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 TherapyTM (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.
Friday, March 28, 2008
What does The Secret have to do with clearing out the old?
Why all the talk about a new beginning and clearing out the old?
People have shown a great interest in the book "The Secret" and the Law of Attraction. They have become curious how does the law of attraction really work?
I have been a student and teacher of the mind/body connection and the power of our thoughts for over twenty years. Nothing that "The Secret" speaks about was news to me. I have read it in books that date back to the early 1900's. I have lived the principles for decades.
People assume the message is that if you think positive that good things will magically show up in their lives. That is not what is being said. What you think about on a daily basis with intense emotion will begin to show up especially when you take action to manifest this desire. What it doesn't tell you that is a major element is that you have to remove the blocks you have to receiving what you want.
One must become clear in mind and body to be open and receptive to that which they say they want. That means healthy thoughts and positive energy within their bodies. When you have a negative outlook (doom and gloom) that will become a mental block and interfere with your ability to pursue what you want. If you are always feeling discouraged, depressed any negative feeling , that will block you energetically. We attract people and emotions that are in sync with ourselves. These block have to be cleared for you to make progress and manifest what you want.
If you have unresolved anger, it will block you. If your mind is preoccupied with how messy your house is, it will block you, if you think you will fail at losing weight or dread exercise, it will block you. Eliminating blocks is essential to clearing out the old and starting fresh. If you don't have want you want then consider where you might be blocked and then take action to clear the block.
How do you clear blocks? Now we are on my playground, that my friend is my speciality! Stay tuned and we will explore this topic next week. For now, identify the blocks.
A new beginning for me often involves a detoxifying cleanse program. I recommend the type that uses herbs that you take in the morning and before bed. It is gentle and will allow you to continue to eat normal meals. The advantage to a cleanse is that it will give your weight loss a boost and remove those toxins that some times interfere with your body's ability to burn fat. Once you complete the cleanse your body can better absorb the nutrients in the foods you are eating.
A fresh start begins today, what is your first step?
What can you do to symbolize a new beginning? When you put the past behind you, it is natural to feel hopeful and optimistic about your future. This gives you freedom to step out of your comfort zone and push yourself further than the "old" you would have.
Our minds like symbolism and respond well to it. Cleaning out your closets, settling old debts, making amends with people are all ways people indicate that we are on to the next chapter in our lives. I went to the gym yesterday and decided to join a spinning class. It was only 30 minutes long, but I never like spinning, it often triggers my asthma which is my excuse to avoid it. I went to my usual Turbo Kick class late and thought maybe I will go to spinning too! People do it all of the time, I joined them and it was so hard for me. I had to push myself, but I kept thinking the old Rosa would never had done this after another class and kept peddling. Honestly I was surprised that I did it, but after it was over I was so jazzed that I did something new that pushed me. I didn't even need my inhaler which is another sign of progress.
What first step will you take to symbolize a new beginning?
It is time to start a new beginning and putting the past behind you. Losing weight means focusing on today's accomplishments not yesterdays mistakes. I recorded a video message on this, I hope you like it.
What are some alternatives to chocolate this Easter? You may not have to eliminate it completely, maybe a few pieces of rich dark chocolate will do the trick. I have found a healthily blend of chocolate that is rich in omega oil and antioxidants. Music, lottery tickets, lip gloss, a DVD, bubble bath, gel pens, a novel, the list can go on and on. What ideas do you have to create an healthier alternative to chocolate? Now this isn't necessary if you have good control over your cravings and you won't binge, but if you tend to get off track at this time, it is wise to find an alternative.
This week's theme is on creating a healthy holiday tradition. Easter is coming, is chocolate your main food for the day? If so, try creating a new tradition that is healthier. What is one thing you can change this holiday that will be healthier?
Trading in a habit for candy would be easy if it wasn't for the cravings for candy. If you haven't tried the tapping sequence I am demonstrating in my previous entry, it might just do the trick. I have used this technique for over ten years with a 95% success rate. I will write about why it works in upcoming blog entries, until then, let me know how it worked.
I thought I would have some fun with this, I am testing how to upload a video on my blog. This is a method I use to help control cravings and break the cookie habit. I only see one video in my edit mode but saw two on the blog, it that is the case the video that works should be on your left. Let's see if it works:
This week's theme is replacing old habits with new ones. This can be applied to you as well as your children. Habits are part of our unconscious pattern until replaced by a new habit. If you could change one bad habit what would it be?
I think for me, I have gotten out of the habit of working out first thing in the morning, I still get up early, but I answer email, check my orders, update my blog and email my members. So if I go back to working out in the morning, I will have to do some of those activities the night before or later in the day.
That is the habit I am going to focus on this week, to change. What about you? What is the habit you want to change?
After reading once again how our kids are in crisis due to so many being over weight, I have an idea, why don’t we let our students participate in a program similar to the ones our adults in the corporate world are involved in? Wegmans is doing a great job with the Eat Well, Live Well program. They have an entire process already established to educate and motivate. Healthy young adults become healthy adults, who will be entering our workforce. Instead of adults making students follow a plan, let the students represent their school and launch it themselves. They can attend the meetings and follow the program just as if it were in the workplace. If they need help organizing it, I will be the first to volunteer my time.
Let’s create a plan that will be successfully implemented soon. Our kids are at risk, serious risk. I don’t want to be part of the first generation to outlive its own children.
What do you think? How would you suggest we help our kids create an overall healthier lifestyle?
Take a wellness break today. Here is a step by step guide and will only take a minute. *when you see: ... it means to take a slow deep breath, inhale through your nose, exhale through your mouth.
1. Stop what you are doing right now. 2. Take a long slow deep breath.... 3. Close your eyes for just a minute... 4. Bring into your awareness an image of yourself in a healthy fit body.... 5. Feel excited and invigorated by this image.... 6. Smile as gratitude washes over you, realizing that in this moment, all is well... 7. Repeat the words to yourself "in this moment...all is well..." 8. Open your eyes and return to what you were doing feeling calm, centered and clear.
When you feel overwhelmed or discouraged read this post.
When is this cold out, people crave comfort food. It is an easy time to slip into old habits. Don't completely deprive yourself. Have a taste of what you'd like then walk away and do something that removes you from food. When people avoid something they really want, they begin to obsess on it until they break down and lose control. You can never have enough of what you can't have, so have a little.
Join me in focusing on why Rochester is a great place to live. Wellness to me means enjoying life on many levels, mind, body and spirit. I think when people focus on why they are so unhappy they are setting themselves up for failure. Not only is it a drag to be around unhappy people but it is emotionally and physically draining. We need energy to workout, take care of ourselves and even to meditate. I don't walk my talk very well when I am tired and drained. The most pessimistic, I mean persistent person usually dominates the energy of the crowd, not the most optimistic person.
The Democrat and Chronicle just launched a social networking site that we are all welcome to join in on. My first blog entry was on finding reasons to be positive about Rochester. I am inviting you to join me in this effort. I think age is a state of mind and I think that your mind needs to be as healthy as possible to create all of the other magnificent things you deserve, like that fit and sleek body. Once you get on and create a page add me as your friend:
