Naturally sweet and healthy treat

I hosted a fun Lia Sophia jewelry party the other night. I love hosting parties! They give me a reason to get together with my girlfriends, learn new things, and SHOP.

One of the things I really like to do is come up with great recipe ideas to share. This one was a HIT and the recipe was requested. It's super simple, cuz that's how I roll. If a recipe has more then 10 ingredients then I won't use it. Frankly that's too much work. I love to research recipes that are similar then create my own.

This recipe for No-bake nut butter oat bars is healthy and rich so you really only need a small piece. They are sweetened with honey and spiced up using doTERRA On guard essential oil blend, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. I used peanut butter, but any nut butter would serve well here. I appreciate the fact they are rich so I'm not tempted to eat the entire pan :-) It came about because my oven is broken and I wanted to make something for my guests to snack on as a refreshment. I didn't want to spend a lot of time, had to be able to use items on hand, couldn't use my oven, and I wanted to incorporate essential oils. Well my friends! This accomplishes all that!

OnGuard essential oil blend has antibacterial, antifungal, antidepressant, and antiseptic properties. It will disinfect any surface and wipeout germs on contact. These germs include the flu, MRSA and many other critters we don't want around. With cold and flu season starting I wanted to provide a decadent treat that would help protect my guests . What better way to do that then with essential oils!

Food provides an opportunity for expression and creativity. With that in mind, please feel free to add to, take away, or change this up to fit your style and taste buds. But don't keep the changes to yourself, share in the comments below what you did so the rest of us can benefit :-)

Are you ready for the recipe? Drum roll please.....


No-bake Nut Butter Oat Bars
Makes about 24 bars

3 cups quick cooking oats
1 cup nut butter, no additives or sweeteners
3/4 cup honey
3-5 drops On guard essential oil blend
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp clove and nutmeg
1/4-1/3 coconut milk, if needed (to help combine everything)

In a small saucepan combine honey and nut butter. Stir to combine. When nut butter and honey are warm and melty (but not too hot) add essential oil. Stir to blend.

In a medium size bowl combine oats and spices. Stir in honey/nut butter mix. Stir with a wooden spoon until all the oats are incorporated and covered.

If needed, use coconut or almond milk to thin it out a bit. The honey nut butter mix thickens as it cools. The milk helps so you can incorporate everything easier.

When everything is mixed well, pour into a 8 1/2 x 11 pan. Refrigerate for atleast 2 hours before serving.

Again these are rich. Cut them into 24 squares and enjoy!

Add ins: try adding dark chocolate chips, dried fruit, or coconut flakes for some yummy texture!


To contact me for a free health history consultation to discover how I can help you improve your health email me at holisticallyhealthy14@gmail.com!

Seasonal transitions

Fall is a time of transition for me. It's a time of renewal. I think this is because school is back in, the crispness in the air, the change in the brightness of the sun, football starts, and I'm sure many more things.

As fall is upon us I have been reflecting on what my purpose in life is and what I want to gain from it. How does God want me to use all this knowledge that He has given me?

Then came the questions yesterday: Who am I? Where am I going? How am I going to get there?

Paths are laid out differently for each of us. My life has turned out much differently then I expected it to. I always pictured my family with 6 kids, a big house....instead I have 1 awesome daughter and a not so big home. Still I have chosen to accept my life as it is now. My career is different then I had planned too. I always wanted to be a teacher. I wanted to teach junior high...I know I must be crazy! Instead I'm a registered nurse, personal trainer, holistic health coach and essential oil expert. Not quite the same, but I still get to teach.

During my medication yesterday I pondered on what God wanted me to do with all my knowledge. What does He want me to build with this?
Again the questions came up: Who am I? Where am I going? How am I going to get there?

I didn't receive a concrete answer, just peace that what I'm doing right now is perfect and just right. My business is growing at a steady rate, just right for me. I am receiving guidance on who to reach and how.

I share this because I want you to see and understand that life isn't perfect. Life doesn't always turn out how we expect it too. At the same time there is constancy in all things. We all have something we can hold on to: our FAITH. That is how I stay afloat during times of uncertainty.
I depend on the knowledge I have of holistic health and sustainable exercise to help me feel grounded, along with my faith.

