Dearest Pinkies, please welcome back the beloved Green Robeen, here with some more very simple-yet-impactful ways to get our Pink selves in authentic, energetic shape by jettisoning some of the chemicals we put in and on our bodies. Thanks Robeen for your wisdom, your inspiration, and the wonderful spirit that drives it all. Hit it, sister!

*****

So the alarm goes off and your day begins… You hop in the shower, slather on some great smelling shower gel, work shampoo and conditioner into your hair, wash your face, towel off, then moisturize your body and roll on some deodorant. Now for some face-time – maybe you splash on some toner, slap on some moisturizer, add sun block for safety, and last but not least you top it all off with your favorite two-minute makeup routine and you’re out the door.

But wait a minute.

During this daily process you’ve likely exposed yourself to hundreds of dangerous chemicals. Your skin is highly absorbent – as the largest organ in your body it takes everything in and gives it a lift into your bloodstream. Next stop is all your organs and cells. Those products you just put directly on your skin –they each have several dozen ingredients, many you can’t pronounce, and most of which you have no idea what they do. Sure, you know about the dangers of synthetic chemicals, but it’s all so confusing, so hard to keep track of everything, so hard to know all you need to know, and so time-consuming to scrutinize every single product. And what if the green option doesn’t really measure up? We all know what that’s like – no one needs another beauty crime in their daily life.

Help is on the way!

I’m here to provide you with some easy to follow advice, some very helpful resources, and some great ideas for greening your beauty routine. We are going to look at the baddies, the eco-fakes, my favorite resources, how to read labels, and how to make shopping stress-free.

The Ten Most NOT Wanted Ingredients:

Getting a little bit of knowledge will take you a long way. You gotta know who the enemy is and what you’re dealing with so you can navigate your way to better beauty purchases. Here is your list of the Ten Most Not Wanted:

1. Sodium Lauryl/laureth Sulfate is found in shampoos, body washes and toothpaste, and is a known skin irritant. This chemical is particularly nasty because it is absorbed through the skin and retained in the heart, liver and brain for long periods of time. It can cause damage to the eyes, even when absorbed through the skin. Exposure can lead to coughing, headaches, nausea and vomiting. Absolutely keep it away from children.
2. Parabens are used as preservatives in cosmetics, and are known to cause irritation in sensitive skin. They have also been found to cause heart tissue problems over an extended time period, and are suspected to influence breast cancer, as they mimic estrogen. Studies have found high levels of parabens in breast tumors.
3. Phthalates are often listed as DBP and DEP in nail polishes, deodorants, shampoos, hair gels, hand lotions, and more. Phthalate exposure in early childhood has been associated with altered hormone concentrations (affecting reproductive development), as well as allergies and eczema. Phthalates are often used as carriers for fragrance ingredients, and because the FDA allows fragrances to be classified as a “trade secret”, phthalates are often not listed on the ingredient label, showing instead as simply “Fragrance”.
4. Formaldehyde contaminates personal care products when preservatives release formaldehyde over time in the container. Common ingredients likely to contaminate products with formaldehyde include quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea and diazolidinyl urea. In a study conducted by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics on 28 children’s skin care products, 23 (82%) contained formaldehyde at levels between 54-610ppm. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen, can cause allergies and has been banned from cosmetics in both Sweden and Japan.
5. Lead is often found in lipstick and is a proven neurotoxin that has been linked to brain damage and miscarriages, as well as learning, language and behavioral problems. One third of the lipstick brands on the market exceed the FDA limit for lead in candy: 0.1 parts per million. Over the course of a lifetime, we swallow a fair amount of lipstick – nine pounds according to the Environment Working Group. In August 2009, the FDA’s own study found lead in all 20 lipsticks it tested. Recent science indicates there is no safe level of lead exposure.
6. Synthetic Colors, also known as FD&C colors, are mostly derived from coal tar. The FDA has banned many from food because they are carcinogenic and toxic, yet they still remain in cosmetics.
7. Synthetic Sunscreens contain chemicals that accumulate in body fats and in mother’s breast milk. These chemicals mimic estrogen and can cause hormonal changes within the body such as increasing the size of the uterus. These chemicals are found in big brand sunscreens and should absolutely be avoided, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. The chemicals to avoid are: 4-Methyl-Benzylidencamphor (4-MBC) , Oxybenzone, Benzophenone-3, Octyl-methoyl-cinnamates (OMC) , Octyl-Dimethyl-Para-Amino-Benzoic Acid (OD-PABA), and Homosalate(HMS) .
8. Mineral Oil & Petroleum Jelly (Petrolatum): Mineral oil is a petroleum by-product that coats the skin like plastic, clogging the pores. It interferes with skin’s ability to eliminate toxins, promoting acne and other disorders, and it slows down skin function and cell development, resulting in premature aging. Mineral oil and Petrolatum are used in many products – baby oil, cold creams, Vaseline, Aquaphor to name a few – and they can easily be contaminated with cancer causing PAH’s (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons). Manufacturers use petrolatum because it is unbelievably cheap.
9. Synthetic Fragrance chemicals are responsible for causing most adverse reactions to personal care products. These irritants and allergens cause rashes, coughing, sneezing, and dizziness. Numerous skin care products that claim to be fragrance free contain masking fragrances to become neutral in scent, and so still contain fragrances
10. 1,4-Dioxane is a suspected kidney toxin, neurotoxin, and respiratory toxin that I often present in bath products for kids as well as the leading “natural” and “organic” brands. 1,4-dioxane is a byproduct of a petrochemical process called ethyoxylation, which involves using ethylene oxide (a known breast carcinogen) to process other chemicals in order to make them less harsh. For example, sodium laurel sulfate – notoriously harsh on the skin – is often converted to the gentler chemical sodium laureth sulfate by processing it with ethylene oxide – and this can result in 1,4-dioxane contamination. More than 56 cosmetic ingredients are associated with the contaminant 1,4-dioxane.

If you want more, Teens Turning Green offers a great reference list called the Dirty Thirty. It’s a list of 30 chemical ingredients potentially linked to cancer. Many have been banned in Europe because of suspected toxicity. However, here is where things get really interesting – many big manufacturers reformulate without these chemicals for the European market, but continue to use these potentially dangerous chemicals here in the US because they can. The FDA has banned just nine chemicals from cosmetics compared to the European Union, which has banned more than 1,000.

Beware the Eco-Fakes

Say you go to the store and find a product that says Natural or Organic. Should be fine, right? Yep, if only it were that easy. Unlike the food industry, there are no legal standards for organic or natural personal care products sold in the United States. Behind the scenes are large corporate marketing budgets with slick packaging and realms of psychographic data that would make Freud cringe. If the toxins didn’t motivate you to do your homework, then this fact surely will: the largely unregulated cosmetics industry has publicly assessed only 11 percent of the 10,500 ingredients in personal care products.

