FEB 8 Marinated Brains

Good Evening Journal & Friends,

I looove my George Foreman grill. 

And one of my favorite concoctions is to throw a bunch of sliced fresh veggies into a baggie, add some wet smooshie stuff (like Italian salad dressing), and let it marinate while I do other stuff. Later, I grill those babies for a few minutes, and Wowzer! It's great. And it was the marinating process that made the change in flavor.

So last week, when Dayne at Coach Your Mind, used the idea of marinating our brains... it caught my imagination. 

Coach Dayne talked about the value of soaking our brains as we go to sleep. Marinating them in good thoughts, if you will. The concept stems from the truth that:

What we think ultimately 

creates who we become!

He explains how he learned the importance of going to sleep thinking healthy thoughts. And how our unconscious mind takes over during sleep, and the importance of what we tell it right before we fall asleep. (Highly recommend the whole post, HERE) 

So, I decided to create my own version of a night time mantra in which to marinate my brain. I tell this one to myself right as I go to sleep:

 

What I believe, think, say and do
creates my future. 

Why that one? First off, I wasn't sure it would really do anything! But I was surprised to discover that often when I woke up in the morning, I remembered it.

Second, I made up my own because it had to be something from within ME, something I wouldn't resist, that I could totally embrace. And I put the words in that specific order, on purpose. 

I wanted my first word to be BELIEVE. For me, it had to be the foundation upon which all the other stuff was built. Oh.. I've done the "name it and claim it" stuff... the "fake it til you make it" stuff. There is a time for that. You can't just sit around introspective and do nothing until you Get It. You've got to take action.

But I put BELIEVE first because I wanted everything after that to be powerful... to come from a place of knowing, of being. From knowing deep in my heart, it's true. Not hoping, wishing, or trying. See the difference?

Example: 

A guy is an expert high-wire walker. World famous. So, he strings his tightrope across Niagra Falls, ready to perform his amazing act.

He turns to you, in the audience, and asks: Do you believe I can do this?? 

Yes, you reply, with an encouraging smile, all ready to be entertained. 

Okay then, he answers... climb onto my back!

Ahhh... now you find out if you really BELIEVE he can do it, or if you just HOPE he can do it.

So, that's what I've been mulling over for a few days. What do I REALLY believe? 

That I will be successful losing this weight... yes. Totally. 

How long will it take me? I honestly can't answer that. I'd love to say in X number of months. But that would be "saying" it, not believing it. Eventually, I'm sure I'll be to that point of setting a goal from the Believing place... but right now, so far, I simply know I WILL get there. :-) 

Links: 

-Ten Ways to Use Your George Foreman Grill 

-Grilled Vegetable Panini

-George Foreman Grilled Vegetables

From Dr Phil's book: "Successful people do what unsuccessful people won't... you don't have to like them; you just have to do them."

My verse for today: "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped."

My quote for today: "So many people say, 'I'd like to do this, I'd like to do that.' The mind should control the body. When you move your fingers, when you move your toes, that's done by the mind." --Jack LaLanne

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta

=^..^=

DAY 543

FEB 7 Thanks & Catching Up

Good Afternoon Journal & Friends,

Having MyGuy sick and off work all last week caused some serious consequences: it cut into my blog reading/writing time!

Which reminds me of a cartoon Darla  posted that tickled my funny bone.

Anyway, I'm sorry I haven't been around too much last week, and haven't been too supportive of ya'll. I truly appreciate your comments, and wanted to say thank you so very much! 

I'm all over my "mad", and appreciate all your ideas, comments, suggestions and support. And MargieAnne was right: it was not worth the energy getting angry. :-)

From Dr Phil's book: "There is strength and power in support."

My verse for today: "I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds."

My quote for today: "Many people have arthritis and rheumatism; they get bum knees, a bum back. A lot of guys get a little pain in the toe or knee and then they won't exercise. Well gee, you have 640 muscles in your body. There may be a few exercises you can't do, but there are hundreds you can do!" --Jack LaLanne

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta

=^..^=

DAY 542

FEB 5 Hot Under the Collar

Hello Journal & Friends,

Okay, first... thank you Abraham Lincoln.

