Organic can be a very confusing word when it comes to shopping at the grocery store and being sure to actually get the groceries home that will improve your health.  Organic foods can be found in every department of the super market—dairy products, canned goods, vegetables and fruits, pastas, rices, snacks, teas and coffees, juices, baby foods, meats and cleaning products.  Just as we use a shopping list to remind us of the exact items we need to buy, we should also have a list of underlying goals fo our health and the environment.  Writing these goals will help us to be mindful and make purchases that will help us to meet our goals.

 The double-benefit from eating organic is that organic foods are good for the environment and good for your family’s health.

 Here are a few key terms that will help you to make the best choices:

 ORGANIC -  Organic produce is grown naturally—without synthetic fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides.  Meat and dairy animals do not receive antibiotics or hormones.  They eat organic feed.  They are not subjected to genetic engineering or irradiation.

 ORGANIC FARMING – Organic farming promotes conservation of water, health soil and biodiversity. By using renewable resources, organic farming protects ecological systems by keeping chemicals out of the air, earth and water.

 ALL NATURAL – All natural foods receive minimal processing and do not contain artificial color dyes, flavors, sweetners or preservatives.

 GE/GM – GENETICALLY ENGINEERED/GENETICALLY MODIFIED – These products contain genes derived from bacteria, viruses and other plants or animals into their genetic codes.  These labels have not arrived in most stores yet.

 EARTH FRIENDLY – Earth-friendly products are produced in a manner that minimizes any negative impact on the environment.  They include products made of recycled, post-consumer waste, biodegradable and chemical free merchandise.

 VEGETARIAN – Vegetarian food comes from plants.  These include grains, nuts, legumes, vegetables and fruits.  They may contain eggs and dairy products.

 VEGAN – Vegan food products do not contain any animal ingredients or animal by-products such as dairy products, eggs or honey.

 Labels will help you make wise choices.  Whether you just want to eat healthier, help the environment, or are instructed by your doctor or nutritionist to modify your eating habits, reading labels will help you meet your goal.  Look for these stickers: (1) “Made With Organic Ingredients” means the product contains at least 70% organic ingredients; (2) “USDA Organic” mean that the USDA certifies that the product contains 95% or more organic ingredients; (3) brown sticker with no icon means that the product is all natural or earth friendly; and (4) white sticker with no icon indicates “traditional” or “conventional”.  Labels are not consistent throughout the country, nor throughout grocery stores.  While this is just a primer for reading food labels, but it is important to begin taking responsibility for making decisions that will contribute to the maintenance of our bodies and benefit the environment.

To get the body of your dreams, find pictures in magazines and create a Vision Board to help you picture yourself at your ideal weight.  Enhance the effect of your Vision Board by imagining your Dream-Life in a “mental video”.  Add music that inspires you.  See yourself doing what you know you need to do to get to your ideal weight–moving to the music!

Treat your body well!  Get a massage.  Learn massage with your friend or partner and practice on each other.  Lavish  your body with spa products that make you feel precious–like a princess!  Check out some of the products at TimetoSpa.

Just think about it….If you are talking to your friends, dancing with your friends, playing competitive sports, riding bikes, singing or making music with your friends…YOU CAN’T BE EATING!! Voila!!!  

The only rule that applies to this tip is to choose people that inspire you.

Almost anything that contributes to your quality of life can be used in the place of eating.  It just takes a little bit of planning and desire to take off those unwanted pounds.  You can even consider these activities as reward for meeting your weight management goals.  That makes all of these activities “Two-fers”–two benefits in one choice–(2) exercise to burn calories and (2)making rich, meaningful relationships. 

This makes losing weight more fun, less stressful and more rewarding.

Balance is key to health and longevity. 

Eating can be a great pleasure when balanced with exercise. 

 Sleeping is best when it is balanced with exercise and work. 

Education is most rewarding when balanced with reading, discovery, mastery and wisdom.  

Achievement is appreciated and enjoyed most when balanced with the excellence in performance and excellence in relationships.

Computer time is most productive when balanced with stretching, relaxation, awareness of your posture,  focused purpose,discipline and real vs virtual relationships.

So, as we move forward into this wondrous new year, let balance be your guiding light in all that you do.

To help your rapid weight loss, drink 2 glasses of water immediately upon arising each morning.  This will help to flush your system of accumulated toxins your body has produced while you were sleeping.  Also, it helps you to be satisfied with a smaller breakfast.

For more resources and suggestions, check out my website:  http://dlivingto.dealscenter.us

Exercise will make you feel more enegertic and alert during your travels.  The 5 to 10 minutes it takes to move your body will increase your circulation,  energize you,  improve your memory and enhance your mood.  There is nothing else you can do that has more immediate, long-lasting benefits!

Matt has circumnavigated the planet several times.  There is a lot to be learned from his example.

Enjoy!             

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruY

Matt is a self-proclaimed “Bad Dancer”, but you can’t help cheering him on!

This video takes all excuses away. 

We all need to be inspired and this is one of the best inspirational videos I have ever seen!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlRNNb9IGI4

If you can see through your emotions at this moment,  read the dancers’ story below:

In a Chinese modern dance competition on TV, one very unique couple won one of the top prizes.
The lady, in her 30′s, was a dancer who had trained since she was a little girl.
Later in life, she lost her entire left arm in an  accident and fell into a  state of depression for a few years. Someone then asked her to coach a Children’s dancing group.
From that point on, she realized that she could not forget dancing.
She still loved to dance and wanted to dance again.
So, she started to do some of her old routines, but having lost her arm, she had also lost her balance.
 It took a while before she could even make simple turns and spins without falling.
Then she heard of a man in his 20s who had lost a leg in an accident.
He had also fallen into the usual denial, depression, and anger type of emotional roller coaster.
But she determined to find him and persuade him to dance with her.
He had never danced, and to “dance with one leg …. are you joking with me?
 No way!” But, she didn’t give up, and he  reluctantly agreed thinking, ”
 I have nothing else to do anyway.” She started to teach him dancing 101.
The two broke up a few times because he had no concept of using muscle, how  to control his body, and knew none of the basic things about dancing.
When she became frustrated and lost patience with him, he would walk out.
 Eventually, they came back together and started training seriously. They hired a choreographer to design routines for them.
 She would fly high (held by him) with both arms (a sleeve for an arm) flying  in the air. He could bend horizontally supported by one leg with her leaning on him, etc.
 In the competition, as you will see, they dance beautifully and they legitimately won the competition.

I am only sorry that I don’t know their names.  I want them to know how they are changing the world!
Maybe someone will give my message to them or let me know how I can reach them.

Starting early pays off!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQcVllWpwGs

Drink water…KEEP MOVING!

Age is just a number for some people–an excuse for others.  What is your age?…I hope you consider life as an opportunity  regardless of your age!

This video will inspire you, especially if your age happens to be a 2-digit number.

63-Year Old Japanese Gymnast

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4-DsPAfl1Y

Senior Olympics–Here I come!

If you were lucky to learn the value of exercise at a young age like Gabby, the little girl in this video, good for you!