The Do's and Do Not's of Fat Loss.

  We were all there once. Looking in the mirror, wanting to change. But not really knowing how. We over complicated it. And we stress our selves out. We hop on the scale, and frown when it says we actually GAINED weight. And we scream "HOW CAN THAT BE I HAVE BEEN ON KEY ALL WEEK". Well. In this article I will tell you a few key Do's and Do Not's for your fat loss journeys.

-DO: Eat Clean "Organic" Foods:

  I cannot stress this point enough. Just eat food, nothing processed. No grain infused frozen meals. Animals, and plants. That is all. No corn or grains. No starchy carbs like potatoes. Just eat an abundance of plants and some animals for protein.

-DO NOT: Over complicate things:

  Just do it, don't think too hard. Don't weigh yourself everyday. You'll only psych and stress yourself out. And stress, will make you retain and even gain weight. Just, do what you're suppose to and look in the mirror, measure your waist. And if they don't go down, change your diet. Train harder. Do something different. It's nice to see weight go down, but on any given day your weight can fluctuate 3-5lbs. It's usually water weight. So don't stress those few pounds heavier you are. Also, you have to factor in muscles, if you are strength training. As you can see, the scale can be your worst enemy on any fat loss venture.

-DO: Train hard:

  Give it your all, no matter what you're doing. Weather it is a lifting program, a body weight program. Or if you're just starting out and you're walking. Just give it your all. Don't give up. In the words of the late Master Yoda. "Do or Do Not, there is no Try/" And that is so true, you either do it, or you don't. There is no "trying to do" something. Because if you wanted it bad enough, you would just fucking do it. No complaints, no whining, no "I'll do it tomorrow," Or "I'll do it monday, it's good to start on the first of a week". Who the hell gave you that stupid ass idea? I don't care if it is, 3 a/m/ and you are sitting there and you get that twinge of something deep within you, you want to change. Don't say "I will do it in the morning" You want results, put in the fucking work. You get your ass up off the couch THAT NIGHT, and you go for a walk before bed. I don't care what time it is. If you want it done, do it/ Quit eating those foods, quit drinking that soda. I believe in each and every one of you. So believe in your damn self for once. Because I did it, I lost 115lbs. Not because I "did it on Monday" I looked in the mirror, and said "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING TO YOURSELF" and I made that change. I know you can too.

-DO NOT: Let people bring you down:

  Don't let someone bring you down. You're in a good mood, working out. You're eating better. Granted, maybe not as good as you should. But you dropped the soda, and got to walking and stuff. And BAM, you hear someone whisper "damn that guy/girl is so fat why are they even trying?" Or maybe someone isn't noticing your weight loss, or how good you're doing. So you go back to your comfort. You binge, you eat so much till you get to the point of being sick. You get depressed, and you don't want to move on. You go back to your old habits. NO, YOU DON'T. You look them in the eyes, and say "FUCK YOU" because you're doing what YOU know is right. What helps YOU in YOUR life. Not theirs. If you're doing it right. Putting in the hard work, and you are seeing even small changes. You KEEP DOING IT. Despite what anyone says. Because, they don't see your struggle. They don't even know you. They just speculate based on what they perceive. So be strong. Do not, let uneducated people bring down your mood. You're doing this for you, keep at it and one day you'll laugh in their face when they haven't achieved their goals, and you have.

-DO: Write it down:

  Everything, yes I said it right, EVERYTHING. Every little morsel you eat. Weather it is a 12oz porterhouse. Or one cookie. Every calorie counts. And you'll be able to see, on those days you "cheat" and have a brownie or a piece of pie. How many calories over your goal you've went. How, empty those sugary concoctions are for your health. They're sugar and carbs, and all sorts of additives. So, skip those if you're looking for fat loss. Write down all the food you eat, the drinks you consume. Your morning coffee or green tea. Your afternoon sweet tea, or un-sweet if you're like me. Your dinner, every oz of that chicken or fish or whatever you fancy. You're at work and someone offers you a piece of their food, say, fried chicken. And you haven't had any for a while, so  you think, sure why not? WRITE IT DOWN. That friend chicken leg, has many calories, probably over 100. So write it down. Those calories count. They all count. Also, write down your workouts. Log your reps and weight if you're strength or body weight training. If for 3 weeks, your weight hasn't increased or even decreased. Change something up. Don't idle in your workouts. Don't stall on your nutrition. Because those plateaus are hard to bust through. And you WILL hit one. Just don't be the cause of it. Do yourself a favor, and actually log every food item, every workout. And even your sleep schedule. It all effects your weight. Maybe something has been stressing you out lately? And your weight loss has stalled. BINGO, get rid of that stress. And just WRITE IT DOWN. Simple as that.

