JUNE 18th No! No! No!

I've been thoroughly enjoying my recent "good times", when all of lifes dramas seemed to have calmed, and things were going smoother. 

It was nice while it lasted... but now, the drama is back. Sigh... Lesson: enjoy and appreciate the good times while they last! 

Life seems like the tides... events come and go, up and down, good and bad, in and out... low tide, high tide. 

It's funny... I had JUST been reading about joy. How true joy is not dependent upon circumstances. It comes from within, from our relationship with our God, from the eternal not the temporal.

Uh huh... I should have KNOWN there would be a pop quiz. :-}

Anyway, lots of disappointing stuff going on, and big hits to the budget. Big hits to plans I had (past tense) to get stuff done while Hubby and The Barker were SUPPOSED to be off camping. 

And big hits to my "optimism". I had been doing so well on this journey to get healthier, having finally seemed to turn a corner not that long ago. 

Recently a tool I use died... The Scale. No biggee, I'll just get a new battery, right? By the time I got said battery and installed it, and did the Monday weigh-in ritual,

I was S.T.U.N.N.E.D - A.G.H.A.S.T - H.O.R.R.I.F.I.E.D!!!!

I just don't get it. I know I haven't been counting calories for awhile until just recently, but come on... no way! My newly batterized scale says that since May 1st, I have GAINED 27 pounds!!!! Two Seven. Twenty-seven. 

I'm having a hard time believing that. I double and triple checked, and it's the same each time. 

I can't begin to describe the crushing disappointment... how deflating, discouraging, frustrating and even angering that is. 

Please, do NOT post a comment telling me not to let "the scale" dictate my mood, etc etc. The scale is a tool, and I  get sick to death of people whining about how mean "it" is to them. It is simply a tool I totally appreciate having. Without it, I would not know I was on this wrong trend!!! 

I just didn't know. I can't tell from my clothes at my size. I can't tell by how I "feel", since I always feel "heavy" and have pain in my joints. So the scale is a helpful tool to give me some indication of how my plan is working... or NOT working, as the case may be.

My upset is not in the scale's reading. It is in ME. In my apparent obliviousness to how I've really been doing. I truly thought I was making progress, doing better than this. Uh... can we say REALITY CHECK??

So... now what?

I don't believe in coincidence, so I have to take note of the post I read just this morning from Coach Dayne at Coach Your Mind (HERE). 

Bottomline, there is no point in dragging out my crummy feelings about this crummy news. I saw it, I processed it, I felt it. And boy howdy, did I feel it!

In my past, I most likely would have wallowed in it for a while before moving past it. But really, there's just no point in doing that. 

So, time to move right into the DOING phase. 

Time to just get on with it, to do what I know to do. I'll count the dang calories, I'll move more, I'll just never quit. I don't know what else to do... but to just keep on, and trust that the hard work will pay off. 

I admit, I'm hoping against hope that part of this is water retention.  

:-}

My book quote for today: "...Behind everything you do is a thought, and each individual thought contributes to your overall character... No area of your life is untouched by your thoughts." --Tommy Newberry, The 4:8 Principle

My verse for today: "The Lord hears the needy..."

My quote for today: "You cannot make yourself feel something you do not feel, but you can make yourself do right in spite of your feelings!" --Pear S Buck

Enjoy the Journey, and if you're not then at least don't quit!

Loretta

=^..^=

DAY 1030

APRIL 6th Our Video Is Here!

Hello Journal & Friends,

I'm excited! It's here... the long anticipated video made especially for us by Coach Dayne, from Coach Your Mind! 

On January 1st of this year, I took a Poll (Here), asking what YOU all would like to see included in his video. Coach Dayne teaches on having a winning mindset, on choosing to be the 1%.. that minority of people who decide that failure, mediocrity and defeatist attitude are not what they want. Who are willing to do the work, to be teachable, and to never ever quit. To believe their goals are possible... thus making it probable that they WILL achieve them. It's for those who decide they are not willing to settle for less any more! 

