Becoming Conscious in an Unconscious World

Have you ever been called "absent minded"?  Do you lose your keys? Have you ever gotten in the car and started driving and suddenly realized you didn't know where you were? Have you been so lost in thought that you weren't conscious of the road, or the time between getting in the car and where you found yourself?

Women, particularly working mothers, pride ourselves on the illusion of being able to "multitask."  Do you eat on the run? Do you gobble up a meal without really tasting it? Or are you fully present to smell, taste, then thoroughly chew, your meal?

Becoming fully present, conscious of eating slowly, is a way to tell your body it is safe to "rest and digest." This puts your body in the parasympathetic mode that is required to properly digest your food and allows your body to receive the nutrients necessary to heal and repair itself. Personally, I've found this habit the hardest to break. The mantra that has kept my blood pressure so high for years has been, "I don't have enough time" The reality is the body listens; this is a clear message to a shortened lifespan.

Everything that we've labeled as a "disease" is merely a message that our loving body is relaying to us. For me, my dis-ease is a message to slow down, give gratitude for what I have, for who I am, and for daily miracles.

For I am truly one of the fortunate ones. I get to be a witness to this every day. I get to witness beautiful people coming to me with a challenge they thought they could not overcome and witness their transformation. Like "my stomach has hurt all my life" or "I've never been able to sleep" or "I've been in pain, had migraines, been constipated, had allergies, been depressed....(you fill in the blank), all of my life"  Just because these things are common and persistent does not mean they are normal.

Most of us learn to live with these symptoms. We learn to ignore them. We become less sensitive to pain. Soon we become unconscious to our physical bodies.

I've had the honor of witnessing one woman's tumor shrink through meditation at the Mindfulness Center in Bethesda. I've witnessed migraines melt away. I've witnessed panic and anxiety attacks, lessen and relax.

I'm not a meditation guru. I really struggled with this as a young working mother. My early experience and reaction was, "Seriously, you've got to be kidding, I don't have time for this." Patience was NOT my virtue. Peace seemed to elude me.

One of my mentors told me, "Lisa, change takes only as long as you decide." How profound and how true.  How committed are you towards positive change?

This is why the first of my seven steps is to take an honest personal assessment and then to make a commitment and an investment in yourself.

Here's an excerpt from my book:

How to become the leader of your life? Take action. To be the most effective leader, you have to have control of your health! Make the same investment in you that you have made in your family, friends, and career. Give yourself the gift of self-care; find new ways to energize and empower yourself.

First, take an honest personal assessment.  Where are you now and where do you want to go? 

I  begin my discovery calls with new clients with the following questions:

1. What would it mean to you to be the best you can be? 
2. What is your biggest obstacle or challenge?
3. What have you tried--what has been successful and what has failed?
4. How do you want to feel and see yourself in 3 months, six months, and one year from now as a result of working together?
5. How committed are you to overcoming this challenge?

We then look at your entire health history, labs and medical records. Many falsely believe that because chronic illness runs in families that it must be genetic; that they are doomed. I used to believe this too. Fortunately, the study of epigenetics, the study of the expression of genes, has proven that genes can be turned on and off through diet and lifestyle changes.  Here's a picture of identical 60 year old twins:

One looks older and has more chronic disease than the other. This is an example of identical genes yielding different outcomes. Diet and lifestyle change the expression of genes. 

If you are not where you want to be, don't beat yourself up. Be inspired to explore new options to rebuild health. The body's natural state is to rest, digest and repair itself (if we can get out of our own way). 

Commit to small obtainable steps, one to three small "digestible bites" every two weeks and then celebrate your success. Consider a health coach to keep you on track. Contact me for a discovery call to see if we are a good fit for each other.

Carpe Diem,

Lisa

About Lisa Jackson, RN, CHC, RYT-500, FDN-P, AFMC
Lisa is an author, inspirational speaker and functional medicine and nutrition trained health coach. Lisa's mission is to inspire, educate and empower 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 the founder of Carpe Diem Wellness 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.

The Foot Bone's Connected to the Ankle Bone....

Last weekend I gave a talk to a group of Biologic Dentists on "A Functional Medicine Approach to Hypertension and Sleep Apnea." I had them all get up and move to the song Dem Bones.

My point was two fold. First, everything is interconnected. Second, 10 people with the same diagnosis may have 10 different root causes. This is true for any given chronic dis-ease. Treating symptoms and separate "body parts" is why conventional medicine is ineffective for chronic disease. I've written some of my own personal story here.

