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In this "mailbag" I'm answering some great
questions from readers who want tips on how they
can get their friends and family involved, what to
do about acne and skin problems, a new way of thinking
about throwing food away, and how to make your
tummy fat disappear.
Let's start here...
*** Question From Reader ***
I've downloaded your book and I think it's
wonderful! I was wondering if you have more tips
for how I can get my friends and family to support
me in this quest to get healthy?
Thanks for your help!
- Michelle Johnson, Chicago, IL
*** My Response ***
Dear Michelle,
I know what it's like to want to get healthy
and to be surrounded by people who are not on
the same journey as you are on.
I grew up in Texas and there wasn't a lot of
health education in my community and my family
was clueless about healthy nutrition and healthy
lifestyle habits.
So I spent a lot of years on my own, and
doing things "differently" than the rest of my
family.
Sure, in the beginning it was difficult to say
no to BBQ pork ribs, steaks as big as your face,
and cheese-filled casseroles and lasagnas...
But I stayed committed to making positive
changes in my life and then I became hooked on
all the benefits that these changes were giving
me.
For the first time in my life, I liked the way
I felt on the inside and I was starting to see the
outside catching up with that.
When I was surrounded by temptation, I always
made sure that I was "prepared", meaning I
brought my own food, or I called ahead to make
sure there would be healthy cheese-free food
that I could eat.
And very soon my family began to accept that
I had a "special" diet and they always just made
something "special" for me to eat.
This was my family showing me that they loved
and respected my choices even if they weren't
going to join me in making these choices.
And I tried my hardest to respect their
choices as well.
You can never "force" someone else to join
you in your quest to get healthy.
Everyone has free choice and gets to decide
what is right for them.
Some people just aren't ready... yet.
But if you just stay on your path and keep
shining your light of HEALTH and awareness out into
the world, your friends and family will see the
radiant life glowing from you.
And they will start to take notice of all the
positive changes that are happening to you inside
and out.
When you stay committed to your path to grow
toward the LIGHT, you will become a mirror that
will reflect that LIGHT back onto the people who
love you the most.
And their lives will be brighter as a result.
Someday, they may find the desire inside of
themselves to learn about HEALTH... and they
will know exactly where to turn to for guidance.
You will be that positive example in their
lives.
I have seen it happen time and time again.
One person, one soul, can shine the LIGHT
from the purest, most loving and vibrant source,
from where all HEALTH and LOVE radiates... and
that LIGHT will fill the lives of dozens even
hundreds of other people.
It's like one candle lighting another.
Be that source of LIGHT in your circle that
surrounds you. Be the LIGHT that fills the hearts
of those you love the most, and be that source
of INSPIRATION for others to turn to when they
are searching for their way out of darkness.
Staying committed to your HEALTH not only
helps you evolve to a higher place, but it
also carries everyone else up that is attached
to you by LOVE.
Now isn't that some good INSPIRATION to keep
you going?
*** Question From Reader ***
Quick Question - I love eggs but with all the
egg whites you eat What do you do with the yokes????
Do you just throw them out cause I was brought up
in the "waste not, want not" way !!!
- Lyn
xxx
*** My Response ***
Dear Lyn,
Yes, I just throw out all the yolks.
And when I eat fish, I throw out all the bones
and guts too...
(well, actually they've already been thrown out
by the fish market before I buy them.)
Is that wasting food?
There are some cultures that prefer the guts
and bones of fish, but the thought of eating
those sounds rather disgusting to me.
The main reason that I eat is for NUTRITION,
and egg yolks are full of fat and cholesterol.
I'm not looking to add fat and cholesterol
into my diet. But I do want protein.
And one of the best sources of protein comes
from egg whites.
I understand that idea of "waste not want not".
In my family, we would save all of our bacon
grease in an aluminum can so we could use it to
cook vegetables and other naturally healthy foods
in.
But when you cook vegetables in pork lard,
that kinda defeats the purpose of eating for
good NUTRITION.
Vegetables are NOT healthy for you if they
are covered in animal fats (and that includes
cheese fat)... and eggs are no longer very
healthy for you if you leave the fat and cholesterol
in them.
Now, I'm not saying that you should never eat
a whole egg. I know a lot of people that put a
whole egg mixed in with 2 or 3 egg whites for
the flavor of it.
And that's fine, if you only eat eggs
occasionally. But I eat eggs every day and if
you're eating this many eggs as well (which
is a great source of convenient, inexpensive
protein ideal for losing weight), then I do
recommend throwing away the yolks.
*** Question From Reader ***
Hallooo Andrea! I have been receiving your mails
for long now and i realy like them. But i have a
very serious problem that am not sure what kind of
protein is affecting me. I always have pimples on
my face. few month am clean and few month again i
get rough out of pimples and Acnes. Is there anyway
i could describe what realy affect me? I will realy
appreciate if u will also be having some advices or
tips to give me.
Yours sincerely,
Naima from Tanzania
*** My Response ***
Dear Naima,
I hear ya girlfriend. Aren't pimples a drag?
I have always had problems with my skin and
my skin has always been a source of major
frustration in my life.
But I've learned that instead of just hating
my skin for being so sensitive, I have learned to
use it as a "guide" for interpreting what is
happening INSIDE of my body.
