Look on the Bright Side
‘For every negative that consumes your happiness,
Affirm two positives that sustain you.
For every “Should’ve” you wish you’d done,
Acknowledge something you’re glad you did.
For every loss that has altered your world,
Count from it something you have gained.
For every limit that has ever beset you,
Consider your possibilities.
You can’t always change the way things are,
But you can change the way you wish to see them.
Never stop looking
For the brighter side and beyond.’
Eric T. Moore
Change how you think about things creates miracles in your life. The quote above sums it all up. Instead of focusing on not being able to lose weight think about what you are doing to make your life better. This may seem like an impossible task. Let’s break it down into small steps.
The small steps you can take as suggested in the quote above:
For every negative that consumes your happiness,
Affirm two positives that sustain you
Small Step:
Acknowledge yourself for not being able to lose weight. Then think about 2 funny situations.
For every “Should’ve” you wish you’d done,
Acknowledge something you’re glad you did.
Small Step:
Acknowledge yourself for have eaten junk food instead of a healthy meal. Then think about what made you happy yesterday. Eat healthy at your next meal.
For every loss that has altered your world,
Count from it something you have gained.
Small Step:
Acknowledge yourself for the weight gain. Then think about what you like about yourself..
For every limit that has ever beset you,
Consider your possibilities.
Small Step:
Acknowledge yourself for not having the willpower to lose weight. Then think about the professional support available to help you lose weight.
You can’t always change the way things are,
But you can change the way you wish to see them.
Small Step:
Acknowledge yourself for not being able to lose 10, 20, 50 pounds today. Then think about how you can reach out for support. Leave a comment on the blog or send an email to helen@loveyourselfcoaching.net.
Never stop looking
For the brighter side and beyond.
Small Step:
Acknowledge yourself for who you are! Remember there is always a solution for every problem. The first step is to reach out for support.
Take any or all of the small steps above and send me an email about your experience letting me know if I can support you in anyway. I love hearing from you and by leaving a comment on this blog we can start a support community for people struggling with food. I can be reached by leaving a comment below or sending me an email at helen@loveyourselfcoaching.net.
What are you going to do nice for yourself today?
Helen
Friday, October 26, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Trying One More Time
"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way
to succeed is always to try just one more time."
Reading this quote made me think of all the times I gave up trying to lose weight and reassuring myself it was right the choice. After awhile my clothes would become tight and I was starting another diet. Does this sound familiar? You are not alone.
The line,” Our greatest weakness lies in giving up” is so true. Whenever I gave up in any situation in the beginning I felt relieved and then the guilt and failure thoughts would start beating me up. On the other hand whenever I tried just one more time it gave me confidence and eventually I succeeded.
Tina was a young 47 year old grandmother who was dieting most of her life. As a child she was overweight, her mother was always telling her she liked food too much and if she was not careful she would have a weight problem. At the age of 15 she was already taking diet pills to lose weight.
Tina’s weight went up and down like a roller coaster. Her routine was diet for a few weeks, stop for awhile and then start a new diet. Her mood swings were getting to her family and co-workers.
Tina contacted me and we started exploring her mood swings. What she realized through coaching was when she was doing something about her weight she felt energized. Working together we created a Daily Action Plan designed especially for Tina taking into consideration her lifestyle and eating habits.
Following her healthy eating plan one day at a time Tina started focusing on other things in her life besides the food. She started taking hiking trips and spending more time with her friends and granddaughter. To Tina’s amazement she started losing weight and was enjoying life again.
I invite you to explore your different feelings whenever you are giving up or trying one more time. Please let me know what you discover by leaving a comment on this blog or sending me an email at helen@loveyourselfcoaching.net.
Have a great day! Helen
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Struggling With Food
STORIES WE TELL OURSELVES
Are you telling yourself , “I can’t lose weight because I love food so much.” This is very common and you are not alone. There is a solution to this problem.
John (name changed) was on the diet merry-go-round, he would start a diet every Monday morning and by Tuesday afternoon be back into the junk food. He would beat himself up and his self-esteem would take a nose dive. Does this story sound familiar?
One day he decided enough is enough and started looking for professional help. One of his friends suggested he hire a Diet Coach. The next day I received a call and we started working together. During our sessions together John discovered he was telling himself constantly, “I love food so much, it makes me feel better and I can never lose weight.” We started exploring his story and discovering what was behind it. John was unhappy in his job and instead of focusing on finding a new job he ate to make himself feel better. Once John discovered the real reason for his food obsessions he could take the steps to find a new job and lose weight at the same time.
