Who knew by accepting myself, I'm more likely to be successful in getting to where I want to be?
Boggles the mind....
#loveyourself, #nurture, #change, #readysetgo
Jan 24, 2018
Super Luxury Trains in India - Traveling Triangle Blog
It's #WhereWeGoinWednesday!
I've been hitting the books really hard lately and when I take my "surfing" break, I always think about #Trips to add to #MyBucketList
...after all, we all wor
k so we can #tr
avel, right?
I've always been fascinated by #India but have heard that it is a difficult trip. But reading about this option makes me want to put an India Trip into my Top 5!
Has anyon
e done this? What w
as your experience?
#nurturemysoul #letsgo #readysetgo
Jan 15, 2018
This is my #Monday #Motivation and one of my favorite Martin Luther King Jr quotes! There are so many things on my #ToDoList and I know I won't get them checked off when I want to...but if I keep #movingforward, I'm still on my way! #HappyMLKDay #Achieve
Jan 12, 2018
Someone is starting her #weekend early...guess #netflixandchill will be her #goals ???? #furbaby #friday #chihuahuasofinstagram #dontbugme #nurture
Jan 9, 2018
It’s #ThoughtfulTuesday and as promised, I’m sharing my Daily Habits that I created for 2018. We all know that it’s not enough to say you want to change, it’s the actions that we do faithfully that will “transform” us in the people we want to be.
I’m starting an intensive Functional Medicine program in February as well as finishing up my Personal Training Credentials. I feel like I’ve been only focusing on those things and at the end of the year, I was burnt out and feeling very disconnected.
My 2018 Intentions includes more Nurturing and Connecting! And while this looks like a lot of work, it really wasn’t…Each item took no more than 5-10 minutes (except for the sleep part) and it made me feel accomplished and good at the end of the day!
I used an Excel Spreadsheet to track it and my hope is that I can work on it every day and see how I do. I don’t expect perfection but at least I have something to work up to.
What’s on your list? Please share and let’s support each other in being the best that we can be!
Nov 28, 2017
It’s the week after Thanksgiving and I don’t know about you but I indulged in everything! I know I need to move but I have a crazy month and some deadlines that I’m trying to meet by the end of the year.
My goal is to be active at least an hour a day and since it’s raining this morning, (who says it never rains in SoCal?) my morning walk with my crazy Cleo might not work out…
But before I come up with another excuse, I look at my computer’s Favorite Bookmark Bar and realize that all I have to do is press a button and voila!...my workout awaits me.
Home workout are the best…it has made my exercise a daily routine and a “recess” that I look forward to. Plus, I can do them anytime I want without having to pack up for the gym or deal with traffic and the sweaty exerciser who thought dousing themselves with cologne would be a great idea (said no one ever….)
Here are my favorite sites…
OMMMM - To DE-Stress, Get Going & Relax
If you ever thought about yoga or you’re an experienced Yogi, this site has it all! I started my Yoga journey with them back in 2010 and probably work out with this site almost every day…sometimes, twice a day. (I’ll start my day with a Vinyasa Flow and end with a Restorative or Meditative session.)
What I love the most about this site is the Search filters that helps you find classes based on how much time you want to work out (fast 10 minutes to a luxurious 90 minute classes) , what type of yoga (they have 13 types), what teacher (over 40+ to choose from), and what body part I need to work on (sometimes it’s my shoulder…sometimes it’s my lower back…)
You can subscribe for under $20/month, and stream it from most of your electronic devices. There’s even a trial period offered.
LET’S GO!....A Variety of Fun Workouts
I’m a very fickle exerciser. One day I want to kickbox, another day I want to channel GI Jane with a Bootcamp class and some days, especially when I’m not in the exercising mood, I want to DANCE!
This site has over 600+ workouts that you can access and I dare you to not find something that will get you moving! You’ll find some familiar fitness personalities on board…Shaun T (so fun!)…Chalene Johnson (from the Turbo series)…Tony Horton (I have yet to make it through a PX90 without getting bored)…and many more!
This site is also very cost effective. You can get a year’s subscription for under $160 or pay a quarterly fee (note, not monthly) for under $40.
