Resolutions are not really my thing. They remind me too much of diets--which are definitely not my thing! That being said, so many people believe in resolutions and that the best thing to drop unwanted pounds is to write resolutions for weight loss success I decided to give it a go.
I actually made 12 weight loss success resolutions. Seems like an appropriate number for 2012. I know that by following these resolutions my health will be better.
I divided my resolutions into 3 categories with the most important category being having the right mindset for weight loss, followed by resolutions for moving my body in order to have weight loss success and finally (and arguably least important) resolutions about what goes into my mouth.
But don't look for a list of specific exercises I will do, or a list of foods I will eat, or a list of foods to avoid. All of my resolutions deal with attitude, because I know that my positive attitude is much more important for my weight loss success than following a litany of rules and regulations about how much/when/where I will exercise or eat.
If you want to read the full resolutions, you can hop over to my main site RefuseToDiet.com.
I'd love to hear about your weight loss success resolutions--or if you didn't make any resolutions I'd love to hear what your thoughts are about them and how your weight loss journey is going!
To a healthy, happy New Year!
Showing posts with label lose weight through positive thinking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lose weight through positive thinking. Show all posts
Monday, January 2, 2012
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Stress: Weight Loss Challenge #1
The biggest weight loss challenge in my books is stress.
Why stress?
Stress leads to
Not all stress is "negative" or "bad." We cannot live a completely stress-free life. Some very happy events can be quite stressful--but that doesn't mean we want to forgo the experience.
Examples of "happy", "positive" or "good" stress:
There are of course many other types of positive stress, but you get the idea. These events are some of the things that make life sweet, so we don't want to avoid them.
But as sweet as the events are, sometimes we react to the stress in an unhealthy way--like overeating.
So stress itself is not actually bad for us...it is the way we choose to react to that stress. This is part of the challenge of shifting our mindset for weight loss.
The trick then is to react to stress in a healthy way--whether the stress is a "positive" or "negative" event.
I have been reminded over and over again in my own life that I have a deep pattern (aka "a rut") that I have carved out over the years of turning to food when I feel stressed. Even today I hear the voice in my head say, "ice cream--you can have it, you'll feel better."
The truth is while I am eating the ice cream I may temporarily divert my attention from the stressful event if I allow myself to focus entirely on the ice cream. This is super conscious eating...knowing that it is a temporary diversion and choosing to enjoy the ice cream.
OK, that can work, but...
Since stress--all by itself--can cause us to hold onto our body fat (look, I can't explain why this is...but it is probably some survival of the fittest thing...I just know from personal experience it happens) we deserve to then minimize our unhealthy choices when we are under stress.
By making unhealthy eating choices--that can be over eating and also restrictive dieting--we add more stress to our bodies.
Making healthy choices and eating well-balanced foods that fuel our bodies and our brains and moving our bodies to keep all the blood and oxygen flowing we reduce our stress.
And by meditating we also reduce our stress. Meditations can be formal, focus on your breathing types of things or they can be walking and focusing on the surroundings. Meditation is simply quieting the mind chatter.
Try a variety of things to reduce your mind chatter and make healthy choices about food and moving your body and you will reduce the negative effects of stress on your body. The result will be greater weight loss success and overall health and wellness.
If you'd like to try meditation but are not sure where to start, take a look at some of these resources as a starting place.
Why stress?
Stress leads to
- Unconscious eating
- Emotional eating
- Holding onto weight
- Fatigue
- Feeling out of control
- Physical illness
Not all stress is "negative" or "bad." We cannot live a completely stress-free life. Some very happy events can be quite stressful--but that doesn't mean we want to forgo the experience.
Examples of "happy", "positive" or "good" stress:
- Weddings (or yourself, your child or a good friend)
- Birth of a child
- Starting a new job
- Going on an exciting trip
- Returning to school
There are of course many other types of positive stress, but you get the idea. These events are some of the things that make life sweet, so we don't want to avoid them.
But as sweet as the events are, sometimes we react to the stress in an unhealthy way--like overeating.
So stress itself is not actually bad for us...it is the way we choose to react to that stress. This is part of the challenge of shifting our mindset for weight loss.
The trick then is to react to stress in a healthy way--whether the stress is a "positive" or "negative" event.
I have been reminded over and over again in my own life that I have a deep pattern (aka "a rut") that I have carved out over the years of turning to food when I feel stressed. Even today I hear the voice in my head say, "ice cream--you can have it, you'll feel better."
The truth is while I am eating the ice cream I may temporarily divert my attention from the stressful event if I allow myself to focus entirely on the ice cream. This is super conscious eating...knowing that it is a temporary diversion and choosing to enjoy the ice cream.
OK, that can work, but...
- if I grab the ice cream and am thinking about the stressful event or just stuffing the food down my throat without enjoying it then I am not reducing my stress
- if I beat myself up afterwards, then I am just adding to my stress, so it backfires.
- if I get upset later that I'm not successfully losing weight (presuming that is my goal) then I have not really done myself a service.
- the stressor is still there and now I have just added to my habit of eating for emotional reasons which doesn't serve me in the long-run either
Since stress--all by itself--can cause us to hold onto our body fat (look, I can't explain why this is...but it is probably some survival of the fittest thing...I just know from personal experience it happens) we deserve to then minimize our unhealthy choices when we are under stress.
By making unhealthy eating choices--that can be over eating and also restrictive dieting--we add more stress to our bodies.
Making healthy choices and eating well-balanced foods that fuel our bodies and our brains and moving our bodies to keep all the blood and oxygen flowing we reduce our stress.
And by meditating we also reduce our stress. Meditations can be formal, focus on your breathing types of things or they can be walking and focusing on the surroundings. Meditation is simply quieting the mind chatter.
Try a variety of things to reduce your mind chatter and make healthy choices about food and moving your body and you will reduce the negative effects of stress on your body. The result will be greater weight loss success and overall health and wellness.
If you'd like to try meditation but are not sure where to start, take a look at some of these resources as a starting place.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Write Your Own Weight Loss Success Story
I've had this on my fridge for a while because it is so powerful...whenever I read it I am reminded to take control of my life. This little quote helps shift my mindset about weight loss, keeps me positive and is a great tool for life improvement in all areas.
Maybe Blanke will inspire you to take control of your life in another area. Maybe it is your professional life that needs to shift. Perhaps your love life could use a rewrite.
No matter where you would like to have an improved life experience it is up to us to take the steps to achieve it.
First we must know what we want to achieve. This is a bit like watching a movie...we must be able to see what we want.
We must believe that it is possible to achieve it.
We must believe that it is possible for US to achieve it. (Very important step!) Still the movie...we visualize that we are achieving it.
Then we focus on the improved result and we take steps to achieve it. Visualizing is great, but visualizing ourselves fit and healthy isn't going to happen if we never get off the couch, never make any changes to our eating habits.
Then we keep focusing on the new result and keep taking those steps, not looking back at what we had or didn't have, not looking at what we have or don't have now. Have confidence that as you move forward and make the steps in the right direction the result WILL come...you don't have to keep checking, looking for it, evaluating your success or not.
Finally we receive it and celebrate and express our gratitude!
Most of us live our lives as if we're watching a movie--one that someone else is writing, producing, and directing. We sit back with our popcorn and Jujubes and say, "I wonder how this will turn out?"...Well, guess what? The answer lies with you. You're Sam Goldwyn. You're in charge.Maybe this quote from Blanke inspires you to take control of your life in the area of health and fitness. I love the popcorn and Jujubes line...how many times have I sat on the couch drowning myself and my sorrows in a pint of Ben of Jerry's (or two) and wondered when I would become fit and healthy!
~From Between Trapezes, by Gail Blanke
Maybe Blanke will inspire you to take control of your life in another area. Maybe it is your professional life that needs to shift. Perhaps your love life could use a rewrite.
No matter where you would like to have an improved life experience it is up to us to take the steps to achieve it.
First we must know what we want to achieve. This is a bit like watching a movie...we must be able to see what we want.
We must believe that it is possible to achieve it.
We must believe that it is possible for US to achieve it. (Very important step!) Still the movie...we visualize that we are achieving it.
Then we focus on the improved result and we take steps to achieve it. Visualizing is great, but visualizing ourselves fit and healthy isn't going to happen if we never get off the couch, never make any changes to our eating habits.
Then we keep focusing on the new result and keep taking those steps, not looking back at what we had or didn't have, not looking at what we have or don't have now. Have confidence that as you move forward and make the steps in the right direction the result WILL come...you don't have to keep checking, looking for it, evaluating your success or not.
Finally we receive it and celebrate and express our gratitude!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Weight Loss Success Killer: 1 Little Word
There is one little word that will kill any attempts to successfully lose weight. It probably isn’t the word you are thinking about. It isn’t “fat” or “sugar”…those are real things…this word can’t even claim that space in reality. This word lives completely in our minds.
Any guesses now? “Can’t”…not the word I’m thinking of, but it is another killer. But “can’t” speaks to our belief in our ability while the word I’m referring to speaks to the reason behind our efforts...our mindset about weight loss.
The word that we must eliminate from our vocabulary in order to permanently and healthfully experience weight loss success is “should.”
