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By Debra Parmley |
Shimmy Mob Memphis - What Dancing For A Cause Taught Me
Written by Debra Parmley
A year ago I was honored and blessed to be the team leader for Shimmy Mob Memphis. It was one of the greatest learning experiences of my life and certainly one of my greatest challenges. Looking back from the distance a year brings, the lessons are tapping me again on the shoulder as memories take me back to that time. This is what I wish to share with you today.
But first, what is Shimmy Mob?
Shimmy Mob is an event created by Sabeya, also known as Francesca Anastasi, international dancer instructor, choreographer and performer. Shimmy Mob is a choreographed and planned "Flash Mob" type event, aimed to be the largest event of its kind by having a huge geographical territory covered in one day to raise funds for local shelters protecting women and children. International headquarters is up in Canada, where Sabeya is based.
I first heard about Shimmy Mob on March 28th 2011 and it called to my heart. I contacted Sabeya and asked her if anyone from Memphis had signed up. Cities from around the globe had signed up but there was no mention of Memphis. Her answer was no one from Memphis had. So on the evening of March 28th I listened to my heart and leaped. I signed our city up and agreed to become the team leader for Memphis. Memphis would be hosting a Shimmy Mob event to raise money for our local women's and children's shelter. It would be my job to enlist as many dancers as possible and get everything in place to dance on May 1st. This left us little time to get ready.
By March 31st we had 27 dancers signed up and by April 5th we had 35 dancers and just 25 days to learn the choreography. We would be dancing with our belly dance sisters around the world, everyone doing the same choreography on May 1st, 2011. One of our local dance instructors agreed to lead rehearsals and to act as fundraising chair. One agreed to be my assistant. So I would have help, but there was still a lot of work for the three of us to do to pull this off.
I did not know when I signed up for this job that adapt and adjust would become my mantra.
One great challenge was the choreography which was a blending of different styles. Dancers joined from different groups and weren't trained in all the styles. There was a big learning curve. Many of the dancers had to learn new movements from other styles of dance and many of our dancers had never performed in public before. Some of our dancers were brand new and still learning basic moves. Yet each signed up for the cause and did their best to learn the dance. We were adapting, adjusting and learning.
Finding a place to dance proved difficult. Unfortunately in the US there have been flash mobs which were distructive. Memphis has had police called out for flash mobs in the past. That history was making it difficult to find a place. I was hearing one 'no' after another when asking for a place to dance for less than five minutes. Some places wanted us to carry one million dollars worth of insurance. The most frequent answer I heard was 'no'. The date came closer and closer. I lined up one site. Then they backed out. Adapt and adjust I told myself as the search began again. Working with center city commission I was able to find a site downtown, on the cobblestones by the trolley line.
Everything was finally set. But there was a bigger challenge to come.
None of us knew when we signed up how great our challenges would be. We thought the biggest challenge would be the choreography itself. None could have predicted Memphis would battle flooding with the Mississippi River rising, or the many tornados which ran through our city.
On May 1st, we gathered on the Mid America Mall on the corner of Main Street and Peabody to perform the dance and heighten awareness of issues important to women. The women had one thing in common - the passion to make this unique event occur for the benefit of women and children requiring sanctuary.
Here is the official video of our dance. What you won't see or hear are the mutliple starts and stops, the tornado sirens and the many times we moved back beneath shelter to get out of the rain. It took several attempts to get all the way through a dance which was less than five minutes. We did not give up. We were a bit tenacious. We kept on until we got the job done.
As I was driving away, my phone rang. It was the photographer from the Memphis Commercial Appeal, our local paper, and he wanted to know if he'd missed us. He had indeed and because of the tornados and other extreme stories the news media was following, not one reporter was there to take notice of what we had done and report it to our fellow Memphians and the world. We were a small blip which did not even show on the news radar that day, as they passed us by for bigger stories.
We had pulled this off dodging tornados, extreme weather, flooding, illnesses and property damage. Any one of those things might have made another person back away and say, I can't do this, I have too much going on, and these challenges are too great.
There were over a dozen lightning rods dancing in downtown Memphis that day dancing in between tornados though few were there to see us and I am proud to call them my Shimmy Mob sisters.
