Feel Thin and Be Thin

Feeling Good Update!

2012-12-24T16:04:00.000-05:00

It's been so long since I've come here to post! Even though I haven't been here in months, my blog is still here. So it's time for an update!

I re-joined Weight Watchers and am currently 12 pounds lighter. It's a slow process but I'm feeling good about it. I like the feeling of empowerment, of shared connection with a group of people who are on the same path as me, and of the positive messages that I see Weight Watchers embracing. It feels good so I'm doing it. If I have days where I don't "follow" the program, I let myself off the hook for it. I don't beat myself up but just keep returning to the meetings as I find them to be powerful and inspirational when I go.

Feeling good is really the important point in all of this, afterall. If feeling thin makes you feel good, go for it! If you're not quite feeling it, then find something else that feels good and focus on that. It may not even be about your weight. You can always go back to "feeling thin" and visualizing a "thin you" when you're in a good feeling place. Trust your instincts. Listen to how it feels.

I wrote an ebook this year and wanted to share it with you. It's called "How Can I Feel Happy? Six Ways To Start Living Joyfully" and available through Amazon. If you have Amazon Prime, you can read it for free on the lending program. The six ways addressed in my book I've used personally in my personal development journey. They really, really worked for me. My hope is that you will find something of value from my experience and tips. Here's the link. How Can I Feel Happy? Six Ways to Start Living Joyfully

So I'm happy with myself because I choose to be. I'm happy with all of me, including my body. Nothing is more powerful in feeling happy than to make peace with where you are right now. Appreciate where you are right now. So I appreciate where I am right now as I move into another year.

Speaking of appreciation, I started a Facebook group called "41 Days of Appreciating Rampages" awhile ago. It's a daily appreciation space. It's powerful because there are wonderful people appreciating and commenting on the posts everyday. The connections that are developing there feel really good. I'm on Day 7, Round 3 at the moment. The group has grown to over 100 members. All are welcome who are called to it. Here's the link.
41 Days of Appreciating Rampages

That's my update in a nutshell. I hope to be back here blogging sometime in 2013. In the meantime, I'm going to look for things to feel good about and then appreciate them. I invite all to do the same!

What Are You Saying About Yourself and Your Body?

2012-05-20T11:01:00.000-04:00

This video is a reminder of the importance of self-acceptance, including how we feel and what we say about our bodies. What are you saying about yourself and particularly your body? I love using the mirror as a time to practice self-love talk. Are you looking at yourself in the mirror and criticizing how some part of your body looks? If so, that's a good place to start changing the story you tell yourself, even if you don't yet believe it.

A New Approach

2011-07-02T12:02:00.002-04:00

I no longer have been a regular here, yet I am still in my journey. My issues with my body weight remain the same, yet different. I am definitely loving myself more and can appreciate everyday the beautiful parts of me (both inside and out) that make me "me." Yet the weight is still hanging on.

I haven't been active on Marna's membership site for awhile now and no longer do the support group. I will still leave her information here on my blog, as I know it truly has served many people become healthier through becoming thinner.

I still continue with my law of attraction and EFT work, and have been busy with life in general. I've also been on a de-cluttering mission for a couple of years now, so de-cluttering has become a process of releasing and removing emotional blocks that get in my way of abundance. I know that "body clutter" is an issue for me, so the process of clearing clutter is having profound effects.

With all of that said, I decided to try Weight Watchers again. I was a bit hesitant at first as the last time I did the program, I felt I was obsessing about points and food in general, which didn't serve me too well. Their new program "feels" so much better for me right now. I can combine what I know about law of attraction, EFT and affirmations, for example, with conscious eating, group support and feel well.

I've decided to share some of my journey here.

I'm in my first week. I wasn't that surprised to see the number when I stepped on the scale, but I do admit that I felt "WOW" for a brief moment. That was a "I don't believe it" kind of "WOW," but it really was just an instant. I know that I am not defined by that number and that that number isn't "reality." It's old news already!

I am appreciative of the contrast of seeing that number to help me clarify how "wellness" looks and feels for me. I'm not embarrassed, I'm not beating myself up, I'm not feeling frustrated...these are all emotions that in the past, I would have felt. Instead, I'm looking forward to this journey, to connecting with others, and to feeling even better than I already feel!

So stay tuned for more.

Warmly,
Barbara

Summertime, EFT, Conscious Eating and Ho' oponopono

2010-06-14T00:52:00.007-04:00

It's been quite awhile since I've written on this blog. Do I have exciting news to report on my weight loss since then? No, I don't. Am I here to say that I'm back doing my support group, too? No, I'm not. But what I am here to report is that I've been working on my self-love and making good progress! So that, my friends, is great news! While I still have work to do, I am more aware of my negative self-talk and particularly any anger towards myself when I feel like a failure when it comes to my weight, this blog or my support group. I'm being kinder to myself now.

It's a journey. I still have work to do and I'm looking forward to it! As I go into this summer, I'm more aware of my eating, my body and why I'm eating. I read Geneen Roth's book, "Women, Food and God," and am doing her 6-week online retreat as well. I can say that the book uncovered some deep issues. And while I know I have some ways to go, I AM more aware of what hunger feels like. I've made a commitment to check in with that--only eating when I'm hungry.

