READY FOR AN AMAZING NEW DAY?

Getting to know cPRIME in Marblehead and beyond!

2010-09-07T12:54:00.001-04:00

Have you seen the latest addition to NEW DAY? Well it is cPRIME and it is taking everyone by surprise. See what Nathaniel Snow has to say.

http://marblehead.patch.com/articles/getting-to-know-cprime

Astaxanthin

2010-08-23T10:46:00.000-04:00

I hear and read about supplements every day. This article from Natural News I read a while back, ordered the product and I have to say am enjoying the benefits. At the bottom of the article is an ebook to download which gives you all the information regarding the benefits of Astaxanthin you would ever want to know. If you got to http://www.vitacost.com/ the product is very affordable and one I would recommend.

http://www.naturalnews.com/Files/Astaxanthin.pdf

Are all Protein Powders created equal?

2010-07-14T10:39:00.000-04:00

There are so many protein powders out there these days and its important to distinguish the good ones from the bad. After a hard workout, added to a smoothie, or as a meal replacement many of us choose to throw in a scoop of whey protein along with fruits, juices, yogurts, etc...The fact of the matter is that they are not all created equal and picking the right one from the large selection out there can sometimes be very confusing. Dr. Mercola from http://www.mercola.com/ has written many articles on this subject and I think its important to point out some highlights. "Picking the right form of whey protein can make all the difference in how you feel. As we age our bodies loses their ability to produce critical amino acids -- the essential proteins you need for energy production, immune actions and protein buildup in the muscle. Therefore, the need to supplement with these amino acids increases as you get older and increases even more in times of high physical stress, like after a workout, or when recovering from injury or illness." This is where a good whey protein can come in. Whey protein contains all the essential amino acids. Plus it boasts the highest protein quality rating among all proteins. Thus, it is a complete protein.

Benefits include:

Supports your immune health
Boosts your energy
Supports your joint and muscle health
Supports your beneficial gut bacteria
Promotes your muscle strength, endurance and recovery
Protects all your tissues' cells via its antioxidant properties
Provides critical amino acids and proteins for overall optimal health
Supports your body's optimal metabolic rate and fat burning level

Many commercially-available whey protein powders are significantly damaged and nutritionally deficient due to over-processing and because the original source of the whey is compromised. Some popular leading brands of protein powder may contain dangerous levels of heavy metals. A recent Consumer Reports’ test showed that 3 of the 15 protein drinks tested contained risky levels of arsenic, cadmium, and lead. (for link to article go to http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/2010/july/food/protein-drinks/what-our-tests-found/index.htm ).

Do yourself a favor and make sure you're buying a whey protein powder that has all the right qualities.

Personally, I enjoy drinking my Isagenix Isalean shakes that are made with whey protein powder. There is no better way for me to begin my day or finish a hard workout than with an amazing, yummy and cold protein shake.

Isagenix has made it their business to come up with a shake that is undenatured (not heated so nutrients remain in tact). The whey comes from cows that are grass-fed on crops that contain no herbicides or pesticides. They come in two flavors, Isalean vanilla and chocolate which are meal replacement shakes containing 23 grams of protein each and are complete balanced meal and then Isapro which is just a protein source and great for athletes or individuals who are trying to add more protein to their diet. Both are great for weight loss and the Isapro has helped many get over the weight-loss plateaus. Other benefits include:

May support increased energy*
Highest quality of amino acids
Exclusive source of whey and casein protein
Supports digestive health*
Low lactose
Zero trans fats
No artificial flavors
Gluten-Free
Wheat-Free

The shakes also contains Ionic Alfalfa™, which is a proprietary blend of 70 super-charged minerals, trace minerals and alfalfa juice. Active enzymes in each serving helps maximize the absorption of key nutrients.

I'll say it, I think they are AMAZING! It's going to be 2 years in August and I can tell you that there has not been many days that I haven't had atleast one shake (not including my cleanse days of course). For more information on the shakes click on this link.
http://www.isagenix.com/us/us/en/isaleanshake_new.dhtml#videoBox
Most clients have been known to say they miss their shakes if they don't have one. I couldn't agree more!

As with anything make good choices when it comes to your nutrition. What you put in your body matters. As I always say, your body is a miracle if you give it what it needs.

For more information on the products and to contact me about them go to:
http://danaappelyoung.isagenix.com/

Getting to and Maintaining a Healthy Weight

2010-07-07T13:09:00.000-04:00

For most of my clients and most people these days getting to a healthy weight can be a struggle but also maintaining a healthy weight is a challenge. Living a healthy lifestyle is hard work so making informed decisions about nutrition is so important. It's about lifestyle changes, making good food choices and of course keeping the balance between enjoying food but not going overboard and overeating. What works for one client doesn't always work for the next but the overall plan can be simple. The support that you get from me can be so important especially at the beginning of your journey to health as it's so much easier to slip back into your comfort zone.

