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Total Wellness

Mommy Money

By | Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | No Comments

I was cleaning my office the other day and got this download about one of the things that I do. See I help clients get healthy through wellness coaching, education available on my website and classes I give. But another thing that I do and am actually really good at is helping my associates create MOMMY MONEY.

What is Mommy Money? Well it is an extra income that can be used how the Mommy wants including everything from paying for a health care program, pay off debt, vacations and much more. I work with more than 35 women directly and support over 200 who earn a monthly Mommy Money income.

As a mom myself I only want the best for my kids. For me I choose to have cleaner foods, grass fed beef, organic foods, and excellent childcare. I also like to have monthly and sometimes weekly pampering sessions of massage, a pedicure or a Raindrop Therapy. All these things cost money and if you live on a fixed income, it is difficult to spend money on these ‘extras’. So having some monthly ‘Mommy Money’ can change all of that including our health and happiness.

And then there are some moms like my friend Joleen who found herself as a single mom and in need of extra income to support her family. She was able to pay her monthly rent payment with her Mommy Money. My associate Kathryn wanted to homeschool her son. She was able to replace the income from her job of 32 years and stay home and train up her son. And then there are associates who found themselves over 50 with no retirement income and are now in a better place financially for their future.

Mommy Money can make life easier, more fun and more rewarding. How about you? Do you make Mommy Money? Would you like to start earning some Mommy Money every month?

If you have a passion for helping people, improving the health of your family and others, you are looking for a proven and successful system to bring extra income into your home, and want more fun in your life then contact our office at info@starrhealth.com or 315-883-1943 and request an associate to contact you to see if our Mommy Money Program is a good fit for you.

For your Family’s Total Wellness including Financial Success,

Dr. Mary Starr Carter
the Total Wellness Doc and Mom

 

P.S. Do you like to play tennis? Go check out my husband’s blog at http://starrhost.com/blog/ about tennis and online business. It’s cute, but I guess I am biased.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Veterans and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

By | Total Wellness | 2 Comments

post traumatic stress disorder

Today I was going to share with you about new life, but my heart and God has urged me to speak to you about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in our returning veterans. I started to see it several years ago in practice. A sister or mother would share with me the terrible struggles of their brother or son who had returned from Iraq. Moms would tell me about their sons and daughters returning from the war and being on anti-depressant and anxiety medication.

I live by a large Army Base and in the next year or so we will see a large number of veterans return to this area. There is talk about their impact on the economy and jobs for them but little talk about supporting their bodies and minds needing to be transitioned back to civilian life. There is some talk about Post Traumatic Disorder, but not enough.

I believe that just like there are so many weeks spent in boot camp, the same should be required upon returning. These men and women who lay down their lives for us are not given the honor they deserve or need upon returning from their duty. Doesn’t it just make sense that they would need time to decompress, evaluate their mental and physical status, learn behaviors and skills to deal with the things they experienced and lived? I believe they do because 22 veterans a day take their life.

Sadly last month my colleague Kathy Farmer lost her son not on the battlefield but years after he served in Iraq. The effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder coupled with loss were too much for him to bear and he took his life. She is determined to share Brad’s story and crusade so that others get the help they need.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can happen for many reasons. I’ve written about it on my blog but special attention needs to be paid to our veterans. Will you please help me spread the message?

Below is a news report and Kathy Farmer’s Facebook post about Brad. Remember, 22 veterans a day take their life. Please help reduce this number by sharing.

 

For your family’s wellness,

Dr. Mary Starr Carter
the Total Wellness Doc and Mom

 

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Yesterday my exceptional son, Brad Farmer took his own life. He felt that he was causing so much pain that his leaving would mitigate the pain of others. He didn’t realize the pain others felt was the pain they sensed in him. Brad was a kind hearted man (always my boy) who deeply felt all of his emotions. He had just begun dealing with the PTSD from two tours in Iraq. We had great hopes for his future. PTSD and the break up of his relationship with his fiance, were too much for him to handle. He has left behind many who loved him very much. His sisters, Rae Marie and Allison Hajek miss their brother very much and his nieces and nephews won’t have his advice and guidance. Those that know Brad, did you know before he went into the army, he was his sister Rae’s manny for her son Zane. 

His last actions were to protect his family and friends from as much heartache and trauma as possible. I will love you always, my son.  – Kathy Farmer

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Skin Cancer

By | cancer, Total Wellness | 2 Comments

As a Chiropractor who sees a lot of backs we have had several cases of individuals who have had the signs of skin cancer on their back but did not know it. Because some individuals live alone and do not get regular dermatological check ups we may be there only set of eyes. We encourage everyone to get or do a thorough examination for skin cancers twice a year. If you have the risk factors for skin cancer or have had cancers in the past please seek proper dermatological attention. The following information is not meant to diagnose or prescribe but rather for education purposes only.

Enjoy the short video and scroll down to learn more about skin cancer.

I encourage everyone to do a google search a look up the images of what Melanoma and other skin cancers look like. Keep these in a folder on your computer or print them out so you can stay aware and use these photos to do your own periodic body observations.

The following is from the American Cancer Society.

Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. It accounts for nearly half of all cancers in the United States. More than 2 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are found in this country each year. Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, will account for about 68,130 cases of skin cancer in 2010.

Most non-melanoma skin cancers develop on sun-exposed areas of the body, like the face, ear, neck, lips, and the backs of the hands. Depending on the type, they can be fast or slow growing, but they rarely spread to other parts of the body.

Basal cell or squamous cell cancers are highly likely to be cured if detected and treated early. Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, will account for about 68,130 cases of skin cancer in 2010 and most (about 8,700) of the 11,790 deaths due to skin cancer each year.

The overall 5-year survival rate for melanoma is 91%. For localized melanoma, the 5-year survival rate is 98%; survival rates for regional and distant stage diseases are 62% and 15%, respectively. About 84% of melanomas are diagnosed at a localized stage.

What are the signs and symptoms of skin cancer?

Skin cancer can be found early, and both doctors and patients play important roles in finding skin cancer. If you have any of the following symptoms, tell your doctor.

• Any change on the skin, especially in the size or color of a mole or other darkly pigmented growth or spot, or a new growth
• Scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or change in the appearance of a bump or nodule
• The spread of pigmentation beyond its border such as dark coloring that spreads past the edge of a mole or mark
• A change in sensation, itchiness, tenderness, or pain

What are the risk factors for skin cancer?

Risk factors for non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers include:

• Unprotected and/or excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation
• Fair complexion
• Occupational exposures to coal tar, pitch, creosote, arsenic compounds, or radium
• Family history
• Multiple or atypical moles
• Severe sunburns as a child

Skin Cancer is scary but the rate of survival if detected early is more than 90%. Stay diligent and use Young Living Essential Oils of Frankincense and Grapefruit for further protection.

We value your comments. Please comment below.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Second Chances

By | Total Wellness | No Comments

I sat in the dark of the night looking at my newborn baby girl make sleepy smiles as she drifted into slumber. My heart filled with joy and love for this precious little one and then I thanked God for giving me this wonderful gift. I also thanked Him for restoration and fulfillment of His promise.

I miscarried 2 babies in 2011. Rachel and Jesse are the names of my children in heaven. You live with heartbreak and sometimes it seems like you will never have the thing you want most, another child, but then God gives you more than you can ask for. You hear stories of it all the time. The couple who struggles with getting pregnant for years and years and finally when they give up or adopt a baby, they get pregnant. God’s promises are great even when we can’t see any good in our current situation in life. I think holding on to those promises is so important.

My good friend Debbie’s passion in life from the time she was a young girl was to have children of her own. She is amazing with children and has had a long career working with children. But sadly she lost all her pregnancies. She became the foster mom to a daughter around 2 years old and eventually was able to adopt her. And now recently this past summer she became the primary caretaker of her baby granddaughter. The two of them pour out more love and affection. It’s beautiful. I think God can restore in ways that we can’t even imagine. Sometimes it might take decades, years or sometimes he can do it quickly too.

Here is a story of Second Chances from our town that can warm everybody’s heart and remind us with God anything is possible.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Your Mommy Tips

By | Mommy Tips, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | No Comments

mommy tips

With this past Sunday being Mother’s Day I wanted to celebrate with all the women who have blessed me via the Internet with their mommy tips. Sharing knowledge and things you have learned through trial and error of parenting and using natural remedies for health care can help hundreds or even thousands of moms if we share through the Internet.

Below are tips and techniques from Total Wellness moms. Some of them will encourage you, give you some new tools and some might even make you cry!

Enjoy!
Dr. Mary Starr Carter
the Total Wellness Doc and Mom

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I have used lavender and eucalyptus since Jamie was an infant. Lavender to sleep and eucalyptus to help with stuffy noses.

My tip is: There will be many people who will give you advice… Think of a standard response like “Thank you, I will take that into consideration.” And be ready to say it every time

Just do the best you can with what knowledge you have, when you hunger for a different way, the teacher will always appear. I learned this the hard way when I was a mommy to my 6th baby and I didn’t want to do something the doc recommended. I searched and found alternatives

Tip: deep breathes and remember the days may be long but the years are short!

