Week 4:Spiritual Wellness

This month has been a month of discovery for me and time of self-reflection that I have needed for a long time.  Each day (Monday - Friday) I have taken the time to think about what could build my wellness in body, soul, mind, and spirit.  I have gone through a month of joy and loss, but through it all, I have learned the importance of self-care and the importance of letting go of perfectionism.  Above all else, I have learned what really soothes my spirit, makes my heart soar, and gets my heart pumping!

So, this week, we will be focusing on building and tuning into our spiritual wellness.  Spiritual wellness and forms of expression will vary widely from person to person and across different faiths.  This week you get to choose  what YOU want to do to care for your spiritual wellness.

Here are some ideas:

1. Spend some time in prayer and/or meditation
2. Read a book to build your faith-walk
3. Spend time listening to uplifting music
4. Write in a thankfulness journal every day
5. Meet friends for a time of fellowship and communion
6. Spend time in your house of worship
7. Light a candle and focus on your blessings
8. Paint a picture, play a song, write down a message that has been burning in your heart
9. Reach out to someone in need
10. Know that you aren't meant to be perfect but to strive daily for excellence.

I hope you will tune into our Facebook page/community and share what you are doing this week for your Spiritual Wellness!

See you around Facebook!

Gina

Whatever you decide to do to build Spiritual  Wellness in yourself the next five days, we'd like to hear about it and even see your pictures on our Facebook Page!  There is no right or wrong way to do this Challenge - but this week we will be working and encouraging each other to put the pieces together to add to our Spiritual Wellness!   

Power Up for PCOS Wellness Hunt - Week Three!

We are already to week three of our Wellness Hunt!  Have you joined in yet?

This week the focus will be on building and supporting our Emotional Wellness.  

This week's focus is timely for me as I lost someone very special to me last week. . . and it has thrown me for a loop in so many ways.  When we are faced with a loss or stress of any kind, it can wreak havoc on our bodies, minds, and emotions, and we will suffer from the effects as a result of not taking steps to find a healthy way to deal with it all.  

Here are some ways to help Power Up your Emotional Wellness (tips taken from here) this week: 

1. Focus on relationships - build a support system for yourself through community (We have one for you with Power Up for PCOS/groups, but you can attend church and volunteer groups in your area as well.)
2. Take some time to "check in" with yourself, alone, in the quiet.  Tune in and assess where you are and what you are thinking, feeling, and experiencing in your life right now.
3. Start moving your body and eliminate unhealthy habits.   Get some endorphins circulating and leave the things behind forever that can drain your health!
4. Find something fun (hobby, etc.) that you can do for a few minutes each day.  You DO deserve and NEED a break from working all the time. 
5. Identify what is your passion - and then start pursuing (enjoying) it.  For me, it's photography and other creative pursuits, like writing.  Different stages of life bring different interests - embrace that!
6. Realize that perfection isn't possible.  Again, this is something I deal with each day, but SLOWLY I am learning to do my best and be OK with that.  Good enough is better than not attempted.
7. Start writing.  Yes, I said writing.  It's a proven fact that journaling/writing/giving words to/expressing your emotions in one form or another is a HUGE, healthy release for our emotions and allows us to find peace or resolution in them.  Seek out therapy, a sympathetic ear of a friend, start a journal/blog, pray, or go out in nature and speak the words out loud.  This will be a huge one for me this week.
8. Identify the energy drains (vampires) in your life - and learn to draw healthy boundaries.  Whether it's a person, situation, or unhealthy expectations and responsibilities, learn to notice what's taking more away from you than giving back.  Then, take steps to protect yourself from it and recharge your batteries before you hit a crisis point.

Whatever you decide to do to build Emotional  Wellness in yourself the next five days, we'd like to hear about it and even see your pictures on our Facebook Page!  There is no right or wrong way to do this Challenge - but this week we will be working and encouraging each other to put the pieces together to add to our Emotional Wellness!   

