June Catch Up

Evening campers! Thought it was high time for a wee catch up.

I said that I wanted May to be Magnificent, and well, ok, it wasn't totally as super as I had originally planned, however there have been some significant developments.

As always I'll start with the weight loss success (drum roll please), to date I have lost over 2 1/2 stone! the full 3 stone is firmly in sight (as in about 2lbs away) so very happy with that!

As a consequence, I have had to recycle 2 full bin bags worth of clothes, have dropped about 2 sizes and am having a general feeling of all round smugness - hey I'm allowed! I'm right on target for wearing Bikini on holiday October! :D (oh come ON! it's not THAT scary a thought!.......oh......ok I see your point there, well, that's what skirts / sarongs were invented for ;p )

Ok, now on the Life Coaching front - well, yes I am now 'officially' in business! Have begun undertaking FREE case studies, with referral incentives (either a bottle of wine or my soul, I haven't decided yet); sooooooooooooo if you, or you know anyone who would be interested in a FREE life coaching session, then get them to drop me a line! (I have to do that, I'm trying to programme myself to A (always) B (be) C (closing!) (any Glen Garry Glen Ross fans (or indeed anyone who's been on a sales course) will understand that!!). Now, free case studies are only being offered to a limited number (as frankly I do need to pay my mortgage too you know!) so if you're interest hurry hurry hurry!!! lol

Anyway, still on topic, I have most of my 'marketing' materials, business cards, postcards and of course my own Steps to Success Workbooks (free to all my clients and more of that in a moment!).

The only thing left to finalise is the website, which has now been put on the back burner due to an unfortunate clash with a website designer. Bit sad, but the time and stress it was causing me personally was not worth the money I would have been paying, but hey ho, win some lose some.

Until I can face speaking to another designer, website will have to stay on the home made / basic side I'm afraid. That being said though, ok so it wont look glam, BUT I will still be able to put on there lots of useful FREE downloads etc. It may not be pretty, but it certainly will be functional!

Oh, and before I forget, still in plugging mode I'm afraid, don't forget to check out my new page on facebook https://www.facebook.com/#!/Helenblifecoach and whilst you're there if you could press the 'Like' button I'd really appreciate it. Apparently something happens when you get 30 likes, so that's a good first goal. Also on the page I will be posting things like motivational quotes, links to the blog and general hints tips and all round coaching stuff, so it will be worth checking out / joining / and what-not.

Final thoughts of the day then! I'm really eager to show you guys my workbook to action, so have been thinking I might use it and post jpegs of the pages or something on the blog.

The idea of the workbook is to give the client a tool to help them focus on their goal on a daily and weekly basis, in the hope that this will help them to achieve their goal quicker.

For those die heard readers of my blogs, you will know I'm all up for 30 day challenges, and guess what, the workbook is called 30 Day Kick Start Steps to Success! (genius or what! ok ok you don't have to say it! naughty!).

I do need to think a bit further on this, try to decide what goal I'd use it for that would be worth sharing, maybe a 30lbs in 30 days thing?

I don't know, let me sleep on it, and I'll try and come back tomorrow with goal & workbook in hand!

Well, that's all from me for now - be excellent to each other!

x-x-x

Catch up

Hey, it's not quite been four weeks since last blog post........I'm improving!

Firstly bit of a catch up - weight, weight glorious weight! To date I have lost a total of 28lbs (can I get a whoop whoop!!) April has been a 'slow' weight loss month, but never-the-less is HAS been a weight loss not a weight gain month, so very happy chappy.

My position at Slimming Worlds weighing station is helping me tremendously! Lots of 'how has your week been', 'pop on when you're ready' 'yay that's fantastic well done!' (for the losses) and 'do you know what happened this week' and 'did you have fun though?' etc etc etc. I'm hoping I'm doing a good job for the members, haven't had any complaints so far ;) Really enjoying the small talk with the slimmers so (fingers crossed) it's all good.

Going back to weight loss April - have to say I have been 'coasting' quite a bit, head not really 'in the game', which is why I think it has been a slow month. At least head is 'in' the game though, but for next month, I'm sure I can do better!!!