-DO NOT: Blame anyone but yourself:

  That's right. I will probably get A LOT of people mad at me with this one. I don't care. The truth hurts. But fact is, you caused all of this. No one forced you to eat like you did. No one forced anything on you. I blamed a lot of things for how I was. My feet, because I couldn't do the things I liked. My dad for leaving us. I blamed it on a lot. But it was all a sweet comforting lie, to help myself justify how I was. No one forced me to eat in abundance, or to not be active. I did that to myself. No one forced me to drink ever single day. Or pop pills. I chose that life. To ease the pain, when I could have as easily just got my ass up and did something about it. Instead I numbed myself, and I numbed the pain. It did't go away. No, I covered it up. That is the WRONG way to go about things. Don't blame your parents, your environment, your school, the other kids, don't blame the commercials, or Mc Donalds for being so bad for you. Just don't. No one forced your hand. It was you. And only YOU can change yourself. Only YOU can do what needs to be done. On your own time. Don't do it for anyone else, nor wait for anyone else. If you don't like something, change it. You might not be able to do it overnight, the change. Because it has been ongoing for YEARS. But, you CAN do it. You just have to get your mindset into it. And BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. Because you are capable of doing it, You didn't get this way overnight. You've eaten like this for years. Small baby steps. And, eventually you'll look back at the person you WERE and see the person you're designed to be. Because you're strong, you're powerful, mind body and spirit. So don't even think you can't and don't ever think, it isn't your fault because, ultimately it is. So change it.

-DO: Believe it is possible:

  There are people worse off than you. There are people with various diseases and various different things wrong. Don't make the excuse that you "Can't" because you CAN. People do it everyday. People with so many problems do it. Physical and psychological diseases. They get it done. So you can too. No feat is too hard. No mountain too high. No path unable to be crossed. You can do what you set your mind to. If you give it your all, you'll get it all in return. Life works in mysterious ways. And sometimes it's hard. Sometimes, that light at the end of the tunnel seems SO far away. But, it's not. If you believe, you can achieve. You will never do anything, unless you can believe in yourself. Because, that is the ONE and ONLY person who matters in the end. Not the neighbor, not your significant other, not your parents or friends. Not that "guy/girl" you want to impress. You do this for YOU. You believe in YOU. It is possible, To quote the famous Spartacus, "Anything in this life is possible, if mind and heart are put towards it." Give it your all, your blood, your sweat, your tears, your mind and body. Your heart. Give it everything you got, and never give up. Never let life push you back harder than you can push it. Because, you're better than that. Better than someone so eager and willing to give up everything they've worked for. Believe it is possible, even when everyone and everything else tells you it isn't.

-DO NOT: Feel you have to compare yourself to others:

  Everyone is different. We all have different bodies. Different levels of health and such. So it is normal, that someone else, who is the same weight as you, for them to lose it faster/slower than you. Because, we all have different DNA. While, it is all pretty cut and dry. The basics are the same. Calories in VS Calories out. But, everyone is different. So don't ever compare yourself to someone else. To someone who loses it faster than you. It will only stress you out. It will only make you want to give up. You will compete with them, even if not on purpose, subconsciously, and you will attempt to train like them. And only injure yourself. You will only give up, when you cannot do what they can. So, never compare yourself to another person. Because, you will only be discouraged.

  The most important rule of any fatloss/nutritional/workout program, is to just do your best. That simple. Just give it your all. Don't be discouraged if someone else is more fit. Or if they are losing weight faster. Etc. Just do you. Don't compare yourself. Don't look in magazines, and say you want that body. Chances are, if/when, you get to that level of fitness, you will NOT look exactly like Arnold did when he did body building. Nor will you look like your favorite athlete. You will be you, but a stronger version of yourself. And that is what we all want to work for. To be stronger, fitter, faster, harder and all over healthier.

  Keep doing what you do, keep being strong. And. being yourself. Don't listen to others, let the critics do what they do. And you do what you do. Because, you CAN do it. If you put your mind to it.

