Oy vey but you are a funny lot! My dear readers, you make me laugh when you write to me that you want me to “hurry up” and get to the point about how I transformed my life and, in the process, lost a ton of weight. You make me giggle because this “hurry up” notion is part of exactly what got me to feeling like shit to begin with (as revealed in my last article). And it’s not a fast-food mentality that is going to shift that “feeling like shit” pattern. So trust me, dear readers…there is a point to the time I am taking to share this process with you. If I tell you about it more quickly, then I am simply allowing you to continue at your “hurry up” pace and that’s totally self-destructive!

“It’s time to chill.”

That was the massive message I received once I fully embraced the truth of feeling like shit. I had to chill. The life I had created for myself was not one of calm and serenity but one of chaos and misery. I was a hamster in a wheel running nowhere, fast! I was a magpie flitting from one thing to another thing to another thing to another thing. I was so busy being busy, living in a mode of “reactivity” that I could not enjoy anything. Not really. I was an adrenaline junkie.

My addiction to adrenaline began in my early years with childhood trauma. I continued to use my drug of choice into high school where I was president of this, captain of that, editor of something else, and held down 2 full-time jobs each summer and one part-time job during the school year, and also pulled off top marks. When I reached university I was exhausted. My adrenal glands were fried at age 18.

But did I heed the warnings? Nope. As I crashed and burned around November of my first year at Western, my parents believed I had joined a cult or something. I was so “different” from the “me” that they thought me to be. I was morose, philosophical, and seeking answers to the meaning of life beyond the course work and drama of living in a dorm of 19-year old girls who just wanted to party. Taking a year off of University might have provided me with a new approach to life but sadly, it did not. I didn’t understand my addiction to adrenaline so I just kept seeking ways to find it.

Enter a succession of bad relationships, 70-hour work weeks, houses that were constantly in a state of disrepair, step-children, babies, poverty, sickness, car crashes, and chocolate. I sought out adrenaline wherever I could find it…and find it I did.

It took me years to figure out what the hell I was doing, to recognize the self-defeating way in which I was choosing to live my life. But it took me even longer to figure out how to stop the cycle once and for all.

With the help of a fabulous team (homeopath and Bowen therapist Donna Costa, psychologists Shapiro and Weisz, teachers Lori Wilson and Debra Tate, intuitive counselor Lisa Dennys, and coach Pat Mussieux), some incredible books (Paula Coelho, Mike Dooley, Marianne Williamson, Oriah Mountain Dreamer, Neal Donald Walsch) and the support of some stellar women (especially my soul sister Marcelle), I finally stopped using adrenaline as my drug of choice. I admitted I had a problem. I felt like shit.

And I entered rehab.

Dear readers, I know you want “more” but there is it. Now take the time to ask yourselves: are you addicted to adrenaline? Do you run like a hamster in the wheel constantly moving from one thing to another? Do you ever take a breath or are you simply “too busy?” When was the last time you sat on your ass and did nothing – not because you were sick, but because you wanted to? Is your life calm and serene or chaotic and miserable? Be honest with yourself. You just may find that you, too, need to join me in rehab.

I must start by telling you that the response to my last article was pretty astounding. Many of you wrote to say that you “couldn’t wait” to hear what I had done that resulted in such a major loss of weight. Others wrote that you wanted to “see me” and asked for some photos. And still others wrote to say that you admired me for, once again, throwing back the curtain and revealing my true journey to you all.

Before I dig in, let me just say this: I tell you this story for one reason only – so that you may be inspired to set your life straight for your self, too. I believe I am here on this planet to remind women of their power, to help women recover and reclaim their power that has been lost / stolen / given away over generations of time, and also that which they have lost within this current lifetime. This series of articles is but one act in support of my life’s work.

So here we go…

You know those moments in cartoons where the character has a “light bulb moment” and they literally show the light bulb pop on over his/her head? Well, my First Day of this most recent leg of my journey began with such a moment. And the words that would have appeared in the wee speech bubble that accompanied the image of the light bulb would have been something like this: “Wow. I feel totally and completely like shit.”