Here is one of hundreds of possible examples that there is no truth in advertising for the big brands – Clairol Herbal Essences claimed until recently to offer an “organic experience.” However, there isn’t much about this product that is either herbal or organic; it contains more than a dozen synthetic petrochemicals and has a moderate toxicity rating in Skin Deep database (more on that later).

Interestingly, a lawsuit was filed against many personal care and beauty companies whose products have the word “organic” in their name, yet don’t have a single certified organic product in their formulation. These companies include: Hain Celestial Group’s Jasön Pure Natural and Organic and Avalon Organics, Kiss My Face Corp, Levlad LLC’s Nature’s Gate Organics, YSL Beauté Inc.’s Stella McCartney Care 100% Organic Active Ingredients and Physicians’ Formula Holdings’ Organic Wear. For a full list of organic “cheater” brands, go to http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/index.cfm.

Stress-free Shopping

But wait, I hear you say, how do I find products that are truly organic/natural AND work? We may switch household cleaners with little risk of nothing more than having to clean that mess again. But if our makeup doesn’t perform, it’s tragedy. We want and expect organic products to work as well as their toxic counterparts. So how do you find them? I’ve got a strategy for you:

1. Use the Skin Deep cosmetics database at www.cosmeticsdatabase.com to do your homework before you buy. This searchable database works by matching the ingredients in more than 25,000 personal care products with 50 toxicity and regulatory databases. Here you can research the products already in your home or find safer products before you hit the store.
2. Make sure a product you buy is certified through the USDA’s National Organic Program. To be certified, a product cannot contain petro-chemicals and must contain tat least 95 percent organic ingredients.
3. Find a legit green personal care website which carries a selection of brands. They evaluate every ingredient so you don’t have to. Just make sure their policies are legit! Many offer free samples, money-back guarantees and friendly, knowledgeable people to talk when you want to know what to buy and what will work for you. One I particularly like is Organic Beauty Now (organicbeautynow.com).
4. Ask a friend, fellow mom, your mom’s group, or me. We’ll tell you what we know, what we’ve tried, and what works. You can probably find someone who has done  the legwork for you and is more than happy to share what they know.
5. Baby steps – hey, I know you’re busy. tell yourself it’s OK to take it one step at a time! Pick a category like a new lipstick or new bubble bath, then do the research and find something that works. Once you’ve mastered it, move on to the next. Better yet, why not get a group of pals together and assign everyone a product area?

Your Mission, if You Choose to Accept it…

Go forth and be green and gorgeous. Go look at the labels on your Bubble Baths, Shampoos, Moisturizers, Facial Cleansers, Toothpastes, deodorants, and makeup! Show your body some love, and the environment too!

How are some of the ways you might start greening your routine today?

In support of your inner glow,
Robeen

"Rainbow Woman," artwork by Rita Lloyd, (c) 2004

As women, we are inundated with messages that we are not beautiful enough just the way we are.  We must pluck, dye, lose weight, wax, exfoliate, tone, manicure, highlight, paint, flatten, inject, and dress in haute couture to be “beautiful.” Well, I’m here to say, on behalf of women everywhere- bullshit.

Recently, someone said to me, “Beauty is health,” and I found myself cringing. After all, I know some supermodels who smoke crack, binge and then purge, and suffer from a weak heart. But they make it into the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition, and by most American standards, they are “beautiful”. When I heard this comment, I found myself flipping it around in my head. I’d argue that “Health is beauty.” When I see someone taking steps towards whole health, when I see a body being nurtured, a loving mind, and a bright, sparkly spirit, I see true beauty.

It may sound cliché, but I genuinely believe beauty comes from within.  So I’d like to write the kind of beauty article you’ll never see in Cosmo. Not that you shouldn’t put on eyeliner if it makes you feel pretty or get a pedicure when you feel like treating yourself, but I believe that if you follow these tips, you’ll positively radiate.

20 Inner Beauty Tips

1. Keep your heart open. See others with Magical Eyes and let love glow through you. Look beyond the masks people wear and see the beauty within them.
2. Begin each day with thoughts of gratitude. Appreciate every experience, even the challenges.
3. End each day by relaxing every muscle in your body. Start at your scalp and allow each hair follicle to breathe. Move to your forehead, your cheeks, your temples, your smile lines (call it natural Botox!). Relax your shoulders and watch then un-hunch. Relax your chest, your belly, your hands, your perineum, your hips, your knees, your ankles, your toes. Allow every part of your body to soften.
4. Eat a whole foods diet. For extra glow, include as many raw foods as possible.
5. Allow 10 minutes per day for stillness. Meditate, pray, breathe- just be quiet with yourself.
6. Affirm your inner beauty. Make positive statements of affirmation to yourself (i.e., “I approve of myself. I am valuable. I am loving and lovable. I am abundant.”) Say them. BELIEVE them.
7. Donate your time or money to helping the world. Being in service to those in need helps illuminate the bright shiny light within you.
8. Exercise at least 30 minutes each day. Even if it’s just a walk around the block, getting your juices pumping helps quiet the mind, tone the body, ground you, and nurture the spirit.
9. Release judgments and criticisms. Accept that all of us are doing the best we can, imperfect though our actions may be. Give us the benefit of the doubt as we strive to be the best we can.
10. Let your creativity flow. Find a way to express yourself and allow yourself time to tend the creative spark within you.
11. Smile often. Not only will it benefit your health, but it will touch others. Even better, laugh out loud. Try laughter yoga. One elderly lady wakes up each morning in her nursing home, laughs like mad, wiggles her arms and legs in bed, and screams, “I’m alive! I’m alive!” The nursing home attendants swear it’s her fountain of youth.
12. Have orgasms. Often. As regularly as possible. With or without a partner. Talk about inner beauty…
13. Be authentic. Tell the truth to yourself and others. Let your freak flag fly. Living outside of your own authenticity is never pretty.
14. Engage in work you love. Nothing like a job you despise to make you scowl.
15. Tend your spirit. Find spiritual community in a church, temple, mosque, or yoga class.  Commune with the Divine. Let your aura sparkle.
16. Be free. Dance. Sing at the top of your lungs. Run. Scream. Paint outside the lines. Yodel during sex. Scatter daisies around the boardroom. Pass out balloons. Give free hugs. Get unstuck and set your inner freak free.
17. Pamper your body. If it makes you feel beautiful to wear lip gloss, give yourself a facial, take a long hot bath with lavendar bath salts, get a massage, or deep condition your hair, go for it!  But do it for you- not for anyone else.
18. Avoid being mean. It’s a sure way to negate beauty.
19. Practice preventative health. Why wait until something goes wrong?
20. Look in the mirror every day and say, “I am beautiful, just the way I am.”

Try it Pinkies! And report back. What works for you? What other inner beauty tips do you have? Let’s shake up the beauty industry and show ‘em what true beauty is all about.

