Today's Visualize and Yesterday's Success

Friday, January 04, 2013

Daily Visualization:

Close your eyes and imagine all of your goals laid out in front of you on a giant billboard. Why do you want to reach those goals so badly and how will they change your life? What choices should you make today to get you one step closer to those goals?

*I actually don't want to imagine ALL my goals laid out in front of me... just 2-3 would be fine for now.

What are those goals?

Why do I want to reach those goals so BADLY?

How will they change my life?

What choices should I make today to get one step closer to those goals?

________________________

YESTERDAY'S SUCCESS:

After reading today's visualization, I am so proud of yesterday's success. It is bringing me one step closer to my goals.

Yesterday was the first day in a LONG time that I did not binge. I can't believe how "out-of-control" I was getting again. Especially over the Christmas break where goodies, great-food, more goodies were everywhere.

I was hoping to get started Jan. 1 but it happened Jan. 3. Not too bad. Now, how to I keep the non-bingeing from happening and what did I do yesterday that seemed to prevent a binge.

To KEEP binging at bay and What worked yesterday:

Eat Healthy Fats with each meal. Yes, I did this yesterday (Udo's Oil)
Ate the Kirkland Brand canned chicken for lunch, green beans, banana. This has a ton of protein and seems to really keep me satisfied. More so than any other lunch meal I have tried.
I usually make great choices until about 4:00 P.M. So, what did I do yesterday after 4:00 P.M. #1 thing... my friend Rachael came over for a visit. YAYAYAY!!! From 5:15-7:00 we visited and chatted. It was wonderful.

So, is there someone or something I LOVE to do that I can do from 5:15-7:00? I MUST keep it consistent. And... most days I really need to spend time with my family. So, I will think of a fun family thing to do. It actually is the usual time I eat dinner too, so maybe after dinner (about 5:00) doing something "fun" or "relaxing" from 6:00-7:00.

From 7:00-7:20 I ate a healthy dinner... SLOWLY not quickly.

7:30 Spark-People a bit

8:00 Got in bed watched a little t.v. and read a book.

9:00 Was asleep :)

WAKE up bright and early at 5:00 A.M. and Do it all again.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

BUTTERFLY-1976 1/4/2013 1:35PM

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MBSHAZZER 1/4/2013 9:57AM

FANTASTIC!!! It's so great that instead of just tearing your hair out over a problem, you are finding ways to get around it! Excellent job finding out things to eat that keep you from bingeing and even better, making time for friends that takes your mind off it, too! Report Inappropriate Comment

WONDERWOMAN 1/4/2013 9:18AM

Way to go! One day at a time! Report Inappropriate Comment

NUTRON3 1/4/2013 9:06AM

Great blog Report Inappropriate Comment

Response To Visualization

Thursday, January 03, 2013

Q: How am I making my future self proud?

I immediately thought, "Isn't this what mothers, teachers, coaches, etc think every day?" I think most humans think of having children be proud of them.

I am making my future self (and my children) proud by:
Being a great mother.
Being a great teacher.
Trying to be a nice person to all God's children.
Trying to make wise decisions and asking others and God for forgiveness when I do not.
Spending time with and listening to people. My daughter would LOL about this one. I could still work on this one...

*** I actually can't say my physical accomplishments. I really don't want to be remembered for those as much as I do for my example and kindness toward others. This is surprising to me.

I do want to be an example of taking good / moderate care of myself nutritionally and physically.

Q. What can I do BETTER today to help live a life I can be proud of?

I am going to limit this to the 3 Most Important things I can do Better. Heaven knows I could list a million things I could do better, but I am going to focus on 3.

#1 thing I can do better: No binges and at times purges. This is one of my big secrets and one which makes me wither inside. It's so gross... to stuff my face with food and sometimes hang over a toilet and get rid of it. I can't talk more about this now, it makes me so ashamed, depressed, sad, black inside...

#2 thing I can do better: Pray Daily to Give THANKS for my blessings. (Enough Said)

#3 thing I can do better: LISTEN... to my children, husband, friends, co-workers. THINK before I RESPOND... Don't always give my honest opinion. It's just not necessary. Know the time and place. Enjoy others company for them and their accomplishments and knowledge. Listen and praise them... I feel like I am a natural lawyer... always seeing the other side and often times in a "kill-joy" negative way. Even if it's true... Don't always share your opinion.

Ok... These may not be the 3 most important things to improve on, but they were the first 3 that came to mind.

Happy~DAY

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MBSHAZZER 1/3/2013 5:54PM

Netty, you are SO RIGHT about the athletic accomplishments. Guess what, we all get older and lose fitness, that is why the Boston Marathon has age graded qualifying times! Unless you are a professional athlete, no one remembers your PRs or Ironman completions but you. OTOH, if you touch people with your kindness, humor, caring and love, they remember that forever. As for being ashamed of an ED, don't be. Would you be ashamed if you had cancer? Or were depressed or schizophrenic? It's a disease - no one would choose to have it. And PS - THANKS for the shoes! Someone needs to spend the money! HAHA! Comment edited on: 1/3/2013 5:55:15 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

Daily Visualization Question

Thursday, January 03, 2013

Daily Visualization

Let's start with a quick visualization exercise. Imagine yourself as an elderly person reflecting on what you've done with your life. Think of the path you're on now. Are you making your future self proud? What can you do today to help live a life you can be proud of?

**This one stings a bit and will be hard.

I will contemplate this today and mostly focus on the POSITIVE things I am doing with my life.

But, there are a few negative steps I am taking that may prevent me from becoming an elderly person and that I am definitely NOT proud of.

Q: How am I making my future self proud?

