The energy of Love
I used to really dislike the gift giving part of Christmas. To me it felt more like an expensive social obligation than the expression of love, sharing and joy that I felt it should have been and I didn’t get what it had to do with a Holy-Day. I love the spiritual aspect of the season with so many different faiths celebrating at one time but that was not what bombarded me every time I went near a mall. One year I finally understood.
The office I worked in had a holiday gift exchange where everyone was supposed to get something that cost around $20 for the person whose name you drew. Most gifts, including mine, were typical boring candy, wine or candles and didn’t really mean much to the givers or receivers. However, the one I got was special. Someone bought me a used copy of “Bridget Jones diary” that the inside flap said cost $2 and she included a note “I know it’s not $20 but this is something I thought you would really like.” I did like it. Actually I loved it and it's now my favorite book ever but that’s not what made the gift so special. It was that I could really feel the thought and consideration of the giver emanating from the book. She made an effort to get me something she actually thought I would like and it felt like she was giving me love wrapped in shinny silver paper. I realized that’s what all gift giving should be like.
Often we get so caught up in trying to get the “right” gift that we buy something expensive yet meaningless. We end up putting the energy of those feelings on the gift itself and the person receiving it feels that too. The sweater grandma made that you don’t really like is very special because you feel the energy of the love coming from that gift, not the monetary value. By contrast the office gift exchange chocolates usually feel sterile and often get re-gifted at the next event.
This year try making someone something you think they will like. Or take the time to only buy gifts (even if they are small) that mean something and allow the energy of your love and consideration for that person to be infused into the gift. They will feel it and both you and that person will receive something special in the process; the vibrational energy of Love.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Eat Less Now!
Easily eat less food
Diet: the only thing I have ever done in my life that consistently had a 100% failure rate. By the age of 30 I weighed 220 pounds and it seemed like I had gained and lost the same 20 pounds about 30 times by “dieting”.
The only thing that felt worse than being overweight was the thought of “dieting” again. That idea just disgusted me. I hated counting calories, weighing and measuring portions but most importantly I hated everyone knowing I was dieting. It’s very hard to hide when you are bringing your own “special food” rather than what everyone else is eating.
Something very magical happens when you get disgusted by something. You become open to ideas you wouldn’t have considered before. One day I decided I was just going to eat 20% less food and see what happened. I didn’t change a single thing just ate less. However, I was very meticulous about it. I cut ¼ of every sandwich I made and tossed it, I poured in my cereal then scooped out 20% of it, 2 eggs for breakfast became 1 ½ and a ¾ slice of toast and even my occasional candy bar lost 20% off the end.
And you know what, it worked. I lost weight without changing anything or feeling denied. As time went on and I got smaller I made other changes but initially I just ate less and that was enough to get me started toward lasting weight loss.
Our bodies grow to expect a certain amount of food in order to feel full however you can train it to feel full with less by just eating a bit less, then a bit less again and before you know it you are much smaller than before. Don’t make it so hard on yourself when really lasting weight loss can be very easy.
In honor of the holidays I created this process that will help you feel more comfortable with less.
I hope you like it and I wish you a wonderful holiday.
Jill Thomas CCHT
Healthy Habits hypnosis
760-803-2841
http://www.youtube.com/user/healthyhabitshypno#p/a/u/0/jhfxc_IEbEk
Diet: the only thing I have ever done in my life that consistently had a 100% failure rate. By the age of 30 I weighed 220 pounds and it seemed like I had gained and lost the same 20 pounds about 30 times by “dieting”.
The only thing that felt worse than being overweight was the thought of “dieting” again. That idea just disgusted me. I hated counting calories, weighing and measuring portions but most importantly I hated everyone knowing I was dieting. It’s very hard to hide when you are bringing your own “special food” rather than what everyone else is eating.
Something very magical happens when you get disgusted by something. You become open to ideas you wouldn’t have considered before. One day I decided I was just going to eat 20% less food and see what happened. I didn’t change a single thing just ate less. However, I was very meticulous about it. I cut ¼ of every sandwich I made and tossed it, I poured in my cereal then scooped out 20% of it, 2 eggs for breakfast became 1 ½ and a ¾ slice of toast and even my occasional candy bar lost 20% off the end.
And you know what, it worked. I lost weight without changing anything or feeling denied. As time went on and I got smaller I made other changes but initially I just ate less and that was enough to get me started toward lasting weight loss.
Our bodies grow to expect a certain amount of food in order to feel full however you can train it to feel full with less by just eating a bit less, then a bit less again and before you know it you are much smaller than before. Don’t make it so hard on yourself when really lasting weight loss can be very easy.
In honor of the holidays I created this process that will help you feel more comfortable with less.
I hope you like it and I wish you a wonderful holiday.
Jill Thomas CCHT
Healthy Habits hypnosis
760-803-2841
http://www.youtube.com/user/healthyhabitshypno#p/a/u/0/jhfxc_IEbEk
Friday, November 19, 2010
The Reticular Activator
In the next few months when my lease expires I will be buying a new car, a Mazda 3S in graphite mica to be exact. Since I know that’s what I want I am seeing them everywhere and its seems everyone I know has one. The reason I see this car everywhere even though it's not extraordinarily popular is because of a part of the brain called the “Reticular Activator”. This is the part of the brain whose job it is to make you notice things that are important to you when they show up around you. In a way this part gives you tunnel vision. You notice the most important things while not being distracted by the less important things, in my case every other car type on the road.
A few weeks ago I pointed out yet another Mazda 3 in my color and my boyfriend said to me “You should ask your reticular activator to find you some money so you can buy that car in 3 months.” Yes, once again Richard made me see what I was missing, getting the money to pay for it.
We so often miss important opportunities for financial gain because we have turned off our reticular activator to what scares us most, bills, lack and fear of failure. As a result we fail to act on good opportunities that are presented to us.
I created this short process to help direct your reticular activator to see the money creating opportunities around you so you can shift your focus to those areas and create greater prosperity for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/user/healthyhabitshypno#p/a/u/1/Dar0ERzt9JI
Jill Thomas CCHT
Healthy Habits Hypnosis
760-803-2841
www.healthyhabitshypnosis.com
A few weeks ago I pointed out yet another Mazda 3 in my color and my boyfriend said to me “You should ask your reticular activator to find you some money so you can buy that car in 3 months.” Yes, once again Richard made me see what I was missing, getting the money to pay for it.