Check out my book, How To Get Everything You Want:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/609912

I'm also selling custom made T-shirts, to which half of the proceeds will go towards testicular and prostate cancer charity.
https://teespring.com/liftwithyourbeard

How to calculate calories:
http://coreysperspective.blogspot.com/2016/01/so-you-want-to-lose-weight.html

Until a further time,

Corey.

Primal: Is It Any Good? Should I Follow It? What Is It Exactly?

  You're walking through the dense jungle, leaving your cave or home you had built. In one hand, a spear the other, is bare. As you are walking barefoot across sticks and leaves, you don't think twice, this is your nature. You've walked these forests a thousand times. You are crawling over rocks, climbing branches as about 100 yards away, you spot a wild boar. So instinctively you drop down slowly crawling, keeping your eyes fixed on it. You get close enough, and slowly rise, not to alarm it. As you cock back, you throw your spear, just right catching it in the heart. Instantly killing it. as you hoist it up on your shoulder you find a stick, and sharpen it as you arrive back at your home, putting it over the fire to slow cook all day. As you go out, foraging for nuts, and other vegetables or the occasional fruit you can find. As you find nothing else. Today was a lucky day, you actually get some meat to help keep you going through the rigorous daily activities you have to do, in order to live and survive.

  That's exactly how we lived, tens of thousands of years ago. There were no, Walmart, or big grocery stores to go shop at. There was no, frozen pizza, chicken nuggets, french fries, hell no friend, breaded, potato. corn. anything grain like. It was meat, when you could get it. And all the vegetables you could gather. You didn't get the luxury to go and buy it in abundance only to let it all waste. There was no ice cream and brownies for you "cheat meal" or "cheat day". The food you ate back then was to survive, to nourish your body. To keep it able to keep up with your necessary daily activity. You walked, daily. You crawled, and jumped. Sprinted when being chased on occasions. You climbed, and lifted heavy things. Hoisted animal carcasses. You threw spears, stabbed spears. Sharpened sticks. And there was no down time. Not even to blog like I am right now. You were always busy.

  I guess that is what we have "evolved" into. The "I want it now, it's easy to get and than I will let it waste because that health thing was only a fling". So we go back to our unhealthy grains, and we go back to our unhealthy foods. We get those frozen pizzas and those corn dogs, and such. And we stuff them into our bodies, getting the little amount of protein they offer. And hardly nourishing our bodies, and actually doing the opposite. Killing ourselves, slowly and surely. Getting a number of diseases, that weren't around 100,000 years ago. Because the food additives just did not exist. They were not even thought of.

 What does it mean to eat, live and be primal? Well, after I found the blog called "Marks Daily Apple" I decided to start adapting to living a primal life. Mark Sisson, is the one who created the "primal blueprint".

Being primal, means living the way our ancestors did thousands of years ago.

  Being primal means:

-Eating good foods, animals, good fats, plants and the occasional fruit.

-Low carb, your only carbs should come from plant sources.

-High fat, good fats such as avocado, coconut, olive oil, etc.

-Moderate protein.

-Walk daily.

-Lift heavy things.

-Stay active.

-Play (doing socially fun things or things you enjoy)

-Minimal stress.

-Get a good amount of sleep.

That pretty much outlines the basics of living a primal lifestyle.

No more being a couch potato. (speaking of potatoes, they are bad. They aren't included in the primal lifestyle. Unless it is an occasional sweet potato)

Now, that isn't saying you cannot watch TV. Just, don't revolve your life around it.

Just stay busy, stay active.

Walk around, do movements that mimic the lifestyle back then.

Crawl, hop, jump, walk, sprint on an occasion, lift heavy things, compound movements. Just do the opposite of all you have been taught.

Carbs are bad. Potatoes, grains, corn, all of it. 99% of what the modern diet consists of. Is bad for you. And is killing everyone slowly.

And they have those fancy commercials, "if you're hungry, grab a snickers"

 Oh, grab that snickers. Satisfy your hunger, for 10 seconds. Until you want another, and another. Of those empty calorie heart disease bars. All I see when I look at the candy section:

-cancer.

-heart disease.

-diabetes.

-obesity.

-tooth decay.

-death.

Because eating a diet, consistent of all that, is a surefire way to be put on prescription medication, that causes more problems than it fixes.

  To live the primal life, is to live the life that was lived for hundreds of thousands of years. Before artificial anything was around.

