Is Dooms Day for REAL?!

Last night I had a deep, philosophical conversation with my husband.  He told me that is he not afraid to die.  I knew this about him however, and am a bit envious.  My mother also is not afraid to die. 

If you're reading this post, maybe you're like me...still searching for life's truths...the meaning of it all. 
It's been years since I've gone to church.  My reason?  It didn't feel real.  I didn't feel a connection to my religion.  I felt like I was putting on an act and going through the motions.  I disagreed with some things - like hell, judging others who don't worship the way I did, not accepting someones sexual preference, etc. 
Around the time I discovered yoga, I stopped going to church. I truly began treating people better.  Treating people as,"citizens of the world" instead of "feeling bad for them because they were sinners and didn't believe what I believed."  I became more accepting of others actions - good and...not-so-good.  I let go of the guilt that I had built up in myself over the years.  I began loving myself and respecting myself more.

Please, I am NOT saying being religious is bad, but for me, it made me feel like I was segregating people - as if I was part of a clique, or something...

Problem was, even though I felt like I was a better person without religion, I began to lose sight of a higher power.  I began questioning, "Does God exist?" "Is there really life after death?"

Lately I have been fascinated with relearning the meaning of life.  Thanks to my husband and my mother, I have started to get back on track.  I am relearning that God is indeed within me...within all of us.  We are all unique, beautiful souls - some of us may exude it better than others simply because we are all on a different part of our journey - trying to get it right.

I am currently reading a book about the life and teachings of Edgar Cayce (if you're not familiar with him, I recommend you check out www.edgarcayce.org).  I am really into this right now for many reasons - but there are so many reasons that I can't go into too much detail.  It's comforting to read...especially if you are caught up in the Mayan prophecies, and the end-of-days theories.  My next book will be the, "Urantia."  My husband has read the abridged version of this (http://www.urantia.org/)  - it talks about LIFE, why we are here, what really happens when we die and explains how and why our soul will live forever. 

I am writing this because I want to encourage the reader to become spiritually awakened - that is if you're not already.  And then ask yourself, "Am I a loving person?"  Or, do you love just yourself, or do your treat your dog better than your spouse?  We have to embrace the fact that no one person is above another.  Treat ALL human beings with respect.  Let go of negativity and judgement - that means with everyone at home and abroad. 

If we can grasp this concept on a Global level, I believe we will avoid a lot of these terrible things that prophets have predicted.  The more positive energy we put out to the world, the more we will attract.  We can write our own destiny, but we have to truly practice and believe what we preach.  If you are afraid to die, ask yourself, "Why?"  Then, go and find the answer.  Search your soul honestly.  We've all heard this stuff before...but why then do we not learn from history?  Why do we continue to harm, to kill and to segregate? 

We are only doomed if we think we are doomed. 

Husband

My Husband is the man of my dreams.  Ok...when I tell most people this they either roll their eyes or look at me like a giving them a load of horse s**t...or they'll say, "Oh, just you wait - the honeymoon won't last long!"

And I still say, "Honestly, he is the man of my dreams.  He's everything I have ever wanted and needed from a person."

About six years ago I was introduced to, "The Secret."  If you are familiar with the concept behind the law of attraction and have created a vision board before, you know where I'm going with this.  After embracing the law of attraction and fully believing that I can have anything I want in my life if I positively change my thought process, my life started changing...for the better. 

First it changed financially.  I became more financially intelligent and independent.  My goal of becoming a successful business woman became a reality. 

Then, one day I wrote out all the qualities I wanted from a person that I would want to spend the rest of my life with.  At first it seemed impossible...I would read the list and think..."Well, maybe this is too much to ask for."  But, I never changed what I had on that paper.  Instead, I would read this list of qualities regularly...especially on days where I felt I needed more love in my life. 

Life is indeed ironic b/c when you are about to give up hope, settle for less than you deserve or just get pissed, a flower blossoms and gives you hope. 

I held on for one more moment...instead of settling for less and dating men that treated me poorly or lacked security in themselves or were just complete jerks...in my darkest dating moment...my list came to life.

I am writing this for me.  Maybe the reader too...but really for me.  If there ever comes a point in my life where times get tough or there is a lack of passion in my marriage...I will refer to this post..to rethink, remember and relive everything that I ever wanted in a mate. After all, if I want LOVE, I need to continue to put in the labor in order to receive it. 

My Husband deserves my love, I deserve his.

For Me, and Definitely You

Friends...I have some great ones in my life.  Although the one I am thankful for today has been with me for quite a while.  I never had many good friends in high school...in fact I hated high school - the cliques and all the b.s. that came along with it.  Not fitting in b/c of my hair, or my clothes or my personality...I do not want to relive high school.  I was never myself...I never felt confindent about who I was...I never felt comfortable about just being ME.  I can honestly say I only have two good friends that I have kept from high school...the friend that made me feel so good about myself growing up is still in my life today.  She made me feel appreciated...she made me feel pretty...she made me feel talented....wanted.  She made me happy...

