To Drink Or Not To Drink? That is the Question......

Some one recently had a real big issue with me. Why? Because I openly admit that I occasionally go out and have a few drinks. GASP!

Apparently, that's a big no-no for a Nutritional Consultant! I had no idea. While I certainly don't make a habit of going out and getting drunk, I enjoy having a few cocktails now and then.  I just don't over-do it and I don't drink and drive. EVER!




I am a Health and Nutritional Consultant.
Did I go to school for this? Yes.
Do I have credentials and certifications? Uh- huh.
And years of experience, too. 

I share my passion for health, wellness and nutrition with everyone I meet. I help people change their lives from the inside out- beginning with how and what they eat. Food is the foundation for everything!

Where does alcohol fit into all this? It's a personal choice. Some nutritionists believe that a few cocktails can be part of healthy lifestyle. Some say you should drink a glass of red wine every day.  Here's a good article regarding all that: Alcohol Can Be Part of a Healthy Lifestyle. Others are completely against drinking any alcohol. I believe, having an occasional drink or two is perfectly acceptable.  Consuming excessive amounts of alcohol to point of drunkenness on a regular basis and making poor choices as a result? A whole different animal altogether and never a good idea.

I love this little quote about drinking:

"Don't drink because you feel bad. Drink because you feel good!"

In other words, if you drink because you are depressed and feel awful about your life, you might want to reconsider and look for alternatives. Drinking might help you forget your issues for awhile but they all come back the moment you are sober. This is when drinking problems start and how the alcoholic is born.  You have to keep drinking to forget. To drown your sorrow.  That's harmful and dangerous. If you can't relax, unwind, or enjoy yourself without drinking, you might want to find out why. Talk to a therapist or a counselor. Alcohol never solves anything. In fact, over time, it can complicate everything.

The celebratory champagne toast, a beer or two at a BBQ on a hot summer day, wine with dinner, a Bloody Mary at brunch- perfectly acceptable. A Girls' Night Out and a few rounds of drinks? As long as no one is driving--lots of fun and a great way to spend a Friday night after a week of hard work. However, if you need to drink, it's probably best to avoid it.

Have I ever had too much to drink? Absolutely. Do I need to drink? NO! I never did.  I don't keep liquor in my home. Occasionally, someone will give me a bottle of wine but I can't remember the last time I actually bought one for myself. I do love adding a bit of red wine to my tomato sauce, if I have it in the house. Balsamic vinegar works well, too. When I do drink, it's usually when I am out with my friends or at a restaurant. I am careful, I limit my alcohol consumption and I always drink plenty of water. And....this is crucial: if I am having a bad day or if I am angry, upset or emotional, I never, ever drink alcohol!

Setting up rules and boundaries, knowing yourself and your limitations and honoring them (and demanding that others honor them, as well) are the keys to living a happy, healthy, successful life.

If you choose to embibe, it's totally your decision. It really doesn't make you healthier or less than healthy if you do or you don't. As long as you drink responsibly. And keep in mind that some mixed drinks are very high in calories so if you're trying to lose weight, you might want to stick with light beer or wine spritzers. I never tell my clients not to drink. I might suggest different choices if weight loss is their goal. If I suspect they have a drinking problem, I point them in the direction of a trained professional. That's not my area of expertise, although I have helped recovering alcoholics and drug addicts make healthier eating choices.  If my clients don't drink, I would never encourage them to start. 

Alcohol, in excess, is toxic.  So is coffee. Sugar. Chocolate. Potato chips. I've been known to indulge in those things a few times. How about you?  Too much of anything, for that matter, is toxic. I am not perfect. I never claimed to be perfect. The fact that I openly admit my imperfections is what draws people to me time and time again.

I might joke around that the key to my heart is a Grey Goose Dirty Martini. That happens to be my favorite drink. I don't drink them all the time and I can't drink too many. They're super strong and unless someone else is buying, they are expensive. Is that statement true? Nah....It's a joke. I want my life to be shaken (not stirred) with laughter. The key to my heart is humor. I am looking for someone who can make me laugh about life's silly imperfections. I mean really laugh. I will be his forever, with or without the perfectly blended martini.

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

A Little Post-Holiday Poem

‘Twas after the holidays and all through the house

Not a morsel of food left for even a mouse

I was cozy and warm all snug in my bed

Under the covers pulled over my head

I hit the snooze button, not one time, but five

I was awake but barely alive.


Visions of holiday bills flashed through my mind

I'd better get up and move my behind.

My muscles were aching, my stomach was churning

My head was pounding and my eyes were burning.


Time to get ready and shower and dress

I dread returning to work I humbly confess

I am tired and sluggish and moody and cross

The last thing I want is to deal with the boss.


I had a nice weekend, I should be more chipper

But I can't seem to manage to zip up my zipper

I gaze in the mirror and oh what a fright

I look pale and tired and my pants are too tight.


What will I do? What will I wear?

 Nothing looks good, not even my hair!

