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Myopia

The biggest challenge I have in coaching clients is myopia. I’m not talking about the ocular condition requiring glasses but rather the short-sightedness in your brain.  It’s a natural, human condition of which we all suffer. The good news is our year is still in its infancy.  But like January, it too will pass quickly into 2011.  And being myopic, or short-sighted, is the best way to NOT get what you want in 2010.   

 Myopic Offenders

 Some of the greatest myopic offenders of your 2010 goals include the bathroom scale, special events, stress and saboteurs.  So let’s look at each one of these and how to turn a potential stumbling block into a hurdle that—once you clear—only strengthens your resolve.

The Bathroom Scale:

The bathroom scale consistently messes with my clients heads.  What’s ironic is that very same scale is something that can exalt your emotions and resolve; but it’s a wily beast—SO BEWARE!  During Phase One it is highly recommended that you weigh yourself only once per week.  But how many people actually do that?  My experience says not many.  You think you can handle the truth??  Daily weigh-ins are quite adept at throwing you off track completely.  Some typical scenarios include: “I’ve been following the program to a T for the past four days but when I stepped on the scale this morning I hadn’t lost even one pound!  This program isn’t working!!”  Or another popular one goes something like “Yesterday I went out with friends and had just one Margarita and a few chips and salsa (fill in your own off-plan food of choice) and this morning I’ve gained two pounds!!  I did everything else right and been following the plan…etc, etc.”  In my opinion the bathroom scale is a main offender because it has this incredible ability to completely take your vision of a healthy body and reduce it down to a single number on a single day.

 Special Events:

The great American quasi-holiday, Super Bowl Sunday, was last weekend.  For a lot of my clients it’s a special event.  It may not be yours, but there’s plenty more every month.  The myopia associated with special events say “it only comes around once per year; I can allow myself a little time off and then get right back on plan Monday morning.”  Good luck.  Again, my experience says a special event can throw you off track for weeks, months or completely.  What’s the big deal?  In 2011 when you write your history, will it include you getting exactly what you wanted in 2010 or will it say something like “had some great hot wings, chips and beer.”  Special events are a main offender because all you see is that event.  What you don’t see is the same event in 2011 will include “off program” foods because you are at your ideal weight and you’ll plan for it and enjoy it!  Reminder: Phase One is not the rest of your life.

 Stress:

This is a tough one.  I’ve read that the majority of overweight and obese people are emotional eaters.  Stress can come from anywhere at any time and we are all susceptible.  The best thing you can do right now is to plan ahead of the stress because you know it’ll happen sooner or later.  This will not only help you stay on track but set you up for a lifetime of what you really want.  The last part of chapter 19 in Dr. A’s Habits of Health is devoted to de-stressing techniques.    Healthy behaviors include: De-stress your job, exercise, get out and about, go natural, laugh, focus on the positive, stop challenge and choose, breathe deeply.  I deem stress a main offender because it attacks emotionally and, at the time, makes itself more important than anything else including your vision of a healthy body.

Saboteurs:

Saboteurs are everywhere and can be your own family, your friends and the people you associate with.  They are what I call Trojan Horse offenders because their words are often shrouded in “good intentions”.  A saboteur can also be the voice in your own head.  Anyone or anything that says you CAN’T do what you really want is a saboteur.  Beware.  The myopia associated with these people, and these thoughts, is that words are more powerful than your vision of what you want.  But we know this is not true.  Support is one of the most critical factors in your success.  As your health coach I know YOU CAN!  And you know you can too.  You already have in your possession the vision, belief and passion to get exactly what you want in 2010.  So don’t let them play your mind.

What Do You See?

What you see is what you get.  Vision your healthy body right now regardless of where you are on the journey.  See it clearly in your head and pull up that vision frequently during the day.  See it the first thing in the morning and just before you go to bed.  Do this and the laws of nature will manifest in your life that which was already created in your thoughts.  Antonyms of myopia include far-sighted and wise.  How to get what you really, really, want is no secret.  It’s simply what you focus your thoughts on.

eb.

In my keep on track last week I shared that I was turning 45 years old on Wednesday.  What came of that revelation was a number of pleasant birthday wishes and also some interesting comments from clients of all ages. What has always struck me as a phenomena is how some people in their 40’s look, feel, talk, think and act like they are getting old while others, well into their 70’s and beyond look, feel, talk, think and act young.

If you didn’t know your age, how old would you be?

Suppose you developed a very rare form of amnesia that wiped out just the memory of your own age.  Naturally, being very concerned about not knowing your age, you seek out a doctor who specializes in this rare condition.  He asks some questions and runs some tests and then comes back to you and, based on his expert analysis, tells you your age. What do you think he would say?

I can’t count the number of weight loss “before” and “after” photos I’ve seen over the past five years of coaching optimal health.  I’ve seen a lot.  But it probably won’t surprise you when I say in every single “after” photo the person looks much younger.  And for those who I have known personally along the way, and including my own story, not only do they look younger but also talk, think, act and feel younger.  Which begs the question, do we have the power to choose our age?  If the answer is yes, which I believe it is, it’s got to start with getting to your ideal weight.