Our efforts and tenacity did not go unnoticed. Sabeya of international shimmy mob, acknowledged Shimmy Mob Memphis by awarding us honorable mention for enduring perseverance in the face of danger and potential harm.
http://www.shimmymob.com/ack2011.html
It was both an honor and a blessing to be acknowledged in this way.
We pulled it off and made history! We did it in the face of tornados, storms and with the river rising. Weather didn't stop us, sound problems didn't stop us, and video problems didn't stop us. We have tenacity. We know how to adapt and adjust. That is how we raq in Memphis.
In between tornado sirens we danced on May 1st and not only met our fundraising goal, we surpassed it. We doubled it.
There will never again be another event just like the first Shimmy Mob event which took place in Memphis in 2011 and around the world and I am proud to say we showed them how we Raq in Memphis. I am proud of my Shimmy Mob sisters for never giving up or giving in, for taking the time and the energy to support a cause which helps many women and children.
This is the compilation of our shimmy mob sisters all around the world, dancing together for one cause in the first Shimmy Mob event in 2011.
What I learned from my experiences leading this event in 2011 goes beyond what I can put into words here. I learned about tenacity, how to adapt and adjust sometimes quickly and somewhat frequently. I learned how people will rise to a challenge if you ask the best of them, if you encourage them. I learned it is not our difficulties that define our experiences but how we respond to those difficulties. I learned how deep people can reach into their hearts and their wallets to help people who aren't currently able to help themselves. These are lessons to carry for a lifetime.
When I think of all the woman and children that will benefit from this event and how it unites us with our sisters all around the world, it makes my heart glad. This is why we dance. This is why I signed up on March 28, 2011 and this is why I signed up again as team leader for Shimmy Mob Memphis 2012.
On May 12th, 2012, Shimmy Mob Memphis will once again be dancing in unity with our sisters around the world to raise funds for our local shelters.
We have three events:
Memphis TN (an event which gathers several Belly dance groups from Memphis to perform and raise money for our local shelter)
$10.00 admission (proceeds benefit the shelter)
donations may also be made to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
all funds raised by Shimmy Mob Memphis benefit
YWCA abused women's services Memphis
Fiber and Weight Loss
According to The American Heart Association (AHA) eating a diet high in fiber is associated with a decreased risk of obesity, diabetes and several other risk factors for heart disease. The protection is attributed to a lowering of insulin levels. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body store fat and use glucose, the body's main food source.
Alice H. Lichtenstein, D.Sc., member of the American Heart Association Nutrition Committee, says, "Increasing dietary fiber is just one component of a healthy diet that can help reduce the risk of heart disease" and that the study also "shows that fiber may keep individuals from gaining weight."
In the study, individuals who consumed a high fiber diet were less likely than those who consumed a low fiber diet to develop elevated insulin, central adiposity (fat accumulation around the waist) and weight gain.
When eaten regularly as part of a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet, soluble fiber has also been shown to help lower blood cholesterol.
Fiber increases the transit time of food throughout the intestinal tract, which may decrease the absorption of calories.
Fiber also helps to stabilize blood sugar fluctuations. Low blood sugar levels causes food cravings, so consuming fiber may help to reduce the number of food cravings you experience.
Fiber can cut down hunger pangs making you feel full and it helps to regulate bowel function.
The AHA recommends a total dietary fiber intake of 25-30 grams per day to ensure nutrient adequacy and maximize the cholesterol-lowering impact of a fat-modified diet. Current dietary fiber intakes among adults in the United States average about 15 grams per day, or half the recommended amount.
So, how can you get more fiber into your diet?
Dietary fiber is found primarily in fruits, vegetables and whole grains .
So we just bring home that loaf of bread with more fiber in it, right? I mean it's all about grains, right?
Well, buying that loaf of bread is what a lot of people do, but there's a little more to it than that. (Which is one reason why that may not be working for you.)
Soluble Fiber and Insoluble Fiber
All plant foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seeds and beans, have fiber. But all fiber is not the same. It can be divided into two categories with different effects on your body.
Soluble fiber is found in dried beans, peas, oats and oat bran, flaxseed and psyllium husks. It's also found in fruits such as oranges and apples and vegetables like carrots. Soluble fiber binds with fatty acids in your stomach and prolongs digestion time. This helps to regulate blood sugar.