Let me explain...
When I eat really fattening, greasy foods I
get lots of little blackheads (sorry to be so
graphic, but I really study this stuff closely).
And when I don't manage my stress levels, I
break out on my forehead.
And when I eat dairy, I get big, red pimples
on my cheeks.
So instead of just cursing my skin for breaking
out and looking so ugly, I have now learned to
be grateful that my skin can give me a clearer
indication of what I can do to be HEALTHIER on
the inside.
I have noticed that as my diet has improved
over the years, my skin has gotten much better.
And it was from observing how my skin reacted
to the yogurt I was putting in my protein shakes,
that I figured out I have a dairy allergy.
So instead of just covering up your pimples
or doing some kind of really invasive procedure
like a chemical scrub to take away the pimples, maybe
your skin is trying to "tell you" something.
Notice if your skin reacts positively to eating
a healthy diet and getting daily exercise.
Maybe you need to learn meditation and relaxation
techniques (yoga is a great place to start) so
that you can bring your stress levels down and
neutralize any negative affects stress could be
having on your health.
When the inside changes, your outside will
change too.
Stay focused on eating nutritious foods,
thinking positive thoughts, tuning into your
deepest self and spending time with your spirit.
And instead of fighting with your skin to
change and clear up, be grateful when it reminds
you that you are not living to your highest SELF
and making the highest choices in your life for
your whole HEALTH, inside and out.
*** Question From Reader ***
Andrea, I read your newsletter whenever i receive it
and it gives me a lot of helpful information. I'm not
sure if you will know much about this since you seem
to know more about nutrition rather then exercise,
but what exercises would you suggest for burning
fat, and toning up your mid section? That is the
only area where i carry my weight and i would like
to get some of it off.
Thanks so much,
Hilary
*** My Response ***
Dear Hilary,
Did you know that you can burn fat and
tone up your mid section at any time you want
and throughout your day?
It took me years to understand how the
abdominal muscles or "core" support the entire
body... but they do!
And as soon as I started to become AWARE of
my core, I started to use my abdominal muscles
constantly throughout my day and I watched as
my tummy got tighter and tighter.
Many women make the mistake of only working
their core when they are exercising, but you
can be toning up your mid-section ALL DAY LONG.
Here's an easy and effective exercise to Get
"Tuned Into" Your Core:
>>> Plank <<<
This is a favorite in yoga and it's a great
exercise you can do anywhere to strengthen
your abdominal muscles and bring awareness into
your core.
Start on your hands and knees. Line up your
wrists underneath your shoulders and your knees
underneath your hips (Alignment is very important
for protecting your joints).
Connect to your core by pulling your belly
button in. Imagine that there is a string
on your belly button attached to your spine.
"Tighten" that imaginary string and that will
pull your belly button in towards your spine.
Inhale and lift your knees off the ground so
that the tips of your toes and your hands are the
only things touching the ground.
Keep holding your belly button in and breathe
for 5 slow, deep breaths. Come down and rest,
then do it again.
Work up to holding plank for longer, going to
10, 15, 20 breaths or more.
And remember, shaking is good! That's your
body creating new muscle memory and getting
stronger.
You can also drop down onto your elbows and
clasp your hands out in front of you for a
Lower Plank position. Hold here for 5 breaths.
Play around with just holding yourself up with
your core.
These Plank positions are a great way to become
familiar and comfortable with your abdominal
strength.
And then once you get that sensation, work on
pulling your belly button in throughout your day
even as you're walking around, sitting at your
computer, and watching tv.
As your core becomes "alive" you will notice
your entire body will feel more powerful and
centered. And your abdominal muscles will get
tighter.
But I have to mention that you will
never see the "toned" abdominal muscles if they
are covered by fat.
And the amount of fat you carry on your body,
is determined by your genetics and your nutrition.
Now, there's nothing you can do about your
genetics, but you can make healthy choices and
feed your body nutritious food.
So that's one of the reasons why I mostly
talk about nutrition.
Nutrition is the building blocks of your
cells, and nutrition is the main determining
factor of whether or not you store fat, especially
around your tummy.
And there's another reason why nutrition is
so important --- it gives you the energy to
be active.
If you're not eating healthy foods, then you
are not going to want to exercise. Heck, you
will barely even have enough energy to make it
through the day!
So that's why I emphasize a healthy diet of
nutritious, natural foods - to speed up your
metabolism, burn fat and give you lots of energy.
There are foods that melt fat and speed up
your metabolism naturally...
Foods that give you lots of energy to keep you
active throughout your day so you can continue to
practice your core exercises.
I tell you exactly what those foods are in my
eBook, "How To Lose Weight By Feeding And Nourishing
Your Spirit".
If you haven't downloaded your copy yet, you
should go get that today so you can start
fighting your abdominal fat from the inside out,
AND from the outside in.
This "double attack" method is the fastest
way to make your tummy fat disappear forever.
Don't let another day pass you by. Do it
NOW while it's fresh in your mind.
Try every fat melting tip in my book and
let me know how everything works for you.
I look forward to printing your success
story when you write me telling me how your
core is coming "alive" and your abdominal fat is
melting away.
I know you can do this.
I believe in you.
Until next time...
Your Friend,
With Love and Light,
Andrea
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