Turning Fear into Curiosity and Empowerment

I've talked about turning fear into curiosity as one of my seven steps to optimal health and wellness. How do we do this when we are feeling stuck? When we feel like our world is tumbling and we are stuck in a rut?  The current human condition is to feel like a victim or we might be the rescuer or the prosecutor. We get stuck in this negative triangle. It is called the Drama Triangle.

When we are ask ourselves, "Why me? Why does this always happen to me?" we fall into the victim role. We may identify our being with our illness or diagnosis. Or we may move over to the rescuer role, "I'm going to swoop in and fix this." Some one else is hurting, I'm going to be the rescuer, which can make us feel good but ignore our own issues. Many healthcare providers identify with this role. Or we might take on the persecutor role, "What's wrong with me?" It's that internal negative voice full of automatic negative thoughts (ANTs) and self limiting beliefs that we bestow upon ourself.

How do we change this negative pattern? We can change this to a triangle that is full of personal development, growth and transformation.  Imagine what your life can become by changing these dynamics! We can change from being the victim to becoming the creator.  To be the creator of our destiny.

To turn that inner voice into the coach like the little train that said, "I think I can, I think I can"

Or turn the inner critic, the persecutor into the challenger. When you hear that voice saying, "Why am I always so dumb? Why am I always so sick?" (or whatever ANTs show up) ask a different question.

Like, "Am I always dumb, all the time? Is this really true?  What would my life be life if I were smart or not sick (or healthy or thin and beautiful or whatever the goal) How would I feel?"  Get into this future vision of yourself that you can keep in your mind, and be open to new possibilities. Then take small sustainable steps to get there. I'm taking on a challenger role by writing this blogpost.  What will you create as a result of it? 

This is the power of coaching. To have another person help you to co-create a new reality for yourself. Co-create a plan that serves you better. To look at the dis-ease you are feeling today as a lesson for where you don't want to be; and as motivation to help you create a roadmap to where you want to be.

Food for thought. 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."

Transformational Tuesday

Fall always feels transformational to me; this Fall especially so. I took the past two weeks to literally go into the woods….by myself. I unwittingly went into my “closed for renovation” mode.

I planned to spend 2 weeks with my daughter and take a Yin Yoga teacher certification in upper Michigan. Family issues prevented me from staying with my daughter, so I made the bold move to ask a friends Father to stay with them. This was a good exercise for me.  I like many, find it easier to give help than to ask for help.

I preceded this with a weekend with a dear friend and fellow nutritionists and was labeled the “one most stressed and challenged”. By the time I drove the 14 hours, and after a brief visit with my son, daughters and grandchildren, I had 4 hours to sleep before class began.

Here’s why I made the journey:

In this beautiful little beach town in upper Michigan lays a remarkable yoga studio. This haven, Yoga4, is owned by a wonderful, creative and talented woman, Christen Landry. Our instructor, Sandra Carden, is a remarkable woman with 50 years of experience, mentoring and mentored with other top teachers around the world.

What was Sandra’s transformational message?

“We are constantly remodeling ourselves, so we might as well be conscious about it.”

Think about everyone you know who sits at a computer all day and has neck and back pain and/or hunched back and shoulders. Think of the athletes who have sculpted muscles but cannot sit on the floor, nor have the flexibility to easily bend over to pick up a fallen object. Our bodies are constantly remodeling from our minute-by-minute choices. It’s up to us whether we are conscious or not in our movements.

Since “sitting is the new smoking,” it is important to get up and move every hour or two. Opposite movements heal.

It’s easy to push ourselves and overdo, especially with a full practice when preparing to leave town. So it was with me. Two and a half to four hours of yoga a day allowed me to unwind. I planned to work the first week but found myself detoxifying with a resultant headache and congestion. The gift of dis-ease is that it forces you to stop. Instead of work, I slept, I meditated, I cried. The fact that it was damp and cold with rain and thunderstorms just added to my mood. In the end, it felt cleansing.

Through yoga, I’ve learned to weather and even honor these low periods. Through acceptance of our imperfections, allows self-discovery and growth that leads to transformation.

Often we fail to recognize how we store our “issues in our tissues”. Yin Yoga is a way to gently unwind and remodel the body from the inside out. It is the opposite of the yang Vinyasa style of yoga. It’s the necessary balance to the type A workaholic or the competitive athlete. It is complementary medicine at it’s best. I plan to teach a combination class in my studio one night a week this fall. Email me if you are interested in joining us, ljackson@carpediemwellness.org 

I also took my own 7-day Intermittent Fasting KickStart program and found it quite natural and an easy plan to do. I also felt great on it. My friend Margo came over yesterday and thought I looked like I had lost weight. I definitely remodeled myself from the inside out.

If you’d like to learn more about our new 7 day Intermittent Fasting Kickstart, join us for a free online webinar this Thursday evening at 5pm. Click HERE to Register for the Webinar  We are partnering with Tasty6 to offer amazing fresh raw juices and more, to support your optimal health. 

Here’s to your personal transformation! 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."

Summertime Transformational Read

I just read a transformational book. It's interesting because several patients had recommended this book to me when I was Executive Director of an Integrative Wellness Program for a cancer clinic. They were surprised that I had not read the book, as it is very much in line with my philosophy and each reported that it was transformational for them. I finally took the time to read it. I love real stories by real people.

