With all the stress we face every day we can easily find ourselves feeling bad and reaching for a snack. Do you ever find yourself falling into a habit of emotional eating to deal with the stress?

I learned something interesting a while back that helped make a connection in my brain. There was a segment on a morning show on how your personality could contribute to weight gain. They mentioned how stress raises cortisol levels. We knew that but here’s the thing I didn’t realize: When your cortisol level is high, you start craving carbs.


Here’s another interesting thing . . .


Stress Away Reduce Emotional Eating


Did you know that eating sugar and starchy carbs raise your cortisol levels even higher?

So as cortisol goes up, it increases carb cravings, and after indulging in starchy or sugary carbs, guess what else follows suit with it? You start feeling emotionally crappy because you indulged. This contributes to the vicious cycle of emotional eating.


When I heard this information I was so happy I always keep some of Young Living’s Stress Away Roll-On handy. Stress Away is especially useful to help with stress related eating. I have been using Stress Away in the afternoons and evenings ever since I learned about that. I have noticed that, when I use Stress Away I have a much easier time resisting the urge to have a snack. Hearing that bit about cortisol levels really reinforced my intent to keep using Stress Away.


I’m enjoying a cup of Slique tea and rolling on a bit of Young Living’s Stress Away as I write this blog post. It has been a strangely stress filled day today and I am thankful for these products from Young Living. Have you tried Slique Tea? Oh MY!! I love the taste. It’s yummy!


Order Stress-Away Roll-On
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A lot of people struggle with weight management. It’s so easy to grab a tasty snack when you have a stressful or busy day, but that doesn’t help you reach those goals. This is the time of year people set goals to make changes like exercise more, eat healthier and drop a few pounds.

Emotional Freedom Techniques or EFT along with essential oils can be a support when you are working on fitness and weight management goals. Emotional Freedom Techniques is a form of psychological acupressure. With EFT you are tapping on various acupuncture meridian points while you focus on a negative issue you would like to change. Add a couple drops of essential oils to your fingertips before you begin tapping through the points and EFT is even more amazing.

Tap While You Gripe is one of my favorite ways to use Emotional Freedom Techniques. It is a super simple technique. Just talk and tap through the EFT points.

There are times when you have had a high stress day and are at risk for emotional eating and snacking. Sometimes it helps to talk it over with someone. Talking and venting your feelings can be helpful. Why not try tapping while you are talking or THINKING about the issue that is bothering you. Just tap and tell the story. You can talk to a real person or pretend there is someone you are talking to.

Don’t get too worried about the exact wording you use or what order of points to tap. You don’t even need to say the words out loud. Just focus on the negative emotion you want to clear. Keep talking or thinking and tapping.

I use the Tap While You Gripe technique all the time, especially if I am really upset about something but I don’t know where to start. When you start tapping and talking, things will come to mind. Just keep tapping and expressing anything you are feeling until you have poured it all out. Focus on whatever you want to say about the negative, then SHIFT to the positive side. What you WANT.

Using Essential Oils & EFT To Support Weight Management Goals
The EFT Points:

KC = Karate Chop
EB = Beginning of the Eye Brow
SE = Side of the Eye
UE = Under the Eye
UN = Under the Nose
Ch = Chin
CB = Beginning of the Collar Bone
UA = Under the Arm
WR = Inside of Wrists
TH = Top of Head

You can also tap the fingertip points. Each finger can be tapped at the base of the nail.

Here are a few oils and ideas for supporting fitness goals:

Stress Away – This one is great for calming after a stressful, hectic, busy day. Put Stress Away on fingertips and start tapping about why you feel stressed. Sometimes I just tap about the desire to have a carby snack. “I know I want some chips but I know it’s not really going to help. . . ” Keep going with whatever you feel until the desire passes.

Peace & Calming – Another great one for calming after a stressful day.

Release – This one is good for releasing anger. If someone makes you angry or irritated, tapping with Release essential oil blend can help you release the anger or irritation of whatever it was that happened. Some days you just feel angry and don’t really know why. Put release on your fingertips and tap through the points saying, “I’m feeling angry (or irritated, annoyed or whatever). I choose to release the anger. I am releasing this anger. . . ” If you know the specific reason why you are feeling angry, tap on that first, then, tap while saying “I am releasing this anger. . . ” Use whatever negative emotion you want to release.

Motivation – Motivation oil blend is another one of my favorites. Just as the name implies, it energizes and motivates. I love this oil whenever I am having trouble getting motivated to do any task. Motivation oil is wonderful before exercise but also on days when you don’t feel motivated to stick to healthy eating habits.