We so often miss important opportunities for financial gain because we have turned off our reticular activator to what scares us most, bills, lack and fear of failure. As a result we fail to act on good opportunities that are presented to us.
I created this short process to help direct your reticular activator to see the money creating opportunities around you so you can shift your focus to those areas and create greater prosperity for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/user/healthyhabitshypno#p/a/u/1/Dar0ERzt9JI
Jill Thomas CCHT
Healthy Habits Hypnosis
760-803-2841
www.healthyhabitshypnosis.com
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
The pain of holding on
I once worked with a client who was taking several medications for anxiety and depression, one of them illegal. When I asked him what he thought was driving his depression he told me he was going through a divorce, having some major health problems, behind on his mortgage and as if that wasn’t bad enough he just got laid off. Since the layoff was recent I knew that hadn’t caused the other chain of events so I asked more about the financial issues. It turns out he and his wife had bought a house they really couldn’t afford and had struggled the past 2 years to pay the mortgage. It was the struggle and worries it created that lead to all the other events in his life including his health problems. He was self medicating to try to avoid having to face situations that seemed beyond his ability to cope.
There is pain in letting go but there is far more pain in trying to hold on to an object or situation that is no longer in your best interest. On some levels we don’t want to let go because even if it’s bad it’s at least familiar and the vast unknown of possibility seems very scary.
My client was afraid to let go of his house because it meant admitting to himself and to others that the stable happy life he was pretending to have wasn’t what it appeared to be. In reality he had gotten so far behind on his mortgage that change was going to happen no matter how hard he tried to fend it off; his struggle was only making it worse.
Ask yourself what in your life are you trying too hard to hold on too?
What is the underlying reason you are holding on? Are you afraid of what others will think? Are you afraid there won’t ever be a replacement?
Acknowledge your feelings and allow yourself to work through them but make your needed changes anyway. Trust that you will be ok no matter what happens.
It’s scary but you have to give up to gain and there is no telling what better life situation is trying to manifest but cant because you are still holding on to the past.
There is pain in letting go but there is far more pain in trying to hold on to an object or situation that is no longer in your best interest. On some levels we don’t want to let go because even if it’s bad it’s at least familiar and the vast unknown of possibility seems very scary.
My client was afraid to let go of his house because it meant admitting to himself and to others that the stable happy life he was pretending to have wasn’t what it appeared to be. In reality he had gotten so far behind on his mortgage that change was going to happen no matter how hard he tried to fend it off; his struggle was only making it worse.
Ask yourself what in your life are you trying too hard to hold on too?
What is the underlying reason you are holding on? Are you afraid of what others will think? Are you afraid there won’t ever be a replacement?
Acknowledge your feelings and allow yourself to work through them but make your needed changes anyway. Trust that you will be ok no matter what happens.
It’s scary but you have to give up to gain and there is no telling what better life situation is trying to manifest but cant because you are still holding on to the past.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Help I'm trapped in someone elses nightmare
Help! I’m trapped in someone else’s nightmare
Many of my clients are experiencing watching people around them get laid off, lose their businesses or even their houses. Even though many of these people are doing fine themselves they are still having a lot of the same anxieties. I even had one friend whose graphic design business is booming tell me that she feels a bit guilty because many others in her field are struggling. It’s almost like many of us who are ok are feeling what’s called “survivors guilt.” The sickle of layoffs passes many by and often those people feel a bit guilty that they made it while others they know did not. This guilt will not bring your friends job back nor improve the world in any way.
We are all affected by what happens to the others around us and often we feel our friends’ pain as though it was our own. While it is nice to be supportive of your friends and family you want to make sure you don’t get too caught up in what’s going on with their world. Getting too empathic to others situations only contributes to the group anxiety and you know we don’t need more of that.
So give your friends a hug, and maybe some advise if they ask for it. Acknowledge how you feel about what’s happening around you and remind yourself of what’s true for you in your life. “I have my job, my business is doing well and I am grateful.” Then do your best to let go of problems outside your control.
If you really want to help, start by creating as much peace in your life as possible. If you mediate, do it more. If you go to yoga then do that more. If painting brings you peace, then get some new canvas. Whatever brings you peace needs to have a bigger role in your life.
Just as anxiety radiates and multiplies so does inner peace and that is what we really need right now.
Namaste
Many of my clients are experiencing watching people around them get laid off, lose their businesses or even their houses. Even though many of these people are doing fine themselves they are still having a lot of the same anxieties. I even had one friend whose graphic design business is booming tell me that she feels a bit guilty because many others in her field are struggling. It’s almost like many of us who are ok are feeling what’s called “survivors guilt.” The sickle of layoffs passes many by and often those people feel a bit guilty that they made it while others they know did not. This guilt will not bring your friends job back nor improve the world in any way.
We are all affected by what happens to the others around us and often we feel our friends’ pain as though it was our own. While it is nice to be supportive of your friends and family you want to make sure you don’t get too caught up in what’s going on with their world. Getting too empathic to others situations only contributes to the group anxiety and you know we don’t need more of that.
So give your friends a hug, and maybe some advise if they ask for it. Acknowledge how you feel about what’s happening around you and remind yourself of what’s true for you in your life. “I have my job, my business is doing well and I am grateful.” Then do your best to let go of problems outside your control.
If you really want to help, start by creating as much peace in your life as possible. If you mediate, do it more. If you go to yoga then do that more. If painting brings you peace, then get some new canvas. Whatever brings you peace needs to have a bigger role in your life.
Just as anxiety radiates and multiplies so does inner peace and that is what we really need right now.
Namaste
Monday, August 16, 2010
Who Cares?
Important lessons I learned after fighting for years to get down to a “Bikini weight”.
Your body will probably never look like a Victoria’s secret, they don’t even look like that; they airbrush.
Let it go.
Everyone at the beach, pool or lake are more concerned about how THEY look than how you look.
No need to be self conscious, they aren’t even looking
You will probably still have cellule no matter what you weigh, everyone does.
