SPIRIT BEST LIFE

Before I start watching today's Oprah about living your best life spiritually, I want to go on the record as saying I believe our spiritual path is our most important path and can only be truthfully walked by embracing the Lord Jesus.  I have been working my spiritual life for years and am so thankful for a patient God.  I thank Him too for the grace He has shown me in my life and for the grace I have seen in so many others.  I embrace all ways of growing spiritually and am glad Oprah is reminding us to do that.  Pray for truth before you start your journey; no sense going down a faulty path.

Oprah sees spiritually as being connected, present, and alive.  To understand why we are really here.  It is amazing that many people never ask that question.  How can you not want to answer that or know that there is more than just this physical and material world?  The first reverend  on the show stated that the doorway to being connected and forgiven is being fully and unconditionally loved.  WOW!! I love that.  That doorway can help us to ask what's my purpose? Who am I? Where do we go when we die?  Spiritually answers "is this all there is?"  It's amazing to me that people don't want these answers.  Or maybe they do but are afraid to ask.  How can you find answers without first asking the questions? Hey, that's a question too.  A great start.  Finding your purpose also makes you able to say it's okay no matter what comes your way.  Being connected to God, living in your purpose becomes your foundation, not the circumstance. 

Next up: guests who are struggling spiritually.  How about when you are scared in these tough financial times? You start with what is working.  Be thankful to God for what you do have.  Now understand that you are being called to give birth to a new part of your spiritually that can only come out during such a time as this.  It may not be the choice you would make for yourself (and sometimes I don't even think it's the choice God would have for you), but it can be an opportunity to learn and grow spiritually.  You aren't being punished, but given a chance to learn.  In every crisis, we can expect something old to pass away and something new to come.   False identities, old habits; these can fall away and we can let go of them during the rough times.  And yes, very hard to embrace these truths in the midst of disaster; but maybe they can give enough hope to persevere. 

Another guest had both arms and legs amputated after having a baby and getting a life threatening infection.  This woman did not ever ask why me.   She focused on what she did have, which was the chance at a life with her children.  That's focusing on purpose not circumstance.  That's letting the old pass away and moving into something new. Do you want a new year? Do you want to live your best life? Well, you can't do that without addressing your spiritual self.  Make a spiritual resolution this year.  Seek the face of God and you will find your purpose and then find the grace to fulfill it.

More Best Life

Put yourself back on the to-do list.  We met Laura Plumber about a year ago.  She took the real age test, and at age 44, she finds out her real age is 60.  She was a non-exercising smoker living a stress filled life.  Well Laura put herself on the to-do list and changed her habits.  She got healthy. And now her real age is 41.  She's exercising; she's eating right; and she's NOT smoking.  Go, Laura; you look great.  You feel great.  She's a great role model for the rest of us who like to give excuse after excuse for not taking care of ourselves.  It's no secret.  You aren't going to find a magic pill here.  She's eating fruits and veggies, not junk.   She's walking and working out.  She is meditating and praying instead of smoking.  Walk; don't eat.  Pray; don't smoke.  And guess what? She has inspired her daughter to take care of herself too.  Inspire others by loving yourself and being healthy.

Dr. Oz says there are steps to getting healthy.  Number one, get a check up.  Find a doctor you trust and is the right doctor for you.  Then get that check up.  Ask yourself why you are worthy of getting healthy this year.  My first gut response answer to that is because I have a lot of living to do.  I have a lot of dreams and goals left to fulfill and I can't do any of them if I'm not fit and healthy.  I have people I want to love and take care of, too.  But I have to take care of myself first.  That's why I'm worthy.  How about you?  Oprah answered by saying she was created healthy and health is the foundation for all other good things.

Next up on the health list is  knowing the 5 ingredients to avoid.  Again, you probably already know this.  How about start living it.  No to high fructose corn syrup; no to sugar (Skinny Bitch, the book, calls sugar Satan); no to "enriched" foods; no to trans-fats; no to saturated fats.  Now add good foods.  Like tomatoes, broccoli, beans, blueberries.  I go organic on many fruits and veggies, especially berries.  Yes, to Omega 3 fats in ground flax seeds, walnuts, salmon, soy, and squash.  Get your fiber too - lots of it: lentils, beans whole grains, peas, raspberries.  You need olive oil too, about a tablespoon a day.  Sometimes I drink a spoonful.  It's not too bad, make it virgin, not processed.  Take a multivitamin everyday; check out Oprah's web site for the best one for you.   Now challenge yourself.  Write down three foods you will STOP buying (um, and then Stop!) and three foods you need to start buying.  Write it down and make it a commitment.  Again, you are worthy.

Your waist size (measured at your belly button) should be ideally less than half your height. For men that's less than 4o inches.  Women less than 37 inches.   Know your blood pressure too.  115 over 75 is ideal.  Keep your cholesterol under control too.  LDL should be less than 100; and HDL greater than 40.  Remember, you need that doctor check up.  Check your resting heart rate too.  Check your pulse at your neck, first thing when you get up in the morning.  You don't want it to be over 83; over 83 means your heart isn't working the way it should be and there is a problem.   Good athletes have low resting heart rates.  That means exercise is good for you in case you didn't get that already.  Be as close to 60 as you can.  Blood sugar levels and Vitamin D levels are also important and should be checked.  You should know your levels.  C-reactive protein levels tell us how much irritation is going on in the body.  It's important to know if your immune system is fighting its own body.  TSH levels check your thyroid.  You need your thyroid to function normally for our metabolism to be working right.   

