It's a Love/Hate Thing - Wellness Journey Post #3

I hate restarting exercise.  I love restarting exercise.  Yes I am psychotic.  I hate how pathetic I am and I hate that I let myself quit and gain back the weight AGAIN.  I hate, hate, hate, hate that.  I love how I feel when I am done, even the soreness.  I love that when I start moving again and eating right that my face almost immediately thins out. I loose some of the puffiness.  My skin tone gets clearer.  I have more energy and I sleep better.  Seriously this is all in 3 days.

Anyone who has started a program like this knows the kind of muscle soreness that you get.

The love part, you know your body is burning calories and creating muscle.  All of that will ultimately make you stronger.

The hate part, you can't even get up and down out of a chair.  You can't lift your arms to get your shirt off at night.  You can't go up and down stairs.  Your children think it is hilarious and laugh at you.  :)

I know I have said it before, I have been here before.  So I do know that it all means progress.  I am not a very patient person so getting back in shape and weight loss is a real challenge for me.  I want to be at my goal NOW.   I know, I know, Rome wasn't built in a day. Who said I wanted to be Rome?  You didn't put the weight on overnight.  No that took a lot of inactivity, beer and junk food.  

My biggest fear with the muscle soreness was not being able to effectively work out again at the next class.  So, let me introduce you to my saviors!

Anti-inflammatory essential oils and pain relieving essential oils to the rescue

#1  Aroma Siez 

#2 Copaiba - here is a short little video about Copaiba Copaiba - natural anti-inflammatory

#3 Lemongrass - here is another video about Lemongrass and Copaiba - Tendonitis Relief

#4 Deep Relief - The name is just like what it does provide deep relief wherever I have muscle pain (which is pretty much everywhere).

#5 Ortho Sport.  This is an amazing massage oil.  Have a massage therapist use it in your massage or get someone to give you a home massage.  Ortho Sport warms the muscles and helps eliminate soreness.

So two workouts, one Sunday and one Monday after not working out for many months left me pretty bad as you can imagine.  Tuesday was an hour of hot yoga.

Both days I oiled with these oils, Aroma Siez, Copaiba, Lemongrass mixed with coconut oil.  I spread it everywhere it hurt.  Then topped with Deep Relief.  I did this right after my workout and two - three times a day.   

This morning I was pain free and my muscles were ready for today's workout!

This is not about selling you product.  But I do share these products with people.  If you are interested please let me know.  They are amazing!

I will post more about today's class adventure.  I have already started this protocol again today to hope to be ready for class Friday and Saturday.  Keep moving that body!

I WILL DO THIS

I Am Pathetic - Wellness Journey Post #2

So yesterday marked the completion of day 2.  2 days of intense exercise and eating well with whole foods.  Sunday I decided to get this old bod moving and did a ropes class.  It was tough and a lot of cardio type moves.  I was sore.

I reviewed my detailed report from Saturday and my body fat percentage is pathetic!  Please don't say it.  "Lori, you are not fat".  People are so nice and polite, they think that is the right thing to say.  Honestly what if you tried this instead.  Suzi says, "I'm so fat, I hate it."  Suggested response, "Suzi, if you feel that way and want to change your eating habits or your body I support you 100%!  How can I help?"

Now small caveat here, all the super thin older females and teenage girls that really don't need to lose weight, please don't encourage them to lose weight.  Encourage them to have a great self image, but that is another story. We all know when we look at someone if they could afford to be in a little better shape or make better eating choices.

Sometimes that statement is from someone reaching out for attention.  "What??? You???? No way,you are not fat, you look fantastic!"  Personally I would not feed into that either.  Consider your answers to be non-judgmental and supportive.   How about if they are thin, "If you believe yourself to be fat, might I suggest that you go talk to a nutritionist, doctor or exercise specialist?  They may be able to give you some good advice."

Ok, I am not judging someone that is fat.  If that is their choice and they don't want to do anything about it, that is their choice.  But here is my reality.

