This year I’m going to give you the secret that is the basic foundation to a new healthy, happy, You!

As you remember, the F in SELFISH stands for the food you fuel your body with. Clean, lean, organic, non-processed foods. That’s it!

If you can hunt it, catch it, pick it, or pluck it (I got that from Dr. Jonny Bowden), you are good to go. Just not processed. Nothing that needs to be processed to be able to eat, like pasta, bread, chips, pretzels, or anything made in a factory.

Now don’t get hung up on the small stuff. “What about potatoes, rice…?” Just remember the more that has to be done to the raw food, the less beneficial if is to your body. If you are eating a rainbow of colors at each meal, you won’t have to worry about whether you eat potatoes or not. If you can adopt the idea of straight from nature, cleaned, cut up, maybe cooked, then eaten, you will be getting the most nutritional bang for your buck. Period.

Yes, there are a few exceptions:

• Tomatoes, which are great for you raw, but when cooked with oil, the lycopene is more easily absorbed, so tomato sauce and tomato paste from cans, as long as they are organic, are still good for your body.
• Olives have to go through a process to be eatable and not bitter. This is obviously worth the processing because of all it’s omega-3 qualities.
• Beans are another food that can retain their nutritional benefits and still come from a can.
• Cheese is another food that goes through a process, but as long as it is a minimal, natural process, and eaten sparingly, it’s ok.  No processed cheese spreads, blocks, or whizzes! I mean it!
• Almond milk and soy milk are also processed but still good for you, so stick with the organic varieties.
• And of course there’s wine, which goes through a process to be drinkable, but what can I say… it’s the elixir of life!

So you get the idea. The less done to the natural state of food, the better it is for your body. You just have to get use embrace that mind set, and make it your default. Your question at each meal is “How processed is this food?” If the food is just seasoned, sauteed, sauce made from the pan drippings, a squeeze of citrus, and it’s on your plate, you are good to go. If it has been chemically processed to look a certain way, or taste a certain way, or came from a can or package, run… run like the wind!

It is a simple as that!

Cheers to your health and happiness!

Happy Living!

Christia

The Most Selfish Woman in America!

This year my goal is to give you nutritional and lifestyle information to enrich your daily life.

I want to open your eyes to easy, healthy foods that will make you think clearly, and feel fabulous.  I want you to have enough energy to accomplish your goals. To make your Dream Life a Reality! Because that’s what this is all about anyway, right?  Being the best you can be? Taking control and making your dreams come true?

Your physical well being has more power in your daily life than you realize.  It gives you physical energy, emotional balance, and a personal power that you can’t buy anywhere! It also gives you an inner peace that you can draw on in those stressful times that find us all.

And the fact that you will fit in your favorite clothes… please! You’ve got to love that! This is an area that you have probably been neglecting during your challenging battle with divorce. But all of that is over! Over I say!

This is the F portion of the word SELFISH, in The Most Selfish Woman in America. As you recall, each letter in the word SELFISH means something positive. F is for the foods you fuel your body with. It is all about clean, lean, natural foods. No more processed, chemical laden convenience foods. No drive thrus. No more frozen dinners, no matter what manufacturer makes them. And definitely no vending anything (except water)!

With a little planning, you can have everything you need without all the added toxins in processed foods. You just have to change your mindset. Believe it or not, it will actually save you money. It costs less to make your own than when you add up all the boxed, canned, frozen, foods plus the cost of eating out. Save the eating out for a special occasion.  Save the money for organic foods.

When you make your own food, you control what is in it. It’s that simple. And you can control your food budget by controlling what you buy. If you will only buy clean, lean, organic proteins, fruits and veggies, you will be taking control of your current and future health. You will begin repairing the damage your history of food intake has caused your body. And it’s not to late. Our cells replace themselves from every few hours, to every few years. The foods you give those cells to use now dictates what type of cells are created to replace the old. It’s never too late to make a difference.

Your New Year’s Declaration:

I will take control of my body!

I will take control of my health!

I will take control of my LIFE!

Until tomorrow, class dismissed.

Happy Living!

Christia

The Most Selfish Woman in America!

Welcome to our new page! Love it!!!!

New page, new day, new chance to create your Dream Life. New chance to live the life you were meant to live.

And if that weren’t enough, it’s about to be a New Year. I’m talking clean slate, start over, make it happen!

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to breath easy again. This last year has been from Hell. What’s that about? It’s been a reminder of “be careful who you marry.” Need I say more? I mean really, go away already! Get on with your life! (This is my current chant -over and over.) They’re like stink on your shoe… you can wash it off but the smell still lingers….

New year, new Me! I’m devoting 2010 to Me! The Year of Me! It’s got a ring to it, right?