My teenager feels the need to chime in…
“Well that sounds like a "fabulous idea," but I have NO money! After all, it’s the Holiday Season…could you pass me the cookies?”
Ahhhh, my lazy grasshopper…my last recommendation is a site that you’ve been looking on for most of the afternoon while you’ve been eating the cookies!
Free, Fun & Fabulous – A Free Variety of Workouts…
In the Search Bar, type workouts. You will find a plethora of workouts and they’re absolutely free. My Econ class taught me that there is no such thing as a free lunch and this holds true with workouts on YouTube.
You might have to watch a intro video or get a great video right in the middle of a push up…I take it as a sign from the Universe to rest… but that is the small price you pay for dancing with the Fitness Marshall (hilarious and you actually break a sweat ), doing plies (there’s lots of Ballet & Barre workouts) and keeping up with Anna and all her trendy PopSugar Celebrity Trainer workouts.
I recommend that you create playlists for each type of exercise that you do. I have great Playlists for Ballet, Dance and Kickboxing that I’m happy to share…just let me know in the comments or send me a private message.
Ready? Set? Go! No more excuses …get moving and let me know your favorite online workouts!
Apr 17, 2017
My guy and I just celebrated 8 years together! However, our “meet cute” story was certainly not so cute and nothing like I had imagined it would be.
We met at a Brunch Meetup. At that time of my life, I was happily “playing the field” as well as traveling a lot for work. I’m not sure why but I was a Dude Magnet during that time...(Who knew that traveling cross country and surviving on 6 hours of sleep would do wonderful things with my personality and complexion?) I embraced my “magnetism” and thoroughly enjoyed myself. All the guys at the table were bending over backwards to make sure I was comfortable and my champagne glass was full.
Except for the guy across me with the striking blue eyes.
My boss had recently raved about the “Eric” omelet (apparently, he was at this restaurant so much they made this special dish for him) and knowing I was a fellow foodie, strongly urged me to “drop his name” and they would make it for me… which of course, I did.
“WHO ARE YOU? Why do you think you’re so special? Do you think you’re a celebrity or something?”
I was taken aback. I never thought I was better than anyone else and the accusation stung. I immediately went into a long detailed explanation about my boss and his omelet.
CHIRP…Chirp…chirp…
What a GREAT first impression that was…
We got our food…
“That looks interesting…can I have a bite of that?”
“Ummmm…..are you talking to me? The “celebrity?”
“Yeah…your omelet looks good”
I finally noticed the twinkle in his eye…
Fifteen minutes later…
“That omelet was really good…are you going to finish that?”
Eight years later, he’s still finishing up my food…
Who knew that I would end up with a Star Wars/Trek (is there REALLY a difference?...) Geek whose idea of a great weekend away is an isolated cabin with no good restaurants or museums and can happily spend hours and HOURS playing volleyball in the hot sun?
My past relationships were never like this. Rather, it would be different versions of the “meet cute” and go through the customary dating period, moving in together and two times, making it legal. And I’d be happy ever after…for a little bit. And then like my pup that doesn’t want to take a bath, I’d look for any and every way out.
But, not this relationship…even after eight years, I still feel giggly and mushy inside when his eyes twinkle at me. He has my back and still makes me laugh all the time. He’s “my person” and I want to be with him as well as find out more about him every year that we’re together.
He also frustrates the heck out of me. I’ve never had anyone press my buttons as much as he does. It hasn’t been smooth sailing all the time. I remember when we tried to break up with each other…
“Well, I guess we should call it.”
“Yeah…I’m going to miss you.”
“Oh, no…I’ll still be around…in fact, I think we should get together at least twice during the week and the whole weekend to spend time together. After all, I might starve.”
“Hmmm…should we just not live together?”
“Well, yeah…but it would be weird not living with you.”
“I don’t think I’d like that either.”
“So, what’s the issue again?”
“I forgot…”
That next Spring, we got each other commitment rings from Tiffany’s. And, we never had THAT conversation again.
