How to Handle Seasonal Food Cravings Without Going Crazy!

The idea for this post came when I got home from yoga class and I found myself craving, no needing more food than usual.


So really, a plate full of nachos told me to write this...  ;)

Handling Seasonal Craving Without Going Crazy WeightFreeWellness.com

When I thought about it... I distinctly noticed this feeling as... it's fall... it's time for warm, rich foods... like NOW!



I get it... I've been overweight and underweight in my life. I understand the struggle between what the body is craving and what the mind is reasonably (at first) trying to convince the body to do or feel... what it does or does not need.



In my Weight Free Wellness Programs I get into the meat and potatoes (Yum!) of tools for self-understanding, self-compassion and taking the weight off your own shoulders... which incidentally makes it much easier to lead a healthy life!



But for today, I'll share a few things that I've learned and have helped me over the years...




How to Handle those Fall and Winter Food Cravings:

Each Body-type has it's own unique challenges with Food during the Holidays...

• Did you know that the craving for sweet things is very natural? In times when food was scarce (an argument could be made that real food still is) that this craving would lead us to eat sweet, calorie-rich foods when available, to store energy for times of scarcity. Satiate this true craving by eating seasonal, naturally sweet root vegetables (beets, carrots, sweet potatoes) and squashes. When you give the body what it is really seeking, cravings for processed sweets decreases. Seek high quality, organic foods whenever possible, not only because of chemicals that are spared for the Earth and our bodies, but these vegetables are often more nutrient-rich; it is the nutrients that our bodies deeply desire too, not just the taste! If weight management is a concern, eat these sweet vegetables for the noon meal and have vegetable soup or my easy and delicious Egg Drop Soup which can be made in just 20 minutes!

Get This Recipe Here... and Much More!

• On a similar note, if you are not already, take a multi mineral and multivitamin supplement. When the body is getting the nutrients it needs, we have fewer cravings. Did you know that our body cues us to the nutritional needs we have by the flavors we crave? Fascinating!

• I know, here it is again... Yes, drink enough water! It's amazing how often hunger can be mistaken for what is really thirst!  Because I get asked so often... FYI- I drink Mountain Valley Spring water. 

• Certain Body-types react differently to this season change. Earth-types are ready to cook and bake, settle in for the long winter with a good book or projects and have the hardest time not indulging in the warm, unctuous foods so typical of this season. For them it is most helpful to keep dairy intake to a minimum (as if it's a condiment), eat modest proportions of the sweet vegetables named above, and opt for evening dishes that are mostly made of cooked vegetables with tasty culinary herbs. This not only helps with weight management, but to help prevent ailments that Earth-types are prone to. For more on how to help balance the Earth-type, see my book, You-niversal Self-care. Fire-types typically have very active metabolisms and the sweet veggies help to naturally calm their fire and satiate cravings for sweets. (Earth-types eat sweets by sneaking them into their mouths over time, Fire-types binge-eat sweets...) Air-types need to eat hearty foods more than others to help keep them grounded, balanced and naturally well-energized. While Air-types are notorious for being able to eat a lot and not gain a pound; eating predominantly processed foods depletes the Air-type of energy more than anything. They may feel an initial spike in energy, but they most often feel the crash at the end.

• There are so many things I could list, but I'm striving to keep it basic. Why not list the entire list? Well, because I've found that when you address core issues, the many other things are automatically taken care of. So, finally, rest. Get 6-8 hours of quality sleep. Turn off screens at least 1 hour before bed. Sleep a regular schedule. Don't eat at least 3 hours before bed. Avoid drinking alcohol or stimulants, late in the day especially. Notice if anything else you are doing is disturbing your sleep. If you're doing these things and it's still not working, I recommend seeing a professional. This is a topic worth expanding- I'll likely write more in the future.

Which Body-type 'are' you?

Taking the Free Body-type Assessment from my book is the perfect way to learn more. Get it here!

For more about Body-typing:

Check out my book You-niversal Self-care: Improved Health Through Self-Understanding
Get the FREE Ebook and Audiobook here!

Get my FREE Weight Free Wellness Cookbook! 
Links also in the upper right section of this site.


And! Check out my Events page for Free Holiday Wellness Q&A Webinars!

Last, but not least- as I say in many of my classes... Have compassion for yourself...

Tweet: Work WITH your body rather than working ON it!

If you found this helpful, please share this! Thanks!


Wishing you well-ness!

