qotd

Negative thoughts produce negative effects.
Think positively

everyone deserves to eat

can you survive on this?

I was recently talking to a woman regarding her (attempted) weight loss - she was on a 'recommended' daily calorie intake of 850 calories. Yep - 850 calories - a DAY!!! She had come, wanting to buy some protein powder because .. she was starving. STARVING!!! really?! on 850 calories a day, anyone would be starving!
She was seeing a nutritionist - who was the one recommended she hunt out, protein powder - which 'may help her feel less hungry'. Not on your nelly! EAT?! Perhaps?! Eat more than 850 calories for the day? Then, surprisingly, you may feel less hungry!

There’s no reason weight loss should be an extreme process. Or. Such a negative process.

Further investigation revealed the 'nutritionist' was simply a provider of ... Optifast. I had never heard of this, and could not believe someone would really recommend such a low calorie intake to any human - let alone a morbidly obese woman, who until the point of contact with them had been eating a calorie dense, nutrient poor diet,  - and constantly struggling with depression, low self esteem, alongside the lack of appropriate knowledge to create positive change! With over forty years of attempting weight loss, the current inability to even walk very far without pure exhaustion and pain ... she was desperate to lose weight. Yet uneducated on how, no comprehension on the value of real food, and no familiarity on the ease with which to make delicious, quick healthy meals ... she had hedged her hopes (not for the first time) on this LOSE WEIGHT FAST plan. She had placed - her trust - in someone, whose only answer, encouragement, and motivation was, for her to starve herself !?! Every day.
Definition of exploitation? Taking advantage of a fragile, vulnerable human with a diet that is not going to achieve any positive long term result for her ... that is giving her NO energy to even get out of bed...  850 calories does not even give enough 'energy' for her organs to survive ... starvation, headaches, lethargy, her body, was slowly shutting down.
So - knowing nothing about this  'system' ... what to do when faced with ignorance? RESEARCH! Which I did. To say i am shocked - understatement.

optifast website (actual recommendation of their 'intensive stage' is <800 calories) - please PLEASE don't ever abuse your wonderful body by going on this 'diet' - no matter what you 'weigh' in kg terms ... (this IS of course my personal view - but EVERYONE DESERVES to be ALLOWED TO EAT, no matter what their weight or physical shape...) What joy is there to wake up every morning, knowing you are going to be starving all day long and have such little food to be able to choose from? Knowing, you are going to be starving and struggling from the days beginning to its end, trying to conquer the emotion of guilt if you eat, because you are hungry. During the internal chaotic fight, your body is wondering what the hell you are doing to it? It is a depressing state you put yourself in. Emotionally. You are also starving your brain of vital and needed nutrients for survival ... gosh,  it is as damaging as liposuction, or gastric band surgery, or any other 'quick fix' that promises so much, then delivers - so little.

You deserve the pleasure of eating, - good, healthy NUTRITIONAL food. You deserve, to sit down at the table, to a 'real' meal, that is going to satisfy you - in taste, in satiation, and visually! You deserve, to create change in your body, in a slow, safe direction for overall healthiness - long term ...

a journey

When you have a lot of weight to lose, it is easy to come up with excuses rather than get yourself off the couch and into motion...
So by taking the initial action of getting up and heading to the gym, of joining and being a part of a like minded group of positive people, all with similar or fitness related goals in mind - youve taken a difficult step already. You have ACTIVELY chosen to get rid of the part of you that has become an expert in excuse-making and procrastination, and are choosing to work instead towards a new, healthier you... that's a fantastic commitment!

:)

Self-delusion is pulling in your stomach when you step on the scales.

Paul Sweeney

qotd

To succeed in life - replace Mere Existence with Serious Living, Tardy Excuses with Sound Purpose and Indulgent Excesses with Self Control

what being overweight does to you

our weight? it's so much more important what we are doing INSIDE to our bodies than the physical appearance which is often the main reason most want/decide to 'lose weight' ... unfortunately 'i want to lose weight so my heart functions at its best' is not a common incentive for 'losing weight' ... but, perhaps it should be...

read this article ...  incentive?
it should scare the living daylights out of us! all.
the unnecessary strain we place upon our internal organs when overweight is enormous, and DOES affect everything we do and how our bodies function ... short term, and definitely, long term!
read it, take it in - no new information in the article really, just an eye opening visual and description that should prompt everyone into an active and healthy lifestyle .... no matter what weight we are.

no excuses! #03

But seriously though... what was your excuse?
Great question ... did you exercise? Did you go for a walk? Did you eat nutritionally? There really is NO excuse for not looking after ourselves in the best way we can.

