I want share some my creations over last few months, but I have to start somewhere, so I’m starting with tonights dinner! I always cook gluten-free. I have to. I want to. My son has learned that gluten-free still means yummy! I do my best to provide him with the best possible nutrition. My ideal “diet” would be more of a paleo lifestyle… grain free, organic free-range meat from happy animals, good fats, a ton of yummy veggies (sautéed in butter or fat!), some nuts & seeds, occasional fruit, fermented foods, and bone broths.  If I could nourish my body with this everyday, I’d die a happily fed woman (not to mention a probably good looking woman if I could eat so clean!)

I know! Brussel sprouts they make so many people frown … but I can’t get enough of ‘em! When soft and tender, the sweet, salty, succulent combination of vinegar, bacon fat, garlic salt, herbs and spices make my mouth water all over again..Here is a link to another recipe more like I would normally go for, but I’m on a mild cleanse/detox, and didn’t want to tempt myself with ALL the bacon:) I always find a way to add more veggies.

Bone in chicken thighs have much more flavor- especially organic. I rubbed chicken with a little bacon fat, placed skin side down and browned in pan (just lay it there, don’t move them for a few minutes so it can brown). The skin had some thyme and rosemary and a little garlic salt.  After browning both sides I popped in the oven @ 375 while I made the brussel sprouts.

Hopefully I’ve provided some brussel sprout inspiration. Muster up the courage to try them again, I promise they’re not like your moms:-)

• Go back to basics. Eat only food that could have been gathered, hunted, fished or plucked.

• Avoid processed foods.

• Do most of your shopping on the outer perimeter of the supermarket. I’ll give you a hint: this is where the fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, and dairy are located!

• Think of food as fuel.

• Be mindful of your calorie intake. Remember, a good easy formula is “target weight times 10” plus a tiny bit more if you exercise on that day!

• Balance those calories evenly throughout the day. Three to five meals is fine.

• Create a ‘way of eating’ that you can live with for the rest of your life!

It’s not just about the food. It’s about YOU. It’s about you choosing to create a lifestyle where you take care of yourself- mind, body, and soul.

• Start planning your meals- or let me do it for you! Ask me about Nutrition Coaching and personal training packages.

To your success,

Tiffany Dalton

Why pistachios not only taste delicious, but are also jam-packed with nutrition for your lean healthy body

by Cat Ebeling, RN, BSN & Mike Geary, Certified Nutrition Specialist
co-authors of the brand new Fat Burning Kitchen program
Do you remember eating pistachios when they used to be dyed a deep pinkish/red? They were always so delicious, but after eating a bunch of those bright “red” nuts, your fingers and hands would be stained red.

Pistachios, as we now know, do not grow as magenta-colored nuts but come in a nice natural tan colored shell with a mild-tasting, crunchy, green and yellow interior. Nuts have risen in popularity lately, but did you know that pistachios are probably one of the most nutritious of all nuts?

It’s hard to compare anything to the nutritional benefit of nuts like almonds, walnuts, and pecans… but pistachios give them a run for the money!

Just a one-ounce serving of pistachios will give you over thirty vitamins, minerals and other super nutrients.

One of the best things about nuts in general, is that they are full of minerals that are VITAL to our body’s proper functioning. And if you have paid much attention to nutrition news lately, you may be aware that minerals are getting harder and harder to obtain from our diet, and many people are mineral-deficient in one way or another.

So what are these great nutrients in pistachios?

Well for starters, pistachios are full of copper, phosphorus, and manganese (different from magnesium).

Copper is made up of multiple enzymes that help to create many of the necessary biochemical reactions in your body and also forms connective tissue. Manganese also helps form connective and skeletal tissue, and is instrumental in growth, reproduction and (this is good!) carbohydrate and fat metabolism. Phosphorus is very important for strong bones and teeth and works with calcium to prevent osteoporosis.

Other important minerals are magnesium – necessary for more than 300 different important biochemical reactions in your body, and good for your heart and blood pressure; potassium –an electrolyte that keeps the body in the correct acid/base balance and also helps in forming proteins, metabolizing carbohydrates and building muscle.

And there is more to this nutritional powerhouse…

Pistachios are a rich source of B vitamins. B vitamins are essential for good nerve transmission, muscle building, a good mood, lots of energy, and infection-fighting power. They are also one of the highest protein nuts (as well as healthy fats), so they make a great satisfying snack that keeps your blood sugar and insulin at a good steady level.

