Food Addiction: Cured or In Recovery?

Hi. My name is Laurie. I'm an ice cream-aholic.

Food has always been my 'drug of choice'. Specifically ice cream. Even more specifically, chocolate ice cream...or just about any ice cream with chocolate in it.

The higher the fat content the better.

I could literally eat several quarts at a sitting.

Of course I would then wonder why I had a headache!!!

It is a wonder I'm not diabetic or have cholesterol through the roof.

That has all changed now...I actually bought a pint (one!) of ice cream on Sunday because it sounded good. Then I forgot I even had it in the house!

On Wednesday night I decided to have some. I voluntarily stopped part way through because I was done! It no longer was satisfying or tasting good, so I put it back...

If you notice I said I put it back, that means that I was eating right out of the container, I had not dished it out. That had been my method of portion control before. Dish some out. And go back for more. Again. and Again. Or not--sometimes I just ate right out of the quart container.

I am excited at the prospect that I have a normal relationship with food!

I know that it is important to keep my awareness up and not slip into bad habits--but this is a very good day...

Maybe I'll celebrate! Rocky Road, anyone (I'm joking!)

Celebrate Success Now

It is important to remember to celebrate each and every success you have on the path to improved health.

Remember it is the journey--not the destination. You will keep having new goals and therefore you must appreciate what you have accomplished along the path or you will be setting yourself up for disappointment and discouragement.

Instead, enjoy your life and feel the JOY of your health and fitness by recognizing and celebrating your achievements...every single little one!

What am I celebrating right now? My noticeable increase in stamina! I love going for my walk and realizing that I am easily going faster than ever before. What used to require a lot of effort is easy...and I am able to "step it up!" That feels AWESOME!

What can YOU celebrate today?

LOVE and Weight Loss

Love is the best measuring stick to determine if we are making healthy food and exercise choices for ourselves.

All choices come down to either LOVE or lack of love, which I have come to define as fear.

If I feel "compelled" to eat chocolate for example, I can ask myself if this desire is coming from LOVE (a small piece of dark chocolate which has lots of great antioxidants, for example) or fear (that chocolate is on sale and I may never be able to find it again, for example.)

If the desire is coming from LOVE then I find that I am satisfied with a small quantity and I am able to fully enjoy the experience. Even if the item I want to eat has no nutritional value at all.

If the desire is coming from fear, then I find I am not satisfied...I could stuff myself with the food and still not feel satisfied. That's because I cannot get love, satisfaction or fulfillment when I base it in the lack of love!

The path to permanent weight loss is to eat (and to move) out of love for ourselves. This may take longer than a crash diet...but in the long-run it really doesn't! And we have the benefit of our health improving over time rather than be subject to the roller-coaster ride that accompanies the crash diet!

This is a life-long path of learning and reprogramming. I've had a lot of years of experience at eating without love. It is likely that I will face challenges on this path of growth and change and when I do, if I face those challenges from a loving place then I know I will succeed. So when I stumble, I will love myself back up onto the path of health. I will support myself in my efforts and know that I did my best at that moment in time and that every time I do my best I make it easier and easier for me to be my best the next time!

Affirmation:

I love myself as I am today. Because I love myself I take care of my body and make healthy choices. I know that I am doing my best and being my best becomes easier and easier. Thank you for my healthy body and the healthy choices I make.

Weight Loss is Not a Simple Math Equation

Thank goodness! Math is not my strong suit! LOL!

There are lots of "experts" who maintain that losing weight is simply a matter of expending more calories than you ingest. That's a fancy way of saying eating less than you burn!

It is possible that it is that "simple" on a short-term, basic, theory kind of level.

However, personal experience (mine and that of millions of other folks around the world) proves that this math equation is not the long-term, real solution.

Yes, to have our optimum health we must make choices in what we eat that support our health. Our bodies need certain vitamins and minerals and nutrients in order to survive--and to thrive. (I vote for thriving!)

Yes, to have our optimum health we must move our bodies. By challenging our muscles and our bones we improve our strength, our flexibility, our circulation. All these challenges give us improved health for our entire lives...not just from a losing weight stand point.

Sometimes, even when we are doing these things we do not lose weight. I think that may be one of the great mysteries on earth! Each of our bodies is unique. That means what is the right balance for me might not work for you and vice versa. The right number and type of calories to be eaten for my body type and temperament to achieve ideal weight and health might lead to another person being overweight or underweight.

That is why we have to start by loving ourselves and listening to our own bodies.

Tomorrow we'll talk more about listening...

