Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Tiny Tidbits

I want you to put your thinking caps on, close your eyes and go back to age 10 or 12 or even 18. What did you think your life would look like when you grew up. Did you think you would be married, or have children? If so, how many children. What did you think you would be? A teacher or a doctor, or did you think you would not work outside the home and raise children? What picture did you paint? What dream did you have for your life?

Of course, many of us, if not most would say that the picture they painted of their life when they were younger is not even close to the reality they live out today. Many of us, if not most would also say that there is a disappointment, deep regret or even bitterness that their life did not turn out like they had hoped or dreamed. That gap between the picture or dream and our reality can become a cesspool for painful suppressed emotions that in turn promote unhealthy behaviors.
When we let go of this picture that we painted about our life, and just allow the story to unfold as God intended, it creates a whole world of expansion for growth and other things to come in.
A life that is much bigger and fuller, in so many other ways than we had imagined, will emerge.

So it is with our journey of lifestyle change. Many of us have painted a picture of this journey we are on. Many of us have painted the picture of "I've failed so many times before, why will this time be different" or "I'll never be able to eat anything good again" or "I'm going to loose this weight and then never gain a pound again" or "I'm going to be a size. . . (you fill in the blank) or my favorite "Once I loose this weight, then I'm done forever with this journey". The point is that we miss out on so much this journey has to offer by painting a picture in advance. It also leaves so much room for disappointment when we posture this way. God has so much waiting for each one of us, day by day, as it unfolds, step by step. We only have to be willing to be on the journey. Sometimes He leads us up a hill and the journey is challenging which provides our muscles for life. Sometimes He lets us slide down the hill and the journey seems easier which teaches us confidence. God will provide all the lessons and scenery along the road. Trust that He will give each one of us what we need, right when we need it.

My encouragement for all of us this week, and the rest of this year, is to allow the journey to unfold, as we take the baby steps forward. God will provide all the rest! Have a great week and take some time to enjoy the scenery on this wild and wonderful journey called lifestyle change!

Friday, October 23, 2009

Julie's Journal

As most of you know, I have rededicated myself to tightening up in some areas on my personal journey of lifestyle change. I’m reverting back to some behaviors that I’ve used before in this journey. While I have no control over some of the medical issues that I am challenged with right now, I do have control over how I eat, how much I eat and how I incorporate fitness into my life given these challenges.

I am on the second full week of this commitment and I have noticed something. Something that feels faintly familiar. I am once again single minded about “health and wellness”. . . . hmmm, that’s not entirely accurate. I am once again single minded about “loosing weight and fitness”. The point being that I have begun to notice that I think about nothing EXCEPT food, what kind, how much, when I eat, shopping for that food, how much I weigh, when I weigh, writing the food that I can’t stop thinking about in the food journal, when I’ll do that and how often I’ll write it. When I get to the end of the day and lay down to go to sleep, I go through the day’s events and go through the list I just gave, one by one, to see how I did in each category. Does anybody see a pattern here??

I do believe in being single-minded to a degree while on this journey of lifestyle change, BUT, not at the expense of the rest of my life. Just as I used to be obsessed with eating and every subject surrounding food, I also became just as obsessed with weight loss and fitness when I first began the journey toward health and wellness. It really does look like a pendulum swing. . . binge eating, no weighing and morbid obesity to extremely controlled eating, daily weighing and excessive fitness. Either way, I was still missing life! I have noticed the pattern arising in my life again, but fortunately I see the red flag, I know what that flag represents and I’m not buying it! The whole point of lifestyle change is so that we are no longer in bondage to our thoughts, our choices, and especially and to our weight! I want to live, and walk the dog, and read, and play with my nephew, and hike in the mountains, and swim in the ocean, and visit the elderly shut-ins, and jog, and dress up, and sing loud in Church, and have deep spiritual conversations, and so on and so on and so on. . . . . .

How are you doing at “living” these days? Are you so focused on the steps that you’re taking that you forget to look around at the passing scenery, which happens to be your life? Are you not focused enough on the steps you’re taking on this journey of lifestyle change so that you stumble and even fall on this journey? Red flags simply mean it’s time to adjust. I know one thing for sure . . . it is time for me to lean into the middle ground. What about you?

Have a great week ladies and I’ll see you on Tuesday!

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Practical Ponderings

Hello loved ones! This has been a great week of new beginnings for several of us. I made a commitment with my workout partner to weigh, with each of us knowing each others weight, to make a food journal and to begin journaling our food intake and fitness during the week. When I feel like I am spiraling out of control on this journal of lifestyle change, the thing I know to do is throw out some anchors to stop the spiraling. One of the anchors that I know works is using a food journal to track exactly what and when I am eating. It helps me be conscious of what and how much I am eating, and it helps me know when to eat. Every three to four hours works for me. Also, another anchor is to have a partner in the gym. It keeps me accountable and it is so much more fun and rewarding if I have a partner in crime! Weighing once a week is another anchor that stops the spiraling. I just need to see where I am and how I am doing. If my weight is not going down, and there are no medical reasons for it, then I need to change something in the game plan. This week, several others joined me in this endeavor of throwing anchors out and I want to applaud you. We will ALL do this together. When we feel off track, one of the greatest anchors of all is just admitting it and not trying to hide it. I have done that this week and it seems several others have also. This is the stuff lifestyle journeys are made off. Sometimes on track, and sometimes not, but honestly knowing which is the truth and making the adjustments necessary. Smartest people I know. . . I keep telling ya!!

