Showing posts with label "food struggles". Show all posts
Showing posts with label "food struggles". Show all posts

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Changing Attitudes

Everyone Has Many Special Gifts

Are you thinking I wish my life was easier, can’t lose weight or want a new job? Welcome to the human race. Most of us go through our day doing the things we have to do and wishing for our lives to be better. We never take the time to acknowledge the special gifts we already have in our lives.

What comes to mind is how Dorothy’s friends in the Wizard of Oz spent most of their time looking for the Wizard to give them what they wanted. The Lion was looking for courage, Tin Man for a heart and Scarecrow for brains. After meeting the Wizard and seeing what a fraud he was each one realized they already had the gift they were looking for.

We are no different than Dorothy’s friends. Most of the time we are looking for something we already have. Let me give you an example: Jane just moved into a new neighborhood, was feeling very lonely and felt she had no friends. What Jane did not realize was that she already knew many people. During Jane’s coaching session she decided to play a game that night at her office party and count the number of people she spoke to. Jane was amazed when she realized she knew and spoke to over 10 people that night. Her next plan was to invite some of her peer co-workers to coffee after work.

If Jane did not play that game she would be still looking to meet people instead of realizing she had already met them.

Now is your turn to play a little game which will prove you already have what you are looking for.

Create a game to determine whether you already have your special gift.
1. At the top of the page write what you want.
a. Example: My job is boring and I want a new job.
2. Draw a line down the center of the page.
3. List in the first column everything you would like in a new job.
3. List in the second column everything you like about your current job.
4. Compare both lists and see what items appear on both of them.
5. Journal what you have discovered.

Most of the time you will realize there are many things you like about your current job.

After completing the exercise please let me know what you have discovered. I can be reached by leaving a comment on this blog or sending an email to helen@loveyourselfcoaching.net.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Food Struggles

Tips for Healthy Eating Eating During The Holiday Season

Do you tell yourself, “I am not going to diet this holiday season and enjoy myself?” You are into the food and as time goes on the guilt starts to fade away. Then you realize your sister’s party is in a couple of days, start trying on clothes and nothing fits. You rush to the store with tears in your eyes to buy a new outfit. Does this story sound familiar?

Let’s take a step back and see what you could do differently starting today. You still have time to change your behaviors it is only December 13, 2007 and there are 18 days before New Years Eve. Following are some steps you can take to help you feel good about yourself before the holiday season is over:

1. Plan a healthy eating menu for the rest of today and make no substitutions.
2. Plan your day’s healthy eating menu before eating breakfast. Remember no substitutions.
3. Buy yourself a new comfortable outfit that makes you feel good.
4. Everyday take time for You and do something you enjoy. Examples: quilting, putting music on and dancing around the house or just sitting in a chair and relaxing.
5. Make some childhood holiday decorations.
6. Plan something special with either your friends or family members. Examples: see a fun movie, go ice skating, take a drive around the neighborhood looking at the decorations.
7. Donate a gift to one of your local charities.
8. Buy yourself a special holiday present.
9. Make a grateful list and read it everyday.
10.Look in the mirror everyday and say, “Thank you.”

As always I would love to hear from you. Please let me know what other steps you are taking to make this holiday season different and enjoyable. I can be reached by leaving a comment on this blog or sending me an email at helen@loveyourselfcoaching.net.

Monday, November 12, 2007

What To Do When That Food Craving Strikes

“Much of the satisfying work of life
begins as an experiment;
no experiment is ever
quite a failure.”

Alice Walker

You were following a diet, feeling good about yourself and then suddenly you find yourself eating again. What happened?? A number of situations could have triggered you to give in and go back to your old habits. Please, please do not beat yourself up this is an everyday occurrence among those in the world of dieting. There is a solution.

I remember the time I was on a roll and following a diet for almost two months. The weight was coming off and I was thinking and talking about food all the time. The only problem was I was starving all the time. One day after leaving the diet doctor’s office, I was walking past a bakery and saw all the beautiful cakes, breads and cookies. My mind said, “You are doing such a great job of dieting you can buy only one cookie it can’t hurt. My thoughts had a good time arguing and before I knew it, I was in the bakery ordering a cup of coffee and a dozen cookies. I was too embarrassed to buy only one cook so I bought a dozen with the idea I would bring them home for my husband and daughters. Guess what? The cookies never made it home. The only thing that arrived home was my anger at myself for eating the cookies.

Does this situation sound familiar? Let’s look at what you and I could have done differently in this situation. Acknowledge the thought that you do deserve to treat yourself for all your hard work. Say out loud, “I will eat something later and right now I will go to a bookstore (or something you enjoy doing.) The idea is not to make food an option and find other activities that make you happy. The most important thing is to start that activity right away instead of waiting for later. By enjoying the activity you will forget about the food for the moment.

Following are a list of ideas you could try instead of eating something:

1. Call yourself and leave a message bragging about how you did not buy something to eat and how much weight you have lost.
2. Have your nails done or get a pedicure.
3. Take a long walk and think about the things in your life that you are grateful for.
4. Call a friend and see if they want to meet for coffee in about 10 minutes.
5. Walking down the street make up positive stories about the people you are passing. I love doing this it puts a smile on my face.

Send me an e-mail bragging about the different steps you are taking and what is happening. I love hearing your successes and celebrating with you! I can be reached by leaving a comment on this blog or sending me an email at helen@loveyourselfcoaching.net

If you are struggling with food and have questions please send me an email at helen@loveyourselfcoaching.net or leave a comment on the blog and I will address it in my next article.

Do something nice for yourself today!

Helen

Friday, September 7, 2007

Are You Struggling with Food?

Stopping Your Fearful Thoughts

"You can conquer almost any fear if you will only make up your
mind to do so. For remember, fear doesn't exist anywhere except in the
mind
."
-- Dale Carnegie

Are you struggling with your eating habits? I am learning more and more each day that my thoughts are driving my actions. Just for a moment can you stop and think, “Maybe my unhealthy eating habits are caused by my thoughts which maybe based on fear.” What was your answer? If you answered “Yes” you are among the majority. The meaning of fear is “False Emotions Appearing Real.”

I just recently heard that are thoughts are continuous and nothing can stop them. The expression, “Just think positively,” makes me crazy. I am currently reading the book, “Excuse Me, Your Life is NOW,” by Doreen Banaszak. What I am learning is to acknowledge my negative thought and most of the time it disappears. Once the thought disappears I tell myself out loud, “I am willing to consider as of this moment that everything is unfolding perfectly and I don’t have to worry any more.” It works wonders!

If you get a chance read the book, Excuse Me, Your Life is NOW” by Doreen Banaszak, I recommend it highly. I am currently in a book study group with Doreen as our facilitator. Reading the book and hearing Doreen’s suggestions has given me the tools to think and feel positive most of the day. Thank you, Doreen.


Now is your opportunity to conquer your fearful thoughts and start thinking positively. Following are some steps you can implement when having a negative thought:

1. Be aware of what you are thinking.
2. Acknowledge the thought.
3. When your thinking stops, say a positive affirmation, which you believe can happen and makes you feel good (e.g. “I am willing to imagine right now that I am loved and everything is OK.”)
4. Think about a small step you can take right away to take care of yourself (e.g. Make yourself a cup of your favorite tea.)
5. Take the action.

In the Getting Off the Diet Merry-Go-Round Community we can work together to slowly change our thinking which ultimately changes our behavior. Sharing your wisdom, life changing tools and techniques helps others and also acknowledges you. So don’t be shy, let us hear from you. All you have to do is leave a comment on this blog or send me an email at helen@loveyourselfcoaching.net and together we will conquer our struggles with food.