• I’m going to put my book on the market, promote it, share it, live it!
• I’m going to do whatever it takes to get paid for what I love doing!
• I’m  never going to be financially dependent again!
• I’m going to seek out the pleasure in each day!
• I am going to let the people in my life know just how important they are to me!
• I’m going to live and love more than ever!

As you can see, I’m going to be busy. But I can’t think of a better way to live my life than with purpose.

And as we all know, It’s My Turn!

It’s Your Turn, Too! Join me, won’t you?

Happy Living, and Merry Ho! Ho!

Christia

The Most Selfish Woman in America!

This last year put me into a tail spin. I’ve had more change in that one year than ever before. Stop already!

I feel like I’m flapping parallel to the ground, holding on to a flimsy flag poll. I need to catch my breath.

What ever happened to moderation? You know, things in small, manageable pieces? I need another vacation!

Now is when I have to remind myself that “this too will pass.” My new mantra.

Now is when I need to be faithful with my affirmation, my positive reinforcing statements of gratefulness. My frame of mind seems to change for the better when I do my affirmations.

For example: “Thank you God for my health, thank you for my discipline, and thank you God for my courage, conviction and determination.”

Or: “Thank you God for my health, thank you for my discipline, and thank you God for my determination, success and happiness.”

The idea of affirmations is that the first statement is being thankful for something you have already accomplished. The second statement is being thankful for something you are currently working on. The third statement is being thankful for 3 things you want to accomplish.

Again, this needs some soul searching. Be honest with your choices. No one has to know. But the power of affirmations is documented, and well worth the exercise. The act of reinforcing your goals is a constant reminder of what you want to accomplish. It seeds the goals into your subconscious, where they are worked on behind the scenes. The more you open yourself up to accomplishment, the sooner it will happen.

Recite your affirmations in the morning before you get out of bed, sometime midday when you can focus on them, and at night before you go to sleep. These statements need to be the first thing on your mind in the morning, and the last thing on your mind at night.

Think of it, focus on it, and make it happen!

Happy Living!

Christia

The Most Selfish Woman in America!

When I think about living my passion, I think about how lucky I am to have another chance to do just that.  And how important it is not to let this opportunity be wasted.

It takes introspection to tap into what that passion looks like. It takes being true to yourself, and not worrying about what other people think you should do.

What I’ve discovered is that my passion is not conventional. It’s not the normal 9-5, working in a cubical job. But that’s also how I know I’m on the right track. I’m not a conventional, 9-5 person, by any stretch of the imagination.

Another way to know that I’m on the right track is that my passion reflects what I’ve been interested in, and have been doing in my life for years. My researching nutrition, supplements, exercise and attitude all this time was an indication that I have a true love for that knowledge. I’ve been sharing it with family and friends all along the way, with a passion I might add.

You may not have had the time to indulge in your passions in your old life. Good news flash: now you do!

Serious soul searching is required here. And don’t edit yourself, like I’ve said before. Think outside the box.

Ask yourself what would make you bound out of bed every morning? What would make you feel like you were contributing to the world?  What would make you glad to be alive?

Now keep a journal of your ideas. Find the common thread. Again, no editing.

How do you feel about that thread? Does it excite you? Give you that chill you’ve been missing? Bring a smile to your face? That is your goal.

Now that I can actually make my passion into a career and lifestyle, the possibilities are endless. And the reality of that is thrilling! But also a little overwhelming. That’s where courage, and a goal plan come in. More on that later.

There aren’t many second chances in life. And we are lucky when we get them. That’s why it is so important to make the most of the opportunity when it comes along.

It is your turn to make the decision on what you are going to do with the rest of your life.

It is time to live your Passion.

It’s time to live your Purpose.

It’s time to live ON PURPOSE.

Happy Living!

Christia

The Most Selfish Woman in America!

Ok, finally, here is the meaning of SELFISH, as in The Most Selfish Woman in America:

S – being selfish for a change, thinking of yourself first, not last anymore, because IT’S YOUR TURN! Dammit!

E - living an energetic lifestyle

L – laughing, enjoying life, and choosing a positive response to life

F – feeding your body with clean, lean, natural foods

I - intelligence – feeding your mind and soul through traveling, learning and loving

S – being the successful, powerful woman you were meant to be

H – being happy with yourself and the new life you’ve created.

That’s my definition of SELFISH.

It is truly being a dynamic, powerful woman who enjoys life to the fullest. It’s teaching others to do the same. It’s spreading the word that we can all be that vibrant force we were born to be.

Newly divorced women need to hear this message. They need to be reminded that they can rise up out of the darkness, and be the fabulous person they were meant to be.

