Total Mind and Body Wellness

THIS week was my Birthday! It was just a normal work day, a Tuesday, but it still felt like a special day to me. AS we get older we should be embracing our birthdays, celebrating each year we are still here, doing all the things, but I hear so many of the older generation saying that it's a sign they are getting old, there's no point in celebrating anymore. I say that's RUBBISH! THE longer we are here the more we should celebrate! ESPECIALLY if we are living in the best of health and experiencing as much of life that we can. We should be out and about having adventures, meeting friends, doing hobbies, taking life by the horns and making memories, on our own and with others. BIRTHDAYS are a sign that we are still here, still living the life, and I want to have as many birthdays as I can possibly have. My Dad only had 54 birthdays, so far I have had 51, that is ever-present in my mind. I could not imagine only having 3 more birthdays and that's it, BUT I am mindful that i...

 HOW are you feeling? HAS January got you feeling a bit stressed, tired, anxious? THEN you have the 'January blues!' NOT to be confused with Seasonal Affective disorder (SAD) this is a stand alone sadness or worry, but if you do suffer from SAD, January will feel even more of a worry. NEVER fear though, because there is hope, this is just a temporary feeling off the back of the festive season. Caused by the following... Lack of money from festive over-spending. Christmas anti-climax. Family arguments over Christmas and New Year! Yep they happen. Lack of daylight. Poor, cold, wet and windy weather. Over-eating bad foods and drinking alcohol through December. AND so much more besides. January holds the most depressing day of the entire year, 'blue Monday' which falls on the third Monday in January, bills come out, you haven't been paid yet, the anti-climax of Christmas is over-whelming and it's raining constantly, oh, and you have to get me a birthday card and pre...

 Happy 2026 everyone! I'm back with a blog that I have thought a lot about recently. What exactly is WELLNESS? It's a term that is becoming increasingly popular in many industries, you see it all over the lorries that carry Holland and Barrett goods, and they have been in the business of wellness for ever! I see it on social media posts (not just my own) it seems that everyone is jumping on the 'wellness bandwagon' as more and more people are getting concerned about their mental and physical health. OXFORD DICTIONARY Wellness - the state of being in good health, especially as an actively pursued goal. That doesn't give much away does it? Let's dig a little deeper. The World Health Organisation (WHO) who I actually wouldn't trust with my health even if you paid me defines wellness as - a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Do we really know anyone who is actually in a state of wellness ...

 NO matter what you are doing this Christmas, ensure that you take time out for yourself, even if it's just a few moments a day. IN the past people set themselves 'New Year Resolutions' over the Christmas period, and I still don't think that is a bad idea, as long as the goals set are achievable and reasonable. THE main reasons why people fail are the following........ GOALS are set under the influence of alcohol - it seems like a good idea when you are in the pub amongst friends all encouraging you. But in the cold light of day, hungover, depressed and demoralised you wonder why on earth you decided to do 'that!' Already before the new year has even started the goal is daunting, and not at all what you want to do. You may not even reach the point of starting. NEVER make life-changing decisions under the influence of alcohol. Make your life choices sober, then you know that you really want to do them. PRESSURE from friends and family are the reason for you to do...

  ALONG with other things I really dislike about the Christmas period, the need to gorge and indulge in blatant face-stuffing is the biggie for me. Being a nutritionist and wellness coach, eating a healthy balanced diet for life is what I preach day in day out. CHRISTMAS DAY is just one day of the year, one day only! And yet it seems that most people are quite happy to eat in excess of their daily calories, and very bad food choices over a number of weeks before and after the actual day. It's excessive and so very bad for your health. MOST adults have at least one Christmas work event that involves food and drink, and then there are friends and family events too. Each bringing an overloaded calorie intake of at least THREE TIMES your daily amount. No exercise is going to burn that lot off no matter how hard you try. LET'S talk about alcohol consumption! Now, if you have read my other blogs you will know that as of the 20th December this year, I will be FIVE YEARS alcohol free! ...

 It's THAT time of year, women are out buying gifts for everyone, men are counting down the days until Christmas eve when they do their shopping! Only joking, my husband is way more organised than me when it comes to Christmas presents, although I have planned all the meals over the festive period and got the butchers order in! That's what I'm best at, because I am USELESS at buying presents! In my opinion, there are three groups of people when it comes to choosing and giving presents, the FIRST are the epic present-buyers. They are naturals at it, there is always that one person in the family that you look forward to receiving their present, because they have never failed. Growing up my Auntie Judy was epic! I don't know how she did it, but her presents were always different, wonderful and absolutely so well chosen you couldn't have dreamed it. My cousin Nicky has inherited this trait, my Mum is also an epic present-giver, but she does ask a lot about what I would ...