The highest concentration of vitamin C in the body is stored in the adrenal glands.
Vitamin C is utilized by the adrenal glands in the production of all of the adrenal hormones. When you are faced with a stressful situation, your vitamin C is rapidly used up in the production of the hormone cortisol and related stress-response hormones.
In adrenal fatigue, your adrenal glands "panic" when they don't have enough vitamin C available. This not only increases your immediate anxiety, but as this state of high cortisol is prolonged, it causes problems with your blood sugar and blood pressure
Not only are you unable to cope with stress when don't get enough vitamin C, you are also weakening your immune system, and you become more vulnerable to illness, which then adds more stress demands to your adrenals.
Vitamin C stimulates the production of white blood cells (the infection fighters) and virus antibodies.
Smoking dramatically reduces the amount of Vitamin C in the body, and smokers are recommended to take between 25% and 50% more vitamin C than a non smoker.
Antidepressants, Contraceptive Pills and Alcohol also rapidly deplete Vitamin C storage so more should be taken in these cases also.
If we're not already on the 2 litres of water to supplement the Vitamin C, pop over to my hydration blog posts here.
Helen x
Friday, 22 June 2012
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Vitamin C
We have already talked about hydration at a cellular level, it is now time to discuss nutrition! Starting with the need for Vitamin C.
Vitamin C is a vitamin which is water soluble. In simple terms, it means that on a daily basis it is flushed from the body so there is a need to consume it every day.
Some other vitamins (such as A,D,E and K) can be stored in the body however B and C cannot.
Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits like oranges. It aids the healing of wounds and also overcoming infections be strengthening immunity.
Other foods rich in Vitamin C except for oranges are tomatoes, brocolli, cabbage and strawberries.
RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) of vitamins for health is very low. Studies show that the optimum level of Vitamin C is 1,200 to 2,000mg daily where as the RDA only states 60mg.
This is 28 oranges, or 160 apples that you would need to consume! Every day, this is clearly impractical.
The best way to get vitamins into the body is by taking supplements. It is surprising that since I have taken 2,000mg of Vitamin C every day for the past year, I have not had a cold or even the 'sniffles' and especially the fact that I come into contact with people who have coughs and colds all of the time, this for me was amazing!
Try taking Vitamin C tablets on a daily basis for at least three months. As with everything, the key to preventing illness, is through persistence!
Helen x
Thursday, 14 June 2012
A Daily Brainstorm
In my week of mindfulness, I've decided I'm going to start giving my mind some time... I've tried it out recently and it has been incredibly beneficial.
My mind is always throwing up thoughts and ideas, which I think definately have a purpose in my life, creative stuff, which I never listen to!
It is important to allow your mind some time when you can sit with a pen and paper and be with your thoughts, without interruption, to allow them to flow. I call it my daily brainstorm.
Our thoughts definately have a purpose and I'm sure the longer I ignore mine, the louder they get? Trying to listen to people during the day with ALL YOUR LOUD THOUGHTS IN YOUR HEAD TELLING YOU NOT TO FORGET THIS AND THAT is very difficult!
I have a to-do-list. If something pops up about "need to do this later" then it goes down on the list. That way, the thought is not going to spin round and round in my head all morning or afternoon along with everything else... It is on the list to be brought back out when I choose.
A super tip I learned from my hypnotherapist colleague, is that when you have these reoccuring thoughts, just say to "that voice" in your head... It's okay, I heard you. That way you can acknowledge that thoughts are there and they are being listened to.
I don't have a topic for my daily brainstorm I just sit down with a pen and a piece of paper. I did find that it was useful for me to have some different colours, so I bought some snazzy gelpens, too. Whatever comes up, goes down!
In between my daily brainstorm sessions, this internal voice is becoming quieter, becuase it knows, it will have it's time. It's much easier then to put the ideas into practice, because I have had time to think them out.
My mind is always throwing up thoughts and ideas, which I think definately have a purpose in my life, creative stuff, which I never listen to!
It is important to allow your mind some time when you can sit with a pen and paper and be with your thoughts, without interruption, to allow them to flow. I call it my daily brainstorm.