Cut yourself some slack. No mom is perfect. No parenting “style” is perfect. Just love your babies and give them your best. Oh, and nurse your baby when YOU feel like you should. Regardless of when a book/friend/internet says you should. Go with your gut. (ok, so that’s more than 1 tip, but, you know…) :0)

The best investment of your time and resources is in your child(ren). The returns are priceless.

Nap when your baby naps:-)!!!! Those dishes will be there when you’re rested, or hey daddy will probably do them!!!!!!

Fennel to increase milk production for breast feeding mother

Start chore teaching at a young age so the teenage years are easier!

Due to our lovely New York State weather many children have been getting sick this year. We all have different essential oils we use. I use nutmeg, clove and frankincense. Putting them on your feet and spine is fantastic, but did you know your child’s thymus has a lot to do with the immune system working properly. Place your oils of choice on the thymus area. Dilute according to the oils label and then some with younger children. This method works sooo much faster. Amazing for a child battling MRSA.

DIY Natural Safe Sunscreen for you and the little ones: 1 ounce Coconut oil (spf 4-10), 1 ounce Raspberry Seed oil (spf 28-50), 10 drops Carrot Seed Essential Oil (spf 38-40) 5 drops Lavender. Warm over hot water until melted. Stir and use all summer long!

My best mommy tip is to arm yourself with essential oils and stay away from pharmaceuticals! Keep your family healthy naturally.

Don’t wish away the days~ love and appreciate the stage you are at. When my children were younger, I found myself longing for days when they could dress themselves and be more independent. Now that they are and the toddler days are long gone, I find myself wishing for the days when we could just play and play and push them in the stroller and my kisses fixed everything. Be grateful for each stage. Don’t wish away the days, because they will come and go and you will have been too busy thinking of different times and miss the “last’ times. We all look for the “firsts”~ first steps, first words. Don’t be too busy to miss the “lasts” ~ last time I was strong enough to hold my son, the last time he crawled up in my lap… TREASURE EVERY DAY!!! It is a gift from God!! Celebrate each day.

Mommy Tip: Avoid tubes in the ears. Mommy Beth took my advice and placed 3 drops of Melrose in palm of her hand; rolled Q-tip in the oil and swabbed gently opening to ear canal and applied Melrose to mastoid bone. She alternated with Lavender every 2-4 hours. Broken eardrum completely healed in 2 days (Confirmed by pediatrician).

Smirk, smile, laugh… try to remember to take each moment of the day as you can and treasure the moments before they slip by. Our “go-to-oil” for my daughter is wintergreen.

Don’t Stress the little things my GrandMother used to tell me, she was right! Life is to short enjoy the kids and use Essential oils like Stress Away, Peace and Calming, Lavender and many others that work.. Enjoy each day with a Smile and Loving heart.

Having lost my son at 15, my advise to moms with children driving them crazy is: enjoy it while you can. They won’t be there forever.

Puppy moms try peace and calming for thunderstorms and fireworks. Put a couple drops in your palm and rub it on the bottom of paws. My poodle asks for his oil when there is thunder.

I just learned MRSA does not like RC! Success 100% now all cuts get RC.

Thanks! That’s kind! My tip might be this; love your children and they will love you back. Love is the great healer. I used lavender for nearly everything but now that’s all so I got to use the next ones I guess.

Remember that you are the right mother for your child!

Make a Thieves oil spritzer (with distilled water) to keep your family well. I made one and sprayed all through the house all winter/early spring when the flu was going around. Nobody in our household got the flu! Actually, the worst thing any of us got was a bit of a runny nose and low-grade fever (and the fever lasted less than 24 hours)! And, that’s even with a little one in preschool!

I wish these oils were around when my children were small, but now I get to use them on my grandchildren, last month my 16mo.old granddaughter was stuffed up and coughing, I showed her mama how to apply Lavender to her feet and I also diffuse Thieves in a vaporizer, and made a muslin cloth and dab Thieves on it and hang it in the corner of her bedroom. And has made a world of difference. Now her mommy puts it in her closet now to.

The BEST mommy tip I have ever used is peppermint and DiGize.When my son Luke was in 8th grade, he would get migraine headaches and I would be called to pick him up from school. We would come home, use the peppermint on his forehead and neck, and the DiGize over his tummy to stop the intense vomiting that came with the migraine. We found out(through our association with YL people) that is was the soda and sugary foods in the machines at school. I started homeschooling him in 9th grade.  Glad that is over!

Be sure to use enzymes as your kids get bigger and on solid foods. They are so important to keeping their digestion working well since we generally don’t get enough enzymes from our diets.

Thyme and purification on ears and purification on bone behind ear and jawbone for ear infection then put thieves on feet, then for the fever lemon diluted on back and chest with some peppermint to cool the body

When it comes to your children trust your heart over the advise of others. God gave us intuitive knowledge about our children. Pray and trust.

If you have tips to share, please comment below. If you would like receive our weekly Total Wellness Newsletter with more great tips and natural wellness, parenting, nutrition, and more be sure you register below too.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Moving Right Along

By | Pregnancy, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | No Comments

Well things are moving right along in our home. Baby girl Sarah Grace is gaining weight, Joshua is learning to be a good big brother, and my husband and I are learning to be parents of 2 kids. I don’t think those lessons will ever end but it is extremely rewarding and amazing.

I have had many requests about how I was able to ‘get things moving’ since I was 2-3 weeks overdue with Sarah. And yes it was an essential oil remedy and lots of God that came to my rescue and got this baby out GRACEFULLY.

In today’s article I share about what I did to GET THINGS MOVING. Enjoy and pass on the information to those you know are pregnant. It may help them avoid a C-Section or worse.

For your Total Wellness,

Dr. Mary Starr
The Total Wellness Doc and Mom

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Moving Right Along

Many of you have asked and now I will answer your questions about how I got my labor moving along. I was overdue with my little girl at least 2 weeks, possibly 3 weeks. I asked your advice on my Facebook page about tips to help my labor get started. Here were some of your suggestions and I actually did most of them.

Eat spicy food, a hotdog with relish, hot fudge sundae, Mexican food, drink Castor oil, get a massage, reflexology, acupuncture, chiropractic, go for a bumpy ride, walk a long distance, have sex.

Chocolate Icecream Sundae

But after 3 weeks of doing most all of these suggestions it was an essential oil remedy that made things get moving. It’s called the Jump Start Technique developed by Dr. LeAnne Deardeuff. And basically for less than $50 I was able to use Young Living’s Sclaressence essential oil to help my body go into labor.

On Sunday April 14th I saw the cutest new baby in church and my heart knew it was close but my body not so much. So after a big meal at Five Guys restaurant we went for a scenic bumpy drive and I started my Sclaressence regimen. On Monday I did the regimen again and went walking on a beautiful spring night followed by a hot fudge sundae. Tuesday morning I took another dose, started feeling small contractions around 7:30 am and went for a slow walk on my treadmill for 10 minutes. I had lunch, talked to my girlfriend at noon and finished up some loose ends and by 3pm I knew this was it.

Sarah was born at 8:22pm on Tuesday April 16th. I also have some great stories to share about the actual labor but I will share that in my next blog.

If you would like to know more about the Jump Start Technique please visit Dr. Leanne’s site at http://doctorleanne.com/pregnancy-course/. This program was a great investment and the tips I learned have been a total blessing to my clients and I. God Bless.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.


Time Management Tips for Busy Moms

By | Mommy Tips, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | One Comment

We are all busy but it’s no excuse my coach said. We all can find a way to wrap the water around the marbles. She explained our busy life is a jar of marbles that is full. We can’t add any more marbles but we can pour water in.

Water in this case was the personal and professional development I needed to grow my business. Back then she encouraged me to use my drive time, shower time, dish doing time and TV time to listen to trainings on tapes. (Am I dating myself?) Well she was right, listening to those tapes over and over again in the background not only taught me, but encouraged me and raised my skill and eventually my income.

It works.

Today’s tips will help you too especially if you find your jar is full and the only thing you can do is pour water in your jar.

Dr. Mary Starr Carter
The Total Wellness Doc and Mom
www.thetotalwellnessdoc.com

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Time Management Tips for Busy Moms

Sometimes busyness and being occupied with the doing of things each day for our kids, home and work or business leave us without any time for ourselves or for our own personal growth.

In this video I will share with you one important time management tip for busy moms that not only will help you think more positively, it will also motivate you to be the person God called you to be and not live a life of regret or dread.

We only have 24 hours. Here is a chart showing how American adults spend their time:

When you look at the chart, it shows we really do not have any time for personal development, reading or self care. Unless you take into consideration the hours spent on Leisure and sports, Eating and drinking and Others.

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans spend an average of 2.8 hours per day watching TV.