On a work to be related topic, am in the throws of setting up the consulting room in the conservatory. The aim is to base myself completely in the conservatory, so desk has now been moved and set up to provide me with my own office space. Next to desk I have set up my gym equipment: treadmill, stepper, rower, strider, trampoline, skipping rope, big purple ball thing, ab cruncher (I think that's about it). Naturally I haven't used any of this equipment in months........many months......but like I said, May is going to be a more heads down month, so that could very soon change!!

Other than that, conservatory has a mega tidy & sort out, have only a couple of bits to remove / sort, then I'll be almost there ready to receive :)

Again, on a related topic, am also in the throws of getting a professional website built. Have spoken to two people so far, and hopefully seeing a third this coming week. I'm seeing intro videos, lots of free downloadable hints & tips, interactive quiz to name but a few shiny things I have in mind!! Really excited, but it's going to have to be a 'watch this space' for the moment.

LCD is now officially on maintenance mode. Am booking her once a month now, with next session due in a couple of weeks. When I look back at how far I've come with myself since November (such as tremendous weight loss, improved habits and personal 'barriers' being smashed to smithereens!), I can totally see the benefits of coaching!!

With that thought in mind, as I am making my own way to success, I am really looking forward to helping others to get on the path of their own personal excellence!!

Yeah baby!! let the good times roll (cue for a song me thinks!) :D

This is the week that was, or rather is....

Yes, you're quite right, it has been 2 months since my last confession, so thought it was time for a wee catch up.

Weight wise - oh yes, let's start with that. To date have lost about 23lbs, and have already started to have people look at me funny saying 'have you lost weight?' etc. Literally any day now I will be back into my jeans, which I haven't been able to fit into for about 3 years now, very happy bunny :)

On a related note, I can't remember if I mentioned in the last post, but I've moved Slimming World groups to one closer to ma as she is also wanting to join / support / lose a bit before for 'big day'. She's 7 weeks into her 'journey' and received her first stone award last week (happy claps!). As for myself, I have volunteered as a SW helper. At my request, I have been put on the weighing in station, I thought this would be a good idea as not only will I get used to dealing with people with their weight, but also I can practice quick NLP on them as they weight in......cunning ;)

Next favourite topic - LCD! Still going, and still going well I think, although I am starting to feel I need to phase this out slightly as am generally achieving everything I am setting out to achieve (which is nice!). It's getting back to the stage where I can't think of what else to bring up, as it stands (almost) everything I want to have in motion, is. Perhaps I should discuss this at next session ;)

Next favourite topic - wedding!!! I'll fill more blanks in on the wedding blog, but suffice to say that things are moving along much swifter than anticipated. We have most things sorted in principle, of course we still have deposits to pay and contracts to sign etc, but all in all we both are quite clear as to what we want, and who will provide.

Bit of a short post today, as chickens are about to cause a riot as I've not got them up yet!!

Final topic - LCH (Life Coach Hells for those not already in the know). Since last we spoke, I have almost completed my NLP course (sort of), and that's about it. I know I was doing back flips last time, but I'm afraid to report that I was so busy doing back flips, I didn't actually take any further action to move me forward.....DOH!!!

Never mind, today marks the start of a new week - 5am start (oh yes, that was a 5), and brain is now raring to go. I have decided to make this my very last week of (excuse the French) arsing about. My intention is no matter what, finish NLP course, write up business & marketing plan, and basically as from next Monday, literally be calling myself a life coach and hopefully start getting some clients on board would be nice too. What's stopping me? well frankly not much, asides from my own laziness that it. I have all the skills, tools, time and money I need in order to make this happen. The only thing I need to do is turn off the TV (check) get off my behind (um, in a minute that will be a check), and get moving!!!

Tell you what, I promise to come back next Monday and update on how I done :D

Weight Loss Diary - 6th Sept 2010

Did I ever tell you how much I am loving life at the moment? Oh I did? Ok stuck record alert!

So yesterday then, can definitely say yesterday was fabulous! Firstly, other half was out selling himself at a wedding fair for most of it. Usually when he's out, that's my subconscious cue to eat like a pig and over stuff myself. Ah ha! but not this day! For breakfast I indulged myself and had cheese on toast. That's 1 slice of bread, 3 very thin slices of cheese, and nada else. I enjoyed every single scrummy bite, and about half way through I started to feel full, so put my knife & fork down and stopped.