Now am I implying to go out and hunt for food everyday? To ask that of most people is, asinine. Quite frankly, not a lot of people CAN do that. But, what I am suggesting, is to go out and buy GRASS fed animals. ORGANIC fruits and vegetables. To buy GRASS fed everything. To supplement where you lack, with ORGANIC products. And to use healthier alternatives. Because, they're out there.

 The argument I always use is, would you rather pay $1.00 extra for the grass fed beef a pound. Or be charged $100.00 monthly for medication, and a hospital bill from your cancer treatments.

  Because, it's not a matter of IF anymore, it's a matter of WHEN. If you eat a diet, like the modern american.

  I will get more in depth, on the dangers of grains. On the benefits of walking daily, and other aspects of the primal lifestyle.

That's it for today guys and gals.

Stay healthy, stay strong, stay grain free, Stay primal.

Until a future time,
Corey.

Check out my book, How To Get Everything You Want:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/609912

I'm also selling custom made T-shirts, to which half of the proceeds will go towards testicular and prostate cancer charity.
https://teespring.com/liftwithyourbeard

A post I did about diseases, and the primal connection: 

http://coreysperspective.blogspot.com/2016/01/diseases-can-you-cure-or-even-prevent.html

In case you missed it, or you're new around here: http://coreysperspective.blogspot.com/2015/10/my-introduction-pt-1.html

Fitness: Quit Over-Complicating It.

  We are all guilty of this in our lifetime. We over complicate things. We get so caught up in the lights and glamour of things. We have so many options. So many avenues, and they all claim to the be "right answer".

This place says, do high this and low that. This place says, the opposite. One says, heavy this, one says light that. Another says to follow this routine, another says that routine is bogus.

  It can be quite overwhelming. But, I am here to shed some light for you all. The truth is, there is no "right" or "wrong" way. But, there is effective and non-effective. Depending, on exactly what your end goal is.

  So you want to lose weight? But, not sure where to begin? Join the millions of other people who are researching along side you. Who are so overwhelmed with all the information.

  First off, forget all you have ever been taught. Forget all the health and fitness magazines. It's all just for show, to sell their supplements. Those big jacked guys, are simply on steroids. And you won't get those results without them.

  Okay, so, you're looking for a plan to help lose that fat.

First thing's first: WALK.

Just go for a walk, 30 minutes a day. That isn't such a big commitment, is it? You can walk around your neighborhood, get some sunlight. Anything, just walk for 30 minutes a day. It will get your fat loss jump started. Help your cardiovascular system. Help your bone structure. Your posture will improve. It will help your health seven fold.

  That is your first step, just to walk, make the commitment, and promise to yourself.

 Second step, is to find a program. Now, a lot of programs well quite frankly, suck. They give you all these complicated exercises, with all these crazy machines that twist your body into unnatural positions.

The ONLY exercises you will need, to build muscle and lose fat:

-Deadlift.

-Squat.(front and back)

-Bench Press.

-Overhead Press.

-Lunges.

-Power Cleans(and press)

-Bent over row

-Pull ups.

That's it. Those are all full body movements, all of them shock your CNS(central nervous system), enough to promote either fat loss or muscle gain. (depending on your level of nutrition)

Now, starting out, you can also use body weight movements.

-Body squats.

-Body lunges.

-Pull-ups.

-Push-ups.

-Bear Crawls.

-Planks (for core stability)

-Plyometrics(depends on your fitness level)

And you don't need a gym membership or fancy equipment, if you cannot afford it. Simply find heavy things to lift around the house. Anything to jump start your metabolism. Just get active.

-Barbells.

-Dumbbells.

-Kettlebells.

Those are the three major items you can buy, to use.

There are also different ways, such as tire flips/sledge hammer slams (like the UFC fighters use).

Those movements can be sort of advanced though.

Don't buy into the hype of all the items you see on tv, all the advertisements. All the information saying you need to do biceps and triceps and all that to make them look good.

You can do full body movements, and it can help grow all your secondary muscles. Like your biceps and triceps.

  Don't complicate yourself. And do what works for you. A good starting routine for strength and muscle gains (also fat loss):

(this follows the 5X5 aspects (5 sets of 5 reps each, as heavy as you can go)

Monday:

-Squat(back)

 5 sets of 5 reps each

-Pullups

5 sets till failure.

