Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Peace on Earth: Abundance vs Scarcity

This morning on Christmas Eve, I find myself in a familiar pattern that I've recognized for decades. The worry of,
"Am I giving enough? Do I have enough gifts for family and loved ones? Have I done enough?" 
Many years I've stressed myself worrying about the gift giving, the holiday cards, having a hostess gift for every invitation, and often feeling like I've fallen short.

Some years I feel really good about myself that I've been able to do it all. Some years I beat myself up because I didn't do the Christmas card, I didn't buy the Christmas tree,  I didn't decorate... Some years I'm proud that I chose to prioritize myself and say, "Nope I just can't do it...it's all too much."

Do you also find yourself judging yourself based on what you do, rather than who you are?

When is it too much, and when is it not enough? I've struggled with this; and I ask myself why? Why do I go to bed with a migraine because I've burnt the candle at both ends? Working and also doing all the planning, the shopping, the wrapping the gifts, the cooking, the cleaning...is it all due to the innate fear of not being enough?

I've suffered from hypertension. I don't look like a woman with hypertension. I'm not overweight. I'm not obese. I live a fabulous life. I love my husband and family. I love my job. I love my clients. I live in an older but beautiful home. (Yes, it needs a lot of work and I can choose to beat myself up over it, or I can be content with what I have.)

When is enough, enough? When can we stop beating ourselves up and start really saying it's enough? We're enough. We have enough. We are enough.

Deepak Chopra says, the fastest way to a heart attack is thinking, "There's never enough time." This has been my mantra for decades.  It's really a cultural social norm in the Washington DC area. The common conversation goes like this,
"How are you?" 
"Oh, I'm sooooo busy!"
Like this is a badge of honor and a measure of importance. Many, once retired can struggle with this. "If I'm not so busy, am I therefore not so important?" We sometimes build up some grandiose notion that the world could not go on without us...without our busyness...without the roles we play, without our jobs. The reality is, when someone drops dead of a heart attack, the world does go on. Albeit not without being missed and mourned, but life does go on.

What is the meaning of life for you? What is the meaning of success? How will you find your own peace on earth?  

Maybe it starts with a new mantra.
Maybe it's a mantra of abundance versus scarcity.
Maybe it's a mantra that I am enough,  I have enough,  and there is enough for all.

Right now all we can do is be responsible for our own health and wellbeing, in the hopes that giving ourselves this permission will give our loved ones permission to do the same.

What might this world look like if a billion men and women stood up and said,
"We're content, there is enough, let there be peace on earth.  Amen." 

When you are stressed for time, stop, take a deep breath, and tell yourself, "There is enough time. I am enough." Then return to the task at hand, knowing that you are doing your best and feeling content with that. You just might find that peace brings more wellbeing and productivity.

Wishing you love, compassion and feelings of peace on earth this holiday season.

Lisa

PS
Next post, I will invite you to consider several ways to give yourself the gift of health in the new year.

Friday, December 13, 2019

Is Friday the 13th your lucky Day? Last day to get Holiday Discounts

My daughter Margo has always been somewhat of a renegade...the challenger. If we want personal transformation, we need a challenger. So it is fitting that Friday the 13th would be her favorite day. Her lucky day. She will challenge the odds.  If you want to take the quantum leap in your personal or professional life, then you have to challenge the odds.

I'm in Mexico on vacation with my husband. (I know who takes vacation right before the busiest time of the year?!) Who takes vacation right before I'm about to launch my quantum leap into a new platform and offering for you? Well, sometimes you have to take a break before you make the leap. Sometimes that break can be messy, we forget things, we fall down, we have setbacks that delay our execution.  But face it, that's how we learn. We learn from our mistakes, our failures and our setbacks. I just finished rereading a book called, You2, A High Velocity Formula for Multiplying your Personal Effectiveness in Quantum Leaps.  It's a great reminder for me how our vision
and our actions determine our destiny. The most powerful thing we have is choice. How we exercise that choice in the 1404 minutes we have each day will either move us toward greater ease or dis-ease.

