Festive Greetings

With the winter solstice and full moon upon us just before Christmas we are at a point of stillness in the cycle of the year.  It doesn't feel like this for many with the last minute preparations for Christmas, but if you can find 5 minutes a day to be still at this time you can bring forward into 2019 what you truly want and that which is for your highest good.

The solstice brings about the return to light and the forecast for the next 3 months through to the Spring equinox. We are entering the peace of the holy nights on Christmas Eve through to the 6th January's epiphany.  It is the most magical time of year.  If we can be still and carry our intentions for next year through these nights we will get our epiphanies.

A great time to birth a new project.

This is a great time to birth a new project.  A reset time.  Do what is congruent to you and for your highest good.  Open your heart during this time focusing on heart centred activities with family and friends.  Be still just 5 minutes a day to sit with your thoughts.

There is no need to wait until New Year to set your resolutions.

Often setting intentions happen around New Year's Resolutions.  But working with the cycle of the year, setting your intentions now and sitting with them through to the 6th January will bring more clarity for the coming year.

Below are some simple steps to help you through this holiday period with less stress and more peace and energy: eat, drink, sleep, dance and be merry!

FOOD: Make sure you have plenty of good protein with every meal.  If you are eating sugary foods, eat a bite or two of protein first to keep your blood sugar more stable.  This will help your mood remain more stable.  Good sources of stress reducing proteins are turkey, eggs and nuts.  Fantastic Xmas lunch foods are just the ticket.  Plenty of sprouts too!  Be mindful of how much sugar you are consuming.  Add warming spices to balance blood sugar like cinnamon and nutmeg.

DRINK: Make hydration a priority. When we are indoors a lot with the heating on, we often overlook hydration.  You will have so much more energy when hydrated.

SLEEP: Make getting quality sleep a priority.  The adage that everything seems better in the morning is very true if you've had enough sleep.  We repair and restore and release stress overnight.  These dark nights we ought to be partying less and sleeping more! Where you can, give yourself permission to have that early night during the holidays.

EXERCISE: Dance in your kitchen while creating wonderful meals.  Get out in the fresh air for long walks in nature.  Connecting with nature is the best way to reduce stress, and energise and boost your immune system.

RELAX and have FUN: Laughter is such a great de-stressor.  Treat yourself to a romantic comedy movie or your favourite comedy show on TV.  Find laughter where you can in social settings too.  Loneliness is the biggest stressor of all. Connection with others is such an important part of being human so say yes to social invitations.  Or if you are on your own, you could volunteer to help others over the holidays.

Wishing you a festive season of peace, health and happiness, of moving forward into 2019 with clarity, energy and excitement for the year ahead.

With best wishes

Nicki

Festive Truffles Recipe

Soak a handful of dates, apricots, almonds overnight. rinse and drain.
Add vanilla essence, cinnamon, nutmeg, orange and lemon peel.
Put in a food mixer or blender and make into a paste.
Add cocoa powder (optional).
Roll into small balls.
Roll in a choice of cocoa powder, ground almond, desiccated coconut.

Stay In Touch

For consultations please email nicki@nutritionandhealing.co.uk

For Nikken orders go to www.nikken.com/eu/nicki or email me on nicki@nutritonandhealing.co.uk

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Two Easy Ways Towards That Elusive Flat Stomach

There are alot of things we can do to get healthy or lose weight or improve our body shapes. But most of these involve alot of effort - an effort beyond what most of us can consistently muster, certainly in the long run.

However there are two simple pieces of equipment I use that contribute significantly towards keeping me trim around the middle. One is a weighted hula-hoop. The added weight actually makes it easier to use than a traditional hula-hoop so don't worry if this isn't a skill you think you have! I swing this around my waist in both directions for a total of about two minutes. The other item is a pull up bar which you can hang on a door frame. I use this occasionally when I walk past, doing ten pull-ups each time. On average once or twice a day spending no more than 20 seconds each time.

Both are easy to set up, easy to use, and can be bought for less than £20 ($25) at amazon or similar. But best of all is I both feel and notice a large effect on my midriff and tummy muscles - with only a couple minutes of effort each day!

The Power of 30 Day Challenges

Why not combine the use of these tools with a 30 Day Challenge, where you commit to doing something daily - in this case to use the hoop and pull up bar every day. Diarise your challenge with a start and end date, and make it public by telling family or friends, or making a facebook post. Setting yourself such targets is incredibly powerful in getting things done and achieving goals.

At the end set yourself a new challenge, or renew the same one for another 30 days. Multiples of 30 work well and are most commonly used. Studies have found that permanent changes in habit can be achieved after 60 days. Longer term challenges and targets can be set for 3 or 6 months ahead, broken down into 30 day (or 1 month) chunks.

You'll find that this simple process overcomes a key block in achieving goals, procrastination, by getting you started immediately. Then each day the task remains in the forefront of your mind with a midnightly deadline (if you miss a day you go back to day 1 but that is actually unlikely to happen because critically you won't forget the challenge and the target is achievable and motivational). Before you know it you have achieved your goal whether that be a flat stomach, or your debut novel! Why not give it a go today?

My family and I use both these items below and they are both easy, economic and effective:

        

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Global Wellness Day - 11th June - The 7 Point Manifesto

Exercise/Water/No Plastic/Organic Food/Good Deeds/Family/Sleep

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