She personally has been through thick and thin,  but has always landed strong...like a gymnast, no matter what life throws her way, she can handle it.  There were times I saw her and she would share with me her self-doubt and fears about terrible things...and for some reason I would look at her and think, "You're gonna pull through this...you can do it...I am not afraid...I am hopeful."  I knew in my heart, without a doubt, she would thrive.

And she has survived more of life's challenges than anyone I know... b/c of her drive to LIVE, drive to SURVIVE...drive to LOVE and to be LOVED, she is still here in my life...she is still a great friend and always will be.

Although we don't see each other as much as we'd like, we can always pick up where we left off.  I am sure you can think of a friend like her who has inspired you in your life...but she is special to me b/c during my most depressed time as a teen, she helped me see just how special I was - how special I am.  I hope to continue to support her through life and to always be able to pick up where we left off.

Happy early birthday, fellow Aquarius!

5 Life Lessons that will Help You Achieve Weight Loss

What was on your New Years’ Resolution list this year?  Are you making successful attempts towards finding your solution to your resolution?  Many of us didn’t even make plans to change our behaviors for 2012.  Why not?  Perhaps because we have failed in the past and are more focused on the things that we have had success with?  Let’s face it, no one feels good about failing.  Many of my clients come to me with one goal in mind - to lose weight.  I work with hundreds of successful, career-oriented people, but for some reason when they attempt to lose weight, they fail.  Weight loss is suddenly a foreign language to them.  In fact, over 65% of the U.S. population has failed at reaching a healthy body weight.  According to the World Health Organization (WHO) more than one billion adults are overweight and at least 300 million of them are clinically obese.  Worse yet, an estimated 17.6 million children under five are estimated to be overweight.  To learn more about the health consequences and costs associated to being overweight, visit http://www.who.int/hpr/NPH/docs/gs_obesity.pdf.  As a wellness professional, I have been committed to helping people stay motivated to reach their weight loss goals.  I speak from years of experience working with overweight individuals and from a point of view when I too was overweight.  It wasn’t until I established a new thought pattern that I actually succeeded with achieving a healthy body weight.

Why is it so hard? 

I used to ask myself this question over and over.  There are so many reasons/excuses on why we can’t lose weight.  “I have to put my children first,”  “My spouse doesn’t support me,” “I’m stuck in meetings all day and am forced to eat the donuts they bring us,”  “I hate to sweat,” “I can’t afford a gym membership,”  “I’m just getting old and my metabolism has slowed down,” “I don’t like the cafeteria food so I have to eat fast food…” And the list goes on for miles. 

I’m here to tell you, “STOP!”  Stop the negative affirmations and stop focusing on all the reasons why you cannot lose weight.  Did you doubt yourself when you wanted to obtain a successful career or job?  Did you make excuses?  Is it human nature to be our own worst enemy and no matter how large or small our goal, we set ourselves up for failure?  Even if we get off to a great start and are highly motivated, about a week or so into the journey, we can easily fall of course. 

The following life lessons will help get your mind focused on goal setting.  This material will come as little surprise, but it will get you one step closer to your weight-loss goal. 

Lesson 1:  Let go of the negative self-talk

If you continue to tell yourself, “I’m too fat,” or “I just can’t lose wait,” then that’s exactly what you will let yourself become and you will never be healthy. Instead replace negative affirmations with positive affirmations.  Sounds simple.  Good.  Then take Nike’s advice and, “Just Do it!”  Every time you catch yourself saying something negative, immediately stop and say, “I am one step closer to my goal because I took the stairs today.”  Or whatever – you fill in the blank. 

Lesson 2:  Identify your support system

Often clients tell me they cannot reach their goal because their peers or family have poor health habits and don’t support them.  I coach the client to have a heart-to-heart with the people they are closest too by explaining to them that they really need their help.  If you truly want to do something for yourself, the ones that love you will support you – you simply have to approach them seriously and tactfully.  If the unfortunate event occurs and they do not support you, but instead try to sabotage you, start to reach out to other people in your life that will help you.  We all don’t have the luxury of having a personal trainer, dietician or chef, but we all can find at least one person that will lift us up when we doubt ourselves.  Have this person on speed dial and don’t hesitate to use him or her as a crutch when the going gets tough. 

Lesson 3:  Set a specific goal that you can measure that is realistic.

“I want to tone-up” or “I want to get in better shape” does not define this lesson.  For example write down, “I will lose five pounds in one month by exercising two days a week and eating healthfully and mindfully through the reflection of my food journals.”  Big difference!  I recommend you to write your goal down on paper and place this vision sheet in a visible area that you recite everyday.  If you have over 10 pounds to lose, create sub-goals.  Build non-food rewards for yourself once you meet your goals.  The goals must be S.M.A.R.T. – Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timed.  If you do not reach your goal in the time frame you created, try again.  Reassess your goal.  Perhaps you were a little too aggressive.  It’s better to start smaller and succeed, than to start off larger, with an unrealistic goal and fail. 

