Think back to the last time you said that about a night or event. Wedding, dinner with friends, quiet dinner at home....whatever the situation, take a minute and think about that great night. Feel the contentment, excitement, fun.
Now think about the food that surrounded that event -- can you remember what you ate? maybe.
But was it the food that made the evening? Or was it the people that stick in your memory? Which one makes you smile most?
I bet it's the people.
Think about that next time you feel compelled to fill up your plate in the buffet line.
Put your energy and attention on the things that matter -- that it what the season is all about.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Why don't we start?
"Maybe it's high ...time I had this conversation with myself. Why do I, in the presences of everything I need, not start something?" --Erika Napoletano
Ok -- I'm taking the quote above in another direction entirely from the one the author meant -- this is just a disclaimer so y'all know that up front. Usually, I would link the post it came from but due to the language in that post, (and bowing to "discretion is the better part of valor") I'm not going to today. Feel free to Google it though, as I enjoy much of what she writes (although, consider yourself warned if you have a low foul language tolerance!)
So...back to my take on the quote above.
Why do we not start? Why do we put it off until Monday or New Year's Day or the first of the Month or.....never?
What makes us so scared of trying? Because we haven't been successful in the past? Or at least successful on this particular weight loss mission, anyway. I work with highly successful people EVERY DAY who feel unsuccessful because of their weight.
I talk to people everyday who are afraid to throw caution to the wind and start something today. And then get up tomorrow and start something tomorrow. And the next day. And the next day......
That's all weight loss is. Continual starting.
Just because one meal (or one day) doesn't go the way you intended, it doesn't negate the imperative to start again -- as soon as you realize you've gone off the rails. And we know this, right? So what stops us from starting again?
May it is time to have that conversation with yourself -- because that right there, the ability to start again right away -- is what separates those who successfully manage their weight over a lifetime and those who struggle.
Ok -- I'm taking the quote above in another direction entirely from the one the author meant -- this is just a disclaimer so y'all know that up front. Usually, I would link the post it came from but due to the language in that post, (and bowing to "discretion is the better part of valor") I'm not going to today. Feel free to Google it though, as I enjoy much of what she writes (although, consider yourself warned if you have a low foul language tolerance!)
So...back to my take on the quote above.
Why do we not start? Why do we put it off until Monday or New Year's Day or the first of the Month or.....never?
What makes us so scared of trying? Because we haven't been successful in the past? Or at least successful on this particular weight loss mission, anyway. I work with highly successful people EVERY DAY who feel unsuccessful because of their weight.
I talk to people everyday who are afraid to throw caution to the wind and start something today. And then get up tomorrow and start something tomorrow. And the next day. And the next day......
That's all weight loss is. Continual starting.
Just because one meal (or one day) doesn't go the way you intended, it doesn't negate the imperative to start again -- as soon as you realize you've gone off the rails. And we know this, right? So what stops us from starting again?
May it is time to have that conversation with yourself -- because that right there, the ability to start again right away -- is what separates those who successfully manage their weight over a lifetime and those who struggle.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
The Season of Excess
I've gone off before on how blessed we are, how much stuff (and food) we have, yada, yada, yada....
It bothers me -- this excess. It bothers me that we rush through life and miss some of the important parts because we're dealing with other parts that are not important...just urgent.
Potato chips are like that -- not important. How many times have you given in to the temptation to eat chips only to be delights...I mean DELIGHTED!!!-- by your calorie investment? Once....maybe?
But the craving for chips is urgent -- we see them (or a commercial about them) and we want them. Or we just see them sitting on the end of the deli counter and we pick them up -- because Lord knows a 6 inch sub isn't enough food to keep us fueled for the next 4 hours (let alone the "foot long" that is the better deal...at least money wise).
Most brownies (in my experience) are like that too. The craving is loud, urgent, repetitive. But most of them don't deliver on taste (or maybe the first 3 bites do but we eat the rest because it's there...calling urgently for us to diligently finish it).
The chips and the brownies (and even the extra 6 inches of our foot long sub) take us away from what's really important -- our health, our contentment with our bodies, our piece of mind.
All those extras....those "treats" that in reality we have every day....are too much. They are physically too much when are blood sugar goes up beyond our body's ability to regulate it (pre-diabetes/diabetes). When our pants are too tight. When our stomach feels uncomfortably full. When we just want to lay down and take a nap (3pm during a work day, anyone? Who hasn't felt that before?)
And everything I've just talked about happens most days of the year -- we haven't even touched on the potlucks, parties, treat days, thanks you's, and everything else that goes along with the 6 week (only roughly 12% of our year) Holiday Season we've just entered into.
So the question becomes -- what are you going to do different this year? It's time to make your commitment -- to yourself, to your family, to making the world a better place by appreciating and observing the Important and putting the urgent in its place. This doesn't have to be a season of excess for you -- it can be a peaceful season of observing and engaging the Important.
It bothers me -- this excess. It bothers me that we rush through life and miss some of the important parts because we're dealing with other parts that are not important...just urgent.
Potato chips are like that -- not important. How many times have you given in to the temptation to eat chips only to be delights...I mean DELIGHTED!!!-- by your calorie investment? Once....maybe?