Yes it taunted me, 'ah go on, just one more bite, you know you really want to'. But actually no I didn't, I listened to my body, and ignored that silly little voice inside my head that always wants more. To ensure I didn't get tempted into finishing it off I quickly put the rest of the toast in the bin - I didn't fancy eating cold cheese on toast later in the day! :P

What a buzz! Sounds daft that, getting a buzz from knowing when your body has had enough, and simply listening to it, and stopping.

In other news, yesterday I also started to go through my pc and have had a bit of a clear out. Bit random? no, still on topic I promise!!

You see, on my pc, I have created for myself so many diets, weight loss thermometers, weight loss records, and excel spreadsheets working out if I lost so many pounds then I'd reach my goal weight by such and such a date. I literally did a day by day weight loss forecast. These have all been deleted, and my goodness, not only did it feel weird doing so, it felt quite therapeutic!

Like I said before DOWN WITH DIETS!! ah ha! To follow through on that philosophy I get to free up quite a lot of computer disk space!! (as well as head space). So what was for dinner? Steak and chips ta! Served on a tea plate so yes it was a much smaller portion that I'd usually have, and yes I ate every last bite - and yes I kept double checking with my body to see when I was getting full. It was just by luck I think that the portion size I gave myself was just enough to satisfy the physical hunger.......Score!!!

This morning I will admit, a tiny part of me wants to hop onto the scales, I mean it's been three days now since I freed myself from the evil that is fad dieting! Thankfully that little voice was silenced almost as soon as it was raised. Tut tut little voice you should really know better than to interfere like that!

I can tell you now that the part of me with 'the little voice' is actually curious to see whether this new way of doing things will work, and in the very back of my mind probably thinks this is just another 'fad' and I'll end up my biggest yet.

However, the more dominant 'voice' (let's call it my inner coach), is somehow able to scream over little voice, and know jolly well that if I carry on the way I am doing, then not only will I be happy, and living life as full as I want it to be, but I'll also be losing weight and WILL reach that healthy weight / body shape that is right for me. In fact the coach voice is so strong inside my head, I have little choice but to listen and believe it!! And I can't even describe how good that feels, how good that makes ME feel about myself.

I think success is quite addictive, although to be perfect honest I'd rather have that as an addiction than getting on the scales every single day and getting depressed because the magic weight loss fairy has yet again failed to make me 9 stone over night.

So how do we start experiencing success? Well you have to start somewhere, so why not start by doing something small.

I challenge you today to seek out success, no matter how small. You've been putting off doing the ironing, but you've got off your bum and finished it - SUCCESS! You ate two slices of toast for breakfast instead of the usual three or four - SUCCESS!! You decided you would by pass the bakery and not have your usual mid morning sausage roll / cake / packet of crisps etc - SUCCESS!!! (one less spoon of sugar in your tea, making that phone call or sending that email you've been meaning to, paying that outstanding bill, turning off the TV and doing something else with your spare time this evening - all adds up to success!! BUT it HAS to be what YOU really want and what is relevant for YOU!(and not because someone else said that you 'had to'))

It doesn't matter how small it may feel at the time, if you have been able to do something that you have either been putting off, didn't think you had the will power, or just something you don't usually do but have now done - mark it up on the chalk board and give yourself a well deserved pat on the back for a job very well done!

There is another part of this challenge - once you have achieved that first success, don't brush it under the carpet. You have GOT to take a step back, and really appreciate what it is you have done - even if it's 'only' getting the vacuum out and vacuuming the carpet! The point is that this is YOUR achievement, YOUR success and you should not only feel proud of yourself for achieving it, but you ARE ALLOWED to bathe in the shiny glory that is your brilliance!

Because believe it or not, you are brilliant - you just may not have realised yet.

So go on - how are you going to be brilliant and achieve your own success today?

x-x-x

Weight Loss Diary 5th Sept 2010

Yesterday I spent three fabulous hours sorting out my front garden! When we first moved to our new home, about two and a half months ago now, our garden was basically a gravel pit. The previous occupiers had covered the 'garden' in builders shingle (not even the pretty stuff!) and for the past sixteen years had been using it as a car park.

Even before we moved in, I told myself that this would be one of the first things I would sort out. It did of course mean moving all that shingle, finding weed repellent matting underneath, hoofing that up, then periodically trying to loosing what was compacted dead soil. After which came the expensive part - buying lots and lots of top soil, compost, bedding flowers, borders and finally the all important turf!