Now I recognize that most “light bulb moments” are epiphanies of a seemingly grander sort but could you please, for a moment, put yourself in that place with me and recognize, as I have come to, that this really was an epiphany of massive proportion?

It was an admission of a fact that I had long avoided. It was the confession of a truth that I had buried deeply within. It was the Truth that I had been unwilling to see and now it was revealed.

There was no going back after that moment. I couldn’t “un-reveal” what I brought forth. The Truth was out. I felt like shit. Period.

And that was what happened on what I like to call my First Day in this recent transition.

I know. You expected fireworks and rocket ships. At the very least you thought there might be something steamy to discover about my process. But there you have it. A simple admission of fact is all it took.

And so I ask you, in these next weeks to come before I take you through the next step in my process, to ask yourself: “How do I really feel? How do I really, deep down, feel? Do I feel good about my life? Does my body feel healthy inside and out? Do I feel powerful and strong? Do I feel solid and secure in my self and my circumstances? And above all else, am I happy?”

Take the time to reflect. Write it down in your journal. Don’t think about what you might do to change things or even for a moment consider any “action.” Just sit with the questions and your honest replies and then we’ll move forward from there. Together.

If there was one topic, one single topic, that I have managed to side-step, avoid, and otherwise ignore in 11 years of practice, countless articles, innumerable speeches and television appearances, and mounds of blog posts, it’s this one. However, I can avoid it no longer, my friends, since I am pretty much a walking billboard for the topic and everywhere I go you all just keep bringing it up!

It’s weight loss.

Yup. Two little words: weight loss. I think it’s time we finally talked about it. Honestly. Openly. And with respect.

Here’s the deal. I have no idea “how much” weight I have lost in the last 8 months since I don’t own a scale but I can tell you that I bought size 16 clothes in March of last year and now purchase size 8-10. (Now please do not write to me and tell me what that “equals” in pounds lost since, frankly, I don’t care.)

The only reason I even tell you this is because you are all asking me when I see you and I figured I could not avoid it any longer. I feel many of you have “suspicions” about what I “have done” to lose this weight and I am a bit tired of some of the rumours I have heard about myself so it’s time to set the record straight.

Here’s the truth about what I, Rebecca Liston, did NOT do that resulted in losing weight:

1. I did not set out to lose weight. I had no intention to do so. I don’t even own a scale. Never will. Period.

2. I did not and do not drink shakes, eat powders, or swallow any pills, manufactured juices, or supplements to lose weight. That type of thing is so completely against my idea of what is healthy and true that the very idea of it makes me crazy. Period.

3. I am not sick. I did not lose weight because I have cancer, AIDS, or any other illness or disease. I am not on drugs and I have not become an alcoholic. I am very happy and healthy. Period.

4. I am not following a diet of anyone else’s design or even remotely counting calories, fat grams, or proteins. I am not tallying “points” or binging on weekends. I don’t own a single book about weight loss and have no interest in weight loss, diets, or any of that at all. It never did, and still does not, interest me in the slightest (which is one reason why I never talk about it.) Period.

5. I did not visit a surgeon, or any other western medical clinic, to “tell me” what to do or somehow alter my body to make this happen. I don’t go in for that crap at the worst of times so why would I do that now? Period

Now you have it in black and white – all the things I did NOT do that resulted in me losing weight. So now, you ask, just what DID I do?

I’m leaving you with a cliff hanger here my friends because what I did do will take me several articles to explain in the depth that I feel you need to hear it such that you can take what I have learned and done and apply it to your own lives.

I will also tell you that in these next several articles, I will be telling you things publicly that I never thought I would say out loud. This is a deeply personal journey for me and, well, since you are all so committed to healing that you share your stories with me each and every day, it’s time that I return this honour to you.

So get ready for the tale to unfold as the months of 2013 unfold. The information I will be sharing with you will change your life…one choice at a time.

When I originally began to toy with the idea of a week in California – alone! – I admit to some serious trepidation. How was I going to leave my children? Who would look after them? What if they got sick? Were they “too young” to leave for so long?

And, since you know that I am writing this article from California, clearly I decided to go! But it was not the easiest decision to make. In fact, it was a down-and-dirty painful decision all around. I know that many of you can relate, so here’s what made it easier for me to get out of town!

