Best Books For Women Blog

You Can Create an Exceptional Life by Louise Hay and Cheryl Richardson

2011-09-19T05:03:00.000-07:00

An excerpt from You Can Create An Exceptional Life:

The End of the Movie

As I step out of the shower, I can feel the weight of melancholy pulling at my chest. There's a sadness I can't explain. I sit down on the edge of the tub and give presence to it-allow it to live and breathe within me, and wait for it to deliver its wisdom. With each slow, deep breath, the answer begins to surface. Spring is in the ethers, and my winter of writing is coming to an end. It's almost time to say goodbye to this book.

I know the routine. As the ending of a book creeps up on me, I tend to simultaneously rush to finish it and slow down to savor the process one last time. This is my final chapter, and finishing is always bittersweet. But there's something more. . . .

I realize that I'm also anxious about a dear friend who is seriously ill. I'm afraid for him, for me, for us. I towel-dry my hair, brush on a bit of mascara, and glide some gloss across my lips. I need to get dressed. Louise and I are in downtown Vancouver for an event, and we're meeting for breakfast in half an hour (and she's always early). This time, I have an agenda.

We sit at a quiet table in the back of the restaurant at our hotel. The ritual has now become second nature: I sit down, immediately take out my iPhone and press Record, and I unpack my notes. Sitting in front of Louise, I feel a bit wobbly, vulnerable. I'm doing my best to hold back the tears, but I can't help but feel transparent in her presence. She can see that something is wrong but doesn't say anything. Instead, she just stares into my eyes and waits for me to speak.

I have a dear friend who is seriously ill, I tell her, and I'm afraid he might be dying. While I want to be positive, I can't help but worry about whether or not he'll make it, and I don't know how to talk to him about it. I know you've had plenty of experience with illness and death, and I just need to know what to do.

"You love him," she responds immediately. "And you make it a good experience. When people are in trouble, I always concentrate on a few things. First, I focus on who they are as a person, not on their disease. I like to remind them of how wonderful they are- how funny, thoughtful, wise, or kind. And I often bring up favorite memories from our time together. Most important, I allow them to lead the process. We need to respect where people are. I simply ask how they feel in any given situation, and let their answer direct where our conversation will go from there."

As I listen to Louise speak, reluctant tears spill from my eyes, and she reaches into her bag for a tissue. "You never know where we're going on these trips, do you?" she notes with a smile, tucking the tissue into my hand. "It's hard when this happens."

I know we must think positive, but- "But wait," she interrupts, "death is not negative. Death is a positive step in life. We're all going to do it. You're upset because you just don't want your friend to do it at this time." in a way that's painful, I admit.

"Yes, it's important to be sure that our loved ones are pain free. I remember when my mother was ready to go. She was 91 and became very sick, and they wanted to perform a monumental operation on her. I said, 'no way! You're not going to put this woman through something like that at her age. Just keep her out of pain.' That was the top priority-keep her out of pain and let her drift off. And that's what happened. Over the next several days, she drifted in and out of consciousness. She would drift out and come back talking about relatives, and then drift off again and come back with another story. She didn't have pain, which was so important to me.

"We're all going to leave this life at some point, Cheryl, and I don't think there's anything to be afraid of. You see, I wasn't raised with hell and damnation. I mean, I lived it . . . but since I wasn't raised with that concept, I'm not afraid of death. I don't think I'm going to hell. I've done that already."

This last statement was said in such a matter-of-fact way that it could only be recited by someone who had transcended a painful past. I nod, smile, and wipe my cheeks.

"We need to address the vast array of stuff we're taught about death," Louise continues. "If your parents went to a church filled with messages of hellfire and damnation, you could be very frightened of death. You'll wonder, Have I been good enough, and if not, am I going to burn forever? And if you think you're going to burn forever, then you'll be scared shitless of dying.

So, you're not afraid of death at this point in your life? I ask Louise.

"No. I don't want to go right now because there are things I want to do, but I'm going to say that throughout my entire life. We all will. There's always one more thing to do-a child's wedding to attend, a baby ready to be born, or a book to write.

I also have this very strong feeling that we arrive in the middle of the movie, and we leave in the middle of the movie. The movie is continuous. We enter and we exit. All of us do that. There's no wrong time or right time, there's just our time-it was our time to be born and our time to go."

I think about the idea of leaving in the middle of the movie and agree that it is the hard part of death- never having a "buttoned-up time" to go.

Louise explains, "I believe that long before we arrive, the soul makes the choice to experience certain lessons-lessons about loving each other and ourselves. When we learn the lesson of love, we may leave with joy. There is no need for pain or suffering. We know that next time, wherever we choose to incarnate, we will take all of the love with us."

So the question is, then, how to make peace with leaving in the middle of the movie. The problem, as I see it, is that we are so uncomfortable with death. We don't talk about it. We don't prepare for it. We don't even allow ourselves to think about our fears and concerns. We live in a culture that avoids the topic altogether. Instead, we wait until we're up against a serious illness and forced to make important decisions under pressure-for loved ones or ourselves-and then wonder why it's so frightening and painful.

