Rosa Smith-Montanaro blog
Rosa Smith-Montanaro is your virtual weight loss and wellness coach. She is the author of Mind Over Platter®: Train Your Brain to Think Thin and the award-winning creator of www.MindOverPlatter.com. Rosa is a certified Success Coach with an expertise in weight management and the mind/body connection. She is also certified at the Master level in Hypnosis, Neuro Linguistics Programming (NLP), Thought Field Therapy
TM (TFT), Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), Herbal Specialist and Humanistic Neuro Linguistic Psychology. Rosa teaches seminars throughout the country on the mind/body connection and how to create a life that is a reflection of your values. Rosa and her husband live in Greece and have three children. She welcomes you to blog with her and discover how you can create a healthier, happier and balanced life. Rosa can be reached at MindOverPlatter@aol.com.
The 9 Habits of Naturally Thin People
I realized this morning that when I follow my nine habits of naturally thin people, they work! I thought I would share them with you and write about each one in more as summer approaches. This is the foundation to my program and the reason for success in weight management.
1. Have an Empowering Self Image
2. Develop Powerful Self Talk
3. Stop Dieting - Don't look at eating as a diet
4. Don't Overeat - this is the reason you gain weight
5. Proper Food Combining - for your body
6. Use Food as a Source of Fuel
7. Drink Water - plenty of it to detox your body
8. Enjoy an Active Lifestyle
9. Follow the 80/20 Rule - 8 out of 10 choices is good enough
I will blog about these habits in more detail, print this list out and put it on your fridge as a reminder.
8 out of 10 healthy choices equals success!
Last week, I focused on not eating after 7:00 pm. I slipped once, which is a major success. In my book Mind Over Platter, I refer to the habits of naturally thin people. One habit I suggest adapting is the 80/20 rule, if you are successful 80% of the time you are successful. Most dieters have to do something 100% of the time to feel successful. That can set you up for failure before you begin. This week, let's focus on 80/20 rather than 100/0
On with summer!
It took all of my will power not to eat after 7:00 last night. My husband and I went out to enjoy the sunset, when we came home he made himself a snack and it smelled good. I had already eaten
earlier and was fine, until I smelled that chicken sandwich. I went upstairs and took a bubble bath instead. I put my focus on how good it will feel waking up this morning and being at my ideal weight, fitting into an outfit that I like. That is how I overcome temptation to eat when I know it will only add weight. Give it a try, change your attention and focus on the next morning being one step closer.
On the dancing with the stars note...they were amazing! I didn't have one favorite since they all did so well, I was getting a kick out of how well they danced. I admire people who work hard and overcome obstacles to better themselves. The athletes and celebrities already have talent and success, it is the accomplishment that
motivates them. Now I can enjoy my summer, maybe I will go dancing...
I am hooked on dancing with the stars
It is after 7:00, I am done eating for the evening. It really isn't as hard as it sounds, just requires planning ahead and not letting yourself get too hungry.
On another note, I don't know when it happened but I am hooked on dancing with the stars. I am anxiously awaiting tonight's episode. Watching those tone, sexy bodies makes me want to work out. What do you think? Are you hooked as well? It is starting...I'll check back with you later.
Are you ready for shorts this summer?
Life has calmed down for a moment so it is a good time to put our focus back on weight management. I noticed more junk in my trunk this year than last. That is how weight creeps up on you, one pound at a time. So if I plan on wearing shorts this summer, I need to halt the increase in my weight. If you are in a similar position, join me on the road back to that "beach body". Seriously, I won't ever have a beach body, and I don't expect you too, I just love the visual.
One change at a time works best, my first change is not to eat after 7:00 pm. The rule for this week is not eating after 7:00pm. Your body isn't burning a lot of calories at night, so you will most likely drop weight from this alone. Let me know if you are on board!
He did it!
Well he did it! My father-in-law came home today. He actually bounced back and was able to convince the doctor to send him home, impressive. We don't know how long he will be home for, but we are pleased that he is able to achieve his goal of returning to his home.
The stress of this week has been incredible. I literally gained weight without overeating. As I said earlier, be grateful for the temporary inconveniences, this is a certainly an inconvenience, but I am not going to let it get to me. Instead I am watching my sugar intake and cutting the comfort food. I decided to reach out to my friends and catch up. Tonight I am home quietly relaxing and sitting in front of the fireplace.
Take a few minutes to stop and just "BE" don't do anything, relax and be still.
Where there is a will there is a way
My father in law seems to be bouncing back, he sure does want to get better and go home, even if it is for a few days, he has a goal and is fixated on it. Have you had a goal that you wanted so bad that you were able to overcome major limitations to reach it? Tell me what you think? What is your "where there is a will, there is a way" story.
Be grateful for inconveniences.
I am sorry, I haven't written since last week. I have been a bit distracted, my father in law has been very ill and was rushed to emergency twice last week. I have been in the hospital daily to visit him. His will to live is amazing! He has cancer and weighs under 100 pounds, but doesn't complain, he has kept his sense of humor and expects to come home. I have never seen such spunk. The power of the mind is amazing, he is running on determination and hope. Watching him everyday has reminded me that what most of us call problems aren't really problems, they are temporary inconveniences. My prayer for you is that you will be grateful for the inconveniences in your life.
What will you celebrate tomorrow?
"What can I create today that is a reason to celebrate tomorrow?"
You co-create your reality, what would be a wise choice today that would inspire the kind of action that will later result in celebration? I am in one of those moods where I ask myself questions to stimulate a mind shift. What if today, we were to be thankful for the good opportunities that await us.
What will you create today?
Put the past behind you
Our theme this week is: "Putting the past behind you".
When you feel discouraged, try this thinking thin thought:
"I am putting my past failures behind me and focusing on my future success now!"
This an interesting language pattern, that directs your brain in a positive way. Positive change boils down to the way you talk to yourself. The past, happened once a long time ago, for a brief time period, except that we keep it alive by replaying it in our minds. For this week decide to put the past behind you and focus on a successful today.
Assignment: Write a list of all the reasons you use to be unhappy. The people that have hurt you, the habits that don't support you and your beliefs that limit you. Then shred them all and release them with love.
Your favorite healthy junk food?
I have been thinking about the concept of spiritual junk food as I was drinking a diet coke plus today. It has vitamins and
minerals drenched in artificial
sweeteners and
caffeine. How many times do we pick a food or beverage to indulge in that is
neither bad or good for us in moderation. I do like diet sodas, I just can't replace my water intake with them.
What is your favorite "healthy" junk food?
What is your favorite healthy junk food?
I have been thinking about spiritual junk food. I was drinking a diet coke plus today, it has vitamins and minerals in it, but as I read the label it has aspartame (I think that is the proper spelling?). Which made me wonder, could the tiny amount of vitamins really be of value to my body when they are drenched in caffeine and artificial sweeteners? Properly not. It is our nature to want to justify our choices to feel like we are doing what is in our best interest. I doubt drinking diet soda over water is in my best interest. As long as I don't replace water with diet soda's then I am okay but it would be easy to do since I find water not nearly as tasteful. What is your favorite "healthy" junk food? How do you justify eating it?
