TCOY Wellness December 2, 2008

My life’s personal journey and career experiences as a former professional athlete and coach (25+ years) have taught me a lot about the human body, commitment, choices and discipline.  Parenting has provided endless lessons and reminds as well as encourages me to continue to learn as we are all students of life. Many coaches and teachers have provide me with the support and guidance to excel quicker because of their knowledge and expertise.  Think back to someone who has blessed you as a mentor.  With health being everyone’s #1 asset,  having a Wellness Coach not only makes sense as it enriches your life.  One of the most valuable lessons people need to be reminded of is:  “take care of you”; thus “TCOY”. We can be of little help to others if our personal health fails.

Someday is another word for procrastination and in regards to your health, the sooner you begin to take care of your body, the better off you will be. If not now, when? When you create a mindset for wellness, your lifestyle changes and your Quality of Life improves. Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.  What pathway are you choosing? All things are possible!

Because of the varying voices in the wellness industry, many people feel overwhelmed by their choices and simply do nothing. WARNING:  choosing to do nothing is a choice too. Avoidance is not a solution nor the answer when it comes to your health and it can cost you your life!

Change your thinking ~ change your life.  Focus on what you want in your life and take action to receive it. Wellness and Sickness both occur over time.  Your daily choices become habits; those habits can be a blessing or curse as time passes.  Visualize the future you desire and start creating a better YOU from this day forward.

Some excuses that can cost you your life:

*I just can’t change.
*I feel pretty good right now.
*I don’t have the time or energy.
*I am not sick, so I’m healthy.  Right?
*I can’t afford it, my budgets too tight.
*I have more important things to think about and do.
*I get confused and overwhelmed about where to begin.

TCOY Wellness, your GPS to Health and Wellness, provides a pathway for anyone looking to improve their Quality of Life. Is it time for you to “recalculate”, for the health of it? As a coach, mentor and speaker, I welcome the opportunity to guide you and those you care about in the quest for optimal health and wellness.   If you don’t take care of your body, where will you live?  We are given only one body.  Embrace the fact that you are the driver on the road to your lifetime of  good health.

Be Well, Be Strong… and always remember to:

TCOY = Take Care of You!

Lucy

“Never give up on your dreams ’cause you never know which one you let go could have made you complete.”

Pursue your DREAMS daily!

You Don’t Have To Be Sick To Get Better!

Pet Therapy February 16, 2012

One of my TCOY Wellness classes is “Pet Therapy”.  Animals are truly a blessing and I believe are the best therapists.  Whether it be from your childhood or in the present, there is probably a memory etched in your mind and on your heart of a special pet.   Take a moment and think about them.  Those emotions are awesome aren’t they!

So many great movies with animals too:  My Dog Skip, Marley & Me, Free Willy, Secretariat The Bird Man of Alcatraz and how about The Incredible Journey (Homeward Bound)…gulp…there’s something in my eye, I can’t stop the tears.

The Incredible Journey

The Ultimate Dog Tease (LOL)

Dogs Rescue Veterans

I believe a house becomes a home when a pet is part of it…children learn so many life skills…and everyone needs and desires the love they provide us in this busy, busy world.  We may rescue the dog, cat, etc…but they actually are rescuing us.  TCOY!

My TCOY Challenge for you is to spend more time with the animals.  They teach us so much…live in the moment and love.

Medical Info Women Should Know February 16, 2012

Medical Info Women Should Know:

PREGNANCY

Q: Should I have a baby after 35?
A: No, 35 children is enough.

Q: I’m two months pregnant now. When will my baby move?
A: With any luck, right after he finishes college.

Q: What is the most reliable method to determine a baby’s sex?
A: Childbirth.

Q: My wife is five months pregnant and so moody that sometimes she’s
borderline irrational
A: So what’s your question?

Q: My childbirth instructor says it’s not pain I’ll feel during labor,
but pressure. Is she right?
A: Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current.

Q: When is the best time to get an epidural?
A: Right after you find out you’re pregnant.

Q: Is there any reason I have to be in the delivery room while my wife is
in labor?
A: Not unless the word "alimony" means anything to you.

Q: Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth?
A: Yes, pregnancy.

Q: Do I have to have a baby shower?
A: Not if you change the baby’s diaper very quickly.

Q: Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and act
normal again?
A: When the kids are in college.

10 WAYS TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE "ESTROGEN ISSUES"

1. Everyone around you has an attitude problem.
2. You’re adding chocolate chips to your cheese omelet.
3. The dryer has shrunk every last pair of your jeans.
4. Your husband is suddenly agreeing to everything you say.
5. You ‘re using your cell phone to dial up every bumper sticker that says: "How’s my driving".
6. Everyone’s head looks like an invitation to batting practice.
7. Everyone seems to have just landed here from "outer space."
9. You’re sure that everyone is scheming to drive you crazy.
10. The ibuprofen bottle is empty and you bought it yesterday.