To make peace with leaving, we first need to be willing to address the issue. We need to face the awkwardness and uncomfortable feelings associated with death by looking fear in the eye. When we do, we discover what that fear has to teach us.

I certainly ignored anything having to do with death until my early 30s, when I had the privilege of going through the process of dying in a conscious way with someone I cared about. Her name was Lucy, and she was in her 80s. Lucy had a house filled with lifelong treasures, a wise mind, and a big heart . . . but no family. During a hospital visit for a bad chest cold, she was told that she was dying of cancer, and she promptly asked me to help her get her affairs in order. My first reaction was, No way! I have no interest whatsoever in stepping into that minefield. However, after further discussion, my compassion (and guilt) got the better of me, and I reluctantly agreed.

What unfolded over the next three months was nothing short of a miracle. One by one, Lucy and I reviewed the treasures in her home and made plans to give them to specific people. I became intimately familiar with her life, her loves, and her desires for how to end her life. I made her a promise that I would follow through on her wishes, both while she was dying and once she was gone.

On the night of Lucy's death, I had given a speech and was home tucked in bed when something told me to get up and drive the hour-long trip to see her. Knowing enough to trust my gut, I did what it instructed and went to the hospital. Once there, I found my friend unconscious, in a private room, stationed with a loving and compassionate nurse who assured me that she could hear everything I said.

For almost an hour I sat by Lucy's side, reviewing the instructions she had given me about her end-of-life planning. I talked them through, out loud, as she lay before me. I assured her that all was in order and that it was okay to make the transition to a more peaceful place. Was I frightened? You bet. But I was also prepared.

While I was looking at her beautiful face, she suddenly woke up, looked directly into my eyes, gave me a big smile, and took her last breath. In that moment, something significant shifted. Death and I had become intimate friends.

I sat by Lucy's side that night for quite a while after she passed, staring at her face, her hands, and her lifeless body, contemplating this scary thing we call death. But I wasn't scared. Instead, I felt safe, touched in a tender and profound way, and surprised by how natural the actual process turned out to be. Yes, I would miss my friend, but from this new perspective, death wasn't the silent monster I had made it out to be-a bogeyman who needed to be locked away, only to be let out at the last possible moment. It was a gentle state of release and surrender, the completion of a promise.

Get your copy on Amazon.com

10 Top Books for Healthy Aging, Ageless Living and Longevity

2011-03-07T10:59:00.000-08:00

The following books are all on the topic of living longer and enjoying your life more. Take a look.

Eat For Health: Lose Weight, Keep It Off, Look Younger, Live Longer (2 book set)

The Spectrum: A Scientifically Proven Program to Feel Better, Live Longer, Lose Weight, and Gain Health

Secrets of Longevity: Hundreds of Ways to Live to Be 100

Joy Bauer's Food Cures: Treat Common Health Concerns, Look Younger & Live Longer

Magic Foods: Simple Changes You Can Make to Supercharge Your Energy, Lose Weight and Live Longer

Life Beyond 100

Dr. Mercola's Total Health Cookbook & Program: 150 Delicious Grain-Free Recipes & Proven Metabolic Type Plan to Prevent Disease, Optimize Weight and Live Longer

How to Live Longer And Feel Better

Healthy Aging: A Lifelong Guide to Your Well-Being

Grow Younger, Live Longer: Ten Steps to Reverse Aging

More book recommendations:

Feel free to grab from the list and add your own favorite ones. Just leave the comment.

Emotional Freedom by Judith Orloff

2011-03-01T10:01:00.000-08:00

Judith Orloff, MD is a UCLA psychiatrist and a pioneer who bridges mainstream medicine with intuition, energy medicine, and spirituality.

In her book Emotional Freedom: Liberate Yourself from Negative Emotions and Transform Your Life she invites you on a remarkable journey where you can embrace more happiness and mastery over negativity than you may have ever known. Our world is in the midst of a meltdown. She describes how to stay intuitively and spiritually centered in our times.

In Emotional Freedom Dr. Orloff states: "I'm presenting the unique process I use with patients and in my own life to view emotions as a path to spiritual and intuitive awakening (not EFT). I synthesize traditional medicine with energy medicine to offer you new tools to master emotions and become heroes in your own life. Inner peace leads to outer peace in the world."

Publisher's Weekly's review of Emotional Freedom says: "Superbly written . . . Dr. Orloff regards emotions as a training ground for the soul, and views 'every victory over fear, anxiety, and resentment as a way to develop your spiritual muscles.'"

Emotional Freedom has rave reviews from USA Today, Dr. Candace Pert, Christiane Northrup, MD, Caroline Myss, Dean Ornish, MD, and Mary Oliver, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet. They call it "spectacular," "a must-read," "a heartfelt, accessible guide," and "resolutely compassionate."

In the book, you will discover:

• Four questions to transform fear with courage

• What your emotional type is

• How to stop absorbing the emotions of others

• How to combat emotional vampires with compassion

Get your copy at Amazon.com

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

2011-02-24T05:15:00.000-08:00

One of the best spiritual books ever written for me is The Little Prince by Antoint de Saint-Exupery.

