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The Benefits of Self-Hypnosis
The concept of self-hypnosis may sound odd, but the benefits it may provide make it worth giving a try. There is nothing like self-empowerment and finding new ways to cope, heal, and improve. Self-hypnosis can do that for you.
Hypnosis is all about the power of suggestion. Self-hypnosis involves a person using relaxation methods and visualization to enter a hypnotic state. Once in that state, you can implant thoughts, feelings, and beliefs in yourself that may be life-changing.
Benefits of Self-Hypnosis
Help Control Anxiety
Through self-hypnosis, you can use calming techniques to reduce panic attacks and calm yourself in situations that would normally induce stress and anxiety in your body and mind.
Improve Sleep
Self-hypnosis will allow you to put your mind and body at ease, clear your thoughts, and fall into a deep sleep. Self-hypnosis will convince your brain it’s sleepy and it is time to go to bed.
Improve Fitness
Self-hypnosis can put you in a state of can do. Whether it is running or lifting weights, self-hypnosis will help you breathe through physical challenges, allowing you to push your body further.
Control Urges
It’s no secret that many people will visit hypnotists to try to quick smoking and lose weight. Self-hypnosis works the same way. Trying to cut out snacking, watch less television, or just clean up your potty mouth, self-hypnosis may help.
Changing Your Inner Voice
At times, we are unkind to ourselves and can be overly critical, destroying our own confidence and belief in our abilities. Self-hypnosis can give you the positive talk and self-confidence you need to push through and believe in yourself.
How To Hypnotize Yourself
To hypnotize yourself, you need to find a quiet place to be by yourself. You can sit in a chair, sit on the floor in meditation style, or lie down on a bed. Next, you will do a body scan, starting from the top of your head all the way down to your toes, relaxing each part of your body as you do so.
Once relaxed, set your intention, whether that is to focus on anxiety, sleep, improving your inner voice, or any other goal of your choosing. Take slow, deep breaths, in through your nose, out through your mouth as you focus on your intention. Allow your eyes to become heavy and fall closed and you continue your focus on your intention through visualization.
After successful visualization, begin to verbalize your intention with words like “I am a runner. I can run faster. I can run longer.” Repeating the mantra again and again for five to ten minutes, after which time, you can slowly bring yourself out of your hypnotic state.
And that’s all there is to self-hypnosis. The Benefits of Self-Hypnosis is a wonderful way to tap into your subconscious and create meaningful change in your life! Through guided relaxation and visualizations, you can explore and rewire your mental and emotional habits to achieve your goals, reduce stress, and become your best self! Give it a try and let me know how it works for you.
Note - Please be advised, I am not a doctor and this blog is not a substitute for medical advice.
5 Positive Things You Can Do Right Now To Improve Your Life
I believe we are all looking for ways to improve our lives. We only get one life, and we want the best one possible. The place to start with a better life, is by improving ourselves. I mean, after all none of us is a perfect specimen, and we are works in progress. Just perhaps some of us are closer to perfection than others.
We have all been told that change doesn't happen overnight, but that does not always have to be the case. There are little changes, and some big ones, that we can make today that would change our lives for the better. Below is my list of five things you could do right now to improve your life.
5 Positive Things To Do
Help Someone Else
Helping someone else doesn't have to break your bank account, or mean spending all day at a soup kitchen. You could help someone by doing something as simple as rolling out your elderly neighbor's trash cans. Or by walking your sick friend's dog. The little things make a difference to others, and make you feel good as well.
Be Appreciative
It is easy to focus on all the things are wrong, or didn't turn out how we wished they would have. But if you look at your life there is some good, maybe even a lot of good. Appreciate what you have, including the people, and more good things will likely come your way.
Exercise
There are so many ways to exercise. Take a walk. Hit the gym. Go to pilates of yoga. Exercise is not only good for you physically, but also mentally. Whatever you choose to do for exercise, you will most assuredly feel less stressed, happier, and have better mental clarity when you finish, at least that is the goal.
Reflect
When I say reflect, I mean for you do some self-reflection, and a little soul searching. Reflection can show you how far you have come in this life, and open your eyes to where you want to go.
Set A Goal
Having goals keeps us moving forward. Whether your goal is to lose 10 pounds, or to read 100 books this year. A goal gives us focus and purpose. A purpose driven life is a life with meaning.
Anyone can do these five simple tasks on any given day, and make their life better. So what are you waiting for? What are your thoughts on the five ways to improve your life? Please share your thoughts and suggestions!
