A New Year ... what will you do with it?

Happy New Year!  May 2014 we all that you wish it to be.

As I was mulling over what my first post of 2014 would be I realised that Slender Goddess is 2 years old ... happy dance ... big grin ... Happy birthday Slender Goddess, and thank you for all that you are to me, all that you have taught me, and all that you have (hopefully) brought to others.  And thank you to those of you who have taken the time to read my blog ... you are all most appreciated.

And in mulling over what this, my first blog of the new year, would be I thought about exactly that ... a new year ... a new opportunity to do things differently ... new opportunities.  So ... do you set New Year's Resolutions?

I used to, but by the end of January most (if not all) would have fallen by the wayside and I would just be disgruntled and disgusted with myself for not achieving my resolutions.  According to the University of Scranton, Pennsylvania, their research indicates that only 8% of those who set New Year's resolutions achieve them.  Eight percent seems to be a recurring theme in setting resolutions, goals, intentions.  Research has shown that only 8% of the world's population ever set goals, and that only 3% of that 8% actually achieve those goals.  I think, too often, we set huge goals for ourselves and then, when we realise the enormity of what is required to achieve them, we are overwhelmed and lose interest.

A few years ago a good friend of mine came up with the idea of picking just one word for yourself ... a word that would have meaning for you ... a word to focus you for the new year.  Her idea was adapted from the original concept written about in Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love where she talks about a single word describing a city.  You can read her original blog here to get a better idea of how it works.  And since then, she has challenged us annually to pick a word for the new year ahead.  And I have to say, it has worked a treat!  By narrowing it down to just one word, it allows you to narrow your focus so that you are not overwhelmed from the get-go.

In 2012 I chose "Achieve" as my word ... and boy did I ever (you can read about it here).  However, in 2013 my word, "Success", didn't quite come about as I had intended it to.  Yes, I did succeed in certain areas of my life but the success as I had defined it never came to pass.  Although success didn't come to be as I had envisioned it, it came to me in far different ways than I imagined ... blessings for which I am truly grateful.  Now, in 2014, we have been promoted to three words for the year (you can read about it here).  So, I have chosen my words (Surrender ♥ Abundance ♥ Service), set my intentions, and look forward to this new year and what it will bring.

I now challenge you to do the same.  Pick 3 words that are meaningful to you, set you intention, and then go out and do it!  What will your 3 words be?  What will you do with this brand new year brimming with wonderful new opportunities?  Let me know ... I'd love to hear about it.

May you be richly blessed in the year ahead.  Much love and good wishes.

Warmest regards,

A revamp for the New Year

Oh my word, this has been a roller-coaster of a year!!!  Many highs, many lows too.  However!  No matter how bad things have become, I have MANY things to be thankful for.  It has also been a HUGE contributor to the spiritual journey I began around the time that "Slender Goddess" blog was born.  

Originally when I started Slender Goddess it was not my intention to focus only on weight issues.  I know that many struggle, day-to-day, to make sense of the crazy world we live and I thought my blog would be a good platform to share  "General thoughts and ideas on life, the journey to releasing weight; and staying sane."  So, in honour of the new year that is just around the corner, I think a bit of a revamp is in order.  I will continue to share weight related blogs (since they do insist on being written *grin*) but will also start including other topics as I had originally intended.

I'm looking forward to sharing the new look with you.  So, ladies and gents ... watch this space for the improved version. 

In the meantime, have a blessed day.

Something that FINALLY makes sense!

 

After years of blood, sweat, tears and, eventually, a kind of truce, I've finally discovered what I've been doing wrong all these years!!!

As a qualified Life Coach, weight loss is not a topic I've been comfortable contemplating coaching another person about, as it has been such a major (negative) part of my life since the age of eight.  But as I've continue down this life path I've chosen for myself, my need to grow spiritually and mentally has led me to research many different topics.  So imagine my delight when I came upon a new concept!

Since I have long ago come to the realisation that nothing happens “by chance” in life, I accept that I was meant to find this particular website which promotes the concept of loving yourself thin.  “Yeah right”, I hear you snort in derision; but hear me out.

