Why wait until New Year's Eve to decide what your 2013 focus will be? Some people call them resolutions, others say it is a promise of what is to come, still others call it intention. I think the tradition can be thought of as focus. What will you focus on? What will you deem as important enough to capture your ongoing attention and follow-up?
You know, we accomplish what we focus on. So, take a few moments to declare, to yourself and/or to others, what is important to you. If you make your focus public, then others can help you achieve your destination.
My 2013 resolution/intention/focus is to become a healthier lower weight by 20% of my current self. In support of being public with my focus, I have declared January 2 (the day we go back to work) as the beginning of the 2013 Healthy Journey Biggest Loser contest. Everyone on the HR team (where I work) was invited to participate. So, far, we have 17 people who want to join. We are running the contest through February. I intend to win! We are going to capture (weekly) each person's percentage of weight loss. I will share my progress with you.
So, for now, I wish you a very merry Christmas, however you celebrate! Relax, enjoy, wallow a little and have fun!
Desire to relax, enjoy and wallow. Dedication toshare the contest with co-workers and friends. Discipline to report and share.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Super Cool Experience!
Isn't part of our healthy journey enjoying experiences that come our way? Well, last Wednesday I had an incredible, completely unexpected experience to share with you!
I was on a quick business trip to Salt Lake City. I had the great good fortune to stay with a dear dear friend who lives in Park City. She is a big basketball fan and has season tickets to the Utah Jazz games. She generously invited me to the game on Wednesday night! It was quite an experience, not only because I was with a dear loving friend, BUT.......wait for it.........her tickets are on the freaking floor!!! There I was sitting next to the very large basketball players, watching them run up and down the court, up close and personal! It was a blast! I rarely attend live professional sports and I had never had seats on the floors (think Jack Nicholson and the Lakers) before!
So, I am very grateful to have been there, with Amy, in such rarified air! We sipped diet coke, did not eat any of the available food. We had been to dinner earlier and eaten quite healthy. It was more than enough to just enjoy the experience.
So, as Hannukah comes to a close and Christmas looms near, please enjoy all of the experiences that come your way. This season is about gratitude and sharing time with loved one, I think much moreso than shopping at the mall, eating lots of fattening foods, over indulging in special drinks, etc.
Desire to be here now. Dedication to practice gratitude for the massive blessings in our lives. Discipline to maintain not gain, this season!
I was on a quick business trip to Salt Lake City. I had the great good fortune to stay with a dear dear friend who lives in Park City. She is a big basketball fan and has season tickets to the Utah Jazz games. She generously invited me to the game on Wednesday night! It was quite an experience, not only because I was with a dear loving friend, BUT.......wait for it.........her tickets are on the freaking floor!!! There I was sitting next to the very large basketball players, watching them run up and down the court, up close and personal! It was a blast! I rarely attend live professional sports and I had never had seats on the floors (think Jack Nicholson and the Lakers) before!
So, I am very grateful to have been there, with Amy, in such rarified air! We sipped diet coke, did not eat any of the available food. We had been to dinner earlier and eaten quite healthy. It was more than enough to just enjoy the experience.
So, as Hannukah comes to a close and Christmas looms near, please enjoy all of the experiences that come your way. This season is about gratitude and sharing time with loved one, I think much moreso than shopping at the mall, eating lots of fattening foods, over indulging in special drinks, etc.
Desire to be here now. Dedication to practice gratitude for the massive blessings in our lives. Discipline to maintain not gain, this season!
Sunday, December 9, 2012
One Pot Supper Season
Do you ever cook up supper in one pot? Here in San Diego, we get very few chilly days. When we do, I love to make a pot of dinner. It tends to be a very hearty soup that we can reheat for dinner a few days in a row.
Tonight, we settled in for our annual watching of Love Actually, our favorite Christmas movie of all times. I made a wonderful pot of white bean soup with fat free broth, lean ground turkey, onions, celery, carrots, garlic and some other yummy spices. It simmered all day (I started with dry white beans) and made the whole house smell wonderful. It was delicious and wonderful and I highly recommend you try it! I am looking forward to these leftovers.
Today, I also want to say Happy Hanukkah to everyone out there who is celebrating for the next week! It is such a fun holiday because it goes on for 8 days and nights!!!