There are so many variables why this relationship works when all my other relationships didn’t. I could spend hours and hours disseminating every little detail with my girlfriends over brunch but I need to start packing for our special anniversary trip to Italy. I’ll leave you with this…
Our Relationship is REAL…
From the very beginning, this relationship was real in every way. He showed me who he was at the very beginning and I showed him who I was. We certainly didn’t put our best foot forward and have always been honest and upfront with what works and what doesn’t. I didn’t pretend to love our “weekend away,” in fact, we moved to a nicer place the next night. He doesn’t pretend to enjoy my fascination with American Horror Story and Gilmore Girls.
He also accepts the fact that I will usually look up the recap before I watch a movie or television show…(to my credit, I NEVER reveal the spoiler…) I accept the fact that he will urge me to stay up to watch that same television show and then immediately nod off within the first five minutes. And we both happily admit that we would rather order food to be delivered instead of getting “presentable” to go out on a date. (Thank you, Postmates and Amazon Video!)
For me, this is Nirvana. I don’t have to pretend to be anyone that I’m not and there is no bubble bursting when I realize, in mock horror, he actually likes the Star Trek pajamas that I gave him as a joke and wears them regularly during our Postmates & Amazon Movie date.
We Focus on The Big Picture…
One thing that I’ve learned while in this long-term relationship is that this is NOT Burger King. Having it MY way or His way doesn’t work in the long term. What DOES work is focusing on the big picture… here are our priorities….
Health - I tell him all the time, “We need to be able to ‘torture’ each other until we’re ‘old,’ so we have to take care of ourselves so we’ll be around.” No more cookies for breakfast (damn those blood tests!) and gourmet dinners with all the fine wine. And yes, we’ve now reached that point where we will talk about our ailments within the first five minutes of our conversation… SWELL…
Security - We don’t want to scramble financially in our twilight years so we need to live within our means NOW. This means we don’t have a big house and unfortunately, cannot travel to every place on our bucket list. Although, to be honest, I’m still working on the Hot Tub justification because I think it would also improve our Health…wouldn’t you agree?
Connection - I have to admit, this is our most challenging task. Both of us are driven and we make ourselves so busy that it would be easy to just focus on our goals. But, we’ve made a pact…Time in the morning with our coffee and some snuggling at night.
“I love you sweetie pie….”
“Yes, we're on Good Terms."
“Seriously?”
“What I really meant was I love you too...Sweet Dreams...”
We Learn Together
I will be 55 years old in a week. I’ve been around the block (several times) and I know stuff. My guy just turned 50 last month. This isn’t his first rodeo…he knows stuff. We both know stuff. And, the most important thing is we both know that sometimes, we don’t know anything and we will never know everything.
And honestly, this is what keeps us going.
“Why is the teen (aka Darth) so grumpy in the morning? I’m trying to have a conversation with her and she seems like she’s mad?”
“Try asking her about what music she’s listening these days…”
“Wow…it worked! I actually got four words this morning…I like this song.”
(TINY, Tiny, tiny steps...)
I’m also always amazed how much I learn from My Guy. Some stuff is quite humorous and does make me laugh out loud (usually, at his expense) and some stuff is quite valuable…although, I can be very reluctant to admit it to him face to face. And, what’s really interesting is that I learn a lot about myself through his honest (and sometimes very blunt) observations and perceptions. And believe me, this is reciprocated in our relationship.
This keeps us moving forward…
So, to My Guy…
Here’s to the life we built in the last eight years. Our home, our community of friends, the Kid (now Teen) and our “Zoo.” I will happily travel the world, taste the wines, dress up in elaborate costumes and even overcome my anxiety of zip lining with crazy Thai guides for you. .
Thank you for a fantabulous (MY word) eight years! I look forward to more adventures and lessons and lots of laughter…
If you liked this article and want more, I’d love to include you in my Email List. I promise not to bombard you! I send out monthly newsletters with helpful articles & invites that may help alleviate your frustrations with Health, Life Balance, Career, Purposes & Relationships. I think this information would be useful and valuable and it's at no cost to you!
Sign up here...http://ready-set-go.me
Apr 4, 2017
I have a client who is a full time working mother with a busy family. She also has an active social life as well as volunteering at the local Veteran’s Group. We chat at least once a month. Last month, I noticed her voice was pretty raspy.
“Hey…are you feeling ok?”
“Oh sure, I’ve had this cold for two weeks now…I keep meaning to go to the doctor but my plate is so full right now. I’m sure I’ll feel better soon”
Three weeks later, we connected again. Now, she sounded like a boy who was going thru the “change.”