Although is usually sold as book for children, it is nevertheless book for adults, because more then children, adults are they who need to be reminded on simple truths about real values in human life.

Antoint de Saint Exupery, world famous writer and pilot, wrote it to his and our inner child, this little sparkle of joy, love and innocence everyone of us carry in the hearts. His words touch deeply, they lead to the core of reader`s inner being and open hearts of the reader for the accepting the deeper meaning of human existence in universe.

The Little Prince is powerful story, written from pure essence of love, simple and unbelievable strong . It also faces us with our many human ego-trips which do not allow us to experience freedom and joy of life and make us, adults so rigid and strange in innocent eyes of children.

From the novel:

The Little Prince and the Fox

...

The little prince went back to meet the fox. "Goodbye," he said. "Goodbye," said the fox. "And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."

"What is essential is invisible to the eye," the little prince repeated, so that he would be sure to remember.

"It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.

"It is the time I have wasted for my rose---" said the little prince so he would be sure to remember.

"Men have forgotten this truth," said the fox. "But you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. You are responsible for your rose . . . "

"I am responsible for my rose," the little prince repeated, so that he would be sure to remember...

Grab you copy at Amazon.com

Eight Weeks to Optimum Health by Dr. Andrew Weil

2011-01-25T09:42:00.000-08:00

If you would like to maintain or regain health 8 Weeks to Optimum Health by Dr. Andrew Weil is the book you might be looking for.

The book has specific steps to health that get both the best and fastest results on a broad spectrum of health.

In Chapter One, People Can Change, he begins with "You have in your hands a tool for changing your life, an Eight Week Program for improving health and gaining access to the power of spontaneous healing in your body." Now who doesn't WANT or NEED this?

A key to his writing in this first chapter however is this. . .are you ready. . .are you sitting. . .pay attention. . ."Fortunately, he writes, 'the patients who come to me are self-selected. They share my philosophy of health and healing and are highly motivated to take responsibility for their well-being. They are looking for advice about what to do, and when they get it, they will act on it. Unfortunately, most doctors deal with patients who are not so motivated and are instead looking for quick fixes, who would rather take a prescribed drug than change their behavior'."

Chapter 2. An Overview of Health and Healing. "Health is Wholeness and Balance, an inner resilience that allows you to meet the demands of living without being overwhelmed. If you have that kind of resilience, you can experience the inevitable interactions with germs and not get infections, you can be in contact with allergens and not suffer allergies, and you can sustain exposure to carcinogens and not get cancer." Dr. Andrew Weil.

Chapter 3. The Whole Picture. "Human beings are bodies, minds and spirits. Health necessarily involves all of thos components and any program intended to improve health MUST address all of them. Conventional medicine pays almost exclusive attention to our physical bodies, giving lip service to our minds but not really taking them seriously, and totally ignoring our spirits. In spite of a great deal of research demonstrating the causative role of stress in illness and the interplay of emotions and immunity, most medical researchers and practitioners assume that physical causes can explain all diseases and that physical treatments - drugs, usually - are the only ones that count."

Grab your copy at Amazon.com

Chained to the Desk by Bryan Robinson

2011-01-17T10:25:00.000-08:00

Have you or someone you know ever been called a workaholic?

Workaholism is closely linked to stress. " Workaholics create stress and burnout for themselves and for their fellow workers, creating negative fallout in the form of low morale, disharmony, interpersonal conflicts, low productivity, ansenteeism due to the stress-related illnesses, loss of creativity and lack of team cooperation," writes Bryan Robinson in his book Chained to the Desk.

The book is intended for everybody who may be concerned about unhealthy work habits.

Author Bryan E. Robinson is a psychotherapist who has written extensively about work addiction. He defines the problem as "an obsessive compulsive disorder that manifests itself through self-imposed demands, an inability to regulate work habits, and an overindulgence in work to the exclusion of most other activities." Robinson adopts an addiction and family systems model to support his theories and treatment recommendations.

The book distinguishes between "hard work and workaholism," provides examination of cultural and environmental factors that support work addiction. Robinson discusses how many companies reinforce compulsive work with financial rewards to employees, the potential for career advancement, and other benefits not afforded "less productive" workers. Advances in communications technology have made it possible to stay in touch with the workplace at any time and from any location. And then there is our Puritan Ethic, which drives a relentless "nose to the grindstone" existence. As articulated throughout the book, this lifestyle all but eliminates leisure activities, hobbies, and meaningful time with family and friends.

The book offers many recommendations, starting with a "self-help" plan that strategically whittles away worktime in favor of substitute activities. The objective is not to eliminate the many joys that work brings but to achieve balance with other life pursuits. Accordingly, the author suggests strategies such as scheduling "time cushions" around appointments, limiting work hours, avoiding work "binges," practicing spontaneity instead of advanced planning, and managing time more efficiently. He also devotes many pages to cognitive-change methods for countering self-defeating beliefs and misattributions. In essence, his treatment philosophy is a reasonable combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy and behavioral activation mixed with a strong dose of commonsense.

Chained to the Desk is one of few books tackling the problem of work addiction, so the material is fresh, as seen through the eyes of a seasoned clinician.

