http://www.kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/ en-us Nucleus CMS v3.23 © Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.kimsfitnessandnutrition.com//nucleus/nucleus2.gif http://www.kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/ http://www.kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=188 We are literally being terrorized by our food these days. Everyone is confused about what on earth is really healthy for them to eat. Many people are simply giving up and resorting to eating whatever they feel like eating, others are starving themselves half to death, and then there are those who are doing their best to sift through the conflicting information and make their choice based on what they intuitively feel is best for them. This latter option would be my recommendation for sure. Of course, the only really bad foods for you are those foods that you “BELIEVE” are bad for you, because then, they are.
What we think and believe is apparently becoming more of a factor in the mystery of good health, satisfying employment, harmonious relationships, and a joyous life. It is my understanding that as long as we are honest with ourselves about what we truly do believe regarding any topic, we can then find our way toward a positive outcome. Yes, being brutally honest with yourself is clearly mandatory, because you see, you cannot fool your body. If you are out for dinner and among the choices are foods that you believe to be fattening, then it is so for you, and I would not recommend that you choose those items. We cannot give lip service to our bodies, saying “Oh, this food that I know is full of sugar and fat is just not going to be bad for me tonight,” when deep down you are already feeling guilty for ordering it, much less consuming it. Your body will respond to your true belief every time … no exceptions.

We all know people who can literally eat whatever they want and are thin. To the contrary, we all know people who eat very little and are tremendously overweight. Obviously there is another factor at play here, and it is my opinion that what these people have in common is their thoughts around food. In this example, they have extremely different beliefs and thoughts. Often, thin people never even think about food being fattening or not … it doesn’t even cross their minds. They have an innate belief that they are thin, always have been thin, and always will be thin, and, therefore, they remain that way no matter what they eat. A heavier person is quite often obsessed with what foods are “bad” and what foods are “good,” and in their belief that everything they eat goes straight to their hips. In fact, it does.

So then the question is, “How does one begin to change a belief system?” The answer is gradually, lovingly, and with a great deal of patience. A willingness to be painstakingly honest with yourself every step of the way is a must. Easy to do? Not usually; however, it is clearly a path toward a happier life. I have yet to meet anyone who does anything for any other reason than they believe that in the getting of it, they will be happy. Part of the path that I am proposing is to recognize that happiness is a direct result of the thoughts you are choosing to dominantly think, in which case we can all choose to be happier right here and right now … with or without “the stuff, the weight loss, the improved job situation or harmony in your relationships.” The bonus of this approach is that you get to feel good NOW, while you are on your way, and then the “stuff” is inevitable. Why? As we live in a place of joy most of the time, it is simply a matter of time until the rest of our life begins to reflect that. Like attracts like, and what you dominantly think directly influences what you get to experience in your life. Isn’t it interesting that when we are in a place of contentment, we usually desire foods that are healthy for us, and when we are upset, anxious, angry or in fear, we desire foods that are more destructive to us? Like attracts like. When you feel good, you will be much more prone to be loving and nurturing to your body, versus when you are feeling bad, you crave foods you know are not healthy.

Little by little, thought by thought, feeling by feeling, we can begin to replace limiting, negative beliefs with positive ones, remembering that they didn’t conquer Rome in a day. Just keep plugging away, and as you catch yourself feeling bad, speaking poorly of yourself or another, ask yourself this question, “What is it I am choosing to give my attention to that is giving me the excuse to feel bad?” Then, gently remind yourself that nothing is more important than that you feel good. Your health, your body, your relationships … your life is dependent on how well you manage your thoughts. Once you are predominantly feeling good, then the choices you make for yourself will reflect that. You may even reach the day when you can honestly say, “I can eat this chocolate cake because I believe my body is healthy enough to process out anything harmful. I can do this guilt-free and enjoy every bite.” Just remember, it must be your truth, because you cannot lie to the body … not ever. Happy fitness! ]]> General http://www.kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=188 Tue, 6 May 2008 11:40:00 -0400 http://www.kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=187 As Paul McCartney once said, “All we need is love,” and he was right. It may sound cliché, but I truly believe that there is simply nothing that cannot be resolved through the process of love. Abraham taught me long ago that there is no dark switch. In other words, we do not expect to walk into a room and flip a switch so that dark, inky mist will remove the light. Of course not … there is only a light switch or the absence of light. The same is true of love. There is love present or there is the absence of love. There is not a power of evil. There is love present or its absence. There is no power of disease … there is the presence of health or the absence of health. It was a monumental point in time when this truth really sank in, and I could actually embody it. I found it to be a life-changing event.
Once I realized that I had the capacity within myself to love it all, I was set free. Freedom from the discomfort of judgement, envy, greed, jealousy and so much more. Did that mean that I had to agree with or condone it all ? Heavens no. I can choose to honor everyone and everything, for there is not a way for me to know whether it is “good or bad.” Everything has value and purpose, or it would not exist. Those things that I do not agree with allow me the contrast to know what it is I do want; therefore, it is all good.

