We started Jorge Cruise's One-Week Challenge today. Richard is joining me in this, so he measured his waist (which is, of course within the right circumference for his height). We measured according to Jorge's recommendation, at belly button level, parallel to the ground, and sucking in as much as possible. This is in contrast to the way I've been measuring which is with relaxed belly, and no sucking in, but still at belly button level.
My waist circumference measured this way is 42 inches (my goal circumference is 33.5 inches - which is half my height in inches - the general rule of thumb for women is <35 inches, and for men is <40 inches). I weighed in the morning at 203.4lb (so have lost a lb this past week.)
The One-week Challenge of the Belly Fat Cure is to eat 15 or fewer grams of sugar per day, plus limit our servings of carbohydrates to 6 each day. One serving is 5-20grams, Two is 21-40g, Three is 41-60g.
We started our morning with Jorge's 8 minute belly flattening exercises, which we are adding to the challenge. He prescribes belly toning exercises on Mondays, Wednesday, and Friday, upper body exercises on Tuesdays, and lower body on Thursdays.
Then we ate our delicious breakfast of a Mediterranean omelet (we used Egg Beaters since that's all we had on hand because a couple of the college boys were home for the weekend). I am now used to cooking our eggs in olive oil (I've done this for over a decade) so did not cook them in butter as Jorge suggested. I used kalamata olives, spinach, green onion, and garlic as the veggies (all "free" of countable sugars and carbs), as well as feta cheese (also no counts for sugar or carbs) and a couple fresh basil leaves from my herb garden. One slice of Udi's Whole Grain Gluten-Free toast (1 gram of sugar and 1 carb count), drizzled with a tsp of garlic olive oil accompanied our eggs. Richard makes the best stevia matcha lattes using matcha powder, unsweetened plain Almond Breeze (also "free"), and stevia to sweeten, in our cappuccino maker. It's a good start!
So far, it's not that much different than our usual breakfast, except where we might have had two slices of toast, we agreed we'd have only one, considering the sugar/carb content, even though it's pretty low for that particular bread. Also instead of using red peppers, which do count in the sugar and carb total, I used the "free" veggies: spinach, garlic, green onion.
Snacks that are free of sugar and countable carbs that I am going to implement today: celery stick with natural (no added sugar) almond butter, and a whey protein shake mixed in with unsweetened chocolate Almond Drink. For lunch we plan to have tuna sandwiches on low-carb gluten-free bread, and dinner is going to be tuna steaks with a salad and healthy carbs (brown rice, etc.) as we have any allotted left.
We will likely go on our usual four mile walk into town and around the lake today, and have done a lesson in A Course in Miracles. I am attempting to keep EFT in mind as or if any sugar cravings arise, so I can tap them out and move on happily.
Looking forward to feeling even better and better, and am excited to see how much sugar has been an issue, even with our pretty healthy current diets.
To Great Health and an Energized Day!
Showing posts with label EFT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label EFT. Show all posts
Monday, August 8, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
A Successful Week
Check-in: Weight: 202.8lb
Lost this week: 3.2lb -this is the most poundage lost in a week since I started in January and I think I finally figured out why it has taken so long.
Lost total this year: 8.4lb (lost since August: 17.2lb)
Two things were different this week. One, I was still recovering from a bug I caught a couple weeks ago, and my appetite was very limited, so my portion sizes were kind of naturally limited. If I ate anywhere near to too much (which was about half of what I'd normally eat), then I felt nauseous and my esophagus burned. If I got too hungry, I would also feel nauseated. That feeling has mostly subsided, however I decided that since my body was used to eating at this lower intake that I would go with it for the week and see what happened. I didn't record anything into My Food Diary, just based my amount of healthy foods eaten by how my body felt. Also, I made sure that I was on the elliptical each weekday for the full 45 minutes, plus I had several days where I had an additional number of miles walked since my son, Peter, was home from college and we walked into town a few times.
I have been reading more about the DASH diet used for reducing hypertension since we learned about it in my pharmacy school's Non-Prescription Therapeutics class. I know that my tendency is toward high blood pressure, and I know that my maternal grandmother suffered greatly with trying to manage her blood pressure, and the end of her life was full of cardiovascular issues including multiple bypass surgery, amputation of one of her legs, etc. As I understand it comes to me from both sides of the family and I definitely do not want to go that route if I can help it, and know that at some times in my life I have registered a blood pressure in the pre-hypertension level. My blood pressure is pretty good right now, however I know I have a tendency to retain water and sodium causes discomfort.