As Louise Hay tells it, the word “should” is always about making us wrong. We were wrong in the past, as in, “I should have exercised yesterday” or “I should not have eaten that cookie.” Or we are wrong now, as in, “I should lose weight because my doctor says I’m unhealthy” or “I should get out and walk but I don’t feel like it.” Or we make ourselves wrong in the future, as in, “I should set a goal to run that marathon in June” or “I should be at my goal weight by my wedding.”
It seems that we “should” all over ourselves…and it really doesn’t help in the long-run. Oh sometimes we can motivate (or intimidate) ourselves for a while with “should” and “should not” but it rarely sticks.
The reason is that “should” never springs from internal love and desire. Should always comes from an external focus. Even if we are the ones imposing the “should” (and we almost always are) it stems from the idea that we are not good enough, that we must fit someone else’s perception…that we must somehow be different.
In order to achieve weight loss success that lasts beyond the honeymoon we must have the internal desire that comes from loving ourselves. And that includes loving ourselves right now, as we are, fat and all! By loving and accepting ourselves and being appreciative of our current selves we are then opening ourselves up to an even “better”, healthier version in the future.
So as you are thinking about the New Year’s Resolutions you are going to set for yourself, delete any that start with “should” or “should not.” Instead, sit quietly and look at what your real motivation to lose weight is and focus on that. When you have a heart-felt motivation it will prove much stronger than any externally driven “should” and it will see you through challenges that you may face in the future and you will literally lose weight through positive thinking!
Any guesses now? “Can’t”…not the word I’m thinking of, but it is another killer. But “can’t” speaks to our belief in our ability while the word I’m referring to speaks to the reason behind our efforts...our mindset about weight loss.
The word that we must eliminate from our vocabulary in order to permanently and healthfully experience weight loss success is “should.”
As Louise Hay tells it, the word “should” is always about making us wrong. We were wrong in the past, as in, “I should have exercised yesterday” or “I should not have eaten that cookie.” Or we are wrong now, as in, “I should lose weight because my doctor says I’m unhealthy” or “I should get out and walk but I don’t feel like it.” Or we make ourselves wrong in the future, as in, “I should set a goal to run that marathon in June” or “I should be at my goal weight by my wedding.”
It seems that we “should” all over ourselves…and it really doesn’t help in the long-run. Oh sometimes we can motivate (or intimidate) ourselves for a while with “should” and “should not” but it rarely sticks.
The reason is that “should” never springs from internal love and desire. Should always comes from an external focus. Even if we are the ones imposing the “should” (and we almost always are) it stems from the idea that we are not good enough, that we must fit someone else’s perception…that we must somehow be different.
In order to achieve weight loss success that lasts beyond the honeymoon we must have the internal desire that comes from loving ourselves. And that includes loving ourselves right now, as we are, fat and all! By loving and accepting ourselves and being appreciative of our current selves we are then opening ourselves up to an even “better”, healthier version in the future.
So as you are thinking about the New Year’s Resolutions you are going to set for yourself, delete any that start with “should” or “should not.” Instead, sit quietly and look at what your real motivation to lose weight is and focus on that. When you have a heart-felt motivation it will prove much stronger than any externally driven “should” and it will see you through challenges that you may face in the future and you will literally lose weight through positive thinking!
Monday, December 20, 2010
Weight Loss Tip: It's a Brand New Day
To really have permanent weight loss it is important to look at each day as a brand new starting point. This shift in your mindset can make a HUGE difference in your success.
The habit that most of us have developed is to condemn ourselves when we go off our eating and exercise plan--when we "fall off the wagon" as it were. We criticize ourselves instead of recognizing that we just don't have to be perfect. And we criticize and criticize until we feel like complete failures...and then what do we do? We eat to feel better! We medicate ourselves with food.
This is the vicious circle we have created for ourselves over the years...and it is one of the reasons that diets don't work!
Diets are temporary...and sadly, the results from dieting are usually also temporary. To create lasting results we have to look at our process in the long-run.
You cannot change what you did in the past. You can't "uneat" the foods you consumed, nor can you exercise now for days you missed last week or month or year. The only thing you have any control over at all is this minute, right now.
Did you blink? Well, then that minute is gone, so you have control over this one...now this one...now this one.
Since you cannot change what was done in the past then berating yourself for it really is pointless. Let's look at what we CAN change--that fleeting moment that is "now."
Every day we wake up to a clean slate. Every day we can strive to make the healthiest choices possible in that moment. Depriving ourselves today because we overate yesterday is not the healthiest choice. Neither is overeating today because we "slipped up" yesterday.
Today is totally independent of what we did yesterday and what we may do tomorrow. Focus only on right now and ANYTHING is possible!
Accept that you overate and recognize that action was in the past. Every action in the past got us to where we are today. If we want to be in a different place next year, a healthier body for example, then we must change our actions right now. If we make small changes and regularly apply those changes until they are habits then we MUST be different in the future!
Notice I said "regularly" and not "perfectly" or "daily." It is NOT necessary to be "perfect"...if is important to be balanced and realistic about what you will eat and do. That is why I encourage you to start with super small steps and get used to those.
Following this logic of every day being a clean slate and that you only have control over the current moment, you may have surmised that every moment is also brand new! How liberating is that! You can choose to have control right NOW even if a minute ago you ate more than you intended! You don't have to wait for the new day for the clean slate--you can erase it right this instant if you choose to.
So instead of saying "I ate 5 Gingerbread men so I might as well eat the entire Yule Log too" remind yourself that you are human and that you can start over, "I ate 5 Gingerbread men but that is in the past and I am choosing in this instant to make healthy choices...honestly, I am so full I would not enjoy eating the Yule Log right now so I am going to pass."
When you can make this mindset adjustment then you WILL have weight loss success!
The habit that most of us have developed is to condemn ourselves when we go off our eating and exercise plan--when we "fall off the wagon" as it were. We criticize ourselves instead of recognizing that we just don't have to be perfect. And we criticize and criticize until we feel like complete failures...and then what do we do? We eat to feel better! We medicate ourselves with food.
This is the vicious circle we have created for ourselves over the years...and it is one of the reasons that diets don't work!
Diets are temporary...and sadly, the results from dieting are usually also temporary. To create lasting results we have to look at our process in the long-run.
You cannot change what you did in the past. You can't "uneat" the foods you consumed, nor can you exercise now for days you missed last week or month or year. The only thing you have any control over at all is this minute, right now.
Did you blink? Well, then that minute is gone, so you have control over this one...now this one...now this one.
Since you cannot change what was done in the past then berating yourself for it really is pointless. Let's look at what we CAN change--that fleeting moment that is "now."
Every day we wake up to a clean slate. Every day we can strive to make the healthiest choices possible in that moment. Depriving ourselves today because we overate yesterday is not the healthiest choice. Neither is overeating today because we "slipped up" yesterday.
Today is totally independent of what we did yesterday and what we may do tomorrow. Focus only on right now and ANYTHING is possible!
Accept that you overate and recognize that action was in the past. Every action in the past got us to where we are today. If we want to be in a different place next year, a healthier body for example, then we must change our actions right now. If we make small changes and regularly apply those changes until they are habits then we MUST be different in the future!
Notice I said "regularly" and not "perfectly" or "daily." It is NOT necessary to be "perfect"...if is important to be balanced and realistic about what you will eat and do. That is why I encourage you to start with super small steps and get used to those.
Following this logic of every day being a clean slate and that you only have control over the current moment, you may have surmised that every moment is also brand new! How liberating is that! You can choose to have control right NOW even if a minute ago you ate more than you intended! You don't have to wait for the new day for the clean slate--you can erase it right this instant if you choose to.
So instead of saying "I ate 5 Gingerbread men so I might as well eat the entire Yule Log too" remind yourself that you are human and that you can start over, "I ate 5 Gingerbread men but that is in the past and I am choosing in this instant to make healthy choices...honestly, I am so full I would not enjoy eating the Yule Log right now so I am going to pass."
When you can make this mindset adjustment then you WILL have weight loss success!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Weight Loss Tools on Sale for the Holidays
Wanted to share the news--Hay House is having a sale on their Holiday Gift Catalog--items are as low as $1.
This sale is ONLY good online and through Dec 11 so don't wait too long to take advantage of awesome products from some of the biggest names of the day.
Some of products I use and highly recommend:
Brand New Items that I am excited to be ordering at a big savings:
Just click on the banner and you'll be taken directly to the catalog where you can get all these and so much more--but remember, these prices are only good through Dec 11!
This sale is ONLY good online and through Dec 11 so don't wait too long to take advantage of awesome products from some of the biggest names of the day.
Some of products I use and highly recommend:
Louise Hay, You Can Heal Your Life--The Movie (2 DVD expanded Edition), normally $29.95, sale price $10
Abraham-Hicks, Law of Attraction series, set of 12 (including 2 brand new DVDs) $125, a savings of more than $100!!!
Brand New Items that I am excited to be ordering at a big savings:
Marianne Williamson's brand new "A Course in Weight Loss", book lists for $24.95, get it here for only $16.22 (CDs also available if you'd rather, list $29.95, only $19)Other teachers that I love with books, CDs, DVDs, music, meditation, fun, personal development...for adults and kids, you or as for gifts (too many to list them all!!!)