In one study on pistachios and antioxidants, pistachios ranked up in the group with the highest amount of antioxidant activity above over 100 other foods. Antioxidants help to prevent free radical damage, which saves your cells and prevents aging and disease among other things.

We hear a lot about eye health and nutrients for the eyes lately, and guess what– pistachios contain generous amount of lutein and zeaxanthin which prevent macular degeneration and other eye diseases related to aging.

Fiber

Last but not least, pistachios are full of appetite satisfying fiber — as much as a serving of oatmeal.

Nuts in general are a great source of fiber, which is valuable for fighting cancer, controlling blood sugar, and aids in a feeling of fullness. Most people only get about half the recommended amount of fiber they need in their diets, so eating pistachios will help add to your dietary intake.

Healthy Fats

While eating extremely large quantities of pistachios would be a LOT of calories… the good news is that the protein, good fats and fiber in them are nutritious and satisfy so much of the nutrient needs of your body, it’s VERY difficult to overeat them.

Even when only eating small servings of these nuts, they have been proven to provide a high rate of satiety. Besides, having to shell all those pistachios actually ends up making you eat them a little more slowly, so the message to your brain that you are full happens on less nuts than if you were eating something already out of its shell.

Try to go for the all-natural or organic pistachios with no salt of low salt. Some brands of pistachios are a bit heavy on the salt.

We DID it, but not quite 21 days.  My Birthday was Oct 14th , so we had a big celebration dinner at my restaurant complete with dessert! Chocolate Ice Cream has never tasted sooooooo goooooooood.  However, I realized soon after I at it, that it was just not worth it.  I am lactose intolerant- and after a diet of clean eating, the next few days were just not fun:-( My Birthday Dinner

Interesting results:

-Caffeine after finishing the diet made me and Chris very sick.  It was almost a turn off just to taste coffee.  My body felt horrible after a cup, but I craved the warm indulgence, so I have been sticking with half-caf or just decaf… I also Drink YERBA MATE tea (like a mild coffee out of a tea bag- 1/4 caffeine of coffee)- there is a “chocolate” flavored one that is AMAZING! Sweetened with Stevia in the tea bag, and other spices, it is SO much better than coffee: http://www.organicgurus.net/servlet/the-980/Guayaki-Yerba-Maté-Organic/Detail

Weight Loss Results:

Chris had GREAT weight loss results with this diet- I think his overall weight loss was 9 lbs! Not bad for about 2 weeks?! It is good to see him motivated to make good eating and lifestyle habits.  His old clothes are fitting again, so it’s kind of like getting a new wardrobe for him:)

My “weight” went down about a pound or 2, but more importantly, my clothes fit looser, and old/tight clothes fit well:-) Everybody part lost at least a 1/2 inch-1 inch! That is a lot for my body in 2 weeks, so that tells me I was really hanging on to junk in my body.

I have heard from a few people at the gym that I “really leaned out”, my muscle definition is really showing through- I think that extra “layer” my body holds that was full of water retention and toxins, was flushed out, and I had so much energy the 2nd week to work out!  I feel so much better when I am at my natural weight.  I think my natural weight is effortless when I eat really well, get some exercise, but  DO NOT obsess over calories, or fat, or carbs, etc.  It was nice to know my limits- just say NO to the things on my banned list, and eat freely of whole foods.  How easy is that?

Struggles:

Working at a restaurant was HARD.  All those Creme Brulees and rich sauces! Starting work at 4, I was really hungry running around all night- some nights until 12am.  I brought LARA BARS with me to work, and a piece of fruit.  I could special order a salad with greens and grilled chicken, squeezing lemon and or vinegar on it.  So I got through it, but will power was hard to find.

GUM was one of the hardest to avoid- I like having something in my mouth I guess… I wanted gum- especially while I was working out- but most contain ASPARTAME. Yuck.

Chris had a tough time with Gum, and apparently pizza (go figure).  I think his friend made him crave it more than he truly felt the need… I think the social aspect of eating out, made it hard to choose a fitting meal.  Chris eats out a lot at work, but came home more often to eat during this ED period.

Cheats:

The last few days Chris and I cheated with gum! hahaha.  I remember him saying he couldn’t stand his breath, and also needed a cough drop (sore throat?). So if that was as bad as we did- I think we did really well!

Final Comments:

I really wish I could just stay on that diet forever, without it being socially hard or physically seeing and smelling food that I want.  I can already tell a difference being “off” the diet in my body and in my energy.

*My face broke out completely when I went off the diet!