What I've decided to do is follow the DASH diet at the 1600 calorie/day level, still enter (as there's time) the things I eat in My Food Diary for comparison of the two plans, and, increase my elliptical workouts to 60 minutes per day. I read last night in a DASH diet book, that 60 minutes is probably necessary to lose weight if the rest of one's life is mainly sedentary, which mine is, thanks to school. I know I have a bit of a block to 60 minutes, it seems like SO much more time spent, however I will do some EFT to help clear the block with the hope that it will be at least somewhat enjoyable.
I'm super-psyched because once I lose 3 more pounds, I will be under 200 lb, which hasn't happened for a very long time.
This week will provide an extra challenge in that we are going out of town for four days, however I think if I use my smarts and common sense and have Richard back me up when it comes to making good food decisions, I will only be successful. We aren't renting a car, and Seattle's considered a walking town, so I'm certain I will also get plenty of exercise. I'm taking my pedometer to track and be able to report to the walking mile group I check into each week.
To Ever-Increasing Health and Life!
Lost this week: 3.2lb -this is the most poundage lost in a week since I started in January and I think I finally figured out why it has taken so long.
Lost total this year: 8.4lb (lost since August: 17.2lb)
Two things were different this week. One, I was still recovering from a bug I caught a couple weeks ago, and my appetite was very limited, so my portion sizes were kind of naturally limited. If I ate anywhere near to too much (which was about half of what I'd normally eat), then I felt nauseous and my esophagus burned. If I got too hungry, I would also feel nauseated. That feeling has mostly subsided, however I decided that since my body was used to eating at this lower intake that I would go with it for the week and see what happened. I didn't record anything into My Food Diary, just based my amount of healthy foods eaten by how my body felt. Also, I made sure that I was on the elliptical each weekday for the full 45 minutes, plus I had several days where I had an additional number of miles walked since my son, Peter, was home from college and we walked into town a few times.
I have been reading more about the DASH diet used for reducing hypertension since we learned about it in my pharmacy school's Non-Prescription Therapeutics class. I know that my tendency is toward high blood pressure, and I know that my maternal grandmother suffered greatly with trying to manage her blood pressure, and the end of her life was full of cardiovascular issues including multiple bypass surgery, amputation of one of her legs, etc. As I understand it comes to me from both sides of the family and I definitely do not want to go that route if I can help it, and know that at some times in my life I have registered a blood pressure in the pre-hypertension level. My blood pressure is pretty good right now, however I know I have a tendency to retain water and sodium causes discomfort.
What I've decided to do is follow the DASH diet at the 1600 calorie/day level, still enter (as there's time) the things I eat in My Food Diary for comparison of the two plans, and, increase my elliptical workouts to 60 minutes per day. I read last night in a DASH diet book, that 60 minutes is probably necessary to lose weight if the rest of one's life is mainly sedentary, which mine is, thanks to school. I know I have a bit of a block to 60 minutes, it seems like SO much more time spent, however I will do some EFT to help clear the block with the hope that it will be at least somewhat enjoyable.
I'm super-psyched because once I lose 3 more pounds, I will be under 200 lb, which hasn't happened for a very long time.
This week will provide an extra challenge in that we are going out of town for four days, however I think if I use my smarts and common sense and have Richard back me up when it comes to making good food decisions, I will only be successful. We aren't renting a car, and Seattle's considered a walking town, so I'm certain I will also get plenty of exercise. I'm taking my pedometer to track and be able to report to the walking mile group I check into each week.
To Ever-Increasing Health and Life!
Saturday, February 5, 2011
2-5-2011 Wheat-Free
The Week's Stats:
Weight: 205.0 lb, loss for week is 1.6 lb, and total loss is 6.2 lb. since 1/1/11.
This is more like it. After last week's blog I spent the next few days pondering what to do with my suspected food sensitivities. I knew I didn't have time or energy to revamp my entire diet to start in on an allergy elimination diet, but I knew something needed to change. My intuition kept telling me to check into a gluten-free diet. Even that would take a whole lot of effort and planning, and in the midst of the pharmacy school semester, I did not want to make too many changes to what I was already doing. I did actually decide that February was going to be "gluten-free", but what did I do the first morning of February 1? I ate steel cut oats for breakfast, which, of course, have their own gluten. Noticing my frustration with myself, my hubby, Richard, suggested that maybe instead of ALL gluten, maybe just eliminate wheat products, since those are the most allergenic for most people. That made the most sense of all. That way I could still have my healthy steel cut oats, and just be super mindful of the wheat products around me and not eat them. Being a vegetarian, Richard isn't too keen on wheat-, or gluten-free, which is fine. We stocked up on gluten-free breads at Whole Foods (and got him a loaf of wheat bread to gnaw on). I am so grateful to live in an era where these products are available.