TOP TEN THINGS ONLY WOMEN UNDERSTAND

10. Cats’ facial expressions.
9. The need for the same style of shoes in different colors.
8. Why bean sprouts aren’t just weeds.
7. Fat clothes.
6. Taking a car trip without trying to beat your best time.
5. The difference between beige, ecru, cream, off-white, and eggshell.
4. Cutting your hair to make it grow.
3. Eyelash curlers.
2. The inaccuracy of every bathroom scale ever made.

AND, the Number One thing only women understand:

1. OTHER WOMEN

Violin story February 16, 2012

SLOW DOWN & SEE LIFE’S MOMENTS

What are you missing?

~ Live Life With Your Eyes Wide Open ~

A man sat at a metro station in WashingtonDC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that 1,100 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by, and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace, and stopped for a few seconds, and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping, and continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried, but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally, the mother pushed hard, and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money, but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the most talented musicians in the world. He had just played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, on a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

Act Your Age…No Way! An exerpt from my Feb. e-newsletter February 8, 2012

If you didn’t know how old you were, how old would you think you are?

One of the most common responses, or should I say excuses, people have for not doing things after the age of forty is, “not at my age.”

What?  Age is just a number.  No way did you let age stop you when you were a youngster and wanted to prove to yourself and others what you were made of.

Even more frustrating is how often a medical professional or the pharmaceutical industry brainwashes people into believing they need to learn to “live with it” and take medications for the rest of their life!   Seriously?  No thank you!  Drugs and surgery should be the last resort not the first choice.  Watch the trailer of the movie documentary: “Fork over Knives”.

Many people today epitomize Mickey Mantle’s famous quote, “If I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.”

People may be living longer today but with what level of Quality of Life?  Small daily choices, over time, have an impact financially, physically, psychologically, either positively or negatively.

Good health, or poor health, is a process that occurs over time.  Many will attempt to exaggerate the “genetic” factor in a person’s health.  Actually, genetics are less than a 10% factor, whereas, 90% of our good or bad health can be contributed to a person’s lifestyle.

Our actions speak louder than words.  Studies have shown that over 80% of habits have been formed prior to the age of twenty.  What lifestyle habits are you sharing with your children and family?

The TCOY Philosophy empowers one to live a fuller life with health independence and a zest for life.  Rather than having a “why me” attitude, you choose to be pro-active and embrace life’s journey.  Take the “why not me” attitude. Seize the day!

Aging is inevitable, but how you age is not.  I welcome the opportunity to mentor and coach you on your total wellness path.  If you don’t take care of your body, where will you live?  If not now, when?

Real Age article  Healthiest Cities Listed.

Be Inspired at the photo below, Tim McGraw song:   “Live Like You Were Dying” &  Minute With Maxwell.   Choose  vitality …TCOY!

TCOY…for the health of it.

Lucy

Photo by Diana Foster @ “Studio 56”

*Would you like to receive my full version of the TCOY monthly e-newsletter?

Send the e-mail address to: lucy. Special note: I do not spam or share my e-mail lists.

What if…exerpt from January E-newsletter January 30, 2012

Welcome 2012! For many this will be a month for resolutions and new beginnings.

I would like to remind everyone, any day can be a new beginning. When the pain of not changing is greater than pain of changing, guess what…change occurs.

At the end of the day, I prefer to say, “Oh well” rather “what if”. You can’t rewind life. Regrets are not things to gather or hold on to. Each day holds so much potential.

FEAR is the opposite of JOY. Is your gut reaction positive or negative to the words “what if”?

Does “what if something bad happens” keep you from doing? Do you choose to use it as an excuse to stay in your comfort zone and not try?

Step beyond that way of thinking and imagine a positive outcome. “What if” this is an opportunity, a chance to grow and improve?

It is so easy to cocoon ourselves and let our internal voice of doubt hold us back. Memories of past, negative experiences can be stepping stones if the lesson was learned or sandbags holding you back if not. Perhaps it’s time to cut the cord from those toxic sandbag burdens.

A wellness resolution I would wish for others to embrace is to do heart surgery from the inside out. Let go of what is weighing your heart down. Worrying is actually negative goal setting, contributing to stress, which is one of the main factors in health complications.

K-Love radio referenced letting go of thoughts and emotions by writing them down and shredding them. They called it: “PEACE OUT 2011”. When you are down, look up. Philippians 4:6

The next step is to begin to embrace how wonderful things can be and boldly take action.

One of the things I love about children is they live in the moment, not the past. The excitement and anticipation in their eyes and attitude is simply delightful.

How many times does a toddler fall down; yet, will repeatedly get up and try again. We cheer them on and encourage the effort to get back up and keep trying. Couldn’t we all use a cheering section like that in our daily lives!