*My digestion issues were back when I resumed “normal” indulgences (because I KNOW I ate things I am intolerant/allergic to)

* My energy went way down.

*My mental clarity and ability to cope with stress took a turn in the not so good direction.

What I plan to do:

I am keeping my caffeine down, sugar WAY down, and continuing to make meals at home for all of us.  I saved SO much money by making Chris and I eat at home! I’d like to do variations of this diet 2x a year. Just to clean my body and my mind.

This week was challenging, long, but successful!  Chris and I are learning a lot about our own bodies and food. Chris had a particularly tough time with headaches, mood changes, irritability and sleepiness.  One night around 8:45 I found him asleep in bed, no good night or a hey I’m tired- just grumpy and went to bed! I found it kind of funny, but his body obviously is going through quite a shock and detox.  He thought he would try fasting yesterday, since he was feeling good, and thought his body might need the extra detox, but…. that didn’t last all day- at 4pm he was starving, and was looking forward to eating a meal all of us together for the first time in a LONG TIME.

As for me, the first few days were hard, I was tired first 2 days, really wanting coffee, having caffeine withdrawl headaches, I was gassy (found out that is normal when on the ED for first few days) and working in a restaurant FULL of amazing great food and people offering you to test everything because you are new- was REALLY hard! Going into work at sometime between 3-5, means your eating dinner at like 3 or 4, and working until 10-12pm, I was SO hungry- I usually eat every 3 hours, so that part is super hard.  I don’t want to come home and eat late, but I have to! I chose to eat salad with protein if it is easy to fix, if not- I eat some nuts and just go to bed.

If you didn’t know, I had my blood work done a few months ago and have a “leaky gut”.  Which basically means, my GI tract is severely inflamed, and many food items come up as an allergy:

All fish, except Shellfish (weird), Almonds, Garlic, Kidney Beans, ALL DAIRY, Wheat & Gluten.

So some of these are on already on the no-no list in the ED, but I am doing my BEST to abstain from the others.  The tough one is garlic, and a bit of salmon and sometimes almonds sneak in somewhere :-/ Not as much though since I have been on the ED.

Good things to report:

Digestion is 90% better! Everything I eat is pretty much working well. I have to watch my eating fruit  after a meal, because most fruit digests so fast, it sits on top of your meal and will putrefy (gross), causing bloating, gas, etc.  Eating fruit first, and following with protein is ideal- slows the blood sugar rise, and allows correct digestive juices to secrete and digest each food properly.

We’ve both lost weight! I eat ALOT, and still have lost weight. I thought for sure I would step on scale, and see a gain- but I was way off.  Haven’t seen that # on the scale in years.  I’ve made it to the gym 5 of the 6 days so far (well, going in a few minutes as day 5), and have done about equal sessions of weights and cardio- but HEAVY weights, and not too intense cardio.  Some one at the gym said- “You’ve leaned up like a mother!” –  hahaha, guys are so crude, but it was good to hear, when I didn’t realize I might have.  I’ll tell you- I’ve been on NO low carb diet- I swear I have eaten huge portions of quinoa for every meal!

If you want my workout schedule, let me know and I will post for you.

Chris looks leaner, not sure how much he’s lost, but he said his pants are loose, and he is feeling great. He keeps saying how much he is appreciating learning about our commercially processed foods, and how much crap like chemicals, stimulants, drugs, and sugar we put in our body. Eating whole food forms of all the things he loves (like natural bison burgers wrapped in collard greens, with sauteed mushrooms, avocado, red onion, grapeseed Veginaise, and homemade Anaheim chili hummus), he is really appreciating a healthy diet, and adjusting well!   He is at the dentist getting a wisdom tooth pulled (oh ugh), so this will be interesting…

Other good things to report:

-I’ve lost 1/2 inch on each body part. Namely thighs, hips, waist, and arms:-)

-No more headaches! Praise God. I only took Motrin one time- on second day I think.

-Clearer and brighter whites of the eyes

-Clear, good color, glowing skin

- Better memory -General good mood

- Sustained energy through day and workout -More strength during my work outs

-NO guilt about what you ate that day, not worrying about what NOT to eat and what TO eat, because you know already what you have and can eat (since we cleaned out the fridge and went shopping on days 1 and 2)! All fridge is items we can eat!  Plenty of fruit to sustain our sweet tooth, but in moderation of course.

What I plan to change:

I think I want to stop eating Peanut Butter, or make it like  every other day.  I feel not so good after, and maybe because I am combining it with carrots or an apple, not sure-  but I do know in general, that fat is slow digesting, so eating bigger portions can cause you to feel slow.