Beautifully yours,
Lissa

Hiya, Pinkies. Below is a piece inspired by WebMD, who interviewed me this week for an upcoming article “20 Things Every Owner Should Know About Their Vagina, which will be live online in about a month. In preparing for the interview, I decided to write my own list (very different than what you’ll see on WebMD, as you can imagine!) So, of course. I had to share with you Pinkies as well. As with my upcoming book, What’s Up Down There? Questions You’d Only Ask Your Gynecologist If She Was Your Best Friend (St. Martin’s Press, 2010), my intention with this piece is to open up dialogue, educate women, and encourage us all to know, love, and celebrate our bodies. Enjoy the info, and please, pass it on!

20 Things Every Woman Should Know About Her Vagina

1. While men do pee out of the penis, women do not pee out of the vagina. Know your anatomy. There are three holes and countless other sexy structures. Find your way around on the Pretty Pink Pussy Tour. Get a hand mirror and go to town.
2. The vagina doesn’t connect to your lung. If you lose something in there, don’t worry. Reach in all the way and pull it out. Do not- I repeat- do not, go hunting for whatever you’ve lost with a pair of plyers. If you think you put something in there and you can’t find it, chances are good that it’s simply not there.  Think of your vagina as being like a sock. If you lose a banana in a sock…it stays in the sock.
3. Yes, it’s true- your vagina can fall out. Not to belabor the sock metaphor, but it can turn inside out just like a worn out sweat sock and hang between your legs as you get older. But don’t fret- this condition- called pelvic prolapse- can be fixed.
4. There’s no such thing as being revirginized. Once you lose it, it’s gone. Just so you know.
5. You can catch sexually transmitted diseases even if you use a condom. Sorry to break it to you, but skin of the vulva can still touch infectious skin of the scrotum- and BAM! Warts. Herpes. Molluscum contagiosum. So pick your partners carefully.
6. The vagina is like a bicep. Use it or lose it. If you don’t have a partner, pick up a battery-operated boyfriend to help keep things healthy as you age. But don’t worry- it’s usually not an issue until after menopause, when fragile vaginal tissue can scar and shrink. If properly tended, your vagina will be able to pleasure you until the day you leave this life.
7. Every vulva is different and special. Some lips hang down. Some are tucked up neatly inside. All are beautiful. Don’t even think about labiaplasty or “vaginal rejuvenation surgery.” You’re perfect just the way you are.
8. Most women don’t have orgasms from intercourse alone. The clitoris is where the action is. Most women who do orgasm during sex have figured out how to hit with sweet spot, either from positioning or from directly stimulation of the clitoris with fingers.
9. If you’re hunting for your G Spot, be patient. Stimulating this area usually requires more time and deeper stimulation than most people think. Try using a finger in a “come hither” motion to stimulate the front wall of the vagina, where the G spot lives. If you can’t find it, don’t worry. You’re not alone. Many can’t- and it’s definitely not critical to having a a fulfilling romp in the hay.
10. How you choose to decorate is completely personal. Waxing, shaving, tattooing, piercing, or simply going au natural. It’s your choice, and don’t let anyone else pressure you into doing something that doesn’t resonate with you.
11. The vagina doesn’t need to be douched. As Eve Ensler says, ““My vagina doesn’t need to be cleaned up. It smells good already. Don’t try to decorate. Don’t believe him when he tells you it smells like rose petals when it’s supposed to smell like pussy. That’s what they’re doing – trying to clean it up, make it smell like bathroom spray or a garden. All those douche sprays – floral, berry, rain. I don’t want my pussy to smell like rain. All cleaned up like washing a fish after you cook it. I want to taste the fish. That’s why I ordered it.” Amen, sister.
12. The only cancer a Pap smear screens for is cervical cancer. It doesn’t check your ovaries, your uterus, or your colon.
13. How much vaginal discharge you make varies widely. Some normal, healthy women spew loads of discharge and need to wear panty liners every day. Others are bone dry. As long as you are not at risk of STD’s and you have no itching, burning, or odor, you’re probably just fine. If in doubt, see your gynecologist.
14. Menstrual blood is supposed to clot, so don’t freak out. Usually, what you think are clots are just pieces of uterine lining. As long as you’re not losing too much blood, small clots during your period need not concern you.  Clots are just nature’s way of keeping you from bleeding too much. Blood is supposed to clot. It’s when the clots are large or you start to hemorrhage that we start to worry.
15. Lots of vaginas need help lubing up during sex, especially as you get older. Don’t be afraid to slick on some lubricant like K-Y Jelly or Astroglide (coconut oil is a great natural lubricant, but don’t blame me if you find yourself hankering for a post-coital macaroon).
16. Vaginal farts (some call them “queefs” or “varts”) happen to almost all women at one time or another, especially during sex or other forms of exercise. Don’t be embarrassed. You’re perfectly normal.
17. Vaginas stretch out when you have babies vaginally. It’s natural but it can leave you feeling a bit loosey goosey. Kegel exercises (contracting the muscles of the vagina) really do help. To do them, practice stopping the stream of urine when you pee. There- that’s the muscle! Now contract and relax it 10 X for three or more sets several times per day.
18. Some women do ejaculate during orgasm, but you’re normal if you don’t. The controversial “female ejaculation” most likely represents 2 different phenomena. If it’s a small amount of milky fluid, it likely comes from the paraurethral glands inside the urethra. If it’s a cup, it’s probably pee. Many times, it may be a little bit of both. But don’t stress out about peeing on yourself. Put a towel under you and surrender to the experience.
19. Sex shouldn’t hurt, but it does for many women. If you’re one of those women, see your doctor. So many women are too embarrassed to say anything, so they suffer in silence. There are things we can do to help.
20. Safe sex (or even just orgasm alone) is good for you. Benefits include lowering your risk of heart disease and stroke,[i] reducing your risk of breast cancer,[ii] blostering your immune system,[iii] helping you sleep,[iv] making you appear more youthful,[v] improving your fitness,[vi] Regulating menstrual cycles, [vii][viii] relieving menstrual cramps,[ix] relieving chronic pain,[x][xi][xii] reducing the risk of depression,[xiii]lowering stress levels,[xiv][xv] and improving self esteem.[xvi] So go at it, girlfriends!

How much of this did you already know, Pinkies? How much of this is new to you? Has it changed the way you look at your girly parts? Let’s GIRL TALK!

Putting it all out there,
Dr. Lissa

[ii] Lê, M.G., et al. (1989).  “Characteristics of Reproductive Life and Risk of Breast Cancer in a Case-Control Study of Young Nulliparous Women.”  Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 42(12), 1227–1233.

[iii] Charnetski, Carl J. & Francis X. Brennan.  (2001).  Feeling Good Is Good For You: How Pleasure Can Boost Your Immune System and Lengthen Your Life.  Emmaus: Rodale Press, Inc.