Studies also show that soluble fiber can help reduce your overall cholesterol count. But what's even more important, soluble fiber lowers your LDL, which is considered to be bad cholesterol.
Insoluble fiber is found in whole wheat, wheat bran, vegetables such as cauliflower and green beans and the skins of fruits and root vegetables. Insoluble fiber helps remove toxins from your colon and balance intestine acidity. It also helps move waste through your intestines and bowel.
High Fiber foods fall into five basic categories:
- Vegetables
- Whole grains
- Nuts and seeds
- Beans and legumes
- Fresh and dried fruits
Oats have the highest proportion of soluble fiber of any grain. Foods high in soluble fiber include oat bran, oatmeal, beans, peas, rice bran, barley, citrus fruits, strawberries and apple pulp.
There are many lists you can get which will give you many food choices and the amount of fiber in each. Or there are apps such as the My Fitness Pal app we are using in the Lucy Monroe Reader Fitness Challenge which will give you a breakdown on all the foods you have eaten or are planning to each so you can see where you are with your fiber for the day.
What about taking fiber supplements?
The main drawback to supplements is that they lack the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants you get when you eat high-fiber foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, and lentils.
Another concern with supplements is that fiber can reduce absorption of certain minerals and interfere with several types of drugs (antidepressants, cholesterol and diabetes medications, among others). If you take mineral pills or prescription medications, please talk to your doctor about the wisdom of fiber supplements.
These weekly fitness tips are offered every Friday as part of my contribution to the Lucy Monroe Reader Fitness Challenge.
http://lucymonroe.com/ReaderFitnessChallenge.htm
This is a 12 week challenge where readers and authors have joined together to get fit and healthy. Organized into teams, we encourage each other on and share tips for exercising and getting in shape. Every week there are prizes, but the real prize is better health and a longer life for each of us.
To read past fitness articles, visit the articles section of my website.
Till next time, love and light,
Debra
Cortisol and Weight Gain: How I Gained Weight Without Eating When My Husband Nearly Died
Written by Debra ParmleyCortisol and Weight Gain: How I Gained Weight Without Eating When My Husband Nearly Died
This is a story I haven't shared publicly before now. Certainly at the time I was too overwhelmed by the events happening in my life to share it, even though I was very much in the public eye and it's unlikely readers would have been anything but supportive. I'm sharing it today as an example of what extreme stress can do to your cortisol levels and weight gain.
Back in 2006 my manuscript A Desperate Journey, was selected to be in the American Title II contest. This contest was similar to the American Idol contest, but for writers. Eleven of us were competing for one publishing contract. It was an exciting and busy time, putting up a website, asking for votes, doing PR before any of us even had a book contract. Round one went great; I made it to round two.
Then my husband was told to go in for a "simple surgery." The doctor would put one stint in and he would either come home the same day or the next. No worries. When they wheeled him away, I went to the waiting room and read.
The first inkling something was wrong came when the doctor entered the waiting room, sweat visible on his brow and appeared shaken. He told me they'd almost lost my husband and whatever he said next I don't remember because I went into a state of shock. He led me into the surgical room without having me scrub or gown. My husband was on life support, tubes everywhere. The nurse said, "You can touch him if you want to."
He'd flat lined after they injected the dye and had been gone for three minutes while they sent for a larger defibrillator because the one in the surgical room wasn't big enough. Everyone was visibly shaken.
He was moved to the ICU. I sat by his side not knowing when or if he would come to, or what state he'd be in if he did. The doctors and nurses were worried. Three minutes is a long time.
I was in a state of shock. Though I'd never heard of cortisol before, mine had to have sky rocketed. During the week he was in the hospital, I was unable to sleep and stopped eating. Food didn't look or sound good and I couldn't taste anything.
When he did come to, he awoke angry and fighting the restraints and the tubes. But he was alive. And he is alive and fine today, five years later.
During the week he was in the hospital I gained weight rapidly yet I wasn't eating enough to keep a bird alive. One day all I ate was an apple. Another day my sister-in-law brought me half a sub and I only took bites because she was concerned I wasn't eating. Some people would drop weight eating as I was. But I was gaining. Later I would look back and not understand why.
