Did You Hear I'm Writing a Book, Why Potatoes are Stressing Me Out, and The Truth About Cravings.

So peace out November and welcome to December and the Holiday frenzy. I kind of  freaked out when I realized that Hanukah begins on December 5th this year. That's Saturday folks!
I realized how early Hanukah was this year during Thanksgiving morning when my son's dear friend was over hanging out with us, watching the parade and casually asked, "we are having mashed potatoes with Thanksgiving dinner tonight, right?" Oops, um, oh gosh, sure we are.... so I got busy texting the hubby to pick up a bag of potatoes, and scrambling to come up with a healthy mashed potato recipe with 3 hours notice. Then I got a text from my son's other friend who was headed over to join us for Thanksgiving dinner, "Since we won't be in Dallas for Chanukah can we do latkes (that's fried potato pancakes eaten on Hanukah, for those of you who don't know)? I know they aren't very "thanksgivingy" or healthy, but they are tasty!" I love these boys like my own sons, yet all these potato requests were stressing me out, .... but I digress!

The holidays can be a source of stress despite the pleasures associated with them. The food prep, the shopping, the lack of quiet time, and for many people...the cravings!! Which brings me to my big announcement, I am currently writing a book that is expected to be completed in the Spring and I can't wait to share it with all of you in my Harmonious Health Community.  My book will be a simple step by step guide to many of the topics I teach in my Health Coaching Program. One of the big topics I work on with my clients is helping them to deconstruct their cravings, and how to satisfy them in a healthy way. Today I was working on the "Cravings" chapter of my book.  I originally thought I would include it in the EATING section of the book. Then I realized, no, cravings need to be discussed in the section of the book that talks about HABITS TO CALM YOUR MIND, and here is why.

I can't begin to tell you how many times I have heard statements like this from clients and friends, "I was bad this week", "I f**'kd up yesterday", "I have no self control", "I suck I can't stick to anything".  So much negative self talk, so damaging to our self-esteem when really, giving in to those cravings is brilliant. This negative self-talk upsets us, creates guilt, stress, and disappointment none of which are good for someone seeking good health and a calm state of mind.  Learning what our body is trying to tell us through cravings is brilliant, we should feel great about ourselves when we notice our cravings, it means our minds are in tune with our body, and that is the first step in making baby steps toward a healthy diet and lifestyle. That is why I am including cravings in the MIND section of my book.

Cravings are your body's way of telling you what it needs, and when we listen to what our body needs, we are actually doing something wonderful for ourselves. Now don't get me wrong, I am not praising you for giving in to your craving for a pint of Ben & Jerry's. When we crave sweets our blood sugar is probably dropping, when we crave salt we are likely deficient in certain vitamins and minerals. We also have cravings related to mood swings, events (like an argument with your boss or friend), lack of exercise, memories (especially around holiday time). Smells and sounds can also trigger cravings, especially in December.

So during this busy time of year, stay alert to the cravings you are experiencing. Remember you are not weak for having them. Do the best you can to deal with them. If you need something sweet choose the healthiest sweet option available, do the same with salt cravings, stay hydrated, get fresh air, take a walk, stretch, and do the your best to eat a whole food diet which will keep you balanced and help minimize these cravings.  Only a superhero can fight a craving. We are human, deconstructing cravings is a process, but sometimes step one, just recognizing them, before you give in to them, is the beginning of healthy progress.

As for my potato dilemma, the mashed potatoes mixed with rice milk and sea salt were delicious, and the latkes, sadly never made it onto the Thanksgiving table, they may show up this weekend in a healthier format if I can find a good recipe....but honestly I will likely make the real ones fried in vegetable oil, because I always CRAVE them this time of year!