Louise Hay's "Experience Your Good Now!" $12.56 --that's 30% off for this hardcover with CD
Abraham-Hicks "Getting Into The Vortex" guided meditation (book and CD), list $24.95, here only $17.46
Deepak Chopra
Doreen Virtue
Wayne Dyer
Dr. Christiane Northrup
Dr. Brian L. Weiss
Sylvia Browne
Byron Katie
Jorge Cruise
Joan Borysenko
Just click on the banner and you'll be taken directly to the catalog where you can get all these and so much more--but remember, these prices are only good through Dec 11!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Lose Weight Over the Holidays? Yes I Can!
How many times have we heard (or said) that it is impossible to lose weight over the holidays?
Granted, if we look at it on the surface it would seem to be pretty darned hard. What with all the extra treats around. People are giving food, bringing it to the office, making special meals...and everything this time of year seems to be packaged with extra fat or sugar--or both.
So how does one lose weight over the holidays without coming across as the next big Grinch or feeling like we totally missed out?
The first step is to decide that it truly is possible. Yep, your attitude about it is crucial. As long as you say and believe that you cannot lose weight over the holidays, then believe me, there is no way that you will. Oh, you could starve yourself and have a slight dip but it won't last.
On the other hand, if you repeat often enough "It is possible to lose weight over the holidays" or better yet, "I can lose weight over the holidays" then you will actually begin to believe it. You will even start to see ways that make it possible and perhaps even easy!
Does this mean that you can eat gallons of ice cream covering plates of pies, platters of meats and cheeses and all the food you can possible stuff into your face? Well...I've never tried those affirmations!
What I do know is that when you start to believe that something is possible, it becomes possible. Maybe you end up eating less, while still enjoying your special holiday favorites--just in smaller quantities, or you end up moving your body more, or maybe your body processes the food more effectively...or maybe your focus is shifted off the food and put somewhere else. Don't really know the "how" at least not for everyone. For myself it seems to be a combination of all the above.
When I remind myself that it is possible to lose weight (or maintain weight) over the holidays...or at any time, for that matter...I become more aware of my health choices. I crave foods less. I move my body more. I'm certainly not dieting--they don't work anyway--I'm enjoying my favorite treats and even some that aren't my favorites. I know that when I have a positive attitude about losing weight then I am in control and life is just so much easier...and no one thinks I'm a party pooper either!
Here are some affirmations for losing weight over the holidays:
I was reminded of this simple shift in thinking when I watched Louise Hay's You Can Heal Your Life again recently. You don't have to be "sick" to benefit from the film although people with a variety of illnesses have benefited from Louise's teachings. I used her affirmations and inspiration in my own 125 pound weight loss journey and so I totally recommend her book and film, but I'm partial to the film. I own and suggest the complete set that has the affirmation toolkit and extra interviews.
Happy Healthy Holidays to You!
Granted, if we look at it on the surface it would seem to be pretty darned hard. What with all the extra treats around. People are giving food, bringing it to the office, making special meals...and everything this time of year seems to be packaged with extra fat or sugar--or both.
So how does one lose weight over the holidays without coming across as the next big Grinch or feeling like we totally missed out?
The first step is to decide that it truly is possible. Yep, your attitude about it is crucial. As long as you say and believe that you cannot lose weight over the holidays, then believe me, there is no way that you will. Oh, you could starve yourself and have a slight dip but it won't last.
On the other hand, if you repeat often enough "It is possible to lose weight over the holidays" or better yet, "I can lose weight over the holidays" then you will actually begin to believe it. You will even start to see ways that make it possible and perhaps even easy!
Does this mean that you can eat gallons of ice cream covering plates of pies, platters of meats and cheeses and all the food you can possible stuff into your face? Well...I've never tried those affirmations!
What I do know is that when you start to believe that something is possible, it becomes possible. Maybe you end up eating less, while still enjoying your special holiday favorites--just in smaller quantities, or you end up moving your body more, or maybe your body processes the food more effectively...or maybe your focus is shifted off the food and put somewhere else. Don't really know the "how" at least not for everyone. For myself it seems to be a combination of all the above.
When I remind myself that it is possible to lose weight (or maintain weight) over the holidays...or at any time, for that matter...I become more aware of my health choices. I crave foods less. I move my body more. I'm certainly not dieting--they don't work anyway--I'm enjoying my favorite treats and even some that aren't my favorites. I know that when I have a positive attitude about losing weight then I am in control and life is just so much easier...and no one thinks I'm a party pooper either!
Here are some affirmations for losing weight over the holidays:
It is possible to lose weight over the holidays
My body craves foods that nourish it
I can enjoy holiday treats and still lose weight
I move my body and feel good
The holidays are a wonderful time to enjoy friends and family
I am loving and loveable and I feel great
My body sheds excess fat easily
I love this time of year because it sets me up for success for the new year
My body naturally reaches the weight that is healthy for it
I was reminded of this simple shift in thinking when I watched Louise Hay's You Can Heal Your Life again recently. You don't have to be "sick" to benefit from the film although people with a variety of illnesses have benefited from Louise's teachings. I used her affirmations and inspiration in my own 125 pound weight loss journey and so I totally recommend her book and film, but I'm partial to the film. I own and suggest the complete set that has the affirmation toolkit and extra interviews.
Happy Healthy Holidays to You!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
A Course in Weight Loss for Less
If you are a fan of Marianne Williamson, then you might know about her new book "A Course in Weight Loss" which Oprah was touting on her show recently. I've learned it is available in book (hard cover only) and CD (6 CD set) formats.
List price for the book is $24.95, for the CDs $29.95
You can get the book here and save yourself $5, or get the CDs and save $6.
This is new stuff, so I haven't yet read or listened, but love Marianne's other works so I'm betting it is great. Plus, if Oprah likes it... ;-)
Happy Thanksgiving
Monday, October 4, 2010
Weight Loss Success and Happiness Linked
I graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo back a few hundred years ago...and even then the city was a great place to live, work and study.
Today, SLO or "SLO Town" as we lovingly called it, is ranked the No. 1 city in the United States for overall emotional health. Not surprisingly, physical health also ranks high there as well, including low rates of obesity...some 9% points below the national average in fact!
Coincidence?
I think not.
Dan Buettner, author of The Blue Zones, a book that teaches us how to live longer, healthier lives, long touted by Dr. Oz, has a new book soon to be published entitled, Thrive. You can preorder the book through Random House by using this link. The book isn't actually available until Oct. 19, 2010.
In Thrive, Dan connects happiness to our health and fitness...and what may surprise some folks, connects art with happiness!
Being a sculptor myself, I find this as no surprise. Art has a way of tapping into our emotions, often without our conscious awareness of it. Looking at a sculpture or painting can bring our feelings of joy or anger...and artists have long used that ability in order to engage audiences and patrons.
In the book, Dan mentions the former mayor of SLO, Ken Schwartz, and that he likes to quote a Persian proverb:
Dan continues that art is like flowers, that both feed the soul and claims that,
It is a natural extension then, that if we want to be happy, healthy and more slender that we should take time to appreciate things that nourish our soul. What nourishes your soul? Are you energized or calmed when looking at flowers (hyacinth or other blooms)...the mountains or the sea? The grasslands? Beautiful trees reaching for the skies? Cloud-filled vistas? Or paintings or sculpture?
Or are you touched by listening to music? Poetry? Watching a theatrical performance? Film? A dance?
Beauty is, as the saying goes, in the eye of the beholder...but finding beauty around you and appreciating it is more than just a treat for the eye!
Just goes to prove my theory that weight loss is not just about what you put in your mouth, it is truly what you put into your mind and spirit.
Today, SLO or "SLO Town" as we lovingly called it, is ranked the No. 1 city in the United States for overall emotional health. Not surprisingly, physical health also ranks high there as well, including low rates of obesity...some 9% points below the national average in fact!
Coincidence?
I think not.
Dan Buettner, author of The Blue Zones, a book that teaches us how to live longer, healthier lives, long touted by Dr. Oz, has a new book soon to be published entitled, Thrive. You can preorder the book through Random House by using this link. The book isn't actually available until Oct. 19, 2010.
In Thrive, Dan connects happiness to our health and fitness...and what may surprise some folks, connects art with happiness!
Being a sculptor myself, I find this as no surprise. Art has a way of tapping into our emotions, often without our conscious awareness of it. Looking at a sculpture or painting can bring our feelings of joy or anger...and artists have long used that ability in order to engage audiences and patrons.
In the book, Dan mentions the former mayor of SLO, Ken Schwartz, and that he likes to quote a Persian proverb:
If you have but two coins, use one for bread to feed the body and the other for hyacinths to feed the soul.
Dan continues that art is like flowers, that both feed the soul and claims that,
Happy people usually have access to art--painting, film, sculpture, theater, music--and live in places that are attractive to the eye.
It is a natural extension then, that if we want to be happy, healthy and more slender that we should take time to appreciate things that nourish our soul. What nourishes your soul? Are you energized or calmed when looking at flowers (hyacinth or other blooms)...the mountains or the sea? The grasslands? Beautiful trees reaching for the skies? Cloud-filled vistas? Or paintings or sculpture?
Or are you touched by listening to music? Poetry? Watching a theatrical performance? Film? A dance?
