SOULMATES

Many have the concept that a soulmate relationship is an exclusive partnership based on the ideal, not so, We are attracted to one another that is true but we incarnate in soul groups for the sole reason to help support, teach and learn from one another. One of the jobs of a soulmate is to reflect back to us areas of our life that need addressing, sometimes this is not an easy time and fraught with much pain but it's for our own good the idea being to correct imperfections within ourselves,to enable us to become purer and more spiritual to help us grow

Soul mates  are incarnated in groups these may be lovers, parents, siblings, relatives, best friends and other individuals in our lives who are usually very close to us. Soul mates can be classified into four different kinds of soul mate relationships.  

"Karmic" soul mates are two individuals who have come together during a given lifetime to heal something from a past life or previous lives. Their relationship with one another can fantastic and amazing or it can deteriorate into the same negative situation that was created in a previous life. Another reason is that the karma may only be partially resolved, leaving both with more work to do during this or some future life together.

All the negative karma we’ve incurred during any of our previous lives will eventually be healed through decisions that are based upon unconditional love and forgiveness not an easy task but it has to be achieved through free will, it has to come willingly from your own spirit. You are not incarnated together as a  form of punishment but to heal negative karma.  

This is what the universal law of karma is about. And we will have as many lives as we need to eventually balance all we have caused others to feel through fear, anger, hatred, bitterness, jealousy, and other ego-based choices.

The second kind of relationship we can choose to experience with a soul mate is one that involves important life lessons.  that will teach us the value of patience, forgiveness, tolerance, openness, acceptance, honour  and teach us to become more spiritually aware, this might take several lifetimes each other taking a different role. 

         

The third type of soul mate partnership between a man and woman has been generally referred to as a"companion" relationship. These are individuals who join together in a bond of deep love to work on a project together. This might involve the formation of a spiritual or healing center or even in the creation of an art gallery. Or perhaps the couple will compose music during a prolonged union. This is type of union is generally decided together prior to incarnating together

 the intent may have been for healing karma, and for experiencing life lessons that come from partnership,. 

The fourth soulmate relationship we almost always have is a close friendship or relationship with a relative. We join such individuals while in physical body simply to enjoy their love, company and energy. Not surprisingly, these individuals have been part of our previous lifetime experiences on many occasions and they have a bond they wish to continue.

It is very important to keep in mind that all soul mate relationships help us to remember who we really are, and prepare us spiritually for the eventual reunion with our twin. As such, they can be extremely valuable and should be honoured and respected for these very blessed reasons.  

Finally there is a dramatically different kind of relationship exists that is considered to be the most profound and compelling type of soulmate relationship of all. This is the twin soul or twin flame union that will eventually transcend all others. However, because it is so highly charged with energy, the two individuals must be spiritually ready for it to last any meaningful length of time. When fully prepared, this union is meant to endure for eternity, because of its relationship to the ultimate ONEness we will all seek with our source Spirit. For this type of union it can be as profoundly painful just as much as it can be profoundly amazing this is because both have to be ready if one of the pair is not ready then it can be devastating for the one in particular who is ready. Whatever does happen and if this 'oneness' is not achieved in one given lifetime it will carry on until both are ready. Neither of the pair can make the other work, it has to be of their own accord and through free will, for they have to see their flaws, faults and failings for themselves and be willing to work at it through their own volition.

The coming together of twin souls does not guarantee fulfillment any more than a soul mate relationship might bring. What increases the chance for lasting twin reunion is that the two twins must be spiritually prepared for their relationship and then constantly find ways to make it work on that basis. The key ingredient is unconditional, unselfish love and the desire to base the union on a spiritual rather than a ego-based foundation. Only spiritually mature couples can deal with the influence of the ego in relationships.   

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NEW PSYCHIC BOOK

The following excerpt is from a new book I am writing about a number of psychic subjects, this one being about 'Remote viewing'.

I taught at a well known psychic college and this was a excerpt from a typical lesson. It will be a development book, but there is a story running through it too. It aims to be humorous, entertaining but it aims to educate and enlighten

“Ok Class, you’ve done this before and I know some of you struggle with remote viewing but this is only because you need practise,” I stated.
I looked at Annie, “Annie I want you to work with Tracey this evening.”

I walked around the classroom, reassuring them, “It doesn’t matter, if you don’t see in pictures, many great and famous Mediums work purely on sensing. It’s just a feeling, a knowing.”