Thus, for the last four days, I have not had any wheat products. I've also kept to no refined sugar, and no dairy (except for my Wallaby yogurts), including cheese, one of my favorite and worst dietary culprits. I do have to say, that even after just four wheatless days, my body feels far less bloated, far less gassy, and "cleaner". Also, the cardiac exercise seemed easier. Interesting. I'm going to give "wheat-free" a month, and see if it gets even better and better, or if there might be something else I need to eliminate. I'll call this the Reverse Elimination Diet. I am also pondering doing a cleanse over Spring Break in March, to clear even further. There's no way I'll do something like that while I have so much homework and studying to do. I am also surprised by how easy it is to not eat wheat products. Of course we haven't eaten out yet to face that wheat-free challenge.
The exercise has been good, with the Gazelle elliptical 45 minutes 4 mornings this week. Last weekend we went on a couple of 4 mile walks. The weather was not compatible for outdoor walks this week due to -15 degree temps and lower with wind chill and snow, so all of the exercise was indoors. I'm sure I burned lots of calories just staying warm. We did our Five Tibetans for about half of the week, until my left wrist/thumb started to feel jammed and bruised, perhaps to doing yoga in the cold house. So I am resting my hand, and doing the yoga I can without weight bearing on my wrists.
We continue to read a Course in Miracles lesson each day for our meditation study, so that is still in alignment with my goals. I have done absolutely NO EFT this week. There just hasn't seemed to be a need. I really haven't experienced cravings, or emotional addictions, even with eliminating the wheat, it is almost as if my body is sighing a great big "THANK YOU!" The possibility for doing EFT is always in my mind.
I'm looking forward to another successful week. I am excited I weigh 15 pounds fewer than early last August, and I am encouraged that I am on a great track!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
1-4-2011 Thoughts on Exercise and Some More EFT
I realize that I am enjoying blogging so much that it takes a fair amount of my day to report and share my thoughts. This is all right, of course, while I have this unstructured "free" time. However, when school starts again on Monday (the 10th), I have a plan and goal to update at least once a week when I weigh in, and, as called when there is time during the week, to write some quick thoughts or strong EFT sessions. I hope to address some of the key components in my New Plan, such as yesterday's Thoughts on Food, and today's Thoughts on Exercise in my time before classes begin. I think it will be helpful to save and share my daily menu and results, and any recipes that come up, so we will see how it all comes to fruition!
Turns out it's a good day to talk about how I have felt about exercise throughout my life.
Basically it boils down to the fact that I'd far rather curl up in bed with a good book than move my body.
(Even though I'd rather curl up in bed than exercise...I deeply and completely love and accept myself...tap, tap, tap)
Ever since I became aware of the need to exercise, I have resisted it. First of all, from as long as I can remember, if my heart got pumping too hard, I would get a very uncomfortable feeling that I cannot fully describe. It's most a strange "airy" feeling through my jaw and chin. So, I tend to keep my heart rate in a comfortable range for my goals, and don't overdo it, because I would also become a bit nauseous with the airy chin feeling. Also, my knees have provided a great block to getting regular exercise. I had cartilage removed from my right knee when I was 12 years old (it was torn and stuck), and from my left knee when I was 13. As a result, I had developed severe arthritis by the time I was 26 years old. The doctor told me at the time that I was too young for a knee replacement, and the best I could do is bear the pain as long as I can and then consider replacement. I was in a good amount of pain that restricted my activities until I discovered, or opened up to acupuncture. I originally tried acupuncture to eliminate allergies (which was very successful), and the acupuncturist "threw in" some extra needles for my knees and hooked them up to electro-stim. The results were phenomenal! The pain was all but gone and I could finally hike and walk and ride my bicycle again. As long as the hills weren't too steep, or too rocky, I was pretty comfortable getting out there. This has helped me immensely since 2000.
This past April, after a wonderful massage, I awakened the next morning with severe pain in my left knee. Two days later it swelled. This prompted visits to the surgeon and the rheumatologist, who x-rayed, and took MRI's of my knee. The severe arthritis is there, and I have the questionable diagnosis of pseudogout, which is a build up of calcium deposits within the joints. This wasn't fully confirmed, but it appears I am susceptible to pseudogout flare-ups. The advice this time was to use my knees as long as I can stand the pain, receive acupuncture to help with the pain (this was cool to hear from the rheumatologist), and then decide when its best for me to have them replaced. As a result, I am taking glucosamine chondroitin in the form of Joint Juice daily, and monitoring my activities (no steep/rocky/super long hikes), and my exercise has to be as non-knee-weight bearing as possible. I love to walk in the fresh air, and am slowly getting used to the hills where I now live, however the walking takes a fast toll on my knees. I am so very grateful for the Tony Little Gazelle that I have in the house to use for cardiovascular workouts. It is very easy on my knees, and works the entire body, including my arms.