Beauty is, as the saying goes, in the eye of the beholder...but finding beauty around you and appreciating it is more than just a treat for the eye!
Just goes to prove my theory that weight loss is not just about what you put in your mouth, it is truly what you put into your mind and spirit.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Shift Your Focus to Feel Better and Reach Your Weight Loss Goals
All week I’ve been writing about exercising even when you don’t feel like it. How developing a mini workout for those days is a great idea to keep you on track for your goals and to teach you to listen to your body.
That’s all great, but if you are going to mope around and focus on your pain or nose or whatever ailment you have during that mini workout you won’t get the maximum benefit from it.
A major part of your plan should include deciding you are going to shift your focus from not feeling good to something—anything—that feels better, that gives you a little bit of pleasure.
For example, you might go for a stroll around the block for your mini workout. If during that stroll you continue to think about how bad you feel...your aches, pains, stuffy nose, whatever...chances are really good that you will just feel worse when you get back to your front door.
What if you allowed yourself to be distracted for those 5 minutes? What if you consciously choose to look for things to distract you from your discomfort? You notice the blue sky, the fluffy clouds, the birds singing, kids playing, the music playing on your iPod, the pretty flowers, interesting shapes and patterns, the scent of a neighbor’s wood fire. ...Now when you get back home you probably feel a bit better...maybe even a lot better...just because you took your mind off feeling bad!
So now you get the double benefit of moving your body and feeling emotionally better—because you made a decision to feel better! Practice distracting yourself when you don’t feel good...not with food, but by noticing things around you that you appreciate, things that are beautiful, pretty, pleasing to you in some way.
As you practice this “art of distraction” you can shift that into looking for things to appreciate all the time. Doing this you will notice that you feel better more and more of the time.
This is not to say that you will feel on top of the world all the time...that’s not a realistic goal...but when we feel better we find it easier to stick with our weight loss goals. This is different from feeling numb...from pushing down our negative feelings...this is one tip that can actually help you to feel good!
And speaking of feeling good...check back tomorrow when I talk about celebrating your success!
That’s all great, but if you are going to mope around and focus on your pain or nose or whatever ailment you have during that mini workout you won’t get the maximum benefit from it.
A major part of your plan should include deciding you are going to shift your focus from not feeling good to something—anything—that feels better, that gives you a little bit of pleasure.
For example, you might go for a stroll around the block for your mini workout. If during that stroll you continue to think about how bad you feel...your aches, pains, stuffy nose, whatever...chances are really good that you will just feel worse when you get back to your front door.
What if you allowed yourself to be distracted for those 5 minutes? What if you consciously choose to look for things to distract you from your discomfort? You notice the blue sky, the fluffy clouds, the birds singing, kids playing, the music playing on your iPod, the pretty flowers, interesting shapes and patterns, the scent of a neighbor’s wood fire. ...Now when you get back home you probably feel a bit better...maybe even a lot better...just because you took your mind off feeling bad!
So now you get the double benefit of moving your body and feeling emotionally better—because you made a decision to feel better! Practice distracting yourself when you don’t feel good...not with food, but by noticing things around you that you appreciate, things that are beautiful, pretty, pleasing to you in some way.
As you practice this “art of distraction” you can shift that into looking for things to appreciate all the time. Doing this you will notice that you feel better more and more of the time.
This is not to say that you will feel on top of the world all the time...that’s not a realistic goal...but when we feel better we find it easier to stick with our weight loss goals. This is different from feeling numb...from pushing down our negative feelings...this is one tip that can actually help you to feel good!
And speaking of feeling good...check back tomorrow when I talk about celebrating your success!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Self Acceptance Leads to Weight Loss
If you want to lose weight then you have to start by accepting where you are today.
Lots of people have a misconception about what self-acceptance means. They think...or fear...that by accepting themselves as they are they are actually saying they don't want to change.
That's not it at all.
Think of your body as a scientist would who is studying it. They would be detached. They would observe but not criticize or judge it.
By accepting yourself you release judgment. You let go in your head. This letting go in your head is what then sets you up to let go in the body.
This is simple, but it isn't easy. After all we have lots of years of practice at NOT accepting ourselves. So start today. Cut yourself a little slack. Observe where you are. Take stock. But don't beat yourself up over it.
After all, you've probably beat yourself up over your weight in the past...and where did that get you? So try something new and see how that works for you.
It worked for me!
Lots of people have a misconception about what self-acceptance means. They think...or fear...that by accepting themselves as they are they are actually saying they don't want to change.
That's not it at all.
Think of your body as a scientist would who is studying it. They would be detached. They would observe but not criticize or judge it.
By accepting yourself you release judgment. You let go in your head. This letting go in your head is what then sets you up to let go in the body.
This is simple, but it isn't easy. After all we have lots of years of practice at NOT accepting ourselves. So start today. Cut yourself a little slack. Observe where you are. Take stock. But don't beat yourself up over it.
After all, you've probably beat yourself up over your weight in the past...and where did that get you? So try something new and see how that works for you.
It worked for me!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Your Mindset and Weight Loss - Condition yourself to Lose Weight
This post comes from James Stein--I know you've heard me say that affirmations and mind set are important, well crucial to achieving weight loss success...but I thought you just might be interested to know that I'm not the only one. I've been reading many others who are also learning this "secret"...I thought James wrote it really well.
Happy New Year everyone--and enjoy James' take:
You can condition yourself to help shed those pounds away. As you probably already know many diet products on the market do not work. But there is more to weight loss than just eating a well balanced meal and exercising properly everyday. A surprising fact that you will not see these diet programs advertise is that your mindset makes a huge difference on success or failure.
When you constantly visualize in your mind what your body will look like with 10 - 20 - or more pounds shed away, then your subconscious will begin to take over and move you in that direction. You will soon become more positive about how your body looks, more accepting to dieting or exercising, and you will reach your ideal weight quickly and more easily.
If you ever wanted to learn to true secrets to losing weight than you have just learned that. When you condition yourself to be focused and positive on any goal you set then you will always be successful. This is true not only with weight loss but with everything you do in your life, including running a business. If you truly want to lose those extra pounds then condition your mindset and you will have the body you always dreamed of.
Many of those that are overweight tend to have the belief that they simply can not lose weight. Sometimes these people may say it out loud or even worse hear friends tell them they can't lose the weight. When you are around people that have a negative impact on you then it is best to stay away from those people because this can also effect your subconscious.
Staying around these people with negative attitudes can cause you to actually believe what they are saying. Negativity can have the reverse effect of the goal that you want to achieve because your mind after awhile will be conditioned that you can't lose that weight. By separating yourself from these people you will be able to gain control over your mindset and keep a positive attitude towards your goal.
It is important to practice the conditioning of your mindset every day - morning and evening. Find a quite place in your home away from all distractions and close your eyes to visualize yourself at your ideal weight. Focus on this and tell yourself in your mind that you will reach your goals and you are going to think positive. Doing this several times throughout the day will greatly increase your chance of obtaining your goal.
During the day while you are not in your quite place you still want to think positive thoughts and think of yourself at your ideal weight. Create your own affirmations and repeat them often, always in the present tense "I am glad to be fit and slender". Notice affirmations should say "I am" and not "I will". You can enjoy the feeling of having a positive self-image.
While your weight loss will of course be gradual, conditioning your mindset along with using proper weight loss tips will give you the success you want to achieve..
Happy New Year everyone--and enjoy James' take:
You can condition yourself to help shed those pounds away. As you probably already know many diet products on the market do not work. But there is more to weight loss than just eating a well balanced meal and exercising properly everyday. A surprising fact that you will not see these diet programs advertise is that your mindset makes a huge difference on success or failure.
When you constantly visualize in your mind what your body will look like with 10 - 20 - or more pounds shed away, then your subconscious will begin to take over and move you in that direction. You will soon become more positive about how your body looks, more accepting to dieting or exercising, and you will reach your ideal weight quickly and more easily.
If you ever wanted to learn to true secrets to losing weight than you have just learned that. When you condition yourself to be focused and positive on any goal you set then you will always be successful. This is true not only with weight loss but with everything you do in your life, including running a business. If you truly want to lose those extra pounds then condition your mindset and you will have the body you always dreamed of.
Many of those that are overweight tend to have the belief that they simply can not lose weight. Sometimes these people may say it out loud or even worse hear friends tell them they can't lose the weight. When you are around people that have a negative impact on you then it is best to stay away from those people because this can also effect your subconscious.
Staying around these people with negative attitudes can cause you to actually believe what they are saying. Negativity can have the reverse effect of the goal that you want to achieve because your mind after awhile will be conditioned that you can't lose that weight. By separating yourself from these people you will be able to gain control over your mindset and keep a positive attitude towards your goal.
It is important to practice the conditioning of your mindset every day - morning and evening. Find a quite place in your home away from all distractions and close your eyes to visualize yourself at your ideal weight. Focus on this and tell yourself in your mind that you will reach your goals and you are going to think positive. Doing this several times throughout the day will greatly increase your chance of obtaining your goal.
During the day while you are not in your quite place you still want to think positive thoughts and think of yourself at your ideal weight. Create your own affirmations and repeat them often, always in the present tense "I am glad to be fit and slender". Notice affirmations should say "I am" and not "I will". You can enjoy the feeling of having a positive self-image.