This is a story of a woman who had a near death experience (NDE) and shares her lessons from it. I will try my best to share my summary and commentary of Dying to be Me, with you.

Anita Moorjani had been treated for four years with stage 4 lymphoma. Bedridden and dependent on others for basic care, she was admitted to a local hospital in a coma. Doctors were preparing the family for her passing when she found herself outside of her body. She describes the same blissful, forgiving state that others with a NDE report.

What was striking to me about the book is the severity of her medical condition, how her recovery defied conventional medicine, and the resultant power of the mind and the spirit. I've been taught (and believe) that we are more than just our physical body. We have an energetic and breath body, a mental/emotional body, an intuitive body and a spiritual body. We are far greater than each of these individual pieces. Yoga is a tool where you can experience and foster unity of these disparate bodies. Many live primarily in the mental body and are therefore blind to their magnificence and power.

Through her NDE, Anita experiences unconditional love and acceptance and discovers the importance of non-judgment, self love and self-care. These can feel like foreign concepts. Rarely in our society is this modeled and taught.  Instead we are taught to believe "The war on cancer" which becomes a war self. We are taught to believe in "no pain, no gain" and to encourage self-sacrifice. We do not teach self love. What I frequently say is,

"Ask not what is wrong with your body. Ask what's right? What
loving message is your body telling you? Could your migraine be saying to take a break and deep breath, hydrate and nourish yourself, or to pop a pill and power through? The more we ignore our signs and symptoms, the louder and more serious they become."

Anita describes her epiphany on why she believes she developed cancer (in her unique case). She was able to heal by having the courage to be herself. This came from recognizing her magnificence and her power to heal. She heard,

"Now that you know the truth about who you really are, go back and live your life fearlessly." 

I firmly believe that our bodies are self loving and self healing. 

Anita states that fear is the cancer. This was the topic of a video interview with myself and Dr. Debbie Norris of The Mindfulness Center several years ago as we were brainstorming on how to best support cancer prevention and recovery. Dr. Norris is offering a workshop on Mind Body for Cancer for both caregivers as well as those with cancer on July 20th-21st. It is free for those with cancer and well worth attending.

Our current medical system can be disempowering and fear promoting. We depend on external measurements to tell us how we are doing. We are not taught to trust our intuition and inner wisdom. We get stuck in the negative thought of "What's wrong with me" and we somehow feel relieved to get a diagnosis, which is merely a label. Your diagnosis or labels have nothing to do with inner healing.

What is refreshing and liberating about Anita's story is proof of the power to heal from within. Anita's doctors could not explain her spontaneous remission with their diagnostic tools.  I've written before about Dr. Kelly Turner's research and book on Radical Remissions and the nine common factors for healing. Three of the powerful interventions involves: taking control of your health, following your intuition, and deepening your spiritual connection.

Believe in the power to heal from within, no matter whether your issue is insomnia, acne, depression, hormonal issues, cardiovascular or autoimmune disease, diabetes, or cancer. Know that you have the power to heal and that it is your job to love yourself unconditionally. Know that there is unconditional love for you (even if this has not been modeled for you).

Stop the guilt, stop the shame, stop beating yourself up for whatever reason. Forgive yourself and others, ditch the urge to judge, and heal.

This is what Anita writes,

"When we're aware of our own magnificence, we don't feel the need to control others, and we won't allow ourselves to be controlled. When I awoke into my infinite self, I was amazed to understand that my life could be dramatically different just by realizing that I am love, and I always have been. I don't have to do anything to deserve it. Understanding this means that I'm working with life-force energy, whereas performing at being loving is working against it. Realizing that I am love was the most important lesson I learned, allowing me to release all fear, and that's the key that saved my life."  

Logo on My Favorite New T-Shirt 

She further writes,

"I now live my life from joy instead of from fear. Before, without even realizing it, everything I did was to avoid pain or to please other people. I was caught up in doing, pursuing, searching, and achieving; and I was the last person I ever took into consideration. My life was driven by fear--of displeasing others, of failing, of being selfish, and of not being good enough. In my own head, I always fell short.

.....I don't worry anymore about trying to get things right or complying with rules or doctrines. I just follow my heart and know that I can't go wrong when I do so. Ironically, I end up pleasing more people than my old self ever did, just because I'm so much happier and more liberated!" 

...The process of allowing happens by first trusting, and then by always being true to who I am." 

My challenge for you for the next week or two is to really contemplate everything that you do for yourself. Do you look at yourself lovingly in the mirror? Is your self talk full of loving affirmations, or judgment and criticism? If the latter, can you delete the need to beat yourself up?

What do you admire about yourself? Are you making loving choices on what you are putting into your body? Or are you afraid of social isolation if you refuse alcohol or eat differently from the SAD standard American diet? Do you allow yourself time to rest, repair or to just be?

Even if you are not in your ideal body, what do you love about yourself?

Sit with that and work on making small incremental steps to change that which you do not love. Our dis-ease can be a loving messenger. Focus on how you want to feel first, then take loving action so you can be the best for self and others.

Last, Anita writes,

"We're all co-creating this world and our lives within it through our emotions, thoughts and actions."

