Can you believe how many resolutions you've made over the years to kick the junk food habit? Better still, can you remember how many you've kept? Some people just stop making resolutions realizing they never keep them anyway and most of the time their resolutions are not realistic. We've all heard the same story over and over again. We could recite it to each other.  So in response to many people that are crying out for help to change their eating habits and become a healthier person in control of their health instead of being controlled, I've laid out a plan to truly kick the junk food habit! The following are steps to empower you to walk out and fulfill the desires of your heart and be healthy in doing so!

Blessings to all who take courage and run the race that is set before them!

1.  Write down your goals.

Short term and long term. If you're interested in weight loss or simply more energy, write it down!  I don't think I could stress enough.  After having eight children I noticed a pattern.  That pattern being that at the beginning of each pregnancy I would set goals that I could get accomplished before the delivery of each child.  Everything from what to buy, to how I wanted the nursery to look and how I would make it come to pass. That was everything from painting and wallpapering to where I wanted the furniture to be placed.  I even set goals for our business such as what financial reports I knew had to be completed and when the taxes were due.  All of the goals were written down and as I completed each one I would check them off.  Amazingly I was able to complete huge tasks.  During one pregnancy I even landscaped the yard completely over again.  That yard was about two acres around the house.  I said many times that if I could bottle that so called "nesting instinct" and sell it, I knew I would become instantly wealthy.  Well, I did find out what makes the nesting instinct so real and workable and I use it most every day of my life. that is a successful day.  A day with a plan to follow, stick to the points on it and don't stray.  Quite honestly, I've been doing it so long now, I don't think I could ever live without it.  People say to me all the time, "I don't know how you do it, all those kids, travel and business".  Well by writing your vision, you are making a plan for your success.  And just the opposite applies, "A failure to plan is a plan to fail".  I say, "write it down so you don't get side tracked".

2. Secondly, nothing should have dominion over you!

But if you are being driven by coffee, cigarettes, cakes, or lust of any kind, (I'm talking about being driven to go get a donut every morning.) That donut has a hold on you!  Recognizing the problem is a major first step! 

3. Deal with the root of your addictions!

Many times the root is not what you think it is!  In this country there are 40 million prescriptions written each week.  A large percentage of these are antibiotics!  When you take an antibiotic you are killing off the good bacteria, the good intestinal flora that God put in our bodies to begin with.  This is vital for a healthy immune system!  So if you do not take a probiotic each time you have been on an antibiotic, you are setting your self up for candida albicans.  Candida is a yeast like fungus that can run rampant in a person eating the typical American diet of sugars, high carbohydrates, alcohols, etc...and has been on even a couple of rounds of antibiotics over the years.  What does this all mean?  It means that if you have this yeast like fungus in your system, it needs to be fed.  And believe you me, it will tell you what to eat!  For some it's sugars, others the pickled foods, others it is the breads, some even alcohol.  Yes, I said alcohol!  I believe for some it is the candida that drives them to drink.  I heard a study a long time ago that said children that craved sweets had a significantly higher chance of becoming addicted to alcohol as an adult.  On the surface, you automatically think, compulsive behavior.  Not understanding yeast and bacteria in the body can cause you to be looking in the wrong direction for your answers.

Some of the candida symptoms are:  heartburn, indigestion, gas, itching, yeast infections, jock itch, athletes foot, post nasal drip, headaches, mucous in stools, dry mouth, bad breath and the list goes on! 

For those interested in an attempt to make lifestyle changes in their eating habits consider going on a candida cleanse for 60-90 days.  It certainly won't hurt and can only help.

4. Determine to start an exercise program.

Start where you are! Walking is excellent!

Begin walking in place or short distances.  Increase slowly!  Every little bit helps. You don't have to go buy an expensive club membership, get a book or video at the library.  Exercise at least three times a week for 20-30 minutes.  You will be amazed at how this will help to cut your cravings and give you more energy immediately.  The longevity you will receive from your 1½ hour investment per week will serve you well.

According to the American Heart Association, exercise can help to decrease your risk of a heart attack as well as strokes.  Exercise also relieves stress, increases your metabolism, energy levels, immunity, oxygen levels, as well as helping you to look and feel better. 

5.  Water, Water, Water!!

You can't get enough!

