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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

EFT - Tapping Technique for Dystonia

I was blessed to receive a gift the other day from my girlfriends mother. She handed me a bag with a book and a cd on EFT, or Tapping. I watched the video and although I know that Dystonia is a neurological disorder that as of now there are no known reasons what causes it and there are no known cures, I do believe that there are so many things we can try to help ease the muscle spasms that I get. Just think of the sensory trick. When I feel a spasm coming on in my neck, all I have to do is gently place my hand on my neck and that slight touch immediately releases the spasm. Why is that? Is there something with the energy we are releasing with our hand that is connecting with our nervous system? This is so new to me, but I'm definitely going to research this further.



Read below. I've copied this from Successful Living Using EFT.

"EFT is based on an emotional form of acupuncture without any needles. Acupuncture has been around and practiced for 5000 years. Another name for EFT is "Tapping". The process involves tapping on certain meridian points around the body while concentrating on a particular distressing issue. This is known as tuning in to the bad experience, memory or negative emotion.

Theory behind EFT
The theory behind this process is that as one example, a distressing memory from the past is causing a negative feeling which manifests as blockage in the energy system. EFT helps to free the blockage and restore your body to its natural balanced energy flow. The point of this process is to help alleviate or minimize the problem or issue. Although it may sound complex, EFT is simple to understand and quick to complete."




Below is something I copied and pasted from a girl who posted on a cervical Dystonia forum.

"I was diagnosed with Cervical Dystonia back in September in my neck and shoulders. I had a constant head tremor and I couldn't really walk for longer than a few moments. Having received my first lots of Botox the tremor went but my neck was stuck back and to the right, and my shoulders and back were forced forwards. I couldn't even lift my hands above my head or walk for more than a few steps. It really was such a dark time, so I'd like to share three things that have really, really helped me.

Firstly, I went to see a neuro physio, so a physiotherapist specialising in neurological conditions. I really can't say enough how much of a difference this made. After four weeks of seeing her I was able to turn my neck around and after a while my posture returned to normal. However, I still suffered from spasms and I was unable to walk without my head turning completely to the right. A friend of mine suggested EFT. It's a bit like acupuncture but without needles. You simply tap on different parts of the body and focus on whatever is causing you pain. I really hadn't expected much from it, but I was in so much pain I thought I'd give it a go. Honestly, even after just a couple of days I noticed the difference. Not only did I feel much more positive about things but my spasms had pretty much stopped and I was able to walk, for the first time, without looking completely over to the right. I am now able to walk as well as ever and I can even go running again. I do still have Botox injections, but if I don't continue with my EFT or physio, I notice things get progressively worse. If you are interested in finding out more about EFT, here are a few links: www.eftfree.net has a free manual and there are many articles at www.eftuniverse.com. And this is the practitioner I spoke to http://www.more-freedom.co.uk/more-freedom/Welcome.html who was amazing.

Finally, the other thing that has really helped is meditation. I had never really set aside time for anything like meditating but, again, it really made such a difference. It just means you can slow down your thinking a bit and actually concentrate on what your body is doing. This is the site that I use http://www.getsomeheadspace.com/ It's really good because it talks you through what you need to do but it doesn't take up much time.

With all these things, you have to incorporate them into your daily routine because they're not a quick fix. But they've helped me so much and I remember how absolutely overwhelmed I felt, even back in January. I hope they work for you too.

Just to add, I'm not affiliated to any of these people or organisations - they're just the ones that helped me."



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Chia Pudding...Not That Bad!!!!

I've finally made the chia pudding from one of the recipes from my earlier posts. I have to say that it wasn't bad at all. I actually liked it!





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The Zen of River Rock Stacking

I've searched the web and cannot get a concrete answer as to why people stack rocks. I've learned that people do it all over the world. Some stack rocks for religious practice, some stack rocks for relaxation and a part of meditation, and then there are some that are artists who stack rock sculptures that are absolutely beautiful to see.

If anyone knows the tru meaning or other meaning of rock stacking, please let me know. As of now the river rocks that I've gathered while tubing in the river are going to be used as a decoration in my home, and a wonderful remembrance of the fun I had with my family that day.