• I have gained a bunch of weight.  Reality - since after my daughter was born I have gained 47 pounds.  I am NOT proud of it.  I did not want to write that.  IT IS NOT OK FOR ME.
• My skin tone is horrible
• My hair and nails are brittle 
• I don't sleep well
• I have no energy
• I don't do anything well
• My clothes don't fit
• Bladder control issues (let's face it - I am over 50 and have had two children and am overweight)
• I have lost this weight before and don't intend to gain it back EVER

But, I digress.  Yesterday's class started with 20 minutes of high intensity cardio.  No breaks.  It was high intensity.  All the people in the Athleta and LuLu Lemon spandex and tank tops running circles around me.  Seriously I felt pathetic!  The trainer had to actually take me on a different route so that I didn't slow down the other people.  We then moved on to another 35 minutes of weight lifting type of exercises.  The only break was to move and setup for the next exercise.  When I went to speak with the trainer after the class, my legs were so weak I couldn't hardly sit down.

I can tell you, there was NO JUDGEMENT from the people at this class.  They encouraged me, the applauded me with their comments.

For those of you that have started a new workout routine, or when you switch up a workout routine.  You know how sore you can get.  You can't sit, you can't go up and down stairs, you can't lift your arms.  Been there done that.  As miserable as it is, I know that it means I used those muscles and the recovery is going to burn fat and increase muscle!  

I will write another post on what has saved my aching muscles during this process!  

I am moving my body, I am eating well and I am proud of myself.  I want to do this for me.  I want to keep up with my kids.  I want to live a long and healthy life. I want to feel great!  I want it to be a lifestyle.

Today, one of my favorite things in the world, Hot Yoga.  A little recovery and a lot of sweat.  Don't get me wrong, it is not easy, but I feel so amazing when done with Hot Yoga.  

I WILL DO THIS!

Moving Forward- Wellness Journey Post #1

Sometimes when you are looking to move forward with your life you have to go back to where you were.  Life takes many twists and turns and often things do not go exactly as you have planned or as you anticipated.  Work, family all make life an adventure.

I have been on a journey that has been very circular.  That journey is weight gain and weight loss.  I am starting the cycle again FOR THE LAST TIME.   I want to chronicle some of this journey for many reasons!  Some of those I will reveal as I go.




A LITTLE HISTORY

During high school I was not an athlete but I was active.  I guess some of that was we didn't have video games (yes I am that old).  We spent time outside a lot.   We rode bikes, we swam at the beach, we rolled down hills and much more.  During the winter, we were sledding, skating and skiing.  When I was home in the summer I rode my bike for hours.  It was my escape, it was my release.  I had time to think.  So what happened?  Why did I quit letting exercise be a release?  College came and went.  I managed to gain the 10 pounds but that was it.

After college came the single life.  Beer, pizza, junk food, late nights, lack of exercise, lack of sleep...
and a slow constant weight gain.  Biking, swimming, walking all went out the window.

One day after receiving my pictures from the church directory, I looked at myself and didn't recognize myself anymore.  I had no idea where to start or what to do.  I had no good role models as it related to exercise or eating right.  I checked out Jenny Craig.    I signed up.  As a single person this was actually perfect for me.  Most of my meals were packaged, I only had to add things like breads, milk etc.  The food was ok but not great.  They had me on a ridiculously low 1000 calories a day.  But I melted.  One of the things that I liked was they "counted" any type of physical activity.  You logged everything.  I learned to be more accountable with what I did on a regular basis.  Once you reached your half-way point you started slowly adding calories and adding in your own meals.  I was very successful.  They had weekly weigh-in's and accountability meetings.  I really excelled with the accountability.

When I got married, I was the thinnest I had been since high school.  But I was not in shape, I really had very little muscle.   That was in 1996!

More history in another post.

Sunday I started again, regular exercise, good food and will get back in shape AGAIN.

I would love for you to join me on this journey.  I am doing it for me and for my family.  I have also started a Facebook group.  This group is all about support and ideas.  There will be no people (including me) promoting products or their business opportunity.  Feel free to join!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/736247253157993/739534162829302/?notif_t=group_activity


Full disclosure - I do sell a product.  IT IS NOT A WEIGHT LOSS PRODUCT.  I use essential oils and will be highlighting any success that I have in using them during this next 30 days.  I have already had a great story that I will most likely share tomorrow.