The entire concept is based on the premise of positive self love … after all, if we can’t love ourselves, how can we expect other people to love us?  It also embraces the practice of mind power and the power of your thoughts.  They speak of releasing weight as opposed to losing weight … why didn't I think of this?!?!?  When you put it out into the Universe you wish to lose weight, the subconscious thinks, “Wait, if you lose something, it has to be found.  I’ll help you find that weight and put it right back where it was!”  So, instead when you decide to release weight, the subconscious thinks, “I’ll give you a hand with that … I’ll help you undo the ties that bind and we’ll release that pesky, unwanted weight right out into the universe.  I’m sure there’s a soul out there who could use this extra weight.”

What a concept!

But, if you stop and really think about it for a moment, it makes good sense.  Any change you wish to bring about in your life all begins with a single thought!  There is nothing we do, consciously or unconsciously that doesn’t start out as a thought.  The trick is to be mindful of your thoughts.  Have you ever noticed that when you’ve consciously decided that today is going to be a good day no matter what, it is?  Why?  Because you have consciously decided it will be so.  So why can’t that include how you view shedding weight?  The more positive your thoughts are the more positive the results are.

I have put this theory in to practice and over the past 2 months have “released” 4 pounds (2kg) without making any significant changes to what I eat.  All I’ve changed is the way I look at the situation.  Yes, it does mean that I have made a conscious effort to be aware of what thoughts I have and how they are worded.  But, yes, it has had results.

If you are interested in finding out more about this concept, email me at dorothy@inspirante.co.za, and I’ll help you to release your inner slenderness.

Wishing you great success with releasing you weight.

The Slender Goddess, :)

Cape Town 

Guest Blog proudly presents : Me First! Really??

Me First!  Really??

With much love and appreciation to the Slender Goddess for allowing me to Guest Post …

So it’s a big year for me this year, and my goal (for years) has been to be healthy (code for thin) for my 40^th Birthday!  Well I won’t reach my end-goal by then but I am working on it!

So let me back track a little …

Hi … I am Overweight and I’m an addict, a foodie, an emotional eater, a stress eater, a chocoholic, a pastry-a-holic and my sugar and carb addiction knows no bounds!  At some point in my formative years I learned a scarcity mentality and I have traded on my genetic ties of being the product of two World War 2 babies … BUT at some point I have to stop labelling, blaming and claiming it and start doing something about it!

My mother says I am harsh on people who have been dealt and perpetuate “victim mentality” around life dealing bad hands.  We all have shitty cards dealt us but I firmly believe that at some point we must draw a line under the hurts and shizz from the past and say “that was the past and it does not need to be my future!  That it is NOT going to be my future” and then actively work towards making a new and improved future your new reality.  I believe it is the ONLY WAY!  So with all of that flawed principled’ness … what am I doing about my unhealthy weight, to embrace and devour my current (and future) dreams and goals?

Like the start of every new year, we do the obligatory resolutions and 6 guesses what mine was this year (um like I think the last 17 years or so – but who is counting)!  SO I put my brain in gear and gave myself a firm pep talk, girded my flab and embarked on a managed high protein, low carb, calorie restricted weight release program (the eating plan of the moment).  Drastic times call for drastic action!

So I am 6 weeks in and I have learned some major life lessons:

1.       We All Know:  This is not rocket science (which of course we all know) it’s a case of doing the maths and working on the ratio of input vs output.  Now although I do agree with the logic of that statement (after all I am part Vulcan, pointy ears and all) … I do believe there is more to it than just that, which I am investigating … more to follow …     

2.       Management:  We all know what we need to do, it is about putting things into concrete action and getting on with it!  But sometimes we don’t know some of the rules (they seem to constantly change), so it is important to get direction and guidance.  This journey is rarely a success when undertaken alone.        

3.       Habit:  I’ve learned how much of what and when we eat is a habit.  Are we really hungry or do we eat to fill the emotion, the silence, the space?     

4.       P&P:  It’s all about planning and preparation!  This speaks to my inner OCD and my Compulsive Planning Disorder!

5.       ME FIRST?!?!:  And finally, and possibly the most important of all … I have to put me first and this one I know many of us struggle with!  Particularly us full-time working mum’s!  How often do we put everyone (and everything) else before us … the kids, hubby, work, washing, dishes, dinner, school projects, homework, packing school bags, prepping for the next school and working day, extended family & friends … and then and only then when everything else is ticked off on the list … we get round to us!  By then it is 10.30pm and we are knackered – ah screw it!      

