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InnerViews
My
ultimate goal is to live a more disciplined life -- conscious living in a state
of balance. I am working to achieve new ways of eating, thinking, living,
loving...BEING. By no stretch of the imagination am I perfect nor will I ever
be, but I am striving for excellence in all areas of my life. On a general
level, my primary focus is on establishing a fluid connection between my mind,
body, spirit and soul. Specifically, regaining control of my physical self by
refining my thoughts is my immediate quest. I am a strong believer in behaviour
modification...one step at a time. Below are some of my thoughts on the
adjustments I am making that will help me master this phase of my journey. It's
mostly common sense, but like the saying goes, "common sense is not always
common."
Keeping a journal and food log has helped me tremendously in the short time I've
been doing it. The journal is a great way for me to come to grips with the
reality of what I'm doing (and not doing) and deal with it. My food log allows
me to see exactly what I'm eating, how much and make adjustments as needed.
Also, establishing quantifiable goals, writing them down, and revisiting them regularly helps me
monitor my progress, stay focused
and keep my priorities straight.
Making better food choices has definitely been a winner for me. Case in point --
the benefits of selecting leaner cuts of meat, especially red meat, became evident
straight away, within the second week of my plan. Also, eating more veggies and
fruit helps me feel full and aids my digestion/elimination. Reducing the amount
of food I eat at one time...translation, "STOP eating when I am full,"
learning to eat ONLY when I am hungry, and trusting my body to let me know when
I'm really hungry (and what it needs) are three of the most valuable changes
I've made so far.
My experience with various diets has been to lose weight, only to regain it when
I stopped the diet. I can't live like that; therefore, I am not about
weight-loss diets. I also steer clear of diet pills, weight loss supplements and
gastric surgical procedures. I'm not knocking those methods for those who desire to go that
route, I just don't roll like that. I don't want to do anything to lose weight
that I cannot continue indefinitely. I know myself and I can't see taking
appetite suppressants, carb blockers, fat burner pills, prepackaged meals and
the like for the rest of my life. And I dang sure don't want to have a stomach
so small that I cannot enjoy normal portions of my favourite foods. Besides,
reducing and maintaining my weight naturally doesn't
involve any additional costs, which leaves me more money to spend on the things
I enjoy.
Another major key to my weight loss has been getting my body moving, regularly
doing some type of physical activity (three to four times
a week, daily when possible). My recommendation is to choose something you enjoy,
be it walking, running, dancing, weight lifting, yoga, whatever...and DO IT! For
now, my weapons of choice are walking, weight training, yoga and dancing. I try
to avoid overdoing it, though. I monitor my activities and gradually increase
the duration and intensity of my workouts as my fitness level improves.
I cannot overemphasize the importance of drinking lots of good, clean water.
Staying hydrated, particularly while exercising, is absolutely necessary. Not
only does drinking adequate water help you maintain youthful looking skin, hair,
nail, etc., but it also helps flush away the fat your body sheds during weight
loss and the toxins that are released when you work up a good sweat. Experts
recommend drinking a minimum of eight 8-oz. glasses of water a day and I
agree...WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
Replenishing vitamins, minerals and other nutrients on a DAILY basis is
something that many people overlook. Eating clean, healthy, whole foods is an
excellent way of getting vitamins and minerals, but sometimes, especially during
weight loss, we don't always eat enough or the proper mix of the right foods to
ensure that we're getting the recommended daily allowance. I find that taking a
good multivitamin and mineral supplement not only helps me meet my daily
allowance, but it also enhances my energy levels and I see improvements in my
hair, skin, nails, etc. I've started taking additional doses of vitamins A, C
and E to further enhance my appearance and reduce stress levels. Taking the
majority of my vitamins at night with my last meal and within a few hours of
bedtime seems to work best for me.
Eliminate as much negativity as possible and CUT out the DRAMA!!! This is my
fundamental creed. It helps me
keep my head clear so that I can focus on achieving my goals. I'm learning that
it is certainly in my best interest to stay as far away as possible from negative
people, places and things. I understand that this is essential to my physical,
mental and emotional well being. In addition to being a big waste of time, toxic
people and situations only
serve to pull you down and undermine your progress...and that's the last thing I
need right now.
As often as possible, I surround myself with positive,
forward-thinking people who are about the business of moving ahead, and making
continual progress. I love encouraging others and find it comforting and
fulfilling to do so, BUT I "DO NOT spend major time on minor people."
(I can't remember who coined that phrase.) That may sound harsh to some, but I
have to do what I have to do. I DO NOT waste my time on those who cannot be
genuinely happy for me as I achieve my successes and/or those who are not
willing to help themselves do the same. I can and will help as much as I can,
but I cannot do the work for them! I'd much rather focus my time, attention and
energy on those who are striving towards positive change...especially if they
happen to be having a difficult time, but genuinely desire help to change and
are willing to do the work.
Last, but not least, I'm learning to be kind to myself! I don't dog myself out
for making mistakes or not getting everything just right, and I certainly DO NOT
allow others to do so. I remind myself that I am human and I WILL make mistakes
from time to time...we all do. Instead, I focus on learning the lessons from my
mistakes so I don't have to keep repeating the same mistakes because the lessons
get harder each time...trust me! On a daily basis, I speak kindly of and to
myself, assuring my inner self that I am able to make good choices and make
corrections and adjustments when needed. I remind myself often that I am worthy
of the best life has to offer and then make it my business to make the best of
what I have. I focus on being a good steward of what I have now, which will pave
the way to more successes in the future.
I hope
you found something here that will help you in your journey.
Namasté!
"As we begin to refine our thoughts - restricting and binding
the intentions behind our
actions - the actions
themselves
become refined."
—David Life
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 Not the
average girl in the videos, that's for dang sure. Lover of
jazz, good wine, green and chai teas. Sometimes serious, often
playful, always intelligent. Strong at times, weak at
others. Decent looking on the regular, sexy when I wanna
be. Hater of BS and drama, minder of my own bizness. Still
not satisfied? Click here.
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