For more info on surviving the holidays, for a one-on-one health coaching session with me during the December craziness, to motivate me to keep writing my book, to tell me if you are enjoying my blog posts, or that you just polished off a pint of Ben & Jerry's,  send me an email here


Harmoniously yours,
Suzy
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Finding comfort in Primary Food so that the food we eat becomes Secondary Food

One of the concepts that I studied at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) that distinguishes my Health Coaching Program from other programs is the idea of "Primary Food".  You will not see Primary Food on the USDA Myplate, it is a concept developed by Joshua Rosenthal, the founder and director of IIN. Primary Food relates to lifestyle factors that create optimal health.  This includes relationships, physical activity, career and spirituality.

When I first began Health Coaching, I did not expect to be discussing these areas of my client's lives with them. I encourage clients to look at these 4 aspects of their lives as a form of nutrition, because these aspects of life "feed" them on a much deeper level than food. The food we eat plays a central and critical role in creating our health and wellness, and it is extremely important for us to discover the right foods for our bodies.  However, the 4 forms of primary foods will nourish us and can make our lives complete and wonderful.  When our primary food is balanced and satisfying, our life fills us up with joy, it "feeds" us. Our hunger for the food we eat diminishes as we feel "full" in our soul and the food we eat becomes "Secondary Food".

Ask yourself the following questions to see if your primary foods are in balance:

1) Are my relationships with my spouse, children, other family members, friends, co-workers healthy and do they support my individual needs and wants?

2) Is physical activity a habit that I fit into my weekly schedule? Different types of movement nourish our bodies in various ways. I work with my clients to help them identify what form will keep them feeling balanced, nourish them, and fit into their schedule.  Some of my clients who have been rigorously doing aerobic exercise several days a week, substitute one day with yoga which helps them in unexpected ways such as reducing their cravings because they are feeling less tight and tense.  Ask yourself, does my current exercise routine fit my current condition?

3) I spend 8-10 hours a day at work, am I doing work I love? Maybe you do not need a new career, just a change in work space, a raise, a more flexible work schedule. Go after whatever you need to make your job a more positive place to be. I do not think it is a coincidence that 2 of my recent clients  in my 6-month Coaching Program switched jobs within their field.  Feeling happier and productive in your workplace will dramatically increase your well-being.

4) What is my spiritual practice that I am committed to and how can I deepen my practice to add more meaning to my life?  Spiritual nutrition feeds us on a very deep and profound level. For me,  I find that connection when I am in harmony with nature, on a walk or a run, listening to music. I also feel it when I am connecting with my community attending religious services and chanting prayers.  When we have meaning in our life, we will stop searching for meaning and purpose in the bottom of the potato chip bag (where it certainly is not hiding), because we feel at peace in the world and that satisfies us and there is no void we need to fill.

To learn more about my Health Coaching Program and working with me please visit my website or send me an email

Suzy Harmon
Harmonious Health
Health and Wellness Coaching

Green Chile Chicken

This is a great recipe I just tried courtesy of the Whole 30 diet. It is a delicious tasting  chicken recipe that is prepared in the crockpot. I love having this in the fridge during the week to serve for dinner with rice, or to top on a salad or in a taco shell for lunch.

What is also great about this recipe is that you can prepare all of the ingredients ahead of time and freeze it in a large ziplock bag. When you are ready to prepare it just defrost the bag the night before and in the morning just dump it in your crockpot and it is ready to cook.

The recipe below will provide you with 2 gallon sized bags that you can use one at a time to prepare in your crockpot.

Ingredients

4 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts

2 (12oz) jars of salsa verde (I like Trader Joe’s Hatch Valley Salsa)

2 cups chopped onions, divided

4 (4oz) cans diced green chiles, drained

2 Tbsp cumin, divided

2 Tbsp chili powder, divided

2 Tbsp garlic, minced

2 tsp salt, divided

Instructions

LABEL two gallon-­sized zip­-top bags with the date and cooking instructions:  “Thaw. Crock pot for 2-­3 hours (high) or 4-­6 hours (low).”

DIVIDE cleaned chicken between the two bags.

