Hello there fabulous readers!

Hope you all had a good weekend.

We had some rather contrasting weather here in Colorado.  Snow on Saturday then all clear and sunny by the morning!  By Sunday afternoon, most of the snow was already melted.  This of course makes everything smell so good! When I went outside this morning to feed the birds, the earth smelled ALIVE.  So, I plopped down on the ground and took some deep breaths and felt all giddy.  I am definitely a cheap date!

Last night was the second show of "I can make you thin."  This show focused on emotional eating.  This is a very important piece of weight and weight loss.  To address the emotional issues, the host showed the audience how to do tapping (EFT).  He did not show all the points and used a modified version of tapping.  If you want to learn all the points, feel free to go to my EFT page or visit Gary Craig’s site.  Gary offers a free book to download which goes into a deeper discussion on tapping.

If you are someone who wants to loose weight, you have to address the emotional issues.  If you don’t, the behavior of eating when you are feeling will continually come into play.  People eat to satisfy all sorts of emotions…from happiness to despair.  From frustration to boredom.  If you are eating for any other reason then hunger….you are emotional eating. 

If you have been emotionally eating for a long time, you may not know when you are hungry…or even full for that matter.  That’s okay.  It may take a little observation and some tuning into your body…don’t worry, you will soon become aware of the feeling of hunger and the feeling of being full. 

Okay…so let’s say, you are an emotional eater.  Now what? 
This is were the tapping comes in handy.  But, before you use the tapping…you need to tune into the emotions that you are feeling.  Let’s say that you notice that you eat out of boredom…this is actually a very common eating trigger.  Why?  Because for some of us, boredom is tantamount to death!  Yes, that’s right…for some of us even acknowledging being bored is enough to push us off a cliff.  This is a great time to use this handy dandy tapping tool.  It would go something like this (tap along cuz it really works!)

Begin by rating how strong your craving for the particular snack is (0-10…10 being if I don’t have this now I will go stark raving mad!!!)

Start with the sore spot or karate chop point…which ever one floats your boat!
"Even though I am BORED out of my skin, and I hate this feeling, I KNOW that eating a piece of chocolate (fill in your whatever is your food of choice) will cure this feeling, I accept myself and how I feel."

"Even though I am so bored and I am overwhelmed by feeling bored, I accept myself anyway and I know that I am doing the best I can!"

Now tap on the points
Eye Brow:  Bored out of my mind
Side of Eye: I hate this feeling
Under Eye: Eating this _________ would be better than this boredom
Under Nose: Yummy ___________
Under Chin: Yummy ___________ (you could make your voice like Homer Simpson:))
Collar Bone: Bored, Bored, Bored (say this with some drama)
Under Arm: I hate being bored
Top of Head: I accept myself anyway

Please share your comments to the tapping or if you are watching the show…what you think of it. 
Have a fabulous day!

Hello fabulous readers.

I saw a new show this weekend called "I can make you thin."  The host of the show, Paul Mckenna, is a familiar name to those of us who have studied and use NLP.  What drew me to the show, was the name…and in the commercial it looked like the audience was tapping. 

The show was about an hour long…and really could have been 15 minutes…but, the information that was shared was exactly what I share with the folks I work with.  Yep, I know!  I am tootin my own horn…but, it was just too exciting to pass up!

Let me quickly summarize his 4 rules:

1.  Eat when you are hungry
2.  Eat what want…not what you think you should.
3.  Eat consciously
4.  STOP when you are full

Whaddya think?
Too easy?  Crazy talk?  Airy-fairy crap-ola?

I have used this model with folks that I work with, partnered with EFT (tapping) and it really works.  There is more too it…but, these are the basics.  You also want to add some movement to your day that gets your heart rate up and stretches your muscles.

Let’s have a chat about each of these rules…k?

The first rule…eat when you are hungry, is all about listening to your body and NOT starving it.  In fact, starving your body, just messes up your metabolism.  Ever been on a diet that you were hungry all the time?  Well, you will remember that you probably lost weight…but as soon as the diet was over, you gained it all back…and sometimes even more weight was added!  When your body goes into hunger mode…it starts freaking out wondering when the next meal is.  Because it doesn’t know when the next meal is…it starts to hold onto any calories that do come in…pretty smart huh?