With this knowledge, I suddenly felt not only invincible, but lighter than I ever remember feeling. The weight of the world’s malfunctions, other peoples’ behaviors and needs and my own need to fix and rescue were resolved. There really is not anything wrong with the world or those who inhabit it when you accept that … we are all doing the best we can from where we are, and where we are is just fine. We each have our own individual path to walk, and those things that seem “bad” to us are simply there to show us that we have a choice. We can agree and move forward in loving support or we choose to see it as the contrast it is and the information we need to have concluded our individual preference. At that juncture, where we can clearly see what we want versus what we do not want, it is right there that we need to then turn our focus and all of our attention in the direction of what is wanted. That is the most loving and most powerful action we can possibly take, because as we focus our loving attention on what is wanted, we have removed our attention and therefore our energy from that which is unwanted. The less energy it receives, the faster it will dissipate.

Unfortunately, most of us have been trained to not only keep looking at that which is unwanted, but we are compelled to talk about it to all our friends, to complain about how wrong it is and beat that drum relentlessly. What that accomplishes is pouring our energy into fueling that unwanted thing and allowing it to grow in strength and size. Seems ironic, does it not? That is how the Universe is designed, however, and the powerful Law of Attraction is consistent, constant and unwavering. Those thoughts that are a match line up and build and grow and grow and build. Like is drawn to like and that is fact, we simply cannot buck its current.

My solution is to decide as quickly as I can as to what it is I want, and then give it as much of my loving attention as possible. Our emotional guidance system is always available for us to tune into so we can feel our way. Our feelings are always accurate. Simply put, if it feels good, feels positive and feels life-giving, then that is the direction I choose to go. If, on the other hand, it feels scarey, it feels hateful, it feels negative at all, then I choose to withdraw my attention from it as quickly as possible. “Our thoughts become things,” to quote Mike Dooley of Totally Unique Thought (TUT.com). What I wish to create in my future is determined by what I put my energy/thoughts on right now. I choose love. I choose joy. I choose to be a deliberate creator who identifies herself as a lover of love, an uplifter and a teacher, through modeling what works for me. The power of love is unmeasurable in my opinion. What we can accomplish by consciously choosing to love it all is unknown, and yet I can feel how amazing it could be. Blessings to you all and much love all along your path. ]]> General http://www.kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=187 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:39:00 -0400 http://www.kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=186 Many of us look into the mirror and our eyes seem to go right to those areas of our bodies that we are least content with. I’m unclear as to whether this is simply a human characteristic or if we have trained ourselves to focus on the negative while disregarding the positive. In any case, it has been my experience that any time my habit is to focus on the negative, it will serve me greatly to find a new way of viewing things. It’s a new year and a perfect time to re-evaluate our fitness goals and the way we view our bodies. Certainly they do not revolve entirely around how we want to look on the outside, but there is a little vanity in all of us, and that’s okay. Allow me to offer a few suggestions as you embark on a new year of fitness training.
First of all, let us all begin to consciously look at those parts of our body that we do like, and remove our focus from those problem areas. Will that make them go away ? Not immediately, but in the meantime, you will not be putting more of your energy into creating more of that. Instead, you will be loving and appreciating those parts of yourself that you can. As you proceed on your fitness path, there will be more and more to admire over time.

