Why do we Stress Eat?

I'm sure you've heard of the fight-or-flight response, and you probably know that it's the way your body reacts to danger, fear or stress. But do you know what the fight-or-flight response is?                                     Well, it has to do with hormones. When you are faced with danger or fear, your adrenal glands release three hormones: norepinephrine, epinephrine (aka adrenaline), and cortisol. Norepinenephrine and epinephrine cause several changes inside your body to help "survive" during this time, including an increase in heart rate and blood pressure and a decrease in insulin so you have blood sugar available for energy and a decline of your appetite. After the danger, fear or stress is gone, cortisol tells the body to stop producing norepinephrine and epinephrine and then your appetite returns.

This is the way your body deals with short-term survival situations. But your body deals with ALL stressors this way.  Deadlines, kids fighting, laundry piling up, late for work, argument with your mate, busy traffic, forgot to pay a bill, and the list goes on and on. The problem is when stress is constantly present, your body can't get rid of the excess cortisol built up in the blood. 

Then it turns into fat cells! WHAT?! 

Stress can make me fat? Excess stress turns into excess cortisol which turns into fat cells and increases your cravings for high-fat and high-carb foods! So the term "stress eating" is not just a statement, it's a scientific fact. When you give into these cravings, your body releases "happy" chemicals to your brain that encourage you to start an addiction to that food, it becomes a coping mechanism that your body will want to fall into the pattern of doing. 

It creates an addictive behavior- you stress, you eat. 

If you don't control this pattern, you can become psychologically and physically dependent on that way to manage stress. You can help keep cortisol from turning into the bad guy by avoiding simple carbs, processed foods, refined grains and an excess of 200mg of coffee a day. Get plenty of protein and drink plenty of water throughout the day. It is critical that you find other stress- relief techniques that keep you from grabbing the nearest donut or chocolate chip cookie. If you can keep your stress down, you will lower your cortisol levels and doing so will help you keep the extra pounds away!

Maybe I should have mentioned this BEFORE the holidays??? Oops :)

www.yourvibrantessence.com or aprilgeigley@yahoo.com

You can do it!!

For the New Year and "new you", think about what is possible and then start taking action to make your dreams for your future a reality. You must do something different for this to happen. Sitting around hoping, wishing, dreaming of a better future for yourself will not magically make it happen.

Courage (opposite of fear) is a vital element of change. If you can cultivate courage in yourself, you’ll have what it takes to see the limitless possibilities for your future, shut out the voices telling you what you can’t do and come into owning true feelings of confidence.
Courage isn’t comfortable. Courage means breaking out of your comfort zone. Moving toward positive change forces us to confront uncertainty, doubt, and the possibility of failure, and that is what scares most off from taking action.
A great attitude gives that extra boost that keeps you going.  Positivity is uplifting and contagious.  It sets the tone for the attitude of others around you as well. If you are negative, down, or critical, it becomes a domino effect of decreasing productivity.
A real winning attitude establishes standards of excellence and personal discipline. It allows you to connect with people, listen to them, and maintain a positive outlook—even in difficult times.
Adversity is not going away anytime soon. Luckily, we don’t really want it to. The ability to bounce back when adversity strikes is one of the greatest qualities to long- term success and happiness. When you discover that you can learn from and find real meaning in the trials of life, you’ll know that you have what it takes to be successful in life. Adversity introduces you to yourself.  How you react and how you respond when the stuff hits the fan can determine whether you survive and thrive or let circumstances destroy you.
The first step in journey is accepting the fact that you are worthy of positive change.You can start from where you are with what you’ve got and go where you want to go. All it takes is the courage to step up and take the opportunity when it comes along!
Stepping up and taking ownership of your future takes courage, but if you pass on opportunities out of worry that you’re not cut out for it, you are passing up chances to grow and live the life you really want.
Dreaming big is great, but the real key to achieving any goal in life is to do big! Step into Action!
Want this change? I can help! Contact me at aprilgeigley@yahoo.com or visit www.yourvibrantessence.com  Find your Vibrant Self!

What do Essential Oils have to do with hotdogs?

