In our house, it’s like turning the ‘nasty switch’ on.  When the game doesn’t go the way they want it to…WATCH OUT! 

It’s so noticeable and so miserable that I’ve now taken the stance that we are NOT upgrading any of our gaming systems – NOT.  I refuse to be at the receiving end of the seemingle uncontrollable mood changes that occur as a result of a game loss.  It’s absolutely mind-numbing!!  Anything from tears to talking back and even getting into ‘fista-cuffs’ with each other or strains with friendships is not uncommon.

We already have strict rules in our house about gaming.  It’s never been a free-for-all.  They kids play for 30 – 60 minutes, tops.  We’ve gone from war games to sports games and STILL the behavior is drastically affected.

My 15 year old just finished playing one game of NHL Hockey and he’s lippy and full of attitude…like someone intentionally set out to destroy his hockey game!!  He’s behaving like a bear with a sore arse!!

My 4 year old plays free on-line educational games such as those you find at www.uptoten.com.  It’s a great site with fun activities but there are times where she gets so frustrated, it makes us all want to ban the games for life!!  Okay, a little drastic maybe but from the parents’ perspective, you have to be prepared to coach and teach and spend time with them each and every time they are on-line.  I don’t know about you, but often times, there aren’t enough hours in a day to do the everyday stuff, let alone sit in with the on-line gaming activities!

Ah, the joys of balancing it all.  Any thoughts??

Have a fantastic day…the sun is shining here and the games are OFF!!!!  Yesssssssss!

Caroline

Zumba classes offer great music, great people, great moves and exercise in disguise.  If you like Latin and International music, this could be for you.  No previous workout experience required.  If you know how to get yourself to a location where a class is being taught, it’s easy…get yourself there and have fun!  Join the party!!  It’s about enjoying and moving to the music.  So what if you don’t know the steps…you’ll get there.

To find a class near you, search for it on www.zumba.com.  You can search for a specific instructor too, for example; Caroline Irwin.  Go to www.zumba.com and select “Find an Instructor“.   It’s super simple.  If the instructor you are looking for is not there, chances are they are not certified.

Zumba started 10 years ago in Columbia, as a result of an aerobics instructor who forgot his typical class music.  Rather than cancel his class, he improvised!  He resorted to using the music he grew up with and loved – his Latin music!  His class was a hit.  The popularity of his teachings grew and so did the demand for his dance parties.

Today, Zumba is known world-wide!  Lucky for us!!

Cheers,

Caroline Irwin

It all started in the 90′s, when an aerobics instructor forgot his standard class music.  He improvised by using the music he had in his bag.  It was the music he loved, traditional Latin, the music he had listened to all his life.  As it turned out, his class was a hit and Zumba was born.

Today, Zumba has grown internationally, not only in classes but also in intructor training.  That’s where I’m plugging in!

I love Latin music, I love Latin dance and I love to have fun while I work out.  Although my experience with Zumba has been super limited, it hasn’t stopped me from enrolling for my first Instructor Certification – Zumba Basics Level 1!!!  That’s where I’m going to be this Saturday.

The Zumba Instructor Network (ZIN) defines 6 levels of instruction:

• Zumba Basic Steps Level 1 – Steps to basic rhythms & forming a class +  more
• Zumba Basic Steps Level 2 – Four more rhythms & advanced techniques + more
• Zumba Gold – How to teach the adult population who is a true beginner + more
• Zumba Toning -  Body sculpting techniques in a class + more
• Aqua Zumba – Challenging water-based workouts + more
• Zumbatomic – Taking it to the kids + more

Check it out at  www.zumba.com.  From that site, you can search for a Zumba class near you.  If you can’t find one, maybe that’s your cue to start something new!

There’s also YouTube…search for Zumba….there’s no lack of video clips for you to watch!

In health & prosperity,

Caroline Irwin
www.championways4life.com

By Jennifer Goldberg

Taking vitamin D supplements may help protect you from the H1N1 virus, a U.S.-based researcher says.

“Vitamin D fights common seasonal influenza and H1N1 in several ways,” says William Grant, founder of the Sunlight, Nutrition and Health Research Center in California. Primarily, research in the past few years has found that vitamin D helps you fight off the flu by supporting your immune system’s response to viruses.

 A 2007 study on post-menopausal African-American women (who are naturally deficient in vitamin D) found that those who took 2,000 IU per day of vitamin D had a 90% reduced risk of contracting the seasonal flu over those who took a placebo.

Though there haven’t been any randomized tests conducted on H1N1, Grant says research shows vitamin D will also work in preventing the virus. “H1N1 is largely seasonal,” he says, adding that “the five groups that are shown as having more adverse effects from H1N1 are known to be vitamin-D deficient: pregnant women, Aboriginal people, obese people, people with type-2 diabetes and children with neurological diseases.”

