The chocolate chip cookie SHOW DOWN

Always searching for the Quick fix!  

Weight loss is rarely permanent when the Focus of weight loss stands alone.

Why do we resist looking inside ourselves for  the answer to...... 

"why we are ..... ummmm.... ok  I'LL SAY IT... F A  T " 

We want to jump over the reason why we have a weight issue and find a quick easy solution to losing weight.

Wake up and smell the Bacon FAT! 

Your fat because ...... 
                    "Careful there partner... I might  just have to shoot you if you say it!"

There are MANY many MANY reason why you may have a weight problem.
                                        
                       But the Solution is almost always the same:

BALANCE your Life...

I found that I became overweight because my life was out of balance.  


I didn't have a healthy approach to food - I always knew what was healthy but I resisted it (like peas on a plate!).  As I aged and my metabolism slowed down and my activity level slowed down... my weight went UP!  

As many diet's as I have tried and failed 

I became a double "F"

  Fat and Frustrated 

Then I discovered the truth.  I had to get to the root problem of 
why I had gained weight and STOP with the excuses. 
(and stop looking for excuses) 


Being overweight is a symptom not a disease.  
      But if left untreated being overweight becomes a disease.

When will you lose weight?
When you're ready to respect yourself
When you're ready to believe in yourself
When you're ready to forgive yourself
When you're ready to FREE yourself
When you're ready, When you're ready, When you're ready
    

When you're REALLY ready...  YOU will Start the Journey of finding yourself and thereby changing your lifestyle  choices and habits.  You will find freedom in Eating Healthy Foods and being Active.
You will find yourself.  (the person hiding behind the fat)

A Snap shot into my journey: 

My ol faithful Brownie that I took to Church Camp! 

 Why WAS a warm Chocolate Chip cookie my down fall?   

I've discovered there are "trigger foods" for me.
When I see and smell the aroma of the warm  Chocolate Chip cookie I think of my Dad.  He loved me making Chocolate Chip cookies at 10 o'clock at night.  I think of my kids... They loved my making them Chocolate Chip cookies at 10 o'clock at night.  I think of me... I loved me making myself Chocolate Chip cookies at 10 o'clock at night.   

                        I associate Chocolate Chip cookies 

with Family, Nurturing and Self Indulgence. 

This is  the story why I was ready to do a cartwheel in the middle isle of the airplane last week.  

The Airlines I travel has started in the past few months serving Freshly made Warm Chocolate Chip cookies during the flight.  Every flight you can  smell them coming!  I've tried to tell myself  prior to the flight  

  I'm going to say  NO 

Right?   

I have to stop making excuses like ...

ah, it's only one cookie... so what

NO,  I have to be able to have control over food and say NO

MY BODY doesn't need that stupid warm gooey chocolate chip cookie. 

 It's important to me make HEALTHY CHOICES.  

And it's equally important to me to have control to say yes or no to any food. 
The spiritual battle raged within me... who will win?  


Me, Myself or I?
(aka: Body, Mind,Spirit)

Well, the dreaded moment was upon me.   The aroma of the Chocolate Chip cookies was wafting through the plane. I saw the Flight Attendant pushing the cart towards me. 

 I STARTED THE INTERNAL MONOLOGUE.  

"I  don't need it,  I don't want it... 
it's not good for me..." (it's kind of a jingle) 

As I chanted this over and over in my head  the cart came closer 

(I was hoping my mouth wasn't moving as I talked to myself)... 

Suddenly I screamed in my head..." 

IT'S POISON!  I DON'T WANT IT!  

The flight attendant gently placed the cookie in front of my face (under my nose!)

And I calmly said "No thank you".  

DEAR GOD have mercy  I DID IT!   

I wanted to do a cartwheel.  I CONQUERED the giant.  Me, David... faced the giant and conquered it!  I gained such strength at that moment. 

  I Saw the COOKIE for What it was.... 

A POOR choice for my body.... 

NOT a moment of nostalgia, filling me with warm memories.

It's not been a "quick fix" for me to lose weight because I have done it ( I believe)  the RIGHT WAY.
It's taken me a year and I still have a little more to go.....

 I made a choice to become HEALTHY as my priority... 
               with the benefit of weight loss in the mix.