I’ve realized for this program and ME to be a success, I HAVE to carve that time out of my already overflowing day to MAKE time for ME!  To do some exercise (at the moment I have befriended the much feared stairs in my office building for that relegated task).  I need to plan ahead, exactly what I am going to eat for the day (and the week to ensure balance and groceries), I must make the time to MAKE the food I am going to take for the day ahead to stay on the mapped program.  Early every morning I have to make sure I go get my required 2l  of water and then make sure I have consumed it all before 3pm everyday (so that I don’t have a bathroom crisis in the ever worsening traffic home).  I must make the time to eat my lunch and do the same with the 2 required snacks to keep blood sugar levels flat.           

I have to make me a priority!

It’s never an easy process, but on most days it is easier than the fear of the reality.  Like a recovering alcoholic … TODAY, I am strong!  There are more good days than bad and when I enjoy a treat (or 5) I am making sure that I return to the program.  For me, Monday to Friday’s are fabulous and I can “control” 98% of that.  Weekends are harder … but I am getting there …

My reality is that for me, there is a long road ahead, but I am learning so much about myself and surely that is one of our purposes … to learn and evolve?

And daily I hold onto the quote that “Nothing tastes as good, as thin feels!”

Watch this space … I’ll return to share more of the unfolding story …

The power is in our hands!

Warm regards

Hi … I am Overweight and I’m an addict …

Song of the Post … Finally!  From the epic movie Priscilla Queen of the Dessert!

Let it go, let it go, let it go ...

Ok, so maybe that is a bit of a weak twist on one of my favourite Christmas songs ... Let it snow ... :), but hey this is what artistic license is all about right?  Seriously though, it is what I want to ask you to do. 

2012 Has been a HUGE learning year for me.  I started this blog, finished my personal coaching course and qualified with honours, I started a company, I learnt how to set up a website from scratch and so the list continues.  Looking back now, I was destined to achieve ... it was, after all, my word for 2012.   Part of my learning, as I continue my personal journey to find my inner (Slender) Goddess, was having a tarot reading for the first time ever.  I had always been curious about Tarot and my "sister-of-the-heart" treated me to one earlier this year.  I took away a number of valuable lessons and thoughts.

The one, however, that stood out the most for me was ... "Surrender and Release".  After telling me how I have a tendency to bottle everything up inside and causing myself unnecessary extra stress, I needed to find a way to surrender my worries, fears, anxieties and troubled thoughts and release them to the Divine.  "Wow!", I thought, "I've never thought of that.  Maybe I could give it a try and see how it goes."  At this point, I should tell you that I suffer from insomnia when I bottle things up ... doesn't take a genius to figure out why.  So I went home, and that night as I was ending my prayers, I tacked on to the end "Please take these worries, fears, anxieties and troubled thoughts from me as I surrender and release them into your safekeeping."  It was said with meaning and intent, and let me tell you it worked!

Today, I have been introspective.  I've looked back on this past year to reflect on all that has been, come and gone.  What I have learned.  And how I can use these lessons in 2013.  That's when it hit me!  What if I took time to work through the issues I have that keep me trapped in this overweight body and "surrender and release" them to my Divine?  Surely it would begin to heal the wounds and scars that remain after 38 years of battling with my weight issues?  I know I didn't create them, but I have moments where I aid them.  What if i just "let it go, let it go, let it go" ... ?  I realise that there are probably many people out there who have already come to this conclusion but it has taken me this long to get here.  So I encourage you, now, to do the same.  Whatever religion you are devoted to.  Whomever you deem to be your Divine.  Surrender and release what no longer serves you but takes up unnecessary space in your head to them.  Ask for their help and guidance.  I intent to because I know I am worth it.  But you know what else I know?  I know that you, too, are worth it.

So, as we exit 2012 with our sight firmly focused on the awesomeness of 2013 (for it will, indeed, be an awesome year) give yourself permission to let go of what no longer serves you but continues to weigh you down, both literally and figuratively .  After all, change starts with you.

May you be blessed with an abundance in this new year ahead ... of love, health, happiness, wealth, wisdom and slenderness.

Until next year,
Warmest regards,
The Slender Goddess

So this is Christmas, and what have we done? ...

I am unashamedly a Christmas junkie.  I love everything to do with Christmas.  As a Christian, it is my favourite time of the year.  But, not for the gifts.  Of course it's always nice to receive a lovely gift, all beautifully wrapped, but that is not what Christmas is all about for me.

