Our thoughts make our reality. A quote.

I’ve been trying to make sense of all that I’ve learnt from our recent BodyBoffin interviews with Georgia Foster and Vanessa Shaw – and I came across this quote…

“Could we change our attitude, we should not only see life differently, but life itself would come to be different.  Life would undergo a change of appearance because we ourselves had undergone a change in attitude.” 
by Katherine Mansfield (New Zealand short story author, 1888-1923).

How much time have you spent trying to change yourself physically?  Not only that, how much energy have you expended THINKING about changing?

I’m constantly searching for ways to change my body, the way I look.  I’ve spent 15 years working my butt off at the gym, training with a Triathlon club and even competing as a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.  Plus all the diets, body wraps and so on.  That’s a whole lot of time!  

And you know, throughout all my exercise and dieting absolutely none of it helped to change the way I see myself and the negativity I feel towards my body.

That’s where Katherine Mansfield’s quote comes in.  I’m beginning to understand that what our BodyBoffins are trying to drill into us is that we must firstly change the way we think – our thought habits and our perception.  In doing so, our reality will change and how we see ourselves.  In an essence, the way we think and what we believe shapes ‘our world’.

Our awareness of our thought patterns and the ability to control our thinking is crucial to our overall well being and happiness.

When you say it like that it all sounds so simple.  But we all know it’s not!

Vanessa Shaw – BodyBoffin Interview

I know you’ve been waiting on the edge of your seats!  I’ve been promising you access to another amazing BodyBoffin… and here she is!

 BodyBoffin Interview – Vanessa Shaw 18th June \’08 

… click on the link to open the PowerPoint doc then press F5 to run the slide show.  The audio should play automatically and runs for 20 minutes.

Vanessa Shaw is a ”lifestyle guru” specialising in high performance coaching, stress management and most importantly for us, weight management, health and well being.  As the founder of Simply Zest (www.simplyzest.com) Vanessa has adopted a ‘whole of life’ approach, inspiring and motivating her Clients to set and achieve realistic goals in all areas of their life.

Note: the above Simply Zest logo has been copied from www.simplyzest.com

After meeting Vanessa I can honestly say that her energy and enthusiasm for life is contagious.  If you’re searching for answers take a listen to the interview and be inspired, just as I was!

For more information visit the Simply Zest web page… www.simplyzest.com.  Also, take a look at an earlier blog all about the interview… http://bodyboffin.wordpress.com/2008/06/26/long-term-sustainable-weight-loss/

Enjoy!

A raffle and an exam. A marvelous morning.

The morning of my exam I felt physically sick.  Nerves I guess.  I was anxious about actually making it to the gym without having to dive into some random cafe for an emergency toilet stop or vomiting in the street.  Not a nice feeling!

As I walked to the gym, eyes down, focused on controlling the rising sick feeling in my belly, I walked straight into the back of a person.  Very embarrassing!  Even more so that this particular guy had a fluorescent yellow vest on!!  He was fundraising for the local Life Boats.  With bright red cheeks, I dug deep and donated £1, thinking inside that maybe, just maybe, if I do a good deed and donate to a good cause, my exam might just go my way.

As I walked off feeling a little smug with my bright idea, I heard the fundraisers laughing.  I listened in and they were having a good old fashioned laugh at my expense.  Not only had I walked into the guy, they weren’t actually looking for donations.  It was a raffle.  As I turned and looked back I realised there was a mighty big speed boat that I hadn’t even noticed.  A speed boat that I had absolutely no chance of winning!

Not a good start to my morning!

However. I am very, very excited to be able to say that despite the nerves prior to my exam, I passed with flying colours.  Absolutely fantastic news!  And you know what, I even enjoyed it!  As soon as I walked into the gym I felt really confident and for the first time in years, my Inner Critic was no where to be heard.  An amazingly free feeling.