How do you know if you’re deficient in vitamin D? If you live in Canada during the winter, you probably are. “It’s impossible to make enough vitamin D in Canada from sun right now,” says Grant, who receives research funding from the Vitamin D Society in Canada and Bio-Tech-Pharmacal, a U.S.-based pharmaceutical manufacturer that produces vitamin D supplements. To boost your vitamin-D levels, he recommends taking a supplement of 1,000 IUs or more every day. “If you haven’t been taking vitamin D for a long time, take large doses-10,000 IU per day for several days-then go down to 2,000 to 4,000 IU per day throughout the flu season.” (Most vitamin D supplements on the market have 1,000 IU per tablet, which is what the Canadian Cancer Society recommends as a daily dose.)

While Health Canada is currently reviewing the health benefits of vitamin-D supplementation, they still recommend that people ages one to 50 get their daily dose of 200 IU of the vitamin from drinking two 500 mL glasses of milk. People over 50 are advised to take a daily supplement of 400 IU and it is not recommended that people take more than 2,000 IU per day. Grant says that’s not enough to make a difference to your immune system.”400 IU doesn’t do anything,” he says. “If you are out in the sun all day in the summer you can make at least 10,000 IU of vitamin D per day.”

Still confused? Talk to your doctor about their recommendations for your situation, and consider getting your vitamin D levels tested.

(Best Health Magazine, Nov.  2009)

CURRY CAULIFLOWER SOUP

INGREDIENTS
2  tablespoons extra virgin coconut oil
1  small white onion, chopped (1 cup)
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 medium tart apple, such as granny smith peeled, cored, and coarsely chopped (1 cup)
1 tablespoons curry powder
1 teaspoon dried ginger
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon coriander
1 clove of garlic, sliced (1 tsp.)
1 large head cauliflower, chopped into 1-inch pieces (6 cups)
4 cups of no sodium added chicken or vegetable stock (specialty and health food stores have in house made stocks which are superior in taste).
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
Celtic sea salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste.
Filtered water to thin to desired consistency (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat coconut oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrot, celery and sauté 5 to 7 minutes, or until soft and golden.

2. Stir in apple, curry powder, ginger, cumin, coriander and garlic, and cook 2 minutes more, or until curry powder turns deep yellow.
2. Add cauliflower and stock and bring to a simmer.

3. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 20 minutes. Cool 20 minutes, then blend in food processor or blender until smooth. Stir in apple cider vinegar and season with salt and pepper, if desired add water to thin.

PESTO

2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons pine nuts
1 cup packed fresh mint leaves
1/2 cup packed fresh parsley leaves
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger
1 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 clove garlic, minced (about 1 teaspoon.)
Celtic sea salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Pulse walnuts, pine nuts, mint, parsley, ginger, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper in food processor or blender for 10 beats.

2. Puree, adding in the oil in a slow stream until pesto is emulsified and smooth, stop to scrape down sides of bowl as needed.

3. Transfer into a small bowl and cover tightly with wrap lid.

Recipe by  Ronda Priestner  who has worked as an exclusive chef and wellness consultant for private citizens and celebrities alike throughout the world.

Her own desire for optimal fitness and well-being led her to create a style of nutritious haute cuisine for specialty diets and natural living. As the owner and director of FitWise Pilates and Wellness in El Cerrito, California. Ronda also teaches pilates, brain fitness and movement to heal, function, rehabilitate and strengthen both body and soul. Visit her at www.fitwisepilates.com 

What you need to know is that there is a way in which you can address this sort of cellular turmoil (& death).  It’s easy, it’s affordable and it’s for anyone!

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2006/10/toxic-people/multimedia-interactive

In health & prosperity,

Caroline Irwin
e: info@championways4life.com
w: www.carolineirwin.isagenix.com
p: 519-869-4571

Included below are summary points from his presentation.

STATISTICS

• In 1990, 1 in 15 women had breast cancer; in 2009 it is now 1 in 8 women and it is estimated in 2019 it will be 1 in 3 women that will have breast cancer.
• In 2009, 1 in 3 babies now born will get diabetes later in life.
• 2/3 of Americans are overweight and it is estimated in 2040 that 100% will be overweight.
• In the US, over 3 million people weigh more than 500 pounds (Statistics for Canadians are no different).
• The American Red Cross did a study and tested the blood of a large group of babies – in every baby they found 287 contaminants in the babies blood, such as flame retardants, scotch guard, mercury -  180 of those contaminants are known to cause cancer.
• In 2001, there was a study of a group of university students in China – 85% were found to be infertile.
• In 2008, another study looked at Inuit women living in remote areas of the North Pole - Their breast milk was categorized as “hazardous waste” due to the levels of PCB and Mercury.
• It takes 12 apples in 2009 to equal the nutrition of 1 apple in 1976.
• It takes 51 bowls of spinach in 2009 to equal the nutrition of 1 bowl in 1957.
• Our society is overfed and undernourished.
• It is estimated that 1 in 8 people will get an autoimmune disease in there lifetime (Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Diabetes, Fibromyalgia, etc).
• In 1930, 1 in 10,000 people developed Cancer, now it is 30% of the population.  Think of yourself and 2 others.  One of you will deal with cancer in your lifetime.
• In 1930 processed foods were introduced.