Sometimes I forget. It's easy to do, particularly when there's a nice box of chocolate or some cookies that someone has brought into work, for example. Just the sight of certain foods cause our mouths to water but that is NOT hunger! There is something else we are feeding when we choose to eat at the sight of delicious-looking, mouth-watering foods.

So I'm checking in with my hunger, thanks to Geneen and Marna. I'm also very aware that many times I'm just thirsty, rather than hungry. So I'm drinking water instead. In doing so, I'm feeling really good and getting in touch with my body again.

So what does hunger feel like to me? It usually means that my stomach begins to growl. Sometimes, I even feel a bit nauseous. I always feel hunger in my stomach--never in my mouth. If I wait too long to eat, I may get a headache. So I'm checking in with myself and asking, "Am I hungry?" If no, I don't eat until I am. And I'm not allowing myself to get too hungry because that sets myself up for mindless eating.

All of this also means that I'm throwing out the "old story" of "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day." Some days, it is for me. Other days, I have no breakfast. If I'm not hungry, I'm not eating. I plan ahead so that if and when I get hungry in mid-morning, I have something to eat so that I don't let myself get too hungry.

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending a small EFT workshop led by Brad Yates. It was wonderful and I'm feeling motivated again to tap as often as possible. One of the participants mentioned the Ho' oponopono Song so I looked it up when I got home and instantly fell in love with it. While I posted it on my Journey of A Spirited Strider blog, I feel compelled to post it here, too. It's just so beautiful. I believe the process that I am going through with myself is similar to Ho' oponopono. I am not blaming myself as much as I used to, not angry with myself over what I did or didn't do and I'm practicing the art of self-love as much as possible. So I forgive myself for not doing anything all these months on this blog. I am grateful for the opportunity to begin again with new resources like Geneen's work and with an inspirational boost using EFT, and I love myself for making this journey. I know that my body is not who I really am, but I love my body, too.

I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I thank you and I love you.

Falling Down and Getting Back Up

2010-02-07T12:43:00.003-05:00

Remember that old commercial where the elderly woman is lying on the floor and says, "Help! I've fallen and can't get up!" ? Her cries would have fallen on deaf ears, had she not had her handy device that instantly communicated with her rescuers who would come to her house and help her get back up.

Well, I've felt like that lady without the device for some months now. It's been a long while since I've posted on this blog. I've been travelling, busy with my day job and quite frankly, not paying too much attention to my body, except for the negative stuff. I haven't done a support group in months and that made me feel guilty, not to mention that I had allowed myself to fall into some old habits again, which then brought up emotions of guilt and condemnation for myself.

Intellectually, I know that I shouldn't be so hard on myself. Emotionally, I did it anyway. And the possible embarrassment from reactions from anyone who reads my blog, not to mention the people I've told that this method would work--just made me feel worse. Here I am, over a year later since I started on this quest and not making progress on feeling thin and being thin. That made me really mad and disgusted with myself. I felt like a failure, very frustrated, embarrassed that I hadn't succeeded yet and generally terrible in my own body.

I tried to hide it and pretend I wasn't feeling that way, but the truth is I was only lying to myself. I know that these feelings don't serve me well and my desire to be happy and healthy. I also know that I'm not alone in feeling this way. So I decided to blog about it so that anyone out there knows that they are not alone and that there are resources out there who can assist us.

If there is one thing that is a positive aspect of my personality it's my persistence and optimism. While I haven't been very optimistic in my body intentions in the past months, I am now. Now is all that I have, really, so why go on and on about the past few months and put myself down? I'll just make myself feel bad. Somehow, I do find a way back to seeing the positive about this situation, so my positive is that I'm now here, ready to begin again. And all that matters is now and moving forward. I can't change the past but I can choose to create a new path for myself from this moment on.

What are the positives? Well, first of all, I have a body that still works rather well. I am healthy with no major health issues, able to get up and walk everyday, enjoying the abundant resources I'm blessed with that nourish and feed my body. That is something to celebrate!

Secondly, I didn't forget about the beauty of EFT and how I can use that on these emotions that have been part of my experience these past few months. For reasons I'm sure I'll discover when I use EFT, I have been avoiding using it on my body issues for several months. I know that EFT has served me well in many areas of my life so I have no doubt that I can tap away on these issues and release them. That is not only positive, but very exciting indeed!

Third, Marna has been so supportive and I do so appreciate her support! It's great to have her and the community at ThinWithinU who understand the mind-set that those with issues with their weight often have. I look forward to getting a lot of support there again.

Fourth, I have found some amazing people in my law of attraction networking and really intend to get additional support there, too. My newest favorite coach is Jeannette Maw, who has a wonderful Ezine called "Get What You Want" and her "Good Vibe Blog," as well as a new membership site called Good Vibe University, which I joined right away. The energy there is uplifting so I'm intending to "tap" into that and bring it to my body image work both personally and more publicly here and on the ThinWithinU membership site as well.

Finally, I guess I can say that I've gotten back up! And it's all so good with all of these people in my corner. I'll be easier on myself and my busy life by doing monthly calls on the ThinWithinU site this year. I hope to begin very soon and look forward to being thinner in 2010. I hope you'll join me, too!

Love Your Body (weight-loss?) - Tapping with Brad Yates

2009-10-01T21:33:00.005-04:00

This is one of Brad Yates' newest videos on YouTube. It's a brief session on tapping on loving your body. This is exactly the same topic of my support group topic two nights ago. I love the sychronicity of it!