Fried: Why You Burn Out and How to Revive by Joan Borysenko

2011-01-14T09:45:00.000-08:00

Joan Borysenko new book, Fried: Why You Burn Out and How to Revive is now available!

What happened to the spark you had as a child that powered curiosity, engagement with life, and creativity? Has it burned out? Are you feeling emotionally and physically exhausted and cynical, wondering if you've got what it takes to make it in this rapidly changing world?

Burnout looks a lot like depression, but it's not a biological bogeyman that medication or simple stress management can cure. It's a disorder of hope and will that sucks the life out of competent, idealistic, hardworking people like you; and it will be an ongoing challenge for you to take your power back!

In this timely and groundbreaking work, Joan straddles psychology, biology, and soul in a completely fresh approach to burnout. Her deeply human (and often amusing) personal accounts of burnout and recovery help convey a clear understanding of the science behind helplessness, hopelessness, and empowerment. Plus, the rich wisdom of people who have gone from fried to revived—including many of Joan's vibrant community of nearly 6,000 Facebook friends—makes this powerful and practical book a must-read for our times.

Grab your copy at Amazon.com and stop burnout right now! And better yet - prevent burnout!!!You deserve it!

The First 30 Days by Ariane de Bonvoisin

2010-12-29T11:48:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for an excellent guide to a lifetime of positive changes? The First 30 Days: Your Guide to Making Any Change Easier is the book you must have.

The one given in life is that things will change. Constantly. You won't always be in control of these changes, but you can control how you respond to them. This book provides some insight on how to respond positively to change, turning potential stressors into opportunities for growth and greater success. I consider this book a must-read.

Changing Your Attitude About Change

The First 30 Days, by Ariane de Bonvoisin, is an excellent read for anyone undergoing change in their life. The main theme of this book is that change need not be stressful, that crisis need not be overwhelming. Bonvoisin carries a comforting message, a reminder throughout the book, that each loss brings some gain, that every change brings an opportunity. While this may already be old news, the book does an excellent job of driving this point home by using numerous interesting and relatable examples of different people facing a variety of changes -- some challenging, some crushing -- and surviving them, coming through the experience as stronger people in the end. These stories, which are interspersed throughout, are personable and engaging, and provide a more experiential read. Follow-up questions and exercises at the end of each chapter create an almost interactive experience for the reader to take things deeper and truly use the book as a tool for change.

I recommend this book for anyone who is facing change in life and gets stressed.

Addicted to Stress: A Woman's 7 Step Program to Reclaim Joy and Spontaneity in Life by Debbie Mandel

2010-08-15T07:19:00.000-07:00

Women today rush from activity to activity with no time for rest or relaxation. They juggle an enormous amount of responsibility - but where is all of this pressure coming from? The presence of stress in our lives has become so familiar that we’re actually uncomfortable if we don’t have it. The need many women feel to constantly be doing something comes from within. It’s an addiction and a dangerous one. Chronic stress is an inflammatory process for both mind and body. Inflammation begins most disease processes and exacerbates them.

We have become stress-junkies. We need the adrenalin rush of accomplishment to feel good about ourselves, “Look what I can do. “ However, like any addiction the root cause is a lack of control, a loss of personal power and a fundamental unhappiness which avoids a confrontation with the self. And as you know, an addiction requires a bigger fix each time to keep that adrenalin rush going. The cycle is surge and crash. You feel depleted and fatigued; your immune system is compromised; you are pessimistic and irritable and worst of all, your bad mood is contagious to the family. Instead of acting like the calm assertive fixed point of a geometric compass around whom the family revolves, you are scary to behold, stressed-out.

It’s time to take back your power and turn stress into strength.

Debbie Mandel in her new book Addicted to Stress: A Woman's 7 Step Program to Reclaim Joy and Spontaneity in Life shows you how.

Eating for Beauty by David Wolfe

2010-07-09T01:33:00.001-07:00

As the old adage goes, to look young and naturally beautiful, you have to nurture your inside. Most fruits and vegetables are full of antioxidants and vitamins vital for good skin. Antioxidants are essential to help ward off free radicals that we encounter in our everyday lives. through smoking sunbathing, fried and junk food, infections, stress, radiation and polluted environments. All these elements make us age and by making sure we eat plenty of fruits and veg rich in antioxidants, we help slow down this process.

Fruits such as the superfoods blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, black plums, apples, red grapes are all rich in anti oxidants.

Veggies are also great source of antioxidants, because almost all contain one or more of the following: vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium and beta carotene, all hailed for having high antioxidant properties.

Dark orange, red, yellow and green vegetables, such as broccoli, kale, spinach, sweet potatoes, carrots, red peppers and yellow peppers, are all excellent sources of beta carotene also known as Vitamin A. This helps rejuvenate and protect the complexion, and it promotes efficient skin cell regeneration - important in order to maintain the skin's suppleness. It also works to block the sun's UV rays we are exposed to when outside too long

When you don't get enough of these, free radicals can do permanent damage to the skin, and this can lead to discoloration, dryness and those dreaded wrinkles. So feed your skin from the inside!

