I know some of my personal clients have been feeling a little frustrated with the weather and such. Even those of you who haven’t experienced snow and cold may be getting a few winter blahs–I am here to help with some strategies…
So read on, and hang in there–Spring is coming!

“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,” said Piglet at last, “what’s the first thing you say to yourself?”
“What’s for breakfast?” said Pooh.
“What do you say, Piglet?”
“I say, I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?” said Piglet.
Pooh nodded thoughtfully.
“It’s the same thing,” he said.
--A.A. Milne

If there is one thing Pooh knew about, it was comfort. And his idea about breakfast is a good one. Starting out the day with some good, healthy food in you and taking the time to enjoy it, is a wonderful, comforting thing to do for yourself.
If you are not hungry first thing in the morning, plan ahead to take a break after you have been up a couple of hours. Meet a friend for breakfast, or take oatmeal or yogurt and fruit to work with you, and take a breakfast break. Make sure to have some protein in the morning, and a big glass of water. The protein will keep you going longer and the break will help you get your day started in an organized way. Comforting.

Here are other soothing, comforting, and healthy things you can do for yourself:

* Baroque music boosts moods, according to the March issue of Body + Soul magazine. Composers would include Bach, Vivaldi, Scarlatti and Handel. Take a break from your regular music and background noise and try this for a change.
* And speaking of change, another mood booster is to seek novelty. How about some new foods? Take a look in the produce section of your grocery store and try one new thing this week. You may find something exciting.Explore a different area in the library or bookstore. Try some different movies.
* Laugh. A lot.
* In Yoga, “back bends are believed to stimulate your adrenal glands, revving you up,” says Sara Ivanhoe, Health magazine’s yoga columnist. Whether or not you include back bends in your day, take 5-10 minutes every morning to stretch and get in touch with your body. You ask your body to do a lot. Keeping yourself stretched out is a way of saying thank you.
* Make a gratitude list. It is easy to think about what is not going right, but a definite mood booster is to think about all the things that ARE working in your life. Take a few minutes to write these things down, and be grateful. Keep your list with you and try to read it throughout the day.
* Breathe. Before you walk out the door in the morning, before you walk into work, before you make phone calls, three deep breaths. Aaaahhhh….comfort.
* The urge for comfort foods is very real, and you can let yourself indulge if you keep an eye on portion size. Go ahead and have that mac and cheese, but make sure you notice what is truly one portion. Warm up some soup, or better yet, slow down and make some of your own. (Yes, you can take the time. Trust me!) Eat slowly and mindfully, putting down your fork or spoon between bites. Truly savor your food, whatever you choose to eat.
* Dark chocolate is an energy booster. The flavonoids in chocolate that laboratory studies demonstrate to have powerful antioxidants are called flavanols and procyanidins. These two compounds come from the flavonoid “family” that includes resveratrol, found in grape juice, and EGCG, found in green tea. When people consume these substances in chocolate and cocoa, the antioxidant status of their blood increases. A few other foods that have flavanols are red wine, broccoli, blueberries and onions.
* There are many hot chocolates available. If you are watching the calories, there are some low calorie versions out there for you, too. Now that’s a winter comfort!
* Walk. I know it may be cold but this can boost your energy and mood. Even if you feel tired when you start out, it will give you energy in the long run.
* Turn off the television. I know you can find something else to do. Get your brain thinking in a different direction. A positive, healthy direction.

Sometimes we need to go away.
Did you ever notice how hard it can be to change habits or develop new habits, when the same old, same old, is around?

Did you ever try to think about what you want in your life and really concentrate on changes you would like to make, and you keep getting interrupted?

“I can’t even finish a thought!” you find yourself saying in frustration.

If you know what I am talking about here, and you are nodding your head in agreement, then you need to go away.

A retreat can be for an hour, or it can be for a weekend.

If you have young children, it is very important to have retreats. That you love your children dearly is not the point. No one benefits from being together constantly.

You can arrange for babysitters and actually leave the house for a walk or a quiet cup of coffee somewhere. You can employ a mother’s helper to play with your children, while you retreat to your bedroom and do some stretches, or lie down to rest.

You will benefit from a walk in the evening, to think, and let your thoughts drift as you walk.

A retreat can be lunch by yourself with a book, instead of going out with everyone from work, yet again, to rehash office politics.

A retreat can be a movie by yourself, or a bookstore outing.

