A Spiritual Path To Weight Loss - Andrea Albright

Saturday, July 31, 2010

~My sister sent me this in e-mail - she's on the mailing list - and I thought it was pretty insightful. It definitely aligns with the "prophesy" I received regarding weightloss and being happy. So I thought I'd share - enjoy! ~

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The deeper I go into this journey of healthy, permanent fat loss, the clearer I see that freedom from the struggle with your weight...

And stopping the "dieting" obsession that plagues our culture...

Is when you find your own personal spiritual path to weight loss.

I'm not here to convince you that you have a spirit or even show you how to "be spiritual" (from my experience, only YOU can show yourself that)...

But what I am here to talk to you about is aligning your spiritual path with how you care for your body.

When you get that aligned, then weight loss is inevitable and permanent.

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Your Spiritual Path Is Your Own
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How you define "spirit" and how you connect to your spirit is personal.

No one can tell you how you connect to your spirit because no two people are exactly alike, but the experience of spirit is universal.

The way that you know you are connected to spirit is when you feel flooded with Love, acceptance, and you feel a lightness inside your body, heart, and mind.

When you feel "whole" and completely safe, with a deep sense of peace and gratitude for your body and whole Self... that's when you know you are connected to something "bigger than you".

How you get there is not important... what is important is that you recognize this place inside of you is also connected to your body.

Your body is the physical manifestation of your spirit.

They are, in fact, one and the same.

That's why when you love and cherish your body, you are aligned with your deepest, truest Self.

You feel happier, more loving, more accepting of ALL beings including yourself.

Your perspective of your body changes. Instead of focusing on what you "don't like"... you see what an AMAZING miracle your body is, and what a GIFT it is. You CHOOSE to cherish and love it.

You are allowing the love of your spirit to shine through.

Be in this place.

Live in this place.

Make your choices of HEALTH from this place.

And you will lose weight without even thinking about it.

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When You Fall Down, Pick Yourself Back Up
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It is a continuous journey, and you are never "there" without intention or effort.

You will fall out of alignment, and it is up to you to gently guide yourself back.

This is the journey.

This is the practice.

This is how your spiritual muscle grows stronger and stronger every day of your life.

When you fall out of alignment with your body~spirit connection, don't just accept that that's the way it's going to be.

Find your way back.

Don't stop until you get back to that place of love and acceptance for your body.

Your spirit is waiting for you to return and will always accept you with the Love and Light you are craving.

When you feel this unconditional love and acceptance inside of you, you don't run to sugar or fattening foods to "feel good"...

You don't beat yourself up inside your body and mind because you feel like you "don't deserve" to be happy and healthy...

You KNOW that you deserve everything in life: a healthy body, a peaceful mind, and a radiant
spirit.

You have that feeling of love and acceptance from a deeper place inside of you. And this universal place of love never runs out of healing energy for you to receive.

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Your body is transformed from the inside~out.
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The weight loss happens as a side-effect from all the love and light you are showering upon yourself every day from the radiance of your spirit.

Making "self-sabotaging" choices just doesn't "feel right" anymore because you know that you deserve true radiant health and happiness.

From my perspective, from my own personal journey, and from watching thousands of other men and women go through this around the world...

This is the spiritual path of weight loss.

And it will set you free.

Open up and receive the love and light even bigger and brighter than you ever have before.

You deserve it.

Thank you for cherishing your body and shining the light of your spirit onto yourself. You are making the world a brighter, more loving place to be.

Your Friend,
Love and Light,

Andrea
www.AmazingBodyNow.com

Andrea's Youtube Channel (which my sister told me about a while ago - pretty cool)
www.youtube.com/user/AmazingBodyNow

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

JOYFUL_STORM 8/2/2010 3:44PM

A timely reminder, thank you for posting that! I've been struggling a bit lately with the idea that I'm not devoting enough time to spiritual pursuits. . . when that comes up I try to remember that getting my life - in particular my body-mind connection and weight - into better balance is exactly what's been asked of me by my spiritual allies. This entails not sitting on my butt and reading more abstruse books to feed the spirituality of my mind alone! (As tempting as that is. . . ). Report Inappropriate Comment

NETTIEDEE 7/31/2010 6:20PM

Amen! :-) Report Inappropriate Comment

TRIXEL 7/31/2010 11:05AM

Thank you so much for posting that (and thank your friend as well!) I may pass it on to my sister if that's okay with you. Report Inappropriate Comment

SLIMMERME82 7/31/2010 10:39AM

So very true! This is "the high" that I've been on for the past 5 months - and by that dieting is effortless. :) Report Inappropriate Comment

JONEIL513 7/31/2010 10:39AM

awesome blog! very insightul, really made me think about my own journey! Report Inappropriate Comment

LADYINOHIO 7/31/2010 10:17AM

Thanks for sharing this, so many truths within, stated so eloquently! Report Inappropriate Comment

TURQUOISELOTUS 7/31/2010 9:22AM

I enjoyed this! Sounds like Andrea has been reading my blogs, LOL! Seriously, we are definitely on the same page...finding the amazing-ness of my body is putting me in touch with the deep spiritual component of the Infinite and Providential Wisdom of Nature. Love this! Report Inappropriate Comment

This Week's "Friday Friend Day" Feature is......

