A New You!

The New You on the 4th of July!!!!!

2008-07-04T09:38:00.001-04:00

We've been working on ourselves and getting down to the nitty gritty with who we are from the inside out. Getting more energy, changing our attitudes when low and behold the 4th of July holiday is here and there will be picnics and all sorts of yummy food......And I know what will happen to me!!!! I will go for those chips and dip. I will eat the hotdog...okay maybe two. But do you know what will happen afterwards....BLOAT!!! I will sit the rest of the weekend feeling bloated and discouraged....and if you are like me you will too! Here is what I learned:

SODIUM

We all know sodium as just table salt. But did you know its in just about everything. When you eat sodium, the excess sodium is deposited just beneath the skin where it attracts water, which is retained in your cells. This makes you look puffy and feel bloated. But don't let this get you down. You can avoid the dreaded bloat! Here are a few tips to get you through the 4th of July bloat:

Read labels to check the sodium content of what you're eating.
Replace processed foods with fresh.
Avoid prepackaged and canned foods.
Be wary of salt-laden condiments and use very little soy sauce, mustard, and table salt.
Go easy on dairy, and avoid processed meat (hot dogs, jerky, bologna, corned beef), anything pickled (pickles, capers, sauerkraut), relish, ketchup, and butter.

There are many sodium free alternatives that will let you enjoy your food just the same: garlic, lemon, olive oil, vinegar, pepper, basil, cayenne, chili powder, cilantro, cumin, curry, dill, garlic powder, ginger, lemon, lime, mint, onion powder, oregano, paprika, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon, and thyme.

HAVE A HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!!!

JUST PUT A SMILE ON YOURFACE AND DO IT!!!

2008-06-10T15:46:00.001-04:00

"Your attitude always decides your altitude in life" ~

Zig Ziglar

Did you know that you were born with a positive attitude? Yes indeed you were! If you have been reading each passage here at Pink Parties you will have learned by now that we "LEARN" how to behave or act from our parents or the environment we grew up in.

Growing up my parents would tell me what I should do or how I should behave and one thing that I can always remember my father saying is "PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE AND JUST DO IT!" The funny thing about putting a smile on my face is that when I did....my attitude about what I was doing changed.

My challenge to you is to rethink your attitude with everything you do....if you need to lose weight, "PUT SMILE ON YOUR FACE AND JUST DO IT!" If you need to get out of debt, "PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE AND JUST DO IT!", ............

Here are some amazing thing about smiling:

1. Smiling makes us attractive.

We are drawn to people who smile. There is an attraction factor. We want to know a smiling person and figure out what is so good. Frowns, scowls and grimaces all push people away -- but a smile draws them in.

2. Smiling Changes Our Mood

Next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. There's a good chance you mood will change for the better. Smiling can trick the body into helping you change your mood.

3. Smiling is Contagious

When someone is smiling they lighten up the room, change the moods of others, and make things happier. A smiling person brings happiness with them. Smile lots and you will draw people to you.

4. Smiling Relieves Stress

Stress can really show up in our faces. Smiling helps to prevent us from looking tired, worn down, and overwhelmed. When you are stressed, take time to put on a smile. The stress should be reduced and you'll be better able to take action.

5. Smiling Boosts Your Immune System

Smiling helps the immune system to work better. When you smile, immune function improves possibly because you are more relaxed. Prevent the flu and colds by smiling.

6. Smiling Lowers Your Blood Pressure

When you smile, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure. Give it a try if you have a blood pressure monitor at home. Sit for a few minutes, take a reading. Then smile for a minute and take another reading while still smiling. Do you notice a difference?

7. Smiling Releases Endorphins, Natural Pain Killers and Serotonin

Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin. Together these three make us feel good. Smiling is a natural drug.

8. Smiling Lifts the Face and Makes You Look Younger

The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Don't go for a face lift, just try smiling your way through the day -- you'll look younger and feel better.

9. Smiling Makes You Seem Successful

Smiling people appear more confident, are more likely to be promoted, and more likely to be approached. Put on a smile at meetings and appointments and people will react to you differently.