We are more alike in our weaknesses than we will ever be in our strengths. I speak from the heart and experience hoping you too will embrace “what if” with optimism. Enjoy this awesome song and video “ by Nickelback.

Remember: No Regrets!

TCOY…for the health of it.

Lucy

Photo by Diana Foster @ “Studio 56”

*Would you like to receive my full version of the TCOY monthly e-newsletter?

Send the e-mail address to: lucy. Special note: I do not spam or share my e-mail lists.

Information you should know about: Canola oil January 30, 2012

Why you should never use canola oil

Not many people know that there is no such thing as a canola plant. Canola is a genetically modified rapeseed plant. The rapeseed’s oils used to only be used for industrial applications. More recently it’s been genetically modified for consumption by humans and called canola oil. But is it safe?

"It is now believed that rapeseed has a cumulative effect, taking almost 10 years before symptoms begin to manifest. One possible effect of long-term use is the destruction of the protective coating surrounding nerves called the myelin sheath. This is like having raw, open wires in the body."

Find out more here:

http://vanessaruns.com/2011/02/08/gmos-and-why-you-should-never-use-canola-oil/

*I use and recommend: Olive Oil

The Story of our Lives… January 26, 2012

The story of our lives… on a lighter note:

"On the first day God created the dog. God said, "Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. I will give you a life span of twenty years." The dog said, "That’s too long to be barking. Give me ten years and I’ll give you back the other ten."
So God agreed.

On the second day God created the monkey. God said, "Entertain people, do monkey tricks and make them laugh. I’ll give you a twenty-year life span." The monkey said, "Monkey tricks for twenty years? I don’t think so. Dog gave you back ten, so that’s what I’ll do too, okay?"
And God agreed.

On the third day God created the cow. "You must go to the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves, and give milk to support the farmer. I will give you a life span of sixty years."
The cow said, "That’s kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. Let me have twenty and I’ll give back the other forty."
And God agreed again.

On the fourth day God created man. God said, "Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. I’ll give you twenty years."
Man said, "What? Only twenty years? Tell you what, I’ll take my twenty, and the forty the cow gave back, and the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back, that makes eighty, okay?"

Okay," said God, "You’ve got a deal."

So that is why the first twenty years we eat, sleep, play, and enjoy ourselves; the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family; the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren; and the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.

Life has now been explained to you." Unknown

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The winners of the baby sitting competition] January 17, 2012

The companionship of our four legged friends win…paws down! Enjoy the photo’s!

Subject: The winners of the baby sitting competition

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The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.

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No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG – www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.454 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/4135 – Release Date: 01/10/12 19:34:00

Finding balance… January 17, 2012

Where one spends their time and money, reveals their priorities. Are you neglecting an area of your life and wondering why things are the way they are? Perhaps it’s your health, relationships or finances. Time doesn’t change things; we change (in our thinking, attitude and behavior). One of my personal favorite poems is etched on wood and is on my mantle in my living room:

Priorities

"A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove…. but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child."

In the chaos of LIFE, priorities can become misguided. Let me suggest you take time to remember, TCOY and every life matters. You can make a difference by what you focus on. In the picture below, can you find the smiling baby face? If you’re up for the challenge, there are also three lady bugs. When you find the baby’s face, stop and think of how many opportunities come our way every day to make a difference in the life of another person. Smile often and seize the day.

TCOY (Take Care of You) focuses on “total wellness: head, heart and body”. In order to have true wellness, you will need to keep things in balance. For example, a person may have a great workout routine OR spiritual leader OR financial wizard or expert in some arena, BUT if they fail to balance their time and efforts, issues will arise.

Money issues have a way of getting our attention. When is there ever “enough”? Before this recent recession, a family may have had an abundance of “things” but continued to strive for more. How many homes have two car garages in which only one vehicle fits in it because of all the “stuff” that has overflowed and must be stored there?

Below is a short note from my friend Rick Boxx at IntegrityResourceCenter. It’s another good reminder of how to TCOY.

Priorities and Personal Peace A magazine called "More" released a study that revealed that 65 percent of college-educated women aged 35-60 prefer to have more free time in their lives than making more money. 40 percent even said they would take a pay cut in exchange for more time flexibility! Work/Life rhythm has obviously become more important to many women. Our work should be balanced with God’s priorities for our time, rather than chasing greater wealth. Pursuit of riches can be costly to our relationships and peace of mind. Ecclesiastes 4:6 teaches, "Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind." As you juggle the many demands on your time, don’t overlook the value of peace that comes from embracing God’s priorities. Love your family more than wealth.

Computer Challenged? January 9, 2012

Computers…it’s a love hate relationship. Having just had mine worked on after getting a virus, which shut me off the on-line world for awhile, it’s nice to be up and running again.

Here’s a little humor …Can anyone else relate? LOL

“…and then the computer tech person I’m on the phone with tells me to ‘click any key to start’.”

Where the heck is the “any” key located on the keyboard is what I’m asking!

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