[Current Weight Loss Journey] I lost a dear friend this week
An old, dear friend died this week. We had known each other for many years. My friend helped me in my personal life and in my career, always there when I needed her. She made my life so very much better. Who was this friend? It was my computer! The death of a hard drive is always difficult, but in this case it was devastating on an emotional level. The reason I’m writing about it in my Current Weight Loss Journey is because of the stress. If you’re an emotional eater, you know what I mean.
I grew up in a time before computers and had to learn as an adult in order to keep up with the advancing technical world. I was resistant. What finally convinced me to take classes and buy a computer was that my work as a Senior Sales Director in Mary Kay Cosmetics had evolved.
Time passed, and although I was adept at placing orders, sending recruiting information, and preparing newsletters, I didn’t know how to do email. I give full credit for this breakthrough to my dear life-long friend Gary, whom I met at a high school reunion. We hadn’t seen each other for decades. “Let’s keep in touch through email,” he said. “I don’t know how to do email,” I responded. He retorted, “You graduated at the top of your class. I think you could learn.” Voila! Janis learned email to stay connected to Gary.
So back to the death…It was a slow one. Having never lost a hard drive before, I didn’t see it coming. But for a couple of weeks, she got slow and stubborn. She wouldn’t wake up sometimes. When she did, she couldn’t focus on the task at hand. Because she had been so efficient and energetic before, I knew this wasn’t good. My external backup wouldn’t even work completely.
So I write this to you for two reasons: First, I want to normalize my situation. I’m sure many of you have been through this (misery loves company?). Second, I want to add some humor to the situation so that I won’t have a come-apart and resort to Haagen Daz ice cream. And guess what? I’m alive and well. I can borrow a computer. They MAY be able to recover my files — cross your fingers for me! I promise I won’t blow the food plan because of a death. And she did lead a good, long life: 9 years computer time is an eternity, right?
Thanks for listening,
P.S. Please check out my Facebook pages, business and personal, which have been recently improved! My website will have a facelift too, so stay tuned!
SUCCESS STORY
The most “WOW” part of Janis for me, is the ownership that she takes in working with you! She approaches the relationship as a “Partnership”, which means that she takes a “Personal stake” in your results. This approach inspires you to follow her guidance and do the work because you know that she cares as much as you do about your progress!
~Lisa K. Hood, Financial Representative
[Current Weight Loss Journey] Jealousy, envy, and yearning
Recently I heard that one of my colleagues had accomplished something great, and I immediately noticed a feeling of jealousy. Practicing one of my O.W.L. empowerment shifts, I became curious about the jealousy; then I realized I was envious of her. And upon further exploration, I determined that the feeling of envy was uncovering a deep yearning. I wanted it too!
I believe in empowering one’s self in order to be the magnificent person we were meant to be. That means stopping self-deprecation or self-recrimination, so as to not make yourself wrong in having the feelings. I believe that even our darkest sides can be teachers. So when anger or jealousy or frustration emerges, I ask myself, “What is really underneath my emotion? If this were a little red flag of something sublime instead of bad, what would it be?”
To recap this instance and capture a pearl of wisdom for you, here’s how “negative feelings” can be a signal for you and can shed light on a deeper insight:
- Notice the feeling of jealousy and get curious about the feeling
- Notice that it’s really envy, indicating a desire I may have not been aware of
- Define and explore the desire
- Take action in fulfilling my newly-discovered desire
Another example could be noticing anger and getting curious about it. Then notice you have an unmet need under the anger. Define and explore that unmet need. Then take action in getting your need met. The anger was not the enemy; it was your guide to identifying what you need.
I love the process of empowering people. I hope this serves and supports you.
Warmly,
P. S. Another way to empower yourself is to enroll in the brand new O.W.L. Couples’ Quick Start Weight Loss Program, which begins in September. Please visit http://www.owlweightloss.com/programs/couples-quick-start-program/ for details and registration. The Early Bird Savings ends August 30, and your partner is F.R.E.E.
Success Story
What Janis did for me was to help me release the heaviest of weight of all, and I didn’t even have to lose a pound! I carried the heavy weight of being unworthy, unloved, and a worthless piece of s**t. Once I released this paralyzing weight, my world catapulted into unbelievable and amazing success.
Becky Benes, Texas
[Current Weight Loss Journey] My partner helped me gain 50 unwanted pounds
I was reflecting recently about when I gained the most weight of my life. It was during a time when I was in a rocky relationship, swallowing down emotions, and using food to cope. There was also a contributing factor in that my partner and I were accomplices in eating.
Your boyfriend, spouse, friend, relative, or significant other can be a major contributor to your weight gain or loss, as I noticed for myself. Even when the relationship was going well, we would turn to food for celebration, solace, or for any event. A night of movie-watching or the Big Game was a good excuse to eat too much. A date night revolved around food. We had “games” of eating various desserts and seeking out various ethnic foods. When I felt challenged in growing my new business, he encouraged me to have a bowl of ice cream to feel better.
