Stop Counting Calories and Ditch Your Scale

I don't count calories. I don't own a scale. Matter of fact, I haven't owned a scale in 15 years. I realize this may come as a shock to you.

Imagine for a moment not knowing what you weigh. Close your eyes. How do you feel in your body? How do you feel in your clothes? If you don't feel good in your body or in your clothes you have several options. You could buy bigger clothes. You could create a plan to begin moving your body by walking, cycling or practicing yoga. You could begin eating whole foods, stop counting calories and stop weighing yourself every day.

Try these helpful tips:

• Shift your habit of counting calories to asking yourself "where am I going to get my water, berries, greens and quality protein from today?"
• If your favorite clothing feels tight, switch to comfortable clothes and start walking. 
• Donate your scale and shift your focus from a number to a feeling.

When you focus on counting calories to maintain or lose weight, your mind focuses on deprivation. You begin justifying what you can and can't eat. You don't eat breakfast because you think by not eating, you will lose weight. This is simply not true. Depriving your body of nutrients is not the answer to weight loss. Supplying your body with whole foods is.

When you focus on the number that appears on your scale, what are you hoping to see? How does the number make you feel? Does it nudge you into action and on your way to the gym or does it send you to the refrigerator to binge? 

Calorie counting and focusing on the scale do not bring results. 

 

When you understand the mind body connection, meaning getting in touch with how you feel once you incorporate whole foods into your way of eating and an exercise plan, counting calories and stepping on the scale will become a thing of the past. Focus on the present and make daily, healthy choices that will allow you to experience weight loss in your very near future.

Now, I'd love to hear from you. Are you looking to lose weight? Do you own a scale? Do you count calories? Why?

Sheila

Health & Lifestyle Coach

www.lifeelemental.com

sheila@lifeelemental.com

Why I Stopped My Three Day Juice Cleanse After Thirty Six Hours

What happens when a lover of all things qualitarian, specifically food and drink, decides to go on a three day juice cleanse? Deprivation, thoughts, justifications and noticing the feelings of the experience.

First, what does it mean to be a qualitarian? It means that you choose to be the gatekeeper for what goes into your body. That you don't feel deprived but rather empowered. You get to know the whole story before you buy and certainly before you eat. 

I don't believe in depriving the body of the fuel it needs to run at maximum efficiency. However, there are circumstances where I do think a cleanse is beneficial. 

• If you are experiencing pain in your body and you are interested in removing ingredients from your diet to determine what may be contributing to your pain. 
• If you are looking to get off prescription medications with the help of your physician you may give this http://www.rebootwithjoe.com/rebooting/plans/ a try. 
• In my experience, if you find yourself wanting a mental or physical challenge, a cleanse will not disappoint.

Why did I do it?

• It's spring - which is a great time to rid the body and mind of toxins.
• I wanted to rid my body of inflammation.
• I wanted more energy.
• Bottom line, I wanted to see if I could do it.

The Beginning
A week went by and I told myself that I would begin the following week. I had to prepare my mind and body to not "walk my talk". This was no easy task. I had to mentally prepare to give up my frothy, buttery, oily, coffee-like latte in the morning. See the www.bulletproofexec.com to read more. I had to leave behind my low sugar fruit snacks and smoothies. And I had to postpone my date with manchego and my love for merlot. I was ready.

I began by removing dairy, caffeine, sugar and alcohol the week prior. If I'm honest with myself, I didn't completely remove all of those things, but I tried my best. I wasn't so concerned with the coffee, the sugar or the dairy, it was the alcohol. From my years in a corporate environment, it became a habit to have a drink or two at the end of my workday as a way for me to unwind and relax. I'm sure you can relate. It's still the way I like to wrap up my day. Nothing excessive, but still. I was ready.

The Middle

Day 1 - I woke up refreshed and didn't mind that I couldn't have coffee. I was excited. I started my day by drinking 2 glasses of hot lemon water, followed by a carrot/apple/lemon juice. I love my Breville juicer. Click here to see and purchase this beauty. I had a meeting at 10am at Starbucks, where I happily sipped water as I was surrounded by the delicious smell and sounds of coffee. Torture? Not yet. I was fine. I made my way to the chiropractor around lunch time when I caught a whiff of french fries and hamburgers. I rarely consume these foods, but today they smelled especially good. I made it through the day after a necessary trip to Stanley's market for produce. I don't recommend going to the grocery store during a cleanse, but Stanley's produce worked out just fine. I must admit I made it through the day just fun, until I caved at 9:30pm and snacked on a few raw macadamia nuts. 