"Proper nutrition is an art. It is an art form. Every bite is a brush stroke. Every swallow is a new color. Each meal is a cloud or a tree or a flower a piece of the beautiful painting that you are becoming. You are becoming an ever more attractive work of art each day. You truly are a work of art in progress."

In Eating for Beauty , David Wolfe one of America's foremost nutrition experts, describes how to cleanse, nourish, and beautify by utilizing the benefits of a fresh-food diet. You can apply the lessons contained within this book to improve your appearance, vitality, and health.

Table of Contents:

* Introduction

* Lesson 1: Cosmic Beauty

* Lesson 2: Beauty Nutrition

* Lesson 3: The Acid/Alkaline Balance Simplified

* Lesson 4: The Three Food Classes

* Lesson 5: Elements of The Beauty Diet

* Lesson 6: Detoxification & Transformation

* Lesson 7: Alchemical Beauty Secrets (The Beauty Minerals)

* Lesson 8: Beautifying Foods

* Lesson 9: The Beauty Diet

* Lesson 10: Beauty Recipes

* Lesson 11: Body Beauty (Skin, Hair, Nails, Teeth, Eyes, Voice)

* Lesson 12: Yoga; Beauty Sleep

* Lesson 13: The Psychology of Beauty Consciousness

Beauty is the universal language. Whether it is skin-care, a fresh-food diet, vital energy, or any other facet of healthy living, David Wolfe is the authority. Contains over 100 full-color photos and illustrations and references the most unique and highest-quality natural beauty products in the world!

Get your copy of Eating for Beauty by David Wolfe

The PH Miracle: Balance Your Diet, Reclaim Your Health by Robert O. Young

2010-06-18T08:32:00.000-07:00

The bestselling diet and health program The pH Miracle: Balance Your Diet, Reclaim Your Health is now completely revised and updated. So, never count calories, fat grams, or food portions again! Say good-bye to low energy, poor digestion, extra pounds, aches and pains, and disease. Say hello to renewed vigor, mental clarity, better overall health, and a lean, trim body. The key? Your health depends on the pH balance of its blood;striking the right 80/20 balance between alkaline and acidic foods creates the optimum environment. Now this innovative, proven diet program works more effectively than ever with your body chemistry to help revitalize and maintain your health.

This new edition includes the latest information on living the pH lifestyle:

* New ways to cleanse and detox the system to improve your body's digestion and metabolism;

*The latest advice on ridding your body of harmful bacteria, yeast, and molds;

*New details on alkaline foods--tomatoes, avocados, and green vegetables-and how to mix them with mildly acidic foods like fish, grains, and certain fruits to create tempting and delicious meals;

*Adding the right types of water and salt to your diet--and the major difference they can make in your health;

*More than 35 delicious new recipes.

Get your coy at Amazon.com

The Stress-Eating Cure by Rachael F. Heller and Richard F. Heller

2010-06-14T02:55:00.000-07:00

Many dieters will see themselves in the portraits of overeaters presented in The Stress-Eating Cure: Lose Weight with the No Willpower Solution to Stress-Hunger and Cravings by Rachael F. Heller and Richard F. Heller, authors of the popular “Carbohydrate Addict” books.

The Hellers write in their new book about the anxiety-induced stress eater, the task-avoiding stress eater, the person who eats on the sly. They describe people whose overeating is triggered by social situations, those who eat to reward themselves for self-sacrifice and others who eat on the run, barely tasting their food.

The 11 types of stress eaters they identify have something in common, they say: Their overeating, cravings and weight gain are caused not by a lack of discipline and willpower but by a hormonal imbalance.

Unlike those whose bodies produce the right amount of hormones in the face of unpleasant circumstances, stress eaters -- who often are more sensitive to their environments -- respond to stress with “trigger-quick” hormonal reactions, the Hellers say. The hormones at play are ghrelin, serotonin, oxytocin and leptin as well as insulin, cortisol and adrenaline.

Each type of stress eater is prone to surges and deficiencies in these hormones in different combinations, the authors say. The Hellers offer a diet they say will help bring these hormones back into balance and relieve stress, plus behavioral modification programs that are tailored to each type.

Their multi-step diet is similar to those offered by many authors in the “your hormones are making you fat” camp (as well as others). They recommend eating a big breakfast, limiting “comfort foods” (starches, sweets, fruits, alcohol and saturated fats) and including protein in every meal and snack and non-starchy vegetables at lunch and dinner.

Their personalized behavior plans, or “cures,” for each type are nicely done, with useful ideas for regaining emotional balance -- whether you follow the hormonal connection or not.

For example, for the person who seeks out rich, high-fat foods to counteract the frustration they feel with the world’s inadequacies, they suggest instead a massage, a good talk with a friend, an act of kindness or time spent listening to pleasurable music. These things, they say, will reduce adrenaline and boost oxytocin, replacing feelings of aggression and power with those of comfort and connectiveness.

The Hellers have a personal connection to their subject that lends an empathetic and nonjudgmental tone to their writing.