What has made my practice even better is having Isagenix to fall back on with so many of my clients. I have put almost 100 people on the products in the last year and the results speak for themselves. The testimonials are endless. From the weight loss and inches lost, the structure that is so needed at the beginning and the energy they feel from all the great ingredients in the products. Every story is amazing!

I've taken many on tours of Whole Foods to help them see what other foods they can be trying and spent time with one on one sessions supporting them through this time. My program is less about specific meal plans but more about introducing them to healthier options and opening their eyes to what is out there. I want to coach them through whatever struggles they have to get them to where they want to be.

Not only is there an emphasis on Nutrition but also on getting them into a regular exercise program that works for them (or restructuring one for some who are stuck in one that isn't working anymore). I have seen so many clients going from not working out at all to suddenly spending 4-6 days a week in the gym. Suddenly after feeding their bodies the right foods the desire to be at the gym becomes stronger. It's less about being a personal trainer and more about being a workout partner. It's about teaching them about all the different equipment and changing their routine. It is also about actually getting on the machine next to them, keeping them company and doing the work with them if needed.

There are so many tools needed to maintain a healthy weight. Start by finding friends and family to support you, educating yourself, writing things down in a food journal, and most of all being committed to make the changes for good.

For the next couple of weeks my goal is to blog more. I want the information out there with regards to Isagenix and so much more. I am almost at my 2 year anniversary with Isagenix products myself. I myself made the decision to make Isagenix a part of my life and it has certainly helped me maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle. That coupled with making healthy choices and exercising regularly and I feel great. Let me help you get there as well.

For more information check out my Contact page on my website at http://www.amazingnewday.com/.

MAKE THE SHIFT

2010-05-06T18:00:00.000-04:00

I recently received a newsletter from Susan Sly. Susan is an author, speaker, self made millionaire and mother to four beautiful children. I am taking the liberty of passing pieces of the article on to you in this blog. The article is very timely for me and how I have been feeling lately. I think spring has something to do with it. It’s a time to clear out the clutter of the winter, time to make some changes. There is so much around me needing "cleaning" including my work, my home and my family that it has left me feeling like I just don't know where to begin. Bottom-line, the clutter seems so overwhelming so why not just ignore it all or stay in a place of comfort and do what I need to in order to get by. Most importantly, the past couple of weeks I’ve been stuck not taking the necessary steps to shift where my business is going. While I am speaking with all my clients about beginning a NEW DAY I don’t know that I was listening to my own advice. Always easier to give advice to others I guess. That being said I do know one thing. Until I take the steps, however small to make the changes necessary to clear out the clutter and get my business back on track then nothing positive will come my way. I need to be stay in a place of gratitude for ALL of it and appreciate all that I have. And so I cut and paste the following article. Take these words as we go into spring and truly rid yourself of all the clutter that surrounds you physically and/or in your mind. Make the shift in your life whether with diet or your work and get ready to make everyday an AMAZING NEW DAY. I know I am ready, are you?

Many people walk around in day to day existence operating from a place that is indicative of what has been and not what is; this only serves to send a conflicting message to the world which says that they are not ready for the goodness which they have been granted and instead operate as though they are stuck in their original paradigm. How many women do you know, who have lost weight, continue to shop for and hold onto clothes in their original size? How many people, when they begin making an extra $500/month in a home based business continue to come from a lack mentality? The answer is that the vast majority of people are living as though nothing has changed and all this does is create a reflection back that they are not indeed ready to shift.

Do you realize that over 90% of lottery winners spend all of their winnings within a few short years? Do you know that over 90% of dieters regain all of their lost weight and more? As a society we will often choose to stay comfortably uncomfortable and revert to our old, ineffective ways of being. The reality is that whatever habits got us into a place of poor financial judgment, bad health or a destructive relationship will surely get us there again unless we change within ourselves. Dr. Wayne Dyer says that ‘we attract who we are.’ I would ascertain that what he means is that until we shift that within us which is negative and unproductive we will continue to attract negative and unproductive circumstances.