FACTS about the IMPORTANCE of WATER:

• Every disease began with long-term, unintentional dehydration.
• Our body is made up of 75% water, our brain is made up of 85% water, and our blood is made up of 94% water.
• Water is the conduit that gives your body energy by generating electrical and magnetic energy in every cell of the body.
• At 20 years of age we loose our thirst sensation.
• Water and salt is important for the body (sugar is the backup).
• Water with salt before bed helps with restless legs, anxiety, sleeping troubles.
  * Take 1 pinch of organic sea salt in your hand, lick it with the tip of your tongue and drink with 8oz of water.
  ** Go to www.watercure2.org for more details.
• Do not drink water at meals (drink 30 minutes before food and 30 minutes after).
• If you have to go to the bathroom in less than 2 hours after you drink water you are dehydrated.
• You need to drink 1/2 your body weight in oz of water per day.
• PH levels tell you if your body is acidic or alkaline.
• A Saliva PH of 7.2 is the body state where cancer goes dormant.
• A saliva PH of 8.2 is the body state where there is no cancer.
• A saliva PH of 7.0 or less is a sick body.
• 1 cup of coffee lowers the body’s PH so much that you need to drink 64 oz of water per cup of coffee to correct the body’s pH level.
• For 1 can of diet soda, you need to drink 80-90 oz of water to negate the effects on the PH level.
• Diet soda doubles your risk of diabetes.

FACTS about SUGAR:

• Too much sugar in the body is the underlying cause of ADD.
• Your brain requires 4 gms of sugar every 3 hours to function properly.
• Coke has 27 gms of suger.
• Gatorade has 36 gms of sugar.
• Orange juice has 44 gms of sugar.
• Apple Juice has 50 gms of sugar.
• Cranberry juice has 62 gms of sugar.

Don’t give your children juice in the morning and expect them to be able to concentrate later on in the morning at school. The body only needs:

1. Water
2. Good Nutrition
3. The ability to cleanse
4. A healthy nervous system

RECOMMENDED BOOKS:

“Seeds of Deception: Exposing industry and government lies about the safety of Genetically engineered foods you’re eating” by Jeffrey Smith.

“The Omnivores dilemma” by Michael Pollan

“Excitotoxins” by Russell Blaylock

“The Autoimmune epidemic” by Donna Jackson Nakazaw

The advice about what to give to your children is appropriate for you, the adult, also.

Champion Your Health, Champion Your Life…It’s the only one you’ve got!

In health & prosperity,

Caroline Irwin
www.championways4life.com
1-519-869-4571

I have been fortunate to have been in his company on a couple of occastions and it’s been due to my involvement with the company that I’ve partenered with.  John Gray has partnered up with the same company because he fully supports the philosophy of the company and the vision we have to change world health, one person at a time.  There is much to learn from John Gray and a sample of what he speaks of is found below:

“Most of us recognize that there are times that our body gets out of balance.  One of the common ways this happens is when we eat junk foods, consume processed sugar, drink coffee and soft drinks.  Our body reacts by becoming overly acidic.  This excessive acidity slows our blood cells’ capacity to absorb oxygen.  This helps to create a potentially dangerous threat to our overall well being.

The foods that we eat give us energy by oxidizing, afterwards the foods become acidic wastes.  Since our body cannot get rid of all the wastes it produces, they accumulate somewhere in our body.  Some examples of solidified acidic wastes are cholesterol, fatty acid, uric acid kidney stone, urates, sulfates, and phosphates. This is why it is important to be aware of your food consumption and what you are doing to help alkalize your body.” John Gray, Ph.D.

Cleansing our body’s filters is key to longevity and quality of life.  What you do today will be felt 20 years from now.  It’s never too late to start.

How can Cleanse for Life change your life?

• Boosts energy and endurance
• Encourages safe and effective weight loss
• Increases resistance to stress
• Strengthens mental and physical performance
• Enhances immune system
• Improves digestive and heart health
• All natural, no stimulants

What makes Cleanse for Life unique?

• Ionic Alfalfa – proprietary blend of 70 plant-based minerals and alfalfa juice extract, which supports overall health
• Most products claim to cleanse the colon or liver, but fail to provide key nutrients.  Cleanse for Life is different and actually nourishes your body as it cleanses!
• This supercharged formula cleanses your entire body on a cellular level while improving health.

I encourage you to familiarize yourself more with this life changing approach to optimum long term health.  It is NOW O’CLOCK…what is holding you back?

For more details, contact me.  Send me an email at info@championways4life.com, respond to this blog, or call 519-869-4571.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.  This is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.  Always consult your physician or health care professional before starting this or any other health or fitness program.