I WILL DO THIS.

How Do Essential Oils Work

One of these days, when I have nothing better to do... Oh wait, that never happens.  I have been meaning to write a post about how essential oils work.  You all know how much I love Young Living oils.   You also all know how much I love the quality and the purity of these oils.  Look at this message I just got from someone in my organization.

Also.. 2 cool things ( that you probably already know) but I remember you talking about quality of oils... I am out of lavendar but I have a bottle of Aveda lavendar... aveda... good stuff.... one would think that there wouldn't be a difference. There is.... YL...so much better. Another thing... my friend was having mice in her house... I mean..outsmarting the traps and seriously standing in her kitchen staring at her. I read peppermint oil repels rodents... so I gave her some cotton balls with peppermint oil on it... NO MICE since and she said the added benefit. ..her kitchen smelled nice!!!

I am seriously fascinated with the science behind essential oils.  Again, if I had unlimited funds and time (that will be another post later on the benefits of a Young Living business) I would study this stuff!

Dr. David Stewart writes some amazing articles in his Raindrop Messenger.  Here is a link to his site Raindrop Messenger.  If you are curious about oils I would suggest signing up for his newsletter.

Here is one of his articles about how Essential Oils can quickly pass through the Blood Brain Barrier.  I hope you enjoy as much as I do.  I won't tell anyone that you are a geek :)

Blood-Brain Barrier/How the Oils Work

by David Stewart, Ph.D.

Raindrop Messenger Archive

Official Newsletter of C.A.R.E.
The Center for Aromatherapy Research and Education

It would be more accurate to consider the Blood Brain Barrier a seive or filter through

which only molecules of a certain size or smaller can penetrate.

Most of the molecules of the substances used in chemotherapy are too large to pass

through the Blood-Brain Filter which is why doctors say that chemo doesn't work on

brain cancer. Some of the molecules get through, but not the whole suite of drugs

intended.

When it comes to essential oils, small molecules are what they are made of. That is

why they are aromatic.

The only way something can be aromatic is for the molecules to be so small that they

readily leap from the surface of the substance and circulate in the air so they can

enter our noses and be detected as odor and smell.

That is why massage oils (fatty oils) such as corn, peanut, safflower, walnut, almond,

olive, and other oils pressed from seeds are not aromatic.

Sure, they have a smell, but you can't smell them across the room in minutes (or

seconds) as you can when one opens a bottle of peppermint or other essential oil.

Back to the so called Blood Brain Barrier: Essential oils are mixtures of dozens, even

hundreds, of constituents all of which are primarily composed of Carbon, Hydrogen

and Oxygen.

The molecules of Essential oils are all very tiny and most of which can pass through

the Blood Brain Barrier.

All essential oils are principally composed of a class of organic compounds built of

"isoprene units," where each unit is a set of five connected carbon atoms with some

hydrogens attached.

Molecules built of isoprene units are all classified as "terpens." Terpenes are what

make essential oils unique in the world of oily substances.

Terpenes with molecules containing only one isoprene unit are called

Phenylpropanoids and are found in Clove (90%), Basil (75%), Cinnamon (73%) and to

a lesser extent in most other essential oils.

Among other functions, Phenylpropanoids cleanse receptor sites.

Monoterpenes (substances containing two isoprene units or ten carbons atoms per

molecule).

Monoterpens are found in most essential oils, but especially in Spruce (38%),

Valerian (34%), and Juniper (14%) as well as Cistus, Fir and Pine.

Among other functions, Monoterpenes reprogram the DNA at a cellular level which is

why healings via essential oils are often permanent, i.e. the miswritten codes in the

cells has been corrected.

Sesquiterpenes (substances containing three isoprene units or fifteen carbon atoms

per molecule) are principally found in Cedarwood (98%), Vetiver (97%), Sandalwood

(90%), Black Pepper (74%), Patchouli (71%), Myrrh (62%), Ginger (59%), as well as

Vitex, German Chamomile, Spikenard, Galbanum, and Frankincense (8%).