If only I knew why and how I felt so confident.  Where was my Inner Critic and why wasn’t he trying to derail the exam?  All I know is that I was so focused on remembering all my teaching points, muscles and techniques for the exam my mind was jam packed.  Perhaps there just wasn’t room for the Inner Critic.  Although I have no doubt that my negative mate was in there yelling, he definitely wasn’t heard.

The scary thing is how fabulous I felt without the negative thoughts.  It’s like I’ve had my first taste of a very addictive drug.  I’m starting to understand just how marvelous life could be if I could take control of my thoughts and turn my negative state of mind around.

Bring it on!

Wish me luck…

It’s time.  I’ve done the work and I now have to prove I’m competent.  Tomorrow I’ve got my 80 minute practical exam to become a Level 2 Gym Instructor. 

How am I feeling you might ask?  Terrified.  Why?  Although I’ve done the hard yards and spent many hours at the gym over the last 3 months learning good technique and all about kinesiology, tomorrow is the day that I need to look and act like a gym instructor.

I look up to and envy gym instructors.  To me they are the ultimate.  Completely toned bodies and endless energy.  I know that’s a truly short sited view but how amazing does the instructor look pumping their hearts out in a high energy aerobics session?  Amazing!

I want to look like that.  I would love people to be able to see me and say “boy, she must work out!” 

I’ve decided that in order to have any chance of looking like a gym instructor I’ve got to feel like one.  My plan is to walk in there pretending to be a gym instructor.  A qualified instructor wouldn’t be the slightest bit nervous about an 80 minute PT session with 2 examiners watching over your every move.  So that’s who I’m going to be tomorrow.

Wish me luck!

Long term, sustainable weight loss…

I was very sad to learn last week, although not surprised, that there’s no quick fix solution that results in sustainable weight loss.  Bugger!

I had the pleasure of meeting Vanessa Shaw, the founder of Simply Zest (www.simplyzest.com), last week.  A BIG thank you to Vanessa for sharing the following fabulous advice with us… (I’ll post the interview recording very soon – once I work out how to download it off my audio recorder!!)…

“Lifestyle Guru” Vanessa Shaw’s philosophy is based on long term, achievable weight loss.  Although the media is filled with tempting short term answers, such as our favourite 2 week diet and exercise blitz, they will not lead to lasting weight loss or help to increase vitality.

Vanessa focuses on health, well being and particularly weight loss.  Unlike some professionals, Vanessa believes that losing weight is important (where there is weight to be lost!) and through achieving realistic weight loss goals your overall health, well being and outlook on life is improved.

A key success factor in Vanessa’s work is understanding ingrained habits such as those inherited from family, relating to food, exercise and the way we deal with stress.  I was amazed to find out that about 85% of our behaviour is actually habit and undertaken subconsciously.  That’s pretty much everything we do!

**Note: the above picture of Vanessa Shaw has been copied from www.simplyzest.com

Another important aspect of behavioural change is the way we actually think – our thinking habits.  This includes our beliefs and state of mind, all those lovely negative body thoughts included.  Yikes!  That’s a whole lot of bad habits!  The Simply Zest approach is to support us to not only identify and understand these bad habits but also to “create new healthier, more helpful ones for the future”.

Readers out there will be excited to know (as I was!) that the starting point with Simply Zest is taking action and helping us to actually lose some weight.  Ah, music to my ears!  Although I really need to learn to love myself more and change my inner thoughts, deep down I also know that I truly want to lose weight.

Vanessa’s advice is to take a whole of life approach and look at the big picture.  Physical exercise is not enough and in order to achieve our goals we need to feel good about ourselves.