Day 2 - By this point, I had experienced major headaches due to withdrawal from dairy, caffeine, sugar and alcohol. This is normal. In trying to stay positive, I blessed each painful moment bidding farewell to the toxins that had found a home in my body. Goodbye inflammation. Goodbye sugar. Goodbye caffeine. Goodbye alcohol. But at thirty-six hours in, I wanted food. I literally opened the refrigerator door and stared at what was possible. I saw healthy food and baggies of filled with washed and prepped produce for juices. I no longer wanted a juice, a smoothie, water, coconut water or herbal tea. I wanted substance. I wanted to chew something. Almonds. Anything. I wanted to bite down and sink my teeth into something so qualitarian and delicious as if I had experienced it for the first time. I was craving for the first time in a very long time. I was in bitch mode. I was depriving myself. The very thing I teach people not to do.

Day 3 - I gave in. I could have told you that I was doing a 36 hour cleanse. That would be a lie. I confess that I made it 36 hours and still reaped some benefits. I went to brunch with my baby and we enjoyed the most amazing brunch that never lets us down at Lula Cafe. I enjoyed the most delicious chai tea latte(yes, with dairy and sugar), cherry almond kringle, a few bites of a pancake, and a savory egg with farro dish. I didn't stop there. And if you've been to Lula, you know what I'm talking about. It's quite hard to pass up local, organic food made with love. Later that night, I had a few slices of manchego cheese and an imperial stout while I finished a long awaited knitting project. I admit, I can't deprive myself with all things qualitarian. Will I do a cleanse again? Probably. Will I prepare better next time, I hope so. Will I go longer than 36 hours? One never knows.

The End

Overall, I lost a few pounds. How many? I don't know. I don't own a scale and don't recommend you do either. I can feel it in the way my clothes feel. I removed toxins, I have a boatload of energy, better sleep and a clear path for what's next. I've noticed that the pain I had in my sacrum has nearly disappeared.

It was a short run, juice cleanse. I am grateful for the lessons I learned. That said, I will get back to my qualitarian lifestyle. I leave the lengthy juice cleanses up to those stronger and more willing than I.

Now, I'd love to hear from you. Have you tried a juice cleanse? What was your experience? Which one? How long? What was the most helpful thing you did to keep up your motivation for completing it?

Thanks for reading.

Sheila

Health & Lifestyle Coach

sheila@lifeelemental.com

The Money Talk

What do you believe about money? Why do you believe it? Is it true? Is it good to you, bad to you, neutral to you? Do you get angry about not having enough?

I've learned over the last few years that I didn't really think about money until it wasn't flowing in every 2 weeks as I was used to.

I've learned money is not good, it's not bad, to me it's neutral. But, it still has it's place.

I had to get clear on what the money was for. Why did I feel anxiety about it flowing out more than it was flowing in? I realized for me, the money is to take care of me. To eat well, to feel well, to live well and to never be in the position to say "no"because I don't have the money.

How can you get clear on your money?

Clearing Your Beliefs
First, let go of the idea that money is good or bad. Money is only good if you say it's good and your experience with money has been a good one. Money is only bad if you say so. We place labels on things at a very young age. Think of money as neutral and flowing. Flowing in and flowing out like a figurate, no end and no beginning. Then you can remove the negative energy and make room for positive abundance.

Choosing the Path for Money to Flow
Second, get clear on what the money is for. Is it for travel, education or fun? What amount of money would make you happy? If you said 1 million, why not 10 million? Write down all of the ways you would spend 1 million or 10 million dollars. Stop at nothing. This exercise will allow you to dream big. Who says you can't have a personal chef, a second home or whatever else you desire? You do.

The Money Talk
Finally, most people don't like to talk about money. It's fearful, scary, personal, you name it, I've heard it and I've seen it in action. It's used as excuses and eludes to nothing but problems until you address it head on. Money is not the problem. You are. You have the choice to get clear on your money story, your debt story and create your empowering beliefs around money for a better foundation of living all that you desire. What's stopping you?

Need more support? I love talking about money. Leave a message in the comments below or visit my website at www.lifeelemental.com and schedule an appointment today. I will help you get clear around your money story and help you upgrade to a happier, better feeling and more successful you, guaranteed or your money back.

Sheila