Remember how the scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz sings “If I only had a brain” with Dorothy? I just can’t help thinking: If I only had a chance to talk to Paula Deen. It’s been about five weeks since she announced that she had diabetes (she’s known for three years) and that she is going to “live with type 2 diabetes” by taking the drug Victoza, manufactured by Novo Nordisk.

In a USA Today interview after her announcement about her diagnosis, Paula Deen said that she had initially thought when she got her diagnosis in 2008 that she would be forced to change her entire life and diet. However, she soon figured out how to rectify her passion, food, with her new status. It’s all about moderation, she says. “You don’t want to make a steady diet of just lettuce,” she told the newspaper. “You don’t want to make a steady diet of fried chicken.”

Oh, Paula, you couldn’t be more wrong.

Paula Deen, meet Dr. Mark Hyman.

Dr. Hyman has written a new book, The Blood Sugar Solution: The UltraHealthy Program for Losing Weight, Preventing Disease, and Feeling Great Now!, which is sure to reach bestseller status. In the book, Dr. Hyman reveals his scientifically based program for preventing and reversing insulin imbalance, the #1 cause of obesity and chronic disease – not just diabetes but also heart disease, cancer, stroke and dementia. He writes that diabesity (global epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes) affects over 1.7 billion people worldwide. He refers to scientists who “conservatively estimate it will affect 1 in 2 Americans by 2020, 90% of whom will not be diagnosed.”

Consider the following*:

• One-third of all diabetics have documented heart disease. It is estimated that nearly everyone else with type 2 diabetes has undiagnosed heart disease.
• People with diabetes are four times more likely to die from heart disease, and the rate of stroke is three to four times higher in this population.
• There is a fourfold increased risk for dementia in diabetics.
• The link between obesity and cancer is well documented and is driven by insulin resistance.
• Diabesity is also the leading cause of liver failure from NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis).
• Diabesity is an important cause of depression and mood disorders.
• Nervous system damage affects 60-70 % of people with diabetes.
• Diabesity is the leading cause of blindness among people ages 20 to 74.
• Diabesity is the leading cause of kidney failure.
• People with poorly controlled diabetes are three times more likely to have periodontal or severe gum disease.

In the book, Dr. Hyman offers several quizzes and checklists to determine if you might have, or are at risk for, diabesity. This is critical information for you to know NOW. This is a wake-up call for you and those you love.

If Paula Deen had spent money to consult with Dr. Mark Hyman instead of negotiating an endorsement deal with a diabetes drug, she might have reversed the diabetes already. Dr. Hyman writes about a study that reports “unequivocally that even people with advanced type 2 diabetes, when the pancreas was pooped out and the insulin-producing (beta) cells are damaged, can recover and diabetes can be reversed in just ONE week through dramatic changes in diet (very low-glycemic, low calorie, plant-based diet).

In addition to the health benefits, which are priceless, think about the advantage to your wallet – a lifetime of savings from dependence on pharmaceutical drugs.

Every page of The Blood Sugar Solution has golden nuggets of information. These are not the reports you are hearing on the news and certainly not the advertisements the drug companies are paying billions for to make you believe their drug is the one you must have to save your life. Dr. Hyman tells it like it is – dietary choices and lifestyle habits have the power to heal.

I’m so proud to present my exclusive tele-seminar with Dr. Mark Hyman on Monday, February 27** and I sincerely hope you will register for this life-changing event. [Click the button below] I care. I really do. I have this information and I want to share it with you.

Next Steps:

1. Register for my call with Dr. Hyman.
2. Be sure to consult with your doctor before stopping any medication you are currently taking.
3. Make a decision to live your best life now and do whatever it takes to be healthy and happy.
4. Share the information about Monday’s call with family, friends and colleagues.

*From The Blood Sugar Solution by Dr. Mark Hyman

**The call will be recorded and an mp3 file will be sent to all who register.

These steps will empower you to make healthy choices. If you are concerned about your nutrition and lifestyle routines and know you want to do things differently, contact me at jodi@bravowellness.com or call 413-282-7286. At Bravo! Wellness, I work with my clients to create manageable lifestyle changes so they are able to achieve their greatest potential in life, health and business.