[iv] Ellison, Carol Rinkleib.  (2000).  Women’s Sexualities.  Oakland: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

[v] Weeks, David & Jamie James.  (1998).  Secrets of the Superyoung.  New York: Berkley Books

[vi] Ellison, Carol Rinkleib.  (2000).  Women’s Sexualities.  Oakland: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

[vii] Cutler, Winnifred B.  (1991).  Love Cycles: The Science of Intimacy.  New York: Villard Books.

[viii] Burleson, Mary H., et al.  (1991).  “Heterosexual Activity and Cycle Length Variability: Effect of Gynecological Maturity.”  Physiology & Behavior, 50, 863–866.

[ix] Ellison, Carol Rinkleib.  (2000).  Women’s Sexualities.  Oakland: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

[x] Kaplan, Helen Singer.  (1984, October).  “Desire ? Why and How It Changes.” Redbook, 58.  As cited in Komisaruk & Whipple, 1995.

[xi] Shapiro, D.  (1983).  “Effect of Chronic Low Back Pain on Sexuality.”  Medical Aspects of Human Sexuality, 17, 241–245.  As cited in Komisaruk & Whipple, 1995.

[xii] Whipple, Beverly & Barry R. Komisaruk.  (1985).  “Elevation of Pain Threshold by Vaginal Stimulation in Women.”  Pain, 21, 357–367.

[xiii] Catania, Joseph A. & Charles B. White.  (1982).  “Sexuality in an Aged Sample: Cognitive Determinants of Masturbation.”  Archives of Sexual Behavior, 11(3), 237–245.

[xiv] Charnetski, Carl J. & Francis X. Brennan.  (2001).  Feeling Good Is Good For You: How Pleasure Can Boost Your Immune System and Lengthen Your Life.  Emmaus: Rodale Press, Inc.

[xv] Weeks, David J.  (2002).  “Sex for the Mature Adult: Health, Self-Esteem and Countering Ageist Stereotypes.”  Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 17(3), 231–240.

[xvi] Hurlbert, David Farley & Karen Elizabeth Whittaker.  (1991).  “The Role of Masturbation in Marital and Sexual Satisfaction: A Comparative Study of Female Masturbators and Nonmasturbators.”  Journal of Sex Education & Therapy, 17(4), 272–282.

Introducing The Owning Pink Center

So I took the leap of faith and submitted my resignation just before Christmas, without a clue what would happen next. More Pleaping (taking a Pink leap of faith!) Wheeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Once again, I found myself letting go, surrendering into what will be, trusting God, and being open to Signs from the Universe. Well, wouldn’t you know it, all the signs have aligned to allow me to bring Owning Pink into bricks and mortar in a beautiful space on 600 Miller Ave in Mill Valley, CA. The Owning Pink Center- where I will join forces with acupuncturists, a nutritionist, a psychologist, and Mojo Mentor Tricia Barrett, our Pink & Green cleanse expert- will be open soon, right down the street from where I have been practicing. It will give us a chance to bring Owning Pink into the real world, to ground what we’ve created in cyberspace and demonstrate how what we do can heal people. I’m VERY excited.

In the process of clarifying my thoughts and dreams, I have been doing a lot of writing about how I think health care can be best received by those in need of healing, and I decided to start with what I call the Pink Partnership Agreement, a contract between me and my patients. After I wrote it, I realized that this is very similar to what we do here at Owning PInk Central. We enter into sacred contract together- with the express purpose of healing ourselves and each other. So I wanted to share it with you here.

The Pink Partnership Agreement
As doctor and patient, you and I are entering into a partnership. As such, I feel it is important to clarify and agree upon what our relationship will entail.

Your Power to Heal
I am here to support you, guide you, offer you tools, and support your process, but I will not “fix” you – for I don’t believe you are broken.

I believe you already have within you the power to heal yourself. When we meet, I will hold up the mirror so you can see that you already have what it takes to optimize your wellness and live the most joyous, vibrant, fulfilling, sexy, healthy life possible.  You are here to be the force behind your own healing. If you are not ready to take this action step, I will be here to nurture and support you, but the process will be less powerful, with fewer results.

Respect for each other and the process

In order for our partnership to be successful, we must respect each other.  I will offer you a treatment plan, but I will also invite you to listen to the intuition of your body and your soul. I will respect your autonomy, and the choices for how we proceed will always be yours.
We will respect each other’s time. I will not make you wait for your appointment, and you will not be late.  We must be present, fully and completely, during our time together. This means we will both turn off cell phones, let go of distractions, and focus all of our energy on your wellness.  We have to be open and tell the truth, even if it is painful or uncomfortable.  We must trust that we are safe together, so we can explore things that may be tough to explore.  We must open our hearts to the loving kindness and compassion that is a necessary part of any healing relationship.

My pledge to you
I promise to respect you, guide you, and help you discover the healing power within you. In exchange, I ask that you follow through on any treatment plan we agree upon. If our treatment plan does not resonate with your body’s wisdom, or if you have financial constraints, please tell me so that we can modify our plan. Follow through is key. We must walk this path together in order to manifest the results I know we can achieve.

This is YOUR life. OWN IT.
Are you on board? If so, sign here. (Insert your signature here!)

The Owning Pink Wellness Center Mission Statement

We believe that the power to heal lies within all of us. Rather than “fixing” you, we aim to offer you tools that will empower you to attain optimal wellness, vitality, and joy. We believe health is the foundation upon which we build the other facets of what makes us whole- our creativity, relationships, career, spirituality, sexuality, and life purpose.  At Owning Pink, we hold up the mirror to reflect back to you what you already know but may not see- that you are beautiful, just the way you are, and that getting your mojo back is not only possible, it’s your birthright!

The Owning Pink Center Philosophy

The health care system in the United States may be broken, but we as individuals are whole, just as we are.  At Owning Pink, we aim to create an entirely new way to heal- one that works from the inside out. Unlike traditional medical practices, where you may be herded in and out in 7 1/2 minutes, handed a prescription for drugs you may not understand, and wind up feeling worse than when you walked in, we strive to let the healing begin the moment you walk in the door.  We value the opportunity to be present with you, to hold space for you, to listen, and to offer you our expertise as an equal partners in your wellness plan.  We believe you are more powerful than you know, that you hold the keys to living fully right in your own hand. Our job is to help you use the keys you already possess and supplement anything else you might need to achieve your health and wellness goals.

Too many people walk around in a daze, unaware that there is a better life out there, just longing to be lived.  When you lack energy, struggle to sleep, experience stress, feel depressed, dislike the way your body looks and feels, and suffer from symptoms and diseases, you may come to accept that this is simply life. We at Owning Pink believe there is more to life than just getting by. We believe you can get your mojo back- and have fun doing so. It’s what Owning Pink is all about- being brilliantly, gleefully, wholly healthy, inside and out.

