After watching a spectacular finish to an amazing Super Bowl, I found myself pondering certain things about the game that are so applicable to everyday life, such as how we respond with challenges when the intensity is high.

Thinking back to when I played high school basketball, my coach would say to us, "When the game's on the line and it comes down to the final shot, who wants the ball?"  As players, we had to ask ourselves, "Am I going to shy away from the pressure, be fearful, and hope it's in someone else's hands? Or am I willing to stand in the heat and take the shot no matter what the outcome?" 

As with sports, so is life; we can experience the greatest highs, as well as the greatest challenges, when our character is truly tested.  How do you handle the tough times? Do you fall into fear, react and lose your personal power? Or do you remain calm, focused and handle the opportunity at hand? 

All of us are being challenged at this time.  Remember, our experience and our health are determined by our outlook and the choices we make.  With a challenge at hand, what kind of player are you?    Spring's on it's way!  Happy Spring!   

Lisa Brisse & the State of the Heart Staff
Note: Please check out Lisa's blog for more news & thoughts

There is a lot more talk about meditation these days in regards to how it actually affects the physiology of our mind, body and overall health.  With renewed interest in this 2500 year old tradition, much research is being done to find if the claims by long term meditation practitioners are really true - that meditation can and does promote a sense of well-being for both the mind and the body. 

According to Sara Lazar, the esteemed neuroscientist speaking at the conference about Mindfulness and Psychotherapy, "Meditation can literally change your brain!" She was presenting the preliminary findings from her own research on the effects of meditation on brain structure while studying Buddhist meditation practitioners.

What is the research telling us?   In terms of behavior change:

1.  meditation improves attention and decreases distractibility
2.  the "me" part of the brain becomes less active while the "body" attention part becomes more active
3.  a more stable integrated state is achieved, putting the anxious chatter of the brain into perspective

Meditation, especially Buddhist style, is considered a tool for quieting the mind and regulating the ups and downs of one's emotions. It also increases one's awareness of the mind and body functioning in a non-attached, observing way. The actual mind-body connection in meditation practice can be evaluated in 3 different ways:

• through neuroplasticity: the neuroscience research showing that the brain structure is indeed affected by meditation
• through physical health: reduced stress as a result of meditation promotes a stronger immune system
• taming the mind through the body: the meditative posture is demanding on the body.  During certain Buddhist meditations, one is expected to sit through the temptations to move the body, despite physical and emotional discomfort

This article was provided by Swati Desai. If you are motivated to learn meditation for stress reduction, improve health, chronic pain, or performance enhancement, call her at 310.308.9531 or email her at meditate@swatidesai.com.  www.swatidesai.com

...if you started off the New Year with enthusiasm about exercising and eating healthier, but you find that enthusiasm waning...  re-focus.  Remind yourself of your goals.  Remind yourself of the deeper reasons why you set those goals.  Remind yourself of the "cost" to your happiness and to your health if you abandon those goals.  Re-assess.  Are your goals realistic? Or did you bite off more than you can chew?

Did you recruit the proper support you need - a buddy, a coach, a trainer, a dietitian, a group, etc. - to help you achieve that goal?  Or have you set out on your own without a plan and no one there to keep you on track or keep you accountable? 

No matter who we are, no matter what our goals or aspirations, we all need to do a personal inventory time and time again... sometimes everyday.  Life is constant growth and transforming ourselves and our lives is a day-to-day process; it is a constant practice.  If you feel like you've slipped a bit, don't worry.  Re-focus.  Remember.  Recruit what and who you need to stay on your plan.  We all need each other's help.  Ask anyone who has achieved their goals and dreams, no matter how big or small... all got some form of help along the way. 

If you're needing the help to stay focused, stay committed, and encouraged along the way, call us TODAY!
Our business is YOUR health & happiness!

Extensive research shows that it is not a question of if we are carrying a burden of toxins, but rather how much and to what extent they affect our health.

Consider this...
-Several thousand food additives are intentionally added to our food supply, and thousands more slip into our food supply unintentionally during harvesting, processing, or packaging.  In fact, the average American consumes about 124 pounds of food additives a year!

-Over 400 pesticides and herbicides are currently licensed for use on food crops, and every year over 2.5 billion pounds are dumped on crop lands, forests, lawns, and fields.

Some Common Ways Our Exposure to Toxins is Increased

• Chronic use of medications
• Excessive alcohol use
• Intestinal dysfunction
• Eating a diet high in processed foods and fat
• Drinking tap water
• Living or working near areas of high vehicle traffic or industrial plants

Healthy by Design Nutrition Specialists can provide you with an advanced detoxification program to help your body rid itself of dangerous toxins.  Their program provides simple dietary guidelines with a complete and nutritionally balanced beverage, which contains a blend of the essential food components and nutrients that support the detoxification process.

Clients who have completed this month-long program have reported incredible gains in energy, improved sleep, increased focus throughout the day, and decreased GI bloating, gas, and constipation. Others have reported that this program gave them enough structure to stop compulsive/disordered eating behaviors and helped to put them back in control, following a normal, healthy eating style. Unlike some other programs, on this detoxification program you eat real food - this is not a fast nor a juicing program - but a clean, whole food diet.  Get rid of the toxins that can cause disease and get your body back to basics and feeling the energy that it should! 

Dorothy Bernet, MS, RD, CPT and Stacey Whittle, RD, CPT are co-owners of Healthy by Design Nutrition Specialists in Santa Monica, CA.  For more information call us at 310-828-6100 or visit our website at www.HealthybyDesignNutrition.com.

Good news!  Due to the overwhelming response to the detox program, Healthy by Design is now offering group classes...
Click here to find out more!

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