Busy mommas, let’s be creative in the way we use our time. Please share this post with busy moms and dads that you know. Let us know what you learned from this video and blog post. Remember, we are in control of our destiny.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Busy Pregnant Momma Shopping Prep Tips

By | Mommy Tips, Pregnancy, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | One Comment

If you are like me I don’t like wasting time or going to multiple places just to get necessities for the family. So I found a way to get the things I need in my home without having to travel.

In fact with a little planning, the amount of time you will spend can be less than 5 minutes! That’s right…less than 5 minutes.

Today’s blog post highlights two short videos about online ordering and being prepared for those times when you will not be able to get out of the house. Whether you are a busy mom with young children or a busy dad with a career and business, these tips will help you stay more focused on things that are important and still serve your family’s needs well.

Let’s watch the video now. You will save money and time and stay healthier with just these two videos.

Let me know how these videos have helped you. Please leave me a comment below after watching.

Dr. Mary Starr Carter
The Total Wellness Doc and Mom
www.thetotalwellnessdoc.com

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Busy Pregnant Momma Shopping Prep Tips

To a busy pregnant momma or momma with young children or anybody at all, time is equal to money. But the combination of saving time and money can really sweeten our days.

Most of us find ourselves compromising on the food we eat and the things we do for our family because of the lack of time or the need to save extra cash. What if there are ways for us to do both, that is saving money and time and still being able to get quality food for our family each day?

I have found a way to do so by shopping for quality food and household products online with two trusted website. Best yet, I get free shipping and handling and my groceries are at my doorstep in 48 hours.

Here are 2 short videos I did on online ordering and being prepared for those times when you will not be able to get out of the house.

The first video is Busy Momma’s Prep Tips For Online Ordering where I will show you websites that I use to buy quality food like coconut oil, gluten-free products and many more and how I save on shipping, time and money.

I will also show you the products I purchase and why we use or consume these products at our home. How these products keep us healthy as well.

My second video shows you how to stock up with household cleaners like dish detergent and a book to use to be chemical free at home even when you are a busy pregnant momma or busy momma with young children.

Enjoy the videos and please share with other busy mommas that you know and care. Let me know what you learned from these videos by commenting below.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Busy Pregnant Momma Prep Tip: Preparing and Freezing Food

By | Food, Mommy Tips, Pregnancy, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | One Comment

busy pregnant momma prep tip

When I had Joshua my mother in law flew in about 2 weeks before he was born. She helped us get organized, get the rooms ready and most of all cooked and froze about 12 meals for us. It was great.

As I am becoming a little more domestic or should I say as I am hanging out with some domestic friends like www.betterlivingessentials.com mom, Mary Simmons.  I have learned that you can actually prep up to 20 freezer meals including shopping and cooking all in one day.

Really… with the use of a crockpot and freezer there are ways to prepare for times when you won’t be able to cook way in advance for many days. It involves planning and preparation but it is doable.

Here is a video tip about freezer food. Go to my website to view it.

Enjoy,

Dr. Mary Starr Carter
The Total Wellness Doc and Mom

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Busy Pregnant Momma Prep Tip: Preparing and Freezing Food

Preparing meals ahead of time is ideal for a busy pregnant momma and any momma who has young children. It sounds difficult but it is possible. There are books devoted to ways to prepare, cook and freeze meals.

In this video Busy Pregnant Momma Prep Tip – Freezer and Food, I will show you how I am preparing meals for my family during this busy season of my life.

Here are six things you need to get started:

One: A meal plan that includes favorite foods, balanced diet and easy to freeze food.

Two: Shopping list that includes healthy ingredients and enough ingredients for preparation. Combination of ingredients and buying meat, vegetables and other ingredients in bulk can save you time and money.

Three: Make sure you have space in your freezer and that your freezer is in workable condition.

Four: Get functional containers of all sizes for storing your prepared food. In the video I share which containers I use to freeze my food.

Five: Have the whole family or good friends involved in preparation, cooking and freezing process.

Six: Keep all your prepared food safe, labeled and packaged well. You don’t want to consume stale or contaminated food.

Enjoy the video and let me know how it has helped you. Please comment below.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Getting Out of the Income Earning Box

By | Total Wellness | No Comments

I was sitting on my bed having another “Braxton Hicks Contraction” that’s what they call these PRE-Contractions you get before you are actually in labor but they still are uncomfortable and this one hurt. Trying to get comfortable, I decided to distract myself by checking my email.

SURPRISE YOU HAVE MONEY! Yup, in a matter of 20 minutes 2 orders had been placed on my website for informational products I had developed over the past 2 years. (These are products like eBooks, recordings, webinars where a client will automatically download the information after purchasing). The weekly orders had been increasing and I had to laugh a bit. Here I am out on maternity leave technically not really working but I am still earning income that is growing every month.

Then I thought of my two women friends who I was shocked to learn that they were only earning $9 and $10 an hour after being at their jobs for 10 years and 18 years. At first I was angry with their bosses thinking they are not being valued at their place of work but then I remembered how hard it is to run a business with employee salaries and benefits creating a huge financial drain on a business even at these wages.

In the US most people are trading their time for an hourly wage.  Sometimes this wage reflects an employee’s talents and value to a company but many times it does not.

I initially got out of the income earning box by finding a network marketing business that I was passionate about and worked that business for 10 years. Then I discovered that I could multiply my efforts and meet individuals who were looking for my message and products by using a Blog type website, Social Media, and Email.

It took me 18 months of learning, practicing, refining, and investing into my online business to see results. But when they started, they continued to grow and grow and more and more profits keep coming in from my work. That’s when I partnered with my husband Jay Carter who has worked in Website Hosting for over 15 years and StarrHost LLC was born. I knew that more of our team, friends and colleagues needed the tools that I had to get out of the income earning box. Visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/StarrHost.

Let’s talk about you. If you are willing to open your mind too and realize there are other ways to earn income and you are willing to put in the time, energy, and money to learn and do what you have to do, YOU CAN have a type of income that DOESN’T depend on trading hours for dollars too.

Are you ready to get your message online? We would like to help you. Go to https://starrhost.com/wordpress-packages/ and get your website started today.  This is the first step to creating an online income.

Here at StarrHost we have tools to help you get online- Hosting, Websites, Maintenance of your websites. We partner with Sandi Krakowski from A Real Change who has helped us and our clients to learn HOW to create a successful online business. Sign up for her Free 30 day Training and Newsletters at http://www.arealchange.com/blog/

I promise you if you are willing to open your mind, and get committed to learning and applying what you have learned, you can get out of the Income Box too!
I believe in you, we believe in you. YOU CAN DO IT!

Sincerely,
Mary Starr Carter & StarrHost

P.S. I am happy to report that my 2 women friends are growing their skills and creating incomes outside the box while they continue their jobs.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

How to Stop Gaining Weight and Stay Healthy While Cruising

By | Food, Losing Weight, Nutritional Supplements, Total Wellness, Weight Loss | No Comments

Just picture a great big steak, fried, roasted or stewed…Oh…wonderful food, marvelous food, glorious food!” What an irony to think of a scene from Oliver the 1969 musical, based on a book written by Charles Dickens called Oliver Twist when looking at the abundance of food served in the buffet lounge of the Norwegian Cruise Line.

Cruising is synonymous to buffet meals and overeating. According to a fitness coach on the Norwegian Sun, the average person gains one to two pounds per day on a cruise. Which means, if you are on an eleven-day cruise you would have the potential of gaining 22 pounds.

Hedonic eating happens while cruising because food is readily available, free, and comes in great variety. We eat for enjoyment and entertainment as well and its no wonder almost eighty percent of us are overweight.

So when we saw the sign up sheet outside the gym on the first full day of our cruise for “Detox for health and weight loss” we immediately signed up. It was definitely worth the one hour of lecture.

Walking out of the lecture we discovered the trilogy of good health- exercise, nutrition and detox. Here are five ways we keep the weight off while we cruise:

One: No soda or sugared water

Absolutely no sugar water in our 11-day diet because each can of soda or sweet tea contains about 40 grams (4 tablespoons) of fructose corn syrup or sugar. Do you know it takes 36 cups of water to drain out all the acidity from a can of soda? Our body may be sick and tired because of the acidity and toxicity from the food and drinks we consume.

You save money and calories when you drink just water while cruising. Water has the ability to hydrate and flush out toxins from our body.

In addition, we also had 2 oz. packets of NingXia Red per person per day with our water.

Two: High fiber food

stay healthy while cruising

Constipation is one of the main problems in America today. What we put in must come out but some people are finding it hard to do so. If we eat three meals a day, it means 21 meals in a week. If we go to the bathroom once a day, we are left with 14 meals still in our gut.What if you don’t go once a day?

Toxins are built up when food is stored in our body if it is not being eliminated daily. Toxicity and acidity are poisons to our liver and whole body. Eating fruits and vegetables in every meal is essential. Most of those huge bellies we have may be due to stored up waste. Our guts are overflowing and they are making us sick. In the “Oliver” musical, the kids sang about three banquets a day and indigestion.