Next week I will try to post more often, I promise!

Goals are to keep being ahead of our schedules with meals, cooking, cleaning, etc. Pre planning meals, buying food items to mix with other meals, and keeping it interesting is important.  Time is so precious, we try to utilize it well, make extra food each time we cook, but it’s not easy with our crazy schedules, and hungry tummies!

Last night was my first night off since starting this diet- I’ve barely seen my family- I am looking forward to having the rest of the day with them.  I’m so thankful to the Lord for guiding me and making it clear to me how important our health and lifestyle is. I’m so glad Chris is doing this with me, it makes it all worth it if I can change some one else’s life by being a good example.

~Carpe Diem

Thought for the Day: “We chose our sorrows and joys long before we experience them” Kahlil Gibran

Attitude and happiness is CHOOSING to react and deal with life in a thankful and peaceful manner- despite the situation, it is all how you chose to deal with it.  No one can take your joy unless you let them. Make it a GREAT DAY!

Preparation Tips:

Write Down your “Why’s”- This will be the only true solid foundation of this Elimination Diet. If you don’t know WHY you are doing this diet, or you feel like you just want to “try it out”, see how it goes- you are setting yourself up for failure.  Take a few minutes to write down

1. WHY you want to  do this (no guilt with food at parties or work, smaller clothes and cuter clothes, a wedding or event coming up, wanting to feel attractive, wanting more energy maybe so you can play with your kids more, or get more accomplished, maybe it is just to have the ability to feel like a normal person with out body aches and stomach problems?!) 2. How you will feel when you each “WHY” is accomplished – You may feel like a new person, or like your old self again.  You’ll feel vibrant, confident, successful, and motivated to conquer more things in life than ever. 3. Sign your name to a written promise to yourself that you are WORTH this, and no matter what you WILL succeed.

EMPTY THOSE CUPBOARDS!- If you have it, you will eat.  YOU are not to be trusted the first week. Don’t tempt yourself. If you can toss it do it. Or like me, eat all the bad stuff before you start! haha. I finished my Tofu and coffee today.  Along with handfuls of Gluten-free chips (that I decided to take OFF my diet during this even though it’s probably allowed), and Salsa (added sugar in most salsa’s- bummer).

PLAN AHEAD- Write down your meals for the next week- if that sounds absurd to you- how about a few days- 1 day?

BUY IN BULK- (Bring you list from your planned week above!) I love Costco, Fart n Smile (I mean Smart and Final- that was for you know who you are),  if you have  local Co-op’s obviously  that would be the BEST!

COOK and package your meals Once or twice a week- Make “one pot” items like Chili, and soups for “emergency hunger at home”.  Grill all your meat for the next few days and chop all your veggies for the next few days. Package in containers to take with you wherever you need to be, work, school, church, games, etc.

The Key is to make this as easy as possible. Least amount of effort for maximum results. Everyone wants that in life- so just do it!

Off to bed, I will report day 1 tomorrow!

not kinda-sort-of doing it, but REALLY following the Elimination Diet.

You can find the PDF by going to  www.DAXMOY.com .  Look on side under Services for “Free Elimination Diet Here”. *IF Link does not connect- just type www.daxmoy.com in your browser (or copy and paste).

I realize we are all addicts. Not voluntarily, but through chemicals and sly marketing; our bodies have become addicted to caffeine, sugar, processed grains, processed foods, THOUSANDS of chemicals, toxins, I could go on and on.

I’m choosing to be FREE from these addictions- some I don’t think I even realize I have yet… (yikes!), and I am healing my body, my mind, and renewing my spirit for the sake of honoring my body- my Temple.

WHAT THIS DIET IS NOT: NOT a crazy low carb, World Athlete Ab sharpening kind of diet. There are obviously some banned foods- yes in the grains area (Wheat and Gluten), but read the the whole document- This will not be so hard! THIS IS NOT a get skinny fast diet, or a super EASY diet, but there is a quote I found today: “SACRIFICE IS GIVING UP SOMETHING GOOD FOR SOMETHING BETTER”. I know this will be better and make me better in every way!

The basics of this Detox/Diet: Eliminating common allergens, and repairing your GI Tract.

Benefits?: SO MANY!

1. Everyone love the WEIGHT LOSS part. You WILL lose a rather large amount of ‘stubborn fat’ in a relatively short period of time. Downside: Since Toxins store in your fat cells- as you lose the fat- the toxins flowing out of you may cause temporary headache, grumpiness, bloating, tired, but subside with in the first few days.