Now THAT's empowering!

Carpe Diem,

With Love,

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."

Turning Impossible to "I'm Possible"

Self discipline is consistently doing something (you may not always feel like) to get the results you really want. 

What is the result that you really want? Make a mental picture of this in your head. Then begin to act like you've already achieved it. Feel it in your bones. This is how you create a vision.  A vision is so much more powerful than a goal. Goals, like rules are often broken. A vision is something that you feel and enables you to feel contentment in the moment.

You see, we've got it all backwards. We think that if we just do this one thing, or lose weight, or meet our goals, then we will be happy. Feel contentment first, and then you will unlock the ability to manifest your goals.

When you are happy and relaxed, your body can heal and repair itself. Do this first, then know and discover your own ability to heal from within. 

Think of a time you felt something was impossible. Like riding a bike. Remember what you did to prove otherwise. Maybe you started with training wheels. Next, you had someone hold the back of the seat and run alongside you, giving encouragement while you gained speed. Then suddenly, you realized you were riding the bike all on your own, Woo Hoo!  Remember and feel the exhilaration!

Create the vision and then get the right kind of support to turn what appears as Impossible to "I'm Possible".

An accountability buddy or a coach can help you develop the self-discipline muscle. This is why I am offering a Kick-Start to Wellness Program to provide you with a supportive framework. Join us next Thursday for a free webinar to learn more.

Carpe Diem,

Lisa

About Lisa
Lisa is an author, inspirational speaker and a functional medicine coach with a mission to inspire others to feel and look their best at any age.

Lisa's book Savvy Secrets: Eat, Think and Thrive outlines her seven-step process towards optimal health that is fun and transformational.

Lisa is part of the New Self Health Movement and the Wellness Inspired Network. When she is not coaching, speaking or writing, you can find her practicing yoga and joyfully sharing Carpe Diem Dance. 

Are you Ready for a Fall Kick-Start to Wellness?

For me, Fall is a time of new beginnings. As a child, back to school meant new classes, new friends, new opportunities. As a mother, it meant more structure and needed discipline to meet busy schedules.

The summer heat wanes and encourages us to focus inward. It's a great time for nourishing savory soups and kitchari. Fall foods prepare us for the winter season and can protect us from seasonal allergies.

Individuals and families today have more stressors than ever in our history. This week I spoke with a client in Houston as well as a doctor I consult with about the effects of Harvey on their lives and their businesses. We have unprecedented physical and emotional challenges from the floods to the assault on our brains and bodies due to increasing toxins in our food, water and air. It is hard not to turn on the news and worry about the health of our country. Many feel anxious about the state of affairs.

When I graduated from nursing school in 1981 there were only a few autoimmune diseases, now there are well over a 100. Autoimmune disease, cancer, autism, ADHD, Aspergers and Alzheimer's have all risen dramatically.   

What has changed dramatically in my lifetime? (Our genes haven't, only the expression of them). Specifically, we've seen a dramatic:

1.  Increase in consumption of non-food items; an estimated 600,000 products in the grocery store stored in a box or a can that our ancestors would not recognize. If they can sit on the shelf and the bugs won't eat them, why do we think we can? 
2. Thousands of new chemicals and toxins added to our food and environment every year, none of them tested in synergy with other toxins. (please read this section in my book). We've known about this since 1962 when Rachel Carlson published Silent Spring.

When we are in fear mode, we often fail to make the most loving choices. Love is the antithesis to fear. So my quest and challenge to you is to practice self-loving, life-affirming actions.  EAT, THINK & THRIVE

We know that toxicity and inflammation is the root cause of all chronic dis-ease.  So how do we maximize nutrition and minimize toxicity and inflammation?

Take time to get to rediscover what your unique body needs. 

Use curiosity to turn fear and overwhelm into empowerment. 

Join us for my Kick-Start to Wellness Program.  Make conscious choices that will yield more energy and less stress. Join us for weekly educational webinars and support to bring in positive actions and prepare you for the fall and winter season.

Optimal health is not complicated but if you could have found it on your own you would have done it already. We are social beings and studies show that our health and longevity is determined by the people we surround ourselves with. Join our community to consciously choose constructive change.

Be the change you want to see in the world.
Introductory Webinar is Thursday, September 21st followed by three Wellness Wednesday Webinar sessions.

Register Here: 

Carpe Diem Wellness

Because nothing is more important than your health.

Lisa

ABOUT LISA JACKSON, RN, CHC, RYT-500, FDN, AFMC

Lisa is an author, inspirational speaker and a functional medicine coach with a mission to inspire others to feel and look their best at any age.

She is the former Executive Director of the Integrative Wellness Program for the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.

Lisa's book Savvy Secrets: Eat, Think and Thrive outlines her seven-step process towards optimal health that is fun and transformational.

Lisa is part of the New Self Health Movement and the Wellness Inspired Network. When she is not coaching, speaking or writing, you can find her practicing yoga and joyfully sharing Carpe Diem Dance. 

New Normal

This phrase, this concept of accepting "a new normal" is interesting to me. I first heard it after a tragedy. My neighbor's son was paralyzed. I also heard it from patients and families undergoing cancer treatment. I've heard my children refer to it during and after our own tragedies.