Take a look at some of the glorious breakfast, lunch and dinner I took with my iPhone:
stay healthy while cruising
stay healthy while cruising
Three: Exercise

We took every opportunity to jog and walk every day. All cruise ships have well-equipped gyms and exercise programs like yoga, stretching, bicycling and Pilates. Usage of gym is free but for a small fee of $10 to $15 per person anyone can join the daily exercise programs.Swimming is another form of exercise onboard a cruise ship. You could even hire a personal trainer for your daily workout.

Four: Nutritional Supplements

We brought nutritional supplements even on a cruise. Three essential supplements that we used daily were NingXia Red wolfberry drink, Life 5 Probiotic and Essentialzyme.

These products help with digestion and promote energy in our body and mind. NingXia Red is a superfruit supplement containing essential oil and puree wolfberry. We take it for the antioxidant and phytonutrients that help provide natural energy supply and aid with liver health. Essentialzyme helps with digesting the over abundance of protein we consumed every day during cruising. It helps balance our body’s overall enzyme activity and digestive health. Last but not least is Life 5 probiotic that supports core intestinal health.

Five: Take the stairs and take a walk (don’t eat the bread)

Instead of taking the elevators, walk the stairs. Walk after every meal and let go of as much carb as possible particularly any type of bread including whole wheat bread.

After 11 days of good food and great life, I gained three pounds. I guess that is really not bad considering I overate and had dessert for lunch and dinner everyday. What do you think of cruises and weight gain?

 

 

 

Claudia Looi is an online copywriter, travel writer and web content writer. She has traveled to more than 30 countries and is currently traveling in South America with her husband and two teens for nine months. You can find out how she could travel and work at the same time from her Free Report: Tips to Having Money and Time to Travel.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Spring Break Safety with Essential Oils for the Whole Family

By | Essential Oils, Peppermint oil, Total Wellness | No Comments

spring break safety

As I was watching my son eating ice and having fun outside, I’m reminded of the joy of every season. Seasons do come and go very quickly. The end of winter is almost here and soon it will be spring break.

After being cooped up indoors we are all ready to welcome spring break with more time spent outdoors with activities and perhaps taking a spring break vacation for the whole family. Spring break activity galore means the possibility of mishaps, spring allergies, insect bites and more. I’ve prepared a list of essential oils for spring break safety to help with any minor emergencies and to promote a peaceful and happy time together.

Here is a testimonial from a family who lives in the southern part of the United States and everything is in full bloom during spring break:

My son has severe allergies and asthma. We live in the South where every weed, tree and grass blooms in the spring and there is “green stuff” everywhere. My son used R.C. on his feet putting it on the bottom of his feet on the tips of his toes which are the reflexology points for sinuses. Also, we put a drop of Raven on top of his feet and rubbed it in for his asthma. He carried a small bottle of it in his pocket for emergencies or other triggers, but other than that we did this every morning and at bedtime and had great success.- Kristen D. (Oils-testimonials)

Here are six essential oils for spring break safety for the whole family:

One: For allergies and asthma
Prepare your medicine chest and travel essentials with R.C., Raven, Lavender and Peppermint essential oils. (Of course we never advocate not having your prescribed medications and emergency inhalers with you when you travel.)

Two: Prevent airborne bacteria
Bring a bottle of Thieves essential oil with you wherever you go. Thieves contains powerful essential oils that defend and protect you from dangerous airborne bacteria. Apply on feet before going out.

Add Thieves waterless hand purifier to everyone’s carry-on or backpack while on the road, vacation or just going around town. Thieves waterless hand purifier is portable and long-lasting. It will clean and purify hands wherever you are. Washing your hands is important to keep germs away but when you are out and about and unable to wash your hands, Thieves hand purifier will be your best replacement without harsh additives and chemicals.

Three: Bugs and bug spray
Here’s an amazing testimonial from Cheryl T. about homemade bug spray made from Purification and Lavender to help protect from bugs:

I was at a friends lake house over the weekend with my husband and 7 other couples, in the evening we all made a big circle of chairs down at the covered dock right on the waters edge to hang out and play catch phrase.

Soon the bugs were annoying everyone so I had some Purification and lavender oil in a spray bottle mixed with water that one of your wholesalers gave me to try out and sprayed some on me and then offered it to everyone else, they all tried it out and soon all the bugs went away and no one was being bit anymore.

The next evening we did the same thing and as soon as we sat down the bugs were back, everyone starting asking if I had any more of that homemade bug spray, so I passed it around again and out of 16 people no left with one bug bite. Amazing stuff. (Oils-testimonials)

All you need is a small glass spray bottle to make your own bug spray. According to a NY Times article, most bug repellents contain DEET as an active ingredient. DEET can cause breathing problems, coughing, loss of alertness due to imbalance in oxygen level, upset stomach, vomiting and more. You may get skin irritation and hives. DEET is dangerous for young children and should never be used on infants.

I recommend using therapeutic grade essential oils like Purification and Lavender and putting them in a spray bottle and roll on before leaving for the outdoors.

Four: Sun protection
Moderate exposure to sun is not harmful because our body needs sunlight for Vitamin D and to give us happy hormones. The UV rays are most intense between 10 am to 2 pm. I think there is more harm than good in using sunscreen. Wear hats or shirts that protect your family from too much exposure to the sun.

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To cool your body after a long day outside, make your own peppermint spray (peppermint oil and distilled water in a glass bottle) or stock up on LavaDerm Cooling Mist. It contains Lavender oil to soothe and rejuvenate tired skin and also provides relief from dryness and minor burns.

Five: Water
Dehydration while playing outdoors or engaging in a sport activity is common among teens and young kids. Stomach cramps, headache, irritable moods and gastrointestinal illnesses may happen when dehydration occurs on a regular basis when families are playing outdoors and forget to drink water. In fact my pastor was sharing a story the other day of his young daughter passing out after a day on vacation in the sun. It was very scary for the whole family.

Drinking soda, coffee or any sugared water is different from drinking pure water. Your kids may be irritable or misbehave because of the lack of water in their little bodies. Take time to hydrate everyone even if you have to go to the bathroom more often and make more stops in a car ride.

Six: Stay calm and bring your favorite oils
Peace and Calming oil and Joy oil are my favorites to promote happy mood and calming effects. My friend Joanie was traveling to Florida with her family for spring break. It was snowing really badly and there was a terrible accident on 81 which got them stuck in the car for 8 hours in traffic. Normally they would have gone batty but she says we just kept using the Peace and Calming and Joy oil and they laughed, played games and stayed sane.

What do you do to keep your family safe and healthy during spring break? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Diet: Olive Oil and Olives

By | Food, Total Wellness | No Comments

In my research of understanding my husband’s high cholesterol I found that olive oil and olives were actually beneficial for lowering his cholesterol. Seems like it would be the opposite, but good fats are important to our health.

Today, my friend and colleague Mike “the miracle” Welch will be teaching us about olives. Mike is a pretty amazing man who has overcome stage IV bladder cancer and now teaches others about healthy lifestyles. He is an excellent resource for many. Make sure you check out his website and keep it in your records.  http://www.mikethemiraclewelch.com

For your Total Wellness,

Dr. Mary Starr Carter

the Total Wellness Doc and Mom

***************************************

olives

The other day when I was in the local grocery store, I overheard a number of people talking about olive oil. I got to thinking with all the negative comments that were being made about this particular item, people were really concentrating on the word “oil” and that turns the thoughts of fats that are bad for an individual’s health.

The fats that are considered bad for the diet, however, tend to be saturated fats. The fats in olive oil are monounsaturated fatty acids, and these are considered healthy dietary fats. In addition, unlike other cooking oils, olive oil production doesn’t require a chemical process. Instead, the olives are pressed; the first pressing produces extra-virgin olive oil.

“Olive oil, especially extra-virgin olive oil, is a smart choice for people who enjoy a delicious oil with potential health benefits,” says Dr. D. Myers and “studies indicate that moderate consumption of olive oil may lower a person’s blood pressure and total cholesterol numbers which is especially beneficial for heart health.”

When Dr. Myers first began studying the benefits of olives and olive oil through Harvard Medical School, he didn’t realize how beneficial this particular item was.  He says, “Initially, I was surprised to learn that olive products can be so healthy, in fact studies have even linked olive oil to possibly lowering the risk of some cancers.”

Here’s what’s in olives that make them so good:
Olives are rich in iron, vitamin E (which is a fat soluble antioxidant that neutralizes damaging free radicals) and copper. In addition, they are an excellent source of fiber and are rich in polyphenols and flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory properties.

Olives also add flavor to all kinds of food and can be used in almost any meal from veggie omelets at breakfast to sandwiches at lunch and fish dishes at dinner.