I love the togetherness of Christmas ... time spent as a family putting decorations up, and on the tree.  The time spent together with family and loved ones around the dining table ... the laughter and the happiness that you hear expressed as we all sit around and chat, joke, tease and just enjoy each other's  company.  That is the meaning of Christmas to me ... the being together at this precious time of the year.  And yes, I can just hear some of you saying that this is a pagan holiday and that it is not the true date of Christ's birth.  It doesn't matter to me.  It is still a magical time of the year for me.

But above all else, it is a time for "love and goodwill toward all men".  Now, I'm not saying that for the other 364 days of the year we should just ignore those who are in need.  But what I am saying is that this is the time of the year when we should make an extra effort to be more ... more patient with others, more giving to others, more supportive of others.  First and foremost though ... be less to yourself! ... less harsh, less critical, less demanding.  In order to love others we need to love ourselves more.  So be kind to yourself, be kind to others.

Whether this is your time of the year that you celebrate your Divine or not, please be kind to one another.  Give, because it is in the giving that we will receive.

And as this year draws to a close take time to reflect on what we have done this year ... for ourselves and for others.  Reflect on your achievements and to let go of the things that no longer serve you.  Take the lessons of this year into the new year in order to not repeat those mistakes and let go of the disappointments that will only cloud your vision  as you look forward.

I wish you and your loved ones a most magical festive season.  And am looking forward to sharing an awesome, amazing, abundant 2013 with you.

With warm holiday wishes from,

The  Slender Goddess

Happy holidays from my family to yours.

I beg your pardon?

I recently read my friend's blog about the things people say ... whether it be with or without intent ... and it really resonated with me (you can read the blog here: A Moment on the Lips …)

When I started this blog I was talking to (and about) my inner Slender Goddess and am actively encouraging her to come out.  The thing, I think, that spoke loudest to me was the meaning behind the message.  For those who haven't yet read the blog (and I encourage you to read all of them ... she's a fab writer!) the controversy is centered around a comment made, as follows, "mayo is for fat people who want to get fatter ".  What shouted out at me was the whole "fat people are fat because they stuff their faces with food all day" message ... and boy did that get my dander up!!!

Who the hell does he think he is???  Whether he is a good guy or not is beside the point ... that is an uncalled for slur.  And one made in ignorance.

As a young child I was petite, tiny even, and always small for my age.  But at the age of 7 my well-meaning parents took me to a Professor of Dermatology in an attempt to cure an inherited skin condition that is incurable.  I was given higher-than-adult doses of medication and by the age of 8 my endocrine system was damaged to the point that my weight ballooned so alarmingly quickly my grandmother had my mother take me to the doctor for a check up.  Thus began a lifetime battle with my weight, which yes sadly, is aggravated by what I eat.  That's not how I got here but it is, indeed, how I remain here.  No diet or lifestyle change makes any significant change for any extended periods of time.

So, where was I going with this little rant of mine?  Oh yes ... No matter who you are, or how nice a person you normally are, don't stand there and judge me by what you see.  You don't know me, you don't know my history and you certainly don't know about my daily struggle with my weight. Think before you open your mouth and show what an ignorant gnat you are by spewing  crap about what I look like.  There is NOTHING that you could possibly think or say that I have not said or thought myself.

The thing that bugs me the most though is, how the ignorance or just pure mean-and-nastiness of so many out there impacts on young, innocent children out there everyday.  By my age, if you've spent a lifetime battle with this problem, you've more than likely developed enough of a tough skin to deal with this ignorance or mean-spiritedness.  However, the younger generation won't have.  In my friend's, she also posted the link to a video clip of a new anchorwoman addressing this very issue and I encourage you to have a look at it (you can view it here:  CBC News Anchor-tv-overweight Oct 2012).

It has taken me MANY years and tears to call a truce on my battle thanks to the love of a
FABULOUS, supportive, AMAZING husband who KNOWS me, my history and my DAILY
struggle to stay in "a state of truce".  But please, ladies AND gentlemen (yes, I know and
acknowledge that men too battle with this issue but seldom get the support they need) I
beg of you, don't let other peoples' callousness break you down ... don't let other peoples'
thoughtlessness or ignorance get under your skin.  As my husband, always, so eloquently
puts it, "Listen you insignificant insect, I can lose weight but you'll always be an
insignificant insect!"  Well said my love.