Does that describe you??

I'm making the choice that it DOES describe me. I'm not going by feelings, I'm choosing it. I. want. it. 

Well, Coach Dayne read your answers to the poll, and we now have the video! Before I give the link to the video (I'm having problems with blogspot letting me embed videos, thus the need for a link) I wanted to let you in on something else Coach Dayne is up to: he's now posting short audio talks on Soundcloud, which also appear on Facebook. If you sign up, Soundcloud will notify you when a new audio is available. 

The audios are short and to the point, and I'm loving them. I already saw one thing I was NOT doing right in visualizing my goals... and that's only after listening to two! Here is the link to Coach Dayne's Soundcloud page.  

Okay, drumroll... here's the long awaited:

 VIDEO ON YOUTUBE link. 

I already took a peek at it, and I am so jazzed! I heard something clearly this time I had been fuzzy on before, and that's exciting to me. 

Need a reason to watch the video? Here's my short summary:

--talks about keys to keeping the kind of powerful motivation that will bust through barriers

--how to super-charge your motivation so it sustains you

--describes the kind of "WHY" needed and what to attach to it in order to make it powerful and solid, so nothing will stop you

--how to separate from the "average" and achieve your goals, to become the 1%

Thank you, Coach Dayne. I appreciate this greatly.

My book quote for today: "What is it like, they ask me, to commit every fiber, every molecule of being, to completing a goal? How do you train yourself to not ever consider the option of quitting under the most stressful situations?" --Richard Machowicz, Unleash the Warrior Within

My verse for today: "I will sing praise to my God as long as I live."

My quote for today: "You control virtually every aspect of this journey." --Jack, at Jack Sh*t, Gettin' Fit 

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta

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DAY 963

APRIL 2nd I'm Still Alive!

Hi Journal & Friends,

Sunday night I had a dream.

I died.

It wasn't scary or morbid or anything like that. But man, it was so real! It came unexpected, and swift. There was a LOT to the dream, and I remember exactly what I said when I realized I was "there" and not "here" any longer: "But I'm not finished".

Like I said, there was a whole lot more. But the take away messages for ME was this:

None of us know when our time is done here. So live to our fullest NOW.

There is Love there. But also make sure you live in Love here, and NOW.

I feel in my heart I am not finished here yet, so I want to not waste any time NOW.

Master the Now!

Just yesterday (Sunday) I watched a video on Coach Dayne's blog, Coach Your Mind.  The line I wrote down from the video to remember was: Master the now!  I can see how that also worked itself into my dream.

I was going to write a whiny post about how I gained 3 lbs last month, and how I'm going to work harder, yadda yadda yadda. Well, it kinda pales in significance to dying!! Yes, I AM getting my rear in gear. And getting on with this. But not "to lose weight". That will be a great side benefit.

I want to get on with the program and lose the weight so I CAN live now, so I can finish my business here. So I can give that love NOW, in my own way.

Wow, what a dream!! 

I woke up early, feeling excited and bursting with energy and renewed motivation! Now... to add the ACTION to that motivation.

My book quote for today: "You can always do more than you think, you can always go a lot farther than you think." --Richard Machowicz, Unleash The Warrior Within

My verse for today: "But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more."

My quote for today: "Success isn't a destination, it's a belief. Belief isn't taught, it's decided. When will you decide?" --Dayne Gingrich

Enjoy the Journey as long as it lasts,

Loretta

=^..^=

DAY 959

JAN 6th Balance vs Focus or... Getting Rid of the MinkJunk!

Howdy Journal & Friends,

It finally dawned on me one mistake I made last year. I don't regret it, really. I mean, we try stuff and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. 

My mistake? Thinking it was MY TIME to find "balance". 

I know, I know. Balance is a "good thing". I agree. 

At the right time. 

But for me, it was too soon. Or at least, for "my" definition of balance, and how that played out in my life.