Our thoughts definately have a purpose and I'm sure the longer I ignore mine, the louder they get? Trying to listen to people during the day with ALL YOUR LOUD THOUGHTS IN YOUR HEAD TELLING YOU NOT TO FORGET THIS AND THAT is very difficult!
I have a to-do-list. If something pops up about "need to do this later" then it goes down on the list. That way, the thought is not going to spin round and round in my head all morning or afternoon along with everything else... It is on the list to be brought back out when I choose.
A super tip I learned from my hypnotherapist colleague, is that when you have these reoccuring thoughts, just say to "that voice" in your head... It's okay, I heard you. That way you can acknowledge that thoughts are there and they are being listened to.
I don't have a topic for my daily brainstorm I just sit down with a pen and a piece of paper. I did find that it was useful for me to have some different colours, so I bought some snazzy gelpens, too. Whatever comes up, goes down!
In between my daily brainstorm sessions, this internal voice is becoming quieter, becuase it knows, it will have it's time. It's much easier then to put the ideas into practice, because I have had time to think them out.
Could you have a daily brainstorm for the next week?
Monday, 11 June 2012
5 Tips To Becoming More Mindful
1. Do One Thing At A Time
When you're doing something, like eating, be in the present moment, and eat! Think about the taste of the food, the texture of it, the pleasure of sitting at the table with your family and taking your time.
Not: Stuffing food down you, as you've just got back from swimming class and 10 minutes ago you were supposed to be meeting Angela for a drink at bla-bla place. Schedule time in for eating.
2. Do less.
If you have many tasks filling your day, you will of course be rushing from one to the next. Do each task with your full concentration and ditch tasks that aren't essential today.
3. Spend at least 5 minutes each day doing nothing.
Just sit, or lie, in silence. Be aware of your thoughts. Think of them as blades of grass popping up. How many are popping up each minute? You can even tell yourself, that it is okay to have some "down" time (down time is awake time relaxing) and your thoughts can be quiet for a moment if they want. Be comfortable with the silence and stillness.
4. Stop worrying about the future – focus on the present.
Are you always worrying about the future? What you are worrying about may never happen, and if it will...? Then deal with it in accordance with Tip 1. Take your time and sit and deal with it with your full concentration in the present moment.
5. When you’re talking to someone, be present.
When someone is talking to you, take the time to sit and spend the time in their present moment. It will make them feel so much more valued and this is your time to "listen".
Not: Making a mental note of all the things you need to buy at the shop and what time you need to collect the kids whilst your client explains why they are having a hard time at the moment.
“When you drive around the city and come to a red light or a stop sign, you can just sit back and make use of these twenty or thirty seconds to relax — to breathe in, breathe out, and enjoy arriving in the present moment. There are many things like that we can do.” - Thich Nhat Hanh
Sunday, 10 June 2012
An Introduction To Mindfulness
I was first introduced to "being mindful" when I took a short course in Kinesiology in order to understand better about health and lifestyle choices and change.
Before we are going to look at changing anything in this 52 Weeks (we are now in week 3!) we first need to pay attention to what is it we are doing right now, and why. This is mindfulness.
One night last week I decided to stay up later than usual to watch a training video. I went to the kitchen first and saw a bottle of Coke in the cupboard. Now, I'm not a fan of fizzy drinks especially since I started my water trend, however now I'd seen it I really wanted a glass.
So I poured myself a glass and came and sat at the computer to watch this training. I reached for a pen to make notes and BAM the glass of coke was knocked over. I was mad that I'd been so careless (it was quite dark though) but then began to mop up. I ended up not actually drinking any of the coke, as it was all over my desk/papers/drawers and... cream carpet. I didn't think much of it until the following night, I went to open my nutrition course homework folder and it was all s.t.u.c.k. together and brown.
My first thought? I am pumping this rubbish through my intestines by drinking this stuff. If this is what mess it's left my desk/drawers and papers, what does it do to my body?
My clear up went like this (in my study)
- Use dry sponge to mop up excess
- Use damp sponge to wipe off sticky mess
- Rinse sponge, wipe again
- Dry
- Is still sticky, used Flash Wipes
My poor body would have to go through a nightmare trying to get back to a balanced state after that glass of coke! It was clearly meant-to-be spilled that glass to provoke such thoughts.