No matter what, remember ... YOU ARE FABULOUS JUST THE WAY YOU ARE!!!  Support 
your children in fighting this form of bullying.  You are worth so much more than that.

As the festive season draws ever closer (YAYNESS!!! I LOVE Christmas!) be kind to yourself.
I know I'm worth it ... and so are you.

Loving festive blessings,
The Slender Goddess,
Cape Town

I am worth it ... and so are you!

What is the first thing you lose when you gain weight? (a bit of an oxymoron ... not so?) But seriously ... what is it you lose?

Your self-image and self-worth head right out the door when you get on that scale and the numbers are tear-inducing! Not so? Suddenly everything you believed about yourself is viewed with doubt. I’m not pretty/sexy/worthy/acceptable to society, as I look now. The world will look at me and see a shapeless blob. How can anyone ever take me seriously again.

Sound familiar?

That’s what happened to me. As I continued to gain weight over the course of the years I began to lose faith in myself. I truly believed that people would view me very differently ... as if, somehow, the extra weight would render me useless to society. After all, society tells us that to be the “in thing” you have to weight the same as a single almond. This will bring you fame, fortune and recognition. Well at least that’s what most fashion magazines want us to believe.

I say “to hell with that”!!! Ok, so it’s taken me pretty much my entire adult life to come to that conclusion. But hey, I’m here now, right?

I have learned that I am still me ... just a lot more of me. My brain has not turned to mush, I have not lost the ability to be effective in the work place, in my home and generally out in the big wide world! I am intelligent, hardworking, caring, and I can do pretty much anything I want if I put my mind to it.

As one of my favourite self-help gurus loves to say, “Your self-image and self-worth equal your self-wealth” ~ John Demartini. And you know what? He’s right! If we don’t believe in ourselves and love ourselves for who we are, as we are, who else will? The world treats us the way we treat ourselves ... it simply mirrors our own attitude back at us.

So, I stand proud and boldly declare, I AM WORTH IT!!! Love yourself and, above all, be kind to yourself ... after all, YOU ARE WORTH IT!!!

The Slender Goddess, :)

Cape Town

What have you lost along the way?

I've noticed that as I've gained more weight and lost more of my self-confidence, I tend to dress differently to the way I did when I was thinner.

As a child, my weight issue began because my endocrine system was damaged by well meaning doctors who had no idea what the medication they gave me would do to the body of a child.  Luckily though, my weight was considered "voluptuous" as a teenager and I dress in a way that made me feel good.  I loved to look pretty so I would make an effort to do my hair, put make up on, wear things that made me feel good about myself and finally, I would don my accessories and be on my merry way.

As a young adult, although heavier than my teen years, I would still make the effort.  But then life got in the way.

I got married, had a baby and, WAM, I got hit with a really bad dose of Postpartum Psychosis.  Everything went to hell in a hand basket.  I couldn't be bothered.  My son screamed for 12 hours at night so my husband and I walked around looking and feeling like zombies during the day ... my husband went off to work and I stayed home with my son.  He didn't sleep much during the day either, by the way.  So I pretty much looked like I'd been dragged through a bush repeatedly ... and honestly?  I really didn't care.

But, that phase passed and our boy got older and, eventually, started sleeping at night.  The damage was already done though.  I was putting on weight at an alarming rate, was still tired all the time and no longer felt pretty, or sexy, or desirable.  And it showed on the outside too.

I no longer made an effort with my hair, or my make up and for some bizarre reason designers don't seem to think fat people deserve pretty clothes ... it's almost as if they're punishing us for being fat.  And that's sad.  I've also noticed that my self image is strongly driven by my weight.  When I've lost weight, I feel better about myself and tend to make more of an effort.  When I gain weight I tend to feel like a fraud if I dress up.  So yet again, I stop trying.  As time has passed and I've gained more weight I've lost the image of a "pretty" me along the way.

What have you lost along the way?

The Slender Goddess, :)

Cape Town

New Year's Resolutions ... the Follow Up

Alright Possums, it's time to 'fess up ... who of you have managed to hang on to your resolutions? If they've already fallen by the wayside, don't get all bent out of shape about it (no pun intended!)  Just do this little exercise (yet again, no pun intended ... gosh, where are they coming from???) for me.