I feel blessed to share this with others. To schedule your own health history consultation and to see how I can help you achieve balance, check out my website rhendrickson.healthcoach.integrativenutrition.com

Thanks for reading! Health, love and light!

My thinking has been reset

So my birthday is next Saturday!! Woot! bring on the celebrations!! Normally I am looking forward to an awesome cake or sweet treat. This year though I am looking forward to spending time playing and having fun with my friends. One of the best things that has happened after my 21 days no sugar sweets challenge is I no longer crave them!

There is plenty of research that shows SUGAR is addictive and just as hard of a habit to break as any other substance. The first few days weren't too bad. But after about 7 days the headaches and withdrawals started. I didn't quit though, I pushed through. After about day 10 I saw light at the end of my headache tunnel! My head cleared up, my moods stabilized and POOF the cravings subsided.

Here's a few things I'm noticing. When I start to have sweet treat cravings (especially chocolate) I realize I am either dehydrated, low on the fat intake, or craving a rich experience with another person (like a fun night out or just some fun period). I realized this the other day when I was craving a piece of chocolate, when in reality I was needing to vent some frustrations with my hubby. After about 10-15 minutes of venting (maybe less) my craving was completely gone!

As a health coach I teach about primary foods and relationships are one of them. If we are lacking in relationship connection our body will communicate with cravings. Mine is sweet treat cravings. So, instead of giving in to the craving I will connect with someone, either an adult or a kid. The craving is then gone and I can move on. If the craving continues I will drink some water, have a piece of fruit, or a spoonful of either peanut butter or coconut oil.

Long story short, for the birthday celebration I have specifically said to the hubby no birthday cake or treats! I am looking forward to the focus being on fun, friends, and family! A lot has gone into this transition and it hasn't happened all at once. I share this to hopefully empower someone else to make a positive change in their life!

What positive changes are you making in your life? How are you accomplishing those? What changes are you noticing? What challenges?

To learn more about how I can help you in your positive changes please contact me at 801-518-2964 or holisticallyhealthy14@gmail.com....or comment on this post :) I look forward to hearing your comments!

Big results, small changes

I completed a 21 day no sweets challenge and ended it with smores while we were camping. They were delicious! However the next day....complete disaster! We arrived home from camping and I had a complete meltdown. I was out of control! All of my frustrations and let downs over the past few months exploded out of my mouth. My wise 6 year old realized what had happened the day before said, "Mom you have had way too much sugar." I smiled at her, and then at my husband, and stated, "She's right." And then came more tears...because all i want to be is normal.

What I have realized is I'm my normal. And that includes a couple food intolerance's, hormone imbalance, and a difficult time getting pregnant. Do these make me less important or beautiful? No. And this is hard to accept. I get frustrated because I see people who get pregnant on "accident" and we are spending hundreds of $$$ to get our baby (and spent a pretty penny getting our beautiful 6 year old here). At the same time I try to be loving and accepting and not bitter.

Each situation is different and each person handles their situation differently. Each person grieves differently. It sounds weird to me to say I am grieving over this situation but that's what happens when things don't turn out the way you expect them to.

So, how am I accepting this situation? I focus on my blessings. Here's a list of the first 10 things I can think of that I'm grateful for:
1. My physical strength
2. My spiritual strength and belief in God.
3. My friends and sisters
4. My wonderful husband who is SO patient
5. My beautiful daughter.
6. The beautiful children in my life
7. The opportunity I have to serve others through health, fitness, health coaching, nutrition, spirituality
8. My parents
9. Good food
10. The ability I have to be physically active.

There are so many things in life to be grateful for, even in the darkest of times.

To learn more about how you can gain balance and light in your times of darkness, email me at holisticallyhealthy14@gmail.com or call me at 801-518-2964 to schedule a free health consultation!

10 days into My 30 Days No Treats challenge

Today is day 10 of my 30 days no treats challenge. I'm starting to feel better and more clear headed. The cravings are still there but I"m not giving up.

What foods am I eating to deal with the cravings? I eat fruit instead of sweet, especially frozen fruit like bananas. The combination of cold and sweet really kicks the cravings in the butt! I am also using peanut butter as a fat. Peanut butter has always been a favorite of mine and I"m glad I can have it :) And lastly, lots of WATER! I find if I'm dehydrated i crave more sweets. In order to combat them and overcome them I drink lots of water. I feel so much better being well hydrated and am enjoying the accomplishment of keeping this commitment to myself.