ADD remaining ingredients in no particular order.  To each bag:  1 jar of salsa, 1 cup of onions, 2 cans of drained chiles, 1 Tbsp each of cumin and chili powder, 1 Tbsp minced garlic, and 1 tsp of salt.

Freezing Instructions

REMOVE as much air as possible, lay the bags flat, and freeze!

To Serve

THAW the chicken overnight. Dump ingredients into slow cooker and cook on high for 2­-3 hours or low for 4-­6 hours.

Creating Sacred Space for Yourself Everyday

Marilena Minucci a great coach taught me to "Create sacred space for yourself everyday."

That is what I love to teach my clients to do. When we don't do this, we let distractor factors such as perfectionism, procrastination, fear, and the normal ups and downs of life get in our way. Sacred space provides the energy and perspective we need to fuel our passions and give us a special appreciation for life. It is very hard to attain this energy and perspective through the normal pace of our busy lives without time out. 

When I first began this process, I found it very scary because transforming ourselves creates discomfort. Deviating from my normal routine and habits made me uncomfortable. Procrastination often felt more comfortable. However, when I pushed passed the discomfort, and the fear that I was "wasting" time, and began making a daily commitment to creating time and space for myself everyday, I began to notice a lot more joy and calm in my life.

How can you create sacred space in your day? It will look different for everyone. Some find it at their place of worship. Many of my clients have set up a special spot in their bedroom or living area with a comfortable chair, surrounded it with pens and pretty paper journals, a special scented candle, a pretty tea cup and some special dark chocolate and relaxing music. They try to spend 20 minutes there in the evening before getting ready for bed. Others take the dog for a walk outside, listen to their favorite tunes and appreciate nature. Others find it at the gym or in the yoga studio. I often suggest that clients find a special recipe they have been wanting to try, take some time to shop for the ingredients, schedule time on the weekend to pour themselves some wine and enjoy the cooking process when they are not rushed to get dinner on the table. 

Recently I spent a week visiting with my mother in New York. I grew up by this beautiful bay by our home, but I  did not take advantage of its beauty by visiting it and appreciating it as much as I could have when I was younger. On the morning of September 11, while I was visiting Mom, I ran along the bay in an effort to create some sacred space and snapped this photo. I took a moment to pause and think about the lives that were lost on September 11 as well as the lives of those  people who I have loved and lost. This is what creating sacred space does for us, it takes us out of the minutiae of our day to day problems and lets us see the bigger picture of life. My whole run only took about 20 minutes, but the perspective it gave me transformed my entire day, and gave me a deep sense of appreciation for the life I have and the people I am blessed to have in it.

Let's get together in a sacred space and discuss how you can create time for yourself everyday despite your busy schedule. EMAIL ME and lets find a time to get together to talk. Visit my WEBSITE to see how working with a Health Coach can help you improve your energy, reduce your stress and create vibrant Harmonious Health in your life and for your family.

Harmoniously yours,

Suzy Harmon

Health and Wellness Coach

Harmonious Health

Creating Sacred Space on an early morning walk

As my Facebook news feed fills with first day of school photos with freshly cut bangs, college dorm rooms with new comforters and matching pillows with scripted initials hanging overhead, sorority girls wearing matching clothing doing I don't know what (never joined a sorority, but that's another post), cars loaded with college gear, and for my East Coast friends photos of kiddos returning from summer sleep-away camp..I can't help but think back to a year ago today. Moving my middle son into college (even making his bed), for his Freshman year, driving my then 10th grader back and forth to band camp practice, and wondering about my college senior's future.

What a difference a year makes. My now 11th grader, wakes herself up and drives to band camp as I roll over in bed.  My now sophomore son loaded up his car, drove himself to college and has hopefully unpacked, and my college graduate now lives in Washington DC, employed and paying his own rent. A year ago I could not have even imagined!

What seemed so challenging and emotional last year, does not even seem like it should have been a hurdle this year.  I have noticed this same sentiment among the clients I have worked with this past year.  A client who a year ago could not imagine going gluten-free is now bragging to me about all the yummy quinoa recipes she is preparing. My " I am too tired to exercise" client is now out after work walking the dog or doing yoga moves in the morning before work.

