Blog Posts by Brett Blumenthal - Sheer Balance

ChangeIt isn't easy making change. But there are definite factors that can contribute to your success. In short, if you are going to go into things with the wrong attitude, you just as well shouldn't have bothered. Taking on any challenge - whether it be changing your habits...a change in your career...improving your relationship or anything else - requires a positive and rational mindset. Your head is just as big a part of your ability to succeed as are your actions.

Keep your head in the right place with some of these key mindsets:

1. Own Your Decision. Your quest for change is a choice. Yet, it should appeal to your emotional side. Something inside you caused you to want it. Erase phrases such as "I have to," "I should," and "I'm supposed to" from your thinking, and instead, focus on "I WANT TO."
2. Embrace Change as a Lifestyle. Understand that your pursuit for change isn't just about the here and now, but something to be embraced for the long term.
3. Understand

Mindless ExercisingOver the last year or so, mindful eating has become a topic amongst many wellness professionals. For those of you who aren't familiar with the term, mindful eating refers to eating with purpose and awareness. In short, pay attention to what, how much, and how you feel mentally and physically when you eat. Even in Get Real and Stop Dieting! I discuss the importance of mindful eating. What we haven't seen very much of, however, is discussion around the idea of mindful exercising.
As an AFAA certified wellness professional, I've spent years witnessing mindlessness around fitness. Many people go to the gym with the philosophy that if they spend time in a place that has weights and cardio equipment, then they've exercised. Unfortunately, this couldn't be further from the truth. Is a matter of fact, mindless exercising equates to a waste of your time: You put the time in, but don't reap the benefits. If you exercise on a regular basis and are unsure if you fall into this category, here are

Bullying Happens at Every AgeI've talked about how the anonymity of the internet brings out the worst in people. Given my choice of profession, however, I've been forced to deal with it more and more. Having been lucky enough to be featured on Yahoo!, I've had thousands of people read or view my posts, and as a result, I've been privy to cyber-bullying, "mean girl" (and especially guy) tactics, and character assassinations. It comes with the territory and it definitely has taken some getting used to. That said, it still hurts.

Last October, I was lucky to be a guest on actress Judy Greer's (E.g., Mad Love, 13 Going on 30 and Arrested Development) "Reluctantly Healthy" web-television show (Thank You Yahoo!). After a 5am wake-up call and a 4 hour train ride, I arrived for the taping in New York. I did my hair and my makeup as best as I could (I do not have entourage status), and was ready to go. While taping, the lighting was so strong, that my eyes hurt, and as much as I tried not to, I was squinting through

SuccessSuccess can mean different things to different people. Some may equate success with making a lot of money. Others may equate it with being happy. Others see it as having strong and meaningful familial relationships and friendships. And finally, to some, it means ALL of these things. No matter how success is defined, many people often attribute success to luck. We hear it all the time: "She is so lucky that she has that job." "He is so lucky to have found such a perfect wife." "They are such a lucky family to be so close." Although luck can definitely play a hand in making one successful, more often than not, it takes a lot more than luck itself.

Regardless of your definition of success, these characteristics are paramount in ensuring that success is achievable.

1. Know yourself. The first important thing to success is knowing yourself. How many times have you heard the story of an "ultra-successful" man or woman who had a life-changing experience causing them to fully shift gears

Food ColoringI have fond memories of coloring our Easter eggs as a kid. My mom and I would use the food coloring in our cupboard once a year for this very special occasion. Otherwise, the food coloring just sat there, unused in the dark closet. Mom may have had a sixth-sense.

Buy Safe Easter Egg Coloring Kits: Eco-Eggs Easter Egg Coloring Kit

In the past I've discussed ingredients and additives worth avoiding in food products. Among them, you'll find artificial colors, or in other forms, food coloring or food dyes. Beyond the fact that most are made synthetically from coal-tar derivatives and are suspected of being toxic or carcinogenic, claims about these chemical compounds should give anyone reason for avoidance. For instance, some of these colorful compounds are said to contain up to ten parts per million of lead and/or arsenic, and many have been linked to allergic reactions, fatigue, ADD/ADHD, headaches, asthma, and even skin rashes, and finally, some artificial colors can contribute to

OmeletI love omelets. So much so, that I will often have an omelet for dinner. When dining out, however, an omelet is often a huge meal: toast, hash browns, bacon, you name it are part of the deal, making your choice a danger zone of cholesterol and fat. Although ordering an omelet at a restaurant or diner can seem like an unhealthy decision, you can make some very easy swaps that will make an otherwise fatty breakfast, or in my case dinner, much leaner and healthier. Here are five simple swaps to make the next time an omelet is on the horizon:

1. You Say Potato, I say Tomato: Your order will almost always come with carb-intense and often fatty home fries or fried potatoes. A very simple, and extremely healthy swap is to ask for tomato slices instead. Almost every time I've done this, the restaurant has happily obliged. Tomatoes provide tons of fiber, have no fat and are rich in the antioxidant lycopene, which is great for heart health, boosting memory and reducing risk of cancer.

DreamstimeSmile and the whole world will smile with you. Or will it? Living in both New York and Boston, I've grown accustomed to certain cultural norms in the northeast. For instance, north easterners are known for telling it like it is…being somewhat abrupt…being a bit aggressive…and keeping to ourselves. To many, these may not sound like overly attractive qualities, but it is what it is, and I've grown to understand it as "normal" where I live.

For the last five years, my mom has been snowbirding to northern Florida, and as a result, we've visited the area quite a bit. I'm somewhat ashamed to say it took us by surprise as to how friendly people are in the south. Not only do they say "hello," but would wave from their moving vehicles as they passed. They smile. They are friendly. And they go out of their way to be pleasant. Although it usually takes a day or two to happen, my husband and I typically find ourselves actively saying hello to strangers, and feeling good about it. And the best

XRay of FractureAbout two weeks ago, I slipped and fell, landing clear on my tailbone. The moment of the fall, the pain was so bad that I felt it in my head. After about a minute though, I managed to collect myself and stand up. Although a little shaken up, I was able to walk and decided I was okay. Over the next day or two I iced the area, and felt minor improvements. For better or worse, I'm not one to rush off to the emergency room. I'd have to be bleeding pretty badly or feel major pain to warrant spending the time and money to sit in a waiting room.
After several days of pain, however, both my mom and a friend expressed their concern for my not having had an x-ray. I replied "that there was little that could be done, one way or another. If it was fractured, they couldn't very well put me in a cast." The tailbone is just one of those areas that needs to heal on its own. That said, I heeded their advice and made an appointment with my doctor for an examination of the area, and a possible x-ray.