Ending emotional eating...

I recently watched a tv weight loss program. The program focused on a woman who wanted to lose weight, but had many life issues she hadn't dealt with. She had been doing very well - up to the half way point of her weight loss challenge. However, all of a sudden, she began to binge eat and didn't understand why. She said she ate until she was full, and even though she didn't want to eat anymore, she kept on eating.

I immediately had a flashback to my own past, and a time when I really struggled with emotional eating, and felt totally out of control.

Let me share a personal story with you. Very soon after my dad passed away, I began to overeat. Then, overeating turned into binge eating. I couldn't seem to control it, and I certainly didn't understand it. This continued for a few weeks, until one evening when I had my light bulb moment. I remember so that evening so clearly. I had finished dinner, but yet I went back for seconds, thirds, and then snacks. I was beyond full. My stomach hurt SO much - I was in terrible pain - yet I couldn't stop eating. Has this ever happened to you?

Without thinking I said out loud, "...it's almost as if I want my physical pain to match my emotional pain.".

BINGO. That was it exactly. As soon as I realized what I was doing, I was able to stop.

Sometimes, life throws you a circumstance that makes you feel scared, alone, or out of control. That's usually when emotional eating begins. By facing your feelings, you reclaim your control! The reality is, it can be uncomfortable, but it is necessary to end this destructive behavior.

The first step to making positive change, is to bring awareness to your emotional overeating. Then, you will have enlightenment and empowerment.

Sometimes it just takes a little digging around in your feelings to get back your control. Don't be in pain any longer - start digging!

Let's choose to make a difference...

I think of myself as a giving, kind and compassionate person, who is truly grateful and appreciative for all I have - and I am. Yet, sometimes, out of the blue, something comes along and gives you a reality check. It tells you that though you are the things you think you are, you can still be so much more.

Last night was one of those times for me.

I found a website that re-focused the lens through which I see the world.

It's gritty, compelling, raw, authentic, and powerful. As appreciative as I am for what I have, I soon realized how much I take for granted. I suddenly felt awkwardly aware of how I have grown to let fellow human beings who are suffering, become invisible to my own eyes.

The website is http://invisiblepeople.tv. It is a vlog of interviews with people who are homeless. The man behind this project, was once homeless himself, and wants to now "make the invisible, visible". These interviews are with real people, who candidly and frankly tell their stories - unedited, and uncensored.

They are gripping.

I watched every single video interview on the website - these people touched my heart. At the end of every interview, each person was asked, "If you could have 3 wishes, what would they be?". Theirs answers floored me. I heard people who were homeless wish for things like peace on earth, no more hate, that everyone could have a home. And when they wished for something for themselves, it wasn't for riches or luxury, but shelter, a job, family or love. They wished for the very things that many of us take for granted - I was humbled.

I now see and embrace opportunities for me to help others that I didn't see before...

I hope that you will feel as moved and inspired as I do, to get out there and do a random act of kindness every day for someone you don't even know. Then please pass this along to people you know who might do the same.

We can all make a difference in the lives of our fellow human beings - and you know... it feels amazing!

Push your buttons

As dynamic as life is, we sometimes live our lives in a static fashion. Stuck in one way of doing things, as if on auto pilot. Day after day, driving the same route to work, eating the same thing for breakfast, even folding our hands the same way. We get locked in and boxed in. What, then, would happen if we thought of life as an elevator? Surely, if we got stuck on one floor in a real elevator, we’d panic, crave change, or at least be curious about what else exists.

So, why then, is it comfortable to get stuck in life?

Familiarity can lure us into a sense of security, and the more comfortable that place gets, the less likely we are to leave it. Because of this, there is a likelihood of complacency. After time, changes, even small changes, can become frightening.

Stepping outside your comfort zone makes your heart race, palms sweat and breath quicken. It’s fear and excitement all wrapped up in a tight package, and it makes you feel alive. Trying something new can be as exhilarating as it is scary, and if we excel at it we’re on top of the world and planning our next adventure! Self-confidence shoots through the roof, and we become empowered.

Think about how it felt, the last time you tried stepping outside of your comfort zone to try something new...