Something about this just didn't sit right with me. The angry defiant me wanted to cry, "NO! Don't accept this as your new normal!" This idea of "the new normal" felt disempowering to me. This acceptance felt like giving up.

This morning I heard the phrase in a new light. An inspiring light. I heard it referred to as a way to uplift us into the life we want to lead.

After all, life isn't what happens to us, it's how we respond to it that matters.

How do we take our challenges and turn lemons into lemonade? (This is something I've had ample practice in, and am actually kinda good at.)

We hold on to hope and optimism. We refuse to accept the temporary pain as "forever". We fight for our lives...truly, courageously.   We choose to create a new normal based on where we want to go.

This is the precious gift I learned while working with cancer patients. This is why I am so very inspired by stories of Radical Remissions. Those who have spontaneous remissions from even the worse diagnosis, do so because they refuse to accept the new normal. They choose to do things radically different from what they've done in the past.

They engage in simple solutions. Not that this is always easy to do. You have to bypass social norms. We are hardwired to want to stay in our comfort zones. Fear feeds this paralysis. They refuse to be limited by labels and the status quo. They become the difficult patient; they question everything.

You have to decide to take personal responsibility for your thoughts and your actions. Recognize that we are here today because of past conscious or unconscious actions. We live into our present bodies. Each one of us are unique and different.

If you are in a health crisis, then instead of beating yourself up over "What's wrong with me?" Ask a radically different question.

"What is my loving body trying to tell me? What can I do, that is radically different, to change this course?" This is no time to bargain. You're either in, or you are out for your "New Normal."

The new normal has got to include new ways of feeding yourself, physically, emotionally and mentally. This requires commitment and support. We are social beings and food is emotional.

What if our comfort foods, so tied to our childhood and positive feelings, could be making us ill? How do we change these habits that made us feel so good?

We find a new normal.  But this new normal is NOT about dieting or deprivation. This new normal must be decadent and nourishing. The new normal is not fear based. The new normal seeks food, thoughts and actions that will lift you up. That will give you energy to rise higher. That will allow you to live a radically different, awesome, incredibly, energized life.

Someone dear to me recently said, "I'd like to start living my life as if I only had 100 days to live. Being conscious of every decision I make. Asking myself, does this food make me feel good or is it creating dis-ease in my body?"

I couldn't have said it any better. I'd like to challenge you. For the next 3 days, to write down everything you eat. Document how you feel one to two hours after eating. Do you feel better or worse? Is the food energizing and nourishing or does it pull your energy down? If you cannot last 3-4 hours between meals then you are not eating enough healthy fat and protein for your unique needs. Are you feeding dysbiosis or bad bugs in your gut? Or, are you feeding the new you that you want to become?

Take an honest personal assessment, with love and compassion. This is the first simple step to creating your new normal. This is my wish for you.

If you would like a coach or guidance, let me know. I'm seeking clients who are 100% committed to finding this new normal and willing to make the investment in themselves to do so.  This is how I remain inspired to reach my new normal.

Carpe Diem.

With Love & Gratitude,

Lisa

Important clues in your blood work that is often missed.

Are you suffering from fatigue? Have you been told that you have low vitamin B12 or iron in your blood? What does this really mean? What might your hematologist or oncologist NOT know to tell you? Like why this is low, and what you might do to elevate them? Please don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing your doctor. I'm merely pointing out the fact that although he or she spent $200,000 and 10 years in medical school, what is sorely missing in the curriculum is nutrition and functional medicine. Ask them, they will tell you. This is why we need to move away from disease management towards prevention and an integrative functional approach.

I've spent the last few years studying applied functional medicine for coaches. You can see me in the video on the home page.  

So I'd like to share why you may be deficient in B12 and iron. More importantly, I want to empower you with education on what you can do about it.

First, always ask for a copy of your lab work so you can take it to a practitioner that will read it and explain it to you in practical functional terms. When I recently worked for a hematology/oncology clinic, I had on my desk the book, Your Blood Never Lies. Two fellow Nurse Practitioners noted this and said, "Why weren't we trained in this?" 

Unfortunately doctors, nurse practitioners and nurses are not trained in the wealth of functional markers in standard blood work. You will have to seek and find a functional nutritionist to help you; read on.

One good marker to look for in any complete blood count, CBC is the MCV, (mean corpuscle volume) measuring the size of your red blood cells. The red blood cells, RBC, carries oxygen to cells. This is essential for life.  RBC's that are too small don't carry enough oxygen; too big and they don't fit in the small capillaries like in the eyes and the kidneys. 

This is why your vision and kidneys are often the canary in the coal mine. if you've read my book you know that I no longer wear bifocals after decades of use. This is because I've learned how to maximize oxygen. Getting the right size RBCs is one way. Anything over 90 is too big to be optimal, and yet is still within normal limits on the test. This is why it is so often overlooked. 

Normal denotes the "mean average of those tested within a given population" in blood tests. It has nothing to do with optimal. Look around, obesity and chronic disease is epidemic. We need NOT to be normal. We need to create a new healthy normal. We need to assess for optimal levels.

