Sunday Fun Day!

As a coach, my job is to hold sacred space for others. Today, I am reminded of the importance of holding space for ourselves.  My last blog post I spoke of the importance of vacations and how proud I was to have committed to goals of fitting in mini retreat and vacations for myself and my family.

This weekend I spent at Wanderlust and it has given me time for reflection, fun, beauty and connection.  I am reminded of the importance of community and support for all of us as we walk through life together.  No matter our diagnoses or labels, our challenges are the same...and so are the solutions.

My favorite solution, of course, is Step One as outlined in my book, Savvy Secrets, which is to Begin. Commit to self. Give yourself the same investment in time and money that you give to others.


Do you doubt the value of mini-retreats and vacations?  Then try this simple exercise.

Take a 12 oz can or better yet, your cell phone and hold it at arms length.  First notice how light it is.  Notice how the longer you hold it, the longer you work your muscles, the heavier it feels.Eventually, you will have to lower the arm and take a break. Rest, then pick up the phone again. Notice that its not so heavy, its easy to hold the load. You perform better when you schedule in time to rest and repair.

Do you want to move through life with ease and joy?  Make sure you schedule in mini-retreats.

This month only, we are offering you a deal that you cannot refuse, a chance to come to our New Self Health Movement Retreat and soak up the wisdom from 15 authors and coaches who have walked the walk. Come enjoy walks and yoga on the beach. Witness the lunar eclipse on the beach during our nighttime fire ceremony. (Only in September when I will be there, truly a once in a lifetime opportunity).  Enjoy local organic food and find savvy secrets and friendships to last a lifetime.

Reserve your spot now in June to get a phenomenal discount. Use the coupon code ID680 when you register here:

Who will join me for this memorable self retreat? Grab a buddy to make it even better. How can you schedule in mini breaks or retreats in your own life?  Begin a practice to give yourself 15 minutes to do something that you love. Do something that is yummy and nourishing. Walk in nature, meditate, dance and/or spend time with people that you love.

Carpe Diem.

With Love & Gratitude,

Lisa

What Makes a Life Well Lived? An invitation...

Thinking of my daughter, Dana and my brother-in-law, Dan who just passed, and the question, "What makes a life well lived?"

Last week my Dana took some amazing pictures and wrote about her recent trip to the Catskills and NYC. Those who knew Dan, knew how he loved his vacations to the beach. So for Memorial Day weekend I want to reflect on both and the power of vacation. Click here to read more

Ignorance is NOT Bliss!

Ignorance is not bliss, it’s often very painful and could lead to premature death.  Let me give you my own experience, both in health and finance.

You see, I like many type A Washingtonians, am a recovering “stress-a holic”.   Lately, I’ve relapsed…BIG TIME.  Went all the way baby…complete with a couple of trips to the Emergency Room, first time ever for me.  read more

Have you had your Vitamin D checked lately? More research on cancer prevention and possible treatment

This research (below) came across my desk today at the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, about the importance of Vitamin D for pancreatic cancer. Vitamin D formed from sunlight is a hormone with 200 biochemical actions and is useful for prevention and possible treatment of breast, prostate, thyroid, colon, melanoma, pancreatic, and lung cancers.

Over 95% of breast cancer patients are deficient; normalizing 25-OH D can help prevent cancer.  Adequate levels of Vitamin D also reduce the risk of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, fragility syndrome, heart disease, autoimmune disease and even acute infections such as colds and the flu.

Needless to say, all our patients need supplementation until levels are between 60-80 ng/ml. Everyone who lives in our region (between Oct and May) need supplementation as the sun is not strong enough to get the vitamin D that we need. I really like Thorne's liquid w K2 (which is essential to move calcium into bones). Magnesium is also essential and both are the most common mineral deficiencies.

Have you had your vitamin D checked lately? My Mother’s Day plan is to get lots of sun this weekend using coconut oil for a healthy tan!

Happy Mothers Day to you amazing women!

With Love & Gratitude,

Lisa

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine recently found that pancreatic cancer rates are highest in countries with the least amount of sunlight. These findings were published by Garland et al in The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

“If you’re living at a high latitude or in a place with a lot of heavy cloud cover, you can’t make vitamin D most of the year, which results in a higher-than-normal risk of getting pancreatic cancer,” said Cedric F. Garland, DrPH, Adjunct Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health and Member of UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center.

“People who live in sunny countries near the equator have only one-sixth of the age-adjusted incidence rate of pancreatic cancer as those who live far from it. The importance of sunlight deficiency strongly suggests—but does not prove—that vitamin D deficiency may contribute to risk of pancreatic cancer.”

Study Details

The UC San Diego team, led by Dr. Garland and Edward D. Gorham, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, had previously shown that sufficient levels of a metabolite of vitamin D, known as 25-hydroxyvitamin D, was associated with substantially lower risk of breast and colorectal cancer. Their newer research is the first to implicate vitamin D deficiency with pancreatic cancer.

Researchers studied data from 107 countries, taking into account international differences and possible confounders, such as alcohol consumption, obesity, and smoking. “While these other factors also contribute to risk, the strong inverse association with cloud-cover adjusted sunlight persisted even after they were accounted for,” said Dr. Garland. 

UC San Diego researchers had previously identified an association of high latitude with a higher risk of pancreatic cancer. Dr. Garland said the new study advances that finding, by showing that an estimate of solar ultraviolet B that has been adjusted for heavy cloud cover produces an even stronger prediction of risk of pancreatic cancer.