Working together John realized he really loved working with people instead of sitting behind a desk and writing computer programs. We devised a plan where he would start talking to other computer programmers. What John found there was a need to help people understand the new software programs they just bought. John researched different companies that hired software trainers. While conducting an informational interview with a software company he was offered a job as a trainer.
During this process, John stopped focusing on the food and put all his attention on finding a new job. A miracle happened, he was able to eat healthier meals, give up the junk food and to his amazement he lost weight.
What is behind your story that you can’t lose weight? I invite you to try the following exercise:
1. Write down all the things that are making you unhappy.
(Example: 1. Neighbors are not very friendly.
2. There is no place within walking distance to walk my dog, etc.)
2. Rate them from 1 to 5 (1 not important and 5 very important)
3. Determine which of the items you rated a “5” is the most important.
(Example: Neighbors are not very friendly.)
4. Write why this item is stopping you from moving forward in your life.
(Example: I feel alone and worry if I have an emergency no one will help me.)
5. Decide what action steps you are going to take to solve this problem.
(Example: I am going to start saying hello and talk to my neighbors.)
Please let me know what you have discovered while completing the exercise above. Once you have uncovered what is behind your story you can take the steps to make the changes and stop focusing on the food. I can be reached by leaving a comment on this blog or sending me an email at helen@loveyourselfcoaching.com
Are you telling yourself , “I can’t lose weight because I love food so much.” This is very common and you are not alone. There is a solution to this problem.
John (name changed) was on the diet merry-go-round, he would start a diet every Monday morning and by Tuesday afternoon be back into the junk food. He would beat himself up and his self-esteem would take a nose dive. Does this story sound familiar?
One day he decided enough is enough and started looking for professional help. One of his friends suggested he hire a Diet Coach. The next day I received a call and we started working together. During our sessions together John discovered he was telling himself constantly, “I love food so much, it makes me feel better and I can never lose weight.” We started exploring his story and discovering what was behind it. John was unhappy in his job and instead of focusing on finding a new job he ate to make himself feel better. Once John discovered the real reason for his food obsessions he could take the steps to find a new job and lose weight at the same time.
Working together John realized he really loved working with people instead of sitting behind a desk and writing computer programs. We devised a plan where he would start talking to other computer programmers. What John found there was a need to help people understand the new software programs they just bought. John researched different companies that hired software trainers. While conducting an informational interview with a software company he was offered a job as a trainer.
During this process, John stopped focusing on the food and put all his attention on finding a new job. A miracle happened, he was able to eat healthier meals, give up the junk food and to his amazement he lost weight.
What is behind your story that you can’t lose weight? I invite you to try the following exercise:
1. Write down all the things that are making you unhappy.
(Example: 1. Neighbors are not very friendly.
2. There is no place within walking distance to walk my dog, etc.)
2. Rate them from 1 to 5 (1 not important and 5 very important)
3. Determine which of the items you rated a “5” is the most important.
(Example: Neighbors are not very friendly.)
4. Write why this item is stopping you from moving forward in your life.
(Example: I feel alone and worry if I have an emergency no one will help me.)
5. Decide what action steps you are going to take to solve this problem.
(Example: I am going to start saying hello and talk to my neighbors.)
Please let me know what you have discovered while completing the exercise above. Once you have uncovered what is behind your story you can take the steps to make the changes and stop focusing on the food. I can be reached by leaving a comment on this blog or sending me an email at helen@loveyourselfcoaching.com
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Being Your Own Best Friend
"If you are distressed by anything external,
the pain is not due to the thing itself but to
your own estimate of it; and this you have
the power to revoke at any moment.”
Marcus Aurelius
When I read the above quote, the thought that popped into my mind was how as a child I always felt fat, but when seeing the pictures today I look thin. Our perception of ourselves causes us more pain than we should experience.
I was with a group of people the other day and we were discussing how important it was to be our own best friend instead of our enemy. Someone was mentioning how easy it was to beat themselves up and then feel sorry for themselves. I am sure we can all identify with this situation.
Everyone started discussing what they don’t like about themselves. After giving them time to enjoy the conversations I asked what we can do about the problem of not supporting ourselves? The conversation turned around and we all came up with solutions. Some of the solutions are as follows:
1. Every time you have a destructive thought to stop acknowledge it and then say out loud something you like about yourself.
2. Once a day give yourself permission to feel sorry for yourself and then think about how grateful you are for your life now.
3. Every night make a list of at least three things you like about yourself.
4. Every morning look in the mirror and tell yourself, “I love you.”
5. Once a week call a friend and tell each other one thing you like about each other.
6. Every day take time out to do something nice for yourself. (Example:
take a long leisurely bath.)
