What does THIS have to do with THAT?

If you have been following my blogs, reading the comments, articles and quotes I post on Facebook, and paying attention in any way, you might be a bit confused.  It seems like I am scattered all over the place.  Consider our weekly challenge "Stop the Negative Self-Talk".  We all have that little voice in our head that whispers hurtful, discouraging words to us all the time.  It tells us we can't do something, have something, be something, or go where we want to go.  This negative self-talk can affect our day, our attitude, our relationship with ourselves and with others and can keep us from achieving our dreams and goals.  I am, by trade, a Nutritional Consultant, however. What does all this have to do with nutrition? EVERYTHING!

 Last night for dinner, I had a piece of eggplant parmigana pizza.  Now pizza is fine to have once in awhile.  The slice I ate not only had the traditional crust, the cheese, the sauce and the oil but it was topped with tender slices of fried, breaded eggplant.  I started out by eating only half but by the time the night was over, I consumed the whole thing.  It was delicious! I don't even want to think about all the fat and calories in that one piece of pizza and I am not going to punish myself for eating it.  Punishing myself will only make me feel bad.  It's ok to indulge occasionally. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with that.  Some people, however, eat like that every single day!

After eating that slice of pizza, I could have listened to the negative chatter in my head. 
"You fat slob! You are a nutritionist and you are eating this? How can you possibly tell anyone else about eating well when you just ate an entire slice of eggplant pizza? You're a failure, a poor example and now that you feel really bad about yourself, how about a big bowl of icecream to make you feel better? You already went way over your fat and calorie allotment for the day so why not?"

Listening to that voice could catapult me into an unhealthy, non-stop eating frenzy.  Ice cream before bedtime, an unhealthy breakfast the next morning, a burger and fries for lunch, a mid-afternoon candy bar from the office vending machine, several drinks and fried finger foods at happy hour followed by another fat and calorie-laden dinner. This vicious cycle could go on for weeks and before long my clothes won't fit.  I will begin to feel really bad about myself, indulge in more self-destructive behavior and as a result my health will suffer, my relationships will begin to fall apart, and my whole life will be one big mess. Sound familiar?

You might want to lose weight, heal your unhealthy relationships with food, prevent heart disease or diabetes, or just want to live a long and healthy life.  You will never achieve these goals permanently without a true and sincere love for yourself.  When you love someone, you respect them.  You never want to hurt them on purpose.  You won't abuse them, harm them, or point them in the wrong direction.  There are times that we unintentionally hurt our loved ones but we apologize and make things right again. 

  This doesn't mean you will never again enjoy a slice of eggplant parmigana pizza. What it does mean is that every day you will  want to nurture yourself with good things and pizza, burgers and fries, chocolate cake or a whole package of oreos before bedtime will be the exception and NOT the rule.  When you love and respect yourself you will want feed your body, mind and spirit with good things- REAL food, encouraging books, healthy relationships, a satisfying spiritual practice. It's all about balance. I am a Holistic Nutritional Consultant.  Holistic means "whole". This is not some "New Age" mumbo-jumbo.  I believe and teach others how to nourish themselves on every level.  When the body, mind and spirit are being fed good food... you will become healthy and whole.  All that excess weight will melt away, your health will improve, and you will be living the life you always dreamed of.

And this is my Daily Cyn..........

Autumn- A Time of Gathering and Preparation

Ahhhh.....Autumn.  You can feel it in the air.  The evenings are cooler, the sun casts a different shadow upon the earth, all the summer clothes and play-things are reluctantly stored away for next year.  There is a certain sadness as summer draws to an end....gone are the care-free days at the beach, barbeques with family and friends, hot summer nights out on the east end, ice-cold Coronas.

Autumn is a season of true beauty. The landscape becomes the canvas of the Master Painter as leaves turn to gorgeous shades of burnt orange and brillant yellow.  We open windows to breathe in the cool, crisp air and our evenings are spent around firepits or indoors beside a roaring fire.  We hear the crunch of fallen leaves beneath our feet as we hike through the woods. We instinctly crave warming, healing food and beverages.  This is nature's way of gradually preparing us for a colder climate.  We simmer soups, casseroles and spicy chili on the stove for hours.  We roll out pastry shells and fill them with cinnamon-laced apples and savor the homey aroma as they bake. We burn vanilla scented candles, sip full-bodied red wines like Merlot or Shiraz, and decorate our homes with leaves and pumpkins and brightly colored gourds.  This is the season of harvest when the earth seems to explode with abundance. This is her last "hoorah" before she settles down for a long winter's rest. 

I am always amazed at how this season gently ushers us into the colder, harsher weather.  Autumn offers beautiful gifts to help make the transition to winter a little easier.  The cold weather is coming so this is the time of preparing and gathering.  How are you preparing and gathering?

