Being…

Authentically you (be warned this is a post you read after coffee).

I usually find it easy to be myself. Until I get sick or trapped in my own self.

Have you ever felt this? Where you are on a roll, and then life happens. Simple allergies that feel like that are overtaking your body like a…(ready a long run-on sentence because my grammar is Bitbantersexy…lol) norovisrus covid PTSD moment coughing frenzy comes and you are now left in bed talking to your friends instead of being with them but you already had plans to go visit some awesome nature park but can’t because your coughing off a storm and its windy and who knows when your body will recover. Yes, this happens to many of us in spring, all because they want to grow, little beautiful flowers. The pollen is in full bloom and then… bam! Achoo!

And the first question that comes out of people’s mind is, she is sick Have COVID? You would think that a few years after such pandemic, we have been able to reduce that question. However, it’s the first questions that comes to our mind. It makes me wonder how people during the depression felt and how long they take those lessons of life with them throughout life. And how drastic those thoughts are to whom the depression did not affect them (The Psychology of Money, gave me that thought). It’s what takes being…to a whole new level. Mind you, we take being to our own level, we raise our own bars (enter a friend telling me “Get a bar.”). We elevate who we are with, who we are talking to, and who we allow to be in our lives. And we allow them to bring us up too (If we let them). So when it comes to being authentic, and then get sick and feel trapped, we must muster through the fields of whatever our minds are going through and unstrap ourselves by allow a little virus we got from a kid who was probably sick and left the virus germ on a door knob that your opened to go an help someone else as your finish your round up (this I statement I started using recently ‘:-) Round up).

Being Sick

It’s funny how our body attack can change our thinking. Weather (storm lol) it be because of how we just feel like MEEEEEHHHH or because we place this idea in our mind that we are trapped and HAVE to stay in bed to recuperate and let this body that has gone through so many wars already go through something like so again. But is it really a war? (Just saying, it’s a cough that made you have bronchio spams… altering your voice so that you have sexy voice…I mean lol).

But regardless of being any type of sick or having a chronic illness, being you at that moment and time is because of something, or it may even help someone else.

Being Authentically You

I’ve learned this the hard way, that being you, with whom you are with will allow anything to happen. I met up with an old friend and I warned her I was not my best, yet even sick, I had the most incredible talk about something and everything. She understood me, in different ways because we just understand each other. The right people come to us when we least expect it. I just spoke to someone today, and he provided the sense of love, calm, and peace I needed to get through a bronchio-spasm asthmatic moment comes in and laughter comes in. I mean it gets better when you allow people whom your instincts tell you are worth being in your life. When you can be yourself with someone and they just smile, laugh, or don’t try to change you…and allow you to be…you. These moments are called elevating human energy. And this is something I’m defiantly interested in.

When you allow people and you come with who you are at that moment. And you allow yourself to be you… so much can happen. Yes, even if you are feeling trapped in your body and feeling sick. Giving positive energy is reciprocated with the people that are meant to be in your life and vice versa. And like with everything, always know your boundaries. You don’t want to get overused either. Everything with good measure.

I’m out to get some rest and sleep to have more of that energy stuff and help humans get to where they want to get to, Healthy too. Make it a great (enter when you are reading this)! (If you want). -Jes

Iron Deficiency Anemia: The Feels of it all

I recently when through infusions for Iron Deficiency Anemia a long and interesting process. I can tell you this… OUCH! and Ahhhh-ayeeee! Where words I used when I was going through the process. So earlier this year I took some time because there were many variables telling me to rest. I had just come back from rest, and yet, I did not feel rested. Working with families and communities can be a lot, and it wasn’t what was keeping me tired, because I felt alive while helping. How can I help others when I kept coughing and feeling low of energy? There was something else, something I felt was not right. Month after month I kept feeling tired and had continued low energy. My atoms, neurons, and connections did not seem to be working, I was not my bubbly, energy fused me. I tried very hard to continue me…but that in itself made me sad because it was no longer normal. I wasn’t able to pass test that I was taking, I felt depleted, distracted and some depressive symptoms fell upon me. I didn’t know what it was, I knew I didn’t suffer from depression, or maybe it was my first episode, I thought. I knew all the symptoms after diagnosing many people after ten years as Marriage and Family Therapist, and I knew how they looked on others. I was dumb founded that I was feeling this low of energy. I wasn’t motivated. I wasn’t doing the same in all areas of my life. So I looked through Depression symptoms: (The pink I felt)

“Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness
Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters
Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies or sports
Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much
Tiredness and lack of energy, so even small tasks take extra effort
Reduced appetite and weight loss or increased cravings for food and weight gain
Anxiety, agitation or restlessness
Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or self-blame
Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide
Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches” (Mayo Clinic, 2017 1)

I sought help. I called my doctor and we could not understand why my asthma had increased, why I was coughing so much, why my head hurt, by body ached and my spine and muscles where flaring up (had two prior spine surgeries). I knew something was wrong, but I didn’t know what. When he took my blood (Red Life Syrup), he was scared for my life. My Red Life syrup was like OMGOSH YOU ARE OFFICIALLY A ZOMBIE! Well…maybe a Vampire!… as I needed life syrup. 0.o The counts…they where low (no pun intended, well maybe), more than Half low in life syrup I was informed, and my Iron numbers where also super low. I had elevated numbers of inflammation and so I was treated for a chest infection, and ear infection with anti-biotic and loads of cranberry juice and green juice where my friend. I joined an amazing support group online to see “What the heck!!!” lol My doctors were amazing and they had me on Iron 325 mg 3xs daily and loads of greens and iron foods. I even opened up to my Facebook friends and I was even cooking on an Iron skillet thanks to my Register dietitian friends advice.

I was like, WOW, really lady?! My doctor who knows me very well personality, positivity and all that comes with my awesome self package was like “this is not you.” For him to tell me he was scared, I got permission to worry. I looked and felt depleted. Dark circles under my eyes, shaking like I was with Chanklas (sandals) and a robe in the snow and my nails where purple, always braking and I felt brittle. I couldn’t sleep and I felt pain. You would think I could sleep long ends, but it was the opposite. I went for days without sleep. I took Netflix and Chill to a whole new level… LOL It was me and Pillow. When I felt energy I ran to Mr. Snow. Where my Chills and shaking looked normal and being Blue was a normal thing. I felt like I was breathing clean air, and breathing hard was normal. I thought it was just pollution messing me up sometimes too. And when I slept, thanks to Norcos due to pain, I woke up feeling drowsy, muggy, like I just got up from being dead. I wasn’t me. I kept feeling buzzed, like I had taken two cups of wine instead of one, even when not on pain meds.

@-@

“Iron deficiency anemia is a common type of anemia — a condition in which blood lacks adequate healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body’s tissues.” (Mayo Clinic, 2017)

“Initially, iron deficiency anemia can be so mild that it goes unnoticed. But as the body becomes more deficient in iron and anemia worsens, the signs and symptoms intensify.

Iron deficiency anemia signs and symptoms may include:

Extreme fatigue
Weakness
Pale skin
Chest pain, fast heartbeat or shortness of breath
Headache, dizziness or lightheadedness
Cold hands and feet
Inflammation or soreness of your tongue
Brittle nails
Unusual cravings for non-nutritive substances, such as ice, dirt or starch
Poor appetite, especially in infants and children with iron deficiency anemia” (Mayo Clinic, 2017)

After months of diagnosing and waiting for my body to heal, medicines that stopped my Life Syrup depletions monthly and loads of abdominal checks, I had a small surgery in hopes that was the cause of why… and after that I still felt low. I had iron infusion therapy, the red pill was not working and eating greens and healthy Iron filled foods where like nothing. So Therapy it was, where I was placed in a large room with others going through similar weakness, and others going through becoming weaker battling cancer and other conditions… I then understood that Anemia was not like any other battle, and when others said “OH ITS JUST MY ANEMIA” I understood that they had found their peace to being ironwomen and ironmen. I understood that it was a battle for your life on an everyday scale and sadness and emotions that came with it where due to the health diagnosis. After all, our thoughts are fused with our body as our brain is held in it. I had diagnosed “due to General Medical Condition” I understood it from an educational level and years of observation… and now, I knew of it as experienced it. It’s both mental and physical staying alive. I never understood why there was such separation. Thank God I am bubbly again. I feel energy and I’m exercising and being once with nature and hike daily walks again. I have my bad and good days like anyone else… but I get through it. I’ll begin to work again and yours and My prayers worked, and God made some amazing doctors to help me through my process.