Nobody will notice
The truth is very few people of any weight look really good in a bikini, you might not either.
You will still look nice.
Most men actually prefer woman with more curvy bodies.
Love yourself no matter what size you are; confidence is sexy
You can wear that special bathing suit now, no matter what you weigh. If you want to, you should.
Your body will probably never look like a Victoria’s secret, they don’t even look like that; they airbrush.
Let it go.
Everyone at the beach, pool or lake are more concerned about how THEY look than how you look.
No need to be self conscious, they aren’t even looking
You will probably still have cellule no matter what you weigh, everyone does.
Nobody will notice
The truth is very few people of any weight look really good in a bikini, you might not either.
You will still look nice.
Most men actually prefer woman with more curvy bodies.
Love yourself no matter what size you are; confidence is sexy
You can wear that special bathing suit now, no matter what you weigh. If you want to, you should.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Its ok to say something "sucks"
It’s ok to say something “Sucks”
I know this idea goes against new age wisdom which promotes the idea of trying to think positively all the time and see the good in all things. While I 100% agree that there is almost always some good to be gained from even the worst of situation, I do think you need to allow feelings to come up and be acknowledged no matter what they are. You have to give all your feelings a voice, even the ones you wish you didn’t have. If you don’t, they might make themselves known in some very destructive ways.
Suppressing or pushing down feelings causes them to be almost like ticking time bombs inside, ready to explode at the next slow cashier or driver who cuts you off. These feelings often show up as strong urges to gorge yourself on food, drink heavily or even shop.
Emotions are just energy in motion and suppressing them or not acknowledging them just makes them worse. Ever try to ignore a 2 year old? They just get louder or try to get your attention in a more dramatic and sometimes destructive way.
Give your feelings an outlet. Journal, go for a run, cry or beat the stuffing out of one of your pillows (trust me, they will survive)but whatever you do, don't hold it in. You will feel better once you let those feelings flow and you are able to move on to something else.
Love yourself enouph to let your feeling flow.
I know this idea goes against new age wisdom which promotes the idea of trying to think positively all the time and see the good in all things. While I 100% agree that there is almost always some good to be gained from even the worst of situation, I do think you need to allow feelings to come up and be acknowledged no matter what they are. You have to give all your feelings a voice, even the ones you wish you didn’t have. If you don’t, they might make themselves known in some very destructive ways.
Suppressing or pushing down feelings causes them to be almost like ticking time bombs inside, ready to explode at the next slow cashier or driver who cuts you off. These feelings often show up as strong urges to gorge yourself on food, drink heavily or even shop.
Emotions are just energy in motion and suppressing them or not acknowledging them just makes them worse. Ever try to ignore a 2 year old? They just get louder or try to get your attention in a more dramatic and sometimes destructive way.
Give your feelings an outlet. Journal, go for a run, cry or beat the stuffing out of one of your pillows (trust me, they will survive)but whatever you do, don't hold it in. You will feel better once you let those feelings flow and you are able to move on to something else.
Love yourself enouph to let your feeling flow.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
The worst that could happen
The Worst That Could Happen
The other day I thought I heard someone getting into my car at four in the morning. I nudged my boyfriend, “I think someone is stealing my car.” Not even opening his eyes, he says, “You wanted a new car, right? This will make that happen faster; now go back to sleep.”
Of course he was right, and what I heard was probably my neighbors going surfing. But it reminded me that for most of the things we worry about, the worst thing that could happen usually isn’t that bad. I admit I was almost disappointed when I saw my Honda in my parking spot the next day since I had already decided on what color Mazda I wanted.
I see a lot of clients who are out of their mind with worry, and most of the time what they worry about either probably wouldn’t happen (like suddenly becoming homeless), or if it did, it really wouldn’t be that bad, like in my case with the car. Similarly, lots of business owners who are seeing drops in business are worried about what would happen next. Most of the time, if you really talk to them, you find out that there are lots of things they know they could do to save their businesses, but they are trying not to do them, like lay off people or downsize their office space.
If worry is a big concern for you right now, try this exercise:
1. Think of a situation that’s bothering you or causing upset.
2. Now ask yourself, “What’s the worst thing that can happen in this situation?”
3. When you have the answer, ask yourself, “Then what would happen?” And keep asking that question until you are as far down as you can go. Let’s say the worst thing that could happen was losing your job; then you might lose your house; and then end up homeless with no car. Or whatever you think is worst case for you.
4. When you have the absolute worst thing that can happen written down, I want you to take a hard look at the situation and ask yourself if you really think that’s likely to happen. If you have family or friends living in the area, no matter what, you aren’t likely going to end up homeless. And unemployment may not be a lot of money, but it is something.
5. Now I want you to write down at least three positive things that could come as a result of the “worst thing” happening. One of my clients started laughing when he realized that if he lost everything and had to declare bankruptcy, he would be debt free for the first time in almost ten years. Not so bad, huh?
So often the worst thing that could happen is really not worth taking years off of your life by worrying about it. And keep in mind, the worst things that can happen almost never do and even if they did, you can handle it. I believe in you.
Jill Thomas CCHT
Healthy Habits Hypnosis
760-803-2841
www.healthyhabitshypnosis.com
The other day I thought I heard someone getting into my car at four in the morning. I nudged my boyfriend, “I think someone is stealing my car.” Not even opening his eyes, he says, “You wanted a new car, right? This will make that happen faster; now go back to sleep.”
Of course he was right, and what I heard was probably my neighbors going surfing. But it reminded me that for most of the things we worry about, the worst thing that could happen usually isn’t that bad. I admit I was almost disappointed when I saw my Honda in my parking spot the next day since I had already decided on what color Mazda I wanted.
I see a lot of clients who are out of their mind with worry, and most of the time what they worry about either probably wouldn’t happen (like suddenly becoming homeless), or if it did, it really wouldn’t be that bad, like in my case with the car. Similarly, lots of business owners who are seeing drops in business are worried about what would happen next. Most of the time, if you really talk to them, you find out that there are lots of things they know they could do to save their businesses, but they are trying not to do them, like lay off people or downsize their office space.
