Blog
Things I have learned…
2006 is almost over. As I sit at the computer, I reflect on the past week. As a family, we decided to spend the holidays alone…with just the immediate family. It’s given me time to rest and reflect. This is good.
I’ve thought about what I’ve learned about being healthy in 2006. Here is some food for thought. (yes, pun intended)
1. Being at a healthy weight does not mean that the work is over. It means that I must work even harder to stay aware of what got me to being unhealthy in the first place; too much food, poor food choices and inactivity.
2. Everything counts. Yes, every BLT (bite lick and taste) counts and if it doesn’t show up this week, it will next. It counts when you sneak “just one” out of the box, eat it standing in front of the fridge or in your car when noone is looking.
3. Portion control does matter. I have learned that I have to be ok - and more importantly, am OK with just one serving. A proper serving size - not what I convince myself that I need for whatever reason.
4. I am and always will be an emotional eater. I eat when I am “stressed, hungry, angry, lonely and tired”…all or one of them. I have to continue to set myself up for success by maintaining a healthy lifestyle to deal with those emotions and to be aware of them all the time.
5. Exercise is an integral part of being healthy. The formula for losing weight is simple…it really is. More calories expended than what is taken in. That being said, exercising helps you do that, but more importantly for me, it helps me deal with stress and makes me feel so much better. I am strong and fit…and that feels good.
6. I have to ask for what I need. The people in my life are not mind readers - especially my husband, so asking for help, time, support and just to be left alone to think is imperative. Being assertive is necessary, not evil.
7. This is about being “healthy” - emotionally, physically, spiritually and it is a constant learning process. Just because I am at a healthy weight does not mean that there isn’t more to learn - about health, my body and my emotional being.
8. I have a responsibility - to my family to be the best I can be, to lead by example and to give my children the opportunity for a healthy future.
9. Opportunity is available for everyone to be healthy. Everyone and anyone can do it. I firmly believe it because I talk the talk and walk the walk.
10. It’s up to me.
Best wishes for a healthy 2007.
Filed under: Thoughts — Stephanie @ 4:02 pm
Give Yourself the Gift of Value
That’s going to be the name of my newest keynote presentation…and although it’s going to be sharing what I know about body image/self image…today it represents something else.
It’s almost Christmas. My children are at the rink and my house is quiet. The lights are on the house and I’ve just plugged in the tree. The Christmas music is in the background. This will be a great holiday season.
Our family has decided to declutter our holidays and bring it back to what we value - our family. Our immediate family, ourselves and our health. Too often, I’ve been caught up in the whirlwind of the season, become very cranky and irritable, made poor health choices…and everyone else in my family pays the price for it. Not this year.
This past year, I’ve truly begun to understand what it means to value myself. Me. Do you value yourself?
I think often as Mothers, wives, partners, daughters, employees, etc. we make sure that we take care of everyone who is important in our lives. After all, aren’t we caregivers? Isn’t that what we’re suppose to do? That’s what everyone else tells us. Surprisingly though, we forget about us in the equation. We forget to take care of #1. We let our healthy food choices slide, go without quality sleep, exercise flies out the window and we end up tired and exhausted. Suddenly, with the best of intent, we aren’t taking care of the most important person in the wheel. How did that happen?
We need good, quality food to fuel our bodies. We need quality sleep and the appropriate amounts of it so our body can rest and restore. Exercise is an integral part of keeping us fit, strong and keeping illness at bay. Our weight as it relates to our health is a “controllable risk factor”. We are in charge of what happens to us - yes, even during the busy holiday season.
Last night, a friend - Kathy told me what happened to her this week. Five years ago at Christmas, she was diagnosed with Cancer. It was a hard fought battle, made complicated by the fact that she was overweight. Last Christmas, she came to me asking for guidance in how to get healthy (because that’s what we’re about). In 10 months, she lost over 70lbs. Upon visiting her oncologist this past week for a check up, he advised her that the single most effective thing she did to better her health was this: LOSE WEIGHT.
Kathy realized over the past year and possibly the past 5 years that she needed to value herself. She realized that she was worth giving time and energy to.
If you can give your family a gift this season and more importantly, yourself - Give yourself the gift of “value”.
Kathy - thank you for perspective.
Filed under: Thoughts — Stephanie @ 8:30 pm
Things I have learned….
This past week, I attended a conference in Vancouver for the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers. Not only did I meet amazing motivators, trainers, facilitators, but I came away truly impacted by the presentations of many amazing people.
I listened specifically to what two women said, and quietly chuckled to myself. Their messages were very simple, but very poignant and were definitely ones I have chosen to live by. They were also how I chose to get healthy.
Suzie Humphreys (www.suziehumphreys.com) shared her life story about growing up, making choices, becoming an actor, having a tv show, going broke and staging a comeback. She credits her success, with enormous attitude, to her life mantra….Are you ready? Here it is…. I CAN DO THAT!
That is the approach we all have to take to getting healthy - not losing weight. I CAN DO THAT! I can walk for 20 minutes today. I can drink only 1 glass of wine at dinner. I can fill up 1/2 my plate with vegetables. I can lose 5lbs….(in my case, 16x’s over). It’s called - positive attitude with positive self talk. I CAN DO THAT!
The second speaker who made impact on me was a woman named Amanda Gore (www.amandagore.com). She speaks to many different things, but when faced with trial, her philosophy is simple and effective. You see, all the time, people give me excuses - yes, excuses as to why they cannot get healthy. ie “I’ve tried, it doesn’t work.” “I’m in menopause.” “I haven’t anytime” “It’s too expensive” “My life is too stressed”
Amanda’s advice is sage and simple….”Build a bridge and get over it”. “Build a bridge and get over it.” “Build a bridge and get over it.”
Making healthy choices doesn’t “not” work…it does. You haven’t worked. Menopause is not an excuse to not be healthy. Yes, it changes things, so you need to adapt. If you haven’t anytime now for health, then you will be making time for illness later. Abusing your body is more costly than just money. You pay in attitude, relationships, work life, and how you live. Stress is a wonderful excuse, but as my Gramps used to say….”Stress, ha! In my day, we just called it life.!” BUILD A BRIDGE AND GET OVER IT. I CAN DO THAT!
Filed under: Thoughts — Stephanie @ 2:19 pm