Friday, July 30, 2010

DANCINGRAVEYNS!

Okay, I've said it for years now that everyone expects to love their kids, but it's an extra special blessing when you really LIKE them. I have been extra specially blessed - all three of my red-heads are intelligent, creative, fascinating, compassionate, and just amazing people. I loved hanging out with them as they were growing up, and they are some of the coolest young adults I know.

But I gotta tell you - you never know what you're gonna get when they start dating. 'Cause not everybody else's kids are such stellar people, ya know? I've always worried about being the typical overprotective overbearing "mother in law" for whom no one will ever be good enough...

Except I forget that my kids ALSO have impeccable taste, and are smarter than the average bear.

Enter DANCINGRAVEYNS, who sort of popped into our lives randomly a couple of months ago, having tracked down this friend she remembered from grade school (and apparently remembers his mom and his mom's car on fieldtrips too - *blink* it MUST have been the farm one, 'cause that's the only one I can remember helping with transportation on, and no I don't remember ANY of those other 1st graders' names *sheepish look*).

Okay, to understand the impact this young lady has had on my family...my kids and their dad are horders, okay? Not in the "scary bring a bulldozer and the health department" way, but they're gamers and computer geeks. You'd be amazed at the computer bits my ex has stashed all over his house. And don't even get me started on all the SCA stuff he never uses but still has (there are shields sitting on his front porch, okay? And a stash of rattan weapons by the front door). And when DANCINGRAVEYNS decided she wanted to come over and game...they cleaned the dining room. You can see the top of the table. No really. *blink* I don't think anyone has seen the top of that table since our DIVORCE (aka 1993). This girl is a force of nature with mystical powers, I'm telling you.

And she's funny, and intelligent, and pagan and bisexual, and isn't fazed one bit by her boyfriend's mom's unusual lifestyle choices (heck, she wanted to to go Sirius Rising WITH us, but already had a trip to the ocean planned for that weekend). She's even corrupting my son into a coffee drinker (which MUST be twisting his father's knickers - my ex can't even stand the smell). *snickers* Of course, my son has corrupted her into the time-suck that is World of Warcraft (a language I don't speak), so I think they're even.

Personally, I don't see any extra weight on her to lose, but she wants to tone up "To not be self-conscious of wearing a belly-dancing costume/performing for him" (which I find utterly adorable...then again they are utterly adorable together, as my pictures of them snogging during a game of Munchkin should attest). Said offspring has been warned that if they ever break up, it better be a friendly break up, 'cause we're not giving her back. She's stuck with us and our crazy family.

And you know what she did this week that totally sealed the deal? She called one night me at work, because she was having a crisis (having second thoughts about her college decision), and said she "valued my opinion, and wanted my feedback". How cool is that? *glows* Is it pathetic that I'm really glad my kid's girlfriend likes me? I am such a lucky mommy-person.

That said, I know she's gotten some flack from some of her family regarding her decision on that score (she's changed her plan, and will be going to a college closer to home - NOT because of her boyfriend, but because of her concerns regarding being able to focus on school while being in a totally foreign environment), and I think she could really use some extra support right now.

SO - meet my friend (how cool is it that I can say that and mean it?) DANCINGRAVEYNS: www.sparkpeople.com/mypage.asp?id=DA
NCINGRAVEYNS

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

TRIXEL 7/31/2010 1:52AM

It must be a good feeling to see your child with someone who is a positive force in his or her life. I just stopped at her page and said hi. :) So, I've played all kinds of roleplaying games, but never Munchkin, even though many of my friends had it. Is it fun? Report Inappropriate Comment

DTERMIND2LOVEME 7/30/2010 9:44PM

Aaaaaw! Eu!! Thankee! :3 I love you too!! *huggle* *feels so special* Report Inappropriate Comment

JONEIL513 7/30/2010 11:36AM

thats so awesome, you are a lucky mom! Report Inappropriate Comment

CHEFFYJOJO 7/30/2010 10:08AM

Wow its good that people remember to count their blessings! youre a very lucky person and so is your friend Report Inappropriate Comment

EVERLEARNING 7/30/2010 9:52AM

So cool! My dear sons have had various partners, their taste is not always impeccable though. It's so GREAT when it works, isn't it? Congratulations on your son's exquisite taste. What an awesome young woman!! Wishing your whole expanding family many years of JOY! Comment edited on: 7/30/2010 9:53:16 AM Report Inappropriate Comment

It's Friday! PHEW!