What seems foreign to us seems hard.  What is not a part of our usual routine and pattern is outside of our comfort zone, and this unknown...its SCARY! When I left my son at school last year I had to adjust to a "new normal", and with each passing day the newness and emptiness I felt became my "new normal" and it became easier. The same is true with new health habits.

The more you add drinking water to your routine the less you will have to remind yourself to drink it.  The more you take time out of your day for self-care the more you will become aware that you are a bit "off" when you skip it.

I am writing this post as I sit here at the Dallas County Courthouse serving jury duty. We are blessed in this country to have the freedoms and judicial system we have. We are free to choose how we worship, where we send our children to school, what we choose as our career, what and how we eat, and how we take care of ourselves. I encourage us to appreciate these freedoms, and while it may be scary at times to embrace the changes we want to make in our lives, we must do so with gratitude and trust in our ability to navigate these new roads.

To learn more about my health coaching email harmonioushealth@sbcglobal.net or visit my website

Fondly,
Suzy



Photo from my most recent "change embracing" climb up these rocks in Utah on the Iron Canyon hiking trail!!

Are you struggling to lose those stubborn pounds?

As I close in on my first year working as a health coach, I have noticed many reasons why women are choosing to work with me to improve their health and well-being, but weight loss always seems to be a big factor.   I often hear women say, “at my age I just cannot lose weight anymore”, “my body is different than 10 years ago and now I can’t eat certain foods”, “I just have to accept this weight I am at, and I can’t do anything about it”  

While I believe as we age our body’s requirements do change and that we should accept our body types and love ourselves at every weight; I strongly believe that all women can drop unwanted pounds and gain more self-confidence and energy by incorporating many of these tips I share in my Health Coaching Program. Here are just 4 that I share with all of my clients

1) Are you drinking enough water? 

Often your body is dehydrated but the signals are similar to hunger signals. Try drinking a tall glass of water and wait 20 minutes. If you are still feeling hungry than it probably is real hunger not thirst. If you are not drinking enough water, your kidneys are not functioning optimally and your liver is working hard which stresses your liver and stops it  from metabolizing fat as quickly and efficiently as it should. As a result, your metabolism slows down to conserve water, which causes you to retain weight. Try increasing your water intake and see if this helps your weight loss efforts.

2) Are you getting enough sleep? When you sleep your body regulates 2 hormones, leptin and ghrelin that impact weight loss. Ghrelin increases your appetite and leptin signals to your brain that you are full. Without enough sleep, ghrelin levels rise and leptin levels fall. Can you see the disaster that is created without enough sleep…your hormones will increase your appetite and decrease your body’s ability to signal to your brain that you are full. Try getting 7-9 hours of sleep in order to help balance these important hormones which can sabotage your weight loss efforts.

3) Are you eating mindlessly? Mindless eating done standing at a table, while driving, or staring at a TV screen can cause you not to pay attention to your true hunger levels. Try to eat in a relaxed setting whenever possible, and focus your attention on the food and your body. Chew slowly and notice your pace. I often give my clients chopsticks to train themselves to slow down while they eat. Think about where you food came from, and be grateful for it. This simple act of being mindful and grateful can help satisfy you longer and prevent you from overeating.

4) Do you have an accountability partner? Often when women are struggling in their weight loss efforts it is because they do not have a friend or spouse who is there to encourage & support the healthy changes they are trying to implement. Seek out support from friends who share your desire to be healthy, educate your family on why you desire to be healthy, and educate yourself on what is right for your individual body type. Hiring a health coach who can guide you, motivate you and hold you accountable while you begin to make gradual changes can be just the tool you need to help you sift through all the confusing and conflicting information out there. A health coach is trained to create the perfect solution for you, as our motto is, there is no one way of eating that works for everyone, we are all unique and our bodies all have different needs.

