We Have Moved!

In order to serve our readers better, we have moved to our own independent site.  Our main page is still the Wellness Matters Blog, but we have several additional pages to benefit you as well.  You can find us at the following link:
www.wellnessmattersgroup.com

Thank you for your support!

Can You Pass The Test?

If you have children or have been around anyone in school, they have probably been involved in testing recently or they are preparing for end of the year testing.  Tests can be really frustrating for people and cause plenty of stress for both parents and students.  It is really important to ensure that both parents and students eat properly and get plenty of rest prior to testing.  Parents need it just as much as students do because they have to be able to remain calm for their child and provide their child with every available resource to succeed.  Well since we are talking about tests, I have one for my readers.  Probably more of a survey, but I really would like your feedback on  a few things.  One, I would like to see how many readers that I have.  I get statistics that show how many times my blog gets viewed, but I would love to know what you think.  Two, I get writers block quite often and come up completely blank on what to blog about and I don't want to bore you to death.  I have tons of knowledge and experience to share, but I want to share what my readers are interested in.  Finally three, I am in the process of building a new website for my blog that will allow me to actually have a business platform and give me much more freedom and I want your opinion.  So here is what I want from you, please send me your comments about my blog, what you would like to read about, and what you think about the new website.  You can post the comments to blogger, facebook, twitter, or email them to candace@wellnessmattersgroup.com.  Check out the new website at www.wellnessmattersgroup.com.  Thank you for your input!

What To Do When You Fall Off The Wagon

Have you ever felt like you fell off the wagon?  Maybe you are trying to change a bad habit and perhaps a few days, weeks, or maybe even just a few hours into the new healthy you, there you go.  Right off the wagon.  Well, I want you to notice a few things.  For one, this is the first post I have made in nearly two months, so yes this happens to everybody.  Secondly, look at the wagon in the picture.  See how it is broken down?  If you don't take care of your wagon, how is it supposed to hold you up?  If you are dealing with a mental or physical illness, you have to take your medications everyday as directed in order to keep your body and mind functioning.  If you are struggling with a sweet tooth addiction, you have to get the sugar out of the house and stay away from it when you go out as well.  This has been a hard one for me for the past week because I do really well at home and out in public places, but then I went to my Mimi's house and I simply cannot turn down dessert at her house because she makes the most decadent desserts in the world and she would be crushed if I said no.  So, I talked her into a small serving and we were both happy.  Then a few days later I went to my mother's house and lo and behold she had rum cake.  Now in this case it was not going to hurt my mother's feelings, but my willpower was not going to say no to rum cake.  So I had a very tiny sliver and I do mean tiny sliver just to taste it and then I ran 3.3 miles later that evening.  When it comes to sugar, yes you can pound away at the gym to make up for it, but you have to train your body to the point to where you don't even want it.  I can easily say no to regular and diet soda, potatoes, and bread, but desert is another story.  It's all a matter of what you crave.  If you will condition your body (care for your wagon) by avoiding harmful toxins and eating natural fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins combined with regular exercise, your body will eventually stop craving the junk that destroys it.  I will admit that I pay attention to what other people buy at the store, especially at Sams Club.  It never fails when I'm there that I will see a very obese person that has a cart or a pallet that is piled to the brim with junk, but last week, I saw something quite interesting.  There was a very obese lady sitting on the electric scooter pulling her cart behind her and it was stuffed with all sorts of junk and I noticed all kinds of delicacies including a cake, but the item on top baffled me most.  If was a Diet Pepsi.  I just don't understand why you would drink diet soda if you are not worried about all of the other junk that you are putting in your body.  Am I judgemental?  When it comes to what you eat, yes!  I cannot say enough about clean eating.  The saying, "you are what you eat,"  is so true.  You only have one body, care for it and treat it like it is the most precious item that you own.  Best wishes to your wellness!

Dealing With Sorrow

Have you ever been so consumed by sorrow that it affected every part of your being?  Sorrow is one emotion that can affect your physical, emotional, and spiritual health.  This is different from what I normally write about, but the truth is that I have had such a burden for all of the sorrow that is going on around me, that it affects me as well.  Whether it is death, sickness, addiction, rebellion, problems at work, or other relationship issues, when those around us hurt, we hurt as well.  Sorrow can be mild and short-term or it could be completely debilitating and last for years.  It is always important to look for signs of depression because it is a real mental illness that is treatable.  I always thought that people that took medications for depression used them as a crutch until I realized I was experiencing it and desperately needed help.  It is amazing what medications and exercise can do for depressive emotions.  If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of depression (withdrawal, fatigue, excessive sleeping, insomnia, frequent physical ailments, feelings of worthlessness) make sure that you talk to your healthcare provider right away.  There is no reason to have to experience these symptoms when help is available.  The other part of dealing with sorrow is prayer and fellowship.  These two things will make the unbearable bearable.  I have been spending a great deal of time in prayer over many things that I have great sorrow over and these are the verses that have been a source of strength. 

