I started writing this blog in 2007 and continue today, hoping it will make its way to anyone who feels stuck while trying to make lifestyle changes to live at a healthy weight. Changing behaviors can be tricky if we don’t evaluate our perspective and adjust our expectations and mindset. I believe the foundation of lasting behavior change starts with four key elements:
1.) Self-compassion 2.) A growth mindset 3.) Joy in the journey 4.) Gratitude
Self-compassion is recognizing our humanity. It’s realizing and accepting that no human can be perfect 100% of the time. Therefore, when we make choices that aren’t in line with our goals, it’s an opportunity to learn, modify and move forward. This is called a Growth Mindset, and it leads to lasting success and facilitates joy in the journey! The fourth foundation of lasting behavior change is the practice of gratitude for today and using the good feeling energy of appreciation to propel us forward into the actions we want to take.
Are you happy with the direction you’re heading?
"No matter how far you have gone on a wrong road, turn back. --Ancient Turkish Proverb It's never too late to make a change. As a matter of fact, NOW is the perfect time to do it. Turn back and make different choices the moment you realize your heading in the wrong...
Precious Autumn Sunshine
"I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air. --Nathaniel Hawthorne Happy Labor Day! The weather forecast says we are going to have more summer-like weather during...
Happy Labor Day Weekend!
"If we are always arriving and departing, it is also true that we are eternally anchored. One's destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things. ---Henry Miller quotes (American Author and Writer, 1891-1980) We arrive today at the end of our...
A Different Perspective
"A mother is a person who seeing there are only three pieces of pie for four people, promptly announces she never did care for pie."
Kindness To Yourself
"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see." Mark Twain Be as kind to yourself today as you try to be to others. Put what happened yesterday, last week or last month behind you. Don't spend a second putting yourself down. Today is a fresh...
New Beginnings
"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."
Listen To Your Heart, Not Your Evil
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage...
Labor Day Challenge-3 Weeks To Go
"Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go." -Unknown The time for action is NOW. Today. This moment. Labor Day is 3 weeks from tomorrow and your changes can really add up in that amount of time. -------At the meetings this...
Labor Day Challenge
"Then followed that beautiful season...Summer....Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow I love summer (as I'm sure you've gathered!!) and I can feel it...
Everything For a Reason
"I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go. Things go wrong so you appreciate them when they"
Go Laura C., Go!!!!”
"Tomorrow is the 2nd Annual Rock-n-Roll Half Marathon, Chicago!!!! The Rock-n-Roll series of marathons and half marathons are held throughout the country and they are the BEST because they are SO fun! Darin and I run the Nashville country music half every year with...
Stop Frustration Before It Starts
"Our frustration is greater when we have much and want more than when we have nothing and want some. We are less dissatisfied when we lack many things than when we seem to lack but one thing."
As I Tell My Boys-Just Worry About Yourself, Not What Everyone Else Is Doing!
"Consider how hard it is to change yourself and you'll understand what little chance you have in trying to change others." Unknown Fortunately we don't need anyone else on board with us to change our own lives. Sure, support helps but we can't always dictate who's...
Finding Bliss Right Now
"There is only one reason why you're not experiencing bliss at this present moment, and its because you're thinking or focusing on what you don't have.. ----Dr. Wayne W. Dyer If we cannot find a way to enjoy the weight loss experience it will be very difficult for us...
Auntie Terra
"Our most basic instinct is not for survival but for family. Most of us would give our own life for the survival of a family member, yet we lead our daily life too often as if we take our family for granted. --Paul Pearshall I'm over wrought with emotion sitting at...