Weight Loss Surgery Support: Daily Inspiration for December 22, 2010Katie Jay, MSW

 

Tell yourself this too shall pass.

 

If the holidays have put a dent in your healthy lifestyle, it's time to forgive yourself and know the holidays will end shortly. You will soon be moving on and getting back into your healthier habits.

 

When you are in a bad place with food, the fear is that you will be there forever. But you won't be. This too shall pass. Tell yourself that and start making plans for better days. They are just around the corner.

 

Action for the day: In your journal, write a loving and healthy plan for tomorrow that will help you feel in control of your eating and your life.

 © 2007, National Association for Weight Loss Surgery. All rights reserved. Daily Inspirations are provided by the National Association for Weight Loss Surgery. Get our free report,  How to Regain-Proof Your Weight Loss Surgery at .www.nawls.com

I like the new picture!!  Beautiful!! 

There is no way I could do this without the help of others. For me just taking one thing at a time helps me not feel so overwhelmed.
Thanks Molly~

The Importance of Setting Medium-Term Goals

A Reward System to Reach Your Dreams!

-- By Joe Downie, Certified Physical Fitness Instructor

So often we daydream and think of some far-off goal that we would like to achieve. "I want to play the guitar in a band," "I want to run a marathon", "I want to be better at my job," etc. It's not difficult at that point to break it down into short-term goals… practice some chords in the evening, run on the weekends, or arrive an hour earlier at work. You get in a groove and suddenly you're on the way to reaching that long-term goal.

However, there are so many other goals where that groove is tougher to find once you get started. You begin to feel overwhelmed as you think about the long journey ahead.

This is where medium-term goals and a reward system can really make a difference. A good medium-term goal can keep the "fire" burning. For the examples above you might set a medium-term goal to play 5 of your favorite songs very well, or to run a half marathon, or create one new idea that will help your co-workers. Some may take longer than others, but bridging the gap between short and long doesn't make the journey seem so "out there!"

You still might get bored and not feel the same enthusiasm as you did early on, and that is why it's important to have a reward system. So, if you have your long-term and short-term goals, and you've just come up with your medium-term goal, it's time to reward yourself for progress. An example: if you achieve 90% of your weekly goals, take yourself out to dinner. If you achieve the weekly goals a total of eight times, buy yourself a new toy. If you achieve a medium-term goal, buy something for your house. For achieving a long-term goal, take a trip!

I know… where is the money coming from???? You don't have to go into debt to reward yourself… but I think the little extra money you shell out to stay motivated will be worth it in the long run. You'll gain more than just playing in a band, running a marathon, or being better at your job; you'll gain all that comes with it! Your life will have become enriched along the way and your self-esteem will skyrocket because you've reached something you've always dreamt about!

Never give up… keep fighting for your dreams!

( Permission to copy given by Iesha at Sparks ) 

Weight Loss Surgery Support: Daily Inspiration for December 21, 2010
Katie Jay, MSW

Exercise your mind.

Your mind needs to adjust to the major changes you've gone through. You have behavior patterns to correct, emotions to process, and information to learn. But where do you begin?

Assess your mental condition and address your issues in that arena. For example, if you are feeling depressed, go talk to a professional about it. If you are confused about what you are supposed to be doing regarding your WLS, seek out experts who can provide you with good information. If you want to change your habits, get support and information so that you can work on the changes you want to make in a more productive way.

Action for the day: Think about your mind today. Are you doing what you need to do to make a mentally healthy adjustment to the new you? If not, begin today.
© 2007, National Association for Weight Loss Surgery. All rights reserved. Daily Inspirations are provided by the National Association for Weight Loss Surgery. Get our free report,  How to Regain-Proof Your Weight Loss Surgery at www.nawls.com.