For those of you who are already thinking of training for Spring time marathons, and are feeling fatigued, here's my unsolicited advice to you. In addition to a coach or personal trainer, consider this. Hypothyroidism (low energy), adrenal fatigue (stressed out adrenals), low muscle mass (catabolism) and infertility are rampant. Similarly, the root causes may be different for each of us. A functional medicine approach will uncover the hidden internal and/or external stressors, so the body can heal from within. Here's a few common stressors:

1. Food Sensitivities and the SAD standard American diet.
2. Mental/Emotional Stress
3. Gut dysbiosis (bacterial overgrowth)
4. Micronutrient insufficiencies 
1. Zinc and B12 deficiencies are very common especially in vegetarians and vegan diets.
2. Magnesium deficiency is the most common overall. Common symptoms may include insomnia, constipation, tight muscles and hypertension.
3. Vitamin D is a hormone important for immune function and positive gene expression
5. Malabsorption and/ or maldigestion leading to malnutrition. Not having enough stomach acid or pancreatic enzymes due to stress, aging and/or eating on the run is one example.

In my case, I've had all of the above.  Growing up in Washington DC and wearing stress on my shoulder as a badge of honor, makes me prone to this. 

A common myth is that we just need to eat less and exercise more. This can exacerbate stress related conditions. Instead, most of my clients need to eat more healthy fat and nutrient dense food, and exercise less. It takes a commitment to uncover these stressors and to heal from within. Functional and nutritional testing can help you discover what is needed for your unique body. Then it's a matter of committing to small simple changes to create sustainable optimal health. What small simple steps will you gift yourself this year?

With Love,

Carpe Diem,

Lisa

About Lisa Jackson, RN, CHC, RYT-500, FDN-P, AFMC
Lisa is an author, inspirational speaker and functional medicine and nutrition trained health coach. Lisa's mission is to inspire, educate and empower 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 the founder of Carpe Diem Wellness 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.

Squirrel!

My mantra used to be "There's never enough time." And I wondered why I suffered from hypertension until I heard Dr. Deepak Chopra speak who said,

"The fastest way to a heart attack is thinking there's never enough time."

No, Duh! The lightbulb went off. Yet, I love ideas, I love the potentiality in all things, I love action. I love creating new thoughts, ideas and opportunities.

The problem lies in the execution.  It's easy to get distracted like the cartoon dog...squirrel!

For some reason, this is especially true for the things I love the most as well as for self care. We've been conditioned with our "to do lists" and culture to do what we "should do" or "need to do" first. We applaud hard work and our "no pain, no gain" mentality.  We often idolize the martyr and self-sacrificing. 

I'm going to be sacrilegious and suggest that we have this ass backwards. 

Personally speaking, when I get up and do my yoga and self care first then the rest of the day moves more freely. My thoughts flow. My writing is more authentic and comes with ease. I'm more stable and more present with my clients, family and friends. I work from a sense of strength and fullness, rather than one of fear and lack or resentment. 

Self-care and self-love is the most loving gift you can give to your family, friends, and business. 

To serve my clients, I must first serve myself. My job has become self-care. It's fun, it's energizing, and gratifying. 

I used to be very judgemental about "selfish people."  This was my shadow side. The side of me I denied. I was so busy caring for others that I became selfless. When I went through my first coaching program and my coach asked me what I did for fun....I cried. I didn't really do anything for fun. I was so busy working the only thing I did for myself was sweat in 110 degree room doing Bikram yoga. This fed my "Pitta fire" and I felt better afterwards...well sometimes. Until I didn't. Then I knew it was time for change. 

So how to improve execution for what is really important? 

1. First, take enough time for self, for contemplation, to get out of your head and into your heart and soul to discover your priorities. Schedule in vacations, before other priorities takeover.
2. Second, practice tools of focus. Commit to small steps toward bigger goals. Complete each step before moving on to the next. Resist chasing every squirrel. ( I know, but they are so much fun!)
3. Get support. Acknowledge your strengths and hire someone to help you with the rest.

Here's to your best year ever!

With Love & Gratitude,

Lisa

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

Lisa is an author, inspirational speaker and coach, with a mission to inspire, educate and empower 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.

Love Heals

Last night my beloved husband took me to see "Les Miserables" at National Theatre as my Christmas present. The last line Jean Valjean sings:

"To love another person is to see the face of God." It was magnificent. Needless to say, there were tears. 

Love Heals. Unconditional love, healed Jean Valjean. After working closely with people for the past 38 years, I can confidently say John Lennon is right... "All you need is Love".

Many of us find this love as parents and/or through service to others. But how do we give unconditional love to ourselves? We can spend so much time giving to others that we can struggle with our own self care.

This is especially true for healthcare practitioners and caregivers.