“What is important with any psychic/mediumistic work is that you trust Spirit. If you do not believe in what you are doing and denounce your ability, you will create a block for yourself,” I stated.

“Trust is everything when working with Spirit, you have to think outside the box. Do not think with your earthly human mind, but rather think and use your own spirit,” I said.

I went on, “Remember Class you are Spirit in a human body whilst on earth and that earth is your classroom. As Spirit you have access to all Universal knowledge, anything you wish to know can be found out there in the Universe. All you have to do, is tap into this, the Universe is out there waiting for your questions.”

“Ok let me talk you through this,” I stated. “Now you will notice I have given out some paper and a pencil as some of you might find it easier to write what you see and feel down.” I explained.

“You may also find it easier if you link hands with your partner to be aware of their energy. Annie no giggling over there trying to put Tracey off,” I rebuked Annie laughing.

“It’s ok to close your eyes if it’s easier Class, and just relax as when you are meditating, and tell yourself you are going to visit your partner’s homes. Now don’t be afraid to either write down or talk what you see. Go with the flow don’t hold back just say what you are experiencing and trust your guides here, they will help you,” I explained.

“Imagine you are stepping through a psychic door and you are standing at the front door of where your partner lives, what do you see? What’s in frot of you? What’s to the left and right? You can spin round and you can go anywhere.” I went on.

“You may see people there but don’t worry, they cannot see you,” I said. “Unless they are exceptional Mediums themselves,” I added laughing.

“Can you hear anything, smell anything?” Only to hear Annie snigger. “There’s always one!” I stated smiling.

Among the hubbub of voices as the class conducted this experiement, I could hear Tracey’s raucous laugh. I immediately honed in on what was going on to where Tracey and Annie were sitting.

Tracey was virtually bent over laughing at what Annie was telling her

I caught the tail end of what Annie was saying.

“Oh my god!” Tracey exclaimed, as Annie went on.

“There is a plate with a half eaten jam sandwich, no wait it’s a strawberry jam one, I can smell the strawberries,” Annie said. “That’s not all that’s under the bed, there’s about, two, three, nope six pairs of really smelly socks, oh! they are honking! under this bed and a porno magazine”.

I couldn’t stop laughing as Annie went on to describe Tracey’s teenage son’s bedroom.

“That’s not all Tracey he’s got a couple of mates round just now and they’ve got their feet up on the table and they are eating fish and chips, I can smell them, the vinegar,” Annie added.

By this time the whole class had began to listen to Annie and Tracey’s conversation.

“Well done Annie! you are a natural,” I told her. Annie Beamed and the class applauded.

Indeed it was confirmed when the class met up a week later Annie was correct. When Tracey arrived home, her son’s friends were still there. She checked the bin, there were remains of the fish and chips. She walked through and checked under her son’s bed, everything was exactly as Annie had described, in fact the aroma of sweaty socks hit Tracey as she lifted the bed covers. She counted them, four, five, six exactly and there was the magazine.

Annie was so proud of herself and grinned away like a cheshire cat.

Maggie Brown (Author)

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REMOTE VIEWING FACT NOT FANTASY

Since I have been doing some research for my next book, I thought I would include this here. For those who think Astral Travelling/Remote Viewing, the stuff of fantasy, it's not, it's fact and it does exist as the Star gate Project here documents

The Military Use of RV, Stargate and the CIA FOIA documents



Project Star gate is the collective name for advanced psychic functioning or Remote viewing experiments and programs that were undertaken for over twenty years to create a trainable, repeatable, operational and if at all possible, accurate method of psychic spying or information gathering for the U.S. Military and intelligence agencies (CIA, NSA, DIA).

To view a visual Remote Viewing History map - click here

The actual projects involved in this 23+ year mammoth operational and scientific endeavor were:



Gondola Wish - ARMY INSCOM -1977-79


Grill Flame - ARMY INSCOM & AMSAA - 1979-1983


Center Lane - ARMY INSCOM -1983-85


Dragoon Absorb - ARMY INSCOM & DIA - 1985-86


Sun Streak - DIA - 1986-1990


Star Gate - DIA - 1990-95

http://www.remoteviewed.com/files/paranormal_briefing.pdf

Maggie Brown (Author)

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ASTRIDESTELLA'S PHILOSOPHY "WORRY"

I am busy concluding my next book, I intend that this book will be somewhat different to most other psychic books but whilst doing some research I came across this:

"Worry is a negative prayer. It is telling the Universe how frightened you may be feeling. It also reinforces your ‘fear’ vibration and may bring about exactly what you fear".