Some of the steps of my success: (I'm still working on me)
15/15/15 :  This is each day taking 15 minutes to feed my Spirit the Word of God/Praying 
                    Taking 15 minutes to feed my Mind food of positive thinking
                    Taking,  at minimum, 15 minutes to exercise my body 
Looking for foods that are colorful, fresh and full of nutrition - Not empty calorie foods
Seeing foods that are made with WHITE flour, sugar as TOXIC to my body
Seeing foods that are fried as TOXIC to by body
Eating a SERVING Portion (size of Fist) Learning: FOOD can never truly satisfy my soul
Counting Calories and Carbs and Nutritional value of what I put in my body
EATING 3 meals a day and 3 snacks a day (NO Skipping meals or starving myself)
Learning that being over weight is a SPIRITUAL BATTLE - KNOW the ENEMY
Learning to use the WORD of GOD as my Weapon over self indulgence with food 
Recognizing MINDLESS eating - a symptom of imbalance  of body, mind, spirit
Learning the important of Forgiveness and Respect  FOR ME
Learning the important of a Heart of Gratitude for what I HAVE
Learning to grow BETTER and not BITTER
Learning to use POSITIVE affirmations about healthy food and exercising
DRINKING MORE than 8 glasses of 8 oz of water EVERY DAY!
BLOGGING!!!!  It's been my Chubby Buddy, my support and accountability


etc. etc. etc.....


Oh, oh ya ... I need to say this:  I started my Journey after a day of fasting.  Now, this was a challenge to fast for a day.  But I figured if I could fast for a Colonscopy... why couldn't I fast and pray for God to direct me in this journey.   Isn't seeking Health and Wellness more important then a clear (clean) picture the GI Doctor could see of my colon on the computer screen? 

Proverbs 16:3  

  Ask the Lord to bless your plans,

 and you will be successful in carrying them out.

Ciao and Salute to your Health and Wellness

I think I'll be a NUTRITARIAN

It's nice to "belong" to something bigger than yourself! (yikes.... that leaves the door wide open for a joke)

So, I think I now will belong to the up coming new group of " Nutritarians".

It took me a while to figure out that this is a concept like being a Vegetarian.   Execpt, I think its BETTER.

I was startled to find out that this is exactly what I have discovered this past year!  So excited to discover this.


It's all about eating foods that are HIGH in Nutrition!
                                         THAT my friend, is RESPECTING your body

That's it for today!

"I was on the low-Carbohydrate diet for a week
and lost three inches off my smile."

To read more of being a Nutritarian Click on this:   Link to info on Nutritarian

Some  more good info:   LINK: What Dr Oz say's about YOU on a DIET

Ciao and Salute! To  Y O U R  health and Wellness


PS  Don't forget to EXERCISE your MIND, SPIRIT & BODY!  

The Nurse is in or What diet are you on NOW?

Red and Yellow, Black and White we are Precious in his Sight.... Jesus loves the little Children... All the Children of the World.

If our creator CHOOSE to make such a variety of people (looks) than... I suppose there is a reason why we "seem" to need so many different Diets!

I mean, honestly... how many car choices are there?  Places to live?  Occupations?

It honestly cracks me up how one diet says... "Banana's are great"... another says "OH, stay away from Banana's on this diet".  Good Fats, Bad Fats... AHHHHHHHH

Yet, as different as we all are.... 

we ALL have the SAME core basic needs.

We will die without proper nutrition and fluids
We will die without being loved
We will die if we choose lifestyle choices that can harm or injure or body's or minds.

Just a quick blog to say.....

What ever YOU think is the right "diet" to choose.... ask yourself these questions:

Does it meet my basic needs of vitamins, minerals and fibers?
Does it address the reason WHY I have gained weight so I don't regain my weight?
Does it provide energy and peace while on it?

If you've read my blogs you know what Diet I believe in .... "NO DIET"

Change your lifestyle choices to bring balance into you your life

with what you choose to  

FEED your BODY

FEED your MIND

FEED your SPIRIT

That's it,  that's all folks

Have a "glorious day".... (very possible when you rest in the knowledge that Your creator is watching over you and ready to meet your needs)

Ciao!

Why don't they take me seriously?

Brush off the cookie crumbs and Listen (or not)

On a vacation once I took a tour bus to see the sights. We had a crazy but fun Bus Driver. Yet, he was somewhat annoying because he would repeat x 2 the names of places we were passing.  After a while we tried laughing it off because it became so ridiculous.  Since then,  I refer to someone being a "bus driver" who  Repeats the same thing, over and over again...