We are at an all inclusive resort. I can choose the fresh vegetables and fruit here or plenty of sugar and alcohol. I can choose to fry my skin or use a sunscreen and skin care that will not damage myself or the environment. I can choose to relax and read or beat myself up for the god-zillion little things on my to do list that I am not doing. I can choose ease or dis-ease.

Today Friday the 13th is the last day for a Flash Sale for safer beauty on Holiday Specials. I'm sorry, but I chose to keep this a secret until today, so if you are wanting to get 20% off you need to choose to act now! It will ship Monday which is the last day for ground shipping to arrive before Christmas.


Is Today your Lucky Day? What choices will you make today to ensure ease? Would love to hear from you.

Carpe Diem,

Lisa

About Lisa Jackson, RN, CHC, RYT-500, AFMC

Lisa is an author, functional nutrition, and functional medicine trained health coach, yoga teacher, and retired Registered Nurse with the mission to "Inspire, Educate and Empower" individuals and corporations to achieve optimal health.

Lisa's book, Savvy Secrets: Eat, Think & Thrive is a self-health book offering her Seven Steps to Optimal Health.

When she is not coaching, or speaking, you can find Lisa joyfully sharing Carpe Diem Dance or playing with her two grandchildren. She is the mother of four adult children and believes, "Optimal health should not be a secret."

Lisa is founder & co-founder of Carpe Diem Wellness and Wellness Empowered U

Friday, November 29, 2019

Why bone broth is the best deal of the year. Get yours today at Black Friday discounts


Every culture has their version of chicken soup. It is indeed good for the soul. After Thanksgiving, the best thing you can do is to take the Turkey carcass and bones, put it in a crock pot (or an instapot), add onions, garlic, carrots, parsley or cilantro, an ounce of apple cider vinegar, and water and let simmer for 24 hours (or 2 hours in an instapot). For those on a paleo diet, you are well aware that we used to eat the whole animal. If you are eating the standard American diet (SAD) of boneless, skinless chicken. Boy are you missing out!

Yesterday, my daughters cooked a 26 pound organic free range turkey yesterday, enough for 2 crockpots of bones for bone broth soup. This morning everyone was clamoring for a mug of bone broth soup. This is especially important during the holiday season.

Do you ever wonder why so many athletes in one family may have joint issues? The first question I would ask, are they eating enough collagen and bone broth? Bone broth contains collagen which provides amino acids, the building block of proteins.  Is is also rich in iron (for energy), vitamins A and K (so important for the gastrointestinal lining), zinc and selenium which are imperative for the thyroid gland and hormone regulation, and other minerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorous and manganese as well as very absorbable trace minerals.

According to Medical News Today, a 2017 review suggests that gelatin supplementation increases collagen in the tissues which may help protect joints from unnecessary stress. In addition to being highly nutritious it may:
  • Reduce inflammation and heal the gut.
  • Help fight osteoarthritis
  • Support sleep as it’s a good source of glycine
  • Support weight loss and add more protein to the diet

So making bone broth seems overwhelming? No worries. TODAY through December 2nd you can order it online for up to 30% off.  Plus Kettle & Fire has different varieties to give you diversity. 
As you’ve heard me say, diversity in the diet is a number one thing you can do for cancer prevention and optimal health. Bone broth is also a great healthy aging strategy as it is GREAT for the skin too!

Bon Appetite!

Lisa

About Lisa Jackson, RN, CHC, RYT-500, FDN-P, AFMC

Lisa is an author, functional nutrition and functional medicine trained health coach, yoga teacher, and retired Registered Nurse with the mission to "Inspire, Educate and Empower" individuals and corporations to achieve optimal health.

Lisa's book, Savvy Secrets: Eat, Think & Thrive is a self-health book offering her Seven Steps to Optimal Health.

When she is not coaching, or speaking, you can find Lisa joyfully sharing Carpe Diem Dance or playing with her two grandchildren. She is the mother of four adult children and believes, "Optimal health should not be a secret."


Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Healthy Holiday Recipes and Wishes

I'm so thankful for you and your interest in optimal health. Here are a few quick easy recipes you may want to enjoy throughout the holidays. We will be serving these desserts for Monday's open house so come and get a taste!