My mindfullness tip today, is this...
Before we are going to look at changing anything in this 52 Weeks (we are now in week 3!) we first need to pay attention to what is it we are doing right now, and why. This is mindfulness.
One night last week I decided to stay up later than usual to watch a training video. I went to the kitchen first and saw a bottle of Coke in the cupboard. Now, I'm not a fan of fizzy drinks especially since I started my water trend, however now I'd seen it I really wanted a glass.
So I poured myself a glass and came and sat at the computer to watch this training. I reached for a pen to make notes and BAM the glass of coke was knocked over. I was mad that I'd been so careless (it was quite dark though) but then began to mop up. I ended up not actually drinking any of the coke, as it was all over my desk/papers/drawers and... cream carpet. I didn't think much of it until the following night, I went to open my nutrition course homework folder and it was all s.t.u.c.k. together and brown.
My first thought? I am pumping this rubbish through my intestines by drinking this stuff. If this is what mess it's left my desk/drawers and papers, what does it do to my body?
My clear up went like this (in my study)
- Use dry sponge to mop up excess
- Use damp sponge to wipe off sticky mess
- Rinse sponge, wipe again
- Dry
- Is still sticky, used Flash Wipes
My poor body would have to go through a nightmare trying to get back to a balanced state after that glass of coke! It was clearly meant-to-be spilled that glass to provoke such thoughts.
My mindfullness tip today, is this...
Think about what you're doing. As you pour that glass of wine or coke, think about what your body will have to do, to come back to a balanced state, in comparison with, for example, a piece of cucumber. Could you make a healthier choice?
Saturday, 9 June 2012
Keeping Routine At The Weekend
Is it just me, or is keeping our routine going at the weekend more difficult than in the week?
My weekends are particularly unstructured, which is the way I like it, as my work like has got to be so organised during the week I run on a tight schedule.
I'm trying to shift those good and new habits to fit in with the habits I have even at the weekend.
I take my vitamins now, as I wait for the kettle to boil.
I moisturise, when I get out of the shower.
I still try to drink my 2 Litres, before 11am.
Showering, tea, and getting dressed are part of my routines both in the week and at the weekend.
Does what you do in the week differ from the weekends? I would love to know how and why!
Helen x
My weekends are particularly unstructured, which is the way I like it, as my work like has got to be so organised during the week I run on a tight schedule.
I'm trying to shift those good and new habits to fit in with the habits I have even at the weekend.
I take my vitamins now, as I wait for the kettle to boil.
I moisturise, when I get out of the shower.
I still try to drink my 2 Litres, before 11am.
Showering, tea, and getting dressed are part of my routines both in the week and at the weekend.
Does what you do in the week differ from the weekends? I would love to know how and why!
Helen x
Thursday, 7 June 2012
How much time...?
How much time do you feel you can allocate to yourself in a day, to work on your goals?
That is not :
- making dinner
- tidying up
- running around after kids
- doing something for someone
- Working
Maybe you already have your "Me Half Hour" where you spend 30 minutes doing your stuff be that meditation, researching online, writing that book you've always wanted to...?
I asked a client once who was suffering from extreme stress to spend 15 minutes per day just ... lying there. Not sleeping, not running around, not tidying, just lying. Asking her internal voice to give her a break for just 15 minutes. To observe her thoughts and get past that frantic voice which was always talking to her.
She couldn't do it. She thought it was selfish. Too much. She'd never taken time out for herself.
Maybe, I pointed out, this was the reason for her being so burned out, and now, ill.
Laying there was too much of "nothing" ... she had to be doing something. So she decided to go for a walk each day for 15 minutes instead. How many of us are guilty of always wanting to be something? Give yourself a break!
I regularly have one hour to myself, (at least 5 per week) to write my blog, gather my thoughts, write down any ideas I've had that day and just spend time doing whatever. Listening to music. Zoning Out. I dedicate 8 hours a day to my clients, I cook and dedicate my family and friends time throughout the week but me time is always scheduled in.
How much do you have and when?
That is not :
- making dinner
- tidying up
- running around after kids
- doing something for someone
- Working
Maybe you already have your "Me Half Hour" where you spend 30 minutes doing your stuff be that meditation, researching online, writing that book you've always wanted to...?
