Back in high school (that was a long time ago)...long before we knew about the Law of Attraction I remember when I would say I was ugly. My best friend said she didn't think I really believed it, because she could see that I was beautiful, and if I was really ugly it would show.
Interesting...
I believe what happened is that I repeated the negative affirmations of "I am ugly" and "I am fat" so often that it was a belief which became true...I became fat and later when "fat" wasn't ugly enough, I became obese. For me, being "ugly" was a statement that I was not lovable, that people wouldn't be attracted to me...
This meant my "job" later was to change that belief. I had to become aware when I made negative affirmations in order to change that pattern.
It is easier to change our thoughts before they become ingrained--if you catch yourself saying a negative affirmation like "I am ugly" or "I am so fat" then stop yourself now. Each time we catch ourselves and stop the negative affirmation it helps break the pattern and reduces the likelihood of it manifesting.
If you affirm "I am ugly", you will be given the opportunity to live that--no matter how beautiful you are physically from birth.
Perhaps like me you will become fat. Or perhaps you will become angry or bitter...ugly on the inside. Or perhaps you will become ill or have an accident or hurt yourself.
None of these are pleasant ideas...and of course our true beauty is on the inside, but that doesn't mean that we have to be ugly on the outside just to prove a point!
Let us all live our most beautiful, healthy lives...inside and out! This takes getting our mindset in the right place so that we are using this powerful tool for health and weight loss instead of illness and weight gain.
Repeat after me: I am healthy, I am happy, I am beautiful, I am willing to change my past beliefs about my body and myself!
Take small steps every day to change your mindset and you will have success! Be gentle with yourself while doing this. None of us gained weight overnight--even though sometimes it feels like it! It took time to develop those negative patterns. The good news is that by being aware, we can change them and create new, positive patterns!
Once more with feeling! I am healthy, I am happy, I am beautiful, I am willing to change my past beliefs about my body and myself!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Is More Better?
A lot of people contend that more is better...more stuff, more toys, more money, more fill in the blank.
On the other hand, just as many people (maybe "more" these days) contend that it isn't more that it is better, instead we should be happy with what we have.
I think it really depends on what we are talking about, and how we define "more"...
As an example, I was at a big sculpture show this weekend (well, two shows actually...so I guess there is another example of "more"!). In my non-scientific observation I would say there were fewer artists participating and fewer patrons. However I did see significant numbers of items being wrapped and carried out. In today's paper there was a preliminary statement that said they believed more pieces sold this year than in years' past. More pieces, but the average price per piece was less. So a bigger number of pieces but less total dollar revenue.
I think this can be viewed as good news...more people got to appreciate and purchase more pieces from more artists. The wealth was spread around.
In the past, many artists thought they had to go bigger and bigger (a different type of more) in order to get the big sale. This year, those that did the best had smaller pieces that were affordable by more buyers.
I realize that I may have seemed to have veered off the Refuse To Diet course a bit, but I like this analogy for health and weight loss.
For years, many health advocates were telling us "more, more, more"...more exercising, longer and harder. My philosophy is that "more" may be best when it is more frequent but shorter duration at a time...more small pieces instead of one big one.
This is part of my formula for weight loss success. Do small amounts of exercise that fit into your time budget...make it "affordable". More of us can successfully fit in 15 minutes at a time and keep that up, rather than an hour 4 times a week that some people propose. It is important that we take consistent action, rather than a big effort that we can't sustain over time!
Re-evaluate how you define "more"...it isn't necessary to have huge workouts to get results. You can get a lot of pleasure and health benefits from smaller routines that you do more often.
On the other hand, just as many people (maybe "more" these days) contend that it isn't more that it is better, instead we should be happy with what we have.
I think it really depends on what we are talking about, and how we define "more"...
As an example, I was at a big sculpture show this weekend (well, two shows actually...so I guess there is another example of "more"!). In my non-scientific observation I would say there were fewer artists participating and fewer patrons. However I did see significant numbers of items being wrapped and carried out. In today's paper there was a preliminary statement that said they believed more pieces sold this year than in years' past. More pieces, but the average price per piece was less. So a bigger number of pieces but less total dollar revenue.
I think this can be viewed as good news...more people got to appreciate and purchase more pieces from more artists. The wealth was spread around.
In the past, many artists thought they had to go bigger and bigger (a different type of more) in order to get the big sale. This year, those that did the best had smaller pieces that were affordable by more buyers.
I realize that I may have seemed to have veered off the Refuse To Diet course a bit, but I like this analogy for health and weight loss.
For years, many health advocates were telling us "more, more, more"...more exercising, longer and harder. My philosophy is that "more" may be best when it is more frequent but shorter duration at a time...more small pieces instead of one big one.
This is part of my formula for weight loss success. Do small amounts of exercise that fit into your time budget...make it "affordable". More of us can successfully fit in 15 minutes at a time and keep that up, rather than an hour 4 times a week that some people propose. It is important that we take consistent action, rather than a big effort that we can't sustain over time!