1. I posted on Facebook my intention to travel. I asked my friends, “What do you think? Should I go?” My favourite response was from a friend who has known me virtually my entire life. He said, “Go! Your children will not win a Nobel Prize, cure cancer, or learn to play the harp while you are away.” This made me laugh out loud and really put things into perspective. It’s one week. Yes, I will miss some things but I will be home for when the Really Big Things happen!

2. I called on all of my support systems. Yup. That means I called my mom! And my fabulous assistant that helps me with the children. And my administrative assistant that helps me with my “work life.” And my entire team here at the office, colleagues included. I told them of my intent to go to California. Their resounding response was: “GO!” And from that point forward, they did everything in their power to make this easier for me from helping me to rearrange my work schedule, booking my flights for me, caring for the children, working with me to develop a protocol to make sure my clients are cared for in my absence, and so much more. They have made this trip possible and I am so grateful for their support!

3. I worked through my anxieties about travelling with my health care team. This means extra counseling with Lisa Dennys and extra body work with Donna Costa. And it means packing my trusty homeopathic remedies to help me through any potential “trigger” moments in which panic could ensue. Once again, I am grateful for my supportive health care team and my remedies!

4. I spoke to my children and told them I was going away. Interestingly, and surprisingly, they were thrilled for me. My youngest (who is just 3), even counseled my eldest (age 7) in a moment of sadness about me being away. “But Amber,” said she, “Mommy has to go. It’s only for five sleeps. She’ll be home before we know it!” Wow!

5. I talked to myself. I told myself that this trip was for me. That I needed it – which I do – and that I deserve it – which I do – and that I would return a happier, healthier version of me – which I will. And after several “discussions” in my own mind, the vision of how good I would feel as a result of this trip trumped all of my concerns. And we booked the flights and never looked back.

Getting out of town is necessary. It allows for personal growth and development, and it is the break that we each need to give us a new perspective on life. The “pre-trip” alone was worth every second I spent in preparation as it served as an excellent reminder of just how supported I am and just how blessed I am to have the people around me that I do have. And I will be home…in just a few days. Happier, healthier, and ready for the next leaps that life so often requires of us!

Yup, it’s dark outside and baby, it is getting cold. We can turn on our outdoor lights and put on a sweater to keep the dark and the cold at bay, but what do you do when the darkness comes from “others” or, worse yet, from within?

In my experience with depression, anxiety, and healing from abuse, I have to say that there are several things that I did, and that I encourage my patients to do, to move forward in their process of recovery. Simple things, really, that help them to re-light their inner fire and keep focused on the importance of one very special person: themselves.

Now, the truth is that when the darkness is at its peak, it won’t seem possible to embrace these things. It will seem like I am asking you to move a mountain. But I would not suggest these things if I felt that they were “not do-able.” I suggest them because I know that, even in the darkest hour, you can pick one and do it. I know because I did. And you can, too.

Rebecca’s Top 5 Ways to Light Yourself Up From Within

1. Make soup. I don’t care if it comes from a can or if you make it from scratch or buy it at Swiss Chalet, there is just something intrinsically healing about eating a warm bowl of soup.

2. Watch movies. Some accuse me of “avoidance” when I tell them to watch stupid comedies on Sundays but the fact is, how much time do you really need to spend reviewing and reliving the shit in your life? A little “avoidance” goes a long way if you ask me. Immerse yourself in someone else’s world. Feel someone else’s excitement, joy, love, passion…it will remind you of how good those things feel and it will spark you to rekindle it inside of yourself.

3. Wear sexy undies. Yes. Really. Wearing that old cotton bra that was once white but is now some funny shade of grey with those old too-big granny panties does nothing for your self-esteem or self-image. Get out the old red lace thong you once bought on a dare and wear the damn thing. Giggle every time you go to the bathroom and delight in the idea that it is something “just for you.”

4. Call an old friend. We all have those friends in our lives, the ones you can just pick up and call at any moment no matter how much time has gone by. Choose one and call.

