The Seven Habits

Today at the book store I picked up a copy of
  Dr. Colbert's "I can do this Diet"

I have a few other books of his that I think are worthy reading. And since I respect this author's writings... I perused his book and felt it valuable enough to purchase.  

If you know me... you know 

I DO NOT BELIEVE IN DIETS.

Get Smart and ANSWER THE PHONE
and then LISTEN
NO DIETS!!!! 

Ok (allora)  So, I'll probably blog on this for the next week (or however long it takes to read.... AHH no way, I'm going to finish it in the next few days!!!!)

I love the introduction he used in this book:

"Come Fly with DreamFlight... because we get out there at least 5% of the time"

Would you choose to fly on an airlines that had this kind of motto?
Yet every day, dieters embark on a new diet with the same success rate.  Reports are between 2-5% success rate in keeping off the weight for good.  


He reports that the low rate of success is do to the fact that it's difficult for people to stick to the guidelines of a diet for months, years and even decades.


In the second chapter, Dr. Colbert is right in there with what I keep harping on

"Change the habits!"  

The National Weight Control Registry (NWCR) at the Brown Medical School track and investigated why certain people succeed in controlling their weight long term while others do not.

Using Stephen Covey's ideas, Dr. Colbert provides 7 Habits using the underlying principles of successful models to imitate.
  

Habit #1: Modify your food intake

Habit #2: Increase your activity level

Habit #3: Eat breakfast every day

Habit #4: Monitor your weight regularly

Habit #5: Stay consistent with your eating

Habit #6: Control your portion size and your environment

Habit #7: Be accountable

This is a good kick start to 2011.   Developing these HABITS!  A habit is formed in 21 days.  I need to work on #6!  So when I'm at my Mom's and see the Cannoli's.... or sit to visit... I'm not "mindlessly" eating something... just to eat. 

Now, as I have said so many times in my blog, 

It is all about BALANCE to truly obtain true Health and Wellness.   

Balancing our physical, mental and spiritual being.  

Habits are  like "gears"  in our Health

Habits provide "motion" to our being, taking us in any given direction. 

  

Good Habits provide the motion for Health and Wellness

Bad Habits cause nothing but conflict, illness, strife and eventually.... death.

There are "habits" that are physical behaviors

There are Mental Habits we  perform without even thinking about it

There are spiritual Habits  we have or  that we lack!

So when we think of "changing our lifestyle" to alter our health and wellness, 

THINK HABITS.  It is OUR HABITS that need to change.

This new year is going to be amazing  I AM CONFESSING THIS!  I am holding on to promises in God's Word.  

I see it,  I feel it,  I speak it, I hear it (quiet voice in my head) and I know it in my heart.

I know it in my heart because 

I see it,  

I feel it,  

I speak it, 

I hear it, 

I SAY IT!

dog gone it!

Ok, that is enough for today.  

Ciao

Salute to your Health and Wellness in 2011!

PS :  the number 7 is the Perfect number!

plus a week is 7 days

Habits are formed in 3 weeks (3 x 7)  hummmmm

References: 

"I can do this Diet"

http://www.drcolbert.com/product_info.php?products_id=350

"The Seven Habits of Highly Effective  People".

https://www.stephencovey.com/7habits/7habits.php

Recipe for a "Delightful" Life

It's ALL THERE! IN HIS WORD

just waiting for you to "wake" up out of your sugar high

Stop chasing the wind and start Listening and Waiting 

upon your Creator who wants you to live in 

Health and Wellness 

He is the Answer  
Be a WiseMan and Seek HIM

Psalm 37

 ¹ Do not fret because of those who are evil 

   or be envious of those who do wrong; 

² for like the grass they will soon wither, 

   like green plants they will soon die away.

 ³ Trust in the LORD and do good; 

   dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 

⁴ Take delight in the LORD, 

   and he will give you the desires of your heart.

 ⁵ Commit your way to the LORD; 

   trust in him and he will do this: 

⁶ He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, 

   your vindication like the noonday sun.

 ⁷ Be still before the LORD 

   and wait patiently for him; 

do not fret when people succeed in their ways, 

   when they carry out their wicked schemes.

 ⁸ Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; 

   do not fret—it leads only to evil. 

⁹ For those who are evil will be destroyed, 

   but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

 ¹⁰ A little while, and the wicked will be no more; 

   though you look for them, they will not be found. 

¹¹ But the meek will inherit the land 

   and enjoy peace and prosperity.

Merry Christmas!  Buon Natale!

Santa's Waist or Stop wasting your life on COOKIES

Ok,  Santa's waist line indicates he is at risk for the following health problems.

 http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/tools.htm

• type 2 diabetes (high blood sugar)
• high blood pressure
• heart disease and stroke
• some types of cancer
• sleep apnea (when breathing stops for short periods during sleep)
• osteoarthritis (wearing away of the joints)
• gallbladder disease
• liver disease
• irregular menstrual periods  (oops!  Not Santa... but Mrs. Claus)

Stop kidding yourself.   

Give yourself a gift this Christmas  

" the desire to be healthy"

If you really, truly believed that eating that piece of candy (See's Candy box that's being passed around at work) would harm your body, you hopefully wouldn't eat it.

But, oh no... we kid ourselves and say... it's only one piece.   

But, that's not really true.  It's  really "one more piece".