In today's crazy, rushed, hectic life, find a quiet space for a few moments and contemplate what this means for you.  Is there a deeper-seated issue that you're not addressing that's preventing you from moving forward, toward your goal?  Is there some form of benefit that you're getting from not achieving this goal?  I know ... I also threw my hands up in the air and asked, "what possible benefit could I gain from being overweight"?????  But that is why you need that quiet space so you can sit and contemplate this "homework assignment" deeply ... don't just pay lip service to the concept and then walk away saying, "this is never going to work for me".  It just takes a little (ok, maybe a lot) of introspection to find what it is that isn't resonating with you, causing you to fall short of your goal.  You know yourself better than anybody else does, but if you need to, ask someone for their input.  But whatever you do, don't give up on your goal/dream/objective.  You're worth the work.

I'm not saying I'm perfect; in fact I'm far from it; I'm just saying I'm worth it! ~ Unknown

The Slender Goddess, :)

Cape Town

Food for thought ... or consumption.

Life has been challenging the last while.  Lots of changes going on.  And all the while, I'm trying to hang on to my sanity.  Meditation and a positive attitude was called for.  So I decided to draw inspiration from my self-help guru, Dr John Demartini, and come up with as positive an affirmation as I could possibly make it.  This was I came up with.

"I am grateful now that I am financially independent, slender, healthy, toned,  gorgeous and wise."

It hasn't happened yet but I'm not giving up my dream!  Don't give up on yours either!  You deserved it because you're worth it.


The Slender Goddess, :)
Cape Town

Cherry Almond Chocolate Cluster by Ellie Krieger (http://www.healthylivingwithellie.com) Ingredients 1 cup(s) nuts, almonds, toasted in a dry skillet over a medium-high flame until fragrant, stirring frequently, 3 to 5 minutes and coarsely chopped 1/2 cup(s) cherries, dried tart, coarsely chopped 6 ounce(s) dark chocolate, 72% cacao, finely chopped Preparation In a medium bowl, toss together the almonds and cherries. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Melt half the chocolate in the top of a double boiler over 1 inch of barely simmering water, over the lowest possible heat, stirring frequently. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the rest of the chocolate. Remove the top pan with the chocolate in it, gently wipe the bottom, and set it aside for a moment. Replace the simmering water in the bottom pan with warm tap water. Put the pan of melted chocolate on top of the warm water. This will keep the chocolate at the right temperature while you make the clusters. Stir the fruit/nut mixture into the chocolate. Spoon out heaping tablespoon-sized clusters of the chocolate mixture onto the baking sheet about 1 inch apart. Put them in the refrigerator to set for 15 minutes. Store and serve at room temperature. Serving size: 1 cluster. Nutrient Note: Good source of fiber. About This Recipe Prep Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 5 mins Total Time: 30 mins   Contains Nuts  Vegetarian  Good for Leftovers Nutrition Facts Number of servings: 12 Amount Per Serving Calories: 155 Total Fat: 10 g Sat Fat: 3 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 5 mg Total Carbohydrate: 15 g Fiber: 2.5 g Protein: 3.5 g

The mind ... a very powerful tool!

Gosh it's been a long time since I've been able to post anything on my blog ... life just seems to have gotten in the way.  And, I must admit, I have battled a bit with inspiration for a blog too.  However, recently I was browsing the Internet and on one of the sites I visited, I gained access to an audio clip.  The speaker was discussing goals and why we find it so hard to set a goal and stick to it ... the point of which I found very interesting.

The upshot of the whole clip was that when we set goals, they aren't always in line with our core values.  We consciously set goals that don't match our subconscious desires.  What I found so fascinating was when he discussed a lady TV presenter.  She had come to interview him for her show and they had sat chatting after.  And during the chat she mentioned to him that she was battling to lose some weight.  She had tried it all (sound familiar?) and while it would be effective in the beginning, after a while the weight would all come back.  What was she doing wrong, and could he help her?  His response was, "Well, what benefit do you get from being overweight?"  I was completely taken aback by this question.  I mean, for heaven's sake, who of us benefit from being overweight!  Right?  Apparently wrong.  As they continued their talk it emerged that her sister was very domineering and was always trying to control her life ... her response ... "my sister can't control my diet"!  And as they went along it emerged that her entire family was overweight and so she felt "out" when spending time with her family after any significant weight loss.  Subconsciously, it made her unhappy to feel "out" and so she would revert to old eating habits and regain any weight she'd lost ... so, ultimately, her subconscious mind was ruling her actions.  So, in order to be successful we need to do a bit of soul searching to get to the root of the problem before we can make any improvements.  Why do we continue to do what we do everyday?  What benefits do we get from being overweight?  What is subconsciously holding back from achieving the weight loss we want so badly?