5. Look at some old photos. I often counsel clients to find pictures of themselves in “happier” times and to put them up around the house. This is a fantastic exercise meant to remind you that you have been happy before and thus you can be happy again. It works like a charm.

My friends, moving out of a period of darkness is not an easy feat. I should know! But I do hope that by employing one or all of these little techniques will help…along with seeing your homeopath, of course! Keep this list handy as the days get shorter and the darkness settles around us and remember, you are the light.

I’m not usually one for statistics but I want to draw your attention to a really prevalent issue that is affecting women’s health and wellness in an epidemic way. First, let’s draw some comparisons:

• The odds of a woman getting lung cancer in her lifetime: 1 in 15

• The odds of a woman getting breast cancer in her lifetime: 1 in 9

• The odds of a woman being assaulted by her husband or common-law partner: 1 in 4

One in four women will be assaulted by her husband or partner in her lifetime. It’s astronomical. It’s sad. It’s frightening. And it doesn’t seem to be getting any better.

Now just stop for a minute and think about that. That’s 25% of the women you know! And that’s just the numbers of women that we know about – that’s not the ones who are too afraid to report it. So we know that the actual numbers are higher than this.

I want to draw your attention to this very serious situation because it is so prevalent, and because most woman abuse does go unreported. This means that as the abuse escalates, as it typically does, no one knows about it! Women tend not to tell their doctors or ministers…but they may tell their friends. And we each have a responsibility to help women living in abusive situations as best that we can.

In my practice, I have worked with many women survivors of abuse (childhood and spousal abuse). The effects of the trauma are far-reaching and include, but are not limited to, symptoms such as:

• Headaches
• Gynaecological problems – abnormal periods, STDs, pelvic pain
• Miscarriage
• Infertility
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Asthma
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Eating disorders
• Obsessive-compulsive behaviours

Women often present to me for care for one or many of the above symptoms. During my time with them, I often discover that these symptoms are clearly related to previous abuse trauma.

The most rewarding thing for me in my 9 years in practice is working with women who have abuse histories and complex symptoms as a result…and witnessing their health improve, watching them return to happiness, seeing them embrace life once again. It truly fills my heart with joy.

But what can we do to stop woman abuse from occurring to begin with?

Clearly it is a complicated matter…but I think the first step is to start talking about it. We talk a lot about the odds of a woman getting breast cancer, dying of heart attack, etcetera, but we don’t discuss the issue of woman abuse. And woman abuse is far more common! One in four women will be assaulted by her partner, remember?

It’s time that we started. It’s time that we, as a community, shone a light on this issue once and for all.

Join me in support of the London Abused Women’s Centre Shine the Light on Woman Abuse campaign this November. Visit www.lawc.on.ca for all the details. Spread the word…shine the light…stop the abuse.

Many people lament the recent surge of divorce in our society and so-called experts love to discuss the amount of harm that is done, and just how terrible it is to divorce. But you know what? I support divorce. Yup, I am Pro-Choice when it comes to divorce. I am not Anti-Family or Anti-Marriage, by the way, so hear me out on this, okay?

I used to buy into the idea that I was ruining my children and my family forevermore by choosing to separate from my partner. But I did it anyways. And in the process and the aftermath of our divorce, I have discovered some surprising benefits. I want to share them with you today just in case you yourself are contemplating this life change or in case you are a support to someone else who is. It helps to look at the up-side of divorce, to stay positive about the situation, and here is why.

More time alone. As a divorced mom, I have more time alone than ever before. How is that? Well, my former partner takes my children for a full day every single week. A full day without any children, no spouse, and absolutely NO demands on my time. The number one complaint I hear from women these days is that they are constantly juggling house chores, wife “duties,” motherhood, and their work. They never get a day off. I do.

Better relationship with my kids’ dad. Since we no longer live under the same roof and thus no longer have to fight about who last took out the garbage and other tedious crap, my former husband and I get along a lot better. In fact, I would say we get along better than ever! Many women in my life would say that they don’t feel like their spouse is their friend anymore. I, on the other hand, would say that my former partner is one of my better friends.