I reach into my closet and pull out the big sweater

That covers my butt- okay, now that’s better.

I head toward the door and remember too late

Tonight after work I have a big date.

I want to look good, smile and flirt

But there’s no way in hell I’ll fit into my skirt.

He can't see me like this so I pick up the phone

And leave him this message,"I have to postpone!”

Now I’m angry, frustrated and filled with such shame

But I know there's only one person to blame

I over did it this season as I do every year

Too many calories and way too much beer

I over-indulged in treat after treat

And never rejected invitations to eat

Cakes and pies and bottles of wine

I don’t even recall if I had a good time!


There’s a price to pay and I’m paying it now

I’m bloated and tired and as big as a cow.

I didn’t need all those cookies or a third piece of cake

And all of that eggnog - what a mistake!


I’m stretching the truth for the sake of this poem

But I've gained a few pounds and don't think I'm alone.

So now  it's back to my veggies, beans and tofu

Just like everyone else, I've packed on a few.

I have to admit my jeans are too tight

So when I'm finished with work-- to the gym tonight!

-Cynthia Parrott 1/2/2012


Did you know that most people gain about ten pounds over the holiday season? That’s ten pounds on top of the excess weight they’re already carrying!



Did you over indulge a little too much this season? Do you have a post- holiday recovery plan? If not, I can help you put one together. Contact me and let’s chat……..


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

This Could Be Your Best Year Ever!

Happy New Year! Never in my life have I been so excited to see a year end and a new one begin.


2011 was a very difficult year for me and my family. Those who follow this blog regularly have some idea. I've openly shared some details here. The real personal and heart breaking stuff, I've kept to myself. It hasn't been easy and the tough part certainly isn't over yet. It might even get worse before it gets better.

I also believe we are one step closer to happier days.

A friend of mine chose spend this New Year's Eve alone. I invited him to come along with me to an intimate gathering of a few close friends. He declined. I pushed the issue a few times but still he refused to move from his comfortable spot on the couch.

"I really don't care about the holidays and celebrating," he said. "New Years' just means the beginning of another crappy year for me."

"Well, it only be that way if you want it to be," I replied. "It's your choice if you want the new year to be crappy or not. It's all about attitude despite your circumstances. You have to leave all the bad stuff from last year behind and have faith to believe for better things!"

He mumbled a few choice words under his breath and asked me to stop with the "new age bullshit".

I could have kept going but I didn't. I left him alone with his bottle of Southern Comfort and I skipped off to sip champagne with my friends.

It's difficult to reason with a person in that frame of mind. I know his life is tough. Who's isn't? We all have stuff we would rather not deal with. It would be nice to trade a few of my struggles with someone else right now or turn back the clock to a happier time. That's just not possible. I have to deal with these cards life has handed me now and make the best of it. I can't sit around feeling sorry for myself or enter into the new year with a bad attitude. I would rather pull up my big girl pants, keep fighting, keep hoping, and look for the lessons along the way.

Cancer. Drug addiction. Car accidents. Unemployment. Debt. Theft. Alcoholism. Broken relationships. Death. These are just a few of the things that touched me and my loved ones last year. In just one year. It was as if we were being shot at with an automatic rifle.  It took every ounce of strength to keep dodging the bullets and patching up the wounds as quickly as possible. It was a difficult year. Make no mistake about it.
However......

The one thing I refuse to do is carry all the negativity, sorrow, and pain of last year into my new year!

I certainly spent more time crying than laughing last year but in retrospect, I don't think I would change a thing. I've personally learned so much about myself and others. I've learned about life, love, hope, forgiveness. I learned about the strength of a tie that binds family and friends together. A bond that can never be broken. When things are just peachy, I tend to take all that stuff for granted. It's only when times get tough that I realize their true value.

I am getting together with family later for a New Year's Day dinner. My dad will build a fire in the fireplace and we all talk, laugh and play with the kids. After we stuff ourselves with good food and argue about politics and religion, I have a little exercise planned. I will be passing out paper and pens and I want everyone to write down the  things they don't want to carry into the new year. It can be anything: sickness, sorrow, pain, addiction, bad attitudes. Then each of us will toss those papers into the fire and watch them burn to ashes. They will be gone. Forgotten. Over. Done. Perhaps not physically. My dad will still have cancer but in his heart and mind he will be healed. And that is how he will find the strength to keep fighting. And that is how the rest of us will find the strength to fight right along with him. The same goes for everything else written down on our papers and tossed into the flames.

I challenge each of you to do this today. Take time to reflect on what you don't want to carry with you this year, write it down, and burn it. If you don't have a fireplace, toss your paper into bowl or an ashtray and light it on fire. Use an old coffee can to host the flames and watch your papers burn. Then forget it all. It won't be easy. They might creep up and haunt you. When they do, refuse to accept them. Remember that you burned them. They're gone. Forgotten. Over. Done.