If worry is a big concern for you right now, try this exercise:
1. Think of a situation that’s bothering you or causing upset.
2. Now ask yourself, “What’s the worst thing that can happen in this situation?”
3. When you have the answer, ask yourself, “Then what would happen?” And keep asking that question until you are as far down as you can go. Let’s say the worst thing that could happen was losing your job; then you might lose your house; and then end up homeless with no car. Or whatever you think is worst case for you.
4. When you have the absolute worst thing that can happen written down, I want you to take a hard look at the situation and ask yourself if you really think that’s likely to happen. If you have family or friends living in the area, no matter what, you aren’t likely going to end up homeless. And unemployment may not be a lot of money, but it is something.
5. Now I want you to write down at least three positive things that could come as a result of the “worst thing” happening. One of my clients started laughing when he realized that if he lost everything and had to declare bankruptcy, he would be debt free for the first time in almost ten years. Not so bad, huh?
So often the worst thing that could happen is really not worth taking years off of your life by worrying about it. And keep in mind, the worst things that can happen almost never do and even if they did, you can handle it. I believe in you.
Jill Thomas CCHT
Healthy Habits Hypnosis
760-803-2841
www.healthyhabitshypnosis.com
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Stress reduction with Cats
Stress reduction as taught by Sophia & Sonya Thomas-Massey
I used to laugh at cat people for being so into their animals but now I get it. Cats have a lot to teach about how to handle stress and keep life in balance. I recently have been blessed with two cats and watching them has been both fun and educational. Here is a bit of what I have learned about stress reduction from my girls.
-The cats usually give me about 30 minutes on my laptop before they climb on and make me quit. Too much work at home is not good.
-The best toys are free or almost free: The cats have so much fun with bottle caps and discarded pens and I keep thinking I need a new iPod. Silly.
-Get more Exercise: Housecats will just start running around the house for no reason. We make getting exercise such a production with scheduling personal training sessions and gym workouts. Sometimes it’s best to just strap on your shoes and go for a walk, or better yet a jog.
-Daily Stretching and Yoga: Cats seem to stretch about 8 times a day and this seems to keep them healthy. We should all stretch more.
-Do things just for the fun of it: I suspect the cats have figured out there is nothing to catch when chasing a laser pointer. So why do they do it? Because it’s fun and for no other reason. We should do things that are fun, just because and not get so caught up all the time in our greater agendas.
-If your sister is sitting in the better place on the couch then just bit her ankle… wait maybe you should just find another seat. I guess there are a few things we can teach them too.
Love your cat and yourself and go out for a walk just for the fun of it.
I used to laugh at cat people for being so into their animals but now I get it. Cats have a lot to teach about how to handle stress and keep life in balance. I recently have been blessed with two cats and watching them has been both fun and educational. Here is a bit of what I have learned about stress reduction from my girls.
-The cats usually give me about 30 minutes on my laptop before they climb on and make me quit. Too much work at home is not good.
-The best toys are free or almost free: The cats have so much fun with bottle caps and discarded pens and I keep thinking I need a new iPod. Silly.
-Get more Exercise: Housecats will just start running around the house for no reason. We make getting exercise such a production with scheduling personal training sessions and gym workouts. Sometimes it’s best to just strap on your shoes and go for a walk, or better yet a jog.
-Daily Stretching and Yoga: Cats seem to stretch about 8 times a day and this seems to keep them healthy. We should all stretch more.
-Do things just for the fun of it: I suspect the cats have figured out there is nothing to catch when chasing a laser pointer. So why do they do it? Because it’s fun and for no other reason. We should do things that are fun, just because and not get so caught up all the time in our greater agendas.
-If your sister is sitting in the better place on the couch then just bit her ankle… wait maybe you should just find another seat. I guess there are a few things we can teach them too.
Love your cat and yourself and go out for a walk just for the fun of it.
Monday, May 24, 2010
How do you eat an elephant?
“How do you eat an elephant?” I bet you've heard that one. The answer is “One bite at a time.” How about another cliché. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Yes, we've all heard that one too but it’s worth repeating because we tend to forget the wisdom in those expressions.
If someone weighs 250 or more pounds the idea of getting down to 150 pounds sounds a bit like climbing a tall mountain in a single day. So impossible sounding that most give up early or worse not even try.
When you weigh over 220 pounds, losing 5 pounds is fairly easy right? Then make your goal to lose 5 pounds for the month. Celebrate (not with food) when you reach that goal and set another 5 pound goal and so on till you make the big goal.
As a side note 60 pounds is just a number same as 12 is a number. It’s our mind that makes it seem big or unattainable. In the end it's just 12 months of transformation or 2 months of transformation. Years after you hit and maintained your goal you won’t regret those hours of TV you traded for hours at the gym. The benefits of that time at the gym can be enjoyed for the rest of your life.
You make the choice.
If someone weighs 250 or more pounds the idea of getting down to 150 pounds sounds a bit like climbing a tall mountain in a single day. So impossible sounding that most give up early or worse not even try.
When you weigh over 220 pounds, losing 5 pounds is fairly easy right? Then make your goal to lose 5 pounds for the month. Celebrate (not with food) when you reach that goal and set another 5 pound goal and so on till you make the big goal.
As a side note 60 pounds is just a number same as 12 is a number. It’s our mind that makes it seem big or unattainable. In the end it's just 12 months of transformation or 2 months of transformation. Years after you hit and maintained your goal you won’t regret those hours of TV you traded for hours at the gym. The benefits of that time at the gym can be enjoyed for the rest of your life.
You make the choice.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Lets say there was a magic pill...
Let’s say there is a magic pill that would cause you to lose all the weight. Would that pill help you get motivated to work out? No. Would it teach you better nutritional habits so in addition to being thinner you can be healthier, happier and live longer? No again. Would it make your more active and physically strong? No. Would it help you create a lifestyle of health and wellness that goes beyond just your weight impacting your entire life. No. Will a pill help you create more self-love self-acceptance and self-esteem so you never again allow your life to feel out of control. Absolutely not, never.
What it will do is make you dependent on it, possibly for the rest of your life. It will be a band-aid that will address the symptom of your distress (being overweight), yet not address the imbalance in your life that is causing you to put on weight in the first place. It wouldn’t replace anything in your life that is missing that you are trying to replace with food.