For more tips on losing those stubborn pounds visit my website.
Interested in getting more support? Let’s get together for an initial Health History Consultation and talk about your goals and what is standing in your way,email Suzy

Why do we procrastinate when it comes to our health?

Since becoming a Health Coach, I have noticed the following 5 reasons why most people delay taking steps toward improving their health. Do any of these resonate with you? Sometimes just understanding what is standing in your way will help you begin to take action.

1) " I DON'T HAVE THE NECESSARY SKILLS AND TOOLS TO BE HEALTHY"
When people do not feel that they have the ability to perform tasks related to their health, such as lack of recipes, inability to understand food labels, which diet is best for me, they often avoid taking charge of their health because they feel overwhelmed by a lack of skills. Often hiring a professional, like a health coach can help you solve your "skills" problem.

2) "IT'S BORING"
When you are not interested in reading health books, surfing the web for recipes, exercising, one solution is to procrastinate and just not do it. But a solution might be to "just do it" so you have more guilt-free time.

3) "I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT"
People procrastinate and think something is wrong with them if they are not motivated to begin a task. Believing you have to feel motivated to begin a task has the order reversed. Starting the task is the motivator. Sometimes just taking the first step, no matter how small will serve as the motivator to take future action.

4) "FEAR OF FAILURE"
If I really try and fail that is worse than if I don't try at all. Oftentimes the fear of failure is based on perfectionism. Sometimes unrealistic standards are the problem.

5) "FEAR OF SUCCESS"
Sometimes procrastination is because you are fearful of the consequences of your achievement. If you do well, maybe more will then be expected of you.

Based on information from the Oregon State University Success Center

Finding Peace with your Food

Are you feeling stressed, rushed, or scattered as if you are being pulled in too many directions. Are there too many demands on your time?  I hear from so many of my clients that they do not have the "time" to cook and plan their meals because they are so busy, and sometimes they can't even stop to find time for lunch until late in the day.

What I have learned through my own experiences, and from working with clients who are successful, is that prioritizing time to shop, prep and cook your food will actually ground you in a way that will help you feel centered and calm. Learning to embrace and schedule the time needed to prepare your meals for the week renews you, and makes you feel in control of your life and your choices. It actually give you more focus to prioritize all of the demands on your time. Clients tell me that taking out the time to meal plan, cook and enjoy the process as well as their food, surprisingly has given them more time to do the things they need to accomplish. Perhaps this is a result of being more in tune with nature, having better energy, and trusting yourself and your intuition more.

Here are some ways to help you slow down, and enjoy your mealtimes, especially during the busy workday during lunch.  At your next meal see if you can chew each mouthful of food 100 times per bite. Maybe try 50, or 20. If you become more aware of each bite, and practice chewing with intention, you will notice that you feel fuller faster and your food will taste better.  Encourage your friends and family to chew as well. The more you chew, the easier your digestion will be. This is due to the fact that saliva contains digestive enzymes, so the longer you chew,  the more time these enzymes have to start breaking down your food, making it easier on your stomach and small intestine.  Another tip, try eating with chopsticks to help you slow down, relax and enjoy your meal.

I leave you with this quote from Michio Kushi, a macrobiotic educator and natural food pioneer, from
his book "One Peaceful World"...

       " Peace begins in the kitchen and pantries, gardens and backyards, where food is grown and prepared. The energies of nature and the infinite universe are absorbed through the foods we eat and are transmuted into our thoughts and actions"

Fondly, Suzy

Peaceful Tips for Abundant Body and Mind Health

Do you know those people who are always on the move? Rushing off to their next appointment, cell phone at their ear or between their thumbs? They don’t see the beginning of a new season or the smile of the cute baby in the stroller at the red light. I know because, I used to be one of them.  I used to live my life with the false belief that if I had a full schedule, with a “don’t stop, don’t relax” attitude I was somehow living a more virtuous life than all those “lazy, relaxed types”. Then a year ago, after realizing I needed a more peaceful approach, I enrolled at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and many of my unhealthy beliefs shifted. The healthy, calm lifestyle changes I have implemented since graduating as a Health Coach, have allowed me to live a much more harmonious life, ironically allowing for more productivity, and best of all giving me a true sense of purpose every day.