By admitting your inadequacies, you show you're self-aware enough to know your areas for improvement - and secure enough to be open about them. - Adam Grant
5 Signs You're In An Emotionally Abusive Relationship
Unfortunately, sometimes people find themselves in emotionally abusive relationships, without even realizing it. Unlike physical abuse, the scars from emotional abuse are invisible, but just as damaging.
Emotional abuse can destroy the person that you once were, and leave behind an empty shell.
Sadly, many people stay in emotionally abusive relationships because they make excuses for the behavior of their partners, often blaming themselves. All signs of emotional abuse are not cut and dry. Relationships have ups and down, and people have fights and disagreements, but it is how you fight and disagree that can be abusive.
Signs Of Emotional Abuse
Talked To Disrespectfully
In an emotionally abusive relationship there is a lack of respect. You may be told to shut up, yelled at, or completely dismissed as you try to communicate your feelings or concerns. Sometimes the verbal abuse happens in front of others, but many times while you are alone. Emotional abusers are good at hiding their abusive side.
Blamed For Everything
Your partner is mean and disrespectful to you, but guess what, it’s your own fault. If you were not so overly sensitive, or whiny, or demanding, then they wouldn’t lose their temper and have to be mean to you.
They make you feel like everything is your fault, including their poor choices and mistakes. You often fear their anger here.
Gaslighting
Gaslighting is a form of abuse, as it diminishes your self-esteem, your self-confidence, and your self-worth. The gaslighter convinces you that it's all in your head and you are just being paranoid or remembering incorrectly.
Your partner makes you feel completely faulty. As if you have the worst memory ever, and are going completely crazy. It’s not them, it’s you.
Made To Feel Stupid
An emotionally abusive partner loves to belittle and make you feel less than. Your partner will humiliate and embarrass you in front of others with blatant disrespect, or making you the butt of a joke. They are even worse in private.
If you dare to challenge or question their judgement, they are quick to remind you how mentally superior they are to you. They do not value you or your opinion.
Controlling
An emotionally abusive partner tends to also be controlling. They want to know where you are at, where you are going, and who are you with. They want to tell you how to dress, how to act, and what to do. You are punished with silence or withdrawals of affection if you do not do things their way.
An emotionally abusive relationship can leave you feeling depressed, alone, and questioning your self worth. It is important to remember that you are not worthless, you do not need to stay in an abusive situation, and that you will be loved again, the right way.
What are your thoughts on emotional abuse? There are many signs to look for, which would you add? Please share your experience!
“Sometimes we refuse to see how bad something is until it completely destroys us.” - Unknown
Photo by Pixabay
Managing Migraine Headaches...The Best Home Remedies
If you are a frequent migraine sufferer you know how miserable they can make you feel. Migraines are a beast to contend with, and sometimes when you feel one coming on all you can do is lay down, and bear it until it's over.
Migraines are a recurring type of headache. They cause moderate to severe pain that is throbbing or pulsing. The pain is often on one side of your head. You may also have other symptoms, such as nausea and weakness. You may be sensitive to light and sound. - Medline Plus
I suffer from migraines, and what I have learned over the years is that the best way to treat a migraine is through prevention. Learn what triggers migraines for you, and avoid those things, if you can.
For me, I know eating gluten, high stress, and poor sleep are my biggest migraine triggers. So I try my best to on the migraine offense.
While I do my best to prevent migraines, I still get them on occasion. Unfortunately, ever migraine is a little different, so there is no one way to get rid of or minimize the symptoms. There are however, some home remedies that I use, and that may work for you as well.
Home Remedies For Managing Migraines Headaches
Dark Room - A dark room if often the first tool used to combat migraines, because usually during a migraine people become sensitive to light and sound.
Ice Packs - You can use an ice pack on your head during a migraine just like you would for any other part of your body in pain. The ice pack works to numb the area, and may ease the pain.
Caffeine - Caffeine is an analgesic and may offer pain relief. This is where knowing your body comes into play, because although caffeine may help for some people, it will exaggerate the migraine for others. For me, caffeine makes my migraines 10 times worse.
Meditation - Meditation is a technique used to focus your mind and clear your emotional state. Meditation will calm the body and relieve stress. As your stress level decreases, your migraine may dissipate.
Pressure Points - Applying pressure to pressure points will do wonders to ease a migraine. For migraine relief, take index fingers and apply pressure to the indentations on either side of the are where the bridge of the nose meets the ridge of the eyebrows for at least 10 seconds.
Chamomile Tea - Teas work wonders for all kinds of ailments. Chamomile tea in particular aids migraines by working as a mild sedative, and will help you relax and ease pain.