We suffer from a huge breakdown of emotional wellness in this country in every region and across all racial, gender, socio-economic, and intellectual levels - and I sense that there are many in our very own PCOS community that have struggles, big struggles in this area as well. 

That being said: don't  be afraid to realize that you might need help or extra support in this area.  Reach out to a trusted friend and/or medical professional if you suspect that you need help and are facing a struggle that seems overwhelming.  There is NO shame in admitting that you are in a place where you need help.  From me to you, please make that step and reach out to others if you are needing help.  We here at Power UP will support you in your journey as you deal with whatever you are facing,

Together, no matter the challenge, we can Power Up for PCOS and face the world stronger together than we can ever do alone.

My love to all of you who did reach out and support me last week in the loss of my special friend.  I will never forget that.

See you around Facebook!  

Love,

Gina

Power Up for PCOS Wellness Hunt - Week Two!

It's another week - and another opportunity to Power Up for PCOS and start week two of our community Wellness Hunt!

This week our focus will be on finding things to add to our Mental Wellness as women with PCOS!

Here are some ideas to help you add in some healthy mental wellness habits the next five days:

1. Get a book from the library to learn more about PCOS
2. Attend a seminar/group to connect with other women who deal with PCOS - or just get more active in reaching out on our Power Up for PCOS community page
3. Look here to learn if a Power Up Group is located near you - or consider joining our Cyster's Circle network to start one in your area and be on our mailing list
4. Do something to help you relax (read a book, practice self-care, take a power nap, get a massage)
5. Have a good belly laugh daily - watch something fun, go attend a live stand-up show, or just get together with your girlfriends and let your hair down as you giggle like schoolgirls together
6. Let go of unhealthy habits and negative thinking  ( they will drag you down!)
7. Embrace trying something new (journaling/writing, pursue a hobby, set aside time to dream big dreams)
8. Reach out to others in your community and nurture your friendships
9. Ask for help from others and seek medical help if you suspect you need help in dealing with depression and/or your levels of anxiety
10. Realize that perfection isn't attainable and just aim to do your daily best!  (This is a hard one for me sometimes!)

Your list this week may have different items and a different focus, but I want to encourage you to do whatever your heart tells you to do to obtain a week of focusing on mental wellness for yourself!

By the end of this week, my hope is that you have gotten a few moments out of the week where you have focused on taking care of yourself, especially in the area of mental wellness.

Whatever you decide to do to build Mental Wellness in yourself the next five days, we'd like to hear about it and even see your pictures on our Facebook Page!  There is no right or wrong way to do this Challenge - but this week we will be working and encouraging each other to put the pieces together to add to our Mental Wellness!  

Hope you join me!  See you around Facebook!

Gina

P.S. - If you haven't RSVP'd to this event, you can join us here, but it isn't necessary to join the event to join us for the FUN!

New Feature! Power Up Locator

Is there a Power Up Group near me? Where can I find an InCYST Trained Professional? Try our new Power Up Locator and find out!

We would like to introduce you to a new feature on our website called the Power Up Locator.  It's as simple as visiting our website, clicking on Power Up Locator and entering your postal code. 

As a special bonus, InCYST Trained Professional will soon be added.

If you are an InCYST Trained Professional and would like to be listed on our Power Up Locator, please submit your information here: http://www.powerupforpcos.com/forprofessionals   

Power Cyster Beth - My VERY BEST!

Your VERY BEST!

What does that mean?

I asked myself:
Am I doing the very best...
with my exercise?
with my supplements?
with my faith and learning about God?
with eating natural, whole food?

Sometimes my need for perfection makes me fail before I even start or shortly after.  God has been showing me some things lately and a repeated phrase keep popping up. AM I DOING MY BEST?

It started with the movie Facing the Giants...

It was an amazing movie and I don't usually watch football movies.  It showed me that we can really do a lot more than we think we can but we don't usually put in our VERY BEST effort.  The main characters in the movie were also dealing with infertility issues and that really hit home as well.  I have watched the movie twice in the last couple of days as well as heard this same phrase all over.  