Progress was slow, but steady, as I was doing this mainly all by myself (and on the odd Saturday's ma would come over and help), and week by week, little by little, my little country garden began to emerge.

Yesterday, I was able to lay the final pieces of turf, plant the rockery, and even cover the foot of concrete on the very front edge with bark. Not for the first time on this project, I was able to stand back and really appreciate not only the time and hard work put in, but more importantly the end result!

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not finished yet, I still have my white picket fence to buy / make / put up, a small border separating the grass bit from the 'driveway' bit, oh and let's not forget actually removing another large mound of shingle from the car park bit, flattening that out, and at some point laying paving slabs, or whatever I decide will suit best!

Even though I still have lots to do, my focus is on what I have already achieved - the lush green grass, the pretty flowers still full of colour, the Divine smell of freshly laid bark (sorry it's a fetish I never knew I had until yesterday!!).

So what's my point? Well, let's come back to the real topic of weight loss.

One of the first things I did this morning before taking doggy woof woof out for a walk, was stand in front of my full length mirror and just look at myself, and to be perfectly frank, I didn't dislike what I saw. Ok, so clothes are slightly more loose than I'd of expected (do I dare try a smaller size yet? My sources say no, not yet, maybe next week we'll be brave and see!!) but over all, even when doing a little spin, I can actually see a difference in me.

Now whether this is body shape, or just my own mental perception of me, I really can't say. But the point is I'm starting to look at myself differently, and that my friends is progress!

As with the garden, the initial external view wasn't ideal. It did the job yes, but wasn't what I personally wanted to see. But slowly, week by week, with a little bit consistent effort the results of my labours are beginning to show.

My focus isn't on 'all that weight I've still got to lose' (because let's not kid ourselves, I still have a long way to go on that front). Instead, I've turned my focus onto what I have already lost, and how in that mirror, I can very clearly see my end desired result.

Not only can I see my end result crystal clear, but I'm also beginning to LIVE as if I have already achieved my perfect size and perfect weight.

And that I feel calls for a massive WHOOP WHOOP!!

x-x-x

Weight Loss Challenge - Day Twenty Six

Well blow me, another successful day! (this is starting to become a habit!).

Actually managed a video dairy yesterday morning, which is trying to upload onto YouTube as we speak. I have managed to upload a couple I have done previously (before I decided to do PM's programme) just as a bit of a taster of how I was coping with life before (or not as was the case). Did attempt the new one last night, but it came up with an error message and failed to upload (boo hoo), so fingers crossed this will work now (have just checked the progress, at least I'm seeing the 'preview' as it downloads, so signs (touch wood) are good!).

Also finally started exercising again, did usual toning stuff (arms / legs / abs), and then did a 10 minute walk / jog on the treadmill. Somewhere along the lines I managed to pull something in my upper thigh as it twinged on and off for most of the day. Well, you know what they say no pain......actually I'd rather leave it there, I'm not very good with pain!

Food wise, I tried to gauge where I was on the hunger scale. When I thought I was hungry I decided to have tuna & crackers, but only managed 1 cracker and a few teaspoonful of tuna before I started to feel quite full and bloated, so put the rest of it back in the fridge. I did go back to the tuna later on when I thought I was feeling hungry, and automatically stopped when I had had enough. Usually I can polish of a can in one sitting (including a number of crackers), so this does signal progress to me!

Evening meal wasn't eaten so consciously. Firstly I didn't gauge whether or not I was actually hungry, and secondly, I was feeling quite annoyed at something or other, so on reflection I ate more emotionally. Still, it was only spicy chicken & homemade chips done in the oven so really I'd hardly call it a 'slip up'. I didn't feel hungry, or eat anything throughout the rest of the evening (despite settling down to watch a film, and other half munching on Bombay mix (which he offered to me) and butter popcorn (which he also try to offer me!!). But suffice to say, I actually wasn't interested at all, I was more concerned about keep hydrated so sipped a couple of 750ml bottles of water.

