Want to feel great when you wake up in the morning and get going with plenty of energy?

Use acupressure and stimulate your kidney point. This will do the trick.

Here’s how:

When you wake up in the morning sit at the side or foot of your bed. Your kidney point is at the bottom of each foot.

The point is actually on the pad of your foot just under your big toe and second toe.

Start massaging there, and if you’re so inclined, massage your whole sole.

I do, and it feels great!

Start with your left foot. Massage deeply at least 50 times.

Then massage your right foot 50 times.

This will take care of any low energy you feel and get your spirits and your day off to a great start.

shelli

Are you much of a soda drinker?

I went through a period many years ago when I enjoyed drinking Diet Pepsi.

Now though, I find soda too filling and haven’t been a soda drinker for years, although there are times when a ginger ale tastes great.

Many women are hooked on these cold, fizzy, sweet drinks and they have developed a biochemical addiction to them.

If you have an addiction to sugary sodas or know someone who does (and I think we all do), please pay careful attention.

Here’s what you need to do to save your health.

In studies comparing the addictive properties of sweeteners, sugar proved more addictive than cocaine.

Why?

Because when consumed, sugar increases serotonin levels within the brain. This increases the production of endorphins.

Endorphins, which are brain chemicals, (much like drugs), trigger opioid receptors, thereby eliciting the sensation of happiness. This artificial increase in serotonin levels causes the body to down-regulate its natural production and release of serotonin.

Addiction begins to creep in and you can’t feel the happiness effect of serotonin without using an artificial stimulant.

Serotonin is responsible for controlling mood and appetite.

Without serotonin, you get depressed and crave more sugar. This creates an emotional bond between happiness and sugar (or soda sweetened with sugar).

Sugar addicts become dependent on it to increase serotonin levels so that they’ll feel happy.

That explains why, if you have a sugar addiction, you might find yourself dropping whatever you are doing and going for your fix!

And of course, soda manufacturers are well aware of this chemical addiction.

Is there a problem with sugar addiction?

Yes!

It leads to both obesity and Type II diabetes.

Drinking sodas will also elevate your blood sugar to dangerous levels.

One soda per day increases your risk of diabetes by 85 percent, which can reduce your lifespan by 11 to 20 years.

Now the good news.

The addiction can be totally overcome in about three weeks.

To do it, you need plenty of exercise and sunshine, along with L-tryptophan and whey isolate.

The amino acid L-tryptophan is the precursor to serotonin (melatonin too). It is termed essential because you need it for proper development, yet your body cannot make it.

You must obtain it from your diet. Without L-tryptophan, your body is unable to “feel good” and women will say they feel “blue.” The typical reaction is to reach for an “artificial feel good” like sugary beverages, but at a huge health cost.

Natural sweeteners like stevia (a natural alternative to sugar) and agave can help you ease off the soda (use them to make a natural soda from sparkling water and lime), as can herbal teas (like Yerba Mate).

So, I’m not intentionally picking on the soda drinkers in the crowd, OK, maybe I am just a little!

Think you’re doing no harm by drinking DIET soda? I’ll address that in another motivational letter, so stay tuned.

But as always, I want you to become more aware of the choices you make and the consequences that come with them.

Over consuming sugar, and sodas in particular, has hefty consequences so try these tips for three weeks and see how you feel.

Let me know!?

shelli

I don’t have time for exercise!

Does that sound like you?

If so, try this.

Here’s a recipe for 30 minutes of fitness walking: walk for 10 minutes three times a day.

There are days when you feel strapped for time for a more full-length exercise session.

I’ve read studies that show that cardio done in increments can be as effective as cardio done for longer durations.

Thinking logically, you can do one 10 minute session in the morning, one at lunch and one after dinner.

If you’ve got a dog, the morning and evening ones can be used as dog walking times.

Going shopping?

Park at the other end of the mall and walk ten minutes each way to your destination.

Going out to dinner or lunch?

Park ten minutes away and walk both ways.

Do you work in a large building or at a school with a track?

Use the stairs in the building or go outside for ten minutes on the track.

During informal business meetings, if it’s appropriate, walk around outside while you talk!

Be creative.

Ten minutes will go by very quickly.

It’s a great investment in your long-term well-being!

shelli

Women wonder whether midlife weight gain is a fact of life.

Both perimenopausal and menopausal women write me with this question.

Let’s take a closer look.

It’s true that during perimenopause and menopause there are many hormonal changes taking place.

You may have noticed some weight gain, particularly around your middle.

What’s happening?

Because fat calls produce estrogen, as your levels of estrogen diminish, your body will compensate by adding more fat cells.

However, there are other hormones to consider. Do not focus on only estrogen.

Adrenaline and cortisol also play a role in adding fat during menopause.

Adrenaline is a stress hormone. It’s the hormone that comes into play when you need to be ready for action. It’s that “flight or fight” behavior that is induced by adrenaline.

Cortisol calms you down after you’ve experienced a high degree of stress. Your cravings for fats and sugars come from your body being depleted and out of energy. You need to be ready for that next burst of stress and adrenaline production, so the cravings are indeed real.

During menopause you have an elevated level of both adrenaline and cortisol.

So, we’re back to the question, does menopause by itself cause weight gain or does what we choose to do when our hormones are elevated cause the weight gain.

It’s like answering the question, “What comes first, the chicken or the egg?”

It depends on how you look at it.

It also goes back to asking whether weight gain is INEVITABLE.

It might be more likely, given the hormonal changes that are naturally happening as we age.

Not inevitable though.

Lifestyle choices during this time in a woman’s life have a huge impact on whether weight gain is “inevitable.”

If you find yourself moving less and eating more, you need to ask why.

These factors are totally within your own ability to change, once you put your mind to it.

Decreasing the likelihood of gaining fat during menopause is easier with an active menopause lifestyle, proper nutrition and a stress management plan.

So, if you’re concerned about fat gain during menopause, just remember that you have the power as you go through menopause to avoid some of the potential negative side effects like weight gain.

It’s up to you to take control of your life and make better choices!

shelli