Essential Oils - My three favorite essential oils to use for a migraine are lavender, eucalyptus, and peppermint oil. I use them in a diffuser and inhale them. The oils work to relieve stress, decrease nasal inflammation, and reduce sinus pressure.
Many chronic migraine sufferers may take prescription medication, but if you are looking for a natural remedy, many of these may work. What works all depends on the trigger for your migraine. If lack of sleep is the trigger for your migraine, then resting in a dark room may be the cure.
If you have a migraine, what tricks do you use to recover, besides use of prescription or over the counter medications? Do you take the holistic approach when possible, or find them to be of no use? Please share your experience!
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, registered dietitian, or fitness expert. The purpose of my blog is to share my experiences with food, fitness, and life—not to dole out medical advice. When it comes to your health and fitness, do your research and consult your doctor.
Hypothyroidism In Women...Recognizing The Signs and Symptoms
For many people, the term hypothyroidism is just some non serious medical term thrown around. If you have ever had an annual physical, then probably had labs done, including one to check thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels.
The thyroid performs a very important function in the body. The thyroid is a small butterfly shaped gland located in the front of the neck, on either side of your windpipe. The thyroid produces the thyroid hormone, which controls your metabolism and growth for the entire body.
Women are more likely to have hypothyroidism, and thyroid disease, especially those over 60 years of age. According to The Office Of Women's Health (OWH), one in eight women will develop thyroid problems during her lifetime
What is Hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism is basically an under-active thyroid. Hypothyroidism occurs when your thyroid gland doesn't produce enough thyroid hormones. There are many glands in the body, but the thyroid gland is the small, butterfly-shaped organ at the base of your neck that makes hormone that regulate your metabolism, which affects how the body uses energy, and other processes.
There are two types of hypothyroidism, primary and secondary. Primary hypothyroidism is the most common type of hypothyroidism. Primary hypothyroidism is due to a disease of the thyroid, and the TSH levels will be high.
Secondary hypothyroidism is less common in people, and is due to pituitary or hypothalamic disease, and the TSH levels are low.
Signs and Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism
There are many signs and symptoms that can alert you that you are experiencing issues with your thyroid.
Weight Gain
Fatigue
Weak and Achy Muscles and Joints
Feelings of Being Cold
Depression or Feeling Down
Dry, Itchy Skin
Hair Loss
Difficulty Concentrating and Remembering
Heavy and/or Irregular Periods
Constipation
The Risk Factors
Thyroid Surgery
Thyroid Removal
Autoimmune Disease
Treatment for Hyperthyroidism
Radiation Therapy
Medications
What To Do?
Hypothyroidism is not uncommon, and is completely treatable. Symptoms may worsen without treatment, and a goiter (enlarge thyroid) may form as your body tries to over produce more hormones. It is important to see your doctor, and seek treatment if you have the above signs and symptoms.
How It's Diagnosed
Blood/Lab Test
Physical Exam
Imaging
Getting treatment can make all the difference in the world to both your mental and physical well being. There are many holistic options out there as well, such as Iodine drops and selenium supplements. Talk to your doctor and do your research. I hope this blog was helpful, informative, and leads to a path of feeling better.
If you would like to share your struggles and journey with hypothyroidism please submit a comment.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, registered dietitian, or fitness expert. The purpose of my blog is to share my experiences with food, fitness, and life—not to dole out advice. When it comes to your health and fitness, do your research and consult your doctor.
Home Remedies...Treat Your Colds, Sinus Infections, and Migraines At Home
Holistic medicine is not just for hippies. It is helpful to know how to use everyday items found in your pantry or garden, to make you feel better and relieve pain. Over the counter and prescription medications are fine, and sometimes they are a necessity depending on how ill we are.
The good thing is that not every illness is a life or death circumstance, and do not necessarily requires drugs to make us feel better. The goal is to treat our bodies holistically whenever possible because medications, whether they are prescription drugs or over the counter, can damage our kidneys, livers, and hearts just to name a few organs.
Easy Home Remedies
Cold And Flu Symptoms
Home remedies for treating cold and flu symptoms are basically the same. The first thing you want to do is start adding lots of vitamin C to your body. This can be accomplished with juice, vitamins, and also cough drops with added vitamin C.
You should also drink tea and add honey and lemon. The honey acts as a cough suppressant, and works with the tea to soothe a sore throat. Plus drinking the tea will help keep you hydrated. For food, chicken soup is the best. The warm broth soothes and helps with the upper respiratory system.
Lastly, you need to use vapor rub, and a humidifier. The vapor rub should be applied to your chest area, and upper back. The vapor rub will help open up your airway and work as a cough suppressant. The humidifier will add moisture to the air, which will help your nasal passages and make it easier to breathe.