When we let our mind be refreshed with new images and thoughts, it starts to work with possibilities, and “what ifs.”

There are structured retreats and resorts that offer packages, if you can take the time. (If we try hard enough, and make it a priority, we can take the time.)

There are Hiking retreats, Yoga retreats, Spiritual Retreats. Search the internet and see what interests you.

Years ago, I did a Survival Weekend in the woods, and it was a great retreat. It was not restful, but I needed a change of scenery, and I was eager to learn new skills. That was the kind of retreat I needed at that time.
Different retreats for different times in our lives.

Do not consider yourself so indispensable that you cannot leave your life or situation for a couple days here and there.

Since my children have been very young, I take a weekend a year to go back up to Michigan to spend the time doing whatever I want. I shop with my sisters, laugh, read, visit friends, and eat when I want, whatever I want. I am not tied to anyone’s schedule but my own. This was not easy to do when the children were very young. Luckily, I have a wonderful husband who stepped into my shoes and took over.
I came back refreshed and though the relief on his face was unmistakable when I walked back through the door, we both knew it was worth it.

My husband takes a golf outing every winter. This is not always easy for him to arrange. He has to make sure everything can continue without him at work, and we have to make sure we have all bases covered at home. But, the pleasure and the relaxation he derives from his retreat, gets him through the rest of our cold, Pittsburgh winters!

We both have other trips we take, and now that the children are older, it is easier for us to arrange to be away. We try to go on trips together when the opportunity arises, or when we can create the opportunity.

You may miss your children and your partner while you are away, but remember that you need distance sometimes to realize the importance of people and situations in your life.

Being away from the same old haunts and breaking up your routine, lets you look at life from a new perspective, outside yourself and your fatigue.

A couple days of sleeping in, and changing your schedule, and you start seeing your life and your daily routines differently. You think, “Hey, why do I put up with that? Why don’t I eat better? Why can’t I change this? Why wouldn’t this or that work…?”

It is helpful to keep some notes when you retreat.

Jotting down thoughts and feelings as you experience them instead of hoping you remember your brilliant thoughts on that hike, is a good way to bring the benefits home.

Thinking about your thoughts and feeling while you were away can help you make changes.

You may think, “How could I feel like that in my daily life?” and you come up with an idea for a breather during your work day.

You remember a great meal you had, and you think, “I could make that for myself on the weekend!”

Retreating can help you gain perspective, get new ideas, and relieve you of unrelenting work and pressure.

Try it. Go away.

“Adventure must start with running away from home.”
-William Bolitho

Why do we drive ourselves crazy thinking there is something wrong with us when we cannot stick to a plan or achieve goals that we really desire in our lives?
I think it may be becoming part of our nature to want to complicate things. Really. Maybe it wasn’t always this way, but somewhere along the line, we decided that things were complicated and that everything was always going to be hard and that is just the way it is.
But what if it doesn’t have to be that way?

What if everything you want to achieve could be broken down into simple, manageable steps. Everything.
I think it can. I came up with 5 steps that you can implement today to make a healthy, stress-reducing change in your life. Start with one change that you want to make.

Here is how you can get results.
1. Make the change a priority. Decide and choose to make this goal, this decision, this choice, the most important thing in your life. If you are already thinking, “but it can’t be, I have other things…” and so on…you are not ready for achieving your goal and you can stop reading.
2. Schedule quiet time for planning every single day. This should be at the least 15 minutes and could go as long as an hour.
3. Be prepared to make reasonable, logical, and manageable lists toward achieving your goals. Cross one thing off each day. It can be a small thing, it can be large, but you must do one thing each day toward achieving your goal.
4. Be prepared to use affirmations. Allow time for affirmations, and decide that you will use them everyday. You can find lists of affirmations many places. The absolute best are from Louise Hay. If you don’t know who she is, find out and read her affirmations. You must stop any negative thoughts.
5. Find support. There are coaches, and there are groups online and in person. Do some research and find someone or a group to support you and hold you accountable. You need to have to report your progress to someone else and have someone to cheer you on.