Cranberry & Pomegranate Chia Pudding              

INGREDIENTS
* 2 1/2 cups of Coconut milk
* 1 cup of cranberries raw
* 1 cup pomegranate seeds or from one pomegranate
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* ¼ cup of honey
* ½  cup of chia seeds

DIRECTIONS

1.   In food processor add all ingredients except pomegranate seeds and process till smooth.

2.   Cut open pomegranate and squeeze out liquid and seeds, being careful to discard the fibrous pith.

3.   Add to the mixture and stir, let sit ~ 10 minutes and stir again, then refrigerate. May stir again before serving.

Beautiful and delicious holiday dish! You can use any fruit to sweeten and color. Add pumpkin and cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and cardamom for a different twist.


Fresh Raw Cranberry Sauce    

INGREDIENTS
  2 Cups Fresh Cranberries
  1 Apple, cored and quartered
  1 Orange, peeled, seeded, quartered (zest saved)

  1 Tsp orange zest
  1 Cup dates, pitted

In a food processor, process cranberries, apple, orange, orange zest and dates only until blended, but chunky.

Why would you ever open a can of cranberry sauce again?



Raw Pumpkin Pie

Adapted from Luzy in the Raw
Yield: 8 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS
Crust:

  1 Cup Dates

  2 Cups Pecans (soaked overnight)

  Pinch Salt

  The Pecans should be soaked overnight and the dates soaked for 20 minutes. Combine in food processor and pulse until mixed evenly. Press into a glass pie plate.

Filling:

  2 cups pumpkin meat, peeled, seeded, chopped

  1 Cup Dates

  1/2 Cup Almond Butter

  2 tsp cinnamon

  1/4 tsp Cardamon

  1/2 tsp cloves

  1 tsp Ginger root, grated, fresh

  1/2 tsp nutmeg

  The dates should be soaked for 20 minutes. Combine all ingredients in a food processor and puree. Spoon filling into crust and serve. Refrigerate to get a firmer pie.

Cashew Cream
Decadently Delicious! Use for lattes, in place of whipped cream or ferment and use in place of sweet cream cheese.

  1 cup of raw cashews soaked and drained*
  1 Tablespoon of maple syrup or coconut nectar or
stevia to taste
  1/4 - 1/2 cup of filtered water to desired consistency
  pinch of sea salt

Place raw cashews and sweetener in a high-speed blender, start with 1/4 cup of water and blend until smooth and slowly add more water until desired consistency.

*Cashews should be soaked for 2-4 hours and if you are like me and forget, you can soak them in hot water for ~15 minutes. For lower glycemic load replace maple syrup with coconut nectar or stevia. I personally do not like the taste of stevia as well but it is great for diabetics and those needing low carb and watching insulin levels.

Whatever you do, please spend some time thinking about what and who you are grateful for. What we focus on is what we will get more of. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lisa

PS What's your favorite holiday recipes? 

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Don't miss out, we saved some of the best for last!

Today is the LAST DAY to attend the FREE online Healthy Aging Summit and it’s time to let us help you make a big impact on your life and live a healthy, active lifestyle with what you’ve learned over these 4 amazing days!

