Simply Woman! by Crystal Andrus

If you are not making the necessary changes to achieve your goals, you need to figure out why you are holding yourself back. For many of us, the answer lies in history. We work hard at forgetting and erasing our past, pretending the tough times we have been through no longer affect us. Yet some of us have deep scars that keep us stuck, without our even realizing it. You may no longer even think about painful times from the past, or the people who might have hurt you, but everything you have been through has made you who you are today.
Some women hold on to their pain because it allows them to blame others when they make poor choices. They choose to stay stuck because it provides self-justification for their fears. Living in pain becomes the comfort zone, and crisis and drama help to prevent anyone from getting close. If this sounds like you, the key to getting unstuck is to forgive. Really forgive, and then forget.
Forgiveness is not intended to mend anyone else or to say, “It’s okay to abuse me.” It is to help you move forward to find new joy and love. And just as we must forgive those who have trespassed against us, we must also forgive ourselves for our mistakes. Wipe your own slate clean, and begin to make smarter choices from this point on. Don’t make things more complicated than they have to be, and stop the self-sabotage. Only you know if you are ready to make the choice to live authentically. You can choose to be angry and resentful, or you can just as easily choose to be loving and forgiving. It is up to you.

Nutrition
Every mouthful of food becomes your skin, hair, muscles, bones, heart, organs, nervous system, brain, immune system, energy, enzymes, and hormones. This means that food quality is extremely important. Toxins or chemicals in our foods lead to cell damage, resulting in fatigue, cloudy thinking, lowered self-esteem, leaky-gut syndrome, poor complexion, weight gain, irritability, and poor digestion. This can lead to a vicious cycle creating mood swings, poor concentration, depression, and even PMS.
It is very clear to me that at least 80-85 percent of all our ailments are caused by our diet, lifestyle, or environment, while less than 15-20 percent are genetically ordained. This means that although we might have a genetic predisposition for a certain disease, only 15-20 percent of all our illnesses are passed on from our parents. Our genetics are not our destiny.
Signs of toxic accumulation in our bodies include arthritis, food allergies, poor memory, abnormal body odour, bad breath, psoriasis, and adult acne. To help clear out the toxins, eliminate chlorinated water, processed foods, sugar, artificial sweeteners, and alcohol. To limit exposure to chemicals in food, opt for organic whenever possible. If you use conventionally grown fruit and vegetables, wash them carefully, removing outside leaves and peeling when possible.
Continue to eat from the Green Light food choices. (You can find them at the back of Simply…Woman!) Pay attention to hidden calories in oil, as even healthy kinds such as olive oil are very calorie dense. Don’t ruin that perfect low calorie salad with three tablespoons at just over 400 calories. Apple cider and balsamic vinegar are great on salad. Try sautéing your veggies with a touch of water instead of oil for a stir-fry. Use spices, lemon, limes, vinegars, salsa, garlic, and herbs instead of ketchup, barbecue sauce, gravy, and dressings. Freshly squeezed lemon juice is fantastic on fish. Chicken cooked with salsa gives it gusto, or try cinnamon on a baked apple for dessert.

Exercise
Keep things interesting by trying some new things. If you are getting bored with walking/jogging/running, substitute another form of intense cardio. Choose a form of exercise such as a spinning class, step aerobic class, or kick boxing that is considered intense and which will maximize your fat burning sessions. Just be sure to keep up with your cardio workouts. This is a journey that takes time, perseverance, and consistency.

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
www.simplywoman.com