Click here to Subscribe to Newsletters

A Balanced Perspective Weekly 
on Health and Wellness
October 18, 2006

1. What To Do About Cravings!
2. Would You Like Support, Motivation, Coaching?

3. Website Highlight Of The Week - An Exclusive Discount On an Acting Class
4. Cooking Classes

---

1. What To Do About Cravings!

Last week when I sent you the reprint of my article
on reducing and shortening cold symptoms, I was
actually sick.  But I want you to know I took my
"remedies" and I knocked it out in 3 days.  I started
to become ill on Tuesday night and by Friday night
I was dancing around my living room feeling great.

I wanted to take a moment and talk to you about
cravings.  We usually like cravings.  When we are
craving something we get excited and do almost
whatever we can to have that thing.  But we often
think of cravings as something bad because it is
uncontrollable or often gets us into trouble...
especially when we are craving sweets.

Important Messages

But I think cravings are very important.  Cravings
in every area of our life, whether it be for a
particular type of food, a hug, love, or intellectual
stimulation.  Cravings are a way that our body
speaks to us about our needs.  I would argue that
they are ALWAYS there for a reason.

Sometimes I believe that cravings are
representative of a true physiological need, and
sometimes we misinterpret an emotional craving as
a food craving.  For instance, if you always
remember being happy when you have had ice
cream...you may keep going back to ice cream to
get stimulation or soothing, when in actuality you
may need something else entirely...maybe a hug,
or perhaps you are holding back from something in
your life because you are afraid...so that has
resulted in you not getting the stimulation or
excitement from life you really want.

Does Your Body Need Vitamins? Minerals?

Sometimes our body's craving is physiological.
Maybe you are craving spaghetti because your
body needs a certain vitamin that's in tomato
sauce.  Maybe you're craving sweet because you
have had too much salt and need balance.  It's
easy to imagine this when you are craving a fruit
vegetable, but every craving is your body's way of
asking for something.

I used to crave ketchup all the time.  Then I
started adding tomatoes to my eggs in the
morning or to veggie stir fries, and my ketchup
cravings went away. 

This Week's Challenge

Your challenge this week is to re-interpret your
cravings.  If it's sweet, try adding more sweet
vegetables to your diet and see what happens
(or water, sometimes we crave sweet because we
need water).  If you are craving ketchup, try
having more tomatoes, or a good tomato sauce
w/ no added sugar.  If it's really fun you are
looking for, try to call up some friends and go
bowling (or whatever your thing is). 

Try to break your craving down into ingredients
(or emotional ingredients if you suspect that is
the case) and see what it is you think your body
is asking for.

Last but not least...sometimes it certainly can be
just the simple joy of having a certain type of
food.

Have a great weekend, and come cook in my
kitchen with me this winter!

Melissa

---
2. Would You Like Support, Motivation, Coaching?

Not Doing What You Came Here To Do?

Do you feel like you came to NYC to do something
specific, something creative, but somehow you've
gotten off the path?  You're not doing what you
set out to do, but you would like to be?

Don't Know What You Want To Do?

Are you a little confused about what you want?

Just Need Some Guidance?

Are you new to the city, pusuing a dream, but
could use some guidance, and direction to navigate
the ins and outs of making the dream work?

Want Your Health Goals To Work?

What about health?  Do you feel like if you just had
support, the right kind of motivation, and guidance,
you could achieve your goals?

These are all important concerns.  I have helped a
lot of people with all or even just one of the issues
above.  I would love to work with you if this is
what's on your mind.

Give me a call to see if coaching will help you
take the guided, proactive steps you need to get
on track!

melissa@myheartdances.com  917-689-6530

---

"I am constantly finding myself being amazed with
Melissa.  She is non-judgmental, supportive, caring,
encouraging, compassionate, open minded, and full of
knowledge.  So many times she has been my support
rock.  I have had the most pleasurable experience of
working with her as both her client, and as her web
designer.  She has supported me in some emotionally
difficult times such as stress when I was in school,
relationships, diet, finances, and business.  She has
always listened intently and has provided me with
sound advice.  I am unable to think of suitable words
to express the thanks and deep appreciation I have for
her and how she impacted my life."