April Magazine 2016 | Page 94

masters her stress, she will be able to dine out with friends again and attend business meetings with confidence. to go in my handbag. It doesn’t have to be fancy; it’s a tool, not an accessory (unless you want it to be). Mystery solved. Mary could have persisted with her doctor or sought out a new doctor, she could have had test after test, she could have done an elimination diet, taken all kinds of probiotics and other supplements, and never gotten to the bottom of her issue. She could have spent a fortune, missed dozens of events, and still be struggling. Mary used her food journal to get to the source of her digestive problem. It is equally useful for chronic headaches, insomnia, weight gain, weight loss, acne, rashes, hives, irritability, moodiness, exhaustion, aches and pains, you name it. I see this all the time. And because I see this all the time, the number one tool I recommend is the ever-so-simple food journal. With practice, it takes just a few minutes each day. You can go high-tech with an electronic platform, or low-tech with pencil and paper. The format that works best for you is the one to use. My personal favorite is a $2 paper notebook with attached pen that’s small and light enough 94 | Eydis Magazine Here’s why the food journal is such a powerful tool: human beings have lousy memories, and we operate on automatic pilot most of the time. It’s as simple as that. If you’re like most people, you’re busy. You make hundreds of decisions each day, and you are always looking ahead to the next appointment, activity, or obligation. You’re not fully present to all the choices you’re making as you’re making them, and it’s no wonder you can’t remember what you had for dinner last Friday, or lunch last Tuesday. If you are like most people, you also have some chronic, nagging issue that you are tolerating. With a food journal, you have a clear, objective picture of what is going on. A good food journal removes all guesswork and can give you all the information you need to solve your own problem. If not, it will provide priceless information you can share with your doctor or other health professional. That information will likely lead to a faster, more accurate diagnosis and a more effective treatment plan. Advertising that Works An accurate food journal empowers you to participate in your health and wellness with knowledge, insight and confidence. Give it a try and share your results, I would love to hear from you! Toni is a mentor, author, and connector who maintains an on-line coaching practice. She lives with her husband in Orlando FL where she is actively at work to raise consciousness around food and lifestyle for a healthier, happier tomorrow for all. To schedule a consult with Toni go to CrabtreeHealthyLiving.com or email her at [email protected] eydismedia.com/advertise