Get help when you don’t feel like yourself.

Sharing is Caring: My doctors

Smile (if you want),

Jes

How Athletes Psych-up for the Games

Embed from Getty Images

by Julie Olson, PhD

Growing up in Southern California, I have watched over 12 Olympic Games and I’ve seen terrorism, political upheaval, defections, and amazing spirit. One thing I noticed in the behavior of the athletes is that the difference between earning a medal and not getting past the semi-final qualifications is attitude. At least “attitude” is what I called it before I went to grad school in Psychology. Now, I know it as “self-regulation”, or in lay-man’s terms, the ability to “deal.”

From the beginning of these 2016 Games in Rio, I watched the athletes deal with the highs and lows of the competition. As a psychologist, I think I enjoy the back stories more than the average person watching the games. The “up close and personal” pursuit of being the best and overcoming adversity is my passion in life. For the athletes, passion and dedication to the sport is a must, but it is most important to have the perfect trifecta of mind-body-spirit. When it comes to finally competing in the actual event, an athlete’s ability to regulate their fears, hopes, enthusiasm, confidence, and pain is the gold standard of winning.

Balance is a large part of the mind-body-spirit combination. An athlete needs to balance their breath and their heart beat even if they are scared to death. It would be so easy to stumble or over-arch when we don’t feel centered in our bodies.

My first example is of Katie Ledecky winning in the pool. 5 Medals. She was so excited at one point, she said it was the closest she felt to feeling like she would throw up while swimming. But, she didn’t. She won.

Michael Phelps needed to get into recovery before he could be such a great swimmer and win so many gold medals. He needed to, as they say, “check his ego at the door” and be a team mate. Learn to work well with others and be in his own zone, and not get distracted by his competitors.

Any time an Olympian shatters a world record by such a large margin, questions are inevitably raised. Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu swam the 400-meter individual medley with a world record by more than two seconds. Katinka has been drug tested 9 times in 2016 – most recently on June 21. “Confidence” was the drug that got her to win! Her coach/husband motivated her to be her best.

Take Simone Biles, her ability to balance her body and stick those landings is incredible. Said to be the best gymnast ever by Nadia Comaneci, Nadia herself was the athlete with the first perfect 10 in 1976. She says to USA TODAY, “I did what I used to do every day in the gym. It’s not like overnight I’d done something to surprise myself.” Bela and Marta were her coaches back then in Romania and they were the coaches of the US Women’s Gymnastics teams, helping them win decades of gold.

Márta and Bela Károlyi are Hungarian-Romanian gymnastics coaches and the national team coordinators for Team USA. After defecting to the US in 1981, they coached 9 world champions, sixteen European medalists and many U.S. national champions, including Mary Lou Retton and Kerri Strug. Marta focused on motivation and Bela focused on form.

Simone flies high with grace and takes to the ground like she has glue on her feet. Such precision, poise, and balance. She waivered on the balance beam itself, giving her a silver medal, but all others were gold. Did you know she also has a “mental strength coach”? You’ve probably seen Simone before her performances, placing her right hand on her stomach, closing her eyes, and taking a deep breath. In an interview with ESPN, her mental strength coach, Robert Andrews, said that relaxation techniques are exercises they’d been practicing in his office and he was pleased to see her using them to center herself before her events.

I can hardly think of other sports events where there is so much pressure. But, again, it is a very personal experience. Each sport has its challenges. Few have so many close “ties” by the hundredth of a second. Each athlete has their own story of redemption.