What does essential oils have to do with hot dogs? Well, I'm going to tell you.
I'm going to spill it because I feel like I need to educate my fellow "users" or soon to be "users" out there. When looking at essential oils, aren't they all marked 100% pure?? So what's the difference? The difference is what is inside the bottle, not the label! Let me explain.
Problem #1
THERE IS NO FDA REGULATION FOR ESSENTIAL OILS, SO AS LONG AS IT TESTS 10% PURITY, YES I SAID 10%, OR HIGHER, IT CAN BE LABELED 100% PURE.
NOW WHAT? Which ones do you chose? There are SO MANY out there and they all CLAIM to be the same BUT they are NOT!
Just like with hot dogs, they are not created equal, although appear to taste and smell similar. Would you like 100% beef hot dogs or 10% or unknown amount of beef with the rest fillers, animal parts, pesticides, chemical additives, preservatives etc.?
So with essential oils you have a difference between 10%-100% purity. You don't know what you are getting because they don't have to tell you. As long as it's over 10% pure, it's claimed to be 100% to the rest of us.  The oil may be pure but then the rest of the bottle is filled with coconut oil or some other filler.
Problem #2
Where the oil is made from is the other important part of this equation. Lavender can be grown many places, even here in Michigan, but do you think it's going to have the best quality?  NO! The environment in which the plant or tree comes from is so important in the quality of the oil and its benefits. If your essential oil bottles all say they are from one place, for instance, that's a red flag. Oils are from all over the world, not just one place.  Lavender grows best in France so that is where is should come from. How do I know that? Hold on, I'm getting there.  The way the oil is produced, either cold pressed or stem distilled has to be done in such a precise fashion or the oil quality is altered. Here again, would you like to eat meat from a cow that has been organically farm raised? Or massed produced with antibiotics, growth hormones and synthetic properties? 
Problem #3
Let's talk about the price. Seriously, do you know what they put in hot dogs? That's why they are only less than $1 per pack, sometimes on sale for 2 for $1. Think about it! The ones that are worth eating are close to $6 pack. There is a reason! Just like with essential oils. If Frankincense is being sold for $7.99 on line, there is clearly a reason. Because if you actually knew how the frankincense resin is harvested and produced, you would appreciate the reason it retails over $90. You pay for what you get! 
Problem #4
"But what I'm using is working just fine." or "I'll stick with this company because its cheaper." Obviously if you already use essential oils, you already do have some concern about your health and using natural solutions. So don't be lied to about the quality and purity you are getting. If it is working, it could be working better! You can buy generic medications, save money and have them work the same but that doesn't work in the world of essential oils. If you are really concerned about the cost, use the ones that you are getting the best value for your money. The reason peppermint may be 3 times more expensive somewhere else, is because there is 3 times the amount of pure oil in the bottle. Did I lose you? If you actually compare cost per drop of pure oil, you are actually spending more for that pure oil in the cheaper version because there is less of it. Get it?
SOLUTION....Oh yes I'm finally there.
There is ONLY ONE, yes ONLY ONE essential oil company that has raised the bar on the standard of essential oils.  Their purity AND quality is tested more than 7 times down to the ARC plot!  And is the only company that this process is certified by a trademark, that no one else has. So when their bottles are marked 100% pure, it's exactly what you are getting. Anyone can put "certified pure" on their label but you can't trust it, but with this company you can!
This is not my opinion but with lots of research and seeing for my own eyes this process, I can stand before you with confidence in what I'm telling you.
For the sake of the FDA, name calling, or advertising, I have left the names of companies out of my blog. I would love to help answer any other questions that you may have. I want the best for you and your family and want you to be informed!  Would you like ketchup with your hotdog? :)

aprilgeigley@yahoo.com or www.yourvibrantessence.com

 

 

I just read your mind...

Are you ready for CHANGE? Are you looking for a way to work from home, but have never found anything that worked for you or that could provide a part time income that actually fit into your busy life?

• Wouldn’t it be AWESOME if you had the ability to spend more time with your family doing the things in your life that really matter to YOU?
• Wouldn’t it be OUTSTANDING if you could quit your job and earn just as much money or more, but do it from home with a flexible schedule?
• Wouldn’t it be FABULOUS having your own business, working with other women and moms, where every day you are making others feel great and you are impacting lives in a positive way?

AND wouldn’t it be GREAT to do this with BALANCE as a mother, not sacrificing your desires to care for your family?
I'm here to help make that happen. Are you living pay check to paycheck or feel like there is more to life than what you are doing right now?
If empowering others with natural solutions and essential oils is in your heart, I'm here to help you start your journey!
I would love to chat with you and start unlocking your purpose and passion for life!
Contact me at aprilgeigley@yahoo.com or visit www.yourvibrantessence.com.  WHY WAIT?

How to use Essential Oils aromatically.

The olfactory bulb transmits smell information from the nose to the brain, and is thus necessary for a proper sense of smell. The olfactory bulb is a part of the limbic system. It performs the important task of controlling the nerves related to odor in the brain system. Even if someone does not have a sense of smell, they can still benefit from inhalation of oils because of the wonderful work of the olfactory bulb.