That was a bit of a tangent from my "I hate exercise" story. But, perhaps, it hasn't been pleasant for me because of the pain and frustration of having knee issues for most of my life. No wonder I just want to curl up in bed!
Anyhow, yesterday I felt amazing and great before, during and after my elliptical workout (and Five Tibetans, etc.) I felt great and energized until the headache started later in the day, possibly related to a variety of reasons. According to My Food Diary, I did not eat enough calories to compensate for my exercise expenditure (which was the same as the day before), also I had not had my usual small dose of caffeine, plus, my eyeballs had an enormous workout the day before with the Brain Integration Technique. I awakened in the night pretty hungry, even though I felt like I ate and ate yesterday. I woke up this morning and the headache was gone, but the rest of me feels wonky and those 45 minutes on the elliptical felt at least double that. This has triggered a bunch of my negative attitude about exercise, which I will proceed to clear with EFT:
EFT: "Even though I hate exercising..." "Even though I feel crummy sometimes after I exercise...." "Even though my knees hurt all the time..." "Even though my knees and heel hurt more because I'm heavy..." "Even though I am afraid I am going to hurt myself exercising..."Even though I resist exercise..."
Replaced with:
"I love to move my body"
"I love feeling energized"
"My body is flexible and has a fantastic metabolism"
"I am light as a feather and my knees are healthy"
"I live a balanced life between rest and activity"
"My body loves exercise and feels great!"
Five Tibetans: 15 repetitions (we're getting used to getting up really early again, perhaps tomorrow we will aim for 18 reps)
Alternate nostril breathing: We almost forgot, but we did about 8 inhalations/exhalations
Exercise: 45 minutes on the elliptical and walking when Richard got home
Meditation: Lesson 57, A Course in Miracles
Food: My goal is to get enough calories that don't stress my salt maximum and my saturated fat quota. So far, I am doing pretty well, and am tapping out the negative 'tudes that would lead me straight to the big chunky piece of cheese, or leftover chocolate because of how my body feels.
"Even though I crave the big chunk of swiss cheese in the fridge... I deeply, completely love and accept myself"
Breakfast:
Blue Corn Meal Pancakes: 1 serving
1 tsp. pure maple syrup
Joint Juice
1/2 apple
1 c. Wallaby vanilla yogurt
1 c. Matcha tea
Snack:
Pumpkin Latte, sugar-free
Lunch:
Avocado Alfalfa Jalapeno Almond "Cheese" Sandwich
2 Sans Sucre sugar-free (with stevia) and fat free brownies
Zero calorie Lifewater
Snack:
2 c. Stevia Chocolate almond drink
Dinner:
1 c. whole wheat pasta
1/4 recipe of low-salt tomato sauce with olives (posted earlier today)
8 spears of steamed asparagus
In spite of my earlier attitude "glitch" with exercise, which I feel far better about at this point after the EFT, this turns out to be a successful day in meeting my goals. And, tomorrow, I affirm, I will have a far better attitude than I did earlier today, regarding my New Plan!
My Food Diary Summary:
Monday, January 3, 2011
An EFT Exercise: Some "Before" Pictures 1-3-11
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| Christmas 2010, getting ready for Jambalaya Christmas dinner |
These first two picture were taken on Christmas Day, 2010, by my son, Alan, with his new camera. I really like these pictures, as they show how happy I feel, even if I don't like my picture being taken. They don't show the full body "me", which is okay, because there is enough fodder for EFT coming right up with pictures from last summer's grand events when I seemed to be in the camera spotlight.
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| Christmas 2010 |
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| June 24, 2010, Our Esoteric wedding in Montana |
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| July 2, 2010 Our Friends and Family Wedding |
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| July 2010, Olympic Peninsula |
Even though this is the fattest I've ever been...I deeply and completely love and accept myself
Even though it's hard to get around....I deeply and completely love and accept myself
Even though people see me this way...I deeply and completely love and accept myself
Even though I regret being so heavy for our wedding...I deeply and completely love and accept myself
Even though I lost no weight before our wedding....I deeply and completely love and accept myself
Even though Richard loves me anyway...I deeply and completely love and accept myself
This last statement actually got a huge emotional response, obviously triggering my lack of feeling I deserve to be loved by someone so wonderful (or maybe by anyone) because of my appearance. Thankfully I "tapped" it out, and now am feeling very appreciative of myself for allowing such a wonderful person into my life to love me and for me to love. I will see if any further "unlovable" thoughts/beliefs reveal themselves.