Finally got around to doing the 'mirror exercise' yesterday. Oh dear, I knew I didn't like myself much, but it really brought home how much self loathing I actually do have for myself :(

There are three stages you have to go through. The first is shutting your eyes, imagining that you are someone who loves themselves, and then when you can hold onto and feel comfortable with that feeling, you open yours eyes and stare into them for two minutes. I thought my imagination was better than that, but could I think of a single person? It took me ages, and even then the person I chose I wasn't convinced, so ended up pretending the person was me. Needless to say, I'm not sure the exercise worked in the way it was supposed to.

Step two was closing your eyes, and remembering a compliment someone had paid you, and then you try to imagine seeing yourself through their eyes. I believe I skipped this step as i don't remember doing it!

Finally Step Three, in a nutshell you look at yourself in the mirror (without clothes, or in my case just my underwear), and basically have a good long look at yourself for about a minute or two. I did this last step, and got quite annoyed. Bottom line, I really did despise what I saw (strong word I know, but it was truly how I felt at the time). On the bright side I could start to see how I would look if some bits were 'shaved' off (I just need one of those sanders they use to shave down doors!). In the end I put my clothes back on a walked off in disgust.

And the moral of the story? Well, at least I have started to face up to my body which I have never done. With the hunger scale thing seemingly to be working so far, my next project is getting the Helly Love back (or just the Helly Like would be a great start!). So I guess this means more time in front of the mirror just 'looking' at myself. I'm sure with practice I'll get better, just need to give this whole 'friendly mirror exercise' thingy a chance.

So with the mirror exercise done, I am pleased to report that was able to finally tick everything off in the 90 day journal hurray!

Weight Loss Challenge - Day Twenty Four

When I said I wasn't a slave to the scales any more, I lied! Oops! Maybe it was because I didn't listen to PM's CD yesterday, maybe my 'craving' to hop onto the scales is too great. Whatever you call it, this morning I could resist them no longer I had to just very quickly have a preview as to how I'm doing. After all, this morning I don't feel any different, and couldn't believe that what I had been doing over the past couple of days had made any difference what so ever.

So the results? Well I had to do a double take as the scales have shown me to be 3lbs lighter than when I started PM's programme! Great result, so maybe this thing does work after all!?

One thing is for sure, I know I have an unhealthy obsession with the scales, which must STOP. After all, I really enjoyed the mental freedom from thinking scales? PAH! don't need them every day, I'm fine as I am thank you very much!

I don't know what changed in my psychology this morning. But, what I do know is that PM has provided a couple of techniques in his book regarding cravings, and despite this being more directed at certain foods, I think it's about time I gave it a bash for the scales, hey it's a craving right!?

The other thing I am determined to crack today is no longer being part of the 'clean plate club'. Whether I can detect whether I am full whilst eating or not, I am determined to leave something at every meal, even if it's only a mouthful. Why? apparently it helps you to keep in control of your food, and not the other way around. I can see the theory behind this, but unfortunately I am still well and truly part of 'the club', and very aware that leaving things on the plate will be frowned upon.

Hey ho, for these occasions I must keep telling myself 'I'd rather be slim and in control, than a fat person with a clear plate'.

Priorities for tonight really have to be to listen to the CD, and try out the mirror test (which I haven't even looked at yet and basically involves lots of looking at yourself in the mirror (funny that!)trying to connect with the slimmer you, and produce feelings of love and well being (or something)).

Any how, it's on my list of things to tick off in the 90 day journal, so I really should give it a go.

Right, it's almost time I should be making a move, busy day at work calls so let's just get it over and done with and so I can get onto the fun stuff! (you know, ironing, housework, cooking the fellas tea, you know, the really fun stuff! tee hee).

Weight Loss Challenge - Day Twenty Three

Yesterday I completed my first successful day of Paul McKenna's I can make you thin programme.

I was a little apprehensive as we had my other halfs family over for a BBQ, and I was adamant that this would not cause me to fall 'off the wagon'. Before deciding to commit to this programme, I had originally planned to not eat anything at all, as I have in the past over indulged when presented with lovely BBQ food!

However, according to the golden rules of this plan: 'when you're hungry EAT'. 'Eat what you like so long as you are hungry', 'when you're full, STOP eating' (I'm paraphrasing slightly here, but you get the gist). So with this at the forefront of my mind, I decided that I wanted to have some BBQ food, but I would chew slowly, and stop eating when satisfied.

Amazingly it more or less worked! Essentially I had a burger in a bun and a sausage in a roll. That's it. On the negative side, I could have easily stopped at just the burger, but felt as though I 'should' have the sausage as well so I ate it, it was nice, but I didn't get real enjoyment from doing so.

