[O.W.W.L. Success Tip] Releasing the weight of clutter
The last week of the year is a great time to assess the cost that clutter has in your life and to do something about it so you start the New Year fresh. I’m not talking about just messy house or messy office. I’m referring to the financial clutter and the clutter your head as well.
O.W.W.L. Success Tip: When your financial clutter and mental clutter are gone, you create the space to have what you do want. (Click to tweet)
Clutter is anything that gets in the way of you being your most powerful, productive, and serene self. With financial clutter, you may not know what your bills are or how to pay them. With mental clutter, you may be confused or overwhelmed. With emotional clutter, you may have conflicting emotions or commitments.
Because I know that clutter interferes with my quality of life, I do several things regularly:
- At the beginning of each work day, set intentions for that day
- At the end of each work day, clean off my desk and prepare for the next day
- Have a place for everything, and put everything in its place (thank you, Grandma Mary!)
- Track my income and expenses weekly or more often
- Pay bills on the first of each month
- Hang out with people who love and support me; do not hang out with people who don’t
- Make complicated things simple (a gift I give to my clients)
- Have a “filing” basket and file once a month at least
- Practice what I teach in the Weight of Money Programs
What things can you think of the remove clutter from your life? Choose one at a time and take the next indicated step.
Have a decluttered week!
PS. Give Yourself a Gift!
If you are ready to declutter your finances by beginning a new career or enhancing a current career, you will want to check out these programs to help expand your income streams. Our O.W.L. Become the Ultimate Weight Loss Coach and O.W.L. Weight Loss Certification and Training Program are open for registration now. You may also enroll in the Weight of Money Program to help your finances in the New Year.
- Become the Ultimate Weight Loss Coach 9-Week Intensive Training teaches you how to avoid the 9 sabotage patterns that overweight people run: http://owlweightloss.com/janispullen/weightlosscoachtrainingintensive/
- O. W. L. Coach Certification & Training Program combines leadership skills, powerful coaching skills, business building training, as well as teaching the 9 sabotage patterns and how to shift them: http://www.owlweightloss.com/programs/certificationtrainingprogram/
- O.W.L. Weight of Money Program teaches you how to make more and keep more of what you make: http://owlweightloss.com/janispullen/wealth/
[My OWWL Journey] Update on my granddaughter
Thank you to all of you who have sent support after my post of 12/04/14 on my granddaughter and our deep sorrow in learning that she is cutting herself. I had no idea how prevalent this was and how many of you had personal experience with this! I also appreciate the resources you have offered, and the hope that this will get better with therapy.
Here is the update: After much soul-searching, my husband and I offered for my granddaughter to live with us. She declined and instead decided to move back home with her mom. She is looking for a new therapist closer to home and is on an anti-depressant medication. I have been researching all I can about this disorder and have requested that the whole family get therapy in addition to her. I know that for myself, coaching and therapy have been invaluable for me to let go of wounds of the past and embrace wholeness.
With gratitude for your support and loving thoughts,
P. S. My birthday was last Sunday. My dearest gift is my family. My second-dearest gift is my clientele. Please let me know how I may be of service to you. Contact me at Janis@JanisPullen.com.
Success Story:
“I knew how to eat right and exercise, but I couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t do it and lose weight! I was exhausted from trying every diet or exercise program and always starting again with a different program tomorrow, or next week or after the holidays. I was so ready to lose weight and get my life back when I met Janis! Janis’ Ontological Weight Loss Program was exactly what I needed. She understands what is going on beneath the eating and she truly believes in her clients. I have lost over 40 pounds with the Ontological Weight Loss Program, and I’ve kept it off for over a year! Her program is what every other diet or exercise program needs to work for the long run. I would recommend Janis to anyone who wants to lose weight, find a fulfilling career or make any changes to better their lives. She has a gift and has given me more than I ever expected!”
— Margie, Albuquerque, NM, O.W.L. Weight Loss Program graduate and O.W.L. Weight Loss Certification & Training Program coach trainee
[Guest Blogger] MARBLE CHEESECAKE: A Holiday Recipe You Can Say Yes To!
Cheesecake is a beloved dessert around the world. While many assume that it has its origins in New York, it actually dates back to ancient Greece. The first “cheese cake” may have been created on the Greek island of Samos. Physical anthropologists excavated cheese molds there which were dated circa 2,000 B.C. In Greece, cheesecake was considered to be a good source of energy, and there is evidence that it was served to athletes during the first Olympic games in 776 B.C. Greek brides and grooms were also known to use cheesecake as a wedding cake.