This photo should be a big inspiration to everyone!

What a smile - this little dude shows everyone that nothing is impossible - when you head out into your day, give it everything you have... enjoy every moment, be passionate for life.

And ... if you ever feel like giving up - DON'T - give 110% to your goal and the rewards will come ...
Be. Motivated. Be. Inspired. And allow... NO excuses!

today, remember ...

mindful eating

M ~ make yourself a priority
I ~ inquire ~ why am I eating? - hunger, avoidance, temptation, routine, habit, boredom, beliefs
N ~ noise ~ avoid distractions, be present when eating
D ~ decide now to allow & accept ~ practice non-judgment
F ~ feel ~ allow, accept and welcome all feelings.
U ~ understand ~ practice understanding and compassion
L ~ love your body….. all of it!

E ~ enjoy the process and experience of food and eating
A ~ avoid being overly hungry – stay between 4-7 on the hunger scale
T ~ taste ~ temperature, aroma, speed, texture and experience
I ~ listen to your body ~ hunger and satiety cues
N ~ nurture yourself on all levels ~ mind, body, being
G ~ give thanks ~ practice gratitude for all that you are

a bit of fun

Diet Diary
Monday
I am going to start a diet, one I have not tried before.
You just liquidise your cabbage, then a cabbage drink you pour.
But then I'll need some chocolate. Just a little piece of chocolate.
And when I've eaten all my chocolate, I won't buy any more.
Tuesday
My friend said try the detox, it is wonderful they say.
It is beans with everything, I think. The pounds just fall away.

yes we have no bananas

It seems we are still a while away from being able to purchase cheaper bananas, but, regardless of their price, - nutritional value for money, bananas are still a cheap food to buy compared to a lot of processed foods out there.
For those that live in the Airlie Beach area, the market man still sells bananas at roughly half the price of the supermarkets on a Saturday morning - heck, at the price, maybe its worth a trip to Airlie Beach!

banana power - significant antioxidant power, low glycaemic index, cancer fighter, for healthy blood pressure, healthy and happy insides and weight control

no excuses! #02

This is just pure inspiration ... isn't it!?
when we lay in bed each morning with our list of excuses filling our heads of why we can't get up and exercise, even knowing how wonderful we feel when we DO ... or at the end of our work day when we once again use excuse after excuse to instead go home and sit in front of the tv screen ... think of those that ? .... *are*
Get up! Get out there - push yourself beyond your comfort zone ... see if it helps set you on your way from feeling lethargic to feeling GREAT instead!

I can't, isn't a reason to give up, it's a reason to try harder.

get back up

"There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good. So, love the people who treat you right; pray for the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life; getting back up is living."

It can take a lifetime to realise the truth of those words but once you do, they can turn your life around.

qotd - just do it

• Every day someone in the world begins chasing their dreams.
• Every day someone in the world realises one of their lifetime dreams.
• Every day someone in the world begins to stop regretting and start living.
• Every day someone in the world lets go of the past and embraces the now.
• Every day someone wakes up with a smile of joy on their face and the wonder at being alive.
• Every day someone becomes the person they were meant to be…
  Why? Because they made the decision to JUST DO IT.           Nike

qotd - indeed!

there is never any time better than *right now* ... to begin your journey towards a healthier lifestyle ...

nothing's impossible

Alice: I simply must get through!
Doorknob: Sorry, you're much too big. Simply impassible.
Alice: You mean impossible?
Doorknob: No, impassible. Nothing's impossible.

semantics

An interesting twist of semantics... it is however, equally a good reminder to us that are 'dedicated' ... to understand the differences between the two ...

There is a fine line - what's the line? Dedication allows balance in your life! Obsession allows none.

Be dedicated but never obsessed with all you are doing to create the positive changes you are achieving - it's a commitment to being the healthiest you you can be, but dont forget to always have other interests too ... enjoy life!

vitamin water

Do you ever wonder who is actually gullible enough to think that vitaminwater is actually... healthy?"
Although that question may seem demeaning or even arrogant, it turns out that the Coca-Cola company (which owns the Vitaminwater brand) is essentially asking that exact question...

