Suzy Levi's Daily Dose

Control my thoughts, or Controlled by Thoughts?

    When I think about the fact that I am writing a blog about health and fitness, I find myself thinking about my mental health. Truly that is where all health begins. I am sure that I can eat salads and drink green tea until the cows come home, but unless I have control of my mind, it means nothing.

    I know that I don't choose to worry, and I don't deliberately invite anxiety...but... they pop by just the same. "Hello Suzy, This is the electric bill talking to you. I know that it is 2:00 AM but we have to talk. Did you pay me? We don't want a disconnection notice now do we? " These are the kinds of thoughts that can ruin my life if I let them. At 2:00 AM I am not so eager to control my thoughts and I find myself padding to the desk "just to check".

    It is the same for me with everything. Food, (You really want that cheesecake! Forget that South Beach crap! ) Exercise,(Lets see what is on tv, If it is nothing, then go work out.), smoking, (Oh my that cigarette smells good! Wouldn't you love just one?) and even my relationships. Especially with God. ( Where did He come from? Why would He answer your prayers? Who do you think you are??? )

    I don't know when it hit me that I can command my mind. I do know that the future looks brighter and brighter. As I choose positive thought my life gets more positive. No more living in the past and wondering where the good times went. The good times are yet to come and they have nothing to do with smoking or cheesecake.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/bingramos/126661740/

I find it profound  that my little mind can grasp this. Those things can not make me happy. They may bring me temporary joy but only my thinking, coupled with making good choices make me truly happy. This has nothing to do with religion. People of all faiths are depressed. People of all faiths are happy. The bottom line is the thought process.

    Of course my faith plays a big roll in my personal joy, but I have to let it. I could find myself jealous and comparing myself to the "Joneses" If I am not careful. I know that I don't deserve Gods love but He loves me anyways. Why should I waste my life thinking negative thoughts? No more lamentations. Even after I say one of my stupid jokes at the party. Oh well I can't take it back.

    I can move on to a great future with thought control. Then I'll start the diet and work out!

    Thanks for reading.

    Suzy Levi

Is vegan living healthier?

Don't Knock it Until You Have Tried it!

    I have been studying health and fitness for 20 years so I am no stranger to the Vegan/Carnivore debate. I have probably tried every kind of health food kick that there is. Some with glowing results and some made me completely exhausted. To date my favorite is the 3 day juice fast.

    This is why I am completely surprised that I have never tried the vegan/ macrobiotic route. Perhaps I was too scared to give up cheese or cream in my coffee.  Then I read "The Kind Diet" by Alicia Silverstone http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/01/01/alicia-silverstone-backs-21-day-vegan-kickstart/?sem=1&ncid=aolhth00170000000019&otim=1277999152&spid=35258515&s_kwcid=TC|11093|the%20kind%20diet||S||4803080930

I must say that I was enlightened! This made me decide to accept her 4 week vegan challenge. In my late teens I did flirt with being a vegetarian but it left me feeling bummed out and deprived. The diet was more about can't haves instead of the world of plant based food.  Summary; a big plate of refined pasta does not a healthy vegan make!

    This time it's different. My whole family is on board (by their choice) and we are being introduced to a whole new world of food. I truly have no feelings of "missing out". I mean sure I have visions of an occasional burger, but a juicy mushroom sandwich really does the trick.

    It has been 4 days since I have had any meat, dairy, sugar, or alcohol and I must say that I feel great. Don't worry fellow carnivores, I am not abandoning you (yet) but I am really enjoying exploring the new world that I am flirting with.

    I will try to frequently post about my voyage and one thing that I am convinced about is it certainly will not hurt me one bit to try. Who knows, It may just nudge off these extra 20 pounds I am packing.

    Just like my theory that all bosses should be an employee once, maybe all carnivores should be a vegan once. or like my Mom always said; "Don't knock it until you've tried it"!

    Thanks for reading.