Lesson 4:  Create an “Accomplishment List”

Write out everything that you are proud to have accomplished over the past year…or even five years.  Brag out yourself to yourself!  Although being overweight can define your health, it does not define you as a person.  You are far more significant than a number on the scale or your BMI (body mass index).  Place your accomplishment list in a separate place from your vision list.  I like to have mine pop-up from time to time on my Outlook calendar.  It helps me remember that I have many things in my life to be grateful for…and so should you.

Lesson 5:  Put it in motion.

It’s now time to make your goal reality.  Start by documenting your experiences and then share them with me and others on my blog.  I want to see some results!  Let’s work together to take an active role in decreasing the overweight and obesity epidemic on a global level. 

Best in health,

 

Aubrey Worek

B.S. Exercise Science

Certified Health & Fitness Specialist with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)

Certified Member of the Aerobics & Fitness Association of America (AFAA)

Owner of Wellness Solutions at Work, Inc. (WSW).  To learn more about WSW programs, visit my website at www.wellnesssolutionsatwork.com. 

For Women - Part 1

PERIOD.

A great topic of discussion...no matter what your age or what you call it...menstruate, rag, time-of-the-month, crimson wave...(what do you call it?!).    Well, I LOVE getting my PERIOD!  Yes, I know that might sound odd, but I do!  I love it for many reasons...

I got my first period when I was in 9th grade...and really I was considered  a 'late bloomer' compared to some of my girlfriends, who got theirs as early as the 5th grade.  Some adults would say to them, "Oh you poor thing!  You're too young to be menstruating.  What a shame!"  Statements like this made the 'early bloomers' feel uncomfortable and awkward.  But from my perspective, I was envious.  I wanted to get my period.  I was excited to mature...to become a young woman...to be treated  as an adult (or so I thought). 

When I finally got my period, I felt more confident.  Kind of like I had this secret that I kept from the boys that just made me extra special.  Even when I would get cramps...I appreciated them!  It made me more present...more alive...more in touch with my body. 

This is the way I look at it, the cramps, water retention, the heightened emotions, the chocolate cravings (all the PMS stuff) are all signals that, YES, I am getting my monthly visitor.  It can help explain, why I'm crying over a cheesy movie, or if I am craving something decadent it's OK to indulge (within reason of course)...it means as soon as my period comes, I'll drop 3- 5 pounds of water weight - whew!!!  Really, if you put a positive spin on these things, you'll understand what I am trying to say here...

Period = healthy.  There was a time in my life that I struggled with anorexia and bulimia.  I was under 100 lbs.  I didn't get my period for over a year...I became amenorrheaic and unhealthy.  Fortunately, I did not suffer any bone loss...but during this time, the gynecologist told me that my uterus had shrunk to the size of a 90-year-old woman's!!!  This was terrifying to me.  She told me that I had put my body into an early menopause.  What the hell was I doing?!  Why was I intentionally starving and hurting myself.  This was a huge wake-up call.  

When I finally started menstruating again (after a long time of nutritional and spiritual guidance) I felt like "me" again.  Getting my period meant, I was not pregnant (a good thing at the time when I was in college) and getting my period now means I am fertile and can some day conceive!  It's what makes us so unique from men...even though I think most men get a sutto period each month...minus the bleeding ;-) 

My take away message is, don't use your PERIOD as a scape goat.  Don't act like it's a handicap and men should "feel bad" for us or think it's disgusting...tell them to get over it!  It's natural...no matter what your normal cycle is...b/c it varies with every woman...1x per month or maybe every-other month...it is unique to you and makes you a wonderful woman. 

My Favorite Author

Louise L. Hay

Today's 'Inner Wisdome'

I DESERVE JOY...I deserve to live in an atmosphere of joy and acceptance.  I do daily affirmations in which I tell myself that I really deserve good am willing to go beyond my parents' and my early childhood limitations. 
I look in the mirror and say to myself:  I deserve all good.  I deserve all to be prosperous.  I deserve joy.  I deserve love.  I open my arms wide and say, I am open and receptive. I am wonderful.  I accept. 

Tell Me Why

Why do bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people?

I feel that many of us are pretty equal in terms of the ebb and flow and good vs. bad events that occur in our daily, personal lives.  I have come to realize that when something terrible happens to me that is beyond my control, I get upset, but know in my heart that time will heal me and I will look back, reflect and persevere. 

What confounds and disturbs me is the extreme....

If you are reading this post I recommend you to visit http://www.vday.org/ and in addition read, "I am an Emotional Creature," by Eve Ensler (author of the Vagina Monologues).  These things will awaken you...your awareness for and appreciation of your own life will be heightened...and hopefully stir a desire inside you to spread more joy, understanding and compassion to others.  Or, take a bigger stand on how you raise your children...how you talk to your spouse...how you tolerate (or refuse to tolerate) things. 

I will never know the answer to the question above...but can only pray that as long as this human experience exists, we can learn from history for once...instead of repeating it.