FOCUS:

act of concentrating interest on something

center of interest or activity 

pay particular attention to

revolve around

zoom in on

focal point

to zero in

pinpoint

essence 

nucleus 

concern

theme

heart 

topic 

gist

hub

I'm working on re-focusing... on letting go of the extra fluff that fritters away my time and energy and doesn't get me any closer towards my goals. If I keep diluting my energies, it will only drag this out longer than it needs to be!

I want to fill my mind with things that help keep me on point. That'll be different for each of us, according to our belief systems. But here are some quotes that I believe are true, and can apply to most of us:

"The first requisite for success is the ability to apply your physical and mental energies to one problem incessantly without growing weary." --Thomas Edison

"You'll never achieve extraordinary results by taking average measures." --Skwigg

"Commitment is doing what is necessary, interest is doing what is convenient." --John Assaraf

"Your life is entirely what you decide it is. The universe starts in your head and spreads out into the world. Change what happens in your head and the universe changes."  --W Mitchell

"To succeed, you need to take that gut feeling in what you believe in and act on it with all your heart." --Christy Borgeld

"What I've found is that you can't make a half-hearted swipe at this and expect to be successful. You really need to throw yourself into what you're doing, commit to making big changes and do everything in your power to stick with them." --Jack Sh*t

"Some define obsession as negative. I say it's how you get things done."  --Mark Twight

"Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice." --Wayne Dyer

"Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun's rays do not burn until brought to a focus." --Alexander Graham Bell

"My ability to concentrate and work toward that goal has been my greatest asset." --Jack Nicklaus

"I've always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come. I don't do things half-heartedly because I know if I do, then I can expect half-hearted results." --Michael Jordan

"Don't join an easy crowd, join a successful crowd where the expectations are high and the payoff is great." --Jim Rohn

If you read those quotes and instead of finding some that resonate with you, you start arguing with the fine points, then you want to be right more than you want to change. Eat the meat an' spit out the bones. :-D

Bottomline, our success on this weight loss/fitness/health journey isn't just going to "happen". If we don't make it a priority, if we don't MAKE time to invest in our thinking, our mindset, then we are being unrealistic. We are playing with it... dabbling at it. We are a-hoping an' a-wishing and waiting for that "miracle" to just happen, without being willing to pay the price. 

The price? Time. 

Time spent whatever is the best way for each of us, individually, to improve our mindset. To throw out the old crappy thinking patterns, and replace them ON PURPOSE with truth: 

That we DO have a choice. 

That we CAN make healthy changes. 

That we are NOT victims.

Clean out the MindJunk 

and sow healthy ThoughtSeeds!

Don't know where to start?? If you don't already have resources, here's some I really like:

Dayne Gingrich, at Coach Your Mind  

Craig Sigl, Mental Toughness Trainer  

And a new one I just recently found, thanks to Margene at Believing It's Possible is Half The Battle:

Tommy Newberry, author of The 4:8 Principle (which I bought and LOVE LOVE LOVE)

We've all heard it a million times: What you focus on will grow.

Focus on the "fact" that you are a "food addict", and that reality will gain power.

Focus on the "fact" that you have a choice to HEAL and be FREE from being a food addict, and guess what??

Yep, that reality gains power.

I'm speaking from personal experience. No, I have no double-blind studies to quote, or letters after my name. But smarter folks than I am teach this, and I've found it is TRUE!! I refuse to keep claiming that label of Food Addict any longer. No more cop-outs. 

Oh, you say you're just being "honest", and you are not in denial?? Okay, fine. How's that working for you?? :-O

I won't argue with an individual about it, since we each have to find what works for US. But if it's NOT working for you to insist on wearing that label, then why not consider changing your mind?? Why not consider that every time you insist that you ARE still a food addict, you are giving away your power to a label, and making it your identity? 

Why not at least say I USED to be a food addict, and am now busting free!! That's what I say, and now it's TRUE in my mind and life. 