But the craving for chips is urgent -- we see them (or a commercial about them) and we want them. Or we just see them sitting on the end of the deli counter and we pick them up -- because Lord knows a 6 inch sub isn't enough food to keep us fueled for the next 4 hours (let alone the "foot long" that is the better deal...at least money wise).
Most brownies (in my experience) are like that too. The craving is loud, urgent, repetitive. But most of them don't deliver on taste (or maybe the first 3 bites do but we eat the rest because it's there...calling urgently for us to diligently finish it).
The chips and the brownies (and even the extra 6 inches of our foot long sub) take us away from what's really important -- our health, our contentment with our bodies, our piece of mind.
All those extras....those "treats" that in reality we have every day....are too much. They are physically too much when are blood sugar goes up beyond our body's ability to regulate it (pre-diabetes/diabetes). When our pants are too tight. When our stomach feels uncomfortably full. When we just want to lay down and take a nap (3pm during a work day, anyone? Who hasn't felt that before?)
And everything I've just talked about happens most days of the year -- we haven't even touched on the potlucks, parties, treat days, thanks you's, and everything else that goes along with the 6 week (only roughly 12% of our year) Holiday Season we've just entered into.
So the question becomes -- what are you going to do different this year? It's time to make your commitment -- to yourself, to your family, to making the world a better place by appreciating and observing the Important and putting the urgent in its place. This doesn't have to be a season of excess for you -- it can be a peaceful season of observing and engaging the Important.
Monday, November 26, 2012
A Thought for the Day...
Illness is the doctor to whom we pay most heed; to kindness, to knowledge, we make promises only; pain we obey. --Marcel Proust
But it doesn't have to be that way....KSW
But it doesn't have to be that way....KSW
Friday, November 23, 2012
Do something Friday
Alright! I hope you all enjoyed Thanksgiving! Now it's time to get back on track with the eating habits that will keep you in the same size pants all the way through the New Year!
To help with this, I'm putting together 31 days of eating tips to help us stay on track -- but you can't get them here.
Because they are including MUCH more than just mindful eating tips, I've decided to put them on the FC's Facebook page. So head on over there and "like" us to get them delivered to your news feed. These tips start December 1 -- so you'd better get the lead out!
And I know....not all y'all are on Facebook :( It makes me sad too! But I encourage you to think about taking the time to figure out how it works -- we post a lot of great information, fun pics of what's going on here, and motivational thoughts for keeping you moving and feeling strong! Totally worth it, in my book!
To help with this, I'm putting together 31 days of eating tips to help us stay on track -- but you can't get them here.
Because they are including MUCH more than just mindful eating tips, I've decided to put them on the FC's Facebook page. So head on over there and "like" us to get them delivered to your news feed. These tips start December 1 -- so you'd better get the lead out!
And I know....not all y'all are on Facebook :( It makes me sad too! But I encourage you to think about taking the time to figure out how it works -- we post a lot of great information, fun pics of what's going on here, and motivational thoughts for keeping you moving and feeling strong! Totally worth it, in my book!
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Do you love green bean casserole 3 times as much as you like green beans?
Well, do you? This is an important question because it is very likely you will run into this dilemma tomorrow.
And why 3x as much, you may ask? Because green bean casserole has 3x's the calories than regular green beans. If you love it that much -- it's totally worth it. If you don't, here an opportunity to cut back on your holiday calorie intake.
Me? I can easily do without green bean casserole.
I can pass up the pumpkin pie too -- but not the homemade, real whipping cream. So I have some of that on a plate....without the pie.
Salad tomorrow? I don't think so. I can have a salad any day of the week -- unlike stuffing. Or the fruit salad that has dates, maraschino cherries, and some other stuff (that obviously isn't as important to me as the dates and cherries) all held together with more whipping cream (NOT Cool Whip). That's on my plate, for sure!
Tomorrow isn't real eating (thank goodness!). It's holiday eating - which means you can pick and choose. You don't have to eat your veggies. You don't have to clean your plate. You can eat dessert first (unless your mom's watching).
Practice eating what you like, taking the time to taste it, and most importantly, being mindful of the company your keeping -- it's not often the focus of our day gets to be spending a meal with those we love.
And why 3x as much, you may ask? Because green bean casserole has 3x's the calories than regular green beans. If you love it that much -- it's totally worth it. If you don't, here an opportunity to cut back on your holiday calorie intake.
Me? I can easily do without green bean casserole.
I can pass up the pumpkin pie too -- but not the homemade, real whipping cream. So I have some of that on a plate....without the pie.
Salad tomorrow? I don't think so. I can have a salad any day of the week -- unlike stuffing. Or the fruit salad that has dates, maraschino cherries, and some other stuff (that obviously isn't as important to me as the dates and cherries) all held together with more whipping cream (NOT Cool Whip). That's on my plate, for sure!
Tomorrow isn't real eating (thank goodness!). It's holiday eating - which means you can pick and choose. You don't have to eat your veggies. You don't have to clean your plate. You can eat dessert first (unless your mom's watching).
Practice eating what you like, taking the time to taste it, and most importantly, being mindful of the company your keeping -- it's not often the focus of our day gets to be spending a meal with those we love.
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