Since then, I have learned what cortisol and stress can do to our bodies. And this is what I want to share here today. Because while we cannot control what happens to us, we can be informed and aware so we can take steps to combat the effects of stress when they happen.
That month I went from the roller coaster high of being in the contest and making it to the next round, to the plummet of almost losing my husband, to the high of having him wake again. I was bumped in the second round, a low, though a smaller one compared to what would have been a larger loss. But still a low, because my dream was to be a published author sharing my stories with readers all over the world.
Even the good roller coaster highs can come with stress, though it is of the good kind. And stress affects the body.
Cortisol is one of your stress hormones, which is secreted in times of stress. ANY kind of stress: physical, mental, or emotional.
If the stress continues any length of time and the hormone is released consistently it causes fat to be stored instead of burned and the place it usually stores it is on or in your belly.
Cortisol is even called the "stress hormone." It's one of the hormones released by the adrenal glands during the fight or flight response and helps prepare the body for stress by burning fat in the short term. It's the long-term effects of cortisol, which create weight gain. Why?
Because it remains in the blood for a long time. Adrenaline metabolizes quickly, but cortisol does not and continual stress will cause fat to be stored. It also breaks muscle down to use it as sugar and protein, one muscle being broken down to feed another, and it uses dense muscles like your thighs and glutes.
Fat in your midsection contains the greatest amount of cortisol receptors. So we end up with belly fat, love handles, possibly a pendulous and sagging abdomen. Fat from other parts of the body is moved to the abdomen. That stomach acidity or sour stomach along with increased digestive sensitivity you experience may be the cortisol at work.
Cortisol raises blood sugar which if you are not active releases insulin, which is a fat storing hormone. It also causes water retention due to potassium - sodium imbalance and cravings for salt. Sleep patterns are disturbed because adrenal hormones are there to prepare the body for action.
We need cortisol to help the body respond to stress as part of that fight or flight response. It becomes a problem when the body doesn't return to normal following a stressful event. Living in our high stress culture, the body can be activated so often it doesn't have a chance to return to normal. So it is important to find a way for the body to relax as soon as possible after stress triggers our cortisol levels. Making lifestyle changes can help keep our bodies from reacting to stress and well learning stress management techniques can help us to manage it when it happens.
Ways to decrease Cortisol levels:
What The Heck Is Bretagne? - by Guest Author Vijaya Schartz
Written by Debra Parmley
WHAT THE HECK IS BRETAGNE? - by Vijaya Schartz
So many readers asked me this question that I have to answer it.
Bretagne is a French province, a rocky peninsula at the extreme west point of France (not Britain), and is sometimes called Brittany.
Its inhabitants are called Bretons. Sounds familiar? During the Roman invasions and into the dark ages it was an independent kingdom called Armorica, and the old religion was Druid.
There you’ll find many stone circles and alignments (Menhir and Cromlechs).
Bretagne has undeniable Celtic roots and still remembers dialects akin to the old Celtic languages of Ireland, Cornwall, and Wales. The Bretons have been sailors and fishermen from the start and frequently crossed the English Channel, even in ancient days.
If you travel there, you can visit the magic forest of Broceliande, domain of the great sorcerer Merlin. You can even visit Merlin’s grave... a modest Druid site with sticks and stones. A few miles away, at the café by the lake (yes, that lake), a sword set in a stone was later added for the benefit of modern tourists who love to take pictures of such gaudy things. According to the local folklore, Lancelot was born in Broceliande, so were Merlin and Vivian the Fae. From there surged many Arthurian and post Arthurian legends all through the Middle Ages.
By 806 AD, Bretagne was an important kingdom under king Salomon, who had just sworn allegiance to the Emperor Charlemagne. Lady Pressine, the heroine of Princess of Bretagne and Pagan Queen, was an illicit daughter of King Solomon of Bretagne, born from a Lady Fae of Broceliande...
Mystery solved. Now you know all about Bretagne, and you can impress your friends at dinner. And if you want to know what happened to Pressine, read Princess of Bretagne and Pagan Queen.