While your weight loss will of course be gradual, conditioning your mindset along with using proper weight loss tips will give you the success you want to achieve..
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Weight Loss Success and Bicycles
I'm not talking about riding bikes for exercise...though that is a fun way to move around a bit!
What I'm talking about is how losing weight and learning to ride a bike is very similar.
Both take some basic skills. These skills all intertwine for a successful trip. In learning to ride a bike we learn balance; getting on the bike; how to move the bike forward by pedaling; how to brake; how to stop. All are important steps, but the most important is balance.
In learning how to lose weight successfully, permanently, we also have some basic skills to learn. We learn about nutrition and exercise...this is where most diets focus...but to really have a successful outcome we must learn about our mindset and that's what diets leave out.
Changing our thinking is actually the most important part of dropping excess pounds. We must believe that we can do it. Just like we won't be able to ride a bike if we believe we can't, we will not have permanent results in losing weight if we believe we are now and always will be fat.
Think about mindset like achieving the balance you need to get on, and stay on, that bicycle. It didn't come overnight. You had to practice. It took effort and determination. Maybe you even said "I can do it" over and over, trying to convince yourself that you could...and ultimately, you did!
It is time to get the childlike focus back...focusing on the belief that you can and then relaxing with it. As long as you focused on keeping tight hold of the handlebars and not falling, what happened? You fell, of course! When you relaxed and focused on the belief that you could, then suddenly it became easy...as if you turned on a light switch.
Change your mindset about your weight, your body, and your ability to lose weight. You can do it...other people have done it, I've done it, and we are no better than you, no luckier, we don't have it easier, we are no more deserving, no more special. We are all human, all deserving...we just have to know it inside.
Once you've made that shift, the rest of the skills will fall into place and you will find yourself flying along the road to weight loss success! And what a fun ride that is!
What I'm talking about is how losing weight and learning to ride a bike is very similar.
Both take some basic skills. These skills all intertwine for a successful trip. In learning to ride a bike we learn balance; getting on the bike; how to move the bike forward by pedaling; how to brake; how to stop. All are important steps, but the most important is balance.
In learning how to lose weight successfully, permanently, we also have some basic skills to learn. We learn about nutrition and exercise...this is where most diets focus...but to really have a successful outcome we must learn about our mindset and that's what diets leave out.
Changing our thinking is actually the most important part of dropping excess pounds. We must believe that we can do it. Just like we won't be able to ride a bike if we believe we can't, we will not have permanent results in losing weight if we believe we are now and always will be fat.
Think about mindset like achieving the balance you need to get on, and stay on, that bicycle. It didn't come overnight. You had to practice. It took effort and determination. Maybe you even said "I can do it" over and over, trying to convince yourself that you could...and ultimately, you did!
It is time to get the childlike focus back...focusing on the belief that you can and then relaxing with it. As long as you focused on keeping tight hold of the handlebars and not falling, what happened? You fell, of course! When you relaxed and focused on the belief that you could, then suddenly it became easy...as if you turned on a light switch.
Change your mindset about your weight, your body, and your ability to lose weight. You can do it...other people have done it, I've done it, and we are no better than you, no luckier, we don't have it easier, we are no more deserving, no more special. We are all human, all deserving...we just have to know it inside.
Once you've made that shift, the rest of the skills will fall into place and you will find yourself flying along the road to weight loss success! And what a fun ride that is!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Walking in a Winter Wonderland
One of the weight loss tips I share is to move your body early in the morning for about 15 minutes...not a big, strenuous workout...it gets the heart rate up...breathe deeply, and it starts the fires burning helping burn fuel more efficiently all day long.
We received about 8 inches of snow over the last 36 hours...while it is beautiful to look at it hampers efforts to move around and get the blood pumping...or does it?
I've been a weight loss success story because I change my thinking about my body, my health, and about diet and exercise...and I realized that here is an opportunity to "practice what I preach" and change another thought! Instead of looking at the snow as a hindrance I turned it around so I could see ways to incorporate different movement into my routine--one of the best exercises for weight loss is not one, but variety! Time to change it up with a little winter white!
So this morning I put on my wool socks and hat and went outside.
If you've ever shoveled snow, you know it is work...but maybe you haven't thought of it as exercise--but it sure is! There is no law that says exercise has to be in a gym or that it can't serve any other purpose. You can bring your tunes along, or just enjoy the peace and quiet the blanket of snow brings.
If you haven't been exercising much, don't overdo it with the snow shoveling...especially if your snow is heavier than mine. Here we have the lovely "champagne powder" so I can literally sweep it away--still a good workout, but not as hard as moving boatloads of cement snow.
My challenge at this form of exercise is determining how long to go...shoveling (or sweeping) my driveway and walk doesn't take long...so I added in the drive and walk of an elderly neighbor...and then added some community sidewalk for good measure.
My fingers were a bit (!) cold when I got back in but I definitely got in more than my 15 minutes and broke a sweat.
Remember to breathe...and breathe deeply...don't hold your breath when you are exercising, whether that is walking or shoveling. Big tip for winter exercise outdoors: wear a scarf or something over your mouth.
But you don't have to shovel snow to enjoy the benefits of winter workouts...if your kids have a snow day (or you have a "kid at heart" at home) you can even enjoy a snowball fight. Bend down and grab some snow, toss it, bend and toss, bend and toss...laughing all the way!
Of course you can go for a walk in the snow if you have proper attire if you want. If the snow is deep it can really work some different muscles just getting to the mailbox...but I wouldn't automatically count on walking in the snow as your exercise.
Why? Think about how you walk when it is snowy and icy out...do you carefully place your feet with each step so you don't fall? A lot of people do, especially if you are a large person who might have trouble getting back up, or someone who has had injuries in the past.
If you can't safely walk outdoors, you live alone in an area with snow removal, then what? We'll cover a few ideas in tomorrow's post...options that also work for folks who live where "winter" is a relative term!
We received about 8 inches of snow over the last 36 hours...while it is beautiful to look at it hampers efforts to move around and get the blood pumping...or does it?
I've been a weight loss success story because I change my thinking about my body, my health, and about diet and exercise...and I realized that here is an opportunity to "practice what I preach" and change another thought! Instead of looking at the snow as a hindrance I turned it around so I could see ways to incorporate different movement into my routine--one of the best exercises for weight loss is not one, but variety! Time to change it up with a little winter white!
So this morning I put on my wool socks and hat and went outside.
If you've ever shoveled snow, you know it is work...but maybe you haven't thought of it as exercise--but it sure is! There is no law that says exercise has to be in a gym or that it can't serve any other purpose. You can bring your tunes along, or just enjoy the peace and quiet the blanket of snow brings.
If you haven't been exercising much, don't overdo it with the snow shoveling...especially if your snow is heavier than mine. Here we have the lovely "champagne powder" so I can literally sweep it away--still a good workout, but not as hard as moving boatloads of cement snow.
My challenge at this form of exercise is determining how long to go...shoveling (or sweeping) my driveway and walk doesn't take long...so I added in the drive and walk of an elderly neighbor...and then added some community sidewalk for good measure.
My fingers were a bit (!) cold when I got back in but I definitely got in more than my 15 minutes and broke a sweat.
Remember to breathe...and breathe deeply...don't hold your breath when you are exercising, whether that is walking or shoveling. Big tip for winter exercise outdoors: wear a scarf or something over your mouth.
But you don't have to shovel snow to enjoy the benefits of winter workouts...if your kids have a snow day (or you have a "kid at heart" at home) you can even enjoy a snowball fight. Bend down and grab some snow, toss it, bend and toss, bend and toss...laughing all the way!
Of course you can go for a walk in the snow if you have proper attire if you want. If the snow is deep it can really work some different muscles just getting to the mailbox...but I wouldn't automatically count on walking in the snow as your exercise.
Why? Think about how you walk when it is snowy and icy out...do you carefully place your feet with each step so you don't fall? A lot of people do, especially if you are a large person who might have trouble getting back up, or someone who has had injuries in the past.
If you can't safely walk outdoors, you live alone in an area with snow removal, then what? We'll cover a few ideas in tomorrow's post...options that also work for folks who live where "winter" is a relative term!
Friday, September 25, 2009
Weight Loss Tip: Stop Multi Tasking
Women are great at multi-tasking...or are we?
We can sure do it--and do it (all) pretty well. Does that mean we are great at it?
Maybe yes, maybe no.
Does it mean it is great for us to do? Now THAT is a different question!
When it comes to our health goals I have learned that multi-tasking does us a big dis-service. We may feel like we are being more efficient, but rarely does it work out in our favor.
Whether eating or exercising, give it your full attention. Taste the food rather than just getting it down. Feel your muscles as you move.
Giving full attention to our eating means we are aware of subtle flavors and textures in our food. It also means that you stop eating sooner. Not being distracted by the television, the newspaper, thoughts about work, even conversation, allows us to truly notice when we are done with our meal. Done as in finished eating, as opposed to having consumed all that is put before us!
Giving full attention to our exercise means we appreciate what our body is doing...we notice if we are holding our breath, we feel the increasing strength in our arms and legs, we feel the energy and vitality and health generating in our core.
