Archive for the ‘Health & Wellness’ Category

We don’t have to worry about George Orwell’s Big Brother hiding in our bedroom or cyber stalking us instead he has ended up in the unlikeliest of places our kitchens, school cafeterias and grocery stores seemingly wherever there is food.  

School notes are being sent home to parents telling them what they can and more to the point cannot put in their kids lunches. One school has even intimated in their message that if you love your child you will not send cookies to school with them. Denmark has introduced the world’s first fat tax – a surcharge on foods that are high in saturated fat. And media headlines debate obese children being taken from their parents.

There is no doubt we have a worldwide health crisis around obesity in persons of all ages but shouldn’t the family kitchen be the first line of defense? A base line of counseling and education; which not only teaches what constitutes healthy eating but showing how to budget time and money so that the outcome is a realistic eating plan.  The excuse of too busy and too expensive to put a balanced meal on the table is wearing thin, no pun intended.

I have a diabetic husband and a busy life too. One day a week I run all my errands, meet clients or friends for lunch or coffee and I shop. On that day if you’re not on the list we don’t meet, if the dry cleaning isn’t ready it waits a week and 7-days’ worth of meals is purchased. Pre-planning meals saves money & time, reduces waste and ensures three well balanced meals each day. I have also taught myself to decipher those nutrition labels and ingredient lists; my focal points are sugar (in all its disguises), fibre and sodium. 

All is not perfect I answer emails while eating breakfast and work through lunch; what was in that sandwich anyway? Between 5:30 and 6pm I close the office, pour myself a glass of wine, and start dinner. Even though we don’t eat until about 7pm most nights but we always sit down and share that meal. We also don’t deprive oursleves; you will find cookies and chocolate in my pantry and dessert served at the weekends but neither of us has a weight issue and we didn’t need to see a dietician anymore; I have the diabetic meal planning down pat. 

It is probably time to examine those cultures not struggling with these obesity issues. France, parts of Asia and certain Mediterannean countries have longevity and healthy citizens perhaps the government needs to get out of our refrigerators and take a trip.

Here are some foodie articles that were the research for this post:

School Lunches in France by  Vivienne Walt

Why just a junk food ban by Bronwyn Eyre

Out of the Frying Pan by Jennifer Sygo

Spirituality and religion are entities that I tend to analyze; never quite sure how they fit in my worldview. I also find it fascinating that as women we once lived lives influenced by the moon cycles, ran homes steeped in seasonal rituals, were both healer and keeper of ancient family stories and traditions.  

Today December 21st is Winter Solstice and it is steeped in female folklore:

Women and the Moon

Celebrating Winter Solstice is a bit long but interesting

As a coach I often hear women say that there is an emptiness or void inside of them and perhaps the key to filling that lies in a re-connection with our past. An untamed beach with waves crashing in powerful harmony speaks to my ancient Anglo-Saxon self. And is probably the closest to a spiritual experience that I have known to date.

As a New Year begins our ancestry may hold unexpected revelations about ourselves. The success of 2011 is in the soil between your fingers as you plant herbs, a mountain climbing expedition or returning to the religion of your childhood.    

With Your Biscotti & Coffee

1) The first written record of this sport dates back to 712. Cleaning Up Sumo by Hannah Beech/Saitama Sakae

Two Interesting Women

2) Dr. Hawa Abdi – Heroic, Female and Muslim by Nicholas D. Kristof

3) The perfume business is not all roses especially for perfumer Patricia de Nicolai, Scent of a Woman by Nathalie Atkinson

I like people but I also need my alone time which according to recent findings is going to lead to my early demise. Studies are becoming increasingly insistent that the more you interact with family, friends and co-workers the happier and healthy you are mentally and physically. One even went on to say that perhaps the medical profession may want to make some recommendations if a patient seems to be solitary. Prescription to read ‘meet two friends and call me in the morning’. 

Some of us enjoy being by ourselves and don’t feel lonely nor are we in a state of inertia. We are of a personality type that need quiet time to de-stress and decompress. Which logically means being healthier.

Humans need peace and quiet so that creativity, problem solving and even healing can take place. I recently spoke with a client who had suffered a great loss; she admitted that what was wearing her out at this point was not the bereavement but the lack of time to herself. As well meaning friends and family kept calling and dropping by, she was trapped in a place of their need to comfort her.  

Today’s society is over stimulated; requiring constant connection with something or someone. We are also passing this onto the next generation. In truth when we do embark on a friendship or relationship its growth and richness is nurtured by the fact that the individuals involved are self-sufficient, self-reliant and capable of autonomous thought. 

I was thinking this morning while alone in the shower that we are fortunate Mozart didn’t spend all his time in coffee houses with his BFFs or Virginia Woolf wasn’t busy dazzling her followers on Twitter or she may never have written A Room of One’s Own which ironically is based on the premise that ‘A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction’ .

My inspiration to write this post came from:  I’m denying your friend request by Marni Soupcoff, National Post

A New Risk Factor: Your Social Life by Tara Parker-Pope, The New York Times

With Your Biscotti & Coffee

1) Two Summer Movies for grown-ups 

Hidden among Despicable Me and The Twilight Sage:Eclipse are two cinema gems that you may have overlooked. Both are worthy of a stolen afternoon in a cool movie theatre and some buttered popcorn.    

The Extra Man

The Kids Are Alright

2) Warriors in Pink 

India’s gang of vigilante women are striking fear in the hearts of wrongdoers and earning the grudging respect of officials.

3) High Line Park, NY

From historic railway yards founded in 1930 to a functioning public park, it is a fascinating journey.