EFT can serve to discover the core issues that hinder or block our progress toward finding that thin within. I know that I discovered a few things after just one round of tapping along with Brad on this video. There's a lot there for me. I can usually feel it in my body somewhere when I tap.

So there's a lot more resistance to work through. I'm grateful for people like Brad who so freely post videos that encourage and inspire, while introducing the world to the benefits of EFT. Meanwhile, I'm determined to keep using EFT in my weekly support group and feeling good!

In addition, I just signed up for Brad's 5 day trial of The Magnificent Tappers Club for only $1! You can check it out by clicking on the link below:

Join the Magnificent Tappers Club!

Getting Rid of The Scale

2009-09-20T20:17:00.023-04:00

As I get ready to resume my support group this Tuesday on the ThinWithinU membership site, I thought I'd step on the scale and check in on my weight. I had an electronic scale that requires batteries (which I conveniently had been keeping empty in my attempt to resist standing on the scale daily). I put in my rechargeable batteries and found that the scale no longer works.

Hmmm, I thought, that's strange, since I rarely step on the scale. In fact, it's hardly used and it worked the last time I stepped on it. I took the batteries out, re-charged them again to be sure and inserted them again: still nothing. I double checked and switched them around several times, but to no avail: my bathroom scale was broken.

It took me no longer than 10 seconds after that realization to know what I had to do --- get rid of it! I realized that while I had not been standing on the scale everyday (or even every week, for that matter), I had been looking at it everyday. And my looking at it was creating some moments of negative emotions within me. It didn't matter that I wasn't weighing in all the time in my effort to "be easy" about the numbers: my daily looks did enough to create a conflicting vibration in my "loving myself" mantras that I do every morning in the mirror. In other words: resistance!

So I bid farewell to the scale, knowing that I still have resistance to the "number," so there's my next EFT tapping topic! In the meantime, I'll have the opportunity to step on a scale somewhere and check my progress in terms of a number, but I'm not going to obsess about it by looking at a bathroom scale everyday both before and after I look at myself in the mirror. It's counter-productive at this time for me.

After I threw away the scale, I couldn't help but notice for days after that that an area on both of my arms feels lighter and thinner than before. In fact, that part of me feels thin like I remember how thin feels. And it feels good.

Letting Go of My Focus on Weight

2009-08-29T18:02:00.047-04:00

I've been away most of the summer. It was a great summer, actually. Anxious to see if I had lost any weight while I was in Japan (because the food was very healthy and I did a lot of walking), I have to admit that I was disappointed when I stepped on that scale--and learned that I was exactly where I'd been before I'd left. However, (and this is a big HOWEVER), that feeling of disappointment was rather brief and that's a very, very, very good thing!

The "old me" would have gotten all disappointed, angry at myself, disgusted and that would have triggered an emotional eating binge that would have roller-coasted out of control. Let's just say that "the old me" would have gone on a rampage of mindless eating instead of being mindful about my eating!

But I am truly grateful that I quickly found a better feeling thought and found gratitude in knowing that I didn't gain any weight, that the food that I experienced was fabulous and that I was happy that I had such an amazing, great experience. It was all worth it!

Recently, I had an insight into maybe why my weight is still hanging on: I'm paying too much attention to it! I've been noticing how heavy I feel, my tight-fitting clothes, my double chin or my heavy breathing when I climb the stairs. I pay so much attention to the "here" that I can't get "over there" where my visualizations and affirmations are. In other words, the gap between my "here" is too big to get me "over there." I can't make that big of a leap! I have to take smaller steps, incrementally. I've been feeling bad because I wasn't seeing or feeling progress, which has held me in a tug-of-war with my rockets of desire about my weight and my body. I'm grateful for the contrast because now I know I need to be easier about it all.

I have seen others out there who have issues with their weight who are using what they know about the law of attraction to better their lives financially, with their relationships, and with their careers, who often remark that when they get into alignment on a few issues, the weight just melts away. This was also re-affirmed to me recently while listening to Abraham-Hicks and reading their newest book, The Vortex.

So I'm going to let go of my focus on the weight by being easier about it. I'm going to do everything in my power to feel good, as much as possible. I intend to be joyful and have fun while moving along on this journey. So if I am feeling negativity about my weight or my body, I will use EFT on those issues and focus on positive aspects of anything that makes me feel good. It may not be my body, my weight or anything related to that, but it will definitely raise my vibration. And when this happens consistently, these extra pounds that I'm carrying will be free to move on. They'll be free because I will feel good about them: which makes them free to leave. And I'll be feeling so good that I will choose to freely honor my body by giving it the food that it naturally loves and moving so that it feels good! Before I know it, I will be in a state of wellness more often than not.

So as I get ready to start my support group again on the ThinWithinU membership site on September 22nd, I'm focusing on feeling good. The focus will be all about that, no matter what it takes. So if that means I have to be easy about my body and my weight for awhile, so be it! And when I'm vibrationally closer to "over there" because I'm more consistently feeling better, I can begin to "feel thin and be thin" again.

Taking A Break in Japan

2009-06-15T09:48:00.004-04:00

I realized that I hadn't posted here for some time, and thought I'd better write a few lines so that any readers knew what was going on with me. I'm currently in Japan and enjoying the time immensely! So I won't be posting here probably until mid-July or so. I am posting my travel and observational updates on my other blog, Journey of A Spirited Strider.

