Thank you, Anorexia.

Well, does that sound weird to read?  This was a challenge given by my counselor years ago, to thank myself for my anorexia.  I am sure my face scrunched up quite interestingly. Anorexia almost killed me and was a total living hell! Thank myself- that makes NO SENSE. 

At that point of truly getting help I had stopped most of my destructive behaviors. But, my mind was in constant stress. I had been living with such shame, guilt and embarrassment for all of my unhealthy coping methods (anorexia wasn't the only one -I had to thank myself for a lot of harmful behaviors).  It led me to a small life of fear, anxiety, hiding from the world and hiding from my true self. 

I had developed trust with my counselor so I played along with this weird challenge.  Guess what I found in it.  FREEDOM.  There was SO much power in flipping the script that I had told myself for all my “sins”.

Here’s...

It's not my favorite...

Far from it in fact.  There are possibly 100 things I would enjoy eating better.  

BUT...

I eat it fairly regularly at least 3x per week.  

It's nothing to brag about. 

2 Cans Tuna

1 Can Green Beans

1 Can Corn

So, Why do I do it?

Strangely enough I have several reasons (which is why I do it so often). 

Reason #1 - High Protein and some veggies - 50+ grams

Reason #2 - Portable - Easy to bring to the studio

Reason #3 - Doesn't Spoil - if I don't eat it, it'll be good tomorrow or in 2 months

Reason #4 - Low Prep Time - open, drain, eat

Reason #5 - Cheapness - Compared to grabbing lunch out big savings!

Reason #6 - I don't get bloated after...I feel good

Reason #7 - Actually there are only 6 reasons I can think of.  

So this meal helps me to get protein and nutrients for my body is not a chore to make and saves me $30 a week I figure.  

That's $1,440 per year (48 wks a year).

I've...

This is from Christine! We just adore her!

Here is a glimpse of her journey, maybe you can relate?

From Christine:

I have been on both sides of the alley at Tall Trainer. 

When I started as a client in 2013, I  came to class every day, and used the on-line nutrition program. I reached the goals I had set for myself and had never been quite so healthy and fit! The short story is, I became  a trainer and worked at Tall Trainer for a few years.  It was a wonderful experience,  and I learned a LOT! 

Life changes and I decided to step back as a Trainer and focus my energy on family matters. I continued to exercise at home, when I could fit it in, but everything and everyone seemed to take priority over that hour I thought I'd give myself.

So, two years of that and the weight came back, 30 pounds of it to be exact! I was tired, unhappy with how I felt and looked, and angry with myself for allowing the weight to come...

The less dramatic title would be:

Become happier by spreading gratitude – The Gratitude Visit

I am going to share with you a story that I almost don’t believe really happened even though it happened to me.  But first I’m going to recommend you try this… 

 (listen to podcast instead of read)

Martin Seligman the father of positive psychology (www.positivepsychology.org) has developed a list of things you can do to be happier.  One of the most powerful is the gratitude visit. 

The way a Gratitude Visit works is:

1. Write a letter of gratitude thanking someone for the impact they have had on your life and how important they are to you.
2. DON’T MAIL IT!
3. Go visit them (or video call) the more intimate the setting the better.
4. Read the letter to them
5. (bring tissues and a REAL hug)
6. Make someone else feel awesome, while you feel awesome for being the kind of person who would do that!
7. The feelings and memory persist long after...

Most people don't set goals right and therefore come no where near achieving them.  Goal Achievement Coach Zig Ziglar has 7 steps to setting a goal that will help massively!

This whole video below is gold but you can get the point and watch just 4 minutes and hear the goal setting formula a couple times.  I typed it out in a PDF for those who want to work on it.  DOWNLOAD PDF HERE.  

Here are the 7 steps:

1. Write the Objective:
2. Date to be completed: _____/______/_______
3. Obstacles I will have to overcome:
4. People or groups I’ll need to connect and work with:
5. What do I need to know/learn?
6. Plan of Action:
7. List of Benefits for Objective being completed:

When you have time you should really consider watching this full Zig presentation.  What an amazing world we live in that Zig Ziglar is available to us day and night!

(video will start at the goal setting spot and you'll get the idea in 4 minutes of watching)

God Bless,

Jeremy "tall trainer" Biernat

...

This has been popping in my mind over the last 2-weeks so I’m going to get it out of my head and see what you think of it.  Everytime it has the Bob Dylan songs seems to come with it!

“You’re gonna have to serve somebody.  It may be the devil or it may be the Lord but you’re gonna have to serve somebody.”  - Bob Dylan

I try to read my Bible every morning.  Just a few minutes.  Sometimes it’s helpful, sometimes I’m glad I wasn’t alive then, sometimes it’s tricky, sometimes I wish I could have been there.  I need to add, I’m no biblical scholar and my faith is strong but complicated.  I am rarely if ever on a religious or spiritual high.  I get jealous of those who are. 

But, I learn when I read it and I’m trying to use more if what’s in there to effect what I do “out here!”

In Romans 6:16-19 it says this…

^“16 ...

Denise has been a student of grief and has experienced her own grief and I believe God has gifted her with incredible insights and help for those who are grieving, which when we are honest is most of us most of the time.  

Will we ever be happy again after a big loss?

How do we get through grief?

What if my grief is smaller than others?

Why do we grieve?

If you need to reach her after this you can email her at: [email protected]

She facilitates a Grief Support group Locally in Canandaigua, NY

Crosswinds Wesleyan Church

3360 Middle Cheshire Road

Canandaigua, NY 14424

Next session starts October 13th 6-8pm

Session will run many weeks

We can see it but sometimes can’t define it.  I remember driving our car down the road and Sarah and I both saw a girl walking down the road.  We were coming up behind her.  As we passed her we realized it was one of our clients.  From the back she could have been 25 years old.  Her face brought her to 50’s and we both new she was in her 60’s.  We both commented the same thing.  She was in awesome “shape”.  Of course we told her so the next time we saw her! 

We have dozens and dozens of clients like this.  If you are just looking at the body you get a certain impression of age.  What makes us have this impression?  What makes a body look younger or healthier? 

I think it’s three things.  Muscle, posture, and a narrower waist. 

This does mean weight loss is a factor here.  But we have all seen the tiny old lady who looks old and frail and you can...

It happens.  Even to me.  A little pitty party.  Perhaps a seed of entitlement?

I eat well as far as healthy most of the time.  I enjoy something yummy, we occasionally go out to eat, Some of my favorite foods are chicken wings, Beef Briscut, Apple Crisp, Berries, and Pumpkin pie.  I don't drink soda except super rare treats, I eat at least 2 pounds of vegetable most days, I eat the same breakfast, snacks, and lunch 5 days a week.  (sometimes weekends too).  

Here's the thing I don't "LOVE" all that food.  I eat my eggs and veggies as cold bricks in the morning.  I eat a dry boring head of romaine lettuce on my way to pick up Anna from school.  I drink 1 or 2 protein and water shakes a day depending on if I'm too busy to chew something.  I nuts and fruit make up the rest of my day until I get home.  Sarah does up dinner most of the time.  And we eat some sort of chicken 80% of the time with a huge vegetable serving....