So how does one shift? The most imperative thing is that you celebrate and stand in gratitude for all milestones. If you have increased your household income by even an extra $100/month then celebrate that extra $1200/year. If your body has shifted to be leaner then you must stand in gratitude. Until you recognize the change that is occurring you will never hold onto it. I have seen thousands of people who make progress only to self sabotage and go back into circumstances that are either on par or worse than they were before. Standing in gratitude or celebrating does not equal complacency; it simply sends a signal that you appreciate and accept what is happening. When something changes for the better make a decision to change with it. When I went from a women’s size 14 to a four, I got rid of all of the size 8-14 clothes. This sent a message that I was done with that part of my life and ready to move on.

PROTANDIM SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED.

2010-04-15T13:19:00.002-04:00

PROTANDIM

2010-03-14T11:23:00.008-04:00

I have recently been introduced to an amazing product called Protandim. As a health coach I am introduced to many products. I am always open to hearing new ways to keep myself healthy in a natural and healthy way. Unfortunately we live in a very toxic world, herbicides, pesticides, pollutants, etc. and as a result we build up free radicals in our bodies. Free radicals are the molecules that outside our body cause rust in metals or cause browning in apples. In the human body, free radicals hurt our cells and are a significant factor in aging. Free radical damage in the body is known as oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress is the result of metabolic wear-and-tear seen in aging and is said to give a foothold to many of the undesirable effects of aging, ie. cardiovascular disease, improper immune function and overall wellness. Google oxidative stress and see so much more. More than 40,000 published articles all highlight the magnitude of the problem.

Our bodies don't effectively eliminate oxidants with "direct" antioxidants from food and supplements, but rather with antioxidant enzymes. Unlike direct oxidants like Vitamin C, E and A which can actually become pro-oxidant and produce the very free radicals that we need to get rid of, enzymes within our bodies offer pure antioxidant protection without producing oxidants.

Dr. Joe McCord, Lifevantage Director of Science, is a pioneer of free radical biology and an expert in oxidative stress. He is the formulator of Protandim.

Without going into much more let me outline the 10 Key benefits.

1. Scientifically proven: Protandim has been the focus of several clinical trials.
2. Superior Antioxidant Power: Protandim can deliver exponentially more antioxidant activity by stimulating enzymes in our body and killing off free radicals millions at a time.
3. Reduced Oxidative Stress: Protandim is the ONLY supplement clinically proven to completely eliminate the age-dependent increase in oxidative stress, reducing oxidative stress levels, regardless of age, to those of a 20 year old.
4. Healthy Immune Support
5. Enhanced Overall Health
6. Anti-Aging Ability: Clinically proven to reduce cell aging by an average of 40%.
7. Increased Glutathione: produces a 300% increase in glutathione, which is a key antioxidant and anti-aging compound. (google glutathione)
8. One of a Kind: Its unique formulation, based on boosting antioxidants enzymes, leads the market in fighting oxidative stress.
9. Proprietary and Patented: The company owns two patents with a third on its way. Its a proprietary blend of five natural ingredients owned by LifeVantage.
10. Leading Edge: The revolutionary formulation behind Protandim is a result of decades of research and work done by Dr. Joe McCord.

We are hearing more and more every day about antioxidants, free radicals and the need to decrease them in our bodies to live a longer, healthier life. I think LifeVantage has it right. Obviously ABC did as well as they did a story on Primetime Live a while back.

Click on the link below:
www.mylifevantage.com/danaappelyoung

Watch the ABC Primetime Video, check some of the clinical studies and contact me to talk more about what Protandim can do for you. Its simple, one pill a day, reduce your oxidative stress levels and start to feel amazing!

DO YOU NEED A HEALTH COACH?

2010-02-22T19:11:00.004-05:00

Today I got an email from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition telling its past graduates and anyone coming into the program in the future that they are going to be called Health Coaches rather than Health Counselors. I guess I saw this coming as I have been calling myself a Health Coach since I graduated. I have always wanted to be more of a coach to my clients, understanding a client's weaknesses and strengths and cheering them on to victory. I need to listen to my client, get to know him/her well enough to make healthy and realistic choices not only with their nutritional needs but also Fitness and Wellness needs. I want to support them in any way I can. I want to be the one on the sideline cheering them on when they need it, coaching them through losing weight, eating better and taking care of themselves. Once my clients begin a program with me my hopes are that they will experience a different more hopeful and healthy world around them. I want my clients to experience foods they haven't eaten before, exercises they never would have entertained to try and begin to experience a different more hopeful and healthy world around them. Most clients just need to be taught about all the different food options out there. We get stuck in the what we know and there is so much more to learn. Its about the support system most of us need to get us to the outcome we are hoping for and of course it's the belief in ourselves and the desire to get us to the finish line. The buzz out there from articles in the New York Times to stories on ABC and NBC about how the wave of the future is having a health coach in your life. It's an amazing feeling when I can be someone's coach. Let me help you Amaze Yourself!