Using essential oils can influence you in a variety of ways. The most common aromatic use is for improving a person's mood.

An inhalation of the joyful blend (lavender, hawaiian sandlewood, tangerine, melissa, ylang ylang, elemi, osmanthus, lavandin and lemon myrtle) or invigorating blend (wild orange, lemon, grapefruit, madarin, bergamot, tangerine and clementine) first thing in the morning can help you wake up and get motivated.
Diffusing eucalyptus and basil throughout the day can help you stay productive.
Peppermint and wild orange can help you stay focused. Peppermint or respiratory blend (eucalyptus, peppermint, laurel, melaleuca, lemon, ravensara and cardamon) can help you through a workout.
Diffuse or drop a few drops to your pillow of lavender or vetiver at night for a more restful sleep.
Just simply inhaling the aroma of an essential oil is effective for calming nervous or anxious feelings.

Try these diffuser blends to help you get through your day!

Sunshine For Your Day
3 drops Bergamot
3 drops Wild Orange
1-2 drops Ylang Ylang

Avoid the Afternoon Blahs
2 drops Lemongrass
4 drops Wintergreen
3 drops Wild Orange

Time to Relax
3 drops Vetiver
3 drops Lavender
4 drops Cedarwood

There are many other blends I could put together for you, these are just a select few. Contact me for more information at aprilgeigley@yahoo.com or visit me at www.yourvibrantessence.com.
Also on face book - Your Vibrant Essence. Thanks for coming by!

Nurse Mom turned Oil Mom

Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to grow up and be a nurse. I've always been interested in science and in the body, it's fascinating to me. Blood and needles don't bother me either.  I love to help people in a caring atmosphere. So immediately after high school I became a Licensed Practical Nurse.
 My main area of work has always been in the doctor office settings. I've had my license since 1997. I have learned and seen a lot in that time frame:) I have stories that would send you rolling on the floor with laughter or making a face of disbelief. There was always a little humor during the hard work.
My last 6 years I worked with a great pediatrician that I loved dearly. We worked very well together and it was great taking care of little ones. Babies and kids was where it was at for me........
BUT there is another part of the story. Almost the last 2 years of my nursing career, I was being torn on the inside. Pharmaceuticals, office politics, manager meetings with graphs of "quotas", prescription abuse and overuse, ridiculous insurance companies and not much in the way of natural solutions or prevention.  I could go on and on. This list is just the beginning. This takes the heart out of nursing! And the fact that I was spending more time with my coworkers than I was my own family was displeasing! (although a couple of them were a hoot)
The fact that I knew there was other options other than medication was causing a sword in my side. Knowing that I could help a young mom with essential oils for her child but instead she leaves with a prescription for an antibiotic. She will have to go pick it up at the pharmacy, and of course the doctor has to pick an antibiotic off her insurance company's covered drug plan, not necessarily the one that is best suited for the illness.  The health care system is run by the pharmaceutical and insurance companies. I don't blame providers for their way of practice, that is what they were taught.
M.D.s are medication doctors, thats what it stands for, Doctors of Medicine.
Essential oils are natures medicine intended by our creator for our use. Medication is just nature turned synthetic! How many side effects can you list from one medication commercial? Scary right? Now don't get me wrong, there is a time and place for medication. Some people would not be living today if it wasn't for the sake of the technology of medications but on the other hand, how many people have died due to side effects, reactions or overdose? You have to stay informed!! You have to weigh out the risk factors!
I just want you to be open minded and know that you can change the way you think of your health and they way you treat it! All I have left in my medicine cabinet is tylenol and advil. All my other over the counter medications have been thrown out either because I don't use them or they expired. Essential oils don't expire!
Now I'm not saying if you have any chronic illness to go off all your meds. Everyone has a unique body and our needs our different. I'm not diagnosing or treating, I'm providing alternative solutions! I'm talking about having your own natural first aid kit and "go to" oils for off and on issues.  Basically if you can get an over the counter medication for it, I have an oil for it instead! Safe! No side effects, only side benefits and healthy for the whole family, including babies! I left my nursing career in June 2015. I've been happily teaching families about the powerful benefits and uses of certified pure essential oils since! I can still help care for people but in a more natural, beneficial way and it feels amazing seeing the transformation in others!  I can help you become empowered about your families health! You can contact me at aprilgeigley@yahoo.com or visit www.yourvibrantessence.com for more information.