In other words if you are negative you attract further negativity towards you. No matter how you are feeling there is no sense in worrying, it is not practical and it achieves nothing, that does not mean you should be over confident, what it does mean however is you trust spirit and the Universe to give you what you need and so it will be done.

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IGNORANCE IS NO DEFENCE

Story from the Daily Mail. You would think in the year 2012 this sort of perverted hysteria would have died out. I find this so terribly sad that this couple blamed their inadequacies on a young boy and used him as a scape goat. Throughout history people have called others who are different, and the victims, tend to be soft hearted and sensitive and easily abused, a witch or a sorcerer. The truth is nobody can be possessed or harmed, by witchcraft. The dark side does exist and sure creating negative thought forms can encourage more negativity being attracted, but that's as far as it goes. This idiotic rumour of possession and exorcism is a myth portrayed by Catholicism and various other ignorant beliefs and foisted on the uneducated and more about power and control and this instigates mass hysteria. As for the dark side, it's part of the whole, of yin and yang of negative and positive, for everything in the Universe has a balance.

Oh for those who do dabble in the black arts a warning, don't think you will get away with it, the Universe deals with those who aim to harm others and will do it in such away that is most important. At worst all the dark side can do is frighten, it cant physically harm and no evil spirits will take over your body, you soul is fixed from birth till the day you pass over.

For this couple who committed such a heinous crime using witchcraft as an excuse, ignorance is no defence. They were wrong and they know it and should be punished for their crimes.

Boy, 15, 'tortured to death with hammer and chisels on Christmas Day because relative thought he was a witch'

• Kristy Bamu was killed by his sister and her boyfriend, Old Bailey is told
• Boy eventually drowned in bath, in such pain he couldn't keep his head above water, court hears
• Police recovered bloodstained pliers, a hammer chisel and several knives from the flat

A teenager accused of witchcraft was tortured to death by his sister and her partner in 'a tale of horror' on Christmas Day, the Old Bailey heard.

Eric Bikubi, 27, and Magalie Bamu, 28, attacked Kristy Bamu, 15, and his two sisters with pliers, knives and a hammer after accusing them of being 'sorcerers', it is claimed.


Kristy was in such pain after days of being attacked with sticks, a metal bar, hammer and chisel that he begged to die, jurors heard.


The teenage boy had suffered more than 100 injuries - his face and head were covered in cuts and some of his teeth were missing when he was found in the blood-soaked flat.



A court drawing from the Old Bailey of Eric Bikubi, 27, and Magalie Bamu, 28, who deny murdering Bamu's 15-year-old brother Kristy after accusing him of being a sorcerer


He had died from a combination of his injuries and drowning.


The court was told he was in such pain and so exhausted from his ordeal that when he was forced into a bath he could not keep his head above the water.


Prosecutor Brian Altman QC said the case involved 'unspeakable savagery and brutality'.


At one point during their ordeal, the siblings were forced to hit their brother, and when Bikubi realised that the boy's sister was only pretending he forced a lightbulb into her mouth and threatened her with a knife.


She asked Bamu why she would not protect them, but Bamu simply said 'they deserved it and that she had no pity for them', the court was told.


Mr Altman said Bikubi has admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, but this was rejected by the prosecution who say the couple carried out 'the very deliberate murder' of Kristy.

The extent of the horror emerged after Bamu called an ambulance to her home in Forest Gate, East London, on Christmas Day 2010 and told the operator her brother had drowned himself in the bathroom.


Mr Altman said Kristy had 101 injuries and warned the jury: 'It is obvious this is a dreadful and distressing case.


'The boy was subjected to unimaginable physical torture at the hands of his older sister and her partner and by some of his siblings, who in order to avoid violence to themselves, were forced to participate in the brutality being meted out to Kristy.



'There will therefore be no sparing you the dreadful details of this boy's end and the horrors that he and his siblings endured in that flat over those few days leading up to the day that Kristy died.'


The court was told how the paramedics tried to save the boy but he was already dead.


When they arrived at the flat the paramedics also found Kristy's four siblings - brothers Yves, 22, and a 13-year-old, and two sisters Kelly, 20, and a younger sister.


