Time For Renewal

It's the first of March and we're starting to get little hints that Spring is on its way. The days are filled with more sunshine and daylight is hanging around a little longer. Here in Michigan we have even had a couple of 50 degree days. Since Spring is the time of renewal, it was time for me to take stock of myself and what renewal processes I needed. The long, hard winter had lulled me into some really bad habits.


My renewal process is starting with losing some weight I gained over the winter...not a lot, but just enough to make my clothes uncomfortable. I had turned into a baking fiend! It seems being inside all winter brought out the Betty Crocker in me. I took out my Kitchen-Aid mixer from the corner in the kitchen where it was gathering dust and began making cookies and pound cake from scratch. With its high butter and sugar content, it's not called pound cake for nothing!

The second step in my renewal process is to work on my skin! Being indoors so much with the furnace running 24/7, has played havoc with my skin. It is sooooo dry!  Now I feel like a butterfly struggling to come out of its cocoon. The skin that I get so many compliments on is under there somewhere, I just have to step up my beauty regime to get to it. One of the beauty products that I have begun to use is Serious Skin Care's Vitamin C cleanser.


The third and final step in my renewing process is to renew my mind. It's a know fact that depression sets in for many people during the winter months. Now don't get it twisted, I'm not depressed in the clinical sense, but  I know that renewing my mind helps to renew the rest of me. Positive affirmations, spending time in the Word and being with positive people all help to renew the person. Hmm, this step may need to be first :). Anyway, one thing's for sure, when Spring does finally roll in, I want to be able to say, once again, Hello New You!

Hello New You

   A couple of years ago I started having gout attacks. At the time I wasn't even sure what gout was. I can remember as a kid hearing somebody say their grandmother was down with the gout. I was young and I thought it was just some old-folks disease, so I didn't worry about it. Later I'd  learn that gout is a form of arthritis. It's basically the body's inability to rid itself of uric acid. Either your body makes too much or your body can't rid itself of what it produces. The uric acid builds up and forms microscopic crystals which cause unbearable pain.

   Fast forward to the year 2009. I am having yet another painful gout attack and I'm on my way to the doctor. Now my doctor's office is in a building that has these black reflective panels. As I'm walking towards the building, I see this old lady limping with a cane. I'm like, "Wow, that lady looks familiar". Imagine my horror, shock, and surprise when I realize that's no old lady, that's me!

I went in the building, saw my doctor and got the same old same old. Basically there was not a whole lot they could do. She could write me a stronger  prescription for Vicodin and I would have to just wait out the attack. It was then and there I decided to take back my health! I said "no thank you" to the drugs, went home and began to change my life! I started to research natural cures for gout and started to alkalize my body with Earth Greens, drink cherry juice, and take supplements. I also began to diet and exercise. With the help of Weight Watchers, over the next few months I lost 40 pounds.

   Now fast forward again to the year 2010 and I walk past a mirror, catching a glimpse of myself. Once again I didn't recognize my reflection as being me. I went back to the mirror, looked myself in the eyes and said "hello Carla". I cannot tell you the joy I felt in that moment! I was literally made over, new health and new body. From that point on, I have a burning desire to help other people find new health and new wealth.  You've heard it before, but I'll say it again, if I can do it, you can do it too! There's a new you waiting to be born, a Hello New You!