I recommend writing your fitness goals down somewhere, so that you will be apt to look at them often. One, it will help to keep them in the forefront of your mind and two, you will be more likely to spend a moment or two visualizing yourself having achieved those goals each time you see them. Remember that visualizing is an extremely powerful tool. Olympians and athletes of all types will spend several hours each week sitting quietly, imagining themselves preforming their sport in a very detailed and precise manner. Those who do are often the ones who actually end up at the top of their game. Our thoughts set up a clear and powerful intent and put into motion energies that assist us toward our goals. There is no doubt about this.

Another important piece of information that I believe is very important to bear in mind is this: Our bodies begin to become healthier from the inside out, literally. As you begin to make efforts to fitness train 2-3 times each week, particularly if you are returning from a long period of time when you did not train or if you are brand new to training, your body will not start to immediately show improvement on the surface. The improvements are happening, trust me, but they are happening within you where you cannot see them in the mirror.

The first 2-4 months, depending on how de-conditioned you may be, what your body is busy doing is growing muscle and burning intra-muscular fat. Our bodies store fat not only between the skin and muscle ( sub-cutaneous fat) but also it is marbled throughout our muscles just like a chuck roast. As you continue to train regularly, you will eventually completely eliminate that marbling and you will have become a filet minon, metaphorically speaking. During this process, you simply will not be able to see anything much changing in the mirror. This is when you have to stay loyal to your goals and trust that you are, in fact, becoming increasingly more fit. Oddly enough, you can actually gain a couple pounds during this time because muscle weighs 5 times that of fat. As you are burning fat and gaining muscle, it may take a bit of time to see the scale drop. I use measurements during this time, because you will shrink in size even if the scale goes up. That way you will be encouraged that your hard work is truly paying off. It makes me sad to think of the number of people who fall off their program during this time due to this phenomenon. Stay the course … you will begin to see changes when you look in the mirror. As soon as your body has completed this process, it will begin to burn the sub-cutaneous fat next. This is when your eyes will begin to get the satisfaction of seeing it in the mirror.

Consistency is the number reason why people succeed in reaching their fitness goals. Please hang in there long enough to realize yours. Once you feel like you have accomplished them, of course, it is time to set a few new ones. We will never arrive exactly, we will never get it done. We need to attend to our blessed bodies until we make our transition, and the better the job we do now...the gentler that transition will be and the longer it will take to get that point. Healthy, happy, healthy, happy, healthy, happy...dead. That is as good as it gets. Happy fitness. ]]> General http://www.kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=186 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:37:00 -0400 http://www.kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=185 Our bodies are amazing, magical and brilliant mechanisms that are communicating with us all the time. The question is, are we listening? It may sound ridiculous, but I'm not kidding … we can feel how well our bodies are ingesting our food by the way we feel a few minutes after we finish. Are you feeling stuffed, content, bloated, sleepy, energized, relaxed, or do you experience heartburn or acid reflux ? Do you feel revved up, only to drop like a stone an hour later? These are only but a few examples that come to mind, you get the idea. These examples are messages from your body to your brain, communicating its reaction to the foods you are eating. I really believe that if we make a concerted effort to listen to what our bodies are saying to us, we can learn a lot about what fuels (foods) our bodies most prefer. We can learn this and so much more if we become willing to retrain ourselves to listen to the clues being sent.
We may all be humans and be basically constructed with the same basic parts; however, we are as unique and as individual as each of our fingerprints. We do not all function like cookie cutter robots. Not all of our bodies do well eating meat, for instance, or dairy. Some of us cannot tolerate caffeine or sugar, and I really do think that our bodies communicate their needs, as well as their likes and dislikes, if we are tuned in and listening.

It is my experience that the vast majority of people live in their heads and are cut off from the neck down. We have learned gradually, over time, to push down those feelings, ignore those messages, and grit our teeth and bear it. We were trained early on to “toughen up” and to not pay attention by the people who cared for us, those whom we strived to pleased because our very survival depended on doing so. We learned to be tough. Now here we are, full-grown adults and long ago out from under their powerful influence, yet we continue to habitually ignore our bodies. One day we wake up feeling so badly that we can no longer ignore it, and we rush off to the doctor who informs us that we have a “condition.” Before we know it we are ingesting several different drugs, and this is when clear communication from your body begins to get muddled and tricky. It is difficult for our bodies to send clear messages once drugs are introduced into our systems. Because any foreign substance causes so many side effects, it just gets harder and harder to know if it is our body talking or if it is the drugs talking.