How is exercise helping? Being physically active gives natural endorphin's. The feel good after a workout reminds me why I take care of myself inside and out. I would rather feel good being tone and strong with good cardiovascular endurance then cave into a treat. Plus being physically strong I can be physically active with my family and friends.

My relationship are changing too. I would rather connect with people through activity then food. That was one of my intentions when I started this challenge. I was getting tired of connecting with people through food engagements. I find the connection more satisfying and fulfilling when I"m not stuffing my face but focusing on the beautiful face across the table or next to me!

The 30 day no treats challenge ends the day before my 37th birthday. I have told my friends and spouse I want to have a party without cake or treats. I want to have fun games and activities! I enjoy connecting with people through fun not food because I can focus on the person I am communicating with, not the food on my plate.

How can you change your eating to deepen your connection with yourself or others? Please post your comments below! I look forward to hearing your ideas and experiences :)

Half way through IIN's Health coach program and I've learned so much!

I have been reflecting the past couple days on how much I've learned the past 6 months and the transformations that have happened. Here's what I've learned:

1. I would rather avoid sugar treats then indulge and deal with the metabolic consequences later. When I eat a sugar breakfast then I crave unhealthy foods all day. What does this do to my confidence? Destruction. All I want the rest of the day is junk- cookies, cake, ice cream, etc. I feel like a failure because the cravings are sometimes so strong that it's easier to cave into them rather then avoid them. I feel like a metabolic mess.
On the flip side, when I eat a breakfast, or meal, that is balanced with protein, a fruit, fat, and carbs my cravings are minimal. I eat foods that make me happy, help me have a clear head and sustain my energy. I don't have abdominal bloat or gas. I am a happy lady!
So, What do I eat to maintain balance? Veggies, starchy carbs (sweet potatoes, white potatoes, carrots), minimal fruits (bananas are on my no-no list), minimal grains (oats, rice or corn tortilla chips maybe 5 times a week depending on my activity level), fat (coconut oil, nut butter, olive oil), limited dairy (yogurt as a sour cream substitute and cheese for nachos) and protein (chicken, fish, eggs, beef). Oh and PLENTY of water! Dehydration will lead to increased cravings for carbohydrates and sugar because your body uses hunger to get your attention. So when you find yourself hungry shortly after a meal, drink water! I will bet money your hunger will go away. If it comes back drink more water. And if your still hungry, eat some veggies with water content (cucumbers, peppers, carrots, etc) this usually will do the trick. Or have some protein to help balance your blood sugar. The best thing you can do in this situation is AVOID SUGAR, it will only make you more hungry and make the situation worse for you.
What nutrition outline does this sound like? Paleo. I unintentionally have found this works best for me. However I am not strict with it. I allow myself flexibility because being strictly committed to one way of eating is stressful and leads to mind games with myself.

2. I am no longer using "adrenal fatigue" as an excuse to avoid physical activity. I reached out of my comfort zone and started exercising again. Ya I was doing yoga, some strength work, and minimal cardio (I was counting work as my cardio haha). However a few weeks ago I made a goal of 30 minutes of cardio 3 times each week, no matter what (unless I'm deathly ill or dead of course). So far so good! What's the result? Confidence, body composition changes, decreased cravings, balanced blood sugar, increased stamina, more energy, increased sexual energy and I'm more intune with my appetite. Cool huh? I have always known exercise is awesome, but most of these results I didn't expect; especially the balanced blood sugar and decreased cravings.
So what is my exercise routine? 3 days cardio (walk/jog intervals with a 3-5 minute warm up and 3-5 minute cool down, 2-3 strength workouts (usually on the days I do cardio cuz who wants to split them up), and 1-2 yoga workouts a week (you tube is awesome for these, I like yogadownload.com's channel). Balance is key here. Plenty of sleep is a must as well.

3. I have realized what my clients, friends, coworkers, acquaintances and patients really want. An example. They want an example of health, strength, and fitness. I am in a position to be that for those who are ready to be receptive to the message.