“Soooooo…how’s that cold of yours?”
“I can’t believe I still have this! We’re going to the doctor because my daughter is now sick and I don’t want her to get worse.”
Those of you who know me really well will say this client has the ALLIE modus operandi because I WAS that client five years ago.
I remember when I was traveling for work and had that pesky “cold” for three months. I finally went to the doctor and after she checked me out, she started to roll her eyes. She asked me…
“Why has it taken you so long to come see me? Is it really SO hard for you to put yourself as a priority?
How many of you out there feel this?
From my warped perspective, here’s what would happened if I took time off to take care of myself…
I would be so behind.
Stuff won’t get done right.
People would be let down.
Life has a funny way of working out. Because I waited so long, my cold turned into Walking Pneumonia. Guess what?
I got really behind because, inevitably, I had to reschedule everything.
Stuff didn’t even get started.
People were let down anyways.
I’m not sure why putting myself as a priority is such a hard concept for me to grasp. Why am I in such denial?
“I have TOO much to do!...
“It will all FALL APART if I don’t take care of it!”
“I HATE telling people no!”
Let’s give each other an “IRL (In Real Life) check” for these above statements…
TOO MUCH TO DO!
We have too much to do because we, ourselves, have made it that way.
It’s BIG thinking at it’s worst! And really, how much are you really getting done? What’s the quality of your solutions? Do you ever feel relaxed? Are you ever at peace? Or, do you feel like you’re on a treadmill and it’s going too fast?
I found that the treadmill doesn’t stop until I press “OFF” There will ALWAYS be something to take care of. And once you’ve set the expectation that you take care of everything 24/7, it’s hard to “shake” that reputation. You will be the “go to,” ALL the time, whether it’s an emergency or not.
While this is flattering, it’s exhausting! You’re not a machine…you’re a human that needs to eat, rest and shut “OFF” once in a while.
IT WILL ALL FALL APART IF I DON’T TAKE CARE OF IT
Heard in my household…
“Hey, can someone load the dishwasher, please?”
“Why, Mom? You’re a control-freak-a-holic…we all know that you go back and reload it anyways!”
My mom was married to Leo, a former Lieutenant Colonel in the Army. The first week of their marriage, he tried to teach her how to make the bed the “military” way. I wonder if my mom even tried because housework was never one of her favorite things. Not surprisingly, her bed never passed inspection. And my stepfather made the bed for the next 25 years.
Based on these two examples, I’m going to guess that our control issues have backfired on us every time.
The need to have everything done “our way” leads us to a faulty perception... If we don’t do it, then it won’t be done right and everything will fall apart. I call it my Wonder Woman Complex.
This theory might have served me well when I was just starting out in my career. In graduate school, I had to make sure that everyone did their part in our group projects. When I was in my first Recruiting Manager job, I had to make my recruiters followed the company process. And as a single working traveling mother, I had to make sure that bags were packed with everything we needed. Lots of detail management that was quite challenging for the non-detailed me.
This mentality doesn’t work as well for me now. I have more responsibilities with even more details, players and impact to consider. And although I’d like to think I’m still able to be Wonder Woman, I don’t necessarily want to be the lonely superhero anymore.
I like it when people help me out. It helps me feel like I’m part of the world and not just running around saving the world by myself.
Look back on something that you’ve insisted on doing all yourself? What was sacrificed? Was it really worth it, in the long run?
Life as Wonder Woman can be exhausting …I’d much rather be snuggling with my "Lieutenant Trevor"…
I HATE TELLING PEOPLE “NO!”
Hello…my name is Allie and I’m a people pleaser. There, I said it.
I really like helping people and if I have a free hour, instead of doing yoga or taking time for myself…I would pick someone up, help them move, go to their child’s first violin recital (not recommended if you have a headache)…etc. I love the intrinsic “warm fuzzy” that warms my heart when I know I’ve helped someone…hence, my career choice.
What I don’t like is when other things fall through the cracks because I was so busy focusing on someone else’s priorities instead of mine.
How many times have you skipped your workout because you were helping someone else? (Guilty!)