You are 2/3rds water.  As a whole, Americans are not replenishing the very thing we're made of.  We should be drinking at least half our body weight in ounces of water.  Example - if you weigh 150 lbs., you should drink at least 75 ounces of water per day.  I really stress steam-distilled water.  I know there is a controversy over steam distilled.  Here's a perfect example, when you buy water for an iron, you always buy steam distilled because there is so much in tap water, your iron will spat and sputter trying to filter out all of the chemicals added to tap water.  If you continue to use it there will be so much build up you soon cannot use your iron.  On the other hand, by using distilled water everything flows freely and the iron is in perfect working order.  I really view our bodies like the iron.  The distilled water has a flat molecular structure, which will pull out the toxins that build up in the body.  Yes, you will have to urinate more and that's a good thing.  The bladder will be dumping as the water is pulling out unwanted toxins.  Another note to always remember is that the last thing you eat will be the next thing you crave.  So, if you are loading up with junk, you continue craving it if you do not get to the the root cause of the cravings.  Distilled water will help you rid the body of those awful cravings.

Another excellent thing about steam-distilled water is that it has a pH level of 8.0.  What this means is that it will help bring your pH up so that you are no acidic but more on the alkaline side.  Doctors and scientist agree that by keeping the body more alkaline you are more likely to keep the body free from disease.

Recent studies also show that viruses thrive in a body deficient in water.

6.  Increase your oxygen levels every way possible.

Increased oxygen will help to speed up the metabolism.  When we are getting that natural high from oxygen we tend not to crave the artificial energy boosters like caffeine, sugar, carbohydrates, etc... Not only will increased oxygen give you more energy, it will help you to have a better mental attitude, make you more alert and more defined in your thought process.  Then you can think it through before grabbing a snack out of the vending machine.

How do you increase your oxygen levels?  The first place is to start with deep breathing exercises.  Take a deep breath in through your nose and hold it a few seconds and slowly, exhale through the mouth.  Do this several times a day.  This is the quickest way to get oxygen into the lungs and at the cellular level.  While you are taking oxygen in, you are exhaling carbon monoxide.  We've already mentioned water and exercise, which of course is an excellent means of increasing your oxygen levels.

7.  Now since you should have already made a list of your goals, add to it the junk foods, sugary drinks, caffeine, addictions, etc... anything you want to get rid of in your life.

Get a calendar and lay out a plan to delete one thing at a time from our current eating habits.

• For instance, the first week you can start with switching from table salt to sea salt.
• The second week try switching from bleached flour to unbleached flour.
• Try switching from black pepper to cayenne or paprika.
• Determine that you will drink at least 64 ounces of steam-distilled water every day.
• Switch from the coffee habit to herbal teas.
• Try switching from donuts, cookies, muffins, etc... to a healthy protein bar. (Low in carbohydrates - high in protein.)
• Schedule your five fruits and veggies per day and start by planning a week at a time.  Plan to take in only fresh snacks.
• One week declare, "I will not go through a fast food restaurant this week".
• Eat nothing fried.
• Read the ingredients, if you don't know what it is, don't eat it!
• Have nothing with artificial flavoring or coloring.
  

       The list goes on, you write the rest of the story for your personal  situation.

You probably get the point, only you know where your addiction lies.  If it's Twinkies, have a Twinkie alternative!  Write the vision you have in mind for yourself and go for it one step at a time.  It's a cinch by the inch, but hard by the yard.

8.  Begin a fasting and detoxing program.

By fasting you can reset your odometer, it's like getting a clean slate.  Or like changing the oil in your car.  You stop sputtering around when you get your filters cleaned.  Fasting will pull those harmful toxins out that are driving you to crave and eat things you know aren't good for you and things you don't even want to eat. 

9.  Prepare in advance!

Failure to plan is a plan to fail!!!

Always make sure you have healthy snacks available, such as fruit, raisins, yogurt, nuts, carrots, celery sticks, boiled eggs, etc... If you have something healthy, its easy!  If not, when hunger strikes you will be tempted to grab the closest, quickest thing you can get, which probably won't be good for you.  There are fast food restaurants and convenience stores on every corner waiting for hunger to strike and they will take advantage of you and anyone else that is either unprepared or uneducated in this area.

10.  After your cleansing and exercise program is on the way, begin making out weekly menus.

Lay out your own program of putting the right stuff in so you don't have time to think about the bad.  Five fresh fruits and veggies a day is a start to healthy eating and according to the American Cancer Institute, will cut your risk of cancer by 30%.  A half-cup of oat bran daily will also cut your risk by another  30%.  According to recent studies 200mg of Selenium will also cut your risk of cancer by up to 50%.  Start with a basic nutrient plan of vitamins and minerals.  Start there and work into a healthy program designed for eating to live not living to eat.

Many blessings, health and healing!  You have a beautiful body, mind and spirit.  Some just need a little remodeling and construction work and that's a good thing!

As always consult your physician before starting any new exercise or diet program.   

For more information, go to the web, www.valeriesaxion.com

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