The point I am trying to make is that you can begin today the practice of listening to your body by paying attention to how you feel after a meal, after you have a cup of coffee, or after you eat something high in sugar or spicy, just to begin reopening the communication lines between your mind and your body. Slowly, as you tune in, you will find yourself becoming more and more clear about what feels good to your body and what does not. Be gentle and patient, We don’t undo a lifelong habit overnight, but with a little tenderness and time, I guarantee the two of you will become very open and clear with one another. May you have a long and healthy lifetime, in close communion with your body. Happy fitness! ]]> General http://www.kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=185 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:33:00 -0400 http://www.kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=184 I find it so interesting that we, for the most part, have been socialized into, trained and programed to relentlessly speak of, think about and visualize things that are not at all what we want. It’s as though we feel compelled to explain why it is that way for us. Then, we stand in amazement when what we do not want persists. We find it baffling that the Universe has not answered our continuous prayers. We begin to question our worthiness and whether or not we are loved and supported after all. A downward cycle begins to draw us in, and we think that we are somehow flawed, or that we are not considered to be one of the fortunate ones. Nothing could be further from the truth. We are all revered, adored and loved beyond our wildest dreams. So then the question that begs to be asked is, “What do I not understand here?”
Basically, we have somehow bought into the misguidance. We live in a space/time reality that is governed by the powerful Law of Attraction. Just as we cannot defy gravity without there being consequences, the same is true of the Law of Attraction. Simply stated, “That which is like is drawn unto like.” Therefore, it comes to reason that anything that we put our attention on is going to continue to be our reality … the frequencies match. Our thoughts are vibrational by nature, as is everything in this Universe. We see with our eyes because we are interpreting vibration, we hear with our ears because we are interpreting vibration, we feel with our fingers because the sensors in our skin are interpreting vibration, and the taste buds in our tongues interpret the vibration of the food we eat. It is all vibrational, and that includes the very thoughts we think.

As we contemplate, focus, and imagine, we send out into the Universe a signal, and Law of Attraction picks up that signal loud and clear and begins orchestrating people, events and things that have a similar vibration. This is why, if we insist on beating the drum of things we do not want, we draw them to us in spades. You see, we are so free to choose what we want, that we can even choose to unknowingly imprison ourselves . Law does not hear any difference between “yes”or “no,” it only responds to whatever frequency you are emitting, and that directly corresponds to whatever you dominantly put your attention on.

Have you ever noticed that when you begin your day on an off-note, this usually causes you to say or think something like, “Oh great, this is going to be one of those days that goes from bad to worse,” and then, of course, it does. There’s no mystery to why that happens once you realize that your thoughts are powerful attractors and will draw like unto like every single time, no exceptions. Let us not panic here, this time/space reality has a fairly generous buffer. In other words, we do not create instantly the moment we think a thought … thank goodness. No, we usually have to beat the drum for a while before like is drawn unto like. Bear in mind, though, that your dominant thoughts create a tenor, attitude or general type of vibration that over time causes momentum toward “that” kind of match. For instance, if you are generally angry, edgy or negative, then you can no doubt look around at your life and see clearly how that is creating for you. The same is true for those people who are upbeat, happy or positive most of the time. Their lives reflect that through and through. Funny how those people who are angry like to point out those people who are happy and call them “lucky … born with a silver spoon in their mouths or naturally fortunate.” No, the only difference between the two is the thoughts that they most often are choosing to think … that is all. Your life is a direct and exact representation of your dominate thoughts, so if you look around and don’t like what you see, then it may be time to do some mental house cleaning. There will always be areas that need our attention, and that’s what makes being here interesting and fun. Enjoy the journey, and remember that wellbeing abounds! ]]> General http://www.kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=184 Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:32:00 -0400 http://www.kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=183 Recently I attended an Abraham-Hicks “Art of Allowing” workshop, and one of the gems that I left there with was if what I am looking at causes me to feel badly, then what is really happening is, that by looking at it, I am painfully aware of its absence. Example … I desire to have more money, but when I focus there, I am aware that I don’t have it. In this case, a new approach is very helpful. One angle I can take is to remove what I want completely out of the equation and do my best to focus only on those things that make me feel good when I look, think, or imagine them. Feeling good is by far the most important thing to reach for. When I am feeling positive, I am in alignment with my Source Energy or my Higher Self. When I am aligned most of the time, then I am not in resistance, and I am open and allow my good to flow into my reality. If, however, I am feeling negative, then I am in resistance, and I am not aligned with Source Energy. Therefore, I feel bad as a signal or a message that I am cutting myself off from who I really am. My supreme guidance is my feelings, and they are every minute flowing information to me about how aligned or misaligned I am.
Personally, I could relate to this and found that trying to remove what I want from my field of thinking was a bit of a challenge. I had created a strong habit of dwelling on that which I desired, and sure enough when I did, I felt bad, which told me I was, in fact, thinking of its absence in my life. So, I decided that each time I found myself thinking about it, as quickly as I could take notice, I directed my thoughts to those of my daughter. When I think of her my heart sings … I adore her. I believe that each time I consciously do that, I realign with Source. Nothing is more important than feeling good, which equals being in alignment with Source.