Try it.. what have you got to lose... except pounds. :-D

From Dr Phil's book: "Change your thinking to change your weight."

My verse for today: "But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy."

My quote for today: "Let us not be content to wait and see what will happen, but give us the determination to make the right things happen." --Peter Marshall

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta

=^..^=

DAY 872

JAN 1st New Year, New Weight & New Poll

Hi Journal & Friends,

Yay... it's a brand new year, like a shiny new penny. I always like that... so full of possibilities. 

And it's cool that my monthly weigh-in is on the first day of this new year, too. Drumroll.... 327, for a loss last month of 8 lbs. I was shooting for 10, but hey, I'll take it and do a happy dance to boot! :-D

I am so excited to tell you about an informal poll I'm taking. I want YOUR suggestions!! 

For the last 2 years I've followed a blog that has taught me so much: Coach Your Mind, by Coach Dayne Gingrich.   He was a professional athlete, and now teaches others how to have a winning mindset... what he calls The 1%. That's because most people will fall into the 99% category of drifting along, not knowing how, or not choosing to pay the price to achieve their highest potential (that's MY summary).

Well, I want to be one of the 1%. 

I want to be teachable. 

I want to do whatever it takes to achieve my goals. 

And that's where YOU come in. Coach Dayne has made a most generous offer. He is shortly going to be doing a series of teachings, and his "regular" target audience is the athlete. 

But he's offered to include one just for us, the weight loss community! 

He asked what YOU would like to hear about, anything having to do with MINDSET. What you are interested in learning more about, what you struggle with, what you'd like to learn... such as conquering fears and doubts; how to get or stay motivated; how to use visualization to help you achieve your goals; believing in yourself; learning to focus, etc etc. 

 Edited to add: I got my facts scrambled, sorry. The 1% Academy is a separate project, and then he is offering to do a video just for us! This will be after the 1% Academy, on January 13th. 

Think about it, and if you have an idea, please leave a comment and I'll make sure Coach Dayne gets our ideas. The 1% Academy is due to start January 9th, so we've got to get our suggestions in real soon. I'm looking forward to this, and I hope you will join me. Here's the trailer for the 1% Academy, click HERE.

I am totally convinced that our mindset, our attitude, our thinking, can make or break us on this journey to health. We need our mindset to be our ALLIE, not our enemy. It can be our greatest friend, or deadliest foe. 

I get nice comments at times about how much weight I've lost so far. It's taken me a long time to get this far, but it's the first time in my life I've KEPT it off, instead of yo yo-ing. If you really want to do that, too, you'll need to do what I've had to do: work on your mindset. It takes time. You must be willing to invest TIME in yourself. Read, listen, learn. CHANGE YOUR THINKING. I'm being real blunt and honest here. It won't "just happen". You MUST carve out time in your busy schedule for this. You just must. I had to. I had to give up other stuff to do just that. But it was worth it to me.

I am determined to be among that 1% that has unleashed the power that is available to us all, that of having a powerful, positive and healthy mindset. Am I feeling enthusiastic about this?? You betcha! I hope you'll join me, and let me know in the comments what you'd like to hear about from Coach Dayne's video just for us. :-)

From Dr Phil's book: "Your thoughts powerfully program you."

My verse for today: "How priceless is your unfailing love."

My quote for today: "If you stubbornly demand and expect that weight loss and life should be easy, you will consistently fail at weight loss. Why? Life and weight loss are often not easy and there is nothing you can do to change that fact. Long-term weight loss is not for children or sissies. I wish it was but it is not. Get over it and get on with it."  --Dr Matthew Anderson

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta

=^..^=

DAY 867

NOV 19th My Choice Today is LIFE

Howdy Journal & Friends,

The fire is back, baby!!

I just spent close to an hour hunting high and low for an article I had kept to back up the opinion I'm about to spout off... no such luck... couldn't find it... zippo.

