Good thoughts...

[Guest guest]

My company has a personal coach that sends out emails to the

employees encouraging them to exercise, watch their weight and other

general self-help tips. They are usually pretty good and I thought I

would share the one from today. It struck home with me since I had a

bad " food " weekend. After reading it, I decided today is Monday and

I am getting back in the saddle again with my water, exercise and

food. There is absolutely nothing I can do about eating too much

peanut butter yesterday. Ha... At least it was protein. Hope this

helps someone put it in perspective like it did me.

R in Nashville

Using Your Mind to Change Your Body

Essential Success Tips

EXPECT TO QUESTION YOUR GOALS as time goes on. " Remember that

everyone has lots of ups and downs on the way to reaching their

goals, and doubting your goal doesn't mean it's not worthwhile, " says

Gerrish. " If you resume some old unhealthy habits for awhile, simply

focus on getting back into your program and doing the best you can. "

LEARN TO TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS and don't judge (or ignore) your

moods. " Don't feel compelled to shake feelings off; instead, heed the

message they give, " says Gerrish. " Let them act as a guide for

determining how and when to shift gears. "

STAY FOCUSED ON WHAT SUCCESS MEANS TO YOU; forget about what other

people think. " Don't use societal standards as a basis for setting

your goals, " says Gerrish. " If you do, you'll set yourself up to feel

like you've failed regardless of what you achieve. "

LEARN FROM WHAT YOU SEE OTHERS DO, but remember you're unique. Resist

the urge to compete and compare - it'll send you down the wrong

path. " Keep things in perspective, because we don't get dealt the

same cards - genes, athletic ability, metabolism, etc., " says Gerrish.

RESIST THE URGE TO SET LOFTY GOALS you'll be slow or unlikely to

reach. Instead, be more modest and set " mini-goals " you can reach in

a few days or weeks. " Achieving success breeds confidence and ensures

your efforts are fueled to stick, " says Gerrish. " For example,

instead of setting a goal of losing three inches off your waist,

strive to lose one inch in a month. "

STOP TO CELEBRATE EVERY SUCCESS before you set any more goals. " If

you have a habit of raising the bar every time you achieve a goal,

take more time to savor your success, " says Gerrish. " You need to

acknowledge how far you've come to increase how far you'll go. "

STOP CRITICIZING YOUR BODY. Think about what you say to yourself and

the words you typically choose. Are they mostly self-defeating words -

for example, " I'm not " or " I can't " ? Replace all negative statements

and thoughts with ones like " I am " and " I can. "

YOU'RE GOING TO FALL OFF YOUR DIET AND EXERCISE PROGRAM NOW AND THEN,

so prepare to climb back on. " All of us go off our diets and miss a

workout once in a while, but if you climb 'back on your horse' when

you do, over time you'll stop falling off, " says Gerrish. " With

practice and patience you'll learn how to center yourself and control

the reins. "

DID U KNOW:

* The bullfrog is the only animal that never sleeps.