Does this mean you can't have companionship while eating or exercising? Are you relegated to a lifetime of tables for one or monastic silence? No, no, no...that's not what I am saying at all.
When you are eating with someone enjoy their company and feast on their words. But rather than trying to feast on words and food at the same time, alternate. This is true multi-tasking because it slows you down and makes you present at the same time.
Exercise buddies can be great--they help us to workout even if we don't feel like it, encourage us to go just a little further, and can make the experience way more fun. And if it is more fun we will do it more...so definitely have exercise buddies ESPECIALLY if you are a social person. The key is to be aware of what you are doing and feel good about it, not just distract yourself from an unpleasant activity!
This isn't easy at first...and if you really do dislike moving your body around and feel you need the distraction then do that. Better to be moving and distracted than NOT moving. See if you can direct the conversation to include some things that pull you back to what you are doing. For example, if you are walking...point out things you see that attract you...things you wouldn't have seen if you stayed in your house.
By reinforcing these positive things you will be inclined to want to repeat the experience. Over time you will begin to notice other positive things--that you breathe easier, move more quickly, cover more ground for example.
If you don't have an exercise buddy, or if you do, you can also use affirmations while you exercise...be sure to say things that reinforce what you DO want. Focus on the feelings and the words as you say them rather than just reciting them by rote.
By placing focus on what we are doing--whether it is our affirmations, moving our bodies, or the action of eating--we get the very most out of it. Our mind, body and spirit benefit.
Now that's REAL multi-tasking!
We can sure do it--and do it (all) pretty well. Does that mean we are great at it?
Maybe yes, maybe no.
Does it mean it is great for us to do? Now THAT is a different question!
When it comes to our health goals I have learned that multi-tasking does us a big dis-service. We may feel like we are being more efficient, but rarely does it work out in our favor.
Whether eating or exercising, give it your full attention. Taste the food rather than just getting it down. Feel your muscles as you move.
Giving full attention to our eating means we are aware of subtle flavors and textures in our food. It also means that you stop eating sooner. Not being distracted by the television, the newspaper, thoughts about work, even conversation, allows us to truly notice when we are done with our meal. Done as in finished eating, as opposed to having consumed all that is put before us!
Giving full attention to our exercise means we appreciate what our body is doing...we notice if we are holding our breath, we feel the increasing strength in our arms and legs, we feel the energy and vitality and health generating in our core.
Does this mean you can't have companionship while eating or exercising? Are you relegated to a lifetime of tables for one or monastic silence? No, no, no...that's not what I am saying at all.
When you are eating with someone enjoy their company and feast on their words. But rather than trying to feast on words and food at the same time, alternate. This is true multi-tasking because it slows you down and makes you present at the same time.
Exercise buddies can be great--they help us to workout even if we don't feel like it, encourage us to go just a little further, and can make the experience way more fun. And if it is more fun we will do it more...so definitely have exercise buddies ESPECIALLY if you are a social person. The key is to be aware of what you are doing and feel good about it, not just distract yourself from an unpleasant activity!
This isn't easy at first...and if you really do dislike moving your body around and feel you need the distraction then do that. Better to be moving and distracted than NOT moving. See if you can direct the conversation to include some things that pull you back to what you are doing. For example, if you are walking...point out things you see that attract you...things you wouldn't have seen if you stayed in your house.
By reinforcing these positive things you will be inclined to want to repeat the experience. Over time you will begin to notice other positive things--that you breathe easier, move more quickly, cover more ground for example.
If you don't have an exercise buddy, or if you do, you can also use affirmations while you exercise...be sure to say things that reinforce what you DO want. Focus on the feelings and the words as you say them rather than just reciting them by rote.
By placing focus on what we are doing--whether it is our affirmations, moving our bodies, or the action of eating--we get the very most out of it. Our mind, body and spirit benefit.
Now that's REAL multi-tasking!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Weight Loss Success Is Not a Straight Line
When we are wanting to drop weight...whether it is a couple pounds or a hundred, we tend to want a straight shot...from "Point A", where we are right now, to "Point B", our goal weight.
Not only that, we expect our pace to be consistent along that path...so slowing down and Heaven forbid we ever stop along the way! Faster is okay...as long as we keep up the NEW pace!
Well, that just isn't going to happen. So what happens when we slow down or find a curve in our path? Often we allow that to totally derail us and put us back to the starting point...or even further back than that.
So, let's think about our weight loss goals in a different way...allow your mind to open up a bit, take a positive attitude and a big deep breath.
OK...here goes...
Think about when you get in your car. You know where you are going. Maybe you are going to a meeting in a nearby city.
You plan how long it will take to get there, you get directions, you make sure you have gas. You get in the car, start it up and you follow the directions to get there. You make it fine, both there and back. Fantastic!
Now, along the way you probably encountered a couple things that slowed you down from the fastest possible potential arrival, right? Let's just say this meeting was 60 miles away. You don't expect to make it in one hour if the maximum speed limit is 60 miles per hour because you know there are places where you can only go 20 mph...you know that speed limits vary and you plan accordingly.
You also realize that school is in session and so you may encounter a school zone, or a bus or two during the drive which may require you to stop. There are stop signs that slow you down...and stop lights. Then there is the commuter traffic.
When we plan a trip in the car, we allow for these delays because we KNOW they are just part of the journey.
Now sometimes things come up that we didn't, or really couldn't, plan for. Maybe there is construction on the road that you didn't know about. Or an accident brings traffic to a crawl. You might wake up to find that it snowed over night unexpectedly and you didn't allow enough time for the weather conditions.
You can choose to get stressed about this, or you just tell yourself that you'll get there in one piece as long as you keep moving. You make a call, you adjust your routine...you do what you can to minimize the impact, but you can't control it all.
You don't allow the road construction to stop you...you don't beat yourself up for not planning for the big accident that tied up traffic for an hour...you don't just give up and turn around and head for home! You simply adjust your route or your expectation of when you will arrive at your destination.
The road to our ideal body is like that. Just like when we are driving in the car, sometimes we will reach a stop sign, a yield sign or stop light...all things that we could choose to view as slowing us down...or we can choose to recognize that they will happen and it is all part of the journey.
Detours happen too...a party comes up (or several) and we overindulge which affects our progress. And sometimes things come up that are so big they are like the traffic accident or the big storm--we just have to surrender to it and accept that we don't have control over every minute of every day.
In other words, life happens. Don't expect your weight loss to follow a straight path. Know that life happens and your road will have twists and turns, hills and valleys, storms to ride out and detours to follow. Big emotional events may happen that temporarily slow you down or even cause you to loop back a bit on your journey.
The good news is you don't have to start back at square one! You can find yourself where you are on the path and start up again. Allow for the rhythm of life, the curves along the way...even the occasional traffic jam (weight loss plateau)...as long as you stay on the journey you will arrive at your destination.
The way to have weight loss success is to follow your path, get back on the road after a detour, plan for some delays, and allow the unexpected to just happen and not take you out! The only way to not succeed is if you give up and head back home!
Not only that, we expect our pace to be consistent along that path...so slowing down and Heaven forbid we ever stop along the way! Faster is okay...as long as we keep up the NEW pace!
Well, that just isn't going to happen. So what happens when we slow down or find a curve in our path? Often we allow that to totally derail us and put us back to the starting point...or even further back than that.
So, let's think about our weight loss goals in a different way...allow your mind to open up a bit, take a positive attitude and a big deep breath.
OK...here goes...
Think about when you get in your car. You know where you are going. Maybe you are going to a meeting in a nearby city.
You plan how long it will take to get there, you get directions, you make sure you have gas. You get in the car, start it up and you follow the directions to get there. You make it fine, both there and back. Fantastic!
Now, along the way you probably encountered a couple things that slowed you down from the fastest possible potential arrival, right? Let's just say this meeting was 60 miles away. You don't expect to make it in one hour if the maximum speed limit is 60 miles per hour because you know there are places where you can only go 20 mph...you know that speed limits vary and you plan accordingly.
You also realize that school is in session and so you may encounter a school zone, or a bus or two during the drive which may require you to stop. There are stop signs that slow you down...and stop lights. Then there is the commuter traffic.
When we plan a trip in the car, we allow for these delays because we KNOW they are just part of the journey.
Now sometimes things come up that we didn't, or really couldn't, plan for. Maybe there is construction on the road that you didn't know about. Or an accident brings traffic to a crawl. You might wake up to find that it snowed over night unexpectedly and you didn't allow enough time for the weather conditions.
You can choose to get stressed about this, or you just tell yourself that you'll get there in one piece as long as you keep moving. You make a call, you adjust your routine...you do what you can to minimize the impact, but you can't control it all.
You don't allow the road construction to stop you...you don't beat yourself up for not planning for the big accident that tied up traffic for an hour...you don't just give up and turn around and head for home! You simply adjust your route or your expectation of when you will arrive at your destination.
The road to our ideal body is like that. Just like when we are driving in the car, sometimes we will reach a stop sign, a yield sign or stop light...all things that we could choose to view as slowing us down...or we can choose to recognize that they will happen and it is all part of the journey.
Detours happen too...a party comes up (or several) and we overindulge which affects our progress. And sometimes things come up that are so big they are like the traffic accident or the big storm--we just have to surrender to it and accept that we don't have control over every minute of every day.