So... take it or leave it. :-D This will be just one person's opinion (and you know what they say about opinions, right?) Here goes, a message going out into the ether, no one person in mind:

Stop it. 

Just. STOP. IT. 

Stop repeating, ad nauseam, those mythological "statistics" that tell how HAAARRRDDD it is to lose weight and KEEP it off. I am totally over it! I am exasperated. Irritated. TIRED OF READING ABOUT IT. 

CUZ IT AIN'T TRUE!!

Who was it that said if you tell a lie enough times, it will eventually be taken for truth? Hitler??

Anyway, for years and years people have quoted and requoted those old stats about how only 5% can lose weight and keep it off. Blah blah blah. And since all the Quoters are only quoting other quoters, no one bothers to go back to The Source of these damaging statistics that have influenced an entire generation of dieters into accepting the inevitability of regaining weight.

Enough already!!!

The study I read (yes, the one I can't seem to find right now) exposed those tired old statistics.

 They were base upon numbers reported from a weight loss clinic full of people who had chronic problems losing weight and keeping it off, who had already failed over and over... that's why they were there in the first place. 

Their statistics were not from a cross section of the general "weight loss dieters" population. That is why their study outcome was SKEWED, and not applicable to the general "average" population. 

Dang, I wish I could find that study! I KNOW most people need authorities with credentials after their name in order to accept it as the "gospel".

Anyway, with the usual headline and soundbite reporting, the original study was taken out of context over and over and over, until now all we hear are things like: most people fail at their weight loss attempts, and of those that do lose weight only 3 to 5% of them keep it off... etc etc etc.

STUFF A SOCK IN IT!!

I realize we all do this, me included. We repeat stuff we've "heard", trusting that it's true. Well, newsflash: this one is NOT true.

And I am tired of our whole weight loss community being continually bashed over the head with misinformation and LIES. 

Yes, LIES.

Lies that we accept and internalize.

Lies that influence our subconscious.

Lies that cause us to impose limits on ourselves.

Lies that make us cower in the face of what the "authorities" tell us is supposed to be true.

Lie that set us up to fail before we even get started.

Lies that become self-fulling prophecies.

Please note: I am not stooopid. I get it that we are individuals, and we each must work with the hand we've been dealt. Example: I am now 60. I am in a wheelchair. I live with a few medical conditions. So... I'm not gonna stupidly set a goal to run a half marathon. I need to find the best plan for ME as an individual, and give it my best and honest effort.

So while running a marathon will, for ME, be unrealistic, I CAN set as my goal to live a powerful, joyful and triumphant life.. the best one FOR ME that I possibly can achieve. And I believe God has a plan for me, if I'll just get with the program!

I may not control the outcome, but I certainly control my EFFORTS (thank you, Coach Dayne  for that). 

I'm not talking about pie in the sky, unrealistic expectations. I AM talking about refusing to let others steal our dreams. About not laying down and allowing statistics to walk all over us, as if we were victims with no choice.

Have you ever played around with archery?? We did when I was growing up. Compound bows, wrist guards, arrows, targets, the whole nine yards. And the one thing you learned right away was this:

 In order to hit the bullseye, 

you had to slightly AIM HIGHER than the bullseye.

 And the farther away your target, 

the higher you had to aim in order to hit the bullseye. 

So if we start out this weight loss trip with LOWERED expectations, we are totally setting ourselves up to NOT hit our goal. This is hard enough without sabotaging ourselves from the get go!!

Aim high. 

Kick fear to the curb. 

If I goof up... so what??!! 

Get up, dust off, learn from it, and get my rear in gear again.

Am I feeling feisty? Uh... ya think?? ;-)

From Dr Phil's book: "Be kind when you can, but firm when you must. You alone are responsible for what you put in your mouth, and what you do to get in shape."

My verse for today: "O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand."

My quote for today: "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars." --Les Brown

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta

=^..^=

DAY 825