a different approach to my struggles

[Guest guest]

Hey all ....

Probably only two people here still remember me (that would be

and Randy), but I'm still alive!

In the last week, an army/NG guy contacted me about making rosaries

for the National Guard (the Catholic soldiers preparing for

deployment), we started chatting, next thing I know I'm working

through some deep blocks that have been with me since ... " forever "

.... then I realized a schedule flip that I could have tried months ago

but just didn't think of it then ... this morning I went back and

started with Episode 7 because I think that's where I left off.

Somehow, chatting with my new military friend helped me see where I

have put my own health and needs last on my list, putting myself " on

hold " indefinitely, and being unable to break through this block. I'm

still not sure how it all came about, maybe 'just' answered prayers,

but suddenly seeing that my own health and exercise are as essential

and a " required " part of my overall 'job' as a mother and a wife, as

my heart med, as eating, as taking care of my kids.

Most of my life, I've put off exercise and taking care of myself as

being something that I'd get to once my life 'calmed down'. When I got

enough sleep, when my kids weren't sick or busy, when my husband's

work schedule wasn't as heavy, when he's done school, when my body

stops hurting, when I have a regular schedule that i can stick to ...

when ... when .... when ..... " when " never came. Or it would come for

a week, then " life happens " , then it fell apart again.

Somehow I never put anyone else on a " when " schedule - only myself.

Repeating old patterns of how my mother neglected her own health. I

can't look at it as " this is good for me " or guilt motivators or

anything else - I need to look at it as training to be " fit for duty. "

The only approach that makes sense to me, personally, is being healthy

and strong enough to take care of my family - required fitness. The

element of mental discipline required in the military - it made sense

to me ... I have that mental discipline like an iron will when it

comes to taking care of my family - but I could never summon the

mental discipline required to take care of myself that way. That was

the missing element, I think - developing the mental toughness to keep

my own health as a top priority, as being " fit for duty " to take care

of my family's multiple schedules and manage my busy household.

Eating, I'm doing better with. I have a strong preference for whole

foods, really don't like junk food anymore (it just tastes yucky to

me, and then my digestive tract rebels), overall - okay. My appetite

is still very quirky -- often I just don't feel hungry, until I'm

suddenly ravenous or am about to faint from not eating. So I'm

thinking about that Hunger Journal from Episode 7. Hard to tell when

you're hungry or when you're full if you don't feel hungry at all.

Anyway ... I will see how these changes go, and I made some other

little adjustments to my daily routines. I'm hoping it will work. On

Wednesday, I will listen to Episode 8 - one episode per Air

session. I did this last year, except that I kept trying to do it at

5:30 a.m., and my brain simply rebels against that. So I did a

flip-flop with my daily routine, and realized I could work it in from

6:30 to 7:00 a.m., with a little wiggle room to adjust to my husband's

and my kids' changing schedules. Also - my little one had not started

preschool yet, so I didn't have that " back-up time " to rely on if the

morning session didn't work out. Now not a question of " if " or even

" when " - but that it's REQUIRED, just a matter of what part of the

day. Morning is still my optimal time, but getting it in is essential,

not necessarily what time of day I do it.

Kim

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim,

I remember you as well, and that you do have a very full schedule.

But I remember 's thing about the oxygen masks on the plane--you

always have to take care of yourself first, or you won't be there to

take care of anyone else!

This is certainly a " mom thing, " and I know most mothers will

relate. But YOU ARE IMPORTANT, and you really do need to move yourself

up that priority list.

Know that we're here pulling for you--like Red Green says-- " We're

all in this together! "

Love,

Michele

[Guest guest]

is right. In 's latest episode she talks about " Enlightened

Selfishness. " Even the most charitable organizations agree that charity

starts at home. You can do more for your family if you are healthy.

Just like you would take the time to sharpen your saw rather than try to cut

wood with the dull blade; sharpen your own saw so you can do more for

yourself and those around you. Sharpening the saw is one of the 7 habits.

So glad to hear from you. Love goes out to you and the whole Inside Out

Weight Loss community!