Sesquiterpenes deprogram miswritten codes in the DNA.

There are also Diterpens (substances containing four isoprene units or twenty carbon

atoms per molecule), as well as Triterpens and Tetraterpens containing thirty and

forty carbons per molecule each respctively.

All of the Terpen family of molecules are small enough to penetrate the blood brain

barrier.

Sesquiterpene molecules have the capability of carrying oxygen, like hemoglobin

does in the blood. Hence they are oxygenating to human tissue and are especially

effective in fighting cancer cells which cannot tolerate oxygen.

However, the combination (triple punch) of Phenylpropanoids, Sesqueterpenes, and

Monoterpens is especially healing with cancers and every other type of illness.

That's because with this combination you:

(1) first, you clean the receptor sites allowing proper transfer of hormones and proper

information between cells;

(2) second, you deprogram or erase the wrong information from cells stored in the

MRNA and DNA; and

(3) third, you reprogram the cells with the correct information so they can function

properly and effect a permanent healing.

To one extent or another, most essential oils contain some of all three of these three

types of terpens which is the secret to their healing power.

So there you have it in a nutshell: The Blood-Brain Barrier and the chemistry of how

Essential Oils Work to bring about healing.

The information expressed above is from what I have learned from Dr. Gary Young in

his Level I and Level II seminars as well as the PDR, Gary's other writings and tapes

as well as other Organic Chemistry texts I have studied.

Fall & Winter Creepy Crawly Pests

Do Creepy Crawlies Give You The Heebie Jeebies?

This fall, as it has gotten cold, the mice have decided to make our home theirs.  Well let me tell you, they are not welcome!  We have heard this from our neighbors as well.  I guess I can't blame them.  A nice warm house vs. snow, and freezing temps?  Good choice.

It also seems that our normal spider population increases as it gets cold.

Of course you can purchase traps, and rodent or insect repellents but of course those repellents are loaded with chemicals.  And I sure don't want to be looking at dead mice with bulging eyes!  Sorry for the visual there.  Our fat cat, Tigger really is not much help.  He is more of a lounger than a hunter.

 Young Living essential oils to the rescue.   Of course the oils are all natural with no harsh side affects.  

Mice: Our little visitors must have a route in our house.  We are finding them in our cupboard that holds all our pots and pains.  They are attracted to food.  Little crumbs, scraps, candy, and stored food. The worst thing possible is to find mouse droppings in your cupboard!  They will also chew on boxes, woodwork and even furniture.

Did you know mice do not like peppermint!   You can make an all natural peppermint spray with Young Living Peppermint Oil.  Mix together 2 cups water with 3 teaspoons of peppermint essential oil and spray it throughout your home. You can also saturate a rag or cotton balls and place them in areas you think the mice may be entering or where you find evidence of mice.

Here is the other great advantage, spiders also hate peppermint oil!  We have a lot of trees where we live and spiders can be a real problem.  We used to hire an expensive exterminator to come in and spray both inside and outside the house numerous times per year.  Not only was it expensive but again loaded with chemicals.  We have kids, dogs and a cat!  I didn't want them inhaling or getting into all those chemicals.

You can use the same mixture and spray windows, door frames etc. to deter those 8 legged nasties!

Peppermint oil is a real staple in our house.  We use it for many thing besides mice and spider!  Peppermint oil helps with concentration, head aches, stress, bad breath, muscle soreness and so much more.  Be sure that you only get the best peppermint oil.  Remember (I have told you this before) that the FDA does not regulate peppermint.  It is only required that 5% of the extract of the plant be in peppermint essential oils to label it as natural/organic.  Guess what the other 95% can be?  Fillers and chemicals.  If you find cheap oils at the grocery store, that is what they are CHEAP!  I only recommend 100% pure and natural Young Living Essential oils.

You can read about my story here Why I Chose Young Living.  Oh and here is a wonderful home recipe for whipped body butter that is amazing for that horrible winter dry skin...Whipped Peppermint Body Butter

Visit my website or ask me how to get these amazing Young Living oils for 24% off retail through a wholesale membership!   www.lorihanken.vibrantscents.com

If Spring ever comes back to MN - stay tuned for more posts about spring and summer pests!