4. While I can be a beacon of health and fitness, I have had to realize this is my journey. Others can gain insight and inspiration from my experiences, however it's not my responsibility to carry them. If I carry their burden it only makes me heavier and doesn't help them at all. So, I am embracing my journey and letting the path unfold in front of me. Am I scared? Yes. However I have a confidence that is growing every day. I have a testimony and faith in God. He is so merciful and supportive. When I am unsure of the next step or where to go I ask Him. No question is too silly or weird. I ask him from time to time what to eat or how to exercise to best support my body; He ALWAYS answers.

Balance in all areas of life (career, physical health, relationships, and spirituality) is so important. Re-evaluation from time to time of where you are in these areas is so healing and provides insight to where you should go next.

For more information on how you can find balance and healing in a holistic way, please contact me for a free health history consultation and to find out more about my 6 month program!
Email me: holisticallyhealthy14@gmail.com

Thinking of trying Paleo again

I feel so much better without grains.... Or already in moderation. So I guess it's not that I want to eat Paleo but rather limit my grains and dairy and sweet treats. Last night I went to a wedding reception and ate ice cream. Today I'm craving sweets. So how am I combatting it? Eating let's of veggies. Yes I had 1 pancake with peanut butter and strawberries after eating my spinach, chicken, brown rice with pesto. I had maybe 2 pieces of Maycee's peaches. But I really do feel better and more energetic. I feel better with limited dairy, not as gassy.

So I guess it's not Paleo I'm reaching for. It's balance. Balance in my food groups and enjoying more veggies. Not writing about when to eat starches and when to not. When to eat fruit and when to not. Worrying more about my fullness cues and honoring my hunger and body. My body is so forgiving and I'm so grateful to have it.

I've also started exercising more and feel better then I have in months! The only frustrating thing is my appetite has increased. So I'm learning how to adapt.

I had a revelation the other day, so here it is. This experience is mine. If others want to join that's fine but I'm not going to make a special effort to bring others along. This is my experience to heal and move forward. I don't know when we will have another child and I don't want to carry this extra weight while waiting. I am ready to move forward and let go. Baby will come when baby is ready. In the mean time I am living my life and letting go of guilt and baggage. I would love to be pregnant but I'm not and I'm tired of looking like I am. I am ready to have a body that I'm proud of. That is tone and strong. That shows other women that yes you can have a strong tube body even after having children.

I want to be an example of holistic health inside and out. Fitness is one way I do that.

I am excited to move into this new space with power and grace!!

How journaling is helping me with my binge eating

I recently found comfort in listening to an episode on the Half Size Me podcast. Heather (the hostess) did an interview about her history with binge eating and how she overcame it. One thing that works well for her is journaling. This resonated with me. I have started journaling post binge using the notepad app on my phone. I like this because it helps me get out my guilt about the binge. I am also more conscious of what I'm eating.

Journaling post binge has also started helping me come to peace with the binge itself. I am starting to realize the relationship I have with food. Food to me is a comfort, it is something that will never let me down. I know just what to expect, good or bad. Food is always there for me.

Today I am pondering "How can I overcome this tendency to binge?" Here's what I have come up with so far:
1. Come to terms with my relationship with food.
2. Discover my triggers...kids, boredom, overwhelm....etc
3. Journal about how I felt before, during and after the binge.
4. Be open and honest with myself. No one else has to know, but I will.

I can't think of anything else right now about how to overcome this concern. Being open and honest with myself I feel is going to be so helpful.

I have also adopted a new mantra, "I love and accept myself for who I am right now"

I write about this to help anyone else who happens upon my blog and reads this post.

I love and accept myself for who I am right now.
Right now I am doing my best to move forward in to who God intends me to be. I am persevering through the mud into a new space.

I love the word perseverance. It has substance to it. It's almost tangible. Some synonyms for perseverance are endurance, determination, persistence, purposefulness, spunk, stamina, steadfastness, tenacity and decision. I appreciate all these works because they describe who I like to be.

My intention is to bring light and love to the world one blog post at a time. I want to inspire people to be their best! I want the world to be bright and beautiful with substance. When we have substance we have purpose. What my substance is will be different then someone elses, even though we might have a lot in common. I hope that makes sense. And it could be another blog post all together.