As human beings, we may manifest symptoms and diseases, but underlying these external manifestations, our spirits know the answers to how we can live more vitally.  We ask our clients questions such as “What does your body need to get better?” And we honor and cherish the answers that come up. We value the wisdom of the body and the enduring strength and resilience of the human spirit. We value YOU.

The practitioners at the Owning Pink Center are skilled at helping you access these answers to help you reclaim the life you know you’re meant to live.  We call upon all of the tools in our collective tool boxes- using traditional Western medicine, natural and functional medicine, nutrition, bioidentical hormone balancing, acupuncture, Chinese medicine, therapy, raw foods/detox cleansing, and a variety of other alternative therapies to help you access what you need to achieve optimal health. Mostly, we practice love, with a little bit (okay, sometimes a lot) of medicine on the side. What does love have to do with medicine? Everything. Trust us on this.  When we approach our bodies with love, acceptance, and nurturing kindness, we pave the way for magic to unfold, the kind of magic we’re blessed to witness every day.

We invite you to step up to the Pink plate. Are you in? We can’t wait to bear witness to your transformation.

So here’s me, Pinkies- Pleaping! I’d LOVE your feedback! What resonates for you? What seems too woo woo or weird? How can we help patients understand what Owning Pink is all about in a medical practice? How are you Pleaping these days? What resistance keeps you from following your dreams?

Jumping off cliffs right and left,

Dr. Lissa

Lissa Rankin, MD

PS. Stay tuned for our new website, how to make appointments, and all the details that turn a dream into reality.

Dearest Pinkies, please welcome Stacey Curnow, a wonderful writer and beautiful spirit we found milling around the Pink Posse Blog. Stacey works as a certified nurse-midwife and life coach in North Carolina. Check out her work and her blog at www.midwifeforyourlife.com. Please give Stacey a warm welcome, and enjoy her wise words on the wisdom of the body.

****

I consider my body my most trusted advisor. I think it assimilates information from the Universe that I can’t understand fully at first. You see, I know the Universe wants my best life, but sometimes I don’t heed its advice – sometimes I’m convinced I don’t even hear it.

It’s like Oprah says: Life sends you messages – first it will put a pebble in your path, then a rock, and then a brick wall. If I don’t hear the plink of the pebble, the rock shows up – usually as a bodily symptom. I pay attention because I really want to avoid hitting that brick wall.

If I ignore my body’s messages, it’s capable of great drama. In fact, I’ve seen my body produce some Oscar-worthy performances.

I work as a nurse-midwife in a hospital. I consult with physicians when I am caring for a woman who is considered high-risk and occasionally I don’t agree with the physician’s plan for managing a particular case.

One night I told a doctor that I was disinclined to follow his plan and he responded by saying, “That’s why I’m here, to tell you what to do.” Those weren’t his exact words, but you get the point.

I knew the doctor’s plan was not going to cause harm and I didn’t want further conflict, so I followed his orders. Within a few hours I lost my voice. My throat hurt and I couldn’t speak above a whisper.

As soon as I got home I looked up laryngitis in my well-worn copy of Louise Hay’s You Can Heal Your Life. I believe the book provides clues to understanding the messages underlying an illness or imbalance in your body. If you decipher these messages and, more importantly, act on them by changing your thinking, you will improve your life.

For laryngitis she writes that the probable cause is “So mad you can’t speak. Fear of speaking up. Resentment of authority.” I was struck by the truth of this: I was mad. I had been afraid to speak up to the doctor. And I resented that he didn’t seem to value my expertise.

The new thought pattern she offers is “I am free to ask for what I want. It is safe to express myself. I am at peace.” I applied this new thought to my mind like a healing balm and got my voice back quickly after that.

The affirmation also helped me gain insight into the fact that I don’t need to compel the doctors to agree with me or even to see my side. All I can do is use my best judgment and present a plan of care. And trust that all is well.

For me, being at peace means that my worth is not predicated on others valuing me. I value me.

Since that epiphany I’ve had other differences of opinion with my physician colleagues but I haven’t had that sense that my value as a practitioner was diminished. And I’ve never lost my voice again.

Many of my coaching clients are women in their middle years and a common issue is insomnia. We all know that there are lots of suggestions for how to improve your sleep through better habits – like eliminating caffeine, increasing magnesium, exercise, routine bedtimes and getting acupuncture. All of these strategies address the hormonal changes that come with menopause.

But insomnia is often a way our body clues us into a deeper truth about ourselves. Christiane Northrup, M.D., in her excellent “The Wisdom of Menopause,” writes that insomnia and fatigue are frequently “the result of unprocessed and unresolved emotions such as anger, sadness, or anxiety,” which accompany the enormous changes of midlife.

She encourages her readers to identify the emotions that challenge them and look for their underlying meanings. Are you anxious about a daughter getting into her preferred college? Do you feel guilty about the things haven’t gotten done in a day? Do you feel resentful that everything seems to depend on you?

Louise Hay’s affirmation for insomnia is “I lovingly release the day and slip into peaceful sleep, knowing tomorrow will take care of itself.” When you have good sleep “hygiene,” when you address the probable causes — and when you release the negative emotions that occupy your waking life—you will, most likely, find yourself able to sleep like a baby.

You don’t need a copy of Louise Hay’s or Christiane Northrup’s books (although I highly recommend them!) because all you really need to know is that if you ignore the wisdom available to you, your body can create a painful drama.

On the other hand, the Universe wants you to know that you are worthy of love and respect and you can have a life filled with health, happiness, connection and joy – you just have to listen.

Do you think your body may be trying to tell you something right now?

Paying loving attention,

Stacey

Hello dear Pinkies, please welcome back Dr. Suzanne Bouffard, prolific pink goddess, here with some wise and fascinating thoughts on how we might alter our diets – and our mindsets – to better nurture the pink spark within.

****

I had to go all the way to Montreal to find the croissant – the one I’d been seeking since I returned from living in France ten years ago. And then, finally, there it was, on its own little white plate like the jewel it was. It tasted like butter, like the Alps, like pleasure. But it tasted like something else, too. It tasted like guilt.

I know well the versatile flavor of guilt. It seasons zucchini bread and cupcakes and French fries and bagels. It lends a subtle seasoning to foods that are new to me or that I consume in too-large quantities. It’s a recipe staple, like salt.

But in one essential respect, it isn’t. When you take the salt out of a recipe, you lose something. When you take the guilt out of it, you gain.

When Resolutions Don’t Work

For years, I’ve made and then reliably broken a string of resolutions to remove guilt from my diet.  Each resolution was tied to a milestone, each milestone to an event invested with the weight of how I see myself and how others see me. I’ll remove the guilt and all of it s flavor after this dance performance, after the wedding, after I get pregnant. The broken resolutions have now piled up high enough for me to see that a different strategy is needed, and the sooner the better, because I’m tired of the other flavors being eclipsed in some of my favorite foods.