When was the last time you woke up and thought “How’s my liver today?” Probably not recently….or ever. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Before we relegate the liver to after-thought status, let’s take a look at how this incredible organ keeps us looking and feeling our best.

Located just below the diaphragm, primarily in the upper right part of the abdomen and behind the ribs, the liver is the largest solid organ in the body. Here’s a look at the liver’s crucial role in the complex human body:

• Manufactures proteins to help maintain the volume of blood and create blood clotting factors
• Metabolizes fats, including fatty acids and cholesterol
• Metabolizes and store carbohydrates, which are used as the source for the sugar in blood
• Forms and secretes bile to aid in the intestinal absorption of fats and the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K.
• Eliminates the potentially harmful biochemical products produced by the body
• Detoxifies drugs, alcohol, and environmental toxins

Phew! That’s a lot of work for one organ! I’m sure you can understand why it is absolutely necessary to make sure our livers are in tip-top shape. But how can we tell if our livers are functioning properly? Unexplained nausea, unexplained headaches (including migraines), skin rashes and acne, hormonal imbalances, chronic constipation and lack of appetite in the morning are all signs that our livers are sending out an SOS signal.

Here are five ways to give your liver the care it needs:

1. What You Eat: Eat organically grown foods that support liver function, like artichokes, oatmeal, garlic, cabbage, rosemary, turmeric, ginger, beets, orange foods and green foods.
2. How You Eat: Eat when you’re hungry and stop when you’re full. Eat slowly and chew your food until it’s become liquid to aid digestion.
3. How You Move: Consistent, gentle activity like walking, hiking and biking improve circulation in and out of the liver. Make sure you have movement in other areas, too – aim for two-three bowel movements per day.
4. What You Drink: Drink more water. Divide your body weight by 2 to get the number of ounces you need to drink daily. For example, a 150-pound person needs 75 ounces of water.
5. How You Feel: In Chinese medicine, anger is the emotion associated with the liver. Acknowledge and work through anger using a journal (or seek professional help). Then, focus your attention on all the positive things in your life and acknowledge them daily.

For more than 2,000 years, healers have used milk thistle to treat liver ailments.

Next Steps:

1. Add more liver-friendly foods to your meal plans.
2. Consciously chew your food; count how many times you chew before swallowing.
3. Drink water. Do I sound like a broken record? It’s for your benefit and I want to keep you healthy and happy.
4. Make a list of what makes you happy and engage in at least one “happy” activity every day.

These steps will help to keep your liver functioning at its optimal level at all times. If you are concerned about your nutrition and lifestyle routines and know you want to do things differently, contact me at jodi@bravowellness.com or call 413-282-7286. At Bravo! Wellness, I work with my clients to create manageable lifestyle changes so they are able to achieve their greatest potential in life, health and business.

As the clock wound down on Super Bowl XLVI Sunday evening, the commentators were praising Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning’s for his exceptional play in the game. They also mentioned that despite not being an easy ride throughout the season, he had lived up to his assertion that he was in the same class as superstar quarterbacks Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and his big brother, Peyton.

Months ago, during training camp, Eli was put in a no-win situation. He was asked by Michael Kay on “The Michael Kay Show” if he was an elite quarterback. What was he supposed to say? If “no” is his reply, how can he garner the respect of his coaches and teammates? If he says “yes” as he did on the show, he puts himself in the unenviable position of having to prove himself to his coaches, teammates, opponents and millions of football fans. As someone who spent her whole life striving to live up to other people’s expectations, I can’t imagine the pressure Eli felt throughout the season.

The television conversation also reminded me of a Barbara Walters’ interview many years ago. Michael Flatley, one of the extraordinary minds and artists behind Riverdance, had recently left that artistic entity and started his own phenomenally successful sensation, Lord of the Dance. Ms. Walters asked him, “Who is the best male Irish dancer alive today?” Flatley replied, “I am”. Since I was deeply entrenched in the dance world, I had my own opinion as to what was the best. I remember thinking, “who does he think he is?”

Soon after the Walters conversation, I saw Flatley interviewed again and he was questioned about being so “egotistical” to call him self the “best” dancer. He said that he had to believe he was the best if he was going to charge people to see him perform, otherwise he wouldn’t be authentically connecting with the audience. He asked, “How can I expect people to pay to see me dance if I don’t go on stage thinking I’m the best?” That made sense to me.