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

A Life Of Grace

A couple of Sundays ago,  I was sitting in church, feeling sorry for myself and feeling overwhelmed.  Pastor Susan asked me how I was, and I wanted to say, crappy, horrible, tired, worn out and so many other things.  Instead I gave the traditional, "I'm ok, you?"  My answer probably spoke volumes.  It certainly wasn't very upbeat or positive.  It was indicative of what I was feeling.  But is it right to unload our burdens on people that ask, "How are you?"

I had seen a friend a couple of weeks ago and thought maybe I could unload my burdens on her.  Luckily for her, she didn't give me time to talk about it.  She was unloading her own burdens :)

Here are some questions that I pondered on Sunday.

Why is it so hard to care for ourselves?

Why are people so negative?

Why can't we look for the good in things?

Why don't we trust that God has a plan?

If we focus on our burdens daily, those burdens will bring you down.  I have lived it.  I am living it.

A life filled with grace.  Do you ever see those people?  Can you recognize them?  They are pleasant, positive, upbeat and a joy to be around.  Even in the face of adversity they exude a sense of peace.  Does it mean their life is perfect.  No - probably not.  

I want to live a life filled with Grace.

As I watched my parents age and go through end of life, I learned a lot of things.

1. Time with you parents is precious
2. They need you
3. It is our time to give back to them
4. Learn from their their experiences and attitudes.

One of the things I promised myself is that I wanted to learn to live and age gracefully.  As we get older things start falling apart.  Aches, pains, sometimes illness occur.  How do we handle trials, tribulations, aging, etc. with grace?

What does Grace mean to you.  When I was a kid in my youth group, I learned, "God's Redeeming Actions Contrary to our Earning"  That has stuck with me my whole life.

How we behave, our attitude it is a choice.  I think learning to age gracefully requires us to learn to live gracefully.   Here are some things I think will help me achieve that goal.

1. Pray Daily
2. Spend Time In Scripture
3. Surround Yourself With People That Lift You Up
4. Lift Up Others
5. Love
6. Laugh
7. Look For The Good In People & Things
8. See Beauty
9. Be Thankful Daily
10. Exercise (Yes David, I said exercise)
11. Eat Well
12. Sing
13. Dance

Decide each morning and each evening what your attitude will be.  Breathe (more on that later) with purpose.  Pray, meditate and make it happen.  Will I succeed every day?  Probably not, but it is a journey to become whole right?  A journey is many steps.  Want to go on that journey with me?

Today, I choose Grace.  

If I Were A Coach

Ok first a disclaimer, I am not a coach. Some of you may say then I am not qualified to comment.   What I believe makes me qualified is that I am a parent.  I have seen it all over the years.   People seriously underestimate the power that coaches have over our children.   We put the physical and emotional well being of our children in their hands for months at a time.   Sometimes for years at a time.   Children are impressionable.   Period.  Some of these things are minor, some not.

Over the years here are some of the things I have seen.

1. A coach injure a child just based on the fact that he really wanted to win.  He pitched someone for too long and then after he was already injured had him bunt (he was fast) and wanted to get him on base.  He quit baseball and never came back.
2. Kids pulled from the game without any explanation.
3. Coaches saying things like, "My child is the best hitter.  Are you kidding my child is one of the best players, I am not going to bench them no matter what kind of behavior they have on the field."
4. Batting orders changed and when coaches asked why, no answer.
5. Coaches actually telling other players on a team that the reason someone wasn't playing, "Are you kidding have you seen them, they can't hit!)  This was said within earshot of the player.
6. Kids coming off the court/field after a good play and the coach saying, "Oh you did a (insert other player name here)!"
7.  Swearing, screaming and yelling at players.
8. Coaches getting into arguments and almost getting into fist fights.  Chest bumping, yelling, swearing, all in front of their kids.
9. Coaches running onto the field screaming, "they are cheating, they aren't following the rules!"
10. Coaches mimicking another team's player and saying, "Did you see her, (mimic them here) she looks like a moron!" - Loudly!
11. I have seen a coach tell her pitcher to intentionally hit a batter.
12. I have seen that same coach, flip off the other teams' players.
13. A coach actually arrested and charged with criminal sexual assault, kidnapping and solicitation.

