Homespun Healers

In 1519 Hernando Cortez sailed his fleet of eleven ships into the harbor of Vera Cruz. He and six hundred men had come to defeat Montezuma and claim the riches of the Aztecs. Common practice was to leave guards with the ships, as they might be needed to later return to the old world for supplies–or to retreat from the enemy. But Cortez came for victory so he gave the order to “burn the boats.” And so the boats were burned–all eleven. That command certainly put a whole new slant on the situation. As long as their boats remained, they could retreat, and their mind would not be fully focused on winning. Once the order was given to “burn the boats” there was only one option. They must win!

To win the battle of the bulge, one must be willing to burn a few “boats” that come in the form of bad habits and ideas. Such as:

Inactivity- Exercise is important while losing weight. Not just for the sake of burning calories, but to tone muscles and strengthen bones. It’s easy to find excuses not to exercise. However, we must form new habits if we want to live in healthier bodies. So, start small if you need to. Starting small is better than not exercising at all. Those tiny steps build make a huge difference in the long run. As you get stronger you can increase the amount of time that you exercise and/or repetitions. Build on your successes.

Putting yourself last- I think somewhere along the way we were programmed that it’s somehow nobler and more “righteous” to put everyone else’s wants and needs before your own. That may be true to an extent, but with everything we must find the balance. Especially, when it comes to your own dietary needs. Talk to your family about the changes that need to take place for you to reach your weight loss goals. Ask for their help in making your home a healthier environment by emptying the food shelves of anything that may sabotage your weight loss efforts. Plan your menus around what works best for you and your goals. Put your needs first. Do you find putting yourself first difficult?

Holding onto to your “fat clothes.” I was recently asked if I was going to keep my “fat clothes.” Absolutely not! In fact, I have given away, sold, and thrown out everything that is now too big for me. I made a visual and mental statement, by getting rid of those clothes, that I will not go back there to live my life at that larger size. Holding onto those larger clothes is like having the fat wagon welcoming committee hanging in your closet. Just say “NO” and show them the door. You don’t, and won’t, need them anymore. After all, we are making permanent healthy choices for a lifetime, right? Besides, if your current clothes start feeling snug, that’s a cue to reel yourself in, instead of rolling over into the next larger size.

Extra food portions. Learn the power of one. One serving. Nothing ever tastes better than the first bite. We eat to live. We shouldn’t live to eat. I’ve made another change to help control food portions too. I now use a dessert plate instead of a huge dinner plate at meal times. What tricks do you use to help control portions?

Emotional Eating. There is a tendency for many people to snack or overeat when they are stressed, upset, or bored. Develop a game plan that enlists strategies that you can use at such times. What strategies have you used in times past to avoid emotional eating?

What other “boats” do you need to burn? Remember that victory comes with the commitment that one is willing to “burn the boats.”

I promised I would post another photo soon as my weight continues to drop. As promised, here they are:

Taken last year: August 2008

Taken August 2009. Down 4 dress sizes and 65 pounds lighter than last year at this time.

“It’s better to send in the Peace Corps than the Marine Corps.” ~Ted Kennedy

A great statesman passed away Tuesday.  Senator Ted Kennedy was a man with the nickname the “Lion of the Senate.”  He was known for his diligence in not letting up until he got what he wanted, and mostly what he wanted was to look out for average American citizen.  We owe a lot to Ted Kennedy.  We appreciate how he roared until he changed minds and got things done.  Yet, he was also a very gentle, funny, congenial person, a favorite personality and a good friend to liberals and conservatives.  It seems he had the talent for fighting hard for what he felt the American public deserved, shouting down his opponents, and then turning around afterwards and embracing them and genuinely asking about their families.    It’s a skill that not everyone has.  It’s a skill worth mastering.

Senator Kennedy was vehemently opposed to the Iraq war.  In fact, he opposed war period.  His famous quote that “it’s better to send in the Peace Corps than the Marine Corps” is good life advice.  It’s always better to try to negotiate a settlement in a peaceful way than to make war on someone and force a solution.  He also once said this about the Iraq War: “He [Bush] had no plan for winning the peace after he won the war.”  Sometimes too much emphasis is placed on winning the war instead of winning the peace.

We could take this advice into every area of our lives, not just the political arena.  We’re so quick to wage war on drugs, on infidelity, on fat.  But what about winning the peace in our lives?  The Peace Corps is known for its humanitarian assistance.  Maybe we could be a little more human with ourselves.  Instead of waging war on ourselves, beating ourselves down, and forcing ourselves to abide by a strict regimen, we could be a little gentler and kinder to ourselves when we think we don’t measure up.  Maybe we could be a little bit more tolerant when we “fail.”  After all, I’ve always heard that it doesn’t matter how many times we fall down; it matters how many times we get back up. 

I’ll miss Ted Kennedy.  I’ll miss his roaring voice, fighting for the everyday folks.  I’ll miss the sense of humor of the leader of the Kennedy clan.  I hope I’ve learned from him and others like him.  I hope I’ve learned to fight the good fight for the right reason, with fervor when it’s called for and with a gentle spirit of compromise when necessary.