It’s logical that Eli felt the same way when he responded to Michael Kay. As the quarterback, he’s the pillar of the team. Day in and day out he’s got to believe in himself in order to go on the field and perform at his best. And he certainly did that!

“Believe In Yourself” is the beginning of my four-step Secrets to Living Your B.E.S.T. Life presentation. When you believe in yourself you value your body, mind and spirit and you respect your well-being. You know that eating well and living a healthy lifestyle are paramount to your success. You do what you need to do to be your best self. You’re a true champion!

Next Steps:

1. Write down all the things you love about being you.
2. Nourish your body with healthy food so you are in a good mood.
3. Think back to a moment when you reached an important goal and jot down the great steps you took toward the milestone.
4. Apply the steps in #3 toward a new goal with the belief that you are the best.
5. Celebrate your achievements!

These steps will help you believe in yourself in order to be your best self and reach your goals. If you are concerned about creating an energized and fulfilled life, and nourishing your body, mind and spirit, contact me at jodi@bravowellness.com or call 413-282-7286. At Bravo! Wellness, I work with my clients to create manageable lifestyle changes so they are able to achieve their greatest potential in life, health and business.

Heart disease is the leading killer of men and women in the United States. By 2020 heart disease and stroke will become the leading cause of both death and disability worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. While most people think of heart disease as synonymous with heart attacks, there are many more ailments and conditions which affect the heart. Heart disease includes coronary artery disease (heart attack), congestive heart disease, heart failure, heart arrhythmias as well as other conditions.

The heart works hard to pump blood throughout the entire system of blood vessels inside our bodies. When a heart isn’t taken care of, it is forced to work harder to keep the body functioning. Cholesterol is a major factor in limiting the transport of blood throughout our bodies.

Cholesterol is a waxy-type substance of fat found in the body (about 75%). The other 25% comes from food. It is produced mainly in the liver, but also in the reproductive organs and adrenal glands. It is transported through the body as lipoproteins which are first assembled in the liver. The most “popular” lipoproteins are HDL (high-density lipoprotein), the “good” type that carries cholesterol out of the system; and LDL (low-density lipoprotein), the “bad” type that deposits cholesterol in arterial walls, where it can build up and narrow the arteries and become a major risk factor for a heart attack.

It is imperative to understand that nutrition and lifestyle changes must be at the forefront of your heart healthy plan. Dr. Joseph Mercola, a leader in integrative medicine, was recently on the Dr. Oz show and challenged Dr. Oz, a noted heart surgeon, about the use of statin drugs to lower cholesterol. Finally, the doctors agreed: too many people are using statins as an excuse NOT to make lifestyle changes. Dr. Oz added, “If you are taking statins and still eating kielbasa, you’ve still got the (cholesterol) problem.”

Another very important point the doctors made is that if you have high cholesterol and do not have heart disease, statins are not going to help. [NO ONE SHOULD ALTER THE DOSE OR STOP TAKING ANY PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION WITHOUT CONSULTING THEIR PHYSICIAN.] More tests are needed to determine the root cause of the imbalance. And I’ll repeat: nutrition and lifestyle are at the core of what must change to get your heart (and mind/body/spirit) in optimal working order.

The most important person who can help you reduce your risk of heart disease is YOU. And, fortunately, medical and research professionals have made invaluable discoveries about heart disease, risk factors and prevention. While some heart disease is genetic, even your DNA can benefit from calculated and continual preventive efforts (healthy nutrition and lifestyle habits are key).

The earlier you start preventing heart disease, the better. Why not right now?

Next Steps:

1. Have your blood pressure checked regularly and discuss the numbers with your doctor.
2. Substitute healthy herbs for salt when cooking to reduce blood pressure.
3. Read food labels when grocery shopping to avoid products with hydrogenated oils.
4. Make exercise a part of your heart-healthy routine every day. Even 30 minutes a day can make a big difference.
5. In the US, wear red this Friday, February 3, National Wear Red Day. This movement was established to raise awareness about heart disease in women and necessary funds for vital research.

