PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THIS ARTICLE FROM SPARKS .. AND LET'S DICUSS ... I FOUND IT VERY ENLIGHTING . THANKS TINK


http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/motivation_articles.asp? id=1366

You’re a parent, schooleer, Little League coach, and trusted assistant to your boss. You’ve been up since 6 a.m., made breakfast, packed lunches, cleaned the house, chauffeured the neighborhood kids, helped with homework, read bedtime stories, and finished extra work from the office.It’s 11:30.You’re exhausted.And, in about six-and-a-half hours you’ll begin the whole 24-hour cycle…again.

If you find yourself saying ‘Stop the merry-go-round, I want to get off!’ you’re not alone. Most of us—especially women, but men too (hey, there are reasons that men die younger than women)—have at some time found ourselves at the bottom of the heap when it comes to taking care of our needs.

The problem with that is that if we don’t take care of ourselves, sooner or later we won’t be of much use to anyone else—or to ourselves. Just as the airline attendant tells you to put on your own oxygen mask in an emergency before helping a child with theirs, you must take care of your own basic needs before you can attend to the needs of others. What’s more, being busy is not necessarily the same as being productive with meaningful activity. (Do the workaholics you know really accomplish that much more in proportion to the time they invest?)


If putting yourself first sounds selfish or too hard, try something simpler: put yourself on an equal footing with those you love and tend to. Do you insist that they get enough sleep? Start making that a priority for yourself too. Do you give them time for fun and socializing with friends? Then you do the same! Remember Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: human beings must meet their basic needs before they can move on to higher-level goals. Since most of us already know that we should take care of ourselves—but often have trouble figuring out how to do it, here are some guidelines for getting there:

• Preserve your physical health with adequate sleep, exercise, and nutrition.
• Value your emotional health as much as the physical, with a support system of friends and a willingness to laugh—especially at yourself.
• Schedule fun activities on a regular basis—it’s just as important to plan pleasure as it is to plan work.
• Identify “busy behaviors" (or people) that drain your time and energy but aren’t really important, then dump ‘em, or at least minimize their hold on you.
• Kill two birds with one stone, combining family time with exercise, for example, which benefits everyone involved.
• Try to look at the problems in your life with new eyes to find solutions. If you’re a new mom, for instance, see if you can trade childcare with another new mom to get some time for yourself.
• Learn to say “No!" Your “yes" is valuable and should not be automatic. Instead, reserve it for the things that are most important to you.
• Don’t try to change every problem area in your life all at once. Start with one or two items, then expand as you get things under control.

Your life should be like a checking account, balancing out on a regular basis so that you always have assets to draw upon. By making even small deposits—taking care of yourself with a 10-minute walk or a nutritious meal—you’ll be amazed at the interest you’ll reap.

Please see today's Leader Handout for the week .
We all tend to set resultions at the beginning of the new year , this hand out is about goal setting.
I hope you enjoy it and we can get some discussion going .

What is your goals for the New Year ? 

For me , I want to stay on track with my weight loss by doing all that I can by using all the tools given to me .

I want to have more family time , love more and give back more ..
How about you ? 

Love ,
Tink

http://images.obesityhelp.com/forums/ohsupportgroup/Make%20G oals%20Not%20Resolutions_January%202011%20Handout.pdf

Grandma Manning's Christmas Eve Sandwich Spread

Submitted by: SRACOBS61

This sandwich spread my mother made each Christmas season. It is still a favorite in my family. I have entered the receipe with the lighter ingredients so that I can enjoy this treat.
Spread this on your favorite bun. (1/2 of a bun)(Calories not included for the bun) This sandwich spread my mother made each Christmas season. It is still a favorite in my family. I have entered the receipe with the lighter ingredients so that I can enjoy this treat.
Spread this on your favorite bun. (1/2 of a bun)(Calories not included for the bun)
 

Minutes to Prepare: 30 Minutes to Cook: 5 Number of Servings: 22  

 

Ingredients

12 oz can of (lite) spam grated.
12 oz of light bologna grated.
2 cups of 2% reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese.
12 tbsps of light mayo
23 tbsps of sweet pickle relish

 

Directions

Grate the spam, bologna, cheese into a large mixing bowl. Add the sweet pickle relish and mayo. Mix together.
Place 3 tablespoons on open side of bun and place under the broiler until cheese is melted and a slight darking of the other ingredients.

Number of Servings: 22

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user SHERI57.

 

    Email Print     TAGS: Beef/Pork | Christmas | Christmas Beef/Pork | Other | Other Beef/Pork | Sandwich | Beef/Pork Sandwich |

 

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Member Ratings For This Recipe

• DIANE7786
  
  Incredible!
  1 of 1 people found this review helpful report inappropriate post I used low sodium deli turkey and only 1 cup of cheese. It is similar to what my neighbor served us when we were kids. - 5/17/10
  
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• LAPSLIDEMAN
  
  Bad
  0 of 2 people found this review helpful report inappropriate post This sounds nasty. It is full of processed meat products. YUK! - 12/12/10
  
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Tink,

I wanted to take a few minutes to tell you how much you are appreciated.  I had my revision about a year an half ago and decided to find my support online this time since my doctor's office is 120 miles from my home.  I found you and a few other positive people on the OH website.  Especially you and a few select others have been a true inspiration to me.  I have been following you throughout this time and have prayed for you on several occasions. You may not always get regular responses from me, because many of us are all out here trying to make it in our busy lives.  Having inspirational people in our lives like you makes the journey worthwhile. 

I am wishing you very Merry Christmas and a healthy and propserous new year in 2012.  May you prosper in good health, friends, and in all ways God can bless you.  Thank you for who you are and have been to all of us!

Blessings,

John Burlison