2. Your food cravings (non-physiological a.k.a. emotional) hunger will reduce or go away ENTIRELY. Whoa. For me that is a big one to be honest. I fight wanting crap all the time! I CHOSE not to have crap all the time, but it doesn’t mean it GOES AWAY! Looking forward to this for sure

3. Your health and general vitality will improve. After Toxins leave, and you stop adding more, many aches, pains, digestive issues (gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, full heavy stomach feeling, etc).

Another benny: You can EAT MORE that you were and still lose weight. By golly this thing is calling my name. So who’s with me?!

If you decide to join us on this 21-30 day Commitment- Subscribe to my blog and I promise to give you the following from my blog updates:

Tomorrow: Tips and tricks to make this diet successful- including shopping lists, meal planning etc.

I will post recipes- (hopefully with pictures too!)

Bi-weekly updates on our results: highs, lows, problems, and just an honest journal of how I’m doing.  If I cheat- I will tell you. I’m not here to say that I am really good at discipline- I just want to share and encourage others to take the NEXT STEP- that REALLY IMPORTANT STEP to push you past your hump, so you are feeling accomplished, successful, and you can finally learn to re-trust yourself.

How many times have you said “I won’t do this”, “I won’t eat that for this week” “I’ll do this 3 times a week, and stop eating this for…” And how many times did you break your promise? Your subconscious has learned that you CAN NOT be trusted.  You HAVE to retrain your confidence, and your subconscious to learn how to TRUST YOUR WORD to be successful in this.

Start with small to do items- write them down, cross them off. Silly, small, big whatever.  This will be VERY effective in telling your subconscious that you ARE trustworthy, and that you CAN do things you say.

DEAL?

Comment or email me and let me know you are ON BOARD!

If you are ready to change your life in all areas- NOT just your body, but your mind, life, relationships, even your financial situation- this IS the place to start. Building your confidence in yourself is the ultimate necessity to finding real joy in life, and success!  Success starts in the mind, the body will follow, and your life will attract and reflect  what you think and how you feel: So be healthy , feel successful, make your gratitude list daily, keep God in the center and you will be unstoppable.

by Dinneen Diette

All too often I hear people say they want to lose weight, look better, feel better, and live better.
Their doctor might even have told them for health reasons they need to lose weight.

But days, weeks, months, and even years go by but they’re still at the same weight, or even more. Sound familiar?

So why don’t they just move forward and get on track to a thinner, healthier, and happier person? Seems like the positives outweigh the negatives, don’t you think?

But something is holding them back, and it’s looking them right in the face — themselves. That’s right. They are in their own way.

Now before you say dismiss this, read on as it just might strike a cord. Not only have I experienced this myself, but I meet people on a weekly (if not daily) basis who have at some point or another gotten in their own way to losing weight.

Here are my top strategies for getting out of your own way, and start achieving weight loss success:

1) Decide that you really want this. Not wishing, hoping, or thinking about losing weight — but deciding. Make the decision NOW.

I recently heard someone say. “You can’t make a decision in the future. The only time is right now.” This is so true. Think about it. You can only decide, right here, right now.

We often think too much into the future: I want my body back. I’d like to be able to fit into my clothes. I hope I can eat better. That’s all good, as you need to know what you want. But you need to take it a step further. Decide, really decide, that you’re going to take back your health and your life. Only then can you really get moving forward.

2) Get really clear about what’s stopping you. Is it a limiting belief? I’ll never lose the weight, I just can’t do it.

Or is it fear? If I lose this weight, will I still have the same friends?

Stop waiting for the perfect and start doing — just doing good enough is enough! Stop comparing yourself to others and what they’re doing or the pace they’re doing it. Because if you keep comparing yourself you’ll never be good enough.

Often times we have limiting beliefs to what we can really achieve. You can’t change what you’re not aware of. But you also may not know what it is that’s getting in the way.

3) Take any action. That’s right. The road to success starts with the first step.

Losing weight is NOT all or nothing, and it’s not black or white. And oftentimes the best first step is a small step. Doing too much at once just leads to overwhelm, which leads to dissatisfaction, which eventually leads to not following through and falling off the wagon.

But take that step, any step. Do something today, and every day, that leads you to your goal. And give yourself credit for it. Think of this: action first, confidence follows. Taking that first step and giving yourself credit, is the way to better confidence, which leads to better results — and the weight loss.