These steps will help you incorporate heart-healthy habits into your life. If you are concerned about your heart health, the foods you eat and/or creating an energized and fulfilled life, contact me at jodi@bravowellness.com or call 413-282-7286. At Bravo! Wellness, I work with my clients to create manageable lifestyle changes so they are able to achieve their greatest potential in life, health and business.

“The next major advance in the health of the American people will be determined by what the individual is willing to do for himself.”

-John Knowles, Former President of the Rockefeller Foundation

Of course, this quote could read: The next major advance in the health of all people will be determined by what the individual is willing to do for himself or herself. Are you willing to be willing? One of the remarkable women I was with on Sunday walked on stage and asked us this question. Were we willing to be willing [to take on the challenge of changing the habits that weren't serving us]?

It’s a loaded question. Powerful. Think about where you are right now – the status of your health, your career/business, your relationships with partner, family, friends, and colleagues. Do you feel well? Are you putting yourself at risk for disease with poor eating and lifestyle choices? Are you happy? Are you achieving your goals? Have you considered that if you are not living your best life you need to make changes? That’s not a bad thing, but it is a reality.

Change is defined as: to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone; a transformation. Taking this one step further, in order to affect change, one must make choices. As Albert Einstein said, ”Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” If we want to change the result, we need to make other choices that will lead us down a new path. We might even have to step out of our comfort zone.

Think about the choices you make regarding your health and well-being. Do you get enough sleep? Do you eat appropriate servings of fruits and vegetables every day? Do you get enough exercise? Do you honor your body/mind/spirit to be the best you can be? If you answered no to any of these questions, what are you willing to do to make changes to your routine? With regard to John Knowles’s quote above, what are you willing to do for yourself to attain or maintain a healthy body and vibrant mind?

Remember that change is not easy and doesn’t occur overnight. The Stages of Change Model (SCM) outlines six steps relating to the mind/body stages we go through as we implement change. SCM was originally developed in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s by James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente at the University of Rhode Island when they were studying how smokers were able to let go of their addiction to cigarettes.

The stages of change are:

• Precontemplation (Not yet acknowledging that there is a problem behavior that needs to be changed)
• Contemplation (Acknowledging that there is a problem but not yet ready or sure of wanting to make a change)
• Preparation/Determination (Getting ready to change)
• Action/Willpower (Changing behavior)
• Maintenance (Maintaining the behavior change) and
• Relapse (Returning to older behaviors and abandoning the new changes)

Individuals progress through the stages at their own rate. During each stage, a person deals with a different set of tasks and concerns related to the changing behavior. Through each stage one must ask, “what am I willing to do?”

Next Steps:

1. Think about changes you’d like to make: eat healthy foods, lose weight, exercise more, get more sleep…what can you do differently to be your best every day?
2. Review the Stages of Change model
3. Set realistic goals
4. Seek support (family, friends)

These steps will help you understand what works for you and what changes you can make to improve your health and well-being. If you are concerned about your nutrition and lifestyle routines and know you want to do things differently so you can best your best every day, contact me at jodi@bravowellness.com or call413-282-7286. At Bravo! Wellness, I work with my clients to create manageable lifestyle changes so they are able to achieve their greatest potential in life, health and business.

Imagine if you were trying to lose weight and someone stood directly in front of you with a piece of chocolate cake. Or, think about how you would feel if you were getting ready for a presentation and a colleague ignored your request to leave your office so you could collect your thoughts?

Do your thoughts go to sabotage? Would you ask yourself, why are they doing this to me?

Now, think about the times you get in your own way. You know going to the gym would help you to feel better about your body, but you don’t schedule time to go for a workout. Or, you want to lose weight, but instead of preparing a healthy, nutritious meal for lunch, you order in the hamburger and french fries with your colleague.

Does the word self-sabotage come to mind? After all, these are actions you are in control of, yet you don’t always do what’s best for you. Of course, I’m not speaking only to you. I’ve certainly engaged in self-sabotaging behavior, as have most people. A logical question would be “why?” yet the answer is not simple.

We are bombarded every day with messages, often conflicting ones. The best way to lose weight, the best time management system, the best way to do this…and that. Is there really only one “best” way to do something? I used to think so and that’s where self-sabotage showed up in my life. If I wasn’t able to do an activity the “best” way, I felt inadequate and then shut down. I stopped taking actions that I knew would make me feel better or accomplish more in my career. Who stopped me? ME!

