I've reached a point in my life where I'm ready to be healthy. There are lots of things in life that I cannot change, but I can change my weight! I can decide to be happy. I can relax. I can add joy back to my life.

I heard Dr. Oz say something that I really like. I'm going to start practicing it in my life. Here's my version of the analogy. When we make a mistake on our diet, slip up, screw up, get it wrong, we should not berate ourselves. After all, when we make a wrong turn, ...

I've reached a point in my life where I'm ready to be healthy. There are lots of things in life that I cannot change, but I can change my weight! I can decide to be happy. I can relax. I can add joy back to my life.

I heard Dr. Oz say something that I really like. I'm going to start practicing it in my life. Here's my version of the analogy. When we make a mistake on our diet, slip up, screw up, get it wrong, we should not berate ourselves. After all, when we make a wrong turn, our GPS doesn't do that. It simply says, "Make a legal U-turn". That's all. Make a legal U-turn.

I'm ready to make this a journey. Some days, I'll drive along well maintained, straight roads. Other days, there may be a U-turn thrown in. I might just go over a mountain or two. But I just bet that if I stay the course, I'm not only going to reach my goal, but I'm going to live my life and I'm going to have some adventures along the way.

The outcome of those adventures are all up to me. How I manage those adventures is up to me. Check in from time to time and see how this adventure is working out for me. I just bet you'll be amazed!

Just a note of explanation ... Some have wondered about the little butterfly I use when signing my name most times. Like a caterpillar, I struggle to get out of my cocoon. If you open it for me, I will not survive. I must find my way, must kick and scream and work my way out myself. When I do, I will be the most beautiful of butterflies. If I come out of that protective cocoon too soon, I will die. I will wait, I will learn my lessons. I will allow my friends to protect me along the way. I want to be the healthiest, prettiest butterfly in the garden.

Update ... October 17, 2009. As it turns out, kicking and screaming, fighting and learning, finding my own way out of that chrysalis was exactly the right thing to do! I am today at my goal weight. I am that beautiful butterfly I've wanted to be. And I'm enjoying the very thrill of being here! What a joy to know that I've worked hard and I am rewarded!!

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A BIT OF KNOWLEDGE

I am your constant companion.
I am your greatest asset or heaviest burden.
I will push you up to success or down to disappointment.
I am at your command.
Half the things you do might just as well be turned over to me,
For I can do them quickly, correctly, and profitably.
I am easily managed, just be firm with me.
Those who are great, I have made great.
Those who are failures, I have made failures.
I am not a machine, though I work with the precision
of a machine and the intelligence of a person.
You can run me for profit, or you can run me for ruin.
Show me how you want it done. Educate me. Train me.
Lead me. Reward me.
And I will then...do it automatically.
I am your servant.
Who am I?
I am a habit.

~Author Unknown

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Notes taken from "De-Stress in 3 Minutes or Less"
by Dean Anderson

What to do when I start feeling out of control & want to eat:
Minute 1: Stay Grounded
1. Take a few deep breaths
2. Count to 10 slowly
3. Remind myself where I am ... look around, notice and name colors and shapes in the space around me.
4. Notice the physical sensations I'm experiencing ... is it a sinking feeling, turmoil in my stomach, tension in my hands and wrists, shortness of breath. Try to name the feelings that go with the sensation. Is that sinking feeling fear, or dread?

Minute 2: Reality Check
When I calm down a little, decide if any of these apply to me:
1. All or nothing thinking ... Reality: Weight loss is not a one-day event. If I stop overeating now, I'll gain less and have less to re-lose later.
2. Reading my own thoughts into someone else's words ... Reality: The more bothered I am by such remarks, the more likely it is that I am being overly critical of myself. When I treat myself with respect, what others say won't matter nearly so much.
3. Either-Or thinking ... Reality: No one does well all the time. Mistakes are a necessary and valuable opportunity to learn, if I don't waste them by getting down on myself.
4. Taking care of other people's business ... Reality: People need to learn from their own problems. I am not doing anyone a favor by trying to fix things just to make myself feel better.

Minute 3: Putting Things in Perspective
Am I making a mountain out of a mole hill? Get out of the mountain-making business!
See article for full list of soul-searching questions to determine.
Most mountains are simply manageable hills that I DO have the ability to climb.

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/well
ness_articles.asp?id=596

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REVELATION!!
I was answering a post tonight and wrote this, then realized what truth it really holds for me:

For me, the key is getting the feelings out of me so that I don't eat to shove them further down where I don't feel them.

That's awesome!! It doesn't matter how I get them out ... journal them, scream, cry, exercise, take a leisurely walk, sit and look at the lake, pray ... I just need to get them out!

I never want to forget this as long as I live!

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Eat well, journey well

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On the breath of God I'll soar; I'll be stronger than before

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My new rules for making me a Non-emotional Eater:

1. I am sooooo worth the effort of working on me every day to be a better, stronger person.
2. I strive to eat "clean", whole, natural foods vs. processed foods every day. This eliminates cravings for me.
3. I strive to eat these foods in a quantity sufficient for me and not more than that.
4. I write about my feelings. This gets them outside of me so they can't eat at me.
5. I decide to keep my joy. Without it, I lose my humor and that's one thing I can't afford to lose.
6. I decide to forgive myself graciously when I make a mistake.
7. I decide to love myself first.
8. I decide to love you.
9. I decide to make these lifestyle changes for me and for no other person.

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My theory on weight loss:

* YOU are in charge of what you eat and the exercise you do.
* BODY is in charge of the weight it releases.
* YOU cannot help your body with it's part in any other way; be at peace.
* YOU will get to your goal if you do your part.

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How I journal ...
http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public
_journal_individual.asp?blog_id=1974137

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FRIENDS ON OUR JOURNEY TOGETHER team
born May 15, 2009

This is a new team created for folks who need a nice place to sit, prop our feet up, and let our hair down. The only expectation is that you be yourself, that you share honestly, and be supportive of others who join us on our journey. If you find that you need a space like this to share with friends on this journey, please join us. We'd love to have you!

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A lesson learned on a lovely walk ... a portion of my "Visuals" blog written July 5, 2009:

When I look at things from afar, I see such a big picture. Too much to take in all at once. Everything looks big and overwhelming. I am sometimes terrified. But if I risk getting up close, it's not as big, not as fast, not as frightening as it seemed when I saw the too big picture. Stop looking at the big picture. Look at the little pieces. The parts that make up the bigger picture. Take them apart and find the piece that is causing the trouble. Fix that part. Then the whole is no longer problematic.

http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public
_journal_individual.asp?blog_id=2203524

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Advice from a dear friend who prefers to remain anonymous:
Managing unhealthy foods and unhealthy amounts of foods ...

"I do have this thing I do... When I am out and hungry, If I am ashamed of going in to eat what I want, I don't get it. Same as buying something fattening at the store. If I'm self conscious about the food... I leave it alone... I look at it as my mind and body's way of telling me 'I Don't Need It'."

How simple is that? Such wonderful logic. If it embarrasses us to purchase the foods or the quantity of foods that we're wanting, we should skip them. May just make the whole getting thinner and healthier process a lot easier!

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Read More About BUTTERFLYEMERGE (Updated January 27)

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