However,  I'm going to be a bus driver here when I say

Losing weight is not the same as Getting Healthy!  

(ask any Anorexic)

Being Healthy is having an Optimal Weight

Although losing weight may increase your level of health, it doesn't guarantee
" Optimal Health"

Especially when you lose weight with a diet that is only about "reducing Calories, or Carbs, or Fats" in your diet.  Or you Lose (waste) Muscle with Fat loss!

WHEN, you face the truth in what it is to be healthy.... 

 you'll develop the right "life style" change(s), 

and

you will have the correct weight on the scale AND the right Lab values .... 

and 

reduce the risk of disease and .... pre-mature DEATH.

It's not enough to Count Calories or Carbs (but that's a good start)... You need to look at the NUTRITIONAL value of what your eating:

Fiber

Vitamins

Minerals

So, when looking at starting a "diet" program... PLEASE, PLEASE look at what nutrition your getting from that diet!  

This is how I view "diets" (yes, I'm very cynical since I've witnessed YO YO diets)

Here is my story about  why "diets" fail:

You have an unkept house, abused furniture and rags for drapes,and it's in need of repairs... and it stinks! (Translation: you're overweight, your skin and hair looks terrible, and you toot a lot!)

You are So Embarrassed to have anyone come over to visit (Translation: you hate how you look and feel and it may even impacts how you socially interact with others)  

In fact, it's gotten so bad YOU don't want to live in your own home, but you make excuses or close your eye's and try ignore it. Try to not having anyone over to visit you. You LOCK THE DOORS. (Translation: you actually feel depressed, lack of energy...discouraged and console yourself with food - turn on the TV and ignore the exercise bike that holds your clothes - you shut down emotionally at the fact that you're overweight and unhappy)  

One day, you finally say "that's enough"... I'm going to do something about it. (maybe you have a class reunion to go to, or a wedding to attend... or your in a wedding!)

So, you work diligently every day, round the clock with blood, sweat and tears to scrub the home, buy new furnishings, repaint, repair.... It's hard but your determined!

(Translation: you buy diet books, programs... pills, drinks... whatever say's  "LOSE 20 pounds in 20 days" and you finally do it (after several failed attempts) and then .....

          

Wa La.... your home is looking beautiful (Translation: you lost the weight! Hurray).  

All your hard work has paid off.

You can now relax and enjoy your beautiful home (Translation: buy new clothes... feel great).  Maybe you are in a TV commercial... "hey, I lost 50 pounds on the *#&^#* DIET"

  EXCEPT.... slowly your home begins to become unkept again..... furnishing are becoming soiled and tattered.... the smell is returning... ( Translation: ouch, your new clothes start to feel a little tighter... and your tooting again... your gaining your weight back and your digestive system is messed up with you being back to old eating habits)

WHY?  WHY? You know why (great line in the movie: "What happens in Las Vegas"... very funny)  because you never DEALT with the REAL reason why your home became such a reck!  ( Translation: the real reason why you became over weight).  

You're off the diet and eating WHATEVER you want... cuz your OFF THE DIET! 

 ... You ignored and actually refused to deal with the real truth.  

                            The REAL SOLUTION to your Weight Problem!  

Being overweight isn't about Eating too much or the Wrong Foods... or just eating too many calories and not exercising.....

   IT is about being UNBALANCED:  Physically, Mentally and Spiritually

So, when you attempt to lose weight using only the "physical" method of dieting... i.e.

Restrict calories/carbs/fats and exercise.... 

and  if you NEVER deal with the Mental and Spiritual aspect of Weight management

            YOU WILL REGAIN YOUR WEIGHT:  It's a money back guarantee!  

What Am I saying?   Simply this....

                   CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE by BALANCING YOUR LIFE

                               and you WILL be at your GOAL WEIGHT!

Why you are overweight doesn't have a simple answer.  

      It is complex and individual to each person.

However,  The answer is in YOU!  

You will find out WHY you have gained weight 

when you evaluate the : 

Me, Myself and I in you.

        

Physically (ME)? 

You may have physical issues that need to be addressed

• I know.... the first choice every women claims.... thyroid problem! (ok, maybe ... but read the next line... and that may re-balance your system)
• It maybe you're lacking certain minerals and vitamins that cause your body to crave sugars/carbs!  
• YOUR Brain,  Yes,  Read Daniel G. Amen, MD book  "Change your Brain change your Body"
• Addiction:  yes, some people are addicted to CARBs( aka sugars) like a drug. They just can't say no and eat LARGE portions! Second helpings

Mentally (Myself)?  