It was not until the 18th century when Europeans began to use beaten eggs instead of yeast to make their breads and cakes rise. Removing the overpowering yeast flavor made cheesecake taste more like a dessert treat. When Europeans immigrated to America, some brought their cheesecake recipes along. Cream cheese was an American addition to the cake, and it has since become a staple ingredient in the United States. In 1872, a New York dairy farmer was attempting to replicate the French cheese Neufchatel. Instead, he accidentally discovered a process which resulted in the creation of cream cheese. Three years later, cream cheese was packaged in foil and distributed to local stores under the Philadelphia Cream Cheese brand.
New York is not the only place in America that puts its own spin on cheesecakes. In Chicago, sour cream is added to the recipe to keep it creamy. Meanwhile, Philadelphia cheese-cake is known for being lighter and creamier than New York style cheesecake and it can be served with fruit or chocolate toppings. In St. Louis, they enjoy a gooey butter cake, which has an additional layer of cake topping on the cheesecake filling. Each region of the world also has its own take on the best way to make the dessert. Italians use ricotta cheese, while the Greeks use feta. Germans prefer cottage cheese, while the Japanese use a combination of cornstarch and egg whites.*
Below is my spin on the traditional marble cheesecake. I’ve substituted stevia baking blend for the sugar and created a melt-in-your-mouth dessert experience with a lot less calories. Make this delicious cake for your upcoming holiday parties!
For the crust:
2 cups graham cracker crumbs, crushed
1/2 cup cocoa
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup stevia
For the cheesecake:
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup stevia, divided
1/2 cup sour cream
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 large eggs
1/4 cup cocoa
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare chocolate crumb crust: Combine graham cracker crumbs with stevia, cocoa, and melted butter. Press mixture into the bottom of 10 inch springform pan. Bake 8 minutes. Cool completely.
Increase oven temperature to 450 degrees. Prepare the cheesecake: Beat the cream cheese, 1/4 cup, plus 2 tablespoons stevia, sour cream and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl. Gradually add flour, beat until just blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beat well. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, combine cocoa and 2 tablespoons stevia. Then add oil, remaining 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 1/2 cups of cream cheese mixture from above. Stir well. Next, alternately spoon plain and chocolate batters over baked chocolate crust, ending with the chocolate batter on top; gently swirl a knife through the batters for a marbled effect.
Bake the cheesecake for 10 minutes at 450 degrees. Without opening the oven door, re-duce oven temperature to 250 degrees and continue baking 30 more minutes. Turn oven off. Without opening the oven door, leave cheesecake in the oven for 30 more minutes.
Remove from oven. Immediately loosen cheesecake from side of pan with a knife. Cool to room temperature. Refrigerate several hours or overnight. Remove the side of pan. Slice and serve. Cover and refrigerate leftover cheesecake. Yields: 10 to 12 servings.
As a side note, make sure to buy the stevia baking blend. It can be found under the brand name Truvia in the grocery store. Enjoy!
About Gale
Gale O’Brien is a cancer survivor, motivational speaker and the award-winning author of Transformation: Creating an Exceptional Life in the Face of Cancer. Transform your life each month with timely tips on food, health, fitness, relationships, travel, and art. Subscribe to the Transformation monthly newsletter or order the book by visiting: www.galeobrien.com.
*Cheesecake.com – An Epic Cheesecake Experience, “The Rich History of Our Dessert,” (accessed November 23, 2014).
[O.W.W.L. Success Tip] Did you stop before crossing the finish line?
December is here (yay, my birth month!) and some of us have not reached our goals for 2014 yet. What about you? If you have not, are you tempted to throw in the towel and give up, expecting to start over again in 2015? Or are you still determined to make the most of the time remaining?
If you are tempted to cave in and let the holidays be your excuse, don’t do it! It could cost you precious time and money!
Successful people re-frame their challenges every day in order to keep forward progress. (Click to tweet)
O.W.W. L. Success Tip: Instead of worrying that you haven’t met your annual goals, complete the year powerfully by setting a short-term goal right now for this month and do what it takes to meet it by December 31. You will be proud of yourself and set yourself up to jump-start 2015 instead of having to make up for lost time and effort.
Money example: You planned to pay off your debt in 2014 but did not. You know if you spend like you do every holiday season, your credit card bill will eat you alive in January. Instead, set a December goal to pay for everything with cash, check, or debit card. You might also apply for a complimentary “Weight of Money” breakthrough session as a gift to yourself. I invite you to visit www.JanisPullen.com/wealth/ to apply for your session at no charge.
