People walk into my office and often ask for "motivation." They are convinced this is what they need in order to exercise more. It is often talked about as if it were an item to be picked up at a store. And I think most buy into this notion that once the client/friend/patient is magically motivated they will begin a health program.
The only magic I have ever seen has occurred when the client decides the goal is worth it. The goal itself must evoke in you an emotion or desire. The drive to have it no matter what. That's the motivation. Otherwise the motivation is just a vague term that represents nothing. And the results will reflect that. Decide what you want. And make it meaningful. Make it motivate you.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
DISCIPLINE YOURSELF TO BE DISCIPLINE
Discipline is not something you are born with. It is a mental muscle that needs constant training. Like any other muscle, if you don’t use it, it will weaken. It takes more than just wanting to be disciplined. It is an ability that must be developed and tended to. If it appears easy for some, it is because those people have cultivated it for a very long time.
It isn’t something you can grab out of the top drawer when you need it. You have to have it ready when you need it. Begin slowly by creating a reward and consequence game for your behaviors.Remember no muscle gets into shape immediately. You have to methodically build it and maintain it. All your choices affect this muscle.
(taken from my book: "Head Over Meals-Thinking Your Way To Being Thin Happy & Healthy")
It isn’t something you can grab out of the top drawer when you need it. You have to have it ready when you need it. Begin slowly by creating a reward and consequence game for your behaviors.Remember no muscle gets into shape immediately. You have to methodically build it and maintain it. All your choices affect this muscle.
(taken from my book: "Head Over Meals-Thinking Your Way To Being Thin Happy & Healthy")
Monday, February 9, 2009
WAKE UP TO EAT
Approximately 88% of what you do on a regular daily basis is below your conscious awareness. It is automatic. You do not think about walking or driving. It is something you do automatically and unless something occurs that interrupts this habitual response, you will continue to do it routinely. You may think you are consciously aware, but the truth is most of the time you are on “auto pilot”. Habitual overeating, emotional eating , stopping at a drive thru is 75% habit control. To change eating patterns you have to choose to wake up.
And yes, even reaching for the box of chocolate because it's "Valentine's Day" is a habit. Let's face it, you can still have a great romantic evening without the chocolate. And if you are alone, the chocolate will NOT change that. Now I'm not saying it's a "bad thing" to be alone. It's neither good or bad. It just is. And it's only where you are now. Like habits--life's situations can be changed.
And yes, even reaching for the box of chocolate because it's "Valentine's Day" is a habit. Let's face it, you can still have a great romantic evening without the chocolate. And if you are alone, the chocolate will NOT change that. Now I'm not saying it's a "bad thing" to be alone. It's neither good or bad. It just is. And it's only where you are now. Like habits--life's situations can be changed.
Monday, February 2, 2009
SINGLE AND IT'S VALENTINE'S DAY
With Valentine's Day approaching, relationships become a primary focus. Every card store and flower shop is filled with the idea that every man and woman is madly in love. But for some, it is a painful reminder of being alone. Most people will resign to statements such as; "All the good ones are taken." "Why bother, sooner or later they cheat." Or even "I attract all the wrong ones"
If you are not in a relationship and you want to be, the fault may be in your beliefs and what you are projecting out. If you believe something to be true, you will find evidence to reinforce it.
Quantum physics has already showed that the scientist affects the outcome of the experiment just by what they expect to find. If you observe light as a wave, it behaves as a wave. If you observe light as a particle, it behaves as a particle.
The interaction of your observations and the filters of your perception affect everything you perceive. You, the observer, see what you expect to see. So if you believe that "all men are cheaters" or "woman only date rich men", you will find that to be true. You will find the evidence you need to make your belief true. And the cycle will continue.
And ask yourself this, if relationship are so "awful", then why do you want one? Perhaps if you focus on the things you do like, you might begin to attract something (someone) more positive.
Now I'm not saying that everyone should be in a relationship. Actually, you can learn something from your happy single friends. Simply be happy with what you do have. All too often people focus on what they don't have instead of what they do. If you are single you can enjoy being single. If you knew that in two years you would be married, you might be enjoying being single right now.
All too often people focus on what they don't have instead of enjoying what they do have. The key to lasting happiness is to enjoy the relationships when you are in one and enjoy being single when you are not. A mate does not determine your self worth, and will not solve a lack of self-esteem. You enter relationships because you want one, not because you need one.
Take responsibility for your actions and behavior. Ask yourself truthfully what have you been doing in your past relationships? Are you willing to change old patterns and beliefs that are no longer working for you? If you insist on being "needy" you will be by yourself. When it comes to relationships, two halves do not make a whole.
There are two things you inevitably attract in your life, the things you fear and the things you love. Why? Because you put a lot of energy into both. Typically, positive people attract positive things. And so the emotions you experience will attract people and events that will assist you in actualizing these emotions. For instance, what you fear will draw people to you that will help you perceive and experience those fears. On the positive side, focusing on the things that you love can make you irresistible. If you truly understand this, you will understand that if you want to find the "right" person, first look inside of you, and find your best. The rest will follow.
If you are not in a relationship and you want to be, the fault may be in your beliefs and what you are projecting out. If you believe something to be true, you will find evidence to reinforce it.