10. Smiling Helps You Stay Positive

Try this test: Smile. Now try to think of something negative without losing the smile. It's hard. When we smile our body is sending the rest of us a message that "Life is Good!" Stay away from depression, stress and worry by smiling.

SO....Change your attitude...you are the ONLY ONE that has the ability to do so!!!!!

DON'T BELIEVE A WORD YOU SAY!!

2008-06-03T15:29:00.001-04:00

So we've been over how to get more energy and what becoming emotionally healthy is......so lets get down to business! We have all been programmed....or raised with certain beliefs in mind. For instance, as I grew up when we sat at the dinner table we were told that you must eat everything on your plate! So I did. And I continued doing that until I became as big as the house! I would feel so terrible if something was left on the plate...because after all...there are starving kids in Africa!

The same goes for money....all the quotes we are all familiar with are nonsense.... such as....money is the root of all evil. You know there is nothing wrong with having money.....lots and lots of money...as a matter of fact it helps ....its a tool....the more money you have the more abundant life you can live. I had so many mixed messages growing up about money....my mother came from the poorer side of town and my father higher middle class....one felt that the rich were greedy the other worked hard to be rich.....never really understanding that money is a tool and that living an abundant life is what makes you happy.

I challenge each of you to start to retrain your mind. Stop believing what your brain has been trained to believe...DON'T BELIEVE A WORD YOU SAY... I am working on this as we speak. There is a fantastic book you can read called "Millionaire Mindset" by T. Harv Eckar. It teaches you how to reprogram your brain. This is just another way on the path to becoming "A New You"

Email with your thoughts! And if you need me to help you along the way....let me know! This is a journey that will help you live a very abundant life!

UNDERSTANDING EMOTIONAL HEALTH

2008-05-11T21:27:00.001-04:00

Another facet of becoming the NEW YOU is becoming emotionally healthy. Did you know that your emotional health affects you on a daily basis and impacts the choices you make. Whatever you may be dealing with, your emotions influence who you are now and who you are becoming. You may ask...."What is emotionally healthy?" Well..that's easy to describe. Someone that is emotionally healthy is in control of their thoughts, feelings and behavior. During our life time we deal with many things that cause us to become emotional. The birth of a child, the death of a loved one, bankruptcy, divorce....the list goes on and on. During these times if we are emotionally healthy we will be able to handle each incident and deal with it in a way that doesn't hurt us or the people around us. When we are not emotionally healthy then the issues spiral out of control. Not only do we affect those around us, but we then become physically unhealthy. Did you know that stress causes insomnia and fatigue? And what happens when we have those issues?? I comfort eat, which in turn causes me to be more fatigued and yes...gain weight...and the spiral effect goes on!

Before we can become emotionally healthy we must understand how it all works. We all grew up learning how our parents or those around us respond to any kind of situation. For instance, we all know how our mothers or fathers reacted to a stressful situation. When my parents were angry my mother would yell and scream. My father on the other hand became silent. Growing up we learn those reactions and therefore emulate them. This causes a body reaction and we produce all those stress hormones for nothing.

Our language is filled with expressions of how emotion affects the body: tension and stress gives me a knot in my stomach, overwhelming sadness makes me feel all choked up, a difficult person is a pain in the neck. These are all learned reactions to emotion. Its what our body was taught to do during stressful times.

So..how can we become emotionally healthy? First you should map your emotions and find out how you react. More then likely you will see that your reaction is a learned reaction. Once you have identified your emotions and your reactions, you can then deal with the past and get beyond it and put into place new ways of dealing with the stresses of life.

It may take courage and faith to examine your own life, to face the past with kindness and gentleness for the person you have been and the people who have caused you pain, and to support the person you feel yourself becoming. Healing your past emotional experience helps create a joyful, healthy present moment and opens the doors to the life you want for yourself.

Once you move on from the past and start living in the moment your emotional health gets better and better. You will see a change in yourself and those around you.

Many people use different types of relaxations techniques such as yoga or taking a walk. Do whatever suits you to diminish the stresses in your life. When you become emotionally healthy, your chances of becoming physically healthy increase drastically and you are on your way to a NEW YOU!!!

POSITIVE THINKING AND GOOD HEALTH

2008-04-23T00:43:00.002-04:00

Did you know that your thoughts are in your control, and they can be very powerful!

Positive thoughts can help to promote healthy behaviors. It's simple really. If you believe you can take 10,000 steps a day, you will be more likely to take an extra walk to meet your goal!!

Remember what we discussed last time around???? GET UP OFF THAT COUCH!

Remember the famous children's book "The Little Engine that Could"? The theme, with its chant, "I think I can, I think I can," helped the small train make it up the hill. The book's message is as true today as it was when it was first published in 1930. If you set your mind to something, you can do it. Be that little engine....tell yourself you can do it!!!

But remember...the reverse can also be true....

Your thoughts can be defeating. "I'm already overweight, so it doesn't matter if I eat a second piece of cake." Or, "I only have 10 minutes. It's not enough time to walk." Negative thoughts, often called negative self-talk, may sabotage your good intentions.

You have the power to change the way you think. So start today!

Studies have measured the success of positive-thinkers and found that those who think they can lose weight, or increase their physical activity, do! These people are more successful than people with less faith in themselves. The confidence you have in performing a certain behavior is called self-efficacy; and self-efficacy is a key in successful behavior change.

Like the "Little Engine", sometimes you need an extra push. There will be days when you don't floss, slip from eating right, or lose your temper. Small setbacks are normal. Learn from your past success and failures. Think about what sets you off course. Maybe it was the business travel that hurt your nutritional plan and exercise habits. Or maybe it was the looming deadlines and tight back-to-back appointments you had last week.

Take a minute to consider how you might have handled the situation differently. Maybe you could have shared a dish with a colleague at the business dinner or skipped the cocktail hour and the dessert tray. Don't dwell on the past. Move on and learn, so next time you will make healthier choices toward positive change.

How to Stay Positive

Positive thinkers admit when they feel frustrated or depressed. They don't ignore it. But they also don't blame themselves. Instead, they try to understand the negative thoughts and feelings and counter them with more positive ones.

So how do you stay positive, maintain momentum and sustain healthy behaviors? Here are some tips:

Look for a good role model. There is always someone who seems to be doing just what you want to be doing. Maybe they've scheduled exercise into their workday and switched from coffee to herbal tea. Learn from a successful friend, family member or colleague. Ask them how they keep healthy and follow in their footsteps.
Try some positive self-talk and avoid negative-talk. Take a minute to give yourself an ego boost. Repeat some motivational words out loud or to yourself. Negative talk, "I can't do it," "I'm fat," is dangerous for your well-being and healthy goals. Try to avoid the negative self-talk before it harms you. Remind yourself that you deserve happiness and can make positive changes.
Get support. Tell your friends and family about your healthy habits. It helps to have an encouraging network.
Reward yourself. Give yourself a pat on the back for your healthy efforts. Take a nice bath, get a massage, and enjoy a new DVD or CD.
Have a plan. Making a plan to exercise or eat healthy lunches with a friend can mean the difference of sticking with your goals or falling off track. If you've planned for an activity, you'll likely stick with it. You may even find that writing down your goals and steps to achieve them can help you stay on track. Take it day by day or week by week. The process of writing down your personal action plan is a good way to keep you honest and watch your progress or pitfalls.

GET UP OFF THAT COUCH!!

2008-04-14T21:58:00.001-04:00

Last week we talked about fatigue. I mentioned that one way to beat fatigue is exercise. Well, here are a few facts that may help you GET UP OFF THAT COUCH!!

1. A pound of fat equals 3500 calories. To lose 1 pound a week you will need to expend 3500 more calories than you eat that week, whether through increased activity or decreased eating or both. Losing 1-2 pounds of fat a week is a sensible goal, and so you will want to use the combination of increased activity and eating less that will total 3500 calories for 7 days.

2. Walking at a moderate pace for 30-60 minutes burns stored fat and can build muscle to speed up your metabolism. Walking an hour a day is also associated with cutting your risk of heart disease, breast cancer, colon cancer, diabetes and stroke. Isn't it time to work 1-hour walks into your busy lifestyle?

3. Walking can also transform your health. Experts now say that taking roughly 10,000 steps per day sets off a chain reaction of physical benefits, including lower blood pressure, reduced risk for heart disease and better odds for preventing breast cancer.

Does 10,000 steps sound overwhelming? A little perspective: It translates into 4.5 to 5 miles, or one hour of rapid walking. Still sound like a lot? Try breaking it into shorter bits: three 20-minute errands on foot, one breezy 30-minute walk before breakfast and another after dinner. Or simply commit to getting up once an hour, every hour throughout your day and moving for five minutes.

However you break down the steps, there's only one fabulous result: a slimmer, more energetic you. In 60 minutes of walking, you'll burn 300 to 500 additional calories. Keep that up for 10 days and you'll lose a pound. Keep it up for a year and you'll be 35 pounds lighter -- without a minute of dieting.

Do you really have time for a walking workout? Absolutely -- you just need to find a routine that fits into your already superfried schedule. You can do it!!! I know you can!

So...here is your homework....START WALKING!!! Each week I would like you to check in with me and tell me how you feel now that you are walking!

FIXES FOR FATIGUE!

2008-04-05T22:30:00.001-04:00

Well, you know what your energy busters are...would you like to know how to fix the problem???

One thing that is crucial to fixing this problem is breakfast. Eating a good wholesome breakfast that contains some protein is crucial. It helps normalize blood sugar levels and provides your body with the fuel it needs early in the day. Muncing on healthy snacks -- like fruit, nuts, or yogurt, not candy or chips -- throughout the day can also help boost energy levels. Forget the processed foods, which tend to contain refined carbohydrates that set your body on an energy roller coaster. Instead, choose whole foods like fruit, vegetables, whole grains, beans, eggs, and lean fish and poultry. Foods that are rich in antioxidants and other phytonutrients, such as berries, green tea, and cocoa, can also boost energy.

OTHER FATIGUE FIXERS:

1. SUPPLEMENTS: To help normalize energy and prevent deficiencies, take a good multivitamin-multimineral supplement that contains all the B vitamins as well as a calcium/magnesium/vitamin D supplement with at least 400 mg of magnesium and 1,000 IU of vitamin D.

2. NUTRITION: Cut out processed foods. Eat a good breakfast that contains protein. Eat plenty of fruits and veggies to minimize the sugar roller coaster.

3. MANAGE STRESS: It is impossible to eliminate all stress from our lives, but you can manage your stresses. DO NOT turn to alcohol or other addictive drugs. There are so many stress relieving techniques out there like exercise, yoga, meditation that not only will destress you but also help you get in shape. If you want more information on this...just ask...I will help you.

4. REDUCE CAFFEINE INTAKE: Although we all love that cup of coffee in the morning or that cup of tea in the afternoon,caffeine boosts energy by stimulating the central nervous system and increasing the heart rate and blood pressure. But this pick-me-up can also let you down.

5. START BREATHING...REALLY!:

When you're stressed or anxious, you breathe more shallowly. This can set up a downward energy spiral: If you're not breathing properly, you're not ferrying enough oxygen to your tissues, and that oxygen deficiency impairs energy metabolism. Shallow breathing also allows toxic metabolic waste to build up in your cells, he explains, making you feel sluggish and ill. So...take deep breaths through out the day...in through your nose and out through your mouth....now thats just to easy not to do!

6. EXERCISE: Okay...I know you know I was going to say this...but really...When you're feeling drained, hopping on a treadmill, picking up a pair of dumbbells, or stretching your limbs into Downward Dog may be the last thing you want to do. Yet you need to expend energy to get more of it. That's because regular physical activity not only improves your mood and helps you sleep better, it can increase both the number of your mitochondria and how efficiently they work. Start off small and gradually work your way to better energy. 50 minutes of walking per day (doesnt have to be all at once) will boost your energy levels and you mood...and heavens what it does for your waist line!

7. SLEEP: And last but certainly not least...get enough sleep!

The effects of inadequate sleep on your energy levels are even clearer: You have trouble waking up and getting through your day without the crutch of caffeine. On a physical level, a sound night's sleep is crucial to keeping your mitochondria in good working order. Without it, your levels of blood sugar and stress hormones rise, slowing your metabolism and draining you of energy.

THE NEW YOU LESSON TWO

2008-03-30T23:18:00.000-04:00

Feeling energetic "means having the vitality to do the things you want to do. That vitality isn't just a state of mind -- it's a physical condition. Each of our cells contains hundreds of mitochondria, tiny "power plants" that combine the oxygen we breathe with the food we eat and then burn the combination to create energy. We know this process as metabolism. How energetic we feel largely depends on how well our mitochondria are functioning. The question is how do we keep our mitochondria in good working condition? Well, they need quality fuel: a wholesome, varied diet, restorative sleep, and plenty of oxygen from regular exercise.

Did you all make a food diary for your first assignment as I asked.........I did...here is what it looked like:

1. Energy bar with protein

2. Hand full of jelly beans

3. Healthy salad with salad dressing, a chicken patty with no bread

4. A very small piece of chocolate

5. Another very small piece of chocolate...oh and some jelly beans

6. and now I need something salty....a handfull of pretzels...after all they have no fat

7. Now Dinner for the boys and Mark....Meat, potatoes, veggies oh...and a hand ful of jelly beans while I am cooking!!!

So as you see, we often sabotage it with "counterfeit energy" -- stimulants like caffeine and processed sugars like jelly beans or chocolate or even that pretzel that we think give us more pep but only drain our energy in the long run.

Now...here is your assignment for a week.....I want you to visualize each of those energy snappers as the most disgusting food you have ever eaten. Everytime you need a bit of a kick and reach for an energy snapper.....think of that disgusting food.....then I want you to take a very deep breath and imagine yourself in the most pleasant place you have ever been...and if you cannot think of one then make one up....do this for a week....and email your thoughts to me each day!!!!!

THE NEW YOU LESSON ONE

2008-03-30T23:17:00.001-04:00

We all had a fantastic time listening to Tom Martinelli and his presentation of "The New You Begins Within". I hope you all reflect on that webinar often. Visit Toms site as well.

So..The new you begins within. Not only mentally, but physically as well. Did you know that we sabotage ourselves daily?

Have a look at what you eat and when you eat. Start making a list and do this for one week. Write what you have for breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner etc. Include the fluids you have as well. In one week I will give you a lesson on eating to get your energy back and show you where you may be going wrong in your own diet. So............stay tuned!!!!!

2008-03-16T20:21:00.001-04:00

I came across this youtube video which brought me to my knees and made me weep. Please watch this video. We all come across things in our life time that we feel that we cannot do. Or perhaps find ourselves in situations where we think that the opposing thing is more powerful then yourself. Watch this video and remember it everytime you find yourself in this situation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vB59PkB0eQ

YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK

2008-02-04T06:33:00.000-05:00

I have come across many different kinds of people in my lifetime. I have studied them and read about them. I recently have been reading the book, "Think and Grow Rich" by Napolean Hill. In it you hear of stories that are so similar to the many people I have watched and met throughout my life.

Before reading this book I would teach my children that "you make it what it is"

Now that I have read "Think and Grow Rich", I am convinced that if you truly want something and are determined and persist, you will get it.

If you have always dreamed of being more then you are now, if you want to become the New You...then please, visit our website: www.pinkpartiesandhelpinghands.com

We are dedicated to helping you become ....the New You!

If you would like to join, please email me at : melanie.eatherton@comcast.net

See you there!!!!

New Web Addres

2008-02-02T11:50:00.000-05:00

OUR NEW WEB ADDRESS IS WWW.PINKPARTIESANDHELPINGHANDS.COM

WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE BUT ARE WORKING ON BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS!!!