Weight example: You have not lost the weight you planned, and the holidays bring temptations you can’t resist. Instead of gaining another 10 – 20 pounds, set a December goal to taste one bite of whatever you want and to only eat one serving of those things you REALLY love. Also set a December goal to get 20 minutes or more of movement every day. You might also apply for a complimentary “Lose Weight for Life” breakthrough session as a gift to yourself. I invite you to visit www.JanisPullen.com/weight/ to apply for your session at no charge.
Leadership example: You have not built your business to the place you intended for 2014. You don’t believe you can do this in December because of a belief that no one wants to buy your products or services during the holidays. Instead of giving up before you cross the finish line, change your perspective. This is the time people ARE investing their money on gifts to themselves and others. Be a role model for yourself, your clients, and your team by connecting with people in December to discover how you can serve and support them. Set a goal for the month and create an action plan to achieve it. You might also apply for a complimentary “Leadership” breakthrough session as a gift to yourself. I invite you to visit www.JanisPullen.com/leadership/ to apply for your session at no charge.
Cheering you to a success you can celebrate on New Year’s Eve,
P. S. My Birthday Gift to YOU! To celebrate my birthday, I have a gift for you. If you are ready to cross the finish line this year, give yourself the gift of empowerment, and start the New Year with success, you will want to learn more about our year-end special, the VIP Plus Coaching Program. This is a beautiful, wildly-popular, affordable coaching program and will be customized just for you. Schedule your appointment now at https://www.timetrade.com/book/ZKTNN to learn how this will benefit you.
[Current O.W.W.L. Journey] My cure for the Deprivation Sabotage
When I’m feeling deprived, I can sabotage my best intentions to stick to my food plan or my spending budget. My inner child wants to be delighted, not punished! Sacrifice/Entitlement is actually one of the Ontological Wealth, Weight, and Leadership Sabotage Patterns we talk about in our programs.
One way to keep from feeling deprived in my food program is to make a list of yummy foods that nourish and nurture but are still healthy. The context is “both/and”…I can BOTH be delighted, AND I can stick to my plan. (Do not attempt this when you are hungry!)
I start the list by thinking of things I love and then consider what a healthy, delightful substitute would be. For example, I love margaritas, so my delightful substitute is organic lime juice with stevia sweetener blended with ice. For another example, I love jamoca milk shakes, so my delightful substitute is iced coffee with milk or a splash of cream. Recently I discovered that if I combine frozen fruit, stevia, and about ¼ cup of almond or coconut milk in my “Vitamix” blender, I come up with a delicious fruit “ice cream.” I also use frozen almond or coconut milk in ice cube trays, some stevia and vanilla, and a little almond or coconut milk to make a vanilla “ice cream.” For a salty/crunchy option I slice sweet potatoes thinly and bake with a little oil and salt. I also eat sunflower seeds in the shell – slower to eat.
Want to do this too? You can start your yummy substitutions list with things you love that are already healthy. I love strawberries and kiwi, for instance. Did you notice I say “love” and “delight” a lot? That’s a clue, heh, heh!
Include on your list salty, sweet, sour, crunchy, soft, bulky, beverage, and comfort types of foods. That way, when a yearning hits, you’ll be prepared. We have some great examples in my book, What On Earth Am I Going to Eat Today?
“What on Earth Am I Going To Eat Today?”
Here is the link to purchase the book and companion journal:
Stock your kitchen. Post your list in the kitchen. Yahoo! You are off to a great start in reinventing your relationship to yourself and to your food.
I would love to read what some of your healthy substitutions are!
Delightedly,
P. S. The Deprivation Sabotage is one of the Sabotage Patterns you will learn in our 2014 O.W.L. Coach Certification & Training Program. Please visit our page and contact me for additional information. This program is for new coaches or experienced ones, and we cover all the four essential elements of a successful coaching business in depth:
- Shifting the 9 unconscious sabotage patterns that keep us from success, for both you and your clients
- An authentic way to market and grow your business
- A healthy relationship with money
- Coaching support to help you be a courageous and powerful force in your business
Success Story:
Hi! So I think I’m finally (FINALLY!!!!) shifting from sacrifice & entitlement to well-being & integrity!! I was walking thru whole foods this afternoon and they had salted caramel rice crispy treats samples out. Well, I allowed myself to have one even though I ate some candy last night. And I was ok with it because it’s on plan. I had one and didn’t feel like I had to binge. Wow, this is a big deal for me! (I almost called you to tell you about it Janis).
Margie, Albuquerque, NM
Just Released!
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
ORDER NOW