Jillian from “Biggest Loser” said something like,  “He needs to figure out that the self-image he created for himself just isn’t true.”  She was referring to a very young, obese contestant who was voted off the ranch Tuesday night.  No doubt at all she was right about the young man.

Her statement, though, grabbed me and I began to consider my own self-image.  

Have you ever gotten a message that who you are is not ok?  I sure have.  And for whatever the reason so many of us will take that message in and devour it until it becomes part of our identity. It can even sneak up on us … little things as well as really big important things.  We begin to create a self-image that just isn’t true.

I have found that my message lately has been “it’s ok to be you.”  It’s not just “ok”, it’s fabulous to be you.  You are the only person in this entire universe who can be you, who can influence the way you do, who can bless the way you do.  You can have the same job or “calling” in life as the next person but no one can do it like you because there is no one else like YOU. 

You are unique.  I am unique.  Embrace your differences.  Embrace all of those things that make you, you.  I suggest even embracing your shortcomings rather than fighting them.  It’s ok to have weaknesses.  It’s what you do with them that count. 

Learn to celebrate your strengths and manage your weaknesses.

The other day I noticed that I was berating myself because my fitness activity is not where it “should” be.  Should be according to whom??

I took a step back and had an honest moment with myself. What I discovered was that winter is not my best time of year.  I’m not competing (yet!).  I am in a healthier state that I’ve been in years.  I decided to embrace the situation.  It’s ok!  I’m ok!  So instead of setting fitness goals that will go against my natural rhythm, I decided to set goals that will flow for me. 

My goal for the remainder of the winter is to eat healthy and move my body every day.  I am happy to maintain.  Come spring I’ll set a lofty fitness goal and go for it with all I have.

What a relief!  I could have remained stuck in that berating mode but instead I took steps that nurtured a positive self-image and self-esteem such as:

     1.   Notice your thoughts, feelings, and actions.  What are they telling you?

     2.   Step back and have an honest and open moment with yourself.

     3.   Discover what you need.

     4.   Embrace yourself in a way that will create a positive flow of energy.

     5.   Set your goals accordingly and go with it!

I ask you …

     Is the self-image you have created for yourself true?

     Are you berating yourself over something that’s creating and/or supporting a negative self-image?

     What changes can you make to turn that around?

Last spring I experienced a weight gain crisis.
No, it didn’t happen all at once but I found myself heavier than I had ever been with serious health issues lurking because of it. I knew what I needed to do.
I know the most natural, easy way of dropping excess weight when it comes to the eating part. I even know the exercise part. It was the emotional and mindset part that needed major work.

Weight loss has so much to do with emotional and mindset issues. Even within that I give the emotional priority over the mindset but they’re very closely linked.

We stuff our emotions that then get stuck inside our bodies often perpetuating a downward spiral. It shows up in health issues, berating self-talk, sabotaging behavior, and on and on. Then we soothe our feelings by stuffing our bodies with more food which equals more weight gain and a host of other things. Aaarrrgghhh!! It’s time to stop!! Don’t you think? It was for me!

Besides the natural eating and exercise program I put myself on, the following is a sample of
emotional and mindset activities I did:

1. WHY: You have to have a serious why. We all want to look good but that just isn’t strong enough. For me it had to do with being healthy for my family in the moment and in years to come. I created power statements, thoughts, visions, and feelings around my why.

2. EMOTIONAL RELEASE: I used powerful emotional releasing techniques to dig out the root of the problem one of which was EFT – Emotional Freedom Technique. This was a huge part of my process particularly at the beginning along with several other techniques.

3. MINDSET: I set weekly weight loss goals rather than focus on the big picture. That was so helpful. I would picture the 2-pound weight loss on the scale in my mind. All week I would tell myself that I weighed that much. Example: if I were at 145 and the goal was 142, I would see 142 on the scale in my mind and say, “I weigh 142 pounds”. Then I would imagine how it would feel to reach the goal. I set my mind on the end result.  If fear or negative thinking popped up I made myself stop by saying something like, “That was once true for me but it is no longer true for me now.”  I would be very specific in the statement and would speak my new truth.

People ask me all the time I how lost the weight. It’s not something that I can explain in a simple sentence or two. People assume it was all about how I ate. Sure that played a significant role but it was so much more than that.

Let me add that I had been trying for years to lose weight with just eating and exercising right. It didn’t work! When I applied all the different techniques, the weight seemed to melt off. To my great surprise it wasn’t hard. It was and continues to be an awesome journey. I say continues because I’m maintaining my ideal size practically effortlessly. I didn’t and still don’t feel deprived. And, one of the coolest things is that food no longer has an emotional grip on me. I now have a good relationship with food! That is an awesome miracle!!

Currently I am 27 pounds lighter than I was last July when my weight peaked an all time high. The after pictures posted here reflect 20 pounds that was discarded within 3 months.  I am at my ideal size, which I am pleased as punch with.  However, there is still work to be done.  My body fat percent is obviously lower but still needs to be less than what it is to give me a stronger, healthier body.  Soon I will be gearing up for that challenge.  This is a must if I plan to fulfill the secret dream I mentioned in my post Telling Secrets. =)

My weight loss experience was the catalyst for all that I’m doing now. I knew that if I could use the emotional and mindset techniques for losing weight I could use them in other areas of my life. I knew there were great things ahead of me.

As Pamela Peeke author of “Body for Life for Women” says, “When a woman’s mind, body, and spirit unite, miracles happen. Her transformation is a gift that keeps on giving.”

That’s exactly where I am!

Do you struggle with weight loss issues? Is your authentic beauty trapped within excess weight? Would you like to become the gift that keeps on giving?

I encourage you to comment your thoughts, your feelings. I welcome your emails too! God bless you in your journey!!

As stated in my last post, “Telling Secrets”, this year is the year for courage. I declared it not only there, but I’ve been sharing it with friends, family, and whoever will listen. The interesting thing about it is that right out of the 2009 gate there have been opportunities to practice courage. To me they are pretty big things. It certainly makes me wonder what the heck is ahead of me as I am certain that my experience so far is just practice.

It takes courage to speak our truth. Speaking our truth allows what is deep inside of us to come out – our hopes, dreams, desires, beliefs, who we are. Many of us let life’s not so fun circumstances run amuck, which swallows up our truth eventually leaving us lost and depressed. Oh my, how I know that all too well. There comes a point in time, though, when enough is enough.

Enough IS enough! That’s what I am hearing, in so many words, from my clients. Who they are deep inside is screaming to get out. I’ve been there and I know what that feels like.

What holds us back? What holds you back? Boil it all down and the answer is fear. There’s a lot of good advice out there about facing your fears. I just heard a little phrase yesterday – “feeling the fear and doing it anyway”. Not bad … but the bottom line is this. “As a man thinketh in his heart so is he.” or “What we think about comes about.”

Understanding what we’re afraid of can be helpful, but by all means, stop focusing on it! You’ll just keep getting more of the same. Thanks, but no thanks!!

Today, right now let your focus be on courage, whatever the situation, and speak your truth! Don’t let those thoughts of fear keep you from speaking and living your truth. That fear may have been true for you once upon a time, but it no longer is your truth today.

Focus on courage! Focus on your truth! Speak it! Believe it and watch your spirit soar!!

“Be strong and courageous …” Joshua 1:6