Going Organic

Those annoying stickers on the produce mean something. Stickers on organic fruits and veggies list a 5-digit number that begins with 9. Non-organic labels list a 4 digit number.

Salad Crunch

Go beyond carrots and celery for that added crunch to your salad. Mix it up and try fresh, crisp snow peas, protein-rich roasted soy nuts, or toasted almonds.

Branch Out

As trees reach their limbs to the sky, and burst forth new bud, all living things grow.

My 63 year-old friend ventured out and took her first yoga lesson. She enjoyed it so much she's joined the class.

"It's never too late to be what you might have been."
George Eliot

I turn fifty this year, and while I know I'll never become a ballerina, I can still learn to dance.

What have you always wanted to do but were too afraid to try?

Explore and discover your unique talents. Don't let fear, age, circumstances, or people, hold you back any longer.

Enter to Win a Box of Love
DRAWING CLOSED
(a $75.00 value)

The second greatest mandate is to "Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:39

So often we neglect ourselves when we care for others. I propose treating ourselves a little nicer might have a positive influence all of our relationships.

Send me an e-mail telling me one change you will make this year to take better care of You! I'll post some of the entries here on the April update to help each us improve our lives.

Box contains: Luxurious Olive hand cream by Olivina, Seaside solo piano CD by Solitudes, hazelnut truffle Tea forte, best life treat Hershey's Dark chocolate bar, Take My Heart, Oh God devotional by Sarah Young, and Chicken Soup for the Soul: Shaping the New You.

Energize & Maintain Your 2011 Weight Loss Goals
with these great tips readers submitted in January's drawing!

Kathy our winner from Pennsylvania plans her menu over the course of a week and says, "If I don't, it makes it easy to fall back into old habits."

The following come from:

Alexandra & Stephanie - Recruit a workout buddy. Inspire each other to get fit. You're more likely to stick to your workout schedule if someone else is relying on you to be there.

Michele - My best tip is my lunch - I usually try to brown bag it. I have trouble getting enough veggies in my diet, so I pack a lunch with carrots, celery, radishes, cucumber slices, fat free dressing to dip them in, and then some type of protein - a small amount of grilled chicken, or peanut butter. Add a wedge of the light Laughing Cow cheese for variety. It gets me veggies, satisfies my need to "chew" and includes a little protein.

Stephanie - Get Walking. If you feel hungry, go for a 30 minute walk and then if you're still hungry, have a healthy snack. Whenever you run errands park at the back of the parking lot, so that you get in some walking, and take the stairs instead of the elevators. When you're at work and you need a break, rather than snack, go for a brisk walk to relax and avoid the vending machine.

Eat a healthy snack before the party and avoid standing near the buffet.

Check nutrition information on a restaurant's menu so you know what healthy dishes to order. Don't be afraid to ask for your dish to be prepared healthy and substitute veggies in place of fries.

Avoid salad dressing. Instead of dumping loads of salad dressing on your salad, ask for dressing on the side and dip your fork before each bite. You'll save lots of calories and still have added flavor.

Curb cravings. Never go grocery shopping on an empty stomach.

Reward yourself. Every week I reward myself for sticking to my diet, whether it's a new outfit for exercising everyday, a bowl of frozen yogurt for eating right, or a simple splurge on myself, rewarding myself keeps me on my routine.

Minna - I Drink plenty of water! Not only does it help keep you hydrated but it also helps you become more in tune with your body, and less likely to confuse hunger with thirst! An added bonus is your skin will look nicer!

Diana - I once lost 45 pounds on the Atkins diet, but such tight food restrictions are difficult for me to sustain throughout a lifetime. As a result, carbs found their way back to my lips, and pounds found their way back to my figure. For me, portion control is the answer, so in my new resolution to lose weight, I've adopted this mantra: "One and done!" (One serving, that is.)

Pamela - Substitute fruit and vegetable carbs for breads and sweet carbs.

Dena - Keep your mouth shut... eat less... just say No!

Thank You to those who entered & Best Success in reaching your goals!

A Healthier, Happier YOU!

Accept Change - I used to resist change at every turn, but change brings new perspective and wisdom.

Look Ahead, not back - Remember what Anne Shirley said, from Anne of Green Gables, "Tomorrow is fresh, with no mistakes in it." Your future is loaded with possibilities!

Let Go - Is there something you need to let go of? Perhaps outdated clothes you're never going to wear, or a worn-out attitude like anger, jealousy, unforgiveness, or maybe like me, you need to dump the negative self-talk? Release the old and faded to make room for new.

Hope - We cannot change the past. Our hope lies in the future. Hope for restored relationships, for dreams to come true, desires to be fulfilled, for prodigals to return.

Make purposeful choices - Learn to say NO without guilt. The world will not end if you say no. And the reality, when you say yes to one request or activity you say no to something else. Forego the good in favor of the best.

"It takes courage to change your style, your opinion, the path you walk, your hat!"
- Mary Anne Radmacher

"Four steps to achievement: Plan purposefully, prepare prayerfully, proceed positively, pursue persistently."
- William Arthur Ward