But first, here is what the CURSE OF THE LOST ISLE series is about:
From history shrouded in myths, emerges a family of immortal Celtic Ladies, who roam the medieval world in search of salvation from a curse. For centuries, imbued with hereditary gifts, they hide their deadly secret, stirring passions in their wake as they fight the Viking hordes, send the first knights to the Holy Land, give birth to kings and emperors... but if the Church ever suspects what they really are, they will be hunted, tortured, and burned at the stake.
PRINCESS OF BRETAGNE: March 2012 release
806 AD - Alba (Ancient Scotland) - As the Vikings raid the coast of Alba, Pressine of Bretagne sets out to seduce King Elinas of Dumfries, chosen by the Goddess to unite the tribes against the foreign invader. Elinas, still mourning his departed queen, has no intention to remarry. Head-strong and independent, Pressine does not expect to fall for the very attractive, wise and noble ruler... Furthermore, her Pagan nature clashes with the religious fanaticism of the king’s Christian heir, who suspects her unholy ancestry and will stop at nothing to get rid of her.
PAGAN QUEEN: Late April 2012 release
810 AD - Alba (Ancient Scotland) - Queen at last, Pressine brings victory to her beloved Elinas and prosperity to their growing kingdom. But she has to contend with the intrigues of Charlemagne's bishops, spurred by her Christian stepson. While Elinas, on the battlefield, remains unaware of his son’s machinations, Pressine fends off repeated assaults against her life. She also fears the curse that could bring her downfall. For the love of Elinas, she will tempt fate and become with child. But when her indomitable passion challenges the wrath of the Goddess Herself... can she win that battle?
About Vijaya Schartz:
Born in France, award-winning author Vijaya Schartz never conformed to anything and could never refuse a challenge. She likes action and exotic settings, in life and on the page. She traveled the world and claims she comes from the future but also writes about the far away past. Her books collected many five star reviews and literary awards. She makes you believe you actually lived these extraordinary adventures among her characters. Her stories have been compared to Indiana Jones with sizzling romance. So, go ahead, dare to experience the magic, and she will keep you entranced, turning the pages until the last line. Find out more about Vijaya and her books at http://www.vijayaschartz.com
Find her books on Amazon at:
http://www.amazon.com/author/vijayaschartz
To Lose Weight and Gain Health Prioritize Sleep and What Happens With Sleep Deprivation
Written by Debra ParmleyThis weeks Friday Fitness Tip was delayed because I needed to rest up after the Romantic Times Book Lovers Convention last week.
My topic this week is sleep. How it can help you with weight loss and what can happen when you are deprived of sleep.
I was very excited about my trip to Chicago for the RT convention, not just because it's a week of meetings, parties and networking as well as a chance to connect with my readers, but also because I was taking the train and it was my first time to travel via Amtrack. One thing I love to do is travel and any time I am heading to a new place or taking a new form of transportation I get excited. It was my first time to Chicago as well, so by the time my train rolled out of Memphis some time around 11:00 p.m. I was as wound up as a little kid. I'd made sure not to eat or drink anything sweet and figured after the first couple hours the newness would wear off and I'd be able to sleep at least part of the way before we rolled into Chicago at 9:00 a.m. This simply did not happen. Even with the lights off, leg rest and foot rest out so I could stretch and sprawled across two seats, I couldn't sleep. I watched the sun come up and even took a few pictures but rested I was not. Disembarking from the train, I collected my bags and found a taxi to take me to the conference hotel. Arrived around 10:30 and checked in.
It's not the greatest of things to be starting off a week at RT with your sleep bank already in the negative. So I knew I had to do something about this. I got a hot shower, a full breakfast from room service and put myself to bed for a nap. With two hours in the sleep bank I felt less cranky and more like talking to people so I made it down to registration before 5:00 when that closed. Then RT was off and running. The week became a mad dash, making it to all the events I was required to be at as well as trying to fit in time for meals and a few minutes of rest in between events.
