Renata Petecka was her name. She was originally from Poland but recently moved to Westchester, after living in the Hamptons for years and managing a day spa. She gave me her healthy eating shpeal: She had health problems including high cholesterol and she was a sugar addict for years. She healed her body by learning to eat the right foods — and lost weight at the same time. Then, she studied at the Institute For Integrative Nutrition in New York and became a nutrition and health coach.

She was tall, thin and lovely — and the thought crossed my mind, ‘My butt might never look as small as hers, but I still wanted her nutrition secrets.’ Next I start scheming and wondered: Maybe I can become friends with her and pick her brain about how to lose 10 pounds in the next few months!  Well, it turns out Renata was open to helping out a girl who, like her, was new to Westchester. We started to meet every week, and here is what I’ve learned so far:

Greens Are My Best Friend
Greens are nature’s super food. Rich in nutrients and low in calories, we can eat as much as we want and not worry about counting calories or staying thin and healthy. O.K., they are not as fun to eat as Ju Ju Beans or chocolate, but they do give you boost of energy and fill you up at the same time. The key is to make it a central part of your meal plan and your plate each day.

Smoothie It Up

The best way to start the day is with a smoothie. But not just any smoothie — one that combines both greens like kale or spinach and any combo of fruit. I know, you’re a little scared of what it might taste like. It actually gives you tons of energy, tastes great and fills you up till lunchtime. Here’s Renata’s recipe: one cup of spinach and one cup of kale, a cup of frozen or fresh fruit, one banana, one tablespoon of flax seeds and a cup of water.

There’s Protein in Fruits and Vegetables

I’ve always thought that protein comes from meats, chicken or fish. It turns out the meat industries pour money into advertising and lobbyists so we believe that! What Renata told me was that the best sources of protein are greens like broccoli and leafy greens like Swiss chard, because they are not loaded with fats. I know, that’s tough to hear — I love a good Romanian steak and I thought Atkins was the way to go to lose weight fast. But to get real healthy, we should only be eating 25 grams of protein per day. That’s the size of 5 nickels! When we eat too many proteins, we introduce too much acidity into the body. Germs and bacteria love acidic environments. So, when our diet is too acidic it can be the cause of a range of health problems from minor inflammations to serious cancers.

It’s All About The Hummus, Baby

Renata is suggesting I replace my chicken and meats with proteins like beans, and hummus. (Or pronounced “chumus”, for you real semetics.) And now for lunch, I make a large whole wheat wrap with tons of veggies and humus. It fills me up and the veggies give me a good boost of energy. Here’s a great olive hummus recipe: Blend 2 cans of chick peas, ¼ cup raw sesame seeds, ¼ cup lemon juice, 1 garlic clove, peeled, 1 teaspoon cumin, 6 olives, pinch of salt.

Between a smoothie in the morning and chumus wrap for lunch, I’m feeling leaner, energized and my backside isn’t looking too bad either!  Renata still have to meet to go over dinner and dessert options — so I’ll keep you posted as I keep learning from my new friend.

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HealthyStyleNY just reposted a blog post on 5 Ways to Think Happy…It’s a great reminder for the new year. Here it is below!

We all know that life spent navigating the hectic pace of New York City can be overwhelming, even frustrating. I ran into a friend the other day, and when I asked how she was doing, I got a shrug and an “eh…” like she was some crotchety old grandpa about to tell me about her sciatica. Apparently the city had been wearing on her. But why let it be a buzzkill? Life is way too short to be kvetchy.

If you ask me, Groucho Marx had it right: “Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead; tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it.”

Of course, we’re only human; I, too, get into ruts, succumb to fits of rage and have my fair share of meltdowns. I am Jewish, after all, and I fight my neurotic, negative tendencies every day. I think Moses must have included these lovely traits with the Ten Commandments when he passed them down to my people.

Here are some techniques that keep me focused on happy, calming thoughts. And yes, unicorns, rainbows and cute little black dresses are included. Read post here!

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I recently had lunch with a friend who is in her early forties and got married just a few months ago. A couple years ago, we would meet every week and read through the book, “Calling in the One” together. Over coffee and sushi we both worked through our “issues” and eventually attracted good men in this city. At our lunch, we reminisced about how many walls we had up and attitudes we carried around with us as we dated.

Many single girls go up to my friend now and ask her, “How did you finally get married at 40?!” “What magic did you pull out of your skinny jeans?” Of course, we both have many lessons to share! Here are a few:

Don’t Think You Know it All: Stay open and present on your first date or two. Don’t assume you know EVERYTHING about the guy, just because he’s a banker or teacher and does that thing with his hands. Don’t peg him into a category– you will just cut yourself off from possibilities. Instead, let him show you who he really is and surprise you! Stay open. No one is always what they seem — especially on the first few dates!