Mo Farah wins the 1000m, even after falling. How did he do it? Great attitude, planning out his strategy, kicking back until it was time to sprint to the front, and taking it. Usain Bolt is the “fastest man alive”, winning gold for 3 games in a row. He does it by using the energy of the crowd.

Many athletes pray before an event and give the glory to God. Their spirit is also calming and motivating. It seems to help a team when they pray together before they play together and against each other.

Visualizing your success is an extremely powerful way to get to the podium. Many of the athletes as children have written stories and drawn pictures of themselves winning in their sports of choice. They use those images, delaying gratification for years with discipline. Eventually grown up, being in the moment they visualized, revving themselves up while calming themselves down with positive affirmations.

There is a time and a place where the “agony of defeat” is expressed in a healthy way. Missy Franklin won gold in swimming in 2012 and this year she couldn’t keep up. She said she tried to stay as positive as possible. Her teammates say they love her spirit. She didn’t want to show her disappointment and bring her team down, so as she said, “she cried about it when she was alone” and to her mom.

It was extremely heart-breaking to watch the French runner Wilhem Belocian, after a split-second mistake took him away from his Olympic goals. After years of training, Belocian had only qualified for the 110m hurdles. Unfortunately, he was unable to contain himself and it caused him to bolt out of the starting blocks just a little too early. Electronically alarmed, the buzzer rang out and his hopes of a medal in Rio were over. You can jump the gun one time now and you are out. No “do-overs.” I felt for him. First in denial or shock, he held his head and then he became very angry, tearing off his official number and turning over hurdles. Eventually crying inconsolably, he gave in to the reality of his dashed dreams. You can’t blame him. Imagine all of the time, energy, and money leading up to the games. It is hoped he has a strong supportive network at home. He needs to be reminded that this same thing happened to Usain Bolt in 2011.

One thing that has always bothered me is how the quest for gold is so intense that getting a Silver or Bronze is “not good enough.” Getting qualified for the games and being an Olympian is great and every athlete could enjoy it to the fullest. But to win, you must have goals and there is nothing wrong with a goal of a gold medal.

There are so many examples of athletes using psychological self-regulation skills that I would be writing a 100 page dissertation.

And it has been scientifically proven. Studies at the University of Calgary, Canada, 2015, have found a correlation between self-regulation and world ranking. Athletes who are better at regulating their body’s response to stress–respiration rate, heart rate, and the activation of their muscles–are likely to perform better than those who struggle. Many elite athletes use biofeedback as part of their training. Then, they learn how to use their thoughts to control their physiological responses.

Self-regulation skills are a must in the games, and also a must in life. The competition of life is not as brutal most of the time, and sometimes the stakes are higher.

Learning self-regulation skills takes a good coach, a good trainer, a good therapist. In therapy, we call this flexing your “mental muscles” and it takes practice. It can ache like when you first go to the gym. Your therapist may give you exercises to help you focus and uncover who you are, which often feels worse before it feels better. Overall, life isn’t always “golden”, but you can get over hurdles by remembering the golden moments of life.

References

Dupee, M., Werthner, P., & Forneris, T. (2015) A Preliminary Study on the Relationship Between Athletes’ Ability to Self-Regulate and World Ranking. Biofeedback: Summer 2015, Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 57-63.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A1rta_K%C3%A1rolyi

http://www.espn.com/espnw/sports/article/17252340/mental-gymnastics-meet-sports-psychology-coach-keeps-simone-biles-laurie-hernandez-sharp

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/missy-franklin-trying-stay-positive-possible

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/rio-2016/2016/07/20/10-gymnast-nadia-comaneci-olympics-montreal/87357146/

_____________________________

Julie Olson, PhD, is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Orange County, CA. She has helped many people get over their challenges and find happiness. She can be reached at julieolsonphd@gmail.com.

Beauty is Everything…or is it?