For some of you doubters out there, who are about to stop reading, (I know, this is where I used to put down the article and convince myself I was wasting time and had more important things to address) …read on.

Our bodies and our minds are complex systems that require downtime for maintenance, tune-ups and recharge.  Like any complex piece of equipment if it is “powered on high” all of the time without a reboot, it will eventually slow down and start to wear down leading to a system failure. Try this simple advice I created, and share with my clients, using the acronym P-E-A-C-E to prevent a system failure in your body and mind.

P – PRACTICE STILLNESS – Find time every day to be still. Some call it meditating, journaling, stretching…whatever you call it, just allow your body and mind to be still for a few minutes every day. I like to do it early in the morning, but anytime will work as long as you can be relatively free from noise and interruptions. Close your eyes, quiet your thoughts and be appreciative; or journal your thoughts and worries on paper in order to quiet your mind, or stretch and appreciate your body.  Over time your practice of stillness will become easier and you will develop a deep sense of gratitude.

E- EAT MINDFULLY – you are not saving time if you quickly inhale your lunch to jump right back into work. You will only be left feeling unsatisfied one hour later, searching frantically for something to refuel yourself. Pay attention to what and how you are eating. When you take the time to chew your food slowly you will begin to notice that your food not only tastes better, but it leaves you feeling fuller and satisfied longer.  This also helps with digestion, because your body does not have to work so hard, which in turn gives you more energy to do the things you love to do.

A-AIR – Breathe in fresh air, you will be surprised how great you feel. I used to laugh at this, until I got called out in my Pilates class for not breathing properly. Try to get outdoors everyday if you can and breathe in the fresh outdoor air.  Deep breathing helps your mind and body relax by releasing tension, it helps rid your body of toxins and helps with the digestion of your food by massaging your internal organs.  Try this about five times, breathe in for 4, hold the breath for 7 and exhale for 8. Notice the calm and peacefulness you feel.

 C-Chose Consciously – Pay close attention to the food choices you are making and be grateful for your food. Thinking about the source from where it came, who grew it, is it in season? This appreciation for your food helps foster a feeling of gratitude that will divert your attention from your current stress, allowing you to put it aside for a few moments while you enjoy your meal.

E-Engage Others – a strong predictor of longevity is the health of the people you hang out with. Seek out positive people who enjoy hobbies your love, schedule time with them.  Find an active accountability partner to reinforce your good intentions. Be a leader among your friends and family, model happy healthy behaviors so you will all be around for many years to enjoy one another.

Important Messages Your Digestive System is Sending You About Your Health

Do you want to feel more confident with the food choices you make? Do you want more energy and clearer thinking? Do you want to walk into your closet knowing you can wear anything and it will look and feel great?

We need to create time to take care of our health, the time will not just appear. I am motivated to help people whenever they call me after receiving a scary diagnosis from their doctor, wanting to improve their health habits. I always wish people could be motivated to make changes before they receive a diagnosis. It seems many of us run on auto-pilot, not paying attention to signs our body is giving us that something is not right.

Clients are often shocked when I tell them that a healthy digestive system should include 1-3 bowel movements a day. A poor digestive system is an indication that something is not right in your body and can lead to lower immunity, inflammation and a host of chronic illnesses. If you are experiencing recurring bloating, constipation, reflux, gas these are all signs that your digestive system may need help.

I have a 4-part System that takes busy men & women struggling to eat well and manage stress to find simple strategies and habits that allow them to feel great and accomplish more in their lives in six months. My clients experience improved energy levels, leading to more productivity at work, time to socialize with friends and family, and pursue their passions.