Below are a few links to some recent stories about Health Coaches. Check some of them out.

Dr. Andrew Weil's Self Healing magazine reports: "When athletes want a competitive edge, they hire a private coach to monitor their progress. When it comes to your health, using this mindset could also be beneficial. Health coaches are increasingly being hired by corporations to help employees stay healthy and by individuals seeking to improve well-being. For some, these coaches offer assistance in managing dietary constraints (due to conditions such as celiac disease or diabetes), and for others, they might focus on teaching stress-reduction methods. In some ways, the health coach picks up where your physician left off, helping you implement wellness strategies suggested after a check-up or diagnosis." In the article, Integrative Nutrition graduate Christi Collins recommends finding a coach who has received training from a reputable program, and whose personality resonates with your own.

CBS reports (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/05/health/cbsdoc/main5535824.shtml): "Congress will miss the boat if it ends up perpetuating a system that reacts to illness rather than preventing it. Chronic diseases such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes wreck our quality of life and cost a fortune. In recent years, a new and intriguing concept has emerged in the prevention and treatment of chronic illness: the health coach.

ABC News reports on health coaching - what it is and how it can help you.
http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=9493792

New York Times article on health coaches:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/22/business/yourmoney/22food.html?_r=4&scp=1&sq=nutrition%20coach&st=cse

39 RULES FOR A GOOD LIFE!

2010-02-10T09:51:00.002-05:00

39 Rules for a Good Life
I am not sure of the author of this Handbook but today I came upon it and thought I would share with my NEW DAY fans. Check them out and try to implement as many as you can. I think it will make for an amazing 2010 if we do!

HANDBOOK 2010
Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did last year.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don’t over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree…

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything..
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. Time heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank your God for it.
39. Your Innermost is always happy. So, be happy.

KEEP IT SIMPLE THIS NEW YEAR

2010-01-03T20:13:00.002-05:00

I just recently read in article from one of my favorite websites, Naturalnews.com and thought it was a perfect time to blog and send it out there in the hopes that others will find it as well. As the New Year begins step back, stop and appreciate the things which are of true value and begin to embrace the simplicity of being satisfied with enough. Identify the sources of stress, anxiety and fatigue and start to truly find out what makes it all amazing.

Click on the link below and continue reading.

http://www.naturalnews.com/027860_food_foods_positive_change.html

MINDFUL EATING

2009-12-15T12:26:00.003-05:00

All this talk about being mindful during yoga or now intensati have you ever stopped to think about being mindful while you eat? Sadly I must admit that I come from a family of inhalers with our food and I have to say I see with one of my children that I've passed this trait on. So often we are rushing through dinner to get to an activity or back to the television or to homework and we don't take the time to enjoy each others company or the food in front of us.
So often we eat mindlessly, stuffing food into our mouths while working on the computer, watching TV or driving in the car. Too often our food is gone before we knew we even ate to begin with. While you are in the midst of enjoying the holiday season and all the wonderful food in front of you try to remember that the pleasure of eating lies in slowing down and fully experiencing all of the elements of food. Take some time to explore a bit more with your food and start to take notice and you will be amazed on how much better it can taste, how much more enjoyable it can be and even how much less you might be eating because you've taken the time to enjoy each bite. This may seem like a silly exercise but try it with your family next time you are all at the dinner table. Just the discussion and exercise alone with certainly make for a different dinner experience and maybe atleast for one meal make you all a bit more mindful of the food on your plate.

Things to explore:
Sight, Smell, Touch, Tast, Texture, Swallow, Breath, Silence.
Look at your food and then maybe bring it to your nose and experience the scent of what you are about to eat. Touch what you are going to eat and then try to experience the moment it touches your lips, tongue, teeth, etc...Begin to chew the food slowly this time, more chews than you've ever have. Chewing leads to smoother digestion. Become aware of the taste, it is juicy or sour or sweet. As you continue to chew notice the consistency and texture of the food. Take a few extra chews before you swallow the food and then take a breath. Bring the same quality of breath that you gave to the rest of the process and then sit for minute and think about what you just ate.

What comes from this is a better understanding of yourself I think and your relationship to food. Not only that but the realization of just how good (or even bad) the food really is and what it meant to you to be able to eat it. Don't forget just how much time you put into getting this food on the table either. Enjoy it all and let it be amazing!