Today we have…
Dr. Vikram Raya, MD - How To Keep Your Ticker Ticking
Find out the lifesaving secrets you need to be aware of right now to help prevent your heart from becoming a ticking time bomb. We dive right into the heart of the matter and pull back the curtains on what roles diet and exercise play in regards to heart health and unmask the truth about cholesterol.
Dr. Clifford Gluck, MD - Men's Sexual Health Unmasked: Solutions and Prevention
The forbidden presentation on men's sexual health; a topic all men shrink away from. In this expert expose our professional shares cutting edge treatments specifically to help men's sexual wellness. Take a peek at this program and get your vitality back.
Dr. Jonathan Stegall, MD - Cancer! How To Prevent Or Beat It
Cancer is a six letter word, not a death sentence! In this session we tackle the tough questions on treatment and prevention. Discover how you can fight family history, what to do beyond chemo and radiation, as well as what dietary changes to make on your journey back to health.
Dr. Mona Morstein, ND - Reverse Diabetes? New Evidence
What if we told you diabetes can be reversed? Seriously, check out this breakthrough approach to blood sugar management that is virtually guaranteed to help reduce and regulate blood sugar numbers.
Dr. Lindsey Berkson, DC, CNS - Sexy Hormones Spark Healthy Aging
Learn about how a hormone no one is talking about can help you live a better, younger, older age.  Welcome to the hormone masterclass deep dive that can radically change your health!
Dr. Aimee Shunney, ND - CBD Exposed: Is It Really Safe And Effective?
Caveat emptor; let the buyer beware! In this discussion we dive into the misunderstood world of CBD oil and how it differs from marijuana. We spell out the pros and cons to reveal the known benefits and teach you how to determine the “good stuff” from the bunk junk being sold strictly for profit.
Dr. Garland Glenn, DC, PScD - Do You Have Early Alzheimer's Or Dementia?  The Truth May Shock You!
Learn how to identify the early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Find out how to clear the fog of forgetfulness and ways you can actually prevent and even reverse Alzhezeimer's. It doesn't have to happen to you!
Dr. Arland Hill, DC - Sustainable Energy To Keep You Vibrant and Active
Tired of being…tired? Want to feel like you did when you were 40…30, how about 25? Discover the bottomless “Energy Well,” that has always been at your disposal and learn how to tap into it whenever the need arises!
Tracey Vincel, PT - Is Your MOVEMENT HEALHTSPAN Equal To Your LIFESPAN?
Learn about common “wear and tear” movement dysfunctions that accompany aging and discover the specific movement techniques and exercise strategies to prevent early onset hip and knee osteoarthritis and low back pain. Today's minor aches don't have to become tomorrow's major pains!
Beth Templin, DPT - The 3 Keys To Staying Independent The Rest Of Your Life
Independence often comes at a premium; let us show you how to safeguard yours. We’ll explore the obstacles you are most likely to face, what kind of support you are most likely to need, as well as how to plan a path that will protect your independence until your passing.
Dr. Kevin Conners, DPSc - Your Genes Are Not Your Destiny
What the heck a SNP is and why do you need to know now before it's too late? Learn how to overcome you genetic predispositions so you don't become a victim of your genes.
Hugh Byrne - The Meditation Masterclass
Tap into the ancient technologies and techniques yogis use to maintain focus and a sense of self-centered calmness by mastering the art of meditation and mindfullness. Experience the amazing serenity of restoring tranquility and learn how to achieve it in just a few minutes per day.

You can click here now to access today’s presentations - while they’re still free.

Remember that if you missed any of our presentations from the Healthy Aging Summit or you already know that you’ll miss any or all of today, the good news is that you can still claim your VIP Access Pass and get the recordings, professional notes & bonuses now. 
Enjoy,

Lisa 

P.S. The free event for today WILL end at 9 am tomorrow morning, no exceptions! So, be sure you [click here] to attend today’s online event.
Or claim your VIP Access Pass here before life gets in the way and you miss out!

PS I had soooo much fun interviewing Dr. Lindsey Berkson. Let me know what you've learned for this summit!

Saturday, November 23, 2019

What you Eat, Think and Do... Matters!

My mission is to inspire, educate and empower you to feel and look your best at any age. When you feel good, there is a ripple effect to your loved ones and community. It's contagious.  I also believe that it takes a village. This is why I love collaboration and partnerships; from collaborating with you on your personal health, to supporting people that bring positive change to the world. So over the next several days, I'm going to be sharing with you just a few of my favorite people, products and services that may help you thrive through the holidays.

People. I'm partnering with Susan Brady, Physical Therapist, Doctor of Integrative Medicine and Certified Nutritionist to bring you an exclusive online membership program. (You will get a separate invitation soon.) You've already heard about the Healthy Aging Summit that she's spent the last year creating for you. You still have two days left to listen to it for free. My interview was the first day but I also interviewed Dr. Lindsey Berkson which you can hear tomorrow on Sunday if you register today. She's the author of 22 books of which I have three of them and they've been transformational for me and my husband. Please don't miss out on getting inspired and educated this weekend!