Moral of the story?  EAT WHEN YOU ARE HUNGRY!!!

Rule #2,  eat what you want…not what you think you should eat, this one usually freaks people out.  They hope its true…but, it goes against EVERYTHING they have ever learned about weight loss.  One of the brilliant babes that I work with, was so scared to start talking about weight because she did not want to stop eating her yummy french fries and having coke.  Well, no problem!  When I told her that she could still eat that…she was stunned…to say the least.  She did not believe me.  But, let me tell ya…she has magically lost 9 pounds…over the last month without giving up eating the foods that she wants. Actually, this is not really magic at all!

The next rule, eat consciously, is an important part of weight loss.   When you eat…really be present with your food.  On Paul’s show, he had folks chew at least 20 times with each mouthful.  He also instructed folks to put their forks down while they chewed. Great idea!  When you are fully present with your meal, you tend to enjoy the food more and you start to notice when you are actually full.  In this country people eat way more then is needed or even wanted by the stomach.  Many of the folks that I work with, don’t always know when they have had enough food…they are not sure when they are full…eating consciously will help this.

As you eat consciously, you will begin to notice when you have had enough.  Which leads brilliantly to rule #4…stop when you are full.  This rule can be challenging for folks if they are part of the "clean plate club" or they have been taught to never waste food.  This is one of the places that EFT works really well.  Clearing these beliefs so that you can feel good leaving food on your plate…better on your plate then on your fanny!!  Now remember, you don’t have to worry about not getting enough food….cuz you eat when your hungry (rule #1)! 

I will blog more in depth each of these points over the next couple of days.  I am also planning on watching each show (there will be 5 shows total) and I encourage you to watch them too.  The times are listed above on the link.

Finally, mainstream America is ready to stop punishing themselves to loose weight.  I am very excited about this. 

What are your thoughts and feelings about this?
Please feel free to share here:)  Would love to hear from you!

Have a yummy day!!!

Hello there everyone~

There are many differences between Colorado (where I live now) and Northern California (where I used to live)…one being the seasons.  In California when it's time for spring…it shows up. 

Easy Parchessi! 

We used to live in a little town called Aptos, a few miles south of Santa Cruz…it would rain a ton in January and February…then all of a sudden, the faucet in the sky would turn off, and the sun would shine.  About two weeks later, bulbs would start to bloom, azaleas would burst forth, and small flowers would begin to carpet the ground. The birds would chirp, the deer would prance about, and the dolphins would spring for joy…leaping forth from the water and twirling about before they gracefully went back down into the ocean.  Oh, and of course…Disney music would play in the background!

It ain't like that here in Colorado. 

Last week we had beautiful, gorgeous warm weather.  I took a gander about my garden and saw little green this's and thats peeking forth from the earth.  Bunnies were twirling about playing with each other.  Birds danced about the feeders and peeked there heads in and out of the bird houses…all while singing about this, that and the other thing. Oh, and of course, some Disney music was playing in the background.  I took out my gardening tools to get them ready for some use…enjoying the warm sun caressing my back.  Tomorrow will be a perfect day to cut back the garden, I thought to myself~

Well, no such luck. 

Cuz it snowed! 

Yes, it snowed! 

The bunnies looked confused, the birds kept singing but they didn't have as much to sing about….and the green this's and thats that were peeking out from the earth…were covered with a blanket of white. The  Disney music that was playing on the stereo hidden somewhere in my yard (this is not a very high tech visualization) scratched to a stop!

Luckily, I LOVE the snow.  So, I tucked my gardening tools back in the shed and twirled around while the snow fell. 

After adding a warm sweater to my ensemble…I began to think about how my inspirational energy has begun to match the seasons of Colorado.  When I start a project, like the creation of my new website…I begin with the idea…and it perculates quietly under the surface for awhile.  I mentally play with the idea.  Then, in a burst of inspiration, I take action.  The design form manifests.  Lots of excited energy.  Then, in a blink of an eye…the  flow of ideas change form…seemingly going underground again…quiet.  Then again, another burst of energy…words written, ideas flow…lots of movement…I am on a roll.  It's gonna be done in no time~  Spring is almost here!  Yipeeeeeeeee

Oops…not so fast!  The ideas quiet down again.  The temperature drops.  It begins to snow. 