Using Motivation oil and EFT For lack of motivation when you are not motivated to exercise. You could start tapping and say: “I am not motivated to exercise but I know I will feel great after I do it. . .” OR “I am not motivated to eat healthy today but I know I will feel better if I stick to my plan. . .”

Acceptance – This oil blend encourages feelings of self-worth and acceptance. This can feel difficult because we tend to beat up on ourselves when there are extra pounds we are wanting to release. You might be thinking, “I don’t like these extra pounds and I don’t want to accept them.” Accepting is not does not mean you want to keep the pounds. It just means that you love and accept yourself enough to take really GOOD care of your body and show it the love it deserves.

First, before you can really make changes, it is important to accept yourself and know you are worthy of success in whatever you goal you are working toward. Accept and love yourself enough to take better care of yourself through the process of getting to the goal.

Transformation – This is a good oil for focusing on the changes you want to make. Visualize yourself moving forward and reaching your goal. Focus on the positive thing you are working toward and see yourself achieving it.

Envision – Same thing! Focus on the changes you want to make. Visualize yourself already successful and doing the things that cause success. Focus on the positive thing you are working toward and SEE yourself achieving it.
Daily visualization is really important for achieving your goals. You need to see it in your mind’s eye to be able to achieve it.
Use Envision along with visualization. You can also use the Tap While You Visualize technique. Just close your eyes and think visualize reaching your goal. Get as detailed as possible in your thinking. Tap through the EFT points while you are visualizing.

There are other essential oil blends that would also be helpful. If an oil or oil blend feels right for whatever your situation at the moment, go with it. 😉

EFT Points


Granola bars are a quick, on the go food but usually the ones you buy are full of sugar and things that are not so healthy. This recipe is a healthier option.

One thing I like about granola and granola bars is that you can use whatever nuts and dried fruits you want. Just substitute with whatever you have on hand.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3 bananas)
2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup almonds
1 cup walnuts
1/2 cup Golden flaxseed meal
1/4 cup unsweetened dried wolfberries
1/3 cup sugar-free chocolate chips
1/4 cup melted butter or coconut oil
1/4 cup Swerve or other natural sweetener
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1–2 drops cinnamon essential oil
2 large egg whites

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, mash the bananas until smooth. Stir in the vanilla and cinnamon essential oil.

In a food processor, pulse almonds and walnuts intermittently, until most of the nuts are in chopped into large pieces.

Add the oats, sunflower seeds, Swerve, golden flaxseed meal Pulse just until everything is mixed well. Don’t over-process! Most of the seeds should be intact.

Add banana mixture and pulse to mix. Add the egg white to the food processor. Whisk together the melted butter and vanilla extract in a small bowl, and evenly pour that in, too. Add chocolate chips.

Pulse a couple times, mix a little from the bottom toward the top with a spatula, then pulse a couple times again. Repeat as needed until everything is coated evenly.

Spoon and press mixture into a prepared baking dish.

Bake for 25–30 minutes until firm and lightly golden along the edge. Place dish on cooling rack for 10 minutes; then lift the bars out by lifting the parchment paper. Place granola slab on a cooling rack, and allow to cool.

Slice into bars, and enjoy!

NOTE: These bars will keep longer if stored in an air–tight container or bag in the fridge or freezer.

These days I have been sticking pretty seriously to a Keto diet because of serious health issues. My tastes generally run toward the crunchy salty, but there are some days you just need something to satisfy the sweet tooth. These cookies are really yummy plain or with a bit of cream cheese spread on top.

Keto Low Carb Cinnamon Butter Cookies

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups Almond Flour
1/4 cup Coconut Flour
1 tsp xanthan gum
1/2 cup Monkfruit or Swerve sweetener (I like to use half Swerve and half other sweetener)
1/2 cup salted butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp ground cinnamon
5 drops Young Living Cinnamon Vitality Essential Oil

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 300

Cream the butter and sweetener until light and fluffy. This is very important for a good cookie texture. Cream your butter and the sweetener with your mixer for about 10 minutes, scraping the bowl 2-3 times to make sure any streaks of butter are combined.

Add remaining ingredients and mix until well combined.

Roll into 16 balls. I like to flatten and shape them but you can place the balls, then press with a fork. Place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.

Place in the oven and bake for 15 minutes. If you want a softer cookie, take them out around 12 minutes.
Cool on a wire rack.