In other words, life happens. Don't expect your weight loss to follow a straight path. Know that life happens and your road will have twists and turns, hills and valleys, storms to ride out and detours to follow. Big emotional events may happen that temporarily slow you down or even cause you to loop back a bit on your journey.
The good news is you don't have to start back at square one! You can find yourself where you are on the path and start up again. Allow for the rhythm of life, the curves along the way...even the occasional traffic jam (weight loss plateau)...as long as you stay on the journey you will arrive at your destination.
The way to have weight loss success is to follow your path, get back on the road after a detour, plan for some delays, and allow the unexpected to just happen and not take you out! The only way to not succeed is if you give up and head back home!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Weight Loss Success Means Daily Choices
To achieve weight loss success we must make choices every day to support that success.
This can seem daunting at first, but let's think about what it really means.
We choose to brush our teeth and wash our faces and bodies every day...or at least I hope we all do! If not, then we face the consequences, right? Those consequences may be bad breath, rotten teeth, acne and body odor...most of us don't want those things so we do what we can on a regular basis to protect against it.
It is the same with our eating and exercise habits. It isn't about will power. It is about caring enough about ourselves, and not wanting the negative consequences of what will happen if we don't take care of ourselves.
The only reason it seems easier to wash our face and brush our teeth on a regular basis is because we have already developed the habit! Our parents started us off early in life making sure we brushed our teeth and cleaned behind our ears...so we "hear" those messages and act on them daily.
We may not have gotten the same sorts of messages regarding eating and exercising. So we have to practice ourselves and love ourselves into the new pattern.
If you forget to brush you teeth once in a while your teeth aren't going to all fall out. Similarly, if you don't exercise once in a while you aren't lazy. If you eat cake once in a while you won't be fat. It is the regular application of the behavior that causes the result.
Every day you have the power to choose how you will act.
This can seem daunting at first, but let's think about what it really means.
We choose to brush our teeth and wash our faces and bodies every day...or at least I hope we all do! If not, then we face the consequences, right? Those consequences may be bad breath, rotten teeth, acne and body odor...most of us don't want those things so we do what we can on a regular basis to protect against it.
It is the same with our eating and exercise habits. It isn't about will power. It is about caring enough about ourselves, and not wanting the negative consequences of what will happen if we don't take care of ourselves.
The only reason it seems easier to wash our face and brush our teeth on a regular basis is because we have already developed the habit! Our parents started us off early in life making sure we brushed our teeth and cleaned behind our ears...so we "hear" those messages and act on them daily.
We may not have gotten the same sorts of messages regarding eating and exercising. So we have to practice ourselves and love ourselves into the new pattern.
If you forget to brush you teeth once in a while your teeth aren't going to all fall out. Similarly, if you don't exercise once in a while you aren't lazy. If you eat cake once in a while you won't be fat. It is the regular application of the behavior that causes the result.
Every day you have the power to choose how you will act.
"Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it." - Groucho MarxChoose to be happy and healthy...or not...it is up to you! You can lose weight through your positive attitude and mindset...and choosing daily to support that attitude.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Diet Pills for Teens
This is in response to a 13 year old who wanted to know if she should take diet pills to lose weight because she can't seem to any other way.
Short answer:
Do not take pills to lose weight. I don't believe pills are the answer for ANYONE but especially not when our bodies are still developing and changing...which they are, even if we have reached our full height.
If you have been following my blog at all, you know that there is a longer answer to this question...I always have a longer answer ;-)
The longer answer:
I had trouble losing weight at 13 too...even though I was very active. I rode my bicycle and swam competitively...but I never could seem to be "thin"...my best friend was and she ate terribly and didn't exercise nearly as much. It was so frustrating!
At 13 it is hard to appreciate the differences in our bodies...but as an adult I have come to appreciate that those differences are part of what makes the world (and people) so interesting!
Sometimes we THINK we need to lose weight and we don't...it may be that we are heavier than our friends because of our body structure--our muscles and our bones. Other times we aren't "skinny" and so we think we should lose weight to match some image in our head of what the ideal body looks like. It might just be that we are already at the right weight for us...even if that is a few pounds more than charts say we should be.
Without knowing your situation more it is hard to say if you actually need to lose weight or not...but if you think you do then I know you are pretty unhappy with your body right now no matter what anyone else says.
Please do NOT take pills as tempting as it may be. There is no magic pill that will have you lose weight in a healthy, permanent way.
The best way to have a healthy body is to start by working on your mind...it is important that we learn to love ourselves--our bodies, our abilities, everything. That doesn't mean that we can't strive to be better! It does mean that we deserve to respect ourselves and stop being so critical. Love is where it all starts.
If someone had told me that when I was 13 I would have been like, "what's to love?...I'm fat, my nose is too big, I'm not smart like my brother"...on and on. You know what? Just about every teenager I have ever met has thoughts like that...even the popular ones, the really cute ones.
I'll let you in on a secret...many adults still struggle with these thoughts, too!
I know it is a challenge just being 13...maybe knowing that you aren't alone in this journey will help. I believe you have a wonderful opportunity to learn some positive thinking patterns that will help you NOW and for the rest of your life!
When we truly love ourselves we naturally begin to take better care of ourselves...and then we physically feel better and we create this wonderful loop of health!
In my personal experience...the more I "dieted" the harder it was for me to lose weight. I couldn't keep it up...I couldn't drop enough calories or work out enough to be the same size as my best friend. I didn't get that it was physically impossible--so I just got more and more frustrated. In the end I wound up ADDING weight instead of losing weight. I ate out of frustration and then hated myself more for eating. I set myself up for failure--big time!
That was a long time ago...long before the movie "The Secret"...before books about positive thinking were common. Loving yourself was considered vanity back then...it wasn't understood that self-respect and valuing yourself were (and are) important parts of mental AND physical health.
I encourage you to talk to other people who can support you in believing in yourself. I have several suggestions in the side bar that are great tools...I really like "You Can Heal Your Life"...it isn't just for people with a specific physical illness...it can help all of us to live better, healthier lives. You really can lose weight through positive thinking (presuming that you have weight to lose, of course!) Along the way to achieving the perfect body for you, when you learn to love and accept yourself you will find that life is a much more fun and beautiful place to be...and that is a great thing to learn at any age!
You deserve all the best! Please keep in touch...I'd love to hear about your progress--your successes and challenges. Know that you are loved and that you are a beautiful person--just the way you are right now!
Short answer:
Do not take pills to lose weight. I don't believe pills are the answer for ANYONE but especially not when our bodies are still developing and changing...which they are, even if we have reached our full height.
If you have been following my blog at all, you know that there is a longer answer to this question...I always have a longer answer ;-)
The longer answer:
I had trouble losing weight at 13 too...even though I was very active. I rode my bicycle and swam competitively...but I never could seem to be "thin"...my best friend was and she ate terribly and didn't exercise nearly as much. It was so frustrating!
At 13 it is hard to appreciate the differences in our bodies...but as an adult I have come to appreciate that those differences are part of what makes the world (and people) so interesting!
Sometimes we THINK we need to lose weight and we don't...it may be that we are heavier than our friends because of our body structure--our muscles and our bones. Other times we aren't "skinny" and so we think we should lose weight to match some image in our head of what the ideal body looks like. It might just be that we are already at the right weight for us...even if that is a few pounds more than charts say we should be.
Without knowing your situation more it is hard to say if you actually need to lose weight or not...but if you think you do then I know you are pretty unhappy with your body right now no matter what anyone else says.
Please do NOT take pills as tempting as it may be. There is no magic pill that will have you lose weight in a healthy, permanent way.
The best way to have a healthy body is to start by working on your mind...it is important that we learn to love ourselves--our bodies, our abilities, everything. That doesn't mean that we can't strive to be better! It does mean that we deserve to respect ourselves and stop being so critical. Love is where it all starts.
If someone had told me that when I was 13 I would have been like, "what's to love?...I'm fat, my nose is too big, I'm not smart like my brother"...on and on. You know what? Just about every teenager I have ever met has thoughts like that...even the popular ones, the really cute ones.
I'll let you in on a secret...many adults still struggle with these thoughts, too!
I know it is a challenge just being 13...maybe knowing that you aren't alone in this journey will help. I believe you have a wonderful opportunity to learn some positive thinking patterns that will help you NOW and for the rest of your life!
When we truly love ourselves we naturally begin to take better care of ourselves...and then we physically feel better and we create this wonderful loop of health!
In my personal experience...the more I "dieted" the harder it was for me to lose weight. I couldn't keep it up...I couldn't drop enough calories or work out enough to be the same size as my best friend. I didn't get that it was physically impossible--so I just got more and more frustrated. In the end I wound up ADDING weight instead of losing weight. I ate out of frustration and then hated myself more for eating. I set myself up for failure--big time!
That was a long time ago...long before the movie "The Secret"...before books about positive thinking were common. Loving yourself was considered vanity back then...it wasn't understood that self-respect and valuing yourself were (and are) important parts of mental AND physical health.
