“You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call “failure” is not falling down but in staying down.” – Mary Pickford
Don’t ever let anything get you down AND keep you down. You are bigger than any external circumstances that can happen to you. Now that you are living a healthy lifestyle, you don’t have to wait until Monday (our dieting days) to start eating healthy. You are in charge of your life, your decisions, and choices.
Yeah YOU!
Believe In Yourself,
Cathy
On the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle, there was a true story about a female humpback whale who had become emeshed in an underwater jungle of crab traps and lines. The whale was weighed down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle just to stay afloat. She also had miles of line rope wrapped around her entire body, including her tail, torso, and a line tugging inside of her mouth. Under these conditions, she was sure to die.
A fisherman spotted her and radioed an environmental group for help. Within a few short hours, the rescue team arrived. Upon their assessment, they determined that she was in such critical condition the only way to save her was for divers to manually untangle her. This was an extremely dangerous situation for the divers. One slap of her tail would kill a rescuer. Despite these potential life-threatening conditions, there were more than enough divers volunteering for this sensitive and dangerous rescue.
The divers worked for hours and eventually freed her. When the whale was free, the divers reported that she swam in playful, joyous circles as if to show her gratitude to these special rescuers. Then, she came back to each diver, one at a time, and nudged them, pushed gently around thanking them individually.
When interviewed, the divers reported it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives. The diver that cut the rope out of her mouth says her eye was following him the entire time, and he will never be the same for that life-altering experience.
To be surrounded by people in your life that will help you get untangled from the things that bind you brings deep happiness. May you always know the joy of giving and receiving the gift of deep gratitude.
Believe In Yourself,
Cathy
“Take the first step in fath. You don’t have t see the whole staircase. Just take the first step.” -Martin Luther King
Making effective changes in your life don’t require leaps. Baby steps are best. Make small steps to get to where you want to be.
I work with clients who tell me they are “stuck.” Many times we don’t think we can do it all and feel overwhelmed so we do nothing. Where does that get you? Stuck! When we consistently keep taking one step, another step, one step, one step, we get to the top of the staircase. Guess what….you’re no longer stuck! You’ve moved forward all the way to the top!
What step are you willing to commit to today?
Believe In Yourself,
Cathy
How do you want your life to be? Have you ever given any thought to the overall picture of how you want your life to be? If you could describe to someone what your perfect life would look like, how would you describe it?
When you are facing a major or even minor decision, you choose between many options that make your life what it is and what you want it to be. Even the small daily decisions add up. The decisions of what to eat or whether to exercise. Day by day, those decisions add up to success or postpone achieving your goals. These decisions determine the life you live.
There are things beyond your control. Even in the things beyond your control, you choose how to live and function within the situation. Your choices make a difference. Are the choices you make each moment moving you in the direction you want in your life. Don’t ignore your own personal power to choose and count on luck or some external circumstances to occur.
Your life can be whatever you want. You can live your dreams, achieve your goals, and live your best life. Make the choices that will create your picture of the perfect life into reality. You can do it!
Believe In Yourself,
Cathy
Now that the holidays are over, it is a great time to assess your home. Is there too much stuff? Is the clutter robbing you of energy? Are your closets and drawers overflowing or unorganized? Excess clutter and an area that is unorganized can drain you of your energy. You may not even realize the drain it has on you. Straighten a drawer and see how it makes you feel. You may not think it will make a difference in how you feel but it will! I’ve found in my own home and in working with clients, it will make you feel much better and enjoy your home even more.
Make a plan to clear out one area a week. It doesn’t have to be an entire room. Organize even one drawer at a time and move on to other areas in your home. Create three separate areas for this project. Label them “Garage Sale,” “Donate,” and “Throw Away.” Put unused items into boxes for a garage sale. Donate old clothes or other items to your favorite charity. Throw out broken or items that no longer work.
You’ll enjoy a fantastic sense of accomplishment, more energy and feel more at home in your home.