Sinus Infections
The best home remedies for sinus infections consists of warm showers or face steaming, using humidifiers, drinking plenty of water, warm compresses, and lots of rest. I recommend adding a few drops of eucalyptus to your shower bed to assist with opening up your nasal passage. For the face steam, fill a large mixing bowl with hot water, add a few drops of eucalyptus, lean over bowl and cover your head with towel to keep in steam.
Migraines/Headaches
Treating headaches and migraines can be a little tricky because the causes can vary. The important thing do when trying to combat head pain is to hydrate. Dehydration will cause headaches and migraines, but so will stress and lack of sleep.
Lie down in a dark room if possible. Avoid electronic devices, and loud noises. Noise machines can be helpful with calming sounds of rain or the ocean.
Upset Stomach
To treat an upset stomach I recommend ginger ale, and the BRAT diet. The ginger will help settle your stomach, and the carbonation will help get rid of the gas in your tummy. The BRAT diet consists of bananas, rice, apple sauce, and toast. The food items work to combat diarrhea, and settle the tummy.
If nausea is also part of your symptoms, I recommend peppermint. The peppermint will help prevent nausea. I suggest sucking on a peppermint, or brewing a nice cup of tea.
Body Aches/Pain
If you are looking for pain relief, and do not want to take meds, you have many home remedy options. The first recommendation is to stretch. Stretching will help your tense, aching muscles. The next thing you do is foam roller. Rolling out your back, neck, and legs will alleviate pain.
A warm bath with epson salt is also a great pain reliever and muscle relaxer. Last but not least I recommend ice packs and heating pads. Both will help with your aches and pains.
I don't know about you, but I try not reach for a bottle of medicine unless all else has failed. OTC and prescriptions medications are definitely needed at times, but sometimes the known side effects, and damage they do to our organs gives me pause.
If we can get the same relief from home remedies as we do with something out of a bottle, with little to no side effect, then why not? What are your home remedies? I know most of us have some holistic treatments passed down in our families. Please share!
30 Day Health and Fitness Challenge - Week 4
30 Day Fitness Challenge - Week 4
Welcome to the 4th and final week of the Health and Fitness Challenge. I hope you enjoyed weeks 1, 2, and 3 and have found your strength and stride. Just remember if you find what I have laid out below to be too hard, push through.
If you find it to be too easy, do more. Let's push ourselves, our minds, and our bodies, and see what we can accomplish in these last 7 days.
Week 4 is more challenging than week three. Do your best and share your successes and challenges. Just 1 week to go!
Health
Take Out
Any One Of The Below, Plus The Two From Weeks 1, 2 and 3:
Sugar
Soda
White Bread
Alcohol
Fried Food
Red Meat
Pasta
Fast Food
Add In
15 Minutes Of Light Stretching Before Bed, 24 More Ounces of Water, 1-2 Cups of Green Tea Daily, 20 Minutes Of Extra Sleep By Going To Bed Earlier
Fitness
60 minutes cardio everyday - Walking, Running, Swimming, Elliptical, Cycling, etc.
Arms (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun) - 20 Bicep Curls x2, 20 Shoulder Press Ups x2, 25 push ups
Planks - Daily 45 seconds x2
Legs (Tues, Thurs, Sat) - 25 Squats, Lunges 20 each leg, 25 Calf Raises
Abs - 60 Crunches daily, 25 Bicycles
Equipment Needed
Good Walking/Athletic Shoes
Gym Access/Great Walking or Hiking Trails Access
10-15 lbs. Free Weights
Please share your thoughts and progress on this week’s Health and Fitness Challenge!
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, registered dietitian, or fitness expert. The purpose of my blog is to share my experiences with food, fitness, and life—not to dole out advice. When it comes to your health and fitness, do your research.
30 Day Health and Fitness Challenge - Week 3
30 Day Fitness Challenge - Week 3
Welcome to week 3 of the Health and Fitness Challenge. I hope you enjoyed weeks 1 and 2 and are finding your stride. Just remember if you find what I have laid out below to be too hard, push through. If you find it to be too easy, do more. Let's push ourselves, our minds, and our bodies, and see what we can accomplish in 14 days.
Week 3 is more challenging than week two. Do your best and share your successes and challenges. Just 2 weeks to go!