‘All were standing in the living room, hysterical, terrified and soaking wet. None of them spoke any English. Both girls appeared to be injured,’ said Mr Altman.


All the family were French but Kelly allegedly confided in a paramedic who spoke the language.


Jurors at the Old Bailey heard the teenager was killed because he was suspected of witchcraft

'What she told them was a tale of horror,' Mr Altman told the court.
Kelly had pointed out a piece of wood with which, she said, Bikubi had hit her over the head, and a metal bar with which she was beaten.


She had also pointed to a hammer which he had used to hit Kristy in the mouth, the court heard.


A plastic bin bag contained broken ceramic floor tiles which she said had been used to hit Kristy over the head.


'She went on to explain to the paramedic that over the last four days Eric Bikubi had been abusing the younger sister, Kristy and herself,' Mr Altman told the court.


Police were reported to have recovered the bloodstained pliers, a hammer chisel and several knives.


'As you will discover, quite incredibly many of these items were to become part of the armoury of weapons which were used by the defendants to beat Kelly and and torture Kristy to death,' Mr Altman said.


‘In a staggering act of depravity and cruelty, they both forced the others to take part in the assaults upon Kristy.’


The five siblings had left their home in Paris to spend Christmas with the couple at the flat in East London.

'They had stayed with them before and just as with their previous visits they had enjoyed themselves for the first few days,' Mr Altman said.


'But the mood had changed when Bikubi accused Kristy, Kelly and the 11-year-old of being sorcerers - practising witchcraft.


'Despite her own siblings' denials that they were sorcerers, Magalie Bamu joined her boyfriend in repeating these fantastic claims and participating in the assaults.


'Both Erik Bikubi and Magalie Bamu beat the three of them, refusing to let them eat drink or sleep for days while the punishments became increasingly violent with them using the many implements found in the flat as weapons of torture and physical abuse.


‘However, it was Kristy who became the focus of Bikubi's attention and, in a desperate attempt to prevent any further suffering, he and his two sisters were eventually to admit to being sorcerers.


'Wickedly, the defendants also recruited sibling against sibling as vehicles for their violence.


'In a staggering act of depravity and cruelty, they both forced the others to take part in the assaults upon Kristy.'

At one point as the abuse was going on 'Eric Bikubi made Kelly and the others take hold of Kristy, who had been forced to kneel with his head down while Bikubi smashed several floor tiles over Kristy's head such that they broke', Mr Altman said.


'He also struck with a bottle, as Kelly recalls. Bikubi and Magalie Bamu then set about him, each with a metal bar. Mercilessly, Bikubi smashed his teeth with a hammer.'

When Kristy said he was thirsty he was forced to drink one of the other children's urine, the court was told.


Mr Altman went on: 'As Kirsty's injuries became ever more severe he even pleaded to be allowed to die.


'Eventually Bikubi took him into the bathroom, put him in the bath and started to run the water.


'Kirsty was just too badly injured and exhausted to resist or to keep his head above the water. It is possible he was even unconscious.

'Bikubi turned the shower on to his head, telling him to get up and telling him he would experience God's strength,' said Mr Altman. 'But Kristy could not get up. He was trembling and had no energy. He was just too badly injured.'

The court was told: 'While Kristy succumbed to death, Bikubi put Yves, Kelly and the two other children into the bath with their brother and hosed them all down with cold water using a shower head.'

Kristy had been found on the bathroom floor and Bamu said her brother had drowned himself in the bath, it was alleged.


His head and face were covered in deep cuts and bruising, his arms and back had cuts, and there were teeth missing or loose.


'Kristy had been the victim of a prolonged attack of unspeakable savagery and brutality,' said Mr Altman.


The court was told that several calls had been made to the children's father Pierre in Paris, and Kristy told him that Bikubi was going to kill him.


But Mr Bamu did not believe his son because he had always regarded Bikubi as ‘pleasant and gentle’.


‘He had sent his children on holiday, not to a torture chamber,’ added Mr Altman.



Mr Altman told jurors that the couple were believers in 'kindoki' - a form of witchcraft that pervades almost all sections of their native Congolese society.

He said: 'Kindoki usually denotes a negative, malicious force, by which people in conjunction with the spirits, or by spirits alone, deliberately inflict harm.

'Kindoki pervades Congolese life, from high to low, rich to poor, and a believe in kindoki is not inconsistent with Christianity, because in the Congo it is practised in the churches with active support of the pastors.