Desire to enjoy the cool weather. Dedication to honor lots of celebrations. Discipline to finish all the leftovers.
Tonight, we settled in for our annual watching of Love Actually, our favorite Christmas movie of all times. I made a wonderful pot of white bean soup with fat free broth, lean ground turkey, onions, celery, carrots, garlic and some other yummy spices. It simmered all day (I started with dry white beans) and made the whole house smell wonderful. It was delicious and wonderful and I highly recommend you try it! I am looking forward to these leftovers.
Today, I also want to say Happy Hanukkah to everyone out there who is celebrating for the next week! It is such a fun holiday because it goes on for 8 days and nights!!!
Desire to enjoy the cool weather. Dedication to honor lots of celebrations. Discipline to finish all the leftovers.
Monday, December 3, 2012
"Living Lightly"
This week I would like to share with you aother wonderful website. I found it recently and have been enjoying what it offers. It is called Living Lightly and the author is Diane Petrella. You can find her at www.dianepetrella.com
I hope you enjoy the read!
In last week's Secret, Appreciate and Thank Your Body, you learned that by appreciating all your body does for you, and by consciously offering thanks, you can begin to create a more loving relationship with your body.
This week we will delve deeper into the Fifth Secret: Imagine Yourself At Your Ideal Weight.
Your imagination is extremely powerful. When coupled with strong desire it activates unseen energies within you. Visualizing yourself living life at your ideal weight encodes in your body/mind the mental blueprint needed to make that image your reality.
Consistent positive visualization feeds your mind images of success. Take five minutes daily and imagine yourself living life at your ideal, natural weight. Especially notice the feelings and sensations associated with this experience. As you visualize yourself at your desired weight you will more naturally make healthy choices based on this new self-image.
Desire to love your body. Dedication to appreciate your body. Discipline to remember to thank you body.
I hope you enjoy the read!
In last week's Secret, Appreciate and Thank Your Body, you learned that by appreciating all your body does for you, and by consciously offering thanks, you can begin to create a more loving relationship with your body.
This week we will delve deeper into the Fifth Secret: Imagine Yourself At Your Ideal Weight.
Your imagination is extremely powerful. When coupled with strong desire it activates unseen energies within you. Visualizing yourself living life at your ideal weight encodes in your body/mind the mental blueprint needed to make that image your reality.
Consistent positive visualization feeds your mind images of success. Take five minutes daily and imagine yourself living life at your ideal, natural weight. Especially notice the feelings and sensations associated with this experience. As you visualize yourself at your desired weight you will more naturally make healthy choices based on this new self-image.
Desire to love your body. Dedication to appreciate your body. Discipline to remember to thank you body.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
The Morning After!
OK, raise your hand if you consumed the average calories on Thanksgiving.....that would be 4,000 calories! I confess, I didn't actually count, but I probably came in at the national average. And it was yummy!
The morning of, I did a kick ass workout on my new step 360, complete with weight lifting, burpees, jacks and mountain climbers! I worked up a good sweat, and I took a walk before the big dinner, so at least I mitigated a few of the calories!
My "morning after" included beach cardio and yoga. Actually, Monday morning, I am beginning significant calorie restriction to get me through December. My goal is to, not only, not gain any holiday pounds, but to actually shed a few. My strategy is to indulge in a few scheduled holiday celebrations, but then to really restrict on the other days of this tempting month.
Wish me luck! Please help keep me honest. Please send me messages reminding me of my commitment to myself! I look forward to your help!
Desire to exit the season a lighter version of myself. Dedication to celebrating with balance. Discipline to December calorie restriction.
The morning of, I did a kick ass workout on my new step 360, complete with weight lifting, burpees, jacks and mountain climbers! I worked up a good sweat, and I took a walk before the big dinner, so at least I mitigated a few of the calories!
My "morning after" included beach cardio and yoga. Actually, Monday morning, I am beginning significant calorie restriction to get me through December. My goal is to, not only, not gain any holiday pounds, but to actually shed a few. My strategy is to indulge in a few scheduled holiday celebrations, but then to really restrict on the other days of this tempting month.
Wish me luck! Please help keep me honest. Please send me messages reminding me of my commitment to myself! I look forward to your help!
Desire to exit the season a lighter version of myself. Dedication to celebrating with balance. Discipline to December calorie restriction.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Gratitude and Grace
Thanksgiving is a time of year to reflect on and express gratitude for our blessings. I believe that gratitude is the foundation for our healthy journeys.