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| July 2010: Small Lake on the far side of Red Fish Lake, ID: Honeymoon |
Even though I haven't seen a slim waistline in years...I deeply and completely love and accept myself.
Even though I experience severe pain at times due to my weight...I deeply and completely love and accept myself.
Even though my tummy bulges out over my pants...I deeply and completely love and accept myself.
Even though I outweigh my sweet slim new hubby by many pounds....I deeply and completely love and accept myself.
(For the complete EFT process check out the EFT manual: Click here for a link to the EFT Manual.)
It may appear that I am beating myself up, but I'm not, quite the contrary. If these are the thoughts that are abundant in my psyche and aren't freed, then they will always hold me in the belief pattern and will continually subconsciously "beat me up". By honestly bringing to the surface and acknowledging these thoughts and beliefs, and then using EFT to tap them out of my meridian and energetic system, I am clearing the way for new and improved body image thoughts to take their place. This will better help serve my purpose of living with healthier habits. The Universe never likes a void. Once the non-serving thoughts are cleared it's important to replace them with loving thoughts, and the new way of seeing myself.
So, as I am tapping (after each clearing), I do a round of:
"I am beautiful"
"I am energized"
"I am very healthy"
"I love to move my body"
"I radiantly glow with love for my life"
"I love taking great care of myself."
"I am lovable no matter what" More soon! I am off to the grocery store for another adventure.
Monday, December 27, 2010
What is a Reasonable Plan for Me?
With some free time over this holiday, I am deciding what behaviors I want to implement for the New Plan routine. The routine needs to be reasonable and cover the essentials that I feel will lead to my greatest health in mind, body and spirit. I always seem to be most successful following through on things like exercise and yoga if I do them first thing in the morning. This means coordinating with Richard, my husband, who has indicated that he, too, wants to get back into a routine with yoga and meditation, in the time we share before he heads off to work at 6:45 a.m.
The things I intend to incorporate into a daily routine in my New Plan for the New Year
I highly suggest taking it slowly at first, and/or receiving individualized instruction for these postures and movements. I have always felt amazing, balanced and energized after a session of Tibetans, which only takes a few minutes, even with the full 21 repetitions.
There are a bunch of further YouTube videos with this gal, along with her website for more information. There's a general EFT manual as a free download on my website: www.StephanieBall.info.
I love this technique, and have seen it transform people in various states of unrest, including full-blown panic attack, to complete and utter peace and calm. I look forward to incorporating it into this journey to help heal the beliefs and behaviors so that I will attain and retain a healthy body along with a healthy mind.
I will contemplate all of this that I wish to incorporate and devise a reasonable plan and decide when to set it in motion. I'm also still working on my list of memories regarding body image, eating patterns, and exercise aloofness, and will share soon.
Blessings to all in the meantime!
The things I intend to incorporate into a daily routine in my New Plan for the New Year
- 30-60 minutes of aerobic exercise: This, for me, is walking briskly around the hilly neighborhood or working out on my Gazelle elliptical machine. I wear my heart monitor to help ensure I am spending an adequate amount of time in my target heart zone.
- 21 repetitions of the Five Tibetans yoga from the Fountain of Youth - usually when I am starting again, I will start off with 9 or 12 repetitions (always in increments of 3) and gradually increase to the ideal of 21 reps of each Tibetan rite. There are great descriptions and more information in the book The Fountain of Youth and on the website that offers the poster below as a free download. There are numerous YouTube videos demonstrating the Five Tibetans as well.
I highly suggest taking it slowly at first, and/or receiving individualized instruction for these postures and movements. I have always felt amazing, balanced and energized after a session of Tibetans, which only takes a few minutes, even with the full 21 repetitions.
- Alternate Nostril Breathing - This is an amazing tool to help balance the two sides of the brain, and the energy system that runs up and down the sides of the spine. My mind always feels more clear, more relaxed and focused after a set of alternate nostril breathing, which, again, only takes a few minutes to complete. Start slowly with 3-6 full breaths, and work up to 15 inhalations and exhalations. Often I will add an affirmation with each inhale and exhale, such as "I am the Love of God" or "I am balanced, healthy, and clear" or "I am very very happy"...stuff like that. Here is a YouTube video demonstration:
- Meditation: Anywhere from just a few minutes to an hour, depending on the time availability in the day. There is a vast array of types of recorded meditations available, and of course the "simple" Buddhist meditation of clearing the mind and focusing on the breath. This also could be a focused daily reading as with A Course in Miracles, or a daily thought from an inspired mind.