Until next month,
Barbara

Two Hungers You Must Satisfy to Lose Weight and Keep It Off

2009-05-12T19:37:00.003-04:00

This is Marna's latest video. I have found this to be true for me. When I don't take the time to consciously ask myself if I'm really hungry, that is when I overeat or reach for food as a relief from some emotional reason.

45-Day Boundless Living Challenge Starts April 16th!

2009-04-12T12:00:00.009-04:00

I invite anyone wanting extra support for their goals to seriously consider joining Bob Doyle's 45-Day Boundless Living Challenge #3, which starts on April 16, 2009. This will be my third time doing the challenge and it's because of my involvement with previous challenges that I am where I am at today here on this blog, in Marna's site and pursuing a healthier lifestyle. I recently gave my "testimony" on his BlogTalkRadio show, along with many others. You can find my 5 minute piece around the 48 minute mark. I encourage you to listen in and get inspired to take some action! Challenge #3 is going to be big! You will find many amazing people with amazing results!

No matter what your goals are, you'll love this community! While it's free, I love to think of it as "priceless!" You can sign up now HERE

Feeling Good About Exercise

2009-04-11T09:02:00.012-04:00

I have to admit that I don't particularly like exercising. Yet I can remember a time when I felt good doing it regularly. So while I know that my body will be fit and healthy if I develop a change in mindset around exercise, which will result in me developing a healthy habit of doing it regularly, I hadn't yet committed myself to anything. Did I mention that I have a lot of resistance to exercise?..lol..I can only laugh at myself because I haven't even done EFT about my resistance to it! I have tapped on all kinds of things, getting rid of all kinds of resistance and allowing such great things and people into my life, yet still I'm hanging on to something in the area surrounding exercise. Could it be that I'm afraid to be successful, totally? Now that sounds crazy but I know that it's a big possibility.

The other day a friend of mine, (who exercises very regularly and who wears clothes in a single-digit size), casually suggested that we walk from her house to work on a regular basis. Since it's spring, the weather is improving and it's a fairly flat landscape to walk, I instinctively wanted to agree to this. So I did! I made a commitment to her and more importantly, to myself, and I felt really good about it.

The plan was to park my car at her house and walk to work and then walk back to her house at the end of the day, too. Then we started talking about the distance and decided that we should find out how far it was. So I drove my car to figure it out and each was was 2.9 miles. That's 5.8 miles each round-trip!

I thought that perhaps that was too much to start with as I wanted to be able to walk the next day and not be so sore that I couldn't move, but my excitement about having a "partner" in this new healthy habit was invigorating so I was determined to make it a "go" for our first day.

Then all of the "other stuff" came through as I prepared for my walk. Things like: not wanting to be sweaty when I got to work, carrying all my clothes and shoes with me so I could change at work, concerned about carrying a heavy load on my back, and wondering if I could make it that far all in one day. But since I had decided it was "time," I packed my things and drove to her house that first day.

Fortunately for me, she was late in getting ready, so we decided to change our plans and start off slower. Inside I was rejoicing in knowing that it would be 2.9 miles, instead of 5.8 and feeling really good that I could do it.

At the end of the day, we began our walk. We didn't go real fast, yet we weren't exactly strolling along either. The important thing is that I started! I felt good that I was making this choice and starting a new beginning with someone else who may serve to make me more accountable in my promises to myself (and to her). As we walked and walked, it seemed to take forever to make progress (even she admitted it seemed so long!) and I found myself feeling tired. So after 45 minutes I decided to stop at a coffee shop and get something to drink and she would continue home and return to get me to take me back to my car. Actually, it was her idea: she was so supportive, so I didn't feel guilty as I may have felt in the past when I didn't "live up" to other peoples' expectations of me, or from what I saw as a failure in not following through with my promise to them. It's amazing how much easier it is when I am easier on myself.

It really feels good to have a friend who is truly supportive. She told me that it felt like forever for her to get home, too, so we're talking about different routes we can take from now on, but we have made a commitment to each other to walk before or after work three times a week. If it's raining, we're not walking, so since I don't live in a place where there's a rainy season, we should be able to walk 3 times a week. (I will be paying particular attention to the weather forecasts from now on, too.)

I am really excited and feeling good! I've started. And that is a first step. I actually felt great the next day (no pain, soreness, etc.) so I think about 45 minutes to start 3 times a week is a great place to start. Since I will be expected to do a lot of walking on my trip to Japan in June, this is a great place to start.

Spring can be a time of new beginnings. This is my new beginning. I'm also getting ready to do Round #3 of Bob Doyle's Boundless Living Challenge on April 16, so all of this is in perfect alignment with my intentions for myself there.

I also love to dance. I have some DVDs for using dance as exercise. Maybe I'll even get motivated to start watching them. And maybe, just maybe, I'll start dancing along, too!

P.S. I probably went at least 2 miles in all as we were close to her house when I stopped. I'll have to check it out later so I can celebrate here.

EFT World Summit

2009-04-03T00:25:00.005-04:00

I have some exciting news for anyone curious about EFT, passionate about it or just willing to give it a try! On April 20th, for 9 days, there will be an EFT World Summit for 9 consecutive days. And it's FREE. My friends at Try It On Everything have created a very exciting event!