Fast forward many years to my current relationship. My husband is fit and trim. He supports me by being a good eating role model and also by respecting my healthy food program. When I am challenged in life or business, he gives me support in other ways than food, such as talking, hugging, going for a walk with me, etc.
Experiencing the negative and positive effects of a partner myself is one of the reasons I have created the O.W.L. Couples’ Quick Start Weight Loss Program. I want to help people support one another in their weight loss journeys, whether they are both overweight or just one. Couples can be related or not, living together or not.
Please visit http://www.owlweightloss.com/programs/couples-quick-start-program/ for details and registration. The Early Bird Savings ends August 30, and your partner is F.R.E.E.
Warmly,
P. S. As I mentioned in the article, the brand new O.W.L. Couples’ Quick Start Weight Loss Program begins in September. Please visit http://www.owlweightloss.com/programs/couples-quick-start-program/ for details and registration. The Early Bird Savings ends August 30, and your partner is F.R.E.E.
[Success Tip] Does Lack of Trust Make Me Fat and Broke?
What does trust have to do with success? So many times, we who are control freaks, cynics, perfectionists, or people-pleasers carry too much physical weight and also the weight of money because of compulsive, obsessive behaviors, such as eating, spending, or working too hard, as we try to control everything.
These compulsions can come from lack of trust of us, others, or the Divine.
[Success Tip] Consider giving trust as a gift.
This week how about practicing trust as a gift?
Not because someone earned it, but because you chose to trust. Will you trust yourself in making a powerful decision or trusting your intuition? Will you trust your partner by asking for help? Will you trust God/higher power to handle what you cannot handle alone? Choosing to give trust expands your world. Greater success in any project is enhanced when you trust yourself, others, and the process.
As I mentioned last week, I have worked with many couples in business, relationship, and weight loss. The mutual support is incredible, especially when accountability and integrity are at stake, for instance in sticking to a food plan, exercise regimen, deadline, or budget. When we work with a buddy, we shift several unconscious sabotage patterns, including “Separate and Alone,” “Addiction to Suffering,” and “Playing Small.” Also the ability to celebrate milestones together makes it much more fun, which adds velocity to the process. But before we can fully appreciate the power of partnering, we have to be willing to trust the partner, ourselves, and the partnership.
Speaking of trusting a partner, if you and your partner are overweight and would like a proven Weight Loss Quick Start together, please visit http://www.owlweightloss.com/programs/couples-quick-start-program/ for details and registration information.
See the Success Story below for how partnership works for a couple trusting each other and doing their work together.
Trusting you to trust others,
P.S. As I implied in this article, the Couple’s Weight Loss Quick Start web page is up! For details and registration information, please visit http://www.owlweightloss.com/programs/couples-quick-start-program/.
My Current Weight Loss Journey: Why my sister meets her goals (and I might not)
This past autumn I committed to doing a walking marathon as a result of being inspired by my sister, who has one scheduled for this March. You might remember I asked for volunteers to join my “team” and to commit to doing it with me. (I did not get any firm commitments.) I walked a 5 K as a lead-in, but the mountain weather got cold and snowy, and I brought my exercise indoors to a stationery bicycle, rebounder, and weights. My sister, on the other hand, has continued with her training schedule and is now up to 20 miles as of Saturday. I have noticed a discrepancy between her thought and action patterns and mine regarding success and want to share them with you.
Why my sister will succeed:
- She set an intention, said yes, and means it
- She has a team of co-workers who are doing it with her
- She has a date for the marathon
- She has entered the marathon
- She sticks to her training schedule, no matter what. (When she could not go outdoors, she went to the gym and spent 5 ½ hours on the treadmill.)
- She does not indulge any excuses
- She reports her progress to herself and to me
- She is a woman of integrity and values keeping her promises, even to herself
- She only entertains those thoughts and emotions that support her goal, not sabotaging ones
- She schedules her time to support her goals
What I must do to succeed:
- I must solidify my commitment by choosing an event and entering it
- I must gather a team of people to support me and to hold me accountable
- I must begin my formal training schedule
- I must choose alternative activities if I can’t walk outside
- I must report my progress to my team and to you on this blog
- I must schedule my workouts and empower my schedule
When will I do these? I will start this week and report back to you in my next Thursday blog post.
Would YOU like to do a walking marathon with me? If so, please post here. (By the way, if you are subscribed to these blog posts and receive an email notification, please DO NOT hit the reply button for the email. I do not receive those replies. Instead, please post here on the blog. Thanks so much!
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Lose Weight for Life:
9 Unconscious reasons you can’t keep the weight off and what to do about it
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9 Unconscious reasons you can’t keep the weight off and what to do about it
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