Breathe Deep, Calm Down, Lighten Up
Aromatherapy may not miraculously melt away the pounds, but there are heaps of evidence that aroma effects mood. And we all know how mood effects our eating!
What is aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy means "treatment through senses." It is based on the ancient ritual of using essential oils to heal by "therapeutically" stimulating the nasal/olfactory senses through fragrance.
Aromatherapy can fight stress, soothe the mind and lighten your mood. The association between smell and emotion are closely linked, and breathing in pleasurable scents can elicit positive responses in the brain, resulting in a sense of well-being.
Aromatherapy can also lessen our food cravings! A recent study at the St. George’s Hospital in London showed that vanilla might aid in weight loss. Overweight people who wore vanilla-scented skin patches reported that they ingested smaller amounts of sweets. Catherine Collins, a state registered dietician, concluded (although not proven in a clinical setting) that strongly scented sweet vanilla candles or essence may have a similar effect. (My home smells like a Vanilla Factory!)
And - by massaging the appropriate essential oils into the skin - physically, aromatherapy can ease aches and pains, heal burns and even - some say - diminish cellulite! (What?? Did you say diminish cellulite?)
Here are a few aromatherapy suggestions from OLofWL that you can either add to your bath, massage into your skin, inhale directly (put a few drops on a handerchief) or diffuse the scent into an entire room. Ahhhh....
To combat Sweet Cravings try vanilla.
Good Stress Beaters are jasmine, ylang ylang, grapefruit, lavendar, rose and mandarin.
Need a Spirit Kick? Breathe in jasmine.
Lift Depression with lemon, grapefruit, jasmine, ylang-ylang, orange, helichrysum.
For greater Self-Acceptance try jasmine, vetiver, frankincense, sandalwood, bergamot.
To reach the Heights of Happiness indulge in grapefruit, orange, rose, lemon, ylang-ylang, and sandalwood.
AND ... last but not least - drum roll please ...
The Cellulite Essentials are
Geranium, Juniper, Lemon, Clary Sage, Grapefruit, and Fennel.
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Righteous Recipe - RED LENTIL CURRY
In keeping with this week's theme - AROMA - I wanted to cook something that was fragrant. Not only did this dish fill the air with tantalizing smells, but another big hit was born. (One person who shall remain nameless - but whose initials are PW - had four portions!)
Ingredients:
2 teaspoons olive oil
1
cup sliced green onions
1 cubed potato
3
cloves garlic, minced
2
tablespoons minced fresh ginger
2
teaspoons curry powder
1/2
teaspoon ground cumin
1/2
teaspoon ground turmeric
2
cups water
2
cans (about 14 ounces) stewed tomatoes, undrained
1/2
teaspoon salt
1
cup red lentils
1
large head cauliflower (about 1-1/4 pounds), broken into florets
2
tablespoons lemon juice |
Directions:
Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat until hot.
Add onions, potato, garlic, ginger, curry, cumin and turmeric; cook and stir 5 minutes.
Add water, stewed tomatoes and salt; bring to a boil over high heat.
Meanwhile, rinse lentils under cold running water, picking out any debris or blemished lentils. Add lentils to saucepan. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 35 to 40 minutes or until lentils are tender. Add cauliflower and lemon juice. Cover and simmer 8 to 10 minutes more or until cauliflower is tender.
Prepare Basmati Rice - one of the most fragrant.
Spoon lentil mixture over Basmati Rice. Garnish,
if desired.
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Fruitful Contest ~ Fill in the blank: People who can not smell have a condition called _______.
The first to enlighten Our Lady wins an Our Lady of Weight Loss prize!
Write Our Lady.
Last week's Fruitful query: Fill in the blank: Once upon a time, there was a little girl who lived in a village near the forest. Whenever she went out, the little girl wore a red riding cloak, so everyone in the village called her ________________.
The answer is Little Red Riding Hood. Congratulations to Cetta from
Lyndhurst, Ohio for being the first to enlighten Our Lady!
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Chewing the Fat - How you doin'? Write Our Lady.
Forgive me, for I have sinned.
I entered the Land of the Big Mac and ordered in kind.
Big Mac, Fries, Supersize me, please! Yes! Large!
Apple Pie, why not! I am now filled with remorse and fear. Fear of fat as well as mad cow disease.
Save me from myself, please.
All is Forgiven * Move On.
Send your confession to info@ourladyofweightloss.com.