Friday, July 30, 2010

So, I've decided to dust myself off and just let the work stuff go. Because honestly? My job in NO way defines me, or my life - never has. In fact, I've said many times that my job is simply a means to fund the REST of my life, and it does a fairly good job of that. And the REST of my life is pretty kick-ass these days.

Heck, I get 4 weeks of vacation, which allows us to travel and go to fun events (and follow our favorite band around a bunch - just got word from a friend in Chicago that they're playing the Old Town School of Folk there in December again, so I'm feeling another "birthday trip" coming on). Home is truly Home - I love our little apartment and our cats, and that my kids come over as often as they do to hang out with us. And who knows...maybe once the dust settles I can start taking on doula clients again. And one of the nice things about having a separate "day job" means I can work with the people who really NEED a doula - women in tough circumstances who normally wouldn't have the money to pay for the extra support. That's where my heart is - teens, or women living in the culture of poverty, or women with unplanned pregnancies who are considering adoption (my personal key place of "ministry", having been there). Anything is possible, right? You never know what twists and turns tomorrow may hold. It's just a matter of making the ride as fun, exciting, and worthwhile as possible.

That said, I'm really excited about the healthplex membership! I probably won't go today - there aren't any classes scheduled today that I want to jump into just yet, and I want to keep the majority of my walking outside as long as the weather is reasonably nice - I spend way too much time indoors staring at glowy screens. I need fresh air, sunshine and NATURE - I get way too distracted and disconnected sometimes, and as a pagan I should pay better attention. Not sure if I'll get there over the weekend - it kind of depends on how things stack up tomorrow (we're talking about going to meet a friend in Columbus to go see the Titanic Exhibit, but haven't gotten word about timing yet to figure out if we can pull it off). But Monday I'll be there to start the Couch to 5 K program on the treadmills ('cause I don't need to be shown how to use those, I remember from my old membership at Fitworks), and Tuesday I'll be there for my appointment, and then WATCH OUT! W00T! I'm really excited because they have Zumba and Spinning at 9am on alternating days, which is *perfect* timing for when I'd be able to get there. Beyond that, well there's all sorts of options. Here's the website if you want to check out the classes and stuff they offer: www.ehealthconnection.com/regions/me
rcy_Cincinnati/healthplex_western_hill
s.asp

In the words of our favorite band - "I'm on a roll!"

www.youtube.com/watch?v=91tu80WFvUc

Enjoy!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

NETTIEDEE 7/31/2010 12:49AM

It's great to know your life is going so well! I hope you have a glorious weekend! :-) Report Inappropriate Comment

JAYMURZ 7/30/2010 10:02AM

You are such a loving and giving woman... kudos to you! Report Inappropriate Comment

*bouncebouncebounce*

Thursday, July 29, 2010

SHINY! The HealthPlex is AWESOME! With Zumba and Spinning and Aqua-fit and great machines (and towels provided to wipe things down when you're done - NICE touch), and they provide *everything* (even down to shampoo and soap in the showers, AND a "bathing suit drying machine" so you don't have to stuff a soggy bathing suit in your gym bag). AND with my corporate discount, it hit right at the level at which I'd decided "Okay, if it's this or under, I'll jump on it," - without that I couldn't have afforded it.

SO yep - I signed up.

I have an appointment on Tuesday to meet with a trainer to go over all the equipment (YAY! somebody can finally show me how the heck an elliptical actually works), and I get to pick one other "class" (like an orientation on spinning, or a personal training session) within 30 days. But I could go back as soon as I want, I don't have to wait for that. Maybe I'll go do a class tomorrow.

AND, when I start the C25K next week, I'll have treadmills to do it on (which will be much easier than carring a kitchen timer with me).

I have OPTIONS! Excited doesn't begin to cover it!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

JOYFUL_STORM 8/2/2010 3:26PM

Awesome! So glad you found someplace so good near your home! :D Report Inappropriate Comment

ALTOPOWER 8/1/2010 5:19PM

I'd say go for the personal training - it's a great way to get focused. I finally got a trainer at the end of May and it's been amazing. Report Inappropriate Comment

KITTYKITTEMMING 7/29/2010 11:53PM

Glad you are excited! I love my gym membership. Report Inappropriate Comment

NETTIEDEE 7/29/2010 9:02PM

I am so excited for you! YAY for options! :-) Report Inappropriate Comment

WHITTLED-WAIST 7/29/2010 1:52PM

That's so exciting! I'm jealous of your awesome new resource :) Report Inappropriate Comment

