"If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."

Since I've started this weight loss journey in Feb.  I've has SO many really exciting "Ah-Ha" moments.  It's been so much fun for me and the way I look at weight loss and my life on this journey has just taken a 180 degree turn.  That is what truly motivates me to want to help others with their weight issues!  Through out the last 30 years when I would start to think about losing weight, first I would have to work myself up to start the battle again and then the number on the scale would be my main focus along with the "counting" of points, calories, carbs or what ever else I was suppose to be counting.  It drove me CRAZY for about 5-6 months until I reached my goal. 
Since learning that "dieting" will most always be a temporary fix and causes people to continue to gain weight over the years, I have learned so many wonderful truths!  Some thing that has been life changing to me is that I have learned NOT to focus on the weight loss or the number on the scale but to focus on my habits.  I know some of you may say that is a no brainer.  But for those of you that have struggled with weight, you know what I mean.  When I would get on the scales and the number didn't go down or even went up, that would totally crush me!  It would take me several days to pull myself out of the slump.  I would feel like such a failure and sometimes tell myself, "Well since I messed up again I might as well eat that candy bar." Then for a few days I would really struggle to get back up on the wagon. THAT is what I mean by "dieting" is just a FIGHT for me!  I really hated it! Negative thoughts were something I lived with off and on through out the dieting.  All the guilt, deprivation, feelings of being a failure, losing hope at times just haunted me. 
This year I have learned that I truly need to have a clear goal of size and weight BUT not to have that ALL I think about or focus on.  I now focus on my HABITS.  I am thinking often about ways that can help me reach my goal.  I don't put a time limit when I'm going to reach my goal because I don't want the added pressure.  Because what I've come to learn is that when I work on and conquer my habits THEN my body's natural response will be to let go of the weight.  I've learned to totally let go of the numbers and focus on the habits and then just wait and be patient with my body as it lets go of the weight.  This was FREEDOM to me!!  I can't tell you how freeing that was.  I do still weigh myself 1-2 times a week but there is NO guilt no matter what the numbers are!  This is not a race for me!  If it takes a year to lose the weight I want then that's just fine with me. Making this my absolutely LAST time I go down this journey and getting healthy is WAY more important to me than how fast I can get the weight off!  This is one of the big lessons in making this a lifestyle and keeping the weight off for GOOD!  I've lost 20 lbs. and I know without a doubt that this 20 lbs will never come back again because I totally think differently. If you are having a hard time trying to lose weight and are needing someone to help keep you accountable and guide you, please get in touch with me.  I'd be happy to help! For more information on how I can help you or finding out how to contact me please visit my website at: http://www.aspiringtofreedom.com/

Changing from the inside out!!

                                                       
 If you are wanting to lose weight there are 3 VERY important components that you must incorporated into your lifestyle.  Getting healthy and thin is much like using this 3 legged stool.

•  The first leg represents:   Eating healthy meals and watching your portions. 
• The second leg represents:  Moving your body! 
• The third leg represents:  Getting your mind in line with your goals. 

You could probably balance in this stool with just 2 of the legs but after while you would fall.  Just like you could lose weight using just two of these components but eventually you will fall and gain the weight right back.  I've truly learned this for myself!

      For years and years I've "dieted" and have lost the same 50 pounds over and over again only to gain the weight right back!  I was missing one of the components that I have come to believe is probably the most important and that was getting my mind in line with my goals.  About 2 years ago I lost a lot of weight and I felt great!  BUT after the "newness" of losing all that weight wore off I began to feel uncomfortable with myself.  I felt like I was not living my "normal" life, almost like a hypocrite.  I felt strange in my new body.  So I began to go back to what felt "normal" to me and I went back all my bad habits where I felt comfortable.  And within a year I gained it all back and then some.  Then the vicious cycle started again.  I started feeling like a failure again.  It wasn't until this year that I FINALLY figured it out and was able to put words to what I was feeling and what happened.  I've always been successful in losing weight but I'd always put it back on.  What happened was that I lost the weight on my body but in my mind I hadn't lost the weight.  I continued living like an over weight person even though I was slim and trim. What I've learned is that our unconscious mind is where our body's control center is and if we haven't changed our thoughts, our self image, our habits, and our behaviors there FIRST then we will live in that Yo-Yo dieting cycle for as long as we can take it and then finally give up.  I would LOVE to help you learn to change your control center to be a tool that helps you to lose weight for good!  Please go to: http://www.aspiringtofreedom.com/ to learn more and contact me.  I know together we can fight your last fight with weight and find the new thinner you!