I asked a client once who was suffering from extreme stress to spend 15 minutes per day just ... lying there. Not sleeping, not running around, not tidying, just lying. Asking her internal voice to give her a break for just 15 minutes. To observe her thoughts and get past that frantic voice which was always talking to her.
She couldn't do it. She thought it was selfish. Too much. She'd never taken time out for herself.
Maybe, I pointed out, this was the reason for her being so burned out, and now, ill.
Laying there was too much of "nothing" ... she had to be doing something. So she decided to go for a walk each day for 15 minutes instead. How many of us are guilty of always wanting to be something? Give yourself a break!
I regularly have one hour to myself, (at least 5 per week) to write my blog, gather my thoughts, write down any ideas I've had that day and just spend time doing whatever. Listening to music. Zoning Out. I dedicate 8 hours a day to my clients, I cook and dedicate my family and friends time throughout the week but me time is always scheduled in.
How much do you have and when?
Tuesday, 5 June 2012
Bank Holiday Tuesday
As it's Bank Holiday - most of us will have a 3 day week ahead of us!
Think about some of the small changes you would like to make in your life and try them out for just the first day back.
We have all day today to prepare, whether it's a healthier lunch than usual, or just your bottle of water you're going to keep on your desk, decide on a change, and implement it!
Mine will be... to take my trainers to work, (and an umbrella) and go for at least a 15 minute walk alone at lunch time in order to take some time out. I've been feeling lately that I never take time out to just clear my head so I am going to try this, this week.
Any possible excuses?
- I need to call someone (It's very difficult for me to leave my phone as I always have missed calls or mesages to reply to. I will leave my phone behind on this walk)
- The weather. (Keep the coat, trainers and umbrella in the car.)
- I have other stuff to do (make sure I don't take my bulgarian or nutrition studies to work with me on the day I'm going to walk)
What are you going to change this week?
Helen x
Think about some of the small changes you would like to make in your life and try them out for just the first day back.
We have all day today to prepare, whether it's a healthier lunch than usual, or just your bottle of water you're going to keep on your desk, decide on a change, and implement it!
Mine will be... to take my trainers to work, (and an umbrella) and go for at least a 15 minute walk alone at lunch time in order to take some time out. I've been feeling lately that I never take time out to just clear my head so I am going to try this, this week.
Any possible excuses?
- I need to call someone (It's very difficult for me to leave my phone as I always have missed calls or mesages to reply to. I will leave my phone behind on this walk)
- The weather. (Keep the coat, trainers and umbrella in the car.)
- I have other stuff to do (make sure I don't take my bulgarian or nutrition studies to work with me on the day I'm going to walk)
What are you going to change this week?
Helen x
Monday, 4 June 2012
The Wheel Of Life
I went to a weekend of Life Coaching with a friend in January 2012 in London.
I wasn't sure what this weekend would bring, but it did teach me about one valuable tool when it comes to evaluating your life and where you want to improve, and how.
This week we are talking EXCUSES, so this is how I achieved the goals that I set on that day.
The Wheel Of Life
You then set yourself some goals, of how to improve on each area.
Some of my goals were:
I focussed in on the "Going from working part time to full time" when it came to the excuses part. We were challenged to think of all the excuses we possibly could which would inhibit us from reaching our goal as well as HOW (very specifically) we were going to do it.
I was going to do it like this:
- Send 250 CVs to Dental Practices within a radius of X miles from my home
- To print, sign, and write the envelopes of 10 per day for 25 days
- Return all phonecalls and messages I got to my mobile
- Buy a new blouse and trousers so I felt great if I got an interview
- Put 100% effort into my new CV as my current one was basic and include a photo
My excuses could have been: (but once I'd written them here they're not valid)
- I might not want to travel 35 miles along country roads to work depending where the practice was <work is work and you wanted full time>
- I may not have time to do the 10 CVs per day <make time>
- My printer may run out of paper or ink <buy extra to keep in the drawer>
- I will not have time to do other things at home once I am full time <wait until you are and then get a solution>
RESULTS: I actually managed to get them all done within 4 days, I totally focussed on this task in any spare time I had and within 2 weeks of sending them, another 3 days work 'appeared'. I was full time and I was then able to go and join the gym and I am still going regularly.