As the seasons change; so do the seasons of our lives. You might freeze or can fruits and vegetables in the fall, but what steps are you taking to prepare and nourish your body, mind and spirit for the inevitable cold ahead?  Winter is a time of reflection and hard work behind the scenes--work no one really sees until spring arrives.  There is alot going on beneath the frozen soil...so should it be in the soil of our souls.  If you want to burst into spring fully alive, you must do the work during the winter.  In order to do the work, you must  prepare and gather everything you need during this season of transition.  Embrace this time and use it wisely...........

And this is my Daily Cyn............

A Piece of Cake.........

 Cookies, cakes, pies, chocolate, and ice cream just don't tempt me.  I do indulge on special occasions such as holidays and birthdays but very rarely. I never have anything sweet to eat in my home.  The sweetest foods you will find are fresh fruits, raisins, dried apricots, and a bottle of organic maple syrup.  It's not because I am so against sweets.  Everyone should have a treat now and then.  I just don't have sugar cravings and would prefer to eat something else.

I was cleaning out my fridge yesterday and found a  nice slice of left-over birthday cake from my son's party. It was a really good cake--red velvet with cream cheese frosting.  I took a taste of it and to my surprise, it was still pretty fresh. Ordinarily, I would just throw it away but instead I tried a little experiment.  I was curious to see how I would feel if I ate this slice of cake for breakfast instead of my usual healthy fare.  I grabbed a fork and ate the whole thing!

It didn't take very long to feel the effects of this sugar-loaded meal.  It hit me quickly because the last meal I ate was a light dinner the night before.  Within an hour I began to feel tired, sluggish, and light-headed.  There was no reason for me to be tired.  I slept well the night before.  It had to be that piece of cake. 

I tried to ignore the effects for awhile.  I had some writing and other work to do but I was having trouble focusing.  I forced myself to keep going until I felt such a drop in my blood-sugar that I had to stop and eat something.  My body needed protein and needed it fast! I cut up some cheese and shoved it in my mouth, hoping this would hold me over for awhile.

The cheese really didn't help all that much.  I had a headache.  I never get headaches.  I sat down on the couch and within minutes I was out cold.  I slept for 2 hours. In the early afternoon! I have never done that in my life! When I woke up I was in such a fog.  I really wanted to sleep more but I refused to do that.  I got up and fixed myself a healthy meal and felt a bit better after that, but still tired.  At 11PM on a friday night I was in bed and slept through until morning.

The reason why I wanted to try this experiment is because so many people I know start their days with donuts, muffins, danish, sugar-loaded cereal and other sweets.  We serve our kids POP TARTS and call it breakfast.  A good friend of mine (a grown man) eats FUNNY BONES for breakfast.  He is never NOT tired.  He sleeps more than a newborn baby.  I don't think he has any idea what it's like to feel well-rested. Perhaps this is you, too.  You are always tired.   Maybe you don't even realize how bad you feel because you don't know what it's like to actually feel good.

It's not necessarily a bad thing to be tired. Stay out late one night and you will be dragging the next day. That's normal. If you feel tired all the time--that's NOT normal.   There could be reasons--poor sleeping habits, illness, and stress are all contributing factors.  You need to identify the reason why you are tired all the time and fix it.  Could it be the food you are eating?  Pay attention to what you are nourishing your body with and think of ways you can improve. If you are not sure where to begin, send me an email at metamorphosis321@hotmail.com or message me on FACEBOOK.

As for me--no more cake for breakfast.  I learned my lesson!

And this is my Daily Cyn.......

What's in an Apology?

I have been under a tremendous amount of stress lately.  There have been some serious life-changes I  needed make and it has been a bit of an adjustment. I have been trying keep my optimistic attitude through it all but it hasn't been easy.  There are times I get discouraged. 

When we are faced with situations like this, we need the people around us to be supportive.  It doesn't help when loved ones contribute unwelcomed advice and opinions or express their frustrations about YOUR situation.  We need them to extend a helping hand and support us-- not add additional stress to our lives. 

Over the past several weeks, the person who is closest to me has been making me miserable.  I don't need the drama or the aggravation.  I need peace and someone strong enough to understand I need peace. The fire is already burning--I don't need help pouring on additional fuel to make it burn longer or stronger.  I need someone to assist me in extinguishing the flames with a pail of cool water!

Yesterday I received an apology.  I did not ask for it, I did not expect it, I did nothing to prompt it. It was probably the most genuine and heart-felt apology I have ever heard.  It made everything ok and bearable. 

I recently read this little story about apologies and I want to share it with you.  It is from the book:
Things Will Get as Good as You Can Stand by Laura Doyle, a self-help expert.