Life is precious. If you find yourself living it as if each day is a chore, something that is done on auto-pilot, without much enjoyment, perhaps it’s time to re-evaluate what floor you are on. The elevator of life can take you to many floors, some far down, others up high, but all bring new and valuable experiences .

Go ahead, press all the buttons on your elevator – see where you go next! Open all the doors on every floor, and peek inside – you may find something you can`t believe you ever lived without! Start small – little things like a new workout, trying a new food, or listening to music that is not your usual style. At first it may seem a little uncomfortable, but the more you practice, the more you enjoy, and the more you try!

Have fun in life, seek some new adventures and keep your life on the move!

Voices from within

Voices in your head – you have them too, don’t you? The ones that say “I’ll never find my keys”… and you don’t. The ones that say, “I can’t lose 10 lbs”… and you don’t. And, sometimes, they even use hurtful words like “stupid or lazy”. The voices you hear, and without question, believe.

Those voices are your internal “self-talk”. Most people “converse” with themselves all day, but may not even be aware that they do, or of what they are saying to themselves. Think for a moment about the last thing you said to yourself… Was it positive, or negative? Was it your voice, or someone else’s? Was it a voice from your past that has instilled a positive or negative behavior that has carried through to today? Curious, isn’t it?

What you say to yourself is very powerful on many levels. Your mind believes what you think and say, and goes to great lengths to prove those thoughts and statements to be truthful. What you think is the truth, becomes your truth. The mind wants congruency between thoughts, words, and actions.

Has this ever happened to you? You have an object in your hand and you set it down. A moment later you’re looking for it and can’t find it. You get frustrated and start saying to yourself, “I can’t find that #*$& object!”, and of course, you can’t. Later in the day, you see the object, and it was exactly where you left it earlier. Even though you looked there, you didn’t see it. Why? Because when you told yourself you couldn’t find it, your mind believed and supported that you what you were saying was true. So, you really didn’t see the object, even though it was right in front of you.

Consider, if this has happened to you, is it not possible that opportunities have been right in front of you that you didn’t see because you told yourself they weren’t there?

That’s why it’s important to be aware of what you’re saying to yourself. If you focus on what you don’t want, believe you can’t have, or think you can’t do, you perpetuate not getting it! Start listening to your voices – it’s eye opening, isn’t it?

Imagine how it will feel when you learn how to use your minds’ power for things you really want to accomplish! Begin paying attention to your self-talk today, and notice how much better life is when you say good and positive things to yourself!

The dance

Funny, isn't it, that sometimes, even though you absolutely know what you want, you dance circles around it.

Take a moment and think, this applies to almost everything in life, doesn't it? Imagine, you're eating clean, and really sticking to fresh veggies, good protein and carbs and feeling great! One evening though, you're possessed by the thought of chocolate (mmmm). The more you try to not think about it, the more you find yourself obsessed with it. Determined to be good, you eat celery. Then, still thinking about chocolate, you have an apple. Then, a little piece of cheese, a few crackers, popcorn... you get the idea. A couple of hours later, after countless trips to the kitchen, before you even know what happened, there is chocolate in your belly. Wouldn't it have made more sense to acknowledge your true desire, make a decision, and because it's only an occasional treat, to have had what you wanted in the first place?

The interesting thing is this same phenomenon happens in other places you'd least expect. Take for example a new entrepreneur. Sometimes it can be easy to get overwhelmed by the desired level of success, and to get caught up in the small stuff. Rather than think big, and keep the compass always pointed towards that vision, the focus turns to smaller goals that are more of a dance around what is ultimately wanted, than a step forward. Energy is spent on doing things do not lead to the big picture. Others may even encourage this kind of behavior, but that's another blog. So, rather than eat career chocolate, you munch on career celery.

It's said that most people go for what they think they can get, not what they want. In my journey, I've learned to go for the gold. Life is too short to settle for less than what you truly want. Stay focused on doing the things that serve a true purpose and are solid stepping stones towards the finish line. Go ahead, jump into the deep water. Keep your head up, your eyes on the shore, and never lose your desire or your confidence that you'll make it. Above all else, keep swimming and don't stop! Move straight ahead, persevere when the tide tries to pull you in a different direction, and you will realize your dream.

My Story - 80 lbs and a lifetime ago...