Susan and I also put together a video on our favorite holiday recipes. Email me if you don't have them or want them.

Products. If you've worked with me for any health issues from gut issues to autoimmune disease or cancer you know about the healing power of bone broth soup. I often say, "Good, Better, Best" as a goal.

Drinking bone broth soup is good to heal the gut and nourish your mind and body. Better is to buy organic bone broth from grass fed and finished beef. Best is to make (or have it made for you) with love infused. Kettle and Fire has the best organic grass fed bone broth that can be shipped to your home and a good price and it is on sale for the next several days. Stock up for your holiday soups and see all the wonderful flavors they have for you! Sip it like a tea 2-4 times a day to heal the gut and nourish your emotions through the season. I may do a whole post for you on the benefits of bone broth. If you or a loved one are going through chemotherapy then for sure drink bone broth to protect and rebuild the gut lining. Bone broth is great for joint pain or autoimmune issues too.

What good is it to drink bone broth soup, take supplements, and heal from within, if you are still putting crap on your skin? If you've taken my KickStart to Wellness Program, you know my mantra to Maximize, Minimize and Prioritize for optimal health.

If you listened to my interview on the Healthy Aging Summit, I said to think of the skin as a large mouth. What you put on your skin matters!

This summer while I was working on videos for our upcoming members and our daughters wedding, I realized that I needed some makeup and I found a line of hair care, skin care and makeup that I've fallen in love with. The company is a B corp. That means it puts people and the planet first, before profit in every decision it makes. The founder is passionate about changing the beauty industry to only including non toxic ingredients. Imagine that! Do you know that the word fragrance alone can have up to 3,000 chemicals included?

Many ingredients in the most expensive beauty products are carcinogenic or include heavy metals.

Lead is a common ingredient in lipstick. Who needs to be eating this? As I said in my talk for the Healthy Aging Summit, your skin care should be clean enough to eat.  So I'm super excited to tell you that starting this weekend, you can get BIG discounts to looking and feeling your best! These make amazing thoughtful gifts too! I am absolutely in love with their lipstick. It feels and looks good too. I bought the entire line so I can share with you at my Open House on December 2nd from 7-9 pm. But don't wait for then to order because this is a Clean Friday special only good until December 1st. They may offer a Cyber Monday deal but I'm not privy to that.  The company has committed to omitting  over 1500 toxic chemicals that are commonly found in beauty products. This is a company I want to support. Here's a link for more information and to shop. If you are local and want to stop by and see products, let me know that too. Or if you want me to come speak to a group about healthy living and the importance of what you eat, think and do I would love that too.

Services: Dianne Rhodes, Certified Hypnotist of Inner Horizons is offering  a Holiday Stress Buster Program which includes a hypnotherapy session (can be done online via Zoom) plus a digital recording. Email her dreamyourinnerhorizons@gmail.com

Rise Well-Being Center offers meditation, yoga, movement to music classes and workshops. This is a fantastic place to explore the inner world within you. They also have hosted some amazing workshops. Good to get on their mailing list. I will be teaching only 2 more Wednesday 7:30 am yoga for improvement classes in December and two more 10 am movement to music classes. First class is free to check it out.

Beloved Yoga Studio is where I received my 300 hour training and certification and where I continue to practice. There are classes for everyone here and a wide variety of offerings. It's called a sanctuary for all for a reason. View their video for more information.

Mom's Organic Market and Great Falls Farmers Market are two of my favorite places to shop for local organic food for my table.

I'm off to yoga now and then to do shopping for Thanksgiving dinner. Please know how grateful I am to have you on my email list and I hope to get to know you better in the New Year through our online membership program where you will have access to support from Susan and I as well as discounts on healthy products and services. More to follow...

Carpe Diem,

Lisa

PS
If you enjoy any of these resources, please feel free to share and pass along to friends and family!

About Lisa Jackson, RN, CHC, RYT-500, FDN-P, AFMC

Lisa is an author, functional nutrition and functional medicine trained health coach, yoga teacher, and retired Registered Nurse with the mission to "Inspire, Educate and Empower" individuals and corporations to achieve optimal health.

