for meat or poultry
• Steep tea in rice or in place of liquids in sauces, cookies, breads or cakes
• Use tea leaves along with wood chips for smoking meats

Betty Robinson (8 week challenge post submission)