I think sometimes that I have to constantly remind my Higher Self of what it is I am wanting, as though it didn’t hear me the first time right? I think not. It is my work to be vigilant about where I am choosing to vibrate (think), and that is always dependent on the thoughts I am allowing myself to dwell on. When I can contemplate, imagine, dream of things and remain joyous, then all is well. However, when what I think begins to cause a tightening, makes me put up resistance or have negative feelings, then I am headed upstream and creating a greater and greater separation between who I am in this red-hot minute and who life has caused me to become. I know that my Source Energy immediately becomes the greater version of who I am, it instantly becomes what I Three-Ring Photo Album w/10 Pages, Refillable, 12 x 12,desire, and therefore, when I move toward that, I feel wonderful, and when I am moving away from that, I feel dreadful. Thank goodness for guidance.

It can be a tricky thing, redirecting our thoughts. Most of us have spent years pushing against, protesting, and fighting the fight, and thought that by doing so we were making a positive difference in our lives and the world. We thought that it was virtuous … oops! The fact is that there can never come a solution when the focus is on the problem … all that creates is more of the problem. To create solutions, we need to focus on what is wanted and put our energy there. Remember, though, if by doing so you are aware of its lack or that it is not yet here, and that makes you feel bad, try a different approach. Trust that Source and Law are hard at work orchestrating it into manifestation, and your role is to vibrate in a place that will allow it to flow into your experience. Your vibration must match your desire or it will never come into your reality, and if you are busy vibrating negatively, no matter how right or justified you are, it cannot be drawn to you. So once again, NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT YOU FEEL GOOD!!! I hope that this little gem helps you as much as it did me. Blessings and well being are the order of the day! ]]> General http://www.kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=183 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:25:00 -0400 http://www.kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=182 Having an attitude of gratitude is sometimes a challenge, especially when we are inundated with so many disheartening topics. I am, without a doubt, a living, breathing Pollyanna, and I am very proud of that. It has been my experience that the more thought I give to something, the more of a problem it becomes. The longer I lament, fuss and complain about something, the larger it gets. Having this realization, I decided to use this principle in reverse. I think that we have a tremendous capacity to influence our lives, either positively or negatively, and in greater ways they we may be aware of. When I do my best to find things to appreciate about everything that comes into my awareness, life seems to go along very sweetly. Am I perfect and does my life go along perfectly? I would be a liar if I said that; however, since I decided to make appreciation a priority in my life, I must say it is pretty near joyous most of the time. I believe the correlation is more than coincidence ... I believe that it could very well be one of the most powerful tools I have ever found.
Life is what life is, and sometimes situations and circumstances come along that are immediately frightening, that throw us into a tailspin of worry, doubt and despair. If we can catch ourselves as we are beginning to go down that road of "all the worst things that could happen," we could say to ourselves, "Even though this looks really bad to me right now, I am going to find a way to look at this and see something good." The trick then is to continue focusing on the good and ride it out. I can promise you that if you do this, the outcome will amaze you. Admittedly, our habit of staring at the problem and beating the drum of it can be quite strong, and to shift into choosing thoughts that focus on the solution can be very foreign, but I'm telling you this really works.