If you were at the proper weight, could do 25 push ups without losing your breath, had your cholesterol level within normal limits.... then you could have "just one".

But... if you are in the ranks of the 66% of adults who are overweight in this country then... 

YOU'VE HAD YOUR ONE PIECE!   

Start early this year.  Instead of waiting until January 1st, 2011...... Start now by saying "NO" to the one piece of Candy... a piece of pie....  "a" cookie.

Splurge and delight yourself in pleasing your body 

 do something  your body is "dying" to have.... 

a Healthy life! 

Ok, I too have no "will power" 

 but we all do have "GOD's POWER" to say NO.

Therefore, speak a scripture to gain strength....

MY VERSION: "greater is He that is in me, than He that is in that piece of Candy!"

1 John 4:4  

 ⁴ You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them,

 because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

It really does work.  Dig deep into your soul and ask the "trillion dollar question"

Why am I trying to satisfy myself with the emptiness of food... 

when I have Jesus to satisfy my very being! 

The gift this Christmas is the gift you give yourself

Health and Wellness

Ciao!  To your Health and Wellness 

            this Christmas Season

Sing your way to a Healthier Christmas Season

 ...Go Caroling!
Studies show that Christmas caroling can reduce stress.  
Singers use a diaphragm breathing technique.  
This releases nitric oxide into the circulatory system and brain, relaxing the arteries, capillaries, respiratory system and mind.
                                                                   (Dr. Oz's 12 days of Christmas - Day one )
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/holiday-slideshow-dr-ozs-12-days-christmas


If you can't find a bunch of people to go Caroling with.... just "carol" in your home, car.  Really!  


So....Dr Oz has his tips for reducing stress during the holiday's and I have mine twist on it. (really twisted)


Here it is... pure and simple and ALWAYS accessible.


When you feeling your muscles tighten, your face tense and "not smiling"... ready to explode at the next person who tic's you off.... DO THIS ... Start Singing Out loud... the Louder the Better!

Great Part of the Movie:  Mamma Mia!
Meryl Streep was very stressed and her friends started Singing "Dancing Queen"
She joined in and "turned it around"
Taking her stress and relieving it with SONG

Sing a Christmas Carol like "Joy to the WORLD"  
  You can even make up some of the words....  an example:

"Joy to the world... 

I'm going to scream ... 

and make myself exclaim... 

I will not let this get to me,  I will be strong in spite of it  

and find some peace and joy... 

and find some peace and joy... 

and find and find some peace and joy!" 

That's just off the top of my head.  I'm sure you can do better. 
If you care who is listening to you... think about the laughter and joy you'll give those who hear you singing loud and silly.  


But seriously,  think of stress we encounter as a "gas".  We breath it in.  
It becomes toxic in our body and inflames every cell in our body.  The gas keeps expanding causing us to become more and more uncomfortable and irritable.

People need to "let it out", so it doesn't build up and cause health problems

  especially During the Holiday season:

             Some find negative ways to let it out:  Angry outburst 

                      (yikes, this happens a lot in the  shopping center parking lots, 

                        check out counters!)

             Some find positive ways to let it out:  Competitive Sports,

                       Exercise, hobbies, "singing", praying, meditating, acts of kindness

Some people try to soothe the uncomfortable and irritable feelings by Eating! Some with poor lifestyle choices like: smoking, drinking, gambling.

Some people avoid dealing with it and it then becomes toxic in the body and produces illness (FLU), ulcers,  IBS, Headaches, Backaches, insomnia  (physical aliments).

Matthew 11:28-30    

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 

and I will give you rest. 

²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, 

for I am gentle and humble in heart, 

and you will find rest for your souls. 

³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Have a Healthy Holiday Season !  and remember

He is the reason for this season

Re-Gift yourself this Christmas to your Creator and Savior

Ciao and Salute!  To Your Health and Wellness


ps
The added benefit of singing and or humming a tune is this assist with controlling your breathing. Calms your Body!
Helps your mind re-focus  and engages your spirit.  


Another great reason why "mom's" do best to sing when holding their little baby.  


As Mom's sing, the baby senses the calming affect of controlled breathing, as well as the melody and rhythm.
  
While Mom is singing, her body becomes more relaxed.  The Baby can sense this.  Even when Breast feeding, a Mom should gently hum or sing a peaceful song.  It will assist with the "let down" and the overall experience of Mom and Baby.


There it is again:  Body, Mind and Spirit in Balance when singing!

Get Ready for 1-1-11

I'm starting to think about some habits and patterns to change for the new year.


I'm preparing my mind to embrace and hold tight to thoughts I have that will increase my health and wellness.

2- 1/2 weeks  .... oh ya..... 21 days to PREPARE to CHANGE!  Perfect

So every day for 21 days 

I will walk myself through this change.  

I will reinforce in my Mind the change.  

I will see in my mind the change.  

I will feel in my spirit the change

I will become the change by ... walking, thinking, seeing and feeling the change.

One thing is to READ a book a week (commit every day 30 or more minutes to reading)
I WILL do 30 minutes a day of activity:  stretch, jog, weights
I WILL ....

I'll think today of some more things that I believe will strengthen me - physically, spiritually and physically.  I will WRITE them down today!

Ciao

(what's in your wallet?.... ok, what's in your head?)