Lisa's book, Savvy Secrets: Eat, Think & Thrive is a self-health book offering her Seven Steps to Optimal Health.


When she is not coaching, or speaking, you can find Lisa joyfully sharing Carpe Diem Dance or playing with her two grandchildren. She is the mother of four adult children and believes, "Optimal health should not be a secret."

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Turning 60 Today

My twin sister and I turn 60 today.  A perfect blend of youth, maturity and wisdom per our T-Shirts! It seems like yesterday that we were celebrating our 50th and I was asking myself, "What do I want to be when I grow up?"

One thing I know for sure is that I want to inspire, educate and empower wellness. My friend and colleague Susan Brady and myself will be launching an online membership program next month so stay tuned for more information and a special invitation.  All spring and summer Susan has been interviewing 40 professionals for a Healthy Aging Summit that will be airing in October so stay tuned for that too. We have more fantastic things planned for the New Year and next spring too.

Time flies and some of us have more time than others. One of the things on my bucket list is to be able to help those in need of financial support who are unable to pay for what is really important for healing. Things like healthy organic food, coaching, nutritional support and integrative therapies that are not covered by insurance. To support friends like Babette Lamarre who has the courage and self compassion to prioritize her own healing to become another radical remission story. She is still on her healing journey and still in need of support. She's surpassed her initial minimum prognosis of 3 months and more importantly is feeling very well. She is an artist, just one of her many talents and has designed a self portrait with her inspirational story to sell as a way to raise money for her vaccine therapy. For my birthday present, I'd like to suggest a donation to Babette or purchase her artwork to support her journey.  Here is her story:



 Into the Light 
Hello my friend. I would like to introduce myself and tell you a little bit about this self-portrait. My name is Babette Lamarre, and I was diagnosed in October of 2018 with Stage Four Ovarian Cancer. I was given a three-month to three-year prognosis (considered generous). 
At the time of my diagnosis, I had been struggling financially and emotionally for a long time, both due to early life experiences and to hardships in my forties and fifties. Even though I had done a lot of “work” on myself and become stronger over the years, dark and entrenched thoughts still endured. At times things felt so difficult and without purpose that I wondered why go on. 
With my diagnosis, however, this all began to change. Cancer was a “get out of jail free” card for me, odd as that sounds. It gave me the opportunity to break free from stressful circumstances and emotionally toxic dynamics with people close to me, and with great good fortune, to move to a beautiful place across the country and begin healing my body, heart and soul. 
Now I think about life differently. I have developed the most in a spiritual way. Raised in an agnostic/ atheist setting, I never thought much about the big questions like why am I here? What is a soul? Is there a god? What is God? Is there life after death? Etc. Now I fully see that there is a higher power and I meditate/pray daily to stay connected. My heart is filled with happiness, love and joy, and this new light spills over. My relationships are better, and even my view of difficult events in my past has changed – I can see now that they were essential to my growth - and prepared me for what was ahead. I have come to understand that there is nothing random about life – that it unfolds exactly as it should for a higher purpose - which is often a mystery for years. My desire and ability to love and give to others are greater. I look forward to new passions and adventures. Things come more easily now. I am becoming who I really am and was always meant to be: laughing, loving, forgiving, blessing, enjoying the light, and giving myself completely to this wild ride we call life. 
This is all reflected in my self-portrait. The bottom left has dark squares in a gold matrix showing that there was order and beauty in me and my early life - but also darkness. As the viewer moves right and upwards (counterclockwise), there is disintegration into chaos, representing problems in my adult life. Starting at my chin (the year or two before and leading up to my diagnosis), the darkness begins to lighten up, and then color begins to appear, mostly in the form of flowers. The top third of the portrait is all about light, color, growth, and connection to the divine. A vine grows downward from the source of all life, and brings color to a dark past, essentially healing it. The good that was always there is clear now. 
It is ten months since my diagnosis and I’ve had a PET scan that shows my tumor activity has been cut in half. Many points of metastasis have disappeared. Only four of twelve visitors still need to be escorted out! I feel very well physically. I am blessed! 
Thank you for taking the time to read about me and for contributing to the funding of my continuing cancer treatment by purchasing a copy on canvas of my self-portrait (the original is a photo collage with textured paper and paint). You are helping me with expensive cancer vaccines and other therapies not covered by health insurance for my complete healing. 
Blessings to you and your loved ones. May we all continue towards the light! 
Babette – August 30, 2019 
blamarre2k@gmail.com 

If interested please contact babette directly blamarre2k@gmail.com

What is on your bucket list?