Better parenting. Since I do get a break and a rest day each week, I feel that I am a much better parent. I am not nearly as close to the “end of my rope” and as such, my children and I enjoy a healthier relationship. Women often say that they have “had it” with their kids by Sunday at noon. Not me. I am rested, relaxed, and excited to have them come home from their dad’s on Sunday nights.

I am healthier. And happier. Without the constant chaos of living in a relationship that was not working, despite all our efforts, I have come to a place of health and happiness that I did not think I would ever enjoy. Sometimes divorce is the healthier choice and sometimes it really is that simple.

Divorce is never an easy decision. If someone you know is contemplating a separation, help them by giving them solid support. Allow them to grieve their loss, and encourage them to find the silver lining. It’s there. The silver lining is always there. Sometimes good things simply come in odd packages.

Some weeks ago I received an email from my colleague and friend, Janet Christensen, inviting me to participate in a new philanthropic initiative in London called 100 Women Who Care. I had the opportunity to attend the inaugural event on Monday night and it was downright inspiring!

Here’s the premise: 100 women gather four times per year for one hour. Before they meet, they are welcomed to submit the name of a charitable organization that they feel would benefit from a large donation. During that one hour meeting, the names of three of these charities are drawn at random from the hat. The woman that recommended that charity then has 5 minutes to explain why their charity is deserving of the donation and what the money will be used for. The group thus hears three presentations from three different women about three fabulous charities. And then, each woman present casts a vote. Which charity would they prefer that the money go to? Ballots are counted and majority rules. Each woman present then writes a cheque for $100 to the winning charity, hands it to the organizers, and their work there is done!

And here’s the exceptional part about London: there were not 100 women present at the inaugural meeting set to raise $10000. There were 307 women present who collectively raised $30700 all in one hour.

WOW. The women of London really DO care!

I cannot really describe for you the feelings that I had being in that room on Monday night. There were many people there that I knew – old friends, colleagues, clients, cousins – and several hundred women that I did not know! What an amazing thing to be gathered in that room with so many women all with one sole purpose: to donate money to a worthy cause. The passion and the purpose and the power in that room was palpable. I came away feeling stronger, knowing that we had made a massive impact in a very short time in an environment of safety, security, and democracy.

If ever you doubted the power of women, doubt it no more.

307 women. One hour. $30700 donated.

London women, you are amazing! To organizers Susan Nickle and Twee Brown: thank you for allowing me to be a part of your movement. What an honour!

Let me just start by saying that I am not even really certain the exact day that I decided I was going to climb Mount Sinai. It was one of those dreams that was tucked away in my heart, you might say, and it was awakened when I read Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist. After reading that book, I had a series of monumental “a-ha” moments – moments that would change my life forever. Within days of finishing the book, I was given the opportunity to travel to Egypt and my heart virtually leapt from my chest and I heard myself say, “Well, I must climb Mount Sinai while I am there!” Later, I realized that my heart was simply waiting for the right moment to make its desire known to me, and I am forever grateful that it did so!

There was a catch, however. A big catch. While Mount Sinai is not a “huge” mountain, it does take several hours to climb. And the catch? Well, at this particular time in my life, I couldn’t walk more than 20 minutes without being in pain as a result of injuries I sustained in a car accident. If I had a hard time walking to Tim Horton’s, how was I going to climb a mountain?

Lesson One: no point worrying about things until they are directly in front of you.

Fast-forward nine months. Suddenly, it was time to worry about it as the very next day, a tour guide was going to be picking me up from my posh hotel on the Red Sea and transporting me miles inland (and miles “upwards”) to the place where I, alongside hundreds of other pilgrims, would begin my trek. So here’s what I did: I asked the guide to pick me up early – most people begin their climb around 2 am as the goal is to make it to the summit for the sunrise. I figured I needed a little more time than most. I started my climb at 10 pm. The second thing I did was enlist the help of my guide – he carried my pack filled with my supplies. And the third thing I did was tuck a homeopathic remedy, Arnica Montana, into my pocket so I could use it frequently to reduce my pain along the way.

Lesson Two: Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need. Enlist the help of others to get you where you need to go in the way you need to get there.