The body is self-healing and self-repairing. It responds to messages given. In order to heal from within, the love needs to come from within. The body is always listening to our self talk and our actions.

Yesterday, I received a card in the mail written to me, by me during my functional medicine retreat this past Fall. I'm going to be vulnerable and share the message that I wrote to myself after a few days on retreat.

My Dearest Lisa,

You are loved just the way you are. Remember to be yourself. Cherish and love yourself so that you can be fully present to love and cherish others. 

When your small scared self tries to control you, just remember this. You are loved, you are safe. There is nothing to fear. Use fear to guide you. Have courage to lean in to your soul's calling. Be the joy you wish to see in others. Give yourself permission, so that you can show and guide loved ones to do the same. For in the end, there is no judgement. There is only love. 

Love, 

Lisa

What letter can you write to yourself as you think of the New Year and the New Life that you would like to create?

With Love & Gratitude,

Lisa

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

Lisa is an author, inspirational speaker and coach, with a mission to inspire, educate and empower 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.

2017 Lessons Learned & New Year's Resolutions

This has been a year of intense grief and sorrow, and as my beautiful daughter so elegantly expressed, coexisting with periods of joy.

 https://www.facebook.com/existdetroit/videos/2083596808535202/ We started with the one year celebration of our grandson followed two weeks later by the passing of our son in law. I’ve struggled on how to support both my daughter and clients during times of loss. One client who lost her husband after 50 years together and another client in Houston during Hurricane Harvey. What do you do when you are at a loss for words? I read Sheryl Sandberg’s book, Option B but that didn’t resonate with me like Maria Sirois, PsyD book, A Short Course in Happiness After Loss (and other Dark, Difficult Times).  Here I am struggling on what to do to help my daughter, and she went and did it herself. Which by the way, is the only way for transformation, growth or change to occur. She took her grief and started the Forced Joy Project to find some joy, meaning and purpose amongst her immense sorrow. As a health coach I’ve learned this very valuable lesson. No one fixes you. You are not broken. You are a perfectly-imperfect, human being, with your own journey on this planet. We can share our experiences, we can be guides through difficult times, but the body, mind, spirit and soul are self-healing and self-repairing. You have the ability to heal from within. The practice of yoga can help release tension, pent up feelings and emotions, as well as help cultivate awareness and focus leading to physical, mental and emotional growth and peace. Dana again, beautifully shows us how. 

https://youtu.be/Tu9Opp6JfTU

I’ve written about the pancha maya model of yoga and how the body follows the mind and the mind follows the breath. I’ve had clients overcome anxiety and fear through dedicated breath work practice. The only thing we know for sure is that all of us will die. Some like Bradford Frost,

my son in law, far too soon. Others like Simba (who woke me up one morning bouncing up the stairs, took his normal one mile walk, in seemingly perfect shape) without any warning.

 As adults, what we do have control over is how we choose to live our lives. One dear client of mine shared this analogy. We are like flower pots. We can decide what soil we put in the pot, what we want to plant, how we feed and nourish ourselves. What can we do to live awesome full lives NOW? What little changes can we make in 2018 to feel our best? According to one of the largest health studies, the Framingham nurses study, the number one factor for overall health and cancer prevention, is diversity in the diet. Yet most of us eat the same 4 foods day in and day out consisting of wheat, corn, soy and dairy. Foods that have been subsidized and adulterated. This monoculture that has led us to the current epidemic in chronic disease. With so much abundance of food, our choices are often lacking in essential phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals. To fight fatigue, we resort to caffeine and succumb to sugar cravings that keep us on a mental, physical, and emotional roller coaster. My pledge this year is:

1.  To expand my Kick-Start recipes to add more diversity. The best way to add diversity is to eat seasonally. Here’s what I had for breakfast at the Detroit Parks & Rec Diner:

 

Fisherman’s Board of citrus smoked salmon, dill crème fraiche, local radish, soft boiled duck egg, picked vegetables that included garlic scape and cranberries. Delicious!

2. Follow my daughter’s lead and find more joy. I’m going to start teaching Carpe Diem Dance (my joyful movement to music incorporating breathwork, meditation and yoga) Wednesday mornings at Rise Wellbeing Center in Reston, Virginia Wednesday mornings in January. 
3. Continue to grow my business being mindful to include boundaries and schedule in time to celebrate a new Granddaughter, family vacation, and to prioritize self-care. 

To keep me on track and at my best, I've started My Life Plan and just renewed my contract with my own coach and mentors.

What are your plans for the New Year? How will you choose to live your best life? I would love to hear from you!

Lisa

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

Lisa is an author, inspirational speaker and 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.