As a Health Coach I am on my client's side providing them with support, walking them through their problems and toward their goals. To learn more about working with me, sign up for a complimentary health consultation where we can meet in person or on the phone. My coaching program will give you results in a way you can manage and not feel overwhelmed. Visit my website and contact me here or call me at 214-293-7768.

Harmoniously yours,
Suzy

Keeping Your Computer Healthy Will Help Your Health

Recently when my email was hacked, (and apologies to any of you who were affected), I realized that not taking care of the security of your computer will wreak havoc on your stress levels when you encounter trouble. My phone rang non-stop that day with wonderful friends concerned about my trip to the Ukraine, the trouble I was in, and asking if they could help. Realizing the stress this caused to myself and those recipients of the hacked email, and in an effort to find as many ways as possible to live healthy and reduce stress I wanted to try to help others avoid this situation. A huge shout out to the awesome tech guys over at HBR Technologies and CEO Jeff Romick for helping clean up my computer. Jeff was kind enough to put these quick security tips together for my Harmonious Health followers: 

1) Don't have one password for everything. The password on your phone is easy for someone to watch you enter so it should not be used for banking or home alarms.

2) Passwords should be 8 or more characters that include letters, numbers and a special character, i.e.  %, *,..The password should not include names or pet names. Change your passwords quarterly.

3) If you receive an email request from an unknown source, do not click on anything inside the message. If you wish to unsubscribe from future emails, respond with "unsubscribe" in the subject. Make sure you remove your signature information before sending. 

4) Make sure you have active and updated anti-virus and anti-malware software on your devices.

5) Do not use public computers or wireless connectivity when accessing accounts or using passwords. If you can avoid them completely, even better. 

6) Do not leave your phone or computer unattended in public places. Make sure you lock the screen if you walk away and that a password is required to login.

7) Do not put account numbers and passwords in your phone.

8) Do not list your home address as your Home on your GPS.

9) Predators look for the easiest, weakest targets; don't help them hurt you.

What I Learned from Running my 5 Day Detox Group and Participating in My Feel Great Program

I struggled with the title of this blog post. The alternative title was going to be "My New Found Appreciation for My Husband's Career as An Advertising Executive". Here is why......

If you look up Detox in the dictionary it is defined as a process or period of time in which one abstains from or rids the body of toxic or unhealthy substances.

Now that I have graduated from my Health Coaching Course,  I am on lists with various other health coaches and I am constantly inundated with the latest "Detox" Diets that fellow Coaches are running. In addition, now that it is January and everyone is trying to stick to their resolutions, everywhere I turn I seem to see an offer for a Detox, 7 day Detox, 28 day Detox just choose your number!

So I was particularly intrigued, when a friend of mine recently posted an article on Facebook saying that you can not Detox your body and that it is a myth. In Nutrition School I studied over 100 different dietary theories, and learned about toxins in our world, and how simple dietary and lifestyle changes can improve your health and happiness.

The article states "the idea that you can flush your system of impurities and leave your organs squeaky clean and raring to go – is a scam. It’s a pseudo-medical concept designed to sell you things.There are two types of detox: one is respectable and the other isn’t.” The respectable one, the article says,"is the medical treatment of people with life-threatening drug addictions. The other is the word being hijacked by entrepreneurs, quacks and charlatans to sell a bogus treatment that allegedly detoxifies your body of toxins you’re supposed to have accumulated.”

At first I was horrified to see this article. I had just graduated from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and I had just run a 5 Day "Detox" with a group of women. Was I marketing a scam to these women? That's impossible, everyone in my group started to feel good, was back in the kitchen cooking and at the grocery store shopping, starting to feel healthier, energized, and inspired, not to mention the dropped pounds as their body's began returning to their more natural weight.  Of course I was not marketing a scam, and I should have realized, its all in the name. But as a new business entrepreneur, with a background in accounting not marketing, and not used to running my own business, I was just trying to call it what I was seeing in the media,  A Detox Diet. I should have better understood that the name was confusing to many, and created skepticism with some, when someone emailed with interest in joining our group, but mentioned that she worked full time and was worried that she would constantly be running to the restroom if she did the "Detox" during a workweek. 