With Love,

Tara

Healing is an Inside Job

It's helpful to know:

The unknown feels like darkness at times

It is normal to not always know where to go

Make sure the 'insider' on this job is YOU helping YOU!

Healing does take work...

You're not alone!

It's worth it!

There are those who have walked the path and can help you along the way.

Just reach out - they can help you see in the dark!

Healing is an Inside Job - WeightFreeWellness.com

Tweet: Healing is an inside job!

Air-types: Managing the Holidays with Food Sensitivities

All Body-types can experience digestive issues, but the Air-type, with their more delicate make-up is more easily thrown off balance.

Managing the Holidays with Food Sensitivities - WeightFreeWellness.com

The Holiday season provides a perfect recipe for Air-types to be thrown off: time crunches which leads to less time for self-care, which leads to less time for typical meal preparation, not enough sleep, and the increasing to-do list adding to the buzz of an already normally hyper-active Air mind... whew! Just reading this could make any Type anxious and tired.

We have so many things pulling on us just in normal, daily life, but during the holidays there are more events, more food to prepare and more social pressures to live up to or stand your ground. It all takes energy.

The volatile Air-type needs to approach the Holidays with simple objectives in mind. I suggest that before dates start being exchanged and roles are divvied out; tune into yourself.


How many events per week or per month will you commit to?

Which self-care habits will you be adamant about keeping (baths, exercise, time alone, etc.)

Which foods do you know throw you off and which ones help you to feel well? Get clear on how you feel after consuming each of them so that just the thought of it makes you clear on whether you want to consume it (yay, this feels good!) or not (oh no, this feels very bad!).


As I explain in my book, You-niversal Self-care, Air-Types tend to react to their environments (much like the air patterns of weather systems).

Get the FREE Ebook and Audiobook here!


It takes a lot of dedication and forethought, but when Air-types create a healthy and helpful environment for themselves, it's not only easier for them to keep making these helpful decisions, but others in their life also benefit from their more even-keel mental, emotional and physical state.

Let's talk some more about how Air-types can keep those healthy food habits during the Holidays.

Join one of my FREE Q&A sessions to address your questions about Body-types, Food and the Holidays.

I have a lot to share on this topic as I have a lot of Air-tendencies myself. It will also be insightful for you to understand the Air-types in your life!

Also, check out my FREE Weight Free Wellness Cookbook for many allergen-free and Body-type specific recipes. More recipes to come!

Download your FREE copy, just click the image.

 



More help in this video I made for you!

What do you need? Part 2

What do you need?

Get unstuck

Create healthy habits

Feel good about yourself!

Live!

FREE helpful webinars here!

Watch this short video...

How to Use Your Stale Kale Chips

We all know that kale is super nutritious (and correspondingly very green-tasting).

Even though my hubby and I are quite health-conscious, we still have to dress kale up a bit...

Our favorite ways to enjoy kale is in the form of kale chips or semi-hidden in soup.

Kale chips are great for a while but one does finally get tired of them. I've tossed more packages of stale chips than I'd like to admit.

But when it comes to foods that I make, it's especially hard for me to see them go to waste.

Our favorite kale chips are those I make at home. I dehydrate them at a low temperature (about 105 degreed Fahrenheit) so they keep their health-promoting enzymes. I douse the torn pieces of kale in olive oil and then sprinkle the desired amount of garlic salt, mix well, spread on dehydrator screens and dehydrate overnight.


--- When faced with buying a store-bought brand my hubby likes the Kale Krunch by Alive & Radiant. Check out the flavors! ---

Ok, back to what I meant to write about... so what do you do (other than throwing them away) with stale(ish) kale chips? 


Toss them in your soup! That's right! No need to sauté kale, trying to get it to a palatable taste and texture, just toss in the chips and they will have great flavor and add a nice twist to things- especially veggie soup!

I did this the other day and just had to pass on the good news!

Enjoy!


PS... I dare you to tweet this! Confuse your friends ;)

Click to Tweet...


Go eat stale kale!

Simple Solutions to Drink More Water

When talking health and wellness one of the first topics I bring up is drinking plenty of clean water.

So many people comment that they don’t like the taste of water!

Well, water is so important to our bodies that this simply cannot be an excuse!

In my free cookbook I give a simple recipe (honestly you could figure it out by looking at this picture) to make refreshing water. Did you know that these fruits and vegetable do more for our body than just please our tastebuds!?

Get This Recipe Here... and Much More!

Here's a shortcut...

When in a pinch, I add Therapeutic Grade Essential oils to my water if I need a change or something refreshing.

Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils are fit for consumption (note, not all oils can be used internally). My favorites to add to my water are: Citrus Fresh, Tangerine, Orange, Lemon, and Peppermint. If you are taking prescription medications be sure to check with your pharmacist before ingesting essential oils. Use only metal or glass containers when adding oils to your water as these oils can break down plastics- plus, it tastes better!

These citrus fruits also have the added benefits of naturally cooling the body and supporting healthy liver function.

Add just a couple of drops to your large glass or container of water, sip and enjoy!

Simple Solutions to Drink More Water - WeightFreeWellness.com

Answers to common questions and concerns:


Whenever I start to drink more water I have to go to the bathroom all the time!

We are a very driven society and our adrenal grands (that sit on and affect our kidneys) are most often either on overdrive or are totally depleted. Both will cause frequent urination- one from the constant agitation from the adrenals, the other from a lack of "energy" to keep urine in the body. The latter is often accompanied by incontinence, lack of sexual drive, anal fissures and more.

It's imperative that we still drink water. Mineral-rich spring water will especially help those with adrenal fatigue. Also, naturally active Air-types who are adrenally exhausted need help in "wetting the sponge" so that they can better absorb and recirculate water within them rather than it just running through them (or metaphorically over the sponge).

Here's an example I like to use.

When you are cleaning a very dirty surface, you need to use a lot of solvent (namely water) initially. You may go through several buckets of warm water to them be able to do the finishing touches with just a couple of buckets of water and cleaner.

If you have lived the standard life in food and habits and have not had enough clean water along the way (which is the standard) your "floors" are pretty dirty. When you begin to drink more water (adrenal function aside) you may be flushing out more water simply because the body is taking the opportunity to cleanse.

I drink about 2 quarts of water per day. After addressing cleansing, healthy adrenal function, caffeine consumption and my attitude about stressors; frequent urination is no longer an issue.




What "type" of water do you drink?

The information and studies on the best sources of water have changed regularly over the years and we have tried all kinds of solutions to have healthy water.

At our house, we have gone from carbon and UV filtering well water (when we had well water), to buying Reverse Osmosis water at the store, to installing an expensive RO system, to now buying spring water.

At the beginning of this journey, we looked into getting water at a local spring. There is a well-known natural spring near us in Minnesota on, yes, Spring Road. We were elated at first that such a treasured source could be relatively so near, but as I researched more, I did not feel comfortable about diving into this idea.

While the source was tested by the city for safety, the efficacy of the water could not be guaranteed. I spoke with the city official who worked in this department and I gained what I felt was some helpful information.

This spring is located in a narrow gorge that once must have poured water from the ancient shore of a tributary to what is now the Minnesota river.

The spring is in a populated Twin City suburb, and the city official explained that while the spring does indeed “spring” forth from the ground, it is more likely run-off water from streets and fertilized lawns that comes from the surrounding steep hills these days, than the naturally filtered water we might have enjoyed many years ago.

This made a lot of sense to me, and while I desired the naturally mineralized water from a spring; I also did not want to inadvertently contaminate our family.

Years and filtration systems later, we came upon this solution.

We order Mountain Valley spring water from a local distributor. Part of this solution came about because we now live in a suburban area where we can receive delivery of the large 5-gallon glass bottles.

Since we have switched from our RO water to this spring water my husband and I have felt aches, pains and even nagging “moods” go away. I’m not exaggerating... I don’t do that...

Since I’m asked so often what we do for water, I thought I’d share.

I will update this when and if this changes.

Wishing you well-ness!

P.S. Here's a really good article to explain our reasons behind choosing this type of water.

Natural Solutions and Remedies for Dry, Flaky and Cracked Skin - I Wish I Had 20 years Ago

Head's up - this is probably my longest post, but for the person suffering with skin issues, it's a treasure trove of information. I am not saying this to toot my own horn, it's just that I wished I had had this information in one place many years ago, so here it is for you. With Love, Tara

Painful skin, no matter what the reason, can be very challenging to deal with- I know, I've been learning from my skin for over 20 years.


Dry skin is a key indicator of the Air-type Body-type. What's "Your" Body-type?
Get the Free Body-typing Assessment!

I first recall my skin being very dry at the age of 9. It was so dry that many clothes would cause a low-grade but noticeable discomfort throughout the day. I would not wear jeans because of the burning friction they caused at my waistline and ankles especially. It was so dry that my hands and feet would crack and bleed, the only ease coming from a thick coat of oily lotion; not to heal the issue, but to create a barrier between my inflamed skin and whatever could cause increased disturbance.