There are black and green olives. Green olives are the unripe olives and the black are fully ripe. All olives found in grocery stores are either oxidized, pickled or cured. They may come in water, oil, brine or dry. According to Musco Family Olives Company, olives straight from the tree are too bitter to eat without some kind of curing.

For good and healthy olive recipes, please check out Whole Foods’ website.

If you are shopping in your grocery stores for olive oils, you may notice words like “Premium extra virgin”, “Extra virgin” and “Mild or Light Virgin”. The mild and light virgin oils have undergone extreme processes to make it suitable for cooking. However most of the natural aroma and goodness may be filtrated.

Top quality olive oils like the Premium extra and extra virgin are natural, full of aroma and are suitable uncooked. In Napa Valley California, you can go for wine tasting tours if you are a wine enthusiast but did you know that olive oil tasting tours are also available?

You get different types and grades of olive oils, dip in bread or sip the oils without feeling tipsy and you can still drive after hours of tasting.

Spice up your daily meals by adding olive oil and olives into your diet. Leave us a comment below.

mike

Mike the miracle Welch, cancer survivor, health coach, author of Cancer: How I Beat It, speaker and Harley Davidson enthusiast. For more information on how to talk to your medical doctor about natural remedies, please download this free audio by Mike.

 

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

He Lost 20 Pounds And Lowered His Cholesterol By 36 Points In 52 Days

By | Losing Weight, Nutritional Supplements, Total Wellness, Weight Loss | No Comments

Lowered His Cholesterol

In less than 8 weeks he lost 20 pounds, lowered his cholesterol by 36 points and his Triglycerides by 388 points. How did he do it? Here is his story written by me.

On the last day of 2012 Jay had his first trip to the doctors’ in many years for a routine checkup. Prodded by me to go, we both thought it would be a good idea to get some base line tests done to see where his health was. He knew he was overweight and had been complaining of snoring, fatigue, exhaustion and I felt he had been more moody and even was exhibiting hypoglycemic tendencies for many months.

On 12/31/2012 the doctor’s office weighed him at 218 pounds, his blood pressure was normal, his stress test was normal, they also took blood for lab work and here is what they found.

They found in his Lipid Panel

Triglycerides at 597 (normal 45-150)
Cholesterol 230 (normal 125-200)
LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) was invalid because his Triglycerides were so high
HDL (good cholesterol) 41 (39-96 is normal)
They could not determine his cholesterol to HDL ratio because the Triglycerides were so high
Vitamin D was low at 16 (normal 30-100)
—————————————————————-
Prior to 12/31/12, the only regular supplement Jay took was NingXia Red 1-2 oz. a day. Ironically even being overweight, sedentary, and eating a poor diet for almost a year, his CBC, blood chemistry and inflammatory markers were all within normal ranges including Vitamin B 12, Sed Rate, PSA screening and Hemoglobin A1C. I believe drinking the NingXia Red for the past 5 years kept these numbers normal.

Eating habits included skipping meals or going many hours in between meals. Diet included one healthier meal but he ate white breads, chips, quesadillas 4-5 times a week, beef jerky 3-4 times a week, soda 3-4 times a week, sugar/sweets 4-5 times a week. Fast food meals 1-2 times a week. Very little vegetables and fruit in diet. And his portions were large.

On 1/12/13 we returned to the doctors and got the results of the labs and we asked for the option to try a program of exercise, diet changes, and nutritional supplements for the next 2 months. They agreed.

I must say that Jay was the one who made the decision that he was going to make the changes, he did ask for my help but he was all in. The next day he purchased a used treadmill on Craig’s list for $200.

Program from January 12 – March 4th  (so not even 8 weeks)

Exercise: Started walking 20 minutes or more about 5 times a week with an incline and higher speed.  Always sweated during workout. Occasionally used weights for biceps and upper body.

Diet:

Got rid of white foods in the house. Set up a strict protocol of no white products, soda, or sugar. Cut back on red meat but still had it at least once a week. Also cut out cheese he ate almost daily.

Daily Food Staples

Oatmeal, beans, avocado, dark berries and coconut oil were a staple on most days.

Also a protein fruit shake most mornings and another some afternoons. (this is where I snuck in the avocado and berries)

Created food schedule so he was eating at regular intervals!

Ate every couple of hours including 3 meals and 3 -4 snacks

Beverages

Water minimum of 2-3 25 oz. bottles
1 -2 cups of Slique Tea  (one tea bag a day)
NingXia Red about 2 ounces or more a day.

Snacks

A protein bar (tried a variety of different kinds)
Greek yogurt and granola
Apples or fruit
Hummus and crackers or veggies and hummus
Shake
or a lite meal or leftovers

Breakfast

Oatmeal most every day

Lunches and Dinners

Included more soups, chilis, salads, and smaller portions. 80% gluten free

Nutritional Supplements

Daily Young Living Supplements

Thyromin 2 capsules first thing upon waking up and 2 capsules before going to bed
True Source 1 packet
Longevity 1 pill
Super B 1 tablet
OmegaGize 3-4 capsules a day
Essentialzymes-4 1 -2 duo packs usually with larger meals
Again Slique Tea- one cup on most days right around the 3 pm -5pm time
NingXia Red 2-3 oz. a day
He also took Liquid Vitamin D about  50,000 IU’s a week

He also did on an off about maybe 10 or less days out of the 52 days took 2 Life 5 Probiotics at night,  4-5 Sulfurzyme a day, and maybe 5 doses of Lemongrass in a capsule.

To help remember to take supplements we used these little pill boxes I found near the pharmacy section of a store. They were only like $1.50 but really help to keep you on track. Every morning I would fill his pill box and mine.  We usually keep them near us most of the day. (But again we work from home so that’s not far.)

On March 11th we returned to the doctor’s office to get his lab results from March 5th.  

They weighed Jay at 199.4 lbs. and we are giving him the .4 for heavy clothes making his total weight loss 20lbs. And here were the results of 52 days of diet changes, light exercise and Young Living supplements.

Symptoms Gone

Within a week Jay had more energy, improved moods, motivation and overall happiness. His snoring stopped after about week 2. The difference in him especially when on the full nutritional program and eating regularly and healthy is almost like another man.  He is full of energy, life and thinks very clearly.

The Partnerships

Jay and I worked together along with a few helpers. What do I mean we worked together? He asked me for a protocol and I wrote out basically what you see above for diet and supplements. Since I am growing a baby, I decided to cut out the same foods (mostly) and eat regularly and supplement similar to Jay every day.

We worked as a team but I also pay my health conscious great cook, friend and my Aunt Shirley to help prepare some healthier soups and desserts that all of us could eat, 2 meals a week. And because I am doing more cooking and prepping I also got some help 2 times a week with cleaning.

It’s not easy to make all these changes at once but it was the best decision for our family since we are on a deadline to change our ways and get on track with our health.  (our 2nd child is arriving at the end of this month)

One more comment  – Stress Levels and Sleep

Jay’s stress levels did not go down, in fact I would say the demands on his time and energy went up during these past 8 weeks. With the birth of a new baby approaching, working 60-70 plus hours a week and getting on average 6 hours of quality sleep a night and yet was still able to lose weight. I believe that exercise even if just 20 minutes a day, better eating, supplements especially Thyromin was the KEY TO THIS! Thyromin isn’t just for thyroid support but for the adrenal glands, which I am sure, were exhausted from his former lifestyle. Exhausted adrenal glands lead to fatigue, exhausted bodies, sick bodies and more.

Also he wasn’t sick at all in those 8 weeks when prior to this he had been sick with a cold or something little almost every couple of weeks for several months.

The next step

This is just the first step. 52 days is just the beginning. We have another 180 days until his next appointment because the doctor agreed he is making great results with diet, exercise and supplements.  Some of the staff and doctors already use Young Living essential oils and products so they wanted to know what we used as well.

Jay is on the road to health again. But he has to continue the process.

What about you? Are you ready to get on the road to health? Some will choose to do a full protocol like Jay, others will take some of things he is doing and incorporate it into their life.  Make the commitment.  Jay made a commitment to be healthier for his growing family. Find something that will help you stay motivated and make a commitment to do something to improve your health today!

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Preparing Your Home For Baby’s Arrival: Anticipate The Expected And Unexpected

By | Pregnancy, Total Wellness | 7 Comments

Preparing Your Home For Baby’s Arrival

New parents will discover quite a bit goes into preparing for a new baby’s arrival. There are many supplies needed as well as preparing for parent’s time and energy (or lack of due to erratic sleeping schedules). My number one rule for all new parents—expect the unexpected and you will have a head’s up in what could be a chaotic time.

