Saturday

Having a Goose Day

 Something I have been forced to adopt is the ability to worry about tomorrow another day.  You have no idea how this goes against all my own traits as well as my genes.  Before I lost the weight the worry about how I would exercise during "that time" would haunt me.  (I had horrible "times")  I would let that week of "failure" dictate my whole month.  I was so hard on myself. I would have similar feelings about "failure" with parties or eating out.

Especially now, in the place that I am, I have to take one day at a time.  Sometimes I get through today saying to myself that tomorrow I can take a day off.  The next day I reevaluate and sometimes I can go even another day (most times) and other times I take full advantage of the permission granted. 

I am reminded of a favorite childhood book.  Goose Goofs Off
Some days you need a little advice from Goose. 

Thursday

To weigh or not to weigh

It seems that everyone has a their own opinion about weighing and I think that is the way it should be.  I loved weighing when I was losing.  It got me right out of bed in the morning.  Ahhh, I miss those days sometimes. 

These days I tread lightly on the scale.  I can not get on when I know I am not in a place that will be okay with what I see.  Sure, sometimes it is just what I need to kick myself in the pants but that is the exception not the rule. For you it may be all together different.

It is one of those things that makes you question yourself though.  You wonder if that is the missing piece somehow  - like many other facets of weight loss.  Somehow this billion dollar industry has sold us on the magic formula that cannot and does not exist.  The answer is not out there people.  The tools are out, but the answers are in.  It is in the "wonder" that we fail.  Me included. 

Saturday

Some Background

I wanted to give you a little background about Alicia and our relationship.  Several years ago I had just moved into a new neighborhood and my baby was a year old with no plans to have more.  My life was changing...a lot.  Something happens when you ( I should speak for myself) I transitioned into this new role.   I was not aware of this until I emailed Alicia one day with a simple question.  She does a weekly segment on a local TV program about fashion and I wanted to know how to pick out jeans.  I had trouble with tight around the hips and butt and loose around the waist.  She asked me to come and model on the show and she would show me. I modeled quite a bit as a teenager so I was game but even so, it took tremendous courage.  I was used to being at home, with occasional lunch dates and "out of the" house was all about running errands.

I showed up for the fitting and Alica made me feel... HOT!  She helped me see my good points and quieted my fears about my body.  When I went on the show there was more of this kind of praise.  I felt like I "fit in".  I realized then how isolated I had been.  Although I would not change anything about being at home with my kids,  it gave me excitement for the next phase in life.

That experience was a key factor in being able to lose my weight.  I want that so much for all of you.  You are your own superstar! Let us help you know it for sure!  Don't miss the workshop Alicia and I are planning.  Seats are almost full!

Tuesday

Thee Workshop

It is time!  Alicia Richmond and I are finally doing our workshop.  It is February 10th.  You will not want to miss this event.  You will go home with tools and tips that will make you feel like a million as well as a valuable personalized kit.  It will be like having a personal shopper and weight loss assistant all in one evening.  Seats are very limited so that you can get one on one attention.  Email me today to reserve seats. 

Alicia is on television and radio weekly giving her sought after advice and you get her face to face.  Hurry fast!

Monday

The challenge revealed

You may have thought that the one week challenge was just a fun little list of things to do but I had some reasoning behind the challenges I issued.   This one week alone has given you the tools needed to get healthy.

Day 1 - Facial:  My intent was to start off with a little pampering - taking a moment only for yourself.  Losing weight means you will have to be a little selfish at times.  Over time you will need less and less time and energy to get healthier but at first it will need to be a top priority and that is ok.  You are worth it (no quoting of make up commercials intended;)!

Day 2 - Read something uplifting:  Elevating your mood (emotion) is so helpful when losing weight.  There are no good words tied to "diet" but that doesn't need to be your experience just because it is the accepted experience.  Whatever you can do to lift your spirits while losing weight will be returned a hundred times over.     

Day 3 - Write:  Writing down your food or your emotions or whatever seems to be everyone's least favorite part of "dieting".  I guess, for now, rummaging through our emotions and feelings is considered unnecessary.  We should just be able to discipline our way through the weight loss.  But, I am convinced that this part of the process will someday be normal - kinda like how doctors used to do adds for cigarette companies before we all knew better.

Day 4 - Compliment:  When you complimented a loved one you did something a little hard but that had a big impact emotionally.  When you exercise you should get the same hit of emotion that you got when you blushed - maybe not every single day but more often than not.   If you are just going through the motions you are missing out.  It is like eating your favorite dessert right after a big chug of scalding hot chocolate.  Work out to get that rush.  Make this part of your life exciting not drudgery and your likelihood of success increases.
Also, looking outward helps the process.  When you are so self centered (rightly so at first), it is easy to go a little cookey.  Lifting others is a great way to lift yourself.    