After hitting rock bottom, I had to set measurable goals for ME and my career and then set priorities so I could take appropriate actions for success. I knew I had to get out of my own way if I wanted to be successful and live a fulfilled life.

First and foremost, I had to make myself a priority. I had to make time for the gym, even if it meant not meeting friends after work one day, or waking up earlier in the morning than I was used to doing. Sometimes it meant asking for help at work, something I was not comfortable doing but realized it was in my best interest, and ultimately the organization’s best interest, for me to do so.When I took care of myself and felt whole and complete, I was more productive at the office.

Secondly, I had to plan my meals so I knew what I was eating for breakfast, lunch and dinner. As long as I had my healthy food with me, I ate nutritious meals. If I left my meals to chance, I was heading directly into self-sabotage syndrome. It didn’t take long for extra weight to stick to my body and my mood to fluctuate.

Thirdly, I had to learn how to say “no.” Sounds simple, right? However, it is not easy to do so when you always want to please the people around you. I had to learn that saying “no” with integrity was really saying “yes” to me.

Overcoming self-sabotage takes muscle, like the muscles we build at the gym. When we’re not used to it, taking care of ourselves feels uncomfortable. But when we reach our goals and feel truly alive, when we enjoy the gift in each and every moment, the possibilities for achievement are truly endless.

Your Assignment:

1. Write down all the ways you can make yourself a priority: time for the gym, getting a good night of sleep, etc.
2. Notice how you get in your own way and write down the occurrences.
3. Now, review some of the examples from #2 and write out steps you can take to make positive changes in your life.
4. Celebrate your achievements in overcoming self-sabotage (perhaps with a special dinner or a new article of clothing).
5. Notice how much happier and healthier you feel by taking care of yourself.

This assignment will help you understand how you can take responsibility for your health and well-being by getting out of your own way. If you are concerned about your nutrition and lifestyle routines and know you want to do things differently so you can best your best every day, contact me at jodi@bravowellness.comor call 413-282-7286. At Bravo! Wellness, I work with my clients to create manageable lifestyle changes so they are able to achieve their greatest potential in life, health and business.

I don’t think I was ever good at New Year’s resolutions. As far back as I can remember, I made promises to myself that I couldn’t keep. “In the new year, I promise to go to the gym every day.” “I promise this is my last cookie – in the new year I’m not going to buy fattening food.” You can see where I’m going with this, right?

I set myself up for disappointment. Once I missed a day at the gym, there was no reason to even work on the promise I had made. I had already messed up which meant (as I believed then) that I was a failure so why bother? As for the cookie, well then I just negotiated with myself. I would rationalize that if I bought “non chocolate” treats like gummy bears that were fat-free, they were acceptable. But, once I ate the gummy bears I’d begin the sugar high-low cycle, then feel awful and go for the chocolate chip cookie because I “needed” it. And promise myself that it would be my last one…until the next one.

Over the past few years, as I’ve enjoyed a healthier lifestyle than the first forty years of my life, I’ve made great strides in embracing change and transforming habits that didn’t serve my well-being. I thought through why my promises were futile and why new year’s resolutions don’t work. It’s a subtle distinction:

Promise – a declaration that something will or will not be done;

Resolution – the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc.;

Commitment – engagement or involvement.

The definitions* of promise and resolution explain something that may or may not happen. A commitment represents participation and connection, as in already taking part in the action.

To hold myself even more accountable than in the past, I decided to share with you the 12 commitments I made to myself. I wrote out 12 because of the year 2012, and then realized that, of course, there are 12 months in the year (and my birthday is on the 12th day…)

In no particular order, here are the 12 commitments I’ve made to myself for 2012:

1) Shut down at 9:30pm on weeknights (turn off computer and blackberry, watch mindless tv with Keith; knit, read.

2) Develop a meditation practice; set intention for the day each morning.

3) Make physical activity a part of who I am; cardio at least 3x/week, yoga at least 2x/week.

4) Set aside time each week to make sure home is clutter-free.

5) Healthy eating is a foundation of my existence.

6) Practice random acts of kindness.

7) Keep current on all financial matters (filing receipts, know all cc balances, label receipts when transaction occurs.