Thanks for checking out my blog! Since you clicked, let me tell you a little bit about myself...

From the time I was a kid I was active and fit, and had such a passion for fitness that I made it my career - I became a Personal Trainer. After experiencing a life crisis, I strayed from my active lifestyle and career. Within 2 years, I found myself staring into the mirror at someone I no longer recognized. I was very unhappy - with myself, my life and my body. I knew there had to be more to life - I wanted to feel alive again, and rekindle my career in fitness. I also knew I had a lot of work to do to get there. It was then I decided to make a change, and I became my own client!

I wrote my own nutrition and exercise program, and followed it! I learned that the greatest key to success is perseverance! Without it, you never cross the finish line of your goal - regardless of what that goal is.

I've come a long way since the day I found myself tipping the scales at almost 200 lbs!

I would never have believed that my life would be what it is today. Now, over 40, I live a fulfilled life doing what I love - helping others! I'm a speaker, motivator, lifestyle consultant, budding author, and fitness model. Who says you can't have it all?

Believing in yourself and that you can do whatever you choose to do is the first step! It's true - you can have the life you want - it's all up to you!

Live! in the body you love.

xo

Margie

Soon always comes tomorrow...

I was inspired during a conversation with my friend Matty. He said, "soon always comes tomorrow", and he's right. It's so easy to get caught up in the daily routine of things, isn't it? To put things, that we know are important, on hold - but why? Are there things in your life that you are going to do "soon"? Taking care of your health? Going to the gym? Telling someone you love them? Forgiving yourself? Pursuing your dreams? Living your life to the fullest?

Let me share a story with you. My older sister was an amazing woman. Growing up I wanted to be just like her, and I still aspire to be. She taught me incredible life lessons. She was married with two kids, and never let anything get her down. She always went out of her way to make others laugh, smile, and have a better day, no matter what. She hadn't been feeling well for awhile. Little things, low energy, aches and pains. She had a Doctor, but needed a new one. It made things complicated. She was a strong person, so she just kept, going no matter how she felt.

My sister got caught up in the daily routine of things. She always put other things and people ahead of herself, instead of placing her health as a priority. There were always things to get done, never the time to take care of finding a new Doctor - "I'll do it soon". Months went by, but eventually she saw a new Doctor. That was the day she was diagnosed with cancer. You see, sometimes, soon doesn't come soon enough.

Consider your own life, and the things you are putting on hold. You may find yourself realizing that today may be the day for your "soon" to finally come.

An ancient superfood rediscovered - and it's tasty!

After consuming what could possibly have been more than my own bodyweight in chicken, I was on a quest for tasty new sources of protein. To my delight, I discovered something quite unexpected! A complex carb that is similar to couscous in it's texture, easy to cook, tastes great served hot or cold, and it's high in protein! Who says you can't have it all!

What is this amazing food you might ask? It's quinoa! If you haven't heard of it, you'll probably want to know it's pronounced "keen-wah". Quinoa is a grain like crop, but is not a true cereal because it is not a grass. The seeds are the part of the plant that we eat. The Incas called it the "mother of all grains", and it's protein content is very high (12% - 18%), much higher and more nutritionally dense than other complex carbohydrate choices such as wheat or rice. It has no gluten, so it's easy to digest. Lots of trace minerals, fiber... and it tastes fabulous!

My favorite brand is Bob's Redmill. It's organic, and found at most local grocery stores. Great stuff! Most quinoa sold in North America has been processed to remove the saponins, which cover the outside. They are bitter and should not be consumed. Quinoa purchased that has not been processed will need to be properly soaked to remove the saponins before cooking. See the link to wikipedia below for further information. The quinoa I buy is already processed, and I cook a large batch at one time. This way, I can divide it into serving portions and then freeze, making it more convenient for mealtime. It does have a distinctive scent when cooking, but has a very light taste and texture.

For a delicious, refreshing light salad, add diced tomatoes and cucumber, to cooled quinoa. Add a little feta cheese and balsamic vinaigrette, and voila! Try some today, and enjoy the healthful benefits of this amazing superfood!

Here is a link to the wikipedia article about quinoa. All the info you need on nutritional content, cooking, photos and more can be found there. Enjoy!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinoa