SIMPLY WOMAN! by Crystal Andrus
We frequently live our lives in pleasing mode, trying to impress our in-laws, amaze our boss, have the perfect house, and do our children’s school projects; but often we do all this only because we care too much what people think.
Of course, we need to be politically correct at times, gracious at others, and occasionally grin-and-bear it diplomatically when our mother-in-law corrects our parenting. However, we certainly do not have to be so fragile and sensitive about what other people think about us.
This self-destructive need for approval only disappears when we begin approving of ourselves, and that can only happen after we face our greatest fears and truths. We’ve all heard the saying “the truth will set you free.” Truth opens the door to authenticity. Authenticity is the secret ingredient to living with inner peace and self-love.
The first step to living your authentic life is accepting that you are not responsible for someone else’s hurtful or neglectful behaviour, but you are accountable for your reaction to it and how you allow it to affect your life. You are responsible for your emotions whether they are negative ones such as envy or insecurity or positive ones like compassion and understanding.
The next time you feel slighted by someone close to you, ask yourself “is this my issue or theirs?” If you truly know this isn’t your issue (because you’ve really done the work on yourself), perhaps you can dig deeper and search for forgiveness and understanding. Realize that their fears compel them to lash out at you. The bottom line is that you must believe in yourself. Know who you are and what you want for your life.
Although carbohydrates and fats supply us with energy, every cell in our body is constructed from the protein we eat. The principle role of protein in our bodies is to build and repair close to 300 billion cells daily, including muscles, ligaments and tendons. Protein is your muscle protector, and it is crucial to weight loss. The more lean muscle you have on your body the more calories you use day and night, even when you’re sleeping.
Without protein, you will have a difficult time making and keeping muscle. Protein does not stimulate insulin production and is not converted to fat easily. It also helps to elevate our resting metabolic rate because it has a high “thermic” response. Thermogenesis is different than metabolism and refers to how our body burns stored body fat to produce heat. Protein has a very high thermic response. When we eat egg whites or chicken breast, for example, our bodies work overtime trying to break down the protein into a usable form. In fact, you can use up about 60 calories digesting a 200 calorie chicken breast.
Some protein sources are better than others. Protein that you should avoid or minimize in your diet includes dark meat and egg yolks. Healthy sources of protein are low in saturated fat such as fish, skinless chicken breast, skinless turkey breast, low-fat yogurt and cottage cheese, protein shakes and egg whites.
And despite what you might have heard, many of us do not eat adequate healthy protein. If you think that you might not be getting enough protein, try some protein powder in a smoothie. Whey protein, specifically high alpha-lactalbumin whey isolate, is biologically superior to even eggs, cow’s milk, beef or chicken. Soy protein speeds metabolism, increases growth hormone levels, and supplies calcium, folic acid and iron. Be sure to purchase a soy protein powder in isolate form that is non-genetically modified. As always, purchase your supplements from a reliable manufacturer.
Crystal Andrus’s column is a condensed version of her new book on personal transformation. She is an authority on women’s health, a sought after speaker and author of the best seller Simply Woman! The 12 Week Body/Mind/Soul Total Transformation Program. www.hayhouse.com/details.php?id=2247
Crystal Andrus is a popular Canadian fitness expert and motivational speaker. This article is the fourth in a 12-part series.
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