| Attempting to change your behaviors can be | | | | move past the block that holds you back until you |
| emotionally difficult, especially when it comes to your | | | | acknowledge these old tapes, thoughts and feelings. If |
| health, your well being and food. You have tried many | | | | you continue to ignore these feelings and continue to |
| diets and have tried to start many new exercise | | | | squash them (swallow them, eat them, digest them) |
| routines, only to find after a few weeks you determine; | | | | they will get bigger and stronger inside of you. If you |
| it's not working for me, I can't do this and I end up | | | | continue to believe them or don't even realize they |
| feeling like a failure. It makes it hard to try another | | | | exist they will continue to have power over you and |
| program or attempt to make changes, yet again. I'll let | | | | this is when you give up. You reach for food. |
| you in on a secret; it's not you that failed in the past. | | | | When you begin to step outside of your comfort zone, |
| The old rules of deprivation, willpower, counting calorie, | | | | when you begin to make progress in reaching your |
| moderation doesn't work for you. What isn't working is | | | | goals, your learned responses take over. Your old |
| that you are not addressing the underlying issue. | | | | support system. Daily messages such as: "I really |
| What is the real block to moving forward and | | | | NEED ice cream right now"; "I need some comfort |
| accomplishing your goals? What eventually crops up | | | | food", I've been good I deserve some goodies".. These |
| and keeps you from following through with your best | | | | are the old patterns that you've learned to replay to |
| laid plans? | | | | help you escape the negative emotions or of being out |
| Fear? Anxiety (same as fear). | | | | of your comfort zone. You've been conditioned to |
| You find yourself struggling not knowing what to do or | | | | reach for food as your outlet. Or you have learned |
| where to turn. And what you perceive as your failure | | | | that eating, feeding yourself is your power. |
| only moves you towards food to lessen the pain and | | | | Practice the awareness of these feelings and "the |
| the cycle continues. You learned that food will comfort | | | | voice". Acknowledge them. You don't need to believe |
| you. Food will make you feel better. Or maybe you | | | | them just acknowledge them. They hold the key |
| don't even notice you are reaching for food and | | | | information to help you understand more about |
| before you realize it you just completed the entire bag | | | | yourself, what drives you and controls your choices. |
| or box. Either consciously or unconsciously we all have | | | | Listen to it. Spend time exploring this? What is your |
| one version of this or another. The fear that is locked | | | | underlying message that keeps you where you are |
| inside that holds you back. | | | | and not allowing for you to move forward to where |
| What I'd like to offer is that you need to bring | | | | you want to be? |
| awareness, support and compassion to your | | | | Stop and ask yourself: Am I really hungry? What do I |
| underlying beliefs in order to move through this and | | | | really need right now? Will the ice cream/comfort food |
| forward. Ignoring, having judgment against or trying to | | | | provide this for me? What WILL I receive from the ice |
| change your belief with affirmations won't allow the | | | | cream/comfort food? What positive results will I |
| shift to occur. | | | | receive from this? |
| Try an experiment: Make your list of what you would | | | | Pay attention to your answer. That is the REAL |
| like to see for yourself in your life. Dream your dreams. | | | | message. |
| How you would like to see yourself in 3 years, 10 | | | | If you do decide to eat the food, that's ok. Sit and eat it |
| years? Take a few minutes and think about this. Write | | | | mindfully. No distractions. No driving while eating, no |
| it all down. Really dream big! This is your life; you get to | | | | watching TV while eating. If you really want to eat |
| decide what you want it to look like. | | | | your "comfort food", just eat it and enjoy it. Taste it. |
| Now sit back, take a few deep breaths. Focus on | | | | Smell it. Then ask; "In the end did I receive from this |
| your breathing nothing else just the life force that flows | | | | food what I thought I would?" or "after the 5 minutes |
| inside you. | | | | of eating am I still where I was." Notice just notice. |
| What comes up when you dream your dreams? | | | | Remember it is your life and you are the only one in |
| When you put your goals to paper? | | | | charge of how it will turn out. This awareness practice |
| A nauseating feeling in the pit of your stomach? Or a | | | | is new. It will take time so be gentle with yourself. I |
| surge of profound ecstasy? Your heart pounding or | | | | want to invite you to continue to make your plans and |
| aching. A voice inside your head telling you: | | | | follow through as best you can. You will make mistake, |
| "I never finish anything I start so why bother." | | | | you will forget sometimes. You may even fall back into |
| "I'm not good enough or have enough time to make | | | | old patterns. This is the only way you learn and grow. |
| healthy changes for myself". | | | | This is how you learn to see how far you have come |
| "I can't loose weight." "I can't make changes." "I'll never | | | | from your old self. Continue to make the changes you |
| change." | | | | want for yourself, acknowledge the inner messages, |
| "Who am I kidding; I will never be able to stick to a | | | | know they do not have to be your truth any longer, |
| healthier diet or support system". | | | | learn to understand these messages, be human and |
| Notice the message from whatever the source inside | | | | grow. |
| of you. This is KEY information. You won't be able to | | | | |