Or, realized that you haven’t eaten anything all day because you promised to help a panicked coworker with a work crisis? (Guilty!)
My most recent embarrassing situation is when I was so busy getting my daughter ready for our party, I forgot that I needed time to get myself ready. There is nothing like greeting your guest in a robe and turban and excusing yourself abruptly so you can get dressed in five seconds.
All in all, this gets tiring. And, I hate to admit this, but after some point, I become resentful. I walk around with the biggest chip on my shoulder and develop the perception that people don’t appreciate me enough. Then, it gets very very quiet in my household. During our "snuggle time after the party, my partner commented,
“You know…your daughter is now fifteen…I think she can get ready on her own now.”
“But, she asked me. I liked helping her…”
“Oh, I see…What if I “asked” you to take care of yourself first and not walk around like a martyr?…Would this put me in front of the Priority Line?”
You know,…there’s some smarts underneath those adorable blue eyes of his.
It’s good to help people. It’s also good to help yourself. And as the flight attendant will tell you, you must make sure that your oxygen mask is on before you can help anyone else. End of story…there is no way around that.
So, tonight, I’m taking the night off for myself. The door is closed. I’m doing a nice 90 minute Yin Yoga session and listening to Miles. There’s a sign on my door that says, “Unless you’re bleeding or dying, do not disturb.” My “zoo” is anxiously pacing outside my door (because they can’t read) ... eventually they give up. There is a sense of calm in my house and it's generating from ME!
After my “ME” session, it's back to business. My daughter proudly recites five minutes of Mandarin Chinese to me. (Since I don’t understand Mandarin Chinese, I’m going to pretend it’s a poem honoring her wonderful, generous mother.) My partner comes in happily announcing that he has advanced to the next level of his video game…We all have goals. Each member of the "zoo" has demanded their nice belly rub and snuggle. I have voicemails and emails to respond to.
Yes, I'm still in demand and still have my responsibilities. However, I'm in a much better state of mind now.
There is too much to do but again, there will always be too much to do.
Things probably will fall apart but it’s not my responsibility to make sure that everyone is happy and everything is done.
People still love me when I say “No.”…in fact, in this house, they might even love me more now…
So, what about you?
When are you going to start being your First Priority?
If you liked this article and want more, I’d love to include you in my Email List. I promise not to bombard you! I send out monthly newsletters with helpful articles & invites that may help alleviate your frustrations with Health, Life Balance, Career, Purposes & Relationships. I think this information would be useful and valuable and it's at no cost to you! Sign up here… http://ready-set-go.me
Mar 31, 2017
When I graduated from the IIN Health Certification Program, last September, I immediately started working on my new business, Ready Set Go! Influenced by my Project Management background, I painstakingly laid out what I thought I needed to do to reach the goals that I set.
I grew up with a Chinese Tiger Mom and that upbringing automatically compels me to set the bar high. My “lofty” plans included creating two Webinars, developing two eCourses and, of course, building my Coaching practice to at least ten private clients. I also needed to set up my Social Media presence and brush up on my writing skills. Oh, and I wanted to write my book. ALL by the end of the year!
I might have had a pot of coffee while I was developing my 2017 Project Plan…
I also neglected to take in account that my To Do List included Mom Responsibilities of an Independent but Needy Teenager and Partner Responsibilities of an independent man who has no idea how to run a household or feed himself when I’m not with him.
Within two weeks, I started to feel a little overwhelmed…
I realized, although I was the Master of Recruiting, I was the Master of None when it came to starting an online Service Business. That led me to sign up for numerous courses: Digital Marketing… Find Your Niche…Social Media 101, etc, etc. All these courses started with the basic fundamental skill…Writing. Naturally, I signed up for the "30 Days of Better Writing" course.
I wrote my very first blog post that took me days to finish because I knew what I wanted to say but I was grasping for the perfect words to write it. Finally, I was finished.
I made my inaugural post and waited eagerly to get a response from my community. It would be my validation and that “pat on the back” to know I was on the right track.
CHIRP….Chirp….chirp….crickets for days…
As a Project Manager, I was ready to pinpoint the issue and solve the heck out of it. I sought help from my two biggest supporters…the people I live with.
“I feel like I’m reading a memo from my boss.”