Of course when you change your dietary habits, your digestive system readjusts, and yes for some people their elimination habits may be altered for a period of time while their body adjusts. And yes, some people call this "Detox". I now prefer to refer to this process as "healing your body though diet and eliminating digestive distress, and creating healthy strategies for dealing with the stress in your life." I also have a much deeper understanding about the challenges advertisers go through on a weekly basis, and the value of good advertising and the potential confusion that advertising can create.

So, I have since learned from my mistake, and I renamed my program the "Feel Great Program".  Detox is "sexy" and people want to buy it. People are looking for a "quick fix". My program is NOT a quick fix. So let me be very clear, if you are looking for a fast solution to losing weight, improving your health, and creating permanent change, I am NOT your girl. While I do offer abbreviated versions of my 6 month program, like the 5 day group I recently ran; which will give you a "taste" of what it will be like to work with me, I truly believe that it takes about 3 months for people to develop new habits, and an additional 3 months to understand the obstacles one will face and support my clients in fine-tuning their new habits. That is why I believe the 6 month program works.

While I might suggest you drink water with lemons, or apple cider vinegar to increase the alkalinity in your system, I would never put people on a liquid cleanse detox or a juice cleanse. While I might suggest that you add some "superfood" greens into your diet, I do not believe that there are miracle "superfoods" that you should eat or drink all day everyday that will solve all your problems. I don't think drinking a daily green juice will fix your life, but  depending on what I learn when we sit together or work remotely, and discuss your health history, I might suggest drinking one now and then. 

Before I began my "Feel Great Program" I used myself as a guinea pig and journaled what I was noticing and how I was feeling as I put myself on it.  While it is true that everybody is unique and not everyone will react exactly the same way to every diet and lifestyle plan, I can promise you that following my program will give you the following:

   - keep your energy level more consistent and eliminate that midday slump where people often are tempted to re-energize using caffeine, sugar or other processed junk food.

   - Improve your overall mood, ability to stay focused, calm and level-headed through improved nutrition, wellness routines and improved sleep. 

   - by eating a wide variety of whole foods, and spices that I incorporate in the "Feel Great Diet" you will be amazed at how your cravings will begin to diminish. I am not saying you will never crave chips or cookies ever again, but incorporating more tastes into your diet will provide you with more feelings of satisfaction when you eat, and help control your cravings.

- help you to learn what triggers you to make poor food choices, and understand that this is not a sign of weakness but your attempt to make your body feel better. This will in turn help you to become more patient with yourself and love yourself more.

- help you to learn about mindfulness and its connection to poor eating habits, so that you begin to actually want to do things like meditate, journal,or stretch because you actually feel and notice how it affects your food choices.

- your body will naturally begin to get to the perfect weight for you, where you feel comfortable, energetic and healthy. Not an ideal weight as defined by society, but an ideal weight for your particular body.

- after just a few weeks on my "Feel Great Program" you will start to see that you are becoming more aware of how your body feels, and you will really begin to understand the importance of defining your goals so that you live a more fulfilling and satisfying life and fulfill your true potential.

So while I don't have any magic pills, powders, tinctures, or colonic irrigations, and my program doesn't have a sexy "Detox" name promising results in some unrealistic amount of time like 10 or 30 days, I do have a program that will make you "Feel Great". When you stop to think about it, isn't that we are all really searching for? To look and feel great, and live a "HARMONIOUSLY HEALTHY" life.

To learn more about my One-on-One Coaching Program, my group Programs, my Workshops, opportunities for Physicians and other medical professionals to partner with me, to hire me to speak at your group or organization, or to have a Complimentary Break-through session to learn more about how I can assist you with your health needs visit my website or email me at Harmonioushealth@sbcglobal.net

With gratitude from this realistic and painfully honest marketer...
Suzy