The event is called the EFT World Summit and features some of the top minds and practitioners in the world of Emotional Freedom Techniques, such as Carol Look, Dr. Patricia Carrington, Brad Yates, Bob Doyle, Carol Tuttle...in fact, there will be over 16 instructors in all.

All these experts will gather together their combined knowledge to immerse you in the world of EFT, to help you create better emotional and physical health, prosperity, clarity, energy focus and much, much more...

Never before has a panel like this been assembled...and it may never happen again, so I'd like to encourage you to get registered right away.

Register Here Free!

We're telling everyone we know so please feel free to share this blog post along to anyone you feel would benefit from the EFT World Summit, too.

This is a perfect time to give EFT a try!

Does Ice Cream Make You Fat?

2009-03-11T21:02:00.020-04:00

I've decided to share the recording of my latest support group call! It's all about some of my favorite things: ice cream, the law of attraction and EFT!

DOES ICE CREAM MAKE YOU FAT?

Checking In With My Weight

2009-03-09T19:18:00.005-04:00

It's been over six weeks since I started on this program and tomorrow will mark my 6 weeks since I'm leading a support group on ThinWithinU. So this morning I "checked in" with my weight. I stepped on the scale for the first time in all that time and I was thrilled to see that I am now 8 pounds lighter!

I am really liking how I'm feeling right now: feeling and thinking like a thin person, eating when I'm hungry and stopping when I'm satisfied, and leading a support group to serve others on the same journey as me all are making me feel really good!

I know in my heart and soul that this is the way to gain freedom from all diets, from emotional eating and develop healthy lifestyle habits along the way, while enjoying all the foods that my body loves.

I'm feeling really good right now--and putting the scale away again for another 6 weeks or so!

Message from Marna: There Are No Good Foods and Bad Foods

2009-02-23T18:37:00.007-05:00

This is Marna's latest video about food and the energy that we give to it. I can relate exactly to what she is saying and will share some of my insights in tomorrow night's support group call about this. It's on Tuesday nights, 8:00 p.m. ET. You must be a member of ThinWithinU to participate! It only costs $1 to join for the first 30 days. Why not give it a try? The program is working for me: I can feel it in my body already!

To join, click on the ThinWithinU link at the top of this blog.

How To Eat Thin

2009-02-16T18:40:00.011-05:00

When I get asked about this program I'm doing to get healthy and thin, people are often surprised at the process I describe. So with Marna's permission, I'm posting one of her articles from her membership site so you can read for yourself "How To Eat Thin."

The Entire Meal Process - How To Eat Thin
by Marna Goldstein Thall (Reprinted with permission)

Eat only when your body is hungry. This is the fundamental key to weight mastery. We eat only when we're hungry. When you are in doubt, don't eat. You must begin paying attention to your body's messages. They can be trusted. And if you eat only when you're hungry, you'll lose weight and you'll feel great.. If you don't have a chance to eat when you're hungry, don't worry; your hunger will go away and come back later. Hunger acts like an alarm clock snooze button. It comes, goes, and always returns. It's even all right to be hungry and choose not to eat! Now you're probably saying to yourself "but I'm always hungry." Not true! If you really listen to when your body is hungry, then you will be eating according to your bodies needs.

Reduce the number of distractions in order to eat in a calm environment. Being in a calm environment truly allows us to slow down and enjoy every wonderful morsel of food. We listen to our bodies' messages and we revere our food. For the next few days, arrange your life so that you can eat alone as often as possible. This makes it much easier to recognize old eating patterns that don't work and change them into new workable ones. When I say reduce the number of distractions, I mean turn off the TV, send the children our, and put aside reading, etc.

Eat only when you are sitting. There is no joy in eating on the run. Such eating is not very satisfying and it encourages picking. It's interesting how when you eat on the run, the mind erases the meal but your body doesn't. If you sit down at the table every time you eat, you will naturally slow down and pay more attention to your food, which is precisely the point. It is an invitation to conscious eating.

Eat only when my body and mind are relaxed. Why? Because you will enjoy your food more. It' not necessary to be in a state of meditation-simply spend a moment or two being aware of yourself and the food before starting to eat. Take a few deep breaths. Look at the food before you as though you are seeing it for the first time. Notice the colors and imagine the flavors. You will be amazed at how this slowing-down process will enhance your eating experience.

Eat and drink only the food and beverages your body loves. This permission is for you to choose to eat anything that you want to eat. There are no good foods or bad foods, no shoulds or should nots. You can eat anything your body loves to eat. What do I mean by that? I mean ask your body what it would really love to eat. You do this by closing your eyes, touching your stomach and abdomen, and asking your body, " What would your really love to eat right now?" I know this might be a novel idea to you. However, if you listen to your body, you can trust its answer.

At first as you learn to tune in to what your body really wants, you may hear it say it wants all those "forbidden" foods you never allowed yourself when your were dieting. Go for it!! As long as you eat only when you're hungry and stop before you're full. What is happening is an important part of the process. You body is breaking its "diet pattern" of labeling foods as "good" or "bad," which will allow you to eat like a naturally thin person-when you're hungry and only those foods you love. Practice abandon and at the same time stay attuned to the messages of you body, which can be trusted,. It will tell you exactly what it wants in order to feel and function at its best. Don't worry if you think you're eating too many cookies or too much pasta-eventually your body will call our for broccoli.