2009-12-08T13:38:00.004-05:00

I joined a rowing association in my town two summers ago. They are an amazing group of people who I am sad to report that I didn't get to spend much time this past summer with as I didn't row as much as I would have liked. They are passing around emails lately asking each other for advice, tips, ways of motivating each other to keep in shape over the winter. I love that they look to each other for help. Its not always easy motivating yourself. Ask for help. Don't let yourself go, in fact, don't wait til the New Year to make those resolutions. Get in atleast 20 minutes a day of exercise, find a friend to join you, start eating better in between all those holiday parties and don't let the winter blues get you down.
Every day is a NEW DAY, go be amazing!

(Read my response if you like, in fact please read their responses as well)

http://rocknrow-marbleheadrowingclub.blogspot.com/

If you shield the mountain from the windstorms, you'll never see the beauty of the carvings. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

2009-11-10T21:26:00.002-05:00

If you shield the mountain from the windstorms, you'll never get to see the beauty of the carvings...

We all go through obstacles, have challenges that we face every day. We have a choice on how these obstacles will affect us, Look back on the last few years and ask yourself if you have grown as a result of all that has happened. Maybe while in the middle of it all you didn't quite realize it but know now that who you are and what you might be doing might never have happened had you not gone through what you did. Hold onto this and remember as you move forward. All that has happened can make you stronger and all that comes your way may just bring you closer to the end result that you see for yourself. All that is ahead can be amazing.

The power of the positive affirmation can be amazing.

2009-10-17T06:11:00.004-04:00

An affirmation is any statement we make whether positive or negative that if said over and over again can become belief and even produce results if said enough. I just finished reading this amazing article from Louise Hay, author, lecturer and teacher who has helped people throughout the world discover and implement the full potential of their own creative powers for personal growth and self-healing. She talks about the power of the positive affirmation. She writes "We can think happy thoughts. We can think positive thoughts. We can say, “Yes, I can do it!” We can think thoughts that make us feel joyous. We can learn to think only about all the good in the world. We can lift our thoughts up. We can greet the day with a smile. We can let the world know that we’re happy to be alive. We can express gratitude at every turn. We can love our bodies. We can be our best friend. By our actions, we’ll be an example for our children. Just by watching us, they’ll learn how to create a happy and fulfilling life."

Coincidentally, I am headed to NYC tomorrow for a one week training to teach Intensati with Patricia Moreno. Intensati is a intense workout combining yoga and cardio with the power of the positive affirmations. It not only keeps you moving but also works to harness the power of the mind. Most of us need reminders to stay mindful and positive and this week I get to train to bring this to others through movement and exercise.

Check out both links. First one, the complete Louise Hay article and second a video about Intensati. Both are amazing!

http://www.healyourlife.com/author-articles/wisdom/inspiration/your-thoughts-create-your-tomorrows
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6hr_rg6YbE

READY FOR AN AMAZING NEW ISA DAY?

2009-10-12T10:01:00.009-04:00

I was introduced to Isagenix over a year ago and now with 1-2 healthy Shakes and a few other drinks, bars and yes even amazing chocolates every day, I feel healthier, leaner, stronger and more energized. Not only that but over the past year have been able to share the products with others and have seen amazing results for them including weight loss (5-20 pounds or more), more energy, and more balance in their lives. It takes some time to convince some to take the leap and try the products but I can tell you that now that I have found them I am committed to a lifetime with Isagenix and so are so many others.

What can this mean?

As with many things in our life, ask yourselves the following questions?
Is this worth doing?
Can I do this (can I see myself doing this)?

I can tell you that I am not only committed to the products but also committed to being the best coach I can with my clients. First things first, you have to try the products, get use to the energy they give you and develop a trust as your body becomes familiar with them. You will begin to see the miracle your body is if you give it the nutrients it needs. Secondly, make a commitment to use the products in a specific way that works with your lifestyle. Something I hope we can come to figure out together. As with anything, not just one way works for everyone and I'm here to figure out just what works best with you. Lastly, how do you maintain that wellbeing you achieved? That will be our journey together to figure out what you need, when you need it and how you will need it to make it work for you.

As a certified health counselor part of my job is to help you figure out a way to live a more balanced, healthier life. I have this amazing tool in my practice, Isagenix, that can simplify things for you and at the very minimum help to set you on the right path to a healthier more amazing NEW YOU!

Go to www.danaappelyoung.isagenix.com and go to videos. Watch ARE YOU TOXIC. Its a quick video but one which will show you exactly why we can't get the nutrients we need in our world and why Isagenix is a great solution.

Take the leap and get ready for an Amazing NEW ISA DAY?

THE AMAZING NEED TO FOCUS

2009-10-04T13:44:00.004-04:00

Where has all the time gone since my last blog. I said to myself that I would update my blog every Monday morning and every Monday came by and I felt like I had so many other things to do. I promise myself every week I will set goals on Sunday night for the week and I will stick with them. I need to focus, stay motivated and keep moving forward.