Health
Take Out
Any One Of The Below, Plus The Two From Weeks 1 And 2:
Sugar
Soda
White Bread
Alcohol
Fried Food
Red Meat
Pasta
Fast Food
Add In
10 Minutes Of Light Stretching Before Bed, +16 More Ounces of Water, 1-2 Cups Green Tea Daily, 20 Minutes Of Extra Sleep By Going To Bed Earlier
Fitness
50 Minutes Cardio Everyday - Walking, Running, Swimming, Elliptical, Cycling, etc.
Arms (Mon, Wed, Fri) - 20 Bicep Curls x2, 20 Shoulder Press Ups x2, 25 push ups
Planks - Daily 40 seconds x2
Legs (Tues, Thurs, Sat) - 15 Squats, Lunges 10 Each Leg, 20 Calf Raises
Abs - 60 Crunches daily, 20 Bicycles
Equipment Needed
Good Walking/Athletic Shoes
Gym Access/Great Walking or Hiking Trails Access
10-15 lbs. Free Weights
Please share your thoughts and progress on this week’s Health and Fitness Challenge!
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, registered dietitian, or fitness expert. The purpose of my blog is to share my experiences with food, fitness, and life—not to dole out advice. When it comes to your health and fitness, do your research.
30 Day Health and Fitness Challenge - Week 2
30 Day Fitness Challenge - Week 2
Welcome to week 2 of the Health and Fitness Challenge. I hope you enjoyed week 1 and are finding your stride. Just remember if you find what I have laid out below to be too hard, push through. If you find it to be too easy, do more. Let's push ourselves, our minds, and our bodies, and see what we can accomplish in 21 days.
Week 2 is more challenging than week one. Do your best and share your successes and challenges. Just 3 weeks to go!
Health
Take Out
Any One Of The Below. This Is In Addition To The One You Removed In Week One.
Sugar
Soda
White Bread
Alcohol
Fried Food
Red Meat
Pasta
Fast Food
Fries
Chips
Add In - 16 More Ounces of Water, + 1-2 Cups of Green Tea Daily, 20 Minutes Of Extra Sleep By Going To Bed Earlier
Fitness
40 minutes cardio everyday - Walking, Running, Swimming, Elliptical, Cycling, etc.
Arms (Mon, Wed, Fri) - 15 Bicep Curls x2, 15 Shoulder Press Ups x2, 20 push ups
Planks - Daily 40 seconds x2
Legs (Tues, Thurs, Sat) - 20 Squats, Lunges 15 each leg, 15 Calf Raises
Abs - 50 Crunches daily, 15 Bicycles
Equipment Needed
Good Walking/Athletic Shoes
Gym Access/Great Walking or Hiking Trails Access
10-15 lbs. Free Weights
Please share your thoughts and progress on this week’s Health and Fitness Challenge!
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, registered dietitian, or fitness expert. The purpose of my blog is to share my experiences with food, fitness, and life—not to dole out advice. When it comes to your health and fitness, do your research.
30 Day Health and Fitness Challenge - Week 1
30 Day Fitness Challenge
Welcome to week 1 of the Health and Fitness Challenge, key word being challenge. If you find what I have laid out below to be too hard, push through. If you find it to be too easy, do more. Let's push ourselves, our minds, and our bodies, and see what we can accomplish in 30 days.
The challenges and the expectations will increase each week. Hold yourself accountable. Have fun, and get your fitness on! Please share your successes and struggles in the comment section.
Health
Take Out
Remove Any One Of The Below Bad Diet Vices That You Might Have:
Sugar
Soda
White Bread
Alcohol
Fried Food
Red Meat
Pasta
Fast Food
Chips
Fries
Add In
Green Tea 1-2 cups daily (no sugar added), 15 Minutes of Extra Sleep (Naps, Or To Bed Earlier)
Fitness
30 Minutes Cardio Everyday - Walking, Running, Swimming, Elliptical, Cycling, etc.
Arms (Mon, Wed, Fri) - 10 Bicep Curls x2, 10 Shoulder Press Ups x2, 15 Push Ups
Planks - Daily 30 Seconds
Legs (Tues, Thurs, Sat) - 15 Squats, Lunges 10 Each Leg, 10 Calf Raises
Abs - 40 Crunches Daily, 10 Bicycles, 5 Leg Raises
Burpees - 5 Burpees Daily
Equipment Needed
Good Walking/Athletic Shoes
Gym Access/Great Walking or Hiking Trails Access
10-15 lbs. Free Weights
Challenge Starts Today! Get Ready!
Please share your thoughts and progress on this week’s Health and Fitness Challenge!
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, registered dietitian, or fitness expert. The purpose of my blog is to share my experiences with food, fitness, and life—not to dole out advice. When it comes to your health and fitness, do your research and consult your doctor.