I worry that the spring will never come.  The weather teases us.  I have learned that here in Colorado, the Spring comes intensely.  Seemingly, overnight.  First the lilac bloom, in two weeks the magnificently display is gone to be followed by irises, daffodiles, tulips and more bulbs then I can name…then, as these flowers die back…the rest of the garden has something to say.  Summer hits hard and fast, full of energy…full of life.

My way of manifesting seems to mirror the force of spring here in Colorado.  I get teased with my ideas and then in a blink they seemingly go back underground.  Though, I sense them stirring below the surface.  I feel frustrated…the pulse of energy felt so good.  Manifestation seemed on its way. 

But, I know…that my spring is right around the corner.  My job is to trust the flow…and to be ready when it comes forth, showing its full heady bloom. The lilacs won't last…I can't  force them to stay….I can gather their blooms and fill my house with their scent.  I can walk amongst them and appreciate the beauty.  When they die back, I will feel briefly saddened…I always do…because I won't witness them again until next year.

This morning, there is frost on the ground and the sun is out…warm on my back even though there is still a chill to the air.  Maybe it will warm up today.  Maybe the snow will melt today.  Maybe, tomorrow I can start cutting back the garden. 

We shall see. 

Until then…I will witness the quiet, and trust that the creative ideas will burst forth when they are ready.  Maybe they are waiting for the lilacs….

Have a beautiful day~
   

Hello fabulous readers!  I hope you are all doing dandy!

We are a bit chilly in our cute little house.  Our heater is having some problems…and these problems won’t be fixed for a few days.  Oh, and this fix is gonna cost us $500.00…CHA-CHING!  So, I have on warm jammies, slippers and socks, a sweater…and a cozy blanket wrapped over my shoulders.  Burrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Okay…gotta keep typing or my finger tips will freeze!

Today, I thought that it might be interesting to chat about "gossip."  I saw this in the Gary Craig’s newsletter and wanted to pass it on to you:

Keep this philosophy in mind the next time you either hear or are about to
repeat a rumor.

This is the reason Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high
esteem.

Author Unknown

So, are you a gossip? 

Do you hang out with people who gossip?

Do you read gossip magazines?

We are surrounded by gossip.  I was watching the news the other day, got up and turned it off in disgust thinking…"this ain’t news, this is gossip!" Its everywhere! 

If thoughts and words hold energy…then gossip is some pretty toxic stuff.  Where do those words go after they have been spoken?  Do they stay in the air?  Do they dissipate? What happens to the people sitting around listening to the gossip? How does the exposure to gossip effect your energy system?  If the energy of gossip was able to be seen as color…what colors would gossip be? What shape would it be?

I have never heard of any gossip that was shared to express the fabulousness of someone. If you are someone who gossips, or you hang out with gossips…why not shift the focus?  Instead of talking smack about others, why not start talking about the good stuff folks are doing, or share about how brilliant someone else was, or how cute someone looked the other day? 

Well, I guess I can get off my soap box now. 

Have a gossip free day!

Hi there!

I am in the process of redoing my website…and I am rewriting a bunch of stuff…for the third time!  Yes, you read that right.  I had written a whole bunch of stuff and lost it to the void when I tired to move it onto my new computer.  So, somewhere in the void is a bunch of unedited paragraphs focusing on coaching, EFT, parenting, chronic illness, relationships…and other topics.  I keep calling the words back to me…but, they are not appearing magically on my screen.  Hmmmmmmmm~

When I tried to rewrite all of the words that I had previously written….I did something…pushed some magic garbage disposal, word devouring button…and shazam…all gone!  I can’t find those words either.  The second time was not as comprehensive…but, I still found myself in the fetal position, rocking back and forth…under my desk!  I think that I cried and cursed the gods…not too loudly though cuz I need their help to rewrite all of this stuff again!

This all happened over the last few weeks.  I had planned on rewriting all the content last week…but, instead I just stared blankly at the computer screen. 

Nothing! 

I decided a little cleaning might help inspire me. I cleaned the bathroom, then dusted, then swept the floors…then vacuumed the carpets…watered the plants…oh, and fertilized them, then I washed some windows…cuz if the windows are not clean, I might not be able to write.  Then, I recaulked the bathroom tub, changed my oil, re-roofed the house, re-landscaped the yard, organized the garage…oh, and found a cure for cancer.

