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Recent Posts
Topic: Cold and Sore Throat
Ugh. I have a cold and sore throat. I came down with it on Friday and got to spend my entire weekend being sick.
In my pre-op days, to cool down my throat, I'd eat ice cream. Now, to cool down my throat, I drank a protein drink blended with ice in my Magic Bullet. Wow, I've come a long way.
Whenever I get sick, I want to be nurtured, feel better NOW! I would turn to my favorite comfort food to make me feel better. Even seven years post-op, I still have that desire. When I get sick with a cold, I get really sick. I was told that I should have sinus surgery that would be 50/50 successful. I get really sick with colds because of the way my sinuses are. My husband had sinus surgery and uh, no thanks. Since having surgery, I don't get colds nearly like I used to before I had surgery.
So, I'm laying low, resting my voice and taking care of myself in non-food ways. That's the best self-nurturing that I can do!
Cathy, CLC
Certified Life Coach, Weight Loss Surgery Coach
Back on Track Facilitator
In my pre-op days, to cool down my throat, I'd eat ice cream. Now, to cool down my throat, I drank a protein drink blended with ice in my Magic Bullet. Wow, I've come a long way.
Whenever I get sick, I want to be nurtured, feel better NOW! I would turn to my favorite comfort food to make me feel better. Even seven years post-op, I still have that desire. When I get sick with a cold, I get really sick. I was told that I should have sinus surgery that would be 50/50 successful. I get really sick with colds because of the way my sinuses are. My husband had sinus surgery and uh, no thanks. Since having surgery, I don't get colds nearly like I used to before I had surgery.
So, I'm laying low, resting my voice and taking care of myself in non-food ways. That's the best self-nurturing that I can do!
Cathy, CLC
Certified Life Coach, Weight Loss Surgery Coach
Back on Track Facilitator
Cathy
Want to get back on track or stay on track? Get Back On Track Together!
Topic: Where my food issues originated
One of the things I've thought about since my addiction class is what purpose my food issues have served in my life.
Why did I turn to food to help me cope? My family was very much into appearances. You know, the perfect family, the perfect house, two cars and the perfect children with the parents that had a perfect marriage - NOT! I was inquisitive. When things didn't seem as they appeared, I questioned things to understand. That questioning of the perfect appearance was not only unappreciated but punished and rejected.
I see very clearly why I turned to food for comfort and to squelch the true me to fit in and be loved. It gives me real compassion and respect for that little girl that did what she needed to in order to get through.
I'm who I am today for what I've done and been through. While I would prefer a life full of only sunshine, rainbows and roses, I'm happy and grateful for who I am and where I am today. I'm also who I am for the thorns and rain storms that bring the roses along with the sunshine and rainbows.
Cathy, CLC
Certified Life Coach, Weight Loss Surgery Coach
Why did I turn to food to help me cope? My family was very much into appearances. You know, the perfect family, the perfect house, two cars and the perfect children with the parents that had a perfect marriage - NOT! I was inquisitive. When things didn't seem as they appeared, I questioned things to understand. That questioning of the perfect appearance was not only unappreciated but punished and rejected.
I see very clearly why I turned to food for comfort and to squelch the true me to fit in and be loved. It gives me real compassion and respect for that little girl that did what she needed to in order to get through.
I'm who I am today for what I've done and been through. While I would prefer a life full of only sunshine, rainbows and roses, I'm happy and grateful for who I am and where I am today. I'm also who I am for the thorns and rain storms that bring the roses along with the sunshine and rainbows.
Cathy, CLC
Certified Life Coach, Weight Loss Surgery Coach
Cathy
Want to get back on track or stay on track? Get Back On Track Together!
Topic: Addiction Coaching Course
I started my addiction coaching course last night. It was great! The instructor has a different perspective on addictions. I've done a considerable amount of personal growth work throughout the years on my issues with food and emotional eating. I am hopeful that this course will be quite insightful.
The instructor lectured on how addictions and compulsions start. It was fascinating and I strongly believe it will help me to be a better weight loss surgery coach AND make a big difference in my own understanding and personal growth as a post-op. It is going to be a very comprehensive in-depth course.
I'm very excited for this course to learn more and to be able to share it with my clients, leaders and members. Just from the first class, I have a better understanding and compassion for myself as to why I turned to food in the first place.
I'll continue to share what I learn in the course.
Cathy, CLC
Certified Life Course, Weight Loss Surgery Coach
The instructor lectured on how addictions and compulsions start. It was fascinating and I strongly believe it will help me to be a better weight loss surgery coach AND make a big difference in my own understanding and personal growth as a post-op. It is going to be a very comprehensive in-depth course.
I'm very excited for this course to learn more and to be able to share it with my clients, leaders and members. Just from the first class, I have a better understanding and compassion for myself as to why I turned to food in the first place.