Above is a photo of my river rocks.

Tubing Down Esopus River Is Awesome!!!!

Theres nothing more fun than planning last minute trips. Last night my husband told me and Raymond to set the alarm early, because we were going to take a trip upstate and go tubing down the Esopus River! I have to admit that I was nervous because I've heard that you could get hurt if you flip over and hit the rocks. Needless to say, we got up this morning and started our drive.

The weather was absolutely perfect for tubing, and the views of the trees and mountains were absolutley breathtaking. It would have been worth the trip just to drive up there to sit and just look at the views. We get our tubes, put on our life jackets...and yes, I wore a helmet and a wetsuit. I looked absolutely hysterical, but after standing there and hearing the long list of things that your head could possibly bang into, you would wear a helmet too. The wetsuit I could have done without, but it also would prevent me from getting scraped by the rocks if I fell in the water...so this was the first time in my life where I would sacrifice looking good for safety!!!! Lol

The bus drops us off on a path where we have to carry our tubes in the cold water. Ugh!!!! Here we go! In the first 2 minutes, my husband was the first to flip over into the water. Lol The water was choppy in some sections and calm and peaceful in others. We had a blast as we were flying down the choppy parts. There were times where we got stuck between rocks and had to push our way around them, while water was gushing around us. Omg, we couldn't stop laughing!

At the end of the river, we walked back up a rocky path. I stopped and picked up some river rocks, so I can stack them at home. (I will blog another post about stacking stones.)

This experience was so special to me. I couldn't thank Bobby enough for taking me and Raymond there. It's a perfect way to end the summer and start school on Tuesday.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

The Great Egg Debate

Finally I found an article on Livestrong.com that agrees with me that eating a whole egg, not just the egg white, is actually healthy for you...and you won't gain weight!

EDITOR'S NOTE: THE FOLLOWING POST IS BY LIVESTRONG.COM NUTRITION ADVISOR MIKE ROUSSELL, AUTHOR OF "THE 6 PILLARS OF NUTRITION." FOR MORE GREAT INFORMATION FROM DR. MIKE, VISIT HIM AT MIKEROUSSELL.COM.

Myth: Eggs make you fat
Truth: Eggs are a great food for weight loss

You may have heard that eating eggs will make you fat as 60 percent of the calories in eggs come from fat. However, eating fat doesn’t make you fat and eggs are a calorie-controlled food designed to maximize weight loss not prevent it. One egg is only 70 calories, with a great balance of 6 grams of protein and 5 grams of fat. The protein/fat combination of increases satiety hormones (the ones that tell your brain you are full). The protein in eggs also causes your body to release the hormone glucagon, which encourages your body to release and use stored carbohydrates and fat.

To prove the point, compare eggs to rice cakes—a timeless “diet” food. Two rice cakes also contain 70 calories, but with no protein or fat. Those calories come from 14 grams of high glycemic, fat-cell stuffing, refined carbohydrates, which makes it a much less desirable choice. 

Myth: You should only eat egg whites
Truth: Enjoy the entire egg (yolk included)

The ‘egg white only’ movement was birthed out of the mass movement to remove as much cholesterol and fat from the American diet as a way to fight heart disease and obesity. An egg white contains all protein (3.5 grams per egg); the rest of the nutrients, protein, and fat are hiding in the yolk, which means the yellow is the most nutritious part. Egg yolks contain 240mg of leucine, the amino acid single handedly responsible for flipping your genetic muscle building switch. But egg yolks are much more than just a muscle building nutrient. They also include choline (essential for cell membrane function), cholesterol (which serve as the molecular framework for multiple hormones in the body), vitamin A , vitamin D, and vitamin E. You can also get eggs that come from chickens who were fed omega-3 rich feed, the omega-3s in their feed enriches the omega-3 fats in the yolk, giving you as much as also contain 150mg of the long chain omega-3 fat DHA . Enjoy the entire egg to take advantage of all the nutritional benefits.
Myth: Eggs raise your cholesterol
Truth: Eggs don’t impact cholesterol levels

Reducing blood cholesterol levels has been a major public health mission for decades. It would make complete sense that if you wanted to decrease the amount of cholesterol in your blood stream then you should reduce the amount of cholesterol that you are eating. That’s why eggs have typically been touted as dangerous, as it contain approximately 200 mg per serving. 