I set these goals in January and I re-visited them in May 2012, 5 months later. <Blue>
I still have more to go as you can see but these are minor changes, the most significant being health. Can you see though in general, through evaluating your life and setting goals you can decide what to change?
This is where the "52 Changes" idea came from, I am going to slowly do it throughout the year to make the lasting change which will be forever.
You can download an image of the wheel of life from Google Images and colour it in on paint.
I would love you to share yours with me and my followers on my Facebook Page or Twitter!
To sign up to this blog to your email inbox, please enter your email address below,
Helen x
I wasn't sure what this weekend would bring, but it did teach me about one valuable tool when it comes to evaluating your life and where you want to improve, and how.
This week we are talking EXCUSES, so this is how I achieved the goals that I set on that day.
The Wheel Of Life
- Draw a circle and divide it into 8 parts.
- Write around the edges, 8 parts of your life which are important to you.
- I did this very general but you could be very specific (Instead of Family, you could have, the relationship with my kids or my husband/wife, for example)
- Evaluate this area of your life from 1-10.
- Here is my example from January 2012.
You then set yourself some goals, of how to improve on each area.
Some of my goals were:
- Health:
- Join the gym;
- Actually go to the gym once I've joined and keep it up,
- Start to eat helthier
- Learn to cook (more things than just meat and veg)
- Social Life:
- Have people round for dinners / parties
- Go out more often
- Finance:
- Go from working part time to full time
- I can then afford the gym/social life/fun/family time
- Personal Growth
- I wanted to study something but I didn't know what at the time. Now, obviously, it is nutrition.
I focussed in on the "Going from working part time to full time" when it came to the excuses part. We were challenged to think of all the excuses we possibly could which would inhibit us from reaching our goal as well as HOW (very specifically) we were going to do it.
I was going to do it like this:
- Send 250 CVs to Dental Practices within a radius of X miles from my home
- To print, sign, and write the envelopes of 10 per day for 25 days
- Return all phonecalls and messages I got to my mobile
- Buy a new blouse and trousers so I felt great if I got an interview
- Put 100% effort into my new CV as my current one was basic and include a photo
My excuses could have been: (but once I'd written them here they're not valid)
- I might not want to travel 35 miles along country roads to work depending where the practice was <work is work and you wanted full time>
- I may not have time to do the 10 CVs per day <make time>
- My printer may run out of paper or ink <buy extra to keep in the drawer>
- I will not have time to do other things at home once I am full time <wait until you are and then get a solution>
RESULTS: I actually managed to get them all done within 4 days, I totally focussed on this task in any spare time I had and within 2 weeks of sending them, another 3 days work 'appeared'. I was full time and I was then able to go and join the gym and I am still going regularly.
I set these goals in January and I re-visited them in May 2012, 5 months later. <Blue>
I still have more to go as you can see but these are minor changes, the most significant being health. Can you see though in general, through evaluating your life and setting goals you can decide what to change?
This is where the "52 Changes" idea came from, I am going to slowly do it throughout the year to make the lasting change which will be forever.
Todays Task: DO your wheel of life and see what areas you could improve on. Set specific goals and how you are going to implement them.
Focus in one one goal, and make all the excuses you probably could about it, and give yourself a solution, in advance.
I would love you to share yours with me and my followers on my Facebook Page or Twitter!
To sign up to this blog to your email inbox, please enter your email address below,
Helen x
Sunday, 3 June 2012
Top 5 Excuses
Hopefully, in last weeks blogs and on my Facebook Page, I managed to share information on becoming hydrated and how cellular hydration leads to the improvement of many thousands of conditions. I am 7 days out of 90 on becoming hydrated from the inside, out.
Here's my list of what I think are my top 5 excuses - I would love to know if yours are the same or different to mine and in what situations, please share it with me in the comments box below.
Excuse #1 - I HAVEN'T GOT TIME
The reason why I personally say I don't have time for things, is usually because, I write a to-do list which is SO LONG that I could never get through it in a day! My brain is always ticking and I will mentally add things on it throughout the day. It often ends up longer at 5pm than it was at noon even though I have been making my way through it.
