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Introduction Text I am using the start of 2021 not so much to make a “resolution” but to reaffirm my commitment to a healthy lifestyle. I know I’m given to making excuses for avoiding exercise and indulging in high-calorie, yummy foods that tweak my brain chemistry and make me feel “happy” for about an hour. Among my favorites (drug of choice?) are Culver’s frozen custard, Holiday Station’s donuts, Caribou’s scones and of course, McDonald’s everything. So, if you see me headed to these “dens of destruction” please remind me of my promise to myself! I also know that I am inclined to be an “obliger” (as described by Gretchen Rubin in her book, The Four Tendencies) – always ready to meet the expectations OTHERS may set for me, but less committed to the expectations I have for myself – so, this is one more opportunity for me to hold up my end of this bargain and be true to myself! I’ve had a life-long, arduous journey arguing with myself about weight. In 2016 I shed 30 pounds (dropping from 186# to 155#) and held that weight fairly well until COVID-19 arrived. Now, like so many other emotional eaters, I’ve gained 15 pounds over the last 9 months ☹. I feel like I’m starting over but, I’m committed to continuing the journey. My primary intention is about having self-compassion. I don’t want to be my own worst enemy by leaning into negative self-talk when I screw-up (and I will). I want to master the art of acknowledging my poor decisions or overlooked opportunities and move on to the next decision – hopefully choosing more wisely the next time! I don’t exactly have a “goal weight” – my body will tell me what’s “right” when we get there. I’d like to aim for just 10 pounds at a time, to see how it feels at each new “mini-goal” and figure out where my healthy weight really belongs. Instead, I am more inclined to make ACTION goals rather than OUTCOME goals, emphasizing what I want to DO, rather than how it will turn out! I want to approach this New Year with the mindset of a HEALTHY PERSON, affirming that is who I am and can be! To that end, I am doing several things to make this affirmation a reality, weaving them into my self-care plan: · I am committed to yoga (albeit GENTLE yoga) twice a week, attending virtual classes for now, and in the studio (Green Lotus, in Eden Prairie) once they can re-open. · I have hired a personal trainer/coach (since October) and am working with her on strength-training and balance 3x each week. · I am keeping in mind that as a HEALTHY PERSON, I would be active EVERYDAY, I am slowly moving toward exercise/activity everyday but, for me this is a stretch-goal! · I am recording all the food I consume (on SparkPeople), good choices as well as poor choices, for accountability and the capacity to audit. · I am filling 24 oz. water bottles (3 of them now) for the refrigerator so that staying hydrated is easier and measurable – 2 bottles/day now, aiming toward 3 bottles/day. · I am cooking (almost all my meals) so that I know what goes into the foods I eat – avoiding hidden fat/sugar/salt that make it mind-numbingly tasty but dangerously fattening. · I am journaling – to stay honest with myself about what emotions drive me to make poor decisions and to track my habits so I can redirect myself toward positive change (in other words, I’m coaching myself!). · I’m reading, right now, a book by Eliza Kingsford, Brain-Powered Weight Loss, a book that works well for me as a 5-Type on the Enneagram (happily living in my head). I will also be taking an online course she’s built; it begins mid-January. Among the things she advises is, "Tell your friends!" so, that is what prompted my email to you! So I’d really appreciate your support when we’re together or in conversation. I want you to know my intentions and to help me hold myself accountable to achieve them. I am grateful for each of you in my life. I’ve written a BIG, powerful affirmation that describes both who I want to be and what I want to accomplish in my business and in my life, I’ll share it with you here. . . I am a living example of healthy choices and vibrant aging. I am the picture of health that my clients seek in their own lives! My high energy radiates into every aspect of my life and business and positively influences everyone I encounter, winning them over as allies for the work that I do! I am a powerful, purposeful woman whose business endeavors flourish. I am touching the lives of people daily and serving as a teacher, guide, and coach. I am actively writing, speaking, teaching, coaching, and earning more money than even my most ambitious goals. My life is good, it is rich, it is bountiful and I am grateful for all its abundance! Wishing YOU all the best in 2021 and hoping you’ll keep me in your thoughts as I trek into the new year with big goals, high hopes, and a lot of humility.

1. Back to 155 by my birthday, 3/12/21. 2. Exercise every day, even if it is just 10 minutes. 3. Sleeping 7 hours each night -- which means an earlier bed-time.

Ten Principles of Healthy Eating. . . 1. Focus on Nutrient-Dense Whole Foods 2. Self-monitor with Scrutiny (track consumption & activity) 3. Be Calorie Conscious at All Times 4. Kick the Sugar Habit 5. Choose Carbs with a Low or Moderate Glycemic Load 6. Be Mindful of Your Fat Consumption Every Day 7. Maximize Your Daily Fiber Intake 8. Practice Portion Control 9. Never Say “Never” to the Foods You Crave 10. Love Foods That Love You Back

Minneapolis, MN



Add a Link The fact that I can plant a seed and it becomes a flower, share a bit of knowledge and it becomes another's, smile at someone and receive a smile in return, are to me continual spiritual exercises. -- Leo Buscaglia
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