Lately, it really seems as though my attention has been drawn to the subject of "PTC", or Present Time Consciousness. Simply stated, it means really being in the moment and paying full attention.

This isn't a new thought wave for me. My husband and I have emphasized the practice of PTC in our wellness practice for years. Having children also demanded me to sharpen my PTC saw in order to be the type of parent I wanted to be.

With more spring like temperatures these days, I've been thinking a lot about running. As I've shared, I love running in all four seasons. I'm not a fair weather fan! At this time of year, when people are itching to get outside more and shed their winter insulation, I've mostly been thinking about how to help others start a running program to add to their healthy lifestyle.

Recently, my husband and I turned a 4 day seminar in Atlanta into a 6 day family adventure and road trip. Approximately 26 hours in the car over 2 days, 6 days of non-home-cooked meals, and 4 solid days of sitting in a seminar room in a hotel... all day long.

Not exactly a recipe for optimal health!

I took many steps to insure that our children's nutritional health stayed as on track while we were gone.

I've been known to say that the most important component of starting any exercise program is first deciding that you are a mover for life.

It's very similar to a successful approach to quitting smoking - begin by deciding that you are a non-smoker.

This single shift in mindset is a powerful tool to catapult your exercise and fitness results to higher, more rewarding levels.

In previous articles I've written about breast cancer and Sheryl Crow's experience, I have discussed some of the underlying principles of what creates health, what causes sickness and how the xenoestrogens in plastics interfere with our optimal expression of health.

Why the plastics and breast cancer connection? In response to the circulation of several emails and articles claiming that Sheryl developed breast cancer as a result of drinking from plastic water bottles that she had a habit of leaving in her warm car.

This article about Sheryl Crow and her breast cancer experience is one I posted on a blog of mine EONS ago (July 2007). To this day, I STILL get a tremendous number of people reading and commenting on this article! Crazy! But I guess it truly demonstrates the need for fresh thinking when it comes to breast cancer.

Isn't it fantastic, by the way, that Sheryl Crow has flourished since her encounter with breast cancer? I think she's amazing!

Anyhow, since it's apparently so popular, I wanted to share it once again, with the hope that it might help someone else experiencing the journey of cancer.

This article about Sheryl Crow and her breast cancer experience is one I posted on a blog of mine eons ago (July 2007). To this day, I STILL get a tremendous number of people reading and commenting on this article! I guess it truly demonstrates the need for fresh thinking when it comes to breast cancer.

Isn't it fantastic, by the way, that Sheryl Crow has flourished since her encounter with breast cancer? I think she's amazing!

Anyhow, since it's apparently so popular, I wanted to share it once again, with the hope that it might help someone else experiencing the journey of cancer.

For quite some time, I have recommended doing full body resistance training as part of an overall exercise program.

Why full body work outs as opposed to training isolated body parts on certain days?

It's all about maximizing Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR). This is the level your metabolism is functioning, burning calories and fat, even while you're resting.

This is a recommendation I regularly give to patients, especially if they're feeling chronically stressed or anxious. It's a simple step, yet so powerful. It's getting outside and connecting with nature!

This may seem like a peculiar "health and happiness" recommendation to make! But, this was a vital component when I needed to re-create overall balance, happiness and health in my life following a very stressful period.

There are many reasons for cardiovascular exercise, some scientifically valid - some not. The more common ones I hear are: for weight loss, for fat loss, to burn calories, to exercise and train my heart, to prevent heart disease, to alleviate stress, for the sheer enjoyment of it and because my doctor or a trainer at the gym told me I had to!

Current scientific studies indicate that all those jogging fanatics and leg-warmer-wearing aerobics junkies of the 80's may have led us astray! Cardio training is not the be-all solution we once thought it was.