Stay tuned for another post about SMART goals and what I learned from my IIN coaching call today 5/1/14!

Cheers,

Rachel

The meaning of substantial and how it has changed me.

I recently became interested in the word substantial.

The definition of substantial is: adjective
1.of ample or considerable amount, quantity, size, etc.: a substantial sum of money.
2. of a corporeal or material nature; tangible; real.
3.of solid character or quality; firm, stout, or strong: a substantial physique.
4.basic or essential; fundamental: two stories in substantial agreement.
5.wealthy or influential: one of the substantial men of the town.
(Sourced from dictionary.com)

The definition that stood out to me was number 3: of solid character or quality; firm, stout or strong. I pondered on that. How could i develop a more substantial life and character? And then how can I transfer that to my life, relationships, and work?
I was then drawn to the synonyms for substantial: (sourced from thesaurus.com)
big consequential considerable extraordinary meaningful significant solid steady strong valuable abundant
big-deal durable firm goodly key major-league plentiful principal sound stable sturdy superabundant

well-built worthwhile


Wow! Quite the list right? These are just a few of the words that stood out to me. All of these are qualities that I am working on developing.


How am I developing these qualities? Through developing integrity, keeping my commitments to others and my self, and working through my concerns through journaling and prayer.

I have seen such great results through focusing on becoming a substantial person. I have learned to persevere through tough times and continue journaling. My journal is becoming one of my closest confidants. I can count on it to never judge me. I only judge myself.

I am realizing that through becoming more substantial I can be a greater influence for good for all those around me.

My relationships are getting better; not only with others but also myself. I am gaining greater love and respect for myself. I am learning to love and accept myself for who I am today. My past is in the past and the future isn't here yet. All I have is what I have here in the present.

So I ask you, what are you doing today to make the best of today? What are you doing today to have the best experiences possible?



Cheers!


Rachel

The problem with gossip and how it can hurt everyone involved.

The other day at work (my hospital job) one of our patients fell. He ended up breaking his hip. The nurse who was trying to put the pieces together was put in a hard spot. She was trying to figure out who was at fault. What ended up happening was assumed accusations.

After I left work, after 12 hours of hearing about how to deal with the situation, I felt completely drained. I also made my fair share of mistakes at the end of my shift. This also left me feeling like a failure.

What did I learn from this experience?
1. Don't assume anything. Communicate the facts and the rest will work itself out.
2. Don't gossip. We all have something important to contribute.
3. If you're unhappy with where you are in life then change it! Life is too short to be unhappy.

I also left work evaluating my own life and where I'm happy and fulfilled. Where am I making the best contribution in life? Am I happy with my current situation? If not, then where can I make adjustments? What are my priorities? How can I succeed as a health coach? How can I succeed as a doTERRA leader? How am I going to accomplish all I want to with my current financial situation? How much do I trust my intuition, and how do I recognize what my intuition?

I've done a lot of pondering the past couple days since my experience at work. What is my purpose as a registered nurse? Am I still fulfilled? How can I become more competent as a rehab nurse?

When we are going through a life change and we are being led in a direction we are unsure of, faith is required to lead us to where we need to go. My faith is being challenged. Not my faith in God, He is always with me. Faith in myself...rather trust in myself is being challenged. Do I trust myself enough to do what needs to be done to be successful in this new path? What changes do I need to make? How much sacrifice will be required for me to find happiness and homeostasis again?

By now you're probably wondering what I like about being a registered nurse? Here's a few things I like about my job as an RN:
1. Being in charge! I love being in charge and being in control.
2. Changing cool dressings and seeing the miracle of healing first hand.
3. Making a positive impact on someones life. I love being able to make someone smile and help them feel better
4. Flexibility. I appreciate working my required hours in a shorter period of time. Yes I work 12 hour shifts but I only work a couple times a week. That leaves more time for me to be with my friends and family. Also more time to do what I want: exercise, studying, and reading.

There are a lot of perks to being a nurse. I guess for now it's still one of my callings in life :-)

The beauty of essential oils and how they enhance meditation

I love using essential oils! I enjoy how they can uplift my spirits, help me feel grounded, and open communication between me and God. 