Nutrition Information for Keto Cinnamon Butter Cookies Recipe:

1 serving (1 cookie)

Calories: 140
Total Fat: 14g
Sodium: 49mg
Carbohydrates: 4g Dietary Fiber = 2g Net Carbs= 2g
Dietary Fiber 2g
Sugars: 1g
Protein: 3g

Need Essential Oils for your recipes?
Click here to View and Order Young Living Products

school-young-living-essential-oilsIt’s back to school season again. With that comes more exposure to whatever will be going around this season. You will want to support your family’s healthy immune system all seasons, but especially during the school year. NingXia Red and Thieves products are a great way to start.

NingXia Red is a powerful antioxidant drink that contains whole Ningxia wolfberry puree and a super blend of blueberry, aronia, cherry, pomegranate, and plum juices, natural stevia extract, grape seed extract, vanilla extract, and orange, yuzu, lemon, and tangerine essential oils. Its health benefits include support from head to toe, via a whole body nutrient infusion.

Thieves Products
Thieves essential oil is a powerful combination of Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus Radiata, and Rosemary essential oils. Inspired by the legend of four 15th-century French thieves who formulated a special aromatic combination composed of clove, rosemary, and other botanicals used while robbing the dead and dying, this blend is a main ingredient in all the Thieves products.

All of the Thieves Products are essential to have on hand all year but especially when you have a bunch of kids in close contact. Diffusing Thieves oil and rubbing it on the feet in the morning before going to school and at night before bed is a great way to support healthy immune systems. Thieves Vitality can be consumed internally as a supplement in capsule, in NingXia Red or other beverages.

Keeping hands clean is an important part of protecting your immune system. Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier , Thieves Bar Soap and Thieves Foaming Hand Soap are powerful tools for keeping hands clean.

Washing your hands with soap and water isn’t always an option. Kids can carry Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier to school in their back pack for a gentle, skin-friendly way to clean their hands with the power of Thieves oil!

Thieves Household Cleaner – An all-purpose, environmentally friendly cleaner with lemon essential oil for added cleaning power. Keeping surfaces clean is important when defending a healthy immune system.

Thieves Spray – comes in a convenient, 1-ounce, take-anywhere spray bottle. It is ideal to clean surfaces where multiple hands touch.

Spritz on countertops, lunch tables, door handles, armrests, mouse and keyboards, toilet seats, and any surface that needs
cleansing to protect from dust, mold, and undesirable microorganisms.

Thieves Wipes are also wonderful for cleaning surfaces as well as keeping hands clean.

Citrus oils such Lime help support the body’s natural defenses. Plus, the fresh, vibrant citrus scents can also help boost your mood.

Support respiratory health with Breathe Again Roll-On.

There is often anxiety on returning to school at the beginning of a new year. There are always many changes: New teachers, new classes, peer pressure, worries about fitting in, bullies, studying for tests, and the list goes on.

Stress Away Roll-On can be used in the morning before heading off to school or after school to unwind from a stressful day. Apply generously to wrists, temples, neck, or any desired area as needed.

Clarity supports alertness and clear thinking when studying and taking tests. Put a couple drops on your hands, rub hands
together, cup your hands over your nose and deeply inhale, then add a drop to each temple. You can also diffuse Clarity.



Back To School Focus Roller
15 drops Cedarwood
15 drops Lavender
15 drops Vetiver
1 TBS carrier oil – grapeseed or coconut oil mix oils together in a roller bottle.



GeneYus is a sweet blend of Spearmint, Peppermint, Tangerine, and other essential oils that’s great for young minds that are focusing on projects. Apply GeneYus to your child’s wrists or back of neck before he or she heads off to school to encourage their efforts.

Joy oil is very mood uplifting. If the children are feeling bummed out because the summer is over and they have to get back into the grind of the school schedule, Joy oil may be helpful in lifting their spirits. Start the morning off on a good note by diffusing a little Joy essential oil blend in the morning as children are getting ready for school.

Motivation may help with fear and procrastination and stimulate feelings of moving forward to accomplish new things. This is always a good one when starting a new school year or any other project.

You could also drop add a couple drops of essential oil onto a diffuser necklace for your child to wear while at school. Clarity, Motivation, Joy, Stress Away are a few options.

Healthy Snacks:

Wolfberry Crisp Bars – Includes whey protein crisp and pea protein crisp, einkorn flour, grains, fruits, nuts and whey coated in chocolate.

NingXia Zyng – Skip the vending machine snack and sip a chilled NingXia Zyng and a Wolfberry Crisp Bar.

Swap NingXia Zyng for conventional carbonated beverages in your office refrigerator. You won’t miss the soda fix! Keep
NingXia Zyng chilled for an extra-invigorating way to start the morning.

Add a tube of NingXia Nitro to your can of NingXia Zyng for a sweet twist that supports cognition.



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