Q. What can I do BETTER today to help live a life I can be proud of?

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MPETERSON2311 1/3/2013 12:12PM

hope everything is going well! have a great Thursday! I also saw you used the report card trick with your son! GREAT! Comment edited on: 1/3/2013 4:23:31 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

BUTTERFLY-1976 1/3/2013 11:22AM

Wow. Great questions. I'm going to think about this on through the day Report Inappropriate Comment

MBSHAZZER 1/3/2013 9:43AM

Netty, great questions! I do think it's important to try to always do our best, but it's also important to realize that some days are going to be "off" and in that case, the goal may be to "first do no harm". I often hear advice on Spark for when people take vacations - don't worry about losing weight, just try to maintain. Sometimes in life, all we can do is tread water, and that's OK too! Report Inappropriate Comment

NUTRON3 1/3/2013 9:04AM

Good ones and I will Report Inappropriate Comment

NANNABLACK 1/3/2013 7:34AM

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Implementing "Just Right"

Wednesday, January 02, 2013

Now, My next questions...

What are Netty's "Just Right" nutrition and fitness guidelines and...
How do I implement my "Just Right" nutrition and fitness?

SO... that I can FEEL successful.

THE PLAN:



***I wish we could just save blogs before we post them***
I guess I can just go back and edit them :)

  

Response Daily Visualization

Wednesday, January 02, 2013

Today, imagine that you live in a world where scales do not exist. How would you measure your success? How would you know if you were healthy and fit?

It wouldn't matter if I lived in a world with or with out scales at this point. I have weighed myself so much in the past that I know almost exactly how much I weigh at any given time without the scale.

AND... Maybe it's worse that I feel YUCKY even when the scale is being "Nice".

I have always resented or hated my "belly". Since losing 90 pounds I have always had the HANG...

But... this leads me to remembering when I didn't care or think about the Hanging Belly... I thought about getting a tummy tuck, and then I realized it wouldn't matter because some other body part would bug me (thighs, arms, chin)... so I was at peace with NOT wanting a tummy tuck. So WHY am I back to hating my belly and my body? Oh yeah, because I am not happy with me and my spirit right now. Mostly.. just my food, exercise, and maybe even my spiritual balance.

So this is insightful for me and brings me back to the original questions...

Q: How would I measure success? Rather... How SHOULD I measure my success?
SUCCESS IS HOW I FEEL INSIDE and OUTSIDE. YES, HOW I FEEL OUTSIDE... I hate to admit that my feeling OUTSIDE really does reflect my feelings INSIDE. Is it the chicken before the egg or the Egg before the chicken? I guess it really doesn't matter just that YOU HAVE TO HAVE an egg and a chicken.

Success for me is a feeling. A spiritual balance... knowing I am trying to be kind to others and seeking God's guidance. A feeling of FOOD satisfaction. A "just right" healthy body feeling. Not too hungry, not too stuffed. A physical "exercise" feeling of being strong and not too sore and not too tired feeling.

Knowing that I am coping with life WITHOUT binging on FOOD.
Knowing how to fuel my body right and actually fueling my body right.
Knowing that my body needs healthy exercise and DOING it.

Q: How would I know I am Healthy and Fit?

I KNOW I am Nutritionally Healthy when my body has it's "just right" feeling of satisfaction. NOT too hungry, not too full. I DO know what that feels like. It did take me awhile to figure out the "just right" feeling and truly at times, I am still confused. But, I need to focus again on feeling just right nutritionally.

I KNOW I am Fit when my body feels healthy and STRONG. I think being sore once in awhile is okay, but I don't like feeling sore all the time. I liked training for a marathon and accomplishing 1 long run a week. On that day I could feel sore but not on all the others. My other weekly runs were the "just right" FIT feeling.

I KNOW I am fit when I am moderately exercising and strength training.

Summary:

Success = The Just Right Content Feeling Inside and Out
Nutritionally = Not too full / Not too hungry
Fit = Not too lazy / Not too sore

Back to finding my own balance and moderation, my own "Just Right" feelings... Thankfully, I have had success and know where most of them lie. Next, I have to take the difficult action and IMPLEMENT the just right feelings and things I KNOW.

*HUGS* Thanks for reading this and all your words of inspiration and encouragement. LOVE MY SPARK BUDDIES!!!!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

DEB9021 1/2/2013 9:40PM

Great blog, and a good question for all of us to ponder. I think success is when you set things right inside yourself so that you can then be an open and positive influence on the outside world and people. The person who can respond to , "Do you have a minute?" With a smile and an an open mind. Who can respond to, "Hey, does anybody want to ...?" With an enthusiastic yes! I sometimes run ragged, allowing myself to get over-stressed and over-tired. At times like that I feel closed and resentful. I am not much good to anyone, but it's so hard to break that cycle and realize that it's when I'm most busy that I have to STOP and refuel my body and mind. So I set goals for nutrition and exercise but try not to obsess about keeping them. For me the successful spot is when I feel energized and upbeat--on a really busy day a 10-minute walk in the fresh air at lunch is perfect; other days its a few minutes of down time with a cup of tea; and other times its a sweaty hour-long pump-it-up workout. What I do and what I eat is less important than how it makes me feel, and how it refuels me so that hopefully I can pass that feeling on. Report Inappropriate Comment

MPETERSON2311 1/2/2013 4:18PM

I really like your ideas in this blog. Thanks for posting. It's very inspiring. Report Inappropriate Comment

MBSHAZZER 1/2/2013 3:44PM

I think it's fine to want to feel like you look good on the outside. Honestly, sometimes I look in the mirror and get really depressed. No, I'm not overweight but I hate my short legs, my fat thighs, my big crooked nose and my curly hair. But, at the end of the day, I am me. We can only do so much with what we are given. The challenge is to be kind to OURSELVES as well as others. Report Inappropriate Comment