Here are some helpful tips for baby’s arrival not only to meet the needs of your newborn but that of Mom too:

Should haves for baby:

Bottles with the right sized nipples for newborns (bottle brush for proper cleaning)

Diaper pail—for disposal of diapers or to contain cloth diapers

Changing table—it is always a good idea to have it fully stocked with t-shirts, diapers and sleepers (those first few weeks can be overwhelming for new moms) wipes- diaper cream (Young Living Tender Tush or Butt paste are my recommendations)-baby wash
Crib or bassinet with a receiving or swaddling blanket

Baby monitor in case you are in other rooms

Diaper or big tote bag fully packed—diapers, at least one change of clothing, blankets, plastic bags for dirty diapers, wipes, comfort item {wubie, musical item, blankie}, diaper cream, bottles and formula

Expect the unexpected

Should haves for Moms:

Sanitary napkins

Nursing bras (if breastfeeding) and a blanket or boppy for comfort) nursing pads and breast pump if going to be away from baby

Relaxing outlets, either time for naps while baby sleeps, soothing music or Young Living’s Peace and Calming, whatever helps relax you

Expect the unexpected

Should dos:

Never too early to baby proof house (they grow faster than you will ever imagine and before you know it they will be crawling)
Keep a steady level of noise when baby comes home so they can adjust to sleeping through almost anything

Get any siblings ready for a new addition to household. If they are toddlers, try getting them their own special baby to care for so they understand the tender touch and maybe even the need for quiet. Be sure to spend extra time with them explaining what you think they can understand about how a baby is coming but they are still loved and could even help in some small ways. They could help set up baby’s table or pack away diapers or something that makes them feel a part of the decision making (age-appropriate of course)

Make arrangements for siblings care during birth/hospital stay

Wash bedding, clothing, towels or whatever is used for the baby prior to using (a great idea is to have all this set up weeks before baby’s arrival if possible)

Stock up on meals for family and make sure you have plenty of good foods for the Mommy. Preparing meals/freezing in advance of baby’s arrival is a good idea

Stock up on paper products and necessities for bathroom and cleaning

Let family and friends know prior to baby’s arrival when would be best for visits. Do not be afraid to request a waiting period before you have company.

Make hospital preparations

If it is possible arrange for help around the house either by hiring or making plans with family members to do laundry and cleaning and maybe extra duty with a sibling

A wonderful idea is to preplan any work needed for events/special occasions. You will be caught up so if you know of birthdays or special events coming up, perhaps it is possible to get cards/gifts or RSVP’s completed ahead of time

Prepare home, making it ergonomic for parents to move around in and everything handy

Expect the unexpected—I cannot emphasize this enough. It will save you in so many little ways. And enjoy that little bundle of joy, you will receive so much more than you could ever imagine.

Welcome Home Baby!

 

 

debbietwomey.com is a website founded on the principle that children are not only our most precious commodity, but that proper parenting is not always instinctive and requires constant development through many avenues of information and experiences. Some of those avenues are family, training, advice and of course, Debbie. This website is a font of valuable insights and information that not only take the guesswork out of some of the most difficult parenting aspects but create an inspiring and memorable environment that will benefit all.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Self Care is Not a Luxury

By | Essential Oils, Total Wellness | 4 Comments

Recently I visited my local bank and was working with a very nice bank professional who was interested in what I did. She told me she loved massage therapy so of course I asked her when was your last massage? She said about a year ago.

This same woman complained of the stress in her life and all the tension in her shoulders and with my trained eye I could see a lot more health issues there. She said she had a gift certificate for a massage but said she was waiting until she was really hurting to use it. YIKES… this is NOT GOOD.

When you wait so long to get any type of body work your first session is not only a lot of work on the therapist but also can cause additional soreness for a few days as trigger points, knots and muscles are stretched and released. That’s why regular self care is soooo important.  It’s not a luxury. If you make it a luxury you will find yourself in a body you aren’t happy with. We must put ourselves on the list to CARE FOR. 

For over a decade my favorite therapy of choice was the Raindrop Technique. I have given probably a thousand and taught others how to do this simple essential oil technique in their profession or just for their loved ones.

I have personally benefited from regular Raindrop Techniques and they’ve helped me through some difficult physical and emotional times in my life. Clients who put Raindrop as part of their regular Self Care were healthier and happier than those who only “treated” themselves once or twice a year.  

This Valentine’s Day and every day I’d like you remind you of the importance of Self Care. Sometimes we look at massage therapy, chiropractic care, or even a spa pedicure or facial as a luxury, but I would encourage you that they are not.

Before you give me the money excuse, there are plenty of ways to take care of yourself at home. Just soaking your feet in some hot water and Epsom salts with a few drops of essential oils can relax your whole body. Or what about an essential oil 
bath? For families on a budget, ask your spouse for a 20 minute back massage or foot rub. Look up on Pinterest some neat facial ideas with ingredients you already have in your home. 

Winter can be challenging especially for those of us in the North where cold and snow may keep us indoors more than we want. It’s easy to fall prey to a mild seasonal affect disorder or mild depression.

Regular self care can help prevent this. Make it a plan to do something for yourself no matter how small once a week. This might seem like a lot if the last time you took care of your feet or body was 2 years ago. Make a plan and do one thing to take care of yourself this week.

When you are done, leave a comment below and let me know what you did. You have 7 days to do something. One of you who leaves a comment will win a fun Heart Filled Gift. Watch this video I recorded in 2011:

Sorry if you are in my town, I don’t do hands on Raindrop Therapy right now but can refer you to a highly trained therapist in the area. 

Have a great Valentine’s Day! 

I love and appreciate you and want to see you taking care of YOU!

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Mommy Humor and Food for Thought: You Know You’re Eight Months Pregnant When…

By | Pregnancy, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | One Comment

mommy humor

If you are a mom who is eight months pregnant and have children below the age of five, reading humorous stories and watching movies can lighten us up. Recently without much thought, I asked a question on my Facebook Page and received some humorous responses. The funniest thing about them is they are TRUE!

You know you’re eight months pregnant when….

1. You spend 30 minutes to an hour a day drooling over all the delicious recipes and foods on Pinterest.
2. Sneezing and Coughing now require Depends.
3. Putting your socks and shoes on now takes some creativity.
4. You take naps on the toilet cause you’re always there.
5. You have cankles by the end of the day.
6. You know where every restroom is anywhere you go!
7. When your walk turns into a waddle.
8. When you’re always ready for a nap and glowing!
9. When you scrub every bathroom like a superhuman deep cleaning everywhere so then you can maintain it as you head towards your ninth month! Thank God for Thieves cleaner the non-toxic nesting powerhouse!
10. You can’t find a comfortable position to sleep unless you confiscate all the pillows, to support you legs, back and belly.
11. You pass gas that sounds like a machine gun when you laugh.
12. You are always breathing like you just finished a marathon!
13. You can’t see how bad your pedicure now looks.
14. Belly Dancing has a new meaning.
15. You can’t sleep on your tummy, but really, really want to.
16.  And you know you are 8 months pregnant if you are peeing pants laughing reading this.

Do you have any mommy humor and tips for a healthy pregnancy? Please share below. We love hearing from you.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

How To Unchain Your Heart And Transform Negative Emotions Into Strength and Energy

By | Dr Mary Starr, Essential Oils, Total Wellness | 3 Comments

How To Unchain Your Heart

We are continuing with Part II of our two part series on Heart Health Wake-Up Call on emotions, stress and negative thoughts and I’ve appropriately called it how to unchain your heart and transform negative emotions into strength and energy. In order to establish a healthy heart, we’ll have to address our heart’s emotional health.

Do you have any idea that you are wonderfully made and valuable? Maybe you had a great childhood but circumstances, people, or life itself has polluted your mind, body and soul with all the messages that make you feel less than. Before you know it, the many years of coping with life has left you stressed out. Some people are so used to living a stressful life and somehow if their life is not chaotic, they’ll figure out a way to make stress happen.

Constant stress, negative emotions and merely existing will slowly affect our body, mind and soul. Your body will show symptoms of exhaustion and various types of health problems will manifest itself.

Not taking care of yourself may eventually lead to heart disease, stroke, messed up hormonal system, weight problems, sleep problems and a whole lot more diseases. Heart disease kills half a million American women each year. In my years of helping women, emotional health is an issue that we deal with all the time. If you were to seriously reflect on your life’s journey, you will find out that most of your health problems began to emerge when your emotional health was unhealthy.

Negative emotions and stress have destroyed some my client’s health and they live with shame, depression, anxiety, rage and unfulfilled dreams. If you follow the news, hearing about domestic violence, assaults and shootings may bring more fear and stress into your life. With every emotion there is energy behind it. The more negative emotions and stress you feel the more energy you are wasting and literally burning out your healthy system. Let’s learn how to transform that “stinking thinking” into positive energies for a healthy heart and peaceful and happy life.