I discovered that my RBCs were too big which suggests either B12 or folate deficiency. I've learned that I also have a genetic snp called MTHFR which affects folate metabolism. To compensate, I take a methylated folate and b vitamin complex every day. This is a simple solution that allows me to avoid brain fog and is essential for energy production and detoxification. This is essential for prevention of all chronic disease, including cancer and heart disease. This is a simple solution. I can tell the difference, so am happy to commit to this. I also notice when my night vision becomes impaired and or my vision begins to get blurry, I now recognize the need for more self care. More deep breathing, more relaxation, more yoga and supplementation, more green juice (again in my book, not the sugar laden ones in stores), and essential fatty acids to nourish cellular membranes.

MTHFR is a simple test to add on to the Spectracell Micronutrient test, one of several, that I recommend to clients.

Please note that folate and the synthetic version, folic acid are NOT the same. This is how you can tell a reputable vitamin company. Does your multi have folate in the form of methyl tetrahydrofolate or the cheaper synthetic folic acid? This is important, you can become toxic on folic acid, if you have an MTHFR snp. Lack of folate leads to miscarriages as well as trouble with energy production and impaired detoxification. Can you begin to see the power in nutritional assessment of your blood work? How missing these critical pieces can contribute to chronic disease and even misdiagnosis? 

There are several forms of vitamin B12. The most common is cyanocobalamin, which is a molecule of cyanide and cobalamin. This is the cheapest, most common form found in supplements. I don't think I need to tell you why you may NOT want to be taking cyanide every day in a supplement. The best supplement companies will have either methylcobalamin, or adeno or hydroxocobalamin, or a combination. Yes, purity and quality definitely matters when it comes to supplementation. A good nutritionist can help you with this too.

Also important to know, is that a serum B12 level does not tell you what is actually being absorbed into the cells. MMA or methylmalonic acid, is a functional marker found in an organic acids urine test, or can also be done as a blood test, or Spectracell Micronutrient test. These will all give you cellular or functional levels for your unique body. 

What food sources are rich in vitamin B12? This needs to come from animal sources. If you are vegan, you can get it from microorganisms in algae. Every body is unique and so are your needs. Some may get plenty from algae, some may need supplementation. A common root cause of low vitamin B12 in the cells is not enough stomach acid. You need HCL to cleave the b12 so it can be absorbed further down in the intestines. 

What is the major cause of low stomach acid? Stress. We live in sympathetic nervous system overdrive. Here's a picture from my book:

Stress decreases stomach acid. This impairs digestion starting in the stomach and inhibits absorption in the small intestines. Nutrition is not what you eat, it's what you absorb. You could be eating all of the right food but not giving your body the signal that it is safe to rest and digest, rest and repair, or mate and ovulate. Everything is interconnected. 

The FDA and AMA laws dictate that I cannot diagnosis, treat or cure any of the 14,000 (and growing) diagnosis codes that describe any human condition. What I AM allowed to do is to teach you how to become your own best clinician through education and coaching. Now I find that inspirational and empowering! I hope that you do too.

Carpe Diem!

WEEKEND EVENTS

June is the halfway point in 2017. Lots of opportunities for self care. This weekend in Northern Virginia is the Love Your Body Day Festival in Reston I wrote about last weeks blogpost and a PEMF demonstration in Alexandria. Also Golden Health Pharmacy in Sterling, VA will be having an Open House Saturday from 11-3pm with discounts, raffles, food and more!

About Lisa Jackson, RN, CHC, RYT-500, FDN
Lisa is an author, inspirational speaker and a coach with a mission to inspire others to feel and look their best at any age.

She is the former Executive Director of the Integrative Wellness Program for the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.

Lisa's book, Savvy Secrets: Eat, Think and Thrive outlines her seven-step process towards optimal health that is fun and transformational.

Lisa is part of the New Self Health Movement and the Wellness Inspired Network. When she is not coaching, speaking or writing, you can find her practicing yoga and joyfully sharing Carpe Diem Dance.

Happy Saturday and Weekend Replay; Get Real Masterclass Week 2

Week 2 of the Get Real Masterclass had some stellar interviews! There is so much great information packed into these talks that we wanted to give you an opportunity to create the space to listen and digest the knowledge that our experts share. 

I was traveling this week with my daughter visiting the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park to Glacier National Forest with virtually no cell service. 

Consequently, I was only able to listen to Robin Shirley's interview which was excellent. Here's a few points I'd like to share from her interview titled Health is a Journey:

Robin talks about her seventeen year journey to heal from juvenile arthritis. At a very young age, she qualified for disability, but instead chose a journey of diet and lifestyle changes. What at first felt like a life of deprivation, became a life worth living; filled with joy and meaning. Robin stresses the importance of making small changes until they become easy and enjoyable habits. Then move on to the next change or challenge. It is easy, and natural to have periods of feeling overwhelmed. Robin compares this to the four seasons, we have periods of feeling energetic and well mentally, physically and emotionally (in the spring and summer); followed by times of needing to rest and repair (winter hibernation). We need to honor these natural cycles in the body. Women also have 30 day cycles. We all have a 24 hour cycle where we need to balance activity with rest. ( See my Seven Ways to Seize the Day where I write about the importance of sleep in the healing process.) 

