Alegra Loewenstein
  • Home
  • Medical & Science Writing
  • Spiritual Wellness Books
  • Contact

Body Wisdom | Heart Opening Yoga for Stress & ANxiety Relief

3/23/2020

0 Comments

 
0 Comments

SMall Steps Big Magic Podcast Episode 19: Flexibility and how it changes everything

8/11/2019

0 Comments

 
If you have fifteen minutes, you can find motivation right now! 

Get introduced to the pillars of health, and why flexibility is the most important of them all. 

Meditations is great, but it doesn't always work out for all of us to sit down and do it. Instead try a walking mindfulness program by slipping on your favorite tennis shoes and listening to this podcast while you walk. 

It's fun, it's adventurous - Join me as I am also walking in the great outdoors and sharing my weight loss tips and motivation and perhaps encounter a wild animal! 
small_steps_podcast_episode__flexibility_and_how.wav
File Size: 32560 kb
File Type: wav
Download File

Want some sparkle in your inbox?

* indicates required
Yes! I'd like a little magic with...
0 Comments

Podcast Episode 14: How Glitter Can Help You Lose Weight (and Other Reasons I love Valentine's Day)

2/14/2019

0 Comments

 
A poem by Rumi for Valentine's Day: 

Whoever acts with respect will get respect.
Whoever brings sweetness
will be served almond cake. 

This Valentine's Day I think we can say that we deserve both, don't we? Respect AND almond cake!! And, yes, you can have both. (And you can lose weight, too.)

In this episode I don't recite any poems, though I should probably start to do so! However, I talk about all the many reasons why I love Valentine's Day, and how you can learn to love Valentine's Day, too (if you don't already). 

I also explain why glitter is so good for you, and how you can put it to use in your own life. 

And, of course, I always tie it back in with how you can craft a life that sparkles, and how to stay on track for natural weight loss while you celebrate life and  live in rhythm with the seasons! 

#smallsteps #bigmagic #alifethatsparkles
small_steps_episode_14_-_how_glitter_can_change_your_life_-_alegra_loewenstein_.wav
File Size: 36090 kb
File Type: wav
Download File

Want some sparkle in your inbox?

* indicates required
Yes! I'd like a little magic with...
*I promise I will never share your email address with anyone.
Picture
0 Comments

Make Masala Chai with Me! Kitchen Magic Recipe

1/12/2019

0 Comments

 
I absolutely love drinking tea. It is such a wonderful ritual that makes me happy and keeps me grounded.

One of my favorite kinds of tea is chai, or as it's known in India, masala chai. Chai actually just means tea, and if you order chai, you'll get plain black tea. But order masala chai and you get the delicious and warming spiced brew that I'm in love with!

It's a radical act to skip the take out paper cups and make your own drinks these days. Doing so is one step towards reclaiming what you put in your body, therefore reclaiming your body, and also reclaiming your HEALTH!

Follow along as I make it here! So easy and delicious! 

Get more recipes for free and find the recipe in a beautiful paperback as well! Just click the image below!
Picture

Want some sparkle in your inbox?

* indicates required
Yes! I'd like a little magic with...
0 Comments

Podcast Episode 7: How your inner goddess can help you lose weight

10/25/2018

0 Comments

 
I love to talk about your inner goddess (or gods). And when I talk about the inner gods/goddesses, I am actually talking about... wait for it... hormones!!! I bet you didn't see that one coming, did you?

Yes, to me, the gods/goddesses can help us see, in a real way, how we are out of balance, and how we can use the same skills of that out of balance goddess to prevent the problems, just as she causes the problems when she is out of balance. 

In this episode, I tell the story of Persephone, and how she can help us find peace and balance that can ultimately lead to weight loss in our lives by accepting our reality and living up to our best self within it!

​Enjoy! This is a fun one :) 
hyc7_inner_persephone_and_how_values_relate_to_weight_loss_-_alegra_loewenstein_.wav
File Size: 42398 kb
File Type: wav
Download File

Want some sparkle in your inbox?

* indicates required
Yes! I'd like a little magic with...
*I promise I will never share your email address with anyone.
0 Comments

Podcast Episode 6: I Let Go of Control

10/8/2018

0 Comments

 
This is the podcast you do NOT want to miss!! I share some of the most amazing, transformative, and yet SIMPLE techniques to start get immediate results in your life!! Whether you are ready to lose weight, eat better, or simply be happier, listen to this episode now!!!
slp_6_alegra_loewenstein_i_let_go_of_control_.wav
File Size: 29619 kb
File Type: wav
Download File

Want some sparkle in your inbox?