Somehow we get lost in our “life.” We get lost in our job as mother, comforter, protector, nurturer, wife. Then, when that period of our life is over, we aren’t quite sure how we got “lost” in the first place. It happened so fast. With no warning. That’s all we know.

Well not any more! Things have changed. Quickly! So it’s time to regroup, and think of yourself first for a change.

It’s time to live my definition of SELFISH! And with no regrets! The term SELFISH is only offensive to those who don’t know what I’m talking about. And they aren’t a part of this conversation.

It is about pulling yourself up, and living the life you were always meant to live. To be the person God meant for you to be. To be a leader, not a victim.

And you can achieve all of this if you have the courage to trust yourself, and believe you can be the best woman you can be. It’s all in your control!

Happy Living!

Christia

The Most Selfish Woman in America!

Don’t you just hate it when you discover that you are human?

You go along being the strong one… deflecting the incoming… cleaning up the debris.

Then all of the sudden you are the emotional one. You, the one who never lets them see you cry… and yet now it just takes over without asking! What’s that about?

Now is when you have to put your hands up and say  ”Take it God!  I need your help!”

I’ve always prided myself on being bullet proof when it come to emotional control. But lately, I’m being humbled. The amount of change that has hit me all at once seems really BIG.

I’m sure this is a lesson that I needed to learn. But, damn, I hate it! It Hurts! And I don’t like “Hurts!” And I don’t like to cry. I look UGLY when I cry. I say again, UGLY!

I’m so tired of this sh**. I got a divorce trying to get away from any more of this sh**. And the reality is, you can’t escape it. As long as you have mutual children, you can’t escape. That is the hard, fast reality of marrying the wrong person. Even divorcing them isn’t good enough!

But you know what? I will no longer choose to participate in his chaos. It sucks the life out of me, and I have consciously made the decision not to live like that any more. Ever!

I don’t want to perpetuate that negative, ugly way of living. I will never participate again. That is my promise to myself.

Yes, I may be hurt again, but I will still choose to respond with a positive attitude. If I don’t, who will? If I don’t lead by example, again, who will?

The time to change is now! It is time to be a SELFISH WOMAN who chooses to respond to life in a positive way. To enjoy life to the fullest, no matter what. To put myself first!

You can’t do that if your panties are in a wad. Period!

Enough said.

Happy Living!

Christia

The Most Selfish Woman in America!

Is there some obstacle lingering in your path to accomplishing  your Dream Life? You know, something you can’t quite put your finger on… but it’s holding you back?

Could it be YOU? Could it be your lack of belief if YOURSELF?

It’s time for you to believe in yourself again.  Believe in your abilities to make your life happy again. Make your new career highly successful. Make your Dream Life a reality.

It takes tapping into your inner strength, and trusting your abilities. You have to be courageous. Too long have you let your courage and belief in yourself wain. You must get that back!

It’s your turn to be SELFISH. It’s your turn to get paid for your passion. It’s your turn to be as fabulous as you were meant to be! And the time is NOW!

Are you doing your visualizations faithfully? You know, visualizing your new life, what it looks like, what you look like in it, where you live, what you drive, the type of person your new partner will be…  For a refresher, read my “Secrets to Transforming Your Old Life into Your Dream Life” blog entry.

It is mandatory that you are visualizing the life you want to accomplish at least every morning and every night. The first thing you do before your feet hit the floor, and the last thing you do before you start sawing those logs.

The more detail you give to the vision, the sooner it will become a reality. And don’t edit yourself. Be as lavish in your vision as you want your life to be. You are only limited by your imagination and belief in yourself!

Reminder: You’ve cut out all the negative influences and people from your life, at least for now, right? If not, what are you waiting for? Nothing sucks out the courage and belief in yourself like hearing other people criticize or critique you. And who knows what baggage they’re carrying, or where their comments are coming from. All I know is you have to get away from all that negative nonsense, and focus on your inner strength, courage and conviction to make your Dream Life a reality. Period.

Happy Living!

Christia

The Most Selfish Woman in America!

Again, it’s time to be SELFISH.

It’s time to successfully make the changes needed to accomplish your Dream Life.

The keys to success are to see what you want, live what you want, and be what you want to be. It’s that powerful!

See it!

Live it!

Be it!

The forces in the universe will align and contribute to making your Dream Life come true. But you have to do your part, which is…repeat after me:

See it!

Live it!

Be it!

Visualize what your Dream Life looks like… what your job is, what house you live in, what car you drive, where you vacation. What your physique looks like, what your hair looks like. What type of man you have sitting in your 2-door convertible, top down, driving up HWY 101 in California, your scarf flapping in the breeze. I can see it!

The more detail you attach to the vision, the more real it will become.

The sooner you start living as if the dream is real, the sooner it will become real. It’s the “live as if” theory.