Although important, Robin needed to do more than just make dietary changes. What accelerated her healing was looking for hidden simmering infections in the gut microbiome. These may include viruses, bacteria, parasites or dysbiosis (an imbalance in microbes.) Heavy metal and environmental toxicity are also common hidden stressors. Virtually all tap water is contaminated with lead from leaded gasoline. Lead is transported via the air and then deposited via rain in our water tables.

As a Functional Diagnostic Nutritionist, I feel it's important to emphasize a few things. Robin discussed protocols to get rid of parasites, bacteria and viruses. It is important to have someone guide you with a personalized plan for what your unique body needs. Use functional testing to pinpoint exactly what is in the microbiome, and then the correct protocol, versus just searching the internet. 

The same goes for chelation for heavy metal toxicity. I've been off the charts for both lead and mercury. Symptoms of heavy metal toxicity can range from hypertension to anxiety and brain fog. It is easy to create a healing crisis if you are not careful. I've dealt with this for several years. It is important to address intestinal permeability first; otherwise you release toxins that can re-circulate back into the body, instead of safely removing them. Heavy metals are a primary source of intestinal permeability. Chelation and the detoxification process itself, can also create intestinal permeability. It can become a vicious cycle. So it's important to detoxify from a place of strength and then to go low and slow. This may take several months or even several years. 

The important thing is to not get too discouraged and to know that this is a journey. It doesn't have to be painful, nor complicated. What it does require is a commitment to self. Per my Seven Steps to Optimal Health, "Celebrate each small step."

I know it can be a challenge to set aside time each day so we wanted to let you play catch up this weekend. Please use the links below to access the audio interviews and FREE gifts from our special experts!

>>>Day 6: Eating Clean is the Foundation for a Healthy Life with Mareya Ibrahim<<<

>>>Day 7: Empowerment Through Elimination Diets with Anne Marie Garland<<<

>>>Day 8: How to Care for Your Heart and Whole Body with Dr. Jack Wolfson<<<

>>>Day 9: Health is a Journey, Not a Destination with Robin Shirley<<<

>>>Day 10: Environmental Toxins: A Trigger for Autoimmunity with Dr. Christine Maren<<<

Cheers to a weekend of fun, learning and self-care! We'd love to know your favorite interview from Week 2 and why, so drop us a line...

Warmly,

Laura & Lisa 

PS

I also had the privilege last week  to do an online interview with The Health Coach Rebel describing my book and Seven Steps towards Optimal Health.  Click Here to Listen or

http://thomunderwood.net/project/ep-13-lisa-jackson-seven-steps-optimal-health/

I would love your feedback. What did you find valuable? What did you learn? Let me know if you have any questions. Also, let me know if you would like to schedule a short discovery call to see if we are a good fit for each other.

Carpe Diem!

Lisa

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

Lisa is an author, inspirational speaker and a coach with a mission to inspire others to feel and look their best at any age.

She is the former Executive Director of the Integrative Wellness Program for the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.

Lisa's book, Savvy Secrets: Eat, Think and Thrive outlines her seven-step process towards optimal health that is fun and transformational.

Lisa is part of the New Self Health Movement and the Wellness Inspired Network. When she is not coaching, speaking or writing, you can find her practicing yoga and joyfully sharing Carpe Diem Dance.

Bringing Light into the Darkness

I said in my dedication in my book, "My hope is that some of these words will shine light into the darkness."

What I am beginning to understand is the value of the darkness. 

The cultural norm is to want us all "to be happy" Don't get me wrong. I love the light. I crave the light. However, it is in the darkness where healing happens. It is the pain that breaks us open. It is in acknowledging our wounds, licking the wound, loving the wounded, that allows healing to occur.

Using the analogies of my previous post, Moving from Tragedy to Transformation, reminds me that you cannot rush the process.

A diamond is formed from a lump of coal under extreme pressure. 

A caterpillar literally burns itself up to become a butterfly.

The discomfort of labor brings forth an amazing joyful miracle.

A diamond will not form without time and pressure. The caterpillar must go through the process. It takes a full nine months of gestation and then often hours for the birth of a baby. We cannot rush this without consequence.

We must love, honor and cherish all that life gives us. It is because of the darkness that we can appreciate the light.

So often, because of our own discomfort, we want to rush the process. Especially if you consider yourself a healer. We want to "fix" the problem. We want to make the pain go away. Our entire healthcare system is set up for the "quick fix." For every human condition, we have a new ICD 10 code, a diagnosis and a label. Doctors can then correlate that list of symptoms with a pharmaceutical drug to "fix" the condition. You see this when you turn on the television or the New York Times or any magazine that gets revenue from the largest lobby on Capitol Hill. We are brainwashed to think that we have to seek outside "expert" opinions to heal ourselves. It's true, we feel better just making the call to the Doctor. This is because we have conditioned ourselves to do so. I also wrote about this and the power of the placebo and nocebo in my book. We are constantly seeking the truth outside of ourselves.

The difference in a Thriver and a Survivor is that Thrivers learn to trust their intuition. Thrivers discover how to heal from within.

I'm not dissing the experts. I believe that it does indeed take a village and that we were not meant to be on this earth alone. I believe in seeking support to enrich all areas of our lives.

What I am saying is that sometimes, instead of putting on a bandaid and taking drugs to mask symptoms, we need to pick up the wounded child and embrace her....unconditionally, without judgment.