Here are some things I noted about sleep deprivation during that week. I was hungrier than I usually am and thirstier. And the foods I was craving were comfort foods. Pastas, potatoes, sweets. I wasn't exactly reaching for the salads though I usually love a good salad. For the first time in a year I started ordering Pepsi. I don't drink coffee or tea unless it is green tea and I gave up soft drinks well over a year ago. But I needed the caffeine to keep going. In the evening I would grab a hot cocoa from the Starbucks in the hotel. Ordinarly sugar in the evening will keep me up at night but the thing about being so sleep deprived is once I got into bed and relaxed my mind and my body I dozed right off. The alarm clock going off in the morning made me want to throw something. My ankles were swollen by day two and that continued to be a problem all week. I had to keep going to my room and elevating them so they wouldn't keep getting worse. My entire system was thrown off just by missing one nights sleep at the beginning of the week. I had trouble remembering things and relied more on taking notes and double checking my schedule. I was somewhat absent minded and kept having to double check I had what I needed before I left the room. The week was physically exhausting.
Now you'd think being so tired I would have slept on the train on the way back. It rolled out of Chicago around 8:00 pm and got into Memphis around 6:30 am. But I didn't sleep other than a few short dozes. Not more than an hour added all together. When I got home I took a hot shower and went to bed for the entire day. It's taken nearly a week to catch up on sleep and to start feeling normal again. I'd gained weight on the trip and was feeling stiff and sluggish when I returned home.
So for my topic this week I am focusing on sleep and why it is essential. There are several articles I could cite along with research about sleep and why it helps with weight loss, but I found a video which I feel explains this more clearly than I could and also gives tips for getting a good nights sleep. According to Dr. Mark Hyman 'Besides eating whole foods and moving your body, sleep is the most important things you can do for your health.'
Friday Fitness Tips Resumes Next Fri. /Follow me at the RT convention this weekend
Written by Debra ParmleyThis week I am at the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention so I am not posting the Friday Fitness Tip this week.
For those who want to follow me at the convention I am posting pics and comments on my facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Debra-Parmley/19909053561?ref=tn_tnmn
and you may follow me on Twitter as well.
If you are attending the convention or live in the Chiacgo area, I will be signing books at the big book signing on Saturday which is open to the public.
Saturday April 14th
11:00 - 2:00 Book Book signing open to the public
Hope to see you there!
Till next week, stay healthy!
Love and light,
Debra
Available now.
Coming October 2012:
Aboard the Wishing Star
A new contemporary romance novel
by Debra Parmley
@DebraParmley
Romance Novelist, poet, dancer and world traveler.
DebraParmley: For all my writer friends .... Quit piddling and write your book! http://t.co/U9bgsnEiDebraParmley: It's western week on Lynette Endicott's blog and my interview is up today. Come by and say... http://t.co/PlIwEWWGDebraParmley: This is my page on Goodreads. I enjoy seeing what my friends like to read. :-)... http://t.co/Da73gf9eDebraParmley: Me too! RT @wendylawton: I needed this today, @RachelleGardner. The 7 Bad Habits of successful Authors. http://t.co/KwQSK3J1DebraParmley: @RachelleGardner I have a few of those habits. This article was very eye opening. Thank you!DebraParmley: RT @RachelleGardner: Even successful authors don't do everything right. How many of these bad habits do YOU have? http://t.co/eIUT1w2tDebraParmley: DebraParmley: Writing About Difficult Subjects: my guest blog on Nine Naughty Novelsists http://t.co/IeQPBMnODebraParmley: Writing About Difficult Subjects: my guest blog on Nine Naughty Novelsists blog.... http://t.co/IeQPBMnODebraParmley: This week is western week on Lynette Endicott's blog. Authors will talk about westerns, why we like writing them... http://t.co/AdIuFYjjDebraParmley: Memphis, TN Book signing and reading Saturday May 12th 12:00 - 1:00 at Java Cabana : 25 signed copies of A... http://t.co/XRwEjW8ZSpeaking Engagements
Debra enjoys speaking to book clubs and on writers' panels. To schedule an appearance, please contact Debra.
Welcome to my website. Please pull up a chair, accept a virtual cup of tea and allow me to share a glimpse into one author’s life.
Explore and you will find fiction, poetry and nonfiction. Make-Believe Mondays is where I’ve interviewed authors of fiction. In my photos section you will find RT Book Lovers conventions, photos of the male cover models that grace the covers of romance novels and costume parties. I do love a good costume party.
Oh but rather than telling you all about myself, let me show you. Browse and explore.
I hope you will come back to visit again.
Love and light,
Debra
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