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things.  Phililppians 4:8
This helped me to realize that if we are dealing with a negative situation, we need to seek something positive and focus on it and give God praise for it.  If you are dealing with a death or illness, focus on the great things of your loved one's life.

Psalms 46 is a great source of strength as well.  vs 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear.... vs 10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
Reading this makes me realize that everything that happens both good and bad happens for God's glory so He may be exalted.

It is hard to find peace in the middle of the storm, but God is our peace.  John 14:27 says, Peace I leave with you.  My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

I hope this helps and encourages someone.  I have burdens for so many friends and family members right now and I just felt the need to share my heart.  Best wishes to your wellness!

Guaranteed Method For Achieving Weight Loss and Fitness Goals

If I told you that there was a guaranteed method for achieving your weight loss and fitness goals, you would probably think that I sounded like one of those infomercials that bombard cable television, but believe it or not, there is one single thing that works and that is change.  It sounds pretty simple, but you have to realize there is a lot involved in the change process.  One of the first steps is getting real with yourself and recognizing the problem.  If what you are doing (or not doing) isn't working, then you need to do something about it or it will continue not to work.  There is actually a model called the Transtheoretical Model of Change.  This is a brief summary of the model:

• Stage One:  Precontemplation
• Does not plan to address the problem either because they don't realize they have a problem or they are not motivated to change.
• Stage Two:  Contemplation
• This person is thinking about changing their habits, but not immediately.  They are weighing the pros and cons for changing behavior and they are not ready to take action yet.
• Stage Three:  Preparation
• The person is ready to do something, so they start educating themselves about how they are going to take action.
• Stage Four:  Action
• This is the beginning stage of action.  The person is taking actions toward change, but not every action is beneficial and maybe just a few actions are addressing the health need.
• Stage Five:  Maintenance
• Major behavior changes have occurred and now the person is focusing on keeping the changes and avoiding relapsing into old habits.
• Stage Six:  Termination
• This person has completely changed their unwanted behavior or bad habits and they do not have any temptations to go back to their old habits.

Most people get hung up in the action stage because they start and then they can't find what works or they give up altogether.  Some people make it to the maintenance stage and people in this stage still have cravings for their old habit, but they remained focused on their positive behavior changes.  The termination stage is when a person has completely achieved the behavior change and the old behavior is no longer a part of their lives, it is like it was never there in the first place.  This model can be applied to any bad habit, whether it is overeating, not exercising, smoking, drugs, or even watching too much television.  The most important thing is to recognize what the problem is.

I have several people that are close to me that are addicted to food.  They will express that they want to exercise and lose weight, but they are not willing to give up their addiction.  That's like saying, "I'm going to the Olympics and I'm going to win a gold medal, but I'm not going to do any training."  How would that work out for you?  I've heard this too, "I was raised in the south and I'll exercise, but I'm not giving up my southern cooking."  Really?!!!  Come on, that makes absolutely no sense.
If you want to see real results, you have to change your entire lifestyle.  Change does mean giving up some things, but compromising on others.  The saying, "have you cake and eat it too" means that you can't possess the cake by having it and enjoy it by eating it.  You have to do one or the other.  You can possess the cake and look at it all you want, but if you choose to eat it, then it is gone.  My suggestion is to have your cake and find something else to eat that is just as satisfying and free of guilt. 

Change is hard, but the results are worth it.  Changing a behavior that is harmful to your health will likely prolong your life and add more life to your years. I love this quote from Benjamin Franklin, "Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today."  Please don't wait, change your life for the better.  Best wishes to your wellness!

Do You Run Like A Fine Oiled Machine?