I once read his biography and was impressed by his method of handling his generals during the war. Whenever he was angry, annoyed or otherwise ticked off, he would write it down and put it into his desk drawer for 24 hours. Then, if he still needed to chew butt, he did it with more respect and calm.

Friday I read a blog post that totally p*ssed me off!! 

I. Was. Angry. 

I had HAD it with that kind of crap. I was tired of reading arrogant drivel that hurt people who were struggling.

And boy oh boy, did I crank out an incendiary post in response! I was hot under the collar, and let 'er rip!

Right before I hit Post, I remembered Abraham Lincoln. I knew *I* would feel better if I blasted my post out over the interwebs. But... would I really help anyone, or would I actually hurt someone??

So I sat on it. And instead, did something dumb.... I felt angry and rebellious... and I overate.

Yep, dumb, dumb, dumb. Okay, in proper self-talk: a poor choice.

This morning I received this lovely comment from Nancy at Hot Mom Days-Cool Author Nights: "I love your blog for its "Retta-ness" very artsy and calm and encouraging. Don't change it." 

Little did she know the storm that was brewing! Oh, the drama. 

Well... I dunno. Maybe if I had let it fly, I would have felt better and not overeaten. Or, I might have regretted all the drama and worried I might have hurt someone. 

?????????????????

Anyone have this figured out?? Wanna share how YOU handle this kind of thing??

I'll leave you with the one thing I had fun making for that hot under the collar post, a blog button for myself:

From Dr Phil's book: "Ultimately, only you - and you alone - are responsible for getting your weight under control."

My verse for today: "Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth."

My quote for today: "Everything you do in life, I don't care, good or bad - don't blame God, don't blame the devil, don't blame me, blame you. You control everything! The thoughts you think, the words you utter, the foods you eat, the exercise you do. Everything is controlled by you." --Jack LaLanne

Enjoy the Journey (hmmm, good advice that),

Loretta

=^..^=

DAY 540

FEB 4 Attitude Transformation & Friday Favorites

Hello Journal & Friends,

MyGuy has been off work most of this week sick. Sigh..... so much for "my" schedule and the infamous Checklist Experiment (here). 

I started the day off feeling frustrated. Then I read a newsletter I get from Dr Mercola, and it included this adorable video. It was peaceful and calming... and I admit, it transformed my attitude, and that reminded me I have a choice as to how I respond to my circumstances. I wonder why that is so easy to forget!?! 

"A Friend Like You"

From Dr Phil's book: "Be realistic about what you can control and what you can't."

My verse for today: "In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed."

My quote for today: "Thoughts are things. Negativity is what kills you... It's tough to do, but you've got to work at living, you know? Most people work at dying, but anybody can die; the easiest thing on this earth is to die. But to live takes guts; it takes energy, vitality, it takes thought... You've got to be strong to overcome these adversities... that's why I never stop." --Jack LaLanne, at age 84

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta

=^..^=

DAY 539

FEB 2 Oops, I (almost) Did It Again

Hi there Journal & Friends, 

I was walking near the edge, and almost fell over... into the Canyon of Comparison.

I read lots of blogs. Probably too many, actually. After all, there is only so much time in the day. But there are so many wonderful stories being told... so many interesting lives... so much hard-won wisdom being shared.

But I started to compare myself. I didn't realize it at first. I just felt this "pressure" recently whenever I sat to write a post. 

To be like so and so 

To write it this way or that way

To "be" the way this blogger is 

To write like They think it should be written

Last night I read post by Karen at Before & After: A Real Life Story. 

And I sat bolt upright, because she described how I was feeling, only hadn't been able to put my finger on it:

"And then it hit me: I was back in the mode of thinking, even though I’ve written a book and am gearing up to be a speaker, I don’t think it’s “enough” even though I haven’t even had a chance to do it yet! And at the basis of my dithering and slight panic was the old thought: ”I’m not enough…I have to do something I’m not comfortable doing…I have to be something I am not…in order to be valuable.”

That part about "I'm not enough", and feeling like I had to do more... that really hit home.