The problem: Dietary cholesterol doesn’t actually raise cholesterol as much as you might think. In fact, only 30 percent of people experience significant increases in cholesterol levels following a diet high in cholesterol. Researchers from Harvard looked at the dietary habits of more than 100,000 people and concluded that daily egg consumption in healthy individuals didn’t increase risk of coronary heart disease. What’s more, a study from the University of Connecticut found that eating 3 eggs per day as part of a low carbohydrate improved HDL (‘good’) cholesterol without any negative health effects.


Saturday, August 25, 2012

Dolphins In The Ocean!!!!

I went to the beach yesterday and as soon as I found a spot to plant myself down, I saw everyone running towards the water, yelling, "Look at the dolphins!!!!" so of course I got up and ran towards the water also. It was such an amazing sight to see. They looked as if they were playing with one another, or putting on a show for us.
Although this excitement only lasted about 5 minutes before they were long gone, it put me in such a better mood than I already was.



(I stopped on the side of the road and took a photo of the beach from a distance)

Sometimes little unexpected surprises can make huge changes in our lives. I never saw dolphins swimming at any beach I've been to on Long Island, so this was a real treat.

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Thursday, August 23, 2012

Support of Family and Friends

There's no better feeling when you have support from your family and friends in life. Going back to school after I've just graduated a couple of months ago, is not the easiest decision to make. Its hard to believe that in a couple of weeks I will be reading, studying, and being tested again. However, my friends and family have already started to cheer me on and I'm getting even more excited to start my new adventure.

I know I'm making the right choice about going back to school again, and will be so proud of myself when I'm finished with the program and receive the certification.

Life is too short to focus on the excuses we make as to why we shouldn't do something. I have to keep focusing on how many people I will be helping, and how good that will make me feel!!!!

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Sunday, August 19, 2012

Certified Life Coach

Well, here I go again. I'm back in school! A year before I graduated this past June, I've been putting a tremendous amount of pressure on myself to continue on to grad school. The thought of going back full time, for at least two more years, was hard for me to swallow at that moment. After much research, I've decided to check out only accredited schools, and go back for life coaching. I start on September 4th.

With my schooling in psychology and the education I will get from coaching, my only hopes are to work with women who are "stuck" in their lives and need coaching to get them to the next level they should be and watch them live a happier life. I've had some rough patches in my life, but I always managed to keep going and not blame the past or my present situation as an excuse for me not to join something, travel some where, change jobs, or meet new people. Staying stagnant in ones life, to me, is like being suffocated. That's why there are so many people walking around out there that are confused or stressed out. They're still sitting in the same place, breathing in that stagnant air.

I have an amazing supportive husband who would love nothing more than for me to stay home for a while and do the things I love to do, but never had the time to do when I was working full time and going to school for my bachelors. So even though I'm getting to do yoga every day, practice the change of my lifestyle of eating, read more, bike more, lay on the beach and relax, visit friends and family members during the day when the warm sun is on my skin, and be the loving mother and wife I can be, there's still that part in me that is not complete...and that's the ability to help someone who needs me. (Note that I purposely mentioned every enjoyable thing on purpose, not to make the working moms sick and want to hunt me down and clock me over the head with envy, lol, but only so you can see that if someone like me can still want to go further with school at this point of my life, then I must be truly driven to achieve the next level in my education so I can help someone in the future)

Wish me luck everyone, cause I'm going in!!!!! Lol

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Chia Pudding

I was talking to my girlfriend this morning about chia seeds, and I'm going to have to share this recipe that I just found with her.
I have all the ingredients in my kitchen, so I'm going to have to make it and try it!!!!!! This chia craze is insane. I was in the vitamin section at CVS today, and there were chia seeds in a bottle!