Begin to notice what you really love and what you don't. For instance, you may think you love Mexican food and your body really doesn't: perhaps what you really love when eating Mexican food is the lettuce and sour cream. Then go for that. If the part of the sandwich you love is the meat, then have just that. Practice abandon and be creative. Savor all the flavors of your food and drink, and when you eat, enjoy the food without diluting it or washing it down with liquids.

Pay attention only to your food while eating. When you're eating alone that will be easy. However, when you're with another person, it might seem difficult to pay attention only to your food. When eating with others spend about thirty seconds focused on your food, then put your fork down and focus you attention on the other person and the conversation. I have noticed that I cheat the person I'm with if I eat while conversing, and I deprive myself of the pleasure of my food if I talk while eating. So alternate eating and talking. This will allow you to receive optimum pleasure from the food and your relationships.

Eat slowly, savoring each bite. It seems obvious, doesn't it, to eat slowly and enjoy the food you are putting into your body? Why then is it so rarely practiced? We rush through life not noticing what we eat, whom we talk to, and what we say. We're never really here in the present moment, we're in the future or in the past. By using this key every day-eating slowly and noticing each bite-you are teaching your body to be in the present moment, and you will begin to enjoy more fully all areas of your life.

Stop eating when satisfied. The goal of eating is to diminish the hunger that your body is feeling. In order to do this, you must begin by asking your body if it's hungry or not, and at what level of hunger it is currently at (discussed in further detail throughout the program). When your body tells you its hunger level, you can begin eating. Throughout the meal you should consistently be asking yourself if you are hungry. If the answer is "yes" then continue eating, if the answer is "no" then stop.

Click here to get started for only $1 for the first 30 days on ThinWithinU.com and join me while we find the thin within!

Getting Into What Thinner Feels Like: My Feel Good Pictures

2009-02-07T11:05:00.059-05:00

When using the law of attraction to think and feel like a naturally thin person, it helps to get yourself into a "feeling" place of what it's like to be thinner. It can be tricky because there are so many emotional issues involved with how we are right now. For example, we may look in the mirror and see and feel our added weight, we try on clothes and they are too tight or we "huff and puff" while climbing a set of stairs! This can be a challenge as we can often then focus on our present state, causing feelings of frustration or other negative emotions. The Universe hears "frustration, blame, overweight, out of shape, etc." and creates "more of the same."

So it's important to find a way to get yourself into a feeling place that feels really, really good. The answer to how you get to that "feel good" place may be different for each person.

We all should start in a spirit of appreciation and love for what is and what works, including our bodies. Appreciation is powerful, powerful stuff for law of attraction "results." I have a gratitude journal and use Louise Hay's mirror technique everyday. Gratitude and appreciation have worked "miracles" for me, but I know they are not magic: it's just the Universe bringing more and more for me to appreciate!

Another technique I'm using is visualization. Visualizations are not always effective for everyone, so it's important to know that this may not work for you at this time. I have always had an active imagination, so it's pretty easy for me to conjure up images of how I'd like things to be. Using the law of attraction principles to achieve your dreams is not just about seeing yourself at your goal, but actually feeling yourself there right now.

So in using visualizations for feeling naturally thin, it's important that you see and feel yourself thinner now. Visualizations won't be effective if you cannot get yourself to a place where you don't notice the difference between your current reality (the size you are now, how it looks and feels), and your desire: how you intend to be (the ideal weight, size or clothes you want to get into). If you find visualizations too difficult, I suggest just loving yourself and your body now by finding things to appreciate about it everyday until you're in a daily habit of appreciation (which will bring you more things to appreciate and eventually visualizations may work for you).

For others, you may be able to do visualizations, but you have trouble visualizing your desired body image. So perhaps visualizing on your next best feeling goal may work for you.

Think about an article of clothing that's a size smaller than you are now. Do you remember that feeling when you bought the item? Do you remember how good it felt on your body? If your answer is "yes," then you could start visualizing with that. If you have a picture of yourself with that clothing and if by looking at it, you feel really good, by all means: use it!

In selecting your picture, notice the feelings that come up when you look at it. If you have thoughts and emotions like "I can't believe how I gained so much weight!" or "I wish I could be that way now," you are sending out negative emotions and engaging in negative self-talk. Visualizations with those pictures probably won't work for you at this time.

So whether or not you use visualizations to feel thin or feel thinner will depend upon your ability to BE THIN or BE THINNER when visualizing.

I recommend EFT for tapping away resistance on either 1. not being able to visualize at all or 2. any thoughts, emotions and feelings you can identify that are causing resistance. When and if you can get to that place of looking at a picture of yourself that can put you into that "feel good, feeling thin or thinner" place, then you're ready to use it for visualizations.

Meanwhile, I found my picture! Actually, I found two pictures and I'm posting them both here. They were taken many years ago, but I vividly can get myself into this "good feeling place" when I view them. I still have the suit and remember how it feels just by looking at it. I remember how I felt when the picture was taken and I was really, really happy with how I looked, so it is easy for me to "feel as if..." with this picture. (While one of the pictures was taken when I was "off-guard" and not smiling, it makes me feel good to see it!)

I have placed it on my computer desktop at home and work so that I look at it several times a day. When I look at the picture, I feel that suit on me. It feels so good! I smile and tell myself how great I look. I even labeled my picture as "I Look Good!"