No Names - Strictly Anonymous |
Dear OLofWL,
What a great explanation and use of Feng Shui (KICK #5). Just got back from our Target. They have their dark blue dinnerware on clearance. Bought 8 plates and will think of you everytime I use them! Had a question on the recipe. In the ingredients you use sour cream and cottage cheese, but in the directions you mention cream cheese and cottage cheese. Which do you prefer? We've all been hungry for mac & cheese, so I'm going to try to have this for dinner tonight. Can hardly wait for your artwork and article. Keep 'em coming!! ~ Ida Jo
Dear Ida Jo, Glad you liked last week's KICK - Feng Shui Red! Enjoy your dark blue plates. As for the recipe blunder - Oops! I meant to list low-fat sour cream and low-fat cottage cheese in the Mac & Cheese recipe - not cream cheese. It must have been a Freudian slip! ~ OLofWL
* * *
Dear OLofWL, I love your art work and being a Red Hatter, thought for sure, before today's art work loaded, it would be a red hatter. Do hope you will do one. There are close to a million of us out there and I'm sure some might need your help.
Thanks Much! ~ Vanessa Luce in Johnson City, Texas
Dear Vanessa, Please tell all the Red Hatters to keep an eye open. There's a KICK in the TUSH headin' their way!! Thanks for the brilliant idea and your complimentary email. I'm so glad you like my art! ~ OLofWL
* * *
Dear OLofWL, As of last week, I've lost 11.5 lbs. I need to
really get my tush in gear and start walking. I
don't know why I can't get myself motivated.
When I do go out, I love it! We live near a
little lake (or big pond..) and I love to feed
the ducks and walk along the shore enjoying the
outdoors. I need to set a "start" date, and just
do it. ~ PPM, Greensboro, NC
Dear PPM,Congratulations on your weight loss. It sounds like you live in an idealic, magical place! You must take advantage of it. If all you need is a starting date, I'll give you one. Right now - today!! Let us know how it goes. ~ OLofWL
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The Art of Weight Loss Workshop
Interested in joining the next Six Week Workshop?
Gain insight into your inner Weight Loss Artist ™while steadily shedding pounds.
From weight loss mantras to songs to sacrificial Twinkies. When it comes to permanent fat removal, thinking outside of the donut box is key!
What's Your Weight Loss Mantra?
You need to insert a pause somewhere between seeing the donut and eating the donut. A few meaningful words that give you a moment to think this donut thing through may give an opportunity to make another choice. My Weight Loss Mantra is "STOP! In the name of love."
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The Art of Weight Loss is a six-week workshop that is dedicated to approaching weight loss from a creative place. We will share weight-loss thoughts, frustrations, successes, recipes, and find creative ways, both literally and figuratively, to redirect our feeding frenzies. You need not have an artistic bone in your body - just the desire to have some fun.
Here's what one participant had to say!
" As I was walking along 3rd Avenue this morning, passing all those yummy bakeries and thinking that I really need to take a different route for my daily walks,"my song" popped into my head. I started humming "HELP" by the Beatles. By the time my walk was completed I was singing it out loud and chuckling to myself. It worked!!! I didn't buy even one crumb. Hooray for me! ~ Leslie J-M."
IF YOU ARE NOT able to attend group meetings but wish to be a part of it, please read on.
There will be a weekly goodie bag filled with some very cool handouts that can be snail-mailed to you.
For more info... click here or
contact: info@ourladyofweightloss.com
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The KICK in the TUSH Club provides a weekly reminder in the form of an Art-KICK for those who wish to anchor themselves to their weight loss and/or health goals (or for those who need to satisfy their craving for a quirky kick). It's fun, fab and fat-free. Sign-up now (there's no charge). Click here! Our Lady. (Or send an email to: info@OurLadyofWeightLoss.com) and say, "YES! I need a KICK in the TUSH.
 
Sign up now!
It's fun, fab and fat-free -
no charge either.
This way to the boutique!
Volume II, KICK #6™©
Janice Taylor
www.OurLadyofWeightLoss.com™®
a Division of Oy-Caramba, Ltd!
Interested in reprinting the KICK in the TUSH or licensing the art?
Contact: info@ourladyofweightloss.com
Our Lady of Weight Loss has been recommended by:
The New York Daily News,
The Arizona Republic Newspaper,
SKIRT! Magazine,
Energy Express, Tribune Media Co., Herbs for Health,
Good Housekeeping and more...
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Disclaimer: This column is for information only and no part of its contents should be construed as medical advice, diagnosis, recommendation or endorsement by Our Lady of Weight Loss, Oy-Caramba, Ltd! or Ms. Taylor.
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