These are the steps to achieving your goals. Do not be fooled by the simplicity. (I know you have heard me say that before!)
It isn’t complicated.
It may not always be easy, but if you truly want to make a change, then do it.
Stop making it a big deal!
Wouldn’t success feel great?
I will be expanding on all these points and more, Thursday, February 11th, during my Free teleclass.
If you would like to know more about how to implement these steps in your own life, please don’t wait–sign up for my Thursday night teleclass right now!
The class is recorded so if you cannot call in Thursday at 7:00pm, you can listen later.
It is going to be a great call and I am really excited about the information I will be sharing.
Don’t wait to make the changes.
Let me give you the help you need!
www.dianafletcher.com/events/teleclasses

Did you make any new changes in your life?

Did you make resolutions? Did you keep them?

I would like you to take a few minutes to review your month.

Think about what you wanted to accomplish and
review how you did.

If you had some problems, experienced set backs, or are feeling worn out and tired, I would like you to think about something….

Maybe you chose the more difficult path.And maybe you did that because you truly wanted to make changes, and you wanted them FAST!

I think this is the mistake we often make. We want the quick fix, the immediate result, the change to come…painlessly.

It doesn’t work that way, but that isn’t all bad. When you take your time and build new habits, slowly and surely, those are the habits that will stay with you, and that’s how you can change your life.

Choose the path where you make changes gradually and build those changes into your life.

Think about this: If you made one healthy change a week, in one year, you will have made 52 changes.

52 Changes!!! Think about that.

And they don’t even have to be huge! Here are some examples….

1st week, drink a big glass of water every morning.
2nd week, a ten minute walk every day.
3rd week, go to bed 15 minutes earlier.
4th week, one piece of fruit, no matter what, every day.
5th week, add vegetables, each and every day.

Do you get the idea?

Gradually, the extra weight comes off, and stays off.

Little by little, you get used to drinking water and realize that you feel better.

Step by step, you start getting more sleep and get more done in the morning.

All of sudden you notice, you are looking forward to your ten minute walk, and you add 5 more minutes a day.

It starts with little changes and they lead to bigger and bigger changes, and then…Presto! You are where you want to be.

The days, the weeks, and the months will pass anyway.

Each day, do something good for yourself. Stop making it a big deal and start noticing the little things.

If you have been on the harder path, go back, and take the other path.
The one that will truly get you where you want to go.

I have something exciting coming up in February that will help you with this. Taking the right path for you, learning how to take care of yourself…I have many wonderful things to share with you.
Hint: Check out the FREE teleclasses.

Meanwhile, be good to yourself.

If you need to start over, start over.

But do not, I repeat, do not beat yourself up about this.

Gently take yourself by the hand, and start down the right path for you.
It’s not too late to change paths. Really.

Join Stress Reducing Expert Diana Fletcher and her guest, award-winning author, Annie Fox, as they discuss stress, parents and teens.

Date: Wednesday, Feburary 17,2010

Time: 1:00 – 1:45 pm EST

The coaches will discuss:

• How to become more aware of your own stress triggers in regard to your kids
• How to model healthy stress management skills for the rest of the family
• Teens and choices
• The four stressors that teens need to know about
• What stress traps are, and what to do about them
• Needing and Getting Support
• How to guide your teen through an Emotional Time

As an educator, author and online advisor, Annie’s work is all about empowering young people through increased self-awareness, emotional intelligence skills and stress-reduction strategies. Annie’s wonderful books can be found on her website www.anniefox.com

“It doesn’t have to be a BIG Deal!”

Free Teleclass with Diana Fletcher, Stress Reducing Expert Coach

• Are you tired of wasting time?
• Are you tired of wasting money?
• Are you tired of feeling unhealthy?
• Are you tired of being tired?

Wouldn’t you love to know how to take care of yourself, live in a healthier way, stop running around like a nut…..without making it such a big deal?

You are wasting time and money trying to get healthy and organized.

STOP. It doesn’t have to be such a big deal

Getting your life, your time, and your health in good shape, does NOT have to be a big deal. Find out how to finally feel in control of your life during this valuable teleclass.

Join Diana Fletcher as she shares solid, workable strategies to get your life in order without wasting time and effort. Diana will inspire you and ignite your passion for a healthier, happier life!