How to improve on this:
- Choose 3 things in the day you must do.
- Choose 3 things in the day you would like to do but it is not essential that it is today
- Choose 3 things you would like doing which you could ask someone else to do or help you with.
For example, I went for a meditation day with Ann-See Yeoh 4 weeks ago. . I decided, after this event, I was going to spend some time morning and evening doing yoga. My first thought? "I won't have time" ... do you know how many things I pack into my mornings and evenings?
So I put it on the 3 things in the day I must do list - every day - for the next 21 days. I thought I would try it and see if I saw any benefit and if I didn't, it could come off the list. I set my alarm 20 minutes earlier each morning and went to bed 10 minutes earlier at night. I have an 8 minute routine in the morning and 8 minutes at night. Not bad for a beginner.
I have noticed, that I sleep a lot better, and I seem to be a lot calmer in day to day life. Wonderful! It is one of those things I want to do now, without a thought wheras previously I thought "I would not have time" or I simply would try and cram it into an already packed day. Instead, I MADE TIME.
Excuse #2 - IT WON'T WORK
Have faith.
If you've never tried something, no matter how simple or "out of this world" the idea seems to be to you for the cure, you may as well try it.
Why not, what have you got to lose?
I'm going to stop judging everything, stop thinking that it won't work, and just get on with my life, free of this excuse.
(I'm also going to make a point of not being in the company of those people who make excuses. Just for this week.)
Excuse #3 - I CAN'T
I hear my dental patients use this excuse a lot on a variety of different topics.
I can't floss.
I can't use tepes.
I can't plug a toothbrush in my bathroom we don't have a shaver point.
I can't lie back in the chair.
I can't remember what medication I'm on.
You can learn to floss.
Have patience with tepes. (Have you ever tried, except once, a few years back)
Buy a 2pin/2pin converter plug for your toothbrush and plug it in on the landing (they only need charging once every 2 weeks for 4 hours) and I'll even put the link in here to help you!
You can lie back in the chair, if you lie back in bed.
You can carry a list of medications in your wallet/purse with you.
Change your mindset, you CAN do it. Think about what you say you can't do this week, and flip-reverse it!
Excuse #4 - IT'S BORING
Nobody asked you to find it riveting to drink water, change your diet or your life. Nobody asked you to get excited about a salad.
There are things we HAVE to do, and this week I am going to stop thinking everything should me major super-duper exciting and just get on with it.
Excuse #5 - WHAT WILL OTHER PEOPLE SAY?
I am reading around the topic of "caring what other people think" and this is another blog topic in itself.
If you're going to change your life, do it slowly and the best way to do it if you're worried what others will think - is not speak a word about it.
Naturally, everyone knows about my challenge of 52 changes of my life in 52 weeks (and for the habits to be lifelong) but you may choose not to tell anyone about yours. Nobody will notice you're having a super-healthy lunch, or breakfast. Nobody need know!
This week, we are talking EXCUSES.
I thought we would get this topic out of the way early on in the challenge. This week, I am going to be mindful of the amount of excuses I hear coming out of my mouth. Not only the ones coming out of my mouth in the form of speech, but also those ones which I use to justify things to myself in my own mind. I'm going to ask you to be mindful of yours too.
You know the ones. The "Oh well, I can always go to the gym tomorrow" or "Come on, one glass of wine won't hurt"...
I'm putting a stop to these excuses, but before I can stop something I have to pause, and realise when and where I am making the excuses, and what they are most often about. Food? Exercise? Life? Time? I have no idea but I will let you know!
Excuse #1 - I HAVEN'T GOT TIME
The reason why I personally say I don't have time for things, is usually because, I write a to-do list which is SO LONG that I could never get through it in a day! My brain is always ticking and I will mentally add things on it throughout the day. It often ends up longer at 5pm than it was at noon even though I have been making my way through it.
How to improve on this:
- Choose 3 things in the day you must do.
- Choose 3 things in the day you would like to do but it is not essential that it is today
- Choose 3 things you would like doing which you could ask someone else to do or help you with.