“Ummm….Mom…why do you use the word ‘collaborate?’…Can’t you just say working together?”
Back to the drawing board…
And then, I got hit with the dreaded Writer’s Block.
I have to tell you, I was SO productive in everything else except for working on my blog and business. The house was spotless. Gourmet meals were served for lunch AND dinner. My laundry was done on a regular basis which meant I didn’t have to go out and buy new socks or underwear. All in all, I felt pretty accomplished in everything…except my business.
I was discouraged, frustrated and stuck!
And then, I read an article from one of the many Writing Blogs I signed up for. It recommended that writers write every day for at least fifteen minutes. Didn’t matter if it was “publishable.” Didn’t matter if it made sense. If you couldn’t think of anything to write, they suggested writing, “I can’t think of anything to write” for the allotted time.
This “Stella” found her groove.
My very first day, I wrote, “This is stupid…I should go back to Recruiting” for fifteen minutes. The next day, I started writing down why I DIDN’T want to go back to my old life. I wrote down why I started this journey in the first place and what impact I wanted to make. Although I didn’t mean to, I went over my required half an hour. Per the recommendation, I just left it without looking or editing it.
The third day, I went back and read what I wrote. I took the advice of my loved ones and didn’t write in a formal business-y tone. I switched it up and found my “voice.” And I made (and still do) a daily habit of writing at least thirty minutes a day, six days a week.
Six months later, I’ve re-adjusted my Tiger goals and discovered that I really do love writing! There’s been a positive response from my readers and I’ve figured out my mission for everything I write. Good valuable insights with a big dose of humor! I’ve been so encouraged that I’ve made finishing up my book one of my first priorities.
Oh sure…I have the days where I’d rather clean my house (said no one ever) and get a root canal then write. But what I’ve learned from this experience is I do it anyways. Although, I have more “un-publishables” than chapters and blog posts, I still know that I’m steadily pacing toward my mission. My brain is alive with ideas and having the discipline to write every day helps me articulate my next steps and actions. It’s also teaching me to cultivate patience, planning & timing…step by step…building my resources.
I’m a quarter way through my book now. I’ve finished the Introduction and two sections of my book. I’ve also realized that this book will be the foundation for my future eCourses and Webinars and will engage potential clients to want to work with me.
Perseverance shows up in small daily actions.
So, here’s some questions for you…
What is your goal or purpose?
Are you getting distracted, discouraged or frustrated?
How often are you working on it?
Perseverance has become my secret weapon while chasing after my dream. Disciplined daily actions are building my skill set and toolbox. It’s also strengthening my faith in the rough and discouraging times.
So, where do you go from here? What is something that you can do EVERY DAY that will get you closer to the life that you want?
If you’re trying to eat healthier, eat at least one healthy meal EVERY day. If you’re trying to get more exercise, find the time to fit in exercise time EVERY day. If you’re working towards a goal, find time EVERY day to work on it. If you’re feeling isolated, take the time EVERY day to connect with someone. I think you get the picture…
Commit to nurturing your dreams and goals!
You’ll find that success will be inevitable…
If you liked this article and want more, I’d love to include you in my Email List. I promise not to bombard you! I send out monthly newsletters with helpful articles & invites that may help alleviate your frustrations with Health, Life Balance, Career, Purposes & Relationships. I think this information would be useful and valuable and it's at no cost to you! Sign up here… http://ready-set-go.me
Mar 31, 2017
Overheard, while shopping…
“Ok…I’m going to do it this year…I’m going to do everything I can to eat better …I want to fit into these jeans!"
“Hey, my friend went on the Vegan diet last year and she lost TONS of weight. But wait…I can’t give up cheese…seriously? Maybe, I should go Gluten Free or if I really want to lose… eliminate ALL grains? Maybe, I should go Paleo? ARGHHH, again with the “no cheese!”
“Ughhh…maybe, I should just buy a bigger pair of jeans and eat whatever I WANT? ”
CAN YOU RELATE?
I can…that was me about five years ago. I would have the same conversation with my girlfriends. I’d go on a different diet every couple of months and do great the first week. But, I’d get invited out or have a discouraging day (...sometimes, pie is the only cure…) and have a hard time getting back on track. By the time the month was over, I’d start to hate the food I was eating.
