Sometimes you need to hit rock bottom before you realize that a change needs to happen. For me that happened last month with my overall health and well-being. I just was not and still am not happy with how I have let my health and fitness go. I stopped focusing on myself and put too much energy into things that were draining me. I realized that I needed to make a change and gave myself a start date of August 1st, 2015.
Because of my personality, I had to have clear goals set in mind and wanted to share them with you to help encourage and hold myself accountable to keeping up with goals.
So here it goes!
Long term goals:
Lose fifty pounds, with an average of 2-3 pounds a week. This will put my weight back into a healthy category for my height.
Follow a strict vegetarian diet with a gradual transition to vegan.
Complete a 3 mile run.
Organize and complete a weekly workout plan.
Spend time every day meditating for at least five minutes.
Practice yoga three to five times a week.
Let go of the areas in my life that are draining me.
Every week I will come back and share my current weekly goals and how I did on last week’s goals. My hopes are that this will motivate not only myself but you to focus on your own physical and emotional well-being (something most of us don’t spend enough time on with our busy lives).
This weeks goals:
2 pound weight loss.
Follow my vegetarian diet with a meal plan.
Yoga four times a week.
Daily evening meditation.
Daily squat, lunge, push up and crunch challenge.
Run daily for five minutes (I am starting out here!!).
Stay hydrated with eight glasses of water a day.
10,000 step minimum a day.
I will be sharing with you on Monday how I did with these goals listed above and my new set of goals for the week.
To kick off this healthy month, I want one of you my readers to win a $50 Shoppers Drug Mart gift card so that you can splurge on yourself.
Canadian residents, eighteen years of age and older can enter via the Rafflecopter form below.
Brian, his wife Christine and their 14 year-old daughter, Savanna, are a typical all American family. Their lives begin to unravel when a dark secret from their past threatens to destroy them. Divorce seems imminent unless they can discover a miracle.
Savanna refuses to stand by and watch her family self-destruct. A mysterious young woman and her dog show Savanna how to look past the physical and see the spiritual side of her situation. A leap of faith and willingness to change her perspective gives Savanna a new view of her life, her values and her purpose.
But can the adults give up their stories about the past that are tearing them apart?
Brimming with inspiration, transformation and empowering messages, “Heart Dancing” is life changing. It also introduces the 4 step process called Story Alchemy, which is used to transform the stories that threaten the Hartt’s peace and happiness.
My Thoughts
Heart Dancing is a story that so many can relate. Savanna’s family is in a deep crisis, a crisis many teens and adults can relate to. This crisis arose from decisions that were made many years ago that still haunt Christine and Brian. This haunting affects not only their relationship but now their daughter. Their family starts spiraling out of control and Savanna feels so many emotions that it is hard for her to understand and cope with them. Forgiveness is not always easy and even harder is to move forward from hurt. Each member of their family must learn to heal, understand and move forward.
An interesting concept from this book is in the form of Miracle Tokens. Miracle tokens are pieces of inspiration, wisdom and advice that you would give out to those you love or even strangers.
I found the beginning of the novel slow to start and I had a hard time reading through each story but I was happy that I pushed on through the first half of the book as I began to love the story and it was well worth it.
Kathryn Eriksen is known as the “Story Alchemist.” She has touched many people with her inspirational books, blog and articles about living your best life. A lawyer by training, she transformed her own life story from anger and frustration to love, joy and peace through the use of the same techniques that she shares in “Heart Dancing.”
Will doubts of being true to her ruin her marriage in Two Hearts?
About Two Hearts
Jaxon Tagget is a cattle-rancher’s son, born and raised on the Double T, just outside of Dillon, Montana. He is in love with his high-school sweetheart, Annie, so much so that Jaxon proposes on graduation night. He presents her with a wedding ring made from gold he had mined himself. Annie accepts immediately, to the horror of her bitter, man-hating mother.
Jaxon is a wonderful husband, but the warnings of Annie’s mother linger in the young bride’s ears. And it doesn’t help that women continue to fall all over the markedly handsome Jaxon.
Unaware of his wife’s persistent doubts, Jaxon is struggling with his own troubles when he finds out his Dad is in need of money to save the ranch. But hope glimmers gold when he rediscovers the old mine on the Double T.