Rachael Heller describes her “carbohydrate addiction” that had her once topping 300 pounds. Though she lost nearly 200 pounds, she still struggled with food cravings, she writes. This new stress-eating program, developed over a decade, was a breakthrough. The Hellers write that they are happy, healthy and slim living with it today.

Get your copy at Amazon.com

Change Your Brain Change Your Body by Daniel G. Amen

2010-06-09T05:36:00.000-07:00

Change Your Brain, Change Your Body by Daniel G. Amen, M.D. is a fabulous look at the science behind why we do or do not take better care of our bodies and what we can do about it. Dr. Amen looks in depth on many different subjects surrounding health and fitness of mind, body and spirit and gives examples and research to support his ideas.

His main focus as a doctor is the science of the brain. "Loving your brain is the first step toward getting the body you want."

His clinic does brain scans and from this information he looks at what areas of the brain are working too hard or not hard enough and asks 'why?' and 'what can be done about it?'. He comes from a holistic and natural mindset and likes to see if problems can be solved by nutrition, supplements and exercise rather than medications when possible or in conjunction with medications when they are needed.

The focus of the book is good brain health which leads to a healthier and (usually) thinner body. He explains how so many of us are not giving ourselves the best chance for success with health and weight management because of improper brain functioning that makes some changes almost impossible to make. His book offers suggestions and a wealth of information on how our nutrition choices help or sabotage us and why from a scientific perspective, and what we can do about it.

The book is easy to read and motivational. He helps one see how it can be much easier to achieve health than we think and makes you want to try.

The book talks about general brain health and chemistry and what different parts of the brain do, then he goes on to talk about weight management and health with topics such as cravings, nutrition, exercise, skin, hormones, heart, mental focus and energy, sleep, stress, memory and positive thinking. The appendices cover important numbers (such as how to calculate your BMI), supplements and his brain systems questionnaire which might lead you to understand your own brain functioning better without having an expensive brain scan.

If I have any criticism of the book it is its repetitiveness, but I think he has written the book in a format meant to be used as a reference material to be looked at again and again as needed and so each section addresses items that overlap and make the repetitiveness necessary. Besides, much of it bears repeating and some of us need to hear ideas repeated in different ways so that at least one will "stick".

This book is absolutely worth reading. Enjoy!

Get your copy HERE

Experience Your Good Now!: Learning to Use Affirmations by Louise Hay

2010-05-24T03:52:00.000-07:00

Louise Hay has just published a new book called, Experience Your Good Now!: Learning to Use Affirmations [With CD (Audio)] It contains everything you need to know - and I mean everything - about developing an affirmation practice, so I won't go into details here. She's the master of this process and I suggest you buy the book, study it from cover to cover, and listen to the CD (that comes with the book) every night for a minimum of thirty days. When you do, you'll discover the following benefits and so much more...

Starting and finishing your day with affirmations sets up a tone of self-care that permeates every area of your life.
You train your mind to look for what's good and you end up drawing more good toward you.
You feel better emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
You stay focused on the specific areas of your life that most need your attention and they improve.
You begin to see evidence that your thoughts really do have power.
You develop an unbendable faith in the power of your thoughts to direct the course of your life. As a result, you no longer feel like a victim to outside forces. You remember who's in the driver's seat.

Check out Louise's book, here.

Once you get Louise's book, be sure to listen to the CD. You will experience your good!

Six Weeks to Sleeveless and Sexy by JJ Virgin

2010-05-17T07:47:00.000-07:00

Summer is finally here…OK, almost....Its time to go sleeveless. BUT...are your arms ready?

You can’t hide them. You can’t run from them. When it’s summer, your arms are always on display.ALWAYS.

Today you can start loving your arms and all you need is a book Six Weeks to Sleeveless and Sexy: The 5-Step Plan to Sleek, Strong, and Sculpted Arms

A few tips from the book:

*You don’t have to give up your favorite foods, but make lateral shifts to healthier choices. That diet soda can become a refreshing lemon sparkling water.

*You don’t need to walk upwards of an hour a night in the heat as your cardio. Half that time will work if you do the cardio bursting techniques in the book. You’ll marvel and say, “Wait, my cardio is over…already?!”

*Your meals will be complete including a healthy protein, high fiber carb, healthy fat and veggies galore. You won’t even want to snack between meals because you truly won’t be hungry.

*You will have to relax! Yes, blame JJ Virgin, the author of the book for the fact that this season you will say no a few times to tasks and take care of yourself…for your own health.

*Say goodbye to pasty, rashy-looking arms. Once we tone them up, we’ll make them look Hollywood glam. Beauty squad in the book offers tips on exfoliating your arms and making them look extra credit bronze and gorgeous without baking in the hot sun. Experts advise you on how to pose for pictures so your arms look amazing and also what clothes to wear for your arms at all stages — and what clothes to skip because they make your arms look larger.

Grab your copy at Amazon

Stress Management A Holistic Approach by Subodh Gupta

2010-05-10T11:29:00.000-07:00

Many illnesses such as diabetes, migraine, asthma, ulcer and even cancer arise because of excessive stress over a period of time. This book presents a holistic and a practical five steps plan to managing stress in your life.

