I recently read an article about obesity which both made me sad and left me a bit enraged. On one hand, the way our world shames people for their body size is unconscionable and absolutely despicable, but on the other hand, in absence of options other than beat your body into submission, cut up your stomach or take prescription meth, it seems our problem is only getting worse.
Sadly, in response to not knowing where else to look, the emerging prevailing theme is to adopt a position of acceptance and “body positivity” with regard to body size.

Now, many support this movement by citing articles which indicate that body size does not necessarily denote health, and the truth is, they're right, you can be fat or skinny and unhealthy and your body weight doesn't necessarily denote the totality of your health, but the truth is, that the heavier we get, the more stress we put on our structure, something the article tries to not speak about.

In this regard, we have a skeletal...

Went to an astronomy event last night, kept waking up all night in wonder.

This universe, all it's amazing aspects and here we are so small within its midst.

Yet, here we are.

I was thinking the other day about the study showing that long term use of the birth control pill eliminates a woman’s ability to pick the best biological mate for her based on natural biology...aka pheromones.  If you haven’t read about this, you really should, after all, 10.6 million women per year take the pill...and not all for contraception.

Currently, the pill is prescribed for skin disorders, hormonal balancing, and mood issues just to name a few non-contraceptive related conditions.

So, back to the study, the Birth Control Pill ruins our ability to pick a mate….

Now, I am not sure about you, but I have to ask….shouldn’t we all be a bit concerned about that?

How many marriages are started by people who met while the woman was on the pill?  I know I took it on and off from 15 to 20 or so.

Now, the pill is just one factor, but reading about it's impact raises the next most essential question...

How many relationships are being dictated...

Let me ask you, if weight loss is something you're focused on at this point in your life what are looking for?

What is the driving force behind wanting that weight to move?

Is it just a cosmetic thing?

Is it just “I want to put on a pair of jeans and like how they feel?”

Is it wanting the reflection in the mirror to match the you that you feel you are inside your body? Is it wanting to be at ease? Is it wanting to be in flow? Is it wanting to sit in a chair and feel a certain way?

There's no judgment here. Those are all really great reasons many of us have for wanting to lose weight.  But I wonder are you really looking for just weight loss?

See the way that weight loss is marketed to us, we're taught to focus on the image of the outcome, which is great, but we're not given a whole lot of inspiration, instruction, or guidance as to where else we should put our focus, like why did we gain the weight in the first place?

Was it really that we have uncontrollable urges...

So, I love words...I love to use expansive, expressive, dynamic words because they enliven what we say.  It is amazing what they do...pick the right word and what you said or wrote just takes off.

Honestly...it is one of my huge life joys to play with language. Sadly, I rarely find people who can play like that. My husband’s best friend can...and when we have the chance to get together, we go out of our way to banter, which I love.  

What’s so funny, in the realm of public speaking or writing, I always get told to diminish my use of words because it puts distance between myself and those I am writing to.

Consequently, I find myself writing and then going back and changing it, which is fine, but it always brings to my mind the role of language in our lives and in our healing.

What's so funny is the role words play in what we do or don't do, there's a lot of ways we learn to use words that block us from taking action 

I find this when I'm speaking to women...

I attended a music festival this past weekend in the middle of Michigan. It has become the way my family and I mark the beginning of summer. Camping for 4 days at an old civil rights and peaceful action center listening to every genre of music while away from technology and stress completely.  

I marveled this weekend how the experience has changed for me over the past years.  See, completing this weekend involves massive amounts of walking...like 3 to 5 miles at minimum per day, carrying water, hours of standing or sitting in the sun, and late nights.  

We began going years ago, when my body still carried about 50 extra pounds and was generally constantly inflamed, despite eating a 100% organic diet, not consuming sugar, or vegetable oils, or drinking soda or doing countless other things that were opposite my ideal, I would leave that weekend feeling happy but wrecked.

Maybe you know the feeling, doing what you want to anyway, but having to pull yourself through the...

Hate to be the one to tell you this, but Dr's have no idea how to manage or even understand exhaustion, most hormonal issues and especially inflammation!

Today is my youngest’s birthday. Every year as my kids pass these milestones, I think back to the miracle of their arrival and marvel.

This milestone is no different, but today, I am struck with a bit more awe as I contemplate his arrival. Eleven years ago, after spending about 20 hours in labor at home...as I was attempting my third home birth, my midwife suggested it was time to go to the hospital, she said his head was coming in sideways and there was just no hope of making progress.

I was honestly devastated, crying and exhausted, we made our way to the hospital, afraid, feeling totally off my path and way out of sorts, I was greeted by doctors and staff that thought I was crazy for having attempted home birth in the first place.  This attitude culminated by a doctor walking out on me after I rejected a dose of Pitocin saying I could sit and wait a few hours until the next doctor on staff could see me.

This went like this for hours until I finally suggested they break...

Who am I and what is my story?
Someone asked me the other day if I was really a doctor, and I thought it was a great question, so, here is my brief about my video. Enjoy!