'Fasting allegedly possessed children for days, and cleansing or purifying with water, are known features of practice.

'We actually say that was what was practised by these two on those children.


'If the practice of kindoki is dislocated from the control of the churches and the supervisory influence of religious leaders, then it may take on a feral and, indeed, evil character - as the prosecution suggest it did here.


'The defendants were seeking Kristy's deliverance and exorcism through the dealing out of ever-increasingly violent punishments.'


He added that all three children were 'clearly traumatised' by what they had endured and witnessed during their alleged ordeal at the flat, 'no less by the fact that a family holiday had ended in the tragic death of one of them.'


'In those circumstances, it is not going to surprise you to learn that there are bound to be gaps in the accounts that the children give,' he said.


The prosecution is to call expert evidence from Dr Richard Hoskins, an academic from Kings College University who has researched Congolese beliefs in witchcraft.

The couple deny murder and causing actual bodily harm to Kelly and the younger daughter.

The trial continues.

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Would you cut down on the vodka and tonics if you knew they were ruining your looks?

The pictures speak for themselves

The effects of alcohol

Heavy drinking depletes the body of vitamin B1, causing a lack of concentration and poor memory. In the longer term, it can kill off brain and nerve cells leading to memory loss, confusion and reduced co-ordination.It can also shrink the brain, which increases the risk of epileptic fits, and make cerebral blood vessels more likely to rupture and haemorrhage.

Regular binge drinking increases the risk of the brain disorder Wernicke's encephalopathy, which causes mental confusion, double vision and poor balance, and Korsakoff's psychosis, which causes chronic memory loss. Alcohol is the third biggest cause of dementia.

Eyes

Alcohol causes the tiny blood vessels on the surface of the eye, called the sclera, to become dilated and inflamed, resulting in bloodshot eyes. Heavy drinking depletes the body of the nutrients needed for eye health and consequently can lead to a condition known as alcoholic optic neuritis. This can impair eyesight and, in time, lead to blindness.

Skin

Excessive drinking can block the production of the anti-diuretic hormone - the resulting dehydration will dry out the skin, making it prone to wrinkles. It also widens blood vessels and increases blood flow to the skin, hence it can lead to thread veins, a reddened "drinker's nose" and the skin condition rosacea, which causes a red rash or flushed complexion. The skin condition psoriasis, which leads to red scaly patches over the body, can be another side effect of heavy drinking - 40% of psoriasis sufferers drink too much.

Mouth and teeth

People who drink just three units of alcohol a day almost double their risk of developing cancer of the mouth, throat, pharynx and oesophagus. Persistently heavy drinkers - six or more units a day - have almost six times the risk of a teetotaller of developing these cancers.

Heavy drinkers are also more likely to suffer gum disease and tooth infections.

Liver

Alcohol is processed mainly by the liver. As it breaks down, the toxins can overload this organ. This is particularly true in repeated heavy drinking. In the short term, this can lead to inflammation. In the long term, it can cause irreparable scar damage - or cirrhosis. This causes bloating, vomiting and weight loss because the liver becomes less able to process alcohol and other toxins in the blood.

Cases of cirrhosis have risen 300% +

Heart

Heavy drinking can cause palpitations and is the second biggest cause of hypertension or high blood pressure, a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes. Long-term heavy drinking - ten units or more a day - can cause cirrhosis of the heart, which leads to swollen ankles and shortness of breath.

However, one unit of alcohol a day reduces the risk of a heart attack for post-menopausal women, or men who have had previous attacks.

Muscles

Drinking can cause weakness and trembling because it depletes the body of the vitamins and minerals needed to maintain muscle health. Other effects include muscle degeneration, making the thighs and upper arms feel weak and painful. Alcoholic myopathy can occur after a bout of heavy drinking and causes inflammation and pain in any muscle in the body.

Fertility

Even moderate drinking can delay conception. Alcohol can reduce a woman's fertility as the toxins may interfere with her hormone levels. Also, heavy drinking can make women deficient in certain nutrients and therefore prevent them from ovulating.

Pancreas

Heavy drinking is a cause of pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas. It causes abdominal pain and weight loss because the damaged pancreas is unable to produce enough enzymes to digest food. It has been calculated that cases of this potentially fatal condition have doubled in the past 30 years.

Oesophagus

Excess alcohol can force the digestive juices from the stomach back up the oesophagus, causing the burning sensation of heartburn. This reflux action can lead to oesophagitis - inflammation of the oesophagus - and ulceration.