I certainly am moving forward but the need to set goals, stick with them, block and focus my time has much room for improvement. We all have so much going on in our lives. We tend to go the path of least resistance and stay in our comfort zones. Well its fall now, summer is over and its time to get moving. I have three months til the end of the year and what is it I want to accomplish by the end of 2009? What am I going to do to make it happen?

Think about this for yourself. Even its one thing you know you want to do by years end. Lose some weight, find a new job, or simply clean out your basement. Write your goals down on a piece of paper, put it by your bed, tape it to your desk in your office. Do whatever it takes but do it now. Wake up every morning knowing today you are going to get that much closer to what you desire.

Its a NEW DAY and I'm going to commit myself to making it amazing in every way I can. How about you?

Life's Journey and the Spiral

2009-08-04T04:51:00.006-04:00

If by now you haven't noticed there are spirals located all over my logo and business card. I have always been attracted to the symbol and over the last few years it certainly has come to mean alot to me. It has many meanings but one of them to me is Life's Journey and what a journey it has been for me over the past four years or so. Just last year I found myself working with a Life Coach trying to figure out where I wanted my professional life to go. It didn't take long to figure out that I had a passion for helping others and for health and fitness. It was at this time that I decided to enroll in the Institute of Integrative Nutrition (IIN). It wasn't long after that my friend introduced me to Isagenix and from there everything started to get clear. Fast forward and its a year later. I have been sharing Isagenix with others since last December and just graduated in July from IIN with a certificate in Health Counseling. What a journey. What now? Well, I'm sharing Isagenix and have become "Health Coach" to many. Now its my turn to give back and coach others in their journey.

The spiral symbolizes the process of growth and evolution. It can be the process of coming to the same point over and over again but at a different level, so that everything is seen in a new light. It is my life journey and yet another chapter in my book of life. Now what. Well, its time for a new chapter and I'm having a blast. I'm out to make a name for NEW DAY, Dana Appel Young, HC, AADP, Health Coach. I'm getting new clients every day. I've found something I'm passionate about and I'm going with it. The challenge of the spiral is to grow and develop at different levels of awareness. During these times of change I have to remember to be creative, flexible, patient, open-minded and constantly be ready for a new journey. The task for me will be to continue to support the change rather than hinder it. New ventures are coming my way and I have to figure out how to find room for them, stay focused and keep moving forward.

Its a journey for all of us. I know it is the symbol that I am attracted to but try to think about the sprial and what it can mean for you. Find something that motivates you. Trust the process and great energy will be released into all areas of your life. Keep evolving, keep moving forward and make it all AMAZING.

All that I seek is already within me

2009-07-19T13:01:00.004-04:00

Today my affirmation reads "All that I seek is already within me".

For whatever reason we all have moments where we find ourselves holding back and not achieving the success that we know deep down we are capable of. Why is that? Are we stuck because something in our subconscious is of a negative, disempowering nature and as a result is holding us back. Why is it that I can't seem to make what I know is possible for myself happen? That use to be the type of questions I asked but now I have changed the questions. The "right questions" are the empowering ones. The right questions I should wake up asking are the ones that will lead to a positive outcome.

Coincidently, I am currently reading a great book by Bill Mayer, "The Magic In Asking the Right Questions". And I ask, How am I going to utilize all that I know I am capable of and make my new business a success? How am I going to make a positive impact in someone's life today as their Health Coach? I have been asking myself this and so many more empowering questions for the past few weeks and as a result I am finding that my life is headed in the direction I want to go. There can be no excuses. What I focus on expands. If I continue in the days and weeks ahead to ask myself all the right questions then my desired outcome will begin to happen. There is so much more to learn, so much more to accomplish and I am going to keep focused and continue to ask myself how I am going to get there.

"The quality of your life is determined by the quality of your questions. Do you desire a better life? Ask better questions."

Whether in your personal or professional life try this exercise. Start your day by focusing on the positive and asking yourself the right questions. All that you seek is already within you and I'm guessing might just lead you to amazing results!

YOUR BREATH IS A VERY POWERFUL RESOURCE

2009-07-13T16:22:00.002-04:00

The following information is taken from Andrew Weil. One of the many wonderful and amazing speakers at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Breathing is a very powerful resource and while below I have given you more information let me tell you the following words to remember.

DEEPER - SLOWER - QUIETER - MORE REGULAR

"If today you can be aware of breathing for 10 seconds more than you were yesterday, you will have taken a measurable step toward enlightenment, will have expanded your consciousness, furthered communication between mind and body, become a little more whole, and so improved your health. While diet and exercise are important, they are not the sole determinants of health. People who eat excellent diets and exercise faithfully are not always healthy, but the likelihood of being a healthy person who does not breathe well is slim."

LEARNING TO BREATHE: When learning how to breathe, begin by closing your eyes for a few minutes. Practice moving your breath. Keep your back straight. Begin with a deep, audible sigh, then quietly inhale and see how slow, deep, quiet and regular you can make your breathing and still have it feel perfectly comfortable. You should feel that you are getting enough air with no sense of not getting enough air. Do this for at least eight breaths, then open your eyes and breathe normally. This is a simple exercise but an effective one, and you should do it whenever you can.

PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR EXHALE: If you watch people breathe, you will see that most of them use effort to inhale but none to exhale. Exhalation is usually passive and takes less time than inhalation. When you breathe this way, you do not move nearly as much air in and out of your lungs as you can. The more air you move, the healthier you will be, because the functioning of all systems of the body depends on delivery of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide. To get more air into your lungs, concentrate on getting more air out of them by attending to exhalation.
At the end of a normal breath try squeezing more air out. You will be using your intercostal muscles to do this, and you will feel the effort as they compress the rib cage. Try to make your exhalation as long or even slightly longer than inhalation. Whenever you think of it, practice this technique of extending exhalation and developing your intercostal muscles.

TRY THIS EXERCISE:
Breathe in for for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, exhale for 8 seconds. Do this cycle four times and work up to eight times.
If you can do it twice a day then you are doing amazing.

DO WHAT YOU CAN

2009-06-30T08:26:00.003-04:00

It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do a little. Do what you can. (Sydney Smith).

While this quote rings true in so much of our lives I am focusing or should I say blogging today with regards to exercise. So many times I hear from friends, family and clients that I just don't have the time to exercise. All I can say to that is start with a little at a time, don't put it off because you don't have the time but begin gradually. Find out what you like to do, take a walk, jumprope, get out in the garden, go for a bike ride but get out there and do something. It doesn't mean you have to sweat or that it has to be rigorous. Make it appropriate for yourself and thats how you will win. Just by adding exercise into your life, pair it with a healthy diet and you are well on your way to amazing.

Imagination is Everything

2009-06-21T08:21:00.002-04:00

Imagination is everything. I can imagine whatever I want to be and I want to be an amazing Health Coach. I just got back from a three day Isagenix Conference. Not only did it reaffirm just how great the products are that I've been taking since last August (not that I needed anyone else to tell me how great I feel when I take them) but I just made some great new friends that I know have become part of my extended family. I get to be a part of an organization that supports each other no matter what, believes 100% in what they are sharing with others, and truly wants to make the world we live in a better place. I just made new friends from Minnesota all the way to North Carolina to New Jersey and New York. I don't know that a year ago I could have imagined that my life would be headed in the direction it is. I think some of the negative thoughts in my head were getting in the way of my heart and my ability to figure out where I wanted to be headed. I have been given the ability to rewrite my story once again and I'm doing it. I'm going to focus on the positive as I've been taught that what I focus on expands. I am going to be the change I want to be and its going to be amazing! Can you imagine that?

I ENJOY EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY

2009-06-17T13:07:00.005-04:00

Taken from my affirmation calender, Wednesday, June 17th "I enjoy every minute of whatever I am doing today". OK, so we can only hope! I had a great workout at the gym, went to the grocery store, fed my kids, cleaned and now getting work done. Does it sound amazing to you? I don't know but I'm trying to enjoy the moments. Trying to get some things done as I'm headed to a three day conference for work today. The conference promises to be motivating, empowering, educational and who knows what else. David Wood is the key speaker and from what I hear he is better than amazing! The Super Bowl of all Isagenix events so I'm told. Whatever the case, I am excited to drive three hours, see an old high school friend nearby and head there first thing tomorrow morning. Alot to do before I get myself out the door but I'm going to try my best to enjoy every minute (or atleast most). I wish for all my friends and family to enjoy the day today and the days ahead.

Its a NEW DAY, Amaze Yourself why don't you?

And get out there and make sure you atleast enjoy something today. Might be the only nice day the rest of the week!

KEEP YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE

2009-06-13T15:34:00.002-04:00

Some helpful hints taken from Julia Cameron, author of The Artists Way and most recently The Writers Diet.

While it seems like so many of us are trying to lose weight we sometimes forget some of the simplest things to keep ourselves on track. The questions and recommendations below are great for everyone to think about as we all should be accountable for the foods we put in our mouths.