Admitting a mistake requires courage and humility.  Being defensive about it isolates you and prevents you from receiving forgiveness because defensiveness and forgiveness cannot coexist.  So be proactive about acknowledging your errors, even if you feel that there is more to lose than to gain in the short term; in the long term you will receive more forgiveness, acceptance, and grace.

Start by apologizing the next time you are wrong--when you've done something to someone else that would have upset you.  That can be anything from interrupting someone to forgetting a birthday to initiating a breakup.

When you deliver an apology, take 100 percent accountability by leaving out the words "but" and "if".  Saying, "I am sorry I hurt your feelings," is being accountable.  Saying, "I am sorry if I hurt your feelings," is not.

Something to think about......

And this is my Daily Cyn............

Fried Chicken- Reloaded

I am well-aware that a good majority of you are not vegetarians and it is not my job to convert you.  I will always encourage you to eat less meat and sincerely hope that you are choosing the best and the healthiest cuts of meat available.  Occasionally, I will come across a healthy recipe for chicken, beef or fish and I will pass it on to my readers.  Here is one such recipe.......

Fried chicken seems to be a popular favorite at picnics, tail-gates and back-yard gatherings.  Most recipes I come across are so unhealthy and loaded with fat and calories you don't need.  Here is a delicious (so I am told), guilt-free recipe to try.  Serve it at your next get-together and let me know how it turns out!

Giving the chicken a double coat of flour mixture creates a golden crust (without the skin) when pan-fried. We use lemon rind instead of the lemon extract called for in the original. Carefully pour in the broth so you don't wet the crispy brown coating on the chicken. The broth mixture turns into a glazey sauce that can be served with the chicken.

Ingredients

* 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind

* 1 cup fresh lemon juice (about 4 lemons)

* 2 teaspoons minced peeled fresh ginger

* 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic

* 2 bone-in chicken breast halves, skinned

* 2 bone-in chicken thighs, skinned

* 2 chicken drumsticks, skinned

* 4.5 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 cup)

* 2 teaspoons ground ginger

* 1 teaspoon paprika

* 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper

* 1 teaspoon kosher salt

*1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

* 1/4 cup peanut oil

* 1/4 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth

* 2 tablespoons brown sugar

* 1 lemon, thinly sliced


Preparation

1. Place rind, juice, and next five ingredients (through drumsticks) in a large zip-top plastic bag; seal and shake to coat. Marinate in refrigerator 1 hour, turning bag occasionally.

2. Sift together flour and next three ingredients (through red pepper). Place flour mixture in a large zip-top plastic bag.

3. Remove chicken from marinade bag, reserving marinade. Sprinkle salt and black pepper evenly over chicken. Add chicken, one piece at a time, to flour mixture; seal bag and shake to coat chicken.

4. Remove chicken from bag, shaking off excess flour mixture. Reserve remaining flour mixture.

5. Place chicken on a wire rack; place rack in a jelly-roll pan. Cover and refrigerate 1 1/2 hours. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.

6. Preheat oven to 350°.

7. Return chicken, one piece at a time, to flour mixture; seal bag and shake to coat chicken. Remove chicken from bag, shaking off excess flour mixture. Discard remaining flour mixture.

8. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken to pan; cook 3 minutes or until golden, turning once.

9. Arrange chicken in single layer in a shallow roasting pan. Combine broth and reserved marinade in a small bowl; carefully pour broth mixture into pan. Sprinkle chicken evenly with sugar, and top with lemon slices.

10. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until golden and a thermometer registers 165°.

Nutritional information

4 servings

Serving size: 1 breast half, or 1 thigh plus 1 drumstick

Calories: 375

Fat: 15.5g (sat 3.3g, mono 6.6g, poly 4.7g)

Protein: 30.8g

Carbohydrate: 30.5g

Fiber: 2.4g

Cholesterol: 85mg

Iron: 2.6mg

Sodium: 578mg

Calcium: 48mg

Is SNAPPLE Really All Natural?

My boyfriend drove me to an appointment I had after work today.  He had a SNAPPLE Iced Tea with him.  I forgot to bring a book with me so I read the product label on his bottle of tea.

All Natural Snapple Lemon Tea.  Made from Green and Black Tea Leaves.  Made from the Best Stuff on Earth.

The Best Stuff on Earth? Wow! That sounds healthy!

Well....... just how healthy is it??


 The first thing I notice is a 16oz bottle of this tea is meant to quench the thirst of two people.   I have never known anyone to drink only half a SNAPPLE.  I could drain this entire bottle dry in a matter of minutes if I was really thirsty but if I do, I am consuming 42 grams of sugar. That sounds like an awful lot of sugar, don't you think?

Let's take a look at what REALLY is in this bottle of tea.......