Take these 21 tried-and-tested keys to help you unchain your heart and transform negative emotions into strength and energy:

1. Recognize that negative emotions and stress will eventually kill you. (really no joke)
2. Take small steps everyday to make changes to improve your lifestyle.
3. Commit to listen to empowering and positive influences via MP3s or on the web daily. (Some of my favorite Elevation Church, Joyce Meyer, TD Jakes)
4. If you connect with people who have been through what you have divorce, death etc., make sure you’re connected with those who have been through and are living a healthy lifestyle now.
5. Invest in taking care of yourself. Really, put money in your budget for your self care. It may involve a gym membership, Zumba classes, a weekly massage, chiropractic care, a personal trainer, pick what makes you feel good.
6. Invest in your health with healthy natural foods.
7. Take time to look good and make yourself presentable. It can lift your spirits.
8. Change your mindset with PJ McClure’s Flip the Switch (Great book and audio and it’s free).
9. Read inspirational books and or watch inspirational movies. Weekly if you have to.
10. Stop watching TV especially the news.
11. Sleep more unless you are over sleeping.  (8-9 hrs. at the most a night)
12. Get moving, get fresh air, walk and enjoy the outdoors.
13. Change your scenery like taking a different route to work, have a picnic lunch or even start a part time job in a positive environment like a local coffee shop.
14. Pray or meditate. Depending on your faith and beliefs, spend a few minutes of quiet time each day and collect your thoughts and begin with an affirmation based on the Bible or inspirational quotes from a book.
15. Connect with healthy like-minded friends on our Facebook Page or over on Twitter. Sign up to get our weekly newsletter and encouragement.
16. Break away from negative people. Believe me, you can do it nicely.
17. Forgive and move forward. You can’t change the past but you can change your future especially with forgiveness.
18. Focus on your journey and live in the moment.
19. Seek professional help with people like Dr. Lavonne Atnip.
20. Listen to relaxing music and music that lifts you up and feeds your heart.
21. Use your favorite essential oils everyday.  Joy oil is the heart healthy essential oil favorite.

Your heart health depends on how you take care of your total wellness. Almost five years ago, I was a stressed out, overworked wife who traveled around the United States building my business while my husband stayed home alone. I had just embraced Christ into my heart and was learning to incorporate Him into my marriage and entire life. You could say the peace that passes all understanding was falling on my life. I thank God for that because I was on my way to a very big problem… emotional and physical heart health.

I looked good from the outside but I was heading for a nervous breakdown. I felt trapped and I did not know how to unchain myself. Ever felt that way? I was out of balance and was not taking care of my emotional and physical health. I sought help and found a wonderful woman, Dr. Lavonne Atnip. She helped me sort through my emotional chaos and today my journey is so much clearer and happier. My heart’s health is more balanced and fulfilled.

Toxic emotions and stress are the causes of many diseases including heart disease. It can lead to irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia, weight gain, weakened immune system, cancer and depression. You cannot zone out or watch TV to lessen these toxic emotions. Be a powerful person under pressure using the above keys and seek out help from professionals who can help unchain your heart.

One such person would be Dr. Lavonne Atnip. You can purchase and download her MP3 here. This MP3 and transcript will be your first step to taking care of your toxic emotions and help you live a more fulfilled life.

You have the keys to achieve total wellness. Don’t wait for the right time for it may never come because it certainly wasn’t the right time when I sought help from Dr. Lavonne.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Chia Seeds: The Health Benefits and Best Ways to Use Chia In Your Diet

By | Food, Total Wellness | 2 Comments

chia pet

Remember the TV commercial “chi chi chi chia”… the terracotta head that grew green hair overnight or the chia pet? Chia seeds originated in South America amongst ancient Mayan and Aztec people. It was a staple in their diet and is grown for commercial purposes in Bolivia, Mexico and Australia today.

Here is a list of nutritional facts for Chia seed taken from Bob’s Red Mill’s website:

chia seeds

Chia seeds are rich in omega 3 fatty acids, antioxidants, fiber, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, niacin, phosphorus and protein. There is no cholesterol and it helps the body digest and break down carbohydrates.

Studies show that insects do not like Chia plants. So it is naturally easy to grow Chia plants without chemicals.

Chia seeds don’t deteriorate fast and can be stored for a long time. You don’t need to grind them to get the nutritional value. They are extremely versatile, mild flavor, easy to use and can be eaten in many ways. Our readers have contributed to some of the ideas in ways to use Chia seeds everyday.

Here are some comments:

Amanda F:
I put them in my shakes and sometimes in my salad — just mix them into your dressing. (My fave: olive oil, balsamic vinegar, spicy or quality mustard, garlic, and chia seeds mixed together)

Kelly B.:
I love them on my salads and in my oatmeal. I also have just started making chia pudding, which is YUMMY!

Cheryl B:
Love them…you can add to yogurt or oatmeal! I add them to my shakes all the time too.

Charla A.:
Sprinkle some in salads.

Deanna K.:
I love chia “pudding”! With chocolate coconut or almond milk

Julie B.:
Some people will add a small amount of chia seeds to their water, ~1 tsp. per liter, to help enhance hydration.

Linda Q.:
I just ground some up in my coffee mill and tossed them in oatmeal after it was cooked, along with some flax seeds.

Nancy S.:
Great in cereal, yogurt and salads

Charity K.:
I use Chia in EVERYTHING!

Deborah H.:
I like to put a little in my water with EO’s.

Bruce G.:
I use them in the following smoothie: 2 cups coconut milk, 1 cup frozen strawberries, 1 Tbs of Chia seeds, handful of pecans, 1 tsp of cinnamon.

Tolly O.:
I add them to oatmeal, cereal, and recently threw them into my spaghetti sauce to add some protein since I just didn’t feel like meat that night. You couldn’t even tell they were in there! It was great.  So versatile.

Mary C.:
Love Chia in my shakes and smoothies!

Monique M,
I stir it in almond and Coconut milk 1/2 a Cup and 2 tablespoon of Chi…. put it in the Fridge and have it as Desert …Make sure you stir well before popping in Fridge.

Meddy J,:
Soak overnight in orange juice, then blend with frozen peaches, a bit of coconut milk and a scoop of protein. Or use like poppy seeds!

Catharine S.:
In water jug!

I found out that when you combine Chia seeds with water, it becomes gel-like in about 10 minutes. So, if a cake recipe asks for 2 eggs, you can replace the eggs with 2 tablespoons of Chia seeds in 6 tablespoons of water. Let it sit till it becomes a gel and add with other ingredients.

Here is a modified recipe from Bob’s Red Mill:

High Protein Apple Dip
1 sliced apple
1 mashed banana
2 Tbsp. Young Living’s Pure Protein Complete
1 Tbsp. peanut butter
1 pinch cinnamon
Mix together and ready to dip.

This recipe was contributed by Robin Van Sickel on Bob’s Red Mill’s website. We substituted soy protein powder with Young Living’s Pure Protein Complete.

Easy Granola for breakfast:

2 cups organic old fashioned oats
½ cup chia seeds
¼ cup coconut flakes
¼ cup chopped walnuts
¼ cup coconut oil
½ cup honey
1 tsp. cinnamon
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Combine all ingredients. Place on oiled cookie sheet. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes.

Eating healthier has never been easier with the availability of different types of seeds and nuts. Three things that stand out with Chia seeds are

1. The plant repels insects, which means they are possibly being grown naturally and organically.
2. The nutritional value of the seeds.
3. The seeds are so versatile and easy to use either raw or cooked.

Try out the recipes today and let us know how it turns out. Leave your comment below or share this post with your friends and family.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Weed, Wine and Watching TV Part 1

By | Sleep Debt, Total Wellness | 2 Comments

Weed, Wine and Watching TV

Did I catch your attention with the title? Good. I was hoping so. I would like to address these things from a perspective of a Wellness Coach who has worked with hundreds of women through the years and seen some addictions that seem harmless in the beginning but could be causing some health issues.

WEED, WINE and WATCHING TV

Why did I put these all in the same category? Because all can become addictive and dangerous for our health. Really? REALLY!

The women and men I have worked with who have some or all of these addictions are really no different than you and I. They are professionals, parents, and usually individuals that have high stress and can’t seem to relax or turn their mind off without it.

Let’s start with the most obvious but least talked about addiction – WEED.

Weed:
The technical name is marijuana, an illegal drug in most states in the US, and although there are various opinions about the legalization of marijuana, daily use of it is not good for our bodies and brains. If you use this drug everyday even a little bit or most days of the week, your body and brain will change.

Side effects of daily use of marijuana: (via research and the Total Wellness Doc’s opinion)

Mental clarity, respiratory issues, loss of libido, anxiety, moodiness, depression, higher incidence of cancer, relationship issues, and sometimes going over the dead end. And men don’t forget the lovely “man boobs” you will get from long term use.

Wine:
I live near the Finger Lakes wine country and I know many enjoy the wine tours and the hard work of this area’s farmers. But just like weed, wine can become a dependency if used everyday. Most people don’t realize that medications, disorders and diseases are all contraindications to not drink wine.

Side effects of daily use of wine: (via research and the Total Wellness Doc’s opinion)

Risk of dependency, over indulging, interruption of sleep (may initially put you to sleep but the quality of sleep is diminished and many will not feel rested in the morning), decreased inhibitions like you could easily say something to someone inappropriately on Facebook while drinking, loss of libido and decreased sexual function, dependency to relax, dependency to reduce pain experienced in feet, back or body from work day.