According to Subodh Gupta, the author of Stress Management A Holistic Approach “If there is a problem then there has to be a solution and this book is all about solution”. You may have any kind of problem or issue in your life, once you follow the 5 steps plan as described in this book you are on your way to stress free life.

This is a concise book of 80 pages, based on practical life experiences and it is to the point. The purpose of this book is that once you have finished reading it, you are ready to come out of your stressful situation no matter where you are in your life.

This book consists of 3 sections. The section 1 is about understanding of stress, why people are not able to solve their stress related problems, section 2 is about understanding and training the mind and section 3 is about acting upon the five steps plan for managing stress.

According to celebrity trainer Subodh Gupta, “The majority of people who get easily stressed are the ones who think too much about their problem”. He added that “People fail to realise that things don’t happen of their own, you have to make them happen. The problematic issue will be solved only if you take decision and follow consistent action.”

Get your copy at Amazon.com

The Shadow Effect by Deepak Chopra, Debbie Ford, Marianne Williamson

2010-05-04T09:40:00.000-07:00

Join Deepak Chopra, Debbie Ford and Marianne Williamson on a journey of transformation. For the first time ever, these three New York Times bestselling authors have joined together to shine light on this most provocative issue – the shadow.

The Shadow Effect will solve the mystery of why you do what you do. It will explain the hidden power of your unclaimed self and support you in returning to your true authentic expression.

In The Shadow Effect, Deepak Chopra illustrates our dualistic nature and gives a prescription for wholeness. Debbie Ford examines the birth of the shadow and the role the shadow has in sabotaging our success, relationships, diets, and dreams. And Marianne Williamson touches our hearts and minds with an exploration of the shadow and the soul.

This book is designed to support you in breaking free from repetitive patterns and self- defeating behaviors while illuminating your deeper heart and finding authentic compassion for yourself, others and the world. The courage to reclaim all of yourself is already within you.

Take this journey and reclaim your right to the life you were meant to live and be who you were meant to be. This book holds the power to transform your future.

Get your copy at Amazon.com

Clean: The Revolutionary Program to Restore the Body's Natural Ability to Heal Itself by Alejandro Junger

2010-04-29T02:44:00.000-07:00

In Clean, a New York City cardiologist and a leader in the field of integrative medicine, Dr. Alejandro Junger offers a major medical breakthrough. Dr. Junger argues that the majority of these common ailments are the direct result of toxic buildup in our systems accumulated through the course of our daily lives. As the toxicity of modern life increases and disrupts our systems on a daily basis, bombarding us through our standard American diet and chemical-filled environments, our ability to handle the load hasn’t accelerated at the same rapid pace. The toxins are everywhere, but Clean offers a solution.

Clean is an M.D.’s program that provides all the tools necessary to support and reactivate our detoxification system to its fullest capabilities, and can be easily incorporated into a busy schedule. The effect is transformative: nagging health problems will suddenly disappear, extra weight will drop away, and for the first time in our lives we will experience what it truly means to feel healthy.

Every day spent on the Clean program is a major step in healing not just the symptom but the root of the problem, effectively and simply. Dr. Junger’s life-changing program restores what rightfully belongs to you—your health, vitality, and peace of mind.

To purchase 'Clean' the book please visit Amazon.com

Becoming a Calm Mom: How to Manage Stress and Enjoy the First Year of Motherhood

2010-04-22T09:52:00.000-07:00

Having a new baby is a life-changing event that brings both delight and doubt in its wake. All new moms have thoughts such as

Why can't I soothe my baby?
Are other new moms handling motherhood better than I am?
Is it selfish to want time for myself now that I have a baby who needs me?
Will my partner and I ever stop squabbling now that baby makes three?

These kinds of thoughts can lead even the most confident women to feel stressed out and anxious.

Becoming a Calm Mom balances scientifically sound techniques from an experienced cognitive–behavioral therapist with friendly advice from fellow new moms to help moms successfully overcome the self-doubt that so often arrives along with their first bundle of joy.

Author Deborah Roth Ledley is a mother of two and a clinical psychologist who specializes in anxiety disorders and works with new mothers. In this book she introduces six simple strategies to handle the inevitable stress we all experience during the first year of motherhood.

Becoming a Calm Mom Toolbox includes strategies for healthy thinking, behavior, communication, and decision-making, as well as relaxation skills and approaches to nurturing existing and new relationships.

Rather than simply giving advice, Becoming a Calm Mom teaches skills to help new moms function better, and gain more enjoyment from this exciting stage of life.

Get your copy at Amazon.com

It's Not the End of the World: Developing Resilience in Times of Change by Joan Borysenko

2010-04-19T05:17:00.000-07:00

„The world is in crisis . . . but "we" don't have to be”, states Dr. Joan Borysenko, author of the new book, "It's Not the End of the World: Developing Resilience in Times of Change "

We all know resilient people who bounce back from hardship and create their best lives. That's the promise of change.

Other people stress out and melt down, losing hope and health. That's the "danger" in times of change.