- Tracking everything I consume and all of my activities in My Food Diary at MyFoodDiary.com: I really like this program because it does all of the adding for me, and lets me know how many calories I have left in the day, along with how I'm doing on saturated fat, protein, and carbohydrate consumption. As I enter my exercise time, then the calories I can consume increases. Also, at the end of each day, I get a run down of how I did, complete with smiley and frownie faces. I have created many recipes for my healthy creations and entered them into MyFoodDiary for easy tracking as well.
- EFT and other modalities for clearing the emotional bonds, cravings and detrimental automatic behaviors that arise while I am taking the best care ever of my being.
There are a bunch of further YouTube videos with this gal, along with her website for more information. There's a general EFT manual as a free download on my website: www.StephanieBall.info.
I love this technique, and have seen it transform people in various states of unrest, including full-blown panic attack, to complete and utter peace and calm. I look forward to incorporating it into this journey to help heal the beliefs and behaviors so that I will attain and retain a healthy body along with a healthy mind.
I will contemplate all of this that I wish to incorporate and devise a reasonable plan and decide when to set it in motion. I'm also still working on my list of memories regarding body image, eating patterns, and exercise aloofness, and will share soon.
Blessings to all in the meantime!
Sunday, December 26, 2010
A New Plan for the New Year
It's an interesting web we weave in life, how different events and meetings lead us to new awareness. Recently my interest has been in genetics and epigenetics, in regard to the BRCA2 gene mutation that is carried in my father's familial genetic background. He lost his sister to breast cancer in 1984, and in January we lost our cousin, Jenni. Various family members have since been tested for this mutation and some have been positive for it, and some negative. There's a 50/50 chance of inheriting the dominant gene mutation from a parent who is positive. I was tested, and waited the three long weeks to receive my results, and was very thankful that I am within the coin toss in our family that does not carry the mutation, thus there is no concern for my boys, or for myself in regard to that gene, except as supporter for those who are close who do carry the mutation.
The thing is, I have about 25,000 to 35,000 other genes that could very well carry mutations, or a genetic history that have the potential for disease states, either physically, mentally, or emotionally, or all of the above. The rising story of epigenetics and the idea, and fact being scientifically proven, that we are more than our genes and that we are not living time bombs according to the story written in our DNA, has led me to this point to deal with a health issue that has plagued me for much of my life. My weight. I know that everything I can do to enhance my health on all levels will greatly improve my chances for avoiding disease states and increasing chronic pain. As a practitioner of alternative medicine, I have been a strong proponent for incorporating all levels of a person into their healing. It is time for me to put into practice what I preach.
In the past I have tried the "tried and true" methods of eat less, exercise more. I successfully lost 45 pounds in about 9 months through Weight Watchers after my 3rd son was born with just these two tactics and the support of group meetings and an addiction to numbers at the weekly weigh-in. I am a Lifetime member and everything. That diet unfortunately was laden with aspartame-filled products and diet Coke, to which I was addicted. I was walking regularly, which felt wonderful and I was at my goal weight of 142 pounds for about 10 minutes, well, I guess really for 6 weeks in order to become a Lifetime member, and my weight has increased pretty steadily for the last 18 years. Then I made a commitment, for better or for worse to not get on a scale. I saw being on the scale as being a slave to a number. I lost some weight in 2000 as a natural consequence through my divorce, and again a few years later in 2004 through a phenomenal program by a fellow acupuncturist where I learned some healthy practices like yoga, alternate nostril breathing, organic eating, etc. I felt amazing, looked healthy, and have no idea how much I actually lost in those times because I wasn't weighing.
Now it's all back, and more. My life has made many very happy turns in the past 11 years, and I feel so very fulfilled in so many areas of my life, more so than I have ever dreamed. I have worked and worked over the years to unearth deleterious core beliefs and change them to help manifest my current, and very happy, reality. For some reason, though, this has not carried over to my weight and health. It feels as though this is a final frontier where I get to put my optimism, positive thinking, and abundant tools into action to feel fulfilled in the area of great health, working through the emotional issues and habits that have kept me heavier than is healthy for me.