Re-evaluate how you define "more"...it isn't necessary to have huge workouts to get results. You can get a lot of pleasure and health benefits from smaller routines that you do more often.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
So Happy I Forgot to Eat!
OK, that isn't a diet tip really...I mean we do have to eat...but yesterday I had so much fun and was so busy with all the "eye candy" that I never ate lunch! Suddenly it was 4pm and I was hungry!
I had a quick 1-1/2 hours before the return for the patrons' party (with free food & drink)...I knew I had the potential to over do it because I would be famished if I waited...but I also wanted to be able to enjoy the event. So I had a small, healthy snack that evened out my blood sugar and gave me some quick energy (raw nuts and cantaloupe) and I was ready to go.
This gave my brain what it needed, I was able to consume it quickly, and I was able to enjoy the treats at the party without eating everything in sight!
So, while I'm not going to recommend that you skip meals, there are days when time flies by and you just don't even realize it. When that happens make sure you give yourself some good quality protein for the long run and a complex carbohydrate for a quicker boost. Eat a little bit and then wait to see if you want more...give it a little time to sink in!
BTW...it was fun to see reactions of people I hadn't seen in a couple years...as in "WOW, you've lost weight!" It was nice to have my weight loss success recognized and yet not be the center of the discussion for long...I was there for the art...but sometimes I actually forget that I was ever 125lbs heavier! It is a good reminder of how far I have come in achieving my health and fitness goals.
I had a quick 1-1/2 hours before the return for the patrons' party (with free food & drink)...I knew I had the potential to over do it because I would be famished if I waited...but I also wanted to be able to enjoy the event. So I had a small, healthy snack that evened out my blood sugar and gave me some quick energy (raw nuts and cantaloupe) and I was ready to go.
This gave my brain what it needed, I was able to consume it quickly, and I was able to enjoy the treats at the party without eating everything in sight!
So, while I'm not going to recommend that you skip meals, there are days when time flies by and you just don't even realize it. When that happens make sure you give yourself some good quality protein for the long run and a complex carbohydrate for a quicker boost. Eat a little bit and then wait to see if you want more...give it a little time to sink in!
BTW...it was fun to see reactions of people I hadn't seen in a couple years...as in "WOW, you've lost weight!" It was nice to have my weight loss success recognized and yet not be the center of the discussion for long...I was there for the art...but sometimes I actually forget that I was ever 125lbs heavier! It is a good reminder of how far I have come in achieving my health and fitness goals.
The Magic Pill for Losing Weight
Can prescription drugs help you lose weight?
I often wondered that. Many years ago I prayed hard for such a pill--but that is one thing I personally never tried. Certainly there are lots of them out there these days. But do they really work?
You can read Dr. Linda's perspective...this is one in a (at least) two part series on weight loss drugs.
I found it reaffirming that drugs are NOT the way to go.
If they are only going to help a person lose 5 pounds a year then the side affects are definitely not worth it.
Is there a "magic pill" for weight loss? I doubt it. I think the "magic" is our mindset. We can definitely use our minds and the power of positive thinking to drop fat--and a lot more than 5 pounds a year!
I often wondered that. Many years ago I prayed hard for such a pill--but that is one thing I personally never tried. Certainly there are lots of them out there these days. But do they really work?
You can read Dr. Linda's perspective...this is one in a (at least) two part series on weight loss drugs.
I found it reaffirming that drugs are NOT the way to go.
If they are only going to help a person lose 5 pounds a year then the side affects are definitely not worth it.
Is there a "magic pill" for weight loss? I doubt it. I think the "magic" is our mindset. We can definitely use our minds and the power of positive thinking to drop fat--and a lot more than 5 pounds a year!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Weight Loss Tip: Get Gruntled
Sometimes we eat because we are bored or unhappy...or even if not unhappy, not filled with joy.
A friend of mine used to say he wasn't exactly disgruntled, but he was "far from being gruntled"...it is that feeling of gruntledness (I love making up words!) that we deserve to feed. And by feeding it, we are less apt to need to overeat.
With that in mind (in mind, body and spirit, actually!) I am heading to the Loveland Colorado sculpture shows this weekend!
I know that by feeding my spirit with great art, catching up with old friends, and meeting new artists I will be so filled with joy that I will be on an entirely different plane and I will not need to overeat.
Hey...that's not to say I won't have a food treat...I might choose to...but I won't be applying a food binge salve to my soul--cuz it won't need it!
Do things that feed your spirit and you will be less inclined to feel the urge to overeat in an attempt to fill the emptiness you feel that has nothing to do with physical hunger.
A friend of mine used to say he wasn't exactly disgruntled, but he was "far from being gruntled"...it is that feeling of gruntledness (I love making up words!) that we deserve to feed. And by feeding it, we are less apt to need to overeat.
With that in mind (in mind, body and spirit, actually!) I am heading to the Loveland Colorado sculpture shows this weekend!
I know that by feeding my spirit with great art, catching up with old friends, and meeting new artists I will be so filled with joy that I will be on an entirely different plane and I will not need to overeat.
Hey...that's not to say I won't have a food treat...I might choose to...but I won't be applying a food binge salve to my soul--cuz it won't need it!