4) Get support. All too often we think we need to do things alone. We’re either too proud, stubborn, or afraid to ask for — and get — the right help. Anyone who has lost weight and kept it off has gotten the right support and tools to make it happen.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You’ll often find when you do step up and get support, the deciding, getting clear, and taking action all become easier. As the right support will help you do that.

Because support isn’t just about having someone tell you what, and what not to eat. They should also give you the tools that are right for you, tools that you can use at any time and throughout your life, so you can lose the weight AND keep it off for good.

It’s not about perfection, it’s about deciding, getting clear, taking action, and getting the right support. Getting to a healthy weight, getting your body back, and maintaining it, is about taking small steps. But those small steps added up make big results.

So find the right guidance, support and inspiration and get out of your own way to start achieving the weight loss success and live the life you desire — and deserve. You are truly worth it.

Your turn:

Take some time, even just 5-10 minutes, and be quiet and reflective. Are you just thinking about, contemplating, or wishing you could lose weight? Or can you make the decision?

Then get clear as to why you haven’t decided before. Why did you think about, talk about, and maybe even read a book, but never really moved forward or got the results you wanted (or maybe the weight came back on)?

Then do something, anything, to get you moving toward that goal.

And ask for the right support. You’ll not only feel empowered, but you’ll be more confident and in control of your weight — and your life.

© 2009, Dinneen Diette. All Rights Reserved.

Would you like to learn simple ways to get off the roller coaster of dieting and back in control of your life? Check out my site http://www.EatWithoutGuilt.com for free weight lossarticles, tools, and to sign up for my free special reports “Top 5 Slimming Secrets of French & Italian Women,” and “33 Easy Weight-Loss Tips.”

Tiffany's Vegas Wig!

So this morning I am sitting at my counter, eating eggs w/ veggies, drinking coffee, reading my emails and endless Ezines I subscribe to.  I just keep wondering why I don’t have one myself. Why can’t I share all of the knowledge and passion I have for the things God has given me a desire and talent for? I realize I CAN! If I just DO the things I think about, I would be happy. I keep talking about all these things I want for my life, my family, myself, but ACTION is so much harder. Here is what I found has helped me attain certain goals I have for myself:

1. Realize that the goals I have “made” and “dreamed up” were DIRECTLY driven from God… not ME!!! Therefore, if He gives them to me, who am I to not act on it, work on it, and refuse such an amazing gift that He is obviously willing to bless me with? 

2. Have a CLEAR VISION. Here is an example of one of my goals: I want to lose 5 lbs. Okay… great. That is a goal. But what does 5 lbs LOOK like? Is 5 lbs of fat or muscle or combo? What does it feel like to  live in a body with 5 less pounds? Can I imagine the confident feeling and picture  my strong healthy body, amazing thighs, abs, butt, etc. You get the picture. If you can SEE what you want, then your movitation is 20 times stronger and longer.  Just remember: NO ONE has ever accomplished a goal without CLEAR VISION.

3. Here is a catch: Your achieved goal will MOST LIKELY be different than your vision. What? Yes. You NEED a vision to be able to make headway and start taking action.  You have never ‘achieved’ this goal, so we don’t know realistically what this will feel and look like… but the key is to dream! The outcome is usually WAY better than your vision and dream, because it is REAL. The reality is that if things aren’t going the exact way of your vision, it’s okay. Keep moving forward, be prayerful about your journey, and rest in the peace and knowledge that you are doing something good, something different, and changing YOU into a better YOU!

4. Identify YOUR NEXT STEP.  Start small. Baby steps. Go forward towards what you want. If you keep twirling ideas around in your head, you’re just twirling your confidence and dreams into a dizzy mess.  Take a few minutes each day to peg a simple thing you can do TODAY to get closer to your goal.

5. DO FIRST THE THINGS YOU DON’T WANT TO. This one sucks, but it is SO important. Related or unrelated to your specific goal, getting things finished that sit in the back of your head and taunt you will cause you to feel accomplished, and less stressed. When you DON’T do them, you hesitate on doing anything at all. You will feel GUILTY for working on the things you want because you are avoiding the things you HAVE to do. Don’t live in guilt. GET OVER yourself and get it done. When that junk is done and out of the way you can start the truly creative process of fulfilling your dreams and feeling like a complete person!

6. Try try again. Reward Yourself for the Good Things! Taking a small step is GOOD. If it doesn’t work, or you mess up, try again! 

“Life isn’t a destination, it is a journey”  

So start your journey! Who cares what anyone else thinks or says, you are the only one that has to live in YOU.