Reason why your body may be resisting sleep and what you can do about it.

It is shocking to me the amount of people that do not sleep well. It is one of the most common problems I hear about. Either you can fall asleep but can't stay asleep or you have trouble getting to sleep, or you "think" you slept all night and wake up just as tired as you did when you went to bed! Frustrating!!
Here are some tips that may make bedtime a little more relaxing!

• Avoid bright screens 2hrs or more before bedtime.  All nighttime light can interfere with sleep but the blue light from electronics is the worst. This includes the screen on your phone, tablet, computer, or TV. You can minimize it by using devices with smaller screens or turning the brightness down. 
• Say no to late-night television.  Not only does the light suppress melatonin, but many shows are stimulating rather than relaxing. Try listening to music instead. 
• Be careful about nighttime reading.  E-Reader devices that are backlit are more disruptive than those that are lit from the front. Or you could just pick up a book with pages:)
• When it’s time to sleep, make sure the room is dark. The darker it is, the better you’ll sleep.  Even the numbers on a digital clock can disrupt sleep.
• Keep the lights down if you get up during the night. Put a nightlight in the bathroom if you have a habit of getting up. Bright lights will make it harder for you to fall back to sleep.
• Cut down on caffeine. You might be surprised to know that caffeine can effect sleep even up to ten to twelve hours after drinking it! (Although I have a husband that can drink a cup of coffee before bed and go right to sleep, I guess there is an exception to every rule!)
• Stay away from big meals at night.  Fatty foods take a lot of work for your stomach to digest and may keep you up. Spicy or acidic foods can cause stomach trouble and heartburn. (Although I have an oil for that!) :)
• Avoid alcohol before bed. While it may help you relax and fall asleep faster, it interferes with your sleep cycle once you’re out.
• Avoid drinking too many liquids in the evening. Drinking lots of water, juice, tea, or other fluids may keep you needing to use the bathroom throughout the night. Caffeinated drinks act as diuretics and only make it worse.
• Try to go to sleep and get up at the same time every day. Sticking to a consistent schedule helps set your body’s internal clock. If you’re getting enough sleep, you should wake up naturally without an alarm. (This is my dad, crazy, but he literally wakes up the same time every morning on his own!)
• Avoid sleeping in—even on weekends or nights you’ve stayed up late. It can be tempting to sleep in on weekends, but even a couple hour difference in wake time can mess up your internal clock. Napping for 20-30 minutes earlier in the day would be better.
• Be smart about napping. If you take a nap too late into the day, then it will be harder to fall asleep at your normal time. 
• Keep the noise down. If you can’t avoid or eliminate noise, try masking it with a fan, recordings of soothing sounds, or white noise. You can buy a special sound machine or earplugs may also help. (My mom has used one of those sound machines for years, she can't fall asleep without it. She calls it her "wind machine")
• Keep your room cool. Most people sleep best in a slightly cool room.  A bedroom that is too hot or too cold can interfere with quality of sleep.
• Make sure your bed is comfortable.  If you often wake up with a sore back or an aching neck, you may need to invest in a new mattress or a try a different pillow. (We love our Tempur-Pedic!)
•  Reserve your bed for sleeping and sex.  Enough said:) 
•  Keep active during the day.  The days that I don't do much, are the days it's harder to get to sleep.  Also exercise! Studies show that regular exerciser helps you sleep better and feel less sleepy during the day.
• Okay I have to talk about emotions........stress and our emotions play a bigger role in our sleep than you think. Find a way to wind down and release those thoughts before you hop in bed. Don't take work or anger to bed with you;)
• Try Certified Pure Essential Oils.  (I saved the best for last!) Lavender is my first go to, it has calming and relaxing properties. Cedarwood is calming and soothes anxiousness. Vetiver promotes tranquility. The grounding blend is a blend of spruce, ho wood, frankincense, blue tansy and blue chamomile. It is used to reduce stress, mood swings, anxiousness while promoting a feeling of balance. The focus blend balances brain activity and calms overstimulation. Try the respiratory blend for snoring! You don't use them all at once, these are just a few of the common oils for sleep.  If you would like to try one, I will send you a sample. Contact me at aprilgeigley@yahoo.com or through my website www.yourvibrantessence.com. Here's to a better nights rest!

Trouble (Ooooh, Squirrel!) Focusing?