Whether you are dealing with a health issue, a weight issue, an employment situation, a relationship dilemma or any multitude of difficult problems, if you will decide today to approach them positively, to choose thoughts around those topics that feel good when you think of them, and are diligent and committed to those thoughts, very soon things will begin to shift. Our lives are in our control; it is a matter of deciding to reclaim our power over them. We are the only ones who can make a difference in our lives, and the thoughts we choose to dwell on make that difference.

It is a new year, and maybe it will be a very different year for you, depending on whether or not you are going to think the same old limiting thoughts or whether you are going to make a concerted effort to think along a happier vein. A wise person once said, "Why do you suppose that we keep on using the same behavior and yet expect different results?" It was a very thought- provoking question from the first time I heard it, and still today it can bring me up short. We are creatures of habit, and many of those habits are life giving by nature, but my experience shows me that if something isn't working out well in my life, it is high time that I take a look in the mirror. It is usually a cop-out to point my finger outward and claim that it's "their" fault. After all, as I do, that there will always be three more fingers pointing right back at me. There are no victims, only people who have forgotten who is in charge of their life. Happy fitness! ]]> General http://www.kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=182 Fri, 4 Apr 2008 11:24:00 -0400 http://www.kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=181 You may have heard by now, the research is conclusive, that eating 5-7 small meals each day is one of the healthiest strategies we can use to provide our bodies with good nutrition. Of course, it goes without saying that those meals need to be balanced and quite small in comparison with the one or two meals many Americans have gotten into the habit of having. It is my observation that many people are tired of counting fat grams or calories and tired in general of watching what they eat, so they have reverted to eating once or twice a day, rationalizing that they are eating so infrequently, that certainly they should be able to eat whatever they want AND as much as they want. I am here to tell you that this is a surefire way of becoming more and more overweight.
Here's why ... Our bodies are designed with a metabolism (a system for providing the body with fuel) which is sped up or slowed down primarily in response to our solid food intake. If, for instance, you chose to have your first meal at 12-1 pm each day, your metabolism has stayed in low, low gear, (cheating your body of valuable calorie burning hours) as if you were still sleeping. It is not until food arrives in your stomach that your metabolism shifts into higher gear. Whereas, if you were to have eaten even something small, like an apple or cup of yogurt, at 7 a.m., immediately your body recognizes that it is now awake and begins to increase its metabolism accordingly. Your body begins burning calories way sooner than if you waited until noon. This is another reason why eating every 2-3 hours is so good for us. This approach of providing nutrition for your body continually every few hours causes your metabolism to remain elevated throughout the day.

Considering that you are eating often, it is unnecessary to eat large quantities: however, it is important that you do your best to eat balanced amounts of lean protein, nutritionally dense carbohydrates and healthy fat. A typical meal might look like 2-3 cups of mixed greens, carrots, celery, onion, tomato, shredded mozzarella cheese, 1-1/2 cups of tuna fish with a good 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. This meal has 40% carbohydrates due to all the vegetables, 30% protein and 30% healthy fat. That's the kind of balance you will want to strive for. It is my opinion that as a society we are heavily overdoing the carbohydrates. We are eating way too much bread, pasta, potatoes and rice, and way too few vegetables and fruits. Healthy fat has also been reduced too much in our diets, and I think we can all afford to be eating more fish, olive and coconut oils.