I'll continue to share what I learn in the course.
Cathy, CLC
Certified Life Course, Weight Loss Surgery Coach
Cathy
Want to get back on track or stay on track? Get Back On Track Together!
Topic: What are your gifts?
For those of you that know me, you know that I LOVE quotes. Something about the short length but powerful punch that I'm left with.
Here's one for today that was prompted by member/leader, Trina....
Each day comes bearing its gifts. Untie the ribbons.
-Ann Ruth Schabader
I checked my OH Group for my daily weekday post. I saw a wonderful, thoughtful post she made to me. It is early yet I already received a special gift from Trina....thank you.
The concept of gifts throughout your day focuses on being aware of the big and most often little things in our day. Last week, there was a day that I started out feeling I was in a fun. By the end of the day, I'd gathered all sorts of gifts. It made me realize that funk and any emotions are temporary and fleeting. The gifts of our day are enduring and stay with us.
I'm facing each day with the anticipation, awareness of focus on what gifts each day brings to me, and to be grateful for each one.
Cathy
Here's one for today that was prompted by member/leader, Trina....
Each day comes bearing its gifts. Untie the ribbons.
-Ann Ruth Schabader
I checked my OH Group for my daily weekday post. I saw a wonderful, thoughtful post she made to me. It is early yet I already received a special gift from Trina....thank you.
The concept of gifts throughout your day focuses on being aware of the big and most often little things in our day. Last week, there was a day that I started out feeling I was in a fun. By the end of the day, I'd gathered all sorts of gifts. It made me realize that funk and any emotions are temporary and fleeting. The gifts of our day are enduring and stay with us.
I'm facing each day with the anticipation, awareness of focus on what gifts each day brings to me, and to be grateful for each one.
Cathy
Cathy
Want to get back on track or stay on track? Get Back On Track Together!
Topic: RE: Funk No More!!
Hi Trina,
Thank you so very much for your post. It means so much to me. You did for me what that support group member did for you. Again....thanks more than you know.
When you wake up and wonder if anyone cares - I DO, I DO VERY MUCH. Please don't ever doubt that. I know that I am one of many.
You have encouraged and motivated me as well. I've enjoyed getting to know you and look forward to getting to know you even beter. Thanks for all of your support, encouragement and motivation you give to me too.
Hugs, Cathy
Thank you so very much for your post. It means so much to me. You did for me what that support group member did for you. Again....thanks more than you know.
When you wake up and wonder if anyone cares - I DO, I DO VERY MUCH. Please don't ever doubt that. I know that I am one of many.
You have encouraged and motivated me as well. I've enjoyed getting to know you and look forward to getting to know you even beter. Thanks for all of your support, encouragement and motivation you give to me too.
Hugs, Cathy
Cathy
Want to get back on track or stay on track? Get Back On Track Together!
Topic: RE: Funk No More!!
Cathy,
I just wanted to let you know that I read your accomplishments and you are awesome..... Wow, what a motivator you are... Keep up the posting because even though you think there is no feedback or no one listening.... OMG there is...
I attended a local support group for my area tonight for OH. There was a lady that walked into the room and headed straight for me and said your name is Trina.... She continued to say "I read all of your post and you have encouraged me so much and you are the reason I am here"...
A tear came to my eye because I woke up this morning still thinking that no one even cared if I woke u*****t. I made myself go to the local OH function because I did not want to let anyone down that I had made a commitment to.... But man I really didn't want to go. I wanted to isolate myself with depression.... so bad....
In some small way she showed me that we do make a difference by just showing up and we never never never know who is watching what we say.
Hugs to you Hun, Trina
I attended a local support group for my area tonight for OH. There was a lady that walked into the room and headed straight for me and said your name is Trina.... She continued to say "I read all of your post and you have encouraged me so much and you are the reason I am here"...
A tear came to my eye because I woke up this morning still thinking that no one even cared if I woke u*****t. I made myself go to the local OH function because I did not want to let anyone down that I had made a commitment to.... But man I really didn't want to go. I wanted to isolate myself with depression.... so bad....
In some small way she showed me that we do make a difference by just showing up and we never never never know who is watching what we say.
Hugs to you Hun, Trina
Topic: Funk No More!!
From my post yesterday, I was in a funk. I anticipated the funk would continue for the day. WRONG! I had a 180 degree day.
As a formerly morbid obese person, I want to eat for that comfort, soothing change of feeling from emotional eating. Thanks to my coach training and experience especially, I have really been able to get a handle like never before on my emotional eating and head hunger. So, did I want to eat yesterday as I really hate feeling in a funk....YES! Did I...NO! And I am so glad I didn't. I'll share with you why.