We need to love and embrace the darkness.

I cannot tell you how many people have asked me about my recently widowed daughter. "How is she doing?" and "How can she afford to take this 100 day journey?" I sense they are implying that this is impractical and irresponsible. Shouldn't she be worried about how she is going to pay her bills now? (Yes, without a doubt she is worrying about this)

This is my response. Sometimes we need to slow down to heal. Sometimes we need to look beyond the physical, beyond the bank account, take a leap of faith and learn to trust our own intuition. We need to embrace all of our emotions and feelings. Time to allow ourselves to feel the pain and the anger. Time for self reflection; to recognize the denial, the doubt and the fear. Time to love and accept all the emotions, so we can release them. As I said last week in my Carpe Diem Dance class,

"Emotions are merely energy in motion. Witnessing them, as we witness our thoughts in meditation, is a way of clearing the mind, the body and the soul."

My friends who have known me through my own personal tragedies, have witnessed when I've been "closed for renovation."  When I couldn't uphold my nickname, "The energizer bunny." When I've had to question everything and focus on self health. When I've discovered acceptance and surrender, inside the cocoon of darkness. When we hit rock bottom, we have no choice if we want to transform. This is the gift and the beauty of rock bottom.

Most recently, to heal my own adrenal fatigue (or now more accurately called HPA axis dysfunction), I've had to practice my own unconditional self love.

If your health journey has led to a dead end, if you would like guidance on ways to heal from within, or if you would like a safe space to explore all of yourself, consider the gift and investment of health coaching.

Wishing you unconditional self love,

Lisa

ABOUT LISA JACKSON, RN, CHC, RYT-500, FDN

Lisa is an author, inspirational speaker and a coach with a mission to inspire others to feel and look their best at any age.

She is the former Executive Director of the Integrative Wellness Program for the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.

Lisa's book, Savvy Secrets: Eat, Think and Thrive outlines her seven-step process towards optimal health that is fun and transformational.

Lisa is part of the New Self Health Movement and the Wellness Inspired Network. When she is not coaching, speaking or writing, you can find her practicing yoga and joyfully sharing Carpe Diem Dance.

Moving from Tragedy to Transformation

One characteristic I've noticed about "Thrivers" (those that thrive rather than just survive), is how they view tragedy. I've heard many cancer thrivers say that "cancer is the best thing that ever happened to me." Don't get me wrong. This doesn't ignore or belittle how it feels in the process.

I've often said that the worst things in my life have turned into the best lessons and opportunity for growth and transformation. Nature reinforces this concept.

A diamond is formed from a lump of coal under extreme pressure. (What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger)

A caterpillar literally burns itself up to become a butterfly.

The discomfort of labor brings forth an amazing joyful miracle.

Feeling lost, deep depression, or the pain of illness, are all catalysts for change.

Periods of extreme stress and transition are also opportunities for extreme growth.

This past weekend I had the luxury of spending the weekend in New Orleans and it reminded me of several years ago when I was struggling with a failing business, searching for deeper meaning, and wondering "What do I want want to be when I grow up".

I was the CEO and spokesperson for Innovative Green Solutions and I told a fellow partner that I wanted to become a top spokesperson for wellness. I was sick and tired of seeing so many colleagues work their entire lives only to fight chronic illness at the time when they should be enjoying the fruits of their labor.

Not long after, I stumbled onto an advertisement for the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and decided to sign up. It opened my eyes to possibilities I couldn't imagine. It gave me a framework and a safe supportive platform to begin to dream. Not that this program answered all of my problems. What it did do was ask a lot of questions. It forced me to dig deep and to walk the walk, before I could talk the talk. It opened my eyes to my love of learning, led me to further studies and introduced me to amazing men and women. What I love about the IIN community is that there is such a diversity in backgrounds, work experience of men and women of all ages. It's a community that helps you find your passion, gives you tools to be creative, and the confidence to manifest your dreams.

This weekend in New York City is their annual conference of which I am sorry to  have to miss. If you are going, or are near to New York City, be sure to attend the New Self Health Movement Book signing event on Saturday night.
My friends and colleagues will be offering their books (and one of mine) for sale and proceeds go toward charitable donations. Email me if you want more information.

Transitions can feel like a crisis. It provides an opportunity to either beat ourselves up and say, "What the hell is wrong with me?" or to choose to go with the flow. For those of us who are action oriented, "Doers" with an overfunctioning sense of responsibility, it can be really hard to let go.  In Yoga we call this a rajasic state.

Conversely, there is a tamasic state. When we find it impossible to take any action. We feel paralyzed. Like deer facing headlights of an approaching car. Times when you are too scared to do anything. I've been here too. So overwhelmed and paralyzed that I've had to just stop and let go. Stop the struggle. Give myself time to rest until I can get energy back to take action. Sometimes we just need that rest to find clarity. In this world where we measure ourselves on what we do....just "being" can be super challenging.

So how does a caterpillar not panic when it's burning up in the cocoon? Perhaps, because it does not have free will, it doesn't struggle with it's own innate intelligence. It does not question the ability to heal from within. It does not question its own transformation, innately, brilliantly created for its survival and magnificent expression.  It doesn't fight the process.