Vitamin D is often added as a fortifying nutrient to milk, cereals, and juices, and can be found naturally in food like fatty fish, beef liver, cheese, and egg yolks. But experts say most people also require additional vitamin D—specifically, ultraviolet B radiation—produced by the body by exposing skin directly to sunlight. Cloudy skies, shade, and dark-colored skin also reduce vitamin D production.

Pancreatic cancer is the 12th most common cancer in the world, according to World Cancer Research Fund International, with 338,000 new cases diagnosed annually. Incidence rates are highest in North America and Europe, and lowest in Africa and Asia.

This study was supported in part by the UC San Diego Department of Family Medicine and Public Health.

Raphael Cuomo, MPH, CPH, is the corresponding author for The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology article.

The content in this post has not been reviewed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc. (ASCO®) and does not necessarily reflect the ideas and opinions of ASCO®.

Are you ready to take a journey?

TAKE A JOURNEY TOWARD YOUR OWN SELF-CARE, SELF-RELIANCE AND SELF-HEALTH.

Some of you know that his past week my brother in law left this earth and widowed my twin sister to raise my two nephews on her own. The last two weeks were particularly stressful for me and reminded me of the importance of self-care for all of us, especially if you are a caregiver.

 

On a positive note, I want to share with you the most exciting event that I will be participating in next fall and just learned that the first 25 registering as a single can get ½ off!

I am part of the New Self Health Movement of Authors and Health Coaches  that have come together to offer an amazing retreat on the California Coastline in Monterey, California.  Join us for a:    

4-Day/3-Night Experience for your
Self-Health and Well-Being

Asilomar is a beautiful retreat site where Dr Wayne Dyer filmed the movie “The Shift” and Deepak Chopra holds his meditation retreats.  I will be leading an evening outdoor celebration during the lunar eclipse on the beach as well yoga and a session on Seven Steps to Inspired Wellness. 

I am very proud to be participating with amazing authors, successful business leaders and professional speakers, an ayurvedic specialist, and several who have healed themselves from many chronic illnesses including heart disease, chronic pain, autoimmune disease, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, arthritis, allergies and more.

Please join us in discovering how YOU can take charge and reconnect with your own health and well-being.

Click here for more information

Spring Strategies Starting Tomorrow!

Mind Body Week DC starts tomorrow with a Research Conference, where experts from around the country, will come and speak on evidence based mind body therapies for chronic pain at the Civic Center in Silver Spring. I will be there and I hope to see you too. Let me know if you are interested in coming to this or the other weekend events. See the lineup of speakers here: http://themindfulnesscenter.businesscatalyst.com/mind-body-week/speakers.html

What’s a perfect strategy to lower chronic pain? http://carpediemwellness.org/ Begin by lowering inflammation and toxicity in the body. What’s the best way to avoid spring allergies? Heal the gastrointestinal tract and lower inflammation in the body by doing a spring cleanse. Just as your yard needs a spring clean up, so does your body, mind and spirit after our long winter hibernation. One of my first and favorite clients, who had had 9 surgeries in a little more than a decade, told me for the first time that she felt like her body was healing from the inside out.

I like to start by sharing with you my flexible smoothie recipe. Increasing greens in your diet lowers inflammation and helps to clear up the skin from toxins stored in our tissues. Spring greens, like arugula and watercress are especially chelating; they draw the toxins stored in fat cells and help with elimination. Make sure you've also included healthy fats in your smoothie. Remember my mantra that “Fat does not make you fat! Sugar makes you fat!” So let's ditch the sweet processed and artificial sugars and bring in some whole healthy foods that are so prevalent at your local farmers market. Why not visit a new one this weekend, get some greens and experiment with your own green smoothie recipe? Or sauté your greens with garlic and onion, throw in a poached egg and enjoy the beautiful green spring!

Smoothie Recipe - Prep Time: 10 minutes; Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:Two Handfuls of Greens
Favorite fruits: berries, bananas, mango, etc
More optional choices: nuts or nut butter, whole fat plain yoghurt, avocado, coconut, protein powder
Add ice cubes or water depending on taste
Directions:Be playful. Let children choose and make themselves.
Put all ingredients in a blender, blend and taste and add what seems to be “missing”.
Drink and enjoy a substantial drink that will help add essential greens, proteins, amino acids, essential vitamins and minerals and stick with you throughout the morning!
Why Worry about Greens?

These essential vegetables are missing from the Standard American Diet (SAD).

• They aid in emotional stability and creativity.
• Help fight depression, clear congestion and help keep skin free of blemishes!
• They are high in calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorous, zinc, and a powerhouse for Vitamins A, C, E, and K. They are also full of fiber, folic acid, chlorophyll, micronutrients & phytochemicals

Carpe Diem!

Lisa

Wishing You Peace, Love & Abundance, With Love & Gratitude

As I’m preparing a turkey dinner to take to my sister’s house today, I am filled with gratitude. As I look at the food on my kitchen table I see the beautiful salad bowl my son gave me years ago, and the balsamic vinegar and blood orange olive oil that a dear client gave me as a gift, I’m feeling love and gratitude for my family, friends and clients.

I am especially grateful today because my oldest daughter just turned 32 and am reminded of the day her oncologist told us she would only have a 10% recovery rate. After the initial shock, she replied, “Well I think I have something to say about that.” Indeed she does.

I’m also so very grateful for the community of healers that I’m surrounded by. Yesterday my yoga guru (who BTW is teaching on the White House lawn today!) reminded me of three aspects of ourselves we need to unwind if we are to achieve peace, joy and abundance.

 First there is our mental body, our thoughts, that are not who we are, rather how we choose to see the world. I was in California recently attending the International Integrated Cancer Summit and was able to visit my son. He took me out of my comfort zone  Click Here to Read more