8)Set aside time each week to clean out email inboxes.

9) Set aside time each Friday to prepare schedule for following week.

10) Turn off phone and blackberry each day for time to focus and concentrate.

11) Create calendar with time to contact friends via phone and handwritten notes.

12) Prepare at least four new recipes each month.

It’s not that I don’t do some of the above 12 “commitments” already, but I do know that I can improve. I’m looking forward to the journey of 2012 and discovering more about myself. I have set the intention to serve my clients in even bigger ways this year and in order to do that I know that I need to honor the commitments I’ve made to me.

Have you been successful in keeping New Year’s resolutions? If so, to what do you attribute the achievement? If not, have you thought through what keeps you from reaching your goals? I wish you the best of everything in this new year and I want for you all that you wish for yourself. Decide that this is the year you will live your best life then make the commitment and do whatever it takes…you can do it!

*definitions from dictionary.com

Next Steps:

1. Write out commitments to yourself for 2012. Don’t feel pressured to include a long list. Commit to what feels natural to you to get you to the place where YOU want to be.
2. Make copies of your commitments. Place one near your nightstand so you see it first thing in the morning and when you go to bed. I believe it is also a good idea to keep a copy in your wallet so you see a visual reminder during the day.
3. Create a plan. Include “to-do” items related to your commitments in your daily planner so the steps become habits and not “extra” things.

4. Take time now to schedule a review of your commitments – perhaps once a month.
5. Register for my upcoming, complimentary tele-class so I can support you and provide resources to help you honor your commitments.

These steps will help you create a solid foundation to enjoy a balanced and productive life. If you are concerned about your nutrition and well-being, contact me at jodi@bravowellness.com or call 413-282-7286. At Bravo! Wellness, I work with my clients to create manageable lifestyle changes so they are able to reach their goals and maintain a healthy and fulfilling standard of living.

My friend Michele just had back surgery, so when she sent me a text Sunday morning telling me she was on her way to the emergency room and asking me to meet her there, I was halfway out the door before reading the whole message. After the wonderful warm weather we’ve been enjoying in New York City, the biting wind was unsettling as I made my way down the block. “I hate hospitals,” I thought. I know; who really likes them?

Michele was in a lot of pain, and waiting for the doctor seemed to take forever. She was anxiously trying to reach her surgeon by phone to ask him for help in locating an on-call doctor in the hospital. What did we do before cell phones? In the meantime, I went into a corridor with better reception to call Michele’s mother and sister with a patient report. When they started crying, I felt tears well up in my eyes. I got so stressed, feeling as if I were the one making them cry. Of course, they were worried about Michele, and at that moment, I was their link to Michele. If I could have reached my arms through the phone to hug them and assure them I was taking good care of Michele, I would have.

Finally, an on-call doctor arrived to examine Michele. He asked a lot of questions and listened intently. Then, he explained to Michele that he was going to confer with her surgeon and that he would be back shortly. Soon, the ER physician arrived to examine Michele. I liked this…just in case one doctor missed something, there was “back-up” to ensure Michele would receive the proper treatment. This doctor, too, asked a lot of questions and listened patiently.

A little while later, the on call doctor, I’ll call him Dr. M because he was male, came in to explain to Michele that she was going to get a painkiller, Toradol, to numb the pain, and a steroid to reduce the inflammation. My mind starting going crazy, but I kept quiet while Michele and the doctor were talking. I thought to myself, “What’s my role here? I love my friend lying in the hospital bed in front of me, but I’m not family. Do I open my mouth and say something?” I couldn’t keep quiet.

As Dr. M. turned to leave the room, I asked Michele if she would mind if I asked the doctor a question. I looked at Dr. M. and said, “Isn’t Toradol the drug I just read about in The New York Times? The one former professional football players are suing the NFL over its usage?” OK, I know Dr. M is a busy man and I don’t expect him to read the Times cover to cover, so maybe the question wasn’t fair. He gave me a blank stare, so I started explaining what I had read (you can read the article here).

Once again, the phone came in handy as I looked up “toradol” and “new york times” on my blackberry to confirm it was, in fact the same drug in the article. Dr. M. said it was the protocol Michele’s surgeon suggested and I know Michele trusts her doctor implicitly, so I backed off.