Date: Thursday, February 11th
Time: 7:00 EST

]]> http://dianafletcher.com/2010/01/it-doesn%e2%80%99t-have-to-be-a-big-deal/feed/ 0 http://dianafletcher.com/2010/01/i-am-so-excited-about-the-book-signing-this-week/ http://dianafletcher.com/2010/01/i-am-so-excited-about-the-book-signing-this-week/#comments Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:17:28 +0000 Diana http://dianafletcher.com/2010/01/i-am-so-excited-about-the-book-signing-this-week/ It is so exciting to be a part of the opening of a new bookstore/coffeeshop! I am happy for owner Rosemarie Dicola and her business partner and excited to be invited to share in this.
2010 will be a powerful year, and I want to share strategies with the guests about all the ways to harness the power that they already have.
Here is the information for the event from a recent press release:

Books & Beans, Leechburg’s new Coffee and Book Store located at 156 Market St in Leechburg will host our first book signing and lecture. Books & Beans features fresh brewed fine coffee, espresso drinks, custom teas, and our signature hot chocolate, along with hundreds of gently used books in a warm comfortable setting made to allow you to enjoy time with great drinks, great reads and of course great friends.

Come to meet and learn from local author and Life Coach Diana Fletcher on how to take control of your life, reduce the stress, and feel good at the end of each day! Learn why resolutions don’t always work, and what you can do about that. Diana will discuss her latest book, Reduce Your Stress: Month by Month Stress Reducing Strategies in the comfortable setting of Leechburg’s cozy and relaxing, Books & Beans on Thursday, January 21st, 2010, from 6:00 – 6:30 pm. The presentation will be followed by a Q & A session and Diana will be available to sign books.

Date:   January 20, 2009
Time:  1:00 – 1:45 p.m. ET

Are you tired of making resolutions that you don’t keep? Are you tired of feeling like you don’t even know where to start? Are you tired of being tired? Join Diana Fletcher, as she takes you through some very simple and powerful strategies to truly align yourself with your spirit and figure out how to get where you want to go.

There will be many people trying to get their eating and weight under control right now–that is probably the most popular New Year’s Resolution…right?

This information could help you and make you a little more aware of what you are eating. Pay attention! That’s what is it truly about!

Misleading and Confusing Food Labels by Laura Crooks

In our quest to eat healthier foods and take care of our bodies we might rely on food packaging labels. This can be dangerous to our health and undermine our efforts thanks to unregulated and misleading food labels. The labels can be misleading, confusing, and pose as healthy food imposters.

Food packaging labels are created by companies whose sole purpose is to entice us to buy their product. Their misleading information implies we are getting health benefits that may not exist. They may print unsubstantiated health claims, or use pictures of desirable foods to make us think that is what is in the box, or they use cleverly crafted phrases which are not lies, but are also not as honest as they seem at face value. We are led to believe that fruit snacks are real fruit; they may have a bit of real fruit juice in them, but they are candy. Frozen dinners with real vegetables may have a bit of powdered vegetable in the sauce, generally not what we think of from the packaging.

Each company can create their own seal of approval or they may purchase the right to use one.

Here are some common food labels and what they mean (or don’t mean!):

100% organic is a USDA regulated term. The farmer must pay to have the government inspect and certify their farm. These foods are grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers, without hormones or antibiotics, are not cloned or genetically modified.(Remember that smaller farms may follow sustainable, 100% organic procedures but not pay the large assessment fees to be able to label as 100% organic.) Organic means that 95% of the ingredients are 100% organic.

Made with organic ingredients means that at least 70% of the ingredients are 100% organic. all natural – This label means that the product is free of preservatives and additives. It does not mean that the product is good for you or healthy. Arsenic and lead are all natural, but we try not to eat much of them! low fat – This label means there is less fat than in the regular version. It does not specify how much less fat, nor does it necessarily mean lower calorie. Low fat products often have more sugar, added to boost the flavor removed with the fat.

good source of calcium – This means there is at least 10% of your suggested amount of calcium present. Is 10% enough for you to consider it “good”?

carb free – This means the product has no carbohydrates present. I have seen this label on fresh meat; the meat is protein, it never was a carbohydrate product, but the label catches our eye.

made with – This label is often followed by something healthy such as real fruit or whole grains, such as “made with real fruit”. The label itself only means there is at least a drop of the named product present.

