If you had two books that brought incredible value to your life as must reads. Which ones would you list? Trying to add to the library and would love to hear everyone’s opinions.

1.) Spend time daily in deep relaxation, at least an hour throughout the day...more if possible. This is a powerful way to balance and decrease the stress hormone cortisol. The more cortisol you have running through your body, the more your body will gain and hold onto weight like there's no tomorrow. 2.) Take longer pauses between your meals. You can do this by eliminating snacking throughout the day, or extending the time between dinner and breakfast. Doesn't have to be the same pause every day, it's actually great to vary it up, but more time pausing between meals will help you lose weight. Some people call this intermittent fasting. Don't matter what you call it. It works by decreasing insulin and countering insulin resistance. Insulin resistance can make weight loss almost impossible. Similar to cortisol...the more insulin you have running through your body, the more your body will gain weight and refuse to let it go. 3.) Start a Food and Mood Journal. Write down everything you eat, and how you felt while eating and afterwards. No judgment, just data. You can use dirty napkins to write it down, or a fancy journal. Don't matter, just write it. No need to analyze, or think about it after you write it. Simple, straightforward, just write it down. Anything we bring awareness to, we naturally and automatically start to change for the better. As long as we don't judge it and bring shame to this process. 4.) Eat more vegetables and low sugar fruits. If you are looking to let go of weight, strive for at least 50 percent of each meal being veg/fruit. The nutrients from these foods prevent cravings that come from malnourishment. The fiber helps you get full faster and keeps your digestion humming along nicely. These are some of the basic steps I took to let go of over 70 pounds in just a few months. I had an aunt that also let go of a lot of weight during the same time. She worked REALLY hard...exercising daily, for an hour or more, eating special foods. I respect her immensely. I felt guilty sometimes that I was doing less and having similar results.

1. Stop trying to mentally control the future You exhaust yourself trying to predict outcomes that may never come. 2. Most of the things you worry about never actually happen Your mind creates storms far bigger than reality usually delivers. 3. You have survived every difficult day before this one The same strength that carried you then is still inside you now. 4. Worrying steals today without fixing tomorrow It robs your peace in the present while promising protection it cannot give. 5. Not everything needs an answer right now Some things become clear only with time, patience, and distance. 6. Your mind needs rest, not constant pressure An exhausted brain turns small problems into overwhelming fears. 7. Breathe before believing every anxious thought Not every thought deserves your attention. Fear speaks loudly—but it is not always truthful. 8. Stop carrying things that haven’t happened yet You were not meant to emotionally survive every possible future all at once. 9. Talk to yourself with more compassion You cannot heal while your own inner voice keeps attacking you daily. 10. Life has a way of changing unexpectedly The situation you are losing sleep over today may become the reason you grow stronger tomorrow. Sometimes peace begins when you finally realize: you do not need to have everything figured out to keep moving forward. Slow down. Breathe deeply. Trust yourself a little more. And remember— your mind deserves peace too.