While Jaxon travels to verify the mine’s productivity, Annie grows increasingly suspicious. Is Jaxon’s absence what it seems, or does he have another, less faithful reason for his travels? When Annie sees a picture of the beautiful laboratory owner whom Jaxon is visiting, she’s sure the only gold he’s interested in is long, blond hair. Is Annie right, or will it be her doubts that forever sever their Two Hearts?
My Thoughts
Our past experiences shape our current actions and thought patterns. It is hard to ‘unlearn’ everything that has shaped us throughout our childhood. This is the same for Annie in Two Hearts. She loves Jaxon with all her heart but because of her childhood she is quick to not trust him and find fault. This is a typical thought pattern so many of us get into and is even that much harder to break. It is the ‘safer’ road for us, just as this is the safe road for Annie.
Jaxon loves Annie with all her heart but the constant accusations and lack of trust is eating away at his heart. He wants and needs her to see how much he loves her. That when he said ‘I Do’ he meant it and always will mean it.
Two Hearts is not only an honest, romantic novel but touching and provides readers with a good lesson. Trust is the basis of any relationship and without it a marriage can fail easily.
James Eric Richey was born and raised in California. He attended Brigham Young University, studying English with an emphasis in Literature. After graduating from BYU he returned home to California to further his education by attending law school. After passing the bar, James practiced in California for several years, but he quickly learned that he did not have a passion for the law.
In 1998 James obtained his real estate appraiser license, which has given him a flexible work schedule and allowed him to pursue his true passion, writing books. Besides his writing, he also enjoys reading, running, and sailing. James currently lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming, with his wife, Heather, and their two daughters.
Conquer Your Pain in 9 Steps, is all about recognizing your pain and how to overcome its limitations.
About Conquer Your Pain in 9 Steps
From her own years of unnecessary suffering, Carole Staveley makes it her mission to maximize your chances of overcoming health barriers in the shortest possible time. Her 9 Step Health Champion approach shared in this book will help you achieve your full potential. She helps you achieve this by taking you through the process of establishing a Health Champion mindset, building your most effective health team, and maximizing your odds of persevering through it all. Become your own Health Champion and keep your healthy vision alive—no matter what challenges you face!
My Thoughts
Pain is subjective and can be felt differently from person to person based on severity. A headache that may debilitating to one person, is a normal day-to-day functioning health condition for another. Learning how to deal with your pain and conquer it in order to live a fully functional and happy life is so important!
Carole is like so many of us, suffering with chronic pain and being bounced back and forth. When she realized there were no easy answers, she knew she had to take charge of her own health. This is one area that I have always felt strongly about, patients need to be in charge of their own health, they need to ask questions, research (from reputable sources) and question whether treatments are right for them. While similar, all of our bodies respond differently to chronic conditions and treatments, so you need to work together with your health team to develop a treatment plan good for you.
Carole is an incredibly motivating individual that provides ideas and thought starters in order to take charge of your own health. This could range from individuals who suffer from chronic headaches (myself) to others who suffer from chronic diseases and conditions that puts them into positions of chronic pain. Treating your body with not only medication but also healthy food, supplements and exercise is just as important. Carole teaches us how to be an active part of our healing with chronic pain. Her book is one that you can work slowly through and come back to time and time again for a refresher.
After suffering 13 years of debilitation caused by a chronic myofascial pain condition, Carole Staveley realized there was no “magic bullet” coming to her rescue. She took charge of solving her health challenges and went on to complete an IRONMAN triathlon in 2013. Carole’s book, Conquer Your Pain in 9 Steps, takes you through her proven 9-step Health Champion approach to suffering less and achieving more. Carole Staveley is President of Inner Victory Coaching, an organization she founded to empower others to become their own Health Champions and reach their full potential. You can connect with her online, Twitter and Facebook.
Q: There are many books out there about health and wellness. What makes Conquer Your Pain in 9 Steps different?
A: Conquer Your Pain in 9 Steps is not just another general health and wellness book, nor is it focused on tips to overcome pain. It presents a 9-Step approach to dealing with any health challenge you might be faced with – now or in the future. This 9-step approach emerged from a retrospective analysis of how I conquered a 13-year struggle with chronic pain. Once I took control and became my own Health Champion, the improvements in my health were so dramatic that I was able to train for and complete an IRONMAN triathlon just 4 years into my recovery! The book was written with a deep desire to communicate to others that they can achieve things they never dreamt possible by following the process and becoming their own Health Champions.
