We take years, sometimes decades to gain our weight. One day we decide we want it gone. NOW! We google "lose weight fast". We ask Aunt Mary about that shake she's been drinking. We starve. We overtrain. We cry. We beat ourselves up. We spend lots of money. We lose a few pounds. We gain it back. This is the classic diet mentality. Why do we do this to ourselves? Again and again... Because we're impatient. We want a quick fix. We don't want to change our habits for good. It takes too long. Every time we crash diet, we lose fat AND muscle. Losing muscle over and over slows the metabolism. Restrictive eating does the same thing. It gets harder to lose the weight with each diet. There is another choice. To go slow. To … [Read more...] about The Weight Loss Journey
Self Acceptance
Rolling Over and Playing Victim
Lots of folks consider themselves victims. Some wear this distinction like a badge of honor. Victims give up their own power. They make excuses. They blame. They want others to take care of them and make them feel good. They choose to not take responsibility for their own lives. Guess what? You don't have to be a victim. Victimhood is a choice we make. Lots of folks experience negative circumstances. Some of these circumstances are downright devastating. In our minds, we create thoughts about these circumstances. The good news? We get to choose the thoughts we think. Some choose the thought, "I am a victim." They create a life of misery, inaction and blame. Maybe they think it's the easier that way. Or perhaps they believe it's … [Read more...] about Rolling Over and Playing Victim
Yellow Nails and Purple Hair
While waiting for my nails to dry at the salon today, a little girl, maybe 4 or 5 and her Mom walked in. Mom was scheduled for a manicure and the little girl was having her toenails painted. Mom asked her to pick out a color and the little girl chose a bright taxicab yellow. Mom said no, choose another one and suggested pink. The little girl picked up another yellow polish and asked, this one? Mom said no again and suggested yet another pink polish. I'm not sure what the outcome was. My nails were dry and I decide to leave. My heart broke for that little girl. Her desire for yellow nails got me thinking. So many women (and men) worry constantly about being judged. We conform in order to fit in. We do things we don't want to do. We dress … [Read more...] about Yellow Nails and Purple Hair
Talking to Strangers
Putting a voice to your soul helps you let go of the negative energy of fear and regret. ~Shannon Alder *** When I was a little girl, I was shy. Not your typical, run of the mill shy. I'm talking shy with a capital S-H-Y! The mere possibility of having to speak to a stranger sent me into a state of panic. There was this little Italian Delicatessen called Natoli's a few blocks from my house in Secaucus. It was one of hundreds, maybe thousands, that dot the streets of Northern New Jersey. My Dad and I would occasionally walk to Natoli's to pick up our weekly Friday night pizza pie. The owner of Natoli's was a big jovial guy named Steve - and Steve scared the shit out of me! Wait, what? How does jovial equal scary? Steve would always give … [Read more...] about Talking to Strangers