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IUHRYTR's Recent Blog Entries
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Monday, October 26, 2009
Tonight's message was going to be on a different topic but something that happened earlier has been weighing on my mind.
Most of us who use this site are overweight and we admit it. I've written before about feet and back injuries that limit my aerobics and, as promised in a previous blog, have been trying to do a minimum of 10 minutes at a time on the treadmill. Recently, too, I admitted that I had learned that most of the medications I take contribute to weight gain.
So, the weights workouts and the limited aerobics have, it seems, had me simply treading water, to the point that I was ashamed to post my weight loss tracker since there hasn't been any recent weight loss.
But what finally got my full attention was when I broke a chair tonight while at a friend's for dinner. Admittedly, it was an inexpensive plastic chair. But the effect was the same as if it had been one made of solid oak -- shame. Here's what happened. One of my friend's little dogs ran out the front door to the porch where we were eating and jumped onto my lap. I held it with my left hand and with my right hand attempted to push on the chair's arm in order to stand up.
The chair's arm broke and then, after the dog was taken back in by my friend, I at first couldn't get out of the chair. I finally did, but I was embarrassed to have gotten stuck.
I don't know if any of you can relate. At 276 pounds I should have asked for a wooden chair instead of such a flimsy plastic one. But I didn't, although I will the next time.
I try to motivate with my writings and only on occasion reveal my personal struggles. Now, though, I truly know how it must feel for people who need two seats on an airplane or who can't fit into a movie theater seat. Before tonight I could definitely sympathize but until now I didn't deep down inside appreciate others' predicaments as I should have.
So, with renewed resolve, and a red face, I begin anew my journey to weight loss with a wish that none of us ever again face situations that bring us such shame and embarrassment.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
No matter how hard you work for success, if your thought is saturated with the fear of failure, it will kill your efforts, neutralize your endeavors and make success impossible." Baudjuin
* * * * *
Along our journeys to weight loss and better health, we should never compare ourselves with others. We should only compare ourselves with ourselves. If we are better today than yesterday, then this should be our measure of success and personal improvement.
Do you compare yourself to others? In what ways? Has this affected your self-confidence? Do you run yourself down?
"Do the thing you fear to do and the death of fear is certain." Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Fear destroys confidence and is the result of ignorance and uncertainty. Confidence comes from experience and knowledge.
When do you feel most confident? In what situations do you feel least confident? How do these circumstances differ? How are they similar?
Harvard professor William James said, "First the motion then the emotion takes over."
So, by acting confident, we soon feel confident.
We control our thinking by repeating positive affirmations. Make your own list:
* I CAN do this.
* I WILL be successful.
* I am better today than yesterday.
Which affirmations will you add?
Build your self-confidence by:
* Liking yourself.
* Continuously improving yourself.
* Becoming your best friend.
* Acting confident.
* Being willing to change.
* Being willing to accept success.
* Basking in improvement.
* Taking pride in your accomplishments.
Allow yourself to be successful. Allow yourself to be confident.
You CAN do this.
You CAN change.
You CAN become a new, more confident person.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Today was a surprising day.
It was one of those days when I woke up tired and seemed to become more tired as the hours passed. What was surprising was that, even though I was fatigued and the day moved in slow motion, I got a lot done:
* Cleaned the kitchen
* Decluttered three boxes
* Cleaned the laundry room
* Checked the washer and confirmed the wet floor was a hose that needed to be replaced
* Caught up with some of the family on the phone
* Finished two loads of laundry, drying, folding, putting away
* Changed the bed linens
* Sorted through books, clothes and other items to be donated
* Cleaned the dining room
* Decluttered some of a closet
* Visited with an ill neighbor
* Got groceries
* Caught up on emails and Sparking
* Paid bills
* Went to dinner with a friend
None of these things are of great significance, but put together made for a busy day. I got more done than on days I've awakened with an abundance of energy. I'm confused why.
Have you ever had one of these days?
Friday, October 23, 2009
How do you handle things when you feel overwhelmed?
When the pressures of life seem to close around you, squeezing the joy out of you, what do you do?
We know from a multitude of studies that too much stress can take years off of our lives. It turns our hair gray, contributes to anxiety and panic and heart attacks, strokes and a plethora of other physical ailments. Mentally, excessive stress is a cause of insomnia, depression and other troubles. Relationships suffer. Our work suffers. All because of excessive stress.
Advocates of yoga and meditation tout their methods. Others do, too.
Deep breathing, filling the body, mind and heart with peace is important during times of stress. Some refer to this as becoming one with the universe, locking into the power existing beyond ourselves.
Simply putting our worries into perspective helps. What can we do right now about a particular problem? If nothing, then why worry about it now? Instead, we should relax, do something for fun, perhaps take a leisurely walk through a park or our neighborhood.
Let worry occur when it is time to worry. When it is not time to worry, then focus on something else.
When we feel overwhelmed, it is imperative we find a way to release the tension. Exercise is a huge help, as is soaking in a tub of hot water or, for some, cleaning house or doing yard work, knitting, singing or writing.
Whatever our method, we must overcome our worries before our worries overcome us.
How do you relax and let go when things seem to pile one problem on top of another, when you feel you simply can't handle any more?
Thursday, October 22, 2009
A short while ago as I sat and ate cantaloupe, my mind wandered to the stack of cassette tapes I had been sorting. The fruit was deliciously sweet and juicy and that's what I wanted to concentrate on. But the mind wanted to wander.
It seems there are so many distractions -- real or imaginary -- that call for our attention that it is often difficult to focus on the matter at hand.
I don't recall the name of the author (Wayne Dwyer maybe?) who wrote about present moment happiness, stressing that we need to be in the moment, using all of our senses to appreciate what we are doing right then at that time.
I turned off the TV, closed the laptop cover and concentrated on the joy of consuming such a delectable food. Even when some juice streamed down my chin, I concentrated on my eating. When I was finished, I cleaned up and smiled at the pure pleasure I had experienced.
Perhaps, sometimes, we do not allow ourselves to enjoy our present moment happiness, whether in the weight room, on the treadmill, walking through the neighborhood or eating a meal. We allow our mind to wander, thus depriving us of the joy of the moment.
How do you handle these situations?
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Member Comments About This Blog Post:
You went through that experience Lou. I am glad you are going to make something positive out of it.
Joy