Q: As a mom, writer, owner of your own company, athlete and Wellness Coach, how do you balance your time?
A: I get asked this a lot, and my answer generally goes like this: The biggest mistake we can make is to envision a “balanced” life in which our time is equally divided into all aspects of our lives (family, workouts, work, etc). This type of utopian expectation is what sets us up for frustration and self-deprecation. There are many priorities in my life: My kids, my husband, my fitness, care of my home, work / income, friends, etc. What I’ve come to accept is that different priorities take precedence at different times, and this makes me feel balanced. For example, in the last few months, my daughter has struggled with a significant health challenge. My priority has been to make sure she fully recovers, which means work and fitness have taken a back seat. And that’s OK. I feel balanced. I’m doing what I need to be doing right now. Your mind is what decides whether you’re balanced or not!
Q: What’s the most courageous thing you’ve ever done.
A: I have to say the most courageous thing I’ve ever done was showing up for my very first triathlon in 2009. I was just beginning to unravel the mysteries behind my chronic pain condition, and wanted to do something physical to celebrate feeling better. So I signed up for a Sprint distance triathlon. I had only begun to swim (other than goofing around in the pool as a child) in 2008, and had never done an open water swim in my life. I hadn’t done a swim or run workout for 6 weeks prior to the race due to nagging injuries (part of the condition I suffer from), but I decided to show up for the race that morning. I was never so scared in my life, which made the reward that much greater when I crossed the finish line and hugged my husband and kids.
Q: What is your favorite travel spot?
A: My absolute favorite family trip was in Loreto, Mexico, in the Baja Peninsula. It was a magical land of natural beauty, where desert meets ocean. We were outside the tiny town of Loreto, and it was practically devoid of humans. The whole family was mesmerized by it.
Q: Is there anything quirky about you that you’d like to share with readers?
A: I have to admit, I’m a Starbucks addict! And I mean it has to be brewed in a Starbucks store! I’ve tried many times to buy their coffee beans and brew it at home, but it never tastes as good. Maybe it’s all in my head, but I really look forward to picking up my “Grande bold in a Venti cup” in the morning.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
In medieval Italy, daughters are expected to marry and raise children. In Alchemy’s Daughter, this whole concept is challenged.
About Alchemy’s Daughter
In San Gimignano, Italy, daughters of merchants are expected to marry. But Santina Pietra cares only for her Calandrino, a brilliant young scholar who is preoccupied with his ancient alchemical texts. He challenges her in her studies and teaches her to aim further then just a wife.
Soon Santina meets Trotula, the village midwife, who might or might not be a “strega,” a witch. Trotula challenges her to forget Calandrino and become the woman she is meant to be. Some say she is a victim of the midwife’s spell, but Santina is determined to follow in Trotula’s footsteps even as calamities strike.
My Thoughts
I love a novel with a strong, female character and Alchemy’s Daughter provides this and more. In a period of history where women were expected to marry and provide heirs, Santina is a strong, confident young woman who goes against convention to follow her dreams of being a midwife. While many people rely on the midwife to provide care and deliver their children, the role of the midwife was cast as a witch in medieval times. Which we now know, that being labelled as a witch had deathly consequences in this time period.
I love how the novel was full of surprises. Like the choice Santina made to learn midwifery, the novel didn’t follow the plot I assumed it would. This made it an even better read than I could have expected! I finished this whole novel in one sitting because I became so attached to Santina’s character and wanted to follow her journey. While in the beginning you may assume it may become a romance, the focus is not on the romance but instead on Santina’s journey of finding herself in a time period where this was frowned on.
Alchemy’s Daughter is the perfect read for all historical fiction genres buffs but also for all young women who want a strong female lead.
Mary A. Osborne is the multiple award-winning author of Alchemy’s Daughter and Nonna’s Book of Mysteries. She is a graduate of Rush University and Knox College, where she was mentored in the Creative Writing Program. Mary is a registered nurse and holds degrees in chemistry and nursing. Her freelance work has appeared in publications such as Hektoen International, Newcity, and the Examiner.com. Mary currently lives in Chicago. You can connect with her online, Twitter and Facebook.
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.
