Fog Lifted

As I slowly come out of an allergy-induced haze, I am mentally checking the boxes on my holistic cheat sheet of treatment options.  Which begs the question, why did I never slow down long enough to make an actual list? Maybe it was the sinus pressure that kept me from sitting up long enough to jot one down.  Maybe it was the foreboding transparency of just how unconventional I've become.  

Oh well.  Never too late.  Carpe diem.

I figure this will be nice to have documented when my descendants skeptically tell their kids that Great Great Grandma Bunny used to do all this crazy stuff to feel good.  I love the idea of Google dispelling future hearsay on my behalf.  Although I really hope that in 100 years most of this treatment protocol isn't crazy at all.  Is it too optimistic to think Reiki may one day earn the same modern shrug-off as, "I took some NyQuil last night?"  In either case, file this away in the time capsule.

• Saline.  Hopefully one day I'll live at the beach and this won't be the first line of defense, but I keep Simply Saline on hand.  It's got more zing than a squeeze bottle so you barely have time to flinch.  

• Essential Oils.  Lavender, lemon and peppermint make a nice allergy blend.  I've been using a drop of each on the bottom of my feet.  It was lovely.  Until I couldn't resist the urge to deeply inhale the lovely aromatic scent of the peppermint.  Helloooooo mucus membranes!  Don't try that one at home, kids!

• Chiropractic.  A really good adjustment can feel like a big "Whoosh!" radiating from the top down.  For everything from the pesky sinus headache to the all-encompassing football helmet of intense discomfort I use chiropractic.  

• Apple Cider Vinegar.  If there was a health coach version of the father in My Big Fat Greek wedding, that would be me.  Except instead of Windex I'm touting Bragg's ACV. There are seemingly endless uses for this product.  You can read about several of them here. When it comes to allergies ACV helps drain the lymphatic system.  Out, damn mucus!

• Massage.  Sometimes that lymphatic system needs a little extra coaxing.  Plus when you're down and out you can't have too much self-care, am I right?

• Green (or Pink?) Juice.  Ginger has tremendous anti-inflammatory qualities.  I like to alternate through the recipes in Jason's Vale's Funky Fresh Juice Book.  I recently stumbled upon this little pink gem:  Two apples, 1/4 medium pineapple, 2 stalks celery, 3cm ginger root, small handful raspberries, and small handful ice cubes. 

• NAET.  Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Techniques.  What is that?  Applied kinesiology with a side of acupuncture.  Does it work?  Ask the hundreds of breastfeeding moms who were relieved of their elimination diets and you'll get a resounding 'yes.'

• Reiki.  Can't have too much healing going on.  I will attest that given the chance your body has an incredible ability to reach homeostasis and heal itself.  

• Water, Water Everywhere.  I drink it, I soak in it, I sit in a room of the vaporized form... Normal rule of thumb in my book looks like this, but during periods of congestion I up the ante.

• Manuka Honey.  If I wasn't allergic to it!  Workin' on that (see NAET above). 

Hey, look at that!  Our first Top Ten List!  

So why go to all this effort?  Wouldn't popping a Zyrtec just be easier?  Yeah, probably.  In the short term.  But that's not why I'm here.  Sometimes it's more about paving a brighter future than the quick and dirty.  My mission is to turn your focus inward and encourage you to ask whether there's a better way. Would you believe me if I said that seemingly benign ragweed allergy my be an invitation into uncovering an even bigger inflammatory marker in your body?  I really like this whole article, but if nothing else, read the last section "More Than One Way to Heal" for some crunchy-good food for thought.

As for my ultimate goal?  Being 100% allergy-free would be nice.  Is it possible?  I'm not sure yet, but I'll die trying.  These days I live virtually free of environmental allergens (foods are another story...).  But that's a relatively new phenomenon for me.  What changed, you ask?  I discovered my "bigger inflammatory marker" and tossed it to the curb.  But we'll save that saga for another day.  

In the meantime I'm taking suggestions for new favorite flower now that lilies are on the Most Wanted List.  Please list your least ACHOO-inducing blooms below so Hubby has a thriving go-to list next time around.  

xoxo Rachel

Stick to the Plan

You may have noticed that I'm here as a Health Coach.  What's that?  Sort of like a Life Coach, but more nutrition based.  I'm big on the notion of cultivating wellness. Given the choice I'd much rather sow health than treat illness.