In short, it wouldn’t make you happy which is what we are all really seeking in this world anyway.
I know when we are desperate and having a hard time losing weight any ray of hope might seem worth exploring. However, if you could talk to any of those people who now have permanent life threatening heart problems after using the diet drug Phen-Phen, I bet they would tell you to go for a walk instead.
What it will do is make you dependent on it, possibly for the rest of your life. It will be a band-aid that will address the symptom of your distress (being overweight), yet not address the imbalance in your life that is causing you to put on weight in the first place. It wouldn’t replace anything in your life that is missing that you are trying to replace with food.
In short, it wouldn’t make you happy which is what we are all really seeking in this world anyway.
I know when we are desperate and having a hard time losing weight any ray of hope might seem worth exploring. However, if you could talk to any of those people who now have permanent life threatening heart problems after using the diet drug Phen-Phen, I bet they would tell you to go for a walk instead.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Sorry no magic pills
Prior to becoming a hypnotherapist I worked in the vitamin industry for over 10 years selling, marketing and evaluating new products for sale. In that time I learned a lot about diet products and have identified 3 basic categories of diet pills. These are product that are marketed as a “Diet Pill” or “Diet Aid” and are not usually single ingredient products.
Decent but costly: Could help a bit, but for cost you are better off investing in running shoes and doing a few extra laps around the block.
Neutral: No real weight loss benefit, but they won’t hurt you. Usually the products are a combination of several things that could work but in doses much too low to be effective.
Bad: Products that could do real harm. Having lots of energy in the short run might not seem so great if it ends up causing high blood pressure, heart problems or even something worse.
Notice I don’t have a category for “Good”. That’s because in my experience there aren’t any good diet pills. I’m not a doctor and I am open to being wrong, but this is what years of experience has shown me.
Now let me clarify. There are lots of vitamins, minerals and other nutritional supplements that can cause you to lose weight if your body needs them. However, those are typically not found in the weight loss section of the store.
So go for a walk or even better a run. Pass on second helpings and save your money for all those nice new clothes you’ll need to buy when you lose the weight.
Decent but costly: Could help a bit, but for cost you are better off investing in running shoes and doing a few extra laps around the block.
Neutral: No real weight loss benefit, but they won’t hurt you. Usually the products are a combination of several things that could work but in doses much too low to be effective.
Bad: Products that could do real harm. Having lots of energy in the short run might not seem so great if it ends up causing high blood pressure, heart problems or even something worse.
Notice I don’t have a category for “Good”. That’s because in my experience there aren’t any good diet pills. I’m not a doctor and I am open to being wrong, but this is what years of experience has shown me.
Now let me clarify. There are lots of vitamins, minerals and other nutritional supplements that can cause you to lose weight if your body needs them. However, those are typically not found in the weight loss section of the store.
So go for a walk or even better a run. Pass on second helpings and save your money for all those nice new clothes you’ll need to buy when you lose the weight.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Its about time
Lane Bryant, a company that makes attractive clothing for plus sized women, tried to buy prime time ad spots on ABC and FOX and was turned down. The ad features a plus sized model who looks more like a normal sized woman as opposed to an unnaturally slender model. She is trying on Bra’s when her boyfriend sends her a text message saying he would see her in an hour. She then leaves the house dressed in just her undergarments and a coat with huge smile on her face.
You have probably seen commercials like this before only they were for Victoria’s secret and they have never had trouble buying ad time from the networks.
First of all, I love this ad. Lane Bryant is finally showing their plus sized woman as strong confident sensual goddesses rather than woman trying to hide their bodies in sweaters and drawstring pants.
But what I like best about this ad is the backlash Fox and ABC got after refusing to air it. People got really angry over what appears to be discrimination against full figured women. For me it shows that we as the consumers have shifted our preferences from only wanting to see uberthin models on TV to more real and everyday people. The popularity of reality TV has proven it. I think it shows that we have evolved and maybe after the dust settles(or maybe because of the dust) networks and advertisers will start taking notice.
You have probably seen commercials like this before only they were for Victoria’s secret and they have never had trouble buying ad time from the networks.
First of all, I love this ad. Lane Bryant is finally showing their plus sized woman as strong confident sensual goddesses rather than woman trying to hide their bodies in sweaters and drawstring pants.
But what I like best about this ad is the backlash Fox and ABC got after refusing to air it. People got really angry over what appears to be discrimination against full figured women. For me it shows that we as the consumers have shifted our preferences from only wanting to see uberthin models on TV to more real and everyday people. The popularity of reality TV has proven it. I think it shows that we have evolved and maybe after the dust settles(or maybe because of the dust) networks and advertisers will start taking notice.
Monday, April 26, 2010
A fresh perspective
It’s always good to get away from your business or your job for a day to work on your business or your job. Meaning take a day to attend a trade show or event related to your occupation.
Not only is it good for you to learn new information related to your field but it also helps to freshen up your viewpoint. Often we get so wrapped up in what we are doing that we forget to step back and look at the big picture. What are others in our field doing? Is there something that your competition is doing that you need to incorporate into your business? Is there a way you can improve on other peoples way of doing business or job to make what you do even better?
If you stay in the same mode of operating for too long you get stale and bored and your business suffers for it. Often you forget how fun it can be to create.
Recently I went to the natural products expo and found out what others in the weight loss field are up to. I came home with a fresh perspective, a ton of great samples (including the mud mask-see picture) and some great new ideas that you will see me bringing into my business in the next few weeks. But mostly I had fun and I wish the same for you. So find a trade show or event related to your job or business and have fun connecting and growing. And if they offer you a mud mask... skip it, this one gave me a rash.
Jill Thomas CCHT
760-803-2841
www.healthyhabitshypnosis.com
Not only is it good for you to learn new information related to your field but it also helps to freshen up your viewpoint. Often we get so wrapped up in what we are doing that we forget to step back and look at the big picture. What are others in our field doing? Is there something that your competition is doing that you need to incorporate into your business? Is there a way you can improve on other peoples way of doing business or job to make what you do even better?
If you stay in the same mode of operating for too long you get stale and bored and your business suffers for it. Often you forget how fun it can be to create.