I was praying this morning and decided to put InTune on my third eye (the point between the eyes). Oh my gosh!! My prayer was so much more focused and the communication between me and God was so much more fulfilling! 

I had alot of revelations and insights. Here's a few:

1. I have been holding/carrying burdens for others here on Earth, those that have passed, and those that are not here. Those that are here on Earth include my mom, brother, and friends. Those that have passed are ancestors that didn't take care of their worries and mistakes and anger before they passed. Those that are not here are the children I am not able to bring to our family (this I'm sure is my own burden but to make letting it go and dealing with I have labelled it this way). 

2. Holding resentment and shame for past mistakes and pain I have caused others. I was not the best teenager to my parents. I did a lot of things that hurt them and caused sorrow. I allowed myself to feel that pain, shame, sorrow, resentment, grief. And then gave the burdens I had been carrying that are not mine back to those whose burden it is. The burden, shame, resentment, and anger that was mine I put in a box so it wasn't with me anymore and gave it to my Savior, Jesus Christ. He knows what to do with it and through His Atonement I can be made whole again!

3. Through prayer and meditation today I am truly able to accept myself, both past and present. I am here on Earth to bring light and love to others. I want others to be happy because life is supposed to be happy, not heavy and sad. I'm not bragging or saying I'm better then anyone else. Each person has gifts and talents that makes them unique. That's the beauty of being human. We are all different and unique. Isn't that great!? God made each of us unique with gifts and talents. He made this Earth and a plan so we could have a greater experience here on Earth to grow and have JOY! Life is meant to be enjoyed! It won't always be easy because we are here to learn. However, we have a Savior who loves each one of us. He already suffered and felt our pain for each and every temptation and sorrow we may feel. We don't have to carry them. We can hand them over to Him and He will do what is supposed to be done with them. After we can fully let go of our sorrow, resentment and pain Jesus Christ fills up the emptiness with light, love, joy, acceptance, peace, and support. I know this because I felt it today! After letting go of things we have held on to for so long it is normal to feel awkward and a little out of place. Don't give up and don't give in! Ask Jesus for help and support! He will provide that through supportive friends, ancestors, and the present of His spirit. He loves each one of us for our unique gifts and talents. I know He loves me and accepts me for who I am!

4. I realized I am a Type 1 (Carol Tuttle energy profiling) woman! I love my bright cheery self! I love bringing light and love to others! The shapes that represent the Type 1 are circles, hearts, and stars. How fitting for someone who is represented by the elements of nitrogen and air :)

Through using essential oils, whole nourishing food, and great supportive supplements I have provided support to my body to heal. Through that healing I have been able to let go of burdens and open up to new possibilities! 

I look forward to what today holds and being able to bring light, joy and love to those around me and most importantly to myself!

Social Eating

I am finding it easier to control my portions when I'm by myself. but as soon as I get in a group my discipline goes down the toilet. For example, I set a goal this week to eat more vegetables (I eat quite a few now but wanted to eat more greens) and I did. I also am trying to not over eat.

Tonight I went to my friends house while our husbands watched the priesthood session of our church's general conference. We indulged in ice cream yummyness with hot fudge, peanut butter, chopped almonds, and reeses mini's. Oh and bananas. Yes it was good and I did enjoy it. Here is the problem and why I"m struggling to not beat myself up about it. I ate not only mine but the rest of my daughters and a lot, and I mean a lot of cinnamon bears. I find connection with people through food. I love connecting with people though eating good food and enjoying their company.

Here is another thing I want to work on. Connecting with people in other ways. Like through games, getting outside and being active. Making this change will also help me change my relationship with food. Instead of getting together with people for great food, why not connect with them in other ways?

I have set a goal for myself to be a comfortable, strong, sexy size 3 by our trip to California, May 25. It's possible. I'm afraid I won't achieve it. I AM TRYING and AM DOING MY BEST. I keep telling myself 1 indulgence, such as tonight, each week isn't going to undo all the healthier eating I did earlier this week.

I am practicing more self love this week through taking time to journal, listening to my cravings, drinking more water, exercising more, and talking positively to myself. I try to talk to myself as I would talk to my best friend or daughter. I would never tell my daughter or best friend the terrible things I say in my head. Things like, "Oh you totally messed up!" "You're such a failure!" "You can't do anything right!" "You didn't even stick to the food plan you set for yourself, what a failure. You will never reach your goal, you're not good enough!"