For example, I went for a meditation day with Ann-See Yeoh 4 weeks ago. . I decided, after this event, I was going to spend some time morning and evening doing yoga. My first thought? "I won't have time" ... do you know how many things I pack into my mornings and evenings?
So I put it on the 3 things in the day I must do list - every day - for the next 21 days. I thought I would try it and see if I saw any benefit and if I didn't, it could come off the list. I set my alarm 20 minutes earlier each morning and went to bed 10 minutes earlier at night. I have an 8 minute routine in the morning and 8 minutes at night. Not bad for a beginner.
I have noticed, that I sleep a lot better, and I seem to be a lot calmer in day to day life. Wonderful! It is one of those things I want to do now, without a thought wheras previously I thought "I would not have time" or I simply would try and cram it into an already packed day. Instead, I MADE TIME.
Excuse #2 - IT WON'T WORK
Have faith.
If you've never tried something, no matter how simple or "out of this world" the idea seems to be to you for the cure, you may as well try it.
Why not, what have you got to lose?
I'm going to stop judging everything, stop thinking that it won't work, and just get on with my life, free of this excuse.
(I'm also going to make a point of not being in the company of those people who make excuses. Just for this week.)
Excuse #3 - I CAN'T
I hear my dental patients use this excuse a lot on a variety of different topics.
I can't floss.
I can't use tepes.
I can't plug a toothbrush in my bathroom we don't have a shaver point.
I can't lie back in the chair.
I can't remember what medication I'm on.
You Can! You Absolutely Can!
You can learn to floss.
Have patience with tepes. (Have you ever tried, except once, a few years back)
Buy a 2pin/2pin converter plug for your toothbrush and plug it in on the landing (they only need charging once every 2 weeks for 4 hours) and I'll even put the link in here to help you!
You can lie back in the chair, if you lie back in bed.
You can carry a list of medications in your wallet/purse with you.
Change your mindset, you CAN do it. Think about what you say you can't do this week, and flip-reverse it!
Excuse #4 - IT'S BORING
Nobody asked you to find it riveting to drink water, change your diet or your life. Nobody asked you to get excited about a salad.
There are things we HAVE to do, and this week I am going to stop thinking everything should me major super-duper exciting and just get on with it.
Excuse #5 - WHAT WILL OTHER PEOPLE SAY?
I am reading around the topic of "caring what other people think" and this is another blog topic in itself.
If you're going to change your life, do it slowly and the best way to do it if you're worried what others will think - is not speak a word about it.
Naturally, everyone knows about my challenge of 52 changes of my life in 52 weeks (and for the habits to be lifelong) but you may choose not to tell anyone about yours. Nobody will notice you're having a super-healthy lunch, or breakfast. Nobody need know!
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
The colour of urine and appearance of stools gives us a clue how hydrated we are...
Since starting to drink water, the correct amount every single day starting last Sunday (we are in week 1!) I have read a lot around the topic of water. Water goes in and water goes out so natually, I'm going to discuss it "at the other end..."
Starting with urine colour.
Below is a chart which indicates that urine should be straw coloured, and not yellow or dark.
Compare yours - do you need to drink more water? It is healthy to check each time and make a mental note if you need to drink more. <Not only make a mental note, but actually drink more, too!>
We should be visiting the loo once in every 2 hours if our water systems are flowing properly with a straw colour to the urine. Make time for this in your work day especially.
Next, onto stools. Using the Bristol Stool Scale, I found a lovely explanation of the different types of stool below:
I am focussing on the Type I and II stools because these are the dehydrated ones which have been in the colon far too long.
In an ideal situation, a colon cleanse in the form of colon hydrotherapy would be best in order to keep the colon hydrated.
We are aiming for a Type 4 stool which is like a sausage or snake and easy to pass.
So, that's my discussion on excretion for a day - pop over and leave some comments on my Facebook Page if you wish!
Helen x
Tuesday, 29 May 2012
Migraines
A migraine is a result of chronic dehydration of the body at a cellular level. All things start out as cells, we are just a bunch of walking cells, so let's think about the poor little mites for a moment...