Getting Cravings Under Control

I have found that since I've changed my habits and no longer routinely feed myself sugar, caffeine and refined carbs that my cravings have dropped--to practically zero!

Not that it necessarily happens over night! So if you are just starting your journey to improved health, over the next few days I'll give you some tips and tools that I've used in my success. Use one or all!

Today's Success Tip:

Make the decision that you are in control--and don't be afraid to ask for help!

I started losing weight when I made the CHOICE and decided that I could.

Even though I had struggled numerous times in the past, I decided in my heart that this time would be different and that I was willing to receive help from all sources to accomplish this goal.

This help can come from God/the Universe/Angels or it can come from doctors, or supportive friends, books...and even other bloggers!

Please feel free to contact me through this blog for support. I believe in positive thinking and action...and I know that seeing someone have success helps me to know that I can, too! Let my success give you that assurance!

Creating Your Vision Board

You have your poster board and a pile of magazines...have a pair of scissors and a glue stick handy and you are set to start!

Look through the magazines that you gathered and cut out pictures and words that symbolize to you the body and health you are going to achieve.

Find some pictures of bodies or lifestyle. For example, you may cut out a picture of a slender person doing yoga because of their body shape and flexibility. Or perhaps you see a picture of a person walking and that appeals to you, so you cut that out--or maybe it is a picture of someone playing with his/her children. Find the picture or pictures that speak to you and the life you want.

Also look for pictures of foods to reinforce bringing healthy food choices into your life. Perhaps that is a gorgeous salad or bowl of vegetables, or lean meat. If portion control is your biggest issue than maybe look for a picture of smaller servings -- as long as that doesn't feel like limitation! Whatever you choose, make sure they are photos that look delicious to you -- so if you absolutely hate brussel sprouts, do not include a picture of them in your vision board!

You might even cut out words that feel good to you. Words like "total wellness" or "health" or "fitness". I have on my board "Breathing Space" because I know how important breathing is...and when I was 100 pounds heavier, it was hard to breath! So now I have created a space in my own body where I can breath easily! I also have "Simply the Best" because that is what I want for myself -- for my body and my entire life. The message here is not to tell you what words to use, it is to support you in selecting words that are powerful and meaningful for you, even if they are not meaningful for anyone else.

The key point to remember in everything that you choose to put on your board is to put only things/words that you want to INCLUDE in your life. These are all the positives you WANT. If you see something that you do not want in your life, be sure to leave that item off your board.

Once you have all your clippings, arrange them on your poster board in a way that is pleasing to you. Don't worry about being "artistic", it will be beautiful because it is your vision. Glue them down and your board is ready to be posted!

You can choose to put the poster in a frame, or just pin it up as it is, that is up to you. The most important part is that the images speak to you and you can easily see it.

Look at your poster many times during the day. Take deep breaths while you look at it. Allow those images to fill your heart. Feel how good it feels to see that healthy body, the delicious food, the physical activity that you enjoy. Know that this is your life, and be grateful for your healthy body, the good food and activities that help maintain that body, for the energy and vitality that you feel.

Why Can't I Lose Weight?

Do you find yourself wondering if you can possibly lose weight?

Have you tried and failed in the past?

Have you allowed that result to lead you to believe that it is impossible for you to succeed with your weight loss goals?

If you answered "Yes" to any of these questions, it is critical that you work on your mindset first and foremost! I have found that what I tell myself about my weight, body, and ability to lose weight has a greater impact on my result than any diet or exercise routine.

I have stuck to meager diets and exercised strenuously and not had the results I wanted -- and I reinforced that by telling myself (and others) that I just couldn't seem to lose weight.

My success at dropping over 100 pounds started with a change in my attitude!!!

ANYONE can lose weight (presuming they have excess pounds to lose, of course!) The first task is to stop telling yourself these lies!

Measuring Success

I was discussing health and fitness with a neighbor today. While I don't want to be a slave to a scale, I do like to see the objective number. And this discussion helped me to pinpoint why.

You see, she actually refuses to get on the scale. OK, I don't have a problem with that. But then she told me she hasn't lost any weight.

How does she know? Because of her clothes.

Well, I can tell you that sometimes I don't notice it in my clothes until there has been a significant change.

So while the ultimate goal is to feel great in your own skin (and the clothes that surround that skin!), I find it very encouraging to know that I am making progress.

I'll keep weighing myself from time to time. Perhaps when I am at my ideal weight and have been able to stay there for some years I won't feel that it is necessary. But for now, to keep myself pumped up and also in the reality of where I am now, I find the scale to be a healthy and helpful tool.