A few minutes later, the ER physician returned, Dr. F (she’s female), to reiterate what Dr. M had said about the toradal and steroids. I figured I was being given another opportunity to question a doctor, so I did. ”Isn’t Toradol the same drug used by NFL players and they are now suing because of the damage to their bodies? I continued, “I realize a one-time shot now versus repeated daily/yearly use by football players are two different things, but it concerns me that I just read about this drug and now it is being prescribed for Michele.”  Poor Michele, she was in so much pain and my heart ached for her. She wanted, no, she needed relief fast.

Dr. F looked at me and said, “You mean because of the risks of internal bleeding?” “Yes, I said, and are there others? I mean, if former players are suing the NFL, this must be serious.” Dr. F rolled her eyes at me and said, “That’s all theoretical.” Without hesitation, I looked at Dr. F. and said, “You’re a doctor, of course you are going to say that.” Eeeekkkkk…I hit a nerve. Dr. F. did not like my comment and gave me a look as if to say, “Listen friend in the chair, shut up.”

I feel comfortable saying the people-pleaser in me did not care whether or not Dr. F. liked me, but I did want to be sure Michele was getting the best care possible. So, I spoke up. I reiterated that I understood there is a difference between the repeated use and one-time injection, but said I did want to be sure Michele knew the risks of the drug. Dr. F said there was some risk of internal bleeding, but upon further discussion with Michele, they came to the conclusion that Toradol was right for her.

{FYI – here’s the complete list of possible side effects from the maker of the drug}

Only Michele truly knows how much pain she was experiencing. I may or may not have done the same thing in her condition – taken the drug. In fact, now that I think back, about 20 or so years ago I had to be rushed to the emergency room with a severe migraine. I don’t remember much, except that I did get a BIG needle in my butt, and it might have been toradol. Who knows?

I have great respect for doctors. I pass out from the sight of blood, so I certainly can’t do what they do. I just wish most of them wouldn’t dismiss drug interactions as “theoretical” and the importance of healthy food and lifestyle habits as “hypothetical” information. And, I do believe it is important they explain possible side effects to patients, and let the patient come to their own conclusion, or at least have an educated conversation with the doctor.

I did thank the doctors for taking good care of my friend. And Michele is feeling better as each day passes. I do very much appreciate the doctors’ care.

Next Steps:

1. Speak up! Ask questions of your doctor.
2. Value your intelligence and intuition and trust YOU are making the best decision for your well-being.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask for support.
4. Live in the moment. Enjoy life – it is precious.

If you are concerned about your nutrition and/or your lifestyle habits and know you want to look and/or feel better, please contact me at jodi@bravowellness.com or call 1-413-282-7286. At Bravo! Wellness, I work with my clients to create manageable lifestyle changes so they are able to reach their goals and maintain a healthy and fulfilling standard of living.

Derek Boogaard dead at the age of 28. Cause: chronic traumatic encephalopathy or C.T.E, brain damage that mirrors Alzheimer’s disease and is caused by repeated blows to the head. As an avid hockey fan, I believe the role of fighting in the sport must be analyzed, but that is certainly not the focus of this article. For me, one of the tragedies of Boogaard’s death is his belief that his only value was as a hockey enforcer.

“Boogaard rarely complained about the toll – the crumpled and broken hands, the aching back and the concussions that nobody cared to count. But those who believe Boogaard loved to fight have it wrong. He loved what it brought: a continuation of an unlikely hockey career. And he loved what it meant: vengeance against a lifetime of perceived doubters and the gratitude of teammates glad that he would do a job they could not imagine.

He did not acknowledge the damage to his brain, the changes in his personality, even the addictions that ultimately killed him in the prime of his career. If he did recognize the toll, he dismissed it as the mere cost of getting everything he ever wanted.” ~ from “John Branch’s Punched Out: The Life and Death of a Hockey Enforcer”/Part 1 in The New York Times

From Part 3: “Boogaard was embarrassed and worried that news of his addiction would shatter his reputation. He was also concerned that someone would take his role. From rehabilitation, he tracked the preseason fights of teammates and texted friends to gauge how badly he was missed.”