Live as if you already are that person in your Dream Life. If you believe it, they believe it! Attitude is the greatest asset you have. And it is all in your control.

Attitude is what separates success from failure. Once you achieve a certain level of competence, attitude takes over. Belief in yourself will take you to your goal.

If you want to be a glamourous version of yourself, live like it. If you want to be the vivacious, dynamic person in your vision, be it, live it, just do it!

It doesn’t matter what others say about the new you. You may hear “That’s not the real you!” from old “friends”, but the reality is this is the new you. To hell with them! No one will hold you back from achieving your Dream Life! Especially old “friends!” Remember, you’ve divorced yourself from that mind set. Don’t fall back into it.

Do not tolerate any more negativity in your life. It will only suck the determination out of you. And we can’t have that!

Eliminate as much negative input from your daily life as possible. I’m serious. Cut out the news if you have to. Stop reading the paper, or your stock portfolio. Stop exposing yourself to cynical, negative people. That means family, too. And none of that mindless, draining, numbing TV.

Now is when you need positive reinforcement, not life leaching negativity.

Surround yourself with what makes you happy. Fresh flowers, candles, music, color, laughter, happy people. Now it is more important than ever before to be see the beautiful, positive side of life. It will feed your soul, and give you the strength to make your Dream Life a reality.

Happy Living!

Christia

The Most Selfish Woman in America!

This is another time for you to be SELFISH.

When you exercise, it is all about YOU, no one else. No cell phones, no business, no diverting your focus.

If you must multi-task, do it in your breathing, your awareness and your enjoyment.

A few tips before you start:

1.  Get music on your i-Pod that has the same beat of the speed that you want to walk. That makes it easier to stay at a consistent pace without too much thought. Always have the volume low enough that you can hear what is going on around you. You are empowered and in control now, act like it!

2.  The better your breathing, the easier, and longer you can exercise. Breathe in through your nose, and out your mouth. Breathe in for the count of 5 and out for the count of 3. In through your nose for 5, and out through your mouth for 3. Even when you get winded, stay in control of your breathing. In 5, out 3. Controlled breathing will help keep you from panting, and help keep your heart rate at a safe level. If you can’t maintain this breathing pattern, slow down!

3.  Use a heart rate monitor. Just go buy one, and use it each time. The monitor will keep you informed of how efficiently you are working out. You want to stay within a “fat burning” zone.  The optimal zone will be between 130 to 145 beats per minute. The monitor tells you what your heart rate is, based on your physique . If you get higher than 145, slow down. If you are interval training, you can go as hard as you can for about a minute, then slow back down for 5 minutes until your heart rate gets back down to 130, then go again. As far as length of time, your goal is 45 minutes, 4 to 5 times a week.

4.  If the temperature is 85 degrees or hotter, take water with you. Don’t run the risk of getting overheated. It’s not worth it! Also be relentless with the sunscreen. From the base of the neck up, use at least 45 spf zinc oxide sunscreen. SkinCeuticals has a good one. And a hat or visor is a must.

If you will power walk, instead of run, you will get all of the cardio benefits without the wear and tear on your body. Hugely important.

Drink water! Drink water! Drink water! Stay hydrated.

When you are walking, make sure you know what is going on around you. Safety is the key! Take your dog, if you have one. Also choose a route that is aesthetically pleasing. A neighborhood with big houses, a local park with lots of trees and shade. Whatever you have access to, make sure you don’t get bored visually. This will increase your enjoyment.

Try to tighten your abdominal muscles while you walk. It will take awhile to do it automatically, but the more you tighten your stomach muscles, the firmer your torso will become. Also, bend your arms at the elbow and pump them with each step. You will burn more calories this way.

If your lower back starts hurting, it may be because your hamstrings need to be stretched out. After the first 5 to 10 minutes of your walk, stop and stretch your calf muscles by putting the ball of your feet on the top of a curb, and lower your heels down to the street level. It’s easier to do this leaning on a mail box or light poll. Give the stretch 1 to 2 minutes, and don’t bounce.

Then with your knees slightly bent, lean over to touch the ground. Let your body hold that position for at least a minute to stretch the hamstrings. Again, no bouncing. Then get back to the rest of your power walk.

At the end of your walk, give yourself the last 5 minutes to cool down. Slow down your pace, so that your body can naturally cool down without completely stopping.

Use this exercise time with yourself, for yourself. Do your affirmations, work out your current problems, reinforce your new attitude and approach to life. What you focus on expands. Use this time to focus on the NEW YOU.

With every step you take, you are reinforcing your new direction in Life. See it!  Live it!  Be it!

Happy Living!

Christia

The Most Selfish Woman in America!