I thought the funk would last all day. I called a couple of friends to talk, did some extra self-nurturing, self-care things that I love and that helped but my funk was still hanging over me like a dark cloud. I decided I was going to sit with it and let it pass at some point. I knew that it would but I had no idea how and when.
As my day progressed, it got better. I e-mailed with some leaders and members (which I LOVE to do). I spoke with my own coach which I also LOVE to do. As I sat with my funk and even though I didn't like it, I acknowledged it with the awareness that "this too shall pass" and it did.
I had my last formal observed coaching session last night for my advanced accreditation. It is similar to a final that is 99.9% of your grade for the class. With being in a funk, I was very concerned as to how I would do. I even thought about cancelling it since it is so important and I didn't feel at the top of my norm. I decided not to cancel because coaching and clients are the priority when you are a coach.
I coached the "client" for my last observed coaching session. It was one of the best coaching sessions I've ever had!!! The feedback from two observers compared my coaching to the level by the senior instructor of my coach training program. What? WOW! To me, that was the highest compliment I would ever have. Then, the main observer who usually provides feedback about 50%/50% of positive aspects of the session and things you could have/should have done better. I received about a 98% of things that I did great. The feedback was all positive and amazing.
The reason I'm sharing this with you is for the lesson I learned. Life is great because without the self-medicating numbing effects of emotional eating, you are able to recognize and appreciate the lessons in every situation. The lesson that I learned is that as bad of a funk I felt, if you sit with any uncomfortable emotions long enough, things turn and change. I felt so awesome last night from my formal observer feedback and ratings. I felt even more awesome and deeply grateful that it wasn't diminished by the negative emotions of guilt, shame, remorse from turning to food to soothe the funk.
Give yourself the same gift of the lesson. We don't need the crutch of emotional eating. WE CAN DO IT ON OUR OWN without the assistance of food!
Cathy, CLC
Certified Life Coach, Weight Loss Surgery Coach
As a formerly morbid obese person, I want to eat for that comfort, soothing change of feeling from emotional eating. Thanks to my coach training and experience especially, I have really been able to get a handle like never before on my emotional eating and head hunger. So, did I want to eat yesterday as I really hate feeling in a funk....YES! Did I...NO! And I am so glad I didn't. I'll share with you why.
I thought the funk would last all day. I called a couple of friends to talk, did some extra self-nurturing, self-care things that I love and that helped but my funk was still hanging over me like a dark cloud. I decided I was going to sit with it and let it pass at some point. I knew that it would but I had no idea how and when.
As my day progressed, it got better. I e-mailed with some leaders and members (which I LOVE to do). I spoke with my own coach which I also LOVE to do. As I sat with my funk and even though I didn't like it, I acknowledged it with the awareness that "this too shall pass" and it did.
I had my last formal observed coaching session last night for my advanced accreditation. It is similar to a final that is 99.9% of your grade for the class. With being in a funk, I was very concerned as to how I would do. I even thought about cancelling it since it is so important and I didn't feel at the top of my norm. I decided not to cancel because coaching and clients are the priority when you are a coach.
I coached the "client" for my last observed coaching session. It was one of the best coaching sessions I've ever had!!! The feedback from two observers compared my coaching to the level by the senior instructor of my coach training program. What? WOW! To me, that was the highest compliment I would ever have. Then, the main observer who usually provides feedback about 50%/50% of positive aspects of the session and things you could have/should have done better. I received about a 98% of things that I did great. The feedback was all positive and amazing.
The reason I'm sharing this with you is for the lesson I learned. Life is great because without the self-medicating numbing effects of emotional eating, you are able to recognize and appreciate the lessons in every situation. The lesson that I learned is that as bad of a funk I felt, if you sit with any uncomfortable emotions long enough, things turn and change. I felt so awesome last night from my formal observer feedback and ratings. I felt even more awesome and deeply grateful that it wasn't diminished by the negative emotions of guilt, shame, remorse from turning to food to soothe the funk.
Give yourself the same gift of the lesson. We don't need the crutch of emotional eating. WE CAN DO IT ON OUR OWN without the assistance of food!
Cathy, CLC
Certified Life Coach, Weight Loss Surgery Coach
Cathy
Want to get back on track or stay on track? Get Back On Track Together!
Topic: Funk feeling
I woke up this morning and I feel in a funk. Yesterday was a bit of a funk too. I don't like funk. That isn't my norm. However, it is what it is.
Before I had surgery, I would eat to feel better. Sometimes, although not often, I still do. The difference is that I acknowledge I feel in a funk. It possibly is going to be a funky day but maybe not.