This is heartbreaking. The story is so raw for me and I thought it was because it was about a New York Rangers player. As I write this I can see my stack of season tickets out of the corner of my eye. Hockey is my life. And the Rangers? I see themmore often than I do my friends from October through springtime (June, hopefully!). This is a serious connection. But the life and death of Derek Boogaard is more than “hockey” to me. After reading this three-part series in the Times, I realize why it hurts so much: Boogaard was willing to do whatever he thought he had to in order to realize his dream, even if it killed him. His ego didn’t let him walk away from something that was so damaging to his mind, body and spirit.

This series brought back the memory of me nearly passing out on the tennis courts in Central Park and somehow making it back to the east side. I can hear myself making the call, tears streaming down my face, and saying, “Claudia, I need to see you. I think I have an eating disorder.” Embarrassed? You bet. Ashamed? Absolutely! How did I let this happen?

I thank G-d and my “dynamic duo” (therapist and wellness coach) who started me on a journey through life that I embrace and enjoy every single day. Are there ups and downs? Certainly. Do I get stressed, annoyed, frustrated, mad and sad? Of course. And, fortunately, I have learned to believe in myself and know that I have what it takes to achieve my goals without sabotage and sacrifice.

{I want to thank my good friends, Pat Mussieux of Wealthy Women Leaders and Britt Bolnick of In Arms Coaching, for their latest blog posts. Reading their words about taking risks, playing small and scarcity made me think about my life and whether or not I was taking risks to create the life I truly desire.}

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. ~ Mark Twain

I can’t begin to tell you how emotional I am after reading this quote by Mark Twain. It is seriously creating an energy flow in my body and tears are streaming down my face. I see the word ‘disappointed’ and think about the chances I didn’t take. Why? What stopped me? I read ‘sail away from the safe harbor’ and wonder if I’m really ready to do so. Then I grasp ‘explore’ and ‘dream’ and ‘discover’ and I smile. Talk about a roller coaster of emotions!

When I think about the chances I didn’t take, I don’t have regrets. I know now that I did the best I could at the time with the knowledge I had. Thinking about 20 years from now, well, I want to make sure I look back at this time in my life and say, “You did all that? You rock!” What do I need to do to create that…SAIL AWAY FROM THE SAFE HARBOR!! Throwing caution to the wind…here I go.

My safety net has always been doing what people expect of me. Let me say that another way, I’ve been a people pleaser all my life!!! Whether its family, friends, colleagues, random person on the street, I do everything I can to make them think I’m a “good” person even it means acting in a way that is not in alignment with who I am. I can’t do it anymore.

I’ve worked so hard at being perfect my entire life. Even when I write articles and blog posts, I’ve thought that I had to be perfect, that people would “expect” me to be perfect because I’m sharing my wisdom and knowledge on living a healthy, happy life. Don’t I need to be perfect in order to do that?

I’m grateful to Sarah Segal of David’s Tea (my dear Canadian buddies are probably cheering for this company as they read this) for something she said to me last week. My friend Michele and I literally stopped short in front of the new David’s Tea shop on Third Avenue in NYC (en route to Starbucks…sorry Mr. Schultz). While enjoying a delightfully delicious cup of tea, we had the pleasure of meeting Sarah, whose family started the company in Canada. I was enthralled to learn she had spent years in China studying tea. (Putting that on my vision board!). Yet, after sharing so much about her training, her family’s commitment to their products and customers, etc., Sarah said, “I’m always learning something about tea. There’s always something new to learn.”

Those words were enough to make me stop short, once again, while walking and talking in the shop. “There’s always something new to learn” – even if you are an expert. Let’s just erase “perfectionist” from my vocabulary and rejoice! (Want to join me,?)

Explore. Dream. Discover. I’m doing all three – right now! And, I know now that I have SO much more to share with my clients because I want the same excitement and freedom for them. If there is always something new to learn about tea, can you imagine how much there is to learn about life – living a healthy life, creating the life you desire???

Next Steps:

1. Think about this holiday season. What would make YOU happy? What do you want to do?
2. Think about your health and well-being. What will you think about 20 years from now? Will you be disappointed with the things you didn’t do to look and feel your best?
3. Ask yourself if you are playing it safe and/or if you are being true to yourself.
4. Explore. Dream. Discover.