We live in a society in which we are constantly inundated with beauty. Advertisements constantly tell us what we need to buy to be beautiful and accepted. Instagram gurus are now making thousands, if not millions (see: Michelle Phan) for making tutorials on how to conceal that pimple or rock that smokey eye. Don’t get me wrong, I love make up, and I love checking out all the latest hair trends. But where are the ads that are calling us to become the best version of ourselves? Why is society so driven to create images rather than character?
Growing up, my parents, well my grandparents who raised me, did their best. I look back now, and being a mom, I realize they weren’t perfect, but they gave me all that they had. My grandmother, whom I miss dearly, in a misguided effort to keep me focused, used to tell me that I wasn’t pretty, like my best friend…that I had better focus on my grades. In her effort to keep me from being boy crazy and self-obsessed, she did some damage to my self-esteem that she didn’t realize. I literally thought that I was ugly, well into my late 20s.
Now before you start feeling sorry for me, let’s take a look at this in a different perspective. Because I didn’t think that I was beautiful, it allowed me to cultivate and work on other aspects of who I was becoming. I wanted to be considered generous, kind, helpful and supportive. I wanted to be an accountable and trustworthy person. I wanted to be unselfish, thinking about the big picture and needs of the team vs. me.
Realizing that looks aren’t everything allowed me to look for traits and qualities in others that had nothing to do with their looks. I wanted friends and lovers who loved others, who were generous and hard working. It didn’t matter to me what someone looked like, I wanted to understand their heart, their work ethic and their values.
So based on those values, and hard learned lessons, it’s interesting to interact with people today who are literally obsessed with appearance…yet have empty hearts and selfish perspectives towards others. We are constantly fooled and made to feel inferior by others highlight reel via social media.
Beauty is really about how you treat others, how you value yourself, your true self, and what you contribute to the world around you. Beauty is found in serving in a soup kitchen, or holding an open door for someone else. Beauty is on display when we put the needs of others before our own. We are at our most beautiful when we are seeking a life that serves the needs of others. We are beautiful when we are living out the purpose for which we were placed on the earth. We are beautiful when we choose to do what’s right, even when no one is looking. Beauty comes from building character, and working to become the best version of ourselves…a lifelong work.
So while selfies likes, and advertisements seem to dictate what beauty really is made of, remember that true beauty comes from within.

Stay Beautiful,

Brandise

BeautybyBrandise.com

Working Out & Therapy

Therapy is a process where you are Asked to be Committed for a few months to work on you, emotionally and in other ways. Most often therapist will also ask you about your physical health regimen. Usually they will ask you to get a physical and begin to hit the gym or nature for walks. But why?

Here are some reasons why Working out and Therapy work well together.

Our minds run based on what we give our body. We feed it trash, we feel like trash. We feed it well, we run well. Think about it like the oil in the car… You have to change it in order for your motor to work. And while in therapy a therapist needs you to get all your bases covered so that we don’t miss anything, and we are able to get you over the hump.
Working out feels good! Our bodies secrete hormones and we must learn to listen to out body. The more you work out the better you feel. ¹
Our Body actually tells us when we have pain when something is wrong.²So Listen to it! A lot of us don’t like to listen to our bodies… and that is where going to therapy can come in… they can help you realize why you are not listening to yourself.
Talking about your anger and feelings is great and it helps you gain insight about yourself, but guess what, workout after words helps you not only work though the insight you had in session, more so you get to release it though exercise and think about what insight you gained in your session. You think about what is going on and use the Coping skills, the deep Stuff that you and your therapist came up with to help you through the process.
Last But not least. Therapy and Exercise gets you to a strong point, both mentally and physically. And guess what? The body cannot work with out your brain. With both, You are hitting all your “Weakness” and making them in your strength. You want to be able to work with a whole you, not just a half.

I hope this gives you some insight on Why Therapy and Physical Fitness is important.

Tell us your reasons why you work out and Have a therapist? Tell us how it goes.

Find treatment: findtreatment.samhsa.gov.

Note: We suggest you obtain services. All you work through will be between you and your therapist and fitness coaches. We are NOT liable for your choice. We do however congratulate you on obtaining help. Stay in your positive journey and Enjoy it!