Think and Grow Thin

The message of Take Shape For Life is that anyone can create optimal health in their life.  In the creation process, you are not trying to get away from something (like being overweight, on medications, etc.) but moving toward a vision of health that you have created in your own mind.  And by moving toward your vision, something that did not exist previously comes into existence.  Just this morning I heard this quote.  It’s by Lao Tzu, author of the Tao Te Ching.  He said:

“When you correct your mind, everything will fall into place”

I like this quote because it makes clear the secret to getting what you really want.  It’s in the way you think.  I’ll play devil’s advocate to make the point as it pertains to losing weight.  Let’s say I offered you $10,000 per month to strictly follow the plan until you hit your goal weight (a BMI of 25).  How do you think your body would react?  There’s no doubt you’d lose weight quickly and feel really good.  You would get healthy and look and feel younger too.  But so often people get pitted against themselves because their internal dialogue says otherwise; the mind is not correct in thinking you can’t; in thinking there is something preventing you from having what you really want.

Making 2010 YOUR Year

This is it!  This is your “second chance”; this is your hope for authentic change.  Losing weight is the easy part.  I believe that.  By following the plan specifically, you’ll lose quickly and safely with low-to-no hunger and good energy levels.

Eric carving the turkey

We hope that everyone’s Thanksgiving was as wonderful as ours.

It is one of our favorite holidays because it is about gratitude and a day to reflect on what we have, not what is missing in our lives.

We are truly thankful for the lives that we change and the friendships we’ve developed through Take Shape For Life.

Becoming a health coach was the best—and definitely the last—career move we’ll ever make.  We are truly blessed to have meaningful and rewarding work, one that is built around helping people and making a difference.

Joy & the kids
Thanksgiving dinner

If you’ve ever thought about generating additional income or owning a business, this opportunity may be for you.  Below are a couple of links with some information.  If you’re interested, please take a look and let us know.

Thank you and have a great week!

P.S. This week, Eric will be in Amarillo, Texas working with some health coaches and doctors.

Did you have a good holiday weekend?  I sure hope so.  We took a daytrip to the mountains yesterday and during the drive my wife, Joy, read this article to me from TIME.com called: Why Exercise Won’t Make You Thin. It’s well written; again reinforcing why so many struggle with “diet and exercise” as the answer to effective weight loss.  To lose weight through exercise alone you would need to work out strenuously for ninety minutes every day.  In which case you’ll be much hungrier each day and end up replacing just as many calories—if not more—than you just burned through exercise.

What, No Exercise?

No exercise for the first three weeks on Phase One.  Getting into the fat-burning state requires certain conditions.  If you increase your energy demands too soon you’ll add stress, slow down your weight loss and sap your energy. You must first focus on getting into a solid, consistent fat-burning state, without having to worry about damaging your knees or back.
Once you’re on track with weight loss, you’ll be in a much better place physically and mentally to increase your activity incrementally through fun choices that will help build muscle mass and burn calories.  This is something that can last you the rest of your life—at a healthy weight!

Choice Means We Can do it or Not

(Whatever “it” is)

Right now, whatever your circumstances may be, you can make a profound, fundamental choice for optimal health.  It starts with asking the question “Do I want to be optimally healthy?”  Never mind whether you think it’s possible or not because optimal health is available to anyone who chooses it.  Optimal health is simply creating health in your own life though daily choices.  Chapter 4 of Dr. A’s Habits of Health is entitled “Health Is All About Choice.”  He explains the difference between primary and secondary choices.  We also learn how to use structural tension to propel us toward our primary goal.  On Tonight’s live webcast I’ll be discussing this topic:

Get to Your Goal Weight so You can Get on With Your Life

Tonight’s LIVE webcast is for those people who want to make health a primary choice in their life.  I’ll be joined again by John and Cheryl Tooke who together lost 176 pounds rather quickly and now enjoy life at a healthy weight.  We’ll share with you personal insights and successful tips that you can use right now.  So much of this is in seeing the big picture and in believing that you can.  We’ll also be showing you the fun side of living the habits of health.  It’s TONIGHT at 7pm Mountain time, 30 minutes.  Click Here To Register Now

Taking Shape For Life

Our LIVE webcast last Tuesday was a big success, my highest attendance ever, and I’ve been getting a lot of positive comments and feedback ever since!  The webcast was the first part with John and Cheryl in which we set up the basics of getting into the fat-burning state.  John and Cheryl also shared their personal experience in losing 50 pounds and 126 pounds respectively.  It’s very motivating to learn from their stories.  Anyone can choose optimal health!   This is the recorded link for our webcast from Tuesday.  I’ll have it available for just one more week, so if you missed it, you can watch now:  Click to watch “Taking Shape For Life”.