The good news is that resilience isn't a genetic gift for the lucky few--it's an easily understood skill that anyone can practice and master. Resilient individuals face reality head-on, take action, find deeper meaning in life, laugh often, and are masters of improvisation. A new kind of natural selection is already having its way with us. As change and uncertainty escalate, those who are prone to stress will be less able to compete, but hopeful, stress-hardy people will rule the world.

Dr. Joan's new book is a helpful and calming companion for these challenging times, it is the tool chest needed to step into a bold new future that works for us all! I highly recommend it.

Get your copy at Amazon.com

For more book recommendations click HERE.

Food 2.0: Secrets From the Chef Who Fed Google by Charlie Ayers

2010-04-16T06:40:00.000-07:00

Can better eating habits help you take fewer medications? According to Charlie Ayers, former Google head chef and author of Food 2.0: Secrets from the Chef Who Fed Google, the answer is yes. "My medicine is food," says Ayers. "Doctors should teach nutrition in this country and not pharmaceutical addiction."

He offers these tips for eating your way to better health:

- Eat five small meals a day, so you aren't famished by 1:00 and eating everything in sight. Include plenty of raw foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables.
- When traveling, pack an emergency supply of nuts, fruit rollups or natural smoked jerky to help you resist the urge to have something unhealthy.
- Replace heavy salad dressings with lemon juice and cold expeller-pressed olive oil.
- Include fermented foods, such as yogurt, sauerkraut and pickled beets, in your diet for their immune-boosting benefits.
- When buying organic, look for the gold seal of organic certification, Oregon Tilth Certified Organic (OTCO). If you can't buy organic, "pesticide-free" is the next best thing.

Get your copy of the book at Amazon.com

Life! By Design by Tom Ferry

2010-03-29T09:02:00.000-07:00

Whether your interests are charting a new course for your family or business, it's time to start leading your "life by design"...and with Life! By Design: 6 Steps to an Extraordinary You by Tom Ferry book, you can do just that.

In his no-nonsense style, Tom reveals the "Four Addictions" and how you can rid them from your life. (You're going gain a lot of insight when you read what Tom believes the "Four Addictions" actually are.)

Life! By Design by Tom Ferry is based off of 20,000 hours of Tom coaching clients on choosing to have a life—by design. It's full of valuable and unforgettable lessons that I personally benefited from reading. His insight is unprecedented about what stops people from truly living a life that they really love.

Whatever you desire, Life! By Design will help you get there.

Love, Medicine and Miracles by Bernie Siegel

2010-03-25T05:37:00.000-07:00

All surgeons do not use knives and scalpels, rather many practice a holistic approach -- "love, medicine, and miracles."

Bernie Siegel in his book Love, Medicine and Miracles: Lessons Learned About Self-Healing from a Surgeon's Experience With Exceptional Patients writes just such a book that every home should have. He shares his factual experiences with exceptional patients, who through much of his efforts, learn valuable lessons about self-healing. Much of Siegel's experiences shared in his "love heals teaching," evolved from his founding ECaP, a group of exceptional cancer and AIDS patients.

Directing the reader to the causes of many of the diseases in the first of two parts in his book, Dr. Siegel helps bring clarity to the reason for these illnesses -- the body embodied by the mind. And after the discovery of the problem, Siegel, in part two, assists the patient to the pathways that in many instances restore total and complete health. Even in death, the author reveals lessons that can only be a must for all.

Imagine mental imagery as a means to begin a process of healing -- a female patient turns household chores into healing moments by imagining that her dishwashing suds are washing away her disease. All of the miracles, whether little or small, seem to germinate from unconditional love, especially the processes of forgiveness and transcending fear! Many of the patients are now living lives of endless fruition and Divine peace through "love, medicine, and miracles."

. . .The affinity of love with medicine can work miracles because the reader and patient find out that "There is no disease that enough love cannot heal . . . " "LOVE IS THE MIRACLE CURE!"

Terrence Maurice Cummings

Get your copy of the book at BiggerBooks.com

Guide to Intuitive Healing by Judith Orloff

2010-03-19T05:50:00.000-07:00

Dr. Judith Orloff's Guide to Intuitive Healing presents a revolutionary argument for the integration of intuition and classical forms of Western medicine. She passionately believes that "the future of medicine lies in the integration of our body's subtle energy system, the wedding of heart and mind." Intuitive Healing offers such a marriage. In her vigorous and caring voice, Dr. Orloff explains how intuition can be used to heal our bodies through pain control and early self-diagnosis; our emotions and relationships by breaking through stress and depression; and our overall vitality by embracing our sexuality as a vital energy source.

This groundbreaking audio book, geared to health-care professionals and general audiences alike, legitimizes intuition as a dynamic therapeutic tool.

Get your copy at BiggerBooks.com

Baltic Phrasebook

2010-03-15T07:13:00.000-07:00

Converse with the locals in their own language as you explore the fascinating Baltic countries.

Sample some Latvian pîragi, ride a trolliga around Talinn and know what to do when someone shouts Iðgeriam! or Iki dugno! In Lithuania. Packed with tips and cultural information, this handy phrasebook will help you make the most of your Baltic travel adventure.