MY TRUSTY PEDOMETER, HYPNOSIS, AND THE WALKING SITE!

Hello!

As I sit here and type, I am conscious of my pedometer kind of poking into my gut as it is attached to the waist of my pants.

Hey, that's a good thing!  For the minor irritation of it, and the new "tick" I have of constantly checking to see whether it is still attached and counting, wearing my pedometer, from morning until night, has become a very tolerable and enjoyable new habit, despite the minor irritation it provides.

It's been well over a week since I've worn it daily, and it is so entirely motiving.  One step, two steps, three steps....six thousand steps...and counting!  Wearing a step counter proves that the tiniest amount of effort, just one little step, can add up into something potentially big!

I love how wearing my pedometer makes me FEEL - motivated to move because I see IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION!  I've become motivated to challenge myself, too!  Can i walk just a little further?

Paul McKenna, the Hypnosis guy, says, "Anything you count, you improve."

It's so true!  In counting daily, my numbers have been steadily growing.

My energy has been steadily growing too!

One step at a time, we can create BIG CHANGES!

My winter coat feels looser!  

Little inconveniences....like getting up to get something (when Cliff could get it for me, instead), or taking a further parking spot....suddenly become attractive and desirable because I know they'll add to a higher step count!

Counting steps is a brilliant idea....fun and motivating!  I WANT to walk more as a result!

The pedometer came with my "I Can Make You Thin" program that I bought from www.PaulMcKenna.com.  I risked what seemed like it might be a gimmick purchase, a self hypnosis program for weight loss that I saw on TV.  I'd seen McKenna, a hypnotherapist, on Dr. Oz and was honestly very impressed.  I figured I'd might as well try.  (I could always return it.)



McKenna is brilliant and the REAL DEAL.  I have never felt such gratitude for a program.

You know what?  The program works!

Time will truly tell, but so far, my eating habits have changed radically in a little over a week.



I listen to the CDs and watch the DVDs, and then I actually do what he says.  I suppose I'm responding to his powerful suggestions.  I log my success in the Rapid Results Success Tracker.  I wear the pedometer daily.  I eat when I'm hungry, what I want, I savor my food, and turn from it when I'm satisfied.

I am radically calmer around food.

I have not had a binge in over a week.

I eat slower.  I eat less.  I count my bites.  I make good choices.  I walk more.  I'm back to my long hilly "Manayunk" walks!  When I look in the mirror, I send myself lots and lots of love and acceptance no matter what I see looking back at me.

McKenna says, "You have to accept yourself as you are."  Only in doing this, constantly, can we ever hope to move forward.      

And, to boot, I've experienced upset feelings this week, but did not turn to food.

I have also found togetherness helps, tremendously.  Cliff has been so supportive.  We eat almost all of our meals together now.  He reminds me to slow down.  We chat.  I put my fork down between bites.  I try more to mimic his timing.  Suddenly, my eating has become...  Dare I say it?  NORMAL.

My eating has gone from DISORDERED to NORMAL in just a few DAYS!!!  

Portia de Rossi, author of "Unbearable Lightness," cured her eating disorder by not eating alone anymore, but by eating with her lovers, exclusively.

Before working on the McKenna plan, I'd fallen BADLY, again, into continual binge and sneak-eating, alone, purely to feed emotional hunger.  The more I did it, the lonelier, and more depressed and hopeless I became.

Emotional eating serves many needs, but leaves one with TREMENDOUS negative consequences, and no way out.

I really didn't see a way out.  I am incrediulous that this "so-called gimmick" program is having such a HUGE impact.    I'm really changing, effortlessly.

It is effortless effort.  I do it....because I want to.

I'm eating amounts of a normal person, 2-3 meals a day with a snack or two sometimes.  I've moved from what I learned at the Better Living Lifestyle Center (2 meals a day because the founder of the Seventh Day Adventists, Ellen White, said so) to something more intuitively driven.  It feels RIGHT for today.

My mood is highly improved and I'm hopeful.  Learning to eat from HUNGER is what is going to ULTIMATELY cure me for life.  I am learning SELF CONTROL and it's not even hard, or impossible, as I had thought.

_ _ _

We eat Vegan, mostly.  Lots of salads, nuts, seeds, vegetables, beans, whole grains, fruit.  Green smoothies almost every day.  We save the egg/dairy for treats.  I try to keep everything as unprocessed as possible.  If I want other stuff, maybe i'll eat it.  We'll see.

I'm not giving myself any guilts over raw.  I trust that the more and more attuned I become to my body, the more and more raw I will desire.  This is a PROCESS.  First things first.

My good friend, Sheryl, says, "Anyone can follow a diet for a short time, but what can you stay with for a lifetime?"

Bingers always binge out of plans, so I purposely don't have a plan.  My choices come from my desires.  I'm glad my desires are as healthy as they are right now.

I feel a wonderful sense of freedom and flexibility and peace around food today.  I'm learning to trust my desires.  I'm learning I can take care of myself.