Reference:

Moderate treadmill exercise rescues anxiety and depression-like behavior as well as memory impairment in a rat model of posttraumatic stress disorder.

Patki G, Li L, Allam F, Solanki N, Dao AT, Alkadhi K, Salim S.

Physiol Behav. 2014 May 10;130:47-53. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.03.016. Epub 2014 Mar 19.

PMID:24657739

Synthetic and Natural Inhibitors of Phospholipases A<sub>2</sub>: Their Importance for Understanding and Treatment of Neurological Disorders.

Ong WY, Farooqui T, Kokotos G, Farooqui AA.

ACS Chem Neurosci. 2015 May 1. [Epub ahead of print]

PMID:25891385

Gastroparesis: The Story Behind the Tubes.

Submitted by @melissarvh on 2015/04/09 at 10:26 pm

During my 37 years, I have faced numerous obstacles. Some as a result of my actions, some unable to avoid. Some more minor than others. Some to personal to share. I believe that God places some obstacles in our paths to build character, build inner strength, teach us lessons, and bring us even closer to him. Challenges are not to be taken lightly. Everyone has them, it’s how you choose to face and overcome them that matters.

A recent challenge for me was facing the fact that I needed a feeding tube and how to avoid the shameful stigma that I believed came with it.

In the latter part of April 2013 I was hospitalized and diagnosed with Gastroparesis. I was discharged from the hospital on a liquid only diet. I had to write down ALL of my input and output, which was actually pretty easy being that not much of anything, even though only liquids, would stay down. I was in a lot of pain from trying to force liquids but getting nowhere. I was lucky if I could handle 1 Gatorade a day, sipping a little at a time. As the week progressed, my ability to drink anything dwindled while my feeling of weakness increased. As instructed, I kept my new Gastroenterologist up to date via emails. By the end of the week he instructed me to return to the hospital and that we were probably going to have to discuss a feeding tube.

A feeding tube! What was that? What did that mean? I had never heard about people like me having a feeding tube. Weren’t people with feeding tubes old and/or dying? How would they place it? How long would I need it? What would it be like? All these questions were so overwhelming!

After picking up my kids from school, I gave them a huge hug and kiss before heading back for UNC. After my admittance, my nerves were all over the place. However, realizing that I was literally receiving NO fluids or nutrition via oral means, I had to do something. It was no secret that I could not survive or live like this.

I was terrified! Luckily, I was blessed to have my same hospitalist from my previous hospitalization. He was amazing at calming my fears and preparing mentally for the surgery. Unfortunately, I was only under his care for the first few days of my readmission. Thankfully, he was able to make all of the arrangements prior to being switched to a different doctor. My GI helped ease my fears as well. Even though he was not on rotation, he made a point to come visit me and explain to me in person why he believed I needed a feeding tube and answer any questions that I had.

Surgery day came very quickly. Mentally, I believed I was as prepared as I could possibly be. I trusted my GI and my initial hospitalist and agreed that a GJ feeding tube was my best option. If my stomach wasn’t going to cooperate, then I could just skip it and feed straight into my small intestines, decreasing the pain and nausea. I have to admit, the option was sounding pretty good.

After waking from surgery, I was in a lot of pain. Much more pain than expected. I knew the pain would eventually pass but hopeful that my nutrition would increase to the point I could be active again. Unfortunately, I felt like a freak when I saw the long tube hanging from my abdomen. How had my life come to this point? Would I be like this forever? What would my family, especially kids and husband think?

The first few months happened to be summer break, which worked out great for me. To begin with, I tried to keep my tube feedings private. I fed when I was at home and unhooked when I chose to go anywhere in public. When school began back, I started running my feeds only at home and overnight. I did not want my students and colleagues to see this feeding tube. I did not want to appear like a freak, weird, or weak.

This was my challenge; I had to learn to accept a feeding tube. Yes, needing a feeding tube may have been caused by Gastroparesis but learning to live with it was all me. I had to face the challenge head on and overcome the fear of social stigma. I had to become courageous and not be ashamed. True, I had a feeding tube and some would look at me differently, but why should that matter? If I wanted to be an active mother and teacher, I had to face my fears. And that I did.