* indicates required
Yes! I'd like a little magic with...
*I promise I will never share your email address with anyone.
0 Comments

Unravelling the Mystery

10/1/2018

0 Comments

 
I'm going to share something about my work that I sometimes try to keep a bit of a secret! Whenever I work with someone who wants to lose weight, I actually start my work with them on all the other things. I've found by approach things in this "through the backdoor" way, that I can actually more quickly discover what's actually at the root, causing the extra weight, and help my clients reach their natural weight much faster!

​One part of the unravelling of this mystery is looking at how we are taking care of ourselves. I've been doing that with some of my friends and colleagues as well. I hope this story from Marianita Love Pabalate and her journey to overcome exhaustion helps you gain awareness on how my approach really looks at the WHOLE you! 


Picture
Let's get started by jumping right in. This series is about personal stories of extreme exhaustion, and how they affect us and our lives. Unfortunately people throw around terms like "exhausted" or "burned out" like a badge of honor. When you hit a point where your energy was so low that you really considered it serious, how did you know?​
​Physically after the lack of sleep and body fatigue, I always feel heavy. It felt like I'm dragging my every step. I have no motivation to move. And my gut was unbalanced, it was not happy. Mentally, my mind was blank, empty. No matter which of my go-to creative inspirational thing I do, nothing works. It feels like all my creative energy has been literally sucked out of me with a vacuum and I deflated.
​Thank you for sharing. I got inspired to ask others to share their story with exhaustion when I faced my own diagnosis of adrenal fatigue. It's a sad reality that so many people face that or have a lifestyle that is sending them down that path. After you realized you needed things to change how did you go about it?
​First thing I did was accepted the fact that I am tired and exhausted. That I should stop working, for now, get my mind off work, do not touch any pencil or paintbrushes nor my planner. I reflected. Went back to gratitude, for all the things that are happening, happened, and about to happen. I went back to my values. My values were definitely not being met that's why I reached the point of burned out. I then realized which ones I need to attend to.
​Was it a smooth journey?
I wouldn't say it was a smooth journey. Because controlling myself to not work, not worry about work, and just relax was hard. I always had the urge to keep moving, whether it's laundry, cleaning, errands, etc.
You've been through a lot. You've been to what I call "the pit of despair," where everything feels so overwhelming or demanding that you kind of want to throw in the towel. And yet I know for myself that it was not depression. Depression, of course, is its own dark place, but fatigue is different. For me, I still wanted to do the normal things... But felt like it was just too much work. What advice do you have for someone who feels fatigued or even simply worn out on an ongoing basis?
Do not ignore signs and do not ignore your values. These are our guiding principles. With this chaotic and demanding world, we had always gone with the flow of constantly moving. If we can regularly check in with ourselves, ask the real hard questions like "How are you REALLY feeling?" It can help us limit the burned out feeling.
Was your weight a concern during this time in your life? If so, how did overcoming the fatigue change what was going on with your weight?
Weight was not a usual concern, other than when I know I've been overworking I don't eat regularly. Over time I can lose weight. Or stressed that I eat random unhealthy binges. Or time when I do not consider my wellness because of lack of inspiration which coincide with lackluster feeling about myself and business, I could gain weight.
Is there anything you can say was a silver lining to the experience you had with fatigue/exhaustion?
It just further reminded me that I need to check in with myself regularly. And that I should always put myself first, my wellness, and love on myself first.
OK, now for a few fun questions! Where do you live and what do you do there-for work and for fun?
I live in Los Angeles, CA. I am a freelance illustrator and I have my own business with my art inspired pieces. Just like other city dwellers, I like to see friends hang out at a cafe, venture out to new restaurants, visit local museums and events, drive up to nearby cities for getaways or drive to the mountainside.
What is a surprising food you just love to eat? 
I like bitter foods. I like dark chocolates, the 90%+ kind, and dishes with bittermelon. 
​One thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I still enjoy watching whimsical animation movies and cartoons, even those made for kids. 
Thank you! Where can people find you to learn more about you? 
Marianita Love Pabalate, artist and owner of RipeMangoes.com

Picture
Facing your own exhaustion? Be sure to get your free Body Wisdom audio book, my gift to you to help you slow down, and learn to listen to your body.

Want some sparkle in your inbox?