-standing barbell press

5 sets 5 reps each

-bench press

5 sets 5 reps each

Tuesday:Do your walking.

Wednesday:

-Dead lift

5 sets 5 reps each

-bent over barbell row

5 sets 5 reps each

-upright row

5 sets 5 reps each.

-push ups

5 sets till failure

Thursday: Do your walking.

Friday:

-Squat(front) (until you can do power cleans)

5 sets 5 reps each.

-Shrugs(dumbbell is better, but barbell works)

5 sets 5 reps each

-Front raises (barbell is better, but dumbbell is more versatile)

5 sets 5 reps each

-Dumbbell inclined bench press

5 sets 5 reps each

Saturday/Sunday:Do your walking.

That's it.

Age old workouts, that Arnold himself used. They're effective for muscle and strength gains. And fat loss.

These full body movements, such as dead lifts, power cleans, and squats. Tax your CNS, and send your body into a fat burning machine stage. Or a muscle building machine. Depending on your desired results. As long as you're getting stronger. It's working.

Do that, for 2-3 weeks. And if your strength gains aren't going up, change your diet up. Revise what you're doing inside the kitchen over all.

There you have it, the simplistic way of fitness. No glamour, no lights, no bullshit. Just simple, effective exercises.

Stop making it so complicated, thinking you have to follow some routine that makes you stay in the gym for 3 hours, doing all these "toning" exercises.

Now, long gym times aren't necessarily "bad" but, those are for different types of people. Such as strength athletes, training for strong man, and what not. That is a completely different world, for a different time.

Keep strong, keep healthy, keep active. And most importantly, STAY OFF THE SCALE.

Judge your fitness efforts by what your mirror says.

Until next time,

Corey.

I will be discussing stretching, and how it can help you in your fitness and healthy life goals.


Check out my book, How To Get Everything You Want:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/609912

I'm also selling custom made T-shirts, to which half of the proceeds will go towards testicular and prostate cancer charity.
https://teespring.com/liftwithyourbeard

In case you missed it, or you're new around here: http://coreysperspective.blogspot.com/2015/10/my-introduction-pt-1.html

If you need help with the food part: 

http://coreysperspective.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-basics-calories-carbs-fats-proteins.html

How to calculate calories:
http://coreysperspective.blogspot.com/2016/01/so-you-want-to-lose-weight.html

So, You Want to Lose Weight?

Simple, right?

Eat as little food as you can. Near none, just eat some a tiny little bit of food daily. And watch the pounds just melt off.

Wrong. Eating no food, will actually have the negative effect. You can actually GAIN weight.

I know, I know most of you are probably screaming at your screens right now.

Holding your heads already, not getting it.

  Your body, is a very complex structure. Yet it is so simple to change.

The formula in its most simplistic form is as follows:

Calories in<Calories out.

There is a difference with, "weight loss" and "fat loss".

Our aim, is for fat loss.

Some Basic Terminology for along the way:

1). BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate): The base amount of calories, you would need if in a comatose state, to maintain your body composition.

2). NEAT (Non-Exercise Associated Thermogenesis): Calories burned by non exercise activities (washing dishes, walking, talking, etc). Also called incidental exercise, something everyone has a good amount of control over.

3). EAT (Exercise Associated Thermogenesis): Calories from planned exercised.

4). TEF (Thermic effect of feeding): Calorie expenditure associated with eating.

5). TEE (Total Energy Expenditure): The total calories you require, basically to live and be healthy.

In a more complex form, here is the formula to use as a measure on how to lose fat:

BMR= 370 + (21.6 x LBM) Where LBM = [Total weight (kg) x (100 - Bodyfat %)]/100

LBM=Lean Body Mass.

Now, in order to decide what you need total, you must factor in your Activity level:

This is your TOTAL COST OF LIVING, NOT just TRAINING:

1.2= Sedentary (desk job and light exercise)

1.3-1.4= Lightly active (light daily activity, and light exercise 1-3 days)

1.5-1.6= moderately active (moderate daily activity and moderate exercise 3-5 days)

1.7-1.8= Very active (Physically demanding lifestyle and hard exercising 6-7 days a week)

1.9-2.2= Extremely Active (Athlete in endurance training or a VERY HARD and physical job)

You Take your BRM x Your activity level.

To get your total required calories.

Now, in order to lose weight, you take and minus 20% from that, and eat those calories.

