One Hundred Forty Six

I went camping over the weekend, so I wasn't in full control of the menu. I did clean and cut up celery and carrots to take in the car for the 4 hour ride. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring them. :(
We had lots of activities, including taking a walk in the woods at 6:30 AM on Saturday morning. All that fresh air makes you hungry!! So I had scrambled eggs and grits. Bacon, and a biscuit. As I said, it makes you really hungry.

They had tacos, beans and rice for lunch and spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. Don't forget the garlic bread. I did avoid the cookies and brownies for dessert. But I was really hungry and ate well. There was a lot of activity and exercise, so I really needed the energy. And that fresh air makes you hungry.

Did you know that fresh air makes you hungry? It's true!

One Hundred Forty Six point 4

I weighed myself this morning. I don't really think the scale should be my boss, but it will be one way to see that I have achieved my goal. The real way I will know is that I will fit and feel comfortable in my white jeans.

Anyway I know I have made a good choice by selecting Connie Russo at PMR Elite Fitness and Massage in Tarpon Springs. Connie is my partner as I learn to change my lifestyle to be aligned with my ideal physical image. So far I have worked out twice this week in the morning with Connie and a few others. For me, this boosts my motivation, because though I am comfortable taking it slow, I get more motivated when I slow down, but see others putting forth the effort. If they can do it, so can I!

 I am also keeping a food journal. Connie has provided a calorie counter, so I may learn how to finally do that. She did have a measuring tape and my waist came in at 32 inches. The good news is that the medical community has determined that 35 inches is the danger level for women. So the good news is that I am below the danger level!

One Hundred Forty Seven Pounds

I stepped on the scale this morning. This is the starting point. It said 147. I have determined that I need to lose 10 pounds. Well, 11. Actually 12. I have been struggling with these 10 pounds for 2 years now and they seem to be particularly stubborn. I blame it on hormones or age. Actually both. I blame it on menopause. Or perimenopause, which is the modern term. I have never weighed more than 150 punds. I reached 150 just before I gave birth to my son. So this fat around the middle is very uncomfortable for me. It's like wearing sandbags. It very much reminds me of my pregnant belly, as I never really carried a lot of weight in that area before. I am a pear, not an apple and have always had a waist much smaller than my hips. So now that the fat is gathering in the middle, where it should NOT be, I am determined to eliminate in a slow and healthy way. I'd like to eliminate it right NOW, but it doesn't seem to work that way. I have never been on a restrictive diet and I do not have the discipline to learn how to count calories and carbs now. I don't like to be hungry. So I've got to figure out a way to make losing fat fun or at least interesting. I'd like to share my journey with you. This will help me with my motivation. You see, I have decided before to lose those unwanted pounds. So how do I find myself here, at 147? I don't know. All I know is I want my waistline back.

As I am new to this, I have decided that 10 weeks should be sufficient to eliminate10 er 12 pounds . I will see 135 pounds on my scale on or before April 30, 2012.

This is the first step, making a decision. No, that was already made. The first step for me is announcing it to the world. So I have to reduce. Otherwise I will feel very foolish.

I think the dangerous width of the waistline is 30 inches for women. I might not be able to findmy measuring tape, but I can probably have my waist measured by my personal trainer tomorrow. I will be taking a class on Tuesday and Thursday mornings starting tomorrow.

What's Hypnosis Got to Do With IT?

After reading about the principal who resigned after 2 students committed suicide, I am wondering why they think he is somehow to blame. It seems he is certified in hypnosis and has used hypnosis with many of his students in order to relieve test anxiety. Hypnosis is very useful for this purpose. It can also be used to reduce stress and other types of anxiety (excessive worrying).

So I keep wondering why it is significant that he used hypnosis with these students. I have been using hypnosis for over 15 years and have never heard of any link with suicide or even suicidal thoughts. I have heard, however, that there is an epidemic of teen suicide in the US. Hypnosis is such a wonderful tool for self-development, I just can't help thinking, that these kids could have benefited from using hypnosis more often!

The continuum from Willful to Willing

When it comes to change, there are two possible reactions.

Are you willing to move forward and go with the flow? Or are you stubbornly refusing to accept change and being resistent and willful?
It's not easy to flow with change. Even though we may have been complaining for a long time, say about a job, we don't like it when the supervisor decides to downsize or change the requirements of the job without consulting us first. But by being willful we gain nothing. We are seen as old dogs.
People who are willing to change seem to go further.

Sometimes we don't want to leave familiar things behind. We believe the devil we know is better than the devil we don't know. But if we don't change, how will we know which is really better?

Change may be difficult, but change IS good. We must change or stagnate. Change definitely is better.