Oprah found out with her thyroid problem that she had been to four doctors and none of them had even checked her thyroid.  She needed a health advocate.  She got Dr. Roizen, Dr. Oz's partner.  Well, most of us can't get him and/or get a team together to diagnose us.  We must be our own health advocates.  Of course, if you are too sick to do it for yourself, you may have to get someone else to come along side you and do it.  This person can advocate for you.  Get all your records organized so each doctor you see has up to the minute info.  I have a  folder that is filled with my records.  I take a copy with me to any specialist.  Even that doesn't always help, but at least get someone to be your health advocate and get a plan.  You may need it.

Other musts in the health arena: Annual physical; go to the dentist every six months; an eye exam every two years.  Women need annual pap smears and pelvic exams; men need testicular exams.  Women over 35 need annual mammograms while still doing monthly self exams.  Over 50, men and women need echocardiograms and stress test to check the health of the heart. Also get a colonoscopy.  If it's clear, you only need it once every ten years.  Get a skin test once a year.  Keep up with your hearing exams once you hit your 60s.  Women need a bone density test once they get older too and men need rectal exams.  It all doesn't sound pretty, but if you said you were worthy, start taking care of yourself.  Think of the reason you gave for wanting to be healthy and make those appointments.   New year, new you: make it happen.  Make it a way of life.  It's a chance to make a change so you can live your best life.  

Exercise is a big part of your new best life.  Start by walking.  30 minutes a day.  Ten thousand steps a day.  Get your heart rate up for 60 minutes a week.  That means you have to sweat. Stretch five minutes a day, so you won't get hurt when you do exercise.  Do you have five minutes? I mean, come on!! And do some strength training, weights, for 30 minutes a week. Start there and then get even more hard core.  You are worthy.  Small changes made every day will change your life.  

You need to get enough sleep.  If you don't get enough sleep, you may overeat.  You need a routine.  Your room needs to be dark and cool and just for sleeping.  No caffeine four hours before sleep.  No tv in the bedroom (uh, oh).  And you may need more calcium and magnesium. Commit to changing one bad sleep habit this week.  Small changes, people.  Commit to good health and make this your best year ever.  You can have all the material possessions in the world, but it means nothing without your health.  So get healthy.  You can do it.

BEST LIFE 2009

Why do we love Oprah?  Because she's honest.  Because she's one of us.  Oprah's first show about living your best life was about the battle of the bulge.  Oprah has gained 40 pounds over the last year and she's miserable about it.  Why?  Well, like the rest of us, it's hard to admit you have failed.  She lost the weight and now it's back.  We know that pain.  We know what it's like to go to your closet and not have anything to wear because you have put on weight.  Oprah's got fame and fortune, but it meant nothing she said because "she is still talking about her weight."  She's mad and embarrassed.  

Yes, she has a thyroid problem (uh, yep, her viewers knew it before she did or before her doctors- go, viewers!!).  And yes, she conveniently tried to blame it on the thyroid.  It's so nice to have an excuse.  To be able to say it's not my fault.  And Oprah did give in to that mentality.  Fortunately, she has good friend, Bob Greene, to set her straight.  Yes, the thyroid problem makes this a bigger challenge, but still a challenge and not a defeat.  And then there's the deeper issue: Being in Balance in your life.  That was the bottom line for Oprah and so many others.  Life out of balance means you don't put yourself first and ultimately you end up last. And in this case, overweight.  So Oprah's 2007 was a rough one for her.  In retrospect, she did have a little of her shine gone when I saw her in April.  Oh, there was still the O Glow, don't get me wrong; but she wasn't fully Oprah.  I also need to pause to say that this hour show consisted mainly of Oprah just talking into the camera.  IT WAS GREAT! I love listening to her.  Other side note:  Carnie Wilson was on via satellite, not Skype; has it been laid to rest?  Let's hope.

Well, in typical Oprah style, she addresses her issue and shows us how to get back on track along side her.  You know what has to go? Excuses.  You know what needs to happen? Balance.

Bottom line: figure out what's wrong and fix it.  Don't give up; don't let difficult situations make you quit.  Put yourself on the top of your priority list.  This way you'll want to be healthy and live your best life.  A friend told Oprah "your overweight self is not craving food, but love."  So give yourself love.  Yes, be thankful for the body you have because it is working for you even if you are overweight, but don't forget to love that body too and get healthy.

You may need a schedule.  You may have to set aside time for yourself.  You will have to eat right and exercise.  The more you do, the better you'll feel.  Love yourself enough to do it.   Don't just give your love to others, even if that makes you feel good.  You have to give love to yourself in 2009.  Ask yourself what are you really hungry for (not what do you want to eat)?   Are you hungry for balance? And what does that mean?  There may be something missing.  Are you finding pleasure in food instead of in the areas like your relationships, your family, your career?  So don't make this year just about what are you going to eat; make this a year of giving yourself love instead of food.

Bob Greene says there are certain things you need to ask yourself.  Number one is as basic as it gets: Why are you overweight?  It's not because you like a certain food; there's a deeper issue.  Get to it.  Maybe you are unhappy.  Maybe you are looking for joy.  Next question: What are you really hungry for?  (which sounds like number one, but isn't)  In other words, what are you looking for in life that hasn't come your way?  Also, Why have you been unable to maintain weight loss in the past?  Why have you failed?  Remember you have to care about yourself everyday.  Finally, why do you want to lose weight?  

Next week, there is an on line web cast about living your best life.  Go to Oprah.com to learn more.  Get a plan.  Love yourself.  Be healthy and lose that weight.  Do it with Oprah; because bottom line, she's one of us.