Recently I went to the natural products expo and found out what others in the weight loss field are up to. I came home with a fresh perspective, a ton of great samples (including the mud mask-see picture) and some great new ideas that you will see me bringing into my business in the next few weeks. But mostly I had fun and I wish the same for you. So find a trade show or event related to your job or business and have fun connecting and growing. And if they offer you a mud mask... skip it, this one gave me a rash.
Jill Thomas CCHT
760-803-2841
www.healthyhabitshypnosis.com
Monday, April 19, 2010
The joy in life
The Joy of Life
I was at the zoo the other day watching the trainers feed the elephants. They were so excited about getting their meal and attention from the trainers. It seemed to make them happy but it made me a bit sad. Are these animals eating to live or living to eat? I assume they get the same meal just about every day and I know they don’t go hungry, so what’s the big deal. It made me think their lives probably aren’t that exciting and the meals make a nice fun distraction.
Ask yourself these questions? Are you living to eat or eating to live? Is your life satisfying you and feeding you enough that food is just something that happens or has it become a source of entertainment or escape?
If eating has taken on a role in your life that is beyond just making you less hungry, then you need to find some other source of joy in your life.
My suggestion today would be to take some time to yourself and come up with at least 5 things that don’t cost anything that will bring you joy. Things like drawing, going for a walk, chatting with a girlfriend on the phone, watching the sunset... things that are simple and free yet bring you joy.
Why does it need to be free? Well, because you don’t want to replace overeating with overspending. You just want to create more joy in your life.
Resolve to bring these things into your life more and more so that you are feeding yourself Joy rather than food.
Jill Thomas CCHT
760-803-2841
www.healthyhabitshypnosis.com
I was at the zoo the other day watching the trainers feed the elephants. They were so excited about getting their meal and attention from the trainers. It seemed to make them happy but it made me a bit sad. Are these animals eating to live or living to eat? I assume they get the same meal just about every day and I know they don’t go hungry, so what’s the big deal. It made me think their lives probably aren’t that exciting and the meals make a nice fun distraction.
Ask yourself these questions? Are you living to eat or eating to live? Is your life satisfying you and feeding you enough that food is just something that happens or has it become a source of entertainment or escape?
If eating has taken on a role in your life that is beyond just making you less hungry, then you need to find some other source of joy in your life.
My suggestion today would be to take some time to yourself and come up with at least 5 things that don’t cost anything that will bring you joy. Things like drawing, going for a walk, chatting with a girlfriend on the phone, watching the sunset... things that are simple and free yet bring you joy.
Why does it need to be free? Well, because you don’t want to replace overeating with overspending. You just want to create more joy in your life.
Resolve to bring these things into your life more and more so that you are feeding yourself Joy rather than food.
Jill Thomas CCHT
760-803-2841
www.healthyhabitshypnosis.com
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Try Try Again
Try Try Again
Often I hear from clients that they tried a diet program or exercise routine, got frustrated then gave up. Losing weight the right way is supposed to take a while. You aren’t going to drop 60 pounds overnight and sometimes when you first start exercising you actually gain weight. That’s how it works but that doesn’t mean it’s a fail. My experience is that people give up too easy. Success comes to those who keep going toward their goals even if their first attempts fail or don't produce the desired results.
When it comes to diets, if after a few days you find the diet is just too hard to follow it might not be the right one for you. There are so many good plans out there that can help you lose weight that if at first you don’t succeed try something different. The same is true with the exercise routine you tried to force yourself to do. I can't tell you how many times I hear from people “I can't seem to get to the gym in the morning.” When I ask them if they like working out in the morning or if they even like going to the gym for exercise I usually hear “No, but I really need to do it.”
The truth is no matter how much you need it if you don’t want to you won't do it. So try something else and keep trying until you figure out what works. Or even better, seek the advise of a personal trainer and or nutritionist who can help you decide what plans would be easiest for you to follow.
Often I hear from clients that they tried a diet program or exercise routine, got frustrated then gave up. Losing weight the right way is supposed to take a while. You aren’t going to drop 60 pounds overnight and sometimes when you first start exercising you actually gain weight. That’s how it works but that doesn’t mean it’s a fail. My experience is that people give up too easy. Success comes to those who keep going toward their goals even if their first attempts fail or don't produce the desired results.
When it comes to diets, if after a few days you find the diet is just too hard to follow it might not be the right one for you. There are so many good plans out there that can help you lose weight that if at first you don’t succeed try something different. The same is true with the exercise routine you tried to force yourself to do. I can't tell you how many times I hear from people “I can't seem to get to the gym in the morning.” When I ask them if they like working out in the morning or if they even like going to the gym for exercise I usually hear “No, but I really need to do it.”
The truth is no matter how much you need it if you don’t want to you won't do it. So try something else and keep trying until you figure out what works. Or even better, seek the advise of a personal trainer and or nutritionist who can help you decide what plans would be easiest for you to follow.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Responsiblity
I liked Seth Godin's blog today so much that I am reprinting it on my blog. I 100% agree with his take on responsiblity
Seth Godin's Complete Blog
Rights and responsibilities
Robert Bookman from the restaurant industry was quoted as saying that it would violate the free speech rights of restaurant owners if they had to post a health department grade of their cleanliness in the window.
More and more, businesses and businesspeople talk about their rights.
It seems, though, that organizations and individuals that focus more on their responsibilities and less on their rights tend to outperform.
You're responsible to your community, to your customers, to your employees and to your art. Serve them and the rights thing tends to take care of itself.
Another thought: If I worked at Pepsi, I'd be actively lobbying for the obesity sweet soda tax (a penny an ounce) being proposed in New York. Instead, in a no-surprise knee jerk reaction, almost everyone in the industry is lobbying like crazy to stop it. This is dumb marketing.
The benefit of a tax is that it affects you and your competitors at the same time, so you all benefit from doing the right thing, as opposed to having to compete against someone who doesn't care as much as you do.
Once people realize that excessive use of your product makes them sick and then die a long and painful death, it's probably time to stop lobbying and time to start doing something about it. This industry should stop thinking it is in the corn syrup delivery business (which brings nasty side effects along with it) and start focusing on delivering joy in a bottle. Lots of interesting ways to do that without giving up profits.
