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Health Advocate Wanted

5/30/2016

When choosing a health care program, we rely on what our company or our government gives us to choose from. I had three choices when I first began working for Hilton. Since I never had health insurance as an adult before, I went with Kaiser. It seemed easy for me.

My family has been very happy with Kaiser over the years. I chose my own doctors, I was able to see specialists without the double appointments, and I could talk or email my docs at any time of the day or night. I even have acupuncture and energy work covered there! My bereavement group at Kaiser has been so helpful to me on so many levels. I fully feel like I am part of a community.

When I want a health advocate to work for my needs, I still do not know who to turn to. I know what rights and questions to ask, but who will be my champion? After perusing this for a while, I figured out that I had to step out of my comfort zone and handle the concerns and questions myself. I had to become my own health advocate. Nobody else knows my specific and unique body and mind better than me.

I encourage you all to be authentic. Understand that you are the authority on your own symptoms and feelings in any medical condition. Try not to judge the nurse or doctor for not knowing about your every mood or move, experiments or feelings. Educate them by sharing your story. You don't always have a lot of time with each health practitioner, but you have a lot of time with YOU. Jot down notes as you go along so that when you do meet with your doctor you will be readily prepared to have a conversation that will yield the health progress and results you desire.

I want to hear from you!
Blessings,
KJ Landis

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In Pursuit of Balance

5/23/2016

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Many of you know me as a humorous and passionate wellness workshop facilitator. I bring food, drink, and knowledge to every class. You receive all of me, and more. When I attempt to teach you my nutrition understandings, it is not to give you a new diet, or cause pressure and stress in your lives. It is to assist you in asking the right questions of your personal health practitioner, based upon your medical condition, age, and goals. I believe we must start the conversation with a bit of knowledge under our belt. We all are in pursuit of balance in our lives.

My exposing you to a broad approach to your own wellness includes the physical, mindful, and spiritual paths. Just as we do not live entirely on our own in any society, we cannot figure all theses parts out on our own. We must read, research and experiment. We must employ a positive mental attitude, make smart choices, and surround ourselves with folks who won't sabotage us.

That may be harder to accomplish. When we fail at a goal repeatedly, the ones who are around us at work and at home expect us to fail again. Perhaps instead of announcing a goal, we can just quietly make steps toward the end. When folks see our persistence and commitment, they will definitely come around and ask for help in their own life goals. I tell you this because it has been my own experience.

So, if you want my personal help, I am here. If you want weekly encouragement, I am here. My blogs, videos, and meal ideas are all here on the website. My books and workbooks are here to assist you in becoming your most authentic self, your superior self. I am constantly pursuing balance in my life. I know most of us are. The way to achieve the balance is to learn how to say no, and then practicing politely declining a task. Commit to others what you can do easily, so that the work that takes a lot of effort, you spend the energy on yourself. Devote yourself to yourself. When you do, you will find yourself centered and balanced so that when you do pick up the pace, it is without regret. You will be in balance.

I want to hear from you. What do you do to pursue your own balance?
Blessings,
KJ Landis

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Exercise and Stress

5/16/2016

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If you are stressed out, you probably know it. Did you know that exercise is one of the easiest ways to deal with stress? Exercise helps your mind and body work together to reduce and remove stress.

Stress produces chemicals in the body that make us feel on edge and tense. The heart beats faster, the muscles tighten, and blood pressure can go up. The hormones can go out of balance, and we may partake in emotional eating or drinking. So, how can exercise help?

Exercise, especially mindful exercise like yoga, stretching, or getting out in nature releases feel-good hormones and can rebalance the body and its systems. We can even turn household chores into a workout by turning the music up and I gong and dancing as we clean. If you find competitive sports stressful, try other options that may be in a group, but where all participants are winners!

Making exercise a part of the daily routine keeps stress levels lower than if we didn't participate in physical movement. Even when I was 50 pounds overweight, I had low stress levels due to my marathon training out in nature, hiking, and teaching spinning classes with my favorite music.

Even a little exercise is better than none. Start today!
Blessings,
KJ Landis

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Anniversary of Sorrow

5/9/2016

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April 28 is the anniversary of my brother's passing. It is one year since a surprise illness made his lungs turn to stone and he could not inhale any longer.

Since he became ill, I dedicated my intense yoga practice to Danny. Every class is held in a room that is minimum 105 degrees farenheit. The breathing is six seconds in and six seconds out, for the 90 minute class. He is with me especially in standing bow pose. When I finish, I feel triumphant, as if it is my first class, and dammit, I made it!

I don't know how his wife gets through each day. I was fortunate enough to have a vacation with him for the first time in my life just a few months before he passed. He was robust and well. My daughter got to know him and his wife in a way she will remember because she was ten. He taught her how to fish at the beach. He pulled quarters out of her ear. He made us laugh until we cried.

I thank you all for allowing me to share my joys and my sorrows with you here on my blog. We all need someone and somewhere to express ourselves creatively.

Blessings,
KJ Landis

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Supplements

5/2/2016

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There's a lot of confusion about which supplements to take. Do we even need supplements? How many and in what combinations? How often? How do we measure the benefits we receive from adding supplements?

When I was younger I took every advice from the folks at GNC, and bought many things that I did not need or I peed out. As I got older, did my own research, and experimented with being mindful and present about what I put in my body, I learned which supplements actually created changes in me, and I learned where I was wasting my time and money.

Okay, so what suggestions do I have for you? First of all, try to get all your nutritional needs met with whole foods first. Then after a few months, do a complete blood workup with your doctor, examining all the vitamins, minerals, proteins, hormones, etc. Then you are on the way to knowing your strengths and weaknesses.

Second, purchase only pure supplements if needed, from a reputable company. I like PUREFORMULAS.COM for their rigorous research on products they sell from other manufacturers. Accept no binders or fillers. Make sure that you use capsule form, and the capsules are plant based. Less helpful binders are talc, chalk, and ground up bone. Stay away from soy binders or products, as they can make our body have too much estrogen.

Third, know that our body will absorb what it needs and eliminate the rest through our waste system. So, more does not always equal better. It may be a waste of money. Every human has changes in their body systems over time, so what you need now for optimum health may be different than what you need 6 months from now.

Fourth, give your body a rest from time to time. I take 7-10 days off from all supplements from time to time. I feel that my body absorbs the right amount better after the rest, and I feel its effects working more efficiently as well. This also gives you information about what you no longer respond to, especially if you are healed or not in lack of that mechanism.

I want to hear from you! What supplements do you take and for how long?
Blessings,
KJ Landis

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Health Advocate Wanted

In Pursuit of Balance

Exercise and Stress

Anniversary of Sorrow

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