My goal today is not 100% raw, but to be 100% cured of chronic binge eating, overeating, and of morbid obesity.  I believe, finally, that I've found a program that is teaching me how to get there by empowering me to do it myself!   

I'm taking things at a pace comfortable to me.  McKenna gives permission to do that.

I'm enjoying where I am at right now.  I'm not terribly concerned about weight loss.  It's happening very slowly.

I don't weigh myself anymore.

This time is all about severing that bond to emotional eating...for good.

No more putting the CART before the HORSE.

I finally have come to terms with the fact that, I, as a binge eater, must re-learn how to eat normally and develop the confidence that I have control with food, before I can refine my choices, and actually have them stick, long term.  

_ _ _

Curiously, the rest of life takes care of itself when answering HUNGER is paid attention to!  Babies learn this...why did I never?

McKenna says, "There are two reasons to eat.  Because you are hungry, or because you want to change the way you feel."

I grow more confident, more resourceful daily when I use OTHER methods to change the way I feel, instead of turning to food, like talking out an issue with someone, or making a phone call to vent, or distracting myself by going for a walk or watching TV, or doing a craft if I feel unstimulated, or beautifying myself if I feel blah, or hugging a teddy bear or pet if I need comfort, or visiting neighbors or family or going out with friends if i feel lonely, or seeing a movie or show if I need entertainment, or learning how to say NO if I feel infringed upon in any way....etc...    

Yes, there are OTHER things BESIDES FOOD that can serve to:

• protect 
• comfort
• soothe
• entertain
• distract
• celebrate
• commisserate
• stimulate, etc...

McKenna says we are trying to HELP ourselves by using food, it's just our faulty "programming" that is at fault.  

For instance, my soul feels fed because I just got back from a lusicous "Manayunk walk" with Cliff.  We saw some dogs at the park!  I could have easily easily eaten everything in fridge to fill my empty hole in the soul.  Instead of abusing food, this activity provided a real answer for real needs for:

• togetherness
• sensory stimulation
• movement
• self pride
• excitement
• confidence
• community

Life answers our needs in such BETTER ways.

And food never tasted as good as it does when I am truly hungry for it.
_ _ _



WWW.THEWALKINGSITE.COM is a good website.  According to the website, 10,000 steps a day, or 5 miles a day, TOTAL, is ideal for long term weight control and health.

On a good day, where I take a good walk and am active all day (or on a busy day where I work as a raw chef), I have been getting over 6,000 steps/day.  On a less active day, I've tracked 3,000 - 4,500.

The website claims that sedentary people get between 1,000-3,000 steps a day, although I am sure that on some of my worst sedentary days, I did not even get over 500 steps in the entire day.

Upping our average weekly steps by 500 per week is suggested until we reach 10,000/day.

McKenna states that 2,000 steps is about a 15 minute walk.

I can DO that!  (So can you!)

In fact, I can get 250 steps just by walking down my street, half way!

It's amazing how steps add up.  I'm SO excited to keep going with this!  Won't you join me?

Walking Benefits:

Burns calories

Strengthens back muscles

Slims your waist

Easy on your joints

Strengthens your bones

Lowers blood pressure

Allows time with family and friends

Shapes and tones your legs and butt

Cuts cholesterol

Reduces risk of heart disease, diabetes, & more

Reduces stress

Sleep better

Improves mood and outlook on life

Can be done almost anywhere

Requires no equipment

AND it's Free

 
xoxo michelle joy

STEPS TO PERMANENT WEIGHT LOSS

Hello dear Readers!

Thursday is Valentine's Day!



If you are local, I am planning a special Raw Valentine's Meal at Arnold's Way Raw Vegetarian Cafe' (www.arnoldsway.com) in Lansdale, PA on Thursday, February 14th.  My special raw meal will be available regular cafe' hours for lunch, early dinner, or to go.  The menu will be "chef's choice" so you will just have to come in on Thursday to experience my raw "Love"!  Everyone welcome!  Call the store on Thursday for more details after 10a.m. 215-361-0116.

I had a good day today.  Not a raw day.  But a good day!  

By the end of today I should have walked 5,000 steps, a VAST improvement over the last sedentary weeks.

Wearing a step-o-meter is so motivating!!!!  Highly recommended!

On this snowy morning, Cliff and I felt like hot oatmeal for breakfast, we were so chilled.  With organic raisins, cut up apple and banana, it didn't even need sweetener.  So good!


We had warming soy milk hot chocolates from Starbucks mid morning.  A yummers treat!  

Later, we enjoyed lunch at South Street Souvlaki.  

The "Vegetarian Vegetable Platter" - a sampling of many different Greek veggie dishes - pickled beets, stewed string beans, lima beans, cooked potato, Dolmades and Spanikopita - is a favorite.  We delighted in a delicious rice pudding for dessert.

Can healthy food really taste this delicious? www.SouthStreetSouvlaki.com

For a light dinner, a bowl of homemade vegan Lentil soup with tons of veggies in it hit the spot.  

I had a homemade veggie burger sans the bun....for dessert.  (Couldn't resist!)

