#wcw

Sippin’ my tea……

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lipton-tea-city-of-animals

Rules for Living

The Japanese previously held the #1 spot on the World Health Statistics for life expectancy until giving way to the French in 2015.
Just from casual observation, one would regard the Japanese woman as typically slender and healthy. What’s their secret?

Tea has been a mainstay in Japanese society since ancient times. According to history, Japan was introduced to Tea by the Buddhist monks returning from China around the 9th century. Tea became a drink of the priestly classes.
A few centuries later, Tea had become a religion itself, especially in terms of the Tea ceremony, a ritual which remains to this day. It is now the preferred beverage in Japan.

So what is my point?

Green Tea appears to be the miracle beverage of health and longevity.
Traditional Medicine and alternative health professionals rave about it. Most see Green Tea consumption as the answer to many modern illnesses and a key to prevention. It is full of antioxidants-cancer killing substances that protect the cells from damage and-Wait For It— Aging!

In terms of weight loss, Green Tea has properties that impact metabolism and fat loss via the nervous system.

France was a pioneer in the coffee trade and considered a coffee culture. However over the years, the French have become more health conscious along with their “joie de vivre” which has translated into an affinity for the life giving properties of tea.
Hmmm, drinking water and drinking Green Tea. Pretty simple.

We shall see…

Retrieved from:
https://authoritynutrition.com/green-tea-and-weight-loss/

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26962095

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“The only person who can pull me down is myself, and I’m not going to let myself pull me down anymore.” C. JoyBell C.

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Plus-Size-Model-Ashley-Graham-Shows-Off-Curves-In-The-Sports-Illustrated-Swimsuit-Issue-Ad1-542x800
Ashley Graham’s cover on Sports Illustrated is a huge success for the plus size and body positive community. Her voluptuous presentation for the venerated swimsuit edition may have sexist overtones but it is a healthier view for all to see.

As a distributor with It Works Global, I have seen firsthand how a negative self-image can ruin personal development and fitness goals. When women see images in the media that portray them as sex objects or props its bad enough. What is worse is having these images become so ingrained that it is sometimes an uphill battle for women to make positive changes because they feel they will never look like the Maxim babes!

However, once women see their beauty improving from the inside- out through science and nutrition, they begin to appreciate the beauty that God has already blessed them with! They are eager to make the most of their endowments. A desire for change is all it takes!

After 15 years in the beauty industry as a makeup artist, it is so rewarding to help women restore their self -esteem in a lasting way. I hope you will consider checking it out!
http://www.prettybodysfl.com

When you are able to see yourself in the mirror first thing in the morning and feel good about what you see…..It is life changing!

When I was around 18, I looked in the mirror and said, ‘You’re either going to love yourself or hate yourself.’ And I decided to love myself. That changed a lot of things.
Queen Latifah

If you believe……

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black-women-on-the-run-mondays-motivation-20151104222239-563a852f22b93.jpgstrengthen

We are 6 days into the New Year 2016! We have made our resolutions and plan. We are working on our Vision Boards, signing up for fitness classes or going back to school. We are on the move!
This Women Crush Wednesday is about ……Us! Every woman reading this has something about herself that she can and should be proud of. However, many of us do not receive the cheers and accolades that we deserve so we often think that we are not good enough. Or we strive so hard to please because we are seeking affirmation and we come up short.

Stop being so hard on yourself!

As I was putting my thoughts together for this post, I began to think of all the women who affirmed me over the years, who encouraged me to believe in myself and to honor my femininity. My mother is definitely chief of them. I mention my mom because as I began writing this morning, I remembered a song that she played often, during Clean up Saturday. Yes, we had a name for a day where you started at 9 am, cleaning your room and doing chores before you could do anything else.

While I lay sound asleep in my comfy bed,with visions of going outside to play with my friends on a sunny Saturday, all of a sudden loud music would blast throughout the house. A kind of call to arms. I hated it.

I mention this because I remember while scrubbing tile in the bathroom Saturday mornings, there was a song that my mom often played from The Wiz ,a Broadway musical which was recently recreated and shown on television this past Holiday season. This song helped me make peace with my lot. It encouraged me as I planned my escape to adulthood, where you did not have to clean your house if you didn’t feel like it! I believe this is sung by the character Glenda the Good Witch to Dorothy. These words rang in my head as I began writing to us, women and girls, all around the world today:

Believe in yourself, right from the start, Believe in the magic that’s inside your heart. Believe all these things, not because I told you too. But believe in yourself as I believe in you.

