Give your review of CWUW for the Women's Empowerment 2010 campaign!! May 31st deadline! http://ping.fm/y7MLZ

Low-income women living in small cities have higher chance of obesity, study finds http://ping.fm/P82uI

"Bad" Foods You Should Be Eating http://ping.fm/YN7Lj

Eating processed meats, but not unprocessed red meats, may raise risk of heart disease and diabetes, study finds http://ping.fm/kejlb

How do you feel about CWUW? Share your story

We need you to share your story about
Center of Wellness for Urban Women Inc.

Help raise our profile and give us constructive feedback about your experience with us.

Please go to  http://greatnonprofits.org/reviews/write/1528453, and write about your experience.

Thanks!

Sincerely, Center of Wellness for Urban Women Inc

Recycling Workshop!!

Tuesday May 18th, 6pm at Earth House, 237 N. East Street!

"Reconnect, Recycle, Renew" Workshop

Do you want
to learn
the basics
of Recycling?

Want to be GREEN? SAVE MOTHER EARTH, SAVE $$$$


Join Tajuana L.Commons author of “Ten-aciouslyGreen: I0 Ways to go Green”

Giveaways and more…..

Going Green has never been so fun!


FREE Workshop
Donations appreciated!
For more info:
317-329-8496
http://www.cwuwonline.org


Where: Earth House
237 N. East Street
Indianapolis, In 46201

RSVP by May16th
info@cwuwonline.org

Being Mentally Well

May is Mental Health Awareness month. From the beginning, CWUW has always understood the importance being mentally healthy has on a person's total life and well-being. Unfortunately, in some communities, just bringing up the topic of mental health is difficult but we must break the silence.

Mild and even clinical depression is something that many women suffer from in silence and feel that this is just how women are suppose to feel. It is not our lot in life. We don't have to suffer from depression and we have to actively work to heal ourselves by being proactive in getting assistance, locating resources, and talking to others about how you're feeling.

What happens in the mind, effects the body. Stress has an effect on the immune system, the heart, the digestive system and more. It effects us at the cellular level. When we are going through depression and stress sometimes its accompanied or followed by physical illness.

Remember, what you eat also can effect your mental wellness. Stay away from sugary and fatty foods.

For more information about Depression and your journey to healing, check out this website.

http://helpguide.org/mental/depression_tips.htm

Why Butterfly?

Why Butterfly?

To me, a butterfly represents beauty, change, simplicity, sensuality, femininity, acceptance, and peace; concepts that I have finally embraced. Initially, a butterfly is what some may consider an ugly caterpillar but with time and dedication, it becomes a unique and beautiful creature a natural wonder. After getting through some tough times, a butterfly just reminded me of myself. I had to take time to deal with and appreciate my past and embrace what I knew I could become-Butterfly.

When asked to contribute to this blog, I was honored and excited that Rhonda actually thought I could inspire others just by sharing my story.

Instead of sharing my physical and emotional transformation all at once (which would be way too long to read and you would probably lose interest) I am going to be very methodical and give it to you one day at a time, after all, this is how I am learning to live my life.

I believe in self-disclosure, which has been instrumental in my spiritual, emotional, and physical healing. I am addicted to food and struggle with depression. For me, the combinations lead me down the path to being labeled morbidly obese, diabetic, and depressed.

February 1999 is when my weight spiraled out of control and looking back, when my depression started. I had just come out of a difficult marriage, was raising 3 children alone, working weekends on night shift, and trying to finish out my last 6 months of nursing school. This is when food became my best friend and I can remember struggling just to get out of bed in the morning. I found comfort in food because food did not judge me, question me, doubt me, or need me for anything…food comforted me. I ate when I was happy, sad, bored, tired, energized; you name the emotion, I ate. My weight soared from 175 lbs to 220 by May 2000, which made more sink more into a depressed state. Because I was the only parent my children had, I knew I had to push on so I once again I buried my feelings…

After nursing school I made a commitment to lose weight, after all, I was a RN and I knew what I needed to do to get the weight off (yeah right). I joined weight watchers and a gym (for the 1^st time). I lost about 20 lbs and was feeling really good about myself but I did not stick with weight watchers or exercise because "life got in the way." It was also during this time I started to speak with the first lady at my church about my feeling so sad. According to her, I “failed in my marriage because my husband and I were unequally yoked.” She suggested that I go before the church and “ask for forgiveness.” Needless to say, I thought that was a bunch of (S)ugar (H)oney (I)ce (T)ea. Next step, run away…to Indianapolis.