I'm trying to be better about saying things like: "So you had a little too much, try better next time to have better portion control. You can do this and You'll do better next time." "You're still an important person, just because you indulged doesn't mean you're any less of a person." "You do deserve to have the best things inside you." "You are worth the effort and deserve to feel good about yourself and to look good. If people judge you by the way you look they are probably jealous. Love them anyway."

I know I am still worth it and deserve the best. I deserve to look good and feel good all the time. Part of that feeling good is putting good things in my body and feeling good after I eat. Not overfull or stuffed. I do not feel good after doing that.

I am trying and know it will take time. Any change takes time. I now I am learning to listen to my body and respect it a divine creation. God blessed me with my amazing body and He also understands I am not perfect. He wants to teach me to love and respect my body. He wants me to feed it good things. I want to feed my body what it needs and to understand it's cravings better.

In school we are learning about cravings and what they mean. Craving sweets usually means craving sweet attention. So touch, love, affection, warm connection, fun, etc. Anything that means sweet or uplifting. I hope that makes sense lol. I am a naturally uplifting happy person and love connecting to people in that way.

The friend I met with tonight, her and I have always connected with food. So now I want to change that connection. In fact, all my friends we have always connected with food. I want to change that. I want to start connecting with my friends through other things: activities, outdoors, etc. Things other then food. I mean food is fun don't get me wrong....but I want to change the pattern. I think first I need to continue to change my relationship with food. I need to balance my primary foods: relationships, career, physical activity, and spirituality. This will help me to change my relationship with food from primary nourishment to secondary nourishment. I enjoy food and love the way I feel when well fed. However, I also love feeling connected and loved with others.

Energy profiling!!

Have you ever heard of Carol Tuttle? She's amazing! She goes through different personality types and who they coordinate with energy. I love how everything in the world creates and vibrates with energy, including Human Beings.

As I have become more educated about energy work and profiling I am coming to appreciate the beauty our whole Earth offers us.

I am a type 1: fun, uplifting, happy. With a secondary type 2: soft, still, constant. Having the balance of energy is very beneficial, especially as a student and business owner. I appreciate all energy types, even if I don't always get along or clash with different energy types. Sometimes, because I am so easy going and fun loving, I have a hard time with the push movement personalities. I almost want to say, "slow down!! don't be so pushy! I can't handle that kind of push." And if I feel pushed too much to do something or help back from doing what I want then I rebel.

My way of rebelling is towards myself. I will overeat, beat myself up for not being perfect or not helping others be happy. If I overeat I will then beat myself up and be angry at how I look and feel afterward with thoughts such as "oh self, you now better. How can  you do this to yourself?" or thoughts such as "why can't I be better and stick with something more structured?"

So how am I letting go of perfection? I work from day to day, sometimes from moment to moment.

Blogging my journey through holistic living

As I journey into the realm of holistic health I have decided to blog about it. I know there are tons of blogs on health out there, but everyone has their own journey. If I can help make a difference for others out there then that will fulfill my mission.

A little about me. I am a registered nurse, doTERRA essential oil expert, personal trainer, and soon to be a Holistic Health coach. 

I love health and fitness! I love inspiring people to be their best! My mission is to help people find solutions by empowering them with knowledge. I am committed to this because of my own struggles with my health. 

For years I had gut problems. Indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating...ugh it was terrible. When I was 25 years old I discovered I had a dairy intolerance (WHAT? no cheese??) and then when I turned 35 I discovered I also had a gluten intolerance. Through using doTERRA essential oils and their amazing products , good nutrition, and with the help of my amazing nutritionist I have almost completely healed my digestion! A miracle in my mind. 

The other thing I have come to appreciate is the beauty of essential oils. I love the different constituents of each oil and how they support the body through change. My body was so toxic at the beginning of my journey 2 years ago. Now it has cleared up and I can think clearly as well as be more in tune with what other people need. 

I feel so blessed with what I have and what I have accomplished in the last 2 years. I look forward to sharing with others and helping them improve their life one step at a time!