We are ONE

This was the name of the concert that HBO pulled together for the inauguration last week. What a show! I found it moving on so many levels. I spend a lot of time in my head but found that this past week, I was in my body feeling inspired and overwhelmed with emotion. I am so proud of our country (even the people who didn’t vote for Barack Obama allowed a peaceful transition which doesn’t happen in many parts of the world) .

I think the reason Obama is such a phenomenon is because he reminds us of our greatness, the wholeness in all of us. Believe it or not, many of us are afraid of our power. And for the past eight years, our country has been operating out of fear versus the hope, ambition and optimism that founded this country and the democracy concept in the first place. But we learned that playing small doesn’t work very well. Let’s move on – and fast!

It’s clearly time to step into our individual power and call upon our strengths. It’s a great way to be a Patriot! In Obama’s inauguration speech, he clearly explained that it’s not just about him – it’s about us too. And we have a lot of work to do.

So I ask you, where are you playing small in your life? Where can you make better choices so you feel whole, confident and ready to change your part of the world?

To get started, I suggest looking at what we in health counseling call your primary foods. Primary foods are what feeds your soul: Career, relationships, spirituality and physical activity. These are equally important as what you feed your body. When these things are balanced in your life, you feel that oneness, that wholeness that we crave more than chocolate.

So just start with ONE change. Maybe it is your diet. That will definitely aid in your confidence, energy and mental clarity. Or maybe it’s being a better friend or trying that yoga class you always thought about.

I know for me, once I got my nutrition right, I gained the energy and chutzpah to jump off the corporate ship and hang out my own shingle doing something I passionately believe in. I’ve never felt more alive in my life. I never knew such small changes would add up so big.

So whatever changes sounds exciting to you, go for it. And instead of thinking “What do I have to lose?” think “What do I have to gain?”. It will be a new era for you and our country.

And if you need some inspiration, check out U2 at the ONE concert:

November 2008 Newsletter: Health Bail-Out Plan

It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day…

The Phillies won the World Series and the city of Philadelphia is experiencing its first sports championship in more than 25 years. The energy here is exhilarating. It never ceases to amaze me how a sports championship can bring a city together!

I wish everyone had the same fervor for something unifying in politics, especially with such a crucial election on Tuesday. Oh, but wait, we do. Food! Yes, a solid food agenda is something that both sides of the aisle can agree on. You betcha!

It may not seem apparent off the bat (sorry, still in World Series mode) but if we focus on changing food policy, we can alter the course of global warming, save our “health-care” system, grow businesses and increase our national security.

For more details, check out author and activist Michael Pollan’s brilliant letter to the next President here.

But while it’s going to take the government time to get around to changing food policy, you can change yours right now. And to support you in changing your eating habits, I’m offering a “Health Bail-Out”
special for the month of November to help you save money responsibly, stop stress eating from these crazy times and avoid the looming holiday weight gain.

Bail out your bad habits and your devaluing health!

For anyone who signs up as a client in my six-month nutritional counseling program in November, you’ll receive a free month of health counseling.* And for current or past clients, every referral who signs-up to work with me, you’ll receive a free month of health counseling too.*

The benefits of nutritional counseling are greater than ever. Food prices will continue to increase as it’s energy-intensive and the days of cheap energy are over—no matter who is in office. When you know what to eat for your body (and you eat healthfully) your grocery and take-out bills go down significantly and you eat less.

I’ve personally seen a 30 percent reduction in my food expenditures since eating a local, whole foods diet. And that is while food prices have increased. I’ve had several clients echo the same story. They cannot believe how much more they have in their wallets at the end of the week and how satisfied they feel on much less food.

Also, insurance companies are shifting towards a risk-tolerance/premium payment model. They started with the smokers and next is the Body Mass Index (BMI). So, the more you weigh, the more you pay. Why not start investing your money in yourself versus your insurance premiums? Your Return on Investment (ROI) will be more energy, clarity, confidence, weight loss, saving money (on food, medicine, doctors’ visits, insurance premiums, etc.) and avoiding 80 percent of illness? What a deal!

And aside from the economics, eating healthy has never been so much fun. My clients are pleasantly surprised at how much they enjoy cooking and eating real food and how quick, simple, and grounding it is, especially in these volatile times.

The stock market will have its cycle, but health doesn’t always work that way. As someone who has lost her health before, trust me when I say it’s easier and more fun to invest and watch your health grow than
be bankrupt.

So, contact me today at 215.279.7491 or alishapiro@pyournutrition.com for an initial consult. We’ll go over your complete health history and decide if we’re a good match to work together. If so, we’ll get you feeling energetic, optimistic, and buoyant…like after a World Series win!

Getting excited to vote on November 4th,

Ali

P.S. I’m offering two workshops with my dear friend and brilliant psychologist Dr. Nicole Lipkin on staying slim and sane during the holidays. For complete details, click here

*The extra month of health counseling will be added at the end of your six-month program.

Christa’s Success

Ali has been an outstanding partner on my journey to better health. Her innovative approach and unique integrative health counseling method have helped me lose weight and improve my overall fitness level. I highly recommend her to anyone who would like to improve their health.

~ Christa Cordova, Stamford, CT