It is estimated that as many as 75% of cases of cancer of the oesophagus in the UK are attributable to alcohol.

Hair

As it is a diuretic, alcohol can dehydrate the body, making the hair brittle, dry and liable to split ends. It also depletes the body of nutrients and can cause a deficiency of the mineral zinc, which can lead to hair loss.

Body odour

Not all alcohol is processed by the liver. A small amount - up to 10% - will remain unprocessed and be excreted directly as sweat, in the breath or urine. This can lead to the stale smell of alcohol. The more alcohol in the system, the stronger the smell will be.

Joints and bones

Gout, a type of arthritis that causes painful swelling of the joints, is exacerbated by drinking. It occurs when the liver is unable to process uric acid which then lodges as crystals in the joints, such as those in the big toe.

People who drink to excess in their 20s increase their risk of developing the bonethinning disease osteoporosis in later life. However, five units a week can prevent it in postmenopausal women.

Stomach and colon

Alcohol is an irritant and can increase the risk of ulcers and gastritis, a chronic inflammation of the stomach wall. This can lead to nausea, cramps, abdominal pain and weight loss. In the longer term, it puts pressure on the veins of the oesophagus, causing digestive bleeding. It can affect the natural contraction of the intestines and cause diarrhoea. Binge drinking has been linked to cancer of the colon.

Breasts

Even light drinking - one unit a day - increases the risk of breast cancer by 10%. Drinking five units a day increases the risk by 41%.

Obesity

Alcohol is loaded with sugar and calories - weight for weight, only fat contains more calories per gram so drinking can play havoc with the waistline. Alcohol can also increase the appetite. It stimulates the production of insulin, which reduces blood sugar levels so leading to feelings of weakness and hunger.













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Maggie Brown (Author)

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PSYCHIC DEVELOPMENT

I am often asked how do I learn to become a Medium, the short answer is, you can't, you are incarnated with this ability and at some point in your life, when the time is right, you will begin to develop this. Sometimes this ability is apparent early on, in others its later in life, but it will develop when the time is right.

On the other hand EVERYONE has an ability to develop psychically, originally this intuition, sixth sense, was a survival sense, to help us survive and sense danger. Animals have retained this and you will see this quite clearly if you have a dog or cat. There are various exercises you can do to hasten your progress with either abilities, the main one and its essential is the art of meditation. Meditation helps develop and strengthen the mind and you will need a strong mind so you are in control of your abilities rather than your abilities be in control of you.

If you are serious in developing either psychically or mediumistically I recommend you do so under the tutelage of an experienced medium, he or she will show you how to open up and close down safely and teach you the art of meditation. Although nothing within the paranormal can harm you, it can be a bit frightening and daunting to the inexperienced. The best place to find a development group is at a Spiritualist church, however there are a few faculties of parasychology attached to some Universities plus a few psychic colleges such as the 'Authur Finlay College' at Stansted and Edinburgh College of Parasychology, these places often run open development groups.

The Arthur Findlay College

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successful weight loss

As you know I aim to enlighten and educate on this blog and this time of year is the time where we all tend to decide to eat healthy. You may not believe it but when you get into healthy eating after a few weeks you will feel so much better, if you do binge on junk food, you will feel so uncomfortable you won't want to do it again, it soon becomes a habit

Article below from the Daily Mail

Foods that fight stress

Changing your diet to overcome anxiety is the first step to successful weight loss

The Christmas holidays may have been full of cheer, but there’s no doubt that the effort and expense involved can leave our stress levels sky high.
We all react to it in different ways, but there is mounting evidence that one of the most insidious side-effects of chronic stress is an infuriating inability to lose weight.
And the way your body deals with stress could provide the clues that can help you become calmer and slimmer, explains nutritional therapist and TV diet expert Charlotte Watts, who has written a ground-breaking book on the issue.

Beat the bulge: Understanding your stress type will help you lose weight

Perhaps you are someone who collapses in a tearful heap. Or maybe you fret over endless lists, while others go down with every passing cough and cold.
Not only does feeling stressed and tired cause us to look for an instant energy fix (often found in high-calorie or high carbohydrate foods) but it also makes any excess weight we are carrying harder to lose. 