It doesn't matter if this is my goal weight or not: I am using these pictures because they're the best ones I've found to get me into that "feeling thin" place to use for my visualizations. They make me smile, they make me feel good and that is a great place to be!

Some may be thinking that if you hang the ideal clothes up in your closet for you to look at everyday, you can visualize yourself in them. I would not recommend that as by looking at the clothing as a stand alone item (without you in it), you are drawing attention to the fact that you no longer can fit into it. And if you open your closet doors to see that clothing there everyday, you are reminding yourself how you cannot wear it everyday! That is not a "feel good" place to be. (I recently listened to a Feng Shui consultant, Kathleen Tumpane, on one of the expert interviews posted on Marna's membership site and she confirmed my feeling about this. I bought her book, too!)

So the suit in my pictures is packed away--out of my sight--as a stand-alone item of clothing for now, but I am in that suit everyday through my visualizations. I am feeling it on my body, I can touch it on my skin and I can feel how I feel fit, healthy, thin and sexy in it. These are definitely my "feel good" pictures!

I'm Learning How To Eat Thin

2009-02-03T18:44:00.010-05:00

I'm learning how to eat thin, and it's no diet at all. I know it sounds too good to be true, and I know that my challenge will be in getting rid of all that resistance that I have deep down inside from years of "training" that diets are the only way to lose weight.

But I'm learning and I believe that this past week has gone very well. I am finding that when I practice these basic principles, I am enjoying my food more, too! It feels as if I'm eating less as well.

You can learn how to eat thin, too, by signing up for the trial membership with Marna at:

Thin Within U

I Am Not A Number: My Starting Weight

2009-02-01T12:38:00.011-05:00

Before I started this journey, I stepped on the scale to see what number it showed. I was not really surprised at the number because I've been feeling that my clothes have gotten tighter and tighter in the past few years.

I have pondered a bit whether to post my weight here, publicly. But then I realized that I am not a number. That number does not define me: it is just a number of pounds that I have allowed to hang around my physical body, sheltering me from other underlying emotional issues that I know that are there. It's a number that told me when I first saw it that I hadn't been loving my body, but I forgave myself and I've moved on!

And now I'm not afraid of that number. In fact, as I love my body more and more, I'm excited about that number, because it represents the beginning of an exciting, beautiful journey as living my life as a naturally thin person.

So on January 14, 2009, that number was 249.2. Now I won't be looking at the scale at all for at least another six weeks, and maybe more. Instead, I will be listening to my body and noticing: how my clothes feel, when I'm hungry, when I'm satisfied and all along, eating the foods I love.

It feels liberating to share this publicly out here. It feels liberating, knowing I won't be obsessing with a scale everyday and feeling the ups and downs of how that number changes or doesn't change. I am freeing myself from the bondages of the "diet mentality" and it feels really good!

If you'd like to join me, you can sign up for a 30 day trial for a buck at: Join Me Here

Audio Message from Barbara, The Spirited Strider

2009-01-24T21:40:00.006-05:00

Listen Here

Eat That Frog!

2009-01-18T14:52:00.021-05:00

Ever had frog legs? Did you like them? I have and they were ok. I actually have never been very picky about my food as I love almost everything. With that said, frog legs are not at the top of my list of favorite foods, so suffice it to say that I never had them again. What about you? Do you like foods such as brussel sprouts or beets? (I actually love both of those.)

But this post isn't about the food that is good for us, although for some of us, that is an issue. The frog really represents a habit that you know is good for you, yet you never manage to allow it to become a part of your life. It's something that you really procrastinate about so that you never get around to it. In fact, you might say that you've avoided that frog for years!

What's your frog? Mine is regular exercise. I have not yet changed my habits into exercising regularly. I will go for some period of time (usually a few weeks..lol) and then give it up, because I don't make it a habit. I don't particularly enjoy it, yet I know that it's good for me.

If I'm exercising while having fun, however, I find that I can get myself moving. Dancing is a good example for me. I love music and I love to dance! So I bought a DVD of dance to start exercising with. I plan to develop a "habit" of watching and moving with it while I lead this support group on ThinWithinU. Of course, I won't be eating my frog live while on my support group call, but I will be encouraging others to get moving, having fun and celebrating our successess together in the support group forum. I'll be looking for encouragement there for myself, too! (I know my frog: he may resist hopping along!)

However I eat my frog, whether it be starting slowly just moving along with it and taking an occasional nibble, while other days taking a big bite, I will be having fun while doing it! I don't know about you, but for me to really eat that frog and make it a part of my lifestyle choice, it has to be fun for me, so I'll make a party out of it!

Meanwhile, if my frog isn't in the mood to party, I'll have to do a tap dance to give him some inspiration and energy! This won't be the usual tap dance you see at dance recitals or from Fred Astaire: but more like a poking, funny-looking, finger tapping on my body dance that will certainly feel good and get me hopping.

So what's your frog? Is it first on your list? If not, consider this short movie from Simple Truths, inspired by the work of Brian Tracey.

When you're ready, say "Ribbitt!"