Day 5 - Download a song:  If you can download a song you can log your food on the computer and studies say that logging alone increases your weight loss.  Also, a new song to pump you up is the recipe needed for the exercise blahs.

Day 6 - Smell:  The point to this challenge was two fold.  First, I wanted you to take some time and think about what you really like.  I think sometimes we go through life without really understanding ourselves - especially when we wear our mom hat the majority of the time.  The simple act of mindfully picking out a scent works all kinds of magic inside your head.  Memories can't help but flash through your mind and a physical reaction happens as well - which leads us to point two.  When scent memories were created there was not a lot of work involved yet their imprint is  rock solid.  The mind has power and if we can tap into that power to help us lose weight than all the better.  Chances are the memories that a scent created happened by chance but it doesn't have to be that way to be effective.  We can create them.  We can "manually" create a good feeling tied with healthy foods and exercise.  We can manually create negative feelings tied to foods and activities that are not so good for us.  It really does work. 

Day 7 - Outfit:  No matter who you are or what you look like or how much you weigh, you have assets that are unique to you.  You are a one of a kind and at some point (when you bought that item) you knew it.  Again, you may have to tap into that feeling manually at first but practice makes perfect.  More than a skinny person, we are drawn to people of character and confidence.  Taking whatever you are blessed with and "workin' it" is the key to a happy and successful life!

Good luck to all you weight loss buddies. May 2011 be a year you never forget!!

Friday

Day 7

Today is Friday which is perfect for this next challenge.  I want you to wear the rockin' outfit you have hidden in your closet.  Wear it. Own it. Rock it!  Who cares if it is a little out there.  You were confident enough to buy it at some point so channel that confidence and and fun with it!

Thursday

Day 6

Today is all about smell.  Whether it is a candle or baking bread or even baking cookies, today I want you to make your surroundings effect your mood.  Smell is one of the most powerful memory triggers.  It is also the sense that is thee most powerful connector to emotion - and associative learning interestingly enough.

For some vanilla, others floral but for me it is cinnamon homey scents that make me happy.  I get all warm and cozy just thinking about it.  What is your favorite scent?   

Wednesday

Day 5

Today's challenge might take more effort for some and some money.  I want you to download a favorite song.  You can do it on iTunes or Amazon or even Walmart.  It will cost you less than $2 for a song.  Pick a song that promotes a memory or a song that inspires you or that pumps you up.  Do it! Do IT! 

Tuesday

Day 4

Today's challenge is a little different.  I want you to compliment someone while in the presents of someone else.  An ideal would be to compliment your sweetheart in front of your children.  If your children's parent is not your sweetheart do it anyway.  If you don't have a sweetheart or children then find a friend or a co-worker.  Take a moment and make a plan.  Don't just say "you look nice".  Talk to the children or the other person.  Say, "you know what I like about your dad?  He is so completely good looking, I can't even stand it!"  You might blush and your kids will blush and so will your hubby but y'all will feel real endorphins shootin' through your veins and it feels great! 

Monday

Day 3

So, today was the big weigh-in.  I had gained a couple of pounds but was actually pleasantly surprised.  Those last few days, I thought, were going to be the nails in my bigger coffin.  December 1st I blogged my weight as 132.8 and this morning 134.8.  Time to get moving...again.  I have found peace that this process is never ending.  There are parts of the gaining that are enjoyable and not so enjoyable and there are parts of the losing that are enjoyable and not so enjoyable, but you can't have one without the other. See how balance is the key?  Being thinner just keeps that balance on a smaller scale.  Fluctuation is 2-7 pounds rather than, say, 15-20.  The gaining really freaks some people out but, again, change that mindset and change has already happened.  It is more about the "freak" than anything else!     

I have to choose whether I pay more attention to the enjoyable or the not so enjoyable.  I hold the power.  Of course, it is not always easy.  Feeling joy doesn't magically happen.  I have to physically and purposely self-talk my way to focus on the joy a lot of the time.  The truth is, that is the really exhausting part of the whole thing.
  
For today's challenge I want you to write.  Either on the computer or by hand but write.  You can write about the holiday season or whatever you like.  It can be 10 words or 1000.  Just take a moment and document what is going on in your head.  It will feel good and someday when you see it again you will have an emotion - hopefully a good one.  It's magic!   

Sunday

Day 2

Today's challenge is to read something uplifting.  For some it may be scripture, for others a comic book.  Something that lightens your mood yet makes you feel strong. 

Here is an example

Saturday

1 Week Challenge

Each day I am going to issue a challenge of some kind and I hope you will join me.  They may or may not have anything to do with food or dieting.  I want for you and for me to enjoy the small and simple things and to make 2011 a landmark year!

Day one - Give yourself a facial.  Take your everyday cleanser and mix with a teaspoon or so of salt and then rinse first with milk and then a lot of water - more than you think necessary.  Your skin will glimmer so add a smile and change the world! 

Happy New Year everyone!