Wouldn’t it be absolutely fabulous to have Vanessa work with you one to one??  After we’d talked I felt like signing up there and then.  But I know that it’s not possible for everyone.  So, Vanessa left us with these tips and advice:

• Life is too short to be spent miserable.  Think about all the time and effort you’ve spent focused on feeling crappy about yourself and make a conscious decision to take action.  Re-educate yourself about healthy eating and set realistic, achievable goals.  And the most important part, “bask in the glow of achieving those goals”!
• Set realistic goals that are achievable.  Remember that real women aren’t perfect!  “Move beyond the quick fix”.
• Try keeping a food diary.  Write down everything you eat and drink each day and the time you ate.  This will help to increase your awareness about what you’re eating and not eating.  Look for trends and triggers.
• Find out what works for you.  Be realistic and make sure your goals fit in with your lifestyle.  “Life is for living”!

Interview recording to be posted shortly!!

Dreaming of a manikin…

To a stranger I’d probably look like I was in love with window shopping.   As I stand in front of the shop window staring, longingly at the fabulously dressed manikins.  But you know, it’s not the clothes I’m dreaming of, it’s the manikin!  No, no, I don’t have some super scary fetish about plastic people.  It’s their amazingly flat tummies, super skinny thighs and incredibly smooth skin that I’m after.

They resemble the airbrushed models you see in magazines.  Perfect…

Have you ever wished you were a manikin??

This morning I found the answer to cure my silly obsession with shop windows and manikins.  As I walked past a local Next store on the way to Nursery, the window was being remodelled.  What I saw was quite shocking!  A wake up call.

The manikins were in pieces, limbs separated and bodies lying lifelessly in a heap.  The most revealing thing was that they were completely exposed and you could see all the big, gaping holes where the bolts go through their legs.  Gruesome!

It made me realise just how silly I’d been.  Manikins are plastic shapes that do not resemble real women.  Well, other than the fact that they’re built with 4 limbs, a body and a head!

Remind yourself of this next time you stare dreamily into a shop window…

Georgia Foster – BodyBoffin Interview

Our very first BodyBoffin interview is ready for download!! Whooooo hooooo!

Georgia Foster – Author, speaker and therapist specialising in overeating, drinking and self esteem issues.  Most importantly, Georgia is the author of the amazing book, The Weight Less Mind (Able Publishing). 

Take a look at Georgias’ website … www.georgiafoster.com … you can download the introduction to her book, a relaxation sample and more!

   **note: the above picture has been copied from www.georgiafoster.com

To hear the interview.. open the following PowerPoint file.  Open it as a slide show and the audio should play.  Apologies for the ppt format.  I’m having trouble uploading as an MP3 file!

 Georgia Foster – BodyBoffin Interview June08

You’re sure to get a giggle at how silly I sound.  Hilarious!  Georgia and all her advice is fantastic though.  Definitely worth a listen.  Enjoy!

 For more on this interview, take a look at an earlier blog…

 http://bodyboffin.wordpress.com/2008/06/23/hypnotherapy-and-your-inner-critic/ 

Did you feel happy on Friday?

Take a look at this!  A psychologist has undertaken a study into what makes people happy and when and has developed a formula to tell us the happiest day of the year… 20th June! 

Did you feel happy on Friday??  I actually had a fabulous day on Friday.  My little toddler was in a fantastic mood and very few tears.  Perhaps it works!!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2158104/Today-is-the-happiest-day-of-the-year-according-to-Cliff-Arnall%27s-maths-formula.html

Hypnotherapy and your Inner Critic

You might be shocked to learn that your weight loss plans are more than likely sabotaged before you even start.  I know I was!  Georgia Foster, Clinical Hypnotherapist, believes that our inner thoughts subconsciously hold us back, a natural impulse protecting us from failure.  Our Inner Critic voice, as Georgia calls it, acts like a beacon constantly warning us of all the things that could go wrong.

Georgia shared the following information and fantastic advice during a phone interview last week (17th June 08).  A HUGE thank you to Georgia for being our first BodyBoffin and giving us access to some of her secrets.

I know personally that as soon as I say I’m going to go on a diet, my inner thoughts automatically yell back, ‘you’ll never stick to that’ or ‘you won’t lose any weight’ or ‘ you’ll always be bigger’.  And you know what, after 15 years of listening to such thoughts I now firmly believe them.  On top of this, the disapproval I feel towards my body is firmly etched into my mind.

