Some interesting reads
I’m putting together some thoughts about eating as it relates to compulsive overeating and weight loss, and in the process, have been poking around looking for useful links on the science of carbs. More about that soon. But in the meantime, I’ve turned up a couple of blogs by folks in the weight loss biz. Since they ultimately are selling, you have to take them with a large grain of salt. But they might be worth adding to your blogroll.
For example, Mary Dan Eades (of Protein Power fame) now has a blog. Here’s a blog from a weight loss coach and hypnotherapist. Then there’s a blog from Jonny Bowden. I’m surprised I haven’t heard about Bowden in all my travels, but from what little I’ve read, I like his philosophy so far.
Weight and the ego
There’s another great post from Deepak Chopra over on Huffington Post that’s really interesting. Any amateur psychologist knows that part of our problem on Earth is our sometimes ornery ego. The highest aspiration for a Buddhist is to basically meditate so that one realizes there is no ego–that there is no “I” (a realization I don’t expect to attain in my lifetime).
And so Chopra suggests we use the ego to our advantage (reminds me of a position Brad Blanton takes in Radical Honesty).I was thinking this morning a bit more of what exactly was different about this time for me than the thousands of time before. It has something to do with my starting down this path (choosing health; choosing to feel good) and then having an experiential shift as it really dawned on me how much control I really have over how I feel.
sound very similar to what’s been going on for me. For not only are my basic needs being met, I’ve developed a sense of confidence that they’ll continue to be met. This leads to reduced fear, which means it’s far less likely that I’ll turn to another dependency in order to cope.
Cool stuff. If only it were easier to explain!
She goes for a walk
Well it had to happen sooner or later, but I finally did it. I went for a walk with no purpose in mind other than to get some exercise in the fresh air.
It really was beautiful on chaturbate last night, and the alternative was to watch the same episode of 30 Minute Meals they had on just recently, or actually do something positive for myself (remember Abe Lincoln: “when I do good, I feel good”).
It wasn’t even a walk around the block. I figured if I had done a tenth of a mile, I’d be surprised. But when I mapped out my route on the fabulous Google Maps Pedometer, it turns out I had done nearly a half mile. Unfortunately, it did take me something like 15 minutes to do that half mile, but hey, it’s a start.
On feeling feelings
Anyone with any kind of compulsive overeating issue — or even your garden-variety dieter — knows of the link between overeating and feelings. Yesterday on Oprah, Wynonna (Judd) was on to share where she was in her journey, which was “I may not be where I want to be, but I’m sure as heck not where I was.” (This led Oprah to remark that she really thought that it was probably easier to get off crack than deal with a food addiction.)
Now, if it’s not clear already, the reality is that I’m a dabbler (ref: “ENFPs often move on to new jasminlive ventures without completing those they have already started”). But here are some resources that I’ve come across over the years that I think have a lot of potential to help overeaters feel feelings or manage feelings or whatever.
DISCLAIMER: I’m sure that the providers of these programs would probably hate the way I characterize their programs. Your mileage may vary!
Laurel Mellin’s The Solution
I really like The Solution. Alas, I didn’t stick with it, primarily because I had a bit of a tiff with a therapist they assigned me to while I was doing an older version of their over-the-phone course. I just checked the site, and it looks like they’ve changed things considerably to deal with the growing increase in Laurel’s programs, though us really big folks may still have to jump through hoops because of the “risks.”
I think I may go poke around again and see if it’s worth revisiting more strongly. But I would recommend starting with the books (The 3-Day Solution Plan, The Solution, or The Pathway), many of which are at your local bookstore, before diving into the more pricy workbooks and kits.
Byron Katie’s The Work
I came across The Work a few years back. Its founder came up with this approach after hitting her own rock bottom of depression and addiction. The premise of the jasminelive program is that one uses her four questions to help us get past the twisted thoughts of our minds without resorting to things harmful to us.
Here are the questions:
Is it true?
Can you absolutely know that it’s true?
How do you react when you believe that thought?
Who would you be without the thought?
These are very similar to Dr. Phil’s questions for authenticity, which are:
Is it a true fact?
Does holding onto the thought or attitude serve your best interest?
Are your thoughts and attitudes advancing and protecting your health?
Do your thoughts and beliefs get you what you want?
In both cases, the questions serve as tools to help you get out of the relentless pressure to numb or escape one’s thoughts. Find out more on her website or her book Loving What Is.
The Sedona Method
I came across the Sedona Method while doing a Google search. I think this has a lot of potential. I’ve not spent the bucks yet on their seminars or audio course; I ordered the book off of Amazon from one of their re-sellers. You might find it worth paying the shipping to get their free DVD and CD.
Anyways, the Sedona Method is the flip side of Byron Katie’s stuff. Where the latter deals more with annoying thoughts, the Sedona Method is meant to deal with feelings. And interestingly, it’s not just about troubling feelings. Like the Buddhist concept of nirvana, the Sedona folks suggest that you work on your happy feelings too.
And like Byron Katie, the Sedona Method is fairly simple, but seemingly powerful. When you want to practice it, you basically do the following:
Ask “Could I allow this feeling to be here?”
Ask “Would I?” If no, ask, “Would I rather have this feeling, or would I rather be free?”
Ask “When?”
The steps are repeated as necessary until the feeling is worked through.
I think there is an interesting parallel with this approach and that of meditation and/or the mantra. I also really like that it is a specific, constructive way of “sitting with your feelings” (if I only had a $1 for every time some eating disorder specialist advised that).
The Sedona Method is also available as a book, though I don’t recall seeing it much in the brick-and-mortar stores.