You might think this is "new age bullshit" (like my friend) but I am going to say it any way:

If you believe this is going to be your best year ever, it will be. It really is your choice. You just need to have faith and decide not to take the pain, sorrow, bad attitudes, mistakes and failures of last year into your new year.

Wishing you a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous New Year filled with peace, love and joy is meaningless, if you don't have the faith to believe it will be!

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

The Most Meaningful Gifts

In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the season, the shopping, the wrapping, the exchanging of gifts and all the time and money spent making this the best Christmas ever.....



The most meaningful gifts don't cost a thing..............

encouragement for a shaky soul,


friendship for a lonely person,

kindness to the disheartened,

understanding for someone troubled,

compassion for the neglected,

comfort for the bereaved,

respect for the dignity of others,

defense of the rights of individuals,

and love to heal a broken heart.


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

You are an Artist

"If you can see yourself as an artist, and you can see that your life is your own creation, then why not create the most beautiful story for yourself?" -- Don Miguel Ruiz

I can't draw or paint to save my life. My ability never evolved beyond drawing stick figures and even those are pretty pathetic. I got a Paint-by Number kit as a kid one year for Christmas. Those are virtually fool-proof yet I managed to mess mine up. It looked so awful, I threw it away. I was the one who always failed art class in school. I am the least artistic person in the world and I slightly envy those  blessed with such a gift.

Recently, I painted my bathroom. What a big production that was! I had never painted a wall or a piece of trim in my life. but I because I had a big hair-dye mishap (Nice and Easy Natural Dark Brown #121A  spatters on the wall over the sink) I had to cover it up. I didn't want to spend the money to hire someone to paint my tiny bathroom so I marched down to local hardware store, talked to paint guy, and came home armed with brushes, rollers, drop cloths, a gallon of eco-friendly paint and a free paint stirrer.

Despite the fact that I needed two whole days to complete what would take an ordinary person about an hour, my first real attempt at painting turned out well and I am pretty darn proud of myself. I can see only one spot along the tub that I completely missed and one of these days I will take out my can of paint and fix it. Since I managed to pull off painting the bathroom, I am now ready to tackle the bedroom. 

My whole apartment is in desperate need of painting. Every wall is a boring, dingy white. This was supposed to be temporary resting place but it looks like I will be staying here a little longer.   A few coats of paint on the walls will make it look and feel more like home. Because I am so inexperienced in the painting department I figured I'd attempt the bathroom first, then the bedroom.  If I make mistakes, I can always repaint because those two rooms are so small.  Eventually my technique will improve and so will my confidence. I will be ready to take on bigger challenges: the kitchen and living room.

I can hire a professional to do the painting for me. It would certainly look better and take a lot less time. But then, I will miss out on the sheer satisfaction of sitting back and admiring my work- paint drips, missed spots and all. Every time I go into my bathroom now, I think how beautiful it looks. I bring everyone in there to show them what I did. I tell them how terrified I was to even attempt the job, how the cat accidentally stepped in the paint tray and tracked paint all through the house, and the clever ways I figured out how to paint around the sink, electrical outlets and plumbing fixtures. If someone else had done the job for me, I don't know how often I would take notice or if I would be as proud to show it off. There would be no stories to tell.......

All this might sound crazy to you. Big deal. I painted a bathroom. But, you must understand, I am a spoiled, slightly clumsy, girlie-girl who always had a man around to do everything for me. Growing up, my father wouldn't dream of asking his daughter to get her hands dirty with so-called men's work. If he wasn't sick right now, he would insist on doing the work himself. When I was married, my husband did everything. One year, I offered to help him paint trim on the house and I spilled an entire can of oil-based paint all over myself and the side of the house. I had white paint stuck in my hair for weeks and that was the last time my ex-husband ever asked for my assistance with anything. I can't help but feel proud that I painted a whole room all by myself.  I created a warm and beautiful bathroom with a brush, a can of paint and my own two hands. I am now an artist and the bathroom walls, though slightly imperfect, are my masterpiece!

You are an artist. Life is a blank canvas on which to create your very own work of art. It won't ever be as magnificent if you sit back and let someone else create it for you.  Just pick up the brush and start painting. The more you practice, the better you'll get at it.  If you really don't like it, start over again and create something new. And don't worry too much about the imperfections. Those are just the ups and downs, trials, tribulations, heartache, joys and triumphs that tell the most beautiful story and make your life a true masterpiece.

And this is Daily Cyn......





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The Truth Will Not Be Withheld IF.......

In the end, I've come to believe in something I call "The Physics of the Quest." A force in nature governed by laws as real as the laws of gravity. The rule of Quest Physics goes something like this: If you're brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting, which can be anything from your house to bitter, old resentments, and set out on a truth-seeking journey, either externally or internally, and if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue and if you accept everyone you meet along the way as a teacher and if you are prepared, most of all, to face and forgive some very difficult realities about yourself, then the truth will not be withheld from you. -Elizabeth Gilbert: Eat, Pray, Love.

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

Humility

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