Focus on the whole you!

[Chris Oldham]

Unlike other forums or communities where people tend to focus on one or two things that interest them, this community is intended to make us stretch into and explore areas where we may not be so comfortable--a sign that we need work! I am no exception in this! We cannot get our bodies, minds and spirits onto the same vibrational level if we are not working on all three, together.

If there are things about your body that are other that what you would like them to be--what's allowing it to be that way, and why? WE are not separate from our BODIES, or our SPIRIT--they are three inseparable and interactive parts of the BE-ing that is us!

Let's open up our energy pathways by being open to new ideas and ways of thinking about our health. This is a relatively new frontier for all of us who are left-brain residents of the Western Hemisphere, but we need to embrace it!

How do YOU approach the goal of BEcoming WHOLE?

[Melody]

My weak area is staying on a diet.... I just love food too much and my mind doesn't know when it is full. so I eat...I am not an emotional eater.... I just love the taste of food, and it's not just sweets, it's healthy foods too. so my biggest challenge is to concentrate on losing weight, any way I can without starving either.

[Chris Oldham]

Melody--I hear ya! I have been carrying around a lot of excess "stored energy" that the universe could put to better use for awhile, as well!! ;-)

In the last 6 months I have lost 30 lbs, and am down two sizes. 5lb/mo doesn't sound like much, because we all want it off NOW. However, my focus has not been on losing weight, it has been on making healthier choices for me and my life. I love food, as well--have been surrounded by it all my life, as my grandparents owned German Delis in NYC growing up, and I have mostly worked food-connected carreers all my life. Flavor is the one thing we all crave, so bland or "off" tasting diet products are not the solution. You may keep a supply of protein drinks or bars on hand for times when you are in a bind, but that should be the exception and not the rule.

My first suggestion would be to start reading labels on the foods you are eating, and jotting down how many grams of sugar are in each servings, and the total grams of each you consumed. Once you start looking, you will be amazed at just how much sugar is in almost every processed product we eat! Keep track of this for a couple days, then use the "Death by Sugar" calculator to find out where your consumption places you. (1 tablespoon of sugar has 24 grams, a can of Coke has 39--just one can of Coke/day is 31 pounds of sugar/year! All non-diet sodas and soft drinks have high amounts of sugar.)

That should give you a good indication of where problems may or may not be--I can tell you what I have done, and others can give you what worked for them. The MOST important thing is that nothing will work unless you are truly READY to get rid of the fat suit you've been holding onto--when that happens, almost anything can work because you are committed. It's just a matter of finding the right fit for you!

[Melody]

Thank you :>) I will start being consencious of what I put into my mouth, but how will I know when I am full ??????

[Chris Oldham]

Is this a problem for you, now?

Another thing--start drinking LOTS of good-quality water! Most of us suffer from mild dehydration due to the sugars, sodium, caffeine and alcohol we may consume--all of these leech water FROM your cells.

I was not a water-drinker--tea and diet coke were my mainstays. Now, although I still enjoy a couple cups of hot or iced tea a day, or one of my favorite flavors of sugar-free energy drink (the brand I like comes in decaf, too), my main drink is water, and I drink about a half-gallon or more a day on top of my other beverages.

What's your absolute favorite thing to eat?

[Melody]

Growing up we always drank water, so the drinking it is not a problem, it's trying to get into a steady rythem and sticking to a diet or an awareness of what I am eating.... I am so determine to do this that it frustrates me, that I have people in my life who sabotoge me and stupid me allows them to do it....
my favorite thing to eat is cheese cake, but I only it that once in a blue moon, so my second favorite it dark chocolate :>)

[Chris Oldham]

Oooh, I'm right there with you on the favorites! I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes last September, and have gotten really good at managing my sweet tooth with a few tricks.

Dark Chocolate M&M's--each one is not a very big sugar load at all, and I have found that if I take ten of them and eat them one at a time, savoring the crunch and deep chocolate flavor that by the time I get to about the eighth one, my craving is pretty well satisfied! My old habit of throwing a handful in my mouth, munching and gulping them down was way less satisfying.

Cheesecake--I made cheesecake for Easter. Now, there IS a lot of fat in cheesecake, but you can cut the sugar in half with the Splenda blend for baking. I am not a big fan of artificial sweeteners for a lot of health reasons, but the better alternatives are not readily available, yet. (I think the diabetes epidemic is making that happen a lot sooner than later) If you cut a slim slice of cheesecake and top it with fresh fruit you can have all the flavor without all the guilt.

[Annmarie]

My weak area is eating right, in the morning I have no desire to eat so I just drink instant carnation breakfast, then I have a granola bar at work around 11am, I eat a sandwich (usually ham and cheese or cream cheese and jelly) around 12:30p-1p and then eat dinner anywhere from 6p-7p, at night is when I'm really hungry so I eat alot of junk after dinner until I go to bed. I can't go to bed hungry otherwise I don't sleep well. I gave up caffeine about 3 months ago and now I drink Green Tea all day long. I LOVE chocolate and sweets!
In love and light!~Annmarie
I also wait until the last minute to go to the doctor when I know something isn't right, I started with head tremors and hand tremors and waited a full year before I went to the doctor, I actually made myself go after my family noticed my head shaking, after various testing the neurologist said it was from anxiety and put me on an anti-anxiety medication (Lexapro), my tremors are better now that I'm on the medicine, I very rarely get them anymore......so that is another weakness of mine-going to the doctor but they say nurses are the worst patients! :)

[Chris Oldham]

The dinner-to-bedtime period is the worst for me, too! Not only do I want the sweet, but I want crunchy, too! I put in a supply of roasted nuts to give me the crunch, sometimes a little tropical trail mix. I don't deny myself the sweets because that would put my "wanting" ego into overdrive, so I use the M & M trick or one of the various 100 calorie snacks that don't have a ton of sugar and carbs. It's not chocolate cake, but I know the price I will pay for that is not worth the 5 minutes it will take me to eat!!

My aversion to doctors comes from always being sick as a kid, then being healthy as a horse when I moved away from home--cigarette smoke! I spent so much time going to doctors and taking medicine that I usually have to be really miserable to give up and go--except for my checkups that I have got to do!

[Chris Oldham]

40 Tips for A Better Life



1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is

the ultimate anti-depressant.



2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.



3. Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.



4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My

purpose is to __________ today.'



5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.



6. Play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.



7. Make time to practice meditation, and prayer.

They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.



8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.



9. Dream more while you are awake.



10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that

is manufactured in plants.



11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan

salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.



12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.



13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and

flowing energy into your life.



14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, OR issues of the past,

negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your

energy in the positive present moment.



15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems

are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra

class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.



16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a

college kid with a maxed out charge card.



17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the NEGATIVE BLUES away.



18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.



19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.



20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.



21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.



22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.



23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their

journey is all about.



24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.



25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years,

will this matter?'



26. Forgive everyone for everything.



27. What other people think of you is none of your business.



28. Remember time heals everything.



29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.



30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends

will. Stay in touch.



31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.



32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.



33. The best is yet to come.



34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.



35. Do the right thing!



36. Call your family often. (Or email them to death!!!)



37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I

am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.



38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.



39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly

don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the

most of it and enjoy the ride.

40. Share what you learn that will benefit others!

[Rosemary]

Hey Chris,
What wonderful advise for us all. I love the site and all it has to offer. I just wish I had more time to "discover" it. Hopefully things will slow down...LOL LOL Have a great day....rosemary

[Melody]

thanks for the tips :>)