Here’s what I’ve decided: I need other flavors with which to replace the guilt. I need to keep a tub of “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Guilt” in my fridge. And in my desk drawer at work, and in my purse, and…

What Might We Relish?

So here’s my challenge, to myself and to all you Pinkies: what other flavors can we find and relish in our food to replace the guilt, or the other sour flavors we might find there?

This is a trickier business than it might at first appear. Many of us experience feelings about food that we don’t realize are destructive. It’s too easy for us to find in our food love, acceptance, refuge, and other emotions that are positive but not helpful or appropriate when applied to food. So what flavors are the really good ones, the ones that are both appetizing and nourishing?

Here are a few that I’ve come up with recently:

• This homemade chocolate truffle tastes like a deep breath on a harried day.
• This glass of Rioja tastes like good fortune and the gratefulness that goes along with it.
• This Thai Basil Chicken tastes like laughter with good friends.
• This shared chocolate chip scone tastes like a moment of intimacy with my husband.
• This slice of Gouda tastes like a lingering long weekend, neither commonplace nor extraordinary, neither over nor under-appreciated.

What about you, Pinkies? What sweet or savory flavors can you find in your food, especially in foods that are often heavily seasoned with sour tastes and especially in foods that you only treat yourself to once in awhile? What kind of Pink Recipe Book can we create to nurture ourselves, share with our friends, and pass on to our kids?

Savoring life,

Suzanne

Hey Pinkies, please welcome Amanda Miller, LE, CNC, and Bona Fide Bliss Bunny. Amanda is owner and Holistic Esthetician of Ananda Skin Spa & Sanctuary in Fairfax, CA, where she provides loving Organic Goddess Facials for women, while incorporating holistic nutrition consultation, and energy healing in her treatments. We can’t imagine any Pinkie who knows better than she about how to live like a Goddess. Deep bows of thanks to you, Bliss Bunny!

Got Bliss?
Bliss is the Divine nectar of the human experience. As Goddesses, it is our birthright to experience as much bliss as our hearts desire.  Yet there is much programming that disregards bliss, telling us, “You don’t have the time!” or, “You don’t deserve it,” or, “You can’t afford it.”  My heart desires lots and lots of bliss. And so, it is my mission to experience as much bliss as humanly possible in this lifetime while inspiring other women to do the same.

Slow Down and Smell the Bliss

When I lived in Italy several years ago, I was always impressed by how long Italians took to prepare and enjoy meals, regardless of what their day held for them.  A “quick lunch” on a busy work day in Italy would include a home-cooked plate of pasta decorated with olives, fresh vegetables, and grated Parmiggiano and was inevitably accompanied by a glass of pretty darn good red wine. The meal would last for about an hour, complete with conversation and good company.  If the Italians can find their bliss in a pinch, so can we! On your lunch break, think of something you can do to give yourself a special treat. Think roll-out mini Italian red-checker table mat with a glass of sparkling Pellegrino. Whatever it is, know that no matter how busy we are, as goddesses, we deserve these little additions–these doses of bliss.  And that’s the bottom line.

Bustin’ the Bliss Busters
It’s funny to think about how programmed we are to focus on being ‘good girls’–getting proper schooling, working hard, and pleasing our friends, partners, and family; so much so that bliss can become an illusory accessory available to us only on occasion. We’re also taught to emphasize appearances–to look good, embody all that’s hot and sexy, and appear as if we’re in bliss, even when we’re having a rough day.

I’m part of a community of conscious dancers.  The dance is about consciously expressing, loving, and healing ourselves.  Despite these intentions, I often catch myself wandering away from the sacred experience of the dance, and find myself becoming the self-conscious little girl, or worse–the teenage queen desperate to look cool and get attention.  When I dance to please others, I’ve strayed from my bliss.  Plus, anyone who approves of the fake cool me is not honoring the real me, and this feels empty. Instead, when I dance and honor the authentic me, I express my true bliss, in whatever form it takes; and it feels deliciously satisfying, bold, and never boring. I hope my crazy writhing and wriggling bliss-fests inspire others around me to dance theirs, as this is always so much more interesting and inspiring to me than watching dancers simply trying to look cool.  

You might ask yourself these questions: on average, every day, how much time do you spend living in bliss, compared to how much time you pass thinking about looking good to others? What blocks you from having more true bliss?  How can you have a more authentically blissful life? Are there some small steps to incorporate into your life to make it more satisfying? I encourage you to write these answers down and play with your thoughts.

Bliss-firmations
It’s time to create a new paradigm that honors us as Goddesses living bliss!  The first ingredient to a decadently blissful life is to realize that you’re worth it.  That’s it. You’re worth the time, the energy, and the money (though bliss doesn’t have to be expensive).  Next time you’re in front of a mirror, look yourself in the eyes and do this repeat these simple affirmations…or post them on the wall to read throughout the week:

“I forgive and release the blocks that keep me in fear, confusion, shame, and worry.  I forgive myself for ever having deprived myself from the Divine blessings.  I am worth it, and I  wholeheartedly surrender to bliss.  I welcome the Universe to fully bless me with as much bliss as possible!”

“Bliss is my birthright.”

“My flavor is the best flavor for me. My dance is the right dance for me.”

“I surrender to this moment’s bliss. I can always let go and find peace.”

Or, make up your own bliss-firmations, and say them every time you look at gorgeous you.  Finding bliss doesn’t take time or space; it’s a state–it just takes some practice.  So you don’t have to be a stay-at-home mom to achieve it–we can tap into bliss in under two seconds!  Try it right now.  Think of something fun, funny, that makes your heart sing, or just try on a smile and feel the bliss come.  Remembering your favorite cute baby sometimes helps.  It also helps to look in your eye and forgive yourself, all others, and all energies that have ever blocked you from experiencing your bliss.  I forgive you Allan, for wanting me to be the perfect boring student!  I forgive you mom, for wanting me to wear the itchy sweater because it looked cute!

Yummy Goddess Bliss Plans
To create a Goddess Bliss Plan, all you have to do is set an objective: how and why are you going to generate abundant, decadent, ridiculous amounts of bliss in this lifetime?  Then, create a plan to manifest and maintain your bliss.  To do so, I suggest setting weekly, monthly, and annual bliss goals. For instance, this week I will take a hot tub daily, go for three excursions outside in nature, dance often, and give myself a neck massage nightly before bed.  Monthly, I will get my toes painted and call my amazing friend Lori in Omaha, NE, who always brings more bliss to my life. Annually, I will go to Bali, because it is the Bliss Goddess Capital! Write down your Goddess Bliss Plan, and share it here with the rest of us. I’d love to be inspired with more blissful options!

Bliss by the Bowlful  - A Recipe to Live for:
Raw organic cacao nibs, coconut butter, banana, frozen berries, soaked wildcrafted goji berries, pure water, organic vanilla extract.