Don’t Lie to Yourself: Many girls say they want to be in a good relationship, yet they keep dating the guy who is ready to run for the hills at any moment. You know, the guy who says he’s going to call, but doesn’t. The guy who tells you you’re really hot, but isn’t ready for a real relationship, and god forbid, marriage! You obviously don’t really want a relationship yourself if you’re dating the unavailable guy so get real and honest.

It’s All About You: The only real relationship is the one with yourself. Treat yourself how you want to be treated. You come first. Everything starts with you. How many different ways can I say this? The guy is just a mirror, showing you how you really feel about yourself. Perfect the relationship with yourself (or get as close as possible) and find happiness on your own, then it can bleed into your relationship. Clean your side of the street first!

Dating is a fine art in NYC. As much as I love Hilary’s blog, don’t get stuck in the negative chatter. There are great men in this city. You can find love at any age. Everything is possible! Say that fives time fast, 20 times a day and you won’t need the medication.  Though a little bourbon every now and then doesn’t hurt.

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But the truth is that the first Pilgrims who came to America couldn’t survive without help from the Natives, so they perished. When the second wave of Pilgrims sailed to America, the Indians decided to help them and showed them how live off the land.  They taught them how to hunt, what to eat, how to survive the cold, build huts and much more. So today, we give thanks to the Indians and also to the land for providing a feast! And any day filled with eating is a good day for me!

When we are grateful for what we have, no matter how big or small, we are blessed with more. My friends and I email each other every morning with a list of all the things we are grateful for!

It looks something like this…

1. I am grateful for this day.

2. I am grateful for hot showers.

3. I am grateful for the fall season and all its colors.

4. I am grateful I had the best sushi lunch yesterday at Sasebune.

5. I am grateful for naps.

6. I am grateful for accupuncture.

7. I am grateful for my boyfriend and our new home.

8. I am grateful for family support.

9. I am grateful that I was calm and easy going today!

10. I am grateful for not disturbing the neighbors while belting RENT songs in the shower. (I did say the little things count too.)

When you create a list like this each morning and send it to your friends, it starts your day off right and keeps you positive! You focus on what you have versus what you don’t have.  And remember, whatever we focus on grows.

At the same time, being grateful for our challenges and low points is just as important! In order to propel ourself to a higher place, we have to go to a lower places. If you look back, all the difficult moments eventually brought you or will bring you to a better place!

So what are you grateful for today?

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Louie Schwartzberg is an award-winning cinematographer, director, and producer who gave this inspiring Ted talk about gratitude! It has some amazing footage and will inspire you this evening — and give you a good night’s sleep!

“You think it’s just another day in your life? It’s the one day that is given to you today. It’s given to you…it’s a gift and its the only gift you have right now and the only appropriate response is gratefulness.”

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As a child, I loved making decisions by flipping a coin. Heads or tales, “Which guy should I sit next to at lunch?” I would ask myself. Coin flipping backfired after a while when I found myself sitting next to my French teacher, who didn’t appreciate my overtly “friendly” nature.

Later in college, I used my analytic skills to handle my forks in the road — making lists and calculating risks. My decisions were created from equations, which didn’t work well either. During sophomore year, my calculations led me to break the heart of my long-time boy friend and move out of the country for a year. Needless to say, neither my boyfriend or mother were thrilled with me.

Today, I still struggle with indecision now and then, and what path to take, personally and professionally. It doesn’t help that we live in a time with infinite choices, information and potential directions — which can perplex the most focused people.

Barksdale is a sweet, soulful and wise African American woman who defied all odds in her working class community to become a successful businesswoman and founder of a top home care services corporation.

She writes, “One of the most important elements of success–both in life in general and in business in particular–is making use of your intuition. Trusting your instincts, listening what your gut tells you to do, may not always be entirely accurate, but my experience suggests that even when it’s not right–and it usually is–it can intimately
lead you in the most useful direction.”

Barksdale trusted her instincts and it lead her to take out loans to start her own business — even when she needed to support her family and pay for her kids’ college educations. But, her instincts were dead on and eventually her to create a profitable and extremely successful business. Many business women and men are more interested in their spreadsheets to help guide and grow their businesses, which can be big mistake in the end. Our instincts are our inner compass and the best guide we have.

How do know when you’re listening to your instincts or that crazy voice in your head that should be sent away for treatment? Your instincts come from your heart and your gut area. They are subtle and feel like a gentle pull. The way to feel your instincts is to sit still, not force an answer and just relax. When we are nervous or filled with anxiety — the right answers won’t be clear.

These days, I’m sitting still often and listening to my intuition before making any rash decisions about boyfriends or my career. I feel less anxious when questions present themselves. I know that if I stay calm, patient and listen to that heart of mine, I’ll be headed exactly where I need to go. Hopefully this time, it won’t tell me to flee the country.