I began wearing my tube feedings (in backpack) all day. To begin with I was self conscious, but eventually I became more comfortable. Instead of looking at my backpack as a curse, I looked at it as a way to advocate and educate my students. I shared the reason for the pump, educated how my digestive tract was impaired, and how the feedings helped me function. I even bought a more comfortable and stylish backpack. Even though I was under the recommended caloric intake (about 1/2 of what the goal set was) I was active.

I wish I could say that I have overcome all of the challenges set forth by the debilitating disease, Gastroparesis. Unfortunately, I am still fighting battles and challenges from Gastroparesis daily! The pain, the nausea, inability to eat, bloating, fatigue, etc continue every single day. The tube changes every 3 months, unless unexpected problems/issues arise. Most recently fighting these challenges have become more difficult. BUT, I did overcome the challenge of accepting my feeding tube and using the experience to educate others; And I must admit that was definitely an extremely daunting challenge.

The only advice that I can give to others that either have or are considering feeding tubes is to do what is best for your health. Feeding tubes are not ideal, they are not the “magic pill”, they do not cure diseases, but they are a means to much needed nutrition. I would love for other tubies to know that they are not alone and there is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. There are many online support groups available; some disease specific and others just for tubies in general. I strongly recommend other tubies reach out and find a support group that is right for them. Support groups offer you a chance to ask for advice, share personal stories, vent, share advice from own experiences, and even form friendships.

I am pleased that I overcame the Tubie Challenge. Now if I could just tackle the Gastroparesis Challenge!

Visit our advocacy community page:
Gastroparesis: Fighting for Change https://www.facebook.com/Gastroparesis.FightingForChange.Page

Latina in HongKong

Some of you may have been following my adventures and know that I met a special person (now boyfriend) “J” who is the best friend of Bryce, whom I met while filming Project Runway All Stars. Well the stars certainly aligned, the timing finally became right for us (both dating other people when we first met), and now we are in this full-blown relationship that has changed my life.

Pumpkin dark chocolate Muffins

About a year ago, I read an article calling out food bloggers who seemed to be locked into the timing and themes of their posts. The writer ridiculed bloggers for simultaneously drowning readers with egg recipes during the spring, frozen popsicle recipes in the summer, pumpkin recipes during the fall, and cookie recipes throughout the holidays. I laughed because…well, it’s true. Although I still consider myself a novice in the world of blogging, I know that certain recipes have their seasonal appeal. What else is a blogger to do? Your audience seeks, you deliver, aaaand (hopefully) get a flood of readers going to your web site. Makes sense to me, but as always, you have those who sneer at the masses…and in this case, the sneering spoke to me.

– See more at: http://christywilsonnutrition.com/pumpkin-dark-chocolate-muffins/#sthash.lERqK0ND.dpuf

How to Keep Your Health While Being an Influencer.

Keep your health while being an influencer

Influencers are committed, consistent, creative, idea driven, motivating and obviously…influential people. They too become overwhelmed, stressed but they just know how to work it so no one knows.

So How do you use your influence to help your health?

Here are five simple steps to help you keep your health while being an influencer:

1. Do what you love doing.
Most often once you are an influence of something you are placed in a box of the influence you are a part of. I say if the box is what you love stay in it. If it isn’t well go outside the box. When you love what you do you are happy. Happy wife happy life? Not married that’s ok your married to being an influence.

most influentials usually have the first one down because they became an influencer though being who they are… But just incase…

2. Consistency:
Influencers are consistent most of the time… Guess what? Your human- #Take5 minutes to help you recharge a few times during your day. We are not telling you to stop… But we are suggesting you take time to chill, slow your mind and body to relax. Keep that consistent, then work hard so you can play harder.

3. Commitment:
Stay committed to you. As an influencer you are pushed and pulled and most of the time on the go. So stay committed to (______<your name), you. Make sure that with in your schedule you add #MeTime.

