21. August 2010 by Patricia.

At a business luncheon the woman sitting opposite asked, “What’s the best exercise for arms?” A wellness coordinator sitting next to me replied, “The one you will do.” What a great answer!

It seems to me that a version of this answer applies to almost any aspect of our lives. What do you think about her answer?

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17. July 2010 by Patricia.

Advice on how to better ourselves is everywhere. I read an article just last week describing the “deadliness” of sitting too long – at a desk, in traffic, in front of the television. The writer advised countering too much sitting by walking with co-workers for a business meeting instead of sitting in a conference room. Nice idea in theory. Those of us living in hot climates would need to shower afterwards.  It always comes down to an individual solution doesn’t it?

Have you been given any advice lately that is someone else’s solution, which simply doesn’t work for you?

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10. July 2010 by Patricia.

I took a Pilates class this week, and wondered how many of us were following the Pilates instructor because we love our bodies, and how many because we hate our bodies. This Pilates mat class is quite strenuous with a lot of core work. I wondered whether my classmates were honoring their bodies with the gift of movement, or hoped the Pilates moves would reduce their waistlines.

When you exercise do you love yourself or hate yourself? Does it matter?

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29. May 2010 by Patricia.

If you’ve been trying over and over to lose weight with calorie-restricted diets – low cal, high fiber, high protein – and nothing has worked in the long-term, is it possible that no one such program will do that? Then, what will?

If you really want to end the overeating/dieting cycle, a way out of this dilemma is to develop your own special practice - a practice that builds on your own insights and creates resiliency, stamina and inner resources.

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22. May 2010 by Patricia.

During a 9 hour ride – from Big Bend National Park to our home - I had a wonderful opportunity to ask our two oldest grandsons about their food habits. Both mentioned that when bored, they did not hesitate to go to the kitchen to snack, even if they weren’t actually hungry. Here’s what struck me. The boys thought this was a perfectly reasonable thing to do and did not chastise themselves for eating to assuage boredom. Is it possible that we are simply too hard on ourselves around our food habits?

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8. May 2010 by Patricia.

I asked my grandson if he wanted a banana. He said he would think about it. Ten minutes later he said he would have half and split it with my husband Bob.

Do you know whether you want a half, quarter or a whole banana?

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1. May 2010 by Patricia.

It can be exciting to think about burning 600 calories in one hour. You may have seen the report of new research suggesting that older women need an hour or more of modest activity daily to avoid gaining weight. The more important question is whether a fitness schedule will be fulfilling, enjoyable or sustainable over the long term.

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24. April 2010 by Patricia.

There is no question that it takes time to cook healthy meals for ourselves, so what is the benefit?

I see meal preparation as part of self-care and a way to connect with the food we eat. When food choices and body weight are issues, I believe the process of selecting and cooking healthy foods can help in staying aware of what and how much we are eating.

Eating with awareness reinforces the message that we know how to nurture and care for ourselves.

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17. April 2010 by Patricia.

For years I was not able to “drop the pounds” as quickly or as completely as ads on TV shows claimed. “Everyone out there” could do it but not me. The only conclusion I could come to was that there must be something wrong with me. [I know now, of course, that there wasn’t anything wrong with me.]

What happens when we sidestep hyped T.V. shows, diets that make marketers money, and questions designed to make us feel guilty? We then have a chance to listen to our own bodies, to find our own insights that will lead us to not only “drop the pounds” but to keep them off….. and to live a happy, healthy life at peace with food.

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13. March 2010 by Patricia.

In coaching circles we are often taught to respond to a client with a series of “Why” questions until she finds resolution. I’m not overly keen on the “Why” question because it is too often used as a form of manipulation: explain yourself! Instead I do like the “Are you willing to explore …..” question. Here’s how it goes:

“I don’t know if I’m hungry but I just want to eat” – Are you willing to explore that?

“I don’t want to … I just want to eat” – Are you willing to explore that?

“I don’t have the time right now” – Are you willing to explore that?

Asking this type of question can be very illuminating.

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