When I feel this way, I do extra nurturing types of things for myself. This helps me to feel better and avoid emotional eating. Another thing that helps is to acknowledge I feel in a funk. Instead of changing it with food, acknowledge it and know that it is temporary and will pass. When it passes, I'l be happy that I didn't compound the funk with the guilt (and pounds) of emotional eating in an attempt to temporarily change it.
So, I'm recognizing the funk I feel and going forward with my day with that awareness. I'm also aware that this too will pass. For me, pass without emotionally eating to change the funk. That is one of the gifts of weight loss surgery.
Cathy, CLC
Certified Life Coach, Weight Loss Surgery Coach
Before I had surgery, I would eat to feel better. Sometimes, although not often, I still do. The difference is that I acknowledge I feel in a funk. It possibly is going to be a funky day but maybe not.
When I feel this way, I do extra nurturing types of things for myself. This helps me to feel better and avoid emotional eating. Another thing that helps is to acknowledge I feel in a funk. Instead of changing it with food, acknowledge it and know that it is temporary and will pass. When it passes, I'l be happy that I didn't compound the funk with the guilt (and pounds) of emotional eating in an attempt to temporarily change it.
So, I'm recognizing the funk I feel and going forward with my day with that awareness. I'm also aware that this too will pass. For me, pass without emotionally eating to change the funk. That is one of the gifts of weight loss surgery.
Cathy, CLC
Certified Life Coach, Weight Loss Surgery Coach
Cathy
Want to get back on track or stay on track? Get Back On Track Together!
Topic: Food addiction - learning a different perspective
I'm taking a course in Addiction Coaching that is going to be fantastic as far as coaching and helping wls patients. It is going to be very helpful to me personally as a post-op myself.
The instruction goes in a direction that has a different perspective to the normal 12-step and there's something "wrong" with addiction tendencies. I am VERY excited at learning this myself so I can incorporate into my own life and bring it to my clients and OH members.
It is a 14 week course so it is quite comprehensive. It will be great.
So, stay tuned.....if anyone has any questions or wants to discuss with me, contact me at [email protected].
Cathy
The instruction goes in a direction that has a different perspective to the normal 12-step and there's something "wrong" with addiction tendencies. I am VERY excited at learning this myself so I can incorporate into my own life and bring it to my clients and OH members.
It is a 14 week course so it is quite comprehensive. It will be great.
So, stay tuned.....if anyone has any questions or wants to discuss with me, contact me at [email protected].
Cathy
Cathy
Want to get back on track or stay on track? Get Back On Track Together!
Topic: Looking back
I am happy. Things are great right now for me. I am so excited about my life that I can hardly sleep!! With my great job with OH, my coach training, my coaching practice, teaching the Basic Bariatric Coaching Workshop that I wrote and now an instructor with Bariatric University, I feel so fulfilled in my career.
My husband and sons are great. My son that just started junior high loves it. He is happier than I've seen him in the past two years. For some reason, middle school wasn't his thing. Now, he's thrilled with school again and rejuvenated. As his mom, it makes me so happy to see him thriving as a junior high school student.
I reflect on things regularly. I like to see how far I've come in my personal growth, appreciate the changes I've made in my life. It also helps me when the calm waters are no longer calm due a storm in my life, I can trust that it will pass and there are lessons in life to be learned from storms. I can also see how things that I perceived as awful or not as I want them actually were a good thing. In some way, I learned valuable life lessons, things about myself, stretched me to grow, and brought me to where I am today.
It has been a challenge to know that whatever happens in my life, I'll be okay. Especially, I'll be even better, stronger without the crutch of emotional eating. I'm enjoying the joys of today and prepared for anything that may muddy or stir up the calm waters. Thrive rather than feel like a victim of food and emotional eating. You are stronger than anything you can eat.
Thrive!!
Cathy
My husband and sons are great. My son that just started junior high loves it. He is happier than I've seen him in the past two years. For some reason, middle school wasn't his thing. Now, he's thrilled with school again and rejuvenated. As his mom, it makes me so happy to see him thriving as a junior high school student.
I reflect on things regularly. I like to see how far I've come in my personal growth, appreciate the changes I've made in my life. It also helps me when the calm waters are no longer calm due a storm in my life, I can trust that it will pass and there are lessons in life to be learned from storms. I can also see how things that I perceived as awful or not as I want them actually were a good thing. In some way, I learned valuable life lessons, things about myself, stretched me to grow, and brought me to where I am today.
It has been a challenge to know that whatever happens in my life, I'll be okay. Especially, I'll be even better, stronger without the crutch of emotional eating. I'm enjoying the joys of today and prepared for anything that may muddy or stir up the calm waters. Thrive rather than feel like a victim of food and emotional eating. You are stronger than anything you can eat.
Thrive!!
Cathy
Cathy
Want to get back on track or stay on track? Get Back On Track Together!