I really feel moved to discover if I am doing my very best.  I tried a new exercise video the other day and while I was exercising, I started to get tired and was about to call it quits when I remembered that if I truly wanted the gifts in life that I have to do my VERY BEST with EVERYTHING that I do.

Realizing this has been an amazing release of guilt off my shoulders.  I always felt guilty that i was not consistent in eating the write foods or taking my supplements or exercising enough.  Now I actually am more committed and I am accomplishing more because as I am doing something I consider if I am doing my VERY BEST.  If I am then GREAT!  I feel proud even if it is not what others accomplish.  I don't need to be perfect, I am me.  If I am not doing my VERY BEST then why not?  What is stopping me?  Honestly, since all of the revelation, I find myself doing my very best all of the time now.

I feel inspired and free!

Thank You,

Beth Wolf

Founder of Power Up for PCOS

810 - 545 - PCOS (7267)
http://www.PowerUpforPCOS.com

Power Up for PCOS - emPowering Women to Manage PCOS

Power Up for PCOS provides support to women with PCOS through educational Power Up Groups, building connections with other PCOS women, calendar of upcoming PCOS events, professional referrals and reviews, PCOS store, and other specialized events to raise money for PCOS research.

Power Up for PCOS Wellness Hunt - Week One!

So, here we go!  It's the start of week one of our Wellness Hunt!  I don't know about you, but I am actually  very excited to start this week and join in with all of you taking steps to put together the pieces of our personal Wellness with PCOS!

Week One:  FOCUS on Physical Wellness


For the next five days, you want to search out five different ways that you can add to your Physical Wellness and post a picture or a status update on our Power Up for PCOS Community Page!  Our Wellness Hunt is really that simple  - but you will see that by the end of the week that those five days of doing something new for YOU have really added up!

Here are some ideas for you to get thinking about what you can do this week to POWER up Physically for PCOS Wellness:

1. Take a meditative walk on your lunch-break or after dinner for 20 minutes.
2. Eat a veggie or piece of fruit instead of your usual chips/pretzels/regular soda.
3. Cut back on caffeine.
4. Take your vitamins.
5. Add in another glass of water somewhere during the day (maybe after your walk!).
6. Do something to make yourself feel pretty (facial, manicure, new haircolor!).
7. Go to bed at night when you get tired.  Really. Aim to get more sleep than normal.
8. Try a new workout - look up a video on You Tube of something you'd like to try!
9. Consider joining a free website like My Fitness Pal, FitDay, or Sparkpeople to track your fitness goals.
10. Make an appointment with your doctor and/or dentist to have a physical/check up/blood-work done.

Whatever you decide to do to build Physical Wellness in yourself the next five days, we'd like to hear about it and even see your pictures on our Facebook Page!  There is no right or wrong way to do this Challenge - but this week we will be working and encouraging each other to put the pieces together to add to our Physical Wellness!  

Hope you join me!  See you around Facebook!

Gina

P.S. - If you haven't RSVP's to this event, you can join us here, but it isn't necessary to join the event to join us for the FUN!

Power Up for PCOS Wellness Hunt - Introduction!

Today is the first day of March - and Spring is on it's way!  I don't know about you, but I am ready to have a fresh start in dedication to caring for myself and in working towards my goals.  What better way to see that accomplished than to commit to seeking Wellness through baby steps each day!?


Please join us as we spend the month of March seeking Wellness in every part of our lives as women with PCOS! We plan to take baby steps each day towards Wellness physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally.

We will be having a weekly focus for our "hunt" that starts each Monday morning (with details here on our blog) as well as daily tips for putting that Wellness focus into practice with daily challenges posted on our community Power Up for PCOS page!

We hope you'll join us and make March a month of Wellness!  Today we ask you to please RSVP to the Wellness Hunt by going here and then post about your decision to our community page!


Stay tuned to learn how you can take steps to Power Up for PCOS by achieving Wellness in every part of your life!


See you around Facebook!


Gina