And it would avalanche from there… I’d eventually go back to my ways of cake for breakfast and popcorn for dinner. Luckily, I was fairly active and while I was eating my way out of my closet, it was just a matter of replacing items one at a time. So, I lived in a wonderful delusional world that I was a healthy eater.
“Sooooooo, are we celebrating something?”
“No…strawberry pie has fruit in it…I’m just eating more fruit!”
It is well known among my friends and family that I’m a foodie and will chase all over town to try the new trendy dish or the dive that serves great chicken pies. My partner and I have an understanding that while I may drive him crazy with everything else, he can always count on EATING WELL with me. (P.S…A tip for success in a long relationship is consistency…)
Life, like this, was good…except when I turned 50. It seemed like everything I ate would make me feel tired, edgy or bloated. And that would make me less motivated to move or go out in the world. That’s not the way I wanted to live! So, for the next three years, it was the endless dieting cycle with, tragically, no lasting results…
The truth is…there isn’t ONE diet that works for everyone…what’s really important is to find something that works for YOU!
If you think about it...there isn't just ONE pair of jeans that looks good on everyone. We all have different shapes, sizes and preferences. What looks good on my tall friend looks horrific on me. We're the same size but I'd have to hem them and because of my athletic muscle-ly calves, the jeans would look like leggings instead of jeans.
We're all different and we should have individual eating plans that work best with our bodies, mental state and emotion well being. Does that make sense?
This is how I did it…
Because we both weren’t feeling like spring chickens anymore, my partner and I went on the JJ Virgin Diet (aka The Elimination Diet). It required us to take out foods that contained gluten, soy, dairy, eggs, corn, peanuts, sugar and sweeteners…basically everything I ate on a daily basis.
This was the looooooongest 21 days of my life….
But, it was also life changing…I learned a lot about my body and what it takes to make it run smoothly.
For the next 2 months, I learned I had reactions to Dairy, Wheat, and Meat (especially poultry & beef ). Because of who I am…the overachiever…I would only allow myself these limited choices. My diet consisted of fish & vegetables. That was it. What made things worse was the the diet didn’t make my life better at all! I was bored, more antisocial and HUNGRY!
This was NOT going to be the option for me either…
So, I went back to the drawing board and started experimenting. I found that I could eat a little dairy and a little gluten. I started to add small portions of yogurt and sourdough toast (still healthy!) in my diet which made my day much brighter and best of all, made me much more tolerable.
I found that meat was the main culprit for my indigestion and that really encouraged me to find new protein sources besides just fish. I started to incorporate more plant proteins such as lentils, split peas (LOVE the soup), quinoa, nuts and unprocessed soy. And when I craved ice cream, I’d blend my plant protein with coconut milk and frozen bananas for a treat.
I’m not hungry anymore…
I have my own “Allie” Diet that works wonders for me! I really feel great…I fit in those jeans (although now, they’re a little roomy) and I’m happy! And occasionally, I can even indulge in strawberry pie. (Because, let’s face it, people…life is too short without strawberry pie.)
Would this work for you? Here are my three tips before you start:
·Start with a Detox Diet just so you have a “clean” body to work with. There are some great ones out there and you’ll be able to really pinpoint what your body is feeling. (P.S…I’m creating one next Summer so be sure to check back)
· After the “clean” period is over, start introducing the foods that you eliminated ONE at a time. Start small and increase your amount by 25%, 50% & 75%. I didn’t do that and consequently, I mistakenly took out those food groups when all I had to do was eat less of it. It’s so easy to get carried away but eliminating complete food groups may not be a great lasting solution. Moderation is much better than complete elimination. Trust me…you’ll thank me in the long run.
·Get yourself a partner. Eliminating foods can be really isolating and sometimes you might not get the support that you really need and you’ll give up. (When I did this, my mother would roll her eyes and insist on ordering me dessert…this made me feel very neurotic.) You’ll find trading stories and ideas with someone who is experiencing the same things you are very motivating and both of you will stick to your program.
For more help with this, feel free to reach out! I always offer a free consultation and you’ll walk away with some pretty good ideas to get you going…(offer is at the top of the site...just click!)
I know you can do this…
Happy Eating….
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