Our mind is the most powerful tool we have.  We can do anything, achieve anything as long as our mindset is right and our values, both conscious and subconscious, are honoured.  I have some soul searching to do ... how about you?

The Slender Goddess, :)

Cape Town

And so the quest for my inner Slender Goddess continues ...

Well, there are only 6 days left in this first month of this New Year ... hard to believe but true.  I have definitely come to the conclusion that time speeds up as you get older.  The days are just flying by, and it still feels like I don't have enough time in a day to do all that is needed.

However, one thing I am doing is sticking to my decision that this is the year to let go of all the negative ideas I have about dieting and embrace all the positive ideas about eating more sensibly.  I cannot tell you that it has been easy ... it hasn't.  I have 32 years worth of weight propaganda and negativity that I have to sort through, dust off, discard or re-organise in the dusty archives of my mind.  But I can, with pride, say that so far I'm hanging in there.  I have promised to be kinder to myself, just as you should be to yourself, and am practising that everyday ... or at least trying to do so every day.  As every woman since Eve has had, I had my "dreaded time" recently.  There is nothing and no one safe, during this time, in my search for chocolate ... it is seriously ugly should anyone or anything get between me and a chocolate bar.  So this month I went about it in the spirit of my new mind set.  I bought a smaller chocolate and savoured it for a good 45 minutes ... and all was well in my world again.  Usually I pick up as much as 2kg (± 4lbs) during this time ... this time?  Just 200g (± 1/2lbs) ... woooohoooo ... success!  So it would appear that (yet again) I owe my (very smart) husband a heartfelt "Thank You" for opening my eyes to this new way of being.

My journey is a long one but I WILL be successful in my quest for my inner Slender Goddess.  After all, this is my year to ACHIEVE.

How goes your journey?  If you need support, a shoulder to lean on or just an ear to listen ... feel free to contact me.  No one should have to travel this journey alone.

The Slender Goddess :)

Cape Town

Words ... are they important?

One of my most favourite people posted in her blog recently about words and, with it being a new year and all, what yours for the year would be (http://zenith-thinking.blogspot.com/2012/01/year-of-word.html).  That got me thinking about what my word for the year would be ... and I decided it would be "achieve".  There are so many things that I want to achieve in this lifetime!

So, while pondering my word for the year, I started thinking laterally about words, what words mean, what words mean personally, and so on.  And it refreshed my memory ... my (very smart) husband and I are great believers in the power of words.  Without realising it, or really thinking about it, words are very powerful.  You can do so many things with words.  And how we think and speak has an impact on what happens in our lives.  Henry Ford is quoted as saying "If you think you can, you're right.  And, if you think you can't, you're right."

With that sentiment, and my word for the year, in mind, I implore you to guard your words in thought and speech.  Not just in terms of other people but ourselves as well.

When you have had a bad week, trying your best to cope with life in general and, losing weight in particular ... guard your words and thoughts.  As Dr John de Martini says, "What you think and speak about, you bring about" so stay positive ... tomorrow WILL be a better day.

Be kind to yourselves, and remember, "You are worthy, and deserve to be loved"!

The Slender Goddess :)
Cape Town

To eat or not to eat ...

Poor Shakespeare ... I wonder if he realised how many different ways his famous quote would be misused?  In this particular instance it works for me.

I know that my eating habits aren't always the best and so I've begun to work on them in the last week and a half.  Whenever you think of "dieting" you always think of bland, unexciting food that nobody wants to eat.  But not so anymore.  I have discovered a new TV chef ... Ellie Krieger.  I was scrolling through the viewing schedule recently and came across her listing ... Healthy Appetite ... so I decided to give it a try.  What did I have to lose, right?  And I'm so glad I did.  What lovely recipes she has.  So, whoever said eating right meant eating bland ... how wrong you were!!!

If you're looking for some inspiration to keep your momentum going check Ellie out on http://www.foodnetworktv.com/search/healthy-keyword/ellie-krieger-chef ... I promise it'll be worth your while.

Here's to a terrific, and healthy, weekend.

The Slender Goddess :)

Cape Town