On the positive side, after eating the sausage in a roll, I didn't feel horrible & bloated, I just felt 'full', and when the chicken came out I didn't think twice about refusing. After the BBQ everyone had chocolate ice cream, everyone apart from me! I didn't fancy it, I was full enough! Instead I busied myself tidying the kitchen (ok not very social, but at least I didn't have to look at everyone eating icecream).

The other great thing is that I didn't feel for a single second that I was 'missing out' on anything, I ate what I felt I wanted and needed, and then simply stopped. That was quite a liberating experience!

What I found slightly difficult yesterday, and what I am trying to practice today, is actually gauging my hunger levels. This may sound odd, but I have spent my whole life either in starvation of completely bloated / over filled with food, so the real hunger signals my body tries to send me are a little feint right now! But that's ok, with practice I am sure I'll get better at this! But like PM has suggested, in these early stages if you don't know you are hungry, guess! If you have two mouthfuls and then find you are full, just stop.

So for now, I am going to follow this philosophy :)

Another thing worthy of note yesterday was that my other half asked whether I was 'on target' for the holiday. My response? I have no idea! This caused him a little concern as it gave him the impression that I had fallen off the wagon and had my head in the sand. But really nothing was further from the truth! Following PMs plan means I have to give the scales a wide berth for a while. By doing this I really have no idea how my actual weight loss is going (but please, it's only been 1 day give me a break!!).

Usually I measure my weight loss success by the scales alone. But with them out the picture how else do I do it? Simple answer is, I don't. I just crack on with life and in 30 days, then we'll see how successful I am.

For the first time in my life, I feel like these chains have been cut. I don't feel right now that I am a slave to the scales, and I feel so much happier and 'lighter' for it!

Weight Loss Challenge - Day Three

Well, we'll start with a brief review on yesterday's progress.

Food wise, I kept telling myself that I had done terribly! But in fact, when I sat and thought about what I had actually eaten, it really wasn't that bad at all.
Poached egg on toast for breakfast (yes with butter), tuna on an oatmeal roll (no butter, but salad cream on the tuna), and a jacket potato with cheese & ham for dinner (this was the most calorific meal of the day). The problem is that I am simply not used to eating breakfast, and doing so completely threw me off balance!

I made a real effort to drink more water yesterday with great success. By the end of the day, I was headache free!

As it is my day off today, last night I decided to have a little bit of a lay in as a treat. Instead of setting the alarm at 6am, I set it a 7am! Hey, I have to start thinking 7am as a lay in now! Upon rising this morning, I automatically had the attitude that todays exercise session was going to be a bit of a flop / just going through the motions. I was extremely tired and not really in the mood for it - it is these times when you really do need to go on automatic pilot.

First off, I had my tablet, then sat down for a few minutes whilst mind & body came to life a little more. I then got up, and began my exercise routine. I started with a little warm up, then went straight onto toning exercises as I 'couldn't be bothered' jumping around to do the cardio stuff.

Whilst doing the toning stuff, I did notice that not only was I automatically increasing the number of reps per exercise, but I was starting to feel a little tighter, leaner and my flexibility was coming back! I've always been quite a flexible person, but since gaining so much weight again, that flexibility had gone out the window!

After I had finished toning my arms, legs & abs, I then decided to have a bash at walking on the treadmill again, so at least I could say that I had done some Cardio this morning! Grabbing my headphones & mp3 player, I put on my 'motivational talk', and as I know this lasts 22 minutes, I told myself I wouldn't get off until the track had finished.

As it turns out, I actually did 32 minutes of walking in the end because when the talk had finished, I thought, ah go on, I'll stay on for a couple of songs and then get off. The first song played was Perfect Day from the Legally Blonde soundtrack (by Hoku I think), which spurred me on so much I upped the speed a bit!

When I eventually got off the machine, me and my legs felt as light as a feather! Honestly, I came off, and after a second or two of adjusting to solid ground, I felt quite light and bouncy. I've not felt like this since the last time I started to exercise regularly!

So really, three days in, and I really do think I can feel improvements already. It isn't physically visable results yet (I'm not that nieve to think it would be!), but psychologically / emotionally I really am feeling the benefits.