I also see and believe that women that drink wine everyday age faster especially during menopause. I believe this is due to overtaxing the liver, decrease of hormones and increase of free radicals that increase the aging of the skin and body.

Contraindications of drinking wine:
Sleeping disorders, stomach infections and stomach ulcers, hypertension or other heart problems, memory problems and family history of severe memory diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, sexual problems such as erectile dysfunction, family history of cancers, dementia or alcoholism etc. Wine is also not recommended if you have a history of psychological illnesses- depression, bipolar syndrome, schizophrenia, attention deficit disorder or others. Taken from http://templeofwine.com/content/negative-sides-wine-consumption

What about Red Wine?
Red wine is touted for its health benefits for the heart. This may be true but ingesting alcohol everyday to an already taxed body is not safe. Studies show one drink of red wine may benefit the heart and blood vessels. Two or more drinks can counteract the beneficial effect of one drink and is likely to have an adverse effect on your health. So here is my opinion. I really don’t think anyone with digestive problems, heart disease, chronic illness, cancer, or disease in general should be drinking this everyday. Limit to once a week and 1 glass.

I have always enjoyed my red wine but for the past few years and dramas, I have been increasingly using it as a way of relaxing and numbing myself. I am on antidepressants so I know this is not a good mix. It came to a head a few days ago when I felt very down and drank a whole bottle of wine. I still feel ill and have been off the booze since but know that the craving will return and especially if I have a difficult situation to deal with.

Watching TV:
Now why would I put watching TV in there with addictions of marijuana and wine? Well to be honest, I think this is probably the hardest addiction and least recognized, or maybe because it was or can be one of my addictions.

I interview women and men every month for associate positions with our Natural Remedies company, many who are looking for a part time work at home side business. When accepted into the program, they go through 3 phases of training with the initial training and take a good look at where and how they spend all of the hours of the week. Many are shocked that they spend more time watching TV than they do quality time with their spouse or kids. Don’t get me wrong, we all have a show or two we like to watch every week together with the family, spouse or friends but when 12 hours or more of TV time a week becomes a habit, we have to look at WHY we are watching so much television.

Side effects of too much TV: (research and my opinion)
Depression, sleep disorders, anxiety, weight gain, heart disease, poor relationships, reality disorder, marriage issues, lack of awareness of what is happening in your home, increased incidence of diabetes and the list goes on.

So now that I may have depressed you with all this information, part 2 of Weed, Wine and Watching TV will give you specific steps to help replace these things with more healthy and happy alternatives.

This information is not meant to diagnosis or prescribe, if you feel you have a serious health issue or addiction please seek competent medical advice.

 

We publish newsletters and blogposts twice a week for our readers for general education purposes only. We cover topics that are related to achieving and maintaining total wellness which includes our emotional, physical, spiritual and financial health.

Weight Loss Tips from Everyday People

By | Losing Weight, Total Wellness, Weight Loss | One Comment

Curt Cooper is an everyday guy. Almost 50 years old he has been very active most of his life until about 7 years ago. In his earlier life he farmed, ran a lumber mill, and operated a golf course but ever since his job working for the town as a Motorized Vehicle operator, he hasn’t had the physical activity he once did.

He didn’t have a scale in his house so he didn’t really notice the weight he was putting on. But he did notice less energy and stiffness. About a year ago his doctor found high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and that he was overweight. Curt didn’t want to be put on a lot of pills so he followed the doctor’s advice and started taking a multivitamin, fish oils, and committed to losing weight.

Weight Loss Tips from Everyday People

How did Curt lose 25 lbs. get more energy, better digestion, lower his blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar?

1. He got a scale
When he got home from the doctors’ he told his wife his results and she went out and bought a scale for their bathroom. This was helpful for him to monitor his progress.  Remember, weighing yourself weekly or every other week is most useful because women especially can be prone to fluctuate a 1-3 lbs. daily.

2. Incorporate more exercise
Curt is not one to get a gym membership or do an organized sport so he decided to find other ways to exercise and sweat. Splitting and stacking 100 quarts of wood, helped him lose quite a bit a weight, he also gardened, walked more, and found different opportunities to be active.

3. Eliminate soda – Drank more water
He went from drinking 1-2 sodas a day to no soda in his diet. He has replaced most drinks with water and he and his wife are more conscious about how many grams of sugar are in juices.
Just 20 oz. of coke is about 240 calories and 65 grams of sugar. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition says just 12 oz. of sugary soda can make us gain up to 15 lbs. a year.

4. Replace your sugar snacks
Curt used to have donuts with the guys at break or a candy bar and soda. Now he brings a bottle of water, sea salt nuts and a yogurt. He has this every day and says the yogurt has really helped his digestion.

5. Increase fiber
Every night Curt and his wife have a big salad with their dinner. It’s a tradition Curt’s wife Lisa’s parents have done for more than 30 plus years and they are healthy 87 year olds. In addition, the food choices they make like switching to a marble rye bread have more fiber in them.

6. Cut portion sizes
Curt is no longer stuffing himself and has cut his portions. For example the Marble rye bread they get from Wegmans is bigger so he will cut it in half and make a sandwich from one piece of bread.

Lisa, Curt’s wife, says before Curt started eating better he would have nights he’d have to sleep on the couch because his stomach would be off, now he sleeps so much better, his digestion and energy are improved and no more nights on the couch.

Curt has also noticed that when he started taking the fish oil his joint stiffness improved.  And his doctor was so impressed with Curt’s weight loss and blood test results he said he wished all his patients could be as determined as Curt.

Do you want to lose, 10 -25lbs.? You can! These are some simple things you can start doing too. Remember, Curt lost 25 lbs. and he still enjoys an occasional treat, drinks beer, and lives life, you don’t have to be perfect to lose weight. Follow some of these simple steps and see how your body responds.

If you don’t see any improvement in your health and weight loss efforts after 6 weeks or you find yourself at a plateau, send me a note in the Comment Section below and I will recommend some Total Wellness products that can help you get over the hump.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

An Exercise to Help You Review Your Year

By | Total Wellness | One Comment

This is the last week of the year and it is a great time to reflect on 2012. This exercise might take a few hours, a few days, or even an entire week but it will be worth it. This exercise has helped me and many others move from just so so happy with our lives or marriages to creating lives we only dreamed of. So are you ready?

First thing:

Turn off the TV, get away from distractions and get out your calendar or planner and starting with January you write down some of the highlights, special events, things that you learned, ways you grew, life lessons etc. Go week by week, month by month moving closer to the end of the year.

Second Thing:
Now that you have everything written down go back and highlight the real important things of your year. The things that really stick out to you.

Third Thing:
Now it’s gratitude time. With another highlighter or you may even re-write them out highlight or mark everything you are grateful for. Remember even life’s hard lessons always have a purpose.

Now for some of us, we may really need to spend a lot of time in gratitude. Reviewing looking at our accomplishments, sharing them with others who are good listeners or friends and basking in this peaceful place for a few days or the rest of the week. When you feel really GRATEFUL for your year (not just part of it but ALL OF IT) then you can move forward.

After you have gone through your year, focused on what you are grateful for now it’s time to take a hard look at your development and growth. They say if you are not growing your rotting. I don’t know about you but I don’t like to rot.

Fourth Thing:
What new things did you try or skills did you develop with your parenting, marriage, job, or business? Did you give it your best shot? Are you still working on those things? Are you still doing the same techniques and tools you did 3 years ago or 2 relationships ago and they just aren’t working? I know change is difficult but right now you need to know if what you are doing has been productive, positive, or beneficial to you.

Remember sometimes change can be subtle. We all want instant gratification. We want to start a new way of eating, parenting, doing our business, or thinking and have instant results. Give yourself a break if you didn’t see dramatic results. Do you still feel you are moving forward? Most growth and change comes from consistent work, changing our thinking and speaking patterns, and getting to the roots of what caused our problems in the first place.

Okay that’s enough for this week. Next month we will have some more good content on techniques and tools to help you improve your health and happiness in all areas of your life.

Remember if you don’t take a good look at your year you may end up spending this next year learning the same lessons, not seeing the positive, not being grateful and worst of all being in a rut for 2013. I don’t want that for you or me.

I believe you can have the best year of your life. It will take some work but I am here for you and we can work together to bring Total Wellness to 2013 in all areas of your life! Please leave your comment below.

 

Dr. Mary Starr Carter is known as the Total Wellness Doc. She has been training individuals about Natural Health Solutions for over 13 years. She is trained as a Chiropractor and has studied under the world’s foremost leaders in natural medicine. She is a mother and a wife and has created a balanced and total wellness life for herself and thousands of her clients using her simple wholistic approach to health and wellness. Her coaching, classes and ebooks help clients with Fibromyalgia, Hormone and Adrenal issues, Asthma, Diabetes, Weight problems, Thyroid and Chronic pain find resources and solutions to better health.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.