The facts became evident when I stepped on the scale at Kaiser Permanente last summer, for a long overdue physical and well woman check up. I was astounded, yet, not surprised, when the scale registered my highest non-pregnant weight ever. No wonder my legs hurt, and it was difficult to walk with painful heels from plantar fascitis, and I was experiencing ever-increasing arthritic pain in my knees resulting from knee surgeries when I was 12 and 13 years old. Thankfully, all other tests, blood tests, blood pressure, mammogram, and an endometrial biopsy proved to be free of signs of illness.
This instigated a jump on the health wagon. We had just returned from our Honeymoon of wonderful sites and travels and delicious foods, and I was gearing up for another semester of pharmacy school. It was time to add some discipline. I joined My Food Diary online, and tracked everything I ate, got a reading every day as to how well I did staying within my fat, sugar, and salt goals. I was able to enter my favorite new and healthy recipes into the site and I was exercising regularly, and lost almost 15 pounds. Then the severe heel pain started, and intense pharmacy school seemed to suck dry all of my discipline and motivation, and the exercise stopped (too painful), and the eating chocolate, cheese and sweets in ever increasing quantities re-entered my life, and the last weigh-in at University Hospital when I went in for the follow up appointment with the Genetic Counselor proved that I had, indeed regained 10 of those 15 pounds.
So, before I re-reach my all-time high weight (that I'm aware of anyway), I am determined to get back on the healthy weight wagon, and add in the tools I have in my pocket, like EFT, yoga,tai chi, acupuncture, breathing, in addition to monitoring my diet (I like My Food Diary) and increasing my activity level to help address those underlying issues that have kept me on the vicious cycle.
I have so many tools! And so many quandaries! Why don't I use my arsenal of tools continually? Why aren't they ingrained in my psyche? Where does the self-sabotage come in? What causes the motivation to continue healthy habits to decline so suddenly? What part of me wants me to be at an unhealthy weight? This is where the EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) comes in as a useful tool to clear the thoughts, emotions, and beliefs from my energetic system, clearing the way for increased balance and health. I first learned about this technique in 2002 or 2003, and used it with great success with myself, friends, and clients in terms of alleviating fears and anxieties. It's a very powerful tool with amazing results. I often still recommend it to my acupuncture patients and train some of them to do it on themselves as issues arise. There is a lot of information in books and on the Internet regarding EFT. There's even a free EFT manual one can download. I have it on my website www.StephanieBall.info. I'm also learning about Matrix Energetics which takes EFT a few steps further, and I will share more on that as I learn about it and put it into practice. There are other useful tools on my website including the Radical Forgiveness process and worksheets. I recently purchased a book called "EFT for Weight Loss" with this specific goal in mind. There is now an entire series of EFT books written by the founder of EFT, Gary Craig.
My first task is to write down all of my memories regarding my body image, eating patterns and attitudes about exercise. I am including anything that occurs to me and placing it in a master list and making a goal to work on at least a couple of the memories with EFT to clear them and bring to my awareness any further, more deeply rooted emotions, beliefs or thoughts that might have contributed to the memory. As I settle back onto the Healthy Me wagon (likely around the 1st of the year when things are a bit back to "normal"- probably something that needs "tapping" through EFT :-)), I intend to address any cravings, automatic behaviors, emotional issues, physical pain, and anything else that arises in this process with EFT and any other techniques that occur to me.
My intention with this blog is to track my progress and relay the tools I use to help completely heal my thought processes, and thus my body, regarding my health and weight.
Thank you for joining me on this journey!
The thing is, I have about 25,000 to 35,000 other genes that could very well carry mutations, or a genetic history that have the potential for disease states, either physically, mentally, or emotionally, or all of the above. The rising story of epigenetics and the idea, and fact being scientifically proven, that we are more than our genes and that we are not living time bombs according to the story written in our DNA, has led me to this point to deal with a health issue that has plagued me for much of my life. My weight. I know that everything I can do to enhance my health on all levels will greatly improve my chances for avoiding disease states and increasing chronic pain. As a practitioner of alternative medicine, I have been a strong proponent for incorporating all levels of a person into their healing. It is time for me to put into practice what I preach.
