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!

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!!

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/ 

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…

no radio jockeys here…

Well, if there’s one thing I know for sure, I’m definitley NOT meant to be a radio jockey!!  In the last week I’ve interviewed our first two bodyboffins.  Absolutely amazing, professional women with a passion for helping people who are stuck with negative beliefs and state of mind, working with them to challenge these thoughts and turn them into a positive, rebuilding confidence and changing old habits.  More about these two wonderful women and the secrets behind their success coming soon…

I haven’t felt that nervous for years!  I felt like a child meeting a TV star.  During each interview butterflies pelted around inside me, my voice was shaky and I even let out my wee little nervous giggle every now and then.  Glorious! 

Although I’m somewhat embarrassed at my voice and words on the interview audios, my two bodyboffins are fabulous and I learnt so, so much.  You’ll soon have the chance to download the interviews and listen for yourself… feel free to have a laugh at my expense!!

The very first bodyboffin interview…

I can’t believe it’s happening.  My journey started slowly with a wee bit of research at the bookstore and online but, today is the day I take my first real leap forward.  I’ve lined up the very first bodyboffin interview with an amazing therapist who specialises in over eating and self esteem issues.  I’m bubbling with nervous energy and am feeling very, very excited as the interview nears.  I’m not going to give any more of the details away but let me just say I’m expecting to discover some amazing truths about our negative inner voice and strategies to stop our thoughts from eating away our confidence.

Stay tuned!