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

THE IMPORTANCE OF HYDRATION

2008-01-28T22:25:00.000-05:00

THE IMPORTANCE OF HYDRATION

Water is an essential and the major component of all living matter, and the largest single component of our bodies. Water is the one substance (other than oxygen) that we must absolutely have if we are to survive.

An adult can live several weeks without food, but no more than about 10 days without water:

• You can lose 50% of your glucose and survive,

• You can lose 50% of your body fat and survive,

• You can lose 50% of your protein and survive,

• You can lose only 20% of your water before you die of dehydration!

Our brains are approximately 80% water. Keep in mind that when we are born our bodies are 90% water and 10% matter. As an aging adult, our bodies begin losing water, dehydration sets in, and hydration falls to about 70% water and 30% matter. Upon death, the body is only 50% water!

Interestingly, because of the gradualness of the sensation of thirst over a number of years, our bodies become chronically and increasingly dehydrated, from an early adult age… and we don’t even notice it! Just because we don’t feel thirsty, it doesn’t mean that we are not dehydrated.

75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. (Likely applies to half the world population)
In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.
Even mild dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.

Lack of water is the number 1 trigger of daytime fatigue. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day is capable of significantly easing back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

A mere 2% drop in body water is capable triggering fuzzy short-term memory trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.

Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it is capable of slashing the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

Water is free. Unlike a daily ½ litre bottle of carbonated soft drink that will cost you £1.00 a day, tap water costs you nothing. That's £250.00 in savings per year!

Water assists to prevent bladder infections. Studies indicate that men who consume more than 10 glasses of water per day are less likely to develop bladder infections than those that did not. Water also helps keep your heart functioning.

You have most likely heard that our bodies are not capable of lasting more than two to three days without water, though that you would be capable of going weeks without food. Water is required for very basic physiologic functions such as regulating blood pressure and body temperature, hydration and digestion (The body requires about 1.5 milliliters of water to absorb every calorie ingested).

Humans all really need to drink more water, the human body is about 60% water. Your muscles and your brain are about 75% water. Your blood is about 82% water. And your bones are about 25% water, drinking coffee and other drinks with caffeine do not count because caffeine is a diuretic, which makes the body rid itself of water. So, your body requires water to survive and function properly.

One requires water to sustain one's physical and the physical body's many vital chemical reactions and maintain correct body temperature. Water also rehydrates you for the reason that during a workout, water is lost as perspiration (and expired air), and this is capable of leading to dehydration if fluids are not replaced. Another plus, drinking water before and during physical activity is capable of enhancing your athletic performance. It also assists the body to eliminate waste, which in turn is capable of reducing long-term risk of colon cancer.

According to a survey, nearly three quarters of Americans are aware of the recommendation of drinking eight 300ml servings a day, though only 34% actually drink this amount of water each day. Most humans consume only about 6 servings of water a day and nearly 10% declared that they do not drink water at all.

All this information I found just by doing searches on the internet. I am sure if you did the same you will be amazed at how little we all know about hydration. SO..do not delay...drink at least if not more...8 glasses a day!!!!!

This is just the beginning for a "New You!"

Stay tuned for more...and visit our website www.pinkpartiesusa.com!

WELCOME TO THE NEW YOU

2008-01-27T23:05:00.001-05:00

I am so excited to start this new blog and I hope that you will all enjoy and benefit from it. Each week I will be posting new blogs that will help to inspire you to become the "New You". I will help to empower you to make changes in your life necessary to be successful in everything that you do.

Here is just a tidbit about me.....

I am a mother of two fantastic teenage boys. I have worked for twenty years in the healthcare industry as a mammographer and radiographer. I also have managed the re-mortgage unit of a law firm in Gloucester England. I taught gymnastics to kids from the ages of about 3 -16! What a task that was but I loved it! I am currently working on helping others to live up to their potential by becoming not only physically fit, but mentally and financially fit!!!

I look forward to the coming posts and look forward your comments!!

Please visit our website: www.pinkpartiesusa.com