7. Once a week don’t exercise and congratulate yourself for taking the day off.
8. Once a month buy yourself flowers.
9. Once every few months send yourself a letter listing the reasons why you love the person you have become.
10. At the end of the day write in your journal how liking yourself is making a difference in your life.
I invite you to try some of the above suggestions and let me know about the difference they are making in your life. Also, I would love to hear about the tools you use to guarantee you are your own best friend. After trying some of the suggestions above please leave your experiences and techniques you use on this blog, or send me an email at helen@loveyourselfcoaching.net. I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Do something nice for yourself today! Helen
the pain is not due to the thing itself but to
your own estimate of it; and this you have
the power to revoke at any moment.”
Marcus Aurelius
When I read the above quote, the thought that popped into my mind was how as a child I always felt fat, but when seeing the pictures today I look thin. Our perception of ourselves causes us more pain than we should experience.
I was with a group of people the other day and we were discussing how important it was to be our own best friend instead of our enemy. Someone was mentioning how easy it was to beat themselves up and then feel sorry for themselves. I am sure we can all identify with this situation.
Everyone started discussing what they don’t like about themselves. After giving them time to enjoy the conversations I asked what we can do about the problem of not supporting ourselves? The conversation turned around and we all came up with solutions. Some of the solutions are as follows:
1. Every time you have a destructive thought to stop acknowledge it and then say out loud something you like about yourself.
2. Once a day give yourself permission to feel sorry for yourself and then think about how grateful you are for your life now.
3. Every night make a list of at least three things you like about yourself.
4. Every morning look in the mirror and tell yourself, “I love you.”
5. Once a week call a friend and tell each other one thing you like about each other.
6. Every day take time out to do something nice for yourself. (Example:
take a long leisurely bath.)
7. Once a week don’t exercise and congratulate yourself for taking the day off.
8. Once a month buy yourself flowers.
9. Once every few months send yourself a letter listing the reasons why you love the person you have become.
10. At the end of the day write in your journal how liking yourself is making a difference in your life.
I invite you to try some of the above suggestions and let me know about the difference they are making in your life. Also, I would love to hear about the tools you use to guarantee you are your own best friend. After trying some of the suggestions above please leave your experiences and techniques you use on this blog, or send me an email at helen@loveyourselfcoaching.net. I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Do something nice for yourself today! Helen
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Support for Food Struggles
Life is an adventure,
look for golden opportunities
as you open the shade
and look out the window.
Helen Burton, Coach
Do you ever feel alone in your struggle with food? Research has proven that in order to lose weight and keep it off you cannot do it alone. The answer to this battle is “Support.”
Support means encouragement, assistance and others being there for you. There are many different ways you can find the support you need. Some of them are as follows:
Family and Friends:
• Requesting they support you by not eating certain foods in front of you that will trigger your wanting to eat them.
• Requesting they respect your new way of taking care of yourself.
• Acknowledging each other for your accomplishments.
Professionals
• Nutritionist
• Coaches
• Therapists
• Exercise Trainers
Overeaters Anonymous
• Group setting of individuals who are sharing their experiences and strengths while recovering from compulsive overeating.
Professional Organizations
• Diet Clubs
o Support groups with a facilitator, weigh-ins, eating and exercise programs and products.
o Counseling, prepared foods, exercise programs and products
o Gyms
The most important support you can receive is from yourself. Some of the small steps you can take are as follows:
• Acknowledging yourself for the beautiful person YOU are.
• Eating one healthy meal at a time.
• Taking a mini-vacation everyday. Taking at least 10 minutes a day to do something you enjoy. Example: Making a cup of tea and listening to your favorite music while you are relaxing.
• Reaching out to others for support.
As you can see there are many different ways you can receive support while on your journey of losing weight. Please let us know the different support opportunities you have taken advantage of that are helping you live a healthy lifestyle. Also, I can help you find the perfect support opportunity that will work best for you. You can contact me by leaving a comment on this blog or sending me an email at helen@loveyourselfcoaching.net.
look for golden opportunities
as you open the shade
and look out the window.
Helen Burton, Coach
Do you ever feel alone in your struggle with food? Research has proven that in order to lose weight and keep it off you cannot do it alone. The answer to this battle is “Support.”
Support means encouragement, assistance and others being there for you. There are many different ways you can find the support you need. Some of them are as follows:
Family and Friends:
• Requesting they support you by not eating certain foods in front of you that will trigger your wanting to eat them.
• Requesting they respect your new way of taking care of yourself.
• Acknowledging each other for your accomplishments.
Professionals
• Nutritionist
• Coaches
• Therapists
• Exercise Trainers
Overeaters Anonymous
• Group setting of individuals who are sharing their experiences and strengths while recovering from compulsive overeating.