I encourage you to talk to other people who can support you in believing in yourself. I have several suggestions in the side bar that are great tools...I really like "You Can Heal Your Life"...it isn't just for people with a specific physical illness...it can help all of us to live better, healthier lives. You really can lose weight through positive thinking (presuming that you have weight to lose, of course!) Along the way to achieving the perfect body for you, when you learn to love and accept yourself you will find that life is a much more fun and beautiful place to be...and that is a great thing to learn at any age!
You deserve all the best! Please keep in touch...I'd love to hear about your progress--your successes and challenges. Know that you are loved and that you are a beautiful person--just the way you are right now!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Weight Loss Success Starts With Believing
I have learned a very powerful secret over the course of my life...and especially over the course of my dieting ups and downs...well, really AFTER the ups and downs but really as a RESULT of them...this secret is what is responsible for my weight loss success!
As Oprah would say, "What I know for sure..."
Achieving goals, no matter what that goal is starts with Believing.
Whether you goal is to drop weight (a few pounds, or more than 100 like me), earn more money (a few bucks or mega bucks), or to find your soul mate (male or female), it all begins in the very same place:
That's it...that's the secret!
To achieving all your dreams--I know you deserve them!
As Oprah would say, "What I know for sure..."
Achieving goals, no matter what that goal is starts with Believing.
Whether you goal is to drop weight (a few pounds, or more than 100 like me), earn more money (a few bucks or mega bucks), or to find your soul mate (male or female), it all begins in the very same place:
- Believe you can.
- Believe you deserve it.
- Then take small steps every day that move you closer to that goal.
- Then you have to allow it in...you have to actually accept the goal into your life. Ironically, that is often the hardest part...IF we have not truly internalized that we deserve the goal!
That's it...that's the secret!
Decide what you want.
Believe it is possible for you.
Take small steps to achieve it.
Relax and receive.
Believe it is possible for you.
Take small steps to achieve it.
Relax and receive.
To achieving all your dreams--I know you deserve them!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Are Oprah & Dr Oz Really Suing?
I'm an admitted skeptic when it comes to any "news reports" dealing with celebrities...but I'm hoping this one is true! I'm going off on a bit of a tangent here...I hope you will stick with me as I weave around weight loss a bit...
According to Yahoo News 2 days ago Oprah and Dr. Oz are suing companies who falsely claim that either big "O" is endorsing their product. You can read the story by clicking here.
I have been wondering for a long time how these people get away with it. Do they think that celebrities don't care about how their names are used? Do they think they are so small that no one will notice?
Referencing a show that was aired, a comment that was made on the show...that is one thing--as long as it is an accurate representation of what was said, or your own commentary sparked by the show for example. But to actually misrepresent your product in an attempt to mislead people into believing Oprah or Dr. Oz (or anyone else for that matter) endorsed it is so wrong.
Look, I'm no celebrity...but I have my philosophy about weight loss, eating right, and what it takes and doesn't take...and I don't want someone claiming that I've endorsed their product, service or choice if I haven't! That actually happened to me recently and it really ticked me off. Someone quoted me saying something that there is no way I would say...on a subject within nutrition that I know nothing about. And if it can happen to me, then I can just imagine the hay day (or is it hey day??? I've never known...I should look it up, but I'm on a roll here...) that unscrupulous people have with someone as visible as Oprah.
My theory is to treat people fairly. Be honest. What you do, who you are, and how you treat people will come back to/at you at some point. You might gain in the short term...but in the long run it will hurt you.
For those of you who have been reading my blog for a long time then you know I admire and reference Oprah and Dr. Oz from time to time. I don't always agree with them, but I do admire them. I know that Oprah cares about people and I believe from what I have read and seen of her over the years that she wants people to be healthy...I've seen her endorse a lot of things, but I have never heard her endorse any particular weight loss program, pill or diet other than Bob Greene's approach. Now, I haven't watched 100% of her shows, but that's what I've seen.
I've seen her mention other programs on the show. For example in her famous before/after shows many times the guest will reveal the name of the program they followed. Another example was when Kirstie Alley, Valerie Bertinelli, Marie Osmond and Star Jones were on (you may remember my comments on that!) they mentioned the programs they followed. I do not believe Oprah endorsed any of the programs that were followed--nor did she dismiss them--they were simply tools that those particular guests used to accomplish their goals.
So if she isn't going to endorse these programs that were successful for her guests, why would she endorse something that she hasn't brought up on the show or in her magazine? Or has she? If you know different let me know!
Here's the bottom line--there are a lot of weight loss programs and products out there. I've personally used many of them without success. That doesn't mean they don't work or can't help people...at least for a while. I know what works for me is working on my mindset first and foremost. By doing that, the rest of it falls into place. That is what enabled me to drop 125 pounds--changing what is going on between my ears.
Will I ever be on Oprah? Maybe, maybe not...I did she on Oprah.com a reference to "Think Yourself Thin"--someone else's program--so perhaps we are on the same page, or at least the same book. But I'm not going to try to claim that Oprah has read MY book or agrees with MY philosophy or has used any of my tools. (Believe me, if she did I would be thrilled to be able to!!!)
I figure there are lots of programs and lots of people who want help to gain health. We don't need to lie about what we are doing. If people buy our system, either literally or figuratively, and it helps them then that's fantastic! If people don't want to buy it, that's okay too. I want to help people, but I know people have the best results when they make decisions based on their deepest desires, not what someone else thinks--even Oprah!
This is a very long way around to say--believe in yourself. Love yourself. Be true and honest in who you are. That is really what Refuse to Diet is all about. You must learn to love yourself and believe in yourself in order to successfully, permanently lose weight. You must be honest about what you eat and do...that means you must be conscious about your food intake...you have to look in the mirror and learn why you are eating, why you are holding onto the fat...when you can do that, then you will be able to see it drop away like I have.
It is all up to you. And it starts with love!
According to Yahoo News 2 days ago Oprah and Dr. Oz are suing companies who falsely claim that either big "O" is endorsing their product. You can read the story by clicking here.
I have been wondering for a long time how these people get away with it. Do they think that celebrities don't care about how their names are used? Do they think they are so small that no one will notice?
Referencing a show that was aired, a comment that was made on the show...that is one thing--as long as it is an accurate representation of what was said, or your own commentary sparked by the show for example. But to actually misrepresent your product in an attempt to mislead people into believing Oprah or Dr. Oz (or anyone else for that matter) endorsed it is so wrong.
Look, I'm no celebrity...but I have my philosophy about weight loss, eating right, and what it takes and doesn't take...and I don't want someone claiming that I've endorsed their product, service or choice if I haven't! That actually happened to me recently and it really ticked me off. Someone quoted me saying something that there is no way I would say...on a subject within nutrition that I know nothing about. And if it can happen to me, then I can just imagine the hay day (or is it hey day??? I've never known...I should look it up, but I'm on a roll here...) that unscrupulous people have with someone as visible as Oprah.
My theory is to treat people fairly. Be honest. What you do, who you are, and how you treat people will come back to/at you at some point. You might gain in the short term...but in the long run it will hurt you.
For those of you who have been reading my blog for a long time then you know I admire and reference Oprah and Dr. Oz from time to time. I don't always agree with them, but I do admire them. I know that Oprah cares about people and I believe from what I have read and seen of her over the years that she wants people to be healthy...I've seen her endorse a lot of things, but I have never heard her endorse any particular weight loss program, pill or diet other than Bob Greene's approach. Now, I haven't watched 100% of her shows, but that's what I've seen.
I've seen her mention other programs on the show. For example in her famous before/after shows many times the guest will reveal the name of the program they followed. Another example was when Kirstie Alley, Valerie Bertinelli, Marie Osmond and Star Jones were on (you may remember my comments on that!) they mentioned the programs they followed. I do not believe Oprah endorsed any of the programs that were followed--nor did she dismiss them--they were simply tools that those particular guests used to accomplish their goals.
So if she isn't going to endorse these programs that were successful for her guests, why would she endorse something that she hasn't brought up on the show or in her magazine? Or has she? If you know different let me know!
Here's the bottom line--there are a lot of weight loss programs and products out there. I've personally used many of them without success. That doesn't mean they don't work or can't help people...at least for a while. I know what works for me is working on my mindset first and foremost. By doing that, the rest of it falls into place. That is what enabled me to drop 125 pounds--changing what is going on between my ears.
Will I ever be on Oprah? Maybe, maybe not...I did she on Oprah.com a reference to "Think Yourself Thin"--someone else's program--so perhaps we are on the same page, or at least the same book. But I'm not going to try to claim that Oprah has read MY book or agrees with MY philosophy or has used any of my tools. (Believe me, if she did I would be thrilled to be able to!!!)
I figure there are lots of programs and lots of people who want help to gain health. We don't need to lie about what we are doing. If people buy our system, either literally or figuratively, and it helps them then that's fantastic! If people don't want to buy it, that's okay too. I want to help people, but I know people have the best results when they make decisions based on their deepest desires, not what someone else thinks--even Oprah!
This is a very long way around to say--believe in yourself. Love yourself. Be true and honest in who you are. That is really what Refuse to Diet is all about. You must learn to love yourself and believe in yourself in order to successfully, permanently lose weight. You must be honest about what you eat and do...that means you must be conscious about your food intake...you have to look in the mirror and learn why you are eating, why you are holding onto the fat...when you can do that, then you will be able to see it drop away like I have.
It is all up to you. And it starts with love!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