You don’t have time? … Well guess who is boss?! You are so make the time to take care of you. Think: Health, mental health and your soul’s HEALTH Too.

4. Creativity:
Influencers are most of time creative. Well it’s time to get creative with your health. I speak from experience… I would put my job before my health… But guess what? It doesn’t turn out well… So I had to learn to keep me alive before I became a dead influencer. Be creative, have your meetings in a #dailywalk. Talk to people while you are taking a stroll and then continue with your walk.

And five!

5. Motivate:
Once you are able to schedule your #Take5 minutes for you in your happy influential position because you like what you do and are able to be creative where you are at in your life…. Then others will follow and do the same. After all, you are influential right?
Stay influential. Stay alive. Hopeful and motivated. Keep it healthy, keep it going!

Kindly,

Jes Sofia Valle
Global Influential.

#Superbowl Guacamole

The Guacamole Recipe

by Christy Wilson

Anytime my family gets together, there is always a bowl of guacamole on the table. Whether it’s for chip-dipping or for spreading on a tortilla or burger bun for grilled meat, chicken or fish, guacamole is a fresh, delicious and healthy addition to almost any meal.

As the base ingredient to all guacamole recipes, avocados provide 3 grams of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, a mere 0.5 grams of saturated fat and 2 grams of fiber per serving (1/5 of a medium avocado). Mixed together with herbs and fresh ingredients, guacamole is a nutritious alternative to other high calorie and processed dips and/or spreads.

When I was a kid, I looked forward to the weekends my dad would light-up the charcoal and grill steaks (carne asada) in our open brick chiminea. Meanwhile, my mom would be in the kitchen heating tortillas and fixing a bowl of guacamole for us. I especially enjoyed helping Mom with this because it was foolproof–all I had to do was mash avocado and mix in the ingredients she had chopped. “Like this?” I’d ask, then quickly be reassured with a “yes, just mix…and taste it. Add whatever you think it needs.” Too timid to experiment with spices and risk ruining the whole thing (!), we’d taste-test together and surprisingly leave enough guacamole to share with the rest of the family!

Over the years, I’ve added my own flair to Mom’s original recipe, but the basic ingredients still hold: ripe avocados and lots of cilantro and lime juice. Now I share the experience of making guacamole with my own kids who will hopefully keep the tradition alive and someday add their own twist to this family favorite.

Serves 8

Prep time: 15-20 minutes

Ingredients

5 ripe avocados

1/2 cup chopped cilantro. Save a few leaves for garnish

1 medium tomato, roughly chopped

6 key limes, juiced (adjust to taste, I use 6 or more because I like my guacamole “limey”)

1/4 cup finely chopped onion

1 small clove of garlic, chopped and smashed into a paste-like consistency

1/4 – 1/2 cup cottage cheese (I use lowfat but use what you have)

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp season salt

Ground pepper, to taste

1/2 tsp granulated garlic or garlic powder

1/2 tsp dried, whole Mexican oregano (smash leaves between your palms to release the aroma and flavor)

Optional: Diced Jalapeño or chili powder for some added flavor and heat.

Directions

1. Slice all avocados in half. Remove and discard pits. Scoop out the flesh and place in a large bowl. Mash avocados with a fork or potato masher.

2. Add the remaining ingredients into the bowl (from cilantro to the oregano)and mix with the mashed avocados.

3. Adjust seasonings to taste. Add jalapeño and/or chili powder for a spicy kick.

Tip: If making a large batch of guacamole ahead of time, keep it from browning by following these steps:

1) Spread guacamole evenly in the bowl.

2) Squeeze lime juice over the top and place plastic wrap right on top of the dip, leaving no air pockets between the dip and the wrap. Exposure to air is what causes avocados to oxidize and turn brown.

3) Refrigerate until ready to serve. Stir before serving and garnish with a few cilantro leaves and some freshly chopped onion and tomato.

Enjoy!

~CWN

– See more at: http://christywilsonnutrition.com/the-guacamole-recipe/#sthash.77bDl7Yg.dpuf