Nothing!
Zip!
Nada!

Well, that’s not totally true…I did write some crappy stuff.  But, that has all been deleted. 

Today, I am going for a long walk, working with some fabulous folks and then I am praying to the writing gods, that they give me some words.  Just a few goods ones to get me going.  Some words that inspire and soothe.  Some words that uplift and bring a smile to someones face.  Just a small morsel please…

If not…my closet really needs to be organized…oh, so does the hall closet.  Oh, and I want to talk to some friends and check in with how they are doing.  Then there are the emails to read, the blogs to explore…that netflix movie that needs watching….the birds that need feeding..my dog needs me to play with her…

Have a word filled day!

Hello all of you wonderful folks!
I woke up this morning to a blanket of snow outside. To the sun shining.  Everything is white and glistening.  As I look out my window, I see two little bunnies eating something yummy.  I don’t know what they are eating but, whatever it is…they are intent on it!  There are birds at the bird feeders busy with eating and socializing. They have lots to chat about this morning! 

Yes, our back yard is like a strange Disney movie…bunnies hopping, birds singing, mice dancing about in the garden…once and awhile a hawk comes to hang out and scares everyone away.  This mini world brings me many giggles and it’s lots of fun for me to make up little stories about what is going on!

Which leads me, quite nicely, to my topic for today!  Making up little stories about what is going on!  I do this often!  It seems that instead of shutting up and listening…I would rather make up some fancy pants story.  This has become very apparent to me in the last handful of days. 

Here is what happened:

A couple of months ago, I decided to stop taking this particular powder (nutritional supplement) that I had been on for about 7 months.  I had heard of something new that wasn’t as expensive as what I had been on. 

I thought to myself: 
"Well, this isn’t helping me as much as I am thinking…so I am going to try something new!"
Did ya catch that phrasing?
Note to self:  If I am having improvement with something….stay with it!!!!!!!  If I am having improvement with something…notice the improvement…acknowledge the improvement!!!!

Ah, DUH!!!!!

SO, I decided to try this new product.

Well, my health blip symptoms have been slowly coming back every since.  Did I notice the connection with changing products?

Uh…NO!

Did I come up with all sorts of stories as to what was causing the symptoms to come back?

Uh…YEP!

Did these stories have anything to do with me changing products?

Uh…NO!!!

Not only did I make up a bunch of bogus stories…but, my body was telling me all along that something wasn’t working.  I was too busy making up stuff to listen to what my body was saying. 

What were some of the stories?
Really?
You really want to know?

Well, they explored various versions of how much I suck to how I need to do more "work" to become more enlightened so that this pain won’t come back anymore.  No Disney vibe here!  No bunnies romping.  No birds chirping!  No mice dancing! Just plain old carnage!!!!

So, this weekend…after days of pain and abuse…I decided to shut up and spend some time listening to my body.

Well, it had lots to say.
I tried to interrupt a few times…but, it just talked right over me. 

Okay, I get it! 

I got a theme goin’ on here. 

Shut up and listen to my kids (See "shut up…and listen), and shut up and listen to my body.  Just shut up and listen!!!!

Glad to know that I don’t need to be beatin’ over the head with a big stick!!!!!

So, I did. I shut up and listened.  I wrote a gazillion pages in my journal allowing my body to have its say through the writing.  And again, I was reminded of how much my body loves me and is doing its best to take care of me.  It reminded me of some things that help it feel better and it reminded me of how much better I really am feeling.  I am healing!  I am so much better than I was a year ago…and a year before that. 

Thanks body! 

I appreciate how patient you are with me…I can be a bit slow on the uptake!

I appreciate your guidance.

I appreciate that you never give up.

I appreciate that you do know how to heal.

I appreciate how well you take care of me even when I am beating the crap out of you.

I appreciate you!

Thanks body!

So, lovely readers…what is desiring your undivided attention within you?

What parts of you are crying out to be heard?

In what ways do you judge your body and make it wrong?

How could you shift this?

What does your body want from you?

In what ways can you honor your bodies desires?

…and remember to be nice to yourself…even if you have not been listening for awhile!  You are doing the best you can!

Peace to you and to your body~