Chocolate Chia Pudding







Chocolate chia pudding is very light in flavor and not very filling, so I advise adding fruit for extra flavor and heartiness. You can use up to a cup of any fruit you like, but cherries and raspberries are my favorites.









Ingredients





  • 1 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk (I used soymilk)


  • 1/2 teaspoon double-strength vanilla extract (or 1 tsp. regular)


  • 2 teaspoons cocoa powder


  • sweetener of choice, to taste (I used 2 scoops of KAL pure stevia powder)


  • 3 tablespoons chia seeds


  • 1/2 to 1 cup raspberries, cherries, or other fruit, plus additional for garnish









Instructions




  1. Place the milk, vanilla, and cocoa into the blender and add sweetener to taste (about 2 servings worth). Blend until cocoa is completely incorporated.


  2. Pour milk mixture into a bowl and add the chia seeds. Stir well, making sure that all the seeds are moistened. Leave out on the counter and stir periodically (about every 15 minutes or so), breaking up any clusters that form. Allow it to stand until the pudding has thickened and all liquid has been absorbed, at least an hour.


  3. Refrigerate. Just before serving, stir in fruit. Serve topped with additional fruit.







Preparation time: 5 minute(s) | Cooking (standing) time: 1 hour(s)




Number of servings (yield): 2




Nutrition (per serving): 123 calories, 52 calories from fat, 6.2g total fat, 0mg cholesterol, 17.9mg sodium, 243.3mg potassium, 12.2g carbohydrates, 8.8g fiber, 2g sugar, 7g protein, 3.8 points.


Omg! Check Out This Bike Helmet!

I have to get it! I've been searching for a cool looking bike helmet, and I've finally found one!!!!!! The straps are hidden in this photo I copied online.




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Thursday, August 16, 2012

This Was My Read Today....

I went to the beach today by myself. I packed food, water, put my little umbrella up, unfolded my chair, and spread out my beach towel. Today is beautiful out. Perfect weather...hot and sunny, with a nice breeze to cool everyone off.

Check out the book I was reading! I looked around and noticed all the Cosmo magazines or novels people were reading, and here I am reading another psychology book from school!!!!!

You would think I would want to donate them all by now! Lol I guess I just love learning.




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Saturday, August 11, 2012

Still Twitching

I noticed yesterday that my neck has been twitching a lot more each day when I either turn it to the left side, or when I'm reading something and my neck is tilted downward. I still haven't called to find out when my next treatment is, I believe it's in September because my last treatment was in June. One would think I would just pick up the phone and call to find out. :)

Maybe it's time for Dr. Schwartz to inject other muscles this time around. I'll just keep journaling on how I'm doing and try to figure it all out, so maintaining my health in the future will hopefully get easier for me.

Plump Tomatoes

There's nothing like a tomato that's been plucked from someone's garden.

Our son came home yesterday with a bag a plucked tomatoes. I get that tomatoes aren't for everyone, but check out the blood red color of this tomato I had this morning!

Tomatoes are rich with Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium and Potassium.








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Thursday, August 9, 2012

The Crushed Olive

Went to The Crushed Olive the other day to pick up more flavored olive oil and vinegar, and now they have different kinds of cheeses in the back of the store!!!!

I had to take a photo of the block of cheese that had my name on it...




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Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Neck Pulls

I didn't post this earlier when I was talking about my car ride to Huntington Village, because I was hoping that it was only temporary. However, I was beginning to feel pulling on my right side of my neck. Turning my neck to the right was fine, but turning it to the left quickly made my head move up and down (like a tick) and I felt pain on my right side.

Why did this happen? Perhaps it was the heavy bag on my shoulder? My neck was fine in the car ride home, and even now while I'm preparing to go to bed. I guess it's discouraging when I do yoga every day to stretch my muscles, and I get a sudden reminder that the Dystonia is still there...will always be. Oh well, whatta ya gonna do, right? Tomorrow's another day.


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Tofu - Hate it? Or Love it?

I've heard a lot of mixed things about tofu. Some like it, and some absolutely love it. I've decided to buy tofu and give it a try.