Professional Organizations
• Diet Clubs
o Support groups with a facilitator, weigh-ins, eating and exercise programs and products.
o Counseling, prepared foods, exercise programs and products
o Gyms
The most important support you can receive is from yourself. Some of the small steps you can take are as follows:
• Acknowledging yourself for the beautiful person YOU are.
• Eating one healthy meal at a time.
• Taking a mini-vacation everyday. Taking at least 10 minutes a day to do something you enjoy. Example: Making a cup of tea and listening to your favorite music while you are relaxing.
• Reaching out to others for support.
As you can see there are many different ways you can receive support while on your journey of losing weight. Please let us know the different support opportunities you have taken advantage of that are helping you live a healthy lifestyle. Also, I can help you find the perfect support opportunity that will work best for you. You can contact me by leaving a comment on this blog or sending me an email at helen@loveyourselfcoaching.net.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Taking Care of YOU
Finding Love in Your World
Find love in yourself
in taking time for you
in celebrating your special gifts.
Find love in your family
in acknowledging each other
in telling each other, “I love you.”
Find love in friendship
in sharing and supporting one another
in knowing you are not alone.
Find love in conversations with others
in listening and learning
in contributing ideas.
Find love
in sharing YOU
with others.
Helen Burton
The poem above represents the meaning of love for me. It has taken me many years to realize what is important in life and what is not. What I have learned is that everyday is a new beginning and by respecting me and sharing with others I find love everyday.
I invite you to spend time thinking about the word, “love” and what special meaning does it have for you. Please leave your comments or send me an email at helen@loveyourselfcoaching.net and together let’s create a new meaning for the word, “love.”
Monday, October 1, 2007
Blaming Our Circumstances
"People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are.
I don’t believe in circumstances.
The people who get on in this world
are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want,
and, if they can’t find them, make them."
George Bernard Shaw
Do you sometimes think, everything was going along fine and then all of a sudden everything changes in a matter of seconds? Welcome to life!!
We are so quick to blame our circumstances for our misfortunes. I remember saying I binged last night because my husband was on a business trip and I was lonely. Another night I might have thought it is quite in the house, I can get in bed and read a good book. It all depends on your thoughts and in this case have nothing to do with circumstances.
Jack, name changed, was at least 100 pounds overweight and felt because the members of his family were all obese he could never be thin. He tried all different diets and after awhile just gave up. Jack’s doctor suggested he call me.
While I was working with Jack he started acknowledging all the things in his life he was proud of and realized he had special gifts his family members did not possess. This realization made him stop and think about his theory, because the members of his family had a weight problem meant he would always be struggling with his weight.
Once Jack understood he had his own journey to travel and not his families, he started looking at life from a different perspective. He took George Bernard Shaw’s advice and created the circumstances he wanted and was able to lose weight. Today Jack has been maintaining his goal weight and manages a local sports gym.
What challenge have you been blaming on circumstances? I invite you to explore the situation and see if there is another way of looking at it. Please let me know about your experience. I can be reached either by leaving a comment on this Getting Off the Diet Merry-Go-Round Blog or sending me an email at helen@loveyourselfcoaching.net.
I don’t believe in circumstances.
The people who get on in this world
are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want,
and, if they can’t find them, make them."
George Bernard Shaw
Do you sometimes think, everything was going along fine and then all of a sudden everything changes in a matter of seconds? Welcome to life!!
We are so quick to blame our circumstances for our misfortunes. I remember saying I binged last night because my husband was on a business trip and I was lonely. Another night I might have thought it is quite in the house, I can get in bed and read a good book. It all depends on your thoughts and in this case have nothing to do with circumstances.
Jack, name changed, was at least 100 pounds overweight and felt because the members of his family were all obese he could never be thin. He tried all different diets and after awhile just gave up. Jack’s doctor suggested he call me.
While I was working with Jack he started acknowledging all the things in his life he was proud of and realized he had special gifts his family members did not possess. This realization made him stop and think about his theory, because the members of his family had a weight problem meant he would always be struggling with his weight.
Once Jack understood he had his own journey to travel and not his families, he started looking at life from a different perspective. He took George Bernard Shaw’s advice and created the circumstances he wanted and was able to lose weight. Today Jack has been maintaining his goal weight and manages a local sports gym.
What challenge have you been blaming on circumstances? I invite you to explore the situation and see if there is another way of looking at it. Please let me know about your experience. I can be reached either by leaving a comment on this Getting Off the Diet Merry-Go-Round Blog or sending me an email at helen@loveyourselfcoaching.net.
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