What brilliant transformation have you been fighting? Could this be a root cause of discomfort?

This is where faith, trust in a power that we cannot see and a spiritual connection comes to our rescue. Trust in a power greater than ourselves, or merely just trust in the process. Trust in the ability to heal from within. Know that if you cut your finger, it will heal all by itself. Know that no matter what happens, the sun will shine again.

We've been brainwashed to believe that we need all of this external stuff in our lives. Man-made medications or synthetic supplements, a pill for every ill and human condition. We are brainwashed to believe we will get solace from a candy bar, chips, or a bottle, instead of exploring our own beautiful, innate wisdom inside ourselves.

Instead, take a break to stop to listen to what our body really needs. Drink a glass of pure clean water. Breathe deeply.  Close your eyes for five minutes and listen to the internal wisdom that is available to you all the time. You do have a choice on how you feel and react to each moment and each situation.

A mother that has practiced breathwork can go through labor without medication. Yes ladies, it was done for centuries, quite naturally too! With the miracle of birth comes amnesia of the pain and struggle. Above all, the birth of my children brought an indescribable joy, I had not known or thought was possible.

Know and believe that when you practice these wise ageless tools of yoga that what at first seemed impossible becomes, "I'm Possible".

Join me next Sunday, April 2nd @ 4pm to practice finding this balance with my Carpe Diem Dance, movement to music class to practice these principles.

With Love & Gratitude,

Lisa

ABOUT LISA JACKSON, RN, CHC, RYT-500, FDN

Lisa is an author, inspirational speaker and a coach with a mission to inspire others to feel and look their best at any age.

She is the former Executive Director of the Integrative Wellness Program for the Center for Cancer
and Blood Disorders.

Lisa's book, Savvy Secrets: Eat, Think and Thrive outlines her seven-step process towards optimal health that is fun and transformational.

Lisa is part of the New Self Health Movement and the Wellness Inspired Network. When she is not coaching, speaking or writing, you can find her practicing yoga and joyfully sharing Carpe Diem Dance.

Feeling a little GREEN today?

Feeling a little GREEN today? Did you have too much green beer to celebrate St. Patricks Day last night? Or did you have food that doesn't feel good to you causing gas, burping or worse?

Did you find yourself waking up today with a headache? Leg cramps, dehydrated or ravishingly hungry for sugar and empty carbs? Do you need a strong dose of coffee to get you going ? Do you have afternoon fatigue that begs for another dose of strong coffee and sugar?

If so, how do you get off of this roller coaster? 

Here's a few simple solutions:

1. Take an honest personal assessment. Do you find yourself feeling under pressure to drink even when you don't really feel like it? Or do you find it socially unacceptable to say no to food that doesn't serve you well? Think about what might be at the root of this. Could you possible go out and drink soda water and lime instead and still have fun and be sociable? 
2. Drink plenty of water and eat a meal with plenty of healthy fat, protein and vegetables before going out. 
3. Think HALT. Don't allow yourself to get too HUNGRY, ANGRY, LONELY or TIRED. Otherwise the bad gut microbes inside of you will overcome any semblance of willpower. Believe me, yes this is so true! You will reach for that bag of chips, chocolate or favorite vice with a "What the Hell" attitude.

What to do about that incredible headache or the leg cramps? The most common missing mineral in the standard American diet (SAD) is magnesium.  Magnesium Threonate is the only form that will cross the blood brain barrier and is so helpful for headaches and migraines.  

Totally dehydrated and need some electrolytes and d-ribose (that sugar that your cells need for energy that will not negatively affect your blood sugar)?  My favorite energy and sports drink is what many professional athletes get from their nutritionists.  It's called Catalyte by Thorne Research. I also recommended this frequently to patients undergoing chemotherapy or for post surgery nausea or if you've had the flu.  It is indeed a lifesaver! Contact me if you'd like to know how to order it.

Last but not least, consider joining me in a Spring Kick-Start to Wellness program so that you can be surrounded by a supportive group to springboard. yourself to a healthier happier you.

Have a great weekend and may we all be as healthy and happy as my beautiful grandson! 

Miles 14 months old

Events:

$5 FOOD DEMONSTRATION

“The Power of the Brew”

Fermented Vegetables are great sources of the bacteria we need for good gut health, (and a healthy gut will lead to a leaner body). Come learn how to make kimchi with Yonina

When:       Tuesday, March 21,  2017 at 6 pm

                                    Or

                  Saturday, March 25, 2017 at 10 am

Where: Comprehensive Primary Care, 15825 Shady Grove Road, Suite 140, Rockville, MD 20850

Cost: $5 per attendee. Open to all.

Please RSVP to yoninabh@hotmail.com

Carpe Diem!

Lisa

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

Lisa is an author, inspirational speaker and coach with a mission to inspire others to feel and look their best at any age. 

She is the former Executive Director of the Integrative Wellness Program for the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. Lisa's book, Savvy Secrets: Eat, Think and Thrive outlines her seven step process towards optimal health that is fun and transformational. 

Lisa is part of the New Self Health Movement and the Wellness Inspired Network. When she is not coaching, speaking or writing, you can find her practicing yoga and joyfully sharing Carpe Diem Dance.