MISS_SMARTY 7/29/2010 1:12PM

Sounds awesome! Report Inappropriate Comment

MYOWNHERO 7/29/2010 1:08PM

Woo Hoo! There's no stopping you now! Report Inappropriate Comment

BALLOUZOO 7/29/2010 1:07PM

Yay you you are on your way!! Report Inappropriate Comment

JONEIL513 7/29/2010 12:53PM

i'm so excited for you!! im glad it worked out that you could afford to join! Report Inappropriate Comment

MEGA_MILES 7/29/2010 12:52PM

Good luck Report Inappropriate Comment

DRAGONSPITTLE 7/29/2010 12:50PM

WOOT! Soooo jealous in the friendly sorta way. Report Inappropriate Comment

EVERLEARNING 7/29/2010 12:49PM

What a great resource for you! I'm jealous! Make us all proud, Girl!! Report Inappropriate Comment

Better...

Thursday, July 29, 2010

I just had a long sit-down with my boss, and talked a few things through.

*sigh*

You know what I hate MOST about this transition? The fact that I'm losing him as my manager. He and I have cobbled together such a good working relationship built on mutual respect over the years. I'm really going to miss that.
(Okay, no tears...need to not think about that too hard)

SO, we worked out a deal where the 12 hours for the DR exercise on the 9th isn't going to be so bad. Not sure if my mate will have to take that night off yet or not ('cause I can't really see him working after breaking up his sleep to drive me to Madisonville - in the middle of rush hour no less) - we'll have to talk that through at home. But I get to leave early Monday morning, and I get to take Friday off. I can deal with that. I also understand the reasoning behind it better too - they need to expose everyone to this while they can, as a training exercise. So yeah, I'm new to the functions expected and I don't know how much help I'll be, but I need to know how it works so next year - when it's just the few of us going to the LLC who'll have to do it on our side - it's not totally foreign.

AND apparently my boss and several other supervisors and managers intend to corner the LLC manager (the guy who sent out the "hey we're going to 12 hour shifts, pick which one you want" e-mail and then high-tailed it outta here on vacation last week) next week to try and get some answers out of him, since THEY have been dealing with all the fall out. So the unrest has NOT fallen on deaf ears - which is good to know. We also talked a little about what's been rattling around in my head regarding my ability to stay here and the things I'm weighing all that on...and though he didn't really have any answers, just having him listen helped. HE thinks I should stick it out, not only on a business basis on his side, but because he thinks I am an extremely valuable asset to the new organization. *sniffles* It's nice to be appreciated.

And it occurs to me I need to poke around some of the motivational articles around here and think about them in terms of my job - because if I can find my "give-a-damn" again, and become an active participant in making things better instead of collateral damage being tossed about on the waves (way to mix your metaphors, Eu), well I'll feel better about a LOT of things. So I need to think about that a bit, and maybe ask the LLC boss when he gets back "Okay, what can I do to help?" I just have to find my "give-a-damn", which has been broken for quite a while. *sigh*

Meanwhile, the lady at the healthplex and I played phone tag yesterday, but she did send me an e-mail saying they're having an open house today and tomorrow, and confirming that I get a corporate discount. I'm going to call her as soon as I get home, and hopefully go check things out this morning - if it's even remotely affordable I'm signing up. When I brought the idea up with my mate, he JUMPED on it, saying he'd been worried about how I was going to keep this going when winter comes (and they don't clear our sidewalks). And I was reminded again how wonderful it is to be living the life I have NOW as opposed to the life I had before (because the very idea of spending money on something for ME would have been shot down out of the shoot). It's a whole different world. I need to keep holding on to that - my life is REALLY good right now. I need to focus on the good stuff. Maybe I just needed the reminder.

Keep it Sparkly travellers! I'll update later about the healthplex. :)

Euphrates out!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

RADANOLS_GIRL 7/29/2010 12:52PM

Sounds like a lot is still up in the air. Hang in there! Report Inappropriate Comment

DRAGONSPITTLE 7/29/2010 12:45PM

YEA for support all across the board for you! Report Inappropriate Comment

KRISTYN506 7/29/2010 11:46AM

Transition is never easy. Take care, my dear! Report Inappropriate Comment

JONEIL513 7/29/2010 10:32AM

I hope things get better at work, and that you find your "give a damn" if you find it maybe you'll find mine too.. lol! awesome news about the gym, i'm glad you have such a supportive mate now.. its so helpful on this journey not to mention in life in general! Report Inappropriate Comment

SAL2525 7/29/2010 8:21AM

WOW I can not image working at a place that randomly decides, "Lets do 12 hours shifts!" Yikes! I am not as young as I used to be but man when I do have to work 12 hours now I am dragging for days after! I hope it all works out. i kinda feel that the economy the way it is there are a lot of companies taking advantage of the situation. The attitude is , "Don't like it go some where else!" I hope it all works out ! Sal Report Inappropriate Comment