* indicates required
Yes! I'd like a little magic with...
0 Comments

Podcast Episode 3: The Season of Your Soul

9/1/2018

0 Comments

 
Looking into the seasons and how we can prepare for weight loss as fall approaches. I explore how the seasons and how our local environments can help use take care of ourselves and how we can put this to work to create the healthy lifestyle we crave, without adding anything to your to do list, but instead putting yourself in tune with the cycles that surround us. 
slp_3_sept_2018.wav
File Size: 31308 kb
File Type: wav
Download File

(It says download, but it actually opens in a new window where you can stream it.)

Want some sparkle in your inbox?

* indicates required
Yes! I'd like a little magic with...
*I promise I will never share your email address with anyone.
0 Comments

But what does the middle ground look like?

7/1/2018

0 Comments

 
You are a leader. You are ambitious, and you are busy. The truth is, it's rewarding. It feels good to be successful!

However, when we begin to forget the other parts of who we are, your career can become unhealthy. What happens when you keep falling off the wagon when it comes to your health? When you make changes for a while, but just can't seem to sustain them?

It is hard to admit that the thing we prize most about our life - our successful career and the accolades that come with it - may be the exact thing that is disrupting our achievement and success in our health.

I know, as a fellow member of the Very Ambitious Person Society, that it can be really hard to think that I can't control or succeed at something that I am putting my mind toward. Really hard!

I want to let you know first and foremost - if you are not succeeding in health - it has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH WILLPOWER!

There are a whole bunch of reasons why it has nothing to do with willpower... the primary reason is because willpower is finite and we use it up during the day so it will never work. Other reasons include circadian rhythms that make us lose our inhibitions when the sun goes down, which is why we always end up overeating at night (among other things we do without inhibition), and also because of hormones.

Hormones get their own paragraph. I'd give them their own article, but my business coach tells me they are too boring! Our hormones are in charge. It doesn't matter what we think or tell ourselves, in the end we do what our hormones tell us to do -- not what our brains are saying. Things that cause our hormones to hijack our actions: stress, emotional triggers (like a fight or a rough day), stress, age, stress, monthly changes, stress, sugar, stress, poor diet, stress, caffeine, and... did I mention stress?

If you are ready to take charge of your health a different way, then I have the answer. It all starts with aligning our actions with our values. If you really truly desire to reach and maintain your body's ideal natural weight, then it is time to prioritize it. This is the part where you pull that thread and see where it leads you. The actions you need to take are not the same as the ones I need to take or any of my other clients need to take.

Finding the middle ground seems elusive in the beginning, because we aren't used to taking it. Lots of my clients tell me they really don't know what the middle ground would be. That applies with clients who are looking to give up the dieting mindset (of deprivation as the only way to lose weight) as well as create sustainable exercise patterns (not going hard for 6 weeks... then quitting). No matter what your middle ground is, if you are used to going "all in" it can be hard to figure out how to do something else... something that may feel like "not enough" but in reality is exactly the answer that will allow you to succeed! We have to carve new neural pathways to do this. The steps are simple, though not always easy.

I always approach things by focusing on practical steps you can take right now - using smart scheduling (and, OK, a teeny tiny bit of willpower - just in the beginning!) I couple this logistical side, or "pre-planning" as I call it, with the emotional/spiritual/hormonal/stress detangling.

So as we figure out what your emotional/spiritual/hormonal/stress triggers are and eliminate them from the source, you sustain yourself with the pre-planning, and eventually these meet in the middle... Yes! That is the middle ground that we are looking for!

And it is from this middle ground that you really can achieve your ambitions in both career and health, without sacrificing one for the other, but truly having it all!
​
Picture

Want some sparkle in your inbox?

* indicates required
Yes! I'd like a little magic with...
0 Comments

EVeryone has this PROBLEM...

6/19/2018

0 Comments

 
I'm working on sharing the stories of women, including myself, who have faced extreme exhaustion in some form or another. Sadly, this is an epidemic. 21st Century Stress is a pandemic, a chronic disease we ALL seem to be suffering from. So how do we overcome it? It takes a bit of slowing down and a grand effort to rebalance. Hopefully this story from Tammi Hoerner will help inspire you!
Picture