As I thought about this post, our Thanksgiving post, I considered lots of different options. There are so many things to think about.......eating healthy over Thanksgiving; not gaining weight over Thanksgiving; low fat and low calorie recipes to add to the Thanksgiving table; walking 10,000 steps on Thanksgiving to help mitigate the 4,000 calories that the average American will consume on Thanksgiving day.....and so much more.
Instead I decided it was much more important to focus on gratitude. I think practicing gratitude prepares us to be a vessel to receive grace. I have heard others express that perspective. It makes sense to me. As I scan my immediate world, the opportunity to be grateful is overwhelming. The love that surrounds me, the abundance of material things, my friends and family, the great work I get to do, the best husband on the planet, living in San Diego, my health, my focus on my healthy journey to improve my health, course correct and celebrate health, and so much more.
My wish for you this Thanksgiving is that you will scan your world and immerse yourself in gratitude for all of your blessings. Then use that state of grace to share with others around you who are in need. That is the true meaning and purpose of this wonderful holiday.
Oh yeah....AND eat drink and be merry and enjoy whatever you decide is worth enjoying! Tomorrow we can exercise and restrict our intake once again!
Desire to be filled with grace. Dedication to practice gratitude for our blessings. Discipline to share our blessings with others.
As I thought about this post, our Thanksgiving post, I considered lots of different options. There are so many things to think about.......eating healthy over Thanksgiving; not gaining weight over Thanksgiving; low fat and low calorie recipes to add to the Thanksgiving table; walking 10,000 steps on Thanksgiving to help mitigate the 4,000 calories that the average American will consume on Thanksgiving day.....and so much more.
Instead I decided it was much more important to focus on gratitude. I think practicing gratitude prepares us to be a vessel to receive grace. I have heard others express that perspective. It makes sense to me. As I scan my immediate world, the opportunity to be grateful is overwhelming. The love that surrounds me, the abundance of material things, my friends and family, the great work I get to do, the best husband on the planet, living in San Diego, my health, my focus on my healthy journey to improve my health, course correct and celebrate health, and so much more.
My wish for you this Thanksgiving is that you will scan your world and immerse yourself in gratitude for all of your blessings. Then use that state of grace to share with others around you who are in need. That is the true meaning and purpose of this wonderful holiday.
Oh yeah....AND eat drink and be merry and enjoy whatever you decide is worth enjoying! Tomorrow we can exercise and restrict our intake once again!
Desire to be filled with grace. Dedication to practice gratitude for our blessings. Discipline to share our blessings with others.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
The Miracle Diet!
First of all, I am sorry I missed posting last weekend. If you know me on Facebook, then you know I spent Thursday through Sunday at the hospital helping my Dad through a health crisis. He is home now doing great. He had to have emergency surgery to resolve a massive blood clot in his iliac and superior femoral artery. I really felt the hand of God with us. He is doing really well with a prognosis for a full recovery. Hurray!
So, now for the miracle diet......it is simple. When you go on vacation, you simply eat and drink whatever you want! Then, if you do not gain weight....it is a miracle! HAR DE HAR HAR!
My sister shared that with me and I laughed so hard I almost cried!
Of course, there is no miracle diet. The miracle is that when we carefully monitor and restrict our intake while getting enough exercise, our bodies seek a healthy weight and state. That is the miracle.
So, if you are feeling a little out of balance, take a little time to analyze your intake and your motion. I bet you will find your way back to balance and health!
Desire to honor the miracle that is our bodies. Dedication to seeking health and balance. Discipline to monitor and adjust.
So, now for the miracle diet......it is simple. When you go on vacation, you simply eat and drink whatever you want! Then, if you do not gain weight....it is a miracle! HAR DE HAR HAR!
My sister shared that with me and I laughed so hard I almost cried!
Of course, there is no miracle diet. The miracle is that when we carefully monitor and restrict our intake while getting enough exercise, our bodies seek a healthy weight and state. That is the miracle.
So, if you are feeling a little out of balance, take a little time to analyze your intake and your motion. I bet you will find your way back to balance and health!
Desire to honor the miracle that is our bodies. Dedication to seeking health and balance. Discipline to monitor and adjust.
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