My skin was so dry I avoided swimming pools for years. The chlorinated water would cause a burning sensation all over my body that did not rinse off in the shower. My first experience in the ocean was similar, only it was at least 10 times worse. What was supposed to be a joyful first experience with my beloved cousin, Grandma and Grandpa, turned into great disappointment. Fortunately, my Grandma was prepared with Corn Huskers and Coco Butter lotions. And fortunately, the rest of the trip was positively memorable!


Through the years, it became normal to walk to accommodate my dry, cracked feet; to be very uncomfortable in my own skin during the fall and winter months, to feel piercing pain when I simply washed my hands due to the cracks in my hands. As I came of age I became more determined to find my own solutions- frustrated that the professionals that I was brought to could not.


I have realized many things over the years about this condition, which has greatly improved. Mostly, I have learned to work with my own body, rather than working on it: To accept that my body leans towards having a lot of Air-type symptoms and use this as feedback and information, rather than criticizing myself, getting frustrated and judging myself unfairly. Body-Typing is the theme of my book, You-niversal Self-care.


Get the Free Body-typing Assessment!


I am sharing some uncommon remedies, things that one may not think of or be told by specialists; in order to help anyone else out there who may be suffering such a condition.


The skin is the largest organ of the body, and traditional medicine practitioners know that there are many, many clues that the skin gives in regard to the overall condition of the body.


The skin is the outward manifestation of the intestinal system- once the same unit in the very early stages of fetal development. For this reason the skin especially indicates the condition of the digestive system, namely the intestinal tract.


There are many stories and lengthy explanations that can accompany each of these items, but for sake of space I will leave most of them out. I freely share such experiences in my classes and one-on-one sessions.


I was going to post a picture of dry, cracked skin but it was painful to just look at them. If you have dry skin you know what it looks and feels like. Instead, I'd like to share some hope. This is a photo of me with no body makeup and relatively light makeup on my face, and no photo touch-ups. This is the skin I enjoy today. I get compliments all the time, but most of all, I am free from pain!

Tara Baklund - Natural Skin Remedies - TarasBook.com

Here is a list of solutions that helped me greatly.

This is not medical advice, only a list of key things that have worked for me to heal painful skin conditions that I experienced.

• Make sure the water you bathe in is "soft" water. I currently live in Minnesota where we have iron and mineral-rich water. I find that a sediment filter also helps a great deal.

• Do an elimination diet. I found the 7-Day Detox Miracle book very helpful for this- and there are some simple remedies that are well-described in the book for natural cleansing.

• You will likely find you are sensitive to certain foods; likely gluten and/or dairy. Make a commitment to remember how good you felt when not eating these foods as motivation to no longer consume them. The more severe your original condition, the easier it is to do this. I highly recommend the book Wheat Belly for great information on the topic of gluten sensitivity.

• At this point you will be gaining more familiarity with your body, and how it reacts to natural remedies. I would go to a Naturopathic Doctor to do biofeedback to test whether you have conditions such as: Candidiasis, a low-grade bacterial or viral infection to name a few. This type of person should be able to lead you through a step by step process of cleansing and balancing the systems of the body. Some Chiropractors have this equipment and training. When in doubt, seek a referral. The right person will equip you with remedies and information that will have quick results- as long as you follow their instructions thoroughly! 

• Bathe in tepid to lukewarm water as to not strip oils from the skin. Bathe every-other-day if possible, washing key areas with a washcloth. A shallow bath also works well. Only use soap in the "pits" of the body. Avoid harsh soaps.

• Eat clean foods- as close to organic as possible, especially meat and dairy products, root vegetables and delicate fruits and vegetables like spinach and raspberries.

• Consider the metaphoric message your skin is sending. Could it be that: You feel that the barrier between you and the outside world is weak? You are not or do not feel fully nourished--of the major organs, the skin receives last priority in nourishment.

• Use only natural lotions and oils on the skin without synthetic fragrances. Could you eat it? Then you can put it on your skin. Try oils like sesame, sweet almond, jojoba, grapeseed and coconut, etc. Apply after bathing to hold in the moisture.

• Consume Earthy foods that nourish the body from the inside out. (See my book for list.)

• Your Naturopath or other natural health practitioner you are working with should at some point address digestion. Depending on your condition this may not be the first priority. It's very important that your body can digest and assimilate food well for nutrients- especially oils.