The lists could go on and on.  If you are going to choose to coach, please consider your temperament, are you patient, are you supportive, are you a yeller?  Also please consider why you are doing this?  Do you love the game?  Do you want to help the kids?  Be honest, are you doing it to promote your own child?  Please look deep on this one.

Then comes the topic of sportsmanship.  Sports are brutal.  I know there is a lot of smack talk that occurs in sports between players.  Here are some things I personally don't like.   It seems specifically softball & basketball - the girls can get real nasty!  We have never played soccer or lacrosse, but I have to assume it can get bad too!  That is one thing to like about volleyball - you stay on your own side of the court. :)

1. When girl's are losing - they get physical (sometimes even when they are winning).  I watched a team at state where the same catcher intentionally shoved girls a extra hard when she could. It happened more than once in our game.   She even knocked the batting helmet off a girl and she was not trying to steal home.  Trust me, it is clear what is incidental and what is intentional.  Coaches should have a ZERO TOLERANCE policy on this one.    Check out this video:  Player Slams Into First Baseman Intentionally
2. I know not everyone will believe in this, but I don't like the derogatory cheers.  Here are some softball examples:
1. Pitcher walks a batter - "we like free bases, we like free bases"  I find it interesting that no one cheers - "we like strikeouts, we like strikeouts" or "we like errors, we like errors".   Yes I am a pitcher's Mom in both baseball and softball.  
2. I have actually seen teams, coaches and parents cheer when someone gets hurt on the field.
3. And let's not forget the time a girl bent our daughter's fingers back in the "good game" post game procession after losing to her.
4. And of course refusing to say at or congratulate another player during that process.
5. Again, related to pitchers - there are teams that like to scream and make loud animal noises when the other team is pitching.  I find it childish and immature.  Cheer for your team, cheer for the batter, but the scream and howl like an animal to try to get in someone's head I find to be poor sportsmanship.  

 Trust me, I also understand that pitchers need to be able to work through that.  When I  said something to a coach about the screaming during pitching, the response was, "She's 16 now, she has to deal with it.".  I disagree.  That is a coaching decision.  I wouldn't allow it.  Oh and by the way, she is 14.  This coach told them to cheer loudly when our daughter was in the circle.  The coach told me that.  There was a significant difference in the volume levels when our daughter went in compared to our other pitchers.  I find it immature, rude and  nasty.  It made it worse, that the girls doing this, are her team mates from other teams.  Supposedly her friends.  Go figure.  We actually had parents of players on that team apologize to us for their team's behavior.  At least someone has common sense.

As a coach if you let this type of behavior go on, you condone it.  If you emulate that behavior even worse.  Please teach kids good sportsmanship and exemplify good behavior yourselves.  

Directors of programs, don't leave your coaches on their own without being monitored (at least periodically).  Check in with the parents, other coaches, spectators.  Know what they do when you are not there.

I know - I never stepped up and coached.  I didn't have the skills and I knew it.  I was not an athlete.  Ask me to direct your kid's choirs, bands, orchestras, plays, musicals or help them audition and I'll be there for them.  I will support them, nurture them and teach them the equivalent of good sportsmanship in music and theatre.  

Here is the reality, these kids deal with so much.  Their egos are shattered at school on a daily basis. Why as a coach would you encourage behavior to bring other kids down?  I just don't understand it.  Teach your children and players to be fair, honest, kind.  Play hard, work hard, want to win, but treat people with respect. You would want them to live that way, wouldn't you?

Why do you think there is an entire generation of entitled pro football players?  

This is a pretty good read too:  Power of Positive Coaching

Am I an over protective parent?  Yes - absolutely.  Will I stop?  No - absolutely not!  Will I continue to teach my children to do what I consider to be the right thing?  Yes - ABSOLUTELY!

It is my opinion..  My Father, a very wise man, said, "You can't argue opinions."