Healthy messages for Capitol Hill Luncheon

Friday, I had the privilege of speaking on Capitol Hill for Congressional staffers, Government Relations, and Lobbyists on, "Effective strategies,  and thoughtful ways to avoid unwanted excess food, sweets and drinks during the Holiday seasons."

Here’s a few strategies from my talk:

1. HALT - Don’t get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired (you will grab and eat anything)
2. Eat before the party. Include healthy fats and protein to sustain you.
3. Hydrate. Drink plenty of clean filtered water throughout the day between meals.
4. Make or bring a decadent delicious dessert that is also healthful and energizing. (see below)
5. Recognize that the purpose of the party is to socialize and connect. Food and alcohol are secondary and optional.
6. Cultivate mindfulness in each bite. Is this nourishing and loving to your body or will this create further dis-ease? Your body will let you know.  Breathe deeply and eat slowly to give your body the message that it is safe to rest and digest and repair.
7. Most of all enjoy the holidays!

Here's my dessert recipe that the Executive Chef prepared for us to practice mindful eating:

Chocolate Pudding Dip  

• 3 avocados

• 6 T Raw Cacao Powder

• 1/4 cup honey

• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

• dash sea salt

Puree first four ingredients in food processor until smooth. Sprinkle with sea salt and enjoy! Garnish with mint and serve as a dip with organic strawberries and/or pineapple with toothpicks for dipping.
Includes 5 grams of Protein, 13 grams of fiber and essential fats and omega's.

 Wishing you Peace & Pure Joy throughout the Holidays & the New Year!

With Love & Gratitude,

Lisa

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

Lisa is a retired Registered Nurse, yoga teacher, author, inspirational speaker, and a Certified 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 system towards optimal health that is fun and transformational.

Lisa is founder of Carpe Diem Wellness 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.

Clarity

This morning I sit in clarity.  This is the power of yoga and meditation. Today, I’m preparing for my clients.  I love my client’s; they inspire me to keep doing what I do.  I have some clients with scary diagnoses; a couple of clients with more than ten diagnoses. Successful, well-educated individuals whose “job” now is spent going to doctors.  I have other clients who simply want to lose a few pounds or want support to rediscover lost passions, purpose and direction.

This morning, I’m reviewing complex organic acid and hormone testing. I’m putting together the unique puzzle for my individual clients. I’m looking at urinary bi-products to ascertain missing nutrients, biological markers of toxicity, neurotransmitter insufficiencies, gut dysbiosis, and oxidative stress markers. In doing so, a simple solution emerges. One that is essential for all of us, no matter our goals. Sometimes we can get so caught up in the complexity that we forget the power of simple solutions.

Yes, reviewing testing to find root cause is extremely powerful. It gives us concrete action items to develop a personalized plan towards rebuilding health.  This is the power and essence of functional medicine testing. It enables one to look below the surface signs and symptoms so often simply palliated with medications.

Equally important is to understand what is needed to follow through to execute the plan. To uncover and address the common roadblocks that gets in the way. This is the power and essence of coaching.

What is the medicine that we all need the most? A Mother’s medicine. Your job, no matter the dis-ease, is to unconditionally love yourself. To nourish, nurture and love your God given body. For most, this is a new skill.  If you did not have a stellar role model, you may wish for guidance and support.

It’s true, love heals. A heart in love is physiologically different than a heart filled with worry, pain or fear. Different chemicals are emitted, sending different messages to cells and organs affecting function. Send love to your body every day and the body will heal.  A hug and a teddy bear are as strong as any synthetic medication, without the side effects!

This holiday season, what loving messages can you send to yourself daily? This does not mean to feed addictions or addictive behavior. As your virtual coach, I’d like to challenge you to find new ways to feel good. If sweet sugary substances are your addiction, what else can you give yourself that feels sweet and yummy to you? Is it a walk, holding hands with a loved one? Is it touch? (sometimes needed without the drama or baggage of sexual performance.)

This means cultivating self-compassion. It requires listening to your unique body. It means consciously choosing gratitude over fear and the automatic negative beliefs that pop up in your head. Maybe it’s sitting in silence with a pet on your lap. Or perhaps writing a heartfelt, overdue letter to an estranged family member or friend. What can you do to heal and nourish your soul as well as your body?

For me it’s a daily yoga practice; sometimes practiced alone, sometimes in a class. My practice includes breath work, physical movement to music, and meditation. This keeps me grounded and in my body.  It allows time and space to feel areas of my body that are stuck. It clears my mind and makes me appreciate the simple solutions.

Carpe Diem and Happy Holidays. I am eternally grateful to you.

Lisa

About Lisa

Lisa is a retired Registered Nurse, yoga teacher, 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 system 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.