Ask yourself the following questions when going for something to eat:

Am I hungry? or am I bored, anxious, angry, etc..?
Is this what I want to eat?
Is this whatt I want to eat now?
Is there something else I can eat instead?

If you stop to ask yourself these questions before grabbing for the first thing that you can get your hands on you might just be able to make the right choice.

Recommendations for success:

First thing go for the glass of water and drink 8 ounces of water.
Start to change the contents of your refrigerator and cupboards. Keep in mind that OVERPROCESSED usually means OVERWEIGHT.
Once a week go do something fun by yourself.
HALT - am I too Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired.
Have a buddy nearby that can help you through the difficult times. Don't pick someone too strict but then again stay away from the enabler.

Take a minute, think about what you have in your kitchen and start to think about the changes you can make. Some of the smallest changes can make the most difference.

Its a NEW DAY. Amaze Yourself.

NO ONE DIET WORKS FOR EVERYONE

2009-06-08T12:28:00.003-04:00

I am now three weekends away from receiving my certificate in Health Counseling at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition (IIN) and I must say that its been an amazing and empowering experience. I have been introduced to numerous dietary theories covering almost every type of food that there is out there. Most of IIN’s lectures are given by an assortment of the world’s most prominent authorities on wellness, nutrition and counseling. I have come to expect that every day I walk out of class I will want to try yet another new way of eating. One day its whole grains and kale, another its Raw Food and yet another it is all about Superfoods in my Smoothie. After this past weekend I can say for sure that I might never want to touch a piece of Red Meat again. Alot of talk about the cattle industry and a great lecture by Howard Lyman, fourth-generation family farmer in Montana, former president of Earth Save, and the activist that turned Oprah Winfrey against hamburgers. That being said, I am home now and what really resonates loud and clear is that NO ONE DIET WORKS FOR EVERYONE including myself. We are introduced to all the various theories and lecturers for this very reason. There are so many ways of eating and what works for one may not work for another. It is the schools goal to teach us this and its my goal to pass this information along to you.

As your Health Coach, I want to create a Happy, Healthy life that works for you. I want to discover the food and lifestyle choices that best support you. I want to improve your eating habits, explore new foods with you, understand and help you to reduce your cravings and most of all I want you to feel better in your body. The changes can be gradual, the benefits plentiful! The results AMAZING!

"Wouldn't it be wonderful if..."

2009-06-03T21:32:00.009-04:00

As for next year, "Wouldn't it be wonderful if..."

A good friend of mine gave me my first affirmation calendar a year ago and I loved turning the pages everyday to read my daily affirmation. Sort of like reading the word for the day but instead it was something that hopefully was going to make me feel good about the day ahead and give me some inspiration and motivation. As I opened my new calendar for 2009 the first page read, As for next year, "Wouldn't it be wonderful if...". I cut this out, taped it to the side of my desk and have been reading it every day since.

Woudn't it be wonderful if I could get my business off the ground. Wouldn't it be wonderful if I could get a logo, name for my business and maybe even a website. Wouldn't it be wonderful if I could do this and still have enough time to be the mother I want to be for my three kids.

Well its now almost 6 months later and it has not only been wonderful but its been AMAZING. I am two months shy of getting my certificate in nutritional counseling. I have worked with an extremely talented creative team (Keith Lane, Creative Director, Deb Norris, Web Designer, Scott Lanes, Photographer and Adam Kaufmann, Programmer) to come up with the name for my company and help design my logo and website. I have begun my new career as Health Coach and I'm loving every minute of it. All this and I think I would say I'm still taking pretty good care of my three children. They still seem to love their Mom.

I guess I'm writing all this as today is the day my website has launched and suddenly I'm feeling official. I've had business cards for a while and clients that I've been working with for months now. Once again though its something else I can cross off my list and move forward.

Thanks to Keith and Deb for all their long hours making so much of this possible. Sometimes it is those around you that will help to make it all wonderful and amazing so don't forget that it is OK to ask for help. We don't always have to do it alone. Take this moment if you are reading my blog and ask yourself "Wouldn't it be wonderful if..." and see what comes up in your mind. Take it one step at a time, one day at a time and make something happen. There is so much going on around you everyday and while we can always find distractions and reasons NOT to do something its so much more rewarding when you actually find it within to accomplish something and not only make it wonderful but make it amazing. It can be small yet meaningful but find the wonderful within yourself and make it happen.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me up to now. I can't wait for tomorrow to see what else will come my way. You too can make it happen.
Don't forget,
Its a NEW DAY
Amaze Yourself
(check out my website at http://www.amazingnewday.com/)