If your success depends on sickening the poorest and least educated portion of your customer base (and the ones that buy the most from you), it's time to redefine success.
Seth Godin's Complete Blog
Rights and responsibilities
Robert Bookman from the restaurant industry was quoted as saying that it would violate the free speech rights of restaurant owners if they had to post a health department grade of their cleanliness in the window.
More and more, businesses and businesspeople talk about their rights.
It seems, though, that organizations and individuals that focus more on their responsibilities and less on their rights tend to outperform.
You're responsible to your community, to your customers, to your employees and to your art. Serve them and the rights thing tends to take care of itself.
Another thought: If I worked at Pepsi, I'd be actively lobbying for the obesity sweet soda tax (a penny an ounce) being proposed in New York. Instead, in a no-surprise knee jerk reaction, almost everyone in the industry is lobbying like crazy to stop it. This is dumb marketing.
The benefit of a tax is that it affects you and your competitors at the same time, so you all benefit from doing the right thing, as opposed to having to compete against someone who doesn't care as much as you do.
Once people realize that excessive use of your product makes them sick and then die a long and painful death, it's probably time to stop lobbying and time to start doing something about it. This industry should stop thinking it is in the corn syrup delivery business (which brings nasty side effects along with it) and start focusing on delivering joy in a bottle. Lots of interesting ways to do that without giving up profits.
If your success depends on sickening the poorest and least educated portion of your customer base (and the ones that buy the most from you), it's time to redefine success.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Visit a Personal Trainer
Visit a trainer
When I first lost all the weight I used the help of a personal trainer to help me reach my goals. I hadn’t seen one in several years so I decided to visit one. She gave me a new routine to try and I discovered 4 important things about myself.
1) What I had been doing was WAY too easy; the butt kickin’ I got proved that.
2) Even though my weight hadn’t gone up, my body fat percentage had. That was a real eye opener. I was thinking that since my weight hadn’t changed in a long time I was still in good shape.
3) I don’t know how the correct way to lift weights, my form was corrected (made harder actually) on almost every single weight I lifted. By the way doing things wrong can lead to injury
4) If left to my own devices, I will naturally take the easy way out and not work as hard as I need in order to grow.
It’s important to have your overall progress checked so that you are always growing and improving. It’s just too easy to not push as hard as you should to keep healthy. Visiting a trainer helps you to see where you are and what’s going on with your body. It also inspires you to keep improving and reminds you how hard you should be working if you want growth.
You probably see your Dentist, Doctor and/or Chiropractor sometimes for Checkups. Add the personal trainer to your list and you can round out the group.
If you need a good one I would recommend Christine Burke at www. LightHeartedFitness.com J She’s great!
When I first lost all the weight I used the help of a personal trainer to help me reach my goals. I hadn’t seen one in several years so I decided to visit one. She gave me a new routine to try and I discovered 4 important things about myself.
1) What I had been doing was WAY too easy; the butt kickin’ I got proved that.
2) Even though my weight hadn’t gone up, my body fat percentage had. That was a real eye opener. I was thinking that since my weight hadn’t changed in a long time I was still in good shape.
3) I don’t know how the correct way to lift weights, my form was corrected (made harder actually) on almost every single weight I lifted. By the way doing things wrong can lead to injury
4) If left to my own devices, I will naturally take the easy way out and not work as hard as I need in order to grow.
It’s important to have your overall progress checked so that you are always growing and improving. It’s just too easy to not push as hard as you should to keep healthy. Visiting a trainer helps you to see where you are and what’s going on with your body. It also inspires you to keep improving and reminds you how hard you should be working if you want growth.
You probably see your Dentist, Doctor and/or Chiropractor sometimes for Checkups. Add the personal trainer to your list and you can round out the group.
If you need a good one I would recommend Christine Burke at www. LightHeartedFitness.com J She’s great!
Friday, April 2, 2010
Cookies and popsicles
I like cookies but I’m usually satisfied with a popsicle so I choose that instead. I love coffee crème but skim milk does the job so I chose that most of the time. I love laying around and watching TV but I don’t like what it does to my body so I chose to go get some exercise and enjoy a moderate amount of TV. Stuffing myself at the buffet is much easier than passing on 2nd and 3rd servings but with practice, self-control becomes easier.
Being lazy can be fun and eating healthy can involve curbing some of your food passions but trust me on this one, nothing tastes as good as being thin feels. And nothing feels quite as good as knowing that you look good in your clothes while having energy to go anywhere you want in them.
The thing is, you have to make little choices every day and being thin is about those choices multiplied by weeks, months and years. You can chose to do the things that make you thin and healthy and still satisfy some of your food cravings, or you can chose to create and maintain a lifestyle of having everything you crave but ultimately losing the things you really want.
It’s your choice. You really do have the power. Now go create the life you really want!
Being lazy can be fun and eating healthy can involve curbing some of your food passions but trust me on this one, nothing tastes as good as being thin feels. And nothing feels quite as good as knowing that you look good in your clothes while having energy to go anywhere you want in them.
The thing is, you have to make little choices every day and being thin is about those choices multiplied by weeks, months and years. You can chose to do the things that make you thin and healthy and still satisfy some of your food cravings, or you can chose to create and maintain a lifestyle of having everything you crave but ultimately losing the things you really want.
It’s your choice. You really do have the power. Now go create the life you really want!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Food heavy hitters
People always ask me “what can I do to lose weight that’s easy?” Well, getting thinner is simple but not easy. It’s really not about the big changes you make but little things multiplied by days months and years that make the difference in overall health.
My aunt is a medical doctor in rural Arkansas where obesity is a huge problem. I asked her what was one tip she could give to help get healthy and she said “If people would just get in the habit of drinking their coffee with a little bit of milk rather than lots of crème that would make a huge difference. Start there then work on changing lots of other little things.”
She was right. Coffee crème has lots of calories and if you drink 4 cups a day 7 days a week that can make a big difference in your weight. There are a number of foods that fall into the category I call Heavy Hitters. Cut back on these foods or even better cutting out these foods completely will make a HUGE difference long term. For my clients who are only 20 or so pounds overweight, that’s all they would need to do.
