Positive Possibilities

If you’re convinced you won’t amount to anything, will never finish what you start, and are doomed to have the same crummy struggles throughout your life, you may be programmed for failure. Believing you’ll never become a “normal” eater is a sure fire way not to. Whether you’re battling under- or overeating (or a yo-yo combo), you have to think you can succeed in order to beat your demons.

Stop and answer these questions: Do you whole-heartedly believe you can become a “normal” eater? Is your belief only half-hearted? Or are you certain you’ll never reach this goal? Belief doesn’t mean not having moments of frustration and doubt. It’s natural to wonder if major change is possible and occasionally to feel hopeless. The problem arises when you distrust yourself due the core belief that you’re basically a failure, will never accomplish much in life, and that there’s something defective or wrong with you that translates into preventing you from achieving success.

Maybe you’ve had a host of relationships that haven’t worked out, moved around a lot looking for just the “right” place to settle down, or switched jobs or careers and still feel dissatisfied. The problem may not be restlessness or even a desire for perfection. Instead, you may be convinced that you’re bound to fail because that’s what you learned in childhood. Many parents are unthinking, ignorant, or even cruel, and give children the message they’re failure bound as in, “You’ll never amount to anything.” Hear that often enough and it’s likely to sink in. You may not even realize you believe it. In other words, you may be operating on faulty assumptions you’re unaware of!

Successful people with realistic goals—at work, in relationships, with emotional and behavioral problems—believe they have the strength, commitment, motivation, resources, and ability to succeed. They know the only thing holding them back is themselves. They assume they’ll overceome and take it for granted. Recognizing that it won’t happen overnight and that they’ll have hurdles and setbacks, they nevertheless can’t imagine not reaching their goals. With this sense of positive possibility, we can all do anything within reason (and sometimes beyond what is imaginable).

Start cultivating an “I can” attitude. Stop and change your tune when you complain that becoming a

“normal” eater is too hard and is taking too long. Simply cut off the thought and tell yourself that it’s nonsense. Remind yourself that a positive attitude is a pre-requisite for success. Tell yourself that you believe and sooner or later you will.

Best,

Karen

Normal Eating web site

Normal Eating talks and workshops

PLEASE NOTE: I encourage you to comment on my blogs and will do my best to address topics/questions you raise in future blogs. I cannot provide individual responses, but encourage you to post your questions and comments on The Food and Feelings Workbook message board at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/foodandfeelings.

Comments

[Louiza]

I would like to call to your attention my blog and my book Pocket Guide to Fitness. Let me know if you'd like to recommend the book to your clients or students, or if you'd like me to do a book signing or speaking engagement.

My book is based on www.louizafitness.blogspot.com. I'd like to come out with a second one, if you are interested in publishing. I am committed to women and men not thinking that being skinny does not = fitness, ending girls' anorexia, and showing people that fitness is holistic. That is, it is composed of energy, the mind-body-spirit connection, flexibility, endurance, strength and good blood results.

I would like to make a difference in eating disorders. Perhaps you see if fit to order my books for girls, boys, women and men. I can also give a speech. I would also like to make a difference in the modeling industry where only one look (very thin and very tall) is supported. This "look" is often that of anorexic women who are mentally and physically not at their prime health and not to be used as role models for little girls. A balance between fat, muscle and thin is the aesthetic and health optimum to me. Perhaps letters can be sent to Congress or to fashion industry executive such as Vogue editor Anna Wintour.

I believe that the first step in fitness is loving and accepting your body, the only one you have, that allows you to live every day. I believe that fitness is holistic, it is not only or necessarily losing weight. You can be skinny with high cholesterol and low energy. Fitness is: endurance, strength, flexibility, biostatistics like blood pressure, energy, and the spirit-mind-body connection. I believe that with meditation, prayer, working out and being in nature, you connect to your body and then know what you can eat, what you can do and how much rest to get. Balance is key: work out and rest, eat well and treat yourself.

My background is:

Since about 10 years ago, I have been a certified personal trainer.
I have trained at Equinox, Lucille Roberts and NY Health and Racket Club.
I have been in the Marathon several times, without training.
I can gain or lose weight at will, sometimes even by mental energy while eating what I want and love my body all the while.
I am committed to working out as a way of being where it is fun.
If I am in pain I usually work out with no excuses.
I have an MS in Biology from NYU.
I am renewing my ISSA license with CECs in sports nutrition.
I use distinctions from working out in everyday life.
You can view a resume and some writing at www.louizapatsis.com. Or Google me.

Proposed program for the second book:
It includes diet and workout myths, problem areas, disappointments, commitments, goals and excuses. Then the classes will be tailored according to client needs.

Topics covered:

Spirit-mind-body connection
Commitment versus being attached and suffering
Excuses
Success
Listening to your body
Self-expression
What pain is real and what is an excuse
Basic food facts
Body Mass Index
Fat Percentage
Why you need some fat
Basic metabolism facts
At least five types of stretching
Many different exercises and three-month exercise programs for muscles

My cell phone is 646 262 1270. I look forward to seeing you.