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At 49, Cindy was “discovered” on the streets of New York City and asked to pose for a Dolce and Gabbana ad. Next thing she knew, she was signed up with Ford modeling agency and having a blast as a model at midlife. Cindy made me realize that you can get even more beautiful as you age — with the right attitude. O.K., the right “diet” probably helps too!

Cindy’s personality exudes positivity. She is always wide-eyed, happy and open when speak with her. I have no doubt that it was her awesome attitude that “attracted” her modeling opportunities and reinvented her life after 45! What’s even more exciting is that she is now starting her own make up line called, “Boom” for baby boomers that is taking off!

The right attitude holds the secret to success, beauty and reinvention at any age, I say. Check out Cindy and her story on the recent news report below, in this Yahoo video and see if you agree!

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I constantly run into opinionated people. Whether about politics, music, food or caring about puppies — everyone has a strong opinion about something! We see these opinions in the press, blogs and on T.V. every minute of the day. The louder people rant, the more they get noticed.

The other day, I came across a friend of a friend who went on and on about the protests on Wall Street and how everyone banker is a (expletive). Well, maybe he was right about some bankers. But I could tell this person was in pain and uncomfortable. He was breathing heavy and I could see the veins on his head twitching. It made me wonder: Are opinions bad for our mental and spiritual health?

I did a little research in the Eastern Philosophy texts (AKA Google search) and discovered  that the problem with opinions is that they are not facts. People take their opinions too seriously and become them. It’s O.K. to have a viewpoint, but don’t let it take you over. It causes more pain and struggle in the end, not to mention high blood pressure and that verklempt feeling! Also, when you let your opinions take you over, you close yourself to other possibilities and shut yourself off from opportunities. You stop listening and live a very narrow life. I’m just sayin!

This all stems from the idea that our thoughts are not really who we are. We are much deeper than the mere ideas that come from our mind! Watch your thoughts but don’t believe them or become them.

So here’s my tip of the day: Have opinions, but don’t let them have you! Now what’s your opinion on that?

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Sound familiar? Probably not. Unfortunately, we can rarely switch our minds off of work mode the minute we leave the office—it can sometimes take an entire day just to unwind from a hectic week. But with precious little time away from the grind, it’s important to make every moment count.

Want to actually recharge this weekend? Here are some great ways to relax, plus improve your quality of life well beyond your two days off. (Hint: reality TV and tequila shots are not on the list.)

Check out the list published on the Daily Muse here!

Photo courtesy of lululemon athletica.

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I only learned about the big spiritual macha John of God a few weeks ago from an online radio show hosted by Dr. Wayne Dyer. People from all over the world travel to Brazil to find themselves in his presence. He heals the sick, the blind, the old and dying — and apparently a few neurotic chicks like me.

He and his spirit guides do these “interventions” which are spiritual operations. They go into your body and repair what needs to be fixed. Then, seven days after your “surgery,” they visit you in the night and remove your stitches. Sounded wild enough that I had to try it.

So last week I drove myself to Omega and found myself in a huge tent filled with what seemed like a couple thousand people. Only, I didn’t get the “Wear All White” memo, because I was the only one dressed in black. They told me afterwards that John of God sees your energy better in white. Oops!

We were told to meditate in the tent until we were called to pass by John of God. That was a bit hard — I was distracted by all the many faces around me: The young children with shaved heads who had cancer, the ladies who seemed too young to be using walkers, the young boys shrieking from their Tourette’s and the regular spiritual seekers who could use some peace of mind like me.

Finally row by row we were sent in to pass by John of God. I walked into a room and saw an older man sitting in a peaceful, dream-like state, accompanied by men and women acting as ushers and translators. I noticed that he spotted me from down the room. Maybe it was my bright green sweatshirt? Or was he just a big spiritual flirt?

I finally walked in front of him and put out my hand and smile again. He told the ladies next him in Portuguese to have me sit in the room in front of him and to order me up a spiritual intervention at 2pm. Just what I needed?

After lunch I returned back for my healing. Again, I was led in a big line to a room and asked to close my eyes. Only this time I felt a deep force or energy around me. When I opened my eyes, they actually stung a bit — though I wasn’t scared. I just sat still. Then a woman told us to put our right hand over our heart and think about all things we wanted healed. Oh brother, here I go.

I thought, “Give me patience, keep me kind and loving, find any problems in my body and fix them, oh and can you make my PMS go away?” After about 5-10 minutes John of God walked in, recited a prayer and said that we had concluded the healing. The room felt intense and I wondered what I had done to my body.

The experience with John of God was pretty exciting. I’m glad I tried something new and opened myself up to some intense positive energy! But I know the real healing and answers still have to come from inside me. As great as John of God is, my true nature is more powerful. Then again, let’s see how I feel after the stitches come out!

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