Sleep: Waking Up the Power of Your Inner Healer

As a result of my own healing experience this past week, I am once again in awe of the nature’s incredible healing wisdom.

The healing ability of your body is nothing short of miraculous and at this time of year, when our attention here in the U.S. is turning towards our Thanksgiving holiday, one of the top things of your “things to be thankful for” list is your body’s innate healing capabilities.

I truly believe that your body can overcome almost any health challenge when you remove the obstacles from its path and provide the things its missing.  And I don’t mean symptom removal.  Every symptom is a message from your body saying “something is out of balance.”  Yet, we so want to turn off the symptoms and return to comfort that we sometimes forget to ask what the message is.

Sometimes the thing that’s out of balance is not tangible.  You don’t need to remove a toxin, or take an herb or homeopathic remedy, or try a new therapy when what your body is asking for is a shift in an attitude or a belief.

No matter how good your diet is or how impeccable your exercise program is, if you’re angry, judgmental, or fearful; not taking periodic de-stress breaks; and not sleeping enough; your body’s innate healing capabilities cannot perform at peak potential.

And guess what?

You’ll experience uncomfortable or downright painful symptoms, your excess weight will stay locked in place, your brain will operate at less than par, and you, my friend, will find yourself living a life devoid of passion, purpose, and prosperity.

My Personal Lesson about the Importance of Balance

I’ve been eating a pristine diet, especially lately during my B4 Be Gone program, during which I have been following a low-glycemic diet, similar to Dr. Gabriel Cousen’s Phase 1 diet he uses in his reversing diabetes and “turn off the composting” programs.

I’ve been exercising regularly, including aerobics, bursts, and strength and conditioning training.

I’ve been practicing my HeartMath™ activities regularly and feel like very little gets me upset anymore.  So I felt “entitled” to have one little vice.  “One place where I bend the rules won’t hurt,” I told myself, as my bedtime continued to creep forward from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. to 4 a.m. and quite a number of times over the past several months to as late/early as 5, 6, or 7 a.m.  I had the energy to stay up and get lots done in the quiet hours, so why not?

My first wake-up call came when I tested my glucose as part of my B4 Be Gone class and found that a bowl of pineapple shot my glucose up by 100 points into diabetic range!  That’s scary, since there’s a family history of diabetes and heart disease, and I know the damage that high levels of insulin cause to blood vessels.

So, being a good student, I tested other fruits, determined all the foods that caused high glucose readings and eliminated them, keeping my blood sugars in the healthy range of 75 – 110.  This will go a long way to healing my blood vessels, but what about the root cause of the fruit spike?

The Risks of Rationalizing Your Choices

Several studies report that even one night of poor sleep can induce insulin resistance in healthy subjects.

Wow.  I’ve accumulated hundreds of nights of sleep deprivation.  So in spite of not having the “outward” signs, I actually do have insulin resistance.  The reason for the lack of outward signs is my diet and exercise.

My own story is a clear example of how diet, exercise, and stress management may not be enough.

Sleep is vital.

Did I learn my lesson and immediately start sleeping 8 hours a night to heal?

NO.

Why not?

Addiction.

Addiction is behind many poor choices when it comes to health. My addiction used to be to food, caffeine, and alcohol.  Now it’s to achievement.  I have so many goals, dreams, and messages to share, I get caught up in the joy of creating and I forget to take time to sleep.

My initial answer to my sleep issue was to get even better about my diet (which was already pretty darn good to begin with).  It was easier to give up fruit than give up awake time.  But recently, the powers that be deep in the abyss of my inner workings stood up and revolted.

Shut Down or Break Down

“NO!” cried my body.  “No More.  You must rest.  We can’t continue to keep you healthy, vibrant, and strong unless you REST.”

Last Sunday, a strange sensation took over.  It started as a disturbance in my tummy.  Then it moved to overall mental exhaustion.  Next chills took me over, and I felt physically exhausted.  I needed to lie down (it was late afternoon/early evening by then).

I felt feverish and achy all over, the most prominent pain manifesting as a headache.

I had no choice but to retreat to bed.

I woke up the next morning feeling worse.  My fever had climbed to 102.  I spent the next 3 days in bed, alternating between sleeping, talking on the phone, and returning a few e-mails on my iPad, but mostly just sleeping.

Sometime Wednesday night the fever broke and I awoke on Thursday feeling almost back to my normal self.

I resisted the temptation to scurry back to my desk and start working at my normal pace.  I had a day full of calls and a presentation to write, and I did it all from my bed.  Which meant I could take periodic “lie down”  breaks, especially on calls.

I was on, focused and articulate, and I was taking care of myself.

New brain imprints were made.

Lesson learned.

As I write to you today, I am still in bed, my computer perched on a portable computer stand, my smoothie and other beverages at hand, ready to rest whenever I need to.

So, I ask you, what can you do to please your inner healer?

What attitude can you shift, belief can you let go of, or food or beverage can you stop consuming?

What movement, self-care practice, or fun activity can you do to activate your healer?