Go get it! Be you, boo! You are a Queen! You are the Princess of your realm! Have an Awesome Day!

She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. Proverbs 31:26

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Melinda Gates has become the world’s most powerful person to focus her attention solely on women and girls. As co-founder with her husband, the Gates Foundation is the world’s largest charitable foundation, with a $41.3 billion endowment. Mrs.Gates told Forbes Magazine (Nov 2015), that in order to fight poverty, “you have to put women and girls at the center”.

The Gates Foundation focuses on initiatives that address the world’s most vulnerable women and girls. In the past three years, Melinda Gates has announced a new initiative on family planning and universal birth control access, she is involved with programs on maternal and infant health, educational opportunities for girls, and initiatives encouraging micro-entrepreneurship among women.

Thank you Melinda Gates! You go girl!

http://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinehoward/2015/11/23/the-first-woman-of-women-how-melinda-gates-became-the-worlds-most-powerful-advocate-for-women-and-girls/

“Find A Zen Space In Your Mind, Even If It’s Just Singing To Yourself. Just Pass The Time And Keep A Steady Breath.” Misty Copeland

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Misty Copeland stands at a mere 5 feet 2 inches, which is considered quite short for a ballerina. She began her training in ballet at age 13, which is considered a late age to start.

Her story is remarkable as she no doubt endured many obstacles before becoming the 1st African American woman to be named principal dancer with the American Ballet Theater.

Yet, it was Misty’s determination and perseverance that allowed her to achieve her goals.
An inspiration for all girls, young and old.

If you believe it, you can achieve it.

#WCW and Etcetera

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May the Beauty [favor] of The Lord our God rest on us. Yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90:17

May the Beauty [favor] of The Lord our God rest on us. Yes, establish the work of our hands.
Psalm 90:17

We are adding a new spot, Woman Crush Wednesday!

Mammograms
Yes, mammograms! Last month, new guidelines came out from the American Cancer Society that are somewhat confusing. Basically saying, if you are 40 or so, get a mammogram if you feel like it.
Recently, I had a client share a relatively scary mammogram experience that turned out to be completely benign, but left her a bit freaked out(this is not an academic paper, c’mon)!
New Guidelines suggest women 25-54 get regular mammograms. However as the early 40’s are considered a low risk for breast cancer, the ACS recommends starting annual mammograms at 45. Okay?
On the other hand, women in their 40’s show a high risk of false positives in screening and have been put through cancer detection technologies, such as biopsies, only to be told “it was a false alarm, sorry to put you through all that”. Hmmm.
That is what my client was told after her ”mammo from hell” as she calls it. Miss Shapely, is a full cup and aside from the awkward positons for mammography, having her full breasts smashed in the machine is not cool either. It reminds me of medieval medicine, the Breast Crucible, sorry I digress… Anyway full breasts are denser which makes tumors harder to spot in imaging. Miss Shapley was requested to make 2 additional visits for imaging, wait for results and then scheduled for a possible biopsy. Eek! Thankfully, the primary care doctor, required by her insurance, stepped in and they found there was no cause for alarm, just technicians preferring to be on the safe side. I mean, it wouldn’t be their bit of flesh for a cancer test.

Better safe than sorry, right? Not according to a CNN report:

There’s the risk of a false positive, plus the risk that a mammogram could catch a very small breast cancer that will go away on its own, or never progress to the point that it hurts a woman. In other words, a mammogram could catch a tumor that isn’t really worth catching.
But since doctors can’t reliably discern the harmful from the harmless cancers, they treat them all. This means some women are getting potentially harmful treatments, such as radiation, chemotherapy and surgery, when their tumor would never have caused a problem.

Personally, I think the American Cancer Society is right to lessen the frequency of mammograms in certain ages because at the same time, it should be between a woman and her doctor to determine; based on family history and other factors.
Bottom line? Start getting your mammograms early; 25 to 39 years, every year. At 40, you will have a good history of your breast health and early detection will be in your favor.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/20/health/new-acs-breast-cancer-screening-guidelines/