My husband told me that the protein shakes we get from one of the health stores we shop in makes the shakes with tofu! So I Went on YouTube and found out how to make a tofu shake. I put the tofu, a banana, a handful of ice, a cup of almond/coconut milk, and a Tbsp of all natural cocoa powder in a blender. I didn't even taste the tofu!!!! It was actually very good!!!!

I'll blog any other tofu recipes I try. I'll be the guinea pig for all of you! :(

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An Angel Must Have Been Watching Over Us

I took a ride into Huntington Village this afternoon with my son to grab lunch and walk around. The car in front of us was doing 20 miles per hour, no joke. The road I take there is winding, so the speed limit went from 30 to 25. Again, he was doing 20 mph!!!! I usually get anxious and start talking outloud as if that person could hear me, but today was different. Today it didn't bother me. I kept a good distance away from him and did 20 mph like he did, all the way till I had to turn and wasn't driving in front of him anymore.

Now I'm in front of a pick-up truck, who was doing 30 mph in a 40 mph road. That's when I knew this wasn't a coincidence that two cars were trying so hard to slow me down. Maybe by slowing down I was missing an accident I could have been part of? Maybe it was to slow my life down a bit, so I could enjoy the scenery around me. There were houses I haven't noticed before, because I'm too busy concentrating on getting where I'm going. My son smiled and laughed as I told him my thoughts, but I know that a part of him believes it too.

Everything that happens in life is for a reason. Instead of getting upset or angry that it's not going the way you need it to go at that moment, just go with the flow and relax!



Sunday, August 5, 2012

Cleaning Your Yoga Mat

I purchased a new tea tree oil, which smells more potent than the other brand I had, but makes my mat smelling and feeling clean!!!!

I pour about half a teaspoon of the tea tree oil to a cup of Luke warm water. Dip a whole piece of paper towel into the cup, and start cleaning your mat. Allow to dry or wipe it dry if you're inpatient like I am. :)















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Friday, August 3, 2012

Disgustingly Healthy, I'm Ready For Cake!

For lunch I just made quinoa and black beans, and then put it all in a pan and added egg whites to hold it all together. I also had a side salad with some of the sprouts I grew.

I'm off to my nieces birthday party in a couple of hours and I'm looking forward to a piece of her birthday cake...and maybe a brownie or two!



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Banana Peach Smoothie With Blueberries

I added about a half cup of water, a handful of ice, 1 banana, one peach with skin, a 1/4 cup of blueberries, and a tsp of Chia seeds. Crushed and blended it in my blender.






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Start To My Day

I woke up very stiff this morning and didn't want to get out of bed.

I just finished yoga and meditation. I have my nieces birthday party this afternoon and there will be a bunch of giggling little girls running around my sisters house, so I meditated a little longer than usual. I want to make sure I'm prepared. :)



 



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Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Chia Seeds

I've recently posted an article that spoke about how changing our ways of eating may help our Dystonia symptoms. Well, I bought a bag if Chia seeds and sprinkled them into my salad the other day, and into my zucchini and onions tonight. I love the taste!!!! They have a great crunchy nutty taste, and look like small sesame seeds.

They are rich in Omega 3, which have anti-inflammatory properties, and are known for protecting our nervous system and cardiovascular system.
You can put Chia seeds in shakes, drinks, dips, sauces, salsas, and even salads. Research about them for yourself and see! :)






June Designated As Dystonia Awareness Month

In an article I just read, June has been designated as Dystonia awareness month! This is great news for many reasons, but most of all this means that more and more people have been properly diagnosed and more medical research and attention can go towards finding out what causes Dystonia and how we can come up with better, healthier treatments.

This may be old news to others who have Dystonia, but this is the first I'm hearing about June being an awareness month. Let's all try to make a conscious effort each June and wear the color blue, or even a shirt or pin that says Dystonia awareness month on it. We need to make more people aware. With all the research i had to do in college for psychology, I'm sure if I did a study on how many of us with Dystonia are sick and tired of having to explain to people and other doctors what Dystonia was, the numbers would be astronomical.