Georgia emphasised that you can’t change your past but we don’t have to think this way anymore.  The key is learning to hear the Inner Critic voice and listen.  Hypnotherapy allows Georgia to help us access these deep inner thoughts and start training the mind to think differently.  The Inner Critic is a learnt behaviour and it’s not about rejecting your Inner Critic, it’s about listening to its voice.

**Note: the above picture of Georgia Foster has been copied from www.georgiafoster.com

It was really interesting to learn that the mind cannot differentiate between positive and negative, it just knows what it hears more often.  I hadn’t even though about it before.  Georgia explained that there’s only one voice and if it’s been programmed with negative thoughts about our abilities or the way we look then that’s what we’ll hear most.  The “slim, confident” part of us is still in there but can’t get out as the Inner Critic has become too loud.

As soon as I read the introduction to Georgia’s book The Weight Less Mind (Able Publishing) I knew I had to contact her.  Georgia talks about her personal journey to find peace with her mind and body after struggling with binge eating and yo yo dieting for years.  It was a powerful discovery to find that I’m not alone and that there are other people out there that don’t feel comfortable in their bodies.  Actually, if I’m honest, I got a little teary!

Georgia set off on a self discovery journey, to look for ways to learn to love herself and achieve her weight loss goals.  And you know what, she’s been a success, finding her answers in psychology theory and hypnotherapy, helping herself and many others.  Truthful inspiration!

I highly recommend getting a copy of Georgia’s book or at least taking a peak at the introduction which is a free download on her website … www.georgiafoster.com

For those of us that don’t have access to Georgia directly, she left us with these great tips:

• ‘For those that are stuck on the binge eating cycle, remember that one eating experience doesn’t have to infect the next, even if your Inner Critic is telling you ‘you’ve blown it’.
• Get rid of the scales!  they just reinforce the negative comments you’ve already got swirling inside
• Write down what you’re saying to yourself, take note of how you’re beating yourself up and be amazed at the power of negative thinking.’

It was fantastic to hear all about Georgia’s story and her strategies and tips for success.  You’ll soon be able to download the interview…

Two pronged approach…

The media is obsessed with selling us the quick fix, pummelling us with information about how to change and improve our bodies.  A perfect example being a recent article in a high profile fashion mag … ‘the 2 week bikini boot camp … get your body buffed and bikini ready in 2 weeks’.  Although deep down I knew this can’t be possible (well, not with all that I would want to ‘fix’), I still picked up the mag (and yep, I bought it!) and flicked to the page looking for the magic ingredient.

You can’t blame the media though.  Sure, the focus on changing our bodies to make us happier only adds to our fuel to want to look and feel differently but it’s only driven by us, the reader, and what we’re searching for.  Tell me one person that wouldn’t change something about their body, especially when faced with wearing a bikini!

I’ve searched for years for ways to lose weight and spent a hideous amount on magazines!  I’ve always focused on changing what I do – what I eat, how often I eat, what exercise I do, what I wear and so on.  But none of these attempts have changed the way I feel about myself or the negative thoughts I have about my body.

Sure, I always feel fantastic after a hard workout or aerobics session or even those few times I’ve managed to stick to a diet for more than a day.  But it’s not long before my inner thoughts start picking on me again, pointing out all the bits on my body I don’t like, bursting my bubble as quickly as it grew. 

After speaking with my first two bodyboffins I’ve realised that a two pronged approach is required – attack from both ends.  I need to focus on my negative inner thoughts and learn to love myself and all that I can’t change – my body shape and build.  I need to turn these thoughts into positives and in turn, give me the freedom to move forward.  I’ve never challenged my destructive inner voice before and it’s time to take it down!  Perhaps then I will be able to change my behaviours and habits and reach my goals.

Now then, I just need to learn how to challenge my inner thoughts and turn them around.  Hmmm…..