(snipped) "don't buy Vitaminwater. Unless, of course, you think you could use 32 grams of liquid sugars and some synthetic vitamin chemicals in your diet. And if you somehow think that Vitaminwater is healthy, the Coca-Cola corporation thinks you are a fool."

food addiction

An interesting article about the addictive nature of industrially processed "food"...

ditch the non stick

Non-stick cookware has been around long enough now for studies to explore the negative effects on our health when we cook with it ... people choose it feeling its a healthier option as there is no need to use additional fats/oils, perhaps also, it's ease of cleaning ... (i dispute that! things STILL need scrubbin' haha!)

but, healthwise, it isnt a great choice ...

commit

“There's a difference between interest and commitment.

When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstances permit.

When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.”

Kenneth Blanchard

are you happy

Happiness can occur by changing the tiniest of things in our lives … the first step is figuring out what little (or big!) thing could do with a bit of a shake-up.

• Could you exercise and release some endorphins?
• Could you take steps towards getting help if something’s not quite right?
• Could you tell someone you think they’re awesome?
• Could you say something nice to yourself at least once a day…?

Choose to get the most out of every single day you are given, make pro active choices towards a happy, fulfilling and wonderful life!

a growing concern

You are your kids role model!
Childhood obesity is an increasing problem within Australia. Step up and teach your children about the importance of an active lifestyle. Teach them about proper nutrition.

• Overweight children and adolescents are at increased risk for several health complications. Despite being young they are still likely to exhibit risk factors for adult medical conditions: cardiovascular disease including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. In the very near future, 1 in 3 people will be diabetic - and that is so scary.
• Additional health complications include sleep apnea, asthma, and liver damage.
• Being overweight as a child also has psychological and emotional consequences. Overweight children are at an increased risk of teasing and bullying, low self-esteem, and poor body image.

respect YOU

Invest your time in worthy projects; invest your thoughts toward a worthy purpose; invest your talents toward a worthy occupation; invest your affection toward a worthy recipient; and finally, reserve your greatest respect for yourself, for it is THAT image... what you perceive yourself to be... that determines the quality of life.

Jim Rohn

no excuses! #01

friggin' awesome!
There are NO excuses ...
It's too hot, to cold, the hill is too big, I have a heart problem/high blood pressure/other medical condition, I have a bad knee/ankle/hip... a sore back, I'm too tired, I'm too busy... get out there today and do something about it!!!
What an inspiring woman - if this pic doesn't motivate you to rid the excuses and get moving, I don't know what will!

Not much else to say except... "be back in an hour" !! :D
be. inspired. today!

qotd -

You will be a winner when you realise failure is only an attitude of mind."            Unknown

We need to be strong in mind and heart!

a simple list

Losing weight and staying healthy often provides challenges that we have to face up to in order to be successful. Staying on track and achieving your goals can take a lot of determination, especially when starting out.

To keep yourself focused on reaching your objectives, it’s good to constantly remind yourself of a few of the positive steps needed on a consistent basis to be successful.

A handful of simple ideas to help you stay healthy and lose weight - remember - you HAVE to stay on track if you want to achieve your goals...

i. choose.

"I choose to live by choice, not by chance; to make changes, not excuses; to be motivated and not manipulated; to be useful, not used. I choose self-esteem, not self-pity; to listen to my inner voice, not the random opinions of others."

- Anonymous

be excited

“When you know clearly what you want, you'll wake up every morning excited about life.”

~ Mark Victor Hansen

there is a choice

Being overweight or obese can have a serious impact on health.
Carrying extra fat leads to chronic and potentially lethal diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders, and some cancers.
These conditions cause premature death and substantial disability. This has a major impact on health and health care costs. Yet, they are preventable diseases. To prevent them we need to choose nutrient dense, healthy foods and participate in regular exercise.

 

Some of the many chronic conditions and diseases associated with obesity include:

YOU. are worth it

eat.. for nutrition

"To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art."

~ La Rochefoucauld

you CAN

Your biggest challenge isn't someone else. It's the ache in your lungs and the burning in your legs, and the voice inside you that yells 'CAN'T", but you don't listen. You just push harder.

And then you hear the voice whisper 'can'.