Mix all ingredients in a powerful blender until creamy and smooth. Serve with a garnish that makes you feel goddessy.  It’s required! I like hibiscus flowers, mint leaves, raspberries, or a puff of whipped cream.  Add a hit of bliss, and sit back on the chez lounge for a few goddessy moments….ahh.  Enjoy!  Much bliss to you this month.

Bliss: our pure and perfect essence blended with Universal love coming from Spirit.

Blissfully (how else?),

Amanda

Join The Pink Community and Feel the Love!

Hiya Pinkies! How’s the second week of 2010 going for you? I just read something that inspired me to write about your favorite topic- SEX (yes, it’s true- the Pretty Pink Pussy Tour is still Owning Pink’s #1 most heavily trafficked post). CNN correspondent Elizabeth Cohen reported about Sadie Nardini and her husband, who resolved to have sex every day in December to help them fight his-and-hers vices: ciggies and chocolate. Lo and behold, guess what happened? Not only did they find their cravings curbed, but they felt better, slept better, and didn’t get the usual winter viruses that typically plague them.

Apparently, their experiment worked so well, they’re planning to continue it into January. My guess is that, in addition to the evident health benefits, Sadie and her husband find themselves more loving, more connected, and hell- more sexually satisfied!

It got me thinking (and feeling a little…uh…sparkly, if you know what I mean). What if, instead of wallowing in the Winter Blues that seem to be afflicting many of the people I know, those of us with ready and willing partners snuggle in front of the fireplace and resolve to whoop it up a bit? After all, sex is good for you. Just ask Dr. Beverly Whipple, a leading sex researcher who famously named the G Spot and just co-wrote The Orgasm Answer Guide. I interviewed Beverly when I was researching my upcoming book What’s Up Down There? Questions You’d Only Ask Your Gynecologist If She Was Your Best Friend. Here are some of the many health benefits to sex and orgasm.

Engaging in acts of sexual expression may:

1. Help you live longer.[i][ii][iii]
2. Lower your risk of heart disease and stroke if you have sex twice/week or more.[iv]
3. Reduce your risk of breast cancer.[v]
4. Bolster your immune system.[vi]
5. Help you sleep.[vii]
6. Make you appear more youthful.[viii]
7. Improve your fitness.[ix]
8. Help protect against endometriosis.[x]
9. Enhance fertility.[xi]
10. Regulate menstrual cycles. [xii][xiii]
11. Relieve menstrual cramps.[xiv]
12. Help carry a pregnancy to full term.[xv]
13. Relieve chronic pain.[xvi][xvii][xviii]
14. Help reduce migraine headache pain in some individuals.[xix]
15. Improve quality of life.[xx][xxi][xxii]
16. Reduce the risk of depression.[xxiii]
17. Lower stress levels.[xxiv][xxv]
18. Improve self esteem.[xxvi]
19. Improves intimacy with your partner.[xxvii]
20. Help you grow spiritually.[xxviii][xxix][xxx]

The evidence is mounting. Sex and orgasm aren’t just good – they’re good for you.

So go ahead and resolve to try something sexy for 2010. If you don’t have a partner, don’t worry. Orgasm benefits you, with or without a partner, so fly solo if need be.

What do you think, Pinkies? You all get shy when we start talking about sex, but speak up! Tell us what you think. Share your experiences, and let’s get this party started.

Hot and bothered,

Dr. Lissa

[ii] Palmore, E.  (1982).  “Predictors of the Longevity Difference: A Twenty-Five Year Follow-Up.”  The Gerontologist, 22, 513–518.

[iii]Persson, G.  (1981).  “Five-year Mortality in a 70-Year-Old Urban Population in Relation to Psychiatric Diagnosis, Personality, Sexuality and Early Parental Death.”  Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 64, 244–253.

[iv] Ebrahim, S., et al.  (2002).  “Sexual Intercourse and Risk of Ischaemic Stroke and Coronary Heart Disease: The Caerphilly Study.” Journal of Epidemiology Community Health, 56, 99–102.

[v] Lê, M.G., et al. (1989).  “Characteristics of Reproductive Life and Risk of Breast Cancer in a Case-Control Study of Young Nulliparous Women.”  Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 42(12), 1227–1233.

[vi] Charnetski, Carl J. & Francis X. Brennan.  (2001).  Feeling Good Is Good For You: How Pleasure Can Boost Your Immune System and Lengthen Your Life.  Emmaus: Rodale Press, Inc.

[vii] Ellison, Carol Rinkleib.  (2000).  Women’s Sexualities.  Oakland: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

[viii] Weeks, David & Jamie James.  (1998).  Secrets of the Superyoung.  New York: Berkley Books

[ix] Ellison, Carol Rinkleib.  (2000).  Women’s Sexualities.  Oakland: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

[x]Meaddough, Erika L., et al.  (2002).  “Sexual Activity, Orgasm and Tampon Use Are Associated with a Decreased Risk for Endometriosis.”  Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation, 53, 163–169.

[xi] Cutler, Winnifred B.  (1991).  Love Cycles: The Science of Intimacy.  New York: Villard Books.

[xii] Cutler, Winnifred B.  (1991).  Love Cycles: The Science of Intimacy.  New York: Villard Books.

[xiii] Burleson, Mary H., et al.  (1991).  “Heterosexual Activity and Cycle Length Variability: Effect of Gynecological Maturity.”  Physiology & Behavior, 50, 863–866.

[xiv] Ellison, Carol Rinkleib.  (2000).  Women’s Sexualities.  Oakland: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

[xv] Sayle, A.E., et al.  (2001).  “Sexual Activity During Late Pregnancy and Risk of Preterm Delivery.”  Obstetrics and Gynecology, 97(2), 283-289.

[xvi] Kaplan, Helen Singer.  (1984, October).  “Desire ? Why and How It Changes.” Redbook, 58.  As cited in Komisaruk & Whipple, 1995.

[xvii] Shapiro, D.  (1983).  “Effect of Chronic Low Back Pain on Sexuality.”  Medical Aspects of Human Sexuality, 17, 241–245.  As cited in Komisaruk & Whipple, 1995.

[xviii] Whipple, Beverly & Barry R. Komisaruk.  (1985).  “Elevation of Pain Threshold by Vaginal Stimulation in Women.”  Pain, 21, 357–367.

[xix] Evans, Randolph W. & James R. Couch.  (2001).  “Orgasm and Migraine.”  Headache, 41, 512–514.

[xx] Weeks, David J.  (2002).  “Sex for the Mature Adult: Health, Self-Esteem and Countering Ageist Stereotypes.”  Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 17(3), 231–240.

[xxi] Warner, Pamela & John Bancroft.  (1988).  “Mood, Sexuality, Oral Contraceptives and the Menstrual Cycle.”  Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 32(4/5), 417–427.

[xxii] Laumann, Edward O., et al.  (1994).  The Social Organization of Sexuality ? Sexual Practice in the United States.  Chicago: University of Chicago.