• Especially in the summer, consume cooling drinks like natural fruit juices, cucumber water and aloe (meat, not the entire filet). This may be indicated for some people year- around as some dry-skin conditions are due to internal heat. Much like hanging a wet shirt over a heat register, internal heat (a Traditional Chinese Medicine term) can similarly dry the skin.

• Be patient and kind with yourself and your skin. Be open to receiving any messages your body is giving you.

• Whether it's a Naturopath, a Chiropractor, Herbalist or other natural health practitioner, make sure they are addressing your specific body and condition, rather than running you through a "dry skin regimen" (note- This is different than if a Naturopath runs you through a biofeedback process, which tests and remedies in a particular order. Biofeedback by it's nature is an individualized treatment). Every body is different and should be addressed as so.

• Oh, and let us not forget about water! If a person is already experiencing dis-ease, it is necessary to drink even more water. Imagine you are charged with the task of cleaning a very dirty floor. This task calls for more water than a moderately dirty floor, right? Make sure you consume a minimum of 1/2 x (your body weight in pounds)= oz. of water. Not: chlorinated, fluorinated, bottled or distilled. We choose to add minerals to Reverse Osmosis water.

This is a good, basic list that will help you build a foundation for self-empowered health if you are diligent enough to explore, test, observe and explore some more.

Some of these solutions may seem almost too simple, but please don't under-estimate their importance and effectiveness.


Most of all, have compassion and love yourself along the way. Work with your body, not on it!

Wishing you well!

Free Body-type Assessment

Contrary to Popular Belief - I Don't Simply Eat Lettuce and Exercise All Day for Wellness ;)

Even Wellness Coaches need to motivate themselves.

Actually, the reason I got into this field of work is because I had to (and still do) overcome so much in my Wellness Journey and want to help others get over the hurdles.

Here's an Empowering message especially for you . . .

How the Body Tells us What it Needs

My body is my natural and traditional medicine lab. And I love experimenting!

As I learn more about herbs, traditional medicine and healthy movement I'm amazed by how much they intertwine.

The longer I do dance and yoga I see how the way my muscles respond also indicate how well I am functioning internally physically and emotionally.

It's fairly common knowledge that if you have sore muscles you may be lacking in minerals such as the proper balance of calcium, magnesium and potassium.

What if you have chronically sore muscles and no type of adjusting or stretching seems to help?

Certain groups of muscles correlate with certain organs and even emotions.

A tight psoas can mean that you are holding onto fear. This can cause constipation, IBS and painful menstruation due to lack of blood circulation. This large muscle group begins up by the kidneys; so the affects of a fear-stricken psoas can also cause frequent urination and a generally depleted feeling.

Here are a few other examples how other muscles, organs and emotions relate:

Diaphragm - Digestion/Respiration (taking in an expelling) and Decision-making/Will
Heart - Respiration and how we Regulate Emotion
Lower back - Large Intestines - Energy levels and Self-confidence


When my dance teacher coaches me to extend my lower back more; I also interpret my body to be telling me to recharge myself with some physical rest which will boost my self-confidence as well.

If I am having a hard time deciding what to make for dinner; is it my body saying that it does not have the energy to digest any thoughts or decisions?

I think yes, it does!

It seems overly simplistic, but that's the beauty of natural health. Since the body cannot speak to us directly, it does so through the poetic means of metaphor.

Mother Nature helps us again by artistically showing us myriad remedies that can help by the Doctrine of Signatures - plants that look like the affected area often help such organs and parts of the body.

But that's the topic of another fascinating post :)

Important Step to Change Habits That are no Longer Helpful

It is challenging to hear those things that we need to, but don't want to hear.

What we need to hear is often key for us to move on in life. We need to change unhelpful patterns that keep us where we don't want to be, but first we need to be aware of the patterns we do not see in ourselves.

I have a few questions for those who want to move on and change unhelpful, habitual patterns in their lives:

1)  Do you have a trusted person who demonstrates success in the area you are desiring to improve in your life with whom you can talk?

2)  Will this person truly help you? That is; is this person willing and able to tell you those things that are difficult to say?

3)  If this person is a person you truly trust; can you not be offended when this person tells you the difficult things you need to hear, and are you wiling to explore and ask questions of this person for further insight?


If your friend tells you that your have something green between your teeth- will you get offended that she told you, or will you ask her to tell you where it is and pick it out?


This is a minor example, but a good one.


A side note . . . to the person sending the message . . . a message given with kindness and consideration is often better received.