And I realized that I was comparing myself to those other blogs. And was feeling "less than".  Now please don't go leaving reassuring comments, patting me on the back. I am NOT fishing for compliments, reassurance, permission, approval, etc.  I am just saying... I am going back to my roots, to why I started my blog in the first place.

And it was not to please anyone else. I needed help! It was for me. To help me focus. To write about stuff I needed to read. To explore ideas and things I was interested in. If someone else was helped, that was a wonderful bonus, because I know the pain of morbid obesity... of not being who you want to be, who you know you could be.

This is ME: 

I refuse to wallow in the negatives, in my shortcomings, in my  downfalls, in what I lack. Those weeds have enough power, without watering them so they can grow bigger! I try to be honest and acknowledge them, but not DWELL on them. In my mind I am a work in progress. 

I am BECOMING. 

And I want to put my focus on that Becoming part.

If that bothers anyone, then there are sooo many wonderful blogs out there from which to choose! I am me, and I refuse to allow the judgement of others to bring me down any longer. Yes, I have allowed criticism to make me second guess myself... to doubt myself. But guess what?? This is MY blog. If they don't like what I write, why on earth read it??! Don't waste your time... go somewhere else!

I am learning and growing. I do what I do now because that is what I KNOW to do. Tomorrow I might have a new understanding, and it might be time to shift gears. I am not set in stone... I am fluid and changing. 

A butterfly starts out as a hairy worm. Does that make the caterpillar part of it's journey "less than"?? Obviously not. It's all it knew at the time... it's who it was.

I really like what Karen said on her blog about self-acceptance and loving herself. And how that freed her to become who she was meant to be... a healthier and whole person. Her emphasis shifted from the struggle and obsession with weight loss, to whole wellness. From a number on the scale to a healthy life.

I can see why someone might judge me and mock me when they don't know my heart. They don't understand the process of Becoming... of changing, of emerging. 

I do tend to talk about things I "want" to become... things that maybe I feel are inside me in seed form, or at least seeds I am planting within. Or, other things that are sprouting and reaching out and up for the sun... trying to survive and thrive. And maybe not everyone sees that... or approves of that... 

And I smile, because at last, I think I'm okay with that. Because *I* know I am in flux... in the process of change, of emergence, of Becoming. And no one can take that from me.

I guess sometimes we just have to get feisty... and not allow anyone--ourselves or anyone else--to take this from us. :-)

From Dr Phil's book: "This is about you, your weight and your health; it is not about them."

My verse for today: "The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."

My quote for today: "Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the GREAT people make you feel that you, too, can become GREAT!" --Mark Twain

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta

=^..^=

DAY 537

FEB 1 Oh Goodie, It's Weigh Day

Hello Journal & Friends,

Yep, that time again... first of the month weigh day. Just when I had gotten back up, dusted myself off and was all set to boogie on with this journey. 

What can I say?? My recent bout of "grazing" came back to bite me this morning. What did I expect??! I guess that's why it's called Denial. Anyway, this morning I was 339. That is UP from last month by 7 pounds. Sigh. 

It's no coincidence to me that just last night, in my reading of Stephen Covey's book "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People", I read this:

"The proactive approach to a mistake is to acknowledge it instantly, correct and learn from it.... But not to acknowledge a mistake, not to correct it and learn from it, is a mistake of a different order. It usually puts a person on a self-deceiving, self-justifying path, often involving rationalization (rational lies) to self and to others. This second mistake, this cover-up, empowers the first, giving it disproportionate importance, and causes far deeper injury to self."

Well, there you have it. Perfect timing to be smacked between the eyes with that truth. Honestly, it kind of scared me when I re-read that this morning. I don't want to be stuck, and go backwards any longer. I don't want to deceive myself, and make excuses, and "empower" my mistakes.

So I'm just leaving it there. 

I screwed up... I acknowledge it... I am correcting it... Hopefully I learned from it.

Feeling frustrated... embarrassed... angry with myself. But also determined to continue.

Nothing else really to say! Now I need to DO, not talk.

From Dr Phil's book: "When you choose the behavior, you choose the consequences."

My verse for today: "I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. Show the wonder of your great love."

My quote for today: "Ideas not coupled with action never become bigger than the brain cells they occupied." --Arnold H Glasgow

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta

=^..^=

DAY 536