1. Gave up artificial sweeteners (Splenda, Equal, Sweet & Low, etc.) and switched to Stevia. Now that Stevia is available, I see no reason any of us should be taking risks with the artificial stuff. Put some packets in your purse.
 
2. Switched to decaf. I still love my coffee ritual, but now I also fall asleep easily, don’t wake up at 3, and don’t act like a brain-dead fiend in the morning before I get my first cup. That’s nice.
 
3. Made friends with kale. Discovered you can eat it raw (best if you get “Tuscan kale”), or spend just a like three minutes sautéing it in the pan, which is a cooking time I can live with.
 
4. Made friends with almond butter. Because life is short, it is delicious, and I’m not going to be a size four either way.
 
5. Ate heartier breakfasts. Eating protein, a whole grain and veggies for breakfast has made a huge difference in my energy, mental focus, cravings, and mood. At this moment, in fact, I am eating my favorite breakfast: scrambled eggs, quinoa and dinner’s leftover vegetables.
 
6. Started drinking green tea. Tastes delicious. Has fab health benefits. And you can’t beat green tea pep.
 
7. Started taking elderberry to help with recovery from colds and flu. A friend had said elderberry was helping her kids get over colds much more quickly. Then we went to Scandanavia in the middle of the winter and it was everywhere — everyone was eating elderberry soup and drinking elderberry juice to stay healthy in the months of below zero temperatures. The practices whole cultures have evolved to survive extreme conditions? I trust em. And turns out studies have shown it significantly reduces recovery times. It’s been working for me too.
 
8. Reduced my intake of hormones. I’ve been much more careful about eating hormone-free meat and dairy. Our bodies are getting so confused by our modern environments, and this is one way to lessen the damage.
 
9. Focused on eating hot/cooked foods in the winter. I’m a salad girl, so for a long time, most of the food I’ve eaten has been cold and raw. My doctor, the acupuncturist, the yoga teacher all urged me to eat primarily hot and cooked foods in the winter. It’s felt really, really good – more energy, a more satisfied feeling after meals, and a more stable appetite too.
 
10. Continued living a sugar-free life. In August I crossed five years without refined sugar — no white sugar or brown sugar or honey or agave or any of that — and I love my sugar-free life. That probably deserves a whole post at some point, but suffice to say: I have don’t think sugar is disastrous for everyone, and in fact I hope to come back in my next lifetime as someone who can enjoy sugar in moderation. However, this time around, I am not that woman. If you know (and c’mon if you know, face it) sugar is disrupting your sleep, sanity, or eating patterns — I recommend quitting fully. Giving it up is the best thing I’ve ever done for my health and quality of life.
 
What are you very glad you did for your body in 2010? And what would you like to do for your body in 2011?
 
Oh wait, let me clarify that: perfectionism, self-punishment, inner critic, women’s magazine covers aside, what would you like to do for your body in 2011?
 
Love,
 
Tara
 
P.S. People! I am super excited about this week’s workshop on Living Your Brilliance & Quieting Your Inner Critic. We are going to get very jazzed about Living Our Brilliances in 2011, and very smart about the inner critics that keep us stuck. We’re going to learn a bunch of simple tools that make it possible for us to stop getting paralyzed by the inner critic, and to live with more ease, self-expression, confidence and bold impact. Today is the last day for sign ups. Info & sign up here!

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