Again,  there's scientific proof that there is a relationship between the Mind and the Body

• You may have self esteem issues, lack of self respect.  Negative thoughts about yourself.  Maybe past hurts are haunting you... Maybe you were raised to see food as  a reward or for comfort...read the book by Caroline Leaf MD "Who turned off my Brain".   

Spiritually (I) ?  

This is a neglected area in our lives yet everyone will admit (almost everyone)

we are SPIRITUAL BEINGS!  (then take care of it!)

• Yes, we are at war with are carnal self-  Self indulgence, Self gratification
•  Food maybe a idol to some (think about it, obsess about what and when we will eat - like a false God)
• Some use food to fill a void in their life that Only Christ can fill.  Searching for satisfaction and peace (food provides this but it only Temporary)

   

        You may not be able to discover the reasons right away ... but while your searching..

Here are my 5 suggestions on how to start the journey of changing your lifestyle  

1.  I suggest you Keep a daily journal (keep it with you- always)

Asking yourself these questions:  

When do I eat? 

Why do I eat? 

Where do I eat?

How am I feeling before I eat? When I eat?... After I eat?

What do I say to myself when I look through a Menu at a Restaurant?

How do I make a choice of WHAT to eat, WHEN to eat and WHY I am eating?

2.   Start looking at food as Healthy or Un-Healthy choices  

Grade it by the following guidelines:

• Detox out of your life: JUNK FOOD (come on... you know what what that is)
• Does it have Nutritional Value (vitamins, Protein, Iron, Fiber.. etc)Is there more Calories (units of energy) than Nutrition? 
• Can it be grown?  If so, is it organic? :)
• Is it fresh (if it can spoil... your on the right track)  Hey,  does anyone know...What is the life span of a Hostess Twinkie? How about a power bar ? 
• Is there colored food at each meal?

3. Keep a daily record of Caloric intake (lots of great App's to use)

    DO YOU KNOW how many calories you need each day to sustain your weight

    or shall I say... do you know how many calories you need to lose weight

    or shall I say... do you KNOW how many calories you EAT a day?

    Is your portion larger than a "suggested serving"?  Yes, it states on any

    nutritional label what the suggested serving size is...  oh my... 

HEY YOU....How about you eating your salad on a dinner plate

  and your dinner on a salad plate?

4. Start using POSITIVE words, self talk (talk nice to yourself)

     say "I WILL" weigh  ______ (your goal weight)

     say "I CHOOSE to be Healthy"

     say "I WILL do this"

     say "I respect ME and will take care of ME"

     Speak words of Encouragement and Power ( found in Scriptures)

     Find those Scriptures that you can call on when tempted to

     eat Mindlessly (meaning, when your not even hungry) or

     eat foods that are NOT a healthy choice.

    I mean to actually say out loud when tempted to eat unhealthy food

5. Come on....MOVE, MOVE, MOVE IT...

    Move your body ... skip through the house, don't walk!! Dance!
                make an appointment with yourself to do something active and fun!

    Move your bowels... drink 8 glasses of water  DAILY as a minimum! &

                                   EAT LOTS OF FIBER

     

    MOVE your SPIRIT...  by exercising and DETOXING your spiritual being from
            unforgiveness (towards others  and yourself)
            Look for things that make you LAUGH, DANCE, SING!

                          PRAY... TALK to the God who created you DAILY,

                    He who knows you!

                        The God who care's about YOU!  

                        The God who has given you the "instruction manual" (bible)  

                          for you to live a successful amazing LIFE 

                         (you only get one life, and one time to do it right)

This is a journey towards Optimal Health.  

                       Plan it, and then Do it.

A journey takes time ( a life time) ... self discovery along the road ... 

           enjoy the journey...   be patient with yourself...  

    When you fall (and you will) ... 

              get up, and brush off the cookie crumbs & wipe the fudge off your face and

                         stand tall with good posture !!!!  continuing the journey 

                                              to your Optimal "Health and Wellness"

Ciao! 

Psalm 23:3   

He refreshes my soul. 