Here goes:
Mayonnaises - There is nothing good to say about mayo, it’s pure fat and doesn’t add much flavor. Learn to enjoy your sandwiches’ without it.
Cheese - Compared to mayonnaise this has some nutrition, but a sandwich without cheese is a lot lower in calories and better for you.
Butter - Toast is good dry and it makes a huge difference in your daily fat intake to cut out the butter.
Coffee crème - Use nonfat milk instead or better yet get used to drinking coffee black.
Salad dressing - Use nonfat low cal instead. There are some that have only 20 calories per serving.
Special sauce - Ask any teenager working in fast food and they will tell you “special sauce” is usually mayonnaise with something else in it.
These little steps of cutting out foods multiplied over days, months and years can make a huge difference in your body long term and once you get used to eating this way you won’t even miss it.
My aunt is a medical doctor in rural Arkansas where obesity is a huge problem. I asked her what was one tip she could give to help get healthy and she said “If people would just get in the habit of drinking their coffee with a little bit of milk rather than lots of crème that would make a huge difference. Start there then work on changing lots of other little things.”
She was right. Coffee crème has lots of calories and if you drink 4 cups a day 7 days a week that can make a big difference in your weight. There are a number of foods that fall into the category I call Heavy Hitters. Cut back on these foods or even better cutting out these foods completely will make a HUGE difference long term. For my clients who are only 20 or so pounds overweight, that’s all they would need to do.
Here goes:
Mayonnaises - There is nothing good to say about mayo, it’s pure fat and doesn’t add much flavor. Learn to enjoy your sandwiches’ without it.
Cheese - Compared to mayonnaise this has some nutrition, but a sandwich without cheese is a lot lower in calories and better for you.
Butter - Toast is good dry and it makes a huge difference in your daily fat intake to cut out the butter.
Coffee crème - Use nonfat milk instead or better yet get used to drinking coffee black.
Salad dressing - Use nonfat low cal instead. There are some that have only 20 calories per serving.
Special sauce - Ask any teenager working in fast food and they will tell you “special sauce” is usually mayonnaise with something else in it.
These little steps of cutting out foods multiplied over days, months and years can make a huge difference in your body long term and once you get used to eating this way you won’t even miss it.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Men and Women are different
A few weeks ago I got the stomach flu and was miserably sick. I will spare you the details but I will say I spent a lot of time that day in the bathroom hating life.
After a few days when I returned to the land of the living, the reaction to my illness varied greatly between my male and female friends.
Men: “that sucks, glad you are better”
Women: “glad you are better, HOW MUCH WEIGHT DID YOU LOSE?”
I lost 4 pounds(all fluids) and kept them off for about 10 minutes.
As women we are so conditioned to see weight loss as a good thing(even if you don’t need to lose any) that we don’t really care how it came about. I remember one of my girlfriends even asked if I had gotten lucky and lost a few pounds after my appendectomy. It’s almost like we want to get SOMETHING for our ordeal.
Here's the thing, I have never known anyone who has said they lost and kept off any weight as a result of the stomach flu, surgery or any other physical calamity.
Let's learn to see being healthy and feeling good as the real victory and love ourselves enough to do what it takes to make that happen.
www.healthyhabitshypnosis.com
After a few days when I returned to the land of the living, the reaction to my illness varied greatly between my male and female friends.
Men: “that sucks, glad you are better”
Women: “glad you are better, HOW MUCH WEIGHT DID YOU LOSE?”
I lost 4 pounds(all fluids) and kept them off for about 10 minutes.
As women we are so conditioned to see weight loss as a good thing(even if you don’t need to lose any) that we don’t really care how it came about. I remember one of my girlfriends even asked if I had gotten lucky and lost a few pounds after my appendectomy. It’s almost like we want to get SOMETHING for our ordeal.
Here's the thing, I have never known anyone who has said they lost and kept off any weight as a result of the stomach flu, surgery or any other physical calamity.
Let's learn to see being healthy and feeling good as the real victory and love ourselves enough to do what it takes to make that happen.
www.healthyhabitshypnosis.com
Monday, March 22, 2010
The power of "Nothing"
One of my favorite movies ever is Office Space which jokes about life in corporate America. There is a part when two of the main characters are talking and one asks the other what he would do if he had a million dollars. He replied that he would do "nothing".
For me with a job and a business there are few times when the stars line up right and I get a week day to myself, but that recently happened and I decided I wanted to celebrate by doing "nothing". I gave myself a completely unassigned day and it was a wonderful luxury.
"Nothing" may seem like being lazy, but it’s not. You can’t give to others what you aren’t giving to yourself and that means recharging and relaxing.
"Nothing" to me ended up being watching TV in my pajamas and not feeling one moment of guilt about not making the world a better place in some way. Well, that made my world a better place and I enjoyed it so much that I decided to plan on 4 hours a week of completely “unassigned” alone time where I am free to do absolutely nothing and not feel the slightest bit guilty about it.
Do yourself a favor and schedule some completely free time where you don’t have to do anything on your to-do list or please anyone but yourself.
Take care of yourself and don’t bother me between 1-5 on Sunday afternoons, I will be busy doing "nothing".
For me with a job and a business there are few times when the stars line up right and I get a week day to myself, but that recently happened and I decided I wanted to celebrate by doing "nothing". I gave myself a completely unassigned day and it was a wonderful luxury.
"Nothing" may seem like being lazy, but it’s not. You can’t give to others what you aren’t giving to yourself and that means recharging and relaxing.
"Nothing" to me ended up being watching TV in my pajamas and not feeling one moment of guilt about not making the world a better place in some way. Well, that made my world a better place and I enjoyed it so much that I decided to plan on 4 hours a week of completely “unassigned” alone time where I am free to do absolutely nothing and not feel the slightest bit guilty about it.
Do yourself a favor and schedule some completely free time where you don’t have to do anything on your to-do list or please anyone but yourself.
Take care of yourself and don’t bother me between 1-5 on Sunday afternoons, I will be busy doing "nothing".
Monday, March 1, 2010
look mom no hands
First blog, looking forward to sharing lots of fun and exciting weight loss tips and tools with everyone.
Bye for now but more sharing later.
Bye for now but more sharing later.
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