Now I have a big confession to make. I was tired before we even began the climb! There I was, panting and sweating along behind my guide (who spoke very little English and didn’t really understand as I tried to joke about being out of shape), and I actually asked him, “how much further?” Turns out, we weren’t even at the starting point yet! This was just the foothills! My lungs burned, my heart was pounding, and my arm was on fire. So what did I do? I sat down and cried.

Lesson Three: Take a break when you need it. You never know what you might see or learn as you sit and take a break.

No doubt you expected me to say that I just “soldiered on,” that I “bore the pain in strong silence.” Well, not so much, really. I whined, I complained, I even pleaded with God several times. But all the while, I kept putting one foot in front of the other. And that’s how I climbed that mountain – one foot in front of the other, stopping to rest every 15-20 minutes, laying down in the middle of a field of camels, watching as my guide and his friends smoked together, waving and smiling as the other pilgrims passed me on the path. I found my rhythm, a pattern in my pain, and I embraced the opportunities that presented themselves to me as I stopped to rest. I enjoyed the rests. It gave me pleasure to rest. And I enjoyed the feeling of getting back up and moving forward again.

Lesson Four: All journeys are completed the same way –by putting one foot in front of the other.

I am proud to say I reached the summit of Mount Sinai – just in time for the sunrise. My guide set me up with a blanket and mattress, and I tucked myself into a crevice and wept as the sun came up over the horizon. Within moments, the silence around me was filled with the songs of many faiths, for the pilgrimage up Mount Sinai is considered a holy journey by all religions. Some sang, some chanted, some recited from their holy books, and others, like me, just cried. And in that moment, that joyous moment, we shared in the success of our climb, our own personal journey that had brought us where millions have gone before. We witnessed the sun rising together atop a sacred mountain, and we will, none of us, ever be the same again.

Lesson Five: We are all alike. Religious doctrines aside, we all climb mountains on our own personal journeys. We all face difficulties, we all stop to rest, we all climb our mountains by putting one foot in front of the other.

When I returned from Egypt, my father met me at the airport. On the way home he asked me what I had learned on Mount Sinai. He was disappointed, I know, that I did not scribe my lessons on a tablet, that God did not “speak” to me as he had to Moses. The thing is, though, stone tablets and burning bushes aside, I did receive messages from a divine source on that journey up Mount Sinai. I learned lessons from me, from myself, about what it is to follow my heart’s desire despite all odds, and to rejoice in my journey as I put one foot in front of the other.

Not long after I first began my studies in homeopathic medicine some 13 years ago, a dream began to formulate in my mind. Wouldn’t it be wonderful, I thought, to work in a clinic in which several homeopaths and natural health professionals came together to serve the community in a truly unique way – one in which we each had our own area of specialty, or expertise, and could thus refer patients to the one practitioner that was the expert in providing for their unique needs?

This is not a unique idea in the western medicine model…but it is unique in the world of natural medicine. Since my background was in western medicine, it is not at all the unusual that I would consider this to be a great idea. I loved the concept of specialization, of getting really damn good at treating a particular type of illness or working with a certain condition. I wanted to immerse myself in the study of that condition, and truly be able to wear the title of “expert.” And then I wanted to surround myself with others who did just that, too…each of us dedicated to serving, learning, growing, and helping people to heal.

Flash forward about 7 years, and I recall a conversation I had with my colleague, Donna Costa. We were discussing how, in addition to my already really cool idea, we could ramp it up even more and include time in the week for case rounds (just like we did at the hospitals), studies on marketing and promotion, case management…turn it into a teaching facility as well as a health care facility so that we ensure the continual growth and development of the team.

I remember all too clearly just how excited I would get from simply talking about the idea…you can only imagine how excited I am now that it is my reality!

I am thrilled to announce that on September 1, 2012, The Sinai Centre for Natural Medicine and Professional Development will open its doors on the main floor of the building in which I currently practice.

You, my dear clients, will be treated to the same fantastic service and amazing health care that you have come to expect, in a top-notch clinic environment designed with your needs in mind. And we will, of course, be having a Grand Opening Party and Celebration…so watch your email for the date because I want to share this all with you!

Again, my thanks for helping me to make this dream come true!