Eat that for 2 weeks, if no loss, re-calculate and minus a tad more.

Never got below 1500 for men, and 1200 for women,

not for a prolonged time.

That is the basics for now.

I will get more in detail about macronutrients(Carbs, Fats, Protein)

What role they play, and how much of each you should be eating.

Check out my book, How To Get Everything You Want:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/609912

I'm also selling custom made T-shirts, to which half of the proceeds will go towards testicular and prostate cancer charity.
https://teespring.com/liftwithyourbeard

In case you missed it, or you're new here:
http://coreysperspective.blogspot.com/2015/10/my-introduction-pt-1.html

Weight loss, will bring suffering, here's my post on suffering:
http://coreysperspective.blogspot.com/2016/01/live-to-suffer-or-suffer-to-live.html

Until next time,

Corey.

Chakra is as Chakra does.

    Our body is made up of a meridian, much like the earth. We "spin" on an axis. Our axis, or meridian, is compromised of 7 different centered points. Those points, are called our Chakra points. Those 7 Chakra points symbolize our entire being. Our entire consciousness is created from these 7 points.

Base/Root/Muladhara Chakra:
This chakra is the base of the body, it symbolizes with the Earth, our physical identity and is oriented to self-preservation. It is located at the base of the spine, it forms our foundation. Representing the human sense of grounding and connection to human bodies and the physical plane. In an ideal sense, this chakra brings us health, prosperity, security and dynamic presence.

Characteristics:

Color: Red.
Life Principle: Survival and Safety.
Organ/System represented: Elimination.
Correct Balance: Stability, Health, Vibrant Energy.
Excess: Sluggishness and Constipation.
Depleted: Fear, Anxiety, Diarrhea.
Represented Crystal(a few examples): Hematite, Red Jasper, Smokey Quartz.
Yoga Poses(One example of many): Easy Pose with Mula Banda.
Food: Beets, Pomegranates, Apples.



Sacral/Swadisthana Chakra:
This chakra represents water, Emotional identity, it is oriented to self-gratification. It is the second chakra, located in the abdomen, lower back and sexual organs. Related to the element water, our emotions and sexuality. In an ideal sense, this chakra brings us fluidity and grace, depth of feeling and sexual fulfillment in our lives.

Characteristics:

Color: Orange.
Life Principle: Creativity and Sexuality.
Organ/System represented: Kidneys, Bladder, Reproductive.
Correct Balance: Sensuality, Joy, Creativity, Happiness.
Excess: Over Sensitivity, Obsessive Attachments.
Depleted: Insecurity, Fear, Guilt.
Represented Crystal(a few examples): Orange Aventurine, Carnelian. 
Yoga Poses(One example of many): Cobbler, Butterfly
Food: Oranges, Carrots, Nuts, Seeds.

Solar Plexus/Manipura Chakra:
This chakra is represented by Fire, the Ego identity, and oriented to self-definition. This chakra is known as the power chakra, located in our solar plexus. Ruling over our personal power, will and autonomy, as well as our metabolism. It brings us energy, effectiveness, spontaneity, and non-dominating power.

Characteristics:

Color: Yellow
Life Principle: Personal Power, Identity.
Organ/System represented: Digestive, Adrenal Gland.
Correct Balance: Strength, Willpower, Self-Esteem, Courage.
Excess: Controlling, Competitive, Power Hungry.
Depleted: Chronic Fatigue, Powerlessness, Poor Digestion.
Represented Crystal(a few examples): Tiger Eye, Citrine, Honey Calcite.
Yoga Poses(One example of many): Exalted Warrior.
Food: Corn, Yellow Sweet Corn, Yellow Lentils.

Heart/Anahata Chakra:
This chakra is represented by Air, social identity, and oriented to self-acceptance. Called the Heart chakra, and is the middle of the 7 chakra meridian. Related to love and is the integrator of opposites in the psyche. It allows us to love deeply, feel compassion, have a deep sense of peace and centeredness.

Characteristics:

Color: Green.
Life Principle: Love.
Organ/System represented: Thymus Gland, Heart.
Correct Balance: Peace, Acceptance, Easily Gives and Receives Love.
Excess: Lack Empathy, Codependency, Jealousy.
Depleted: Loneliness, Shyness, Intolerance, Bitterness.
Represented Crystal(a few examples): Green Aventuirne, Rose Quartz.
Yoga Poses(One example of many): Sphinx, Puppy.
Food: Broccoli, Kale, Leafy Greens.