And you discover that the person you thought you were is no match for the one you really are.

obesity costs us ALL

The rising burden of disease cost in Australia is hitting every one of us right where it hurts - our back pocket. Ever said "well I'm not obese so it doesn't affect me"... ? Think again.
$58billion is a cost direct or indirect of $2,500 for every man, woman and child in Australia.
The time when the government was managing the cost of our healthcare has gone and the cost of these diseases is escalating. Scary times.

be yourself

Have you noticed that the more you show of yourself...warts and all, the more things seem to work out and the more peace you can find within yourself ... don't be afraid to be YOU on every level ♥
Even when you think you are at your worst, you are still completely lovable... how awesome is that! :)

:)

Patient: The problem is that obesity runs in my family.
Doctor: No, the problem is that no one runs in your family.

mindful eating

As eaters, we often make naive and mindless choices about our own eating. We eat inattentively, for the wrong purposes, and without a sense of power or control.  How often do you think you haven't eaten much for the day - only to discover - that you consumed a WHOLE packet of chips while watching tv, or a packet of biscuits as you were driving too or from work.
Easy food, bad choices, huge consumption, with no focus!

quote of the MONTH!

        absolutely!!

        Commit yourself to
        positive change.

qotd -

"Avoid negative people at all costs.
They are the greatest destroyers of self confidence and self-esteem."

- Brian Tracy

make it happen

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done,
But, he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn’t," but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.

So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it...

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you’ll never do that;
At least no one has done it";
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.

qotd - keep moving

Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there!
- Will Rogers

you will blossom ...

**a flower starts deep under the dirt and has to fight against gravity in the darkness before finally breaking free and opening its bloom to the sun... you may feel like you're in darkness and everything around you is muddy, but keep pushing toward the light and when the time is right, you will burst into blossom... **

saboteurs!

Getting fit through diet and exercise creates big changes in your life - changes you welcome.

But for family and friends, who aren't in the same mindset, they can be jealous, and uncomfortable with your changes. They can become - your greatest obstacle.

Saboteurs!
Sometimes they mean well (or at least think they do!), they may appear a tad malicious, but often they can be oblivious and have no idea how they are sabotaging you, or that they even are...

qotd - comfort zone

Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable, when you try something new.

Brian Tracy

slow & steady

Slow and steady is not often an inspiring concept to grasp ... for any goal, but especially so, for weight loss - people, no matter what, want fast and now ...
Fast and now? Definitely NOT a good aspiration for a long term goal ...
Slow and steady, is necessary.
What is important is that you are moving, progressively - forward ...
Sometimes - 'apparent' slowness can make you feel very frustrated ... understandable. We live in a fast paced society and not having *instant* can create impatience and discouragement, and you eventually simply, give up....

power

    Prepare
    Overcome ...
    Win
    Every
    Round

pooh wisdom

“Promise me you'll always remember, you're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think...."

some. day.

Conditions are never perfect. 'someday' is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave with you. If it's important to you and you want to do it 'eventually', JUST DO IT and correct course along the way.
So whatever dream you have been holding off on chasing, do it now. Health goals, weight loss, fitness levels, personal goals and achievements ... you need to start - TODAY.
And when you look back at the end of it all you can say: I DID IT.

says it all

qotd - hard work

Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all.

- Sam Ewing, humorist

overweight and malnourished

"We are living in a very strange time, a time in which people who are overweight or obese can be (and most likely are) malnourished."

Indeed!
A great article that really says it all - it isnt about the amount of food we eat, it's about, the type - no amount of 'junk' food is going to give us the nutrients our bodies require - therefore we DO remain in a constant state of 'hungry' - with a desire for *more* ... and no sugar/fat/salt laden foods are going to eliminate that desire ...

Our bodies, wont feel 'full' until they are satisfied - nutritionally!

qotd - when

        Good question?

big - the tv show

in talking with some women at the gym, i was informed of a new 'weight loss' show they had seen ads for - which intrigued me i must say ... by chance, it was on that very same evening, and now, after seeing three episodes over the past couple of weeks, i have fallen in love with it and its ability to educate.

it is REALISTIC in weight loss goals ... not a lets create drama tv ratings biggest loser type show which i refuse to watch given its cross promotion, unrealistic representation of what is safe weight loss, the game play and in-fighting, its dalliance around the plastic white teeth perfect bodied trainers rather than  the actual overweight people, and of course, the constant promotion of its own products (shouldn't they be teaching REAL nutritional advice not - lets lose weight with a biggest loser shake or bar advice?!)  ... 'biggest loser' has so much opportunity to educate so many people, yet. it simply doesn't...