And I request, respectfully, that you avoid saying, “But I can’t.  I have a special situation,” then start talking about the kids, the dogs, your work, the trash, the dishes, or any of the hundreds of excuses I hear all the time for lack of self-care.

I have kids.

I have a dog.

I have a kitchen and dishes just like you.

And my garden is feeling neglected.

And there’s a big pile of stuff on my counter that could use a going through.

Plus I have hundreds of people actively in programs that I’m providing inspiration and materials to regularly.

And a business that relies on ME.

And if I get sick, then what?

Your Health is Your Most Precious Commodity

It’s time to learn to drop the limiting beliefs and learn the habits and self-care rituals that will make you more available to the kids, the dog, the aging parents, the demanding spouse…

You.

Here.

Now.

Tune in.

Decide.

Take action!

What’s stopping you?

Think about it and post below.

I love you.

I want you happy, healthy, and whole.

I want you on fire with living your life with passion, purpose, and prosperity.

Go ahead.  Think about what you believe are the biggest obstacles and post below:

Dr. Ritamarie’s Gratitude Journal Day 5

I’ve started an Appreciation Journal, and I plan to continue to share my appreciations every day for 30 days.

If you’re looking to experience more energy, health and joy, join me on this appreciation journey and watch magical things unfold.

Comment below with 3 things you appreciate today.

Dr. Ritamarie’s Appreciations for Today – Day 5

1. I appreciate Scott, my dear husband, for all that he does to keep the boys fed.  He’s busy in the kitchen making creamy nut “cheese”  and vegetables so they have food ready when they get home from school.
2. I am grateful for a full night’s sleep last night.  I was in bed from 10:30 p.m. until almost 8 a.m.
3. I appreciate the cuddles and hugs from my 13 year old, Kevin.

With Great Love and Appreciation,

Dr. Ritamarie

Go ahead, give yourself an energy boost. Comment below about what you appreciate today.

Dr. Ritamarie’s Gratitude Journal Day 4

I’ve started an Appreciation Journal, and I plan to continue to share my appreciations every day for 30 days.

If you’re looking to experience more energy, health and joy, join me on this appreciation journey and watch magical things unfold.

Comment below with 3 things you appreciate today.

Dr. Ritamarie’s Appreciations for Today – Day 4

1. I am grateful for Stacey who allows me to do so much more than I could. She’s reliable, competent, and keeps me realistic!
2. I am grateful for Jimmy who keeps the website running and is so tolerant of my speed and desire for instant gratification (I am the opposite of a procrastinator most of the time!!!)
3. I am grateful for my body for being resilient and allowing me to have loads of energy even when I don’t sleep enough (and I am so appreciative that I am planning a surprise for it… 3 days of long nights of sleep as soon as B4 Be Gone materials are all caught up!)

With Great Love and Appreciation,

Dr. Ritamarie

Go ahead, give yourself an energy boost. Comment below about what you appreciate today.

How a Lack of Sufficient Sleep Makes You Fat

The subject is SLEEP:  how lack of sufficient sleep disrupts your hormones, your immune system, and your ability to think clearly. The average person in our modern world gets between 5 and 6 hours of sleep each night.  And that’s just not enough.

Ever wonder why you can’t diet or exercise your weight down to where you’d like it? Or, have you ever thought about why you have a spare tire around your midline, even though the scale says you’re not overweight?

Resistant weight loss and belly fat are intimately related to your hormones, and your hormone balance can be severely disrupted by chronic sleep disruption.

Did you know that your sleep habits are just as important as what you put on your fork when it comes to releasing weight? (especially the extra padding around your middle!) Research shows that shift workers are, on average, heavier than those who work day jobs! And it has to do with disruption to the hormone dance that happens while you sleep.

The hormones affected by sleep control your appetite, the growth of lean muscle and your fat, and carbohydrate metabolism.

How Insufficient Sleep Affects Your Weight:

1. Decreased serotonin and dopamine production, which leads to cravings for sugary foods to bring the levels back up.
2. Increased ghrelin (a hormone that makes you feel hungry even if your body has enough food) and decreased leptin (makes you feel full and satisfied after eating) – the result means sugar cravings and continued hunger even after you’ve eaten a full meal.
3. Decreased growth hormone, leading to decreased ability to burn fat and lay down lean muscle.
4. Increased cortisol, “the stress hormone” which triggers the breakdown of muscle stores, increased blood sugar, and increased insulin. This leads to the deposition of fat, mainly around your waist.

Module 3 of my new program, B4 Be Gone, is called The Hormone Dance. In it, I outline the exact steps to take to determine how much sleep you need and what to do to get your hormones in balance so you burn rather than store fat at night.

Sleep Your Way Slim

My video, The NOT-So-Sexy Hormone Imbalances That Keep You Flabby, Foggy and Fatigued goes into a lot more detail more about the hormone imbalances and offers you a couple of steps to take right away to turn your bed into a super charged fat burning monster. On that video, I bust the myth of eating small frequent meals, which plays havoc on your hormone balance.