To be able to focus, we require the right neurological connections in the brain to process all the incoming data like sounds, smells and sights for example. When the brain is unable to process this data correctly, we become over stimulated and overwhelmed.  This can lead to irritation, frustration, anger outbursts, hyperactivity, lack of focus and anxiousness. As a nurse, I have seen on many occasions how this also keeps you from having a normal sleep pattern and performance at school.
The brain is so complex that the contributing factors are long. Chronic illness, hormonal changes, lack of sleep/tiredness, medication side effects, infection, brain injury, emotional trauma, mental disorders and our daily diet are just to name a few.  Proper neurological connections are necessary for our brain to make sense of the stimuli that is incoming every minute! You can call this "brain chatter". The neurons are constantly sending messages but the messages are getting lost and not getting to the right transmitter for them to make it all come together. So there is a lot of "noise" going on in their head. This is why it is hard for these children to focus during the day or even to fall asleep or stay asleep at night. They can't shut this off very easily.
I have a few suggestions that I have seen work over and over! Diffusing or inhaling lavender and or peppermint can have an immediate impact. When an essential oil is inhaled, it activates the olfactory bulb which is a direct link to your brain and encourages those neurotransmitters to connect like they are supposed to.
First of all I'd like to mention the need for proper fatty acids/omegas and nutrients for brain health. Kids diets are usually not the best despite our efforts of putting broccoli in their face! This foundation is key!  My children are on a very safe and natural supplement that provides all they need without dyes, fillers or artificial additives. It is a chewable tablet that provides healthy cell development, antioxidant protection, botanical extracts and proper blend of vitamins and whole food nutrients needed for optimal brain and overall health. Also they take a liquid that is complete with omega 3's for brain, cardiovascular and joint function.
Here is just some essential oil suggestions: lavender, vetiver, clary sage, cedarwood and wild orange with peppermint. Oil blends would include calming blend, focus blend and grounding blend. Common places to apply the essential oil is to the bottom of your feet, spine, back of neck, wrists or under your nose. Whether used aromatic or topical, using essential oils will make a difference in your child and make day to day much easier!  I can help you get these natural solutions into your home so your child and you can live a more "calmer" life! To learn more or if you have any questions, contact me at aprilgeigley@yahoo.com. Visit www.yourvibrantessence.com for more helpful information. Thanks for visiting!

The Essential Trio for Seasonal Discomfort

If you suffer from seasonal discomfort, you are one of many. Runny nose, sinus congestion, watery eyes, sneezing, trouble breathing through your nose, sore throat and cough due to drainage are many of the symptoms people experience during the change of the seasons. I have found a trio of oils, that when taken together once or twice per day, combat or completely wipe out these symptoms naturally and safe. No side effects, dependency and contains no chemicals.

Peppermint, Lemon and Lavender is the essential oil trio that I will not go without. Drop 2 drops of each lemon, lavender and peppermint to an 8oz glass of water (not plastic) and drink down. You may also put the drops in a vegetable capsule and swallow. Only certified pure essential oils are recommended to take internal. I have access to these certified oils.

Besides taking as a trio for seasonal discomfort, these essential oils alleviate a variety of other issues and improve your overall quality of life. Let's dig into a few of those other uses.

Lemon- 
*Gargle with 1-2 drops and water in the am if you wake with an irritated throat.
*Add to water and drink throughout the day to help with natural and safe detox.
*Add 10-15 drops to an 8oz glass spray bottle filled with water to use for a natural cleaning agent in the kitchen or bathrooms.
*Use 1-2 drops to remove oil, gum, grease, spots or glue.
*Add to olive oil for a non-toxic furniture polish.
*Diffuse to fill your house with an uplifting, energizing aroma and to neutralize odors.

Lavender-
*Provides natural calming and easing of tension.
*Supports healthy and natural sleep, apply under nose or bottom of feet before sleeping.
*To calm and soothe occasional skin irritations and sensitive skin.
*Add 1-2 drops to your mascara bottle to condition your lashes and extends the use of the product.
*Mix with epsom salts before adding to warm bath for relaxing experience.
*Use with peppermint along with your shampoo for an invigorating scalp massage!

Peppermint-
*Relieves occasional stomach upset or indigestion.
*Place behind ears for head discomfort.
*Add to water for a refreshing drink.
*Diffuse for increased focus and "pick me up". Also for easy breathing and to open up airways.
*Use with lemon for a mouth rinse.
*Helps relieve symptoms of motion sickness when traveling.

This just barely touches the surface for their many uses. Again, using only certified pure essential oils will ensure maximum benefits. I can help you get started with experiencing the powerful benefits of essential oils!  Visit me on Pinterest, Face Book or www.yourvibrantessence.com for more updates, tips and recipes! Thanks for visiting!