Quantum physics has already showed that the scientist affects the outcome of the experiment just by what they expect to find. If you observe light as a wave, it behaves as a wave. If you observe light as a particle, it behaves as a particle.
The interaction of your observations and the filters of your perception affect everything you perceive. You, the observer, see what you expect to see. So if you believe that "all men are cheaters" or "woman only date rich men", you will find that to be true. You will find the evidence you need to make your belief true. And the cycle will continue.
And ask yourself this, if relationship are so "awful", then why do you want one? Perhaps if you focus on the things you do like, you might begin to attract something (someone) more positive.
Now I'm not saying that everyone should be in a relationship. Actually, you can learn something from your happy single friends. Simply be happy with what you do have. All too often people focus on what they don't have instead of what they do. If you are single you can enjoy being single. If you knew that in two years you would be married, you might be enjoying being single right now.
All too often people focus on what they don't have instead of enjoying what they do have. The key to lasting happiness is to enjoy the relationships when you are in one and enjoy being single when you are not. A mate does not determine your self worth, and will not solve a lack of self-esteem. You enter relationships because you want one, not because you need one.
Take responsibility for your actions and behavior. Ask yourself truthfully what have you been doing in your past relationships? Are you willing to change old patterns and beliefs that are no longer working for you? If you insist on being "needy" you will be by yourself. When it comes to relationships, two halves do not make a whole.
There are two things you inevitably attract in your life, the things you fear and the things you love. Why? Because you put a lot of energy into both. Typically, positive people attract positive things. And so the emotions you experience will attract people and events that will assist you in actualizing these emotions. For instance, what you fear will draw people to you that will help you perceive and experience those fears. On the positive side, focusing on the things that you love can make you irresistible. If you truly understand this, you will understand that if you want to find the "right" person, first look inside of you, and find your best. The rest will follow.
Monday, January 26, 2009
BE IN THE TOP PERCENT
One area where people often avoid responsibility is exercise, and that is a big mistake. Here is the question you should ask yourself: Do I want to be healthy and have the body I want? You may answer “no” or “yes, I do.” Most people want to answer “yes,” but statistics show that only 3% of the population will eat healthy and exercise.
You have heard time and again that regular physical activity is important, but how many times have you picked the couch and a bag of chips instead? And what has the couch done for you?
Today you have the ability to live a better quality of life. Not just because of the new gadgets you buy but how you enjoy those things. What is the point of earning a lot of money if you do not have the health to enjoy it? What is the point of taking great vacations if you can’t even walk two miles without needing a break? Imagine the quality of your life ten or twenty years from now.
Getting older doesn’t have to mean breaking down physically. Why not aim to be in the top 3% of the population?
You have heard time and again that regular physical activity is important, but how many times have you picked the couch and a bag of chips instead? And what has the couch done for you?
Today you have the ability to live a better quality of life. Not just because of the new gadgets you buy but how you enjoy those things. What is the point of earning a lot of money if you do not have the health to enjoy it? What is the point of taking great vacations if you can’t even walk two miles without needing a break? Imagine the quality of your life ten or twenty years from now.
Getting older doesn’t have to mean breaking down physically. Why not aim to be in the top 3% of the population?
Monday, January 19, 2009
YOU ARE THE PAY OFF
Make sure you are doing something for you and you alone. Resolving to do something for a family member or society is a sure way of setting oneself up for failure. Is it from your heart? Is it meaningful to you? You want it and what are you willing to do for it? Be responsible for the goal you are setting. Make sure it is possible for you to achieve it. Don't lose weight to prove something. Set a goal that is attainable and self-initiated. Remember there is always a bit of discomfort in change because you are reprogramming a past behavior. This is only temporary. As you work through the difficulties, the positive changes will occur. The discomfort is very small compared to the pay-off.
Monday, January 12, 2009
CAUSE & EFFECT
You are undoubtedly familiar with the concept of cause and effect. This is a familiar concept in science, philosophy, and in all great teachings. Every effect has a cause, and every cause is the basis of an effect. There is a chain of causation: each effect is the result of a cause, which then becomes a cause for another effect. It is a cascade, or an ongoing loop. You might see it as two sides of an equation – a cause side and effect side.
This concept calls you to take responsibility because at any given moment you are on one side or the other, which in every moment is leading you to the other side . Therefore when you are fully present in any given moment, the question arises; Which side of the cause and effect equation are you on? Are you the CAUSE in your life or are you at the EFFECT of things in your life? If you are at CAUSE you take responsibility for things in your life. It is not about blame,but more so about taking action. Think of the word "responsible"--respond+able. You can choose how to respond to things in your life. Choose not to resort to food as an emotional blanket, choose to exercise rather than watch tv. Choose to focus on what you can do.
This concept calls you to take responsibility because at any given moment you are on one side or the other, which in every moment is leading you to the other side . Therefore when you are fully present in any given moment, the question arises; Which side of the cause and effect equation are you on? Are you the CAUSE in your life or are you at the EFFECT of things in your life? If you are at CAUSE you take responsibility for things in your life. It is not about blame,but more so about taking action. Think of the word "responsible"--respond+able. You can choose how to respond to things in your life. Choose not to resort to food as an emotional blanket, choose to exercise rather than watch tv. Choose to focus on what you can do.
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