Ingredients:
The finest tea leaves...........
I never really thought about tea leaves. I always thought tea leaves were tea leaves, but evidently the tea-leaf police have determined that the ones in this bottle are the finest.  In my humble opinion, the finest tea leaves would be ORGANICALLY grown.  SNAPPLE is actually owned by Dr. Pepper, a soft-drink company.  They make soda--one of the most unhealthy thirst-quenchers you could ever drink! There is no mention of where the tea leaves are actually from. I don't know if they are from China, or if the leaves are lovingly watered and cared for by a gentle farmer in North Carolina, or if they are grown in a lab under artificial sunlight.  The label just says, "The finest tea leaves". This sounds really nice so I will just take their word for it.

Filtered Water.............
This is a good thing and I am happy to know they are not just filling these bottles with ordinary tap water from some rusty old kitchen faucet. 

Sugar...........
Ok... you definitely needs some kind of sweetner in here.  No one wants to drink plain old tea.  There is ALOT of sugar in this drink--42 grams!  Do you realize how much 42 grams of sugar is?   Let me break it down for you:
1 gram of sugar is equivalent to 1/4 teaspoon. Therefore, 4 grams of sugar is equivalent to 1 teaspoon. Divide 42 grams by 4=10.5.
There are 10.5 teaspoons of sugar in this bottle of tea!

Citric Acid......
I see this additive ALL the time. Citric Acid is a colorless translucent crystalline acid, C6H8O7, principally derived by fermentation of carbohydrates or from lemon, lime, and pineapple juices and used in preparing citrates and in flavorings and metal polishes. Well, I suppose that is what they consider the ALL NATURAL lemon in this tea.  Citric Acid (fermented rotten, old lemons mixed with God-knows-what-else) is what gives this tea its nice lemon-ey taste and smell.  I keep thinking about Lemon Fresh Pledge--the furniture polish!  I don't think I want this in MY body!

Natural Flavors..........
This is the most deceptive ingredient of all.  Natural flavoring is a common ingredient in almost every single processed, pre-packaged product you eat. But what IS it? 

So-called natural flavor is produced in laboratories to give flavor to processed foods that lose almost all flavor through the processes of freezing, dehydrating, and canning. It is made from infinitesimal amounts of chemicals, or more so a collection of gases.

So basically, they take their "finest tea leaves" , add water, a ton of sugar, citric acid and process until it becomes a tasteless liquid.  New flavor must be added back in again--flavor made from chemicals and a collection of gases in a laboratory.  Does this sound ALL NATURAL to you? 

 I really hate to burst your SNAPPLE bubble especially if you are addicted to this product and think it is healthy! Just because it says ALL NATURAL on the label doesn't always mean it's HEALTHY!!

Here is what I consider ALL NATURAL Iced Tea:
 tea leaves (loose or in tea bags)
 filtered water
raw cane sugar ( raw sugar is still SUGAR but less processed than white sugar) or honey
Freshly squeezed lemon juice

I am not suggesting you never again enjoy a SNAPPLE.  You might want to reconsider your afternoon sweet treat or dessert after dinner if you do drink a bottle of this tea, however.  Remember the 10.5 teaspoons of sugar? If you drink one or more of these daily, and don't adjust your diet, that could explain your extra weight-gain!

This bottle of SNAPPLE Iced Tea does have a couple of redeeming qualities. The bottle itself is made of glass (not plastic) and at the very bottom of the label is a little message reminding us to recycle!

And this is my Daily Cyn...........

Women's Confidential Health History

Women's Confidential Health History

Please write or print clearly

Name:



Address:



Email address: How often do you check email?

Telephone – Work:
Home:
Cell:


Age:
Height:
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Current weight:
Weight six months ago:
One year ago:

Would you like your weight to be different? If so, what?

Relationship status:
Children?

Occupation:
Hours of work per week:

Please list your main health concerns:






Other concerns?




Any serious illness/hospitalizations/injuries?





How is the health of your mother?



How is the health of your father?



What is your ancestry? What blood type are you?



Do you sleep well?
How many hours?
Do you wake up at night?
Why?



Any pain, stiffness or swelling?



Are your periods regular?
How many days is your flow?
How frequent?



Painful or symptomatic? Please explain:





Birth control history:





Vaginal infections, reproductive concerns?





Constipation/Diarrhea/Gas? Explain:



Do you take any supplements or medications? Please list:





Any healers, helpers, pets or therapies with which you are involved? Please list:





What role do sports and exercise play in your life?




What foods did you eat often as a child?

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Snacks

Liquids


What’s your food like these days?


Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Snacks

Liquids


What percentage of your food is home cooked?
What percentage is not?

Where do you get the rest from?



Do you crave sugar, coffee, cigarettes, or have any major addictions?





Anything else you would like to share?