So what's up with the sugar-laden 4-layer cake in my inaugural post?

It's called balance, folks. B A L A N C E.

My birthday didn't just sneak up out of nowhere.  I knew it was coming.  So I passed up a few treats in anticipation of the big event and I had this baby waiting in the queue Tuesday morning to help cleanse all the sugar (in case you thought alcohol was the only thing that put your liver in distress...).

When you start putting a little bit of planning effort into what you eat it can pay dividends.  D I V I D E N D S.  Sure, there comes a time when a little reckless abandon and serendipity are just what the doctor ordered, but for your day-to-day eating try to have a plan and stick to it.

I grew up with an Eagle Scout so the Boy Scout motto of Always Prepared is somewhat second nature to me.  But do I remember when this notion started?  Not all all.  Which leads me to believe, like any "habbett" it takes about three months to develop.  If you've never spent a day in your life planning meals it's not too late.  Three months is just a blip on the radar for those of us planning to be centenarians!

Still with me?  Great!  Here's your takeaway nugget of advice. 

I'm going out on a limb and guessing that each of you will be eating out at least once this week.  Do you know where you're going?  Sure, flying by the seat of your pants and being spontaneous is fun, but if you don't want to sideline your health I have ONE tip for you.  Just one.  Easy, right?

Practical Health Coaching Tip#1:

Decide which restaurant you'll be dining at and look at their menu online BEFORE you go. Decide what you want and STICK TO THE PLAN.  

When there's a 45 minute wait and you want to chew off your arm by the time you're seated, that's what I call a recipe for disaster.  Throw in a less health conscious companion and you're finished.  Unless you have a plan.  Remember that voice of reason and honor it.  Sure, the cheese fries look awesome and a margarita sounds divine.  But remember 2 hours ago when you decided you would have the grilled salmon with veggies and quinoa?  Make a promise to yourself and stick to it.  If you get a nutrient-dense meal and you want a celebratory glass of wine for dessert, go for it!  (Don't worry, we'll cover nutrient-dense foods soon enough.)

Anyone out there like visualization techniques?  OK, here's your final takeaway.  I love a good mantra.  I love movies too.  Yesterday I stumbled upon this cool tool.  Turns out there are nearly 600 films and tv shows where derivatives of the line "Stick to the plan!" are used.  Our family geeks out over the Fast and Furious series so that's an easy one for me.  Now I'm dining with Paul Walker and Vin Diesel... who said healthy eating couldn't be Yum?!  

I'd love to hear what Hollywood imagery you'll be conjuring up to help you coast through your next restaurant meal - leave me a comment below!

The Time of My Life

You're invited to the Luminous & Grounded birthday party! 

And hey, what do you know, it's my birthday too!? Maybe it's a Leo thing, but I love a good celebration.  This year I gifted myself a blog.  And a URL.  And a farm table.  It's all part of the big picture.  But hey, let's not spoil all the birthday surprises.  In true Leo fashion I'll be dishing out servings of birthday fun over the next several days... err... weeks...?  It's going to be juicy and delicious.  And there's no dress code!

Now before you RSVP let's cover the who, what, when, where, why and how, shall we?

Who:  Rachel Abbett - Mom, Wife, Engineer, Dancer and (drum roll....) Health Coach

What:  Health and wellness inspiration.  I'll be sprinkling it like confetti and lighting the candles on your gluten-free cake!

When:  I've always thought August 18th was a great day to have a birthday.  Carpe diem!

Where: You found me.  Now don't forget to bookmark and subscribe!

Why:   Luminous & Grounded was born out of a desire for balance. Work hard, play hard, rest hard.  Cherish mind, body and soul.  Glow from within | Be Present | Live Vibrantly  

How:  The idea behind coaching is to provide customized solutions (Wow, could I sound like more of a robot?  Speaking of which... remind me to show you mine sometime!).  But hey, I realize it may take a while for everyone to find their voice, so I'll do my best to offer you the spice of life. 

Thanks for making this the best birthday yet!  xoxo Rachel

P.S.  And then this happened... #icebucketchallenge