Carpe Diem,

Lisa

About Lisa Jackson, RN, CHC, RYT-500, FDN-P, AFMC

Lisa is an author, functional nutrition and functional medicine trained health coach, yoga teacher, and retired Registered Nurse with the mission to "Inspire, Educate and Empower" individuals and corporations to achieve optimal health.

Lisa's book, Savvy Secrets: Eat, Think & Thrive is a self-health book offering her Seven Steps to Optimal Health.

When she is not coaching, or speaking, you can find Lisa joyfully sharing Carpe Diem Dance or playing with her two grandchildren. She is the mother of four adult children and believes, "Optimal health should not be a secret."

Monday, September 2, 2019

Happy Labor Day


When you love what you do it can be hard to take a break. Some may say I’m obsessed with my work. I used to take pride in my workaholism, like a badge of honor or proof of my importance or that my business was doing so well. I just spent 10 days in Switzerland and France for our youngest daughter’s wedding and worked so hard before and afterwards to make time and space to completely unplug for this time.


What really hit home for me on return is how crazy this is. I witnessed what many do when on vacation, I got violently sick. First my husband, then myself. In this case, we caught a bug. Thank God I had taken my little apothecary with me of extra vitamins, electrolytes, magnesium threonate and probiotics. My husband missed his daughter’s rehearsal dinner but was able to rebound enough for the wedding.

The body responds to long term stress by secreting cortisol. Cortisol is a powerful hormone that has an anti-inflammatory affect and suppresses the immune system. I used to have so many patients at the cancer clinic tell me that they never got sick, until the cancer diagnosis. How might this happen? When you are telling your body that you have to constantly run for your life, everything else gets put on hold. This includes the immune system’s daily clean-up of viruses, bacteria and apoptosis, the death of cancer cells. Your self-loving, self-healing body is hard wired to prioritize survival over rest and digest, rest and repair, or mate and ovulate. When you finally do slow down to relax, then cortisol drops and the immune system can go on hyperdrive to quickly try to clean up before the next perceived crisis. This may result in flu like symptoms, headache, fatigue or upper respiratory infections.
Being uber busy also interferes with something equally important as our physical health. It often interferes with our time and communication with loved ones. Instead of quality time, we are reduced to text messages and voicemails. This can open up a Pandora’s box of opportunity for misunderstanding. This can lead to a generational impact. I’ve witnessed this as an older mother of four adult children and grandmother of two.

Labor Day is a good day to reflect. What are you accomplishing from the fruit of your labor? Are you on the right track? Are you caring for your own physical, emotional and mental well-being so that you can be the best for others? Optimal health is not complicated; however, this does not mean that it is always easy. Of the three steps that I teach in my coaching practice 1. Maximize, 2. Minimize and 3. Prioritize, prioritizing self is the most challenging for many.



Today after writing and yoga, I am taking time to go hangout with my twin sister and my Mother. What will you do to nourish all of you and your relationships today? Most of all will you seize the day? 

Carpe Diem,

Lisa


About Lisa Jackson, RN, CHC, RYT-500, FDN-P, AFMC

Lisa is an author, functional nutrition and functional medicine trained health coach, yoga teacher, and retired Registered Nurse with the mission to "Inspire, Educate and Empower" individuals and corporations to achieve optimal health.

Lisa's book, Savvy Secrets: Eat, Think & Thrive is a self-health book offering her Seven Steps to Optimal Health.


When she is not coaching, or speaking, you can find Lisa joyfully sharing Carpe Diem Dance or playing with her two grandchildren. She is the mother of four adult children and believes, "Optimal health should not be a secret."