Have a great week reclaiming your journey ladies!

Friday, October 9, 2009

H.O.P.E. Highlight

I was talking with a co-worker about a specific scene in the movies that just related so much to the journey of lifestyle change. It was the scene where Indiana Jones is inside the cave or cavern and he's reading the riddle that will get him safely through the cave, when he comes to end of the path. Over the edge, where the path ends, is a drop off into darkness. There is literally nothing below, nothing in front and nothing above him. Just blackness and nothing. His directions however, tell him to take a step right out into the darkness, into the nothing. He ponders. . . to believe the riddle, or to believe what he "sees". The riddle tells Indy to take a 'leap of faith' so he slowly, and with great trepidation, steps out into the void. To his astonishment his foot lands on something solid, yet he appears to be standing in midair.

Indiana Jones could have missed the journey and stayed stuck right there at the end of the path, where he did not want to be. Instead, he took the leap of faith and that one step lead to another and another until he was exactly where he wanted to be! So it is with our journey of lifestyle change. Sometimes our shame, or the racket, or our desire to please others at any cost, or our choice not to use our voice or our co-dependent behaviors keep us stuck at the end of the path, and because we don't understand it all and cannot see in front of us, we just stay stuck right there. We do not have to have it all figured out folks! We can just "take a leap of faith" and trust those who have walked it before us, and just step out into the darkness. One thing that I know that I know that I know. There will either be a hard place for your foot to land, or you will be given wings with which to fly over the darkness and a flashlight to see the way!

There are many times on this journey where we will feel like we are at that drop off, and I am convinced that those are the times that we just need to step. The rest will fall into place. I don't have to know all the why's, when's, where's and how's of my past or my racket or my unhealthy behaviors. I just need to trust the process, trust the heart of God, and be willing to take a leap of faith. Have a great week end ladies. Remember. . .you are the smartest people I know!!

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Individual Interview . . . and a little reminder

Hi friends, and I do mean friends. Your support during this stressful time has meant a great deal to me and I wanted to take a minute to thank you. I am happy to report that while my mother is still in the hospital, she is doing much better. There were some very dark days when we were not sure of the outcome, but she has turned the corner and is doing much better. We hope to have her in a position to go to rehab soon. After a couple of weeks there, she should be well enough to take the next step, although we are not quite sure what that will be. That's OK, we don't have to know. All I really have to know is the God has us safely and securely in His hands and I really do know that. Boy does that truth make the rough times and strong winds bearable. In fact I just said last night, that the harder the winds blow, the less I sway. I think the winds just make me squeeze tighter on to His hand and deepens my resolve to stay the course. Anyway, again, thanks for all the love and support you have shown my family.

This month's interview is from a group member who has been with this program since it's inception! Take care ladies, enjoy your week end (especially those of you heading to the hills!) and we will meet again next week.


H.O.P.E Individual Interview

What is your name?
Angie Gay

Who is your family and additional support system outside of H.O.P.E. ?
My husband David for 29 years, my sons Ryan(25) and Justin(22) and my Mom who gives me her support and love every single day.

How long have you been a H.O.P.E. Participant?
I am and original member of H.O.P.E.. I’ve lost count but I believe it’s been 6 maybe 7 years.

What is the most useful tool you have received in H.O.P.E. ?
Every single tool has been useful. But to pick one that keeps me going would be “baby steps”. When moving forward on making changes, I would always go for perfection. Walk 2 miles everyday, eat a healthy food plan everyday, and write in a journal everyday. First there is no perfection, second I failed every single time. The changes would never last. Then Julie and Cathy taught me about “baby steps”. At the beginning I broke the changes into tiny steps and when they became consistent I would step them up. I moved slowly because I realize this isn’t a race to the end but a journey for the rest of my life.

What has been your greatest accomplishment through the H.O.P.E. Program?
I’ve done some things I never thought possible. I’ve hiked a mountain in Hawaii and I got on a snowmobile and rode through the most breathtaking scenery I’ve ever seen.

What has been your greatest challenge on your journey of lifestyle change?
I would say my obsessing on the numbers (i.e. pounds lost). I have found that this journey is about so much more. I also know about myself, that when I focus on weight loss I usually get stuck and find I’m not moving forward.

What does the H.O.P.E. Program mean to you personally?
H.O.P.E. brought back my JOY. Julie and Cathy have created a program that is life changing!

Can you share some words of wisdom with others who are just beginning their journey of lifestyle change?
I don’t know if I have any wisdom to share but I would like to say, if you are just beginning or anywhere on your journey – live “as if “, throw out the “ wait until “ and live your life knowing you are LOVED.