Go Goddess! exhausted: adjective dead-tired, dog-tired, bone-tired, ready to drop, worn out, wiped out, burned out, tapped out, bagged, whipped. Dear, Tired Goddess, We see you there, holding this book, double espresso in your hand, eyelids half open. We know you have just a few minutes to yourself right now, so we plan to make this worth it for you. We want you to stop feeling overwhelmed. But you need simple information-you need gentle changes and practical action that you can incorporate now into your crazy-busy, do-everything-for-everyone-else kind of life. So how 'bout you start here? With Go Goddess! Book One in the Goddess Revolution Series, you'll join the simplest, most astonishing revolution around. This book is an indispensable encyclopedia of how-tos: How to nourish yourself with holistic nutrition and whole foods How to gain back the energy you've lost How to do things for yourself, guilt-free How to balance career, motherhood, weight, and a sense of self Preserve your precious energy and become the goddess you were meant to be. We've even included whole foods recipes and tips and tricks from our own lives as mothers and business women that have made us feel as goddess-y, as vibrant, and as ready to take on the world as can be. This is your fresh start. This is your life preserver. And we are tossing it to you, Dear Goddess. Grab on and begin your own revolution. Once you Go Goddess, you never go back. With Love, Barb and Jenn

Go Goddess!

From Depleted to DivineBy Barb Thomas Jennifer Rochford

Balboa Press

Copyright © 2011 Barb Thomas, RHN and Jennifer Rochford Photographs courtesy of Russ Sedin
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4525-3620-0

Contents

Introducing The Goddess..................................xiPart One: Care of the Goddess Temple.....................1Chapter One, Nourish.....................................3Chapter Two, Hydrate.....................................33Chapter Three, Breathe...................................39Chapter Four, Movement...................................45Chapter Five, SPA........................................55Part Two: Care of the Goddess Spirit.....................63Chapter Six, Inspiration.................................65Chapter Seven, Spirit....................................75Chapter Eight, Get Real Goddess..........................93Part Three: The Revolution...............................97Chapter Nine, The Revolution.............................99Chapter Ten, The Recipes.................................109Resources................................................123Acknowledgments..........................................125About the Goddesses......................................127

Chapter One

Nourish

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Food and eating is hidden in plain sight, in the daily-ness of life, and many of us have forgotten how much good food matters, that we are entirely and only what we eat. - dee Hobsbawn-Smith, "Go Organic"

Get Ready ...

The care and feeding of the Goddess starts deep within. There is no simpler way to say it: until you begin to foster the deep, undying respect that you so deserve for yourself, you will never see significant change physically or spiritually. Years of self abuse and neglect can make self respect a hard commodity to come by. But it needn't be earned. You already have it, far down inside you. It is astounding how awfully we, as women, treat ourselves! We continuously put our needs last, we push ourselves a little too hard, we call ourselves degrading names like fat, ugly, stupid. Is this how we would treat our best friend? Of course not. What kind of respectful friend would we be if we did? Before we discuss with you what will best carry your physical form forward - what will nourish you on the most basic level, we feel it necessary to discuss the biggest question of all in relation to nourishment - why do we eat?

Emotional Eating

The term "Emotional Eating" is such a buzz word right now in the media. It is a term used to describe how we use food to abuse our bodies and cope with our lives, much the same as the way a drug addict would use heroin. Modern pop psychology has led us to believe that food should only be used as fuel, and that if we use it for comfort or coping we are weak, and abusing it and ourselves.

We have counseled so many women who have sat and cried in our sessions over the guilt they feel when they abuse food. It is so heartbreaking to see how these women have such a low opinion of themselves, and how their own identities are drowning in the regret they feel about their food and coping choices.

Goddess has her own opinion about emotions and food.

We, as women and Goddesses, are innately emotional creatures. This is something we should neither try to hide nor feel shame about. Every action we take in life has an emotional connection behind it. When we apply this to the subject of nourishment, it is not hard to understand that every choice we make, from shopping and selecting food, to preparing it for ourselves and our families, to actually eating it, is done with emotion.

When we shop for our families, we are selecting the food we will give them with love and concern for their health. When we prepare meals for our friends and loved ones, we feel pride when they tell us that it was delicious and that they are satisfied. When we eat it ourselves, however, we often choose feelings such as guilt and remorse in relation to our actions. And this is where emotional eating comes into play.

The more we make choices that make us feel guilty, the worse we feel, and the more we eat. The more we eat, the more respect we lose for ourselves, and so the cycle continues. How is it that we are able to lovingly take the time to select the best foods for the people we care about, take the time to craft beautiful dishes that come from our heart, and then, when we sit down to take part in the meal ourselves, we are wracked with guilt?

Emotional eating does not have to be a negative thing! When you internalize the idea that you are so significant to the existence of this, the human race, then you will be able to experience the love and respect that you rightfully deserve, yet often deny yourself. We are here to tell you that it is perfectly fine to be an emotional eater. Just choose the right emotion! Put passion and love into every experience surrounding food. Turn your shopping trips and cooking experiences into ways of showing love to yourself, not just your family. Choose the best quality food that you can afford, prepare each dish, even a simple sandwich, with love and awe for your body and spirit and then, when you sit down to consume what you have crafted, make the choice to eat it, regardless of what it is, from a place of joy! Choose joy as your primary emotion surrounding food. Remember, when you are able to stand in awe and regard your body with the respect it deserves, then you will only want to make joyful choices for it.

Of course we understand that there are many layers for some in regards to their food addictions and struggles. However, we also know that they all stem from the same place - a place and a time, long ago, when the consciousness of the planet, held in our cells still to this very day, made women feel insignificant and worthless.

We still feel it, even though things are a little better for us, here on Earth. It is time, right now, Goddess, to kick that social paradigm out on its butt. It's time for you to know, on the deepest level, that YOU - who you are right this moment - are absolutely perfect in every way. Perfect for this, the journey that you are meant to be on. This is not to say that you don't have a lot of learning and growing to do, but in this moment, right now, the miracle of your body and soul stands naked, waiting for you to acknowledge it. So 300 pounds or 80 pounds, you need to right now stop creating your identity around your negative choices and behaviors, and start loving the wisdom of your body and soul, as it has chosen to cope in the best way that it knows how. Forgive yourself for any time you feel you have wronged yourself. That is in the past, and you don't live there. You live here, in the present, where everything is as it should be. Every moment is an opportunity to make new choices that will enrich your life. KNOW that you are powerful. KNOW that you are worth every ounce of respect you can muster, and don't let anyone tell you any different. When a nice, juicy layer of respect sits simmering at the foundation of your spirit, then making your food choices from a place of joy begins to seem so very logical.

Now that you know the why, let's talk about the what and how. If you are ready to make these amazing and simple choices for your body and soul, then you are going to need a little road...