Do things that feed your spirit and you will be less inclined to feel the urge to overeat in an attempt to fill the emptiness you feel that has nothing to do with physical hunger.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
No One Put a Gun to My Head
If we want to achieve health then we must decide to accept responsibility for our bodies, for the condition they are in right now.
Rather than blaming others--our parents, the media, friends, family, spouse, stress, our genes, our busy schedules--we must realize that the common denominator in our situations is US.
I chose to put every bit of food into my mouth. I chose to react by overeating. No one put a gun to my head and forced me to swallow! I imagine the same is true for you...you chose what, when, how much and why you ate...
I'm not trying to lay a guilt trip on anyone, or make you feel bad. It isn't about being wrong or "bad"! Accepting responsibility doesn't mean beating yourself up over it. It is done, over, finito. Feeling bad about it now won't change anything.
When we accept responsibility it is so empowering. If you are responsible for where you are now then you are responsible for where you will be. That means you have the POWER! You are IN CONTROL! You are not a victim of anyone or anything!
Remember, we have the power to change our lives! One thought at a time! One belief at a time! One bite at a time!
Rather than blaming others--our parents, the media, friends, family, spouse, stress, our genes, our busy schedules--we must realize that the common denominator in our situations is US.
I chose to put every bit of food into my mouth. I chose to react by overeating. No one put a gun to my head and forced me to swallow! I imagine the same is true for you...you chose what, when, how much and why you ate...
I'm not trying to lay a guilt trip on anyone, or make you feel bad. It isn't about being wrong or "bad"! Accepting responsibility doesn't mean beating yourself up over it. It is done, over, finito. Feeling bad about it now won't change anything.
When we accept responsibility it is so empowering. If you are responsible for where you are now then you are responsible for where you will be. That means you have the POWER! You are IN CONTROL! You are not a victim of anyone or anything!
Remember, we have the power to change our lives! One thought at a time! One belief at a time! One bite at a time!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Healthy Body Starts with Healthy Thoughts
If we want to live a healthy life, to have a healthy body, we must first think healthy thoughts.
I remember when I was first exposed to positive thoughts, affirmations and the power of our thinking. When someone would catch me as I said something negative (like I'm fat, or, what a bad day I was having) I would look at her and say, "Well, it is TRUE"...it may have been true...after all objectively I was fat...or it may have seemed true (the day just was, it wasn't "bad")...the point really was that it wasn't the words, but it was the feeling behind the words that was so important and that kept me stuck.
When I said "I'm fat" I wasn't been detached or objective, commenting on my body shape or physical structure, like I would if I said "I am 5 feet 6 inches tall"...instead there was judgment (a lot of judgment!) built in...I was saying I was "fat" but I felt like fat=ugly, fat=bad, fat=lazy, fat=unloveable, fat=....well, you get the picture!
And I judged the day, when in reality it wasn't bad. I may have had some experiences during the day that frustrated me, or where I because angry or sad...so I said the day was bad. But similar experiences on other days might not have triggered those feelings...so it wasn't even the experience. This proved to me it is totally how I feel about it, and my feelings are based on thoughts and beliefs.
At first this "control" was a bit scary, but the good news is we can change our thoughts. When our thoughts change our feelings, our beliefs, our judgments change, freeing us to start totally fresh.
Two of the tools and teachers that have worked well for me in this process are
The balance is to objectively recognize the situation and learn to love ourselves through it...we might start of judging, but we can change that! We change our thinking and then we change our lives...and our bodies!
I remember when I was first exposed to positive thoughts, affirmations and the power of our thinking. When someone would catch me as I said something negative (like I'm fat, or, what a bad day I was having) I would look at her and say, "Well, it is TRUE"...it may have been true...after all objectively I was fat...or it may have seemed true (the day just was, it wasn't "bad")...the point really was that it wasn't the words, but it was the feeling behind the words that was so important and that kept me stuck.
When I said "I'm fat" I wasn't been detached or objective, commenting on my body shape or physical structure, like I would if I said "I am 5 feet 6 inches tall"...instead there was judgment (a lot of judgment!) built in...I was saying I was "fat" but I felt like fat=ugly, fat=bad, fat=lazy, fat=unloveable, fat=....well, you get the picture!
And I judged the day, when in reality it wasn't bad. I may have had some experiences during the day that frustrated me, or where I because angry or sad...so I said the day was bad. But similar experiences on other days might not have triggered those feelings...so it wasn't even the experience. This proved to me it is totally how I feel about it, and my feelings are based on thoughts and beliefs.
At first this "control" was a bit scary, but the good news is we can change our thoughts. When our thoughts change our feelings, our beliefs, our judgments change, freeing us to start totally fresh.
Two of the tools and teachers that have worked well for me in this process are
- Louise Hay, particularly her book and DVD You Can Heal Your Life
- Esther and Jerry Hicks, specifically, Ask and It is Given
The balance is to objectively recognize the situation and learn to love ourselves through it...we might start of judging, but we can change that! We change our thinking and then we change our lives...and our bodies!
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