If you have become accustomed to eating 1-2 meals a day and that is working for you, certainly, carry on. If, on the other hand, you have been frustrated because you really don't feel as though you are overeating and yet the scale keeps going up, up, up ... the approach I have suggested may be very helpful to you. Personally, I have found that I feel evenly energetic all throughout the day with no mid-afternoon slumps, I am sleeping very well, I have been able to maintain excellent health even though those around me fight all manner of bugs, and my weight has stayed constant. That bloated belly feeling left very soon after I stopped eating breads, potatoes, pasta and rice. I say "stopped," but in reality what I have done is reduce my intake to a fraction of what it used to be. I feel great, and many of the clients that have begun to eat this way have had similar results. Two people who have been struggling with moderate to high blood sugar levels have reported that their sugar stayed in the normal range almost immediately after they adopted this approach to eating. I am not a registered dietitian, nor am I about to tell you how to eat; that is way outside of my expertise. I am always happy to share with people those researched findings that I, personally, have found to be of help. The rest is up to you. Happy, healthy 2008 to you and your families. ]]> General http://www.kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=181 Sat, 29 Mar 2008 11:22:00 -0400 http://www.kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=180 Christmas 2007 will certainly go down in my family's history as a Christmas we all wish we could forget. My mother arrived at my brother's ahead of most of the family, and at 79, she is beginning to show some wear. She went through 4-way bypass open heart surgery in March this year and is really not fully recovered as yet. My nephew arrived next with their 18-month old son who is a shining light. He, however, had just gotten over a stomach virus, and his mommy and daddy were now coming down with it. Long story made short, this virus ripped through all of us with a vengeance, hitting my mother very hard. Less then 24 hours after she couldn't tell which end to cover first, she started with a nasty cough that worsened to the point that she could not breathe a breath without violently coughing. Needless to say, we were off to the walk-in medical clinic where we sat patiently for 3 hours, only to be sent home with a prescription for antibiotics and some cough medicine with codeine that did not seem to helping in the least. That night at midnight, after moving mom to a recliner chair in hopes she could breathe better there and get some sleep (alas, no-go), she and I jumped in the car and were off to the hospital emergency room. Although they saw her immediately due to her delicate state ... her heart and all ... we were seen as less than critical among hundreds who were there as well. Five hours later, her breathing became so labored that I went again to the nurses' station to see how much longer before a doctor could see her. They said she was next up ... thank God!

The conclusion of this story is gratefully positive, in that she is now resting much easier and feels much improved. The whole point of my sharing this with you is that I found myself in a very powerless position over and over again throughout this 3-4 day event, and yet when I realized that I had begun to dip down into worry, doubt or even fear, the first thing I would do is reach for a thought that allowed me to feel an improvement. I would praise the nurses for their kind nature or admire a tired mother for her patience with her sick son, or be grateful for modern medicine and all the advances that have been made, or think about my loving husband and daughter who were at my beck-and-call, supporting me, or ... on and on I could go. The point is, I had a positive influence on not only my mom, but on everyone I was in contact with, and by being a source of love, kindness and upliftment, I simply did not add to the mix anything more negative than was already there, and that my friends is HUGE!!!

We all have the power to influence, and it is up us to decide whether or not we want to be part of the problem or part of the solution. Even well-meaning criticism or hashing over the details of "what is" is contributing to the problem, regardless of how right you very well may be, and even if you are 100% justified, it is still going to add fuel to the fire, not bring relief. It can be very challenging to remember, and to shift your thinking and words when you are in the middle of a crisis, but I will tell you from experience, the results are always so worth the effort. It is true that no one can create for you, but it is my belief that we can act as a guiding light for those we are around. You know yourself how hard it can be to stay positive when you are down in the trenches feeling beaten half to death, but if there is someone nearby who can keep the light shining, who can remind you that this, too, is temporary, and that you will get through this, someone close by who can see you as the God-self you are and can hold you in the vision of well being ... oh my God, what a difference you can make. A positive, important, even crucial difference.