Have you ever thought about how your body functions?  Are you a corvette or a clunker?  Maybe it's time for a tune-up.  Most people will try everything to get their bodies in optimal condition except for something pretty obvious - a check-up with your primary care provider.  This may not seem like a big deal, but it one of the most important things that you can do to make sure that you are firing on all cylinders.  If you are trying to lose weight, it is always a good idea to check with your provider before starting any program because you need to change your diet and exercise habits and it is important to make sure everything is checked over first.  If you are overweight, you could have issues with your thyroid, blood pressure, cholesterol, and other issues such as diabetes.  You may or may not even know that you have a problem with any of these issues.  Problems with diabetes and thyroid issues can explain weight loss difficulties and your provider can help you get on the right track.  If you have undiagnosed problems with cholesterol or blood pressure, these can affect your major organs such as your heart, kidneys, and your brain.  If it is left untreated for a period of time, you are at great risk for having a heart attack or stroke.  This is stuff that seems pretty straightforward, but think about this.  Imagine if you missed out on your visit to your provider for most of your adult life and all of the sudden you find yourself in the hospital after suffering a stroke and you realize that you have undiagnosed high blood pressure and diabetes that in addition to rehab needed from stroke damage, you also have kidney failure and will require hemodialysis for the rest of your life.  All of these things are going to total up to millions of dollars worth of treatments that could have been prevented with a yearly visit to your provider and a monthly prescription that was likely on the $4 list at Wal-Mart.  I didn't even dig into joints and arthritis, but you get my point.  Make sure that you follow-up with your provider at least annually.  Best wishes to your wellness!

Using Supplements To Aid in Weight Loss or Maintenance

Supplements tend to get a bad rap because there are so many products that are out there that have some snake oil salesperson promoting them.  You know what I'm talking about.  I'm sure you have seen tons of infomercials that have crazy claims to help you lose weight and they offer guaranteed results without diet or exercise.  These are not the supplements that I'm referring to.  So before you head out to your local store and make those snake oil salesmen richer, I encourage you to read this.

Your body certainly needs balanced nutrition to function properly and that includes your metabolism.  Ideally you should get all of your nutrients from your diet, but that is often difficult to do.  I have several suggestions to assist you with your daily nutritional needs, but these are only suggestions and I am not offering dosing advice.  It is of utmost importance for you to discuss all of these with your physician to determine if it is right for you.  There are specific conditions that may be affected by adding certain supplements and doing so without your physician's approval could be detrimental to your health.

One of the most basic things that you should do is take a daily multivitamin.  There are several out there, but honestly myself and my children take two children's vitamins everyday.  I do this because I have sensitivity to most vitamins and tend to get really sick.  I encourage you to pick a daily multivitamin based on your needs, but make sure that it meets the 100% RDA (recommended daily amounts) of the most basic nutrients (Vitamins A, C, D, E, Calcium, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Folate, Iron, Zinc, Iodine, and Copper).  This is not a complete list, but these are the basic things that you should be looking for.  There are many other "proprietary blends" that you will find added to vitamins and other supplements, but the are often not necessary and could possibly be harmful.  Look for the one that best meets your needs.

For an extra boost of energy and metabolism boost, taking sublingual B12 in the morning can be beneficial.  This is really helpful is you are trying to eliminate caffeine from your diet as well.  B12 and other "B" vitamins are often the active ingredients in energy products.  A word of caution though, pay attention to how much extra "energy" products you are consuming.  While B12 is considered safe, other "B" vitamins are known to cause flushing and nerve toxicity.

Another supplement that aids in metabolism is chromium picolinate.  There are multiple chromium picolinate products on the market that have things such as guarana added to them and my advice is to steer clear of these products and only select products that are simply chromium picolinate.  Chromium picolinate aids in metabolism by assisting in glucose metabolism and stabilization of insulin levels.

Flaxseed is recommended to use as part of a balanced diet, but flaxseed oil can also be taken as a supplement.  Flaxseed has antioxidant properties that is believed to protect against cancer and heart disease.  Certain studies have shown it to be more effective than fish oil in reducing cholesterol levels because it contains omega 3 essential fatty acids.

So far I have mentioned supplements that I would highly recommend with approval from your physician.  I have a few other supplements worth mentioning.  One is green tea.  I would rather enjoy the health benefits of green tea from drinking it, that taking it in pill form, but there are definitely health benefits associated with green tea.  If you watch Dr. Oz, you are going to see the next big thing in natural weight loss and I have seen claims for Raspberry Ketone and Garcinia Cambogia.  Both of these are plant based supplements that studies have shown promising results in weight loss that included diet and exercise.  But before you race to the store to purchase one of them, I highly suggest that you do your homework.  I have looked at several of these products in the store and they have a lot of stuff added to them that is not healthy.  Make sure that you are reading labels to find out what is in these products.  As soon as products like these are released, there are tons of manufacturers jumping on board to make money and they do so at your expense.  If it has tons of infomercials and ads, I would steer clear of it.  Your best bet would be trying a small health food store and make sure that you read the label to ensure there are not tons of unnecessary additives.  Your best consultant is your physician.  Best wishes to your wellness!