Migraines are caused primarily in the body by dehydration if it’s truly a migraine headache. Now, it could be several other different kinds of headaches being diagnosed as a migraine, but if it’s truly a migraine headache the primary cause is dehydration at a cellular level, and it’s simply your brain saying:
When I say water I’m talking about some good clean water with no added chemicals, and you need to be drinking half of your body weight in ounces every single day if you want to overcome these migraines.
Half of your body weight in ounces every single day, and it takes you 90 days to be completely hydrated at a cellular level.So if you have a heavier body weight obviously you need more water. This is to dilute the toxins, and have the body to operate with some efficiency. This is no quick fix. We have to be comitted to our bodies and our cells, for life as they are stuck, with us!
To follow me, changing 52 things about my life in 52 weeks, 'like' my Facebook Page!
Helen x
Migraines are caused primarily in the body by dehydration if it’s truly a migraine headache. Now, it could be several other different kinds of headaches being diagnosed as a migraine, but if it’s truly a migraine headache the primary cause is dehydration at a cellular level, and it’s simply your brain saying:
HELLOOO! You've forgotten about me, again! I run your body for you every day, I regulate your breathing, your digestion, I do EVERYTHING for you, and I don't ask for much, but can you please give me some water??
When I say water I’m talking about some good clean water with no added chemicals, and you need to be drinking half of your body weight in ounces every single day if you want to overcome these migraines.
Half of your body weight in ounces every single day, and it takes you 90 days to be completely hydrated at a cellular level.So if you have a heavier body weight obviously you need more water. This is to dilute the toxins, and have the body to operate with some efficiency. This is no quick fix. We have to be comitted to our bodies and our cells, for life as they are stuck, with us!
To follow me, changing 52 things about my life in 52 weeks, 'like' my Facebook Page!
Helen x
Monday, 28 May 2012
"I never feel thirsty..."
You may never feel thirsty so feel that you don't need to drink plain water.
Chronically dehydrated people usually feel no thirst. The long-term dehydration has deleted their thirst instinct. The thirst will return when you start to drink more water on a daily basis.
I read an article 13 Symptoms of Chronic Dehydration and the reason I began drinking water was because of extreme, constant fatigue. I remember the 8 glasses seeming like such a challenge back then but it helps tremendously. I started to notice other things improving too such as digestion and it's wonderful when you start to quickly notice the benefits.
I keep thinking of those nice plump hydrated cells, which are more like grapes than raisins in my body. They are much more likely to function well because I am giving them what they need.
Sunday, 27 May 2012
Week 1: 2 Litres of Water
Water is the essence of life, and our bodies are 60 - 70% water , so it is important that we have some intake for the body on a daily basis.
Although we know that 2 litres is essential for a functioning cells, most of us do not drink this amount per day.
It is important that the 2 litres consumption is broken down over the course of the day and it may be advisable to start, if currently you drink no plain water, at 500ml per day and make your way slowly up to 2 litres. If you instantly start on 2 litres, the body will quickly start to eliminate toxins and you may feel unwell so build up slowly, you have all week!
In the beginning, when you start to drink water you may notice your amount of toilet breaks increase significantly. After approximately 4 days your body will become used to this and use the water, rather than letting it 'run straight through'. Imagine a plant, where the soil is bone dry becuase it has not been watered in a while. The water will run through it, before it starts to be absorbed properly.
I must make clear what I mean by 2 litres of water in no uncertain terms! This is plain water, no additives, flavourings, fizz, and certainly tea and coffee do not count. These drinks can be consumed in addition to the water and yes I am aware it seems like a lot.
So - getting on to HOW to get started. See the picture below with the bottles. Which method to you seems like the easiest to consume your 2 litres?
I prefer the 4x500ml bottles. On a work day, Monday - Friday, I make sure I have drank two in the morning and two in the afternoon. In between each of my patients I will take a sip.
At weekends it is much more difficult and I prefer the 750ml bottles. This way I can have one in the morning, one in the afternoon and the other half a bottle, usually with lunch.
Whichever is the easiest method for you, which fits around your lifestyle. Let me know what you plan to do, pop your comments on my Facebook Page, these are all helpful for my course.
Once this has been made into a habit, your body will let you know when you aren't drinking enough.
More information coming in the week, for now, get your water bottles ready!
Helen x
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