Excess stress hormones in the body encourage fat storage, especially that hard-to-shift type around the middle.
Most diets are doomed to fail if you are stressed. But eating and lifestyle changes can tackle how you react to stress, according to the new book The De-stress Diet.

Take the quiz below to pinpoint your stress type. If you answer yes to three or more questions in any section, that could be your problem. Just follow the expert advice for a slimmer, calmer, healthier 2012.

BLOATED AND STRESSED

• Do you often feel bloated after eating?
• Do you have irritable bowel syndrome-type symptoms that get worse when you are stressed?
• Do you have food sensitivities?
• Have you been on long-term steroid medications, anti-inflammatories and/ or antibiotics?
• Are you prone to headaches?
• Is your diet high in sugar and refined carbohydrates?

If this is your stress type, many of your problems are caused by insufficient beneficial bacteria in your gut, triggering sugar cravings and digestive problems such as IBS and weight gain.
WHAT TO DO: Increase your intake of natural prebiotics, which help promote good bacteria. They are found in veg (particularly Jerusalem artichokes, chicory, bananas, garlic, onions and leeks) or use supplements. Take digestive enzyme capsules at the start of each meal (around £9 for 100 from health stores) to help your body break down food.
Chew everything properly and wait an hour after eating protein before having fruit as it can cause gut fermentation and gas.
Cut down on sugars, alcohol and caffeine, which can reduce levels of beneficial bacteria and lead to gas, poor immunity and yeast overgrowth (candida).
Eat slowly and chew thoroughly to give your digestion the best chance to work effectively. Get tested for food intolerances (dairy, eggs, fish and grains) as low levels of beneficial bacteria in the gut can make it over-sensitive.

WIRED AND STRESSED

• Do you feel on constant alert?
• Do you react quickly to stressful events?
• Do you struggle to relax?
• Do you feel under pressure to take charge of things?
• Do you feel increasingly unable to cope?
• Are you prone to mood swings or have a tendency towards irritability?

This is one of the most common stress types, and is particularly harmful in the long term because it wears out our physical and mental systems. The adrenal glands (which control many stress hormones) are on  overload, triggering raised appetite and food cravings.
WHAT TO DO: Make sure you are getting all your nutrients by eating protein with every meal (eggs, meat or fish), healthy fats and plenty of vegetables. 
Consider taking supplements containing zinc, iron, B vitamins, vitamin C, iodine and magnesium, commonly lost from the body during the stress response. 

Nutrients needed: Eating more fruit and veg will help those who are wired and stressed

Don’t ignore tiredness: unwind in the evenings and try a few minutes of slow breathing each morning or before bed. Slow down your exercise regime. Avoid anything competitive so there is no stressful need to achieve.

COLD AND STRESSED

• Do you often complain of feeling cold when others are warm?
• Do you have poor circulation and are prone to fluid retention?
• Is your hair thinning and are you losing the edges of your eyebrows?
• Do you often find it difficult to concentrate?
• Do you have less and less energy?
• Do you have a hoarse voice?
• Do you wake up unrefreshed?

These symptoms are often signs that stress is causing your thyroid gland (which controls metabolism) to under-perform. It’s your body’s way of slowing you down to conserve energy. This makes weight loss harder than ever.
WHAT TO DO: Balance your blood sugar levels to keep energy constant by eating less sugar and refined carbohydrates, and eating protein and good fats with each meal. Cut back on alcohol and coffee. Don’t skimp on exercise — it stimulates sluggish thyroid glands.
Try yoga. Head-down poses encourage blood flow and the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the thyroid gland.

Stretch: Head down yoga positions encourage blood flow

Protein and leafy greens contain an amino acid called tyrosine, which helps the thyroid produce thyroxine which re-invigorates the metabolism.
Avoid raw cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and kale as they can interfere with thyroid function.
Eat warming foods such as chilli, ginger, green tea, turmeric, cider vinegar, horseradish and wasabi to warm you up.
Consider taking the thyroid- stimulating nutrients iron, zinc, copper, selenium and iodine (found in mackerel, cod, shellfish and seaweeds).

ILL AND STRESSED

• Are you prone to hay fever, asthma, eczema, arthritis or psoriasis?
• Do you get frequent ear, nose and throat infections?
• Do you have a tendency to fluid retention and weight fluctuations?
• Are you prone to headaches?
• Have you been on long-term steroid medications, anti-inflammatories and/or antibiotics?
• Is your diet high in sugar and refined carbohydrates?
• Do you have osteoporosis, heart disease or joint problems?