Throat/Visuddha Chakra:
This chakra represents Sound, creative identity and is oriented to self-expression. This chakra is located in the throat, and is related to communication and creativity. Here we experience the world symbolically through vibration of sound representing language.

Characteristics:

Color: Blue
Life Principle: Communication, Words, Truth.
Organ/System represented: Thyroid Gland, Throat, Vocal Chords. 
Correct Balance: Smooth Communications.
Excess: Gossip, Criticism, Excessive Talking, Hyperthyroidism, Loud Talking.
Depleted: Inability to Express One's Self, Hypothyroidism, Quiet Speaking.
Represented Crystal(a few examples): Lapis Lazuli, Blue Lace Agate, Sodalite. 
Yoga Poses(One example of many): Plow.
Food: Kelp, Blueberries.

Brow/Third-Eye/Ajna Chakra:
This chakra is represented by Light, Archetypal identity, and oriented self-reflection. Known as the Brow, or more frequently, Third-Eye center. Related to the act of seeing, both physically and intuitively. It allows us to see clearly, in effect, letting us "see the bigger picture."

Characteristics:

Color: Indigo.
Life Principle: Insight, Intuition. 
Organ/System represented: Brain, Eye, Nose, Pituitary Gland.
Correct Balance: Dream Recall, Intuition, Creativity, Visualization.
Excess: Headaches, Nightmares, Lack of Focus.
Depleted: Inability to Imagine or Visualize.
Represented Crystal(a few examples): Amethyst.
Yoga Poses(One example of many): Fish.
Food: Purple Potatoes, Purple Grapes, Blackberries.

Crown/Sahasrara Chakra:
This chakra is represented by Thought, Universal identity, and oriented to self-knowledge. The crown chakra relates to consciousness as pure awareness. This chakra brings us knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and our spiritual connection.

Characteristics:

Color: Clear or Purple.
Life Principle: Understanding, Enlightenment.
Organ/System represented: Pineal Gland.
Correct Balance: Peace, Wisdom.
Excess: Day Dreamy, Superior Feeling Over Others.
Depleted: Skepticism, Difficulty Thinking. 
Represented Crystal(a few examples): Clear Quartz. 
Yoga Poses(One example of many): Headstand, Wheel.
Food: Plums, Eggplant.

Questions/Oils:

Root:

Do you feel safe and secure in your life?

Patchouli oil, for its ability to be used as a base for many perfumes and oil blends. Hence, the "root" of the blends.

Sacral:

How is your sexual health? 

Clary Sage Oil, because of its characteristic of protection and ability to clear the negativity. 

Solar-Plexus:

How is your digestive health? How well does food sit with you?

Ginger oil, for its effect on digestive health and overall wellness.

Heart:

How "broken" is your heart?

Rose oil because of its ability to make one feel safe and secure, it has been used in some PTSD cases as well. 

Throat:

Do you have a hard time speaking in front of people?

Bergamot oil, because of its use in periods of sadness, my fiance has thyroid problems, and speaking problems when it comes to talking to people. We got her a chakra roller from a local health store. And, bergamot oil was one of the main ingredients.

Third-Eye:

How open is your mind?

Frankincense oil, because of its use in spiritual oil blends over the years. It is one of the oils given to the baby Jesus in the bible. In my eyes, that gives it a very profound characteristic.

Crown:

Do you have a lot of fear?

Sandalwood oil, for its ability to bring a sense of inner peace.

    As you can see, the 7 chakras are a very important thing to pay attention to. If one chakra is out of alignment, it hurts all of them. As you can see above, our 7 chakras control every part of our lives. From feeling that we are save and secure, all the way up to having wisdom and peace within. The chakras are the most important part of our consciousness. We must realize, that our actions have reactions. When we destroy our body physically, metaphysically we will suffer. Our consciousness suffers, when our physical self suffers and vice versa. When we destroy ourselves internally, externally we suffer. Pay mind to what you ingest, weather it be food or information. Pay mind to who you spend your time with. Pay mind to who you let into your consciousness. Make sure, to bring balance to your life and your 7 chakras. Align your meridian, align your chakras and live your life in perfect harmony.

I Know
I See
I Speak
I Love
I Do
I Feel
I Am


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