Let's get started by jumping right in. This series is about personal stories of extreme exhaustion, and how they affect us and our lives. Unfortunately people throw around terms like "exhausted" or "burned out" like a badge of honor. When you hit a point where your energy was so low that you really considered it serious, how did you know?
My exhaustion showed up with tears and a realization I’d totally dumped out my bucket. My hair was falling out (this had happened before), I was feeling depressed, I’d lost my inspiration in my work as a coach, I just wanted to sleep - but couldn’t, and I started gaining visible belly weight and couldn’t gather enough energy to seriously develop a workout routine. I toppled when I started getting migraines weekly.
Thank you for sharing. I got inspired to ask others to share their story with exhaustion when I faced my own diagnosis of adrenal fatigue. It's a sad reality that so many people face that or have a lifestyle that is sending them down that path. After you realized you needed things to change how did you go about it?
Because I’ve been an INHC [health coach] for almost a decade, I recognized the symptoms and began first with a commitment from me that my health has to come first, I began to scale back my work. I talked with my husband, set some boundaries with others in my life, and began my journey in extreme self care. This included a visit to the doc to make sure blood work and brain are okay, then I began to hit changes in my food, sleep, boundaries, relationships, and exercise.
Was it a smooth journey?
Ha! Is this a trick question?! It still is not a smooth journey. I currently have migraines still, they are farther between. My hair is not falling out any more and I have most of my energy back. I have days I don’t care about what I eat, and days I don’t want to move, but I am getting better.
You've been through a lot. You've been to what I call "the pit of despair," where everything feels so overwhelming or demanding that you kind of want to throw in the towel. And yet I know for myself that it was not depression. Depression, of course, is its own dark place, but fatigue is different. For me, I still wanted to do the normal things... But felt like it was just too much work. What advice do you have for someone who feels fatigued or even simply worn out on an ongoing basis?
Be kind to yourself. I always felt like I was working in reverse. As I began to set boundaries, I began to keep lists of what I wanted to accomplish. I’d pick a single thing to do a day. Most of these revolved around home care and self care. I’d take one thing on and see how it went. If it went good and I felt good, I’d pick another. I’d celebrate what I did and allow myself to recover/rest afterward.
Was your weight a concern during this time in your life? If so, how did overcoming the fatigue change what was going on with your weight?
As I’ve addressed my adrenal fatigue, I’ve been able to do a lot more for my health and well being. I’ve not lost the weight I gained in numbers, but I’m able to exercise hard a solid 60 minutes and I still have energy to cook all of our meals. Slowly I’m turning all this around.
​Is there anything you can say was a silver lining to the experience you had with fatigue/exhaustion?
Sure! This is a real condition, it’s not in your head, - it takes time to heal, but you can heal it. I know that if you rest, eat good food, and take time for other self care, you can get better. The human body is designed to heal itself when given the right tools. You can do it!
OK, now for a few fun questions! Where do you live and what do you do there-for work and for fun?
I am a native Coloradan. I am an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach (In my 9th year!), Herbalist, and Aromatherapist who supports women in moving from undernourished and overwhelmed to living a life fulfilled with Lifestyle and Career Coaching. I homeschool, love paper crafts and fur babies, and am an advocate for green living and the planet.
​What is a surprising food you just love to eat? 
I love salty crunchy foods - chips and salsa are the key to my heart and the thorn in my paw. Ha!
One thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I’m multi educated - I have an AAS in Graphic Design, and a Barber Stylist Diploma. (I cut hair for about two years before I gave up my scissors for a different venture).
Thank you, Tammi! 
Where can people get in touch with you to learn more about you and your endeavors?
​Tammi Hoerner, INHC, Dipl. MH, Aromatherapy Headpositivemom.com

Picture
If you are ready to start your own journey to slow down and listen to your body and lose weight with ease, get your free audio book!

Want some sparkle in your inbox?

* indicates required
Yes! I'd like a little magic with...
0 Comments
<<Previous
    Picture

    Alegra

    #1 Selling Author & Creator of Small Steps, Big Magic: Crafting a Life That Sparkles 

    Categories

    All
    Anxiety
    Audio / Podcast
    Body Wisdom
    Control
    Cooking
    Emotional Eating
    Environment
    Exercise
    Food
    Giveaway
    Guest Post
    Herbs
    Meal Planning
    Media
    My Books
    My Favorites
    My Story
    Plant Spirit Magic
    Recipes
    Reviews
    Seasons
    Self Care
    Shop
    Simple Actions
    Stress
    Sugar
    Support
    Video
    Weight Loss
    Wheel Of The Year
    Will Power
    Woo
    Writing Services

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    July 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016


​Alegra Loewenstein & www.alegraloewenstein.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Clicking links to amazon from my site provides me with income - at no cost to you - so I can continue to create free and fun content on my site! ​

  • Home
  • Medical & Science Writing
  • Spiritual Wellness Books
  • Contact