In the past I have tried the "tried and true" methods of eat less, exercise more. I successfully lost 45 pounds in about 9 months through Weight Watchers after my 3rd son was born with just these two tactics and the support of group meetings and an addiction to numbers at the weekly weigh-in. I am a Lifetime member and everything. That diet unfortunately was laden with aspartame-filled products and diet Coke, to which I was addicted. I was walking regularly, which felt wonderful and I was at my goal weight of 142 pounds for about 10 minutes, well, I guess really for 6 weeks in order to become a Lifetime member, and my weight has increased pretty steadily for the last 18 years. Then I made a commitment, for better or for worse to not get on a scale. I saw being on the scale as being a slave to a number. I lost some weight in 2000 as a natural consequence through my divorce, and again a few years later in 2004 through a phenomenal program by a fellow acupuncturist where I learned some healthy practices like yoga, alternate nostril breathing, organic eating, etc. I felt amazing, looked healthy, and have no idea how much I actually lost in those times because I wasn't weighing.
Now it's all back, and more. My life has made many very happy turns in the past 11 years, and I feel so very fulfilled in so many areas of my life, more so than I have ever dreamed. I have worked and worked over the years to unearth deleterious core beliefs and change them to help manifest my current, and very happy, reality. For some reason, though, this has not carried over to my weight and health. It feels as though this is a final frontier where I get to put my optimism, positive thinking, and abundant tools into action to feel fulfilled in the area of great health, working through the emotional issues and habits that have kept me heavier than is healthy for me.
The facts became evident when I stepped on the scale at Kaiser Permanente last summer, for a long overdue physical and well woman check up. I was astounded, yet, not surprised, when the scale registered my highest non-pregnant weight ever. No wonder my legs hurt, and it was difficult to walk with painful heels from plantar fascitis, and I was experiencing ever-increasing arthritic pain in my knees resulting from knee surgeries when I was 12 and 13 years old. Thankfully, all other tests, blood tests, blood pressure, mammogram, and an endometrial biopsy proved to be free of signs of illness.
This instigated a jump on the health wagon. We had just returned from our Honeymoon of wonderful sites and travels and delicious foods, and I was gearing up for another semester of pharmacy school. It was time to add some discipline. I joined My Food Diary online, and tracked everything I ate, got a reading every day as to how well I did staying within my fat, sugar, and salt goals. I was able to enter my favorite new and healthy recipes into the site and I was exercising regularly, and lost almost 15 pounds. Then the severe heel pain started, and intense pharmacy school seemed to suck dry all of my discipline and motivation, and the exercise stopped (too painful), and the eating chocolate, cheese and sweets in ever increasing quantities re-entered my life, and the last weigh-in at University Hospital when I went in for the follow up appointment with the Genetic Counselor proved that I had, indeed regained 10 of those 15 pounds.
So, before I re-reach my all-time high weight (that I'm aware of anyway), I am determined to get back on the healthy weight wagon, and add in the tools I have in my pocket, like EFT, yoga,tai chi, acupuncture, breathing, in addition to monitoring my diet (I like My Food Diary) and increasing my activity level to help address those underlying issues that have kept me on the vicious cycle.
I have so many tools! And so many quandaries! Why don't I use my arsenal of tools continually? Why aren't they ingrained in my psyche? Where does the self-sabotage come in? What causes the motivation to continue healthy habits to decline so suddenly? What part of me wants me to be at an unhealthy weight? This is where the EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) comes in as a useful tool to clear the thoughts, emotions, and beliefs from my energetic system, clearing the way for increased balance and health. I first learned about this technique in 2002 or 2003, and used it with great success with myself, friends, and clients in terms of alleviating fears and anxieties. It's a very powerful tool with amazing results. I often still recommend it to my acupuncture patients and train some of them to do it on themselves as issues arise. There is a lot of information in books and on the Internet regarding EFT. There's even a free EFT manual one can download. I have it on my website www.StephanieBall.info. I'm also learning about Matrix Energetics which takes EFT a few steps further, and I will share more on that as I learn about it and put it into practice. There are other useful tools on my website including the Radical Forgiveness process and worksheets. I recently purchased a book called "EFT for Weight Loss" with this specific goal in mind. There is now an entire series of EFT books written by the founder of EFT, Gary Craig.
My first task is to write down all of my memories regarding my body image, eating patterns and attitudes about exercise. I am including anything that occurs to me and placing it in a master list and making a goal to work on at least a couple of the memories with EFT to clear them and bring to my awareness any further, more deeply rooted emotions, beliefs or thoughts that might have contributed to the memory. As I settle back onto the Healthy Me wagon (likely around the 1st of the year when things are a bit back to "normal"- probably something that needs "tapping" through EFT :-)), I intend to address any cravings, automatic behaviors, emotional issues, physical pain, and anything else that arises in this process with EFT and any other techniques that occur to me.
My intention with this blog is to track my progress and relay the tools I use to help completely heal my thought processes, and thus my body, regarding my health and weight.
Thank you for joining me on this journey!
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