These symptoms could be  signs that your immune system is on overdrive. This saps energy,  and suppresses the appetite- satisfaction hormones ghrelin and leptin, making weight loss particularly difficult.
WHAT TO DO: Reduce your intake of sugar to cut down the harmful inflammatory reactions it may be causing in your body.
Boost your intake of foods rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, beta- carotene (found in fresh, brightly coloured fruit and vegetables), as well as the beneficial bioflavonoids and polyphenols found in spices, tea, green tea and garlic (as well as red wine and dark chocolate).
Increase your fruit and vegetable intake to ensure you don’t get dehydrated (because they contain potassium and sugars, they  help the water they contain enter cells more easily than just drink-ing water).
Low levels of omega 3 in the diet can lead to inflammation, making eczema, asthma, dermatitis, hay fever, migraines and arthritis worse — stress exacerbates the effect. An omega 3 supplement may help.
Weight training is a must to strengthen bones and maintain healthy joint lubrication. Avoid hard cardiovascular workouts  and choose gentle jogging or walking instead.

HORMONAL AND STRESSED

• Do you get PMS or have a history of menstrual problems?
• Do you have fibroids, endometriosis or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?
• Do you get pre-menstrual or ovulation sugar cravings?
• Do you get hormonal phases of irritability, crying and/or negative thoughts?
• Do you have menopausal symptoms?
• Do you have fertility issues?
• Have you used hormonal contraception (the Pill, IUD or implant) for years?

Affecting women only, this body type thrives on stress hormones interacting with oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone, skewing the delicate balance your hormonal system needs to function well and leading to weight gain typically on the bottom, hips and thighs.
WHAT TO DO: Reduce your alcohol consumption as it can raise circulating oestrogen and may worsen PMS.
Organic meat, eggs and dairy products tend to be lower in growth hormones, which may disrupt your hormone balance.
Eat a little fermented soy in the form of soy sauce, tamari, miso  and tempeh — the Chinese and Japanese have found this can  help regulate the balance of  female hormones.
Eat plenty of fibre to ensure effective elimination of excess hormones via the bowel (constipation may cause hormones  and toxins to be re-absorbed into the body).
Exercise every day — it is a crucial physical process that increases hormone balance by boosting circulation and detoxification.

TIRED AND STRESSED

• Do you wake up feeling weary?
• Do you have energy dips?
• Do you rely on sugar or caffeine to perk you up?
• Do you feel fuzzy-headed?
• Are you exhausted by evening?
• Do you sleep badly?
• Do you get fluid retention?

If you’ve been a ‘wired’ stress type for a while, you can easily become a tired type, which can result in crashes that leave you unable to function without unhealthy sugar or stimulants.

Energy boost: Tired and stressed people should eat more red meat, fish and eggs, spinach and watercress

WHAT TO DO: Swap external energy fixes such as sugar, coffee, alcohol and cigarettes for a multivitamin and mineral supplement to boost iron, B and C vitamins and magnesium.
Eat more red meat, fish and eggs, spinach and watercress (all rich in
iron) and poultry, milk, tofu and mushrooms (for vitamin B12).
Get more fluid by increasing fruit and veg intake and exercise to
reduce stress hormones.

DEMOTIVATED AND STRESSED

• Do you often feel as if you can’t be bothered to do anything?
• Do you have a tendency to depression?
• Do you use sugar and refined carbohydrates for comfort?
• Do you have late-night binges or over-eating sessions?
• Do you sleep badly?
• Are you prone to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?

Don’t blame lack of willpower — stress has depleted the feelgood hormones serotonin and dopamine.
Low levels are linked to depression, and make you susceptible to junk food cravings as your body searches for a quick fix boost.
WHAT TO DO: Take an Omega-3 supplement to increase receptiveness
to serotonin and dopamine. Eat protein with every meal to ensure a consistent supply of energy to the brain to maintain a healthy mood.
Replenish probiotic gut bacteria with bio-yogurt and cut back on sugar. Take a magnesium supplement. Exercise outdoors. Laugh, listen to music, socialise, have sex: natural opioids are produced in response to these natural highs.

Extracted from The De-stress Diet by Charlotte Watts and Anna Magee, published by Hay House on January 7 at £12.99. © Charlotte Watts and Anna Magee 2012. To order a copy for £10 (P&P free), tel: 0843 382 0000.

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