He guides me along the right paths 

   for his name’s sake

(PS  This is MY journey)

                           

Crab Grass or a Blooming Flower - YOUR CHOICE

It is sad when we become discouraged... BOO whooo, boo whooo
let's cry together.... but just for a few moments...
 
    There is a "Time for everything under the Sun"...

Ecclesiastes 3:4

 a time to weep and a time to laugh, 

 a time to mourn and a time to dance,

When I begin to think (complain) of 

what I do not have.... 

I need to 

"STOP"  take 

several deep slow breaths 

and 

re-center myself 

"WHAT I DO HAVE "

Oh, ya some people appear to have the "perfect" career, the "perfect family dynamics", the " perfect situation in life"

Many times you don't even know that someone you envy is looking at you wishing they had something you have or admire a strength or talent that you have.  True!  Really,  believe me... it's true.

So, when you recognize that "ol man blues" is dragging you down.... see it for what it is... a lack of gratitude.  Your heart is imbalanced.

   But to be really corny ... I'm saying

  "I need to BLOOM where I am planted" and not let the weeds of discouragement, envy, self-pity... choke out my ability to BLOOM...

Bloom.... a FRAGRANT flower that is pleasant to the sight as well as the senses.

That is what I CHOOSE to be:

A BLOOMIN' FLOWER!   

A fragrant Flower
is what you are to those around you when
you focus on what you do have (grateful heart)

                                                    

"Crab" Grass
is what you are to those around you when you
focus on what you don't have (bitter heart)

(note to me:  I've missed you " friend"... oh how I've missed you....)

*************************************************************************
Previous post about how we think affecting our health....

Always something to be grateful for.... A L W A Y S !

Set the tone for the day - usher in a breeze of success with YOUR WORDS!

I just cringe when I hear someone say 

"I have a headache" or "I'm getting a cold"  or "I'm sick"

It may be true that you feel sick, or you're getting a  headache or you're developing  cold symptoms  

PLEASE: 

Don't Speak words that state you are accepting and inviting sickness or illness.  

Your Mind hears what you're saying.  

It will respond when you speak the words 

"I HAVE"  

"I'M GETTING"  

"I AM"

Here is my suggestion - TELL YOUR BODY what you want it to be and DO!  Your words are powerful!

Say: 

  

"I am fighting a headache"   

"I'm fighting of a cold" 

"I feel great, I feel good, I feel wonderful"  

  

NO MATTER how your "F E E L I N G " Speak what you want to be!

This is all about Exercising your MIND!   Feeding your thought life words that are uplifting, life giving, positive.... Nutrition for your mind. 

 In the world of Balance you'll also want to do the following when "fighting off  aches, pains or illness":

Besides feeding your mind  "Nutritious thoughts"

      when developing symptoms of illness, feed your body directly:

i.e.  for headache symptoms one of the culprits is dehydration

i.e.  for cold / flu symptoms your immune systems compromised - try Emergen C Packet 

        (check with your Doctor fist)  

i.e. for Just not feeling well symptoms - you may be starting to fight off an illness So - Stay off the

   Sugars which reduce your immune system.  Chicken soup is an amazing for it's antibiotic properties,

   Drink plenty of water.   REST!  

(Just examples.... )

My recipe for the beginning's of flu symptoms (check with your Doctor before trying this)

At the on-set of a scratchy throat, achy body.... 

Take 2 Bayer aspirins and drink 6-8 glasses of  a juice that you like (100% juice) 

(All that fluid is like getting an IV drip! )

Then Speak the Words: 

"I'm fighting this and I'm NOT going to get sick"   

"I don't accept getting sick"  

"Greater is He that is in my than He that is in the World"... etc.

Get a good nights sleep (another topic)

Ask and Thank God for your healing

B A L A N C E  Yourself

Your imbalance can "welcome" a virus into your body... (aka lower your immune defenses)

Talk with the Lord (some  people call that prayer)... read the Instruction Manual for Your Body "The Bible"  and Detox your Mind and Spirit.  

Are you dealing with the stress of hurt, unforgiveness, anger.. Disappointment, sadness, fear?

Your thought life affects your HEALTH!

It can go either way.... your thoughts  can make you sick or make you healthy.

My favorite, most favorite scripture verse:

PROVERBS 17:22  

 ²²  A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: 

but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Even if you are dealing with an illness for day's on end, 

 doing the above (merry heart) will keep you in 

peace and speed up your healing.  

Salute!  To your Health and Wellness