Good news!  I've maintained the habit of avoiding processed Veggie Burgers and Veggie Meats since reading Never Be  Fat Again by Raymond Francis.



The sentiment of the book is very nice.  But I'm still very FAT!!!  I acknowledge the book did have a positive influence on me, but I was not able to adopt the diet and stick to it 100%.  However, I have made SOME positive changes, like seriously decreasing processed veggie meats, that have stuck, so I'm grateful to Raymond Francis.  

As I write, I see pictures of myself on this blog at varying weights, eating various diets.  Obviously, at the time, raw vegan worked the best.  For 3.5 years I maintained a 175 lb weight loss.  But I'm not there right now.   

On my very personal journey of obesity and binge eating and experimenting with varying food choices, I must just continually strive to just accept and love myself at whatever level of success I am at, at whatever weight I am at...  And just be...and do the very best I can for today.    

The veggie burgers I created tonight were a very nice vegan non-processed all homemade from scratch achievement.  I'll call them "Spicy Mumbai Oat Sunflower Almond, Bean and Brown Rice Veggie Burgers."  What a mouthful!

(And, mmm, they are quite a yummy mouthful!)  
I took the above aforementioned ingredients (Indian spices, oatmeal, almonds, beans, brown rice, lots of veggies), added cilantro and olive oil, and pulse chopped it all in the Food processor.  I formed into patties and baked.  Amazing!  SO GOOD!!  And they stick together firmly without egg.      



Perhaps I can get back to eating mostly raw.  And twice a day, as I was at the BLLC.

It was definitely excellent for my weight, but things unraveled with my discipline.  I became terribly dissillusioned and it's taken me some time to build up trust in myself again to move forward.

I am working my way back, feeling more balanced, motivated, and disciplined today, and I'm glad for it.

I hope in sharing my experience, my failures, my weaknesses, my victories, and in trying to pass along what worked and what didn't, something I've said or done will help another person struggling.  God knows we all need each other.  

And we need constant inspiration.  We never know just WHAT will light that fire and propel us forward.

We must just NEVER GIVE UP!

I ordered some Hypnosis DVDs from a Hypnotherapist I saw on Dr. Oz.  I was very impressed with Paul McKenna (www.PaulMckenna.com) on Dr. Oz's show.  McKenna teaches the habits of naturally thin people, and various techniques for achieving them, through suggestion.  The hypnosis DVDs and teachings are simple, but powerful.  There is a lot to learn, but as far as eating like a thin person, McKenna teaches something similar to Geneen Roth.  He says 70% of the people who follow his program succeed in changing their relationship to food.  He says, among other things:

1. Eat when you are hungry.
2. Eat what you want.
3. Savor your food.
4. When you are satisfied, stop.  

McKenna's and Geneen Roth's teachings of hunger/fullness to internally keep a check on ourselves by learning self control with food is a crucial message for success for me.  The more I check in with hunger/fullness, the better I do and the more empowered I feel, no matter what I'm eating.

I have also found that once we move away from certain foods (as I have with meat), we actually don't want them anymore.  "Eat what you want" doesn't have to be a frightening proposition.  It doesn't mean I have to go out and eat fried chicken tomorrow.

Speaking of chicken, I actually had some last week, for the first time in a LONG time.  I was at someone's home after a funeral and there was nothing vegetarian for me to eat.  I made the best choice I could, and chose the chicken.  I really paid attention.  Stunningly, I realized I actually LIKE the fake chick'n BETTER than real chicken.  I felt badly for a long time after for the little chicken I killed and I haven't had any meat since.  Because I don't want it.

Choosing what we want to eat is a funny thing.  It changes when we really pay attention and allow the things we've learned to truly change us.  

I also ordered some Richard Simmons exercise videos!

  

Sweatin' To the Oldies 5-DVD-set came with a special bonus motivational DVD.  The motivational DVD is SO good!  I cried through the ENTIRE thing.  It is SO incredibly moving, and, motivating!  In it, Richard introduces us to people who have successfully lost their excess weight and changed their eating habits.  He and they teach the "6 steps to improved self esteem and permanent weight loss."  These steps are, again, so simple, but so incredibly powerful in application.

Forgive me, but I could not recall number six!

1. Think Positive
2. Practice Patience
3. Forgive Yourself and Others
4. Have Faith
5. Let Go of the Past
6. .....

Never Give Up, perhaps?

I'll let you know once I go upstairs and check the DVD!

In trying to discover the sixth step (online without having to go upstairs), I serendipidously came across an awesome article on the same topic, permanent weight loss steps, from another source, not Richard Simmons, but from a Vermont Health Retreat, that really does a super job shining a spotlight on the mental steps and actions we must pass through BEFORE permanent change will ever synthesized.  This is an incredibly enlightening article!!!  DO READ!

http://www.fitwoman.com/support/fitbriefings/permanent-weight-loss/

So, God Bless....and Happy Valentine's Day!  Wishing you (and myself!)....lots of self love...and self acceptance...and continued success on our journeys with more in-control eating, ever healthier choices, and permanent weight loss!

xoxo michelle joy