The 5-Step Formula to Stress Relief
From Hurried Woman to Wonder Woman
by Krista Schaus

As the summer vacation season approaches, most of us are looking forward to more days full of lounging by the pool, fun family getaways, and sunny afternoons spent relaxing. Unfortunately, if you are a sufferer of "hurried woman syndrome," this will only become a reality in your head.

Your summer days will actually be crammed with never-ending activities, adding pressure to your already over-scheduled life. By September, you'll find yourself filling up the back-to-school schedule, as you wonder what happened to that "relaxing" summer you were anticipating back in spring.

Symptoms of "hurried woman syndrome" include headaches, neck and back pain, digestive problems, illnesses and infections, sleep disorders, low sex drive, emotional eruptions, irregular menstrual cycles, food binges, cravings or lack of appetite, depression, and anxiety. There's also a tell-tale "spare tire" around the midsection; a result of the stress hormone cortisol, which promotes belly fat storage.

A hurried woman will also look pale and drained, yet feel rushed and frenzied. Today's woman feels the pressure to be everything to everyone. She's often working full time, while also tending to growing responsibilities, and trying to better herself personally and professionally.

The result — feeling sick, tired, unhealthy, and unhappy — is the exact opposite of what she works so hard trying to achieve. The hurried woman needs a formula to transform into the balanced woman.

The 5-Step Formula to Slowing Down

Take a critical look at what takes up your time and energy. Assess, and cut down on activities that no longer serve a positivepurpose. Everything is up for grabs except for eating, breathing, and sleeping. Prioritize the essentialactivities, and you're left with the activities you truly need... and want.

Don't forget that time in the gym is something you do need and want.

Now that the time wasters and energy drainers are gone from your life, your new schedule can be filled with healthy meal planning and preparation, exercises you enjoy, and quality family and personal time. These activities will help you manage the more difficult areas of your life with confidence, positive energy, and enthusiasm.

When we're stressed, the first things we usually eliminate are the things we actually need the most to fight stress. I make sure to keep a few essentials:

A super concentrated extract supplement like Superfood: Vegetable/fruit formulas such as Biotest's Superfood provide you with the anti-oxidant equivalent of 8-12  average servings of  fruits and vegetables and contain vitamins and minerals.

Superfood also has loads of phytochemicals, and contains powerhouse ingredients such as goji berry, wasabi, pomegranate, broccoli sprouts, and kale.

Fish oils such as Flameout: The benefits of fish oils are well-researched and well-documented. The literature supports the claims that adding quantities of good quality fish oils to your diet will bring relief, in some way, to almost everyone suffering from almost any condition. Flameout is noteworthy in that a single capsule contains the EPA and DHA of almost 8 regular fish oil capsules.

Green tea of various types: Green tea by itself has many beneficial properties, one of which is increasing alpha brain wave activity, the "feel good" brain waves. With most hurried women walking around in boring beta brain wave activity, a drink made with green tea and Superfood (which already includes green tea in the formula) will make her feel like Wonder Woman!

A zinc/magnesium supplement: More than 90% of the population is deficient in these two minerals, so supplementing with them is a necessity. They're essential for a great night's sleep, which is always an important step in total recovery.

There are also two other supplements designed to tackle specific goals: Rez-V and Carbolin-19 to help me lose stubborn female fat while gaining lean mass.

Step 4: Live in the Moment

This means mindfulness, or being present during everyday activities and events. Rather than always being an hour ahead in thought, and worrying about the next scheduled event, pause and reflect on what you're doing right now. Enjoy and savor each moment.

Some suggested reading to help you achieve this new state of being: The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield, Tuesdays with Morrie and/or The Five People You Meet in Heavenby Mitch Albom, The Secretby Rhonda Byrne, The Law of Attraction by Esther and Jerry Hicks, and finally, The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.

If being a hurried woman doesn't allow you the time to sit down and read (yet), consider picking up The Secreton DVD, and listening to books on tape while driving. If these books are a little too estrogen-inducing or "fluffy," for you liking, I highly recommend Ironmind: Stronger Minds, Stronger Bodies by Randall Strossen Ph.D. and Under the Bar by Dave Tate.

Step 5: Yoga

To prepare for my first Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships in 2005, I took private yoga sessions as a recovery method. Little did I know that it would be the key to a nearly-50 kilogram increase in my total.

My yoga instructor old me, "Krista, yoga will make you stronger, but in a different way." I thank her for introducing me to yoga. As an active, ambitious woman, yoga has kept me balanced, and helped me slow down and enjoy life. Yoga can help you understand how to live in the moment (step 4), and it can help you apply it.

Yoga clearly works for Madonna.

John Lennon once told Rolling Stone magazine, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." Take the time away from your busy life to implement the steps above, and you can start enjoying the life that you've been rushing so hurriedly through.

About the Author

Krista Schaus is a certified PICP Strength Coach and Biosignature assessor. She is one of Canada's Top 20 Female Powerlifters and recently has taken her competitive endeavors to the bodybuilding stage, having won best overall in her 1st two shows in 2008, including the Beverly International NKC Championships — the largest single day event in the US.

She is the owner/operator of Defining Edge Fitness based out of Ontario Canada, www.definingedge.ca.

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