I am always amazed that I am forever learning new ways to be of help, and I am so appreciative of that. This wasn't a Christmas I would want to repeat anytime soon; however, I was given the opportunity to see yet another way to be an up-lifter and to give love and positive energy where it was really needed, and just how helpful that can be and for that ... I am so grateful. Blessings are in all things, no matter what. Choose to know that all is well, regardless of what it looks like, and shine love everywhere you go. The miracles will astound you ... or maybe they will become what they were always intended to be ... ordinaries. ]]> General http://www.kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=180 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:22:00 -0400 http://www.kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=179 It is my belief that we have only just begun to realize the incredible power that we are all capable of. For centuries most of us have left it up to what we considered to be the geniuses of the world. The mathematicians, scientists, quantum physicists and the great thinkers to do research, experiments and make our conclusions for us. After all they were so much more qualified...or were they? Today it is my understanding that absolutely no one is more qualified to make my personal conclusions regarding me, myself and I, then I am. Think about it. How can anyone really know how I am feeling and thinking about anything. They can speculate and they can imagine what they think might be the very best thing for me but the fact is that they are thinking and imagining from their own personal perspective which has nothing to do with mine...it can’t...it’s impossible for any one of us to think or feel for another...we simply were not designed that way.
The scientific community has clear evidence of this. In fact they have concluded that even double blind studies are no longer feasible due the undeniable effect that the experimenters thoughts have on the out come. Yes, our thoughts are that powerful. We cannot not have effect on everything around us, even if we to try not to. We are virtual vibrational transmitters that can not be shut off. The freedom that comes from embodying this knowing is indescribable. Sure, suddenly you are 100% responsible for everything that is in your reality. Your physical, emotional and spiritual bodies, your environment where you live, work and play and absolutely everything your experience...all your doing, all your responsibility. Just sit with that for a moment though and you will begin to feel the freedom that you have just been granted. You are the creator of our universe through the thoughts you think and therefore there is quite literally no limits to what you can be, do or have...none. The only limiting factor that you will need to deal with is your very own limiting belief systems. That is all however, that can be quite enough.

For decades many of us have been socialized into certain thinking patterns and those ways of thinking have become habitual. As long as we think in limited ways that is exactly what the Universe will bring us. It can be no other way...it is Law. The Law of Attraction is the most powerful, consistent, unchangeable Law that exists. Just as we have come to except gravity and boundaries it demands we live within, Law of Attraction is no different. It is what it is and simply put it dictates that “like is and must be drawn to like or like unto like.” Your thoughts are vibrational and act very much like a radio signal. The more a thought is thought, the more Law brings like thoughts. As this builds and momentum is gained, those physical objects that are a similar vibrational match begin to appear into our realities. It is real. It is true and it cannot be any other way.

The really good news is that you can begin today to change your thoughts and patterns of thinking. All it takes is a little determination and before the end of one week you will already see your experience shifting. By the end of a month there will be physical evidence to match your new found thoughts and before the end of a year those who are close to you will begin asking you what it is you are doing because they will have observed such a metamorphous that will be drawn to ask...”how is this possible?” You will tell them that you came to understand that your thoughts are powerful and when you decided to think in patterns that were joyous, uplifting, loving, hopeful and kind as your dominant way of thinking, well the Law of Attraction simply had to bring things that are a match to that. Of course, you can tell them,”If I choose to go back to my limited ways of thinking, when I was in the habit of thinking of all that could go wrong or was worried that this bad think would happen or that bad thing would happen, when I used to live in fear and doubt, criticizing and complaining most of the time...if I did that you would see how all I have drawn with my new way of thinking would disappear and be replaced with the stuff that would match those old nasty patterns once again.”“ Frankly, I’ve seen the light and I have absolutely no intention of thinking in ways that do not feel good....not now and not ever again.” Once you have the momentum going in the new direction of ease, joy, and well being you will find that even if you were to slip back into an old negative pattern that you would catch yourself very quickly and say “ Oh no you don’t...this feels terrible and I now know what that will create and I will have no part of this!” Our feelings are our divine guidance and those are clearly tools that we can count on for direction. If it feels good, is uplifting and loving then we are in alignment with who we are and our Higher Self. If it feels bad, critical, angry, fearful or worried those negative feelings are our guidance and the reason that it feels so bad is because in that place we are holding ourselves, we are separate from who we are and our Higher Self. Simple, easy and basic and maybe that is why it eluded me for so long.

We are all genius creators that have the potential to be, do and have all our hearts desire. All we have to do is remember to think thoughts that feel good and allow the Universe and Law of Attraction to do the rest. We will be given divine action to take and we will know by how it makes us feel. Our real work is to sift through the contrast of our lives and choose what is that we are going to give our attention to. When we know that nothing is more important that we feel good and decide to focus on only those things that allow us to feel good...life becomes so sweet and we at long last become the “loving allowers” we came here to be. Blessed be! ]]> General http://www.kimsfitnessandnutrition.com/index.php?itemid=179 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:19:00 -0400