Believe In Yourself,
Cathy
I’ll admit it – I like The Biggest Loser show. I know it is controversial as far as the format of the show. I have someone close to me that teases me for watching it and liking it so much.
What I love to see in The Biggest Loser or any other type of show like that is watching people triumph over challenges. All of us have done the exact same thing in our decision to have surgery to overcome our morbid obesity and live a healthy life.
The reason I love being a support group leader and a weight loss life coach is getting to be part of members’ and clients’ journey. I am inspired time and time again at the courage and motivation each of us shows in our journey to health.
We just don’t have a camera in our face as we do it. We are The Smallest Winners!
Believe In Yourself,
Cathy
Deciphering the information on food labels can be tricky. With marketing strategies designed to grab our dollars in purchasing products, knowledge is power. Power for your weight loss and health.
Here is important information to assist you in quickly identifying what you’re getting (or not getting) when you buy a product:
Calorie Free = Less than 5 calories per serving
Low Calorie = 40 calories or less per serving
Light or Lite = 1/3 fewer calories or 50% less fat than the referenced food
Fat Free = Less than 1/2 gram of fat per serving
Low Fat = 3 grams or less of fat per serving
High Fiber = 5 grams or more of fiber per serving
Believe In Yourself,
Cathy
What are some things that make you smile? Each of us have our own personal list of things that give us an inner warm glow. Make a list of things that make you smile inside with an inner glow. Here’s some examples for you to start your own list. Give thoughtful consideration to each one before reading the next one.
1. A brilliant sunrise or sunset.
2. Having a list of errands that go smoothly and accomplish every single one on your list.
3. Sharing an inside joke with a loved one, laughing together.
4. Taking a drive on a pretty road.
5. Taking a walk on a trail and listening to the sticks break as you walk.
6. Listening to the rain outside.
7. Sleeping on freshly washed, crisp sheets.
8. Hearing your favorite song.
9. Seeing one of my favorite type of birds.
10. A great conversation.
11. Flowers blooming.
12. Finding $20 in your coat from last winter.
13. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.
14. Playing with your pet.
15. Having a good hair day.
16. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.
17. Play on playground equipment at a park.
18. Accomplishing a task and the fulfillment of doing a good job.
19. No line at the grocery store.
20. Holding hands with someone you love.
21. Reading a book that you don’t want to put down.
22. Eating a delicious piece of fresh, sweet fruit.
23. Playing a board game with your friends and family.
24. Knowing you’ve done the right thing, no matter what other people think.
What’s yours? Enjoy!
Believe In Yourself,
Cathy
When you shop, you select an item that you like and then check the price. You then make the decision if it is worth it to you? Do you want to pay the money for the item? Same is true for food.
There is something you’d like to eat. For healthy weight loss and maintenance, you need to stop and check the nutritional information and calories. Then, ask yourself the same question if it is worth it to you? Before you eat the food….is it worth the cost of the calories? What activity would you need to do in order to expend those calories. Let’s check out the “price” cost of the following foods:
(Based on a 150-pound person)
Chocolate chip cookie (similar in size to Starbucks):
400 calories = 40 minutes on the Stair Machine
Slice of thick crust cheese pan pizza from a Mall Food Court:
650 calories = 1 hour and 10 minutes of playing tennis
Caffe Mocha, 20 ounces with whipped cream
400 calories = 40 minutes of swimming laps
Bagel with cream cheese:
500 calories = 2 hours and 30 minutes of ballroom dancing
Medium slice of New York Cheesecake:
700 calories = 2 hours and 40 minutes of brisk walking
Just as you are thoughtful and responsible with your finances, the same applies to your healthy weight loss.
Believe In Yourself,
Cathy
It’s been said that if you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten. Many people expect to get different results in their lives without changing their behaviors. For true change, it doesn’t work.
There is another option for change. Successful change. It’s available at any time. You can give yourself the gift of changing self-limiting behaviors. It all begins with action. Make small changes in your daily behavior. Over time, all those small changes create the momentum of an avalanche. Start your own avalanche to change today.
Believe In Yourself,
Cathy