    Suzy Levi

Dont let your thoughts run away!

Day 4 to Smoke No More!

    Ok I jumped off the cliff today! Everybody has been warned! I have instructed the children to behave perfectly and get along like angels. My husband is going to try to be home on time tonight, and the house is kinda clean!

    I have my battle weapons. Gum-check, Herbal Tea-check, straight jacket-CHECK! Really my weapon of choice is thought control! I have to get and stay happy about this life improving choice. I mean really I have done this before. The hardest thing is tapping into my thinking last time.

    There is a sort of panic empty feeling that comes and goes. The ones that camp out for a while are the ones that talk me into smoking. I will use you as my excuse to not give in today. I mean if I smoke today what will I tell my readers??

    Maybe for the next 6 days I will take long naps and go to bed by 8:pm! That ought to do it!

    That and the straight jacket!

    Thanks for reading,

    Suzy Levi

Join me in being smoke free!

Join me in being smoke free!

Smoke Free Day 2

    I am not sure that I can really call today day 2. Yesterday turned out to be such a mess that I relapsed by 3:PM! I didn't get to go running. The only exercise that I got was when I walked to the store for a pack of cigarettes!

    I am not sure what went wrong  but it made me wonder if I will ever succeed? How was it so easy the last time? I know that my life was not perfect in July but somehow I was determined and I did it... With joy. I really liked being a non smoker. I know that I will this time too but for some reason it is much harder. When I succeed I will not even take one hit no matter what!

    So today I will gear up. I will re listen to Allen Carrs Easy way to Quit smoking, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Allen-Carrs-Easy-Stop-Smoking/dp/0140277633

I will remind myself that I have everything to gain and nothing to lose! Smoking does nothing for me. As I roll up my sleeves for the fight against nicotine, I will think about you on my side rooting for me! That will help me the most.

    So even though I relapsed, I am still going to call tomorrow day 3 because it will be the 3rd day on my journey to freedom.

    Freedom...Ahhh! I cant wait!

    Thanks for reading,

    Suzy Levi

   

   

Join me being smoke free!

Smoke Free for Me Day 1

    Take a deep breath (Wow I can!) let it out slow... Ok I've done this before, Why is it so hard this time?  Last time I quit smoking I spent 6 months of joy. It was wonderful. This time I have learned my lesson, I will not take even ONE HIT! You see that is why I am in this predicament again. We had a big family tragedy and I absentmindedly took a hit. By the time I realized what I had done, it was too late.

    This time I am taking you with me on my journey. I thank you in advance for your support and comments. If you or anybody that you know is still a smoker and wants to quit, I invite you to share this blog with them. This is what it is for, So that we can all breath easy!

    It is with Gods help that I put out my last cigarette last night. I am now about to go running. I'll tell you how that went tomorrow. I already feel better but I must use my no panic training to be successful. I simply can not worry. Period. About anything. At all!

    So here is to the smokers, and the quitters, and those who know struggler's, We can do it!!!

    Thanks for reading,

    Suzy Levi

   

Why Worry?

    I got the aha moment when I was praying for a large sum of money. The bad news is that $50,000.00 did not drop out of the sky and land in my lap. The good news is that I got the breakthrough. You see I have been worried about my worrying. I did it way too much. I also found that there is always plenty to worry about. My specialty is money. All as I have to do is think of the bills and there goes my heart rate!

    I will go into further detail at a later date. Or maybe not since you probably don't want to worry about my problems too! Here is what I got from my prayer, I asked The Lord to help me stop worrying. Then I asked Him for money. I think that He did not give me the money yet is because he wants to take my worrying away, not my worries. If he makes me rich now (or independently wealthy) I won't learn how to stop worrying and trust Him.

    So I am going to practice making the choice to say no to worry and just trust. It will take some retraining but I already feel better.

    Lets all try it for a day.

    Thanks for reading,

    Suzy Levi