My Message to Oprah: There's No Wagon On My Journey

2009-01-07T23:52:00.011-05:00

Note: If anyone has been watching Oprah this week, or Larry King or read the tabloids, you've probably seen that she's openly talked about her recent weight gain and calls it "falling off the wagon." I wanted to write her a letter but couldn't find the easy way to just email Oprah, so I just posted a discussion to her Oprah.com site (where I am called 2spirited2). Below is most of what I posted:

When I watched Oprah's show this week, I couldn't help but feel for her. Having had weight issues my entire life, too, I certainly can relate to the emotional rollercoaster of being hard of myself for what I used to call "failures" or as Oprah is now calling it, "falling off the wagon." But I have decided that 2009 will be a different year for me and would like to pose my thoughts here for discussion.

I am a huge believer and a practitioner of spirituality. I grew so much from the work of Eckhart Tolle and from Oprah's webcasts, too. I believe in the law of attraction, meditation and EFT techniques, I know how these methods have brought tremendous abundance, peace, love and joy into my life. (For those who don't know what EFT is, it's called Emotional Freedom Technique and has been a very effective method for healing in my life by releasing resistance to what I'm intending to attract, thereby allowing more good things and people in.)

It is clear that various spiritual practices have also brought great success for Oprah. Evidence is everywhere; on her show, this site, her humanitarian efforts and in all her business dealings. Yet when it comes to the physical body and the issue specifically of permanent weight loss, she is so much like many of us in that she hasn't found the way to incorporate what she teaches (and lives) with regard to her physical body. I, too, have this challenge toward my overall physical well-being. I am overweight and haven't been successful yet in incorporating what I know about spirituality when it comes to my health and overall well-being toward having the physical body that I desire.

What I found so difficult this week was to listen to how hard Oprah was on herself. It was painful to watch Oprah beat up on herself and to feel the anger and disappointment in her voice. I truly feel for her and know that many of us can relate. I used to do that a lot. Now-a-days, I'm much kinder to myself. I don't really do that much anymore, but I still have my emotional issues and food is definitely my comfort. (That is where the EFT will come in handy for me to tap away the resistance and allow the well-being in.) So, Oprah, please, be kind to yourself! There is so much to appreciate about you! You are not your physical body. I know you know that. Even today on your show, you made that exact point (when referring to how we are spiritual beings).

So 2009 will be a different year for me and the beginning of my newest journey on my spiritual growth. I will lose weight by thinking and feeling like a thin person. I will keep it off as I will become a naturally healthy and thinner person. I am following Marna Goldstein Thall's method, which she's coached in her business that she's had for over 10 years. Marna has coached over 7,000 people to have a healthy body by thinking like a naturally thin person does. I've signed up as a support group leader on her site to inspire others, while making the journey myself. I'm going to blog about my journey on a separate blog outside of her site called Feel Thin and Be Thin.

My point here is that by continuing to look at weight loss by using words such as "diet," and phrases such as "falling off the wagon." the messages we are sending to the Universe are "lack, restriction, and failure." Wouldn't it be better to use words like "love, wellness, beautiful and healthy" when trying to attract more of that into our lives? I know it certainly feels better and as I am a huge fan of Abraham-Hicks, I know that is really the point! We need to find ways to feel good by reaching for a feeling of relief when we are being and feeling negative.

It seems to me that a shift toward a more spiritual approach to weight loss and becoming a naturally fit and healthy person would produce success for someone who obviously knows how to practice these spiritual techniques in almost every area of her life. I don't say that to judge Oprah at all, but rather to point out what seems so obvious--for her and to people like me. So it is in that spirit that I intend to achieve great success by using spiritual practices and techniques toward becoming a healthier me. I'm not trying to judge at all but merely offer it as an alternative--unlike the mainstream things we see out there.

I'm going to start by loving myself more. Oprah--please do that, too! To Oprah, I would like her to know that I'm starting with using Louise Hay's technique of saying to myself "Barbara, I love you." everyday in the mirror. I'm throwing all the old methods of weight loss out the window this time and going with my heart in loving myself and with Marna's program. (Marna lost 32 pounds over 14 years ago and has kept it off using the techniques she teaches.)

So while I won't be participating in Bob Green's program, I will be along the same journey as Oprah and all who join her. But I will be kind and loving to myself as I make these lifestyle changes. And if I feel as if I'm having a bad day, then I'll find something to be grateful for, so that I can shift those feelings to a better feeling thought--and tomorrow will be a better one. I am choosing to look at my journey as a positive one toward overall wellness and a healthy lifestyle. There's no wagon on my journey--just love for myself and for others! I would offer the suggestion that everyone get rid of those wagons and walk with their own two feet! That way, you don't have to worry about falling off!

Whatever program or method you use, I wish all the best of health and fitness to Oprah and everyone!

I would be interested if there are others here who have found success with their physical body wellness through spiritual practices (or) who wish to explore talking about spiritual techniques in becoming a healthy, fit person.

My Intentions for This Site

2008-12-26T07:00:00.001-05:00

I created this site as a way to blog my thoughts and experiences as I intend to think and feel like a naturally thin person, using both EFT techniques and the law of attraction. It is my intention that this site will serve as a record of the process I go through toward changing some really old lifestyle habits, and encourage others who may be making the journey with me.

So I will be blogging here as I go through this process. While I won't officially start until January 27, I will be doing some preliminary work prior to that time and will write about some of it here.

Have a great day, everyone!

Abraham-Hicks on Natural Weight Loss

2008-12-22T23:27:00.006-05:00

I thought this was particularly good for setting the mood towards thinking and feeling like a naturally thin person, a la Abraham-Hicks.