If it's Tuesday..it must be another day again!

If you look at the lower right hand side of my blog, I have posted a picture (that my husband took in Laguna) of a beautiful sunset over the ocean.  I posted a message with that picture that says "Each day brings a new sunset"...I had a reason for posting that picture and message.  One of the reasons losing weight and keeping it off results in failure for most people is that they make the mistake of considering it an "event" that begins and ends.  Weight management is not an "event", rather it is a never ending "process" that takes place each and every day, much like nature's sunset....Never a day shall pass without the setting of the sun.  Think of your weight management process as a "natural" part of your day, and with each rise and set of the sun, you may be thankful that you have done everything in your power to be healthy, happy, fit and strong.

Suck It Up - It's Tough Love Day

Research states that more than 50% of US adults have abdominal obesity (fat around the middle).  The cause - lack of physical activity and poor dietary quality.  Scientists hypothesize that psychological distress may alter eating behaviors resulting in the intake of high energy-dense diets.  There are some links between psychological distress, depression and a higher BMI (body mass index), however, many studies have concluded that further research is needed to determine if improvements in psychological distress alters dietary intake.  Bottom line, LIFE IS STRESSFUL PEOPLE - DEAL WITH IT - DON'T BLAME IT!  If you do not experience some degree of stress on a daily basis, you may be here on Earth in a form other than Human. Learn to understand what it is in your environment that you are perceiving as stressful, do some reading (or follow my blog) on healthy ways to change your perception, because you cannot change the environment as hard as you try! Let me help you alter your Thought Behavior Patterns, and take responsibility for losing weight and keeping it off forever.  Remember, it costs American businesses an excess of $17 billion per year in lost productivity attributed to obesity and related cardiometabolic risk factors (diabetes, etc.).  Be a part of the solution - if you are overweight or obese, YOU are a part of the problem.

There's Strength...and then there's a time to retreat

Much of my mantra is utilizing your own power and strength that belongs to you and resides deep within.  I stand by this notion 100%.  However, occasionally you may feel slightly overwhelmed with high risk situations and you may feel your strength needs to take a rest to re-generate.  In these cases, it is OK to be very selective about choosing your social occasions carefully - just to give yourself a break from the temptations and fighting the urge....particularly during the Holidays.  Plan carefully PRIOR to entering each engagement and be sure to weigh the benefits vs risks of actually even attending the celebration.  Additionally, never show up to a party hungry !  Always eat a healthy, satisfying meal at least one hour before getting in front of tables of treats and goodies.  Inner strength is always your "go to" tool......but pacing yourself and being smart about your choices will help you stay on track.

"Empty" Feelings

Those nagging feelings that you feel in the back of your throat and on your tongue that tell you to eat something when you know it is not time to eat are a result of your brain putting forth to your conscious thoughts a Negative Thought Behavior Pattern.  Negative Thought Behavior Patterns can be changed - you can actually train your brain to translate visuals (such as donuts and other bad foods that may be in front of you), as well as translate sensations (such as the back of the throat or empty visceral feelings) into POSITIVE Thoughts.  When you are plagued with these negative Thought Behavior Patterns, turn those sensations and visual cues into sensations of strength and power.  Allow feelings of emptiness to be feelings of joy that your body is utilizing stored body fat for energy, therefore allowing your weight to go down and your good health to remain stable.  See those bad foods that your co-workers bestow upon you as stale, moldy and spat upon.  Disgusting, yet a profoundly efficient tool to change your negative Thought Behavior Patterns.

Even with the PERFECT diet..

Losing weight and keeping it off is a multi-faceted challenge with many unsolved mysteries.  Having a basic understanding of food groups, calories, fats, proteins, carbs, etc... is easy, but only 1/3rd of the battle.  Even with the PERFECT meal plan, with all the right food groups and recipes, falling off the wagon is all too easy, all too common.  Our brain gives us the message that we are hungry, we crave certain things at certain times, and somehow we reach that moment in time when we give in....and there in lies the biggest challenge of all.  How do we get to the point of not giving in - ESPECIALLY when we have been following a meal plan that is designed to keep us satisfied???  We give in because we get caught off guard and we are not in control of our Thought Behavior Pattern.....our brain becomes our enemy!!!!!

Try this:  Be smarter than your brain. Take charge of your own Thought Behavior by being acutely aware of your surroundings and the surroundings that are headed your way the minute you get up until you put your head on that pillow at night.  YOU are in charge of your thoughts - don't let your brain plan your day.  Think of your Thought Behavior Pattern as a 1st grade classroom with 40 students - YOU make the decisions, YOU are in control and YOU are thinking ahead so the little buggers don't do something unsafe or stupid.  Don't get caught "not thinking"....be prepared, make the rules, implement the rules, and follow the rules. You can't do it alone.....Dig deep inside early in the day to find your weapons of mass control - your own personal strength and power!

Keep it subtle, keep it close

Remember......

• Keep your power close to your heart
• You're not on a diet, you are on a Lifestyle
• Immerse yourself in knowledge - scientific knowledge
• Check out your resources, verify validity
• There is nothing easy about a healthy Lifestyle - it takes work, patience and drive
• There is nothing good about an unhealthy Lifestyle, it hurts, it ruins, it kills
• Think Forever, Think Protection, Think Life
• Go deep inside and tap into your own Strength and Power - it's there - find it, Use it!

Protect, Pro-act, Produce

Protect your health both physically and psychologically by standing firmly by your plan without fail....

Be Pro-Active against well meaning (or not) friends, family or special occasions that are high risk situations for derailment. 

Produce results (keep weight off) by remembering that you may still enjoy yummy foods and beverages when they "fit" into your plan - think quantity.  Many "party" foods are not worth the calories - be selective!

VISUALIZE YOURSELF ATTENDING ALL SOCIAL FUNCTIONS WITH A DROP DEAD, GORGEOUS FIGURE THAT YOU MAINTAIN 24/7/365 BY PROTECTING, PRO-ACTING AND PRODUCING.  YOU ARE IN CHARGE!!!