0 trans fats – This label is tricky, it does not mean there are NO trans fat in the product. It can be legally used provided there is less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving. The company only has to adjust their serving size to one with less than 0.5 grams to meet this labeling requirement. If you eat more than one serving you are adding up your amount of trans fats. If fully or partially hydrogenated vegetable oil are in the ingredient list the product has trans fats present.

cage free (usually referring to eggs or chickens) – This means the chickens were raised indoors but not in cages. Forced molting and beak cutting are allowed.

free range – This term makes you think the chickens get to roam outside all day in green pastures. It means the chickens are allowed access to the outside but there is not regulation on the duration of outdoor time nor the quality of their outdoor space. They could have spent a total of 5 minutes outside in dust. Beak cutting and forced molting are allowed.

humanely raised – This is a totally unregulated term and can mean whatever the manufacturer wants it to mean. They would like you to picture a clean, healthy living environment!

100% wheat – Your squishy white bread is 100% wheat…it is totally refined wheat flour. Look for 100% whole wheat for the more nutritious type. If the ingredient label does not say 100% whole wheat as 1 of the first ingredients consider it to be refined white flour with some caramel coloring added to make it look brown.

less sodium – This means the product now has less sodium than it once did. It does not mean it is low in sodium or good for you.

wholesome, nutritious, selected, and country fresh – These claims have no regulated meaning and can almost anything the manufacturer wants.

So how should we make informed choices?

Check the product’s serving size. Is that small bag of microwave popcorn a single serving or intended to serve 3? The calories and fats need to be tripled when you eat the whole bag intended for 3. How many servings are in that 24 ounce soda?

Check the nutrient labels. Each serving should provide less than 5% of sodium and saturated fats, regardless of the label saying it is reduced fat or has less sodium. Aim for more fiber per serving and less sugars.

Read the ingredient labels. Ingredients are listed in descending order; the first item listed is the most prevalent. Ingredient lists may not use the most common term for each item. For example, sugar can be found as: agave nectar, beet sugar, brown sugar, cane juice crystals, corn syrup, corn sweetener, dextrose, evaporated cane juice, fructose, fruit juice concentrate, glucose, high fructose corn syrup, honey, invert sugar, malt syrup, maltose, molasses, raw sugar, sugar (sucrose), sorghum syrup, turbinado sugar.

Reading product labels with our eyes open to the fact that manufacturers are more concerned with us spending our money than with our health may help you see some of their labeling for what it is. Look for these labels in the store and read the fine print on the package. Reading ingredient lists and nutrient information may help you make better nutrition decisions as well.

Some of the most nutritious and healthiest foods do not come with labels. Have you ever noticed how fresh, whole fruits, vegetables, and meats do not have pictures or labels? Make the wisest, healthiest decisions you can.

About Laura Crooks: I am an RN, speaker, and certified wellness coach living in Pittsburgh, PA with my husband and children (plus the bunnies, leopard gecko, and hamster!). I help busy women create solutions so they can enjoy reduced stress, losing weight, balancing personal-professional-family time, and making time to exercise. My services include individual and group coaching, speaking, and wellness programs. For more information please visit www.YouBloomWellness.com .

I had such a great time and met some really wonderful people, but the thing that impressed me the most was this: Positive Energy!

The event was being held in Flint, Michigan, not far from Detroit.
Saying things are not good in Michigan may be the understatement
of the year.

BUT, I met some amazing people who want to change all that, and are willing to look for a new way to employ people and give them something to look forward to!

Clemon Crum, of Manifest Productions, held this event to encourage people to step up and try something new–get in on movie making in Michigan.

He was so positive and so upbeat, we couldn’t help but have a great time!
The audience was wonderful and the actors, producer and everyone else
who took part in this just wanted it to be a success! And it  was!
Elizabeth Brady-Marasco,Owner of Brady Events & Planning
Clemon Crum,Owner,ManifestProductions


Actor, Dustin Diamond Lev,Disc Jockey,Flint,93.7

Actors Jordan Hodges,Robert Miano

It really makes you think–if these people, in this economy, can stay happy and upbeat–why can’t everyone try it?

I am not saying that we should ignore reality–
I am saying we should look at reality, and figure out the best way to make things work!
If things aren’t working out for you–look at them differently.

Negative energy creates more negative energy.
And Positive Energy creates more Positive Energy!

You can change your reality, by changing your thoughts.
Really notice what you are thinking about throughout your day.

• Do you beat yourself up and call yourself names?
• Do you think derogatory stuff about other people? Even if you aren’t saying it aloud, it is hurting you.
  
• Do you dismiss creative and positive ideas and insist they won’t work?
• Do you forget to dream?

With dreams and imagination, you can change your world!
Try a change of energy–it feels great!