[xxiii] Catania, Joseph A. & Charles B. White.  (1982).  “Sexuality in an Aged Sample: Cognitive Determinants of Masturbation.”  Archives of Sexual Behavior, 11(3), 237–245.

[xxiv] Charnetski, Carl J. & Francis X. Brennan.  (2001).  Feeling Good Is Good For You: How Pleasure Can Boost Your Immune System and Lengthen Your Life.  Emmaus: Rodale Press, Inc.

[xxv] Weeks, David J.  (2002).  “Sex for the Mature Adult: Health, Self-Esteem and Countering Ageist Stereotypes.”  Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 17(3), 231–240.

[xxvi] Hurlbert, David Farley & Karen Elizabeth Whittaker.  (1991).  “The Role of Masturbation in Marital and Sexual Satisfaction: A Comparative Study of Female Masturbators and Nonmasturbators.”  Journal of Sex Education & Therapy, 17(4), 272–282.

[xxvii] Weeks, David J.  (2002).  “Sex for the Mature Adult: Health, Self-Esteem and Countering Ageist Stereotypes.”  Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 17(3), 231–240.

[xxviii] Gardella, Peter.  (1985).  Innocent Ecstasy: How Christianity Gave America an Ethic of Sexual Pleasure.  New York: Oxford University Press.

[xxix] Keesling, Barbara.  (2000).  Rx Sex: Making Love is the Best Medicine.  Alameda: Hunter House Inc., Publishers.

[xxx] Ogden, Gina.  (2001, August 14, accessed 2009, November).  “Spiritual Passion and Compassion in Late-Life Sexual Relationships.” [Online]. Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality.  http://www.ejhs.org/volume4/Ogden.htm.

Join The Pink Community and Feel the Love!

Hiya Pinkies,
Here’s a post I wrote this week for CollegeCandy.com. It’s a message I wanted to share with you Pinkies as we head into a new year of renewed love and acceptance, not only for each other, but for our beautiful, vital, PINK selves. Enjoy, and here’s to your health!

*****

So, it’s 2010! What do you hope to achieve this year? What intentions did you set?  Many of us resolve to change our health- to lose weight, to quit smoking, to eat healthy, to cut back on booze, to join a gym. We get motivated. We make positive steps forward after the indulgences of the holidays. And then- bam. A few weeks later, it’s all over and we feel crappier than ever. Now, not only are we eating junk food, failing to exercise, and engaging in addictive behaviors, we also feel like losers because we can’t follow through on our resolutions.

This year, I invite you to OWN your health. What does that mean? That means loving yourself exactly how you are, flaws, warts, addictions, and all. Until you can love yourself, you’ll never effect lasting positive change in your life.  If you have bad habits, own them! Love your body just the way it is. Accept yourself, even if your health is not optimal. Learn to live in your skin and be present with what is. It’s the only path to sustainable change.

Once you learn to love yourself as you are, you may find that you naturally want to nurture yourself. When you’re coming from a place of loving acceptance, you may no longer feel like grabbing for that bag of potato chips. You’re more likely to feed a body you cherish fresh, organic fruits and vegetables. When you love yourself- curves, lumps and all- you may find that you naturally morph into your ideal body weight.  When you feel comfortable in your skin, you’ll relish moving your body- doing yoga, going for a hike in nature, jogging on the beach.

From this place of self-love and acceptance, radical change can happen. And you don’t need to resolve anything. You will want to do it. Your body will know what it needs to be healthy. But in case you’re searching for some inspiration, here are some thoughts.

5 Tips For Owning & Improving Your Health in 2010

1. Buy a juicer and start making green juice. Do a detoxifying green-juice cleanse, or add green juice as a supplement to your diet. By nourishing your body, you allow it to heal whatever ails you. Even if you’re already very healthy, adding green juice to your body can change your life by improving energy, mood, immune function, and confidence.  You may even help your body fight cancer. Love your body enough to feed it well.
2. Get moving. Walk 20 minutes each day. If that feels good, rev it up. Love yourself enough to get your body moving. The health benefits are endless.
3. Be still. Most of us run around like chickens with our heads cut off, which leads to overwhelming levels of stress. Let your nervous system rest by spending some time in stillness. Try meditating, listening to guided imagery, sitting outside in nature, or taking a nap. Love your body enough to let it rest.
4. Take a multi-vitamin and talk to your doctor about preventative supplements that might benefit you, such as fish oil and calcium. Love your body enough to optimize your preventative medicine.
5. Listen to the wisdom of your body. Our bodies send us messages about what we can do to improve our health- and we tend to ignore what we don’t wish to hear. Love yourself enough to listen.

These are just some suggestions. But don’t let anyone else’s suggestions guide your path. Make a commitment to cherishing your beautiful, magnificent, sexy, healthy, radiant self. Then watch what happens. You may be surprised that 2010 is YOUR year- and all your dreams will come true.  I know you can do it. I see you- the completely lovable, gorgeous, sparkly PINK you- and I believe in you.

Wishing you health and peace in 2010,

Lissa

Join the Owning Pink Community and Feel The Love

Hi Pinkies! I’m not a big believer in telling people how to live. Even with my children, I always believed that you raise your children by leading with a good example. But sometimes we lose our mojo, fall off our path, and need a little help guiding our way back to health, happiness, and peace. So here are a few tips to live by in 2010:

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner
like a beggar.
3. Consciously buy food grown locally.
4. Live with the 3 E’s – Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Live in the moment.
6. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Be kind to our Earth. She will reward you with clean water, clean air and pure food.
7. Read more books than you did in 2009.
8. Sit in meditation or prayer for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep no less than 7 hours each night.
10. Exercise – move your body in walking, stretching or resistance movement for 30 minutes every day.
Your reward is a stronger body, more energy and a more alert mind.

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 about things you cannot control.
Instead invest your energy asking God or the Universe to help.
13. Make a new friend, you can never have too many.
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
mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Try love instead, it works.
20. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present. It is the journey that counts not the end result.
21. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.
Problems are a part of the curriculum that appear and fade- but unlike calculus,
the lessons you learn will last a lifetime..
22. Smile and laugh more, belly laugh-it will make you healthier.
23. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:
24. Call your family often.
25. Each day give something good to others. Be the bright spot in someone’s day, especially a stranger.
26. Forgive everyone for everything.
27. Spend time with children and the elderly. They will remind you how to live.
28. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your family and friends will.

Life:
31. Do the right thing!
32. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
33. GOD heals everything, either physically or spiritually and sometimes both.
34. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
35. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
36. The best is yet to come.
37. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for your life!
38. Burn no bridges- you may need one to cross the rough river of life!
39. Be kind to you, You are the best friend you will ever have.
40. Live in gratitude for all of the blessings in your life.

There you go, Pinkies. I’m sure there are more, but these are the guidelines I post on my wall to remind me how to live. I hope they will help you too!

Happy New Year! May all your dreams come true in 2010.
With lots of love,
Trish