It’s not just important for your appearance that you get a good night’s sleep. These same hormone imbalances can have long term, dangerous consequences on your heart, increase inflammation and pain put you at a higher risk for cancer.

The loss of my parents, then my sister, a couple of friends and cousins, and most recently my brother-in-law and father-in-law has made me fiercely determined to stop the madness. I know their deaths could have been prevented had they just known what to do and had a guide to take them through every step of the way.

Turning Loss into Life

I created the B4 Be Gone Program to offer just that step by step guidance that so many need. Within 30 days, most people have lost their cravings and reset much of the faulty metabolism by bringing into balance five key elements: diet, stress, exercise, sleep and TIMING.

All the sleep research has me really taking a look at my own choices. I push the envelope with sleep because I feel fine even when I don’t sleep. But that’s on the outside. I know enough to realize that what’s going on inside as a result of my lack of sleep could come back and bite me in the you-know-what. Indeed, I have noticed that I’ve been extra hungry during the day these past few sleep-deprived weeks.

I am looking forward to doing the 30-day metabolic reset with the group and committing to getting enough sleep.

It’s All About Balance.

Balance is the key. It’s not enough to just drink green smoothies or just exercise daily or just get lots of sleep. The balance among stress, sleep, exercise and diet are key.

And on top of that, Timing is EVERYTHING.

You can do all the right things, but if it’s out of sync with your bio-rhythms, your belly will stay flabby — no matter how many sit-ups you do or green drinks you drink.

If you’re feeling flabby and frustrated, my advice to you is to sleep on it and then join us in the next B4 Be Gone Journey.

Fatigue and Burnout: Strategies for Adrenal Exhaustion and Just Plain Tiredness

Are you suffering from adrenal burnout and fatigue? Low thyroid function? Chronic fatigue or Fibromyalgia?

Do you have as much energy as you’d like to have?

What would you do if you had more energy? Think about what it would be like  to pop out of bed in the morning, bright, cheery and ready for the day.

As you go through your day, you feel energized by your food, your conversations, your work and your activities. When asked by a friend or family member to participate in a fun evening activity , you always say yes,
without fear of losing steam at the end of the day, and being too tired to to do much more than flop on the couch.

You participate in activities you love, eat healthy meals, exercise and are fully present for your relationships. You never hear yourself utter the words, “I’m too tired.”  Instead you say, “I feel so energized.”

Sound like a romantic fiction novel? This life is possible for you.

Fatigue, exhaustion, tiredness, weariness, low energy…whatever you choose to call it, it’s a real problem and it happens to real people like you. There are many causes. Some are obvious, others not so obvious. When I asked  at one of my workshops for a show of hands of people who felt that were fatigued, or had low energy, all but 1 or 2 people raised their hands.

Then I proceeded to give one of my favorite definitions of fatigue. The definition goes something like this:

The decreased capacity or complete inability of an organism, an organ, or a part to function normally because of excessive stimulation or prolonged exertion.

I talked about how you may feel like you have plenty of energy (caffeine and other stimulants can give you that illusion), yes parts of you are operating sub par. Maybe your neurotransmitters are sluggish and you have difficulties with focus, or your digestion and you’re constipated, or your hormones, and you have menstrual irregularities.

It takes all of your parts working in harmony to achieve vibrant energy.

At the end of the presentation, one of the women who’d not considered herself fatigued, thanked me and said that she didn’t associate the sluggishness in her digestive tract with fatigue. She just figured it was “normal” for her. My talk inspired her to look at ways she could energize her digestion and thus improve her overall experience of vibrant health and high energy.

There are many causes of fatigue. Here are five:

1. Underfed and toxic mitochondria
2. Hormone imbalances – especially thyroid, adrenal, insulin and leptin
3. Digestive Inefficiencies
4. Autoimmune Processes
5. Serious diseases, like cancer, heart disease and diabetes

I’ll be exploring the topic of fatigue and its underlying causes and strategies for identifying and removing them on my Creating a Vibrant Life Blog Talk Radio Show on Wednesday, March 24 at 12:30 PM central time.

We’ll demystify adrenal fatigue, and distinguish it from thyroid fatigue. We’ll share strategies, stories and inspiration, to help move you from exhausted to energized.

Submit your questions for me pertaining to fatigue and regaining energy in the comment box below so we can address your concerns on the show.

The shows are all recorded and you can access the recording and download to iTunes by going back to the show link afterward. There are archives of past shows there as well.

http://www.drritamarie.com/go/RadioShow

And watch for my article called Running on Empty in the spring edition of Purely Delicious Magazine, due out in April.

http://www.drritamarie.com/go/PurelyDelicious

I look forward to connecting with you soon.

Love, Health and Joy to You,

Dr. Ritamarie

P.S.  Comment below:  What are you committing to for your health?  Today is day 22 of the 30 Day Sleep and Fun Challenge.  I am happy to report that I have gotten more than 6 hours of sleep for 3 days straight.  Over the weekend, I actually managed to get 9 hours!  And my exercise is consistent again – almost everyday!

How about you?  Commit below and make it happen.